Abstract: In a method of detecting deterioration of a battery pack consisting of a series assembly of a plurality of battery modules during charging, on the basis of a voltage difference between a plurality of battery modules, deterioration detection is inhibited until a predetermined capacity is charged after starting of the charge. Also, in a detection apparatus for deterioration in a battery pack according to the present invention, a deterioration reference discharge voltage value which should correspond to a discharge current value and a temperature value is calculated on the basis of reference data, and the deterioration reference discharge voltage value is compared with an actual discharge voltage value to judge whether deterioration occurs or not.

Abstract: A battery pack is charged while being cooled by passing forced air therethrough. During charging, battery temperature and air temperature of air exhausted from the battery modules by the forced air cooling process are measured, and the difference between the battery temperature and the air temperature is calculated. The difference is added to an amount of change of the battery temperature per unit time to obtain a rate of change of battery temperature. When the rate of change exceeds a predetermined value, charging of the battery pack is controlled. In this manner, the battery temperature rise is correctly detected so that the battery pack can be fully charged without being damaged.

Abstract: A multi-layer optical disk includes a plurality of recording layers and each recording layer is composed of a first layer and a second layer having respective transmission indices of T1A and T2A with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity A and having respective transmission indices of T1B and T2B with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity B such that T1A.times.T2A =T1B.times.T2B. The interval between one recording layer and another recording layer is at least 10 times as long as a wavelength of an optical source providing the disk irradiation beams. Furthermore, the first and second layers may have respective thicknesses of H1 and H2 and respective refractive indices of N1A and N2A with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity A and have respective refractive indices of N1B and N2B with respect to an irradiation beam intensity B such that N1A.times.H1+N2A.times.H2=N1B.times.H1+N2B.times.H2.

Abstract: A multi-layer optical disk includes a plurality of recording layers and each recording layer is composed of a first layer and a second layer having respective transmission indices of T1A and T2A with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity A and having respective transmission indices of T1B and T2B with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity B such that T1A.times.T2A =T1B.times.T2B. The interval between one recording layer and another recording layer is at least 10 times as long as a wavelength of an optical source providing the disk irradiation beams. Furthermore, the first and second layers may have respective thicknesses of H1 and H2 and respective refractive indices of N1A and N2A with respect to a disk irradiation beam intensity A and have respective refractive indices of N1B and N2B with respect to an irradiation beam intensity B such that N1A.times.H1+N2A.times.H2=N1B.times.H1+N2B.times.H2.

Abstract: A charging device with a plate-like electrode having a plurality of protrusions, the charging device having a cleaning device including cleaning members which are positioned bilaterally to the electrode and grip the electrode therebetween to clean. The cleaning device cleans the electrode while the cleaning members slide on a guide formed along the electrode, or the cleaning device cleans the electrode by griping the electrode by the cleaning members which are positioned along the electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a toner recycling mechanism for effecting toner recycling. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit accommodating developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive member, a cleaning unit for recovering developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive member after development, and a toner recycling assembly. The toner recycling assembly includes a developer conveyor pipe through which the developer recovered by the cleaning unit is conveyed to the developing unit for recycling of toner contained in the developer, and also includes a developer supply or transport pipe for supplying the developer accommodated in the developing unit to either the developer conveyor pipe or the cleaning unit.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a photodetector divided into eight segments which receive the laser beam reflected from the optical disk and produce signals based on the laser beam sport thereon. In this apparatus, these eight segments are combined in several patterns for the recorded information reproduction, the tracking error detection, and the focus error detection, respectively. For the recorded information reproduction, eight segments are used as combined in three segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 which extend in a direction parallel to each other such that the segment cell RC1 is in center and is sandwitched by other segment cell RC2 and RC3. The segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 are located perpendicular to the recording track of the optical disk and produce three signals C, R, and L indicative of the laser beam intensity of the laser beam spot thereon, respectively. Thus obtained signals C is multiplied by a constant K and then added to the other signals R and L.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a photodetector divided into eight segments which receive the laser beam reflected from the optical disk and produce signals based on the laser beam sport thereon. In this apparatus, these eight segments are combined in several patterns for the recorded information reproduction, the tracking error detection, and the focus error detection, respectively. For the recorded information reproduction, eight segments are used as combined in three segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 which extend in a direction parallel to each other such that the segment cell RC1 is in center and is sandwitched by other segment cell RC2 and RC3. The segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 are located perpendicular to the recording track of the optical disk and produce three signals C, R, and L indicative of the laser beam intensity of the laser beam spot thereon, respectively. Thus obtained signals C is multiplied by a constant K and then added to the other signals R and L.

