Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a cassette main body that stacks a paper therein, a sidewall that moves in a width direction of the cassette main body, an end wall that moves in a longitudinal direction of the cassette main body, a first movable member that is connected at one end to the sidewall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the sidewall, a second movable member that is connected at one end to the end wall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the end wall, a first detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the width direction, and a second detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding cassette includes: a cassette case configured to store sheets; a sheet tray on which the sheets are stacked, the sheet tray being rotatably attached to the cassette case; a push-up member configured to push up the sheet tray and rotate the sheet tray in one direction when driving force is input and release the push-up of the sheet tray to allow rotation of the sheet tray in the other direction when the input of the driving force is interrupted; and a buffer member configured to be nipped by the cassette case and the sheet tray and elastically deformed when the sheet tray rotates in the other direction. The buffer member is located, when viewed from a stacking direction of the sheets, in an area closer to a rotation axis of the sheet tray than a distal end of the sheet tray that is most distant from the rotation axis in the sheet tray.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first storing unit in which a sheet bundle is stacked, a second storing unit that is provided near the first storing unit and in which the sheet bundle is stacked, a transfer tray that is provided in the second storing unit and transfers the sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit, and a stopper that regulates, when the transfer tray transfers the stacked sheet bundle from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and moves from the first storing unit to the second storing unit, movement of the sheet bundle on the transfer tray.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a cassette main body that stacks a paper therein, a sidewall that moves in a width direction of the cassette main body, an end wall that moves in a longitudinal direction of the cassette main body, a first movable member that is connected at one end to the sidewall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the sidewall, a second movable member that is connected at one end to the end wall and rotates around a shaft axially fixed to the cassette main body in connection with the end wall, a first detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the width direction, and a second detection unit that has a plurality of detection members and detects the size of the paper in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed on a recording paper; a paper type designating unit configured for a user to directly designate a type of the recording paper or to designate automatic identification of a type of the recording paper; a paper type identification device configured to identify the type of the recording paper presented by the user when automatic identification of the type of the recording paper is designated by the paper type designating unit; and a printing unit configured to print the image generated by the image generating unit onto the recording paper in accordance with the type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identification device.

Abstract: A focus lens and a zoom lens group having a first zoom lens and a second zoom lens are controlled separately from one another in an internal-focus camera. The positions of the focus lens and the second zoom lens in the zoom lens group are tracked, and are controlled to approach no closer to one another than a minimum safe distance to avert collisions between the focus lens and the second zoom lens.

Abstract: Transmit data of every transmission time interval on each channel is segmented at a frame period to obtain frame data, the frame data on each channel is multiplexed and transmitted and identification information (TFCI), which specifies a combination of frame data lengths on each channel, is transmitted frame by frame. In this case, all identification information of all frames in a maximum transmission time interval is made identical and transmitted. If identification information is not the same in all frames of the maximum transmission time interval on the receiving side, then it is construed that an error has occurred and the true identification information is decided by majority rule.

Abstract: The sheet side guiding device includes a tray on which sheets are placed, a side guide provided on the tray to be slidable in a direction normal to the feeding direction of the sheet and configured to guide side portions of the sheets to be fed, a rubber sheet provided on the tray in the sliding direction of the side guide, a lever provided pivotably on the side guide via a pivot mechanism and an engagement stopper nail portion provided for the end portion of the lever and configured to detachably engage with the rubber sheet to lock the side guide to the tray.

Abstract: A focus lens and a zoom lens group having a first zoom lens and a second zoom lens are controlled separately from one another in an internal-focus camera. The positions of the focus lens and the second zoom lens in the zoom lens group are tracked, and are controlled to approach no closer to one another than a minimum safe distance to avert collisions between the focus lens and the second zoom lens.

Abstract: A focus lens and a zoom lens group having a first zoom lens and a second zoom lens are controlled separately from one another in an internal-focus camera. The positions of the focus lens and the second zoom lens in the zoom lens group are tracked, and are controlled to approach no closer to one another than a minimum safe distance to avert collisions between the focus lens and the second zoom lens.

