Abstract: An inner peripheral surface and a lower end surface of a bearing sleeve made of a sintered metal are each formed into a smooth cylindrical surface or a flat surface that does not have a dynamic pressure generating portion. Thus, a step of forming the dynamic pressure generating portion can be omitted from a manufacturing step of the bearing sleeve, and cost of dies can be markedly reduced. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing sleeve is formed into the smooth cylindrical surface, and hence a radial dynamic pressure generating portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft member. However, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion is accessible to tools, and hence the radial dynamic pressure generating portion can be formed easily with high accuracy. As a result, accuracy of a radial bearing gap is enhanced so that a bearing rigidity is enhanced.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing device includes: a shaft member; a bearing sleeve which forms a radial bearing gap between the bearing sleeve and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member; a housing which accommodates the bearing sleeve and is opened at both ends; and a lid member which closes an opening on one end side of the housing and forms thrust bearing portions. The housing is an injection-molded product into which the bearing sleeve is inserted, and the housing has another end with which a seal portion forming a seal space is integrally formed. The lid member is fitted with the outer peripheral surface of the housing by loose fitting so that the lid member and the housing are bonded and fixed to each other.

Abstract: A method for producing a housing for a hydrodynamic bearing apparatus includes forming a housing 7 which has a cylindrical shape and which includes a fixing face 7c for fixing the outer circumferential surface 8b of a bearing sleeve 8, and axial circulation grooves 7d for bringing both end faces 8c, 8d of the bearing sleeve 8 into circulation on the inner periphery. The method includes providing a groove molding portion 18a2 on the outer circumference of a rod 18 which serves as a forming mold for the inner periphery of the housing 7, and forming the circulation grooves 7d of the housing by forging with the groove molding portion 18a2 of the mold. Moreover, after a sealing face 107d and a cylindrical outer circumferential surface 107e provided on the outer periphery of the housing 107 are formed by forging, an inner circumferential surface 107c is formed by forging.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus to perform a screen process on color image data using threshold matrices includes an address calculation section, threshold processor and shift section. The address calculation section calculates an address in the threshold matrix. The threshold processor acquires a threshold by the address, and performs an n-valued process (n?2) on a pixel value using the threshold. The shift section divides the image data into blocks in units of the threshold matrix, determines shift amounts for each block, and shifts the address. The threshold processor acquires a threshold by an address after the shift for at least one color, and performs the n-valued process using the threshold. The threshold matrix for a color for which the address is shifted has a screen ruling with a lower number of lines than the address is not shifted.

Abstract: An image recording device comprising a line head including a plurality of recording element arrays arranged in one direction such that the recording elements have overlapping regions at the mutually adjoining end portions, characterized by comprising a halftone processor for subjecting multilevel image data to a halftone process in accordance with a first half tone processing rule to form the pattern of the dots to be recorded, as a recording pattern, an allocation processor for allocating which of the recording element arrays adjoining in the overlapping regions is used to record according to the recording pattern, by using a second half tone processing rule to suppress the low-frequency component of a space frequency, and a driver for driving the recording elements so that the dot data allocated to the individual recording element arrays may be recorded by the recording elements of the individual recording element arrays contained in the line head.

Abstract: A method for producing a housing for a hydrodynamic bearing apparatus includes forming a housing 7 which has a cylindrical shape and which includes a fixing face 7c for fixing the outer circumferential surface 8b of a bearing sleeve 8, and axial circulation grooves 7d for bringing both end faces 8c, 8d of the bearing sleeve 8 into circulation on the inner periphery. The method includes providing a groove molding portion 18a2 on the outer circumference of a rod 18 which serves as a forming mold for the inner periphery of the housing 7, and forming the circulation grooves 7d of the housing by forging with the groove molding portion 18a2 of the mold. Moreover, after a sealing face 107d and a cylindrical outer circumferential surface 107e provided on the outer periphery of the housing 107 are formed by forging, an inner circumferential surface 107c is formed by forging.

