Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Hideyuki Kusunoki

Yuji Sato

Mitsuru Nakamura

Akidi Yoshida

Katsunori Sakai

Keita Koyama

Ayaka Oba

In a printer, a controller controls a printing portion to execute a sample print to print on a sheet a plurality of barcodes. Each of the plurality of barcodes is represented by a received barcode data and printed in a different printing condition. The controller controls a reading portion to read the plurality of barcodes printed on the sheet in the sample print process to obtain a plurality of sets of scan data corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of barcodes. The controller performs a quality determination process to determine qualities of the plurality of printed barcodes based on the respective ones of the plurality of sets of scan data, and a printing condition setting process to set a printing condition based on the qualities determined in the quality determination process. The set printing condition is to be used to print a barcode by the printing portion.

Printer performing quality determination process to determine qualities of printed barcodes

In an image-reading device, a counting unit counts a number of clock cycles of a spread-spectrum clock as a counter value. A correcting unit corrects one of the counter value and a reference clock cycle number based on a phase detected by the phase detecting unit when the counting unit counts. A comparing unit compares the counter value and the reference clock cycle number and determines whether the counter value and the reference clock cycle number satisfy a prescribed relationship. A time length setting unit sets a length of at least one of a reading time and an irradiation time based on: a timing when the counting unit starts counting to set the time length; and a timing when the comparing unit determines that the compared values satisfy the prescribed relationship, such that the time length set by the time length setting unit remains constant.

Image-reading device that reads images by using spread-spectrum clock

A frequency level detecting method includes counting pulses of a spread-spectrum clock, the spread-spectrum clock having a frequency that is modulated within a frequency range from a minimum frequency to a maximum frequency in a constant modulation period of time, the frequency range being divided into a plurality of sub-ranges each corresponding to one of a plurality of frequency levels; determining at least one to-be-counted value range corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-ranges; judging whether or not the counted pulses fall within one of the at least one to-be-counted value range; and generating a level detection signal if the counted pulses fall within the one of the at least one to-be-counted value range, the level detection signal indicating that a frequency of the spread-spectrum clock falls within one of the plurality of frequency levels that corresponds to one of the plurality of sub-ranges corresponding to the one of the at least one to-be-counted value range.

Frequency level detecting method

In an image-reader, the first counter is configured to count a first count value based on a first clock. The second counter is configured to count a second count value based on a second clock. The first reading unit is configured to read a first surface of a document sheet based on the first count value. The second reading unit is configured to read a second surface of the document sheet based on the second count value. The second surface is opposite surface of the first surface. When the first count value reaches a prescribed first value, both the first counter value and the second count value are reset.

Image-reader

A print control device includes a data acquiring section, a print control section, a preview-image output control section, and a print-ratio acquiring section. The data acquiring section acquires image data. The print control section controls a printing device to print an image based on the image data on a sheet. The preview-image output control section outputs preview images at a plurality of print ratios. The preview images are indicators of print results to be obtained when the printing device prints, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at the respective print ratios. The print-ratio acquiring section acquires print-ratio specifying information through an input device that can be operated by a user, after the preview-image output control section outputs the preview images. The print control section controls the printing device to print, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at a print ratio specified by the print-ratio specifying information.

Print control device for obtaining appropriate print results

An image forming apparatus includes an exposing unit and a first processing component. The first processing component is configured to generate a first data and a second data. The first data causes the exposing unit to blink in accordance with image data. The second data sets a blink mode of the exposing unit. The image forming apparatus also includes a second processing component connected to the first processing component through a first signal line. The second processing component is configured to receive the first data and the second data from the first processing component and perform blink control of the exposing unit based on the first data and the second data. The exposing unit is connected to the second processing component through a second signal line. The image forming apparatus thus can remedy a defect in data communication to the exposing units.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming system, image forming apparatus, and method of correcting image density are provided. The system includes a forming unit that forms an image; an acquisition unit that acquires factor information corresponding to a factor which is capable of causing variations in density of the image; a first determination unit that determines a number of marks in accordance with the factor information; a control unit that provides the forming unit with, as the image data, data pertaining to a pattern comprising a plurality of density marks which are different from each other in density and which are equal in number to the number of marks; a detection unit that detects a density of the image formed on the target by the forming unit in relation to the pattern; and a correction unit that corrects the density of the image in accordance with a result of the detection.

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Nagoya, Japan

Hideyuki Kusunoki