Abstract: A printer includes a print station; a media transport mechanism arranged for conveying print media on a transport path past the print station, the transport mechanism having a support surface for supporting the media; and a vacuum device arranged for attracting the media against the support surface on a section of the transport path downstream of the print station. The vacuum device is divided, in the direction along the transport path, into at least two segments in which the media are attractable with different non-zero suction pressures.

Abstract: A print consumable may include a rotatable core, a roll of dispensable print substrate, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. The roll of the dispensable print substrate may be dispensably secured to the core. The RFID tag may be secured to the core and configured to rotate about a core axis. The RFID tag includes an RFID antenna coupled to an RFID chip. The RFID chip may include a print counter, a stock-keeping unit (SKU) code, and a consumable authentication code. A print system may include a housing, a holder to hold the print consumable, a print head, a transceiver, a trace antenna for reading an RFID tag of the print consumable, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive a signal from the transceiver indicative of one or more of the print counter, the SKU code, and the consumable authentication code received from the RFID antenna.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes receiving, at a cloud server from a client device, a variable print document and customer information associated with a plurality of customers for which the variable print document is to be personalized for each of the plurality of customers. A layout, a business rule, and a style rule are defined for the received variable print document, and a variable print document job file corresponding to the received variable print document and the defined layout is generated. The cloud server extracts, from social media data associated with each of the plurality of customers, a candidate content type and identifies variable content corresponding to the candidate content type, which is used to personalize the variable print document.

Abstract: Three-dimensional printing of objects is facilitated. For an object to be printed in three-dimensions (3D), one or more contact points relating to the object are determined. A contact point is at least one location on a base of a 3D printer in which a portion of the object is to contact the base based on printing the portion of the object. A centralized location of the base at which one or more movable blocks of the base are to be moved to position the one or more contact points at the centralized location to facilitate printing of the one or more portions of the object is also determined. A print plan to be used to print the object in three-dimensions is created, in which the print plan includes one or more instructions to print at least the one or more portions of the object at the centralized location.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a controller configured to receive selection of a medium feeder corresponding to a page number from among a plurality of medium feeders that feed a medium; and to regard a page range of the page numbers that have been received as a cycle pattern and to repeatedly apply the cycle pattern to page numbers beyond the page range, to set, as the medium feeders corresponding the page numbers beyond the page range, the medium feeders corresponding to the page numbers in the cycle pattern.

Abstract: A portable label printer for printing content onto a surface of a label is provided. The label has a chip disposed therein. The portable label printer includes a main body, an RFID antenna assembly, a front cover unit, a back cover unit, and a print head module. The front and back cover units are disposed in the main body, and a paper exit port is formed between the front and back cover units. The RFID antenna assembly is disposed in the main body and adjacent to the paper exit port. The print head module is disposed in the main body and under the RFID antenna assembly. The label first passes through the print head module, and then passes through the RFID antenna assembly. When the label passes through the RFID antenna assembly, the RFID antenna assembly performs data reading or data writing on the chip of the label.

Abstract: A printing mechanism for a sample container is provided with a receiving end provided with a receiving rack, the receiving rack being connected with a fixed receiving plate and a movable receiving plate, wherein corresponding receiving trough and falling channel are formed by splicing and separating the fixed receiving plate and the movable receiving plate; and a discharging end provided with a rotating assembly that receives a sample container falling in the falling channel and drives the sample container to rotate to align an unprinted blank region on the sample container with a printing assembly.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of conveying sheets to a sheet processing apparatus and to control the type of a sheet to be used as a cover sheet in a case where a book bound product is generated by switching back sheets each having an image printed, inverting the sheets and folding the inverted sheets, and to notify an error to a user based on the type of a sheet to be used as the cover sheet in a case where printing an image on the cover sheet is designated.

Abstract: A printer-verifier is provided for printing and verifying a printed indicium. Printer-verifier includes imaging module for capturing image of printed indicium on print media, memory communicatively coupled to imaging module and configured to store print quality verification program, and processor communicatively coupled to memory. Processor is configured by print quality verification program to evaluate print quality of printed indicium, determine if print quality meets print quality standard, reject printed indicium on print media as rejected printed media when print quality does not meet print quality standard, and one of output location-specific feedback about rejected printed media or send a command signal to cutting device to destroy rejected printed media. Location-specific feedback is in same language as language associated with printer-verifier. A printer and methods for verifying the printed indicium are also provided.

