Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer program enable viewing of data of documents to be printed on a client computer. A client computer includes a version y of a conversion function for converting document data into raster image data and a version z of a client viewer application. A print server includes a version x of the conversion function and a version x of the client viewer application. The method includes the steps of replacing the version y of the conversion function by the version x of the conversion function on the client computer, if the version x is more recent than the version y; installing the version x of the client viewer application on the client computer, if the version z is different from the version x; converting the document data on the client computer; and displaying the image data.

Abstract: In a jetting device for ejecting droplets of a relatively hot fluid, a fluid chamber body is made of a heat resistant material and an inner surface of the fluid chamber body, the inner surface defining a fluid chamber of the jetting device, is wettable by the fluid. This configuration provides that no additional force needs to be applied for forcing the fluid into an orifice, i.e. a narrow tube leading towards a nozzle.

Abstract: A printing device for printing on an image-receiving sheet includes an output unit for outputting printed image-receiving sheets to a finishing device. An interface is configured to connect to the finishing device. The interface is arranged for receiving an error signal from the finishing device. A communication unit outputs an error message to a user of the printing device. A control unit controls, when an error signal is received from the finishing device via the interface, a finisher error recovery procedure, wherein an error message is output to the user of the printing device by the communication unit. The error message contains the information that a number N of image-receiving sheets shall be removed from the finishing device, and the number N of the last printed image-receiving sheets are printed again. The number N is pre-configured in the control unit independently of the error signal received from the finishing device.

Abstract: A probabilistic network, in particular a Bayesion network, is used for control of a printing system in order to realize an adaptable printing system. A reprographic system, includes at least one sensor, providing a sensor signal; at least one actuator, responsive to an actuator signal; and a control unit for generating the actuator signal for the at least one actuator in dependence on the sensor signal of the at least one sensor. The control unit includes a signal processing module configured to generate the actuator signal based on at least one sensor signal with involvement of a probabilistic network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aligning a plurality of elements with each other, each element having a position and a positioning range, the method comprising the steps of determining the position of each element, determining the positioning range of each element, determining a common positioning range of the plurality of elements, based on the positioning ranges determined in the previous step, the common positioning range being comprised in each positioning range, establishing a reference position lying within the common positioning range and aligning the plurality of elements with the reference position. The invention also comprises a device suitable to apply the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A sheet handling device including a sheet transport path, a transport mechanism adapted to advance a sheet along the transport path with a non-uniform speed, and a discharge mechanism arranged at the transport path for taking over the sheet from the transport mechanism and discharging it into a tray, wherein the discharge mechanism is adapted to convey the sheet with a momentary speed that is different from that of the transport mechanism; and wherein a portion of the transport path between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism is curved along a buffer space to allow the sheet to bend within the buffer space and thereby to absorb the speed difference between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism.

Abstract: A method for generating print data for digital color images uses a division of the images in windows. Each window is characterized as belonging to a predefined class, based on values of pixels in corresponding windows in at least two sub-images that are derived from the color image by a series of image processing steps. These sub-images are, e.g. a gradient sub-image in which the value of every pixel indicates the difference of that pixel with its local neighborhood and a non-uniformity sub-image in which each pixel determined to be comprised in a uniform area is provided with a predetermined value. The percentage of windows belonging to a class is calculated and compared to threshold values to identify an image type. This image type is used to select a conversion method to convert the color image into print data for printing on the printer system.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device and method of stacking sheets, wherein a first pressing member engages with an edge of a new sheet to be deposited on top of a previously deposited sheet on a sheet receiving plane and presses down the edge, while a second pressing member maintains a pressure onto an edge of the previously deposited sheet. The second pressing member engages with the edge of the new sheet and presses down the edge onto the previously deposited sheet on the receiving plane, while the first pressing member maintains a pressure onto the edge of the new sheet. Thus, the sheets may always be pressed down on the edge by at least one of the first and second pressing members.

Abstract: A computer-connectable portable memory device is specifically adapted for storing digital data files for the purpose of transferring the files to other equipment and/or displaying the files. The device has program code permanently residing therein and causing the device to identify itself as a printer when connected to a multi-purpose computer.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptively compensating for the printer MTF. The MTF compensation applied locally depends on the local mean: Several compensated High-pass images are computed for different mean values. Then locally, depending on the value of the low-pass band, one compensation high-pass value is selected for the final result.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a laterally moveable post-processing module moveable from a predetermined operating position to a predetermined lateral delivery position and a control unit. The control unit is configured to operate the post-processing module such that a lateral delivery position for a set of at least one sheet is determined, the post-processing module is moved to the operating position, the post-processing module is operable to subsequently engage the set of at least one sheet to obtain a processed set of at least one sheet, then move the post-processing module from the operating position to the delivery position in coupling engagement with the processed set of at least one sheet, to move the processed set of at least one sheet to the lateral delivery position and disengage the post-processing module to deliver the processed set of at least one sheet at the lateral delivery position.

