Abstract: A bound document having a plurality of sheets is produced. Image data for a cover image is received and dividing along a sheet-edge curve into first and second image portions. The first image portion is printed on an inner cover sheet so that an alignment location is defined on the inner cover sheet corresponding to the sheet-edge curve. The inner cover sheet and the plurality of sheets are bound together. The second image portion is printed on an outer cover sheet, and is printed borderlessly with respect to a selected edge of the outer cover sheet. After the binding step, the outer cover sheet is affixed to the inner cover sheet so that the selected edge aligns with the alignment location to form the bound document.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively puncturing a moving receiver includes puncturing devices, each with two parallel puncturing wheels and a pressure wheel. A drive mechanism rotates the puncturing wheels or pressure wheel of two or more puncturing devices so that the rotating puncturing wheels engage the moving receiver to puncture the moving receiver parallel to its feed direction in the puncturing areas. A transport mechanism selectively moves the plurality of puncturing devices perpendicular to the feed direction of the receiver. A controller receives a job specification including two or more specified puncture locations and causes the transport mechanism to laterally position two or more of the plurality of puncturing devices to puncture the moving receiver in the specified puncture locations. A rotatable turret with various shaft segments can be arranged so that perforating devices can be moved on and off the shaft segments.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating a moving receiver includes a backer member across a sheet area. Perforating devices each have two perforating wheels selectively pressed towards the backer member. A drive mechanism rotates the backer member or the perforating wheels to perforate the moving receiver. A transport mechanism selectively moves the perforating devices perpendicular to the receiver feed direction. A controller receives a job specification including two or more specified perforation locations and causes the transport mechanism to disengage two or more perforating devices, laterally position them to perforate the moving receiver in the specified perforation locations, and then engage them to perforate.

Abstract: Apparatus for perforating a moving receiver includes perforating devices, each with two parallel perforating wheels and a pressure wheel arranged so that the perforating wheels are pressed laterally against the pressure wheel to define two perforating areas and a chad area arranged laterally between the perforating areas. A drive mechanism rotates the perforating or pressure wheels to perforate the moving receiver parallel to its feed direction in the perforating areas, whereby one or more proto-chads are defined on the receiver. A transport mechanism selectively moves the plurality of perforating devices perpendicular to the feed direction of the receiver. A controller receives a job specification including two or more specified perforation locations and causes the transport mechanism to laterally position two or more of the plurality of perforating devices to perforate the moving receiver in the specified perforation locations.

Abstract: A bound document includes a plurality of sheets having a length. An outer cover sheet has a length less than twice the length of the sheets in the plurality of sheets, and has a selected edge. A cover image is printed on the outer cover sheet. An inner cover sheet has first and second sides separated by an alignment curve. The first side has a first portion on which an additional image is printed and a second portion over which adhesive is disposed. A binder clip binds the inner cover sheet and the plurality of sheets so that the second side of the inner cover sheet faces the plurality of sheets. The outer cover sheet is affixed by the adhesive to the inner cover sheet so that the selected edge aligns with the alignment curve.

Abstract: A bound document having a plurality of sheets is produced. Image data for a cover image is received and dividing along a sheet-edge curve into first and second image portions. The first image portion is printed on an inner cover sheet so that an alignment location is defined on the inner cover sheet corresponding to the sheet-edge curve. The inner cover sheet and the plurality of sheets are bound together. The second image portion is printed on an outer cover sheet, and is printed borderlessly with respect to a selected edge of the outer cover sheet. After the binding step, the outer cover sheet is affixed to the inner cover sheet so that the selected edge aligns with the alignment location to form the bound document.

Abstract: Systems for producing bound electrophotographic prints are provided. In one aspect there is provided a system with a print engine having a printing module to form a toner image on a receiver, a fuser with a heater that heats the toner image to fuse the toner image to a receiver to form a print, a stacking system that stacks the print and a sheet in a stacking area with the fused toner image between the print and the sheet. A heating system has a heat source that applies a heat along an edge of the stack, and a controller that causes the toner image to have toner in a binding area proximate to the heated edge of the stack and in an image area that is separated from the binding area by a separation area.

Abstract: A method for passing a liquid from a first location to a second location in which gas is selectively vented, the method includes passing the liquid from the first location; receiving the liquid in a conduit having a vent covered by a membrane for permitting gas to be vented; an inlet for receiving the liquid from the first location; and an outlet for passing the liquid to the second location; and selectively permitting and inhibiting flow of gas to the vent; wherein when the liquid in the conduit is below a predetermined threshold, a movable element is placed at a venting position that allows flow of gas to the membrane, and when the ink in the conduit is at or above the predetermined threshold, the movable element is placed at a sealing position that does not allow flow of gas to the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for passing a liquid from a first location to a second location, the apparatus includes a conduit having an inlet for receiving the liquid from the first location; an outlet for passing the liquid to the second location; and a vent for permitting gas to be vented; a membrane disposed covering the vent for permitting the venting of gas but not the passage of the liquid; and a movable element disposed in the conduit for selectively permitting and inhibiting flow of gas to the vent, wherein when liquid in the conduit is below a predetermined threshold, the movable device is placed at a venting position that allows free flow of gas to the membrane, and when the liquid in the conduit is at or above the predetermined threshold, the movable device is placed at a sealing position that does not allow free flow of liquid to the membrane.

