Abstract: There is provided a printing system having a finishing apparatus for receiving and processing a job, with the finishing apparatus having an adjustable finishing component adapted to perform a finishing operation on one or more print media sheets. The printing system includes a controller for receiving a programmed finishing parameter, the programmed finishing parameter indicating a manner in which the job is to be finished. The printing system further includes an actuator for moving the adjustable finishing component in a selected direction. In operation, the controller receives the programmed finishing parameter and converts it into a set-up signal, the set-up signal varying as a function of the programmed finishing parameter. In turn a set-up image is generated with the set-up signal and the set-up image, which includes a target indicator, is used, in conjunction with the actuator, to adjust the adjustable finishing component.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing prints in a printing machine having a marking engine operatively coupled with a finishing device, which finishing device normally requires productivity losses in the marking engine. The method includes the steps of: a) storing a first print job and a second print job; b) printing a first portion of the first print job; c) transmitting the printed first portion of the first print job to the finishing device; d) performing a finishing operation, at the finishing device, on the printed first portion of the first print job; e) during the step d), printing a portion of the second print job; f) transmitting the printed portion of the second print job to a print output area, the print output area being separate from the finishing device; and g) initiating printing of a second portion of the first print job, concurrent with step d), for reducing productivity losses in the marking engine.

Abstract: A method is provided for labeling a job in a printing system. The method includes the steps of partitioning the job into a first set with a plurality of electronic pages and a second set with a plurality of electronic pages; storing a first electronic label and a second electronic label in memory; and displaying, on a display screen, a print outline with a selected identifiable area, the selected identifiable area being positionable on the print outline for representing a relative size, location and orientation of an area on a print upon which an electronic label is to be printed. In practice a first location, at which a copy of the first electronic label is to be printed on a first selected print resulting from the printing of the plurality of electronic pages of the first set and a second location, at which a copy of the second electronic label is to be printed on a second selected print resulting from the printing of the plurality of electronic pages of the second set, are indicated with the print outline.

Abstract: A network printing system have plural printers for making prints, with some of the printers having different job processing capabilities; plural client inputs providing electronic documents and printing instructions that comprise each print job; and dialog filtering to enable the program selections on a universal job ticket to be edited in accordance with the processing capabilities of each individual printer.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing residual developer material remaining on a surface of a printing machine is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a movable cleaning brush having bristles. The brush is positioned adjacent to the surface so that as the movable brush is moved, the bristles contact the surface and the residual developer material is removed therefrom. A detoning device is positioned adjacent to the movable cleaning brush in a manner that permits the bristles to contact the detoning device as the movable cleaning brush is moved. The detoning device includes a plurality of hook-like and/or teeth-like members which dislodge the residual developer material from the bristles as they contact the hook-like members.

Abstract: A method of printing a selected print job, in a printing machine with a job file communicating with a print queue, is provided. The method includes the step of transmitting, to a proof user, a representation of at least a segment of the selected print job and a special instruction sheet. Preferably, the special instruction sheet has a proof event code and instructions regarding both a manner in which the proof user is to review the selected print job segment and provide proof-related information, regarding the selected print job segment, to the database. In practice, the proof-related information of the selected print job segment, with its corresponding proof event code, is received at the database and the database is updated by reference to the proof event code. In response to the updating, a copy of the selected print job is moved, from the job file to the print queue, so that prints, representative of the selected print job, are produced.

Abstract: A method of printing a job to produce a set of prints in a printing system with a print file, the print file being divided into a first buffer and a second buffer where the print file communicates with a marker. The marker employs a set of a first type of print-related information and a set of a second type of print-related information for producing the set of prints. The method includes the step of filling the first buffer with a first portion of the set of the first type of print-related information and the second buffer with the a first portion of the set of the second type of print-related information. The method further includes the step of reading, with the marker, the first portion of the set of the first type of print-related information from the first buffer and the first portion of the set of the second type of print-related information from the second buffer.

Abstract: There is provided a printing system with a first service and a second service. The first service and the second service are controlled by a system controller, and are activated selectively by the system controller in a first mode. The printing system includes a diagnostic subsystem including a first diagnostic routine for performing a diagnostic function relative to the first service and a second diagnostic routine for performing a diagnostic function relative to the second service. The printing system further includes a diagnostic system controller that communicates with the system controller and is activated selectively by the system controller in a second mode. The first diagnostic routine and the second diagnostic routine are activated, for concurrent operation thereof, when the diagnostic system controller determines that a preselected condition has been met.

Abstract: There is provided a printing system for producing prints from a print job written in one of a plurality of page description languages with the print job assuming the form of a print job stream. The printing system includes a plurality of page description language analyzing units for sampling the print job stream, each analyzing unit outputting an information signal which provides information regarding the print job stream. A filter, which receives the information signals, processes the information signals and outputs a filtered signal which indicates the page description language in which the print job is written.

