Abstract: This invention provides supplying a model that will together with software and a controller, separately selectively cycle up (activate) or cycle down (inactivate) color stations in accordance with their need for a particular imaging run. The cycled down stations are not activated for the imaging run thereby preserving the quality of the developer and toner in that inactivated color station or housing. The model will vary, depending on the machine or desired images. Each model can later be used for machines of the same family.

Abstract: A phase change ink melting assembly for use in a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink melt perimetric constraint having an open top and a melted ink egress positioned at a bottom of the perimetric constraint. The open top is sized to receive a leading end of an ink stick fed downwardly therethrough. The perimetric constraint includes an interior through path with egress at the bottom and a plurality of melted ink flow paths intermediate the open top and the melted ink egress. The assembly includes a heater for heating the perimetric constraint to a phase change ink melting temperature.

Abstract: A phase change ink melting assembly includes a tub having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The bottom surface has a solid ink melt region and a melted ink outlet offset from the solid ink melt region. The solid ink melt tub includes a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface in the solid ink melt region. At least one constraining surface is positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region tub and thermally isolated from the melt tub. The at least one constraining surface is configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as it is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region.

Abstract: A fluffer section and method for controlling a fluffer port in an image production device is disclosed. The fluffer section may include a variable port configuration device that contains a plurality of fluffer port configurations, a stepper motor that moves the variable port configuration device, a variable-speed pressure blower that blows air to fluff a media stack, and a fluffer port control unit that receives an input from one or more sensors that sense at least one of media type, media weight, temperature, and humidity, selects a fluffer port configuration from a plurality of fluffer port configurations based on the received sensor input, sends a signal to the stepper motor to move the variable port configuration device to the selected fluffer port configuration, and sends a signal to the variable-speed pressure blower to blow air to fluff a media stack using the selected fluffer port configuration.

Abstract: A fluorene compound is provided, which is represented by the following Formula (I): in Formula (1), R11 and R12 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R21 and R22 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of from 1 to 5.

Abstract: Methods and planning systems used to schedule gain matrices for process control loops and determine optimal values for manipulated variables according to a minimum cost function. A cost function is calculated for each of a predetermined number of plans as a sum of partial cost functions calculated over a predetermined number of projections in a horizon. Each partial cost function after the initial projection of a plan is calculated using a scheduled gain matrix. The gain matrix can be scheduled for each projection by selection from a predetermined set of gain matrices or can be calculated in real time during the calculation for each projection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting nip width based on a scanned nip print in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include automatically inserting a sheet of media into a fuser nip in the image production device upon receiving a signal from a user interface, the fuser nip being an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, generating a nip print in the fuser nip, the nip print being an image created from the pressure between the fuser roll and the pressure roll, scanning the nip print, determining if a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of the fuser roll and the pressure roll, and if it is determined that a nip width adjustment is required based on the scanned nip print, adjusting the nip width.

Abstract: A polyester resin for electrostatic image developing toner includes: two or more polyester blocks, and the polyester resin satisfying the following conditions (A) to (C): (A) an ester concentration of the polyester resin is about 0.01 or more and less than about 0.1; (B) a weight average molecular weight of the polyester resin is about 24,000 or more; and (C) a difference in SP values of at least two kinds of the two or more polyester blocks is about 0.1 to about 0.7.

Abstract: The fixing device is provided with: a fixing member that includes a metal layer; a pressure member that forms a pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, and that is driven to rotate; an electromagnetic induction heating member that causes the metal layer of the fixing member to generate heat; and a heater that is disposed so as to face the electromagnetic induction heating member through the fixing member and so as to be in contact with an inner side of the fixing member, and that is caused to generate heat by a magnetic field. A heat transfer lubricant is provided between the fixing member and the heater disposed on the inner side of the fixing member.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a printing system that includes first and second marking devices for applying images to print media. A first fusing module associated with the first marking device for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the first marking device. A second fusing module which receives printed media from the first and second marking devices, the secondary fusing module including a fusing device that applies a fusing treatment to the images applied to the printed media. A printing controller having a scheduler for processing print jobs in the first and second marking devices based on fusing requirements of the print media.

