Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a dewatering tub having an impeller provided at a bottom thereof; three or more baffles arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction with respect to an inner circumferential surface of the dewatering tub, which are opened in the vicinity of the bottom and in which a water circulation opening is formed at the upper end; a water receiving ring unit fixed to an upper end of the dewatering tub and formed by stacking a plurality of annular water guiding grooves, which are connected to the upper end of the respective baffles via communication members; and a nozzle unit capable of individually injecting adjusting water into each of the water guiding grooves.

Abstract: A living tissue model device includes: a first liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; a second liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; and a cell layered body disposed between the first liquid compartment and the second liquid compartment, as a partition between both compartments. A vascular wall model includes: a porous membrane having a honeycomb structure; a vascular endothelial cell layer disposed on one face of the porous membrane; and a smooth muscle cell layer, or a mesenchymal stem cell layer, disposed on another face of the porous membrane. A vascular wall model device includes: a first liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; a second liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; and a vascular wall model disposed between the first liquid compartment and the second liquid compartment, as a partition between both compartments. Applications of these models or model devices are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cell laminate including cell layers on both surfaces of a porous membrane, using a vessel having a bottom portion and a side wall portion standing from a periphery of the bottom portion, the porous membrane, and a holding member configured to hold the porous membrane such that the porous membrane faces an inner bottom surface of the vessel and is held at a position that does not contact the inner bottom surface, the method including culturing first cells in a liquid medium that contacts the inner bottom surface of the vessel and a surface of the porous membrane, in a state in which the porous membrane is held, by the holding member, at a position that does not contact the inner bottom surface of the vessel so as to face the inner bottom surface, and in which the bottom portion of the vessel is positioned at the upper side while the porous membrane is positioned at the lower side in a direction of gravity; and culturing the first cells at a lower surface of the porous membr

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine. A baffle of the washing machine, which serves as a balancer, includes: a partition portion for suppressing a flow of adjusted water that is injected from a top end side by a water injection device toward a base end side so that the adjusted water retains at the top end side; and an outlet portion for discharging the injected adjusted water from the base end side of a washing drum.

Abstract: A living tissue model device includes: a first liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; a second liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; and a cell layered body disposed between the first liquid compartment and the second liquid compartment, as a partition between both compartments. A vascular wall model includes: a porous membrane having a honeycomb structure; a vascular endothelial cell layer disposed on one face of the porous membrane; and a smooth muscle cell layer, or a mesenchymal stem cell layer, disposed on another face of the porous membrane. A vascular wall model device includes: a first liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; a second liquid compartment storing a liquid composition; and a vascular wall model disposed between the first liquid compartment and the second liquid compartment, as a partition between both compartments. Applications of these models or model devices are also provided.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a dewatering tub having an impeller provided at a bottom thereof; three or more baffles arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction with respect to an inner circumferential surface of the dewatering tub, which are opened in the vicinity of the bottom and in which a water circulation opening is formed at the upper end; a water receiving ring unit fixed to an upper end of the dewatering tub and formed by stacking a plurality of annular water guiding grooves, which are connected to the upper end of the respective baffles via communication members; and a nozzle unit capable of individually injecting adjusting water into each of the water guiding grooves.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes: a washing drum; a plurality of hollow balancers arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the washing drum in an axis direction of the washing drum; a water receiving ring unit, the water receiving ring unit is formed by stacking multiple layers of annular water guiding grooves, and fixed to an end in the axis direction of an outer surface of the washing drum, and the multiple layers of annular water guiding grooves correspond to the balancers respectively; a plurality of water passing components for connecting a part of the water guiding grooves with the balancers corresponding to the water guiding grooves; and a nozzle unit for separately injecting adjustment water into the water guiding grooves.

Abstract: A wind direction plate of an air purifier includes a core member provided between an upper wall and a lower wall and extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and an infrared light highly scattering member provided on a side of the core member facing an infrared unit, the infrared light highly scattering member having a higher degree of scattered reflection of infrared light received by the infrared unit and/or infrared light transmitted from the infrared unit than a degree of scattered reflection on the core member.

Abstract: A wind direction plate of an air purifier includes a core member provided between an upper wall and a lower wall and extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and an infrared light highly scattering member provided on a side of the core member facing an infrared unit, the infrared light highly scattering member having a higher degree of scattered reflection of infrared light received by the infrared unit and/or infrared light transmitted from the infrared unit than a degree of scattered reflection on the core member.

Abstract: A measuring part 67 measures the potential of a collecting electrode 66 having collected positive and negative ions respectively generated by ion generating parts 61 of ion generators 6a and 6b and ion generating parts 62 of ion generators 6c and 6d. In the judgment of the presence or absence of ions, the ion generators 6a and 6b and the ion generators 6c and 6d are alternately turned ON/OFF. In ion judgment 1, ON/OFF is performed 6 times with a period of 10 seconds. In ion judgment 2, ON/OFF is performed 10 times with a period of 1 second. Then, when the difference (the amount of change) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the output voltage of the measuring part 67 is greater than a given threshold value, the presence of ions is concluded respectively.

Abstract: It is expected to provide an ion generating apparatus and an ion presence determination method that can prevent the lower accuracy of the ion presence determination caused by the humidity effect. The ion generators are switched ON at the different timing, the electrical potential of the collecting electrode is measured to determine that the ion is present (or not present) when the voltage difference is larger (or smaller) than the threshold. A humidity detecting unit is arranged in a duct. The set threshold for the determination is based on the humidity of the humidity detecting unit, and the ion presence determination is not performed when the humidity is equal to or more than a predetermined humidity. When the determination representing no ion is obtained predetermined times, the warning is output for the users with a LED of a display, a buzzer of a controller or the like.

Abstract: A space-saving mounting structure of an air blower having a vibration-insulating function is achieved to reduce a size of an ion generating apparatus. A holding case that holds an air blower and a mount having an air blowing duct are provided in a body case. A cushioning member is provided on an outer surface of a fan casing of the air blower. The air blower is held between the holding case mounted to the body case and the mount as a part of the body case. Two mounting members are formed on the fan casing. One mounting member is held between a pair of regulating members and formed on the holding case. The other mounting member is held between regulating members and formed on the holding case and the mount, respectively.

Abstract: It is expected to provide an ion generating apparatus and an ion presence determination method that can prevent the lower accuracy of the ion presence determination caused by the humidity effect. The ion generators are switched ON at the different timing, the electrical potential of the collecting electrode is measured to determine that the ion is present (or not present) when the voltage difference is larger (or smaller) than the threshold. A humidity detecting unit is arranged in a duct. The set threshold for the determination is based on the humidity of the humidity detecting unit, and the ion presence determination is not performed when the humidity is equal to or more than a predetermined humidity. When the determination representing no ion is obtained predetermined times, the warning is output for the users with a LED of a display, a buzzer of a controller or the like.

Abstract: A space-saving mounting structure of an air blower having a vibration-insulating function is achieved to reduce a size of an ion generating apparatus. A holding case that holds an air blower and a mount having an air blowing duct are provided in a body case. A cushioning member is provided on an outer surface of a fan casing of the air blower. The air blower is held between the holding case mounted to the body case and the mount as a part of the body case. Two mounting members are formed on the fan casing. One mounting member is held between a pair of regulating members and formed on the holding case. The other mounting member is held between regulating members and formed on the holding case and the mount, respectively.

Abstract: A measuring part 67 measures the potential of a collecting electrode 66 having collected positive and negative ions respectively generated by ion generating parts 61 of ion generators 6a and 6b and ion generating parts 62 of ion generators 6c and 6d. In the judgment of the presence or absence of ions, the ion generators 6a and 6b and the ion generators 6c and 6d are alternately turned ON/OFF. In ion judgment 1, ON/OFF is performed 6 times with a period of 10 seconds. In ion judgment 2, ON/OFF is performed 10 times with a period of 1 second. Then, when the difference (the amount of change) between the maximum value and the minimum value of the output voltage of the measuring part 67 is greater than a given threshold value, the presence of ions is concluded respectively.

Abstract: A laundry apparatus according to the present invention ensures an improved laundry drying efficiency. In the laundry apparatus, an air guide (71) is provided on an upper edge portion of an outer tub opening (4a) as being opposed to an air inlet (6). Drying air flowing downward from the air inlet (6) to be supplied to the outer tub opening (4a) impinges on an inclined wall (72) of the air guide (71). The drying air impinging on the inclined wall (72) is deflected into a drum (5) through a drum opening (5a) (as indicated by a broken-line arrow). Thus, the drying air is prevented from further flowing downward in the outer tub opening (4a) into a gap (70) defined between the outer tub (4) and the drum (5), but supplied to laundry in the drum (5).

Abstract: According to the present invention, a highly safe dry cleaner is provided, which ensures safety without the danger of ignition in a drying process even if so-called microcomputer runaway occurs. The dry cleaner includes a relay sequence controlling circuit (71). The relay sequence controlling circuit (71) includes a serial connection of a first valve (V27) to be controlled, a first switch (77) which controls the turn-on of the first valve (V27) and a second contact (76a) provided in a second relay (76). A detection circuit (79) which controls the second contact (76a) is connected to the serial connection. Thus, the first valve (V27) is maintained in an inactive state irrespective of a first switch turn-on control performed by a control section (81) until the detection circuit (79) performs a predetermined operation to turn on the second contact 76a.

Abstract: A laundry apparatus according to the present invention is capable of stably regulating a laundry drying temperature without reduction in the service life of a valve which regulates the amount of steam to be supplied to heating unit. In the laundry apparatus, a first steam supply passage (24a) having a relatively great passage diameter and a second steam supply passage (24b) having a relatively small passage diameter are provided independently of each other. Thus, a relatively great amount of steam is supplied from the first steam supply passage (24a) to a drying heater (13) with a first valve (V27) being opened, and a relatively small amount of steam is supplied to the drying heater (13) with a second valve (V28) being opened. By selectively using the first valve (V27) and the second valve (V28), the opening/closing frequencies of these valves are reduced. This makes it possible to stably regulate the laundry drying temperature while preventing reduction in the service lives of these valves.