Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided a benzopyridoindole derivative represented by the following general formula (1); and an organic EL element including a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein the above derivative is used as a constituent material for the at least one organic layer. The benzopyridoindole derivative of the present invention is excellent in electron injection/transport performance, has hole blocking capability, is highly stable in a thin film state, and excels in various characteristics. Thus, it is useful as a material for an organic EL element with a high efficiency, a low driving voltage, and high durability.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided a benzopyridoindole derivative represented by the following general formula (1); and an organic EL element including a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein the above derivative is used as a constituent material for the at least one organic layer. The benzopyridoindole derivative of the present invention is excellent in electron injection/transport performance, has hole blocking capability, is highly stable in a thin film state, and excels in various characteristics. Thus, it is useful as a material for an organic EL element with a high efficiency, a low driving voltage, and high durability.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural toner image forming devices. Each of which has a rotating photoconductor, a charging device that uniformly charges a surface of the photoconductor, a latent image forming device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged photoconductor, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to a toner image, and a developing container that contains toner used by the developing device. A diameter of the photoconductor of at least one toner image forming device is formed larger than a diameter of the photoconductor of the other toner image forming devices. Each developing container of all the toner image forming devices is formed in equal-sized, and a center of rotation of a developing roll of each developing device is arranged in a position upper than a center of rotation of each photoconductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural toner image forming devices. Each of which has a rotating photoconductor, a charging device that uniformly charges a surface of the photoconductor, a latent image forming device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the charged photoconductor, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor to a toner image, and a developing container that contains toner used by the developing device. A diameter of the photoconductor of at least one toner image forming device is formed larger than a diameter of the photoconductor of the other toner image forming devices. Each developing container of all the toner image forming devices is formed in equal-sized, and a center of rotation of a developing roll of each developing device is arranged in a position upper than a center of rotation of each photoconductor.

Abstract: An instant film unit advancing apparatus of reduced size, which avoids failure of a discharging film unit when a slip arises between a pair of spreading rollers and the film unit. Components to drive and support the pair of rollers and a picking claw for thrusting the film unit to a bite of the pair of rollers are arranged within the width of a film unit pack. Spreading rollers supporting means support a surface of the spreading rollers, and a driving power source unit includes a motor and a reducing gear train whose shafts are parallel to the spreading rollers. A rotating cam shaft moves the picking claw, which is also parallel to the spreading rollers, instead of a large cam plate used in conventional apparatuses. The cam shaft and a featured mechanism keep rotation of the spreading rollers independent from a cam mechanism for moving the picking claw.

Abstract: A head module contains a head motor, a reduction mechanism, and an optical head. The optical head is disposed behind an opening through which printing light is emitted toward an instant film. Both sides of the head module are provided with pinion gears rotated by the head motor via the reduction mechanism. A chassis is provided with rack gears respectively meshing with the pinion gears. The head module is reciprocated in a sub-scanning direction by the head motor. During the reciprocation of the head module, the printing light is emitted from the opening in accordance with image data to expose the instant film. A driving mechanism for the head module does not exist outside a movement range of the head module so that it is possible to downsize an instant printer using this head module.

Abstract: A head module contains a head motor, a reduction mechanism, and an optical head. The optical head is disposed behind an opening through which printing light is emitted toward an instant film. Both sides of the head module are provided with pinion gears rotated by the head motor via the reduction mechanism. A chassis is provided with rack gears respectively meshing with the pinion gears. The head module is reciprocated in a sub-scanning direction by the head motor. During the reciprocation of the head module, the printing light is emitted from the opening in accordance with image data to expose the instant film. A driving mechanism for the head module does not exist outside a movement range of the head module so that it is possible to downsize an instant printer using this head module.

Abstract: Objects of the invention are to provide an instant film unit advancing apparatus, used in camera or printer, of which size is reduced and to provide a film unit advancing apparatus which can avoid failure of discharging film unit out of camera or printer when a slip arises between a pair of spreading rollers and the film unit. To accomplish reduced size, the components to drive and support the pair of rollers and a picking claw for thrusting the film unit to a bite of the pair of roller by picking the edge thereof, and the picking claw itself are arrange to locate within the width of a film unit pack.

Abstract: A means for collecting and spotting a small amount of blood which comprises a cylinder, a piston, and a puncturing tip, wherein: the piston is inserted airtightly into one end of the cylinder; the puncturing tip is airtightly and exchangeably fitted onto another end of the cylinder; the puncturing tip comprises a blood conduit and a needle suspended by a spring within the blood conduit; the blood conduit has a volume which is equal to a volume of blood to be spotted to analytical means; and the needle is arranged to be pushed out from the puncturing tip by descent of the piston and then return back by ascent of the piston.

Abstract: A liquid sample-spotting apparatus having a base, a holder which is mounted on the base by an elastic body such as a spring in such a manner that said holder is movable downward against an action of the elastic body for recovering the original form, and a manually operable micropipette which is detachably supported by the holder. A process for spotting a liquid sample on an analytical element using said apparatus, which comprises steps of moving downward the holder and the micropipette with a droplet of the liquid sample formed on the pointed end against the recovering action of the elastic body; stopping the downward movement of the micropipette when the droplet of the liquid sample bridges the micropipette and the surface of the analytical element to spot the droplet on the element; and elevating the micropipette to the original position by the recoverable action of the elastic body.

Abstract: A duplex pipette comprises a housing, a pair of cylinders separately formed in the housing to extend substantially in parallel to each other, first and second piston members each having a lower end portion slidably received in one of the cylinders and a handle portion projecting outside the cylinder, and a pair of pipette tips mounted on the lower end of the housing by way of a connecting member, each of the pipette tips having a passage which communicates one of the cylinders with the outside of the housing. The connecting member is arranged so that the distance between the distal ends of the pipette tips can be changed. One of the piston members is arranged to be movable separately from the other piston member and the other piston member is arranged to be movable only together with said one piston member.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring ionic activity is comprised of a rotatable turret and at least one pair of vertically movable probes. The turret intermittently conveys slide-type ionic activity measuring devices, one by one, on each of which are spots of reference and sample solutions, to a measuring section where the probes come into contact with the measuring device so as to measure the potential difference corresponding to the difference in ionic activity of a specific ion between the reference and sample solutions. After measurement the turret further conveys the device to a discharging section where the device is automatically discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring ionic activity has a nozzle connected to a reservoir containing a reference solution. The reference solution is pumped up from the reservoir without coming into contact with air, so as to be quantitatively dripped through the nozzle when a slide-type ionic activity measuring device is located at a position below the nozzle. After the reference and sample solutions are spotted on the ionic activity measuring device, at least one pair of probes comes into contact with the device so as to measure potential difference corresponding to ionic activity difference of at least one ion between the reference and sample solutions.