Abstract: An information visualization system which uses dynamic queries in combination with movable viewing operation regions (VORs) for searching of two dimensional databases. Boolean and real-valued queries are made by overlapping viewing operation regions which include filters to search for specific data in the database. The viewing operation regions include interactive interfaces such as sliders and/or buttons to control the value of the filter function and define a composition operation generated by overlapping the VORs. The system provides a graphical display of database values and direct manipulation tools for exploring relationships between the database.

Abstract: A compact neural network architecture is trainable to sense and classify an optical image directly projected onto it. The system is based upon the combination of a two-dimensional amorphous silicon photoconductor array and a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. Appropriate filtering of the incident optical image upon capture is incorporated into the net work training rules, through a modification of the standard backpropagation training algorithm. Training of the network on two image classification problems is described: the recognition of handprinted digits, and facial recognition. The network, once trained is capable of standalone operation, sensing an incident image and outputting a final classification signal in real time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a container with a magnetic material using an electromagnetic valve and a demagnetizing circuit to control the flow and properties of the material. Initially an empty container is placed under a fill tube through which the material will be supplied to the container. In the filling process an auger located inside of the fill tube rotates to move the material through the fill tube. When the container is filled, the auger stops rotating and the electromagnetic valve is actuated. The electromagnetic valve supplies a magnetic field which holds the material particles in place, plugging the fill tube with the material. The filled container is removed from the fill tube and an empty container is put in its place. When the electromagnetic valve is switched off, a demagnetizing circuit is activated. After the material particles are demagnetized the auger is switched on and the material flows again to fill the container.

Abstract: A paper handling system for air mediated transport of sheets or pages of paper is disclosed. Microelectromechanical valves and sensors are embedded in a dielectric substrate for tracking and controlling paper transport. These microelectromechanical systems can be batch fabricated using resin impregnated dielectric laminates having photolithographically formed circuitry for electrical connections. Use of high speed sensor and valve control systems permit dynamic adjustments to paper trajectory during paper transport.

Abstract: A reusable image recording medium having improved capability of formation and removal of images such as toner images. The medium comprises a substrate and a coating formed on a surface of the substrate and having a recording surface with image forming material-peelability, wherein the recording surface has a surface smoothness of 200 seconds or lower as measured by a Bekk smoothness tester.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for packaging and applying makeup, the device includes a rigid elongate tubular body open at one end and having an inside space suitable for containing makeup, and an applicator suitable for being received in the body. The applicator includes a stalk provided at one end with a makeup applicator element and secured at its other end to a handle that has a cap suitable for closing the opening of the body in which the applicator element is engaged. A throat is formed in the body for wringing out the applicator element while the applicator is being withdrawn. The device further includes a moving wall defining the inside space, at least in part, and capable of moving in response to a change of pressure in the space caused by the applicator being withdrawn. While the device is in use, the moving wall is subjected on the outside to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polymer nanocomposite including a mica-type layered silicate and a fluoroelastomer, wherein the nanocomposite has a structure selected from the group consisting of an exfoliated structure and an intercalated structure.

Abstract: A system which controls image dependent curl by moisturizing a sheet immediately after fusing, determines critical machine and environmental characteristics through a series of on-line sensors. An operator selectable table is used to indicate the type of sheet loaded in each sheet holding tray.

Abstract: A light beam focal position detecting device for detecting the focal position of a scanning light beam to correct the focal error on the photosensitive drum surface includes a photosensor which is placed at a position on the light beam axis before or after the expected focal position and made up of a pair of rectangular opto-electric transducers having their confronting sides extending along the main scanning direction or a plurality of opto-electric transducers arrayed along the subordinate scanning direction.

Abstract: A charging method in which the surface of an image bearing device is charged in two steps in contact with the surface of the image bearing device before a latent image is formed on the surface of the image bearing device, the contact charging method includes two steps. First, the surface of the image bearing device is charged with a contact charging device which applies a voltage consisting of an AC component and a DC component superposed on the AC component. Second, the surface of the image bearing device is charged by a contact charging device applied with such a DC voltage as to discharge at least part of a pattern of charge potential variation of which the pitch corresponds to the frequency pitch of the AC component, which is caused in the primary charging operation.

