Abstract: Extracting, from an identical original image, regions estimated to correspond to a principal portion thereof, respectively, by means of a plurality of mutually different extracting methods for extracting from an original image a region estimated to correspond to a principal portion thereof, and evaluating the extracting methods by comparing with respect to a plurality of original images, on the one hand, the regions estimated to correspond to the principal portion and extracted respectively from the identical original image by the extracting methods and, on the other hand, a region corresponding to the principal portion of the identical original image, or a region having a high probability of being a region corresponding to the principal portion of the identical original image and determined on the basis of the regions estimated to correspond to the principal portion and extracted respectively by the extracting methods; setting in advance a weight with respect to each of the extracting methods in corresponden

Abstract: A photographic method for controlling characteristics of an image to be recorded by changing the conditions for voltage application and achieves image recording by setting application voltage in accordance with image characteristics as desired. The range of external application voltage is set according to resistance of the liquid crystal medium, threshold voltage of the liquid crystal medium, and base current of a photo sensor, and the application voltage is changed according to the desired image characteristics within the preset range.

Abstract: An engraver including an automatic tool changer and verification system for changing engraving tools on engraving heads. The engraver includes a turret having a plurality of workholders for holding a plurality of replacement tools. Some of the workholders are empty for replacing a worn tool from an engraving head on the engraver. When it is desired to change a tool on the engraving head, an empty tool holder is indexed to a tool changing position opposite the engraving head whereupon the worn tool is transferred from the engraving head to the tool changer. Thereafter, the tool changer is indexed to a position where a replacement tool is situated in opposed relationship with the engraving head. The tool changer includes a pneumatic system for causing the worn tools and replacement tools to be transferred between the engraving head and the tool changer. The engraver also utilizes a tool verification routine for verifying that a tool on the engraving head is the correct tool and/or is not defective.

Abstract: A method for aligning a cylinder support in an engraver includes a step of actuating a plurality of jaws to grip the cylinder support such that the cylinder support becomes automatically aligned in the engraver. The actuating step may further include the step of inserting the cylinder support a predetermined distance into a receiving cavity, where the predetermined distance may range from about 0-300 mm. The method is further characterized in that it may include steps of biasing the plurality of jaws to a predetermined position, energizing a cylinder to cause the plurality of jaws to move substantially simultaneously towards a rotating axis of the engraver; pivoting the pivot lever to cause the jaws to actuate toward and away from a rotational axis of the engraver; and/or lubricating the plurality of jaws with a lubricant and purging the lubricant associated with the plurality of jaws; and/or indexing each of the plurality of jaws to provide a desired travel range.

Abstract: In an image reader with an automatic document feeding (ADF) unit, even when various documents such as color multi-value, color binary, monochrome multi-value, and monochrome binary documents are installed in the ADF unit, the user need not beforehand conduct any setting operations related to the above attributes. The image reading apparatus includes an ADF unit for conveying a document sheet onto a document glass plate a light source for emitting a light beam onto the document, an optical system for receiving reflection light reflected by the document and producing a focused document image, a color image sensor for separating the focused document image into images respectively of a plurality of colors and thereby reading color images, an image read controller having a plurality of read modes, and a carriage for setting an image read position.

Abstract: An adding portion 105 superposes a density signal (a signal having its level changing in accordance with a density of a printed image) from a density signal generator 101 on a carry signal (a signal in the form of a sine wave having a prescribed frequency and a prescribed amplitude) from a carry signal generator 102 to generate an engraving signal. A stylus included in an engraving head 21 reciprocatively vibrates according to the applied engraving signal to engrave cells on a gravure cylinder rotating in the main scanning direction. A sub-scanning motor 107 moves the engraving head 21 in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction every time cells for one line in the main scanning direction of the gravure cylinder have been engraved. At this time, the moved amount of the engraving head 21 in the sub-scanning direction is controlled so that cells adjacent in the sub-scanning direction partially overlap with each other in every other line.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which includes document data management unit 3 for receiving from a computer document data 5 to be printed and for storing and managing the document data 5, printing unit 1 for printing, on a predetermined sheet of paper, the document data 5 that is output by the document data management unit 3, and document sorting unit 2 for sorting and discharging, onto a sorting tray 22, the sheet of paper that is printed by the printing unit 1, includes: arrangement and editing unit 4 for each destination, for receiving and storing page data for each destination, for employing the page data to calculate a printing number required for each page of a document and for employing the sorting tray 22 for each destination, whereby a printed sheet of a necessary page is discharged onto the sorting tray 22.

Abstract: A desktop color copier having a size which allows the copier to be placed on a stand when the copier is used. The desktop color copier includes a photoconductive drum for sequentially forming toner images of respective colors thereon, a charger for charging the photoconductive drum, an exposure device for exposing the charged photoconductive drum, a revolving type developing device for forming color toner images on the photoconductive drum, an image transferring devices which includes an intermediate transfer belt to which the color toner images are sequentially transferred one on top of the other, and a fixing device for fixing the color toner images on a sheet of paper. The desktop color copier includes a single paper feed tray which is located under the transferring devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a recording section for recording an image on a thermosensitive sheet paid out from a roller with a record head and a platen roller, and a reading section for reading a document with a scanner and a conveyor roller. The apparatus holds the head, presses the head against a platen roller, and has a conveyor roller mounted to the recording section, each in a unique configuration so as to reduce the number of parts and facilitate assembly.

