Abstract: In a reproduction system in which a reproduction apparatus with an output of printed sheets at a sheet output position (usually edge registered) is operatively connected to an output sheet processing apparatus having a sheet input position (usually center registered) for sequentially receiving and processing the printed sheets, a lateral alignment system is provided for laterally aligning the sheet input position of the output sheet processing apparatus directly with the sheet output position of the reproduction apparatus without an intermediate sheet transport. The lateral alignment is preferably with a universal interconnect and transporter module or unit adapted to support and transport various different sheet processing apparatus.

Abstract: A decurler for reducing cross curl in sheets includes at least one grooved elastomer transport belt and a ribbed pinch shaft. The ribs of the decurler shaft extend into the grooves in the belt to provide one-sided corrugations to a passing sheet and provide distributed localized bending of the copy sheet in the area of the belt grooves. Distributed local bending in the cross direction, as well as, in the wrap in the process direction around the ribbed decurler shaft provide cross curl reduction in the process direction.

Abstract: A method is shown to enable the conversion of binary image data originally generated at a first resolution into representative binary image data of an integer-value magnified resolution. Included within the resolution conversion method are methods which tend to smooth transitional edges, compensate for the conversion of an image optimized for write-black printing system to a write-white printing system, and improve the rendition of graphics images and reverse printing.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for preparing migration imaging members are disclosed. Two substrates with softenable layers applied to them travel through a vacuum chamber where they are simultaneously exposed to vapor deposition of the migration marking material. After the migration marking material is deposited, the two softenable layers are laminated together in the same vacuum chamber to form the migration imaging member. In one of the embodiments, the softenable layers are applied to the substrates in the same sweep of the substrate through the vacuum chamber vapor deposition and lamination steps.

Abstract: A system for changing the source and destination devices of data transfers under software control. Default data transfers are made from numbered source devices to the same-numbered destination devices, the data requests being routed through multiplexers which pair, for example, source 1 with destination 1, source 2 with destination 2, etc. The multiplexer control signals originate in a register which is originally loaded with default control bits. However, in real time, the bits within the control register can be re-loaded to provide outputs other than the default values. Then, the data from a source can be directed to any one of the destination devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are ink compositions comprising water, a colorant, and a phosphite salt of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R, R', R" and R'" can each, independently of each other, be hydrogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, or a substituted aryl group. Also disclosed is a process for preparing an ink composition which comprises admixing water, a colorant, a base, and an acid selected from the group consisting of hypophosphoric acid, hypophosphorous acid, alkyl phosphonic acids, aryl phosphonic acids, alkyl phosphinic acids, aryl phosphinic acids, and mixtures thereof, wherein the pH of the ink is adjusted by a process selected from the group consisting of (a) adding the acid to an aqueous solution containing the base, and (b) adding the base to an aqueous solution containing the acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of fluorescent toner compositions comprising(i) preparing a pigment dispersion in a solvent, which dispersion is comprised of a pigment or dye, an ionic surfactant and optionally a charge control agent;(ii) shearing the pigment dispersion with a latex mixture comprised of a counterionic surfactant with a charge polarity of opposite sign to that of said ionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and resin particles, thereby causing a flocculation or heterocoagulation of pigment, resin particles and charge control agent to form electrostatically bound toner size aggregates; and(iii) heating the statically bound aggregated particles to form said toner composition comprised of polymeric resin, pigment and optionally a charge control agent, and wherein the pigment or dye is excitable by ultraviolet light in the frequency range of from about 254 to about 366 nanometers and fluoresces in the visible spectrum of from about 400 to about 700 nanometers.

Abstract: A printer including a controller for controlling reproduction functions of the machine, and a user active interface. The active interface includes user actuatable control for selecting one of at least two modes of the printer for performing a desired reproduction function, and a start control for starting the printer to perform the desired function according to the selected one of the at least two modes thereof. The active interface also includes a graphic display representing each of the at least two modes for performing the desired reproduction function, and a connection to the controller for animating the graphic display in response to a user actuating an actuatable control for selecting one of the at least two modes for performing the desired function.

Abstract: A process for changing layered imaging members by the transfer of ions thereto which comprises contacting the imaging member with a liquid developer comprised of a nonpolar liquid, and a mixture of surfactants of an ammonium block copolymer first surfactant of the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.- is a conjugate base or anion of a strong acid; R is hydrogen or alkyl; R' is alkyl; R" is an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; and y and x represent the number average degree of polymerization (DP) wherein the ratio of y to x is in the range of from about 10 to 2 to about 1,000 to 200; and a second surfactant component of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and n is 0 (zero), 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Abstract: There is disclosed a total reflection knife edge which is a transparent optical element for receiving a scanning light beam and allowing the light beam at certain locations to enter a fiber optic element or blocking the light beam at certain locations from entering the fiber optic element. The total reflection knife edge of this invention comprises a convex surface to focus the scanning light beam on a surface which is substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the scanning light beam. This surface allows the scanning light beam to exit the total internal reflection knife edge and enter the fiber optic element. The total reflection knife edge of this invention also has a surface which is at an angle to the propagation direction of the scanning light beam. The angled surface reflects the incoming scanning light beam back into the internal reflection knife edge to prevent the light beam from entering the fiber optic element.

Abstract: A roller assembly for use in an electrostatographic development apparatus to transport developer material through a development zone. The roller assembly includes end cap sections for mounting rotatably to a housing of the development apparatus, and a spincasted sleeve section interconnecting the end cap sections. The spincasted sleeve section includes an outer layer that has a series of non-radial undercuts formed thereinto for retaining developer material being transported. In order to achieve consistent precision at relatively lower costs, the sleeve section is produced by spincasting a desired quantity of filled thermoset material in a simple reusable silicone mold formed and held in a mud frame.

Abstract: A system for extracting document elements from a document using major white regions includes an input port for inputting a signal representing the document image, a connected component generator for generating connected components from the document image, a bounding box generator for generating a bounding box around each connected component, a major white region extractor for extracting major white regions from the document image, and a document element extractor for extracting the document elements from the document image.

Abstract: A self cleaning wiper blade cleaning system has at least one polyurethane wiping blade releasably mounted in a slot on a planar surface of a fixed structural member. A front end of the mounted blade wipes the nozzle face of the printhead as it enters and leaves a priming station to maintain the printhead nozzle face clear of ink and other debris. The ink which is removed from the printhead nozzle face by the edge of the wiper blade is drawn away therefrom by capillary action of small grooves cut in the wiper blade. The grooves have one end in contact with an absorbent pad provided at a bottom edge of the wiper blade and the other end of the slot is adjacent but spaced a predetermined distance from the front edge of the wiper blade. The capillary action of the grooves provide continuous removal of the ink from the vicinity of cleaning edge of the wiper blade, obviating the need of a separate system to clean the wiper blades.

Abstract: Toners comprised of a mixture of a cyan toner, a magenta toner, a yellow toner, and an optional black toner, each of said toners being comprised of resin and pigment, and wherein the pigment for the cyan toner is a .beta. type copper phthalocyanine, the pigment for the magenta toner is a quinacridone, the pigment for the yellow toner is an isoindoline, and the pigment for the black toner is carbon black.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically monitoring contextual information concerning users and machines, including state and locational information including proximity. Interaction policies, including user specified interaction policies, may be registered on an identifiable address path. Methods are described for detecting, selecting and controlling computercontrolled devices, based on the proximity of the device to the user, the current context of the user, the location of other nearby users and devices, and the current state of the devices. Temporary transfer of control, including exclusive control, of particular computers and computer controlled devices to individual users based on the context and environment in proximity to those computing devices is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering a sheet with a developed image on a moving surface. The apparatus includes a transfer station, detector, memory, and a registration transport. The detector is located at the transfer station and generates a registration signal in response to a sheet edge and a registration portion of the developed image. The memory stores sheet position factors and responds to the detector to update the factors. The registration transport communicates with the detector and the memory to move the sheet to the transfer station in registration with the developed image.

Abstract: A desktop page printer, such as suitable for printing MICR images, includes a slitter for cutting page-size prints into check-size documents as the page prints are emitted from the printing machine. The slitter can be bypassed by the installation of a side output tray which causes the paper path to be diverted from the slitter.

Abstract: To assure that a plate-shaped brittle material is exactly cut into two plate pieces, a jig having a thread-shaped projection secured thereto in conformity with a predetermined pattern positionally coincident with a cut groove formed in the plate-shaped brittle material, an elastic member located on the cut groove side of the plate-shaped brittle material, and a plate-shaped brittle material to be cut into two plate pieces are placed on a table of a press machine one above another, and subsequently, a predetermined intensity of pressing power is applied to the jig from above by operating a pressing machine. Alternatively, a jig having a thread-shaped projection secured thereto, an elastic member located on the opposite side relative to the cut groove side of the plate-shaped brittle material, and a plate-shaped brittle material to be cut into two plate pieces may be placed on the press table one above another.

Abstract: A thin film transistor includes an insulating substrate, a gate electrode formed on the substrate, a first insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer formed on the first insulating layer over the gate electrode, a second insulating layer formed on the semiconductor layer over the gate electrode, a drain electrode having a predetermined width formed on the semiconductor layer and overlapping a side portion of the second insulating layer, a source electrode formed on the semiconductor layer opposing the drain electrode and overlapping another side portion of the second insulating layer, a third insulating layer formed on the source and the drain electrodes width, and a metallic layer formed on the third insulating layer having a width greater than the predetermined width and covering a predetermined length of the drain electrode.

Abstract: A font data generator provides bit map font data free from blurs and thickening in character strokes from data expressing outline segments. The font data generator includes an outline data generating unit for providing pixel data representing the entire outline of a character. A selected outline data generating unit generates, from the pixel data representing the entire outline of a character, pixel data representing only some outline segments. In one embodiment, outline segments are seleced if, when the entire outline is traced counter-clockwise, the segments must be traced in either left or down directions. A filling data generating unit generates, from data expressing the outline segments of a character, pixel data to fill in the area surrounded by the outine segments. A data synthesizing means synthesizes the selected outline pixel data and the filling pixel data to form a character.