Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for automatic fluid ejector alignment and performance evaluation and modification in one or multiple planes. A fluid ejector fires a drop through a drop detection module. A signal indicating drop presence or absence is sent to a computer. The computer analyzes the data, and makes a compensation determination of a preferred method of using the fluid ejector. The compensation determination may include electronically modifying the image data to be printed, physically manipulating the fluid ejector, completely skipping the fluid ejector during printing operations, or in some other way modifying the fluid ejector or image data such that apparent printed image error due to fluid ejector alignment or performance error is reduced.

Abstract: A system, method and structure that promotes removing mist, dissipating heat, and/or drying a receiving medium in a fluid ejection device. This is achieved by substantially enclosing the sweep path of the fluid ejector carriage and manipulating the generally enclosed airflow that results from translating the fluid ejector carriage in a sweep direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for differentially processing image types within a document image to enhance the quality of on an image on a receiving medium. In one aspect of the invention, the method begins by receiving document image data including one or more image regions. The method determines for each image region whether the region includes any image data corresponding to a first image type. The method then prints regions including image data corresponding to the first image type according to a first pixel management process and prints regions not including image data corresponding to the first image type according to a second pixel management process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing color image data to reduce intercolor bleeding in an image printed on a receiving medium. The method begins with the receipt of a target pixel that includes a plurality of separation pixels corresponding to individual color planes, the color planes including a black plane and at least one non-black plane.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for processing color image data to determine if a target pixel is within a border region near an interface. The method begins with the identification of a target pixel within the color image data and then determines if the target pixel is a black or a color pixel. If the target pixel is a black pixel, the method collects a first set of pixel statistics from a first window comprising the target pixel and pixels surrounding the target pixel and analyzes the first set of statistics to determine if the target pixel is within an N-pixel wide black border region near an interface. If the target pixel is a color pixel, the method collects a second set of pixel statistics from a second window comprising the target pixel and pixels surrounding the target pixel and analyzes the second set of statistics to determine if the target pixel is within an M-pixel wide color border region near an interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing color image data for printing on an inkjet printer to maintain edge quality in an image recorded on a receiving medium. The method begins with the receipt of color image data comprising a plurality of color planes that combine to form an array of composite pixels, the color planes including at least one black plane and at least one non-black plane, wherein each color plane comprises an array of separation pixels, each separation pixel having at least two states, a first state corresponding to depositing no ink at an image location and a second state corresponding to depositing ink at an image location. The method then identifies an interface between an black area and a non-printed area; defines an N-pixel wide border within the black area; and modifies the color image data corresponding to the N-pixel wide border to reduce the number of second state separation pixels in a non-black plane.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system utilizes a heated rotary printing drum for mounting and carrying paper to be printed by one or more thermal ink jet printheads to achieve black or full color printing at high speed. As printing and drying are achieved prior to any transfer of the sheet from the drum, smudging of images is prevented. Such a printing system is capable of producing dried prints that can be immediately stacked and handled without smudging using slow-drying black inks and fast-drying color inks at speeds exceeding 10 pages per minute for color and 20 pages per minute for monochrome black text or images. Hold down of the sheet onto the drum can be achieved using vacuum or electrostatic forces to precisely retain the sheet on the drum until printing and drying are completed. Partial tone printing on multiple passes of the heated drum is provided to eliminate mottle on large solid areas. Heating of the drum can be performed internally or externally.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing a multicolor image on a sheet movable along a sheet path in a process direction. The apparatus includes a first printhead mounted at a first location along the sheet path and containing a first type ink for printing a first portion of the image on the sheet in which the first type ink has a surface tension greater than 40 dynes/cm at room temperature. The apparatus also includes a set of secondary printheads mounted along the sheet path and separated a small gap from the first printhead. The set of secondary printheads each contains a secondary type ink for printing a secondary portion of the multicolor image on the sheet, and each of the secondary type ink has a surface tension less than 40 dynes/cm at room temperature.

