Abstract: A heat and pressure fuser and Release Agent Management (RAM) systems therefor. Dual RAM systems are provided. A first RAM system supplies functional release agent material having a relatively high concentration of functional chains (.about.O.05 to 0.3 mol %) to an elastomeric fuser member prior to a second RAM system which supplies release agent material having low functionally or no functionality. The elastomeric fuser member may contain metal oxide particles. The low functionality release agent is relatively non-reactive. Depending on whether the elastomeric member contains the metal oxide particles, the functional chains of the high concentration release agent material which are periodically supplied to the fuser roll surface either attach to the metal particles exposed at the surface of the fuser roll by chemical bonds or to the elastomeric material itself. The non-reactive chains adhere to the functional chains by much weaker physical (such as van der Waals) chains.

Abstract: A method controls multicast cell access to a switching network with a reservation ring in an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switch. The switching network distributes the multicast cell in one or more passes from an input channel to one or more output channels of the switch during a switch cycle. An arbitration session for a multicast cell begins by submitting an arbitration request identifying a set of destination output channels to the reservation ring. During an arbitration cycle, the output channels in the set of destination output channels are arbitrated for over the reservation ring. The arbitration request is reissued during later arbitration cycles until access to each of the destination output channels in the set of output channels is granted.

Abstract: The optical path length of a raster output scanning (ROS) system is minimized by the use of a laser beam source for emitting a light beam with an enlarged divergence ratio. A super-elliptic light source beam with at least an 8:1 elliptic ratio of the major cross-scan axis to the minor scan axis will minimize the optical path length of a raster output scanning (ROS) system. The large divergence ratio of the super-elliptic light beam reduces the required focal lengths in the ROS optics while maintaining the desired numerical apertures and high energy throughput.

Abstract: An electrostatographic process cartridge detachably mountable into a cavity defined by mated machine modules forming parts of an electrostatographic reproduction machine. The process cartridge includes a housing having walls defining a process chamber and a rotatable cylindrical photoreceptor mounted to the walls and horizontally within the process chamber. The cylindrical photoreceptor has a fixed rotational closed loop path within the process chamber. The process cartridge also includes plural process components including a toner image transferring component, a cleaning component, a charge erase light component, a charging component, an imagewise exposure component, and a development component, each acting along the closed loop path for consistently producing high quality toner images. The plural components each have a critical acting position spaced circumferentially along the closed loop path, and the critical acting positions include a 234.degree.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically analyzing timing constraints of capabilities, and establishing parameters for automatic generation of finite-state machines which schedule from print engine capabilities. The system generates a finite-state machine which encodes, for each capability, a means by which any given schedule may be extended to one that includes a correct or optimal schedule for that particular capability. The system generates finite-state machines for both forward and backwards scheduling. It is adapted for both greedy and optimal search strategies. The system facilitates selectively leaving classes of constraints for run-time checking in order to reduce a size of a finite-state machine. Finite machines so generated are suitably used with schedulers to alternately control operation of a print engine.

Abstract: An oriented ferroelectric thin film element, which comprises a single-crystal substrate having thereon (a) a first epitaxial or oriented ferroelectric thin film prepared by a gas phase growth method and (b) a second epitaxial or oriented ferroelectric thin film prepared by application of a coating solution of an organic metal compound to the first ferroelectric thin film followed by heating the coated material. The oriented ferroelectric thin film element has a smooth surface and is useful as an optical guide element, light modulation element, etc. The second ferroelectric thin film can be formed by repeating the process of application of a coating solution of an organic metal compound followed by heating the coated material several times. The present invention also discloses a process for preparing the oriented ferroelectric thin film element.

Abstract: Controllably conductive polymer compositions may be used in electrophotographic imaging developing systems, such as scavengeless or hybrid scavengeless systems or liquid image development systems. The conductive polymer compositions includes a charge-transporting material (particularly a charge-transporting, thiophene-containing polymer or an inert elastomeric polymer, such as a butadiene- or isoprene-based copolymer or an aromatic polyether-based polyurethane elastomer, that additionally comprises charge transport molecules) and a dopant capable of accepting electrons from the charge-transporting material. The invention also relates to an electrophotographic printing machine, a developing apparatus, and a coated transport member, an intermediate transfer belt, and a hybrid compliant photoreceptor comprising a composition of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor which includes a cleaning blade or brush for removing debris from the charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor. In the environment of a xerographic copier and/or printer, corona effluents are emitted by the high voltage charging devices. These effluents, which are strong oxidizing/ozonating agents, may be adsorbed by or otherwise attach a cleaning blade, brush or corona-proximate polymer matrix device or housing. Thereafter, such corona species outgassing may chemically and/or otherwise attack the photoreceptor during prolonged proximate exposure or contact, resulting in print/copy defects, as well as permanent damage to the photoreceptor and/or cleaning blade, brush or other device. The apparatus for cleaning relates to impregnation or treatment with an antiozonant such that its presence in the polymer matrix can prevent corona species penetration or accumulation by chemically neutralizing and destroying the species upon exposure.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring physical properties of paper. The paper property sensor system includes a surface and a diaphragm opposed to each other. The small diaphragm includes a first pair and a second pair p-type piezoresistors. Each piezoresistor of the first pair has a longitudinal axis and is located perpendicular to and very close to one of the long edges of the diaphragm. Each piezoresistor of the second pair has a longitudinal axis and is located between and parallel to first pair of piezoresistors, and away from the short edges of the diaphragm. Coupling the first pair of piezoresistors with the second pair via a Wheatstone bridge produces a voltage representative of the shear force exerted by a sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus, printing machine and method for replenishing an aquatron liquid reservoir in an aquatron charging device. The print media (e.g. paper, vellum, etc.) releases liquid from the print media during fusing. A condenser creates condensate from the liquid released by the print media which is collected in a conduit and transported using air flow into a collection container. This collection container can be the aquatron liquid reservoir, or a separate collection container that pumps liquid to the aquatron liquid reservoir, thus, enabling replenishing the liquid supply of the aquatron liquid reservoir within the printing machine. Sensing devices measuring liquid concentration resistance in the aquatron liquid reservoir and/or the collection container control the liquid level of the reservoir and/or collection container.

