Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, an irradiation unit, a carriage, and a moving unit. The liquid discharge head discharges a liquid including a metallic ink and a color ink onto a recording medium. The irradiation unit irradiates the liquid on the recording medium with light. The liquid discharge head and the irradiation unit are mounted on the carriage. The moving unit perform a main scanning movement and a sub-scanning movement. The liquid discharge head discharges the metallic ink in a region of the recording medium in the main scanning movement and discharges the color ink in the region in which the metallic ink has been discharged, in the same main scanning movement in which the metallic ink is discharged. The irradiation unit irradiates the region in which the metallic ink and the color ink have been discharged, with the light in the same main scanning movement.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for collecting earth excavated upon rotation of a cutter disk includes a non-pressurized chamber behind the cutter disk for collecting earth excavated by the cutter disk and discharging the earth with a carrying fluid. The machine includes a first open tank arranged in the non-pressurized chamber which serves as a vessel for containing the carrying fluid as well as a hopper for collecting excavated earth. Carrying fluid supply apparatus is provided for supplying the carrying fluid to the first open tank and suction/discharge apparatus is provided for sucking and discharging the carrying fluid supply to the first open tank rearwardly together with the collected earth. Water level control apparatus provided for monitoring a water level of a carrying fluid in the first open tank and keeping the water level between a minimum water level and a maximum water level.

Abstract: A composite-material structure of T-shaped cross section has a horizontal plate and an integral vertical web. The vertical web is formed between opposite forming faces of die members, and the horizontal plate is formed between the die members and a horizontal pressing plate positioned above or below the die members. In order to urge the die members against each other for forming, wedges are provided. The die members, pressing plate and wedges are placed between a lower stationary part and an upper movable part of a pressing machine. When the movable part descends towards the stationary part, the wedges exert forces to the die members to urge the members toward each other due to a wedge action, and the pressing plate is vertically urged against the die members.

Abstract: In a control system for synchronous rotation of the cutter heads in a multi-cutter shield machine, the rotation cutter heads are so disposed in generally the same plane such that the distance between the centers of the adjoining cutter heads is larger than the radius, and smaller than the diameter, of the cutter heads. The rotating cutter heads are driven independently of each other by electric drive systems, respectively. Each of the electric drive systems consists of plural motors with a reduction gear, coupled to the respective rotating cutter heads by means of a pinion and gear. The motor rotation is so controlled and the cutter heads are so synchronously rotated, that the angle of deviation between the cutter heads is within such an allowable range that the cutter heads will not interfere with each other even if there is any imbalance in excavating and rotating resistances between the cutter heads.

Abstract: An alternating current generator includes a frame, a rotation shaft, a slip ring attached to the rotation shaft, a brush in contact with the slip ring, and a brush holder secured to the frame. The brush holder includes a brush-guiding portion and a cover portion. The brush-guiding portion of the brush holder has a hollow slidably receiving the brush for movement in a radial direction with respect to the rotation shaft. The cover portion of the brush holder encloses that portion of the rotation shaft whee the slip ring is attached so that the slip ring is protected from outside dust and splash. This cover portion is integrally formed with the brush-guiding portion in such a manner that neither a clearance nor a mating surface is produced between the cover portion and the brush-guiding portion.

Abstract: A vehicle generator is arranged so as to avoid battery overcharging and damage to electronic components caused by short-circuiting of the rotor coil. The rotor coil is wound around the coil bobbin such that the initial winding end of the rotor coil is connected with the regulator, while the final winding end of the rotor coil is connected directly with the battery. Tie parts formed on the edge of the coil bobbin and lug ends formed on the slip ring assembly are correspondingly distinguishably formed, to ensure proper connection of the initial and final winding ends of the rotor coil.

Abstract: A vibration generating apparatus including a support body having a first center axis, a first spherical joint element provided at a forward end of the support body and having the center of a sphere located on the first center axis, a vibrating body having a second center axis passing through the sphere center, a second spherical joint element provided on the vibrating body and concentric complementary with the first spherical joint element to cooperate therewith to allow the vibrating body to be supported on the support member for universal movement, a rotary shaft coaxially rotatably supported within the vibrating body, a pair of eccentric weights mounted on the rotary shaft with a phase deviation of 180 degrees and in a manner symmetrical with respect to the sphere center, and a drive motor connected to the rotary shaft for driving same for rotation whereby the pair of eccentric weights are rotated about the second center axis to cause the vibrating body to move in conical motion vibration such that the sec

Abstract: A pipe laying apparatus having an excavator for performing excavation in the earth to form a substantially horizontally extending hole, with the excavator having connected to its trailing end a leading end of at least one underground pipe at least partially located in the horizontally extending hole, an injector for injecting a viscosity imparting liquid into the earth in which excavation is being performed by the excavator to produce viscosity imparting liquid containing soil particles. A propelling device positioned against a trailing end of the pipe and is located in a starting pit. The viscosity imparting liquid containing soil particles produced by the excavator and injector are conveyed rearwardly of the excavator past an outer periphery thereof and filled in an annular gap defined between the horizontally extending hole and the pipe while the excavator and pipe are advanced by the propelling device.

Abstract: A pipe laying apparatus including an excavator propulsion unit located in a starting pit. The excavator includes an excavator body having a first axis, an excavating tool having a second axis and located at a forward end portion of the excavator body, and injection ports formed in the excavating tool for injecting a viscosity imparting liquid into soil as excavated.