Abstract: An image forming apparatus, to which a cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer is detachably mountable, includes an image bearing member, an exposure unit configured to expose the image bearing member to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member, a light receiving sensor provided in the cartridge and configured to receive the light emitted from the exposure unit, and a controller configured to detect vibration of the cartridge from a light reception value of the light received by the light receiving sensor. In a case in which the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the light receiving sensor is removed from the image forming apparatus together with the cartridge.

Abstract: A method for producing the photoelectric conversion element includes, in carbon nanotubes including semiconducting carbon nanotubes having different chiralities from each other and metallic carbon nanotubes, changing a chirality distribution in the semiconducting carbon nanotubes, separating the carbon nanotubes into the semiconducting carbon nanotubes and the metallic carbon nanotubes after changing the chirality distribution, covering the semiconducting carbon nanotubes with a polymer after performing separating, and forming a photoelectric conversion film including the semiconducting carbon nanotubes between a pair of electrodes after performing covering with the polymer.

Abstract: A method for producing the photoelectric conversion element includes, in carbon nanotubes including semiconducting carbon nanotubes having different chiralities from each other and metallic carbon nanotubes, changing a chirality distribution in the semiconducting carbon nanotubes, separating the carbon nanotubes into the semiconducting carbon nanotubes and the metallic carbon nanotubes after changing the chirality distribution, covering the semiconducting carbon nanotubes with a polymer after performing separating, and forming a photoelectric conversion film including the semiconducting carbon nanotubes between a pair of electrodes after performing covering with the polymer.

Abstract: A rolling bearing includes: outer and inner rings, at lease one of which is made of a ceramics; a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the outer and inner rings; a seal groove, a sectional shape in an axial direction of which is formed by substantially a partial circular arc, and which is formed on a shoulder portion of a raceway of one of the outer and inner rings; and a resin seal member including a peripheral edge portion fitted to the seal groove.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing composition which comprises a crosslinkable fluoroelastomer, a crosslinking agent for this elastomer and a reinforcing polyimide resin powder; and seals such as O-rings, made by molding the composition into a prescribed shape and crosslinking the molded article. According to the invention, seals free from metals and sulfur can be made from a fluoroelastomer suitable for the production unit for semiconductor devices without a scatter of physical properties within one seal or among seals, and the obtained seals are lowered in the compression set determined ate the same hardness level to cause little permanent set by compression in use, thus having a prolonged service life.

Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is disclosed which makes it possible to a long-lasting steady application of lubricant and also makes sure of preventing effectively occurrence of particles of dirt. The linear motion guide unit is comprised of a guide member, more than one rolling element, and a slider supported for linear movement along the guide track rail by virtue of rolling elements, the slider being made therein with a fore-and-aft hole in which a sleeve fits to allow the rolling elements to roll through there. The sleeve is made of a cellular member impregnated with lubricant in vacuum atmosphere.

Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is disclosed which makes it possible to a long-lasting steady application of lubricant and also makes sure of preventing effectively occurrence of particles of dirt. The linear motion guide unit is comprised of a guide member, more than one rolling element, and a slider supported for linear movement along the guide track rail by virtue of rolling elements, the slider being made therein with a fore-and-aft hole in which a sleeve fits to allow the rolling elements to roll through there. The sleeve is made of a cellular member impregnated with lubricant in vacuum atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing composition which comprises a crosslinkable fluoroelastomer, a crosslinking agent for this elastomer and a reinforcing polyimide resin powder; and seals such as O-rings, made by molding the composition into a prescribed shape and crosslinking the molded article. According to the invention, seals free from metals and sulfur can be made from a fluoroelastomer suitable for the production unit for semiconductor devices without a scatter of physical properties within one seal or among seals, and the obtained seals are lowered in the compression set determined ate the same hardness level to cause little permanent set by compression in use, thus having a prolonged service life.

Abstract: A rolling bearing includes: outer and inner rings, at lease one of which is made of a ceramics; a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the outer and inner rings; a seal groove, a sectional shape in an axial direction of which is formed by substantially a partial circular arc, and which is formed on a shoulder portion of a raceway of one of the outer and inner rings; and a resin seal member including a peripheral edge portion fitted to the seal groove.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve sealing performance of a seal under a specific environment. The seal is arranged in an annular space A in which a rotary shaft 1 and a housing 2 face each other, and partitions the annular space in axial direction into a vacuum space B and an atmospheric pressure space C. The seal is constituted such that a main lip 6 of the seal has an axial contact width W0 with which the main lip slides on and contacts with the rotary shaft 1 and which is set to be equal to or larger than an axial contact width W1 necessary to secure minimum sealing performance with respect to a sealed portion and equal to or smaller than an axial contact width W2 with which sliding resistance against the rotary shaft becomes a permissible upper limit, to thereby prevent the axial contact width W0 from influencing rotation characteristics with respect to the rotary member and to allow securing required sealing performance.

