Abstract: The present invention provides an ink drying prevention apparatus that can prevent ink within an ink-jet recording head from drying, for a long period of time. The ink drying prevention apparatus prevents ink within an ink-jet recording head from drying, and includes a porous substance permeated with a seal liquid that is nonvolatile and incompatible with the ink within the head, wherein the porous substance can contact a nozzle surface of the ink-jet recording head. The seal liquid forms plural meniscuses in an interface with the nozzle surface and inside the porous substance to block air paths, thereby preventing ink within a nozzle exposed to the nozzle surface from drying.

Abstract: A method for creating secure command-language-based services in the context of a graphical-based services system. The method includes the steps of creating a structured representation of the command-language-based service by using information entered by a service creator via a first user interface; registering the command-language-based service with a generic service provider, the generic service provider being a software module that provides command-language-based services as part of the graphical-based services system; and creating a second user interface corresponding to the command-language-based service created.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device having multiple directional outputs with multiple registration options having no fixed registration wall for sequencing single sheets or two approximately identical sheets arriving in a two-up configuration, includes a first, second, third, and fourth pairs of rolls. The first pair of rolls and the second pair of rolls rotate about a first shaft, which is rotated by a first servomotor. The third pair of rolls rotate about a second shaft, which is rotated by a second servomotor, wherein the shaft is oriented at an angle approximately 90° relative to the first shaft. The fourth pair of rolls rotate about a third shaft oriented at an angle approximately 90° relative to the first shaft and approximately parallel to the second shaft, and a third servomotor operably connected to the third shaft rotates the third shaft.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine, wherein an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed to form a visible image thereof, the electrophotographic printing machine including a system, for removing contaminants from toner in a developer housing, the system including a filter system, positioned in a path of flowing developer material, the filter system having a screen for permitting developer material to travel therethrough while inhibiting contaminants from traveling therethrough when vibrated; the screen being inclined to the path of flowing developer material a vibration driver, operatively connected to the screen, for vibrating the screen.

Abstract: A support system for diagnosing printer problems, includes a support server and a printer located remote from the support server. The support server includes a rules engine for parsing printer diagnostic data into components, for analyzing the components and for generating a suggested solution based on combinations of printer diagnostic data and error conditions. The printer includes a printer driver, responsive to a user request for support, for communicating with the support server. Printer diagnostic data may be generated by a usage profile utility resident at the printer or by downloading a printer diagnostic utility from the support server, or a combination of both. Generated printer diagnostic data is sent to the support server where the rules engine parses and analyzes the received data and generates a suggested solution for transmission to the printer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of operating a robot comprised of a plurality of modules during reconfiguration, rearrangement to provide a support structure and internal manipulation, each module made of a cubic shape with six faces, each face including an arm for expansion and contraction with another module.

Abstract: An alignment system includes a first module wherein a plurality of emitters are located at defined locations on the face of the first module. The emitters are positioned to emit signals of a known intensity distribution away from the face of the first module. A first receiver configuration is also located on the face of the first module, where the first receiver configuration has a known sensitivity distribution. A second module has a second plurality of emitters located at defined locations on the face of the module. The second plurality of emitters are positioned to emit signals of a known intensity distribution away from the face of the second module. A second receiver configuration is also located on the face of the second module, and has a known sensitivity distribution. First and second trigger signal generators are configured to fire the first and second plurality of emitters, respectively, in predetermined patterns.

Abstract: A UV detector is located at an arbitrary measuring position on an object on which UV intensity and dose are measured and measures the UV intensity and dose at the measuring position. The receptor includes a UV photo-receiving device having a photosemiconductive layer containing nitrogen and at least one of elements of Al, Ga and In, and a UV untransmissive member having a function of preventing UV transmitted through the UV receiving device from being received by the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates that constraining a substrate into a convex arc prior to mounting and affixing of any chips, allows those chips to achieve exemplary final chip-to-chip abutment when the substrate is released and allowed to return to stasis. This is particularly of use where there are any intervening thermal cycles, and the thermal temperature coefficients of expansion for the chip/die and any substrate/mount are significantly different. This will allow the utilization of otherwise more desirable materials for the substrate in spite of some mismatch in thermal coefficients that may exist between the substrate and chips.

