Abstract: A fluid transmitting system includes a lock-up clutch whose clutch piston is disposed between a side cover connected to a pump impeller and a turbine runner. A Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston to a clutch turning-on direction is mounted to a piston hub of the clutch piston slidably carried on a turbine hub so that the deformation attitude thereof is changed freely. A limiting means is provided between the clutch piston and the turbine runner for limiting the amount of retraction of the clutch piston to a constant value thereby preventing excessive deformation of the Belleville spring, when the clutch piston is retracted in a clutch turning-off direction. Thus, the Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston of the lock-up clutch in the clutch turning-on direction can exhibit an intrinsic spring characteristic, and moreover the durability of the Belleville spring can be enhanced.

Abstract: In a process of optimizing a program which includes a plurality of callable program parts, at least one frequency of executions of at least one of the callable program parts is determined, and a necessary optimization level of the at least one callable program part is determined based on the at least one frequency of executions of the at least one callable program part. The at least one callable program part is optimized at the determined necessary optimization level. The at least one frequency may be determined based on the number of times each of the at least one callable program part is executed, and the optimization is performed as a background operation of execution of the at least one callable program part, where a priority of the optimization is lower than a priority of the execution of the at least one callable program part.

Abstract: A fluid transmitting system includes a lock-up clutch whose clutch piston is disposed between a side cover connected to a pump impeller and a turbine runner. A Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston to a clutch turning-on direction is mounted to a piston hub of the clutch piston slidably carried on a turbine hub so that the deformation attitude thereof is changed freely. A limiting means is provided between the clutch piston and the turbine runner for limiting the amount of retraction of the clutch piston to a constant value thereby preventing excessive deformation of the Belleville spring, when the clutch piston is retracted in a clutch turning-off direction. Thus, the Belleville spring for biasing the clutch piston of the lock-up clutch in the clutch turning-on direction can exhibit an intrinsic spring characteristic, and moreover the durability of the Belleville spring can be enhanced.

Abstract: A program execution device includes: a storage unit storing for each function a machine language executable by an execution unit obtained by compiling a function described in a source program, and maintaining the stored data although a power supply voltage has dropped; a compiling unit compiling the source program into a machine language executable by the execution unit; a storage control unit storing the machine language compiled by the compiling unit; a determination unit determining whether or not a machine language obtained by compiling a function used in the source program is stored in the storage unit; and an execution control unit instructing the execution unit to directly execute either a machine language compiled by the compiling unit or a machine language stored in the storage unit depending on the determination result obtained by the determination unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling parallel threads such that the speed of running programs increases and system resources are used efficiently. The method includes monitoring a number of running threads performing parallel processing and a number of standby threads that are in a standby state, and terminating standby threads in accordance with the number of the running threads and the number of the standby threads.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a feed system which comprises: a moving body; a plurality of sets of support blocks arranged at the two sides of the moving body and along the moving direction of the moving body; a plurality of clamping members supported through elastically deformable members by the respective sets of the support blocks to engage with the sides of the moving body; clamping actuators mounted on the individual sets of the support blocks for displacing the clamping members toward the sides of the moving body to clamp the moving body; moving actuators mounted on the individual sets of the support blocks for displacing the clamping members in the moving direction of the movable member; and control means for operating the clamping actuators and the moving actuators with phases offset from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the profile of a cylindrical workpiece whose radius varies with axial position. The apparatus is equipped with a spindle head and a pair of detectors. The spindle head supports and rotates the workpiece. The detectors are mounted on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the workpiece and detect the position of the outer surface of the workpiece. When the workpiece is being rotated, the spindle head is moved parallel to the axis of the spindle. As a result, the detectors cross the outer surface of the workpiece. Also, the detectors are moved radially along an ideal profile of the workpiece in synchronism with the movement of the head. A control unit calculates the average of first and second output signals from the detectors, respectively, and produces the average as the profile error. In another embodiment, only one detector is used. The control unit measures the profile while the detector is positioned on one side of the axis of the spindle.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing original images from synthetic aperture radar image data, wherein in order to speed up the reconstruction of an original image from image data provided by synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the process for generating a point image pattern in correspondence to each point on the original image and the fast Fourier transformation (FFT) process for the generated point image pattern and 1-line image data are carried out once for every certain number of lines. Positional and phase displacement created on a reconstructed image are corrected by multiplying a phase rotation factor to the product of the FFT-processed point image pattern and 1-line image data.

