Abstract: Agglomerated fine solids, e.g., agglomerated pellets (2B), that are located within a restricted space or pinch point of a conveyance system (1), and that impede the free-flow of fine solids from one vessel (4) to another vessel (10), are detected and fragmented through the coordinated use of a flow detector (12), breaker plate (8) and press (6). The flow detector (12) senses an interruption or diminishment in the flow of the fine solids and signals and actuates the press (6) which in turn engages and fragments the agglomeration. The breaker plate (8) is sized and configured to trap major agglomerates.

Abstract: An LED driving circuit includes a dimming circuit that controls a conducting angle of an alternating current supplied from a power supply to phase-control a current to be supplied to an LED, a rectifier circuit that rectifies an alternating-current voltage output from the dimming circuit, a smoothing circuit that smoothes a direct current voltage output from the rectifier circuit, a switching device that is connected with the LED in series; a constant current control circuit that outputs a high frequency pulse signal to the switching device to control the switching device, and a bleeder circuit that is provided between an output terminal of the rectifier circuit and a ground and that has a bleeder resistance and a bleeder switch connected in series. The high frequency pulse signal is input to the bleeder switch so that a bleeder current having a high frequency pulse form flows in the bleeder resistance.

Abstract: An image is formed by dividing rasterized original image data into regions in accordance with N recording heads, and scanning a recording body by simultaneously irradiating recording beams from the N recording heads. Corrected image data divided into regions in accordance with the recording heads are generated by changing the rasterized original image data based on information including positional displacements of the recording beams, so that the positional displacements are corrected. Scanning information is generated based on the positional displacement information. The scanning information includes positions and orders for the recording beams to scan the recording body to record the corrected image data.

Abstract: An internal high hardness type pearlitic rail that has a composition containing 0.73% to 0.85% by mass C, 0.5% to 0.75% by mass Si, 0.3% to 1.0% by mass Mn, 0.035% by mass or less P, 0.0005% to 0.012% by mass S, 0.2% to 1.3% by mass Cr, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, in which the value of [% Mn]/[% Cr] is greater than or equal to 0.3 and less than 1.0, where [% Mn] represents the Mn content, and [% Cr] represents the Cr content, and in which the internal hardness of a rail head that is defined by the Vickers hardness of a portion located from a surface layer of the rail head to a depth of at least 25 mm is greater than or equal to 380 Hv and less than 480 Hv.

Abstract: In zinc-system-plated steel materials, a high-strength quenched formed body, in which the corrosion resistance of after-quenching formed products is equal to or more than that of cold-molded products, and a production process for the same are provided. The high-strength quenched formed body contains a layer, in which Zn is a major component and which is formed of Fe: 30% by mass or less, in an amount of 30 g/m2 or more on the surface of an after-quenching formed-body steel material, and accordingly is good in corrosion resistance. A quenched formed body is produced by quenching a zinc-plated steel material, which includes a zinc-plated layer which contains each of Al and Si having alloying-retarding function and readily-oxidizing function independently or compositely, in an amount of 0.15% by mass or more, after heating it to 800° C. or more and 950° C. or less in an oxidizing atmosphere of oxygen: 0.1% by volume or more.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image pickup device; a focal plane shutter including a shutter leading curtain and a shutter trailing curtain; a timer for measuring exposure time; a shutter controller which commences measurement of an exposure time when the shutter leading curtain starts traveling, and drives the shutter trailing curtain upon completing the exposure time measurement; and a charge readout controller which reads out electric charges accumulated by the image pickup device during the exposure time at least twice, first before the shutter trailing curtain commences traveling upon the shutter leading curtain commencing traveling and second upon the shutter trailing curtain commencing traveling. The charge readout controller carries out the electric charge readout, before the shutter trailing curtain commences traveling, at a scanning speed in synchronization with a travel speed of the shutter leading curtain in a same direction of the traveling shutter leading curtain.

Abstract: A high-strength quenched formed body containing a layer on the surface of an after-quenching formed-body steel material in which layer Zn is a major component and which layer contains 30% by mass or less of Fe, and which layer is present in an amount of 30 g/m2 or more. A quenched formed body is produced by quenching a zinc-plated steel material which includes a zinc-plated layer containing each of Al and Si having alloying-retarding function and readily-oxidizing function independently or compositely, in an amount of 0.15% by mass or more, after heating it to 800° C. or more and 950° C. or less in an oxidizing atmosphere containing 0.1% by volume or more of oxygen.

Abstract: In a frequency control for a high pressure discharge lamp ballast, short-term increase and decrease of a lamp voltage are suppressed. The high pressure discharge lamp ballast drives a high pressure discharge lamp with a synthesized-waveform alternating current made of multiple frequency components, the high pressure discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes disposed to face each other. The ballast includes: a control means for controlling a component contained ratio of the multiple frequency components per unit time; an output means for applying a synthesized-waveform current in accordance with the component contained ratio to the high pressure discharge lamp; and detection means for detecting a lamp parameter of the high pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: Even when usable driving frequencies are limited, a lamp voltage is appropriately controlled. A high pressure discharge lamp ballast performs driving with a synthesized current waveform comprising a combination of first and second sets of current waveforms. The ballast includes: a control means for controlling content rates of each of the sets per unit time; a detection means for detecting a rotation synchronization signal for a color wheel; an output means for applying a synthesized current waveform in accordance with the synchronization signal and the content rates to a high pressure discharge lamp; and a detection means for detecting a lamp voltage. The sets are each in a waveform inverted so as to correspond to at least one of a rotational speed and segment positions of color wheel. A period of each of the first and second sets has a length equivalent to one rotation of the color wheel. The number of inversions of the second set is larger than the number of inversions of the first set.

