Abstract: A load port apparatus connects a main opening of a wafer transportation container with a frame opening. The load port apparatus includes an installation part, a frame, and a flange clamp. The installation part has an installation table configured to install the wafer transportation container and move to and from the frame opening. The frame is upright from the installation part and has the frame opening. The flange clamp includes an engagement portion and a drive portion. The engagement portion is configured to be engaged with a flange surrounding an outer circumference of the main opening. The drive portion is configured to drive the engagement portion. The engagement portion is engaged from above or the side with a flange groove formed in the flange and opening radially outwardly.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.

Abstract: To provide electrode catalyst which has the catalyst activity and durability equal to or more than the Pt/Pd/C catalyst. The electrode catalyst has a support and catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particle has the core part formed on the support and the shell part formed on the core part. The core part contains a Ti oxide and Pd, and the shell part contains Pt.

Abstract: To provide electrode catalyst which has the catalyst activity equal to or more than the Pt/Pd/C catalyst. The electrode catalyst 10A has a support 2 and catalyst particles 3a supported on the support. The catalyst particle has the core part 4 formed on the support, the first shell part 5a formed on the core part and the second shell part 6a formed on a part of the surface of the first shell part. The core part contains Pd, the first shell part contains Pt, and the second shell part contains the Ti oxide. A percentage of the Pt R1Pt (atom %) and a percentage of the Ti derived from the Ti oxide R1Ti (atom %) in an analytical region near a surface measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy satisfy the conditions of the equation (1): 1.00?(R1Ti/R1Pt)?2.50.

Abstract: To provide electrode catalyst (core-shell catalyst) having an excellent catalyst activity which contributes to lower the cost of the PEFC. The electrode catalyst has catalyst particles supported an a support. The catalyst particle has a core part containing simple Pd and a shell part containing simple Pt. A percentage RC (atom %) of the carbon of the support and a percentage RPd (atom %) of the simple Pd in an analytical region near a surface measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) satisfy the conditions of the following equation (1): 2.15?[100×RPd/(RPd+RC)].

Abstract: An EFEM includes first and second chambers, an airflow formation unit, a gas discharge port, and first and second nozzles. The first chamber introduces a replacement gas. The second chamber is connected with the first chamber via first and second communication sections. In the first communication section, a filter is disposed, and the replacement gas inflows from the first chamber. In the second communication section, the replacement gas outflows into the first chamber. The airflow formation unit produces a circulating airflow between the first and second chambers. The gas discharge port discharges an internal gas from the first or second chamber. The first nozzle discharges the replacement gas supplied from a replacement gas supply source into the first chamber through a first opening. The second nozzle discharges the replacement gas supplied from the source through a second opening.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst in which the contents of chlorine (Cl) species and bromine (Br) species are reduced to a predetermined level or lower, capable of exhibiting sufficient catalyst performance. The electrode catalyst has a core-shell structure including a support, a core part formed on the support and a shell part formed to cover at least a part of the surface of the core part. A concentration of bromine (Br) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 400 ppm or less, and a concentration of chlorine (Cl) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 900 ppm or less.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a gas diffusion electrode, with which it is possible to more effectively improve electrode performance, in cases in which a core-shell catalyst is used as an electrode catalyst. This method for producing gas diffusion electrode comprises: a first step in which a support layer having electron conductivity, water-repellency and gas diffusion properties is soaked in water; a second step in which the constituent materials of ink for forming a catalyst layer are put into a mixer and mixed by agitation to prepare an ink for forming a catalyst layer; and a third step in which the ink for forming a catalyst layer is used to form a catalyst layer on the surface of the support layer obtained in the first step. The ink for forming the catalyst layer contains a core-shell catalyst, a polyelectrolyte, water and alcohol. The alcohol is only a polyvalent alcohol.

Abstract: To provide electrode catalyst which has the catalyst activity and durability at a practically durable level and contributes to lowering of the cost in comparison with the conventional Pt/C catalyst. The electrode catalyst has a support and catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particle has the core part, the first shell part formed on the core part, and the second shell part formed on the first shell part. The core part contains W compound including at least W carbide, the first shell part contains simple Pd, and the second shell part contains simple Pt.

Abstract: To provide electrode catalyst (core-shell catalyst) having an excellent catalyst activity which contributes to lower the cost of the PEFC. The electrode catalyst has catalyst particles supported an a support. The catalyst particle has a core part containing simple Pd and a shell part containing simple Pt. A percentage RC (atom %) of the carbon of the support and a percentage RPd (atom %) of the simple Pd in an analytical region near a surface measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) satisfy the conditions of the following equation (1): 2.15?[100×RPd/(RPd+RC)].

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst in which the contents of chlorine (Cl) species and bromine (Br) species are reduced to a predetermined level or lower, capable of exhibiting sufficient catalyst performance. The electrode catalyst has a core-shell structure including a support, a core part formed on the support and a shell part formed to cover at least a part of the surface of the core part. A concentration of bromine (Br) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 400 ppm or less, and a concentration of chlorine (Cl) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 900 ppm or less.

Abstract: A gas purge unit includes an intake nozzle 28, a pivotable body 31, and an O-ring 35. The intake nozzle 28 has a nozzle opening 26 flowing out a cleaning gas. The pivotable body 31 is arranged in ring shape to surround a cylindrical projection 28b of the nozzle 28, and is provided with a contact part 34 capable of detachably contacting with an intake port 5 on a tip portion of the pivotable body 31. The ring-shaped O-ring 33 is held between a rear end of the pivotable body 31 and a base portion 28a of the nozzle 28 in a compressively elastically deformable manner along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical projection 28b.

Abstract: A gas purge apparatus, a load port apparatus, and a gas purge method are capable of filling a container with a cleaning gas without leaning the container to be purged. The first and second purge nozzles are configured to be escalated so that the first purge nozzle 30-1 contacts with the first purge port 5-1 whose distance to the regulating distance 90 is near before the second purge nozzle 30-2 contacts with the second purge port 5-2.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst that can exhibit sufficient performance, is suitable for mass production, and is suitable for reducing production costs, even when containing a relatively high concentration of chlorine. The electrode catalyst has a core-shell structure including a support; a core part that is formed on the support; and a shell part that is formed so as to cover at least one portion of the surface of the core part. A concentration of bromine (Br) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 500 ppm or less, and a concentration of chlorine (Cl) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 8,500 ppm or less.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst in which the contents of chlorine (Cl) species and bromine (Br) species are reduced to a predetermined level or lower, capable of exhibiting sufficient catalyst performance. The electrode catalyst has a core-shell structure including a support, a core part formed on the support and a shell part formed to cover at least a part of the surface of the core part. A concentration of bromine (Br) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 400 ppm or less, and a concentration of chlorine (Cl) species of the electrode catalyst as measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is 900 ppm or less.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.

Abstract: A gas purge unit includes an intake nozzle 28, a pivotable body 31, and an O-ring 35. The intake nozzle 28 has a nozzle opening 26 flowing out a cleaning gas. The pivotable body 31 is arranged in a ring shape to surround a cylindrical projection 28b of the nozzle 28, and is provided with a contact part 34 formed on a tip portion of the pivotable body 31 to be able to detachably contact with the intake port 5. The ring-shaped O-ring 35 is held to be compressively elastically deformable along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical projection 28b between a rear end of the pivotable body 31 and a base portion 28a of the nozzle 28.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a rotating member, and an electrode member. The casing may be configured to accommodate therein developer. The rotating member has a rotational shaft extending in an axial direction. The rotating member is configured to rotate about the rotational shaft and carries the developer thereon. The electrode member is configured to be electrically connected to the rotating member. The electrode member covers at least part of the rotational shaft from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is arranged to confront the casing in the axial direction. The electrode member is configured to move in the orthogonal direction in accordance with a movement in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes process units and developer cartridges; a process unit supporting member; a cartridge supporting member; and a moving mechanism. Each developer cartridge includes a transporting member configured to transport developer to a corresponding process unit. The moving mechanism is configured to move each transporting member between a communicated position, in which developer is transported to the corresponding process unit, and an interrupted position, in which transporting of developer to the corresponding process unit is interrupted.