Abstract: This invention provides an image print apparatus capable of quickly reducing, with a low-cost arrangement, charges accumulated in a capacitor used for reducing variations in printhead voltage, and a control method thereof. After a head power supply VH which supplies power to the printhead is turned off, the print element of the printhead is so driven as not to discharge ink.

Abstract: A printer, which enables complicated printhead controls without a complicated logic circuit, includes a data table showing a control pattern of six controls stored in a RAM. When a drive trigger is inputted into a read-trigger generator, an address generator generates the address of the data table in the RAM as an address signal and inputs the address signal into the RAM. On the other hand, the read-trigger generator inputs a data-read trigger into the RAM. Control signals read by these signals are inputted into a head driver with heat pulses, which drives the printhead.

Abstract: A weld portion detector (20) and a laser beam projector (10) disposed a predetermined distance behind the weld portion detector (20) are moved together. The weld portion detector (20) detects a weld line and the laser beam projector (10) projects on the weld line detected by the weld portion detector (20) for laser welding. Pieces of data on weld positions sequentially detected by the weld portion detector (20) are stored sequentially in combination with times when the pieces of data on the weld positions are obtained and moving speeds of the weld portion detector (20) in a memory. A time when the weld portion detector (20) passed a point at which the laser beam projector (10) has just arrived is calculated on the basis of the times and the moving speeds stored in the memory. The laser beam projector (10) projects a laser beam on a weld position detected at the thus calculated time.

Abstract: In order to reduce emission noise, a recording apparatus uses a cycle controller to variably control a transmission cycle, when transmitting recording data to the recording head, and a head controller to control the recording head based on the controlled transmission cycle and the recording data. By varying the data transfer cycle of data to the recording head, the recording apparatus of the present invention makes it possible to suppress a rise in radiation noise peak levels due to overlapping of radiation noise spectra, which in turn weakens the strength of the electric field at certain cycles and makes it possible to reduce radiation noise levels.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises a plurality of main discharge ports arranged at predetermined intervals, at least one sub-discharge port arranged in the arrangement direction of the main discharge ports on both end sides of the arrangement direction of main discharge ports at intervals larger than the intervals of the main discharge port arrangement, a plurality of liquid chambers having these plural discharge ports open thereto, a common liquid chamber having these liquid chambers communicated therewith, and liquid being supplied thereto, and a plurality of discharge energy generating units provided for each of the liquid chambers corresponding to the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports to generate discharge energy utilized for discharging liquid from the main discharge ports and the sub-discharge ports.

Abstract: A laser-welding head is capable of applying a fixed pressure to parts to be welded of workpieces regardless of the undulation of the surfaces of the parts to be welded. The laser-welding head includes a pressing device (12) having a roller (16) which rolls along parts of workpieces near a weld line (40) to press together the same parts of the workpieces, a pressing unit (6) for applying a predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12) to press the pressing device (12) toward the parts of the workpieces near the weld line (40), and a laser beam projecting unit (17) mounted on the pressing unit (6) for movement together with the pressing device (12). The pressing unit (6) is provided with a pneumatic cylinder actuator for applying the predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12).

Abstract: This invention provides a printing head which can prevent an increase in the number of block enable signal lines, and can prevent changes in printing ink density caused by interference due to the relative pressures of nozzles generated in ink discharge, and an image printing apparatus using the printing head. For this purpose, an increase in the number of input signal lines along with an increase in the number of blocks is prevented using a block clock signal or the like instead of a block enable signal as an input signal to the printing head. Three ring counters generate signals having different nozzle driving orders. These signals are selectively used by a ring counter selection signal. Ink is not always discharged from the nozzles in the same output order. This can prevent changes in ink density caused by pressure interference.

Abstract: This invention provides an image print apparatus capable of quickly reducing, with a low-cost arrangement, charges accumulated in a capacitor used as a means for reducing variations in printhead voltage, and a control method thereof. After a head power supply VH which supplies power to the printhead is turned off, the print element of the printhead is so driven as not to discharge ink.

Abstract: A weld portion detector (20) and a laser beam projector (10) disposed a predetermined distance behind the weld portion detector (20) are moved together. The weld portion detector (20) detects a weld line and the laser beam projector (10) projects on the weld line detected by the weld portion detector (20) for laser welding. Pieces of data on weld positions sequentially detected by the weld portion detector (20) are stored sequentially in combination with times when the pieces of data on the weld positions are obtained and moving speeds of the weld portion detector (20) in a memory. A time when the weld portion detector (20) passed a point at which the laser beam projector (10) has just arrived is calculated on the basis of the times and the moving speeds stored in the memory. The laser beam projector (10) projects a laser beam on a weld position detected at the thus calculated time.

Abstract: A laser-welding head is capable of applying a fixed pressure to parts to be welded of workpieces regardless of the undulation of the surfaces of the parts to be welded. The laser-welding head includes a pressing device (12) having a roller (16) which rolls along parts of workpieces near a weld line (40) to press together the same parts of the workpieces, a pressing unit (6) for applying a predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12) to press the pressing device (12) toward the parts of the workpieces near the weld line (40), and a laser beam projecting unit (17) mounted on the pressing unit (6) for movement together with the pressing device (12). The pressing unit (6) is provided with a pneumatic cylinder actuator for applying the predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12).

