Abstract: An improved bottle opening machine for smoothly removing crown caps from bottle necks of empty bottles contained in bottle cases which are being conveyed on a conveyance system in a single file, in which the cap removing is carried out by the steps of engaging of cap removing sections on rotary discs with the crown caps on the bottle necks in an area where the circular movement path of the cap removing sections and the linear movement path of the bottle necks mutually converge in the tangential direction, removing of the crown caps from the bottle necks under the influence of a moment which is produced as the former is separated from the latter as the rotary discs are rotated, and releasing of the removed crown caps from the cap removing sections with the aid of cap releasing mechanisms. To ensure that the cap removing sections are positioned correctly with corresponding bottle necks, at least a synchronizing means is rotatably mounted on the frame structure.

Abstract: An antibiotic, Spicamycin, having the physicochemical properties set forth below is produced by aerobically cultivating a Spicamycin-producing Streptomyces strain in a suitable culture medium, and recovering from the culture the antibiotic, Spicamycin.(1) Color and properties: Weakly acidic white powder(2) Melting point: 215.degree. to 220.degree. C. (decomposed)(3) Specific rotatory power: [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25 =+15.degree. (C: 0.15, in methanol)(4) Elementary analysis (Found): C: 57.4%, H: 8.3%; N: 15.7%, O: 18.6%(5) Ultraviolet absorption spectrum (maximum):______________________________________ CH.sub.3 OH 264 nm (E.sub.1cm.sup.1% 257) 0.01N NaOH + CH.sub.3 OH 272 nm (E.sub.1cm.sup.1% 226) 0.01N HCl + CH.sub.3 OH 273 nm (E.sub.1cm.sup.1% 258) ______________________________________(6) Infrared absorption spectrum (as measured by the potassium bromide method): As shown in FIG. 2.(7) Solubility in Solvent: Soluble in basic water, dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol.

Abstract: Optical transmittances of a combination of a liquid to be detected and a container wall are measured in order to select two optical pass-bands, one of which is relatively high transmittance level while the other of which is relatively low transmittance. The light transmission quantities of the container at the selected two pass-bands are measured by one or more detecting elements. The light transmission quantities are converted into two electric signals, one of which is divided by the other in a signal process circuit.

Abstract: A device for recovering or discharging the contents in containers such as beer bottles or the like includes a case support adapted to horizontally support at least one case containing a predetermined number of containers; a plurality of recovery pipes provided vertically above the case support, each of the plurality of recovery pipes being in opposed relation with the opening of each of the containers in the case; a control valve for controlling the charging of compressed air into the containers in the case; an air supply source for supplying the compressed air which is charged through the control valve; and a recovery tank communicating with the plurality of recovery pipes storing therein the liquid which is forced to be discharged out of the containers in the case through the recovery pipes, the case support and the plurality of recovery pipes being movable toward or away from each other so that when they are moved toward each other the recovery pipes are inserted into the openings, respectively, of the con

Abstract: An improved apparatus for firmly holding a plurality of articles in the form of a bottle or the like on a rotary table has a plurality of supporting mechanisms for supporting the articles with the aid of attractive force generated under reduced pressure. The supporting mechanisms are adapted to rotate about the axis thereof while they revolve round the axis of the apparatus. The respective supporting mechanisms are located at an equal distance along the periphery of a circle on the table. The supporting mechanism comprises a cylindrical support having a flared head and a suction cup fitted in a central cavity of the flared head, the suction cup being in communication with a vacuum source by way of an axially extending through hole in the support. The flared head of the support preferably has a frictional disc fixedly secured to its upper surface and is located flush with the cupping surface of the suction cup.

Abstract: A novel bacterium, Cellulomonas uda CB4, and production of cellulase by cultivation of the bacterium on a medium containing a cellulosic material are disclosed.

Abstract: In a defect detecting method and apparatus, the image of a bottle under inspection, which is conveyed while being spun, is divided into picture elements arranged in a matrix form, signals representative of the picture elements are generated sequentially and repeatedly, and the signals of the picture elements, on the same imaginary line perpendicular to the central axis of the image, are compared with each other, and the result of the comparison is used to detect a defect such as a foreign matter or a scratch.

Abstract: In general, used beer, alcoholic drink or medical bottles are collected to be used again. Such used returnable bottles often have defects such as dust and contaminant or cracks, and they must be removed from the bottles before or after the bottle cleaning process. This invention positively satisfies such a requirement. The electro-optic inspection system according to this invention uses a polarized, scanned optical beam and an array of polaroid optical detectors and a logic signal processing system thereby to securely detect the defects on the transparent or semitransparent containers.

Abstract: In a defect detecting method and apparatus, the image of an object under inspection is formed, the signals of picture elements forming the image is stored, the picture elements signals are accumulated for each of the regions which form parts of the image, the results of the accumulations for regions proximate to each other are compared, and a defect is detected from the result of the comparison.

