Abstract: A sheet registration system for a sheet transport path of a reproduction apparatus providing positive feeding yet lateral registration of a wide range of different image substrate sheets. Independent sheet transport units with plural radius sheet feed rollers spaced along the sheet transport path engage sheets being fed to provide positive feeding of even very short sheets from one sheet transport unit to another, yet provide automatic opening of the nips of selected units to allow lateral registration movement of even a very long sheet in the downstream lateral sheet registration system. The same drive motor rotatably driving each sheet transport unit is controlled in rotational position to selectively open the number of open sheet feeding nips needed for the lateral registration movement of that particular sheet length. The mating idlers for the sheet feed rollers need not be moved to open the nips.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising an ink vehicle, a colorant, and a nonpolymeric organic gelator selected from the group consisting of anthracene-based compounds, steroid compounds, partially fluorinated high molecular weight alkanes, high molecular weight alkanes with exactly one hetero atom, chiral tartrate compounds, chiral butenolide-based compounds, bis-urea compounds, guanines, barbiturates, oxamide compounds, ureidopyrimidone compounds, and mixtures thereof, said organic gelator being present in the ink in an amount of no more than about 20 percent by weight of the ink, said ink having a melting point at or below which the ink is a solid, said ink having a gel point at or above which the ink is a liquid, and said ink exhibiting a gel state between the melting point and the gel point, said ink exhibiting reversible transitions between the solid state and the gel state upon heating and cooling, said ink exhibiting reversible transitions between the gel state and the liquid state upon

Abstract: A member including for example, a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer comprising a synthesized mixture of

Abstract: A fluid container, particularly a replaceable ink container for an ink jet printer, and the method for opening that container reduce the likelihood of ejecting ink into the environment when a user opens the container. The ink container includes a housing formed of several container walls, with a fluid port through one of the container walls. An expansion element formed of a deformable wall portion of one of the container walls has an opening element attached to it so that the expansion element can be moved from an inner position to an outer position to expand the volume of the interior of the housing, thus lowering the pressure in the interior of the housing. The user opens a vent opening after expanding the expansion element to equalize the pressure in the interior of the ink container and the ambient external environment before opening the fluid port.

Abstract: A gyricon platen cover provides a black background behind an original document and a white background surrounding the document to mitigate show-through of the back side of the document while the front side of the document is being scanning. The gyricon platen cover also provides a black background for the document for pre-scan detection of the location of the edges of an original document for electronic registration, electronic skew correction and automatic magnification selection during scanning of the original document.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamic personalized reading fluency instruction and improvement are provided by determining a user reading fluency level based on one or more spoken responses provided by the user during one or more reading aloud session of a text that has been evaluated for discourse structure and information structure of sentences. One or more reading fluency improvement aids are provided to the user based on one or more of: determined user-specific reading fluency deficiencies, user-personalized information responses and user class-specific reading fluency deficiencies as determined by the reading fluency improvement system.

Abstract: A user of a meta-search engine submits a query formulated with operators defining relationships between keywords. Information sources are selected for interrogation by the user or by the meta-search engine. If necessary, the query is translated for each selected source to adapt the operators of the query to a form accepted by that source. The query is submitted to each selected source and answers are retrieved from each source as a summary of each document found that satisfies the query. The answers are post-filtered from each source to determine if the answers satisfy the originally formulated query. Answers that satisfy the query are displayed as a list of selectable document summaries. The analysis includes computing a subsumption ratio of filtered answers to answers received that satisfy a translated query. The subsumption ratio is used to improve the accuracy of subsequent queries submitted by the user to the meta-search engine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming on a recording medium an image whose resistance to water and light is improved and whose image quality is enhanced, with printing speed being increased due to drying of ink being accelerated. The methods include the steps of: forming a layer including resin particles on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium or on a surface of a recording medium; recording the image by jetting ink from an inkjet recording head onto the resin particle layer so that the ink is retained in cavities of the resin particle layer; and either transferring the resin particle layer from the surface of the intermediate transfer medium to a recording medium to fix the resin particle layer thereto or fixing the recording medium having the resin particle layer retaining the ink.

