Abstract: A method for completing a document job that includes delivering at least one print job to a printing device, bringing a tag containing information regarding the document job into close proximity to the printing device so that the device receives the information from the tag, and using the information received from the tag to complete the print job. The method also applies to document jobs sent to facsimile and multifunction devices.

Abstract: A pneumatic sheet feeder is selectively actuable to acquire a sheet from a stack and transport the sheet towards a take-away nip. The feeder includes a feedhead having an acquisition surface substantially aligned with the take-away nip. A sensing apparatus detects three separate distances between the stack and the acquisition surface at three separate locations over the stack. The stack is then tilted based upon the distances sensed by the sensors. In embodiments, the feedhead has two sensors, and moves so that the third distance can be measured by one of the sensors. In other embodiments, the feedhead includes three sensors for measuring each of the distances.

Abstract: A photoreceptor module located within a housing. The photoreceptor module includes a photoreceptor belt, a belt support to maintain the belt in a desired configuration, and a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly is operably positioned in close proximity to the belt, and may be moved away from the belt while both are within the housing to ease clearance of paper jams.

Abstract: A method for assisting a visually impaired person with a document job. The method includes scanning a document that includes at least one sheet, detecting at least one characteristic of the scanned document, and providing a signal identifying the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating color to grayscale images, wherein at least some pixels of the color image having the same color are mapped to different grays in the grayscale image depending on the spatial surround of each pixel. Further, the method and apparatus may include applying a high pass filter to at least one chrominance component of a color image to generate at least one high pass filtered chrominance component, and adjusting a luminance component of the color image based upon the at least one high pass filtered chrominance component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing documents on a networked system. The method includes creating at least one print job associated with a user identification code, sending the at least one job to a print queue and separately conveying the user identification code to a printing device. This method could be accomplished either with a tag system or by direct data entry at the site of a printing device. The device then obtains and prints the at least one job associated with the user identification code from the print queue.

Abstract: A printing method, including offering a choice to create special pages in a print job; simultaneously displaying a plurality of selectable features, each feature corresponding to a category of special pages; receiving a selection of a first selectable feature; displaying a child window including selectable options of the first selectable feature; receiving a selection of at least one option corresponding to a first range of pages; and displaying a summary view window, wherein the summary window includes the first range of pages and the at least one selected option that the user has selected for the first range of pages.

Abstract: A print driver user interface method for printing copies of a document, which includes receiving a number corresponding to the number of copies to be printed from an application, receiving at least one command relating to an operation to be performed on each of the number of copies to be printed, and displaying a first feature to a user informing the user that the application may have a problem printing multiple copies. The method also includes offering the user a choice relating to printing copies of the document and transferring control of printing the copies from the application to the print driver.

Abstract: A pneumatic sheet feeder is selectively actuable to acquire a sheet from a stack and transport the sheet towards a take-away nip. The feeder includes a feedhead having an acquisition surface substantially aligned with the take-away nip. A sensing apparatus detects three separate distances between the stack and the acquisition surface at three separate locations over the stack. The stack is then tilted based upon the distances sensed by the sensors. In embodiments, the feedhead has two sensors, and moves so that the third distance can be measured by one of the sensors. In other embodiments, the feedhead includes three sensors for measuring each of the distances.

Abstract: A melt assembly that includes a drip plate; and a self regulating heating device thermally connected to the drip plate, wherein the heating device is a positive temperature coefficient material (PTC material). Also, a drip plate having an open interior into which a heating device may be inserted or molded.

Abstract: A method for halftoning an image, including receiving image data including a plurality of color separations and comparing image data for first, second, third, and fourth separations to first, second, third, and fourth halftone screens. The screens are characterized by first, second, third, and fourth pairs of frequency vectors, respectively. The fourth pair of frequency vectors is identical to one of the first, second, and third pairs of frequency vectors. Further, the first, second, third, and fourth screens have an associated fill-in sequence, where the fill-in sequence of the fourth screen is such that overlap between the separation corresponding to the fourth screen and the separation corresponding to the one of the first, second, and third screens to which the fourth screen has an identical pair of frequency vectors does not occur until a combined dot area coverage of the separations is greater than 100%.

