EP0004573B1 - Xerographic copier - Google Patents
Xerographic copier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0004573B1 EP0004573B1 EP19790100715 EP79100715A EP0004573B1 EP 0004573 B1 EP0004573 B1 EP 0004573B1 EP 19790100715 EP19790100715 EP 19790100715 EP 79100715 A EP79100715 A EP 79100715A EP 0004573 B1 EP0004573 B1 EP 0004573B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- toner
- xerographic copier
- area
- test
- photoconductor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
- G03G15/5033—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor
- G03G15/5041—Detecting a toner image, e.g. density, toner coverage, using a test patch
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00025—Machine control, e.g. regulating different parts of the machine
- G03G2215/00029—Image density detection
- G03G2215/00033—Image density detection on recording member
- G03G2215/00037—Toner image detection
- G03G2215/00042—Optical detection
Definitions
- This invention relates to xerographic machines.
- a common type of developer mix currently in use in such machines is comprised of a carrier material, such as a magnetic bead, coated with a coloured powdery substance called toner. It is the toner which is attracted to the charged, latent image to develop that image and it is the toner which is then transferred from the latent image to the copy paper (where the copy paper is separate from the photoreceptive material). Finally, it is the toner which is then fused to the copy paper to produce the finished copy.
- toner is a supply item which must be periodically replenished in the developer mix since the toner is carried out of the machine on the copy paper as a reproduced image. It is also apparent that the concentration of toner particles in the developer mix is significant to good development of the latent image since too light a toner concentration will result in too light a developed image and too heavy a toner concentration will result in too dark a developed image.
- U.S. Patents 2,956,487 and 3,348,522 disclose the prior art.
- U.S. Patent 2,956,487 provides a toner concentration control system where the reflectivity of the document image to be reproduced is used as a measure of toner density. This system appears subject to difficulty since reflectivity readings will change dependent upon the quality of the original.
- U.S. Patent 3,348,522 discloses a toner concentration control scheme in which a special test image is developed outside the image area used for reproducing document copies.
- U.S. Patent 3,926,338 discloses a circuit for use in a toner concentration control scheme.
- thermally insensitive photodetectors must be used since the large amount of heat generated during machine operation affects the accuracy of toner concentration control readings.
- this patent says that a stable amplifying circuit, stable referring to temperature stability, must be used in order to avoid destruction of the validity of the sensed signal.
- U.S. Patent 4,082,445 shows another toner concentration control system in a copier machine.
- a test stripe is produced adjacent each developed image of an original.
- This stripe is produced by momentarily extinguishing an inter-image erase lamp which normally discharges the photoconductor between image areas thereon.
- the density of the stripe is sensed and compared with that of the adjacent fully exposed areas to determine whether or not toner replenishment in the developer system is required.
- each stripe is produced in an area of the photoconductor outside that normally occupied by an image .of an original. It has now been found that advantages accrue from providing a test area on the photoconductor within the area normally occupied by an image of an original.
- the present invention provides a xerographic copier including means for producing on a re-usable photoconductive imaging surface a substantially uniformly toned test area bordered by a substantially untoned area, sensing means for sensing the optical density of said areas to produce first and second sensor signals representing respectively the density of said untoned and toned areas, and control means responsive to said first and second sensor signals to provide output signals whenever said first and second sensor signals differ by more than a predetermined amount, characterised in that said test area and bordering untoned area are positioned within a portion of the imaging surface upon which images of original documents are formed.
- published European Patent Application No. 0 004 572 relates to a xerographic copier similar to the one described herein but employing a different control arrangement.
- an image of a document to be copied is transferred to the photoconductive surface 26 through an optics module 25 producing that image on the photoconductive surface 26 at exposure station 27.
- developer 23 develops the image which is then transferred to the copy paper.
- preclean corona 22 and erase lamp 24 which discharge all of the remaining charged areas on the photoconductor.
- the photoconductor continues to pass around and through the developing station 23 (which is also a cleaning station in this embodiment) until it reaches the charge corona 21 where the photoconductor 26 is again charged prior to receiving another image at exposure station 27.
- FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the optics system showing the document glass 50 upon which a document to be copied is placed.
- An illumination lamp 40 is housed in a reflector 41.
- Sample light rays 42 and 43 emanate from lamp 40 and are directed from dichroic mirror 44 to the document glass 50 whereat a line of light 45 is produced.
- Sample light rays 42 and 43 are reflected from the document placed on the document glass to reflective surface 46; from there to reflective surface 47 to reflective surface 48 and thence through lens 9 to another reflective surface 49. From mirror 49 the light rays are finally reflected through opening 51 in wall 52 to reach photoconductor 26 whereat a line of light 45' is produced.
- FIGURE 3 shows the various elements in the paper path in perspective.
- a copy sheet 31 is shown with its trailing edge 31 A in the paper path at guides 12.
- the copy paper is receiving an image at transfer station 13A and is in the process of having that image fused to itself by fuser rolls 1 5 and 16.
- the leading edge 31 B of the copy paper is about to leave the document copier and proceed into the collator 19 which is represented in simplified form.
