Abstract: Thermoplastic resin compositions having excellent heat distortion resistance, impact resistance, chemical resistance and molding properties. The compositions are mixtures of a polyarylate, a polyamide and a specified graft copolymer or modified polyolefin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photochromic compound comprising a spirooxazine compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 means an alkyl, allyl or alkoxyalkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or aryloxyalkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 individually denote a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 stand individually for a hydrogen or halogen atom, or an alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, alkoxyalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted amino group. A photochromic composition comprising the photochromic compound and a phenol derivative, fluorine-containing alcohol or hindered amine type light stabilizer is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing a series of image forming operations, comprising an exposure unit for exposing the photosensitive recording medium to an image light to form a latent image thereon in a first exposure process, a pressure-developing unit for superposing the photosensitive recording medium over a developer medium under pressure to form a visible image on the developer/medium, sheet feeding rollers for feeding the photosensitive recording medium through the exposing unit and the pressure-developing unit in forward and reverse directions to thereby perform sheet feeding and rewinding operations, respectively, the photosensitive recording medium being fed back in the rewinding operation after pressure-developed by the pressure-developing unit to dispose an unexposed area of the photosensitive recording medium in the first exposure process to a predetermined position where the unexposed area is subjected to a second exposure process subsequent to the first exposure process, and a control un

Abstract: The present invention provides polypropylene resin pre-expanded beads formed by shrinking polypropylene resin pre-expanded beads originally having a bulk density of not higher than 0.0930 g/cc to give them a bulk volume ratio of 10-75% at normal temperature and normal pressure, a manufacturing method thereof and an expansion-molding method with the aforementioned pre-expanded beads. According to this invention, it is possible to greatly reduce storing and transporting costs per unit weight of pre-expanded beads.

Abstract: A selectively, partially hydrogenated butadiene polymer produced by selectively, partially hydrogenating a butadiene polymer comprising:(1) a bound styrene content [S] of 0 to 40% by weight;(2) a vinyl linkage content [V] of 1 to 80% at the butadiene portion;(3) a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 10,000 to 1,000,000; and(4) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1.2 to 5.0;wherein the selectively, partially hydrogenated butadiene polymer produced is characterized by(5) a hydrogenation ratio [A] of 3 to 85% of the total butadiene portion; and(6) a hydrogenation ratio [B] of 20% or more at the vinyl linkage moiety of the butadiene portion; andwherein the [A], [B], [S] and [V] satisfy the relationships of:(7) [A]/([S]+[V]).sup.1/2 which is 2 to 8; and(8) [B].[V].sup.1/2 /[A] which is 10 to 16.

Abstract: A continuously variable automotive transmission continuously varies the speed ratio between input and output rotational speeds according to an indication of the driver's intention of acceleration or deceleration, an indication of an engine power output, and alternative selection of forward and neutral transmission positions, and also transmits the engine power output to wheels dependent on the operation of a clutch. The operating condition of the clutch is detected and fed back for the control of the transmission in order to perform speed changing operation of the transmission more quickly when the clutch is operated toward a shut-off position upon automobile deceleration than when ordinary speed changing operation is effected by the transmission.

Abstract: A cylinder block as a main part of an engine block includes a cylinder barrel assembly block, a skeleton-like frame surrounding the outer periphery of the cylinder barrel assembly block and a plate-like rigid film member, within a fluid passage in the skeleton-like frame. The skeleton-like frame is integrally joined to the outer surfaces of left and right side walls of the assembly block along the crankshaft axis and includes crossbeam bone members, longitudinal beam bone members and post bone members which are rigid and unitarily assembled into a three-dimensional latticework structure. A cylinder head is integrally coupled to the deck surface of the cylinder block and a lower case is integrally coupled to the lower surface of the cylinder block, lateral outer surfaces of the block and lower case along the crankshaft axis being formed flush with each other in parallel with the cylinder bore axis.

Abstract: A data converting apparatus for converting outline data including multiple sets of segment data representative of respective segments of an outline of a character, into dot data representative of the character. The data conversion is effected according to a conversion rule that each stroke of the character is constituted by picture elements which lie within an outline of the stroke so as to satisfy a predetermined requirement, when the character outline is superimposed on a coordinated pixel screen wherein the picture elements are defined by parallel x-axis and y-axis lines. The apparatus includes an ornamental end data converter operable without following the conversion rule, for processing ornamental end data comprising at least one of the multiple sets of segment data of the outline data which represents an ornamental end portion of an ornamented stroke of the character.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser drive device modulates optical output of a semiconductor laser in accordance with an externally provided modulation signal comprises a compensation circuit for calculating a compensation coefficient and for generating a compensation modulation signal, a threshold value current generation circuit for generating and a threshold value current to the compensation modulation signal and sending the added current as a drive current, and a current drive circuit for driving the semiconductor laser based on the drive current sent from the threshold value current generation circuit. In accordance with the semiconductor laser, the optical output error caused by the temperature change of the semiconductor laser is compensated.

Abstract: A brake device for vehicles applying brake power to a wheel through actuation of a disc brake by an output hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder, wherein an inertial type wheel angular deceleration sensor driven by the wheel through a transmission device is incorporated in an antilock control unit adapted to control the output hydraulic pressure of the master cylinder, the disc brake and the transmission device are enclosed in an annular recess open to one side of the wheel, and a caliper of the brake and the antilock control unit are supported on a fixed panel disposed so as to close an opening of the annular recess.

