Abstract: A heat exchanger including: a header; flat tubes connected to the header and disposed in line along a longitudinal direction of the header; a first partition that partitions an inner space of the header into a first space on a side where the flat tubes are connected and a second space on a side opposite to the first space; and a second partition that partitions the inner space of the header into a first side and a second side. The first side is one side of the header in the longitudinal direction and the second side is opposite to the first side. The first partition has a common opening. The common opening includes an insertion opening and a refrigerant opening. A refrigerant moves between the first space and the second space via the refrigerant opening. The second partition is inserted into the insertion opening.

Abstract: A refrigerant distributor includes a first refrigerant pipe, a plurality of second refrigerant pipes, a body, a first plate, and a second plate. The body is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The body is configured to distribute a refrigerant from the first refrigerant pipe into the second refrigerant pipes or merge the refrigerant flowing from each of the second refrigerant pipes into the first refrigerant pipe. The body has a first surface connected to the first refrigerant pipe and a second surface connected to the second refrigerant pipes. The first plate is joined to the first surface, and has an outer surface exposed to atmosphere and provided with a first sacrificial anode layer for the body. The second plate is joined to the second surface, and has an outer surface exposed to atmosphere and provided with a second sacrificial anode layer for the body.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an interconnect including (i) a first layer, and (ii) a second layer provided on the first layer and including copper. The device also includes a plug provided on the interconnect and including (a) a third layer including titanium and nitrogen, and (b) a fourth layer provided on the third layer and including tungsten. A concentration of chlorine in the third layer is less than or equal to 5.0×1021 atoms/cm3, and a concentration of oxygen at the interface between the third layer and the fourth layer is less than or equal to 5.0×1021 atoms/cm3.

Abstract: A dishwashing system includes: a dishwasher that washes tableware contained in a dishwashing rack, inside a washing chamber; a carry-in stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is to be carried into the washing chamber on; a carry-out stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is carried out from the washing chamber on; and a robot device including a robot arm mechanism. The carry-in stand and the dishwasher are arranged within a movable range of the robot arm mechanism. The robot arm mechanism transfers the dishwashing rack from the carry-in stand to the washing chamber, and also operates the dishwasher.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header; flat tubes disposed in line along a longitudinal direction of the header and connected to the header: a refrigerant pipe connected to an introduction space in the header; and a nozzle. When the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator of a refrigerant, the refrigerant is fed through the nozzle from the introduction space to a supply space disposed adjacent to the introduction space in the longitudinal direction of the header. The nozzle is disposed on a side closer to the flat tubes than to the refrigerant pipe. A width of a first zone in the introduction space on the side closer to the flat tubes is smaller than a width of a second zone in the introduction space on a side where the refrigerant pipe is connected.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: heat transfer tubes that are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are disposed in multiple tiers in a first direction that intersects a second direction along which a heating medium flows; and a coupling header that couples the heat transfer tubes together. The coupling header includes: a first member that includes a first core made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a first sacrificial anode layer; a second member that includes no sacrificial anode layer; and a third member that includes a second core made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a second sacrificial anode layer.

Abstract: A linear extension and retraction mechanism that is mounted in a robot arm mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces having a flat plate shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces; a plurality of second pieces having a groove shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces of a bottom part, with the first and second pieces becoming linearly rigid when superposed, and the first and second pieces returning to a bent state when separated from each other; a head section which joins a leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces; and a sending-out mechanism section including a plurality of rollers and for firmly superposing the first and second pieces and supporting the first and second pieces movably to front and rear. At least one groove section that extends from front to rear is formed in the surfaces of the first and second pieces that contact the rollers.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: heat transfer tubes that are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are disposed in multiple tiers in a first direction that intersects a second direction along which a heating medium flows; and a coupling header that couples the heat transfer tubes together. The coupling header includes: a first member that includes a first core made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a first sacrificial anode layer; a second member that includes no sacrificial anode layer; and a third member that includes a second core made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a second sacrificial anode layer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a header; flat tubes disposed in line along a longitudinal direction of the header and connected to the header: a refrigerant pipe connected to an introduction space in the header; and a nozzle. When the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator of a refrigerant, the refrigerant is fed through the nozzle from the introduction space to a supply space disposed adjacent to the introduction space in the longitudinal direction of the header. The nozzle is disposed on a side closer to the flat tubes than to the refrigerant pipe. A width of a first zone in the introduction space on the side closer to the flat tubes is smaller than a width of a second zone in the introduction space on a side where the refrigerant pipe is connected.

Abstract: A refrigerant distributor includes a first refrigerant pipe, a plurality of second refrigerant pipes, a body, a first plate, and a second plate. The body is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The body is configured to distribute a refrigerant from the first refrigerant pipe into the second refrigerant pipes or merge the refrigerant flowing from each of the second refrigerant pipes into the first refrigerant pipe. The body has a first surface connected to the first refrigerant pipe and a second surface connected to the second refrigerant pipes. The first plate is joined to the first surface, and has an outer surface exposed to atmosphere and provided with a first sacrificial anode layer for the body. The second plate is joined to the second surface, and has an outer surface exposed to atmosphere and provided with a second sacrificial anode layer for the body.

