Abstract: A diesel cycle internal combustion engine can be operated with a variety of fuels having different boiling points and different viscosity-temperature characteristic curves, with a fuel circuit that includes a fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel line, at least one fuel filter, a high-pressure pump, an injection system device and a return line to return fuel to the fuel tank, where a control valve is provided in the return line for dividing or diverting the fuel flow to the fuel tank and/or to the fuel filter, and where the fuel division or diversion is undertaken as a function of the viscosity of the fuel in use such that the fuel filter will thence be heated to a temperature based on heat transfer from the fuel in use, and further where a pressure relief valve is provided between the fuel filter and the high-pressure pump.

Abstract: A method for aligning a printing plate, prior to imaging, on a platesetter includes the steps of: determining a leading edge of the printing plate; feeding the printing plate by the leading edge onto punch equipment resident on the platesetter; centering the printing plate on the platesetter along the leading edge; punching one or more notches along the leading edge of the printing plate according to a predetermined punch configuration; securing the leading edge and a trailing edge to a support surface of the platesetter with respect to registration pins located on platesetter; determining a location of a vertical edge of one of the notches, the vertical edge defined as being perpendicular to the leading edge; and determining a location with respect to the vertical edge of the one notch for transferring an image onto the printing plate.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining an optimal imposition plan for printing and folding a product, the method including (a) calculating a plurality of imposition plans from a given set of input data including product specification data of the product, printing press data of a printing press for printing the product and folding machine data of a folding machine for folding the product and (b) selecting the optimal imposition plan from the plurality of imposition plans.

Abstract: A platesetter may have an optical imaging head which includes a diffractive modulator having individually controlled ribbons associated with individual pixels imaged onto a printing plate. One method for reducing artifacts transferred to a medium includes the steps of: determining values of intensity versus pulse width variations for each ribbon of the modulator based upon empirical data; weighting the determined values according to a predetermined weighting factor dependent upon physical, optical, chemical and structural characteristics of a printing plate to yield an image on the printing plate having minimum visible artifacts; and applying the weighted values to ribbon drivers of the modulator.

Abstract: Printing masters are produced by use of an inkjet printing system. The smallest halftone dot size which can be printed by the inkjet printing system is larger than the size of a pixel of the recording grid defined by the addressability of the printing device. Inferior image quality and graininess caused by standard error diffusion algorithms in this system can be counteracted by using a constraint correlation error diffusion system. Out of the complete set of all possible intensity level combinations for reproducing a pixel a subset is selected based upon the multilevel halftoning process of a quantized scalar value which is a function of at least one of the input pixel values of the corresponding colour component pixels. Preferably the scalar value represents the brightness or ink amount allocations.

Abstract: A large format printer using web fed material is able to cope with roll fed material and sheets having residual curl. An anti-curl guidance device counteracts curl when feeding the medium to a second transport system. The medium is held flat by a vacuum system and during re-feeding of the medium, the height of the position of the medium exhibiting residual curl is adjusted by a moving pivot roller to smoothly pass over a cutting bar. Also, the entrance of a re-feeding chamber is enlarged by lifting a retractor pivot plate by a retractor pivot to allow curled media to enter the re-feeding chamber. Curl can also be avoided by keeping the web roll of media in a relatively humid condition by restricting air flow or by using an extra humidifier.

Abstract: A print drive is present in an electronic pre-press workflow that includes a raster image processor (“RIP”) and an output device to receive, store, combine and transmit raster data processed by the raster image processor. A prepress imposition scheme is created at the front end and processed by the RIP. Prepress imposition parameters are used to generate a press sheet template image, which is transmitted to the print drive. The print drive is capable of applying the press sheet template to page raster data on demand to form a multi-page press sheet assembly so that raster images of individual pages remain independent. Among other benefits, this improves electronic prepress workflow by eliminating the need to generate combined raster images of multi-page press sheets to correct or modify a portion of the assembly.

Abstract: Separation of a color into values for colorants in colorant space can be done easily when color correction and color separation are done in separate steps, where the color is defined as a set of values in a trajectory space, and trajectories include points for which ink behavior during color separation is known. Colorant values for the color are determined by interpolation using values of the color located in trajectory space, and known values and corresponding colorant values of the trajectory points. Trajectories are preferably color axes dividing the trajectory space into tetrahedral. Colorant values may be corrected using techniques such as colorant replacement or colorant splitting prior to color separation. The color separation process can be calibrated using a test target.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a characteristic of a printing system, the printing system including a printing device and a receiving substrate. Data from a pattern printed on the receiving substrate by the printing device are analyzed. Based on the analysis, an artifact characteristic of the printing system is determined automatically.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed for imaging recording media. The imaging system includes an input opening through which recording media may be input to the imaging system, and an imaging unit for imaging the recording media that is received through the input opening. The imaging unit provides a calibration image on the recording media. The imaging system also includes a calibration image receiving unit for receiving image data representative of the calibration image. The calibration image receiving unit produces imaging unit calibration adjustment data. The imaging system also includes an imaging unit adjustment controller, and an output opening. The imaging unit adjustment controller adjusts the imaging unit responsive to the imaging unit calibration adjustment data. The recording media exits the imaging system through the output opening.

