Abstract: A seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a stack of paper sheets is loaded; a ceiling plate which is arranged above the table to cover an upper side of the paper stack on the table; a front side plate and a rear side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at front and rear sides of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the front and rear side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; a right-hand side plate and a left-hand side plate which are arranged to oppose to each other at a right-hand side and a left-hand side of the paper stack on the table, at least one of the right-hand and left-hand side plates being advanceable and retractable relatively to each other; and an air blowing device which blows air horizontally toward the paper stack on the table.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus and an image expansion and contraction correcting method are provided that improve the quality of each read image by restraining image expansion and contraction caused by a variation in the combination of conveying units for conveying each document. The image reading apparatus has conveying units (a first conveying unit, a second conveying unit, and a third conveying unit) that convey each document, and an image reading unit (a first image reading unit and a second image reading unit) that reads an image of each document being conveyed by the conveying units. The image reading speed of the image reading unit is adjusted in accordance with a change in the combination of conveying units that are conveying a document, so as to correct image expansion and contraction caused by a change in document conveying speed caused by the change in the combination of conveying units.

Abstract: A lithography system and method for calculating an optimal discrete time trajectory for a movable device is described. A trajectory planner of the lithography system calculates an optimal discrete time trajectory subject to maximum velocity and maximum acceleration constraints. The trajectory planner begins by calculating a continuous time, three-segment trajectory for a reticle stage, a wafer stage or a framing blade, including a first phase for acceleration at the maximum acceleration to the maximum velocity, a second phase for travel at the maximum velocity and a third phase for deceleration at the negative maximum acceleration to a final velocity. Next, the trajectory planner converts said continuous time, three-segment trajectory to a discrete time trajectory. The time of execution of the resulting trajectory is at most three quanta greater than the time of execution of the continuous time trajectory. One advantage of the system is the reduction of scanning times of a lithography system.

Abstract: Attributes of an original (image density and discrimination between a color image and a black-and-white image) stopped on a platen glass is read by a reading unit in which light is irradiated upward from a lamp and reflection light is finally read by an image sensor. Next, while carriages of the reading unit are moved rightward, an image of the original is read by the reading unit. After completion of the reading operation, the carriages are held at a position near an image reading end position. Then, the readout original is ejected from above the platen glass, and the next original is transported by an automatic document feeder so as to be stopped on the platen glass. Thereafter, while the carriages are moved leftward, attributes of the next original stopped on the platen glass are read.