Abstract: An inspection system according to one embodiment includes: a first signal output unit that outputs to an illumination unit a first signal serving as a trigger to start outputting stripe patterns; a second signal output unit that outputs to the illumination unit a second signal serving as a trigger to switch the stripe patterns; an image-data acquisition unit that acquires time-correlation image data by starting superimposition of frames output from an image sensor at a timing based on the first signal; an image generation unit that generates a first time-correlation image and a second time-correlation image based on the time-correlation image data, the first time-correlation image corresponding to a first stripe pattern alone, the second time-correlation image corresponding to a second stripe pattern alone; and an abnormality detection unit that detects, based on the first time-correlation image and the second time-correlation image, an abnormality on the inspection target surface.

Abstract: An inspection system of an embodiment includes: a planar illumination unit that temporally and spatially varies intensities of light in a periodic manner; a time-correlation image generator that generates a time-correlation image with a time-correlation camera or an image capturing system that performs an operation equivalent to that of the time-correlation camera; and a calculation processor that calculates a characteristic from the time-correlation image, the characteristic corresponding to a distribution of normal vectors to an inspection target surface and serving to detect an abnormality based on at least either a difference from a surrounding area or a difference from a reference surface.

Abstract: An inspection system of an embodiment includes: a planar illumination unit that temporally varies an intensity of light in a periodic manner by spatially moving a stripe pattern of the intensity of light; a time-correlation image generator that generates a time-correlation image with a time-correlation camera or an image capturing system that performs an operation equivalent to that of the time-correlation camera; and a calculation processor that calculates a characteristic from the time-correlation image, the characteristic corresponding to a distribution of normal vectors to an inspection target surface and serving to detect an abnormality based on at least either a difference from a surrounding area or a difference from a reference surface.

Abstract: The removal starting position (8S1) of a first removal process and the four removal starting positions (8S21-8S24) in a second removal process are established on an imaginary circle (7I) with a prescribed radius (R) that is inscribed in the apex (7C) of an incomplete thread part (7a). In each removal process, the tip of the screw thread cutting tool shaves off the apex (7C) of the incomplete thread part (7a) into respective recesses, contacting the imaginary inscribed circle (7I) from the outside (above). The multiple cutting surfaces of the apex (7C) are formed in parallel helices (that is, as mutually adjacent helical recesses) from the starting position to the ending position of the incomplete thread part. Points and burrs in the incomplete thread part can thereby be eliminated or reduced without loss of the ability to screw together with a partner threaded fastener (threaded portion).

Abstract: The removal starting position (8S1) of a first removal process and the four removal starting positions (8S21-8S24) in a second removal process are established on an imaginary circle (7I) with a prescribed radius (R) that is inscribed in the apex (7C) of an incomplete thread part (7a). In each removal process, the tip of the screw thread cutting tool shaves off the apex (7C) of the incomplete thread part (7a) into respective recesses, contacting the imaginary inscribed circle (7I) from the outside (above). The multiple cutting surfaces of the apex (7C) are formed in parallel helices (that is, as mutually adjacent helical recesses) from the starting position to the ending position of the incomplete thread part. Points and burrs in the incomplete thread part can thereby be eliminated or reduced without loss of the ability to screw together with a partner threaded fastener (threaded portion).

Abstract: A sheet material punching device includes a plurality of punches and links, a driving mechanism having drive gears capable of transmitting a rotational driving force of an electric motor (driving source), and slide arms allowed to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of a frame, the slide arms making the punches reciprocate in a punching direction along with their own reciprocating motions by the intermediary of links. The slide arms respectively have cams capable of converting the rotational motion of the driving mechanism into the reciprocating motions of the slide arms, and auxiliary cams capable of moving the slide arms to predefined initial positions. The drive gears respectively have cam followers to be engaged with the cams, and auxiliary cam followers to be engaged with the auxiliary cams. The sheet material punching device return the slide arms to the initial positions without increasing a driving energy.

Abstract: An ink-droplet detecting unit detects a spray state of an ink droplet sprayed from an ink-droplet spray head. The ink-droplet detecting unit includes a light-emitting element, a light-emitting element holder, a light-receiving element, a light-receiving element holder, and a base member. The light-emitting element holder is attached to the base member in a rotatable manner. The light-receiving element holder is attached to the base member in a slidable manner in a direction perpendicular to a rotation direction of the light-emitting element holder. The ink-droplet detecting unit is attached to a main body of the inkjet recording apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet material punching device comprises punching pins, a die member having die holes formed therein, a frame having a housing space defined by wall portions inside to house therein the die member and the punching pins, the frame having a longitudinal direction extending in a width direction of a sheet material W, and paper feed ports formed in the wall portions of the frame for the sheet material W to be transported through, wherein the die member being bridged across the paper feed ports is supported in a predefined length in the width direction of the sheet material W. The sheet material punching device thus configured can prevent deflection of the die member caused by a punching force applied to the die member by the punching pins during the formation of punched holes.

Abstract: A light-emitting element emits a beam onto a droplet discharged from a nozzle. A light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the beam by the droplet. A discharge-speed controller controls a speed of discharge of the droplet from the nozzle to be set at the speed outside a normal discharge-speed range that is determined depending on a viscosity of a liquid. Finally, a failure detecting unit detects a liquid discharge failure from data of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element.

