Abstract: An apparatus includes an atomizer with a first flow member defining a first flow path and a second flow member defining a second flow path such that a solution and an inlet gas can flow in the first and second flow path to a mixing volume defined by the first flow member. A vane of the second flow member redirects a portion of at least one of a tangential velocity component or a circumferential velocity component of the flow to produce a rotational velocity component therein. The solution and the inlet gas mix within the mixing volume to produce a mixture. A separator is fluidically coupled to the second flow member to receive the mixture. The separator produces a first flow including a vaporized portion of a solvent from the solution and a second flow including a liquid portion of the solvent and a solute from the solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper conveyance mechanism capable of curl correction of paper drawn out from roll paper according to the intensity of curl. The paper conveyance mechanism comprises an ironing part for correcting paper curl which is brought into contact with an outer surface of the paper, a pressing part which presses the paper from one side to bend the paper at the ironing part, and an arm engaged with an outer circumferential surface of the roll paper to be operated according to a change in a roll diameter. An upstream-side pressing part is moved from the one side toward the other side in association with an operation of the arm during at least part of a period of the operation of the arm to reduce an ironing angle formed in the paper bent at the ironing part according to a decrease in the roll diameter.

Abstract: A printer provided with a paper cutter apparatus having improved durability and preventing an increase in size of the whole printer is provided. The printer is provided with the paper cutter apparatus having a fixed blade and a drivable movable blade. The printer comprises a body and a swing door openably attached to the body. The fixed blade is provided in the body and the movable blade is provided in the swing door. A driving link is provided in the swing door and coupled to the movable blade. A driving motor as a driving source is provided in the body. A slider is provided in the body. Driving force of the driving motor is conveyed to the driving link via the slider and the movable blade is moved toward the fixed blade by the driving link.

Abstract: A compact, microprocessor-controlled instrument for fluorometric assays in liquid samples has a floating stage with docking bay for receiving a microfluidic cartridge and a scanning detector head with on-board embedded microprocessor controlled by an optical data acquisition and processing daemon within the detector head for controlling source LEDs, emission signal amplification and filtering in an isolated, low noise, high-gain environment within the detector head. Multiple optical channels may be incorporated in the scanning head. The assay ma be validated using dual channel optics for monitoring a first fluorophore associated with a target analyte and a second fluorophore associated with a control. Molecular biological assays use PCR amplification of target nucleic acids and fluorometric assays, which may require temperature control during detection.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine tool capable of facilitating a process of switching product ejecting apparatuses. The machine tool comprises a spindle which rotates a workpiece around an axis of the spindle, an actuator which reciprocates a rod arranged parallel to the axis of the spindle, and a coupler switched between a coupling position and a standby position. The coupler connects the rod and an ejecting shaft inserted in the spindle when held in the coupling position. The coupler is not connected to at least the ejecting shaft when held in the standby position. The ejecting shaft along with the coupler is moved in the direction of the axis of the spindle according to reciprocation of the rod when the coupler is held in the coupling position.

Abstract: The machine tool comprises a headstock provided with a main spindle; a driving unit which moves the headstock in a main spindle axial direction and has a feed mechanism extended in the main spindle axial direction and a front end supporter which rotatably supports a front end of the feed mechanism; a first front cover mounted on the headstock in a first position between the main spindle and the feed mechanism with respect to a diameter direction from a main spindle axis toward the feed mechanism; and a second front cover mounted on the front end supporter in a second position between the main spindle and the feed mechanism. Part of the feed mechanism is covered by both of the first front cover and the second front cover when at least part of the first front cover is on the rear side of the second front cover.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a secondary battery includes a first electrode, an n-type metal oxide semiconductor layer made of an n-type metal oxide semiconductor, an n-type metal oxide semiconductor and an insulator, an intermediate insulating layer containing an insulator as a main component, a p-type metal oxide semiconductor layer made of a p-type metal oxide semiconductor, and a second electrode are laminated in this order, a first process of applying a positive voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode with reference to the first electrode and a second process of applying a positive voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second process in which 0 V is applied between the first process cycle and the second process cycle in this order is defined as a first unit cycle and a predetermined number of first unit cycles are repeated.

Abstract: Microfluidic cartridges or devices for serum separation and blood cross-match analysis are provided. The devices may include a serum separation subcircuit alone or in combination with a solute mixing subcircuit. The serum separation subcircuit promotes on-cartridge clotting of a blood sample and manipulates the flow of the separated serum sample for subsequent cross-match analysis with a second blood sample, for example. The solute mixing subcircuit includes at least two intake channels, one for a whole blood sample from, for example, a blood donor and the other for the separated serum sample from, for example, a transfusion recipient. The solute mixing subcircuit further includes a serpentine mixing channel conjoined to a downstream channel. Under vacuum generated by a conjoined finger pump, the two input streams fill the serpentine mixing and downstream channels due to capillary action, enabling visualization of an agglutination reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a secondary cell having a plurality of unit cells 21 that are connected in parallel, including, a step to prepare sheet-shaped unit cells each having a structure that a first electrode layer, a metal oxide semiconductor layer, a charging layer, and a second electrode layer are layered, a step to form a cell sheet by connecting the laminated unit cells in parallel, a step to measure a capacity of the cell sheet, and a step to connect a unit cell for capacity adjustment to the cell sheet in parallel when the capacity is smaller than a specification value.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a secondary cell, the secondary cell including a charging layer that captures electrons by forming energy levels in a band gap by causing a photoexcited structural change in an n-type metal oxide semiconductor coated with an insulating material, includes a coating step to coat a coating liquid so as to form a coating film that includes constituents that will form the charging layer; a drying step to dry the coating liquid coated in the coating step; a UV irradiating step to form a UV-irradiated coating film by irradiating the dried coating film obtained through the drying step with ultraviolet light; and a burning step to burn a plurality of the UV-irradiated coating films, after forming the plurality of UV-irradiated coating films by repeating a set plural times, the set including the coating step, the drying step, and the UV irradiating step.

Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery which is small in size and in which current capacity per unit volume can be increased. The present invention provides a secondary battery including two cell units each including a charging layer between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, the two cell units being parallel-connected by juxtaposing and connecting a first electrode layer of one cell unit and a first electrode layer of the other cell unit or a second electrode layer of the one cell unit and a second electrode layer of the other cell unit, and by wire-connecting the second electrode layer of the one cell unit and the second electrode layer of the other cell unit or the first electrode layer of the one cell unit and the first electrode layer of the other cell unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine tool capable of facilitating a switching between a guide bush mode and a non-guide bush mode. A machine tool comprises a headstock provided with a main spindle for gripping a workpiece, a rail extended along a main spindle axis, a first bearing fixed to the headstock and guided on the rail, a second bearing fixed to the headstock on the front side of the first bearing and guided on the rail, a supporting bed on which a guide bush is removably mounted, and a guide mounted on the supporting bed to movably support the headstock in a direction of the main spindle axis when the guide bush is removed. The rail provides a larger play on the second bearing when the headstock is supported by the guide than when the headstock is not supported by the guide.

Abstract: To enable issuance of an electronic receipt without previously registering personal information and carrying out a special operation in execution of a payment by a customer.

Abstract: To provide an electrical connecting apparatus to achieve stable electrical contact with an electrode pad for ground connection while reducing pressing load. An electrical connecting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a contact unit provided on a substrate and to contact an electrode terminal of a test subject in response to receipt of load and to be electrically connected to the electrode terminal. The contact unit includes multiple plate-like members. The plate-like members are stacked in the thickness directions of the plate-like members. The plate-like members are supported on the substrate in such a manner that a contact surface formed at an end surface of each of the plate-like members contacts a wiring pattern on the substrate. At least some of the multiple plate-like members are contacts each including a base, and an arm having one end supported by the base and an opposite end where a tip portion to contact the electrode terminal of the test subject is formed.

Abstract: A probe card having uniform temperature distribution under control to a desired temperature is provided, so as to provide an inspection apparatus and an inspection method. The probe card includes a supporting substrate, a wiring layer arranged including a wiring on a main surface of the supporting substrate, a probe arranged on a surface serving as an opposite side to a side of the supporting substrate of the wiring layer so as to be connected to the wiring, and a plurality of heaters. Further, the probe card is virtually divided into heater regions according to a plurality of heater regions arrayed in vertical and horizontal directions in plan view, and at least one of a plurality of heaters is arranged in each of the plurality of heater regions. An inspection apparatus is configured including the probe card, and an object to be inspected is inspected by use of the inspection apparatus.