Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to diagnose image quality of a print image without using an open communication network and output the print image, a diagnosis result of image quality, and information of the print parameters while avoiding disclosure of confidential information to users. A test print control portion causes a print device to execute a test print process to form a test image on a sheet. An image quality diagnosis portion diagnoses image quality of the test image included in the image read by an image reading device. A code image generating portion generates a code image that represents information of print parameters adopted in the test print process. An output control portion causes an output device to output a diagnosis image that includes an image representing a diagnosis result of image quality of the test image, and the code image.

Abstract: A system and method for the automated detection of printing defects in an image output device are described, employing an imaging device adjacent a photoresponsive member in the output device, wherein the imaging device generates image signals in response to developed and undeveloped regions on the photoresponsive member to identify defects therein.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of preventing degradation of printer performance etc. caused by print jobs which are secured by a job security function and which are forgotten to output and accumulated in a storage device. The printing apparatus allows to cancel or output the accumulated print jobs when a prescribed password different from passwords for the job security function is entered via an operation unit thereof or from an external device connected thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal shutter that uses as a shutter a liquid crystal panel constructed by sandwiching DHF liquid crystal between a pair of substrates provided with one or more pixel electrodes and one or more counter electrodes, wherein a driving waveform for the panel has a write period comprising two subfields. In each of the subfields, a single pulse is applied to a pixel, the single pulse applied in one subfield being opposite in polarity to the single pulse applied in the other subfield. On the other hand, a constant voltage of 0 V or close to 0 V is applied to the pixel during a period in which neither of the single pulses is applied.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting removable particulates initially on a test surface or surface to be inspected. The removable particles are transferred to a portion of a tacky surface on a carrier by adhering and then removing the portion of the tacky surface from the test surface. The carrier is received by a positioning means and passed through the field of view of a surface inspection means guided by a controller. Signals from the surface inspection means are combined with coordinates from the controller to produce particle coordinates, which indicate particulates initially on the test surface. Particle coordinates on the tacky surface measured before the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface can be compared with particle coordinates measured after the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an image exposure apparatus whose installation area and height are reduced and which enables smooth conveying of a printing plate. In this image exposure apparatus, a cassette accommodating printing plates therein is loaded in such a manner as to be inclined at a predetermined angle, and preferably at an angle near 90°. A printing plate which has been taken out by a sheet unit is diverted in a curved manner and is sent to a recording section by a diverting unit. With this compact structure, the installation area and the height of the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: An adapter device is provided for connection to a printer and an image input device, such as a document scanner or digital camera, that enables the printer to operate as a digital copier for image data received from the image input device. The adapter device includes an input/output controller, memory and a processor. The input/output controller controls the exchange of information with the printer and with the image input device. The memory buffers input device driver software for the image input device and printer driver software for the printer, and also stores image data output by the image input device. The processor is responsive to commands made from a control panel to initiate operation of the image input device under control of the input device driver software. The processor also processes image data from the image input device under control of the printer driver software and generates printer data to be printed by the printer.

Abstract: An ablation image forming material is disclosed. In the image forming material the colorant particles are metal particles which are magnetized upon application of to magnetic force, a production method of the same, and an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing process as well as an electrophotographic printer for printing a substrate, a photo-sensitive layered system is brought to a homogeneous initial state by impressing an electrical field having a first direction. The photoconductive layer is exposed with predetermined image structures according to the image. The entire photoconductive layer is exposed uniformly through the cover layer and/or the electrode layer. Charged toner particles are applied to the cover layer in a development step. The toner image is then transferred to the substrate. If more than one copy is required, the development step and the transfer step are carried out a number of times, the electrical charge image present inside the layered system being retained. The substrate is conveyed at a very high speed by a conveyor device in this operational state.

Abstract: An electrostatic method for producing a master image for decorating ceramic, enamel or glass objects comprising the steps of:providing a temporary support having a surface with release properties,image-wise depositing charged toner particles, having a volume average particle size d.sub.v50t, such that 5 .mu.m<d.sub.v50t <15 .mu.m and including particles of a ceramic pigment, CP, having a volumetric particle size distribution such that 90% of the particles have a diameter lower than 2/3 times d.sub.v50t andproviding particles of glazing material, having a volumetric particle size distribution such that 90% of the particles have a diameter lower than d.sub.v50t, in the master image. Preferably the glazing material is formed in the master image by image-wise depositing toner particles comprising both a ceramic pigment and glazing material.

