Abstract: An image recording device comprises a plural number of recording heads for jetting inks with respective different colors. The device performs recording of color images on a paper while reciprocally moving the recording heads in the direction in which they are arranged. First and second groups of recording heads are provided for respective colors, and the first group of recording heads are arranged in position with a predetermined pitch shifted in the direction of the arrangement of the ink jetting orifices of the respective heads from the second group of recording heads.

Abstract: A block of solid state ink is sequentially melted on demand as it is advanced against a heater plate. Sequentially melted ink flows into a continuously heated reservoir which supplies one or more ink jets.

Abstract: A charge detector forming part of a device for controlling the electrostatic charge applied to ink drops in an ink-jet printer comprises at least one internal conductive cylindrical rod connected to an electronic circuit and surrounded by an insulating sleeve. The sleeve is tightly fitted within an outer conductive cylinder which is connected to ground. A calibrated slot of predetermined length and width is formed so as to provide a passageway for the flow of ink drops through the detector. As each ink drop passes in front of the conductive cylindrical rod, a signal is induced and processed by the electronic circuit. The device also serves to control at least one ink-pressurizing pump with a view to ensuring constant flow velocity of the ink drops.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises: at least one ink jet head to emit a recording ink; main and sub ink tanks to store the ink which should be supplied to the head; a negative pressure generating device to generate a negative pressure to supply the ink from the sub ink tank into the head under the suction action; a pressure sensor, provided in the ink passage, for detecting whether the recording ink substantially remains or not in the sub ink tank when the negative pressure generating device operates. In response to a pressure variation in the ink passage, the pressure sensor determines that no ink substantially remains in the sub ink tank when the pressure in the ink passage is higher than a preset value, thereby generating a detection signal to supplement a new ink into the tank to a control circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for producing clock signals which are used to precisely control the modulation of a light beam by an acousto-optic modulator as it is line scanned by a moving mirror. The apparatus employs a set of spaced detectors which are located in the scanned beam path and respectively produce start-of-scan (SOS) and end-of-scan (EOS) signals. An oscillator which includes a delay line is responsive to the SOS and EOS signals to produce the clock signals. The delay line coupled to a NOR gate and flip-flop produces a delay line with the precise period .tau..

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for marking information on items particularly mass produced items. The message to be marked is generated on a high resolution cathode ray tube screen. The image is then coupled into the input end of a liquid crystal light valve and the incoherent image converted to a coherent image by using a laser beam and then separated by a light polarizer into positive and negative images. The separated images are then used to mark a message on the surface of an object.

Abstract: A multicolor serial dot printer has memories for storing printing data, which memories number the same as the recording colors. A bar graph, for example, is printed in staggered patterns and numerals and the like are superposed on it. For printing in black and red, for example, the graph data to be printed in red is stored in a memory, while the numeral data to be printed in black is stored in another memory. A control section controls read/write operations of the printing data into and from the memories, and also controls the operation of a printer control section. Under the control of the control section, the printer control section drives ink jet nozzles to print in accordance with the printing data read out from the memories. The printed graph is easy to see, and printing paper sheets are saved.

Abstract: A method for automatically correcting variations in intensity of laser beams output from a projection lens, which variations occur due to variations of a spectrum pattern of optical fibers when their tip portions move, by paying attention to each of focal points of an image sensor which focal points correspond respectively to the optical fibers, comparing the sum of signal outputs from regions of the image sensor, which regions correspond respectively to the laser beams, with a signal output corresponding to a standard beam intensity required for the exposure of a photosensitive material to determine a value to be corrected, and then feeding the value back to acousto-optic light modulators so as to change the modulation efficienties of the acousto-optic light modulators.

Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining the viscosity of a consumable water-containing ink supply at a constant value by measuring water vapor content of the vapor in equilibrium with the ink supply and adding a sufficient amount of water to restore the water vapor content to a predetermined value. The method has particular application for controlling the viscosity of ink used in jet ink printers.

Abstract: A pen recorder is provided with a holder base and a hammer base which are movable along a platen. A plurality of pens are mounted in parallel on the holder base. A hammer for pressing any one of the pens is mounted on the hammer base. One of the bases is driven by a driving means such as a pulse motor. Moreover, a lock mechanism is provided for connecting the holder base and the hammer base. Thus, it becomes possible to select the pen to be pressed by the hammer through the movement of relative position between the bases effected by the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A graphic recording system wherein a plurality of recording elements are carried by a carriage, the carriage being movable in two directions along a path relative to a recording medium. An actuator selectively actuates the recording elements by mechanical engagement for recording on the medium. A rod having a longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to the path is supported, independently of the carriage, for rotation about its axis. An actuator arm is carried by the rod for rotation with the rod while being movable along the rod axis. Detents selectively interlock the actuator and carriage in predetermined relative positions. In a preferred embodiment, the detents are formed of slots within the carriage in predetermined relationships with the recording elements and a key rotatable with the actuator arm into and out of the slots.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer including a printhead having a plurality of individually energizable thermal elements arranged in a primary scanning direction, wherein a carrier sheet bearing a plurality of different color record-forming materials arranged on discrete surface portions located in end-to-end relation in a subsidiary scanning direction and a record medium are pressed together and moved across the printhead in the subsidiary scanning direction in timed relation. The thermal elements are selectively energized to transfer spots of one color record-forming material after another from the carrier sheet to the record medium by repeatedly performing a thermal transfer printing operation. A heating roller and a pressing roller are brought into contact with the record medium after spots of one color record-forming material are transferred, to remove irregularities from the surface of the record medium before transferring thereto spots of another color.

