Abstract: There are provided a detector and a detection method capable of detecting a biological sample with high sensitivity. A detector is provided with a microchamber array including a plurality of storage sections to be filled with a hydrophilic solvent containing a biological sample; and an image sensor in which picture elements are disposed corresponding to the storage sections, wherein the microchamber array includes a flow channel in communication with openings of the storage sections; a hydrophobic solvent supply unit arranged in continuity with the flow channel; and a through-hole which allows the hydrophilic solvent to enter and exit the flow channel, and the hydrophobic solvent supply unit flows a hydrophobic solvent into the flow channel by an externally-applied force.

Abstract: Providing an electrode structure capable of realizing an electrode array which allows each of the electrodes to be individually controlled while allowing them to be densely arranged and placed in a living body. According to the present invention, an electrode control circuit electrically connected to an electrode body is fixed to a rear portion of the electrode body within a front-viewed contour of the electrode body. This electrode control circuit may be contained in a recess formed in the rear portion of the electrode body, or it may be fixed to the back face of the electrode body. Conversely, an electrically conductive material layer covering the electrode control circuit may be used as the electrode body. A plurality of such bioelectrodes may be arranged in a two-dimensional form on a substrate or connected by a connection line including an electrical wire. Such configurations allow the bioelectrodes to be densely arranged.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A process unit includes a first shaft portion at a first end of a photoreceptor drum that is fitted into a hole of a first receiving portion so as to move the photoreceptor drum from a front side of a mounting space to the inside of the mounting space. The photoreceptor drum is temporarily supported by a repulsive force of a cleaning blade and positioned in a predetermined position in the mounting space. Then, in order to cause a lock member to support a second shaft portion at a second end of the photoreceptor drum, the lock member is retracted against a biasing force of a biasing member. The second shaft portion at the second end of the photoreceptor drum is supported by the lock member by a restoring force of the biasing member, so that the photoreceptor drum is locked in a mounted state.

Abstract: Providing an electrode structure capable of realizing an electrode array which allows each of the electrodes to be individually controlled while allowing them to be densely arranged and placed in a living body. According to the present invention, an electrode control circuit electrically connected to an electrode body is fixed to a rear portion of the electrode body within a front-viewed contour of the electrode body. This electrode control circuit may be contained in a recess formed in the rear portion of the electrode body, or it may be fixed to the back face of the electrode body. Conversely, an electrically conductive material layer covering the electrode control circuit may be used as the electrode body. A plurality of such bioelectrodes may be arranged in a two-dimensional form on a substrate or connected by a connection line including an electrical wire. Such configurations allow the bioelectrodes to be densely arranged.

Abstract: There are provided a detector and a detection method capable of detecting a biological sample with high sensitivity. A detector is provided with a microchamber array including a plurality of storage sections to be filled with a hydrophilic solvent containing a biological sample; and an image sensor in which picture elements are disposed corresponding to the storage sections, wherein the microchamber array includes a flow channel in communication with openings of the storage sections; a hydrophobic solvent supply unit arranged in continuity with the flow channel; and a through-hole which allows the hydrophilic solvent to enter and exit the flow channel, and the hydrophobic solvent supply unit flows a hydrophobic solvent into the flow channel by an externally-applied force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (10) capable of releasing pressure of toner accumulated between photoreceptor drums and cleaning blades without affecting the life of the photoreceptor drums includes photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D), an intermediate transfer belt (31), cleaning blades (250A to 250D), a cam mechanism (36), and a drive motor (26). The photoreceptor drums (21B to 21D) bear a toner image. The toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blades (250A to 250D) remove toner remaining on the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) after the toner image transfer. The cam mechanism (36) switches, after an image forming process, a contact state of the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) and the intermediate transfer belt (31) to a separation state. The drive motor (26) rotates the photoreceptor drums (21B to 21D) backward after switching the contact state to the separation state.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A process unit includes a first shaft portion at a first end of a photoreceptor drum that is fitted into a hole of a first receiving portion so as to move the photoreceptor drum from a front side of a mounting space to the inside of the mounting space. The photoreceptor drum is temporarily supported by a repulsive force of a cleaning blade and positioned in a predetermined position in the mounting space Then, in order to cause a lock member to support a second shaft portion at a second end of the photoreceptor drum, the lock member is retracted against a biasing force of a biasing member. The second shaft portion at the second end of the photoreceptor drum is supported by the lock member by a restoring force of the biasing member, so that the photoreceptor drum is locked in a mounted state.

Abstract: The intermediate transfer belt cleaning device includes a cleaning blade for removing residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt, a waste toner conveying screw that conveys the removed toner, and a vibrating part with multiple vanes, arranged between the cleaning blade and the waste toner conveying screw, each vane partly coming into contact with the waste toner conveying screw and vibrating in linkage with the motion of the waste toner conveying screw. Each vane has a projected part that is positioned close to, and projects toward, the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An intracerebral information measuring device which can be mounted on the head of a subject by simple surgery and which attains measurement of low invasion, high sensitivity, and high resolution is provided. An internally mounted unit is composed of a probe section to be inserted in the brain through a hole having a small diameter bored in the skull of the subject, and a head section integrated with the probe section and to be disposed between the skull and the scalp. The probe section includes an electrode for sensing an action potential. The head section includes a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals captured with the electrode to the outside. On the outside of the head, an external measuring unit for receiving the signal transmitted from the head section and reproducing the original signal is provided.

