Abstract: Chain tension sensing device includes a hollow enclosure, a sensor mounted in a stationary position within enclosure and a member mounted for a reciprocal movement in a substantially linear direction relative to the sensor. The member includes a chain engaging first portion, a second portion mounted for reciprocal movement and a sensor target disposed on a distal end of the second portion. A compressible resilient member is mounted in abutting engagement with at least a rear surface of the first portion. Chain take-up attains tension thereon generating force and moving the member towards the sensor so as to position the sensor target in operative sensing alignment therewith. Chain let-up causes the compressible resilient member to move the member in an opposite direction, removing the sensor target from the operative sensing alignment with the sensor. Sensor generates a control signal in response to sensing or not sensing the sensor target.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner and an image forming apparatus including the same. The scanner may include a scanning unit; a support unit configured to support the scanning unit; a first pinion rotatably disposed on the support unit and configured to move along a first rack of a first surface of a guide member; and a second pinion rotatably disposed on the support unit and configured to move along a second rack of a second surface of the guide member such that the direction of rotation of the second pinion is opposite to the direction of rotation of the first pinion, the second surface of the guide member being different from the first surface of the guide member.

Abstract: An accelerator device for performing an acceleration operation includes a rotary body which rotates with rotation of a grip, a magnet which rotates with rotation of the rotary body, a rotation angle detector which detects a rotation angle of the magnet, an urging member which returns the grip to an original point position by urging the rotary body, and a separation member which separates the rotary body and the rotation angle detector, the rotation angle detector is fixed to the separation member and the rotary body is rotatably held thereby while the urging member urges the rotary body toward the separation member as well as in the rotation direction, so that positional variation of the rotation angle detector against the magnet can be prevented.

Abstract: A dial device includes a body, a first dial knob supported to the body so as to rotate around a predetermined axis, a second dial knob supported to the body so as to rotate around the predetermined axis, and the second dial knob being provided so as to surround the first dial knob, a gear which rotates in response to a rotation of the second dial knob, and is provided on the body, and a pulley unit which includes a first pulley having a connection portion and a second pulley having a gear portion, the second pulley being arranged coaxially with the first pulley. The connection portion of the first pulley is connected to the first dial knob and the gear portion of the second pulley is meshed with the gear in a state that the pulley unit is attached to the body.

Abstract: In a joystick device, a rotation position detector for detecting a rotation position of a rotatable cylinder having one end coupled with a dial knob is provided between the cylinder and a case. The detector includes a drive gear provided around the cylinder, a rotary body which has a driven gear provided around its outer periphery and is in mesh with the drive gear, multiple magnets provided on the rotary body, and a magnetic sensor provided in the case to face one end portion of the rotary body to detect the rotation position of the cylinder based on positional change relative to the magnets along with rotation of the rotary body. Such arrangement enhances the degree of design freedom for arranging a magnetic sensor in the axial direction of the cylinder in detecting a rotation position of the cylinder by the sensor and reduces a necessary number of magnets.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated control apparatus for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle in which a dual dial structure is applied to a dial type air conditioning control switch. According to the integrated control apparatus for an HVAC system for a vehicle of the present invention, an air flow control knob and a temperature control knob are arranged in a concentric circle such that when the air flow control know is rotated, a blower shaft is thereby rotated to operate a blower switch, and the blower switch turns on or off a blower or controls the rotational speed of the blower, and when the temperature control knob is rotated, a rotating holder is thereby rotated with respect to the blower shaft and the amount of rotation is transmitted to a cable through a pin shaft, a gear shaft, and an internal gear to operate a temperature control cam, thus controlling the interior temperature.

Abstract: A dial device includes a body, a first dial knob supported to the body so as to rotate around a predetermined axis, a second dial knob supported to the body so as to rotate around the predetermined axis, and the second dial knob being provided so as to surround the first dial knob, a gear which rotates in response to a rotation of the second dial knob, and is provided on the body, and a pulley unit which includes a first pulley having a connection portion and a second pulley having a gear portion, the second pulley being arranged coaxially with the first pulley. The connection portion of the first pulley is connected to the first dial knob and the gear portion of the second pulley is meshed with the gear in a state that the pulley unit is attached to the body.

