Abstract: A shaft supporting structure includes a shaft having longitudinal end portions, with at least one of the end portions having at least one planar surface parallel to the axis of the shaft. A receiver part which receives the one end portion of the shaft has a regulate structure defining a recess through which the one end portion of the shaft can pass when the one end portion is moved in an insertion direction parallel to the planar surface. The regulate structure is operable to restrict radial displacement of the shaft after the shaft has been received in the receiver part and the shaft has been rotated so that the planar surface is no longer parallel to the insertion direction. A resilient pawl is operable to engage the planar surface and restrict rotation of the shaft in the receiver part.

Abstract: Method of feeding a sheet of paper in a small-sized paper having small transport rollers mounted downstream of the print head. The feeding of the sheet is stopped temporarily when the sheet arrives at each of a number of positions located before the discharge rollers during a line feed operation. Under this interrupted condition, the print head is reciprocated once idly in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is fed. Therefore, even if the front end portion of the sheet curls to a great extent, the curl is reduced by the idle movement of the head immediately before the front end of the sheet arrives between the discharge rollers. This ensures that the sheet is fed between the discharge rollers even if the diameter of the rollers is small.

Abstract: A clock has a set of clock hands driven in accordance with a time base signal to indicate time. The time base signal is counted by a resettable counter which produces a time count value on the quarter, half and three-quarter hours to activate a melody generating circuit. Each time the clock hands reach an hour position, an hour signal is generated and fed to an hour striking circuit. During time correction of the clock hands or when electric power is initially applied to the clock, the melody generating circuit is inhibited until the next hour signal is generated, thereby ensuring that a melody will only be generated when the time count of the counter coincides with the time indication of the clock hands.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed in opposing, spaced relation to the first electrode, a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between the first and second electrodes, a first alignment layer formed between the first electrode and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, and a second alignment layer formed between the second electrode and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Abstract: A camera remote control device locally displays information that is derived in the camera. A remote control beam is transmitted from a remote control unit and received by a photo detector on the camera through a light intercepting lens. The received signal is processed in an arithmetic circuit and a CPU and a confirming signal is returned from a light emitting diode in the camera to a receiving circuit in the remote device, as a completion signal. The remote device is responsive to the completion signal to display the state of the camera.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device includes a magnetic latent image on a latent image carrier and a developing device for moving a magnetic recording color microcapsule onto the magnetic latent image carrier, the microcapsule including a colored material covered with an outer wall and a magnetic material disposed on the outer wall. A transfer device transfers the colored material in the microcapsule on the latent image carrier onto a recording medium as the magnetic material disposed on the outer wall of the microcapsule substantially remains attracted to the magnetic latent image. A demagnetizing device demagnetizes the magnetic latent image on the latent image carrier, and a cleaner cleans off from the latent image carrier the magnetic material which substantially remained attracted to the magnetic latent image when the colored material was transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A paper feeding system that eliminates a mechanism for interrupting driving force to picking rollers to lower the cost of the system and to secure the feeding of papers. Corner nails are supported in a manner displacable up and down on the both sides of the front end portion of a paper cassette and the front corner portions of papers stored within the paper cassette can be anchored by the corner nails. A projecting part of the corner nails abuts to a stopper to restrict its upper limit position. When the paper is not fed, the picking rollers are in an up position and are separated from the paper and the corner nails retain the paper at a certain height position engaging with the front corner portion of the paper. When the paper is fed, the picking rollers go down to a down position to press the paper against biasing force of a bias spring and the corner nails are separated from the stopper and contact with the front corner portion of the paper in the down position.

Abstract: A serial printer for printing recording paper has a printing head movable at a right angle with respect to the feeding direction of the recording paper. Vibration applying means, such as a piezoelectric element, is mounted on the outer circumference of the printing head for vibrating the printing head finely during the printing operation.

Abstract: A distance measuring system for a camera includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a row, and a receiver for receiving light reflected from a subject. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the position thereon at which light is received, and is a function of the direction of propogation of the light from its source and the distance to the object. The distance to the subject is calculated from the output of the receiver. The sources are selectively energized by manual control so that the system is adaptable for measurement in a plurality of different distance ranges. A display may be provided to mark a spot on an image of the subject, to enable the user to determine the subject that had been used for the distance determination.