Abstract: In a defect detecting method and device, image formed by receiving light from an illuminated object to be examined, is divided into a plurality of picture elements, and the signals of the picture elements are stored. The signals are later read out in the order in which the portions of the object corresponding respectively to the picture elements are traversed by a substantially spiral imaginary line drawn on said object, and a defect is detected from the relationship between the signal of one of the picture elements and the signal of another picture element read out a little before the reading of the signal of said one of the picture elements.

Abstract: A synthetic resin pallet is provided with at least one slip preventing member on the upper and or lower surfaces of the deck board. The slip preventing member is made of relatively soft and flexible material, preferably a polyolefin resin.

Abstract: In general, used beer, alcoholic drink, soft drink or medical bottles are collected to be used again. Such used returnable bottles often have foreign matters or contaminants such as dust and leavings or cracks, and they must be removed from the bottling line before or after the bottle cleaning process. This invention positively satisfies such a requirement. The foreign matter detecting device comprises: a photoelectric conversion device having a number of light receiving elements; and a video signal processing device for successively subjecting to comparison and discrimination the detection signals of variable two adjacent points which are detected by the photoelectric conversion device, to determine whether or not the bottle has a foreign matter.

Abstract: Beer is brewed by a process which comprises mixing a high-gravity liquor comprising a fermenting wort of an original gravity of 14 to 21 degrees of plato after the high kraeusen period and a low-gravity liquor comprising a fermenting wort or wort of an original gravity of 3 to 6 degrees of plato and subjecting the resulting mixture to fermentation thereby to obtain a beer of an original gravity of 6 to 9 degrees of plato.

Abstract: A novel scuff-masking composition for glass vessels comprises a specific organopolysiloxane, a curing catalyst therefor, and a surfactant and is highly effective in a method of masking scuffs on glass vessels, which comprises providing the composition on the scuffs and curing the coated composition.

Abstract: A physiologically active polysaccharide is prepared by treating autolysis-insoluble matters of yeasts of Saccharomyces with a yeast cell wall-lytic enzyme and obtaining a water-soluble physiologically active substance in the resulting solution-fraction. The novel polysaccharide possesses specific physical and chemical properties, and provides a chemotherapeutic agent such as a carcinostatic agent which can be used in the treatment of implanted tumors in mice and rats and an interferon inducer.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating with a desired substance a succession of beverage bottles traveling along an arcuate guideway. A star wheel assembly, rotatable about an axis at which the arcuate guideway is centered, feeds the successive bottles along the guideway, further coacting with the opposed guideway-defining surface to cause rotation of each bottle about its own axis. Coaxially mounted on the star wheel assembly, either for simultaneous rotation therewith or for independent rotation, one or more annular rows of discrete coating bodies or one or more coating rolls apply the coating substance to the successive bottles, creating one or more band-shaped coatings around each bottle. In one embodiment the star wheel assembly is replaced by a feed roll assembly comprising a pair of annular rows of independently rotatable feed rolls.

Abstract: In order to enable a laser beam to scan the complete inside surfaces of an empty bottle or the like, two mirrors oscillating about right angular axes are employed which successively reflect the laser beam. The oscillations of the two mirrors are correlated to impart an annular or spiral scanning motion to the laser beam. Subsequently passing through a converging lens, which is focused at the mouth of the bottle being tested, the laser beam enters the bottle for point-by-point scanning of its surfaces. The presence of a flaw in the bottle is sensed from the intensity of the laser beam that has penetrated, or has been reflected from, the bottle, as by an integrating sphere and a photoelectric detector mounted in position thereon. Various other embodiments of the invention and modifications are disclosed.

Abstract: In a system for conveying bottles or like articles, bottles being conveyed in single file along two or more separate paths are caused to merge and travel in single file along a single path by a device comprising arcuate guide passages and star wheels rotatably supported in concentric relation thereto, each star wheel having a plurality of teeth with respective outer tips lying in a rotational path extending partly into the guide passage, each tooth having a special profile shape defined by leading and trailing edges, the leading edge having a concave arcuate shape of a radius of curvature which substantially corresponds to the radius of said circular cross section and extending from the tip inward to smoothly join the inner end of the trailing edge of the forwardly adjacent tooth, said trailing edge having a convex curved shape and extending outward to the tip of said adjacent tooth, said leading and trailing edges thereby forming a fair S-shaped curve.

Abstract: A scuff-masking composition for glass vessels comprises a specific organopolysiloxane and a curing catalyst therefor, and is highly effective in a method of masking scuffs on glass vessels, which comprises providing the composition on the scuffs and curing the coated composition.

Abstract: Prodigiosin, an antibiotic, is effectively produced by culturing a novel Serratia marcescens R-2 strain. A synthetic culture medium is also provided, which contains a higher fatty acid having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, a salt thereof or an ester thereof as the sole or main source of carbon and in which a strain of Serratia marcescens having the abilities to assimilate the source of carbon and to produce prodigiosin can be cultivated to obtain prodigiosin.