Abstract: An automated transaction system employs microprocessor-bearing user cards each issued to a respective user for maintaining a history of user account transactions and a user account balance, microprocessor-bearing master cards issued to vendors for maintaining a history of master account transactions and a master account balance, and terminals in which a user card and a master card are inserted for performing account transfer transactions wherein value from the account balance of one card is debited and the account balance of the other card is correspondingly credited. A transaction history recorder is used to produce or record the transaction history stored in the card for the user of the vendor. In the preferred embodiment, each master card is assigned to a respective terminal of a vendor and maintains a history of the transactions executed at that terminal between the master card and user cards presented for transactions at the terminal.

Abstract: A speed sensitive safety lock is provided for arresting and holding a control member when it is moved above a predetermined speed along a control path in one plane in close proximity to a stationary surface. The safety lock comprises a mounting portion for mounting the safety lock to either the stationary surface of the control member, and an arresting member pivotably supported on the mounting portion having a contact surface on one end for making a glancing contact with a part on the control member or the stationary surface as the control member is moved along the control path, and an arresting portion on another end which is movable so as to arrest the control member from further movement when the glancing contact is made at a speed in excess of a predetermined level. The preferred form of the lock has a single moving part and can be readily retrofitted to existing devices.

Abstract: A whisker of molybdenum oxide in the form of a filament, rod or flake. Molybdenum oxide whiskers are produced by firing metallic molybdenum at a temperature of at least 400.degree. C., preferably at least 800.degree. C., in an atmosphere containing oxygen, or by firing an organic molybdenum compound in an atmosphere containing oxygen at a temperature which is at least equal to its thermal decomposition temperature. They are very strong crystals which are expected to be useful as a filler for plastics and for a variety of other applications.

Abstract: An automated transaction system employs a terminal for printing a value indicia, such as a postmark, on an article. The terminal contains a modular printer unit which has a printhead and a dedicated microprocessor physically permanently bonded together such that the printhead microprocessor cannot be physically tampered with without disabling the printhead. The modular printer unit includes a first supply of visible ink and a second supply of invisible ink, and an internal program for printing the value indicia with visible ink and an authentication code, which uniquely corresponds to the value indicia, with invisible ink. The invisible value indicia can be subsequently verified as authentic by machine reading of said invisible authentication code and comparing the authentication code for correspondence to the value indicia.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive apparatus in which relative positional relation of head and recording medium is optimized in order to assure the best condition for the recording and replay of picture. Namely, the height of pad can be changed so that the relative positional relation of recording medium surface and head can be optimized by the adjusting screws provided to the fulcrum point of pad and accordingly satisfactory condition of contact between the head and recording medium surface can be assured.

Abstract: An improved sheet folding method comprises forming an upper folding template and a lower folding template having plate elements corresponding to predetermined fold configurations desired to be formed, the plate elements being interconnected along respective joining lines between adjacent plates by thin, flexible joining parts which allow the plate elements to be folded together along the joining lines, placing a sheet to be folded between the upper and lower folding templates, then folding the stacked sheet and templates together according to the order of the fold configurations desired, whereby the desired fold lines are formed in the sheet corresponding to the joining lines betwen the plate elements in the order of the fold configurations.

Abstract: A theft-notifying method is applicable for a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle telephone system and a theft-alarm system. The method comprises the steps for pre-storing into a memory telephone numbers of a notifiee to which an alarm is sent when a theft occurs. When theft is detected, the theft-alarm system signals the theft condition to the vehicle telephone system. The vehicle telephone system then automatically dials a notifiee whose telephone number is stored in the memory. A vehicle owner is thus notified of the abnormality and take measures for the prevention of theft even at night or even when nobody is near the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved contact mechanism for a switch is disclosed in which impact between contacts is reduced or moderated to minimize rebound of the contacts thereby to prolong the life of the switch. The contacts are sufficiently spaced apart from each other when the switch is in a stable open position, but when the switch is operated, the movable contact is first moved gradually to an intermediate position toward the fixed contact whereafter it is moved rapidly to the fixed contact over a thus reduced distance.

Abstract: An X-Y direction input device used, for example, in a graphic display apparatus includes some members enclosed in a casing and requiring electrical connection to each other. The casing is divided into upper and lower cases one of which has some chamber defining walls or ribs and the other has associated projections or pins, so as to accept the members previously connected physically, electrically to each other in the respective chambers and suppressingly support them in the chambers by the projections or pins.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprises adding CuO of 0.5-2 parts by weight to a composite of 100 parts by weight, said composite being expressed by[Pb.sub.1-x Ba.sub.x ][(Fe.sub.1/3 W.sub.2/3).sub.Y (Fe.sub.1/2 Nb.sub.1/2).sub.Z (Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.W ]O.sub.3 (1)wherein 0.05.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.0.20, 0.10.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.0.20, 0.35.ltoreq.Z.ltoreq.0.45 0.40.ltoreq.W.ltoreq.0.50, and Y+Z+W=1. Therefore, it can be sintered particularly at low temperature and the temperature-changing ratio of its dielectric constant is small as well. It is thus suitable for laminated substrates and chip capacitors.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus for a disc, having an ejector with which an insertion-side fore end of the disc comes into abutment and which is urged toward a disc insertion opening, and a lock mechanism for locking the ejector when the disc has been inserted up to a drive position, the disc being ejected by a returning force of the ejector, characterized in that there is provided a support member for supporting an arm with an upper writing/reading head attached thereto and in that the ejector is provided with an engaging mechanism for allowing the support member to hold the arm in an upper position when clamping operation is performed without insertion of the disc.