Abstract: A threshold matrix generating method includes: generating q(x, y, g) in which the number of dots in an initial dot pattern is varied; calculating an error matrix (ERR(x, y, g)) of q(x, y, g); calculating AVE(a, b) representing the uniformity of the number of dots in discrete blocks into which the dot pattern has been divided; determining two pixels, of which the dot positions are to be swapped, on the basis of ERR (x, y, g) and AVE(a, b); swapping the dot positions; calculating the evaluation value (MSE(n)) of q(x, y, g) after the positional swapping; and repeating the positional switch of the dots repeating the generation of q(x, y, g) and the positional swapping of the dots with q(x, y, g) functioning as the initial dot pattern until a q(x, y, g) satisfying MSN(n)<MSN(n?1) is obtained.

Abstract: A low-cost shaft member for hydrodynamic bearing apparatuses restores the pressure balance in a thrust bearing gap formed on both axial sides of the flange portion in an early stage. A shaft material integrally having a shaft portion and a flange portion with a through-hole between both end faces of the flange portion is formed in a common forging step. As a result, the through-hole is formed to open to an inner diameter side of the bearing gaps avoiding the thrust bearing gaps formed on both end faces of the flange portion of the shaft member as a finished product.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing apparatus includes shaft member 2, housing 7, sleeve portion 8, and sealing portions 9, 10. The housing 7 includes a straight cylindrical inner circumferential surface with a constant diameter and openings at both axial ends thereof. The sleeve portion 8 is provided separately from the housing 7 and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the housing 7. A radial bearing gap is formed between the inner circumferential surface 8a of the sleeve portion 8 and the outer circumferential surface 2a of the shaft member 2 , and thrust bearing gaps are formed between the end faces 9b, 10b of the sealing portions 9, 10 and the end faces 8b, 8c of the sleeve portion 8 opposing these to support the shaft member 2 in a non-contact manner in the radial direction and in the thrust direction by the hydrodynamic effect of a lubricating oil produced in each bearing gap.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing member having a highly accurate dynamic pressure generating portion stably at low cost. Dynamic pressure grooves (8a1) and (8a2) are formed as the dynamic pressure generating portions on an inner circumferential surface of the electroforming portion (10) by an electroforming process, and injection molding is performed by using a resin while inserting the electroforming portion (10), thereby forming a bearing member (8). A shaft member (2) is inserted into an inner circumference of the bearing member.

Abstract: A seal member is fixed to a predetermined position on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft portion. During rotation of a shaft member, a lower end surface of the seal member is opposed to an upper end surface of a bearing sleeve through an intermediation of a thrust bearing gap to form a second thrust bearing gap. An outer peripheral surface of the seal member defines between itself and an inner peripheral surface of an upper end portion of a housing a seal space having a predetermined volume.

Abstract: In a first process, initial dot pattern of a predetermined dot rate “a” is created in a first process, and a gradation value corresponding to the dot rate “a” is arranged as a threshold value in the position of the pixel of the threshold value matrix corresponding to the initial dot pattern. Then in a second process, the initial dot pattern or the dot pattern having occurred prior to the second computation is used as the dot pattern of dot rate “b”, and new dots including the dots of the dot pattern of dot rate “b” is generated or any of the dots is removed from the dot pattern of the dot rate “b” by the error diffusion method. Thus, the dot pattern of the next dot rate “b?” with its dot rate having been increased or decreased in the aforementioned procedure is generated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a defect position detecting section to detect a defect position at which no recording material is outputted; a defect position specifying section to specify a defect recording element, which resides at the defect position, and a kind of recording material to be outputted by the defect recording element; a mixture ratio determining section to determine a mixture ratio of plural recording materials, so as to make the mixture ratio of a specific recording material to be outputted by plural recording elements residing in a peripheral area of the defect position and including the defect recording element, decrease to a value lower than a normal mixture ratio, while using the normal mixture ratio for other recording elements residing in other areas.