Abstract: A service vehicle with service equipment for performing a predetermined service operation in an operating area, the vehicle comprising positioning means to determine position information for navigating the service vehicle and/or the service equipment; monitoring means to acquire position-dependent operational data of the performing of the service operation in dependence on the position information; and reporting means to communicate the position-dependent operational data to a remote management server. The service vehicle is operable in a first mode, in which the positioning means provides the position information to the monitoring means which acquires the position-dependent operational data using the position information; the reporting means communicates the operational data to the remote management server; and the navigating is performed substantially independently of the position information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit, an image forming unit, an acceptance unit, a paper transporting unit, a mode selecting unit, and a control unit. The image reading unit includes a document transporting device, a loaded-document detecting unit, a document table, a document holder, and a placed-document detecting unit. The mode selection unit can select a first mode in which paper is transported at the start of image reading operation and a second mode in which paper is transported after the image reading operation. If the loaded-document detecting unit detects that a document has not been loaded in a loading position and the placed-document detecting unit detects that a document has not been placed on the document table, the control unit controls the mode selection unit to select the second mode and controls the image reading unit to read an image on the document table.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of print jobs, an acquisition unit that acquires, when a desired print job is selected from the plurality of print jobs stored in the storage unit, a print setting of the selected print job, a determination unit that determines whether a print-cost-reducing print setting exists that reduces a print cost more than a print cost of the print setting acquired by the acquisition unit, and a changing unit that, if it is determined that the print-cost-reducing setting exists, enables changing the print setting of the selected print job to the print-cost-reducing print setting.

Abstract: A content placement method includes electronically identifying a placeholder image in an electronic document. The placeholder defines a copy hole. The placeholder image is decoded to discern content selection data. The content selection data is processed to identify content that is inserted into the copy hole.

Abstract: A printing system has fixed print heads in positions that are subject to adjustment between print jobs. The system provides a print preview display that includes a representation of the item of printing stock on which the printing is to be performed. The print preview display also includes a first printing field that is at a location in the representation that corresponds to the position of a first one of the print heads. The print preview display further includes a second printing field that is at a location in the representation that corresponds to the position of a second one of the print heads.

Abstract: A client apparatus includes a media reader/writer and a network I/F for data communication with a print data generation server, reads electronic data stored in the medium (step 218), transmits the same to the print data generation server and requests generation of print data (step 220). An identification number transmitted from the print data generation server in response to the electronic data is received through a data communication device (step 222), and stored in the medium (step 224). Using the identification number, the print data corresponding to the transmitted electronic data can be accessed.

Abstract: Printing methods and systems that provide both a secure value label printing mode of operation and a non-secure mode of operation that allows generic printing of non-value items without compromising the security feature of the secure printing mode are described. If the printing system determines the image is a non-secure image such as an address label or other non-value graphic, the printing system utilizes the non-secure mode and disables the use certain printhead elements. In such a system, the enforced print disabled white bands are enforced in non-secure mode such as by actually disabling the print drive mechanism that allows a row to be printed or by populating certain regions of the print buffer with zero values.

Abstract: A method and system for delineating document boundaries and identifying document types by analyzing digital images of one or more documents, automatically categorizing one or more pages or subdocuments within the one or more documents and automatically generating delineation identifiers, such as computer-generated images of separation pages inserted between digital images belonging to different categories, a description of the categorization sequence of the digital images, or a computer-generated electronic label affixed or associated with said digital images.

Abstract: A printer can print to paper with a narrow width while maintaining a print format with good legibility without changing the application program and printer driver installed on the host computer. The control method of a printer that prints based on print data 5 sent from a host computer 3 has a step S105 of extracting data attributes contained in the print data 5 and assigning the print data 5 to data segment areas for each data attribute; a step of setting the data segment areas to specific printing areas based on the data attribute; an actual print data generating step (steps S122, S107, S133, S134, S111) of converting the print data 5 assigned to the data segment areas to actual print data according to the data attributes; and a printing step S113 of printing the actual print data in the printing areas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of band rendering an image. The method comprises receiving (201) object data of the image in the page description language. From this the method determines a plurality of buckets (bucket #1-#3, FIG. 14) by which the object data is to be divided. The method then assigns (FIG. 3, 350) object data of each object in the image to one of the buckets based on an initial visibility of the object in the image. Then, for each band of the image, in a band sequential fashion (900, 920), the method identifies (1016-1024) object data visible within a band from a subset of the buckets active for the band. Then, the method analysis (FIGS. 10(i)-(iii); 1028-1052) the identified object data within the band and selects at least one rendering method (RCCR, PCR) from a plurality of rendering methods by which the band is to be rendered. Then the method renders (960,970) the identified object data into the band from the object data using the selected at least one rendering method.

