Abstract: An operation device of a shift mechanism in a manual transmission includes a cylindrical support member fixedly mounted within the transmission housing in such a manner that a radial projection on an operation shaft of the shift mechanism is concentrically placed in the cylindrical support member and a leaf spring having a central portion formed with a V-shaped concave to be engaged with the radial projection of the operation shaft and a pair of side portions fixed to opposite ends of the cylindrical support member such that the V-shaped concave is maintained in engagement with the radial projection to retain the operation shaft in a neutral position, whereby load of the leaf spring acting on the operation shaft respectively when shifted in one direction and in the other direction can be adjusted in different characteristics.

Abstract: An extrusion molded ceramic honeycomb structural body having a plurality of through-holes surrounded by partition walls, and a coating layer formed on an outer periphery wall of the main ceramic honeycomb structural body which has an outer diameter smaller than a predetermined dimension, whereby the coating layer provides the outer diameter of the structural body with an outer diameter having a predetermined dimensional tolerance.

Abstract: A process for dielectric-drying a honeycomb structure is carried out by placing the honeycomb structre on a drying support board provided with perforated plates, and directing an electric current between an electrode arranged above the upper opening end face of the honeycomb structure and an electrode arranged beneath the lower opening end face thereof to conduct the drying. In this process, an upper plate having a conductivity higher than that of the honeycomb structure is placed on the upper opening end face of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: A dielectric heating apparatus comprising a pair of oppositely located electrodes is disclosed. In this apparatus, a passage for a heated fluid is arranged in the interior of at least one of the electrodes, whereby condensation at the electrode surface can be prevented effectively.

Abstract: A dielectric heating apparatus comprising a pair of oppositely located electrodes is disclosed. In this apparatus, a passage for a heated fluid is arranged in the interior of at least one of the electrodes, whereby condensation at the electrode surface can be prevented effectively.

Abstract: A microwave heating device for heating a material in a heating room by microwave radiation produced by a microwave oscillator. The heating device includes an outer waveguide for channeling the microwave radiation from the microwave oscillator into the heating room. The outer waveguide is connected at a first end to the heating room. The microwave heating device also includes a rotary reflector unit disposed adjacent to the first end of the outer waveguide, for uniformly distributing the microwave radiation in the heating room. The rotary reflector unit includes a reflector member positioned to receive the microwave radiation from the outer waveguide for reflecting the microwave radiation, and a drive device for rotating the reflector member to cause irregular reflection of the microwave radiation.

Abstract: A vacuum conveyor system including a conveyor having plural mounting portions on which workpieces are mounted in spaced-apart relation along an endless track, comprising: plural enclosure devices provided on the plural mounting portions of the conveyor, respectively, for forming air-tight enclosed chambers in which the workpieces mounted on the mounting portions are accommodated, respectively; a vacuum source for drawing an atmosphere from the enclosed chambers; and a suction piping assembly disposed along the conveyor and travelling together with the conveyor along the endless track, the suction piping assembly being connected to the vacuum source and having connections which are adapted to communicate with the enclosed chambers to evacuate the enclosed chambers to a predetermined reduced pressure.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is for drying a ceramic green honeycomb body by dielectric heating, which apparatus comprises a support board disposed between two electrodes for the dielectric heating, the support board having a tray-like metallic first part to support the ceramic green honeycomb body and a plate-like non-metallic second part to hold the first part.