Abstract: A holing sewing machine including a workpiece-presser elevating and lowering mechanism which elevates and lowers a workpiece presser, a needle-thread cutting mechanism which cuts a needle thread conveyed by a sewing needle; a bobbin-thread cutting mechanism which draws a bobbin thread from a bobbin and cuts the bobbin thread, an interlocking mechanism which mechanically interlocks the elevating and lowering mechanism, the needle-thread cutting mechanism, and the bobbin-thread cutting mechanism, with one another, such that the elevating and lowering mechanism elevates the workpiece presser after the needle-thread cutting mechanism cuts the needle thread and the bobbin-thread cutting mechanism cuts the bobbin thread, a drive source which drives the interlocking mechanism to operate the workpiece-presser elevating and lowering mechanism, the needle-thread cutting mechanism, and the bobbin-thread cutting mechanism, the drive source being controllable with respect to a speed of operation thereof to drive the inter

Abstract: Transferring system for transferring delivery members to their destinations through a computed transfer route when any trouble exists in a usual transfer route. The delivery members carrying a workpiece to be stitched, and is to be transferred to a desired work station (destination). The delivery member undergoes distribution by a plurality of distribution mechanisms and transferring rails connecting the distribution mechanisms. By suitable control to the distribution mechanism the delivery member reaches its destination even if any troubled location exists in a transfer route. The transferring system includes the distribution mechanism, line connecting information storage device, transfer control device, trouble storage device and new route setting mechanism. The trouble judgment device is connected to the line connecting information storage device. The transfer control device is connected to the line connecting information storage device and the new route setting mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multilayer composite hollow fiber comprising at least one nonporous separating membrane layer (A) performing a separating function and two or more porous layers (B) performing a reinforcing function, the layer (A) and the layers (B) being alternately laminated so as to give a structure having internal and external surfaces formed by the porous layers (B), as well as a method of making such a hollow fiber.In this multilayer composite hollow fiber, the separating membrane can be formed as an ultrathin, homogeneous membrane. Moreover, the separating membrane is not liable to get damaged owing to the unique structure of the hollow fiber. Furthermore, such hollow fibers can be readily and stably produced on an industrial scale.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hollow-fiber filter module having a novel structure in which a large number of hollow fibers for filtration use are disposed in a rectilinear fashion, two exit planes are defined by the opposite open ends of the hollow fibers, a filtrate collection chamber is formed over one of the exit planes, and one or more filtrate conduits are provided in order to conduct the filtrate collected in the filtrate collection chamber to the other exit plane. A reinforcing ring helps secure the filtrate conduits. This hollow-fiber filter module permits the efficient utilization of a hollow-fiber filter membrane and, therefore, can reduce the space occupied by the module. Moreover, a plurality of such hollow-fiber filter modules can be connected in series and used in the form of a hollow-fiber filter module assembly having a length of several meters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel composite porous hollow fiber comprising at least two layers joined to each other, characterized in that the layers consist of thermoplastic organic polymers of different types or of the same type and have micropores of different sizes, the micropores of these layers are interconnected to form contiguous micropores extending from the external surface to the internal surface of the hollow fiber, and the layer having larger micropores is thicker than the layer having smaller micropores, as well as a method of making such a hollow fiber, which method comprises melt-spinning a hollow fiber by feeding polymers of different types or of the same type through a nozzle having two or more concentrically disposed annular orifices, then stretching the hollow fiber, and subsequently heat setting the stretched hollow fiber.The composite hollow fiber gives higher permeation rates for permeative substances, as compared with prior art hollow fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hollow-fiber filter module having a novel structure in which a large number of hollow fibers for filtration use are disposed in a rectilinear fashion, two exit planes are defined by the opposite open ends of the hollow fibers, a filtrate collection chamber is formed over one of the exit planes, and one or more filtrate conduits are provided in order to conduct the filtrate collected in the filtrate collection chamber to the other exit plane. The hollow-fiber filter module permits the efficient utilization of a hollow-fiber filter membrane and, therefore, can reduce the space occupied by the module. Moreover, a plurality of such hollow-fiber filter modules can be connected in series and used in the form of a hollow-fiber filter module assembly having a length of several meters.

Abstract: Disclosed are a multilayer composite hollow fiber comprising at least one nonporous separating membrane layer (A) performing a separating function and two or more porous layers (B) performing a reinforcing function, the layer (A) and the layers (B) being alternately laminated so as to give a structure having internal and external surfaces formed by the porous layers (B), as well as a method of making such a hollow fiber.In this multilayer composite hollow fiber, the separating membrane can be formed as an ultrathin, homogeneous membrane. Moreover, the separating membrane is not liable to get damaged owing to the unique structure of the hollow fiber. Furthermore, such hollow fibers can be readily and stably produced on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A blood oxygenator of the outside perfusion type using hollow fibers as the gas exchange membrane. In this blood oxygenator, a plurality of contact chambers each containing a bundle or bundles of hollow fibers for gas exchange use and communicating with a blood inlet and a blood outlet are disposed to make blood flow in multiple paths within a housing, and each bundle of hollow fibers is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of blood flow. In spite of its compact construction, this blood oxygenator has high oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange rates per unit of membrane even when used in the gas exchange of blood having high flow rate, exhibits only a small pressure loss, and causes little channeling of the blood and gas. Moreover, it is easy to manufacture because of its relatively simple structure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hollow-fiber filter module comprising (a) an annular member, (b) a filter membrane consisting of a large number of hollow fibers, (c) a fastening member attached to the inside surface of the annular member for bundling and fixing the hollow fibers in a U-shaped pattern with their both ends left open, (d) a supporting member consisting of a plurality of supporting pillars or a cylinder, said supporting member being joined to said annular member and extending along the U-shaped portions of the hollow fibers, and (e) a hollow fiber retaining member joined to the supporting member and extending through the space enclosed in the U-shaped portions of the hollow fibers. This hollow-fiber filter module is suitable for use in water purifiers for treating large volumes of water containing minute colloidal particles and can be efficiently regenerated by gas bubble treatment to restore its filtering function.