Abstract: A device for positioning a sheet-shaped material by providing a plurality of pairs of pins on a conveying path. Printing plate precursors are classified, on the basis of widths thereof, into large-sized and small-sized. Two pairs of positioning pins are provided for each size, and are disposed so as to be offset in a direction of conveying a printing plate precursor toward a rotating drum. A width of a small-sized printing plate precursor is smaller than a pitch dimension of a pair of positioning pins for large-sized printing plate precursors. Therefore, the small-sized printing plate precursor abuts and is positioned by positioning pins for small-sized printing plate precursors which are provided further ahead. Moreover, a large-sized printing plate precursor directly abuts and is positioned by the positioning pins for large-sized printing plate precursors, so as not to be interfered with by the positioning pins for small-sized printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface of an electrically insulating layer supported by an electrically conducting substrate. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically insulating layer and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus has a rotating drum for winding a printing plate on which an image is recorded; a punch unit for forming punched holes to be used for positioning in printing processing on the printing plate; a conveying guide unit having a guide section that selectively moves to a first position facing the punch unit and a second position facing the rotating drum to guide a printing plate to the selected position so as to supply the printing plate; a width direction moving unit for moving in a width direction while a conveying pin is in contact with a width direction edge of the printing plate that is put on the conveying guide unit; a reference pin moving unit having a reference pin disposed at an opposite side of the width direction moving unit for defining the width direction edge of the printing plate, the reference pin moving unit moving the reference pin in accordance with a size of the printing plate; and a home position sensor mounted on a fixing portion independently of the conveying guid

Abstract: A form cylinder is provided with a circumferential surface which is convexly curved in the axial direction, such that the convex profile, determined by calculation, of the circumferential surface varies in such a way that the diameter of the form cylinder is largest in the axial center and smallest at the lateral edges.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus achieves miniaturization thereof and improvement of image quality. The shape of an optical scanning device mount frame mounting an optical scanning device is trapezoidal, and asymmetrical with respect to a center line thereof, and a short side part and a long side part are attached to a first and second frames of the apparatus, respectively. A space for attaching parts is available on the side of the first frame, and a driving device is placed inside the first frame so that the apparatus can be miniaturized. Since the optical scanning device mount frame is asymmetrical with respect to the center line thereof, as compared with one having a symmetrical shape, an eigenvalue of vibration can be shifted to a high frequency, and the mount frame is resistant to vibrate. Thus, the fluctuation of a light beam is suppressed, and the image quality can be improved.

Abstract: A printing press ink transfer mechanism includes a primary flow metering device to monitor the flow ink supply and a secondary flow metering device to monitor the return flow of the ink to the supply. The difference in ink flow between the supply and return is delivered to the application rollers of a printing press.

Abstract: Print data containing a specific print pattern and the number of paper sheets to be printed is input from an external interface. On the basis of the print pattern and the number of printing thereof to be printed, the temperature of an inkjet printhead is predicted by a program executed by a CPU. A drive signal for the inkjet printhead is set before the start of printing on the basis of the prediction result.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus in which the number of beam detectors is decreased and which is low in cost and high in the accuracy of the registration position of an image of each color as well as high in quality.

Abstract: A pearlescent honeycomb material and an apparatus and method for making expandable pearlescent honeycomb structures suitable for use as window coverings. In one embodiment, a pearlescent material is prepared and then folded into tubular strips. These folded tubular strips with adhesive lines applied to them are fed continuously through a cutter which cuts them into predetermined lengths. The cut strips are then accelerated to a stacker for further processing before the next cut strip arrives. In another embodiment, webs of material are fed continuously in a downstream direction, adhesive lines are applied, a middle web is slitted into strips, and the strips bonded along opposite edges to the outer webs. By choosing for the outer webs transparent or porous material, and for the middle web opaque material, a light or air controlling honeycomb structure results.

Abstract: A method of color printing on packaging containers using transparent colors is described. The method is limited to the use of no more than two of the primary process colors. For many images primary process colors are not needed at all. Preferably, only two transparent inks will be used. In some cases an opaque ink may be applied first as a masking image underlying a part or all of the transparent ink overprint. In other cases the opaque ink may be applied last as a masking print over part of the image. The method can be used on any substrate color but it is particularly useful on dyed papers or unbleached kraft brownboard. While color reproduction is not totally accurate, nor is this expected in a colorimetric sense, surprisingly attractive and realistic images generally faithful to the original are attainable.