Abstract: By using negative feedback, moiré patterns can be reduced, or virtually eliminated, from input black-and-white or color original images. In particular, by feeding back an image containing the difference between the original input image and the halftone output with possible moiré patterns, and subtracting the low-frequency part of this image from the original input image, a resultant halftone image can be achieved that has reduced moiré patterns.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing accumulation of toner from the surface of an electrode member in a development unit of an electrostatographic printing apparatus by providing a coating having a polymer with a fully fluorinated polymer on at least a portion of the electrode member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a polymer of the formula wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is one of several specific groups, such as B is one of several specified groups, such as or mixtures thereof, and n is an integer representing the number of repeating monomer units, said process comprising (A) providing a reaction mixture which comprises (i) a solvent, (ii) a compound of the formula (iii) a compound of the formula (iv) a compound of the formula wherein a is an integer of from 1 to 5, R′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, an alkylaryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an arylalkyloxy group, an alkylaryloxy group, a polyalkyleneoxy group, or a mixture thereof, and (v) a carbonate base; and (B) heating the reaction mixture and removing generated water from the reaction mixture, thereby effecting a polymerization reaction.

Abstract: A red-eye detection method includes receiving digital image data that defines an image. The digital image data are processed to identify all regions of the image that include a specular reflection. Image regions deemed to include a specular reflection are processed further, according to conventional techniques, to determine the presence or absence of red-eye. Specular reflections are identified according to luminace-chrominance characteristics, geometric (e.g., size/shape) characteristics, and/or luminance gradient characteristics.

Abstract: A data encoding device and a data decoding device. A data encoding device refers to first and second encoding tables to search for a code word correlated with encoding data. One of the code words is selected according to predetermined criteria. When the selected code word requires additional information, additional information is generated. A data decoding device refers to the first and second encoding tables and retrieves a data element from at least one of the tables. When additional information is available, original data is calculated based on the data element and the additional information. When additional information is not available, the retrieved data element is output without modification as original data.

Abstract: A method and system which converts an electronic binary image to another electronic binary image by compensating for the differences between printer responses so that a target printer can print the image to emulate how the image would appear if printed by an originally-intended printer or another printer. A print-ready binary image is inputted into a print and scan simulation circuit which electronically simulates the printing and scanning of the image data. The print and scan simulation circuit converts the binary image data to gray scale image data. The gray scale image data is then processed by a tone response correction circuit. The tone response correction circuit alters the gray scale image data based on the difference between the tone reproduction curves of two printers, such as an originally-intended printer and a target printer.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a continuous medium, the tension force applied to the continuous medium by the image forming drum is controlled within a proper range. The apparatus comprises a toner image forming unit forms a toner image on a rotating image forming drum, a transfer unit that transfers, to the continuous medium, the toner image on the image forming drum by a transfer current, and a control unit that monitors the tension force applied to the continuous medium by the image forming drum and controls the transfer current at the transfer area, based on the results of this monitoring. Alternatively, the apparatus increases the minimum printing ratio by adding additional data to the print data.

Abstract: Fuser members and processes are provided for crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer surfaces containing a fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino crosslinker together with methods for providing a crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer surface on a fuser member supporting substrate which include mixing together an acid acceptor, an emulsifier, water, and non-amino based crosslinker with a latex fluorocarbon elastomer.

Abstract: Heating elements are driven to continuously perform a dummy jet when the number of accumulated printed sheets reaches a predetermined number that causes the image quality deficiency. The surface temperature of a recording head is increased to T1° C. to boil ink in the individual channel. A bubble attached to the common liquid chamber side edge of the individual channel is spaced from the wall surface to be expanded to be integrated with other bubbles, and then, is discharged from the common liquid chamber to an ink supply chamber by its floating force. The bubble can be removed reliably.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing the use of multifunctional printing system's basic processing resources for multiple banded image processing. The printing system employs a controller with an improved job contention manager (JCM). A plurality of basic resources of the printing system are provided with a queue. One or more job services, at desired times, signals the JCM to transfer a multiple banded image sub-job of a given job. The signal for each of the bands of the sub-job includes information about the respective sub-job's priority, band number and total band count for the image. Responsive to the signal from the job service the JCM adds a corresponding basic resource sub-job to the queues of each basic resourse which the sub-job will require to perform the sub-job. When the last band of an image has been transferred it is merged into a single image for further processing.

Abstract: A print head for a liquid ink printer deposits liquid ink droplets on a recording medium. A curved infrared foil heater is disposed adjacent to the recording medium path opposite the print head, for heating the recording medium to dry the liquid ink droplets. The foil heater is an infrared emitting, etched foil circuit heater mounted within a channel in a frame to curve and thus self-tension to prevent wrinkling of the foil heater despite any thermal expansion of the foil heater.

Abstract: An imaging member having a substrate, a charge transport layer having charge transport materials dispersed therein, and an overcoat layer comprising trisamino triphenyl compound.