EP0608124A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A method and apparatus for determining and updating a photoreceptor belt steering coefficient
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1994-01-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic printing machine is provided having an endless photoreceptor belt (10) arranged to move in a predetermined path through a plurality of processing stations. The belt is steered by a motor (50) which changes the angle of one of a plurality of rollers (20) that support the belt. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a method for automatically and repeatedly measuring (64) and updating a steering coefficient (78) used in an automatic steering mode. The method includes centering the belt and finding the average "in" belt walk and "in" belt walk rate and the average "out" belt walk and "out" belt walk rate, in order to determine the steering control coefficient. The method allows for a single machine to have its steering coefficient repeatedly updated.
Inventors
- 👤 Ssujan Hou (Nmi)
- 👤 Jacob N. Kluger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/754; G03G15/755; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00135; G03G2215/00139; G03G2215/00143; G03G2215/00156
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a belt (10) arranged to move in a predetermined path, comprising: a roll (20) arranged to support a portion of the belt passing thereover; a means (40) for rotatably supporting said roll; a motor (50), connected to said means for rotatably supporting said roll for orienting said roll in a desired direction; and, a means (52) for automatically controlling an operation of said motor in order to center the belt on said roll.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for controlling the lateral alignment of a belt (10) arranged to move in a predetermined path, comprising: a roll (20) arranged to support a portion of the belt passing thereover; a means (40) for rotatably supporting said roll; a motor (50), connected to said means for rotatably supporting said roll for orienting said roll in a desired direction; and, a means (52) for automatically controlling an operation of said motor in order to center the belt on said roll.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically controlling comprises: a means (64,66,68) for acquiring belt tracking data; a means (70,72,74,52) for actuating said motor (50) based on the belt tracking data acquired.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of clai m 1 or clai m 2 further comprising a means for initializing said means for automatically controlling, said means for initializing comprising: a means for determining a tilt range of said roll; a means for determining a linear displacement of said means for rotatably supporting the roll; a means for determining the number of revolutions of said roll; a means for steering said motor clockwise for N steps; a means for steering said motor counterclockwise for N steps; and, a means for setting a steering coefficient of said motor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
93 words
The apparatus of clai m 1 or clai m 2 further comprising a means for initializing said means for automatically controlling, said means for initializing comprising: a means for determining a tilt range of said roll; a means for determining a linear displacement of said means for rotatably supporting the roll; a means for determining the number of revolutions of said roll; a means for steering said motor clockwise for N steps; a means for steering said motor counterclockwise for N steps; and, a means for setting a steering coefficient of said motor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of any one of clai ms 1 to 3 wherein said means for rotatably supporting said roll comprises: a yoke (40) on which said roll (20) is rotatably mounted; a spindle (44) to which said yoke is secured; and, a frame on which said spindle is mounted.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of any one of clai ms 1 to 3 wherein said means for rotatably supporting said roll comprises: a yoke (40) on which said roll (20) is rotatably mounted; a spindle (44) to which said yoke is secured; and, a frame on which said spindle is mounted.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claims 4, including: a cam follower (50b) secured to an end of said yoke (40); and a cam (50a) in operative engagement with said cam follower (50b); said motor (50) being connected to said cam (50a), for operating on said cam follower (50b) and pivoting said yoke on said spindle (44) and hence orienting said roll (20) in a desired direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an endless photoreceptor belt arranged to move in a predetermined path through a plurality of processing stations disposed therealong, including the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 for controlling the lateral alignment of the photoreceptor belt.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for controlling operations upon a web, comprising: a means for sensing an edge pattern of said web, said edge pattern comprising a cross- track position and an in-track position of said web; a means for generating signals representing sensed edge pattern data; a means for storing said edge pattern data; a means for comparing said sensed edge data; and, a means for steering said belt to the desired edge position from several belt revolutions when the sensed edge position exceeds a predetermined allowed limit value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for controlling operations upon a web, comprising: a means for sensing an edge pattern of said web, said edge pattern comprising a cross- track position and an in-track position of said web; a means for generating signals representing sensed edge pattern data; a means for storing said edge pattern data; a means for comparing said sensed edge data; and, a means for steering said belt to the desired edge position from several belt revolutions when the sensed edge position exceeds a predetermined allowed limit value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for steering comprises: a roll arranged to support a portion of said belt passing thereover; a means for rotatably supporting said roll; and, a motor, connected to said means for rotatably supporting said roll for orienting said roll in a desired direction.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for initializing a steering control of a web moving along a path, the web being subject to lateral movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web along the path, the method comprising the steps of: steering the belt by means of a steering motor to a preset position; turning the steering motor clockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk and rate of belt walk for X belt revolutions; steering the belt back to the preset position; turning the steering motor counterclockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk and rate of belt walk for X belt revolutions; determining a steering control gain.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for initializing a steering control of a web moving along a path, the web being subject to lateral movement in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the web along the path, the method comprising the steps of: steering the belt by means of a steering motor to a preset position; turning the steering motor clockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk and rate of belt walk for X belt revolutions; steering the belt back to the preset position; turning the steering motor counterclockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk and rate of belt walk for X belt revolutions; determining a steering control gain.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for automatically and repeatedly measuring and updating a steering coefficient used in an automatic steering mode, to maintain the endless photoreceptor belt of an electrophotographic printing machine within predetermined parameters, the method comprising: engaging the automatic steering mode; steering the belt to a preset position; disengaging the automatic steering mode; turning the steering motor clockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk in and rate of belt walk in for X belt revolutions; reengaging the automatic steering mode; steering the belt back to the preset position; disengaging the automatic steering mode; turning the steering motor counterclockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk out and rate of belt walk out for X belt revolutions; determining the steering coefficient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for automatically and repeatedly measuring and updating a steering coefficient used in an automatic steering mode, to maintain the endless photoreceptor belt of an electrophotographic printing machine within predetermined parameters, the method comprising: engaging the automatic steering mode; steering the belt to a preset position; disengaging the automatic steering mode; turning the steering motor clockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk in and rate of belt walk in for X belt revolutions; reengaging the automatic steering mode; steering the belt back to the preset position; disengaging the automatic steering mode; turning the steering motor counterclockwise for N steps; measuring an average belt walk out and rate of belt walk out for X belt revolutions; determining the steering coefficient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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