Duplex image alignment

• US 6,118,950 A
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wibbels, Mark, Heath, Kenneth E., Loewen, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US09/340,712
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 399/15, 399/16, 399/9, 399/43, 399/45, 399/38, 399/72, 399/81, 399/301, 399/361, 399/364, 399/394, 358/1.18, 358/401
• US Class Current: 399/16
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/231 Arrangements for copying on both sides of a recording or image-receiving material

Abstract

A method of aligning duplex images on an imaging device such as a printer or copier includes duplex imaging a test sheet having indicia on each side of the sheet that communicate, when observed in a single visual context, duplex imaging adjustment parameters for the imaging device. The method further includes modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the duplex imaging adjustment parameters communicated. The indicia on each side of the sheet are seen in a single visual context by observing certain of the indicia through the media, as when the media is held up to a light source. In a preferred embodiment, the indicia on each side of the sheet includes respective portions of a vernier scale. The imaging parameters are modified by entering the adjustment parameters at a control panel of the imaging device. Imaging parameters modified include timing parameters associated with the process of writing data on the imaging device. In addition to the method, an imaging device includes components, data and executable instructions necessary for implementing the above described method.

Claims

1. A method of aligning duplex images on an imaging device, comprising:

(a) comparing, in a single visual context, first indicia on a first side of a media with second indicia on a second side of the media, both indicia having been imaged by the imaging device; and

,

(b) modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on correction indicia detected from the comparing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first indicia includes a first portion of a vernier scale and the second indicia includes a second portion of the vernier scale.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the comparing includes visually comparing first demarcation elements embodied in the first portion of the vernier scale with second demarcation elements embodied in the second portion of the vernier scale to identify certain of the first demarcation elements that most closely align with certain of the second demarcation elements, the second demarcation elements being visually detected through the media.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first indicia includes first demarcation elements and the second indicia includes second demarcation elements.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the correction indicia is associated with the first indicia.

6. The method of claim 5 further including entering the correction indicia into the imaging device at a control panel of the imaging device for modifying the imaging parameters of the imaging device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging parameters include timing parameters associated with a process of imaging data on the imaging device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying imaging parameters includes modifying, for image shifting in a scan direction, a delay time between:

(i) receiving a beam detect signal associated with a scan line to be imaged, and (ii) a start of image data for the scan line.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying imaging parameters includes modifying, for image shifting in a process direction, a number of beam detects which occur between:

(i) a first beam detect signal that is indicative of a top of page, and (ii) a second beam detect signal that is indicative of a start of image data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying imaging parameters includes modifying, for image shifting in a process direction, a timing between:

(i) a media feed signal for a transfer of media in the imaging device, and (ii) a start of image data.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging device is a printer, copier or facsimile machine.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for aligning duplex images on an imaging device, the steps comprising:

(a) enabling imaging of first demarcation elements on a first side of a media;

(b) enabling imaging of second demarcation elements on a second side of the media;

(c) receiving correction indicia based on which first demarcation element most closely aligns with which second demarcation element; and

,

(d) modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the correction indicia.

13. A method of aligning duplex images on an imaging device, comprising:

(a) imaging first demarcation elements on a first side of a media;

(b) imaging second demarcation elements on a second side of the media;

(c) comparing the first and second demarcation elements in a single visual context to determine which first demarcation element most closely aligns with which second demarcation element;

(d) determining correction indicia based on which first demarcation element most closely aligns with which second demarcation element; and

,

(e) modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the correction indicia.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first demarcation elements are included in a first portion of a vernier scale and the second demarcation elements are included in a second portion of the vernier scale.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the comparing in the single visual context includes visually detecting the second demarcation elements through the media.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the correction indicia is indicative of an instruction for modifying the imaging parameters of the imaging device.

17. The method of claim 13 further including entering the correction indicia into the imaging device at a control panel of the imaging device for modifying the imaging parameters of the imaging device.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the imaging parameters include timing parameters associated with a process of imaging data on the imaging device.

19. A method of aligning duplex images on an imaging device, comprising:

(a) duplex imaging a test sheet having indicia on each side of the sheet that communicate, in a single visual context, duplex imaging adjustment parameters for the imaging device; and

,

(b) modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the imaging adjustment parameters.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the indicia on each side of the sheet includes respective portions of a vernier scale.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the imaging parameters include timing parameters associated with a process of imaging data on the imaging device.

22. An imaging device, comprising:

(a) a print engine;

(b) means for generating with the print engine first demarcation elements on a first side of a media, second demarcation elements on a second side of the same media, and correction indicia associated with the first or second demarcation elements, all configured to communicate duplex image alignment indicia when viewed in a single visual context on the media; and

,

(c) means for modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the correction indicia for aligning duplex imaging of the imaging device.

23. The imaging device of claim 22 wherein the imaging device is a printer, copier or facsimile device.

24. The imaging device of claim 22 wherein the first demarcation elements include a first portion of a vernier scale and the second demarcation elements include a second portion of the vernier scale.

25. The imaging device of claim 22 further including a control panel coupled to the print engine, and wherein certain of the correction indicia used for modifying the imaging parameters includes correction indicia associated with certain of the first demarcation elements that most closely align with certain of the second demarcation elements.

26. The imaging device of claim 22 wherein the imaging parameters include timing parameters associated with a process of imaging data on the imaging device.

27. An imaging device, comprising:

(a) means for duplex imaging a test sheet having indicia on each side of the sheet that communicate, in a single visual context, duplex imaging adjustment parameters for the imaging device; and

,

(b) means for modifying imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the imaging adjustment parameters.

28. An imaging device, comprising:

(a) a print engine;

(b) a memory coupled to the print engine; and

,

(c) instructions stored in the memory and configured to;

(i) enable duplex imaging of a test sheet with the print engine, the test sheet configured with indicia on each side of the sheet that communicate, in a single visual context, duplex imaging adjustment parameters for the imaging device; and

,

(ii) enable modifying of imaging parameters of the imaging device based on the imaging adjustment parameters.