Printing system with self-monitoring and adjustment

• US 5,673,106 A
• Filed: 06/17/1994
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, E. Earle
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Fred L.
• Application Number:
  US08/261,614
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 355/206, 355/208, 355/246
• US Class Current: 399/9
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/435 characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04045 for exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material, e.g. digital copiers G03G15/041, G03G15/043 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/326 by application of light, e.g. using a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5033 by measuring the photoconductor characteristics, e.g. temperature, or the characteristics of an image on the photoconductor
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1875 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. lifetime of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1878 Electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1663 having lifetime indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 Cartridges having electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1838 Autosetting of process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1238 simultaneously exposing more than one point
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19 using multi-element arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1906 Arrangements for performing substitution scanning for a defective element
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/233 according to characteristics of the data to be reproduced, e.g. number of lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2338 : according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reproduction mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2346 : according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/295 : Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity

Abstract

An intelligent printing system (110). The overall system has a light-imaging subsystem (120), an electrophotography subsystem (130) and a printing substrate subsystem (140). The system processor (126) monitors all of the characteristics of the system, including toner content and quantity, photoreceptor wear and usage, heat of the fuser, quantity of printing substrates remaining, power of the light source, and profile of a spatial light modulator. The monitored processes are used to adjust the printing process so that the maximum print quality is achieved. Additionally, the information received assists in maintaining the highest level of quality functioning of the system through the maintenance cycle.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising:

a. a light-imaging subsystem;

b. a EP subsystem including;

i. at least one photoreceptor operable to receive light from said light-imaging subsystem;

ii. at least one toner dispenser operable to dispense toner to photoreceptor, wherein said toner dispenser includes monitoring capability and is operable to transfer said toner to said photoreceptor;

iii. an interface with said light-imaging subsystem through which said light can pass;

iv. a transfer port for transferring said toner to printing substrates;

c. a substrate-handling subsystem wherein said at least one photoreceptor transfers toner to a printing substrate through said transfer port; and

d. a processor for continuously adjusting operation of said system in accordance with data received from said EP subsystem, wherein said adjustment includes controlling numbers and selection of gray levels and colors available to a user and notification of system failures for said user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one component of said EP subsystem has active monitoring capabilities that are in communication with said processor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor must calculate the operating parameters of at least one component of said EP subsystem.