EP1828850A2

EP1828850A2 - Method, device and computer program for producing a developer mixture in an electrographic developer station

Info

Publication number: EP1828850A2
Application number: EP05811331A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Zehentbauer; Bernd Hausmann; Thomas Schwarz-Kock
Original assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2004-11-30
Filing date: 2005-11-28
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-28
Also published as: EP1828850B1; WO2006058686A2; DE102004057856A1; US20080089719A1; JP4838807B2; WO2006058686A3; US7650102B2; JP2008522205A; DE502005011145D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a developer mixture in a developer station (14, 16/1 16/5) of an electrographic printing device. According to said method, the developer station (14, 16/1 16/5) is simultaneously filled with ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner. In the event of a malfunction, the filling process is continued, using the last detected quantity of carrier particles and/or toner, in a predetermined process step.

Description

A method, apparatus and computer program for generating a developer mixture in an electrographic developer station

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a developer mixture in a developer station for an electrographic printer or copier. Such devices operate according to the electrographic principle, in which image information is transmitted by e.g. electrical, magnetic and / or optical signals are generated as electrical charge or magnetic fields on an intermediate carrier point by point and the intermediate carrier is dot-wise inked with toner. The coloring is accomplished in particular with a two-component developer mixture and can be done by means of a magnetic brush produced with magnets or by the so-called toner jump principle. The developer mixture contains charged and / or magnetized particles, so-called carrier particles, and toner. The toner image is then on a recording medium, especially on paper, reprintable.

A printing device operating according to the electrophotographic principle in which the image information is generated by means of light on a photoconductive layer is known from DE-C1-19540138. From WO-Al-98/27472 a developer station operating according to the toner jump method is known.

US-A-4, 511, 639 discloses a process for regenerating a developer mixture in an electrophotographic printing machine. System known. Although such methods can increase the life of the developer mixture, it is sometimes necessary to completely renew the mixture to ensure high quality of the printed images.

From EP-B1-016935 a printing system is known in which aggregates such as e.g. a developer station having an electrical memory for storing operating values.

From WO-A2-02 / 067060 a method for the continuous exchange of carrier particles in a developer station is known.

From WO-Al-98/39691 an electrophotographic printing device is known, which has several developer stations. WO-Al-98/27466 shows a corresponding device.

From US Pat. No. 5,592,270 a method is known for filling an electrophotographic developer station with carrier particles and toner, wherein the inflows of toner and carrier particles are each separately controllable.

From EP-B1-016935 a printing device is known in which various units are provided with an electronic memory element in which unit-specific values can be permanently stored.

The above publications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification.

In large electrographic printing devices with high printing powers of a few tens of pages of DIN A 4 per minute to over 1000 pages of DIN A4 per minute, relatively large quantities of developer mixtures have to be provided. This provision is relatively time consuming in such devices, when the toner and the ferromagnetic carrier particles are mixed only in the developer station and are additionally activated need to be continuously mixed with each other over a certain minimum period in order to build up a triboelectric potential in the developer mixture. The time required is particularly disadvantageous because during this time the printing machine is out of operation.

It is an object of the invention to improve developer-related processes for electrographic devices.

This object is achieved by the invention specified in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention are simultaneously magnetizable, esp. For generating a developer mixture in a developer station of an electrographic printing device. ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner filled in the developer station. This achieves a process parallelization of the two filling processes.

By parallelizing individual phases of the overall process "mixture change" a clear time optimization is achieved.When a device has several developer stations, a further optimization of the time sequences and thereby a reduction of the printer downtime, ie the times in which no printing operation is possible, thereby It can be provided, in particular, that the developer stations each have their own device for monitoring the aging state of the mixture, for example a counter for the number of times the mixture is mixed printed pages, but that an exchange of several developer mixtures simultaneously for all these mixtures, as soon as a first mixture has reached its life limit, for example by reaching a predetermined upper counter limit of the page counter continue In a more refined embodiment, the simultaneous replacement of a further developer mixture can be made dependent on whether its age state has reached a certain minimum degree of substitution, for example if its page counter has reached a so-called lower replacement limit which is below the said upper counter limit value.

In particular, three phases for creating a developer mixture are: Carrier filling, tinting (i.e., filling in toner), and mixing.

These phases can be described as follows:

Loading Carrier: In this phase, the carrier material - carrier - is filled into the developer station.

Tinting: The filled carrier has no toner. In order to be able to print, a certain toner concentration must be present. To achieve this, a newly filled mixture is toned. In this case, a fixed number of delivery cycles are performed, which transport the necessary amount of toner to the carrier.

Mixing: The carrier and the toner must be mixed to obtain an even distribution and to charge electrically. This charging of the carrier and especially of the toner is necessary to be able to carry out the printing process at all.

To solve the problem, the individual processes are filled with carriers and tinting is carried out at the same time. In particular, the two processes can be coordinated so that first the carrier is filled and after a defined time the Auftonerprozess connects. The time is reasonable for some carrier to be in the developer station before the first toner is added. Both In particular, processes end at the same time. The mixing takes place in particular simultaneously with the other two processes. The parallel operations of conveying the carrier and toner simultaneously fulfill the function of the mixing phase. Furthermore, it is possible to additionally carry out a mixing phase of any time by changing the parameter if necessary. The possibility is particularly advantageous because it may require a longer activation for certain toners or carriers.

