Abstract: A network printing system with fingerprint authentication function is provided that can improve the security of print results of a printer. A personal computer 2 accepts a print instruction and requires an operator to enter a fingerprint of the operator. A fingerprint input section 1 receives the fingerprint of the operator and issues first fingerprint pattern data S1. The personal computer 2 converts the first fingerprint pattern data S1 into first fingerprint authentication data S2a. The print data S2b is issued to the communication line 3, together with the first fingerprint authentication data S2a. The printer 4 receives the print data S2b and stores it into the print data memory 5. The operator inputs the fingerprint input at the print instruction to the fingerprint input section 6. The printer 4 converts the second fingerprint pattern data S6 into second fingerprint authentication data.

Abstract: A ceramic element comprises a main actuator element 26 having an anti-ferroelectric film 22 and a pair of electrodes 24a, 24b formed on a first principal surface (front surface) of the anti-ferroelectric film 22, a vibrating section 18 for supporting the main actuator element 26, and a fixed section 20 for supporting the vibrating section 18 in a vibrating manner. The anti-ferroelectric film 22 after polarization has a region Zt in which its average dielectric constant is increased in an analog manner in accordance with a voltage V applied to the pair of electrodes 24a, 24b. Specifically, an expression of p/t≦2.5 is satisfied provided that an average film thickness of the anti-ferroelectric film 22 is t, and a pitch between the pair of electrodes 24a, 24b is p.

Abstract: A piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive film-type element comprises a zirconia substrate with a thin-walled diaphragm section provided integrally to cover and close a window to serve as a hollow space, and a film-shaped piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive operating section composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer, and an upper electrode which are successively provided in a layered configuration on an outer surface of the diaphragm section in accordance with a film-forming method, wherein at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer extends laterally beyond a corresponding peripheral edge portion of the lower electrode to construct an overhang section located opposingly over the diaphragm section, and the overhang section is in a state of incomplete connection with respect to a partial region of the diaphragm section located just under by the aid of particles of an alumina-magnesia compound such as spinel particles allowed

Abstract: A method for producing a nozzle having a projecting tip part, including the steps of disposing a ceramic green sheet between a first die and a stripper containing a first punch, moving the first punch through a first surface of the ceramic green sheet to form a hole therethrough, inverting the ceramic green sheet, disposing the inverted ceramic green sheet between a second die and a stripper containing a second punch, the second die having a cavity in the shape of a negative configuration of the projecting tip part, moving the second punch through the hole formed in the ceramic green sheet to force a portion of the ceramic green sheet into the cavity of the second die and form the projecting tip part, and baking the ceramic green sheet to form the nozzle.

Abstract: A method of producing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element is disclosed. The film element includes a zirconia substrate having a window which is closed by a diaphragm portion, and a piezoelectric or electrostrictive unit formed on the substrate and including a piezoelectric or electrostrictive layer between upper and lower electrodes. The method comprises the steps of: (a) preparing the substrate which has been sintered and in which at least the diaphragm portion contains alumina in an amount of 1.1-5.

Abstract: There are provided a method for uniform mixing of materials, which comprises arranging two or more droplet-discharging means of piezoelectricity-controlled type, discharging fine droplets from respective droplet-discharging means, and colliding them with each other to achieve uniform mixing, and an apparatus therefor. The directions of discharging from these droplet-discharging means are set so that the fine droplets discharged from respective droplet-discharging means are collided with each other at an angle of about 90° or 0 to 20°. The method and apparatus enables mixing and reaction of very small amounts of materials.

