Abstract: A compact structure and rapid method for calibrating a document scanner provides for a substantially cylindrical calibration casing having a central axis and an outer surface, with a brightness calibration section of the outer surface encompassing a portion of the circumference of the outer surface, a document width detection segment encompassing a second portion of the circumference of the outer surface, and a document backer element encompassing a third segment of the circumference of the outer surface of the casing. A driver selectively positions the casing in different rotational positions in which the different segments of the outer surface of the cylinder face the optical element of the scanner.

Abstract: A guide system for xerographic printing apparatus introduces paper bearing an unfixed image and having a broad range of basis weights into a fuser nip from a prefuser transport without causing image smear. An entrance baffle is positioned in the path of the paper advancing toward the fuser nip for engagement by the paper's leading edge. The entrance baffle is hinged at its mounting end for swinging movement between a maximal and minimal positions as defined by stop members and is biased into engagement with the minimal stop member. The magnitude of the bias is chosen such that as the lightest basis weight paper engages the entrance baffle, it bends around its free end and is guided into the fuser nip, and such that as the heaviest paper engages the entrance baffle, it forces the entrance baffle toward engagement with the second stop member and itself is guided into the fuser nip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising a phase change ink carrier and a colorant compound of the formula wherein Y is a hydrogen atom or a bromine atom, n is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, R1 is an alkylene group or an arylalkylene group, and X is (a) a hydrogen atom, (b) a group of the formula wherein R2 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, (c) an alkyleneoxy, aryleneoxy, arylalkyleneoxy, or alkylaryleneoxy group, or (d) a group of the formula wherein R4 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-interactive, dry powder development of electrostatic images includes an image bearing member bearing an electrostatic image; two component developer comprising toner and permanently magnetized thickly coated carrier beads, the coated carrier beads having magnetizable core radius r, average radius a, and magnetization Mb, with the ratio r/a being given as K; a developer transporting member having a thickness t for transporting a developer layer of the two component developer, wherein the layer is spaced close to and out of contact with the image bearing member, a multipole magnet member disposed in close proximity to the transporting member and moving relative to it so as to sweep poles across its surface, the magnet member having a periodic magnetization of spatial frequency k and a peak magnetization M0 wherein Mb, t, k, and M0, are chosen such that Mb is sufficiently large to prevent the escape of developer, a quantity C in the equation C = 2.

Abstract: A user conducts a telephone conversation without speaking. It does this by moving the participant in the public situation to a quiet mode of communication (e.g., keyboard, buttons, touchscreen). All the other participants are allowed to continue using their usual audible technology (e.g., telephones) over the existing telecommunications infrastructure. The quiet user interface transforms the user's silent input selections into equivalent audible signals that may be directly transmitted to the other parties in the conversation.

Abstract: It is a toner for optical fixing which contains a binder resin, a colorant, and an infrared light absorbent, and the infrared light absorbent has a coloring opacity of 20 or less, and of phthalocyanine compound and/or naphthalocyanine compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming images. The method includes the steps of forming electrostatic latent images on an electrostatic image carrier, forming toner images with a toner-containing developer by developing the electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic image carrier, transferring the toner images onto a transfer material, and thermally fixing the toner images, wherein an electrophotographic toner including containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent in the range of 10 to 25% by mass relative to toner particles and having a shape factor SF1 of 140 or less is used as the toner, and the thermal fixing step is carried out so as to satisfy, at a process speed of at least 170 mm/sec., the relationship (A): 200<0.7×&agr;+2000×&bgr; wherein &agr; is a fixing temperature (° C.), &bgr; is a heating time (second), and &agr; is 160° C. or higher.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device comprised of an anode and a cathode, and situated therebetween said anode and said cathode at least one electron transport layer comprised of a triazine of the formula wherein A is a monovalent or a multi-valent aromatic group which contains at least two conjugate-linked or at least two fused aromatic rings; Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently aryl or aliphatic; and m represents the number of repeating segments.

