Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light emission element, a lighting signal generation section, a storage section, a communication line, a control section and an electromagnetic noise generation source. The storage section stores data used when the lighting signal generation section generates a lighting signal. The lighting signal generation section and the storage section transmit and receive the data therebetween through the communication line. The control section that controls the transmitting and receiving of the data between the lighting signal generation section and the storage section. The control section controls so as to start the transmitting and receiving of the data between the storage section and the lighting signal generation section in a state where a magnitude of the electromagnetic noise, at a position where the lighting signal generation section is disposed, generated by the electromagnetic noise generation source is smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A printing system and control method thereof which insert partitions between printed materials printed by a printing apparatus execute substitution operation in a case that there is no partition. The substitution operation includes executing shift discharge sheet operation which loads printed materials onto a stacker with a shift by units of printed materials to be partitioned, or supplying an partition for substitution from another sheet feed cassette in which partitions for substitution operation are stored, or supplying a sheet from another sheet feed cassette in which other sheets being different from the printed material used to printing of printed materials in at least one of size, type and color as an partition.

Abstract: In a job processing system, usage restriction information is managed for restricting user usage of functions of a job processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus acquires usage restriction information corresponding to a first operator instructing generation of job data, and writes the usage restriction information into job data to be transmitted to the job processing apparatus. The job processing apparatus checks whether or not the usage restriction information is written in the job data received from the information processing apparatus, and when the usage restriction information is confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with the usage restriction information, and when the usage restriction information is not confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with usage restriction information of a second operator instructing execution of a job in the job processing apparatus.

Abstract: In a job processing system, usage restriction information is managed for restricting user usage of functions of a job processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus acquires usage restriction information corresponding to a first operator instructing generation of job data, and writes the usage restriction information into job data to be transmitted to the job processing apparatus. The job processing apparatus checks whether or not the usage restriction information is written in the job data received from the information processing apparatus, and when the usage restriction information is confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with the usage restriction information, and when the usage restriction information is not confirmed, processes the job data in accordance with usage restriction information of a second operator instructing execution of a job in the job processing apparatus.

Abstract: A digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing stores therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media; a guillotine for cutting the roll of print media; and a print manager for activating the guillotine upon receiving a signal indicating a manual attempt to pull the print media from the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. A first cleaning unit is configured to collect a particle deposited on an object. An applying unit is configured to apply a voltage to the first cleaning unit. A first detector is configured to detect a first current flowing between the first cleaning unit and the object. A controller is configured to control the applying unit. When the detected first current becomes equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, the controller controls the applying unit to reduce the voltage applied to the first cleaning unit so as to make the first current smaller than the first predetermined value.

Abstract: A scanner-characteristic correcting unit converts read image data into normalized image data. A first image processing unit applies a first image processing on the normalized image data. A color determining unit performs a color determination of the normalized image data. A controller image processing unit that applies a second image processing on the normalized image data is provided in a removable manner. When a B&W plotter unit is connected to an image processing apparatus without the controller image processing unit, the first image processing unit generates binary image data of the image data before a result of the color determination is output.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a carriage accommodating an optical unit for image reading, a driving member for moving the carriage, a guide rail, a guide-rail engaging portion engaged with the guide rail, a holding portion for holding the driving member, a guide plate and a claw portion. The claw portion presses the guide-rail engaging portion against the guide rail by partially deforming the driving member to produce a tensile force in the driving member and causing the tensile force to act on the first end portion of the carriage, and produces such a rotation moment for biasing the first end portion of the carriage in a first direction parallel with a sub scanning direction and, on the other hand, biasing the second end portion of the carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction and parallel with the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: A pasting apparatus includes a pasting member operative to paste a non-transparent medium onto an image-formed surface of a transparent medium; and a conveying member that conveys the non-transparent medium to the pasting member by electrostatic adsorption.

Abstract: An information terminal device having a drawing printing function to print a drawing such as a map or a route map is enabled to print the drawing without any reduction on rolled printing paper having a limited width. The information terminal device includes a printer for printing data, and an angle calculator. On the basis of the drawing data having the data of a drawing containing a bent point and the data of the angle of bend at that bent point, the angle calculator calculates the angle index, at which the rolled paper is folded to correspond to the bent point, and calculates the printing data, which divides the drawing at each bent point and which is taken in the longitudinal direction of the rolled paper, that is, the blank length which discontinues the drawing at the folded portion determined by the angle index. On the basis of the angle index and the blank length, the printer divides the drawing at each bent point and makes the printing data taken in the longitudinal direction of the rolled paper.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that includes a first graphics processing unit for converting graphics data output from an application to first print information, and a conversion unit for converting the first print information to a second print information configured to be processed by a second type printer driver that is not a first type printer driver. The information processing apparatus further includes a setting unit, a recommendation unit, and a generation unit. The setting unit sets print setting information per an instruction received through a setting window when the second type printer driver is called for printing, for which a conversion processing by the conversion unit is required. The recommendation unit recommends the first type printer driver when the second type printer driver is called for printing. The generation unit generates print data in accordance with the first type printer driver and the print setting information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reading mechanism having an original placement portion on which an original document is placed for reading an image; a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray on which a recording medium is set, the recording mechanism being disposed in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the original placement portion; an angular casing that houses the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism while stacking the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism vertically; and a cartridge holder that houses an ink cartridge and is disposed in a space located at a corner position of the casing below the reading mechanism and surrounded by a circumferential wall of the casing and a side wall of the medium supply tray.

Abstract: A printing and display device for use with an external computer. The printing and display device includes a flat panel display for displaying images from the external computer; a printer including a printhead for printing onto paper; a display data connection for selectively connecting to the external computer to receive display data used to provide the images displayed; a print data connection for selective connection to the external computer to receive print data from the external computer; and a rear cover molding enclosing therein the flat panel display. The rear cover molding includes an aperture for receiving therein an external ink cartridge.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit, a converting unit, and a transmitting unit. The setting unit sets a save-mode for image data to be output to reduce color of image data. When the save-mode is set for image data, the converting unit converts reduces color of the image data to convert the image data into save-mode image data. The transmitting unit transmits the save-mode image data to an external device.

Abstract: With respect to an object that strokes a path existing in page description data, the position of a start point of a line element formed along the path is estimated based on a path construction operator and a dotted line pattern determining operator. If the distance between the start point and an end point of the path is equal to or less than a prescribed threshold value, the position of the end point of the path is changed to another position along the path in order to increase the distance.

Abstract: According to a print system, a printer supplies function information of the printer to a DSC based on a communication link between the DSC and the printer, and the DSC establishes a UI based on the supplied function information to display it on the DSC. The DSC converts image data of an image file according to print conditions set up based on the UI and the function information of the printer and transmits the converted image file to the printer.

Abstract: A print unit memorizes image data to be output to a page of recording media at a register as jetting data in an order of storing a plurality of image data of one line in page memory, wherein each of the image data of one line is memorized at the register in an order of storing the plurality of image data of one dot, in case when a conveyance direction of recording media is normal; and memorizes the image data to be output to the page of the recording media at the register in the order of storing the plurality of the image data of one line, wherein each of the image data of one line is memorized in a reverse order to the order of storing the plurality of the image data of one dot, in case when the conveyance direction is reverse.

Abstract: A method of printing a compressed image includes the steps of receiving the image, having a bi-level black data layer and a continuous tone (contone) CMYK data layer, from an image host; expanding the image by decompressing the two data layers in parallel; halftoning the contone CMYK data layer into bi-level CMYK data layer; compositing the bi-level black data layer over the bi-level CMYK data layer to form a composited bi-level CMYK image; separating the color planes of the composited bi-level CMYK image, and separating each color plane into even and odd pixels; storing the odd and even pixels of each color plane in respective odd and even FIFOs for each color; and printing the composited bi-level CMYK image with a pagewidth printhead onto a print medium.

Abstract: An image sensing and printing device is provided has a housing which houses an area image sensor, a printing mechanism and processor. The image sensor senses a viewed image to be printed on media and generates pixel data representing the viewed image. The printing mechanism defines a media feed path and includes a printhead assembly of a pagewidth printhead having at least one printhead chip that spans the media feed path and a feed mechanism which feeds media along the path. The processor includes processing circuitry interconnected with image sensor and printhead interfaces. The image sensor interface converts the pixel data into an internal format and writes the converted data to the processing circuitry which for conversion to print image data. The printhead interface provides signals representing the print image data to the printhead so that the printhead generate a printed representation of the viewed image.

Abstract: A printing and display device comprising a flat panel display; a printer, including a printhead for printing onto paper; a multi-sheet paper holder; a paper sheet separator configured to separate a single paper sheet from the paper in the paper holder for supply to the printhead.

Abstract: A copy button is pushed to output image data to an external storage medium, such as a USB memory. Then, a process for writing the image data in the USB memory is executed, and an image corresponding to the image data is printed. When the printed image is light, a density controlling button is pushed, and then, the copy button is pushed again. The image data is called up from a RAM, and a process for causing a density of the image data to be darker is executed, via a tone translator of the electronic blackboard. The image data on which image density control has been executed is written over the data previously stored in the USB memory.

