Provided is a technology with which, when producing a resin molded article, the inside of which is provided with an insert component such as a terminal fitting, it is possible to prevent the insert component from being exposed at an inappropriate position, and to ensure the desired positional accuracy. In an injection molding device, the accuracy of the position of a terminal is improved by allowing a core-back mold to move after a terminal, which is an insert component, has been inserted in a terminal tip holding section of a slide mold. By allowing the core-back mold to move by only a prescribed amount prior to injection molding, a resin wall is formed between the core-back mold and the terminal. The inappropriate exposure and shorting of and the adhesion of foreign substances to, and the like, the terminal can thus be prevented.

A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and a binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having multiple through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and multiple partition portions formed between the through-holes, applying sealant composition including aluminum hydroxide particles, talc particles, kaolin particles, water and organic binder to either end of each through-hole of the body in the longitudinal direction such that the honeycomb structure of the body has each through-hole sealed at one end, and sintering the body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure sealed by the sealant composition such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.

A manufacturing apparatus for activated carbon filters has a non-woven cloth machine, a rolling module, a sprayer and a hot-pressing cylinder. The non-woven cloth machine is used to manufacture a body of non-woven cloth and has a processing segment. The rolling module is mounted at the processing segment to heat and melt the body of non-woven cloth. The sprayer is mounted above the rolling module to spray activated carbon powder on the body of non-woven cloth. The hot-pressing cylinder is mounted at the processing segment to heat and press the activated carbon powder with the body of non-woven cloth. The activated carbon powder can be securely attached to the body of non-woven cloth by the manufacturing apparatus to provide a preferred quality of the activated carbon filters and to reduce the cost of manufacturing the activated carbon filters.

In a wet spinning spinneret comprising a housing which, together with a spinneret plate mounted to the underside thereof, forms a chamber adapted to be supplied with a spinning solution, the spinneret plate having nozzle openings in at least an annular region, and a displacing member arranged inside the chamber above the spinneret plate, which member directs the spinning solution towards the annular zone, it is provided that the displacing member (VK) is attached at a support (TP) arranged upstream of the spinneret plate (SP), seen in the flow direction of the spinning liquid.

An injection interface device comprising a wedge having a first surface mountable over the joint between the mold and the terminal element and a second surface being inclined with respect to the first surface. A fixation element is mountable against the second surface and an attachment element. The device is configured so that it avoids or prevents the movement of the wedge in a direction parallel to the mold and the movement of the fixation element in a direction perpendicular to the mold so that a displacement of the fixation element parallel to the mold makes a displacement of the wedge in a direction perpendicular to the mold so that the wedge presses against the terminal element to seal it.

A method of forming a component (30) by isostatic pressing, the method comprising: providing a canister (4) suitable for isostatic pressing, the canister comprising first and second membranes (14, 16) which, in use, are disposed within the canister (4); the first and second membranes (14, 16) defining a component cavity (24) disposed between the first and second membranes (14, 16), a first tool cavity (26) disposed between the first membrane (14) and an adjacent wall (10) of the canister (4), and a second tool cavity (28) disposed between the second membrane (16) and another adjacent wall (12) of the canister (4); filling the component cavity (24) with the component powder for forming the component (30); filling the first and second tool cavities (26, 28) with a second tool powder; and isostatically pressing the canister (4) to form the component (30).

A core-pin assembly composed of a primary core-pin and at least one secondary core-pin. The primary core-pin has a primary core-pin body defining at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one secondary core-pin. The secondary core-pin has a mating end and a secondary core-pin body. The mating end is configured to fit with the element defined in the primary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin and the secondary core-pin(s) reversibly join together to form a branching structure. The assembly may further include at least one tertiary core-pin and the secondary core-pin body may define at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one tertiary core-pin. The mating end of the tertiary core pin is configured to fit with the secondary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin, secondary and tertiary core-pin(s) reversibly join together forming a branching structure.

