Abstract: Apparatus for fluidizing a pulverulent material in a stream of fluidizing gas includes a membrane through which the fluidizing gas can flow but the pulverulent material cannot, a first fluidizing gas gallery on a first side of the membrane, a second fluidized pulverulent material gallery on a second side of the membrane, a passageway out of the second gallery for the removal of fluidized pulverulent material therefrom, and apparatus for generating a signal indicative of fluidizing gas pressure inside the second gallery and controlling fluidizing gas pressure in the second gallery in response to the generated signal. The passageway accommodates a conveyor having multiple conveying sections. At least a first of the multiple conveying sections is located adjacent an inlet opening of a housing for the conveyor. The first conveying section is generally coextensive with the inlet opening. A conveyor drive mechanism is selectively engageable with the conveyor.

Abstract: A powder feeding device for feeding powder at a constant rate has a container for storing a powdered material and a discharge device mounted in the container at a lower portion thereof for discharging the powdered material from the container at a constant rate. A vibrator is mounted on the container or on a wire net mounted in the container to separate air from the powder. The powder may be supplied from a powder tank to the powder container.

Abstract: A method for reading of information, which comprises printing information on a metal substrate or a substrate capable of transmitting infrared rays of 2-10 .mu.m wavelength, with a marking ink containing tin oxide, indium-tin mixed oxide or a mixture of tin oxide or indium-tin mixed oxide and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alumina, barium sulfate, silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate, as necessary coating a clear coating or a coloring ink on at least the information-printed area of the substrate, and identifying the information by the use of a CCD camera sensitive to infrared rays of 2-10 .mu.m wavelength or an infrared detector. No noise is generated even when the reflectance of a light from the substrate surface is large, and the information can be identified (read) easily.

Abstract: Information is printed on the surface of a substrate with a marking ink containing a mixture of an indium-tin mixed oxide and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alumina, barium sulfate, silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate, to prepare an invisible marking-printed material; and infrared rays of 2-10 .mu.m wavelength are applied onto the invisible marking-printed material to measure the infrared absorptivities of the invisible marking area and other area of said material and identify the information signified by the invisible marking.

Abstract: A frictional electrification gun for use in electrostatic painting which can electrostatically charge power paint to a sufficient degree without the need of an elongated and twisted charging portion made up of nonconductive resin tubes. At the inlet of the charging portion made up of nonconductive resin tubes is provided a pre-charging portion for dispersing and charging powder paint. It has a nonconductive resin ring through which powder paint is fed swirling along its inner surface. The paint is thus sufficiently charged.

Abstract: A fluidized type paint powder tank has a fluidizing chamber for fluidizing paint powder and a storage chamber into which the paint powder in the fluidizing chamber is fed to keep it still. There is also provided a paint supply device for an electrostatic painting apparatus that includes a paint tank for containing paint powder and a painting gun coupled to the paint tank through an injector and a hose. The device includes a discharge member for discharging the paint powder from the paint tank and a hopper for receiving the paint powder discharged by the discharge member. A screw feeder is provided under the hopper. With this arrangement, the paint powder supplied at a uniform rate by the screw feeder is fed into the injector.

Abstract: A fluidized type paint powder tank has a fluidizing chamber for fluidizing paint powder and a storage chamber into which the paint powder in the fluidizing chamber is fed to keep it still. There is also provided a paint supply device for an electrostatic powder painting apparatus that includes a paint tank for containing paint powder and a painting gun coupled to the paint tank through an injector and a hose. The device includes a discharge member for discharging the paint powder from the paint tank and a hopper for receiving the paint powder discharged by the discharge member. A screw feeder is provided under the hopper. With this arrangement, the paint powder supplied at a uniform rate by the screw feeder is fed into the injector.

Abstract: A fluidized type paint powder tank has a fluidizing chamber for fluidizing paint powder and a storage chamber into which the paint powder in the fluidizing chamber is fed to keep it still. There is also provided a paint supply device for an electrostatic powder painting apparatus that includes a paint tank for containing paint powder and a painting gun coupled to the paint tank through an injector and a hose. The device includes a discharge member for discharging the paint powder from the paint tank and a hopper for receiving the paint powder discharged by the discharge member. A screw feeder is provided under the hopper. With this arrangement, the paint powder supplied at a uniform rate by the screw feeder is fed into the injector.

Abstract: A method for producing a crystalline reinforced block material, wherein a crystalline material in molten state at a high temperature is laminated in thin film form on a base material. Heat is dissipated in the direction of the base material to rapidly cool the crystalline material. Simultaneously high pressure and large shearing force is applied to the crystalline material, as the material is cooled, by a pressing means to cool and solidify the crystalline material into a thin film form on the base material. Further laminates of the crystalline material in molten state at a high temperature are laminated in a thin film form on underlying thin layer surface in molten state or semisolidified state, one after the other on the immediately proceeding laminated thin layer.