Abstract: 7-thiaprostaglandins having the formula (I) which inhibit cell migration induced by monocyte chemoattractant protein MCP-1/MCAF and other chemokines and can serve as drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis, diabetic angiopathy, and other disorders, their enantiomers, mixtures of the same, and methods of production thereof.

Abstract: A submerged nozzle mounting/dismounting apparatus for mounting a submerged nozzle (9) on and dismounting the same from a slide valve device (5) of a molten metal vessel (1) of a continuous casting system, is provided with a submerged nozzle holding mechanism (25) having support arms (27) for holding the submerged nozzle pressed against the slide valve device through mounting pins (13) on the upper part of the submerged nozzle. For automated operation to eliminate all kinds of heavy physical work in a hot environment, the submerged nozzle mounting/dismounting apparatus comprises a slide base (32) laterally slidably mounted for positional adjustment relative to the support arms (27) on a robot arm (21) supported for turning on a stand. A submerged nozzle hanger (40) is provided for supporting the submerged nozzle via support pins (14) projecting from the submerged nozzle. The hanger (40) is pivotally supported for turning in a vertical plane on the slide base.

Abstract: A cartridge handling hand of a cartridge system sliding valve apparatus for a molten metal vessel is mountable to a general purpose robot. The hand includes a cartridge pressing cylinder secured to a mounting plate whose one side surface is provided with a device for mounting a carrier arm. A first pair of cylinder support arms for lock pins and a second pair of support arms are attached vertically to the other side surface of the mounting plate. Lock pins are attached to piston rod ends of cylinders which are secured to the cylinder support arms 2. Cartridge clamp arms are slidably fitted into guide pins provided vertically in the outside of the second pair of support arms. The cartridge clamp arms are coupled through a cylinder which opens or closes the arms. A cartridge system sliding valve apparatus includes positioning metal fittings for interfitting with the lock pins of the cartridge handling hand of the invention and positioning pins which fit in the positioning recesses of a cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for visually or audibly displaying swinging reducing effect in a structure with a damper or a base isolator, which reduces swinging of building structure during earthquake and increases performance characteristics and structural safety of the structure. The apparatus comprises an earthquake observation device, a computer, a display unit and a communication system for connecting the earthquake observation device, the computer and the display unit. The earthquake observation device records input seismic wave to the structure and response wave of the structure at each given time, and the computer calculates response in case the structure is not provided with damper or base isolator, using dynamic characteristics of the structure and input seismic wave in observation records. Thus, the input seismic wave, observed response wave with damper and base isolator, calculated response wave without damper or base isolator, as well as damping effect and base isolation effect are given on the display unit.

Abstract: A printing machine in which a perforation pressure drum is disposed downstream of a paper feeding section, and a longitudinal perforation blade and a lateral perforation blade may be brought into contact with the perforation drum. A delivery drum is in contact with the perforation drum, and a numbering pressure drum is in contact with the delivery drum. A numbering box may be brought into contact with the numbering pressure drum. With such an arrangement, it is possible to enhance printing position precision and operational property.

Abstract: A printing machine in which a perforation pressure drum is disposed downstream of a paper feeding section, and a longitudinal perforation blade and a lateral perforation blade may be brought into contact with the perforation drum. A delivery drum is in contact with the perforation drum, and a numbering pressure drum is in contact with the delivery drum. A numbering box may be brought into contact with the numbering pressure drum. With such an arrangement, it is possible to enhance printing position precision and operational property.

Abstract: An anti-earthquake bearing apparatus for bearing the weight of a structure and reducing the vibration energy propagating to the structure by using bearing bodies disposed between the structure and a foundation or another structure has spherical bag-like bearing bodies serving as said bearing bodies formed by sealing a fluid, rubber-like solid or gas into bags constituted by a rubber-sheet material reinforced with fiber. Each bag-like bearing body is provided with charging/discharging ports. Recesses for preventing positional shift of said bag-like bearing bodies are formed on the bottom surface of the structure and on the upper surface of the foundation.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder type high damping device in which a cylinder member or a piston rod member is connected to the frame of a structure and the other member is connected to an earthquake-resisting element integrally secured to the frame. A plurality of passages through the piston connect hydraulic chambers on opposite sides of the piston. The passages are provided with pressure-governing valves which control the flow of oil between the hydraulic chambers. In addition, an accumulator system provides a bypass for oil to flow between the hydraulic cylinders in order to modulate the oil pressure in the damping device. Relief valves are provided in parallel with the pressure governing valves to provide a variable damping coefficient which protects the damping device from overloads caused by excessive seismic shock.

Abstract: A safety monitoring device is provided for the use in an active seismic response and wind control system for exerting a control force, which restrains the vibration of a structure due to disturbances such as earthquake and wind, from an actuator in response to the above vibration. The safety monitoring device measures the work done of a seismic response control force and judges the work done of the seismic response control force to be positive or negative, so that whether or not the seismic response control is properly carried out by the actuator is judged. If any abnormality is found, a stop signal or the like is generated to stop the seismic response and wind control system, whereby the safety of the structure is ensured.

Abstract: An elasto-plastic damper adapted to be used in a structure for absorbing vibration energy created by earthquake tremors and other ground vibrations. The damper is formed from flat plates to simplify design and to minimize costs. The damper may be used in combination to absorb vibration energy impacting the structure from different directions.

