Abstract: A self-scanning checkout device includes a registration section having a stationary scanner for permitting a customer to input article information for a purchased article, a counter arranged on the downstream side from the registration section in the article moving direction, for receiving a purchased article which has been registered thereon, and a monitoring section for monitoring a movement of the purchased article. The monitoring section sets an article registration flag when information of the purchased article is read by the stationary scanner, checks the article registration flag when the passage of an article is detected by article sensors disposed near and on the downstream side from the reading position of the stationary scanner, resets the article registration flag when the article registration flag is detected to be set, and issues an alarm indicating the passage of an unregistered article when the article registration flag is detected to be reset.

Abstract: A fuel absorbent is provided in which polymer particles having a fuel absorbing ability are contained or dispersed in a binder matrix permeable to fuel. The fuel permeates the binder and is absorbed by the polymer particles. A process is provided for making the fuel absorbent by mixing polymer particles having fuel absorbing ability with a binder dissolved in a solvent, to thereby obtain a dispersion mixture having the polymer particles dispersed therein. The dispersion mixture is then dried to cause the polymer particles to be dispersed in a matrix of the binder. The fuel absorbent has excellent durability and fuel absorbing/desorbing ability.

Abstract: In order to detect a rise angle of a bed of an X-ray fluoroscopic imaging system, first and second potentiometers of the identical characteristic are respectively connected to a sprocket for rotating a sector gear to raise the bed and a tension roller which is rotated in synchronism with rotation of the sprocket through a chain. Outputs from the first and second potentiometers are input to a differential amplifier to calculate a difference therebetween. It is determined by a window comparator whether or not the difference falls within a predetermined allowable range. When the difference falls outside the predetermined allowable range, an error is detected. The outputs from the first and second potentiometers are input to minimum and maximum voltage detection comparators. It is checked whether or not the output itself from the potentiometer falls within a predetermined output range. If the output falls outside the predetermined output range, an error is detected.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising (A) a copolymer comprising hexagonal units selected from hexagonal acid anhydride units, hexagonal imide units and mixtures thereof, methyl methacrylate units, (meth)acrylic acid units and optionally aromatic vinyl compound units, (B) a graft copolymer rubber, and (C) at least one polymer selected from a polyamide and a polycarbonate, wherein the weight proportions of components (A), (B) and (C) relative to the total weight of components (A), (B) and (C) are in the ranges of from 5 to 50%, from 5 to 50% and from 45 to 80%, respectively. The resin composition has surprisingly improved impact strength not possessed by any of the individual component polymers of the resin composition, while maintaining advantageous properties, such as moldability, other mechanical strengths, rigidity, heat resistance, moisture resistance, chemical resistance and dimensional stability, attributed to the individual component polymers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a nematic liquid crystal composition having a twist angle of 160.degree. to 260.degree. of liquid crystal molecules and at least one compound of the formula: ##STR1## (m, n=1-7) further improved in time-multiplexability and display quality.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between upper and lower electrode substrates subjected to aligning treatment. The liquid crystal layer includes a nematic liquid crystal added with a chiral material and has a 160.degree.-360.degree. twisted helical structure. A pair of polarizers are disposed adjacent to the electrode substrates with their polarization or absorption axes inclined by respective predetermined angles with respect to the aligning directions of the electrode substrates. At least one of the polarizers is formed by a color polarizer for compensating a wavelength dependence of transmittance (or the coloring due to birefringence) resulting from the anti-coincidence between the polarization or absorption axis of the polarizer and the aligning direction of the electrode substrate, i.e. an optical axis of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the substrate, so that light emerging from the device becomes approximately achromatic or colorless.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy and added with a chiral material is sealed between a pair of upper and lower substrates so as to constitute a helical structure twisted within a range between 96.degree. and 108.degree. along a direction of thickness thereof, absorption axes of a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the upper and lower substrates constitute an angle between 63.degree. and 73.degree., and a product .DELTA.n.multidot.d of a thickness d (.mu.m) and an optical anisotropy .DELTA.n of a liquid crystal layer falls within a range from 0.69 .mu.m to 0.79 .mu.m.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy and added with a chiral material is sealed between a pair of upper and lower substrates so as to constitute a helical structure twisted within a range between 200.degree. and 260.degree. along a direction of thickness thereof, and polarizing axes or absorption axes of a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the upper and lower substrates are angularly displaced by a predetermined angle or predetermined angles from major axes of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the upper and lower substrates, respectively.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy and added with a chiral material is sealed between a pair of upper and lower substrates so as to constitute a helical structure twisted within a range between 160.degree. and 200.degree. along a direction of thickness thereof, and polarizing axes or absorption axes of a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the upper and lower substrates are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to major axes of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the upper and lower substrates, respectively.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy and added with a chiral material is sealed between a pair of upper and lower substrates so as to constitute a helical structure twisted within a range between 140.degree. and 250.degree. along a direction of thickness thereof, and polarizing axes or absorption axes of a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the upper and lower substrates are angularly displaced by a predetermined angle or predetermined angles from major axes of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the upper and lower substrates, respectively, and a ratio of thickness of the nematic liquid crystal to a natural molecular helical pitch of the nematic liquid crystal added with a chiral material falls within a range of from 0.14 to 0.60 inclusive.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device wherein a nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy and added with a chiral material is sealed between a pair of upper and lower substrates so as to constitute a helical structure twisted within a range between 90.degree. and 160.degree. along a direction of thickness thereof, polarizing axes or absorption axes of a pair of polarizing plates disposed on the upper and lower substrates are inclined by a predetermined angle falling within a range between 25.degree. and 65.degree. with respect to major axes of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the upper and lower substrates, respectively, and in the direction of the twist of the liquid crystal, and a product .DELTA.n.multidot.d of a thickness d (.mu.m) and an optical anisotropy .DELTA.n of a liquid crystal layer falls within a range from 0.8 .mu.m to 1.2 .mu.m.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising, as the essential components, trans-4-n-propyl-(4-ethylphenyl)-cyclohexane, trans-4-n-propyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, trans-4-n-pentyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, trans-4-n-pentyl-(4'-ethylbiphenyl-4)-cyclohexane and 4-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)-4'-(trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl)-biphenyl is drivable over a wide temperature range and can be operated rapidly at low temperatures.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising trans-4-n-propyl-(4-ethylphenyl)-cyclohexane, trans-4-n-pentyl-(4-cyanophenyl)-cyclohexane, trans-4-n-pentyl-(4' -ethylbiphenyl-4)cyclohexane, trans-4-n-pentyl-(4'-cyanobiphenyl-4)-cyclohexane, 4-n-propylphenyl-4-(trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl)benzoate, and 4-(trans-4-n-pentyl-cyclohexyl)-4'-(trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl)-biphenyl is drivable over a wide temperature range and can be operated rapidly at low temperatures.

Abstract: There is provided a compound for controlling dielectric constant of liquid crystal consisting of 4-p-Alkylbenzoyloxypyridine oxide represented by the general formula ##STR1## where R is a normal alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms.