Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an individual liquid chamber having a nozzle through which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a piezoelectric element facing the individual liquid chamber, a first groove adjacent to the piezoelectric element in a nozzle array direction, a dummy individual liquid chamber without any nozzle, a dummy piezoelectric element facing the dummy individual liquid chamber, and a second groove adjacent to the dummy piezoelectric element in the nozzle array direction. The first groove extends in the liquid discharge direction. The second groove has a shorter length in the liquid discharge direction than the first groove.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an individual liquid chamber having a nozzle through which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a piezoelectric element facing the individual liquid chamber, a first groove adjacent to the piezoelectric element in a nozzle array direction, a dummy individual liquid chamber without any nozzle, a dummy piezoelectric element facing the dummy individual liquid chamber, and a second groove adjacent to the dummy piezoelectric element in the nozzle array direction. The first groove extends in the liquid discharge direction. The second groove has a shorter length in the liquid discharge direction than the first groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is an engine piston structure including an outer peripheral portion (6) formed along an outer shape of a piston (1), and having a predetermined thickness, a pair of piston pin supporters (7) having peripheral walls (7b) having a predetermined thickness, and couplers (8) each coupling the pair of the piston pin supporters (7) to the outer peripheral portion (6). The outer peripheral portion (6) and the peripheral walls (7b) of the piston pin supporters (7) are solid. Each of the coupler (8) is porous. The outer peripheral portion (6), the piston pin supporters (7), and the couplers (8) are made of a metal material and are integrally formed together.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate in which a plurality of nozzles to discharge a liquid is formed in a nozzle array direction, a channel plate including partition walls to form a plurality of individual chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles, respectively, a diaphragm bonded to the channel plate to form a wall of the plurality of individual chambers, and a plurality of electromechanical transducers bonded to the diaphragm to deform the diaphragm to generate a pressure in the plurality of individual chambers, and a cycle of vibration of natural vibration generated in the liquid in the plurality of individual chambers is equal to or larger than a cycle of a primary mode of lateral vibration of the plurality of electromechanical transducers in the nozzle array direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate in which a plurality of nozzles to discharge a liquid is formed in a nozzle array direction, a channel plate including partition walls to form a plurality of individual chambers communicating with the plurality of nozzles, respectively, a diaphragm bonded to the channel plate to form a wall of the plurality of individual chambers, and a plurality of electromechanical transducers bonded to the diaphragm to deform the diaphragm to generate a pressure in the plurality of individual chambers, and a cycle of vibration of natural vibration generated in the liquid in the plurality of individual chambers is equal to or larger than a cycle of a primary mode of lateral vibration of the plurality of electromechanical transducers in the nozzle array direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to, while forming a heat insulating layer on a squish area surface of a top surface of a piston main body, prevent generation of large cracks on the heat insulating layer and suppress damages and peeling of the heat insulating layer. To achieve this object, in the present invention, pressure is applied to a heat insulating layer provided on a top surface of a piston main body, that is, a pressing stress is applied to the heat insulating layer in advance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an engine piston structure including an outer peripheral portion (6) formed along an outer shape of a piston (1), and having a predetermined thickness, a pair of piston pin supporters (7) having peripheral walls (7b) having a predetermined thickness, and couplers (8) each coupling the pair of the piston pin supporters (7) to the outer peripheral portion (6). The outer peripheral portion (6) and the peripheral walls (7b) of the piston pin supporters (7) are solid. Each of the coupler (8) is porous. The outer peripheral portion (6), the piston pin supporters (7), and the couplers (8) are made of a metal material and are integrally formed together.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to, while forming a heat insulating layer on a squish area surface of a top surface of a piston main body, prevent generation of large cracks on the heat insulating layer and suppress damages and peeling of the heat insulating layer. To achieve this object, in the present invention, pressure is applied to a heat insulating layer provided on a top surface of a piston main body, that is, a pressing stress is applied to the heat insulating layer in advance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator mechanism including: a screw-driven feeding mechanism that has a feed screw (11) and a feed screw nut (14); a disc-shaped rotor (17) mounted on the rear-end face of the feed screw nut (14); an ultrasonic motor (18) having a piezoelectric vibrator (19) that comes in contact with the circumference face of the rotor (17); and a driven mounting portion that is pressed against the leading end of the feed screw 11 by spring force, and displaced and positioned by the feeding operation of the feed screw. The driven mounting portion can be made to be a mirror holder (1) for use in an optical system, or a movable table (21) of a linear stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a plurality of chamfers formed between an end surface and the outer circumferential surface. A chamfer arranged nearest an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body has a crossing angle of not less than 3° and not more than 25° relative to the end surface. The cylindrical body may include a recess formed between the end surface and the outer surface. The end surface may be formed to have pearskin. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the manufacturing method, a plurality of cylindrical bodies is supported by a supporting body in a manner that the end surfaces are positioned at contacting portions of adjacent cylindrical bodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a substantially cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer circumference of the body. The body has an outer diameter larger at a middle portion of a latent image forming area than at end portions of the latent image forming area in the axial direction. The electrophotographic photosensitive member may further include a heating member accommodated within the body and extending along the axial direction of the body, for heating the latent image forming area of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear-seat occupant protection apparatus, which is designed to protect, during a frontal collision of a vehicle, a rear-seat occupant (B) seated in a rear seat (5) located behind a front seat (3) equipped with a seat belt (7) having a load limiter function. The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus comprises a collision detection device (25) adapted to detect the frontal collision of the vehicle, and a seat-back displacing mechanism adapted, when the frontal collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection device, to permit a seat back (12) of the front seat (3) to be displaced frontwardly at a given timing consecutive with a frontward displacement of a front-seat occupant (A) seated in the front seat (3). The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus of the present invention can adequately protect a head of the rear-seat occupant during the frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member and an image forming apparatus provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed on a circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and including a latent image forming area and a non-latent image forming area. The photosensitive layer includes a stress relaxation portion at the non-latent image forming area for releasing stress applied between the cylindrical body and the photosensitive layer. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member provided with a substantially cylindrical body having outer circumference on which a photosensitive layer with a latent image forming area is formed, and a contact electrification means positioned substantially parallel to the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A nip width of a contact area between the photosensitive layer and the electrification means is larger at a middle portion than at end portions of the latent image forming area. Preferably, the nip width becomes larger gradually or stepwise as proceeding from the end portions to the middle portion of the latent image forming area.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide an electrophotographic photosensitive body which can perform object identification management more appropriately without having a substantial effect on printing, and to provide its production method and an image forming apparatus equipped with that electrophotographic photosensitive body. [Means for Solving Problems] The electrophotographic photosensitive body (2) has a cylindrical substrate (20), and a photosensitive layer (211) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the substrate (20). The substrate (20) has an identification code (20b) of the substrate (20) at its inner peripheral section.

Abstract: A single wire is provided between a pair of front side frames and a power plant, respective front ends of which are coupled to front end portions of the pair of front side frames. Accordingly, the impact load can be dispersed to the both-side front side frames in case the central portion of the vehicle front collides with the pole-shaped obstacle and the power plant can be suppressed from moving rearward.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rear-seat occupant protection apparatus, which is designed to protect, during a frontal collision of a vehicle, a rear-seat occupant (B) seated in a rear seat (5) located behind a front seat (3) equipped with a seat belt (7) having a load limiter function. The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus comprises a collision detection device (25) adapted to detect the frontal collision of the vehicle, and a seat-back displacing mechanism adapted, when the frontal collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection device, to permit a seat back (12) of the front seat (3) to be displaced frontwardly at a given timing consecutive with a frontward displacement of a front-seat occupant (A) seated in the front seat (3). The rear-seat occupant protection apparatus of the present invention can adequately protect a head of the rear-seat occupant during the frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a photosensitive layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a plurality of chamfers formed between an end surface and the outer circumferential surface. A chamfer arranged nearest an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body has a crossing angle of not less than 3° and not more than 25° relative to the end surface. The cylindrical body may include a recess formed between the end surface and the outer surface. The end surface may be formed to have pearskin. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the manufacturing method, a plurality of cylindrical bodies is supported by a supporting body in a manner that the end surfaces are positioned at contacting portions of adjacent cylindrical bodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member provided with a substantially cylindrical body having outer circumference on which a photosensitive layer with a latent image forming area is formed, and a contact electrification means positioned substantially parallel to the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A nip width of a contact area between the photosensitive layer and the electrification means is larger at a middle portion than at end portions of the latent image forming area. Preferably, the nip width becomes larger gradually or stepwise as proceeding from the end portions to the middle portion of the latent image forming area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a substantially cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer circumference of the body. The body has an outer diameter larger at a middle portion of a latent image forming area than at end portions of the latent image forming area in the axial direction. The electrophotographic photosensitive member may further include a heating member accommodated within the body and extending along the axial direction of the body, for heating the latent image forming area of the photosensitive layer.