Abstract: A connector for an optical fiber in which an optical fiber and an optical conversion element are detachably coupled together, and optical fibers are mutually coupled together. The connector comprises a holding member composed of a front tube for holding the optical fiber and a rear tube for holding an optical fiber cable, the rear tube being formed with a slit in an axial direction thereof, the rear tube portion having a fixed tube fitted thereover to press the rear tube. The rear tube is formed with notches which intersect the slits, corner portions formed in the notches and the optical fiber cable are positioned in the intersecting relation, the corner portions being pressed against and brought into contact with the optical fiber cable by the pressing force of the fixed tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector in which an optical fiber and an optical conversion element are detachably coupled together, and optical fibers are mutually coupled together. The connector comprises a holding member composed of a front tube portion for holding the optical fiber and a rear tube portion for holding an optical fiber cable, the rear tube portion being formed with a slit in an axial direction thereof, the rear tube also having a fixed tube fitted thereover to press the rear tube portion. The rear tube portion is formed with more than on notches which intersect the slit, and engaging surfaces formed in the notches are brought into engagement with ends of the fixed tube.

Abstract: A character selecting mechanism for a printer having a plurality of type wheel units arranged axially on a shaft. The character selecting mechanism comprises a plurality of electromagnetic clutches each having a solenoid, a sleeve rotatably received in the center hole of the solenoid and rotated continuously during a printing cycle, and a pair of selector plates resiliently pressed against the opposite end surfaces of the sleeve, respectively, so as to be attracted to the sleeve and to be turned by the sleeve when the solenoid is energized, having tongues facing opposite to each other to form part of a magnetic path for the magnetic lines of force of the solenoid with a small gap therebetween an in contact through a small contact area with a driving disk for applying an assistant force to the selector plates in turning the selector plates in a character selecting direction.

Abstract: A method of molding a case for use in a push-button switch as employed on a television receiver, video tape recorder, or the like. A contact plate having a central fixed contact and two opposite fixed contacts is mounted between an upper die and a lower die. One of the dies has a central support portion and two opposite support portions. In one embodiment, the central fixed contact and the opposite firxed contacts are pressed against the central support portion and the opposite support portions, respectively. A locating pin that tapers off is pressed against the central fixed contact. Two other locating pins are pushed to the vicinities of the opposite fixed contacts.

Abstract: A printer having a platen, a type belt having a plurality of types arranged oppositely to the platen and projected at an interval on a belt body thereof, a carriage for placing a hammer member for pressing the desired type of the type belt movably arranged on the back of the type belt on the platen, and a mask member supported to the carriage and disposed between the platen and the type belt characterized by said mask member having a slope for disposing the type side used for printing in the vicinity of the platen, thereby preventing inks from mixing and preferably printing a desired type by a small pressing force.

Abstract: A rotation information detector comprising plural magnetoresistant elements arranged parallel and adjacent to a rotating magnetic field and dummy elements located parallel on both sides of the magnetoresistant elements wherein rotation information is detected on the basis of those electric resistances on the magnetoresistant elements which change responsive to the change of the magnetic field, characterized in that boundary patterns are formed between the magnetoresistant elements and the dummy ones, respectively, so that the magnetoresistant elements can be distinctly distinguished from the dummy ones to enhance the efficiency of appearance check.

Abstract: An automated transaction system employs a card maintaining an account balance and a terminal for dispensing an article of value and debiting the card's balance. The card has a secure, resident microprocessor which executes an interactive handshake recognition procedure with a secure, resident microprocessor in the value dispensing section of the terminal prior to actuating a requested transaction. In the preferred form, the handshake procedure operates by an exchange of encrypted words between the card microprocessor and the dispenser microprocessor using corresponding encryption algorithms and a secret key number, and the card microprocessor providing a command signal to the dispenser microprocessor only upon successful completion of the procedure.The automated transaction system is particularly suitable as a postage metering terminal having a postmark printer as the value dispensing section.

Abstract: A disc driving device having a housing in which are formed by cutting a pair of front bearing portions in the vicinity of a disc drive motor mounting hole and a pair of rear bearing portions at predetermined distances from the front bearing portions, characterized in that a cutting tool relief slot contiguous to the rear bearing portions and deeper than a cutting allowance for those rear bearing portions is provided in the housing so that a cutting tool can move efficiently along the relief slot when it is moved from one rear bearing portion to the other.

Abstract: A position input device for a computer system, commonly referred to as a "mouse", has a resilient cushion attached to the bottom of its casing and a high-durability, low-friction slide sheet attached to the bottom of the cushion resulting in a device which easily slides on a desktop surface, resists wearing down, and does not generate noise when slid.