Abstract: Methods and systems for verifying automatic license plate recognition results providing an input image of a license plate to a processing system that extracts bitmap data from the provided input image and determines a particular license template image associated with the license plate input image. The processing system segments the input image bitmap data into text region bitmap data and outer region bitmap data and then matches the input image text region bitmap data and input image outer region bitmap data against text region bitmap data and outer region bitmap data, respectively, of the license plate image template to determine if there is a match between the license plate of the input image and the template license plate.

Abstract: In response to determining that a target vehicle is at large, identification information associated with the target vehicle's license plate may be retrieved and used to generate one or more synthetic license plate images. The synthetic license plate images may be subjected to one or more transformation to cause them to resemble authentic license plate image captures and/or to mimic authentic license plate image captures from existing and operational ALPR system cameras. Target signatures may then be calculated from the synthetic license plate images. Upon capturing an authentic license plate image using an ALPR system camera, a signature of the authentic license plate image may be calculated. If a match is found between the signature of the authentic license plate image and a target signature, law enforcement may be alerted that the target vehicle was detected at the location of the ALPR system camera.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and systems for troubleshooting charging and photoreceptor failure modes associated with a xerographic process. Specifically, according to an exemplary method the photoreceptor decay behavior, with and without the effects of depletion, are quantified and used to determine a performance state of one or more of the charging stations and the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: A method for determining a confidence level to be used in identifying a vehicle. The method includes receiving a vehicle image, extracting a license plate image from the at least one vehicle image, determining a license plate number and associated confidence level based upon the license plate image, and comparing the associated confidence level against a confidence threshold. If the associated confidence level is below the confidence threshold, the method further includes extracting auxiliary data from the at least one vehicle image, corresponding the extracted auxiliary data and a set of stored auxiliary data, and updating the associated confidence level to produce an updated confidence level based upon the correspondence of the extracted auxiliary data and the set of stored auxiliary data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that cleans a photoreceptor in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method can include setting a voltage bias of an electrostatic cleaning brush in a printing apparatus to a first voltage bias. The method can include generating an image on media using a photoreceptor. The method can include cleaning the photoreceptor using the electrostatic cleaning brush operating at the first voltage bias. The method can include measuring operating conditions of the printing apparatus to determine an expected film accumulation rate on the photoreceptor. The method can include adjusting the voltage bias on the electrostatic cleaning brush to a second voltage bias based on the measured operating conditions.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to manage the contact of a cleaning blade and a moving surface to increase the useful life of the blade. For example, a cleaning apparatus for a photoreceptor surface comprises a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, a cleaning blade that is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from the photoreceptor surface, and which cleans excess toner from the photoreceptor surface. The apparatus further comprises a sensor that senses the start and the end of an operational procedure, and an actuator that rotates the blade holder about the pivot point to selectively advance or retract the blade during the start-up procedure and the shut-down procedure. After the cleaning surface has begun to move or reached operating speed, blade contact is increased to bring the blade load up to operational level.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that lubricates a cleaning blade in a xerographic printer is disclosed. The apparatus can include a charge receptor (110), movable in a process direction P, where the charge receptor can have a main surface (111). The apparatus can include a cleaning station (123) configured to clean the main surface of the charge receptor, where the cleaning station can include a cleaning blade (124) coupled to the main surface of the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a cleaning blade lubrication module (118) configured to place a lubrication stripe (160) on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. The apparatus can include a controller (150) coupled to the cleaning blade lubrication module and coupled to the charge receptor. The controller can be configured to substantially park the cleaning blade in the lubrication stripe when the charge receptor is stopped.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, the cleaning blade is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from a photoreceptor surface. Geometrical changes produce a blade having a plurality of slanted surfaces at the working end of the blade one at an obtuse angle, in the range of 93 degrees to 97 degrees, and a second at an acute angle that forms an offset point between the cleaning edge and the intersection of the two angles. A double cut allows for improvement in the cleaning tip stiffness using the first cut, while the second cut increases the contact width and improves the pressure distribution at the working edge.

Abstract: Systems and methods of diagnosing a photoreceptor associated with an imaging device. The photoreceptor is configured to enter into a diagnostic cycle to complete a set number of cycles. A sensor or array is configured to a scan a component associated with the imaging device during each of the set of cycles to establish defect data. The defect data is analyzed to filter one or more charge deficient spots (CDS) from background noise in the defect data. The systems and methods determine whether the photoreceptor needs replacement based on the determined one or more CDS. The systems and methods are further configured to output a report of the determination. The determination is conducted at fixed or variable intervals throughout the life of the photoreceptor and/or imaging device.

Abstract: Multi-color document processing systems and methods are described in which the toner detachment field distribution curve is measured as a function of transfer field and the curve is shifted by adjustment of one or more toner state adjustment actuators to facilitate operation at lower transfer field levels for mitigating retransfer and other high field defects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for verifying automatic license plate recognition results providing an input image of a license plate to a processing system that extracts bitmap data from the provided input image and determines a particular license template image associated with the license plate input image. The processing system segments the input image bitmap data into text region bitmap data and outer region bitmap data and then matches the input image text region bitmap data and input image outer region bitmap data against text region bitmap data and outer region bitmap data, respectively, of the license plate image template to determine if there is a match between the license plate of the input image and the template license plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that determines toner age in a printing apparatus. The method can include placing an imaging surface cleaner in contact with an imaging surface. The method can include placing a toner patch on the imaging surface. The method can include rotating the imaging surface in a process direction. The method can include measuring a frictional interaction between the imaging surface cleaner and the imaging surface as the toner patch passes the imaging surface cleaner. The method can include determining whether toner should be purged based on the measured frictional interaction. The method can include purging the toner if the toner should be purged.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) that evaluates printing apparatus cleaner performance. The method can be performed in a printing apparatus that can include an intermediate transfer belt (150), an intermediate transfer belt sensor (155), a developer (115), a photoreceptor (110), and a photoreceptor cleaner (120). The method can include placing (220) marking material on the photoreceptor using the developer. The method can include cleaning (230) the marking material on the photoreceptor using the photoreceptor cleaner. The method can include transferring (240) the marking material to the intermediate transfer belt. The method can include sensing (250) marking material on the intermediate transfer belt using the intermediate transfer belt sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining a confidence level to be used in identifying a vehicle. The method includes receiving a vehicle image, extracting a license plate image from the at least one vehicle image, determining a license plate number and associated confidence level based upon the license plate image, and comparing the associated confidence level against a confidence threshold. If the associated confidence level is below the confidence threshold, the method further includes extracting auxiliary data from the at least one vehicle image, corresponding the extracted auxiliary data and a set of stored auxiliary data, and updating the associated confidence level to produce an updated confidence level based upon the correspondence of the extracted auxiliary data and the set of stored auxiliary data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing signature-based drive-through order tracking. An image with respect to a vehicle at a POS unit can be captured at an order point and a delivery point (e.g., a payment point and a pick-up point) utilizing an image capturing unit by detecting the presence of the vehicle at each point utilizing a vehicle presence sensor. The captured image can be processed in order to extract a small region of interest and can be reduced to a unique signature. The extracted signature of the vehicle at the order point can be stored into a database together with the corresponding order and the vehicle image. The signature extracted at the delivery point can be matched with the signature stored in the database. If a match is found, the order associated with the vehicle together with the images captured at the delivery point and the order point can be displayed in a user interface at the delivery point to ensure that the right order is delivered to a customer.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (200) for print apparatus rotational assembly cleaning blade adjustment is disclosed. The apparatus can include a printer rotational transport assembly (110) configured to transport a substance in a printer. The apparatus can include a cleaning blade (120) coupled to the printer rotational transport assembly and a cleaning blade sensor (130) coupled to the cleaning blade, where the cleaning blade sensor can be configured to sense cleaning blade stress condition information. The apparatus can include a controller (140) coupled to the cleaning blade and the cleaning blade sensor, where the controller can be configured to adjust cleaning blade parameters of operation based on the sensed cleaning blade stress condition information.

Abstract: A method of normalizing sensor readings includes receiving a reading from a sensor configured to detect light reflected from a substrate; and normalizing the sensor reading based on a function of sensed mass level on the substrate. A processor for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to manage the contact of a cleaning blade and a moving surface to increase the useful life of the blade. For example, a cleaning apparatus for a photoreceptor surface comprises a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, a cleaning blade that is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from the photoreceptor surface, and which cleans excess toner from the photoreceptor surface. The apparatus further comprises a sensor that senses the start and the end of an operational procedure, and an actuator that rotates the blade holder about the pivot point to selectively advance or retract the blade during the start-up procedure and the shut-down procedure. After the cleaning surface has begun to move or reached operating speed, blade contact is increased to bring the blade load up to operational level.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, the cleaning blade is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from a photoreceptor surface. Geometrical changes produce a blade having a plurality of slanted surfaces at the working end of the blade one at an obtuse angle, in the range of 93 degrees to 97 degrees, and a second at an acute angle that forms an offset point between the cleaning edge and the intersection of the two angles. A double cut allows for improvement in the cleaning tip stiffness using the first cut, while the second cut increases the contact width and improves the pressure distribution at the working edge.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a cleaning unit with a blade holder that rotates about a pivot point, the cleaning blade is coupled to the blade holder and is positioned to chisel excess toner from a photoreceptor surface. Geometrical changes produce a blade having a slanted surface that reduces cyclic fatigue stress at the blade tip and reduces blade edge wear. The blade has a sharp leading side, a trailing side, and a working end comprising a slanted surface. When the slanted surface is formed at an angle between 93 degrees to 97 degrees stiffer tips is produced and wears resulting from blade and photoreceptor surface contact is reduced.