Abstract: Provided is a fiber structure having a high dust holding capacity. The fiber structure includes a thick fiber group composed of fibers A each having a single fiber diameter larger than 5 ?m and a thin fiber group composed of fibers B each having a single fiber diameter of 5 ?m or smaller, and has an intermingled region in which the thick fiber group and the thin fiber group are intermingled.

Abstract: Provided is a fiber structure which can have both a high filtering efficiency and a small pressure loss. The fiber structure comprises ultrafine fibers having a number average single fiber diameter of 4.5 ?m or smaller and non-ultrafine fibers having a number average single fiber diameter of 5.5 ?m or larger, wherein the ultrafine fibers and the non-ultrafine fibers are unitedly intermingled, and the fiber structure includes projections on at least one surface thereof. For example, in the fiber structure, the ultrafine fibers may be heat-resistant ultrafine fibers, and the non-ultrafine fibers may be heat-resistant non-ultrafine fibers.

Abstract: Provided is a fiber structure in which an extra-fine fiber layer and a substrate layer are integrated deeply. The fiber structure includes an extra-fine fiber layer 10 spreading in a plane direction, and a substrate layer 20 adjoining the extra-fine fiber layer, wherein the extra-fine fiber layer 10 includes extra-fine fibers having a number average single fiber diameter of 5 ?m or less; the substrate layer 20 includes non-extra-fine fibers having a number average single fiber diameter of 7 ?m or more; and in a cross section along a thickness direction of the fiber structure, the substrate layer 20 contains mixture portions 12 in each of which some of the extra-fine fibers pushed between the non-extra-fine fibers are widened in a crosswise direction.

Abstract: The present load support apparatus comprises an object support apparatus 10 includes a regulating device 60 that regulates movement of a support frame unit 13 with respect to a fixed frame unit 12. The regulating device includes a fixed-side slit 62 that is formed at a side frame 18, 19 of the fixed frame unit, a movable-side slit 63 that is formed at a guide frame 28, 29 of the support frame unit, and a regulating member 61 that is inserted through the slits. The regulating member is engaged with a movable-side engaging portion 71 at the movable-side slit and a fixed-side engaging portion 72 at the fixed-side slit and the regulating member is locked between the fixed-side engaging portion and the movable-side engaging portion.

Abstract: A liquid-retaining sheet contains a liquid-retaining layer that is able to absorb a liquid component, and the liquid-retaining layer is formed from a nonwoven structural member containing a transparent fiber. In the liquid-retaining sheet, the transparency shown below is adjusted to not more than 0.27. Transparency=Whiteness (%) of a sheet impregnated with 700% by mass of water relative to the sheet mass/Basis weight (g/m2) The transparent fiber may contain a cellulose-series fiber substantially free from a carboxyl group (in particular, a regenerated cellulose fiber such as a solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber). The proportion of the solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber may be not less than 30% by mass in the transparent fiber. The liquid-retaining sheet may be a skin care sheet (in particular, a facial mask) that is impregnated with a liquid component containing a cosmetic preparation.

Abstract: To realize a mechanism that can support an article at a desired position in such a way as to be able to move the article, with a thin, simple configuration. A load support mechanism 1 includes a fixed support section 2, which includes a fixed cam 8; a movable support section 3, which receives a load and can move vertically; a horizontal cam groove 13, which is provided in the movable support section; a cam follower member 15, which can move horizontally along the cam groove; a first spring 4, which is mounted between the fixed support section and the movable support section to support a load; and a second spring 18, which pushes the cam follower member horizontally and presses the cam follower member against a fixed cam surface 9 of the fixed cam. A reaction force of the fixed cam against the cam follower contains a vertical component depending on a height position of the movable support section, and the vertical component assists or reduces the spring's force to push up the load.

