Method and developer station for adaptation of the inking of an image substrate of a toner-based digital printer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016342108-A1
Application number	US-201615159941-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and a developer station are described. The method and developer station being operable to adapt the inking of an image substrate. The method including applying a voltage across a developer layer on the developer element of the developer station. The application of the voltage causing a current to flow through the developer layer, where the current can be measured. The an indicator of a thickness of the developer layer and/or of the toner quantity in the developer layer is generated based on the voltage and/or the current. The indicator can be used to adjust the inking of the image substrate. For example, the current can be compared to a characteristic curve to generate the indicator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method to adapt a developer layer on a developer element operable to ink an image substrate of a toner-based digital printer with toner particles from the developer layer, the method comprising:
applying a voltage between a measurement electrode and the developer element, wherein the measurement electrode is arranged such that the developer layer having already been adapted for the inking of the image substrate is located between the measurement electrode and the developer element; determining a current that flows between the measurement electrode and the developer element due to the voltage; and adapting the developer layer that is to be adapted for the inking of the image substrate based on the voltage and the current, wherein: a thickness of the developer layer is adapted, the developer layer is applied by an electrode segment onto the developer element, the developer layer is adapted via a toner control variable, and the toner control variable includes a toner application voltage between the electrode segment and the developer element.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a characteristic curve which indicates a correlation between the toner control variable and at least one of the voltage and the current, wherein at least one of the adapting the developer layer that is to be adapted for the inking of the image substrate and adapting the toner control variable being based on the characteristic curve.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
determining a temperature of the developer element, wherein the toner control variable is adapted based on the temperature of the developer element.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
the characteristic curve is based on a plurality of test measurements with different values of the toner control variable ( 401 ); and the characteristic curve depends on a type of developer that is located in the developer layer.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of:
the characteristic curve is based on a plurality of test measurements with different values of the toner control variable ( 401 ); and the characteristic curve depends on a type of developer that is located in the developer layer.

6 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the toner control variable is regulated to a nominal value of the toner control variable based on the characteristic curve, the voltage, and the current.

7 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the toner control variable is regulated to a nominal value of the toner control variable based on the characteristic curve, the voltage, and the current.

8 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the toner control variable is regulated to a nominal value of the toner control variable based on the characteristic curve, the voltage, and the current.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an indicator of a transversal electrical resistance of the developer layer that has already been adapted for the inking of the image substrate based on the voltage and the current, wherein the developer layer that is to be adapted for the inking of the image substrate is adapted based on the indicator of the transversal electrical resistance.

10 . A developer station for a print group of a toner-based digital printer, the developer station comprising:
a developer element that is configured to ink an image substrate of the print group with toner particles from a developer layer ( 303 ) located on the developer element; a doser that is configured to adapt the developer layer for the inking of the image substrate, the doser including an electrode segment configured to apply the developer layer onto the developer element; a measurement electrode that is arranged such that the developer layer that has already been adapted by the doser is located on the developer element between the measurement electrode and said developer element; a power supply that is configured to apply a voltage between the measurement electrode and the developer element; a current measurement device that is configured to determine a current that flows between the measurement electrode and the developer element due to the voltage; and a controller that is configured to control the doser to adapt the developer layer on the developer element based on the voltage and the current, wherein: a thickness of the developer layer is adapted, the developer layer is adapted via a toner control variable, and the toner control variable includes a toner application voltage between the electrode segment and the developer element.

11 . The developer station according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of:
the developer element includes a developer roller; the image substrate includes an image substrate roller; and the measurement electrode includes an electrically conductive measurement roller.

12 . The developer station according to claim 10 , wherein the measurement electrode includes an element configured to smooth the developer layer on the developer element.

13 . The developer station according to claim 11 , wherein the measurement electrode includes an element configured to smooth the developer layer on the developer element.

14 . A method to adapt a developer layer on a developer element of a printer, the printer including a measurement electrode adjacent to the developer element, the method comprising:
applying, using a doser, developer on the developer element at a first position to create the developer layer on the developer element; applying a voltage between the measurement electrode and the developer element, the measurement electrode being arranged at a second position, wherein the developer travels from the first position to the second position based on a movement of the developer element; determining a current that flows between the measurement electrode and the developer element due to the voltage; and adjusting the application of the developer based on the voltage and the current to adjust a quantity of the developer being applied to the developer element.

Assignees

• Oce Printing Systems Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Montag Thomas

Classifications

• G03G15/55

  Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display · CPC title

• G03G15/065 Primary

  Arrangements for controlling the potential of the developing electrode · CPC title

• G03G15/11

  Removing excess liquid developer, e.g. by heat · CPC title

• G03G15/105

  Detection or control means for the toner concentration · CPC title