Abstract: A side-viewing endoscope includes an elongated tube for entry in a body cavity for imaging. A wire line is contained in the elongated tube, for moving in an axial direction back and forth. A guide device is coupled with a distal end of the wire line, caused to shift between first and second positions by the wire line, for orientation in a direction crosswise to the axial direction upon being set in the second position. An input lever is disposed at a proximal end of the wire line, for moving the wire line in the axial direction. A cam mechanism is connected between the input lever and the wire line, for shifting the guide device at a first shift between the first position and an intermediate position, and shifting the guide device at a second shift smaller than the first shift between the intermediate and second positions.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus, a suction button unit (switching valve unit) includes a valve cylinder, a piston rod, a cap device and seal packing. Holes are formed in a piston chamber of the valve cylinder, including a discharge port hole, a suction port hole and an exhaust port hole. The piston chamber includes a piston slide surface and a sliding sealing surface. A passage in the piston rod connects the exhaust port hole with the suction port hole in case the piston rod is in a halfway position, and connects the suction port hole with the discharge port hole in case the piston rod is in a position of full depression. The seal packing, in the halfway position, closes the discharge port hole, and in the position of full depression, causes the discharge port hole to open. Thus, operability and washability of the suction button unit can be high.

Abstract: The endoscope includes: a hardness adjusting device which changes the flexibility of the flexible portion of an endoscope insertion unit; and a handling member that handles the hardness adjusting device. The handling member is positioned in a region in which the handling member can be operated with one hand of an operator holding the handheld operation unit of the endoscope, the region being located in an upper portion of the handheld operation unit. The contact spring is extended from the front end of the handheld operation unit to the upper portion of the handheld operation unit, the front end of the handheld operation unit continuing to the flexible portion.

Abstract: A printer processor prints out two sheets of test prints by printing a test pattern on two recording sheets of different lengths. The test pattern consists of eight straight-linear lines that are parallel to a main scan direction or a sub scan direction of an exposure section. Dimensions of designated portions of the test pattern are measured on each of the test prints, to detect skew characteristics of the recording sheets, deviations of print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and fluctuations in transport speed of the recording sheets. Based on the detected values, a skew correcting section, the exposure section and a conveyer device for the recording sheets are controlled to correct skew of the recording sheets, the print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and the transport speed.

Abstract: After detecting an anterior end of a photosensitive material with a sensor, a controlling unit controls a release unit to release a nip of a carrying roller pair carrying the photosensitive material. The nip of the carrying roller pair is released in accordance with a length of the photosensitive material in a carrying direction thereof. It is possible to avoid applying a force of the carrying roller pair to a posterior end of the photosensitive material so that a skew-correction amount of a skew corrector is prevented from deteriorating. A skew of the photosensitive material is surely corrected relative to the carrying direction of the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A downstream edge of a first guide plate has a convex shape in a carrying direction such that a width thereof gradually reduces from both lateral sides toward the center. A central portion of the downstream edge is formed with a protrusion, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. An upstream edge of a second guide plate has a concave shape in a reverse direction to the carrying direction so as to correspond to the shape of the downstream edge of the first guide plate. A central portion of the upstream edge is formed with a cutout, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. The downstream edge of the first guide plate is adjacent to the upstream edge of the second guide plate, and the protrusion is adjacent to the cutout so as to enter thereinto.

Abstract: A paper magazine to be loaded in an image recording device contains a roll of recording paper, and is provided with a transport mechanism to feed the recording paper out of the paper magazine with holding a leading end of the recording paper. The transport mechanism includes a drive roller and a belt mechanism. The belt mechanism is composed of a pair of pulleys, separated by a particular interval, and a flat belt to encircle the pulleys. The drive roller contacts with the flat belt in the center, pressing it to bend. Making surface contact with the recording paper between the flat belt, the drive roller transports the recording paper without slipping.

Abstract: A magazine containing a roll of recording paper is removably loaded in an image recording apparatus. A sensor for detecting a leading end of the recording paper is provided in the image recording apparatus near a paper outlet of the loaded magazine. The image recording apparatus has a device for calculating a transport amount of the recording paper till the leading end of the recording paper is detected by the sensor. If the calculated transport amount is less than a predetermined value, the leading end of the recording paper is considered to be fogged or stained, so an edge treatment is carried out to cut a certain length by a cutter away from the leading end before the recording paper is fed into an image recording section. The magazine is provided with a memory for recording an open/close history of its lid that is opened and closed to set the recording paper in the magazine. The image recording apparatus reads the open/close history from the memory.

Abstract: After detecting an anterior end of a photosensitive material with a sensor, a controlling unit controls a release unit to release a nip of a carrying roller pair carrying the photosensitive material. The nip of the carrying roller pair is released in accordance with a length of the photosensitive material in a carrying direction thereof. It is possible to avoid applying a force of the carrying roller pair to a posterior end of the photosensitive material so that a skew-correction amount of a skew corrector is prevented from deteriorating. A skew of the photosensitive material is surely corrected relative to the carrying direction of the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A magazine containing a roll of recording paper is removably loaded in an image recording apparatus. A sensor for detecting a leading end of the recording paper is provided in the image recording apparatus near a paper outlet of the loaded magazine. The image recording apparatus has a device for calculating a transport amount of the recording paper till the leading end of the recording paper is detected by the sensor. If the calculated transport amount is less than a predetermined value, the leading end of the recording paper is considered to be fogged or stained, so an edge treatment is carried out to cut a certain length by a cutter away from the leading end before the recording paper is fed into an image recording section. The magazine is provided with a memory for recording an open/close history of its lid that is opened and closed to set the recording paper in the magazine. The image recording apparatus reads the open/close history from the memory.

Abstract: A paper magazine to be loaded in an image recording device contains a roll of recording paper, and is provided with a transport mechanism to feed the recording paper out of the paper magazine with holding a leading end of the recording paper. The transport mechanism includes a drive roller and a belt mechanism. The belt mechanism is composed of a pair of pulleys, separated by a particular interval, and a flat belt to encircle the pulleys. The drive roller contacts with the flat belt in the center, pressing it to bend. Making surface contact with the recording paper between the flat belt, the drive roller transports the recording paper without slipping.

Abstract: A printer processor prints out two sheets of test prints by printing a test pattern on two recording sheets of different lengths. The test pattern consists of eight straight-linear lines that are parallel to a main scan direction or a sub scan direction of an exposure section. Dimensions of designated portions of the test pattern are measured on each of the test prints, to detect skew characteristics of the recording sheets, deviations of print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and fluctuations in transport speed of the recording sheets. Based on the detected values, a skew correcting section, the exposure section and a conveyer device for the recording sheets are controlled to correct skew of the recording sheets, the print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and the transport speed.

Abstract: A downstream edge of a first guide plate has a convex shape in a carrying direction such that a width thereof gradually reduces from both lateral sides toward the center. A central portion of the downstream edge is formed with a protrusion, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. An upstream edge of a second guide plate has a concave shape in a reverse direction to the carrying direction so as to correspond to the shape of the downstream edge of the first guide plate. A central portion of the upstream edge is formed with a cutout, a width of which becomes narrower in the carrying direction. The downstream edge of the first guide plate is adjacent to the upstream edge of the second guide plate, and the protrusion is adjacent to the cutout so as to enter thereinto.