Abstract: An endoscope having a pipe connection structure includes a pipe of a corrosion-resistant alloy material and a piping block of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole, the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole in the piping block, and an axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

Abstract: An endoscope having a pipe connection structure includes a pipe of a corrosion-resistant alloy material and a piping block of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole, the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole in the piping block, and an axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe connection structure for an endoscope is provided with a pipe made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, and a piping block made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material, the piping block having a pipe insertion hole. An end of the pipe is fitted in the pipe insertion hole and the pipe and the piping block are connected by welding by irradiating a laser beam on the entire circumference of an area where the end of the pipe is fitted in the hole formed on the piping block. An axial length of the pipe inserted in the pipe insertion hole is in a range of 0.5 to 2 times a wall thickness of the pipe.

Abstract: An instrument lifting operation device including: an operation wire drawing mechanism configured to draw an proximal end of an operation wire connected to an instrument lifting piece; and a braking mechanism configured to restrict movement of the operation wire toward the tip side, wherein the braking mechanism includes: a fixed wall; and a spring arranged to be able to rotate about an axis together with an instrument lifting operation member in a state where the spring is elastically pressed against an inner circumferential surface of the fixed wall. When the instrument lifting operation member is operated to rotate about the axis, the wire coupling member rotates about the axis and the operation wire moves forward and backward in a state where the spring contacts and slides on the inner circumferential surface of the fixed wall to generate frictional resistance at a contacting part.

Abstract: In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.

Abstract: A bendable portion control device for an endoscope including a control portion and an insertion portion extending therefrom, the insertion portion having a bendable portion at a distal end thereof, the bendable portion control device includes a control wire fixed thereto and extending to the control portion through the insertion portion; a control knob disposed on the control portion; an operating force transmission mechanism having a pair of relatively rotatable members connected to the control knob and a proximal end of the control wire, respectively; and a torque limiting mechanism for allowing torque to be transmitted to the bendable portion via the control wire when the torque is equal to or less than a predetermined torque, and for preventing the torque from being transmitted to the bendable portion via the control wire by disengaging the relatively rotatable members from each other when exceeding the predetermined torque.

Abstract: In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.

Abstract: A rotatable operation device for an endoscope includes a fixed shaft projected outward from an operating portion, a cylindrical shaft projected from a rotatable operating member. The cylindrical shaft is rotatably fitted on the fixed shaft, and an end side surface of the cylindrical shaft contacts a fixed surface defined inside the operating portion. An internal space of the operating portion and an internal space of the rotatable operating member are airtight against outside. The rotatable operation device is configured to have an air passage which is formed in the cylindrical rotary shaft, a space at a fitted portion between the fixed shaft and the cylindrical rotary shaft communicating with the inside space of the operating portion through the air passage with the end side surface and the fixed surface remaining contacted.

Abstract: A connection mechanism is provided with a plate member formed with a polygonal hole, the plate member including a first plate and a second plate overlaid with each other, each of the first plate and the second plate being formed with the polygonal hole, a shaft member formed with a polygonal column section fitted in the polygonal hole formed on the plate member, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the first plate and the second plate with each other to retain a status where the first plate and the second plate are urged oppositely in a rotational direction about a central axis of the shaft member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus calculates the amount of staying toner based on the amount of drive of the developer roller and the amount of toner consumed for a print job performed. When the amount of staying toner exceeds a threshold, the toner is discharged. The threshold used upon completion of image stabilization is larger than that used upon completion of a print job. Even when performing image stabilization temporarily increases the amount of staying toner in the developing device, immediate toner discharge based on that condition is prevented. Thus, toner consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a rotatable member formed with a connection hole in which a shaft member is rotatably fitted. A thrust stopper is arranged at the distal end of the shaft member to prevent the rotatable member from being removed from the shaft member. The shaft member has an outer-screw at the distal end portion thereof, and the thrust stopper has an inner-screw opening extending along an axial direction of the thrust stopper. The outer-screw of the distal end portion of the shaft member engages with the inner-screw opening. The thrust stopper has a through opening formed with an inner-screw with which a fixing screw engages. The tip end of the fixing screw engages with the distal end of the shaft member to secure fixation between the thrust stopper and the shaft member.

Abstract: In a printer, three toner patches are primary-transferred successively to an intermediate transfer belt. Here, after the first toner patch passes through a belt cleaner and before the second toner patch reaches the belt cleaner, and after the second toner patch passes through the belt cleaner and before the third patch reaches the belt cleaner, the belt cleaner is operated to change the state of contact to the intermediate transfer belt to a different state. A density sensor detects density of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt, and presence/absence of the toner patch is detected. When presence/absence of the first to third patches is detected alternately, it is determined that the belt cleaner is performing the operation described above.

