Abstract: An image is formed by dividing rasterized original image data into regions in accordance with N recording heads, and scanning a recording body by simultaneously irradiating recording beams from the N recording heads. Corrected image data divided into regions in accordance with the recording heads are generated by changing the rasterized original image data based on information including positional displacements of the recording beams, so that the positional displacements are corrected. Scanning information is generated based on the positional displacement information. The scanning information includes positions and orders for the recording beams to scan the recording body to record the corrected image data.

Abstract: Described herein is a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus, a plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form, and a holder used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: An image is formed by dividing rasterized original image data into regions in accordance with N recording heads, and scanning a recording body by simultaneously irradiating recording beams from the N recording heads. Corrected image data divided into regions in accordance with the recording heads are generated by changing the rasterized original image data based on information including positional displacements of the recording beams, so that the positional displacements are corrected. Scanning information is generated based on the positional displacement information. The scanning information includes positions and orders for the recording beams to scan the recording body to record the corrected image data.

Abstract: Described herein is a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus, a plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form, and a holder used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: An image forming method is performed by an image forming apparatus having a head mounting a plurality of writing units that form an image on a recording medium. The writing units are aligned in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to a main-scanning direction. A part of the image is formed on the recording medium by the writing units, the part of the image forming a line extending in the main-scanning direction. The step of forming a part of the image is repeated while shifting the writing units in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount of shift. The amount of shift of the wiring units is varied so that an amount of misalignment in a connecting portion between the parts of the image on the recording medium is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses, and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus. A plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form. A holder is used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses, and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus. A plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form. A holder is used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: An optical light source unit includes a light source that emits a beam, and a collimate lens that collimates the beam and executes imaging on an imaging surface. The beam substantially has light intensity of Gauss distribution in a cross section after passing through the collimate lens. A radius of the beam in a cross section is larger in a sub scanning direction than that in a main scanning direction at a beam waist and on the imaging surface. An entry angle of the beam entering the imaging surface with a normal line of the imaging surface is larger than a diverse angle of the beam returning and diverging from the imaging surface.

Abstract: A raster image processing method is adapted for a rasterizing device which converts original image data into raster image data suitable for an image forming device having a plurality of recording heads and performing recording of an image on a recording medium using the plurality of recording heads. The original image data is divided into image data elements for areas of the recording medium for the plurality of recording heads to perform the recording of the image respectively. The divided original image data elements are rasterized into the raster image data suitable for the image forming device.

Abstract: An image forming method is performed by an image forming apparatus having a head mounting a plurality of writing units that form an image on a recording medium. The writing units are aligned in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to a main-scanning direction. A part of the image is formed on the recording medium by the writing units, the part of the image forming a line extending in the main-scanning direction. The step of forming a part of the image is repeated while shifting the writing units in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount of shift. The amount of shift of the wiring units is varied so that an amount of misalignment in a connecting portion between the parts of the image on the recording medium is reduced.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for preparing a printing master film for textile printing includes an image recording unit including at least one thermal head for recording images on a recording material; a recording material transportation unit for transporting the recording material, including a platen roller for bringing the recording material into contact with the thermal head so as to for images or the recording material, and a back-up roller which is in pressure contact with the platen roller at an opposite position to the position where the recording material is brought into contact with the thermal heads by the platen roller; and a disk brake for controlling the rotation of the back-up roller, connected to the back-up roller.

Abstract: A gain control circuit used in a shading compensation circuit includes a signal processing circuit for an image signal successively output from each of cells of a line image sensor and a gain control signal corresponding to shading data output from an external signal system and converting the image signal into a signal with level corresponding to the gain control signal and for outputting a compensation image signal, and signal feedback circuit for inverting a reference compensation image signal and holding an inverted version of the reference compensation image signal and for feeding the inverted version of the reference compensation image signal back to a terminal of the signal processing circuit and which the image signal is input.

