Abstract: A multi-sensor alignment testing device for aligning or testing a sensor in a paper processing apparatus. The device comprises a housing, a power supply section, and a signal selector section connected to the housing. The signal selector section is connectable to a power supply section and the sensor. The indicator section is connected to the signal selector section and the sensor.

Abstract: A method of neutral color detection for use in color copiers and scanners is provided. The method includes reading (10) an input page. The contents of the page are detected (12) and it is determined (14) if the page is neutral in color. If the page is not neutral in color (20), the page is then divided into a number of regions (30). Each region is then detected (40), and a determination (42) is made if individual regions are neutral in color. Next, details located outside regions determined to be neutral in color are detected (70) and it is determined (72) if the details are neutral in color. This multi-resolution technique permits the full page, an individual region, and/or particular details to be processed without the constraints, limitations, and reproduction demands associated with their color counterparts.

Abstract: A replenisher material of toner particles and carrier particles, wherein a replenisher ratio of the toner particles to the carrier particles in the replenisher is determined as a function of at least one property of the developer and at least one operational property of an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on an image receiving member, and wherein the apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer comprised of toner particles and carrier particles therein, a donor member spaced from the image receiving member and adapted to transport toner particles of the developer from the chamber to a development zone adjacent the image receiving member, at least one wire positioned in the development zone between the image receiving member and the donor member, a voltage supply for electrically biasing the at least one wire during a developing operation with a current to detach toner particles from the donor member, forming a cloud of toner particles in the devel

Abstract: Motor polygon assemblies having a housing, a cantilevered stationary shaft within the housing, a rotating sleeve, a multifaceted polygon mounted on the rotating sleeve, and a cover over the housing. The cover includes a protrusion that contacts the free end of the cantilevered stationary shaft. The protrusion stabilizes the free end.

Abstract: A print head drive mechanism and cooperating positioning assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The brace cooperates with two spaced apart legs to form a positioning assembly that is essentially non-extensible in an X-axis direction but freely pivotable in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis.

Abstract: A high addressable hybrid error diffusion process adds an error value to an input grey image value to produce a modified input grey image value before comparing the modified input grey image value with a predetermined threshold value. A rendering value and error is generated based on the comparison. The error is equal to n(GL/N)*Aeff, wherein n is equal to the number of subpixels turned ON, GL is the maximum grey value for a pixel, N is the addressability of the rendering system, and Aeff is an effective spot area value for the rendering system. The effective spot area value is retrieved from a look-up table having a plurality of effective spot area values based on the input grey image value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for finding a transformation of a gray-level pattern in an image. The system recursively searches a transformation space in a multi-resolution manner. At each resolution, the transformation space is divided into groups of transformations. For each group, pixels in the pattern are compared to neighborhoods of pixels in the image in order to identify whether a specific pattern pixel is within the minimum and maximum values of a neighborhood of pixels.

Abstract: A system for identifying multiple electronic tags that include a plurality of electronic tags attachable to a single object, each electronic tag having a unique identifier. One or more electronic tag readers are configured to read the unique identifier of each electronic tag within the non-overlapping readable region, and a computing system is connected to the electronic tag reader to provide digital services in response to reading the unique identifier of each electronic tag.

Abstract: A stack height assembly consisting of two transmissive sensors and two flags, the stack height of a feeder module can be set to three different levels depending on the weight of the media. This “optimization” of the stack height to address the media's failure mode results in increased latitude. When feeding lightweight media, the stack height is set larger in order to increase the gap to the feedhead. This allows more room for separation of the media using fluffer jets. This increased gap also reduces the chances that the un-acquired media will be fluffed into contact with the acquisition surface and subsequently be shingle fed into the take away roll due to the friction between sheets. When feeding heavyweight media the stack height will be set smaller. This reduces the gap to the feedhead and reduces the time required to acquire.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition comprising (a) water, (b) a colorant, and (c) malonaldehyde bis(dimethylacetal).

