Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect a primary imaging member having a pattern of engine pixel locations with image modulated differences of potential and with first toner having a first toner difference of potential is moved to a second development station. A second development difference of potential of the first polarity at the second development station forms a second net development difference of the second development difference of potential less any image modulated difference of potential at the individual engine pixel location and less any difference of potential relative to ground of any first toner at the individual engine pixel location. The second development difference of potential is greater than the first development difference of potential so that second toner that is different from the first toner is developed onto the first toner using the second net development difference of potential.

Abstract: An RFID system includes an RF-blocking enclosure having a port with a selected shortest dimension. An active RFID tag including a controller and an interior antenna coupled to the controller is located in the enclosure. The tag responds to a selected RF downlink frequency range. An RFID reader located outside the enclosure simultaneously transmits directional RF signals on a plurality of frequencies corresponding to respective wavelengths smaller than the selected shortest dimension, the plurality including a carrier frequency and an interference frequency. A beat frequency is thus defined between the carrier frequency and the interference frequency and the beat frequency is within the selected RF downlink frequency range, so that the transmitted signals pass through the port and the tag responds to the beat frequency.

Abstract: A printer includes a dryer, a liquid-deposition unit, a charging member, a development station, and a fixer arranged in that order along the paper path. The dryer dries a selected region of the paper on the transport to a moisture content not to exceed that of the paper equilibrated to 20% RH. The liquid-deposition unit deposits hydrophilic liquid in a selected fluid pattern on the paper within 15 seconds of the completion of drying. The charging member selectively charges the paper so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the paper and the charged areas have a potential of at least 100 V. The development station deposits dry ink on the charged paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern. The fixer permanently fixes the dry ink to the paper.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect a primary imaging member having a pattern of engine pixel locations with image modulated differences of potential and with first toner having a first toner difference of potential is moved to a second development station. A second development difference of potential of the first polarity at the second development station forms a second net development difference of the second development difference of potential less any image modulated difference of potential at the individual engine pixel location and less any difference of potential relative to ground of any first toner at the individual engine pixel location. The second development difference of potential is greater than the first development difference of potential so that second toner that is different from the first toner, is developed onto the first toner using the second net development difference of potential.

Abstract: A media drying system removes a moistening liquid from a moistened medium. A liquid reservoir containing a heating liquid heated above a moistening-liquid boiling point. A rotatable liquid-blocking member has a liquid-blocking layer with an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the moistened medium so it contacts or is entrained around the liquid-blocking member in a path zone so that the moistened medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking layer. A porous material absorbs heating liquid from the liquid reservoir and brings the absorbed heating liquid into contact with the inner surface of the liquid-blocking layer for at least a portion of the path zone. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking layer from the absorbed warmed heating liquid to the moistening liquid, vaporizing the moistening liquid and removing it from the moistened medium.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing a primary imaging member having engine pixel locations with a ratio modulated difference of potentials, establishing a first development difference of potential to form a first net development difference of potential between the first development difference of potential and the engine pixel location and providing a first charged toner such that the first toner develops at the engine pixel location according to the first net development difference of potential. Establishing a second development difference of potential that is greater than the first difference of potential proximate the engine pixel location such that a determined amount of second toner develops at the engine pixel locations. Wherein the range of first toner potentials is such that a determined range of ratios of first toner amounts and the determined second toner amount provide ratio modulated differences of potential.

Abstract: Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing a primary imaging member having engine pixel locations with a ratio modulated difference of potentials, establishing a first development difference of potential to form a first net development difference of potential between the first development difference of potential and the engine pixel location and providing a first charged toner such that the second toner develops at the engine pixel location. Establishing a second development difference of potential that is greater than the first difference of potential proximate the engine pixel location such that a determined amount of first toner develops at the engine pixel locations according to a second net development difference of potential. Wherein the range of second toner potentials is such that a determined range of ratios of second toner amounts and the determined first toner amount provide ratio modulated differences of potential.

Abstract: A method for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium using an electrographic printer, comprising forming a sequence of toner particle images on one or more primary imaging members, the sequence of toner particle images including a plurality of annular shapes having associated inner and outer sizes. The inner and outer sizes of the annular shapes varying in a monotonic sequence, such that when the sequence of toner particle images are transferred in register onto the receiver medium the annular shapes are substantially concentric and overlapping, thereby forming a tactile image feature having a hollow core; which is then fixed to permanently attach the transferred toner particle images to the receiver medium.

Abstract: An electrographic printing system for forming a tactile printed image on a receiver medium, comprising an image processing path, one or more printing modules and a fixing subsystem. The image processing path provides a sequence of image patterns including a plurality of annular shapes having associated inner and outer sizes, the inner and outer sizes of the annular shapes varying in a monotonic sequence. The printing modules are controlled to form a sequence of toner particle images corresponding to the sequence of image patterns, and to sequentially transfer the sequence of toner particle images in register onto the receiver medium such that the annular shapes in the toner particle images overlap to form a tactile image feature having a hollow core. The fixing subsystem is used to permanently attach the transferred toner particle images to the receiver medium.

Abstract: A method for reducing variations in gloss in a solid ink jet image, is disclosed. The method includes: jetting marking solid ink jet droplets onto a receiver to form an image; heating the receiver to a temperature so that the marking solid ink melts; spreading the marking solid ink on the receiver; and controlling the temperature of the marking solid ink on the receiver to provide a desired specularly reflective surface of the solid ink so that variations in gloss are reduced.

