Patent Application
20080019719
Various exemplary embodiments of systems and methods will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
Various features and advantages are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods.
In general, the image data source 90 can be any one or more of a number of different sources, such as a scanner, a digital copier, a facsimile device that is suitable for generating electronic image data, or a device suitable for storing and/or transmitting electronic image data, such as a client or server of a network, such as the Internet, and especially the World Wide Web, for example. Thus, the image data source 90 can be any known or later-developed source that is capable of providing image data to the image forming device 100. The signal line or link 95 can be implemented using a public switched telephone network, a local or wide area network, an intranet, the Internet, a wireless transmission channel, or any other known or later-developed distributed network, or the like.
When the image data source 90 is a personal computer, the link 95 connecting the image data source 90 to the image forming device 100 can be a direct link between the personal computer and the image forming device 100. The link 95 can also be a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, or any other distributed processing and storage network. Moreover, the link 95 can also be a wireless link to the image data source 90. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the image data source 90 can be connected using any known or later-developed system that is capable of transmitting data from the image data source 90 to the image forming device 100.
The image data provided by the image data source 90 is received by the input/output interface 105. The image data from the input/output interface 105, under the control of the controller 110, is forwarded either directly to the appropriate station or is initially stored in the memory 107. If the image data first is stored in the memory 107, the controller 110 can subsequently forward the image data from the memory 107 to the appropriate station.
The memory 107 can be implemented using any appropriate combination of alterable, volatile or non-volatile, memory; or non-alterable or fixed memory. The alterable memory, whether volatile or non-volatile, can be implemented using any one or more of static or dynamic RAM, a floppy disk and disk drive, a writeable or re-writeable optical disk and disk drive, a hard drive, flash memory or the like. Similarly, the non-alterable or fixed memory can be implemented using any one or more of ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, an optical ROM disk, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disk, and disk drive or the like.
It should be appreciated that, while the electronic image data can be generated at the time of printing an image from an original physical document, the electronic image data could have been generated at any time in the past. Moreover, the electronic image data need not have been generated from the original physical document, but could have been created from scratch electronically. The image data source 90 is thus any known or later developed device which is capable of supplying electronic image data over the link 95 to the image forming device 100. The link 95 can thus be any known or later developed system or device for transmitting the electronic image data from the image data source 90 to the image forming device 100.
A known image forming device prints cyan, magenta, yellow and black. These four colors are typically generated separately at stations 2-5, 130-160, respectively. Station 120 may be used for a custom color toner, or not at all. If station 120 is not used, it may still be retained in the architecture of the image forming device. Substations for charging, exposing and developing the different color images are located in each of stations 1 (121-123, respectively), station 2 (131-133, respectively), station 3 (141-143, respectively), station 4 (151-153, respectively) and station 5 (161-163, respectively).
The exposing substation 122 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190 in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the image associated with a first color separation. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT122 through the exposing substation 122. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D2 to reach the developing station 123. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D2 between the developing station 123 and the exposing substation 122 are predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190.
The developing station 123 develops the first color of the toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT123 through the developing station 123. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the first color of the toner image over the distance DT123.
The photoconductive belt continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, to the charging substation 131. The charging substation 131 charges the photoconductive belt 190, including the toner image from station 123 on its surface. The charged photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT131 through the charging substation 131. The charged photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D3 to reach the exposing substation 132. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D3 between the exposing substation 132 and the charging substation 131 are predetermined to allow uniform charging of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190.
The exposing substation 132 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190 in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the image associated with a second color separation. The second separation may be exposed through the previously developed toner image, if necessary. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT132 through the exposing substation 132 The portion of photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D4 to reach the developing station 133. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D4 between the developing station 133 and the exposing substation 132 are predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed image.
The developing station 133 develops the second color toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT133 through the developing station 133. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the second color toner image over the distance DT133.
The photoconductive belt continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, to the charging substation 141. The substation 141 charges the photoconductive belt 190. The charged photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT141 through the charging substation 141. The charged photoconductive bet 190 then travels a distance D5 to reach the exposing substation 142. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D5 between the exposing substation 142 and the charging substation 141 are predetermined to allow uniform charging the portion of the photoconductive belt 190.
The exposing substation 142 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190 in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the image associated with a third color separation. The third color separation may be exposed through the previously developed toner images, if necessary. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT142 through the exposing substation 142. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D6 to reach the developing station 143. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D6 between the developing station 143 and the exposing substation 142 are predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed images.
The developing station 143 develops the third color toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT143 through the developing station 143. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the third color toner image over the distance DT143.
The photoconductive belt continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, to the charging substation 151. The charging substation 151 charges the photoconductive belt 190. The charged photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT151 through the charging substation 151. The charged photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D7 to reach the exposing substation 152. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D7 between the exposing substation 152 and the charging substation 151 are predetermined to allow uniform charging of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190.
The exposing substation 152 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190 in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the image associated with a fourth color separation. The fourth color separation may be exposed through the previously developed toner image, if necessary. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT152 through the exposing substation 152. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D8 to reach the developing station 153. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D8 between the developing station 153 and the exposing substation 152 are predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed images.
The developing station 153 develops the fourth color toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT153 through the developing station 153. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the fourth color toner image over the distance DT153.
In this schematic diagram of one exemplary embodiment of the known image forming device 100 of
The exposing substation 162 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190, in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the image associated with a fifth color separation. The fifth color separation may be exposed through the previously developed toner image, if necessary. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT162 through the exposing substation 162. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D10 to reach the developing station 166. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D10 between the developing station 166 and the exposing substation 162 are predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed images.
The developing station 166 develops the fifth color toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT163 through the developing station 166. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the fifth color toner image over the distance DT163.
