Abstract: An object is to obtain an ink set capable of forming images of excellent image quality even when an acidic atmosphere, arising from use of a volatile acid in a pretreatment solution, is present in the vicinity of ink nozzles, etc. As a solution, an ink set containing a pretreatment solution and an ink composition is provided, wherein: the pretreatment solution contains an organic acid having a boiling point of 120° C. or lower at 1 atmospheric pressure; and the ink composition contains a pigment and an alkali-soluble resin having an acid value of 200 mgKOH/g or higher or crosslinked substance thereof accounting for 1.8% by mass or more in the ink composition, and further contains a water-dispersible resin and water.

Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic crystal laser includes: electrodes; an active layer; and a two-dimensional photonic crystal layer in which modified refractive index regions are disposed to be shifted by different shift amounts from respective lattice points or/and are disposed at the respective lattice points with different areas, the shift amount or/and the area is/are modified with a composite modulation period and expressed by a modulation phase ?(r?) expressed using a vector r? indicating a position of each lattice point of the two-dimensional lattice, a vector kn? indicating a combination of an inclination angle and an azimuthal angle of each of n laser beams mutually differing in the inclination angle and/or the azimuthal angle, and an amplitude An and a phase exp(i?n) determined for each n and the amplitude An and/or the phase exp(i?n) for each value of n differ(s) from each other in at least two different values of n.

Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic-crystal surface-emitting laser includes: a two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer; an active layer provided on one surface side of the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer; and a reflection layer provided on the other surface side of the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer or on a side opposite to the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer so as to be spaced apart from the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer, wherein a distance d between surfaces of the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer and the reflection layer facing each other is set such that a radiation coefficient difference ??v=(?v1??v0), which is a value obtained by subtracting a radiation coefficient ?v0 of a fundamental mode having the smallest loss from a radiation coefficient ?v1 of a first higher order mode having the second smallest loss among the light amplified in the two-dimensional photonic-crystal layer, is 1 cm?1 or more.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus (100) includes a control unit (130). The control unit (130) selects an input variable that affects a prediction result as a first explanatory variable based on a causal model regarding a causal relationship between a plurality of input variables and the prediction result in a prediction model using the machine learning. The control unit (130) outputs information on the selected first explanatory variable.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including a discharging head, a relative movable assembly to move a printable medium and the discharging head relatively, and a lighting unit including a plurality of light sources to emit light for curing the ink, is provided. A part of the plurality of light sources is arranged in a first lighting area, and another part of the plurality of light sources is arranged in a second lighting area. A quantity of the light sources per unit area in the second lighting area is smaller than a quantity of the light sources per unit area in the first lighting area. A direct distance from the discharging head to the second lighting area in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction is shorter than a direct distance from the discharging head to the first lighting area.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a first head including first nozzles; a first irradiator including first light sources; and a controller. The first nozzles are arranged to constitute a nozzle row. The first light sources are arranged to constitute a light source row, and including an inner light source, and first and second outer light sources. The controller is configured to cause: the first head to execute a first discharging operation of discharging a clear ink to a printing medium; and the first irradiator to execute a first irradiating operation of irradiating the clear ink with a light. The controller is configured to make an intensity of the light, from each of the first and second outer light sources, with which the clear ink is irradiated smaller than an intensity of the light, from the inner light source, with which the clear ink is irradiated.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including a head; an irradiator including a plurality of light source rows; a carriage; and a controller. The controller is configured to: execute a first obtaining operation of obtaining a gap between the irradiator and a printing medium; execute a discharging operation of discharging an ink from the head to the printing medium; execute an irradiating operation of irradiating the ink on the printing medium with a light from the irradiator; and switch off a part of the plurality of light source rows in a case that the gap is a second gap. A number of the plurality of light sources switched on in a case that the gap is a first gap is greater than a number of the plurality of light sources switched on in the case that the gap is the second gap smaller than the first gap.

Abstract: There is provided a light irradiator including: light sources forming first and second light source rows; a heat sink; a substrate including first and second traces connected to the first and second light source rows, respectively; and a fixing part configured to fix the heat sink to the substrate. The fixing part is arranged between adjacent light sources included in the first light source row and adjacent in the first light source row; and the fixing part is not arranged between adjacent light sources included in the second light source row and adjacent in the second light source row. The first trace includes a first circumventing part configured to circumvent the fixing part; and the second trace includes a second circumventing part configured to circumvent the fixing part and having a directional component different from the first direction.

Abstract: A printer includes: a head; a lamp; a condenser lens; a platen; and a lamp cover. The head is configured to eject a light-curable ink onto a printing object. The lamp is movable relative to the printing object in a main scanning direction, and is configured to emit light to irradiate the printing object. The condenser lens is configured to focus the light emitted from the lamp. The platen is configured to support the printing object and to move in a sub scanning direction relative to the head. The lamp cover has translucency, and includes one end portion and the other end portion in the sub scanning direction. Each of the one end portion and the other end portion has an adjustment part. The adjustment part is configured to adjust the light transmitted through the lamp cover by blocking part of the light or diffusing the light.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including a discharging head, a relative movable assembly to move a printable medium and the discharging head relatively, and a lighting unit including a plurality of light sources to emit light for curing the ink, is provided. A part of the plurality of light sources is arranged in a first lighting area, and another part of the plurality of light sources is arranged in a second lighting area. A quantity of the light sources per unit area in the second lighting area is smaller than a quantity of the light sources per unit area in the first lighting area. A direct distance from the discharging head to the second lighting area in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction is shorter than a direct distance from the discharging head to the first lighting area.

