Abstract: The invention provides a gold-supporting catalyst comprising gold nanoparticles and a carrier consisting of porous ceramic obtained by firing a mixture comprising an aluminum compound, a lime component, and a plastic clay containing 1% by mass or less of feldspars and quartz, wherein the gold nanoparticles are supported in an amount of 0.01 to 10 parts by mass on the carrier based on 100 parts by mass of the carrier.

Abstract: Crude oil is discharged from an oil tank. A nozzle is inserted into a support opening formed in advance on a roof of the oil tank. A cleaning liquid containing LCO is injected from the nozzle over the sludge accumulated inside the oil tank after the crude oil is discharged from the oil tank. The cleaning liquid in which the sludge is dissolved is discharged from the oil tank and is returned to the oil tank for recycle cleaning. Subsequently, the cleaning liquid in which the sludge is dissolved is discharged from the oil tank.

Abstract: A catalyst loading device configured to rotationally spread a catalyst in a reactor includes: a rotor disposed in the reactor and configured to be rotated; a feeder configured to feed the catalyst to the rotor; and an air delivery unit configured to generate an air flow along the catalyst fed to the rotor. The rotor is disposed to a lower end of a cylinder that is concentric with a rotary shaft of the rotor. The cylinder includes: a delivery air feed pipe configured to generate the air flow of delivery air; and a throttle mechanism configured to regulate the delivery air.

Abstract: A catalyst loading device configured to rotationally spread a catalyst in a reactor includes: a rotor disposed in the reactor and configured to be rotated; a feeder configured to feed the catalyst to the rotor; and an air delivery unit configured to generate an air flow along the catalyst fed to the rotor. The rotor is disposed to a lower end of a cylinder that is concentric with a rotary shaft of the rotor. The cylinder includes: a delivery air feed pipe configured to generate the air flow of delivery air; and a throttle mechanism configured to regulate the delivery air.

Abstract: Crude oil is discharged from an oil tank. A nozzle is inserted into a support opening formed in advance on a roof of the oil tank. A cleaning liquid containing LCO is injected from the nozzle over the sludge accumulated inside the oil tank after the crude oil is discharged from the oil tank. The cleaning liquid in which the sludge is dissolved is discharged from the oil tank and is returned to the oil tank for recycle cleaning. Subsequently, the cleaning liquid in which the sludge is dissolved is discharged from the oil tank.

Abstract: A recognition system including a data carrier which is attached to a moving article and which has a memory storing identification data of the article and a control system communicating with the data carrier without any contact therebetween. The control system includes a higher-level controller, a plurality of lower-level controllers connected thereto, and read/write heads connected to the lower-level controllers. The higher-level controller sequentially sends an auto read/write command to the lower-level controllers. In response thereto, when the data carrier approaches one of the lower-level controllers, the lower-level controller communicates with the data carrier so as to access the memory thereof. The lower-level controller temporarily keeps a result of the memory access (the response from the data carrier) such that on receiving a command from the higher-level controller, the lower-level controller transmits the memory access result thus temporarily kept therein to the higher-level controller.

Abstract: A memory of a data carrier attached to an article to be identified stores a classification code indicative of the data carrier's own communication protocol. Plural types of communication protocols are registered, in correspondence with the classification codes thereof, in the memory of a controller capable of communicating with the data carrier. Upon receiving a classification code transmitted by the data carrier, the controller selects from its memory a communication protocol indicated by the received classification code and then executes communication with the data carrier by using the selected communication protocol.

Abstract: An ID system includes a data carrier attached to an article to be identified, and an ID controller capable of communicating with the data carrier. The data carrier is provided with first and second data buffers in addition to a readable/writable memory. Data to be written in the memory is temporarily written in the first data buffer. Old data at a location of the memory in which the aforementioned data is to be written is read out of the memory and temporarily stored in the second data buffer. Thereafter, the data in the first data buffer is written in the memory. In order to check whether the data has been written in the memory correctly, the written data is read out of the memory. In the event that a write error is detected in the checking operation, the old data of memory will have been preserved in the second data buffer, thereby enabling recovery of the old data.

Abstract: A system for performing the desired transaction when the customer follows a specified procedure comprising a sequence of steps includes an electronic visual display unit for displaying a message and an illustration at the same time, a plurality of function buttons arranged in the vicinity of the display unit, a clerk key to be manipulated by the clerk and a memory having stored therein the terms, messages and illustrations to be displayed on the display unit. For customer processing, the display unit displays stepwise, immediately before each of the steps is followed by the customer, an instruction comprising the combination of a procedure specifying message describing the procedure to be followed by the customer and a procedure specifying illustration graphically showing the procedure in corresponding relation to the message.

