Abstract: (1) A method for producing a flexible optical waveguide, containing: a step of forming a first cladding layer; a step of forming a first core layer by laminating a resin film for forming a core layer on at least one end portion of the first cladding layer; a step of forming a second core layer by laminating a resin film for forming a core layer on an entire surface of the first core layer and the first cladding layer; a step of forming a core pattern by patterning the first and second core layers; and a step of embedding the core pattern by forming a second cladding layer on the core pattern and the first cladding layer, (2) a flexible optical waveguide containing a lower cladding layer, a core part and an upper cladding layer, the upper cladding layer having a width that is smaller than a width of the lower cladding layer at least in a bent portion, and is equal to or smaller than a width of the lower cladding layer in an end portion, and the lower cladding layer having a width in a bent portion that is equa

Abstract: A rear discharge type mower apparatus includes: a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall and a first front guide plate and a second front guide plate. Each of the first and second front guide plates are located rearwardly of the front wall and have a shape extending substantially along a rotation path of a corresponding blade. The mower apparatus also includes a first auxiliary plate and a second auxiliary plate. A portion of the second auxiliary plate and the first auxiliary plate extend parallel to each other such that an opening that is opposed to a mowed grass discharge opening is formed by the rearward ends of the linear portion and the first auxiliary plate. The lower edges of the first and second auxiliary plates are closer to the top plate than the corresponding blade.

Abstract: An optical waveguide contains a lower cladding layer, a patterned core layer, an upper cladding layer and an upper low elasticity layer, which are laminated in this order, in which a film formed by curing a resin composition for forming the upper low elasticity layer has a tensile elastic modulus of from 1 to 2,000 MPa at 25° C., and a cured film having a thickness of 110 ?m formed by curing a resin composition for forming the upper cladding layer has a total light transmittance of 90% or more.— An optical waveguide that has good flexural resistance and good optical characteristics can be provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical waveguide including a resin substrate containing an inorganic filler, and at least a UV-absorbing layer, a lower cladding layer, a patterned core layer, and an upper cladding layer laminated above the resin substrate in this order, wherein the core layer has been patterned through light exposure and development, and the UV-absorbing layer has a thickness of 10 to 50 ?m, and a method for producing an optical waveguide, including a step of forming a UV-absorbing layer on a resin substrate containing an inorganic filler; a step of forming a lower cladding layer on the UV-absorbing layer; a step of forming a core layer on the lower cladding layer; a step of subjecting the core layer to light exposure to thereby transfer a pattern having a given shape to the core layer; a step of developing the core layer to thereby form a core pattern; and a step of forming an upper cladding layer on the patterned core layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid optical/electrical circuit board in which an optical waveguide prepared by an exposing and developing step is combined with an electric circuit, wherein a printed wiring board containing an inorganic filler and a light absorber is used, and it has an optical waveguide core pattern having a high resolution and makes it possible to raise a density of optical wiring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical waveguide prepared by laminating a first cladding layer, a patterned core layer and a second cladding layer in this order on a base material, wherein the core layer has a height of 20 ?m or more, and a curing rate in a range of 10 ?m from a circumference of the core layer in the second cladding layer is 95% or more.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member that is provided with a base member containing polyphenylene sulfide and polyamide, and a semi-conductive inorganic layer having a volume specific resistance in the range from 1×107 ?cm to 1×1013 ?cm, that is formed on the base member, a method for manufacturing such an intermediate transfer member in which the inorganic layer is formed by means a plasma CVD method, and an image-forming apparatus equipped with such an intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production process for an optical waveguide comprising a step for forming a photosensitive resin layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition on a substrate, a step for exposing a desired pattern and a step for carrying out development in an alkaline developer containing a divalent or higher-valent metal ion and a production process for an optical waveguide comprising a step for forming a photosensitive resin layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition on a substrate, a step for exposing a desired pattern, a step for carrying out development in an alkaline developer and a step for carrying out washing with a cleaning liquid containing a divalent or higher-valent metal ion or an acid aqueous solution. Capable of being provided are a production process for an optical waveguide which is excellent in a transparency and a reliability and an optical waveguide produced by the above production process.

Abstract: A rear discharge type mower apparatus comprising a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall; a support shaft supported by the blade housing and extending vertically; a rotatable blade supported by the support shaft, a tip end of the blade forming a rotation path; and a guide plate located rearwardly of the front wall and having a shape extending along the rotation path of a corresponding blade, and forming an opening for ejecting cut grass rearwardly. The guide plate has a first end located in an upstream position with respect to a rotating direction of the corresponding blade, and a second end located in a downstream position with respect to the rotating direction of the corresponding blade; and an auxiliary plate extending from an area of the first end into inside the rotation path of the corresponding blade.

Abstract: A mulching mower unit comprising a mower deck having a top plate, and a plurality of rotary blades arranged side by side inside the mower deck. A mulching baffle for providing at least part of boundary walls of a plurality of mulching chambers is detachably attached to the interior of the mower deck. A vertical guide wall constituting the mulching baffle has an inclined surface. A terminal end guide surface is formed in a terminal end portion of the vertical guide wall with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotary blade in a region around an opening for allowing the adjacent mulching chambers to communicate with each other, whereby grass clippings are deflected inwardly of the mulching chamber with which the terminal end guide surface is associated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an optical waveguide, including the steps of applying a cladding layer-forming resin onto a substrate and curing the resin to form a lower cladding layer; laminating a core layer-forming resin film on the lower cladding layer to form a core layer; subjecting the core layer to exposure to light and development to form a core pattern; and applying a cladding layer-forming resin over the core pattern to embed the core pattern therebeneath, and curing the resin to form an upper cladding layer, wherein the step of forming the core layer includes the steps of (1) allowing the core layer-forming resin film to be temporarily attached onto the lower cladding layer using a roll laminator, and (2) thermocompression-bonding the temporarily attached core layer-forming resin film onto the lower cladding layer under a reduced pressure. There is provided the process for producing an optical waveguide having a uniform core with a good productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin composition for an optical material comprising (A) a carboxylic acid-modified phenoxy resin, (B) a polymerizable compound and (C) a polymerization initiator, a resin film for an optical material comprising the above resin composition and an optical waveguide having a core part and/or a cladding layer formed by using the same. Provided are a resin composition for an optical material which is excellent in a heat resistance and a transparency and which is soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution, a resin film for an optical material comprising the above resin composition and an optical waveguide produced by using the same.

Abstract: A rear discharge type mower apparatus includes a blade housing, a support shaft supported by the blade housing, a rotatable blade supported by the support shaft, and a front guide plate having a shape extending substantially along the rotation path of a corresponding blade. The front guide plate forms an opening for ejecting cut grass rearwardly and has a downstream plate portion located in a downstream position with respect to a rotating direction of the corresponding blade and having an end defining one end of the opening. The downstream plate portion extends rearwardly of the blade housing and a distance from a center of rotation to the downstream plate portion is progressively decreased toward a rear end of the blade housing. At least a part of the downstream plate portion is located radially inside of the rotation path of the corresponding blade.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid optical/electrical circuit board in which an optical waveguide prepared by an exposing and developing step is combined with an electric circuit, wherein a printed wiring board containing an inorganic filler and a light absorber is used, and it has an optical waveguide core pattern having a high resolution and makes it possible to raise a density of optical wiring.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for a mower includes a floor defining a downward recess with respect to a floor surface, and an air speed measuring device or air pressure measuring device disposed in the recess for measuring a speed or pressure of air blown by the mower. The measuring device has air speed detecting elements or air pressure detecting elements. The air speed detecting elements or air pressure detecting elements have detecting heights including a height level with the floor surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mower with a mower deck, a plurality of cutting chambers mutually communicated and arranged in a lateral direction within the mower deck, and a blade mounted in each cutting chamber to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A grass clippings guide in form of a vertical wall is disposed in an upper area within the cutting chamber, to guide the grass clippings flowing within the cutting chamber toward a center of rotation of the blade. A shield member is disposed for preventing entry of grass clippings between the grass clippings guide and a peripheral wall of the cutting chamber.

Abstract: A mower comprising: a cutting blade housing; rotating cutting blades; a rear plate disposed rearwardly the rotating cutting blades; a rear vertical wall that is supported by the cutting blade housing and that forms a first ventilation hole in a center portion in the transverse direction of the cutting blade housing.

Abstract: A mower comprising: a cutting blade housing; rotating cutting blades; and a front baffle plate disposed forwardly of a rotation zone of each of the rotating cutting blades; wherein the front baffle plate comprises: an upstream-side cutting blade plate portion and a downstream-side cutting blade plate portion having a concave curved guide surface wherein the front baffle plate is configured such that the distance between a rotation zone of the upstream-side cutting blade and a boundary between the upstream-side cutting blade plate portion and the downstream-side cutting blade plate portion in the baffle plates is greater than the distance between the boundary and a rotation zone of the downstream-side cutting blade.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric optical waveguide film whose core and clad are constituted from polymer materials and which is characterized in that a protective layer of a polymer material having resistance to solvent attack higher than that observed for the clad is arranged on at least one of the surface and back face of the waveguide film. The present invention thus permits the preparation of such a film, the clad of which is hardly damaged, which is excellent in the resistance to solvent attack and which never undergoes cracking even when it is bought into contact with a commonly used solvent such as acetone.

Abstract: A side discharge mower comprises, a mower deck having a top wall, a front wall depending from the top wall, at least one side wall, a rear wall depending from the top wall, and a discharge opening formed laterally of the mower deck, a first shaft supported by the mower deck and extending vertically, and a second shaft disposed closer than the first shaft to the discharge opening, a first blade rotatable about an axis of the first shaft so that distal ends thereof define a first circular path, a second blade rotatable about an axis of the second shaft so that distal ends thereof define a second circular path, a rear baffle disposed in a rear region of the mower deck, and an intermediate baffle extending from the rear baffle forward through an area adjacent a boundary between the first circular path and the second circular path, the intermediate baffle extending from the rear baffle forwardly beyond a line connecting the first shaft and the second shaft.