Abstract: A disc device has a movable mechanism used for moving a carriage carrying a disc so that the carriage either projects from an apparatus or is inserted into the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is exposed for an operator to handle the disc when the carriage projects from the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is contained in the apparatus after the carriage has been inserted into the apparatus. A rotating unit rotates the disc carried by the carriage and an accessing unit accesses the disc carried by the carriage. The disc device is incorporated into the apparatus. A locking mechanism locks the carriage in the apparatus, and a releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release locking of the carriage in the apparatus. The releasing unit causes the rotating unit to stop rotating of the disc and also causes the accessing unit to stop accessing the disc, prior to each time the releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release locking of the carriage in the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of directly precipitating a spherical amorphous silica in a high yield by adding a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a coagulation growing agent in a step of neutralizing the alkali silicate with an acid. The CMC having a particular etherification degree and a particular polymerization degree is added in an amount of from 1 to 100% by weight reckoned as SiO.sub.2 with respect to silica in the alkali silicate, whereby the whole silica particles turn into spherical amorphous silica particles having high sphericalness. There can be obtained spherical amorphous silica particles having a BET specific surface area of from 25 to 800 m.sup.2 /g, an apparent specific gravity of from 0.1 to 0.8 and a particle diameter of from 0.2 to 50 .mu.m cheaply and in a high yield.

Abstract: A tandem vacuum servo unit includes a movable power piston having a supporting portion and a front movable wall member having a first engaging portion for engaging the movable power piston. The first engaging portion has an input side face that engages the output side face of the supporting portion along a first contacting portion. A rear movable wall member has a second engaging portion whose input side face engages the output side face of the first engaging portion along a second contacting portion. The first contacting portion is spaced radially outwardly of the second contacting portion. This construction of the vacuum servo unit increases the durability of the front movable wall member.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium exhibiting not only good durability and traveling reliability but also improved static magnetic properties and electromagnetic transduction characteristics can be obtained according to the present invention. The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer composed of a magnetic powder, a binder and a lubricant, wherein the binder contains not less than 50% by weight of a polyester-polyurethane resin having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not greater than 15,000 and a ratio of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not smaller than 2.5.

Abstract: A thermal resistant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of polyester (A) having 25-75% by weight of a lactic acid component consisting of 25-75% by weight of a lactic acid-based polymer (a1) and 25-75% by weight of other aliphatic polyester (a2) having a melting point of 100-250.degree. C., and 0.1-70 parts by weight of a crystalline inorganic filler (B) containing 10% by weight or more of SiO.sub.2. The thermal resistant resin composition of the invention performs following function:1) injection molding can be carried out at a mold temperature of Tg or less or around room temperature with a short molding-cycle,2) quick crystallization velocity and satisfactory crystallinity can be attained in the molding step, and3) the molded articles have, as a result, excellent thermal resistance and generate properties of low deterioration of a high polymer component and slow embrittlement in use.

Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic recording medium which are not only excellent in chemical and magnetic stability, durability and traveling reliability but also has a good time index function. The magnetic recording medium according to the present invention includes a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the non-substrate, the magnetic layer being composed mainly of .gamma.--Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and having a coercive force of 25 to 33 KA/m, a residual magnetic flux density of not less than 130 mT and a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 .mu.m, wherein the magnetic recording medium has a total thickness of not more than 6 .mu.m, and is capable of recording thereon and/or reproducing therefrom a low frequency signal.

Abstract: An additive for resins, a process for preparing amorphous definite particles used as an inorganic additive, and an olefin resin composition blended with the additive, and an agricultural film blended with the additive and a lithium-aluminum composite hydroxide carbonate. The additive for resins comprises amorphous definite particles having (1) a molar ratio SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of from 2.1 to 3.3 on the basis of oxides, (2) an average particle diameter of from 0.3 to 10 .mu.m, (3) a moisture regain at equilibrium (RH90%) of not greater than 10%, (4) a bulk density of from 0.5 to 1.2 g/ml, and (5) a pH in the form of an aqueous suspension of from 6 to 10, said amorphous definite particles being obtained by acid-treating and then heat-treating a Pc zeolite having a spherical particle shape, a notched surface and a molar ratio SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of from 2 to 3.

Abstract: A disc device has a movable mechanism used for moving a carriage carrying a disc so that the carriage either projects from an apparatus or is inserted into the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is exposed for an operator to handle the disc when the carriage projects from the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is contained in the apparatus after the carriage has been inserted into the apparatus. A rotating unit rotates the disc carried by the carriage and an accessing unit accesses the disc carried by the carriage. The disc device is incorporated into the apparatus. A locking mechanism locks the carriage in the apparatus, and a releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release locking of the carriage in the apparatus. The releasing unit causes the rotating unit to stop rotating of the disc and also causes the accessing unit to stop accessing the disc, prior to each time the releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release locking of the carriage in the apparatus.

