Abstract: A voice analyzer analyzes whether a voice signal input into a voice input unit includes a specific characteristic component. A voice recognizer recognizes a voice represented by the voice signal input into the voice input unit. A response instruction unit instructs a response to a response operation unit that operates in response to the voice recognized by the voice recognizer. A controller controls the voice recognizer not to execute voice recognition processing by the voice recognizer or controls the response instruction unit not to instruct the response operation unit about an instruction content by the voice recognized by the voice recognizer, when the voice analyzer analyzes that the voice signal includes the specific characteristic component.

Abstract: A voice analyzer analyzes whether a voice signal input into a voice input unit includes a specific characteristic component. A voice recognizer recognizes a voice represented by the voice signal input into the voice input unit. A response instruction unit instructs a response to a response operation unit that operates in response to the voice recognized by the voice recognizer. A controller controls the voice recognizer not to execute voice recognition processing by the voice recognizer or controls the response instruction unit not to instruct the response operation unit about an instruction content by the voice recognized by the voice recognizer, when the voice analyzer analyzes that the voice signal includes the specific characteristic component.

Abstract: A battery can of the present invention ensures a stable and favorable contact with an electrode and thus makes it possible to obtain a highly reliable battery excellent in high rate discharge characteristics. The battery can having an opening, including a cylindrical side portion and a bottom portion, of the present invention is formed from a steel plate. The steel plate has an Ni—Fe alloy layer on the inner face side of the battery can. The Ni—Fe alloy layer has an oxide layer containing iron and having a thickness of 10 to 50 nm on the inner face side of the battery can.

Abstract: A battery can of the present invention ensures a stable and favorable contact with an electrode and thus makes it possible to obtain a highly reliable battery excellent in high rate discharge characteristics. The battery can having an opening, including a cylindrical side portion and a bottom portion, of the present invention is formed from a steel plate. The steel plate has an Ni—Fe alloy layer on the inner face side of the battery can. The Ni—Fe alloy layer has an oxide layer containing iron and having a thickness of 10 to 50 nm on the inner face side of the battery can.

Abstract: A passenger restraint belt system for use with a seat installed in a conveyance. The system comprises a seat belt for restraining a passenger on the seat in a first restraint position. The seat belt is driven by first and second preloader mechanisms. The first preloader mechanism operates to retract the seat belt from the first restraint position to a second restraint position where a first degree of tension is exerted on the seat belt so as to restrain the seat passenger while allowing passenger's operations to avoid a vehicle collision when the vehicle collision is anticipated. The second preloader mechanism operates to retract the seat belt from the second restraint position to a third restraint position where a second, greater degree of tension is exerted on the seat belt so as to restrain the seat passenger against impacts caused by a vehicle collision when the vehicle collision is detected.

Abstract: A seat belt system having a collision sensor that detects an impact which a vehicular body undergoes, and a pretensioner mechanism which starts retraction of a webbing responsive to the impact detected by the collision sensor and completes retraction of the webbing when tension of the webbing coincides with a fuse load thereof.

Abstract: An interior system for an automotive vehicle comprises interior elements, actuators for the interior elements, and sensors. When a vehicle collision data reveals a vehicle collision, a passenger's behavior is estimated in response to passenger data and first vehicle data collected, and a second vehicle data stored. A characteristic value of each interior element is computed in a manner to minimize an impact to a passenger in accordance with the passenger's behavior estimated. Then, the actuators are controlled in response to the characteristic value computed.

Abstract: An air-bag type passenger restraining device for a motor vehicle comprises a vehicle collision sensor which issues a first instruction signal when detecting a vehicle collision; an air-bag which is located in front of a seat of the vehicle and instantly inflated when receiving a second instruction signal; an air-bag retreating device which instantly retreats the air-bag in a direction away from the seat when receiving a third instruction signal; and a control unit for producing the second and third instruction signals upon receiving the first instruction signal. The control unit issues the third instruction signal for starting the air-bag retreating device after the air-bag is inflated to such a degree as to effect an initial restraint to a passenger on the seat due to issuance of the second instruction signal therefrom.

Abstract: An inflator is connected to an air-bag proper for inflating the same upon electric energization thereof. The inflator and the air-bag proper are so connected and designed as to make a rapid pressure reduction in the air-bag proper just after a rapid increase of the pressure, due to the force of inertia of the expanding air-bag proper. A control device is used for controlling, after the rapid increase of the pressure in the air-bag proper, the pressure in a manner to reduce a shock which is produced when a passenger collides against the inflated air-bag proper.

Abstract: A bundle processing apparatus includes a receiving conveyor for receiving a plurality of bundles, each bundle including a number of packs and each pack including a plurality of paper sheets, a removing conveyor for removing bundles from the receiving conveyor, a counter for counting the number of packs included in each bundle removed by the removing conveyor, a length detector for detecting the length of each bundle, a stacking device for stacking a bundle when the number of packs counted by the counter is equal to a predetermined number and the length detected by the length detector is equal to a predetermined length, a device for rejecting a bundle when the number of packs counted by the counter is not equal to the predetermined number or the length detected by the detector is not equal to the predetermined length, and a storage device having a storage box for storing the stacked bundles.

