Abstract: A liquid container including: a liquid container part; a liquid injection part; an air introduction part; and a buffer part that is in communication with the liquid container part via a first communication path, and in communication with the air introduction part via a second communication path. the buffer part, when the liquid container is in a second orientation that is rotated from the first orientation by 180°, is configured to store the liquid having a volume that is equal to or larger than a volume of the liquid in the liquid container part such that a surface of the liquid is located below a second opening end of the first communication path in the buffer part and a third opening end of the second communication path in the buffer part.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material contains a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1), a first sub-component containing Mn, and a second sub-component containing Bi or Bi and Li. A Mn content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.500 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) in terms of metal, a Bi content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less in terms of metal, and a Li content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) in terms of metal: (Ba1?x?yCaxSny)?(Ti1?zZrz)O3 (where 0.020?x?0.200, 0.020?y?0.200, 0?z?0.085, 0.986???1.100)??General formula (1).

Abstract: Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric material having satisfactory piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a device driving temperature range (?30° C. to 50° C.) The piezoelectric material includes a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula 1, a first auxiliary component composed of Mn, and a second auxiliary component composed of Bi or Bi and Li. The content of Mn is 0.040 parts by weight or more and 0.500 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis. The content of Bi is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less and the content of Li is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 . . . (1), wherein, 0.030?x<0.090, 0.030?y?0.080, and 0.9860?a?1.0200.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high piezoelectric constant and a high mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula (1): (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x<0.155, and 0.041?y?0.074) as a main component. The metal oxide contains Mn in a content of 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit including a printing head configured to eject ink onto a sheet and a sheet ejecting portion configured to eject the sheet after the printing head performs a printing operation, a scanner unit located above the printing unit and configured to read an image on a document, and a tank unit located on a lateral side of the printing unit. The tank unit includes a tank storing the ink to be supplied to the printing head and a housing covering the tank. The housing provides at least a front surface, a lateral surface, a rear surface, and an upper surface of the tank unit. A front surface of the printing unit is flush with the front surface of the tank unit when the printing unit has a front surface on a side of the sheet ejecting portion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not contain lead and has excellent piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a device driving temperature range (?30° C. to 50° C.) is provided. A piezoelectric material includes a main component containing a perovskite metal oxide represented by following general formula (1), and a first auxiliary component containing Mn, wherein an amount of the contained Mn is 0.002 moles or more and 0.015 moles or less relative to 1 mole of the metal oxide. (Ba1-yBiy)a(Ti1-x-zZrxFez)O3??(1) (where 0.010?x?0.060, 0.001?y?0.015, 0.001?z?0.015, 0.950?y/z?1.050, and 0.986?a?1.020).

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element containing no lead therein and having a satisfactory piezoelectric constant and a small dielectric loss tangent at room temperature (25° C.) In order to attain this, the piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric film, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric film contains barium zirconate titanate, manganese, and trivalent bismuth. The piezoelectric film satisfies 0.02?x?0.13, where x is a mole ratio of zirconium to the sum of zirconium and titanium. A manganese content is 0.002 moles or more and 0.015 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate, and a bismuth content is 0.00042 moles or more and 0.00850 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element comprises a substrate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric film and a second electrode that are sequentially laid in the above mentioned order. The piezoelectric film contains oxides of Ba, Bi, Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn and has a perovskite structure, wherein the molar ratio y of Bi relative to the sum of Ba and Bi is 0.001?y?0.015, the molar ratio x of Zr relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.010?x?0.060, the molar ratio z of Fe relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.001?z?0.015, and the molar ratio m of Mn relative to the sum of Ti, Zr, Fe and Mn is 0.0020?m?0.0150, while the relationship between y and z is expressed by 0.90?y/z?1.10.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element including a substrate, electrodes, and a piezoelectric film, the piezoelectric film including an oxide including Ba, Ca, Ti, and Zr, and at least one element of Mn and Bi in which: 0.09?x?0.30 is satisfied, where x is a mole ratio of Ca to a sum of Ba and Ca; 0.025?y?0.085 is satisfied, where y is a mole ratio of Zr to a sum of Ti, Zr, and Sn; and 0?z?0.02 is satisfied, where z is a mole ratio of Sn to the sum of Ti, Zr, and Sn; a total content Save of Mn and Bi is 0.0020 moles or more and 0.0150 moles or less for 1 mole of the oxide; and a total content Sbou of Mn and Bi in a region of the piezoelectric film adjacent to one of the electrodes is smaller than Save.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element containing no lead therein and having satisfactory and stable piezoelectric properties in a temperature range in which the piezoelectric element is used. In order to attain this, the piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a first electrode, a piezoelectric film, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric film contains barium zirconate titanate, manganese, and bismuth in a charge disproportionation state in which trivalent Bi and pentavalent Bi coexist. The piezoelectric film satisfies 0.02?x?0.13, where x is a mole ratio of zirconium to the sum of zirconium and titanium. A manganese content is 0.002 moles or more and 0.015 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate, and a bismuth content is 0.00042 moles or more and 0.00850 moles or less for 1 mole of barium zirconate titanate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic contains a main component, Mn as a first auxiliary component, and a second auxiliary component containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, B, and Si. The main component contains a perovskite metal oxide having the following general formula (1): (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3(0.100?x?0.145,0.010?y?0.039)??(1) The amount b (mol) of Mn per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, the second auxiliary component content on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, and the value a of the general formula (1) is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b.

Abstract: A liquid container including: a liquid container part; a liquid injection part; an air introduction part; and a buffer part that is in communication with the liquid container part via a first communication path, and in communication with the air introduction part via a second communication path. the buffer part, when the liquid container is in a second orientation that is rotated from the first orientation by 180°, is configured to store the liquid having a volume that is equal to or larger than a volume of the liquid in the liquid container part such that a surface of the liquid is located below a second opening end of the first communication path in the buffer part and a third opening end of the second communication path in the buffer part.

Abstract: A barium titanate piezoelectric ceramic having good piezoelectric properties and mechanical strength and a piezoelectric element that includes the ceramic are provided. A method for making a piezoelectric ceramic includes forming a compact composed of an oxide powder containing barium titanate particles, sintering the compact, and decreasing the temperature of the compact after the sintering. The sintering includes (A) increasing the temperature of the compact to a first temperature within a temperature range of a shrinking process of the compact; (B) increasing the temperature of the compact to a second temperature within a temperature range of a liquid phase sintering process of the compact after (A); (C) decreasing the temperature of the compact to a third temperature within the temperature range of the shrinking process of the compact after (B); and (D) retaining the third temperature after (C).

Abstract: Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric ceramics having enhanced mechanical quality factor (Qm) and mechanical strength. The piezoelectric ceramics, includes at least a first crystal grain and a second crystal grain. The first crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 2 ?m or more and 30 ?m or less. The first crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component, and the second crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (2) as a main component: (1) xBaTiO3-yCaTiO3-zCaZrO3; and (2) x?BaTiO3-y?CaTiO3-z?CaZrO3, provided that x, y, z, x?, y?, and z? satisfy x+y+z=1, x?+y?+z?=1, 0?x??0.15, 0.85?y??1, 0?z??0.05, x>x?, 0<y<y?, and z>0.

Abstract: A barium titanate piezoelectric ceramic having good piezoelectric properties and mechanical strength and a piezoelectric element that includes the ceramic are provided. A method for making a piezoelectric ceramic includes forming a compact containing barium titanate particles, sintering the compact, and decreasing the temperature of the compact. The sintering includes (A) increasing the temperature of the compact to a temperature range of a shrinking process of the compact; (B) increasing the temperature of the compact to a temperature range of a liquid phase sintering process of the compact; (C) decreasing the temperature of the compact to the temperature range of the shrinking process of the compact; and (D) retaining the third temperature.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material that does not use lead and potassium and has a high piezoelectric constant and good insulating properties and a piezoelectric element that uses the piezoelectric material are provided. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (1) (where 0.80?x?0.95 and 0.85?y?0.95), and an auxiliary component containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Si and B. A content of the auxiliary component on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide.

Abstract: To provide a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high and stable piezoelectric constant in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite type metal oxide having the general formula (1), Mn, Mg, (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein x is in the range of 0.050?x?0.200, y is in the range of 0.010?y?0.040, and z is in the range of 0?z?0.040, provided that x?0.375(y+z)+0.050, and a is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b) wherein the amount b (mol) of Mn on a metal basis per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, and the Mg content on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.100 parts by weight or less.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric material that has stable, excellent piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.155?x?0.300, 0.041?y?0.069) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: With a conventional liquid container, it is difficult to reduce the possibility of soiling with liquid caused by liquid leakage. Provided is a liquid container including a liquid containing portion containing liquid, a liquid inlet portion receiving injection of the liquid into the liquid containing portion, an open air port that communicates with the liquid containing portion and is introducing the atmospheric air into the liquid containing portion, and a liquid absorbent material that is arranged at least in a portion of the periphery of the open air port and that is absorbing the liquid.

Abstract: To provide a transformation method for producing a stramenopile organism having an improved unsaturated fatty acid production capability by disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner. [Solution] A method for transforming a stramenopile organism, which comprises disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner, and which is characterized in that the stramenopile organism is selected from Thraustochytrium aureum, Parietichytrium sarkarianum, Thraustochytrium roseum and Parietichytrium sp. and the gene to be disrupted or of which the expression is to be inhibited is a gene associated with the biosynthesis of a fatty acid.