Abstract: A phosphorized copper anode used for electroplating, including: 20-800 ppm of phosphorus; between 0.1 and less than 2 ppm of oxygen, and the balance being high purity copper having a purity of 99.9999% by mass or higher, wherein the average grain size of the copper anode after recrystallization is in the range between about 10 and 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing copper and/or copper alloy ingots having no shrinkage cavities and having smooth surfaces without wrinkles are provided. The apparatus comprises a bottom-casting type melting furnace and a heating furnace for heating a mold in which the molten metal is cast. The method comprises the steps of melting the material of copper and/or copper alloy, and casting the molten copper and/or molten copper alloy into a cylindrical mold which is placed on a cooled pedestal provided at the bottom of the heating furnace and the side wall of which is heated by the heating furnace so as to form a temperature gradient increasing from the bottom to the top of the mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing copper and/or copper alloy ingots having no shrinkage cavities and having smooth surfaces without wrinkles are provided. The apparatus comprises a bottom-casting type melting furnace and a heating furnace for heating a mold in which the molten metal is cast. The method comprises the steps of melting the material of copper and/or copper alloy, and casting the molten copper and/or molten copper alloy into a cylindrical mold which is placed on a cooled pedestal provided at the bottom of the heating furnace and the side wall of which is heated by the heating furnace so as to form a temperature gradient increasing from the bottom to the top of the mold.

Abstract: A phosphorized copper anode used for electroplating, including: 20-800 ppm of phosphorus; between 0.1 and less than 2 ppm of oxygen, and the balance being high purity copper having a purity of 99.9999% by mass or higher, wherein the average grain size of the copper anode after recrystallization is in the range between about 10 and 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A wire for electric railways comprises a copper alloy which consists essentially, by weight percent, of 0.1 to 1.0% Cr, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.05 to 0.15% Sn, and 10 ppm or less O, and if required, further contains 0.01 to 0.1% Si, or 0.01 to 0.1% Si and 0.001 to 0.05% Mg, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A wire for electric railways comprises a copper alloy which consists essentially, by weight percent, of 0.1 to 1.0% Cr, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, and 10 ppm or less O, and if required, further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.1% Si and 0.001 to 0.05% Mg, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities. The wire is manufactured by hot working a copper alloy billet having the above composition, immediately quenching the hot worked billet to prepare an element wire, cold working the element wire at least once, and subjecting the cold worked element wire to aging treatment.

Abstract: A stirrer in the form of a stripe is installed on an inner wall of a cylindrical pot of food stirring apparatus, a width of a scrape-up surface is formed to be narrower from an opening side of the cylindrical pot toward a bottom thereof, and a projection is provided on an outer edge side of the scrape-up surface.In the food stirring and cooking apparatus which rotatably supports the cylindrical pot in which a stirrer is provided on the inner wall thereof, not only rotational operation along the edge of the cylindrical pot but also longitudinal rotational operation from the opening side of the pot to the bottom and from the bottom to the opening side are applied to food so that the food is turned and stirred whereby increasing the food stirring effect.When the cylindrical pot is rotated, the food put into the cylindrical pot moves in the direction reversed to the rotational direction of the pot due to its own weight and is scraped up by the stirrer.

Abstract: A click mechanism for a timepiece winding stem comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves axially spaced along the length of the winding stem, and a detent spring resiliently engageable within respective ones of the grooves to retain the winding stem in the desired axial operating position and enabling manual axial movement of the winding stem between different operating positions with a click action. The detent spring has an elongate portion which extends in side-by-side relationship along the length of the winding stem, and a detent portion connected to the elongate portion for engagement with the winding stem grooves. The thickness of the detent spring is no greater than the thickness of the winding stem and by arranging the two in side-by-side relationship, a thinner timepiece can be formed than would be possible if the detent spring extended above or below the winding stem.

Abstract: A mounting structure for use with an electronic timepiece comprises a quartz crystal unit disposed within an opening formed in a circuit board and arranged so that the major lengthwise axis of the crystal unit lies parallel with the major plane of the circuit board. A connector formed of heat-deformable material connects the crystal unit to the circuit board and has a cup-shaped portion at one end which is clamped over and supports an end portion of the crystal unit, and a mounting stud at the other end which is inserted through a hole in the circuit board and secured thereto by heat-deforming the end tip of the stud which projects beyond the circuit board to form an enlarged head.

Abstract: Switching functions of an electronic timepiece including switching for time amendment, are controlled by a stem which is rotatable and axially movable. When in neutral axial position, the stem is rotatable to display alternatively hours, minutes and seconds or month and date. When pulled out to its outer axial position, the stem is rotatable in one direction to select the time function (hours, minutes, month or date) to be amended and is rotatable in the opposite direction to supply pulses from a dividing circuit to the counter of the selected time function to effect the desired amendment. When pushed in to an inner axial position, the stem actuates which means to illuminate the time display.

Abstract: In a switch mechanism for an electronic timepiece, stationary switch electrodes are fitted in openings provided in a dielectric base plate. Movable contacts on a pivoted switch lever extend into the openings and are normally out of contact with the electrodes. The switch lever is movable by operation of the watch stem to bring one or another of the movable contacts into engagement with the respective electrode and thereby close the circuit, for example for adjusting the hour and minute displays of the timepiece. This construction permits making the timepiece thin.