Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium capable of shortening tact time. The optical recording medium includes at least one recording layer. The recording layer contains an oxide of Bi.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus dividing a cross section of superposed light into a plurality of regions in a tangential and/or radial direction includes: an optical system configured to generate each of a first set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 0°, a second set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 180°, a third set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 90°, and a fourth set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 270°, using a plurality of superposed light beams corresponding to the divided regions; an optical receiver configured to output signals corresponding to the sets of the signal light and the reference light; and a circuit configured to compute signals as differences between the signals, and obtain a reproduction signal by computation from the computed signals.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus dividing a cross section of superposed light into a plurality of regions in a tangential and/or radial direction includes: an optical system configured to generate each of a first set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 0°, a second set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 180°, a third set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 90°, and a fourth set of signal light and reference light having a phase difference of approximately 270°, using a plurality of superposed light beams corresponding to the divided regions; an optical receiver configured to output signals corresponding to the sets of the signal light and the reference light; and a circuit configured to compute signals as differences between the signals, and obtain a reproduction signal by computation from the computed signals.

Abstract: Provided is a reproducing apparatus including: a reproduction signal generating circuit that calculates a first difference signal which is a difference between a first light receiving signal obtained by the first light receiving element and a second light receiving signal obtained by the second light receiving element, and a second difference signal which is a difference between a third light receiving signal obtained by the third light receiving element and a fourth light receiving signal obtained by the fourth light receiving element, and uses the first difference signal, the second difference signal, a phase difference between a crosstalk component and an average phase of the signal light beam, and an optical path length difference between the signal light beam and the reference light beam to obtain a reproduction signal; and a phase extraction circuit that obtains a successive change amount and updates with a successive variation.

Abstract: Provided is a reproducing apparatus including: a reproduction signal generating circuit that calculates a first difference signal which is a difference between a first light receiving signal obtained by the first light receiving element and a second light receiving signal obtained by the second light receiving element, and a second difference signal which is a difference between a third light receiving signal obtained by the third light receiving element and a fourth light receiving signal obtained by the fourth light receiving element, and uses the first difference signal, the second difference signal, a phase difference between a crosstalk component and an average phase of the signal light beam, and an optical path length difference between the signal light beam and the reference light beam to obtain a reproduction signal; and a phase extraction circuit that obtains a successive change amount and updates with a successive variation.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a discharge tray configured to support the sheet discharged from the conveyance path; a sheet presser movable toward and away from a support surface of the discharge tray and configured to press the sheet being discharged, onto the support surface; a first stopper configured to limit a spaced distance between the sheet presser and the support surface to a first distance when the first stopper is located at a first position, and configured to allow the spaced distance to become greater than the first distance when the first stopper is located at a second position; and a position change mechanism configured to change a position of the first stopper between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, which has a support surface and a first reading unit, and a second unit mounted to the first unit. The second unit includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path, a feeder unit and a discharge unit. The conveyor includes a first conveyance roller and a separation piece. The first conveyance roller and the separation piece and the first reading unit stopped at a stop position are arranged at positions at which arrangement ranges thereof overlap with each other with respect to a direction parallel with the support surface and orthogonal to an axis line becoming a rotation center of the first conveyance roller, as seen from a direction parallel with the axis line of the first conveyance roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device including a conveying section configured to convey a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction, a discharge section configured to discharge the sheet onto a stacking surface and configured to support the sheet, which is discharged by the discharge section, from below, a first contact portion provided on the stacking surface at a middle portion of the stacking surface in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction; a second contact portion provided on the stacking surface at one side with respect to the first contact portion in the width direction; and a third contact portion provided on the stacking surface at an other side with respect to the first contact portion in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer including a sheet support, a pickup roller, a separator roller, a holder, a guide, an urging member, and a contact section is provided. The holder is swingable and supports the pickup roller rotatably. The guide is attached to the holder and movable to swing relatively to the holder along with a swing movement of the holder. Urging force from the urging member acts on the guide to move toward a first position with respect to the holder. The contact section contacts a contacting part in the guide to restrict, the contacting part from being moved along with the swing movement of the holder. The guide is movable relatively to the holder from a position closer to the first position toward a position closer to a second position against the urging force from the urging member and allows the holder to further move toward the uppermost position.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer including a sheet support, a pickup roller, a separator roller, a holder, a guide, an urging member, and a contact section is provided. The holder is swingable and supports the pickup roller rotatably. The guide is attached to the holder and movable to swing relatively to the holder along with a swing movement of the holder. Urging force from the urging member acts on the guide to move toward a first position with respect to the holder. The contact section contacts a contacting part in the guide to restrict, the contacting part from being moved along with the swing movement of the holder. The guide is movable relatively to the holder from a position closer to the first position toward a position closer to a second position against the urging force from the urging member and allows the holder to further move toward the uppermost position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a discharge tray configured to support the sheet discharged from the conveyance path; a sheet presser movable toward and away from a support surface of the discharge tray and configured to press the sheet being discharged, onto the support surface; a first stopper configured to limit a spaced distance between the sheet presser and the support surface to a first distance when the first stopper is located at a first position, and configured to allow the spaced distance to become greater than the first distance when the first stopper is located at a second position; and a position change mechanism configured to change a position of the first stopper between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording medium that has good enough recording characteristics even without containing Pd. The information recording medium has a recording layer including an oxide of Mn in which Mn atoms are partially or fully present as Mn with a valence of +4.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, which has a support surface and a first reading unit, and a second unit mounted to the first unit. The second unit includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path, a feeder unit and a discharge unit. The conveyor includes a first conveyance roller and a separation piece. The first conveyance roller and the separation piece and the first reading unit stopped at a stop position are arranged at positions at which arrangement ranges thereof overlap with each other with respect to a direction parallel with the support surface and orthogonal to an axis line becoming a rotation center of the first conveyance roller, as seen from a direction parallel with the axis line of the first conveyance roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyor for conveying a sheet along a predetermined conveyance path and a feeder unit for supporting the sheet to be fed to the conveyor. The conveyor includes a first guide part for guiding the sheet toward a downstream side in the conveying direction in a direction inclined at a downward gradient, a second guide part for guiding the sheet from the first guide part toward a further downstream side in a direction inclined at an upward gradient, a suction roller arranged at the first guide part for conveying the sheet supported by the feeder unit toward the downstream side, and a first conveyance roller arranged at the second guide part and for conveying the sheet conveyed by the suction roller toward the downstream side one at a time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information recording medium that has good enough recording characteristics even without containing Pd. The information recording medium has a recording layer including an oxide of Mn in which Mn atoms are partially or fully present as Mn with a valence of +4.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device including a conveying section configured to convey a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction, a discharge section configured to discharge the sheet onto a stacking surface and configured to support the sheet, which is discharged by the discharge section, from below, a first contact portion provided on the stacking surface at a middle portion of the stacking surface in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction; a second contact portion provided on the stacking surface at one side with respect to the first contact portion in the width direction; and a third contact portion provided on the stacking surface at an other side with respect to the first contact portion in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device to convey a sheet in a sheet path is provided. The sheet conveying device includes a separator roller, which is arranged to be rotatably in contact with the sheet to apply conveying force to the sheet, a pad assembly including a separator pad, which is arranged to be in contact with the sheet stack to apply convey resistance to the sheet stack, and a holder, which is swingably attached to a base member and holds the separator pad, the base member being in a fixed position with respect to the separator roller, a spring, which urges the pad assembly toward the separator roller, and a slidable member, which is attached to the pad assembly to be integrally movable with the pad assembly and to be slidably in contact with a first slidable section in the base member.