Abstract: The invention concerns an improvement of a drive system of a color image forming apparatus. The color image-forming apparatus includes a plurality of image-forming elements; a plurality of first driving motors, each of which corresponds to each of the image-forming elements, to drive the plurality of image-forming elements; an intermediate transfer element that is disposed opposite the plurality of image-forming elements; a second driving motor to drive the intermediate transfer element; and a controlling section to control the plurality of first driving motors and the second driving motor. In the color image-forming apparatus, the controlling section controls the plurality of first driving motors and the second driving motor independently of each other, so that a first peripheral speed of each of the image-forming elements coincides with a second peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer element.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator according to this invention includes a stationary element and a movable element which moves along the stationary element. For example, the movable element has a magnet, and the stationary element has a coil. A coil cooling coolant channel is formed near the coil. A temperature adjustment coolant channel for adjusting the surface temperature is formed in or near the surface of at least one of the stationary and movable elements.

Abstract: An electrostatic ink-jet head (1) in which the present invention is applied comprises a pressure chamber (6) communicating with an ink nozzle (21), and an atmospheric pressure chamber (12) opened to the atmosphere, with a vibrating plate (5) being provided on the base plane of the pressure chamber (6). Voltage applied between the vibrating plate (5) and an electrode (43) causes the vibrating plate (5) to vibrate due to electrostatic force, thereby discharging ink droplets. A vibrating chamber (41) communicates with a pressure compensating chamber (49), and a displacement plate (16) capable of being displaced in the direction outward from the plane according to fluctuations in the external, atmospheric pressure is formed at the base plane of the pressure compensating chamber (49).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises; an image forming section to form an image and having a plurality of second print boards; and a control section to control the image forming section and having a first print board including a data processing device, wherein each of the plurality of second print boards comprises a printed circuit board, parts mounted on the printed circuit board and a memory device for memorizing life information of the parts.

Abstract: An amount of a semiconductor substrate cut due to etching in the bottom of a contact hole formed by the SAC technique is reduced. Silicon oxide films are dry etched under the conditions of increasing the etching selective ratio of the silicon oxide films to an insulating film. Then, the conditions are changed to those increasing the etching selective ratio of the insulating film to the silicon oxide films and the insulating film is etched by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention concerns an image-forming apparatus employing a clock-generating circuit, which generates dot clock pulses utilized for an image-writing section of the image-forming apparatus. The clock-generating circuit includes a digital-delay dot clock adjusting section to generate first dot clock pulses having a predetermined number of pulses within a predetermined time interval at a constant exposing range of the image-writing section, wherein each period of the first dot clock pulses is slightly increased or reduced by changing a selection for a plurality of delayed clock pulses, which are generated by delaying clock-pulses, outputted from a reference oscillator, in slightly different delay times; and a jitter suppressing section to suppress a jitter component included in the first dot clock pulses, wherein the jitter suppressing section divides the first dot clock pulses to generate second dot clock pulses, and then, multiplies the second dot clock pulses to generate the dot clock pulses.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing an electrostatic actuator that comprises electrode members having opposing surfaces with a gap disposed therebetween. In an ink jet head, a bottom surface of a diaphragm may be one of the electrodes (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator, the diaphragm forming a wall of an ink chamber in the ink jet head that is displaced relatively by an electrostatic force. A hydrophobic film, preferably hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), is formed on at least one of the opposing electrode surfaces to improve the durability of the electrostatic actuator so that electrostatic attraction between opposing electrode members does not decrease and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high.

Abstract: The copper interconnect formed by the use of a damascene technique is improved in dielectric breakdown strength (reliability). During post-CMP cleaning, alkali cleaning, deoxidizing process due to hydrogen anneal or the like and acid cleaning are carried out in the order. After the post-CMP cleaning and before forming an insulation film for a cap film, hydrogen plasma and ammonia plasma processes are carried out on the semiconductor substrate. In this manner, a copper-based buried interconnect is formed in an interlayer insulation film structured of an insulation material having a low dielectric constant.

