Abstract: A droplet measurement system, etc. is provided that is capable of measuring the volume of a droplet with high precision by means of image processing with a lighter arithmetic load than before.

Abstract: A droplet measurement system is provided with: an imaging device placed to locate a tip part of a nozzle and the entire liquid hanging down from the nozzle within a field of view; an image generation unit that generates a plurality of images that capture the state in which droplets are dripping down from the nozzle based on image data output from the imaging device; a dripping detection unit that detects, from the plurality of images, a dripping-detected image in which the fact that a droplet has departed from the nozzle is detected; and a volume calculation unit that calculates the volume of the droplet based, at least, on an image-before-dripping, which is generated a predetermined number of frames before the dripping-detected image and capturing liquid hanging down from the nozzle and on a reference image that captures at least the tip part of the nozzle.

Abstract: A droplet measurement system is provided with: an imaging device placed to locate a tip part of a nozzle and the entire liquid hanging down from the nozzle within a field of view; an image generation unit that generates a plurality of images that capture the state in which droplets are dripping down from the nozzle based on image data output from the imaging device; a dripping detection unit that detects, from the plurality of images, a dripping-detected image in which the fact that a droplet has departed from the nozzle is detected; and a volume calculation unit that calculates the volume of the droplet based, at least, on an image-before-dripping, which is generated a predetermined number of frames before the dripping-detected image and capturing liquid hanging down from the nozzle and on a reference image that captures at least the tip part of the nozzle.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer of the intermediate transfer type that first melts ink of an ink ribbon by heat of a thermal head and subsequently transfers the molten ink onto an intermediate transfer member to thereby form a primary recording image, and finally re-transfers this primary recording image onto paper to thereby perform a desired recording. The intermediate transfer member is made of a material selected in such a manner that the coefficient of friction for this material is equal to or more than 1.0. In one embodiment, the material of the intermediate transfer member is silicon rubber.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member for a thermal transfer printer adapted to an intermediate transfer method and comprising: an intermediate transfer member, which has a transfer layer, and on which an ink image is written by thermal transfer; and a printing medium onto which the ink image written on the intermediate transfer member is again transferred, wherein material of at least a surface layer of the transfer layer is silicon rubber containing: (a) alkenyl-group-containing organopolysiloxane; (b) organohydrogenpolysiloxane (c) non-reactive organopolysiloxane expressed by the following formula (1): ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having no aliphatic unsaturated group or a hydroxyl group, R.sup.2 are the same or different groups, such as methyl groups and phenyl groups, and 1 mol % to 30 mol % of all of R.sup.2 in each molecule are phenyl groups; and (d) a hydrosilylated reactive catalyst, the silicon rubber containing no inorganic filler.

Abstract: A head for a wire dot printer wherein the distance between each pair of adjacent armatures in a circumferential direction of a housing can be minimized to allow reduction in size of the head. The head includes a plurality of armatures each of which has a laterally extending tab formed on one side and a recess formed on the other side of of an outer end portion thereof. A guide member is located between each two adjacent ones of the armatures and has a recess and a tab formed on opposite sides of an outer end portion thereof. The recess and the tab of the guide member fit with the tab of one of the adjacent armatures and the recess of the other adjacent armatures, respectively.

Abstract: A print head for use in a wire dot printer has a plurality of wires, an armature connected to each of the wires, a core of a magnetic circuit which is disposed in opposing relation to the armature, a resilient member for biasing the armature in a direction in which it is separated from the core, and a rear case disposed so as to cover the upper side of the armature. Each of the wires is driven by the action of the armature which is attracted toward the core when a coil wound on the core is energized. The print head is provided with an armature guide having a resilient stopper disposed between each armature and the rear case to support the armature against the biasing force from the resilient member. Thus, it is possible to support each armature inserted into the armature guide by means of the stopper even more stably during an assembling step carried out before the rear case is mounted. Accordingly, the assembling operation is simplified and facilitated.