Abstract: A printhead controller controls printing of a page by at least one printhead. The printhead controller, in use, receives data, in a compressed format relating to the page to be printed, the data including a page description comprising a bi-level black layer and a contone color layer. The printhead controller extracts from the compressed data relating to the bi-level black layer the contone color layer. Memory is provided for temporary storage of the expanded data. A dithering/compositing unit produces a ditherer page from the data temporally stored in the memory and feeds its out put to the printhead.

Abstract: A system and method that provided for preview scanning a document and generating a preview scan image, determining a document type based on the preview scan image, mapping the document type to a predetermined workflow, scanning the document to capture an image of the document, and executing the workflow.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus incorporating an image forming unit capable of execution in a layout print mode in which a plurality of pages of image data is formed on a single sheet, whether or not to permit the image forming unit to execute in the layout print mode for a plurality of sets of image data to be laid out in the layout print mode is controlled based on the image property information of the plurality of image data, so that layout functions desired by users are provided and ease of operation by the users is improved without incurring excessive processes or additional cost.

Abstract: A scanner with scan-starting device comprises a housing, a carriage and a scan-starting device. The carriage is movable inside the housing whereas the scan-starting device further comprises a key section and a trigger section. Besides, the key section is situated on the housing whereas the trigger section is on the circuit board of the carriage. The trigger section generates a triggering signal to start the scanner to proceed scanning when the user presses the key section to touch the trigger section. The scanner according to the invention reduces the hardware space occupied by cables and circuit boards, therefore, lowers down manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A digital copying machine provided with both a scanner function and a printer function is used. The use of this type of machine enables a scanner apparatus to have a printout function as well. An input image can be transmitted to a final registration destination or a transfer destination and printed by operating only the scanner apparatus. Owing to this feature, the user need not check the image output to the final registration destination, the user is only required to confirm the printed image. Hence, the burden imposed on the user by the confirmation of captured images is significantly reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating printer resources compares an amount of printer resources required to print a document to an amount of printer resources available at a printer to determine whether sufficient resources are available to successfully print the document. If insufficient resources are available, the apparatus alerts the user so that the user may replenish the resources prior to printing. When used in a computer network, the apparatus causes the printer to switch from a client print server mode to a direct printing mode causing the printer to stop responding to print commands issued by a print server and to instead respond to print commands issued by a print driver associated with the apparatus.

Abstract: Optical image reading equipment is disclosed, whereby a background color of a document can be changed depending on a processing of the acquired image. The equipment is provided with an illuminating member (32) for illuminating a document, a reading portion (30) for reading reflected light of the document, and a backing member provided at least in the reading position of the document. The backing member is disposed on the opposite side to the reading portion across the document. The backing member is configured by a member which produces background color outside the document changeable by means of electric control. Thus an image suitable for a successive processing can be output.

Abstract: A relay device for providing communication between a sensing device and a computer system includes first and second communications modules and a processor. The first communications module receives first indicating data transmitted from the sensing device in a first format. The indicating data is sensed by the sensing device when it is placed into an operative position in relation to first coded data forming part of a first interface disposed on a first surface. In particular, the indicating data includes a first region identity indicative of an identity of a region associated with the first interface. The processor is configured to generate second indicating data based on the first indicating data. The second communications module then transmits the second indicating data in a second format to the computer system.

Abstract: In n page unit printing, a completion time of print preparation for page m+1 is estimated from the time spent for print preparation for pages up to page m among n pages. If the estimated time can make m+1 unit printing effective, print preparation for page m+1 is waited for. If the estimated time can not make m+1 unit printing effective, m page unit printing is immediately performed up to page m, without waiting for the completion of print preparation of page m+1.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed herein for printing images on labels attached to a backing in a printing device. An apparatus and method for printing an image in a predetermined area of a form are also disclosed. Further characteristics and features of the present invention are additionally disclosed herein, as are exemplary alternative embodiments. This abstract is not to be used in the interpretation of any of the claims.

Abstract: In a recording device, electrostatic recording units of Y, M, C and K are arranged along the direction of the feed of a recording sheet by a belt unit. The device forms latent images corresponding to image data by optical scanning of an exposure device onto a rotating photosensitive drum, develops the latent images with toner components having different colors, and then transfers the developed images onto the recording sheet on the belt unit. A color matching processing unit performs color matching processing including color slippage correction of different color images. An automatic color matching mode processing unit works the color matching processing unit when conditions beforehand decided in the state that an automatic correction mode is set up are realized.

Abstract: An image information reading apparatus that can obtain high quality images without an effect of noise and a photographing condition or the like is realized even in the case where a low-bit A/D converter is used. The apparatus comprises control means for switching between pre-reading to main reading, characteristic determination means for determining, by analyzing an electric signal obtained by the pre-reading, a normalization processing characteristic used in normalization processing on an electric signal obtained by the main reading, and normalization processing means for carrying out the normalization processing on the electric signal in the main reading according to the determined normalization processing characteristic. The characteristic determination means analyzes image data by using a cumulative histogram of pre-reading data, and determines the normalization processing characteristic so that an image represented by the image data has adequate density and contrast.

Abstract: In a copying machine connected to the network, calibrations on the printers are performed as follows. When an execution of calibration is requested, the copying machine displays all identification numbers of the printers connected to the network on the operation panel of the copying machine. When the user selects a printer to be calibrated through the display, the copying machine causes the selected printer to output a specified test pattern. Then the copying machine reads the test pattern, generates a correction table and registers the generated table with the printer.

Abstract: A method and information system for informing a user about consumable components such as a CRU using printed documents in an electrostatographic system.

Abstract: In the correction of the quantity of light of a light source used in an image reader which irradiates an original document with the light source, receives the reflected light by a CCD and reads the original document image, at the time of a document moving mode in which the document moves, correction of the quantity of irradiation light of the light source is performed by reading a first standard white board which extends over the whole area in the main scanning direction, prior to the initiation of readout of the moving document, and upon initiation of readout of the moving document, a second standard white board arranged outside the document passing area is read by using the same light source, with the read operation of the moving document, and correction of the quantity of irradiation light of the light source is performed based on the reflected light from the second white board.

Abstract: A control method for an image forming apparatus for executing various jobs transmitted from an information processing apparatus includes analyzing a process transmitted from the information processing apparatus and generating a job according to the analysis. Each of information constituting a job, information constituting a binder, and information constituting a document, is managed. The generated job is divided into a smaller document unit to generate a document which is processed, the document is divided into a smaller page unit to generate a page, which is processed, and the page is divided into a smaller band unit to generated a band, which is processed. Requests are arbitrated for using a device from the document generation, document processing, page processing, and band processing. At least one of the document, page, and band processing is done according to formats of input and output data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner including a housing defining two mounting holes. An elastic rib is located beside each of the two mounting holes to provide a retaining action. A paper cover is pivotally mounted on the housing and has two locking hooks. Each locking hook is mounted in a respective mounting hole of the housing. Thus, the height of the paper cover can be adjusted according to the variation of depth of the locking hook in the mounting hole. In addition, the locking hook is retained by the elastic rib and the catch plate of the mounting hole, such that the paper cover cannot be removed easily, thereby preventing the paper cover from being lost.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for controlling output of a specific image, and a storage medium. For example, image data which is open to the public on the Internet may be printed out without permission by an ill-disposed person, even if it has a copyright. In this invention, when information indicating the presence of a copyright is stored in extended property information of image data, which complies with a hierarchical data format that hierarchically stores image data of a plurality of resolution, original image data, i.e., the image data of interest is controlled not to be output at a high resolution, thereby preventing original image data from being printed out without permission of the copyright holder.

Abstract: A relay device for providing communication between a sensing device and a computer system includes first and second communications modules and a processor. The first communications module receives first indicating data transmitted from the sensing device in a first format. The indicating data is sensed by the sensing device when it is placed into an operative position in relation to first coded data forming part of a first interface disposed on a first surface. In particular, the indicating data includes a first region identity indicative of an identity of a region associated with the first interface. The processor is configured to generate second indicating data based on the first indicating data. The second communications module then transmits the second indicating data in a second format to the computer system.

Abstract: A handheld mobile image-sensing device comprising: a support structure; an image sensor positioned on the support structure for sensing an image; a display positioned on the support structure and operatively connected to the image sensor for displaying the image sensed by the image sensor; a printing mechanism positioned on the support structure and operatively connected to the image sensor to print the image sensed by the image sensor; a capping mechanism operable to selectively cap a printhead of the printing mechanism when the printing mechanism is not printing; and a remote transmission arrangement positioned on the support structure and operatively connected to the image sensor to transmit data representing the image.