Abstract: A laser machining device includes a plurality of optical fibers and a collimator lens arranged in parallel along a supply nozzle for supplying a molten material, and a laser beam projected from the optical fiber is applied onto an axis between a tip of the supply nozzle and a build-up welding spot.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material includes a parent phase in which an MgSiSn alloy is a main component, a void formed in the parent phase, and a silicon layer that is formed on at least a wall surface of the void and that includes silicon as a main component. The thermoelectric material further includes MgO in an amount of 1.0 wt. % or more and 20.0 wt. % or less. The silicon layer includes amorphous Si, or amorphous Si and nanosized Si crystals, and the parent phase includes a region in which the composition ratio of the Si of the chemical composition of the MgSiSn alloy is higher than in the other regions and a region in which the composition ratio of the Sn of the chemical composition of the MgSiSn alloy is higher than in the other regions. With these configurations, the thermoelectric material realizes both lower thermal conductivity and lower electrical resistivity.

Abstract: A protrusion on a first member made of synthetic resin wherein a laser beam is applied to a side surface of the protrusion in a state in which a top surface of the protrusion of the first member is abutted against a second member made of synthetic resin, so as to melt at least the entire top surface of the protrusion and melt a portion of the second member in contact with the protrusion by heat of the melted top surface of the protrusion, followed by solidification of the melted portions, whereby the first member and the second member are welded together.

Abstract: A protrusion on a first member made of synthetic resin wherein a laser beam is applied to a side surface of the protrusion in a state in which a top surface of the protrusion of the first member is abutted against a second member made of synthetic resin, so as to melt at least the entire top surface of the protrusion and melt a portion of the second member in contact with the protrusion by heat of the melted top surface of the protrusion, followed by solidification of the melted portions, whereby the first member and the second member are welded together.

Abstract: Electrodes (7, 8, 9), having curved sections in the shape of the outline thereof, are disposed in areas of a rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric transducer element (1) in which the strain in the natural mode of vibration is large. The electrodes (7, 8) which excite a bending vibration are disposed in areas in which the strain in the bending natural mode is at least a predetermined value, and the outline curved sections of the electrodes (7, 8) are shaped so as to follow along strain contours (3, 4), and the electrode (9) which excites a stretching vibration is disposed in an area in which the strain in the stretching natural mode is at least a predetermined value, thus providing a transducer for an ultrasonic motor which aims to reduce transducer loss (increasing vibration efficiency), and improve transducer durability and reliability.

Abstract: A holding device for a piezoelectric vibrator including a support member (11) for separately accommodating a piezoelectric vibrator (1), a first plate spring member (13) which extends from a proximal end fixedly bonded to one side of the support member (11) so as to sandwich opposing sides of the piezoelectric vibrator (1) and is folded back to be fixedly bonded to the piezoelectric vibrator, and a second plate spring member (18) which extends from a proximal end fixedly bonded to another side of the support member (11) so as to sandwich the opposing sides of the piezoelectric vibrator (1) and is folded back to be fixedly bonded to the piezoelectric vibrator. The first plate spring member (13) and the second plate spring member (18) are integrated at portions fixedly bonded to the piezoelectric vibrator (1).

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator mechanism including: a screw-driven feeding mechanism that has a feed screw (11) and a feed screw nut (14); a disc-shaped rotor (17) mounted on the rear-end face of the feed screw nut (14); an ultrasonic motor (18) having a piezoelectric vibrator (19) that comes in contact with the circumference face of the rotor (17); and a driven mounting portion that is pressed against the leading end of the feed screw 11 by spring force, and displaced and positioned by the feeding operation of the feed screw. The driven mounting portion can be made to be a mirror holder (1) for use in an optical system, or a movable table (21) of a linear stage.

Abstract: Electrodes (7, 8, 9), having curved sections in the shape of the outline thereof, are disposed in areas of a rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric transducer element (1) in which the strain in the natural mode of vibration is large. The eletrodes (7, 8) which excite a bending vibration are disposed in areas in which the strain in the bending natural mode is at least a predetermined value, and the outline curved sections of the electrodes (7, 8) are shaped so as to follow along strain contours (3, 4), and the electrode (9) which excites a stretching vibration is disposed in an area in which the strain in the stretching natural mode is at least a predetermined value, thus providing a transducer for an ultrasonic motor which aims to reduce transducer loss (increasing vibration efficiency), and improve transducer durability and reliability.

Abstract: An object is to provide a holding device for a piezoelectric vibrator, which eliminates vibration energy loss and a change in vibration characteristics, and is capable of supplying stable output with high efficiency. The holding device for a piezoelectric vibrator of the present invention includes: a support member (11) of a frame shape or a box shape for separately accommodating a piezoelectric vibrator (1); and a plate spring structure (12) interposed between sides of the support member (11) and the piezoelectric vibrator (1).

Abstract: An input device includes a magnet to be worn by a user on one fingertip of either a right hand or a left hand, a first magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on a wrist of either the right hand or the left hand to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet at a corresponding position, a second magnetic sensor to be worn by the user on the same wrist on which the first magnetic sensor is worn and at a position that is farther from the magnet than the first magnetic sensor and eliminates effects of geomagnetism, and an output unit to output a difference between an output signal from the first magnetic sensor and an output signal from the second magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A freely rotatable endless belt has a bottom face that is opposed, in the water, to an ultrasonic oscillator. A carbon fiber fabric is transferred from a supply roller to a hot roller while being given tension by means of a torque motor and a constant speed motor connected to the supply roller and the hot roller, respectively. The carbon fiber fabric moves in contact with the bottom face of the endless belt, whereby endless belt rotates in synchronism with the carbon fiber fabric. Two oblique movement correcting belts are so disposed as to be pressed against both side portions of the endless belt while gripping respective selvages of the carbon fiber fabric. Each of the two oblique movement correcting belts is connected to a variable speed motor via a uni-directional clutch that transmits a driving force only in the direction of transferring the carbon fiber fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus for disintegrating a carbon fiber fabric. The apparatus includes a water vessel containing water, with an ultrasonic wave oscillator immersed in the water and a guide plate for the fabric being located in opposed relation to the oscillator. A conveyor is provided for continuously conveying the carbon fiber fabric along the side of the guide plate facing the oscillator. Sound waves generated by the oscillator function to press the carbon fiber fabric against the guide plate in a manner as to cause the fabric to be disintegrated under the effects of the ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a weft to weave a carbon fiber fabric. A carbon fiber package is supported rotatably in such a manner that the axis of the shaft thereof is substantially perpendicular to the running direction of the carbon fiber. The package is rotated so as to deliver the carbon fiber of a prescribed length necessary for one shot weaving of the weft. The carbon fiber of the prescribed length is reserved in a reservoir under an adjusted constant tension before shooting the carbon fiber weft of the prescribed length.

Abstract: A carbon fiber-reinforced composite material is prepared by molding a textile weave-reinforced composite material using a plain textile weave obtained by weaving multifilament yarns comprising a plurality of substantially non-twisted carbon fiber filaments which have been bonded to each other with a sizing agent, wherein a yarn disintegrating step of breaking each bond between the filaments of yarns constituting said textile weave is included as a step preceding a composite molding step.