Abstract: A gloss-watermark pattern is produced on a rotatable fixing member including a thermoplastic layer having a surface and a selected thickness. Particles having a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa are applied in a selected deposition pattern to a selected area of a pressure member. The pressure member and the fixing member are pressed together so that the applied particles indent the surface of the fixing member to form the gloss-watermark pattern. The pressure member and the fixing member can then be mechanically separated and a printed image on a receiver can be fixed using the fixing member having the gloss-watermark pattern. A gloss watermark corresponding to the gloss-watermark pattern is thus formed on the printed image.

Abstract: An RFID system includes a reader with antenna, a first barrier, a tag with a link antenna, a second barrier, and two key antennas connected to the tag, mechanically arranged in that order. The first barrier has two or more apertures in it to produce an interference pattern of a security signal from the reader. The security signal interference pattern passes at least partly through the second barrier. One of the key antennas is at a peak of the pattern after passing through the second barrier, and one is not. The tag includes a controller responsive to a downlink signal from the reader to transmit an uplink signal using the link antenna, but only if the downlink signal is preceded by the security signal and the security signal is received more strongly by the key antenna at the peak than by the other key antenna.

Abstract: An RFID system includes an RF-blocking enclosure having a port with a selected shortest dimension. An active RFID tag including a controller and an interior antenna coupled to the controller is located in the enclosure. The tag responds to a selected RF downlink frequency range. An RFID reader located outside the enclosure simultaneously transmits directional RF signals on a plurality of frequencies corresponding to respective wavelengths smaller than the selected shortest dimension, the plurality including a carrier frequency and an interference frequency. A beat frequency is thus defined between the carrier frequency and the interference frequency and the beat frequency is within the selected RF downlink frequency range, so that the transmitted signals pass through the port and the tag responds to the beat frequency.

Abstract: An RFID system has an active tag with one antenna inside, and one outside, an RF-blocking enclosure having a port with a selected shortest dimension. The RFID reader is located outside the enclosure and uses a selected RF read frequency range. The RFID tag simultaneously transmits on a plurality of frequencies corresponding to respective wavelengths smaller than the selected shortest dimension, so that a respective beat frequency is defined between two of the frequencies. The beat frequency is within the selected RF uplink frequency range. The tag transmits a first signal at a first one of the plurality of frequencies using the interior antenna and a second signal at a second, different one of the plurality of frequencies using the exterior antenna.

Abstract: Non-RFID-active units in a space are marked by affixing RFID tags. Two tags are affixed to each unit, each tag having a directional antenna. The antennas are oriented to define a per-unit reader location. Units are arranged in the space so the per-unit reader locations at least partially overlap to define a reader location. The units in the space can also be detected by an RFID reader located in the overlapping per-unit reader locations. A controller can compare a received list of tag identities corresponding to units expected to be in the container to the identities of the tags read to determine whether the expected units are in the container and disposed at positions and with orientations that cause the respective per-unit reader locations to at least partially overlap with the reader location.

Abstract: A classification of a container is identified using a mobile station including an image capture device and an RFID reader having a reader antenna. The container has two RFID tags affixed thereto at respective, different locations. Each tag has a directional antenna steered in a different direction, so that a reader location is defined in the intersection of the antenna propagation patterns. Using the image capture device, one or more images of the container are captured. A controller determines, using the captured image data, whether the mobile station is in a candidate reader location. When the mobile station is in the candidate reader location, the RFID reader attempts to read both tags. If both tags are read while the mobile station is in the candidate reader location, the controller determines the classification of the container is a classification corresponding to the candidate reader location.

Abstract: RFID tags are read using an RFID reader. A non-RFID-active object has two RFID tags affixed thereto at respective, different tag locations. Each tag has a respective directional antenna steered in a respective, different direction. Respective directional propagation patterns are thus defined and a reader location is defined in the intersection of the propagation patterns. An RFID reader with a reader antenna located at the reader location is provided. The RFID reader is activated to read both tags.

Abstract: A print is produced on a semiporous recording medium. The semiporous recording medium is dried to an equilibrated 20% RH. Hydrophilic liquid is deposited on the medium in a selected fluid pattern within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. The recording medium is charged so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the discharged areas correspond to the fluid pattern. Charged dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charge in the charged areas on the recording medium is deposited on the medium in a pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern. The dry ink is at least in part hydrophilic, so the dry ink adheres to the hydrophilic liquid, and at least some of the liquid is drawn into or around the deposited dry ink particles.

Abstract: An electrophotographic (EP) printer has two toner bottles. Each has a supply volume and a waste volume separated so that toner can pass from the waste volume to the supply volume, and has a status recorder with waste and supply states. An imaging member receives toner from the supply volume of a second toner bottle in a supply receptacle, and an imaging member applies the toner to a receiver to form a print image. A cleaning device removes toner from an imaging members and transporting the removed toner to the waste volume of a first toner bottle in a waste receptacle. A toggle changes the state of the status recorder of the first toner bottle in the waste receptacle to the supply state, so that the waste toner in the waste volume of the first toner bottle is made available to be used as supply toner in the supply receptacle.

Abstract: A gloss-watermark pattern is produced on a rotatable fixing member including a thermoplastic layer having a surface and a selected thickness. Particles having a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa are applied in a selected deposition pattern to a selected area of the surface. The applied particles are pressed against a pressure member so that the applied particles indent the surface to form the gloss-watermark pattern. At least some of the pressed particles are removed from the surface. After the removing step, a printed image on a receiver can be fixed using the fixing member having the gloss-watermark pattern. The printed image can include toner, phase-change ink, or hot-melt ink, so that a gloss watermark corresponding to the gloss-watermark pattern is formed on the printed image by the fixing process.