Abstract: A disc device has a movable mechanism used for moving a carriage carrying a disc so that the carriage either projects from an apparatus or is inserted into the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is exposed for an operator to handle the disc when the carriage projects from the apparatus. The disc carried by the carriage is contained in the apparatus after the carriage has been inserted into the apparatus. A rotating unit rotates the disc carried by the carriage and an accessing unit accesses the disc carried by the carriage. The disc device is incorporated into the apparatus. A locking mechanism locks the carriage in the apparatus, and a releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism. The releasing unit causes the rotating unit to stop rotating of the disc and also causes the accessing unit to stop accessing the disc, prior to a time when the releasing unit causes the locking mechanism to release locking of the locking pin carriage in the apparatus.

Abstract: In a microcomputer comprising first and second timer counters, an output signal of the first timer counter is supplied through a logic gate to the second timer counter as a clock supply control signal.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium exhibiting not only good durability and traveling reliability but also improved static magnetic properties and electromagnetic transduction characteristics can be obtained according to the present invention. The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer composed of a magnetic powder, a binder and a lubricant, wherein the binder contains not less than 50% by weight of a polyester-polyurethane resin having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not greater than 15,000 and a ratio of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not smaller than 2.5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vacuum servo unit which is characterized in that a movable power piston has an outer cylindrical portion, an inner cylindrical portion, and a connecting portion for connecting an inner cylindrical portion to an outer cylindrical portion, the connecting portion has an input side end portion being shaped to be convex towards an input side so that a width in a peripheral direction thereof decreases towards the input side, a first path is provided in the connecting portion for communicating the variable pressure chamber with an inside space of the inner cylindrical portion, a second path is provided in the movable power piston for communicating the constant pressure chamber with the space between the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion. Accordingly, this vacuum servo unit can smoothly decrease the servo force for the movable power piston and the output force and restrain the production of the sound.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a thermoplastic polymer composition which comprises a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid base polymer as a primary component in an alkaline solution, recovering hydroxycarboxylic acid from the solution by electrodialysis or acid-precipitation and using the recovered hydroxycarboxylic acid for a polymer material, when desired, is provided.

Abstract: The stretched film of the lactic acid-based polymer of the invention can degrade under natural environment, and additionally has an excellent mechanical strength and durability. By use of a lubricant in combination with an inorganic filler, these properties are further improved and thickness accuracy is enhanced. Consequently, the stretched film of the lactic acid-based polymer of the invention can be widely applied to a prepaid card and other various film materials, lamination materials and packaging materials. Even though abandoned after use in the natural environment, the stretched film relatively quickly decomposes into carbon dioxide and water and does not accumulate as waste.

Abstract: Formed products such as foams, fabrics for industrial materials, filaments, nonwoven fabrics, composite materials and films which are degradable after use with ease in the natural environment are prepared by using a high molecular weight aliphatic polyester obtained by direct polycondensation of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol with aliphatic polybasic acid or additionally hydroxycarboxylic acid or oligomers of these materials in a reaction mixture containing a solvent.

Abstract: A lactic acid polymer composition comprising formulating 100 parts by weight of a mixture consisting of 80-95% by weight of an L-lactic acid polymer having an L-lactic acid proportion of 75% or more and 5-20% by weight of a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of a polyhydric alcohol ester and a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid ester, 0.1-5 parts by weight of an anti-bloking agent having a SiO.sub.2 content of 90% or more and an average particle size of 7-50 nm, and 0.1-2 parts by weight of a slip agent; a molded product and film obtained from the composition; and a preparation process of the same are disclosed. The molded product and film are excellent in processability, transparency, flexibility, anti-blocking property and slip, and can be degraded into harmless water and carbon dioxide under natural environment, when abandoned.

Abstract: Formed products such as foams, fabrics for industrial materials, filaments, nonwoven fabrics, composite materials and films which are degradable after use with ease in the natural environment are prepared by using a high molecular weight aliphatic polyester obtained by direct polycondensation of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol with aliphatic polybasic acid or additionally hydroxycarboxylic acid or oligomers of these materials in a reaction mixture containing a solvent.

Abstract: A preparation process of heat-resistant molded articles of a lactic acid-based polymer comprising mixing the lactic acid-based polymer and poly-.epsilon.-caprolactone so as to obtain a L-lactic acid ratio of 75% by weight or more, adding to the polymer mixture a crystalline inorganic powder containing 50% by weight or more of SiO.sub.2, melt-kneading the resultant composition, filling the same into a mold which is set at 85.degree..about.125.degree. C. and forming a shape while promoting crystallization. The molded articles have excellent heat resistance and impact strength, are suitably used for food trays and beverage cups, and can be degraded, in the case of waste, into nontoxic water and carbon dioxide like natural products within a relatively short period in the natural environment.

Abstract: An external magnetic field application apparatus is configured such that a magnet, which has a pair of magnetic poles of opposite polarities disposed side by side on a plane, is provided in an arm pivotable around a pin. A moving means, which moves the arm so that the desired one of the pair of magnetic poles is directly opposite a position on a magneto-optical disk on which position a light beam is incident, is constructed of a driving coil provided in the arm and a driving permanent magnet assembled to a yoke assembly so as to be directly opposite the driving coil.