Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes a gear pump that supplies cleaning water to reagent probes and sample probes; a cleaning flow path that feeds the cleaning water discharged from the gear pump to the respective probes; a pressure sensor that measures pressure of the cleaning flow path; a return flow path that is disposed in parallel to the gear pump and connects a discharging port side of the gear pump and an aspirating port side thereof; a throttling unit that is disposed in the return flow path and adjusts a flow rate of the cleaning water flowing through the return flow path; and a control unit that changes an opening and closing degree of the throttling unit according to a measurement result of the pressure sensor. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to control driving of a pump used for cleaning a probe while having a low cost and a small mounting size.

Abstract: A bending mechanism includes: an elongated support member; a swivel that is pivotably connected to a distal end of the support member; a first link that can transmit a driving force applied at the proximal end, to make the swivel pivot with respect to the support member; a second link that can transmit a driving force applied at the proximal end, to make the swivel pivot with respect to the support member; and a connector that is provided on at least one of the first and second links and that can switch the coupled state of one of the first and second links when a pivoting angle of the swivel exceeds a threshold such that the permissible stress of the one of the links has become less than the permissible stress of the other.

Abstract: An electric motor drive device includes: a wire connection switching unit; an inverter; a control device controlling the wire connection switching unit and the inverter; and an overcurrent protection circuit preventing current exceeding a predetermined value from continuously flowing through the electric motor. The overcurrent protection circuit includes: determination circuits each correlated one-to-one with any one of possible wire connection states of a stator winding and determining whether current flowing through the inverter is abnormal; a combining circuit combining determination results; and an invalidation circuit invalidating a determination process by one or more of the determination circuits, and causing the combining circuit to output a determination result by the determination circuit correlated with a selected wire connection state of the stator winding.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes a gear pump that supplies cleaning water to reagent probes and sample probes; a cleaning flow path that feeds the cleaning water discharged from the gear pump to the respective probes; a pressure sensor that measures pressure of the cleaning flow path; a return flow path that is disposed in parallel to the gear pump and connects a discharging port side of the gear pump and an aspirating port side thereof; a throttling unit that is disposed in the return flow path and adjusts a flow rate of the cleaning water flowing through the return flow path; and a control unit that changes an opening and closing degree of the throttling unit according to a measurement result of the pressure sensor. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to control driving of a pump used for cleaning a probe while having a low cost and a small mounting size.

Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a compressor-driving inverter circuit to convert direct current power for driving a compressor into pseudo three-phase alternating current power using a plurality of switching elements; a fan rotational speed detection unit to detect the fan rotational speed of a fan that cools the switching elements; an ambient temperature detection unit to detect the ambient temperature at a location where the air conditioner is located; and a compressor inverter drive unit to control the compressor rotational speed of the compressor by controlling the compressor-driving inverter circuit. The compressor inverter drive unit controls the compressor-driving inverter circuit on the basis of the fan rotational speed and the ambient temperature.

Abstract: A joint structure of a manipulator includes: swiveling members that are coupled so as to be able to swivel via a rolling contact; shafts that constitute bending joints between the swiveling members and that are parallel to each other; pulleys that are rotatably supported about the shafts; and a connector attached to the shafts so as to be able to swivel about longitudinal axes of the shafts. The connector includes supports that are disposed on axial ends of the shafts so as to sandwich the pulleys therebetween in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and a beam that extends in between the supports to couple the supports to each other.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of replacing an insertion mechanism while suppressing occurrence of dispensing abnormality and analysis result abnormality accompanying deterioration of the insertion mechanism. Included are an insertion mechanism that is inserted into a closed container through a lid of the container; a storage unit that stores an insertion history count corresponding to a cumulative load of the insertion mechanism caused by inserting the insertion mechanism into a plurality of the containers, and an allowable insertion history count which is an allowable value of the insertion history count; and a control unit that compares the insertion history count with the allowable insertion history count and performs control to make a notification to an operator in a case where the insertion history count reaches the allowable insertion history count.

Abstract: A bending mechanism includes: a support member; a pivoting member supported at a distal end of the support member to be pivotable about an axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of the support member; a link disposed along the longitudinal axis and transmitting a force applied at a proximal end thereof to cause the pivoting member to pivot; and an adjuster adjusting stresses in the link so as not to exceed a threshold, at each pivoting position of the pivoting member with respect to the support member. The link includes a first member connected to the pivoting member and a second member disposed closer to the proximal end than the first member is. The adjuster includes a movable member moving in predetermined direction when the first and second members are relatively moved, and a spring biasing the movable member in such direction as to prevent the movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A rinse mechanism rinses reaction cuvettes with first and second detergents. An R1 reagent pipetting mechanism 8 rinses the reaction cuvettes that have been rinsed by the rinse mechanism with a special detergent. A counting unit counts and stores in a storage unit a use frequency of each reaction cuvette for a specific reagent item. A determining unit determines whether the counted use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold N1. A control unit controls the R1 reagent pipetting mechanism such that, in a case where the counted use frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold N1, the reaction cuvettes, which have exceeded the predetermined threshold N1, are soaked with the special detergent only for a period equal to or less than a value derived by multiplying a pipetting cycle time, which indicates a period when a sample is pipetted, by the total number of reaction cuvettes and a predetermined integer.

Abstract: A bending mechanism includes: an elongated support member; a swivel that is supported at a distal end of the support member so as to swivel around an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of the support member; a transmitter that are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the support member, transmits a driving force applied at a proximal end thereof, and makes the swivel swivel relative to the support member; and a regulator that regulates stress generated in the transmitter at each swivel position of the swivel with respect to the support member such that the stress does not exceed a prescribed threshold.

