Invisible electrostatic tracking indicia for color plotters

Claim 2

In a system wherein media are transported from a first position to a second position, a method of determining alignment of the media at the second position without placing visible marks on the media comprising: placing on the media at the first position tracking indicia consisting of a pattern of electrostatic charge to provide information with regard to the alignment of the media at the first position; and at the second position, detecting the pattern of electrostatic charge to thereby determine the alignment of the media at the second position.

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of placing further comprises: employing at the first position a writing head of the type having a plurality of styli extending to a surface; positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and applying signals to selected styli to thereby cause electrostatic charge to accumulate in the media adjacent the surface.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 2 wherein the step of applying signals comprises connecting a source of electrical signals to the selected styli.

Claim 5

A method as in claim 2 wherein the pattern comprises: a first indication of a position of the media in a first direction; and a second indication of a location of the media in a second direction.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 3 wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

Claim 7

A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the pattern comprises: employing at the second position a writing head of the type having a plurality of styli extending to a surface; positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and monitoring selected styli of the plurality to detect the pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 8

A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of monitoring comprises connecting an amplifier to at least one of the selected styli.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of: at positions subsequent to the second position, detecting the pattern of electrostatic charge to thereby determine the alignment of the media at such positions subsequent to the second position.

Claim 10

Apparatus for controlling registration of images having boundaries which images are printed onto media at different stations, the apparatus comprising: a first station including a first writing head having a first plurality of styli for placing a pattern of electrostatic charge on the media outside the boundaries of the image; and a second station including a second writing head having a second plurality of styli selectably connectable to amplifying means each of the second plurality being positioned to detect the pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 11

Apparatus for controlling registration of images having boundaries which images are printed onto media at different stations, the apparatus comprising: a first station including a first writing head having a first plurality of styli for placing a pattern of electrostatic charge on the media outside the boundaries of the image; and a second station including a second writing head having a second plurality of styli selectably connectable to amplifying means each of the second plurality being positioned to detect the pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 12

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the first writing head further comprises a third plurality of styli for writing a first image to be toned inside the boundaries.

Claim 13

Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the second writing head further comprises a fourth plurality of styli for writing a second image to be toned inside the boundaries.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein each of the first and second writing heads comprise: an elongate body of insulating material disposed to extend transversely across the media, the body having styli extending from interior the insulating material to an upper surface disposed to contact the media.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein: the media is oriented to pass each of the first and second stations in a selected plane; and the styli comprise wires having a minimum cross section in the selected plane.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the second plurality of styli comprise electrodes having an enlarged surface for detecting the pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein each of the writing heads of the first and second stations also have additional styli for placing electrostatic charge on the media inside the boundaries of the image.

Claim 18

In an electrostatic plotter of the type having a single writing head having a plurality of styli extending to a surface and multiple toner stations wherein a first color image is printed on media on a first pass over the writing head and the media rewound and repassed over the writing head for successive colors, a method of aligning subsequent images with the first image without placing visible marks on the media comprising: on a first pass applying a potential to first selected ones of the plurality of styli outside the first image to cause an invisible pattern of electrostatic charge to be placed on the media; and on a subsequent pass, employing second selected ones of the plurality of styli to detect the invisible pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 19

In an electrostatic plotter of the type having a single writing head having a plurality of styli extending to a surface and multiple toner stations wherein a first color image is printed on media on a first pass over the writing head and the media rewound and repassed over the writing head for successive colors, a method of aligning subsequent images with the first image without placing visible marks on the media comprising: on a first pass applying a potential to first selected ones of the plurality of styli outside the first image to cause an invisible pattern of electrostatic charge to be placed on the media; and on a subsequent pass, employing second selected ones of the plurality of styli to detect the invisible pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 20

A method as in claim 16 wherein the step of applying further comprises: positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and applying signals to selected styli to thereby cause electrostatic charge to accumulate in the media adjacent the surface.

Claim 21

In an electrostatic plotter of the type having a single writing head having a plurality of styli extending to a surface and multiple toner stations wherein a first color image is printed on media on a first pass over the writing head and the media rewound and repassed over the writing head for successive colors, a method of aligning subsequent images with the first image comprising: on a first pass applying a potential to first selected ones of the plurality of styli outside the first image to cause a pattern of electrostatic charge to be placed on the media; and on a subsequent pass, employing second selected ones of the plurality of styli to detect the pattern; wherein the applying step comprises the steps of: positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and applying signals to selected styli to thereby cause electrostatic charge to accumulate in the media adjacent the surface; and wherein the employing step comprises the steps of: positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and monitoring selected styli of the plurality to detect the pattern of electrostatic charge.

Claim 22

In an electrostatic plotter of the type having a single writing head having a plurality of styli extending to a surface and multiple toner stations wherein a first color image is printed on media on a first pass over the writing head and the media rewound and repassed over the writing head for successive colors, a method of aligning subsequent images with the first image comprising: on a first pass applying a potential to first selected ones of the plurality of styli outside the first image to cause a pattern of electrostatic charge to be placed on the media; and on a subsequent pass, employing second selected ones of the plurality of styli to detect the pattern; wherein the applying step comprises the steps of: positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and applying signals to selected styli to thereby cause electrostatic charge to accumulate in the media adjacent the surface; and wherein the employing step comprises the steps of: positioning the media in proximity to the surface of the writing head; and monitoring selected styli of the plurality to detect the pattern of electrostatic charge.