Abstract: An artificial leather including a base layer and a surface layer which is formed on one of surfaces of the base layer. The base layer includes bundles of microfine filaments and an elastic polymer. The surface layer includes the microfine filaments or includes the microfine filaments and the elastic polymer. The surface layer satisfies the relationship of X/Y?1.5 wherein X is the number of cut ends of the microfine filaments which exist in a region from a surface to a 20 ?m depth in a cross section of the artificial leather, Y is the number of cut ends of the microfine filaments which exist in a region from a surface to a 20 ?m depth in a cross section perpendicular to the cross section for determining X, and X>Y. The artificial leather having such surface layer exhibits a sufficient gloss without coating a pigment such as metallic powder.

Abstract: A coated tool include a first surface, a second surface which is adjacent to the first surface, and a cutting edge which is located on at least a portion of a ridge between the first surface and the second surface. The coated tool further includes a substrate, and a coating layer that is located on the substrate. The coating layer includes a titanium carbonitride layer and an aluminum oxide layer which has an ?-type crystalline structure. The titanium carbonitride layer is located nearer to the substrate than the aluminum oxide layer.

Abstract: A brake ECU brings master cut valves into an open state and brings holding valves into a closed state, thereby controlling a master cylinder and wheel cylinders to communicate to each other when a magnitude of a hydraulic pressure detected by an accumulator pressure sensor has decreased to a value less than a predetermined value set in advance. On the other hand, the ECU maintains holding valves in an open state, and controls an accumulator and the wheel cylinders to communicate to each other via linear control valves. Then, the ECU determines in which brake system a failure occurs out of a brake system for a front right wheel, a brake system for a front left wheel, and brake systems for rear right and left wheels based on changes in hydraulic pressure detected by a sensor, a master cylinder pressure sensor, and a control pressure sensor.

Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.

Abstract: A brake ECU uses a control pressure acquired from a control pressure sensor to determine whether a valve closing operation abnormality or a valve opening operation abnormality occurs in one of a pressure increasing linear control valve and an adjusted flow rate cut valve in a state where a hydraulic pressure is supplied from an accumulator. The brake ECU controls, if the brake ECU determines that an abnormality occurs, respectively the control valve and the cut valve to change to an open state or a closed state, and identifies, based on a change in the control pressure acquired from the control pressure sensor, in which of the control valve and the cut valve the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs. The brake ECU can use, after a valve in which the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs is identified, a valve in which the abnormality does not occur to carry out brake control.

Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.

Abstract: A separation valve mechanism includes a housing, and a stepped piston fitted into the housing in a liquid-tight and slidable manner and serving as a separation piston. A large diameter chamber is provided on a large diameter side of the stepped piston, and a small diameter chamber is provided on a small diameter side thereof. A first seal member is provided on the small diameter side of the stepped piston so as to secure liquid tightness of the small diameter chamber and partition the small diameter chamber. A second seal member is provided on the large diameter side of the stepped piston so as to secure liquid tightness of the large diameter chamber and partition the large diameter chamber. A reservoir chamber is formed, which is adjacent to the small diameter chamber and the large diameter chamber, and is partitioned by the first seal member and the second seal member. A master cylinder pressure is not input to the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: A brake ECU brings master cut valves into an open state and brings holding valves into a closed state, thereby controlling a master cylinder and wheel cylinders to communicate to each other when a magnitude of a hydraulic pressure detected by an accumulator pressure sensor has decreased to a value less than a predetermined value set in advance. On the other hand, the ECU maintains holding valves in an open state, and controls an accumulator and the wheel cylinders to communicate to each other via linear control valves. Then, the ECU determines in which brake system a failure occurs out of a brake system for a front right wheel, a brake system for a front left wheel, and brake systems for rear right and left wheels based on changes in hydraulic pressure detected by a sensor, a master cylinder pressure sensor, and a control pressure sensor.

Abstract: A brake ECU uses a control pressure acquired from a control pressure sensor to determine whether a valve closing operation abnormality or a valve opening operation abnormality occurs in one of a pressure increasing linear control valve and an adjusted flow rate cut valve in a state where a hydraulic pressure is supplied from an accumulator. The brake ECU controls, if the brake ECU determines that an abnormality occurs, respectively the control valve and the cut valve to change to an open state or a closed state, and identifies, based on a change in the control pressure acquired from the control pressure sensor, in which of the control valve and the cut valve the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs. The brake ECU can use, after a valve in which the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs is identified, a valve in which the abnormality does not occur to carry out brake control.

Abstract: A (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric of three-dimensionally entangled fiber bundles containing microfine long fibers and an elastic polymer contained in the entangled nonwoven fabric. When dividing the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet to five layers with equal thickness, i.e., surface layer, substrate layer 1, substrate layer 2, substrate layer 3 and back layer in this order along the thickness direction, part of the microfine long fibers forming the surface layer and/or the back layer are fuse-bonded to each other and the microfine long fibers forming the intermediate layer are not fuse-bonded. With such a fuse-bonding state of the microfine long fibers, the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet combines a low compression resistance and a dense feel each comparable to natural leathers, has a sufficient practical strength, and are excellent in properties which are required according to its use.

