Patent ID: 6285383
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G02B,G03G,H04N

Abstract:
A method of aligning print images of an electrophotographic machine on a print medium, said method comprising the steps of:providing a first rotating photoconductive drum and a second rotating photoconductive drum in the electrophotographic machine;reflecting a first laser beam off of a first rotating reflector to thereby scan said first laser beam across said first photoconductive drum to produce a first scan line in a scan direction;cyclically repeating said rotation of said first reflector to thereby produce a plurality of substantially parallel said first scan lines on said first photoconductive drum;applying a respective line of first toner to each of said first scan lines;reflecting a second laser beam off of a second rotating reflector to thereby scan said second laser beam across said second photoconductive drum to produce a second scan line in the scan direction;cyclically repeating said rotation of said second reflector to thereby produce a plurality of substantially parallel said second scan lines on said second photoconductive drum;applying a respective line of second toner to each of said second scan lines;providing a moving toner transfer medium contacting each of said first photoconductive drum and said second photoconductive drum;transferring each said line of first toner from said first photoconductive drum to said toner transfer medium;transferring each said line of second toner from said second photoconductive drum to said toner transfer medium such that said lines of second toner are substantially interspersed with said lines of first toner on said toner transfer medium;transferring said lines of first toner and said lines of second toner from said toner transfer medium to the print medium; andtemporarily changing a speed of said rotation of at least one of said first reflector and said second reflector to thereby achieve a desired phase difference therebetween, said desired phase difference being such that at least one said line of first toner is substantially aligned in a process direction with a corresponding said line of second toner on said toner transfer medium, the process direction being substantially perpendicular to the scan direction.