Abstract: There is provided a position control apparatus and method for a table member which is capable of controlling the positioning of the table through very small displacement thereof, to thereby prevent the position of the table from deviating even when a disturbance such as vibration is applied to the table. A table member is movable relative to the base member in a predetermined direction. A threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on a base member and elastically deformable when twisted. A motor is coupled to one end of the threaded shaft, for rotating the threaded shaft to displace the table member. A pressurizing and fixing member is arranged in the vicinity of a location where the motor is coupled to the threaded shaft, for pressurizing the threaded shaft to be fixed in position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave motor which is configured to prevent abnormal noise from being produced at a start time or a stop time and, more particularly, to a control device for a vibration wave motor which obtains a driving force by applying a periodic voltage to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element so as to generate in a vibration member thereof a plurality of standing waves having a phase difference therebetween, the plurality of standing waves being synthesized to generate a driving vibration in the vibration member.

Abstract: There is provided a position control apparatus and method for a table member which is capable of controlling the positioning of the table through very small displacement thereof, to thereby prevent the position of the table from deviating even when a disturbance such as vibration is applied to the table. A table member is movable relative to the base member in a predetermined direction. A threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on a base member and elastically deformable when twisted. A motor is coupled to one end of the threaded shaft, for rotating the threaded shaft to displace the table member. A pressurizing and fixing member is arranged in the vicinity of a location where the motor is coupled to the threaded shaft, for pressurizing the threaded shaft to be fixed in position.

Abstract: The present invention has been devised in order to raise driving efficiency of the vibration wave driving apparatus. A vibration member of a vibration wave driving apparatus of the present invention comprises the vibration member constituted of an elastic member and an electromechanical energy conversion element, and a rotor contacting the vibration member, and the vibration member generates a travelling wave in the elastic member when an alternating signal is applied to the electromechanical energy conversion element, in which an electrode film provided on a surface of the electromechanical energy conversion element of the vibration member is divided into a plurality of circular areas with different radiuses and each circular area is divided into a plurality of electrodes along its peripheral direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration wave motor, and more specifically a vibration wave motor which is configured to prevent abnormal noise from being produced at a start time by setting a voltage to be applied to the motor at a motor driving time at a first voltage lower than a voltage for usual driving and gradually changing the voltage from this condition to a specified voltage for the usual driving for driving the motor.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an efficacy of an agricultural chemical which comprises incorporating a specific quaternary ammonium enhancer into a diluted solution of the agricultural chemical.

Abstract: The distal end of a flange of a stator serving as a contact member is located on the outer peripheral side of one linear portion of an elastic member serving as a vibration member, and the inner peripheral side of this linear portion of the elastic member is located on the proximal side of the flange. The ratio of the response amplitude of the flange of the stator to the amplitude of the elastic member is kept almost constant in all areas of contact portions between the two members.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an efficacy of an agricultural chemical which comprises incorporating a specific quaternary ammonium enhancer into a diluted solution of the agricultural chemical.

Abstract: A vibration wave driven motor includes a vibration member which vibrates in response to an applied electrical signal, a rail-shaped stator having a recess formed thereon, a movable base integral with an elastic element, a pair of rollers, one of which engages the recess on the stator, and a pressing spring forcing the vibration member, the stator, and one of the rollers into contact.

Abstract: First and second guide means are provided to both a movable member which moves together with a vibration member, which is in press contact with a rail-shaped stator, and the rail-shaped stator. The first and second guide means have different functions: the first guide means restricts the degree of freedom of the movable member, and the second guide means receives a total compression counterforce of the vibration member.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the effectiveness of an agricultural chemical which comprises incorporating a specific enhancer into a diluted solution of the agricultural chemical.The specific enhancer is a quaternary ammonium salt or a amine.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an efficacy of an agricultural chemical which comprises incorporating a quaternary ammonium enhancer into a diluted solution of the agricultural chemical.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a vibration member having an upper surface, a bottom surface, an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion, and further having a first portion in press contact with the sheet being fed and a second portion substantially out of contact with the sheet while the sheet is being fed. An electromechanical energy conversion element is provided on the bottom surface of the vibration member and generates a vibration wave in the first portion of the vibration member in response to an applied electrical signal, the vibration wave creating a driving force for moving the sheet.

Abstract: A planar auxiliary supporting member for supporting an elastic member for generating a vibration is arranged. The elastic member contacts a rail-shaped stationary member, and moves along the stationary member. The rigidity of the supporting member is set to be low, so that the elastic member as a stator stably moves along the stationary member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which vibration members of the running track type to form travelling waves are arranged in the vertical direction so as to face each other and a sheet sandwiched between them is fed by frictional forces is disclosed. In order to reduce the number of parts of a circuit to drive the upper and lower vibration members, the polarizing directions in the A-phase piezoelectric transducer portions of the piezoelectric transducers for the upper vibration member are opposite to the polarizing directions in the A-phase piezoelectric transducer portions of the piezoelectric transducers for the lower vibration member. Further, the polarizing directions in the B-phase piezoelectric transducer portions for the upper vibration member are the same as the polarizing directions in the B-phase piezoelectric transducer portions for the lower vibration member.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale member provided on one of two bodies which are relatively rotated and have gratings arranged in a relative rotating direction and a light irradiator for irradiating a first region with beams. A diffracted image of the first region is projected on a second region of the scale member. The encoder further includes a detector for detecting the beams from the second region. The relative rotation of the other body is detected based on a detected result thereof. A scale whose relative rotation to a rotation detecting device is detected by being irradiated with the beams from the encoder. The scale includes a base member formed with a grating having surfaces inclined to incident beams. In addition, a driving system causes relative rotation between the two bodies. This system includes a device for relatively rotationally driving the two bodies and a controller for controlling a driving condition of the driving device.

Abstract: A process for producing an N-alkyl-N-methylamine or an N-alkenyl-N-methylamine in a high yield from a higher alcohol and methylamine comprising the step of reacting a higher alcohol with methylamine in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper and a fourth period transition metal of the Periodic Table, except for chromium, or a catalyst comprising copper, a fourth period transition metal of the Periodic Table, except for chromium, and an element of the platinum group VIII of the Periodic Table, at a pressure ranging from atmospheric pressure to 100 atm. G., at a reaction temperature ranging from 100.degree. to 250.degree. C., with hydrogen gas being introduced into the reaction system while water produced in the reaction is removed from the reaction system and the amount of methylamine in the gaseous mixture which contains no matter formed through the reaction and is exhausted from the reaction system is regulated from 5 to 50% by volume.

Abstract: An aqueous fabric softener composition is disclosed, which comprises water and, as a softener new material, an ammonium salt obtained by neutralizing the following Compound (A):(A) a di-long chain type tertiary amine compound containing one ##STR1## group in which R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 11 to 21 carbon atom, one CONH group and one alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 11 to 22 carbon atomswith the following Compound (B):an inorganic acid or an organic acid containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,or quaternizing Compound (A), or a mixture of the ammonium salt obtained by neutralizing Compound (A) with Compound (B) and the ammonium salt obtained by quaternizing Compound (A). An ammonium salt obtained by neutralizing or quaternizing Compound (A) is also disclosed. The fabric softener composition of the present invention imparts the sufficient softness, the antistaticity and the resiliency (fluffy feeling) to clothes of various fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a feeding device for feeding a sheet, in which the sheet (member to be fed) is urged against surfaces of elastic members that are opposed to surfaces on which vibration elements are fixedly mounted, and a frequency voltage is applied to the vibration elements to create vibration waves in the elastic members, whereby a feeding force is supplied to the sheet by vibrating surfaces of the elastic members on which the vibration waves are created. A detecting device is also provided for detecting a feeding amount of the sheet. The apparatus is adapted to urge and pinch the sheet by a rotary shaft of a rotation angle detection device or a roller fixed to the rotary shaft and a rotatable pressure roller disposed in confronting relation to the aforementioned roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a vibration member having at least one circular-arc portion, for generating a travelling wave, and a sheet guide for guiding a sheet. Since an amplitude of vibration at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member is smaller than an amplitude of vibration at an outer circumferential side, a distortion is produced in the vibration member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet. The sheet guide is provided at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member, so that the sheet is fed due to the distortion while being pressed against the sheet guide. Hence, an oblique movement of the sheet due to unevenness in the thickness of the sheet can be prevented.