Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Document handling
Patent
1998-09-24
1999-11-02
Smith, Matthew S.
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Document handling
226 24, 27125801, 399 22, 399 68, G03G 1500
Patent
active
059786132
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a means for monitoring the operation of a fixing station of an electrographic printer that prints a web of continuous carrier material with a toner image containing color particles.
2. Description of the Related Art
High dependability demands must be met in the operation of a fixing station since, for example, one of the fixing rollers contained in the fixing station is heated to approximately 220.degree. C., and the carrier material conveyed through the fixing station can stick to the hot fixing roller. Given high conveying speeds of the carrier web, the fixing rollers turn very fast. When the sticking of the carrier material to the hot fixing roller is not noticed, then the carrier material being fixed at the moment wraps around the hot fixing roller, whereby carrier material that has already passed the fixing station can be drawn back into the fixing station opposite the conveying direction.
Given the use of continuous carrier material that has fold lines so that it can be drawn sheet-by-sheet from a stack or in turn folded sheet-by-sheet onto a stack after being printed (such as fan folded paper), the stiffness of the carrier material is greatly reduced along the fold lines. It is precisely at such fold lines that the carrier material easily sticks to the hot fixing roller during the fixing process, as is shown in practice. The fold lines are often the cause for the wrapping of the fixing roller. When the wrapping of the fixing roller is not noticed early on, then an increased work outlay is incurred given operation of the printer since printing must be interrupted, the carrier material must be removed from the fixing roller, one must wait for the printer to be operational again and the print operation that has already been carried out may possibly have to be repeated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for monitoring the operation of the fixing station that allows the sticking of the carrier material to the hot fixing roller to be recognized early.
The present invention offers a means for monitoring the operation of a fixing station of an electrographic printer that prints a web of continuous carrier material with a toner image containing color particles, whereby the web is conveyed through the fixing station with a predetermined transport speed, the fixing rollers of the fixing station fixing the color particles on the web, whereby the web that is conveyed out of the fixing station is sensed by a sensor unit that acquires, or measures, the actual speed of the web, and whereby a controller compares the actual speed to the predetermined transport speed and generates a signal about the operating condition of the fixing station that is dependent on the comparison.
The actual speed of the web following the fixing station is acquired, or measured, by sensing the web conveyed from the fixing station using a sensor unit. The deviations in speed arising due to the sticking and possible release of the carrier material from the hot fixing roller by itself are contained in the actual speed acquired by the sensor unit. When the actual speed is compared to the predetermined transport speed with the assistance of a controller, for example a microprocessor controller, then these deviations can be identified. Since adhesion of the web to the hot fixing roller cannot be completely avoided, a signal about the operating condition that signals a malfunction is first generated when a specific speed deviation is transgressed. For example, such a signal can be employed to interrupt the fixing process or, respectively, the printing process.
One embodiment of the invention provides that the sensor unit contains a wheel for sensing the web that is connected to a shaft encoder that acquires the actual speed. The speed of the web can be sensed with a high precision with a wheel having non-positive contact with the web that expediently has a high coefficient of friction. The rotary motion o
REFERENCES:
patent: 5063845 (1991-11-01), Perretta
Japanese Abstract, JP2042471, Feb. 13, 1990, vol.14, No. 201.
Japanese Abstract, JP55021334, Feb. 15, 1980, vol. 4, No. 53.
Japanese Abstract, JP62085268, Apr. 18, 1987, vol. 11, No. 291.
Hintler Franz
Lodermann Gerhard
Mendisch Norbert
Noe William A.
Oce Printing Systems GmbH
Smith Matthew S.
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