Abstract: An IC handler (4) of the present invention transfers an IC device (D) to a test head (2). The test head (2) is provided with a socket (3), which has a placing surface (3a) having the IC device (D) placed thereon, and which attaches the IC device (D) placed on the placing surface (3a) to the test head (2). The IC handler (4) is provided with a non-contact displacement meter (71) that is disposed by being spaced apart from the socket (3) in the direction perpendicular to the placing surface (3a). The non-contact displacement meter (71) measures a distance from the non-contact displacement meter (71) to the IC device (D) placed on the placing surface (3a) by emitting a laser beam toward the placing surface (3a) of the socket (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of suppressing coloration of catechins, which contains adding, to catechins, a water-soluble polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins, as well as hydrogel particles containing a water-insoluble complex between catechins and a polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins. Further, the present invention relates to a dentifrice composition containing hydrogel particles containing catechins and a polymer forming a water-insoluble complex with catechins, a binder and water.

Abstract: This method for manufacturing a fine hollow protruding tool (1) involves: a protrusion forming step of bringing a projecting mold part (11) that includes a heating means into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2A) including a thermoplastic resin, and, while softening the contact section (TP) with heat, inserting the projecting mold part (11) into the base sheet (2A), to form a protrusion (3) that protrudes from the other surface (2U) side; and a release step, after a cooling step, of withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3), to form the fine hollow protruding tool (1). In the protrusion forming step, the protrusion (3) is formed by using a first warp-suppressing means that suppresses warping of the base sheet (2A) when the projecting mold part (11) is inserted into the base sheet (2A).

Abstract: A microprotrusion device (1A) according to the present invention includes a needle-like and hollow first protrusion portion (3) that is formed so as to protrude from one surface (2a) of a substrate sheet (2) and a hollow second protrusion portion (4) that is formed so as to protrude from a vicinity of the first protrusion portion (3) on the one surface (2a) of the substrate sheet (2) and has a protrusion height lower than that of the first protrusion portion (3). The first protrusion portion (3) has an opening at its tip end portion, and a hollow portion (30) of the first protrusion portion (3) is in communication with the outside via the opening portion (31). The opening portion (31) is formed at the tip end of the first protrusion portion (3).

Abstract: A cloth holder stacker includes a first cloth holder and a second cloth holder. The first cloth holder includes a first base including a first bottom, a first platen to hold a first cloth, and a first clearance former mounted on the first bottom of the first base. The second cloth holder includes a second base including a second bottom, a second platen to hold a second cloth, and a second clearance former mounted on the second bottom of the second base. The second clearance former defines a clearance between the second bottom of the second base and the first cloth held by the first cloth holder when the second cloth holder is stacked on the first cloth holder.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device is provided. The sheet supplying device includes a separator to separate sheets one by one. The separator includes a separation pad, a spring, and a separation pressure adjuster. The separation pad contacts each of the sheets. The spring applies a separation pressure to the separation pad. The separation pressure adjuster adjusts the separation pressure to one of separation pressure values variable in multiple steps.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fine hollow protruding article (1) according to the invention involves: a protrusion forming step of bringing a projecting mold part (11) that includes a heating means into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2) including a thermoplastic resin, and, while softening, with heat, a contact section (TP) in the base sheet (2) where the projecting mold part (11) contacts the base sheet (2), inserting the projecting mold part (11) into the base sheet (2), to form a protrusion (3) that protrudes from the other surface (2U) side of the base sheet (2); a cooling step of cooling the protrusion (3) in a state where the projecting mold part (11) is inserted in an interior of the protrusion (3); and a release step of withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3) after the cooling step, to form the fine hollow protruding article (1).

Abstract: A heat generating device including a heat generating element and an enclosing material entirely enclosing the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes a base sheet formed of a fibrous sheet containing superabsorbent polymer particles and hydrophilic fibers and a layer of a heat generative composition containing oxidizable metal particles on a side of the base sheet. The enclosing material includes a first cover sheet and a second cover sheet bonded together in their peripheral portions to provide a space therebetween in which the heat generating member is placed. The heat generating element in the space is in a non-fixed state to the enclosing material. The first cover sheet has air permeability in part and is disposed on the side of the layer of the heat generative composition. The heat generating device is capable of releasing steam from the side of the first cover sheet during use.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device is provided. The sheet supplying device includes a separator to separate sheets one by one. The separator includes a separation pad, a spring, and a separation pressure adjuster. The separation pad contacts each of the sheets. The spring applies a separation pressure to the separation pad. The separation pressure adjuster adjusts the separation pressure to one of separation pressure values variable in multiple steps.

Abstract: A golf ball paint composition includes primarily a urethane paint made of a polyol and a polyisocyanate. The polyol is an acrylic polyol, and the composition has an elastic work recovery of at least 70%. The paint composition has a high self-repairing ability and is of high quality as a golf ball paint. Golf balls coated with this composition are able to maintain a good durability, in addition to which they have an excellent abrasion resistance and an excellent ball appearance.