- the photoconductor 26 continues to rotate until it comes under the influence of preclean corona 22 which applies a charge to the photoconductive surface to neutralize the remaining charge thereon.
- Photoconductor 26 continues to rotate until the photoconductor comes under the influence of an erase light 24' in housing 24.
- the erase light produces illumination across the entirety of the photoconductor 26 in order to complete the discharge of any remaining areas on the photoconductive surface which have not been neutralized by the preclean corona 22.
- the photoconductor continues through the cleaning station of developer/cleaner 23, wherein any remaining toner powder not transferred to copy paper is cleaned from the photoconductor prior to the beginning of the next copy cycle.
- the charge corona 21 lays down a uniform charge across photoconductor 26 which charge is variably removed when the image of the document is placed on the photoconductor at the exposure station 27 shown in FIGURE 1.
- Preclean corona 32 and erase lamp 24' are off during this cycle.
- replenisher 35 When the toner concentration control cycle is run, and if the result indicates a need to add toner to the developer, a signal is sent to replenisher 35 which holds a supply of toner and operates to dump a measured amount into the developer. In that manner, the toner density of the developer mix is replenished.
- Any suitable replenisher mechanism may be used including the replenisher described in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 12, pp. 3516, 3517.
- FIGURE 3 shows a housing 32 containing the toner concentration control sensing system shown in FIGURES 4 and 6.
- the photoconductor When it is desired to sense for the concentration of toner in the developer mix the photoconductor is charged as usual at the charge corona 21, but no image is placed on the charged photoconductor at exposure station 27. Instead, on this cycle, the erase lamp 24' remains on, discharging all of the charge which has been laid down by charge corona 21 in order to provide bare photoconductor for a reference test area. However, the erase lamp 24' is momentarily interrupted to produce a charged stripe toned sample for a test area.
- the lamp 24' is comprised of an array of light-emitting diodes, the array can be segmented such that only a few of the LEDs are momentarily turned off and therefore only a small "patch” of charge remains on the photoconductor at the conclusion of this part of the cycle. If a fluorescent tube is used as the erase lamp 24', momentarily reducing its energization to a low level will produce a "stripe" of charge remaining on the photoconductor at the conclusion of this part of the cycle.
- the charged test area continues to rotate in the direction A until it reaches the developer 23 where toner is placed onto the charged area to produce a toned sample test area.
- a light-emitting diode (LED) or other suitable light source 33 is energized to produce light rays which reflect off the toned sample test area 35 and are reflected to a photosensor 34.
- LED light-emitting diode
- FIGURE 5 shows the layout of the photoconductor 26 with an image area 28 outlined therein.
- a developed patch 30 has been produced within the image area 28.
- FIGURE 2 shows apparatus for producing patch 30.
- erase lamp 24' (see FIGURE 3) is momentarily interrupted to produce a stripe of charge.
- 45' as a line of light producing an image on photoconductor 26
- the line or stripe 45' is used to designate a stripe of charge produced by momentarily interrupting lamp 24'.
- document lamp 40 is turned on during the test cycle so that light from lamp 40 will erase the stripe of charge 45' unless it is interrupted.
- shutter 36 which is shown in FIGURE 2 as dropping across the slot 51 in wall 52.
- Shutter 36 is actuated by solenoid 38.
- light from lamp 40 is blocked away from photoconductor 26 by shutter 36, thus producing a stripe of charge 37.
- erase lamp 24' will erase all of stripe 37 except for patch 30. In that manner, a patch instead of a stripe can be produced.
- slot 51 should be positioned close to the photoconductive surface 26.
- FIGURE 7 shows the layout of photoconductor 26 illustrating a technique for avoiding the need for skipping copies even when operating a long, multi-copy run. If the machine has the capability of producing two different size copies, for example, 216 x 280 mm. and 216 x 355 mm. The 45 mm part of the image area 28 can be used for the density test without skipping a copy.
- FIGURE 7 shows the timing considerations needed for the erase lamp, the document lamp, and the shutter 36 of FIGURE 2.
- the production of the test area is obtained by turning off the document lamp at the conclusion of viewing the 280 mm document and momentarily interrupting the erase lamp as shown on FIGURE 7. Of course, no shutter is used in that case.
- the logic control of the machine provides a signal to trigger the viewing of a reference sample. This is accomplished by energizing LED 33 in the following manner.
- the logic signal results in triggering a transistor switch (not shown) which connects the reference sample input line 60 to ground.
- a transistor switch (not shown) which connects the reference sample input line 60 to ground.
- the voltage on the negative input of OP AMP 61 is dropped from approximately 8 volts to about ground potential. This causes the negative input of OP AMP 61 to switch from a value higher than the positive input to one that is lower resulting in an inversion of OP AMP output from low to high on line 62.
- That output is then fed back to the positive input to lock the OP AMP 61 in a high output condition avoiding oscillations.
- the output voltage on line 62 is applied to transistor Q2 to turn that transistor on, thus closing a circuit from the 24-volt source through the light-emitting diode 33 and transistor Q2 to ground. The result is to provide light from the LED 33 to the photocell 34 at the precise time in the machine cycle to reflect light rays from the bare photoconductor to photocell 34.
