Abstract: The invention describes a laser plotter and a method for engraving, marking or inscribing a workpiece. Two lasers are installed in a housing of the laser plotter and may alternatively operate on the workpiece. The workpiece is positioned on a processing platform and a laser beam is sent to at least one focusing unit configured for both lasers, from which the laser beam is deflected in the direction of the workpiece. Control of the workpiece is obtained by software running in a control unit. Graphic and/or text data are prepared on an external computer or other control device, and transferred to the control unit of the laser plotter. The lasers are allocated to the transferred data based on color code, whereby a height correction value to compensate for the various focal lengths of the lasers is preloaded in the data bank for the different colors.

Abstract: An article image annotation system including an imager and a transparent sheet discrete from the imager having a first face adapted to engage an imageable surface of an article and a second face adapted to receive annotations and adapted for engagement with the imager to allow imaging of the imageable surface of the article in association with the annotation through the transparent sheet, thereby producing an annotated article image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, first and second branch paths of a decoloring apparatus are formed downstream in a sheet conveying direction of a reading section in a conveying path. A diverting section is provided at a branch point of the first and second branch paths in the conveying path. A control section determines on the basis of image data whether decoloring processing should be applied to a sheet, diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the first branch path with the diverting section, and diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should not be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the second branch path with the diverting section. A decoloring section is provided between the reading section and the branch point in the conveying path and heats the sheet to decolor an image formed with a decolorable color material.

Abstract: An identification (ID) code printing method for a glass substrate is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: loading a glass substrate onto a front end of a platform; aligning the glass substrate at the front end of the platform; printing an ID code on the glass substrate for three times in a process of moving the glass substrate from the front end of the platform to a back end of the platform, then from the back end of the platform to the front end of the platform and finally again from the front end of the platform to the back end of the platform. An ID code printing apparatus for a glass substrate is further disclosed. Thereby, an additional cycle of ID code printing operations can be carried out in the present disclosure as compared to the prior art, which can increase the number of times of ID code printing under the conventional tact time conditions and improve the utilization factor of the production line.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling an image production device to copy pages of a book includes determining an orientation of a first scanned page of a book, and modifying an orientation of a second scanned page of the book based on the orientation of the first scanned page. The second scanned page is in sequence relative to the first scanned page.

Abstract: A system and method for determining top of form while printing on continuous feed media. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage device is encoded with instructions that when executed cause a processor to: 1) cause a selected printer to produce a print on continuous feed media; 2) determine, based on a compensation factor that accounts for movement of the continuous feed media through the printer in excess of a length of the data of the print, the distance to advance the continuous feed media such that a succeeding print starts at a top of form location of the continuous feed media; and 3) cause the selected printer to advance the continuous feed media in accordance with the determined distance to advance such that the succeeding print starts at the top of form location of the continuous feed media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input unit to receive printing data, a controller to determine a duplex printing mode to be applied to the printing data from among a plurality of duplex printing modes and an engine waiting time according to a feature of the input printing data and performance of the image forming apparatus, an image processor to perform image-processing of the input printing data, and an image former to print the image-processed printing data based on the determined duplex printing mode and the determined engine waiting time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, printing, on a first side of a media, of a first plurality of plots and a plurality of associated fiducials is caused. For each of a second plurality of plots, using data from a sensor, a distance to one of the plurality of associated fiducials is measured to discern a reference for printing that plot on a second side of the media. Printing of the second plurality of plots on the second side is caused so that each of the second plurality of plots is substantially in registration with one of the first plurality of plots.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording medium conveying mechanism configured to convey a recording medium; a registration roller configured to correct the direction of the recording medium; a first sensor set upstream in a recording medium conveying direction of the registration roller; an image forming section configured to form an image on the conveyed recording medium; and a lateral shift correcting apparatus set downstream of the image forming section and configured to correct the position of the recording medium in an oblique direction by an angle corresponding to a lateral shift amount of the recording medium detected by the first sensor.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a thin-client machine, a management server configured to manage the thin-client machine, an image processing apparatus configured to process job information, and a job management apparatus configured to manage a processing result of the job information. In the data processing system, when the job information is processed according to an instruction from the thin-client machine, the job management apparatus receives the processing result of the job information and information for identifying image data related to the job information from the management server and manages the received processing result and the information for identifying the image data related to the job information as a job log.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for aggregating print jobs of different lengths and/or customers to decrease the need for rewinding and splicing operations. An exemplary embodiment provides a method that comprises identifying individual label-printing jobs (1-8) that can be aggregated onto a roll of substrate (302), and forming an aggregated label-printing job (300). In the aggregated label-printing job (300) a longest print job (8) is imposed adjacent to a first end of the roll of substrate (302), and one or more shorter print jobs (2, 5, 7) are imposed adjacent to the longest print job (8) in the direction of a second end of the roll of substrate (302).

