Asahi Corporation

Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited

Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho

Susumu Arai

Akira Maeda

Shigeru Matsuno

Masato Koyama

Shoji Miyashita

Takanori Sone

Yasumichi Hatanaka

Takeyuki Maegawa

Fumio Kobayashi

Takuo Ozawa

Hideo Yano

Takahiro Nagamine

The present invention is to provide a microfluidic device capable of allowing a fluid to stably flow in a microchannel without using an external source such as a pump or a suction device, and the microfluidic device, provided with a microchannel to which a sample liquid is transported, includes: an inlet reservoir which reserves a sample liquid to be introduced into said microchannel; an inlet which is provided on a sample-introduced side of the microchannel, and communicates with the inlet reservoir; an outlet provided on a sample-discharged side of the microchannel; and an open channel which is provided as communicating with the outlet, and part of at least one surface of which is opened to the outside atmosphere, wherein the inlet is provided at a higher position in a gravity direction than the outlet.

Microfluidic device

This passive one-way valve is used in a connection portion between first and second flow channels, and includes: an inlet portion into which a fluid from the first flow channel flows; an elastic portion for blocking the inlet portion; a rigid portion for supporting the elastic portion from a side opposite to the inlet portion across the elastic portion; a gap portion formed around the rigid portion; and an outlet portion which is in communication with the gap portion for letting the fluid flow out into the second flow channel. Furthermore, the inlet portion is hermetically sealed by the elastic portion being pressed against the inlet portion side by the rigid portion. According to this passive one-way valve, it is possible to provide a simple and inexpensive passive one-way valve without requiring special equipment such as a vacuum pump and pressurized air, and to provide a microfluidic device using the same.

Passive one-way valve and microfluidic device

A metal electrode is formed on a substrate. The metal electrode includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer lying, from an outermost surface of the metal electrode toward the substrate, in this order. The first layer contains tin as a principal constituent and the second layer contains a metallic element which produces an eutectic reaction with tin, wherein the melting point of the first layer is higher than the melting point of the second layer. The third layer is an underlying metallic layer for the first and second layers.

Metal electrode and bonding method using the metal electrode

When an auto-reverse is designated in the state of the magnetic tape of a cassette being transferred in a first direction with a planetary gear meshing with a first reel gear, a motor reverses, and also a central gear reverses such that the planetary gear starts revolving around the central gear away from the first reel gear. The planetary gear meshes with a mode changing gear, and rotate the mode changing gear, a projection and a switching member. In accordance with the rotation of the switching member, a head base moves horizontally and a magnetic head separates from the magnetic tape. Further, a bent piece on the head base abuts against a stopper, due to which the revolution of the planetary gear stops, and the planetary gear stays to assuredly transmit the revolution of the central gear to the mode changing gear. Moreover, the projection while in rotation presses a slider. As the slider slides, the magnetic head turns 180.degree.. When the mode changing gear further rotates, the head base horizontally moves again in accordance with the rotation of the switching member, and the magnetic head comes into contact with the magnetic head. The bent piece also moves horizontally, as a result of which the bent piece and the stopper disengage from each other, and the planetary gear becomes revolvable and starts revolving around the central gear toward a second reel gear. The planetary gear meshes with the second reel gear, and drives the second reel gear to transfer the magnetic tape in the reverse direction. Thus, using the driving force generated by the motor, the reversal of the transfer direction of the magnetic tape, the rotation of the magnetic head and the movement of the head base are performed.

Cassette tape driving device with auto-reverse function

An arm 17 adapted to swing with its one end 17a pressed by a protrusion 12 made by protruding the axle of an idle gear 10 is disposed under a body chassis 1. A plate slide lever 18 adapted to horizontally move forward and backward by the swing of the other end 17b of the arm 17 is disposed at the other end 17b of the arm 17. A guide channel 20 is provided in the slide lever 18. The guide channel 20 includes a guide portion adapted to guide a pin 19 so as to vertically move the head base 8. An upper end lock portion 22 adapted to lock the head base 8 at its elevated position by means of the pin 19 and a lower end lock portion 23 adapted to lock the head base 8 at its elevated position by means of the pin 19 are provided at both ends of the guide channel 20. The head base can be vertically moved smoothly and can be firmly locked at predetermined positions.

Cassette tape driving device

A disk holding device contains a turn table for holding a disk having a disk center hole in the center thereof on the turn table; a disk mount member disposed on the center portion of the turn table and fitted with the center hole of the disk; an operation member mounted to freely move in a disk loading and unloading direction; an engagement member disposed to freely move in the radial direction of the disk mount member, the engagement member being brought into contact with the disk center hole when the disk is fitted into the disk mount member; urging device for urging the engagement member in the radial direction of the disk mount member; and urging force releasing device for releasing an urging force applied to the engagement device by the urging device in accordance with the movement of the operation member.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Susumu Arai