Abstract: An artificial cardiac pump, comprising an impeller (3) rotatably supported on a fixed shaft body (2) in a housing (1) and a drive mechanism rotating the impeller, wherein blood is taken in from the front side and force-fed to the rear side by the rotation of the impeller (3). The shaft body (2) is connected between a front side fixed body (5) fixed to a straightening plate (4) joined to the housing (1) at the front of the impeller (3) and a rear side fixed body (7) fixed to a diffuser (6) joined to the housing (1) at the rear of the impeller (3). The impeller (3) further comprises a sleeve (8) having an inner peripheral surface opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body (2) through a minute clearance and front and rear end faces opposed to the rear end face of the front side fixed body (5) and the front end face of the rear side fixed body (7) through minute clearances, and an impeller (9) joined to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve (8).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing niobium and/or tantalum powder consisting of: a first-stage reduction process of reducing niobium and/or tantalum oxides with alkali metals and/or alkaline-earth metals to obtain low-grade oxide powder represented by (NbTa) Ox, where x=0.06 to 0.35, a process of removing the oxide of alkali metals and/or alkaline-earth metals generated in the first-stage reduction process, and a second-stage reduction process of reducing the low-grade oxide powder obtained in the first-stage reduction process, with a melt solution of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals to obtain niobium and/or tantalum powder.

Abstract: A switchback device has an inverting tray for temporarily holding a sheet guided inside the switchback device thereon; a guide unit for guiding the sheet in pressing contact with the inverting tray when the sheet exits the switchback device in an exiting direction on the inverting tray, the exiting direction opposite to an entering direction of the sheet on the inverting tray; a guide switching unit for selectively changing the guide unit to a sheet guide allow state to allow the sheet to enter in the entering direction on the inverting tray and a sheet pressing state to make the sheet in pressing contact with the inverting; and a sheet transporting unit for transporting the sheet out of the switchback device in the exiting direction on the inverting tray.

Abstract: An image forming device connected to one or more data processing devices is disclosed, and includes a printer unit, a copying unit, a document transport unit for transporting documents printed in the printer unit to a document mounting unit on the copying unit, and a guide member for moving the printer unit between a first position adjacent to the document mounting unit on the copying unit and a second position separated from the document mounting unit. The data processing device sends print jobs to the printer unit, and if multiple copies are desired, the printed documents are sent to the copying unit by the document transport device and copied.

Abstract: An image forming device connected to one or more data processing devices is disclosed, and includes a printer unit, a copying unit, a document transport unit for transporting documents printed in the printer unit to a document mounting unit on the copying unit, and a guide member for moving the printer unit between a first position adjacent to the document mounting unit on the copying unit and a second position separated from the document mounting unit. The data processing device sends print jobs to the printer unit, and if multiple copies are desired, the printed documents are sent to the copying unit by the document transport device and copied.

Abstract: A transfer unit of an image forming apparatus includes a transfer device, a pressing member, and a regulative member. The transfer device is provided adjacent to a photoconductor of the image forming apparatus and is separable from the photoconductor under its own weight. The pressing member presses the transfer device against the photoconductor. The regulative member regulates the distance by which transfer device is separated from the photoconductor when the pressing member disengages the transfer device therefrom. In this transfer unit, if a printing sheet is large, the pressing member disengages the transfer device after a given transfer operation. As a result, the transfer device separates from the photoconductor under its own weight, with the distance separating the transfer device from the photoconductor being regulated by the regulative member. Then, the transfer device idles in the separated state, wherein preparation for a subsequent transfer operation is made.

Abstract: A nipping device is provided in a transfer unit having a fixed support and rotating element rotatably supported by the fixed support. The nipping device retains a printing sheet against the circumferential surface of the rotating element, and separates the printing sheet from the transfer unit. The nipping device includes a nipper, a pivoting lever device and a drive device. The nipper is disposed pivotally on the circumferential surface of the rotating element, and retains the feed-leading edge of the printing sheet. The levers of the pivoting lever device are disposed within the rotating element, pivotal on an axes intersecting the circumferential surface of the transfer unit, and functions therein to open and close the nipper by which the printing sheet is nipped against and separated from the transfer unit. The drive device is disposed in the fixed support, and functions to turn the pivoting levers.