Abstract: Conductive polymer fibers 10, in which a conductor 12 containing a conductive polymer impregnates and/or adheres to base fibers 11, and the aforementioned conductive polymer is PEDOT-PSS.

Abstract: An ice discharging mechanism for an ice storage box including a swinging solenoid (24) mounted by means of a swing shaft (23) fixed onto arm portions (22) of a bracket (21). A support plate (27) is welded onto a lower part of the bracket (21). One end of a plunger (33) and one end of a link member (34) are coupled with each other by means of a coupling shaft (31) inserted through a long hole (29) of the support plate (27). In a lower end portion of the bracket (21), a pivoting plate (37) that forms an opening/closing door is pivotably mounted to a fulcrum shaft (35) that is provided parallel to the swing shaft (23). A moving shaft (41) provided at the other end of the link member (34) is inserted through the pivoting plate (37) whereby the plunger (33) and the pivoting plate (37) are connected with each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a cock driving device in a beverage dispense. A manipulating lever for a dispensing cock is correctly opened and closed at all times by the cock driving device. The manipulating lever for the dispensing cock is provided with an interlock member which moves back and forth integrally with the lever, and the interlock member is provided with a magnet. A pair of hole elements capable of sensing the magnet are arranged one behind the other, spaced from each other, on a mounting plate arranged on a slider. The magnet is set to face an intermediate position of both hole elements of the slider staying at a standby position, with the dispensing cock staying at a neutral position. A control board moves the slider for correction to a position at which the magnet reaches the intermediate position of the hole elements if the magnet does not face the intermediate position of the pair of hole elements.

Abstract: In an ice discharging mechanism of an ice storage box according to the present invention, a swinging solenoid 24 is mounted by means of a swing shaft 23 fixed onto arm portions 22 of a bracket 21. A support plate 27 is welded onto a lower part of the bracket 21. One end of a plunger 33 and one end of a link member 34 are coupled with each other by means of a coupling shaft 31 inserted through a long hole 29 of the support plate 27. In a lower end portion of the bracket 21, a pivoting plate 37 that forms an opening/closing door is pivotably mounted to a fulcrum shaft 35 that is provided parallel to the swing shaft 23. A moving shaft 41 provided to the other end of the link member 34 is inserted through the pivoting plate 37 whereby the plunger 33 and the pivoting plate 37 are connected with each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a cock driving device in a beverage dispense. A manipulating lever for a dispensing cock is correctly opened and closed at all times by the cock driving device. The manipulating lever for the dispensing cock is provided with an interlock member which moves back and forth integrally with the lever, and the interlock member is provided with a magnet. A pair of hole elements capable of sensing the magnet are arranged one behind the other, spaced from each other, on a mounting plate arranged on a slider. The magnet is set to face an intermediate position of both hole elements of the slider staying at a standby position, with the dispensing cock staying at a neutral position. A control board moves the slider for correction to a position at which the magnet reaches the intermediate position of the hole elements if the magnet does not face the intermediate position of the pair of hole elements.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a plurality of ice making machines each of which includes an ice making mechanism, a detection device for detecting operating condition of the ice making mechanism and a control device for electrically controlling the ice making mechanism in accordance with the detected operating condition, wherein the ice making machines each are provided with an output circuit for issuing an electric signal indicative of the detected operating condition outwardly, and wherein the monitoring system includes a signal receiver for monitoring operation of the respective ice making machines based on the electric signals applied from the output circuits.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a plurality of food storage apparatuses each of which includes a food storage cabinet for storing foodstuffs therein, a cooling device for cooling the interior of the storage cabinet, a setting device for determining a temperature condition of the storage cabinet, a detection device for detecting an internal temperature of the storage cabinet and control means for applying a control signal based on the predetermined temperature and the detected internal temperature to the cooling device for controlling operation of the cooling device in such a manner that the storage cabinet is maintained at the predetermined temperature, wherein the food storage apparatuses each are provided with output means for issuing electric signals respectively indicative of the predeteremined temperature condition and the detected internal temperature outwardly, and wherein the monitoring system includes a signal receiver for monitoring each operating condition of the food storage apparatuses on a basis of the

