Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided that improve the registration between the color separation images. The systems and methods control the output of the image data for one or more of the color separation images and the velocity of an image-carrying member to remove or reduce registration offsets based on determined position and velocity of the image-carrying member. A position-determining sensor on an image-carrying member device module is used to determine the process-direction position of the image-carrying member to provide real time motion information by simultaneously sensing a plurality of position-determining marks. A position-determining controller determines the process-direction position of the image-carrying member by detecting the plurality of position-determining marks using the position-determining sensor and averaging or correlating the detected data.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring colorimetric, gloss and registration data on a substrate exiting a printing machine is described. A detector using a series of red, green, and blue filters (130,132,134) collects image data and maps the collected data to absolute color coordinates. The apparatus is factory calibrated to the specific colorants used in the printing machine. Gloss measurements are made using the same apparatus. Registration data between the various color separations is also obtained using detectors (140,142,144,146) and feedback delivered to the various imaging modules. The apparatus allows on the fly data to be obtained and machine specific corrections to be made.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for the use of an optical sensor to determine the position of a printing device relative to a piece of paper or a paper-handling surface. The optical sensor reads marks to detect movement and/or direction of movement or spacing of imprints on the paper. Benefits include swath stitching calibration, color to color registration, producing printing device alignment data and generating information for printing device firing signals. The present invention is applicable to a wide field of printing technologies, including, but not limited to, acoustic ink printing, thermal ink jet printing, piezo ink jet printing, ionographic printing and a variety of other printing technologies involving the need for positioning a printing device relative to a piece of paper.
Abstract:
In an image forming device, the inherent eccentricities of the photosensitive belts or drums and the timing belt speed reduction drive trains cause misregistration of the developed latent images. To prevent such misregistration, the timing belt (48) of the speed reduction drive train (42) has a peripheral length which is selected from a range of values dependent on a preselected speed reduction ratio n between the driven pulley (46) and the driving pulley (44). Further, each one of the range of values is an integral improper fraction or integral multiple of the circumference of the driven pulley. Moreover, the driving pulley (50) of the last pulley belt set coupled to the photosensitive member (40) and a driven pulley (46) prior to the last pulley belt set rotate n full rotations as the photosensitive member rotates from the image forming location to the image transfer location. In conjunction, every speed reduction ratio of all pulley belt sets prior to the last pulley belt set is an integer value. Thus, the eccentricities will be self-compensated.
Abstract:
An encoder interface for interfacing an encoder having a first part (104) defining a first axis to a structure having a second part (106) defining a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis includes a portion for translating the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) in a direction transverse to the first axis and a portion for rigidly rotationally stabilizing the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) against a rotation of the first part (104) about the first axis induced by a translation of the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) in the direction transverse to the first axis. A method for interfacing an encoder having a first part (104) defining a first axis with a structure having a second part (106) defining a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis includes the steps of translating the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) in a direction transverse to the first axis and rigidly rotationally stabilizing the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) against a rotation of the first part (104) about the first axis induced by a translation of the first part (104) with respect to the second part (106) in the direction transverse to the first axis.