Abstract: A membrane switch is actuated by pressure transmitted from a movable key member through two coaxial springs connected end-to-end. A first of the two springs is held by the key member in a partially strained state requiring an initial force to strain it further. The second spring, smaller in diameter and stiffer than the first, has a free end at which force is applied to the membrane switch. As a top of the key member is pressed, the free end of the second spring moves toward, touches, then presses the membrane switch. Force builds rapidly with displacement in the small spring until it reaches the initial force under which the first spring is retained. This initial force is made roughly equal to the force required to actuate the membrane switch. After that point, the force-displacement characteristic is that of the two-spring combination, which is less stiff than the second spring alone. Thus, long key travel is permitted while the actuation force is reached early in the displacement of the key member.

Abstract: A disk player has a magazine for storing disks on carriages and a disk transport mechanism transporting a selected disk between four positions including an eject position, a load position, a playback position, and a store position which lie in a single plane. The selected disk is carried upon a carriage from the magazine to the load position where the selected disk is partially removed from the magazine to the playback position above a disk reader. An alignment mechanism provides relative movement between the magazine and a plane of transport of the disk transport mechanism permitting a selected disk to be inserted or removed from the magazine at the store position. The disk reader is positioned to read the selected disk while overlapping disks stored in the magazine resulting in a smaller disk player size. The magazine pivotally holds the carriages in a stacked arrangement with prongs engaging recesses in the carriages. The magazine also holds a carriage for accepting disks of two sizes.

Abstract: A disk player has a magazine for holding disks and mechanisms for transporting disks between four positions, an eject position, a load position, a playback position, and a store position. A disk reader is positioned to read a selected disk in the playback position while the selected disk overlaps disks in the magazine. The disks are held on carriages in the magazine and are transported on the carriages to the disk reader. Each carriage has a V-shaped aperture which provides for access by the disk reader to a recording surface of the selected disk. Clearance for playing the selected disk is also provided by the V-shaped apertures of adjacent carriages in the magazine. The selected disk is raised by the disk reader into an area within the V-shaped aperture of the carriage in the magazine which is above the disk being played. A selected carriage is carried by a tray between the eject position and the load position.

Abstract: An eyeglass frame supports a pair of mounting adapters. Each mounting adapter includes a connecting mechanism for removably connecting an optical device. The connecting mechanism permits the optical device to be inserted with a low insertion force, but requires a relatively large force for removing the optical device. The connecting mechanism includes an interior bore that accepts an insertion shank on the optical device. A series of Teflon balls are placed in radial channels in an outer wall of the mounting adapter. An O-ring in a groove in the outer wall urges the Teflon balls into the radial channels. The radial channels are shaped to prevent the Teflon balls from falling into the insertion bore, but allow the Teflon balls to protrude partly into the insertion bore. The insertion shank of the optical device has a bevel that forces the Teflon balls out of its path as it is inserted into the interior bore.

Abstract: A stator for a motor in which there are provided a ring-shaped yoke portion iron core (2), tooth portion iron cores (3) arranged at an equal interval on the inner circumferential side of the yoke portion iron core (2), stator coils (5) fitted into slots (4) formed between respective adjacent tooth portion iron cores (3), and bridging portions (31) connecting the inner circumferential sides of the respective adjacent tooth portion iron cores (3), and a rotor (6) is oppositely disposed through a gap on the inner circumferential side of the tooth iron cores (3), thus allowing the ratio of length s in a circumferential direction of the bridging portion (31) to pitch p in the circumferential direction of the tooth portion iron cores (3) to fall within a range of 0.01 to 0.20.Accordingly, the cogging torque of a motor can be lowered without lowering EMF.

Abstract: A memory cell for an associative storage memory device includes a transmission gate which is rendered conductive or non-conductive in response to a potential on a word line for transferring information between an information hold circuit and a bit line or between the information hold circuit and an inverted bit line. Match line are precharged to ground and supply potentials, respectively, and, thereafter, a retrieval circuit compares information on the bit line or inverted bit line with information held in the information hold circuit and produces a control signal to control the potentials on the match lines in accordance with the result of comparison. After the match lines are precharged, a gating circuit is rendered conductive in response to potentials on output control line and inverted output control line to thereby couple the control signal to the match lines.

Abstract: A device for printing an image onto a surface, such as food containers, employs a laser that is scanned across a surface to produce a latent image on a charged photosensitive surface formed on the surface. The surface is moved relative to the laser source while the laser is activated and deactivated according to a pattern of signal pulses from a control circuit. The device thus forms a raster image. To form very fine images, the control circuit must produce pulses with very small steps in duration. The control circuit of the present invention divides a digital value representing a duration of firing of the laser into high and low order bit sequences. The high order bits, representing a value M, are applied to a counter that generates a first pulse M clock cycles long. The low order bits and the first pulse are applied to a delay circuit. The delay circuit generates a delayed version of the first pulse, which is delayed by an amount represented by the low order bits.

Abstract: A safety screw cap indicates prior opening of a container to protect consumers from prior contamination. The screw cap has an annular band encircling its lower end which is separated from the screw cap by a perforated line. The band is affixed to a fixing clement and the fixing element attached to the container when the screw cap is screwed in place. An unattached leader portion of the band can be lifted easily to peel the band from the container. As the band is peeled from the container, it is simultaneously tom from the screw cap at the perforations. Once the band is removed, the screw cap can be unscrewed and the container unsealed. Before peeling the band away, the screw cap cannot be unscrewed without causing obvious damage to the screw cap or band. In addition, the torque required to shear-separate the band from the fixing element, the fixing element from the container or the screw cap from the band is greater than that which can be applied easily by a normal adult.

