Abstract: A hand includes a base, two first fingers extending from the base and bendable, and an opening/closing actuator disposed in the base and moves the two first fingers in a predetermined opening/closing direction so that the two first fingers grip a workpiece. Further, there is a bending actuator disposed in the base and causes the two first fingers to bend. Each of the first fingers includes a second part extending from the base and a first part coupled to the second part to be rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the opening/closing direction. The first part is bendable with respect to the second part. The first part includes a damper that causes the first part to elasticity extend and contract in an extension direction of the first part.

Abstract: A hand 100 includes a first gripper 2 and a second gripper 5. The second gripper 5 grips a workpiece located on a predetermined axis E. The first gripper 2 includes two first fingers 21 that are opened and closed in a predetermined opening/closing direction. Each of the first fingers 21 includes a first part 22 including a distal end and a second part 23 including a proximal end, and is bent or curved such that the first part 222 moves between an interference position M1 at which an imaginary region X defined by projecting the first part 22 in the opening/closing direction A interferes with the axis E and a non-interference position M2 at which the imaginary region X does not interfere with the axis E.

Abstract: A second hand H2 that couples a first workpiece to a second workpiece, where the first and second workpieces are to be coupled to each other by insertion coupling, includes: a second gripper 5 that grips the first workpiece; a straight-moving actuator 6 that moves the second gripper 5 straight in the direction of a predetermined axis E; and a rotation actuator 7 that rotates the second gripper 5 about the axis E. The second gripper 5 includes three second fingers 51 that grip the first workpiece, and a linkage 52 that opens and closes the three second fingers 51.

Abstract: A mathematical model was developed to lead to the design of a novel membrane, which can operate in membrane distillation at a small trans-membrane temperature gradient, including at low feed water temperature range. The novel membrane design can be described as a super-hydrophobic nano-porous/micro-porous composite membrane. This membrane will significantly decrease the energy requirements of the MD process since it can operate at very low inlet feed temperatures.

Abstract: A failure diagnosing device configured to diagnose failure of a swash plate pump includes: a history acquiring portion configured to acquire actual history data, the actual history data indicating a time-lapse change of the suction flow rate or suction pressure in a predetermined period of time; and a failure detecting portion configured to detect generation of an abnormality between a piston and a shoe based on the actual history data acquired by the history acquiring portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane distillation system comprising a flat-sheet composite mixed matrix hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane having at least a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophilic layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles having high thermal conductivity. The hydrophobic layer comprises fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules (SMM). Also disclosed is a phase inversion method for manufacturing the membrane.

Abstract: A mathematical model was developed to lead to the design of a novel membrane, which can operate in membrane distillation at a small trans-membrane temperature gradient, including at low feed water temperature range. The novel membrane design can be described as a super-hydrophobic nano-porous/micro-porous composite membrane. This membrane will significantly decrease the energy requirements of the MD process since it can operate at very low inlet feed temperatures.

