Abstract: A light gathering apparatus for gathering luminous fluxes incident from two different directions, including a luminous flux gathering optical element which includes an array of continuous first and second emission surfaces alternately and symmetrically arranged with respect to bisectors of the angle defined by and between the luminous fluxes.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for performing image processing of a processed object by displaying the processed object and an operating cursor on an image display device, and by operating the operating cursor according to three-dimensional actions of the hand and the fingers of an operator, a processing function and a shape of the operating cursor are changed by judging the meaning of the three-dimensional actions of the hand and the fingers to support understanding of the processing function.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting sheets or the like, in which mail distributed to a number of collection sections can be easily recycled to a feeder for sorting the mail in accordance with the delivery order. Stackers, in which mail is sorted in accordance with address codes, are provided on an upper portion of the feeder. By pulling out a bottom plate of the stackers, the mail in the stackers falls down into the feeder. The mail distributed once can be recycled to the feeder in a short period of time, thereby reducing the time for carrier route sequencing of the mail. The mail is conveyed in a path extending both above and below the feeder and the stackers, thereby reducing the area required for the apparatus.

Abstract: A smal-size apparatus for sorting sheets or the like can form a delivery route by repeating sorting operation and prevent an overflow of sheets or the like. To this end, auxiliary sorting compartments are provided in an accumulator means in the sorting operation for the first time, and when an overflow occurs, the allocated sorting compartments are shifted each by one compartment to the side of the auxiliary sorting compartment. In the first-time sorting operation, destination codes and thicknesses are stored in memory, and by the destination codes and thicknesses stored, overflow is predicted, a plurality of sorting compartments are allocated. By this arrangement, the sheets or the like can be prevented from overflowing, so that those sheets or the like which are rejected need not be manually added afterwards, and the efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.

Abstract: A light gathering apparatus for gathering luminous fluxes incident from two different directions, including a luminous flux gathering optical element which includes an array of continuous first and second reflection or emission surfaces alternately and symmetrically arranged with respect to bisectors of the angle defined by and between the luminous fluxes.

Abstract: A projector has projecting optical systems. The projecting optical systems have image formers and projecting lenses for projecting the images onto a screen. The optical axes of the projecting lenses are intersected with each other on the side of the screen. The image formers are arranged such that an image surface of each image former is coincident with the screen in accordance with Scheimpflug's rule.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheet-like items, in which the items, which are to be sorted to plural collecting sections, can be easily recycled to a feeder for sorting the items in multiple sorts in accordance with a desired sorting order or sequence. A stacker is provided on an upper portion of feeder. By pulling out a bottom plate of the stacker, the once sorted items in the stacker are caused to fall down into the feeder. The items can thus be rapidly recycled to the feeder for another sort, thereby reducing the time required for complete sorting or sequencing of the mail.

Abstract: A shaft having a magnetostrictive sensor measures torque applied to a shaft, as a shaft, without contact and utilizing reverse-magnetostrictive properties of magnetic alloys. The shaft includes a plurality of magnetic alloy layers, and the magnetosensitive torque detector is variously formed by diffusion bonding a magnetostrictive layer with a high magnetostrictive constant onto the shaft surface, by heat treating, adhesive fixation or the like bonding means. Methods for making the shaft are disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for conveying paper sheets having a plurality of conveyor path units which are connected to form a continuous conveyor path. Each unit includes a housing having both longitudinal ends opened, a sheet conveyor, provided in the housing, for conveying the paper sheets while holding the paper sheets between endless belts and a connecting structure provided on both longitudinal ends to enable each unit to be connected in series with other units. The conveyor is disposed near both longitudinal ends to make a distance between an adjacent conveyor, when the units are connected, small.

Abstract: In a vehicular lamp, a reflecting surface formed on the inner surface of a lamp body is divided into three reflecting regions in a horizontal direction, the reflecting surface having a left side wall that extends in a front-to-rear direction. The reflecting region in the middle has a shape so as to form a part of an ellipsoid of revolution whose axis of revolution coincides with the principal optical axis of the reflecting surface. A lamp bulb is located in the vicinity of a focal point of the ellipsoid of revolution. The shape of each of the reflecting regions is such as to be a part of an envelope of a group of paraboloids of revolution, the horizontal section of the envelope being expressed by an equation of a curve, y.sup.2 =4fx+ax.sup.

