Adaptive process controller for electrophotographic printing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling parameters of processing stations in a printing machine having a surface with a variable density image developed thereon, including:
- a sensor for detecting densities of the variable density image developed on the surface and transmitting signals indicative thereof;
an updater, in communication with said sensor, for generating correction signals in response to the signals transmitted thereto from said sensor; and
a controller, responsive to the signals from said sensor and the correction signals from said updater, for transmitting control signals to the processing stations to regulate the processing stations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A adaptive process control apparatus for controlling a plurality of image parameters in an electrophotographic printing machine is disclosed. A toner area coverage sensor detects value of density values for a composite toner image representing a toner reproduction curve and generates a plurality of corresponding signals. A toner concentration sensor detects a level of toner concentration and generates a corresponding signal. The signals from both sensors are conveyed to a linear quadratic controller and compared to target image parameters, wherein control signals are generated based upon the difference between the two sets of inputs. An identifier also receives the signals generated by the sensors, along with the control signals corresponding to the difference between the two sets of inputs. The identifier then modifies the target images to compensate for changes in image quality due to material aging or environmental changes.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling parameters of processing stations in a printing machine having a surface with a variable density image developed thereon, including:
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a sensor for detecting densities of the variable density image developed on the surface and transmitting signals indicative thereof; an updater, in communication with said sensor, for generating correction signals in response to the signals transmitted thereto from said sensor; and a controller, responsive to the signals from said sensor and the correction signals from said updater, for transmitting control signals to the processing stations to regulate the processing stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having processing stations and a photoconductive member with a solid area density region, a half-tone density region and a highlight density region developed thereon, wherein the improvement includes:
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a sensor for detecting densities of the solid area density region, half-tone density region and highlight density region developed on the photoconductive member and transmitting a solid area density signal, a half-tone density signal and a highlight density signal indicative of the solid area density region, half-tone density region and highlight density region; an updater, in communication with said sensor, for generating a solid area density correction signal, a half-tone density correction signal and a highlight density correction signal in response to the solid area density signal, half-tone density signal and highlight density signal transmitted thereto from said sensor; and a controller, responsive to the solid area density signal, halftone density signal and highlight density signal from said sensor and the solid area density correction signal, half-tone density correction signal and highlight density correction signal from said updater, for transmitting control signals to the processing stations to regulate the processing stations. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling parameters of processing stations in a printing machine having a photoconductive surface with a variable density image developed thereon, including the steps of:
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detecting densities of the variable density image developed on the photoconductive surface and transmitting density signals indicative thereof; generating correction signals in response to the density signals transmitted thereto; and transmitting control signals, in response to the density signals and the correction signals, to the processing stations to regulate the processing stations. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification