Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for consistently rotating high addressability bitmap images to be rendered on a printing system. The invention first encodes the high addressability image to produce a regular bitmap array and then rotates the regular array. Next the invention applies a compact dot growth operation to assure that the exposure pulses for any gray pixels are consistently positioned, thereby assuring consistent output-independent of the rotation direction.

Abstract: A hypertext apparatus for managing hypertext composed of nodes holding information and of link information defining the relations between the nodes so as to display the information held by each of the nodes in accordance with the link information. The apparatus comprises: a node information management part for managing the nodes and for storing the information held by the nodes; a link information management part for putting into an order the link information defining the relations between the nodes; a link order manipulation part for manipulating the order of the link information; and a display control part for displaying the nodes successively in accordance with the order of the link information.

Abstract: In a multilayer printed-circuit substrate comprising a plurality of insulating resin layers, a plurality of metal-made electrically conductive circuits respectively laminated between the insulating resin layers and on the upper surface of the uppermost-positioned insulating resin layer and electrically conductive portions for respectively electrically connecting adjacent upper- and lower-positioned conductive circuits to each other, the insulating resin layers except at least the lowest-positioned insulating resin layer have flexibility, and blackening-treated films prepared by applying blackening treatment to the surface of the respective electrically conductive circuits are respectively provided between the upper surfaces of the conductive circuits and the insulating resin layers laminated thereon.

Abstract: In an arrangement in which compressed image data including color image information is to be directed to a printer in streams of data including Sample data, Mask data, Color data and Command or instruction data, wherein the compressed data is directed along a bus, data is retrieved from the bus, with instructions from a fetcher which includes direct memory access (DMA), and is directed to several data type specific FIFO memories. A combiner, operating in accordance with instructions stored in a command FIFO, removes data from the Sample, Mask and Constant Color FIFO's in accordance with the desired image requirements as specified by Command data to form an output image.

Abstract: A sheet aligning and registration device for a printing machine. In a stalled roll registration device there is provided a drive mechanism preceding the stalled roll which allows a sheet to move while within the drive nip. The drive mechanism uses a drive roll and an eccentric idler roll in contact therewith. The idler is biased against the drive roll by a compression spring such that as the eccentric idler roll rotates, the spring is alternately compressed and relaxed. When a sheet is driven through the drive mechanism and into the stalled nip, a buckle is formed which causes a force to be exerted on the drive nip which causes the eccentric roll to stall in the horizontal position in which little normal force is exerted on the sheet. The sheet is then free to deskew and align in the stalled nip. Once the sheet is aligned and deskewed, the stalled nip is actuated and the sheet is forwarded to a process station.

Abstract: A photosensitive device includes a plurality of active photosensors, for receiving light from an original image, and at least one dark photosensor. The dark photosensor is shielded with a light shield so that it receives no light, and is used to establish a dark offset for the device. Each active photosensor and the dark photosensor have associated therewith an individual transfer circuit, including a reset node having a capacitance associated therewith. The capacitance of the reset node for the dark photosensor is selected to compensate for the extra capacitance created by the light shield.

Abstract: A developing apparatus in which a nonmagnetic carrier is used; a developer forward member having a conductive surface and forwarding a nonmagnetic toner and the resin carrier by stirring is disposed so as to confront a toner carrying body with a gap interposed therebetween and so as to arrange a part of the surface thereof close to an inner wall surface of a frame of the apparatus, the frame having a surface profile corresponding to a surface profile of the forward member; and a voltage applying means is arranged so that the voltage applying means applies such a voltage to generate an electric field for attracting the toner in the developer toward the toner carrying body and attracting the resin carrier toward the developer forward member in the area where the toner carrying body confronts the developer forward member.

Abstract: A high capacity portable sheet cassette tray assembly for supporting and positioning a stack of sheets for feeding reliably, one at a time, in a sheet using machine. The high capacity cassette tray assembly includes a cassette frame for removing and reinstalling into a sheet supply station of the sheet using machine. The cassette frame has a front end over which sheets are fed into the machine, and forward feed corner snubbers that are mounted to the front end of the cassette frame. The high capacity cassette tray assembly also includes a liftable base plate mounted within the cassette frame for supporting a high capacity stack of sheets having a topmost sheet. Further, the high capacity cassette tray includes a constant angle parallelogram lifting assembly that has a rear end connected to the cassette frame, and a front end connected to the liftable base plate for lifting and supporting the base plate and a topmost sheet of a stack of sheets on the base plate.

Abstract: A contacting electrostatic voltmeter suitable for sampling positive or negative potentials on an electrostatically charged surface. The electrostatic voltmeter includes a selectively controllable actuation mechanism that enables the use of a contacting electrostatic voltmeter to sample the surface of an electrostatically charged member, moving relative thereto, within a predetermined space. The invention finds particular use in a printing system, where it enables charge monitoring during printing yet avoids disturbance to charged latent image areas on the imaging member.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and color printing machine having an ultrasonic cleaner and a cleaning blade is disclosed for removing residual toner, toner additive films, spots and comets off the imaging surface. The toner additives used during development leave more than one layer of toner additive films on the surface. An ultrasonic cleaner that has a tip velocity ranging from about 1500 mm/sec to about 3000 mm/sec is used in combination with a blade that has sufficient hardness to remove the thick toner additive films without damaging the surface. The build up of toner additive films cause copy defects. The vibrational motion of the ultrasonic cleaner reduces friction between the blade and the surface and enables the dislodgment of toner additive films, spots, comets and residual toner off the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition which comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle, a photochromic material, and a vesicle-forming lipid, wherein vesicles of the lipid are present in the ink.

