Abstract: The present disclosure provides toners and processes for making said toners. In embodiments, the toners are invisible when viewed under natural light, but possess a fluorescent agent that renders them visible when exposed to UV light of a specific wavelength. In other embodiments the toners have a color under natural light, and a different color when exposed to UV light.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there are provided methods and systems for applying continuous tension on a belt/cable system. The automatic tensioning system includes a pivot mechanism and a locking mechanism. The pivot mechanism includes a pivot arm extending between an idler pulley and a pivot point. The idler pulley is mateable with a belt/cable. The belt/cable is routed about the idler pulley. The idler pulley rotates by the movement of the belt/cable, and the pivot arm pivots in an opposing direction from the belt/cable at the pivot point to apply continuous tension to the belt/cable as the pivot arm pivots. The locking mechanism is in communication with the pivot arm to secure the pivot arm in position, and the locking mechanism is adjustable.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image forming section forming an image on a surface of a recording medium; a conveyance section conveying the recording medium on which the image is formed on a first conveyance course; a return section that returns the recording medium on which the image is formed to the image forming section, by conveying the recording medium on a second conveyance course diverging from the first conveyance course and running to the image forming section; and a medium correction section disposed at a point on the first conveyance course before a diverging location of the second conveyance course, corrects a curl of a recording medium conveyed by the conveyance section after passing through the point, and gives a curl bulging in a predetermined direct ion to a recording medium conveyed by the return section after passing through the point, among recording media passing through the point.

Abstract: A heating apparatus of the present invention includes a press member that undergoes driven rotation by contacting a heating member that rotates, the press member conveying a recording medium while nipping the recording medium between the press member and the heating member; a contact and separation mechanism that contacts the press member against the heating member and separates the press member away from the heating member; and a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the press member when the press member is separated from the heating member by the contact and separation mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided a heating controlling device having: a receiving section receiving heating instructions for plural heaters; and a controller that, when the receiving section receives a heating instruction to heat another heater while two or more heaters other than the heater for which the heating instruction is received are heating, stops heating of the heaters that are heating, after a first predetermined time period elapses from the control to stop heating, starts heating of the heater for which the heating instruction is received, and each time a number of second predetermined time periods elapses from the control to start heating, restarts heating, on the basis of predetermined priority rankings, of the heaters that were controlled to stop heating.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating member heating a recording medium; a pressure member forming a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member placed to face the pressure member across the heating member to provide a tension to the heating member; and a cooling unit cooling the pressure member, the cooling unit including: an air blower generating an air flow; a circulator circulating the air flow along the pressure member; and a group of protruding portions provided on the circulator to guide the air flow.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a fuser member, including a substrate and a release layer disposed on the substrate. The release layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes surrounded by a fluoroelastomeric shell layer and dispersed in a fluoroplastic.

Abstract: Provided are media vacuum transport systems including media vacuum transport members, methods of making media vacuum transport members, and method of transporting media. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a media vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side opposite the first side, and a top coat layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the top coat layer can include a plurality of particles dispersed in a polymer blend to provide an average surface roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure member that forms a heating pressure portion between the pressure member and the heating member by coming into pressure contact with the heating member, the heating pressure portion passing through the recording medium; a tensioning member that is placed to face the pressure member with the heating member interposed therebetween, and that provides a tension to the heating member; and a guide member that guides the recording medium having passed through the heating pressure portion, and that is movable between a first secure position and a second secure position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of assigning media access control (MAC) addresses to image paths for a printing system. The method comprises: initializing a MAC address to each image path board in the printing system wherein the printing system includes at least two print engines each having an image path board; modifying a card cage enclosure to include a bit selector for each image path board; and, creating a unique IP address for each MAC address including generating a unique octet for each MAC address. A slot ID is used for the generating of the unique octet for each MAC address having a standard base value.

Abstract: A medium clamping device includes a device main unit that includes: a first circularly moving body that has a surface circularly moving and harder than a recording medium; a second circularly moving body that has a surface moving circularly and harder than the recording medium passing between the both surfaces of the two circularly moving bodies; and a load applying section that applies a load to at least one of the first circularly moving body and the second circularly moving body, to sandwich the recording medium by the load with two moving bodies. The medium clamping device further includes: a support section that supports the device main unit and is secured to a fixed body; and an alleviating system that alleviates transmission of a shock from the device main unit to the fixed body and is incorporated in the support section.