Abstract: A pipe coupling structure includes an electromagnetic valve and a passage block having an upper surface mounted with the electromagnetic valve and opposite side surfaces formed with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port is connected to a PCV pipe through an inlet pipe joint, and the outlet port is connected to a PCV pipe through an outlet pipe joint. At least one of the inlet pipe joint and the outlet pipe joint is a union joint. The union joint includes a hollow cylindrical union end making contact with a first surface formed with the inlet port or a second surface formed with the outlet port and a hollow cylindrical union nut configured to connect the inlet port or the outlet port to the union end.

Abstract: An IC handler (4) of the present invention is provided with: a contact head (7), which holds a plurality of IC devices, and which presses the IC devices to a plurality of sockets (3); and a movable arm (6) that moves the contact head (7). The movable arm (6) has power supply ports (VO, HO) that are connected to supply sources (VS, HS) of power for generating operations of the contact head (7), and the contact head (7) has a plurality of operating sections (70) that operate with the power, and a supporting section (71), which supports the operating sections (70), and which is removably attached to the movable arm (6). The supporting section (71) of the contact head (7) has: connecting ports (VC, HC) that are removably connected to the supply ports (VO, HO); and supply paths (71a, 71d) for supplying the power to the operating sections (70) from the connecting ports (VC, HC) connected to the supply ports (VO, HO).

Abstract: An IC handler (4) of the present invention transfers an IC device (D) to a test head (2). The test head (2) is provided with a socket (3), which has a placing surface (3a) having the IC device (D) placed thereon, and which attaches the IC device (D) placed on the placing surface (3a) to the test head (2). The IC handler (4) is provided with a non-contact displacement meter (71) that is disposed by being spaced apart from the socket (3) in the direction perpendicular to the placing surface (3a). The non-contact displacement meter (71) measures a distance from the non-contact displacement meter (71) to the IC device (D) placed on the placing surface (3a) by emitting a laser beam toward the placing surface (3a) of the socket (3).

Abstract: A control device (200) calculates, on the basis of the transition of the expected amount of power generation of a power generation unit (160), the transition of the expected amount of power supply of a power supply unit (110), and the current amount of stored electrical power of a storage battery (120), a transition of the expected amount of the stored electrical power of the storage battery (120) in a case where electrical power continues to be supplied from a power distribution network (300) to the storage battery (120).

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body to come into contact with a toner image on a recording medium and a pressing rotary body separably pressed against the fixing rotary body to press the recording medium against the fixing rotary body. A cooler, disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to cool the pressing rotary body, includes a fan to move air to the pressing rotary body and at least one inlet duct interposed between the fan and the pressing rotary body to supply air from the fan to the pressing rotary body. The at least one inlet duct selectively cools the pressing rotary body in a variable axial span in an axial direction thereof.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an exciting coil to generate a magnetic flux and a heat generation layer disposed opposite the exciting coil to generate heat by the magnetic flux from the exciting coil. A temperature sensitive magnetic body, disposed opposite the exciting coil via the heat generation layer, obtains and loses magnetism at a temperature defined by a Curie temperature by composition adjustment to selectively create a heating region and a non-heating region of the heat generation layer. A degausser is made of a non-magnetic material having an electrical resistivity smaller than an electrical resistivity of the temperature sensitive magnetic body. The degausser is disposed opposite the exciting coil with an interval in a range of from about 4.2 mm to about 8.2 mm.

Abstract: A method for forming a toner image on a recording medium includes receiving a job, rotating a pressing rotary body in a predetermined direction of rotation, rotating a flexible endless belt disposed opposite the pressing rotary body to form a nip therebetween, turning on a belt heater disposed opposite to an inner circumferential surface of the flexible endless belt, conveying the recording medium bearing the toner image through the nip, turning off the belt heater for a predetermined first time period after the recording medium is discharged from the nip while the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body rotate, stopping the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body, turning on the belt heater when a predetermined second time period elapses after stopping the flexible endless belt and the pressing rotary body, and turning off the belt heater.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body to press against a fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressure lever rotatably mounts the pressing rotary body. A pressurization cam assembly pivots the pressure lever to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body and release pressure between the pressing rotary body and the fixing rotary body. A pivotable cleaning unit includes a cleaning web separably contacting the pressing rotary body to clean the pressing rotary body, a pressure adjuster contacting the cleaning web to separably press the cleaning web against the pressing rotary body, a take-up reel to reel up the cleaning web, and a supply reel to reel out the cleaning web. A cleaning unit cam assembly contacts the cleaning unit to pivot the cleaning unit to press against and separate from the pressing rotary body.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an exciting coil to generate a magnetic flux and a heat generation layer disposed opposite the exciting coil to generate heat by the magnetic flux from the exciting coil. A temperature sensitive magnetic body, disposed opposite the exciting coil via the heat generation layer, obtains and loses magnetism at a temperature defined by a Curie temperature by composition adjustment to selectively create a heating region and a non-heating region of the heat generation layer. A degausser is made of a non-magnetic material having an electrical resistivity smaller than an electrical resistivity of the temperature sensitive magnetic body. The degausser is disposed opposite the exciting coil with an interval in a range of from about 4.2 mm to about 8.2 mm.