Abstract: A first longitudinal registration correcting unit corrects a misalignment of a recording medium in its conveying direction. A lateral registration correcting unit corrects a misalignment of the recording medium in its width direction after the misalignment in the conveying direction is corrected by the first longitudinal registration correcting unit. A second longitudinal registration correcting unit corrects the misalignment of the recording medium in the conveying direction again after the misalignment in the width direction is corrected by the lateral registration correcting unit.

Abstract: A disclosed sheet aligning device includes a sheet conveyance path; a detecting unit configured to detect a side edge of a sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a stopper provided on an upstream side of the detecting unit and configured to open/close in such a manner as to allow/prevent passage of the sheet through the sheet conveyance path and to position a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a first conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the stopper, the first conveying unit including a pair of first rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; a second conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit including a pair of second rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; and a horizontal movement unit configured to move the pair of first rollers in an axial direction of the first rollers based on a detection result output by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus, e.g., coupled to an image forming apparatus, can include: a main frame; a storage unit mounted on the main frame and configured with a capacity to store a large quantity of sheet-like material; a transporter mounted on the main frame and configured to supply the sheet-like material to the image forming apparatus; an additional unit adapted to be mounted on the main frame and operable to enhance a functionality of at least one of the sheet feed apparatus and an image forming apparatus; and a supporting frame mounted on the main frame in place of the additional unit, and further adapted such that the additional unit is mountable thereon; the additional unit being mounted on the supporting frame.

Abstract: Ink jet recording is performed using an ink that is adjusted such that the thickness dependence rate determined by dividing the difference in optical density between images having an ink layer thickness of 30 ?m and 15 ?m by the ink layer thickness difference of 15 ?m is less than 0.043 per unit layer thickness of 1 ?m or ?Eab* between the same hues is 8 or less.

Abstract: A three-dimensional laminating molding device includes ejection heads that eject support material for a support, and an ejection head that ejects mold material for a mold. The support material is sold at room temperature. An inner temperature of the laminating molding device during the laminating molding is controlled to a range of (a melting point of the support material?30)° C. to (the melting point of the support material?5)° C.

Abstract: Ink jet recording is performed using an ink that is adjusted such that the thickness dependence rate determined by dividing the difference in optical density between images having an ink layer thickness of 30 ?m and 15 ?m by the ink layer thickness difference of 15 ?m is less than 0.043 per unit layer thickness of 1 ?m or ?Eab* between the same hues is 8 or less.

Abstract: A three-dimensional laminating molding device includes ejection heads that eject support material for a support, and an ejection head that ejects mold material for a mold. The support material is sold at room temperature. An inner temperature of the laminating molding device during the laminating molding is controlled to a range of (a melting point of the support material—30)° C. to (the melting point of the support material—5)° C.

Abstract: An ink jet print head includes pressure chambers, a diaphragm forming a side of the pressure chambers, stacked piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric element fixing plate, and a housing. The stacked piezoelectric elements are attached to the diaphragm in a one-to-one correspondence with pressure chambers. The piezoelectric element fixing plate is fixedly attached to and supports the stacked piezoelectric elements. The housing includes a common ink channel portion that supplies ink to the pressure chambers. The piezoelectric element fixing plate and the stacked piezoelectric elements are disposed at least partially in the space defined by the diaphragm and internal side walls of the ink channel portion with a gap existing between the piezoelectric element fixing plate and the internal side walls.

Abstract: An appropriate pulse width of a driving pulse for driving a piezoelectric element of ink jet head is determined by using the head difference. That is, the pulse width with which the least change in the ink speed occurs can be used as the pulse width of the driving signal for the piezoelectric actuator. As a result, a reliable ink jet printer head capable of stably ejecting ink droplets over a long period of time and having excellent frequency characteristics can be provided.

