Abstract: In a tumbler and the like, polypropylene pellets are blended with 1 to 5 wt. % of carbon nanotubes, 10 to 30 wt % of fly ash, 10 to 20 wt % of talc and 0.3 to 1 wt % of a modifier, the resulting blend is extruded from a screw extruder while heating the blend to a melting temperature of about 160 to 260° C., to generate a strand. This strand is cooled and cut into pellets having a predetermined length. Owing to blending with fly ash, talc and a modifier, an inexpensive lightweight electroconductive thermoplastic resin excellent in dust-proofness, heat resistance and recyclability is obtained, even if the blending amount of carbon nanotubes is small.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes at least one element portion including a base, a diffraction grating, a substrate, and an intermediate layer. The base and the diffraction grating are disposed above the substrate through the intermediate layer, and are formed of a same material. An extinction coefficient for the d-line of the material of the diffraction grating and an extinction coefficient for the d-line of a material of the intermediate layer are properly set to satisfied conditional expressions.

Abstract: A particle separation apparatus includes a base, a disc-shaped container rotatable on the base at a constant speed and a suspension supply tank for separating in the container particles contained in a suspension supplied from the tank according to specific gravities or particle diameters of the particles. The container includes a plurality of centrifugation vessels disposed around a rotation axis and in a circumferential direction of the container, particle supply cylinders disposed at a center of the container for discharging the particles in the suspension toward the vessels and a lid, and has a structure controllable in rotational speed to adjust a distance of relative movement in a rotation direction between large-gravity particles and small-gravity particles. The vessels are individually in a form of dents independent of one another and are each formed of an inner circumferential wall and a bottom wall.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes multiple diffraction gratings laminated and made of at least three material types, wherein the multiple diffraction gratings include: a first combination part including two diffraction gratings of materials different from each other in which grating side surfaces of grating parts contact with each other or are disposed close to each other in a grating pitch direction; and a second combination part including two diffraction gratings of materials different from each other in which at least one material is different from the materials of the first combination part; and when N1Aw and N1Bw denote refractive indices of the first combination part at a wavelength (w), ?1A and ?1B denote Abbe numbers, N2Ad and N2Bd denote refractive indices of the second combination part on a d-line, ?2A and ?2B denote Abbe numbers, the wavelength (w) is 370<w<730 (nm). The followings are satisfied: N1Aw?N1Bw=0; 16<(?1A??1B)<75; 0.03<|N2Ad?N2Bd|<0.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes at least one element portion including a base, a diffraction grating, a substrate, and an intermediate layer. The base and the diffraction grating are disposed above the substrate through the intermediate layer, and are formed of a same material. An extinction coefficient for the d-line of the material of the diffraction grating and an extinction coefficient for the d-line of a material of the intermediate layer are properly set to satisfied conditional expressions.

Abstract: A particle separation apparatus includes a base, a disc-shaped container rotatable on the base at a constant speed and a suspension supply tank for separating in the container particles contained in a suspension supplied from the tank according to specific gravities or particle diameters of the particles. The container includes a plurality of centrifugation vessels disposed around a rotation axis and in a circumferential direction of the container, particle supply cylinders disposed at a center of the container for discharging the particles in the suspension toward the vessels and a lid, and has a structure controllable in rotational speed to adjust a distance of relative movement in a rotation direction between large-gravity particles and small-gravity particles. The vessels are individually in a form of dents independent of one another and are each formed of an inner circumferential wall and a bottom wall.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical system which includes a plurality of refractive optical elements arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to an aperture-stop. Furthermore the optical system comprises a refractive optical element being constituted by a solid material. An Abbe number ?d of the solid material and a partial dispersion ratio ?gF of the solid material can satisfy the following conditions: ?gF?(?1.665×10?7·?d3+5.213×10?5·?d2?5.656×10?3·?d+0.755)>0, ?gF?(?1.665×10?7·?d3+5.213×10?5·?d2?5.656×10?3·?d+1.011)<0.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical system which includes a plurality of refractive optical elements arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to an aperture-stop. Furthermore the optical system comprises a refractive optical element being constituted by a solid material. An Abbe number ?d of the solid material and a partial dispersion ratio ?gF of the solid material can satisfy the following conditions: ?gF?(?1.665×10?7·?d3+5.213×10?5·?d2?5.656×10?3·?d+0.755)>0, ?gF?(?1.665×10?7·?d3+5.213×10?5·?d2?5.656×10?3·?d+1.011)<0.

Abstract: An image forming device has plural photoreceptor drums on which a latent image is formed, wherein one of the photoreceptor drum is different diameter from the other photoreceptors. A belt in contact with the plural photoreceptor drums and plural transfer rollers press the photoreceptor drums from a side of the belt, the side being opposite to the side contacts with the photoreceptor, wherein a distance from a contact reference position. The contact reference position at which the photoreceptor contacts with the belt, to a pressed position of the transfer roller of a large-diameter photoreceptor drum is greater than that of a small-diameter photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing particles of a metal compound having a spherical particle shape and an average particle diameter larger than 0.3 ?m without employing high-pressure conditions. This object is achieved by a process for producing particle of a metal compound comprising a step of adjusting pH of an aqueous solution containing urea and at least one metal element to from 4 to 8, a step of heating the aqueous solution under normal pressure, a step of separating a solid from the solution, and a step of drying the solid.

