Abstract: A superfinishing method for a bearing roller involves installation of a pair of parallel feed drums. The feed drums have guide thread surfaces each continuing in a spiral shape on an outer periphery, and each being driven to rotate about respective center axes. The feed drums through-feed a workpiece to be formed into a bearing roller while supporting and rotating the workpiece with the guide thread surfaces opposed to each other. The superfinishing method includes using a grinder to process an outer peripheral surface of the workpiece passing between the feed drums, varying a thread bottom angle of the guide thread surface based on positions along the feed drums in an axial direction, and superfinishing straight and logarithmic portions at both ends of the straight portion of a rolling surface of the bearing roller by one through-feed of the workpiece passing between the feed drums.

Abstract: A heating apparatus such as a microwave oven in which thermal energy of high-temperature vapor generated by heating an object is detected by a pyroelectric element and a resulting detection signal is used to control (stop) a heat source such as a microwave source, etc. Among AC voltages generated by the pyroelectric element due to heat exchange of the pyroelectric element, a voltage of a polarity generated at the time of heat discharge (temperature decrease) of the pyroelectric element is selected through a circuit means. A voltage generated by heat exchange between air moving slowly in a heating chamber and the pyroelectric element caused by the rotation of a turntable or the like is eliminated by another circuit means. A control section controls the operation of the heat source by deciding an output signal of the pyroelectric element by comparing it with a detection level determined in accordance with a noise level for a predetermined length of time after the start of the heating operation.