Due to the parallelization, the individual phases of a mixture preparation, which have hitherto been carried out strictly one after the other, are pushed into one another temporally, which leads to a significant optimization of the time. The lower process time results in a more pleasant handling of the printer and less waiting time during the mixture change. In addition, the mixture ages less because it is less stressed.

For the first time, processes according to the invention are parallelized, which were carried out successively in previously known traversers. It is filled with carrier and toner at the same time with a certain delay that is necessary. As a result, the processes can be intertwined and the total process time can be significantly reduced.

The mixing phase for mixing and activating the mixture is carried out in parallel, wherein the common filling of the developer station is sufficient to activate the resulting mixture. Activate means that the toner and carrier charge in the opposite direction due to the friction during mixing. If there are mixtures that have different properties and require a longer mixing phase, a separate mixing phase can be provided in the process, which can be activated by changing the parameters if necessary. According to a second aspect of the invention, which can be carried out in combination or else independently of the first aspect, a method for computer-assisted changing of a developer mixture in a developer station of an electrographic printing apparatus comprises:

(a) a first phase in which a spent developer mixture is discharged from the developer station, and

(b) a second phase in which a new developer mixture is produced by adding new carrier particles and toner into the developer station in a stepwise or continuous process and mixing them with each other, the amount of carrier particles and / or the toner supplied being automatically, in particular step by step, automatically be grasped.

The overall process of the mixture preparation is thereby subdivided in particular into phases and predetermined parameters, in particular quantitative values of the filled materials, are recorded during the process. This makes it possible, in the case of a termination of the process during a phase, in particular in an error trap to continue the process controlled in this phase. As a result, partially prepared mixtures can be completed in a controlled manner and do not need to be disposed of.

According to a third aspect of the invention, which may be considered alone or together with the above-mentioned aspects, in a process for changing a developer mixture in an electrographic developer station in the case of failure or abort of the process, a continuation takes place at a predetermined process step, in particular using the last detected amount of carrier particles and / or toner. The process structure can be done in particular by so-called anchor points. The anchor points serve as reentry points at predetermined process steps in the event that the mixture change sequence is interrupted. Thus, the entire procedure does not have to be run through again from the beginning, but can be continued at the appropriate place in a time-saving manner. In addition, in this way not a possibly newly filled Carrier must be drained and discarded just to the process again (with a new carrier) to start over again (which incurs additional costs). This form of process structure is particularly advantageous when the process is computer controlled.

If an error occurs, the process does not have to be repeated completely, but continues at an anchor point.

The anchor points are on meaningful and technically feasible

Points inserted in the process. To some, very important

To be able to continue in the mixture change process again, it is necessary to introduce new counters to z. B. an Ü bertonerung the developer station to escape. These counters are:

1. counter for counting conveyor cycles of a toner transport during the Auftonerphase. This determines how much toner has already been added to the new carrier. It can thus be promoted exactly the missing amount of toner in the developer station.

2. Counter or timer, which monitors the mixing process over time. This excludes that the mixture is mixed too long, and thus ages too long, or is accidentally mixed too short, which leads to significant print image problems and thus to a mistake.

Advantages: The "anchor points" lead to even more significant time savings in the event of a fault, as well as preventing developer station errors from occurring (eg over-toning, aging too long, mixture too low). In addition, in the event of a fault, the already filled in carrier and toner need not be removed again and thrown away.

In particular, the above-mentioned toner denoising counter is active during the toner toning phase and counts the number of toner conveying cycles performed. If the process is interrupted during this phase, it will be resumed at this point later ("anchor point") .The continuation of the process at the anchor point is possible because the number of already completed conveyor cycles are counted, and thus already included in the developer station. Thus, for example, over-toning of the developer station is prevented.

A corresponding counter for counting mixing cycles can also be set up for the mixing phase. As the carrier ages in the course of its lifetime, and this factor is processed by the printer, it is advantageous to know the length of the mixing phase and not stretch unnecessarily long.

According to a third aspect of the invention, which can be seen independently or also in combination with one or both of the aforementioned aspects, status-related and / or counter data, in particular a full / empty status for the developer station, become a phase status, which indicates the current phase of the mixture change or the mixture production and / or the quantity and / or time values recorded during the production of the mixture, stored on a non-volatile, electrical memory of the developer station.

The current status of the developer station - z. B. empty or partially empty - is stored on a non-volatile memory on the developer station itself. The counters described above are also noted on the non-volatile memory. Thus, the information regarding the state of the developer station is no longer just in the printer present but also stored on the developer station itself. Furthermore, a microprocessor can be provided on the developer station, which processes these data. Due to the data stored on it, a development station can be used at any time, even after a canceled mixture change in another printer or at another time, without running the risk to get into a faulty state, for example by over-toning. In addition, a new carrier, which was already filled at the time of discontinuation of the mixture change and still aufgetonert must be (partially or completely), continue to be used, because the developer station on the basis of the count on the non-volatile memory recognizes how much toner already was filled. This can also be done in another printer, since the information of the meter reading and the status (eg: "draining") with the developer station "taken" is.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to a comparison between a conventional printing system (old) and a printing system according to the invention, from which further effects and advantages of the invention will become apparent.

