Eastman-kodak Company

Thomas J Foster

Gregory Rombola

Edward Michael Eck

Dinesh Tyagi

Robert D Fields

Thomas A Jadwin

Terry Nate Morganti

Richard C Baughman

Anne F Lairmore

Borden Hicks Mills, Iii

John F Crichton

Paul L Nielsen

Jeffrey C Blood

Michael K Baskin

David G Watson

A method of rendering the appearance of microprint contained within a printed input digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising identifying one or two pixel lines or both and reassigning their digital value.

Post rip image rendering for microprinting

A method of controlling a printer to print of an image, the printer having a predetermined marking material printed dot size, the method comprising the steps of rasterizing the image and defining halftone super pixels within the image, calculating the average density of the marking material within the super pixels, selecting a pattern for marking the pixels within the super pixels as a function of the printed dot size so as to expand the distribution of printed densities printable by the printer.

Creating high spatial frequency halftone screens with increased numbers of printable density levels

A method of altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, and wherein the pixels comprise Text/Line pixels and halftone pixels, the method comprising the steps of changing the value of halftone pixels using a custom tone transfer function that anticipates the effect of the reassigned pixel values on halftone appearance; rasterizing the digital image; reassigning the digital values of all pixels; and, printing the image.

Method and system for controlling printer text/line art and halftone independently

A method of printing an image utilizing a printer having print nonuniformities, the method comprising the steps of converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information comprises defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.

Post RIP image rendering in an electrographic printer to reduce toner consumption

The invention relates generally to processes for electrographic image development. An electrographic development apparatus is provided wherein a film is adjacent a cylindrical toning shell and a mixture of toner and carrier is particles disposed on the cylindrical toning shell in contact with the film. The cylindrical toning shell is closest to the film at a first location, the mixture of toner and carrier particles being movable through the first location with a flow direction. A magnetic core disposed within the cylindrical toning shell offset toward the cylindrical shell such that a magnetic field strength is greater at the second location than the first location.

Electrographic development method and apparatus

A method of printing an image with a printer having magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) toning capability, the method comprising the steps of: converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels independently, thereby altering the concentration of magnetizable substances within the image when printed in order to improve the readability of printed characters by reading instrumentation.

Post RIP image rendering in a MICR electrographic printer to improve readability

The invention relates to application of a surface treatment to a fuser, typically in a print process. According to various aspects of the invention, methods and apparatus are provided for applying surface treatment to a fuser comprising varying a width of surface treatment application to the fuser.

Method and apparatus for variable width surface treatment application to a fuser

A method of printing multiple images with differing line screen frequencies with a printer is print sensitive to differing line screen frequencies, the method comprising the steps of: converting the images into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; reassigning the digital value of the interior pixels to a fixed interior pixel value; and reassigning the edge pixel values so as to minimize print sensitivity to differing line screen frequencies between images.

Post RIP image rendering in an electrographic printer to minimize screen frequency sensitivity

A method of estimating toner consumption of a input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of identifying each pixel as background pixels or foreground pixels; adding the digital values of foreground pixels together; and, estimating toner usage based on the sum of the added values. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.

Post RIP image rendering in an electrographic printer to estimate toner consumption

An electrostatographic recording method for printing an image on a receiver comprising the steps of: operating a primary charger to establish a uniform primary voltage level on an image recording member; developing a control patch on the image recording member, measuring density of the control patch to thereby provide a density measurement signal; converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; rendering the digital bitmap by defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel and reassigning the digital value of one or more of edge pixels or interior pixels independently and as a function of the density measurement signal; modulating electrostatic charge on the image recording member as a function of the digital bitmap after rendering.

Post rip image rendering in an electrographic printer using density patch feedback

Development systems and methods for developing using toner are disclosed. The present invention further discloses developers used in development systems. With respect to the development system, a development system is disclosed which includes a supply of dry developer mixture which contains toner particles and hard magnetic carrier particles. The development system further includes a non-magnetic, cylindrical shell for transporting the developer between the supply and the development zone, wherein the shell can be rotatable or stationary. A rotating magnetic core of a pre-selected magnetic field strength and means for rotating at least the magnetic core to provide for the transport of the toner particles from the shell to an electrostatic image also provided as part of the development system. The development system of the present invention further includes a fuser roll which is coated with a silicone rubber or other low surface energy elastomer or resin. The fuser roll is preferably in a pressure contact arrangement with a backup or pressure roll. The images resulting from the development system of the present invention have an excellent combination of properties, in particular, the prints resulting from the development process of the present invention have improved image quality in combination with excellent fusing quality. A method for developing electrostatic images with toner is further disclosed, for example, involving the above-described development system.

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Geneseo, NY, United States of America

Thomas J Foster