Abstract: A method and system for carrying out an image-to-paper printer registration setup includes: using a printer undergoing registration setup, printing a test pattern on a sheet having reference targets within a printable region of the sheet; using a scanner, scanning the printed sheet to generate an image bitmap of the test pattern-bearing sheet larger than the sheet itself so that the image bitmap contains the sheet edges and measuring in numbers of pixels the distances between the reference targets and/or sheet edges using multiple swaths of the image bitmap itself as the measuring tool; and, using a processor and based on the measured distances, calculating error-associated adjustment values in millimeters to use to correct errors in the registration setup of the image-to-paper in the printer and transferring the error-associated adjustment values to the printer to perform adjustment of its setup actuators.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a body having a top, a bottom, a front and a back. In one embodiment, a plurality of horizontally-aligned imaging units, each comprising a photoconductive member, transfer toner images to an intermediate transfer mechanism located below the plurality of imaging units. A pick mechanism may pick media sheets from a media input tray and feeds the media towards the front of the body. For duplex printing, the media sheets may travel along a duplex path that extends along the front of the body. In one embodiment, an access door at the front of the body pivots between a closed position and an open position. In the open position, a user may gain access to both media paths.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods of operating a multi-color image forming device in a mono-color mode. The methods may include performing three basic loops during the printing in the mono-color mode. A first loop may include printing mono-color pages up to an initial preset maximum. The preset maximum may prevent a wear mark from forming on the non-operational PC members due to rubbing against the moving ITM. A second loop may occur when the mono-color pages exceeds the initial preset maximum. The second loop may include rotating the non-operational imaging stations to prevent wear. A third loop may occur when the number of mono-color images exceeds an overall maximum number. The third loop may include resetting the non-operational image forming stations to allow for continuing printing in the mono-color mode.

Abstract: An educational game and system for nostalgically replicating a baseball game and a method for playing a baseball board game are provided. Two players alternate between the roles of batting and fielding. A series of cards from one deck are turned to advance players around the bases and to accumulate outs. Various decks of cards are used at each player's option to determine the outcome for on-base situations, hitting situations and running situations. Game pieces are used to mark the positions of runners on base and to tally the number of runs scored during a half-inning. An old-fashioned scoreboard is provided to record the total number of runs that are scored at the end of each half-inning. A traditional scorecard is provided to record each play of the game.

Abstract: An educational game and system for nostalgically replicating a baseball game and a method for playing a baseball board game are provided. Two players alternate between the roles of batting and fielding. A series of cards from one deck are turned to advance players around the bases and to accumulate outs. Various decks of cards are used at each player's option to determine the outcome for on-base situations, hitting situations and running situations. Game pieces are used to mark the positions of runners on base and to tally the number of runs scored during a half-inning. An old-fashioned scoreboard is provided to record the total number of runs that are scored at the end of each half-inning. A traditional scorecard is provided to record each play of the game.

Abstract: A toner patch sensor for use in an image forming device may be operated in different modes according to the color of the patch being sensed. The toner patch sensor may include a detector and a source adapted to transmit light that is reflected off a toner patch and towards the detector. The detected light may be specular and/or diffuse. A controller may selectively change the amount of one or both of the specular and diffuse light received by the detector. The source may include separate emitters for the specular and diffuse light, with the controller selectably turning off one of the emitters or selectably adjusting a ratio of illumination power between the emitters. Alternatively, the source may include a single emitter and an optical element to split light between specular light and diffuse light. Diffuse light may be blocked when sensing black toner patches.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least two variable frequency drives connected in parallel. The method comprises, for each variable frequency drive, communicating a magnetizing current component value to a master controller, and receiving a speed demand, a flux demand, and an average magnetizing current component value from the master controller. The method also comprises determining a motor speed and a motor flux based on measurements of a stator voltage and current of a motor coupled to the variable frequency drive, determining a speed reference based on a torque current component value, and determining a flux reference based on the magnetizing current component value and the average magnetizing current component value. The method further comprises adjusting a torque current component based on the speed reference and/or adjusting a magnetizing current component based on the flux reference.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least two series-cell based drives connected in parallel. The method comprises detecting a failed cell in one of the drives, inhibiting operation of the drive with the failed cell, determining a peak output voltage capability of the drive with the failed cell, communicating the peak output voltage capability to a master controller, and limiting a maximum voltage that each drive can apply to a motor. The method also comprises bypassing the failed cell and resuming operation of the drive with the failed cell after the motor voltage falls below the peak output voltage capability of the drive with the failed cell.

Abstract: A device and method for applying images to continuous media stock, such as rolls of paper, blank labels, etc., using a cut-sheet image forming device. While the continuous media stock moves along a media path in the cut-sheet image forming device, one or more sensors in the cut-sheet image forming device detect inter-sheet holes disposed along the continuous media stock. Based on the detected inter-sheet holes, the cut-sheet image forming device tracks the position of the continuous media stock. By tracking the position of the continuous media stock, the cut-sheet image forming device can identify specific sections of the continuous media stock as image areas appropriate for image transfer.

Abstract: A method and device for removing media sheet jams within an image forming device. The position of the media sheets is monitored as the media sheets move through the image forming process. The occurrence of a media jam is detected, and the position of each media sheet within the device at the time of the jam is also detected. A message is displayed to an operator indicating the number of sheets within the device that should be removed to clear the jam. The order of media sheet removal may also be displayed to the operator.

Abstract: An educational game and system for nostalgically replicating a baseball game and a method for playing a baseball board game are provided. Two players alternate between the roles of batting and fielding. A series of cards from one deck are turned to advance players around the bases and to accumulate outs. Various decks of cards are used at each player's option to determine the outcome for on-base situations, hitting situations and running situations. Game pieces are used to mark the positions of runners on base and to tally the number of runs scored during a half-inning. An old-fashioned scoreboard is provided to record the total number of runs that are scored at the end of each half-inning. A traditional scorecard is provided to record each play of the game.

Abstract: A method of correcting plane-to-plane registration in an electrophotographic machine having a plurality of color planes includes the steps of printing a calibration pattern using each of the color planes; measuring at least one misregistration between the color planes on the calibration pattern; adjusting at least one top margin by setting a first time delay before a first line; adjusting one of a right margin and a left margin by setting a second time delay; determining a longest line length of the calibration pattern; and adjusting an other of the right margin and the left margin to match the longest line length.

Abstract: A method of correcting registration in an electrophotographic machine includes the steps of adjusting one of a right margin and a left margin by setting a time delay, determining a longest line length of a calibration pattern, and adjusting an other of the right margin and the left margin to match the longest line length.

Abstract: The write lines of a color laser printer are maintained substantially equal throughout the printer's operation by an electronic control arrangement. At the factory, the write lines on all photoconductors of the color laser printer are calibrated to be substantially equal, and the ratio of each write line to a measuring line for each photoconductor is ascertained. During operation of the printer, the length of each of the measuring lines is periodically determined through counting the number of PELslice clock timing pulses produced from a PELslice clock operating at a fixed frequency determined during factory calibration. The length of the write line is determined by the product of the length of the measuring line and the factory calibrated ratio of the length of the write line to the length of the measuring line.

Abstract: An automatic temperature control system which limits the total number of valve cycles for the cold and hot water valves to, for example, a total of ten cycles yet also provides the desired temperature control of water supplied to the wash tub is described. To limit the number of valve cycles, and in one embodiment, the automatic temperature control (ATC) system includes a microprocessor which integrates the temperature of the water provided to the wash tub over time to predict the length of the time period required for the next water valve cycle. The integration balances the energy input on the “OFF” cycle with the energy input during the “ON” cycle. Such balancing limits the number of valve cycles thereby reducing the possibility for premature valve failure and facilitating reduced noise. The ATC control system also provides a pre-treater function. When the pre-treater function is selected, e.g.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has defined therein a longitudinal or process direction, and includes plural photoconductive drums, each having an image forming surface. Multiple printhead units are provided for generating image information bearing laser beams. Each printhead unit includes optics for scanning the laser beam to form a plurality of scan lines extending across the corresponding photoconductive drum in a transverse scan direction which traverses the process direction. Registration of a scan line from one printhead with a corresponding scan line from another printhead in the process direction is achieved by adjusting the time required to translate one of the scan lines from a location where it is electrostatically formed to a location where it is transferred to an image receiving medium. Adjustment of the translation time may be achieved by modifying the rotational speed of the associated drum.

Abstract: A method of setting a plurality of margins in an electrophotographic machine includes setting a top margin for a reference color black by establishing a first time delay between a vertical synchronization signal and a first line. A right margin or a left margin for the reference color black is set by establishing a second time delay between a horizontal synchronization signal and a start of printing. The other of the right margin and the left margin is set by adjusting a scan speed of a laser beam across a photoconductive element and adjusting a process speed in the cross-scan direction including the speed of the photoconductive element, image accumulation member, and print medium. A bottom margin is set by adjusting the process speed. The other three color planes, cyan, magenta and yellow are then registered or aligned to the reference color plane, black.

Abstract: A method of setting a plurality of margins in an electrophotographic machine includes setting a top margin for a reference color black by establishing a first time delay between a vertical synchronization signal and a first line. A right margin or a left margin for the reference color black is set by establishing a second time delay between a horizontal synchronization signal and a start of printing. The other of the right margin and the left margin is set by adjusting a scan speed of a laser beam across a photoconductive element and adjusting a process speed in the cross-scan direction including the speed of the photoconductive element, image accumulation member, and print medium. A bottom margin is set by adjusting the process speed. The other three color planes, cyan, magenta and yellow are then registered or aligned to the reference color plane, black.

Abstract: A method of aligning a laser printhead in an electrophotographic machine includes providing a fixture with a pair of fixed sensors. The fixed sensors are spaced apart along a length of a first fixture drum axis. Each of the fixed sensors is fixed relative to a second of the fixed drums. The first fixture drum is provided with a pair of floating sensors. The floating sensors are spaced apart along the length of the first fixture drum axis. Each of the floating sensors is fixed relative to the first fixture drum. A laser beam from the laser printhead is scanned across an outside surface of the first fixture drum, the fixed sensors and the floating sensors. An intersection of the scanned laser beam and the outside surface of the first drum defines a scan path. A first skew of the scan path relative to an axis of the first drum is measured using the floating sensors. A second skew of the scan path relative to an axis of the second drum is measured using the fixed sensors.

Abstract: A method of setting a plurality of margins in an electrophotographic machine includes setting a top margin for a reference color black by establishing a first time delay between a vertical synchronization signal and a first line. A right margin or a left margin for the reference color black is set by establishing a second time delay between a horizontal synchronization signal and a start of printing. The other of the right margin and the left margin is set by adjusting a scan speed of a laser beam across a photoconductive element and adjusting a process speed in the cross-scan direction including the speed of the photoconductive element, image accumulation member, and print medium. A bottom margin is set by adjusting the process speed. The other three color planes, cyan, magenta and yellow are then registered or aligned to the reference color plane, black.