Abstract: In a picture reading device having a light emitting element that obliquely irradiates the surface of a paper with light, an area sensor that reads its irradiated area as a picture in which information related to a paper is read on the basis of the read results, the light irradiating element is arranged with an angle so as to irradiate the light from a direction oblique to a conveying direction of the paper. As a result, the picture reading device of the present invention eliminates such a problem that the same paper surface is received as a different image depending on the incident direction of the light, and the information related to an object to be read cannot be accurately read.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a multi-color image by superposing a plurality of monochrome images is provided. The image forming apparatus includes, for each color, an image forming unit that forms the monochrome image; a pattern forming unit that forms a predetermined compensation pattern; a pattern position detecting unit that detects the position of the compensation pattern formed by the pattern forming unit; and an image position adjusting unit that adjusts the position of the monochrome image to be formed by the image forming unit based on the position of the compensation pattern detected by the pattern position detecting unit. Since the compensation pattern is formed under an image forming condition adjustable independently from another image forming condition with which the monochrome images are formed, the image forming apparatus can adjust positional deviation of monochrome images.

Abstract: A label making inkjet printer applies print imaging directly to the adhesive side of a media provided in sheet-form and in reel-form. Because inkjet printing is a non-contact printing method, print imaging may be applied to the adhesive side of the media According to one embodiment, a user manually pulls tape-form media through the printer while encoding signals detect linear movement of the media and provide basis for synchronizing operation of an inkjet print head. According to another embodiment, a motorized media transport carries tape-form media on a pair of media transport belts past an inkjet print head. The resulting adhesive label when applied to a contact surface substantially disappears due to its transparent nature leaving visible only print imaging applied thereto and captured between the protective tape media and contact surface therebelow.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical beam scanning device and an image forming apparatus capable of restraining the light amount irregularity in the main scanning direction in the image plane. An optical beam scanning device of the present invention is for having a light beam with the width in the main scanning direction wider than the width in the main scanning direction of the reflection surface of a deflector incident on the deflector, reflecting and polarizing a part thereof by the reflection surface of the deflector, and focusing the polarized light beam on a surface to be scanned by optical means including a transmission type optical member. Then, the polarization direction of the light beam incident on the deflector is substantially in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A method of producing an image is described which includes depositing onto a substrate a material capable of sustaining a relief feature imparted thereto. A coloring agent is applied directly to this material. A material for producing an image is also described which includes an emulsive agent and a viscosity control agent. In addition, an article is described which includes a relief layer and a coloring layer directly in contact with the relief layer. The relief layer includes a material containing an emulsive agent and a viscosity control agent.

Abstract: A cover for a numbering stamp has a cover body, two side surfaces, an outer surface, two recesses and multiple slots. The cover body is U-shaped, and each recess is defined on one of the side surfaces. The recesses attach to the stamping apparatus. The slots are defined through the outer surface of the cover, and multiple adjustment disks of the stamping apparatus extend respectively out of the slots. The cover for the numbering stamp prevents a person's fingers from getting dirty.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device includes plural light sources, a pre-deflection optical unit, a light deflection unit, a post-deflection optical unit, and a horizontal synchronization unit. One of the formed plural latent images is formed by plural light beams while the other latent images are respectively formed by one light beam, and the light deflection unit deflects the light beams forming the plurality latent images by one surface or integrally processed surface thereof. The horizontal synchronization unit is on a position of an upstream side of scanning lines forming the latent image formed by the plural light beams and deflects that the light beam forming the latent image formed by the plural light beams reaches a predetermined position. The image forming apparatus employs the optical beam scanning device and controls timing to form images by the respective light beams with reference to a moment when the light to be detected reaches a predetermined position.

Abstract: A laser scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus adopting the same include a plurality of photogenerators emitting parallel lights, a plurality of rotatable polygonal mirrors which deflect the lights emitted from the photogenerators in a main scanning direction having a range of a predetermined angle to scan the lights onto photosensitive media proceeding in a sub scanning direction, the rotatable polygonal mirrors stacked on a driving unit to match corresponding ones of the photogenerators and coupled with a rotation shaft of the driving unit to rotate therewith, a plurality of first lenses which are installed in light paths between the photogenerators and the rotatable polygonal mirrors, respectively, and collect the lights in the sub scanning direction, and a plurality of second lenses which collect the lights deflected by the rotatable polygonal mirrors on corresponding ones of the photosensitive media.

Abstract: A magnetic clamp for firmly clamping the edge of an imaging media on an imaging bed has one or more magnetic assemblies located in a clamp frame. The magnetic assemblies include magnets which may be permanent magnets, the magnets are prevented from contacting the imaging bed surface by pole pieces. The pole pieces contact the surface of an imaging bed thus channelling the magnetic flux generated by the magnets through the surface to provide a clamping force. In one embodiment, the magnetic assemblies are slidable in a frame to allow clamping of different thickness media.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.