Abstract: A bicycle towing device in which a plurality of aligned rigid bars are connected by means of a coupling so that one bar can rotate with respect to the other along the alignment axis of the bars. Hub and pin arrangements are connectable to the free ends of the bars and have axes of rotation perpendicular to the alignment axis of the rods. The hub and pin arrangements are connectable to the respective vehicles to allow one vehicle to move with respect to the other while being towed.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot body to which the procedure of a task is teachable, a teaching portion, an operating portion, a control portion, and a changeover portion. The teaching portion includes a signal generating portion for generating a drive signal for driving the robot body, and a deadman switch which indicates by its opened/closed state whether the procedure of the task is being taught to the robot body or not. The operating portion generates a start signal for starting the robot body. The control portion receives the drive signal and a signal indicating the opened/closed state of the deadman from the teaching portion and the start signal from the operating portion. The changeover portion operates so that the start signal from the operating portion is prevented from being supplied to the control portion when the teaching portion is electrically connected to the control portion.

Abstract: A phase contrast microscope including an illuminating optical system, a ring slit arranged at a pupil of the illuminating optical system, an imaging optical system, and a phase plate arranged at a pupil of the imaging optical system which is conjugate with the pupil of the illuminating optical system with respect to a specimen plane on which a specimen under inspection is placed. The phase plate is formed by a liquid crystal and a pair of transparent ring-shaped electrodes arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal. A voltage applied across the liquid crystal via the electrodes is changed such that a phase difference introduced by the phase plate is set to .+-..pi./2 to obtain a dark contrast image and a bright contrast image. A difference between these dark and bright contrast images is derived to obtain a phase contrast image having high contrast and resolution.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus which can with high-speed access and low power consumption reproduce data recorded thereon at constant linear velocity and which, if used as a writable type, can record data by using CAV control and CLV control in combination, with much improved high-speed access and low power consumption.

Abstract: Fused phenol derivatives of the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each, independently, is H, halogen, trifluoromethyl, cyano, (substituted) alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, COOH, COOR.sup.6 (in which R.sup.6 is C1-6 alkyl), alkenyl or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, taken together, is --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH--, when R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are ortho to each other; A is alkylene, alkenylene, oxyalkylene or ##STR2## (in which m is 1-6); B is a monocyclic hetero ring containing a nitrogen atom;G is --OR.sup.3A or --NR.sup.3B R.sup.3C (in which R.sup.3A, R.sup.3B and R.sup.3C each, independently, is H, alkyl, acyl, or alkoxyalkyl);R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each, independently, is H, alkyl, or R.sup.4, R.sup.5 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent C4-7 cycloalkyl; andn is 1-3;non-toxic salts thereof, non-toxic acid addition salts thereof, and hydrates thereof.The compounds of the formula (I) have inhibitory activities on TXA.sub.

Abstract: A method and a d.c. arc furnace for thermal treatment of an ash, wherein reducing conditions are established within a closed and sealed furnace, the ash is supplied via a channel arranged in an electrode which extends towards a metal melt in a furnace shell and provides an arc extending toward the metal melt, the ash being fed from the open free end of the electrode through the arc, any slag and/or the metal melt, whereby the ash is rapidly heated under reducing conditions to a temperature of 1350.degree. C. to 1750.degree. C.

Abstract: A driving apparatus of an induction motor applied for drive of a fan of an air conditioner has a voltage limiter unit for limiting an upper limit of an output voltage of an inverter circuit, a voltage slow-up unit for converting an output signal of an output voltage commanding unit into a signal which increases gradually when that output signal rises, a voltage slow-down unit for converting the output signal of the output voltage commanding unit into a signal which decreases gradually when that output signal falls, and a feed interruption processing unit for setting the output signal value of the output voltage commanding unit to 0 when interrupting feeding and delivering a feed interruption signal at the termination of the lapse of a predetermined time.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an OY group; R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or in OY' group; R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or an OY" group; provided that at lent one among R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen but R, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are not contemporaneously hydrogen atoms and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not contemporaneously OY' or OY" groups respectively; m is an integer 1 or 2; n is an integer 3 to 8; p is an integer 2, 3, or 4; R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; R.sub.4 is a phenyl optionally substituted by halogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or alkoxy group or a 5- or 6- membered heteroaryl containing one or more heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, optionally substituted by halogen atoms, hydroxy groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or alkoxy groups; X is CH.sub.2, NH, S, SO, SO.sub.2, CO, CF.sub.2, O and, when R.sub.4 is a 5- or 6- membered heteroaryl, X can be also a single bond. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described.

Abstract: A glass composition which is essentially free of lead and cadmium includes 30 to 70 wt % SiO.sub.2, 1 to 25 wt % B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 10 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 5 wt % Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.1 to 30 wt % CoO, 0.1 to 20 wt % ZnO, 1 to 30 wt % total of at least one of Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O or K.sub.2 O, up to 10 wt % ZrO.sub.2 and other optional ingredients. The glass composition can be used as a blue colored on-glaze enamel which relies upon the presence of Co.sup.2+ in a network-forming position in the glass to produce the blue color, with oxygen donors such as ZnO.sub.2, alkaline earth oxides and alkali oxides increasing the amount of cobalt occupying network-forming positions, and ZrO.sub.2 to provide chemical durability.

Abstract: A cyclic stick system for a helicopter includes sensors for measuring at least one parameter representative of the current flight status of the helicopter. In response to the at least one parameter, the cyclic stick system either (1) continuously and automatically recenters the forces on the cyclic stick, thus canceling out the residual static forces, or (2) allows the pilot fully to feel the countering action of the elastic return device on the cyclic stick.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicated gargling cup with which it is possible to form a liquid for gargling effective for preventing cold by merely pouring water into the cup; an antiviral mask having a nonwoven fabric impregnated with a tea extract, which mask can be easily produced commercially and is capable of maintaining a high virus trapping performance, inactivating the trapped viruses and preventing them from being rescattered; an antiviral filter and an antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral filter comprising in laminations a dust collecting filter and a filter impregnated with a tea extract; an air cleaner and an air cleaner-humidifier comprising the antiviral filter.

Abstract: A conventional shoe which comprises a shoe upper of continuous and uninterrupted material attached to an outer sole has its shoe upper lined with an air-cooled, breathable shoe liner comprising an outer knit layer of hydrophilic material, an inner knit layer of hydrophobic material, and monofilament yarns of hydrophobic material extending between and interknitted with the outer and inner layers for maintaining an air chamber therebetween, such that moisture from the foot of the wearer is transmitted by the inner layer and the monofilament yarns through the air chamber and is absorbed by the outer layer and passes into the shoe upper to be dried by the outer air.

Abstract: An expanding cylindrical shaft has a plurality of radially disposed slots extending longitudinally and opening at the outer surface for supporting one or more tubular supports having side edges and disposed coaxially on said shaft. A plurality of sliders driven by a thruster is disposed within one of the slots for radial movement. A plurality of bucking elements supported for longitudinal movement relative to one of said sliders is adapted to engage side edges of the tubular supports. A locking element secures the bucking elements in position longitudinally of the shaft to thereby lock one or more tubular supports in position on the shaft.

Abstract: A homogeneous composition for forming on firing a film of precious metal, which is one or more of platinum, palladium, gold and silver, on a substrate, for instance to decorate table ware, comprises polymeric resin and a solution, in water and a co-solvent, of thiolate of the precious metal, the composition containing 3-22% by weight of the precious metal as the thiolate, and the co-solvent, resin and thiolate being such that as the composition on a substrate dries and is progressively heated in firing, the water evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the resin and thiolate in the co-solvent, then the co-solvent evaporates off to leave a homogeneous composition of the thiolate in the resin, and then the thiolate decomposes to the precious metal while the resin volatilize.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermosetting decorative laminate (11), primarily intended as flooring laminate, comprising two or more layers (3, 4, 5), whereby at least one layer is a decorative layer (4) comprising a decor paper (9) provided with a bar pattern comprising a plurality of parallel rows of bars (14), whereby the bars (14) in adjoining rows preferably are mutually offset in the longitudinal direction. The bar pattern allows said laminate (11) to be divided into m longitudinal units or panels each consisting of p rows of bars (14), whereby said unit or panel comprises m.times.p rows of bars (14). The pattern of each left end bar (A1-A9) matches the pattern of corresponding right end bar (B1-B9) of each unit or panel and the pattern of these bars matches the pattern of corresponding end bars (A, B) in corresponding rows of all m units or panels.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation for determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.

Abstract: As a nickel electrode for alkaline storage batteries, an electrode plate comprising a plurality of electroconductive substrates and a plurality of active material layers which are alternately laminated and integrated is used, whereby mutual electric conductivity of the active material and the electroconductive substrate in the direction of thickness is increased, and active material utilization, discharge voltage characteristics as batteries and charge-discharge repetition life are improved. The nickel electrode comprises a plurality of electrode leaves each of which comprises an electroconductive substrate coated with an active material and which are laminated and integrated so that the electroconductive substrate and the active material layer are alternated with each other, a plurality of said electroconductive substrates being electrically and mechanically connected through a part of the respective electroconductive substrates, said electroconductive substrate having a thickness of 5-60 .mu.

Abstract: Method for presenting short films, whereby short films during or in between which at least one quiz question is to be inserted, the short films are stored, and at least one quiz question and the correct answer are inserted during or in between the short films, answers to the quiz question are entered for comparison of the entered answer with the stored, correct answer. The winners of the quiz game are determined by a storage device, the storage device being controlled by the input device. After entry of the correct answer into the input device, a display is divided into fields for the presentation of the individual consumer goods, the winning certificates of the selected supplier are printed out. After pressing a play key, a prompt for the player appears on the screen and after choosing the correct answer, the player is requested to choose between two envelopes which are displayed on the screen.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the maintenance and enable to update a program, data, etc. anytime, a POS system has a plurality of registers for entering orders and processing accounts, and a controller for sales management, connected by a communication line to each of the registers, for managing sales of the whole store and setting items, unit prices, etc., wherein the controller for sales management has a maintenance control block including a section for setting and storing maintenance data, a section for detecting that the power supply to a register is turned on to execute an opening process, and a section for sending, when the turning on of power is detected, maintenance data to the register to update the executable program and/or various setting data of the register in the case where there is the maintenance data.

Abstract: An image reading and printing apparatus having a housing, a printing part located in the upper part of the housing, an image reading part located in the lower part of the housing, a sheet feeding part located in the lower part of the housing below the image reading part and receiving thereinto a sheet inserted from the lower part of the front face of the housing, a C-like shape sheet conveying path through which the sheet is led from the sheet feed part to the printing part, and is discharged outside of the housing from the upper part of the front surface thereof, and a C-like shape document conveying path through which a document inserted from the lower part of the front face of the housing is led to the image reading part, and is then discharged outside of the housing from the front face of the housing, the C-like document conveying path being surrounded by the C-like sheet conveying path, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the image reading and printing apparatus and to absorb a shift between the ti