Abstract: A cartridge includes a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and a frame configured to support the developing roller. A lever is connected to the frame, with the lever being elastically deformable such that a first part of the lever is movable relative to a second part of the lever and relative to the frame, and the lever protruding from the frame. A coupling member is configured to transmit a rotational force to the developing roller, the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and the coupling member being movable relative to the frame in a direction of its rotational axis. When the cartridge is oriented with the lever and the electrode portion at a bottom portion of the cartridge, the lever protrudes downward from the frame.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a vehicle auxiliary device is provided that basically includes first and second drive sources, an auxiliary device, first, second and third rollers, first, second and third idler rollers and a roller pair selection mechanism. The first, second and third rollers are linked to rotary shafts of the first and second drive sources and the auxiliary device. The first, second and third idler rollers are disposed at gap positions formed between the first, second and third rollers. The roller pair selection mechanisms select a power-transmitting roller pair from among the first, second and third rollers by selectively moving the first, second and third idler rollers in roller contact directions, thereby interposing the first, second and third idler rollers therebetween.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a vehicle auxiliary device is provided that basically includes first and second drive sources, an auxiliary device, first, second and third rollers, first, second and third idler rollers and a roller pair selection mechanism. The first, second and third rollers are linked to rotary shafts of the first and second drive sources and the auxiliary device. The first, second and third idler rollers are disposed at gap positions formed between the first, second and third rollers. The roller pair selection mechanisms select a power-transmitting roller pair from among the first, second and third rollers by selectively moving the first, second and third idler rollers in roller contact directions, thereby interposing the first, second and third idler rollers therebetween.

Abstract: A catheter includes an inner layer, an outer layer, a reinforcement layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a marker composed of a contrast material for confirming the position of the distal end portion of the catheter from outside the living body. The reinforcement layer is composed of a spiral first filamentous member, with a gap provided between those portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the catheter. The marker is formed by spirally winding a second filamentous member having a filament diameter smaller than the gap, and has a portion in close contact with the inner layer in the gap.

Abstract: A catheter includes an inner layer, an outer layer, a reinforcement layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a marker composed of a contrast material for confirming the position of the distal end portion of the catheter from outside the living body. The reinforcement layer is composed of a spiral first filamentous member, with a gap provided between those portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the catheter. The marker is formed by spirally winding a second filamentous member having a filament diameter smaller than the gap, and has a portion in close contact with the inner layer in the gap.

Abstract: A catheter includes an inner layer, an outer layer, a reinforcement layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a marker composed of a contrast material for confirming the position of the distal end portion of the catheter from outside the living body. The reinforcement layer is composed of a spiral first filamentous member, with a gap provided between those portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the catheter. The marker is formed by spirally winding a second filamentous member having a filament diameter smaller than the gap, and has a portion in close contact with the inner layer in the gap.

Abstract: A reforming catalyst (6) induces an isomerization reforming reaction and a decomposition reforming reaction of a gasoline fuel. Injectors (27, 33, 35, 36) supply an isomerized fuel generated by the isomerization reforming reaction and a decomposed fuel generated by the decomposition reforming reaction respectively to the internal combustion engine (1). The ratio of the isomerization reforming reaction and the decomposition reforming reaction depends on a catalyst temperature, and can be altered arbitrarily by controlling an air supply amount to the catalyst (6) via an air amount regulating valve (14) and a fuel supply amount to the catalyst (6) via a fuel injector (8) and thereby controlling the catalyst temperature.

Abstract: An AV amplifier includes a selector which outputs a video signal input from an output device to a display device, a display controller which makes a display device display a virtual controller including a plurality of operation buttons and a cursor for selecting any operation button on the virtual controller together with a output video corresponding to an AV signal input form the output device, an operation signal receiver which receives an operation signal for moving the cursor on the virtual controller so as to select an operation button corresponding to a position of the cursor together with identification information for identifying a device to be controlled from an amplifier controller, and a control signal transmitter which transmits predetermined control signals set to the operation buttons for the AV devices to the device to be controlled according to the device to be controlled and the selected operation button.

Abstract: A contact includes a support member, a first spring portion, a second spring portion, a third spring portion and a fourth spring portion. The first spring portion extends obliquely upper forwardly from an upper end of the support member and has, at an apex, a first contact point which contacts with an IC package. The second spring portion is bent from the first contact point, to extend obliquely lower rearwardly and have a first touch portion. The third spring portion extends obliquely lower forwardly from a lower end of the support member and has a second contact point which contacts with a printed-wiring board, thus being in contrast with the first spring portion with respect to the support member. The fourth spring portion is bent from the second contact point, to extend obliquely upper rearwardly and has a second touch portion for contacting with the first touch portion.

Abstract: A heat engine system includes a fuel reforming system for supplying a reformed gas to be combusted in an internal combustion engine or used to generate electricity in a fuel cell. An alcohol-containing fuel and water are mixed in a tank and separated into a hydrocarbon based fuel and the fluid mixture of alcohol and water. A reformer uses an endothermic reaction, such as a water vapor reforming process, to obtain the reformed gas from the fluid mixture.

Abstract: A contact includes a support member, a first spring portion, a second spring portion, a third spring portion and a fourth spring portion. The first spring portion extends obliquely upper forwardly from an upper end of the support member and has, at an apex, a first contact point which contacts with an IC package. The second spring portion is bent from the first contact point, to extend obliquely lower rearwardly and have a first touch portion. The third spring portion extends obliquely lower forwardly from a lower end of the support member and has a second contact point which contacts with a printed-wiring board, thus being in contrast with the first spring portion with respect to the support member. The fourth spring portion is bent from the second contact point, to extend obliquely upper rearwardly and has a second touch portion for contacting with the first touch portion.

Abstract: A heat engine system includes a fuel reforming system for supplying a reformed gas to be combusted in an internal combustion engine or used to generate electricity in a fuel cell. An alcohol-containing fuel and water are mixed in a tank and separated into a hydrocarbon based fuel and the fluid mixture of alcohol and water. A reformer uses an endothermic reaction, such as a water vapor reforming process, to obtain the reformed gas from the fluid mixture.

Abstract: A reforming catalyst (6) induces an isomerization reforming reaction and a decomposition reforming reaction of a gasoline fuel. Injectors (27, 33, 35, 36) supply an isomerized fuel generated by the isomerization reforming reaction and a decomposed fuel generated by the decomposition reforming reaction respectively to the internal combustion engine (1). The ratio of the isomerization reforming reaction and the decomposition reforming reaction depends on a catalyst temperature, and can be altered arbitrarily by controlling an air supply amount to the catalyst (6) via an air amount regulating valve (14) and a fuel supply amount to the catalyst (6) via a fuel injector (8) and thereby controlling the catalyst temperature.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a main combustion chamber and a small auxiliary combustion chamber. The main chamber is formed by a cylinder, the undersurface of a cylinder head, and the crown of a piston. A main ignition unit is disposed in the cylinder head, including a main body and a spark plug. The auxiliary chamber is formed within the main ignition unit. The main and auxiliary chambers are connected via a communication passage. The piston crown includes a cavity. When a fuel injection valve sprays fuel into the cavity on compression stroke, a tumble flow of fuel gas is generated to locally form a relatively rich air-fuel mixture near the communication passage. The air-fuel mixture partly flows into the auxiliary chamber as the piston travels upwardly. The air-fuel mixture in the auxiliary chamber is ignited by the spark plug so that a combustion flame propagates into the main chamber.

Abstract: An engine having a cylinder, a piston slideably received in the cylinder, a crankshaft connected to the piston, and a multi-link piston crank mechanism. The multi-link piston crank mechanism controls movement of the piston such that an acceleration of the piston at top dead center is less than an acceleration of the piston at bottom dead center. A determining device determines an operating condition of the engine. A combustion mode control device controls the engine to operate at an air-fuel ratio leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the determining device determines that the operating condition of the engine is in a predetermined operating region.

Abstract: A catheter includes an inner layer, an outer layer, a reinforcement layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a marker composed of a contrast material for confirming the position of the distal end portion of the catheter from outside the living body. The reinforcement layer is composed of a spiral first filamentous member, with a gap provided between those portions of the first filamentous member which are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the catheter. The marker is formed by spirally winding a second filamentous member having a filament diameter smaller than the gap, and has a portion in close contact with the inner layer in the gap.

Abstract: A control unit is used for controlling a direct fuel injection type internal combustion engine. The control unit controls a fuel injection valve to have a first fuel injection mode wherein a penetration force of an injected fuel sharply increases at an initial stage of a fuel injection and thereafter an increasing rate of the penetration force gradually lowers with passage of time and a second fuel injection mode wherein the penetration force of the injected fuel sharply increases at a middle stage of the fuel injection. The control unit further controls the fuel injection valve in a manner to switch the first and second fuel injection modes in accordance with an operation condition of the engine.

Abstract: An engine having a cylinder, a piston slideably received in the cylinder, a crankshaft connected to the piston, and a multi-link piston crank mechanism. The multi-link piston crank mechanism controls movement of the piston such that an acceleration of the piston at top dead center is less than an acceleration of the piston at bottom dead center. A determining device determines an operating condition of the engine. A combustion mode control device controls the engine to operate at an air-fuel ratio leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the determining device determines that the operating condition of the engine is in a predetermined operating region.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a method of spraying particles by which predetermined quantities of particles can be disposed on specified electrodes, in particular a method of spraying particles by which spacers can be sprayed in interelectrode gaps selectively even in the case of substrates comprising pattern-forming transparent electrodes, such as those used in liquid crystal display devices, and a method of producing liquid crystal display devices of high contrast and high display uniformity by which spacers can be disposed in interelectrode gaps without sacrificing the aperture ratio and by which spacers can be disposed on the substrate without irregularity to attain a uniform cell thickness over the whole substrate, as well as a particle spraying apparatus and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a main combustion chamber and a small auxiliary combustion chamber. The main chamber is formed by a cylinder, the undersurface of a cylinder head, and the crown of a piston. A main ignition unit is disposed in the cylinder head, including a main body and a spark plug. The auxiliary chamber is formed within the main ignition unit. The main and auxiliary chambers are connected via a communication passage. The piston crown includes a cavity. When a fuel injection valve sprays fuel into the cavity on compression stroke, a tumble flow of fuel gas is generated to locally form a relatively rich air-fuel mixture near the communication passage. The air-fuel mixture partly flows into the auxiliary chamber as the piston travels upwardly. The air-fuel mixture in the auxiliary chamber is ignited by the spark plug so that a combustion flame propagates into the main chamber.