Abstract: A dropping rate measuring device for measuring a flow rate of liquid droplets which grow on a lower end of a nozzle and intermittently drop from the lower end of the nozzle includes an imaging unit that images a growing liquid droplet which is growing on the lower end of the nozzle at a plurality of time points and acquires a plurality of pieces of image data of the growing liquid droplet, and a data processor that calculates the flow rate by analyzing the plurality of pieces of image data acquired by the imaging unit.

Abstract: A blowing apparatus includes a blowing unit, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a top casing, a middle casing, and a bottom casing. The bottom casing has an intake hole. The middle casing has a nozzle to which a tube is attached, and also has an exhaust hole inside the nozzle. The exhaust hole is connected to a mask, with the tube interposed therebetween. The blowing unit includes a fan and a motor configured to rotate the fan. The blowing unit is located in a region between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The first circuit board intersects a rotation axis of the fan. The first circuit board covers the blowing unit as viewed from the top casing in plan view of the first circuit board.

Abstract: A cuff-pressure control device includes a pump, an inner pipe connected to the pump, a pressure sensor that measures an internal pressure of the inner pipe, and a control unit that controls a cuff pressure. A cuff is separable from the cuff-pressure control device, and, in a separation state, a first space in communication with the cuff is kept airtight such that the cuff pressure is maintained. The control unit adjusts a pressure in the cuff-pressure control device to a pressure of the first space before the cuff is connected to the cuff-pressure control device in a connection state in which the cuff in the separation state is connected to the cuff-pressure control device and the cuff and the inner pipe are in communication with each other.

Abstract: A liquid delivery device includes a constant flow valve, a pump and channels. A medicinal solution bag is connected to the liquid delivery device. The pump has a suction aperture, a discharge aperture and check valves. The constant flow valve includes a valve casing and a diaphragm that partitions the interior of the valve casing to form a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber. A first opening, a second opening, and a third opening are provided in the valve casing. A conical spring arranged between and in contact with a top plate and the diaphragm is provided in the second valve chamber. The spring applies a pressure towards an O-ring side to a second main surface of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A dropping rate measuring device for measuring a flow rate of liquid droplets which grow on a lower end of a nozzle and intermittently drop from the lower end of the nozzle includes an imaging unit that images a growing liquid droplet which is growing on the lower end of the nozzle at a plurality of time points and acquires a plurality of pieces of image data of the growing liquid droplet, and a data processor that calculates the flow rate by analyzing the plurality of pieces of image data acquired by the imaging unit.

Abstract: A cuff-pressure control device includes a pump supplying gas into the cuff, a connection path connecting the pump and the cuff, an exhaust valve exhausting gas in the cuff through the connection path, a pressure sensor measuring an internal pressure of the connection path, and a controller controlling the internal pressure of the cuff according to a measured value of the internal pressure of the connection path measured with the pressure sensor. The controller includes an obstruction detection unit that obtains, from the measured value of the pressure sensor, a pressure change amount from a time point when the pump is stopped while the internal pressure of the connection path is being increased by the pump to a time point after a predetermined time elapses and that detects the obstruction of the connection tube when the pressure change amount is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A forward check valve and a fuel cell system are provided which include a valve portion including a valve body, a supporting portion, a hole, and a fixation portion. The valve body contacts a valve seat when the valve portion is accommodated in an opening. The supporting portion supports the valve body so that the valve body is movable in directions in which the valve body moves towards and away from the valve seat. The fixation portion contacts an inner peripheral surface defining the opening of a valve housing to fix the supporting portion when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. The fixation portion includes protruding portions that protrude from a mount surface of the valve housing when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. By fitting the valve portion to the opening, the valve portion is accommodated in the opening of the valve housing.

Abstract: A cuff pressure controller device (100) is connected to a foregoing cuff (10) via an air supply tube (125). The cuff pressure controller device (100) includes a controller unit (111), a cuff pressure detector unit (113), a driver circuit (119), a piezoelectric pump (101), a check valve (121), and a release valve (122). The cuff pressure detector unit (113) detects the cuff pressure of the cuff (10). The driver circuit (119) drives the piezoelectric pump (101) at a drive frequency of 20 kHz or higher. The controller unit (111) controls the cuff pressure detector unit (113), the driver circuit (119), and the release valve (122) in such a way that the cuff pressure stays within a predetermined range based on detection results of the cuff pressure detector unit (113) and the like.