- a logic signal is provided to turn on a transistor switch, not shown, to connect the toned sample input line to ground. This results in lowering the negative input on OP AMP 63 from approximately 8 volts to ground potential and causes the output on line 64 to go high.
- the signal on line 64 turns on the transistor Q1, causing the light-emitting diode to conduct through the transistor Q1 to ground.
- the resistance levels connected with the transistor 01 are significantly lower than the resistances associated with transistor Q2.
- the current level through transistor Q1 is significantly higher than the current level through Q2, thus creating a more intense light from LED 33 when the toned sample is viewed.
- the bare photoconductor will reflect a higher light level than the toned photoconductor. It was recognized that the reflected light intensities exciting the photocell must be kept at a nearly equal level whether viewing a bare sample or a toned sample. The reason for this is to avoid the non-linearities which occur in photocell excitations from reception of different light levels to avoid the non-linearities in circuit response and to guarantee high signal levels whether viewing the bright reference sample or the dark toned sample in order to improve noise immunity. In a system which is designed to be relatively free from variations in component sensitivities, this is an important feature.
- OP AMP 65 is connected as a transconductance amplifier. With photocell 34 off only a small dark current flow exists between the output of OP AMP 65 and the negative input. However, when the photocell is excited, the current flow is substantially increased causing a significant voltage drop across resistors R16 and R17 creating a voltage level at line 66 of perhaps 1 or 2 volts. Zener diode 67 limits the voltage level which can occur at line 66 to 8.5 volts, i.e., a swing of 8.5 volts from the photocell unexcited value.
- the 14 volts present on capacitor 73 that is, the reference voltage
- the toned sample input present on line 71 is connected directly to the negative input of OP AMP 74, and is connected through a voltage divider network to the negative input of OP AMP 75. If, for example, resistance levels R21 and R22 were equal, the potential at the negative input of OP AMP 75 would be the difference of 14 volts on line 71 and the 16 volts input, that is, 15 volts.
- the 14-volt reference signal is placed on the positive input while the 14-volt toned sample signal is placed on the negative input. Since there is no differential, the output of OP AMP 74 indicates that the toner concentration condition is correct and the toner low signal remains off. Similarly, at OP AMP 75, the bare sample input is 14 volts, the toned sample input is 15 volts, and therefore the toner extra low signal remains.
- the toned sample signal of 12 volts on line 71 is divided against 16 volts and if the resistances R21 and R22 were equal, would cause 14 volts to appear at the negative input of OP AMP 75. Since both inputs are 14 volts, the toner extra low signal remains off.
- transistor Q8 is turned on by a high output from OP AMP 76.
- a high output from OP AMP 76 is present whenever the output of OP AMP 77 is high (neglecting the RC time delay).
- OP AMP 77 is high when the negative input is lower than the input on the positive side. Note that since line 66 is at 0 volts during regular operation, the voltage at the negative input of OP AMP 77 is lower than the positive side under normal conditions. Note, however, that when a bare or toned sample is taken, voltage on line 66 rises, thus turning off the high output from OP AMP 77, turning off the high output from OP AMP 76 and thus opening the circuit of transistor 08.
- the toner replenisher 35 (FIGURE 3) operates to dump a quantity of toner into developer 23. If both the toner low and the toner extra low signals are activated, a variety of possibilities for further action are present, depending on machine design. For example, the first subsequent action would probably be to check a "cartridge empty" signal from the toner replenisher 35. If it is empty, a call for the key operator of the machine is in order. However, if the replenisher has an adequate toner supply, the next action might be to shut the machine down. Alternatively, there might be repeated toner density checks after a few more copies until the toner extra low signal is no longer active. At some point, if the extra low signal remains activated, the machine would be shut down.
- a test cycle can be run on the shut-down cycle when only small numbers of reproductions are called for during a reproduction run.
- Special test cycles with reproductions skipped may be used only during long, multi-copy runs.
- Providing the specific control circuitry for interrupting machine operation to provide special test cycles at the proper time is dependent upon the requirements of a particular machine. Such circuit design is well within the skill of the art and does not comprise a part of the instant invention.
- control apparatus for receiving the toner low and toner extra low signals to actuate the replenisher are well within the skill of the art and not a part of the invention herein.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to xerographic machines.
- In document copier machines of the xerographic type, charged latent images are produced on a photoreceptive material and then developed through the application of a developer mix. Where the photoreceptive material is separate from the copy paper itself, a transfer of the developed image to the copy paper takes place with subsequent fusing of the developed image to the paper. A common type of developer mix currently in use in such machines is comprised of a carrier material, such as a magnetic bead, coated with a coloured powdery substance called toner. It is the toner which is attracted to the charged, latent image to develop that image and it is the toner which is then transferred from the latent image to the copy paper (where the copy paper is separate from the photoreceptive material). Finally, it is the toner which is then fused to the copy paper to produce the finished copy.
- It is apparent from the procedure outlined above that toner is a supply item which must be periodically replenished in the developer mix since the toner is carried out of the machine on the copy paper as a reproduced image. It is also apparent that the concentration of toner particles in the developer mix is significant to good development of the latent image since too light a toner concentration will result in too light a developed image and too heavy a toner concentration will result in too dark a developed image.
