Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a printer controller configured to form an image on a sheet, a storage unit configured to store a plurality of adjustment conditions for adjusting a position on the sheet at which the image is to be formed, and a CPU. The CPU selects one of the plurality of adjustment conditions, adjusts the position at which the image is to be formed based on the selected adjustment condition, and causes the printer controller to form the image on the sheet.

Abstract: A measurement device includes: a sensor for sensing a condition of an object to be measured; a plurality of output lines L for outputting a sensing result of the sensor; and a control unit for applying voltages to the plurality of output lines based on the sensing result of the sensor. The control unit performs self-failure diagnosis and outputs a result of the self-failure diagnosis with a combination of the voltages applied to the plurality of output lines L.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveying device, an image forming device, a reading device, and control circuitry. The conveying device sequentially conveys a plurality of successive recording media that includes a preceding recording medium and a following recording medium. The image forming device forms an image on each of a front surface and a back surface of the preceding recording medium conveyed. The reading device reads an outer shape of the preceding recording medium. The control circuitry calculates an amount of deformation of the preceding recording medium based on the outer shape of the preceding recording medium read. The control circuitry corrects at least one of a front image and a back image based on the amount of deformation calculated, to cause the image forming device to form the front image and the back image on a front surface and a back surface, respectively, of the following recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, wherein the controller execute first control of controlling a rotational frequency of the motor based on a light receiving signal, wherein, when the target rotational frequency changes from a first rotational frequency to a second rotational frequency that is lower than the first rotational frequency, the controller executes speed change control of: stopping execution of the first control; and changing a rotational frequency of the motor, and non-lighting period change control of changing the non-lighting period in the lighting control from a first non-lighting period corresponding to the first rotational frequency to a second non-lighting period corresponding to the second rotational frequency, and the controller starts the first control in response to satisfying a condition where the deflection period of the mirror obtained based on a position signal of a rotor of the motor is longer than the second non-lighting period.

Abstract: An exposure unit comprises a polygon mirror configured to include a plurality of reflection surfaces; first to fourth light sources arranged at different angle positions along a rotation direction of the polygon mirror; two photo detectors configured to selectively detect first laser light and fourth laser light respectively at a scanning start end side of a main scanning direction among first to fourth laser light which are emitted from the respective light sources and reflected by the polygon mirror to be scanned in the main scanning direction; and a control section configured to control light emitting timing of the first to the fourth light sources on the basis of detection results of these photo detectors.

Abstract: A method for determining a printing position, such as for image-on-paper registration in a printer or photocopying machine, is disclosed. A fiducial mark pattern comprising a plurality of fiducial marks at predefined relative distances is provided on a printing medium, and is scanned. The fiducial marks and a first edge of the printing medium are identified in a scanned representation of the printing medium. A first distance between the first edge and a first fiducial mark is determined, and a second distance between a second fiducial mark and a third fiducial mark are likewise determined from the scanned representation of the printing medium. The distance between the fiducial mark pattern and the first edge is computed based on both the determined first distance and the determined second distance. The invention also relates to a corresponding system and a computer-readable medium for determining a printing position.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a position of a light beam sensor includes preparing a jig at a position coinciding with where the target surface is to be placed, the jig including a sensor mounting section at a reference position where a first beam is to enter, the first beam and a second beam being split from the light beam such that the first beam passes through one or more scan lenses and the second beam enters the light beam sensor, and mounting a reference sensor to the sensor mounting section, the reference sensor being configured to detect the first beam. The method further includes adjusting the position of the light beam sensor so as to synchronize detection timing of the second beam by the light beam sensor with detection timing of the first beam by the reference sensor.