Abstract: A forward check valve and a fuel cell system in which fluid control is performed with increased reliability when a highly active fluid is used are structured such that when an edge portion of a cap is joined to an edge portion of a valve housing, a peripheral edge portion of a diaphragm is pushed and sandwiched by a peripheral edge portion of the cap and a placement portion. Further, the diaphragm is formed of rubber. As a result, the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm is compressed by the peripheral edge portion of the cap and the placement portion, so that the degree of contact at a contact portion between the placement portion and the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm becomes very high. Consequently, in the forward check valve, joints of the members including a joint of the edge portion of the cap and the edge portion of the valve housing do not contact methanol.

Abstract: A liquid delivery device includes a constant flow valve, a pump and channels. A medicinal solution bag is connected to the liquid delivery device. The pump has a suction aperture, a discharge aperture and check valves. The constant flow valve includes a valve casing and a diaphragm that partitions the interior of the valve casing to form a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber. A first opening, a second opening, and a third opening are provided in the valve casing. A conical spring arranged between and in contact with a top plate and the diaphragm is provided in the second valve chamber. The spring applies a pressure towards an O-ring side to a second main surface of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A valve includes a cap, a diaphragm defining a movable portion, a valve housing, and a valve portion. An inlet port through which fluid flows into a valve chamber, an outlet port through which the fluid flows out from the valve chamber, and a placement portion on which a peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm is placed are provided in the valve housing. The diaphragm includes a peripheral edge portion, a center portion, a connecting portion connecting the peripheral edge portion and the center portion, and a pusher. The connecting portion has a wave shape from the peripheral edge portion side toward the center portion side such that the connecting portion first projects to a valve body portion side, and next projects to the cap side.

Abstract: A forward check valve and a fuel cell system are provided which include a valve portion including a valve body, a supporting portion, a hole, and a fixation portion. The valve body contacts a valve seat when the valve portion is accommodated in an opening. The supporting portion supports the valve body so that the valve body is movable in directions in which the valve body moves towards and away from the valve seat. The fixation portion contacts an inner peripheral surface defining the opening of a valve housing to fix the supporting portion when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. The fixation portion includes protruding portions that protrude from a mount surface of the valve housing when the valve portion is accommodated in the opening. By fitting the valve portion to the opening, the valve portion is accommodated in the opening of the valve housing.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic bonding method that bonds a material to a bonding surface by the application of ultrasonic vibration, both side faces of the material in the direction of ultrasonic vibration are clamped by an application member that applies a predetermined ultrasonic vibration, and by a clamping member. The clamping member is synchronously vibrated by ultrasonic vibration transmitted through the material from the application member, and the material is bonded to the bonding surface while being pressed against the application member and against the bonding surface. In this method, high bonding quality can be achieved by efficiently transmitting ultrasonic vibration from the application member to a material to be bonded, and the material can be prevented from tilting, cracking, chipping, or the like without being subjected to a special working operation, for example, forming of a chamfered portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic bonding apparatus including an ultrasonic horn formed as a horizontally symmetrical inverse triangle having two apexes besides a lower apex facing downwards; a vibrator attached to at least one apex for inputting ultrasonic vibrations in a direction facing the lower apex; and a load applying device linked to the ultrasonic horn above the lower apex and near the symmetry axis thereof, for applying a downwards pressing load. An abutting member for pressing on the objects to be bonded is provided at the lower apex of the horn. No flexing occurs at the ultrasonic horn due to the applied load, and a uniform load and ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the entire bonding face, yielding uniform and high-quality bonding.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic bonding method that bonds a material to a bonding surface by the application of ultrasonic vibration, both side faces of the material in the direction of ultrasonic vibration are clamped by an application member that applies a predetermined ultrasonic vibration, and by a clamping member. The clamping member is synchronously vibrated by ultrasonic vibration transmitted through the material from the application member, and the material is bonded to the bonding surface while being pressed against the application member and against the bonding surface. In this method, high bonding quality can be achieved by efficiently transmitting ultrasonic vibration from the application member to a material to be bonded, and the material can be prevented from tilting, cracking, chipping, or the like without being subjected to a special working operation, for example, forming of a chamfered portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic bonding apparatus for applying a pressing load and ultrasonic vibrations to multiple objects to be bonded comprises: an ultrasonic horn formed as a horizontally symmetrical inverse triangle having two apexes besides a lower apex facing downwards; a vibrator attached to at least one apex of the ultrasonic horn for inputting ultrasonic vibrations in a direction facing the lower apex; and a load applying device linked to a portion on the ultrasonic horn which is above the lower apex and near the symmetry axis thereof, for applying a downwards pressing load to the ultrasonic horn. An abutting member for applying a pressing load and ultrasonic vibrations to the objects to be bonded is provided at the lower apex of the horn. This provides an ultrasonic bonding apparatus wherein flexing does not occur at the ultrasonic horn due to the applied load, and a uniform load and ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the entire bonding face, yielding uniform and high-quality bonding.