Abstract: There is provided a drying device including: an airflow path extending in a direction intersecting with a conveyance path of a recording medium; an external air intake section that introduces external air into the airflow path; and a heating and blowing section provided to the airflow path that heats external air introduced into the airflow path and blows drying air onto a front face of the recording medium being conveyed on the conveyance path.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an image formation unit including an inkjet head which forms an image on a recording medium, and an image formation drum which rotates while supporting the recording medium on a circumferential surface and thereby moves the recording medium relatively to the inkjet head; a drying process unit including a drying process device which performs a drying process on the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the inkjet head, and a drying drum which rotates while supporting the recording medium on a circumferential surface and thereby moves the recording medium in a process region of the drying process unit; and an air curtain generation unit which generates an air flow in a downward direction between the image formation unit and the drying process unit, and thereby generates an air curtain for thermal insulation between the image formation unit and the drying process unit.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an image formation unit including an inkjet head which forms an image on a recording medium, and an image formation drum which rotates while supporting the recording medium on a circumferential surface and thereby moves the recording medium relatively to the inkjet head; a drying process unit including a drying process device which performs a drying process on the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the inkjet head, and a drying drum which rotates while supporting the recording medium on a circumferential surface and thereby moves the recording medium in a process region of the drying process unit; and an air curtain generation unit which generates an air flow in a downward direction between the image formation unit and the drying process unit, and thereby generates an air curtain for thermal insulation between the image formation unit and the drying process unit.

Abstract: A spatial light modulating method performs spatial light modulation of light produced by a light source. The method includes forming an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light, which has been obtained from the spatial light modulation, on a photosensitive material, using an image-sided telecentric optical system. The method further includes altering an axial air separation, upstream of the photosensitive material, to thereby adjust a focusing point at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light.

Abstract: An image recording device, wherein deviation of an image-recording start position, which results from a difference in the amount of expansion and contraction based on temperature changes between a printing plate precursor, a rotating support, a mechanism for moving a recording head, and the like, is corrected so that an image can be recorded at a proper position. Temperature 1 near the rotating support is obtained by a first temperature sensor, and temperature 2 near the mechanism is obtained by a second temperature sensor. Then, an amount for correcting an image-recording start position is obtained from a correction table based on the temperatures 1 and 2 and on a size of the printing plate precursor, and the number of drive pulses for correction corresponding to the obtained amount of correction is outputted to a drive motor of the mechanism.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator performs spatial light modulation of light produced by a light source. An image-side telecentric image forming optical system forms an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light, which has been obtained from the spatial light modulation, on a photosensitive material. An axial air separation adjusting section is located between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material. The axial air separation adjusting section alters an axial air separation between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material and thereby adjusts a focusing point at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator performs spatial light modulation of light produced by a light source. An image-side telecentric image forming optical system forms an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light, which has been obtained from the spatial light modulation, on a photosensitive material. An axial air separation adjusting section is located between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material. The axial air separation adjusting section alters an axial air separation between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material and thereby adjusts a focusing point at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator performs spatial light modulation of light produced by a light source. An image-side telecentric image forming optical system forms an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light, which has been obtained from the spatial light modulation, on a photosensitive material. An axial air separation adjusting section is located between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material. The axial air separation adjusting section alters an axial air separation between the image forming optical system and the photosensitive material and thereby adjusts a focusing point at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light.

Abstract: At an exposure section, a recording head carries out exposure processing by irradiating a light beam from a fiber array light source through a collimator lens and a condensing lens to a printing plate. A temperature sensor of the recording head measures temperature of the recording head. A pulse motor is driven on the basis of the measured temperature, and thus a separation between the collimator lens and the condensing lens is adjusted. Consequently, regardless of expansion or contraction of the recording head due to temperature changes, the separation between the collimator lens and the condensing lens can be kept constant by the pulse motor. Therefore, even when the light beam incident on the condensing lens is divergent, a shift in magnification of the recorded image can be prevented regardless of the temperature variations of the recording head.

Abstract: At an exposure section, a recording head carries out exposure processing by irradiating a light beam from a fiber array light source through a collimator lens and a condensing lens to a printing plate. A temperature sensor of the recording head measures temperature of the recording head. A pulse motor is driven on the basis of the measured temperature, and thus a separation between the collimator lens and the condensing lens is adjusted. Consequently, regardless of expansion or contraction of the recording head due to temperature changes, the separation between the collimator lens and the condensing lens can be kept constant by the pulse motor. Therefore, even when the light beam incident on the condensing lens is divergent, a shift in magnification of the recorded image can be prevented regardless of the temperature variations of the recording head.

Abstract: A scan-exposure device is provided wherein light beams becoming out of focus due to temperature changes is prevented and focus adjustment can be easily carried out, when a recording medium is subjected to scan-exposure by a plurality of light sources. A stage of an exposing head having a plurality of light source units provided thereon is supported by bases disposed at longitudinal direction opposite end portions thereof, and bases move in a sub-scanning direction which is the longitudinal direction of the stage when driven by a sub-scanning motor. The bases move relatively, in proportion to expansion or contraction of the stage, thereby preventing deformation of the stage due to temperature changes so that dislocation does not occur and light beams emitted from the light source units do not become out of focus due to deformation of the stage.