It should be appreciated that the rate at which the belt may move through the stations is a function of the time required at each substation (i.e., dwell time), the distance through each substation and the distance between the substations within a particular station.
It should also be appreciated that the fifth set of charging, exposing and developing stations are not absolutely required to generate the full-color image. These substations may be physically present and unused. In various exemplary embodiments, charging substation 121, exposing substation 122 and developing station 123 are the substations reserved for an optional fifth color.
Upon development of the image, the photoconductive belt 190 continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, through the pre-transfer station 170. The pre-transfer station 170 prepares the image for transfer to a recording material 185 at the transfer station 186. The recording material 185 is fed by the recording material housing 184 to the transfer station 186, where the image is transferred from the photoconductive belt 190 to the recording material 185. The recording material 185 then moves in the direction of 182 to the fixing device 188. The fixing device 188 receives the recording material 185 and fixes, at least semi-permanently, the image onto the recording material 185.
In step S500, the photoconductive surface is charged, exposed and a third toner color image is developed at a third station. Then, in step S600, the photoconductive surface is charged, exposed and a fourth toner color image is developed at a fourth station. Next, in step S700, the final image is output. Operation of the method continue to step S800, where operation of the method stops.
According to various exemplary embodiments, under control of the controller 201, the photoconductive belt may continue to move, in a counterclockwise direction, to the exposing substation 142 that includes the ROS 143, where the photoconductive belt 190 is again exposed in an image-wise fashion to a similar exposure pattern produced by exposure station 132, under control of the controller 201.
According to various exemplary embodiments, under control of the controller 201, the ROS 143 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190, in an additive manner to the previously exposed latent image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT142 through the exposing substation 142. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 may be predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed image.
According to various exemplary embodiments, under control of the controller 201, the photoconductive belt may continue to move, in a counterclockwise direction, to the exposing substation 152 that includes the ROS 153, where the photoconductive belt 190 is again exposed in an image-wise fashion to a similar exposure pattern produced by exposure station 132, under control of the controller 201. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT152 through the exposing substation 152.
In various exemplary embodiments, the photoconductive belt continues to move in a counterclockwise direction to the exposing substation 162 that includes the ROS 164, where the photoconductive belt 190 is again exposed in an image-wise fashion to a similar exposure pattern produced by exposure station 132, under control of the controller 201. The ROS 164 exposes, in an image-wise fashion, that portion of the photoconductive belt 190 containing the previously exposed latent images. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance through the exposing substation 162. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D10 to reach the developing station 166. In various exemplary embodiments, the speed of the photoconductive belt 190 and the distance D10 between the developing station 166 and the exposing substation 162 maybe predetermined to allow sufficient exposure of the portion of the photoconductive belt 190 through the previously exposed images.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the exposing devices 132, 142, 152 and 162 are of similar exposure power and characteristics. Also according to various exemplary embodiments, the sum total of the exposing powers of the exposing devices 132, 142, 152 and 162 corresponds to the exposing power required to expose a monochrome image. This embodiment would not be limited, however, to systems whose sum total of the exposing powers of the exposing devices 132, 142, 152 and 162 corresponds to the exposing power required to expose a monochrome image. For example, an exemplary embodiment would also include any subset of exposing devices 132, 142, 152 and 162 should the subset possess the exposing power required to expose a monochrome image.
Under control of the controller 201, the developing station 166 develops the toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT163 through the developing station 166. The speed of the photoconductive belt allows sufficient development of the toner image over the distance DT163.
It should be appreciated that the rate at which the belt may move through the stations is a function of the time required at each substation (i.e., dwell time) and the distance through each substation.
According to various exemplary embodiments, upon development of the image, the photoconductive belt 190 continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, through the pre-transfer station 170, under control of the controller 201. The pre-transfer station 170 prepares the image for transfer to a recording material 185 at the transfer station 186. The recording material 185 is fed by the recording material housing 184 to the transfer station 186, where the image is transferred from the photoconductive belt 190 to the recording material 185. The recording material 185 then moves n the direction of 182 to the fixing device 188. The fixing device 188 receives the recording material 185 and fixes, at least semi-permanently, the image onto the recording material 185.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the photoreceptor belt may be exposed by two, three, four or more Raster Output Scanners (ROS). It should be noted that to one skilled in the art, the number of ROSs used for exposure, whether it is one, two, three, four or more, may be a function of, for example, the exposure power available per ROS, the speed at which the photoreceptor 109 moves, and the like. Generally, the faster the photoreceptor moves, the more light per unit time is required to expose it. Hence, by utilizing ROSs 133, 143 and 153, which, in the prior art illustrated in
The exposing substation 162 exposes a portion of the photoconductive belt 190 in an image-wise fashion corresponding to the monochrome image to be printed. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT162 through the exposing substation 162. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 then travels a distance D10 to reach the developing station 163. The developing station 163 develops the monochrome toner image. The portion of the photoconductive belt 190 travels a distance DT163 through the developing station 163. The speed of the photoconductive belt must allow sufficient development of the toner image over the distance DT163.
It should be appreciated that the rate at which the belt may move through the stations is a function of the time required at each substation (i.e., dwell time), the distance through each substation and the distance between the substations within a particular station. Upon development of the image, the photoconductive belt 190 continues to move, in a counterclockwise direction, through the pre-transfer station 170 The pre-transfer station 170 prepares the image for transfer to a recording material 185 at the transfer station 186. The recording material 185 is fed by the recording material housing 184 to the transfer station 186, where the image is transferred from the photoconductive belt 190 to the recording material 185. The recording material 185 then moves in the direction of 182 to the fixing device 188. The fixing device 188 receives the recording material 185 and fixes, at least semi-permanently, the image onto the recording material 185.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
