Abstract: An apparatus and method for registering and deskewing a sheet along a sheet path. A pair of drive spheres are located in the sheet path. When a sheet enters the nips formed by the spheres the sheet is driven until it is sensed by a sensor. The drive spheres are driven by a pair of wheels which allow the spheres to rotate about any axis through their center and parallel to the plane of the sheet. The spheres are driven such that the sheet is side registered and deskewed as it is moved along the sheet path. Constant feedback from the sensors to the drive controller allows the sheet to be registered in a very short distance and has the added benefit of self compensation for wear of the drive components. The wide registration and deskewing latitude of the device allows for the use of relatively inexpensive and low accuracy sheet drives preceding the device.

Abstract: A retard sheet feeder-separator for separating and sequentially feeding sheets with a frictional sheet feeding roller, driven via a drive train by an intermittently connected rotational drive system, feeding an individual sheet past an engaging frictional retard roller, forming a sheet retard nip therewith for holding back the other sheets, to a downstream sheet feeding nip. A flywheel having a rotational moment of inertia substantially greater than that of the drive train and the sheet feeding roller is connected to the outer end of the drive train to reduce kickback of the retarded sheets in the retard nip, especially where the retard roller is rotatable forward with a high torque drag but has kickback upon release of a fed sheet from the retard nip.

Abstract: An apparatus for suppressing print quality degradation due to vibrations in a printing machine structure. The apparatus comprises a vibration member having a structural resonance, a transducer, and means for damping vibrations. The transducer is mounted to the vibration member and produces electrical signals corresponding to mechanical vibrations of the vibration member. The damping means is connected across the transducer and is responsive to the electrical signals.

Abstract: An external heat member having a) a heat source, b) a substrate; and thereover c) an outer fluoropolymer layer with a fluoropolymer and a conductive filler, and in a preferred embodiment, the conductive filler is a relatively small particle size silicon carbide.

Abstract: A gray scale ink jet printing method and apparatus which produce a high quality images having varying color intensities are disclosed. This is achieved by using a clear phase change ink base and a plurality of colored phase change inks with varying amounts of black dye, thereby producing multiple gray scale levels of black in images with substantial contrast between the imaged and non-imaged areas that are used in medical diagnostic imaging applications.

Abstract: On an embedded device with a web server, pages are marked as having non-cacheable HTML portions and cacheable graphics portions. Marking the HTML portion as non-cacheable allows for the retrieval of a web page containing the latest status information without retrieving the graphics images. A refresh function is provided that allows for the comparing of non-cached portion time stamps with the stamps of the page on the web server. When the time stamp of the page on the web server is more current than the time stamp of the non-cached portion, the non-cacheable portion of the web page is retrieved from the web server. Retrieving the non-cacheable HTML portion from the web site without retrieving the cached portion reduces the amount of time needed to refresh the display image. A timer may be employed to refresh the web page at predetermined intervals, while using the current URL or the history list of the browser to reach the desired web site and retrieve the current status of the embedded device.

Abstract: A system and method for processing image data converts a pixel of image data having a first resolution to a plurality of subpixels, the plurality of subpixels representing a second resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution. The plurality of subpixels are thresholded to generate a group of subpixel values for each pixel and a threshold error value. It is then determined if the group of subpixel values from the thresholding process produce a pattern containing an isolated subpixel. If the group of subpixel values from the thresholding process produce a pattern containing an isolated subpixel, the group of subpixel vales is modified to produce a pattern without an isolated subpixel. The modification process produces a subpixel error value which is compensated for localized error before being diffused to adjacent pixels.

Abstract: An ink composition comprised of a vehicle and a colorant, and wherein the vehicle is comprised of a mixture of an alkane.

Abstract: A process including:forming a first image on a first substrate with a liquid toner comprising a resin, a colorant, a carrier liquid, and an adhesion promoting compound;transferring the image from the first substrate to a second substrate;overcoating the image on the second substrate with a transparent overcoat layer, andtreating the resulting overcoated image.

Abstract: A method for depositing an image on a receiving surface utilizing two scans of a print head is provided. Each scan deposits a portion of the image, and the two scans are separated by a non-deposition skip move. The two image portions are joined at a seam to create a composite image. By utilizing identical print head motions along the x-axis direction for all images, this method allows for accurate and repeatable image-half alignment regardless of image width, length or position on the receiving surface.

