Abstract: A system for moving a door between open and closed positions to selectively allow access to an enclosed space.

Abstract: An exemplary device implementation includes: a manager that is capable of monitoring a process for preparing a page for printing; and a print engine that is capable of printing the page after the process for preparing the page for printing is complete; wherein the device is adapted to temporally overlap the process for preparing the page for printing with preparation of the print engine for printing. An exemplary method implementation includes actions of: beginning processing of a page of a printing job; providing at least one command to a print engine responsive to at least one time remaining estimate for the processing of the page of the printing job prior to completion of the processing of the page of the printing job; and changing a state of the print engine responsive to the providing of the at least one command to the print engine.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an ejection apparatus and methods are provided. In one representative embodiment an ejection apparatus includes a bar movable along a first axis and a carriage movable along a second axis which is distinct from the first axis. The bar which has an edge oriented along an angular position between the first axis and the second axis, is in physical communication with the carriage such that movement of the bar along the first axis causes movement of the carriage along the second axis.

Abstract: A printing method for printing of a print job by a printing apparatus having a monochrome mode and a full-color mode. The method may include examining a portion of the print job to determine whether the portion includes a color page, and if the portion includes a color page, scheduling printing of a first page of the portion and one or more subsequent pages of the print job in a full-color mode, irrespective of the color content of the one or more subsequent pages.

Abstract: A printing method for printing of a print job by a printing apparatus having a monochrome mode and a full-color mode. The method may include examining a portion of the print job to determine whether the portion includes a color page, and if the portion includes a color page, scheduling printing of a first page of the portion and one or more subsequent pages of the print job in a full-color mode, irrespective of the color content of the one or more subsequent pages.

Abstract: An exemplary device implementation includes: a manager that is capable of monitoring a process for preparing a page for printing; and a print engine that is capable of printing the page after the process for preparing the page for printing is complete; wherein the device is adapted to temporally overlap the process for preparing the page for printing with preparation of the print engine for printing. An exemplary method implementation includes actions of: beginning processing of a page of a printing job; providing at least one command to a print engine responsive to at least one time remaining estimate for the processing of the page of the printing job prior to completion of the processing of the page of the printing job; and changing a state of the print engine responsive to the providing of the at least one command to the print engine.

Abstract: An exemplary device includes: a scanner capable of beginning a scan of a scanning target and providing timing-related information for the scan; and a printer capable of printing an image of the scanning target and receiving the timing-related information, the printer including a print engine; wherein the printer is adapted to activate the print engine prior to receiving all scan lines of the scanning target responsive to the timing-related information. An exemplary method for accelerating printing includes actions of: beginning a scan of a scanning target; determining timing-related information from the scan; and sending an instruction to a print engine responsive to the timing-related information and prior to completing the scan.

Abstract: A printer responds to a media gloss measurement for improved color printing. The printer includes a gloss meter, a controller, and a print engine. The gloss meter includes a solid body having a source tube and a reflection tube each being integral within the body. An LED in the source tube illuminates a reference surface at an angle of incidence. A photo sensor in the reflection tube responds to a first reference spectral reflection from the surface at an angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence. When a sheet of media is registered by the printer against the reference surface, the photo sensor responds to a second spectral reflection from the media. The ratio of second to first spectral reflection intensities is compared to a selected threshold to identify the media by gloss level. When motion of the media is resumed, the media wipes the reference surface to maintain the accuracy of gloss measurements.

Abstract: An electrophotographic laser printing process using dry low gloss toner formulations for producing either low gloss images or high gloss images. In an instance when a low gloss image is produced, the process selects a low gloss paper, and all other parameters of the process of printing low gloss images are consistent with known parameters for the production of electrophotographic low gloss images using dry toner formulations. In order to produce a high gloss image using a low gloss toner formulation, the method involves selecting a high gloss media, if available, from a media source and reducing the feed speed of the media through the process. Additionally, the fuser roller temperature is increased to ensure maximum fixing and fusing of the toner to produce a single voidless plane of toner on top of the media which exhibits a high reflective index and results in less light scattering at the surface of the toner.

Abstract: Embodiments of a compact electrophotographic color developer module are shown and described, each embodiment including generally vertically-oriented, self-contained developers, stacked or radially fanned-out above the photoconductor drum. The developers are preferably either wedge-shaped or rectangular, and preferably have cylindrical sleeves less than about 2 inches apart. The compact developer module and cooperating image transfer system have a small form factor and footprint and may be used in a wide variety of electrophotographic platforms with minimal changes. A cam system may be included to allow either contact, non-contact, or close-jump-gap development, with a simple code or ROM change. The photoconductor drum is sized to carry less than a complete image, because the image is transferred to an intermediate transfer member before transfer to paper.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling image transfer device operations through use of a medium marking material on the image transfer medium being printed. The medium marking material is coded on the paper and sensed by the transfer device to control operations. The medium marking material is visible and/or legible to an operator prior to printing, but becomes invisible during or after printing operations. Responsive to the marking material sensed, a marking signal is produced and translated to a command signal recognized by the printer for controlling printer operations. Heat generated by the printing process causes the marking material to become virtually indistinguishable from the paper during/after printer operations.

Abstract: An ink level sensor (18, 18', 18") is provided for detecting the level of ink in an ink cartridge (10) containing a capillary reservoir (14), such as foam, therein. The ink level sensor is a binary fluidic indicator, which provides both a human and machine readable indication of the level of the ink. A plurality of embodiments are described, including a two-port sensor (20), a one-port sensor (22), and a pair of fluidically-connected needles of different length (24).