An image forming apparatus capable of correcting relative position in exposure position between laser beams that scan a photosensitive drum in a scanning direction of the laser beams. A semiconductor laser includes first and second light emitting elements for emitting first and second laser beams. These elements are arranged such that the laser beams expose positions on the photosensitive drum different in the sub scanning direction. A polygon mirror deflects the laser beams to scan the photosensitive drum. Relative position in the scanning direction between images to be formed on the photosensitive drum by exposure by the first and second laser beams is corrected based on correction data. An image data generation section generates drive signals associated with the respective light emitting elements. A semiconductor laser drive circuit causes the semiconductor laser to emit the first and second laser beams, based on the drive signals.

An image forming apparatus forms an image by exposing an image bearer on the basis of image data including at least one predetermined pattern. The image forming apparatus includes a processing device that sets an exposure amount of a plurality of exposure pixels. The predetermined pattern is constituted by the plurality of exposure pixels, and a peripheral region of the predetermined pattern in the image data is constituted by a plurality of non-exposure pixels. The processing device sets an exposure amount of an exposure pixel in a specific region that is adjacent to a boundary between the predetermined pattern and the peripheral region and is constituted by at least one exposure pixel in the predetermined pattern, and an exposure amount of an exposure pixel in a region other than the specific region in the predetermined pattern to values different from each other.

An image forming apparatus forms an image by exposing an image bearer on the basis of image data including at least one predetermined pattern. The image forming apparatus includes a processing device that sets an exposure amount of a plurality of exposure pixels. The predetermined pattern is constituted by the plurality of exposure pixels, and a peripheral region of the predetermined pattern in the image data is constituted by a plurality of non-exposure pixels. The processing device sets an exposure amount of an exposure pixel in a specific region that is adjacent to a boundary between the predetermined pattern and the peripheral region and is constituted by at least one exposure pixel in the predetermined pattern, and an exposure amount of an exposure pixel in a region other than the specific region in the predetermined pattern to values different from each other.

A laser marking system comprises at least one controller to control an array of optical devices, between a laser source and a scan head. The array applies a selected pattern of portions of the received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions. The second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate to create a mark without ablation.

A printing head module, system and method for printing laser light sources. The printing head module comprises one or more printing heads used for printing a plurality of laser light sources on a substrate successively or once for all; ink used for printing comprises a luminescent dye and a host material, as well as a solvent. The system comprises a printing head module and an ink cartridge; the printing head module is used for inkjet printing the laser light sources on the substrate; the ink cartridge is used for storing ink. By means of the technical solution, industrial manufacturing of the laser light sources is achieved, and speckles caused by laser coherence are eliminated.

According to some examples in the disclosure, a method may comprise providing a first stream of discrete volumes of material; and directing a pulsed laser beam at a first discrete volume of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a discharge head; an ultraviolet irradiator disposed at a position different from the discharge head in a first direction; a carriage configured to scan in the first direction; and a controller configured to: control the carriage and the discharge head to execute a first discharge process of discharging the ink on a predefined printing area of the recording medium in a first scan; after the first discharge process, control the carriage and the discharge head to execute a second discharge process of discharging the ink on the predefined printing area in a second scan; after the second discharge process, control the carriage and the ultraviolet irradiator to irradiate the ink discharged on the predefined printing area with the ultraviolet light in a third scan.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a discharge head; an ultraviolet irradiator disposed at a position different from the discharge head in a first direction; a carriage configured to scan in the first direction; and a controller configured to: control the carriage and the discharge head to execute a first discharge process of discharging the ink on a predefined printing area of the recording medium in a first scan; after the first discharge process, control the carriage and the discharge head to execute a second discharge process of discharging the ink on the predefined printing area in a second scan; after the second discharge process, control the carriage and the ultraviolet irradiator to irradiate the ink discharged on the predefined printing area with the ultraviolet light in a third scan.

A device for laser-induced marking of an article having a marking surface comprising a non-flat portion to be marked, the device comprising: a first laser unit for emitting and scanning first laser light over a first transfer area; a first foil unit for providing a first laser transfer foil at the first transfer area; a carrier for providing the article at the first transfer area, the article having a marking surface comprising a non-flat surface area; a first hard adaptor that is transparent for the first laser light, the first hard adapter having a first contacting surface that is essentially a negative of the non-flat surface area of the marking surface; and a contacting unit for bringing the first laser transfer foil in contact with the marking surface by causing the first contacting surface to move one of the first laser transfer foil and the marking surface towards one another.

A device for laser-induced marking of an article having a marking surface comprising a non-flat portion to be marked, the device comprising: a first laser unit for emitting and scanning first laser light over a first transfer area; a first foil unit for providing a first laser transfer foil at the first transfer area; a carrier for providing the article at the first transfer area, the article having a marking surface comprising a non-flat surface area; a first hard adaptor that is transparent for the first laser light, the first hard adapter having a first contacting surface that is essentially a negative of the non-flat surface area of the marking surface; and a contacting unit for bringing the first laser transfer foil in contact with the marking surface by causing the first contacting surface to move one of the first laser transfer foil and the marking surface towards one another.