Abstract: A disc cartridge housing a disc-shaped recording medium in its main cartridge body portion is disclosed. The disc cartridge includes the main cartridge body portion having a circular medium housing section rotationally housing the disc-shaped recording medium and an opening for exposing at least a portion of the disc-shaped recording medium to outside, and first and second shutter members rotated along the major surface of the main cartridge body portion to open/close at least the above opening. The first shutter member is supported for rotation along the circular medium housing section provided on the main cartridge body portion. The second shutter member is supported by the main cartridge body portion for rotation in conjunction with the rotation of the first shutter member. When the first shutter member is moved to a first position overlying the opening, the second shutter member is intimately contacted with a lateral side of the first shutter member to overlie the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording medium including a recording layer and a light-transmitting layer successively formed on one side of a substrate, so that a light is applied from the side of this light-transmitting layer for performing an information recording and/or reproduction. On the opposite side of the substrate not having the light-transmitting layer, a water-proof film consisting of at least one layer is formed. This suppresses the skew, enabling to improve the information recording and/or reproduction characteristics for a higher recording density. Furthermore, if the light-transmitting layer has a thickness t=3 to 177 micrometers in an information signal section of the recording medium, and a thickness fluctuation &Dgr;t ≦±5.26 (&lgr;/NA4) micrometers (wherein NA is a numerical aperture and &lgr; is a wavelength of the recording/reproduction optical system), it is possible to realize a high NA and a high capacity.

Abstract: A disc cartridge is played by a drive device. The disc cartridge includes a recording disc and a case for rotatably receiving therein the recording disc. The drive device includes a cartridge holder for receiving the disc cartridge, a spindle for rotating the recording disc installed in the disc cartridge, and a recording/reading head unit for recording information on the recording disc and/or reading the information on the recording disc. A disc type discriminating apparatus is incorporated with both the disc cartridge and the drive device for discriminating the type of the recording disc in the disc cartridge when the disc cartridge is put into the drive device. The apparatus comprises a sensed member fixed to the disc cartridge, the sensed member being capable of representing the type of the recording disc in the is disc cartridge; and a sensing device fixed to the drive device for sensing the sensed member to discriminate the type of the recording disc when the disc cartridge is put into the drive device.

Abstract: A system for collecting oil on water comprises an oil boom (1) and a floating collection container (2), which is connected to an opening (4) in the boom by a pumping hose (3). The pumping hose (3) is flexible so that it can follow the wave motions of the water and is provided with non-return valves, making the flow (18) in the pumping hose unidirectional. The distance between the opening (4) in the boom and the collection container (2) is adjustable by tension members (8) in order for the excess length or slack in the pumping hose (3) to be adjusted to the prevailing wave height or length conditions.

Abstract: A coupon manager is provided including a front end, back end and a central processor for facilitating the processing and settlement of coupons. The coupons are received from customers at the front end which may include a cashier register. The cashier scans a bar code on the coupons and the scanned information may be supplied to the back end. The received coupons are delivered to the back end for imaging and processing. The back end determines whether the coupons are valid. Valid coupons are destroyed and sent to a destruction bin, and invalid coupons may be sent to one of a number of other bins. The processed information is forwarded to the central processor which collates the information from a number of stores and reports the information to manufacturers for settlement. The present invention also provides a booklet having a listing of discounted items identifiable by a single bar code.

Abstract: A disc cartridge for housing a magnetic disc of an increased recording capacity includes recording/reproducing apertures formed in the main cartridge body portion for exposing a portion of a signal recording area of the disc-shaped recording medium to outside across the inner and outer rims of the disc-shaped recording medium. The disc cartridge also includes a shutter member having shutter portions for opening/closing the recording/reproducing apertures and supporting portions provided on both sides of the direction of movement of the shutter portions and supported for movement by the main cartridge body portion and movement guide portions provided on both sides along the width-wise direction of the recording/reproducing apertures which is parallel to the movement direction of the shutter member. The supporting portions are engaged with the movement guide portion for movement.

Abstract: In a mounting system including a loading station having a transport conveyor for conveying printed circuit boards, a mounting machine for fabricating circuit devices by attaching electronic assemblies on printed circuit boards supplied thereto from said loading station, and a unloading station having a transport conveyor for conveying circuit devices supplied thereto from the mounting machine, the loading station includes a discriminating device for discriminating the kind or type of printed circuit boards and generating a discrimination signal for instructing the kind or type of the printed circuit board. A mounting process in the mounting machine in selectively set by the discrimination signal from the discriminating device. According to this mounting system, even when many kinds of circuit devices are fabricated by many kinds of printed circuit boards, mounting processes can be successively carried out by one mounting line.

Abstract: A motor for rotating a disk-shaped information recording medium for a disk drive apparatus which is capable of rotating a higher-capacity information recording medium and a relatively lower-capacity recording medium at different speeds.

Abstract: A manual electronic-part mounting apparatus includes a manual adhesive coating apparatus, a manual electronic-part fitting apparatus, and a manual printed-wiring-board checking apparatus. The manual adhesive coating apparatus has a pressing plate portion to which a large number of needles are fitted, being arranged such that the needles with the adhesive are brought in contact with a printed-wiring board, thereby the adhesive being coated on predetermined positions of the printed-wiring board. The manual electronic-part fitting apparatus has a large number of electronic-part supply rods. The electronic-part supply rod has an electronic-part storage rod supported by a fixed plate and an extruding rod supported by a movable plate. When the movable plate is moved relative to the fixed plate, the chip-type electronic part is extruded from an end-portion side aperture of the electronic-part storage rod.

