Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope comprises an insertion section having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, an ultrasonic probe disposed in the distal end portion of the insertion section and adapted to generate ultrasonic oscillations and detect reflected waves, an operating section connected to the proximal end portion of the insertion section and used to bend the insertion section, and an auxiliary operating section connected to the rear end of the operating section, the auxiliary operating section including a rotation drive unit for rotating the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope apparatus having a distal end cap provided with an ultrasonic transmission window through which an ultrasonic beam is transmitted in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis of a probe of the apparatus, and a cylindrical member located adjacent to the ultrasonic transmission window. The cylindrical member extends in parallel with the axis of the distal end of the probe.

Abstract: A printer includes improved paper feeding mechanism. A manual paper guide plate below an automatic paper feeding device can guide a thick piece of paper into a printing position on the platen without bending it hard around the platen. A pin tractor below the manual paper guide plate can feed a continuous web substantially straight into the printing position. A print head below the platen prints out on the lower surface of printing paper, whereby the printed individual cut sheets of paper being piled up one after another with the printed surface facing downward in a proper page order. A paper tray for holding the printed paper can alternatively change its position to reverse the discharge direction of the printed continuous web. The printed and reversed paper can be stacked on the upper surface of the manual paper guide plate.

Abstract: A printer selectively manipulatable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and attachable to a host computer, the printer comprising, a main printer body having a multimode control panel, versatile multiple function switches disposed in the control panel, each of the versatile switches for performing different functions in each of the first and second modes, at least a portion of the switches being allocated with a plurality of selectable functions within each mode of operation. A first label portion is fixed to the printer body in a recess of the control panel and disposed adjacent the versatile switches, the first label portion containing a first group of labels indicating first mode functions of the versatile switches, a lid member movable between a first position for exposing the first label portion, the first position corresponding to the first mode and the second position corresponding to the second mode.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is disclosed, which is mounted in a printer for feeding cut printing sheets one by one to a printing position in the printer. The sheet feeder comprises first and second sheet accommodation sections for accommodating respective stacks of printing sheets. First and second feed roller mechanisms are provided for the respective sheet accommodation sections. These roller mechanisms selectively receive a drive torque from a single reversible drive motor via a selective coupling mechanism. The selective coupling mechanism senses the direction of rotation of the drive motor, and selectively couples the drive motor to either one of the first and second roller mechanisms according to the sensed direction of rotation.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in a printer is provided with: feeding rollers for holding and feeding a sheet of paper therebetween; and an operation lever for changing the contact pressure of the feeding rollers by attaching or detaching the feeding roller to or from the opposite feeding roller depending on a type of sheet, e.g., a continuous form transferred by pin tractors or a manually inserted cut sheet. The operation lever also connects or disconnects a clutch mechanism provided between a drive motor and the pin tractors simultaneously with the attaching/detaching operation for the feeding rollers. A single operation of the operation lever can achieve a precise transfer of a selected type of sheet while suspending another type of sheet in the printer. The sheet feeding apparatus is also provided with a transmission mechanism for transmitting a torque between the platen and the feeding rollers by a friction driving force.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus for a printer wherein an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack placed on a support member is delivered by a feed roll in contact with the uppermost sheet, through a clearance formed between a presser member which engages the upper surface of the uppermost sheet, and an elastic member which is disposed adjacent to the presser member for abutting contact with the edges of the sheet stack. The apparatus includes a support mechanism for supporting the presser and elastic members such that the two members are movable toward and away from each other, and a biasing spring for biasing the two members toward each other. The relative position of the presser and elastic members and the amount of the clearance therebetween during a normal sheet feeding operation are determined by a stopper device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic vibrating element, a rotator for rotating the ultrasonic vibrating element, an illuminating window and an observing window arranged in a side wall of an inserting portion. The apparatus is so arranged that the center axis of the inserting portion is deviated from that of the rotator with respect to the radial direction but the center of curvature of a cover window surrounding the rotator is coincident with the center axis of the rotator. Therefore, a uniform resolving power can be obtained in all directions into which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. Then an ultrasonic image without undesired artificates is displayed on a screen of a monitor and the outer diameter of the inserting portion can be made small.

Abstract: In a printer enabling a user to select different forms-feed modes, a cut-forms automatic-feed unit (12) and a continuous-forms feed cassette (14) are detachably mounted on a printer main body (10) in its upper surface of a rear portion of the main body (10) and in its rear surface of the rear portion of the same (10), respectively, so that the user can selectively mount at least one of such feed units (12, 14). The printer has forms-feed modes corresponding to the mounted feed units (12, 14) and another forms-feed mode for manually feeding a cut-form to the printer. Each of the feed units (12, 14) can be manually mounted on the printer main body (10) as required. When a forms-feed mode set by the user is different from its preceding mode and a form according to the preceding mode remains in a form-driving unit (54, 102, 104, 106) in the printer main body (10), a sensor detects such remaining form.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in a printer is provided with: feeding rollers for holding and feeding a sheet of paper therebetween; and an operation lever for changing the contact pressure of the feeding rollers by attaching or detaching the feeding roller to or from the opposite feeding roller depending on a type of sheet, e.g., a continuous form transferred by pin tractors or a manually inserted cut sheet. The operation lever also connects or disconnects a clutch mechanism provided between a drive motor and the pin tractors simultaneously with the attaching/detaching operation for the feeding rollers. A single operation of the operation lever can achieve a precise transfer of a selected type of sheet while suspending another type of sheet in the printer. The sheet feeding apparatus is also provided with a transmission mechanism for transmitting a torque between the platen and the feeding rollers by a friction driving force.

