Abstract: The rotary vacuum pump includes a pump housing, a rotary shaft, a thrust movement restriction mechanism and a first elastic member. The pump housing has therein a pump chamber. The rotary shaft has thereon a rotor rotatably disposed in the pump chamber. When the rotor is rotated with the rotary shaft, gas in the pump chamber is pumped thereby to draw gas into the pump chamber. The thrust movement restriction mechanism is provided for allowing the rotor to displace in the pump chamber in one thrust direction due to thermal expansion thereof during the operation of the rotary vacuum pump. The first elastic member is provided for urging the rotary shaft in the other thrust direction opposite to the one thrust direction.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection apparatus includes an X-ray radiating part, an X-ray detecting part, a mass estimation unit and a mass class determination unit. The X-ray radiating part is configured and arranged to radiate X-rays to an inspection target. The X-ray detecting part is configured and arranged to detect the X-rays radiated from the X-ray radiating part that transmitted through the inspection target. The mass estimation unit is configured to estimate a mass of the inspection target based on an amount of the X-rays detected by the X-ray detecting part. The mass class determination unit is configured to determine which mass class among a plurality of mass classes within a preset range the inspection target belongs to based on the mass of the inspection target estimated by the mass estimation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a charging member for being supplied with a charging voltage which is a DC voltage not having an AC voltage component and for contacting the bearing member to electrically charge a surface of the bearing member using an electric discharge; a transfer member for transferring onto a transfer material a toner image formed on the surface of the bearing member by developing the electrostatic latent image, at a transfer position; wherein the charging potential of the charging member is different between when the charging member provides a first region with a potential and when the charging member provides a second region with a potential, thus providing a predetermined potential difference between the first region and the second region, and wherein the transfer member is not supplied with a voltage when the second region is at the transfer position, where the first region is a region on the image b

Abstract: On an input shaft are provided in order from a side of an engine a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, a first planetary gear set as a multiplying mechanism, a counter drive gear outputting a rotational drive force to a countershaft, a second planetary gear set as a speed-change element, a third planetary gear set as a speed-change element. Accordingly, there can be provided an automatic transmission for six forward speeds with plural planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes that can properly reduce a clutch capacity and restrain gear noises with its compact and light-weighted structure.

Abstract: A camera has an infinity end stopper that stops a lens holder to a position which sets a best focal length at infinity, and a macro-side stopper that stops the lens holder to a position at which the best focal length becomes a predetermined length. In normal mode, the camera abuts the lens holder on the infinity end stopper and then moves the lens holder toward the macro-side stopper to perform auto focus. In macro mode, the camera abuts the lens holder on the macro-side stopper and then moves the lens holder toward the infinity end stopper to perform auto focus. This can suppress a variation in the position of the camera after lens movement.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a recording head configured to record an image on a recording medium; a conveying mechanism disposed so as to face the recording head and configured to convey the recording medium in a medium conveyance direction that is substantially horizontal; a retaining portion disposed configured to hold and retain the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording head, such that the recording medium is held and retained in a substantially horizontal posture; and a medium receiving portion to which the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording head is discharged, wherein the recording head, the retaining portion, and the medium receiving portion are arranged in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a recording head configured to record an image on a recording medium; a conveying mechanism disposed so as to face the recording head and configured to convey the recording medium in a medium conveyance direction that is horizontal; a maintenance unit disposed, in its standby state, alongside the recording head in the medium conveyance direction and configured to perform maintenance of the recording head; a retaining portion disposed above the recording head and configured to hold and retain the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording head, such that the recording medium is held and retained in a horizontal posture; and a medium receiving portion which is disposed alongside the retaining portion and to which the recording medium on which the image has been recorded by the recording head is discharged.

Abstract: In registering operation of a document to be searched for, a document identifier management table for managing a range of a document identifier stored for each page and a page identifier of the page is created, and an individual-search-server's search range management table for managing the range of the document identifier in charge of each search server is created. In searching operation of each search server of the document to be searched for, the individual-search-server's search range management table is referred to acquire a range of the allocated document identifier. For each index key forming a query term specified as a query condition, the document identifier management table is referred to to acquire the page identifier storing the document identifier of the allocated range. The searching operation is carried out by referring to a page shown by the acquired page identifier.

Abstract: A housing (2) of a Roots pump (1) supports a drive shaft (3) and a driven shaft (4) with radial bearings (32, 33) so as to be rotatable. The housing (2) is formed by joining an upper housing member (20) to a lower housing member (10). The lower housing member (10) has lower bearing support portions (13), and the upper housing member (20) has upper bearing support portions (23). Opening edges (13a) of each lower bearing support portion (13) are positioned above the centers (P1) of the bearings (32, 33). An opening width (T1) of each lower bearing support portion (13) is smaller than the diameter (D1) of the bearings (32, 33). This structure suppresses the bearings (32, 33) from being separated from the lower housing member (10) during an assembling operation of the fluid machine.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: (a) a conveying device for conveying a recording medium on a supporting surface; (b) a nip roller movable to be brought into contact with the conveyed recording medium when the conveyed recording medium has a portion positioned in a contactable position; (c) a moving device for moving the nip roller, so as to place the nip roller selectively in a gripping state and a releasing state, such that the nip roller, while being placed in the gripping state, is held in contact with the conveyed recording medium so as to cooperate with the supporting surface to grip the conveyed recording medium therebetween when the conveyed recording medium has a portion positioned in the contactable position, and such that the nip roller, while being placed in the releasing state, is not in contact with the conveyed recording medium; and (d) a controlling device for controlling the moving device such that the nip roller is placed in one of the gripping state and the releasing state which is s

