Abstract: Provided is a stick curvature correction device that can determine a curvature of a stick with a simple structure and correct a curvature of a curved stick. The stick curvature correction device includes a curvature detection unit, a center push-up unit, a stick holding unit, and a stick correction unit. The curvature detection unit includes two-end push-up units, and a multi-point sensor unit. The center push-up unit causes a curved stick to axially rotate to be in a mountain bow state, and pushes up a part between a left end and a center of the stick. The stick holding unit holds the right end of the stick, and holds the stick slidably in a direction of the left end of the stick. The stick correction unit applies a force in a direction opposite to a curve direction of the put stick and corrects a curvature of the curved stick.

Abstract: Provided is a stick pick-up device which has a simple structure, is easy to control, and is capable of reliably picking up sticks one by one. The stick pick-up device includes a stick stock portion, a reverse inclined wall, and a push-up portion. The stick stock portion includes a stick receiving portion that is inclined down toward a downstream side and can store a plurality of sticks. The reverse inclined wall is provided on the downstream side of the stick receiving portion, and has a reverse inclined surface inclined in a direction covering over a stick receiving portion side. The push-up portion is provided on a reverse inclined surface side, has a stick push-up surface inclined down toward the downstream side, pushes up the sticks on the stick push-up surface one by one along the reverse inclined surface, and causes the sticks to move downstream over the reverse inclined wall.

Abstract: An opening/closing control apparatus includes a directional microphone having a sound collecting device disposed on a vehicle and configured to collect sound outside the vehicle. The directional microphone further has directivity upward from a horizontal plane that includes a mounting position of the sound collecting device. The opening/closing control apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to control operation of one of a door and a lock of the vehicle, based on a recognition result obtained by performing speech recognition with respect to an audio signal detected by the directional microphone.

Abstract: A stuffing apparatus includes a main body case, a stuffing nozzle for discharging a material, a material feed pump for feeding the material into the stuffing nozzle, a pump drive motor for driving the material feed pump, and a conveying device for conveying a stuffed casing in a direction in which the material discharged is discharged, wherein a hopper into which the material is charged from above is provided above the material feed pump, the material feed pump, the pump drive motor, and the hopper are provided on the main body case on which the stuffing nozzle and the conveying device are provided, and the material which is fed from the material feed pump is automatically stuffed by being fed into the stuffing nozzle via a material feed pipe.

Abstract: A stuffing apparatus includes a main body case, a stuffing nozzle for discharging a material, a material feed pump for feeding the material into the stuffing nozzle, a pump drive motor for driving the material feed pump, and a conveying device for conveying a stuffed casing in a direction in which the material discharged is discharged, wherein a hopper into which the material is charged from above is provided above the material feed pump, the material feed pump, the pump drive motor, and the hopper are provided on the main body case on which the stuffing nozzle and the conveying device are provided, and the material which is fed from the material feed pump is automatically stuffed by being fed into the stuffing nozzle via a material feed pipe.

Abstract: A detecting structure for a stuffing apparatus includes: a stuffing nozzle having a material discharge port and a photoelectric sensor for detecting a terminating end of a casing loaded on an outer periphery of the stuffing nozzle, wherein the photoelectric sensor is accommodated in a protective case having a transparent portion, and a first air supplying arrangement for supplying air into the protective case is provided on the protective case. Further, the first air supplying arrangement may have an air nozzle which is provided in the protective case and jets air toward an inner surface of the transparent portion. Still further, second air supplying arrangement may be provided for supplying air toward an outer surface of the transparent portion. Furthermore, third air supplying arrangement may be provided for supplying air toward the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a stick with a strand of sausage or the like suspended therefrom includes a transversely transferring device for transferring a stick from a first position to a second position by stick transverse transfer members; and a vertically transferring device having stick vertical transfer members which receive the stick from the stick transverse transfer members at the second position and deliver the stick to a conveyor device. The transversely transferring device has a stick transfer body having the stick transverse transfer members provided thereon, a rail body for supporting the stick transfer body and guiding its linear movement, and a transverse wrapping connector traveling body wound around and trained between transverse transfer wheels. A stick transfer body is adapted to be reciprocatingly moved by a transverse transfer electric motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a stick with a strand of sausage or the like suspended therefrom includes a transversely transferring device for transferring a stick from a first position to a second position by stick transverse transfer members; and a vertically transferring device having stick vertical transfer members which receive the stick from the stick transverse transfer members at the second position and deliver the stick to a conveyor device. The transversely transferring device has a stick transfer body having the stick transverse transfer members provided thereon, a rail body for supporting the stick transfer body and guiding its linear movement, and a transverse wrapping connector traveling body wound around and trained between transverse transfer wheels. A stick transfer body is adapted to be reciprocatingly moved by a transverse transfer electric motor.

Abstract: A detecting structure for a stuffing apparatus includes: a stuffing nozzle having a material discharge port and a photoelectric sensor for detecting a terminating end of a casing loaded on an outer periphery of the stuffing nozzle, wherein the photoelectric sensor is accommodated in a protective case having a transparent portion, and a first air supplying arrangement for supplying air into the protective case is provided on the protective case. Further, the first air supplying arrangement may have an air nozzle which is provided in the protective case and jets air toward an inner surface of the transparent portion. Still further, second air supplying arrangement may be provided for supplying air toward an outer surface of the transparent portion. Furthermore, third air supplying arrangement may be provided for supplying air toward the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a stick with a food product such as a sausage suspended therefrom includes: a stick supplying device for transferring onto a stick a sausage suspended from a loop forming device and for subsequently supplying the stick with the sausage suspended therefrom to a stick supporting and relaying device; the stick supporting and relaying device for temporarily placing thereon and supporting the stick; the transferring device for transferring the stick from the stick supporting and relaying device to a conveying device; the conveying device for conveying the stick to a stick delivering device; the stick delivering device for sequentially delivering to a swiveling device each leading one of a plurality of sticks which have been conveyed in parallel by the conveying device; the swiveling device for swiveling the stick about a swiveling axis; and a stick taking-off device for sequentially taking off the stick from the swiveling device.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a stick with a food product such as a sausage suspended therefrom includes: a stick supplying device for transferring onto a stick a sausage suspended from a loop forming device and for subsequently supplying the stick with the sausage suspended therefrom to a stick supporting and relaying device; the stick supporting and relaying device for temporarily placing thereon and supporting the stick; the transferring device for transferring the stick from the stick supporting and relaying device to a conveying device; the conveying device for conveying the stick to a stick delivering device; the stick delivering device for sequentially delivering to a swiveling device each leading one of a plurality of sticks which have been conveyed in parallel by the conveying device; the swiveling device for swiveling the stick about a swiveling axis; and a stick taking-off device for sequentially taking off the stick from the swiveling device.

Abstract: A suspending device is provided with a device frame; a guiding device provided on an upper portion of the device frame and having a guide tube for guiding given portions of a chain of sausages, which are being conveyed and supplied by a nipping and conveying device, to a predetermined position while circularly moving its free end; a conveying device provided on the upper portion of the device frame in the same way as the guiding device, and adapted to convey the sausages formed into loops as the given portions of the sausages guided to the predetermined position by the guide tube of the guiding device are caught by the conveying device; a power generating device provided on the upper portion of the device frame and adapted to generate power constituting a conveying force for the sausages in the conveying device as well as a circularly moving force for circularly moving the guide tube of the guiding device; and a power transmitting device for transmitting the power generated by the power generating device to t