Abstract: A method and apparatus for priming a printhead. The method includes the steps of bringing a vacuum pump up to a predetermined speed and sealingly engaging a printhead with a capping mechanism after the pump reaches the predetermined speed. The pump is connected to the capping mechanism through a tube with a suitable volume. After a period of time long enough to prime the printhead, the capping mechanism is disengaged from the printhead.

Abstract: An acoustic ink printing device ejects droplets of at least one fluid onto a printing medium. The acoustic ink printing device includes at least one printing means for ejecting a respective one of the fluids. Each printing means includes at least one ejector, associated with at least one pixel on the printing medium, and a means for generating an acoustic wave to eject respective droplets from the ejectors to the respective pixels. A processor, electrically connected to each of the printing means, minimizes a number of scans each of the printheads makes over a current swath of the printing medium.

Abstract: A method for making microencapsulated gyricon beads comprising the steps of converging a first, second, third and fourth materials in a liquid state; forming a bead from the first and second materials, the bead having two hemispheric surfaces with one surface differing from the other in optical and electrical characteristics; surrounding the bead with the third material; encapsulating the third material with the fourth material; and solidifying the fourth material.

Abstract: A III-V nitride blue laser diode has an amplifier region and a modulator region. The amplifier region has a constant current to keep the region near the lasing threshold. The modulator region has a small varying forward current or reverse bias voltage which controls the light output of the laser. This two section blue laser diode requires much lower power consumption than directly modulated lasers which reduces transient heating and “drooping” of the light output.

Abstract: A method of combining a foreground image and a background image includes scaling up a pixel of interest, which is positioned along an edge between a subject and a key colored backing, into a plurality of edge subpixels. The pixel of interest is included in a digital antialiased foreground image. A corresponding pixel of a digital background scene is also scaled up. The corresponding pixel is associated with the pixel of interest and is scaled up into a plurality of background subpixels. For each of the edge subpixels, if a color of the edge subpixel matches the key colored backing, a respective new color of the edge subpixel is determined as a function of one of the background subpixels, which is associated with the edge subpixel. Also, the new color is stored to the edge subpixel. After all the subpixels have been evaluated, the edge subpixels are scaled down to a new pixel of interest.

Abstract: Visible digital watermarks enable a robust tracking method to be associated with one or more input images. Specifically, by modifying a halftone screen within a certain area by setting a gray-scale range within that area to a threshold, and halftoning an input image based on this modified halftone screen, visible watermarks can be embedded into an input image.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a photoreceptor 1, a charger 2, a latent image write unit 3, a developing device 4, and a performance maintaining controller 5, wherein the performance maintaining controller 5 executes a performance maintaining initial sequence A for agitating and charging a developer G uniformly to such a degree that aggregating of the developer G in the developing device 4 is at least eliminated under the condition that the image formation apparatus is first used and also executes a performance maintaining sequence B for uniformly agitating and charging the developer G in the developing device 4 at least based on elapsed time since the immediately preceding image formation mode.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, data is exchanged between a buyer and a plurality of suppliers via an internet supplier on-line system. The process includes, generating by a buyer a request for a quotation from at least some of the plurality of suppliers for the cost of a part or device. A determination is made if the request for the quotation will include attachments. When the request for quotation will include attachments, documents are generated wherein the request for quotation and attachments include both engineering and business documents. The determination is made as to which of a plurality of suppliers are to be provided with the request for quotation and attachments. An inquiry is then made as to whether all suppliers which are to be provided with a request for quotation and attachments are registered on the supplier on-line system. If a desired supplier is not presently on the system, the supplier is registered and a notification to the buyer is made upon the registration.

Abstract: An electrophotographic transfer sheet having a coating layer on at least one surface of a base material made of pulp fibers as a main body is provided. The elongation of the sheet in the cross direction when the humidity is changed from 25% RH to 90% RH at 20° C. is not higher than about 0.65% and the water content of the sheet at opening its package as measured according to JIS P8127 is approximately in the range from 3.5 to 6.5%. A method of forming a color image using color toners each containing a polyester binder resin having Mn in the range of from about 1,000 to 9,000 and using the above-described electrophotographic transfer sheet is also provided.

Abstract: The toner comprises a white color toner particle and an external additive containing a hydrophobic titanium oxide particle. The absolute charge value of the toner is 20 to 50 &mgr;c/g. The developer contains a white color toner particle and a carrier having a surface coated with a resin containing a fluororesin.

