Abstract: A methacrylimide group-containing polymer having improved moldability as well as good heat resistance and transparency is prepared by heat treating a methacrylimide group-containing polymer having imide ring structural units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen, an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or allyl group 1 to 20 carbon atoms, at a temperature of 190 to 350 C. in the presence of a tertiary amine of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently represent an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be linked to form a ring together with the nitrogen atom.

Abstract: An improved swing type substrate cleaning apparatus comprises a substrate chuck for holding the substrate while rotating the same, a cleaning brush holding apparatus for holding a cleaning brush while rotating the same, a cleaning brush elevating apparatus for holding the cleaning brush holding apparatus in a manner enabling elevation and swing of the same, and a buffer apparatus for reducing the velocity at which the cleaning brush elevating apparatus lowers the cleaning brush holding apparatus when the cleaning brush is lowered to be in contact with the substrate. Since the velocity with which the cleaning brush is lowered is reduced to be lower than a prescribed value by means of the buffer apparatus, no significant shock is created when the cleaning brush is brought into contact with the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and transferring a wafer. The apparatus includes a wafer transfer portion having a path through which a wafer can be transferred; structure for storing the wafer, the structure for storing the wafer being removably attached to the wafer transfer portion; a first elevator for elevating and lowering the wafer transfer portion and the storing structure to a predetermined level; a holder for temporarily holding the wafer in the wafer transfer portion; and a second elevator for elevating and lowering the wafer holder, the second elevator being separate and independent from the first elevator. Since the wafer storing structure and the wafer transfer portion are elevated and lowered by different elevators, the wafer can be transported while the wafer transfer portion is stationary. Thus, the apparatus has a simplified construction and replacement of the storing structure can be automated.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and device for automatically controlling the time period of photographic development for each specific combination of a photographic developer and a photosensitive material for the purpose of obtaining a substantially same or optimum photographic development result at various temperatures. Through utilization of the knowledge of a certain relation between the time period of photographic development and the temperature of the photographic developer which will produce a same photographic development result, the time period of photographic development is adjusted, for instance, by changing the speed of a conveyor carrying the photosensitive material through the photographic developer. The mentioned relationship may not be always expressed by a linear function with a desired accuracy but may be approximated with a desired accuracy by means of various mathematical functions such as polynomials and irrational functions.

Abstract: In on-off controlling a compressor of an automotive air conditioning apparatus in a cooling mode of operation, a compressor control switch responsive to a parameter indicative of an operating condition of the compressor is actuated by an output of a sensor for sensing an engine operating condition of a motor vehicle. During a deceleration, the sensor establishes an electrica path from a power source to the compressor which bypasses the compressor control switch. This bypass path is also set up when the motor vehicle is in a standstill with the engine idled. As a deceleration lasts over a given period of time, a timer is actuated to make a connection between the compressor control switch and the power source alive again. An idling up circuit compensates for a decrease in the engine speed attributable to compressor activation during a constant speed run and/or a standstill of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The first and the second circulation pipe systems are respectively and circularly connected to a tray which a processing solution is supplied into, respective pumps to pump up the processing solution, respective containers which a circulated processing solution is retrieved into, and an over-flow unit to keep the level of a processing solution supplied into the tray at desired level, the over-flow unit being provided to the opening of the bottom of the tray. In the respective circulation pipe systems, valves for switching over between the systems are further provided, alternatively to circulate a desired processing solution by controlling the valves.

Abstract: A humidifying apparatus for equipment for conditioning the air of vehicle has a humidity detecting circuit and a humidifying device including a spray nozzle. The humidifying device is intermittently operated by a control device. Thus, humidity in the vehicle cabin can be controlled so as to be maintained at a desired value while keeping the humidity in the cabin uniform.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for the development of photographic films in a photographic film processor in which the films are developed when the exposed films pass through a developing tank containing developer. The object of said invention is to attain uniform development with a simple method, that is, to make the change of the activity of the developer during the development of the films to be treated very small from the leading end to the trailing end of the film. The said invention makes the influence of the momentarily changing activity of the developer in contact with the films as small as possible by compensating for the decrease of the activity due to the exhaustion of the developer by gradually increasing the immersion time of the films in the developer from the leading end toward the trailing end of the photographic films by gradually changing the relative level of the liquid surface when the films are fed into the developer.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor for use with an air conditioner for vehicles, which comprises a housing in which a vane pump is accommodated, and a covering disposed so as to enclose said housing in a fashion that its inner wall cooperates with the outer wall of said housing to define a refrigerant delivery chamber, characterized by that a temperature sensor is embedded in a portion of the outer wall of said housing. The sensor may be composed of a semiconductor thermo-sensitive device or a conductor wire made of a metal including a high resistance metal. Thus, accurate and stable detection of the internal temperature of the compressor is feasible, thereby making it possible to avoid seizure of the sliding machine parts of the compressor.