Abstract: An article (100) has a device (122), and a radio frequency identification (RFID) module (102) coupled to the device. The RFID module is programmed to receive (210) provisioning instructions from a wireless source (142), and transfer (212) to the device the provisioning instructions when said device is enabled.

Abstract: An article (100) has a device (122), and a radio frequency identification (RFID) module (102) coupled to the device. The RFID module is programmed to receive (210) provisioning instructions from a wireless source (142), and transfer (212) to the device the provisioning instructions when said device is enabled.

Abstract: An approach is provided for implementing locked printing on a printing device with remote unlock. The printing device includes a locked print process that is configured to examine print data received by the printing device and determine whether locked printing is to be used for the print data. Print data designated for locked printing is stored on the printing device. The printing device also includes a Web application configured to generate Web pages that define a Web-based graphical user interface. When processed at a client device, the Web pages allow a user to enter authorization data that is transmitted to the Web application on the printing device. The locked print process verifies the authorization data and if the authorization data is successfully verified, allows the user access to locked print data on the printing device. The approach may also be implemented using a common repository to store print data.

Abstract: The present invention, as evidenced from the drawings and descriptions provided herein, can be characterized in various, different, through unifying, ways. For example, from a methodologic point of view, the invention may be seen as providing a method which (1) procedurally engages a PDF data stream that is en route to printing, (2) determines whether, in that data stream, there is an image-only data file, and (3), if the answer to that determination is Yes, channels that data file into a novel PDF image-only pipeline for expedited pre-printing preparation (image decoding, resizing, rendering, etc.). From a systemic point of view, the invention proposes an interactive and cooperative assembly of structures, as illustrated in the drawing figures, which are constructed specifically to perform the methodologic functions just described.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a general command is converted to a real-time command depending on the needs, allowing fast status analysis and error recovery with fewer number of control commands without inconveniencing the user, a control method therefor, and a data processing apparatus using the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus or the data processing apparatus including the same which is operated by transmission of command data and print data from a host computer, general data usually processed in order is converted to a real-time command using a real-time command identifier. The printing apparatus receives the data with the real-time command identifier and processes the command or print data designated by the real-time command identifier. The apparatus and method allow using a fewer number of commands to execute various controls.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing font subsetting. One or more font subsetting parameters are received. The one or more font subsetting parameters indicate a granularity level for which font subsetting is performed for portions of a data container. The font subsetting parameters indicate a font subsetting granularity level other than an entire document associated with the data container. A first portion of the data container is determined in accordance with the font subsetting granularity level. A subset of font data for at least one font family is determined in accordance with what font data for the at least one font family is actually used by the first portion. The subset of font data is embedded in an output for a consumer.

Abstract: A print control program for controlling execution of a print job, the print job being shared among a main printing apparatus and one or more sub-printing apparatus(es), the print control program allowing a computer to function as: a print requesting section for requesting the main printing apparatus and the sub-printing apparatus(es) to execute the print job in a cooperative manner; an apparatus information acquiring section for acquiring information relating to printing capabilities of the respective printing apparatuses as apparatus information, the apparatus information being stored in the main printing apparatus in advance; an instruction determining section for determining shares of the print job assigned to the respective apparatuses based upon the acquired apparatus information; and a controlling section for generating control instructions to be transmitted to the respective apparatuses.

Abstract: This disclosure discloses an RFID tag producing apparatus comprising: a first antenna device that transmits and receives information to and from an RFID circuit element; a writing control portion that writes a command signal for commanding operation of at least one operating device so as to produce a command RFID tag; a second antenna device that transmits and receives information to and from the command RFID tag; a reading control portion that acquires the command signal; and a device control portion, based on information obtained by the reading control portion, that controls the at least one operating device.