Abstract: When green sheets are laminated and integrally fired for a window spacer plate formed with at least a plurality of windows, a covering plate for covering the windows, and a through hole plate having through holes, communicating with the windows, it is arranged to make a ratio t/w of thickness t of the green sheet for the window spacer place to length w of the through holes formed in the green sheet for the through hole plate, in its minor axis direction one or more, and to form a functional film actuator on the outer surface of the covering plate after firing. A gap (separation) is prevented from being generated in the interface between each ceramics plate in producing a ceramics substrate used for the functional film element.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is disclosed which includes a flow path unit with nozzles, a pressure generating unit disposed on the flow path unit and having ink pressure chambers formed behind the respective nozzles, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements each disposed on a wall defining a corresponding ink pressure chamber, for deforming the wall to change a pressure of the ink pressure chamber, whereby the ink in the ink pressure chamber is jetted through the corresponding nozzle. The pressure generating unit includes a spacer plate having windows which closed by a closure plate and a connecting plate disposed on the spacer plate, so as to give the respective ink pressure chambers. The connecting plate has communication holes through which the ink pressure chambers communicate with the nozzles. The spacer plate, closure plate and connecting plate are formed from respective ceramic green sheets, which are laminated on each other and fired into an integral ceramic structure as the pressure generating unit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive film-type element comprises a zirconia substrate with a thin-walled diaphragm section provided integrally to cover and close a window to serve as a hollow space, and a film-shaped piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive operating section composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer, and an upper electrode which are successively provided in a layered configuration on an outer surface of the diaphragm section in accordance with a film-forming method, wherein at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer extends laterally beyond a corresponding peripheral edge portion of the lower electrode to construct an overhang section located opposingly over the diaphragm section, and the overhang section is in a state of incomplete connection with respect to a partial region of the diaphragm section located just under by the aid of particles of an alumina-magnesia compound such as spinel particles allowed

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator including an ink pump section made by forming a spacer plate with a plurality of window portions formed therein, a closure plate stacked on one side of the spacer plate for covering the window portions and a connection plate stacked on the other side of the spacer plate for covering the above window portions. These plates are formed as laminated ceramic green sheets that are later fired to form an integrated body. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive operating section composed of electrodes and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer is then formed on the outer surface of the closure plate. Thereafter, the actuator is pasted to a holding adhesive film and the holding adhesive film is stripped from the actuator after subjecting the actuator to a given inspection, if necessary, or to cutting into a given shape, if necessary. Subsequently, the actuator is heat-treated. Then, onto this actuator, an ink nozzle member with a plurality of nozzle holes is stacked and joined.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a crack in a ceramic substrate that is not exposed on the surface. The method can detect all cracks and make objective judgement possible by expressing the inspection result as numerical data. Conductors are disposed on both faces of a ceramic substrate, wherein one of the conductors is a conductive liquid; the insulation resistance value or an electric property dependent on the insulation resistance is measured with the conductive liquid or other conductors electrically connected to the conductive liquid which are used as electrodes.

Abstract: A diaphragm structure includes a ceramic substrate having at least one window portion and a thin diaphragm laminated onto the ceramic substrate so as to cover the window portion, wherein only a part of an interface between the ceramic substrate and the thin diaphragm is joined to form a joint of the diaphragm. A diaphragm structure is free from instability caused by a breakage or deformation of a partition wall between window portions upon punching or laminating even if a diaphragm structure employs a design in which dimensions of a diaphragm portion is maintained and simultaneously a distance between diaphragm portions is made narrow to restrain a surface area excluding a diaphragm portion of a diaphragm structure or a design in which a plurality of diaphragm portion having various configurations and dimensions are disposed.

Abstract: In a roller seam welding machine, the upper welding roller is led through a welding-force adjustment device with two spring elements. One spring is already effective when the initial deflection of the welding roller occurs. The other spring comes into operation only when a certain deflection (D) is reached. A marked improvement in weld quality can be obtained in this way, particularly at the start of the weld seam.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is disclosed which includes an ink nozzle member with nozzles, an ink pump member disposed on the ink nozzle member and having ink chambers formed behind the respective nozzles, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements each disposed on a wall defining the corresponding ink chamber, for deforming the wall to change a pressure of the ink chamber, whereby the ink in the ink chamber is jetted through the corresponding nozzle. The ink pump member consists of a spacer plate having windows which are closed by a closure plate and a connecting plate disposed on the spacer plate, so as to give the respective ink chambers. The connecting plate has communication holes through which the ink chambers communicate with the nozzles. The spacer plate, closure plate and connecting plate are formed from respective ceramic green sheets, which are laminated on each other and fired into an integral ceramic structure as the ink pump member.