Abstract: A plurality of movable dampers (23), (26), (31) are provided in an air flow duct (12) to control the temperature and air flow therethrough. A heater core (19) and/or air conditioner evaporator (18) are disposed in the duct (12). The dampers (23), (26), (31) are positioned by vacuum actuators (28), (29), (33) in accordance with applied vacuum. Sensors (47), (48), (49) sense the temperature in the duct (12), an automobile passenger compartment into which the duct (12) leads and the like. A control means unit (44) modulates vacuum from a source (34) in accordance with sensed temperature so as to maintain the temperature at a desired value. In case of failure of the automatic control unit (44), a manual valve unit (51), (53), (56) may be operated to connect the actuators (28), (29), (31) either to the vacuum source (34) or to the atmosphere so as to position the dampers (23), (26), (31) minimum or maximum temperature operation respectively.

Abstract: A vane compressor includes a hollow stator, and a rotor which is received in the stator for rotation about an axis. The rotor is provided with a plurality of throughgoing passages which extend radially and outwardly relative to the axis. Each passage receives a vane which has an outer end face directed towards an inner circumference of the stator and an inner end face directed away from the inner circumference of the stator. The vanes are shiftable radially in the respective passages relative to the axis. A pressure medium is supplied under a first pressure to the inner end faces of the vanes to urge the same radially outwardly for engagement of the outer end faces with the inner circumference of the stator. When the rotor is rotated, the vanes are subjected to an additional second pressure resulting from centrifugal force. The second pressure additionally urges the vanes against the inner circumference of the stator.

Abstract: A developing tank wherein means is provided to divide the surface of the developer charged into the tank into two separate portions, into one of which the film enters as it enters the developer, and out of the other of which the film leaves as it leaves the developer. Thus the contaminants and exhausted developer accumulating at the point where the film leaves the developer are prevented from directly moving along the surface of the developer to the point where the film enters the developer, and thereby streaking and uneven development are substantially reduced. The dividing means may be combined with a film entry guide plate.

Abstract: A temperature control door (27) controls air flow through a duct (12) and is positioned in accordance with the output of a sensor (41), (42). A slider (74) of a potentiometer (72) is connected to the door (27) so that the slider (74) is in a central position when the temperature control door (27) is in a central position. A switch (86) connects the slider (74) to one end of a resistance element (73) of the potentiometer (72) when the temperature control door (27) is on one side of the central position and the apparatus (11) is in a cooling mode and to the other end of the resistance element (73) of the potentiometer (72) when the temperature control door (27) is on the other side of the central position and the apparatus (11) is in a heating mode. The speed of a blower (16) which forces air through the duct (12) is controlled in accordance with the resistance of the potentiometer (72). A switch (87) controls the blower (16) to run a maximum speed when the apparatus (11) is in a maximum cooling mode.

Abstract: A vane compressor includes a hollow stator, and a rotor which is received in the stator for rotation about an axis. The rotor is provided with a plurality of throughgoing passages which extend radially and outwardly relative to the axis. Each passage receives a vane which has an outer end face directed towards an inner circumference of the stator and an inner end face directed away from the inner circumference of the stator. The vanes are shiftable radially in the respective passages relative to the axis. A pressure medium is supplied under a first pressure to the inner end faces of the vanes to urge the same radially outwardly for engagement of the outer end faces with the inner circumference of the stator. When the rotor is rotated, the vanes are subjected to an additional second pressure resulting from centrifugal force. The second pressure additionally urges the vanes against the inner circumference of the stator.