Abstract: A rolling bearing is used for supporting a rocking mechanism or a rotating mechanism, and a film comprising a fluorine-containing polymer having a functional group(s) under a fluidizied state or a film comprising a fluorine-containing polyurethane compound under a solid state is formed on at least the track surface of the rolling bearing. Since this film does not contain ions for uniformly dispersing a thickner having non uniform particle sizes such as fluorine based grease of the prior art, breakage of the film between a rolling element and a race is not likely to occur, and wear of a rolling element race resulting from the direct contact between them due to breakage of the film can be reduced. When this film is tha same kind of a film as a protective film of the surface of an information recording disk, dust generating components of the film are the same kind of components as those of the protective film, and information recording/reproduction of the information recording disk is not impeded.

Abstract: There is provided a rotating anode X-ray tube capable of efficiently discharging intense heat generated when X-rays are generated and achieving a high output power, a long-time continuous operation and a long operating life of the bearings. A rotating anode X-ray tube is provided with a target, a rotor, a shaft, rolling bearings and a bearing housing for supporting the rolling bearings. An accommodating, section for accommodating Ga or Ga alloy is defined by a center portion of the shaft and an inner surface of the bearing housing between the rolling bearings. Pumping grooves and labyrinth grooves are provided axially outwardly of the accommodating section for preventing the Ga or Ga alloy from leaking.

Abstract: A process for forming a lubricating film on a direct acting bearing includes the steps of forming a liquid film on at least the rolling and sliding portions of the direct acting bearing by using a solution prepared by diluting a fluorine-containing polymer in a solvent. The liquid film is then cured to form a solid film of a fluorine-containing polyurethane high molecular compound on the direct acting bearing.

Abstract: A direct-acting bearing comprising a rail in the form of a shaft, a movable body fitted slidably to it, and a plurality of rolling bodies disposed between the rail and the movable body so as to roll and circulate with the relative sliding motions thereof, characterized in that a solid film of a fluorine-containing polyurethane high molecular compound is formed on at least the rolling and sliding portions of its components.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a bearing, which has increased adhesive strength of lubricant to surfaces of rolling elements, a surface of a raceway or a surface of a cage. A surface of a ball, a raceway surface of an inner ring and a raceway surface of an outer ring are subjected to fluoride coating substitution process or ion bombardment process so that their oxygen concentration becomes not more than 2 ppm/mm.sup.2, by which surface oxide is removed. After the removal of the oxide, the surfaces are coated with a solid lubricant of silver, lead or the like. The surfaces from which oxide has been removed have good lubricant adhesion, making breaks in the lubricant unlikely to occur. Thus, the life of the bearing is prolonged.

Abstract: A feed screw including a screw shaft, a nut meshed with the screw shaft and a plurality of rolling members inserted between the screw shaft and the nut, wherein a solid film of a fluorine-containing polyurethane polymer is formed on any portions in rolling/sliding contact. The molecules of this solid film have urethane bonds, and form a three-dimensional reticular structure. Therefore, the film is unlikely to separate, peel off or wear. Accordingly, the feed screw produces less dust, improves lubricating property and thus elongates its life.

Abstract: A solid film of a fluorine-containing polyurethane polymer is formed on at least one of the constituent elements (inner and outer rings, rolling member and retainer) of a rolling-contact bearing. The molecules of the solid film of the fluorine-containing polyurethane polymer have urethane bonds, and form a three-dimensional reticular structure. Therefore, the film is unlikely to separate, peel off or wear. The occurrence of the dust can be restricted, and lubrication property can be improved.

Abstract: A rolling bearing in which rolling elements, alternatively, the rolling elements and a pair of races are made of a ceramic material prepared by sintering a sintering material of silicon nitride containing an MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 of spinel structure and at least silicon oxide selected between silicon oxide and silicon carbide, as a sintering assistant.Such a rolling bearing is excellent in heat resistance and wearing resistant, and presents superior corrosive resistance when it is used in a corrosive atmosphere, thus having a long service life.