- Other variables which seriously affect copy quality include the image voltage of the photoconductor and the bias voltage on the developer. Many other variables factor into these basic quantities, for example, the quality of the original, the cleanliness of the optical system, and the condition of the photoconductor.
- The prior art includes U.S. Patents 2,956,487 and 3,348,522. U.S. Patent 2,956,487 provides a toner concentration control system where the reflectivity of the document image to be reproduced is used as a measure of toner density. This system appears subject to difficulty since reflectivity readings will change dependent upon the quality of the original. U.S. Patent 3,348,522 discloses a toner concentration control scheme in which a special test image is developed outside the image area used for reproducing document copies. In this latter patent separate reflectivity-sensing devices are used to simultaneously sense light reflected from a single light source, one sensing device to establish a voltage indicative of clear photoconductor outside the image area and the other to establish a voltage indicative of the test area which, as noted above, is also outside the image area. U.S. Patent 3,348,523 is essentially similar to U.S. Patent 3,348,522.
- U.S. Patent 3,926,338 discloses a circuit for use in a toner concentration control scheme. In this patent thermally insensitive photodetectors must be used since the large amount of heat generated during machine operation affects the accuracy of toner concentration control readings. Similarly, this patent says that a stable amplifying circuit, stable referring to temperature stability, must be used in order to avoid destruction of the validity of the sensed signal.
- U.S. Patent 4,082,445 shows another toner concentration control system in a copier machine. In that system, a test stripe is produced adjacent each developed image of an original. This stripe is produced by momentarily extinguishing an inter-image erase lamp which normally discharges the photoconductor between image areas thereon. The density of the stripe is sensed and compared with that of the adjacent fully exposed areas to determine whether or not toner replenishment in the developer system is required. It should be noted that each stripe is produced in an area of the photoconductor outside that normally occupied by an image .of an original. It has now been found that advantages accrue from providing a test area on the photoconductor within the area normally occupied by an image of an original. This is because, as a photoconductor ages with use, there is a tendency for toner to build up on the image area. In addition, the photoconductor surface characteristics in the image area change with use, thus affecting development. Consequently, the image area with continuing use, becomes darkened as compared with those areas outside the image area. Thus an arrangement in which the density of a test area is compared with that of an adjacent untoned area can be maintained more accurate in continued use by employing areas normally positioned within the image area, as the untoned area then provides a reference representative of the actual condition of the imaging area of the photoconductor.
- Accordingly, the present invention provides a xerographic copier including means for producing on a re-usable photoconductive imaging surface a substantially uniformly toned test area bordered by a substantially untoned area, sensing means for sensing the optical density of said areas to produce first and second sensor signals representing respectively the density of said untoned and toned areas, and control means responsive to said first and second sensor signals to provide output signals whenever said first and second sensor signals differ by more than a predetermined amount, characterised in that said test area and bordering untoned area are positioned within a portion of the imaging surface upon which images of original documents are formed.
- It is noted that published European Patent Application No. 0 004 572 relates to a xerographic copier similar to the one described herein but employing a different control arrangement.
- By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:-
- FIGURE 1 is a schematic layout of a xerographic machine in which the present invention may be embodied;
- FIGURE 2 shows the optical system and a photoconductive drum in the machine of FIGURE 1;
- FIGURE 3 is an idealized perspective view of components in the paper path of the machine;
- FIGURE 4 shows the reflectivity-sensing elements of the toner concentration control device;
- FIGURE 5 shows the layout of the photoconductor with the location of the bare reference area and the developed test area within the document reproduction image area;
- FIGURE 6 shows the circuit for processing the reference and test information; and
- FIGURE 7 shows the layout of the photoconductor for minimizing the need for special cycles in long, multi-copy runs.