Abstract: An ink jet print head includes pressure chambers, a diaphragm forming a side of the pressure chambers, stacked piezoelectric elements, a piezoelectric element fixing plate, and a housing. The stacked piezoelectric elements are attached to the diaphragm in a one-to-one correspondence with pressure chambers. The piezoelectric element fixing plate is fixedly attached to and supports the stacked piezoelectric elements. The housing includes a common ink channel portion and internal side walls. The common ink channel portion is formed with a common ink channel that supplies ink to the pressure chambers. The internal side walls adjoin the diaphragm at one side to define a space that is open at an end opposite from the diaphragm. The piezoelectric element fixing plate and the stacked piezoelectric elements are disposed at least partially in the space with a gap existing between the piezoelectric element fixing plate and the internal side walls that define the space.

Abstract: An appropriate pulse width of a driving pulse for driving a piezoelectric element of ink jet head is determined by using the head difference. That is, the pulse width with which the least change in the ink speed occurs can be used as the pulse width of the driving signal for the piezoelectric actuator. As a result, a reliable ink jet printer head capable of stably ejecting ink droplets over a long period of time and having excellent frequency characteristics can be provided.

Abstract: A solid-ink printing original plate which comprises a substrate and an image comprising ink dots formed on the substrate, and which is produced by a process comprising the steps of: melting a solid ink that is a solid at a room temperature; and jetting the melt of the solid ink onto a substrate to form ink dots, wherein the solid ink has a penetration index of not more than 5 at a room temperature. Also disclosed is a process for producing the solid-ink printing original plate.

Abstract: A solid-ink printing original plate which comprises a substrate and an image comprising an ink dot formed on the substrate, and which is prepared by a process comprising the steps of: melting a solid ink that is a solid at a room temperature; and jetting the melt of the solid ink onto a substrate to form an ink dot, wherein the ink dots that have solidified on the substrate have an ink dot height of at least 5 &mgr;m, and a ratio (aspect ratio) of the ink dot height to the minor axis size of the ink dot of from 0.05 to 0.5. Also disclosed is a process for producing the solid-ink printing original plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a high-quality image on an elongated recording medium, such as a roll of paper sheet. When an image includes a character which stretches between two print regions, a blank line portion of the image is detected. When image forming operation is performed for forming a portion of the image up to the blank line, sheet feed operations are performed. Then, image forming operation for a remaining portion of the image is performed. Because the sheet feed operation will not be performed in the middle of printing of such image, undesirable broken line or gap will not be formed on the printed image.

Abstract: A printing system having a mechanism for fixing a large scale recording medium in a vertical orientation on an electrostatically adsorption plate provided on a base. The fixing mechanism includes a main holding unit provided on the base, a supplementary holding unit detachably fixed on the main holding unit, and a fixing unit for fixing the supplementary holding unit to the main fixing unit. The supplementary holding unit is first detached from the main fixing unit, and is placed on a tabletop. With this posture, a recording medium is fixed to the supplementary holding unit. Then, the supplementary holding unit holding the recording unit is fixed to the main holding unit. In the fixing operation, the fixing unit automatically changes a held fashion of the recording medium from by the supplementary holding unit to by the main holding unit.

Abstract: A structure of a rotating mechanism for a watch case having a time display section, comprising a case body internally accommodating the time display section and having a lower opening, a back cover fitted into the lower opening of the case body, a retining ring secured to a lower portion of the case body, and a band attaching base engaging with the case body by being clamped between the retaining ring and the case body. The case body is adapted to rotate with respect to the band attaching base.

Abstract: A miniature variable resistor comprising an insulating substrate provided with a hole therethrough. A resistance pattern which is carried on a front surface of the insulating substrate in a manner to surround the hole, and a hollow rotor of insulating synthetic resin is provided with an operating portion and a slidable contact portion slidable on the front surface. A slide member is unitarily embedded in the rotor and which has elastic protuberant pieces protruding into the hollow portion of the rotor, and a shaft member which protrudes beyond the hole from a rear surface of the insulating substrate is fitted tightly in the hollow portion of the rotor.