Provided is a rigid core for forming a tire, configured so that the intrusion of rubber into a gap between core segments is prevented and so that the lowering of roundness of a core body s prevented. The core body comprises a plurality of circumferentially divided core segments. Both circumferential end surfaces of each of the core segments are used as mating surfaces, and the mating surfaces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction are abutted against each other to form the core body. At least one of the mating surfaces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is formed as a stepped mating surface comprising a bordering surface region extending along an outer circumferential edge of the mating surface, and a recessed surface region surrounded by the bordering surface region and recessed in a step shape from the bordering surface region so that only the bordering surface region contacts with the adjacent mating surface.

A rigid core for forming a tire is configured so that the non-uniformity of the amount of thermal expansion of the core body is reduced to improve the quality of the tire. The core body comprises divided core pieces (10i , 10o) divided inward and outward in a tire radial direction at a tire radial position (P) including a maximum width position (P0) of the tire forming surface. Outward divided core pieces (10o) disposed outward in the tire radial direction than the maximum width position (P0) and inward divided core pieces (10i) disposed inward in the tire radial direction than the maximum width position (P0) are respectively formed of metal materials different from each other in coefficient of thermal expansion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the inward divided core piece (10i) is higher than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the outward divided core piece (10o).

An extrusion line for the production of peroxide cross-linked polyethylene pipes includes a cross-linking oven (5, 13) having an actuated deflection roller (7). The cross-linking oven has a first heating section (A) that extends from an inlet to said deflection roller (7) and a second heating section (B) that extends from said deflection roller to an outlet. An element is provided for adjusting a height of the deflection roller (7) and an angle of the first and second heating sections (A, B) relative to a horizontal plane.

An apparatus and method for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers with at least one blow moulding station which is arranged on a conveying device rotatable about a pre-set axis of rotation (D). The blow moulding station has a blow mould and this blow mould forms a cavity in the interior of which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being expanded by being acted upon with a gaseous medium to form the plastics material containers, with a stressing device, which acts upon the plastics material pre-forms with the gaseous medium in order to expand them, and with a clean room, which surrounds the blow moulding station at least in part. The clean room is bounded off from an environment by at least two walls which are movable relative to one another.

Systems for spacing and transferring objects between operative stations are provided. Such systems can be used with ovens for preforms for plastic material, in blowing or stretch-blowing machines and for other applications in the packaging field. Such systems provide spacing and transferring of objects advancing in procession on transport elements, from a minimum pitch to a preset pitch larger than said minimum pitch, and for transferring said spaced objects to handling elements.

An apparatus for extruding a polymeric material, having an extrusion head which includes a male die, a female die coaxially arranged with respect to the male die, a conveying channel, and at least one portion of which is defined between the male die and the female die. The apparatus further includes a device for adjusting a cross-sectional area of the at least one portion of the conveying channel by reciprocally displacing the female die with respect to the male die in response to an extrusion speed variation of the polymeric material.

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) furnace has a venturi premixer and a disturber disposed downstream relative to the premixer and in an undivided output of the venturi premixer.

A system having a flame rod assembly for operation in a high temperature pilot burner. The assembly is designed for operation in temperatures from about −40 to 1100 degrees C. The system may operate in inclement weather involving high speed winds and significant amounts of moisture and rain to hurricane storm force levels and rates. The system incorporates an electrical apparatus which may provide flame sensing and ignition via the flame rod assembly incorporating a quick drying insulator around a rod of the assembly to ensure proper operation of the electrical apparatus.

A combustor apparatus is provided, comprising a mixing arrangement for mixing a carbonaceous fuel with enriched oxygen and a working fluid to form a fuel mixture. A combustion chamber is at least partially defined by a porous perimetric transpiration member, at least partially surrounded by a pressure containment member. The combustion chamber has longitudinally spaced apart inlet and outlet portions. The fuel mixture is received by the inlet portion for combustion within the combustion chamber at a combustion temperature to form a combustion product. The combustion chamber directs the combustion product longitudinally toward the outlet portion. The transpiration member is configured to substantially uniformly direct a transpiration substance therethrough toward the combustion chamber, such that the transpiration substance is directed to flow helically about the perimeter and longitudinally between the inlet and outlet portions, for buffering interaction between the combustion product and the transpiration member. Associated systems are also provided.

A combustion device (1) for a gas turbine includes portions (12) having an inner and an outer wall (13, 14) with an interposed noise absorption plate (15) having a plurality of holes (16). The combustion device (1) further has first passages (17) connecting zones between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) to the inside of the combustion device (1) and second passages (21) for cooling the inner wall (13). The portions (12) also have an inner layer (22) between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) defining inner chambers (23), each connected to at least a first passage (17), and an outer layer (24) between the outer wall (14) and the plate (15) defining outer chambers (25) connected to the inner chambers (23) via the holes (16) of the plate (15).

A burner for diluted combustion includes a fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber, at least one air nozzle for supplying air to the combustion chamber, and at least one oxygen nozzle for supplying oxygen to the combustion chamber. The air nozzle and oxygen nozzle are spatially separated from each other.

An adaptive gaseous fuel ignition control method for use in consumer and commercial appliances that reduces stress on and increases the life of a hot surface igniter without resulting in a failure to ignite condition is provided. The method provides a preheating period, a full temperature period, and a trial for ignition period. The preheating period gradually increases the power applied to reduce the stress resulting therefrom. Once a gas valve has been commanded open, the controller monitors the time for ignition of the gaseous fuel. If the time is longer than a threshold, either the applied power or the period of time during which the power is applied is increased to shorten the time. If, however, the ignition period is shorter than the threshold, either the power applied or the period of time during which the power is applied before commanding the gas valve open is lowered or shortened.

A burner insert for use with a burner is provided. The burner insert includes a cylindrical body member having an inlet end and an outlet end. The cylindrical body includes a central passage and a plurality of openings disposed about the central passage. One or more fins are axially disposed within the central passage. A plurality of rib members are coupled to the body, each of the plurality of rib members axially disposed within one of the plurality of openings.

Integrated polymeric-ceramic membrane-based oxy-fuel combustor. The combustor includes a polymer membrane structure for receiving air at an input and for delivering oxygen-enriched air at an outlet. An oxygen transport reactor including a ceramic ion transport membrane receives the oxygen-enriched air from the polymer membrane structure to generate oxygen for combustion with a fuel introduced into the oxygen transport reactor.

Method for combustion of a fuel uses an existing air burner (1), including a first supply opening (5) for fuel and a second supply opening (7) for air, which supply openings (5,7) open out into a combustion zone (3). The method is characterised in that a gaseous fuel with an LHV (Lower Heating Value) of less than 7.5 MJ/Nm3 is supplied through the second supply opening (7), in that an oxidant including at least 85 percent by weight oxygen is also supplied to the combustion zone (3) through a supply device for oxidant, and in that the gaseous fuel is caused to be combusted with the oxidant in the combustion zone (3).

The disclosure provides an apparatus and method utilizing fuel reactor comprised of a fuel section, an oxygen carrier section, and a porous divider separating the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section. The porous divider allows fluid communication between the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section while preventing the migration of solids of a particular size. Maintaining particle segregation between the oxygen carrier section and the fuel section during solid fuel gasification and combustion processes allows gases generated in either section to participate in necessary reactions while greatly mitigating issues associated with mixture of the oxygen carrier with char or ash products. The apparatus and method may be utilized with an oxygen uncoupling oxygen carrier such as CuO, Mn3O4, or Co3O4, or utilized with a CO/H2 reducing oxygen carrier such as Fe2O3.

A combustor includes an end cap having an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A cap shield circumferentially surrounds the upstream and downstream surfaces, tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream, and a plenum is inside the end cap. A first baffle extends radially across the plenum toward the cap shield, and a plate extends radially inside the plenum between the first baffle and the upstream surface. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through tubes, flowing a fuel into a plenum between upstream and downstream surfaces, radially distributing the fuel along a first baffle, and axially flowing the fuel across a plate that extends radially inside the plenum.

A system for providing a combined water and fire display is provided. More specifically, a decorative display comprises a dynamic water and fire display device where fuel/air, water, and fire are integrated. The decorative display provides for unique aesthetic qualities and an appearance wherein flames are positioned at or near the surface of a volume of water. In various embodiments, the decorative display further comprises various safety features including the ability to detect and self-regulate conditions such as the existence and/or absence of a pilot flame, an adequate amount of water, and the temperature of various portions of the system. The decorative display further contemplates the ability to operate without one or more disclosed features, such as when only a water display or only a fire display is desired.