Abstract: Disclosed are a recording medium accumulating device and a method for accumulating recording medium. The device includes a cylindroid roller for winding up the recording medium and at least two endless belts, peripheral surfaces of the cylindroid roller contact with external surfaces of the endless belts respectively, and a closed medium-feeding passage is formed between the contacting surfaces, a medium-entering passage and a medium-discharging passage for the recording medium are respectively formed between two adjacent endless belts, the medium-entering passage and the medium-discharging passage connect with the medium-feeding passage, the medium-feeding passage drives the recording medium to rotate with the cylindroid roller using the friction force of the contacting surfaces, so as to accumulate the recording medium.

Abstract: A seated user-propelled vehicle (500) can be propelled using levers (1000) acting on the rear side wheels (595). The levers are disposed between the wheels and the sides (530, 532) of the vehicle and can be moved together, separately or in turn. The levers have curved drive ends (113), the faces of which include a length of roller chain (127) to mesh with freewheels (555) on the hubs of the wheel axles (560) and are held in sufficient co-operation against the freewheels due to tensioning. The levers can be raised through approximately 90° in each drive stroke. Smooth and effective propulsion is obtained. Other uses of the drive levers are disclosed, including a go-kart, power generator, watercraft and personal exercise machine.

Abstract: An actuator that is capable of taking a relatively small amount of force or displacement input therein and of outputting a relatively large amount of force or displacement. The actuator includes a translating component and a plurality of levers or arms. The increase in force or displacement is achieved by adequately selecting the relative lengths of and positioning the levers or arms. Also, an actuation method for transforming an input of a relatively small amount of force or displacement into an output of a relatively large amount of force or displacement.

Abstract: A lever assembly. The assembly may include a lever, a shaft coupled to the lever for supporting pivotal movement of the lever, a magnet coupled to the lever, the magnet being configured to rotate upon pivotal movement of the lever, and magnetic field sensor positioned adjacent the magnet for providing an output representative to position of the lever.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a dial control device having a maneuverability of a control knob improved by making this in cylindrical shape and downsized by disposing another control knob installed within the first-mentioned cylindrical control knob. A dial control device comprising: a cylindrical control knob, a sun gear rotating integrally with said control knob for transmission of a driving force from said control knob, a planet gear interlocking with said sun gear, an internal gear cooperating with said sun gear to guide said planet gear in a direction of its movement, and a control cable coupled to said planet gear so as to operate an external device, wherein said driving force generated by rotational operation of said control knob is transmitted via said sun gear, said planet gear and said control cable to the external device to control operation of said external device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shift lever arrangement for a transmission of a motor vehicle having a shift lever for setting a selected shift stage of the transmission, with the shift lever being mounted, by means of a positioning unit, so as to be movable between a non-use position of the shift lever and a use position thereof for setting the shift stages and/or vice versa, wherein an anti-trap unit is assigned to the shift lever, in such a way that, after the activation of the positioning unit for adjusting the shift lever between the non-use position and the use position thereof and/or vice versa, the positioning force generated by the positioning unit and acting on the shift lever can be at least reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotatable indexing unit for a manual control member (2), comprising two indexing components (31, 32) one of which is the rotor (32) rotatably secured to said control member and the other is the stator (31) which is embodied in such a way that it is fixedly maintained with respect to the rotor. The rotor and the stator are mounted coaxially and comprise a plurality of angular segments (317, 318, 327, 328) at least some of which are magnetised in such a way that they define stable and unstable positions for said control member, and the rotor and the stator have a conical or tapering shape which makes it possible to reduce the required radial space and increase the so-called active surfaces of interaction between the magnets.

Abstract: A bicycle twist-grip shift control device includes a base member for attachment to the bicycle; a twist-grip operating member rotatably supported relative to the base member for rotating in first and second directions around an operating member axis; a transmission control member rotatably mounted relative to the base member for controlling the pulling and releasing of a transmission control element in response to rotation of the operating member, and an intermediate member that moves in a direction of an intermediate member axis in response to rotation of the operating member. The transmission control member rotates around a transmission control member axis that is substantially parallel to the operating member axis, and the intermediate member includes an intermediate member detent for maintaining a rotational position of the operating member and the transmission control member.