- FIGURE 1 shows a typical electrophotographic machine of the transfer type. Copy paper is fed from either
paper bin 10 or paper bin 11 alongguides 12 in the paper path to atransfer station 13A located just abovetransfer corona 13. At that station an image is placed upon the copy paper. The copy paper continues through thefusing rolls movable deflector 18 and from there into one of thecollator bins 19. - In order to produce an image on the
photoconductive surface 26, an image of a document to be copied is transferred to thephotoconductive surface 26 through anoptics module 25 producing that image on thephotoconductive surface 26 atexposure station 27. As thedrum 20 continues to rotate in the direction A,developer 23 develops the image which is then transferred to the copy paper. As the photoconductor continues to rotate it comes under the influence ofpreclean corona 22 anderase lamp 24 which discharge all of the remaining charged areas on the photoconductor. The photoconductor continues to pass around and through the developing station 23 (which is also a cleaning station in this embodiment) until it reaches thecharge corona 21 where thephotoconductor 26 is again charged prior to receiving another image atexposure station 27. - FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the optics system showing the
document glass 50 upon which a document to be copied is placed. Anillumination lamp 40 is housed in areflector 41.Sample light rays 42 and 43 emanate fromlamp 40 and are directed fromdichroic mirror 44 to thedocument glass 50 whereat a line oflight 45 is produced.Sample light rays 42 and 43 are reflected from the document placed on the document glass toreflective surface 46; from there toreflective surface 47 toreflective surface 48 and thence throughlens 9 to anotherreflective surface 49. Frommirror 49 the light rays are finally reflected through opening 51 inwall 52 to reachphotoconductor 26 whereat a line of light 45' is produced. In that manner a replica of the information contained in the line oflight 45 on theglass platen 50 is produced on thephotoconductor 26 at 45'. The entire length of a document placed ondocument glass 50 is scanned by motion oflamp 40 and themirrors light 45 across the document at the same speed at which the line of light 45' is moved acrossphotoconductor 26 by rotation ofdrum 20, a 1:1 copy of the document can be produced on thephotoconductor 26. - FIGURE 3 shows the various elements in the paper path in perspective. Here a
copy sheet 31 is shown with itstrailing edge 31 A in the paper path atguides 12. The copy paper is receiving an image attransfer station 13A and is in the process of having that image fused to itself byfuser rolls 1 5 and 16. The leadingedge 31 B of the copy paper is about to leave the document copier and proceed into thecollator 19 which is represented in simplified form. - After an image is transferred to the copy paper, the
photoconductor 26 continues to rotate until it comes under the influence ofpreclean corona 22 which applies a charge to the photoconductive surface to neutralize the remaining charge thereon. Photoconductor 26 continues to rotate until the photoconductor comes under the influence of an erase light 24' inhousing 24. The erase light produces illumination across the entirety of thephotoconductor 26 in order to complete the discharge of any remaining areas on the photoconductive surface which have not been neutralized by thepreclean corona 22. After passing under erase lamp 24', the photoconductor continues through the cleaning station of developer/cleaner 23, wherein any remaining toner powder not transferred to copy paper is cleaned from the photoconductor prior to the beginning of the next copy cycle. - In the next copy cycle the
charge corona 21 lays down a uniform charge acrossphotoconductor 26 which charge is variably removed when the image of the document is placed on the photoconductor at theexposure station 27 shown in FIGURE 1.Preclean corona 32 and erase lamp 24' are off during this cycle. - When the toner concentration control cycle is run, and if the result indicates a need to add toner to the developer, a signal is sent to replenisher 35 which holds a supply of toner and operates to dump a measured amount into the developer. In that manner, the toner density of the developer mix is replenished. Any suitable replenisher mechanism may be used including the replenisher described in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 12, pp. 3516, 3517.
- FIGURE 3 shows a
housing 32 containing the toner concentration control sensing system shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. When it is desired to sense for the concentration of toner in the developer mix the photoconductor is charged as usual at thecharge corona 21, but no image is placed on the charged photoconductor atexposure station 27. Instead, on this cycle, the erase lamp 24' remains on, discharging all of the charge which has been laid down bycharge corona 21 in order to provide bare photoconductor for a reference test area. However, the erase lamp 24' is momentarily interrupted to produce a charged stripe toned sample for a test area. If the lamp 24' is comprised of an array of light-emitting diodes, the array can be segmented such that only a few of the LEDs are momentarily turned off and therefore only a small "patch" of charge remains on the photoconductor at the conclusion of this part of the cycle. If a fluorescent tube is used as the erase lamp 24', momentarily reducing its energization to a low level will produce a "stripe" of charge remaining on the photoconductor at the conclusion of this part of the cycle. - Whether a stripe of charge or a patch of charge is produced, the charged test area continues to rotate in the direction A until it reaches the
developer 23 where toner is placed onto the charged area to produce a toned sample test area. No copy paper need be present attransfer station 13A in the test cycle, thus allowing the developed test area to continue its rotation in direction A until it approaches the toner concentration controlhousing 32. At this point, referring now to FIGURE 4, a light-emitting diode (LED) or other suitablelight source 33 is energized to produce light rays which reflect off the tonedsample test area 35 and are reflected to aphotosensor 34. - FIGURE 5 shows the layout of the
