Abstract: This invention provides a belt for bending a glass sheet without surface defects caused by roller marks, belt junctions or belt deformations. A strip of heat-resistant member is joined together while the ends of the heat-resistant member are arranged so that they are not exposed at the surface defined by an endless track for bending the glass sheet. Alternatively, fitting portions are arranged along the endless track, and the glass sheets are bent while these fitting portions prevent a deformation of the belt. Bent glass sheets can be manufactured efficiently and without surface defects by bending the sheets while conveying them with such a belt.

Abstract: A glass panel, its manufacturing method and a spacer for use in the glass panel. In the glass panel, a plurality of spacers (3) are formed between and along a first opposing face (2A) of a first glass sheet (1A) and a second opposing face (2B) of a second glass sheet (1B) so as to form a space (C) therebetween, and a sealing material (6) is provided at peripheral edge (1a) of the first glass sheet (1A) and the second glass sheet (1B) for maintaining the space (C) gas-tight. The plurality of such spacers (3) having, at one side thereof, contact portions (5) capable of coming into contact with the first opposing face (2A) are provided on the second opposing face (2B). The contact portions (5) and the first opposing face (2A) are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a glass panel and the glass panel manufactured by the method, which makes it possible to minimize the projection amount from the glass sheet surface for improved appearance and for reduced possibility of breaking-up of the depressurized condition resulting from contact with an object and also to reliably seal the vent with a relatively easy step. A number of spacers (2) are disposed between a pair of glass sheets (1A, 1B). Outer peripheries of the glass sheets (1A, 1B) are sealed with an outer periphery sealing portion (3) to form a gap (V) between the glass sheets (1A, 1B). A vent (4) is formed in one (1A) of the glass sheets (1A, 1B) for evacuating gas from the gap (V). The gas in the gap (V) is evacuated via the vent (4) to depressurize the gap (V), and then the vent (4) is sealed. A metal solder (6) is employed as a sealing material for sealing the vent (4).

Abstract: A glass panel including a pair of first and second glass sheets (1A, 1B) disposed with sheet faces thereof opposed to each other, a plurality of spacers (5) being interposed between the pair of glass sheets (1A, 1B) for forming a space (4) therebetween; and a sealing material (S) for bonding peripheral edges (3) of the glass sheets (1A, 1B) together for sealing the space (4), the sealing material having a lower fusing temperature than the softening point of the glass sheets (1A, 1B). Each spacer (5) is formed by disposing spacer-forming paste (11) in a predetermined shape on the sheet face of the glass sheet (1A, 1B). Or, the spacer (5) comprises a plurality of spacer bodies (51) two-dimensionally interconnected to each other via a connecting member (52).

Abstract: A gas is supplied to the surface of the glass sheet transferred between a heating furnace and a cooling apparatus for tempering the glass sheet. The gas is supplied from the upstream side with respect to the direction of transfer of the glass sheet by an air curtain device. This gas runs along the glass sheet surface (upper surface) downstream with respect to the direction of transfer to obstruct the flow of cooling gas from the cooling apparatus in the upstream direction. The gas prevents cooling air from the cooling apparatus from invading the heating furnace so that the difference of the curvature of the glass sheet on the front and rear part can be eliminated.

Abstract: A cylindrical electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed. The layer thickness decreasing amount &Dgr;Hd (in &mgr;m) is 0≦&Dgr;Hd<5×10−6 per rotatio,n and residual potential variation amount per cm2 is 0≦&Dgr;Vr<100 (in V) for 1 A of an electric current generated by charging and exposure.

Abstract: A glass panel including a pair of first and second glass sheets (1A, 1B) disposed with sheet faces thereof opposed to each other, a plurality of spacers (5) being interposed between the pair of glass sheets (1A, 1B) for forming a space (4) therebetween; and a sealing material (S) for bonding peripheral edges (3) of the glass sheets (1A, 1B) together for sealing the space (4), the sealing material having a lower fusing temperature than the softening point of the glass sheets (1A, 1B). Each spacer (5) is formed by disposing spacer-forming paste (11) in a predetermined shape on the sheet face of the glass sheet (1A, 1B). Or, the spacer (5) comprises a plurality of spacer bodies (51) two-dimensionally interconnected to each other via a connecting member (52).

Abstract: A roll-forming unit of a curved glass manufacturing apparatus includes a cooperating pair of upper and lower forming roll mechanisms. Each mechanism includes a forming roll having a resilient rod covered with a cover member except opposite end portions thereof, a pair of support members rotatably supporting the opposite end portions of the resilient rod while allowing the resilient rod to tilt about said support members, a bending unit coupled with at least one of the opposite end portions of the resilient rod for applying to the one end portion an external force tending to flex the forming roll into either an upwardly arched configuration or a downwardly arched configuration, and at least one backup roller unit being in rolling engagement with the forming roll to maintain the arched configuration of the forming roll.

Abstract: A laminated glass comprises a tempered first glass sheet, in which by breaking the glass sheet at one point, cracks spread spontaneously so that a crack-network is formed, and a second glass sheet. The second glass sheet has a lower strength than the first glass sheet, or such a thickness and a strength that the second glass sheet can be easily broken on the side of the first glass. Such a laminated glass can reduce the difficulty in escaping from the interior of an automobile sunk in water or the like.

