Abstract: An observation device configured to observe a sample stored in a multistage container including a plurality of spaces divided by a plurality of partition walls which are parallel. The observation device includes: a light source configured to generate light; a phase contrast microscope configured to irradiate the sample with light from the light source and to make executable observing a phase difference due to interference of light returned from the sample; and a reflection mirror configured to reflect light passed through the sample again toward the sample. The reflection mirror is inclined with respect to the plurality of partition walls of the multistage container.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component includes preparing a stack including dielectric layers and internal electrode layers alternately stacked on one another. The internal electrode layers include ends exposed on a side surface of the stack. The ends extend in a first direction. The method includes applying a laser beam to the side surface in a direction intersecting with the first direction at an incident angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90° with respect to the side surface to clean the side surface, forming a dielectric protective layer on the cleaned side surface, and firing the stack with the dielectric protective layer.

Abstract: A curable composition including: a component (A): a fluoropolyether group-containing acrylic compound containing a (meth)acrylic group, a hydrolyzable silane group, and a fluoropolyether group; a component (B): a fluoropolyether group-containing silane compound containing a fluoropolyether group and a hydrolyzable silyl group; a component (C): a cross-linking agent; a component (D): a catalyst; and a component (E) a radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: Base components are placed into recesses of a holder. Each recess includes a flat bottom surface parallel to a horizontal direction. A lid is placed above the holder at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface. A magnetic field with a magnetic flux line intersecting perpendicularly with the bottom surface is caused to act on the base components in the recesses to rotate the base components about their longitudinal axes to have internal electrode layers parallel to the magnetic flux line.

Abstract: A maintenance unit is provided to be mounted on a liquid discharge apparatus including a discharge portion that performs printing by discharging a liquid from a nozzle to a medium when the printing is not performed, and includes a cap configured to form a space in which the nozzle is open, and a pump configured to depressurize the space.

Abstract: A method includes cutting a multilayer base including a plurality of dielectric ceramic bodies and a plurality of internal electrode layers alternately stacked on one another along a cutting line orthogonal to the multilayer base to obtain a plurality of base precursors each including a cut side surface on which the plurality of internal electrode layers is exposed, aligning the plurality of base precursors each to have the cut side surface being opened, applying an air remover to the cut side surface being opened, and placing a side green sheet into contact with the air remover applied to the cut side surface and pressing the side green sheet.

Abstract: A maintenance unit configured to receive liquid discharged as a waste liquid from an ejection section that ejects the liquid onto a medium, the liquid being cured by a hardening process, the maintenance unit includes a belt-shaped absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid and to receive the liquid at a receiving region of the absorbing member, a rotor configured to transport the absorbing member in a feeding direction, a guide roller provided downstream of the receiving region in the feeding direction and around which winds the absorbing member, and a first regulating section is provided on the ejection section side of the absorbing member that is located between the receiving region and the center shaft of the downstream roller with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a base component, a first external electrode, a second external electrode, and a protective layer. The base component includes ceramic layers and internal electrode layers alternately stacked on one another and includes a first surface, a second surface, a first end face, a second end face, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The internal electrode layers are exposed on the first and second side surfaces and on the first or second end face. Each of the first and second external electrodes extends to at least one of the first or second surface from the first or second end face and includes first and second terminal side surfaces. The protective layer contains a ceramic material and covers the first and second side surfaces, and the first and second terminal side surfaces of each of the first and second external electrodes.

Abstract: A multilayer base is placed on a support. The multilayer base is cut by moving a cutting blade including an edge being linear through the multilayer base in a direction parallel to a surface of the support on which the multilayer base is placed. The cutting blade is moved with the edge inclined with respect to a moving direction of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A multilayer base including a plurality of dielectric ceramic bodies and internal electrode layers alternately stacked on one another is cut. Dry ice microparticles having a mean grain size not greater than 200 ?m are caused to hit a cut surface including the internal electrode layers exposed to remove foreign matter on the cut surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component includes cutting, at predetermined intervals, a multilayer base to form a plurality of first rods extending in a first direction, placing a resin on at least one surface of each of the plurality of first rods and between adjacent first rods of the plurality of first rods to form a flat block including the plurality of first rods fixed to one another, cutting the flat block at predetermined intervals in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to form a plurality of second rods including a plurality of base precursors aligned, machining a cut surface of each of the plurality of second rods including the plurality of base precursors to form a plurality of base components, firing the plurality of base components to sinter the plurality of base components, and removing the resin.

