Abstract: A wafer retainer includes: a foam layer capable of adsorbing a wafer on a surface thereof in a detachable manner; a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back face of the foam layer; a support formed on a back face of the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back face of the support for adhering to a base plate of a polishing machine; and a release sheet releasably attached to the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition contains a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a side-chain crystallizable polymer so that the side-chain crystallizable polymer is present in an amount of about 1% to about 30% by weight based on the adhesive composition.

Abstract: An adhesive tape for temporary attachment of green sheets for a ceramic electronic device includes a substrate film and an adhesive layer provided on at least one face of the substrate film. The adhesive layer is composed of an adhesive composition, the adhesive composition containing a side-chain crystallizable polymer, wherein the side-chain crystallizable polymer contains as a component an acrylic acid alkyl ester and/or a methacrylic acid alkyl ester which has a straight-chain alkyl group including 16 or more carbon atoms as a side chain, the side-chain crystallizable polymer having a first-order melting transition occurring in a temperature range narrower than about 35° C., and wherein the adhesive layer has a modulus of elasticity of about 5×104 Pa to about 1×108 Pa.

Abstract: A polishing cloth includes: a polishing cloth substrate; a first-pressure adhesive layer formed on a back face of the polishing cloth substrate; as support formed on a back face of the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back face of the support; and a release sheet releasably attached to the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition contains a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a side-chain crystallizable polymer so that the side-china crystallizable polymer is present in an amount of about 1% to about 30% by weight based on the adhesive composition. The side-chain crystallizable polymer includes as a main component thereof an acrylic acid ester and/or methacrylic acid ester which has a straight-chain alkyl group including 16 or more carbon atoms as a side chain.

Abstract: A thin membrane for measuring protease activity, which is formed on a support and, which comprises one or more kinds of substances selected from the group consisting of a transferrin derivative and an albumin derivative and is crosslinked and/or substantially water-insoluble. The membrane enables selective measurement of protease activity of a particular class of protease such as matrix metalloproteinase 7.

Abstract: A workpiece sucking device comprises a buffering mechanism for absorbing shock generated when a workpiece is engaged/disengaged. The buffering mechanism includes a linear rail member which is fixed to a body and a slider which makes sliding movement along the rail member. A workpiece is prevented from rotating by an engagement of the slider with the rail member.

Abstract: A commutator assembly for a motor has a recessed portion formed to each commutator segment so that coils, which are pressed and deformed by bending the hooks of commutator segments, can be accommodated in the recessed portion. With this arrangement, the commutator assembly can improve the reliability of electric connection of the hook of the commutator segments with a conductive wire.

Abstract: A skirt section has a plurality of substantially elliptic projections and a recessed portion formed on an attracting surface thereof. The skirt section is separated from each other by predetermined spacing distances along a circumferential direction of the skirt section on concentric circles. The recessed portion enables a fluid under the negative pressure to be supplied to the entire attracting surface except for the projections. Even if oil film or water droplet adheres to an attracted surface of a workpiece, the workpiece can reliably be attracted without causing a slip.

Abstract: A suction pad for attracting a workpiece having an opening at is central portion (for example, CD-R) comprises a holding section having engaging members formed in an integrated manner, and an attracting section for attracting the workpiece, wherein the attracting section includes support members which are defined therein with chambers and aspiration holes communicating with the chambers and which are provided with expansion and contraction mechanisms, and an annular attracting member having a groove which is formed on an attracting surface for attracting the workpiece, the aspiration holes communicate with the groove, and the holding section and the attracting section are integrated into one unit by the aid of disengagement-preventive mechanisms.

Abstract: A skirt section has a plurality of substantially elliptic projections and a recessed portion formed on an attracting surface thereof. The skirt section is separated from each other by predetermined spacing distances along a circumferential direction of the skirt section on concentric circles. The recessed portion enables a fluid under the negative pressure to be supplied to the entire attracting surface except for the projections. Even if oil film or water droplet adheres to an attracted surface of a workpiece, the workpiece can reliably be attracted without causing a slip.

Abstract: A suction apparatus includes an opening/closing valve for supplying a negative pressure fluid to a pad section when one end of a valve rod abuts against a workpiece to make a change from a valve-closed state into a valve-opened state, and a lead switch for detecting that the opening/closing valve is changed from the valve-closed state into the valve-opened state. Once the lead switch is in the ON state, it is possible to detect that the workpiece is certainly attracted by the pad section.

Abstract: A workpiece attracting device for attracting a workpiece having a curved surface has planar first and second housings securely coupled to each other by fasteners, and a suction pad made of a synthetic resin material and having a flange sandwiched between the first and second housings, and a bellows disposed in a hole defined in one of the first and second housings, the bellows being elastically deformable against the curved surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A suction pad comprises a workpiece attracting section made of a metallic material and brought to contact with a surface of a workpiece; a main body made of a flexible material and integrally coupled to the workpiece attracting section; an adapter made of a metallic material and attached to the main body; and a spring member made of a metallic material with one end thereof connected to the workpiece attracting section and the other end thereof connected to the adapter. A rotation-stop and guide mechanism for a suction pad comprises a spline shaft having splines and coupled to the suction pad, a cylindrical member externally fitted to the spline shaft and displaceable along the spline shaft, and a plurality of balls arranged between the cylindrical member and the spline shaft, the balls forming a rotation-stop in cooperation with the splines that stops the rotation of the cylindrical member against the spline shaft, rolling upon displacement of the cylindrical member along the spline shaft.

Abstract: A suction pad comprises a workpiece attracting section made of a metallic material and brought to contact with a surface of a workpiece; a main body made of a flexible material and integrally coupled to the workpiece attracting section; an adapter made of a metallic material and attached to the main body; and a spring member made of a metallic material with one end thereof connected to the workpiece attracting section and the other end thereof connected to the adapter. A rotation-stop and guide mechanism for a suction pad comprises a spline shaft having splines and coupled to the suction pad, a cylindrical member externally fitted to the spline shaft and displaceable along the spline shaft, and a plurality of balls arranged between the cylindrical member and the spline shaft, the balls forming a rotation-stop in cooperation with the splines that stops the rotation of the cylindrical member against the spline shaft, rolling upon displacement of the cylindrical member along the spline shaft.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus comprises a gel sheet device composed of spacers disposed between two films at side edges thereof, a gel membrane provided within a space formed between the two films by the spacers, and sample-pouring portions provided near an upper edge of the gel membrane. Two supporting members hold the gel sheet device therebetween, and a gap-forming member contacts edges of at least one surface of the gel sheet device. Each sample-pouring portion is adapted to sample pouring into a space formed by the films, a shark's teeth comb, and the upper edge face of the gel membrane. The gap-forming member remote from an upper buffer solution vessel is provided such that an inner edge of a gap-forming member portion contacting the upper portion of the gel sheet device coincides with the upper edge face of the gel membrane, or the extent of overlapping of the gap-forming member portion upon the gel membrane is 5 mm or less.

Abstract: An apparatus for conducting electrophoresis is fabricated by use of an electrophoresis sheet composed of two sheet members consisting of a non-conductive organic polymer film and disposed to stand facing each other, spacers having predetermined thicknesses disposed between the two sheet members at right and left edge portions, and an electrophoresis gel membrane of a uniform thickness grasped between the two sheet members. The apparatus is provided with a pair of flat plate-like supporting members for supporting the electrophoresis sheet by sandwiching it therebetween, and a spacer disposed between the electrophoresis sheet and at least one of the flat plate-like supporting members, and contacting edge portions of the electrophoresis sheet.