Abstract: A reading-use holding member which is configured for use with an image reading apparatus including an image reading unit and which holds a sheet of workpiece while image reading is performed by the image reading unit, the reading-use holding member including a base being generally planar; an indicator provided at the base and configured to identify a type of holding member when read by the image reading unit; a holding portion provided at the base and configured to hold the workpiece; and a reference portion provided at the base and configured to provide a reference image data for use in a shading correction of an image read by the image reading unit.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that a desired pattern is cutout of the object. The cutting apparatus includes an arranging unit arranging the pattern in a cut-allowable region of the object, a frame setting unit setting a minimum boundary frame which is polygonal or curved in shape and includes a contour of the pattern arranged by the arranging unit, and a cutting data generating unit generating outer line cutting data for cutting an outer line dividing a first region near the pattern within the cut-allowable region and a second region other than the first region, outside the boundary frame, based on the boundary frame. The pattern and the outer line are cut out of the object based on pattern cutting data for cutting the pattern and the outer line cutting data.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a feed mechanism configured to feed a sheet member; a scanner including a reading portion and being configured to read an image on a surface of the sheet member in synchronism with the feeding of the sheet member by the feed mechanism; a cleaning sheet comprising a single sheet including a cleaning portion configured to clean the reading portion, and a reference portion configured to be used in evaluating contamination of the reading portion; an evaluator configured to evaluate the contamination of the reading portion based on read data pertaining to an image of the reference portion of the cleaning sheet read by the scanner; and a controller configured to control the feed mechanism to execute a cleaning operation in which the cleaning sheet is fed so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the evaluation of the evaluator.

Abstract: A sewing machine is disclosed that includes a needle bar allowing attachment of a sewing needle including a needle eye to a lower end of thereof; a needle-bar lifting/lowering mechanism that moves the needle bar up and down; a presser foot; a presser foot lifting/lowering mechanism that moves the presser foot up and down; a hook that is provided with a beak for seizing a needle thread loop formed at the needle eye and that rotates in coordination with the up and down movement of the needle bar; and a controller that controls the presser foot lifting/lowering mechanism so as to resize a needle thread loop by lifting the presser foot to a predetermined height in coordination with a swing position of the needle bar and a predetermined height of the needle bar where the beak meets the needle thread loop.

Abstract: A punch data generating device that generates punch data used in an embroiderable sewing machine for punch engraving a pattern on a workpiece by attaching a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of the workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes on a needle bar of the embroiderable sewing machine and moving the punch needle up and down while transferring the workpiece in two predetermined directions by a transfer mechanism. The punch data generating device includes a data generator that generates the punch data so that when punch engraving a plurality of patterns, the patterns are sequentially punch engraved one by one.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus comprises a cutter holder configured to receive a cutter, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer an object to a first direction. The cutting apparatus further comprises a cutter moving mechanism configured to move the cutter holder to a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are relative to each other. The cutting apparatus further comprises a pressure control mechanism configured to change a pressure of the cutter holder to the object, based on a pressure value for pressing the cutter holder. The cutting apparatus further comprises a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the cutting apparatus to specify a specific pressure value for pressing the cutter holder by the pressure control mechanism, according to one or more of the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A reading-use holding member which is configured for use with an image reading apparatus including an image reading unit and which holds a sheet of workpiece while image reading is performed by the image reading unit, the reading-use holding member including a base being generally planar; an indicator provided at the base and configured to identify a type of holding member when read by the image reading unit; a holding portion provided at the base and configured to hold the workpiece; and a reference portion provided at the base and configured to provide a reference image data for use in a shading correction of an image read by the image reading unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including an image reading unit configured to read an image of a workpiece; a plurality of holding members each configured to hold the workpiece while image reading is performed by the image reading unit and each including an indicator identifying a type of holding member; an identification unit configured to identify the type of holding member based on a result of reading of the indicator by the image reading unit; and a correction unit configured to perform a shading correction of the image read by the image reading unit based on a result of identification by the identification unit.

Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform setting, counting, storing, and notifying when executed. The setting sets a plurality of partial areas by dividing a cuttable area of a holding member, the cuttable area is an area in which a cutting object is to be detachably adhered. The counting counts a number of cuts by a cutting blade within the cuttable area for each of the plurality of partial areas. The storing stores each of count values associated with each of the plurality of partial areas in a storage portion, each of the count values is counted by the counting for each of the plurality of partial areas. The notifying notifies, based on the count values stored in the storage portion, information relating to the number of cuts for each of the plurality of partial areas.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a feed mechanism configured to feed a sheet member; a scanner including a reading portion and being configured to read an image on a surface of the sheet member in synchronism with the feeding of the sheet member by the feed mechanism; a cleaning sheet comprising a single sheet including a cleaning portion configured to clean the reading portion, and a reference portion configured to be used in evaluating contamination of the reading portion; an evaluator configured to evaluate the contamination of the reading portion based on read data pertaining to an image of the reference portion of the cleaning sheet read by the scanner; and a controller configured to control the feed mechanism to execute a cleaning operation in which the cleaning sheet is fed so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the evaluation of the evaluator.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars having lower ends to which needles are attached, respectively, a needle bar selecting unit selectively switching one of the needle bars to a needle location, a stitch number obtaining unit and an allotting unit. An embroidery pattern including a plurality of partial patterns is sewn by the use of needle threads of colors differing per partial pattern, while the needle bars are selectively switched. The stitch number obtaining unit obtains the number of stitches necessary for sewing the partial patterns for every partial pattern. The allotting unit allots the needle threads to the needle bars so that the needle bars are prevented from being one-sided in the number of stitches, based on the obtained number of stitches, in order that one of the needle bars to be used for the sewing of each partial pattern may be determined.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer readable instructions, The computer readable instructions instruct the controller to execute steps including arranging a plurality of patterns. The plurality of patterns includes a peripheral line, identifying an overlap portion of the peripheral lines of the plurality of patterns, generating data representing a line which connects the determined peripheral lines in the overlap portion. A cutter is configured to cut an object based on the generated data.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus moves a cutting blade and in object to be cut relative to each other based on cutting data, thereby cutting a desirable pattern out of the object. The cutting apparatus includes an extraction unit which extracts from the cutting data a position of a cutting start point and a position of a cutting end point of a cutting line on the object, and a setting unit which changes the positions of the cutting start and end points to a position on the cutting line other than a specified position on the cutting line when the positions of the cutting start and end points extracted by the extraction unit are on the specified position in a case where a closed pattern having the cutting start and endpoints corresponding with each other is cut out of the object.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting unit including a cutting blade moved together with an object to be cut, relative to each other, cutting the object by the cutting blade, a holding member having an adhesive layer on which the object is removably held, the holding member being set onto the cutting apparatus while adhesively holding the object, a wireless tag located on the holding member and containing cutting information written thereon, the cutting information including information about cutting, a reading unit which reads the cutting information from the wireless tag when the holding member has been set on the cutting apparatus, and a control unit which controls the cutting unit based on the cutting information the reading unit has read from the wireless tag.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that the object is cut by the cutting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a holding member which is disposed at a position opposed to the cutting blade and has an adhesive layer removably holding the object, and a pressing unit which presses the object held by the holding member, the pressing unit being set to a pressing force which meets a holding force necessary for a resultant force to immovably hold the object relative to the holding member when the object is cut by the cutting blade, the resultant force having an adhesion of the adhesive layer and the pressing force of the pressing unit both as components.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that a desired pattern is cutout of the object. The cutting apparatus includes an arranging unit arranging the pattern in a cut-allowable region of the object, a frame setting unit setting a minimum boundary frame which is polygonal or curved in shape and includes a contour of the pattern arranged by the arranging unit, and a cutting data generating unit generating outer line cutting data for cutting an outer line dividing a first region near the pattern within the cut-allowable region and a second region other than the first region, outside the boundary frame, based on the boundary frame. The pattern and the outer line are cut out of the object based on pattern cutting data for cutting the pattern and the outer line cutting data.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a holding member selectable from a plurality of types of holding members according to respective types of objects to be cut, the holding member having an adhesive layer removably holding the object and set on the cutting apparatus while holding the object adherent to the adhesive layer, an identification medium located on the holding member for identifying the holding member type, an input unit inputting the object type into the control unit, a detection unit detecting the holding member type from the identification medium when the holding member has been set to the apparatus, and a determination unit determining whether or not the object type input from the input unit and the type of the holding member detected by the detection unit are consistent with each other. The control unit is configured to perform the control according to a result of determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that the object is cut by the butting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a holding member which is inserted into the cutting apparatus while holding the object and a supporting member which abuts on the holding member in a direction which differs from an insertion direction in which the holding member is inserted into the cutting apparatus, supporting the holding member. The holding member has a supported portion which is supported by the supporting member and provided with an inclined portion which is inclined to the insertion direction. The holding member is configured so that the inclined portion initially abuts on the supported portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to maintaining the fundamental physical properties of a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles which is such that nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and mixed in a liquid alkali metal used in heat exchange, cooling and other applications, and suppressing the reaction of the liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles. Provided is a method of manufacturing a liquid alkali metal with dispersed nanoparticles by dispersing nanoparticles in a liquid alkali metal. In this method, the nanoparticles are made of a metal having a large atomic bonding due to a combination with the liquid alkali metal compared to the atomic bonding of atoms of the liquid alkali metal and a metal having a large amount of charge transfer is used in the nanoparticles. The liquid alkali metal is selected from sodium, lithium and sodium-potassium alloys, and the nanoparticles to be dispersed are made of transition metals, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper.