Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiments, a method for scheduling at least one print job for a plurality of printers of a given type is provided. The method includes determining a job length for the at least one print job. The method further includes scheduling a sequence of printing by the plurality of printers based the job length such that a subset of the available plurality of printers is cycled up, and printing the at least one print job with the subset of available printers when the job length is less than at least one predeterminable threshold.

Abstract: A color image forming machine is provided having a plurality of xerographic marking engines, each forming associated color separations that are combined to produce a color print image. Each marking engine includes two independently controlled developers using toners of the same color and strength of color but with different fused gloss characteristics, in that one of the toners will produce a print with a comparatively lower gloss and the other will produce a print with a comparatively higher gloss, thereby providing a greater control over the range of the gloss of the output print.

Abstract: A method and systems for calibrating a document scanner are provided. The scanner calibration method includes providing a geometrically operative black absorption device having a structural geometry that is capable of receiving light and limiting propagation of the received light, where the black calibration target has a total light reflectance of less than one percent. The method further includes powering on a light source of a document scanner to provide light toward the black absorption device, where the light source generates a noise signal when providing the light. The method further includes detecting, by a sensor of the document scanner, light reflected from the black absorption device and generating calibration signals based on the reflected light and the noise signal.

Abstract: A color image forming machine is provided having a plurality of xerographic marking engines, each forming associated color separations that are combined to produce a color print image. Each marking engine includes two independently controlled developers using toners of the same color and strength of color but with different fused gloss characteristics, in that one of the toners will produce a print with a comparatively lower gloss and the other will produce a print with a comparatively higher gloss, thereby providing a greater control over the range of the gloss of the output print.

Abstract: A method of processing image data from a multi-chip array with a plurality of photosensitive chips aligned substantially in a transverse direction, including: generating, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, a ?y or ?x optical error value equal to a difference in process and transverse directions, respectively, between actual and apparent locations for a first photosensor, the apparent location due to optical error; and storing, in a memory element for the specially programmed computer, respective outputs from the photosensors in the array for first and second scan lines. The actual location is included in the first scan line. The processor retrieves, for use as at least part of useful image data for the first photosensor, the stored output of: the first photosensor for the second scan line for a ?y optical error, or a second photosensor for the first line for a ?x optical error.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to systems and methods for implementing use of customer documents in maintaining Image Quality (IQ)/Image Quality Consistency (IQC) of printing devices. The system may include an image analyzer configured to analyze input image data for a document and to identify one or more relevant pages of the document that may provide information regarding the state of the printing system; a scheduler that selects the relevant pages for printing out-of-order; a marking engine constructed to print images; a scanning device for scanning print images of the one or more relevant pages; and a buffer for holding the print images of the one or more relevant pages and inserting the print images of the one or more relevant pages into the media path in proper order. A method for analyzing printed documents is also provided.

Abstract: A method of processing image data from a multi-chip array with a plurality of photosensitive chips aligned substantially in a transverse direction, including: generating, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, a ?y or ?x optical error value equal to a difference in process and transverse directions, respectively, between actual and apparent locations for a first photosensor, the apparent location due to optical error; and storing, in a memory element for the specially programmed computer, respective outputs from the photosensors in the array for first and second scan lines. The actual location is included in the first scan line. The processor retrieves, for use as at least part of useful image data for the first photosensor, the stored output of: the first photosensor for the second scan line for a ?y optical error, or a second photosensor for the first line for a ?x optical error . . . .

Abstract: An image printing system for adjusting gloss on printed documents includes a marking engine constructed to print images, which have gloss, on a document; a gloss measurement device, includes a linear array sensor to detect a generally specular and diffuse reflectance in the first direction produced by one or more illuminators; a processor configured to receive image data relating to a content of the image to be printed on the document; to process the detected generally specular and diffuse reflectances to determine a characteristic of the gloss of the document, and to compare the gloss characteristic with the image data relating to content of the image printed on the document; and a controller configured to control at least one process controls parameter of the marking engine based on the comparison of the gloss characteristic with the image content by the processor.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiments, a method for scheduling at least one print job for a plurality of printers of a given type is provided. The method includes determining a job length for the at least one print job. The method further includes scheduling a sequence of printing by the plurality of printers based the job length such that a subset of the available plurality of printers is cycled up, and printing the at least one print job with the subset of available printers when the job length is less than at least one predeterminable threshold.

Abstract: A method and systems for calibrating a document scanner are provided. The scanner calibration method includes providing a geometrically operative black absorption device having a structural geometry that is capable of receiving light and limiting propagation of the received light, where the black calibration target has a total light reflectance of less than one percent. The method further includes powering on a light source of a document scanner to provide light toward the black absorption device, where the light source generates a noise signal when providing the light. The method further includes detecting, by a sensor of the document scanner, light reflected from the black absorption device and generating calibration signals based on the reflected light and the noise signal.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to systems and methods for implementing use of customer documents in maintaining Image Quality (IQ)/Image Quality Consistency (IQC) of printing devices. The system may include an image analyzer configured to analyze input image data for a document and to identify one or more relevant pages of the document that may provide information regarding the state of the printing system; a scheduler that selects the relevant pages for printing out-of-order; a marking engine constructed to print images; a scanning device for scanning print images of the one or more relevant pages; and a buffer for holding the print images of the one or more relevant pages and inserting the print images of the one or more relevant pages into the media path in proper order. A method for analyzing printed documents is also provided.

Abstract: An image printing system for adjusting gloss on printed documents includes a marking engine constructed to print images, which have gloss, on a document; a gloss measurement device, includes a linear array sensor to detect a generally specular and diffuse reflectance in the first direction produced by one or more illuminators; a processor configured to receive image data relating to a content of the image to be printed on the document; to process the detected generally specular and diffuse reflectances to determine a characteristic of the gloss of the document, and to compare the gloss characteristic with the image data relating to content of the image printed on the document; and a controller configured to control at least one process controls parameter of the marking engine based on the comparison of the gloss characteristic with the image content by the processor.

Abstract: A method of maximizing usage of a photoreceptor particularly a photoreceptor belt in digital printing by intermixing page images of different sizes on the belt when the user has requested multiple print jobs requiring different sheet sizes, or a single document job requiring sheets of different sizes. If no combination of intermixing different page image sizes will maximize belt usage, the method prints page images of the same size.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving image quality of image data to be rendered may be provided using multiple mask MRC files. Such a method may involve processing a first binary bit map of image data to generate a processed binary bit map, assigning an edge tag to at least one pixel in the processed binary bit map, and assigning a gray/color value to at least one pixel in the processed binary bit map based on values of corresponding pixels in the first binary bit map. A system may include a processor that performs such processing and assigning, an image data source that supplies image data of an original image, and an image rendering device that provides a rendered image of the original image based on the at least one assigned edge tag and the at least one assigned gray/color value.

Abstract: A method is provided for segmenting scanned image data in accordance with mixed raster content processing, further including windowing for purposes of extracting particularly classifiable objects, i.e., text, graphics or pictures. Application of predetermined parameter sets selected for more precise identification of the extracted objects are applied to the data for object extraction, object selection, color uniformity, and clustering for coloring similarity. A page background detection feature uses dual thresholding for segregating text (darker) areas from non-text (brighter) areas. Two histograms are created for the respective areas. Thresholds are generated from the two histograms and applied to the respective areas separately.

Abstract: Automatic image enhancement of halftone images is performed by subjecting the halftone image to a low-pass filter so as to smooth out halftone variations between adjacent pixels prior to performing conventional image analysis and image processing.