Abstract: A collimator obtained by the alternate stacking of metal sheets 1 (40 ?m thick) having holes 4 with a width of 2200 ?m in the center thereof, and metal sheets 2 (10 ?m thick) devoid of holes (the metal sheets 1 with the holes 4 are shown in the state in which they exist before being cut in the manner described below, the metal sheets 1 in the upper portion of the figure and the metal sheets in the bottom portion are not connected with each other in the finished product). The opposite sides are held by metal pressing sheets 3 that are 2 mm thick. These metal sheets and pressing sheets are bonded by means of diffusion bonding based on thermocompression bonding. The portions with the vertical through-holes 4 (40 ?m×2000 ?m) thus become light-transmitting portions, the metal sheets 2 serve as partitions between adjacent holes 4, and light collimated to a width of 40 ?m can ultimately pass through. A compact collimator having high wavelength resolution without wavelength dependence can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A collimator obtained by the alternate stacking of metal sheets 1 (40 ?m thick) having holes 4 with a width of 2200 ?m in the center thereof, and metal sheets 2 (10 ?m thick) devoid of holes (the metal sheets 1 with the holes 4 are shown in the state in which they exist before being cut in the manner described below, the metal sheets 1 in the upper portion of the figure and the metal sheets in the bottom portion are not connected with each other in the finished product). The opposite sides are held by metal pressing sheets 3 that are 2 mm thick. These metal sheets and pressing sheets are bonded by means of diffusion bonding based on thermocompression bonding. The portions with the vertical through-holes 4 (40 ?m×2000 ?m) thus become light-transmitting portions, the metal sheets 2 serve as partitions between adjacent holes 4, and light collimated to a width of 40 ?m can ultimately pass through. A compact collimator having high wavelength resolution without wavelength dependence can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer is provided which includes: (i) a Linear Variable Filter, (ii) a linear sensor or a two-dimensional image sensor, and (iii) at least one fiber optic plate that is disposed between the Linear Variable Filter and the linear sensor or two-dimensional image sensor, and that transfers light separated into spectral components and outgoing from the Linear Variable Filter to the linear sensor or two-dimensional image sensor. With this structure, a compact spectrophotometer can be obtained which has an excellent wavelength resolution, accuracy, and light transfer ratio, and which can conduct wavelength spectral measurements at high speed and with high accuracy.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically detecting an edge of a web, includes a ultrasonic-wave transmitter transmitting ultrasonic-wave pulse train, a ultrasonic-wave receiver receiving the ultrasonic-wave pulse train and converting the received ultrasonic-wave pulse train into electric signals, the web being fed between the ultrasonic-wave transmitter and receiver, a rectifying circuit for rectifying the electric signals, a low-pass filter circuit for smoothing output signals transmitted from the rectifying circuit, a first sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the low-pass filter circuit, at first timing, a second sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the low-pass filter circuit, at second timing later than the first timing, a third sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the first sample-holding circuit, at the second timing, and a differentially amplifying circuit for calculating a difference between output signals trans

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically detecting an edge of a web, includes a ultrasonic-wave transmitter transmitting ultrasonic-wave pulse train, a ultrasonic-wave receiver receiving the ultrasonic-wave pulse train and converting the received ultrasonic-wave pulse train into electric signals, the web being fed between the ultrasonic-wave transmitter and receiver, a rectifying circuit for rectifying the electric signals, a low-pass filter circuit for smoothing output signals transmitted from the rectifying circuit, a first sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the low-pass filter circuit, at first timing, a second sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the low-pass filter circuit, at second timing later than the first timing, a third sample-holding circuit for sampling an output signal transmitted from the first sample-holding circuit, at the second timing, and a differentially amplifying circuit for calculating a difference between output signals trans