Abstract: There is provided a transaction processing system including a terminal machine for automatic cash transactions initiated with record media possessed by users, comprising means for reading data on record media inserted by users, means for detecting if the read data are related to certain data representing a theft or the like, and means for delaying transactions by a predetermined time period when the detecting means has detected that the read data are related to said certain data.

Abstract: A film magazine is provided with a peripheral surface carrying at least one photoelectrically discriminatable strip-like mark indicative of the sensitivity of film contained within the magazine, and a photographic camera having a shutter operating circuit automatically adjustable in accordance with the sensitivity of photographic film contained within such a film magazine inserted into the camera includes photoelectric discriminating means located in the camera for discriminatably reading the at least one strip-like mark on the film magazine when placed in the magazine chamber.

Abstract: A camera support for electronic-flash proximity photography is formed from a substantially flat support having openings therethrough for the camera lens, the flash and for viewing the object to be photographed. The underside of the support carries three pivotally mounted extendible legs which in their extended position mount the camera above the object to be photographed, the ends of the legs being positioned in such a manner relatively to the lens opening as to effectively form two sides of a framing rectangle; in their retracted position these legs are attached to the underside of the support in a triangular manner about the lens opening. The support also preferably includes a light diffuser formed in the opening coincident with the flash.

Abstract: A method of controlling the exposure of a camera comprising steps of measuring the luminance of an object on each surface section thereof by a plurality of photoelectric elements widely arranged on the image forming plane of the camera and where the light from the object to be photographed is received, of gaining the maximum and the minimum values of the outputs provided by any one of the photoelectric elements and detecting whether the difference between the maximum and the minimum values exceeds a predetermined value, and of converting the mode for determining the exposure by the detecting signal.

Abstract: In a color printing method, a color photosensitive material is exposed in the photographing step to object illuminating light, which is recorded thereon as an optical density by photographic treatments. In the printing step, the optical density is detected to determine blue, green and red exposures, which cause the object illuminating light to be reproduced on a color positive photosensitive material so as to have neutal gray or to be colored to a standard color. An object image on the color/photosensitive material is printed on the color positive photosensitive material with the most suitable color reproduction with the same three-color component exposures as those determined in printing the object illuminating light.

Abstract: In a color printing method, a color photosensitive material is exposed in the photographing step to object illuminating light, which is recorded thereon as an optical density by photographic treatments. In the printing step, the optical density is detected to determine blue, green and red exposures, which cause the object illuminating light to be reproduced on a color positive photosensitive material so as to have neutral gray or to be colored to a standard color. An object image on the color photosensitive material is printed on the color positive photosensitive material with the most suitable color reproduction with the same three-color component exposures as those determined in printing the object illuminating light.

Abstract: A system for verifying the user of a card in an automatic banking system and the like, wherein when a card is used for the first time after issuance, the user of the card himself manipulates the machine to input a secret number he intends to use with the card so that strict secrecy of the secret number can be maintained. The balance of the use's account is utilized for checking the correctness of the secret number when the card is used after the first use thereof.

Abstract: An automatic monetary value dispensing system wherein a card previously issued to each customer having an account therein is used to actuate the system. The card has recorded thereon necessary data such as the identification number and the current off-line balance of the account, with the on-line balance thereof being recorded in a central processing unit. Dispensation of the requested amount of value is determined by comparing the amount with the on-line and off-line balances of the account.

Abstract: An air clutch of the type having a friction drum secured to a first shaft and an inflatable annular tube concentrically surrounding said drum and carrying friction means for engagement with the drum upon inflation of the tube, is provided with a variable elastic coupling in the drum portion of the clutch. The coupling is comprised of an annular drum having a plurality of radially inwardly disposed plates extending in the axial direction and a hub member having a plurality of axially extending radially disposed plates thereon interdigitated with the plates on the drum. A bellows member is disposed between each pair of plates with the interior of the bellows being disposed in fluid communication with conduits running through the plates on the hub member. The conduits are connected to a common source of air pressure whereby the torsional rigidity of the coupling can be varied by varying the air pressure within the plurality of bellows.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for supplying air to a torque control device of the type having a first and a second rotary member, a drum carried by one of said rotary members, a friction shoe carried on an inflatable member affixed to the other rotary member and adapted to expand so as to press the friction shoe onto the drum to transmit torque between the first and second rotary members. The control air is supplied to the inflatable member in accordance with the slip taking place between the two friction members, whereby the slip is ceased to protect the friction members from the heat which would otherwise generate and accumulate during the slip.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ball joint.The ball joint comprises a bearing member made in one piece, and a ball stud provided with a spherical head slidably received in the bearing member.The bearing member has a bearing surface comprising a pair of upper and lower surfaces of the bullethead shape juxtaposed to each other with the equator line of the spherical head of the ball stud being interposed therebetween the spherical head of the ball stud is supported by a pair of upper and lower bearing zones, and an annular pocket is formed on the equator line for storing a quantity of lubricant therein.