Abstract: A head unit has a supply tank provided above a plurality of heads, for storing ink and a collecting part having an internal space into which ink flows from the plurality of heads. In the head unit, a plurality of ink inlet pipes serving as a plurality of passages leading from the supply tank to the plurality of heads have the same shape and the same resistance and a plurality of ink outlet pipes serving as a plurality of passages from the plurality of heads to the collecting part have the same shape and the same resistance. This equalizes respective flow rates of ink and respective pressures of ink at nozzles in the plurality of heads. As a result, it is possible to suppress variation in landing positions and the like of ink with respect to the nozzles among the plurality of heads.

Abstract: A printer comprises a head having a plurality of outlets, a first ink tank connected to the head and a second ink tank storing ink, and the second ink tank is connected to the first ink tank via a supply line and connected to the head via a return line. The supply line is provided with a pump for supplying the first ink tank with ink stored in the second ink tank. A main decompressor connected to the second ink tank decompresses the inside of the second ink tank to a negative pressure and ink is returned from the first ink tank to the second ink tank through a passage leading from the first ink tank to the second ink tank via the head. This allows an appropriate circulation of ink while degassing the ink in the second ink tank.

Abstract: A head unit has a supply tank provided above a plurality of heads, for storing ink and a collecting part having an internal space into which ink flows from the plurality of heads. In the head unit, a plurality of ink inlet pipes serving as a plurality of passages leading from the supply tank to the plurality of heads have the same shape and the same resistance and a plurality of ink outlet pipes serving as a plurality of passages from the plurality of heads to the collecting part have the same shape and the same resistance. This equalizes respective flow rates of ink and respective pressures of ink at nozzles in the plurality of heads. As a result, it is possible to suppress variation in landing positions and the like of ink with respect to the nozzles among the plurality of heads.

Abstract: A head of a printer has a nozzle unit for ejecting fine droplets of light curable ink and a light irradiation part for irradiating light to ink ejected onto a base member. In printing an image, distortion information representing a relationship between a density distribution of an image printed on the base member and distortion of the base member by temperature rise caused by irradiation with light from the light irradiation part is prepared and writing data is generated by modifying a target image on the basis of a density distribution of the target image and the distortion information. Ejection of ink from the head is controlled in synchronization with relative movement of the head in accordance with the writing data, and it is possible to accurately print the target image on the base member in consideration of distortion of the base member caused by irradiation with the light.

Abstract: A printing apparatus with a plate-making mechanism with a data modification part for modifying width of an original image in a subscan direction by computation to obtain a modified image and a controller for recording an image with its length in a main scan direction modified by shifting a writing clock in image recording. This allows reduction in the amounts of computation as compared with a case where modification against extension of a paper in the main scan direction and subscan direction is performed only by computation and makes it easy to control modification as compared with a case where the modification in the main scan direction and subscan direction is performed only by shifting the writing clock and a moving clock for a writing head. Thus, it becomes possible to easily correct the influence of extension of paper in printing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus with a plate-making mechanism comprises a data modification part for modifying width of an original image in a subscan direction by computation to obtain a modified image and a controller for recording an image with its length in a main scan direction modified by shifting a writing clock in image recording. This allows reduction in the amounts of computation as compared with a case where modification against extension of a paper in the main scan direction and subscan direction is performed only by computation and makes it easy to control modification as compared with a case where the modification in the main scan direction and subscan direction is performed only by shifting the writing clock and a moving clock for a writing head. Thus, it becomes possible to easily correct the influence of extension of paper in printing.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus with a variable magnification capability includes: a recording unit for recording an image by scanning a photosensitive material with a laser beam or the like; a circuit for generating an image recording signal for modulating the laser beam based on an image signal; an inputting unit for setting a desired magnification; and an adjusting circuit for adjusting the image recording signal based on the desired magnification. The adjusting circuit includes a circuit for setting the size of a standard image dot, and for changing the size, along the scanning direction of the beam, of a portion of the dots to obtain a desired degree of magnification/reduction of the image. The size of the standard dot is defined by a reference signal of a predetermined frequency. The size of the modified dots is defined by changing the frequency of the reference signal for the modified dots.

Abstract: A photosensitive film is scanned with nine laser beams for recording an image on the same. The subscanning pitch .DELTA.X.sub.1 is so determined as to be 4.5 P, where P is an alignment pitch of photospots formed by the laser beams. Scanning lines which belong to a "front line group" and are scanned in a main scanning are spatialy alternated with other scanning lines which belong to a "rear line group" and are scanned in the next main scanning.