Abstract: A carburization and quenching apparatus includes: a plurality of carburizing chambers for carburizing thin plate parts; a gas cooling chamber for cooling the thin plate parts carburized in the carburizing chambers; and a reservoir tank 3 connected to the gas cooling chamber for delivering a cooling gas into the gas cooling chamber. The plurality of carburizing chambers are positioned at an approximately equal distance from the gas cooling chamber to surround the gas cooling chamber.In a continuous furnace, thin plate parts can be transported successively at least between a carburizing chamber and a pressurized cooling chamber. The thin plate parts are carburized in the carburizing chamber and then rapidly quenched in the pressurized cooling chamber by cooling the thin plate parts with a pressurized gas which can be e.g. inert gas.

Abstract: The grinding machine for grinding a frictional surface of a pad of the present invention comprises: a grooving cutter to be rotated; a cylindrical grinding wheel arranged at a position distant from the grooving cutter; a pad chucking portion for holding a frictional surface of the brake pad so that the frictional surface can be opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical grinding wheel; an X-axis feed mechanism for advancing and retreating the pad chucking portion in the direction of X-axis parallel to the frictional surface of the brake pad; a Y-axis feed mechanism for advancing and retreating the pad chucking portion in the direction of Y-axis perpendicular to the frictional surface of the brake pad; a Z-axis rotation mechanism for rotating the brake pad around the Z-axis perpendicular to the frictional surface of the brake pad; and a numerically controlling circuit for controlling the motions conducted by the above mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gas-filled microspheres useful as ultrasound contrast agents. More particularly, the present invention relates to gas-filled microspheres prepared from amphiphilic poly amino acid block co-polymers and a pharmacologically acceptable water-insoluble gas. The hydrophobic block of the co-polymer is formed from amino acids possessing hydrophobic side-chains, for example, leucine, isoleucine, valine, and phenylalanine, and the hydrophilic block of the co-polymer is formed from amino acids possessing hydrophilic side-chains, for example, glutamic acid (and its ionized form, glutamate), aspartic acid (and its ionized form, aspartate), and lysine.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image-developing device includes a toner cartridge provided with a container having a toner discharge opening, a toner contained in the container and a sealing tape for sealing the toner discharge opening, and a toner cartridge-holding device having a toner-receiving opening and allowing detachable mounting of the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge holding device has a toner cartridge mount detection switch that is opened and closed by the attachment or detachment of the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge mount detection switch is inserted in an electric circuit that feeds electric power to an electric motor that drives a conveying device for conveying the discharged toner from the cartridge to the developing unit or drives a take-up shaft for taking up the sealing tape.

Abstract: A toner cartridge installation unit for an image forming device is disclosed which allows proper toner cartridge installation to take place. The installation unit includes at least one detection slot, and the toner cartridge includes a detection member. If the proper toner cartridge has been selected, or if certain foreign objects have not fallen into the installation unit, the detection member will slide into the detection slot, and a switch within the detection slot will be activated, thereby allowing installation to be completed. If the wrong toner cartridge has been chosen, or if certain foreign objects have fallen into the installation device, the switch will not be activated, the installation unit will discharge the toner cartridge from the image forming device, and the user will be alerted.

Abstract: In a copying processing performed several times from the depression of a copy button of a copying machine until the surface potential of the photoreceptor drum is stabilized, a voltage sufficiently high for correcting the rise characteristic of the photosensitive layer on the drum surface is applied to a charger. A main circuit having a controlling portion to realize this corrects the output voltage of the high-voltage generating circuit which applies a high voltage to the charger to a voltage value necessary for the drum surface to be charged at a stable potential level. The main circuit charges the drum surface at the stable potential level necessary for development from copying of the first sheet.

Abstract: A control system for an occupant restraint system mounted on the vehicle including an air-bag to protect the vehicle occupant from direct contact with a steering wheel or a windshield, comprises a control circuit for detecting deceleration of the vehicle, for integrating the value obtained by subtracting a predetermined integration offset from the deceleration to obtain an integrated value, for making a decision to operate the occupant restraint system when the integrated value exceeds a predetermined threshold level, for calculating a physical amount representative of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, for setting a changing timing at which the integration offset is changed in accordance with the physical amount, and for changing the integration offset of the changing timing.

Abstract: A control system for an occupant restraint system including an airbag which is mounted on an automotive vehicle to protect a vehicle occupant from coming into direct contact with a steering wheel and/or a windshield. The control system comprises a control circuit including a microcomputer. The microcomputer is adapted to execute the following control. A decision is made to operate (inflate) the airbag when a vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The threshold level is changed at a timing which is set in accordance with a physical amount representative of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, thereby securely operating the airbag merely by making a simple adjustment to the control system.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit includes a sheet forwarding unit for forwarding sheets from a sheet storing unit, a key input portion, a sheet detection gate, and a control unit. In one embodiment, the sheet forwarding unit repetitively performs its function after an operation start instruction until either the sheet detection gate detects a sheet from the feeding cassette or until the number of repetitions of the sheet forwarding unit reaches a predetermined number. An error process is performed when the number of repetition reaches the predetermined number without the gate detecting a sheet. Also, the sheet feeding unit compares the number of times a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit with the number of times the sheet if forwarding to determine the status of the feeding roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA coding for uricase from the genus Cellulomonas and a process for producing uricase using a microorganism which carries a recombinant DNA containing the DNA.

Abstract: An encoder is connected to the drive system of the optical system of an image forming apparatus including an optical system for exposing a document image to a light and scanning the document image, a home position switch for detecting the optical system when it comes to the vicinity of the starting position, and a resist roller for setting the feeding start timing of a transfer sheet to the transfer section, and, on reproducing the above document image on a transfer sheet, when the pulse signals coming from the encoder, which are counted from the time when the optical system passes through the home position switch, reach the appointed value, the above resist roller operates.

Abstract: A paper supplying deck is insertable into and withdrawable from a paper supplying portion of a body resulting in electrical connection between the side of the paper supplying deck and the side of the body through a drawer-type connector when the paper supplying deck is inserted and interruption of such electrical connection when the drawer is withdrawn. The paper supplying deck has a paper carrying portion with a paper width setting mechanism and a variable resistor the resistance value of which is changed in dependence on the paper width setting mechanism, thereby changing an output paper width detecting voltage. On the wide of the paper supplying deck, a resistance which prevents the paper width detecting voltage from amounting to a power source voltage even though the resistance value of the variable resistor reaches a maximum value, is connected in series with the variable resistor.

Abstract: A novel D-amidase is described. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzes D-.alpha.-alanineamide into D-.alpha.-alanine. It is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, and is useful as an enzyme for efficiently producing D-.alpha.-alanine having a high optical purity and/or L-.alpha.-alanineamide from DL-.alpha.-alanineamide or D-.alpha.-alanineamide at low cost.

Abstract: A sorter incorporating a stapler is an apparatus for sorting and stapling sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus. This sorter includes a plurality of vertically movable bins for storing the supplied sheets, a bin drive unit for conveying the bins, a stapler for stapling the sheets stored in the bins, a pair of lateral guides, and a lateral guide drive unit for moving the lateral guides. The lateral guides are movable in the width direction of the sheets in the bins and abut on both sides of stacks of the sheets to arrange them into widthwise adjustment, and then to move them into the stapling position of the stapler.

Abstract: A novel D-amidase is described. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzes D-.alpha.-alanineamide into D-.alpha.-alanine. It is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, and is useful as an enzyme for efficiently producing D-.alpha.-alanine having a high optical purity and/or L-.alpha.-alanineamide from DL-.alpha.-alanineamide or D-.alpha.-alanineamide at low cost.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and transferring sheets comprises storing means for storing a stack of sheets, first transferring means for transferring a sheet located at an end of the stack of the sheets from the storing means in a first direction, and second transferring means for transferring the next sheet located at the end of the stack of the sheets from the storing means in a second direction. The first and second directions are different from each other. The apparatus for sorting and transferring the sheets is applied; for example, to an automatic original transferring apparatus and a temporary storing tray of a copying machine.

Abstract: A method for processing glyceride fats and oils which comprises the steps of subjecting a mixture of a glyceride fat or oil and a monohydric alcohol fatty acid ester to an enzymatic ester interchange reaction; distilling the reaction mixture of the ester interchange reaction to separate a distillate from a processed glyceride fat or oil to recover the latter; subjecting the distillate to an esterification reaction to lower its acid value; and recycling the distillate for use as a starting material for the ester interchange reaction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a potential sensor for measuring a potential at the surface of a photoreceptor drum; a voltage generation circuit for generating a voltage lower than a voltage to be actually induced at the surface of the photoreceptor drum in the course of image formation; switching means for switching a condition so that the photoreceptor is connected to the voltage generation circuit or earthed; and charger-output control means for obtaining a value of a surface potential of the photoreceptor measured by the potential sensor at the time when a voltage form the voltage generation circuit is applied to the photoreceptor by operating the switching means, estimating by arithmetic operation, on the basis of the measured value thus obtained, a value to be measured by the potential sensor when a high voltage is actually induced at the photoreceptor surface in the course of the image formation, and controlling an output from the charger based on the value estimated by the above arithmetic operatio

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active acylated cephalosporin analogs which are useful as antibacterial agents and methods for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: Optically active cephalosporin analogs are produced by optically selective deacylation of an optically inactive acylated analog. The compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of optically active acylated antimicrobial agents.