Abstract: The present invention provides a device for authenticating user's access rights to resources, which comprises first memory means for storing challenging data, second memory means for storing unique identifying information of the user, third memory means for storing proof support information which is a result of executing predetermined computations to the unique identifying information of the user and unique security characteristic information of the device, response generation means for generating a response from the challenging data stored in the first memory means, the unique identifying information stored in the second memory means and the proof support information stored in the third memory means, and verification means for verifying the legitimacy of the response by verifying that the response, the challenging data and the unique security characteristic information of the device satisfy a specific predefined relation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method develops an electrostatic latent image directly from an imaging member to a final substrate, such as paper or the like. An image development apparatus and method creates a first electrostatic latent image on an imaging member and deposits a toner layer on the imaging member. The image developer then generates a second electrostatic latent image in the toner layer in response to the first electrostatic latent image on the imaging member. The second electrostatic latent image can be generated by either a broad source ion charging device or an air breakdown charging device. Next, the latent image bearing toner layer is selectively separated and developed such that the image areas are developed directly from the imaging member onto a final substrate and the non-image areas remain on the imaging member.

Abstract: To divide and transfer a printing job so that the printing job can be efficiently rasterized by plural processors and improve the processing rate of the whole system in a printing system in which plural processors are roughly connected via a network, the following means are provided: Processing resource information extracting means extracts resource information required every divided job. If a processor is not provided with a required resource, it instructs a processor provided with the resource to transfer it using resource transfer means and receives the resource. Prior information means informs a processor and others of required processing prior to transfer. As the processor and others execute required processing based upon the contents of prior information, they can immediately start processing when a file is transferred.

Abstract: A binary diffractive optical element is used as a single element beam homogenizer. The phase profile of the binary surface relief phase grating structure of the binary diffractive optical element will reprofile diffractively a spatially non-uniform intensity profile of a light beam into multiple overlapping beams which recombine to form a light beam with a more uniform intensity profile.

Abstract: A paper conditioner re-moisturizes paper immediately following fusing to restore paper temperature and moisture equilibrium and reduce curl. The paper conditioner has plumbing that includes a pump, supply lines, overflow lines, metering blade lines and return lines. A soaker hose is used to uniformly distribute conditioner agent to a wick. The soaker hose has pin-holes that are evenly spaced adjacent the wick. The wick is a high density material, such as, cotton that contacts and supplies the conditioner agent to metering rolls. These rolls contact donor rolls, which contact moisturizing rolls which contact the paper. Metering blades are used to remove excess conditioning agent from the moisturizing rolls.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for applying a uniform electrostatic charge to a charge retentive surface is provided. The charging apparatus is operably electrically connectable to a power supply for supplying an electrical bias to the charging apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing and an electrode mounted to the housing and positioned adjacent the surface in a non-contact relationship therewith. The apparatus also includes a shield connected to the housing and at least partially surrounding the electrode. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector, electrically connected to the shield and electrically connectable to the power supply for providing an electrical bias to the shield. The electrical connector extends from the shield and is integral therewith.

Abstract: A simple and low cost system for temporarily but securely holding together stacked document sheets in discrete "packaged" sets, for reproduction job collection and distribution without permanent binding or sheet damage. It is particularly suited for automatic application to collated copy sheet output of a copier, shared printer or facsimile machine. Each job or selected output stack of printed sheets may be temporarily bound by small adhesive tape segments, much smaller than the sheets, so as to maintain the sheet set integrity under distribution and other handling, yet allow removal of the tape whenever desired to unbind the stacked sheets without any damage to the sheets, unlike stapling or other such permanent binding.

Abstract: A method of recording events in a printing machine having a plurality of subsystems. The recorded event corresponds to selected information generated as a result of an event occurring at one of the plurality of subsystems. The log event is communicated to a logging service. A log event file is created from the event information received at the logging service. The log event file is arranged in a file arrangement having a log event record. The log event file is translated to place the log event file in a readable output form.