Abstract: An accelerator pedal device for a motor vehicle is provided with a pedal plate which is swivellably disposed on a pedal holding device in the form of a housing, and an adjusting device is connected with the pedal plate. The pedal holding device consists of an oblong housing comprising two half shells in which components of the adjusting device are held on bearing points molded on to the interior side. On the exterior side of the half shells, transversely extending catch hook strips are arranged, and, on a lower surface of the half shells facing the vehicle body, molded-on common centering domes are provided for the fastening and fixing of the position.

Abstract: A control unit for setting heating, air conditioning and/or ventilation in otor vehicles is provided. The control unit comprises a body adaptable for insertion into the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, said body having a front panel and a rear carrier member. At least one control knob, by means of which a driving bevel gear connected with it drives at least one driven bevel gear, is rotatably mounted in the front panel. An elongated adjusting lever which swings over a limited range cooperates with the driven bevel to actuate a Bowden cable, which in turn is capable of controlling heating, air conditioning or ventilation systems, particularly flaps in the system which control air flow.

Abstract: A speed and direction control apparatus for a skid steer vehicle of the type having right and left driven wheels which are caused to be operated by variable displacement pumps. The control apparatus is similar to that found in normal highway vehicles in that a steering wheel is provided for controlling the turning of the vehicle and a foot pedal is provided for controlling the speed of the vehicle. One end of each of a pair of push-pull control cable assemblies is used to move the control arms of the variable displacement pumps and the other end of the pair of control cables are in turn secured to a rotatable element which is in turn supported for rotation on a portion of a rotatable steering column. The rotatable element can be rotated by the steering wheel to cause one control arm to be displaced with respect to the other control arm to effect turning of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control lever assembly, particularly for controlling marine propulsion systems, having first and second signal outputs controllable simultaneously by a single lever. The lever is journalled for rotation about a lever axis relative to a body, and can be shifted axially between engaged and disengaged positions. An interrupter driver has driving engagement structure and responds to lever rotation and cooperates with the first signal output. An interrupter driven structure has driven engagement structure which is engageable with the driving engagement structure when the lever is in the engaged position, and is disengageable when the lever is in neutral and is shifted axially. When engaged, the second signal output is responsive to primary rotation of lever. Selector structure permits the axial movement only when the lever is in neutral, and simultaneously permits rotation of the lever to control the first signal output with no corresponding change in the second signal output.

Abstract: A control device has a fixedly mountable frame which has recesses and a fixed shaft extending across the recesses. Flat sided spherical elements having manual levers extending from them are rotatable on the shaft and each element has a sector gear fastened to one of its flat sides. Flat springs extend from the frame and press on the spherical elements to develop friction. Potentiometer support brackets are pivotally mounted to shoulders on the flat springs. Each potentiometer shaft has a spur gear which meshes with a sector gear. The spur gears and sector gears are biased into meshing relation with coil springs that span between brackets. A lip seal is provided between the spherical elements and their housing.

Abstract: The hand control mechanism has the ability to receive two alternative modes of input for the given mode of output. The mechanism includes a handled lever extending into a housing rotatably mounted to a frame, and a bell crank rotatably mounted to said housing. The handled lever can be moved longitudinally to a first or second position. The first position communicates the lever to a plurality of gears such that rotating the lever about its longitudinal axis rotates the bell crank about the housing. Placing the lever in the second position the bell crank is restrained from rotating free of the housing which can be rotated directly by the lever, rotation of the bell crank being the assigned mode of output.

Abstract: The invention comprises a console attachable to a vehicle to control a transmission thereof. The console comprises an enclosure which includes a plate atop the enclosure. The plate includes an indentation which forms a trough therein and further includes a channel passing through the plate in an upraised portion thereof adjacent the trough. A gearshift regulator extends through the channel, the regulator serving to control the transmission of a vehicle. A parking brake actuator is recessed within the trough. The actuator serves to control a parking brake of the vehicle.