Patent US5973718A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6300968B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6300968B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color printing process direction color registration system with expanded chevrons
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 2000-11-02
•
Granted: 2001-10-09
•
Expires: 2020-11-02
Abstract
Abstract In color printing with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface, such as a photoreceptor belt of a color printer, registration marks are imaged on the image bearing surface, which registration marks correspond to the color images and are sensed by a registration marks sensor. In an initial gross registration mode the system first automatically images first registration marks, in the form of expanded chevron targets, which are greatly expanded in the process direction so as to avoid overlapping marks even if there is initial gross misregistration, to thus provide wider initial misregistration latitude for the sensor. When an acceptable initial registration is achieved, the system automatically switches to imaging more closely spaced and more frequent second registration marks, preferably regular chevron targets, providing higher registration accuracy. These registration targets may be generated along opposite sides of the image areas, on opposite sides of the photoreceptor or other image bearing surface in the process direction.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Kerxhalli
- 👤 Olga Y. Ramirez
- 👤 Brian R. Conrow
- 👤 Ronald E. Shaul
- 👤 Stanley J. Wallace
- 👤 Mark A. Omelchenko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0147; G03G15/0152; G03G15/0163; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0151; G03G2215/0158; G03G2215/0161; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a method of plural color printing with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction, using plural registration marks imaged on said image bearing surface, which said registration marks correspond to the positions of respective said color images on said image bearing surface, and which registration marks are sensed by a registration marks sensor for detecting the positions of said registration marks on said image bearing surface, said registration marks sensor having a limited misregistration latitude, the improvement wherein; said color registration system provides an initial gross registration mode in which said color registration system automatically images a plurality of first said registration marks on said image bearing surface, said first registration marks being formed to provide a wider misregistration latitude for said registration marks sensor in said process direction, imaging said first registration marks on said image bearing surface until an initial gross registration is achieved, then automatically switching said color registration system to a second registration mode in which said color registration system automatically images a plurality of second and different said registration marks on said image bearing surface having reduced misregistration latitude in said process direction for said registration marks sensor but providing higher registration accuracy with said registration marks sensor, said second registration mode forming said second and different said registration marks more closely spaced together in said process direction on said image bearing surface than said first registration marks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a method of plural color printing with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction, using plural registration marks imaged on said image bearing surface, which said registration marks correspond to the positions of respective said color images on said image bearing surface, and which registration marks are sensed by a registration marks sensor for detecting the positions of said registration marks on said image bearing surface, said registration marks sensor having a limited misregistration latitude, the improvement wherein; said color registration system provides an initial gross registration mode in which said color registration system automatically images a plurality of first said registration marks on said image bearing surface, said first registration marks being formed to provide a wider misregistration latitude for said registration marks sensor in said process direction, imaging said first registration marks on said image bearing surface until an initial gross registration is achieved, then automatically switching said color registration system to a second registration mode in which said color registration system automatically images a plurality of second and different said registration marks on said image bearing surface having reduced misregistration latitude in said process direction for said registration marks sensor but providing higher registration accuracy with said registration marks sensor, said second registration mode forming said second and different said registration marks more closely spaced together in said process direction on said image bearing surface than said first registration marks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of plural color printing with a color registration system of claim 1 , wherein said second registration marks comprise a generally chevron shaped pattern, and wherein said first registration marks are expanded in the process direction relative to said second registration marks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of plural color printing with a color registration system of claim 2 , wherein said registration marks sensor has a generally chevron shaped sensing pattern corresponding to said generally chevron shaped pattern of said second registration marks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of plural color printing with a color registration system of claim 1 , wherein said plural color images on said image bearing surface are color separations being accurately superposed to form full color images.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of plural color printing with a color registration system of claim 1 , wherein both said first and second registration marks are imaged and developed with imaging material along opposite sides of said image bearing surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of plural color printing with a color registration system of claim 1 , wherein said image bearing surface is a photoreceptor of a xerographic printing system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface movable in a process direction, which color registration system generates plural registration marks imaged on said image bearing surface corresponding to the positions of respective said color images, and further including at least one registration marks sensor for detecting the positions of said registration marks on said image bearing surface, the improvement wherein: said color registration system initially generates and images first gross registration marks on said image bearing surface providing wide misregistration latitude for said registration marks sensor in said process direction until an initial gross registration is achieved, said color registration system automatically switches to generate and image more closely spaced apart fine registration marks on said image bearing surface after said initial gross registration is achieved, said fine registration marks having reduced misregistration latitude in said process direction for said registration marks sensor but providing higher color registration accuracy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system for the registration of plural color images on an image bearing surface movable in a process direction, which color registration system generates plural registration marks imaged on said image bearing surface corresponding to the positions of respective said color images, and further including at least one registration marks sensor for detecting the positions of said registration marks on said image bearing surface, the improvement wherein: said color registration system initially generates and images first gross registration marks on said image bearing surface providing wide misregistration latitude for said registration marks sensor in said process direction until an initial gross registration is achieved, said color registration system automatically switches to generate and image more closely spaced apart fine registration marks on said image bearing surface after said initial gross registration is achieved, said fine registration marks having reduced misregistration latitude in said process direction for said registration marks sensor but providing higher color registration accuracy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said fine registration marks comprise sets of closely spaced generally chevron shaped registration marks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein both said gross and fine registration marks are imaged and developed with imaging material along opposite sides of said image bearing surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said image bearing surface is a photoreceptor of a xerographic printing system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said registration marks sensor comprises a spaced pair of elongated bi-cell detectors in a generally chevron shaped pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said image bearing surface is a photoreceptor belt of a xerographic printing system, wherein said gross registration marks are repeatedly imaged along said photoreceptor belt in one operational mode for said initial gross registration, and wherein said fine registration marks are imaged along said photoreceptor belt adjacent to said plural color images in a second and operational mode for said fine registration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said image bearing surface is a photoreceptor belt, wherein said gross registration marks comprise chevron marks repeatedly imaged along said photoreceptor belt in sets thereof in one operational mode for said initial gross registration, and wherein at least one said set includes at least one chevron mark having two legs of two different colors, one leg being a reference color and the other leg being another color being registered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
The plural color reproduction apparatus with a color registration system of claim 7 , wherein said image bearing surface is a photoreceptor belt, wherein said gross registration marks comprise chevron marks repeatedly imaged along said photoreceptor belt in sets thereof in one operational mode for said initial gross registration, and wherein at least one said set includes at least one chevron mark which is a negative black chevron mark formed by the absence of black in an area of another different and more detectable color.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5287162A
Cited
US5384592A
Cited
US5418556A
Cited
US5631686A
Cited
US5510877A
Cited
US5537190A
Cited
US5909235A
Cited
US5748221A
Cited
US5774156A
Cited
US6014154A
Cited
US5946537A
Cited
US6198896B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-08 | 2005-04-09 | 2005-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-08 | 2009-04-09 | 2009-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-08 | 2013-04-09 | 2013-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |