Abstract: A toner replenishing method for use in a development process of developing latent electrostatic images formed on an electrophotographic photoconductor with a two-component dry developer containing a toner and a carrier, the latent electrostatic images being formed on the electrophotographic photoconductor by uniformly charging the electrophotographic photoconductor to a predetermined potential and exposing the electrically charged photoconductor to light images corresponding to original images, includes the step of replenishing the toner only in a portion of the two-component dry developer as the toner concentration thereof is decreased so as to make up for the used toner in the course of the development of the latent electrostatic images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an optical disc type. A light beam is directed at an optical disc, and a focal point of the light beam moves in a focus direction with respect to the optical disc. An intensity of a reflection of the light beam from the optical disc is detected during the movement of the focal point of the light beam. A time interval between occurrences of a plurality of peaks of the detected intensity of the reflected light beam is detected, and the optical disc type is determined according to the detected time interval.

Abstract: A stepped insulating ring having a large-diameter upper portion, a small-diameter foot portion, and a step portion formed on the inside is inserted from a top opening of a bottomed cylindrical can containing a plate group and electrolyte and the small-diameter foot portion is set onto the plate group,a peripheral portion of a cover in which a safety valve is incorporated is set onto the step portion of the stepped insulating ring, and the areas to be sealed where an inside wall of top opening of the bottomed cylindrical can faces an outside wall of the large-diameter upper portion of the stepped insulating ring and an inside wall of the large-diameter upper portion faces a peripheral portion of the cover is formed, andwhen crimping operation on said areas to be sealed is performed from the outside of the upper part of the bottomed cylindrical can to form a closed construction,a sealing compound consisting of oily bitumen, organic solvent, and paraffin base oil is applied to the areas where an inside wall of t

Abstract: A toner for developing latent electrostatic images including a resin component, with the image fixing temperature of the toner being in the range of 100.degree. to 140.degree. C., and the penetration of the toner, measured when allowed to stand at 60.degree. C. for 4 hours in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) K 2235, being 5 mm or more. The resin component for the toner may include a hydrogenated petroleum resin with a hydrogenation ratio of 50% or more, and optionally polyester resin.

Abstract: A flame retarding resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a specific rubber-reinforced resin, 1-200 parts by weight of a phenol resin, 1-200 parts by weight of an organic phosphorus compound, 1-50 parts by weight of a nitrogen-containing compound, 0-40 parts by weight of an oligomer-type polymer containing a functional group, 0-30 parts by weight of a metal compound, a silicon compound, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene, and 0-300 parts by weight of a styrene-type resin. The composition has high impact resistance, excellent heat resistance, and a superior self-fire-extinguishing characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transformant comprising the following expression units in a co-expressible state:an expression unit containing a gene coding for a receptor protein ERD2 from yeast or analog thereof which is capable of binding to a protein localizing in endoplasmic reticulum and having a signal for staying therein;an expression unit containing a gene coding for said protein localizing in endoplasmic reticulum; andan expression unit containing a foreign gene coding for a polypeptide which is a subject of function of said protein localizing in endoplasmic reticulum, andto a transformant comprising, in a co-expressible state, a fusion gene which is composed of a DNA fragment coding for a human serum albumin prepro-sequence and a foreign gene coding for a useful polypeptide. The present invention is also directed to a process for producing said polypeptide by co-expressing said genes in said transformant such that the polypeptide is predominantly secreted out of the transformant cell.

Abstract: The ending side of one coin conveying endless belt is made higher than the starting side of another adjacent coin conveying endless belt. Between the ending side of the one coin conveying belt and the starting side of the another coin conveying belt, there is provided a coin slide to let the coins, which have reached the ending side of the one coin conveying belt, slide down to the starting side of the another coin conveying belt. By using the coin slide, the transference of coins from the one coin conveying belt to the another coin conveying belt can be ensured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flame-retardant resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a bromine-containing copolymer composition containing 1 to 40% by weight of bromine, and comprising 0 to 30 parts by weight of a flame-retarding adjuvant and 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of a polyorganosiloxane-reinforced resin component obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer (d) in the presence of a polyorganosiloxane polymer. The flame-retardant resin composition of the present invention has attained a remarkably higher flame retardancy by the inclusion of a polyorganosiloxane-reinforced resin. A significant improvement in the dripping phenomenon has also been achieved. Further, this composition exhibits superior impact resistance and moldability, and a superior outer appearance in the formed products.

Abstract: A system for inspection and mending in a reactor vessel of a nuclear reactor comprises a track mechanism, support mechanisms for supporting the track mechanism, an inspection apparatus traveling on the track mechanism, at least one mending apparatus traveling on the track mechanism, a setting mechanism for lowering all the above-described mechanisms and apparatus in the reactor vessel, each of which is composed so as to pass through a hole of an upper grid of a reactor, and an installing mechanism for positioning the support mechanisms fixed with two of the upper grid, a core support plate and internal structures below the core support plate and the track mechanism at the inside of the reactor vessel by remote control and for attaching the inspection apparatus and the mending apparatus to the same track mechanism by remote control.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic or electrostatic image forming device, the toner concentration of a two-component developer, i.e., a mixture of toner and carrier is measured on the basis of an output of a magnetic bridge type concentration sensor responsive to the magnetic permeability of the developer. The sensor has a surface whose mean roughness along the center line is less than 0.4 .mu.m Ra.

Abstract: The invention is a fastening device for fastening a plurality of structures using a bolt and a nut. At least two bolts are provided each having a screw portion at one end. At least one nut is provided for each of the bolts. The nut has a flange having a diameter greater than a distance between axes of the bolts with relative rotation of the nuts being restricted by fixing mutually overlapping portions of the flanges of the nuts threaded on the bolts to each other.

Abstract: A bank note conveying apparatus provides stable conveyance of bank notes by firmly pinching the bank notes from both sides. The apparatus comprises an endless belt 1 contacting one of the two faces of a bank note A, a belt driving mechanism which rotates the endless belt 1, a ball 2 which is provided to come into contact with the opposite face of the two faces of the bank note, and a holder 4 which supports the ball 2 to rotate freely. The holder 4 comprises a casing 4a which houses the ball 2 so that it is movable in the direction to and from the endless belt. A coil spring 7 is provided within the casing 4a which pushes the ball 2 in the direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: A bank note transporting apparatus for transporting externally inserted bank notes is provided in an game machine island in which a plurality of game machines (12) and a plurality of game media lending machines (13) for lending game media used for playing games are disposed. The bank note transporting apparatus comprises a main transporting path (200) provided within the island for transporting bank notes to a destination position and an introducing path (300) disposed in at least one position along the length of the main transporting path for merging bank notes externally inserted into the island to the main transporting path. The main transporting path including an accepting slot (3) for accepting the bank notes from the introducing path. The introducing path including a bank note inserting unit (4) into which the bank notes are externally, inserted and a merging unit (9a) for guiding and transporting the inserted bank notes to the accepting slot.

Abstract: A positively-chargeable toner includes a binder resin, a coloring agent, and a quaternary-ammonium-base containing copolymer with a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 25,000, which included a repeat unit of formula (I), and a repeat unit of formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.3 is an alkylene group, and R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are an alkyl group. The quaternary-ammonium-base containing copolymer may further include a repeat unit of formula (III): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.7 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R.sup.8 is an alkyl group.

Abstract: A conveying device prevents slip or disengagement of a conveying endless belt. The belt has an flat outer periphery, which is to be contact with one of the major faces of the bank note to be conveyed, and an inner periphery having a plurality of teeth formed thereon. A drive pulley and a driven pulley are both cylindrical and have a plurality of gear teeth formed on their outer peripheries. The teeth of each of the pulleys may be engageable with the plurality of teeth of the endless belt. Between the drive pulley and the driven pulley, the endless belt is tensioned and a belt drive mechanism for rotating the drive pulley is provided. Each pulley has a flange which has a larger outer diameter than that of each pulley and provided at one end portion thereof in which each of the rotary shaft extends.

Abstract: A hybrid upstream regulatory sequence including an upstream regulatory sequence of E. coli origin and yeast upstream regulatory sequence, which hybrid upstream regulatory sequence can function in a yeast cell; a hybrid promoter including the regulatory sequence of E. coli origin and a TATA region of a yeast promoter, which hybrid promoter can also function in a yeast cell; a hybrid promoter including the upstream regulatory sequence of E. coli origin and a yeast promoter, which hybrid promoter can function in a yeast cell; and a plasmid useful for a test of an upstream regulatory sequence, including a TATA region of a yeast promoter, a structural gene containing a translation start codon, and a yeast origin of replication.

Abstract: When removing a laminar deposit existing in a thin film forming operational system of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, a mixture gas prepared by mixing nitrogen trifluoride gas with a fluoric gas is introduced into the thin film forming operational system so as to be brought into contact in a non-plasma state with the laminar deposit.

Abstract: A yeast PPIase characterized by possessing following properties: (1) acting on and isomerizing the bond X.sub.aa -Pro (wherein X.sub.aa stands for any amino acid and Pro stands for L-proline), (2) exhibiting a single molecular weight of about 17,000 daltons in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide concentration gradient gel electrophoresis, (3) exhibiting a single isoelectric point of about 6.2 in the isoelectric focusing, and (4) inhibited by CsA;an E. coli PPIase-.beta. characterized by possessing the following properties: (1) acting on and isomerizing the bond X.sub.aa -Pro (wherein X.sub.aa stands for any amino acid and Pro for L-proline), (2) exhibiting a single molecular weight of about 20,000 daltons in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide concentration gradient gel electrophoresis, (3) exhibiting a single isoelectric point of about 5.0 in the isoelectric focusing, and (4) no being inhibited by CsA;an E. coli PPIase-.alpha.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin composition which includes the following component (A) and component (B) blended in the ratio (A):(B)=100:1-40 parts by weight. Component (A) is a thermoplastic resin including 0-70% by weight of a rubber component and 100-30% by weight of a polymer component formed from monomers comprising a methylated aromatic vinyl monomer and an hydroxylated aromatic vinyl monomer and, optionally, an aromatic vinyl monomer other than the above monomers, a cyanated vinyl monomer, a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, maleic anhydride, and a maleimide monomer; graft ratio of the thermoplastic resin being 10-150% when the rubber component is used. Component (B) is a flame retarder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating electric charges in a clean room is disclosed involving removing fine and superfine grains from air in the clean room, and generating ions in the thus purified air inside the room.