Abstract: In a printer having a platen, a print head disposed opposite to the platen, and a ribbon mask fixedly provided on the print head and having a masking plate provided with an aperture to expose only the front end of the print head to the platen, an ink ribbon is extended through a space between the platen and the print head, and the masking plate is disposed between the platen and the ink ribbon to shield a recording sheet wound round the platen from the ink ribbon. The aperture of the masking plate has inclined edges inclined to a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the print head so as to intersect a platen center obliquely. In case the side edge of a floating portion of the recording sheet is caught in the aperture of the masking plate while the print head is moved, the side edge slides along the inclined edge to escape from the aperture, so that the side edge is not caught in the aperture of the masking plate.

Abstract: The lactosucrose high-content powder according to the present invention is prepared by allowing an aqueous solution containing sucrose and lactose to act on a saccharide-transferring enzyme, removing concomitant saccharides in the resultant saccharide solution containing lactosucrose to obtain a lactosucrose high-content solution with a lactosucrose content of 45 w/w % or higher on sugar composition, and spray-drying the resultant solution to obtain a lactosucrose high-content powder. The powder is incorporated in an orally- or parenterally-administrable product to obtain an orally- or parenterally-administrable product which exerts a selective growth-promoting-effect on a microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention, whose auto sheet feeder is demountably mounted on a printing machine, which includes a sequential arrangement of a reversible motor, a transmission mechanism, and a rotatable platen, is provided with an input gear, an arm whose one end is supported by the input gear for rotation around its axis of rotation and is urged to move toward a gear of the transmission mechanism, and as planetary gear rotatably provided at the end of the arm to be constantly in mesh with the input gear and opposite to the periphery of the gear of the transmission mechanism.

Abstract: An enzymatic method for the preparation of a fructose-containing oligosaccharide, in which a .beta.-fructofuranosidase obtained by culturing Arthrobacter sp. K-1 (FERM BP-3192) as an enzyme is reacted on sucrose, raffinose or stachyose as the donor in the presence of an aldose or ketose as the receptor. The enzyme is characterized by:(1) activity on sucrose for the transglycosidation of a fructosyl group to the receptor in the presence of a monosaccharide, sugar alcohol, alkyl alcohol, glycoside or oligosaccharide;(2) activity for the decomposition of sucrose, elrose, neokestose, xylsucrose, raffinose and stachyose with inactivity on a saccharide selected from the group consisting of 1-kestose, nistose, inulobiose and levan biose;(3) optimum pH of 6.5 to 6.8 at 40.degree. C. with stability at a pH of 5.5 to 10;(4) optimum temperature of 55.degree. C. at a pH of 6.5 exhibiting at least 70% of residual activity at 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A support device of the present invention includes an expansible means attached to at least one of plural support systems for supporting an object. Even when the object has dimensional errors caused in its making process, therefore, the interval between the support systems which contact the object to be supported can be self- and micro-adjusted. This enables objects, different in shape, to be correctly positioned and supported.

Abstract: In a method for preparing multiple glucosyl branched-cyclodextrins, a debranching enzyme is contacted to a mixture of maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose with a cyclodextrin to obtain a reaction product from which a branched-cyclodextrin is then separated; said branched-cyclodextrin is converted to glycosyl-cyclodextrin under the action of glucoamylase, which is thereafter mixed with maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose; and the resulting mixture is successively acted on by a debranching enzyme and glucoamylase.

Abstract: The present invention includes a loudspeaker system in which sound radiation axes of two speakers in a single loudspeaker unit form an angle with respect to each other in a horizontal plane to increase the size of a listening area. The horizontal angle can be formed by orienting the sound axes of speakers in the loudspeaker unit at an angle in the range of 15 to 45 degrees from each other. The system also includes a phase adjustment system which adjusts the phase of the speakers in each loudspeaker unit so that the phase of the sound from each speaker in each loudspeaker unit is properly adjusted throughout the increased listening area to provide increased sound presence or spread.

Abstract: According to the invention, each detecting element pair of a wafer detector is constituted by light-emitting and light-receiving elements of transmission-type and is arranged at a position corresponding to a fitting edge portion of one of a plurality of wafers. The number of detecting element pairs is equal to the number of wafers which can be stored in the wafer counter. Light emitted from a light-emitting element to a light-receiving element is kept substantially perpendicular to a surface of a wafer and is shielded when a wafer is engaged in a wafer counter. A change in the amount of light received by the light-receiving element is detected by a signal processor electrically connected to each of the detecting element pairs. The positions and number of a large number of wafers can be accurately and instantaneously detected with an extremely simple structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for pulverizing or granulating nuts or seeds which comprises mechanically grinding a mixture of nuts or seeds with a cyclodextrin. The invention also provides a stable particulate admixture of cyclodextrin containing nuts or seeds. The admixture is highly stable during storage and provides a versatile product for use in food processing.