Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition comprising water, a colorant, and a linear ASBS′A′ block copolymer wherein A and A′ are each, independently of the other, blocks comprising one or more repeat monomer units of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or random or alternating mixtures of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, B is a block comprising one or more repeat monomer units of an alkylsiloxane, a dialkylsiloxane, an alkyl aryl siloxane, a diarylsiloxane, or mixtures thereof, S is an optional spacer group between the A and B blocks, and S′ is an optional spacer group between the B and A′ blocks. Also disclosed is a multicolor ink jet printing process using the ink, wherein dry time is reduced and/or intercolor bleed is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for classifying image data. A neighborhood average gray value may be determined for the input image data. A threshold value may then be determined based on the neighborhood average gray value. Pixels are evaluated to determine if a gray level difference between the pixel and the neighborhood average gray level is greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A system for identifying a supply accessory in a device. The system includes a device identifier in the supply accessory and a controller adapted to measure a value of the device identifier, compare the measured value with a predetermined value and determine if the supply accessory corresponds to the device.

Abstract: A special test pattern and image quality analysis system and process for evaluating the test pattern are provided to accurately measure color-color registration in an image output device that prints in CMYK color. The process is robust even when using relatively low-resolution CCD-based scanners and also is unique in that the process automatically factors out errors originating from skew between the detector and the subject of measurement. Further, registration of each of C, M, and Y relative to K are independently determined. The test pattern includes an upper part and a lower part, with both the upper and lower parts having a black K component and the upper part also including color components for C, M and Y. The system and method have potential for being built in to color printers or copiers to allow measurement of color misregistration within the paper path and automatically correct for color registration errors.

Abstract: A structured document management system for managing a structured document is disclosed, the system including: an element registration unit for registering attribute information and content information about each of elements in the structured document as element information; a structural information registration unit for registering relations between the elements in the structured document as binary format structural information; and an information retaining unit for retaining the element information registered by the element registration unit as records of a relational database while preserving the binary format structural information registered by the structural information registration unit.

Abstract: In a digital printing system, such as including one or more printers connected to a host computer via a network, it is occasionally desired to download software for new fonts to the printers. In many cases, different printers support different “font types” or “font formats,” meaning different encoding methods for the font software. The various printers on the network are queried by remotely querying the MIB associated with each printer, to determine what font type is supported by each printer. When the font software is downloaded, where necessary for a particular printer, the original font software is converted to be supportable by the printer.

Abstract: A system architecture and method are provided for synchronizing the slave clock of one or more resources with the master clock of a controller in a document processing system. The method includes: a) saving a value of the master clock (615); b) generating a discrete clock synchronization interrupt signal and distributing the interrupt signal to the resource(s) via the control bus (625); c) receiving the interrupt signal at each resource (630) and saving a value of the slave clock (640); d) sending a message to the controller via a network to request the value saved for the master clock (645); e) sending the value to the resource (660); f) receiving the value (665); and g) subtracting the value saved for the slave clock from the value saved for the master clock to determine an error value between the clocks (690) and using the error value in an adjustment algorithm to synchronize the slave clock with the master clock (695).

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a seam that is finished using a finishing machine. The intermediate transfer belt comprises a belt outer surface and a belt inner surface. The seam comprises a seam outer surface of a seam width with adhesive material disposed thereon. The finishing process includes a finishing media with a finishing surface and a backer bar. The backer bar comprises a backer bar radius and a backer bar surface with a backer surface curvature based on the backer bar radius. The backer bar surface is positioned against the belt inner surface so that the belt outer surface contacts the finishing surface to define a finishing contact arc with respect to the backer bar radius. A tension, feed rate and pressure are applied to the finishing media. The backer bar radius is then adjusted so that the finishing contact arc covers the seam width. Using the finishing machine, the seam is then finished to remove the adhesive material.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for measuring toner concentration in a developer contained in a developer housing (10) includes a developer sample container(102) that receives a portion of developer extracted from the developer housing (10). A spectrophotometer (112) measures spectrophotometric data for the portion of the developer in the developer sample container (102). A processor (116) estimates the toner concentration based on the measured spectrophotometric data and a pre-determined relationship (118) between the spectrophotometric data and the toner concentration. A method (200) for estimating the toner concentration in a developer comprising a toner and a carrier includes measuring (220) a color characteristic of the developer, comparing (222) the measured color characteristic with a predetermined relationship between the color characteristic and the toner concentration, and estimating (226) the toner concentration based on the comparing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic printing machine that minimizes trail edge flip when delivering a sheet to a photoreceptor at a desired tangential position. The sheet feeding device includes a baffle member which has two control points, one of which is an idler roller. The baffle further includes a ramp member which controls the trail edge of a sheet to maximize the beam length to reduce the bending energy which results in trail edge flip.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming process including the steps of: forming a latent image; developing the latent image with a toner to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving body; and fixing the toner image to the receiving body, wherein the step of fixing is carried out using a fixing device including a heat-fixing roller, an endless belt, and a pressure member to allow the endless belt to travel around the heat-fixing roller at a given angle such that a nip is produced through which a recording sheet passes, with the pressure member being pressed to distort the heat-resistant elastic layer in the heat-fixing roller, and wherein the toner for developing the electrostatic latent image satisfies predetermined requirements.