Abstract: A failure diagnosing device configured to diagnose failure of a swash plate pump includes: a history acquiring portion configured to acquire actual history data, the actual history data indicating a time-lapse change of the suction flow rate or suction pressure in a predetermined period of time; and a failure detecting portion configured to detect generation of an abnormality between a piston and a shoe based on the actual history data acquired by the history acquiring portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a display device, includes: a first holding section configured to hold a first substrate; a second holding section configured to hold a second substrate; a turning section configured to turn the first holding section such that the first substrate and the second substrate face each other; an elevation unit configured to elevate the second holding section and attach the first substrate and the second substrate via an adhesive layer; and a first radiation section configured to radiate ultraviolet rays from at least one direction of an inclined lower side of an opening of a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and an inclined upper side of the opening toward the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides composite membranes for membrane distillation and related methods of manufacture. In particular, there is provided a composite hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer layer and a hydrophobic polymer layer comprising fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules, wherein said composite membrane has a high vapor flux. Also provided herein are methods of manufacturing and optimizing the composite membranes and a membrane distillation system comprising the composite membranes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a display device, includes: a first holding section configured to hold a first substrate; a second holding section configured to hold a second substrate; a turning section configured to turn the first holding section such that the first substrate and the second substrate face each other; an elevation unit configured to elevate the second holding section and attach the first substrate and the second substrate via an adhesive layer; and a first radiation section configured to radiate ultraviolet rays from at least one direction of an inclined lower side of an opening of a space between the first substrate and the second substrate and an inclined upper side of the opening toward the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane distillation system comprising a flat-sheet composite mixed matrix hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane having at least a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The hydrophilic layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles having high thermal conductivity. The hydrophobic layer comprises fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules (SMM). Also disclosed is a phase inversion method for manufacturing the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides composite membranes for membrane distillation and related methods of manufacture. In particular, there is provided a composite hydrophilic/hydrophobic membrane comprising a hydrophilic polymer layer and a hydrophobic polymer layer comprising fluorinated surface-modifying macromolecules, wherein said composite membrane has a high vapour flux. Also provided herein are methods of manufacturing and optimizing the composite membranes and a membrane distillation system comprising the composite membranes.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable efficient vibration processing by applying a sufficient displacement amount and response speed to an object to be vibrated. In grinding of an outer surface of a workpiece W, first and second supporting members are provided for supporting two opposed points of the workpiece, and first and second vibrators comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in blind holes formed in the center of the first and second supporting members. The first and second vibrators are activated with sine wave signals which differ in phase by 180 degrees so as to cause the first and second supporting members to expand and shrink in the back-and-forth direction. The displacement amount is amplified and the processing is performed. Also, the second supporting member can move back and forth toward the first supporting member.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable efficient vibration processing by applying a sufficient displacement amount and response speed to an object to be vibrated. In grinding of an outer surface of a workpiece W, first and second supporting members are provided for supporting two opposed points of the workpiece, and first and second vibrators comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements are arranged in blind holes formed in the center of the first and second supporting members. The first and second vibrators are activated with sine wave signals which differ in phase by 180 degrees so as to cause the first and second supporting members to expand and shrink in the back-and-forth direction. The displacement amount is amplified and the processing is performed. Also, the second supporting member can move back and forth toward the first supporting member.

Abstract: The present invention provides hydrophilic surface modifying macromolecules (H-phil SMM) and H-phil SMM and blended membranes produced incorporating the hydrophilic surface modifying macromolecules. The membranes include a hydrophilic base polymer, and the hydrophilic surface modifying macromolecules (H-phil SMM) which impart surface hydrophilic properties to the membrane. The membranes produced with the surface modifying macromolecules give polymer membranes useful in the separation of water from a solution containing volatile organic compounds and water.

Abstract: The process is characterised by sulfonating a partially brominated poly(phenylene oxide). The gas separation material so formed may be made into a membrane and is useful in separating component gases from a gas mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to membranes useful in the separation of water from a solution containing volatile organic compounds and water. The membranes may be used in dehydrating an organic/water mixture to purify an organic when an organic is of interest or, alternatively, producing pure water from an organic/water mixture when clean water is of interest. The membranes include a hydrophilic base polymer, an optional pore-forming polymer and a surface modifying macromolecule (SMM) which imparts surface hydrophobicity to the membrane.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape comprising a nonmagnetic substrate and a magnetic layer which is formed on at least one surface of the substrate, the magnetic layer comprising a magnetic powder and a binder resin having a surface resistivity of not larger than 1.times.10.sup.9 .OMEGA./sq. cm and a thickness of not larger than 3.5 .mu.m, the magnetic recording tape having a light transmittance of not larger than 0.8% and a residual magnetic flux density of at least 1400 G, which has good light shielding, and reproduction output characteristics, a small number of dropouts and improved touch with a magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having high running stability and good magnetic characteristics without causing an abrasion problem, which comprises a base film, a magnetic layer provided on one surface (i.e. the major surface) of the base film and a back coat layer provided on the other surface (i.e. the back surface) of the base film, the back coat layer comprising a binder and non-magnetic particles dispersed therein, characterized in that the non-magnetic particles comprise at least one soft inorganic pigment having a hardness of less than 5 in Mohs' scale of hardness and at least one hard inorganic pigment of not less than 5 in Mohs' scale of hardness and of not more than 0.2 .mu.m in average particle size in a weight ratio of the soft pigment to the hard pigment of 99:1 to 50:50.