Abstract: A multicolor imaging apparatus utilizes a recording medium adapted to having a plurality of latent electrostatographic images defined by image charge potential areas and background charge potential areas. The recording medium moves in a process direction such that an image is recorded on the recording medium and then developed at a plurality of development stations. At least one of the development stations includes not less than two development housings, with each such housing including at least one donor roll, which is electrically biased.

Abstract: An organic, top-surface, semiconducting dielectric overcoat, having a selected time constant permits electric field charge and dissipation at a selected rate to facilitate particulate material movement over an underlying electrode grid. The coating may be made from a compound including bisphenol A polycarbonate, or similar material, and a charge transport molecule (e.g. m-TBD). A planarized, wear resistant, chemically stable surface, with minimized inter-electrode build-up are also provided by the overcoat.

Abstract: A micromachined movable shuttle is constructed in III-V material to allow in situ placement of VCSELs on the shuttle for a solid state image scanner in optical display and printing applications. A comb drive is used to actuate the shuttle for scanning purposes. Hundreds of VCSELs may be fabricated on a large movable shuttle.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing electrostatically charged particles from a surface such as the backside of an image bearing belt of the type found in an electrostatographic printing apparatus or a drive roller supporting an image bearing belt. The apparatus includes an electrically biased foam pad having a conductive substrate and conductive foam material extending outwardly therefrom to contact the surface to be cleaned, a supporting device, and a cleaning device for removing collected particles from the foam pad. The supporting device for the foam pad rotates, thereby causing clean foam material to contact the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting key information from digitized audio messages, including telephone voice messages. Information, such as a telephone number and the name of the caller, is derived and extracted from a voice message and used to establish links to the information within the message. The telephone number and name of the caller can then be replayed without the need to replay the entire voice message. The telephone number and name of the caller can also be used as indices into an information database.

Abstract: A paper conditioner to control image dependent curl in a copier/printer includes a reservoir for storing a quantity of liquid, a pair of rolls in contact with one another so as to define a nip, and a metering roll associated with the reservoir and one of the pair of rolls. The metering roll forms a nip with one of the pair of rolls to direct a controlled flow of liquid from the reservoir to the nip area. Seals located at opposed ends of the metering roll and the roll with which it forms a nip prevent the flow of excess liquid from the ends of the metering roll.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer, depositing ink drops to form an image, in multiple printing resolutions, on a recording medium moving along a recording medium path. The liquid ink printer includes a pagewidth printbar, including an array of ink ejecting nozzles spaced at a predetermined resolution, aligned substantially perpendicular to the recording medium path, to eject the ink drops on the recording medium during movement of the recording medium along the recording medium path, a positioning device, coupled to the pagewidth printbar, to position the printbar at a plurality of discrete locations, and a controller, coupled to the printbar and to the positioning device, to cause the positioning device to position the printbar at the plurality of discrete locations as a function of the predetermined resolution.

Abstract: An electrically biased cleaning belt brush removes oppositely biased particles from a surface. The belt brush, which is entrained about supporting members, includes a substrate to which is attached a multiplicity of conductive brush fibers. Particles adhering to the conductive fibers are removed from the brush fibers at a detoning station. The cleaning belt brush is biased to alternating regions of positive and negative polarities.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer, depositing liquid ink to form an image, on a recording medium, including a printing dimension defining a maximum print area to receive the liquid ink, moving along a recording medium path. The printer includes a printbar, including a plurality of nozzles, aligned substantially perpendicular to the recording medium path, to deposit a swath of ink on the recording medium during movement of the recording medium along the recording medium path, a recording medium transport, disposed adjacent the plurality of nozzles, to move the recording medium along the recording medium path, and an encoder system, spaced from the recording medium transport, to determine the position of the recording medium transport with respect to the array of nozzles. The printbar includes a mounting substrate to mount a plurality of printhead dies including the nozzles and an optical reader of the encoder system.

Abstract: Application of wax to fruit in a conveyor system is controlled to optimize the protective and cosmetic effects of the wax application and to efficiently utilize the wax notwithstanding variations in size, texture, nature or number of the fruit, the type(s) of wax or the processing environment by providing an intelligent wax controller. The wax controller has a camera which detects fruit passing through a field of view defined by an optical housing in which the camera is fixed. Two-dimensional pixel maps of the fruit passing through the viewing area are assembled and an image is processed to provide distinct pixel images even when the fruit are touching. The diameter of the fruit for each of the separated images is then determined from which the total surface area of the fruit passing under the viewing area is computed.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning particles from a surface including a conductive flexible brush belt having a piezoelectric exterior layer to which is attached conductive brush fibers which contact the surface to be cleaned. A support member, about which the belt is entrained, provides sufficient deformation to the belt to cause a voltage to be developed on the surface of the piezoelectric exterior layer in response to being deformed. The voltage causes particles to adhere to the conductive brush fibers. The particles are removed from the brush fibers at a detoning station.

Abstract: A drying apparatus is provided for drying objects such as citrus fruit that has been coated with an aqueous coating such as wax. The apparatus includes a housing that is divided into four distinct zones, two each above and below a conveyor for conveying fruit through the dryer. An indirect fired heater is provided, and fans that circulate drying air at high velocity in a reverse air flow pattern. The housing of the dryer is constructed in a unique shape so each successive zone is alternately converging and diverging. With this arrangement, air is balanced in the treatment zones and passes over the fruit twice, first in one direction, and then in the other, to achieve even and complete drying.

Abstract: Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines when there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The topographic surface features of a translucent object, such as a citrus fruit with a peel, are scanned and evaluated to permit the classification thereof according to its surface features. In the case of citrus fruit, the coarseness or pebbliness, puff and crease, ridge and valley, cuts, punctures, scrapes and splits, clear rot or sour rot of the peel is optically identified through digital analysis of the pixel scans and sorted based upon the peel surface quality. The object is classified by separating the scanned image of the fruit from the background image and removing the background image. A statistical evaluation of the image of the object as a whole, including both hemispheres of the object, is made to determine if there is any surface feature variation which might qualify as a defect or be a suitable basis upon which a classification judgment can be made.