Abstract: To prepare a shaped product comprising a thermal adhesive fiber under moisture and having a fiber aggregate nonwoven structure. In the shaped product, the thermal adhesive fibers under moisture are melted to bond to fibers constituting the fiber aggregate nonwoven structure and the bonded fiber ratio is not more than 85%. The shaped product has an apparent density of 0.05 to 0.7 g/cm3, a maximum bending stress of not less than 0.05 MPa in at least one direction, and a bending stress of not less than ? of the maximum bending stress at 1.5 times as large as the bending deflection at the maximum bending stress. The moistenable-thermal adhesive fiber may be a sheath-core form conjugated fiber comprising a sheath part comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol-series copolymer and a core part comprising a polyester-series resin. Such a shaped product can be used for a building board or the like since the shaped product has a high bending stress although the product is light and has a low density.

Abstract: To achieve a mechanism that supports an article at a desired position in a displaceable manner in accordance with a weight of the article with a simple, small, and lightweight structure. An article supporting device 1 includes a base member 2, a supporting member 3, a spring member 4 which is a compression coil spring, a spring force transmission member 5, a cam member 6, and a cam follower member 7. The cam follower member is pressed against a downward-facing cam surface 15 of the support member, an upward-facing cam surface 18 of the spring force transmission member, and a sideward-facing cam surface 22 of the cam member by a load of an article and a spring force of the spring member. The downward-facing cam surface and upward-facing cam surface are inclined in reverse directions to each other and disposed opposite to each other with the cam follower member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: Provided is an operation handle mechanism with which a handle can be conveniently operated to move a movable section, thereby ensuring smooth operation and movement at any time regardless of an operation position of the handle. An operation handle section 121 includes a handle lever 67, which is used to operate movement of a support frame section 23 capable of moving up and down, and left and right transmission rods 123a and 123b, which are joined to the handle lever. The transmission rods can only move a predetermined distance in a movement direction thereof relative to the support frame section, and start to move together with the support frame section after going beyond that distance.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a brake mechanism that prevents a significant decrease in braking force, even after years of being used with a repeat of braking and cancellation by a brake portion and a to-be-braked portion. A brake device 122 includes brake pads 145a, 145b, 146a, and 146b, which engage with or depart from a side of a first brake rail, on tips of upper and lower pairs of brake arms 141a, 141b, 142a, and 142b, which are provided in a rotatable manner across the first brake rail 31. When the brake pads 145a, 145b, 146a, and 146b are pressed against the brake rail 31, the brake pads are disposed in such a way as to be inclined so that a gap 304 emerges on a base end portion 302's side that is close to a fulcrum 144a's side.

Abstract: In a nonwoven fiber assembly which comprises a fiber comprising a thermal adhesive fiber under moisture and in which the fiber are entangled with each other, the fibers are bonded at contacting points of the fibers by melting the thermal adhesive fiber under moisture to distribute the bonded points approximately uniformly, thereby obtaining a buffer substrate. The buffer substrate may further comprises a conjugated fiber comprising a plurality of resins which are different in thermal shrinkage and form a phase separation structure, and the conjugated fibers may have an approximately uniform crimps having an average curvature radius of 20 to 200 ?m and are entangled with the fibers constituting the nonwoven fiber assembly.

Abstract: The present load support apparatus comprises an object support apparatus 10 includes a regulating device 60 that regulates movement of a support frame unit 13 with respect to a fixed frame unit 12. The regulating device includes a fixed-side slit 62 that is formed at a side frame 18, 19 of the fixed frame unit, a movable-side slit 63 that is formed at a guide frame 28, 29 of the support frame unit, and a regulating member 61 that is inserted through the slits. The regulating member is engaged with a movable-side engaging portion 71 at the movable-side slit and a fixed-side engaging portion 72 at the fixed-side slit and the regulating member is locked between the fixed-side engaging portion and the movable-side engaging portion.

