Abstract: A tactile pin display apparatus comprises: tactile pins 20 for braille display; a support housing 30 for supporting and allowing the tactile pins 20 to move forward and backward; cams 40 for raising ends of the tactile pins 20 to a desired height (ON-state) from a tactile surface 35; compression coil springs 10 for biasing the tactile pins 20 against the cams 40; shape memory wires 60 to be heated by current for pivoting the cams 40 forward to bring the tactile pins to the ON-state; and a cam return plate 50 for pivoting the cams backward to lower the tactile pins 20 back to a level (OFF-state) of the tactile surface 35. Even if in the ON-state the tactile pins 20 are strongly pressed by a user, or the current to the shape memory wires 60 is disconnected, the tactile pins 20 are not lowered back because upper surfaces of the cams 40 support lower surfaces of the tactile pins 20. All the tactile pins 20 can be lowered back to the OFF-state by a single reciprocal movement of the cam return plate 50.

Abstract: A wire drawing machine comprises a wire supply unit with an unwinding bobbin for unwinding a wire, a wire drawing unit or units for drawing and reducing the diameter of the wire, and a wire winding unit for winding the drawn wire. Each wire drawing unit comprises: a dancer roller for applying back tension to the wire; a wire drawing die for reducing the diameter of the wire; and a capstan for winding and transporting the wire without slip to apply front tension to the wire. The dancer roller is linearly moved substantially in parallel to direction of wire drawing of the wire drawing die, whereby the wire drawing unit can be reduced in width. A plurality of such wire drawing units can be placed between the wire supply unit and the wire winding unit in multiple rows so as to further reduce the width of the wire drawing machine.

Abstract: A wire drawing machine comprises a wire supply unit with an unwinding bobbin for unwinding a wire, a wire drawing unit or units for drawing and reducing the diameter of the wire, and a wire winding unit for winding the drawn wire. Each wire drawing unit comprises: a dancer roller for applying back tension to the wire; a wire drawing die for reducing the diameter of the wire; and a capstan for winding and transporting the wire without slip to apply front tension to the wire. The dancer roller is linearly moved substantially in parallel to direction of wire drawing of the wire drawing die, whereby the wire drawing unit can be reduced in width. A plurality of such wire drawing units can be placed between the wire supply unit and the wire winding unit in multiple rows so as to further reduce the width of the wire drawing machine.

Abstract: Rotational member (310) with plural tactile pins (301) movable up-and-down for displaying characters is rotated by rotation driving means. Elastic O-rings (370) are provided in the rotational member (310) for pressing and holding the pins (301). Actuators (320) brought to contact the pins (301) are provided nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at desired heights from a tactile surface. Cam (330) brought to contact with the pins (301) is provided also nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at the reset position or height. Furthermore, selectively actuating means is provided for selectively actuating the actuators (320). Owing to such arrangement, a continuous tactile pin display apparatus can be reduced in size, weight and cost.

Abstract: Internet text information, e-mails or the like is continuously displayed as braille text of arbitrary length without being divided on a row-by-row basis. A structure includes a rotating braille display section for continuously displaying braille by moving a plurality of pins forward and backward over a touch-and-sense surface of a rotating disk, the pins corresponding to 8 to 36 characters, a key input section, an external interface section, a memory file memory section, and a control section for controlling these sections using software. Also included are a unit for connecting an external control device like a personal computer to the external interface section, and a unit for instructing the external control device by operating the key input section to load Internet text information or the like and store the information in the memory file memory section or display the information on the rotating braille display section as braille.

Abstract: Rotational member (310) with plural tactile pins (301) movable up-and-down for displaying characters is rotated by rotation driving means. Elastic O-rings (370) are provided in the rotational member (310) for pressing and holding the pins (301). Actuators (320) brought to contact the pins (301) are provided nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at desired heights from a tactile surface. Cam (330) brought to contact with the pins (301) is provided also nearby the rotational member (310) for positioning the pins (301) at the reset position or height. Furthermore, selectively actuating means is provided for selectively actuating the actuators (320). Owing to such arrangement, a continuous tactile pin display apparatus can be reduced in size, weight and cost.

Abstract: A tape cassette which includes a housing having an opening at the front portion of the housing in which opening loading posts are maneuvered, a pair of tape reels rotatably disposed in the housing, a slider slidably mounted by the housing and having a front portion located in the opening, and a front cover supported by both the slider and housing for covering the magnetic tape exposed to the outside, and shifting means for rotating the front cover in the direction in which the loading posts are entered into the opening, end sliding the front cover in such a direction that the front cover moves away from the magnetic tape so that in accordance with the movement of the slider in a direction that the front portion moves away from the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape is exposed to the outside.

Abstract: A tape cassette to be mounted on a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. A magnetic tape is extended in front of an opening formed at a front part of a housing. The housing is provided with a front cover for covering the tape. The tape is exposed by an upward rotation of the front cover. The front cover is upwardly rotated when a slider, which is slidably attached to the housing, is slid rearward with respect to the housing. The slider, which is in engagement with an engaging member, is slid by relative movement of the engaging member and the housing. The slider is locked to the housing by a locking member, which unlocks the slider when the engaging member is engaged with the slider.

Abstract: A small-sized and low-power magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus. A first idler is press-contacted with a driving roller provided coaxially with a capstan shaft for transporting a magnetic tape at a constant speed, the pressing force of the first idler being changed so as to obtain a driving force caused by friction according to the pressing force. The driving force of the first idler is transmitted to a relay wheel via a timing belt mounted on the first idler and the relay wheel, and to a reel drive turntable by a reel transmission mechanism. The reel transmission mechanism has a selective transmission mechanism which transmits the rotation of the relay wheel to a rotating wheel juxtaposed with the reel drive turntable and then to the reel drive turntable either directly or indirectly via a torque limiter provided on the rotating wheel.