Abstract: A system and method electronically determines an edge of a copy substrate to be printed on. A copy substrate is inserted between a linear light source array and a linear sensor array and a light segment of the linear light source array is illuminated. An edge location of a shadow created by the copy substrate intersecting a light path between the illuminated light segment and the linear sensor array is measured, and a location of the edge of the copy substrate is calculated based on the measured shadow location. A second light segment of the linear light source on an opposite side of an expected copy substrate edge position of the light segment can also be illuminated, and a second edge location of a shadow created by the copy substrate intersecting a light path between the illuminated second light segment and the linear sensor array can be measured wherein this second measurement can be used with the first to calculate a location of the edge of the copy substrate.

Abstract: When a voice button is pressed after selection of a desired sentence example, a CPU causes a musical note mark to be displayed on a display. If the selected sentence example is one for the opposite sex, the CPU reads out speech data (in a voice of a person of the opposite sex) corresponding to the selected sentence example from a ROM, and causes the readout speech data to be outputted in voice form from a speaker. The selected sentence example is displayed in parenthesis, to show the user that the displayed sentence is for the opposite sex. If the selected sentence example is not one for the opposite sex, the CPU reads out speech data (in a voice of a person of the same sex) corresponding to the selected sentence example from the ROM, and causes the readout speech data to be outputted in voice form from the speaker. Alternatively, speech data corresponding to sentence examples for the opposite sex are not stored in the ROM, and therefore are not outputted in voice form.

Abstract: An image quality control apparatus having an image divider, a converter, an image analyzer, an image output property circuit, a quantization method selector, a quantizer and a coder. The image divider divides an input image into a plurality of divided images including a predetermined number of picture elements. The converter converts the divided images into converted coefficients. Then, the image analyzer determines a property of the divided images which is output by the image output property output circuit. A quantization selector selects a quantization method in response to the divided image property that was found by the image analyzer and the image output property output circuit. The quantizer quantizes the conversion coefficients found by the converter in accordance with the quantization methods selected by the quantization selector. A coder then codes the conversion coefficients quantized by the quantizer.

Abstract: A high slope charging device including a DC portion followed by an AC portion. The high slope device includes an insulative shell housing, an electrode and a corona wire. The electrode is coupled to direct current power source which supplies a constant potential to the electrode thereby generating a corona at the electrode. An alternating current power source supplies an alternating voltage to the corona wire. The high slope device beneficially is designed such that both the electrode and the corona wire charge a charge retentive surface to the same potential.

Abstract: In a digital printing system there is a natural hierarchical relationship to the data representing jobs, documents, pages, and page image data (separations). Instead of grouping data by the imposed hierarchical method, the page image data is organized into "bursts," a burst being defined as a series of page images which can be printed without requiring that the digital printer be reconfigured to enable or disable specific printer functions or features. The printer is supplied with a burst whenever a burst is available without regard for job or document boundaries. This method allows the printer to be supplied with image data at optimal speeds and minimizing first-page-out time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) forming in a first stage, an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using toner image forming assemblies including a charging device; and exposure device; a development unit;; and (b) refining in a second stage, the initial developed toner image using a contact electrostatic printing (CEP) assembly including a bias source and a conductive CEP roll for biasing and applying compressive and tensile forces to the initial developed toner image to enable easy separation of image areas from background areas of the initial developed toner image, and for separating and removing unwanted toner solids from the background areas, thereby producing a high quality final toner image having sharp image area edges and highly clean background areas.

Abstract: An efficient and high quality image forming method and apparatus wherein only selective scattered portions of an imaging surface are charged with a first charging device, and then coated with a layer of charged toner solids by a toner supply apparatus, thereby forming an "image area patch of toner"; wherein each selected scattered portion is centered relative to, and has an area slightly exceeding an area to be imaged; each such charged and coated portion is then image-wise exposed to form a first latent image; each such coated portion is subsequently recharged by a reverse charge printing (RCP) second charging device in an image-wise manner to create a secondary latent image having toner solids in image areas charged to a first polarity, and toner solids in background areas charged to a second and opposite polarity; and finally the toner solids in the image areas thereof are then transferred onto a copy substrate for fixing as an output document, thus leaving a significantly diminished quantity of non-develo

