Abstract: The present invention provides a microparticle comprising 3-hydroxybutanoic acid (3-HB) as a repeating unit of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA), a biodegradable polymer, and having a particle size of 0.2 ?m to less than 10 ?m, and a method for producing the microparticle. The microparticle of the present invention can be used in a wide range of applications, including pharmaceutical applications, because of its biodegradability, excellent processability, and biocompatibility.

Abstract: Provided are an adhesive composition comprising polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoic acid substantially consists of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid and 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid as repeating units; an adhesive agent; and a method for adjusting the adhesive strength of the adhesive agent, thereby providing an adhesive agent comprising an adhesive composition that, in addition to being biodegradable and biocompatible, is suitable for a wide range of applications, such as pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a tray rotatably provided on a side surface of a main assembly and including a stacking surface, a feeding portion; and a blowing fan mounted on the tray and generating air blown to a side end of a sheet in a sheet widthwise direction perpendicular to a feeding direction of the sheet by the feeding portion. The blowing fan is disposed on an opposite side to a side where the sheet is stacked on the stacking surface so that a position of at least a part of the blowing fan with respect to the sheet widthwise direction is overlapped with a position of the stacking surface with respect to the sheet widthwise direction.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polyhydroxyalkanoate P(3HB-co-3HHx) comprising 3-hydroxybutanoate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate, the polyhydroxyalkanoate having high melt fluidity and excellent processability. In order to solve the problems described above, the inventors of the present invention found that with regard to a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising 3-hydroxybutanoate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate, when the polyhydroxyalkanoate is produced by using microorganisms, and thereby the content of 3-hydroxyhexanoate is increased, a polyhydroxyalkanoate having novel physical properties is obtained. That is, the present invention provides the following polyhydroxyalkanoate, a molded body thereof, and a method for producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate. The polyhydroxyalkanoate of the present invention is a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a 3-hydroxybutanoate unit and a 3-hydroxyhexanoate unit, the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a melt flow rate at 160° C. and 2.16 kg/f of 2.5 g/10 minutes or more.

Abstract: The primary object of the present invention is to provide a polymer synthase gene which is derived from mangrove soil metagenome, and the method for producing the useful copolymer by using this polymer synthase. Another object of the present invention is to provide an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene which is derived from Streptomyces sp. CFMR 7, and the method for producing the useful copolymer, P(3HB-co-3HHx) with increasing the composition of 3HHx by the expression of this enoyl-CoA hydratase. In order to achieve these objects, an isolated polynucleotide encoding for a polypeptide with polymer synthase activity comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 wherein one or more amino acids is replaced, deleted or added are provided.

Abstract: A robot program generation apparatus that selects a typical arrangement pattern of a robot system; selects elements to be arranged in the arrangement pattern; automatically generates a layout where the elements in a stationary state do not interfere with each other; automatically generates a robot program in accordance with task details corresponding to the arrangement pattern and with the layout; executes the robot program in a virtual environment and automatically modifies installation positions of the elements in the layout based on whether or not the robot in an operating state interfere with any other elements and on whether or not the robot can reach a workpiece; and corrects the robot program based on the installation positions.

Abstract: In a conveyance operation, a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted against a second conveyance member in a stopped state while a first drive source is driving a first conveyance member at the first speed, and then a second drive source starts to drive the second conveyance member with a target of a second speed while the first drive source is continuously driving the first conveyance member. A speed change processing is executed during the conveyance operation, such that the first drive source changes the first conveyance member from the first speed to a third speed that is smaller than the second speed before the second conveyance member reaches the second speed, and then changes the first conveyance member from the third speed to the second speed.

Abstract: An integrated simulation system includes a first simulation device which executes a simulation of a first program, a second simulation device which executes a simulation of a second program, a start timing setting section which sets start timing for the correlated first program and second program so as to verify the presence or absence of malfunctions caused by a start order of the correlated first program and second program, and a program starting section which issues commands to the first simulation device and the second simulation device to start the correlated first program and second program at the set start timing by a single starting operation.

Abstract: A simulation device capable of executing a proper simulation without changing a program, while the definition of virtual peripheral equipment and/or a PLC is not necessary. A signal status setting file, which is separated from a robot program, can be executed in parallel with the program, and includes a command for setting or changing a signal status described corresponding to a line in execution of the program, wherein the status is referenced by executing the line of the program. For example, a command of the file, described corresponding to a fifth line of the robot program, commands inputting a signal which indicates that the opening motion of a door is completed. Therefore, when the simulation is executed, in synchronization with the line in execution of the program, the setting or changing of the signal status, described corresponding to the line in execution, is performed.

Abstract: The biodegradability of a nanofiber film (a nanofiber structure) produced in example 1 by microorganisms or the like when the nanofiber film is allowed to leave in soil is examined. FIG. 4(a) shows a photograph of the nanofiber film immediately after the nanofiber film is placed in soil. FIG. 4(b) shows a photograph of the nanofiber film (a) that is allowed to leave as it for 12 days. As is obvious from the comparison between these photographs, a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid nanofiber film can be degraded in soil remarkably rapidly. Therefore, PHA can be produced from a plant-derived resource occurring in nature, can be degraded by microorganisms in soil to return to nature, and can be used as a resource material which can overcome the disadvantages of the conventional PP non-woven fabrics (e.g., the generation of CO2 upon incineration) and which can be used permanently, thereby enabling the production of a novel non-woven fabric.

