Abstract:
A number of geographically dispersed automated product design systems and support systems are connected to a network. A user of a design system requesting assistance in using the design system is connected to an operator of one of the support systems. A display and control connection is established between the user system and the support system such that the operator of the support system can monitor and control the user system. A discussion connection is established between the user of the user system and the operator of the support system such that the user can submit inquiries to and receive responses from the operator while the operator is viewing the information being displayed to the user at the user system.
Abstract:
A label badge sheet construction including a facestock sheet releasably adhered to a liner sheet. A weakened separation line in the facestock sheet defines at least one label. After the sheet construction has been passed through a printer or copier and desired indicia printed on the at least one label the printed label can be removed to be used as a visitor's badge or the like. Preferably, first and second labels are formed with a fold line separating them, and a weakened separation line through the liner sheet forms a liner panel which is adhered to the back of the first label. With the first and second labels and the liner panel removed as a label assembly and the labels folded on the fold line, through-holes through the first and second labels and the liner panel are aligned. A lanyard or clip can be passed through the aligned through-holes. The liner panel thereby reinforces the through-holes. The invention further includes the assembled label badge, the method of forming same, the method of manufacturing the sheet and the kits which includes sheets, software, hardware, etc.
Abstract:
A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.
Abstract:
A merchandising apparatus for gloves has a hand replica, a monitor and hand measuring apparatus. The monitor is carried by the human hand replica and the hand measurement apparatus includes an imaging device connected through a microprocessor to the monitor. A charge coupled device chip records (60) light along various pixels which corresponds to an image of the human hand. The data is processed (64) and filtered (62) to provide a silhouette of the hand. Next, a microprocessor determines various measurements of the human hand. These measurements are compared to data for providing a specific glove size. Alternatively, the data may be utilized to provide a custome fitting glove. The glove size is then displayed on the monitor for the consumer (66).
Abstract:
Printing over a network (1) by inputting print data and associated credit card information at a terminal (2), uploading a print job comprising the print data and the credit card information to a print data server (4), inputting credit card information at an input device (11), transmitting print data stored in the print data server (4), and printing the print data on a printing device (21).
Abstract:
The invention provides a vending apparatus comprising scanning means for capturing digital images of scanned information, processing means that is connected to the scanning means for receiving digital images therefrom and for processing the digital images, the processing means having software for accessing the Internet and for enabling the transmission of electronic mail including one or more digital images captured by the scanning means, and control means for controlling the operation of the scanning means and the processing means, the control means including a vending unit having payment accepting means for accepting payment means for operating the vending apparatus. The vending apparatus may include a digital camera for capturing the digital images and/or reading means for reading a data storage device of a digital camera.
Abstract:
A merchandising apparatus for gloves has a hand replica, a monitor and hand measuring apparatus. The monitor is carried bz the human hand replica and the ahnd measurement apparatus includes an imaging device connectd through a microporcessor to the monitor. A charge coupled device chip records light along various pixels which corresponds to an image of the human hand. The data is processed and filtered to provide a silhouette of the hand. Next, a microprocessor deterines various measurements of the human hand. These measurements are compared to data for providing a specific glove size. Alternatively, the data may be utilized to provide a custome fitting glove. The glove size is then displayed on the monitor for the consumer.
Abstract:
The objective of this invention is to provide an automatic photo-seal dispenser which will provide optically uniform conditions throughout the entire region in the photo booth. Because it has a brightness adjustment means to adjust the brightness of the camera's output image, it will enable the image which the customer sees when he is considering a pose to match the actual image that will be photographed and printed as a photo-seal. The second illumination means to illuminate the subject of the photograph of this invention has a strobe box which illuminates the region to be photographed by means of a stroboscopic illumination unit contained in a box-like enclosure, a reflector panel which reflects the strobe light emitted by the device into the region to be photographed, and a diffusion panel which diffuses the strobe light into the region to be photographed.
Abstract:
A photographic seal vending machine (11) comprising a camera (21) for photographing an object, an illuminating device (22) for illuminating the object, a display (16) for displaying various elements of information such as images, an input device (17) for receiving information by being operated from the outside, and a printer (26) for printing the photograph of the object obtained by photographing by the camera on seal paper to discharge photograph-printed seal paper (33). The camera (21) is mounted on the ceiling of a photographing area (12) with its photographing lens directed downward. Since the object can be shot by the camera (21) that looks down the object from directly above, a photographic seal (33) shot at a novel angle can be sold.
Abstract:
By printing documents and other objects with machine readable indicia, such as steganographic digital watermarks or barcodes, a great variety of document management functions can be enabled. The indicia can be added as part of the printing process (after document data has been output by an originating application program (12)), such as by printer driver (14) software, by a Postscript engine in a printer, etc. The indicia can encode data about the document, or can encode an identifier that references a database (18) record containing such data. By showing the printed document to a computer device (20) with a suitable optical input device (e.g., a webcam), an electronic version of the document can be recalled for editing, or other responsive action can be taken.