Abstract: A leather-like sheet composed of a microfine-fiber entangled body made of bundles of microfine fibers and an elastic polymer impregnated therein. The bundles of microfine fibers are composed of microfine monofibers having an average cross-sectional area of 0.1 to 30 ?m2 and have an average cross-sectional area of 40 to 400 ?m2. The bundles of microfine fibers exist in a density of 600 to 4000/mm2 on a cross section taken along the thickness direction of the microfine-fiber entangled body. The elastic polymer contains 30 to 100% by mass of a polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer is composed of a soft component having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than ?5° C., a crosslinkable component, and optionally a hard component having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of higher than 50° C. and another component. The polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer is bonded to the microfine fibers in the bundles of microfine fibers.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting tool such that the progress of wear is delayed and that wear resistance is excellent. This cutting tool is configured in such a way that multiple cover layers (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14) are formed on the surface of a substrate (6); that the outermost layer (14), which is one of the cover layers, comprises a Ti(CxNyOz)a (x+y+z=1, 0?x?0.6, 0?y?0?0.6, 0.2?z?0.8, 1.0?a?1.7) layer; and that the thickness of that portion of the outermost layer (14) which is located in the center section (3a) of a flank surface is smaller than the surface roughness (Ra) of the outermost layer (14). The outermost layer (14) comes into contact with an article to be cut, leading to a coating being generated, with the result that the progress of wear is restricted.

Abstract: A method of producing an entangled sheet of microfine long fibers using long fibers for forming microfine fibers. The method includes a step of forming a long-fiber web made of long fibers for forming microfine fibers, at least one component of the long fibers being a water-soluble, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol resin; a step of entangling the long-fiber web to form a long-fiber entangled sheet; a step of shrinking the long-fiber entangled sheet to form a long-fiber shrunk sheet; and a step of converting the long fibers for forming microfine fibers in the long-fiber shrunk sheet to microfine long fibers, thereby producing the entangled sheet of microfine long fibers. The step of entangling is conducted so as to allow the long-fiber entangled sheet to have an interlaminar peel strength of 2 kg/2.5 cm or more. The step of shrinking is conducted so as to shrink in an areal shrinkage of 35% or more.

Abstract: An artificial leather including a base layer and a surface layer which is formed on one of surfaces of the base layer. The base layer includes bundles of microfine filaments and an elastic polymer. The surface layer includes the microfine filaments or includes the microfine filaments and the elastic polymer. The surface layer satisfies the relationship of X/Y?1.5 wherein X is the number of cut ends of the microfine filaments which exist in a region from a surface to a 20 ?m depth in a cross section of the artificial leather, Y is the number of cut ends of the microfine filaments which exist in a region from a surface to a 20 ?m depth in a cross section perpendicular to the cross section for determining X, and X>Y. The artificial leather having such surface layer exhibits a sufficient gloss without coating a pigment such as metallic powder.

Abstract: The suede artificial leather of the present invention comprises a three-dimensional entangled body comprising a superfine fiber having a fineness of 0.2 dtex or less and an elastomeric polymer A, and satisfies the requirements (1) to (4) as specified in the specification. By meeting the requirements, the suede artificial leather acquires excellent color fastness to light and color development in a wide range of colors and a high quality with good suede feeling, surface touch, hand, mechanical properties and color fastness.

Abstract: A substrate for artificial leathers, comprising a nonwoven fabric body made of microfine fiber bundles and an elastic polymer impregnated therein. The substrate for artificial leathers simultaneously satisfies the following requirements 1 to 4: (1) each of the microfine fiber bundles contains 6 to 150 bundled microfine long fibers in average; (2) a cross-sectional area of the microfine long fibers constituting the microfine fiber bundles is 27 ?m2 or less, and 80% or more of the microfine long fibers has a cross-sectional area of from 0.9 to 25 ?m2; (3) an average cross-sectional area of the microfine fiber bundles is from 15 to 150 ?m2; and (4) on a cross section parallel to a thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric body, cross sections of the microfine fiber bundles exist in a density of from 1000 to 3000/mm2 in average.

Abstract: A stage apparatus in which a rectangular substrate which is levitated over a stage is transferred such that a pair of sides of the rectangular substrate are substantially parallel to a transfer direction and the other pair of sides of the rectangular substrate are substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction. The stage includes a plurality of gas spray ports to spray a gas and a plurality of suction ports to attract the rectangular substrate by suction. The rectangular substrate is levitated at a predetermined height from the surface of the stage in a substantially horizontal posture by means of suction of a suction mechanism through the plurality of suction ports and gas spray of a gas spray mechanism through the plurality of gas spray ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floating-type substrate conveying and processing apparatus that floats a substrate to be processed. The device includes a floating stage that floats the substrate, a liquid supplier placed above the floating stage via the substrate to supply a process liquid to a surface of the substrate, and a moving mechanism for holding the substrate as detachable at opposite ends of the substrate, at a floating height of the substrate, and for moving the substrate on the floating stage. The floating stage is formed of a porous member and has a plurality of suction apertures airtightly defined in a porous portion of the porous member. The floating stage injects gas through the porous portion and sucks gas through the suction apertures to float the substrate placed on the porous portion.

Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a stage over which a substrate is to be transferred, and a levitation mechanism which levitates the substrate over the stage. The stage includes a plurality of gas spray ports (16a) to spray a gas for levitating the substrate (G), and a plurality of suction ports (16b) to take in air sprayed from the gas spray ports (16a). The plurality of gas spray ports (16a) and the plurality of suction ports (16b) are set not to be arranged on straight lines parallel to a substrate transfer direction in a predetermined length along the substrate transfer direction.

Abstract: A (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric of three-dimensionally entangled fiber bundles containing microfine long fibers and an elastic polymer contained in the entangled nonwoven fabric. When dividing the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet to five layers with equal thickness, i.e., surface layer, substrate layer 1, substrate layer 2, substrate layer 3 and back layer in this order along the thickness direction, part of the microfine long fibers forming the surface layer and/or the back layer are fuse-bonded to each other and the microfine long fibers forming the intermediate layer are not fuse-bonded. With such a fuse-bonding state of the microfine long fibers, the (semi)grain-finished leather-like sheet combines a low compression resistance and a dense feel each comparable to natural leathers, has a sufficient practical strength, and are excellent in properties which are required according to its use.