Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a computer to gather input from respondents to electronic surveys and to evaluate preferences related to digital two dimensional and three dimensional images. The method includes providing a drawing tool for enabling survey respondent(s) to designate areas of interest on digital two dimensional and three dimensional images within an electronic survey. A graphical user interface enables the survey respondent(s) to utilize the drawing tool to create data files, which may include designated area data, attributes, and survey respondent opinions for designated area(s) of interest within an image. The data files are saved in a machine-readable file for analysis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body that includes a container attaching portion to which a developer container is removably attached; a container put-on member on which the developer container is put; and a support member to which the container put-on member is attached, the support member supporting the container put-on member to perform a movement between a first position in which the container put-on member is at the container attaching portion and a second position in which the container put-on member is pulled out from the container attaching portion, wherein at the second position, at least a part of the container put-on member is displaced downward through a rotating shaft provided on the support member to a lower position than a height of the container put-on member at the second position in the direction of gravity.

Abstract: An image processing device is structured such that an appropriate judgement of an image, at which blurring or disappearance or the like will occur, is possible. When pixels, which form a line image at which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearance will occur at the time of printing by using a printing plate, are extracted, a line image warning function gives notice by displaying a warning message on a monitor of a client terminal. Thereafter, image converting and print setting are carried out such that an extracted line image is clarified. In this way, when a proof is prepared, an image, at which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearance will occur on a printed matter obtained by using a printing plate, is clarified, and appropriate proofing is possible.

Abstract: A chemical toner composition including a polymer polymerized from starting ingredients comprising a resin monomer and a release agent monomer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus maintain a facsimile number priority hierarchy within a computer storage medium and process a first facsimile call being transmitted through a computerized call processor. The first facsimile call is made between a first telephone number associated with the computerized call processor and a second telephone number not associated with the computerized call processor. While processing the first facsimile call, the computerized call processor receives an indication of an attempt to connect a second facsimile call between the first telephone number and a third telephone number. The third telephone number is not associated with the computerized call processor. The method and apparatus determine a priority between the second telephone number and the third telephone number based on the facsimile number priority hierarchy. If the second telephone number has a higher priority than the third telephone number, the computerized call processor does not connect the second facsimile call.

Abstract: A developing device comprises a developer unit that contains a developer including a color material and a magnetic powder, the color material being used to develop an electrostatic latent image held by an image holding member; a collecting unit that collects a part of the developer contained in the developer unit via a passage; and a measuring unit that measures a concentration of the color material included in the developer based on a magnetic property of the developer moving through the passage.

Abstract: An image-reading system includes an image-reading device that includes: a first creating unit that creates, if a control device requests creation of a content of a settings screen, a content of a first settings screen for setting a scan condition supported by the available function of an image-reading unit expressed by stored function information; a generating unit that generates, when a scan condition is set on the first settings screen whose content is created by the first creating unit, first instruction data to read an image in accordance with the set scan condition; and a reading controller that controls the image-reading unit based on the generated first instruction data, so that the image-reading unit reads an image in accordance with the set scan condition.

Abstract: In a monitoring method, a time sequence of information pertaining to a monitored device, network, or system is recorded, comprising observations of the monitored device, network, or system and known prior correct action recommendations for the monitored device, network, or system. A hidden Markov model (HMM) operating on the time sequence of information is maintained. The HMM comprises a hidden state of the monitored device, network, or system. A current state of the monitored device, network, or system is classified using a classification value comprising an emission of the HMM that depends on an estimate of the distribution of the hidden state and on a selected portion of the time sequence of information. An action recommendation is generated for the current state of the monitored device, network, or system based on the classification value.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a two-dimensional code generating apparatus includes a two-dimensional code generating unit. The two-dimensional code generating unit that generates a two-dimensional code including a plurality of region symbols, a plurality of first pattern symbols, a plurality of second pattern symbols, and an information pattern. The region symbols represent a rectangular region in which one unit of the two-dimensional code is disposed, the rectangular region having a first side and a second side opposed to the first side.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method, a system, and a printmaking device for calibrating sensors. The method begins by transporting a media sheet along a media path, the sheet having a lead edge, a trail edge and a measurement edge. Next, the method halts the forward motion of the sheet after the lead edge of the sheet passes a fixed reference. After that, the method moves the sheet laterally relative to the media path across the at least one edge sensor using a sheet actuator. Then, the method records an actual position of the sheet actuator and an output of at least one edge sensor. Finally, the method calculates a calibration factor based on the actual position of the sheet actuator and the output of the at least one edge sensor.

