Abstract: The three-dimensional modeling device includes a three-dimensional data acquisition unit that acquires three-dimensional data representing a three-dimensional structure with voxels, a discharge mechanism that discharges a laminated material including a plurality of kinds of dyes, and a control unit that controls the discharge mechanism based on the three-dimensional data so as to model the three-dimensional model. One of the voxels is divided into a plurality of elements in each of intersecting three directions, each of the plurality of the elements is provided with color data corresponding to one of a plurality of colors, and the color data of the element is determined such that all of a plurality of surfaces of the voxel has an approximately identical color.

Abstract: A method for improving the analysis of spectral data wherein light is directed through a linearly variable bandpass filter to impinge on a linear array of photodetectors. The ratio of the passband captured by a target detector to the passband captured by adjacent detectors is determined and used to calculate the amount of light to add back to the amount reported by the target detector. The value of the stored information from each target detector is then adjusted by subtracting from that detector what was added to adjacent detectors.

Abstract: Print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information is supplied to a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and the printing medium relatively move in main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction each other, and an image is printed on the surface of the printing medium. In the print data supplied by every main scanning action of the printing head, a deformed data portion of concave and convex shapes of waveform are formed, for example, so that dots may not be arrayed parallel continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head, at the joint of the ends of the sub-scanning direction. The concave and convex shapes at the joint side of the print data, and the concave and convex shapes at the joint side of other print data adjacent to the print data are printed in mutually fitted state.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a circular array, each having a calibrated power input determined by the use of pulse width modulation and each having a unique wavelength band determined by the utilization of a unique fluorescent phosphor coating or lens. At least one of the LEDs comprising a phosphor-free high energy UV LED. Light reflected to the spectrophotometer is divided into predetermined wavelength ranges through the utilization of a linear variable filter and photo detectors wherein the analog signal from a photo detector is converted to a digital value through the use of auto-ranging gain technique.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to prevent appearance of streaks in head scanning direction at the joint of print data of the image to be printed. Print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information is supplied to a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and the printing medium relatively move in main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction each other, and an image is printed on the surface of the printing medium. In the print data supplied by every main scanning action of the printing head, a deformed data portion of concave and convex shapes of waveform are formed, for example, so that dots may not be arrayed in parallel continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head, at the joint of the ends of the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A blower is disposed at least at backward side of printing moving direction of the head unit, out of two sides of the head unit. The blower has air nozzles for injecting compressed air perpendicularly to the printing plane, and the bottom of the blower is provided with a curved plane and a parallel plane so that the compressed air injected from the air nozzles may be bent in a direction at right angle by Coanda effect. The curved plane and the parallel plane generate a horizontal air stream parallel to the printing plane, toward a direction departing from the adjacent head unit, at the downside of the blower. The printing device, using the ink jet head, dries the ink on the printing medium by the horizontal air stream injected from the blower while printing on the printing medium.

Abstract: There is provided a pseudo-halftone image expression method capable of processing vector data with an excellent image quality and small computational complexity. Gray levels of n×n/m are expressed by varying the number of formed dots within a matrix of n×n dots on an m-dot basis (where n denotes an integer of 8 or more and m denotes an integer of 4 or more). A dot formation rule corresponding to each gray level within a matrix is divided into at least two stages, form a low gray level to a high gray level. In a first stage, dots are arranged at random and in dispersion so as to separate a dot from each other. In a second stage, dots are extended in random directions in turn so as to prevent an island of successive dots from coupling with each other using the dots arranged at the first stage as a nucleus.

Abstract: An inkjet printer capable of minimizing chromatic variation due to an ink overlapping (or overlaying) order when printing in a bidirectional mode. Bright color ink dots and dark color ink dots are arranged alternately within the same swath when printing in the bidirectional mode. Plural swaths with different overlapped colors consisting of these dots are arranged alternately in both the main and sub directions to perform overall chromatic averaging.

Abstract: An ink jet printer that prints high quality wherein ink has minimum contact with the atmosphere, high volatility and is easy to separate. The ink jet recording heads and the sub tanks are mounted at the side of the Y cursor, and the main tanks are disposed at the side of the printer body. Upon completion of printing or standby for printing, the ink in the sub tanks is recovered to the side of the main tanks, and the ink in the recording heads is recovered to the side of the waste solution tank. After the ink in the sub tanks is recovered to the side of the main tanks, and before the ink in the main tanks is supplied into the sub tanks, the ink in the main tanks is stirred. After the ink in the recording heads is recovered to the waste solution tank, the inside of the recording heads is cleaned with the cleaning solution, and after the cleaning, the air is supplied into the recording heads, and the inside of the recording heads is dried.

