Abstract: In a sewing machine having an automatic thread cutting mechanism, a situation of a thread cutting operation is detected in power-OFF to continuously carry out a proper operation when a power supply is turned ON again after sudden power-OFF. In a sewing machine having an automatic thread cutting mechanism, there is provided means for detecting an operation situation of the automatic thread cutting mechanism when a power supply is turned ON. Based on a signal for the detection, the automatic thread cutting mechanism is operated to complete a thread cutting operation and to carry out a control to return into an initial state when a stop is performed with the thread cutting mechanism in power-ON executing the thread cutting work.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic thread cutting device for a sewing machine which is provided with a horizontal loop taker, wherein a thread catching member (4) is operated in response to a thread cutting instruction to reciprocatingly move with a movable blade (5) along a predetermined course, the thread catching member (4) normally catching the upper thread when moving in the return-way of reciprocation to guide the upper thread to a fixed blade (14) which is provided to cut the upper thread in cooperation with the movable blade (5), and wherein a thread regulating means is provided to cut the lower thread (29d) together with the upper thread, the thread regulating means being operated to press down the lower thread (29d) to a position where the lower thread (29d) is caught by the thread catching member (4) in addition to the upper thread when the thread catching member (4) is moving in the return-way of reciprocation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic thread cutting device for a sewing machine which is provided with a horizontal loop taker, wherein a thread catching member 4 is operated in response to a thread cutting instruction to reciprocatingly move with a movable blade 5 along a predetermined course, the thread catching member 4 normally catching the upper thread when moving in the return-way of reciprocation to guide the upper thread to a fixed blade 14 which is provided to cut the upper thread in cooperation with the movable blade 5, and wherein a thread regulating means is provided to cut the lower thread 29d together with the upper thread, the thread regulating means being operated to press down the lower thread 29d to a position where the lower thread 29d is caught by the thread catching member 4 in addition to the upper thread when the thread catching member 4 is moving in the return-way of reciprocation.

Abstract: In a sewing machine having an automatic thread cutting mechanism, a situation of a thread cutting operation is detected in power-OFF to continuously carry out a proper operation when a power supply is turned ON again after sudden power-OFF. In a sewing machine having an automatic thread cutting mechanism, there is provided means for detecting an operation situation of the automatic thread cutting mechanism when a power supply is turned ON. Based on a signal for the detection, the automatic thread cutting mechanism is operated to complete a thread cutting operation and to carry out a control to return into an initial state when a stop is performed with the thread cutting mechanism in power-ON executing the thread cutting work.

Abstract: A connector has a housing (20) with a lock arm (28) that engages a lock (13) of a mating housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly. Resilient members (50) are movable along a connecting direction (CD) of the housings (20, 10) and are displaceable along a direction (RDD) intersecting the connecting direction (CD). The resilient members (50) are pushed back by the mating housing (10) as the housings (20, 10) are connected. A spring (70) between the resilient member (50) and the housing (20) accumulates a biasing force to separate the housings (20, 10) as the resilient member (50) is moved back. An operable member (40) is movable along the connecting direction (CD) and has an operating portion (80) displaceable to an operable position where the lock arm (28) can be operated to cancel the locked state.

Abstract: A reconfigurable interactive kiosk for producing a printout of a digital image. The interactive kiosk includes: a processor for processing digital images. The processor includes memory, display screen, user input device, updatable stored scalable digital images and a hard copy medium connected to the processor for transferring the combined digital image to a hard copy medium that can be a composite image on a single size/type of medium, or on multiple size/types of medium. A camera captures a digital image and provides the captured image to the processor. At least one of a CD ROM drive, a floppy disk drive and a photo scanner may be connected for adding digital images to the user input. Input devices may include a roller ball, keypad, microphone and joystick and/or laser gun and display screen icons for selecting a desired function represented by the selected icon.

Abstract: A wire fixing portion (26) with a substantially U-shaped cross section that projects from an edge section of a wire draw-out opening (22) of a wire cover (20). The wire fixing portion (26) has a pair of bundling holes (28) through which a bundling band (40) can be introduced for bundling wires (W). In order to fix the wires (W) to the wire cover (20), the bundling band (40) is put on the wires (W) and the wire fixing portion (26) to fasten the wires (W). At this time, the wires (W) can be firmly fixed to the wire fixing portion (26) by suitably selecting a mounting path of the bundling band (40) based on the number of the wires (W) to be fixed and the outer diameter thereof.

Abstract: A male housing (10) pushes the front ends of springs (50), and a pushing portion (13) at the front end of the male housing (10) is more backward than the front ends of the springs (50), and front end portions of the springs (50) and a front end of the male housing (10) overlap. Thus, a connector can be made smaller by an overlapping length of the springs (50) and the male housing (10).

