Abstract: A laser maintenance apparatus is provided with a laser system including a laser light source and an optical system and emitting a laser light, a light transmitting device for generating the laser light emitted from the laser system, and a laser irradiation device for irradiating the laser light generated by the light transmitting device to an object portion. The laser system includes an element for changing an irradiation condition of the laser light.

Abstract: A thermochromic coloring color-memory composition comprising a homogeneous solubilized mixture of (A) an electron donative coloring organic compound, (B) an electron accepting compound and (C) a compound represented by the specific formula as a reaction medium which controls color reactions of the components (A) and (B).

Abstract: A water-based ink composition for ballpoint pen, which comprises at least a colorant, water, a shear-thinning tackifier and a thickening inhibitor, wherein a ratio (x) of a viscosity after evaporation of 40 wt % of water from the total ink amount to an initial ink viscosity (as measured by EMD viscometer at 1 rpm and 20° C.) is 2 or less; and a ballpoint pen comprising the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for protecting an antenna power circuit from overcurrent. A fuse and a positive thermistor are serially connected to an antenna power line, which is the output of the antenna power circuit, and power is fed to an antenna control cable via the power line. When overcurrent flows in the antenna power line due to a short circuit in the antenna control unit or due to another cause, the resistance of the positive thermistor increases and the electric current in the antenna power circuit is controlled before the fuse is melted. For this reason, the troublesome work of replacing the fuse is not required, and the system can be immediately restored from the abnormal state to its original state.

Abstract: A reversible thermochromic composition which can be freely adjusted in its discoloration temperature even if the kind of electron donating compound and electron accepting compound to be used in combination remain the same and exhibits a remarkably improved light-fastness during quenching. A reversible thermochromic composition having an improved light-fastness comprising (a) an electron donating compound, (b) an electron accepting compound ultraviolet absorbing capacity represented by the following general formula I: wherein X represents a hydrogen atom, —CnH2n+1 or —OCmH2m+1; m represents an integer of from 1 to 9; n represents an integer of from 1 to 10; and p represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and (c) a discoloration temperature adjustor and a product comprising same.

Abstract: The present invention provides an underwater maintenance and repair technology of including a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam and a working head movably attached to the vicinity of a working target portion in the underwater and adapted to scan the laser beam to the working target portion, and further, independently fixing the working head to the vicinity of the working target portion, jointing an optical fiber cable to the working head by using a joint mechanism through a remote control operation, guiding a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator via the optical fiber cable, and irradiating the laser beam from the working head to a surface of the working target portion while scanning it so as to achieve surface modification, surface working and decontamination.

Abstract: The present invention provides an underwater maintenance and repair technology of including a laser oscillator for generating a laser beam and a working head movably attached to the vicinity of a working target portion in the underwater and adapted to scan the laser beam to the working target portion, and further, independently fixing the working head to the vicinity of the working target portion, jointing an optical fiber cable to the working head by using a joint mechanism through a remote control operation, guiding a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator via the optical fiber cable, and irradiating the laser beam from the working head to a surface of the working target portion while scanning it so as to achieve surface modification, surface working and decontamination.

Abstract: A thermochromic acrylic synthetic fiber comprising an acrylonitrile polymer in which a thermochromic pigment composition with an average particle diameter of from 0.5 &mgr;m to 30 &mgr;m is dispersedly contained in an amount of from 0.5% by weight to 40% by weight based on the weight of the polymer, and being made into fibers; the pigment composition containing (a) an electron-donating color-developing organic compound, (b) an electron-accepting compound and (c) a reaction medium that determines the temperature at which the color-developing reaction of the both compounds takes place. Also disclosed are a processed article of the above thermochromic acrylic synthetic fiber, and a process for producing the thermochromic acrylic synthetic fiber.

Abstract: A thermochromic acrylic synthetic fiber comprising an acrylonitrile polymer in which a thermochromic pigment composition with an average particle diameter of from 0.5 &mgr;m to 30 &mgr;m is dispersedly contained in an amount of from 0.5% by weight to 40% by weight based on the weight of the polymer, and being made into fibers; the pigment composition containing (a) an electron-donating color-developing organic compound, (b) an electron-accepting compound and (c) a reaction medium that determines the temperature at which the color-developing reaction of the both compounds takes place.

Abstract: A color-change laminate comprising a substrate and formed thereon a porous layer which comprises a low-refractive-index pigment dispersed in a binder resin and tenaciously adherent thereto is disclosed. The porous layer becomes transparent or translucent upon absorption of a liquid medium, e.g., water to give a variety of visual changes. The low-refractive-index pigment contains at least a finely particulate silicic acid produced by the wet process. Toy sets consisting of the above color-change laminates with dolls or toy animals and toy sets consisting of the above color-change laminates with a means of water adhesion are also provided.

Abstract: A reversible thermochromic composition which can be freely adjusted in its discoloration temperature even if the kind of electron donating compound and electron accepting compound to be used in combination remain the same and exhibits a remarkably improved light-fastness during quenching.

Abstract: A reversible thermochromic composition comprising as essential components (a) an electron-donating color-developing organic compound, (b) at least one electron-accepting compound selected from alkoxyphenol compounds represented by Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group; and (c) a compound serving as a reaction medium capable of reversibly causing electron-donating/accepting reaction attributable to the components (a) and (b). This composition has a reversible metachromatic function that it presents a color-developed state when heated in a color-extinguished state and presents the color-extinguished state when temperature-dropped or cooled in the color-developed state, or that it begins to develop a color in the course of temperature drop after heating, having been triggered by its temperature rise when heated in a color-extinguished state, and returns to the color-extinguished state after it has presented a color-developed state in a maximum developed-color density.

Abstract: A reversible thermochromic composition is formed by blending: (a) an electron donating compound; (b) an electron accepting compound; (c) a metachromatic temperature adjuster; (d) an electron accepting, light-fastness providing agent represented by Formula I based on 1.0 part by weight of the component-(a) electron donating compound: ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer of 5 to 17; X and Y each represent C.sub.1-4 or halogen; and p and m each represent an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: A method of causing metachromatism by the use of a reversible thermochromic composition comprising (a) an electron donating compound, (b) an electron accepting compound and (c) a metachromatic temperature adjuster, wherein;(d) an electron accepting, light-fastness providing agent represented by Formula I: ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer of 5 to 17 to form a straight-chain or branched alkyl group; X and Y each represent a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; and p and m each represent an integer of 0 to 3;is brought into presence in an amount of 0.3 part by weight to 70 parts by weight based on 1.0 part by weight of the component-(a) electron donating compound.The light-fastness of the reversible thermochromic composition at the time of color development can be greatly improved.

Abstract: A color variation inducing device is positioned in contact with or in the proximity of or effects action through air blowing means on a thermally color-varying article provided with a thermally color-varying layer, thereby inducing color variation in the thermally color-varying layer. The device comprises an electrothermal converter device provided with a heat absorbing portion and a heat generating portion based on Peltier effect, a radiator connected to the heat generating side of the electrothermal converter device, and a casing for housing and supporting the electrothermal converter device, wherein the electrothermal converter device is rendered functionable under the application of a DC voltage in such a manner that the heat absorbing side thereof exhibits a temperature reduction of at least 3.degree. C. with respect to the ambient temperature, within an ambient temperature range from 10.degree. to 35.degree. C.

Abstract: An electrothermal color-varying instrument for inducing color change in a color-varying layer includes a heat generating element composed of a sintered barium titanate thermistor in face-to face contact with a heat transmitting member having a heating end portion for transmitting heat to the thermal color-varying layer. The thermistor has:(i) a positive temperature coefficient on the electrical resistance within a temperature range from 25.degree. C. to 70.degree. C.;(ii) a volume resistivity at 25.degree. C. (.rho..sub.25) within a range of 9.8.times.10.sup.-3 to 2.97.times.10.sup.5 .OMEGA..multidot.cm; and(iii) a ratio (.rho..sub.70 /.rho..sub.25) of the volume resistivity at 70.degree. C. to that at 25.degree. C. within a range of 5.ltoreq.(.rho..sub.70 /.rho..sub.25).ltoreq.400.The electrothermal heat generating element generates heat under the application of a voltage in the range of 0.8 to 40 volts and maintains a saturated heating temperature within a range of 30 to 100 degrees C.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrothermal color-varying device inducing color change in a thermally color-varying layer by heat generation in an electrothermal heat-generating member, in which the heat-generating member is composed of a non-metallic member having a positive temperature coefficient on the electric resistance at least in a temperature range 25.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. and a particular volume resistivity, is adapted to generate heat by the application of a low voltage and is capable of self-control of the saturated heating temperature at an arbitrary temperature within a range of 25.degree. C. to 65.degree. C., whereby improved safety is achieved without the danger of overheating or current leakage. Also there are disclosed toys utilizing such color-varying device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink supplying device for a printing press provided with a master cylinder (7), including an ink supply roller (41) comprising a cylindrical core member (51) internally defining an ink chamber (53) for containing ink, a cylindrical ink-absorbing member (52) formed on the cylindrical core member. The ink-absorbing member (52) is impregnated with the ink contained in the ink chamber (53) by a capillary action. The ink is transferred from the ink-absorbing member (52) through mixing rollers (43, 44) and an inking roller (46) to a master paper (2) wound around the master cylinder (7) of the printing press in an ink film of uniform thickness.

Abstract: An offset printing machine having a blanket sheet wrapped around an outer circumferential surface of a blanket cylinder 3 so as to come in contact with a master and having clamps 29 and 30 for releasably retaining opposite ends of the blanket sheet to the blanket cylinder 3. After ending a printing operation, the blanket sheet is removed from the clamps 29 and 30 and dumped. Accordingly, the cleaning of the blanket cylinder 3 can be omitted to prevent hands and clothes from being stained.

Abstract: A reading device includes an inlet port for a boarding pass, a reading section for reading data recorded on part of the boarding pass, and a feeding section for transporting a boarding pass from the inlet port to the reading section. The reading device further includes a rotating section for holding a boarding pass fed thereto and rotating together with the boarding pass, and a control circuit for checking the orientation of the boarding pass inserted into the inlet port, and instructing the feeding section to temporarily feed the boarding pass to the rotating section and instructing said rotating section to turn over the boarding pass when it is detected that the boarding pass has been inserted in a particular incorrect orientation.