Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gene which encodes the D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase. A D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase according to the present invention is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 that has one or more modifications selected from a substitution, a deletion, an addition and an insertion and has D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase activity. A D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase gene according to the present invention comprises a nucleotide sequence which encodes the D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase, for example the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a polymer, which process comprises contacting a polymer containing an olefinic unsaturated group with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to hydrogenate the olefinic unsaturated group of the polymer, and recycling at least one part of the hydrogenated polymer for hydrogenation. According to the process of the present invention, there can be provided a polymer having a desirable degree of hydrogenation steadily for a long period.

Abstract: A speed change control system for an automatic transmission, for selectively switching a plurality of speed change control modes of different speed change control contents to control a gear ratio of an automatic transmission disposed on an output side of a prime mover. A first speed change control mode is selected if an output demand for the prime mover is in a predetermined state, and the first speed change control mode is switched to a second speed change control mode, if a physical quantity relating to a speed of the prime mover is in a predetermined state when the first speed change control mode is selected.

Abstract: A speed change control system for an automatic transmission, for selectively switching a plurality of speed change control modes of different speed change control contents to control a gear ratio of an automatic transmission disposed on an output side of a prime mover. A first speed change control mode is selected if an output demand for the prime mover is in a predetermined state, and the first speed change control mode is switched to a second speed change control mode, if a physical quantity relating to a speed of the prime mover is in a predetermined state when the first speed change control mode is selected.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a conjugated diene polymer, which process comprises the steps of: deactivating a conjugated diene polymer which is prepared by using an organic alkali metal compound as a polymerization initiator by adding a deactivator; and contacting the deactivated diene polymer with hydrogen in an inert hydrocarbon solvent to hydrogenate the double bond of the deactivated diene polymer, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out (i) in the presence of a catalyst selected from organometallic compounds represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein the symbols are defined in the specification and (ii) under a condition satisfying the following relationship:-6<(M-Z+Al-Ti)/Ti<2wherein M represents the molar amount of the organic alkali metal compound; Z represents the molar amount of the deactivator; Al represents the molar amount of an organoaluminum compound; and Ti represents the molar amount of an organotitanium compound.

Abstract: A diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing a vehicle automatic transmission system including an automatic transmission having frictional coupling devices, and solenoid-operated valves for controlling the frictional coupling devices to shift the automatic transmission according to shift commands generated by a control device, the apparatus including a speed detector for detecting an engine speed of the vehicle, a device for determining a reference range of the engine speed within which the engine speed is expected to fall when the transmission is placed in a position selected by a shift command, a device for determining whether a predetermined running condition of the vehicle is satisfied, and a defect detector for determining whether there exists a defect associated with the automatic transmission system, depending upon whether the detected engine speed is held within or outside the determined reference range when the predetermined vehicle running condition is satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming system including a containing portion capable of containing a first sheet supporting means for stacking and supporting sheets, extender means for expanding a containing space of the containing portion in a height direction so that a second sheet supporting means having sheet containing ability greater than that of the first sheet supporting means can be contained in the expanded containing space, sheet supply means for feeding out the sheet from the first or second sheet supporting means contained in the containing portion; and image forming means for forming an image on the sheet fed by the sheet supply means. Wherein the extender means includes a plurality of extender members adapted to be arranged at both lateral sides of the sheet supporting means to increase the height of the containing portion, and connecting means for connecting the plurality of extender members.

Abstract: A shape memory polymer resin, consisting essentially of a block copolymer having an A-B-A block structure in the polymer chain, and having a weight average molecular weight within the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000, wherein(a) block A is a polymer block comprising a homopolymer or a copolymer of a vinyl aromatic compound and/or a hydrogenated product thereof;(b) block B is a polymer block comprising a homopolymer or a copolymer of butadiene and/or a hydrogenated product thereof, the content of butadiene and/or the hydrogenated product thereof in block B being at least 80% by weight, and 80 to 91% of the linkages of the butadiene and/or the hydrogenated product thereof being 1,4-linkages;(c) at least 80% by weight of the conjugated diene in the block copolymer being hydrogenated; and(d) the block copolymer comprises 5 to 50% by weight of said block A; and a shape memory resin composition and a shape memorizing molded product thereof.