Show it:

Figure 1: a high-pressure electrographic printing device

FIG. 2: Relationships when changing a developer mixture

Figure 3: a process of the mixture outlet

Figure 4: a sub-process of the suction

Figure 5: a process for filling carrier particles Figure 6: processes of Auftonerns and mixing and

Figure 7: an electrophotographic printing machine with several developer stations.

1 shows schematically an electrophotographic printing device for single or multi-color, one- or two-sided printing of tape-shaped record carriers 10 of different bandwidths. It contains, as an intermediate carrier, a photoconductive drum 11 driven by an electric motor. The various units for the electrophotographic process are grouped around the intermediate carrier 11. These are essentially a charging device 12 in the form of a charging corotron for charging the intermediate carrier 11; a character generator 13 having a light-emitting diode comb for character-dependent exposure of the intermediate carrier 11, which extends over the entire usable width of the intermediate carrier 11; a developer station 14 for coloring the character-dependent charge image on the intermediate carrier 11 by means of a one- or two-component developer mixture; a transfer station 15 which extends across the width of the intermediate carrier 11 and with which the toner images are transferred to the recording medium 10. To remove the residual toner after the development and the transfer printing, a cleaning station 16 is provided with an integrated cleaning brush with associated suction device and an unloading device 17. The intermediate carrier 11 is driven by an electric motor and moved in printing operation in the direction of the arrow.

Furthermore, the printing device contains a fixing station 18 which is arranged downstream of the transfer station 15 in the transport direction of the recording medium and which is designed as a thermal pressure fixing station, and a feed device 21 arranged downstream of the fixing station with guide rollers for feeding the recording medium 10 to an internal stacking device 22 or to an outside of the printing device arranged external stacking or other Nachverarbeitungsrichtung.

The tape-shaped recording medium 10 is e.g. is prefabricated as prefolded, with Randperforationenendlospapier and is based on an internal storage area

23 fed via feed rollers 24 a pivotable paper diverter of the transfer station 15. However, it is also possible to supply a record carrier without edge perforations via a roll feed.

The transport of the recording medium 10 preferably takes place via a transport device 25 assigned to the transfer printing station 15 in the form of transport belts provided with pins, which engage in the peripheral perforations of the recording medium 10 via drive shafts. Furthermore, in the housing portion of the printing device, in a receiving area for the internal storage stack 23, a turning device 28 is arranged over the printed on the back of the already printed on the front side recording medium and again the transfer station 15 is supplied. The turning device 28 is connected to the fixing station 18 via a return channel 29 in connection.

In principle, the aggregates are combined into interchangeable modules in the illustrated printing device, or designed as exchangeable modules. This applies both to the turning device 28, the return channel 29 and also to the electrophotographic printing module 26 with the assemblies there for the electrophotographic process. Separately exchangeable in the electrophotographic printing module 26 is the developer station 14. It is mounted on rails 27 for this purpose and can thus be pushed and replaced perpendicular to the plane of the printing device. Its basic structure is known from WO-Al-98/27472. which is incorporated herein by reference. On the developer station 14, an identification device 30 is arranged in the form of a printed circuit board whose function will be explained later. Furthermore, the developer station contains an automatically controlled mixed excavator with which the toner-developer mixture can be mixed.

Controlled, the printing device is via a printer control, not shown. The operation of the printing device via a control panel display 31 in the form of a touch-screen screen.

The identification arrangement 30 fastened on the developer station 14 can consist of a plurality of electronic modules arranged on a printed circuit board, which are connected to one another via control lines to a microprocessor control and as described in more detail in EP-B1-016935 (FIG. 2) are. The variable data about the state or the properties of the developer station are stored in a non-volatile semiconductor memory, in particular in a transponder memory.

In the developer station 14 are arranged a plurality of inductively and analogously operating toner concentration sensors and one or more temperature sensors. The toner concentration sensors inductively determine the ratio of the carrier particles consisting of iron to the toner particles of the developer mixture, taking into account the ambient temperature and the sheet counter reading and possibly taking into account other influencing variables. Thus the need is determined on fresh toner ^'and the device control informed. This actuates the corresponding Frischtonerzuführeinrichtung in the device. If a mixture change is to be carried out in the developer station 14, a corresponding software program is started via the control panel 31, which computer-controlled the process. As soon as the process of starting the mixture has been started, the developer station must be completely drained, as otherwise the required degree of filling (with mixture / carrier) is no longer guaranteed. This status is stored with "not full" (or draining) in the semiconductor memory mounted on the developer station 14.

Overall, the developer station, which operates in the following examples according to the Tribo Jump principle and is also called TJE in the following, the following states can be assigned, the respective digit is stored as a numerical value in the semiconductor memory:

1 empty; 2 not fill; 5 draining; 6 filling carriers; 3 Fills With Carrier; 7 filling toner; 4 Filling With Developer; 8 ex- pired; 0 undefined.

FIG. 2 shows four sub-processes of a mixture change process and their relationships, namely Pl "discharge mixture", P2 "fill carrier", P3 "toners" and P4 "mixing". In addition, the respective process time is indicated.

