Abstract: The present disclosure promotes distribution of sensor data among a plurality of business operators. A controller that an information processing system according to the present disclosure includes collects first data including a plurality of items and personal information from mobile bodies belonging to a first business operator. The controller converts the first data to second data not being usable to identify individuals. The controller provides data in a range decided based on content of a predetermined data use contract, among the second data, to a second business operator. The controller calculates a consideration for the data that is to be paid by the second business operator, based on a data use record of the second business operator.

Abstract: A cigarette making apparatus includes a cooling-water passage which allows a coolant to circulate along a flavoring-material supply path which connects an application nozzle for applying a flavoring material to a wrapping-paper web and a pump for supplying the flavoring material to the application nozzle, to thereby cool the flavoring material. A cooling unit controls the temperature of the coolant supplied to the cooling-water passage. Specifically, the cooling unit controls the temperature of the flavoring material by selectively activating a first control system for detecting the temperature of the coolant supplied to the cooling-water passage and controlling the temperature of the coolant, and a second control system for detecting the temperature of the flavoring material supplied to the application nozzle and controlling the temperature of the coolant.

Abstract: A cigarette making apparatus comprises an application nozzle for applying a flavoring material to a wrapping-paper web supplied continuously to a wrapping machine, a pump for supplying the flavoring material to the application nozzle, and a pump control device for controlling the pump driving speed depending on the wrapping machine operating speed. The pump control device divides the wrapping machine operating speed into a plurality of speed regions and determines an approximation pump characteristic which approximates a relationship between the pump driving speed and the rate of discharge of the flavoring material from the pump in each of the speed regions, in advance, and determines the speed at which the pump should be driven, depending on the wrapping machine operating speed, according to the approximation pump characteristic. Consequently, the flavoring material is applied to the wrapping-paper web in an appropriate amount depending on the wrapping machine operating speed.

Abstract: A cigarette making apparatus includes a cooling-water passage which allows a coolant to circulate along a flavoring-material supply path which connects an application nozzle for applying a flavoring material to a wrapping-paper web and a pump for supplying the flavoring material to the application nozzle, to thereby cool the flavoring material. A cooling unit controls the temperature of the coolant supplied to the cooling-water passage. Specifically, the cooling unit controls the temperature of the flavoring material by selectively activating a first control system for detecting the temperature of the coolant supplied to the cooling-water passage and controlling the temperature of the coolant, and a second control system for detecting the temperature of the flavoring material supplied to the application nozzle and controlling the temperature of the coolant.

Abstract: A cigarette making apparatus comprises an application nozzle for applying a flavoring material to a wrapping-paper web supplied continuously to a wrapping machine, a pump for supplying the flavoring material to the application nozzle, and a pump control device for controlling the pump driving speed depending on the wrapping machine operating speed. The pump control device divides the wrapping machine operating speed into a plurality of speed regions and determines an approximation pump characteristic which approximates a relationship between the pump driving speed and the rate of discharge of the flavoring material from the pump in each of the speed regions, in advance, and determines the speed at which the pump should be driven, depending on the wrapping machine operating speed, according to the approximation pump characteristic. Consequently, the flavoring material is applied to the wrapping-paper web in an appropriate amount depending on the wrapping machine operating speed.

Abstract: A wear-resistant coating, capable of imparting excellent wear resistance to a silent chain, comprises a base coating consisting of a hard inorganic material having interspersed particles of a hard inorganic material different from the inorganic material of the base coating. A part of the interspersed particles is exposed on the surface of the coating. The coating has superior oil-retaining properties as a result of gaps formed at the interface between the particles and the base coating, and the superior oil-retaining properties contribute to the wear-resistance of the coating.

Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.

Abstract: A removing apparatus for rod-like articles comprises a removing drum (24) as part of a transport path for the articles such as cigarettes, double filter cigarettes and filter cigarettes in a filter cigarette manufacturing machine, and many transport grooves (48) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum (24) for receiving the articles. Adjacent grooves (48) have suction holes (52) at different axial positions thereof. While passing through a suction holding region (A) of the removing drum (24), the adjacent transport grooves (48) receive holding pressure for the articles, from the corresponding holding passages (68) of the region (A) through the suction holes (52). The passages (68) extend longer than the pitch of the transport grooves (48). When compressed air is supplied to a passage (68), the passage (68) allows the compressed air to blow out from connected suction holes (52) to thereby remove the article from the corresponding transport groove (48).

Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.

Abstract: A removing apparatus for rod-like articles comprises a removing drum (24) as part of a transport path for the articles such as cigarettes, double filter cigarettes and filter cigarettes in a filter cigarette manufacturing machine, and many transport grooves (48) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum (24) for receiving the articles. Adjacent grooves (48) have suction holes (52) at different axial positions thereof. While passing through a suction holding region (A) of the removing drum (24), the adjacent transport grooves (48) receive holding pressure for the articles, from the corresponding holding passages (68) of the region (A) through the suction holes (52). The passages (68) extend longer than the pitch of the transport grooves (48). When compressed air is supplied to a passage (68), the passage (68) allows the compressed air to blow out from connected suction holes (52) to thereby remove the article from the corresponding transport groove (48).

