Abstract: A capturing apparatus that captures plural minute objects that float on a fluid, includes a capturing part having plural attraction ports that can attract each object, and an induction part that creates a flow in the fluid used to induce the plural objects to the attraction ports.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is pivotably mounted to a printer. Ink ribbon is accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette and is caused to travel by a ribbon feed roller driven by a drive shaft provided in the printer. Printing operation is carried out at the cassette end arm portion by a printing head, while the cassette end arm portion is reciprocatingly moved in the widthwise direction of the ink ribbon relative to the fixed printing head by an actuating mechanism so that a printing region of the ink ribbon is diffused and becomes wider than a printing width of the printing head. The actuating mechanism includes a small gear integral with the ribbon feed roller, a cam driven by the small gear, and a lever engaging with the cam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical scanning unit used for exposing a photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus to light, and an image forming apparatus using this optical scanning unit. This optical scanning unit comprises a light source; an optical scanning mechanism for scanning with light from the light source; a start detecting mechanism for detecting scan light of the optical scanning mechanism at an end portion of a scanning range of the scan light to detect beginning of light scanning; and a frame which has a higher rigidity than that of a frame of an image forming apparatus and to which the light source, the optical scanning mechanism and the start detecting mechanism are attached.