Abstract: A light-emitting element head includes: plural light-emitting element array chips that are divided into plural groups and that each are provided with light-emitting elements arranged in an array; a signal generation unit that generates a light-emission control signal for controlling blinking of the light-emitting elements, and an identification signal for identifying which of the light-emitting element array chips in each of the groups the light-emission control signal is for; signal lines through which the light-emission control signal and the identification signal are transmitted; and identification signal discrimination units that are connected to the signal lines and that are provided in the respective light-emitting element array chips, each of the identification signal discrimination units discriminating the identification signal, and transmitting the light-emission control signal to the light-emitting elements.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for merit-based gamut mapping. In one embodiment, color points are clustered in regions of interest within a color space. Each cluster is associated with a gamut mapping function and a merit function. Mapping parameters of each gamut mapping function are iteratively varied to optimize the values based on the merit function value. An optimized gamut mapping function results. Optimized gamut mapping functions of adjacent clusters are blended together by blending the value of the gamut mapping function for a point of a cluster with a value produced by the gamut mapping function of an adjacent cluster for that color point. The composite gamut mapping function contains the optimized gamut mapping functions of all clusters is then output for use in mapping points within those clusters to points within the target gamut. The composite gamut mapping function exploits local advantages of each cluster.

Abstract: An online identification document management service includes a host server having a web-based interface adapted to facilitate secure customer access to the host server. The host server is configured to receive identification data communicated from the customer through use of a computing device. The identification data includes at least one of an imaged identification document and information related to the imaged identification document. A processing module is in operative communication with the host server and is configured to process the identification data communicated from the customer. A processing software application is trained to classify the processed identification data and selectively extract data therefrom based on the classification. The processing software application is configured to selectively present the processed identification data for a customer verification via the web-based interface upon at least one of an unsuccessful classification and an unsuccessful extraction of data.

Abstract: A system, method and device for measuring toner performance by randomly applying a toner sample having toner particles to a substrate, and positioning the substrate such that a force may be applied to individual particles of the measuring toner. A rolling resistance or rotation of the individual particles of the measuring toner is measured. The measurements may be analyzed to determine adhesion and distribution properties of individual toner particles of the measuring toner sample.

Abstract: A method of processing a print job in a document production environment includes receiving a job ticket having job ticket parameters, identifying a process plan template having processing instructions for processing the print job and performing a parameter value resolving process for each job ticket parameter. The resolving process may include identifying candidate values, identifying the source associated with each of the candidate values and determining whether a candidate value has a source having precedence. If a source has precedence, the corresponding candidate value may be selected as a resolved parameter value. A user may be presented with a representation of a set of the resolved parameter values and may be permitting to modify at least one of the resolved parameter values. A first portion of the print job may be processed using the identified process plan template, the resolved parameter values, and any user-modified parameter values.

Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus includes a pixel extraction unit, an intra-pair difference calculation unit, an inter-pair difference calculation unit and an evaluation unit. The pixel extraction unit extracts, from an input image, a pixel region including a pair of block-boundary pixels in a boundary position of coding blocks and a pair of non-block-boundary pixels in a position other than the boundary position. The intra-pair difference calculation unit calculates a difference between the extracted pair of block-boundary pixels as a first difference, and a difference between the extracted pair of non-block-boundary pixels as a second difference. The inter-pair difference calculation unit calculates a difference between the first difference and the second difference as an amount of block distortion of the extracted pixel region. The evaluation unit evaluates an amount of block distortion of the input image based on the calculated amount of block distortion of the extracted pixel region.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful for printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful for printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface; a gas source; a rotary valve including a gas inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, a gas outlet and a rotor including a gas passage; a gas knife in fluid communication with the gas outlet of the rotary valve, the gas knife being adapted to emit gas onto the second surface downstream from the nip; and a motor coupled to the rotor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer housing that holds a developer; a lubricant supply brush that rotates when in contact with the developer housing, and that supplies a lubricant to a surface of the developer housing; a lubricant that is in contact with the lubricant supply brush; a first voltage supply unit that supplies an AC voltage on which a DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush; a determination unit that determines whether or not a usage state of the developer housing is a state at an initial stage; and a controller that controls the first voltage supply unit to supply the AC voltage on which the DC voltage is superimposed to the lubricant supply brush, prior to start of execution of an image forming operation if the determination unit determines that the usage state of the developer housing is the state at the initial stage.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a pre-concatenation execution mode for an automated prepress process node. A set of prepress operations can be defined and a multi-part job moved from one prepress operation to next in a determined workflow execution path in response to receiving the multi-part job. Each individual part associated with the multi-part job can be processed as a single entity at each prepress operation. A concatenation node associated with the workflow execution path concatenates the individual processed job parts associated with the multi-part job into a single PDL entity. Such a single coherent approach to process the multi-part jobs before concatenation into the single PDL provides greater and easier flexibility in programming customization options.