Abstract: A desired picture or pattern such as a wiring pattern may be recorded on a recording surface bearing a photosensitive material coated thereon by sweeping a light beam obtained from a light beam source and then scanning, with the thus-swept light beam, the recording surface. A portion of the swept light beam is branched out by a half-mirror and then fed to optical sweep position detecting means. The light beam from the light beam source is modulated by a picture signal obtained in synchronization with a position signal produced by the detecting means on the basis of the thus-detected portion of the swept light beam in such a way that the thus-modulated light beam is continuously maintained, at least, at such a low light quantity level that is too small to expose the photosensitive material substantially. The method is useful for the fabrication of distortion-free printed circuits.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus of the type responsive to electrical signal input information representative of a select image for line scanning a photosensitive medium with a linear array of spaced apart light emitting elements to record the selected image thereon, there is provided an adjustable mask for controlling the width and hence resolution of each line scanned by the linear array. The adjustable mask is also configured to accommodate oscillation of the light emitting elements in directions which displace the light emitting elements to overlap the spaces between adjacent light emitting elements so as to provide a continuous line exposure.

Abstract: A device to aid an operator in the manual recordation of data includes a case body having a surface upon which a record medium is accepted and plural visual light-emitting members in registry with respective discrete areas on the record medium. The light-emitting members are illuminated in accordance with a timed sequence so that the operator need only visually refer thereto to identify the proper area on the record medium upon which data is to be recorded.

Abstract: A compensation circuit is described for use in a line scan type recording apparatus where an electron beam is scanned on the face of a fiber optic cathode-ray tube (FOCRT) in synchronization with a movable recharging medium. The compensation circuit includes a charge pump circuit, an integrator circuit, and a current source. The charge pump circuit draws a constant charge from the integrator circuit in response to a repetitive series of stepper pulse corresponding to the velocity changes in the recording medium. The current source generates a constant current that flows into the integrator circuit and is equal to the average DC current flowing out of the integrator circuit via the charge pump circuit. The output voltage of the integrator circuit is used for controlling the vertical displacement of the electron beam of the FOCRT in synchronization with the movable recording medium.

Abstract: A disposable marker apparatus for use with low torque recorders includes a bifurcated body with two separate ink reservoirs in the first and second body segments interconnected by a connector segment. The connector segment includes an ink transmitting member. A stylus tube extends from the body. A pivot member is provided to engage an associate pivot support outwardly from said pen body. A substantial portion of the mass of the marker is below the connector segment and the pivot member. The result is a marker having a center of gravity below the pivot so that the swinging marker tends to stabilize after disturbance due to vibration or rapid marker excursion.

Abstract: An ink-dot printer comprises a magnetic ink storage tank storing magnetic ink, a pair of pole plates facing each other so as to define a slit one end portion of which is contacted with the magnetic ink supplied from the magnetic ink storage tank, an electromagnet for magnetizing the pole plates, thereby feeding the magnetic ink from the magnetic ink storage tank into the slit to form a magnetic ink curtain in the slit, and a plurality of needles arranged adjacent to one another along the longitudinal direction of the slit and adapted selectively to move in the longitudinal direction thereof between a first position where one end portion of each needle is immersed in the magnetic ink curtain in the slit and a second position where the one end portion is projected from the magnetic ink curtain in the slit, the cross-sectional area of the one end portion of each needle being made to narrower than that of the remaining portion of the needle so that the distance between the one end portions of any two adjacent nee

Abstract: A two dimensional electro-optic modulator comprises an electro-optic element and a two dimensional planar array of individually addressable electrodes for spatially modulating a light beam along a plurality of transverse axes or for imparting a geometric phase front to the light beam. Such a modulator may be used, for example, (1) in a real time or in a time delay and integration mode as a multigate light valve for (a) electro-optic line printing or (b) optical displays, or (2) in a real time mode as (a) a beam focusing and tracking device for optical memories or (b) an arcal input device, a Fourier plane filter, or an image plane correlation mask for optical processing.

Abstract: The invention consists of a transformer coupled low voltage power amplifiers which provides the moderate voltage (200-500 V.sub.p-p) excitation potentials required by PZT ink jet or similar device elements. Transformer coupling is viable in that ink jet drive requirements are "return to zero" (no net DC component). Product safety aspects are enhanced since high voltage power supplies are not required, furthermore significant reductions in cost of implementation are realized due to the absence of high voltage power supplies and by allowing the use of monolithic power amplifiers. Savings in power may also be realized by matching the transformer to the ink jet PZT element as components of a resonant network.