Abstract: This invention concerns a method for absorbing acrylic acid, characterized by supplying an acrylic acid-containing reaction gas component obtained by the reaction of catalytic gas phase oxidation to an acrylic acid absorption column and advancing a high boiling inert hydrophobic organic liquid into counter-flow contact with said reaction gas in said acrylic acid absorption column with the mass flow rate of the organic liquid fixed in the range of 0.2-7.0 times the mass flow rate of the acrylic acid in the reaction gas thereby absorbing acrylic acid in said organic liquid and obtaining an acrylic acid-containing solution including a low boiling substance in the range of 0.7-7.5 wt % based on the weight of bottom liquid of absorption column.

Abstract: In conventional self-lighting type push-button input devices there is adopted a construction wherein push-button portions and a base plate are formed using the same material. Since a light conducting function cannot be expected of the base plate, it is necessary to provide the same number of lamps as the number of push-button portions, with consequent increase of size and cost. In a self-lighting type push-button input device according to the present invention, a button base portion can be formed of a transparent material, holes can be formed in predetermined positions of the button base portion, and spring portions can be formed integrally with the holes by molding with use of transparent silicone rubber with a light diffusing agent incorporated therein.

Abstract: A process for inhibiting a polymerization of an easily polymerizable compound purification system is disclosed. According to the present invention, the polymerization of the easily polymerizable compound such as (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylate flowed into a vacuum section can be inhibited by contacting a liquid containing a polymerization inhibitor with the compound directly in the vacuum section. When the vacuum section includes a gas and liquid contact chamber (usually a condenser), the liquid containing a polymerization inhibitor may be supplied to the chamber. When the vacuum section includes a liquid ejector and/or a nash pump as a vacuuming device, the liquid containing a polymerization inhibitor may be circulated by the liquid ejector and/or the nash pump for reducing a pressure of a purifying section. Examples of easily polymerizable compounds are (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylates.

Abstract: To realize a zoom lens system, including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a negative optical power; a second lens unit having a positive optical power; a third lens unit having a negative optical power; and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power, in which: during zooming, an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit at a telephoto end is smaller than that at a wide angle end, an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the telephoto end is larger than that at the wide angle end, and an interval between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end is smaller than that at the wide angle end; a zoom ratio is about 2.5 to 4.0; and a back focus for a maximum image height, and a.

Abstract: An optical element is disclosed which has a reflection suppressing function and a color balance correcting function in a minute periodic structure. The optical element has a base member and a minute periodic structure which is provided on a surface of the base member and has a period smaller than a wavelength of incident light on the optical element. The minute periodic structure has a characteristic that the reflectance of light a first wavelength on a short wavelength side in a wavelength range of the incident light is lower than the reflectance of light at a second wavelength on a long wavelength side in the wavelength range of the incident light.

Abstract: In an apparatus provided with a plate type heat exchanger as a heater and/or a cooler and operated to treat a gas containing an easily blocking substance, a method for preventing the plate type heat exchanger from being blocked is disclosed which is characterized by i) setting the width of a flow path on a plate of the plate type heat exchanger in the apparatus in a range of 6-25 mm and ii) setting the average flow rate of the gas passing the plate type heat exchanger in the apparatus per unit cross-sectional area of the flow path on the plate in the range of 3-15 m/s. In the exchange of heat of an easily blocking substance by the use of a plate type heat exchanger, a method for preventing the plate type heat exchanger from blockage is disclosed which has the plate type heat exchanger provided in the port for introducing a gas containing an easily blocking substance with a gas dispersion plate.

Abstract: A key sheet is equipped with a keytop exposed through an operational opening with no partition frame formed in the casing of an apparatus, the keytop being adapted to be depressed into the casing, and a base sheet to which the keytop is firmly attached, in which it is possible to achieve a further reduction in the thickness of the base sheet. In this key sheet, the base sheet is equipped with a pedestal portion to which the keytop is firmly attached and a frame-like support portion supporting the pedestal portion so as to allow its displacement, wherein a clearance portion allowing the keytop to avoid press contact with the frame-like support portion at the time of depressing operation is formed in the outer edge side portion of the bottom portion of the keytop opposed to the frame-like support portion, whereby even if the pedestal portion is thin, it is possible to perform depressing operation on the keytop without any fear of the keytop being caught by the frame-like support portion.

Abstract: A method for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester which utilizes a steam system permitting stable production of an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester and realizing a high thermal efficiency constantly relative to the waste heat generated in the process of the production is provided. More particularly, this invention concerns a method for the production of an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester, wherein heat generated in the process for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester is recovered in the form of steam, and the steam is used in any of the following forms: {circle around (1)} thermal energy, {circle around (2)} dynamic energy, and {circle around (3)} electrical energy in the process for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing easily polymerizable substance, which can realize stable operation of a purification system, and can stably maintain a production amount by avoiding production stoppage, upon production of an easily polymerizable substance in plural reactors. The present invention is directed to a process for producing easily polymerizable substance, which comprises mixing easily polymerizable substances obtained in plural reactors in advance, and supplying the mixture to a purification apparatus.

Abstract: A key sheet includes a base sheet and a plurality of key tops arranged on the base sheet and exposed from an operation opening formed in a case of a device. The operation opening has no partition bridge. The base sheet includes a plurality of bases for fixing the key tops and a reinforcing member for supporting the bases while allowing displacement upon pushing.

