Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element that has a power generation layer containing an iron-aluminum based magnetic alloy material containing equal to or more than 70 weight percent of iron and aluminum in total. The power generation layer generates an electromotive force, due to an anomalous Nernst effect that develops in the magnetic alloy material in response to a temperature gradient applied thereto, in a direction intersecting both the magnetization direction of the magnetic alloy material and the direction of the applied temperature gradient.

Abstract: A vacuum suction apparatus is equipped with a body having a supply port, and a pad provided on a lower portion of the body to which a workpiece can be attracted under suction. The pad is constituted from a base plate accommodated in a space of the body, a flexible intermediate plate provided on a lower portion of the base plate, and a suction sheet body disposed on a lower portion of the intermediate plate and having a sheet that attracts the workpiece under suction. In addition, the base plate, the intermediate plate and the suction sheet body are stacked along an axial direction of the body. The rigidity of the base plate is highest, whereas the rigidities of the intermediate plate and the suction sheet body are lower in this order, and the flexibilities thereof are greater in this order from the base plate.

Abstract: A vacuum suction apparatus is equipped with a body having a supply port, and a pad provided on a lower portion of the body to which a workpiece can be attracted under suction. The pad is constituted from a base plate accommodated in a space of the body, a flexible intermediate plate provided on a lower portion of the base plate, and a suction sheet body disposed on a lower portion of the intermediate plate and having a sheet that attracts the workpiece under suction. In addition, the base plate, the intermediate plate and the suction sheet body are stacked along an axial direction of the body. The rigidity of the base plate is highest, whereas the rigidities of the intermediate plate and the suction sheet body are lower in this order, and the flexibilities thereof are greater in this order from the base plate.

Abstract: A non-contact transport apparatus comprises a top plate with a supply port for supplying air thereto, a diffuser plate having a plurality of discharge holes for discharging air, and a sheet-shaped nozzle plate interposed between the top plate and the diffuser plate and having a plurality of nozzles therein. The top plate, the nozzle plate and the diffuser plate are stacked and integrally connected to one another through a plurality of connecting bolts. Air is supplied from the supply port and via flow passages to the plurality of nozzles. Air is directed to the outside from the plurality of discharge holes, via radially formed nozzles oriented in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises an actuator body which is a rectangular tube have having two pairs of opposing surfaces disposed in parallel and which has a slit formed to extend by a predetermined length along an edge of the rectangular tube; a slider which reciprocates along the slit of the actuator body by a rotary driving source; the rotary driving source which is connected to one end of the actuator body; and a driving force-transmitting mechanism which converts the rotary driving force of the rotary driving source into the rectilinear motion which is transmitted to the slider.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a driving section driven and rotated by a supplied current, a pump mechanism driven by a driving force supplied from the driving section to suck and discharge pressure oil, and a cylinder mechanism having a piston displaceable by the pressure oil supplied from the pump mechanism. When a pressure of the pressure oil is at or greater than a predetermined value in the cylinder mechanism, a relief valve provided in the pump mechanism is opened to thereby discharge the pressure oil into a pressure oil-charging chamber of the pump mechanism. Pressure within a first or second cylinder chamber of the cylinder mechanism and into which the pressure oil is introduced is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A cable, which includes a plurality of tubes disposed continuously in the height direction, has one end which is fixed to a first cable-connecting section disposed at one end of a body of an electric actuator. The cable has the other end which is connected to a second cable-connecting section connected to a slider which is displaceable along the axis under the driving action of a rotary driving source. The cable is installed substantially horizontally with respect to the body. The dimension in the height direction is large, and the dimension in the thickness direction is small.

Abstract: A non-contact transport apparatus comprises a top plate, which is formed with an air supply hole, an under plate, which is formed with a plurality of air-jetting holes, and a plurality of intermediate plates, which are stacked and interposed between the top plate and the under plate. The intermediate plates are formed with slits therein functioning as nozzles and fluid passages that communicate with the air supply hole and the air-jetting holes. Screw members are provided, which integrally connect the top plate, the plurality of intermediate plates, and the under plate.

Abstract: A cable includes a plurality of tubes formed integrally and continuously in the vertical direction. The cable has one end fixed to a first cable-connecting section disposed at one end of a body of an electric actuator. The cable has the other end connected to a second cable-connecting section connected to a slider which is displaceable along the axis by a rotary driving source. The cable is installed substantially horizontally with respect to the body. The dimension in height is large, and the dimension in thickness is small.

Abstract: A cable includes a plurality of tubes formed integrally and continuously in the vertical direction. The cable has one end fixed to a first cable-connecting section disposed at one end of a body of an electric actuator. The cable has the other end connected to a second cable-connecting section connected to a slider which is displaceable along the axis by a rotary driving source. The cable is installed substantially horizontally with respect to the body. The dimension in height is large, and the dimension in thickness is small.

Abstract: An electric actuator has an air guide which communicates a space via ventilating holes formed through an actuator body. The electric actuator includes a fan unit provided with an impeller for forcibly suctioning the air in the space of the actuator body by a motor. The air suctioned by the fan unit is discharged from a discharge port at an end of the air guide.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises an actuator body which is a rectangular cylinder having two pairs of opposing surfaces disposed in parallel and which has a slit formed to extend by a predetermined length along an edge of the rectangular cylinder; a slider which reciprocates along the slit of the actuator body by a rotary driving source; the rotary driving source which is connected to one end of the actuator body; and a driving force-transmitting mechanism which converts the rotary driving force of the rotary driving source into the rectilinear motion which is transmitted to the slider.

Abstract: A cable, which includes a plurality of tubes disposed continuously in the height direction, has one end which is fixed to a first cable-connecting section disposed at one end of a body of an electric actuator. The cable has the other end which is connected to a second cable-connecting section connected to a slider which is displaceable along the axis under the driving action of a rotary driving source. The cable is installed substantially horizontally with respect to the body. The dimension in the height direction is large, and the dimension in the thickness direction is small.

Abstract: A guide mechanism has a linear guide rail, a guide block displaceable along the linear guide rail, and a roller carrier plate interposed between the linear guide rail and the guide block and having an array of rollers held in line-to-line rolling contact with a side surface of the linear guide rail. The rollers roll in line-to-line rolling contact with the side surface of the linear guide rail, thus reducing resistance to the movement of the guide block along the guide rail and minimizing wear on the rollingly contacting components.