Abstract: A fluid lubrication bearing apparatus which can stably produce high bearing performance is provided at low costs. Moreover, a method for producing a housing for hydrodynamic bearing apparatuses which can improve the accuracy of form of the housing of this type at low costs is provided. In forming a housing 7 which has a cylindrical shape and comprises a fixing face 7c for fixing the outer circumferential surface 8b of a bearing sleeve 8, and axial circulation grooves 7d for bringing both end faces 8c, Sd of the bearing sleeve 8 into circulation on the inner periphery by forging, a groove molding portion 18a2 is provided on the outer circumference of a rod 18 which serves as a forming mold for the inner periphery of the housing 7, and the circulation grooves 7d are formed by forging with this groove molding portion 18a2.

Abstract: In a steam-water separator, a swirl vane (52) is provided inside a riser (51), an annular downcomer space (54) is formed by providing a downcomer barrel (53) outside the riser (51), a deck plate (55) is arranged above the riser (51) and the downcomer barrel (53) with a predetermined space therefrom, an orifice (56) and vents (57) are formed, and aperture ratios of plural slits (58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d) formed on the riser (51) are set at from 30% to 70%. Accordingly, the steam and the water is appropriately separated, and the separated steam is reliably discharged upward from the orifice while the separated water is allowed to reliably flow down through the downcomer space, thereby enhancing steam-water separating efficiency.

Abstract: A low-cost shaft member for hydrodynamic bearing apparatuses restores the pressure balance in a thrust bearing gap formed on both axial sides of the flange portion in an early stage. A shaft material integrally having a shaft portion and a flange portion with a through-hole between both end faces of the flange portion is formed in a common forging step. As a result, the through-hole is formed to open to an inner diameter side of the bearing gaps avoiding the thrust bearing gaps formed on both end faces of the flange portion of the shaft member as a finished product.

Abstract: An image recording device comprising a line head including a plurality of recording element arrays arranged in one direction such that the recording elements have overlapping regions at the mutually adjoining end portions, characterized by comprising a halftone processor for subjecting multilevel image data to a halftone process in accordance with a first half tone processing rule to form the pattern of the dots to be recorded, as a recording pattern, an allocation processor for allocating which of the recording element arrays adjoining in the overlapping regions is used to record according to the recording pattern, by using a second half tone processing rule to suppress the low-frequency component of a space frequency, and a driver for driving the recording elements so that the dot data allocated to the individual recording element arrays may be recorded by the recording elements of the individual recording element arrays contained in the line head.

Abstract: In order to improve retention strength of a lid member without increase in size and reduction in bearing property of a bearing device, a fluid dynamic bearing device (1) includes: a shaft member (2); a bearing sleeve (8) which forms a radial bearing gap between the bearing sleeve and an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member (2); a housing (4) which accommodates the bearing sleeve (8) and is opened at both ends; and a lid member (10) which closes an opening on one end side of the housing (9) and forms thrust bearing portions (T1 and T2). The housing (9) is an injection-molded product into which the bearing sleeve (8) is inserted, and the housing (9) has another end with which a seal portion (9b) forming a seal space (S) is integrally formed. The lid member (10) is fitted with the outer peripheral surface of the housing (9) by loose fitting so that the lid member (10) and the housing (9) are bonded and fixed to each other.

Abstract: In a steam-water separator, horizontal slits are formed on the outer side of the curving direction of the curved part and at a location between the curved part of the riser and the swirl vane.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor element includes an anode foil, a solid electrolytic layer, a cathode foil, and a connection portion. The anode foil is composed of valve metal and has at least one through hole passing therethrough in thickness direction thereof. The solid electrolytic layer is made of conductive polymer and is provided on a surface of the anode foil. The cathode foil is provided on a surface of the solid electrolytic layer. The connection portion is provided in the through hole and electrically connects a first solid electrolytic layer and a second solid electrolytic layer, the first solid electrolytic layer being a region of the solid electrolytic layer on one face of the anode foil, the second solid electrolytic layer being another region of the solid electrolytic layer on the other face of the anode foil.