Abstract: An electrostatic image developing toner includes a binder resin that includes a polyester carbonate resin or a polyester amide resin, the polyester carbonate resin or the polyester amide resin containing a dodecenylsuccinic acid unit in an mount from about 0.5 mol % to about 30 mol % as a monomer unit; and a colorant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a document loading tray that loads a document; a document transport path that transports the document; an image reading unit that is disposed in the document transport path and reads an image of the document; a document output tray into which the document that has been transported on the document transport path is ejected; a recording medium loading tray into which a recording medium is loaded; a recording medium transport path on which the recording medium is transported; an image recording unit that is disposed in the recording medium transport path and records an image on the recording medium; and a recording medium output tray into which the recording medium that has been transported on the recording medium transport path is output. The recording medium loading tray is disposed between the document loading tray and the document output tray.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for content-aware resizing of a digital image. To take advantage of the characteristics of various importance maps generated for the image using different operators such as, for example, gradient, entropy, probabilistic operators, and the like, a method is provided herein for combining generated pixel importance maps. The present method uses a weighted combination of pixel importance maps—one corresponding to each image operator, to produce a hybrid map for all the image. The image can then be resized based on this hybrid map. The present method provides a high degree of image resizing flexibility and has broad applicability across differing classes of images and applications such as display, printing, packaging, and other document image processing software performing document layout, image personalization, and the like.

Abstract: A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell.

Abstract: A system evaluates image quality in an image generating system in a manner that accounts for the interaction of the calibration tools used to evaluate and correct image quality in the image generating system.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are image forming apparatus, fuser members, and methods of making fuser members. The method of making a fuser member can include providing a substrate having a longitudinal axis, providing a first flow coating solution including a fluoroelastomer polymer, and providing a second flow coating solution including a crosslinking agent. The method can also include mixing the first flow coating solution and the second flow coating solution to form a third flow coating solution and forming a continuous fluoroelastomer layer over a surface of the substrate by applying the third flow coating solution onto the substrate in a spiral pattern, wherein the crosslinking agent concentration can be varied along the longitudinal axis by changing the ratio of the first flow coating solution and the second flow coating solution in the third flow coating solution.

Abstract: A method and system of embossing ink including applying the ink to a print substrate, applying an embossing substrate to the ink wherein the embossing substrate imprints a predetermined pattern into the ink, and curing, via a radiation source, the ink such that an imprint of the predetermined pattern is embossed in the ink.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer transporting member arranged so that its circumferential surface faces an image carrier for carrying an electrostatic image on its surface, the developer transporting member being rotated in a circumferential direction while carrying the developer on its circumferential surface to transport a developer to a developing region in which the surface of the image carrier and the circumferential surface of the developer transporting member face each other, and having a groove extending in its circumferential direction outside in an axial direction of a developer carrying region; and a suction port arranged at least at one of an upstream side region and a downstream side region of the developer transporting member, wherein the upstream side region is located adjacent to and upstream of the developing region and the downstream side region is located adjacent to and downstream of the developing region in the rotating direction of the developer transporting member.

Abstract: A dual mode imaging device includes an input for supplying a recording medium to the printer. The recording medium can be erasable media and/or a non-erasable media. A carriage assembly within the imaging device includes guide rails, the carriage assembly reciprocal along the guide rails and parallel to an imaging surface of the recording medium. The carriage assembly includes an ink jet print head for imaging a non-erasable media in a first print mode and a write head having a UV imaging light source for imaging erasable media in a second print mode. The device further includes a heater provided on the carriage assembly for selectively heating the erasable media to one of an erase temperature and a UV imaging temperature. The heater can be proximate to or incorporated with the UV write head.

Abstract: A coronode charging device includes a support member, a filament, an adjustment mechanism and a voltage source. The lament is disposed along the support member in a configuration that creates a plurality of active regions and a plurality of inactive regions of the filament. The active regions are simultaneously positionable adjacent the photoreceptor. The inactive regions may be farther from the photoreceptor than the active regions. The adjustment mechanism moves the filament such that portions of the filament that correspond to the active regions are moved to positions that correspond to the inactive regions, and some portions of the filament that were in the inactive regions are moved to positions that correspond to the active regions. This operations extends the life of the coronode charging device.