Abstract: This invention relates to a methods and a printing system in which queues across one or more printing devices, such as printers, copiers, and the like, are automatically kept synchronized. The queues are placed into one or more pools. In some embodiments, one queue in a pool is designated as a master queue. Changes to the queues in the pool are then controlled and propagated from the master queue. In other embodiments, various queues in a pool are designated as peers. Any change to a queue, such as a change to, a subset of print job parameters, in the pool is then propagated to its peers.

Abstract: A phase change ink imaging device includes an ink loader operatively connected within a housing of the imaging device. At least a portion of the ink loader is configured to be withdrawn from the housing to enable ink stick insertion.

Abstract: A class of add-on system components providing functionality of devices, management of self-help, customization and enhancement of services for devices, and remote monitoring at significantly reduced cost. It reduces the cost of UI and greatly enhances ease-of-use by realizing that the networked system can be headless and use a browser-based UI for its platform. It embeds a Device Model Agent (DMA) and connects to the Device-Centric Services platform to offer services. Additionally, it offers customized diagnostic access for customer representatives to enable self-help service actions to be performed, unifies and manages multiple access needs to several disparate data access mechanisms, and uses largely COTS PC hardware rather than customized PWBs.

Abstract: A job execution apparatus includes a partial job allocation processing section and a partial job execution instruction section. The partial job allocation processing section allocates each partial job formed by segmenting a received job to a data processing apparatus capable of executing the partial job. The partial job execution instruction section instructs the data processing apparatus to execute the partial job. The partial job allocation processing section reallocates a partial job, which execution was not completed by the data processing apparatus to which the partial job is allocated until a preset end time, to a data processing apparatus capable of executing the unfinished partial job, other than the data processing apparatus to which the unfinished partial job is allocated. The partial job execution instruction section transmits an instruction for executing the unfinished partial job to the reallocated data processing apparatus.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials, methods, and systems for a fuser member used in electrophotographic devices and processes, wherein the fuser member can include a coating material containing a plurality of nanoceram fibers dispersed in a polymer matrix for providing a desired gloss level of fused toner images.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatably provided and heats an image formed on a recording material to fix the image to the recording material, a contact member that moves the recording material by being rotationally driven while coming into contact with the fixing member, and is provided to be separated from the fixing member, and a rotating member that is mounted on the contact member, is disposed to come into contact with the fixing member while the contact member is separated from the fixing member, rotates while interlocking with the contact member, transmits a rotational driving force from the contact member to the fixing member, and rotates with respect to the contact member when the fixing member is rotated by an external force and a rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotating member from the fixing member.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space's location and the driver's identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoconductor that includes an outermost surface layer containing a binder resin having a structural unit represented by general formula (A) below and a charge transporting material having a butadiene trimer structure in a single molecule, a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photoconductor, an electrostatic latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image, a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image, and a transfer unit that transfers the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photoconductor onto a transfer-receiving body, where R11 and R12 each independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and a and b each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: There is disclosed an intermediate transfer member comprising a belt comprising conductive particles dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamideimide, polyetherimide, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyester, polyphenylsulfide and polyamide. The belt has a welded seam. There is an overcoat disposed over the welded seam comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polysulfone and polyethersulfone. A method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer member is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport device that transports fluid inside a body of an image forming apparatus; a counting unit that counts a cumulative number of image forming operations; and a transport control unit that controls a start and a stop of operation of the transport device so as to keep the transport device stopped when an image forming operation is started, and to start the transport device when the cumulative number of image forming operations has become larger than or equal to a preset number.

Abstract: An aperture plate including a first layer having a first emissivity; a second layer having a second emissivity disposed over the first layer; wherein the first emissivity is higher than the second emissivity; and optionally, at least one additional layer disposed over the second layer. A method for preparing an aperture plate including providing a first layer having a first emissivity; disposing a second layer having a second emissivity over the first layer; wherein the first emissivity is higher than the second emissivity; optionally, disposing at least one additional layer over the second layer; and forming at least one aperture, wherein aperture formation can be before or after disposing the second layer over the first layer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a marking device, a media path positioned to supply sheets of media to the marking device, and a media supply tray positioned to supply the sheets of media to the media path. Further, a pair of rollers forms a nip adjacent the media supply tray. The rollers rotate in opposite directions to cause the sheets of media to move from the media supply tray to the media path. Additionally, a first frame structure supports a first roller of the pair of rollers. The first frame structure can be in a fixed position and holds the first roller in a fixed location. A second frame structure supports a second roller of the pair of rollers. The second frame structure is adjustable in a first direction toward the first roller and has a variable pivot position allowing the second frame structure to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A printing system capable of binding a modified image data to an individual print engine in a multiple print engine system. The system includes an image processor such as a digital front end, a set of transformations, and a configuration of printers. The system can also include a scanner that scans a test image so that this image binding process can be repeated. Furthermore, the transformation binding can also take place in real time.

Abstract: Halftoning is performed on a source image. The halftoning includes error diffusion processing of one separation based on error diffusion processing of another separation. The error diffusion processing includes determining a rendered pixel value for the one separation by applying a quantization function for a given pixel. The quantization function is based on both a modified input determined as a function of an error value of a pre-rendered pixel for the one separation and an error value determined as a function of rendered pixel values for the another separation. A rendered image is output, which includes the same plural color separations. The output rendered image is populated with, for the one separation, a rendered pixel value based on the application of the quantization function.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, apparatus and systems for generating a profile for a printing device. Specifically, the profile is generated by selecting a GCR profile from a plurality of GCR profiles and mapping a plurality of nodes to a device dependent color space as a function of the selected GCR profiles.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by receiving a print command for printing from a user, displaying a print user interface including selectable document settings, receiving an indication from the user of selected ones of the documents settings, receiving an indication from the user to save the selected document settings as a document default setting, and controlling printing of the document to print on the printer using the document default setting and the selected document settings.

Abstract: A storage container includes a container body that stores a supplementary material and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus; a discharge port that is provided at a bottom of the container body; two protrusions that protrude from the container body toward both sides; and an opening-closing member that is movably supported by a guide frame surrounding the discharge port, wherein a rearward movement of the opening-closing member is restricted by stoppers while the container body is mounted on the mounting unit, the protrusions come in contact with the stoppers and push the stoppers laterally to release the restriction of the opening-closing member while the container body is pulled out of the image forming apparatus, and a width, in an attaching/detaching direction of the container body, of one protrusion of the protrusions is smaller than that of the other protrusion.

Abstract: A process for preparing a radiation curable solid ink composition wherein a solid pigment and dispersant are added to a molten solid monomer including (a) heating a monomer that is solid at room temperature to a temperature above the monomer melting point to provide a molten solid monomer; (b) adding a curable component, a non-curable component, and a photoinitiator to the molten solid monomer to provide a molten ink base; (c) adding a dispersant to the molten ink base; and (d) a adding a pigment to the molten ink base with stirring to provide a curable pigmented ink composition. Included is a process for preparing a radiation curable solid ink composition wherein a liquid pigment concentrate or a solid pigment concentrate is added to an ink base.

Abstract: This involves a cart that can be used in changing a marking module in a xerographic color marking system. The cart has a lifting mechanism securely attached to its upper surface. When the marking module is to be changed and a new replacement module installed, the lifting mechanism is used to support the marking module during each of these procedures. Since the marking modules are relatively heavy (30-35 lbs.), to prevent accidental damage to the module, the cart and its attached lifting mechanism are conveniently used by the customer. The lifting mechanism is made up of an upper cradle, a bottom plate attached to the cart and a movable linkage. The module securely rests in the cradle in both removal and installing operations. It is not uncommon for a customer to want to change a color or colors in one or more modules. This cart and its attached lifting mechanism makes it relatively easy to accomplish this change.

Abstract: A sheet resizing module operating in cooperation with an automatic imposition module provides for the automatic imposition of fold out sheets using an imposition template tailored for regular sized sheets. The imposition module can impose the pages of a document as if all the pages are regular sized. A sheet resizing module automatically adjusts the size of those sheets onto which fold out pages have been imposed. The sheet resizing module can employ a number of resizing rules to determine which of the sheet's four edges to move and how much to move them.