Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: Printers with variable receiver supply are provided. In one aspect a printer is provided having a source of image data and production data for use in printing a set of images, with each image having a defined size and shape and a receiver supply having a web of receiver and a cutter adapted to cut the web of receiver to a determined length. The printer also has print engine to print the images on the receiver and a finishing system that is configurable between at least two configurations. A user input system receives user input from which a priority setting can be determined between an output rate priority and an efficiency priority; and a controller determines the configuration of the finishing system, receives the image data and production data and determines a priority setting.

Abstract: Methods for operating a printer are provided. In one aspect, a method has the steps of receiving image data and production data for printing a set of images with each image having a defined size and shape, determining a finishing configuration of a finishing system; and determining a priority setting between an output rate priority and an efficiency priority. The images are organized for printing on the receiver in the defined sizes and shapes based upon the determined priority and the finishing configuration and the images are printed on the receiver as organized. The receiver is finished to provide prints of the images each having the defined size and shape for that image.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of providing a printing assembly that includes a plurality of printing modules that each include a specific toner color, wherein a first printing module is failing and at least one second printing module is functioning; determining a toner use demand for the plurality of printing modules; and swapping the first printing module with the at least one second printing module to facilitate reducing a downtime of the printing apparatus, wherein the first printing module has a toner use demand that is substantially greater than the toner use demand of the at least one second printing module.

Abstract: An apparatus to intermittently skive the paper and/or toner from a roller to prevent the paper and/or toner sticking to the roller and thus keep the paper moving along the transport path. The self-actuated skive intermittently touches the roller to minimize contact with the roller as the receiver moves along the transport path past the fuser by automatically optimizing the timing and force that the self-actuated skive touches the roller.

Abstract: An automatic loader/unloader for a document feeder capable of feeding individual sheets of a document sheet set stack from a supply tray to an exposure station of a reproduction apparatus, and return such sheets to such supply tray, in a circulating manner along a travel path. The automatic loader/unloader comprises a first transport for transporting document sheets seriatim into the travel path, and a second transport for transporting document sheets seriatim from the travel path. A diverter selectively diverts document sheets into, or out of, the travel path. The diverter is controlled to load document sheets sequentially in the supply tray by directing document sheets transported by the first transport to form a document sheet set stack in the supply tray, or to sequentially unload document sheets from the supply tray by directing document sheets from the travel path to the second transport.