photoconductor 26 with animage area 28 outlined therein. A developedpatch 30 has been produced within theimage area 28. FIGURE 2 shows apparatus for producingpatch 30. As described above, erase lamp 24' (see FIGURE 3) is momentarily interrupted to produce a stripe of charge. While the above description designated 45' as a line of light producing an image onphotoconductor 26, suppose now that during the test cycle the line or stripe 45' is used to designate a stripe of charge produced by momentarily interrupting lamp 24'. Suppose also thatdocument lamp 40 is turned on during the test cycle so that light fromlamp 40 will erase the stripe of charge 45' unless it is interrupted. Such an interruption is made possible by the provision ofshutter 36 which is shown in FIGURE 2 as dropping across theslot 51 inwall 52.Shutter 36 is actuated bysolenoid 38. As a result, light fromlamp 40 is blocked away fromphotoconductor 26 byshutter 36, thus producing a stripe ofcharge 37. Of course, erase lamp 24' will erase all ofstripe 37 except forpatch 30. In that manner, a patch instead of a stripe can be produced. Note thatslot 51 should be positioned close to thephotoconductive surface 26. - As FIGURE 5 demonstrates, placing the
test area 30 withinimage area 28 necessitates skipping the production of a copy during a long, multi-copy run since a density test should be taken periodically, for example, after 20 copies. On short runs the test is taken on the run-out cycle at the conclusion of document reproduction. FIGURE 7 shows the layout ofphotoconductor 26 illustrating a technique for avoiding the need for skipping copies even when operating a long, multi-copy run. If the machine has the capability of producing two different size copies, for example, 216 x 280 mm. and 216 x 355 mm. The 45 mm part of theimage area 28 can be used for the density test without skipping a copy. FIGURE 7 shows the timing considerations needed for the erase lamp, the document lamp, and theshutter 36 of FIGURE 2. - If a segmented LED array is used for the erase lamp, or if a stripe of charge is produced instead of a
patch 30, the production of the test area is obtained by turning off the document lamp at the conclusion of viewing the 280 mm document and momentarily interrupting the erase lamp as shown on FIGURE 7. Of course, no shutter is used in that case. - Referring to FIGURE 6, in order to produce a reference voltage, when the proper time in the sequential operation of the machine has arrived, the logic control of the machine provides a signal to trigger the viewing of a reference sample. This is accomplished by energizing
LED 33 in the following manner. The logic signal results in triggering a transistor switch (not shown) which connects the referencesample input line 60 to ground. As a consequence, the voltage on the negative input ofOP AMP 61 is dropped from approximately 8 volts to about ground potential. This causes the negative input ofOP AMP 61 to switch from a value higher than the positive input to one that is lower resulting in an inversion of OP AMP output from low to high online 62. That output is then fed back to the positive input to lock theOP AMP 61 in a high output condition avoiding oscillations. The output voltage online 62 is applied to transistor Q2 to turn that transistor on, thus closing a circuit from the 24-volt source through the light-emittingdiode 33 and transistor Q2 to ground. The result is to provide light from theLED 33 to thephotocell 34 at the precise time in the machine cycle to reflect light rays from the bare photoconductor tophotocell 34. - In order to produce a sensed toned sample voltage, when the proper time in the machine cycle is reached to direct light upon the toned sample a logic signal is provided to turn on a transistor switch, not shown, to connect the toned sample input line to ground. This results in lowering the negative input on
OP AMP 63 from approximately 8 volts to ground potential and causes the output online 64 to go high. The signal online 64 turns on the transistor Q1, causing the light-emitting diode to conduct through the transistor Q1 to ground. Note that the resistance levels connected with thetransistor 01 are significantly lower than the resistances associated with transistor Q2. As a result, the current level through transistor Q1 is significantly higher than the current level through Q2, thus creating a more intense light fromLED 33 when the toned sample is viewed. The reason for this is that the bare photoconductor will reflect a higher light level than the toned photoconductor. It was recognized that the reflected light intensities exciting the photocell must be kept at a nearly equal level whether viewing a bare sample or a toned sample. The reason for this is to avoid the non-linearities which occur in photocell excitations from reception of different light levels to avoid the non-linearities in circuit response and to guarantee high signal levels whether viewing the bright reference sample or the dark toned sample in order to improve noise immunity. In a system which is designed to be relatively free from variations in component sensitivities, this is an important feature. - Referring now to the circuit of
photocell 34, note thatOP AMP 65 is connected as a transconductance amplifier. Withphotocell 34 off only a small dark current flow exists between the output ofOP AMP 65 and the negative input. However, when the photocell is excited, the current flow is substantially increased causing a significant voltage drop across resistors R16 and R17 creating a voltage level atline 66 of perhaps 1 or 2 volts.Zener diode 67 limits the voltage level which can occur atline 66 to 8.5 volts, i.e., a swing of 8.5 volts from the photocell unexcited value. Assuming a photocell excited voltage level of 2 volts atline 66, the change from 0 volts to 2 volts is coupled throughcapacitor 68 to an integrating circuit comprised ofOP AMP 69,capacitor 70, field effect transistor (FET) Q5 and the associated resistances. Underordinary conditions 16 volts is placed on the input ofOP AMP 69 resulting in an output of 16 volts atline 71. When a light source excites the photocell, resulting in a voltage of, for example, 2 volts online 66, a two-volt swing appears across thecapacitor 68 and is placed on thecapacitor 70, resulting in a ramping down of the voltage online 71 from 16 volts to 14 volts. If a bare (reference) sample is being taken the output ofOP AMP 61biases diode 72 to turn on FET Q6 during the bare sample period. Thus the 14 volts online 71 passes through FET Q6 and is placed oncapacitor 73. That voltage is stored until such time as the toned sample is taken byphotocell 34. - When the toned sample is taken, there should again be a 2-volt potential produced on
