Abstract: A supporting structure for a temperature sensor, and a drying device provided with the supporting structure. The supporting structure includes a front panel, a rear panel, a first supporting member having both ends in a longer-side direction of the first supporting member, and a second supporting member attachable to and detachable from the first supporting member. In the supporting structure, both ends of the first supporting member are removably supported by the front panel and the rear panel. In the supporting structure, the temperature sensor is disposed on the second supporting member, and the temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of a heating roller disposed between the front panel and the rear panel.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes: a piezoelectric element to which a drive voltage is applied; a nozzle from which a liquid is to be discharged in accordance with a change of the drive voltage; and circuitry configured to: generate: a first drive waveform including first multiple pulses switchable at first switch timings; and a second drive waveform including second multiple pulses different from the first multiple pulses switchable at second switch timings, at least one the first switch timings of the first multiple pulses of the first drive waveform and at least one of the second switch timings of the second multiple pulses of the second drive waveform are the same; select first selected pulses from the first multiple pulses in the first drive waveform; and select second selected pulses from the second multiple pulses in the second drive waveform.

Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a gear; a case receiving the gear; and a baffle plate positioned between the gear and the case; the baffle plate including a guide portion arranged to guide an oil scooped up by the gear, into between the baffle plate and the case, and the guide portion being disposed above an oil level within the case, the guide portion being adjacent to an axial side surface of the gear, the guide portion being positioned in the baffle plate on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the gear, and the guide portion including a first bent portion which is positioned on a tip end side, and which is bent in a direction from the case toward the gear.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a rotator, a liquid discharger, a sheet-material position detector, a first signal output device, a second signal output device, and circuitry. The rotator carries a sheet material on a circumferential surface and conveys the sheet material. The liquid discharger discharges liquid onto the sheet material. The sheet-material position detector detects a position of the sheet material. The first signal output device outputs a first signal corresponding to a rotation amount of the rotator. The second signal output device outputs a second signal correlated with a movement amount of the sheet material on the circumferential surface of the rotator. The circuitry determines a discharge start timing of the liquid discharger from a detection result of the sheet-material position detector and the first signal, and generates a discharge timing of the liquid discharger from the second signal.

Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a gear; a case receiving the gear; and a baffle plate positioned between the gear and the case; the baffle plate including a guide portion arranged to guide an oil scooped up by the gear, into between the baffle plate and the case, and the guide portion being disposed above an oil level within the case, the guide portion being adjacent to an axial side surface of the gear, the guide portion being positioned in the baffle plate on an upstream side in a rotation direction of the gear, and the guide portion including a first bent portion which is positioned on a tip end side, and which is bent in a direction from the case toward the gear.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a rotator, a liquid discharger, a sheet-material position detector, a first signal output device, a second signal output device, and circuitry. The rotator carries a sheet material on a circumferential surface and conveys the sheet material. The liquid discharger discharges liquid onto the sheet material. The sheet-material position detector detects a position of the sheet material. The first signal output device outputs a first signal corresponding to a rotation amount of the rotator. The second signal output device outputs a second signal correlated with a movement amount of the sheet material on the circumferential surface of the rotator. The circuitry determines a discharge start timing of the liquid discharger from a detection result of the sheet-material position detector and the first signal, and generates a discharge timing of the liquid discharger from the second signal.

Abstract: A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.

