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: A raised sheet composed of three layers which are united by entanglement. The three layers are united in a layered structure of entangled nonwoven fabric A made of microfine fibers/polyurethane sheet B/woven or knitted fabric C or a layered structure of entangled nonwoven fabric A made of microfine fibers/woven or knitted fabric C/polyurethane sheet B. On the surface of the entangled nonwoven fabric A, raised naps of the microfine fibers are formed. A part of the microfine fibers constituting the entangled nonwoven fabric A penetrates through the polyurethane sheet B and the woven or knitted fabric C in this order, or penetrates through the woven or knitted fabric C and the polyurethane sheet B in this order. At least a part of the penetrated microfine fibers bonds to polyurethane which constitutes the polyurethane sheet B. The raised sheet is excellent in the shape stability, for example, it does not lose its shape even after a long term use.

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: 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: The leather-like sheet of the invention comprises a napped part of ultrafine fibers and a grainy part of nonporous elastic polymer randomly existing in the surface of a substrate prepared by infiltrating a porous polymer elastomer into a three-dimensionally intermingled nonwoven fabric of ultrafine fibers of not more than 0.5 dtex, and this is characterized in that the nonporous elastic polymer is infiltrated into the substrate to a depth thereof of from 5 to 20 ?m from the surface of the substrate. The production method of the invention is for producing a nubuck-type leather-like sheet of good surface abrasion resistance. A grainy part of resin and ultrafine fibers and a part of the ultrafine fibers are mingled on the surface of the substrate, and the sheet has an elegant and three-dimensional appearance like natural leather.

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: In a method for manufacturing an electric motor, a cylindrical stator core circumferentially dividable into a plurality of core components is inserted into a circular internal surface of a motor housing. In this case, the motor housing is heated to be expanded thermally thereby enlarge circular internal surface thereof. Then, the stator core is fit over the external surface of an, insertion guide head of a generally cylindrical shape, and the insertion guide head is moved ward toward the thermally expanded motor housing secured on a fixed table to insert the stator re inside the motor housing. When the insertion guide head reaches a predetermined axial position inside the motor housing, a pressing mechanism incorporated in the insertion guide head is operated to press the core components on the circular internal surface of the motor using.

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 suspension apparatus includes a fluid cylinder for a wheel of a vehicle; at least one of a first controller and a second controller; and a third controller. The fluid cylinder for the wheel of the vehicle is provided between a wheel-holding device that holds the wheel and the vehicle body. The first controller includes (a) an accumulator connected to the fluid cylinder; and (b) an electromagnetic control valve provided between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder. The second controller includes (a) a fluid source that includes a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source; and (b) an electromagnetic control valve, provided between the fluid source and the fluid cylinder, which controls the flow of fluid between the fluid cylinder and the fluid source. The third controller suppresses the pulsation of the fluid caused by operating the electromagnetic control valve included in at least one of the first controller and the second controller.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electric motor, a cylindrical stator core circumferentially dividable to plural core components is inserted into a circular internal surface of a motor housing. In this case, the motor housing is heated to be expanded thermally thereby enlarge the circular internal surface thereof. Then, the stator core is fit over the external surface of an insertion guide head of a generally cylindrical shape, and the insertion guide head is moved upward toward the thermally expanded motor housing secured on a fixed table to insert the stator core inside the motor housing. When the insertion guide head reaches a predetermined axial position inside the motor housing, a pressing mechanism incorporated in the insertion guide head is operated to press the plural core components on the circular internal surface of the motor housing.

Abstract: The substrate for artificial leathers of the invention comprises an entangled nonwoven fabric which is mainly made of bundles of polyamide microfine fibers and an elastic polymer which is impregnated into intervening spaces in the entangled nonwoven fabric. The single fiber fineness of polyamide microfine fibers is 0.2 dtex or less. The bundles of polyamide microfine fibers have an average tenacity of 3.5 cN/dtex or more and an average elongation of 60% or less. Despite its extremely low apparent specific gravity of 0.30 or less, the substrate for artificial leathers exhibits high mechanical properties as evidenced by a tear strength of 50 N/mm or more. Thus, the substrate for artificial leathers is well balanced between the mechanical properties, feel and light weight which are required particularly in sport shoes applications to an extent not conventionally attained.

Abstract: The artificial leather sheet substrates of the invention comprise a united laminate structure of a nonwoven fabric layer A and a knitted or woven fabric layer B and an elastic polymer C impregnated into the united laminate structure. The nonwoven fabric layer A and the knitted or woven fabric layer B are strongly bonded to each other by entanglement. A portion of the microfine fibers constituting the knitted or woven fabric layer B are exposed to the outer surface of the nonwoven fabric layer A. Therefore, the artificial leather sheet substrates exhibit excellent mechanical properties such as resistance to tear stress. Having a high density as compared with conventional artificial leathers, the artificial leather sheet substrates have feel and densified feel similar to those of natural leathers.

Abstract: The leather-like sheet of the invention comprises a napped part of ultrafine fibers and a grainy part of nonporous elastic polymer randomly existing in the surface of a substrate prepared by infiltrating a porous polymer elastomer into a three-dimensionally intermingled nonwoven fabric of ultrafine fibers of not more than 0.5 dtex, and this is characterized in that the nonporous elastic polymer is infiltrated into the substrate to a depth thereof of from 5 to 20 &mgr;m from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A fibrous substrate for artificial leather, containing microfine fiber bundles, each of which is composed of 3-50 microfine fibers (A) containing an elastic polymer and having an average fineness of 0.5 denier or less and 15 or more microfine fibers (B) containing a non-elastic polymer and having an average fineness of 0.2 denier or less. The microfine fiber bundles satisfy the following conditions (1)-(3): (1) the ratio of the number of strands of the A to the number of strands of the B in cross sections of the bundles (A/B) is 1/5 or less, (2) the ratio of the weight of the A to the weight of the B in the bundles (A/B) is 10/90-60/40, and (3) the microfine fibers (B) containing the non-elastic polymer encircle each of the microfine fibers (A) comprising the elastic polymer.

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: An artificial leather sheet substrate comprising: a fiber entangled nonwoven fabric composed of bundles of a polyamide-based microfine fibers comprising a polyamide or a polyamide composition having a hot toluene swelling degree of 2 to 10%, and having a fineness of 0.1 decitex or less; and an elastic polymer and a releasing agent between the bundles, the releasing agent being also added to the inside of the bundles. This leather-like sheet substrate is soft and is excellent in denseness, dyeability and color fastness. The sheet is suitable, as a suede-like artificial leather or a grain surface like artificial leather, for fields for which high quality is required, for example, for clothing. The sheet is high in denseness of surface napped fiber and is excellent in hand touch, writing effect and draping ability, especially as a suede-like artificial leather.

Abstract: Method of making a leather-like sheet material having a low bounce impact elasticity, which comprises: (a) mixing (i) a solvent solution of a polymer (A) consisting mainly of an elastomer and (ii) a dispersion in a liquid of a polymer (B) consisting mainly of an elastomer, thereby obtaining a composite solution containing fine particles of (B) dispersed in a solution of polymer (A); (b) coating a sheet or impregnating a fibrous mat substrate with the composite solution; (c) immersing the substrate in a coagulation bath to deposit and coagulate both polymers; and (d) drying said sheet or mat.