In the accompanying tables corresponding data are given, which are stored in the semiconductor memory of the developer station, e.g. the status value 5 when iterates through the draining subprocess.

The higher-level process control (software) is set up in such a way that the entire process can be aborted when process P1 is completed, ie P2 does not necessarily follow Pl. In contrast, process P3 (tinting) inevitably automatically occurs after a predetermined time (57 sec ,) starts after the process P2 (fill in Carrier) has been started. Since the process of "filling in carriers" usually takes 4 minutes and the "toning" process takes 3 minutes 3 seconds, the two processes are usually completed at the same time. The tinting takes place in this embodiment _ in 37 sub-steps, each sub-step is stored in a counter on the developer station, so that in a demolition or an error during toning later still needed residual amount of toner can be determined and filled. If an error occurs in the "Tinting" process, or if it is aborted, it will be automatically resumed later at the point at which it was interrupted. For this purpose, the value of the toner counter last stored on the developer station is read out and the remaining demand for toner delivery cycles is determined in the printer. In the event of an error occurring during the Carrier filling is queried (automatically or semi-automatically), if the carrier bottle is already empty. Possibly. At the end of the sub-process, an "AND" connection is passed to wait for the end of the toner sub-process, and if the carrier bottle is not empty, the carrier-filling process is continued or restarted.

After completion of the Auftonerns additionally the mixing process P4 can be started, this start and / or the duration of the mixing process P4 can be manually ii- nitiiert or after measurement of the mixture properties, if necessary, automatically or station or device individually also fixed.

In the following figures, various steps are designated and structured as follows:

GG (i): steps for skipping developer mix, F (i): error state / message, W (i): warning message,

GE (i): steps for filling developer particles,

GM (i): Tone steps to mix / mix,

where i is a natural number.

Furthermore, in the figures 3 to 6 flowcharts are shown in which process steps are each indicated in three columns. The middle column has a bright background and describes process steps that are carried out in-house in the developer station and / or in the device control of the printing device. The column to the left of the middle column has a lightly shaded background and, in particular, represents interface method steps supported by the control panel of the printing apparatus, which in particular includes a display device (screen), input devices (touch screen switches) and control panel software. The column to the right of the middle column mainly represents steps for device-internal error and warning messages as well as activation steps for one or more LEDs located on the developer station.

The software-controlled process P1 "discharge mixture" is represented in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, which is supported by a corresponding software program, whereby printer-side settings or states are also made via actuators or detected by sensors , eg vacuum and blower conditions, service flap settings, door positions, roller tensions, etc. The process has five anchor points A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, at which the process can be continued if it is on a The device control software and control panel software have appropriate means to assist with the return to anchor points. Zen. Column 35 shows the panel steps, column 3β represents the developer station specific process steps, and column 36 shows the warning messages and LED (LED) controls.

The catchbox is a container in which spent developer particles and / or toner are filled. Light emitting diodes attached to the developer station and / or displayed on a control panel indicate specific operating states of the TJE through corresponding color indicators. A service flap represents a switch for switching on the negative pressure in the evacuation hose of the developer station, provided that the blower at the developer station is switched on. The developer station is in particular a so-called toner jump developer station (TJE) with a jump roller (JW).

FIG. 5 shows the process "filling carrier particles" and FIG. 6 shows the process "toning and if necessary mixing". The Submit Developer sub-process has three anchor points A7 when selecting the station, A8 for failure checking, the carrier bottle empty, and A9 for removing the developer bottle The Tone sub-process assigns the two anchor points AlO at startup and All at Continue the process with appropriate counter value. The "Mixing" phase has an anchor point

A12 on the continuation of the process with a corresponding one

Counter value up. As mentioned at the beginning, the process "Mixing"

(Entry at point B of FIG. 6) optionally per device or developer station and can remain unexecuted (Z = 0) depending on the set or selected counter value Z or be executed repeatedly with Z> 0 mixing steps. The steps / queries GES (2a) "Carrier or Gemsich new or used?" GES (2b) "Enter age" and GE (3) "Open door" are displayed on the control panel and entered if necessary. In the following, the improvement achievable with the invention will be described on the basis of a comparison with previously available printing systems.

1st reason of optimization

The mixture change in a conventional high-performance printing systems is a relatively lengthy affair and presents, typically about 30 minutes. per developer station a significant downtime in the printing operation. This is particularly serious if the printing device, such as. the Oce Variostream 9000 printing system developed by the applicant has several (up to 14) developer stations. In addition, if an error occurs u.U. the entire mixture change process must be repeated from the beginning. For this purpose, it is also necessary to drain a possibly already filled in carrier again. The drained carrier must also be thrown away mostly, although it is unused.

2nd goal

The mixture change should be improved, with the following points to be met:

Time-optimized mixture change in good and in case of error - continuation of the mixture change after an interruption, z. B. by an error

The status of the developer station should be recognizable.

3. General

A mixture change is a so-called special function. Special functions are functions outside the "normal" printing mode. 4. Improvements in general

4.1 State of the developer station

The state of the developer station is stored on a non-volatile memory on the developer station itself. If the mixture change is interrupted (intentionally or unintentionally), it can be replaced at the appropriate point and the process terminated. This is possible even if the unwinder station is used in another printer and / or the station is used at a later time. A possibly already filled in carrier does not have to be drained, because the process does not have to start all over again. For the same reason, the mixture change is shortened in case of error.