Abstract: An optical head system designed to accomplish an information recording and/or reproduction from opposite disc surfaces of an optical disc with the use of a single light source. The optical head system comprises a source of light for providing a linearly polarized beam of light; a collimator lens for collimating the linearly polarized beam of light into a collimated beam of light; a polarizing direction rotating unit for arbitrarily varying a direction of linear polarization of said beam of light; a polarizing beam splitter for dividing the beam, whose direction of linear polarization has been varied, into first and second beam components; and objective lenses for focusing the first and second beam components into respective penciles of light which are projected onto first and second, opposite disc surfaces of an optical disc or one disc surfaces of respective first and second optical discs.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for disposing a peeled-off chip of an electric cable, wherein a sheath of an electric cable is first cut by a pair of peeling blades in a state that one of the electric cable is firmly fixed, and then the peeling blades and/or said electric cable are moved in the axial direction of the electric cable so as to remove the peeled-off chip of the cable sheath, with a characteristic feature that the peeled-off chips which are attached to the pair of peeling blades after the cutting operation is completed are blown off by an ionized air. In order to realize the above-described method, the present invention is provided with an air ionizing means for ionizing the air to be blown against the peeled chips, which air ionizing means further comprising an electrification preventing means and an air ionizing nozzle which is connected to the electrification preventing means by way of a cable means.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a photodetector divided into eight segments which receive the laser beam reflected from the optical disk and produce signals based on the laser beam sport thereon. In this apparatus, these eight segments are combined in several patterns for the recorded information reproduction, the tracking error detection, and the focus error detection, respectively. For the recorded information reproduction, eight segments are used as combined in three segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 which extend in a direction parallel to each other such that the segment cell RC1 is in center and is sandwitched by other segment cell RC2 and RC3. The segment cells RC1, RC2, and RC3 are located perpendicular to the recording track of the optical disk and produce three signals C, R, and L indicative of the laser beam intensity of the laser beam spot thereon, respectively. Thus obtained signals C is multiplied by a constant K and then added to the other signals R and L.

Abstract: A focus detection device for use in a focus detection device includes a main light source and two auxiliary light sources. These auxiliary light sources are offset to the main light source along the optical axis of the main optical system while being symmetrically positioned perpendicular to the optical axis. A exposure units having apertures are provided above the two auxiliary light sources for constricting the amount of auxiliary lights so that the convergence of the auxiliary beams on the optical disk is less than that of the main light beam. As a result, an optical system with a broad focus error detection range can be constructed while increasing the convergence of the main light beam.

Abstract: A thread checking device is installed in combination with a sewing machine in order to exert a proper tension on the thread loop formed at the eye of the needle when the thread loop passes through betweeen the bobbin case and the rotation stopping member for restraining rotation of the bobbin case. This thread checking device is provided with thread suspending means which comprises a thread suspending part disposed near a specified position where the thread guide of the thread take-up member is located when the needle thread loop passes between the bobbin case and the rotation stopping member. The thread suspending means suspends the needle thread held on the thread guide with the suspending part when the take-up member moves from the maximum thread take-up position to the maximum thread slack position.

