Abstract: A subject information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention includes multiple first conversion elements which receive photoacoustic waves. A direction in which reception sensitivity is highest differs between a first part of the first conversion elements, and a second part of the first conversion elements which is different from the first part of the first conversion elements. Both are disposed on the supporting member with the direction in which reception sensitivity is highest each facing toward a predetermined region. Also included is a plurality of second conversion elements which are different from the first conversion elements and which transmit acoustic waves to the subject and each receive reflection waves reflected within the subject.

Abstract: Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including: a holding unit that holds an object; a probe that receives an acoustic wave that propagates from the object; a housing that constitutes a holding container; a matching solution that is filled inside the holding container; and a pressure adjustment unit including a liquid quantity adjustment section that adjusts the quantity of the matching solution, and a distance adjustment section that adjusts the distance between the holding container and the object, wherein the pressure adjustment unit performs a first compression which increases a pressure applied to the object to a predetermined pressure value, and then performs a second compression which maintains the predetermined pressure value, while decreasing the liquid quantity inside the holding container.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bed configured to support a subject and having an insertion hole through which a subject portion that is part of the subject is inserted; a pair of compression plates configured to hold and compress the subject portion when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole; and a unit including therein the pair of compression plates and having an opening through which an operator inserts a hand when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole. The unit includes a receiving plate at a position opposite to the opening in an insertion direction of the hand within a range of the insertion hole when viewed from the insertion hole.

Abstract: A bed-type compression mechanism of related art is still desired to be improved to reduce a burden on a subject and to increase operability of an operator. An apparatus includes a bed configured to support a subject and having an insertion hole through which a subject portion that is part of the subject is inserted; a pair of compression plates configured to hold and compress the subject portion when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole; and a camera configured to capture an image of the subject portion from a side opposite to the insertion hole when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole.

Abstract: A bed-type compression mechanism of related art is still desired to be improved to reduce a burden on a subject and to increase operability of an operator. An apparatus includes a bed configured to support a subject and having an insertion hole through which a subject portion that is part of the subject is inserted; a pair of compression plates configured to hold and compress the subject portion when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole; a camera configured to capture an image of the subject portion; and an illumination device configured to irradiate the subject portion inserted through the insertion hole with light from a side opposite to the insertion hole when the image of the subject portion is captured.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus that can stably compress an inspection region and hence reduce a burden on a subject and a burden on an operator. An apparatus includes a fixed compression plate and a movable compression plate configured to hold an inspection region of a subject, the movable compression plate being movable relative to the fixed compression plate in a direction in which the inspection region is compressed and released while a compression surface of the movable compression plate is maintained substantially parallel to the fixed compression plate; and a moving mechanism configured to move the movable compression plate. The moving mechanism includes a pair of linear guides configured to guide both end portions of the movable compression plate in a moving direction, and drive mechanisms respectively provided along the linear guides and configured to drive the movable compression plate at the both end portions.

Abstract: A subject information acquiring apparatus including a cover which intercepts light, two plates which hold a subject, a laser light source, and a probe which receives an acoustic wave generated from the subject to which the light is emitted from the laser light source, wherein the plates, the laser light source, and the probe are covered by the cover, wherein the cover has a first aperture for inserting the subject as part of a subject person into the cover, and a second aperture which can be opened and closed so that an operator can perform a procedure by inserting a hand of the operator into the cover in the position in which the plane extending each of the plates crosses the cover, is used.

Abstract: An apparatus includes two compression plates configured to compress a subject portion, and a compression release unit configured to move at least one of the two compression plates in a direction opposite to a direction in which the subject portion is compressed in a state in which the subject portion is compressed and power is not supplied.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bed configured to support a subject and having an insertion hole through which a subject portion that is part of the subject is inserted; a fixed compression plate and a movable compression plate configured to hold and compress the subject portion when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole, the movable compression plate being movable relative to the fixed compression plate; and a unit including the fixed compression plate and the movable compression plate. The unit is movable relative to the bed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bed configured to support a subject and having an insertion hole through which a subject portion that is part of the subject is inserted; a pair of compression plates configured to hold and compress the subject portion when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole; and a unit including therein the pair of compression plates and having an opening through which an operator inserts a hand when the subject portion is inserted through the insertion hole. The unit includes a receiving plate at a position opposite to the opening in an insertion direction of the hand within a range of the insertion hole when viewed from the insertion hole.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge having at least one ink bag in which ink is housed, and a joint portion connected to the ink bag and coupled to a printer as required to supply ink. The ink cartridge has a first absorber that absorbs ink ejected to the outside of a sheet during printing, and a second absorber that directly receives, absorbs, and removes waste ink that may be transferred from a wiper during its operation of wiping off ink or the like remaining on an ejection opening formed surface of the printing head. The first and second absorbers are arranged at positions that sandwich the joint portion between themselves. Thus, the first and second absorbers can be effectively to collect adhering or leaking ink that may result from the installation and removal of the joint.

Abstract: A printing head includes a reserving portion that reserves a predetermined amount of ink. A supply system of an ink jet printer is configured so that an ink housing portion constituting an ink supply source intermittently supplies ink to the reserving portion using appropriate timings. The housing portion housing ink to be supplied to the head is located, acrossing an area where a printing is performed onto a sheet by the head, in a space opposite to a space in which the head is scanned. The housing portion is moved to or from the scanning space of the head so as to be joined to the head as required for an ink supply. That is, ink is intermittently supplied properly by moving the ink supply side to the joint position without moving the head. This provides an ink jet printer that does not affect the mounting accuracy of the head.

Abstract: A printing head includes a reserving portion that reserves a predetermined amount of ink. A supply system of an ink jet printer is configured so that an ink housing portion constituting an ink supply source intermittently supplies ink to the reserving portion using appropriate timings. The housing portion housing ink to be supplied to the head is located, acrossing an area where a printing is performed onto a sheet by the head, in a space opposite to a space in which the head is scanned. The housing portion is moved to or from the scanning space of the head so as to be joined to the head as required for an ink supply. That is, ink is intermittently supplied properly by moving the ink supply side to the joint position without moving the head. This provides an ink jet printer that does not affect the mounting accuracy of the head.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge having at least one ink bag in which ink is housed, and a joint portion connected to the ink bag and coupled to a printer as required to supply ink. The ink cartridge has a first absorber that absorbs ink ejected to the outside of a sheet during printing, and a second absorber that directly receives, absorbs, and removes waste ink that may be transferred from a wiper during its operation of wiping off ink or the like remaining on an ejection opening formed surface of the printing head. The first and second absorbers are arranged at positions that sandwich the joint portion between themselves. Thus, the first and second absorbers can be effectively to collect adhering or leaking ink that may result from the installation and removal of the joint.

Abstract: A camera arranged to automatically open and close the cover of a film cartridge chamber includes a gear member having a gear part arranged to rotate for feeding and rewinding a film by engaging a supply spool of a film cartridge, a revolving member arranged to engage the gear part and to be caused to revolve by the rotation of the gear member, an opening operation member provided for opening the cover of the film cartridge chamber, and a lock member arranged to lock the cover in a closed state or to unlock the cover. In the camera, the lock member moves from outside of a revolving travel locus of the revolving member to inside of the revolving travel locus of the revolving member in association with an operation of the opening operation member, and the lock member is driven by a revolving motion of the revolving member to unlock the cover.