Abstract: The array of reception beam data sets obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a subject constitutes a two-dimensional data space. Based on the Doppler signals, a distribution data calculation unit calculates, for each of data elements in the two-dimensional data space, at least one of power of the Doppler signal, the velocity of tissue in the subject, and the velocity dispersion of tissue in the subject. A discrimination index map generation unit generates a discrimination index map indicating the likelihood of being a blood flow region A in the two-dimensional data space composed of the array of reception beam data sets, based on distribution data that are set for each of regions of interest in the two-dimensional data space. Based on the Doppler signal and the discrimination index map, a blood flow image forming unit forms a blood flow image with reduced blooming artifacts.

Abstract: An electric resistance welded steel pipe, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An electric resistance welded steel pipe has a welded portion that includes a heat-affected zone having a steel microstructure principally including a bainitic ferrite phase and/or a bainite phase. The steel microstructure at half the wall thickness includes a bainitic ferrite phase and/or a bainite phase in a total area ratio of 90% or more. In the steel microstructure located 1 mm in the wall thickness direction, the bainitic ferrite phase and/or the bainite phase has an average grain size of 20 ?m or less. The average grain size of the bainitic ferrite phase and/or the bainite phase located 1 mm in the wall thickness direction is 0.5 times or more and 2 times or less the average grain size of the bainitic ferrite phase and/or the bainite phase at half the wall thickness.

Abstract: A shear wave velocity is accurately measured. Time change data of a displacement of a tissue due to a shear wave generated in a test object is calculated from a reception signal obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the test object and receiving a reflected wave. The time change data of the displacement is converted into spectrum data indicating a displacement distribution in a frequency space having a spatial frequency and a time frequency as two axes. Spectrum data in a predetermined region is extracted by rotating the spectrum data by a predetermined angle in the frequency space, and filtering the rotated spectrum data. A velocity of the shear wave is calculated based on the extracted spectrum data in the predetermined region.

Abstract: A shear wave velocity is accurately measured. Time change data of a displacement of a tissue due to a shear wave generated in a test object is calculated from a reception signal obtained by transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the test object and receiving a reflected wave. The time change data of the displacement is converted into spectrum data indicating a displacement distribution in a frequency space having a spatial frequency and a time frequency as two axes. Spectrum data in a predetermined region is extracted by rotating the spectrum data by a predetermined angle in the frequency space, and filtering the rotated spectrum data. A velocity of the shear wave is calculated based on the extracted spectrum data in the predetermined region.

Abstract: A drive transmission device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and detachably attached to an apparatus body configured to include a driven body to which a driving force is transmitted, includes a first opposing body and a second opposing body disposed facing each other and forming a gap therebetween, a gear rotatably disposed in the gap formed between the first opposing body and the second opposing body, and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from a drive source and rotate in the gap. One rotational axial end of the rotary shaft being passed through the second opposing body and rotatably supported by the second opposing body in the gap.

Abstract: A drive system includes multiple vibrating members that tend to vibrate when these members are driven and a holding system to hold the multiple vibrating members. The holding system at least includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit superimposed on and partially connected to each other. The multiple vibrating members include a first vibrating member and a second vibrating member. The first vibrating member is held by the first holding unit and is not held by the second holding unit. The second vibrating member is held by the second holding unit and is not held by the first holding unit. At least one of the first vibrating member and the second vibrating member is a driving device to drive another member as a drive source.

Abstract: A drive transmission device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and detachably attached to an apparatus body configured to include a driven body to which a driving force is transmitted, includes a first opposing body and a second opposing body disposed facing each other and forming a gap therebetween, a gear rotatably disposed in the gap formed between the first opposing body and the second opposing body, and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from a drive source and rotate in the gap. One rotational axial end of the rotary shaft being passed through the second opposing body and rotatably supported by the second opposing body in the gap.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operator, a receiver, and a controller. The operator accepts print instruction is input. The receiver receives a print instruction from an external terminal. The controller switches one of a standard mode and a quiet mode in which operating noise is lower than that in the standard mode. The controller also executes a print operation based on the print instruction from the operator in the standard mode.

Abstract: A drive system includes multiple vibrating members that tend to vibrate when these members are driven and a holding system to hold the multiple vibrating members. The holding system at least includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit superimposed on and partially connected to each other. The multiple vibrating members include a first vibrating member and a second vibrating member. The first vibrating member is held by the first holding unit and is not held by the second holding unit. The second vibrating member is held by the second holding unit and is not held by the first holding unit. At least one of the first vibrating member and the second vibrating member is a driving device to drive another member as a drive source.