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston device installed between the frame of a structure and a vibration-resisting element provided separately from the frame varies the rigidity of the frame by changing the condition of connection between the frame and the vibration-resisting element. A valve controls the operation of the piston device and can be adjusted to change the coefficient of damping of the piston device. To obtain maximum rigidity of the frame, the piston is hydraulically locked in place. For maximum flexiblity of the frame, the piston can be hydraulically released from a locked position to move freely. Hydraulic resistance to movement of the piston can be graduated by metering the flow of oil into and out of the piston device. The coefficient of damping is a function of the metered flow of hydraulic fluid in the piston device.

Abstract: A vibration absorbing device to be secured between structural and non-structural members of a framed structure. An outer ring may be secured to a structural member and an inner ring is concentrically positioned within said outer ring and may be secured to a non-structural member. Radial spokes interconnecting the inner and outer rings are adapted to elasto-plastically deform when one ring is arcuately shifted relative to the other ring responsive to vibration of the inner and/or outer ring, thereby absorbing the energy of vibration.

Abstract: An elasto-plastic damper is adapted to be used in a structure, such as a building and other facilities, for absorbing vibration energy created by earthquake tremors and other ground vibrations. The damper is a centrally bulged and generally cone-shaped hollow body of revolution so that its section modulus changes substantially porportional to a bending moment created in the damper body due to horizontal stresses, thus permitting a maximum degree of deformability. This elasto-plastic damper is compact in size and demonstrates a high degree of vibrational energy absorbability.

Abstract: A variable damping and stiffness structure is disclosed, which includes a variable damping device provided between posts, beams and braces of a structure or braces serving as variable stiffness elements and interconnecting a frame body and the variable stiffness element or the variable stiffness elements themselves. Not only the unreasonance property, but also the damping property of the structure are compositely judged by a computer on the basis of information obtained from sensors with respect to disturbances such as earthquake and wind to control the connecting condition of the variable damping device, whereby both the unresonance property and the damping property are controlled to reduce the response amount of the structure. Otherwise, the variable damping device is controlled by the judgement of only the damping property.

Abstract: A combination active and passive mass damping device to attenuate vibrations in a structure caused by seismic and/or wind forces. A mass is actively rendered vibratable by a hydraulic actuator and passively vibratable by use of springs. The device normally functions as an active mass damper, but, in the event of a power failure, is automatically converted by a failsafe means into a passive mass damping mode.

Abstract: A positive vibration suppression apparatus is disclosed, which suppresses vibrations of a building caused by earthquakes or winds by applying a control force to the building. The apparatus comprises a weight provided on the top of the building in a suspended form to reduce friction and an actuator provided between the weight and the building. The vibration suppression apparatus is controlled through sensing of the vibrations of the building and weight by a sensor, whereas for excessive vibrations of the building the vibrations of the weight are made close to the vibrations of the building to protect the apparatus, because the capacity of the vibration suppression apparatus is limited. Further, in an oil hydraulic system for obtaining a great control force, small and large size oil hydraulic pumps connected to respective small and large size electric motors and an accumulator are provided in parallel, so that the apparatus is warmed up at all time for oil hydraulic control with low power consumption.

Abstract: An image position adjusting device for controlling an imaging area in a longitudinal direction of a printing sheet. This position control is made by rotating one of the impression and blanket cylinders with respect to the other. A first intermediate gear is mounted on a shaft extending between the side frames of the printing machine, and a second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and a stationary gear of one of the impression and blanket cylinders. The second intermediate gear is swingable while meshingly moving along the first intermediate gear for rotating the gear of the impression or blanket cylinder. During movement of the second intermediate gear, it is always held between the first intermediate gear and the stationary gear.

Abstract: A sheet feeder in a sheet-fed printing press includes a detector 1 disposed adjacent to a feed portion of a paper feed or transfer cylinder 2 for detecting an improperly fed sheet of paper, and a gripper opening mechanism 6 actuatable for engaging a cam follower 13 to open a gripper 14 to release the improperly fed sheet of paper from the cylinder. A sheet discharge mechanism 16 has a sheet discharge roller 17 movable toward the cylinder for gripping therebetween the released sheet, and a stripper 18 movable toward the cylinder for stripping the improperly fed sheet and discharging it along a paper guide. An actuator 4.5 is connected to the detector for actuating the gripper opening mechanism and moving the sheet discharge roller and the stripper in response to the detection by the detector of the improperly fed sheet of paper.

Abstract: A device for connecting and disconnecting a dampening system B and an inking system A in an offset printing machine. The offset printing machine includes a plate cylinder 7, and the inking system includes an ink applicator roller 10 movable toward and away from the plate cylinder. The ink applicator roller is in rotational contact with an ink delivery roller 19. The ink delivery roller is in rotational contact with an intermediate roller 15 which is movable toward and away from a roller 16 of the dampening system. The ink delivery roller and the intermediate roller are both rotatably supported by a pair of brackets 27,27 pivotally supported to an inking frame 25,25. The ink delivery roller and the intermediate roller are also slidable with respect to the brackets. In accordance with the movement of the ink applicator roller, the ink delivery roller is slidably moved, yet connection and disconnection between the inking and dampening systems is attainable.