Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition having good coating affinity is disclosed, which comprises (a) from 20 to 80 parts by weight of a resin component containing a modified polyolefin resin which has been graft-modified with an unsaturated hydroxy group-containing compound or an unsaturated carboxylic acid, (b) from 80 to 20 pats by weight of a rubber component containing a copolymer rubber, and (c) a functional group-terminated oligomer in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (a) and (b).

Abstract: Polymer-type fibers longitudinally shrinkable by calcination and other carbon fibers are mixed and mechanically compressed and integrated by a needle punch, and the polymer-type fibers are then shrunk when calcined. Thus, there is obtained high bulk density carbon fiber felt having average bulk density of 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 or more without the carbon fiber felt impregnated with, resin and compressingly molded. The density of carbon fiber felt may change in the thickness direction thereof. The high bulk density carbon fiber felt may be used as a thermal insulator for a high-temperature furnace, a heat-resisting cushioning material, and a material for the electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: A multilayer structure is provided which has a core layer of a hygroscopic barrier material and inner and outer surface layers designed to facilitate the escape of moisture which becomes absorbed in the core layer during retort sterilization. The inner and outer surface layers include a polyolefin material which is either foamed or compounded with a filler in order to cause a substantial increase in the water vapor transmission rate of the polyolefin. Adhesive layers are present between the core layer and the inner and outer layers. Each of the inner and outer layers may include one or more individual film layers, depending on the requirements of the specific packaging application.

Abstract: Polymer-type fibers longitudinally shrinkable by calcination and other carbon fibers are mixed and mechanically compressed and integrated by a needle punch, and the polymer-type fibers are then shrunk when calcined. Thus, there is obtained high bulk density carbon fiber felt having average bulk density of 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 or more without the carbon fiber felt impregnated with resin and compressingly molded. The present invention also provides high bulk density carbon fiber felt of which bulk density is changed in the thickness direction thereof. The high bulk density carbon fiber felt may be used as a thermal insulator for a high-temperature furnace, a heat-resisting cushioning material, and a material for the electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: An ear folding apparatus for automatically folding and pleating ears of packaging material wrapped around a cylindrical article, such as a coil of strip material, is provided with a pleats-holding/inside-bending guide. The guide has a radially notched section and is movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical article. The apparatus further has a folding unit, which includes a feed roll, a folding roll and a folding claw.

Abstract: A back-up control system of a redundancy configuration suited to be used for a time division switching network. The control system includes connecting paths extending from each of the load supply devices, the paths being classified into an active connecting path and a corresponding standby connecting path coupled to different ones of the load accommodating devices which are provided in a number equal to or larger than three. The total load accommodating capacity of the load accommodating devices is provided with a margin or excess capacity which is smaller than the capacity required for accommodating all full loads supplied from the load supply devices but is not smaller than the load accommodating capacity of any one of the load accommodating devices. At least one of the load accommodating devices is connected to the active connecting path and the spare connecting path which corresponds to another one than the just mentioned active connecting path.