Abstract: A binding tape including:

Abstract: A sequential transfer-assist blade assembly includes (a) a first cam and blade assembly including a first blade segment having a first length (A1) and being movable for first contacting a first size image receiving sheet having a first center location and a first width (A2); (b) a second cam and blade assembly including a second blade segment and a third blade segment each having a second length (B1), and each being located adjacent a first end and a second end respectively of the first blade segment, the first, the second and the third blade segments being moveable for contacting a second size image receiving sheet such that the second and the third blade segments contact the second size image receiving sheet after the first blade segment, the second image receiving sheet having a center location coincident with the first center location, and having a second width (A2+2×B2); and (c) a third cam and blade assembly including a fourth blade segment and a fifth blade segment each having a third length

Abstract: A seamed flexible belt having a substrate and a seam having interlocking seam members, wherein the interlocking seam members are held together by an adhesive having polyamide and a doped metal oxide filler, for use in electrostatographic, contact electrostatic, digital and other like printing machines.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a printer problem includes correlating a wide range of printer data types with suggested solutions. Printer diagnostic data, which may include usage information and printer status information collected over a period of time, is parsed into individual components. The components are then input into a set of rules. Each rule compares each component with a corresponding reference value to generate a comparison result, correlates the comparison result with a set of actions including solutions, and if there is a correlation between the comparison result and a solution, providing the solution.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display liquid composition for use in an electrophoretic display device that has a multiplicity of individual reservoirs, each containing the display liquid of two sets of particles dispersed in a transparent liquid system as well as at least one charge director dissolved or dispersed in the liquid system, or physically embedded on the surface of the particles or chemically bonded on the surface of the surface of the particles, the two sets of particles exhibiting different, contrasting color and different charging properties from each other. The charge director(s) is preferably a metal salicylate compound. The particles may be modified with charge controlling agents, and may also include a set of magnetic particles. The transparent liquid system may include two immiscible liquids having different densities with the sets of particles having densities in between the densities of the two immiscible liquids such that the particles rest at an interface between the two immiscible liquids.

Abstract: A process for flashless hot melt bonding of seamed flexible belts having a substrate and a seam having interlocking seam members, wherein the interlocking seam members are held together by an adhesive for use in electrostatographic, contact electrostatic, digital and other like machines, wherein the process includes: a) providing a release layer having an adhesive strip on a front side of the release layer, wherein the release layer is wider than the adhesive strip; b) providing the release layer containing the adhesive strip over the seam, wherein the front side of the release layer containing the adhesive strip is in contact with the seam and mutually mating members; c) thermal compressive adhesive bonding of the release layer to the seam, and d) optionally postcuring the seam; and wherein virtually no flashing of the adhesive outside the seam occurs.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in accordance with formation of paper, there are controlled parameters; that is, a color conversion parameter pertaining to a color conversion section 23 of a drawing section 22; a parameter pertaining to a correction curve of an TRC·&ggr; correction section 24 or a parameter pertaining to the number of screens or a growth pattern of a screen processing section 25 provided in a printer engine control section 12; parameters for use in adjusting electrification, exposure, and a voltage to be used during a developing operation, which are employed in a printer engine 13; a parameter for adjusting a voltage or current during a transfer operation; and a parameter for adjusting a fixing temperature or pressure. Parameters are controlled so as to reduce inconsistencies, which would otherwise arise in paper of poor formation. Thus, picture quality of an image is improved while inconsistencies are made less noticeable.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image is provided, in which a rotational member, such as a photoreceptor drum, is borne by using a rolling bearing assuring electric conduction between an inner ring and an outer ring by filling electroconductive grease. Rotation of a photoreceptor drum is borne by using a electroconductive rolling bearing having a resistance between the inner ring and the outer ring of about 15 k&OHgr; or less in terms of a maximum value and about 8 k&OHgr; or less in terms of an effective value under a dynamic condition, where a radial or thrust load acting between the inner ring and the outer ring is 10 N, and a relative difference in rotational velocity between the inner ring and the outer ring is 150 rpm, and the photoreceptor drum is rotated at about 75 rpm or more.

Abstract: A coating method for a substrate defining a deposition region and an optional uncoated region, wherein the deposition region includes an intermediate region disposed between a first end region and a second end region, the method composed of: (a) dip coating a first layer of a coating solution including a liquid medium and a coating material only over the first end region; and (b) dip coating a second layer of the coating solution over the first layer, the intermediate region, and the second end region in the recited sequence.

Abstract: An image forming method has steps of transferring a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member and simultaneously transferring and fixing the toner image on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium. The toner contains a binder resin and a colorant, and has a storage elastic modulus (G′) of 2×102 to 6×103 Pa at a temperature at which a loss elastic modulus (G″) reaches 1×104 Pa, and the simultaneous transfer and fixing is conducted using a transfer and fixing unit which has a nip between a fixing roll coated with an elastic member and a heat-resistant belt laid across support rolls, and the heat-resistant belt is urged against the fixing roll and the elastic member of the fixing roll is twisted at an exit of the nip with a pressure roll mounted inside the heat-resistant belt.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus, a fixing unit and a heat circulation system are equipped with a heat circulator capable of being fabricated at low costs and ensuring high heat exchange efficiency. The heat circulator includes two tabular metal members that come into contact with an intermediate transfer member at positions upstream and downstream of a simultaneous transfer and fixing zone, and plural heat pipes that transfer the heat of the first metal member to the second metal member.