Abstract: In an electrostatic image forming method, said electrophotographic photoreceptor comprises a resinous layer comprising siloxane base resin containing a structural unit having charge transport performance and a cross-linked structure on an electrically conductive support, and developer material comprises a toner which is obtained by suspension-polymerizing a polymerizable composition comprised of at least polymerizing monomer and colorant or a toner which is obtained by fusing at least said resin particles in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical recording medium preventing deterioration of an organic dye, having improved durability and being highly reliable, as well as a process for producing the same. The recording layer (3) including an organic dye as the main component, and the reflective layer (4) comprising a metal selected from Cu, Ag and Au or an alloy containing at least one of these metals, are formed in this order on substrate (2). An ultraviolet-curable material is laminated on the reflective layer (4) and cured by irradiation with UV rays at 200 to 1000 mJ/cm2 in such a manner that a cure shrinkage factor is not more than 10% by volume to form the protective layer (5) so that the organic acid content in the resulting ultraviolet-cured resin is not more than 10 ppm by weight, whereby the optical disk (1) is obtained. The dye is preferably a cyanine type dye, and the reflective layer is preferably Cu, Ag or an alloy containing at least one of these metals.

Abstract: A recording medium having a dummy signal area on at least one side of a recording area is used and information is recorded with a dummy signal added to at least one of the leading and trailing sides in the recorded information signal. The user data area remains unaffected by repeated overwriting so that recorded user data is reproduced correctly. In particular, the wave form distortion caused by fluidization of a recording film remains at the dummy signal area and does not affect the user data area, so that the reproduction of the target information (user data) is assured.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus having a function for outputting data to a plurality of output units, wherein the usage of each output unit is clarified and output processing is executed efficiently and smoothly. A main printer, an auxiliary printer and a disallowed printer are designated. If a problem (paper depletion, jamming, toner depletion, etc.) develops in the main printer during the course of a printing operation being executed using the main printer, printing is continued using the auxiliary printer. Use of the disallowed printer is inhibited in order that it may serve as a printer dedicated to another information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A valve timing control device has a case rotating in synchronization with a crankshaft of an engine. A plurality of projections, which project outwardly in a radial direction of the case, are arranged on an outer circumferential portion of the case at regular intervals. The projection is a chuck site allowing the engagement of a chuck tool of an automatic machine used for an auto-assembly work, the chuck tool being operated in the radial direction. A tapered face is formed at a side, close to the chuck tool, of the projection, the tapered face easily allowing the engagement of the chuck tool when the chuck tool proceeds toward the device.

Abstract: A x-ray apparatus includes an x-ray source, an x-ray optical system, wherein the x-ray optical system extracts x-rays of a specific wavelength from the x-ray source and converts the x-rays into a beam, and an irradiation source that causes radiation to be incident on surfaces of optical elements contained in the x-ray apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer is contained in a reaction tube, and the reaction tube is exhausted through an exhaust pipe while supplying ammonia and dichlorosilane into the reaction tube. A silicon nitride film is deposited on an object to be heat-treated by a reaction of ammonia and dichlorosilane. Subsequently, TEOS is supplied into the reaction tube, while the reaction tube is exhausted through the exhaust pipe. A silicon oxide film is deposited on the object by resolving the TEOS. A semiconductor wafer on which a laminated layer of the silicon nitride film and the silicon oxide film is formed is unloaded from the reaction tube. Then, reactive products attached into the exhaust pipe and the reaction tube are removed, by conducting fluoride hydrogen thereinto, thereby cleaning the pipes. The top end of the exhaust pipe is split into two vents, either one of which is used for discharging exhaust gas for forming films and the other one of which is used for discharging HF gas for cleaning the pipes.

Abstract: To effect stable connection of an electrode of a sensing element to a connecting terminal, a holder for disposing the sensing element in a predetermined flow passage is provided. The holder is further provided with a rectification structure portion for rectifying the flow of an intake fluid and a connecting terminal securing portion with the connecting terminal embedded therein for fetching a signal of the sensing element, wherein the rectification structure portion and the connecting terminal securing portion are integrally formed by insulating material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing mechanism in which a groove portion in a shaft and a pawl portion on a bearing corresponding to the groove portion are not required and which can improve production efficiency and operability, and a conveying apparatus which has such a bearing mechanism and in which, when a driven roller is not located at an entire area of a sheet to be conveyed, a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed can be directed correctly not to damage the sheet to be conveyed after the sheet was discharged, and a recording apparatus having such a conveying apparatus. A bearing mechanism includes a pair of pinching portions for pinching both surfaces of a supporting plate, and a fixing portion, and further includes a guide member for directing a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed, and a sheet catching preventing protecting member.