Abstract: The endless belt is provided with: a metal layer that includes at least one layer, that is cylindrically formed, and that has not more than 10 degrees as a half width of a diffraction peak in X-ray diffraction; and a release layer that is stacked on the metal layer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for media registration setup, includes depositing developed image toner patch on a photoreceptor surface, such that the developed image patch overlaps two image panels on the photoreceptor surface. Performing toner image transfer on a media sheet in contact with the photoreceptor by applying electrostatic field to cause toner particles to migrate from the photoreceptor surface to the media. Following toner image transfer, the level of residual toner on the photoreceptor surfaces measured by sensors to determine alignment of a written lead edge and a target lead edge, the written lead edge corresponding to the lead edge of the media. The measurements are used to adjust the media registration setup such that the written lead edge corresponds to a given target lead edge.

Abstract: A surface treatment method of oil contaminated xerographic prints which increases the surface energy of the print to levels close to the values corresponding to the original uncontaminated paper. Subjecting the contaminated surface to both ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ozone can change the chemical structure of the surface of the paper in such a way that a highly polar surface is created as a consequence of this treatment, leading to enhanced adhesion properties of the xerographic print.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a plurality of substantially identical modules forming a common sheet path. Each module includes an image receptor, a supply of marking material of a predetermined type, and a marking engine for creating an image of marking material on the sheet. Within each module a transport receives a sheet, moves the sheet to receive the image from the marking engine, and makes the sheet available for printing by a subsequent module in the sheet path. A sheet sensing system within each module detects a position of the sheet and uses that information to adjust the position of the image to be transferred to the sheet.

Abstract: A method and system is provided including a plurality of multi-function devices being operatively associated with at least one controller. Each of the plurality of multi-function devices having time staggered payment support capabilities for enabling at least one user continued access to the plurality of multi-function devices. A detecting module is provided for enabling the plurality of multi-function devices to automatically detect, inspect, and verify at least one authorization code located on incoming print jobs. The method and system enable the at least one user to pay for continued access to the plurality of multi-function devices via time staggered installments without one or more of the plurality of MFDs directly accessing a payment center via a network connection and without manually supplying the at least one authorization code to the plurality of multi-function devices.

Abstract: A method of converting a RIPped K-only page or pixels to composite black in a digital print engine is included which executes the conversion process during current job workflow, while detecting the K-only page or pixels for billing purposes as K-only, and printed out as composite black.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate remotely controlling paper feed-forward mechanisms on multiple printers in a continuous feed print line, to reduce operator movement during simplex and/or duplex printing and increase print line throughput. The remote control detects a print line (e.g., by user input, a beacon signal provided by the print line, or by some other means), and retrieves IP addresses for printers in the detected print line. A display is provided by which the user selects an identified printer to control, and by which the user then activates and/or deactivates the feed-forward mechanism on the selected printer. Optionally, the remote control functionality is provided as a software package installed on a personal digital assistant (PDA) or smartphone.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of automatically controlling feeding and transporting print media sheets through plural electrostatic print engines having seamed photoreceptor belts for duplex printing. In one embodiment the second photoreceptor belt is driven at a variable speed to maintain a constant phase relationship between the respective seams of the belts. The print image magnification on the front side of the printed sheet is matched by varying the speed of the scanner (ROS) in the second engine. In another embodiment. the first and second photoreceptor belts are both driven at a constant speed and the seam phase allowed to float. Sensors provide a timing signal upon passage of the seam in each belt respectively; and, the position of the belt seams thus determined. The system then calculates a release time for each sheet from the feeder to insure the sheet avoids the seam on both belts.

Abstract: A content or document management system includes a content or document repository; a dedicated e-mail account; and a mail agent associated with the dedicated e-mail account. The mail agent processes a received e-mail message to determine a sender's identity; authenticates the identity of the sender and an authorization of the sender with respect to the content or document repository; parses, when a sender is authenticated and authorized, document request information from the e-mail message; and either stores a document to or retrieves a document from the content or document repository. The mail agent may authenticate the identity of the sender using a digital signature, or may authenticate the identity of the sender using an e-mail address in a FROM header field of the received e-mail message header. The mail agent may decrypt encrypted messages from the sender, and may sign and encrypt responses to the sender.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image carriers, a common drive source which drives the plurality of image carriers and a drive shaft that is connected to and driven by the drive source. It also has a plurality of worm gears that are provided corresponding to the plurality of image carriers and are formed coaxially with the drive shaft, and a plurality of worm wheels that are respectively meshed with the respective worm gears and respectively transmit drive forces of the worm gears to the image carriers. The plurality of worm gears are made of a resin material, and the worm gears and the worm wheels drive the plurality of image carries by making use of the elastic deformation of the worm gears when the worm gears and the worm wheels are respectively meshed with each other.