An exemplary embodiment provides a regenerative burner apparatus. The apparatus includes a burner housing having a gas channel and a single-stage heat regenerator equipped with a housing enclosing a fluid-porous heat regenerative media bed. A first gas passageway in the housing directly interconnects the gas channel and the lower surface of the media bed. A second gas passageway in the housing interconnects an opening in the housing communicating with the exterior and the upper surface of the media bed. This arrangement allows hot waste combustion gases to pass upwardly through the media bed so that any condensable contaminant in the gases condenses to a liquid and flows out of the bed under gravity before becoming solid and clogging the bed. The liquid contaminant may then be removed from the regenerator from a position below the media bed.

There is provided a top-firing hot blast stove capable of enhancing combustion efficiency in burner system, supplying high-temperature combustion gas to an entire checker chamber, and suppressing damage on a refractory material on an inner wall of a burner duct. A top-firing hot blast stove 10 has a burner system including: a burner 1 for passing fuel gas or combustion air to each of three or more pipe lines in a multiple pipe line structure; and a burner duct 2. A core pipe line 1b and a central pipe line 1c include a swirling flow generating means provided for generating a swirling flow of the fuel gas or the combustion air, while an outermost pipe line 1d carries a linear flow of the fuel gas or the combustion air, so that combustion gas HG including a linear component HG″ and a swirling component HG' is generated in the burner duct 2. The combustion gas HG is supplied to a combustion chamber 3 from at least one or more of the burner systems in an inflow direction which does not pass through a center position of the combustion chamber 3.

A service method of gas appliances includes: Detecting the gas appliances at the client ends to generate detecting signals. Transmitting the detecting signals to a service end. Identifying which client end the detecting signals come from. Examining the detecting signals to find whether the gas appliance has an abnormal condition; and informing the client end when the abnormal condition is found. After all, the service end may monitor the gas appliances at the client end, and inform the client for repair when the gas appliance has detected an abnormal signal or has damaged parts.

A signal conditioner for use with a controller and a burner receives an input signal from the controller. A conversion circuit generates a primary output signal corresponding to the input signal to control the burner. The signal conditioner also includes a delay circuit. The delay circuit overrides the primary output signal generated by the conversion circuit and substitutes a delay signal to the burner at a predetermined level for a predetermined time. The signal conditioner may also include a temperature override circuit, which receives a temperature of air from the burner. If the temperature is above or below established limits, the temperature override circuit substitutes a temperature override signal to the burner.

A burner for an exhaust aftertreatment system may include a housing assembly and an ignition device. The housing assembly may include an inner shell surrounded by intermediate and outer shells. The inner shell may at least partially define a combustion chamber. The housing assembly may include an airflow passage having an opening extending through the outer shell. The airflow passage may extend between the outer shell and the intermediate shell as well as between the intermediate shell and the inner shell. The airflow passage may provide fluid communication between the opening and the combustion chamber. The ignition device may be at least partially disposed within the housing assembly and may ignite fuel received from a fuel source and air received from the airflow passage to produce a flame in the combustion chamber. The airflow passage may be in a heat transfer relationship with the flame in the combustion chamber.

A method is provided for the automated setup of a metered combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The automated setup process includes both commissioning and controller tuning, rather than tuning the carbon monoxide and/or oxygen trim controller after the commissioning process has been completed. The oxygen trim controller or the carbon monoxide trim controller is used to identify the air/fuel ratio.

A combustion chamber is provided and includes a combustion device and a supply circuit arranged to feed fuel at a plurality of locations of the combustion device. The supply circuit includes manifolds collecting fuel to be distributed among at least some of the locations, ducts extending from the manifolds and feeding the locations. Some of the ducts carry valves having a plurality of predetermined working positions, each working position corresponding to a different fuel flow through the valve.

In a gas turbine engine that includes a compressor and a combustor, wherein the combustor includes a primary fuel injector within a fuel nozzle and a secondary fuel injector that is upstream of the fuel nozzle and configured to inject fuel into a flow annulus of the combustor, a method for detecting a flame holding condition about a fuel injector. The method may include the steps of: detecting an upstream pressure upstream of the secondary fuel injector; detecting a downstream pressure downstream of the secondary fuel injector; determining a measured pressure difference between the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure; and comparing the measured pressure difference to an expected pressure difference.