Abstract: A diaphragm pump for pumping a fluid includes a diaphragm and a driver. The diaphragm has a first surface and a second surface. The driver includes a support portion and is connected to the diaphragm via the support portion. The driver is reciprocated to deform the diaphragm thereby performing a pumping action. The support portion includes a first supporting surface for supporting the first surface and a second supporting surface for supporting the second surface. The support portion allows the diaphragm to slidingly move along an interval between the first and second supporting surfaces when the diaphragm is deformed.

Abstract: A housing of a Roots pump is configured by joining a lower housing member and an upper housing member that are separable from each other. With the upper and lower housing members joined together, an upper accommodating portion and a lower accommodating portion form a front bearing accommodating portion and a rear bearing accommodating portion, which accommodate whole bearings, respectively. The Roots pump further includes bearing holders attached to the bearings and fixed to the lower housing member so that the bearings are received in the lower accommodating portion in a positioned state.

Abstract: A diaphragm unit includes a plurality of diaphragms which are layered on top of each other. A case and the diaphragm unit define a pump chamber. The diaphragm unit has a first surface and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface. A support member for supporting the diaphragm unit has a first support surface for supporting the first surface and a second support surface for supporting the second surface. The support member allows the diaphragms to slide between the first support surface and the second support in case here the diaphragm unit changes its form. Thus, the durability of the diaphragm is improved.

Abstract: A charging device for electrically charging an image bearing member, includes a contact charging member contactable to the image bearing member to charge the image bearing member, the contact charging member being supplied only with a DC voltage; and a contact member contacted to the charging member, wherein the image bearing member is adapted to carry a toner image of toner which contains an externally added material comprising silica, wherein work functions of the charging member, the contact member and the silica satisfy, (the work function of the contact member)>(the work function of the silica)>(the work function of the charging member).

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising at least a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive substrate, a surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor including a fluorinated alkyl group-containing copolymer having repeating units represented by the following formulae A and B, and fluorine-based resin particles: wherein in Formulae A and B, l, m and n each independently represent a integer number of 1 or more; p, q, r and s each independently represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more; t represents an integer of from 1 to 7; R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; X represents an alkylene chain, a halogen-substituted alkylene chain, —S—, —O—, —NH— or a single bond; Y represents an alkylene chain, a halogen-substituted alkylene chain, —(CzH2z-1(OH))— or a single bond; and z represents an integer of 1 or more.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an insulative substrate, a spiral inductor formed by an interconnection layer provided on a first surface of the insulative layer, a first chip that is mounted on a second surface of the insulative layer opposite to the first surface and is electrically connected to a passive circuit including the spiral inductor, the first chip having an electrically conductive substrate, and a first protrusion that is provided on one of the first and second surface of the insulative substrate and protrudes therefrom, the first protrusion being electrically connected to one of the passive circuit and the first chip to an external circuit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus with a conveying mechanism and a blocking member are described. The blocking member reduces foreign substances from soiling a unit or member located adjacent to or below the conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism may be moved to a position permitting access to remove paper jams while the blocking member is located to permit the conveying mechanism to move to the position while continuing to reduce foreign substances from soiling the unit or member.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: an ink ejection head having ink ejection openings; a conveyance mechanism which is disposed below the ink ejection head and conveys a recording medium facing the ink ejection openings; a recording medium feeder which is disposed below the conveyance mechanism, is capable of stocking therein a recording medium, and feeds a recording medium to the conveyance mechanism; a refeeder which is partially disposed below the recording medium feeder and which refeeds, to the conveyance mechanism, a recording medium having conveyed by the conveyance mechanism; and an ink reservoir which is disposed below the refeeder and reserves therein ink to be fed to the ink ejection head.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus comprises a conveying section having a conveying surface configured to convey a recording medium. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an inkjet head having a discharge surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises a maintenance unit configured to maintain the inkjet head and a maintenance-unit moving mechanism configured to move the maintenance unit between a maintenance position and a withdrawal position. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an image sensor capable of picking up an image on the recording medium or on the conveying surface. The image sensor has a reading surface that opposes the conveying surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises a cleaning member secured to the maintenance unit and configured to clean the reading surface. The inkjet recording apparatus further comprises an image-sensor moving mechanism configured to move the image sensor between an image pickup position and a cleaning position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording device that includes a casing and a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium, and the conveying unit is positioned in the casing. The recording device also includes a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium that is being conveyed by the conveying unit, and the recording unit opposing the conveying unit in the casing. The recording device may also include a cassette that is removably mountable to the casing and that is positioned in a area adjacent to the conveying unit when the cassette is mounted to the casing. The recording device may also include a movement mechanism that moves a portion of the conveying unit to the area adjacent to the conveying unit when a portion of the cassette is removed from the casing.