line 66 if the density of the toned sample is approximately correct. This is true because of the balancing of current flow inphotocell 34 regardless of whether a reference sample or a toned sample is being taken (due to the different current levels throughLED 33 as explained above). Thus a 2-volt swing again appears acrosscapacitor 68 resulting in a 2-volt potential drop acrosscapacitor 70, causing the voltage ofline 71 to ramp down from 16 to 14 volts. During the toned sample input period FET Q7 is turned on and FET Q6 remains off. Thus the 14 volts present oncapacitor 73, that is, the reference voltage, is placed on the positive inputs ofOP AMPS line 71 is connected directly to the negative input ofOP AMP 74, and is connected through a voltage divider network to the negative input ofOP AMP 75. If, for example, resistance levels R21 and R22 were equal, the potential at the negative input ofOP AMP 75 would be the difference of 14 volts online 71 and the 16 volts input, that is, 15 volts. - At
OP AMP 74, the 14-volt reference signal is placed on the positive input while the 14-volt toned sample signal is placed on the negative input. Since there is no differential, the output ofOP AMP 74 indicates that the toner concentration condition is correct and the toner low signal remains off. Similarly, atOP AMP 75, the bare sample input is 14 volts, the toned sample input is 15 volts, and therefore the toner extra low signal remains. - Suppose, however, that the toner density of the toned patch was too light. The result would be an excessive reflection of light from that patch, causing a high excitation of
photocell 34 and resulting in a potential atline 66, of, for example, 4 volts. In this example a 4-volt swing would appear acrosscapacitor 68, thus causing a ramping of the voltage atline 71 from 16 volts to 12 volts. Now the 12 volts appears directly on the negative input ofOP AMP 74 and is compared to the 14 volts on the positive input, creating a high output, thus turning on the "toner low" signal.OP AMP 74 is designed to register when a 30 millivolt difference appears, and thus the low output signal will now be energized. AtOP AMP 75, the toned sample signal of 12 volts online 71 is divided against 16 volts and if the resistances R21 and R22 were equal, would cause 14 volts to appear at the negative input ofOP AMP 75. Since both inputs are 14 volts, the toner extra low signal remains off. - Suppose now that the toned sample was so light that the photocell excited to such a degree that a 6-volt swing was experienced on
line 66, thus sending the voltage online 66 from 0 volts to 6 volts. That 6-volt swing causes a ramping of the voltage online 71 from 16 volts to 10 volts. When the 10 volts is divided with the 16 volts (again assuming equal R21 and R22 values) a voltage of 13 volts is placed on the negative input ofOP AMP 75. When this 13- volt signal is compared to the 14-volt reference, the toner extra low output signal is turned on. - During regular operation of the machine, i.e., when there is no interruption for a test cycle, it is desirable to provide a checking signal in order to determine that the test network is in operating order. That is provided by the portion of the circuit including transistor Q8. Note that when transistor Q8 is turned on the negative input to
OP AMP 75 is grounded and thus turns high the output ofOP AMP 75. As a consequence, the toner extra low signal is turned on. At the same time the voltage levels atOP AMP 74 keep the toner low output signal off. This creates an unusual condition of having the toner extra low signal on while the toner low signal is off. This condition is forced by the operation of transistor Q8, and thus any change in this condition during the operation of the machine will signify to the machine logic that something is wrong in the test circuit. Note that transistor Q8 is turned on by a high output fromOP AMP 76. A high output fromOP AMP 76 is present whenever the output of OP AMP 77 is high (neglecting the RC time delay). OP AMP 77 is high when the negative input is lower than the input on the positive side. Note that sinceline 66 is at 0 volts during regular operation, the voltage at the negative input of OP AMP 77 is lower than the positive side under normal conditions. Note, however, that when a bare or toned sample is taken, voltage online 66 rises, thus turning off the high output from OP AMP 77, turning off the high output fromOP AMP 76 and thus opening the circuit of transistor 08. - Another quality test available through this circuit is that if the photoconductor has become so coated with toner that when the bare sample is taken it actually is a darkened sample, there will be only a small amount of light from
LED 33 appearing at thephotocell 34. It will be a much lower photocell excitation than expected, consequently, the voltage online 66 does not change significantly, and thus even though a bare sample is being taken, transistor Q8 is not turned off sinceline 66 does not change significantly higher from its regular value. Therefore the output of OP AMP 77 remains high and transistor Q8 remains on. In this situation, the logic senses the fact that the toner extra low output signal fromOP AMP 75 has remained on even though it should have gone off when entering the test sequence. This informs the logic that a darkened photoconductor condition is present and that remedial steps are needed. Consequently, the circuit of transistor Q8 performs a darkened photoconductor check as well as indicating the presence of problems in the test circuit itself. - Upon testing for toner density, if the toner low signal is activated, the toner replenisher 35 (FIGURE 3) operates to dump a quantity of toner into
developer 23. If both the toner low and the toner extra low signals are activated, a variety of possibilities for further action are present, depending on machine design. For example, the first subsequent action would probably be to check a "cartridge empty" signal from thetoner replenisher 35. If it is empty, a call for the key operator of the machine is in order. However, if the replenisher has an adequate toner supply, the next action might be to shut the machine down. Alternatively, there might be repeated toner density checks after a few more copies until the toner extra low signal is no longer active. At some point, if the extra low signal remains activated, the machine would be shut down. - As stated above, a test cycle can be run on the shut-down cycle when only small numbers of reproductions are called for during a reproduction run. Special test cycles with reproductions skipped may be used only during long, multi-copy runs. Providing the specific control circuitry for interrupting machine operation to provide special test cycles at the proper time is dependent upon the requirements of a particular machine. Such circuit design is well within the skill of the art and does not comprise a part of the instant invention. Similarly, control apparatus for receiving the toner low and toner extra low signals to actuate the replenisher are well within the skill of the art and not a part of the invention herein.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US89495678A | 1978-04-10 | 1978-04-10 | |
