Option to image on belt seam in Printer (16-Sep-2009)

This idea proposes a feature on a xerographic printing device to permit the user  to select whether or not to use the seam area of the imaging belt for imaging. Current devices do not image on the seam area.  If imaging is allowed on the seam, productivity would be higher but image quality would be lower. The feature would allow the customer to make the trade-off. "Polished" belt seams are claimed to cause a minor degradation of image quality discernable only to image quality experts that would be acceptable in office environments.  It is suggested that this feature would be used in conjunction with polished imaging belts.

Color xerographic print engines sometimes utilize an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to build an image of the print. This image is then transferred onto the paper at a secondary transfer point.  Most ITB belts have seams where the belt is joined together. The belts are manufactured by cutting lengths of material (typically Polyamide) and welding the ends together to form a loop or belt. The welded seam currently cannot be imaged upon, as the electrical properties are not homogeneous across the seam resulting in image quality defects. The seam can be polished to improve, but potentially not eliminate, the print quality at the seam.  Imaging on the seam would increase the productivity of the system and increase the life of the xerographic components, belts a...