Abstract: An input device includes: a rotating member that rotates about a predetermined rotation axis; and a mover that includes a protrusion protruding toward an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member and moves in a direction different from a rotation direction of the rotating member along with rotation of the rotating member. The protrusion protrudes toward an inner peripheral surface of the rotating member. The rotating member includes a first projection and a second projection that project from the inner peripheral surface toward the mover. The protrusion of the mover is inclined with respect to the predetermined rotation axis and disposed between the first projection and the second projection.

Abstract: An input device includes: a casing that includes a tubular portion in which an end portion of a column post is fitted, and to which a turn lever unit that a driver operates is attached, the column post rotatably supporting a steering shaft; and a biasing member disposed between a brim portion and the column post in a central axis direction of the tubular portion, the brim portion being provided on an inside surface of the tubular portion. The tubular portion includes an engaging portion that engages, in the central axis direction, with an engaged portion of the column post, and in a state in which the engaging portion is engaging with the engaged portion, the biasing member biases the brim portion in a direction in which the brim portion moves away from the column post, the direction being in the central axis direction.

Abstract: Provided are a carbon nanotube production device and production method capable of realizing high-temperature heating of a catalyst raw material in a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) method, and improving the quality and yield of carbon nanotubes synthesized. A carbon nanotube production device 1 includes a synthesis furnace 2 for synthesizing carbon nanotubes; a catalyst raw material supplying nozzle 3 for supplying a catalyst raw material used to synthesize carbon nanotubes to the synthesis furnace 2; and a nozzle temperature adjusting unit 6 capable of setting a temperature of an inner portion 4 of the catalyst raw material supplying nozzle 3 higher than a temperature of a reaction field 5 of the synthesis furnace 2.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen according to the present invention is a method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, in which using a carbon source containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and being decomposed in a heated state, and a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes and H2 from the carbon source, the above carbon nanotubes are synthesized on a support in a heated state, placed in a reactor, and simultaneously, the above H2 is synthesized from the above carbon source, the method comprising a synthesis step of flowing a source gas comprising the above carbon source over the above support, on which the above catalyst is supported, to synthesize the above carbon nanotubes on the above support and simultaneously synthesize the above H2 in a gas flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carbon nanomaterial production apparatus 1 that includes a reaction tube 2 into which raw material gas and carrier gas are supplied and accordingly in which carbon nanomaterial is grown, a connection tube 4 that is connected to the reaction tube 2 and through which an aerosol-like mixture of the carbon nanomaterial and the carrier gas passes, and a collection tube 3 that is connected to the connection tube 4 and collects the carbon nanomaterial from the mixture. The collection tube 3 includes a discharge section 32 that is located above a junction 33 with the connection tube 4 and discharges the carrier gas contained in the mixture to outside, and a trapping section 31 that is located below the junction 33 with the connection tube 4 and traps the carbon nanomaterial that is separated from the mixture by gravitational sedimentation.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen according to the present invention is a method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, in which using a carbon source containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and being decomposed in a heated state, and a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes and H2 from the carbon source, the above carbon nanotubes are synthesized on a support in a heated state, placed in a reactor, and simultaneously, the above H2 is synthesized from the above carbon source, the method comprising a synthesis step of flowing a source gas comprising the above carbon source over the above support, on which the above catalyst is supported, to synthesize the above carbon nanotubes on the above support and simultaneously synthesize the above H2 in a gas flow.

Abstract: The method for producing carbon nanotubes employs a carbon source that contains carbon and is decomposed when heated and a catalyst on a support that serves as a catalyst for production of carbon nanotubes from the carbon source. The method includes a catalyst loading step in which the catalyst starting material is distributed over the support to load the catalyst onto the support, a synthesis step in which the carbon nanotubes are synthesized on the support, and a separating step in which a separating gas stream is distributed over the support to separate the carbon nanotubes from the support, wherein the catalyst loading step, the synthesis step and the separating step are carried out while keeping the support in a heated state and switching supply of the catalyst starting material, the carbon source and the separating gas stream.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen according to the present invention is a method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, in which using a carbon source containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and being decomposed in a heated state, and a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes and H2 from the carbon source, the above carbon nanotubes are synthesized on a support in a heated state, placed in a reactor, and simultaneously, the above H2 is synthesized from the above carbon source, the method comprising a synthesis step of flowing a source gas comprising the above carbon source over the above support, on which the above catalyst is supported, to synthesize the above carbon nanotubes on the above support and simultaneously synthesize the above H2 in a gas flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carbon nanomaterial production apparatus 1 that includes a reaction tube 2 into which raw material gas and carrier gas are supplied and accordingly in which carbon nanomaterial is grown, a connection tube 4 that is connected to the reaction tube 2 and through which an aerosol-like mixture of the carbon nanomaterial and the carrier gas passes, and a collection tube 3 that is connected to the connection tube 4 and collects the carbon nanomaterial from the mixture. The collection tube 3 includes a discharge section 32 that is located above a junction 33 with the connection tube 4 and discharges the carrier gas contained in the mixture to outside, and a trapping section 31 that is located below the junction 33 with the connection tube 4 and traps the carbon nanomaterial that is separated from the mixture by gravitational sedimentation.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen according to the present invention is a method for simultaneously producing carbon nanotubes and hydrogen, in which using a carbon source containing carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms and being decomposed in a heated state, and a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes and H2 from the carbon source, the above carbon nanotubes are synthesized on a support in a heated state, placed in a reactor, and simultaneously, the above H2 is synthesized from the above carbon source, the method comprising a synthesis step of flowing a source gas comprising the above carbon source over the above support, on which the above catalyst is supported, to synthesize the above carbon nanotubes on the above support and simultaneously synthesize the above H2 in a gas flow.