Abstract: There is provided a method of printing a plurality of printing materials on a medium for producing a printing material in which a second image is printed on a first image. The method includes alternately repeating printing the first image in a first area included in a print area and printing the second image in a second area that is included in the print area and is located on the downstream side of the first area in the transport direction, based on image data that includes the first image and the second image that are printing targets, and transporting the first image that is printed in the first area to the second area.

Abstract: Multiple measurement images are formed in a test chart. Reflected light from the test patterns is received by light receiving elements of a color sensor for an accumulation time that is determined for the respective test patterns. The lengths of the test patterns in the conveyance direction of the test chart are determined according to the lengths of the accumulation times for the respective test patterns.

Abstract: In a printing system including an MFP, a memory unit pre-stores attribute information of paper sheets. In the MFP, a control panel allows the user to copy or change attribute information of a paper sheet via a key input unit or touch panel unit. An MFP controller included in the MFP controls a print unit to execute print processing using a paper sheet corresponding to attribute information stored in the memory unit under the conditions based on the attribute information. When the user inputs a print instruction designated with a paper sheet, the MFP controller checks if attribute information of the designated paper sheet is stored in the memory unit, and controls the print unit to execute printing using the stored attribute information. The control panel allows the user to select paper sheets whose attribute information has been copied or changed when the user selects print sheets.

Abstract: This invention discloses a printing quality inspection apparatus including a light irradiation device, an image capture device, a diffusely reflecting plate, and a determination device. When a member to be printed is a first sheet member, light emitted by the light irradiation device is diffusely reflected by the first sheet member and enters the image capture device. When the member to be printed is a second sheet member, the light emitted by the light irradiation device is diffusely reflected by the diffusely reflecting plate, is specularly reflected by the second sheet member, and enters the image capture device.

Abstract: This disclosure discloses a printer comprises a feeder, a printing head, a print object acceptance portion, a printing mode setting acceptance portion, a first and a second image creating portions, a first and a second display devices, an increment mode acceptance portion, an increment quantity acceptance portion, and a printing control portion. The print object acceptance portion accepts an input operation of the print object comprising a print identifier. The printing mode setting acceptance portion accepts a setting operation of printing modes. The increment mode acceptance portion accepts a setting operation of an increment mode. The increment quantity acceptance portion accepts a quantity setting operation of the printed matter to be produced. The printing control portion controls the feeder and the printing head so that the one first printed matter and the at least one second printed matter are created by using the printing mode setting.

Abstract: A presentation document is repurposed to save paper and ink. An indication that a printout of a presentation document from a printer has been requested is received. The presentation document has content with a format that would result in a first quantity of pages being printed. The content has a plurality of slides and a plurality of shapes. Further, the presentation document is preprocessed to acquire data associated the presentation document. Group shaping is also performed to group the plurality of shapes into one or more groups based on shapes that have to be transformed together. Further, content transformation is performed to generate transformed content. In addition, a content re-layout is performed to determine placement of the transformed content.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a computer readable medium may be provided for operating a print processing machine. The print processing machine may have a gross capacity (BP), a net capacity (NP), and/or a number (N) of devices in communication with the print processing machine. The net capacity (NP) may be computed as a function of the gross capacity (BP), the number (N) of devices, a stop rate (SR), a time interval for each stop (TN) and an error rate (FR) according to NP=[1?(BP·SR·N·TN)]·BP?(BP·FR·N). Limit values for errors contained in the stop rate (SR) and/or the error rate (FR) may be received. A maximum value may be determined for the net capacity (NP) by varying the gross capacity (BP) and/or the number (N) of devices without exceeding the limit values. The gross capacity (BP) of the print processing machine and the number (N) of devices may be adjusted to achieve the previously determined maximum value for the net capacity (NP).