Abstract: A method of forming a nozzle and an ink chamber of an ink jet device, includes forming a nozzle passage by subjecting a substrate to a directional first etch process from one side of the substrate; applying a second etch process from the same side of the substrate for widening an internal part of the nozzle passage, to form a cavity forming at least a portion of the ink chamber adjacent to the nozzle; and controlling the shape of the cavity by providing, on the opposite side of the substrate, an etch accelerating layer buried under an etch stop layer and by allowing the second etch process to proceed into the etch accelerating layer. The following steps precede the first etch process: forming an annular trench in the substrate on the side of the substrate where the nozzle is to be formed; and passivating the walls of the trench so as to become resistant against the second etch process. The material surrounded by the trench is removed in the first etch process.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device for a sheet handling system, a method and a computer program product are provided for controlling a sheet stacking device of a sheet handling system. The sheet stacking device includes at least one sheet entrance pathway for receiving incoming sheets and a sheet output unit with at least one output tray for stacking the received sheets to form a at least one stack on the at least one output tray. The sheet stacking device further includes a control unit for determining the weight of the stack on the at least one output tray and for providing a control signal if the determined weight exceeds a predetermined value, and a stack separating mechanism for distinguishing two or more stacks on the same output tray, said stack separating mechanism being controlled by the control unit to limit the weight of the distinguished stacks.

Abstract: A general framework for adaptive gamut mapping is presented in which the image is first decomposed in two bands, one containing the local means, the other the local variations. Two spatial and color adaptive gamut mapping algorithms are introduced. Based on spatial color bilateral filtering, they take into account the color properties of the neighborhood of each pixel. Their goal is to preserve both the color values of the pixels and their relations between neighbors.

Abstract: An image dependent gamut mapping method for mapping source colors of an image to destination colors reproducible by a printing apparatus, each source color having a lightness component within a range between a source white point and a source black point, and each destination color having a lightness component within a range between a destination white point and a destination black point. A composed transfer function maps the source white point onto the destination white point and the source black point onto the destination black point, applying the composed transfer function on each lightness component of source colors of at least a part of the image. The transfer function is composed of linear mappings. The steepness of each linear mapping is determined by a mathematical optimization problem intended to preserve lightness and contrast in the image produced by the printing apparatus under the conditions of at least one constraint.

Abstract: A radiation curable hot melt inkjet ink and associated printing method which includes a carrier composition that contains one or more radiation curable compounds and an agent that is able to reversibly gel the carrier composition, which agent is soluble in the carrier composition at a jetting temperature of the ink and creates the gelled carrier at a temperature below the jetting temperature, wherein the gelled carrier composition is a thixotropic composition which has a recovery time of more than 60 seconds after the gel has been mechanically disturbed to lower it's viscosity.

Abstract: In a method of scanning an image on an original, an optical sensor including sensor elements for each of a number of basic colors is used to generate pixel values of rows of pixels of the scanned image. The sensor elements are used to generate grey scale pixel values representing different parts of the image. A first sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of odd pixels of rows on the original, and a second sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of even pixels of rows of the original. Each grey scale pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and a pixel value of at least one of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing magnetically attractable toner particles from an image-forming device and an image-forming device for performing the same are provided. The image-forming device includes a cleaning magnet system, configured to provide an activatable second magnetic field. The method includes a step of switching the image-forming device into a cleaning mode, the cleaning mode including the steps of stopping the toner supply to the image-recording medium, rotating the rotatable sleeve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the magnetically attractable toner particles are transported out of the developing zone towards the cleaning magnet system, and activating the second magnetic field so as to remove the transported magnetically attractable toner particles from the rotating rotatable sleeve of the developing element.

Abstract: A method for mapping source colors of an image to destination colors reproducible by an printing apparatus, the source colors and destination colors having a lightness component, wherein the transformation includes a translation and a rotation, the combination of which maps the source black point onto the destination black point and source white point onto a point on the destination lightness line, a compression which maps the rotated and translated source white point onto the destination white point and in which the destination black point is a fixed point, and a gamut mapping, which leaves the lightness component of each color unchanged and maps each compressed color onto a destination color.

Abstract: A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy.