Abstract: A method for controlling a tone reproduction curve of an image printing system includes generating an actual printed image tone reproduction curve using printed image data from a printed image sensor; determining a set of adjusted contone values by comparing the actual printed image tone reproduction curve with a target printed image tone reproduction curve, where the adjusted contone values being representative of the print contone values at which target color density data of the printed image is achieved in the image printing system; and determining adjusted image transfer surface reflectance data to update a target image transfer surface tone reproduction curve, where the adjusted image transfer surface reflectance data being obtained by interpolating the target image transfer surface tone reproduction curve at the adjusted contone values; and controlling subsequent toner image data to achieve the updated target image transfer surface tone reproduction curve.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor. The processor executes a screen process by using different screens for respective color components which are newly used in response to N colors ranging from a primary color in an output color space to a Nth color, in the output color space, obtained by mixing the primary color with other primary colors in order, where N denotes natural number equal to or larger than 2.

Abstract: A document discarding apparatus includes: a metal detector that detects presence or absence of a metal embedded in a document; a code reader that reads a code; an instruction accept portion that accepts an instruction to discard the document; a document discarding portion that discards the document; a first determining unit that, according to the presence or absence of the metal, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; a second determining unit that, according to the code, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; and a document discarding control unit that, when the instruction accept portion accepts an instruction to discard the document, on condition that the first determining unit and the second determining unit both determine that the document can be discarded in the document discarding portion, controls the document discarding portion to discard the document.

Abstract: A method is described to combine two integer lookup tables to realize a single integer lookup table. The method converts each lookup table to a set of floating point values. The conversion process generates a set of floating point values that are as close as possible to the underlying analytic or smooth function that generated the tables in the first place. A system to implement the method is also described.

Abstract: A packaging box includes a box body having a bottom board, side boards, and bending flaps; and a cushioning material having a bottom surface section and side surface sections. A restrainer is formed at least one of the bending flaps, the restrainer having a portion that is separated from and opposes the bottom board when the portion of the restrainer is bent into an accommodation space of the box body. A restrain portion is formed at the side surface section of the cushioning material opposing the restrainer formed at the at least one of the bending flaps, the restrain portion having a portion that is positioned at a side of the bottom board so as to abut upon the portion of the restrainer and that opposes the portion of the restrainer when the cushioning material is fitted in the accommodation space of the box body.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to maintain a clean and effective external heat roll surface in a printing system. The disclosed embodiment's uses a cleaning roller in contact with the external heat rollers designed to dislodge and displace contamination products that would otherwise accumulate on and in the external heat roller rough surface. The cleaning roller rotates concurrently with the heating roller so that the cleaning media cleans the roller from a picking action as opposed to a wiping motion. This provides maximum cleaning action with the undesirable wear and tear of the bristles that would occur with the conventional method of a wiping motion.

Abstract: A flame-retardant compound has a structure represented by formula (2): (Ar2—O—CO—O—)nA2-X-A1(—O—CO—O—Ar1)m??(2) wherein A1 and A2 each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; X represents a divalent group represented by —S—, —O—, —CO—, —CN—, —CH2—, —C(CH3)2—, —CH(CH3)—, —NH—, —SO— or —SO2— Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group; and m and n each independently represents an integer of 1 to 3.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a virtual rendering alert with respect to a rendering job page exception. A realistic virtual three-dimensional rendering model with respect to the rendering job can be rendered utilizing a virtual rendering unit. One or more multi-media aspects can be added with respect to an anomalous object in the rendering job to automatically identify a page exception in the rendering job. A list of objects associated with the rendering job can be activated within a scene based on a set of print policies and/or production cost structures at the discretion of a user. A virtual clue can also be presented along with the realistic virtual rendering model in order to provide additional information with respect to the object in the rendering job and thereby effectively identify the rendering job exception.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to curable phase change inks, such as radiation-curable phase change inks, and their use in forming images, such as through inkjet printing. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to radiation-curable phase change inks, such as ultraviolet-light-curable phase change inks, that an ink vehicle and at least one crystalline polyester resin.

Abstract: A system using a spatial correction to improve the result of a printer calibration and correction is described. More particularly, in one form, a spatial correction may be used to pre-condition a printer for an improved color calibration. In another form, spatial correction and color calibration are addressed in the same process for color correction.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for obtaining optimum CMYK values for spot colors, with significantly lower computational effort, by using a set of printer profiles with different pre-computed GCR strategies. Various versions are discussed on how to utilize and/or choose among these profiles for each spot color. The present invention is applicable to spot color emulation for CMYK as well as N-color printing, and can be used to optimize one or more image quality attributes, including graininess, mottle, color stability, ink cost, etc. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image receiving unit, a writing detection unit, a writing deletion unit, a character recognition unit, a character string generation unit, a translation unit and a translation image generation unit. The image receiving unit receives an image including a writing. The writing detection unit detects a position of the writing. The writing deletion unit deletes the writing from the received image based on the position of the writing. The character recognition unit recognizes characters in the image from which the writing has been deleted. The character string generation unit generates a character string by inserting a code representative of the writing into the recognition result based on the position of the writing. The translation unit translates the character string. The translation image generation unit generates, based on the translation result, an image of the translation result including an image corresponding to the writing.

Abstract: A method of communicating with different print entities receives a print job and evaluates the print job as either a digital print job and/or an offset print job. The method can perform a live or off-line reverse auction for the digital print job and/or the offset print job by offering the digital print job and the offset print job to printing entities and receiving bids for the digital print job and the offset print job from the printing entities. The bids for the digital print job are based upon the number of images within the digital print job, and the bids for the offset print job are based upon the number of sheets within the offset print job. The bids are evaluated to rank the bids (or to rank the printing entities) into a ranking, which is output.

Abstract: This disclosure provides power supply control methods and apparatus. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating a power supply operatively connected to a developer unit associated with a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes generating a modified output control signal as a function of stored gain and offset values associated with the power supply to generate a desired output voltage to drive the developer unit.

Abstract: Ink absorbing particle to absorb an ink includes a polymer. The ink absorbing particles in a TMA needle penetration have a minimum temperature Ts10b of from about 80° C. to about 150° C. at which a needle enters to a depth of 10 ?m, a minimum temperature Ts100w of about 40° C. or lower at which a needle enters to a depth of 100 ?m when an equivalent amount of water is absorbed, and a minimum temperature Ts400w of about 50° C. or higher at which a needle enters to a depth of 400 ?m when an equivalent amount of water is absorbed.

Abstract: A method for enticing users to behave securely in a computing environment. For security related input, such as selection of password, a progress indicator is provided to the user. The progress indicator correlates to the level of security obtained by the user's entry, rather than to the completion of the task. The indicator follows a non-linear function that crosses zero security and maximum expected security for the task. The function starts at shallow slope, increases towards the middle, and then reverts to shallow slop towards the end of the task.

Abstract: A printer configured to adjust gloss appearance of images includes a marking engine configured to render an image on a substrate from input image data; and a controller configured to: (i) correlate a minimum luminance value to be used by the printer based on a gloss selection; (ii) determine a black point compensation function based on the correlated minimum luminance value; and (iii) adjust luminance values for input image data using the determined black point compensation function. A method to adjust gloss appearance of images is also provided.

Abstract: A method for batch brazing jet stacks in a diffusion furnace. The method may include inserting fusible parts into slots of quartz boats and transporting the quartz boats into an interior of a reaction chamber of a diffusion furnace. An operator may seal the interior of the reaction chamber and an atmosphere of the interior of the reaction chamber may be adjusted according to a brazing recipe. A preheated furnace heating element may be moved toward the reaction chamber to increase a temperature and the fusible parts may be brazed according to the brazing recipe. The furnace heating element may then be moved away from the reaction chamber, the chamber unsealed, and the brazed parts removed.

Abstract: A system has a print head to dispense ink onto a print surface to form a printed image, a molding surface to contact the ink to form an informational image in at least the surface of the ink, and a radiation source to solidify the ink into the printed and informational images. A method includes dispensing ink onto a print medium to form a printed image, pressing a molding surface onto the printed image to transfer an informational image onto the printed image, and solidify the ink into the printed and informational images.

Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.