Unibody printing system and process

• US 5,172,161 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, A. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANZIONE, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US07/636,527
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 346/108, 346/160, 346/160.1, 355/200, 355/211, 355/228
• US Class Current: 347/237
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/00 Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence ; xerographic printers for data processors per se G06K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1604 Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1814 Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing G03G21/1835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1636 for the exposure unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1678 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/18 Cartridge systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1853 having a submodular arrangement

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for assembling all of the parts of a xerographic system in a unitary housing. The unitary molded housing contains the xerographic optics, the modulator, the toner and developer cartridges as well as the printr drum. Using this unitary housing, the modulator can be aligned by using optical sensors in substitution for the printing drum during assembly.

Claims

1. A xerographic printing system housing comprising a plurality of sections formed into a unitary body, said sections including sections for holding:

a light source;

a photoreceptor;

a modulator for modulating said light from said light source in response to received signals;

a toner cartridge;

an optic system for focusing light from said light source onto said light modulator, and subsequently through imager optics onto said photoreceptor;

a developer cartridge assembly;

a fuser unit; and

related portions of paper-path mechanism.

2. The systems in claim 1 wherein said light modulator is a DMD with at least one row of pixels operable for modulating light from said light source;

3. The system set forth in claim 2 wherein said optic system section includes:

a molded imager lens channel containing a bee thorax light diffuser between DMD and imager;

a mirror housing for holding a mirror which serves to direct modulated light ray fan emanating from said imager onto said photoreceptor when said photoreceptor is contained within said photoreceptor section of said unitary housing.

4. The system set forth in claim 2 further comprising a fold mirror mounted rigidly with respect to a surface of said photoreceptor;

wherein said light source is mounted rigidly to said unitary body and aligned to said housing, and

wherein said DMD is positioned to accept light from said light source to modulate said light, and reflect said light via an imager lens to said fold mirror for subsequent presentation to said photoreceptor.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

inserting a light sensor in substitution for said photoreceptor within said

adjusting the physical positioning of said light modulator under control of signals from said light sensor.

6. The system set forth in claim 2 wherein said photoreceptor is replaced by a camera assembly fitting the mounting of said photoreceptor and wherein said camera assembly includes;

at least one camera element mounted with respect to the line of exposure on said photoreceptor so as to receive light modulated by said DMD.

7. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said light source and said optics system sections are integral to said unitary body and wherein said photoreceptor, said toner and said developer cartridges are positioned with openings to an outside surface of said housing such that photoreceptor, said toner and said developer cartridges are each individually removable from said unitary body.

8. The system set forth in claim 7 wherein said outside sections of said unitary body is a side of said unitary body.

9. The method of establishing a xerographic printing system comprising the steps of:

providing a unitary body with separately molded sections; and

positioning within the sections;

a light source;

a photoreceptor;

an optic system for focusing light from said light source on said photoreceptor;

a modulator for modulating said light from said light source in response to received signals;

a toner cartridge;

a developer cartridge assembly;

a fuser unit; and

related portions of paper-path mechanisms.

10. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said light source and said optics sections are internal to said unitary body and wherein said positioning step includes the step of:

inserting said photoreceptor and said modulator into openings in said unitary body.

11. The method set forth in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

positioning within said unitary body said light in conjunction with a molded imager lens housing communicating with a bee thorax light diffuser;

inserting a mirror into a mirror housing, said mirror serving to position modulated light exiting from said imager onto said photoreceptor when said photoreceptor is contained within said photoreceptor section of said unitary body.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein said openings are positioned on the sides of said unitary body.