Richard Matthew Boothe

US Patent:

6661981, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Oct 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/977618

Inventors:

Richard M. Boothe - Lexington KY
Danny K. Chapman - Nicholasville KY
Mark A. Omelchenko - Lexington KY
Gregory L. Ream - Lexington KY
John P. Richey - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 1500

US Classification:

399 44, 399 66, 399 78, 399301

Abstract:

Transfer belt subassembly for a color printer includes a transfer belt, home position indicator, temperature sensor, and memory. The transfer belt subassembly is measured and characterized after fabrication, before being installed in a printer. Measurement and calibration data for the transfer belt is stored in memory as part of the subassembly, including data representing velocity characteristics of the transfer belt and temperature compensation factors used by an engine-controller in a method to govern the speed of the drive motor. When the transfer belt subassembly is inserted into a printer, the engine-controller is operative in response to data stored in the memory and sensed belt velocity and temperature data, providing adjustment of belt velocity and compensation for variations in the transfer belt speed. Using the predetermined characterizing data, precise alignment of the color planes with respect to one another is achieved for accurate color printing.