Abstract: A robotic module for a toy construction system includes a housing enclosing a gear mechanism and an actuator connected to a pivot mechanism to supply operational power for rotation. An energy storage device supplies power to the actuator, which rotates in response to instructions received from a control unit connected to the actuator. A connection plate forms a connection between at least two of the modules. At least one position sensor is provided to sense the arrangement of the modules connected together.

Abstract: An assemblage of robotic modules for a toy construction system includes a plurality of robotic modules, each of which contains memory capability, an actuator, communication means, and a central processor unit. The assemblage also includes a distributed control unit, which is defined at least in part by a plurality of individual central processing units, with each individual robotic module having at least one central processing unit.

Abstract: An assemblage of robotic modules for a toy construction system includes a plurality of robotic modules, each of which contains memory capability, an actuator, communication means, and a central processor unit. The assemblage also includes a distributed control unit, which is defined at least in part by a plurality of individual central processing units, with each individual robotic module having at least one central processing unit.

Abstract: A blower noise reducing device for use in a blower having a blower housing defining a volute, a discharge opening through the blower housing, and a discharge nozzle connected over the discharge opening. The blower noise reducing device comprises a moving air deflecting member having a generally triangular cross-section, a first end representing a base of the generally triangular cross-section, a second end representing an apex of the generally triangular cross-section, a first side for mounting against a wall of the discharge nozzle (at a connecting point between the discharge opening and the discharge nozzle), and a second and opposite side for protruding into the discharge opening and discharge nozzle when the first side is mounted against the wall of the discharge nozzle, thereby reducing noise causing characteristics of air being moved by deflecting such moving air in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning member including melamine resin foam in at least a portion that contacts an object to be cleaned. A charging device and a transfer device including the cleaning member are provided as well. An image forming apparatus including at least the cleaning member is also provided. In the image forming apparatus the cleaning member cleans at least one of a charge roll of the charging device, an image carrier, and a transfer roll of the transfer device.

Abstract: A transfer assist blade for an electrophotograhic printing machine that provides the necessary stiffness to allow complete transfer of a toner image while avoiding excessive bending stress in the blade. The blade is made up of a semiconductive polyester layer bonded to a non-semiconductive polyester layer. A third and fourth layer of high molecular weight polyethylene are bonded o the second layer. These third and fourth layers do not extend the full length of the blade to provide supplemental stiffness while avoiding excess bending stress.

Abstract: A digital printing apparatus is capable of a plurality of selectable output speeds, by varying motor speed or pitch configuration. A user using the apparatus at a basic speed can request a temporary increase in speed of his printing apparatus from a vendor who controls aspects of the printing apparatus over a network. The temporary speed increase can be pre-scheduled, such as to occur one day per week. The user can be charged at different per-print rates depending on the selected speed.

Abstract: An organic light emitting device composed of: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a luminescent region including an organic electroluminescent material between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes both a substantially transparent charge injecting layer adjacent to the luminescent region and an electrically conductive light absorbing layer.

Abstract: Imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts having a large seam surface area, and marking machines that use such imageable seamed intermediate transfer belts. The seamed intermediate transfer belt having an inner surface and an outer surface having predefine surface properties for the purpose of imaging. A belt is formed from a semiconductive substrate having a first end and a second end that are mated to form a seam. An adhesive is disposed over the joint whereupon joint can be burnished or overcoated with a material that substantially imitate predefined surface properties of the belt.