Abstract: A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir having a supply of release agent, and an applicator configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to an intermediate imaging surface of an imaging device moving in a process direction. A metering blade is positioned to meter the release agent on the intermediate imaging surface applied by the applicator. The metering blade has a longitudinal axis extending in a cross-process direction transverse to the process direction. A driver is operably coupled to the metering blade that is configured to translate the metering blade between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores an image fanning information including an image type information indicative of a type of an image for each image, an index value to be a decision source related to a suppression in a consumption of a recording material, and a print setting information; a discriminating unit that discriminates a type of an image to be an image forming target; a calculating unit that calculates the index value; and a selecting unit that selects any of the image forming information which is stored in the storing unit and takes top priority based on a result of the discrimination obtained by the discriminating unit and a result of the calculation obtained by the calculating unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a document accepting section that accepts a document having pieces of character information and character images in mixture; a character information extracting section that extracts the pieces of character information from the accepted document; a character image extracting section that extracts the character images from the accepted document; recognizing the character images; a character recognition control section that performs a control so as to cause the character recognition section to recognize an extracted character image by using pieces of character information that are located in the vicinity of said extracted character image; and a document shaping section that shapes the document on the basis of the extracted pieces of character information and character recognition results of the character recognition section.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method for suppressing background inaccuracies in binary to grayscale image conversion. A binary image is converted to a grayscale image using a neighbor map. An image enhancement function is applied to the grayscale image to suppress background inaccuracies in the grayscale image. Another embodiment is method for converting a binary pixel of a binary image to a grayscale pixel of a grayscale image and suppressing noise in the grayscale image using selective filtering of the binary image. Another embodiment is a method for converting a binary image to a first grayscale image and suppressing noise in the first grayscale image to produce a noise suppressed grayscale image using selective filtering of the first grayscale image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores image formation information in which print setting information is associated with an index useful in deciding to suppress consumption of a recording material; and an execution unit that executes a process of displaying one or more pieces of the image formation information stored in the storage unit on a display unit in association with print data to be printed.

Abstract: A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir having a supply of release agent. An applicator is configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to an imaging surface of an imaging device. A metering blade is positioned to meter the release agent on the imaging surface applied by the applicator. The metering blade is arranged in doctor mode with respect to the imaging surface and includes a tip positioned adjacent the imaging surface. The tip has a square portion positioned proximate the imaging surface and a beveled portion opposite the imaging surface.

Abstract: A method for optimally using color patch codes or color barcodes for transmitting machine-readable information, via device characterization, is disclosed to comprise characterizing a printing device and optionally a sensing device for identifying a number of recognizably spaced printer output colors; deriving a code book, by relating the printer output colors and their corresponding input values to information elements; and using the code book for encoding and decoding the information to be transmitted. The recognizably spaced printer output colors are in terms of a color space relevant to a color patch code or color barcode sensing device, and are related to the corresponding marking device input values.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus includes an accepting unit and an instructing unit. The accepting unit accepts a request, which requests to issue an authentication medium for a second user, from a first user who is authenticated. The instructing unit instructs to issue the authentication medium for the second user.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided relating to a decentralized algorithm for managing replicas of a resource in a peer-to-peer network to satisfy quality of service requirements. Individual nodes within the network storing a resource replica continually monitor the node performance against quality of service (QoS) parameters and when necessary, take appropriate action to either add or delete the resource, all the while informing the other nodes within the network that maintain a replica of the resource of the particular action for dynamic fluctuation of the count of resource replicas therein.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a first storage reservoir for receiving and holding a first volume of melted ink from a source and a second storage reservoir for holding a second volume of melted ink to be delivered under pressure to a printhead system. The valve assembly includes a passive valve disc movable from the closed position in which said disc abuts a valve seat in sealed contact, and an open position in which said valve disc is supported by an angled surface. An upper portion of the valve disc is unsupported and a flow director surface behind the disc directs fluid flow against the upper portion to assist in closing the valve. The surface characteristics of the valve seat are controlled to improve the “crack” time of the valve disc when opening.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a frequency conversion section, a frequency component generation section, an enlarged image area generation section and an enlarged image generation section. The frequency conversion section converts neighboring areas of each area in question into plural frequency components. The areas in question and the neighboring areas of the areas in question are included in an input image. The frequency component generation section generates predetermined frequency components from the frequency components of each neighboring area. The enlarged image area generation section generates an enlarged image area for each area in question, using (i) an image region which contains each area in question and which has a predetermined size and (ii) the predetermined frequency components. The enlarged image generation section places the enlarged image areas to generate an enlarged image for the input image.