Abstract: A software version-up/addition managing apparatus includes: a version-up/addition accepting section accepting an instruction of certain processing of a software; a dependency relation extracting section extracting a dependent software; a reference value associating section associating reference values with the software, and the extracted dependent software, respectively; a reference value changing section that, when the certain processing is instructed as to the software or the dependent software or when the software or the dependent software is extracted as a dependent software of another software, increments the reference value of the software or the extracted dependent software, and when stop of the certain processing is instructed, decrements the reference value of the software or the extracted dependent software; and a stop determination section determining based on the reference value, when the instruction of the stop is accepted, whether or not the instruction of the stop is to be executed.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member disposed with an internal heating source and a pressuring member that presses against the heating member. The fixing device is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus body, and includes: brackets that retain the heating member; pressuring levers that retain the pressuring member and are movably supported in the brackets; urging means that push the pressuring levers in a direction where the pressuring member presses against the heating member; and cams that are rotatably supported in the brackets, contact the pressuring levers, and adjust the pressuring force of the pressuring member.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing variations in components or subsystems in an image printing system is provided. The method includes identifying a plurality of image quality defects printed by the image printing system by a controller, said image quality defects each occurring with an associated frequency and each being associated with a component or subsystem of the image printing system; determining a phase difference of the image quality defects by the controller; and adjusting operation of each component or subsystem associated with the image quality defects, such that image quality defects are in phase.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a package design. Packaging information may be obtained. A processing module and a semantic knowledge base may automatically generate one or more graphical layout rules and one or more structural design rules based on the packaging information. A three dimensional representation of a package design may be automatically generated based on the one or more graphical layout rules and the one or more structural design rules. The three dimensional representation of the package design may be displayed.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed generally to methods for making the core-shell fluorinated particles which are incorporated into the overcoat layers of an electrophotographic imaging member to reduce torque and cleaning failures during the photoreceptor cleaning process. The core-shell fluorinated particles are core-shell fluorinated nano- or micro-particles encapsulated in a melamine shell. The present embodiments also pertain to processes for making the overcoat layer comprising the core-shell fluorinated particles.

Abstract: A combined sheet inverting and buffering system and method including a sheet drive for transporting sheets into a sheet collecting area. The sheet drive is selectively operable to transport the sheets in a first and second direction along a processing path. A holding device can hold a plurality of sheets. The sheet drive and holding device cooperate to compile the plurality of sheets into a stack wherein the sheets overlie each other in a shingled manner. A take away drive is in operative communication with the sheets for individually unloading the sheets from the sheet collecting area.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method, a system, and a printmaking device for registering a sheet of paper. In the method, the sheet is transported in a process direction along the feed path and past a first and a second optical sensor to determine a first skew of a first edge of the sheet. Next, the first skew of the first edge is calculated using the first time interval, the first distance, and the first velocity. After that, the first skew is used to register a first side of the sheet prior to printing thereon. Then, the sheet is inverted and refed on a second side. Thereafter, the sheet is transported in the process direction along the feed path and past a third and a fourth optical sensor to determine a second skew of the first edge. Finally, the second skew is used to register the second side of the sheet prior to printing thereon.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of controlling the temperature of surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a belt including a first surface; at least one heat source for heating the first surface; a roll including a second surface; a temperature sensor positioned to measure a temperature of the second surface; and a roll positioning device coupled to the roll for positioning the second surface of the roll in contact with the first surface of the belt to form a nip and increase the temperature of the second surface, and for positioning the second surface out of contact with the first surface to decrease the temperature of the second surface, in response to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: This is an environmental unit useful in a xerographic system that reduces or eliminates pulsation and vibration in the system. This is accomplished by the use of flexible bladders on a wall of the air duct work pumping air into the print housing. When the vibration is abated, the banding problems on images are eliminated.