Abstract: A development apparatus including a development agent carrying member, a toner container, an initial development agent container, a flexible member, and a stopper. The toner container has an opening facing the development agent carrying member. The initial development agent container is sealed when the apparatus is in an initially-unused condition and includes a mechanism for supply the initial development agent to the development agent carrying member when the apparatus is initially used. The flexible member rotates to cyclically transfer the toner to the development agent carrying member via the opening. The stopper locates the flexible member at a closed position where the opening is closed. The flexible member initially locates at the closed position and releases the opening when the development agent is present on a surface of the development agent carrying member in turn facing the opening.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member including an internal magnetic field generating device and configured such that a surface thereof moves to carry and convey a developer including toner and carrier. A developer regulating member regulates a quantity of the developer carried and conveyed by the developer bearing member toward a developing area, and a developer accommodating unit accommodates the developer regulated to be conveyed toward the developing area by the developer regulating member. A toner accommodating unit includes a toner supplying opening opposing a surface of the developer bearing surface of the developer bearing member at a position adjacent to and upstream of the developer accommodating unit in a developer conveying direction.

Abstract: A client computer, server computer, network ranking system, network ranking method, task processing method and recording medium is provided allowing even experienced players to keep a feeling of tension and allowing even beginners to have chances to be ranked high. It is possible to set to only one the number of times the play result of a computer game issued as a task from the server computer 14 to each client computer 10, etc. can be registered for one day. This allows even experienced players to experience a feeling of tension that no retry is possible. On the other hand, this also allows beginners to maintain their interest in the computer game because their play results, however low they may be, also have chances to be ranked high.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a bent glass sheet. A heated glass sheet (4, 24, 24*) conveyed from a heating furnace (1, 21) is bent by pressing with at least one belt (5, 9, 25) made of a heat-resistant material against a bending member (6, 10, 26, 28). The bent glass sheet is further conveyed and cooled for quenching or annealing in a cooling apparatus (3, 23). The bent glass is cooled after separating the belt. According to this invention, the bent glass sheets having surfaces on which defects, such as marks of rolls, are suppressed can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: A cylindrical electrophotoreceptor is disclosed. The layer thickness decreasing amount &Dgr;Hd (in &mgr;m) is 0≦&Dgr;Hd<5×10−6 per rotation and residual potential variation amount per cm2 is 0≦&Dgr;Vr<100 (in V) for 1 A of an electric current generated by charging and exposure.

Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus includes a developer carrier such as a developing sleeve having a magnetic field generating device therein which carries and conveys a developer containing toner and magnetic carrier particles. The developing device also includes a first regulating member such as a blade which regulates the developer being carried and conveyed by the developer carrier, and a developer storing section stores developer scraped off the developer carrier by the first regulating member. The developer storing section includes a second regulating member arranged upstream of the first regulating member with respect to a direction in which the developer carrier conveys the developer. The developing device further includes a toner storing section provided adjacent to the developer storing section to supply toner to the developer carrier.

Abstract: The force, by which the glass sheets of a laminated glass push onto each other, is applied to the edges of the laminated glass to prevent the delamination of the laminated glass caused by moisture penetrating or diffusing from these edges into the intermediate film. A pair of glass sheets having different curvatures, in which if the pair of glass sheets are laid on each other, aligning their edges, their central portions are apart from each other and do not adhere to each other, and in which if bent, their surfaces adhere to each other, are bonded with a PVB film, while being bent so that their surfaces adhere to each other to form a laminated glass. At the edges of the laminated glass, in the portion where the glass sheets try to regain their original shapes to push onto each other through the intermediate film, the delamination of the glass sheets is inhibited.

Abstract: In a quenching apparatus for quenching a glass sheet that has been heated and bent in a heating furnace, a cooling gas blows onto the glass sheet to provide a distribution of a temperature and/or a distribution of a static pressure in at least one section in the quenching apparatus. The distribution of a temperature provides different temperatures between the both surfaces of the glass sheet, while the distribution of a static pressure is nonuniform in a part of at least one surface of the glass sheet. The distributions can modify a shape of the glass sheet given in the heating furnace so that a degree of freedom in shape for manufacturing a bent and tempered glass sheet by utilizing its self-weight can be improved.

Abstract: An objective of this invention is to increase the variety of game stages and thus provide a player with a personally-designed game stage. This invention relates to a competitive game in which the player can select one of a plurality of game stages, such as a tennis court. Thus an image is created for enabling selection of a game stage on which the player is to play, from a plurality of game stages, and an image is created for enabling the player to compete against another player on the thus selected game stage. An image is also created for placing an item acquired during competition on the game stage. This enables the player to place items within a game stage and thus create a personally-designed game stage, and also makes play on that game stage more enjoyable. Note that it is preferable that an item possessed by another player can be acquired by transferring it by means of an IC card or communication line.

Abstract: A gas is supplied to the surface of the glass sheet transferred between a heating furnace and a cooling apparatus for tempering the glass sheet. The gas is supplied from the upstream side with respect to the direction of transfer of the glass sheet by an air curtain device. This gas runs along the glass sheet surface (upper surface) downstream with respect to the direction of transfer to obstruct the flow of cooling gas from the cooling apparatus in the upstream direction. The gas prevents cooling air from the cooling apparatus from invading the heating furnace so that the difference of the curvature of the glass sheet on the front and rear part can be eliminated.