Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member a second fixing member that are movable to engage and disengage a fixing nip defined by the first and second fixing member. The fixing nip is disengaged to accommodate entry and exit of a cut sheet, and engaged to accommodate warm-pressure fixing a marking material image to the cut sheet.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials, apparatus, and methods for forming an image. Exemplary imaging apparatus can include one or more light sources configured to treat toner images after they are transferred on an image receiving substrate (e.g., a copy sheet). The toner images can be formed of an opto-thermal toner containing opto-thermal elements in a toner composition. The fuser subsystem may or may not be configured in the disclosed imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A parking pricing with occupancy feedback control for achieving an optimal occupancy level for a parking space area, so that at least one space is available and circling is not necessary. The parking pricing with occupancy feedback control system proposes to implement a market based parking pricing from an occupancy control approach. The parking price system seeks to maintain a desired occupancy level by measuring real-time parking space occupancy and using controller to automatically adjust parking rates to change with real-time demand. Occupancy feedback control is used to adjust parking space pricing so that the occupancy level approaches a target capacity level. Parking space sensors measure the presence of the vehicles, a parking control engine compares the real-time occupancy of the parking spaces to the target occupancy of the parking spaces, and adjusts the parking pricing to regulate the demand, so that the parking space occupancy converges to its target.

Abstract: An indirect media flatness measurement system, and method, by which the appropriate level of hold-down force may be determined with some degree of quantitative accuracy. In an ink jet printer that is operative to subject a substrate media to a hold down force during printing, the method including printing a predetermined test image having a predetermined pattern on a substrate media using an ink jet print apparatus to produce a test print. Optionally, pattern may be an array of test symbols. The test symbol may include a line printed on the substrate media in a direction perpendicular to a process direction of the printer. The test print is compared with the predetermined test image, including measuring drop placement errors of test symbols. The height of the substrate media at the location of each test symbol is calculated based upon the drop placement error.

Abstract: A real time dynamic vehicle parking price management method, system and processor-readable medium. Two factors can be considered in determining the parking price: the real time occupancy level and the historic parking demand. An assured price that follows from a background schedule can be pre-determined based on a historic parking data. Future demand can be estimated based on the historic occupancy data and price and the assured price can be made proportional to the estimated demand. The assured price can be simplified to be intuitive and easy to remember. A real time parking price can be determined by an occupancy feedback control. A controller can be employed to track the occupancy and to suggest the parking price in real time based on an occupancy set point to improve economic efficiency and reduce cruising for parking.

Abstract: An indirect media flatness measurement system, and method, by which the appropriate level of hold-down force may be determined with some degree of quantitative accuracy. In an ink jet printer that is operative to subject a substrate media to a hold down force during printing, the method including printing a predetermined test image having a predetermined pattern on a substrate media using an ink jet print apparatus to produce a test print. Optionally, pattern may be an array of test symbols. The test symbol may comprise a line printed on the substrate media in a direction perpendicular to a process direction of the printer. The test print is compared with the predetermined test image, including measuring drop placement errors of test symbols. The height of the substrate media at the location of each test symbol is calculated based upon the drop placement error.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide materials, apparatus, and methods for forming an image. Exemplary imaging apparatus can include one or more light sources configured to treat toner images after they are transferred on an image receiving substrate (e.g., a copy sheet). The toner images can be formed of an opto-thermal toner containing opto-thermal elements in a toner composition. The fuser subsystem may or may not be configured in the disclosed imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A fuser assembly stepped power control system includes a controller that outputs control signals to independently control individual lamps in the fuser assembly. Multiple lamps are turned on with a delay between actuation of each lamp to reduce in-rush current. Control signals are output by the controller as a function of temperature error.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems that incorporate a model predictive controller (MPC) in an image reproduction machine with known disturbance information. The MPC uses the control action at a current time in order to minimize the impact of an impending disturbance as well as to maximize current control performance. The impending disturbance is used by the MPC to determine an incremental change that combines steady state and transient state impact on the image reproduction machine. Disturbance such as print media type, image content type, physical dimension of the print media, weight of the print media, and print job data can be employed. Further, control of the image reproduction machine is generated in real time over a receding horizon, for the purpose of minimizing a cost function indicative of image variation, energy consumption, or the like.

