Abstract: An object determining apparatus includes a memory storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to detect an object from image data obtained by imaging, acquire information about orientation of the object from the image data, determine a main object in the image data using a detection result of the object and the information about the orientation, and change a condition for determining the main object according to one of the detection result of the object and the information about the orientation, using the other of the detection result of the object and the information about the orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to perform focus tracking on an object within a detection area to detect a defocus amount within an imaging angle of view includes a memory storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform focus tracking determination to determine whether or not the focus tracking is to be performed using information about the defocus amount, and acquire information about a shield against the object from image data generated by imaging. The processor is configured to perform the focus tracking determination using information about the shield acquired in the detection area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mixing a raw material powder for powder metallurgy that allows efficient mixing at a low cost with a simple measure and easy adjustment of the apparent density by performing first agitation mixing in which a powder mixture obtained by adding, to an iron powder, one or two or more members selected from lubricant powders, free-machining agent powders, and lubricant powders for sliding surface, an alloying powder, and a binding agent is agitated while increasing the temperature to a temperature TK equal to or higher than the melting point TM of the binding agent, the resultant is agitated while maintaining the temperature TK, and the resultant is further agitated while reducing the temperature from the temperature TK, and performing second agitation mixing in which the obtained powder mixture is agitated while cooling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mixing a raw material powder for powder metallurgy that allows efficient mixing at a low cost with a simple measure and easy adjustment of the apparent density by performing first agitation mixing in which a powder mixture obtained by adding, to an iron powder, one or two or more members selected from lubricant powders, free-machining agent powders, and lubricant powders for sliding surface, an alloying powder, and a binding agent is agitated while increasing the temperature to a temperature TK equal to or higher than the melting point TM of the binding agent, the resultant is agitated while maintaining the temperature TK, and the resultant is further agitated while reducing the temperature from the temperature TK, and performing second agitation mixing in which the obtained powder mixture is agitated while cooling.

Abstract: A process for producing an iron-based powder composition for powder metallurgy having excellent flowability at room temperature and a warm compaction temperature, having improved compactibility enabling lowering ejection force in compaction, and to provide a process for producing a compact of a high density from the iron-based powder composition, wherein the iron-based powder composition comprises an iron-based powder, a lubricant, and an alloying powder, and at least one of the iron-based powder, the lubricant, and the alloying powder is coated with at least one surface treatment agent selected from the group of surface treatment agents of organoalkoxysilanes, organosilazanes, titanate coupling agents, fluorine-containing silicon silane coupling agents, and wherein the iron-based powder composition is compacted at a temperature not lower than the lowest melting point of the employed lubricants, but not higher than the highest melting point of the employed lubricants.

Abstract: An iron-based powder composition is provided that is greatly flowable and compactible and less dependent on temperature with respect to flowability and compactibility at room temperature or during warming. The iron-based powder composition includes an iron-based powder, a lubricant melted and fixed to the iron-based powder, an alloying powder bonded to the iron-based powder with the aid of the lubricant, and a free lubricant. One or more constituent members are coated with an organosiloxane layer in a coating ratio of greater than about 80%. The organosiloxane has phenyl groups as a functional group. The lubricant melted and fixed to the iron-based powder is a composite melt composed of a calcium soap and a lithium soap, or a composite melt composed of a calcium soap and an amide lubricant. The free lubricant is a mixed powder composed of an amide lubricant and a methyl polymethacrylate powder, or a lithium soap powder. A process for producing the iron-based powder composition is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an iron-based powder composition for powder metallurgy having excellent flowability at room temperature and a warm compaction temperature, having improved compactibility enabling lowering ejection force in compaction, to provide a process for producing the iron-based powder composition, and to provide a process for producing a compact of a high density from the iron-based powder composition. The iron-based powder composition comprises an iron-based powder, a lubricant, and an alloying powder, and at least one of the iron-based powder, the lubricant, and the alloying powder is coated with at least one surface treatment agent selected from the group of surface treatment agents of organoalkoxysilanes, organosilazanes, titanate coupling agents, fluorine-containing silicon silane coupling agents.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an iron-based powder composition for powder metallurgy having excellent flowability at room temperature and a warm compaction temperature, having improved compactibility enabling lowering ejection force in compaction, to provide a process for producing the iron-based powder composition, and to provide a process for producing a compact of a high density from the iron-based powder composition. The iron-based powder composition comprises an iron-based powder, a lubricant, and an alloying powder, and at least one of the iron-based powder, the lubricant, and the alloying powder is coated with at least one surface treatment agent selected from the group of surface treatment agents of organoalkoxysilanes, organosilazanes, titanate coupling agents, fluorine-containing silicon silane coupling agents.

