Abstract: A grafting device including a rootstock holding unit and a scion holding unit both provided in a main body and relatively movable in a predetermined direction, at least one of the rootstock holding unit and the scion holding unit includes: a hand module including: a grip portion configured to be openable and closable for gripping a stem of a plant; reciprocating portions an operating rod and a slide plate provided between the grip portion and the main body and capable of reciprocating; a motion converting portion configured to convert reciprocation of the reciprocating portion into an opening/closing motion of the grip portion; and a biasing means configured to bias the reciprocating portion in any one direction of the reciprocating movement; and a drive means provided in the main body and configured to drive the reciprocating portion in a direction opposite to a biasing direction by the biasing means.

Abstract: A seedling growing system includes: a cargo transport container provided with heat insulating treatment; a movement robot for moving on a path in the cargo transport container; seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination rack for holding, until germination, a seedling growing tray on which seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing rack for holding a seedling growing tray on which seedlings have germinated, and a multi-shelf shipment rack for holding a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings; and an arm or table provided to the movement robot and capable of transferring each seedling growing tray between the movement robot and each of the multi-shelf germination rack, multi-shelf seedling growing rack, and the multi-shelf shipment rack.

Abstract: A long base sheet is a thin paper like toilet paper, made of water-decomposable paper, and is supplied from a base sheet supply section. A water-soluble adhesive is applied to a surface of the sheet at a predetermined interval in an adhesive applying section. Multiple seeds are placed on the surface of the sheet, and then the sheet is put up to non-adhering remove seeds. Thereafter, in a base sheet transportation/seed pressing section, the sheet is pressed by a pair of rollers and softer than the seed, producing a seeded paper. In the seeded paper, concave portions are on the long base sheet, and have a plane shape approximately equal to a shape of the target seed and depth of one tenth to equal to a height of the target seed, and the target seed adheres to an inside area of each of the concave portions by the water-soluble adhesive.

Abstract: A seedling growing system according includes: a cargo transport container provided with heat insulating treatment; a movement robot configured to move on a path in the cargo transport container; seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination racks configured to hold, until germination, a seedling growing tray wherein seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing racks configured to hold a seedling growing tray wherein seedlings have germinated and including an artificial light source and an automatic watering device, and a multi-shelf shipment rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings, the racks being disposed side by side on a side or sides of the path in the cargo transport container; and a transfer means provided to the movement robot and configured to transfer each seedling growing tray between movement robot and each of the multi-shelf germination racks, multi-shelf seedling growing racks, and the multi-shelf shipment rack.

Abstract: Provided is an underwater lighting device and underwater electronic device which are comparatively inexpensive yet durable enough for long-term use. An underwater lighting unit 10, which has an internally provided light source 11 and a gas-tight case 12 with a window 13 for allowing the passage of light from the light source 11, is connected to a land-based unit 30 by a gas-sending tube 40. Air is sent from the land-based unit 30 to the underwater lighting unit 10 to maintain the pressure inside the underwater lighting unit 10 at a value slightly higher than the water pressure at the location. A power line for supplying power to the underwater lighting unit 10 and a signal line for controlling the emission of their light are installed in the gas-sending tube 40. Even if the gas-tight state of one underwater lighting unit 10 is broken, water cannot enter the underwater lighting unit 10.

Abstract: Provided is an underwater lighting device and underwater electronic device which are comparatively inexpensive yet durable enough for long-term use. An underwater lighting unit 10, which has an internally provided light source 11 and a gas-tight case 12 with a window 13 for allowing the passage of light from the light source 11, is connected to a land-based unit 30 by a gas-sending tube 40. Air is sent from the land-based unit 30 to the underwater lighting unit 10 to maintain the pressure inside the underwater lighting unit 10 at a value slightly higher than the water pressure at the location. A power line for supplying power to the underwater lighting unit 10 and a signal line for controlling the emission of their light are installed in the gas-sending tube 40. Even if the gas-tight state of one underwater lighting unit 10 is broken, water cannot enter the underwater lighting unit 10.

Abstract: A sun-tracking photovoltaic power generation system with a rotating a base having a plurality of photovoltaic power generation panels loaded thereon closely to each other following changes in the solar azimuth angle. A plurality of rails are concentrically laid on an undersurface of the base and wheels are provided to a stand closer to the ground. As a result, it is easier to support the wheels on the same horizontal plane than laying the rails horizontally on a large installation space. Therefore, the construction cost can be reduced and the construction period can be shortened, thereby achieving a large sun-tracking photovoltaic power generation system. Also, because the base is concentrically reinforced by the plurality of rails, the base can be formed by combining, for example, metal L angles, so that a base with a large area can be made light weight at a low cost.

Abstract: A time-division control circuit individually controls an effective voltage supplied to each lighting load by adjusting the periods during which switching circuits connected to N sets of lighting loads are kept on. A zero-cross signal having a value that changes at the zero-cross point of the AC voltage is generated. An oscillation signal is generated with a frequency equal to, or an integer multiple of the AC frequency. The phase difference between the zero-cross signal and the oscillation signal is measured and a common reference point that defines the timing for turning the switching circuits ON or OFF is determined on the basis of the measured phase difference. An ON/OFF signal for each switching circuit is transmitted at a timing for each of the N sets of switching circuits on the basis of the reference point and the effective voltage to be supplied to the lighting load.

Abstract: Provided is a power source for energizing a resistance welder, including: one or a plurality of lithium-based secondary batteries (11); a charging circuit (13) for charging the lithium-based secondary battery using an external power source; and a power conversion circuit (e.g. DC-DC converter (12)) for converting DC power discharged from the lithium-based secondary battery (11) into DC or AC power having a predetermined level of maximum instantaneous power for energizing the resistance welder.

