Abstract: The ultrasonic probe has an element part which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, a relay cable connected to the element part, which transmits a signal to the element part, a frame and a window constituting a housing part in which the element part and the relay cable are housed, and an oscillation mechanism which oscillates the element part. The oscillation mechanism has a rotation axis configured to provide oscillation movement of the element part. The relay cable has an S-shape or a reversed S-shape with two arc-shaped parts. One end of the relay cable is connected to a cable connecting surface of the element part and, when the element part is positioned at a middle of a scanning range, in a connected portion with the element part, the relay cable is drawn from a point connected to the element part in a direction substantially parallel to the cable connecting surface. The frame is placed on an opposite side of the rotation axis from the element part.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic probe including an element part 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a relay cable 2 connected to the element part 1 and an oscillation mechanism part for oscillating the element part, a cross section of the relay cable 2, which is taken perpendicularly to a rotation axis 3 of the oscillation that is provided to the element part 1 by the oscillation mechanism part, has at least two arc-shaped parts smoothly connected each other, more specifically, S-shape arc-shaped parts or reversed S-shaped parts. In addition, the relay cable 2 is drawn from the surface of the element part 1 facing the rotation axis 3. In this manner, the stress applied to the relay cable 2 during the oscillation of the element part 1 can be dispersed, thereby improving durability of the relay cable 2.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic probe including an element part 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a relay cable 2 connected to the element part 1 and an oscillation mechanism part for oscillating the element part, a cross section of the relay cable 2, which is taken perpendicularly to a rotation axis 3 of the oscillation that is provided to the element part 1 by the oscillation mechanism part, has at least two arc-shaped parts smoothly connected each other, more specifically, S-shape arc-shaped parts or reversed S-shaped parts. In addition, the relay cable 2 is drawn from the surface of the element part 1 facing the rotation axis 3. In this manner, the stress applied to the relay cable 2 during the oscillation of the element part 1 can be dispersed, thereby improving durability of the relay cable 2.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, including an ultrasonic element for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a sound window enclosing the ultrasonic element; and a sound propagation liquid charged in the sound window. A barrier layer capable of inhibiting the permeation of liquids and gases is provided on a wall surface of the sound window. As the barrier layer, at least one selected from a polyparaxylylene layer and a metal layer can be used.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave while carrying out ultrasonic scanning; a storage portion for storing the ultrasonic element unit; and an acoustic medium liquid charged in the storage portion. The ultrasonic element unit is supported by an elastic supporting member, and the storage portion is sealed by the supporting member in a liquid-tight state.

Abstract: The ultrasonic probe of the present invention includes an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit and a detector for detecting the oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit. The detector detects the oscillation angle and the oscillation origin of the ultrasonic element unit, and when the oscillation range of the ultrasonic element unit is divided at its oscillation origin into two regions of a positive region and a negative region, the detector detects in which area the ultrasonic element unit is located. In use of the ultrasonic probe, a control of origin return for returning the ultrasonic element unit to its oscillation origin is performed on the basis of the result of the detection by the detector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave while carrying out ultrasonic scanning; a storage portion for storing the ultrasonic element unit; and an acoustic medium liquid charged in the storage portion. The ultrasonic element unit is supported by an elastic supporting member, and the storage portion is sealed by the supporting member in a liquid-tight state.

Abstract: The ultrasonic probe of the present invention includes an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit and a detector for detecting the oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit. The detector detects the oscillation angle and the oscillation origin of the ultrasonic element unit, and when the oscillation range of the ultrasonic element unit is divided at its oscillation origin into two regions of a positive region and a negative region, the detector detects in which area the ultrasonic element unit is located. In use of the ultrasonic probe, a control of origin return for returning the ultrasonic element unit to its oscillation origin is performed on the basis of the result of the detection by the detector.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic probe including an element part 1 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a relay cable 2 connected to the element part 1 and an oscillation mechanism part for oscillating the element part, a cross section of the relay cable 2, which is taken perpendicularly to a rotation axis 3 of the oscillation that is provided to the element part 1 by the oscillation mechanism part, has at least two arc-shaped parts smoothly connected each other, more specifically, S-shape arc-shaped parts or reversed S-shaped parts. In addition, the relay cable 2 is drawn from the surface of the element part 1 facing the rotation axis 3. In this manner, the stress applied to the relay cable 2 during the oscillation of the element part 1 can be dispersed, thereby improving durability of the relay cable 2.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, including an ultrasonic element for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a sound window enclosing the ultrasonic element; and a sound propagation liquid charged in the sound window. A barrier layer capable of inhibiting the permeation of liquids and gases is provided on a wall surface of the sound window. As the barrier layer, at least one selected from a polyparaxylylene layer and a metal layer can be used.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet recording apparatus of the type wherein printing ink is discharged from an ink nozzle of an ink jet printing head toward recording paper wrapped around a drum. The ink jet recording apparatus comprises first and second plates placed to be spaced each other and an ink droplet guiding member one end of which is placed in contact with a lower portion of the front surface of the ink jet printing head, the second plate acting as a member for supporting the ink jet printing head. The first plate has an aperture so that the other end of the ink droplet guiding member reaches the second plate through the aperture of the first plate. With this arrangement, ink attached to the surface of the ink jet printing head can be removed by flowing down through the ink droplet guiding member and the second plate.

Abstract: An ink ejection recording apparatus is disclosed which comprises a plurality of ink ejection heads commonly connected to an ink tank, each of the ink ejection heads having an ink nozzle through which minute ink droplets are discharged in accordance with an electric signal and an air nozzle opposing to the ink nozzle and adapted for forming an air stream which accelerates the ink droplets towards a recording medium so as to record an image on the recording medium by means of the droplets. The ink ejection heads are arranged at different heights and the ink ejection heads have different levels of balance pressure so that the levels of the ink pressure acting on the ink nozzles of the ink ejection head are equalized in the operating state of the apparatus. Pressure relieving means are provided for relieving pneumatic pressure applied to the ink ejection heads and to the ink tank and being arranged such that relief of pressure from said ink tank is conducted after relief of pressure from said ink ejection heads.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has an ink jet unit from which tiny independent ink droplets, suspended by a flow of air, are made to fly towards a recording medium, thereby recording information on the medium. The apparatus has a heat washing unit disposed at a position beyond one end of a recording medium mounting portion, so that the ink jet unit which has been moved to this position after completion of the recording operation is washed by the head washing unit which is movable towards and away from the ink jet unit at this position, whereby a high stability and reliability of the ink jet recording are ensured for a long period of time without suffering from clogging of nozzles or contamination of the recording medium. The stability and reliability are further enhanced by the simultaneous use of an ink mist suction unit which sucks ink mist around the ink jet unit and an anti-clogging unit which prevents clogging of the nozzles.