Abstract: An optical writing control device and method are provided, for controlling light emission of a plurality of light sources to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element, the light sources including a plurality of light emitting elements disposed in a line, including frequency converter circuitry configured to acquire image information to be formed as the electrostatic latent image; and a light source controller configured to control the plurality of light sources based on pixel information generated from the acquired image information, the light source controller being further configured to control the light emission of the plurality of light sources by classifying the light emitting elements into a plurality of groups, and shifting the timing of light emission from one group of the plurality of groups to a next group of the plurality of groups, and determine an illuminating period for each light source of the plurality of light sources based on the shifted timing of light emission among th

Abstract: An optical writing controller that controls a light source to expose a photoconductor and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor calculates a correction value for correcting a superimposing position where the developed images for different colors developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the multiple photoconductors are superimposed based on the detection signal output by a pattern detection sensor that detects a pattern for correcting the superimposing position, controls the multiple light sources to draw a predetermined pattern repeatedly in the sub-scanning direction so that stepwise patterns whose width in the main scanning direction varies with repetition are formed, and determines the width in the main scanning direction of the patterns for correcting based on the strength of the detection signal output by the pattern detection sensor.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes: a photosensitive element whose surface relatively moves with respect to a light source by rotation; a pixel information acquiring unit that acquires pixel information of an image to be formed on the photosensitive element as an electrostatic latent image; a line pixel information storing unit that stores the pixel information for every main scanning line; a light emission control unit that causes a light source to emit light based on the pixel information; a rotation position recognizing unit that recognizes a rotation position of the photosensitive element; and a light quantity control unit that controls a light quantity of the light source based on the pixel information of every one main scanning line in accordance with the rotation position, with reference to correction value information in which the rotation position and information related to a correction of the light quantity are associated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet-linear-velocity setting unit, an image-formation-rate changing unit, a detecting unit, and first and second correcting units. When printing is performed with a first sheet linear velocity, the first correcting unit performs misregistration correction according to a result of detection of a misregistration correction pattern image by the detecting unit. When the sheet-linear-velocity setting unit sets a second sheet linear velocity other than the first sheet linear velocity, the second correcting unit corrects an adjustment amount used in the misregistration correction performed by the first correcting unit, according to a ratio between first and second coefficients. The first coefficient indicates a ratio of an actual image formation rate at the first sheet linear velocity to an ideal image formation rate, and the second coefficient indicates a ratio of an actual image formation rate at the second sheet linear velocity to an ideal image formation rate.

Abstract: A lens array including: a plurality of imaging portions arrayed in a first direction; wherein each of the plurality of imaging portions includes a first optical system configured to form an intermediate image of an object and a second optical system configured to re-form the intermediate image of the object in a first cross section parallel to the first direction and a direction of optical axes of the imaging portions, and wherein in each of the plurality of imaging portions, an optical flux from an object height at which a light available efficiency becomes 90% is restricted by at least one of a first aperture surface of the first optical system and a second aperture surface of the second optical system, and the optical flux from an object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 10% is restricted by the aperture surface which restricts the optical flux from the object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 90%.

Abstract: An image-forming position displaces from an ideal position occurring due to a portion of a support substrate bending in a direction approaching a photosensitive drum. This displacement is set as a first gap data. Spot size expansion caused by bending of the support substrate can be reduced by using light amount control data that has been corrected in response to this first gap data. Furthermore, by using light amount control data corrected in response to second gap data that indicates displacement to an ideal position from exposure areas occurring due to decentering of the photosensitive drum, spot size expansion caused by decentering of the photosensitive drum can be reduced.

Abstract: A method includes providing pixel data that comprises lines of pixel data and shared lines of pixel data, where the shared lines of pixel data are configured such that a first laser and a second laser of a plurality of lasers within a laser printing arrangement will print the shared lines of pixel data during printing of an image on a print medium. The shared lines of pixel data are split between the first laser and the second laser such that two shared lines of pixel data allow for printing of a single line of the image to be printed. During printing, the first and second lasers fire in accordance with lines of the shared lines of pixel data, where the firing of the second laser begins printing of lines of the image and the firing of the first laser completes printing of lines of the image.

