Abstract: A two way mailer for conveying an item from a sender to a recipient and back is disclosed. The two way mailer comprises a base panel, a sender address panel, and a recipient address panel. The base panel and the sender address panel may be made from a single contiguous piece of material or from non-contiguous pieces of material. The recipient address panel is preferentially part of the same contiguous material as the base panel and the sender address panel. The sender address panel is affixed by at least one adhesive region to the base panel to form a pocket for containing the item during mailing. The size of the pocket eliminates free space and flushes the item with an edge of the pocket which first enters automated postal processing equipment. In this configuration, a fragile item may be conveyed from the sender to the recipient and from the recipient back to the sender without damage to the item.

Abstract: A method of processing an electronic version of a variable document for a recipient includes the steps of receiving the electronic version of the variable document for the recipient and rasterizing the electronic version into one or more rasterized images, wherein each rasterized image is assigned a unique identifier. The method further includes the step of generating a run instance for the recipient, wherein the run instance includes the unique identifiers of the one or more rasterized images.

Abstract: A printing system includes a print unit and a cleaning unit. The print unit comprises a carrier for a plurality of inkjet cartridges. The cleaning unit includes a wiping unit, a cleaning bay, and a wiper washer unit. The wiping unit includes wiper blades and the wiper washer unit includes a plurality of spray nozzles that spray a fluid. A controller is adapted to transport the carrier into the cleaning bay, transport the wiping units such that the wiper blades clean the inkjet cartridges, and actuate the spray nozzles to wash the wiper blades. The carrier may be positioned in the cleaning bay when the inkjet cartridges are not used for printing and the controller controls at least one of humidity and temperature in the cleaning bay when the carrier plate is positioned therein.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling impurity levels in an enclosed printing press environment are disclosed. A disclosed system controls impurity levels by using variable speed fans to control the intake of air into the enclosed environment and the exhausting of air from the enclosed environment. The exhaust fan is used to control the impurity levels within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the speed of the exhaust fan are based on sensors which measure impurity levels in the enclosed environment. The intake fan is used to maintain a constant static pressure level within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the intake fan speed are based on static pressure sensors within the enclosed environment.

Abstract: A system and method for applying fluid to a receiver surface are disclosed. A carrier has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a slot, wherein the bottom surface of the carrier faces the receiver surface. A mount is positioned in the slot, an inkjet cartridge is disposed in the mount, and fluid is ejected from the inkjet cartridge toward the receiver surface. The inkjet cartridge is disposed such that at least a portion of the inkjet cartridge extends inwardly from the bottom surface of the carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to produce and sequence a plurality of different books. An example system includes a plurality of signature feeders to deliver signatures to stations along a conveyor to simultaneously produce and sequence a plurality of different books in a first predetermined order to co-mail, wherein each of the different books has different content. Additionally, the example system includes one or more trimmers to trim the plurality of different books. Further, the example system includes a stacker to stack the plurality of different books in a second predetermined order, wherein the second predetermined order satisfies discount postage rate guidelines. Still further, the example system includes a controller to cause the plurality of different books to be produced in a first predetermined order.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to score book covers are described. An example scoring apparatus includes a first scoring roll and a corresponding second scoring roll. The first scoring roll opposes the second scoring roll to process a cover at a first location of the cover. A first slider to couple the first scoring roll to the scoring apparatus such that the first slider enables independent adjustment of the first scoring roll relative to the second scoring roll in a first lateral direction relative to the second scoring roll.