Abstract: An automated lenticular photographic system includes an interface that permits a user to upload image files and image processing and printing equipment that is in communication with the interface for receiving the uploaded image files and processing the uploaded image files to create an interlaced print image file that is used to produce an interlaced print sheet containing interlaced print images. A pair of registration marks is formed on the interlaced print sheet outside of borders of the interlaced print images. The system also includes a processing station where the interlaced print sheet is aligned with a lenticular lens sheet with a registration system that detects whether the lenticular lens sheet is off-centered and skewed relative to the interlaced print sheet. The system also includes means for controllably adjusting the position of the lenticular lens sheet relative to the interlaced print sheet until proper registration between the lenticular lens sheet and the interlaced print sheet is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that includes an image forming section, a conveyance section, a position detecting section, an abnormality detecting section and a control section. When determining as the first determination that it is possible to eject each of the paper sheets and/or the image-formed paper sheets outside and determining as the second determination that it is necessary to re-output the new image-formed paper sheet, the control section incompletely ejects each of the retention paper sheets, remaining within the image forming apparatus, outside from the ejection opening. By controlling the apparatus as above-mentioned, even in a case where it is impossible to eject the concerned paper sheet onto a separate tray, it becomes possible to prevent the retention paper sheet from remaining at an apparatus-inner position, from which it is difficult for the user to remove the retention paper sheet concerned.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing job printing includes a reception unit configured to receive information about a print unit with respect to the job and information about an attribute of recording medium to be used in the print processing, and a printing unit configured to print the job using the recording medium by the print unit, using the information about the print unit received by the reception unit and the information about the attribute of the recording medium to be used in the print processing.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: a tray selection unit configured, based on print size information designated in print data, to select one of medium trays; an edit region setup unit configured, when the size of the print medium in the selected medium tray is different from print medium corresponding to the designated print medium size, to analyze the print data based on an orientation of the print medium in the selected medium tray and to set an edit region of the print data; a drawing unit configured, on the basis of the print data and the edit region, to create image data within the edit region; and an image formation unit configured to print the image data on the print medium fed from the selected medium tray.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus which performs a printing job and an erasing job is provided. Included is a control unit which, in a case of performing the other job after any one of the printing job and the erasing job, controls a transporting unit of the sheet so that the sheet for the other job is transported to a predetermined standby position from a sheet feeding unit while the one job is performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image-processing designating unit that allows a user to designate predetermined image processing to be applied to image data for generating a preview image that represents a state of an output image before image output; a preview-image generating unit that generates a preview image in accordance with the designated image processing; a preview-image display unit that displays the preview image generated by the preview-image generating unit; and a display-mode switching control unit that, when the preview image is displayed, switches to a display mode with an enhanced viewability relative to a power-saving display state in accordance with a content of the designated image processing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a hopper unit, a separating unit, a reading unit, an ejecting unit, a stacking unit, a control unit, and a storage unit. The control unit includes a detecting unit that detects abnormal reading of the document read by the reading unit, an image storing unit that associates the read image and an abnormal reading result with a reading order of the document to store, a separation stacking unit that controls the ejecting unit to separate the document in which the abnormal reading is detected and the document in which the abnormal reading is not detected to eject to the stacking unit, a rereading unit that allows the reading unit to read again the document in which the abnormal reading is detected, thereby obtaining a reread image, and an image replacing unit that replaces the image corresponding to the reading order with the reread image.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes the following components. Drawing processing units each perform a drawing process. A sending unit sends the entire print instruction including multiple pages and written in a page description language, to the drawing processing units. The delivering unit delivers each processing request which specifies one of the multiple pages, to a corresponding one of the drawing processing units. When performing, to perform a drawing process in which a print instruction for a page specified by a processing request is converted into print data, an analysis process on the print instruction from the first page to the specified page, each drawing processing unit refers to an identifier in the page description language of the print instruction for pages other than the specified page, and does not perform the analysis process for a range not containing a command that influences a drawing process of other pages.

