Abstract: The present invention provides a ganache-type chocolate composition outstanding in inclusion (mechanical) fitness when contained in confectionery dough, and moreover having good baking tolerance. The chocolate composition includes 1 to 30 wt. % non-fat cacao part, 10 to 50 wt. % fats/oils, 4 to 40 wt. % moisture and by anhydride conversion, 0.2 to 10 wt. % heat-coagulating proteins, and is in non-liquid at 5° C. Chocolate confectionery may be easily manufactured by including or coating this chocolate composition in/on other confectionery dough. Moreover, separately baking the chocolate composition itself can provide chocolate confectionery having new tastes/textures.

Abstract: In a fully automated tissue-smear preparation system, a configuration is disclosed for rapidly drying the slide smears prior to the system staining procedure. Slides bearing smeared tissue samples are briefly immersed into methyl alcohol solution, forcing liquid components in the smear cells to pass out. The smear slides are withdrawn and fanned to evaporate and dry liquid components and alcohol solution on the tissue smears. The process of drying the smear slides is accordingly optimized for the subsequent staining procedure.

Abstract: A reel body (1) of a double bearing reel includes a pair of side plates (10) and (11), two connecting members (12a and 12b), and a fishing rod installation portion (4). The pair of side plates define a cylindrically shaped space there between and have respective circumferential outer surfaces formed by lathe cutting work with a radius (R1) about a first centering axis (01) so as have a circular shape. The upper connecting member (12a) connects the pair of side plates and a portion (12C) of a radially outer surface of the upper connecting member is provided with an arcuate shape formed by lathe cutting work having a radius (R2) about a second centering axis (02). The fishing rod installation portion 4 extends in the longitudinal direction of the fishing rod and is integrally formed with a portion of a lower connecting member (12b).

Abstract: A centrifugal braking mechanism is a device for braking a spool that is rotatably supported in a reel body. The braking mechanism uses centrifugal forces in order to produce braking force against rotation of the spool. The braking mechanism includes a plurality of brake members, a brake housing having a cylindrically shaped brake liner, and an adjusting mechanism. Each of the plurality of brake members is configured to move in a radially outward direction relative to the spool in response to rotation of the spool. The brake housing and brake liner are moveable in an axial direction relative to the spool and brake members such that any selected number of the brake members may contact the brake liner to generate the braking force. The adjusting mechanism is used to selectively move the brake housing and brake liner into any of a plurality of axial positions thereby determining the number of brake members that are contactable with the brake liner in response to centrifugal force.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein assayed specimens can be transferred in any order to a specimen-container housing rack automatically and very efficiently, without any restrictions whatsoever on the order in which the specimen containers are placed in the specimen-container racks and assayed, even if different types of specimen vessel are present.

Abstract: A motor includes a stationary shaft and a rotatable rotor hub disposed about the stationary shaft. The rotor hub is adapted to support a magnetic storage disk such a hard disk. The motor includes thrust oil dynamic pressure bearings that axial support the rotor hub on the stationary shaft. The motor also includes radial gas-lubricated dynamic bearings that radially support the rotor hub on the stationary shaft. The thrust oil dynamic pressure bearings include electrically conductive fluid lubricant that provides a ground between the rotor hub and the stationary shaft thereby preventing undesirable discharges of electrostatic charges that may build up on the magnetic storage disk.

Abstract: A motor includes a stationary shaft, a stationary thrust plate fixed to the stationary shaft and a rotor adapted to rotate about the stationary shaft and stationary thrust plate. A rotary thrust plate is fixed within an upper opening of the rotor facing an upper surface of the stationary thrust plate. Portions of a surface of each of the stationary and rotary thrust plates and lubricant therebetween define an upper thrust bearing. The rotary thrust plate is formed with a lubricant injection hole that allows for simple manufacturing steps wherein the motor is completely assembled before lubricant is injected through the lubricant injection hole into the upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing defined between portions of adjacent surfaces of the stationary thrust plate and the rotor.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing apparatus, a fixing device heat-roller control system configured for specially controlling the heat roller fixing temperature during consecutive dual-sided copying of a large number of sheets. The electrophotographic printing apparatus in particular is adapted for stack-less conveyance from the fixing unit of sheets onto one side of which the copy toner image has been fixed in dual-sided copying, switching the sheets back to image reproduction unit. The fixing unit has a heat roller incorporating an internal heater and a press roller in pressing contact with the heat roller. The fixing device heat-roller control system includes a sensor associated with the heat roller for detecting its superficial temperature, a switching element for supplying/cutting off voltage to the internal heater, and a temperature control unit connected to the sensor and the switching element.

