Abstract: A method of aligning one or more print heads in a print head unit and a system thereof. A first pattern of first symbols is printed on a print medium and a second pattern of second symbols is printed with a second print head on the print medium with one or more print heads in a manner to superpose the second pattern on the first pattern and so that at least some of the first symbols obscure a corresponding one of the second symbols. At least some of the second symbols are offset from a regular pattern and the offset distances are recorded. A user can designate at least one of the second symbols that is obscured by a corresponding one of the first symbols and the offset distance corresponding to the designated second symbol is used as an offset parameter for the second print head with respect to the first print head.

Abstract: In the system of this application, a liquid crystal temperature sensor is applied to the exterior of the print head cartridge of a printing system to give an optical indication of the temperature at the print head that is readable by an optical scanner.

Abstract: A method of aligning one or more print heads in a print head unit and a system thereof. A first pattern of first symbols is printed on a print medium and a second pattern of second symbols is printed with a second print head on the print medium with one or more print heads in a manner to superpose the second pattern on the first pattern and so that at least some of the first symbols obscure a corresponding one of the second symbols. At least some of the second symbols are offset from a regular pattern and the offset distances are recorded. A user can designate at least one of the second symbols that is obscured by a corresponding one of the first symbols and the offset distance corresponding to the designated second symbol is used as an offset parameter for the second print head with respect to the first print head.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for reducing or eliminating scan line magnification errors in digital copiers that use an input scanner and a raster output scanner. The input scanner integration period, and thus the input scan line rate, is synchronized with the rotation of the raster output scanner, and thus the output scan line rate. Synchronization might be achieved using either a one to one input scan line to output scan line ratio, or by scanning multiple output scan lines for each input scan line. Beneficially, the principles of the present invention are implemented by synchronizing the input scan rate of an input scanner with the rotation of a polygon of a raster output scanner using a start of scan detector.

Abstract: A substrate sensor system having a light source for radiating light toward a substrate position, a light sensor system positioned to receive light transmitted or reflected at the substrate, a lens that images the light transmitted or reflected at the substrate onto the light sensor system, and a telecentric stop between the lens and the light sensor system. Beneficially, such substrate sensor systems will include an electrical circuit that produces position information regarding the position of a substrate and/or the position of an image on a substrate.

Abstract: A heat recovery management system for transferring an image to a print media in a development system of the type having an intermediate belt. The system comprises a first station that receives an energy-transfer medium to heat the belt at a first position utilizing heat from the energy-transfer medium. The first station outputs the energy-transfer medium with a reduced heat content and a second station receives the reduced heat content energy-transfer medium from the first station. The second station absorbs heat from the belt at a second position after which the second station outputs heat enriched energy to the energy-transfer medium and circulates the heat enriched energy-transfer medium back to the first station.

Abstract: A digital color scanner capable of high color quality includes a light source, a photosensor, a first color filter, a second color filter, a third color filter, and a fourth color filter. The first, second, and third color filters are positioned in an optical path between the light source and the photosensor so as to enable the photosensor to produce a first, second, and third set of color image data during a first calibration scan. The fourth color filter is moved into and out of the optical path between the light source and the photosensor so as to enable the photosensor to produce a fourth, fifth, and sixth set of color image data during a second calibration scan. A circuit produces a set of color correction values from the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sets of color image data.

Abstract: A system and method embeds a postal code in a postal mark. The system includes a scanner to input a destination zip code for a piece of mail and a control unit, connected to the scanner, to convert the destination zip code to zip code glyphs and to embed the zip code glyphs into a predetermined portion of a bit map representing the postal mark. A printer then prints the postal mark bit map with embedded zip code glyphs onto the piece of mail. The system also includes a scanner to read the embedded zip code glyphs and a controller to decode the read zip code glyphs. As a result of the decoding, a sorter sorts the piece of mail and directs it to its destination. The postal mark is either a stamp cancellation mark or a postal meter. The system can also be utilized to track mail by including a device which assigns a tracking number to the piece of mail.

