Incremental printing of symbolic information – Electric marking apparatus or processes – Electrostatic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-03-13
Pendegrass, Joan (Department: 2852)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Electric marking apparatus or processes
Electrostatic
C347S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201556
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to writers for electrographic reproduction apparatus, and more particularly to a support mechanism for a light-emitting device which accurately locates the light-emitting device at an operative position within an electrographic reproduction apparatus and enables the light-emitting device to be readily located in a remote position for easy maintenance and service.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In typical commercial electrographic reproduction apparatus (copier/duplicators, printers, or the like), a latent image charge pattern is formed on a uniformly charged charge-retentive or photo-conductive member having dielectric characteristics (hereinafter referred to as the dielectric support member). Pigmented marking particles are attracted to the latent image charge pattern to develop such image on the dielectric support member. A receiver member, such as a sheet of paper, transparency or other medium, is then brought into contact with the dielectric support member, and an electric field applied to transfer the marking particle developed image to the receiver member from the dielectric support member. After transfer, the receiver member bearing the transferred image is transported away from the dielectric support member, and the image is fixed (fused) to the receiver member by heat and pressure to form a permanent reproduction thereon.
The latent image charge pattern is formed by exposing the dielectric support member to actinic radiation in a desired pattern corresponding image-wise to information to be reproduced. Such exposure may be accomplished optically or electronically. That is, a reflected light image of information to be reproduced may be optically focused on the uniformly charged dielectric support member to alter the charge in an image-wise pattern. Alternately, a light-emitting device, such as a laser or light-emitting diode (LED) array, may be activated according to appropriate electrical signals to alter the uniform charge on the dielectric member to form the desired image-wise charge pattern. Furthermore, in recent high speed optical copier/duplicator devices, it has been common practice to provide an electronic activated light source to form image-wise charge patterns, or to annotate optically formed charge patterns.
The known light emitting devices, commonly referred to as writers, must be accurately located relative to the respective dielectric support members to provide a focused image-wise charge pattern thereon. Furthermore, the known light emitting devices must be removable for maintenance or replacement, or for service on the reproduction apparatus itself. In well-known reproduction apparatus utilizing light-emitting device, such as a laser or (LED) arrays, it is common practice to disconnect the light-emitting device to facilitate removal prior to service and maintenance. This complicates service procedure, and makes it difficult to maintain the desired accurate placement of the light-emitting device within the reproduction apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, this invention is directed to an electrographic reproduction apparatus light emitting device support mechanism which accurately locates the light-emitting device at an operative position within an electrographic reproduction apparatus and enables the light-emitting device to be readily located in a remote position for easy maintenance and service. This is accomplished by a support mechanism which pivots the light-emitting device away from the dielectric support member of the electrographic reproduction apparatus and enables a carriage containing the light-emitting device and power supply to be retracted from the mainframe of the reproduction apparatus. The light-emitting device support mechanism includes a carriage attached to the reproduction apparatus and movable relative thereto to a first operative position and a second remote position. A pivot mechanism is supported by the carriage so as to provide a pivot axis, the light-emitting device being mounted on the pivot mechanism for movement about the pivot axis. A reference feature is located in the reproduction apparatus, the reference feature located in a predetermined relation relative to the dielectric support member. A movable latch member is selectively engagable with the light-emitting device to move the light-emitting device from a first position, remote from the reference feature, movable with the carriage to the first operative position or the second remote position, to a second position in engagement with the reference feature to be operatively associated with the dielectric support member.
The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4875153 (1989-10-01), Hons
patent: 4926198 (1990-05-01), Barton et al.
patent: 4928119 (1990-05-01), Walker et al.
patent: 5155506 (1992-10-01), Yamaguchi
patent: 5485190 (1996-01-01), Koetter et al.
Bennett Charles John
Luft Carl Allen
Margut Jay Leroy
Van Arsdale William David
Kessler Lawrence F.
Nexpress Solutions LLC
Pendegrass Joan
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