Abstract: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a compressor-driving inverter circuit to convert direct current power for driving a compressor into pseudo three-phase alternating current power using a plurality of switching elements; a fan rotational speed detection unit to detect the fan rotational speed of a fan that cools the switching elements; an ambient temperature detection unit to detect the ambient temperature at a location where the air conditioner is located; and a compressor inverter drive unit to control the compressor rotational speed of the compressor by controlling the compressor-driving inverter circuit. The compressor inverter drive unit controls the compressor-driving inverter circuit on the basis of the fan rotational speed and the ambient temperature.

Abstract: A rinse mechanism rinses reaction cuvettes with first and second detergents. An R1 reagent pipetting mechanism 8 rinses the reaction cuvettes that have been rinsed by the rinse mechanism with a special detergent. A counting unit counts and stores in a storage unit a use frequency of each reaction cuvette for a specific reagent item. A determining unit determines whether the counted use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold N1. A control unit controls the R1 reagent pipetting mechanism such that, in a case where the counted use frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold N1, the reaction cuvettes, which have exceeded the predetermined threshold N1, are soaked with the special detergent only for a period equal to or less than a value derived by multiplying a pipetting cycle time, which indicates a period when a sample is pipetted, by the total number of reaction cuvettes and a predetermined integer.

Abstract: A rinse mechanism rinses reaction cuvettes with first and second detergents. An R1 reagent pipetting mechanism 8 rinses the reaction cuvettes that have been rinsed by the rinse mechanism with a special detergent. A counting unit counts and stores in a storage unit a use frequency of each reaction cuvette for a specific reagent item. A determining unit determines whether the counted use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold N1. A control unit controls the R1 reagent pipetting mechanism such that, in a case where the counted use frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold N1, the reaction cuvettes, which have exceeded the predetermined threshold N1, are soaked with the special detergent only for a period equal to or less than a value derived by multiplying a pipetting cycle time, which indicates a period when a sample is pipetted, by the total number of reaction cuvettes and a predetermined integer.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of replacing an insertion mechanism while suppressing occurrence of dispensing abnormality and analysis result abnormality accompanying deterioration of the insertion mechanism. Included are an insertion mechanism that is inserted into a closed container through a lid of the container; a storage unit that stores an insertion history count corresponding to a cumulative load of the insertion mechanism caused by inserting the insertion mechanism into a plurality of the containers, and an allowable insertion history count which is an allowable value of the insertion history count; and a control unit that compares the insertion history count with the allowable insertion history count and performs control to make a notification to an operator in a case where the insertion history count reaches the allowable insertion history count.

Abstract: A rinse mechanism rinses reaction cuvettes with first and second detergents. An R1 reagent pipetting mechanism 8 rinses the reaction cuvettes that have been rinsed by the rinse mechanism with a special detergent. A counting unit counts and stores in a storage unit a use frequency of each reaction cuvette for a specific reagent item. A determining unit determines whether the counted use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold N1. A control unit controls the R1 reagent pipetting mechanism such that, in a case where the counted use frequency exceeds the predetermined threshold N1, the reaction cuvettes, which have exceeded the predetermined threshold N1, are soaked with the special detergent only for a period equal to or less than a value derived by multiplying a pipetting cycle time, which indicates a period when a sample is pipetted, by the total number of reaction cuvettes and a predetermined integer.

Abstract: An axial offset correcting method of a tool coordinate system of a robot also including an inclination offset correction is provided. A first workpiece is grasped by a tool. The operation of a robot arm is controlled by using detecting quantities of a force sensor, thereby starting a fitting of the first workpiece into a second workpiece. A position of an origin of a mechanical interface coordinate system in at least two different states during the fitting operation is obtained, thereby obtaining a position of a central axis of the first workpiece. An inclination offset quantity of the tool coordinate system is calculated based on the position of the central axis of the first workpiece. An inclination offset of the tool coordinate system is corrected based on the calculated inclination offset quantity.

Abstract: An anti-corrosive agent for washing of a metal with an acid, which comprises an amphoteric polymeric compound (P) having at least one cationic constituent unit (A) having a specific structure, at least one anionic constituent unit (B) having a specific structure and a specific sulfur-containing constituent unit (C).

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a diallylamine acetate polymer comprising polymerizing diallylamine acetate in water or a polar solvent in the presence of a radical initiator, the radical initiator being an organic acid addition salt of a specific cyclic amidinoazo compound, and a diallylamine acetate polymer solution free of halogen.

Abstract: A surface mount optical semiconductor device and circuit can efficiently transfer and dissipate heat even when being mounted together with electronic circuit components. The optical semiconductor device can include a lead frame having a concave portion for mounting a light-emitting element therein and a pair of electrode terminals connected to a board. A sealing resin portion can be provided for sealing a surrounding region of the concave portion. A bottom surface of the concave portion is located at a predetermined distance from a connecting surface on which the pair of electrode terminals is connected to the board. The bottom surface of the concave portion can also be exposed from a bottom surface of the sealing resin portion. Thus, the bottom surface of the concave portion and the device in general can be air-cooled efficiently.

Abstract: The device includes a first ceramic layer; a second ceramic layer on the first ceramic layer and having a light emitting element mounting area; a reflective layer so formed on a surface of the second ceramic layer that the reflective layer covers at least the mounting area; a protective layer which covers the reflective layer; a semiconductor light emitting element mounted on the protective layer positioned above the element mounting area; and at least one heat dissipation via passing through the first ceramic layer. The heat dissipation via is disposed in a position that does not overlap with the element mounting area in a direction in which the ceramic layers are stacked.