Abstract: A fixture for supporting an article (e.g., a guitar such as a Stratocaster® guitar body) and controlling the position of the article relative to a print head to allow a contoured portion of a surface of the article to be printed by the print head. The fixture may include a pivot axis about which the article is pivotal. A cam surface may be engaged by the article and/or a bracket of the fixture to which the article is affixed to prescribe the controlled movement of the article based on relative movement between the article and the print head. In turn, both planar and contoured portions of the guitar surface may be printed during a single print operation.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods concerning providing data-communications room recommendations are disclosed. As an example, one apparatus includes a data-communications server. The data-communications server is configured to provide user-data-communications sessions. The server is also configured to retrieve data-communications messages, which may arise from a plurality of disparate interconnected data-communications systems, and batch the data communications messages for a particular data-communications room together to create a room document. Responding to receipt of a request from a particular user, the server identifies a particular data-communications room for a particular inquiry.

Abstract: A communication apparatus identifies an access point with which the communication apparatus can perform wireless communication and transmits information indicating the identified access point to a communication partner apparatus by way of the wireless communication. In response to this, an access point designated by the communication partner apparatus is registered as a relay access point.

Abstract: In order to provide a numbering and imprinting machine capable of minimizing the amount of wasted paper produced, the numbering and imprinting machine is provided with: a first-number inspection camera (124B) that is arranged downstream of the position of contact between an impression cylinder (112) and a first-number cylinder (113) of a first-number printing unit (111) in the direction of rotation of the impression cylinder (112), and images a first number printed on paper (W) held on the impression cylinder (112); a second number inspection camera (124C) that is arranged downstream of the position of contact between an impression cylinder (117) and a second-number cylinder (118) of a second-number printing unit (116) in the direction of rotation of the impression cylinder (117), and images a second number printed on paper (W) held on the impression cylinder (117); and a printing-press control device (10) that controls first- and second-number-cylinder throw-on and throw-off devices (38, 39) based on signals

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body having an opening, an image forming unit, a storage portions, a moving unit, and a sensing unit. The storage portions store, inside the apparatus body, a sheet having an image. The moving unit can move the sheet stored in each storage portion and stop the sheet in an exposure state where the sheet is exposed outside the apparatus body through the opening. The moving unit moves a first stored sheet and stops the first sheet in the exposure state. If the sensing unit enters a state in which the first sheet is not sensed from a state in which the first sheet is sensed, the moving unit moves a second stored sheet and stops the second sheet in the exposure state where the second sheet is exposed outside the apparatus body through the opening through which the first sheet is exposed.

Abstract: Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a process and mechanism for reducing human error and manual labor used to sweep pockets on a mail sorting machine. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments utilize a sliding drawer holding a receiving container that can mate in a flush arrangement with an output pocket of a mail sorting machine. Thus, sweeping of mail product from the output pocket to the receiving container can be accomplished in one motion that empties the entire output pocket into the receiving container. This sweeping may be performed by an operator without any errors caused by sweeping to an incorrect receiving container or issues caused by dropping sorted mail product and picking it back up in a different order.

Abstract: A delivery processing apparatus includes: a plurality of stackers configured to stack delivery objects; a conveyer configured to transport the delivery objects to a designated stacker out of the plurality of stackers; a first detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an overflow state in which more than a predetermined amount of delivery objects have accumulated; a second detector configured to detect that a monitored stacker out of the plurality of stackers is in an empty state in which all delivery objects have been retrieved from the stacker; and a main controller configured to specify a regular stacker that is a stacker out of the plurality of stackers and serving as a sort destination of the delivery object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing distribution items having unique identifiers affixed thereon. The unique identifiers can include computer readable codes and written alphanumeric strings generated by a user. A system receives the unique identifier and requests payment information from a user, and stores an association between the unique identifier and the payment information, and processes the item according to the payment information.

Abstract: An article for use as a negotiable instrument includes a substrate having a front side and reverse side; first machine-printed information on the substrate's front side including an account number associated with the negotiable instrument, and a unique identifier associated with the negotiable instrument, the first machine-printed information uniquely identifying the negotiable instrument; and second machine-printed information on the substrate's reverse side that corresponds to the first machine-printed information such that comparison of respective images of the substrate's front and reverse sides indicates that the images correspond to the same negotiable instrument.

Abstract: There is provided a printer system including a printer apparatus configured to be controlled by a controller having a configuration of which at least a part is different for each client. A printing processor is configured to execute printing processing on a medium. A tray state detector is configured to detect a tray state indicating whether or not there is the medium on a destination tray to which the medium on which the printing processing has been executed is discharged. A printing processing control unit is configured to control whether or not to execute the printing processing in the printer apparatus on the basis of the tray state, when the controller is changed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body having an opening, an image forming unit, storage units that can store a sheet, and a moving unit provided in each storage unit. The moving unit moves the stored sheet and then stops it in an exposed state where the sheet is partly exposed, from the opening, to a body outside. Where a first sheet and a second sheet, stored in a storage unit different from where the first sheet is stored, contact and then are exposed to the outside, when a first sheet moving distance to the exposed state and a second sheet moving distance to the exposed state are different, the moving unit changes a first sheet movement start timing relative to that of the second sheet or changes a first sheet moving speed relative to that of the second sheet, based on moving distances of the first and second sheets.

Abstract: An article for use as a negotiable instrument includes a substrate having a front side and reverse side; first machine-printed information on the substrate's front side including an account number associated with the negotiable instrument, and a unique identifier associated with the negotiable instrument, the first machine-printed information uniquely identifying the negotiable instrument; and second machine-printed information on the substrate's reverse side that corresponds to the first machine-printed information such that comparison of respective images of the substrate's front and reverse sides indicates that the images correspond to the same negotiable instrument.

Abstract: A data storage system, having a data processor operable to convert digital data signals into ink dot patterns, and a data processor operable to receive the ink dot patterns and convert them into digital signals, the system having at least one print media receiving carrier or panel, a printing member operable to deposit ink dot patterns in a print medium on the carrier panel, and a print media reader operable to read the ink dot patterns and create data signals there from, and a method of storing and retrieving data.

Abstract: When an image formed on an intermediate transfer film is heat-transferred to a recording medium, the film surface is prevented from being deteriorated or distorted due to heat so as to enable high-quality printing.

Abstract: To provide a transfer apparatus that uniforms peeling characteristics and peeling characteristics in transfer processing and that enables a stabilized transfer result to be obtained, in a transfer apparatus for nipping a transfer film 46 and recording medium K with a transfer roller 33 and transfer platen 31 to form an image on the recording medium, preheating treatment of the recording medium K is performed before transfer processing. At this point, by determining a preheating amount corresponding to the temperature of the recording medium K, it is possible to obtain a stabilized transfer result in response to a change in transfer conditions due to a change in environmental temperature and a change in the transfer surface. Particularly, in the case of performing backside transfer subsequently to frontside transfer, since the temperature of the recording medium K is high, a preheating amount in backside transfer is made smaller than in frontside transfer.