Abstract: A medium correcting device includes: a first holding body that holds a first rotating body having a surface moving circumferentially; a second holding body that holds a second rotating body having a surface that moves following the circumferential movement of the first rotating body and becoming a coupled body incorporating the first and second rotating bodies; a rotation shaft connected to a driving system when the coupled body is housed in a housing body and separated from the driving system when the coupled body is removed; an off-center cam eccentrically fixed to the rotation shaft, presses one rotating body against the other by an amount of pressing according to an angle of the off-center cam, the amount being larger in a downward eccentric direction; and a center-of-gravity correction section fixed to the rotation shaft, causing a larger torque than a torque produced by the off-center cam's own gravity.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for preserving user-applied markings made to a hardcopy of an original document and for generating a new composite document containing the user markings which can be reprinted without loss of image quality. In one embodiment, an original document is scanned to produce a digital representation thereof. One or more marked documents containing the user markups are scanned. The user markings are identified in each of the marked document by an iterative comparison between the marked document and the image of the original document. The identified user markings are stored to records. Thereafter, the stored user markings are retrieved and combined into an image of the original document to produce a new composite document containing selected user markings. The new file is smaller in file size and has no loss of image quality during subsequent reprints. Various embodiments have been disclosed.

Abstract: A manifold assembly has been constructed that filters ink before the ink enters an inkjet ejector in an inkjet print head. The manifold assembly includes an adhesive layer having openings, an ink manifold layer having a plurality of openings, the openings in the adhesive layer being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer, and a polymer layer having a plurality of filter areas, the filter areas being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer and the openings in the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being interposed between the polymer layer and the ink manifold layer.

Abstract: A solid phase change ink melter assembly in a phase change ink image producing machine comprises an array of a plurality of spaced apart fins, the array defining a top face for receiving the solid pieces of phase change ink, a bottom face for discharging melted ink, and opposite melter surfaces for melting the solid pieces in contact therewith. The assembly further comprises a number of heat transfer devices extending through and in heat transfer contact with the plurality of fins, the heat transfer devices including a heating element for heating the device. The bottom edge of the fins defines a plurality of apexes which serve as drip points for molten phase change ink.

Abstract: A method and system determine if a failed part failed prematurely by evaluating whether the failed part failed within one of a plurality of predetermined threshold usage ranges. The predetermined threshold ranges are less than a predicted full useful life of the failed part. Therefore, if the part failed within one of the usage ranges it would be considered to have failed before its predicted full useful life and to have failed prematurely. If the failed part failed prematurely, the method cross-references a service recommendation table to identify a service recommendation based on which of the predetermined threshold usage ranges the failed part failed within. The service recommendation table provides different service recommendations for different predetermined threshold usage ranges of different parts. The service recommendations are often recommendations that adjust or replace items other than the failed part itself.

Abstract: An image formation control device is provided with a control unit. The control unit controls generation of information for forming a transparent image on the basis of settings that include at least a superimposition region and a superimposition sequence, when plurality of images which include the transparent image and a colored image are superimposed and synthesized.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting variable-sized media is described. The apparatus employs multiple parallel beltsets and a control module. Multiple parallel beltsets are situated between an inlet station and a delivery station. Further, each beltset is connected to a motor which drives the beltset. The apparatus also include multiple pushers attached to the belts, such that the distance between two successive pushers is greater than the size of the largest media to be transported. The control module is coupled to each motor and adjusts the distance between the pushers of adjacent beltsets, based on the size of the media to be transported.

Abstract: Provided are media vacuum transport systems including media vacuum transport members, methods of making media vacuum transport members, and method of transporting media. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a media vacuum transport system including a vacuum plenum one or more transport members configured to rotate around the vacuum plenum and wherein at least one of the one or more transport members can include a substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of holes extending from a first side proximate to the vacuum plenum to a second side proximate to the media, and a top coat layer disposed over the substrate, wherein the top coat layer can include a plurality of particles dispersed in a resin to provide an average surface roughness Ra of about 2 ?m to about 100 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording medium; a pressure member that comes into pressure-contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and thereby forms a fixing pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, the fixing pressure portion allowing the recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image to pass therethrough; a tension member that is arranged to face the pressure member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, and tensions the fixing member; a peeling member that is arranged at a position downstream of the fixing pressure portion in a recording medium transport direction and adjacent to the tension member, and peels the recording medium from the fixing member; and an exit guide member that guides the recording medium while keeping a temperature of the recording medium, after the recording medium passes through the fixing pressure portion.