Abstract: A magnesium or aluminum alloy melt having a composition within maximum solubility limits is poured into a mold at a temperature exceeding the alloy liquidus line, but not higher by more than 30.degree. C., the melt is cooled at a rate of at least 1.0.degree. C./sec to form a billet, the billet is heated at a rate of at least 0.5.degree. C./min in a range bound by the alloy solubility line and the alloy solidus line and further heated to a temperature above the alloy solidus line and is maintained at that temperature for 5 to 60 minutes, thereby spheroidizing primary crystals thereof, the billet is then further heated to a temperature below the alloy liquidus line and the semi-solid billet is shaped under pressure. Alternatively, a hypo-eutectic aluminum alloy melt having a composition at or above maximum solubility limits is poured into a billet-forming mold at a temperature exceeding the alloy liquidus line, but not higher by more than 30.degree. C. and the melt is cooled at a rate of at least 1.0.degree. C.

Abstract: A--Si containing magnesium alloy for casting with a melt thereof with a cast structure having eutectic compounds of Mg.sub.2 Si produced to improve creep strength of a cast product, preferably a Si-containing magnesium alloy of a Mg--Al--Zn system having either 0.01% to 2.0% or 6 to 12% of Zn and 6 to 12% of Al, is disclosed with the improvement in that the alloy contains 0.3 to 1.5% by weight of Si in combination with 0.005 to 0.2% of Sr added to effect refinement of the eutectic compounds to thereby reduce hot cracking and improve mechanical properties of the cast product, while the improved creep strength is preserved.

Abstract: In a pressure-casting method and apparatus, wherein a metal melt is fed in a mold cavity and then an oscillating squeeze pressure is applied to the melt by a squeezing plunger of a hydraulic cylinder moving with an oscillating stroke varying to compensate for shrinkage of the melt while being solidified, the hydraulic cylinder is feedback-controlled, using a control unit including a detector for detecting information on an actual squeeze pressure, so that a pressure converted from the actual oscillating squeeze pressure to have a mean value of zero copies a desired alternately positive and negative impulsive pressure pattern or locus representing a pressure oscillated to have a mean value of zero with a given amplitude and frequency versus an elapse of time.

Abstract: A--Si containing magnesium alloy for casting with a melt thereof with a cast structure having eutectic compounds of Mg.sub.2 Si produced to improve creep strength of a cast product, preferably a Si-containing magnesium alloy of a Mg--Al--Zn system having either 0.01% to 2.0% or 6 to 12% of Zn and 6 to 12% of Al, is disclosed with the improvement in that the alloy contains 0.3 to 1.5% by weight of Si in combination with 0.005 to 0.2% of Sr added to effect refinement of the eutectic compounds to thereby reduce hot cracking and improve mechanical properties of the cast product, while the improved creep strength is preserved.

Abstract: A microcomputer that reduces through current of output buffers, and thus, reduces power line fluctuation that occurs when a large number of the bus lines connected to output buffers change state at the same time. The through current (or punch-through current) is reduced through the use of a detector circuit that detects the number of bus lines which are changing state and a decoder circuit that changes the impedance of output buffers, which drive the bus lines to external components, when the number of bus lines changing state at a given time exceeds a predetermined number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which facilitates the input and output of copy paper. One embodiment includes an image forming apparatus with paper supply trays, a development area, a console and a sorter. By pressing a transparent paper mode key on the console, normal and projector paper are sequentially fed from the trays to the development area and then to the sorter. The sorter is set in one of three modes by a sorter instructor. A manual key on the console allows an operator to set the instructor to position the sorter in any one of the three modes. The pressing of the transparent paper mode key or the detection by a detector of transparent paper in the feeding tray results in the instructor setting the sorter in a non-sort mode despite the sort instructor having been previously set in a different mode.

Abstract: A method for the production of a metallic powder molding material is disclosed which comprises a step of imparting mechanical energy due to at least one of such physical actions as vibration, pulverization, attrition, rolling, shocks, agitation, and mixing a metallic particles in a vessel whose interior is held under vacuumized atmosphere or an atmosphere of inert gas thereby enabling the metallic particles to contact each other and acquire improvement in surface quality and a step of hot molding the metallic particles thereby producing a molding material.