Abstract: A data structure, called an ordered sparse accumulator (Ordered SPA), permits sequencing in numeric order by index and dynamic alteration of the nonzero structure of the active column in sparse matrix computations during the sequencing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image transfer unit disposed along a sheet feed path. A sheet feed roller feeds a sheet toward an image transfer position where an image can be transferred by the image transfer unit. A sheet detect unit detects the sheet fed by the sheet feed roller and a control unit controls the rotational operation of the sheet feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the sheet detect unit. As such, a sheet feed path length, which extends between the image transfer position and a detection position where the sheet is detected by the sheet detect unit, is set at an integer multiple of a circumferential length of the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for transforming volatile compounds from the liquid to vapor phase is disclosed. Specifically, a method and apparatus for transforming liquid phase soil contaminants to vapor phase contaminants through application of a vacuum is disclosed. A method and apparatus for connecting two or more phase transforming apparatus'is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a charge retentive surface is developed with toner particles to form a visible image thereof, including; a housing having a supply of toner and developer therein; a donor member for transporting toner from said housing to the development zone; means for conveying toner to the donor member; means for generating a negative air stream for carrying toner therein; and a filter for removing the toner from the negative air stream, said filter including filter material and oscillation means, operational connected to said conveying means, for oscillating said filter material to dislodge toner material collected in said filter when said generating means is disabled.

Abstract: A process comprising (1) polymerizing an organic phase of monomer in the presence of a carboxylic acid, an oil soluble chain transfer agent, and a partially water soluble chain transfer agent; and which polymerizing is accomplished in the presence of (2) an aqueous phase containing a nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant, and wherein there is added to the aqueous phase an aqueous initiator solution of an inorganic persulfate, and wherein the resulting latex contains particles of polymer with carboxylic acid; aggregating said latex particles with colorant; thereafter adding an effective amount of anionic surfactant and heating the mixture resulting about equal to, or about above the polymer Tg resulting from said monomer, or said monomers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color ink set for ink-jet recording, which color ink set comprises a set of single-color ink, namely, cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink and black ink, each single-color ink containing at least a colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent and water, wherein the colorant in the single-color ink has a specific chemical structure, and which color ink set for ink-jet recording fulfills the characteristics required for ink-jet recording ink, along with the details of single-color ink constituting the ink set and an ink-jet recording method using the color ink set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for color replacement using an extended ink set in a color printing system. A color replacement apparatus receives a color signal of a device dependent color space after being generated in response to a colorant signal of a device independent color space. The color replacement apparatus receives the color signal of the device dependent color space, and generates as a function of the received signal, a second color signal including a first hue and a first saturation, and a third color signal including the first hue and a second saturation, different from the first saturation. Multiple color planes for all of the inks of the extended ink set are generated according to a preselected threshold.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing on regular-stock type substrates and on card-stock type substrates includes a rotatable drum member having an outer surface for contacting regular-stock and card-stock type substrates; a first path for moving and printing on regular-stock type substrates, the first path including a curved portion defined by the outer surface of the rotatable drum member, and a first printing station; and a second path for moving and printing on card-stock type substrates, the second path being substantially straight and including a second printing station separate from the first printing station.

Abstract: A temperature droop compensated NFFR fuser having a preheater structure which conveys the substrate carrying toner images past a radiant heat contained therein and then into the nip of a pair of pressure engaged fuser rollers that form the NFFR fuser. One of the fuser rollers is heated by an internal heater which is supplied a constant level of power which generally maintains the temperature of the heated roller to a temperature sufficient to fuse the toner images on the substrate. The preheater structure warms the substrate carrying toner images prior to entry into the nip of the fuser rollers to compensate for the temporary temperature droop of the fuser rollers that is encountered when the fuser moves from a standby mode to an operating mode. The combination of pre-warmed substrate and the temperature to which the heated fuser roller droops is sufficient to completely fuse the toner images on the substrate.

Abstract: A method including:providing a facility with at least one controlled access electronic printing machine;printing original documents with the controlled access electronic printing machine, wherein printed images formed thereby arise from marking materials containing at least one photoactive additive;equipping all uncontrolled access reprographic devices within the facility with a secure illumination source capable of exposing an object document with sufficient intensity to activate the photoactive additive; andilluminating the object document with the secure illumination source of the uncontrolled access reprographic device, wherein the object documents having original document images printed thereon cannot be copied or scanned in a normal copy or scan illumination interval.

Abstract: A migration imaging member includes a support substrate, a relatively thick dielectric spacer layer situated on the support substrate, and a softenable layer situated on the dielectric spacer layer, with the softenable layer including a softenable material, and a migration marking material situated at or near the surface of the softenable layer farthest spaced from the support substrate.