Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is formed as a blend of toner particles and external additives. The external additives include (1) first inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle size of 80-800 nm of oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, zinc and zirconium, (2) second inorganic fine particles other than silica having an average primary particle size of below 80 nm and (3) silica fine particles having an average primary particle size of below 30 nm. As a result, the toner can be made free from difficulties, such as melt-sticking onto an image-bearing member in a low humidity environment, roughening of halftone images in a low humidity environment, toner blot-down after storage at high temperatures or in continuous image formation on a large number of sheets, fog in continuous formations of images of low color area percentage in a low humidity environment, and re-transfer in multi-color image formation.

Abstract: There are provided an artificial joint device that can realize an artificial limb enabling twisting motion without a drive source, and when with the drive source, reduce the size and costs of the device, and a parallel linkage that can realize the device. The linkage connects a foot portion and a mounting plate spaced from each other. A fixed link has one end fixed to the plate, and the other end connected to the foot portion via a ball joint, making the angle of the fixed link relative to the foot portion changeable in any direction. Expansible links extend between the foot portion and the plate in an expansible/contractible manner and each have opposite ends connected to the plate and the foot portion via respective upper and lower ball joints, making respective angles thereof relative to the foot portion and the plate changeable in any direction.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of host devices sharing one disk device with each other includes a disk cache. When one of the host devices writes data in a cache included therein, it sends information that the data has been written in the cache, to the shared disk device and the other host devices. The shared disk device retains the sent information, while each of the other host devices erases the data of a corresponding block from its cache. When the other host device reads the data of the block, there is a cache miss, so that the other host device requests the shared disk device to transmit the data of the block. The shared-disk device transmits the block into the cache of the host device having requested the transmission of the block, based on information retained in an internal register of the shared-disk device.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner is formed as a blend of toner particles and external additives. The external additives include (1) first inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle size of 80-800 nm of oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, zinc and zirconium, (2) second inorganic fine particles other than silica having an average primary particle size of below 80 nm and (3) silica fine particles having an average primary particle size of below 30 nm. As a result, the toner can be made free from difficulties, such as melt-sticking onto an image-bearing member in a low humidity environment, roughening of halftone images in a low humidity environment, toner blot-down after storage at high temperatures or in continuous image formation on a large number of sheets, fog in continuous formations of images of low color area percentage in a low humidity environment, and re-transfer in multi-color image formation.

Abstract: In a turbo-molecular pump, a rotor is supported by a magnetic bearing (3) in a non-contact mode. A pump control section (2) has a magnetic bearing control device (8) with a digital signal operating processor or DSP (7) which is programmable by a software or which can execute a programmed software. The digital signal operating processor (7) performs the control of a heating system, namely, a heater, as well as the control of the magnetic bearing (3).

Abstract: Each of a plurality of host devices sharing one disk device with each other includes a disk cache. When one of the host devices writes data in a cache included therein, it sends information that the data has been written in the cache, to the shared disk device and the other host devices. The shared disk device retains the sent information, while each of the other host devices erases the data of a corresponding block from its cache. When the other host device reads the data of the block, there is a cache miss, so that the other host device requests the shared disk device to transmit the data of the block. The shared-disk device transmits the block into the cache of the host device having requested the transmission of the block, based on information retained in an internal register of the shared-disk device.

Abstract: In a turbo-molecular pump, a rotor is supported by a magnetic bearing (3) in a non-contact mode. A pump control section (2) has a magnetic bearing control device (8) with a digital signal operating processor or DSP (7) which is programmable by a software or which can execute a programmed software. The digital signal operating processor (7) performs the control of a heating system, namely, a heater, as well as the control of the magnetic bearing (3).

Abstract: A process for producing a toner. The process has the steps of dispersing a fine-particle colorant in a liquid monomer mixture containing at least a liquid polymerizable monomer, dispersing the resulting colorant-dispersed liquid monomer mixture in an aqueous dispersion medium to form particles of a polymerizable monomer composition, and polymerizing polymerizable monomers present in the particles in the aqueous dispersion medium to form toner particles. In the dispersion step, a media particle agitation type wet-dispersion machine is used as a dispersion means. The dispersion machine has a cylindrical vessel having a first wall surface having a liquid-feed opening and a second wall surface having a liquid-discharge opening.

Abstract: In the magnetic bearing apparatus, there is provided a current sensor for detecting a current flowing in a motor. When the current increases over a reference value, a DSP enhances a support stiffness of the magnetic bearing, thereby securing a stable rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: In a turbo molecular pump having a rotor magnetically supported in a non-contact manner by a magnetic bearing, a pump controller has a magnetic bearing controller having a programmable digital signal processor. This digital signal processor not only controls the magnetic bearing, but also controls the heater, thus serving as a temperature regulator.

Abstract: An improved disk brake which provides both low dragging torque and good pedal feeling even on ABS-equipped vehicles with which the working fluid pressure is around or over 140 kgf/cm.sup.2. The disk brake has a piston seal fitted in a groove formed in the cylinder. The piston seal is deformed when the brake piston is advanced by fluid pressure to press the pad and retracts the piston by its spring-back force when the fluid pressure is released. The width W of chamfer provided at edge of the seal groove is set to 1.0 mm or over and the hardness of the piston seal is set to 75.degree. IRHD or over.

Abstract: A disk brake assembly has a piston retraction structure which can keep the space between the pad and the disk constant while the brake is not being applied by varying the distance the piston is retracted with the fluid pressure applied to the disk brake. The piston retraction structure has a piston seal fitted in a seal groove formed in the inner surface of a cylinder of a caliper. When a piston is advanced under fluid pressure, the piston seal is pulled by the piston and deformed until it fills up the gap defined by a chamfer formed along the edge of the seal groove. When the fluid pressure is removed thereafter, the piston is retracted by the resilient restoring force of the deformed piston seal. The piston seal is made of a rubber having a hardness of 80 IRH or more. In another arrangement, the piston seal has its outer-diameter portion fitted in the seal groove with a zero gap or with an interference.