Abstract: A laser processing apparatus including a workpiece holding unit for holding a workpiece and a laser beam applying unit for applying a laser beam to the workpiece held by the workpiece holding unit. The laser beam applying unit includes a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam, a focusing unit for focusing the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator onto the workpiece held by the workpiece holding unit, and an optical system provided between the laser oscillator and the focusing unit for transmitting the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator. The laser beam applying unit further includes a wavelength converting mechanism provided between the optical system and the focusing unit for converting the wavelength of the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator into a short wavelength.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a resistance welding method capable of stabilizing quality or improving efficiency of resistance welding such as spot welding. This resistance welding method comprises a calculating step of calculating resistance ratio X of a second electric resistance value R2 of workpieces to be joined in residual heat after Joule heating stops to a first electric resistance value R1 of the workpieces immediately before the Joule heating stops or vice versa (R2/R1 or R1/R2); a determining step of determining whether the resistance ratio X is equal to or greater than a threshold value Xn, and a reheating step of carrying out the Joule heating again when the resistance ratio X is smaller than the threshold value Xn. Thereby at least part of a welding portion is melted and solidified to reliably form a nugget, and a stably resistance-welded member can be provided.

Abstract: A resistance welding method according to the invention includes: a melting start time specification process for specifying a melting start time, which is a time at which at least a part of a welding portion of a welding subject starts to melt while being subjected to Joule heating by a power input from an electrode pressed against the welding subject, by detecting a variation in an ultrasonic wave emitted toward the welding portion; a first power amount calculation process for calculating a first power amount, which is an integrated value of the power input into the welding subject via the electrode from the melting start time; a first determination process for determining whether or not the first power amount has reached a first set value; and a heating process for performing the Joule heating from the melting start time until the first power amount reaches the first set value.

Abstract: A laser processing apparatus including a workpiece holding unit for holding a workpiece and a laser beam applying unit for applying a laser beam to the workpiece held by the workpiece holding unit. The laser beam applying unit includes a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam, a focusing unit for focusing the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator onto the workpiece held by the workpiece holding unit, and an optical system provided between the laser oscillator and the focusing unit for transmitting the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator. The laser beam applying unit further includes a wavelength converting mechanism provided between the optical system and the focusing unit for converting the wavelength of the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator into a short wavelength.

Abstract: In a resistance welding method, by controlling the power amount from a melting start time onward, the weld quality may be stabilized efficiently, even when a disturbance is present, because of the correlation between the amount of power input from the melting start start time and a resulting nugget. The resistance welding method includes: pressing an electrode against a workpiece; inputting power to the workpiece through the electrode to subject the workpiece to Joule heating; detecting the melting start time, which is the time at which at least a portion of the faying portion of a workpiece starts to melt when subjected to Joule heating; calculating a first power amount input into the workpiece from the melting start time; and determining whether the first power amount has reached a first set value; and continuing the Joule heating until the first power amount reaches the first set value.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide a resistance welding method capable of stabilizing quality or improving efficiency of resistance welding such as spot welding. This resistance welding method comprises a calculating step of calculating resistance ratio X of a second electric resistance value R2 of workpieces to be joined in residual heat after Joule heating stops to a first electric resistance value R1 of the workpieces immediately before the Joule heating stops or vice versa (R2/R1 or R1/R2); a determining step of determining whether the resistance ratio X is equal to or greater than a threshold value Xn, and a reheating step of carrying out the Joule heating again when the resistance ratio X is smaller than the threshold value Xn. Thereby at least part of a welding portion is melted and solidified to reliably form a nugget, and a stably resistance-welded member can be provided.

Abstract: A joined body has a joint, which includes a first plate-shaped workpiece made of a first metal, and a second plate-shaped workpiece made of a second metal. The first plate-shaped workpiece, and the second plate-shaped workpiece are overlapped each other partially at least. The joint is made by means of friction stir joining by superimposing a rod-shaped body made of a third metal onto the overlapped first plate-shaped workpiece and second plate-shaped workpiece and then rotating it while pressing it onto the first plate-shaped workpiece. The joint further includes a coalesced section made of the first metal that coalesces on a surface of the second plate-shaped workpiece, a built-up section made of the third metal, and a composite section made of a mixture of the first metal and the third metal that integrates the coalesced section with the built-up section.

Abstract: A sliding film includes a solid lubricant, a binder resin, and a low-melting-point material. The binder resin is for holding the solid lubricant on a surface of a substrate, and exhibits a glass transition temperature. The low-melting-point material exhibits a melting point lower than the glass transition temperature of the binder resin. The low-melting-point material demonstrates a latent heat which can absorb frictional heat generated between sliding members, and accordingly retards the degradation of the binder resin. As a result, the sliding film produces high seizure resistance.

