Abstract: A lens driving apparatus includes a lens holder and a driver for providing linear motion to the lens holder along an optical axis of the lens. The driver includes an electromagnetic mechanism, provided at the outer circumference of the lens holder in an enclosing manner, for generating a torque around the optical axis; and a switching mechanism for switching the generated torque to a linear driving force along the optical axis so as to linearly move the lens holders. The driver surrounds the lens holder along the outer circumference to allow a smaller sized lens driving apparatus than that where the lens holder is at a side of the lens driving apparatus. In addition, the switching mechanism prevents the lens holder from moving in the optical axial direction, when power is turned off or even when an external force is applied to the lens holder.

Abstract: A permanent magnet embedded motor including a rotor which is provided with a plurality of slits and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded into the slits and a stator which is provided with an iron core having a plurality of slots to which a coil is wound and is arranged to face the rotor via a gap. The slit includes a permanent magnet embedded part into which the permanent magnet is embedded in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the rotor and an “L”-shaped air gap part integrally provided on both ends of the permanent magnet embedded part. An angle “?1” for one pole of the rotor and an angle “?2” of the “L”-shaped air gap part are set to be 0.1??2/?1?0.3. Further, a radius “R” of a circumscribed circle of the rotor and a radius “R1” for forming an outer peripheral face of the rotor at a portion of the “L”-shaped air gap part are preferably set to be 0.1?(R?R1)/R?0.3.

Abstract: A printer and control method to control the operation of a printer to assure consistent print quality regardless of the paper length. A paper transportation control unit 101 and ASF control unit 103 drive a paper feed roller 78 and main paper transportation roller 23 for feeding a sheet S of print paper from the ASF 60 upon a paper transportation path and for advancing the sheet S of print paper on the paper transportation path in a first direction until the sheet S of print paper is discharged from the ASF 60, and then reversing the direction of travel of the sheet of paper S on the paper transportation path to convey the sheet S upon a reverse paper transportation path 80 disposed below the ASF 60 while positioning the sheet S to the print head 25a for printing by the print head 25a.

Abstract: A motor has a stator core having a plurality of salient poles and stator coils wound on the salient poles, respectively, each of the stator coils having a common side coil end part and a coil winding part. The common side coil end part of each of the stator coils extends radially outward from corresponding one of the coil winding parts into a region radially outside of the corresponding coil winding part of the corresponding stator coil. Then, the common side coil end part is bent to extend in the circumferential direction towards adjacent one of the salient poles in the circumferential direction, and connects electrically to a common side coil end part of adjacent one of the stator coils, wherein the common side coil end parts are joined to surround in a circular ring-shaped manner an entire outer circumference of the stator core.

Abstract: A head chip has a front face formed with nozzle orifices, and a rear face formed with at least one ink inlet. A damping chamber forming member is laminated on the rear face of the head chip. The damping chamber forming member has at least one damping chamber for dampening pressure fluctuation occurred therein, and an ink supply port for supplying ink from the damping chamber to the head chip.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a housing accommodating a plurality of papers, a pickup unit feeding the papers one by one, a movable plate provided in the housing, a friction member provided on the movable plate and on which lower ends of the papers accommodated in the housing abut, and an urging member urging the movable plate in a direction opposite from a paper feeding direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a housing accommodating a plurality of papers, a pickup unit, a rotation transmitting member and a torque transmitting member. The pickup unit has a pickup lever, a driving shaft rotatably supporting the pickup lever, and a pickup roller rotatably provided on an end of the pickup lever. The rotation transmitting member transmits a rotating force of the driving shaft to the pickup roller. The torque transmitting member is provided between the driving shaft and the pickup lever. The torque transmitting member selectively rotates one of the pickup lever or the pickup roller depending on a torque acting on the driving shaft. The pickup roller is rotated while being pressed against the papers, thereby feeding the papers one by one out of the housing.

Abstract: A permanent magnet embedded motor including a rotor which is provided with a plurality of slits and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded into the slits and a stator which is provided with an iron core having a plurality of slots to which a coil is wound and is arranged to face the rotor via a gap. The slit includes a permanent magnet embedded part into which the permanent magnet is embedded in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the rotor and an “L”-shaped air gap part integrally provided on both ends of the permanent magnet embedded part. An angle “&thgr;1” for one pole of the rotor and an angle “&thgr;2” of the “L”-shaped air gap part are set to be 0.1≦&thgr;2/&thgr;1≦0.3. Further, a radius “R” of a circumscribed circle of the rotor and a radius “R1” for forming an outer peripheral face of the rotor at a portion of the “L”-shaped air gap part are preferably set to be 0.1≦(R−R1)/R≦0.3.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus includes a lens holder and a driver for providing linear motion to the lens holder along an optical axis of the lens. The driver includes an electromagnetic mechanism, provided at the outer circumference of the lens holder in an enclosing manner, for generating a torque around the optical axis; and a switching mechanism for switching the generated torque to a linear driving force along the optical axis so as to linearly move the lens holders. The driver surrounds the lens holder along the outer circumference to allow a smaller sized lens driving apparatus than that where the lens holder is at a side of the lens driving apparatus. In addition, the switching mechanism prevents the lens holder from moving in the optical axial direction, when power is turned off or even when an external force is applied to the lens holder.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus wipes the nozzle surface of a print head using a wiper having no ink adhering thereto. The maintenance apparatus has a wiper that moves in a direction towards and away from the plane of the nozzle surface of a print head that travels bidirectionally widthwise to the printing paper. A remover removes foreign matter on the wiper when the wiper is moved while in contact with the rake part of the remover.

