Abstract: A method of ordering prints of digital photographs includes storing at least one digital photograph. The album owner (12) enters her credit card information (38) online. Order information is transmitted to at least one viewer (37) and the viewer is notified that photographic prints (30) have been prepaid. The order information is verified at a kiosk (70) and at least one digital photograph is printed.

Abstract: A method of ordering prints of digital photographs stored online comprises storing the digital photographs in an online album (34). The album owner (12) enters their credit card information (38) online. The album owner transmits an Internet link (26) to at least one viewer (37) and notifies at least one viewer that photographic prints (30) ordered from the online album (34) have been prepaid.

Abstract: A drop on demand microfluidic ink jet printing system includes an ink flow chamber having a nozzle opening in a wall of the flow chamber through which ink droplets are ejected when ink in the flow chamber is at or above a predetermined positive pressure. An inlet channel opens into the flow chamber to supply thermally-responsive ink to the flow chamber at or above the predetermined pressure. A microfluidic outlet channel communicates the flow chamber with a low pressure ink reservoir such that thermally-responsive ink is normally transported from the flow chamber at a flow velocity sufficient to maintain ink in the flow chamber at a pressure less than the predetermined positive pressure.

Abstract: An ink drop deflector mechanism is provided. The ink drop deflector mechanism includes an ink drop source and a path selection device operable in a first state to direct drops from the source along a first path and in a second state to direct drops from the source along a second path. The first and second paths diverge from the source. The mechanism also includes a system which applies force to drops travelling along at least one of the first and second paths with the force being applied in a direction so as to increase the divergence of the paths. The mechanism may include a gas source which generates a gas flow force that is applied in a direction that increases the divergence of the paths. The gas flow may be positioned between the first and second paths. The gas flow may be substantially laminar and interact with at least one of the first and second paths as the gas flow loses its coherence.

Abstract: A micro-actuator has a pair of conductive metallic layers connectable to an electrical potential source so as to induce a force between the metallic layers upon application of an electrical field. A layer of dense elastomer material is sandwiched between the pair of conductive metallic layers such that there will be a change in the volume of the elastomer material in response to relative movement between the conductive metallic layers. The elastomer material has at least one void within the elastomer material, whereby the micro-actuator exhibits void-enhanced growth and reduction in size in response to the effected force induced by the applied electrical field. At least one of the metallic layers is a flexible electrode plate. The other metallic layer may be rigid and essentially non-deformable. The elastomer material has substantial plurality of voids.

Abstract: An ink drop deflector mechanism is provided. The ink drop deflector mechanism includes an ink drop source and a path selection device operable in a first state to direct drops from the source along a first path and in a second state to direct drops from the source along a second path. The first and second paths diverge from the source. The mechanism also includes a system which applies force to drops travelling along at least one of the first and second paths with the force being applied in a direction so as to increase the divergence of the paths. The mechanism may include a gas source which generates a gas flow force that is applied in a direction that increases the divergence of the paths. The gas flow may be positioned between the first and second paths. The gas flow may be substantially laminar and interact with at least one of the first and second paths as the gas flow loses its coherence.

Abstract: An operator at a remote user interface can receive a directory of available peripheral devices, together with a disclosure of the current configuration of setup parameters of each device so that the operator can select the peripheral device best suited for a particular job. The directory may provide a ranking of the peripheral devices according to fit with the selected setup parameters and a predetermined ordering of the importance of each parameter. The directory may be limited to only those document production apparatus which are capable of being configured in accordance with the operator's selection of setup parameters; or the directory may include all document production apparatus on the network, letting the operator modify the parameter selection to fit the available configurations if necessary.

Abstract: Multi-page documents containing at least two types of pages requiring skip frame cycles between types are produced by first producing and storing all the pages of one type and then producing all the pages of the other type. Collation is effected during production of the latter type pages, the stored pages are withdrawn from storage at appropriate times and interleaved between the other pages as they are produced. For example, all multi-color sheets can be produced one after the other in the order in which they occur in the original document and stored. Then all single-color pages can be produced in the order that they occur in the original document and sent directly to an exit tray, the multi-color pages being inserted at proper positions.