Eastman-kodak Company

Nexpress Solutions, Inc.

Other

Thomas L Schwartz

Chung-Hui Kuo

Horia Neamtu

Victor I Ibarluzea

Richard Robert Tilney Carling

Kenneth Thomas Doty

David R Gotham

Kevin C Koek

Richard R T Carling

David Cavalieri

David M Gotham

Domenick Vitulli

Harold A Paschal

A method for reducing image burn-in artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system, includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages to be printed. The pages are analyzed to determine that the image data for a sequence of pages in the print job are similar. The similar pages are printed using a pattern of lateral translations wherein the image data is laterally translated such that it is printed at a different lateral position on the printed page. The similar pages can also be printed using a pattern of page orientations including a first page orientation and a second page orientation, wherein the image data for the second page orientation is rotated 180 degrees relative to the image data for the first page orientation.

Electrophotographic printing system including lateral translations to reduce burn-in artifacts

A method for reproducing an out-of-gamut spot color includes determining a color gamut for a color printer, and specifying a spot color by color coordinates in a three-dimensional color space. A first target color is determined corresponding to a color having a minimum color difference to the specified spot color, and a second target color is determined corresponding to a color on the color gamut surface having a hue value equal to a hue value of the specified spot color. A path is defined on the color gamut surface connecting the first target color and the second target color, wherein a control parameter is used to specify a relative position along the defined path. A user interface is provided enabling a user to adjust the control parameter to specify an aim color.

User-preferred reproduction of out-of-gamut spot colors

A printing system for printing on tabbed media having a plurality of tab positions. A media transport system picks the next sheet of tabbed media from a media tray. A detection system detects the tab position for the sheet of tabbed media. The detected tab position is compared to an expected tab position and if the detected tab position is different from the expected tab position then either the front end is used to supply image data to be printed on the sheet of tabbed media having the detected tab position, or the media transport system is controlled to direct the sheet of tabbed media into a waste receptacle and pick one or more additional sheets of tabbed media until the detected tab position is the same as the expected tab position.

Printing system for printing on tabbed media

A method for reproducing an out-of-gamut spot color includes determining a color gamut for a color printer, and specifying a spot color by color coordinates in a three-dimensional color space. A first target color is determined corresponding to a color having a minimum color difference to the specified spot color, and a second target color is determined corresponding to a color on the color gamut surface having a hue value equal to a hue value of the specified spot color. A path is defined on the color gamut surface connecting the first target color and the second target color, wherein a control parameter is used to specify a relative position along the defined path. A control parameter prediction function is provided which computes a predicted control parameter value as a function of color coordinates. The predicted control parameter value is used to determine an aim color for reproducing the spot color.

Reproducing out-of-gamut spot colors on a color printer

A printing system for printing on sheets of media having a non-uniform thickness profile. A user interface is controlled to instruct the operator to load a media tray with a stack of media having a specified pattern of media orientations. A media transport system picks sequential sheets of media from the media tray. A front end supplies sequential image data having orientations in accordance with the specified pattern of media orientations. A printing module sequentially prints the supplied image data on the sheets of media in accordance with the specified pattern of media orientations.

Printing system for media with non-uniform thickness

A method for reducing image burn-in artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system, includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages to be printed. The pages are analyzed to determine that the image data for a sequence of pages in the print job are similar. The similar pages are printed using a pattern of lateral translations wherein the image data is laterally translated such that it is printed at a different lateral position on the printed page.

A method for reducing image burn-in artifacts in an electrophotographic printing system, includes receiving a print job including image data for a set of pages to be printed. The pages are analyzed to determine that the image data for a sequence of pages in the print job are similar. The similar pages are printed using a pattern of page orientations including a first page orientation and a second page orientation, wherein the image data for the second page orientation is rotated 180 degrees relative to the image data for the first page orientation.

Electrophotographic printing system including page rotations to reduce burn-in artifacts

A method and apparatus for managing replenishing of an inventory for serviceable equipment that requires fewer orders of replacement parts and resulting shipments from the provider of the parts to the inventory location by tracking parts in accordance with a predefined parameter to estimate current and future needs of the serviceable equipment.

Method and apparatus for reducing supply orders in inventory management

Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices are employed; that enable an operator that is not a skilled field engineer or service technician, to perform maintenance on a digital printer, resulting in significantly higher uptime for the press. The ORC devices have an expected life span and the system can track the remaining life for each of the ORC devices and prompts the operator when they should be replaced. Preferably, the recent use of the digital printer is compared against the remaining life of the ORC device with the shortest remaining life. The recent use of the digital printer is used to decrement the remaining life of the ORC devices until an ORC device needs replacement. The operator is then notified of the need to replace the ORC device that has expired.

Operator replaceable component life tracking system

Determining the operational life of Operator Replaceable Component (ORC) devices within a printer. A replacement history of the ORC device is used to predict the future life of a newly installed ORC device. The database management system of the invention provides tracking of the remaining lifetime of the ORC devices. As the system keeps track of the remaining life of the ORC devices, the system will prompt the operator when the ORC devices need to be replaced. Once replaced, the ORC device database is updated with the life span data of the ORC device that was replaced.

Personalization of operator replaceable component life prediction based on replaceable component life history

An interlock switch access control apparatus controls access to an interlock switch (12) positioned in a cavity (14) in a housing (16). The interlock switch access control apparatus includes a plate (32) for sliding above the cavity (14) in a slot (30) in the housing (16), with the plate (32) having a plurality of apertures (38, 40). A detent (34) is positioned in a first aperture (38) of the plate (32) for fixing the position of the plate (32) in a first position over the cavity (14) to cover the interlock switch (12) to prevent access thereto. A resilient member such as a spring (48) applies a restoring force to the detent (34) to push the detent (34) toward the plate (32). The resilient member pushes the detent (34) toward and through the first aperture (38) when the plate (32) is positioned with the first aperture (38) in a longitudinal path of the detent (34). The detent (34) responds to a releasing force opposing the restoring force to move out of the first aperture (38) to release the plate (32) therefrom and so to allow the plate (32) to slide in the slot (30). A main access cover (20) is pivotally mounted to the housing (16) to cover the plate (32) in a closed position, and pivots to an open position to expose the plate (32). A lip (50) at one end of the main access cover (20) pivots when the main access cover (20) pivots, so that the lip (50) contacts the plate (32) in the second position when the main access cover (20) is in the open position to prevent the main access cover (20) from pivoting to the closed position.

Service door interlock

A support structure for a flexible boat cover includes an extensible bar supported entirely by at least one cord extending therefrom to cleats located at the bow and stern of the boat. This invention provides multiple supports spaced laterally from the centerline of the boat without any additional hardware. The cord preferably elastic, may extend over the top of the windshield to provide an inclined support structure to prevent collection of water in the boat cover. The bar is extensible to accommodate boats of various widths and to reduce its length for storage when not in use. Additionally, the bar can be supported by posts underneath to support ice and snow in colder climates during the winter.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, NY, United States of America

Thomas L Schwartz