Apparatus and method for shifting an image-forming region of a printing device
An apparatus and method for shifting the image-forming region of a printing device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a photoconductor, an encoder, several rollers, and a controlled device. The present invention is used to shift the image-forming region in the photoconductor by the controlled device. The damage of the image-forming region in the photoconductor can be reduced. The lifetime of the photoconductor can be extended. In addition, the controlled device uses firmware to shift the image-forming region. The shifting method can be a sequential mode or random mode.
1 . A method for shifting an image-forming region of a printing device, comprising:
detecting an initial position of a printable region of a photoconductor in the printing device;
computing a shifting distance by a controlled device firmware;
calculating an initial position of the image-forming region, wherein the initial position of the image-forming region is equal to the initial position of the printable region plus the shifting distance; and
positioning the printing device in the initial position of the image-forming region and beginning to form image.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the firmware comprises a look-up table and the shifting distance can be computed by adjusting the look-up table.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is in a sequential mode to shift the image-forming region.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is in a random mode to shift the image-forming region.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is used in an Electrophotographic (EPG) printing device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photoconductor is an Organic Photoconductor (OPC).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photoconductor is an Organic Photoconductor belt.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the photoconductor is an Organic Photoconductor drum.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image shifting distance is at least 1 mm.
10 . An apparatus for shifting an image-forming region of a printing device, comprising:
a photoconductor including at least one code strip, which is disposed on one side of the photoconductor, and the code strip having a plurality of bar codes,
at least one roller used to roll the photoconductor;
a controlled device driving the roller and including a firmware, which can calculate a shifting distance and move a initial position of the image-forming region to the shifting distance; and
an encoder detecting the plurality of bar codes.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the firmware comprises a look-up table and the shifting distance can be computed by adjusting the look-up table.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the firmware uses a variable to identify the shifting distance of the image-forming region.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the variable is randomly generated.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the variable is sequentially generated.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is used in an Electrophotographic (EPG) printing device.
16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the photoconductor is an Organic Photoconductor (OPC).
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the photoconductor is an OPC belt.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the photoconductor is an OPC drum.
19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the image shifting distance is at least 1 mm.
20 . A method for shifting an image-forming region of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the apparatus includes a photoconductor and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, and the method comprises:
detecting an initial position of a printable region in the photoconductor by an encoder; and
outputting a shifting signal and shifting the electrostatic latent image from the initial position of the printable region to a distance and forming the image.