Abstract: A rear wheel turning mechanism of a four wheel steering system includes a rear wheel turning rod which is connected to the rear wheels of the vehicle and is adapted to be displaced so as to turn the rear wheels. An electric motor is operatively connected to the rear wheel turning rod and the steering wheel so as to displace the rear wheel turning rod, which turns the rear wheels in response to the operation of the steering wheel. A rear-wheel-neutralizing spring urges the rear wheel turning rod to the neutral position in which the rear wheels are held in the straight-ahead position. A clutch is interposed between the electric motor and the rear wheel turning rod and is adapted to disconnect the latter from the former to permit the latter to return to the neutral position under the force of the rear-wheel-neutralizing means.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a light-tight film casing having an exposure opening, a rolled film disposed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing, a removable light-tight container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the other side of the exposure opening in the light-tight film casing, and an externally operable film winding member for winding the rolled film around said film winding spool of the light-tight film container. The lens-fitted photographic film package is assembled by the steps of winding film withdrawn from a light-tight film container in a roll in a darkroom; loading the rolled film and the light-tight film container in separate respective receiving chambers formed in a main body section of the lens-fitted photographic film package; and fixing a back cover section to the main body section so as to assemble light-tightly the lens-fitted photographic film package.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of extracting a particular image area from an image by designating a color hue of the desired particular image area. After indication on one or more points in an object region of interest, an initial range of hue or of brightness is designated, and a predetermined color is painted throughout a region adjacent to the indicated point(s) and having a hue or brightness, respectively, within the predetermined range. If that process results in the coloring of an area exceeding that which the operator desires to cover, the predetermined range of hue or brightness, as the case may be, is narrowed, and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for motor vehicle including a front wheel steering mechanism for steering front wheels in response to a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism in accordance with the movement of the front wheels, control unit having driving condition detecting means for detecting a vehicle driving condition and controlling the rear wheel steering mechanism, fail judging section for judging a failure of the control unit and producing a failure signal, and fail-safe control unit for controlling the rear wheel steering mechanism in a manner different from a control under a normal operation of the control unit when the control unit is in an unusual condition, and the fail judging section and/or the fail-safe control unit being provided with a plurality of actuating mechanism wherein each of the actuating mechanism can actuate the fail judging section and the fail-safe control unit independently to position the rear wheels at a neutral position.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering control system comprising a rear wheel steering mechanism, drive motor connected with said rear wheel steering mechanism for actuating the same, target setting means for setting a target steering angle of the rear wheels in accordance with a predetermined factor, motor control unit for controlling said drive motor so as to accomplish the target steering angle of the rear wheels, lock device for preventing the rear wheel steering mechanism from any steering movement when the target steering angle is substantially constant, release device for releasing the lock device to allow the steering movement of the rear wheel steering mechanism even when the target steering angle of the rear wheels is substantially constant under a predetermined condition, the control system is responsive in controlling the steering of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package has at least an unexposed rolled film, a taking lens, a film transportiong mechanism, an exposure mechanism and an electronic flash as a whole contained in a light-tight case. The light-tight case comprises a main case section formed with a chamber containing therein light-tightly the unexposed rolled film and a front cover section attached to the main case section, the front cover section being formed with at least one opening for partially receiving therein a member of at least one of the mechanisms mounted on the main case section projecting beyond a plane defined by surfaces of the main case section in contact with an inner surface of the front cover section when the front cover section is securely attached to the main case section. The electronic flash unit is short-circuited to maintain the condenser of the flash unit discharged until the rolled film has been loaded in the light-tight case, so as to prevent accidental flashing that would expose the film.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a light-tight film casing having an exposure opening, a rolled film disposed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing, a removable light-tight container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the other side of the exposure opening in the light-tight film casing, and an externally operable film winding member for winding the rolled film around said film winding spool of the light-tight film container. The lens-fitted photographic film package is assembled by the steps of winding film withdrawn from a light-tight film container in a roll in a darkroom; loading the rolled film and the light-tight film container in separate respective receiving chambers formed in a main body section of the lens-fitted photographic film package; and fixing a back cover section to the main body section so as to assemble light-tightly the lens-fitted photographic film package.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering mechanism for steering rear wheels of the vehicle is urged by a spring so as to allow the rear wheels to take a neutral position or a position at which the rear wheels run in a straight direction. Control over the driving of the motor connected to the rear wheel steering mechanism allows the rear wheels to be steered at a given steered angle against the urging force of the spring. The rear wheels are always returned to the neutral position by the spring by disconnecting a clutch interposed between the rear wheel steering mechanism and the motor whenever abnormality is found. Presence or absence of abnormality in a drive control system of the motor is checked or an alignment of a reference position of the motor is made, in such a state that the clutch is disconnected, immediately after an ignition switch was turned on yet prior to control of the rear wheel steering.

Abstract: As image processing method suitable for creative image generation in which the image data of an original image are divided into plural areas each consisting of plural pixels, the shape of these areas is modified according to the image data of the original image, and the pixel data in each area are processed in accordance with a representative value of the image data.

