Abstract: A focused ion beam system comprises a specimen chamber, a FIB column, a SEM stage, a side entry stage, a TEM specimen holder, a micro-sampling manipulator, and a SEM holder exchanger chamber. The SEM stage comprises an x-table, a y-table, a z-table, a rotation table, and a tilt table for moving a specimen. The side entry stage comprises an x-micromotion driver and a yzt-micromotion driver which are disposed in the specimen chamber to oppose each other. The x-micromotion driver is disposed in a hollow area defined in a tilt shaft provided for the tilt table.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming carrier, an image forming portion that forms an image on the image forming carrier, an intermediate transfer medium to which the image on the image forming carrier is primarily transferred, and a transfer portion that secondarily transfers to a recording medium the image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. An area where the image forming carrier and the intermediate transfer medium are opposed includes a primary transfer area where the image on the image forming carrier is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium and a secondary transfer area where the image on the intermediate transfer medium is transferred to the recording medium.

Abstract: A communication system has a master device and a slave device clocked by the system clock generated by the master device for data transfer between them. When no data transfer takes place between them for a predetermined period, the slave device goes into a sleep mode. The slave device in the sleep mode can return to the active mode when it receives a system clock. Thus, the slave device can be placed in the sleep mode and return to the active mode without any additional signal lines. The communication system can save a large amount of power during the sleep.

Abstract: A belt transporting device for circulatingly transporting an endless belt, which is in use with an image forming apparatus, such as copying machine or a printer. The belt transporting device includes a plurality of tension rolls, an endless belt laid on the tension rolls, the endless belt having a belt-end edge part protruding from an end of one of the tension roll and a guide member provided in the vicinity of the endless belt. The guide member comes in contact with the belt-end edge part so as to bend the belt-end edge part in a tapering-off direction. The guide member regulates the shape of the belt-end edge part so that a rotary peripheral length of the belt-end edge part becomes smaller than that of an area where a rear side of the endless belt is in contact with the tension roll.

Abstract: The reduction of cost, size, and weight of an automatic opening and closing system for a vehicle provided with an electromagnetic clutch is achieved. An electromagnetic clutch is provided between a worm gear mechanism in a drive unit and an output shaft connected to a slide door. The electromagnetic clutch has a clutch coil fixed to inside of a worm wheel and an armature attached to the output shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction. Coil ends of the clutch coil are electrically connected to slip rings fixed to the worm wheel, and contacts connected to an electric power source are slidably brought into contact with the slip rings, and electric power is supplied to the clutch coil through these components. By magnetic attraction force generated by the clutch coil in a conducting state, the armature is attracted and engaged with the worm wheel.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an image transporting belt that holds an image directly or indirectly and is laid on a plurality of tension rolls thereby to move circularly, and a sub-unit having a rotary roll that comes into contact with this image transporting belt and is rotationally driven by a drive section, the drive section includes a drive source, and an elastic drive power transmitting member that transmits drive power from the drive source and absorbs difference in peripheral speed produced between the image transporting belt and the rotary roll. The drive section includes a slip transmission member that engages with the elastic drive power transmitting member and slips under a condition over a peripheral speed difference absorbable range of the elastic drive power transmitting member.

Abstract: A focused ion beam system comprises a specimen chamber, a FIB column, a SEM stage, a side entry stage, a TEM specimen holder, a micro-sampling manipulator, and a SEM holder exchanger chamber. The SEM stage comprises an x-table, a y-table, a z-table, a rotation table, and a tilt table for moving a specimen. The side entry stage comprises an x-micromotion driver and a yzt-micromotion driver which are disposed in the specimen chamber to oppose each other. The x-micromotion driver is disposed in a hollow area defined in a tilt shaft provided for the tilt table.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an image transporting belt that holds an image directly or indirectly and is laid on a plurality of tension rolls thereby to move circularly, and a sub-unit having a rotary roll that comes into contact with this image transporting belt and is rotationally driven by a drive section, the drive section includes a drive source, and an elastic drive power transmitting member that transmits drive power from the drive source and absorbs difference in peripheral speed produced between the image transporting belt and the rotary roll. The drive section includes a slip transmission member that engages with the elastic drive power transmitting member and slips under a condition over a peripheral speed difference absorbable range of the elastic drive power transmitting member.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on a photoreceptor 1 onto a recording medium 3 through an intermediate transfer member 2, one of the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer member 2 is formed like a drum, the other of the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer member 2 is formed like a belt, which is wound on a plurality of tension rolls 4, and the following relationship is satisfied: ∑ n = 3 N ⁢ a n < x where an is the contact lengths between the other and the nth tension rolls, respectively and x is contact length between the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer member 2.

Abstract: A belt transporting device for circulatingly transporting an endless belt, which is in use with an image forming apparatus, such as copying machine or a printer. The belt transporting device includes a plurality of tension rolls, an endless belt laid on the tension rolls, the endless belt having a belt-end edge part protruding from an end of one of the tension roll and a guide member provided in the vicinity of the endless belt. The guide member comes in contact with the belt-end edge part so as to bend the belt-end edge part in a tapering-off direction. The guide member regulates the shape of the belt-end edge part so that a rotary peripheral length of the belt-end edge part becomes smaller than that of an area where a rear side of the endless belt is in contact with the tension roll.

Abstract: There are plural subunits having a positional relationship that at least one of the subunits is located at such a position as to obstruct an operation of replacing another. There are provided positioning portions that are provided on the main body frame and position the respective subunits, and a subunit releasing mechanism that moves at least an outside subunit from a positioning and fixing position to a prescribed releasing position or a subunit fixing mechanism that holds the outside subunit at a prescribed releasing position and moves it from the released position to a prescribed, positioning and fixing position. Also provided is an axial movement prohibiting portion that prohibits in advance axial movement of a subunit before it is positioned. Further, a two-direction positioning portion is allowed to position a subunit preferentially over a one-direction positioning portion.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on a photoreceptor 1 onto a recording medium 3 through an intermediate transfer member 2, one of the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer member 2 is formed like a drum, the other of the photoreceptor 1 and the intermediate transfer member 2 is formed like a belt, which is wound on a plurality of tension rolls 4, and the following relationship is satisfied:

Abstract: A communication system has a master device and a slave device clocked by the system clock generated by the master device for data transfer between them. When no data transfer takes place between them for a predetermined period, the slave device goes into a sleep mode. The slave device in the sleep mode can return to the active mode when it receives a system clock. Thus, the slave device can be placed in the sleep mode and return to the active mode without any additional signal lines. The communication system can save a large amount of power during the sleep.