Abstract: A label producing apparatus has a pressure roller drive shaft for feeding a cover film supplied from a cartridge storing a cover film capable of supply, acquires the arrangement information by accessing a database storing and holding arrangement information of the article to be arranged, and has a print head and a cutter for producing an auxiliary label by forming the acquired arrangement information for the cover film fed by the pressure roller drive shaft.

Abstract: In a method or system for printing a separator sheet with a printer or copier, with aid of a first program module, at least first data are generated that contain at least information for formatting of elements of at least one separator sheet, the elements to be printed on a register tab of the at least one separator sheet. The first data are processed with aid of a second program module so that second data are generated which print data for generation of a print image on the register tab are added to a print data stream. At least the register tab of the one separator sheet is printed with a print image by the printer or copier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading and configuring an imaging device driver to facilitate turnkey remote access via the internet to the complete and explicit feature set and capabilities provided by a specific, user selected, retail imaging kiosk or digital photofinishing system.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a label data creating apparatus, a label data creating method, and a computer program product which can make the production of label tapes faster, and increase efficiency of the production thereof. A CPU of computer equipment performs a template data create process by an editor with a display, a keyboard and the like, and selects a model name of a tape printer displayed in a transfer destination selection field as a transfer destination, when a transfer command is issued. After the selection, the CPU creates print data composed of block information included in the template data and text data, and then shows error message in the display if at least one value of block height data is smaller than that of the height of the minimum font size stored in the tape printer as the transfer destination, based on the block information of the print data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enhancing document security for documents of the type each comprising a print medium on which is printed personalizing information, this printed medium being laminated between two laminates that are at least partially transparent, this method rendering any forging of these documents by ungluing the laminates ineffective, and it is characterized in that at least one additional phantom personalizing image is printed on at least one of the laminates.

Abstract: Data in the host device that was processed before a data interrupt process could run, and data that was already being sent to the printer, can be reliably deleted when an error occurs.

Abstract: A mail processing machine is described including a recto-verso printer adapted to receive data to be printed and to produce printed documents based on the data, the documents being designed to be enclosed and franked; the processing machine includes a system upstream of the printer to optimize the process for franking the cover by recto-verso printing the documents at will in case a value related to the weight of said documents exceeds a postal threshold.

Abstract: A printing device that includes: a printing unit that performs double-sided printing on special paper; and a control unit that controls the printing unit to print one side of the special paper at a first printing rate, and to print the other side of the special paper at a different second printing rate. Accordingly, an overall printing rate is faster than a conventional printing device, a fixing quality is maintained, and printing performance is improved. The printing device can include a interface unit or a UI unit, to set the first and second printing rates.

Abstract: The tag-label producing device includes a print head for performing printing with respect to a print area of a cover film, a loop antenna for performing transmission/reception of information to/from an RFID circuit element, and a tape feed roller for imparting relative movement between the print head or loop antenna and a tag label tape with print. At this time, a control circuit determines the chronological sequence relation between the arrival of the RFID circuit element at a communication position where transmission/reception of information is performed with respect to the loop antenna, and the completion of the printing by the print head with respect to the print area. In accordance with the result of this determination, the operation modes of the tape feed roller, loop antenna, and print head are switch-controlled in a coordinated fashion.

Abstract: A system for dispensing, reading and verifying RFID tags. The system includes a label dispenser that dispenses labels that contain RFID tags from a bulk label storage device, an RFID Reader/Writer device that is operatively connected to the label dispenser. The RFID Reader/Writer device reads and codes tags which are embedded within these labels. The RFID Reader/Writer is configured to function in close range and thus provide adequate fidelity of coding and transfer of individual program tags. The invention also includes an RFID reader/writer that is powered by its communications means.

Abstract: An apparatus is operable to cause a print unit to generate first printed matter based on a first setting designated by a first designator. The apparatus includes an identifier adapted to identify a second setting that can be utilized in substitution for the first setting, a notifier adapted to notify an operator of information about the second setting identified by the identifier, and a producer adapted to cause the print unit to generate second printed matter based on the second setting designated by a second designator, after notifying the operator of the information.

Abstract: A print editing device is provided wherein a first line of the print data is aligned to a first end in a predetermined print area and, if there are plural lines; a last line of the print data is aligned to a second end and a remaining line is aligned between the first and second end when the print data is determined to include more than three lines.