Abstract: In the present invention, a detection timing of a density correction pattern is determined by correcting a timing that is determined in advance as a detection timing of the density correction pattern, based on a ratio between a conveying speed of a recording medium to which a developed image is transferred and a conveying speed of a conveying belt for conveying the image and based on a detection result of the positional deviation correction pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus to form plural images on an image conveyor includes plural photoconductor bodies, a light exposure device, a development device, a transfer device, and a pattern detection device, wherein the light exposure device includes an optical scanning part, a first light detection part having a first light receiving face, a second light detection part having a second light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, a third light detection part having a third light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, the optical scanning part, the first light detection part, and the second light detection part being provided inside a housing of the light exposure device, the third light detection part being provided outside the housing, and a light exposure timing control device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that generates positional information relating to an energy transmitting position includes a shape information obtaining unit that obtains shape information of a region, a circumscribed rectangle generating unit that generates a circumscribed rectangle of the region, a parallel line generating unit that generates parallel lines extending across the region at a predetermined interval, an intersection calculating unit that calculates a first intersection point between a parallel line of the parallel lines and a line segment of an outline defining the region that is generated based on the shape information, and a data generating unit that generates parallel line data by dividing the parallel line at the first intersection point and removing a divided line that overlaps with the circumscribed rectangle, or by shortening an edge point of the parallel line to the first intersection point.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a light emission control unit configured to cause a light source to emit light based on a rotational position of a photosensitive element and pixel information making up a correction pattern to form an electrostatic latent image of the correction pattern on the photosensitive element, the correction pattern being formed across an entire circumference of the photosensitive element in a rotating direction; a reading signal acquiring unit configured to acquire reading signals resulting from reading the correction pattern, and generate, based on the reading signals, density variation information in which the rotational position and a density of the correction pattern are associated; and a correction value information generation control unit configured to generate information about correction to an amount of light emitted by the light source based on the density of the correction pattern to generate correction value information.

Abstract: A light scanning device includes a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam in response to an image forming signal, an optical deflector which scans the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser in a main scanning direction, and a liquid crystal deflecting element which changes the scanning position of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser while desynchronized with output of the image forming signal, thereby to correct the scanning position of the laser beam in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an optical writing device for applying light corresponding to image data to form a first image of the image data includes: a temperature detecting unit that detects temperature at a plurality of positions in the optical writing device; and an adjustment processing unit that, when a temperature difference between the positions detected by the temperature detecting unit is out of a predetermined range, forms a second image for quality verification and performs a process for adjusting color registration of the first image by using the second image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a correction control unit and a correction amount adjusting unit. The correction control unit performs a phase correction process of changing a drive frequency of a driver for driving and rotating a rotating polygon mirror having a rotational phase difference judged not to coincide by a predetermined correction amount and driving the driver for a period corresponding to a specified clock number by a drive clock signal of the changed drive frequency if a rotational phase difference of another rotating polygon mirror does not coincide with a reference rotational phase difference. The correction amount adjusting unit reduces the predetermined correction amount by a predetermined specified amount and causes the correction control unit to perform the phase correction process again if the rotational phase difference does not coincide with a reference rotational phase difference after the phase correction process is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of a plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive members by exposure with the light beams, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the photosensitive members onto an image carrier; a pattern forming unit configured to control the image forming unit to form a misalignment detection pattern for detecting a relative misalignment between the toner images transferred onto the image carrier; a pattern reading unit configured to read the misalignment detection pattern; and a correction unit configured to correct the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the pattern reading unit.

Abstract: A light source control circuit of an optical writing device, admitting connection of light sources and forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element by controlling a connected light source, includes: a skew correction unit that corrects a skew of a main scanning line of an electrostatic latent image formed by the light source relative to the photosensitive element; a pattern generating unit that outputs image data for forming a predetermined pattern in an electrostatic latent image; a local deviation correction unit that corrects a local deviation of an electrostatic latent image formed by the light source on the main scanning line by acquiring image data processed to form the pattern and by performing a predetermined process; a light source control unit that causes the light source to emit light based on image data in which the local deviation has been corrected; and a setting value input unit.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus includes: a light emission unit emitting a first light beam and a second light beam; a motor; a rotary polygon mirror rotated by the motor, forming two scanning lines on a scan object at the same time; an optical sensor detecting the first light beam and the second light beam deflected by the rotary polygon mirror; a deviation measurement unit measuring a deviation amount of starting positions of the two scanning lines on the scan object based on a first detection timing at which the optical sensor detects the first light beam and a second detection timing at which the optical sensor detects the second light beam; and a motor control unit controlling rotation of the motor based on the second detection timing in a measurement non-execution period, and controls rotation of the motor without using the first detection timing in a measurement execution period.