Abstract: A printer-plotter includes a guide rail, a first head, a second head, a driving device, a first connecting mechanism and a second connecting mechanism. The guide rail extends in a longitudinal direction. The first head is supported by the guide rail and movable along the longitudinal direction. The second head is supported by the guide rail and movable independently of the first head along the longitudinal direction. The driving device includes a driving force transmitting member and a driving mechanism configured to move the driving force transmitting member. The first connecting mechanism is configured to detachably connect the first head to the driving force transmitting member. The second connecting mechanism is configured to detachably connect the second head to the driving force transmitting member.

Abstract: A page expansion and printing procedure requires a first page description into a first memory buffer, the first page description having a bi-level black layer and a contone CMYK layer; decompressing the bi-level black layer and the contone CMYK layer in parallel; half-toning the contone CMYK layer to bi-level CMYK; compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level CMYK layer to form a printable image; and transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer for printing by the pagewidth printer. The step of transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer is performed simultaneously with receiving a subsequent page description in the first memory buffer.

Abstract: A carriage drive control method capable of detecting the acceleration of a carriage at low cost, improving external disturbance suppression of the carriage, and thus improving image quality. This method is applied to a printing apparatus which prints by relatively moving on a printing medium a carriage to which a printhead is mounted. In the printing apparatus, the moving velocity of the carriage is detected, the acceleration of the carriage is detected on the basis of outputs from first and second strain gauges which are respectively attached on the two sides of a fixing portion for fixing the carriage on a belt for transmitting a drive force from a carriage motor to the carriage, the carriage velocity is compensated on the basis of the carriage acceleration detected for the detected moving velocity of the carriage, and driving of the carriage motor is feedback-controlled on the basis of the compensated carriage velocity.

Abstract: A push-up member of this image generating apparatus includes a first push-up member integrally having a first assembly engaging portion provided between a first spring clip portion and a first engaging portion and a second push-up member integrally having a second assembly engaging portion rotatably engaging with the first assembly engaging portion, and the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with each other in assembling by engaging the first assembly engaging portion and the second assembly engaging portion with each other while mounting first and second ends of a spring member on the first push-up member and the second push-up member respectively and rotating the second push-up member about the engaging position between the first assembly engaging portion and the second assembly engaging portion against urging force of the spring member.

Abstract: A method of page expansion and printing of image data received by a printer from a computer includes the steps of receiving the image data from the computer, the data having a bi-level black layer compressed in an EDRL (Edge Delta and Runlength) format and a continuous tone (“contone”) layer, and decompressing the respective layers in parallel. The method also includes the steps of halftoning contone layer data to a bi-level data and compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level data to form an image, and transmitting the image to the printhead having staggered nozzles designed to match a flow of paper through the printer. The method further includes the step of operating the printhead according to one of a low-speed nozzle firing mode and a high-speed firing mode to print the image on the paper, the low-speed firing mode having a firing rate half that of the high-speed firing mode.

Abstract: A monitor having a flat panel display, a printer and a sheet feeder disposed within a housing is disclosed. The flat panel display displays a video signal provided from an external computer through a video input socket of the monitor. The printer is disposed behind the flat panel display as viewed by the user. The printer includes a pagewidth printhead which prints onto print media print data provided from the external computer through a serial data connection of the monitor. The sheet feeder feeds a sheet of print media from a stack of print media past the pagewidth printhead. The stack of print media is located behind the flat panel display such that, immediately prior to commencement of printing, at least an edge of the print media is visible above an upper edge of the flat panel display.

Abstract: This invention is targeted to realize preview displaying by using a system spooler. In the print system according to this invention, when an application program designates printing of a document, document data is spooled into EMF spool file 4. At the same time, previewer 3 is started to transmit a printing image generation request to print processor 5. The print processor 5 reads the data subjected to preview displaying out of the EMF spool file 4, have printer graphic driver 6 generate image data that has an appropriate display size, and informs the name of the image data file to the previewer 8, which then displays the image data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process or device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise solidification of a material which is solidifiable under the application of electromagnetic irradiation by means of mask illumination, wherein the mask is produced using an image forming unit having a prescribed resolution, which is formed from a constant number of image forming elements (pixels) being discrete and being arranged in a spatially mutually fixed manner. For the improvement of the resolution along the outer and inner contours of the sectional areas of the object to be generated layer-wise in the sub-pixel range, a multiple illumination per layer is performed, which consists of a series of multiple images that are mutually shifted in the sub-pixel range in the image/construction plane, wherein a separate mask/bitmap is produced for each shifted image.

