Abstract: An ink supply system includes a recording apparatus and an ink cartridge. The recording apparatus has a recording head, configured to discharge ink, includes an ink storage chamber for storing ink therein and a plurality of ink receiving portions communicating with the ink storage chamber. The ink cartridge, detachably attached to the recording apparatus, contains ink and has a plurality of ink supply portions for supplying ink to the recording head. The recording head has a first positioning component between at least a pair of adjacent ink receiving portions, and the ink cartridge has a second positioning component provided between a corresponding pair of adjacent ink supply portions. The first and second positioning components are configured to engage each other so as to align the plurality of ink receiving portions and the plurality of ink supply portions relative to each other.

Abstract: An anamorphic converter, which can be inserted into and removed from a lens group of an image-formation optical system, includes an anamorphic lens that satisfies the following conditions 0.9<(AR1·?x)/(AR2·?y)<1.1 (AR22+1)·?y2/(AR12+1)>1 wherein ?x represents a first focal distance magnification scale at a first cross-section containing an optical axis of the anamorphic lens, ?y represents a second focal distance magnification scale at a second cross-section which is perpendicular to the first cross-section and contains the optical axis, AR1 represents an aspect ratio of an image-taking range in a field of the image-formation optical system, and AR2 represents an aspect ratio at an effective range of an image-taking unit disposed at an object image side of the lens group. As such, there is provided an anamorphic converter which is small and has high optical performance, suitable for digital cinematography.

Abstract: A sensor signal processor includes a scale having optically or magnetically fine divisions; a detection sensor that moves with respect to the scale and that is provided in association with the divisions of the scale; and a position detecting unit for calculating positional information by using a counter value of digital pulse signals generated from the outputs from the detection sensor and analog signals generated from the outputs from the detection sensor. The sensor signal processor yields the positional information by using both the digital pulse signals and the analog signals.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a pre-charge exposure device which removes electric charge from a photoconductor drum to increase a potential contrast between the surface of the photoconductor drum and the surface of a charge roller in an upstream region of a nip region between the photoconductor drum and the charge roller in the rotating direction of the photoconductor drum, so that toner accumulating in an upstream region of the nip region in the rotating direction of the photoconductor drum is restrained and prevented from being discharged onto an image-forming region. When the toner accumulating in the upstream region of the nip region in the rotating direction of the photoconductor drum is to be discharged onto a non-image-forming region, the pre-charge exposure device is turned off so that the potential contrast decreases.

Abstract: When an image representing positional information, formed with black spot pattern and the other image formed with color inks including cyan, magenta, and yellow are recorded on the same recording medium, the gradient of color data is corrected during data preparation of colors used for recording the image other than the black spot pattern, according to the duty of the black spot pattern. Thus, even if the other image is recorded to overlap with the black spot pattern, color changes of the image can be prevented to produce a high-quality image.

Abstract: A hierarchical processing apparatus includes a data input unit for time-sequentially inputting pattern data in a particular hierarchical level, a calculation parameter control data memory for storing calculation parameter control data, a local area recognition module for detecting a particular feature from pattern data, using the calculation parameter control data, and an intermediate result storage module for storing an intermediate result output from the local area recognition module. Depending on the hierarchical level of processing, a flow of data is controlled such that an input acquired via the data input unit or an intermediate result fed back from the intermediate result storage module and calculation parameter control data read from the calculation parameter control data memory are supplied to the local area recognition module. The hierarchical processing apparatus can perform various kinds of complicated calculations using a simple small-scale circuit with low power consumption.