Abstract: An optical writing device that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor. The device includes a pixel-information acquiring unit, a line-pixel-information storage unit that stores the acquired pixel information corresponding to a plurality of lines for each main scanning line, a light source device that exposes the photoreceptor with a period corresponding to an N-fold sub-scanning direction resolution of the pixel information, a positional-shift-information storage unit that stores a positional shift information, a sub-line counting unit that counts a sub-line period, a reading-line selecting unit that performs N times of selection that determines which main scanning line is selected as the line from which the pixel information is read out, on the basis of a calculated value from the counted value of the sub-line period and the positional shift information, and a pixel-information reading unit.

Abstract: An apparatus to form plural images on an image conveyor includes plural photoconductor bodies, a light exposure device, a development device, a transfer device, and a pattern detection device, wherein the light exposure device includes an optical scanning part, a first light detection part having a first light receiving face, a second light detection part having a second light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, a third light detection part having a third light receiving face being non-parallel to the first light receiving face, the optical scanning part, the first light detection part, and the second light detection part being provided inside a housing of the light exposure device, the third light detection part being provided outside the housing, and a light exposure timing control device.

Abstract: A method includes providing pixel data that comprises lines of pixel data and shared lines of pixel data, where the shared lines of pixel data are configured such that a first laser and a second laser of a plurality of lasers within a laser printing arrangement will print the shared lines of pixel data during printing of an image on a print medium. The shared lines of pixel data are split between the first laser and the second laser such that two shared lines of pixel data allow for printing of a single line of the image to be printed. During printing, the first and second lasers fire in accordance with lines of the shared lines of pixel data, where the firing of the second laser begins printing of lines of the image and the firing of the first laser completes printing of lines of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that facilitate the alignment of multiple color planes of a latent image in a multi-beam multi-pass printer. The methods include determining, during a first pass of a transfer medium of a multi-beam printer, a first time interval between when at least one light beam from a multi-beam device is detected and when a top of a page is detected at a selected location of the transfer medium, the multi-beam device including a plurality of light beam sources, and the first pass to form a first color plane of a latent image on the transfer medium. The methods further include selecting, based at least in part on the determined first time interval, a first one of the plurality of light beam sources to begin illuminating the transfer medium to create the first color plane on the transfer medium during the first pass of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first light controller to shift starts of image writing operations of light sources by a first time interval. A test data storage stores, beforehand, test image data having dot columns formed by one-dot images arranged in a row in a sub-scanning direction and at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction. An operation controller controls an image carrier at a speed so that adjacent dot images in the sub-scanning direction overlap. A second light controller forms electrostatic latent test images on the image carrier based on timing signals with the image carrier moved by the operation controller, and draws electrostatic latent test images with different time intervals. A density measurer measures densities of the developed test images. A time interval adjusting section adjusts the time interval based on the time interval used to draw the electrostatic latent test image having the lowest measured density.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit that prints information upon an element to be printed upon; a projection unit that projects an optical image in a position that is different from a position of the element to be printed upon in which position the printing unit is printing the information; and a control unit that causes the projection unit to project an optical image that represents the information to be printed by the printing unit before printing by the printing unit is started.

Abstract: A multi-beam image forming apparatus and a method using the same. The image forming apparatus includes: an image process module to divide first image data into a plurality of second image data; a light scanning unit to scan the plurality of second image data using a plurality of laser beams; and a controller to control the formation of an electrostatic latent image of the first image data on a photosensitive body in an overlapping manner, using at least two of the plurality of laser beams.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for rotary marking or machining of cylindrical materials, preferably natural cork stoppers, agglomerated cork or synthetic materials used to close wine bottles and the like. The device includes at least one feeder system of cylindrical elements, preferably natural and synthetic cork stoppers; means of sensing the presence of such cylindrical elements, a laser system, means to produce the rotation of the cylindrical elements on its axis of revolution, at a variable speed, in a tangential movement compared to the focal plane of the laser system, means of measuring the instantaneous velocity tangential to its surface and direction of rotation, optical correction and focusing means, microprocessor control based means, and means for extracting the cylindrical elements.

