Abstract: There are provided:

Abstract: An imaging unit images light on a light receiving element, and includes an optical path shifting element, and a lens arranged on an input side or an output side of the optical path shifting element. The optical path shifting element includes a liquid crystal layer which is applied with an electrical field in a direction approximately parallel to an in-plane direction. The liquid crystal layer is made of a chiral smectic C phase ferroelectric liquid crystal having a homeotropic alignment. The optical path shifting element shifts an optical path of the light input thereto in an optical path shifting direction.

Abstract: An optical deflection device includes an optical deflection element having a pair of transparent boards arranged in a mutually opposing manner. A liquid crystal layer is filled between the boards and forms a chiral smectic C phase. An orientation film orients liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes generate an electric field in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the liquid crystal layer. A first voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a deflection frequency switching the optical deflection direction of the optical deflection element. A second voltage application part applies, to the electrodes, an ac voltage of a higher frequency than the deflection frequency.

Abstract: An optical path deflecting element easily can realize a uniform alignment condition although liquid crystal of a large cone angle is used therein. In the optical path deflecting element, a slope region is formed between two transparent substrates arranged to have a slope angle &thgr;. A liquid crystal layer of a chiral smectic C phase is provided in the slope region. The liquid crystal is aligned in a single-stable condition where a stable condition direction and an unstable condition direction coexist. Here, the stable condition direction is the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules aligned in a rubbing direction, and the unstable condition is the major axis direction at time when a voltage is applied between transparent electrode films. In such a single-stable liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal can be uniformly aligned more easily than in a case where the liquid crystal is aligned in a bistable condition.

Abstract: To prevent wavy swell from causing in sheet in transferring thereof and avoid wrinkle from being produced in later printing steps, there is provided a sheet transfer machine forward from a printing drum and a press roll. The machine is provided with upper and lower guide plates respectively formed with hole portions. Upper and lower rolls are disposed at the hole portions. There are provided hold rollers for pressing sheet coming from between the upper and the lower guide plates to an upper face of the lower guide plate downstream from the upper roll in a direction of transferring print sheet. In printing, swell is prevented from being produced by pressing the print sheet coming from between the two rolls by the hold rollers. When the sheet is sandwiched by the printing drum and the press roll and printed in later steps, wrinkle is not produced in the print sheet.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition for powder molding comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin-based resin(A) and 10 to 1000 parts by weight of a specific hydrogenated vinyl aromatic compound-conjugated diene-based block copolymer(B), a powder of the thermoplastic elastomer composition, a method for powder molding the same, a molded article obtained by the method for powder molding, and a multi-layer molded article containing the molded article as one layer.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: A reversible thermosensitive recording medium comprising an concealing layer provided between a reversible thermosensitive recording layer which is reversibly changed in its color by heat and a photo-thermal conversion layer which absorbs light with generating heat, wherein the concealing layer has an optical characteristic that the ratio of a light absorptivity of light having 555 nm wavelength, in comparison with a light absorptivity of laser light wavelength, is 80% or less. This reversible thermosensitive recording medium has a concealing layer to conceal the color of the photo-thermal conversion layer, thereby the visibility and the contrast of the obtained images are significantly improved, further more, durability in repeated used is also significantly improved.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reversible recording material having a liquid crystal mixture comprising at least two cholesteric liquid crystal compounds. The cholesteric liquid crystal compounds which are contained in the reversible recording material has a molecular weight of less than 2000 and a grass transition temperature equal to or more than 30° C. The two cholesteric liquid crystal compounds are compatible each other. After at least a part of the reversible recording material is heated to a temperature where the part of the reversible recording material becomes a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, the part of the reversible recording material is rapidly cooled down to below the glass transition temperature thereof, so that a reflecting color from the reversible recording material can be fixed to achieve a recording.

Abstract: An olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer composition for powder molding is described. The olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer composition produces no emission of poisonous gas at incineration. It is hardly whitened on bending and has excellent flexibility.

Abstract: A paper feed unit has a paper feed tray stacking sheets thereon, a primary paper feed roller and a secondary paper feed member, wherein an uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the paper feed tray is transferred toward the secondary paper feed member from the primary paper feed roller, a tip end of the sheet then contacts with the secondary paper feed member, and primary paper feed is then completed while the sheet is being bent. A counter rotation stop mechanism, which allows the primary paper feed roller to rotate in a paper feed direction but prevents the primary paper feed roller from rotating in a counter direction to the paper feed direction, and a rotation stop release mechanism, which releases a state in which the primary paper feed roller is prevented from rotating in the counter direction by the counter rotation stop mechanism, are also provided.