Abstract: Provided are: a lower-cost light-emitting apparatus with improved properties, as an LED device for illumination or an LED illumination apparatus such as an LED bulb, by eliminating interaction between phosphors and using a structure and mechanism design with optimized conditions; and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A time-division control circuit individually controls an effective voltage supplied to each lighting load by adjusting the periods during which switching circuits connected to N sets of lighting loads are kept on. A zero-cross signal having a value that changes at the zero-cross point of the AC voltage is generated. An oscillation signal is generated with a frequency equal to, or an integer multiple of the AC frequency. The phase difference between the zero-cross signal and the oscillation signal is measured and a common reference point that defines the timing for turning the switching circuits ON or OFF is determined on the basis of the measured phase difference. An ON/OFF signal for each switching circuit is transmitted at a timing for each of the N sets of switching circuits on the basis of the reference point and the effective voltage to be supplied to the lighting load.

Abstract: A control method, an electrical instrument, and a timer device control an electrical instrument such as an illuminating instrument. The control method is for an electrical instrument configured to to change an operation state thereof in accordance with a control sequence in which a power supply is momentarily turned off, and includes: connecting the electrical instrument to a commercial power supply, via a timer device capable of being set to momentarily turn off an output therefrom or turn on/off the output at a desired time, in accordance with the control sequence; and changing the operation state of the electrical instrument in accordance with a control sequence set in the timer device. The timer device is configured to be set to momentarily turn off an output therefrom or turn on/off the output at a desired time, in accordance with the control sequence.

Abstract: A light emitting device which is inexpensive and has excellent characteristics and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. In the present invention, a chip-size package including a reflection wall is formed by forming a double structure in which a fluorescent material-containing film piece 2 is bonded on a light extraction surface of a semiconductor light emitting element 6 having bumps 4 and 5 on an electrode-formed surface, and covering an exposed surface of the double structure other than a bump mounting surface 7 and a light exit surface 8 with the reflection wall 3, whereby it is possible to provide a light emitting device which does not need a package substrate, is inexpensive, and has excellent brightness characteristics and heat radiation characteristics, and a manufacturing method having excellent chromaticity yield.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing a dimmer capable of preventing malfunctions due to noise contamination or waveform distortion of the voltage of an AC power source.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing a dimmer capable of preventing malfunctions due to noise contamination or waveform distortion of the voltage of an AC power source.

Abstract: After a scratch 160 or similar defect formed on the readout surface of an optical disc is nearly completely removed by grinding and polishing the readout surface with surface with a grinding/polishing agent or similar compound, the readout surface is coated with a coating agent 170 made of a transparent resin or similar material. In this process, a significant change in the thickness of the optical disc before and after the restoration can be prevented by controlling the grind/polishing and coating processes so that the decrease in the thickness due to the grinding/polishing is nearly equal to the increase in the thickness due to the application of the coating agent 170. Therefore, even a Blu-ray Disc or similar optical disc having only a small distance from the surface to the information record layer can be restored many times.

Abstract: An optical disk restoration apparatus and optical disk restoration method are provided, which are capable of achieving a high level of capability of restoring a scratched optical disk, without consuming the time and labor of an operator, while reducing the production cost of the apparatus. During a polishing process, an appropriate amount of a polishing agent is dropped onto the readout surface of the optical disk by a polishing agent supply pump to continuously supply the polishing agent to the interface between the optical disk and polishing pads, while a polishing water supply pump is operated to replenish the polishing agent with moisture evaporated by the polishing heat. By this mechanism, the amount and physical properties of the polishing agent at the interface between the optical disk and the polishing pads are appropriately maintained for a long period of time, so that the restoration capability is maintained at high levels.

Abstract: In a germination/growing apparatus having: a heat shield chamber that can be opened and closed; an illuminator for illuminating the inside of the heat shield chamber; a temperature regulator for heating and/or cooling the inside of the heat shield chamber; and a controller for controlling the temperature regulator, whereby seeds or plants are contained in the germination/growing apparatus for germinating or growing in the heat shield chamber, a breath inspirer for inspiring a human breath to the heat shield chamber is provided. With this configuration, the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the heat shield chamber can be increased, and the growth of the plant can be promoted.

Abstract: An LED lighting apparatus includes an LED-mounting base having LED elements mounted on its surface and a heat-dissipating section fixed on the back side of the LED-mounting base. The heat dissipating section is provided with: a core having a sealed space and heat-dissipating fins provided around the core. Thus, an LED lighting apparatus which has a shape substantially the same as that of a large mercury lighting apparatus, and which can efficiently dissipate heat generated from the LED elements, with only the smallest increase in the weight of the apparatus, can be provided. The electronic-circuit housing section may contain an electric circuit for generating power to be supplied to the LED elements. Furthermore, it is desirable to leave a small space in the electronic-circuit housing section so as to absorb the expansion of the cooling liquid, rather than completely fill the electronic-circuit housing section with the cooling liquid.

Abstract: An optical disk polishing device which includes: a disk holder for rotatably holding an optical disk, the disk holder installed in a lower fixed portion; a cylindrical buff disposed in parallel with the surface of the optical disk and perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the disk holder in an offset manner; a drive motor to rotate the buff; and an upper opening-and-closing portion normally urged to an open state to the lower fixed portion by a spring or other member. The device makes it possible to clean a readout surface of the optical disk in a short period of time, and to be offered at a low price owing to the simple and small-sized structure thereof.