Abstract: A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The light-emitting element emits a laser beam in a direction that intersects with a direction in which a droplet of liquid is discharged. The beam is elliptical in cross section. The light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the laser beam by the droplet. The light-receiving element is externally adjacent to a circumference of the beam at a position where a beam diameter of the beam is small.

Abstract: A light-emitting element emits a beam onto a droplet discharged from a nozzle from a direction opposite to a direction of discharge of the droplet. A light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the beam by the droplet. Finally, a failure detecting unit detects a liquid discharge failure from data of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element.

Abstract: A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit, and a light-trapping unit. The light-emitting unit emits a detection beam. The light-receiving unit is located at a position offset from an optical axis of the detection beam, and receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the detection beam by a droplet of ink (liquid). The light-trapping unit traps a detection beam that travels straight without striking the droplet so that the detection beam does not enter the light-receiving unit as a stray light.

Abstract: A liquid-discharge-failure detecting apparatus detects a liquid discharge failure. A light-emitting element emits a beam onto a droplet of liquid discharged from a liquid-droplet-discharge surface with an optical axis of the beam making a right angle with a direction in which the droplet is discharged. A light-receiving element receives a scattered light generated by scattering of the beam by the droplet. A failure detecting unit detects the liquid discharge failure from data of the scattered light received by the light-receiving element. A distance changing unit changes a distance between the liquid-droplet-discharge surface and the optical axis of the beam based on, for example, a diameter of the droplet.

Abstract: The merchandise planning and development system includes a WWW server 33 for informing many and unspecified customers 31 to 3n of merchandise planning and development information about planning and/or development of new merchandise through the Internet 20, and a news server 35 for collecting the opinion information of the customers 31 to 3n looking up the merchandise planning information through the Internet 20. The WWW server 33 informs the customers 31 to 3n of the merchandise information suited to the needs of the customers on the basis of the opinion information by way of the Internet 20.

Abstract: Provided is a watch capable of performing digital display as well as analog display. The watch can offer digital display without posing disadvantages peculiar to a liquid crystal panel. On the other hand, the watch can reduce the restrictions in design and make the digital display larger and easier to see. The watch includes a light-shielding plate 22 on the rear side of the dial 24. In the light-shielding plate, light-transmitting holes 23 are made piercing from a front of the light-shielding plate to a rear thereof. Thin chip LEDs 17 are inserted in the light-transmitting holes, and mounted on a circuit board 16. The circuit board is placed on the rear side of the light-shielding plate. On the rear side of the circuit board, an analog movement 13 is provided, and an LED drive circuit 33 for driving the LEDs is placed. Thus, the LEDs 17 for digital display are placed on the rear side of the dial.

Abstract: A safe brushing is realized without sticking the gum if the bristle tips are once inserted in a pocket of a tooth by using a system having a brush of which the bristle tips automatically vibrate in a direction at right angles with the direction of length of the bristles. A brush lever 5 having a brush 4 is swingingly supported in the nozzle 1, a flow passage 3 leading to a blow-out port 1a at an end of a nozzle 1 is partly bent, and a resilient member 7 is provided at the bent portion to urge the brush lever 5 in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of water, so that the brush lever 5 oscillates reciprocally due to the resilient force produced by the resilient member 7 and the pressure of water flow, causing the bristle tips of the brush 4 to oscillate in a direction at right angles with the direction of length of the bristles outside the nozzle 1.

Abstract: An oral cavity device wherein a pump is driven with a cleaning head introduced in the oral cavity to suck residual matter in the oral cavity and to drain it into a waste liquid tank in order to clean the oral cavity, and wherein a water feed port of a water feed tube is provided in a waste flow passage of from an end of the cleaning head to a suction port of the waste liquid tank to increase negative pressure in the waste flow passage by feeding water through the water feed tube and, then, to suck the residual matter, at a breath with the increased negative pressure by no longer feeding the water.

Abstract: An oral cavity cleaning device including a cleaning head having a liquid feed port and a waste port, a liquid feed passage connected to the liquid feed port through which liquid is fed, via a pump, to the cleaning head and into the oral cavity via the liquid feed port to wash the oral cavity, a waste passage connected to the waste port through which waste liquid in the oral cavity sucked and drained in the cleaning head, and a cleaning member mounted on the cleaning head covering the liquid feed port and the waste port, the cleaning member being made of a porous material having liquid-permeating property. The cleaning member is substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a hole into which the cleaning head is removably inserted.

Abstract: A waste liquid tank B is connected to a cleaning head 60 through a waste tube 25. Squeezing means 61 is provided in a waste flow passage of from an end 60a of the cleaning head 60 to a suction port b of the waste liquid tank B to squeeze the waste flow passage. A pump A is driven with a cleaning head 60 introduced in the oral cavity to suck the residual matter in the oral cavity and to drain it into the waste liquid tank B in order to clean the oral cavity. When the residual matter cannot be sucked with a normal suction force, the waste flow passage is squeezed by the squeezing means 61 to increase the negative pressure in the waste tube 25. Thereafter, the squeeze is released to suck the residual matter at a breath with the increased negative pressure.