Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer comprising, a piezoelectric block which is formed into a plurality of piezoelectric segments by way of one or more slots, spaced apart, on one main surface of the block, the segments being connected with each other at one and the other of the opposed main surfaces of the block, an organic filler filled at least partially in the slots, a first and a second electrodes formed respectively on the one and the other of the continuous main surfaces of the segments, an acoustic matching layer formed on the one main surface of the piezoelectric block, and a backing material formed on the other main surface of the piezoelectric block.

Abstract: A camera using films each having a development processing solution in a solution accommodating bag includes rollers feeding photographed film outside of the camera or into an accommodating chamber, a piezoelectric press member held between an electrode and an elastic member also serving as an electrode presses photographed film and spreads development processing solution in the solution bag over an entire exposing portion. A piezoelectric member vibrated by AC voltages applied to the electrode and elastic member reduces a frictional force of the film caused by the press member. The processing solution is heated by vibrating the press member to generate heat.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer and an ultrasonic actuator for performing enhanced elliptical vibration comprise a first laminated piezoelectric element having a first fixed end, a resonator mounted to the opposite end of the first laminated piezoelectric element, a second laminated piezoelectric element having one end thereof fixedly mounted to the resonator in a direction other than a vibrating direction of the first laminated piezoelectric element, and a load mass fixedly mounted to the opposite end of the second laminated piezoelectric element. This structure permits the enhanced elliptical vibration of the transducer to have a large, controllable amplitude.

Abstract: An actuator apparatus for driving a focus adjusting lens of a focus adjusting mechanism of an endoscope comprises a moving member put in slidable frictional engagement with a base of the endoscope, the moving member having coupling means for coupling with the movable portion within the endoscope, a piezoelectric element coupled to the moving member, the piezoelectric element and the moving member alone constituting a body of the actuator apparatus, and actuator control circuit for causing quick deformation in the piezoelectric element, enabling the piezoelectric element to apply an impulse force to the moving member, thereby moving the moving member against a frictional engagement force acting between the base and the moving member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising an elastic body, at least two laminated piezoelectric bodies clamped by a portion of the elastic body, an ultrasonic oscillator for exciting simultaneously a plurality of shrunk and retreated oscillation modes on the elastic body, to generate ultrasonic elliptic oscillation, and an element to be driven urged against a portion of the ultrasonic oscillator and movable with respect to the ultrasonic oscillator.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasonic oscillator including: a plurality of resonators; and an electricity-to-mechanical energy conversion element disposed among a plurality of the resonators and pressed by a fastening member, wherein the ultrasonic oscillator bends and/or oscillates when alternating voltage is applied to the electricity-to-mechanical energy conversion element, and the resonators do not come in contact with the fastening member in a portion adjacent to the end surface of the ultrasonic oscillator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising an ultrasonic vibrator having a pair of resonators for transferring and enlarging ultrasonic vibration, an electro-mechanical energy converter arranged between the pair of resonators, for generating ultrasonic vibration by application of alternating voltage, and a fastening element for crimping and fixing the pair of resonators and the electro-mechanical energy conversion element to each other, and an element to be driven crimped to an end of at least one of the resonators and driven by elliptic vibration which is generated at the ends. The electro-mechanical energy converter element is a pair of sliding vibrators which are polarized respectively in a pair of directions which are perpendicular to an axial direction and which are shift 90.degree. from each other.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor characterized by comprising:an ultrasonic oscillator for generating ultrasonic oscillation on a specific surface;a movable body pressure-bonded to a specific surface of the ultrasonic oscillator for moving the movable body by the ultrasonic oscillator in a given direction by ultrasonic oscillation; anda sliding element provided on one of a contact surface of the ultrasonic oscillator and a contact surface of the movable body and having a porous oxide coating in which hydrators are formed to substantially fill small holes in the oxide coating.

Abstract: This two-dimensional driving ultrasonic motor comprises a first electro-mechanical energy converting device consisting of an ultrasonic vibrator having a unidirectional polarizing process applied to the entire surface; a second electro-mechanical energy converting device consisting of an ultrasonic vibrator laminated on this first electro-mechanical energy converting device and having a reversely directed polarizing process applied with a central line segment serving as a boundary between the oppositely polarized areas; a third electro-mechanical energy converting device consisting of an ultrasonic vibrator laminated on the first and second electro-mechanical energy converting devices and having a reversely directed polarizing process applied with a line segment serving as a boundary between the oppositely polarized areas, the second and third devices being aligned so that the line segments intersect at right angles; a friction member fixed to the lamination end of the laminated electro-mechanical energy conv

Abstract: A dental centrifugal casting apparatus includes a crucible for receiving a dental casting material, a crucible holding unit for holding the crucible, a heating furnace such as a high-frequency induction heating furnace for heating and melting the dental casting material in the crucible, a crucible forward and backward rotary driving unit for driving the crucible holding unit forward and backward so as to insert the crucible into the heating furnace to heat and melt the material in the crucible and remove the crucible from the furnace, and for rotationally driving the crucible holding unit so as to inject the melted material into a mold at a predetermined position, a bucket for holding the mold in which the molten material is injected by the forward and backward motion and the rotation of the crucible performed by the crucible forward and backward rotary driving unit, and a centrifuge unit for rotating a rotary arm swingably mounting the bucket on its end portion at high speed immediately after the material is

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus for producing one or more copied images of an original by forming an electrostatic latent image of the original on a photosensitive member whose width is narrower than that of a recording paper, developing the latent image, and transferring the developed image onto the recording paper, the apparatus including a device for removing electric charge from edge portions of the photosensitive member after said transferring but before next succeeding development of said latent image in the course of repeating developments and transferrings of one electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a corona charger, a photosensitive and electrostatic-charge retentive drum including an electrically conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer having a narrower width than that of a record paper, and a screening member inserted between the corona charger and a peripheral part of the photosensitive and electrostatic-charge-retentive member for gradually decreasing a quantity of electrostatic charge charged at side edge portions of the photosensitive layer in a direction toward the side edges of the photosensitive layer, whereby black line and stripe can be prevented from appearing along the side edges of the record paper.