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (EL) device comprised, in the following sequence, of an anode, an organic hole injecting and hole transporting layer, an organic electron injecting and electron transporting layer, and a cathode, wherein said organic hole injecting and transporting layer is comprised of a mixture of a tertiary aromatic amine and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bichromal spheres comprising (I) preparing monochromal spheres by the aggregation and coalescence of an emulsion resin with a first colorant and inorganic salt; (ii) contacting the resulting monchromal spheres with an oxidizing agent, followed by a polymerization with a vinyl monomer and a free radical initiator; (iii) forming a of the resulting monochromal spheres on a substrate; and (iv) subjecting the resulting monochromal spheres to a vapor thermal deposition with a second colorant dissimilar than the first colorant to thereby coat one hemisphere of each of said monochromal spheres thereby resulting in bichromal spheres with dissimilar colors.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition which comprises (1) water; (2) an anionic dye; and (3) a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidinone and a vinyl imidazolium salt. Also disclosed are methods for using the aforementioned ink compositions in ink jet printing processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes selectively coat a photoreceptor only in selected image area centered portion of the photoreceptor surface thereby forming an image area centered patch of toner with developing material; image-wise exposing each such portion; patch of toner. The method using the apparatus next includes forming a final toner image from each image area centered patch of toner using an air breakdown charge development (ABCD) assembly. The ABCD assembly includes a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source, and a nip forming roll coupled thereto and forming a toner solids recharging nip with the photoreceptor, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids coating each image area centered patch of toner, by inducing an air breakdown electrical discharge in which free mobile ions are introduced into the vicinity of each image area centered patch of toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that prepares a toner patch including a predetermined gradation area percentage on an image support to detect a developing concentration. An optical sensor detects reflected light from the background of the image support and reflected light from the toner patch prepared on the image support. The reflected light detected by the optical sensor is then controlled in response to the gradation area percentage of the prepared toner patch.

Abstract: An apparatus including:a funnel comprising a housing operably connected to a particulate source at one end and extending downwardly therefrom to a receiver member at the other end, the funnel being adapted to permit a flow of powder therethrough, and wherein the inner wall of the funnel is adapted with a porous member which provides a boundary layer of gas between the porous member and the powder.

Abstract: A single key input system for an apparatus such as a facsimile machine having a plurality of operations. A set sequence of functions each of which would normally require the entering of a separate key may be executed by a single key. A coordinate input unit has operator designatable areas. The set sequence of operations is programmed into the apparatus and executed by indicating a designated area. Therefore, the operator can both create a set sequence of functions which are executable through a single key and can designate the location of that key.

Abstract: A language information processing apparatus for translating a model phrase in a first language into a corresponding second language and outputting the translated phrase. The apparatus includes a display that displays the phrase, an input device for inputting a character or a word to be added in the first language to the phrase displayed by the display, a first voice information storage device that stores voice information in the second language corresponding to the phrase, and a second voice information storage device that prepares and stores voice information concerning the character or word in the first language with an intonation in the first language, which character or word is input by the input device.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a plurality of horizontally juxtaposed paper cassettes for containing papers. The feeding device includes a plurality of paper feeding mechanisms respectively corresponding to the paper cassettes, and each of the paper feeding mechanisms includes a separation/feeding unit for feeding papers from the paper cassette in a feeding direction. The separation/feeding unit corresponding to an upstream paper cassette of the upstream side is arranged at least partially above a paper receiving section of a downstream paper cassette to conserve space.

Abstract: A nonaqueous ink composition comprised of a vehicle, colorant, and a hydrophobic gelling component.

Abstract: A transfer member having a substrate, an outer silicone rubber layer, and a silicone polymer release agent material, wherein the release agent material is a polydimethyl siloxane cationic liquid emulsion.

Abstract: In the ink jet holder, a plurality of cap members are disposed in such a manner that they can be contacted with a plurality of record heads, respectively. Each of the cap members includes an air-communication passage which allows the interior of the cap member to communicate with the air, while the air-communication passage can be closed or opened by the corresponding closing member for each of the record heads. With the cap members respectively contacted with the record heads, and also with the air-communication passages respectively closed by the closing members, if suction pumps are operated, then the ink jet holder executes a first suction step of sucking ink from the record heads. On the other hand, with the cap members respectively contacted with the record heads, and also with the closing members separated from the air-communication passages, if the suction pumps are operated, then the ink jet holder executes a second suction step of sucking ink from the cap members.

Abstract: Described is an optical equipment using a semiconductor light emitting device array which has light emitting points formed thereon at a high density and has highly reliability. The optical equipment according to the present invention features that it is equipped with a light emitting device array on which light emitting points LP have been arranged two-dimensionally, focusing means for focusing the light from the light emitting points, photo-detecting means which is disposed at the position where the light focused through the focusing means forms image formation points, and transferring means for transferring the image formation points relative to the photo-detecting means; said light-emitting device array being composed of a plurality of semiconductor chips and adjacent end surfaces of two semiconductor chips being bonded each other so as to have an inclination against the transferring direction.