Abstract: A platform for precisely moving a stage and holding the stage at a position to which the stage has been moved, using an eccentric cam. The platform uses plate springs to support the stage at which an exposure head is formed. An outer circumferential portion and a central axis portion of the eccentric cam rotate relative to one another, and the plate springs urge legs of the stage toward the outer circumference. As a stepping motor drives the eccentric cam to rotate, the legs are urged to abut the outer circumference. Due to the rotation of the eccentric cam, the stage is moved in the direction the plate springs and the rotating drum approach/separate from one another, and held at a position where the eccentric cam has stopped.

Abstract: An image recording device, wherein deviation of an image-recording start position, which results from a difference in the amount of expansion and contraction based on temperature changes between a printing plate precursor, a rotating support, a mechanism for moving a recording head, and the like, is corrected so that an image can be recorded at a proper position. Temperature 1 near the rotating support is obtained by a first temperature sensor, and temperature 2 near the mechanism is obtained by a second temperature sensor. Then, an amount for correcting an image-recording start position is obtained from a correction table based on the temperatures 1 and 2 and on a size of the printing plate precursor, and the number of drive pulses for correction corresponding to the obtained amount of correction is outputted to a drive motor of the mechanism.

Abstract: A platform for precisely moving a stage and holding the stage at a position to which the stage has been moved, using an eccentric cam. The platform uses plate springs to support the stage at which an exposure head is formed. An outer circumferential portion and a central axis portion of the eccentric cam rotate relative to one another, and the plate springs urge legs of the stage toward the outer circumference. As a stepping motor drives the eccentric cam to rotate, the legs are urged to abut the outer circumference. Due to the rotation of the eccentric cam, the stage is moved in the direction the plate springs and the rotating drum approach/separate from one another, and held at a position where the eccentric cam has stopped.

Abstract: A scan-exposure device is provided wherein light beams becoming out of focus due to temperature changes is prevented and focus adjustment can be easily carried out, when a recording medium is subjected to scan-exposure by a plurality of light sources. A stage of an exposing head having a plurality of light source units provided thereon is supported by bases disposed at longitudinal direction opposite end portions thereof, and bases move in a sub-scanning direction which is the longitudinal direction of the stage when driven by a sub-scanning motor. The bases move relatively, in proportion to expansion or contraction of the stage, thereby preventing deformation of the stage due to temperature changes so that dislocation does not occur and light beams emitted from the light source units do not become out of focus due to deformation of the stage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a colorimeter for measuring density or color of an image, and capable of carrying out calibration with high accuracy. In the image forming apparatus, a test image, and a first reference line and a second reference line for defining a position of the test image on an image receiving paper, are exposed and formed on a photosensitive material. The first reference line and the second reference line formed on the image receiving paper are detected by a reflective photosensor so that a position at which the test image is formed on the image receiving paper is automatically determined. As a result, test image data, which is stored in advance in the image receiving apparatus, and a measurement position, at which measurement is carried out by a colorimetry apparatus, can be made to correspond to each other accurately.

Abstract: A method of and system for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle based on a control characteristic so that the speed of the vehicle follows a target speed. The system estimates a dynamic characteristic of the motor vehicle to adjust the control characteristic when the motor vehicle is under a cruising control. The system includes a sensor for detecting a speed of the motor vehicle and a sensor for detecting an operating position of an actuator which adjusts a travelling speed of the motor vehicle. In the system, the detected vehicle speed and actuator operating position are converted into data in terms of an imaginary operating point. The imaginary operating point remains constant because it is not affected by variations of a static characteristic of the motor vehicle. The dynamic characteristic of the motor vehicle is estimated on the basis of the conversion data. This arrangement can accurately estimate the dynamic characteristic of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive cruise control system equipped with an actuator to regulate the state of an automobile in accordance with a control signal indicative of an actuator control amount so that the vehicle maintains a target speed, the actuator control amount being determined on the basis of the speed of the vehicle and the operation state of the actuator. The automotive cruise control system is arranged so as to divide the vehicle into first and second systems: the first system on-line-identifies a model corresponding to the state of the vehicle; the second system on-line-identifies a model corresponding to the actuator used in the vehicle. The actuator control amount is calculated on the basis of the first and second system models to produce the actuator control signal in correspondence with these models.

Abstract: A servo control system includes an actuator controlling a controlled quantity. A device detects the controlled quantity and generates a detection signal representative thereof. The actuator is controlled in response to a target value and the detection signal so that the detected controlled quantity can follow the target value. A device generates a signal representative of an input variable relating only to the target value. The target value is corrected in accordance with the input variable through fuzzy reasoning using predetermined rules.

Abstract: A throttle control apparatus for engines comprises two throttle actuators for driving two corresponding main and sub throttle valves mounted in series in an intake pipe of an engine. An observer, to which the modern control theory is applied, presumes an opening degree of the main throttle valve in a normal condition, which occurs a predetermined time later, from an accelerator depression amount, which represents a throttle opening command, and an opening degree (angular position) of the main throttle valve. A failure detector quickly finds, from a deviation between the presumed opening degree of the throttle valve at the predetermined later time and an actual opening degree of the main throttle valve, that the main throttle valve has failed. When a failure occurs, the control of the sub throttle valve is started, making it possible to effect the throttle opening control with improved reliability.