Abstract: A filter insertion/removal unit that is capable of removing and inserting a variable neutral density filter having a variable transmittance from and into the incident light path of object light to an imaging device unit is instructed to insert the variable neutral density filter, and a variable transmittance drive unit is instructed to lower the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter, both on the basis of detection of a transmittance lowering operation of an operating unit. Also, the variable transmittance drive unit is instructed to raise the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter, and the filter insertion/removal unit is instructed to remove the variable neutral density filter from the incident light path, both on the basis of detection of a transmittance raising operation of the operating unit.

Abstract: A filter insertion/removal unit that is capable of removing and inserting a variable neutral density filter having a variable transmittance from and into the incident light path of object light to an imaging device unit is instructed to insert the variable neutral density filter, and a variable transmittance drive unit is instructed to lower the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter, both on the basis of detection of a transmittance lowering operation of an operating unit. Also, the variable transmittance drive unit is instructed to raise the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter, and the filter insertion/removal unit is instructed to remove the variable neutral density filter from the incident light path, both on the basis of detection of a transmittance raising operation of the operating unit.

Abstract: There is provided an improved jigsaw puzzle which comprises polyfoam based puzzle pieces each having a drawing surface such as high quality drawing paper surface, a casing with a cover lid pivoted at one end of the casing for opening and closing a space within the casing, said space behind wide enough to hold the puzzle pieces whether assembled or disassembled, a puzzle frame unit for holding the puzzle pieces assembled therein. The resilient spacer is interposed between the puzzle pieces and the casing.

Abstract: An improved jigsaw puzzle includes puzzle pieces that each have a drawing surface such as high quality drawing paper surface. The puzzle pieces are held within a casing, which has a cover lid pivoted at one end of the casing for opening and closing a space within the casing. The space is wide enough to hold the puzzle pieces whether they are assembled or disassembled, and a puzzle frame for holding the puzzle pieces assembled therein. A resilient spacer such as a sponge like material is interposed between the puzzle pieces and the casing. The resilient material compresses when the puzzle pieces are arranged in the case in a jumbled manner, overlapping one another, and the cover lid is closed. The puzzle can therefore be drawn on, disassembled and assembled within the casing without losing any pieces and while displaying the drawing.

Abstract: A method of forming an artificial snow surface and an ice crusher machine used in the method are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of maintaining a snow surface. The surface forming method has the steps of spraying water onto a floor incorporating a refrigerating unit; freezing the water by the refrigerating unit to form an ice layer on the floor; shaving a surface of the ice layer to generate artificial snow consisting of fine ice particles; and forming an artificial snow layer having an artificial snow surface by leaving the shaved snow on the remain of the ice layer in the course of the shaving step. The ice crushing machine has a self-propeling device for propelling the machine body on the ice layer while shaving the surface of the layer to produce fine ice particles behind the propelling path of the machine. The surface maintaining method has the step of dehumidifying air present adjacent the snow surface to avoid frosting of water content in the air on the surface.

Abstract: A method of forming an artificial snow layer is disclosed. Water content is added to to atmosphere above a floor by a humidifying device, or water mist is added to the atmosphere by a water-mist supplying device. The water content or the water mist is frost-frozen by a refrigerating device 6 incorporated at the floor, thus forming on the floor an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer. A method of maintaining the formed artificial snow layer is also disclosed. After the formation of the artificial snow layer, an atmosphere refrigerating device is stopped or reduced in its operation so as to release the maintenance of the atmosphere below the freezing point. Then, the refrigerating device of the floor is operated to prevent melting of the formed artificial snow layer so as to prevent coagulation of water content in said atmosphere on a surface of the artificial snow layer through humidity adjustment of the atmosphere by a humidity adjusting device.

Abstract: A method of forming an artificial snow layer is disclosed. Water content is added to to atmosphere above a floor by a humidifying device, or water mist is added to the atmosphere by a water-mist supplying device. The water content or the water mist is frost-frozen by a refrigerating device 6 incorporated at the floor, thus forming on the floor an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer. A method of maintaining the formed artificial snow layer is also disclosed. After the formation of the artificial snow layer, an atmosphere refrigerating device is stopped or reduced in its operation so as to release the maintenance of the atmosphere below the freezing point. Then, the refrigerating device of the floor is operated to prevent melting of the formed artificial snow layer so as to prevent coagulation of water content in said atmosphere on a surface of the artificial snow layer through humidity adjustment of the atmosphere by a humidity adjusting device.