A self-filling candle which fills itself with melted wax to form a second candle for additional burning. The self-filling candle generally includes a hollow candle body having a cavity extending therein from an upper opening. The candle body one or more layers of wax, wherein an outer layer of wax has a higher burning point than the one or more interior layers. A first wick is helically wound through the middle layer of wax in the candle body. As the first wick is burned, melted wax will pool and collect in the cavity to form a second candle. A second wick is positioned in the lower surface of the cavity, which will be utilized to burn the second candle after it has been formed.

A method and system for improving high excess air combustion system efficiency, including induration furnaces, using a re-routing of flue gas within the system by gas recirculation. Flue gas is drawn from hot system zones including zones near the stack, for re-introduction into the process whereby the heat recovery partially replaces fuel input. At least one pre-combustion drying zone, at least one combustion zone, and at least a first cooling zone exist in these furnaces. At least one exhaust gas outlet is provided to each pre-combustion drying and combustion zone. At least part of the gaseous flow from each system zone exhaust outlet is selectively delivered to an overall system exhaust, the remaining flow being selectively delivered via recirculation to cooling zones. Recirculation flow is adjusted to meet required system temperatures and pressures. The method and system provide efficiency improvements, reducing fuel requirements and greenhouse gas emissions.

A candle having a body of a meltable fuel and a planar wick. When lit, the candle provides a unique flame formation, usable in a variety of decorative applications. The wick can be configured to evenly deplete the meltable fuel, while allowing for candles having relatively large and unique body configurations. The body of candle and/or the wick may include scented oil to promote the release of fragrance upon heating. The wick preferably is formed of wood, thereby providing an acoustic contribution to ambiance and improved combustion that generates less soot than conventional cotton wick candles.

Embodiments of the present invention provide components and a system for providing a safer environment for using a cutting torch. The system includes a cutting torch and a control box. There is communication from the user to the control box to allow fluids to flow to the torch. The control box includes closed biased valve(s) such that if there is a condition where there is no instruction from the torch to the control box and/or power is lost, the valves will shut, preventing fluid from flowing into the torch.

A method of transferring a foil comprising: forming a foil transferring face on a photoreceptor employing a foil transferring face forming toner; transferring the foil transferring face onto a base substance, followed by fixing the foil transferring face; supplying a transfer foil having at least a foil and an adhesive layer on the base substance having the fixed foil transferring face, heating the transfer foil and the foil transferring face while the adhesive layer of the transfer foil is in contact with the foil transferring face to adhere the foil onto the foil transferring face; removing the transfer foil from the base substance while leaving the foil adhered onto the foil transferring face, wherein the foil transferring face forming toner comprises at least a binder resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a polymer formed by using a vinyl monomer comprising at least a carboxyl group.

Provided is a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member having improved sensitivity and capable of outputting an image having less image defects due to a ghost phenomenon not only under a normal-temperature, normal-humidity environment but also under a low-temperature, low-humidity environment as a particularly severe condition. The method of producing a gallium phthalocyanine crystal includes subjecting a gallium phthalocyanine and a specific amine compound, which are added to a solvent, to a milling treatment to perform crystal transformation of the gallium phthalocyanine. In addition, the gallium phthalocyanine crystal is used in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

A method for producing a liquid developer containing toner particles containing a resin containing a polyester and a pigment, and an insulating liquid, wherein the toner particles are dispersed in the insulating liquid, including: step 1: melt-kneading the resin and the pigment, and pulverizing a melt-kneaded mixture to provide toner particles; step 2: dispersing the toner particles obtained in the step 1 in the insulating liquid in the presence of a basic dispersant to provide a dispersion of toner particles; and step 3: wet-milling the dispersion of toner particles obtained in the step 2 to provide a liquid developer, wherein the basic dispersant is an amide compound obtained by a reaction between a polyethyleneimine and a polyester (D) obtained by self-condensation of 12-hydroxystearic acid. The liquid developer obtained by the method of the present invention can be suitably used in development of latent images formed in, for example, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.

