[54] ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC SINGLE-PASS MULTIPLE STATION PRINTER WITH REGISTER CONTROL
[75] Inventors: Ronny J. V. Aerens, Belsele; Etienne M. De Cock; Lucien A. De Schamphelaere, both of Edegem; Peter A. R. Steylaerts, Lier; Erik G. G. Van Weverberg, Mortsel, all of Belgium
[73] Assignee: Xeikon NV, Mortsel, Belgium
[21] Appl. No.: 257,111
[22] Filed: Jun. 8, 1994
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Jun. 18, 1993 [EP] European Pat. Off. 93304773
[51] Int. CI.6 G03G 15/00
[52] U.S. CI 355/326 R; 347/115; 355/327
[58] Field of Search 355/326 R, 327,
355/202, 308, 309, 310, 317, 319; 347/115,
112, 116
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Primary Examiner—A. T. Grimley
Assistant Examiner—T. A. Dang
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue &
Raymond
[57] ABSTRACT
An electrostatographic single-pass multiple station multicolor printer for forming an image onto a web has a plurality of toner image-printing electrostatographic stations. Each station has a drum onto the surface of which a toner image can be formed. An exposure station forms an electrostatic toner image line-wise on each drum surface. A corona device transfers the toner image onto the web, which is conveyed in succession past the stations in synchronism with the rotation of the drum surface. Register control apparatus provided for controlling the operation of each of the stations in timed relationship thereby to obtain correct registering of the distinct toner images on the web. The register control apparatus comprises an encoder driven by the displacement of the web to produce pulses indicative of web displacement, and a delay arranged to initiate the operation of subsequent stations after a predetermined web displacement, as measured by the encoder, has occurred. The invention enables accurate registration of the transferred images, irrespective of the speed of the paper web through the printer.
17 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