Abstract: A reversible recording medium has a support, a reversible light absorbing layer formed on the support, and, a reversible cholesteric reflection layer formed on the reversible light absorbing layer, containing a cholesteric liquid crystalline compound capable of assuming a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase reversibly showing iridescent colors by selective reflection. A method for reversibly recording an image in the above-mentioned recording medium, and a reversible recording apparatus using the above-mentioned recording medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition for powder molding comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin-based resin(A) and 10 to 1000 parts by weight of a specific hydrogenated vinyl aromatic compound-conjugated diene-based block copolymer(B), a powder of the thermoplastic elastomer composition, a method for powder molding the same, a molded article obtained by the method for powder molding, and a multi-layer molded article containing the molded article as one layer.

Abstract: A light deflection element has a pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal 5 with a homeotropic alignment filled between the pair of transparent substrates 2, 3; and at least an electric field applying device 6 for activating an electric field in the liquid crystal 5. Because a chiral smectic C phase liquid crystal is used, the problems of the conventional light deflection element, such as high cost, light loss, large size, and optical noise etc. due to its complicated structure, can be greatly improved. The conventional low response time due to the smectic A phase or the nematic liquid crystal is improved, thereby the high-speed response is possible.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin, 5 to 250 parts by weight of a rubbery polymer and 0 to 500 parts by weight of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber, wherein a complex dynamic viscosity &eegr;*(1) at 250° C. is 1.5×105 poise or less and a Newtonian viscosity index n is 0.67 or less, and furthermore, wherein said thermoplastic elastomer composition has a specific tan &dgr; peak, the peak temperature of which is different from that of the polyolefin resin and that of the rubbery polymer, at a temperature within the range from −70 to 30° C. in a temperature dependence curve of tan &dgr; determined by solid dynamic viscoelasticity measurement, powder or pellet thereof, and a molded article thereof.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition containing (A), (B-1) and (B-2) described below and having a total content of (B-1) and (B-2) of 10 to 250 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the content of (A), a complex dynamic viscosity &eegr;*(1) at 250 ° C. of 1.5×105 poise or less and a Newtonian viscosity index n of 0.67 or less, and pellets obtained by using the thermoplastic elastomer composition, and a molded article thereof: (A): a polyolefin-based resin; (B-1): a conjugated diene-based thermoplastic elastomer or its hydrogenated product providing two tan &dgr; peaks within a temperature range of −70 to 30° C.

Abstract: To prevent wavy swell from causing in sheet in transferring thereof and avoid wrinkle from being produced in later printing steps, there is provided a sheet transfer machine forward from a printing drum and a press roll. The machine is provided with upper and lower guide plates respectively formed with hole portions. Upper and lower rolls are disposed at the hole portions. There are provided hold rollers for pressing sheet coming from between the upper and the lower guide plates to an upper face of the lower guide plate downstream from the upper roll in a direction of transferring print sheet. In printing, swell is prevented from being produced by pressing the print sheet coming from between the two rolls by the hold rollers. When the sheet is sandwiched by the printing drum and the press roll and printed in later steps, wrinkle is not produced in the print sheet.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition powder obtained by blending 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of (c) described below per 100 part by weight of a pulverized product of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising 10 to 250 parts by weight of (b) described below or 10 to 250 parts by weight of (b) and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of (d) described below per 100 parts by weight of (a) described below, and having a complex dynamic viscosity &eegr;* (1) of 1.5×105 poise or less and a Newtonian viscosity index n of 0.67 or less, and a powder molding process and molded article using said powder, (a): a polyolefin-based resin, (b): a rubbery polymer imparting a new single tan &dgr; peak at a temperature different from that of the tan &dgr; peak of (a) and that of the tan &dgr; peak of (b) within the range of −70 to 30° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition powder comprising a thermoplastic elastomer composition represented by the following (A), having a sphere-reduced average diameter of not more than 1.2 mm and a bulk specific gravity of not less than 0.38: (A) a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising (a) 100 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin; (b) 20 to 250 parts by weight of a conjugated diene polymer of hydrogenated conjugated diene copolymer having a hydrogenation degree of not less than 70%, which is prepared by hydrogenating a conjugated diene-vinyl aromatic compound random copolymer in which the content of a vinyl aromatic compound unit is not more than 25% by weight; and (c) 0 to 500 parts by weight of an ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber. This powder can give a molded article having excellent appearance and flexibility, which does not cause whitening easily on bending, according to the powder molding method.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising (a) 100 wt. parts of a polyolefin resin, (b) 5 to 250 wt. parts of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber in which the content of the &agr;-olefin units is at least 50 wt. %, and (c) 0 to 500 wt. parts of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin copolymer rubber in which the content of the &agr;-olefin units is less than 50 wt. %. This composition can provide a molded article which is hardly whitened when it is bent, and has good flexiblity.