Abstract: In a printing device provided with a multi-laser beam, an image gradation occurs due to a difference in characteristics between respective beams. The output beam number is changed by referring to a profile (curvature, tilt, polarity and beam scan interval) of each laser beam to perform a print at an engine rotation speed corresponding to the beam number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a phase calculation portion, a pattern recognition portion, and a correction coefficient output portion. The phase calculation portion calculates a shift amount of the scanning lines as phase information and, from the phase information, outputs a first set of coefficients. The pattern recognition portion outputs a pattern concordance rate by performing pattern recognition on the group of pixels of interest and peripheral pixels thereof. The correction coefficient output portion outputs a second set of coefficients for correcting the first set of coefficients in accordance with the pattern concordance rate. An interpolation processing portion performs interpolation calculations by referring to the first set of coefficients, the second set of coefficients, and the pattern concordance rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an exposure head having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction, a first imaging optical system adapted to image light emitted from the light emitting elements, and a second imaging optical system disposed in a second direction with respect to the first imaging optical system; a latent image carrier movable in the second direction; a detection section adapted to detect a moving time the latent image carrier takes to move from a first position to a second position in the second direction; and a control section adapted to control the time from emission of a first part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system to emission of a second part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system based on the detection result of the detection section, thereby aligning a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical sy

Abstract: The calibration of an imaging system is adjusted for geometric distortion of an image formed by a group of imaging channels on a media supported on a media support. The media support includes a plurality of individually spaced reference features disposed on a surface of the media support and a change in an expected position of at least one of the reference features is determined. Activation timing of the channels is adjusted in accordance with such changes. The imaging channels can be supported on a movable carriage and movement of the carriage can be adjusted in accordance with such changes.

Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus includes signal detecting units which are included in development units and detect horizontal synchronization signals, a correction unit to count pulse widths of the horizontal synchronization signals detected by the signal detecting units and correct timings of vertical offsets to be increased or decreased according to lengths of the pulse widths, and a video controller to output video data to scan multi-color images on surfaces of photosensitive drums according to the timings of the vertical offsets corrected by the correction unit. Even when any one of the laser scanning units and the development units is shifted from a reference position, the vertical offset is corrected such that the multi-color images printed on a recording medium are aligned in a vertical direction. Accordingly, preventing quality of the multi-color images from deteriorating is possible.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image forming apparatus capable of, and method of, improving color registration. The image forming apparatus can employ a beam deflector having a double-sided mirror portion that pivots to bi-directionally scan multiple light beams on multiple photosensitive media at different phases by using both mirror sides of the double-sided mirror portion. The individual monochromic images developed on the photosensitive media are transferred onto a transfer medium to overlap one another in phase to form a full color image.