Abstract: In printing the same image data as image data printed by a printing unit of an image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, an image information processing system and an information processing system are capable of executing arbitrary high-quality printing, which can be implemented by acquiring image data received from an image processing server stored on the image forming apparatus, based on a reference location of a shortcut transmitted from the image processing server. The image information processing system and the information processing system can be controlled by a control method, which can be implemented by a program.

Abstract: A Document Finishing Architecture Master controller includes an input communication link enabling two-way communication with a document-handling device. The document-handling device is restricted to connections with document finishing devices (DFDs) connected in series. Output communication links are operatively connected to the input communication link. The output communication links enable two-way communication over parallel communication networks with the DFDs. A translator is operatively connected to the output communication link, and driver interfaces are operatively connected to the translator. Document-finishing signals originating from the document-handling device are translated by the translator to a protocol used by the DFDs. The document-finishing signals are communicated from the translator to the driver interfaces, and from the driver interface to the DFDs. DFD signals from the DFDs are translated by the translator to a protocol used by the document-handling device.

Abstract: A printing device and a control method for a printing device enable eliminating paper feed error due to slipping between a paper feed roller and recording paper when printing. The control unit of a thermal printer has a slippage calculator that runs a process to calculate slippage between the recording paper and platen roller when conveying the recording paper during printing, and a conveyance distance correction unit that runs a process to correct the paper feed distance of the recording paper when printing to each printing area based on the slippage that was just calculated. The conveyance distance correction unit runs a process that inserts a non-printing area d of a length corresponding to the slippage to one or plural specific positions in the original print image.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus that can prevent a drop in quality of the image data while enabling stable conveyance of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first image capture unit, a second image capture unit, a pair of conveyor rollers including a first roller and a second roller, a first conveyor guide, and a second conveyor guide, wherein a nip position of the pair of conveyor rollers is arranged above an extended plane of a top surface of the first image capture unit extended to the pair of conveyor rollers side, an axis of rotation of the second roller is arranged offset to the first image capture unit side compared with an axis of rotation of the first roller at projections on the extended plane, and the first conveyor guide guides the medium conveyed to above from the extended plane, to make the medium turn downward.

Abstract: There is provided an inspection apparatus. When the inspection apparatus inspects a printed product, whether positional alignment of a print image obtained by reading the printed product and a reference image is to be performed is determined, and in a case where it is determined that the positional alignment is to be performed, the positional alignment is performed and an inspection based on a comparison of the print image and the reference image is executed, and in a case where it is determined that the positional alignment is not to be performed, an inspection based on a number of feature points of the print image is executed.

