Patent ID: 8731436

Claim:
A printer comprising: a photoconductor including an outer surface defining a seam region and a non-seam region; a single charge roller; and a positioner operably coupled to the single charge roller and configured to cause the single charge roller to rollingly engage the outer surface of the non-seam region through repeated revolutions of the photoconductor, wherein the positioner includes a discrete stepper rotational actuator configured to maintain the single charge roller between a minimum and maximum spacing relative to the seam region of the outer surface when the seam region passes underneath the single charge roller, and wherein the positioner comprises: a cam follower; and a cam coupled to a driveshaft of the stepper rotational actuator, wherein the stepper rotational actuator is configured to cause the cam to move in a range of motion corresponding to a partial revolution of the cam along a variable radius contour of the cam such that contact of the cam follower against a first portion of the variable radius contour causes the single charge roller to be in rolling engagement against the outer surface of the photoconductor and contact of the cam follower against a second portion of the variable radius contour causes the single charge roller to be spaced apart from the seam region of the photoconductor, and wherein a combination of a first instance of the partial revolution of the cam in a first direction and of a second instance of the partial revolution of the cam in an opposite, second direction corresponds to a complete revolution of the photoconductor.