Abstract: A color ink jet printing device capable of substantially reduced intercolor bleeding includes an ink jet printer having at least one printhead and at least three separate ink supplies in communication with the printhead. A first ink supply contains a slow drying black ink. A second ink supply contains a fast drying black ink. A third ink supply contains a fast drying non-black color ink. Prior to printing, black image potions are determined. The black portions are printed using a pixel priming process, a border substitution process or a combination thereof to reduce intercolor bleed. The pixel priming process first prints a quartertone or halftone pattern using fast drying black ink, followed by subsequent whole tone printing superposed on the primed black image area using a slow drying black ink. The border substitution process analyzes a neighboring matrix of pixels surrounding each black pixel, preferably at least a 5.times.5 matrix, to determine if color pixels other than black are present.

Abstract: A capping device for an ink-jet printhead having a nozzle opening defined in a surface thereof. A deformable member is urged into engagement with the surface at a predetermined pressure, causing a portion of the deformable member to be deformed into the nozzle opening to seal the nozzle opening of the printhead.

Abstract: A multi-color ink-jet printer in which a first partial image is created on a recording medium, and then a second partial image is created on the same recording medium after the first partial image is substantially dried. The first partial image comprises an ink which dries at a slower rate than that of the second partial image. In one embodiment, means are provided for heating the recording medium prior to the creation of the second partial image.

Abstract: An improved positively charged developer compositions comprised of toner compositions containing resin particles, pigment particles and modified charge enhancing additives comprised of flow aid compositions having chemically bonded thereto, or chemiadsorbed on the surface thereof amino alcohol derivatives comprising at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one amino substituent selected from the group consisting of primary amines, secondary amines, and tertiary amines; and carrier particles.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel silylated hydroxyl squaraine compositions, novel deuterated hydroxyl squaraine derivatives, and processes for the preparation thereof. More specifically, there is disclosed a process for the preparation of photoconductive hydroxyl squaraine pigment compositions useful as visible and near infrared photoconductor materials comprising (1) effecting functionalization of the hydroxyl squaraine in an organic solvent system wherein the hydroxyl group therein are silylated, and (2) subjecting the resulting silylated products to hydrolysis enabling conversion to purified squaraine compositions, or conversion to deuterated hydroxyl squaraine derivatives. The hydroxyl squaraine compositions obtained are useful, for example, as photogenerating pigments in layered imaging members.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel silylated hydroxyl squaraine compositions, novel deuterated hydroxyl squaraine derivatives, and processes for the preparation thereof. More specifically, there is disclosed a process for the preparation of photoconductive hydroxyl squaraine pigment compositions useful as visible and near infrared photoconductor materials comprising (1) effecting functionalization of the hydroxyl squaraine in an organic solvent system wherein the hydroxyl groups therein are silylated, and (2) subjecting the resulting silylated products to hydrolysis enabling conversion to purified squaraine compositions, or conversion to deuterated hydroxyl squaraine derivatives. The hydroxyl squaraine compositions obtained are useful, for example, as photogenerating pigments in layered imaging members.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member is disclosed comprising a charge generation layer, a contiguous charge transport layer comprising an aromatic amine or hydrazone charge transport molecule in a continuous polymeric binder phase, and a cellulosic hole trapping material located on the same side of the charge transport layer as the charge generation layer, the cellulosic hole trapping material being free of electron withdrawing groups and having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydroxyether group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an aminoalkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and n is the number of cellulose repeating units from 1 to 3,000. A process for using this electrophotographic imaging member is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member is disclosed comprising a conductive layer, a charge transport layer comprising an aromatic amine charge transport or hydrazone molecule in a continuous polymeric binder phase, and a contiguous charge generation layer comprising a photoconductive material, a polymeric binder and a hydroxyaromatic antioxidant. An electrophotographic imaging process using this member is also described.