Abstract: A waste toner recovery unit includes a waste toner conveying screw, a coating member, and a waste toner storing portion. The waste toner conveying screw has a first end and a second end and conveys waste toner, the first end being linked with a driving portion and the second end being set as a free end. The coating member coats the free end of the waste toner conveying screw by being fitted in a processing unit, has an opening to which waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying screw falls down, and can rotate in such a way that the opening is positioned in a vertically lower part. The waste toner storing portion stores the waste toner which falls down from the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (10) capable of releasing pressure of toner accumulated between photoreceptor drums and cleaning blades without affecting the life of the photoreceptor drums includes photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D), an intermediate transfer belt (31), cleaning blades (250A to 250D), a cam mechanism (36), and a drive motor (26). The photoreceptor drums (21B to 21D) bear a toner image. The toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) to the intermediate transfer belt. The cleaning blades (250A to 250D) remove toner remaining on the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) after the toner image transfer. The cam mechanism (36) switches, after an image forming process, a contact state of the photoreceptor drums (21A to 21D) and the intermediate transfer belt (31) to a separation state. The drive motor (26) rotates the photoreceptor drums (21B to 21D) backward after switching the contact state to the separation state.

Abstract: An electrostatic charger (32A) of an image forming apparatus (1) takes the air not containing dust inside from the outside of an image forming unit (101) by an air current generator (632A), and delivers an air current through a passage (43A) to an air-intake opening (524A) formed in a bottom face (521A) of a case (52A). The air current taken inside the case (52A) from the air-intake opening (524A) is directed by a guide plate (56A) and an air barrier (57A) to a tip portion (531A) of a discharge electrode (53A), and then passing the tip portion (531A), it is exhausted via an opening (520A) of the case (52A) through an exhaust duct (62A) from an air-exhaust opening (63A) to the outside of the image forming unit (101).

Abstract: A waste toner recovery unit includes a waste toner conveying screw, a coating member, and a waste toner storing portion. The waste toner conveying screw has a first end and a second end and conveys waste toner, the first end being linked with a driving portion and the second end being set as a free end. The coating member coats the free end of the waste toner conveying screw by being fitted in a processing unit, has an opening to which waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying screw falls down, and can rotate in such a way that the opening is positioned in a vertically lower part. The waste toner storing portion stores the waste toner which falls down from the opening.

Abstract: An electrostatic charger (32A) of an image forming apparatus (1) takes the air not containing dust inside from the outside of an image forming unit (101) by an air current generator (632A), and delivers an air current through a passage (43A) to an air-intake opening (524A) formed in a bottom face (521A) of a case (52A). The air current taken inside the case (52A) from the air-intake opening (524A) is directed by a guide plate (56A) and an air barrier (57A) to a tip portion (531A) of a discharge electrode (53A), and then passing the tip portion (531A), it is exhausted via an opening (520A) of the case (52A) through an exhaust duct (62A) from an air-exhaust opening (63A) to the outside of the image forming unit (101).

Abstract: An intracerebral information measuring device which can be mounted on the head of a subject by simple surgery and which attains measurement of low invasion, high sensitivity, and high resolution is provided. An internally mounted unit is composed of a probe to be inserted in the brain through a hole having a small diameter bored in the skull of the subject, and a head section integrated with the probe section and to be disposed between the skull and the scalp. The probe section includes an electrode for sensing an action potential. The head section includes a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals captured with the electrode to the outside. On the outside of the head, an external measuring unit for receiving the signal transmitted from the head section and reproducing the original signal is provided.

Abstract: The uppermost metallic wiring layer in light-blocking layers constituted by multilevel metallic wiring that prevents light from impinging on areas other than the light-receiving area of a photodiode in each picture cell is used as a measurement electrode to be directly contacted with a specimen to measure electrical signals. Furthermore, in each picture cell including a circuit for reading out electrical signals collected through the measurement electrode, another circuit for reading out electrical signals generated by the photodiode is provided in an independent or shared form. This configuration enables the photodiode for optical measurements and the measurement electrode for electrical measurements to be provided in every picture cell.

Abstract: The uppermost metallic wiring layer in light-blocking layers constituted by multilevel metallic wiring that prevents light from impinging on areas other than the light-receiving area of a photodiode in each picture cell is used as a measurement electrode to be directly contacted with a specimen to measure electrical signals. Furthermore, in each picture cell including a circuit for reading out electrical signals collected through the measurement electrode, another circuit for reading out electrical signals generated by the photodiode is provided in an independent or shared form. This configuration enables the photodiode for optical measurements and the measurement electrode for electrical measurements to be provided in every picture cell.