Abstract: A system and method are provided which enable a print media color to be used, as a replacement for a mixture of one or more colorants, in rendering portions of a print job. One or more multidimensional look-up tables are provided. Each table provides for an identified input color, in a device-independent space, to be equated to no colorant, when printed on the respective print media. The identified input color is one of a set of input colors, which, when printed and measured, has an output color that is closest to a measured color of the print media.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. For example, the method executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) includes tracking a machine state of the MFD, predicting a potential defect based on a determination that the machine state is associated with a defect class of a plurality of different defect classes, determining a maintenance routine associated with the defect class, and executing the maintenance routine to prevent the potential defect.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for generating multiple scanned files when scanning a document. The method includes receiving a document for scanning from a user. Once received, a user interface is displayed to the user to input one or more keywords based on which multiple scanned files are to be generated. A single scanned file is generated in a pre-defined format. One or more pages having the keywords as input by the user are identified from the scanned file. Based on the one or more identified pages having the keywords input by the user, separate multiple scanned files are automatically generated. As a result, a single scan activity performed by the user generates multiple scanned files.

Abstract: A method for operating a printer can include draining a print material from a printer, placing a sacrificial metal into the printer, ejecting the sacrificial metal from a nozzle of the printer, and cooling to printer to a temperature that is below a melting point of the print material and the sacrificial metal. The print material can be or include aluminum and the sacrificial metal can be or include tin. The print material can be drained from the printer when the print material is in molten form, for example, from about 600° C. to about 2000° C. The sacrificial metal can be ejected from the nozzle at a temperature above the melting point of the sacrificial metal but below the melting point of the print material, for example, below about 300° C. The method can reduce or eliminate cracking of various printer structures such as the nozzle during a shutdown or cooling of the printer.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for managing cancelled jobs at a multi-function device. The method includes receiving a request from a user to cancel a job submitted at the multi-function device. Based on the request, a user interface is provided to the user. The user interface includes one or more pre-defined options related to cancelling the job, for selection by the user. The one or more pre-defined options can be quality related option or non-quality related option. The selected pre-defined option is analyzed and based on the analysis, an admin user is notified in real-time to take an appropriate action.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses methods and systems for automatically generating multiple scanned files when scanning a document at a multi-function device. The method includes receiving a multi-page document for scanning from a user. A user interface is provided to the user to input one or more keywords and one or more desired resolution values, where the input resolution values are different from a default resolution value set at the multi-function device. A page of the document is scanned to generate a scanned page of a default resolution value. The scanned page is checked if including the one or more input keywords. Accordingly, the default resolution value of the page is converted to the user desired resolution value. The scanning, checking, and converting are repeated till all the pages of the document are scanned. Multiple scanned files of different resolution values are automatically generated from single scan activity.

Abstract: A tone reproduction curve for a printing apparatus is periodically generated based on printed items produced by the printing apparatus. The tone reproduction curve is adjusted between periodic print-based generations of the tone reproduction curve by: determining the amount of area coverage of marking material applied by the printing apparatus during printing (in subsequent periods following an initial period in which the tone reproduction curve was generated); weighting the amount of area coverage in each of the subsequent periods differently based on how distant each of the subsequent periods is from the initial period to produce a weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material; and adjusting the tone reproduction curve based on the weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material.

Abstract: A method for operating a printer can include placing a first print material into a supply reservoir of the printer. The method also includes placing a second print material into the supply reservoir to combine with the first print material to form a diluted print material. The method also includes causing the diluted print material to exit the supply reservoir. Another method for operating a printer includes adding a first print material having a first melting point to a supply reservoir at a first rate. The method also includes adding a second print material having a second melting point to a supply reservoir at a second rate. The method for operating a printer also includes allowing the first print material and the second print material to combine to form a diluted print material. A printing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A processor maintains image quality degradation for a printing device. A communications device receives a print job that includes instructions to print a plurality of printed sheets in a sheet printing sequence. The processor generates a predicted output image for a mid-job sheet of the printed sheets based on the image quality degradation and the sheet count of the mid-job sheet within the sheet printing sequence. The printing engine alter printing characteristics to print a proof sheet matching an appearance of the predicted output image.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods to measure characteristics of line width and density of printed test patterns. By printing the test patterns and capturing with an in-line scanner or optical device, the analytical results of these test patterns can be used as feedback to a control system that adjusts both impression and inking levels without the need of a skilled operator.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a knowledge base system and method for curating both factual and logical knowledge while using a common data storage repository. According to an exemplary embodiment, a knowledge base stores complied Boolean information which represents factual knowledge and logic for interpreting the factual knowledge. Combining the knowledge base, i.e., functional logic knowledge (FLK) repository, with a logic evaluator creates a knowledge abstraction layer.