Abstract: A robust integrated database system merging operations from two or more individual database systems that uses a system logging table created in one of the databases to log system data and requested changes to the system data. The inherent robustness developed for one database is exploited to provide robustness for the entire integrated system. During normal operation, the system logging table stores log data. After a failure, the log data in the system table allows an integrator to query the databases as to the status of any previously pending operations and to thereby recover from the failure.

Abstract: Picture signal encoding and decoding apparatus capable of realizing a satisfactory operation in encoding and decoding a picture image at a stable speed without being restricted to the upper limits of input and output speeds in a transfer path or a storage device for encoded data. In a picture signal encoding apparatus comprising a block divider, an orthogonal transformer, a quantizer and a variable length encoder, there are further included a band divider for dividing quantized coefficients into a plurality of mutually prime subsets, a plurality of variable length encoders for encoding the quantized coefficients of each subset to obtain encoded data of each subset, and a plurality of memories or transferrers for storing or transferring the encoded data of each subset individually.

Abstract: A system of creating enhanced reports from a computer database or programming language. The system will contain the basic data and some contextual information, which is the description of the type of information contained within the lists of the data file. The enhanced report generator will be sets of instructions which are loaded into the computer, each set of which will contain rules for formatting a report, based on the user inputs, the data, and the data's context. In the event that the context is not sufficient, additional contextual information will be loaded at the time that the enhanced report generator is loaded. The enhanced report generator will be loaded into the system in parallel with the standard report generator that is contained within the computer as a software application, and the user can select one, thus making the use of the enhanced reort generator transparent to the computer.

Abstract: In a process for producing an electrophotographic imaging member, a charge transport layer is coated onto a support and the charge transport layer is laminated onto at least one lower layer of the electrophotographic imaging member. The electrophotographic imaging member includes a preformed transport layer laminated onto a lower layer of the electrophotographic imaging member.

Abstract: An device for applying an electrical charge to a member to be charged such as a charge retentive surface in an electrostatographic printing apparatus, including a multi-contact point conductive charging device positioned in contact with the member to be charged. The charging device includes multiple electrically isolated conductive blades which are independently electrically biased at predetermined voltage levels so as not to exceed a Paschen threshold voltage differential. Alternative embodiments are disclosed incorporating conductive blade members, as well as ionically conductive liquid carrying donor members. In operation, the charging device of the present invention permits generation of a charge potential on the photoreceptor significantly greater than the Paschen threshold voltage, while avoiding air breakdown.

Abstract: There is disclosed a viscosity reduction method including: (a) forming an azeotropic mixture including water and a liquid capable of forming the azeotropic mixture with the water in a coating composition comprised of the water, a solvent, and a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a fluorohydrocarbon polymer and a grafted elastomer composed of a polyorganosiloxane bonded to a fluoroelastomer; and (b) agitating the coating composition including the azeotropic mixture, thereby reducing the viscosity of the coating composition.

Abstract: Qualitative reasoning for physical systems, and techniques for automatic code generation are used to automatically construct digital controllers/device drivers for electro-mechanical systems. Such construction uses models of the system's components described as finite state machines, to form a configuration space. Transitions of the configuration space are labelled as external or internal and a state of the system is identified as a desired state while other states are identified as undesirable. From this configuration space a controller is generated to drive the system to the desired state while avoiding the undesirable states.

Abstract: A printing system for printing a representation of an image on a first portion of a bound document with the image being disposed on a second portion of the bound document is provided. The printing system includes an input station for generating a print job including the image, and a printing machine, communicating with said input station, for producing prints corresponding with the job, wherein one of the prints includes the image as a printed image. The printing system further includes a spine printing apparatus including an image capture system for reading the printed image and converting the same to a set of image data; and a printing device for printing the representation of the image, by reference to the set of image data, on the first portion of the bound document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a pixel design which incorporates an in-pixel amplifier to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of an image sensor array while maintaining a high sensor fill factor. In addition, this pixel design allows for the addition of an amplifier without having to modify the fabrication process of current sensor arrays.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chuck assembly for engaging the inner surface of a hollow substrate comprising: (a) a housing having an open end and defining a passageway in communication with the open end; (b) a partially hollow elastic boot defining an entry hole and an inner surface wherein the boot when stretched decreases in cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the boot engages the housing, whereby the hollow portion of the boot is in communication with the passageway; and (c) a movable, boot stretching member disposed in the passageway and adapted to engage the inner surface of the boot, wherein movement of the member in a direction to stretch the boot decreases the cross-sectional dimension of the boot, thereby permitting insertion of the boot into the substrate, and wherein movement of the member in the opposite direction increases the cross-sectional dimension of the boot, thereby permitting engagement of the boot against the inner surface of the substrate.