Abstract: A disc cartridge which is capable of effectively preventing undesirable and deteriorating recording and playback characteristics of an optical disc accommodated and retained therein due to the effects of dust particles and other foreign materials being adhered to the surfaces of the optical disc. In accordance therewith, shock relieving or sealing members close a gap between the shutter and the case of the disc cartridge to prevent dust particles and other foreign materials from intruding onto the surfaces of the optical disc. In addition, sheet-like members are provided in this disc cartridge for cleaning the surfaces of the optical disc.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a node rotatably mounted within a restraining structure at the distal end of a shaft. The node can be rotated allowing manipulation and orientation of a surgical tool extending from the node at the distal end of the shaft through control remote from the distal end of the shaft. Cameras may also be located at the distal end of the shaft allowing stereoscopic imaging to be conveyed to an operator.

Abstract: A center core for a disc-shaped recording medium. The center core comprises a flange section for supporting the disc-shaped recording medium. A generally cylindrical section having a bottom wall is formed integral with and located radially inward of the flange section. A plurality of supportable standard sections are formed at the bottom wall of the cylindrical section by making a press working on the bottom wall of the cylindrical section in a manner to project toward the lower surface side of the center core. The supportable standard sections define a supportable surface through which the center core is placed on a turn table of a disc drive device.

Abstract: A disc cartridge holding a flexible magnetic disc with a recording capacity exceeding 100 MB. The disc cartridge includes a main cartridge body portion holding a disc-shaped recording medium of an increased capacity, first and second positioning reference holes formed at left and right corners in the lower surface of the main cartridge body portion encircled by the front wall section in the direction of insertion of the main cartridge body portion into a disc drive device, left and right sidewall sections extending perpendicular to the front wall section and the outer rim of the disc-shaped recording medium housed in the main cartridge body portion.

Abstract: A method for assembling electronic devices including a plurality of soldering pads for soldering contacts of electronic devices, and at least an insulated zone neighboring at least one of the soldering pads, from which soldering paste is extendible to at least a portion of the insulated zone while applying soldering paste. The method includes the steps of applying soldering paste onto at least a portion of the soldering pads allowing the soldering paste to extend outwardly from at least one soldering pad to locations not in contact with other soldering pads or traces, or to at least a portion of an insulated zone neighboring the soldering pad; and soldering contacts of electronic devices to the circuit board having the portion of soldering pads including the at least one soldering pad.

Abstract: In a mounting system including a loading station having a transport conveyer for conveying printed circuit boards, a mounting machine for fabricating circuit devices by attaching electronic assemblies on printed circuit boards supplied thereto from said loading station, and an unloading station having a transport conveyor for conveying circuit devices supplied thereto from the mounting machine, the loading station includes a discriminating device for discriminating the kind or type of printed circuit boards and for generating a discrimination signal for instructing the kind or type of the printed circuit board. A mounting process in the mounting machine is selectively set by the discrimination signal from the discriminating device. According to this mounting system, even when many kinds of circuit devices are fabricated by many kinds of printed circuit boards, mounting processes can be successively carried out by one mounting line.

Abstract: A disk recording member includes a main body and a center hub mounted in a center hole of the main body. The center hub includes upper and lower hub components for holding upper and lower sides of the main body and a screw for connecting the upper and lower hub components.

Abstract: A door operable in unison with a cartridge holder is provided at the entrance of the apparatus, whereby a movement amount of a cartridge holder (23) is set to be an amount made smaller than a thickness of a disk cartridge (1) and also to be an amount in which the disk cartridge (1) can be prevented from interfering with a spindle motor (3) when the disk cartridge (1) is loaded and unloaded. The thickness of the disk storage apparatus can be reduced, and hence the whole of the disk storage apparatus can be reduced in thickness.

Abstract: A container casing exchangeably holding an optical disc that can be loaded on a disc drive device as it holds an optical disc. The container casing includes a casing main member having a disc housing section for holding the disc-shaped recording medium towards its major surface, an aperture for recording and/or reproducing the disc-shaped recording medium held in the disc housing section and a center opening for rotationally driving the disc-shaped recording medium held in the disc housing section. The casing main member rotatably carries a cover member for opening/closing the disc housing section and an opening/closure controlling members. These opening/closure controlling members are moved between the first position engaging with the cover member and the second position disengaged from the cover member to control the opening/closure of the cover member to enable opening/closure of the cover member to enable exchange of the optical disc while assuring the positively closed state of the disc housing section.

Abstract: A cassette type recording and reproducing apparatus in which during an eject operation of a tape cassette, a cam driven lever 28 is kicked by a cam 31 and a cassette discharge lever 51 is rotated by the cam driven lever 28, whereby a tape cassette 1 in a cassette stage is pushed out in a cassette discharge direction by the cassette discharge lever 51 is provided with cam lever control mechanism 50 for positionally regulating the cam driven lever 28 with some degree of freedom within a fixed range &thgr;12 at the intermediate position of a swing range &thgr;11 in which the cam driven lever 28 is rotated by the cam 31. Therefore, a cam driven lever can be prevented from violently colliding against a cassette discharge lever in the course of a loading operation of a tape cassette.

Abstract: A moving apparatus with a driving force assist mechanism traveled mainly by human power. This moving apparatus detects, in a non-contact manner, with respect to rotating portion such as traveling wheel, etc., rotation speed of the rotating portion to detect traveling state to deliver, from the driving force assist mechanism, assistant driving force corresponding to speed change information that a person who operates the moving apparatus intends to give on the basis of the detected traveling information to carry out traveling to thereby permit smooth traveling even in the case where traveling by only human power becomes difficult.