Abstract: A photoconductive imaging member including a hole blocking layer, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein the hole blocking layer contains, for example, a metal oxide; and a mixture of a phenolic compound and a phenolic resin, and wherein the phenolic compound can contain at least two phenolic groups.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a control system and method for systems of producing and consuming units. The method of the invention includes the steps of setting each producing unit to have an output responsive to an analog signal representative of a market price, and connecting each producing unit to a marketwire, with the changes in the analog signal on the marketwire representing changes in the market price resulting from inputs from the consuming units and the output response of each producing unit.

Abstract: A crosslinked polymer particle can be obtained by carrying out a crosslinking reaction between a non-crosslinked polymer particle containing a succinimidoxycarbonyl group and a compound having two or more amino groups.

Abstract: A refillable fluid container system having a pressure control architecture in which persistent air bubbles are released from a capillary or foam fluid reservoir and are directed from an optical level sensing system in a liquid fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A method for forming an image contains steps of: transferring a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 5 ?m or less to a recording medium as a toner image having a monochromatic maximum toner mass per area of 0.35 mg/cm2 or less; and fixing the toner image at a surface temperature of a fixing roll which is 130° C. or less. The toner preferably has 0.02 log(Pa)/° C. or less of a gradient of a storage, elasticity per temperature in a temperature range of from Tm+20° C. to Tm+50° C. Here, Tm represents a melting temperature of a crystalline resin contained in the crystalline toner.

Abstract: A mechanism for sealing a cover to a container for storing ink in an inkjet cartridge is provided. The mechanism includes a container for storing ink, a cover and a gasket. The cover fits over the container and the gasket is interposed between an inside edge of the cover and an outside edge of the container. Inkjet cartridges and printing apparatuses employing such mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides stock solutions for production of nonlinear-optical materials using a wet coating method. In particular, the invention provides a stock solution containing a nonlinear-optically active organic compound, which is a push-pull ?-conjugated compound having a particular chemical structure, having one or more cross-linkable functional groups. In addition, the invention provides a stock solution comprising a nonlinear-optically active organic compound having at least a certain chemical structure and a matrix-forming compound having one or more cross-linkable functional groups. Further, the invention provides a nonlinear-optical material and a nonlinear-optical device, both prepared by using the stock solutions.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir sensing system includes a pair of optical prisms or sensor targets that reflect light when a fluid level is below one of the pair of prisms or sensor targets. The pair of optical prisms or sensor targets includes a low prism or sensor target usable to sense a low liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a high prism or sensor target usable to sense a high liquid level in the fluid reservoir, and a wicking means to wick fluid away from the high incident and low incident surfaces of the prisms or sensor targets that are above the fluid level. The fluid reservoir sensing system optionally includes an emitter and a photosensor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for color converting an input image signal to an output image signal includes a multidimensional look-up table and a judgment unit. The multidimensional look-up table correlates a signal value of the output image signal corresponding to a signal value of the input image signal with a position on a coordinate axis in a predetermined color space and holds it, secures a holding area for holding a specific color signal value in an area on the coordinate axis, the area is not taken by the signal value of the input image signal. The judgment unit judges whether the signal value of the input image signal is a specific color or not. When the input image signal is the specific color, address conversion is performed on the input image signal, and the specific color signal value in the holding area is acquired based on the multidimensional look-up table.

Abstract: An information collection method for collecting information about an event occurred in a peripheral device, comprising: preparing an e-mail for notifying about the event, sending the e-mail to a server, analyzing the e-mail by the server and collecting information about the event.

Abstract: An imaging member having a substrate, a charge transport layer having charge transport materials dispersed therein, and an overcoat layer, wherein at least one of the charge transport layer and the overcoat layer comprise nano-size fillers having a particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers.

Abstract: A method for problem solving in a computer system includes an applications module for sending a problem statement to a complexity module, which configures a solving module with configuration parameters and also determines expected problem solver behavior. The solving module selects a set of parameter configuration vectors, determines a set of search space points, performs a partial search based on the parameter configuration vectors, and determines actual problem solver behavior. The solving module then determines whether a problem solution has been found, whether to perform a solver iteration step or request a complexity module to perform an adaptation step.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet recording head which can efficiently prevent ink from corroding an insulating film layer. A positive electrode is disposed on an upper surface of the insulating film layer and a negative electrode is disposed on a lower surface of the insulating film layer, which is referred to as a turnover structure. There is no electrode between any two adjacent heater resistor portions. As a result, high-density disposition of the heater resistor portions can be carried out. The heater resistor portions are thermally oxidized, so that surfaces thereof are changed into tantalum insulating films (surface oxidation films), which serve as ink protection layers. A second insulating film layer is totally covered by the heater resistor portions and the partition walls and is not exposed. Thus, ink does not contact the second insulating film layer, and the second insulating film layer is not corroded by ink.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a haloelastomer having pendant chains covalently bonded to a backbone of the haloelastomer, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus that includes: a paper carry-in port, which is disposed at one side surface of the paper processing apparatus; a center-bound paper discharge port, which is disposed at another side surface opposite from the paper carry-in port; a center-binding compilation tray, which extends from an upper direction of the one side surface to a lower direction of the other side surface, and aligns and accommodates plural sheets of paper conveyed from the paper carry-in port; a center-binding stapler, which binds a predetermined portion of the paper stack that is accommodated and aligned; a folding knife, which folds the bound paper stack; a rotary cutter unit, which is disposed vertically above the center-binding compilation tray and cuts the folded paper using a horizontally moving blade.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting paper registration skew. A skew or paper registration error of a sheet moving in a feed path is detected. A coarse adjustment, or copy paper registration, using full steps is performed until the registration error is reduced to a minimum value, below a full step. The frequency of one motor with respect to the other, or a reference, or reference motors, is adjusted for a fixed period to enable a fine adjustment to correct the registration error.

Abstract: A virtual tech rep system that can assist in reducing service call visits and customer complaints by readily analyzing image quality of an output image device, such as a copier or printer. The system generates a hardcopy test pattern output from the copier or printer and then scans the test pattern using either the platen of the digital copier or an external scanner to form a digital raster image. Test targets in the digital raster image are then determined using pattern recognition software and image quality analysis is then performed on the test targets based on the sensitivity of the human visual system. It is preferable that the image quality analysis is based on human vision systems rather than a direct comparison between original and printed images as many differences may go unnoticed by a human viewer whereas other types of differences may be readily noticed, even if only slight.

Abstract: Additional data is embedded in a printed image in a way that makes the additional data unrecognizable to eyes and recognizable without fail by an image input apparatus. An image processing apparatus of the present invention has: an average calculation unit as a density value detection part that detects the density value of a predetermined color component of image data representing a nearby image in the vicinity of an image to which additional data is to be added; a pattern selection unit that decides a pattern which is larger in area at the larger density value detected by the average calculation unit and has a shape corresponding to the value of the additional data to be added to the image; and an addition processing unit that superimposes the pattern decided by the pattern selection unit on image data representing the image.