Abstract: A developer unit for developing a latent image recorded on an image receiving member with a supply of particles, the developer unit including a sump for storing a supply of particles received from a container for use in the developer unit, the sump further defining an aperture therein and a cover for use in covering the aperture, wherein the cover includes a valve mechanism and a keying feature, wherein the keying feature cooperates with a portion of the container so that upon rotation of the container, the valve mechanism is actuated to allow toner to flow into the sump.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting key information from digitized audio messages, including telephone voice messages. Information, such as a telephone number and the name of the caller, is derived and extracted from a voice message and used to establish links to the information within the message. The telephone number and name of the caller can then be replayed without the need to replay the entire voice message. The telephone number and name of the caller can also be used as indices into an information database.

Abstract: A paper conditioner to control image dependent curl in a copier/printer includes a reservoir for storing a quantity of liquid, a pair of rolls in contact with one another so as to define a nip, and a metering roll associated with the reservoir and one of the pair of rolls. The metering roll forms a nip with one of the pair of rolls to direct a controlled flow of liquid from the reservoir to the nip area. Seals located at opposed ends of the metering roll and the roll with which it forms a nip prevent the flow of excess liquid from the ends of the metering roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material including toner and carrier, a donor member with an electrode array on it, spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer material on the surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface; a closed-loop grid, spaced from said donor member, having an electrode array on the outer surface thereof, which faces said array on the donor member, said arrays including a plurality of spaced apart electrodes extending substantially across width of the surface of the grid and the donor; a magnetic roll for loading developer material onto said grid, and multi-phase voltage sources operatively coupled to said electrode arrays, the phase being shifted with respect to each other such as to create traveling electrodynamic wave patterns for moving toners along the surface of said electrode arrays, and with bias voltages controlling transfer of toners be

Abstract: A contact belt fusing apparatus is provided for reducing sheet edge wear defects in fused copies. The fusing apparatus includes an endless fusing belt having an external fusing surface defining a path of movement and a plurality of support rollers for supporting and moving the endless fusing belt along the path of movement. The endless fusing belt as supported has a first fusing position aligned on the plurality of support rollers at a first location, and at least a second fusing position aligned on the plurality of support rollers at a second location that is spaced axially from the first location thereon. The fusing apparatus also includes heating member for heating the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt, and a pressure roller forming a fusing nip with the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt for contacting and moving toner image carrying sheets therethrough, the toner image carrying sheets having edges that induce wear on the external fusing surface of the endless fusing belt.

Abstract: A print head drive mechanism utilizing a lead screw is provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. In another embodiment, the print head is coupled to at least one nut that is translated by a rotating lead screw, with the lead screw having a thread pitch that matches the jet spacing in the print head.

Abstract: An image recording media determination system is used with an imaging processing device and is operative for determining whether to form an image on a sheet of image recording media that is fed from a media source. The image recording media determination system includes a determination device and a controller device. The determination device determines whether the sheet of image recording media is compatible with the image processing device. The controller device which is in communication with the determination device permits forming the image on the sheet of image recording material by the image processing device when the determination device determines that the sheet of image recording media is compatible with the image processing device. The controller device also prohibits forming the image on the sheet of image recording media by the image processing device when the determination device determines that the sheet of image recording media is incompatible with the image processing device.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) of types otherwise known is provided with integrated electronics. The integrated electronics may be, for example, transistors. Other electronic elements may also be integrally formed with the VCSEL. Also integrally formed with the VCSEL may be a detector for detecting light emitted by the VCSEL. The electronics and/or detector may be of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The detector may have transparent contacts, of for example of indium tin oxide (ITO), formed by techniques otherwise known. Improved, on-chip addressing is possible, and improved detector architecture is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solvents, utilizing a solvent removal unit equipped with an upper liquid supporting member provided with a bottom portion which supports the solvent suspension and which is provided with an opened hole, and a lower liquid supporting member provided at a lower side and at a distance from said upper liquid supporting member, such that the solvent suspension is dropped from the upper liquid supporting member to the lower liquid supporting member, and that the solvent suspension is brought into contact with a gaseous phase while it is being dropped.