Abstract: Exemplary pistons and methods are disclosed. A piston may include a piston body defining a piston axis, the body including radially inner and outer body mating surfaces, and an annular ring cooperating with the piston body to form a continuous upper combustion bowl surface having a radially inner portion defined by the piston body and a radially outer portion defined by the annular ring. The annular ring includes a radially inner ring mating surface and a radially outer ring mating surface, wherein at least one of the annular ring mating surfaces is joined with the corresponding piston body mating surface. The annular ring and piston body cooperate to define an annular gap therebetween configured to thermally insulate the piston body from the annular ring.

Abstract: Exemplary pistons and methods are disclosed. A piston may include a piston body defining a piston axis, the body including radially inner and outer body mating surfaces, and an annular ring cooperating with the piston body to form a continuous upper combustion bowl surface having a radially inner portion defined by the piston body and a radially outer portion defined by the annular ring. The annular ring includes a radially inner ring mating surface and a radially outer ring mating surface, wherein at least one of the annular ring mating surfaces is joined with the corresponding piston body mating surface. The annular ring and piston body cooperate to define an annular gap therebetween configured to thermally insulate the piston body from the annular ring.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a portable child development station. More specifically, an infant crawling and walking aid. The invention is collapsible and can be stored in smaller confines. When the invention is set up, it is structurally sound and safe with detachable variations allowing assistance in crawling as well as walking by suspending the infant with variable height adjustments to accommodate infant.

Abstract: An exemplary piston assembly and method of making the same are disclosed. A piston assembly may include a piston crown and piston skirt. The crown may include a ring belt portion defining at least in part a cooling gallery, as well as radially inner and outer crown mating surfaces. The skirt may be received in a central opening of the crown such that the crown and skirt cooperate to form an upper combustion bowl surface. The skirt also may include radially inner and outer skirt mating surfaces that are abutted with the inner and outer crown mating surfaces, respectively, such that the cooling gallery is generally enclosed by the skirt.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a portable child development station. More specifically, an infant crawling and walking aid. The invention is collapsible and can be stored in smaller confines. When the invention is set up, it is structurally sound and safe with detachable variations allowing assistance in crawling as well as walking by suspending the infant with variable height adjustments to accommodate infant. The invention is collapsible for storing in smaller confines.

Abstract: A searchable help system for a multi-function peripheral (MFP) adapted for receiving one or more search keywords from any display screen of a man-machine interface is provided. Upon receipt of one or more keywords, the help system searches all help content files for all matches. The search results are displayed to the user by section topic or header and the associated help content file, wherein each result indicates that the corresponding textual help contend contains one more of the search key words.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a job across a network of print devices is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing the job into at least a first child job and a second child job, communicating the first child job to a first one of the print devices, the first one of the print devices being adapted to process the first child job, and communicating the second child job to a second one of the print devices, the second one of the print devices being adapted to process the second child job, wherein the first print device generates a status report based at least upon the first child job.

Abstract: A method for communicating a status report from a print device having a modem to a user's telephone device including storing a message in a storage medium associated with the print device and, upon the occurrence of an event, sending the message from the print device to the user's telephone device using the modem.

Abstract: A method for automatically implementing multi-function device settings includes storing at least one workflow object, where the at least one workflow object is associated with at least one function of a multi-function device, and at least one device setting. After a request to execute the at least one workflow object is received at the multi-function device, the at least one workflow object is executed using the at least one device setting, even if the at least one device setting is different than a default device setting.

Abstract: A document processing device configured to communicate with a first device and a user input device. The document processing device includes a controller having memory. The controller is operable to receive a first communication from the first device. The first communication includes a job to be processed by the printing device and a first shortcut access code associated with the job. The first shortcut access code is stored in the memory of the controller. The controller is also operable to receive a second communication from the user input device. The second communication includes a second shortcut access code. The controller holds the job to be processed until the controller receives the second communication and verifies the second shortcut access code matches the first shortcut access code.

Abstract: A method and system of rendering a graphical user interface of a multifunction device. In an embodiment, the method comprises displaying, by the multifunction device, a graphical user interface including a plurality of user-selectable elements. The user-selectable elements include at least one first element configured to trigger a directory creation process in order to create a directory in a storage device resident in or accessible to the multifunction device, and at least one second element configured to trigger a file storage process in order to store a file in the created directory of the storage device.

Abstract: A method for managing a multi-function device includes storing a plurality of workflow objects, where all workflow objects include a substantially similar data structure, and where each workflow object includes information identifying its function. The workflow objects are executed to implement operations of the multi-function device, and the functions of at least two of the plurality of workflow objects utilize a different operation of the multi-function device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses provide list of operations to be performed on a document based upon its type. A method includes receiving a document electronically at a multifunction device, and identifying the document type. Thereafter, at least two operations of the multifunction device are provided based on the document type. The document and a chosen operation may be stored as a workflow object that may be later accessed and selected by a user to execute the same function for the document.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of the present invention enable customized user interfaces and storage based on the identity of a user. After authenticating a user, the multifunction device will present a user with objects, such as print jobs, associated with the user. The consumer may also be presented with an automatically generated container containing all objects associated with the user. Additionally, graphical user interface icons associated with user objects may be prioritized in a graphical user interface that displays default information.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic document from a multi-function printing device. The method includes the acts of creating an electronic document, configuring the device with a list of destinations including at least one domain name, formatting the electronic document to be delivered via an electronic mail message, addressing the electronic mail message with an address including a domain and determining if the domain name in the address matches the domain name included in the list of destinations.

Abstract: A mixed-size copy printer system and method may include a scanner for collecting raw image data from and detecting a length of an original page from among a plurality of original pages of different lengths, a printer for printing an image scanned from an original page on a copy page, a controller including a plurality of stored print instructions and a RAM buffer, and an image processing unit, whereby the image processing unit may be configured to receive from the scanner the raw image data from the data indicative of a length of an original page scanned by the scanner, store the image data in the RAM buffer while the controller selects a print instruction from among the stored print instructions in response to the data indicative of the length of the original page scanned by the scanner, and the image processing unit sends the image data and the controller sends selected print instruction to the printer.

Abstract: A method for handling jobs in an imaging apparatus includes setting in the imaging apparatus an expiration time at which a job designated as confidential will be deleted from the processing queue of the imaging apparatus; storing in a container of an object store job identity information relating to each pending job associated with a designated user of the container; automatically deleting a confidential job of the pending jobs from the processing queue without human intervention when the expiration time for the confidential job is reached; and storing in the container metadata for notifying the user of the deleting of the confidential job.

Abstract: A method of executing a scan job includes scanning a first document, in response to a first user request, to generate a first portion of a scan job, and scanning a second document, in response to a second user request, to generate a second portion of the scan job. The method further includes automatically forming an output document corresponding to the scan job, where the output document includes a combination of the first portion and second portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining information from a utility meter. A digital camera is used to take a digital image of information displayed on the utility meter. The digital image is passed to a computer that is arranged to extract information displayed on the utility meter from the image. The information may be used for a variety of purposes such as updating databases with details of utility meters and for billing purposes.