Abstract: A facsimile apparatus is equipped with an ink jet printing unit, capable of reducing the number of ink discharge recovery operations of the ink jet recording head, thereby reducing the ink consumption. The received image data are stored in an image memory, with inspection for errors in transmission in an error correction mode, and are collectively printed after a predetermined amount of image data are stored. The recording head is uncapped by a protocol signal transmitted after the image data.

Abstract: Registration of an image with respect to a recording medium in a film recorder or the like is provided by first roughly positioning the recording medium in a support. A beam is then scanned across an unused portion of the recording medium until it impinges a fixed reference mark such as a sprocket hole edge. The coordinates of the beam are determined at the reference mark, and a registration signal is computed therefrom. The beam is then scanned across the recording medium in response to the registration signal to record information in registered relation to the reference mark. An intensity profile of the beam is calculated as it passes over an edge of the recording medium. The focus of the beam is then adjusted according to the intensity profile. Adjustment of both beam focus and lens focus is provided.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus for thermally transferring ink to an image recording paper via a laser beam. In the thermal transfer recording apparatus, at least one of the opposing surfaces of a print head and a platen is curved, and a transfer portion is provided on the print head at a position displaced a predetermined amount from a nip portion which is formed by the print head and the platen such that an image is formed on a recording paper without the recording paper contacting an ink film. With such an arrangement, voids produced in forming images on image recording paper are prevented and it becomes possible to form images on image recording paper without image irregularities.

Abstract: An exposure head for use in a an image recording apparatus includes a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs or LDs supported on a support for emitting respective light beams, and a single optical system for focusing the light beams onto a recording medium. The support and the optical system are movable in unison in an auxiliary scanning direction along an image recording drum which is rotatable in a main scanning direction transverse to the auxiliary scanning direction and carries the recording medium wound therearound.

Abstract: A printing system operating in a charged area development environmental utilizes a high resolution image print bar in cooperation with a low resolution image discharge bar to expose a charged surface of a photoreceptor with a minimum of stress being applied to the high resolution bar. The high resolution bar is addressed from an image data source so as to expose areas of the photoreceptor which correspond to informational areas of the image being printed. The low resolution bar is addressed from the same data source so as to discharge the photoreceptor surface in non-informational areas such as background areas and interimage areas. In a preferred embodiment, both the high and the low resolution bars are LED arrays located in a common exposure station.

Abstract: A non-impact printhead for use in recording on a recording medium includes a plurality of energizable recording elements such as LED's. Integrated circuit driver chips are provided that include a current mirror having a master circuit for generating a reference current and a plurality of slave circuits for providing respective driver currents to the recording elements selected for energization. A transistor switch is in series with a respective recording element and switchable from one state to another in response to a signal at its control electrode. An enabling circuit operating upon the control electrode switches the transistor switch to allow current to be selectively provided to the recording element for a predetermined period of time. Each of the slave circuits include an additional slave circuit which provides a current path for facilitating changing of the signal at the control electrode from on voltage level to another such as by allowing a capacitive charge at the control electrode to dissipate.

Abstract: A knitted fabric panel structure has first and second spaced apart knitted layers and an intermediate spacing knit of ribs interconnecting the layers, the ribs of the spacing unit being of an industrial yarn of aramide fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, fiberglass, or blends of such fibers. The spacing knit is impregnated with a hardened resin such that the intermediate ribs form rigid spacing elements of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A wave guide fitted at the output of a loudspeaker, in front of the membrane or in front of the orifice of a compression chamber, along the axis of the transducer being considered, and comprising a conduit which expands from its input to its output. The area of the output orifice of the wave guide is planar and oblong, that its conduit comprises a passage between the input orifice and the output area, adapted to guide the waves along a general direction from which the shortest paths allowed in the one or more passages are all of lengths which are practically identical from the input orifice to the output orifice of the conduit. The invention is for use in providing sound to large areas.

Abstract: Laser-induced color printing with means with which the printing color of a micro-capsule to be impinged by the laser beam (12) is identified. These means are a fluorescence transformer material as a constituent of the content of the micro-capsules (3) or an additional white light ray with which the printing color of an individual micro-capsule (3) can likewise be identified.The printing ensues given coincidence of a printing instruction provided for a defined location with color specification and of the momentary incidence of the scanning laser beam (12) on a micro-capsule (3) for which this printing color has been identified as being present.

Abstract: A laser beam printer is provided with a sensor for controlling the timing of inscribing image data on a photosensitive member by means of a laser beam scanning the surface of the photosensitive member. The output signal of this sensor rises when the laser beam reaches a prescribed position and falls when the laser beam passes the prescribed position. The time between the rising time and the falling time is used as the standard. Inscription of image data in each scanning line is started after elapse of a prescribed time following the standard time. The standard time remains unchanged in spite of a possible change in the sensor output. On the photosensitive member, the position for starting inscription of each scanning line can be set at the fixed position with high accuracy.