Abstract: A gas treating apparatus including a treating flow passage having a first opening and a second opening through which the gas passes to be treated; a pair of ducts for transporting the treatment-target gas or an element-refreshing gas through the treating flow passage positioned between a third opening and a fourth opening; and a rotary frame for radially supporting the treating flow passage and unidirectionally rotatable relative to the pair of ducts. At the upper and lower sides in the rotational direction of the third and fourth openings, there are provided first sealing members. As these sealing members come into sliding contact with at least one of the sealing faces at the upper and lower sides and at the sides of the first opening and of the second opening, the members provide gas sealing effect between the treating flow passage and the pair of ducts positioned between the third and fourth openings and in the vicinity of the same.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator type paint mist containing gas cleaning apparatus having a concave guide face extending downwardly from a downstream side end of a cleaning liquid flow-down face in a flowing down direction of cleaning liquid, the concave guide face being formed as a curved arc, a discharge guide face disposed at a downstream side end of the concave guide face for laterally discharging the cleaning liquid, a gas orienting face for orienting a paint mist containing gas fed from the upperside towards the concave guide face, whereby the paint mist containing gas is discharge through a discharge opening formed between a downstream side end of the gas orienting face and a portion of the concave guide face most adjacent the downstream side end of the gas orienting face, the discharge opening having a width smaller than an average radius of the concave guide face, the paint mist containing gas being discharge in a direction substantially along a tangential line of the concave guide face, the discharge opening

Abstract: A gas treating apparatus for removing solvent from a treatment-object gas. The apparatus has an adsorbing member formed mainly of activated carbon capable of adsorbing the solvent. The adsorbed solvent trapped on the adsorbing member is desorbed therefrom when the member is moved by a conveying device to a desorbing section where a high-temperature recycling air is supplied. When a functional trouble occurs with the apparatus, the adsorbing member currently located adjacent the desorbing section is effectively evacuated from a high-temperature-zero-air-flow condition thereby avoiding an abnormal temperature rise and a successive fire accident apt to occur in the desorbing section vicinity due to an oxidation reaction of the adsorbed solvent. Consequently, the invention provides the apparatus with superior safety.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing spray mist from a spraying booth. The apparatus comprises an exhauster for forcibly discharging a mixture of air and a mist of superfluous paint from the spray booth, and a plurality of constricted flow passages arranged in an exhaust route extending from the spraying booth to the exhaust for causing the air/mist mixture to strike against purifying water. This mist removing mechanism utilizing a difference in inertial mass between the air and the spray mist at times of passing through the constricted flow passages, whereby the spray mist is trapped in the purifying water upon collision therebetween.

Abstract: A paint waste separating and collecting apparatus comprising a separator tank for receiving cleaning water laden with paint waste and discharged from a cleaning device, and a circulating passage for supplying cleaning water stripped of the paint waste from the separator tank to the cleaning device.

Abstract: A paint waste separator-collector apparatus having a separator tank for receiving water containing paint waste and for causing the contained paint waste to separate and float, a weir for causing the floating paint waste together with overflowing water from the separator tank into a collector container and a water level adjusting mechanism for switchably providing a paint waste accumulating condition in which a water level in the separator tank is lowered for the water not to flow over the weir thereby causing the floating paint waste to accumulate inside the separator tank and a paint waste collecting condition in which the water level in the separator tank is raised for the excess water to flow over the weir into the collector container.

Abstract: A hot air drying system for drying automobile bodies, comprising a drying chamber including a transport device for transporting the automobile bodies having closed bottoms, and a hot air supplying device for supplying hot air into the drying chamber to heat and dry paint applied to the automobile bodies transported by the transport device. The hot air supplying device includes hot air delivery nozzles for directing the hot air toward inside surfaces of the automobile bodies through openings of the automobile bodies.

Abstract: A spraying booth comprising a spraying area defined by a ceiling and side walls. The ceiling includes top feed openings connected with a feed duct extending from a conditioner for controlling a fresh air temperature. The side walls include side feed openings connected with a blast duct for supplying air from which paint mist has been removed at mist removing devices. Fresh air supplied through the top feed openings and the mistless air supplied through the side feed openings combine to produce an advantageous atmospheric condition for a paint spraying operation.