Abstract: A soil improving agent having a pellet shape and an excellent pathogenic microbe/virus eliminating ability is provided. The soil improving agent having a pellet shape includes lactic acid bacteria being live cells and a pellet-forming carrier, and the pellet-forming carrier has a volume mean diameter of 50 to 130 ?m.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a cassette receiving portion provided in the housing; and a print head provided at the cassette receiving portion. The cassette receiving portion is configured to detachably receive a cassette including a case in which an ink ribbon and a tape are provided. The print head extends in a first direction and is configured to be inserted in a head opening of the case upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion. The print head is configured to perform printing to the tape via the ink ribbon. The cassette receiving portion is open in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion, a portion of the cassette protrudes out of the housing in the second direction.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a cassette receiving portion provided in the housing; and a print head provided at the cassette receiving portion. The cassette receiving portion is configured to detachably receive a cassette including a case in which an ink ribbon and a tape are provided. The print head extends in a first direction and is configured to be inserted in a head opening of the case upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion. The print head is configured to perform printing to the tape via the ink ribbon. The cassette receiving portion is open in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Upon attachment of the cassette to the cassette receiving portion, a portion of the cassette protrudes out of the housing in the second direction.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a head holder; a platen roller; a first support shaft; a roller holder; a moving mechanism configured to move the roller holder; and a biasing member configured to bias the roller holder in an inclined direction inclined with respect to a first direction which is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction and in which the roller faces a thermal head toward a second direction side, the second direction opposite to the conveyance direction, wherein, in a state in which the roller holder is located at a pressing position, the roller is held in contact with the head while receiving a biasing force in the first direction from the biasing member, and a first contact portion of the roller holder is held in contact with the head holder in the second direction while receiving a biasing force in the second direction from the biasing member.

Abstract: A printer includes: a head holder supporting a thermal head; a platen holder supporting a platen roller that presses a printing medium toward the thermal head; an engagement member movably supported by one of the platen holder and the platen roller and engageable with and removable from the head holder; and a moving mechanism configured to move the platen holder and the engagement member and configured to move the engagement member from a disengaged position at which the engagement member is separated from and not engaged with the head holder, to an engaged position at which the engagement member is located at and engaged with the head holder, in conjunction with moving the platen holder from a separated position at which the platen roller is separated from the head holder, to a pressing position at which the platen roller presses the printing medium against the thermal head.

Abstract: A movable rail is retracted even when positions of an upstream rail and a downstream rail fluctuate, and an increase in distance between the upstream rail or the downstream rail and the movable rail is reduced or prevented. The movable rail is movable between a first position and a second position, and an extendable rail is provided on the upstream rail. The extendable rail includes one end coupled with the upstream rail and the other end defining a free end, and extending and contracting with an elastic member. The extendable rail contracts while leaving room for the other end of the extendable rail to be pushed by the movable rail moving toward the first position and further contract. When the movable rail moves to the second position, a space through which a fire shutter provided in the building is able to pass is provided between the other end and the downstream rail.

Abstract: A printer includes: a head holder supporting a thermal head; a platen holder supporting a platen roller that presses a printing medium toward the thermal head; an engagement member movably supported by one of the platen holder and the platen roller and engageable with and removable from the head holder; and a moving mechanism configured to move the platen holder and the engagement member and configured to move the engagement member from a disengaged position at which the engagement member is separated from and not engaged with the head holder, to an engaged position at which the engagement member is located at and engaged with the head holder, in conjunction with moving the platen holder from a separated position at which the platen roller is separated from the head holder, to a pressing position at which the platen roller presses the printing medium against the thermal head.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, including: a head holder; a platen roller; a first support shaft; a roller holder; a moving mechanism configured to move the roller holder; and a biasing member configured to bias the roller holder in an inclined direction inclined with respect to a first direction which is substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction and in which the roller faces a thermal head toward a second direction side, the second direction opposite to the conveyance direction, wherein, in a state in which the roller holder is located at a pressing position, the roller is held in contact with the head while receiving a biasing force in the first direction from the biasing member, and a first contact portion of the roller holder is held in contact with the head holder in the second direction while receiving a biasing force in the second direction from the biasing member.

Abstract: A movable rail is retracted even when positions of an upstream rail and a downstream rail fluctuate, and an increase in distance between the upstream rail or the downstream rail and the movable rail is reduced or prevented. The movable rail is movable between a first position and a second position, and an extendable rail is provided on the upstream rail. The extendable rail includes one end coupled with the upstream rail and the other end defining a free end, and extending and contracting with an elastic member. The extendable rail contracts while leaving room for the other end of the extendable rail to be pushed by the movable rail moving toward the first position and further contract. When the movable rail moves to the second position, a space through which a fire shutter provided in the building is able to pass is provided between the other end and the downstream rail.

Abstract: A transport vehicle travels on first and second paths orthogonally or diagonally crossing each other and each including an opening at a center and treads on both sides of the opening. The transport vehicle includes a vehicle in an upper portion; a transport in a lower portion to hold an article; and a column extending downward from the vehicle to the transport.

Abstract: A suspension-type travelling vehicle that travels through a gap in an intersection where tracks cross includes intersection rollers attached in front and rear of a travelling wheel along a travelling direction, and in positions different from a position of the travelling wheel along a direction orthogonal to the travelling direction within a horizontal plane. Inter-axial distances between the intersection rollers and the travelling wheel within the horizontal plane are both longer than a width of a gap along the travelling direction. The rail or the travelling vehicle is constructed such that the intersection rollers are supported by the rail in the intersection, and retreat from the rail in places other than the intersection. During passage of the travelling wheel through the gap, the weight of the travelling vehicle is supported by the intersection rollers by making both the front and rear intersection rollers contact the rail.

Abstract: A conveyance system that prevents conveyance carriages from mistakenly entering an area includes a rail extending across a plurality of areas, a FOUP conveyance vehicle that travels along the rail, a conveyance vehicle that has a width and a height at least one of which differs from that of the FOUP conveyance vehicle, an optical sensor that is provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle, arranged at a position that does not overlap the conveyance vehicle in a traveling direction, and detects an obstacle in front, and a member to be detected that is arranged, in an entry section into a certain area where only the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter, at a position where the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter the certain area, the position being detectable by the optical sensor provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension-type travelling vehicle that travels through a gap in an intersection where tracks cross includes intersection rollers attached in front and rear of a travelling wheel along a travelling direction, and in positions different from a position of the travelling wheel along a direction orthogonal to the travelling direction within a horizontal plane. Inter-axial distances between the intersection rollers and the travelling wheel within the horizontal plane are both longer than a width of a gap along the travelling direction. The rail or the travelling vehicle is constructed such that the intersection rollers are supported by the rail in the intersection, and retreat from the rail in places other than the intersection. During passage of the travelling wheel through the gap, the weight of the travelling vehicle is supported by the intersection rollers by making both the front and rear intersection rollers contact the rail.

Abstract: A transport vehicle travels on first and second paths orthogonally or diagonally crossing each other and each including an opening at a center and treads on both sides of the opening. The transport vehicle includes a vehicle in an upper portion; a transport in a lower portion to hold an article; and a column extending downward from the vehicle to the transport.

Abstract: A conveyance system that prevents conveyance carriages from mistakenly entering an area includes a rail extending across a plurality of areas, a FOUP conveyance vehicle that travels along the rail, a reticle conveyance vehicle that has a width and a height at least one of which differs from that of the FOUP conveyance vehicle, an optical sensor that is provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle, arranged at a position that does not overlap the rectile conveyance vehicle in a traveling direction, and detects an obstacle in front, and a member to be detected that is arranged, in an entry section into a certain area where only the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter, at a position where the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter the certain area, the position being detectable by the optical sensor provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle.

Abstract: A moving unit, an elevation device, or the like is prevented from laterally projecting from an overhead travelling vehicle and interfering with a stationary device or an overhead travelling vehicle in the neighborhood thereof. Projection from an overhead travelling vehicle is prevented, the vehicle including a travelling unit, an elevation device lifting and lowering articles, and a lateral movement mechanism including a base member supported by the travelling unit and a moving unit laterally moving while supporting the elevation device. The moving unit is moved between a state in which it laterally protrudes from the travelling unit and a state in which it is retracted to a position under the travelling unit. The moving unit or the elevation device is engaged with the base member or the travelling unit in the state in which the moving unit is retracted to the position under the travelling unit.