Abstract: Category context models (64) and a universal context model (62) are generated including sums of soft co-occurrences of pairs of visual words in geometric proximity to each other in training images (50) assigned to each category and assigned to all categories, respectively. Context information (76) about an image to be classified (70) are generated including sums of soft co-occurrences of pairs of visual words in geometric proximity to each other in the image to be classified. For each category (82), a comparison is made of (i) closeness of the context information about the image to be classified with the corresponding category context model and (ii) closeness of the context information about the image to be classified with the universal context model. An image category (92) is assigned to the image to be classified being based on the comparisons.

Abstract: Object comparison is disclosed, including: adapting N universal mixture model components to a first object to generate N corresponding first object mixture model components, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two; and generating a similarity measure based on component-by-component comparison of the N first object mixture model components with corresponding N second object mixture model components obtained by adaptation of the N universal mixture model components to a second object.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that includes a conversion unit that performs color conversion of an input image by employing correlation information denoting color coordinates of grid points in an input color space and color coordinates corresponding to those grid points in an output color space; a first adjustment processing unit that performs first adjustment processing with respect to an image output from the conversion unit; a calculation unit that calculates a total color material amount corresponding to each of the grid points based on the color coordinates of the grid points in the output color space denoted by the correlation information; and a judgment unit that judges whether or not the first adjustment processing is to be applied to an image output from the conversion unit based on a comparison between the total color material amount corresponding to each grid point and the limit value.

Abstract: A method is implemented to deliver a solid ink stick from a single insertion port to a corresponding feed channel to help ensure that each feed channel in a plurality of feed channels contains only ink sticks corresponding to the feed channel. The method includes receiving solid ink sticks in a single insertion port, identifying each ink stick received in the single insertion port, and transporting each identified ink stick from the single insertion port to one feed channel in a plurality of feed channels to enable delivery of the identified ink stick to the melting assembly appropriate for the identified ink stick.

Abstract: A solid ink stick adapted for use with solid ink printers is provided. The stick includes a body defining a longitudinal axis of the body. The body defines an external periphery of the body. The external periphery has a groove formed on the periphery. The groove extends in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis of the body and at least a portion of the groove length is non linear.

Abstract: A recording sheet including base paper including pulp fiber and filler, wherein the recording sheet further includes carboxylic acid. An ink jet recording method and an electrophotographic image recording method using the recording sheet.

Abstract: A device protection system for a device that operates using a replaceable component provided with a replaceable component, component monitor, and a means for disabling the replaceable component. The component monitor is provided with a storage unit, a sensing unit, a determination unit and a control unit that engages a disabling device for rendering the replaceable component inoperable in, or incompatible with, a device within which the replaceable component is intended to operate such as, an image forming device. In particular, the component monitors the temperature of an environment relating to the replaceable component that if exceeded, will affect performance of the replaceable component. The component will disable the disabling unit to protect the device.

Abstract: A tool for installation of intermediate belts by a customer includes a lightweight frame structure that is collapsible for handling and ease of belt loading onto the tool itself. The frame structure includes linkage such that when a handle connected to the frame structure is rotated; the framework will expand into the hanging belt and force the belt to take the shape of an intermediate belt transfer module profile. The intermediate transfer belt is then slid onto rollers of the intermediate belt transfer module.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image holder with developing material; a developing material cartridge that has a supply developing material container to contain developing material; and a developing material conveyance unit, having a connection portion connected to the developing device, that conveys the developing material from the supply developing material container to the developing device. The developing material cartridge is provided in a direction approximately orthogonal to the developing device. At least a part of the connection portion is provided within a heightwise directional width of the developing material cartridge.