Abstract: A device, apparatus, and method of controlling operation of scanning performed by an optical scanning device are disclosed such that the color images are not shifted in the sub-scanning direction even when thinning processing is performed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that facilitate the alignment of multiple color planes of a latent image in a multi-beam multi-pass printer are described herein. The novel methods includes determining, during a first pass of a transfer medium of a multi-beam printer, a first time interval between when at least one light beam from a multi-beam device is detected and when a top of a page is detected at a selected location of the transfer medium, the multi-beam device including a plurality of light beam sources, and the first pass to form a first color plane of a latent image on the transfer medium. The methods further include selecting, based at least in part on the determined first time interval, a first one of the plurality of light beam sources to begin illuminating the transfer medium to create the first color plane on the transfer medium during the first pass of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a device-information storage unit configured to store a scanning frequency of an oscillating device; an image storage unit configured to store image data used for image formation; an image processing unit configured to perform an enlargement or reduction, in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the scanning of the laser beam and in accordance with a given parameter, on the image data stored in the image storage unit; a setting unit configured to calculate the parameter from the scanning frequency stored in the device-information storage unit and a predetermined reference frequency and configured to provide the parameter to the image processing unit; and a driving unit configured to drive a laser beam device according to the image data processed by the image processing unit.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier, on which a latent image is formed; an exposure head that includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element that is disposed in a direction in which the latent image container corresponding to the first light-emitting element is moved; and a control unit that changes over and performs a first latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the first light-emitting element, and a second latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the second light-emitting element, wherein the control unit controls a first light emission timing of the first light-emitting element in the first latent image forming operation and a second light emission timing of the second light-emitting element in the second latent image forming operation to be different from each other.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus forms a latent image by scanning a laser beam emitted from a light source on an image bearing member. The apparatus includes first and second laser beam detectors for detecting the laser beam and a scanning-line slope detector for detecting a slope of a scanning line on the image bearing member on the basis of the result of detection obtained by the first and second laser beam detectors. The first laser beam detector detects the laser beam in a scanning area in front of an area in which the latent image is formed on the image bearing member and the second laser beam detector detects the laser beam in a scanning area behind the area in which the latent image is formed on the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and an optical scanning device. The optical scanning device generates an optical scanning beam and includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes a pair of arch-like-shaped supporting members. Inside the enclosure there are provided a light source for emitting a light beam, a light deflector for deflecting the light beam emitted from the light source so as to convert the light beam into the optical scanning beam, and at least one reflecting mirror for reflecting the optical scanning beam deflected by the light deflector to scan the image carrying surface of the image carrier. At least one of the reflecting mirrors includes a specific reflecting mirror having a light reflecting surface and mounted on the pair of arch-like-shaped supporting members at a position to reflect the optical scanning beam with the light reflecting surface toward the image carrying surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A line head, includes: a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses having a magnification whose absolute value is below 1 are arranged in a main scanning direction of a surface-to-be-scanned, and a plurality of luminous element groups which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the respective plurality of microlenses, wherein in each of the plurality of luminous element groups, a plurality of luminous elements are arranged at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction, the plurality of luminous elements are respectively caused to emit lights at timings in conformity with a movement of the surface-to-be-scanned in a sub scanning direction, and light beams emitted from the plurality of luminous elements are imaged on the surface-to-be-scanned at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction to form a plurality of spots side by side on the surface-to-be-scanned in the main scanning direction, and in each of the pl

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms a color image in which a plurality of color component images are superimposed; and a formation controlling unit that allows the image forming unit to form images for adjustment of formation positions of the respective color component images. The formation controlling unit allows the image forming unit to form, for each color, a plurality of adjustment images having different tilts with respect to a main scanning direction. A shift of a detected position of each adjustment image from a reference position in which each adjustment image should be formed is calculated, a tilt and an intercept of a regression line that uses the reference positions and the calculated shifts as variables are calculated, and a shift in the main scanning direction and a shift in a sub-scanning direction are determined based on the calculated tilt and intercept.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus has a droplet ejecting portion and an energy beam radiating portion. The liquid droplet ejecting portion ejects droplets containing pattern forming material onto an ejection target surface. The energy beam radiating portion radiates an energy beam onto a boundary between the droplets that have been received by the ejection target surface at different timings so as to move boundary areas of the droplets. Accordingly, using the liquid droplet ejection apparatus, a pattern having an accurately defined shape can be formed.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus with a plurality of laser diodes that form color-component images, which correspond to a plurality of color components, onto a plurality of corresponding photosensitive drums respectively, and a transfer belt onto which the color-component images that are formed on the respective photosensitive drums are transferred. The image formation apparatus adjusts the image formation timing based on the positions of the color-component images that are transferred to the transfer belt; and when adjusting the image formation timing, the respective laser diodes form color-component images at formation intervals that correspond to an integral multiple of the period of a periodic noise.

Abstract: When images are to be printed on two, front and lower surfaces of a sheet, in order to register the position of the image on the front surface and the position of the image on the back surface highly accurately, an image printing apparatus of this invention includes an image printing section which forms the image for the front surface of the sheet as well as an image of a reference mark on a photosensitive member at one portion in a region outside an image printing region and transfers the images onto the front surface of the sheet, a fixing unit which fixes the transferred images on the sheet, a line sensor which detects the reference mark after fixing printed on the front surface of the sheet, an arithmetic operating section which obtains a shrinkage factor of the sheet on the basis of a size of the reference mark before fixing and a size of the detected reference mark after fixing and calculates a position and magnification of the image to be printed on the back surface on the basis of the shrinkage factor