Method and apparatus for detecting registration errors in an image forming device
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsGary Scott Overall, Gregory Lawrence Ream
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Abstract
A method of forming a registration pattern to enable detection of registration errors in an image forming device includes forming a first registration mark on a substrate at a first image forming station, and partially erasing the first registration mark formed on the substrate at a second image forming station to form the registration pattern. A method of automatically detecting the registration errors further comprises sensing the registration pattern, and detecting registration errors based on the registration pattern.
Claims56
A method of detecting image registration errors in a printer, comprising:
- a) forming a first registration mark on a substrate at a first image forming station;
- b) partially erasing the first registration mark formed on the substrate at a second image forming station to form a registration pattern;
- c) sensing the registration pattern;
- d) detecting registration errors based on the sensed registration pattern.
A image forming device comprising:
- a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate;
- a second image forming station controlled so as to at least partially erase the first registration mark printed on the substrate by the first image forming station to form a registration pattern;
- a sensor to detect the registration pattern and to generate an output signal;
- and
- a processor to determine registration errors based on the output signal from the sensor.
A method of forming a registration pattern on a substrate to enable detection of registration errors, comprising:
- a) forming a first registration mark on a substrate at a first image forming station;
- and
- b) partially erasing the first registration mark formed on the substrate at a second image forming station to form a registration pattern.
A image forming device comprising:
- a first image forming station to print a first registration mark on a substrate, the first imaging forming station including a first photoreceptive drum to receive a latent image of the first registration mark, a first developer roll having a voltage to enable transfer of toner to the photoreceptive drum to produce a toner image of the first registration mark on the first photoreceptive drum;
- and a first transfer device having a voltage sufficient to transfer the toner image of the first registration mark to the substrate to print the first registration mark on the substrate;
- a second image forming station controlled so as to at least partially erase the first registration mark printed on the substrate by the first image forming station to form a registration pattern, the second image forming station including a second photoreceptive drum to receive a second latent image of a second registration mark, a second developer roll that prevents development of the second latent image on the second photoreceptive drum, and a second transfer device having a voltage to cause toner on the substrate to transfer to the second photoreceptive drum where the undeveloped second latent image overlaps the first registration mark on the substrate.
A method of detecting registration errors between two color separations in a printer, the method comprising:
- forming a single color registration pattern on a substrate that shows registration errors between two or more separations;
- and
- determining registration errors based on the single color registration pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.