Abstract: A droplet-on-demand ink jet printer uses electrostatic tacking of a recording medium, such as paper, to achieve simultaneously precise holding of an aligned recording medium on a dielectric surface of a transport belt, thereby providing precise motion quality of the recording medium relative to the printer's printhead, and improved ink droplet placement on the recording medium. The transport belt is electrostatically charged with a charge of one polarity, so that an electrostatic pressure is generated which precisely holds the recording medium in an aligned position on the transport belt, after it is fed thereon, and concurrently induces a charge of opposite polarity on the ink droplets ejected by the printhead, thereby accelerating the droplets toward the recording medium.

Abstract: A printing system for printing images, and including a system to reduce marking material coverage, while maintaining color fidelity, includes an image input, where the image defines an amount of marking material to be deposited on an printed reproduction, a marking material coverage calculator, determining expected original marking material coverage for a given area of a received image; and a marking material reduction controller, using the expected marking material determination to control coverage reduced reproduction of the given area in accordance with a non-linear coverage reduction function.

Abstract: It is to provide a toner for developing static charge and a process for producing the same that is excellent in peelability of the fixing sheet, adhesion of the fixed image, bending resistance of the fixed image, Dispersibility of the releasing agent in the toner and transparency on an OHP sheet, and can provide a high quality fixed image, as well as a developer and a process for forming an image. It relates to a toner for developing electrostatic charge of the invention including a coloring agent and a binder resin and a process for producing the same, wherein the relaxation modulus of elasticity G(t) at a relaxation time t=10.times.Dt (wherein Dt represents a heating time on fixing) obtained from measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity is adjusted to a range of from 2.0.times.10.sup.2 to 3.0.times.10.sup.3 Pa, or the relaxation modulus of elasticity G(t=0.01) at a relaxation time of 0.01 sec obtained from measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity is adjusted to a range of from 2.0.times.10.sup.2 to 3.0.times.

Abstract: An image processing system and method is presented which is capable of maintaining a high line count while preventing the generation of low-frequency periodic structures, using the supertiling method for image output devices such as printers. Threshold value matrix patterns are used for each supertile, and the input image data is compared with the threshold value. A dot pattern (binary image data) is generated based on the result of the comparison. Each supertile is divided up into a plurality (3.times.3) of halftone cells, and a dot pattern is generated for each halftone cell. A plurality of threshold value matrix patterns P1-P10 having identical shapes is used, and the pattern to be applied is selected randomly. This results in unevenness in the "centers of gravity" of the dots in the halftone cells. Thus, no periodic structures appear.

Abstract: A document edit system that performs page unit editing. The pages of a selected document are displayed in a stacked reduced offset overlapped position and are available for immediate editing independent of the page unit's location within the document stack. Display control data and actual data are stored for each page in internal memory and are changed in response to an edit command. Edit commands include page move and page copy within a single document, or from one document to another, and for creating a new document. The page move command may also be used to discard any selected page in the displayed document.

Abstract: A method to provide a highly intelligent, automated diagnostic system that identifies the need to replace specific parts to minimize machine downtime rather than require extensive service troubleshooting. In particular, a systematic, logical test analysis scheme to assess machine operation from a simple sensor system and to be able to pinpoint parts and components needing replacement is provided by a series of first level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a first level of data and by a series of second level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a second level of data. Each of the first level tests and first level data is capable of identifying a first level of part failure independent of any other test. Each of the second level tests and second level data is a combination of first level tests and first level data or a combination of a first level test and first level data and a third level test and third level data.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead is disclosed which has a heater plate containing the heating elements and driving circuitry means monolithographically formed on one surface thereof and the ink flow directing channel structure is formed on the heater plate using a layer of patternable polymeric material which, in one embodiment, is exposed using a mask to define the channel pattern then developed and cured. After curing, the patterned channel structure is polished to provide a smooth coplanar surface and a cover plate with an aperture therein is aligned and bonded to the channel structure to complete the printhead. The aperture serves as both ink inlet and a portion of the ink reservoir. The channels are open at one end and serve as the droplet ejecting nozzles, while the other ends are closed and extend beneath the cover plate aperture to provide a baffled portion of the ink reservoir and prevent cross-talk between the ink channels.