Abstract: An inkjet printer including a body housing a print engine configured to transport and print upon print media. The print engine includes a memory buffer of sufficient size to enable printing of one compressed page whilst receiving another compressed page. Each compressed page includes compressed contone data and compressed bi-level data. The print engine is configured to expand each compressed page during printing. A retractable cover is pivotally mounted relative to the body and is able to be pivoted to form a guide which can guide print media to the print engine for printing.

Abstract: Whether rendering instructions include designation of a logical operation is determined. If it is determined that the rendering instructions include designation of a logical operation, then the rendering instructions are developed into multivalued bitmap data every single line of the input rendering instructions and the multivalued bitmap data is subjected to color processing and binarization processing. When the rendering instructions do not include designation of a logical operation, color processing and binarization processing is executed for every color of the rendering instructions, whereby a brush is created and stored in advance. The brush is pasted into an applicable area of the rendering instructions to achieve development into binary bitmap data.

Abstract: A movable part locking jig is loaded into a cassette loader in a radiation image forming apparatus, and a lever is moved to project casing locking members from opposite side walls of a casing, thereby locking the movable part locking jig in the radiation image forming apparatus. Movable part locking members also projects to be brought into abutment against suction cups disposed near the cassette loader, thereby locking the suction cups. Then, the radiation image forming apparatus is moved to a desired location.

Abstract: The invention provides for a paper transport mechanism for a pagewidth printer. The mechanism includes an electric motor and a sheet feed roller, a paper drive roller and pinch wheels operatively actuated by the motor to feed paper through a media path defined through the printer. The mechanism also includes an ink cartridge with integral printhead arranged in the media path, and a capping mechanism configured to cap the printhead. The motor is configured to drive the paper drive roller and the pinch wheels at a start and an end of the media path when running in a forward direction, and to drive the sheet feed roller when reversed, such that the sheet feed roller engages a topmost sheet from a sheet feeder of the printer and transports said sheet to the paper drive roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller having an integrated circuit for image processing. The controller is connected to an engine via a peripheral component interconnect (PCI). The engine includes a plotter and a scanner. The controller includes a central processing unit (CPU) to which a chip-set is connected via an accelerated graphics port (AGP). The controller also includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that controls whether to output scanner image data, which is data acquired by the scanner, to the PCI as plotter data for the plotter, or to output the scanner image data to the AGP, or to output image data input through the AGP to the PCI as plotter data for the plotter. The ASIC includes a combiner that combines a plurality of image data.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting units, an activation unit, a plurality of light receiving units and a determination unit. The determination unit retrieves at least one output signal from the plurality of light receiving units in accordance with a predetermined retrieving procedure each time each of the plurality of light emitting units is activated, and determines, based on the at least one output signal, whether or not at least one of at least one of the plurality of light emitting units and at least one of the plurality of light receiving units is normal. The predetermined retrieving procedure is configured such that at least one output signal is retrieved from a part of the plurality of light receiving unite in response to an activation of at least one of the plurality of light emitting units.

Abstract: A copy button is pushed to output an image data to an external storage medium, such as a USB memory. Then, a process for writing the image data in the USB memory is executed, and an image corresponding to the image data is printed. When the printed image is light, a density controlling button is pushed, and then, the copy button is pushed again. The image data is called up from a RAM, and a process for causing a density of the image data to be darker is executed, via image data on which image density control has been executed is written over the data previously stored in the USB memory.

Abstract: A method of registering a scanning grid of a scanner with a printing grid of a printer that includes placing a predetermined motif in a digital image to create a modified image, printing the modified image using the printer to create a printed modified image, scanning the printed modified image using the scanner to create a scanned modified image that includes the motif, using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a rotation ? of the scanning grid of the scanner with respect to the printing grid of the printer, and using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a translation vector that gives a position of a node of the printing grid in a coordinate system of the scanning grid.

Abstract: A display device for use as a computer monitor, the display device comprising: a flat panel display; a printer, including a printhead for printing onto paper; and a sheet feeder for feeding print media to the printhead, the device being configured such that standard print media to be printed is supported, immediately prior to commencement of printing, such that at least an edge of the print media is visible above an upper edge of a the flat panel display.

Abstract: A system that generates an electronically readable image file that represents an image. In one embodiment, the system comprises an image input, an encoding module, and a tag module. The image input obtains color information representative of an image. The encoding module encodes the color information representative of the image into an image file by encoding the color information into a format associated with the image file. The tag module inserts a tag into the image file, wherein the tag is an object to be rendered, and conveys information about the generation of the image file.

Abstract: A display device for use as a computer monitor, the display device comprising: a flat panel display for displaying images from a computer; a printer, the printer including: (a) a printer controller configured to receive print data in a compressed form, decompress the print data, and output dot data based on the decompressed print data; (b) a pagewidth printhead for receiving the dot data and printing onto print media.