Abstract: A video scope system including a video scope in which a solid state image sensor is disposed in a distal end of an insertion to be inserted into an object under inspection and picks up an image of the inside of the object under inspection illuminated by a light fed by a light guide extending in the insertion section, a light source unit having a light source feeding a light into the light guide, and a video processor unit processing a signal supplied from the solid state image sensor to output a picture signal to be displayed on a monitor. The light source unit and the video processor unit are disposed in separate housings, respectively, and these units are connected to each other by a cable to transmit a signal therebetween.

Abstract: A printer includes improved paper feeding mechanism. A manual paper guide plate below an automatic paper feeding device can guide a thick piece of paper into a printing position on the platen without bending it hard around the platen. A pin tractor below the manual paper guide plate can feed a continuous web substantially straight into the printing position. A print head below the platen prints out on the lower surface of printing paper, whereby the printed individual cut sheets of paper being piled up one after another with the printed surface facing downward in a proper paper order. A paper tray for holding the printed paper can alternatively change its position to reverse the discharge direction of the printed continuous web. The printed and reversed paper can be stacked on the upper surface of the manual paper guide plate.

Abstract: The endoscope light source apparatus of this invention can be selectively connected with an endoscope having a light guide means which can transmit an illuminating light for an object and an endoscope having a light source which can illuminate an object. The endoscope connected to the endoscope light source apparatus is discriminated by a scope discriminating circuit outputting a signal which can control a light guide light source and a power source which can feed an electric power to the light source provided in the endoscope.

Abstract: This rigid electronic endoscope has an endoscope having an elongate insertable part connected to the front part of an operating part which is also a holding part on the base side and formed of a solid state imaging device which can output an electric signal by electrically converting an object image in this insertable part and a conductive shielding member sheathing this insertable part. The electric signal obtained by this endoscope is input into a signal processing circuit. The ground terminal of this signal processing circuit is electrically connected to the above mentioned shielding member and is isolated from a ground terminal on the external current source side.

Abstract: A printer including a first and a second guide shaft which extend parallel to an elongate platen, to slidably support a carriage on which a print head is mounted. The second guide shaft is spaced by a greater distance away from the platen than the first guide shaft. An active length of a print ribbon is exposed outside a container of a ribbon cassette. A ribbon guide is supported by the second guide shaft pivotally about an axis of the second guide shaft, for supporting the active length of the ribbon so as to pass between the platen and the print head. The ribbon guide is pivoted by drive means, so that the active length of the print ribbon is moved relative to the print head and the platen, in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the platen.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an elongated inserting section having an illumination window and an observation window at a distal end portion thereof, an imaging device for forming an optical image of an object upon receiving light reflected from the object radiated through the observation window, and an ultrasonic probe disposed at the distal end portion of the inserting section and adapted to obtain an ultrasonic image of the object.

Abstract: This endoscope system comprises an endoscope and a washing apparatus. The endoscope is provided with an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part, an observing system receiving the returning light from an object entering through the observing window, an illuminating light output system emitting an illuminating light from the illuminating window and a memorizing device capable of memorizing information relating to washing. The washing apparatus is provided with a read-out device reading out information memorized in the memorizing device of the endoscope and a control device controlling the conditions of washing the endoscope by the information read out by the read-out device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeding device for printers and the like, which comprises a detachable holder for thick cut sheets. In this device, thin ordinary cut sheets, supported in a pile by paper supporting means, are delivered one by one in a sheet feeding direction by feed rollers, which are in contact with the uppermost one of the sheets. In feeding relatively thick cut sheets, such as postal cards and other cards, the holder carrying the sheets thereon is detachably mounted on the supporting structure. The holder includes a supporting member for supporting the leading ends of the thick cut sheets, with respect to the sheet feeding direction. The supporting member has a slanting or curved guide surface. As the feed rollers rotate in contact with the uppermost one of the thick cut sheets, the sheets are delivered, sliding on the guide surface.

Abstract: A pin tractor assembly for feeding a medium having feed perforations such that the perforations engage drive pins provided on an outer surface of a rotating endless belt which engages a pair of wheels rotatably supported between two spaced-apart frames. The two spaced-apart frames are connected to each other by a connecting portion, into an integral tractor body having a slot portion which accommodates the pair of wheels and the endless belt. The assembly has a device for inhibiting radial movement of the pair of wheels positioned in the slot portion of the tractor body.