Abstract: A client apparatus that receives document data and a job ticket from a server apparatus, and generates a print job for the document data, the client apparatus performs control such that, in a case where designation of a paper size is performed preceding designation of a paper type, a combination information piece that includes the paper size is extracted from the job ticket, and the paper type included in the extracted combination information piece is set as a paper type that is selectable, and in a case where designation of a paper type is performed preceding designation of a paper size, a combination information piece that includes the paper type is extracted from the job ticket, and the paper size included in the extracted combination information piece is set as a paper size that is selectable.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a main body of the electronic apparatus; an operation unit including an operation block having a display unit, the operation block being detachable with respect to the main body of the electronic apparatus, and the operation block enabling at least a bidirectional wireless communication with the main body of the electronic apparatus; and a detection unit configured to detect relative positional information between the operation block and the main body of the electronic apparatus, when the operation block is detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus. The operation block being detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus is able to display information corresponding to the relative positional information on the display unit, in accordance with a condition of the main body of the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to implement dynamic user intent-based finisher options in image forming and document handling systems. The common framework is provided to implement the by which all of the individual component finishing devices are able to be mapped to a particular user's desires such that an output from the complex image forming system meets the user's requirements. Operations of a particular complex image forming system are defined logically. Mappings to the individual devices according to a common reference framework are then overlaid and manipulated according to the common framework. In this manner, a user defines his or her intent in an effort to direct finishing of the document in the manner the user intends rather than according to a default understanding of the finisher.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a multiple-sheet-feed detecting unit configured to detect a multiple sheet feed of the recording medium; an image holding unit configured to hold an image expected to print on the recording medium on which the multiple sheet feed is detected (i.e. the multi-fed medium); and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit. The print control unit is further configured (a) to cancel printing on the multi-fed medium, and (b) to cause the printing unit to print the held image on another recording medium, which (b1) is in transfer after the multi-fed medium, (b2) is nearest in a transferring order to the multi-fed medium, and (b3) has a property same as that of the multi-fed medium.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that can be controlled according to multiple control methods for multiple types of control.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: a calculation portion that calculates a first process time period required for a case where image processes are executed by a reconfiguration process mode, and a second process time period required for a case where the image processes are executed by a pipeline process mode, based on the number of pixels of image information of an input print job and contents of processes of the input print job; and an activation portion that activates a plurality of dynamic reconfigurable processors (DRPs) according to a process mode having a shorter time period in the first process time period and the second process time period.

Abstract: An image forming system may include an image forming apparatus, an information processing device configured to send print data to the image forming apparatus, and a destination device configured to receive error information sent from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may include a control device configured to determine whether the destination device is available to provide notification of the error information. The control device may be further configured to enforce print restriction controls to start the printing operation of the print data received from the information processing device when the destination device is available to provide notification of the error information and to not start the printing operation of the print data when the destination device is not available to provide notification of the error information.

Abstract: A method for printing on a continuous print medium having a plurality of pages includes identifying a location of a feature in image data that are generated from a portion of a first page in the print medium. The method includes modifying a time of operation of a marking unit to form an image on each page in the plurality of pages at a predetermined distance from the edge of each page with reference to the location of the identified feature in the image data. In one configuration, the method enables precise placement of printed images over preprinted forms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes configuring one or more sets of rules within an input device to route print jobs to a plurality of workflows, receiving a print job at an input device, matching the print job with a first of a plurality of workflows based on a set of rules associated with the first workflow and routing the print job to the first workflow.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus includes: a size detecting unit that detects a size of each page of a document to be printed; an orientation detecting unit that detects orientation of each page of the document; a receiving unit that receives a setting of post processing that is to be performed on a printed sheet on which the document is printed; a determining unit that determines whether pages of different sizes, both having one side of the same length and other sides of different lengths, are detected in the document; a rotation control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the pages of the different sizes have been detected, rotates pages so that sides of the same length are aligned on the basis of the setting of the post processing; and an output unit that outputs the document with the pages rotated.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a printing system for positioning at least one printed image, the printing system includes a first image bearing surface, the method includes: a) forming a background pattern and at least three fiducials on the first image bearing surface, wherein the background pattern is larger than a first printed image and the at least three fiducials are within an area formed by the first printed image; b) transferring a portion of the first printed image to a second image bearing surface; c) measuring a first residual image on the first image bearing surface, wherein the first residual image is a portion of the background pattern and the at least three fiducials remaining on the first image bearing surface after the step of transferring; and, d) calculating at least one calibration parameter for the printing system based on the measuring of the first residual image.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing apparatus which controls power to be supplied to each connected apparatus in detail for each apparatus in accordance with the processing contents of a print job to be executed, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, the printing apparatus analyzes the processing contents of a print job to be executed. In accordance with the analysis result, the printing apparatus controls at least one of a plurality of sheet feeding apparatuses which supplies a printing medium to the printing apparatus and a plurality of post-processing apparatuses which are receives a printing medium from the printing apparatus to shift to an active state in which normal power is supplied, a power saving state in which power necessary to convey a printing medium is supplied, or an inactive state in which no power is supplied.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a residual paper amount detecting unit, a first execution unit and a second execution unit. The residual paper amount detecting unit is configured to detect a residual paper amount of a paper feeding cassette which retains papers. The first execution unit is configured to, if the number of papers required in executing an initially-inputted earliest job among a plurality of print jobs is more than the residual paper amount detected by the residual paper amount detecting unit, execute printing of a predetermined minimum number of printing papers in the earliest job. The second execution unit is configured to, after the printing of the minimum number of printing papers is executed by the first execution unit, execute one of the print jobs satisfying a predetermined priority condition.