Abstract: A reflecting illumination projecting device includes a light source which emits illuminating light and a mirror which reflects the illuminating light emitted from the light source. A transmission type image forming portion is provided between the light source and the mirror to form a pattern to be projected, and a projecting lens is provided between the light source and the image forming portion. An optical path separating element is disposed in the vicinity of an exit pupil of the projection lens. The optical path separating element includes a first portion for introducing substantially all of the illuminating light to the projecting lens and a second portion for introducing light reflected by the mirror onto the image projection plane.

Abstract: A projector has projecting optical systems which include image formers and projecting lenses for projecting the formed images onto a screen. The optical axes of the projecting lenses are intersected with each other on or very near the surface of the screen. The image formers are arranged such that an image surface of each image former is coincident with the screen in accordance with Scheimpflug's rule.

Abstract: A projecting apparatus having a first projecting system for projecting an object to be projected to form an intermediate image, and a second projecting system for projecting the intermediate image formed by the first projecting system onto a screen. The first projecting system is adapted to distort the image of the object, and the second projecting system is adapted to correct the distorted image to project an enlarged image analogous to the object onto the screen.

Abstract: A reflecting illumination type projecting device includes a projecting lens having an optical axis intersecting an object to be tested, a light source portion for illuminating the object through the projecting lens, a screen onto which an image of the object is projected by light reflected on the object through the projecting lens, and an optical path separating element disposed in the vicinity of an exit pupil, the element being formed with a total reflecting mirror portion for reflecting either the illuminating light or the reflected light and with a transmitting portion for transmitting the remaining light, thereby to make the illuminating light incident to the projecting lens and to guide the reflected light toward the screen.

Abstract: A magnifying projecting lens has a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group and a positive third lens group that is arranged in this order from a magnifying side. The lens groups are arranged so as to satisfy the following condition:fb/f>1.7,whereinfb equals a back focus when an object distance is .infin.f equals a focal length of the lens.

Abstract: An image projecting device includes structure for correcting the distortion of an image and/or the defocusing of an image, which will be caused in a situation in which the optical axis of a projection lens is inclined with respect to a screen. The device includes a screen positioned along a predetermined plane, a source for emitting light which forms an optical image on the screen, with the optical axis of the source and the screen plane being inclined with respect to each other so that they are not optically normal with respect to each other, and a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the source towards the screen along a separate optical axis. The reflecting surface is optically positioned between the screen and the source and has a predetermined three-dimensional shape which is adapted to correct for trapezoidal distortion of the optical image projected onto the screen.

Abstract: An illuminating reflection apparatus including a light source having a light emitting portion, a main mirror for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward an illuminating area, and an auxiliary mirror for reflecting light emitted from the light source toward the main mirror. The light source and the auxiliary mirror are correlated so that light emitted from the light emitting portion and reflected by the auxiliary mirror is returned to the light emitting portion.

Abstract: A reflecting illumination projecting device includes a light source which emits illuminating light and a mirror which reflects the illuminating light emitted from the light source. A transmission type image forming portion is provided between the light source and the mirror to form a pattern to be projected, and a projecting lens is provided between the light source and the image forming portion. An optical path separating element is disposed in the vicinity of an exit pupil of the projecting lens. The optical path separating element includes a first portion for introducing substantially all of the illuminating light to the projecting lens and a second portion for introducing light reflected by the mirror onto the image projection plane.

Abstract: A projecting apparatus having a first projecting system for projecting an object to be projected to form an intermediate image, and a second projecting system for projecting the intermediate image formed by the first projecting system onto a screen. The first projecting system is adapted to distort the image of the object, and the second projecting system is adapted to correct the distorted image to project an enlarged image analogous to the object onto the screen.

Abstract: A reflection type lighting apparatus includes a light source, a main mirror for reflecting light from the light source toward an illumination area to be illuminated, an auxiliary mirror for reflecting light from the light source toward the main mirror, and a light transmission portion surrounding the main reflection surface. The main mirror has a non-circular reflection surface which defines a light emission area. The auxiliary mirror has an auxiliary reflection surface with a center emission opening, to reflect light from the light source, transmitted through the light transmission portion, back towards the main mirror.