US05/894,955 US4183657A (en) | 1978-04-10 | 1978-04-10 | Dynamic reference for an image quality control system |
US894956 | 1978-04-10 | ||
US05/894,957 US4178095A (en) | 1978-04-10 | 1978-04-10 | Abnormally low reflectance photoconductor sensing system |
US894957 | 1978-04-10 | ||
US894955 | 1978-04-10 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0004573A1 EP0004573A1 (en) | 1979-10-17 |
EP0004573B1 true EP0004573B1 (en) | 1981-10-14 |
Family
ID=27420556
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19790100715 Expired EP0004573B1 (en) | 1978-04-10 | 1979-03-09 | Xerographic copier |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0004573B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE2960963D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4312589A (en) * | 1979-11-19 | 1982-01-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Charge density control for an electrostatic copier |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3251761A (en) * | 1962-08-28 | 1966-05-17 | Bayer Ag | Process for the production of organic compounds containing nitrogen and chlorine combined in an-n=ccl-radical |
US3348523A (en) * | 1965-04-07 | 1967-10-24 | Xerox Corp | Automatic toner control system |
US3969114A (en) * | 1973-07-26 | 1976-07-13 | Xerox Corporation | Method for monitoring copy quality |
US4082445A (en) * | 1975-11-21 | 1978-04-04 | Xerox Corporation | Toner control system for an electrostatic reproduction machine |
GB1561923A (en) * | 1976-12-31 | 1980-03-05 | Xerox Corp | Control system for an electrostatogrophic copying machine |
-
1979
- 1979-03-09 EP EP19790100715 patent/EP0004573B1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-03-09 DE DE7979100715T patent/DE2960963D1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0004573A1 (en) | 1979-10-17 |
DE2960963D1 (en) | 1981-12-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0054637B1 (en) | Image density test circuit for an electrophotographic copier | |
US4183657A (en) | Dynamic reference for an image quality control system | |
EP0004572B1 (en) | Xerographic copier | |
US4178095A (en) | Abnormally low reflectance photoconductor sensing system | |
US4619522A (en) | Dual mode image density controlling method | |
US4239372A (en) | Transfer type electrophotographic copying machine | |
US4466731A (en) | Electrophotographic machine with high density toner concentration control | |
EP0071746B1 (en) | Xerographic copier control means and method | |
CA1128114A (en) | Test cycle quality control system for an electrophotographic machine | |
EP0004573B1 (en) | Xerographic copier | |
US5214477A (en) | Image forming apparatus having a toner density detecting device | |
GB2081649A (en) | Monitoring image density in electrophotographic copiers | |
US5198859A (en) | Document information detecting device for a copying machine | |
JPH0785184B2 (en) | Image density control method for electrophotographic copying machine | |
JPH047510B2 (en) | ||
JPS6360389B2 (en) | ||
JP3067182B2 (en) | Image density control method | |
JPH09190039A (en) | Toner concentration control method and device thereof | |
JPS63213879A (en) | Automatic control using bar code reader | |
JPH06148991A (en) | Automatic image quality compensation control method | |
JPH0358112B2 (en) | ||
JPH0219873A (en) | Method for controlling toner concentration in copying device | |
JPS631329Y2 (en) | ||
JPH11327229A (en) | Image forming device | |
JPH02140764A (en) | Image forming device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT NL SE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed | ||
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed |
Owner name: IBM - DR. ALFREDO BRAVI |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT NL SE |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 2960963 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19811224 |
|
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: OCE-NEDERLAND B.V. Effective date: 19820714 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 19830627 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PLBG | Opposition deemed not to have been filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009274 |
|
26D | Opposition deemed not to have been filed |
Opponent name: OCE-NEDERLAND B.V. Effective date: 19830929 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Effective date: 19840331 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Payment date: 19840331 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Effective date: 19860310 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 19900228 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Effective date: 19910309 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 19910323 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
ITTA | It: last paid annual fee | ||
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 19920331 Year of fee payment: 14 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Effective date: 19921201 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 19930226 Year of fee payment: 15 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Effective date: 19931001 |
|
NLV4 | Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Payment date: 19940106 Year of fee payment: 16 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Effective date: 19941130 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |
|
EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed |
Ref document number: 79100715.6 Effective date: 19870223 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Effective date: 19950331 |
|
BERE | Be: lapsed |
Owner name: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. Effective date: 19950331 |
|
RIN2 | Information on inventor provided after grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: CHAMPION, JAMES ROBERT Inventor name: SEIGAL, STEVEN DAVID Inventor name: ERNST, LARRY MASON Inventor name: VAN CLEAVE, GEORGE WILLIAM Inventor name: WILSON, CLEMENT CARD |