Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of light sources emitting beams of light, a photoconductor, a scanner for reflecting the beams of light emitted by the light sources to scan the photoconductor periodically, a light detector for receiving the beams of light from the scanner to determine a beam pitch between the beams of light, the light detector being provided in a part of an optical path between the scanner and the photoconductor, a beam shifter for shifting the beams of light incident on the scanner from the light sources, and a controller for operating the beam shifter so that the beam pitch determined by the light detector becomes a predetermined value.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus includes an optical scanning unit for emitting upward a scanning light beam to be used to optically read information on an article; and a supporting mechanism for supporting the optical scanning unit so that the optical scanning unit is maintained in a space over a surface of a counter in a state where a distance between the optical scanning unit and the surface of the counter is a predetermined length.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus includes an optical scanning unit for emitting upward a scanning light beam to be used to optically read information on an article; and a supporting mechanism for supporting the optical scanning unit so that the optical scanning unit is maintained in a space over a surface of a counter in a state where a distance between the optical scanning unit and the surface of the counter is a predetermined length.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus includes an optical scanning unit for emitting upward a scanning light beam to be used to optically read information on an article; and a supporting mechanism for supporting the optical scanning unit so that the optical scanning unit is maintained in a space over a surface of a counter in a state where a distance between the optical scanning unit and the surface of the counter is a predetermined length.

Abstract: Units having a beam-scanning function, and a light-receiving function and a photoelectric-conversion function are separated from the main-body of a stationary-type bar code reader as a separable unit. The separable unit is detachably mounted on the main-body unit. The separable unit is mounted on the main-body unit for use as a stationary-type reader when a product on which a bar code is printed is relatively small and light. When a product is large or heavy, the separable unit is separated from the main-body unit for use as a hand-held reader. This improves the operability of the bar code reader and eliminates the need to equip a stationary bar code reader and a hand-held bar code reader separately.

Abstract: A compact type bar code reader for detecting a bar code symbol provided on a surface of an article. The bar code reader includes a laser beam generation unit for generating the laser beam to be irradiated onto a bar code symbol, and a focus unit for determining a focus of the laser beam, and a scanning pattern forming unit for forming various scanning patterns of the laser beam. The bar code reader also includes a light reflection unit for reflecting the laser beam to and from the bar code symbol, a light collection unit for collecting the laser beam reflected from the bar code symbol, and a light reception unit for receiving the laser beam collected by the light collection unit, and converting it to an electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical beam scanner, for reading a bar-code, which comprises a housing (10) accommodating therein a beam generator (1) for projecting a laser beam (34) along a fixed axis, a rotary mirror (30, 40) rotatable about its axis (32) and having a plurality of reflection surfaces (30a, 30b) arranged in a polygonal manner on the periphery of a body thereof, which surfaces receive and reflect the laser beam (34) projected from the beam generator (1), and a unit for driving the rotary mirror (30) to rotate at a predetermined speed during the operation.

Abstract: A linear motor car system including a horizontal conveyance path, a vertical conveyance path, and a curved conveyance path connected between the horizontal and vertical conveyance paths. A controller in the linear motor car system drives a carrier so that the cariier can ascend smoothly up the curved and vertical conveyance paths with the minimum driving energy and without accidentally falling back down the vertical path.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed wherein coded bars are scanned by a laser beam to effect reading of a bar code of the coded bars. The optical scanner includes a rotary polygon mirror having a plurality of reflecting portions provided thereon around an axis of rotation thereof for reflecting a laser beam from a light source toward coded bars. Each reflecting portion of the rotary polygon mirror has a plurality of reflecting faces having different inclination angles from each other with respect to the axis of rotation such that an inclination angle of a line of intersection between adjacent reflecting faces of each reflecting portion with respect to the axis of rotation is different from an inclination angle of a line of intersection between adjacent reflecting faces of each of adjacent ones of the reflecting portions on the opposite sides of the reflecting portion with respect to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A transport control system with linear motor drive applicable for cash transport in a bank. The system uses a main controller, a rail-path, a carrier adapted to be driven along the rail-path by linear motor drive, and a plurality of stator portions coupled to the rail-path to produce a driving force in association with the carrier. Each of the stator portions includes a stator controller for controlling the driving of the carrier. The stator controller controls the driving of the carrier passing the stator portion to which the stator controller belongs to cause the carrier to reach a destination stator portion.

Abstract: A linear motor car system including a horizontal conveyance path, a vertical conveyance path, and a curved conveyance path connected between the horizontal and vertical conveyance paths. A controller in the linear motor car system drives a carrier so that the carrier can ascend smoothly up the curved and vertical conveyance paths with the minimum driving energy and without accidentally falling back down the vertical path.

Abstract: A transport control system with linear motor drive applicable for cash transport in a bank. The system uses a main controller, a rail-path, a carrier adapted to be driven along the rail-path by linear motor drive, and a plurality of stator portions coupled to the rail-path to produce a driving force in association with the carrier. Each of the stator portions includes a stator controller for controlling the driving of the carrier. The stator controller controls the driving of the carrier passing the stator portion to which the stator controller belongs to cause the carrier to reach a destination stator portion.