Abstract: A vibration actuator that is reduced in the change of posture of a vibration element with respect to a contact body. The vibration element unit and the contact body are movable relative to each other. The vibration element unit includes a vibration element in contact with the contact body, a first holding member that holds the vibration element, a base, a first supporting member that is fixed to the base, and movably supports the first holding member in a direction orthogonal to a friction sliding surface of the contact body in slide contact with the vibration element, while maintaining the vibration element in a predetermined posture with respect to the contact body, and an urging unit that is arranged on the base independently of the first supporting member and presses the vibration element in a direction orthogonal to the friction sliding surface of the contact body.

Abstract: A vibrating type actuator which hardly causes a failure and can suppress occurrence of abnormal noise while not preventing vibration from being excited in a vibrator. The vibrating type actuator comprises a vibrator in which vibration is excited, and a contact body which is in contact with the vibrator, wherein the vibrator and the contact body move relatively to each other. The vibrating type actuator comprises a holding member which holds the vibrator, a pressurizing member which pressurizes the vibrator against the contact body, a support member which movably supports the holding member in a pressurizing direction, in which the pressurizing member performs pressurization, and an vibration damping member which is in contact with the holding member at a plurality of portions while sandwiching the holding member in a direction orthogonal to the pressurizing direction.

Abstract: A linear driving mechanism capable of moving a driven object smoothly and lengthening its service life. A first vibration element and a second vibration element sandwich a friction member therebetween. A first holding member holding the first vibration element is rotatably supported by a first shaft. A second holding member holding the second vibration element is rotatably supported by a second shaft. An urging part moves the first holding member and the second holding member to press these vibration elements against the friction member. A coupling member couples the first holding member with a driven object. A pressing part presses the coupling member against a moving body including the first and second holding members. A direction of a pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the first shaft when the coupling member couples with the first holding member.

Abstract: A vibration actuator that is reduced in the change of posture of a vibration element with respect to a contact body. The vibration element unit and the contact body are movable relative to each other. The vibration element unit includes a vibration element in contact with the contact body, a first holding member that holds the vibration element, a base, a first supporting member that is fixed to the base, and movably supports the first holding member in a direction orthogonal to a friction sliding surface of the contact body in slide contact with the vibration element, while maintaining the vibration element in a predetermined posture with respect to the contact body, and an urging unit that is arranged on the base independently of the first supporting member and presses the vibration element in a direction orthogonal to the friction sliding surface of the contact body.

Abstract: A vibrating type actuator which hardly causes a failure and can suppress occurrence of abnormal noise while not preventing vibration from being excited in a vibrator. The vibrating type actuator comprises a vibrator in which vibration is excited, and a contact body which is in contact with the vibrator, wherein the vibrator and the contact body move relatively to each other. The vibrating type actuator comprises a holding member which holds the vibrator, a pressurizing member which pressurizes the vibrator against the contact body, a support member which movably supports the holding member in a pressurizing direction, in which the pressurizing member performs pressurization, and an vibration damping member which is in contact with the holding member at a plurality of portions while sandwiching the holding member in a direction orthogonal to the pressurizing direction.

Abstract: A correcting optical device including: a fixing member; a rotating member; a movable member; first and second drive units; and at least first and second contact members. For the regulation of movement of the movable member, rotational driving force is produced by the first and second drive units and, the rotating member is rotated in the opposite direction of the rotational direction of the movable member after the movable member is rotated to be brought into contact with the first contact member, whereby translational movement of the movable member is regulated. For image deflection correction, rotational driving force in the opposite direction of the rotational force is produced and, the rotating member is rotated in the opposite direction of the rotational direction of the movable member after the movable member is rotated to be brought into contact with the second contact member, whereby regulation on the movable member is released.

Abstract: A linear driving mechanism capable of moving a driven object smoothly and lengthening its service life. A first vibration element and a second vibration element sandwich a friction member therebetween. A first holding member holding the first vibration element is rotatably supported by a first shaft. A second holding member holding the second vibration element is rotatably supported by a second shaft. An urging part moves the first holding member and the second holding member to press these vibration elements against the friction member. A coupling member couples the first holding member with a driven object. A pressing part presses the coupling member against a moving body including the first and second holding members. A direction of a pressing force of the pressing part intersects with the first shaft when the coupling member couples with the first holding member.

Abstract: A vibration-type actuator can be miniaturized and can stabilize a pressure state between a driven body and a vibration body. A pressurizing unit applies a pressure force between projections on the vibration body and the driven body. A piezoelectric device connected to the vibration body on a surface opposite to the projections moves the driven body by vibration occurring in the vibration body when a drive voltage is applied. The pressurizing unit includes an energizing member, its support member, and a transfer member. A length of a contact area between the projections and the driven body is shorter than a length of an area in which the transfer member transfers the pressure force from the energizing member to the vibration body and a length of a contact area between the energizing member and the support member, in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and to a pressurizing direction by the pressurizing unit.

Abstract: A correcting optical device according to an aspect of the present invention in which, when image shake is not corrected, a restricting member is caused to engage an engaging portion, to restrict translational movement of a movable member, and in which, when the image shake is corrected, the restricting member is caused to disengage the engaging portion, to cause the movable member to be in a state capable of the translational movement, the restricting member being provided at the rotary member, the engaging portion being provided at the movable member. A driving unit drives the movable member in a direction in which the movable member moves translationally with respect to a fixed member in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a correcting lens, so that the correcting lens corrects the image shake, and drives the rotary member in a direction in which the rotary member rotates around the optical axis.