The possible states of the developer station stored on the non-volatile memory of the developer station are:

1 equals empty The mixture is drained, the

Developer station is empty.

2 is not filled Both Carrier and Toner are in the Developer Station, but they are not considered a Developer until mixed.

3 corresponds to fill With carrier Carrier is in developer station 4 corresponds to fill With developer Carrier and toner are in the developer station and the mixing process is complete. Thus, Developer is in the developer station. corresponds to draining The developer station is being drained at the moment, or has been interrupted during the draining. 6 corresponds to filling carrier lm Carrier is being filled into the developer station, or has been interrupted during the filling of carrier. 7 corresponds to filling Tonerlm moment toner is filled in the developer station, or has been interrupted during the filling of toner.

8 equals expired The mixture in the developer station has reached the end of its lifetime.

0 corresponds to undefined The developer station has an undefined state.

The listed states of the developer stations are not only important for the mixture change. They are always important when a station is inserted in a printer or the printer is switched on. In these cases, the deployed developer stations are queried for the printer to determine if it is in a printable state or not. Accordingly, the printer responds and releases the pressure, or "forces" the operator to terminate a possibly interrupted process (mixture change).

4.2 Mixture change counter

In addition to the conditions described in point 4.1, there is more information on the developer station, which, however, important only for the mixture change are. These are two counters that ensure that proper procedures are followed during the mix change to avoid serious errors. In addition, they ensure that even if the mixture change is stopped during a "critical" phase, the process can continue at the appropriate point.

Counter for counting the delivery cycles during toning ensures that just the right amount of toner is conveyed to the developer station.

Counter for counting the mixing time ensures that the carrier and toner are mixed exactly the intended time.

Without the counter described here, it could, for. B. come to a Überertonerung, or a poor quality print result, due to a not sufficiently charged mixture.

4.3 anchor points

Anchor points are points in the mixture change that are to be considered as reentry points. Ie. an interrupted mixture change does not have to be completely repeated from the beginning, but only "falls" back to the last anchor point and ends the procedure from there The anchor points are located at reasonable and technically feasible points in the drain and thus shorten the process time of the mixture change in the event of a fault In the event of interruptions, particularly important anchor points are the counters shown in section 4.2, which ensure that For example, the exact amount required toner is promoted in the developer station.

4.4 Parallelization

The four phases that make up a mixture change have all gone through serially. In order to reduce the process time, some parts of the optimized mixture change are parallelized. These are the sub-processes "filling in carrier", "toning" and sometimes also the "mixing phase." Especially the parallelization of the two phases "filling carrier" and "toning" leads to a considerable time reduction.

To implement this measure, the two processes are coordinated. Since it is necessary for some of the carrier to be already in the developer station before toner is added, toning starts a little later than filling the carrier. In addition, the two processes are changed so that they end at about the same time in order to obtain a maximum of temporal optimization.

An extra mixing phase, as hitherto, is currently not necessary, as the two substances are already thoroughly mixed by the parallel supply of toner and carrier. Thus, the mixing is also carried out at the same time. However, it is not excluded that, if necessary, an additional separate mixing phase is performed.

5. Improvements to the process

The mixture change consists of four parts:

- Drain mixture - Fill in carriers on toner

- Mixing (or mixing or activating)

The parts are explained in detail and the corresponding advantages and improvements are explained.

5.1 Step 1: Drain mixture

Process time: new 8:20 min old 8:20 min General: In the first part of the mixture change, the mixture in the developer station is drained off. This step can not be shortened in comparison to the already existing mixture change, since it must be ensured that all the material in the developer station is sucked off (except for a remainder of a few hundred grams, which can not be removed). As soon as the suction process is started, the developer station gets draining. This means that the suction process has started and that the original amount of mixture in the developer station is no longer present. It is not an indication of how much mixture is still in the developer station or was discharged. If the process is interrupted or stopped, it is impossible to print with this station as draining does not allow it. Even if the developer station is inserted into another printer of the same type, the state is recognized because the information is stored on the developer station.

When the entire mixture has been drained the station is given the status "empty." With this state, the process "Carrier The process may also be terminated because the developer station has been emptied for transport, for example.

Error:

If an error occurs during the discharge of the mixture or the process is interrupted, the process must be completely repeated. The reason for this is the risk that a not completely empty developer station, which is not recognized as such, harbors. The use of such a developer station can lead to their total failure. Therefore, for the first step of the mixture change - drain the mixture - no counter or timer is introduced to continue at the appropriate point, but the complete substep must be repeated to ensure that the entire mixture is emptied.

5.2 Step 2: Fill in carrier

Process time: new 4:00 min old 5:00 min General: In this phase of the mixture change Carrier is filled into the empty developer station. The developer slips through a hose into the developer station, driven solely by gravity. As soon as the process is started, the developer station is given the status "filling carrier." When the process is finished, a query is made as to whether the entire carrier has slipped out of the bottle into the developer station.When the query is confirmed, the developer station is given the status "fill With Carrier, "she says in the negative, the filling process is repeated. Normally, however, the time should be sufficient to fill the entire carrier. The actual The time taken for the carrier to flow from the bottle to the developer station is about two minutes. The process time itself is therefore reduced from five to four minutes.