Abstract: An encoded sheet material includes a sheet of material having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material, the edge having indicia arranged thereon to form a code uniquely identifying the sheet of material. A system for managing an encoded sheet of material, includes a code reader operative in conjunction with the encoded sheet of material for reading the code, a sheet processing apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one of the first and second surfaces, and a processor in communication with the code reader device and the sheet processing apparatus for associating the information with the read code.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer member having a polyimide resin film containing oxidized carbon black; and an image forming apparatus comprising an intermediate transfer member having a polyimide resin film containing oxidized carbon black.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has, in the upper portion of an apparatus main body, a main body discharge section and a main body stack section in which a sheet discharged from the main body discharge section is placed. The sheet processing apparatus includes a transport section disposed on the upper portion of the main body stack section and transports the sheet discharged from the main body discharge section in a sheet eject direction, an eject section which is disposed on the upper portion of the main body discharge section and from which the sheet with an image formed thereon is ejected through a eject passage different from the eject passage of the main body discharge section, and a transport placement portion which is disposed on the transport section and in which the sheet ejected from the eject section is placed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fabrication method of copper interconnects using dual damascene processing. Using silicon to provide an active surface, palladium can be selectively deposited on silicon by an immersion plating technique. After palladium deposition (about 1000 Å thick), either a layer of cobalt phosphorus or alloy cobalt/nickel phosphorus or nickel phosphorus is deposited on the palladium layer using an electroless plating technique. This cobalt phosphorus, cobalt/nickel phosphorus alloy, or nickel phosphorus layer serves as a copper diffusion barrier. The via and trenches are filled with copper by an electroless copper plating method and CMP is used to remove the excess copper and planarize-/-polish the copper/dielectric surface.

Abstract: An instruction inputting device and instruction inputting method which improve usability without requiring mechanical control or relatively fine control. Three-dimensional positional information of an LED, which is mountable on a person inputting instructions, is measured by a 3D measurement device in accordance with reception conditions of light emitted from the LED, and then is input to the device. On the basis of the acquired 3D positional information, velocities and accelerations relating to movement of the LED are detected. On the basis of the detected velocities and accelerations, it is decided whether or not movement of the-LED corresponds to pre-specified movement. When it is decided that the movement of the LED corresponds to any of the pre-specified movement, execution of processing associated with that pre-specified movement is instructed.

Abstract: Methods and systems include a dependent min-max module the receives image data and generates a dependent Min value and a dependent Max value within a window around a pixel of interest. A dynamic threshold module, based on the dependent Min and Max values, generates continuity data and enhanced data suitable for identifying, for example, blobs.

Abstract: A process including: providing a cylindrical substrate rotating about the long axis; applying at least one coating layer with a direct writing applicator on the outer surface of the rotating substrate; and curing the resulting coated layer or layers.

Abstract: A recording apparatus contains a recording head having a liquid droplet ejecting surface and ejecting a liquid droplet to a recording medium, a maintenance device disposed at a position opposite to the liquid droplet ejecting surface of the recording head, and a conveying unit which conveys the recording medium between the recording head and the maintenance device. The maintenance device has a liquid housing unit which houses the liquid droplet from the recording head, and a cleaning unit which cleans the liquid droplet ejecting surface of the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a photosensitive drum in which a toner image is formed on surface thereof; an intermediate transfer belt to which the toner image of the photosensitive drum is transferred via a primary transfer portion and the transferred toner image is transferred via a secondary transfer portion to a paper; and a wrap-out roller which abuts against a rear surface of this intermediate transfer belt so as to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt. This wrap-out roller forms the primary transfer portion which causes the intermediate transfer belt to abut against the photosensitive drum in a wrap shape, and forms a flat plane portion toward the secondary transfer portion. This wrap-out roller is arranged within a projection area which is directed from a secondary transfer roller toward the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, verification of the correctness of a particular replaceable module takes place before an operating element of the printing apparatus fully engages the replaceable module. A printing apparatus coupler establishes a communication link with a tag on the replaceable module as the replaceable module is being inserted into the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus coupler receives module identifying information from the tag. The coupler determines from the identifying information whether the replaceable module is appropriate for that location in that printing apparatus, and performs either an acceptance action to accept the replaceable module, or a rejection action to reject the module.

Abstract: An apparatus comprised of a charging component, a development component, a transport component, a photoconductive component, and a fusing component, and wherein the development component contains a toner comprising at least one binder in an optional amount of from about 85 to about 99 percent by weight, at least one colorant in an optional amount of from about 0.5 to about 15 percent by weight, and calcium stearate in an optional amount of from about 0.05 to about 2 percent by weight and wherein following triboelectric contact with carrier particles, the toner has a charge Q measured in femtocoulombs per particle diameter D measured in microns (Q/D) of from about −0.1 to about −1 fC/&mgr;m with a variation during development of from about 0 to about 0.25 fC/&mgr;m and wherein the distribution is substantially unimodal and possesses a peak width of from about 0.1 fC/&mgr;m to about 0.