Abstract: In a conveyance operation, a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted against a second conveyance member in a stopped state while a first drive source is driving a first conveyance member at the first speed, and then a second drive source starts to drive the second conveyance member with a target of a second speed while the first drive source is continuously driving the first conveyance member. A speed change processing is executed during the conveyance operation, such that the first drive source changes the first conveyance member from the first speed to a third speed that is smaller than the second speed before the second conveyance member reaches the second speed, and then changes the first conveyance member from the third speed to the second speed.

Abstract: A guide shoe is provided, which exhibits a lower level of slide resistance between a chain and a slide surface at the time of the sliding of the chain, is able to keep a sufficient lubricant on the slide surface even at the time of the starting of an engine, and produces less noise and wear. The guide shoe includes: a slide surface that slidably guides a link plate of a traveling chain; and a plurality of guide protrusions provided on the slide surface, the guide protrusions protruding in a vertical direction from the slide surface, wherein each of front surfaces of the guide protrusions is formed to have a convex curved surface at least from a part thereof on an upstream side to a top part thereof in a chain traveling direction.

Abstract: Provided is a robot program generation apparatus including: means for selecting a typical arrangement pattern of a robot system; means for individually selecting elements to be arranged in the arrangement pattern; means for automatically generating a layout where the elements in a stationary state do not interfere with each other; means for automatically generating a robot program in accordance with task details corresponding to the arrangement pattern and with the layout; means for executing the robot program in a virtual environment and automatically modifying installation positions of the elements in the layout based on whether or not the robot in an operating state interfere with any other elements and on whether or not the robot can reach a workpiece; and means for correcting the robot program based on the installation positions.

Abstract: An integrated simulation system includes a first simulation device which executes a simulation of a first program, a second simulation device which executes a simulation of a second program, a start timing setting section which sets start timing for the correlated first program and second program so as to verify the presence or absence of malfunctions caused by a start order of the correlated first program and second program, and a program starting section which issues commands to the first simulation device and the second simulation device to start the correlated first program and second program at the set start timing by a single starting operation.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion to support a sheet, a feeding portion to feed the sheet, a swing unit to swingably support the feeding portion between a feed position and a separation position, a swing shaft to swingably support the swing unit, an urging portion to urge the swing unit toward the feed position, and a holding portion to hold the swing unit at the separation position against an urging force of the urging portion. The swing unit includes first and second bearing portions to slidingly support the swing shaft, a metal member to hold the first and second bearing portions, and a resin member including a guide surface to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes first and second conveyance paths that eventually merge together. A guide member pair constituting the first conveyance path includes a second path guide member disposed on the second conveyance path side among the guide member pair and having a straight portion and a curved portion provided continuously downstream of the straight portion. A downstream end portion of the guide member is positioned in a merging portion of the first and second conveyance paths. The straight portion includes a plurality of ribs and a slope portion formed thereon. The plurality of ribs project perpendicularly from a base portion and are parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. The slope portion is provided between two of the plurality of ribs adjacent to each other and is inclined from the base portion toward the ridges of the plurality of ribs.

Abstract: A guide shoe is provided, which exhibits a lower level of slide resistance between a chain and a slide surface at the time of the sliding of the chain, is able to keep a sufficient lubricant on the slide surface even at the time of the starting of an engine, and produces less noise and wear. The guide shoe includes: a slide surface that slidably guides a link plate of a traveling chain; and a plurality of guide protrusions provided on the slide surface, the guide protrusions protruding in a vertical direction from the slide surface, wherein each of front surfaces of the guide protrusions is formed to have a convex curved surface at least from a part thereof on an upstream side to a top part thereof in a chain traveling direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a feeding portion configured to feed the sheet, a swing unit configured to swingably support the feeding portion between a feed position and a separation position, a swing shaft configured to swingably support the swing unit, an urging portion configured to urge the swing unit toward the feed position, and a holding portion configured to hold the swing unit at the separation position against an urging force of the urging portion. The swing unit includes a first and second bearing portions configured to slidingly support the swing shaft, a metal member configured to hold the first and second bearing portions, and a resin member including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion.

Abstract: A transparent soluble polyimide resin was dissolved in N,N-dimethyacetamide, and a sample solution whose concentration was 10 weight percent was produced. This sample solution is put in a container CNT which is attached to an apparatus shown in FIG. 1, whereby a nanofiber structure was produced. The produced polyimide nanofiber structure acquired the excellent water resistance, air permeability and moisture permeability while maintaining the physical properties inherent in a polyimide, such as high heat resistance and insulation. Further, when a nanofiber structure is produced in a similar manner from a different polyimide resin, the nanofiber structure maintains excellent adhesiveness.

Abstract: A robot programming device capable of easily checking interference between a robot and peripheral equipment, by which the interference can be easily avoided automatically or manually. The programming device has: a simulation executing part which executes a simulation of motions of peripheral equipment and a robot hand based on a control signal; a signal setting part which sets the control signal for executing the simulation, with respect to a teaching point or a trajectory between the teaching points included in a predetermined robot operation program or a program template, the control signal being set as attribute data of each teaching point or each trajectory; a moving part which moves the robot to the teaching point or the trajectory; and a display setting part which determines as to whether the workpiece is displayed or hidden, with respect to the teaching point or the trajectory to which the robot is moved.