Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080306626 | FEEDBACK-BASED DOCUMENT HANDLING CONTROL SYSTEM - A method and system for performing sheet registration are disclosed. Output values for a sheet may be identified within a reference frame. A difference between each output value and a corresponding desired output value may be determined. Input values may be determined based on at least the differences. State feedback values may be determined based on information received from one or more sensors. Jerk values may be determined for multiple drive rolls based on the input values and the state feedback values. A desired angular velocity for each drive roll may be determined based on the corresponding jerk value. A motor voltage may be determined for each drive roll that tracks an observed angular velocity value to the desired angular velocity value. The jerk values may create a linear differential relationship between the input values and the output values. The steps may be performed multiple times. | 12-11-2008 |
20110102817 | IMAGE ON PAPER REGISTRATION USING IMAGE MARKS - An image transfer assembly and method capable of adjusting the registration of an image printed on paper. A first image location being determined on at least one first sheet by measuring for each of at least three corners of a first sheet the distance between the two adjoining edges of the respective corners to a portion of at least one first fiducial mark. For each of the measured first sheet corners the measured portion of the at least one first fiducial mark is closer to that respective corner than any other of the first sheet corners. Then a second image to be transferred is adjusted by changing, relative to at least one second sheet, at least one of a size, shear, position and orientation of the second image based on the determined first image location. The adjusted second image being then printed on the second sheet(s). | 05-05-2011 |
20110122455 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING IMAGE ON PAPER REGISTRATION - A method and apparatus for measuring image on paper registration including placing a test sheet of media including a plurality of test pattern marks on a platen of an image sensing device. The platen defines a scan area over which the image sensing device is capable of scanning an image. The image sensing device includes a plurality of calibration marks falling within the scan area. The method further includes operating the scanner to scan the test sheet; determining a scanned position of the calibration marks and a scanned position of the test marks resulting from the scan; comparing the scanned position of the calibration marks with reference position of the calibration marks to determine scanning error; determining an adjusted position of the test marks responsive to the scanning error; and comparing the adjusted test mark positions with predetermined reference positions to measure registration accuracy. An edge guide disposed on the platen assists in aligning the test sheet for scanning. | 05-26-2011 |
20110169216 | FEEDBACK-BASED DOCUMENT HANDLING CONTROL SYSTEM - A method and system for performing sheet registration are disclosed. Output values for a sheet may be identified within a reference frame. A difference between each output value and a corresponding desired output value may be determined. Input values may be determined based on at least the differences. State feedback values may be determined based on information received from one or more sensors. Jerk values may be determined for multiple drive rolls based on the input values and the state feedback values. A desired angular velocity for each drive roll may be determined based on the corresponding jerk value. A motor voltage may be determined for each drive roll that tracks an observed angular velocity value to the desired angular velocity value. The jerk values may create a linear differential relationship between the input values and the output values. The steps may be performed multiple times. | 07-14-2011 |
20110175280 | Sheet Registration Using Input-State Linearization in a Media Handling Assembly - Registering a sheet in a differential drive registration system by identifying observed state values corresponding to a sheet handled by the differential drive registration system. The method also including determining an error vector, wherein the error vector is defined by a difference between the observed state values and reference state values for the sheet. Control input values are also determined based on the error vector, a set of control parameters, and the observed state values. The control input values being determined such that there is a linear differential relationship between the observed state values and the control input values. Additionally the method includes generating drive wheel velocities in the differential drive registration system based on the control input values. The identifying and determining steps being repeated for the sheet in a closed-loop process such that the observed state values substantially track the reference state values. | 07-21-2011 |
20110304886 | Image on Paper Registration Using Transfer Surface Marks - A method of adjusting the registration of an image printed on sheets. The method including determining a first image location relative to a first sheet, adjusting a second image to be printed based on the determined first image location and printing the adjusted second image to subsequent sheet(s). The first image location determination made by measuring at least one dimension of a fiducial mark disposed directly on a transfer surface. The fiducial mark formed by the engagement of the first sheet with the transfer surface, whereby an inner edge of the fiducial mark forms at least a partial outline of a periphery of the first sheet. Each measured fiducial mark dimension extending from the fiducial mark inner edge to an outer edge of the fiducial mark. The fiducial mark outer edge being disposed remote from the at least partial outline of the first sheet periphery. | 12-15-2011 |
20120019842 | DIGITAL PRINTING CONTROL USING A SPECTROPHOTOMETER - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for xerographic Dmax control based upon measurements made on the printed paper using an inline spectrophotometer (ILS) or similar device. The disclosed method is based upon directly measuring the color to actuator sensitivity. Each of the separations is controlled independently using an actuator specific to that color separation. The present method is effective at controlling the color of the solid primaries. The fact that the vector of change is highly correlated with solid color variation seen in the field suggests that the teachings hereof effectively increase the solid color stability. Increased solid color stability increases the color stability throughout the printer gamut and the stability of the gamut boundaries, which increases the robustness of gamut mapping algorithms. Advantageously, the present method can be combined with existing ILS-based maintenance architectures. | 01-26-2012 |