Abstract: An image reader adopting an off-axial optical system, an adjustable imaging mirror and a CCD fixed to a highly rigid structure. Since the relative position between reflecting and imaging mirrors can be set highly accurately, adjusting only the CCD-mounting position allows a required specification of the read image to be met. The imaging mirror can easily be adjusted without distorting the reflecting surface. The reflecting and imaging mirrors, and the CCD-mounting-position adjuster are positioned directly to reflecting-mirror supporting sections, imaging-mirror supporting sections, and CCD supporting sections, which are integrated with a carriage casing, and fixed to them. The CCD is fixed to the carriage casing with the CCD-mounting-position adjuster. An imaging mirror close to a diaphragm and adjacent to the image is supported by a mirror adjusting plate, which can be displaced to adjust the position of the imaging mirror.

Abstract: A process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus incorporating the same. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a container supplying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning member including a blade and a support portion supporting the blade, the blade selectively contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to remove the developer from the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cartridge frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the support portion, the cartridge frame including a contact portion contacting the support portion under external forces on the cartridge frame to prevent deformation of the cartridge frame.

Abstract: In a printing system, feature information of a printing medium set on a printer is acquired from the printer. Information associated with the type of the printing medium is input, and the information associated with the type of the printing medium is registered in connection with the acquired feature information of the printing medium. Thus, an environment is provided which allows a user to make registration of additional information associated with a particular printing medium thereby making it possible to automatically and precisely make setting associated with the particular printing medium.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a scale having an optical grating formed thereon, a plurality of light-receiving devices, a light-emitting device, and a position-information detecting unit. The plurality of light-receiving devices is movable with respect to the scale. The light-emitting device applies light to the plurality of light-receiving devices through the scale. A position-information detecting unit detects position information in one cycle of a two-phase signal supplied from the light-receiving device. A determining unit determines an amplitude of an analog signal based on the position information.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device for separating sheets stored in a sheet storage unit by blowing air heated by a heater toward the sheets includes a controller which detects an abnormality when a heater temperature does not reach a first predetermined temperature within a predetermined time. The controller continues to control the heater temperature but stops determining whether or not the heater temperature is increased to the first predetermined temperature within the predetermined time when it is detected that the sheet storage unit is in an open state.

Abstract: A lens-controlling device controls a first lens unit which moves for zooming and a second lens unit which moves for correcting the displacement of an image plane caused by zooming and for focusing. The lens-controlling device includes a memory which stores data for obtaining target-position information representing a target position to which the second lens unit is to be moved, the target position corresponding to a position to which the first lens unit is moved from a current position and a controller which generates the target-position information on the basis of the data and controls the movement of the second lens unit on the basis of position information of the first lens unit and the target-position information.

Abstract: High accuracy is achieved in paper feed control without increasing the size of an encoder, which would result in an increase in cost. The velocity of a paper feeding mechanism is calculated from an edge signal that is generated by the encoder in response to the motion of the paper feeding mechanism. Based on the calculated velocity, a calculation is performed as to the time needed to reach a stop position since a detection of an encoder signal edge immediately before the stop position. Based on the calculated time, a control signal for stopping the paper feeding mechanism is generated.

Abstract: A radiographic apparatus includes an X-ray generator for irradiating a subject with X-rays, a rotating unit for rotating the subject irradiated with the X-rays, a two-dimensional detector for converting X-rays transmitted through the subject into projection-image data, an information extracting unit for extracting information regarding the subject from the projection-image data, a calculating unit for calculating an amount of shift, with respect to a vertical direction, of at least one of the X-ray generator, the two-dimensional detector, and the subject, based on the information extracted, a driving unit for changing a position, with respect to the vertical direction, of at least one of the X-ray generator, the two-dimensional detector, and the subject, and a controlling unit for controlling the driving unit according to the amount of shift calculated by the calculating unit.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a hollow developing roller, a support member inserted in the hollow developing roller to support the developing roller, a flange member having a first engaging portion engaging with an outer surface of the support member and a second engaging portion engaging with an inner surface of the developing roller, and a gap-holding member disposed at one end of the developing roller, the gap-holding member having an abutment abutting against the electrophotographic photoreceptor for maintaining a gap between the developing roller and the electrophotographic photoreceptor. The abutment overlaps with the second engaging portion in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller.