Abstract: To provide a conductive roller which does not cause defective images with, for example, black lines, which would otherwise be caused by current leakage due to aggregation of carbon black particles or a similar phenomenon, and a method for inspecting the roller. The conductive roller having a metallic core and at least one rubber elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core, the rubber elastic layer being formed from a conductive rubber which has ion conductivity and which contains carbon black micropowder, characterized in that said rubber elastic layer satisfies the relationship represented by the following formula: |?max/?min|?5, ??[F1] wherein ?max represents the maximum value of phase difference ? as measured upon application of an AC voltage of 1.0 V within a frequency range of 100 mHz to 10 kHz, and ?min represents the minimum value of phase difference ? as measured under the same conditions.

Abstract: A dynamic damper that has high lateral spring characteristics regardless of the size of a hollow propeller shaft and enables resonance characteristics to be obtained from low to high frequency ranges, wherein metal components are reduced and costs are lowered without bonding, and the dynamic damper is easily mounted. The dynamic damper has a damper mass (3) that freely fits into a hollow shaft (2) and is covered on the surface with an elastic member; mounting members (4, 5) that are disposed at the two ends of the damper mass (3) and are composed of elastic members fixed by compression inside the hollow shaft (2); and elastic connecting members (7, 8) that elastically and integrally connect the damper mass (3) to the mounting members (4, 5) so that the damper mass and mounting members have the same axis (6), and that are inclined in relation to this axis (6).

Abstract: The engine mount of the invention has a vibration side attaching member (2) to be attached to an engine, a supporting side attaching substrate (4) to be attached to a supporting frame (3), and a rubber vibration isolator (5). This is interposed and fixed between the supporting side attaching substrate (4) and vibration side attaching member (2) and prevents vibrations of the vibration generator. The vibration side attaching member (2) is fixed to the supporting frame (3) side in a condition penetrating the rubber vibration isolator (5), and serves as a stopper at the compression side in conjunction with the supporting frame (3) or supporting side attaching substrate 4. When great movement occurs, the supporting frame side end portion of the vibration side attaching member (2) comes into contact with the supporting frame (3) or supporting side attaching substrate (4).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing an oil-resistant elastomer being cross-linked millable polyurethane obtained by polyaddition of at least one polyester diol and at least one diisocyanate, comprising the steps of:selecting the kinds and blend proportion of the at least one polyester diol and the at least one diisocyanate, respectively, so that the resulting polyurethane has an ester group concentration of at least 25 wt. % (5.7 mmol/g) and less than 35 wt. % (8 mmol/g) and a urethane group concentration of at least 7 wt. % (1.2 mmol/g) and less than 12 wt. % (2.0 mmol/g), reacting the at least one polyester diol and at least one diisocyanate to produce a millable polyurethane, and crosslinking the millable polyurethane with a curing agent to form an oil-resistant elastomer which has a rubber hardness of JIS A 95° or less and an elongation at break of at least 100%, wherein the elastomer exhibits a percent change in weight, when exposed to IRM 903 lubricating oil, of 20% or less.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluoride single crystal for detecting radiation having high luminescence intensity, a scintillator, a radiation detector employing the single crystal and a method for detecting radiation. The fluoride single crystal for detecting radiation contains Ce and at least one element (R1) of Lu and Gd, wherein the single crystal is represented by Ce1-xR1xF3 (0.001?x?0.5).

Abstract: A mount for an upper portion of a vehicle damper suspension includes an elastic member interconnecting a bracket fixed to a vehicle body and a bracket fixed to a damper rod protruding from a damper case and formed into a tubular shape to surround an outer periphery of an upper portion of the bracket, a first liquid chamber defined in part by the elastic member, and a second liquid chamber defined in part by a diaphragm communicate with each other through a communication passage. The elastic member is shear-deformed vertically with the vertical movement of the damper rod. Thus, it is possible to reduce the vertical dimension of a damper mount, while ensuring a large amount of change in the volume of the first liquid chamber, as compared with a conventional damper mount in which the block-shaped elastic member provided at the upper portion of the damper case is deformed under compression or tension, to thereby change the volume of the first liquid chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material which is low toxic and can be used at a high temperature of 500° C. or higher without variation in performance, and a thermoelectric conversion device containing the material. The thermoelectric conversion material is formed of an oxide represented by (Ca3-xMx)Co4O9 (M: Sr or Ba, 1.2>x>0.5).

Abstract: This invention provides a plasma reactor for modifying gas by plasma, including a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode, the two electrodes facing opposite each other approximately in parallel; a dielectric body inserted between the first and the second electrodes; and a complex barrier discharge-generating way for providing a predetermined electric potential difference between the first and the second electrodes; wherein the first and the second electrodes are provided so as to apply complex plasma discharge to the gas to be treated fed between the electrodes, to thereby modify the gas. According to the invention, gas modification efficiency can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides the novel thermoelectric materials having, in combination, processability and excellent thermoelectric characteristics, the thermoelectric materials being able to provide n-type thermoelectric characteristics in accordance with the nature of the employed inorganic thermoelectric materials; a thermoelectric device employing the materials; and a method for producing the thermoelectric materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide phosphor for use in an electroluminescent device, which phosphor is capable of providing a high-luminance EL device while the composition thereof is controlled to be as simple as possible, and which phosphor attains multi-color and full-color light emissions without the need for treatment at a high temperature greatly in excess of 1,000° C. The invention also provides an electroluminescent device employing the phosphor. The oxide phosphor for use in an electroluminescent device is formed from an yttrium (Y) oxide as a matrix and at least one transition metal element as an activator, or from a Y—Ge—O oxide or a Y—Ge—Si—O oxide as a matrix and at least one metallic element, as a luminescence center, selected from among transition metal elements and rare earth metal elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotography rubber member which has a rebound resilience remaining satisfactorily stabilized over changes in environmental conditions and can serve as a member such as a high-performance cleaning blade and provides a similar sheet-separation rubber member which generates no noise. The electrophotography rubber member or sheet-separation rubber member is formed of a rubber elastomer containing a polyurethane formed from a long-chain polyol containing a polyester-polyol having a number average molecular weight of 500-5,000 and an ester concentration of 2-8 mmol/g, wherein the ester concentration is defined by the following relationship: Ester concentration (mmol/g)=(Amount by mol of ester groups)/(Weight of the polyester-polyol).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a charge-imparting member which can be produced at low cost and maintains superior characteristics for a long period of time. The invention provides a charge-imparting member including an elastic layer formed of an epichlorohydrin rubber material and a surface-treated layer formed by use of a surface treatment liquid containing at least one polymer selected from among an acrylic fluoropolymer and an acrylic silicone polymer; a conductivity-imparting agent; and an isocyanate component.

Abstract: A conductive blade includes a blade member formed of an electrically conductive rubber, and an electrically conductive holder. The blade member has one widthwise end portion serving as a free end portion and the other widthwise end portion serving as a bonding end portion. One end of the free end portion is brought into contact with a subject member. The holder is bonded to the bonding end portion of the blade member over the length of the blade member. A conductive layer formed of a conducting filler and an elastomer is provided for connecting the end face of the bonding end portion of the blade member and a portion of the holder which is adjacent to the end face of the bonding end portion.

Abstract: A blade has a rubber blade member and a holder. One widthwise end portion of the blade member is brought into sliding contact with a subject member. The holder is bonded to the other widthwise end portion of the blade member via an adhesive layer. The holder extends in the longitudinal direction of the blade. Conductive paste is applied to at least a portion of an externally exposed end surface of the adhesive layer between the blade member and the holder.

Abstract: A conductive member is used in a state in which the conductive member maintains contact with a subject member. The conductive member has a single-body structure and is formed of a polymeric base material that contains a conducting filler. A portion of the conductive member in which the density of the conducting filler is lower than that in the remaining portion or substantially zero extends 2-20 &mgr;m inward from a contacting end of the conductive member at which the conductive member abuts the subject member.

Abstract: A conductive member is used in a state in which the conductive member maintains contact with a subject member. The conductive member has a single-body structure and is formed of a polymeric base material that contains a conducting filler. A portion of the conductive member in which the density of the conducting filler is lower than that in the remaining portion or substantially zero ranges 20-120 &mgr;m inwardly from an end of the conductive member at which the conductive member abuts the subject member.

Abstract: This invention provides a plasma reactor for modifying gas by plasma, including a first planar electrode and a second planar electrode, the two electrodes facing opposite each other approximately in parallel; a dielectric body inserted between the first and the second electrodes; and a complex barrier discharge-generating means for providing a predetermined electric potential difference between the first and the second electrodes; wherein the first and the second electrodes are provided so as to apply complex plasma discharge to the gas to be treated fed between the electrodes, to thereby modify the gas. According to the invention, gas modification efficiency can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a charge-imparting member which can be produced at low cost and maintains superior characteristics for a long period of time. The invention provides a charge-imparting member including an elastic layer formed of an epichlorohydrin rubber material and a surface-treated layer formed by use of a surface treatment liquid containing at least one polymer selected from among an acrylic fluoropolymer and an acrylic silicone polymer; a conductivity-imparting agent; and an isocyanate component.

Abstract: A toner carrier is included in an image forming apparatus wherein the electrical resistance between a shaft of the toner carrier and a surface which covers the shaft is different depending on the polarity of the voltage applied between th shaft and the surface. A resistance characteristic is thereby obtained having a resistance that allows prescribed current to flow from the shaft side to the surface side and which makes current flow from the surface side to the shaft side difficult. This prevents leakage current being received from the surface of the photosensitive drum. The amount of charging up of the toner therefore does not drop and a prescribed amount of charging up can be maintained, which means that fog of the image background surface does not occur. Furthermore, because there is no voltage dependence at the toner carrier surface from the shaft side, stable image density can be achieved, enabling high image quality to be achieved.

Abstract: A liquid-filled vibration isolator includes: an annular mounting portion provided at an end portion of an arm; an inner cylinder disposed inside the annular mounting portion; two resilient members disposed adjacent to each other in an axial direction of the inner cylinder, the resilient member connecting an inner peripheral surface of the annular mounting portion and an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder in such a manner as to define an annular liquid chamber facing the inner peripheral surface of the annular mounting portion and the resilient members; and two ring members respectively fixed to outer peripheral surfaces of the two resilient members, the ring members being press-fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the annular mounting portion in such a manner as to abut against two stepped portions formed on the inner peripheral surfaces, respectively.