A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1-1) shown below: wherein RX represents a hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent exclusive of a nitrogen atom; each of Q2 and Q3 independently represents a single bond or a divalent linkage group; Y1 represents an alkylene group or fluorinated alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and Z+ represents an organic cation exclusive of an ion represented by general formula (w-1).

A photoresist composition. The composition has the following: (a) one or more resin binders that include one or more acid sensitive groups and that are substantially free of phenolic groups protected by acetal or ketal groups; (b) one or more photo acid generators, that, upon exposure to a source of high energy, decompose and generate a photoacid strong enough to remove the one or more acid sensitive groups; (c) one or more ionic non-photosensitive additives including an iminium salt; and (d) one or more solvents. There is also a process for patterning relief structures on a substrate employing the photoresist composition.

Provided is an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition including (A) a compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates an acid, (B) a resin that when acted on by an acid, increases its rate of dissolution in an alkali developer, and (C) a hydrophobic resin, wherein the hydrophobic resin (C) contains a repeating unit derived from any of monomers of general formula (1) below.

A negative resist composition, includes: (A) an alkali-soluble polymer containing a specific repeating unit as defined in the specification; (B) a crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking with the alkali soluble polymer (A) under an action of an acid; (C) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; (D) a specific quaternary ammonium salt as defined in the specification; and (E) an organic carboxylic acid, and a pattern forming method uses the composition.

Disclosed are methods for making read sensors using developable bottom anti-reflective coating and amorphous carbon (a-C) layers as junction milling masks. The methods described herein provide an excellent chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) stop, and improve control in reader critical physical parameters, shield to shield spacing (SSS) and free layer track width (FLTW).

A substrate for an organic light-emitting device which can improve the light extraction efficiency of an organic light-emitting device while realizing an intended level of transmittance, a method of fabricating the same, and an organic light-emitting device having the same. Light emitted from the OLED is emitted outward through the substrate. The substrate includes a substrate body and a number of crystallized particles disposed inside the substrate body, the number of crystallized particles forming a pattern inside the substrate body.

A resin composition for forming an optical waveguide brings together excellent bending resistance, a low refractive index, and low tackiness suitable for a roll-to-roll (R-to-R) process as a material for forming an optical waveguide, in particular, a material for forming a clad layer. The resin composition for forming an optical waveguide to be used in formation of an optical waveguide includes a polyvinyl acetal compound having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component: in the formula (1), R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and k, m, and n represent ratios of respective repeating units in a main chain and each represent an integer of 1 or more.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device that includes a photoalignment film. The photoalignment film is formed from a liquid crystal alignment agent, and aligns liquid crystal molecules horizontally to the main face of the at least one of the substrates. The liquid crystal alignment agent contains a solvent and at least two kinds of polyamic acids or their derivatives obtained by reacting diamine and tetracarboxylic dianhydride. At least two of the diamines and at least one of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides are compounds represented by predetermined formulas. The method includes the steps of: (1) forming the film of the liquid crystal alignment agent; (2) pre-baking the film; (3) irradiating the pre-baked film with light; and (4) post-baking the irradiated film, the step (4) including an operation of post-baking the film multiple times at temperatures ranging from low to high temperatures.

Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns of openings. The methods may include forming spaced features over a substrate. The features may have tops and may have sidewalls extending downwardly from the tops. A first material may be formed along the tops and sidewalls of the features. The first material may be formed by spin-casting a conformal layer of the first material across the features, or by selective deposition along the features relative to the substrate. After the first material is formed, fill material may be provided between the features while leaving regions of the first material exposed. The exposed regions of the first material may then be selectively removed relative to both the fill material and the features to create the pattern of openings.

In a first thermal transfer portion of upstream side, a negative toner image forming portion forms on a photosensitive drum a desired negative toner image which reverses a desired positive toner image selected from all the toner images. The negative toner image forming portion then forms the desired negative toner image on a belt member. The first thermal transfer portion transfers a desired negative foil image from a foil sheet to the belt member so that a desired positive foil image remains on the foil sheet. A second transfer portion transfers the desired positive foil image thus remained on the desired positive toner image formed on the sheet of paper. A cleaning portion removes the desired negative toner image and the desired negative foil image from the belt member.