Abstract: A terminal transmits a first e-mail to which a file to be printed is attached to a server, and the server temporarily saves the file attached to the first e-mail. The server transmits a second e-mail for confirming a user to the terminal, and the terminal returns information on the user to the server in response to the second e-mail. When the server has acquired the information on the user, the server converts the file temporarily saved into a file for printing and registers the converted file in the server. The server transmits the registered file for printing to a printing apparatus to cause the printing apparatus to print the file.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for print production sheet identification. The method discloses: receiving a set of calibration sheets; collecting an array of pixel samples from at least one of the calibration sheets according to a set of pixel sampling rules to generate at least one reference sample array; capturing an image of a set of physical sheets generated from the set of calibration sheets; collecting an array of pixel samples from at least one of the imaged physical sheets according to the set of pixel sampling rules to generate at least one post-processing sample array; and comparing the post-processing sample array to the reference sample array to determine if the two arrays have less than or equal to a predetermined number of differences. The system discloses: a sampling module, operated by a processor, a scanner, and a comparison module, operated by a processor.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunication/computing device that can print to a printer, the device having a sensor therein that determines the physical orientation of the device and the device displaying documents on a display in accordance with the orientation of the device. The device sends information to a printer that directs the printer to print the document in the orientation that the document is displayed on the device. The display orientation and print orientation may be portrait or landscape. Similar methods can be used to control other printer variables or, more generally, variables on other peripheral devices.

Abstract: A conveyer device, including a body; a first path member forming a part of conveyer path with a curve; and a second path member arranged on an inner side of the curve of the conveyer path and forming a part of the conveyer path, is provided. The first path member is movable between a first position forming the conveyer path in conjunction with the second path member and a second position separated farther from second path member than the first position. The body includes a first supporting part supporting the first path member at a widthwise end of the first path member and the second supporting part supporting the first path member at a widthwise inner-side position along the widthwise direction with respect to the first supporting part. The second supporting part supports the first path member from a side opposite from the conveyer path.

Abstract: A control apparatus, which controls a processing apparatus for processing recording media and includes a storage unit configured to store medium number information indicating a number of recording media processable altogether by the processing apparatus, includes a counting unit and a control unit. The counting unit counts a number of recording media processed by the processing apparatus for each processing. The control unit determines whether the counted number of recording media reaches the number indicated by the medium number information. In response to determining that the number of the recording media counted by the counting unit reaches the number indicated by the medium number information, the control unit changes the medium number information stored in the storage unit to expanded medium number information indicating a number of recording media larger than the number indicated by the stored medium number information and processable altogether by the processing apparatus.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for forming images using a recording head includes a feeding roller, a conveying roller, a conveyance control unit, and a recording control unit. The conveyance control unit performs a conveying operation a number of times after the trailing end of a sheet reaches a predetermined position defined between the feeding roller and the conveying roller such that the trailing end of the sheet is disposed in a predetermined range upstream of the conveying roller in a sheet conveying direction after the conveying operations. At least one of the conveying operations performed a number of times is performed based on a distance from the position of the trailing end of the sheet to the position of the conveying roller.