Abstract: An automatic gain control circuit in which a first image signal from an image reading apparatus is amplified by a variable gain amplifier with a gain being automatically adjusted. The automatic gain control circuit comprises a gain adjusting part for automatically adjusting the gain of the variable gain amplifier with a white signal of a white reference part of the first image signal to supply a second image signal from the variable gain amplifier, and a pseudo white signal inputting part for inputting a pseudo white signal to the gain adjusting part before the image reading apparatus starts an image reading, the pseudo white signal being at a predetermined level approximately equal to that of the white signal of the first image signal, the first image signal being switched by the pseudo white signal inputting part with the pseudo white signal only at timings in synchronism with the inputting of the pseudo white signal to the gain adjusting part.

Abstract: An image reader for an image forming apparatus has an array of CCD sensors in the form of chips which are arranged in a zigzag configuration along an image reading line. A reference white plate is located in association with the position of and outside of the effective image reading range of one of two CCD sensors which are situated at opposite ends of the array. The CCD sensor with which the reference white plate is associated produces a reference white signal by reading the reference white plate. The output gain of this CCD sensor is controlled on the basis of the reference white signal. The reference white signal is added to output signals of the other CCD sensors in the form of a pilot signal, whereby the output gains of the other CCD sensors are controlled.

Abstract: A method for a charge control and multi-step deflection control type ink jet printer is disclosed which renders halftone by multi-step gradation. When an ink ejected from a nozzle is to be charged, a charging voltage is suitably varied to cause a shift in deflection by a pitch smaller than one dot pitch in the deflection direction, thereby selectively causing dots in the deflection direction to overlap and separate from each other. The pitch for developing the shift is variable to control the overlapping or separating degree of the dots in order to accomplish gradation in numerous densities.

Abstract: A control system for a charge deflection type ink jet printer which prints out one character line of print data by a plurality of strokes on a paper is disclosed. Data associated with odd scanning lines are printed out by one printing stroke of a carriage, then the paper is fed by a predetermined amount, and then data associated with even scanning lines are printed out. Thereafter, the paper is fed by an amount produced by subtracting a number of dots corresponding to a predetermined number of odd or even scanning lines from a number of dots corresponding to the total number of the odd and even scanning lines.

Abstract: A deflection control ink jet recording apparatus is capable of compensating for dislocation of dots at all the deflection steps. A deflection amount is adjusted with respect to two points to determine a correlationship between the amplification gain, charge code and deflection amount, so that an amplification gain and a charge code free from dislocation is set for each deflection step. A charge code compensation value is detected to add it to or subtract it from a predetermined charge code assigned to each deflection step, thereby setting a charge voltage code to be assigned to each deflection step in a printout operation.

Abstract: An ink jet head prints an image by superposing individual dot matrices of at least two colors. A computing unit receives electrical input signals representing the image and generates and feeds corresponding electrical signals representing the individual matrices of the at least two colors to the head means for printing. The computing means includes matrix generator means for generating the matrices in such a manner that the total number of dots to be printed in all of the matrices is limited to a first predetermined value which is less than the maximum possible total number of dots which can be printed in all of said individual dot matrices, and the total number of dots to be printed in the matrices which are formed by superposed dots of different colors is limited to a second predetermined value which is less than said first predetermined value.

Abstract: A circuit for controllably driving a heater in order to speed up temperature elevation at a buildup stage of a liquid which is to be maintained at a predetermined temperature heated by the heater, particularly ink in an ink jet printer. A voltage developed by doubling an output voltage of an atmospheric temperature sensor by an amplifier is compared with a reference voltage, which is adapted to decide power to be supplied to the heater in the event of a buildup of the ink temperature. A temperature-sensitive element responsive to an atmospheric temperature has a temperature coefficient which is double the temperature coefficient of a temperature-sensitive element responsive to a heater temperature. The output voltages of the two elements are weighted by a same amount and then added together, the summation output being compared with the reference voltage.

Abstract: A drive circuit for controllably driving a heater which is used for maintaining ink in an ink jet printer at a predetermined temperature. A plurality of power sources are installed in the circuit each for supplying a voltage to the heater. The power sources are selectively connected to the heater by a plurality of output transistors and an error amplifier adapted to control switching actions of the output transistors. Diodes are interposed between the respective transistors and the error amplifier to enhance the linearity of the level of the voltage supplied to the heater.