Abstract: An aperture and a field lens are positioned between the collimator and the rotating polygon mirror of a multiple reflection, multiple beam raster output scanner to eliminate differential scan line bow. The aperture and the field lens will be positioned where the multiple beams cross the optical axis of the raster output scanner optical system. The multiple beams are telecentric.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprised of an anode, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, and a cathode, wherein said light emitting layer contains a component of the formula ##STR1## wherein Ar.sup.1, Ar.sup.2, Ar.sup.3, and Ar.sup.4 are each independently aryl or optionally aliphatic; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aliphatic, halogen, and cyano; L is a suitable linking group; and n is a number of from 0 to about 3.

Abstract: A process for treating a seamed flexible electrostatographic imaging belt including providing an imaging belt including at least one imaging layer including a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a seam extending from one edge of the belt to the other, the seam having a region on the belt adjacent each side of the seam and also having an exposed surface on each side of the belt, supporting the belt with at least one vacuum holding device spaced from the seam while maintaining the seam and region of the belt adjacent each side of the seam in an arcuate shape having at least a substantially semicircular cross section having a radius of curvature of between about 9.

Abstract: An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a controller to time multiplex the function of displaying visual information and scanning user input devices. The machine includes an input device, to generate a signal responsive to a user input, a user interface, including visually displayed information, to visually display machine operating states determined as function of the signal, and a controller, including a selection line, coupled to the user interface and to the input device, to select the user interface to display the visually displayed information and to cause the input device to generate signals responsive to the user input.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging books or other bound volumes which includes a book supporting system and an optical system positioned above the book supporting system and mounted for movement along a vertical axis toward and away from the book support system. The book support system includes an inner platform and an outer platform with the inner platform being mounted for vertical movement relative to the outer platform. A cradle having pivotable side support plates is mounted on the inner platform, and support arms are mounted on the outer platform. The support arms are positioned so that the support plates rest thereon so that as the cradle is moved downwardly, the support arms pivot the side support plates upwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in filling a container from a hopper containing a supply of particulate material is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit operably connected to the hopper and extending downwardly therefrom. The conduit is adapted to permit a flow of particulate material therewithin. The apparatus also includes a nozzle assembly operably connected to the conduit and extending downwardly therefrom. The nozzle assembly defines an inlet thereof for receiving particulate material from the conduit and defines an outlet thereof for dispensing particulate material from the nozzle assembly to the container. A conveyor within the conduit assists in providing the flow of particulate material from the hopper to the container.

Abstract: A non-fuser apparatus Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU) is provided for use in a toner powder marking technology reproduction machine including a fuser apparatus for fusing toner images. The CRU includes a housing having an external surface contoured for inserting into a CRU cavity within the reproduction machine, and elements of the reproduction machine, not including the fuser apparatus, requiring occasional. The CRU importantly includes a fuser release agent supply assembly connected to the housing thereof for supplying fuser release agent to the fuser apparatus. The fuser release agent supply assembly includes an agent reservoir located within the housing for containing fuser release agent, and an openable access door formed through a portion of the housing into the agent reservoir for releasing fuser release agent from the reservoir.

Abstract: A sheet stacking offsetting system with a stacking tray offsetting movement system with which printed sheets from a reproduction apparatus are stacked offset relative to one another, with a simple rotary drive of an eccentrically rotated extending pin cam which reciprocally drives a simple two part cam follower providing a variable width cam follower slot positively engaging the eccentrically rotated cam to smoothly reciprocate the sheet stacking tray. The slot width is automatically reduced by spring loading movement of one of the two parts of the cam follower so that both sides of said slot directly engage the eccentrically rotated cam at all times. The cam follower slot is also open ended and beveled to easily assemble the pin cam into that open end.

Abstract: A supporting apparatus for supporting a photoconductive member within the housing of a printing cartridge for use in a printing machine is provided. The supporting apparatus includes a body, a connecting feature and a supporting feature. The connecting feature is connected to the body for quick and removable connection to the housing. The supporting feature is connected to the body cooperating with the body for rotatably supporting the photoconductive member within the housing.