Abstract: A groove processing method capable of smoothly processing a groove on a rod that has been subjected to a hardening treatment without a substantial degradation in strength is provided. A pair of straightening rollers is mounted at each side of rolling rollers mounted on respective rotating shafts of a rolling machine with spacers disposed between the straightening and rolling rollers. A rod is previously subjected to a hardening treatment, for example, high-frequency induction hardening and tempering, or carbulizing & quenching and tempering, so that the surface hardness is not less than 400 Hv. A groove is formed on the rod by rolling using the rolling rollers, thereby allowing a surface hardening layer to be left on the bottom of the groove. At the same time, the rod is held by the straightening rollers to prevent bending of the rod.

Abstract: The invention provides a convection type brazing apparatus for metal workpieces such as aluminum, copper, iron and so forth that enables uniform heating of the metal workpieces to prevent deformation of the workpieces and can shorten a heating time to achieve a higher operation efficiency. A heating medium gas heated by a tube heater 36 in a thermal medium gas heating chamber 45 is forwarded by a fan 37 to manifolds 41A and 41B located on both left and right sides, to be blown through a multitude of nozzles 43 toward workpieces W to which a brazing material and flux have been applied in advance. Once the workpieces temperature has reached a predetermined temperature for brazing, a switching valve located in an upper duct 48 is activated so that the heating medium gas is intermittently blown to the workpieces. As a result, a temperature slope of the workpieces is minimized and uniform brazing can be performed.

Abstract: The invention provides a convection type brazing apparatus for metal workpieces such as aluminum, copper, iron and so forth that enables uniform heating of the metal workpieces to prevent deformation of the workpieces and can shorten a heating time to achieve a higher operation efficiency.

Abstract: A method of producing plural device chips from a thin plate of a pyroelectric material comprises the following steps. First, plural device-forming regions each having an electrode and a circuit pattern for electrically connecting the electrodes are formed on each of front and rear surfaces of the thin plate to obtain a device substrate. By making an electrical connection between the circuit patterns, and grounding it, all of the device-forming regions on the device substrate are at the same potential. Next, a blast treatment is performed to the device substrate to remove a required region of the pyroelectric material, while leaving a bridge portion extending between adjacent device-forming regions and having the circuit patterns thereon, so that a device-chip aggregate is formed, in which adjacent device chips are coupled through the bridge portion. Subsequently, by removing the bridge portion, the device chip is separated from the device-chip aggregate.

Abstract: An operation method of a moving hearth furnace, in which a reduced metal is obtained by reducing by heating a metal oxide loaded into the moving hearth furnace, includes the step of supplying and burning a fuel including combustible wastes as a heat source for the operation. According to the operation method of a moving hearth furnace, the resources can be used effectively and costs can be reduced by using industrial wastes as a fuel.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabric for pleated filters comprising a sheath-core conjugate filament in which the core component is made of a polymer higher in melting point and the sheath component is made of a polymer lower in melting point, having compressively bonded portions dotted by embossing, with a weight per unit area X (g/m2) of the nonwoven fabric and a stiffness Y (mgf) obtained according to the Gurley method of JIS L 1096 of Y/X2≧0.03 and X≧120.

Abstract: During a course of stopping an engine, the oil pressure in a timing advance-side hydraulic chamber and the oil pressure in a timing retard-side hydraulic chamber of a variable valve timing mechanism are adjusted so that the relative rotation phase of an intake camshaft changes to the timing advanced side of a phase (predetermined advanced state) corresponding to the engine start-up timing. After the relative rotation phase has changed to the advanced side of the predetermined advanced state, the duty ratio D, that is, a control quantity used to adjust the oil pressure, is fixed to a value that holds the relative rotation phase.

Abstract: A method of producing plural device chips from a thin plate of a pyroelectric material comprises the following steps. First, plural device-forming regions each having an electrode and a circuit pattern for electrically connecting the electrodes are formed on each of front and rear surfaces of the thin plate to obtain a device substrate. By making an electrical connection between the circuit patterns, and grounding it, all of the device-forming regions on the device substrate are at the same potential. Next, a blast treatment is performed to the device substrate to remove a required region of the pyroelectric material, while leaving a bridge portion extending between adjacent device-forming regions and having the circuit patterns thereon, so that a device-chip aggregate is formed, in which adjacent device chips are coupled through the bridge portion. Subsequently, by removing the bridge portion, the device chip is separated from the device-chip aggregate.

Abstract: An infrared ray receiving element includes a substrate made of a pyroelectric material and having at least one cantilever portion surrounded by a slit, in which at least a part of the cantilever portion in the substrate is uniformly polarized in the same direction and the remainder in the substrate includes a portion polarized at random. At least a pair of electrodes are respectively provided on a top surface and a bottom surface of the cantilever portion.

Abstract: During a course of stopping an engine, the oil pressure in a timing advance-side hydraulic chamber and the oil pressure in a timing retard-side hydraulic chamber of a variable valve timing mechanism are adjusted so that the relative rotation phase of an intake camshaft changes to the timing advanced side of a phase (predetermined advanced state) corresponding to the engine start-up timing. After the relative rotation phase has changed to the advanced side of the predetermined advanced state, the duty ratio D, that is, a control quantity used to adjust the oil pressure, is fixed to a value that holds the relative rotation phase.