Abstract: A laminated sheet is produced by forming an adhesion layer permeable to a liquid component and contactable with a skin on at least one side of a liquid-retention layer comprising a nonwoven structural member and having an ability to absorb the liquid component. The adhesion layer comprises a nonwoven structural member comprising a fiber having a number-average fiber diameter of not more than 10 ?m, and the thickness ratio of the adhesion layer relative to the liquid-retention layer is 1/4 to 1/100 as a ratio of the adhesion layer/the liquid-retention layer. The fiber of the nonwoven structural member of the adhesion layer may have a standard deviation of fiber diameter of not more than 5. The nonwoven structural member of the liquid-retention layer may comprise a fiber having a fiber diameter larger than that of the fiber of the adhesion layer.

Abstract: Provided is an operation handle mechanism with which a handle can be conveniently operated to move a movable section, thereby ensuring smooth operation and movement at any time regardless of an operation position of the handle. An operation handle section 121 includes a handle lever 67, which is used to operate movement of a support frame section 23 capable of moving up and down, and left and right transmission rods 123a and 123b, which are joined to the handle lever. The transmission rods can only move a predetermined distance in a movement direction thereof relative to the support frame section, and start to move together with the support frame section after going beyond that distance.

Abstract: To provide an illumination device in which there is no variation in light intensity distribution of the illumination device, and in which illumination spots, particularly light intensity spots, are not prone to occur in a read image in an image reading device, by maintaining a constant gap between a light source and an end face of a light guide. The illumination device includes: a light guide having an end face for taking in light, a diffuse reflecting surface for diffusely reflecting the light taken in from the end face, and a light exit surface for emitting the light that is diffusely reflected at the diffuse reflecting surface towards an irradiation surface. The illumination device further include a reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface that reflects light from the light source toward the one end face of the light guide.

Abstract: Provided is an image scanning unit which makes it possible to improve scanning accuracy while also making the overall body thinner by appropriately positioning a plurality of reflection members within an effective space in a carriage frame without wasting space.

Abstract: A liquid-retaining sheet contains a liquid-retaining layer that is able to absorb a liquid component, and the liquid-retaining layer is formed from a nonwoven structural member containing a transparent fiber. In the liquid-retaining sheet, the transparency shown below is adjusted to not more than 0.27. Transparency=Whiteness (%) of a sheet impregnated with 700% by mass of water relative to the sheet mass/Basis weight (g/m2) The transparent fiber may contain a cellulose-series fiber substantially free from a carboxyl group (in particular, a regenerated cellulose fiber such as a solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber). The proportion of the solvent-spinning cellulose-series fiber may be not less than 30% by mass in the transparent fiber. The liquid-retaining sheet may be a skin care sheet (in particular, a facial mask) that is impregnated with a liquid component containing a cosmetic preparation.

Abstract: To achieve a mechanism that supports an article at a desired position in a displaceable manner in accordance with a weight of the article with a simple, small, and lightweight structure. An article supporting device 1 includes a base member 2, a supporting member 3, a spring member 4 which is a compression coil spring, a spring force transmission member 5, a cam member 6, and a cam follower member 7. The cam follower member is pressed against a downward-facing cam surface 15 of the support member, an upward-facing cam surface 18 of the spring force transmission member, and a sideward-facing cam surface 22 of the cam member by a load of an article and a spring force of the spring member. The downward-facing cam surface and upward-facing cam surface are inclined in reverse directions to each other and disposed opposite to each other with the cam follower member interposed therebetween.

Abstract: To realize a mechanism that can support an article at a desired position in such a way as to be able to move the article, with a thin, simple configuration. A load support mechanism 1 includes a fixed support section 2, which includes a fixed cam 8; a movable support section 3, which receives a load and can move vertically; a horizontal cam groove 13, which is provided in the movable support section; a cam follower member 15, which can move horizontally along the cam groove; a first spring 4, which is mounted between the fixed support section and the movable support section to support a load; and a second spring 18, which pushes the cam follower member horizontally and presses the cam follower member against a fixed cam surface 9 of the fixed cam. A reaction force of the fixed cam against the cam follower contains a vertical component depending on a height position of the movable support section, and the vertical component assists or reduces the spring's force to push up the load.