Abstract: A vibration-type actuator that enables to miniaturize and stabilize pressure state between a driven body and a vibration body. A pressurizing unit applies pressure force between projections on the vibration body and the driven body. A piezoelectric device connected to the vibration body on a surface opposite to the projections moves the driven body by occurring vibration in the vibration body when drive voltage is applied. The pressurizing unit includes an energizing member, its support member, and a transfer member. A length of a contact area between the projections and the driven body is shorter than a length of an area in which the transfer member transfers the pressure force from the energizing member to the vibration body and a length of a contact area between the energizing member and the support member, in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction and to a pressurizing direction by the pressurizing unit.

Abstract: A correcting optical device including: a fixing member; a rotating member; a movable member; first and second drive units; and at least first and second contact members. For the regulation of movement of the movable member, rotational driving force is produced by the first and second drive units and, the rotating member is rotated in the opposite direction of the rotational direction of the movable member after the movable member is rotated to be brought into contact with the first contact member, whereby translational movement of the movable member is regulated. For image deflection correction, rotational driving force in the opposite direction of the rotational force is produced and, the rotating member is rotated in the opposite direction of the rotational direction of the movable member after the movable member is rotated to be brought into contact with the second contact member, whereby regulation on the movable member is released.

Abstract: A correction optical apparatus configured to correct an image blur includes a rotating member rotatably supported, a sliding member movable in a first direction, a movable member configured to be movable in a second direction and support a correction lens, a first driving unit provided between the rotating member and the sliding member, and a second driving unit provided between the sliding member and the movable member. The image blur is corrected by driving of the first and second driving units. When the image blur correction is not to be performed, a regulating member provided on the rotating member is made to engage with an engaging portion provided on the movable member by driving of the first driving unit, thereby regulating translation of the movable member.

Abstract: A correction optical apparatus configured to correct an image blur includes a rotating member rotatably supported, a sliding member movable in a first direction, a movable member configured to be movable in a second direction and support a correction lens, a first driving unit provided between the rotating member and the sliding member, and a second driving unit provided between the sliding member and the movable member. The image blur is corrected by driving of the first and second driving units. When the image blur correction is not to be performed, a regulating member provided on the rotating member is made to engage with an engaging portion provided on the movable member by driving of the first driving unit, thereby regulating translation of the movable member.

Abstract: A correction optical device includes a rotating member that is disposed between a fixed member and a movable member that supports a compensation lens. By controlling rotation of the rotating member using the movable member, the movable member is locked and unlocked.

Abstract: A temperature rise of a head due to a printing operation with a higher speed and a higher density is suppressed. To realize this, an inkjet printing head is provided in which a plurality of printing element substrates having an ejection opening array consisting of a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink are arranged on a support plate in a direction of the ejection opening array. The support plate includes therein a heat pipe and a flow path through which cooling liquid is flowed.

Abstract: A correcting optical device according to an aspect of the present invention in which, when image shake is not corrected, a restricting member is caused to engage an engaging portion, to restrict translational movement of a movable member, and in which, when the image shake is corrected, the restricting member is caused to disengage the engaging portion, to cause the movable member to be in a state capable of the translational movement, the restricting member being provided at the rotary member, the engaging portion being provided at the movable member. A driving unit drives the movable member in a direction in which the movable member moves translationally with respect to a fixed member in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of a correcting lens, so that the correcting lens corrects the image shake, and drives the rotary member in a direction in which the rotary member rotates around the optical axis.

Abstract: A correction optical device includes a rotating member that is disposed between a fixed member and a movable member that supports a compensation lens. By controlling rotation of the rotating member using the movable member, the movable member is locked and unlocked.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording head that discharges ink by applying thermal energy produced in response to driving a heater to ink, a change in temperature occurring when the heater is driven is measured by a temperature sensor disposed directly below the heater. A discharge state for each nozzle can be determined by determination as to whether an inflection point is present in a curve representing the change in temperature occurring after the driving for discharging ink.

Abstract: In order to prevent, in an operation for circulating liquid, an ejection port from sucking air or the ejection port from pushing out liquid, the subtank for temporally storing ink to be supplied to the ink jet head includes the air communication passage opened or closed by the air communication valve. The ink jet head is communicated with the subtank by the first passage and the second passage to constitute one circulation passage. In order to circulate the ink in the subtank into the common liquid chamber, the main pump is energized while the air communication valve is being closed. When the circulation operation is stopped, the air communication valve is opened immediately after the stoppage of the main pump, thereby eliminating the differential pressure between the common liquid chamber and the subtank within a short period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members on which toner images are to be formed, a conveying member, and a conveying member position index detecting device for detecting a conveying member position index provided on the conveying member. The apparatus also includes an image bearing member position index detecting device for detecting image bearing member position indices provided on the second image bearing member, an adjusting device for adjusting a rotational speed of the second image bearing member, and a controller for controlling the adjusting device so as to adjust a position of an image bearing member position index correspondingly to the conveying member position index, on the basis of detection results of the conveying member position index detecting device and the image bearing member position index detecting device.