Abstract: Devices and methods load a firing distance into a distance counter of a printing device. The firing distance is the distance from the current position of a printhead of the printing device to a marking location on a substrate. These devices and methods count the firing distance in discrete distance increments using the distance counter, based on relative movement of the substrate and printhead. When the distance counter reaches the last discrete distance increment of the firing distance, these devices and methods load the fractional remaining distance of the firing distance into a time counter of the printing device. Then, such devices and methods count the fractional remaining distance in velocity-based distance increments at regular time intervals using the time counter. When the time counter reaches the last velocity-based distance increment of the fractional remaining distance, these devices and methods transfer the marking material from the printhead to the substrate.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a latent image recorded on an imaging member wherein said latent image is developed and transferred to a media substrate during successive printing cycles of successive print jobs, including a charging device for producing a voltage potential on the media substrate to transfer the developed latent image to the media substrate, said charging device including a coronode member and shield; a first voltage supply for apply a shield voltage to said shield; a second voltage supply for applying a wire voltage to said coronode member; a voltage monitor for measuring the voltage on the shield, said voltage monitor periodically polling the voltage during a cycle of a print job and generating a voltage measured signal as a function thereof; controller, responsive to a media type of each media substrate and said voltage monitor, for adjusting said wire voltage to said coronode member in respect to said shield voltage to said shield to compensate for process imped

Abstract: In an SNMP-based network management system, an agent within the system maintains a quantity of memory which serves as a "lock table." The lock table is a set of object identifiers (OID's) relating to objects associated with the agent. When a manager on the network requests a particular object associated with the agent, the agent retains the OID of the object in the lock table. If another manager simultaneously wishes to set an object associated with the agent, the OID of the proposed object is compared to any OID currently in the lock table, and if the proposed object intersects with one of the objects in the lock table, access to the object is denied. The method permits locking of specific objects, while leaving other objects associated with the same device available to others.

Abstract: An automatic transmitting system for use in a networked printing system including a first client, second client and server. The automatic transmitting system includes an agent, operatively associated with the server, for maintaining information regarding a plurality of subsystems associated with a printing machine--the agent communicates with both the first and second clients. The automatic transmitting system further includes a registration system, including the first client, the second client and the agent, for registering the information. The information includes a first identifier and a second identifier, the first and second identifiers being stored with the agent and corresponded with first and second sets of information, respectively.

Abstract: A system simulator including a plurality of nodes or processor boards for controlling the operation of the interactive sub-systems. The simulator includes a user interface having a screen providing a display of node selections for pre-selecting a given subset of the plurality of nodes, a memory for retaining the node selections for use in operating the machine, a control for simulating operation of the given subset of plurality of nodes, and for operating the remaining nodes to control at least a portion of the interactive sub-systems. The simulator can be integral with the reproduction machine or a stand alone device.

Abstract: A technique for pre-programming a reproduction machine for a plurality of complex jobs involving a variety of machine features and requirements at a computer console remote from the reproduction machine operator console and touch sensitive screen display. In particular, a remote computer console compatible with the reproduction machine control, manifests a simulation of a plurality of pre-programming slots and machine features for each slot that simulate a plurality of features and subfeatures of job requirements for the machine. The plurality of selected features for each pre-programmed job slot are automatically stored in the selected pre-programming slots on a removable media such as a floppy disk. The floppy disk can be inserted into the reproduction machine to automatically pre-program the machine for a plurality of discrete job runs without any additional operator initiative.

Abstract: A technique for pre-programming a reproduction machine at a console screen for a plurality of complex jobs by simulating a plurality of pre-programming slots in memory and machine features for each slot corresponding to required job runs and automatically storing the selected features in the pre-programming slots, including the means to transfer the stored features from one memory slot to another memory slot and the means to transfer the stored features to a removable media such as a floppy disk. The floppy disk can be inserted into another reproduction machine to automatically pre-program that machine for a plurality of job runs.