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for washing dishes, which comprises carrying a rack with dishes to be washed into a downstream dishwasher by a rack carry-in unit; forwarding the rack after completion of washing in the dishwasher to a lifter unit disposed adjacent to the dishwasher with or without the aid of a rack carry-out mechanism; pulling the rack to a predetermined position in the lift by a rack loading device both disposed in the lifter unit; ascending or descending the lift to be positioned adjacent to a necessary pair of brackets of a wagon set to the outlet side of the lifter unit to carry out the rack loaded on the lift onto the pair of brackets; and ascending the lift after completion of carrying out the rack from the rack carry-out position and allowing the tapers, formed in the lift, facing the wagon so as to push the rack fully to a predetermined position in the wagon; and a system for practicing the process; wherein the arrangement of the respective units may be L-shaped or I-shaped, and the rack carry-

Abstract: In a dishwashing system, a dishwashing machine (10) is provided to wash a rack holding thereon tableware in a washing chamber, a wagon (W) is provided to have therein plural stages of horizontal storage shelves in an up-and-down direction, and an elevator (E) is disposed between the wagon and the dishwashing machine. On the elevator (E), a drive control device is provided to move a ramp (56) of the elevator by a driving mechanism (60) toward a position facing to one of shelves of the wagon after the rack has been placed at a reference position of the ramp (56) by way of timing belts (57i) (57l), to drive the timing belts by a timing belt mechanism (57) so as to store the rack onto the shelf, to stop the timing belt mechanism upon completing storage of the rack and to drive the driving mechanism till the ramp reaches the reference position. These operations are repeated by the drive control device.

Abstract: An ice making machine includes a cooling vessel arranged to store an amount of liquid cooling medium and an amount of separation medium located above the cooling medium. A refrigeration mechanism is provided for refrigerating both the mediums in the cooling vessel, and a water supply system is provided for supplying fresh water in the form of water drops into the liquid cooling medium. The water drops are formed into ice balls while rising in the liquid cooling medium, and the formed ice balls are separated from the liquid cooling medium in the separation medium to be harvested. In this ice making machine, mercury is used as the liquid cooling medium, and hydrophobic liquid is used as the separation medium. The melting point of the separation medium is lower than that of the formed ice balls and the specific gravity of the separation medium is more than the formed ice balls and less than the mercury.

Abstract: An ice lift apparatus for lifting ice cubes manufactured by an ice maker comprising a horizontal transporting section, a vertical transporting section and an ice discharge section is provided. The apparatus comprises two endless conveyor members driven by a driving unit, a multiplicity of transverse bars mounted between the conveyor members at an interval slightly greater than the longest side of the ice cube, and a stationary guide member disposed within a region defined by the running path of the endless conveyor members with a distance from the transverse bars located at the side of the forward running path of the conveyor members, which distance lies in a range of about 1/2 to 2/3 of the bar interval. Also, the guide member is so disposed as to cause the distance to decrease progressively toward the ice discharge section.

Abstract: A storage bin type ice dispenser includes a storage bin having front and rear walls, opposed side walls, a bottom wall and an inclined wall formed between a lower end of the front wall and a front end of the bottom wall to form a semicylindrical internal surface extending upward from an internal surface of the bottom wall. The bin is formed therein with a guide groove which is located at the center portions of the bottom and inclined walls in a lateral direction and extends upward from the bottom wall to a lower part of the front wall. The guide groove is formed at a front part thereof with a dispensing opening which opens downward through the inclined wall. The ice dispenser further includes an agitator having a rotary shaft rotatably mounted within the bin and positioned laterally in parallel with the semicylindrical internal surface of the inclined wall. A finger assembly is mounted on the center of the shaft to rotate along the guide groove.

Abstract: An electric control apparatus for an icecream-making machine wherein a stirring paddle is settled in an icecream-forming container in conditions for thermal exchange with an evaporator of a refrigerating system and is driven by an electric motor to whip icecream ingredients stored in the container. The electric control apparatus is arranged to detect the rotational speed of the paddle for producing a pulse signal at a period inversely proportional to the detected rotational speed, to produce an output signal when 1/n of the period of the pulse signal is more than a predetermined period of time and to cease production of the output signal when 1/n of the period of the pulse signal becomes less than the predetermined period of time, and to permit supply of an electric power to the motor when production of the output signal is ceased and to cut off the supply of the electric power to the motor in response to the output signal.