Abstract: A damper device including first and second support members, one of which is fixed to a support element and the other of which is fixed to a suspended element, an elastic block made of a deformable, elastic material for elastically coupling the two support members and a sealed space formed therein filled with a liquid. One partition member has its periphery fixed to the first support member and divides the sealed space into two chambers. The partition member has therein a member movable along a short distance. Fluid passages are formed in a wall portion of the first support member so as to communicate between the two chambers and to impart flow resistance to the liquid flowing therethrough. The partition member can be suspended to the first support member by an elastic sheet and be movable along the axial direction of the first support member. A solenoid is mounted on the inner wall of the first support member. When the solenoid is energized, the partition member can be fixed to the first support member.

Abstract: A magnetic carrier is disclosed which is for use in electrographic developing method which effects development of an electrostatic latent image with a magnetic developer at a developing region by rotating a developing sleeve incorporating a magnet therein thereby causing the aforementioned magnetic developer composed of an insulating toner and a magnetic carrier to be transported to the aforementioned developing region.This magnetic carrier is composed preponderantly of fine magnetic powder and binder resin and is possessed of specific properties, i.e. 2000 to 3000 gasses of magentization in a magnetic field of 1000 oersteds, 60 to 250 oersteds of coercive force, and not less than 10.sup.12 .OMEGA..cm of electric resistance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an insulated wire. A long continuous wire coated with insulation covering is paid out intermittently, fed by a predetermined amount, clamped and cut into short wires with their opposite ends are stripped automatically. The method is performed by a device comprising a wire measuring section including a pair of measuring rollers to hold the wire and pay it out intermittently by a predetermined amount, a wire feeding section having a pinch rollers to feed the paid-out wire similarly by a predetermined amount, a wire cutting section having a wire cutter and a pair of insulator cutters, and a wire holding and transferring section to transfer cut-off short wires for final treatment.

Abstract: A data communication system between a plurality of data terminals comprises of a terminal apparatus to which a plurality of data terminals are coupled in a star structure through pair lines. The terminal apparatus has a plurality of cable driver circuits and a plurality of cable receiver circuits each coupled with a related data terminal through said pair lines, and outputs of cable receivers and inputs of cable drivers are coupled commonly to a single common line. Thus, data from a data terminal is transmitted to another data terminal through a terminal apparatus. A communication control apparatus is installed close to a data terminal. The communication control apparatus has a data terminal transmit data only when other terminals do not transmit data in order to prevent collision of data in the terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A developer for use in developing an electrostatic latent image according to electrography comprises a mixture of a carrier and a toner having a property of being triboelectrically charged to a positive polarity when held in frictional contact with the carrier. The toner includes a binders which is a thermoplastic resin having a Lewis acid-functional group.

Abstract: A method for forming a negative image comprising imagewise exposing a photographic material to provide exposed areas and unexposed areas, said material comprising, on a support, (1) an emulsion layer containing a light-sensitive silver halide, (2) unsensitized silver halide metallic salt grains which are more soluble in a developer than the light sensitive silver halide, and (3) nuclei for physical development, processing said material in the presence of a reducing agent and a solvent for said grains with said developer containing a substance which renders said grains less soluble by adsorbing thereto, said developer rendering said grains in said exposed areas and not in said unexposed areas soluble in said solvent, whereby metal ions are released and deposited on said nuclei.

Abstract: A serial printer includes two character rings having raised characters disposed therearound. Both rings rotate on a common axis for selection of characters for printing. One character ring is laterally fixed relative to the common axis; the other character ring translates laterally along the common axis in a carriage driven by a pulley and wire, and biased for quick return. A solenoid actuated claw selects characters for printing as the character rings rotate. A single motor operating in a forward direction causes the character rings to rotate while character selections are made, sequentially causes a single hammer to strike both character rings simultaneously for printing on paper, and translates the carriage one position for serially printing the next digit in a number. Reversal of the motor, after a line of characters is printed, causes release and return of the carriage and advancement of the paper.