Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating specialty imaging effects from layered documents are provided. The method includes providing a layered document that contains one or more effect layers and one or more visual layers. For each visual layer, the method includes identifying visual graphical elements within the visual layer. For each of the visual graphical elements, the method identifies, as a next effect layer, a closest effect layer above the visual layer which includes an effect graphical element that overlaps, at least in part, the identified visual graphical element. A new graphical element is created by merging at least part of the identified visual graphical element with at least part of the overlapping effect graphical element. The merging may be performed with regular specialty imaging techniques. The input layered document is transformed by replacing the identified visual graphical element on the visual layer with the new graphical element.

Abstract: A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: an acquisition section that acquires subject image information to be formed on a medium; an extraction section that selectively extracts a part of the subject image information corresponding to a portion of an image not formed due to a plurality of holes of a medium if an image relating to the subject image information is formed on the medium perforated with the plurality of holes; and a generation section that generates new subject image information by generating a command for forming the extracted part of the subject image information.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments there is provided a printing system such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine having an automatic print media size determining apparatus. At least one side guide is coupled with a linear encoder and an external sensor to determine the size of media received on a support surface. According to one implementation, the support surface is provided by a paper tray. The paper tray includes a support surface configured to receive media, at least one side guide, and an encoder that moves with the side guide. The side guide is movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray to conform dimensionally with print media received in the tray. The print media size determining apparatus includes an external position-detecting sensor associated with the encoder and the side guide that is operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding with a detected position of the side relative to the tray.

Abstract: An integrated device enables a customer replaceable unit used within an ink jet printer to be enclosed within an enclosing structure as the unit is removed from the printer. The enclosing structure traps debris that may disburse from the customer replaceable unit as it is removed from the printer. The integrated device includes an extendable cover that encloses the customer replaceable unit in response to one end of the cover being moved away from the other end.

Abstract: Line width of images marked by an image marking device is adjusted by reading a calibration patch marked by the marking device, and then adjusting one or more settings of the marking device, such as exposure intensity or cleaning field intensity, independent of the digital control of the tone reproduction curve so that the line width of subsequently marked images becomes closer to a target value. A digital control may be implemented to compensate for the impact of the modification of the one or more settings on the tone reproduction curve.

Abstract: A liquid ink transport assembly mitigates the migration of ink dye from one conduit in a plurality of conduits to another conduit in the plurality of conduits. The liquid ink transport assembly includes a plurality of conduits, each conduit in the plurality having a first end and a second end, the conduits in the plurality being arranged in a parallel configuration with at least one conduit being spatially separated from an adjacent conduit by a first distance that is greater than a second distance spatially separating other conduits in the plurality of conduits, and a heater, the plurality of conduits being positioned proximate to a first side of the heater to enable the heater to heat ink being carried between the first and the second ends of the plurality of conduits.

Abstract: Account manager systems and methods are disclosed for managing consumable return refund programs for repaid document processing devices, in which automated or semiautomatic refunds are provided by adding account credits to prepaid customer accounts and/or by directly applying print units to specific document processing devices for customers who return spent consumable products.

Abstract: Document processing device account management systems and methods are disclosed for managing prepaid usage document processing devices to allow user initiated advertiser content printing operation at a customer site with no cost to the user, and to facilitate making reservations and payment in advance for reserved services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for generating consumable orders for document processing devices and for verifying approved source consumable usage in document processing devices, in which a customer computer receives electronic reports from the devices and from these ascertains whether particular devices will need replacement consumables and also whether non-program consumable products are being used in particular devices. If a replacement will be required, the customer computer presents a proposed order to the customer via prompting content customizable by a reseller. The customer can then accept, modify, or reject the proposed order, and any accepted or modified order is forwarded to an account manager system for automatic placement for consumable shipment from a manufacturer or distributor.

Abstract: A fixing device is configured to fix a toner image formed on a recording medium and includes a fixing roll, a separation claw in contact with the fixing roll, and a pressure member disposed to face the fixing roll. The fixing roll includes a metallic core and a surface layer formed on the metallic core. The surface layer is an electroless nickel plating layer containing a boron compound and a phosphorus compound.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium; a pressure member that forms a fixing pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member by making pressure contact with an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member, the fixing pressure portion being passed through by the recording medium holding an unfixed toner image; a heat supplier that supplies heat to the fixing member; and a thermal diffusion member that diffuses heat on a surface of the fixing member by contact with the fixing member.

Abstract: Document processing devices and methods are presented, in which the device stores a remaining print unit value in its memory that represents the amount of print units currently available to enable the device to perform the document processing operations, and a programmable computer of the device selectively performs document processing jobs for users and decrements the remaining print unit value until the value reaches zero and the device provides for expenditure of print units according to color content and/or coverage levels determined for a given job.

Abstract: Document processing devices and account manager systems are presented which verify validity of pairings of installed consumables and document processing devices for permissive enablement of document processing functionality based on validity of the pairings.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for managing prepaid usage of document processing devices, in which an account manager system (104) automatically purchases prepaid account credits for customer accounts and applies print units to document processing devices registered to customer accounts periodically and according to preset top off thresholds (123, 128) subject to predefined limits (124, 129), and in which customer computer agents (360) allow just in time printing using devices with job-based application of print units to selected devices.

Abstract: The present teachings provide an intermediate transfer member which includes a substrate layer and a surface layer disposed on the substrate layer. The surface layer includes a polyimide polymer having the formula: wherein n is from about 50 to about 2,000.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer that contains at least one charge transport component, and where the photogenerating layer contains a hydroxyquinoline.

Abstract: A display medium includes: a pair of substrates; an electrode arranged between the pair of substrates and on one substrate of the pair of substrates; a multilayered structure including plural color-forming layers arranged between one substrate of the pair of substrates and the electrode, each of the plural color-forming layers containing an electroconductive sheet-like porous body and an electrochromic dye which is retained by the porous body and is reversibly colored or decolored by at least one of an electrochemical oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction, and the colors when the electrochromic dyes in the respective plural color-forming layers are colored being different from one another; and an electrolytic material included in a region between the pair of substrates.

Abstract: A diagnostic system that provides a service technician with service information during servicing of an image processing apparatus includes at least one counter that is incremented during operation of the image processing apparatus, a pressure detecting unit that detects a pressure at a point in an air flow path on the condition that the at least one counter is reset to zero after initial servicing of the image processing apparatus, a determining unit that determines whether a difference between the detected pressure and a fault threshold pressure is less than a predetermined margin, and a display unit that displays a fault code indicating additional servicing of the image processing apparatus is recommended on the condition that the determining unit determines that the difference between the detected pressure and the predetermined threshold pressure is less than the predetermined margin.

Abstract: A media handling device includes sensing means disposed in a media elevator that is movable in a generally-vertical travel path proximate to a generally-fixed surface. The sensing means detects a recorded information that is disposed in the surface. The resulting detected information is used to identify the media elevator's current position. Also, another media handling device includes a recorded information disposed in a movable media elevator. Sensing means are fixed proximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path. The recorded information is sensed and the resulting detected information is used to identify the media elevator's current position.