Error:

If the process is interrupted, a query is made whether the entire carrier has flowed into the developer station, d. H. if the carrier bottle is empty. Accordingly, the filling process is completed or repeated.

5.3 Step 3: Tinting

Process time: new 3:03 min

The sub-step is carried out parallel to the "Carrier Filling in." Thus, the time to be estimated in the overall process for this process step is: new 0:00 min old 4:51 min

Delivery cycle: 37 delivery cycles must be carried out with the following sample new 3 sec. promote / 2 sec. Break old 3 sec. promote / 5 sec. Pause General:

The carrier must be supplied with enough toner to contain 6.4% toner. 37 delivery cycles are necessary for this. The conveyor cycles are counted and stored continuously on the developer station.

The "Toning" sub-step is carried out parallel to the "Carrier filling", which was not the case until now, but it is important that there is already some carrier in the developer station is before the toner is conveyed, since then mix both elements better. Therefore, the toning starts a little later (57 sec.) Than the filling of the carrier. The time of 57 sec. It also makes sense between the beginning of the two phases - "filling in carrier" and "tinting" - as both phases end at the same time. Error:

If an error occurs during "toning" or if the process is stopped, the process is resumed exactly at the point at which it was interrupted, since the number of conveying cycles that have already taken place is stored on the developer station. How many cycles have yet to be done, thus excluding over or under-toning.

5.4 4th step: Mixing / mixing

Process time: new 0:00 min old 5:00 min

Generally:

In the mixing phase, the carrier and the toner are mixed. Due to the frictional resistance occurring, the two substances are charged, d. H. activated. In addition, the two substances can be seen. The charging of the toner and carrier is important because it can only be printed with a sufficiently activated mixture.

So far, a mixing phase of 5:00 min. carried out. Due to the new, simultaneous filling of carrier and toner, a good mixing is already achieved during the phases "Carrier filling" and "Auftonern". The mixing during these phases is sufficient to achieve the necessary activation. Thus the time of the mixing phase is at 0:00 min. reduced. However, the mixing phase is present as a process, and can be done as needed be activated at any time. For this, the corresponding parameter, which specifies the duration of the mixing phase, must be set to the desired time. If the parameter is greater than zero, the mixing phase inevitably follows the "Carrier Fill" and the "Tinting". Error:

If an error occurs during the mixing phase, or if the process is stopped, the process will resume exactly at the point at which it was interrupted. In order to make this possible, the time that the two substances have already been mixed is permanently stored on the developer station. After an interruption, the counter or timer of the developer station is used. This behavior is analogous to the behavior when an error occurs during toning.

5.5 Time comparison of old and new mixture changes

The parallelization and shortening of the individual steps of the mixture change results in the following total process time:

Mixture change: 12:20 min Mixture change old: 23:11 min

To be added u. U. a mixing time. However, this is not provided in principle and thus only with appropriate knowledge of a special case or introduce generally changed conditions.

FIG. 7 shows a printing device with a plurality of developer stations, which are optionally provided for printing with different colors and / or for double-sided printing on a recording medium. It is particularly suitable with features of WO-Al-98/39691 and WO-Al-98/27466. whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference into the present description. With the present invention, it is then possible in particular to exchange the developer mixtures of several developer stations in parallel or completely or at least partially simultaneously.

The printing device shown in FIG. 7 for the performance-adapted, monochrome and / or colored, single- or double-sided printing of a tape-shaped recording medium has a modular construction and basically has a feed module M1, a print module M2, a fixing module M3 and a post-processing module M4. The feeding module M1 contains the elements for feeding a e.g. taken from a stacker End- lospapieres to the print module M2. The printing module M2 contains the actually electrophotographic printing units which print the recording medium, which is then fixed in the fixing module M3 and cut or stacked in the post-processing module M4.

The modules in detail:

The printing module M2 contains the units required for printing a tape-shaped recording medium 10 with toner images, which are arranged on both sides of a transport channel 11 for the recording medium 10. These aggregates consist essentially of two differently configurable electrophotography modules El and E2 with associated transfer modules Tl and T2. The modules El and Tl are assigned to the front side of the recording medium 10 and the modules E2 and T2 to the back. The identical constructed electrophotography modules E1 and E2 contain a seamless photoconductor belt 13a, for example an organic photoconductor (OPC), guided via deflecting rollers 12a and driven by an electric motor in the direction of the arrow. Along the photosensitive outside, the aggregates for the electrophotographic process are arranged. They are used on the photoconductor Individual color separations associated toner images to produce. For this purpose, the photoconductor moving in the direction of the arrow is first charged to a voltage of about -600 V with the aid of a charging device 14a and then discharged to about -50 volts depending on the character with the aid of a character generator 15a comprising a light-emitting diode comb (LED comb). The latent charge image on the photoconductor thus produced is then inked with toner by means of developer stations 16/1 to 16/5 and then the image is loosened by means of the intermediate exposure device 17a and transferred to a transfer belt 19a of the transfer belt module in a transfer area 18a Tl transferred using a Übertragungsorgoronaeinrichtung 20a ü. Thereafter, with the help of the discharge corona device 21a, the entire photoconductor belt is discharged over the entire width and cleaned by a cleaning device 22a with a cleaning brush of adhering toner dust. A subsequent intermediate exposure device 23a ensures a corresponding charge-conditioning of the photoconductor belt 13a, which is then uniformly charged, as already described, with the aid of the charging device 14a.