Abstract: A cork grip includes a main part (21) that is formed of cork pieces each having a predetermined cylindrical shape that are punched out of a cork sheet formed of cork material stripped from a cork tree and pressed into the shape of a board. The cork sheet is punched into the cylindrical shapes in such a manner that pithy tissues (6a) of the cork intersect with the axial direction of the main part (21). The pithy tissues (6a) of the main part 21 are filled with a filling agent that includes a mixture of binder and cork powder.

Abstract: Aqueous blood-sample diluting reagent and method of its use for compelling a morphological change in a blood sample to yield an MCV value assayed at elapsed time after the sample is drawn to be consistent within a diagnostically acceptable range with the original, immediate post-drawing MCV value. Selection of a small amount of a predetermined surfactant added within a limited range of concentration, and of a salt for adjusting osmotic pressure of the sample is thereby determined. The blood sample is treated with an anti-coagulant agent immediately post-drawing, and for assay in a particle analyzer at post-drawing elapsed time is diluted with the reagent solution. The reagent has an osmotic pressure (&pgr;) of approximately 150-400 mOsm/kg and a pH of 6.0-8.5. The surfactant is present in a 0.0005% to 0.5% concentration and has a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) of 10-20.

Abstract: The present invention configures a pushcart, in particular a baggage cart such as is used in airports, for ease of maneuverability in negotiating an escalator stairway. The cart is fitted with a front wheel assembly and pivotable rear wheel assemblies, as well as with drop-attenuating mechanisms fitted to each wheel assembly. The rear wheel assemblies each include a reverse-releasable, pivoting-lock mechanism. The drop attenuating mechanisms function when the pivotable wheel assemblies are locked in the pushcart advancing direction, and include damped-swing traction members for establishing adhesive friction in contacting the treads of a sloping escalator stairway. The traction members bear the pushcart through a damped swing if the wheel assemblies are not riding on the treads of the escalator steps.

Abstract: The invention provides a stackless continuous dual-sided copying method in photocopying machines.

Abstract: A cable driven ride includes at least one carriage configured to receive and support an motorized passenger vehicle filled with at least one passenger and move with a cable as the cable is moved between at least one terminal and a tower, the cable extending therebetween.

Abstract: A storage-disk drive motor miniaturized and made thinner by eliminating the conventional thrust plate for the rotor-hub thrust dynamic pressure-generating bearing, and by employing only one rotor-hub radial dynamic pressure-generating bearing. The motor is inner-rotor type wherein the rotor magnet is radially inward of the stator. To maintain thrust bearing rigidity absent the thrust plate, the stator/bracket and the rotor magnet are configured such that magnetism between them imparts a energizing force to the rotor hub biasing it axially, and at the same time, specially striated dynamic-pressure-generating grooves in the rotor hub bearings generate thrust to balance this energizing force. Due to the special rotor-hub bearing configuration, the means for venting the lubricant retained in the bearing micro-gaps are modified accordingly.

Abstract: Various parts in an assembly of parts are made of differing metals having incompatible ionization characteristics. Any two parts which have incompatible ionization characteristics are separated from one another such that corrosion inducing contact therebetween is eliminated. Therefore, the possibility of electrolytical corrosion can be reduced. For example, in one embodiment a spool assembly in a spinning reel includes a spool (12) made of a magnesium alloy mounted on a spool shaft (16). The spool shaft (16) is made of a stainless steel. Stainless steel and the magnesium alloy have ionization characteristics that are not compatible, leading to possible electrolytic corrosion therebetween. However, a sleeve (20) is disposed between the spool (12) and spool shaft (16). The sleeve (20) is made of an aluminum alloy that has ionization characteristics that are compatible with both the magnesium alloy and stainless steel.