Abstract: Toner is applied to a receiver having an area to be folded and a separate area not to be folded. Non-fold and fold-area screening patterns are selected. The non-fold screening pattern has a toner coverage greater than 50% and the fold-area screening pattern has a toner coverage less than 50%. Image data to be applied to the receiver in the area to be folded and the area not to be folded are received. The image data in the area not to be folded are processed using the non-fold screening pattern and the image data in the area to be folded are processed using the fold-area screening pattern to provide screened data. Toner corresponding to the screened data is applied to the receiver. The applied toner is fused to the receiver, so that the area to be folded includes fused toner.

Abstract: A booklet is produced including an outer sheet and an inner sheet folded and nested together. A print image having a thickness is printed where it is between the two sheets when they nest together. A cut length is calculated using the thicknesses of the sheets and the thickness of the print image, so that when the sheets are folded and the inner sheet is nested into the outer sheet, the edges of the inner sheet will not protrude beyond the edges of the outer sheet. The inner sheet is cut to the calculated cut length either before or after printing. The cut inner sheet and the outer sheet are folded and nested together to produce the booklet.

Abstract: A booklet with a cover sheet and a plurality of inner sheets is produced. The cover sheet is folded to begin the booklet. One at a time, the inner sheets are selectively printed, folded, and nested into the booklet. When each inner sheet is nested in the booklet, an edge of the inner sheet protrudes beyond an edge of the cover sheet. The protruding edge of the inner sheet is cut flush with the corresponding edge of the cover sheet.

Abstract: A booklet is produced. Selectively-printed sheets are cut to length, inner sheets being shorter, and stacked on a ramp set at an adjustable angle to a sheet support. This aligns the fold axes of all the sheets so they can be fastened and folded. Gravity is used to hold the sheets in place on the ramp and sheet support.

Abstract: A finisher for a receiver moving in a feed direction includes a cutting device having a cutting blade and a scoring blade on opposite sides of the receiver and oriented perpendicular to the feed direction, and a scoring notch on the opposite side of the receiver from, and parallel to, the scoring blade. An actuator selectively causes the scoring blade to engage the scoring notch as the receiver moves between the scoring blade and scoring notch, so that the receiver is scored, or causes the cutting blade to engage the scoring blade, so that the receiver is cut. A controller receives a job specification including one or more cut or score location(s) on the receiver and causes the receiver to be cut at the cut location(s) or scored at the score location(s).

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a moving receiver includes a plurality of cutting devices and a transport mechanism for selectively moving the cutting devices perpendicular to the feed direction of the receiver. Each cutting device includes two parallel cutting wheels and a pressure wheel arranged so that the cutting wheels are pressed laterally against the pressure wheel to form two cutting areas and a chad area arranged laterally between the cutting areas. A drive mechanism rotates the cutting wheels or pressure wheel of two or more of the cutting devices so that the rotating cutting wheels engage the moving receiver to cut the moving receiver parallel to its feed direction. A controller receives a job specification including two or more specified cut locations and causes the transport mechanism to laterally position two or more of the cutting devices to cut the moving receiver in the specified cut locations.

Abstract: Methods for forming bound electrophotographic prints are provided. In one aspect a method comprises the steps of applying a toner to a receiver to form a toner image with having toner in a binding area and in an image area. The binding area is proximate to a binding edge of the receiver and the image area that is separated from the binding area by an separation area. The toner image is fused to form a print, and a sheet and the prints are stacked with the toner in the binding area of the print confronting the sheet along a binding edge of the sheet. Heat is applied at the binding edges to cause the toner in the binding area to fuse for a second time. A residual portion of the applied heat heats the separation area but the separation area does not heat the image area to an extent sufficient to fuse toner in the image area.

Abstract: Toner is applied to a receiver having an area to be folded and a separate area not to be folded. Non-fold and fold-area screening patterns are selected. The non-fold screening pattern has a toner coverage greater than 50% and the fold-area screening pattern has a toner coverage less than 50%. Image data to be applied to the receiver in the area to be folded and the area not to be folded are received. The image data in the area not to be folded are processed using the non-fold screening pattern and the image data in the area to be folded are processed using the fold-area screening pattern to provide screened data. Toner corresponding to the screened data is applied to the receiver. The applied toner is fused to the receiver, so that the area to be folded includes fused toner.

Abstract: Printer cutting systems are provided. In one aspect, a cutting system has a plurality of cutting devices joined to a frame at different locations within a cutting width of a print transport path. Each of the cutting devices is movable between a first position with a cutter interposed in the print transport path to cut the print as it is moved along the transport path and a second position with the cutter removed from the transport path and each of the cutting devices has a contact surface that moves the cutting device between the first position and second position when engaged.

Abstract: A booklet is produced. Selectively-printed sheets are cut to length, inner sheets being shorter, and stacked on a ramp set at an adjustable angle to a sheet support. This aligns the fold axes of all the sheets so they can be fastened and folded. Gravity is used to hold the sheets in place on the ramp and sheet support.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a moving receiver includes a plurality of cutting devices and a transport mechanism for selectively moving the cutting devices perpendicular to the feed direction of the receiver. Each cutting device includes two parallel cutting wheels and a pressure wheel arranged so that the cutting wheels are pressed laterally against the pressure wheel to form two cutting areas and a chad area arranged laterally between the cutting areas. A drive mechanism rotates the cutting wheels or pressure wheel of two or more of the cutting devices so that the rotating cutting wheels engage the moving receiver to cut the moving receiver parallel to its feed direction. A controller receives a job specification including two or more specified cut locations and causes the transport mechanism to laterally position two or more of the cutting devices to cut the moving receiver in the specified cut locations.