Abstract: A method of producing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element is disclosed. The film element includes a zirconia substrate having a window which is closed by a diaphragm portion, and a piezoelectric or electrostrictive unit formed on the substrate and including a piezoelectric or electrostrictive layer between upper and lower electrodes. The method comprises the steps of: (a) preparing the substrate which has been sintered and in which at least the diaphragm portion contains alumina in an amount of 1.1-5.

Abstract: A washing apparatus includes a washing bath in which articles to be cleaned are washed. The washing bath contains a detergent of a kind containing a nonion surface active agent and a terpene-based solvent as principal components thereof. The articles to be cleaned are, after having been washed in the washing bath, immersed in a rinsing bath containing a rinsing water. The rinsing bath is provided with a recirculating passage extending from a portion of the rinsing bath back to another portion of the rinsing bath, a precision filter disposed on the recirculating passage and having a micro-porous membrane having an average pore size not smaller than 0.01 .mu.m, but not greater than 0.2 .mu.m, and an adsorbent filter containing a mass of activated carbon for substantially purifying the rinsing water which has been passed through the precision filter. The articles to be cleaned are first washed with the detergent of the specified kind and then rinsed within the rinsing bath.

Abstract: An ink jet print head including a ceramic ink pump member and a metallic nozzle member bonded to the pump member through a channel plate, wherein the pump member has a diaphragm plate with a piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive element, a spacer plate having a window, and a laminar structure of an orifice plate and a reinforcing plate which structure cooperates with the diaphragm and spacer plates to define an ink chamber communicating with an ink supply channel formed in the channel plate through an ink inlet hole formed in the reinforcing plate and a minute hole formed in the orifice plate, and further communicating with a nozzle formed in the nozzle member through communication holes formed in the orifice and reinforcing plates, and wherein the channel plate and the nozzle member are bonded to the laminar structure of the pump member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive film-type element comprises a zirconia substrate with a thin-walled diaphragm section provided integrally to cover and close a window to serve as a hollow space, and a film-shaped piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive operating section composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer, and an upper electrode which are successively provided in a layered configuration on an outer surface of the diaphragm section in accordance with a film-forming method, wherein at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer extends laterally beyond a corresponding peripheral edge portion of the lower electrode to construct an overhang section located opposingly over the diaphragm section, and the overhang section is in a state of incomplete connection with respect to a partial region of the diaphragm section located just under by the aid of particles of an alumina-magnesia compound such as spinel particles allowed

Abstract: To a ceramic green sheet for a substrate, in which holes for throughholes were formed, a ceramic connecting paste is printed so that a plurality of non-printed portions corresponding to a disposition pattern of a plurality of inner spaces are formed, and a connecting layer for dividing a space into sections is formed so that the connecting paste is not present in portions where the plurality of inner spaces are formed. Then, a thin ceramic green sheet for a diaphragm plate the thin diaphragm plate, is superposed on the connecting layer to obtain a laminate, and the laminate is fired to obtain a unitary multidiaphragm structure. The method provides a multidiaphragm structure free from exfoliation of a laminated layer caused between laminated green sheets and free from deformation of a diaphragm portion caused by punching or handling.

Abstract: With employment of a computer, table format data is arranged to produce a desirable form in accordance with the following sequential operation. The designated data table is displayed on a relational table display window, and a base record is set with respect to the relational table on this window. An arranging display window is produced, and an allocation and an initialization of a memory region are performed. A basic portion of the form is created by arranging the data from the relational data to the arranging display window. Furthermore, repeating data among the arranged data is designated, and then a repeating parameter for designating the sort of repeating process and also the display position during the repeating representation are inputted, and thereafter the repeating process is applied to the designated data based upon these parameter and display position, whereby a form is created.