Abstract: An automated document template creation method comprises: inputing data of an existing document that contains a visual design to input an image; decomposing the image into at least one object using at least one image processing technique; determining at least one design attribute of the object; and synthesizing a document template containing the design attribute. An automated document template creation system comprises: an input device that receives data of an existing document containing a representative visual design to obtain an image; an image processor that decomposes the image into at least one object and determines at least one design attribute of the object; and a template creator that synthesizes a document template containing the design attribute. The systems and methods allow a scan/preparation user at a makeready station to generate additional and/or replacement pages for an existing document that are visually coherent with the predetermined visual design of the document.

Abstract: A power tool for installing metal piercing fasteners being characterized by a body bent at one end to form a crown portion and having at least one side guide rail and at least one integral tine under the crown portion, the integral tine being deformed about its longitudinal axis to cause at least one portion of the tine to protrude outwardly from the body of the fastener comprises a fastener guide body including at least one guide channel adapted to accommodate the side guide rail of the metal piercing fastener. The guide channel defines a linear drive path for the metal piercing fastener. The power tool also comprises a fastener driver body including at least one outwardly protruding side spline adapted to conform approximately to the outer contours of the side guide rail of the metal piercing fastener and to slide within the trajectory channel, and a fastener driver tip for forcibly impacting the crown portion of the metal piercing fastener.

Abstract: A fastener for securing work pieces together including a metal substrate, the fastener includes an elongated flat body having a driving head disposed at substantially right angles to the body, a point at the end opposite the head for penetrating the work pieces including the metallic substrate guide rails extend along each side edge of the elongated flat body and in a plane defined by the elongated flat body. The guide rails are adapted to fit within a pair of guide channels formed in a power tool adapted to insert the fastener through the work piece and the metallic substrate. The guide rails in the guide channel of the power tool maintain the fastener substantially perpendicular to the surface of the work piece during installation.

Abstract: A printing machine that records information about conditions of the machine while carrying out a printing request. The recorded resource information includes information about color calibration tables or machine process temperatures that may affect the appearance of a printed job depending on the value of the conditions at a particular time. Subsequently, before carrying out another printing request, the printing machine compares the conditions of a machine, to satisfy the next printing request, to the recorded information to permit an operator to predict whether a job will reprint with acceptable accuracy.

Abstract: Structuring a raster image data file includes accessing image data containing set-up information and image data, determining a structure of the image data, sequencing contents of the image data file such that different parts of the set-up information are grouped together, segmenting the image data, and constructing an output image data file. The structure of image data may include one or more layers. The set-up information may be sequenced to precede the image data. Therefore, segmented image data can be distributed to more than one processor and sequentially processed and reproduced. This results in shortening the printing time.

Abstract: A printing system with one or more discrete print media trays, a marking engine and a controller in which prints are produced from a plurality of print jobs by using the controller to control delivery of print media sheets from the one or more discrete print media trays to the marking engine, each of the plurality of print jobs including a plurality of the predefined print media attributes; the one or more discrete print media trays respectively including the print media sheets having a plurality of print media attributes, a method for programming the one or more discrete print media trays, including selecting one print job of the a plurality of print jobs; correlating the plurality of the predefined printed attributes of the selected one of the plurality of print jobs to the plurality of print media attributes of the print media sheets stored in the at two discrete print media trays; and if the plurality of the predefined printed attributes do not correlate with the plurality of print media attributes of the

Abstract: A metal piercing fastener having an elongated flat body having first and second surfaces with a heat at one end and a piercing point at the other. The thickness dimension of the flat body is greater proximate the head proximate the point. The first and second surfaces of the body are devoid of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A metal piercing fastener for securing a light gauge sheet metal layer to metal/non-metal substrate layer(s) includes an elongated metal body having a crown at one end a sharpened and hardened tip at the other end defining a rigid metal penetrating region. The crown receives an impact blow from a tool for driving the rigid metal penetrating tip region in the substrates to be fastened. The metal body is equipped with one or more resilient tines each twisted at the base around its longitudinal axis and which can be integral or coupled to the metal body to optimize the gripping and clamping capability of the metal piercing fastener. The resilient tine may be equipped with protruding gripping and clamping elements on each side or with ribs on one of its outer surfaces to provide spring action gripping and clamping capability during fastening. The resilient tine is capable of deflection to conform to the physical constraints of the pierced substrate opening when passing through the pierced opening.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an image production system to account for a variable property of a desired output medium includes storing a reference characterization of at least one measured value associated with a reference output medium. An output value, adjusted for the variable property of the desired output medium, is determined based on data including the reference characterization of the reference output medium, for example stored in color lookup tables, color rendering dictionaries, or the like. Based on the adjusted output value determined, the desired output medium is then printed or otherwise marked using the output value.

