Abstract: A photosensitive drum includes a cylindrical core which may be fixedly mounted on a rotating shaft and which is comprised of an elastic material and an outer sleeve which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core and which includes a supporting layer and a photosensitive layer formed on the supporting layer. A combination of the elastic core and the outer sleeve is constructed such that the drum only deforms locally at a point where an external force is applied and its immediate vicinity while maintaining the other portion virtually unchanged. In one form, the outer sleeve is fixedly mounted on the core, and, in another form, the outer sleeve is detachably mounted on the core. In the latter case, it is so structured that no relative movement takes place between the core and the outer sleeve even if external forces are applied to the drum.

Abstract: An articulated industrial robot comprising a supporting post mounted on a base; a forearm provided at its end with a wrist having at least one degree of freedom; a pair of upper arms pivotally connected at their one ends to the supporting post and at their other ends to the forearm, the upper arms being disposed in parallel with each other at both sides of the supporting post and the forearm; an upper arm rotary driving source mounted in the supporting post; an upper arm connecting mechanism for connecting the output of the upper arm rotary driving source to the upper arm through a reduction gear; a forearm rotary driving source mounted on one of the upper arms; a forearm connecting mechanism for connecting the output of the forearm rotary driving source to the forearm through a reduction gear; a wrist posture controlling rotary driving source provided on the other upper arm or on the supporting post; and a wrist posture controlling connecting mechanism for connecting the output of the wrist posture controlli

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing carbon fibers from a pitch by melt-spinning the pitch, infusibilizing the pitch fibers with a mixture of air and a gaseous oxidizing agent in an infusibilizing furnace divided into at least two chambers arranged in series under the condition of a velocity of the circulation gas in a specified range and then carbonizing the thus treated pitch fibers into carbon fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing carbon fibers from a pitch by treating the pitch fibers spun from a pitch with a gaseous mixture of air and a gaseous oxidizing agent in an infusibilizing furnace divided into at least two chambers arranged in series and then carbonizing the thus treated pitch fibers into carbon fibers.