Abstract: An image forming device has plural photoreceptor drums on which a latent image is formed, wherein one of the photoreceptor drum is different diameter from the other photoreceptors. A belt in contact with the plural photoreceptor drums and plural transfer rollers press the photoreceptor drums from a side of the belt, the side being opposite to the side contacts with the photoreceptor, wherein a distance from a contact reference position. The contact reference position at which the photoreceptor contacts with the belt, to a pressed position of the transfer roller of a large-diameter photoreceptor drum is greater than that of a small-diameter photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: In a method for fusing splicing optical fibers having different diameters of fiber coating portions, the fiber coating portions of optical fibers to be spliced are clamped on V-groove boards and end faces of the optical fibers are aligned. Then, the end faces of the optical fibers are fused spliced by a discharged heating. An inclination angle &thgr;g of glass fibers of the fusion spliced optical fibers is measured from an observed image of a fusion splicing portion after fusion splicing the optical fibers to estimate a splice loss of the optical fibers.

Abstract: In a method for fusing splicing optical fibers having different diameters of fiber coating portions, the fiber coating portions of optical fibers to be spliced are clamped on V-groove boards and end faces of the optical fibers are aligned. Then, the end faces of the optical fibers are fused spliced by a discharged heating. An inclination angle &thgr;g of glass fibers of the fusion spliced optical fibers is measured from an observed image of a fusion splicing portion after fusion splicing the optical fibers to estimate a splice loss of the optical fibers.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing particles of a metal compound having a spherical particle shape and an average particle diameter larger than 0.3 &mgr;m without employing high-pressure conditions. This object is achieved by a process for producing particle of a metal compound comprising a step of adjusting pH of an aqueous solution containing urea and at least one metal element to from 4 to 8, a step of heating the aqueous solution under normal pressure, a step of separating a solid from the solution, and a step of drying the solid.

Abstract: A method of preparing coprecipitated inorganic particles, including subjecting a first portion of an aqueous solution containing two or more metal ions to a coprecipitation reaction to form a liquid containing nucleus particles; mixing the nucleus particles-containing liquid with a second portion of the aqueous solution to form a mixture; and subjecting the mixture to a coprecipitation reaction to produce coprecipitated inorganic particles. The coprecipitated inorganic particles are calcined to obtain calcined inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5-10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method of preparing coprecipitated inorganic particles, including subjecting a first portion of an aqueous solution containing two or more metal ions to a coprecipitation reaction to form a liquid containing nucleus particles; mixing the nucleus particles-containing liquid with a second portion of the aqueous solution to form a mixture; and subjecting the mixture to a coprecipitation reaction to produce coprecipitated inorganic particles. The coprecipitated inorganic particles are calcined to obtain calcined inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5-10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of minimizing local degradation of the image carrier and effectively preventing image defects due to resistance reduction and adhesion of release agent, without lowering productivity. The image forming apparatus includes an image making unit, having an image carrier, with plural image carrying regions, the image making unit adapted to cause the image carrying regions on the image carrier to carry images and then to transfer the images onto the sheet in a series of image making cycles, and an image making controller for controlling the image making unit according to job commands for making images. The image making controller includes a reference signal changing circuit for changing reference signal for each job, and the reference signal determines which of the image carrying regions on the image carrier should be an image writing position.

Abstract: A process for preparing dough pieces is provided. In the process, fermented dough receives repeated pressure for stretching, which pressure is given by a pressing device. However, through this process, the network structure of gel is not broken. Thus, a further fermentation step, such as an intermediate fermentation step or a final fermentation step, can be eliminated.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a magnet filter and a method of cleaning a magnetic filter. The magnetic filter is disposed in a circular passage for processing a cleaning fluid. The cleaning apparatus includes sensors for determining when the magnetic filter should be cleaned, which prevents a loss of effectiveness of the cleaning fluid due to detached metal powder falling off of the filter.

Abstract: A forge-molding method for forming a constant velocity joint outer ring comprising a shaft and a cup formed integral with and expanding radially and outwardly from one end of the shaft is provided. The method uses an ironing die apparatus which is provided with a lower molding die, an upper molding die and an ironing punch. The lower molding die is provided with a first cavity formed to have a final degree of product accuracy with respect to the shaft and adapted to apply a final ironing process to the shaft, while the upper molding die is provided with a second cavity for restraining the outer peripheral surface of the cup. Consequently, the accuracy of concentricity between the shaft and the cup can be securely maintained in a simple manner and a sufficient degree of accuracy of the inner peripheral surface and/or the inner diameter of the cup can be effectively secured.