Abstract: An air-bag device includes an air-bag proper mounted to a center pad of a steering wheel, the air-bag proper having therein upper and lower portions with respect to a condition wherein the air-bag proper is practically expanded; an inflator having gas blow openings exposed to the interior of the air-bag proper, the inflator generating gases which are to be blown into the air-bag proper through the gas blow openings; a trimmed cover covering the air-bag proper in a folded up condition; an ignitor for actuating the inflator to generate the gases; and a unique structure for restricting a flowing of the gases toward the upper part of the air-bag proper.

Abstract: Uninspected bundles of paper sheets are supplied to each of a plurality of pre-processors in units of bundles. Each pre-processor removes a band from the uninspected bundle, prints a serial number in association with the received paper sheets on the band, and holds the band. A number of reusable paper sheets from which the band is removed are counted by and stored in a corresponding inspection device. Each inspection device stores the serial number printed on the band by the preprocessor. In each inspection device, the paper sheets to be re-inspected are sorted by a separator card in units of bundles and stored as rejectable notes in a rejectable note cassette. A center console receives data such as a count result, band number, cassette number, card number, and the like, from each inspection device, and sequentially stores these data in units of inspection devices.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a steering wheel construction which comprises a circular rim; a hub adapted to connect to a steering shaft; at least one spoke connecting the circular rim and the hub; a center pad supported by the spoke and located at a generally center portion of the circular rim; and an energy absorbing structure positioned between the hub and the center pad, wherein the energy absorbing structure is so arranged as to be deformed when the spoke is subjected to deformation.

Abstract: An anti-scratch nickel plated steel sheet and strip is provided which comprises, applying a nickel plating to both sides of the sheet or strip, subsequently plating a nickel phosphorus alloy on at least one or the other side of said plated layer, then subjecting said plated article to a heat treatment under conditions sufficient to form a nickel ferrous alloy layer and to obtain a hardening effect of said nickel phosphorus alloy plated layer.

Abstract: A banknote processing system includes a handling apparatus, a convey mechanism, and a plurality of inspecting apparatuses. The handling apparatus has an input portion on which a predetermined number of bundles of banknotes are placed. The bundles are taken out one by one from the input portion by a take-out device and are transferred to the inspecting apparatus by the convey mechanism. In the inspecting apparatus, the banknotes are picked up one by one from the bundles, so as to be inspected. The inspected banknotes are banded to form inspected bundles and are discharged from the inspecting apparatus. The discharged bundles are then transferred by the convey mechanism, and stacked on a stacking portion of the handling apparatus by a take-in device.

Abstract: An exhaust passage has an upstream end connected to an engine combustion chamber and a downstream end open to the atmosphere. A device substantially equalizes natural frequencies of the exhaust passage respectively corresponding to third-degree and fourth-degree modes of standing pressure waves developing in the exhaust passage. A pressure damper is connected to a point of the exhaust passage at which an antinode of the third-degree or fourth-degree mode lies.

Abstract: An exhaust tail pipe of an engine is covered at its end section with an outer cover member leaving therebetween a space communicated with ambient air. Many perforations are formed in the tail pipe end section to allow the inside of the tail pipe end section to communicate with the space. Each perforation has a diameter d (mm) within a range expressed by the following formula: ##EQU1## where A(l)=the displacement of the engine; D(mm)=the inner diameter of the exhaust tail pipe end section; and C=the kind of stroke cycle of the engine, thereby allowing a part of exhaust gas flowing through the tail pipe end section to dissipate to the space through the perforations.

Abstract: A given number of sheets are set to a supply section and, after being bundled, supplied from the supply section. The bundled portion of the bundled sheets is read out by a reading-out unit and a sorting card is prepared by a sorting card preparing unit on the basis of read-out data. The thus set sheets are taken out sheet by sheet by a take-out unit and sorted by an inspection unit and sorting unit into normal sheets, soiled sheets and reject sheets. The reject sheets are collected, together with the sorting card, at a reject sheet sorting/collecting unit.

Abstract: Unit sheet-stacks each as a stack of a given number of sheets are successively transferred to a bundling device for bundling the unit sheet-stacks. The bundling device includes a unit sheet-stack transfer mechanism, a mechanism for previously forming a bundling loop, and a mechanism for bundling the unit sheet-stack. The transfer mechanism receives the unit sheet-stack in a state that each sheet is postured substantially horizontally and transfers the unit sheet-stack in a state that each sheet is postured substantially vertically to a given position. The bundling loop forming mechanism previously forms a bundling loop by winding the free end portion of a tape by a given number of turns.