Abstract: An iron-based powder composition is produces in accordance with a method comprising the steps of: adding to iron-based and alloying powders, for a primary mixing, a surface treatment agent, and in addition, for a secondary mixing, a fatty acid amide and at least one lubricant, wherein the lubricant has a melting point higher than that of the fatty acid amide and can be, a thermoplastic resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, and inorganic or organic compounds having a layered crystal structure; heating and stirring up a mixture after the secondary mixing at a temperature above a melting point of the fatty acid amide to melt the fatty acid amide; cooling, while mixing, the mixture subjected to the heating and stirring process so that the alloying powder and a lubricant having a melting point higher than the fatty acid amide adhere to a surface of the iron base powder subjected to the surface treatment by an adhesive force of the melt; and adding at the time of the cooling, for a tertiary mixing, a metallic soap and

Abstract: An iron-based powder composition for powder metallurgy excellent in flowability and compactibility is produced in accordance with a method comprising the steps of: adding to iron-based and alloying powders, for a primary mixing, a surface treatment agent, and in addition, for a secondary mixing, a fatty acid amide and at least one lubricant, wherein the lubricant has a melting point higher than that of the fatty acid amide and can be a thermoplastic resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, and inorganic or organic compounds having a layered crystal structure; heating and stirring up a mixture after the secondary mixing at a temperature above a melting point of the fatty acid amide to melt the fatty acid amide; cooling, while mixing, the mixture subjected to the heating and stirring process so that the alloying powder and a lubricant having a melting point higher than the fatty acid amide adhere to a surface of the iron base powder subjected to the surface treatment by an adhesive force of the melt; and adding at the

Abstract: An iron-based powder mixture for powder metallurgy, comprising: an iron-based powder, and from 0.05 to 0.50% by weight of a thermoplastic resin powder which comprises 50% or more by weight of units of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters, methacrylic esters, and aromatic vinyl compounds, and whose average primary particle size is from 0.03 to 5 .mu.m, whose average agglomeration particle size is from 5 to 50 .mu.m, and whose average molecular weight measured by the specific viscosity of a solution is from 30000 to 5000000.

Abstract: An iron based powder mixture for powder metallurgy is provided which can produce a sintered material having by far higher machinability and sliding properties than conventional sintered materials, and also a sintered material containing alloy elements but having adaptability to sizing even after sintering; it comprises an atomized iron powder comprising S in a content of 0.03 to 0.30 wt %, Mn in a content of 0.05 to 0.40 wt % and the balance Fe and incidental impurities, to which is added one or more than one B-containing compound powder selected from boron nitride (BN), boric acid (H.sub.3 BO.sub.3), boron oxide (B.sub.2 O.sub.3) and the like in an amount of 0.001 to 0.3 wt % expressed as B, and incorporated with an MnS powder in an amount of 0.05 to 1.0 wt %, optionally alloyed partially with or prealloyed with Ni, Mo and Cu.

Abstract: An iron-base mixture and method for powder metallurgy containing iron-base powder, an alloy powder including at least copper, copper oxide or both, and an organic substance for bonding the alloy powder to the iron-base powder, wherein said copper powder or copper oxide powder has a particle size of agglomeration, when evaluated by the micro-track method, of about 5 .mu.m to 28 .mu.m, and wherein the particles of copper or copper oxide have a primary particle size which, when evaluated by the BET method, is about 0.2 .mu.m to 1.5 .mu.m.

Abstract: A mixed iron powder for powder metallurgy containing less than about 0.1 wt % of Mn, about 0.08 to 0.15 wt % of S, a total of about 0.05 to 0.70 wt % of one or more compounds selected from MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3, about 0.50 to 1.50 wt % of graphite powder, and the balance Fe and incidental impurities. The mixed iron powder can be manufactured by an atomizing process using water, and be used to manufacture a sintered steel having excellent machinability, strength and toughness without forming soot, even if sintered in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: Atomized steel powder having excellent machinability, containing about S 0.005 wt % to 0.3 wt %, Cr 0.03 wt % to 0.3 wt %, Mn 0.03 wt % to 0.5 wt %, O 0.30 wt % or less, and the balance Fe and incidental impurities, and sintered steel that can be manufactured therefrom. In particular, each of specific components is limited to a preferred range so that atomized steel powder exhibiting excellent machinability, dimensional accuracy and wear resistance and sintered steel that can be manufactured therefrom are provided.

Abstract: Water-atomized iron powder for powder metallurgy having a hardness of particle cross section of from about Hv 80 or higher to about 250 or lower, the iron powder having been atomized with water and dried, and having a particle surface covered with oxides which are reducible in a sintering atmosphere, and which has an oxygen content of 1.0 wt % or less.The water-atomized ion powder can be made by an improved and simplified processing, and the cost of resulting sintered products is decreased as a result of its use.

Abstract: This invention is to control the diffusion of C (carbon) from added graphite to particles of iron powder in the sintering to thereby improve the accuracy of dimensional change in the sintered body by using iron powder for powder metallurgy and a mixed powder thereof as a starting material in the production of sintered mechanical parts by adding the iron powder with Cu powder and graphite powder and companying and sintering them, in which 0.008-0.5 wt % in total of at least one element having a value of standard free energy of formation of oxide at 1000.degree. C. of not more than -120 kcal/l mol of O.sub.2 is included in the iron powder and not less than 20% of the element is rendered into an oxide, or 0.01-0.20 wt % in total of an oxide powder of at least one element having a value of standard free energy of formation of oxide at 1000.degree. C. of not more than -120 kcal/l mol of O.sub.2 is added to the mixed powder.

Abstract: An iron-based powder mixture for powder metallurgy essentially consists of a melted mixture, as a binder, which includes about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of a powder of at least one organic compound selected from stearic acid, oleic acid amide, and stearic acid amide, and about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of a powder of stearic acid bisamide; and the balance which is an iron-based powder, to the surface of which adhered about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of an alloying powder and/or a powder for improving machinability. Disclosed also is a method of producing the mixture.

Abstract: Water-atomized iron powder for powder metallurgy having a hardness of particle cross section of from about Hv 80 or higher to about 250 or lower, the iron powder having been atomized with water and dried, and having a particle surface covered with oxides which are reducible in a sintering atmosphere, and which has an oxygen content of 1.0 wt. % or less.The water-atomized ion powder can be made by an improved and simplified processing, and the cost of resulting sintered products is decreased as a result of its use.

Abstract: This invention is to control the diffusion of C (carbon) from added graphite to particles of iron powder in the sintering to thereby improve the accuracy of dimensional change in the sintered body by using iron powder for powder metallurgy and a mixed powder thereof as a starting material in the production of sintered mechanical parts by adding the iron powder with Cu powder and graphite powder and companying and sintering them, in which 0.008-0.5 wt % in total of at least one element having a value of standard free energy of formation of oxide at 1000.degree. C. of not more than -120 kcal/1 mol of O.sub.2 is included in the iron powder and not less than 20% of the element is rendered into an oxide, or 0.01-0.20 wt % in total of an oxide powder of at least one element having a value of standard free energy of formation of oxide at 1000.degree. C. of not more than -120 kcal/1 mol of O.sub.2 is added to the mixed powder.