With the electrophotography module El or E2, individual color separations of the toner image to be generated are generated. For this purpose, the developer stations are 16/1 to 16/5 switchable. They each contain the toner associated with a single color separation. For example, the developer station contains 16/1 black toner, the developer station 16/2 yellow toner, the developer station 16/3 magenta toner, the developer station 16/4 cyan toner and, for example, the developer station 16 / 5 blue toner or toner of a special color. As developer stations, both one-component and two-component toner developer stations can be used.

During operation of the printing device is tion about the Entwicklersta ^¬ 1.16 to 5.16, respectively always by a single development Lerstation generates a toner image that is associated with a single color separation. This toner image is then electrostatically transferred to the transfer belt 19a of the transfer module T1 via the transfer device 18a in conjunction with the transfer coercion device 20a. The transfer module Tl contains the transfer belt 19a, which consists of polyimide or a similar substance, and is guided and motor-driven by a plurality of deflection devices. The transfer belt 19a is similar to the photoconductor belt 13a endless and formed without seam. It is moved in the direction of the arrow, starting from the transfer area with the roller 18a and the transfer corona device 20a to a transfer station 24a and from there further to a guide roller 25a to a cleaning station 2βa and from there to the transfer area 18a, 20a with the deflecting roller 27a arranged there.

The transfer belt 19a in the transfer module T1 acts as a collector for the individual toner images associated with the color separations, which are transferred to the transfer belt 19a via the transfer device 18a, 20a. The individual toner images are arranged one above the other so that an overall toner image corresponding to the color image is formed. In order to be able to generate the total color toner image and then to transfer it to the front side of the recording medium 10, the transfer module T1 contains a switchable transfer printing station 24a. This can, according to the representation of Fig. 1, a plurality of mechanically displaceable transfer rolls 28a included with associated Umdruckkoronaeinrichtung 29a. In the "collect" operating state, transfer rolls 28a and transfer corona 29a are displaced upward in the direction of the arrow, so that transfer ribbon 19a is spaced from the record carrier 10. In this state, the individual toner images are taken over by the electrophotography module El and superimposed on transfer ribbon 19a Cleaning station 2βa is deactivated by swiveling in. In this operating state, recording medium 10 is at rest in the area of transfer printing station 24a. The electrophotography module E2 and the rear-side transfer module T2 of the recording medium 10 are constructed according to the modules El and Tl. Here, too, a collective color toner image for the rear side is generated on the transfer belt T2, the corresponding transfer printing station 24a being swung off in the operating state "collecting" here as well.

For simultaneous printing of the front and back of the recording medium 10a, the transfer belts 19a of the transfer modules T1 and T2 are in the region of their transfer printing stations

24a simultaneously brought into contact with the recording medium 10 while the recording medium 10 moves. At the same time, the cleaning stations 2βa of the transfer modules T1 and T2 are swung in and activated. After the two toner images have been transferred to the front or rear side of the recording medium 10a, toner image residues adhering to the transfer belts 19a are removed via the cleaning stations 2βa. This is followed again by a collecting cycle for the generation of new toner images, in which the transfer belts 19a are swung off and the recording medium 10 is in the

Standstill is. The transfer of toner images from the transfer modules Tl and T2 on the recording medium 10 thus takes place in the start-stop operation of the recording medium.

The recording medium 10 is moved in the feed module Ml from a stacking device 31a via a slide feeder 30a to the printing module M2 and there in the paper transport channel IIa by means of motor-driven transport rollers 38a. In Be ^¬ rich between the transport rollers 38a and 24a can be arranged Umdruckstatio- NEN conditioning for paper loading or corona devices 39a, so that existing paper recording carrier web 10 is set, for example, charge moderately uniformly before the transfer printing.

After the transfer of both colored toner images in the area of the transfer printing stations 24a on the recording medium 10, these still have to be fixed. This purpose is served by the fixing module - SI ¬

MS. It includes an upper and lower row of infrared radiators 32a between which the paper transport channel for the record carrier 10 extends. Since there is a loose toner image both on the front side and on the rear side of the recording medium, the recording medium 10 is guided freely in the region of the infrared steels 32a via a deflecting roller 33a arranged on the output side. The fixation takes place via the heat of the infrared radiator 32a. In a cooling section adjoining the infrared radiators 32a with cooling elements 34a and deflection rollers 35a, cooling of the recording medium 10 and smoothing take place, for example. via appropriate Decurler facilities. In particular fan-driven air chambers can serve as cooling elements 34a.

After fixing both toner images and cooling, a corresponding post-processing of the recording medium 10 is carried out as part of the post-processing module M4 z. B. a cutter 3 βa with stacking device 37a may contain.