Abstract: A printing system comprises one or more printheads arranged to eject ink to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which transports the print media though the deposition region. The vacuum suction is communicated from a vacuum source to the movable support surface via a vacuum plenum. An airflow control system comprises one or more dampers arranged in the vacuum plenum to control airflow between the vacuum source and the movable support surface. The dampers have an adjustable impedance to airflow through the damper. The airflow control system is configured to adjust the impedance of the damper based on a detected condition of the printing system. A detected condition of the printing system may include, for example, a sensed pressure in the vacuum plenum.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject ink through an opening in a carrier plate to a deposition region. A print medium is held against a movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated through platen holes of a vacuum platen and transported through the deposition region. An airflow control system comprises upstream and downstream valves associated with the printhead, individually addressable channels for the vacuum platen, or both. The upstream and downstream valves are arranged to selectively block and allow airflow through an upstream side or a downstream side, respectively, of the opening in the carrier plate. Actuation of the upstream and downstream valves may be controlled based on a location of the print medium. The channels are arranged to selectively control the supply of vacuum suction to respectively corresponding columns of platen holes. Actuation of the channels may be controlled based on a size of the print medium.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a media transport device which holds print media, such as paper, against a movable support surface, such as a belt, by vacuum suction through holes in a vacuum platen and transports the print media though a deposition region of one or more printheads, which deposit a print fluid, such as ink, on the print media. The printing system comprises an airflow control device comprising dampers that are moveable along a direction perpendicular to the vacuum platen between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, each damper blocking at least one row of the holes in the deployed configuration. The airflow control device also comprises actuators to move the damper(s). The actuator(s) are controlled to selectively move the damper(s) between the undeployed and deployed configuration based on a position of an inter-media zone between adjacent print media held against the movable support surface.

Abstract: A printing system comprises printheads to eject ink to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which moves over a vacuum platen. The vacuum platen comprises platen holes through which the vacuum suction is communicated. An airflow control system comprises airflow zones, each comprising a group of the platen holes, a duct, and a valve, the duct and the valve being arranged to selectively control vacuum suction through the group of the platen holes. For each of the printheads, at least one of the airflow zones is located under the respective printhead. Thus, airflow through platen holes under the printheads can be selectively controlled by selectively controlling the vacuum suction in the airflow zones.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly and a media transport assembly. The ink deposition assembly comprises a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid to a deposition region of the ink deposition assembly. The media transport assembly comprises a vacuum source and a movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises valves having holes through the media support surface. The media transport assembly is configured to hold one or more print media against the movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated from the vacuum source through valves. The valves are each configured to transition between a closed state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is prevented and an open state in which airflow through the hole of the respective valve is allowed.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly and a media transport device. The ink deposition assembly comprises printheads to deposit a print fluid, such as ink, on print media, such as paper. The media transport device holds the print media against a movable support surface, such as a belt, by vacuum suction platen and transports the print media though a deposition region. The vacuum suction is communicated to the movable through platen holes and platen channels in a vacuum platen. At least some of the platen channels have a high impedance region that has a reduced open cross-sectional area as compared to another region of the platen channel.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an airflow control system. The ink deposition assembly comprises printheads to deposit a print fluid, such as ink, on print media, such as paper, transported through a deposition region. The media transport device holds the print media against a moving support surface, such as a belt, by vacuum suction through holes in the media transport device and transports the print media though the deposition region. The airflow control system comprises a damper and an actuator configured to move the damper along a cross-process direction. The damper blocks airflow through a subset of the holes along a side of the media transport device, the subset varying based on a position of the damper. The damper is moved to change the subset of the holes blocked by the damper based on a size of the print medium.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an ink deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an airflow control system. The ink deposition assembly comprises a printhead to eject ink through a carrier plate opening in a carrier plate. The media transport device holds a print medium against a movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print media through a deposition region. The airflow control system comprises a baffle that is movable between an upstream-blocking configuration and a downstream-blocking configuration, and an actuator configured to move the baffle. In the upstream-blocking configuration the baffle blocks airflow through an upstream side of the printhead opening while allowing airflow through a downstream side of the printhead opening. In the downstream-blocking configuration the baffle blocks airflow through the downstream side of the printhead opening while allowing airflow through the upstream side of the printhead opening.