Inferring toner contamination of electrodes from printing parameters

摘要

A computer implemented method of cleaning electrodes (such as wires) is used in a toner-based electrostatic printing device. The electrodes produce an environment containing charged toner particles to assist in electrostatic printing. The method automatically monitors at least two printing parameters that are unrelated to signals and voltages provided to the electrodes (using a processor of the electrostatic printing device). Further, this method also uses the processor automatically infers a toner contamination of the electrodes from the printing parameters. This allows the processor to automatically adjust the printing the used by the electrostatic printing device during electrostatic printing to maintain the contamination of the electrodes below a threshold.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method of cleaning electrodes in a printing device, said method comprising:
automatically monitoring at least two printing parameters that are unrelated to signals and voltages provided to said electrodes using a processor of said printing device, said at least two printing parameters comprising bias amounts and power levels of actuators of said printing device; automatically inferring a contamination of said electrodes from said at least two printing parameters using said processor; and automatically adjusting printing settings used by said printing device during printing using said processor to maintain said contamination of said electrodes below a threshold.