Abstract: A switch mechanism for use in medical apparatuses, includes an airtight unit being able to retain airtight therein, a first magnet provided outside the airtight unit, an operation unit provided outside the airtight unit and being able to move the first magnet with respect to the airtight unit, a second magnet provided in the airtight unit and being able to receive a force from the first magnet in accordance with a position of the first magnet, and a switch unit provided in the airtight unit and being able to be switched on and off by using a force acting between the first magnet and the second magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a tool tip member for a robot includes a tip member changing jig disposed in an operational area of the robot. The tip member changing jig includes a base member, a rotating member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and tip member holding means disposed at positions that are offset from the rotation axis of the rotating member. The tip member holding means holds the tool tip member so that a central axis of relative rotation, for threadedly mounting or demounting the tool tip member on or from the tool body, extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member and so that rotation of the tool tip member, with respect to the rotating member, is locked.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a tool tip member for a robot includes a tip member changing jig disposed in an operational area of the robot. The tip member changing jig includes a base member, a rotating member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and tip member holding means disposed at positions that are offset from the rotation axis of the rotating member. The tip member holding means holds the tool tip member so that a central axis of relative rotation, for threadedly mounting or demounting the tool tip member on or from the tool body, extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member and so that rotation of the tool tip member, with respect to the rotating member, is locked.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a slender insertion section of which the distal portion incorporates an image capturing device, and the back end of this insertion section is provided with an operating section to be gripped. A cable section is provided wherein a light guide cable for transmitting illumination light, and a signal cable connected to the image capturing device are integrally or separately extended from the operating section, and the connector of the edge portion of the cable section is freely detachably mounted to each of a light source device and a signal processing device. A mounting/detaching portion for freely detachably connecting a first unit serving as an insertion section side and a second unit serving as a cable section side is provided around between the distal end of the operating section and the proximal end thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a tool tip member for a robot includes a tip member changing jig disposed in an operational area of the robot. The tip member changing jig includes a base member, a rotating member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and tip member holding means disposed at positions that are offset from the rotation axis of the rotating member. The tip member holding means holds the tool tip member so that a central axis of relative rotation, for threadedly mounting or demounting the tool tip member on or from the tool body, extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member and so that rotation of the tool tip member, with respect to the rotating member, is locked.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: an optical-system holding member for holding an optical system to form an optical image of a subject; an imaging-device holding member for holding an imaging device to obtain the optical image formed by the optical system; a case for hermetically enclosing the optical-system holding member and the imaging-device holding member; a hermetic connector for hermetically sealing the case, the hermetic connector being electrically connected to the imaging device; a power generator for generating a driving force to move either of the optical-system holding member and the imaging-device holding member; and a driving-force transfer member for connecting the power generator and either the optical-system holding member or the imaging-device holding member to transfer the driving force of the power generator to either the optical-system holding member or the imaging-device holding member.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: A first wrist element is provided at a distal end of a front arm of an arc welding robot rotatably about a first axial line, a second wrist element is provided on the first wrist element rotatably about a second axial line, and a welding torch is supported on the second wrist element about a third axial line. A slide mechanism which can reciprocate in a direction approximately parallel to the first axial line is provided at a proper position from an upper portion of the front arm to an upper portion of the first wrist element and a wire feeding apparatus is mounted on the slide mechanism. By sliding the position of the wire feeding apparatus in response to the attitude of the welding torch, an extending state of the torch cable can be maintained properly.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: an optical-system holding member for holding an optical system to form an optical image of a subject; an imaging-device holding member for holding an imaging device to obtain the optical image formed by the optical system; a case for hermetically enclosing the optical-system holding member and the imaging-device holding member; a hermetic connector for hermetically sealing the case, the hermetic connector being electrically connected to the imaging device; a power generator for generating a driving force to move either of the optical-system holding member and the imaging-device holding member; and a driving-force transfer member for connecting the power generator and either the optical-system holding member or the imaging-device holding member to transfer the driving force of the power generator to either the optical-system holding member or the imaging-device holding member.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a tool tip member for a robot includes a tip member changing jig disposed in an operational area of the robot. The tip member changing jig includes a base member, a rotating member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and tip member holding means disposed at positions that are offset from the rotation axis of the rotating member. The tip member holding means holds the tool tip member so that a central axis of relative rotation, for threadedly mounting or demounting the tool tip member on or from the tool body, extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating member and so that rotation of the tool tip member, with respect to the rotating member, is locked.

Abstract: A first wrist element is provided at a distal end of a front arm of an arc welding robot rotatably about a first axial line, a second wrist element is provided on the first wrist element rotatably about a second axial line, and a welding torch is supported on the second wrist element about a third axial line. A slide mechanism which can reciprocate in a direction approximately parallel to the first axial line is provided at a proper position from an upper portion of the front arm to an upper portion of the first wrist element and a wire feeding apparatus is mounted on the slide mechanism. By sliding the position of the wire feeding apparatus in response to the attitude of the welding torch, an extending state of the torch cable can be maintained properly.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imagining system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: A camera control unit for processing a signal output from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope is provided with an analog video signal output terminal through which a video signal is output to a monitor, and a digital video signal output terminal to which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit is coupled in a freely detachable manner. By handling a release switch, a still image or motion picture can be recorded digitally. Even when the recorded image data is edited or subjected to any other processing, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. An imaging system having these advantages can be realized on a small scale.

Abstract: An electrical connector having an electrical plug (102) to be plugged into an electrical receptacle (130). The electrical plug (102) includes an electrically insulative plate-like substrate and a plurality of first electrical contacts (118) formed in parallel on at least a side surface at one end of the substrate for a predetermined length from the one end. The plug further includes a shielding part (126) formed of an electrical conductor which substantially shields all of the substrate in a position nearer an end other than the one end having the electrical contacts (118). The electrical receptacle includes an electrically insulative receiving member (138) forming at least part of a recess in which the substrate of the plug is inserted. A plurality of second electrical contacts (142) are arranged in the receiving member (138) so as to contact the plurality of contacts in the plug whenever the substrate of the plug is inserted into the recess.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprising an electrical connector which is electrically connected to an electrical device such as a CCD in an organism inserting device such as an endoscope which has an inserting section inserted into a organism. The electrical connector is connected to an electrical connector receptacle such as a control unit after the organism inserting device has been disinfected and sterilized by disinfection liquid. Processing is first performed in which the liquid remaining in the vicinity of an electrical contact of the electrical connector is removed by a liquid removing mechanism and, thereafter, electrical operation occurs. Thus, generation of a short-circuiting accident is prevented.

Abstract: An arc sensor (10) to be attached to an arc welding torch for detecting a welding spot is provided with an optical detecting system having an optical position detector (14), an objective lens (18), and a transparent objective window (20) arranged in front of the objective lens, and a plurality of arc light screening plates (22 and 24) made of an opaque material, and having a light transmitting apertures (22a and 24a), the plurality of arc light screening plates (22 and 24) being arranged in front of the transparent objective window (20) and spaced from one another for screening an arc light but permitting the detecting light beam to pass therethrough.