Abstract: An optical component including a first layer, a second layer and a bulk sandwiched between the first and second layers, where the bulk is formed by a composition containing a liquid crystal material which is in a blue phase. At least one of the first and second layers has, toward the bulk, an alignment layer. The blue phase of the liquid crystal material exhibits a uniform organization in three directions (Ox, Oy, Oz) in at least 80% of the volume of the bulk, the liquid crystal material being stabilized in the blue phase at least over the temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 35° C.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first detecting unit, a target setting unit, a determination height position setting unit, a moving apparatus, a second detecting unit, and a controller unit. The target setting unit sets a cargo positioned in a highest position to a target, or if it is determined that the upper surface has no height difference, sets any one of the cargoes, forming a portion of the upper surface to the target. The determination height position setting unit sets a determination height position. The controller unit moves the target upward by driving the moving apparatus, and if it is determined that the target does not exceed the determination height position, determines that pull-out of the target is impossible, and stops an operation of the moving apparatus so as to stop a movement of the target.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical component (1) comprising a first layer (10), a second layer (20) and a bulk (50) sandwiched between said first and second layers, wherein —the bulk is formed by a composition comprising a liquid crystal material (55) which is in a blue phase (56), —at least one of the first and second layers has, toward the bulk, an alignment layer (15, 25), and —the blue phase of the liquid crystal material exhibits a uniform organization in three directions (Ox, Oy, Oz) in at least 80% of the volume of the bulk, said liquid crystal material being stabilized in said blue phase at least over the temperatures ranging from 10° C. to 35° C.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first detecting unit, a target setting unit, a determination height position setting unit, a moving apparatus, a second detecting unit, and a controller unit. The target setting unit sets a cargo positioned in a highest position to a target, or if it is determined that the upper surface has no height difference, sets any one of the cargoes, forming a portion of the upper surface to the target. The determination height position setting unit sets a determination height position. The controller unit moves the target upward by driving the moving apparatus, and if it is determined that the target does not exceed the determination height position, determines that pull-out of the target is impossible, and stops an operation of the moving apparatus so as to stop a movement of the target.

Abstract: A rapid, uniform and high-quality thawing method is awaited which is free from a burn and boiling and which is indispensable for a freezing technology that is frequently used in the fishery industry and the fishery processing industry. For rapid thawing, electromagnetic waves of 130 to 300 MHz in which a B zone passage required time serving as a rate limiting step is decreased are utilized, for uniform thawing, electromagnetic waves of 110 to 170 MHz are utilized and in order to prevent boiling and a burn in the application and after the thawing, electromagnetic waves of 110 to 160 MHz in which a temperature increase after the thawing is decreased are utilized, with the result that the corresponding problems can be solved.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion configured to convey conveyed items at a predetermined speed, a speed adjustment portion arranged midway in the conveying portion, the speed adjustment portion being configured to adjust the conveying speed of the conveyed items, a thickness detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion, the thickness detector being configured to detect a thickness of the conveyed items; a gap detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion of the conveying portion, the gap detector being configured to detect a preceding gap between a conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately in front of that conveyed item and a following gap between that conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind that conveyed item; and a control device configured to control the adjustment speed of the conveyed item by the speed adjustment portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a conveyed item at a predetermined speed; a first gap detector provided midway in the conveyor, the first gap detector being configured to detect a first preceding gap between the conveyed item and a preceding conveyed item that is conveyed immediately before the conveyed item, and a following gap between the conveyed item and a following conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind the conveyed item; at least two speed adjusters provided midway in the conveyor downstream from the first gap detector, the speed adjusters being configured to adjust a conveying speed of the conveyed item.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion configured to convey conveyed items at a predetermined speed, a speed adjustment portion arranged midway in the conveying portion, the speed adjustment portion being configured to adjust the conveying speed of the conveyed items, a thickness detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion, the thickness detector being configured to detect a thickness of the conveyed items; a gap detector arranged further upstream in conveying direction than the speed adjustment portion of the conveying portion, the gap detector being configured to detect a preceding gap between a conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately in front of that conveyed item and a following gap between that conveyed item and the conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind that conveyed item; and a control device configured to control the adjustment speed of the conveyed item by the speed adjustment portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a conveying apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey a conveyed item at a predetermined speed; a first gap detector provided midway in the conveyor, the first gap detector being configured to detect a first preceding gap between the conveyed item and a preceding conveyed item that is conveyed immediately before the conveyed item, and a following gap between the conveyed item and a following conveyed item that is conveyed immediately behind the conveyed item; at least two speed adjusters provided midway in the conveyor downstream from the first gap detector, the speed adjusters being configured to adjust a conveying speed of the conveyed item; at least two conveyed item position detectors, one of the conveyed item position detectors being provided for each of the speed adjusters, the conveyed item position detectors being configured to detect a position that a front end position of the conveyed item in the conveying direction has reached and a position that a rear end po

Abstract: A postal matter ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a postal matter. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the postal matter. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding postal matter. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding postal matter and the postal matter ejected by the ejection unit in accordance with the thickness of the preceding postal matter. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the postal matter to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: There is provided a method of thawing a frozen food in which the frozen food can be rapidly and uniformly thawed without the degradation of its quality. A frozen food is thawed by the application of electromagnetic waves of 100 MHz±10 MHz to the frozen food. The frozen food is fish eggs such as frozen sea urchin or salmon roe, a marine product such as fish meat or whale meat, frozen minced fish meat, meat or mince thereof, or food such as sushi that is formed with different food ingredients.

Abstract: A postal matter ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a postal matter. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the postal matter. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding postal matter. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding postal matter and the postal matter ejected by the ejection unit in accordance with the thickness of the preceding postal matter. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the postal matter to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: A sheet ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a sheet detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a sheet. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the sheet. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding sheet. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding sheet and the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the preceding sheet. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the sheet to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a sheet detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a sheet. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the sheet. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding sheet. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding sheet and the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the preceding sheet. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the sheet to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet stacking apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a plurality of stackers, a plurality of gates, a skew sensor, and a control unit. The gates are arranged in a number corresponding to the number of stackers, and guide the sheets from the conveyance path into the stackers, respectively. The skew sensor detects the skew of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. The control unit drives a gate corresponding to a stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in accordance with the skew value of the sheet detected by the skew sensor upstream of the gate corresponding to the stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet stacking apparatus comprises a conveyance path, a plurality of stackers, a plurality of gates, a skew sensor, and a control unit. The gates are arranged in a number corresponding to the number of stackers, and guide the sheets from the conveyance path into the stackers, respectively. The skew sensor detects the skew of the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path. The control unit drives a gate corresponding to a stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in accordance with the skew value of the sheet detected by the skew sensor upstream of the gate corresponding to the stacker, in which the sheet is to be stacked, in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path.