Abstract: A bar-type slide guiding apparatus is provided with a pair of cylindrical pilot bars, which are fixedly mounted on a stationary base for slidably guiding a slide member therealong. The pilot bars respectively pass through cylindrical holes of the first and second hydrostatic bearings, which are respectively securely fitted in cylindrical bores formed in the slide member so as to thereby mount the same thereon. The first hydrostatic bearing is formed at its cylindrical hole with first and second pairs of fluid pockets, which hydrostatically support the slide member on the first pilot bar in both of orthogonal first and second directions perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide member.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic bearing apparatus, a bearing bushing is formed at its internal surface with a plurality of circumferentially separate fluid pockets, into which pressurized fluid is conducted via respective throttle elements for rotatably supporting a spindle received in the internal surface, by means of static pressure generated in each of the fluid pockets. The bearing surface is further formed with a plurality of exhaust grooves, each of which extends in the axial direction of the bearing bushing between contiguous two of the fluid pockets. Pressurized fluid cooled by a cooler device is supplied to flow along the exhaust grooves in the axial direction of the bearing bushing, so that heated pressurized fluid in each fluid pocket is prevented from being carried by rotation of the spindle into another fluid pocket circumferentially next thereto.

Abstract: A contact detecting apparatus for detecting the contact between a workpiece and a tool in a machine tool which includes a coil mounted on a spindle head and connected to an AC power source for generating an induced current in a looped secondary circuit including the workpiece, a work table, a machine body, a spindle head, a brush, a clamp bar for clamping the tool on a tool spindle, springs interposed between the spindle and the clamp bar, the tool spindle and the tool, when the workpiece and the tool are moved relatively into contact with each other. The brush is kept contact with the clamp bar at the rotational axis of the tool spindle. A detector is connected between the AC power source and the coil for detecting a change in an electric signal caused by the contact between the workpiece and the tool.

Abstract: A tool exchanger wherein an exchange arm fixed on one end of a rotatable and axially slidable shaft is formed with a pair of semi-circular openings at opposite ends thereof. A pair of gripping plungers slidably received in the exchange arm are spring-biased toward opposite ends of the arm for gripping tools held in the semi-circular openings. A pair of guided pins are protruded respectively from the gripping plungers. A cam engageable with the guided pins is disposed in position to inwardly retract either of the gripping plungers which approaches a tool socket of a tool magazine, against the force of an associated bias spring, when the exchange arm is pivoted from a parked position toward a grip position for gripping tools received respectively in a machine tool spindle and the tool socket.

Abstract: A tool storage magazine of the type wherein a circulatable endless chain pivotably carries a plurality of tool storage sockets is provided with a cradle member adapted to carry thereon any of the tool sockets indexed to an exchange position and a mechanism for pivoting the cradle member between horizontal and vertical positions. The magazine is further provided with a locking mechanism which prevents a holding plunger of any tool socket indexed to the exchange position from being disengaged from a tool received in the tool socket until the cradle member is pivoted to the vicinity of the vertical position so that the dropping of a tool from an associated tool socket is reliably prevented during pivotal movement of the cradle member.

Abstract: In a pallet exchange apparatus for a machine tool, a rotary member carried to be rotatable in a horizontal plane mounts thereon a pallet support means which in turn supports a pallet unloaded from the machine tool and a pallet to be loaded into the machine tool. Each pallet is provided with an engaging hook. A transfer member is provided with a transfer hook engageable with the engaging hook to move the pallet to be loaded on the machine tool toward the machine tool. A fixed hook is provided to be engageable with the engaging hook. The rotary member is rotated to move the engaging hook of the pallet to be loaded on the machine tool into engagement with the transfer hook and to move the engaging hook of the pallet unloaded from the machine tool into engagement with the fixed hook.

Abstract: In a machine tool with an automatic tool change apparatus, a tool storage magazine for removably storing a plurality of tools is installed, extending within a column which slidably supports a spindle head. The column is formed with an opening. Means are provided for moving a tool from the magazine outside the column, through the opening therein, for effecting a tool change operation.

Abstract: In a tool transfer apparatus, a pair of support shafts, which have tool transfer arms fixed thereto, are coaxially mounted for rotational and axial movement. A pair of driven gears are respectively formed on the support shafts. A pair of elongated drive gears are engaged with each other and engageable with the driven gears. One of the drive gears is driven by a single drive device. The driven gears are selectively shiftable together into a first predetermined position where the driven gears are rotatable in opposite directions through the drive gears and into a second predetermined position where the driven gears are rotatable in the same direction through one of the drive gears.

Abstract: A machine tool includes an automatic tool change device for changing a tool between a tool change position on a tool storage magazine and a spindle by a tool change arm. A pair of guard covers are arranged between the tool change position and the spindle to be pivoted in a horizontal plane. A drive means is provided for normally maintaining the guard covers closed and for opening the guard covers to permit a tool change operation.