Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising vibrating body, piezoelectric body for exciting an elastic travelling wave in the vibrating body and moving body driven by the elastic travelling wave provides plural vibration amplitude detection electrodes for detecting an amplitude of vibration of the vibrating body these output signals from which are utilized to identify the magnitude of vibration amplitude of the vibrating body and the ultrasonic motor is controlled using the magnitude of vibration amplitude as a control index.

Abstract: A bimorph element is formed by bonding first and second piezoelectric bodies together with an elastic shim interposed between. The bimorph element is firmly held by a base frame which has a recess and a groove at the bottom of the recess. The elastic shim 103 has an extending portion which is firmly inserted in the groove and its end portion is inserted in the recess of the base frame. A space between the recess and the end portion of the bimorph element is filled by an elastic support member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, a supply device for feeding the sheets supported by the sheet supporting device in a sheet feeding direction, a separating claw device for separating, one-by-one, the sheets fed by the supply device by regulating at least one front corner of the sheets relative to the sheet feeding direction. A switching device selectively switches positions of the separating claw device between a first position where the separating claw device is separated from the sheet supporting device and a second position where the separating claw device is adjacent to the sheet supporting device. A separation device separates, one-by-one, the sheets fed by the supply device in a condition that the separating claw device is in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, more than one rotary sheet supply device for feeding out the sheets from the sheet supporting device, a separating device for separating the sheets by regulating a front corner of a sheet to be fed out by the rotary sheet supply device, wherein the rotary sheet supply device closest to the separating device as a greater sheet feeding force than the other rotary sheet supply device.

Abstract: An ink quantity detecting device includes a plurality of ink chambers for containing inks, displacement members each provided for a corresponding one of the ink chambers and capable of being displaced in accordance with a quantity of a corresponding ink, a coupling member for coupling a plurality of displacement members, and a detecting unit for detecting displacement of at least one of the displacement members or the coupling member. The coupling member can be displaced in accordance with a quantity of at least one ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording system including a recording head for performing recording on a sheet, a first rotary member disposed at a downstream side of the recording head and contacting an unrecorded surface of the sheet on which the recording is performed by the recording head and adapted to apply a feeding force to the sheet, and a second rotary member being provided at its peripheral surface with a plurality of teeth and contacting a recorded surface of the sheet with the tips of the teeth thereof, and cooperating with the first rotary member to feed the sheet. The plural teeth of the second rotary member are staggered with other teeth in a direction transverse to a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: In a heat-plasma-jet, an arc is initially generated between opposed endless ends of a pair of electrodes and is moved along the opposed endless ends of the electrodes by generating magnetic fields having the same polarity at the opposed ends of the electrodes. Thereafter, a plasma generating gas is supplied into a region in which the arc is generated.

Abstract: A container for an ink jet head having a discharge opening therein includes an openable containing member for containing the ink jet head and permitting removal of the ink jet head when opened, and a discharge recovery member for discharging ink from the discharge opening of the ink jet head in response to removing the ink jet head from the container, in response to opening the openable containing member, or in response to pressing against a wall of the container member.

Abstract: In a suction recovery device in a liquid jet recording apparatus in which the discharge port surface of a recording head is capped by a cap in response to the movement of a carriage carrying the recording head thereon and which is provided with an atmosphere release valve for introducing the atmosphere into the cap after or during the suction of ink from the discharge ports, provision is made of one or more rails disposed on the back of the cap in parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage, and driving means for providing a time difference between the timing of the capping drive of the cap and the valve closing timing of the atmosphere release valve in response to the movement of the carriage to the suction recovery position.

Abstract: A recording apparatus effects a recording operation by scanning a recording medium in a predetermined direction with a recording head provided with discharge openings for recording liquid. A cap member is capable of covering a face with discharge openings of said recording head. A transmission member causes said cap member to cover said face with discharge openings in response to a motion setting said recording head to a predetermined position; and engaging members consisting of a protruding part are provided on one of said recording head and a carriage supporting said head. The protruding part engages a receiving part for said protruding part formed on the other of said recording head and said carriage, wherein said protruding part and said receiving part mutually engage at two points when said cap member covers said face with discharge openings.

Abstract: A cleaning member is positioned to bear against the discharge port forming surface of an ink jet recording head, in which ports for discharging ink therethrough are formed, to thereby clean the discharge portion forming surface is formed of a material composed chiefly of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber.