Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image bearing members; a belt member contacting the image bearing members; electrostatic image forming portions for forming electrostatic images on the image bearing members; developing portions for forming toner images on the basis of the electrostatic images formed on the image bearing members; a first transfer portion for transferring the toner image and an electrostatic image index; a second transfer portion for transferring the toner image onto the belt member; a first detecting portion for detecting the electrostatic image index; a second detecting portion for detecting an electrostatic image index formed on a second image bearing member; an adjusting portion for adjusting a forming operation on the belt member on the basis of outputs of the first and second detecting portions; and a belt member charging portion for electrically charging the belt member before transfer of the electrostatic image index.

Abstract: There is provided a robot apparatus that can rapidly obtain an ellipse indicating a stiffness characteristic, even if lengths of two links are different from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first drum; first code forming means for forming a first electrostatic image code outside a developing zone for a toner image; a second drum; second code forming means for forming a second electrostatic image code outside the developing zone for the toner image; a transfer belt provided with an electrostatic image recording track capable of holding the first electrostatic image code transferred from the first drum to the second drum; transferring means for applying a voltage to a side of the transfer belt which is opposite a side contactable to the first drum to transfer the first electrostatic image code onto the electrostatic image recording track; detecting means including an electroconductive member provided which is parallel with the electrostatic image code and which is spaced from a surface of the electrostatic image code of the electrostatic image recording track to be detected with a predetermined gap, and a detecting portion for detecting an induced current gene

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members on which toner images are to be formed, a conveying member, and a conveying member position index detecting device for detecting a conveying member position index provided on the conveying member. The apparatus also includes an image bearing member position index detecting device for detecting image bearing member position indices provided on the second image bearing member, an adjusting device for adjusting a rotational speed of the second image bearing member, and a controller for controlling the adjusting device so as to adjust a position of an image bearing member position index correspondingly to the conveying member position index, on the basis of detection results of the conveying member position index detecting device and the image bearing member position index detecting device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of detecting the direction and amount of an image shift in the main scanning direction without wasting toner, to thereby provide a higher-quality image with reduced running costs. A conductor is disposed such that the conductor partially overlaps an electrostatic latent image line formed on a photosensitive drum in a manner extending in a main scanning direction of the photosensitive drum, while moving relative to the electrostatic latent image line. The conductor generates induced current by the relative motion. An image shift in the main scanning direction is detected based on a result of measurement of the induced current generated by the conductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer portion that transfers a toner image; a conveying member that conveys a recording material; a conveying member position index sensing member that senses a conveying member position index fixed to the conveying member in the transfer portion; a toner image position index sensing member that senses a toner image position index fixed to the image bearing member in the transfer portion; a drive member that can control a position of the conveying member in a moving direction of the conveying member and a rotating speed of the conveying member; and a control portion that controls the drive member to position the conveying member position index with respect to the toner image position index reaching the transfer portion based on the sensing results of the conveying member position index and the toner image position index.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image bearing members on which a toner images are to be formed; a conveying member onto which the toner images are to be transferred; a conveying member position index detecting device for detecting a conveying member position index provided on the conveying member along the movement direction of the conveying member; an image bearing member position index detecting device for detecting the image bearing member position indices provided on the second image bearing member along a rotational direction of the second image bearing member; an adjusting device for adjusting a rotational speed of the second image bearing member; a controller for controlling the adjusting device so as to adjust a position of an image bearing member position index correspondingly to the conveying member position index, on the basis of detection results of the conveying member position index detecting device and the image bearing member position index detecting device; and an initial

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a manipulator which can be suitably used as a compact manipulator apparatus which manipulates a minute target object. A manipulator of this invention includes, for example, a plurality of arm members whose attitudes can be changed and a manipulation target object manipulating hand mounted on the plurality of arm members through a connecting portion. Rotation of the hand or similar motion is caused by changing the attitudes of the plurality of arm members.

Abstract: A manipulator includes a spherical shell movable member, a manipulating member integrally mounted on the spherical shell movable member, and a vibration member in contact with the spherical shell movable member and vibrating so that the spherical shell movable member rotates about a plurality of axes. The manipulating member has a manipulation distal end portion placed near a center of the spherical shell movable member, and all of the axes intersect at one point near the center of the spherical shell movable member.

Abstract: A manipulator includes a manipulating target object manipulating member which is driven and controlled by a plurality of free rotation axes. All of the free rotation axes cross at one point, and a manipulation distal end portion of the manipulating member is placed near the intersection.

Abstract: A manipulator includes a spherical shell movable member, a manipulating member integrally mounted on the spherical shell movable member, and a vibration member in contact with the spherical shell movable member and vibrating so that the spherical shell movable member rotates about a plurality of axes. The manipulating member has a manipulation distal end portion placed near a center of the spherical shell movable member, and all of the axes intersect at one point near the center of the spherical shell movable member.

Abstract: An optical encoder has a light irradiating device; an optical scale having a grating for transmitting or reflecting incident light; light-receiving elements disposed in a plurality of different directions; and an optical system for amplitude-modulating light traveling from the light irradiating device to the optical scale and transmitted or reflected by the grating, by a dividing element in which a plurality of V-shaped grooves are juxtaposed, and for dividing the amplitude-modulated light into beams along a plurality of different directions to guide the beams to the respective light-receiving elements. The dividing element is comprised of repetitions of such structure that a plurality of V-grooves consisting of planes of mutually different angles are juxtaposed at a predetermined pitch.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a manipulator which can be suitably used as a compact manipulator apparatus which manipulates a minute target object. A manipulator of this invention includes, for example, a plurality of arm members whose attitudes can be changed and a manipulation target object manipulating hand mounted on the plurality of arm members through a connecting portion. Rotation of the hand or similar motion is caused by changing the attitudes of the plurality of arm members.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a manipulator which prevents the distal end portion of a manipulating member from moving even if its posture is changed, and a minute object manipulating apparatus using the manipulator. The manipulator of the invention includes, for example, a manipulating target object manipulating member which is driven and controlled by a plurality of free rotation axes. All the free rotation axes cross at one point, and the manipulation distal end portion of the manipulating member is placed near the intersection.

Abstract: A vibration type actuator comprises a vibration member for generating vibration displacements in at least three different directions and a contact member in contact with the vibration member. In the actuator the vibration displacements in at least three different directions are excited in the vibration member to generate synthetic vibrations that cause relative movement between the vibration member and contact member in a desired direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration type actuator or a vibration type driving apparatus that includes a vibration member that generates therein respective vibration displacements in at least three different directions, and a plurality of contact members contacting the vibration member, wherein the respective vibration displacements in the three different directions generate a composite vibration that simultaneously moves selected contact members of the plurality of contact members relative to the vibration member.

Abstract: A vibration actuator has a vibration member for generating a vibration, and a contact member which contacts the vibration member and moves relative thereto when the vibration member vibrates. A portion of the vibration member, which is in sliding-contact with the contact member, is formed as a separate first member which is coupled to rest of the vibration member.

Abstract: A vibration wave apparatus includes a plurality of vibration member groups. Each vibration member group includes a plurality of vibration members having respective driving portions in which driving vibration waves are generated, where the respective driving portions are arranged at axially opposite sides of the vibration member group and the said plurality of vibration members are disposed coaxially with one another, and a holding member disposed between the respective driving portions of the plurality of vibration members, and arranged to support the vibration member group at a peripheral portion of the holding member.