Xerographic xerciser including a hierarchy system for determining part replacement and failure
First Claim
1. In an image processing machine having a photoreceptor surface and xerographic process modules including charging, exposure, development, and cleaner subsystems, a control with multiple levels of diagnostic analysis, and a sensor system to monitor developed test patches, a method to identify part failure within the machine comprising the steps of:
- providing a calibration count of the sensor system to determine an unacceptable degree of machine contamination,determining a existence of any defective areas of the photoreceptor surface,deciding effectiveness of the cleaner subsystem to purge the photoreceptor surface of unwanted toner,determining non-uniform areas of development on the photoreceptor surface, andsequentially pinpointing part failures in the charging, development, and exposure subsystems.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method to provide a highly intelligent, automated diagnostic system that identifies the need to replace specific parts to minimize machine downtime rather than require extensive service troubleshooting. In particular, a systematic, logical test analysis scheme to assess machine operation from a simple sensor system and to be able to pinpoint parts and components needing replacement is provided by a series of first level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a first level of data and by a series of second level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a second level of data. Each of the first level tests and first level data is capable of identifying a first level of part failure independent of any other test. Each of the second level tests and second level data is a combination of first level tests and first level data or a combination of a first level test and first level data and a second level test and second level data. The second level tests and second level data are capable of identifying second and third levels of part failure. Codes are stored and displayed to manifest specific part failures.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. In an image processing machine having a photoreceptor surface and xerographic process modules including charging, exposure, development, and cleaner subsystems, a control with multiple levels of diagnostic analysis, and a sensor system to monitor developed test patches, a method to identify part failure within the machine comprising the steps of:
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providing a calibration count of the sensor system to determine an unacceptable degree of machine contamination, determining a existence of any defective areas of the photoreceptor surface, deciding effectiveness of the cleaner subsystem to purge the photoreceptor surface of unwanted toner, determining non-uniform areas of development on the photoreceptor surface, and sequentially pinpointing part failures in the charging, development, and exposure subsystems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In an image processing machine including a control with multiple levels of diagnostic analysis and a sensor system to monitor developed test patches, a method to identify part failure within the machine comprising the steps of:
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providing a series of first level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a first level of data, each of the first level tests and first level data for identifying a first level of part failure independent of any other test, providing a series of second level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a second level of data, each of the second level tests and second level data being a combination of first level tests and first level data or a combination of a first level test and first level data and a second level test and second level data, the second level tests and second level data for identifying second and third levels of part failure, providing an additional analysis of first, second, and third level data obtained from the first level, second level, and third level tests for identifying a fourth level of part failure, and storing and displaying codes manifesting the specific part failures. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In an image processing machine having a photoreceptor surface and xerographic process modules including charging, exposure, development, and cleaner subsystems, a control and a sensor system to monitor developed test patches, a method to identify part failure within the machine comprising the steps of:
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determining existence of any defective areas of the photoreceptor surface for development, deciding an effectiveness of the cleaner subsystem to purge the photoreceptor surface of unwanted toner, and sequentially pinpointing part failures in the charging, development, and exposure subsystems. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification