Abstract: This broach includes a broach body having a shaft shape and a cutting edge section in which cutting edges protrude and are arranged in a longitudinal direction on an outer circumference of the broach body. The cutting edge section includes, in the order from a front side of the broach body, an circumference cutting section in which an outer diameter of each of the cutting edges sequentially increases rearward, and a tooth thickness cutting section in which a thickness of each of the cutting edges sequentially increases from the cutting edges at a rear end of the circumference cutting section toward the rear side. At least a rear end portion of the circumference cutting section is a high-feed cutting section in which the cutting depth per cutting edge is set in a range of 0.15 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less.

Abstract: This broach includes a broach body having a shaft shape and a cutting edge section in which cutting edges protrude and are arranged in a longitudinal direction on an outer circumference of the broach body. The cutting edge section includes, in the order from a front side of the broach body, an circumference cutting section in which an outer diameter of each of the cutting edges sequentially increases rearward, and a tooth thickness cutting section in which a thickness of each of the cutting edges sequentially increases from the cutting edges at a rear end of the circumference cutting section toward the rear side. At least a rear end portion of the circumference cutting section is a high-feed cutting section in which the cutting depth per cutting edge is set in a range of 0.15 mm or more and 0.30 mm or less.

Abstract: In a decoding method, photoelectric conversion is performed on light reflected by a code image, a read signal indicating intensity of the reflected light is produced, and the produced read signal is differentiated to produce a derivative signal. The inflection points of intensity of the reflected light in the read signal are detected from the derivative signal and peak levels, each of which is an extreme value of the intensity of the reflected light, the peak level corresponding to a width between the detected inflection points, are detected. A difference between the detected peak levels is then obtained and threshold values for decoding the read signal are set from the obtained difference. This enables the read signal to be decoded even when the code image is spotted with a stain or its printing quality is inferior or even when the read signal is read in its defocus state.

Abstract: In the decoding method, the photoelectric conversion is performed on the light reflected by a code image, a read signal indicating intensity of the reflected light is produced, and the produced read signal is differentiated to produce a derivative signal. On the assumption of this, the inflection points of intensity of the reflected light in the read signal are detected from the produced derivative signal and peak levels as shown in FIG. 9, each of which is an extreme value of the intensity of the reflected light, the peak level corresponding to a width length between the detected inflection points, are detected. A difference between the detected peak levels is then obtained and threshold values ThB2, ThS2 for decoding the read signal are set from the obtained difference between the peak levels. This enables the read signal of the code image to be decoded even when the code image is spotted with a stain or its printing quality is inferior or even when the read signal is read in its defocus state.

Abstract: An optical-information-reading apparatus includes an imaging optical system having a varifocal lens that adjusts a focal position, a solid-state image sensing device that images a code symbol, a ranging laser that measures a distance to the code symbol, and a decoder that calculates the distance to the code symbol using the ranging laser. The apparatus controls the varifocal lens based on calculated distance information.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric board having an upper surface on which a plurality of projections for supporting a substrate on top surfaces and recesses surrounding the projections are formed, an electrode formed inside the dielectric board, and an external power supply which applies a voltage to the electrode. The dielectric board includes a conductor film formed on at least the top surface of each projection, and has a three-dimensional structure which causes the conductor film to generate a Johnson-Rahbeck force between the substrate and conductor film when a voltage is applied to the electrode.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric board having an upper surface on which a plurality of projections for supporting a substrate on top surfaces and recesses surrounding the projections are formed, an electrode formed inside the dielectric board, and an external power supply which applies a voltage to the electrode. The dielectric board includes a conductor film formed on at least the top surface of each projection, and has a three-dimensional structure which causes the conductor film to generate a Johnson-Rahbeck force between the substrate and conductor film when a voltage is applied to the electrode.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck (8) includes a dielectric board (14) having an upper surface on which a plurality of projections (17a) for supporting a substrate on top surfaces and recesses (17b) surrounding the projections (17a) are formed, an electrode (15) formed inside the dielectric board (14), and an external power supply (15) which applies a voltage to the electrode (15). The dielectric board (14) includes a conductor film (19) formed on at least the top surface of each projection (17a), and has a three-dimensional structure which causes the conductor film (19) to generate a Johnson-Rahbeck force between the substrate (9) and conductor film (19) when a voltage is applied to the electrode (15).