Abstract: A method for axis correction in a processing machine, in particular a shaftless printing machine, has at least one axis for processing and/or transporting a material, at least one detection device for detecting a processing parameter and at least one controller device for calculating a controller output variable for axis correction of the at least one axis using the detected processing parameter. The method is implemented iteratively, with the result that feedforward control output values for the feedforward control of the axis correction are determined during an (n+1)-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis using observation of the controller output variable and/or the processing parameter during an n-th change in rotation speed of the at least one axis.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable media relating to automatically adjusting a graphics feature to compensate for a predetermined resolution limit. The method generally relates to automatically identifying, within a selected area of a graphics file, one or more portions of at least one graphics feature meeting predetermined criteria for adjustment, including criteria for defining a thin portion having a thickness less than the resolution limit. The method then automatically modifies only the identified one or more portions to have an adjusted thickness greater than the initial thickness. Additional criteria may be used to restrict which thin portions of the feature are actually modified.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. An image information generator generates, in response to an instruction, print image information to print plural pieces of image information in parallel in plural columns. A division manager divides the print image information into regions, each region having a length equal to the greatest common divisor of lengths of the image information. A manager manages, every time a printing operation is performed, the regions subjected to the printing operation such that the regions are divided into print guaranteed regions and print non-guaranteed regions. A print restart region determining unit determines, upon detection of an occurrence of an abnormality during the printing operation, a print restart region after recovery from the abnormality is completed on the basis of the print guaranteed regions and the regions of the print image information.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print media input holder; a print region; at least one media transport element for moving sheets of recording medium from the print media input holder to the print region; a scan element disposed along a printing path; and a print media output holder; and a controller including: a selectable media sort mode that includes: using the scan element to determine whether a sheet of recording medium has marks on a first side of the sheet; and moving the sheet of recording medium to a first location or a second location depending on whether the first side of the sheet is determined to have marks on it; and a selectable printing mode that does not include determining whether the sheet of recording medium has marks on it.

Abstract: A printing system prevents mistakes such as that a printed paper sheet printed by requesting from a PC to an image forming apparatus is left in an ejected-paper tray. The image forming apparatus transmits to the server printing execution result information that includes the serial number and the time and date of the printing. The server manages the state of unfetch of the printed paper sheet using a fetch flag in a printing record list created based on the printing execution result information, changes the fetch flag from “unfetched” to “fetched” when information indicating that the printed paper sheet has been fetched is sent from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A printer comprises a print mechanism and a wireless communication module including a wireless transceiver and a configuration module. The configuration module is adapted to electronically query at least one available wireless device to determine at least one wireless security parameter of the at least one available wireless device and to receive a response from the queried at least one available wireless device, via the wireless transceiver, for configuring the printer for wireless association in a wireless computing network including the at least one available wireless device.

Abstract: A printer comprises a print mechanism and a wireless communication module including a wireless transceiver and a configuration module. The configuration module is adapted to electronically query at least one available wireless device to determine at least one wireless security parameter of the at least one available wireless device and to receive a response from the queried at least one available wireless device, via the wireless transceiver, for configuring the printer for wireless association in a wireless computing network including the at least one available wireless device.

Abstract: A web platform has multiple print modules adapted to print form data and variable data in a continuous operation. A controller with access to a form image database and a variable document database is connected to the web platform. Each print module on the web platform uses single color, ink jet, print heads. Form data is printed by a plurality of single color print modules. Variable data is printed by a single color print module. Bulk paper in rolls is fed through the web platform to print the forms and customer statements. The controller can direct printing of multiple statements simultaneously in discrete lanes on the web platform. Printed customer statements are subsequently separated into individual finished documents for process and mailing.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines which output marked print media to first and second angularly spaced print streams. The marking engines define, at least in part, first and second sides of a working area, whereby a user has access to the first and second marking engines via access members on the first and second sides of the working area. A merge module receives print media from the first and second print streams. The merge module includes at least one rotate and redirect path for merging print media from one of the first and second streams with print media from the other of the first and second streams to generate a merged print stream. At least one finisher receives the merged print stream from the merge module.

Abstract: A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image, the printer system comprising a memory module in which the image can be stored; a printer module adapted to be releasably interconnected with the memory module, the printer module including an elongate body defining a transverse print media passage and a printer which is arranged within the body so that the stored image can be printed onto print media which passes through the passage, the printer module further including a print media feed arrangement located within the body, the print media feed arrangement comprising a plurality of rollers configured to feed the print media through the passage and a motor arrangement for driving at least one of the rollers; and a pen module adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module and which includes a nib which can dispense ink.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a display, a reading unit, a display controlling unit, and an operating unit. The reading unit reads at least one file stored in a removable memory. The display controlling unit displays on the display a first selection item together with at least one second selection item. The first selection item is used for performing index printing for the at least one file. The at least one second selection item is used for printing each of the at least one file. Each of the at least one second selection item corresponds to one of the at least one file. The operating unit is capable of selecting one of the first selection item and the at least one second selection item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for stamping a piece of ePaper. A grid is positioned within a selected distance to a first side of the piece of ePaper. A grounding pin conductively connects a conductive backing plate located on a second side of the piece of ePaper. The grounding pin completes a voltage path from the grid through the piece of ePaper to the conductive backing plate. A voltage is supplied to the grid and supplying the voltage to the grid changes the appearance of the piece of ePaper to form a stamped image.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for operation of a printing press includes the steps of generating unique individual signature identification information, tracking printing press operation information and associating the printing press operation information with the unique signature identification information. For use in a printing press arrangement, a system for tracking printing press operation, including: a plurality of sensors arranged in a preselected configuration in the printing press arrangement to sense preselected Printing press operation information; and a press control and tracking controller coupled to each of the plurality of sensors, the press control and tracking controller arranged and configured to receive inputs from the plurality of sensors to generate unique individual signature identification information, track printing press operation information and associate the printing press operation information with the unique signature identification information.

Abstract: A printer module for a compact printer system has an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a stationary printhead housed within the body. Two opposing slots are interconnected by a paper path which passes through the body. An ink reservoir within the body provides ink to the printhead. Images to be printed are transferred to the printhead from a storage device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for recovering from print assembly failure in a printer with printed medium assembly capabilities. The method generates a first print set including a plurality of physical medium sheets, and stores the first print set of a first interim stacker. A second print set is generated including a plurality of physical medium sheets. Sheets are accessed sheets from the first interim stacker and assembled with sheets from the second print set, generating a final print set with a plurality of sheets in a first order. The final print set is stored in an output stacker. In the event of a first print set failure, first print set replacement sheets are generating. In one aspect, generating the final print set includes directly merging first print set replacement sheets (bypassing the interim stacker) with sheets from the second print set.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines which output marked print media to first and second angularly spaced print streams. The marking engines define, at least in part, first and second sides of a working area, whereby a user has access to the first and second marking engines via access members on the first and second sides of the working area. A merge module receives print media from the first and second print streams. The merge module includes at least one rotate and redirect path for merging print media from one of the first and second streams with print media from the other of the first and second streams to generate a merged print stream. At least one finisher receives the merged print stream from the merge module.

Abstract: An extension of an inverse inference search engine is disclosed which provides cross language document retrieval, in which the information matrix used as input to the inverse inference engine is organized into rows of blocks corresponding to languages within a predetermined set of natural languages. The information matrix is further organized into two column-wise partitions. The first partition consists of blocks of entries representing fully translated documents, while the second partition is a matrix of blocks of entries representing documents for which translations are not available in all of the predetermined languages. Further in the second partition, entries in blocks outside the main diagonal of blocks are zero. Another disclosed extension to the inverse inference retrieval document retrieval system supports automatic, knowledge based training.

Abstract: A printer module for a compact printer system comprises a stationary printhead, an ink reservoir, a motive means and an image storing means, all housed within an elongate body. The motive means carries a printable media past the printhead which prints a full width image in a single pass. A power supply is also preferably housed within the elongate body. The body is preferably cylindrical and approximately the size of a large pen. The printhead is suitably a monolithic drop-on-demand inkjet printer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to techniques for efficiently producing regional advertising for insertion into different magazines. In an implementation, the method includes establishing a uniform closing period for submission of advertising material, associating the advertising material for different magazines, and ganging forms so that approximately similar quantities of regional advertising for different magazines are printed.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a variable data file to be used to generate custom printed articles. A template including a plurality of tokens is read, and a data structure including a plurality of printed article ID's is generated. A record in a database is identified using a first printed article ID, and data is extracted from a field of the record which is specified by a first token in the plurality of tokens. The data is outputted to the variable data file. In a preferred embodiment, an index is incremented to point to a second printed article ID in the data structure in response to reading a second token in the template. Also provided is a system for producing custom printed articles.

Abstract: The position of sheets in a printing press is measured. A problem in transporting sheets through the printing press is how to guarantee the correct orientation and lay of the sheets, which must be guaranteed particularly in the printing operation. There is provided a device for precisely determining and correcting the positions of sheets in printing presses. Margin regions of a sheet are respectively imaged, projection data are transmitted to a computing unit, and the position of the sheet is calculated with the aid of the projection data by way of an image recognition algorithm. Furthermore, the computed positions of the sheet are compared to positions which are stored in the computing unit, and from the comparison, position deviations are computed, which are transmitted to the printing press and corrected by way of a sheet registration device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supply sections having a paper size sensor to detect a size of a print paper; an image forming section forming an image on the fed print paper; a paper discharge section stocking the print paper formed of the image and discharged; an auto fence located on the paper discharge section, and displacing the position of a width direction of the print paper stocked on the paper discharge section according to the paper size of the print paper fed from the paper supply sections; a storage section storing the image forming processing as the printing job in the image for one page unit; and a control section determining a sequence of each printing job stored in the storage section so that printing processing is executed in order from a printing job with the smallest paper size in the width direction.

Abstract: Sheets or strips of printed materials, with each sheet or strip having a printed image including plural individual copies, are inspected. Each copy is inspected by an inspection device. The sheets or strips of printed materials are separated into individual ones of the copies. Defective copies are sorted out based on the results of the inspection device.

Abstract: A media printer such as, for example, a thermal transfer media printer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printer selectively programs RFID transponders, and then embeds them into conventional on-demand printed media between the adhesive layer and the release liner. Selective configuration of each printed media sample by addition of value-adding elements may be performed independently for each media sample, under software control during processing of each media sample format print control program. An add-on mechanism is disclosed that can be operatively attached to a conventional media printer. This allows value-adding elements such as RFID transponder labels to be selectively applied at precise locations on the printed surface of on-demand printed media in connection with existing printers.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying foil to a stock, including means for moving the stock and foil and foil supporting carrier to a printing position where pressure is applied to transfer a predetermined shape of foil which is adhered to the stock and wherein the means for moving includes a first means for moving the carrier at the speed of the stock during the printing operation and second means for moving the carrier at a slower speed between printing operation and the method of using the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a photo album leaf from a media having a front and back side. The apparatus includes a processing path along which the media moves through the apparatus; a digital printer disposed along the processing path for printing images on the front side of the media, the images being composed so as to define a segment having a fold line about which the segment is folded so as to form the leaf; a processing section disposed after the printer along the processing path for processing the media on which the images have been written; a removal mechanism for removing the protective release layer from the segment; a folding mechanism for folding the segment so as to form an album leaf.

Abstract: A device for binding sheets in a pack, the device having a flat rectangular sheet element (3) in turn having, along one major side (3a), a number of flexible tongues (7) arranged combfashion; and a closing strip (10) extending along the major side (3a). The strip (10) has an application surface (13) facing the tongues (7) and having a layer of adhesive (17). The flat element (3) is placeable on a first face of the pack, with the tongues (7) inserted inside the respective holes (33) formed along one edge of the pack, and with respective ends (7e) of the tongues (7) projecting from the holes. The closing strip (10) is foldable and placeable with the layer of adhesive (17) superimposed on a flat element (30b) defining a second face of the pack (30).

Abstract: A printing device with a sorter is provided having a plurality of bins, capable of enhancing the practicality of a configuration where a plurality of bins are used for both a mail printing and a sort printing. According to the printing device, when, in a sort printing which is instructed by a certain user, it is required to use bins which are allocated to other users for the sake of a mail printing, an inquiry whether the bins are available or not is issued of the other users in advance to the sort printing. Only when the use of the bins is not refused, are the bins selected as discharge destinations.