Abstract: A system and method for processing raster data including at least one input computer terminal for creating postscript data, at least one raster image processor (RIP), for processing the postscript data into raster data, and a PrintDrive system for managing and controlling the workflow of image files containing raster image data to a plurality of user selectable output devices.

Abstract: A method is used for constructing a look up table for characterizing a printing device, and a system therefore, wherein the look up table is an inverse look up table for obtaining for the printing device colorant values in a colorant space as a function of given color values in a color space. The method includes: (a) selecting an axis in the color space; (b) selecting a path in the color space; (c) determining a particular point on the path having a predetermined colorant value; (d) projecting the particular point on the axis, thus obtaining a projected point; and (e) adding the projected point to the look up table as a sampling point.

Abstract: A method and system for reproducing an image on a carrier, the method includes: generating a conjoined first and second sub-image, each representative for a portion of the image; defining an overlap region where both sub-images give a contribution to the internal optical density of the carrier; dividing the overlap region in a partition of microdots; establishing for each sub-image a peripheral edge in the overlap region; increasing the contribution by the first sub-image from the peripheral edge of the first sub-image to the peripheral edge of the second sub-image; and assigning to at least one microdot an intermediate microscopic density different from a minimum or maximum microscopic density of microdots; wherein the contribution increases the microscopic density of the microdots by density steps smaller than half the difference between the minimum and maximum microscopic densities of the microdots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to predict the color of an overprint of a set of colorants at a set of respective coverage percentages on a substrate of a substrate type using a printing technique. The colorants include some for which a device profile is provided. The method includes determining the colorant parameters of the device profile colorants; determining the spectrum of the substrate, providing spectral colorant parameters for the non-device profile colorants, and determining the color of the overprint. One version including modifying the data of the device profile such that the colorant parameters determined in the step of determining colorant parameters determines the colorant parameters of modified colorants that match the color of the device profile colorants and that cover at least the gamut of the device profile colorants.

Abstract: A scanner having a chassis and a body, the body containing a base portion and a document lid. The body is movably connected to the chassis by a connection element, allowing the body to move from a substantially horizontal operative position to a substantially vertical rest position.

Abstract: A method provides for determining an optimal sample dimension when descreening high-resolution image data so that a lower resolution image color proof may be created without suffering the problems typical of over sampling image data. The method allows to generate a single set of image data to create on-the-fly either a medium resolution color proof or a high resolution printed image without having to RIP the data twice, once for the proof, and once for the printed image.

Abstract: An ink supply system for feeding ink from an ink cartridge to an inkjet printer includes a dry-break valve system and two coupling elements. Preferably use is made of a hollow tappet rod as a coupling element. The valves in the system are automatically opened in a single action during coupling without introduction of air into the system. The system allows for a high volume ink flow and prevents leakage from the ink cartridge and the printer due to pressure changes.

Abstract: The method reproduces an electronic image, having pixels, as a multilevel halftone image on a multilevel output device having N different allowed output values (possible density levels) by choosing for any pixel p a real subset Sp containing Np allowed values out of the set S of N allowed levels quantizing the input pixel value of the pixel p to obtain an output pixel value out of the Np values in Sp by means of a half toning algorithm, rendering the image by rendering the pixels with the output device using the obtained output pixel values. The real subset may be formed by the allowed output values closest to the input pixel value. The quantization may be done by an error diffusion algorithm The used method prevents occurrence of pixels having deviating densities distorting the output image.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for a multi-printhead ink jet printer includes an array of ink jet nozzles and a heat sink for controlling the temperature of the nozzles. The heat sink is made up of a copper block and thinner copper wing regions extending from the block parallel to the array of nozzles. A passageway for coolant water is formed in the block and extends into the wings as a thinner channel. The block and the wing regions are mounted in thermal contact with the array of ink jet nozzles. The heat sink has the advantage that it allows the cartridges in the printer to be stitched together to cover the full width of a substrate.