Abstract: A solid ink melt assembly for use in a phase change printer, includes a drip plate with first and second sides and a heater mounted to the first side of the plate. A lower portion of the plate is shaped to form a drip point. A second side of the drip plate is exposed to ink sticks for melting. In embodiments, a melt plate is fastened to the second side of the drip plate.

Abstract: A drip plate that is part of a melt plate assembly in a phase change ink jet printer using solid ink. The drip plate includes an upper portion having substantially flat upper first and second opposing sides, and a lower pointed portion having substantially flat lower first and second opposing sides. The lower portion is not coplanar with the upper portion. The drip plate can be fastened to a melt plate. The ink side surface of the drip or the melt plate can include cutouts anchor tabs, and a sliver strainer located near a lower portion of the drip or melt plate. A flange may extend upwards from the upper portion of the drip plate to block ink overflow.

Abstract: A method for improving color-to-color registration in a printing device. The method includes printing a plurality of multi-color images, measuring the relative locations of a first portion of each multi-color image having a first color of each image and a second portion of each multi-color image having a second color of each image, for each image, comparing at least one difference between the first portion's location and the second portion's location with at least one desired difference between the first portion's location and the second portion's location to generate a list of positional errors, using a least square regression analysis of the list of positional errors to determine shift amounts required for placement of each first portion in subsequently generated images to within a desired degree of accuracy, and adjusting the placement of the first portion of each subsequently generated image by the determined shift amounts.

Abstract: An overlay for use with a display screen, comprising at least one first tactilely readable area, wherein the display screen includes a first feature thereon, wherein the tactilely readable area includes information in a tactilely readable format, and wherein the information identifies a first feature displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A melt assembly that includes a drip plate; and a self regulating heating device thermally connected to the drip plate, wherein the heating device is a positive temperature coefficient material (PTC material). Also, a drip plate having an open interior into which a heating device may be inserted or molded.

Abstract: An insertion element that connects to an ink stick receptacle in a key plate, wherein the insertion element forms at least one edge of an insertion opening, and wherein the insertion element is shaped to complement at least a portion of the perimeter of an ink stick. The element is used in a solid ink loader, which includes at least one feed channel for receiving ink sticks and at least one key plate for covering the at least one feed channel. The at least one key plate includes a receptacle for the insertion opening surround element.

Abstract: A solid ink loader for feeding solid ink sticks in a phase change ink jet printer, which includes at least one feed channel for receiving of a plurality of ink sticks and at least one key plate for covering the at least one feed channel. The at least one key plate includes a first plate portion having a first insertion opening for admitting the solid ink sticks into the at least one feed channel, and a first guide portion extending into the at least one feed channel from the first plate portion, the first guide portion providing support to the solid ink sticks as they move within the at least one feed channel.

Abstract: A quad roll sheet curl control apparatus uses elastomer first and second rolls forming first and second nips with third and fourth rolls. The first and second rolls have compressible surfaces, while the third and fourth roll surfaces are formed of a substantially uncompressible material. A pivotable gate member in operating relationship with the first and second nips directs sheets to either the first or the second nip whereby the desired decurling orientation is achieved for the sheet by either the elastomer first roll or the elastomer second roll. Switching nips and curl to be induced does not require drive reversal as previous decurler arrangements do. The degree of decurling can be adjusted with at least one cam in communication with at least one of the first and second rolls.

Abstract: A method for repositioning a mark on a belt after an image on paper registration process, which includes printing a test pattern, measuring at least one test pattern parameter, detecting a mark on a belt and detecting at least one imaging error associated therewith, using the at least one test pattern parameter and the at least one imaging error to determine the lateral distance required to shift a particular image to a desired location on the belt and shifting the image to the desired location.