Abstract: A self-propelled working machine has a pair of transporting parts, a working part, an engine for driving at least the working part, and a main switch for turning the engine on and off. A locomotion preparation switch produces a command for moving the transporting parts when turned on and produces a stop command for stopping movement of the transporting parts when turned off. A locomotion speed setting member orders a target locomotion speed of the transporting parts. A work switch switches the working part on and off. A control part stops the engine when a first condition that the main switch is on, a second condition that the locomotion preparation switch is off, a third condition that the transporting parts have stopped moving and the target locomotion speed ordered by the locomotion speed setting member is zero, and a fourth condition that the work switch is off, are satisfied.

Abstract: By manipulating a relative potential relationship of potentials by voltages applied to selected electrodes, nonselected electrodes and an opposed electrode 20 among a plurality of record electrodes 13a through 13z installed at vicinities of an opening portion 11 of a head, ink is injected, printing of high resolution is made possible and by using a dispersing type ink and changing polarities of the voltages applied to the opposed electrode 20 and the record electrodes, density of injected ink is made variable.

Abstract: An optical probe is used in a near-field effect microscope for performing topographical observation and physical property measurement on a surface of a sample. The optical probe comprises an optical resonator having an optical fiber having at least one microscopic projection composed of a dielectric material disposed at an end portion of the optical fiber for transmitting light.

Abstract: A probe scanning apparatus for use in a device for measuring the shape of a surface or the physical properties of a sample comprises a probe and voice coil motors for generating a moving force for moving the probe in each of three directions x, y and z upon activation of the voice coil motors. A probe supporting mechanism is mounted for movement in the three directions x, y and z by the moving forces generated by the voice coil motors upon activation thereof to effect coarse/fine movement of the probe in the direction z and to scan the probe in the directions x and y.