Abstract: An automotive body delivered in a direction, and covers such as an engine hood and a trunk lid and doors of the automotive body are opened and held in an open position. Thereafter, prescribed areas of the automotive body are coated, and those doors which are located downstream with respect to the direction in which the automotive body is delivered and those areas of the automotive body which correspond to those doors which are located upstream with respect to the same direction, are coated. Thereafter, the covers and the doors of the automotive body are closed.

Abstract: A motorcycle has a frame assembly including a main frame supporting front and rear wheels on a central line thereof. A connecting member is mounted on the main frame between the front and rear wheels, and a subframe is mounted on the connecting member and is capable of banking laterally about the connecting member. At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel. At least the drive wheel is capable of preventing the main frame from banking laterally. Centrifugal forces generated upon cornering are counterbalanced by centripetal forces produced when only the subframe banks laterally. The drive wheel supported on the main frame which does not bank has an increased road gripping force. Thus, high-speed cornering is possible.

Abstract: A brake for a bending control device of an endoscope comprising a driving device rotatably provided in a control part for pulling a control wire, a rotary shaft rotating together with the driving device, a fixed shaft fixed in the control part in concentrical relation to the rotary shaft, a friction member accommodating chamber defined in an annular shape between the fixed and rotary shafts, and a resilient friction member loaded within the friction member accommodating chamber in a compressed state. When the control wire is pulled by rotating the driving device, the rotary shaft rotates together with the driving device. As a result, friction resistance occurs between the friction member loaded in the friction member accommodating chamber on the one hand and the rotary and fixed shafts on the other, thus applying the brakes to the driving device.

Abstract: In a printer such as a laser beam printer utilized to print an image on a recording medium, an image transferring mechanism such as a photoconductive drum is disposed under the feed path of the recording medium so as to transfer an image such as a toner image onto the undersurface of the recording medium. The recording medium, on which the image is thus transferred is discharged and stacked with the image carrying side down in the proper order.

Abstract: A fuel pump including a housing; a motor section provided in the housing which motor section includes an armature and a magnet opposed to the armature with a substantially annular space defined therebetween as a fuel passage, which armature includes a core formed by stacking a plurality of plates and a coil wound around the core; a pump section fixed to a lower end of the housing and connected to the motor section to be driven thereby; a fuel inlet formed in the pump section for sucking a fuel by driving the motor section; a fuel outlet formed at an upper end of the fuel pump for discharging the fuel fed from the fuel inlet through the fuel passage; and a first resin portion impregnated in the core and the coil for suppressing vibration of the armature. The fuel pump having the above construction preferably further includes a second resin portion coated on a surface of at least the first resin portion, which second resin portion has a resistance against the fuel and no influence upon the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel supply controller for an internal combustion engine includes an acceleration mode detector, an incremental fuel supply rate calculator, and a fuel supplier. The controller sets a smaller incremental fuel supply rate with increasing engine speed to prevent excessive fuel supply to the engine during acceleration. A fuel supply corrector, a correction inhibitor, and a correction inhibitor canceller are provided for improved acceleration performance regardless of the mode of acceleration. An acceleration mode discriminator and an incremental fuel rate supplier provide proper fuel control even with increasing acceleration. The controller can use first and second control maps for controlling fuel supply. A map discriminator provides for a smooth changeover between maps.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a strobe which is used in a camera. The strobe control apparatus includes a charging time-limit selecting device for selecting one of plurality of charging times according to the operating conditions of the camera, and a charging voltage limit selecting device for selecting one of plurality of charge limit voltages according to the operating conditions of the camera. If the charged voltage of the strobe does not reach the selected charge limit voltage after the selected charging time has elapsed, charging is stopped. The strobe control apparatus also includes a charge prohibiting device for prohibiting charging if a predetermined charge prohibit time has not elapsed after charging is completed, so as to prevent damage to the strobe due to heat generated by frequent flashings. The predetermined prohibit time is changed, however, according to the sensed heat condition of the strobe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive train of a wheeled vehicle having an engine and at least one driving wheel, the drive train essentially including a first clutch connected to the engine for receiving driving force therefrom and for outputting the driving force in a variable manner according to driver operation driver; a transmission connected to the first clutch effective for receiving the driving force from the engine as varied by the driving transmitting it a varying rotational speed; and a second clutch connected to the transmission for receiving such driving force from the transmission and transmitting it to the driving wheel by automatically varying the transfer ratio between the transmission and the driving wheel according to the rotational frequency of the transmission output.

Abstract: An oil pan structure for the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine for storing lubricating oil in the oil pan. A volume body submergible at least partly below the oil level for displacing a volume of oil when the oil is titled by displacement to one side in the oil pan as a result of the running condition of the motor vehicle having the engine with the oil pan structure, such as during turning, acceleration, deceleration or banking. The volume body has an inlet opening positioned near an allowable upper limit oil level for a predetermined maximum oil tilting condition for introducing into the volume body the lubricating oil which exceeds the allowable upper limit oil level. The oil pan structure also has an oil discharge passage from the lower portion of the volume body.

Abstract: A copying lens system composed of a four-unit-four-element configuration including, in order from the object side, a first lens element of positive meniscus having a convex surface directed toward an object, a second lens element of negative meniscus having a convex surface directed toward the object, a third lens element of negative meniscus having a convex surface directed toward an image, and a fourth lens element of positive meniscus having a convex surface directed toward the image. In this configuration, the first lens element and the fourth lens element have the same geometric shape, and are disposed symmetrically with respect to a central diaphragm stop. The second and third lens elements also have the same geometric shape, and are also disposed symmetrically with respect to the central diaphragm stop. This provides an overall symmetrical configuration which can compensate for various aberrations.