Abstract: A raster output scanner assembly having a first laser source for producing first and second laser beams, and a second laser source for producing third a fourth laser beams. The first and second laser beams are directed to a first rotating, multifaceted polygon while the third and fourth laser beams are directed to a second rotating, multifaceted polygon. The first polygon reflects the first and second laser beams onto a moving photoreceptor while the second polygon reflects the third and fourth laser beams onto the photoreceptor. The spots produced by the various laser beams are interlaced such that the scan line produced by the third laser beam is between the scan lines produced by the first and second laser beams, while the scan line produced by the fourth laser beam is adjacent the scan line produced by the second laser beam.

Abstract: An image information encoding device is provided, wherein an image analyzer calculates image analysis information on divided image information; an image analysis information holder temporarily stores the image analysis information therein; a weighting part performs a predetermined weighting process on each of the image analysis information and peripheral image analysis information temporarily stored in the image analysis information holder and outputs resultant information therefrom as final image analysis information; a coding parameter determination unit determines a coding parameter from the image analysis information and image output characteristic information; and an image information encoding unit encodes the divide image information, based on the coding parameter.

Abstract: A system and method to enable and facilitate networked, automated, brokered auctioning of document services. A plurality of processes are executed, including a customer process representing a customer, a supplier process representing a supplier, and a broker process capable of serving as an intermediary between the customer and supplier processes. The broker process is provided with a description of a document service. Responsively to the description thus provided, an auction for the document service is conducted, as follows: A customer or supplier process submits a bid for the document service. The broker process receives bidding information including the submitted bid. The broker process attempts to establish a price for the document service responsively to the received bidding information and, if a price can be established, establishes the price. If a price is established, the broker process proposes a transaction wherein the document service is to be provided at the established price.

Abstract: The invention intends to provides an optical waveguide device having a structure that satisfies the low drive voltage characteristic and the low propagation loss characteristic at the same time. The optical waveguide device contains a conductive or semiconductive lower electrode, an epitaxial or single orientational buffer layer provided on the lower electrode, an epitaxial or single orientational optical waveguide provided on the buffer layer, and an upper electrode of a conductive thin film or a semiconductive thin film, provided on the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide device is able to modulate, switch, or deflect incident light beams guided into the optical waveguide by applying a voltage between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

Abstract: A display has sufficient resolution to present images as they would appear on other types of image output devices, such as types of printers or displays. In response to a user signal indicating a type of image output devices, data defining an image is used to automatically obtain version data defining a version of the image. The version can be presented on the display to show the image as it would appear when presented by an image output device of the indicated type. The user can indicate a type by selecting a menu item or a button or by providing a sequence of keystrokes. In response to a user signal indicating a parameter value, a version can be presented showing the image as it would appear when presented with the value. When a satisfactory image is displayed, the user can then request presentation of the image by a device of the indicated type.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for document production or reproduction which includes a plurality of paper feed trays T1-T4 placed in overlapped relation at multiple stages from top to bottom wherein the length of the top-stage paper feed tray T1 in the paper feed direction is formed shorter than the length of each of the paper feed trays T2-T4 at lower stages in the paper feed direction, an image support 16, an intermediate transfer body B, and a secondary transfer device 31 placed in a tray upward paper feed side space Sa above the paper feed tray T1, a fuser T placed in a top-stage tray side space Sb1 on the side of the top-stage paper feed tray T1 and an upward side space Sb2 above the space Sb1, and a developing unit D placed in the upward side space Sb2.

