Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor including: an arc-extinguishing chamber in which a contact portion is disposed; a case having an arc-extinguishing chamber housing portion in which the arc-extinguishing chamber is housed; and an arc-extinguishing cover mounted on the case and configured to cover the arc-extinguishing chamber housing portion, wherein at least one of the case and the arc-extinguishing cover has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, the other has a third engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, and the arc-extinguishing cover is held to the case in either a first state in which the first engaging portion and the third engaging portion are engaged with each other or a second state in which the second engaging portion is engaged with the third engaging portion.

Abstract: A robotic device includes an end effector device, a first sensor, and a controller. The end effector device includes two fingers for gripping a workpiece. The first sensor detects a pressure distribution on a gripping position on the workpiece by the two fingers. The controller performs, based on a temporal variation in the pressure distribution when the workpiece is lifted, posture control including rotation of the end effector device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor including: an arc-extinguishing chamber in which a contact portion is disposed; a case having an arc-extinguishing chamber housing portion in which the arc-extinguishing chamber is housed; and an arc-extinguishing cover mounted on the case and configured to cover the arc-extinguishing chamber housing portion, wherein at least one of the case and the arc-extinguishing cover has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, the other has a third engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, and the arc-extinguishing cover is held to the case in either a first state in which the first engaging portion and the third engaging portion are engaged with each other or a second state in which the second engaging portion is engaged with the third engaging portion.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a robot having an arm, a driver, an end effector, a first detector, and a second detector, and a control device. The control device acts as a third detector, a calculator, and a controller. The third detector detects a slip direction of the object held by the end effector. The calculator calculates an angle defined by the slip direction detected by the third detector and a direction opposite to gravity. The controller causes the end effector holding the object to pivot by the angle calculated by the calculator, to align the slip direction detected by the third detector with the direction opposite to gravity.

Abstract: A robotic device includes an end effector device, a first sensor, and a controller. The end effector device includes two fingers for gripping a workpiece. The first sensor detects a pressure distribution on a gripping position on the workpiece by the two fingers. The controller performs, based on a temporal variation in the pressure distribution when the workpiece is lifted, posture control including rotation of the end effector device.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a robot having an arm, a driver, an end effector, a first detector, and a second detector, and a control device. The control device acts as a third detector, a calculator, and a controller. The third detector detects a slip direction of the object held by the end effector. The calculator calculates an angle defined by the slip direction detected by the third detector and a direction opposite to gravity. The controller causes the end effector holding the object to pivot by the angle calculated by the calculator, to align the slip direction detected by the third detector with the direction opposite to gravity.

Abstract: An integrated sensor has a density detection sensor, a sensor board, and a potential sensor pattern. The density detection sensor detects the density of a toner image formed on a toner image carrying member. On the sensor board, the density detection sensor is mounted. The potential sensor pattern is provided on the sensor board, and detects the potential of the toner image.

Abstract: An integrated sensor has a density detection sensor, a sensor board, and a potential sensor pattern. The density detection sensor detects the density of a toner image formed on a toner image carrying member. On the sensor board, the density detection sensor is mounted. The potential sensor pattern is provided on the sensor board, and detects the potential of the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a motor, a cleaning portion, a measurement processing portion, and a cleaning control portion. The image carrier is configured to carry an electrostatic latent image. The motor is configured to rotate the image carrier. The cleaning portion is configured to clean the image carrier. The measurement processing portion is configured to measure a transition time that is a time required for the motor to transition from a stationary state to a driving state in which the motor rotates at a predetermined speed. The cleaning control portion is configured to control a cleaning time of the cleaning portion or whether or not to cause the cleaning portion to clean the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating polygon mirror, a motor, a bearing portion, a measurement processing portion, and a determination processing portion. The rotating polygon mirror causes a light beam emitted from the light source to be scanned. The motor rotates the rotating polygon mirror. The bearing portion rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the motor via a lubricant. The measurement processing portion measures a transition time that is a time required for the motor to transition from a stationary state to a driving state in which the motor rotates at a predetermined speed. The determination processing portion determines whether or not a maintenance is required, based on the transition time measured by the measurement processing portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an epitaxial growth apparatus for growing an epitaxial layer on a surface of a wafer. The apparatus includes: a chamber in which the wafer is housed; an upper lamp group that includes a plurality of heating lamps arranged in a ring above the chamber; a lower lamp group that includes a plurality of heating lamps provided below the chamber; a reflection member that is provided inside the ring of the upper lamp group, the reflection member having a substantially cylindrical shape; and an additional reflection member that is provided inside the reflection member, the additional reflection member including a reflection surface that is substantially parallel to the surface of the wafer. The additional reflection member is provided in such a way as to close at least part of an opening of a lower end portion of the reflection member.

Abstract: A ball joint is manufactured by molding a holder through casting by using a ball as a core and joining a shaft member to the ball after the casting through electric resistance welding. The ball joint includes: the ball; a resin sliding contact member including a first opening portion and a second opening portion that expose a spherical surface of the ball in opposite directions; the holder molded through the casting by using the ball and the resin sliding contact member as a core, the holder being obtained by integrally molding a closing portion that is held in contact with a part of the ball, which projects from the second opening portion of the resin sliding contact member; and the shaft member joined to another part of the ball, which is exposed from the first opening portion of the resin sliding contact member, through the electric resistance welding.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating polygon mirror, a motor, a bearing portion, a measurement processing portion, and a determination processing portion. The rotating polygon mirror causes a light beam emitted from the light source to be scanned. The motor rotates the rotating polygon mirror. The bearing portion rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the motor via a lubricant. The measurement processing portion measures a transition time that is a time required for the motor to transition from a stationary state to a driving state in which the motor rotates at a predetermined speed. The determination processing portion determines whether or not a maintenance is required, based on the transition time measured by the measurement processing portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a motor, a cleaning portion, a measurement processing portion, and a cleaning control portion. The image carrier is configured to carry an electrostatic latent image. The motor is configured to rotate the image carrier. The cleaning portion is configured to clean the image carrier. The measurement processing portion is configured to measure a transition time that is a time required for the motor to transition from a stationary state to a driving state in which the motor rotates at a predetermined speed. The cleaning control portion is configured to control a cleaning time of the cleaning portion or whether or not to cause the cleaning portion to clean the image carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an epitaxial growth apparatus for growing an epitaxial layer on a surface of a wafer. The apparatus includes: a chamber in which the wafer is housed; an upper lamp group that includes a plurality of heating lamps arranged in a ring above the chamber; a lower lamp group that includes a plurality of heating lamps provided below the chamber; a reflection member that is provided inside the ring of the upper lamp group, the reflection member having a substantially cylindrical shape; and an additional reflection member that is provided inside the reflection member, the additional reflection member including a reflection surface that is substantially parallel to the surface of the wafer. The additional reflection member is provided in such a way as to close at least part of an opening of a lower end portion of the reflection member.

Abstract: A ball joint is manufactured by molding a holder through casting by using a ball as a core and joining a shaft member to the ball after the casting through electric resistance welding. The ball joint includes: the ball; a resin sliding contact member including a first opening portion and a second opening portion that expose a spherical surface of the ball in opposite directions; the holder molded through the casting by using the ball and the resin sliding contact member as a core, the holder being obtained by integrally molding a closing portion that is held in contact with a part of the ball, which projects from the second opening portion of the resin sliding contact member; and the shaft member joined to another part of the ball, which is exposed from the first opening portion of the resin sliding contact member, through the electric resistance welding.