Abstract: An article accumulating apparatus includes a transport part configured to place and transport an article on a transporting surface, and a transfer part configured to suction and hold the article on the transporting surface and move it. The transfer part suctions and holds the article to be in an inclined state in which the downstream side of the article in a transporting direction of the transport part is inclined higher than the upstream side thereof, and moves the article in the inclined state downstream in the transporting direction.

Abstract: A suction transfer device suction-holds a bag-like article with a suction component and moves the suction component suction-holding the article to thereby transfer the article. The suction component has a negative pressure chamber, one or more suction openings, and a first surface. The negative pressure chamber forms a negative pressure space inside when a negative pressure generator is driven. The suction openings communicate with the negative pressure chamber. The first surface is disposed around the suction openings and opposes an article subjected to suction. An area of the first surface is from 0.5 times to 2 times an area of a sucked surface, which opposes the first surface, of the article subjected to suction.

Abstract: Provided are a cell-holding substrate holder for preparing an observation specimen, and a cell-holding substrate kit, wherein the cell-holding substrate can be easily attached and detached. Also provided is a method of preparing an observation specimen, wherein cell organelles can be satisfactorily observed using an optical microscope, while three problems of cell detachment, drying, and loss of the three-dimensional properties can be simultaneously solved. The cell-holding substrate holder comprises (1) a support plate 1 having a cell-holding substrate arrangement portion 12 having a window portion through which water can pass; and (2) a removable sandwiching plate 2, 3 which has a window portion through which water can pass, and is capable of working in conjunction with the support plate 1 to sandwich and fix a cell-holding substrate 9 in the cell-holding substrate arrangement portion 12. The cell-holding substrate kit 10 comprises the cell-holding substrate holder and a cell-holding substrate 9.

Abstract: A dialog device for executing a conversation with a user using a conversational sentence generated from content information is provided. The dialog device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires the content information from an information source, and changes the content information used in generation of the conversational sentence, and continues the conversation with the user. The dialog device sets multiple attribute information pieces with respect to specific content information used in generation of the conversational sentence. The dialog device controls the information acquisition unit to acquire other content information, having at least a part of attribute information pieces equal to the specific content information, as a candidate used in generation of the conversational sentence next to the specific content information.

Abstract: A suction transfer device suction-holds a bag-like article with a suction component and moves the suction component suction-holding the article to thereby transfer the article. The suction component has a negative pressure chamber, one or more suction openings, and a first surface. The negative pressure chamber forms a negative pressure space inside when a negative pressure generator is driven. The suction openings communicate with the negative pressure chamber. The first surface is disposed around the suction openings and opposes an article subjected to suction. An area of the first surface is from 0.5 times to 2 times an area of a sucked surface, which opposes the first surface, of the article subjected to suction.

Abstract: A dialog device, which is mounted in a vehicle together with a speech output unit for outputting a sound in a compartment of the vehicle, and executes a dialog with a driver of the vehicle, is provided. The dialog device includes: a control circuit that generates a conversational sentence toward the driver, and controls the speech output unit to outputs the conversational sentence; and a state information processing circuit that determines whether a driving load on the driver is high with respect to a road where the vehicle travels. The control circuit sets a forbidden state for forbidding from starting utterance, and sets a permitted state for permitting to start the utterance when the state information processing circuit determines that the driving load is low.

Abstract: A dialog device capable of achieving a conversation satisfactory to a user is provided. The dialog device includes: a conversation execution unit that executes a conversation with a user; a continuation determination unit that determines whether the conversation executed by the conversation execution unit and directed to the user continues; and an utterance control unit that controls the conversation execution unit to be in a standby state in which utterance to the user is suspended when the continuation determination unit determines that the conversation continues and no utterance shows that the user expresses an interest in an information presentation provided by the conversation execution unit.

Abstract: A dialog device for executing a conversation with a user using a conversational sentence generated from content information is provided. The dialog device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires the content information from an information source, and changes the content information used in generation of the conversational sentence, and continues the conversation with the user. The dialog device sets multiple attribute information pieces with respect to specific content information used in generation of the conversational sentence. The dialog device controls the information acquisition unit to acquire other content information, having at least a part of attribute information pieces equal to the specific content information, as a candidate used in generation of the conversational sentence next to the specific content information.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for manufacturing pouches of a plurality of types having different shapes includes a tubular part, a conveying part and a sealing part. The tubular part is replaceable according to a shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey tubular packaging material along the tubular part with an internal surface of the packaging material facing an external surface of the tubular part. A position of the conveying part with respect to the tubular part is selectively movable according to the shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The sealing part is configured and arranged to seal a prescribed position on the packaging material conveyed by the conveying part.

Abstract: A transportation device capable of smoothly transporting even an object having a sticky surface or the like and a weighing device including the same are provided. A transportation device is for transporting an object placed on a trough in a predetermined direction by reciprocating the trough by a parallel link mechanism, and a control unit controls the rotation driving of a rotatable motor such that the trough moves forward with respect to the transportation direction at a higher velocity than backward.

Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for manufacturing pouches of a plurality of types having different shapes includes a tubular part, a conveying part and a sealing part. The tubular part is replaceable according to a shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey tubular packaging material along the tubular part with an internal surface of the packaging material facing an external surface of the tubular part. A position of the conveying part with respect to the tubular part is selectively movable according to the shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The sealing part is configured and arranged to seal a prescribed position on the packaging material conveyed by the conveying part.

Abstract: A transportation device capable of smoothly transporting even an object having a sticky surface or the like and a weighing device including the same are provided. A transportation device (10) is for transporting an object placed on a trough (11) in a predetermined direction by reciprocating the trough (11) by a parallel link mechanism (20), and a control unit (30) controls the rotation driving of a rotatable motor (14) such that the trough (11) moves forward with respect to the transportation direction at a higher velocity than backward.