Furthermore, a microprocessor-controlled control device ST coupled to the device controller GS of the printer is provided, which is in communication with the components to be controlled and regulated of feed module Ml, print module M2 and fixation module M3 or post-processing module M4. Within the modules it is coupled to the individual aggregates, e.g. with the electrophotography modules El and E2 and the transfer modules Tl and T2. Connected to the device control GS or the control ST, which may be part of the device control, is a control panel B, via which the various operating states can be entered. The control panel may include a touch-screen display or a personal computer with a paired keyboard.

Although the invention has been described above primarily with reference to printing devices having an electrophotographic printing process, it is clear that they are also suitable for other printing devices. or printing processes in which toner and carrier particles are connected to a developer mixture, is suitable. These include, in particular, magnetography and ionography. Instead of the described LED comb for the exposure of a photoconductor, it is also possible to use other controllable light sources, such as lasers.

The invention is particularly suitable for being executed fully or partially automatically by means of a computer program (software). It can thus also be distributed as a computer program module, as a file on a data carrier such as a floppy disk or CD-ROM or as a file via a data or communication network. Such and comparable computer program products or computer program elements are also embodiments of the invention. The process according to the invention can be used in a computer, in a printing device or in a printing system. It is clear that corresponding computers to which the invention is applied, other known technical devices such as input (keyboard, mouse, touch screen), a microprocessor, a data or control bus, a display device (monitor, display ) as well as a main memory, a hard disk memory and a network card.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described. It is clear that the skilled person can always specify modifications and developments. For example, the invention can also be applied to a printing system in which sheet-shaped recording media are processed instead of tape-shaped recording media. Furthermore, it is clear that figures are to be understood only as examples and can be varied at any time without departing from the inventive concept. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 record carrier, paper 11 photoconductor drum

12 charging device

13 character generator

14 developer station

15 transfer station 16 cleaning station

17 unloading device

18 fuser

21 feeder 22 internal stacker

23 storage area

24 feed rollers

25 Transport device 26 Print module 27 Rails

28 turning device

29 return channel

30 identification arrangement

31 control panel

35 column of control panel steps

36 Column of TJE station steps

37 Column of warning and display messages

IIa transport channel

12a deflecting rollers

13a photoconductor

14a charging device

15a character generator 16/1 to 16/5 developer stations

17a intermediate exposure device

18a transfer device, transfer area

19a transfer belt 20a transmission corona device

21a Endladekoronaeinrichtung

22a cleaning station

23a intermediate exposure device

24a transfer station 25a deflection roller

26a cleaning station

27a deflecting roller

28a transfer roll

29a Umdruckkorotron 30a S.channenenzieher

31a stacking device

32a infrared radiator

33a deflecting roller

34a cooling element 35a deflecting roller

36a cutting device

37a stacking device

38a transport rollers

39a charging corona device

Al ... A12: anchor points

B control panel

El electrophotography module, front

E2 electrophotography module, rear GS device control

Ml feed module

M2 pressure module

M3 fixing module

M4 post-processing module ST control device Tl transfer module, front side T2 transfer module, back side

Claims

claims

1. A method for generating a developer mixture in a developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) of an electrographic see printing device, wherein simultaneously magnetizable carrier particles and toner in the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5 ) and in the event of an error or a termination of the filling process, a continuation takes place at a predetermined process step, in particular using the last-detected amount of carrier particles and / or toner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initially only carrier particles in the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) are filled and after the start of the filling process for carrier particles additionally toner in the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) is filled.

3. The method of claim 2, that between the start of the filling of carrier particles and the beginning of the filling of toner is a predetermined period of time, which is such that a predetermined amount of carrier particles in the developer station (14, 16/1. ..16 / 5) before filling the toner.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier particles and the toner are mixed simultaneously with the filling.

5. A method for changing a developer mixture in a developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) of an electrographic printing device, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising:

(A) a first phase in which a spent developer mixture from the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) is discharged and (b) a second phase in which a new developer mixture is produced by adding new carrier particles and toner into the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) in a process stepwise or continuously mixing and mixing together, the amount of carrier particles being fed and / or the supplied toner regularly, in particular process stepwise automatically detected.

6. A method for changing a developer mixture in a developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) of an electrographic printing or copying apparatus, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of developer stations (14) are filled simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 5 or 6, wherein in the second phase, a thorough mixing of the carrier particles and the toner takes place, wherein a parameter for the mixing intensity, in particular the length of the mixing time is detected.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it is carried out computerized.

9. A method for operating an electrographic developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the developer-relevant status data on a non-volatile, electrical memory of the developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is checked whether a first developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) has reached a first status value, which indicates that the developer mixture of said developer station (14, 16 /1...16/5) and tested for at least one further developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) whether it has reached a second status value indicating that the developer mix of the second developer station (14, 16/1 ... 16/5) is to be swapped when the first developer mix is swapped.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the two status values are page count limits and the second page count limit is less than the first page count limit.

12. The method of claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein a full / empty status and / or a process phase status is stored in the memory.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein quantity and / or time values of carrier particles and / or toner particles detected during generation of the developer mixture are stored.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein a value for the mixing time of carrier particles and toner is stored.

15. An electrographic printing apparatus comprising means that perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

A computer program which, when loaded and executed on a computer, effects a method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.