Abstract: A metal piercing fastener includes an elongated body with an internal void and a securing member carried by the elongated body and adapted to grip and lock pierced work pieces together. The securing member is adapted to be accommodated in the internal void and is twisted about its longitudinal axis. The twisted securing member includes a substantial portion being thinned relative to the thickness of the elongated body to optimize resiliency of the securing member.

Abstract: A fastener for securing a drywall work piece to a metal substrate. The fastener includes an elongated flat body carrying a securing member and having a driving head disposed at a substantially right angle to the elongated flat body. The driving head defines a bore therein surrounded by a downwardly directed flange having a distal cutting edge which cuts the top paper laminate of the drywall allowing the head to countersink into the drywall without damaging the top paper laminate.

Abstract: A modular device, such as an electrophotographic imaging machine, comprises an operation event log in respective modules of the device to record time-stamped events, e.g., errors, and a configuration log in a central controller to keep track of changing configurations due to swapping or removal of modules. A controller updates the configuration log each time a module is added to or removed from the device. Log information may be stored locally with the device or in a remote server accessible via a network to facilitate remote diagnostics. To assist in diagnostics, the disclosed method includes merging the configuration and events logs in a way to display log entries according to a selected configuration where errors in current modules are demarcated. The apparatus includes routines in the controller to effect retrieval, processing, and display of demarcated events according to a selected configuration.

Abstract: A printing system with one or more discrete print media trays, a marking engine and a controller in which prints are produced from a plurality of print jobs by using the controller to control delivery of print media sheets from the one or more discrete print media trays to the marking engine, each of the plurality of print jobs including a plurality of the predefined print media attributes; the one or more discrete print media trays respectively including the print media sheets having a plurality of print media attributes, a method for programming the one or more discrete print media trays, including selecting one print job of the a plurality of print jobs; correlating the plurality of the predefined printed attributes of the selected one of the plurality of print jobs to the plurality of print media attributes of the print media sheets stored in the at two discrete print media trays; and if the plurality of the predefined printed attributes do not correlate with the plurality of print media attributes of the

Abstract: A printing machine that records information about resources expended to carry out a printing request. The recorded resource information may include quantities of particular paper types and colored toner needed to satisfy the printing request. Subsequently, before carrying out another printing request, the printing machine uses the recorded information to make a prediction or estimate of resources required to carry out the printing request. The printing machine thus reduces uncertainty about whether there are sufficient resources to satisfy the next request, and alleviates the burden of maintaining excessive consumables in inventory.

Abstract: A method of developing a job for output with an output subsystem is provided. The method includes generating a first electronic representation of a first image at a first time, reading a subset of placemarking instructions at a second time, generating a second representation of a second image at a third time, wherein the second time is after the first time but before the third time. At a fourth time, which fourth time is after the first, second and third times, a selected function is performed relative to a third electronic representation of a third image in response to the reading of the subset of placemaking instructions.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing multiple copies of a set of electronic ordered stock from at least two discrete print media trays. The method includes the step of programming an ordered stock profile in which the set of electronic ordered stock is provided with at least two sequentially ordered electronic pages and each electronic page in the set corresponds with a set of print media properties, wherein the set of print media properties for each electronic page differs from the set of print media properties for any one of the other electronic pages in the set of electronic ordered stock.

Abstract: An electronic image processing apparatus including a controller and a plurality of modules having an arbitrary configuration and being interconnected by input and output ports. The interconnection or port pairings of the modules is determined by the controller by defining ports into input and output sets and defining a given set by logic signals. The logic signals are set to the same level and a logic level change in the logic signals is systematically prompted. The responses from associated ports are identified to map all input and output ports for the image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A job processing method and apparatus are provided for allowing an operator of an electronic reprographic system to be able to select deferred actions for inactive print jobs which are automatically initiated upon the detection of a specified triggering event. The job processing instruction set associated with the inactive job is implemented as soon as system resources are available after detection and identification of the triggering event. The triggering event can be one of a predetermined set of system operating conditions.

Abstract: A method of registering images on a user interface with a screen display in which separate electronic pages corresponding respectively with the first and second sides of an electronic duplex page are displayed on the user interface screen display simultaneously with a first image on the first side being disposed in a first position and a second image on the second side being disposed in a second position. The second image is moved on the screen display, relative to the first image so that the second image is disposed in the first position and is aligned with respect to the first image in a selected aligned relationship. Each of the separate electronic pages has a transparent background so that substantial portions of the second image are visible on the screen display even when the first image is superposed with respect to the second image.

Abstract: A printing system with input and control systems is provided. The control system, which links the input system with a print engine, causes image data, representative of an image, and trim marks to be superposed, in a selected manner, on an electronic page. The electronic page, with its attendant trim marks, is stored in a memory for reproduction thereof by the print engine.