Abstract: A method for connecting pipe members for an endoscope includes the steps of arranging two pipe members each made of a corrosion-resistant alloy material by fitting one in another so that a passage is defined through the two pipe members, jetting inert gas toward an exterior of an area at which the two pipe members are to be connected, injecting inert gas through the passage defined through the two pipe members, and connecting the two pipes by laser welding such that a laser beam is irradiated toward the exterior of the area at which the two pipe members are to be connected with jetting the inert gas toward the exterior of the area at which the two pipe members are to be connected and injecting the inert gas through the passage defined by through the two pipe members.

Abstract: An instrument lifting operation device including: an operation wire drawing mechanism configured to draw an proximal end of an operation wire connected to an instrument lifting piece; and a braking mechanism configured to restrict movement of the operation wire toward the tip side, wherein the braking mechanism includes: a fixed wall; and a spring arranged to be able to rotate about an axis together with an instrument lifting operation member in a state where the spring is elastically pressed against an inner circumferential surface of the fixed wall. When the instrument lifting operation member is operated to rotate about the axis, the wire coupling member rotates about the axis and the operation wire moves forward and backward in a state where the spring contacts and slides on the inner circumferential surface of the fixed wall to generate frictional resistance at a contacting part.

Abstract: A connection mechanism is provided with a shaft member formed with an outer-screw portion which is formed with an outer screw, a plate member formed with a connection hole in which the shaft member is fitted, a nut member formed with an inner-screw to engage with the outer-screw of the shaft member, the nut member engaged with the shaft member being urged toward the plate member fitted on the shaft member to fixedly secure the plate member onto the shaft member, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the plate member and the nut member with each other to retain a status where the plate member and the nut member are urged oppositely in a rotational direction about a central axis of the shaft member.

Abstract: A bendable portion control mechanism of an endoscope including a control portion and an insertion portion, includes two manually-rotatable control knobs, one of which being provided on top of the other and disposed coaxially with each other, for bending the bendable portion in two orthogonal directions, each of the control knobs including a water-sealed internal space; and two bent state holding mechanisms, provided in the two water-sealed internal spaces, respectively, for holding a bent state of the bendable portion in the two orthogonal directions by exerting frictional resistance on rotating operations of the two control knobs. The two control knobs detach from and attach to the control portion without interfering with the two bent state holding mechanisms so that it is possible to adjust operational characteristics of each of the two bent state holding mechanisms upon detaching the two control knobs, respectively.

Abstract: A bent state holding mechanism for an endoscope which includes a control portion and an insertion portion extending therefrom, the insertion portion having a bendable portion at a distal end thereof, including a bendable portion control mechanism provided on the control portion, which is operated to bend the bendable portion, and at least two frictional resistance producing members which rotate relative to each other upon operation of the bendable portion control mechanism, to exert a frictional resistance for holding the bendable portion at any operated position. The two frictional resistance producing members include a radial plate spring made of resilient metal which includes a ring portion and a plurality of radial projections which project radially outwards from the ring portion; and an annular friction member having a pressure surface which is brought to be pressed obliquely against flat surfaces of the plurality of radial projections.

Abstract: A bent state holding mechanism of an endoscope including a bending mechanism having a rotatable bending member, includes a bent state holding member for switching between a bent-state holding state and a bendable-portion free state; and a click mechanism for providing a tactile feel to the bent state holding member when rotated to the bent-state holding state and/or when rotated to the bendable-portion free state. The click mechanism includes a click leaf spring having a protrusion formed therein, and a click projection projecting toward a surface of the click leaf spring, one of the click leaf spring and the click projection being configured to rotate together with the bent state holding member upon rotation thereof. Rotating the bent state holding member causes the click projection to abut against the protrusion and ride over the protrusion with a click action while resiliently deforming the click leaf spring.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus calculates the amount of staying toner based on the amount of drive of the developer roller and the amount of toner consumed for a print job performed. When the amount of staying toner exceeds a threshold, the toner is discharged. The threshold used upon completion of image stabilization is larger than that used upon completion of a print job. Even when performing image stabilization temporarily increases the amount of staying toner in the developing device, immediate toner discharge based on that condition is prevented. Thus, toner consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: In a printer, three toner patches are primary-transferred successively to an intermediate transfer belt. Here, after the first toner patch passes through a belt cleaner and before the second toner patch reaches the belt cleaner, and after the second toner patch passes through the belt cleaner and before the third patch reaches the belt cleaner, the belt cleaner is operated to change the state of contact to the intermediate transfer belt to a different state. A density sensor detects density of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt, and presence/absence of the toner patch is detected. When presence/absence of the first to third patches is detected alternately, it is determined that the belt cleaner is performing the operation described above.