Abstract: A vehicle switch has a case, a movable body, a spring, a magnet, a detector, and an operating shaft. The movable body is reciprocably accommodated in the case. The spring pushes the movable body in a direction away from an internal bottom of the case. The magnet is attached to the movable body. The detector detects a magnetic flux density generated from the magnet. A lower end of the operating shaft is in contact with the movable body. The movable body has a press contact portion with which the operating shaft is in contact at a point or along a line.

Abstract: The method for producing carbon nanotubes of the invention employs a carbon source that contains carbon and is decomposed when heated and a catalyst that serves as a catalyst for production of carbon nanotubes from the carbon source, to synthesize the carbon nanotubes on a heated support placed in a reactor, the method comprising a catalyst loading step in which the catalyst starting material, as the starting material for the catalyst, is distributed over the support to load the catalyst onto the support, a synthesis step in which the carbon source is distributed over the support to synthesize the carbon nanotubes on the support, and a separating step in which a separating gas stream is distributed over the support to separate the carbon nanotubes from the support, wherein the catalyst loading step, the synthesis step and the separating step are carried out while keeping the support in a heated state and switching supply of the catalyst starting material, the carbon source and the separating gas stream.

Abstract: A vehicle switch has a case, a movable body, a spring, a magnet, a detector, and an operating shaft. The movable body is reciprocably accommodated in the case. The spring pushes the movable body in a direction away from an internal bottom of the case. The magnet is attached to the movable body. The detector detects a magnetic flux density generated from the magnet. A lower end of the operating shaft is in contact with the movable body. The movable body has a press contact portion with which the operating shaft is in contact at a point or along a line.

Abstract: With the stoplight switch and method for its mounting in accordance with the present invention, by configuring the stoplight switch in a manner such that a contact section of a spacer projecting out from a through-hole on the side surface of a case is made to come into contact with an end portion of a U-shaped engagement spring that is supported by a sliding body thereby to press the pressing section so as to move the spacer and secure the action rod and the sliding body, mounting work and adjustment of the action rod are made easy.

Abstract: With the stoplight switch and method for its mounting in accordance with the present invention, by configuring the stoplight switch in a manner such that a contact section of a spacer projecting out from a through-hole on the side surface of a case is made to come into contact with an end portion of a U-shaped engagement spring that is supported by a sliding body thereby to press the pressing section so as to move the spacer and secure the action rod and the sliding body, mounting work and adjustment of the action rod are made easy.

Abstract: A method for forming an ultra microparticle-structure composed of ultra microparticles including the steps of: forming on a substrate higher wettability parts and lower wettability parts to a material to be deposited, depositing on the substrate the material to be deposited to form particles made of the material on the substrate, and accumulating the particles in the higher wettability parts to form the ultra microparticle-structure composed of the ultra microparticles.

Abstract: Comprising an outside case, an inside case installed rotatably in the outside case, a cable installed in a space formed by the outside case and the inside case, and a guide ring, the guide ring is accommodated in the space so as to abut against elastically. With the frictional resistance between the guide ring and inside case being greater than the frictional resistance of the guide ring and outside case, the guide ring rotates and moves. In this constitution, generation of noise is extremely reduced. Hence, an inexpensive and highly reliable rotary connector is obtained. In particular, this rotary connector is used in a steering device of automobile or the like.

Abstract: Coin processing apparatus electromagnetically tests an inserted coin, separates genuine coins from counterfeit coins by a first pathway switching mechanism, and stores genuine coins in change tubes and a cash-box by a second pathway switching mechanism, according to the type of coin. The pathway along which the coins pass is provided with pass sensors at two positions therein, where one pass sensor detects the coins and the other pass sensor controls the operation of the second pathway switching mechanism in such as manner as to prevent passing coins from becoming trapped therein. The second pathway switching mechanism is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed from the fall of a detection signal from a pass sensor, to end the flow of current through and thereby prevent overheating of a solenoid therein.

Abstract: Data produced from a transmission source facsimile are received by a simulated communication circuit network, and thus received data are compressed and temporarily stored into a memory. After the data have been compressed, the data stored in the memory are read out and transmitted to an other party's facsimile via an external communication circuit network. Since the data transmitted to the other party's facsimile via the external communication circuit network are compressed data, a time required for transmission can be relatively shortened. Accordingly, a rapid data transmission can be achieved without the facsimile being replaced by a rapid type facsimile which is expensive. Further, various additional functions of a facsimile can be directly enjoyed from those intrinsically owned by the transmission source facsimile.

Abstract: A recombinant natural killer cell activating factor is disclosed, preferably having a peptide of the following amino acid sequence in its molecule. The invention provides a cDNA coding for a recombinant natural killer cell activating factor, a expression plasmid involving the cDNA, a host transformed with the plasmid, an antitumor agent containing the recombinant natural killer cell activating factor and a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a pharmacologically effective amount of the antitumor agent and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.