Abstract: An ionographic printer directs a sheet of ions from a source to a charge receptor to create an electrostatic latent image thereon. An ion sheet splitting rod is positioned between the ion source and the charge receptor that splits the ion sheet into two separate streams of ions and insulating wedges serve to focus the separate ion streams into two rows of apertures in an ion control device. The ion streams pass through relatively large apertures having associated therewith a pinch electrode for narrowing the ion streams to a preselected width, and displacing electrodes for positioning the narrowed ion streams within the apertures.

Abstract: A data management system which enables a user to flexibly make corresponding relation between data stored in a existing database, and a data file and a program for processing the data file, is disclosed. A user register in advance corresponding relation between a data unit stored in a existing database, and a data file and a program for processing the data file, both of which exist outside of said first database. After the retrieval of the data unit from the existing database, if the corresponding relation for the retrieved data unit is registered, the program related to the data unit is activated for processing the related data file in response to the user's instruction.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of toner which involvesi) flushing a colorant into a sulfonated polyester resin;ii) mixing an organic soluble dye with the colorant polyester resin of i);iii) dispersing the resulting mixture into warm water thereby enabling the formation of submicron particles;iv) allowing the resulting solution to cool below about, or about equal to the glass transition temperature of said sulfonated polyester resin;v) adding an alkali halide solution and heating; and optionallyvi) recovering said toner, followed by washing and drying.

Abstract: A printing machine and apparatus are disclosed that include an ultrasonically assisted cleaning blade to remove toner particles from an imaging surface. An ultrasonic transducer is attached to the cleaning blade to provide vibrational energy to the cleaning blade. The ultrasonic transducer concentrates vibrational energy at the blade tip for enhanced cleaning. A further element of the present invention is the addition of bias to create a strong electrostatic repulsion between the toner particles and the blade tip causing the toner to explode away from the cleaning edge, and to therefore enhance cleaning.

Abstract: A conductive fiber having at least one fiber forming material and conductive materials and coated with a polymer which reduces the surface energy of the fiber below an initial surface energy of the fiber is disclosed. The fibers are preferably used in an electrostatic cleaning device which removes residual toner from the surface of an imaging member. The coated conductive fibers significantly improve the detoning efficiency of cleaning devices incorporating the fibers.

Abstract: The outer circumferential portions of the opposite ends of a cylindrical photosensitive body provided with a photosensitive layer on a substrate is supported while the photosensitive body is driven. The rotation of the photosensitive body is controlled by control members which are a roll member, a tracking roll, an electrification roll member or the like. The substrate may be shaped into a cylinder by rolling up a metal strip or a metal plate and TIG-welding a joint portion thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image by transferring a developed image formed on an image holding member onto a transfer material by a transfer unit. The image forming apparatus is further provided with an induced-charge density suppressing unit. This induced-charge density suppressing unit suppresses the density of electric charge induced in the area of the image holding member which is opposite to an image forming member as a result of stoppage of the image forming member that is opposite to the image holding member and is electrostatically charged.

Abstract: A stalled sheet folding and flattening apparatus for reducing a sheet, stalled between a withdrawable and a fixed component of a cut sheet handling system of a sheet handling machine, into a shape and size suitably enabling reliable removal of the stalled sheet through even a relatively narrow gap between the withdrawable and fixed components of the sheet handling system. The stalled sheet folding and flattening apparatus includes a fixed component of the sheet handling system connected to a frame of the machine and having a first section of a sheet path; a withdrawable component of the sheet handling system mounted to the frame, and having a sheet flattening side defining a relatively narrow gap between a fixed surface within the machine and the withdrawable component, and including a second section of the sheet path adjoining the first section of the sheet path; and a sheet folding device mounted to the fixed component.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for bottom-up recognition of tables within a document. This method is based on the paradigm of graph-rewriting. First, the document image is transformed into a layout graph whose nodes and edges represent document entities and their interrelations respectively. This graph is subsequently rewritten using a set of rules designed based on apriori document knowledge and general formatting conventions. The resulting graph provides a logical view of the document content. It can be parsed to provide general format analysis information.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine adapted to operate in either a functional or a pictorial mode, such that, in the pictorial mode, a light signal is transmitted through a line screen member to modulate an electrostatic latent image of an original document. The amount of light transmitted through the line screen is varied as a function of the amount of light used to generate the electrostatic latent image to control the contrast of the image generated thereby. As a result, pictorial image contrast is readily adjustable by regulating the light intensity of the light transmitted through the line screen member and onto the photoconductive surface for high quality pictorial copies in an electrostatographic copying machine.