Abstract: A sheet material separating device has a rotatable conveying member for conveying sheet materials in a predetermined direction, a separating member opposed to the rotatable conveying member and prohibiting passage of the sheet materials other than the sheet material which is in direct contact with the rotatable conveying member and conveyed thereby, and a support member for supporting the separating member so that the position of contact between the rotatable conveying member and the separating member is changeable in the direction of conveyance of the sheet materials.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises first and second image recording units for respectively recording images on a recording medium. Each of the first and second recording units includes a generator for generating a horizontal synchronization signal. A transport unit transports the recording medium between the first and second recording units and first and second control units control the first and second recording units. Similarly, a third control unit controls the transport unit. A master control unit controls the first, second, and third control units according to the external inputs to the apparatus. More particularly, the master control unit includes a selector for selecting one of the horizontal synchronization signals generated by one of the generators included in the first and second recording units in response to an external input for selection of the recording units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an improved construction, which comprises a viewable image forming medium to form a viewable image on a recording sheet; storage members for accommodating a plurality of sheets of the recording material; processing device for forming an image onto the recording sheet fed from the storage member by use of the viewable image forming medium; and control device for enabling the image forming operation to be continued until the storage members are dismounted from the apparatus, even though the viewable image forming medium falls short.

Abstract: A copying apparatus has a device for transporting copy material along a path, a device for detecting copy material along the path, first and second modes in which first and second timing signals are produced, respectively, and a jam detector, responsive to the absence of a detection by the detection device prior to the first or second timing signal, for producing an output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising a light source for illuminating an original, a photosensor receiving a reflected light from the original when it is illuminated by the light source, and a cover for covering the back face of the original and having a specular reflection surface opposed to the light source, the photosensor being so disposed that it receives a light scatteredly reflected by the original but not a light specularly reflected by the specular reflection surface of the covering.

Abstract: This specification discloses a multi-function image recording apparatus which is capable of selecting various functions such as high-speed recording, both-side recording and multiplex recording and recording images.

Abstract: A copying apparatus provides that the magnification of a copy image of an original is reduced correspondingly to the width of a binding margin, so that when the formation of the binding margin on one edge portion of a transfer medium has been instructed, a part of the copy image does not extend beyond the other edge portion of the transfer medium, that is, all the area of the original is copied on an area of the transfer medium other than the binding margin.

Abstract: A device for feeding, sheet by sheet, a plurality of stacked sheets of paper cut in a predetermined size into an image forming apparatus such as, for example, a reproduction apparatus, a printing machine, and so forth, which is constructed with a stacking table to receive thereon a plurality of sheets of paper cut in size, pawls for separating the stacked sheets cut in size and mounted on the stacking table, feeding device to feed the cut sheet stacked on the stacking table, and a warp regulating member provided on a fixed member to regulate warping of the cut sheet by contacting thereto when such warping is formed in the sheet between the feeding device and the separation pawls.

Abstract: In a copying device for forming a latent image on a rotatable image bearing member, such member has a portion which is not used for image formation. The latent image is developed into a toner image on the rotatable member, and a cleaning device is provided for cleaning the rotatable member to permit its reuse. An improvement is provided wherein a device detects the rotational disposition of the image bearing member, and positions the portion of such member which is not used for image formation in alignment with the cleaning device when the rotatable member is stopped.

Abstract: A copying apparatus has an original document base which reciprocates along a scanning path for slit exposure of an original. The image of the original is formed on a photosensitive drum and is then transferred onto a copy sheet. Copy sheets are fed in response to a switch which is provided along the scanning path and is actuated by movement of the original document base in the scanning direction. Another switch is provided to prevent feeding of a copy sheet during movement of the base in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A sheet member conveying device has a reception port for receiving a sheet member from a previous step, a discharge port for feeding the sheet member to the next step, first conveying means provided near the reception port, second conveying means provided near the discharge port, and sheet member abnormal conveyance detecting means provided near the discharge port to stop the second conveying means when abnormal conveyance of the sheet member has been detected and to continue the operation of the first conveying means for a predetermined time thereafter.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes device for reciprocally driving an original scanning device having a drive source movable in a predetermined direction, a movement converting device for converting the movement of the drive source into a reciprocal movement in which the time required for backward movement is shorter than the time required for forward movement, output device connected to the movement converting device to put out a reciprocal movement for driving the scanning device, and speed control device for controlling the speed of the forward movement of the movable member so as not to exceed a predetermined speed.