Abstract: Programming conflict identification system for reproduction machines using a color touch screen for inputting programming instructions having a job review window for displaying the programming selections made, a message area in which one conflict message at a time is displayed, and an error table in which programming conflicts are queued, with programming selections corresponding to the currently displayed conflict message highlighted by black text on an amber background, and remaining conflicts highlighted by amber text on a white background.

Abstract: A method of automatically placing ordered paper stock (covers or inserts) from sets of paper stock, the sets of paper stock comprised of an arbitrary number of covers or inserts, into finished copy sets. In a reproduction job run, and with the method of automatic recovery from a machine paper jam in which the copy sheets or paper stock in process has become misoriented comprising the steps of selecting an automatic paper stock ordering option at the operator interface, programming the required order of the paper stock in a finished set of reproduced documents, determining the repetitive frequency of the insert sheets, and automatically selectively inserting or discarding insert sheets in order to provide sets of copy sheets with uniformly placed paper stock. Also, a method for automatically recovering after an operator jam clearance by selectively purging paper stock to maintain the continuity of the ordered paper stock in the completed copy sets.

Abstract: A technique for pre-programming a reproduction machine for a plurality of complex jobs involving a variety of machine features and requirements using the operator console and touch sensitive screen display while the machine is in the print state or still in the process of completing a previous job. In particular, while the machine is in operation, touching a Program Ahead file on the screen, displays a simulation of a plurality of pre-programming slots or folders. By touching one of the pre-programming folders, a job can be pre-programmed into that slot or folder using file folders and subfolders that simulate a plurality of features and subfeatures of the machine. The features are automatically stored in the selected pre-programming slot on the touch sensitive screen and can be run upon the completion of the current job in progress or at a later time at the discretion of the operator. The job features of the selected job slot can also be changed at any time while a current job is in progress.

Abstract: System for recording and remotely accessing certain operating data in an electrostatographic reproduction machine for use in analyzing machine faults and software crashes, with transfer of the data to a remote service site either by floppy disk or telecommunications line.

Abstract: A method of providing a prominent time of completion display and percentage of completion display for a given job requirement and providing an indication of the amount of paper stock required from several sources of paper stock in a printing system including the steps of responding to entered job requirements to calculate a total time of completion for the given job and the paper stock required from each of the paper stock sources, displaying the total time of completion at the operator interface, displaying the amount of paper stock required from each of the paper stock sources, and initiating the job run and during the job run periodically determining the time to completion of the remaining portion of the job and displaying the time to completion in a prominent bar graph.

Abstract: An exception programming device in a reproduction machine capable of being programmed for a production run for producing a first plurality of copies of a document set having a common set of features and a second plurality of copies of the document set having selected features that are exceptions to the common set of features including single document input switches automatically providing selected exception features to the processor for a single identified document, the single document input switches sequentially providing the exception features for each identified single document, and multiple document input switches automatically providing selected exception features in parallel to the processor for a group of identified documents having identical exception features.

Abstract: A reproduction machine having image processing means for forming a image, a controller for directing the operation of the image processing means to complete a job reproduction run, the controller including a random access memory for storing machine status information during a machine cycle down interruption prior to the completion of the job reproduction run, a disk memory, and means for detecting controller faults, the method of saving the status information in the random acess memory including the steps of routinely loading machine status information into the random access memory at a machine cycle down, detecting a pre-determined controller fault causing a machine cycle down, and upon detecting said pre-determined controller fault, automatically transferring the machine status information from the random access memory onto the disk memory.

Abstract: Debug routine accessing system using special keys in the form of floppy disks for unlocking debug routines embedded in the operating software of a reproduction machine, each debug routine having a key number, with the floppy disks having various key numbers for different ones of the debug routines so that on insertion of a selected disk in the machine floppy disk port, the key number is read from the disk and compared with the key numbers of the various debug routines until a match is found enabling the debug routine represented by the key number to be accessed.