Abstract: A device for providing the modulus and loss factor values of a damping material based upon temperature and frequency which includes (i) an insert having (a) temperature isotherms on one side, and (b) graphs of the modulus and loss factor values for the damping material as a variable of temperature and frequency on the other side, and (ii) a sleeve for the insert which has (aa) a temperature isotherm display window for displaying the temperature isotherms on the insert, (bb) a frequency scale proximate the temperature isotherm display window, and (cc) a means for highlighting a modulus value and a loss factor value from the modulus and loss factor graphs provided on the insert.

Abstract: Apparatus for thermal printing of a color image includes a donor member that contains a set of color stripes for each pixel in a repeating pattern in the cross-scan direction and in continuous stripes in the page scan direction. As the printing beam is scanned across the donor, it addresses the sequence of color dyes and if the beam is of sufficient intensity at any one of the color stripes; it causes the dye to transfer to the receiver material. To compensate for variations in the scan rate of the beam, light reflected from the donor member is used to form color timing signals that correspond to the color stripes of the pattern scanned by the beam. The timing signals align the modulation of the beam to the color stripe pattern of the donor member whereby accurate color registration is obtained.

Abstract: A binary architectured LED printhead is driven in accordance with a multiple addressable, i.e., multiple sub-lines of recording, scheme to record grey level pixels. Respective sub-lines are recorded using a series of pulses that form a set of binary-weighted exposure strobe durations. Exposure durations for recording successive strobed sub-lines with a particular LED are ordered so that larger duration strobe pulses are followed by shorter duration strobe pulses. A plurality of strobe enable lines are provided to which respective recording elements are connected. A pulse from this set is generated during a sub-line exposure period on each enable line with each enable line having a pulse generated thereon that is of a different duration than that generated on the other enabling lines during the sub-line recording period and wherein during a sub-line exposure period the respective pulses on the enabling lines are substantially nonconcurrent.

Abstract: A technique for producing pixel patterns at different selected wavelengths. A diode laser is repeatedly pulsed and has its temperature changed from pulse to pulse, which causes the output wavelength to change. This allows pixel patterns to be interlaced by the use of dispersive elements such as prisms in the optical train. A temperature shift of about 15.degree. C. provides a wavelength shift of about 30 angstroms, which is usable. A temperature shift of 20.degree. C.-30.degree. C. or more is preferable. The temperature shifts may be accomplished by supplying specific currents below threshold and above threshold. For two-wavelength operation, the laser is driven at a first bias current below threshold for a first non-illumination interval, at a first pulse current above threshold for a first illumination interval, at a second bias current below threshold for a second non-illumination interval, and a second pulse current above threshold for a second illumination interval.

Abstract: For projecting optical images onto a transfer printing drum of a non-mechanical printer, an apparatus is used with which the optical character generators can be introduced and removed adjustment-free. To that end, two fastening elements are provided in the printer housing and are adjusted at a constant spacing from the transfer printing drum. For the acceptance of the character generator these fastening elements comprise tapering guide slots that are each respectively fashioned ramp-shaped and into which guide pins of the character generator can be inserted, the character generator being fixed parallel to the rotational axis of the transfer printing drum as a result thereof. The apparatus provides for the adjustment-free integration of optical character generators, particularly for non-mechanical printers.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting center pulse width modulation of electronic printer lighter emitting elements is disclosed. The most significaant bit of the energization pulse for the printer light emitting elements is centered and each succeeding less significant bit is divided in half so as to form a mirror image on each side of the centered most significant bit.

Abstract: An LED printhead or the like includes a data bus for carrying multibit digital image data signals for grey level recording. A token bit signal is generated and shifted through registers upon the printhead to enable image data registers associated with each LED to latch the image data signals in appropriate order. The image data signals control the energization times for recording pixels. A digitally adjustable current mirror controls the level of current to each LED during recording. Digital current data signals for controlling this level of current are also communicated over one of the lines of the data bus. A token bit signal is also used to control the latching of current data signals in registers storing the digital data used for current control.

Abstract: A sound attenuating device is provided for attenuating noise in an exhaust system. The attenuating device includes an inlet end, an outlet end and a constricted portion therebetween. In use, the attenuating device may be disposed in a tubular housing or may be an integral portion of a tail pipe, connecting pipe, or muffler. Further, a sound suppressing system is described including one or more attenuating regions including attenuating devices. The attenuating regions are spaced to attenuate desired frequencies. Expansion chambers formed between attenuating regions contribute to sound suppression.

Abstract: In a non-impact printer apparatus, such as an LED printer, multiple bits of image data determining the on-time of each LED for generating a grey level pixel are latched into an appropriate data register from a data bus in accordance with a token bit that is passed along a shift register. The data register for each LED comprises a series of cascaded registers coupled as a ripple counter. Each of these registers stores a respective binary weighted data bit. In response to a clock signal at one of the clock inputs of one register the counter effectively counts down to a zero output condition and thereby directly controls LED enablement time.

Abstract: An identity card is provided with a character set usable as a printing block, whereby the "natural foamability" that laser action brings about in the plastic materials commonly used for identity cards, such as PVC and polycarbonate, is exploited to obtain a relief height sufficient for a clear impression of the characters. The standard total height of the embossed characters relative to the rest of the card surface is reached by an additional deformation of the card body in the embossed character area so as to form flat plateaus underlying the characters.