Abstract: There is provided an ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus configured to cure an ultraviolet-curable ink discharged to an object, by a discharging head which is configured to move in a main scanning direction, in a state that the ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus is moved in the main scanning direction. The ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting chips configured to emit an ultraviolet ray, the plurality of light emitting chips being arranged side by side with a first pitch in the main scanning direction and being arranged side by side with a second pitch smaller than the first pitch in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A printer includes: a head; a lamp; a condenser lens; a platen; and a lamp cover. The head is configured to eject a light-curable ink onto a printing object. The lamp is movable relative to the printing object in a main scanning direction, and is configured to emit light to irradiate the printing object. The condenser lens is configured to focus the light emitted from the lamp. The platen is configured to support the printing object and to move in a sub scanning direction relative to the head. The lamp cover has translucency, and includes one end portion and the other end portion in the sub scanning direction. Each of the one end portion and the other end portion has an adjustment part. The adjustment part is configured to adjust the light transmitted through the lamp cover by blocking part of the light or diffusing the light.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head, a radiation unit, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured to: acquire a radiation distance for each of a plurality of areas defined on a surface of a recording medium; control the movement mechanism and the head to discharge the liquid to the surface of the recording medium; and control the radiation unit to radiate the light onto the plurality of the areas of the recording medium so that the longer the radiation distance for each of the plurality of areas, the stronger a light emission intensity of each of the plurality of light sources which faces each of the plurality of areas in the first direction.

Abstract: There is provided a light irradiator including: light sources forming first and second light source rows; a heat sink; a substrate including first and second traces connected to the first and second light source rows, respectively; and a fixing part configured to fix the heat sink to the substrate. The fixing part is arranged between adjacent light sources included in the first light source row and adjacent in the first light source row; and the fixing part is not arranged between adjacent light sources included in the second light source row and adjacent in the second light source row. The first trace includes a first circumventing part configured to circumvent the fixing part; and the second trace includes a second circumventing part configured to circumvent the fixing part and having a directional component different from the first direction.

Abstract: There is provided an ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus configured to cure an ultraviolet-curable ink, the ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus including a plurality of light emitting chips configured to emit an ultraviolet ray and arranged with a first pitch in main scanning direction and with a second pitch greater than the first pitch in sub scanning direction. The printing object includes a low part in which a distance from an ultraviolet ray irradiation surface becomes to be a large gap and a high part in which the distance from the ultraviolet ray irradiation surface becomes to be a small gap. The ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus is configured to irradiate the object such that an illuminance, of the ultraviolet ray is not less than a minimum illuminance required for curing, in an area, of the low part, onto which the ink is discharged by a nozzle outermost in the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head, a radiation unit, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The controller configured to: select a first recording mode or a second recording mode; control the head, the radiation unit, and the movement mechanism to execute a first image recording process when that the first recording mode is selected; and control the head, the radiation unit, and the movement mechanism to execute a second image recording process when the second recording mode is selected. The second image recording process includes radiating the light in a state in which a mutual positional relationship among the plurality of light sources or a mutual light emission intensity relationship among the plurality of light sources is different from that in the first image recording process, so that a difference between a first maximum radiation intensity and a second maximum radiation intensity is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head, a radiation unit, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured to: acquire a radiation distance for each of a plurality of areas defined on a surface of a recording medium; control the movement mechanism and the head to discharge the liquid to the surface of the recording medium; and control the radiation unit to radiate the light onto the plurality of the areas of the recording medium so that the longer the radiation distance for each of the plurality of areas, the stronger a light emission intensity of each of the plurality of light sources which faces each of the plurality of areas in the first direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head, a radiation unit, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The controller configured to: select a first recording mode or a second recording mode; control the head, the radiation unit, and the movement mechanism to execute a first image recording process when that the first recording mode is selected; and control the head, the radiation unit, and the movement mechanism to execute a second image recording process when the second recording mode is selected. The second image recording process includes radiating the light in a state in which a mutual positional relationship among the plurality of light sources or a mutual light emission intensity relationship among the plurality of light sources is different from that in the first image recording process, so that a difference between a first maximum radiation intensity and a second maximum radiation intensity is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: There is provided an ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus configured to cure an ultraviolet-curable ink, the ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus including a plurality of light emitting chips configured to emit an ultraviolet ray and arranged with a first pitch in main scanning direction and with a second pitch greater than the first pitch in sub scanning direction. The printing object includes a low part in which a distance from an ultraviolet ray irradiation surface becomes to be a large gap and a high part in which the distance from the ultraviolet ray irradiation surface becomes to be a small gap. The ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus is configured to irradiate the object such that an illuminance, of the ultraviolet ray is not less than a minimum illuminance required for curing, in an area, of the low part, onto which the ink is discharged by a nozzle outermost in the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: There is provided an ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus configured to cure an ultraviolet-curable ink discharged to an object, by a discharging head which is configured to move in a main scanning direction, in a state that the ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus is moved in the main scanning direction. The ultraviolet ray irradiating apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting chips configured to emit an ultraviolet ray, the plurality of light emitting chips being arranged side by side with a first pitch in the main scanning direction and being arranged side by side with a second pitch smaller than the first pitch in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.