Abstract: A gaming machine displays a plurality of rows of symbols in moving and stopped states at an image display section formed in a front panel. If big winning symbols to be displayed in a stopped state are not attained as the result of determination (S4), then random number sampling for deciding whether or not to execute an image action is carried out (S6). According to the result of this sampling, whether or not to execute the image action is determined (S7). If it is determined to execute the image action, then an operation for randomly blinking tricolor-emitting LEDs is carried out at step 8 (S8). The LED display when executing the image action may be at a low luminance, as long as a player can guess, by seeing the blinking of tricolor-emitting LEDs, that a certain phenomenon relating to big winning might be occurring. The blinking pattern of the tricolor-emitting LEDs is constituted by randomly repeating their color changes.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical composition which comprises an insulin sensitivity enhancer in combination with other antidiabetics differing from the enhancer in the mechanism of action, which shows a potent depressive effect on diabetic hyperglycemia and is useful for prophylaxis and treatment of diabetes.

Abstract: An switching apparatus including an information sending unit and an information receiving unit. The information sending unit has a selecting block for selecting an information item to be sent to another information system from among information items processed in an information processing system, a specifying block for specifying the information item selected by the selecting block as information to be sent to another information processing system, an extracting block for extracting the information item specified by the specifying block from the information items processed in the information processing system, and a sending block for sending the information item extracted by the extracting block to a predetermined communication system as information to be sent to another information processing system.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus of this invention comprises a means 67 for heating a record material to a predetermined temperature range at the position of recording, a recording head 41 for ejecting ink 46 from an ink ejection orifice 49 toward the record material to perform recording, the ink containing a substance having thickening properties when undergoing heat, and/or a substance having a cloud point for the heat; a means 69 for measuring the duration for which the recording head resides at the position of recording; and means for controlling the duration of residence in accordance with the properties of the ink to prevent the ejection function being impaired owing to the heating of the surroundings of the ink ejection orifice.

Abstract: A vacuum exhaust system comprising a vacuum chamber; means for introducing a gas into the vacuum chamber; a main pump for exhausting the vacuum chamber and reducing a pressure of the vacuum chamber to a desired pressure; an auxiliary pump disposed downstream from the main pump; and piping for connecting them, wherein an outer diameter of connecting piping as a connection between the main pump and the auxiliary pump is ½ inch (12.7 mm) or less; and a length of the connecting piping and capability of the auxiliary pump are combined so that a back pressure of the main pump becomes 5 Torr or more. This vacuum exhaust system can realize cost reduction through a saving in entire space, simplification of piping construction work, and so on.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing water and a free acids content in an electrolytic solution for a lithium battery, and to an electrolytic solution for a lithium battery having a low water content and acids content. The present method is characterized by comprising steps of (a) leading an inert gas through the solvent having a water content of 100 ppm or lower under heating of the solvent to vaporize water together with the solvent to thereby reduce the water content of the solvent, and (b) dissolving the lithium electrolyte in the solvent while maintaining a temperature of the solvent at 20° C. or lower. The present method can make the water content at most 3 ppm and the free acids content less than 1 ppm.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a repeater performing buffering operation at some midpoint in a multiplex bus over which an address and data are transmitted by a time division method. The repeater includes a part which transmits only an address when the address does not indicate a data transmission destination which is located ahead of the repeater.

Abstract: A bit of binary information which is one of “1” and “0” is assigned to a domain pattern which is a combination of a recorded magnetic domain and a magnetic domain magnetized in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording domain is magnetized. A bit of binary information which is the other of “1” and “0” is assigned to a domain pattern consisting of two magnetic domains magnetized in the same direction as the foregoing magnetic domain is magnetized. Consequently, two or more consecutive bits of record information are formed, on a recording layer, as a series of domain patterns each of which is a combination, as a record information unit, of a recorded magnetic domain and a magnetic domain magnetized in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording domain is magnetized. Independent of the lengths of the magnetic domains recorded on the recording layer, the record information can be transferred to a reproducing layer.

Abstract: An internal gear oil pump made of Al alloys having less mutual damage property and superior wear resistance is provided. The internal gear oil pump has a casing with a gear compartment, a drive gear, and a driven gear, all of which are the structural members of the internal gear oil pump. The casing is constituted of an Al-alloy casting. The drive gear and the driven gear are constituted of a hot plastic working material of Al—Si alloy powder. The hot plastic working material is constituted of an Al—Si alloy having a structure in which unit crystal phases are dispersed in a base matrix by 10 to 40 area percent. by the structural observation with an optical microscope, the unit. crystal phases being harder than the base matrix. The base matrix is constituted of an Al—Si alloy which contains, on weight basis, 10% to 18% Si, 4% to 8% Fe, 1% to 3% Ni, 1% to 3% Cr, and the balance being Al and incidental impurities.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece is provided with a device for automatically adjusting month-end calendar dates capable of reading dates simply, quickly, and reliably. A date detection pattern 71 composed of reflective and non-reflective sections is formed on the rear surface of a date dial 70. When the date dial 70 rotates, a change in the boundary between the reflective part and the non-reflective part is read by a photo sensor 81, the necessary number of dates is determined by a control circuit 20 by use of a perpetual calendar circuit, driving a date dial driving mechanisms 51 and 52.