Abstract: A digital copier with mail preparation functions including a document input scanner deriving an electronic representation of an original document placed at a scanning position associated therewith; a document editor, responsive to operator command from a user interface to identify in, an original document an area thereof including an address; a document creator, for combining the image from the identified area with a pre-stored envelope image; a source of sheets and envelopes; means for selectively feeding sheets and envelopes from the source to a printer; the printer is controlled to create an image on the selected sheet or envelope in accordance with the created envelope image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus improving the use of a book edge copier, in which for book edge copying, a control selection is provided so that for every other copy made, the copying process is altered to invert the copy to produce a set of copies with the same top to bottom alignment.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting toner or debris deposits on an imaging surface is arranged downstream from the cleaning station. The imaging surface is illuminated with a light source, a light intensity detecting sensor arrangement is provided to view the illuminated surface and produce a signal representative of detected light intensity, and a response signal is produced indicative of the condition of the surface.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a raster input scanning device for detecting an image on a preselected surface, including a linear photoelectric sensor array comprising a plurality of discrete photosensitive elements arranged along a first axis, for sensing and generating electrical representations of an image on a surface; a carriage assembly movable along a second axis, transverse to said first axis; and supporting a sensor detectable target image for movement along the second axis. The sensor detectable target image includes an alignment feature for use during alignment operations. A drive system moves the carriage assembly carrying the target image from a starting position along said second axis, and the distance traveled by the carriage assembly from said starting point until the alignment feature on said target image is sensed is measured. A y-axis comparator compares the measured distance with a y-axis reference to determine an y-axis offset value which is stored in a y-axis memory as an y-axis offset value.

Abstract: Sensor correction circuit for maintaining offset voltages in the shift registers of a multiple channel image sensor substantially equal having a pair of control gates to permit sampling the current offset voltages in the shift registers of each channel, a pair of capacitors for storing the offset voltage samples in each channel; a clock for actuating the control gates in preset timed relation between scan lines to sample and store the current shift register offset voltages on the capacitors; and an amplifier for amplifying any difference between the offset voltage samples held by the capacitors to provide an adjusted potential for balancing any differences between the shift registers.

Abstract: A document scanning apparatus designed to faciliate composing, in which a retro-reflective material is used to delineate the borders of image areas on a document where scanning is not desired from image areas where scanning is desired. A control segregates image signals attributable to the retro-reflective material from image signals attributable to the document image and in response thereto discards those image signals derived from document image areas within the borders delineated by the retro-reflective material.

Abstract: An image thresholding system employing a ROM look up table to make threshold decisions. A plurality of shift registers are used to convert a digital pixel input which includes the pixel to be processed to an address for use in addressing the ROM look up table to provide a thresholded value for the pixel being processed. The output of the ROM look up table is utilized, together with other pixels from the pixel input, to address a second ROM look up table to provide a further refined threshold decision.

Abstract: A variable permeability magnetic object detection device including an electromagnetic sensing coil; a core disposed in the electromagnetic sensing coil having a first permeability when the core is magnetically saturated and a second different permeability when the core is magnetically unsaturated; a magnetic member proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil for providing a magnetic field in the core for operating the core in a magnetically saturated state without a magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil, interacting with the magnetic field, and for operating the core in a magnetically unsaturated state with the magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the magnetic sensing coil, interacting with the field; and a detector responsive to said electromagnetic sensing coil to detect the presence of a magnetic object.

Abstract: A variable permeability magnetic object detection device including an electromagnetic sensing coil; a core disposed in the electromagnetic sensing coil having a first permeability when the core is magnetically saturated and a second different permeability when the core is magnetically unsaturated; a magnetic member proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil for providing a magnetic field in the core for operating the core in a magnetically saturated state without a magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the electromagnetic sensing coil, interacting with the magnetic field, and for operating the core in a magnetically unsaturated state with the magnetic object to be detected present in the area proximate the magnetic sensing coil, interacting with the field; and a detector responsive to said electromagnetic sensing coil to detect the presence of a magnetic object.