Abstract: An electonic copying machine for making a hard copy of a remote original comprises a housing and an image pick-up unit pivotally mounted on the housing for vertical swinging movement between a raised use position and a lowered non-use position. In the housing, there are a scanner for scanning the remote original with a line of light projected through a transparent window plate, a recording head and image recording paper. In the image pick-up unit, there are a lens for forming a line image of the scanned remote original on the recording paper, a line image sensor for reading the line image formed thereon by the lens to provide line image signals according to which the image recording head records and image on the recording paper, shifting the line image sensor by a predetermined pitch in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line image sensor.

Abstract: A rear wheel turning system for turning the rear wheels of a vehicle in response to operation of the steering wheel includes an actuator having an electric motor which is energized by a battery. A rear wheel turning mechanism is driven by the electric motor and turns the rear wheels. A control unit outputs a control signal to the electric motor in order to cause the rear wheels to turn to a predetermined turning angle according to the operating condition of the vehicle. The control unit ceases controlling the electric motor when a predetermined condition is established after the engine has stalled.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for an automobile detects a vehicle speed and turns rear wheels at a rear wheel turning angle ratio according to the detected vehicle speed upon turning of front wheels.

Abstract: A painting system for painting a finned-tube heat exchanger suspended from a conveyor line so as to be conveyed thereby, comprises: (i) means for spraying on said heat exchanger with a water-soluble paint; (ii) means for air-blowing on said heat exchanger; and (iii) means for electrostatic spraying on said heat exchanger with a solvent-soluble paint. Each of spray nozzle assemblies and air-blow nozzle assemblies of said means issues paint spray or air blow to fins of said heat exchanger in a direction parallel to said fins. This painting system further comprises a scraper means for recovering said water-soluble paint sprayed and reached a wall member during spraying and air blow.

Abstract: There is an image processing apparatus to obtain a desired processed image by performing a predetermined image process to an input image. This apparatus comprises: an image input unit to input the image data; an image processor which can perform different image processes; a selector to select the kind of image process to be executed by the image processor; a memory to store different sample processed images which were subjected to the image processes; and a display to display both a sample image before execution of the image process and the sample processed image corresponding to the selected image process from the memory in accordance with selection by the selector. The image processor can perform the edge extracting process, mosaic process, and the like. With this apparatus, the operator can easily obtain various sample processed images and can extend the processed image of the original image by merely inputting a processing command.

Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit with an electronic flash is provided with a film container cover member covering a film container receiving chamber of a film unit housing which is opened to remove a film container from the film container receiving chamber and a battery cover member covering a battery receiving chamber of the film unit housing. The battery cover member is operationally integrated with the film container cover member so as always to be opened when the film container cover member is opened to remove the film container containing an exposed film from the film unit housing.

Abstract: A copying machine for making a hard copy of an original comprises an image sensor for reading an image of the original to provide image signals, a memory for memorizing the image signals after or before processing the image signals for necessary corrections, and a printer for printing an image on a copying sheet according to the image signal after image processing. Preferably, a thermal printing head and a heat sensitive sheet are used. The copying machine is compact and either is incorporated in a portable overhead projector or is used as a writing board copy machine. In the former case, the image sensor is disposed in a supporting arm for supporting an image projection lens assembly above a base section of the overhead projector on which a transparent original is placed.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package includes a light-tight film case with a taking lens fitted thereto, an empty film container enclosed in the light-tight film case, and a rolled film with its one end retained in the empty film container enclosed in the light-tight film case. The light-tight film case is provided with a portion openable to form an opening in the light-tight film case through which the film container, e.g. a standard film patrone having a spool, is removed in an axial direction.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package comprising a light-tight film casing having an exposure opening, a rolled film disposed on one side of the exposure opening in the light-tight casing, a removable light-tight container having a film winding spool therein disposed on the other side of the exposure opening in the light-tight film casing, and an externally operable film winding member for winding the rolled film around said film winding spool of the light-tight film container. The lens-fitted photographic film package is assembled by the steps of winding film withdrawn from a light-tight film container in a roll in a darkroom; loading the rolled film and the light-tight film container in separate respective receiving chambers formed in a main body section of the lens-fitted photographic film package; and fixing a back cover section to the main body section so as to assemble light-tightly the lens-fitted photographic film package.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photographic film package includes a light-tight film case with a taking lens fitted thereto, an empty film container enclosed in the light-tight film case, and a rolled film with its one end retained in the empty film container enclosed in the light-tight film case. The light-tight film case consists of two sections one of which is formed with members for preventing the light-tight film case from being deformed by an external force. These members can be spaced horizontal parallel ribs cast into the plastic of the one film case section. Or those members can be a tongue on one section insertable in a bayonet slot in the other section.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus for use with a camera of the type having two interchangeable lenses with different focal lengths, incudes a ranging device for finding in which distance range is located an object to be photographed, i.e., close range or long range. The ranging device is capable of shifting the position of the boundary between short range and long range when interchanging lenses in order to widen the limits of the range in which either of the lenses can be focused better.