Abstract: An ice making method and device may include an ice making member inserting step in which an ice making member is inserted into water that is stored in an ice tray, an ice pieces making step in which the ice making member is cooled so that the water is frozen to form an ice pieces, an ice making member heating step in which the ice making member is heated so that a portion of the ice pieces sticking to the ice making member is melted, an ice making member drawing-out step in which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice pieces, and an ice pieces separating step in which the ice tray is deformed to separate the ice pieces from the ice tray. The ice pieces separating step and the ice pieces storing step are performed at positions under the ice making member.

Abstract: An ice making method and device may include an ice making member inserting step in which an ice making member is inserted into water that is stored in an ice tray, an ice pieces making step in which the ice making member is cooled so that the water is frozen to form an ice pieces, an ice making member heating step in which the ice making member is heated so that a portion of the ice pieces sticking to the ice making member is melted, an ice making member drawing-out step in which the ice making member is drawn out from the ice pieces, and an ice pieces separating step in which the ice tray is deformed to separate the ice pieces from the ice tray. The ice pieces separating step and the ice pieces storing step are performed at positions under the ice making member.

Abstract: A valve drive device includes a valve element for opening or closing the inflow port or the outflow port, a drive mechanism for driving the valve element, an abutting part which is provided in any operation member included between the drive mechanism and the valve element, and a restriction part for restricting rotation of the valve element by abutting with the abutting part. The valve element is rotated by the drive mechanism so that the inflow port or the outflow port is opened or closed, and one of the abutting part and the restriction part is formed of an elastic member.

Abstract: A valve drive device includes a valve seat plate in which an inflow port and an outflow port for fluid are formed, a sealing case covering the front face side of the valve seat plate, an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe which are fixed in the rear face side of the valve seat plate so as to be in communication with the inflow port and the outflow port, and a valve element which slides on an area where the outflow port is formed on the front face side of the valve seat plate to open or close the outflow port. The valve seat plate includes a first plate member which constructs an area where the outflow port is formed, a second plate member which is thinner than the first plate member and is jointed with the first plate member, and a deformation preventing member which is attached on the rear face of the second plate member and prevents the second plate member from being deformed due to an internal-pressure in a sealed space constructed by the sealing case and the valve seat plate.

Abstract: A valve device includes a main body case to which an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe are connected, a valve element which is disposed inside of the main body case to open or close an outflow aperture part of the main body case, a motor for moving the valve element in an open direction and a closed direction, a valve element drive means which is driven by the motor and includes a rotary member rotated by the motor and a rotation side permanent magnet mounted in the rotary member, a valve element side permanent magnet mounted in the valve element, and a holding member which movably holds the valve element. The valve element is urged in the open direction or the closed direction by a magnetic attractive force or a magnetic repulsive force generated between the rotation side permanent magnet and the valve element side permanent magnet.

Abstract: A light beam scanning device may include a light source device and an optical deflection mechanism. The optical deflection mechanism may include an optical deflection disk and a motor for driving the disk. The disk face of the optical deflection disk includes an inclined face which is formed in each of a plurality of optical deflection regions divided in a peripheral direction for refracting and emitting a light beam in a direction different from that of refracting and emitting from an adjacent optical deflection region. The light beam scanning device may also include a sub-scanning mechanism for changing the position or the attitude of a specified optical element to vary a main scanning position of the light beam in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A valve drive device includes a valve seat plate in which an inflow port and an outflow port for fluid are formed, a sealing case covering the front face side of the valve seat plate, an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe which are fixed in the rear face side of the valve seat plate so as to be in communication with the inflow port and the outflow port, and a valve element which slides on an area where the outflow port is formed on the front face side of the valve seat plate to open or close the outflow port. The valve seat plate includes a first plate member which constructs an area where the outflow port is formed, a second plate member which is thinner than the first plate member and is jointed with the first plate member, and a deformation preventing member which is attached on the rear face of the second plate member and prevents the second plate member from being deformed due to an internal-pressure in a sealed space constructed by the sealing case and the valve seat plate.

Abstract: A valve drive device includes a valve element for opening or closing the inflow port or the outflow port, a drive mechanism for driving the valve element, an abutting part which is provided in any operation member included between the drive mechanism and the valve element, and a restriction part for restricting rotation of the valve element by abutting with the abutting part. The valve element is rotated by the drive mechanism so that the inflow port or the outflow port is opened or closed, and one of the abutting part and the restriction part is formed of an elastic member.

Abstract: A valve driving device includes a plurality of valve bodies that are simultaneously driven. Driven gears are disposed symmetrically with respect to an axis of the a common gear. Rubber valve bodies which are separate from the driven gears are disposed on the lower surfaces of the driven gears. The valve bodies are slidably aligned with a valve seat which is formed by smoothly denting a valve seat plate. The driven gears are brought into contact with the valve seat under pressure by one leaf spring member to open or close communication holes (valve openings) thereby interrupting or opening a flow-path from an inflow hole.

Abstract: A valve device includes a main body case to which an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe are connected, a valve element which is disposed inside of the main body case to open or close an outflow aperture part of the main body case, a motor for moving the valve element in an open direction and a closed direction, a valve element drive means which is driven by the motor and includes a rotary member rotated by the motor and a rotation side permanent magnet mounted in the rotary member, a valve element side permanent magnet mounted in the valve element, and a holding member which movably holds the valve element. The valve element is urged in the open direction or the closed direction by a magnetic attractive force or a magnetic repulsive force generated between the rotation side permanent magnet and the valve element side permanent magnet.