Abstract: The disclosed tactile interface device conveys a diversity of information to its operator through the operator's tactile sense without requiring the operators visual confirmation. The tactile interface device comprises a substructure on which magnets are arranged so that the positive and negative magnets are alternately placed, a frame that is movable on the substructure and on which coils are installed, and a pushbutton switch fixed to the frame. The operating element drive control means drives the switch in the two-dimensional direction by allowing current to flow through the coils in a predetermined direction, so that a motion pattern appropriate for the information to be conveyed to the operator is generated. Information is imparted to the operator from the switch through the operator's tactile sense.

Abstract: A combination wiper actuator and spittoon assembly, which includes a service station for a printhead having a body and a spittoon assembly connected to the body. The spittoon assembly includes a spittoon having a receptacle. An elevation device is used to elevate the spittoon assembly with respect to the rest of the service station and a latch is used to maintain the spittoon assembly in an elevated position. Finally, a wiper is supported by the spittoon assembly and is used to wipe the printhead when the spittoon assembly is in an elevated position. A latch release tab is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a spring connecting the spittoon assembly to a wall of the service station.

Abstract: A printing order reception apparatus 101 stores print content data and print attribute data, which are used for the printing of multiple types of materials. Upon receiving a printing order from a client apparatus 102, the printing order reception apparatus 101 generates a print image, based on the print content data and the print attribute data, and transmits the print image to the client apparatus 102. The orderer then employs the client apparatus 102 to edit the print image and to transmit it to the printing order reception apparatus 101, which thereafter transmits the edited print image to a printing machine 103 and stores the newly set print content data and print attribute data.

Abstract: An image forming method wherein an aqueous dispersion is prepared in a vessel of an apparatus. The aqueous dispersion contains an electrodeposition material including a fine particle coloring material, and a polymer which is chemically dissolved, or is deposited and precipitated, by a change in pH. The vessel is able to hold a liquid, and has therein an image supporting member. The image supporting member has at least an electrode, which can supply current or an electric field in accordance with an image pattern, and a surface which can support an image; and a counter electrode which forms a pair of electrodes together with the electrode. The electrodeposition material is deposited and precipitated to form an image by supplying current or an electric field in accordance with an image pattern to the image supporting member and the counter electrode and by changing the pH value of the aqueous dispersion in the vicinity of the image supporting surface of the image supporting member.

Abstract: In a fuser, a cooling structure (5) is disposed so that a bend angle (&agr;) of apart bent during the time between an endless belt (3) coming in contact with a press cooling face (5a) of the cooling structure (5) and exiting from the press cooling face (5a) is placed in the range of 0° C.<&agr;≦7° C. A fixing belt has a minute hardness of 0.1 to 5 at least on the belt surface coming in contact with toner T and preferably has a gloss degree of 75 or more on the belt surface.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for using single-cell non-orthogonal cluster screens to satisfy the moiré-free conditions for four-color halftoning. The selection of these single-cell halftone screens is determined by identifying combinations of four of the halftone cells which satisfy moiré-free conditions provided in the respective frequency equations. Constraints may be applied and the combinations not meeting such constraints can be removed.

Abstract: An image quality analysis system is provided that allows highly accurate measurements of motion quality defects. The motion quality analysis process relies only on relative measurements, which can be performed sufficiently accurately with standard input scanners. The technique can therefore be incorporated in the image path of a copier or multi-function printer being tested to allow on-the-fly motion quality correction without the need for expensive, high precision measuring equipment. The system includes one or more digital test patterns provided in hardcopy form for providing one or more hardcopy test images, an input scanner that can scan the hard copy test image to form a digital raster image, and an image quality analysis module that receives information about the position of the digital raster image and produces test results relevant to determination of image quality analysis, particularly motion quality defects.

Abstract: A polymeric printing member for use in a printing machine is provided. The polymeric printing member includes a substrate and a coating applied to the substrate. The coating is applied to the substrate by rotating the substrate about its longitudinal axis and applying the coating from an applicator to the substrate in a spiral pattern in a controlled amount so that substantially all the coating that exits the applicator adheres to said substrate.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a digital scanner for scanning images and is directed to a method and apparatus for accurately scanning documents and for processing digital data to generate digital images as accurately as possible. The scanning system described in this application provides recommended settings for image mode and image parameters to assist the user in adjusting the settings to match the original document. The image data is analyzed to determine the optimum settings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a marking material comprising (a) toner particles which comprise a resin and a colorant, said particles having an average particle diameter of no more than about 7 microns and a particle size distribution of GSD equal to no more than about 1.25, wherein said toner particles are prepared by an emulsion aggregation process, and (b) hydrophobic conductive metal oxide particles situated on the toner particles.