Abstract: An image forming device connected to one or more data processing devices is disclosed, and includes a printer unit, a copying unit, a document transport unit for transporting documents printed in the printer unit to a document mounting unit on the copying unit, and a guide member for moving the printer unit between a first position adjacent to the document mounting unit on the copying unit and a second position separated from the document mounting unit. The data processing device sends print jobs to the printer unit, and if multiple copies are desired, the printed documents are sent to the copying unit by the document transport device and copied.

Abstract: An image forming device connected to one or more data processing devices is disclosed, and includes a printer unit, a copying unit, a document transport unit for transporting documents printed in the printer unit to a document mounting unit on the copying unit, and a guide member for moving the printer unit between a first position adjacent to the document mounting unit on the copying unit and a second position separated from the document mounting unit. The data processing device sends print jobs to the printer unit, and if multiple copies are desired, the printed documents are sent to the copying unit by the document transport device and copied.

Abstract: An image forming machine including a host computer, a printer, a copying machine, and a document supply device for conveying a document printed by the printer to an automatic document feeder of the copying machine, in which a controller is provided for controlling a copy action based on a copy command from the host computer. The controller sends a left-behind document signal when a document is present on document stand of the automatic document feeder, while the host computer shows the presence of the left-behind document on a display when receiving the left-behind document signal from the controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming method for forming an image by ink, and an image forming apparatus applied to a copier, a printer and the like, which enables the use of a water ink and forms an image of high quality. The image forming method comprises a particle image forming step for forming a particle image in a deposited pattern of particles; an ink supplying step for supplying ink to the particle image to hold the ink in a void portion between the particles of the particle image; and an ink transfer step for transferring the ink supplied to the particle image to an object.

Abstract: An image forming machine includes a host computer, a printer, a copying machine, and a document supply device for conveying a document printed by the printer to an automatic document feeder of the copying machine. The host computer and a control device provided in the printer are connected together via a parallel data transfer type interface, while the host computer and control device provided in the copying machine are connected together via a serial data transfer type interface. Thus independent data are transferred from the host computer to the control device of the printer and the control device of the copying machine.

Abstract: A printing system for printing on a sheet of print media, the system including an electrophotographic printer operable to print on the sheet at a first print speed; and a color printer operable to print on the sheet of paper at a second print speed. The inkjet color printer includes a bidirectional sheet advancer operable to controllably move the sheet along an inkjet printer print path in either of first or second opposite directions, an inkjet pen carriage configured to support at least one inkjet pen and movable in a scan direction transverse to the inkjet printer print path for printing on the sheet, and a registration system operable to register a color image to be printed by the inkjet color printer relative to the black image printed by the electrophotographic printer. The registration system includes an optical sensor supported by the inkjet pen carriage for movement with the pen carriage along the scan direction.

Abstract: An image forming machine including a host computer, a printer, a copying machine, and a document supply device for conveying a document printed by the printer to a document stand of an automatic document feeder of the copying machine is disclosed, the image forming machine including a first document conveying device for directly conveying the document printed by the printer to the automatic document feeder, and second document conveying device which has an intermediate tray for temporarily storing the document printed by the printer for conveying this document to the automatic document feeder after temporarily storing it in the intermediate tray.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically reproducing information from an original document sheet together with electronically written additional information that may be either constant in content for all copies or may vary in content from copy to copy. Electrophotographic reproduction apparatus includes data entry apparatus for reading in the sets of variable information data items defining the electronically written information and is operable to format a template of one or more patches defining a minimal template area in which the variable information may be electronically reproduced onto the document without unnecessarily obscuring the optically reproduced information. Optionally, the template may be displayed to the operator who may format the size, style and font of alphanumeric and symbolic information in order to achieve a desired appearance on the composite copy.