Abstract: A focus lens and a zoom lens group having a first zoom lens and a second zoom lens are controlled separately from one another in an internal-focus camera. The positions of the focus lens and the second zoom lens in the zoom lens group are tracked, and are controlled to approach no closer to one another than a minimum safe distance to avert collisions between the focus lens and the second zoom lens.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a lens system with a plurality of lenses, and a zoom and focus controller. The lenses include a zoom lens and a focusing lens. The zoom and focus controller controls the positions of the zoom lens and the focusing lens. The zoom and focus controller includes a plurality of focusing curves including a zoom curve and an infinity focusing curve. The zoom and focus controller is responsive to a zoom operation by determining a zoom position of the plurality of lenses, adjusting the focusing lens along the infinity focusing curve for the determined zoom position, and offsetting the focusing lens according to a difference between an actual focusing distance and an infinity focusing distance.

Abstract: A light scanning device has a tip structure which includes a light scanning part connected to a light source, and which is insertable into a body cavity and is formed so as to be water-tight. A controlling part controls the light scan through the tip structure, and the tip structure and the controlling part are also connected to each other in a water-tight manner by a slender tube through which a plurality of electrical cables pass. An electric connector is fixed with the proximal end portion of the tube in a water-tight manner, and is electrically connectable so as to be water-tight with and removable from this controlling part.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image lens, an image sensor, and a brightness control element. The imaging device receives an image through the image lens in the optical pathway and detects the image at the image sensor. Brightness of the light impinging on the image sensor is adjusted using the brightness control element. In one automatic focus technique, the brightness control element controls luminous flux diameter. In another automatic focus technique, the brightness control element controls light transmittance without changing the luminous flux diameter. During detection of the auto-focus (AF) signal for a bright image, a brightness controller leaves the luminous flux diameter open and inserts a neutral-density (ND) filter into the optical path to avoid saturation of the signal from the image sensor. When the neutral density filter is inserted, an auto-focus controller moves the focusing lens to the best focus position independent of the auto-focus (AF) and an automatic-exposure (AE) signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for producing an ultrasonic tomographic image is included in a distal part of an ultrasonic endoscope to be inserted into an object of observation. The ultrasonic transducer is rotated. Echoes of ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic transducer are detected in order to produce an ultrasonic tomographic image that is a two-dimensional image. A magnetic sensor for detecting a position is included in the distal part. A magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator locked near the object of observation is sensed. The position and orientation of the distal part are detected, whereby information of a position and orientation relevant to the ultrasonic tomographic image is obtained. Based on the information of the position and orientation, a plurality of produced ultrasonic tomographic images is synthesized in order to produce an ultrasonic image that is a three-dimensional image. The periphery of the magnetic sensor in the distal part is made of a non-conductive material.

Abstract: A low coherence beam emitted by a low coherence light source is split into two portions. One portion is transmitted from the outward end of a first single mode fiber via a detachable connector to a beam scanning probe, and then to a biological tissue; and the other is transmitted from an optical coupler placed midway along the light path via a second single mode fiber to a light path modifier. The light path modifier includes a galvanometer mirror to modify the light path length in accordance with a scan range, and a uniaxial stage to adjust the light path length to absorb the variation in lengths of different beam scanning probes. The light path is adjusted by the uniaxial stage such that the beam interference is detected for the scan range, to ensure stable acquisition of tomographic images.

Abstract: A welding apparatus and method for forming arc welds of thin sheet material. The apparatus forms a first pool of molten material and then discontinues the welding to permit a portion of that pool to solidify and then reestablishes a new arc at point along the periphery of the solidified previous pool and continuing this operation to form the finished weld bead. Thus, lower welding heats may be employed and greater tolerance in the welding method and apparatus is possible.

Abstract: A high-frequency signal is applied from an oscillator via a circulator to a piezoelectric transducer. An ultrasonic wave generated by the piezoelectric transducer is directed to a material through an acoustic lens. The ultrasonic wave transmitted through the material is conducted to a phase-conjugator having a nonlinear piezoelectric element consisting of a crystal of LiNbO.sub.3. A phase-conjugate wave generated by the generating section is transmitted through the material again and received by the piezoelectric transducer. The received signal is supplied to a receiver circuit via the circulator. The receiver circuit gates the received signal in accordance with a time of return of the phase-conjugate wave so as to extract a signal representing the interior of the material. The material is scanned two-dimensionally by a scanning control device so as to display a two-dimensional ultrasonic image on a television monitor.