Abstract: A printer architecture and memory card is described. The architecture can include an integrated circuit and a memory card. The memory card can include print swaths and bit-maps of thumbnail images associated with the print swaths. The thumbnail images can be displayed on the hand-held printer. A print swath associated with the selected thumbnail image can be printed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a compressed image having a bi-level black data layer and a continuous tone (contone) CMYK data layer. The method includes the steps of receiving the image from an image host, expanding the image by decompressing the two data layers in parallel, and halftoning the contone CMYK layer data into a bi-level CMYK data layer. The method also includes the steps of compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level CMYK layer to form a composited bi-level CMYK image, and finally printing the composited bi-level CMYK image with a pagewidth printhead onto a print medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data are disclosed. The method includes the step of partitioning the image data into a plurality of data portions (?Page) for processing. Each data portion comprises a plurality of rows of pixels corresponding to at least one print swath height. The data portions are processed in a plurality of intermediate processing stages. The data portions are processed sequentially. The number of pixels per row of a data portion is determined to be just large enough ensure adequate output printing data for a given print head at all times. The processed data is then delivered to the print head in a just-in-time manner (JIT). An apparatus for processing the image data comprises an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

Abstract: A printing and display device comprising: a flat panel display for displaying images from a computer; a stand for holding the flat panel display in an operative position; and a printer, the printer including a printhead for printing onto paper; wherein the stand includes at least one receptacle configured to accept at least one replaceable ink cartridge for supplying ink to the printer.

Abstract: To provide a recording apparatus for recording an image on a rotating recording medium, the recording apparatus including: a rotary driving unit which rotationally drives the recording medium; an ink-jet head for ejecting ink onto an image recording surface of the recording medium; and a control unit which switches between an image recording mode for ejecting ink onto the image recording surface by means of the ink-jet head while rotating the recording medium by the rotary driving unit, and a drying mode for drying the ink ejected onto the image recording surface by rotating the recording medium for a predetermined period of time by the rotary driving unit after the image recording mode. Accordingly, drying of the ink adhered to the recording medium is accelerated.

Abstract: The movement of an image component is determined using the plot information, such as the position, size of the image component, etc., at each time. The complex movement of each image component can be easily generated by providing a plurality of plot information generating units for each image component and combining a plurality of pieces of plot information generated by the plot information generating units when an image is reproduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a reading mechanism having an original placement portion on which an original document is placed for reading an image; a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray on which a recording medium is set, the recording mechanism being disposed in such a manner that a longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the original placement portion; an angular casing that houses the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism while stacking the reading mechanism and the recording mechanism vertically; and a cartridge holder that houses an ink cartridge and is disposed in a space located at a corner position of the casing below the reading mechanism and surrounded by a circumferential wall of the casing and a side wall of the medium supply tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading mechanism having an original placement portion, a recording mechanism having a medium supply tray and a reversing mechanism, a casing that houses the recording mechanism, and an operating section through which the image forming apparatus is manipulated. A longitudinal direction of the original placement portion is substantially parallel with a width direction of the casing and the operating section is disposed on a front side of the reading mechanism. A longitudinal direction of the medium supply tray is substantially parallel with a depth direction that is perpendicular to the width direction of the casing. The reversing mechanism is disposed close to a rear end side in the depth direction. A dimension of the recording mechanism in the depth direction is not more than a sum of a depth of the reading mechanism plus a depth of the operating section.

Abstract: Conversion of spool files to a PDL within a pipeline of modular filters. A spooler is adapted to receive content to be rendered on a destination device, and one or more filters are adapted to render the content on the destination device. In other embodiments, the filters are arranged in a pipeline configuration to execute a variety of functions in connection with rendering the content on the destination device. The filters can convert content in a spool file format into corresponding PDL representations, and vice versa.

Abstract: An image plotting apparatus capable of minimizing displacement between each partial image plotted sequentially. While a table (14) with a work (12) placed thereon is moved relative to an image plotting means (30) such that an image plotting error arising from displacement of the table (14) when an image pattern is plotted by the image plotting means (30) on the work (12) placed on the table (14) is eliminated using image plotting position deviation information, obtained in advance, representing an image plotting position deviation, which indicates displacement of the table (14) with respect to the image plotting means (30) that occurs in the movement of the table (14), in association with each of the moving direction positions of the table (14), partial images, each corresponding to each moving direction position of the table (14) with respect to the image plotting means (30), are plotted on the work (12) placed on the table (14), thereby a predetermined image pattern is plotted on the work (12).