20120147390 | DIGITAL PRINTING CONTROL USING A SPECTROPHOTOMETER - What is disclosed is a novel system and method for xerographic Dmax control based upon measurements made on the printed paper using an inline spectrophotometer (ILS) or similar device. The disclosed method is based upon directly measuring the color to actuator sensitivity. Each of the separations is controlled independently using an actuator specific to that color separation. The present method is effective at controlling the color of the solid primaries. The fact that the vector of change is highly correlated with solid color variation seen in the field suggests that the teachings hereof effectively increase the solid color stability. Increased solid color stability increases the color stability throughout the printer gamut and the stability of the gamut boundaries, which increases the robustness of gamut mapping algorithms. Advantageously, the present method can be combined with existing ILS-based maintenance architectures. | 06-14-2012 |
20130063764 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING STATISTICAL THROUGHPUT CONTROL IN A PRINT SHOP - A method of determining a probability of a set of print jobs being completed within a time period may include receiving a schedule associated with a set of print jobs. The schedule may include a sequence in which the set of print jobs is to be processed, a mean processing time associated with each print job in the set, and a standard deviation of a processing time associated with each print job in the set. The method may include determining a probability that a print shop will complete processing of the set of print jobs within a time period based on the mean processing time and standard deviation associated with each of the print jobs in the set that has not been processed and displaying the probability on a display device. | 03-14-2013 |
20130070285 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR BALANCING MACHINE LOAD - Methods and systems of balancing job assignments to a plurality of machines are disclosed. A computing device receives multiple jobs each having a job size and determines a job order for the jobs based on each job's job size. A machine order is determined for a plurality of machines based on a setup time and a processing rate associated with each machine. The computing device assigns one or more jobs to each machine based on the job order and the machine order such that a maximum total processing time for the machines is minimized. A total processing time for each machine is determined based on the number of jobs and the cumulative job size of the jobs assigned to the machine, and the setup time and the processing time associated with the machine. The maximum total processing time is the largest of the total processing times for the machines. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070286 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LOAD LEVELING IN A PRINT SHOP - A method and system for managing print shop workflow determines whether variations in print shop workflow may be reduced by shifting one or more customers' scheduled orders to different time periods. By shifting an order from one time period to another, the system may reduce variability in demand levels over time, thus helping increase overall system efficiency. To do this, one or more customers are selected as candidates for print shop order rescheduling. The system identifies customer orders that, if moved to other time periods, will most reduce demand level variations. A user may accept the system's recommendations, or the system may present a user with several alternative load leveling options for selection. The system may then cause the orders to be printed based on the load leveling proposal and the user's selection. | 03-21-2013 |
20130195381 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING PRODUCTION WORKFLOW INFORMATION - A workflow information capture system uses a digital pen to capture handwritten information about a production process resource. The pen captures the handwritten markings from a worksheet, identifies the position of the marking, based on the position determines one or more process parameters for the marking, and saves the handwritten markings and their corresponding process parameter in a memory. The system may then use this information to generate recommendations for improving a workflow that is implemented by the process resource. | 08-01-2013 |
20130246117 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTION FACILITY PLANNING - A print job planning system determines a current state of a print shop and a set of expected disturbances for the print shop. It uses the current state and the set of expected disturbances to determine a cost for anticipated work in progress associated with various actuations. It also identifies a minimum cost from the determined costs, along with an actuation that corresponds to the minimum cost. It may then generate a report of the actuation, generate a work schedule based on the identified actuation, and/or cause the identified actuation to be implemented by at least one print device of the print shop. | 09-19-2013 |
20140022298 | INDIRECT MEDIA FLATNESS MEASUREMENT - An indirect media flatness measurement system, and method, by which the appropriate level of hold-down force may be determined with some degree of quantitative accuracy. In an ink jet printer that is operative to subject a substrate media to a hold down force during printing, the method including printing a predetermined test image having a predetermined pattern on a substrate media using an ink jet print apparatus to produce a test print. Optionally, pattern may be an array of test symbols. The test symbol may comprise a line printed on the substrate media in a direction perpendicular to a process direction of the printer. The test print is compared with the predetermined test image, including measuring drop placement errors of test symbols. The height of the substrate media at the location of each test symbol is calculated based upon the drop placement error. | 01-23-2014 |
20140071481 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSIGNING JOBS TO PRODUCTION DEVICES - A method of assigning a job to a production device may include identifying a queue comprising a plurality of print jobs, identifying a plurality of print production devices capable of processing the plurality of print jobs, determining that one of the identified print production devices is an idle print production device, identifying a top priority print job from the queue, determining a completion time associated with processing the top priority print job by each of the identified print production devices, identifying a fastest print production device, assigning the top priority print job to the fastest print production device, determining whether the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, and in response to determining that the fastest print production device is the idle print production device, sending the top priority print job to the fastest print production device and removing the top priority print job from the queue. | 03-13-2014 |
20140176512 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND MODIFYING PHYSICALLY TRANSIENT HANDWRITTEN DIGITAL DOCUMENTS - A method, system, and apparatus for capturing information is disclosed. The method includes emitting energy of a first wavelength from a first energy source located proximate to a first end of a digital pen and forming a first set handwritten markings on the substrate by causing the substrate to image as a result of an exposure of the substrate to the energy emitted from the first energy source. The method also includes detecting by an image-capturing sensor of the digital pen a first detected portion of a position-identifying pattern on the substrate and storing in the memory a digital document file comprising the first set of handwritten markings and the first detected portion of the position-identifying data. An apparatus and system for performing the method is also disclosed. | 06-26-2014 |