Lexmark International, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Donald Fred Croley

Christopher Alan Adkins

Timothy Lowell Strunk

Michael Clark Campbell

Brian Jones

Mark Walter Fagan

Stanley Dyer

Randall David Mayo

Donald Wayne Stafford

David Emerson Greer

Mahesan Chelvayohan

Frank J Horlander

Kenneth E Edds

Alan E Bohnhoff

John C Bartlett

Scanning devices and method of use that accommodate a longer imaging distance while minimizing the size of the device. The scanning device may include an imaging unit having a sensor and optics. The scanning device may further include a target bed for placement of the targeted documents. An imaging distance extends between the imaging unit and the target bed. In one embodiment, the housing may be collapsed after the scanning procedure to reduce the overall device size. Reflective members may also be positioned within the interior of the device to lengthen the imaging distance. Still further embodiments may include a movable imaging unit.

Method and device for reducing a size of a scanning device

A method of generating an authentication code for a consumable includes assigning an identification number to the consumable; processing an input including at least the identification number, using a first algorithm, to generate a preliminary number different from the identification number; and compressing the preliminary number using a compression algorithm, different from the first algorithm, that utilizes the identification number to generate an authentication value for use in authenticating the consumable.

Method of authenticating a consumable

A method of authenticating a consumable used in an imaging device includes the steps of providing the consumable with a memory; monitoring usage of the consumable; determining whether the consumable has reached a usage threshold; and, if the consumable has reached the usage threshold, then performing the further steps of: renewing the consumable; generating an authentication code signifying the renewing of the consumable; and storing the authentication code in the memory.

An imaging system includes an imaging cartridge, a first memory associated with the imaging cartridge, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first memory. The controller executes program instructions for performing the steps of generating a generated cartridge identification number to be associated with the imaging cartridge and storing the generated cartridge identification number in the first memory.

Method and apparatus for generating and assigning a cartridge identification number to an imaging cartridge

A method of estimating an amount of ink contained in an ink reservoir includes the steps of determining a cumulative actual ink drop count of ink drops expelled from the ink reservoir; and determining an evaporation amount associated with the ink reservoir, wherein before a time threshold the evaporation amount is ignored, and upon reaching the time threshold the evaporation amount is used to compensate for an evaporation loss for the ink reservoir by adjusting the cumulative actual ink drop count to form an evaporation compensated drop count.

Method of estimating an amount of available ink contained in an ink reservoir

Ribbon (22) in thermal printing has an outer layer which adheres to printed characters of intermediate temperatures, lower than printing temperatures. The printhead (7) has a column of electrodes (9) which sweep across the character area. Erase mode selector (16) causes erase of the same character twice, first at a temperature level moderately more than the normal erase level and one at a temperature moderately less than the normal erase level. Erasure in that dual mode is generally effective even for extreme conditions of paper, environment and other influences.

Repetitive mode for thermal printing lift-off correction

Ribbon (22) in thermal printing has an outer layer which adheres to printed characters at intermediate temperatures, lower than printing temperatures. The printhead (7) has a column of electrodes (9) which sweep across the character area. Lift-off is accomplished by the pattern control (40) controlling the current source (38) to provide rapid, square wave pulses displaced in phase 180 degrees at adjoining electrodes (9). The high level of the pulses is about that of the level at printing, and the pulses are sufficiently rapid so that their net effect is to raise the outer layer ribbon (22) to the intermediate temperature. At areas corresponding to underlines of characters, duration of the up period is longer. Good, long term reliability is achieved by the significant erase level being very close to the print level.

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Georgetown, KY, United States of America

Donald Fred Croley