Abstract: An ink cartridge in which a space inside the ink cartridge is divided by a cylindrical bulkhead into two parts, a negative pressure generator chamber located inside the bulkhead and a liquid chamber located outside the bulkhead. The negative pressure generator chamber communicates with the atmosphere via an air intake port, communicates with an ink supply port, and contains a negative pressure generator. The liquid chamber contains liquid ink directly. The negative pressure generator chamber and the liquid chamber communicate with each other only via a communicating portion provided in the bulkhead. The entire peripheral surface of the lower portion of the negative pressure generator is in contact with the ink in the liquid chamber through the communicating portion continuously provided in the bulkhead.

Abstract: An optical writing system with at least two laser diodes capable of correcting hue deviations. The optical writing system is capable of correcting dot forming positions in the main scanning direction, and setting values for correction through an external key operation unit stored in a phase shift amount register by way of a CPU included in a main controller, and by applying values for arbitrarily shifting picture element clock phases for respective laser diodes. Thus, frequency fluctuations and characteristic changes in the laser diodes over time are compensated, positional precision with respect to a synchronization point is assured for respective laser diodes, picture images at the terminating edge in the main scanning direction is stabilized, and subtle hue variations can be reduced in half tone image portions during repeated full color image formations.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and adjusting the calibration for an image processing apparatus entails imaging a calibration target to create an image using the image processing apparatus and scanning the image into host software to create an exposure calibration curve. Control strips are imaged to create control strip images on order to obtain a calibrated density history for the control strips using the control strip images. The control strip images are scanned into the host software to obtain a scanned density history for each control strip and thereby form a density history for the control strips. A deviation history is calculated by comparing the scanned density history to the calibrated density history for each control strip. The deviation history is monitored to ensure that the deviation history is within the operating specifications for the image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines which are operatively connected to each other for printing images onto print media. A print media transport system collects printed media from the marking engines. The print media transport system includes a common paper path which receives printed media from the first and second marking engines. A sensor element is associated with the common paper path for measuring an image quality parameter of printed media traveling thereon and generating a control signal therefrom. An image quality controller is in communication with the sensor element for adjusting image quality parameters in at least one of the first marking engine and second marking engine based on the control signal to reduce a variation in an image quality characteristic of printed images produced by the first and second marking engines.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that generates a non-Cartesian coordinate system for an optical disc. One or more uniform distances, as well as a plurality of positions on the optical disc, are selected. Each position is separated from adjacent positions by one of the uniform distances, and has a location on the optical disc specifiable to a same degree of precision by at least one integral coordinate.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device of the present invention has a light source, a deflection reflecting surface for deflecting to scan light from the light source on a recording medium, and a diaphragm device which is provided between the light source and the deflection reflecting surface, and the diaphragm has an opening section formed by a nonplanar light shielding section. The light shielding section makes light shielding quantity of the light from the light source in a vertical scanning direction different in positions in a horizontal scanning direction and in a light advancing direction.

Abstract: A handheld device for testing printer cartridges that interfaces with a computer for processing of test results is provided. Multiple testing devices may be coupled to the computer. In one embodiment, each testing device includes a base board and an adaptor board. The base board includes a host processor and a computer interface. The adaptor board comprises a cartridge-specific socket for retaining a printer cartridge to be tested and test circuitry. The adaptor boards may be interchanged. In another embodiment, the device obtains power from the computer interface. A computer program communicates with the test device and displays the results of the tests through execution of a suitable application or program. In a presently preferred embodiment, the application presents a pass/fail indication to a user and tallies the number of passed/failed cartridges.

Abstract: 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. According to an image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of light sources for forming a plurality of scanning lines with the light beams from a plurality of the light sources, the polarization direction of the light beams from the light sources at the time of being incident on the corresponding deflector is provided substantially in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head that causes an electrostatic force to act on ink containing charged colored particles based on an image signal to eject an ink droplet on a recording medium, an ink supply unit that supplies the ink to the ink jet head, an ink collection unit that collects the ink not ejected from the ink jet head and a particle diameter distribution narrowing unit that narrows a particle diameter distribution of the charged colored particles contained in the ink. The narrowing unit includes an electrode cleaning unit that cleans an electrode for generating electrophoresis in the ink.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a plurality of driven elements has a memory for storing driving data on each of the driven elements for driving the driven elements, and a computing unit that reads, from the memory, driving data on a driven element corresponding to a dot of interest and driving data on at least one driven element corresponding to at least one dot included in an area of predetermined dimensions in which the dot of interest is included, and produces corrected printing data based on the driving data read from the memory and on printing data on the dot of interest input from a higher control unit. The image forming apparatus performs printing by driving the driven element corresponding to the dot of interest by use of the corrected printing data.

Abstract: A light scanning device includes an optical element that images, on an image holding body, a light beam emitted from a light source. The light scanning device further includes a holding member that holds the optical element, and scanning line curve correcting mechanism for correcting the optical element in a sub scanning direction to correct a scanning line formed by the light beam in the sub scanning direction. The light scanning device further includes a scanning line inclination correcting mechanism for entirely tilting the optical element to correct an inclination of the scanning line. At least one part of the scanning line curve correcting mechanism, and at least one part of the scanning line inclination correcting mechanism are provided integrally with the holding member.

Abstract: A light source control apparatus for controlling the output of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrying member in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the light source control apparatus according to the present invention including a storing unit that stores first drive control data of the light source on two or more positions of the image carrying member, an interpolating that generates second drive control data on at least one interpolation position between the two or more positions based on the first drive control data, a digital-analog converting unit that converts the first and second drive control data to an analog signal, a low-pass filter that cuts a high-frequency component of the analog signal outputted from the digital-analog converting unit, and a driving unit that drives the light source in response to the analog signal from which the high-frequency component has been cut by the low-pass filter, wherein the low-pass filter has a cut-off frequency hig

Abstract: A valve mechanism and a method for preparing an inkjet print cartridge and printer for inactivity is herein disclosed. Pressurized fluid is introduced to a standpipe volume to create a pressure differential that forces ink within the standpipe into an ink reservoir.

Abstract: A laser beam source that emits a laser beam includes a reflecting unit that has a plurality of reflecting members and reflects the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source, a deflecting and scanning unit that deflects and scans with the laser beam reflected by the reflecting means, and an adjusting unit that moves at least part of the reflecting members, and adjusts the size of the laser beam entering the deflecting and scanning unit.

Abstract: A laser printer for Braille that obviates the need for embossing mechanisms and specialized paper. A laser printer for Braille according to the present teachings increases an amount of a toner that adheres to an area of a paper that corresponds to the Braille element. The increased amount of toner yields a printed Braille element that may be read by touch.

Abstract: A drive device drives a liquid discharging head to discharge, in accompaniment with the application of a drive signal voltage to a drive element, recording droplets from a nozzle disposed with the drive element. The drive device includes: a fundamental waveform data supply component that generates and supplies plural types of fundamental waveform data representing fundamental waveforms whose voltage level changes in two stages; and a drive signal voltage generation component that generates plural types of fundamental waveform voltages by boosting, to mutually different voltage levels, the plural types of fundamental waveform data supplied from the fundamental waveform data supply component, and which generates a drive signal voltage whose voltage level changes in at least three stages by switching, in accordance with an inputted selection signal, the fundamental waveform voltage to be selectively outputted as the drive signal voltage from the generated plural types of fundamental waveform voltages.

Abstract: Light source and light beam scanning units with reduced deviation of beam positions over time and ambient conditions, in use for image forming apparatuses. In the light source unit for emanating light beams, including a plurality of LEDs and coupling lenses each corresponding to the LEDs, there are provided lens holders having two supporting faces aligned approximately parallel to the optical axes of the coupling lenses, elastic members for abutting the coupling lenses by pressing the side portions thereof onto the supporting faces, light source support members for holding LEDs corresponding to the coupling lenses, and bolts for fixing the light source support members. Following the proper adjustment of the position of the lens holder in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axes of the coupling lenses, the light source support members is fixed onto lens holder by bolts.

Abstract: A bypass flowing passage communicating with the inside of a bag part not through a second valve mechanism is provided for an outlet part 12, and ink can be filled from the outlet part into the bag part 11 despite the second valve mechanism V2. After an ink pack is housed in an inner case ink is filled into the ink pack. When a first seal film is welded to the inner case, the ends of the bag part are caught in a cartridge case because the bag part is not bulky. Therefore, the maximum amount of ink for the inner volume of the cartridge case can be filled. Further, since a bypass flowing passage is blocked after ink has filled the ink pack, contaminating of air bubbles into the bag part through the bypass flowing passage is prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus records an image on a photosensitive material by controlling a light emission amount from a plurality of light emission elements that each emit light in accordance with a supplied light emission control signal. The apparatus has a control signal generation unit and a first and second signal generation sections and a signal switching section. The control signal generation unit generates a first light amount control signal from a density modulation. The second signal generation section generates an ON/OFF control signal and a second light amount control signal as a pair of signals from a combination of a density modulation and an area modulation. The signal switching section generates a light emission control signal by performing signal switching between the first light amount control signal and the pair of the signals. The exposure by the light emission is overlaid.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for recording a datum onto a pixel on a light-sensitive sheet. The system essentially includes a light-emitting device and an interfering device. The interfering device has a plurality of gratings. According to the datum, at least one grating is selected from the plurality of gratings. Before the datum is recorded, the selected grating and the light-emitting device are both moved so as to align with the pixel. Then, the light-emitting device is driven to emit a light through the selected grating. Thereby, the datum is recorded on the pixel.