Abstract: An adsorbent for toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) comprising a compound which has a log P value of at least 2.50 wherein P is a partition coefficient in an octanol-water system and which is immobilized on a water-insoluble carrier; a method for removing TSST-1 body fluids by adsorption which comprises bringing a body fluid containing TSST-1 into contact with the adsorbent; an adsorber for TSST-1 comprising an adsorbent packed in a container having an inlet and an outlet for a body fluid and a means for preventing the adsorbent from flowing out of the container; and use of the adsorbent. TSST-1 in body fluids can be efficiently removed by the adsorbent.

Abstract: Optical image reading equipment is disclosed, whereby a background color of a document can be changed depending on a processing of the acquired image. The equipment is provided with an illuminating member (32) for illuminating a document, a reading portion (30) for reading reflected light of the document, and a backing member provided at least in the reading position of the document. The backing member is disposed on the opposite side to the reading portion across the document. The backing member is configured by a member which produces background color outside the document changeable by means of electric control. Thus an image suitable for a successive processing can be output.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a device having an electrostatic actuator for example inkjet head, whereby warping of the diaphragms does not occur as a result of anodic bonding is provided. The method comprises the steps of etching a first substrate on the first surface thereof to form a concave portion and a diaphragm provided in bottom walls of the concave portion, forming an electrode on a second substrate, and anodically bonding the second substrate to a second surface of the first substrate, opposite the first surface, such that the electrode is aligned adjacent to the diaphragm with a gap therebetween. The bonding temperature of the anodically bonding step is set within a temperature range whereby the contraction of the first substrate after bonding is equal to or greater than the contraction of the second substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper supply apparatus for an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus with a paper supply apparatus and a paper supply apparatus which can be used suitably with an image scanner wherein a large amount of paper sheets can be taken out one by one with certainty and read successively and rapidly. The paper supply apparatus successively supplies paper sheets accommodated therein to a paper transport mechanism along which an optical image reading mechanism is disposed, and comprises a paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller located above the paper supply hopper for forwarding the paper sheets accommodated in the paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller driving mechanism for rotating the paper supply roller, and a paper separation mechanism for preventing two or more paper sheets forwarded by the paper supply roller from being sent to the paper transport mechanism.

Abstract: A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.

Abstract: An improved image reading apparatus suitable for use with an image scanner which can read a large number of paper sheets successively and rapidly and cope with various paper sizes from a small size to a large size. The image reading apparatus includes a paper supply mechanism, a paper transport mechanism, an optical image reading mechanism for optically reading information on a paper sheet being transported by the paper transport mechanism, and a paper stacking mechanism.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprising a nozzle, an ink passage in communication with the nozzle, a diaphragm provided at one part of the ink passage, and an electrode provided in opposition to the diaphragm whereby an electrical pulse is applied between the diaphragm and electrode to deform the diaphragm by means of electrostatic force, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle. The actuator contains at least a vibration chamber formed by the diaphragm and electrode, and is sealed or made airtight with the volume V so that the ratio between the actuator volume V and the volume .DELTA.V eliminated by a distortion of the diaphragm during ink-jet head drive is within the range 2.ltoreq.V/.DELTA.V.ltoreq.8.

Abstract: A sheet holder removably attached to a hopper of a image reading apparatus. The sheet holder has a front bottom wall, a rear top wall, and an intermediate wall connecting the front bottom wall to the rear top wall. The front bottom wall provides a sheet placing area onto which small and thick sheets like business cards are placed and a holding member holds the sheets on the sheet placing area. A pick roller of the image reading apparatus can contact the sheet on the sheet placing area when the sheet holder is attached to the apparatus. The apparatus has a box-shaped a casing having a drawable hopper table providing a hopper for placing normal thin sheets thereon.

Abstract: A drive method of an ink-jet head is provided in which a diaphragm is deformed by means of electrostatic force to eject an ink droplet from a nozzle so as to prevent a residual charge from being created between a diaphragm and an individual electrode. The method has first and second drive modes. In a first drive mode a voltage of a first polarity is applied between a diaphragm of the inkjet head (common electrode) and an individual electrode to cause the diaphragm to be deformed and an ink droplet to be ejected from a nozzle. In the second drive mode a voltage of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity is applied between the diaphragm and the individual electrode to cause the diaphragm to be deformed and an ink droplet to be ejected from the nozzle at least once for each operation of ink droplet ejection performed in the first drive mode.