Abstract: A thin-film resistor comprising a mixture of rhodium (Rh) oxide as a resistive material, and at least one element M selected from the group consisting of silicon (Si), lead (Pb), bismuth (Bi), zirconium (Zr), barium (Ba), aluminium (Al), boron (B), tin (Sn), and titanium (Ti), wherein M/Rh, or the ratio of the number of element M atoms to that of rhodium (Rh) atoms is in the range of 0.3 to 3.0. Thin-film resistor is formed from the process of preparing a solution of an organometallic material, coating the material on a substrate, drying and then firing the material at a peak temperature not less than 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A fee accounting mechanism for reporting fees associated with the distribution and use of digital works. Usage rights and fees are attached to digital works. The usage rights define how the digital work may be used or further distributed. Usage fees are specified as part of a usage right. The digital works and their usage rights and fees are stored in repositories. The repositories control access to the digital works. Upon determination that the exercise of a usage right requires a fee, the repository generates a fee reporting transaction. Fee reporting is done to a credit server. The credit server collects the fee information and periodically transmits it to a billing clearinghouse.

Abstract: A residual toner collecting system is provided in an electrostatographic reproduction machine. The collecting system includes units within the reproduction machine for generating waste or residual toner; members within the machine defining an elongate loading aperture for a removable cartridge, and a fixed position interference member adjacent the loading aperture. The collecting system also includes an elongate cartridge unit for removably loading into the loading aperture, and a residual toner collecting sump assembly connected to an externally directed end of the cartridge unit for receiving residual toner from the residual toner generating units. The collecting sump assembly includes a frame defining a visible end cavity, and a top wall defining a chamber for holding residual toner. The collecting sump assembly also includes an opening into the chamber, and a shutter assembly pivotably mounted to the top wall over the opening.

Abstract: In a simplex or duplex copier with plural different document inputs, including at least one input normally used for copying single documents and another normally used for copying plural documents, a system is provided for automatically selecting duplex copying whenever appropriate, to save copy sheets, including a controller programmed to automatically select between simplex or duplex copying and to direct the copy sheets into a duplex copying path when duplex copying is selected, and respective document input sensors connected to provide control signals to the controller upon sensing a document at a respective document input, the controller automatically selecting duplex copying unless there is a signal from a document input sensor at a document input normally used for copying single documents, such as a semi-automatic document input or a sensor sensing the lifting of the document handler, or, even though the document input normally used for copying plural documents is the input tray of an automatic recircul

Abstract: A coating system is disclosed comprising apparatus for coating webs comprising a rigid, elongated trough, a cylindrical applicator mounted for rotation about its axis within the trough, the trough having an arcuate upstream liquid retaining surface and an arcuate downstream liquid retaining surface closely spaced from the lower surface of the cylindrical applicator to define an arcuate coating zone which progressively narrows in the downstream direction, a manifold between the upstream liquid retaining surface and the downstream liquid retaining surface, the manifold extending substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical applicator, the arcuate downstream liquid retaining surface and the arcuate upstream liquid retaining surface extending from the manifold upwardly a sufficient distance along the periphery of the cylindrical applicator to retain most of any liquid in the coating zone, a wall at each end of the trough to retain the liquid in the coating zone, each of the walls being closely spaced fro

Abstract: A shaft assembly and method of forming a shaft assembly having an elongated hollow shaft with a stepped portion on the surface of the shaft. The stepped portion of the shaft surface is formed of two straight edge sections joined by an inclined section. A gear having a corresponding straight/inclined edge configuration engages the shaft and contacts the shaft only on the corresponding straight edge portions. Both the shaft and gear are made of plastic.

Abstract: A heat and pressure fuser and RAM system therefor. A rotating wick is provided in one disclosed embodiment which cooperates with a metering roll to apply silicone oil release agent to the surface of a heated fuser roll. To this end the rotating wick contacts silicone oil contained in a sump and through its rotation conveys the oil to the metering roll which in turn applies a metered quantity of oil to the surface of the heated fuser roll. In another embodiment, a rotating wick together with a metering roll and a donor roll serve to convey silicone oil from a supply of oil to the surface of the fuser roll.

Abstract: Halftone screens are generated for each separation in accordance with the goal of avoiding overlapping whenever possible. Initially, the black separation is halftoned, generating a dot pattern with a number of ON pixels and OFF pixels in accordance with the area density of the black separation. Next, a first color separation is halftoned, setting a number of the previous OFF pixels to ON. Then, if any white pixels remain, the second color separation is halftoned, setting a number of the previously OFF pixels to ON. If during the processing of the second and third separations, it is determined that no OFF pixels exist to be turned ON, a second layer of color is started, respectively superimposed over the first layer. The third color separation is halftoned in reverse fill-in order, setting a number of the previous OFF pixels to ON. Each layer is started and arranged so that the additional colors forming the dot pattern are not placed on any black areas.

Abstract: The present invention concerns laser diode arrays having an accurately spaced offset in the laser beams emanating from their respective laser stripes, and methods of their manufacture. The first method involves the mounting of at least two laser diodes on a submount such that the axes of the laser stripes between the two respective diodes are accurately spaced. The second method concerns the placement of a position mark on each diode at a accurate distance from the axis of the laser stripe such that the mark is easily detectable from a side view. The two diodes are then mounted with the axes of their laser stripes accurately spaced from the relative positioning of the position marks. The third method concerns the manufacture of laser diodes whose laser stripe axes are accurately spaced from at least one side edge of the diodes. The array of diodes is constructed such that the laser stripe axes are accurately spaced from each other relative to the side edges of accurate distance from their respective axes.