Abstract: A metal workpiece to which a brazing material and a flux are previously adhered is set into an index type convection furnace, and a heating medium gas is blown to this metal workpiece, so that the temperatures of the workpiece are increased up to the brazing temperature. After that, the temperatures of the heating medium gas are varied between the temperature slightly higher than the brazing temperature and the temperature at least 5% lower than that, in a predetermined period, while brazing. According to this method, a temperature slope of the workpiece is eliminated and uniform brazing is possible.

Abstract: Raw materials, including a metal oxide and a carbonaceous material, are supplied into a rotary hearth furnace. Then, the raw materials are heated and reduced by burners, which are arranged to cause a strong stirring action for an atmosphere around the raw materials, in an early reducing period that is defined as a period during which 70-80% of a total amount of a flammable gas generated from the raw materials is generated. In a latter period subsequent to the early reducing period, the raw materials are heated and reduced by burners arranged to cause a weak stirring action for an atmosphere around the raw materials, whereby a metal is manufactured. With the present invention, productivity can be improved and the fuel consumption per unit product can be reduced.

Abstract: An infrared ray receiving element includes a substrate made of a pyroelectric material and having at least one cantilever portion surrounded by a slit, in which at least a part of the cantilever portion in the substrate is uniformly polarized in the same direction and the remainder in the substrate includes a portion polarized at random. At least a pair of electrodes are respectively provided on a top surface and a bottom surface of the cantilever portion.

Abstract: Iron oxide agglomerates incorporated with the carbonaceous material having a particle size within a range of about 10 to 30 nm are prepared upon production of reduced iron agglomerates. Then, the iron oxides agglomerates incorporated with the carbonaceous material were laid thinly at a laying density of less than 1.4 kg/m.sup.2 /mm or lower on a hearth of a moving hearth furnace. Subsequently, the iron oxide agglomerates are heated rapidly such that the surface temperature of the iron oxide agglomerates reaches 1200.degree. C. or higher within one-third of the retention period of time of the iron oxide agglomerates in the moving hearth furnace. Then, the iron oxide agglomerates are reduced till the metallization ratio thereof reaches 85% or higher to form reduced iron agglomerates and then the reduced iron agglomerates are discharged out of the moving hearth furnace. With the procedures, reduced iron agglomerates of a high average quality can be obtained at a high productivity.

Abstract: A positioning control unit in which a motion control unit receives a start signal for a motion program outputted from a sequence control section and transmits a drive signal to a servo amplifier according to the operational contents indicated in the motion program. The servo amplifier transmits a control signal to a servo motor according to the drive signal and provides controls over the servo motor. The motion control section stores a start signal in an interface section when it receives a start signal for a motion program to be executed next from the sequence control section during operation of the motion program, and executes the motion program indicated by the start signal after the operation of the motion program in operation is completed.

Abstract: In a rotary hearth furnace wherein objects including a mixture of a metal oxide, a reductant such as coal, and the like are fed onto the hearth, the fed objects are heated and reduced through the application of a flame of a burner provided on a ceiling portion or the upper portion of a side wall of the furnace, and the reduced objects are discharged from the furnace so as to be collected. The rotary hearth furnace has an air feeder for feeding air for secondary combustion at a position below the burner and in the vicinity of the hearth of the furnace for the purpose of burning a flammable gas generated from the objects. A flame of this secondary combustion accelerates the heating of the objects. Also, through a combined use of air for secondary combustion and excess air from the burner and an appropriate regulation of the ratio of therebetween, the objects are heated effectively.

Abstract: A cap for a writing instrument is provided with a suffocation preventive construction. Thus, if a curious child or the like should accidentally swallow the cap and the cap lodges in the child's throat or bronchus, a sufficient flow of air is provided to avoid suffocation. Particularly, a cap for a writing implement of a double-tube construction is provided with an air communicating portion positioned in an inner peripheral surface of an outer tube having open front and rear portions. An inner tube having a closed end is held coaxially within the outer tube, and a predetermined clearance is provided to enable communication between the air communicating portion, defined by space between the outer tube and the inner tube, and a front-end opening of the outer tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for synchronously controlling the actual operation of a machine using one or more motors, such as servo motors, by simulating in program form a combination of selectable machine mechanisms, including drivers, connecting shafts, clutches, gears and cams. Each such machine mechanism is represented by a virtual mechanism, preferably as a software module that contains information uniquely identifying the module, operation information that defines the generation of position information and connection information that defines other modules to which connection is made. The software modules comprise drive modules for generating position information, transmission modules for simulating the transmission mechanisms and output modules for outputting motor commands.

Abstract: An apparatus for synchronously controlling the actual operation of a machine using one or more motors, such as servo motors, by simulating in program form a combination of selectable machine mechanisms, including drivers, connecting shafts, clutches, gears and cams. Each such machine mechanism is represented by a virtual mechanism, preferably as a software module that contains information uniquely identifying the module, operation information that defines the generation of position information and connection information that defines other modules to which connection is made. The software modules comprise drive modules for generating position information, transmission modules for simulating the transmission mechanisms and output modules for outputting motor commands.

Abstract: An apparatus for synchronously controlling the actual operation of a machine using one or more motors, such as servo motors, by simulating in program form a combination of selectable machine mechanisms, including drivers, connecting shafts, clutches, gears and cams. Each such machine mechanism is represented by a virtual mechanism, preferably as a software module that contains information uniquely identifying the module, operation information that defines the generation of position information and connection information that defines other modules to which connection is made. The software modules comprise drive modules for generating position information, transmission modules for simulating the transmission mechanisms and output modules for outputting motor commands.