Abstract: A magnetic field is applied to multiple base components placed in a space between a support and an upper member to align the base components in a same direction. The support contains a nonmagnetic material and includes a support surface being flat and parallel to a horizontal direction. The upper member contains a nonmagnetic material and is located above the support at a predetermined distance from the support surface. The magnetic field includes a magnetic flux line intersecting with the support surface.

Abstract: A liquid circulation mechanism includes a first storage portion configured to store liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharging head, a second storage portion configured to store the liquid collected from the liquid discharging head, a third storage portion configured to store the liquid between the second storage portion and the first storage portion, a first check valve allowing flow of the liquid from the second storage portion to the third storage portion while regulating flow of the liquid from the third storage portion to the second storage portion, in the second collection flow path, and a second check valve allowing flow of the liquid from the third storage portion to the first storage portion while regulating flow of the liquid from the first storage portion to the third storage portion, in the third collection flow path.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects a liquid; a curing portion that cures the liquid by emitting energy to the liquid; and a waste-liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid as waste liquid, in which the waste-liquid collecting portion includes an absorber that absorbs the liquid from the head, a first rotational shaft that holds an unused portion of the absorber, and a second rotational shaft that holds a used portion of the absorber, and the curing portion emits the energy to the liquid absorbed by the absorber.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that ejects a liquid; a curing portion that cures the liquid by emitting energy to the liquid; and a waste-liquid collecting portion that collects the liquid as waste liquid, in which the waste-liquid collecting portion includes an absorber that absorbs the liquid from the head, a first rotational shaft that holds an unused portion of the absorber, and a second rotational shaft that holds a used portion of the absorber, and the curing portion emits the energy to the liquid absorbed by the absorber.

Abstract: A liquid circulation mechanism includes a first storage portion configured to store liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharging head, a second storage portion configured to store the liquid collected from the liquid discharging head, a third storage portion configured to store the liquid between the second storage portion and the first storage portion, a first check valve allowing flow of the liquid from the second storage portion to the third storage portion while regulating flow of the liquid from the third storage portion to the second storage portion, in the second collection flow path, and a second check valve allowing flow of the liquid from the third storage portion to the first storage portion while regulating flow of the liquid from the first storage portion to the third storage portion, in the third collection flow path.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid accommodated in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting portion, a storage portion that is provided in the liquid supply flow path and that stores the liquid, a pressure mechanism that changes a volume of the storage portion by making pressure act thereon, a liquid filling mechanism that fills the liquid inside the liquid supply source into the liquid supply flow path, and a control portion that fills the liquid into the liquid supply flow path while the volume of the storage portion is, by making pressure act on the flexible portion, made smaller than when the pressure does not act on the flexible portion, and after the filling, ends a state in which the pressure is made to act on the flexible portion.

Abstract: A channel structure includes a base body having a first surface, a second surface that is opposite from the first surface, and a side surface that extends in a direction intersecting the first surface. The base body includes a first channel having a supply port into which a liquid is supplied, a liquid storing chamber formed in the first surface and storing the liquid, a second channel having a discharge port through which the liquid in the liquid storing chamber is discharged, and a pressure adjusting unit that supplies the liquid from the first channel to the liquid storing chamber according to pressure in the liquid storing chamber and that located between the first surface and the second surface. The supply port is formed in the second surface of the base body or formed in the side surface of the base body.

Abstract: A liquid reservoir unit includes a reservoir portion, an outflow portion disposed at a position near a first end of the reservoir portion, and an inflow portion disposed at a position near the first end of the reservoir portion. The outflow portion includes an outflow opening opened to an interior of the reservoir portion, and the inflow portion includes an inflow opening opened to the interior of the reservoir portion. The outflow opening and the inflow opening are located at different positions in a width direction which is a lengthwise direction of the reservoir portion when the reservoir portion is viewed from the first end, and also located at different positions in a depth direction from the first end toward a second end on the opposite side to the first end.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion that ejects a liquid, a liquid supply flow path that supplies the liquid accommodated in a liquid supply source to the liquid ejecting portion, a storage portion that is provided in the liquid supply flow path and that stores the liquid, a pressure mechanism that changes a volume of the storage portion by making pressure act thereon, a liquid filling mechanism that fills the liquid inside the liquid supply source into the liquid supply flow path, and a control portion that fills the liquid into the liquid supply flow path while the volume of the storage portion is, by making pressure act on the flexible portion, made smaller than when the pressure does not act on the flexible portion, and after the filling, ends a state in which the pressure is made to act on the flexible portion.