Abstract: An entertainment system has an input determiner for comparing an input pattern image displayed on the screen of the display monitor according to a control input entered from a manual controller and a reference pattern image with each other, and producing an evaluation of the control input based on the level of similarity between the input pattern image and the reference pattern image. The input determiner has an image converter for converting the control input from the manual controller into the input pattern image, a similarity calculator for comparing the input pattern image and the reference pattern image with each other, and determining the level of similarity therebetween, an evaluation calculator for producing the evaluation of the control input based on the determined level of similarity, and an animation processor for displaying an animation based on the present evaluation on the screen of the display monitor.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated valve comprises first and second elastic ring members each of which is made of an elastic material such as rubber, which retain a peripheral edge of a diaphragm, and which are flexibly bent in accordance with displacement of the diaphragm. A pair of lip sections is formed on the first and second elastic ring members.

Abstract: A method for programming a multi-axis actuator system to perform palletizing uses an intuitive user interface having a data entry screen for palletizing data, which requires only a simple setting of minimal parameters including the number of rows and columns in a pallet and the pitch spacing between pallet positions. Actuator positions necessary for palletizing movements are calculated in real time by an algorithm executed in a digital signal processor of the actuator controllers. Palletizing data entries are stored in a motion profile table in a range of consecutively paired indexes which is separated from the index range dedicated to regular single-step or torque moves.

Abstract: A flow rate control valve includes a second substrate having a flexible thin film and interposed between a first substrate having a heating mechanism and a third substrate having a sealing section. The first substrate and the second substrate close an internal space formed adjacent to the heating mechanism and filled with an expandable material. The sealing section and the flexible thin film function together as a valve. The heating mechanism heats and expands the expandable material whose pressure is detected by pressure-detecting sensors. The detected pressure value is fed back to a control mechanism of the heating mechanism for opening/closing a fluid flow passage and controlling the valve opening degree.

Abstract: Belt guide members guide an upper belt and a lower belt for closing a slit of a cylinder tube. Belt holder sections for the upper belt and belt separators for separating the upper belt and the lower belt from each other are integrally formed in the belt guide members. Bearings for positioning a slider are disposed to engage with the belt guide members.

Abstract: A self-holding type solenoid-operated valve comprises a single coil which is wound around a bobbin in one direction, a movable iron core which is disposed coaxially with a fixed iron core, a first spring which urges the movable iron core away from the fixed iron core, and an annular permanent magnet which is installed to a portion at which an end of the fixed iron core and an end of the movable iron core are opposed to one another. The annular permanent magnet partially surrounds the outer circumferential surfaces of the fixed iron core and the movable iron core.

Abstract: An O-ring is disposed on a front end surface of an abutted collar to prevent a fluid from leaking out of a flow passage when a socket and a plug of a tube joint is coupled to one another. A check valve of each of the socket and the plug, which prevents an outflow of the fluid when the socket and the plug are disengaged from each other, comprises the cylindrical collar (plug body) and a valve element. The valve element is disposed toward an inner diameter of the collar. The valve element has an O-ring disposed on the outer circumference of a columnar section coaxial with the collar.

Abstract: An angle &thgr;, which is formed by an axis of a horizontal roller rotatably attached to a slider and an axis of an inclined roller, is about 60°, and a load-bearing capacity of the horizontal roller is about a half of that of the inclined roller. Accordingly, the load resistance is substantially constant in four directions, i.e., in upward, downward, rightward, and leftward directions irrespective of attachment posture.

Abstract: The invention provides a connector which is easily manufactured and connects a circuit board in good condition. The connector according to the invention is a CPU socket to be surface-mounted on a circuit board 2, comprising a terminal 5 attached inside an internal case 4a made of an insulating material and a solder 6 fixed to the terminal 5. A connecting section 11 of the terminal 5 is provided with a pair of bar-like pieces 12, and has first claw sections 13 and a second claw section 14. In order to fix the solder 6 to the connecting section 11, tip ends of the first claw sections 13 are caulked by bending so that the tip ends contact with each other. The connecting section 11 is provided with an internal passage 15 connecting the upper and lower sides thereof. The solder 6 does not come off the terminal 5 because the solder 6 is attached to the internal case 4a after fixed to the connecting section 11 of the terminal 5 by caulking.

Abstract: A method of forming a receptacle connector insert capable of maintaining constant distances between terminal groups even when a receptacle connector has the terminal groups of three rows or more and of being easily produced, comprising the steps of locking a terminal group (2) positioned at both ends to a pair of metal mold main bodies (4) as shown in FIG. 3(a) and holding a terminal group (2) arranged at the center in a rear core (6), moving a front core (5a) arranged on the right side of a curved part (2b) downward while bending the curved part (2b) as shown in FIG. 3(b), storing the curved part (2b) in a second storing part (10a) as shown in FIG. 3(c), moving a front core (5b) arranged on the left side toward the curved part (2b) as shown in FIG. 3(d) and storing the curved part (2b) in a second storing part (10b) as shown in FIG.