Abstract: A drive system includes multiple vibrating members that tend to vibrate when these members are driven and a holding system to hold the multiple vibrating members. The holding system at least includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit superimposed on and partially connected to each other. The multiple vibrating members include a first vibrating member and a second vibrating member. The first vibrating member is held by the first holding unit and is not held by the second holding unit. The second vibrating member is held by the second holding unit and is not held by the first holding unit. At least one of the first vibrating member and the second vibrating member is a driving device to drive another member as a drive source.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism comprises a planetary gear unit including input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members. Torque entering the input transmission member is outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed and is not outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed and entering a rotatable state. A rotation prohibiting target has an engaging target and is integral with the transmission stopping member. A rotation prohibiting member has a supporting shaft, a swingable portion at its one end and an engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function. The engaging portion disengages the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state. A damper unit absorbs vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operator, a receiver, and a controller. The operator accepts print instruction is input. The receiver receives a print instruction from an external terminal. The controller switches one of a standard mode and a quiet mode in which operating noise is lower than that in the standard mode. The controller also executes a print operation based on the print instruction from the operator in the standard mode.

Abstract: A drive system includes multiple vibrating members that tend to vibrate when these members are driven and a holding system to hold the multiple vibrating members. The holding system at least includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit superimposed on and partially connected to each other. The multiple vibrating members include a first vibrating member and a second vibrating member. The first vibrating member is held by the first holding unit and is not held by the second holding unit. The second vibrating member is held by the second holding unit and is not held by the first holding unit. At least one of the first vibrating member and the second vibrating member is a driving device to drive another member as a drive source.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device for conveying a recording medium includes a fixed roller, a movable roller, an urging member, and a shock absorber, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet conveyance device. The position of the fixed roller is fixed. The movable roller is disposed opposite the fixed roller to contact the fixed roller, thereby defining a nip. The urging member urges the movable member to contact the fixed roller in the absence of the recording medium in the nip and allows the movable member to separate from the fixed roller by an amount corresponding to a thickness of a recording medium when the recording medium enters the nip. The shock absorber absorbs displacement energy generated when the urging member urges the movable roller to contact the fixed roller again after the recording medium passes through the nip.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes a transmission element rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, integrally including a plurality of projections including a first planar surface and a second planar surface at each side of the projections in the direction of rotation of the transmission element, a rotation restriction device including a first restriction surface and a second restriction surface to contact the first planar surface and the second planar surface, to lock rotation of the transmission element, and a moving device including an actuator to move the rotation restriction device to contact and separate from the transmission element. The first restriction surface contacts the first planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the first direction, and the second restriction surface contacts the second planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the second direction.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism comprises a planetary gear unit including input transmission, output transmission, and transmission stopping members. Torque entering the input transmission member is outputted downstream of the planetary gear unit by the output transmission member when the transmission stopping member is fixed and is not outputted downstream when the transmission stopping member is unfixed and entering a rotatable state. A rotation prohibiting target has an engaging target and is integral with the transmission stopping member. A rotation prohibiting member has a supporting shaft, a swingable portion at its one end and an engaging portion at its other end to engage the engaging target to enable the transmission stopping member to exert the stopping function. The engaging portion disengages the engaging target to bring the transmission stopping member into an unfixed state. A damper unit absorbs vibration caused in the rotation prohibiting member during a switching operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt member; a drive unit moving the endless belt member; a first detecting unit detecting a rotating speed of the drive unit; a second detecting unit detecting an endless transport speed of the endless belt member; and a control unit controlling the rotating speed of the drive unit based on a first detection signal from the first detecting unit or a second detection signal from the second detecting unit selectively depending on a selection condition. Upon selection of the first detection signal in accordance with the selection condition, the control unit corrects the rotating speed of the drive unit using the second detection signal such that an average value of the endless transport speed of the endless belt member approaches a target average value.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes a transmission element rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, integrally including a plurality of projections including a first planar surface and a second planar surface at each side of the projections in the direction of rotation of the transmission element, a rotation restriction device including a first restriction surface and a second restriction surface to contact the first planar surface and the second planar surface, to lock rotation of the transmission element, and a moving device including an actuator to move the rotation restriction device to contact and separate from the transmission element. The first restriction surface contacts the first planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the first direction, and the second restriction surface contacts the second planar surface while the transmission element rotates in the second direction.

Abstract: A main controlling part is configured to choose and execute either a constant belt speed control which controls a driving motor (a driving source for an intermediate transfer belt) to move the intermediate transfer belt at a predetermined target belt speed or a constant motor speed control which rotates the driving motor at a predetermined target rotational speed according to a print command, and then, prior to a first-time print job, after executing a writing position correcting process while moving the intermediate transfer belt under the constant belt speed control, forms a color shift detecting image by switching from the constant belt speed control to the constant motor speed control, measures a difference between amounts of color shift, and executes a speed correcting process for correcting the target rotational speed of the driving motor in the constant motor speed control based on the measurement result.

Abstract: A printer according to the present invention is a so-called tandem-type printer, and has a configuration that a motor gear is directly connected to an M-photoconductor driving gear and an idler gear is directly connected to a Y-photoconductor driving gear and the M-photoconductor driving gear. A diameter of the Y and M photoconductors driving gear, a distance between transfer sections of the Y and M photoconductors, a motor gear input angle, and an idler input angle are set so that an absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting 1 from an ideal amplitude ratio, which indicates a ratio of an ideal amplitude of an eccentric component of the Y-photoconductor driving gear to an actual amplitude of an eccentric component of the M-photoconductor driving gear, is equal to or less than a maximum allowable amplitude ratio.