Abstract: According to the present invention, a more realistic and usable delivery plan is generated using a quantum computer. This combinatorial optimization device includes a control unit which is communicably connected to a quantum computer, wherein the control unit: adds a first constraint term specifying a time point relating to a delivery, and a second constraint term for leveling a workload of each vehicle to a cost function used to search for routes when a plurality of vehicles are to visit a plurality of delivery destinations; and causes the quantum computer to perform a quantum calculation of the cost function with the first constraint term and the second constraint term added thereto.

Abstract: A method for calculating combination optimization using a quantum computer configured to execute quantum calculation by a quantum circuit having a parameter representing a phase rotation amount, and a classical computer that calculates a feedback amount based on an output of the quantum computer and newly adds, to the quantum computer, the quantum circuit having the calculated feedback amount as the parameter includes: multiplying, in the classical computer, the feedback amount by a gain having a positive value such that a magnitude of the gain approaches zero as the quantum circuit is added.

Abstract: Provided is a control method of controlling locking or unlocking of storage using a blockchain. The control method includes: determining, when first request information indicating a lock/unlock request, that is a lock request or an unlock request, is received from a terminal, whether a keyholder identified by reading keyholder information stored in the blockchain matches an owner of the terminal that has transmitted the first request information, the keyholder information indicating a person having the authority to lock or unlock the storage; performing lock/unlock processing when the keyholder is determined to match the owner, the lock/unlock processing being processing for causing the storage to lock or unlock in accordance with the first request information; and performing first storage processing after the lock/unlock processing is performed, the first storage processing being processing of storing, in the blockchain, transaction data indicating that the lock/unlock processing has been performed.

Abstract: A control method of controlling, using a distributed ledger, locking or unlocking of one or more storage units, in each of which an item is storable, includes: operating a first smart contract and one or more second smart contracts by a code, stored in the distributed ledger, being executed by a computer, the first smart contract managing the one or more second smart contracts that are in one-to-one correspondence with the one or more storage units; controlling, by each of the one or more second smart contracts, locking or unlocking of a corresponding one of the one or more storage units, the controlling being performed under the management by the first smart contract; and controlling, by the first smart contract, whether to place each of the one or more second smart contracts under the management.

Abstract: A management system includes: a right holder information storage unit which stores right holder information about a right holder entitled to use a delivery locker device; an agreement formation unit which creates a block of a blockchain that includes a processing instruction, and stores the block into a block storage unit; a terminal device which transmits an assignment processing instruction; a process execution unit which, when obtaining the assignment processing instruction included in the block, updates the current right holder included in the right holder information; and a condition checking unit which, when determining that the condition for assignment fails to be met, creates a return processing instruction and transmits the return processing instruction to the agreement formation unit. When obtaining the return processing instruction included in the block, the process execution unit updates the right holder information.

Abstract: A control method of controlling, using a distributed ledger, locking or unlocking of one or more storage units, in each of which an item is storable, includes: operating a first smart contract and one or more second smart contracts by a code, stored in the distributed ledger, being executed by a computer, the first smart contract managing the one or more second smart contracts that are in one-to-one correspondence with the one or more storage units; controlling, by each of the one or more second smart contracts, locking or unlocking of a corresponding one of the one or more storage units, the controlling being performed under the management by the first smart contract; and controlling, by the first smart contract, whether to place each of the one or more second smart contracts under the management.

Abstract: A control method of controlling, using a distributed ledger, locking or unlocking of one or more storage units, in each of which an item is storable, includes: operating a first smart contract and one or more second smart contracts by a code, stored in the distributed ledger, being executed by a computer, the first smart contract managing the one or more second smart contracts that are in one-to-one correspondence with the one or more storage units; controlling, by each of the one or more second smart contracts, locking or unlocking of a corresponding one of the one or more storage units, the controlling being performed under the management by the first smart contract; and controlling, by the first smart contract, whether to place each of the one or more second smart contracts under the management.

Abstract: Provided is a control method of controlling locking or unlocking of storage using a blockchain. The control method includes: determining, when first request information indicating a lock/unlock request, that is a lock request or an unlock request, is received from a terminal, whether a keyholder identified by reading keyholder information stored in the blockchain matches an owner of the terminal that has transmitted the first request information, the keyholder information indicating a person having the authority to lock or unlock the storage; performing lock/unlock processing when the keyholder is determined to match the owner, the lock/unlock processing being processing for causing the storage to lock or unlock in accordance with the first request information; and performing first storage processing after the lock/unlock processing is performed, the first storage processing being processing of storing, in the blockchain, transaction data indicating that the lock/unlock processing has been performed.

Abstract: Provided is a control method of controlling locking or unlocking of storage using a blockchain. The control method includes: determining, when first request information indicating a lock/unlock request, that is a lock request or an unlock request, is received from a terminal, whether a keyholder identified by reading keyholder information stored in the blockchain matches an owner of the terminal that has transmitted the first request information, the keyholder information indicating a person having the authority to lock or unlock the storage; performing lock/unlock processing when the keyholder is determined to match the owner, the lock/unlock processing being processing for causing the storage to lock or unlock in accordance with the first request information; and performing first storage processing after the lock/unlock processing is performed, the first storage processing being processing of storing, in the blockchain, transaction data indicating that the lock/unlock processing has been performed.

Abstract: Provided is a control method of controlling locking or unlocking of storage using a blockchain. The control method includes: determining, when first request information indicating a lock/unlock request, that is a lock request or an unlock request, is received from a terminal, whether a keyholder identified by reading keyholder information stored in the blockchain matches an owner of the terminal that has transmitted the first request information, the keyholder information indicating a person having the authority to lock or unlock the storage; performing lock/unlock processing when the keyholder is determined to match the owner, the lock/unlock processing being processing for causing the storage to lock or unlock in accordance with the first request information; and performing first storage processing after the lock/unlock processing is performed, the first storage processing being processing of storing, in the blockchain, transaction data indicating that the lock/unlock processing has been performed.

Abstract: A management system includes: a right holder information storage unit which stores right holder information about a right holder entitled to use a delivery locker device; an agreement formation unit which, creates a block of a blockchain that includes a processing instruction, and stores the block into a block storage unit; a terminal device which transmits an assignment processing instruction; a process execution unit which, when obtaining the assignment processing instruction included in the block, updates the current right holder included in the right holder information; and a condition checking unit which, when determining that the condition for assignment fails to be met, creates a return processing instruction and transmits the return processing instruction to the agreement formation unit. When obtaining the return processing instruction included in the block, the process execution unit updates the right holder information.

Abstract: A control method of controlling, using a distributed ledger, locking or unlocking of one or more storage units, in each of which an item is storable, includes: operating a first smart contract and one or more second smart contracts by a code, stored in the distributed ledger, being executed by a computer, the first smart contract managing the one or more second smart contracts that are in one-to-one correspondence with the one or more storage units; controlling, by each of the one or more second smart contracts, locking or unlocking of a corresponding one of the one or more storage units, the controlling being performed under the management by the first smart contract; and controlling, by the first smart contract, whether to place each of the one or more second smart contracts under the management.

Abstract: A novel method is proposed for the preparation of a calcium silicate powder particularly useful as a filter aid in the filtration of an acidic aqueous liquid by virtue of the extremely high acid resistance of the calcium silicate powder. The inventive method comprises a hydrothermal reaction of a blend of a silica-containing material and calcium oxide or hydroxide in a specified molar ratio under specified reaction conditions to form calcium silicate, which is then subjected to a heat treatment at 800.degree.-1200.degree. C. for 0.5-2 hours. An improvement can be obtained in the clarity of the filtrate obtained by the filtration using the calcium silicate powder prepared by the inventive method as a filter aid when the hydrothermal reaction for the preparation thereof is conducted in an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide in a specified concentration.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first recording unit, a second recording unit, and a control unit. The first recording unit scans an original image and records an image on a recording medium. The first recording unit has a first operation mode for evening a surface of the recording medium. The second recording unit records an image on the recording medium. The second recording unit has a second operation mode for evening the surface of the recording medium. The control unit controls the first and second recording units. The control unit controls the first recording unit so as to even the surface of the recording medium in the first operation mode at a start of image recording.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a first image forming unit for forming a first image, a second image forming unit for forming a second image, and a control unit for controlling the first and second image forming units. The control unit controls the second image forming units to form the second image in a designated predetermined area.

Abstract: An improved power unit mounting device capable of dumping in a wide range of frequency of vibration. The device having an inner liquid chamber comprises an auxiliary chamber provided on a chassis separately from the mounting device proper. The mounting device proper is formed with the inner chamber communicating with the auxiliary chamber through a plurality of fluid channels.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously coating discrete particles in a turning fluidized bed formed in a cylindrical coating vessel with a rotary disk at the bottom thereof by blowing hot air into the vessel through air blow holes located between the circumference of the disk and cylindrical side wall of the vessel while spraying a coating material into contact with the particles in the turning fluidized bed, characterized by introducing a particulate raw material and a coating material into the turning fluidized bed at constant feed rates; and discharging coated particles at the same rate as the feed rate of the particulate raw material through a particle discharge port located at such a height as to guarantee an average residence time corresponding to a desired coating rate under given operating conditions including the feed rate of the raw material, the rotational speed of the disk and the feed rate of hot air.

Abstract: An engine of a motor vehicle is equipped with a sound-insulating cover which is secured to a portion of an engine proper to surround the engine proper. An oil pan filled with engine oil is hermetically connected to the bottom portion of the sound-insulating cover so that the oil pan is spaced apart from the skirt portion of a crankcase.

Abstract: Engine noises directed to the bottom portion of an engine compartment are reflected from the surface of an under-cover partly closing the engine compartment bottom opening and thereafter absorbed by sound-absorbent material attached to the inner surface of the hood of the engine compartment.

Abstract: An electronic means senses the difference in rotational speed between a main shaft gear to be engaged and the main shaft, and actuates a friction disc assembly to connect the low gear to the main shaft to accelerate the countershaft and thus the gear to be engaged if the gear speed is lower than the main shaft speed, and to connect the first gear to the transmission casing to decelerate the countershaft and thus the gear if the gear speed is higher than the main shaft speed, shifting from neutral into the desired gear ratio is prevented until the gear and main shaft speeds are synchronized.