Abstract: A collimator obtained by the alternate stacking of metal sheets 1 (40 &mgr;m thick) having holes 4 with a width of 2200 &mgr;m in the center thereof, and metal sheets 2 (10 &mgr;m thick) devoid of holes (the metal sheets 1 with the holes 4 are shown in the state in which they exist before being cut in the manner described below, the metal sheets 1 in the upper portion of the figure and the metal sheets in the bottom portion are not connected with each other in the finished product). The opposite sides are held by metal pressing sheets 3 that are 2 mm thick. These metal sheets and pressing sheets are bonded by means of diffusion bonding based on thermocompression bonding. The portions with the vertical through-holes 4 (40 &mgr;m×2000 &mgr;m) thus become light-transmitting portions, the metal sheets 2 serve as partitions between adjacent holes 4, and light collimated to a width of 40 &mgr;m can ultimately pass through.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorimeter apparatus for a color printer ink capable of rapidly measuring the colors of a color patch portion in an online mode. The light of a xenon light source 21 is directed via an optical fiber 22 and a condenser lens 23 to a zone through which a color patch 53 passes. Reflected light is condensed by a telecentriclens system 14 and focused on the light-receiving surface of a Linear Variable Filter 11. The light is spectrally divided by the Linear Variable Filter 11 and guided toward a linear sensor 13 via a fiber optic plate (FOP) or collimator 12. The output of the linear sensor 13 is converted to an analog signal by an analog signal generator 14 and sent to a signal processor 3. In the signal processor 3, a spectral reflectance factor is calculated based on the resulting spectral reflectivity, and a color or color difference is calculated based on this value and a prestored formula for color systems or color differences.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer is provided which includes: (i) a Linear Variable Filter, (ii) a linear sensor or a two-dimensional image sensor, and (iii) at least one fiber optic plate that is disposed between the Linear Variable Filter and the linear sensor or two-dimensional image sensor, and that transfers light separated into spectral components and outgoing from the Linear Variable Filter to the linear sensor or two-dimensional image sensor. With this structure, a compact spectrophotometer can be obtained which has an excellent wavelength resolution, accuracy, and light transfer ratio, and which can conduct wavelength spectral measurements at high speed and with high accuracy.

Abstract: The edge portion of an electro-conductive material inserted between a pair of the transmitting electrodes of triangular plate disposed flatly in opposite directions each other and the receiving electrode. The exciting signal source applies respectively the alternating voltage signal S1 with frequency f1 on one of the transmitting electrodes and the alternating voltage signal S2 with frequency f2 on the other transmitting electrode. The insertion extent of the strip edge of the electro-conductive material is evaluated with the ratio between the current I1 with frequency f1 and the current I2 with frequency f2 generated on the receiving electrode.

Abstract: An object to be measured is analyzed by a chemical means or a physical means to make its characteristic value clear, a spectrum of the same object to be measured is obtained by an off-line near infrared spectral analyzer, a calibration indicative of a relation between the spectrum and the characteristic value is obtained, at least one sample is selected from among the same kind of objects to be measured, spectra are obtained by the off-line near infrared spectral analyzer and an on-line near infrared spectral analyzer, a difference between both of the obtained spectra is obtained, a spectrum of the same kind of object to be measured is measured by the on-line near infrared spectral analyzer, the measured spectrum is corrected by the difference between both of the spectra, and the characteristic value of the object to be measured is estimated by using the corrected spectrum and the calibration.

Abstract: There is provided a hot melt applicator including (a) a nozzle opening, (b) a valve seat disposed upstream of the nozzle opening, (c) an empty chamber formed between the nozzle opening and the valve seat, (d) a valve body movable to the valve seat so that the valve seat is open or closed, and (e) a spring for biasing the valve body; and a pneumatically driven cylinder for driving the spring. The valve body is shaped to be a cone having an apex angle facing the nozzle opening, and the valve seat is formed with a tapered surface which is to make a contact with the cone. The tapered surface has an angle greater than the apex angle of the cone, and has a length of at least 1 mm. The hot melt applicator uses a pneumatically driven cylinder for driving the valve body to thereby compress the spring which in turn compresses the valve body, and thus, avoids the great resistance of hot melt with the spring used as a large capacity.

Abstract: There is provided a hot melt applicator including (a) a nozzle opening, (b) a valve seat disposed upstream of the nozzle opening, (c) an empty chamber formed between the nozzle opening and the valve seat, (d) a valve body movable to the valve seat so that the valve seat is open or closed, and (e) a spring for biasing the valve body; and a pneumatically driven cylinder for driving the spring. The valve body is shaped to be a cone having an apex angle facing the nozzle opening, and the valve seat is formed with a tapered surface which is to make a contact with the cone. The tapered surface has an angle greater than the apex angle of the cone, and has a length of at least 1 mm. The hot melt applicator uses a pneumatically driven cylinder for driving the valve body to thereby compress the spring which in turn compresses the valve body, and thus, avoids the great resistance of hot melt with the spring used as a large capacity.

Abstract: A glue gun type gluing apparatus has glue guns 8a and 8b for applying glue to a gluing area in a joint flap 2 of a corrugated board sheet 1 for manufacturing a box, which runs on a box manufacturing line, a sheet end detection sensor 3 for detecting the front and rear ends of the corrugated board sheet 1, an encoder 7 for measuring the travel distance of the corrugated board sheet 1, and a control unit 9 for controlling the operation of the glue guns 8a and 8b. The control unit 9 learns and stores the position of gluing area on the basis of the information from the sheet end detection sensor 3 and the encoder 7 while the corrugated board sheet 1 is run at a low speed, and restricts the acquisition of detection signals by the sensor 3 during the time from the passing of the end point of the joint flap 2 to the arrival of the start point of the next joint flap 2.

Abstract: Each of a certain number of sequences of binary pixels chosen according to some prescribed rules from m.times.n matrix of pixcels is referred to vector v.sub.i. A standard character k is represented with m.times.n matrix of binary pixels, from which the vectors g.sub.ki are derived. The reference vectors G.sub.ki are comprised of the vectors g.sub.ki and g.sub.ki which are generated by modification of g.sub.ki. A recognition object is captured to yield m.times.n matrix of binary pixels, from which the vectors v.sub.i are derived for comparison with the reference vectors G.sub.ki. Matching of v.sub.i with one of the reference vectors G.sub.ki adds a count to the standard pattern k corresponding to G.sub.ki. The standard character k with the maximum score of the matching count is recognized as the recognition object.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for checking glue application state of almost electrically non-conductive object to which an electrically conductive glue is applied on either side thereof, including (a) an electrode for transmitting high frequency therefrom, (b) a pair of receiving electrodes each spaced from the high frequency transmitting electrode at its opposite sides, (c) a detector head for aligning distal ends of the electrodes at almost the same level and shielding the electrodes from one another, (d) a high frequency generator for supplying high frequency to the high frequency transmitting electrode, (e) a gluing condition detector for detecting gluing condition of the object on the basis of a difference in output between the receiving electrodes, and (f) a position adjuster for adjusting relative position between a glue applied to the object and each of the electrodes.

Abstract: A series of pulses of ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitter with a specified period are received by the receiver. The received signals are rectified to a smooth wave with a single peak. The occurrence time of the peak is determined to gain and store the peak value, which corresponds to the edge position, thickness or splice position of the web. Alternatively, the transmitter emits a series of pulses of ultrasonic wave with a specified period and the peak value in the signals received by the receiver is once held in the peak-holding circuit. The peak voltage held is discharged and reduced with the discharge device and smoothing of the charged voltage yields its mean value, which corresponds to the edge position, thickness or splice position of the web.

Abstract: First and second electrodes are inserted into molten metal. A first pseudo random signal is transmitted to the first electrode, and at the same time the first pseudo random signal and a second pseudo random signal which has the same pattern as the first pseudo random signal but which is slightly different in frequency from the first pseudo random signal are multiplied by each other in a first multiplier to thereby calculate a first product value. A signal obtained from the second electrode and the second pseudo random signal are multiplied by each other in a second multiplier to thereby obtain a second product value. The displacement of the molten metal is calculated from the time difference between maximum correlation values respectively appearing in time series patterns of the first and second product values.

Abstract: A glue applicator nozzle and an electrode are placed facing each other, with a gluing object between. The applicator nozzle is connected to a high-frequency-wave transmitter unit, while the electrode is bound to a high-frequency-wave receiver unit. The glue is discharged from the applicator nozzle, and applied on the gluing object, so that the state of continuous presence of glue between the applicator nozzle and the gluing object enables the transmission of the high-frequency wave between them for monitoring the desired performance of gluing process. In an alternate arrangement the electrode is set on the side of the applicator nozzle, and facing the glue applied on the gluing object.

Abstract: A method for detection of the edge and/or shape of transparent films, wherein the incident rays from a light source enter a polarizer to yield the linearly polarized light for irradiation to a transparent film with a property of rotatory polarization, and the rotatorily polarized light therefrom is transmitted through an analyzer with a polarization axis orthogonal to that of the polarizer, allowing the transmitted light to indicate the edge position and/or shape of the transparent film. An apparatus for detection of the edge and/or shape of transparent films, which is furnished with a polarizer, analyzer and detector to utilize the property of rotatory polarization of a transparent film placed between the polarizer and the analyzer, wherein the polarizer linearly polarizes the incident rays from a light source, emitting the light to be fed to the analyzer, a polarization axis of which is orthogonal to that of the polarizer, and the detector recognizes the output of the analyzer.

Abstract: The position of a controlled system is regulated with a hydraulic actuator, which is directly linked to a hydraulic pump. The pump is driven in either direction by an electric motor, which is controlled by the output of rotatory direction and driving power generated from a controller based on a desired position and the feedback input of the actual position of the controlled system and the rotatory speed of the electric motor. The controller further includes a gain-variable amplifier for amplifying a deviation of the controlled value from a desired value with a gain characteristic curve of a shape appropriate to the controlled system, attaining a stable and well follow-up control of position.