Abstract: A magnet is provided which holds spherical balancers in the central portion of a rotor when the rotation of the rotor is stopped. When rotations of the rotor is started, a larger torque T.sub.0 is transmitted from the rotor to the balancers. Thus, the balancers quickly start rotating. When the rotor rotates at high speed, the centrifugal force separates the balancers from the magnet and moves the same to the outer wall portion of the rotor. At this time, a torque T.sub.0 which is transmitted from the rotor to the balancer is reduced so that the balancers are moved in the circumferential direction. Thus, the automatic aligning operation is performed. The number (n) of the balancers is made to be a value obtained by the following equation:n=180/.theta.+0.5 (all digits to the right of the decimal point are discarded)wherein .theta.: angle of balancer balls disposed in the outer portion, in which .theta.=2sin.sup.

Abstract: In the decomposition of a polymer containing a urethane linkage and/or urea linkage in the presence of a decomposing agent, the amount of evolved carbon dioxide is measured and the decomposition reaction is conducted until a total amount of evolved carbon dioxide reaches a specified value to obtain a liquid decomposition product. According to the present invention, a decomposition product having constant quality can be obtained in a simple manner.

Abstract: A magnetic card reader comprises guide members providing a card path for guiding a magnetic card. In order that a magnetic head is provided with an elasticity and the reading surface of the magnetic head follows the distortion or inclination of the card, the magnetic head is made rotatable by being held by a pair of elastic members and a pair of support members for journaling the ends of the elastic members.

Abstract: A card-operated system for controlling vehicle components is responsive to a magnetic card exclusively used by a particular user to control actuators associated with the vehicle components such as driver's seat position and the like. In the card is magnetically stored a set of driver's personal drive position data and security data which are read out by a magnetic card reader into a microprocessor-based controller. The controller analyzes the input data to operate the actuators according to the drive position data so that the driver is in an optimum drive position. The security data is also analyzed to identify the card if it represents the vehicle owner's card or a common user's who is authorized by the owner to use the vehicle but not authorized to have an access to a storage place where the owner's personal goods are stored.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic taxi fare meter wherein the tariff travel distance and the tariff travel time of a taxi are converted into pulse signals representing digital quantities, and these pulse signals are increased by a premium fare computing circuit comprising a combination of counters. The premium fare mechanism is thus reduced in size and weight as compared with the conventional mechanisms of the mechanical type, and accurate computation of the fares at premium rates can also be effected for both the tariff travel distance and the tariff travel time of a taxi. Further, the use of the digital techniques makes the apparatus less susceptible to supply voltage variations and ambient temperature changes, makes the designing of the apparatus with integrated circuits possible, and ensures a higher degree of reliability in the operation of the apparatus.