Abstract: Simulated commercial envelopes and methods of making the same are disclosed. An example envelope includes a first envelope portion having a front panel including a top edge and a bottom edge parallel to the top edge, connected by a pair of side edges. A top flap is integrally formed with the top edge of the front panel about a first fold line and a bottom flap is integrally formed with the bottom edge of the front panel about a second fold line. A second envelope portion having a rear panel is adapted to be secured to the front panel to form a pocket for a mailer insert. The bottom flap foldable about the second fold line and is secured to the rear panel on a side opposite the formed pocket, and the top flap is foldable about the first fold line and is also secured to the rear panel or the bottom flap on the side opposite the formed pocket to form the example envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to score book covers are described. An example scoring apparatus includes a first scoring roll to oppose a corresponding second scoring roll to process a cover at a first location on a first side of the cover, and a third scoring roll to oppose a corresponding fourth scoring roll to process the cover at a second location on the first side of the cover. The first location and the second location correspond substantially to the thickness of a book to which the cover is to be applied. The first and the third scoring rolls are mechanically driven and rotate about a first axis of rotation and the second and the fourth scoring rolls rotate freely about a second axis of rotation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling impurity levels in an enclosed printing press environment are disclosed. A disclosed system controls impurity levels by using variable speed fans to control the intake of air into the enclosed environment and the exhausting of air from the enclosed environment. The exhaust fan is used to control the impurity levels within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the speed of the exhaust fan are based on sensors which measure impurity levels in the enclosed environment. The intake fan is used to maintain a constant static pressure level within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the intake fan speed are based on static pressure sensors within the enclosed environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing to a user information associated with an acquired image are described. A method may include acquiring an image from a printed item, and identifying a virtual rendition of the item based on the content of a portion of the acquired image. A method may include selecting a feature in the acquired image, and providing information based on the feature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing websites from a communication device, such as a mobile telephone, that allows ease of access by initiating access to the website utilizing reference data such as a telephone number of an entity or business. A website server includes a telephone number cross reference database that allows the server to locate a website associated with the telephone number that is served by the server. Further features include automatic redirection to a website when the telephone of the entity or business is busy.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a gravure engraving machine includes the steps of providing an engraving signal to the engraving machine to cause production of a cell, measuring the volume of the cell, comparing the measured cell value to a predetermined cell volume and adjusting the engraving cell in accordance with the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus described herein form barcode characters by determining a number of pixels associated with forming a first bar and a second bar of a first barcode character. A separation width value associated with the first bar and the second bar is determined based on the number of pixels. A second separation width value is then generated based on the at least one separation width value. A barcode character is then formed based on the second separation width value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling impurity levels in an enclosed printing press environment are disclosed. A disclosed system controls impurity levels by using variable speed fans to control the intake of air into the enclosed environment and the exhausting of air from the enclosed environment. The exhaust fan is used to control the impurity levels within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the speed of the exhaust fan are based on sensors which measure impurity levels in the enclosed environment. The intake fan is used to maintain a constant static pressure level within the enclosed environment. Adjustments to the intake fan speed are based on static pressure sensors within the enclosed environment.

Abstract: A debris screen for a printing press having an ink roller train and a paper pathway includes a source reel, a collecting reel, and at least one transfer roller mounted to a supporting frame, a sheet of flexible material extending along a sheet path from the source reel, over the transfer roller, and to the collecting reel, the transfer roller positioned on the frame such that the sheet path extends between a portion of the ink roller train and the pathway for the paper web.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: The system described herein generates a search index and a hyperlink database associated with a plurality of printed publications from different publishers. The search index includes a plurality of words and/or phrases from the printed publications. The search index is preferably based on print data received from the associated publisher. The hyperlink database logically associates publication hit specifications with network addresses. A publication hit specification identifies a portion of the print data. Preferably, the network address points to a web page. The hyperlink database is based on network addresses received from an administrator authorized by the publisher (e.g., a person given a password by the content creator and/or copyright owner). Subsequently, the system is able to direct client devices to specific web pages in response to search queries received from client devices by correlating the received queries to network addresses using the search index and the hyperlink database.

Abstract: The present invention is useful for assembling a book. The inventive method includes the steps of specifying pagination information including an indication of whether a page is to be selectively included in the book, determining whether the page is to be assembled into the book based on the pagination information, and generating page description language instructions for production of the book in accordance with the pagination information.

Abstract: In order to create interest in advertising pieces in a consumer, a pop-up advertising piece includes a booklet-shaped advertiser movable from a closed position to an open position. An anchoring strip is in vertical confronting relation to a normally inwardly facing surface of one of the cover portions and has top and bottom edges secured to the normally inwardly facing surface in general proximity to top and bottom edges thereof. An internal substrate has one vertical edge secured to the one of the cover portions opposite the anchoring strip and the other vertical edge is secured to the anchoring strip. A first fold line is provided on the internal substrate in spaced relation to a generally vertical fold line of the booklet-shaped advertiser when it is in the closed position. The internal substrate also has a second fold line on the side of the anchoring strip opposite the first fold line.