Abstract: Providing means for people to input their observations can reduce the need for sensor deployments because humans have excellent sensing abilities. One thing people tend to observe carefully is parking availability. Parking meters and pay stations can request people to enter their observations of parking availability and other environmental factors. The observations, being numerical in nature, can be processed to determine reasonable parking fees, likelihood of violators in an area, and the statistical, observed, or estimated dispersion of available parking with a geographic region.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to characterizing a media curler for a printing. Test curls can be imposed on media having input curls with known input values using a media curler to be characterized. The media curler can impose the test curls based on curler settings of the media curler. Resulting output values from an interaction between the test curls and the input curls can be measured and the curler settings can be characterized based on the known input values and the resulting output values so that the media curler can be configured to respond to incoming media having a known input curl by applying curler setting to achieve a desired output curl.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member a second fixing member that are movable to engage and disengage a fixing nip defined by the first and second fixing member. The fixing nip is disengaged to accommodate entry and exit of a cut sheet, and engaged to accommodate warm-pressure fixing a marking material image to the cut sheet.

Abstract: An asymmetrical printer includes a housing (101) and a first fuser member (121) rotationally supported in the housing. The first fuser member has a first fuser member end (210) and a second fuser member end (220). The first fuser member fuses an image on a media sheet traveling in a media sheet 112 travel direction (115). A fuser nip (126) has a fuser nip width dimension (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction and having a fuser nip length (116) from the first fuser member end to the second fuser member end. The fuser nip length is perpendicular to the media sheet travel direction. The fuser nip width dimension is asymmetrical along the fuser nip length. A second fuser member (122) is rotationally supported in the housing and coupled to the first fuser member at the fuser nip. The second fuser member fuses the image on the media sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a printer fuser nip is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport a media sheet (112) in a media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly (120) configured to fuse an image on the media sheet. The fuser assembly can include a fuser nip (126) that can have a fuser nip width (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a controller (130) coupled to the fuser assembly, where the controller can be configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus can include a nip width profile generation module (140) coupled to the controller, where the nip width profile generation module can be configured to determine fuser nip width parameters based on media sheet properties and based on fuser assembly properties. The fuser assembly can be adjusted according to the fuser nip width parameters.

Abstract: A fuser assembly stepped power control system includes a controller that outputs control signals to independently control individual lamps in the fuser assembly. Multiple lamps are turned on with a delay between actuation of each lamp to reduce in-rush current. Control signals are output by the controller as a function of temperature error.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of controlling a temperature of a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses includes a first roll including a first outer surface and at least one first heating element for heating the first outer surface; a second roll including a second outer surface; a nip between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; a first temperature sensor for sensing a pre-nip temperature at a pre-nip location; and a first voltage modulator connected to each first heating element and the first temperature sensor. The first voltage modulator receives a temperature signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of the pre-nip temperature and modulates an AC voltage supplied to each first heating element to maintain each first heating element continuously ON at a power level ranging from partial power to full power to control the pre-nip temperature.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of mitigating media edge wear effects on fixing belts in printing are provided. An exemplary apparatus useful for printing onto media includes a first roll including a first surface; a second roll including a second surface; a fixing member including a third surface; a fixing belt supported on the first surface and second surface, the fixing belt including a surface forming a nip with the fixing member; a registration distribution system for translating the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt, as a unit, transversely with respect to a media travel path of media received at the nip; and a belt steering mechanism connected to the second roll for translating the fixing belt across the first surface of the first roll at the nip, transversely to the media travel path, while the registration distribution system translates the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt transversely to the media travel path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that reduces fuser noise in a printing apparatus. The method can include generating a first image on a first media sheet traveling in a media path. The method can include generating a second image on a second media sheet traveling in the media path consecutive to and a first distance from the first media sheet. The method can include reducing the first distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet to a second distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet after generating the first image. The method can include fusing the second image to the second media sheet after reducing the first distance between the first media sheet and the second media sheet.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a fuser roll and a pressure roll which define a nip therebetween. An internal heat source is disposed within a interior of the fuser roll. An external heat source is disposed adjacent the fuser roll for heating an outer surface of the fuser roll. One or both of the internal heat source and the external heat source is controlled during a print job such that the thermal gradient across the fuser roll is adjusted. As a result, a temperature overshoot which generally occurs after the print job is finished can be reduced. The influence of subsequent jobs on the fuser roll surface temperature can also be accommodated.

Abstract: An adaptive approach is described that maximizes xerographic transfer efficiency, i.e. minimizes post toner image transfer residual mass, in response to changes in operational conditions, variations in material, and/or changes in other factors that may otherwise adversely affect xerographic transfer efficiency. The described approach may be used during a set up phase, or startup phase, of a xerographic system to determine an initial transfer field that provides a desired level of toner image transfer efficiency. The described approach may also be used in real time to dynamically adjust a transfer field to maintain a desired level of transfer efficiency. The described approach allows optimal toner image transfer efficiency to be achieved despite changes in the operational environments, and/or changes in the materials, e.g., paper, toner, etc., being processed.