Abstract: A method for managing the operation of an apparatus for the reaction of gas phase partial oxidation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a molecular oxygen-containing gas for the purpose of omitting wasteful emergency stop of the operation and ensuring execution of necessary emergency measure and a method for producing (meth) acrylic acid by utilizing the method mentioned above are provided. The operation of the apparatus is brought to emergency stop exclusively when thee values of concentrations of various gases obtained by calculation from the flow rates of the gases being introduced at the inlet port of the reactor and the measured values obtained by analysis with gas analyzing instruments both deviate from the ranges of the present values.

Abstract: A perforated tray without downcomer in accordance with the present invention satisfies following conditions: (a) The hole has a diameter of 10 mm to 25 mm. (b) Two adjacent holes are spaced by a distance of 1.2 d to 3 d, measured between the two centers. (c) The tray thickness is 2 mm to 8 mm. (d) The opening ratio is 10% to 30%. A perforated tray tower without downcomer fitted with two or more such perforated trays without downcomer in accordance with the present invention satisfies following conditions: (g) Perforated trays are spaced by a distance of 0.1 D to 0.5 D (D denotes the tower diameter). (h) The levelness of each perforated tray is 8 mm or less. (i) If a plurality of perforated trays are used at the same stage, the two most closely located holes that respectively belong to adjacent perforated trays are spaced by a distance of 50 mm to 150 mm, measured between the two centers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which produces acrylic acid in a high yield as maintaining the conditions for purifying acrylic acid in constant ranges and preventing the acrylic, acid from polymerization. By using single a single reactor, propylene concentration adjusting in the range of 7-15 vol. % and water concentration adjusting in the range of 0-10 vol. % are introduced thereinto thereby obtaining an acrylic acid-containing gas. Then the gas is introduced to an acrylic acid absorption column to adjust water concentration in the range of 1-45 wt. %, thereby preventing from polymerization.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for absorbing acrylic acid, characterized by supplying an acrylic acid-containing reaction gas component obtained by the reaction of catalytic gas phase oxidation to an acrylic acid absorption column and advancing a high boiling inert hydrophobic organic liquid into counter-flow contact with said reaction gas in said acrylic acid absorption column with the mass flow rate of the organic liquid fixed in the range of 0.2-4.5 times the mass flow rate of the acrylic acid in the reaction gas thereby absorbing acrylic acid in said organic liquid and obtaining an acrylic acid-containing solution and a method for purifying acrylic acid, comprising a step for purifying the acrylic acid-containing organic liquid obtained by the step mentioned above. By this invention, a product of acrylic acid containing a low boiling substance at a low concentration can be produced.

Abstract: This invention is providing a method for efficient treatment of the waste material from a process for production of acrylic acid and an acrylic ester. This is a method for the disposal of waste material, which at least one waste material selected from the group consisting of waste oil, waste water, and waste gas emitted from a process for production of acrylic acid is/are purified with at least one waste material selected from the group consisting of waste oil, waste water, and waste gas emitted from a process for production of an acrylic ester jointly. The efficiency of the treatment is enhanced by simultaneously treating the waste material from an adjoining process for the productions each other.

Abstract: A method for refining an easily polymerizable matter while preventing an easily polymerizable matter-containing substance from being polymerized and an apparatus for use in the method are disclosed. The method and apparatus for refining and separating the easily polymerizable matter-containing substance by the use of a distillation column provided with a heat exchanger set the linear velocity of a vapor in a connecting line intervening between the distillation column and the heat exchanger at a level of not less than 5 m per second and the retention time of the vapor at a level of not more than 3 seconds.

Abstract: A method for the production of (meth)acrylic acid and/or a (meth)acrylic ester is provided. This method for the production of (meth)acrylic acid and/or a (meth)acrylic ester includes washing the device constructed for the production thereof with a basic solution and subsequently rinsing them with a solvent for the purpose of removing solid substances such as polymer and precipitate which occur during the production of (meth)acrylic acid and/or a (meth)acrylic ester.

Abstract: A method for the production of acrylic acid comprises (i) a step for introducing a polymerization inhibitor to a stage other than a stage for supplying a raw material and a stage for supplying a reflux of said distilling column or (ii) a step for supplying the acrylic acid recovered by thermally decomposing said oligomer to said stage for dehydration. Thus, the present invention enjoys effective utilization of acrylic acid and exalts the efficiency of production.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing (meth)acrylic acid includes: a reaction step of carrying out a catalytic gas-phase oxidation reaction; an absorbing step of absorbing (meth)acrylic acid from a (meth)acrylic-acid-containing mixed gas prepared in the reaction step; a refinement step of separating, refining, and recovering (meth)acrylic acid from a (meth)acrylic-acid-containing liquid prepared in the absorbing step; and a recirculation step of recirculating (meth)acrylic acid contained in a vent gas produced in the refinement step to the absorbing step and/or the refinement step.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit receives multi-valued first compressed image data in accordance with a first compression format that is a variable length compression format. The first compressed image data are externally transferred to the first processing unit. The first processing unit then converts the first compressed image data into second compressed image data in accordance with a second compression format. The second processing unit performs expansion and binarization processes on the second compressed image data, and outputs the second compressed image data to a printer engine.