Abstract: A sliding film includes a solid lubricant, a binder resin, and a low-melting-point material. The binder resin is for holding the solid lubricant on a surface of a substrate, and exhibits a glass transition temperature. The low-melting-point material exhibits a melting point lower than the glass transition temperature of the binder resin. The low-melting-point material demonstrates a latent heat which can absorb frictional heat generated between sliding members, and accordingly retards the degradation of the binder resin. As a result, the sliding film produces high seizure resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data accumulation system wherein data storage process is simplified by using a portable communication device such as a notebook type PC as a data storage device. The data accumulation system of the invention comprises a pen scanner 21 as a data output device, a notebook type PC 22 as a data storage device and a portable terminal 23 as a data checking terminal. The pen scanner 21 reads a character string or the like in a document as an image and sends data of the image to the note PC 22. The note PC 22 generates thumbnail image data of the image data and sends the data to the portable terminal 23. When the thumbnail image is displayed on a display of the portable terminal 23, a user watches it and checks whether or not the data are worth storing. If the user decides to store the data, the user input a storage command from the portable terminal 23 to the note PC.

Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging finely-divided powders from the tip together with a gas stream, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from the member to be sprayed and inclined in a prescribed direction to the member; and a moving-speed control means which controls the moving-speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe in accordance with the quadratic function, which indicates the reduction rate of the density of the deposited finely-divided powders based on the distance between a peak point of the density of the finely-divided powders deposited on the member to be sprayed in a trial spray and a spray point at which an extension from the spray nozzle pipe intersects with the member to be sprayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging spacers for liquid crystal displays from the tip together with a gas flow, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from a member to be sprayed, and comprising: a touch panel which enters control factors for controlling the moving-speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe at individual spray points the surface of the glass substrate; and an actuator driver which controls the moving speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe in accordance with the control factor entered by the touch panel.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one plate spring is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion is engaged, to exert a biasing force, relative to a shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging finely-divided powders from the tip together with a gas stream, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from the member to be sprayed and inclined in a prescribed direction to the member; and a moving-speed control means which controls the moving-speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe in accordance with the quadratic function, which indicates the reduction rate of the density of the deposited finely-divided powders based on the distance between a peak point of the density of the finely-divided powders deposited on the member to be sprayed in a trial spray and a spray point at which an extension from the spray nozzle pipe intersects with the member to be sprayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging spacers for liquid crystal displays from the tip together with a gas flow, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from a member to be sprayed, and comprising:

Abstract: The present invention provides a data accumulation system wherein data storage process is simplified by using a portable communication device such as a notebook type PC as a data storage device. The data accumulation system of the invention comprises a pen scanner 21 as a data output device, a notebook type PC 22 as a data storage device and a portable terminal 23 as a data checking terminal. The pen scanner 21 reads a character string or the like in a document as an image and sends data of the image to the note PC 22. The note PC 22 generates thumbnail image data of the image data and sends the data to the portable terminal 23. When the thumbnail image is displayed on a display of the portable terminal 23, a user watches it and checks whether or not the data are worth storing. If the user decides to store the data, the user input a storage command from the portable terminal 23 to the note PC.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one elastic member is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion of each link member is engaged. The elastic member exerts biasing force, relative to a displacement or shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from, e.g., substantially orthogonal to, the vertical shifting direction of the key top.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one plate spring is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion is engaged, to exert a biasing force, relative to a shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from the vertical direction.

Abstract: A cylinder-shaped secondary battery includes a container, and a rolled electrode. The container includes a cylinder-shaped inner member, a cylinder-shaped outer member, and a pair of ring-shaped end plates. The electrode is accommodated in the container in an electrically insulating manner, rolled spirally, and has a pair of tabs and a hollow formed therein and extending in an axial direction thereof. Moreover, the electrode includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and negative electrode so as to separate them. The inner member of the container has opposite ends and a hollow formed therein and extending in an axial direction thereof, and is disposed in the axially-extending hollow of the electrode. The outer member of the container has opposite ends, and is disposed on a centrifugal side of the electrode.

Abstract: A battery includes a cathode, and an anode. At least one of the cathode and anode includes an electricity collector, a plurality of tabs, and an active material formed on the surface of the electricity collector. One end of the tabs projects from one side of the electricity collector. The electricity collector is laminated so as to make a flush end surface on the side from which the tabs project. The tabs are bonded integrally with the electricity collector, and each tab has a linkage member, and a bundling member. The linkage member projects from the side of the electricity collector. The bundling member is formed integrally with the linkage member, extends along the side of the electricity collector, is superimposed on other bundling member of the tab in a lamination direction of the laminated electricity collector, and is bonded integrally with other bundling member of the tab. In the thus constructed battery, the projection of the tabs are kept down to the width of the tab.