Abstract: In case of an erasure of dots that reduce the ink density by thinning on dots of a bit map data, disappearance of thin lines, and a loss of low density picture and a gradation reversal are prevented. For this reason, mask patterns for thinning processing with different thinning rates according to densities of an original picture beforehand. A conjunction operation of the picture data of the original picture with the mask pattern according to the density of the picture data is carried out, and the on dots of the bit map data are thinned out to turn off thereby decreasing the ink density, and changing the thinning rate of the original picture. As the mask pattern, the thinning pattern is prepared against the original picture with 100% density, and the thinning rate is changed by changing the bit of 0 of the thinning pattern to 1 according to the density of the original picture. In case the density of the original picture is less than 50%, the thinning processing is not carried out.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a simple construction for preventing a collision of the cutter with the surface of paper at a high speed, and the construction provides a controller 20 that minimizes the impression voltage to a cutter drive actuator 38 in the first stage and gradually increases by stages thereafter. After the impression voltage for descending of the cutter to the cutter drive actuator 38 arrives at a maximum set voltage, the controller 20 switches the impression voltage for the cutter drive actuator 38 to the predetermined voltage for cut, and thereafter, the cut operation proceeds.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of printing on a print medium wherein an image output region is segmented into a plurality of bands and an image, corresponding to one of these bands, is printed on the print medium. If the image is printed on the last or final band, then a moving value is calculated. The moving value is calculated by subtracting a number of nozzles of an inkjet head that have discharged ink in printing the image from a total number of nozzles. The print medium is then moved, in a reverse direction, a distance that corresponds to the moving value.

Abstract: For the purpose of performing a high quality drafting with an ink that has a minimum contact with atmosphere and having high volatility and its ink ingredient is easy to separate, the ink jet type recording heads 52 and the sub tanks 54 are mounted at the side of the Y cursor 40, and the main tanks 60 are disposed at the side of the printer body. In the condition of completion of drafting or the standby of drafting, the ink in the sub tanks 54 is recovered to the side of the main tanks 60, and the ink in the recording heads 52 is recovered to the side of the waste solution tank 118. After the ink in the sub tanks 54 is recovered to the side of the main tanks 60, and before the ink in the main tanks 60 is supplied into the sub tanks 54, the ink in the main tanks 60 is stirred.

Abstract: The present invention realizes excellent controllability of print position even when a print head is driven at accelerating or decelerating speed while keeping advantages of fine and high resolution printing quality. A position information signal generator 9 in an ink-jet plotter comprises an interpolating circuit 12 which generates a first position information signal based on an A-phase output of A-phase and B-phase outputs from a sensor 5, an edge detector 13 which generates a second position information signal by multiplying the A-phase and B-phase outputs by four, a selector which selects the outputs from the interpolating circuit 12 and the edge detector 13, and a select control circuit 15 which switches the selector 14.

Abstract: An operator separates pressure rollers 14, 16 from the corresponding drive rollers 12 for a predetermined distance prior to his drawing work on the paper and allows the paper 18 to be inserted between the drive rollers 12 and the pressure rollers 14, 16 from the front of the platen 2. An optical sensor 28 detects the paper 18. A controller drives a fan after a lapse of a predetermined time to operate a vacuum power in a vacuum chamber 4. Thereafter, the paper 18 on the platen 2 continues to be held on the platen 2 by the vacuum power. In this condition, the operator sets the paper to a mark 20 drawn on the platen 2 which indicates a set position of the paper to adjust the position of the paper 18. When the operator completes the positioning of the paper 18, he manipulates the lever to lift down the pressure rollers.

Abstract: In the ink-jet printing apparatus, each nozzle is selected so that time differences of drive timings of adjacent nozzles become random in the entire ink-jet head. Thus, texture noise can be prevented and the picture quality can be improved. In this apparatus, when the time differences of drive timings of adjacent nozzles are 2T, T, 2T, 3T, and so forth, four nozzles in sixteen nozzles set to be enable in one scanning operation are selected in such a manner that time differences of drive timings of adjacent nozzles become random in the entire ink-jet head.

Abstract: An image output method for dividing an image output region of one page into a plurality of bands, developing image data to be output in the format of raster data for each band, and outputting the developed image information for each band is disclosed. Each band is further divided into a plurality of blocks. The bit map memory is divided into a plurality of memory blocks, each of which has a storage capacity of each block. Image data of blocks that contain image data to be developed for each band is successively developed to unused memory blocks. For blank blocks, the developing process to the bit map memory is not performed. Thus, unused memory blocks are used in the developing process for the next block.

Abstract: A control method for a paper-driven type automatic drafting machine carries out a predetermined drafting operation by use of ink writing instruments. The automatic drafting machine has on its machine frame an ink dry time setter. The machine is made to wait or halt for a set time after an ink drawing completion, during which time a roll paper for the drafting machine is not rolled-up. The remaining portion of the set ink drying time for the drafting machine is displayed, so the operator can use the waiting time effectively.

Abstract: In a pen input and output unit for inputting data by contacting a pen on an input surface of a tablet device and for displaying the input data, display data is updated by detecting that the pen is traveled by a predetermined distance while the pen is in contact with the input surface of the tablet device. The display data can continuously be updated by sliding, reciprocally traveling, circulating or the like the pen on the input surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a sheet by a belt drive in a plotter, so that the position of a transfer rail, on which grip devices which grip the sheet are disposed, does not shift during such transfer. The plotter includes a sheet support surface, an endless carrying belt for moving the sheet support surface, and the transfer rail supported over the sheet support surface. The transfer rail can shift in the direction of movement of the belt, and includes a drawing line head for drawing on or cutting the sheet. The transfer rail further includes two sets of grips, one for gripping the belt, and one for gripping the belt and sheet supported on the sheet support surface. Both sets of grips are adjustable according to the width of the sheet. The sets of grips, when gripping the belt and sheet, enable the sheet, sheet support surface, and transfer rail to move collectively in the direction of movement of the belt.