Abstract: A includes system and method for determining an actual volume measurement for an engraved area on a surface of a workpiece, such as a cylinder. The system and method is capable of capturing an image of an engraved area, determining a plurality of cross-section volumes for a plurality of cross-sectional areas using the image, and generating a plurality of volume values in response thereto. The system and method sum the volume for the plurality of cross-sectional areas to provide a total engraved area actual volume value. If necessary, the system and method causes an engraver to be adjusted during a set-up procedure or during real-time operation to ensure that the densities of the areas being engraved correspond to desired densities. A computer associated with the engraver utilizes an image to determine a stylus profile from which engraved area measurements can be determined.

Abstract: An adding portion superposes a density signal (a signal having its level changing in accordance with a density of a printed image) from a density signal generator with a carrier signal (a signal in the form of a sine wave having a prescribed frequency and a prescribed amplitude) from a carrier signal generator to generate an engraving signal. A stylus included in an engraving head 21 reciprocates according to the applied engraving signal to engrave cells on a gravure cylinder rotating in the main scanning direction. A sub-scanning motor moves the engraving head in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction every time cells for one line in the main scanning direction of the gravure cylinder have been engraved. The movement of the engraving head 21 in the sub-scanning direction is controlled so that cells adjacent in the sub-scanning direction partially overlap with each other in every other line.

Abstract: A method of engraving which accommodates changes in copper hardness, variations in head linearities, worn stylus, and the like. The method involves the cutting of midtone test cells, as well as highlight and full width test cells. The widths of the test cells are measured and used to establish slopes and offsets for adjustment lines, which in turn are applied inversely to transform a desired cell width into an engraving drive signal. The technique assures that the computed engraving drive signal will produce the desired cell width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is immune to characteristic variations of a photoconductor and a developer material, which can detect the amount of toner adhering to a test toner image accurately, and which can always form a favorable image using an optimal image forming parameter. A predetermined test toner image is formed on the photoconductor using developing devices. The amount of toner adhering to the formed test toner image is detected by an AIDC sensor. A printer control unit determines grid potential Vg of a corona charger and development bias potential Vb of each developing device based on the detected amount of adhering toner. A predetermined image is formed using the determined grid potential and development bias potential.

Abstract: A halftone screen and method for generating halftones representing a continuous tone image, wherein the number of halftone dots per unit area varies non-proportionally with the tone values utilized as inputs to the screening process. The method incorporates an implicit gradation compensation as part of the frequency modulation halftoning itself to correct for the additional tone gain due to recording, plate processing and/or printing, as well as aesthetic corrections. This implicit compensation has the advantage that no external compensation is required, thereby maintaining the number of tone values which can be rendered on a digital system. Finally, the implicit gradation compensation enables the combination of page elements rendered according to either "conventional" or "frequency-modulated" halftoning techniques with appropriate tone-matching.

Abstract: In printing both sides of plural sheets of paper by using a digital copy machine having a circulating-type duplexing unit, when a back face of the first page is printed after printing a front face thereof, if it is likely to collide with a sheet of paper for the second page, priority is given to printing of the back face of the first page. If the front faces of both first and second pages are already printed, then control proceeds so as not to collide with the sheet of paper for the back face of the second page irrespective of delay in printing the back face of the first page.

Abstract: A cassette includes a cassette main member. The cassette main member has recessed and convexed surface regions on which color printing is formed. The color printing is formed by ejecting ink vertically downward from a series of three ink jet printing heads to form two printed layers and a third, protective layer. The first printed layer is a solid white base coating on which the second layer is printed. This second layer is full-color and is based on picture information. The third layer is formed over the full-color second layer and serves as a protective coating.

Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus is arranged to use a first video signal which corresponds to an image sensed state of an object and is obtained by sensing the object's image and a second video signal which is reproduced from a record bearing medium; and to form and produce at least one picture plane portion of a third video signal which includes and has the first and second video signals mixed therein in a time sharing manner.

Abstract: In reproducing medical images which are supplied in digital form and which vary in size, a web-like reproducing material is used. The reproducing material is cut at variable lengths in correspondence with the sizes of the images.

Abstract: In a copier/printer, production of signatures with high productivity is provided by storing in a job image buffer (JIB) image data in compressed form representing multiple pages of an original image to be reproduced as signatures. When a signature page is to be printed, the image data for one of two pages to be printed as a signature is output from the JIB by expanding the image data from compressed form to a rasterized form. The rasterized data is then output to a secondary buffer memory (SBM). There is subsequently output to the SBM from the JIB rasterized data of a second of the two pages to be combined into a signature. The two pages in the SBM are assembled to form an assembled data set of image data from the two pages. There is then output to a writer rasterized lines of image data representing data from the assembled data set wherein a rasterized line includes image data from the two pages of the original image.

Abstract: A system and method relates to an ink volume determination for determining the amount of ink to be applied by the printer. The ink volume determination involves generating a composite cylinder layout of at least one image for the engraved cylinder, generating a set of data corresponding to the composite cylinder layout and then using the set of data to determine the volume of ink. The printer is then filled with a volume of ink related to this calculated ink volume during a printing process. The method of determining ink volume may be used independently of the printing process, for example, in order to control or manage the amount of ink used in the printing press.