Abstract: An automatic signature printing process for an electronic printing system having a source of signature sheets, a programmer to program the system to print jobs including signatures; an input scanner for scanning and converting the documents to electronic images; and a controller to re-order the electronic images to print two electronic images separated by a gutter on each side of the signature sheets, the controller determining from the number of originals and the number of electronic images on each signature the total number of signatures to be printed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of estimating cost of printing materials used to print a job on a printing apparatus. The method includes the steps of: storing billing rates reflecting the cost of printing materials to be used in printing the job, selecting a first quantity of printing materials to be used in printing the job, and, prior to printing the job, calculating, as a function of the first selected quantity of printing materials and one of the stored billing rates, a first printing materials cost of the job.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for scheduling transfers in a printing machine of the type having a scheduler communicating with both a first disk and a second disk, the first and second disks having a combined bandwidth. The method for scheduling comprises the following steps: First, a first transfer to be performed on a first location of the first disk during a first time interval and a second transfer to be performed on a second location of the first disk during a second time interval are both scheduled, with the scheduler, so that a first time gap interval exists between the first time interval and the second time interval.

Abstract: An electronic printing system with plural hard disks for storing system files in which critical system files are stored in duplicate at the same address on each disk, while non-critical files are divided into smaller segments with each file segment stored on a different one of the hard disks.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an improved printing machine for concurrently processing first and second sets of image data is provided. The printing machine preferably comprises a video processor, capable of processing the first set of image data, a system memory, adapted to store the second set of image data, and a bus for transmitting image data, addresses and control data thereacross. Both of the video processor and the system memory are coupled with the bus. Additionally, an apparatus for transferring the second set of image data between the input/output device and the system memory substantially concurrent with the first set of image data being processed in the video processor is provided. The transferring apparatus preferably transfers the second set of image data in response to receiving a signal from the input/output device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image represented by a plurality of pixels corresponding with a plurality of image intensity signals, respectively, is provided. A selected one of the image intensity signals corresponding with a first image type is processed, in parallel with an image type determining arrangement, a first image processing module and a second image processing module. Preferably, the first image processing module has an output and is adapted to process images of the first image type, while the second image processing module has an output and is adapted to process images of a second type.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for encoding a selected halftone pattern to provide a corresponding signal with the selected halftone pattern including a set of pixels arranged in a first block. In one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises an image buffer for buffering a threshold matrix and the first block, and a device, communicating with the image buffer, for determining whether the selected halftone pattern can be formed with the threshold matrix and a single gray value. The apparatus further comprises an encoder for encoding the first block with the corresponding signal in response to a determination by the determining device that the selected halftone pattern can be formed with the threshold matrix and the single gray value.

Abstract: A method is provided for at least partially superposing an edge of a first object with the edge of a second object in a system for displaying at least the first and second objects against a background. The objects and the background are defined by a plurality of pixels and each pixel possesses a selected one of at least a first output state and a second output state. The method includes the steps of: setting a first set of dispersed pixels disposed along the edge of the first object to the second output state; setting a second set of dispersed pixels disposed along the edge of the second graphic object to the second output state; and superposing the edge of the first object with the edge of the second object so that the first set of pixels is intermeshed with the second set of pixels to form a partial pixel boundary between the first object and the second boundary.

Abstract: An improved printing machine for concurrently processing first and second sets of image data is provided. The printing machine preferably comprises a video processor, capable of processing the first set of image data, a system memory, adapted to store the second set of image data, and a bus for transmitting image data, addresses and control data thereacross. Both of the video processor and the system memory are coupled with the bus. Additionally, an apparatus for transferring the second set of image data between the input/output device and the system memory substantially concurrent with the first set of image data being processed in the video processor is provided. The transferring apparatus preferably transfers the second set of image data in response to receiving a signal from the input/output device.

Abstract: There is provided a method of performing a service on a job with a printing system in which the printing system is selectively operable in a first system mode and a second system mode. The method includes the steps of programming the job with instructions for directing the printing system to perform a selected service on the job with the programming step being performed in a selected one of the first system mode and the second mode. Additionally, the job is provided with a job tag for indicating the system mode in which the job was programmed. Finally, the system mode in which the printing system resides is determined and the job tag is compared with the determined system mode prior to performing the print-related service on the job. Preferably, the selected service is performed on the job when the system mode indicated by the job tag is the same as the determined system mode.

Abstract: A video processor, for transferring a set of image data from an input device to an output device, is provided. The video processor is intended for use in a printing apparatus having a controller for controlling operation of the input and output devices as well as the video processor, while the video processor has an image bus across which the set of image data can be transmitted. The video processor comprises an integrated adaptive compressor for buffering a preselected number of the bytes, the integrated adaptive compressor communicating with the input device. A memory communicates with the integrated adaptive compressor, the memory being capable of selectively storing the preselected number of bytes. The memory also includes predesignated addresses at which the bytes can be stored, and the controller communicates with the memory. The video processor further comprises a direct memory access arrangement, the direct memory access arrangement communicating with the integrated adaptive compressor and the memory.