Abstract: Each of pressure-detecting switches to be connected to one another has a first connector provided at one side section and a first connector provided at the other side section. Electric wiring is mutually effected for the pressure-detecting switches by attaching/detaching the first connectors. The pressure-detecting switches are mutually fixed by using a fixing mechanism arranged for the side sections to effect the function for mutually attaching/detaching the pressure-detecting switches.

Abstract: A direct drive bearing mechanism comprises guide plates which are installed to retaining recesses of a guide block and each of which has a plurality of hemispherical dimples, race members which are installed to a guide rail and each of which has a groove having a circular arc-shaped cross section, and a plurality of balls each of which rotates in each of the dimples and which slide along the grooves so that the balls do not circulate.

Abstract: A plurality of permanent magnets are embedded at predetermined pitches &tgr;p in a longitudinal direction in a field yoke composed of a magnetic substance so that adjacent magnet poles have opposite polarity, and a plurality of electromagnets, which have magnetic pole pitches &tgr;e≈(2n+1)&tgr;p of preset intervals provided that n is 0, 1, 2, . . . , which are disposed at predetermined pitches &tgr;g=(2s+1/m)&tgr;e in the longitudinal direction of the field yoke provided that m is a number of exciting phase and s is 1, 2, 3, . . . , and which are separated from the field yoke by a predetermined gap while opposing to the field yoke, are provided. The field yoke is driven by successively exciting the electromagnets.

Abstract: The real mass flow rate is calculated for a variety of gases. The variety of gases are classified into a plurality of classifications, and representative discharge coefficient relationships are previously determined for the respective classifications. When an upstream pressure and a temperature are detected for a certain gas on an upstream side of the sonic nozzle, a theoretical mass flow rate is calculated. After the theoretical mass flow rate is calculated, reference is made to a theoretical mass flow rate-discharge coefficient correspondence table recorded in a memory corresponding to the classification of the gas, to determine a discharge coefficient based on the relationship appropriate for the gas type. After the discharge coefficient is selected, a real mass flow rate is determined as a product of the determined discharge coefficient and the theoretical mass flow rate.

Abstract: A buffering mechanism comprises a block member which is installed detachably in an actuator body, a piston which compresses air in a compressing chamber when a movable element abuts against the piston, and a check valve and a variable throttle valve which are provided in a passage for communication between the compressing chamber and the outside of the actuator body and which adjust a flow rate of the air discharged to the outside.

Abstract: A connector has an inner case connected to a circuit board by reflow soldering, an outer case slidable back and forth on the inner case, and a cover covering the surface of a CPU disposed on the outer case. The cover has a plated metal shield on its surface and is electrically connected to an electrically conductive heat radiator through a clip. When the CPU is covered by the cover and the heat radiator is mounted on the CPU, the cover is disposed between the heat radiator and the CPU. Since the CPU is covered by the cover, the heat radiator can be removed from the CPU without posing burdens on the CPU. The shield of the cover is effective to block electromagnetic waves generated by the CPU.

Abstract: A flow rate control valve includes a coil disposed in a first body, a movable iron core axially displaceable under a magnetically exciting action of the coil, a fixed iron core fixed in the first body, a fluid supply port supplied with a fluid, a fluid discharge port discharging the fluid, a projection formed for a diaphragm which is connected to the movable iron core and which is formed of an elastic member, a valve seat for the projection to be inserted therein, and a spring which urges the movable iron core to separate from the fixed iron core in a non-excited state.

Abstract: A rodless cylinder comprises a cylinder tube, and a slide table which is movable back and forth along the cylinder tube. A cover member is fixed to the cylinder tube in a state in which an attachment base is secured to the slide table. A dust-preventive member is integrally interposed by an inner wall of the cover member, a side wall of the cylinder tube, and a side wall of the attachment base. The dust-preventive member is provided to be capable of making elastic deformation in a direction of the arrow B perpendicular to a direction of the arrow A.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a rotary driving source, a tube member which is supported by a support rib extending in a substantially horizontal direction along a side section of a base member, an internal movable member and an external movable member which are integrally displaceable along the tube member under the magnetic coupling action, a slide screw shaft which is connected to a drive shaft of the rotary driving source and which transmits the rotary driving force to the internal movable member, and a slide screw nut for the slide screw shaft to be screwed therein for converting the rotary motion into the rectilinear motion.

Abstract: A mechanism for keeping a lock device released comprises a through-hole which is defined through a side surface of an intermediate block member having a lock device and which externally communicates, a hexagon wrench which is inserted externally through the through-hole and which is connected to a lock plate, and a plate spring which fastens the hexagon wrench with the lock being released by moving the lock plate upwardly with the hexagon wrench.