Kao Corporation

Ranco Japan Ltd.

Ikuo Takahashi

Shinji Moriyama

Yutaka Kanamaru

Yoshiki Yoshimura

Takashi Sakurai

Koji Akiyama

Koji Shimokusa

Masahiro Umehara

Takeshi Atsugi

Tutomu Akashi

Kazuhiko Sugawara

Yoshio Yoshimura

Shuji Watanabe

Printing method, printer, printed object, and optical disk

Optical disc, process for producing the optical disc and its

A directional control valve is provided for switching the mode of operation in a heat transfer system which includes a compressor, for compressing a refrigerant, with discharge and suction ports, first and second heat exchangers, and an expansion valve provided between the first and second heat exchangers. The directional control valve includes a cylindrical valve body with a high pressure port which is fluidly connected to the discharge port through a conduit, a low pressure port which is fluidly connected to the suction port through a conduit, first and second ports which are connected to the first and second heat exchangers respectively through conduits. The directional control valve further includes a first valve element which is enclosed within the valve body and is rotational between first and second rotational positions about the axis of the valve body and an arrangement for rotating the first valve element between the first and second positions. The first valve element includes passages for fluidly connecting, at the first rotational position, the high pressure port to the second port, and connecting the low pressure port to the first port, and at the second rotational position, connecting the high pressure port to the first port, and connecting the low pressure port to the second port to switch the flow direction of the refrigerant in the heat transfer system.

Directional control valve for switching the mode of operation in a heat

A fixing apparatus for fixing visible images formed on a recording medium has a heat roller having a heating member in the inner portion of the heat roller, and a flat plate-like elastic member forming a nip in contact with the heat roller and capable of exerting a pressure at the nip portion by an elastic stress, the recording medium being fed into the nip portion. According to the fixing apparatus and the fixing method using this apparatus, since a pressure roller is not necessary, the system can be simplified, which leads to miniaturization of the overall fixing apparatus, reduction of overall weight and cost reduction.

Fixing apparatus and fixing method using the same

Growing community of inventors

Utsunomiya, Japan

Ikuo Takahashi