Abstract: An imaging device is provided to perform focus control by detecting a facial part of a person, or to prevent focus shift to a background other than a human subject even when no facial part is detected, and to ensure that a subject desired by a user is photographed. A timer is started by a half-pressing operation of a release button. When a facial part of a person is detected, photographing is performed by focusing on the facial part. When no facial part is detected, the lengths of a time period T2 elapsed since the half-pressing operation of the release button and a threshold time period T3 are compared, and focus methods are switched according to the comparison result. For example, when the release button is full-pressed in one pressing operation, multi-AF is performed to focus on the human subject.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus that can realize a jam disposal mechanism with simple structure and that can achieve size reduction has a manual operation unit that is fitted coaxially with a roller shaft of an upstream-side transport roller or with a roller shaft of a downstream-side transport roller and that, when rotated in a state where drive motors are stationary, makes the upstream-side transport roller shaft and the downstream-side transport roller shaft rotate.

Abstract: The accuracy of focus adjustment operation is enhanced further. When focus adjustment operation is performed, a first measured distance acquired by utilization of TTL-AF and a second measured value acquired by utilization of a distance between the eyes have been computed in advance. The degree of reliability of the first measured distance is compared the degree of reliability of the second measured distance in accordance with a result of a determination as to whether or not a face is detected (S10), a result of a determination as to whether or not an ambient brightness value Br is equal to or less than a reference value (S12), a result of a determination as to whether or not a focal length “f” is equal to or less than a reference value (S16), and a result of a determination as to whether or not a second measured distance De is less than a first measured distance Dt (S18). Focus adjustment operation is performed in accordance with a measured distance determined to be more reliable.

Abstract: To achieve more appropriate interpolation of a missing pixel, an image is input to a processing section for interpolation. The interpolation is applied utilizing image data of pixels located around the pixel to be interpolated. Specifically, correlations between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated, and pixel data in a horizontal direction, vertical direction, and diagonal direction, are compared to one another; pixel data having stronger correlation is used for the interpolation. Correlation between the image data of the pixels to be interpolated and which direction is strong is determined, so that different weighting for interpolation is used accordingly.

Abstract: A stator for a dynamoelectric machine includes an annular stator core composed of a developed core formed by stacking a number of steel sheets, each steel sheet including a plurality of unit cores each of which includes a unit yoke and a magnetic pole tooth and which are sequentially connected together by connecting portions integral with the respective unit yokes, and a stator coil wound on the magnetic pole teeth. Each unit yoke has a circumferential end overlapping, in a direction of stacking of the steel sheets, a circumferential end of the unit yoke adjacent to said each unit yoke.

Abstract: In a method of inserting motor coils and slot insulators, a coil inserting jig is moved between a layer insulator inserter and a wedge inserter, and a core holder is moved between a predetermined location and the wedge inserter, so that a stator core is fitted onto the coil inserting jig when the coil inserting jig is located at the wedge inserter. The coil inserting jig receives layer insulators from the layer insulator inserter. The layer insulators are inserted into slots of the core with lower coils. Wedges are inserted into the core slots with upper coils when the coil inserting jig is located at the wedge inserter.

Abstract: A conveyor roller cleaning device is mounted on the body of an image forming apparatus for cleaning the peripheral surface of a conveyor roller rotatably mounted on the body of the apparatus. The device includes an elastic member adapted to be pressed into contact with the roller, an attaching member provided at the tip end thereof with the elastic member, a drive source for driving the roller and drive control device for controlling the drive source. The attaching member is rotatable around the base end thereof between a setting position in which the elastic member is pressed into contact with the roller and a retreat position in which the elastic member is retracted away from the roller. The attaching member is maintained at the setting position by a reaction force corresponding to the pressing-contact force of the elastic member to the roller.

Abstract: A feed cassette apparatus for retaining a loaded feed cassette in a cassette housing space containing a feed roller, wherein the feed cassette is loaded or unloaded in the direction parallel to the axis of the feed roller. The apparatus includes a cassette case and a plurality of positioning devices. The cassette case is movable in the feed-cassette loading direction and is capable of housing feed cassettes of different sizes. The positioning devices are disposed at different positions in the cassette case to suit the different-sized feed cassettes, and position the end of a stack of sheets in a given feed cassette under the feed roller. A feed cassette to be housed in the cassette case is positioned by the positioning device corresponding to the feed cassette size. As a result, when the cassette case is moved in the loading direction in order to load the feed cassette into the cassette housing space, the end of the stack of sheets in the feed cassette is brought precisely into position under the feed roller.

Abstract: A transfer unit of an image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a pressing member, and a regulative member. The transfer device is provided adjacent to a photoconductor of the image forming apparatus and is separable from the photoconductor under its own weight. The pressing member presses the transfer device against the photoconductor. The regulative member regulates the distance by which transfer device is separated from the photoconductor when the pressing member disengages the transfer device therefrom. In this transfer unit, if a printing sheet is large, the pressing member disengages the transfer device after a given transfer operation. As a result, the transfer device separates from the photoconductor under its own weight, with the distance separating the transfer device from the photoconductor being regulated by the regulative member. Then, the transfer device idles in the separated state, wherein preparation for a subsequent transfer operation is made.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for extraction of impurities from a powdery or particulate solid material charged into a extractor. According to the disclosure, not only can the extraction of impurities be carried out efficiently, but also the refinement of a solid material can be carried out, with the degree of the extraction of the impurities being very high.