Abstract: A fastener for securing a first component to a second component in a device is disclosed. The fastener includes an elongated body and a head. The elongated body has a portion thereof having a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body. The portion of the body has an arcuate connecting surface on an external periphery thereof. The body cooperates with the first component to permit the portion of the body to freely pass through a first component opening in the first component. The body cooperates with the second component to permit the portion of the body to freely pass through a second component opening in the second component when the body is oriented in a first position with respect to the second component opening. The body cooperates with the second component to permit the arcuate connecting surface to engage with the second component when the body is oriented in a second position with respect to the second component opening. The head is attached to one end of the elongated body.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer body to be used in an image forming apparatus for transferring and fixing a toner image from a photosensitive body onto a recording medium using an intermediate transfer body having the surface of a material such as silicone rubber which image forming apparatus reduces the friction coefficient between the photosensitive body and the intermediate transfer body to allow easy driving running control of the intermediate transfer body, and reduces the fog toner transfer rate to prevent deterioration of the image quality when the medium (40 to 70%) gloss is employed, and an image forming apparatus using the intermediate transfer body are provided. The intermediate transfer body, which receives a toner image held on a toner image carrier and transfers again the toner image onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium, has the surface for receiving the transfer of a toner image on which the peak area and roughed recess area are formed mixedly.

Abstract: A system and method which enables the location and orientation of an image to be determined without introducing scanning artifacts into the rendered image. The system utilizes a separate set of sensors on a scanning bar that are sensitive to a wavelength of light outside the range of wavelengths of the typical sensors found on the scanning bar, such as red, green, or blue. Moreover, the system includes a light source which is capable of emitting the wavelength of light that is outside this range of wavelength of light. Thus, whenever the additional set of sensors detect light, the system would determine that the light was due to a scanning artifact, such as a hole, rip, or dog ear in the original document being scanned.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer including a frame, a printhead mounted to the frame for printing ink images onto a heated and supported substrate, and an efficient substrate heating and supporting assembly mounted to the frame. The efficient substrate heating and supporting assembly includes a heating device, and a substrate supporting member having a front surface including a substrate supporting area for supporting substrates of various sizes one at a time and border areas having a polished finish. The efficient substrate heating and supporting assembly also includes a heat absorbing back surface facing the heating device. The heat absorbing back surface includes an increased heat absorbing area located opposite and centered relative to the substrate supporting area on the front surface.

Abstract: This invention provides self-clocking glyph shape codes for encoding digital data in the shapes of glyphs that are suitable for printing on hardcopy recording media. Advantageously, the glyphs are selected so that they tend not to degrade into each other when they are degraded and/or distorted as a result, for example, of being photocopied, transmitted via facsimile, and/or scanned-in to an electronic document processing system. Moreover, for at least some applications, the glyphs desirably are composed of printed pixel patterns containing nearly the same number of ON pixels and nearly the same number of OFF pixels, such that the code that is rendered by printing such glyphs on substantially uniformly spaced centers appears to have a generally uniform texture. In the case of codes printed at higher spatial densities, this texture is likely to be perceived as a generally uniform gray tone.

Abstract: Printing hints can be efficiently compressed in a system using hierarchical compression (HVQ) by first using HVQ to generate compressed codewords, and then adding the printing hint to the codewords to generate an intermediate form of codeword, before sending this intermediate form to a pattern matching lossless compressor for final compression. Even though the same printing hint may be applied to a number of codewords, the overall compression will be affected very little by the addition of the printing hints since the hints are identical over a large number of codewords in series.

Abstract: A transmission job originating station for controlling transmission of job information, based on the processing of a print job in a printing system, is provided. The control system includes a document generating subsystem for providing at least a portion of the print job to be delivered to a print machine and a user interface for programming a set of information including one or more confirmation destinations with each confirmation destination being disposed remotely of the transmission job originating station. The transmission job originating station further includes a control subsystem which, in response to the processing of at least a portion of the print job at the printing machine, reads the set of information and determines each confirmation destination, programmed with the user interface, to which the job information is to be transmitted.