Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. The imaging device receives imaging requests from users upon payment. Unique lighting schemes notify users of their imaging requests. Payment is split between an entity owning or renting the imaging device and an entity where the imaging device is located. Over a cellular network, toner usage is monitored in the imaging device. Upon the toner level reaching a predetermined low, the entire imaging device is collected from the location and swapped with another imaging device having a toner lever above the low. Workers in the “gig” economy are expected to collect and swap the devices. No longer do users change or swap empty toner cartridges with full or fresh toner cartridges. Similarly, media usage in the imaging device is monitored over the cellular network for replacement of media. Other embodiments are envisioned.

Abstract: An imaging system having methods for reducing churn in an imaging device which includes identifying a number of unproductive revolutions made in a print engine of the imaging device, determining whether the number of unproductive revolutions exceeds a predetermined threshold, and performing at least one of: using a predetermined speed limit when printing a page and disabling a function in the imaging device upon the determination that the number of unproductive revolutions exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a relatively short period of time for a fuser assembly to be ready to perform a fusing operation. Included is a fusing assembly having a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member so as to define a fusing nip therewith; and a controller coupled to the fuser assembly, wherein during a period of time when the fuser assembly is not performing a fusing operation, the controller activates the heat transfer member while causing the backup member to rotate at one or more relatively slow speeds relative to a fusing speed of the fuser assembly.

Abstract: A fuser assembly for an electrophotographic imaging device, the fuser assembly including an integrated circuit chip having memory which has stored therein attribute data. The memory provides the attribute data for use in controlling the fuser assembly during fusing operations throughout the life of the fuser assembly. The attribute data includes a table of values corresponding to fusing temperatures for the fuser assembly, the fusing temperatures decreasing throughout the life of the fuser assembly to account for aging or wear of at least one component of the fuser assembly.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a fuser assembly including a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member thereby defining a fusing nip therewith. A motor is coupled to the backup member for rotating the backup member. A controller coupled to the fuser assembly controls the motor using time-based commutation for a period of time to rotate the backup member at a slower speed relative to a speed for performing a toner fusing operation. In memory, at least one lookup table is stored having entries which, when sequentially accessed by the controller during the time-based commutation, are used to generate one or more drive signals for the motor to cause current flowing through windings of the motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a relatively short period of time for a fuser assembly to be ready to perform a fusing operation. Included is a fusing assembly having a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member so as to define a fusing nip therewith; and a controller coupled to the fuser assembly, wherein during a period of time when the fuser assembly is not performing a fusing operation, the controller causes the backup member to rotate at one or more relatively slow speeds relative to a fusing speed of the fuser assembly while activating the heat transfer member. At least one of a beginning and an ending of the period of time being based upon an actual temperature in the fuser assembly.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased in response to printing of pages by the image forming device, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an imaging device is shown. The method includes detecting the malfunction when the imaging device is in a normal mode of operation; causing the imaging device to enter a reduced function mode following the detecting; enabling only one or more functions of the imaging device when in the reduced function mode, the one or more functions being less than all of the functions available when the imaging device is in the normal mode of operation. The one or more functions have operating points when the imaging device is in the reduced function mode that are different than the operating points of the one or more functions when the imaging device is in the normal mode of operation.

Abstract: A method of determining a media weight using a media stiffness sensor in an imaging device. A media sheet is staged having a cantilevered portion which is deflected by a contact member translated into the cantilevered portion. Based on the energy used to move the contact member through a travel distance, a media weight can be determined. An operating parameter of the imaging device may be adjusted based on the media weight that was determined.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased in response to printing of pages by the image forming device, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining.

Abstract: A method of determining a media weight using a media stiffness sensor in an imaging device. A media sheet is staged having a cantilevered portion which is deflected by a contact member translated into the cantilevered portion. Based on the energy used to move the contact member through a travel distance, a media weight can be determined. An operating parameter of the imaging device may be adjusted based on the media weight that was determined.

Abstract: A method for providing a page countdown for a replaceable unit of an image forming device according to one embodiment includes calculating a number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of its life. The calculated number of pages remaining until the replaceable unit will reach the end of life is displayed on a display screen. After the calculated number of pages remaining is displayed, the displayed number of pages remaining is decreased by one for each page printed, the number of pages remaining is recalculated and a discrepancy between the displayed number of pages remaining and the recalculated number of pages remaining is tracked. If the discrepancy exceeds a predetermined error threshold, the recalculated number of pages remaining is displayed and the displayed number of pages remaining continues to be decreased by one for each page printed from the displayed recalculated number of pages remaining.

Abstract: Methods for picking a following sheet of media before the prior sheet of media has been detected exiting a media input tray in an imaging apparatus to increase media throughput. The methods may further include processes for shifting an image area to a shingled sheet of media without having to stop the imaging process.