Abstract: Described herein is a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus, a plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form, and a holder used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Abstract: A high-strength quenched formed body containing a layer on the surface of an after-quenching formed-body steel material in which layer Zn is a major component and which layer contains 30% by mass or less of Fe, and which layer is present in an amount of 30 g/m2 or more. A quenched formed body is produced by quenching a zinc-plated steel material which includes a zinc-plated layer containing each of Al and Si having alloying-retarding function and readily-oxidizing function independently or compositely, in an amount of 0.15% by mass or more, after heating it to 800° C. or more and 950° C. or less in an oxidizing atmosphere containing 0.1% by volume or more of oxygen.

Abstract: A carbon brush that suppresses a wear amount of a carbon commutator and has less swelling is provided. The carbon brush has a part connected to a lead and is one that slides in contact with a carbon commutator that is used in a fuel pump. The bulk density of the carbon brush is 1.85 g/cm3 or less, and the shore hardness of the carbon brush is 40 or less.

Abstract: A transparent conductive film which is excellent in transparency, electrical conductivity, in-plane uniformity and durability is disclosed, comprising a metal conductive pattern and a transparent conductive material on a transparent film substrate, wherein the transparent conductive material contains a conductive polymer and at least one of a conductive fiber and a conductive metal. A production method thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: A projection unit 17 effectively corrects out of focus due to a temperature rise. A mirror holding mechanism of a concave mirror 25 has a mirror holder 41 and a mirror holder base 42. The concave mirror 25 is slidably housed in the mirror holder 41. A focus correction member 57, which expands by heat, is disposed between a back face of the concave mirror 25 and reference plane S formed in the mirror holder. The concave mirror 25 and the focus correction element 57 are urged to the reference plane S by a mirror retainer spring 59.

Abstract: Pressure spring pieces elastically bias a free-form curved mirror such that the free-form curved mirror is pressed against positioning sections and positioned thereby. Displacement restricting sections are disposed opposite to the pressure spring pieces with respect to the free-form curved mirror in biasing directions of the pressure spring pieces with gaps. The gaps are set such that deformation of the pressure spring pieces remain within an elastic range when the free-form curved mirror moves against biasing forces of the pressure spring pieces to come into contact with the displacement restricting sections.

Abstract: In an emergency report apparatus in a vehicle, even though a power switch is turned into an OFF state, an execution enabled state of an emergency report process is maintained when an occupant is determined to be in the vehicle. Therefore, even when a necessity of executing an emergency report process arises after the power switch is turned into the OFF state, it is unnecessary to turn the power switch into the ON state, thereby improving the usability. In addition, after the power switch is turned into the OFF state, an execution disabled state is designated when the occupant is determined to be not in the vehicle. Such an execution disabled state restricts the electric power supply from an in-vehicle battery, thereby reducing the power consumption and helping prevent the battery from running out.

Abstract: A method for forming a metallic pattern, which is provided with a printing process to print a pattern portion on a substrate by means of an inkjet method utilizing ink containing a precursor of a nonelectric plating catalyst and a plating process to form a metallic pattern by nonelectric plating on said pattern portion, wherein the surface of said substrate is constituted of ink non-absorptive resin and has been subjected to a plasma treatment, and said ink has a pH value at 25° C. of not less than 9.0.

Abstract: There is provided highly efficient discharge lamp lighting apparatus capable of reducing its cost by reducing high withstand voltage components on the secondary side of a high voltage transformer and stabilizing, its circuit operation. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus (1) comprises a high voltage transformer (2), a switching circuit (4) for driving the primary side of the high voltage transformer (2), and a triangular wave generation circuit (15) for determining the operation frequency of the switching circuit (4). The triangular wave generation circuit (15) includes a frequency switching means (25) for switching the operation frequency of the switching circuit (4) between before and after the lighting of a discharge lamp (3). At the secondary side of the high voltage transformer (2), a resonant circuit having a capacitance component consisting of only a parasitic capacitance (CCFL) is also formed.

Abstract: An internal high hardness type pearlitic rail has a composition containing 0.73% to 0.85% by mass C, 0.5% to 0.75% by mass Si, 0.3% to 1.0% by mass Mn, 0.035% by mass or less P, 0.0005% to 0.012% by mass S, 0.2% to 1.3% by mass Cr, 0.005% to 0.12% by mass V, 0.0015% to 0.0060% by mass N, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, wherein the value of [% Mn]/[% Cr] is greater than or equal to 0.3 and less than 1.0, where [% Mn] represents the Mn content, and [% Cr] represents the Cr content, and the value of [% V]/[% N] is in the range of 8.0 to 30.0, where [% V] represents the V content, and [% N] represents the N content, and wherein the internal hardness of a rail head is defined by the Vickers hardness of a portion located from a surface layer of the rail head to a depth of at least 25 mm and is greater than or equal to 380 Hv and less than 480 Hv.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp ballast includes an AC power supply means for supplying a square wave alternating current to a high pressure discharge lamp having a bulb in which first and second electrodes are disposed so as to face each other. In the high pressure discharge lamp ballast, one modulation period (T0) of the square wave alternating current supplied by the AC power supply means comprises a first asymmetrical current period (T1) for melting a protrusion formed at the tip of the first electrode and growing a protrusion formed at the tip of the second electrode, a symmetrical current period (Ts) for conducting current having a positive-negative symmetrical square wave, and a second asymmetrical current period (T2) for growing the first protrusion and melting the second protrusion.