Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing or preventing fluid misplacement by a fluid-ejecting head having a plurality of fluid ejectors are disclosed. Each of the fluid ejectors has a transducer activated in some sequence in response to input signals to eject a fluid droplet from the fluid ejector. The systems comprise electronics which integrate delay time buffers into the sequence of fluid ejector firing electronics. Adjusting the delay time buffers will adjust the angle between printed data (e.g. vertical lines) and the direction of the head motion. Several methods for determining the delay times that produce the optimal fluid placement are disclosed.

Abstract: Plural unit heads are disposed in a paper conveyance direction, and recording head units are configured and disposed in a staggered manner. Head recovery devices are disposed as positions avoiding the locus of splattering of ink droplets from the unit heads. The recording head units can record an image across the entire width of a sheet of paper, and it is not necessary to move the recording head units in the paper width direction. Dummy jetting can be conducted at gap regions between two sheets of paper in an image recording section. The plural unit heads are unitized.

Abstract: A document management system is provided which organizes, stores and retrieves documents according to properties attached to the documents. Applications which function based on hierarchical path names communicate to the document management system through a translator. A tag is inserted into the path of a document to identify the document and represent a dynamic collection. The same tag is inserted into the path of files which support the document so that the supporting files are related to the document by the path tag. In this manner, the document management system identifies and locates all documents which are related to each other based on the tag. Thus, an application is provided with all related files even though the application may not know where the files are actually stored or retrieved from.

Abstract: A graphical input and display system having a user interface for selecting object(s) to be operated on by the system includes input devices permitting a user to select and establish image object(s) received from various image input sources. A processor, connected to the system, receives requests for various image element selection operations and also accesses a memory structure. The system memory structure includes a user interaction module, which allows a user to select image elements without pre-selecting an element selection mode, as well as data memory.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a backing and is arranged for a media to be positioned against the backing. The backing includes an embedded backing pattern. The media is skewed with respect to the scanning, thus defining a media skew. The media and the backing are scanned to form a pixel pattern. For each pixel, an included pattern recognition algorithm determines when the pixel represents the backing. When the pixel represents the backing, it is replaced with a replacement backing symbol, otherwise it is replaced with a replacement media symbol. The pixel determining and symbol replacing process is continued for remaining pattern pixels to form a replacement symbol pattern comprised of the replacement backing symbols and the replacement media symbols. The media is then processed based on the replacement symbol pattern, the processing including detecting the media skew, registering the media, or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising (a) a colorant and (b) the reaction product of (i) an isocyanate and (ii) an antioxidant or UV stabilizer molecule having thereon (A) at least one isocyanate-reactive hydroxyl group and/or (B) at least one isocyanate-reactive primary or secondary amino group.

Abstract: This invention provides: a color toner to be fixed on a recording medium with a flash light comprising a binder resin, an infrared ray absorbent and a coloring agent for mainly developing a yellow color, wherein the coloring agent is C.I. Pigment Yellow 180 or C.I. Pigment Yellow 185; a color toner to be fixed on a recording medium with a flash light comprising a binder resin, an infrared ray absorbent and a coloring agent for mainly developing a magenta color, wherein the coloring agent is C.I. Pigment Violet 19; and a color toner to be fixed on a recording medium with a flash light comprising a binder resin, an infrared ray absorbent and a coloring agent for mainly developing a cyan color, wherein the coloring agent is C.I. Pigment Blue 15. Also disclosed are a color toner set comprising these color toners and an image forming apparatus employing at least one of the color toners or the color toner set.

Abstract: A printing system for use in printing objects of any of a plurality of different object types includes a printer; and a printer control device with a user interface having a first option for associating printer-independent print-quality characteristics with a selected object type to be printed by said printer. A printer-independent print-quality characteristic is an instruction associated with an element, such as object type, in an electronic page which indicates printer-independent features that are preferentially emphasized when printing the element. Examples of printer-independent print quality characteristics include “make sharp edges”, “reduce mottle”, “distinguish neighboring colors”, “reduce moiré”, “distinguish tone and edges”, “maximum tone depth”, “perceptual colors” and “compress without loss of detail”.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods reduce, and preferably prevent, contamination of a surface or component to be charged or acted upon by a corona generating device. When a voltage is applied to the corona generating device, corona winds having a plurality of corona vortices are formed. Air is pulled via at least one drawing port of the corona generating device. At least one substantially continuous air curtain is formed along a side of the corona generating device when air is pulled via the drawing port of the corona generating device. The formation of the continuous air curtain is not dependent on air being pushed into the corona generating device. Preferably the substantially continuous air curtain extends from substantially one end of the corona generating device, at least a distance equivalent to a greatest continuous total length of the plurality of corona vortices and any portion of the corona generating device situated therebetween.

Abstract: A shredder that shreds a recording medium which includes, on a surface thereof, an image forming portion and a holographic memory portion in which data is recorded. The shredder includes a data destroying unit that destroys at least the data recorded in the holographic memory portion and a shredding unit that shreds the entire recording medium. Thus, when a recording medium to which has been added a holographic memory portion in which useful information is recorded is to be discarded, the data(information) recorded in the holographic memory portion can be safely destroyed so that the data can no longer be read.

Abstract: A market based learning mechanism for controlling smart matter to learn an appropriate organizational control structure for a multiple actuator-sensor dynamical system for use in optimizing system control. The more successful one or more of a plurality of control methods are in predicting system operation, the more weight the successful methods are given in controlling the system.

Abstract: Utilization of fringe field tailoring pixels with sub-pixel patterns are introduced into the bitmap of an image to obtain local control of the normal and tangential electric fields and thereby improve image development. These fringe field tailoring pixels embody multiple sub-pixel pulses so as to alter the electric fields as developed upon the photoreceptor. These fringe field tailoring pixels compensate for the otherwise undesirable electric fringe fields as found on the edge of image shapes. These undesirable fringe fields pull toner away from image edges and cause other “slow toner” effects, particularly in high speed systems. Application of fringe field tailoring pixels with their sub-pixel patterns to the edge of an image shape modifies the fringe electric fields so as to encourage pulling toner onto the photoreceptor at the image edge. This ensures adequate toner supply to all parts of the image so that the desired printing pixels will print as intended.

Abstract: Provided is a timing control unit that controls timing for performing a desired operation of a belt-like member at least at two operating positions including a first and second operating positions. The distance between the first and second operating positions is set to a multiple of a perimeter of the drive roll. The timing control unit includes a clock generation part for generating a clock signal having a constant period in accordance with rotation of the drive roll, and a count part for counting the clock signal generated by the clock generation part. The count part counts the clock signal generated by the clock generation part for the number corresponding to the multiple of the perimeter of the drive roll, thereby operation timing at the second operating position is synchronized with operation timing at the first operating position.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for forming an image is provided that uses a contact type transfer member and a retract mechanism so as to transfer a toner image onto a continuous medium, performs the transfer process stably onto various continuous media and reduces unnecessary transfer of toner from the contact type transfer member to the continuous medium. The unnecessary transfer of toner may be caused by a concentration of contact stress when the contact type transfer member (16), which is moved by a retract mechanism, contacts with the continuous medium (25). To dissipate the contact stress, the transfer member (16) contacts with the continuous medium (25) while the continuous medium (25) is steadily conveyed and the transfer member is steadily rotated. Accordingly, the transfer of the toner from the transfer member (16) to the continuous medium (25) may be reduced. Furthermore, the friction at the contact line may be reduced and thus staining of the continuous medium may be further reduced.

Abstract: A method and system validates an output used in calibrating a document processing system (DPS). The calibration target is generated for assessing the range of outputs of the DPS. The target comprises a plurality of target elements and element orientation information representing a physical layout of the target elements in a DPS output. The DPS output is generated in accordance with the calibration target. The characteristic values of the DPS output are measured corresponding to the individual target elements. If a mis-ordering of the measurements of the target elements is identified, the measurements of the target element of the DPS are reordered in accordance with the desired order for computing an appropriate calibration function without requirement of re-measurement.

Abstract: A method for maintaining developer material within in a predefined state through the scheduling of increased toner throughput coordinated among multiple developer housings. The method monitors developer material health at each developer station within a plurality of developer stations to detect unhealthy developer material. If unhealthy developer material is detected in at least one of developer stations, a toner purge state is identified for each of the remaining developer stations. Based on the toner purge states, a toner purge is performed.

Abstract: An image forming unit having image bearing body, on which a latent image is formed, and an intermediate transfer belt, onto which a toner image obtained by developing the latent image formed on the image bearing body is transferred. A primary transfer member transfers the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt, and a plurality of rolls, across which the intermediate transfer belt is stretched, apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt. A secondary transfer backup roll, which is one of the plurality of rolls, backs up the secondary transfer by a secondary transfer roll. A pair of side frames pivotally support the primary transfer member and the plurality of rolls. A positioner, with which a contact member rotatably fitted at both ends of a shaft of the secondary transfer roll is brought into contact, is disposed at each side frame in the vicinity of the secondary transfer backup roll.

Abstract: A processor comprises a central processing unit that downloads firmware from outside after starting a second program that depends on a device, stores the downloaded firmware in a volatile memory, and executes predetermined processing based on the firmware stored in the volatile memory; and a non-volatile memory that stores a device-independent first program for downloading the second program in a first program storage area thereof, wherein the central processing unit starts the first program stored in the first program storage area of the non-volatile memory to download the second program from the outside, writes the downloaded second program in a second program storage area of the non-volatile memory, and starts the second program written in the second program storage area to download the firmware from the outside.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input section, a position calculation section, a storage section, a log information record section, a display data generation section and a display section. The input section receives document identification information, which are output as output signals from respective transmission portions set to correspond to respective documents, and user identification information, which are output as output signals from respective transmission portions set to correspond to users. The position calculation section calculates document positions and user positions based on the document identification information and the user identification information. The storage section stores the calculated document positions and the calculated user positions. The log information record section records document use histories of the users based on the stored document positions and the stored user positions.