Abstract: An image-forming device has a carriage, a conveying unit, a controller, and a detector. The carriage has recording elements to form dots on a sheet having an edge extending in the subscanning direction. The carriage is movable in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the subscanning direction. The conveying unit conveys the sheet in the subscanning direction by a predetermined distance when the recording unit moves in the subscanning direction. The controller sequentially selects a first distance n times (n: a natural number) as the predetermined distance, and selects a second distance as the predetermined distance after the n times of selection of the first distance. The second distance is longer than the first distance. The detector detects the edge of the sheet only after the sheet is conveyed by the second distance.

Abstract: A laser induced thermal imaging apparatus for imaging an imaging layer of a donor film on an acceptor substrate. The laser induced thermal imaging apparatus includes: a substrate stage having an electromagnet, and adapted to receive an acceptor substrate having a pixel area of the organic light emitting device and a donor film including the organic light emitting layer to be imaged on the pixel area; a laser oscillator for irradiating a laser on the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be located between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator and including an opening portion of a pattern corresponding to a part to be imaged of the donor film and a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic force with the substrate stage; and a contact frame moving mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage.

Abstract: A system optically detects and measures release agent on a rotating image member in an ink jet printer. The system includes a collimated light source oriented to direct a collimated beam of light generated by the source towards a rotating image member, an image sensor for generating an image of a portion of the rotating image member from a portion of the collimated beam of light reflected by the rotating image member, an image differentiator for measuring a difference between a first image generated by the image sensor and a second image generated by the image sensor, and a release agent measurement generator that is coupled to the image differentiator to receive the difference between the two images and to generate a measurement of the release agent on the rotating image member.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus comprises rollers, an endless conveyor belt, a nip roller, and an ink-jet head. The endless conveyor belt is stretched between the rollers. The nip roller cooperates with an outer surface of the conveyor belt to sandwich a recording medium. The ink-jet head has nozzles from which ink is ejected to the recording medium that is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction by the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has a base member, an elastic layer formed on an outer surface of the base member, and an adhesive layer formed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and holding thereon the recording medium. The elastic layer deforms in its thickness direction when the recording medium is sandwiched between the adhesive layer and the nip roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light irradiating apparatus comprising a plurality of light emitting elements which emit light of a specific wavelength region and form elliptical light images on a surface to be irradiated, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are mutually arranged so that the light images are made continuous along their major axis directions. Further, the invention also discloses the above-mentioned light irradiating process and an image recording process.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a frame, a light source, an optical member, and a spacer. The light source emits a light beam. The optical member is mounted on the frame to guide the light beam to a scanning target. The spacer maintains the optical member at a predetermined position with respect to the frame. The spacer is formed of a photocurable resin that is cured in response to a predetermined light having a wavelength within a prescribed range.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system includes an ink jet print head configured to deliver ink drops to a substrate, a support member having a plurality of protrusions configured to carry the substrate by being in contact with the lower surface of the substrate, and a substrate conveying mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the ink jet print head and the support member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a polygon mirror, a plurality of laser generators, a first sensor, and a second sensor are disposed at a resin frame. A laser beam outputted from each of the laser generators and deflected by a deflection surface is irradiated onto a surface of a photosensitive drum to scan the surface over a scan part. The first sensor is disposed at a first position to detect a laser beam deflected by the deflection surface. The second sensor is disposed at a second position to detect a laser beam deflected by the deflection surface. A storage unit stores correspondence information indicating shift of the scan part from a reference scan part in relation to time difference between detections of the laser beam by the first and second sensor. A controller controls the laser generator to output a laser beam based on the shift of the scan part.

Abstract: A method for forming a mark includes ejecting a droplet of a liquid containing a mark forming material onto a surface of an object; radiating a laser beam from a radiation port to a predetermined radiation target position; moving at least one of the object and the radiation port relative to the other in such a manner that the laser beam radiated from the radiation port is radiated onto the droplet on the surface, wherein the droplet forms a mark on the surface by being irradiated with the laser beam; and pivoting the radiation port about the radiation target position as a pivot axis so as to set a radiation angle of the laser beam.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a main body for recording on a recording medium, a protective cover which has an opening, for covering the main body with a portion other than the opening of the protective cover, and a waterproof cover which is connected to the protective cover via first and second connecting portions. When the first and second connecting portions are respectively in connected states, the waterproof cover is positioned so that the waterproof cover is opposed to the opening of the protective cover, and there is a gap for passing the recording medium between the protective cover and the waterproof cover. When the first connecting portion is in the connected state and the second connecting portion is in a disconnected state, the waterproof cover is moved to a position so that a part of the main body can be exposed to an outside through the opening.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a print media rotary transport apparatus and method of operation. The print media transport apparatus comprises a print media rotary path and a print media rotary bypass path, wherein the print media rotary path rotates a print media sheet about an axis orthogonal to the print media sheet.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector that deflects a light beam from the light source, a first optical system that guides the light beam to the deflector, a second optical system that guides the light beam from the deflector to a surface to be scanned, and a housing that holds the light source and the deflector. At least one optical element included in the first optical system or the second optical system is attached to the housing via an intermediate member. The optical element is adjustable with respect to the intermediate member. The number of directions in which the optical element can be adjusted is two or more.

Abstract: In a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, methods and apparatus include storing alignment information. In one aspect, pre-characterization parameters of the EP device are stored in memory, such as NVRAM, resistant to the removal of power. In another, actual parameters of the EP device are learned during calibration and stored in the same memory. A controller has local or remote access to the memory and makes comparisons of the pre-characterized and learned parameters to implement corrections. Especially, scan alignment corrections are implemented to alter future scanning of scan lines of latent images on a photoconductor whereby the scan lines are formed in alternating directions. Certain contemplated parameters include, but are not limited to, a scan detect to print distance from a sensor to the start of imaging, temperature, pressure, a scanning mechanism drive signal parameter, such as pulse width, or sensor delay information.

Abstract: A disclosed device for optically scanning a target surface includes a light source unit configured to emit a light beam; a light intensity detecting unit; a coupling unit configured to substantially collimate the emitted light beam; a beam limiting unit configured to limit the amount of the collimated light beam; a beam splitting unit configured to split the beam limited light beam and thereby to cause a first portion of the beam limited light beam to enter the light intensity detecting unit, wherein the light intensity detecting unit is configured to detect the intensity of the first portion of the beam limited light beam; and a beam deflecting unit configured to deflect a second portion of the split light beam toward the target surface. In the disclosed device, the beam limiting unit and the beam splitting unit are integrated as a single unitary structure and positioned between the coupling unit and the light deflecting unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include improving print quality of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine, according to temperature. A moving galvanometer or oscillator reflects a laser beam to create forward and reverse scan lines of a latent image. During use, the actual ambient temperature is obtained and used make corrections to improve print quality, such as by producing the latent image with a signal altered from an image data input signal to help ensure proper alignment of the forward and reverse scan lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; an exposure member that has an exposure portion exposing the image holder; a first positioning unit that determines a distance in a first direction, which is a direction of an optical axis of the exposure member, between the exposure member and the image holder; and a second positioning unit that determines a position of the exposure member with respect to the image holder in a second direction being a direction of an axis line of the image holder, and a position of the exposure member with respect to the image holder in a third direction being perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and that determines the distance between the exposure member and the image holder at a position substantially closer to the exposure member than the position of the first positioning unit.

Abstract: A method of printing using an image-on-image device that includes a photoreceptor, including monochrome exposing the photoreceptor or monochrome charging the photoreceptor, wherein monochrome exposing the photoreceptor includes charging the photoreceptor, successively exposing the photoreceptor in a monochrome mode using a plurality of exposing devices during a single revolution of the photoreceptor relative to the exposing devices, and developing a monochrome image on the photoreceptor; and monochrome charging the photoreceptor includes successively charging the photoreceptor via a plurality of charging devices during a single revolution of the photoreceptor relative to the charging devices, exposing the photoreceptor using an exposing device, and developing an image on the photoreceptor. A marking device capable of implementing the method of printing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include improving print quality of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine, according to ambient pressure in which operated. A moving galvanometer or oscillator reflects a laser beam to create scan lines of a latent image in opposite directions. A damping of the motion occurs per air density implicated by temperature and pressure, where the pressure changes occurring especially from altitude changes. During use, a drive signal, such as a pulse train, moves the galvanometer or oscillator at or near its resonant frequency. Based on a parameter of the drive signal, such as pulse width, the ambient pressure can be made known. In general, a high-pressure environment requires a relatively longer pulse width to resonate the galvanometer or oscillator in comparison to a shorter pulse width for a low-pressure environment. Corrections to print quality stem from the determined ambient pressure.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a recording apparatus, which includes a sensor having a plurality of light-emitting elements and a plurality of light-receiving elements. The sensor can be configured to perform a detection operation. The detection operation includes at least two of an operation for detecting an edge of a recording medium, an operation for detecting a distance between a recording head and the recording medium, an operation for detecting the density of an image formed on the recording medium, and an operation for detecting the kind of the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an optical member, a casing, and an exit hole cover. The light source emits a light beam. The polygon mirror rotates and deflects the light beam to be scanned in a scanning direction. The optical member focuses the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror onto a scanning target. The casing houses the polygon mirror and the optical member and includes a first wall portion having a wall inner surface opposing the polygon mirror and the optical member and a wall outer surface opposing the scanning target. The first wall portion is formed with an exit hole through which the light beam is irradiated toward the scanning target. The exit hole cover is formed of a light transmissible member and is disposed on the wall outer surface to cover the exit hole.