Abstract: A switch substrate for a switching device that includes an electrical contact brush, the substrate formed with alternating conductive and insulating portions on its surface and having a groove formed between the conductive and insulating portions to eliminate insulating abrasion powder from the surface of the contact brush. The top of the conducting portions is higher than the bottom of the groove but can be above or below the surface of the insulating portions. To form such a substrate, a conductive layer having projections is formed and is engaged with a mold so that the projections are compressed. After the substrate is removed from the mold, the compressed projections extend to their actual height.

Abstract: A super twisted nematic liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal cell, upper and lower polarizing plates, and at least one phase difference plate between the polarizing plates. The angle between the direction of the optical axis of the phase difference plate and the observation direction of the device is set between about 0.degree.-30.degree. or 60.degree.-90.degree..

Abstract: An electro-optical liquid crystal display device includes at least one of the optically anisotropic layers has three main refractive indices N1o, N2o and N3e. The axis corresponding to N3e is in the direction approximately parallel to the surfaces of the substrates of the liquid crystal cell and N3e is smaller than N1o and N2o. The device may include a homogenous or twisted liquid crystall cell with the cell and anisotropic layer sandwiched between two polarizers.

Abstract: An image input device including a rare gas cold cathode discharge tube is provided to read an irradiated picture image using a photoelectric transducer element. The rare gas cold cathode tube includes a linear tube including a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode and a conductive member connected to the auxiliary electrode for preventing deflections of a positive column formed along the auxiliary electrode. The tube is successively powered on and off. Three of such tubes of different colors may be provided and the irradiated picture image may be read by a storage type photoelectric transducer element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replenishing depleted portions of an ink layer of an ink sheet formed with a conductive ink layer disposed on an insulating layer from which ink has been transferred, without unintentionally supplying ink to undepleted portions of the ink layer are provided. Electrically conductive replacement ink is charged and supplied onto an intermediate transfer roller having a dielectric layer disposed on an electrically conductive layer. Charge is supplied to the insulating layer side of the ink sheet and replacement ink on the intermediate roller contacting the ink sheet at depleted regions of the ink sheet is transferred from the intermediate roller to the depleted portions by electrostatic attraction and not to undepleted portions. The method and apparatus are adaptable for multi-color ink sheets and can be employed in connection with a printer or image forming device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved environmental strip curtain system which allows for easy installation, removal, replacement and adjustment of the plastic strips. The environmental strip curtain system includes a curtain-holding apparatus and a plurality of flexible, transparent strips. The curtain-holding apparatus includes a bar which can be mounted above an opening and a plurality of pegs spaced equidistance from each other. Each peg includes a leg extending substantially perpendicularly from said bar, and a foot spaced from the bar and mounted to the leg so that each foot is substantially perpendicular to the leg. The strips have multiple holes near the top of each strip which are spaced the same distance from each other as the distance between the pegs. Thus, the strips may be removably suspended from the curtain-holding apparatus to create a barrier over the opening.

Abstract: A dichroic optical element disposed on at least one surface of each of four right angled prisms for transmitting and reflecting different wavelengths of polarized light. Each of the dichroic layers is characterized by wavelength selection properties which vary in response to the polarization of the light received by the dichroic layers. A projection type display device includes a first optical device characterized by at least one first wavelength transition region and a second optical device characterized by at least one second wavelength transition period. The first wavelength transition region does not effectively overlap the second wavelength transition region. Efficient utilization of the light source for projecting an image results.

Abstract: A page printer and system including a page printer. The page printer and each paper handling accessory device within the system includes a control unit. The control unit of the printer includes a main control unit and an auxiliary control unit. The main control unit supplies at least recording format data associated with the recording format of the recording data to the auxiliary control unit. The main control unit also inspects the specifications of each accessary device which have been previously stored in the auxiliary control unit to place the system in a standby state prior to receiving instructions to begin printing. The auxiliary control unit stores the specifications associated with each optional device and the recording format data and controls the operation of the page printer and each accessary device.

Abstract: An anisotropic rare earth-iron series permanent magnet having a columnar macrostructure is provided. The magnet is prepared by melting and casting an R-Fe-B alloy in order to make a magnet having a columnar macrostructure and heat treating the cast alloy at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 250.degree. C. in order to magnetically harden the magnet. Alternatively, the cast alloy can be hot processed at a temperature greater than or equal to about 500.degree. C. in order to align the axes of the crystal grains in a specific direction and make the magnet anisotropic. In another embodiment, the cast alloy can be hot processed at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 500.degree. C. and then heat treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A magnetic head feeding device suitable for mass production while providing a higher tolerance to vibration and shock is provided. A carriage is rotatably and slideably mounted on a guide shaft. A magnetic head is mounted on the carriage as is a rack. A pinion mounted on a motor, engages the rack to move the rack along the guide shaft in a reciprocating fashion when the pinion is rotated. A magnetic coupling between the carriage and a fixed support provides an attractive force which acts as an engagement force between the rack and the pinion without applying a contact force on the carriage. A stop is provided at each end of the rack and is integrally formed with the rack so that the stop prevents the pinion from rotating and the carriage from moving once the carriage has reached a desired outer limit of motion in either direction. A contour wall is integrally formed with the rack at a position opposed to the rack to prevent disengagement of the pinion from the rack.

Abstract: A fastening assembly coupled to a hinge assembly of a sanitary fixture so that a seat and/or cover can be pivotably mounted thereto. The fastening assembly includes a deformable elastic bushing, which is positioned in each mounting hole provided on the rear shelf of the sanitary fixture, an internally threaded ring mounted in the lower end of the bushing, and a rod having a complimentary threaded lower end threadedly coupled to the threaded ring which deforms the bushing when drawn upwards to its mounted position. Thereafter, a hinge post is mounted over the upper end of the rod.

Abstract: A lateral head-rest for seating furniture is provided consisting of a soft-elastic cylindrical body, which is mounted on a carrying element through a slotted hole. The carrying element is connected with a clamping device consisting of a front and a rear bar, which show recesses facing each other. The two bars can be screwed together and be clamped to the supporting tubes of a neck-rest.

Abstract: An automatic locking and releasing arrangement for vehicular seat belt including a guide rail provided with first and second guide passages, a driving cable adapted to slide through the first guide passage, a connector and a cam both fixed to the cable at a predetermined spacing from each other, a slider adapted to slide through the second guide passage and engage the connector and the cam, a seat belt attached to the slider through a buckle, and an anchor device for retaining the slider in a locking seat belt position. A ring-like slide member is fixed to the cable portion positioned between the connector and the cam, the ring-like slide member comprising plurality of slide portions having a sectional shape a little smaller than that of the first guide passage and arranged through a flexible portion formed between adjacent slide portions. The cable is slid through the first guide passage of the guide rail by the slide portions of the ring-like slide member.