Abstract: A machine for the graphic arts industry, such as a printing press, includes an operator control device having a display device and an input device. Auxiliary devices have their own dedicated control for communicating with the operator control device over an electronic communication network. The auxiliary devices send signals over the electronic communication network to the operator control device. The auxiliary devices have a user interface displayable on the display device and the signals contain a network address from which the user interface is accessible.

Abstract: A device that requires a regulatory label includes a label affixed to a surface of the device and a marking mechanism in the device that detects a configuration setting associated with the device and alters a portion of the label based on the configuration setting such that the label indicates information related to the configuration setting of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mobile control device for safe operation of machines for processing printing materials. The machine is divided into a plurality of spatially delimited zones and the position of the control device can be detected in relation to the plurality of zones. It is possible to determine the zone in which the control device is located by using the position of the control device. Certain functions of the machine are enabled or disabled depending on the determined zone. A printing press having the device and a method for safely operating a machine for processing printing materials, are also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which is able to output menu items and set values provided for the respective menu items, outputs the set value changed from the factory default set value and the menu item corresponding to the set value distinctly from unchanged set values and menu items corresponding to the unchanged set values, thereby minimizing the time and errors in checking the changed menu item and set value.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in printing to a rotational media having a surface to be printed to and being rotatable about an axis extending away from the surface is provided. The apparatus includes an engaging arrangement to engage the rotational media so as to impart controlled rotational movement thereto about the axis. The engaging arrangement is configured to be coupled to printer gearing on a printer, such that rotation of the printer gearing on the printer causes rotation of the rotational media when engaged on the engaging arrangement.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing to both roll paper and slips. The printer includes a condition setting unit 15 for setting or not setting the absence of roll paper in the printer as a set condition for taking the printer off-line. An off-line status determination circuit 16 for generating an output in response to the set condition of the condition setting unit 15 when the power is turned on or reset, and a print controller responsive to the output from said off-line status determination circuit for determining whether to set the printer to be taken off-line or not according to the set condition of the condition setting unit . Accordingly, when roll paper is not needed, the printer can thus print to slips without ever loading roll paper.

Abstract: An RFID label with embedded tag is passed through an RFID antenna in a printer system, where the RFID antenna allows a roll of such labels to pass in close proximity to the antenna and still allow each individual RFID tag to be read and/or programmed. The RFID antenna module is formed with a transmission line coupled to an RF phase splitter, where in one embodiment, the transmission line is formed from two parallel conductive strips.

Abstract: An approach is provided for implementing locked printing on a printing device. The printing device includes a user interface configured to display information and accept user input. The printing device includes a locked print process that is configured to examine print data received by the printing device and determine whether locked printing is to be used for the print data. The locked print process is further configured to verify password data entered via the user interface and if the password data is successfully verified, then allow the print data to be processed and a printed version of the electronic document reflected in the print data to be generated. The printing device also includes a Web server that provides a Web-based user interface to allow a user, such as an administrator, to specify configuration data that defines one or more functions performed by the locked print process.

Abstract: A printing system (250) includes a printing subsystem (255) in the form of a printer assembly (14). The printing subsystem (255) includes a printer housing (257) in which a print engine (259) resides and a memory (261) for storing data indicating the position of labels on media. The contents of memory (261) can be obtained from an end user application (270) which may supply the position data to the printing subsystem (255) in a print data stream. Pre-programmed position data is read from a tag (88) on print media (28) having multiple tags embedded thereon. The pre-programmed position data is compared to position data received in a print request data stream to determine the position of at least one tag on the print media.

Abstract: In a printing system in which a user PC and a printer are connected to a network, when the user PC accesses the printer for print setting, the printer issues a job ticket containing print setting contents to the user PC in a form such as an e-mail. When print data and the job ticket are transmitted from the user PC to the printer, the printer analyzes the job ticket, and executes printing based on the analyzed contents. In this manner, a user can readily achieve a print setting free from errors.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a detection device that detects a type of tape in a tape cassette, a print data storage device that stores print data, a print head that performs printing on the tape based on the print data stored in the print data storage device, a recycle mark storage device that stores recycle mark data to be printed on the tape, wherein the recycle mark data can indicate whether the tape can be recycled, a composition device that composes, if the tape is detected by the detection device to be recyclable tape, the recycle mark data stored in the recycle mark storage device with the print data stored in the print data storage device, and a print control device that controls the print head so that the print head performs printing based on composite.