Abstract: A valve device having a novel vale seat plate is provided. The valve seat plate has an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a front side and a back side. A sealing case covers the front side and inlet and outlet pipes are attached to the back side to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet openings. A valve element moves to cover the outlet opening on the front side to close the outlet opening. The novel valve seat plate includes at least two plates that are joined to each other. One plate forms the area around the outlet opening and the other plate forms other areas of the valve seat plate.

Abstract: A temperature control method for a refrigerator includes providing a valve device, in which an inflow port where a refrigerant flows into, at least two outflow ports having a first outflow port and a second outflow port where the refrigerant flows out, and a valve element for performing opening/closing of the outflow ports are positioned in a sealed space. The method also includes providing a valve element drive device for driving the valve element. The method further includes controlling the valve element drive device, at the time a power source of the refrigerator is turned on, to reciprocate between a first mode as an OPEN-CLOSE mode and a second mode on a CLOSE-OPEN mode until a temperature in a first chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the first outflow port, and a temperature in a second chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the second outflow port, are lowered to reach to a prescribed temperature.

Abstract: A gear meshing with a pinion controls the angle of rotation of a valve element which is brought into sliding contact with a valve seat, thereby controlling the opening and closing of a communicating hole of outflow pipe. During welding the valve seat plate and a housing, a hook portion of an upper portion of the gear is retained by a retaining portion to cause the valve element to be spaced apart from the valve seat. After natural cooling, the pinion is remotely operated by an electric motor to rotate the gear, thereby canceling the holding. A resilient arm causes the gear to be disengaged from the retaining portion by its urging force, brings the valve element into pressure contact with the valve seat, and allows the opening/closing operation to function smoothly.

Abstract: A valve device having a novel vale seat plate is provided. The valve seat plate has an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a front side and a back side. A sealing case covers the front side and inlet and outlet pipes are attached to the back side to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet openings. A valve element moves to cover the outlet opening on the front side to close the outlet opening. The novel valve seat plate includes at least two plates that are joined to each other. One plate forms the area around the outlet opening and the other plate forms other areas of the valve seat plate.

Abstract: A flow control device includes a wall part partitioning an upstream side and a downstream side of a flow passage for fluid, an aperture part formed on the wall part, a sheet shaped valve element which changes from a closed state in which the sheet shaped valve element extends along the wall part to cover the aperture part to an opened state in which the aperture part is opened and a valve element drive mechanism for moving the sheet shaped valve element.

Abstract: A temperature control method for a refrigerator includes providing a valve device, in which an inflow port where a refrigerant flows into, at least two outflow ports having a first outflow port and a second outflow port where the refrigerant flows out, and a valve element for performing opening/closing of the outflow ports are positioned in a sealed space. The method also includes providing a valve element drive device for driving the valve element. The method further includes controlling the valve element drive device, at the time a power source of the refrigerator is turned on, to reciprocate between a first mode as an OPEN-CLOSE mode and a second mode on a CLOSE-OPEN mode until a temperature in a first chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the first outflow port, and a temperature in a second chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the second outflow port, are lowered to reach to a prescribed temperature.

Abstract: A washing water supply apparatus 1 for supplying washing water to a toilet has valve members A and B opening/closing an opening leading to the toilet from a washing water source, cam members 8 and 9 opening/closing the valve members A and B directly, and a driving source 2 driving the cam members 8 and 9 rotatably. By opening/closing the above-mentioned opening of each of valve members A and B gradually corresponding to cam face shapes of the cam members 8 and 9, generation of water hammer phenomenon is prevented.

Abstract: A gear meshing with a pinion controls the angle of rotation of a valve element which is brought into sliding contact with a valve seat, thereby controlling the opening and closing of a communicating hole of outflow pipe. During welding the valve seat plate and a housing, a hook portion of an upper portion of the gear is retained by a retaining portion to cause the valve element to be spaced apart from the valve seat. After natural cooling, the pinion is remotely operated by an electric motor to rotate the gear, thereby canceling the holding. A resilient arm causes the gear to be disengaged from the retaining portion by its urging force, brings the valve element into pressure contact with the valve seat, and allows the opening/closing operation to function smoothly.

Abstract: A washing water supply apparatus 1 for supplying washing water to a toilet has valve members A and B opening/closing an opening leading to the toilet from a washing water source, a cam members 8 and 9 opening/closing the valve members A and B directly, and a driving source 2 driving the cam members 8 and 9 rotatably. By opening/closing the above-mentioned opening of each of valve members A and B gradually corresponding to cam face shapes of the cam members 8 and 9, generation of water hammer phenomenon is prevented.

Abstract: A motor comprises a motor rotation shaft, a first thrust bearing which supports one end of the motor rotation shaft and a second thrust bearing which supports the other end of the motor rotation shaft to control positioning in a thrust direction of the motor rotation shaft. The first thrust bearing further comprises a bearing for supporting one end of the motor rotation shaft and is movable in a shaft direction of the motor rotation shaft, a guide member for guiding the movement of the bearing in the shaft direction and a plurality of pre-loaded elements for opposing the force generated by the bearing in the shaft direction. The pre-loaded elements are evenly spaced around the motor shaft.