Abstract: A printer which enables a complicated printhead controls without complicated logic circuit. In this printer, a data table showing a control pattern of six control signals (COM11, COM12, COM21, COM22, UPPER ENABLE and LOWER ENABLE) is stored in RAM 74. When a drive trigger is inputted into read-trigger generator 71, address generator 72 generates the address of the data table in the RAM 74 as address signal AD1 and inputs the address signal into the RAM 74. On the other hand, read-trigger generator 71 inputs a data-read trigger into RAM 74. Control signals read by these signals are inputted into head driver 75 with heat pulses, which drives the printhead.

Abstract: A printer and printing control method for improving throughput by performing efficient smoothing processing. The printer adopting the method monitors print data while it is transmitted from a receiving buffer 25a to a print buffer 25b, analyses the print data by a unit of one scanning area of a printhead whether the print data causes printing operation of the printhead, and, if no print data which causes printing operation is included in the print data corresponding to the one scanning area, controls to skip execution of row-column conversion and/or smoothing processing.

Abstract: When the sub-heaters of recording heads are PWM controlled in a low-temperature environment, temperatures of the recording heads are respectively detected by temperature sensors. The number of recording heads to be heating controlled is determined from the detected recording head temperatures, and a maximum duty ratio of a pulse train supplied to the sub-heater corresponding to the recording head to be heating controlled is determined in accordance with the determined number of the recording heads, so that supply timings of pulse width controlled pulse trains supplied to the sub-heaters corresponding to the recording heads to be heating controlled are not overlapped.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a print control method for performing H-V conversion and minimum track printing at high speed. When printing is to be performed on a print medium by reciprocally scanning a printhead, image data is externally inputted, vertical and horizontal orientation of the inputted image data is converted with considering the print width of the printhead so that the vertical and horizontal arrays are reversed in a buffer of a DMAC, the outputted result is continuously processed by utilizing a logical circuit, the left and right ends where actual printing operation is performed based on the image data is detected within a scan area of the printhead, and the scan area of the printhead is controlled based on the detection result.

Abstract: A data processing method which efficiently performs data transfer by using a data bus with an appropriate access width corresponding to transfer data and a printer using the data processing method. In the printer, a CPU bus 70 having a 16-bit physical bus width, is shared by a CPU 21 and a DMAC 80. In a case where the CPU 21 accesses a memory via the CPU bus 70 with an 8-bit width, while the DMAC 80 accesses the memory via the CPU bus 70 with a 16-bit width, each time the DMAC 80 needs to access the memory, the DMAC 80 issues a DMA request signal to the CPU 21, requiring an exclusive access right for the CPU bus 70. In accordance with the request signal, the CPU 21 delivers the exclusive access right for the CPU bus 70 to the DMAC 80. Then the DMAC 80 controls memory access with the 16-bit width.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to improve the net processing speed by appropriately assigning the DMA processing time for attaining high-speed processing using hardware, and the software execution time of a CPU. By interrupting the operation of one of a CPU and a DMA processor only when a device such as an external D-RAM shared by processors such as the CPU, DMA processor, and the like, is to be accessed, the CPU operation and the DMA processing are substantially parallelly executed, thereby improving the net processing speed.

Abstract: A printer which enables flexible printing control to be performed in conformity with the capacity of a memory installed to satisfy the requirements of a user. In this printer, it is first determined whether the additional memory has been installed or not. Then, the printer further examines the total available capacity of the basic memory and additional memory based upon results of the determination, compares the total capacity with an amount of data necessary to perform printing by a single scan using all ink discharge nozzles of a printhead, decides, based upon the results of the comparison, the capacity of a buffer memory for temporarily storing printing data to be transferred to the printhead, and decides to change resolution in the scanning direction or whether to perform printing by multiscan printing using the buffer memory having the capacity decided or perform printing in which printing using all ink discharge nozzles of the printhead is completed by a single scan of the printhead.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that includes a recording head capable of performing dot recording, a main scanner for scanning the recording head, and a data storage for storing data sent from a host computer. The apparatus can make a record according to stored data by performing a plurality of main scans, and further comprises a restorer for restoring data, which has been subjected to given processing by the host computer, to another data in line with the given processing. The present invention further relates to a record data processing method. According to the present invention, an amount of sent data to be held can be reduced by reducing an amount of data to be transferred from the host computer. Moreover, a record with irregular concentration suppressed can be made in substantially the same recording area by performing a plurality of rounds of main scan as conventionally, while a reduction in cost can be achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a consumable electrode type arc welding method and device in which stable welding can be performed at a high speed for a welding gap greater than a thickness of a base metal and the like, and welding conditions are automatically changed according to the welding gap along a welding line to perform the stable welding. A first base metal extended vertically and a second base metal which has an upper end positioned in a middle portion of the first base metal and is provided along the first base metal are welded together. The first and second base metals have a thickness of 2.8 mm, and an arc is generated toward an upper end portion of the second base metal from obliquely above on a side opposite to the first base metal. The second base metal is melted to be a part of a weld metal. An amount of the second base metal to be melted is increased or decreased according to a welding gap detected by a laser sensor.

Abstract: A recording apparatus records an image by driving plural recording elements in blocks, into which the plural recording elements are divided. The plural blocks are divided into plural groups, each group having more than one block. A driving circuit drives each of the blocks independently. The driving circuit effects recording with high resolution or low resolution by respectively driving plural groups at a different timing in a first mode and driving the plural groups at a same timing in a second mode.