Abstract: A dispenser dispenses pellet shaped articles onto a conveyer. The conveyer conveys the pellet shaped articles past a video sensor that senses any pellet shaped articles needing rotation so that they are uniformly oriented. The sensor provides a signal to a manipulating device which manipulates certain pellet shaped articles so that all of the articles are uniformly oriented. The conveyer transports the pellet shaped articles to a first pellet shaped article modifying device that, for example, prints indicia on the pellet shaped articles. A rectifying drum reorients all of the pellet shaped articles in order for printing to be performed on a reverse side. A second sensor and a second manipulating device may also be provided. An inspection system to determine whether a pellet shaped article is defective after a performed modification is also provided.

Abstract: A manually-written, machine-readable code system employs the application of indicia to an article, such as a mail envelope or package, having a number of rows/columns of blank spaces in a predetermined code field which are manually marked or darkened corresponding to a destination or identifying code for the article. The indicia may have been applied previously, as in the form of a preprinted envelope. The darkened spaces are machine-readable and convertible to a numeric code that can be used by an automated machinery to generate appropriate control signals for controlling its functions. The system is particularly applicable for automated sorting of mail according to postal area (Zip) codes. The indicia is readily applied to an envelope by preprinting or by using a rubber stamp or an adhesive label.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus with a sorter, prints which carry original images printed are delivered to bins of the sorter in two sorting steps. In a first sorting step, the prints are delivered to the bins in the grouped state. They are then collected and arranged in proper sequence in a second step using the image forming apparatus. Prior to the second step, the prints are relocated to a sheet tray from the bins. Thereafter, the prints are conveyed by the printing operation of the image forming apparatus, and are delivered to the bins of the sorter. At the end of the second step, the prints on the bins are collected and arranged in proper sequence in accordance with an original document.

Abstract: A molded closure for a liquid container comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a blowing agent. The molded closure is particularly suitable for use as a synthetic wine cork in a wine bottle. The molded closure does not permit passage of oxygen into the container, does not absorb oxygen from the contents of the container, can be removed from the container using a corkscrew without significant expansion, crumbling or disintegration, does not significantly taint a liquid in the container, permits the container to be placed horizontally immediately after insertion of the molded closure, and can permanently retain printed matter on its surface.

Abstract: A mailing machine includes a digital printer for printing a postage indicia on a mail piece. The mailing machine including a controller for controlling the operations of the mailing machine and a printer transport for transporting the digital printer to a cleaning station when the printer is not in use. A sensor is positioned at the cleaning station for sensing the presents of the printer and generating an output to the mailing machine controller in response. The mailing machine power supply includes a main transformer and a plurality of secondary transformer in parallel electrical communication over first and second electrical lines. A single-pole-double-throw switch has its first input and output stage interposed between the first electrical line between the main transformer and one of the second transformers.

Abstract: In a paper ejection device for a stencil printing device provided with a lifting member for producing a curvature in each sheet of ejected printing paper as seen in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of paper ejection, the lifting member is allowed to move at least between a first position which is relatively retracted from the paper ejection passage and a second position which relatively protrudes into the paper ejection passage. The movement of the lifting member may be effected according to the size or the kind of the printing paper or depending on whether a sorter is connected to the printer or not. Thus, an appropriate curvature can be given to the ejected printing paper without requiring any manual work by the user. Thus, a satisfactory paper ejecting operation can be ensured at all times without requiring any manual work by the operator of the stencil printing device.

Abstract: A device for stacking selected sheets in an offset manner so as to facilitate print quality measurements. Certain sheets are automatically or manually selected to be offset deposited onto a stack of sheets so that an edge of the selected sheet including a number of printed measuring fields extends beyond other sheets in the stack. A measuring head transversely scans the measuring fields of the selected sheet for print quality measurements while subsequent sheets are stacked in the ordinary manner. Since subsequent sheets do not cover the extending edge of the selected sheet, sufficient time is provided to complete the scanning operation with a single measuring head without interrupting or slowing the normal stacking rate.