Abstract: An on-board camera device includes a camera unit, a hood member, a thermally conductive member, a heater device, and a temperature measurement element. The camera unit captures an image of an ambient environment through a window glass of a vehicle. The hood member blocks an unnecessary light beam from outside and suppresses background reflection on the window glass. The thermally conductive member is fixed to the hood member to thermally contact with the window glass. The heater device contacts with the thermally conductive member and removes dew condensation and fog adhering to the window glass. The temperature measurement element is provided at the heater device and partly contacts with the thermally conductive member. The temperature measurement element detects a temperature state of the heater device during operation of the heater device and a temperature state of the window glass through the thermally conductive member during non-operation of the heater device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the image onto a recording medium, a torque limit unit to transmit drive force to the transfer unit at a torque less than the torque for transmitting drive force, and drive the transfer unit to rotate at a circumferential velocity higher than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are in contact with each other, and a drive unit to output drive force to drive the transfer unit such that the transfer unit rotates at a circumferential velocity lower than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are separate from each other, and the transfer unit rotates at a circumferential velocity higher than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are in contact with each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer unit to transfer the image onto a recording medium, a torque limit unit to transmit drive force to the transfer unit at a torque less than the torque for transmitting drive force, and drive the transfer unit to rotate at a circumferential velocity higher than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are in contact with each other, and a drive unit to output drive force to drive the transfer unit such that the transfer unit rotates at a circumferential velocity lower than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are separate from each other, and the transfer unit rotates at a circumferential velocity higher than that of the image carrier when the image carrier and the transfer unit are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A belt traveling unit includes an endless belt, a drive roller and a correction roller, a driving unit, a correction unit, a contact member, a position detector and a regulating member. The endless belt is spanned between a plurality of rollers. The driving unit rotates the drive roller to drive the belt. The correction unit adjusts a tilt angle of the correction roller to correct drifting of the belt in the width direction thereof. The contact member is rotatable in conjunction with traveling of the belt in the width direction thereof. The position detector detects a position of the contact member to detect a position of the belt in the width direction thereof. The regulating member is located at a position where the position detector does not misdetect the position of the belt when the contact member rotates.

Abstract: A belt traveling unit includes an endless belt, a drive roller and a correction roller, a driving unit, a correction unit, a contact member, a position detector and a regulating member. The endless belt is spanned between a plurality of rollers. The driving unit rotates the drive roller to drive the belt. The correction unit adjusts a tilt angle of the correction roller to correct drifting of the belt in the width direction thereof. The contact member is rotatable in conjunction with traveling of the belt in the width direction thereof. The position detector detects a position of the contact member to detect a position of the belt in the width direction thereof. The regulating member is located at a position where the position detector does not misdetect the position of the belt when the contact member rotates.

Abstract: An inkjet head is formed with a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a plurality of restrictors, and a common ink chamber. Because the plurality of restrictors are formed in the inkjet head, it is possible to increase a fluid resistance of the restrictors without decreasing the Helmholtz resonant frequency. Accordingly, the inkjet head can be driven at a high frequency while preventing residual pressure wave affecting a subsequent ink ejection.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that enables a reduction in the amount of piezoelectric plate consumed, so that costs can be lowered, without lowering efficiency of piezoelectric actuators, even if the piezoelectric actuators are only roughly fixed to the housing, and that also enables accurately and easily positioning the piezoelectric actuators with respect to a diaphragm that defines an ink channel. Assuming that mB is the mass (kg) of the base 3 to which the piezoelectric actuator 5 is fixed and Tfall is the rising edge time (s) of the drive signal that drives the piezoelectric actuator 5, the spring modulus determined from mB and Tfall is 2×mB/Tfall2≧5.0 e6 (N/m). Therefore, the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator can be efficiently transmitted to the ink chamber regardless of the spring modulus of the adhesive agent used to fix the base to the housing.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head that enables a reduction in the amount of piezoelectric plate consumed, so that costs can be lowered, without lowering efficiency of piezoelectric actuators, even if the piezoelectric actuators are only roughly fixed to the housing, and that also enables accurately and easily positioning the piezoelectric actuators with respect to a diaphragm that defines an ink channel. Assuming that mB is the mass (kg) of the base 3 to which the piezoelectric actuator 5 is fixed and Tfall is the rising edge time (s) of the drive signal that drives the piezoelectric actuator 5, the spring modulus determined from mB and Tfall is 2×mB/Tfall2≧5.0e6 (N/m). Therefore, the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator can be efficiently transmitted to the ink chamber regardless of the spring modulus of the adhesive agent used to fix the base to the housing.

Abstract: An inkjet head is formed with a nozzle, a pressure chamber, a plurality of restrictors, and a common ink chamber. Because the plurality of restrictors are formed in the inkjet head, it is possible to increase a fluid resistance of the restrictors without decreasing the Helmholtz resonant frequency. Accordingly, the inkjet head can be driven at a high frequency while preventing residual pressure wave affecting a subsequent ink ejection.

Abstract: A suction purging unit for removing dusts solidified ink etc. from nozzles of a print head of an ink jet printer, the nozzles being arrayed in a moving direction of the print head. A contact portion is provided at one side of a body portion in which a fluid passage is formed. The contact portion is contactable with at least one of the nozzles for suction purging, and is separated from the nozzle between-suction purging mode. The body portion is pivotally movable toward and away from the print head, and is vertically movable. The body portion is movable along a top surface of the print head when the latter is moved in the moving direction.