Abstract: A cutting insert has a polygonal plate-like insert body defined by a front face, a back face, and a plurality of side faces lying between the front and back faces. A nose portion is defined by one of the corners of the front face. At least one cutting edge extends immediately from the nose portion. The cutting edge is defined by one of a pair of intersections of the front face with an adjacent pair of side faces sandwiching the nose portion therebetween. The front face includes an inclined surface sloping toward the back face in a direction away from the nose portion, causing each of the pair of intersections to incline toward the back face in a direction away from the nose portion. A breaker is formed on the inclined surface along the intersection of the inclined surface with a side face. The breaker has an inner surface for defining a rake surface portion more positively inclined to the corresponding cutting edge than that defined by the other area of the front face.

Abstract: A double-axis key switch has a key cap with a pair of key stems which slide into a housing to actuate a pair of switches. The key stems are slightly out of parallel so that the axes of the key stems meet in a direction of stroke relative to the key cap. However, the sleeves, into which the key stems insert, are parallel. When the key cap is pressed off-center, causing tilting of the key cap, one key stem advances ahead of the other. Because of the relative positions of the axes, binding forces increase in the leading key stem and decrease in the following stem. The asymmetry of the binding forces tends to correct the tilting of the key cap so that the key cap advances symmetrically and smoothly.

Abstract: An electrically driven seat covering paper feeding mechanism feeds seat covering paper from a seat covering paper roll stored in a seat covering paper roll storage portion onto a toilet seat body through a seat covering paper feed path. A seat covering paper cutting mechanism cuts the seat covering paper fed to the surface of the toilet seat body at the rear edge portion of the paper. A control unit operates the electrically driven seat covering paper feeding mechanism by predetermined control signals sequentially output therefrom to control the feeding of the seat covering paper. A battery supplies electricity to the seat covering paper feeding mechanism and the control unit.

Abstract: A circuit assembly includes a platen for pressing carrier plates, bearing heat-dissipating components, against a heat sink. Circuits on one carrier plate are electrically connected with circuits on the other carrier plate by corresponding contacts on each carrier plate which the platen presses into mutual contact as it presses the carrier plates against the heat sink. The surfaces to which the carrier plates are pressed is stepped, which serves to align the carrier plates with respect to each other. One or more substrates, bearing other circuit elements, are attached to the platen and electrically connected to circuits on the carrier plate by resilient contact elements attached to the platen. The resilient contact elements press against contact surfaces of the carrier plates and substrates to make connections. Recesses in the platen also facilitate alignment of the carrier plates and components thereon.

Abstract: A changer-equipped player uses an n number of carriages which can hold up to an n number of discs in storage positions in a stocker. These carriages carry discs between the stocker and a movable tray for play and for loading and unloading. One of the n number of carriages, carriage S, is usable in a single-play mode, allowing the player to be used as a tray equipped single-play device. Carriage S may be selected for single-play regardless of the number of discs stored in the remaining n-1 number of carriages. The remaining n-1 number of carriages are usable only in changer-play operation. Loading discs into the device is accomplished by placing discs into empty carriages as each is held in the tray in an eject position. The stocker is not removed for loading discs or for removing or replacing the discs stored within it. During changer-playback operation, the device selects and plays all stored discs in a predetermined sequence. During single-play operation, the device plays only the disc in carriage S.

Abstract: Dots for producing a multiple tone electrostatic latent image are formed by selectively discharging a charged surface with a scanned laser beam. The multiple tones are produced by pulse width modulation of the laser beam according to the tones required in the dots. High resolution is maintained by limiting the diameter of toner particles to 1/5 to 5 times a minimum exposed dot dimension of less than 1 micron. A laser beam exposure device includes a galvanometer mirror from which the scanning laser beam is reflected. The galvanometer mirror is tilted in synchronism with the conveying direction of the surface being scanned in order to maintain focus of the laser beam on the surface.

Abstract: A portable audio unit has a main unit, such as a CD player or tape recorder. The main unit is connected to a control unit by a cable. Audio and control signals are transmitted by the cable. The control unit has a connector for an earphone. Audio signals are transmitted by the cable from the main unit, to the control unit and to a connected earphone. Control signals are transmitted from the control unit to the main unit for controlling functions such as volume, power, tape-play, etc. The main unit has a built-in winder that stores and retrieves the cable. The control unit may be attached to the main unit when the cord is wound up and stored. With the control unit attached and the cable stored in side the main unit, the portable audio unit may still be operated by the control unit which forms a built-in control panel. With the cable extended, the control unit may be used as a remote control permitting the main unit to be placed in a handbag or pocket.

Abstract: An insulating substrate has a heat generating resistor and an electrical conductor on its surface. A pair of conductors, such as power or communication leads, are connected to a protected circuit. A rated voltage element and the heat generating resistor is connected in series between the lines. The electrical conductor is connected in series between one of the lines and the protected circuit. When a continuous overvoltage greater than a rated voltage of the rated voltage element develops in the lines, the rated voltage element acts to draw excess current through it and the heat generating resistor. When this current reaches a certain point, heat from the overcurrent in the heat generating resistor ruptures the substrate and the electrical conductor so that both the rated voltage element and the circuit are isolated from the conductors. This protects the protected circuit from destruction of, and consequent loss of protection by, the rated voltage element.