Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for selectively varying the operating speed of an image-forming apparatus. The method includes selecting an identifier specifying a desired operating speed for executing a job on the image-forming apparatus. The method includes configuring the image-forming apparatus with the desired operating speed upon verification of authorization information received along with the identifier. In case the identifier does not specify a desired operating speed, the method includes identifying an appropriate operating speed of the image-forming device for executing the job and configuring the image-forming apparatus with the identified operating speed. Once the image-forming apparatus is configured with the desired or appropriate operating speed, the job is executed with the set configuration.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes for example, a supporting substrate, an optional ground plane layer, an optional hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and where the charge transport layer contains a charge transport component, and a mixture of a poly(imide-carbonate) polymer and a fluorinated polymer and optionally a third polymer, like a polycarbonate.

Abstract: A task management apparatus includes a task information acquisition unit, an execution location position information acquisition unit, an execution candidate position information acquisition unit and a selection unit. The task information acquisition unit acquires task information for a task being executed by one of a plurality of execution candidates at one of a plurality of execution locations. The execution location position information acquisition unit acquires execution location position information for respective positions of the execution locations. The execution candidate position information acquisition unit acquires execution candidate position information on respective positions of the execution candidates.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for marking an image on a media substrate using an intermediate transfer printing arrangement. Specifically disclosed is an image transfer nip arrangement associated with a secondary transfer of an image which utilizes a constant current source to generate an electric field across the nip and transfer toner from an intermediate transfer surface to a media substrate.

Abstract: An improved fuser includes a heater which provides uniformity at the surface of a fuser roll that contacts an imaged sheet. The heater is configured to include a single resistive element shaped to heat multiple sheet sizes with independently controllable conductive traces connected to outer segments of the resistive element and adapted to supply electricity to separate sections of the resistive element in accordance with the size of sheet being fed through the fuser center registered and without the need for cold spot compensation.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for direct digital marking, wherein an electrostatic latent image or a surface charge contrast can be formed and developed at a development nip formed by a nano-enabled imaging member and a negatively-biased development subsystem.

Abstract: A development unit includes: a developing vessel in which a developing agent is received; a developing member as defined herein; a supply member which is supported in the developing vessel and disposed to be opposed to the developing member, the supply member rotating the developing agent in the developing vessel while holding the developing agent on a surface of the supply member to thereby supply the developing agent held on the surface to the developing member; and a thickness limiting member as defined herein, and the supply member is supported movably in a direction to expand or reduce a gap between the thickness limiting member and the supply member so that the gap between the thickness limiting member and the supply member can be adjusted.

Abstract: A multifunction device may include a computing device and a computer readable storage medium in communication with the computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions for processing a configuration document including one or more transmittal instructions associated with a pharmacy, storing the transmittal instructions in a database, receiving a patient prescription, receiving a selection of the pharmacy to fill the patient prescription, and in response to receiving the selection of the pharmacy, transmitting the prescription to the pharmacy based on the associated transmittal instructions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image transfer roller (ITR) utilizing an elastomer crown, imaging devices and imaging apparatus using the disclosed ITR. According to one exemplary embodiment, an ITR includes a cylindrically shaped conductive shaft and an elastomer material covering all or a portion of the conductive shaft. The profile of the outer surface of the elastomer material includes a substantially quadratic crown profile.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a polymer blend of a polymethacrylimide and a polysulfone, a polymethacrylimide and a polyphenylsulfone, or a polymethacrylimide and a polyethersulfone and optionally a conductive component.

Abstract: Described is a continuous process for preparing nanodispersions including providing a composition comprising a liquid and a solute; heating the composition to dissolution of the solute to form a solution comprising the solute dissolved in the liquid; directing the heated solution through a continuous tube wherein the continuous tube has a first end for receiving the solution, a continuous flow-through passageway disposed in an ultrasonic heat exchanger, and a second end for discharging a product stream; treating the heated solution as the solution passes through the continuous flow-through passageway disposed in the ultrasonic heat exchanger to form the product stream comprising nanometer size particles in the liquid; optionally, collecting the product stream in a product receiving vessel; and optionally, filtering the product stream.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a receiver that receives an image including at least a character image; a path calculator that calculates separation paths, which are segments for separating the character images in the image received by the receiver; a feature amount calculator that calculates feature amounts of the separation paths in a plurality of directions calculated by the path calculator; a selector that determines a separation direction of the image and a state of the character image and selects a separation path among the separation paths in the plurality of directions; a separator that separates the image into a plurality of partial images; and a recursive processing determining unit that determines whether or not to perform recursive processing, wherein the path calculator calculates the separation paths, which are the segments for separating the character image in the image separated by the separator.

Abstract: Described herein is a method forming a belt suitable for use with an image forming system. The method includes coating a composition of a polyimide, a phosphate ester and a solvent onto an outer surface of a rotating metal belt, and subsequently curing and releasing the composition from the metal belt.

Abstract: Methods of generating image anchor templates from low variance regions of document images of a first class are provided. The methods select a document image from the document images of the first class and align the other document images of the first class to the selected document image. Low variance regions are then determined by comparing the aligned document images and the selected document image and used to generate image anchor templates.

Abstract: A charged particle generator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an insulating material that is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. Charged particles are generated by discharge that occurs between the first and the second electrodes. The first electrode, the insulating material, and the second electrode are arranged in a first direction. The second electrode has a shape that does not intersect a path along which the charged particles move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that operates a stripper finger. The apparatus can include a media path configured to transport a media sheet. The apparatus can include a rotational member configured to contact the media sheet. The apparatus can include a stripper finger having a length along a longitudinal axis. The stripper finger can include tip at an end of the length. The stripper finger can be configured to selectively engage and disengage contact between the tip and the rotational member to selectively strip the media sheet from the rotational member.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a fuser member. The fuser member includes a substrate layer comprising a polyimide polymer and a phosphate ester.

Abstract: A method and apparatus saves on toner cost and improves productivity for running registration and color process controls in a printer by making dual use of patches for both functions. That is, the small patches normally used only for registration measurement are also used for xerographic process control measurements, thereby eliminating the need for large patches and obtaining registration information and color control information at the same time. The dual use of small patches to measures both registration and color process control is made possible by periodically establishing correlation between the density of large density patches and the smaller registration patches.

Abstract: A prediction apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount and a non-operation amount of a transporting unit that transports a medium; and a prediction unit that predicts a timing at which a transporting capability value changing with degradation of the transporting unit arrives at a threshold value using the operation amount and the non-operation amount of the transporting unit acquired by the acquisition unit based on (i) a relational expression between the operation amount of the transporting unit and the transporting capability value of the transporting unit and (ii) a relational expression between the non-operation amount of the transporting unit and the transporting capability value of the transporting unit.