Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge a liquid to form a pattern on a recording medium and a reading device configured to read the pattern. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to form at least two first markers while moving the recording head relative to the recording medium in a head movement direction; form a second marker at one of positions of the at least two first markers, to form a pattern including a reference marker formed with one of the at least two first markers and a measurement marker in which the second marker is overlaid on another of the at least two first markers; and measure a distance between the reference marker and the measurement marker in the head movement direction based on information obtained by the reading device.

Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a carriage carrying a head configured to discharge a liquid onto a target, the liquid including an ink, the ink consisting water, an organic solvent, a coloring material, and a plurality of polysiloxane compounds, a driving unit configured to move the carriage and the target relatively to each other, a measuring unit configured to measure the distance between the carriage and the target, an image-capturing unit configured to capture a target image, and a setting unit configured to set a liquid discharging performance of the head based on a measurement result obtained by the measuring unit and the target image obtained by the image-capturing unit.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a scanning device, a conveyance device, a reading device, control circuitry, and a detecting device. The liquid discharge head is configured to discharge liquid to a target object. The scanning device is configured to move the liquid discharge head in a main scanning direction. The conveyance device is configured to convey the target object in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The reading device is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the liquid discharge head. The control circuitry is configured to change a detection pattern image for detecting a defective nozzle, in accordance with a feed amount of the target object in the sub-scanning direction. The detecting device is configured to identify a nozzle corresponding to a defective portion of the detection pattern image read by the reading device.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head having at least one nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles lined in a nozzle array direction; a two-dimensional image sensor to capture an image formed by the liquid discharge head; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to divide the nozzles into a plurality of nozzle units; form a pattern including a plurality of unit patterns with liquid discharged from the nozzle units, respectively; and detect a defective nozzle based on a captured image of each of the unit patterns. The unit patterns are arranged in a staggered manner. Each unit pattern is smaller in size than an image capture range of the two-dimensional image sensor. Each unit pattern includes a number of columns of lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction, and the number of columns is not smaller than twice the number of nozzle arrays.

Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a first light source, a second light source, a sensor, and control circuitry. The first light source has a plurality of peak wavelengths in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 780 nm. The second light source emits ultraviolet light. The control circuitry adjusts a light amount of the first light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the first light source is on and the second light source is off, adjusts a light amount of the second light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the second light source is on and the first light source is off, and acquires a correction value of data output by the sensor, based on an output of the sensor in a state each of the first and second light sources is on with the light amount adjusted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device to convey a recording medium in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction; an image forming device; an imaging device; and circuitry to control the image forming apparatus. Controlled by the circuitry, the image forming device forms the colorimetric pattern on the recording medium that has been conveyed in the first direction by a predetermined distance after the marker pattern is formed. Controlled by the circuitry, after the colorimetric pattern is fixed, the circuitry causes the conveyance device to convey the recording medium in the second direction by an amount equivalent to a distance from the marker pattern to an imaging position by the imaging device plus a margin, conveys the recording medium in the first direction until the imaging device detects the marker pattern, and conveys the recording medium in the first direction to a colorimetry position.

Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a recording head configured to discharge a liquid to form a pattern on a recording medium and a reading device configured to read the pattern. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to form at least two first markers while moving the recording head relative to the recording medium in a head movement direction; form a second marker at one of positions of the at least two first markers, to form a pattern including a reference marker formed with one of the at least two first markers and a measurement marker in which the second marker is overlaid on another of the at least two first markers; and measure a distance between the reference marker and the measurement marker in the head movement direction based on information obtained by the reading device.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a scanning device, a conveyance device, a reading device, control circuitry, and a detecting device. The liquid discharge head is configured to discharge liquid to a target object. The scanning device is configured to move the liquid discharge head in a main scanning direction. The conveyance device is configured to convey the target object in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The reading device is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the liquid discharge head. The control circuitry is configured to change a detection pattern image for detecting a defective nozzle, in accordance with a feed amount of the target object in the sub-scanning direction. The detecting device is configured to identify a nozzle corresponding to a defective portion of the detection pattern image read by the reading device.

Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a first light source, a second light source, a sensor, and control circuitry. The first light source has a plurality of peak wavelengths in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 780 nm. The second light source emits ultraviolet light. The control circuitry adjusts a light amount of the first light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the first light source is on and the second light source is off, adjusts a light amount of the second light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the second light source is on and the first light source is off, and acquires a correction value of data output by the sensor, based on an output of the sensor in a state each of the first and second light sources is on with the light amount adjusted.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head having at least one nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles lined in a nozzle array direction; a two-dimensional image sensor to capture an image formed by the liquid discharge head; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to divide the nozzles into a plurality of nozzle units; form a pattern including a plurality of unit patterns with liquid discharged from the nozzle units, respectively; and detect a defective nozzle based on a captured image of each of the unit patterns. The unit patterns are arranged in a staggered manner. Each unit pattern is smaller in size than an image capture range of the two-dimensional image sensor. Each unit pattern includes a number of columns of lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction, and the number of columns is not smaller than twice the number of nozzle arrays.

Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a carriage carrying a head configured to discharge a liquid onto a target, the liquid comprising an ink, the ink comprising water, an organic solvent, a coloring material, and a plurality of polysiloxane compounds, a driving unit configured to move the carriage and the target relatively to each other, a measuring unit configured to measure the distance between the carriage and the target, an image-capturing unit configured to capture a target image, and a setting unit configured to set a liquid discharging performance of the head based on a measurement result obtained by the measuring unit and the target image obtained by the image-capturing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device to convey a recording medium in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction; an image forming device; an imaging device; and circuitry to control the image forming apparatus. Controlled by the circuitry, the image forming device forms the colorimetric pattern on the recording medium that has been conveyed in the first direction by a predetermined distance after the marker pattern is formed. Controlled by the circuitry, after the colorimetric pattern is fixed, the circuitry causes the conveyance device to convey the recording medium in the second direction by an amount equivalent to a distance from the marker pattern to an imaging position by the imaging device plus a margin, conveys the recording medium in the first direction until the imaging device detects the marker pattern, and conveys the recording medium in the first direction to a colorimetry position.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes an imager, a detector, and a controller. The imager is configured to move relative to an object to be imaged and capture an image of the object. The detector is configured to detect a predetermined relative position of the object with respect to the imager. The controller is configured to switch from stop supplying a system clock to supplying the system clock based on the detected predetermined relative position. The system clock is used to control a timing to start capturing an image by the imager. After stops supplying the system clock, the controller resumes supplying the system clock to the imager according to a relative movement of the object, based on the detected predetermined relative position.

Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit to obtain a captured image of a test pattern and a reference mark to locate the test pattern and at least one processor. The test pattern includes a pair of first marks and a second mark. The processor includes a position detector configured to detect the reference mark in the captured image and locate the pair of first marks and the second mark in the captured image, and a ratio calculator configured to calculate one of a first ratio between a distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and a second ratio between the distance between the pair of first marks in the captured image and a distance from one of the pair of first marks to the second mark in the captured image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device; an imaging device; and at least one processor including a pattern forming unit to cause a recording head to form a pair of first marks, with first and second nozzles disposed at a first distance from each other in a direction of conveyance of a recording medium, while the recording head moves in a first direction and cause the recording head to form a second mark while the recording head moves in a second direction, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in a captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the first marks in the captured image and a deviation of the second mark in the captured image, and distance calculator to calculate a distance of the deviation based on the first distance and the ratio.

Abstract: An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor to convey a recording medium; an image forming device including a recording head to form a test pattern including a first mark and a pair of second marks; an imaging device; and a processor. The processor includes a pattern forming unit to cause the image forming device to form one of the first and second marks and form the other after the conveyor conveys the recording medium by a predetermined conveyance amount, a position detector to detect positions of the first and second marks in the captured image, a ratio calculator to calculate a ratio between a distance between the second marks and deviation of the first mark in the captured image, and a distance calculator to calculate an actual distance of the deviation based on a theoretical distance between the second marks and the ratio.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a casing having an opening; a light source arranged inside the casing; a sensor arranged inside the casing and configured to capture, through the opening, an image of an object present outside the casing while the light source is on; and a distance calculator to calculate a distance between the casing and the object, based on an image that has been captured by the sensor and contains, within an image region of the object defined by the opening, a high-luminance region and low-luminance regions located more outside than the high-luminance region.