Abstract: A thermal printer of the type printing an image on a printing paper wound in the form of a roll. Curling of the printing paper wound in the roll form occurs when the thermal printer is placed in its standby mode over more than a predetermined period of time while the printing paper is held between a platen roller and a thermal head. In order to prevent curling of the printing paper, the printing paper is rewound when the standby mode lasts over more than the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus to facilitate the loading of specific fuel rods into the specific grid cells of the grids of a fuel assembly. The loading apparatus utilizes air-pressure operated loading cylinders to push out the specific fuel rods from a fuel rod magazine into the corresponding grid cells. The loading apparatus operates in conjunction with a series of fuel rod support rollers which provide support to the fuel rods, being charged into the grids, from the underside of the fuel rods to prevent sagging of the tip end, thus avoiding scraping against the straps of the grids when entering the grid cells, and causing potentially harmful surface scratches on the fuel rods.

Abstract: A silicone type cinnamic acid derivative which is a siloxane having at least one unit represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## and having the other units which may exist in the siloxane being represented by the formula:O.sub.(4-m)/2 SiR.sub.m.sup.3wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a trimethylsiloxy group, R.sup.2 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having at least two carbon atoms, which may include a heteroatom, O, X is an alkoxy group, n is an integer of 0 to 3, a is an integer of 2 or 3, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a trimethylsiloxy group, and m is an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pull-in rod type loader for loading fuel rods efficiently and conveniently from a fuel rod magazine to a fuel assembly. The control rod pipes and fuel rods are held in assigned grid cells, respectively termed pipe-cells and fuel-rod-cells, in each quadrant section of a grid. The control rod pipes are disposed in a quadrant so that the locations of the pipe-cells assigned for the guide pipes in one quadrant are symmetrical with respect to a central rotational axis of the apparatus. The grid cells and the pull-in loader are both aligned with respect to a central rotational axis. To load the fuel rods into the fuel assembly, only the pull-in rods need to be operated for every 90 degree rotation of the loader about the central axis, because the locations of the pull-in rods correspond exactly with the grid cells assigned to hold fuel rods.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method and an apparatus for assembling a fuel assembly which is free of surface damage on the fuel rod surfaces, and of distortions caused by residual stresses. Such problems are introduced by the method of inserting the fuel rods into the grids, and the sequence of attaching the control rod guiding pipes. In the conventional method, the guiding pipes are attached to the respective grids first and the fuel rods are inserted in the grids while the holding mechanisms (such as spring force against a dimple formed on the grid wall) are active. In the invented assembling method, the sprigs are deactivated first and then the fuel rods are inserted into the grids. Once the assembly is made firm with all the fuel rods in place and fixed firmly to the grids, the control rod guiding pipes are inserted into the grids and the pipes are fixed rigidly to the respective grids.

Abstract: A key member, a method for insertion and/or removal of the fuel rods in a nuclear fuel assembly using the key member and a method of disassembling the nuclear fuel assembly using the same key member are disclosed. The key member has first projections and second projections formed on the opposite faces of an elongated key body. In the insertion or removal of the fuel rods or in the disassembling the nuclear fuel assembly, the key member is inserted into the grid and rotated to bring the first projections and the second projections into engagement with the straps of the grids and the springs on the straps to thereby deflect the springs in a direction away from the dimples opposing the springs. In this situation, the insertion and removal of the fuel rods can be carried out.

Abstract: In the nuclear fuel assembly, a plurality of plate-shaped straps are assembled perpendicularly to each other into a grid shape so as to construct a supporting grid providing with a plurality of cells each of which inserts a nuclear fuel rod. A cell-size inspection device which inspects the size of each cell of the supporting grid is constructed by a base, a movable plate, a plurality of pin gauges and a sensor. The supporting grid is mounted on the base, while the movable plate is provided such that it can relatively move with respect to the base in a longitudinal direction of the cells. The pin gauges are provided on the movable plate such that they can freely slide along the longitudinal direction of the cells. When the movable plate is moved toward the supporting grid, each of the pin gauges is to be inserted into each of the cells. The sensor senses whether the pin gauge is relatively moved from the predetermined position of the movable plate.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording system, an ink paper cassette containing an ink paper having ink layers and an ink paper feed bobbin with the ink paper wound therearond, and further containing a take-up bobbin for taking up the ink paper fed from the feed bobbin, is used in conjunction with a recording paper, a platen roller, and a thermal head. The recording paper and the ink paper fed from the feed bobbin are disposed in a superimposed manner on the platen roller and are pressed toward the platen roller form the ink paper side and heated by the thermal head, thereby allowing ink to be transferred to the recording paper form the ink paper in accordance with information provided to the thermal head. A discrimination is made as to whether the ink paper cassette is a first ink paper cassette which contains a first ink paper having only ink layers, or a second ink paper cassette which contains a second ink paper having both a receiving layer and ink layers.

Abstract: An image printing method and system. Information of printing paper size, image size to be printed and printing position is inputted by user. On the basis of the information, a control circuit determines the number of data to be printed in the primary scanning direction as well as the number of data for blanks at both sides and additionally determines the number of lines for printing in the secondary scanning direction as well as line numbers for processing and succeeding blanks. In the primary scanning, the data to be printed is supplied to a thermal head together with the data for the blanks. In the secondary scanning, a printing sheet is transported idly for the blank portions. The thermal head is electrically energized in the printing portion for printing the image at a predetermined position on the printing paper.

Abstract: A silicone type cinnamic acid derivative which is a siloxane having at least one unit represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## and having the other units which may exist in the siloxane being represented by the formula:O.sub.(4-m)/2 SiR.sup.3.sub.mwherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a trimethylsiloxy group, R.sup.2 is a divalent hydrocarbon group having at least two carbon atoms, which may include a heteroatom O, X is an alkoxy group, n is an integer of 0 to 3, a is an integer of 2 or 3, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, or a trimethylsiloxy group, and m is an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer including a thermal head for generating heat in accordance with a desired print pattern, a platen having a surface for supporting an ink-sheet and paper, the ink-sheet and paper being pressed by the thermal head on the platen surface so that ink from the ink-sheet is transferred to the paper, a paper supply for storing and supplying paper, an ink-sheet supply and drive for storing and supplying an ink-sheet, the ink-sheet supply and drive driving the ink-sheet to move in accordance with the movement of the paper, a paper drive arranged between the platen and the paper supply, the paper drive driving the paper by the required length according to the position of the paper relative to the position of the platen, and a paper tension device for applying suitable tension to the paper at least between the platen and the paper drive so that the length by which the paper drive drives the paper is identical with the length by which the paper moves on the platen.

Abstract: The semipermeable membrane contains a polyarylate resin and a polysulfone resin as a major membrane material and has a fibrilliform structure with a high mechanical strength and has a water permeability of 1,500 ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg or lower as well as an inhibitory rate against bovine serum albumin of 80% or higher and against cytochrome C of 40% or lower. The membrane is prepared by discharging a stock solution containing the polyarylate resin and the polysulfone resin in the total amount of 10% to 25% by weight and a core solution of an organic solvent containing water in the amount of 25% to 80% by volume into a coagulating solution.

Abstract: The semipermeable membrane contains a polyarylate resin and a polysulfone resin as a major membrane material and has a fibrilliform structure with a high mechanical strength and has a water permeability of 1,500 ml/m.sup.2.hr.mmHg or lower as well as an inhibitory rate against bovine serum albumin of 80% or higher and against cytochrome C of 40% or lower. The membrane is prepared by discharging a stock solution containing the polyarylate resin and the polysulfone resin in the total amount of 10% to 25% by weight and a core solution of an organic solvent containing water in the amount of 25% to 80% by volume into a coagulating solution.

Abstract: An anti-rusting composition in solution form is prepared by dissolving anti-rusting agent in an organic solvent having a permeability greater than water, mixing the solution with a permeable water-proofing agent dissolved in a petroleum based solvent. The anti-rusting composition in solution form is applied to the surface of a desired material and the anti-rusting and water proofing agents permeate into the material from the surface thereof through capillary walls. When the solvent evaporates, a gel layer forms and a strong water-proof layer is obtained to isolate the air phase from the material.

Abstract: A method of adding low-melting-point metal to molten steel by injecting molten low-melting-point metal into the vessel containing the molten steel through a portion of the side wall of the vessel that is located below the surface level of the molten steel.

Abstract: A heat sensitive transfer recording apparatus comprising a carrier such as a transfer film to which applied is a transfer material that may be heat transferred, a thermal head having a number of heater elements each producing heat in accordance with an image signal, and a platen roller rotatable in a forward direction or in a reverse direction. The carrier and a recording medium, such as a recording paper overlapped on the carrier, are delivered in the forward direction by the platen roller while being pressed by the thermal head, whereupon the image recording is carried out. Also, in case of multicolor overlap recording, the recording medium is delivered in the reverse direction under a pressure release condition of the thermal head by an assistant roller provided on a recording medium pay-out side with respect to the transfer position defined between the platen roller and the thermal head.

Abstract: A method of adding a low-melting point metal (e.g. Pb or Bi) to liquid steel for producing a free-cutting steel in a consistent manner and in high yield of addition is disclosed. In accordance with the method, at least one member selected from said low-melting point metal and an oxide thereof, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of quick lime and a carbonaceous material are mixed in specified optimum proportions and the mixture is blown into the liquid steel through an injection lance. The liquid steel may be agitated while the mixture is added, and the appropriate conditions for the agitation of the steel are also specified.

Abstract: A tundish for continuous casting of a free-cutting steel comprises a molten steel teeming zone into which a low melting metal is added to a molten metal as a machinability element, a dispersing means provided in the flow path of the molten steel between the molten steel teeming zone and a discharge outlet for the molten steel, and a dam installed downstream the dispersing means.

Abstract: In a control system for a thermal transfer color printer capable of color print, first and second sensors for detecting a printing paper are disposed before and after a platen roller for carrying the printing paper, so that when the printing paper is carried and detected by the first sensor, the printing paper is changed to a low speed and at the same time a thermal head is pressed against the printing paper through an ink film and when the printing paper is detected by the second sensor, the thermal head is supplied with a print signal for color printing.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of thermal transfer type includes a thermal head having a plurality of linearly-arrayed heat generating elements selectively generating heat in response to the application of a character and pattern information signal providing the thermal transfer energy, and a carrier having a coating of a thermally transferably recording material. A recording medium recording character and pattern information is disposed between the carrier and a platen roller to be transported by the platen roller.At the time of recording character and pattern information on the recording medium, the thermal transfer energy is applied to the heat generating elements corresponding to the character and pattern information signal while pressing the thermal head against the platen roller. During the recording, the thermal transfer energy is controlled to correspond to the required density tone of the character and pattern information to be recorded.