Abstract: A wear-resistant coating, capable of imparting excellent wear resistance to a silent chain, comprises a base coating consisting of a hard inorganic material having interspersed particles of a hard inorganic material different from the inorganic material of the base coating. A part of the interspersed particles is exposed on the surface of the coating. The coating has superior oil-retaining properties as a result of gaps formed at the interface between the particles and the base coating, and the superior oil-retaining properties contribute to the wear-resistance of the coating.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a thermistor element housed in a metal cap and a mineral insulated cable for acquiring signals from said thermistor element wherein the mineral insulated cable employs a ventilation composition that provides stable thermistor element resistance characteristics. Thermistor element is equipped with thermistor section including an oxide semiconductor, and electrode wires extending from thermistor section for acquisition of thermistor signals, and is arranged on the end of mineral insulated cable and housed in metal cap. The mineral insulated cable employs a composition in which electrically conducting core wires connected to electrode wires are insulated and held in a metal outer cylinder by insulating powder filled into the outer cylinder. A ventilation quantity of at least 5×10−4 ml/(MPa sec) is secured within outer cylinder at normal temperature.

Abstract: A novel temperature sensor having a radial-type thermistor and a method of fabrication thereof are disclosed. A pair of electrode wires 22 are embedded in a spaced relation from each other substantially in parallel to the axis 21a of a cylindrical thermistor 21, and have an end 22a thereof led out toward an end 21b of the cylinder of the thermistor 21. A pair of core wires (signal lines) 31 arranged in spaced relation from each other substantially in parallel to the cylinder axis 21a are led out from the outer cylinder 33 of a two-core pipe 30 and are connected to an end 22a of each electrode wire 22. The wires 22, 31 are overlapped in such a manner that the diagonal K1 connecting the electrode wires 22 crosses the diagonal K2 connecting the signal lines 31 on the cylinder axis 21a, and coupled to each other by laser welding.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a covering member for covering the outer periphery of a stator core, to improve the cooling efficiency of an air-cooling system of the motor. The covering member is fixed to a stator while defining a cavity therebetween in fluidic communication with air passages formed directly in the stator core. When an blower unit mounted on the motor operates, an ambient air surrounding the motor is introduced into the cavity, and then flows from the cavity into the air passages, so as to actively absorb heat generated in the stator from the outer peripheral surface of the stator core and the tubular wall surfaces of the air passages. Thereafter, the air is discharged from the air passages out of the motor.

Abstract: An electrochromic device of wholly solid type comprising a transparent substrate and a transparent electroconductive film formed on the substrate, and having an oxidation color forming oxide, a cation conductive layer as an electrolyte, a reduction color forming oxide and a transparent electroconductive film, formed sequentially on said transparent electroconductive film formed on the substrate, wherein:(1) the oxidation color forming oxide is a p-type semiconductor of nickel oxide or cobalt oxide,(2) the cation conductive layer has OH groups showing a peak at about 3,300 (1/cm) in its infrared reflectance spectrum and is made of proton conductive SbO.sub.c wherein 1.3.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.2.7, or at least one lithium conductive lithium-containing oxide of LiO.sub.d MO.sub.e wherein 0.01.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.1.0, 1.3.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.2.

Abstract: A counterelectrode for a smart window contains a transparent electrically conductive substrate and a plurality of electrically conductive dots arrayed on the transparent electrically conductive substrate. Each of the electrically conductive dots contains fine particles having capacitance of not less than 1 farad/g or fine particles capable of storing electrical charge of not less than 1 coulomb/g. A smart window contains the aforementioned counterelectrode.

Abstract: A holding member (22) which can hold a predetermined axial-length laminated core member by pressing down both axial end faces thereof is used to hold a short laminated core member (24) and a spacing element (48) having a thickness generally equal to the difference between the axial lengths of those laminated core members. The spacing element is disposed at a position between one axial end face of the laminated core member (24) and a lid element (32) of the holding member (22). The laminated core member (24) and the spacing element (48) are both held by the holding member (22) and are introduced into the mold (20) to form a conductor portion integrally with a predetermined axial-length laminated core member held by the holding member (22). In this state, molten metal is poured into slots (38) of the laminated core member (24) and annular cavities (44, 46), and thus a conductor portion is formed integrally with the laminated core member (24) when the molten metal is set.

Abstract: A low-cost and compact thermistor-type temperature sensor which has a thermo unit and a metal tube solidly fixed by cement. The sensor has an enlarged reserve space between the thermo unit and the metal tube to accommodate an excess amount of the cement therein, so that intrusion of the cement into electrical connection portions of lead wires is prevented. This enlarged space assures good electrical insulation between the electrical connection portions and stable measurement characteristics.

Abstract: In a bevel gear device, wherein bevel gears are provided which are fixed to forward ends of shafts crossing each other, respectively, and in mesh with each other, and a turning force applied to one of the shafts is imparted to the other, at least either one of the shafts is made movable in the axial direction thereof, and a pre-load is applied to the movable shaft in the advancing direction, in which the bevel gears are in mesh with each other, by use of a first force. As a consequence, fluctuations of the backlash are reliably absorbed, necessity of the backlash adjustment is eliminated, and an excessively high pre-load can be prevented from being generated. Furthermore, another pre-load is applied to the movable shaft in the direction reverse to the first force, by use of a second force weaker than the first force. As a consequence, a tooth surface force applied to the bevel gears can be reduced.

Abstract: An electro-optical device containing an electrochromic material layer and electrolytic solution interposed between mutually opposed base plates, each having an electrode on the surface thereof, wherein said electrolytic solution consists essentially of (a) an iodide source material as a redox reaction promoter selected from the group consisting of metal iodides and ammonium iodides, and (b) a lactone solvent capable of dissolving the redox reaction promoter, with the proviso that when the iodide ion source material is not also a metal cation source, a cation source material capable of generating H.sup.+ or Li.sup.+ is further added.