Abstract: A centrifugal braking mechanism of a dual-bearing reel for braking under centrifugal force the reel spool fitted rotatively in the body of the reel. The centrifugal braking mechanism achieves simple adjustment of braking force, by which adjustment distinctly perceptible differences in braking force are gained. The centrifugal braking mechanism includes shifting members (52), a brake element (53), an urging member (54), a restricting member (55), and an urging force adjusting mechanism (56). The shifting members are provided on a rotary member (51) that rotates with the spool, and are shifted under centrifugal force arising from rotation of the spool. The brake element is non-rotatably provided on, and permitted to shift axially with respect to, the reel body. The brake element comes into contact with the shifting members shifted under centrifugal force. The urging member urges the brake element towards the shifting members, which movement is controlled by the restricting member.

Abstract: With the object of providing an imaging method that eliminates the occurrence of transfer ghosts, saves space and lowers costs, and by which image density irregularities do not arise, an imaging method utilized in a reverse-transfer system is disclosed. The reverse-transfer system is provided with, in order going round a photosensitive conductor 1, at least a main-charging stage 2, an exposure stage 3, a reverse-developing stage 4, a transfer stage 5, a separation stage 6 and a charge-stripping stage 7. The separation stage 6 applies a separation shift-bias voltage to the photosensitive conductor 1 surface. The separation shift-bias voltage is 1 kV or more, and is of the same polarity as that of the main-charging voltage that the main-charging stage 2 applies to the photosensitive conductor 1 surface. Making the separation shift-bias voltage 1 kV or more prevents transfer ghosts, and obtains images with a satisfactory absence of image density irregularities.

Abstract: A double bearing reel that facilitates operating the braking and sounding mechanisms while fishing. A reel includes a reel body having a handle (2), a spool (15), a clutch mechanism (21), a frictional braking mechanism (26), a sounding mechanism (27), a switching operation mechanism (28), and a drag mechanism (42). The frictional braking mechanism is capable of braking the spool in its braking state regardless of the state of the clutch mechanism and switchable between the braking state and a non-braking state. The sounding mechanism is capable of producing sound in accordance with the rotation of the spool and switchable between an engaged state in which sound may be produced and a disengaged state in which no sound is produced.

Abstract: Configuration for waterproofing rotary mechanism shafts protruding from the compartments in which they are housed in a spinning reel main unit. In each case the shafts are supported on ball bearings, but in some cases the outer race and its mounting are fitted to be stationary in the compartment with respect to the compartment, and the shaft and the inner race supporting are rotatable. In other cases, the shaft and the inner race supporting it are stationary, and the outer race and its mounting in the compartment rotate about the shaft. Shaft seals are furnished to seal respective protruding shafts. In all cases, the seal is retained by the compartment mounting axially outward with respect to the compartment and contacts both the stationary and at least either the rotary component or the rotary mechanism shaft. Washers, caps, or lids retain and position the shaft seals against the shaft bearing stationary components.

Abstract: First and second aspirator manipulation units operate a single-pipette in a coagulation analyzer for aspirating plasma samples from both rubber-capped as well as uncapped vessels. A first holder in the first aspirator manipulation unit actually retains the pipette, while a second holder in the second aspirator manipulation unit is configured to enclose the first holder leaving a predetermined amount of play. To move the pipette toward a sample vessel in a rack that has been shifted into aspiration position, the holders in the manipulation units are inter-fitted, and are translated down. If the pipette strikes a cap, a sensing means in the first aspirator manipulation unit signals a controller to operate the first aspirator manipulation unit to back the pipette upward slightly. Thereupon, the controller, via the second aspirator manipulation unit, actuates the second holder alone to press on the first holder to stab the pipette through the cap.