Abstract: A motor has a stator assembly, a rotor assembly having a rotary shaft, a bearing unit that rotatably supports the rotary shaft with respect to the stator assembly, and a case body that generally houses the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The case body includes a bottom surface section, a recessed concave section that is located radially inside the bottom surface section and concaves inwardly in an axial direction at an area opposing an excitation coil of the stator assembly, and a bearing retaining section that is formed radially inside the recessed concave section, wherein at least one part of the bearing retaining section is located more interior in the axial direction than the bottom surface section.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus simplifies the cam mechanism for moving a capping mechanism and wiper mechanism, thereby making the printer smaller. A maintenance apparatus 30 has a capping mechanism 40 for covering or sealing the nozzle surface 15 of a print head 12 having nozzles for discharging ink droplets, a wiper mechanism 50 for wiping the nozzle surface 15 of the print head 12, and a cam 60. The cam 60 is rotatably disposed solid of revolution having on the side thereof a first cam channel 61 for moving the capping mechanism 40 and a cam channel 62 for moving the wiper mechanism 50.

Abstract: A motor has a stator core having a plurality of salient poles and stator coils wound on the salient poles, respectively, each of the stator coils having a common side coil end part and a coil winding part. The common side coil end part of each of the stator coils extends radially outward from corresponding one of the coil winding parts into a region radially outside of the corresponding coil winding part of the corresponding stator coil. Then, the common side coil end part is bent to extend in the circumferential direction towards adjacent one of the salient poles in the circumferential direction, and connects electrically to a common side coil end part of adjacent one of the stator coils, wherein the common side coil end parts are joined to surround in a circular ring-shaped manner an entire outer circumference of the stator core.

Abstract: A motor has a stator assembly, a rotor assembly having a rotary shaft, a bearing unit that rotatably supports the rotary shaft with respect to the stator assembly, and a case body that generally houses the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The case body includes a bottom surface section, a recessed concave section that is located radially inside the bottom surface section and concaves inwardly in an axial direction at an area opposing an excitation coil of the stator assembly, and a bearing retaining section that is formed radially inside the recessed concave section, wherein at least one part of the bearing retaining section is located more interior in the axial direction than the bottom surface section.

Abstract: A head chip has a front face formed with nozzle orifices, and a rear face formed with at least one ink inlet. A damping chamber forming member is laminated on the rear face of the head chip. The damping chamber forming member has at least one damping chamber for dampening pressure fluctuation occurred therein, and an ink supply port for supplying ink from the damping chamber to the head chip through the ink inlet.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus wipes the nozzle surface of a print head using a wiper having no ink adhering thereto. The maintenance apparatus has a wiper that moves in a direction towards and away from the plane of the nozzle surface of a print head that travels bidirectionally widthwise to the printing paper. A remover removes foreign matter on the wiper when the wiper is moved while in contact with the rake part of the remover.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus simplifies the cam mechanism for moving a capping mechanism and wiper mechanism, thereby making the printer smaller. A maintenance apparatus 30 has a capping mechanism 40 for covering or sealing the nozzle surface 15 of a print head 12 having nozzles for discharging ink droplets, a wiper mechanism 50 for wiping the nozzle surface 15 of the print head 12, and a cam 60. The cam 60 is rotatably disposed solid of revolution having on the side thereof a first cam channel 61 for moving the capping mechanism 40 and a cam channel 62 for moving the wiper mechanism 50.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an automatic cutting device specifically defines the automatic cutting device such that the clutch includes a transmission drive gear being driven by the motor and having a first saw-tooth gear, and a transmission follower gear for transmitting the drive force to the worm, the transmission follower gear having a second saw-tooth gear located at a position corresponding to the first saw-tooth gear, wherein one of the transmission drive gears or the transmission follower gear is axially moveable and urged in such a direction that the first saw-tooth gear and the second saw-tooth gear are brought into meshing engagement with each other.

Abstract: A printer including a driving shaft having first, second and third worms for feeding a recording paper, advancing a printing ribbon, and moving a carriage, respectively. The third worm for moving the carriage may be replaced by a belt. The driving shaft may include two separate portions, with the first, second and third worms connected to ends of the separate portions. The driving shaft may be rotatably supported adjacent the first, second and third worms.