Abstract: A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting device that includes multiple pressure chambers communicating with multiple nozzles, to contain liquid; a vibration plate, to constitute elastic walls of the pressure chambers, disposed extending along the pressure chambers; multiple pressure generating elements disposed facing the multiple chambers respectively via the vibration plate; a drive waveform generator to generate drive waveform data that indicates a shape of a drive waveform for driving the multiple pressure generating elements; a residual vibration detector to detect a residual vibration waveform occurring within the pressure chamber after the pressure generating elements are driven; and a controller to determine the necessity of liquid-state recovery ejection for discharging thickened liquid, based on the detected residual vibration, and to causes the liquid-state recovery ejection to be performed upon determining that liquid-state recovery ejection is needed.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting device that includes multiple pressure chambers communicating with multiple nozzles, to contain liquid; a vibration plate, to constitute elastic walls of the pressure chambers, disposed extending along the pressure chambers; multiple pressure generating elements disposed facing the multiple chambers respectively via the vibration plate; a drive waveform generator to generate drive waveform data that indicates a shape of a drive waveform for driving the multiple pressure generating elements; a residual vibration detector to detect a residual vibration waveform occurring within the pressure chamber after the pressure generating elements are driven; and a controller to determine the necessity of liquid-state recovery ejection for discharging thickened liquid, based on the detected residual vibration, and to causes the liquid-state recovery ejection to be performed upon determining that liquid-state recovery ejection is needed.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a state of a horizontal synchronizing signal is provided for an optical scanner, which includes a rotary polygon mirror having a rotation sensor, a control clock competing with a signal of the rotation sensor to control the rotary polygon mirror to a constant speed, a laser beam illuminating the rotary polygon mirror to be used in a scanning operation, and a scanning beam detector detecting the laser scanning beam at a prescribed position and outputting a horizontal synchronizing signal to trigger a control of the scanner. The method includes using the optical scanner, and presetting an effective period of outputting the horizontal synchronizing signal by counting the control clock for the rotary polygon mirror, the counting being triggered by a previous horizontal synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An image position detecting device is disclosed that detects an image position based on a reflected light from an image carrier that reflects a light irradiated from a light emitting source. The device includes first and second light receivers that are spaced apart in a moving direction of the image carrier such that the first light receiver detects a toner image adhered on and being moved by the image carrier before the second light receiver detects the toner image, and a comparison output unit that compares first and second analog signals input from the first and second light receivers to determine whether a level of the first analog signal is higher than a level of the second analog signal, and outputs the comparison result as an output signal in binary form. The first and second analog signals are input to the comparison output unit at different levels.

Abstract: An image position detecting device is disclosed that detects an image position based on a reflected light from an image carrier that reflects a light irradiated from a light emitting source. The device includes first and second light receivers that are spaced apart in a moving direction of the image carrier such that the first light receiver detects a toner image adhered on and being moved by the image carrier before the second light receiver detects the toner image, and a comparison output unit that compares first and second analog signals input from the first and second light receivers to determine whether a level of the first analog signal is higher than a level of the second analog signal, and outputs the comparison result as an output signal-in binary form. The first and second analog signals are input to the comparison output unit at different levels.

Abstract: An electrophotographic device with a laser power correction device (and method therefor) includes a laser power detection sensor retractably disposed relative to a laser beam optical path of a laser beam, a laser power adjusting device for controlling laser power of the laser beam based on an output from the laser power detection sensor, and a controller for inserting the laser power detection sensor into the optical path and applying laser power correction when a total laser beam activation time has reached a predetermined time and printing is stopped.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a state of a horizontal synchronizing signal is provided for an optical scanner, which includes a rotary polygon mirror having a rotation sensor, a control clock competing with a signal of the rotation sensor to control the rotary polygon mirror to a constant speed, a laser beam illuminating the rotary polygon mirror to be used in a scanning operation, and a scanning beam detector detecting the laser scanning beam at a prescribed position and outputting a horizontal synchronizing signal to trigger a control of the scanner. The method includes using the optical scanner, and presetting an effective period of outputting the horizontal synchronizing signal by counting the control clock for the rotary polygon mirror, the counting being triggered by a previous horizontal synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An electrophotographic device with a laser power correction device (and method therefor) includes a laser power detection sensor retractably disposed relative to a laser beam optical path of a laser beam, a laser power adjusting device for controlling laser power of the laser beam based on an output from the laser power detection sensor, and a controller for inserting the laser power detection sensor into the optical path and applying laser power correction when a total laser beam activation time has reached a predetermined time and printing is stopped.