Abstract: A linear extension and retraction mechanism includes a plurality of flat-plate shaped first pieces that are connected to each other, and a plurality of second pieces having a cross-sectional U-shaped groove frame shape that are connected to each other. A leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces are joined by a head section. The first and second pieces become linearly rigid when the first pieces are joined to an upper part of the second pieces, and the first and second pieces return to a bent state when separated from each other. Protrusion sections that protrude inward are extended in the width direction in a bottom plate of each second piece. Corners of edge parts of the protrusion sections are chamfered.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: flat pipes disposed in multiple stages in a stage direction corresponding to an up-down direction; and fins that partition a space between adjacent two of the flat pipes into air flow passages through which air flows. Each of the flat pipes includes a passage for a refrigerant inside thereof. The flat pipes are divided into heat exchange paths arrayed in multiple stages in the stage direction. One of the heat exchange paths that includes a lowermost one of the flat pipes is defined as a first heat exchange path. A length of the passage from a first end to a second end of a flow of the refrigerant in each of the heat exchange paths is defined as a path effective length.

Abstract: A robot arm mechanism is capable of preventing a first piece string from colliding with a support column inner wall in the robot arm mechanism having a linear extension and retraction joint. The robot arm mechanism includes a plurality of first pieces that are connected in a string shape and a plurality of second pieces that are connected in a string shape, a feed mechanism section that supports the first and second strings movably forward and backward, a storage section in a square cylinder shape that stores the first pieces and the second pieces, and a guide that guides reciprocating movement of the first pieces between the feed mechanism section and the storage section from outside of the first pieces.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including: a header; flat tubes connected to the header and disposed in line along a longitudinal direction of the header; a first partition that partitions an inner space of the header into a first space on a side where the flat tubes are connected and a second space on a side opposite to the first space; and a second partition that partitions the inner space of the header into a first side and a second side. The first side is one side of the header in the longitudinal direction and the second side is opposite to the first side. The first partition has a common opening. The common opening includes an insertion opening and a refrigerant opening. A refrigerant moves between the first space and the second space via the refrigerant opening. The second partition is inserted into the insertion opening.

Abstract: A proximity sensor apparatus has a detection electrode that forms an electrostatic capacitance between the detection electrode and an object to be detected. The detection electrode is fitted to an electrode base plate. The detection section detects electrostatic capacitance based on output of the detection electrode. The electrode base plate is supported by a push-button switch. When the object to be detected approaches the detection electrode, the electrostatic capacitance changes. Approach of the object to be detected can be detected by a change in electrostatic capacitance. When the object to be detected contacts the detection electrode, the push-button switch is turned on. The push-button switch is turned on, and thereby contact of the object to be detected can be detected.

Abstract: A robot arm mechanism has a plurality of link sections. The plurality of link sections are connected by a plurality of joints. The plurality of link sections are respectively covered with covers. The respective covers are supported by push-button switches or pressure sensors. When a worker or the like touches any of the covers, the push button switch or the pressure sensor that supports the cover is turned on. Thereby, contact to any of the covers by the worker or the like is detected. Contact of the worker or the like can be detected in a wide range.

Abstract: A dishwashing system includes: a dishwasher that washes tableware contained in a dishwashing rack, inside a washing chamber; a carry-in stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is to be carried into the washing chamber on; a carry-out stand for placing the dishwashing rack that is carried out from the washing chamber on; and a robot device including a robot arm mechanism. The carry-in stand and the dishwasher are arranged within a movable range of the robot arm mechanism. The robot arm mechanism transfers the dishwashing rack from the carry-in stand to the washing chamber, and also operates the dishwasher.

Abstract: A robot arm mechanism is capable of preventing a first piece string from colliding with a support column inner wall in the robot arm mechanism having a linear extension and retraction joint. The robot arm mechanism includes a plurality of first pieces that are connected in a string shape and a plurality of second pieces that are connected in a string shape, a feed mechanism section that supports the first and second strings movably forward and backward, a storage section in a square cylinder shape that stores the first pieces and the second pieces, and a guide that guides reciprocating movement of the first pieces between the feed mechanism section and the storage section from outside of the first pieces.

Abstract: A linear extension and retraction mechanism that is mounted in a robot arm mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces having a flat plate shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces; a plurality of second pieces having a groove shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces of a bottom part, with the first and second pieces becoming linearly rigid when superposed, and the first and second pieces returning to a bent state when separated from each other; a head section which joins a leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces; and a sending-out mechanism section including a plurality of rollers and for firmly superposing the first and second pieces and supporting the first and second pieces movably to front and rear. At least one groove section that extends from front to rear is formed in the surfaces of the first and second pieces that contact the rollers.

Abstract: A linear extension and retraction mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces coupled together bendably; a plurality of second pieces coupled together bendably; a plurality of rollers adapted to join together the first pieces and the second pieces, forming a columnar body, and support the columnar body movably back and forth; a drive gear adapted to move the first pieces and the second pieces back and forth; and a motor unit adapted to generate power for rotating the drive gear. On a surface on a side where each of the first pieces is joined to a corresponding one of the second pieces, the first piece includes a linear gear to be meshed with the drive gear as well as a protrusion installed by protruding toward the second piece side. At least one third piece is bendably connected to a rearmost one of the plurality of first pieces.