Abstract: A connector has a housing (20) with a lock arm (28) that engages a lock (13) of a mating housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly. Resilient members (50) are movable along a connecting direction (CD) of the housings (20, 10) and are displaceable along a direction (RDD) intersecting the connecting direction (CD). The resilient members (50) are pushed back by the mating housing (10) as the housings (20, 10) are connected. A spring (70) between the resilient member (50) and the housing (20) accumulates a biasing force to separate the housings (20, 10) as the resilient member (50) is moved back. An operable member (40) is movable along the connecting direction (CD) and has an operating portion (80) displaceable to an operable position where the lock arm (28) can be operated to cancel the locked state.

Abstract: A connector assembly has a male housing (10) with a receptacle (11) and a female housing (20) that can be received in the receptacle (11). The female housing (20) has a resiliently deformable lock arm (28) with a projection (30) for engaging a lock (13) on the male housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly. A slider (70) is movable on the female housing (20) between a position that permits deformation of the lock arm (28) and a position that prevents deformation of the lock arm (28). Coil springs (80) bias the slider (70) to the deformation preventing position to lock the properly connected housings (10, 20) together. The housings (10, 20) can be separated by deforming the lock arm (28) and pulling both the slider (70) and the female housing (20) back from the male housing (10).

Abstract: A connector assembly has a male housing (10) with a receptacle (11) and a female housing (20) that can be received in the receptacle (11). The female housing (20) has a resiliently deformable lock arm (28) with a projection (30) for engaging a lock (13) on the male housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly. A slider (70) is movable on the female housing (20) between a position that permits deformation of the lock arm (28) and a position that prevents deformation of the lock arm (28). Coil springs (80) bias the slider (70) to the deformation preventing position to lock the properly connected housings (10, 20) together. The housings (10, 20) can be separated by deforming the lock arm (28) and pulling both the slider (70) and the female housing (20) back from the male housing (10).

Abstract: A connector has a female housing (20) with a lock arm (27) that engages a male housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly. The female housing (20) has a slider (50) that is urged by a spring (40) toward a position for preventing deformation of the lock arm (27). The lock arm (27) deforms during connection of the housings (10, 20) and prevents the slider (50) from moving to the deformation preventing position. As a result, the spring (40) is compressed during the connecting process. The lock arm (27) is restored when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly, and the springs (40) move the slider (50) to the deformation preventing position. The housings (10, 20) can be separated by deforming the lock arm (27) and moving the slider (50) back.

Abstract: A connector has male and female housings (10, 20). A resilient member (50) is mounted in the female housing (20) for movement along the connecting direction of the housings (10, 20), and is biased forwardly toward the male housing (10) by springs (70) in the female housing (20). A front end (10a) of the male housing (10) pushes the resilient member (50) rearwardly during a connecting operation and resiliently compresses the springs (70). A lock arm (28) on the male housing (10) locks the housings (10, 20) together in properly connected state. However, the springs (70) expand resiliently to separate the housings (10, 20) if the correcting operation is interrupted prematurely. The female housing (20) has a cover (40) that can be moved rearwardly to deflect the lock arm (28) and to separate the housings (10, 20).

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to distinguish between a plurality of types of female terminal fittings. A gold-plated female terminal fitting 10Au is formed by attaching a shell 20 to a terminal main body 11, and a tin-plated female terminal fitting 10Sn is formed by attaching a shell 30 to the same kind of terminal main body 11 as used for the gold-plated female terminal fitting. The shells 20 and 30 for the gold-plated female terminal fitting and the tin-plated female terminal fitting, respectively, are provided with mutually differing distinguishing means 22, 24, 25, 26, 30, 32, and 34. The gold-plated female terminal fitting 10Au and the tin-plated female terminal fitting 10Sn can be distinguished from one another on the basis of these distinguishing means 22, 24, 25, 26, 30, 32, and 34.

Abstract: A connector has male and female housings (10, 20) that are fitted to each other. A pushable portion (58) is pushed by a pushing portion (14) of the male housing (10) so that a slider (51) resiliently compresses springs (50) to move the slider (51) back in the female housing (20) while accumulating biasing forces that urge the slider (51) forward. Guidable portions (61) of the slider (51) are engaged with guides (41) in a terminal accommodating portion (21), and the slider (51) is inclined about axes of supporting pins (60) at its rear. When the housings (10, 20) are connected properly and the slider (51) is inclined sufficiently, the pushable portion (58) disengages from the pushing portion (14), and the biasing forces of the springs (50) are released. As a result that the slider (51) is moved forward at an inclined posture.

Abstract: A male housing (10) pushes the front ends of springs (50), and a pushing portion (13) at the front end of the male housing (10) is more backward than the front ends of the springs (50), and front end portions of the springs (50) and a front end of the male housing (10) overlap. Thus, a connector can be made smaller by an overlapping length of the springs (50) and the male housing (10).

Abstract: A connector (20) has a housing (18) for accommodating female terminal fittings (22). A resiliently deformable lock arm (46) is formed separately from the housing (18) and is adapted to lock the connector (20) to a mating connector (10). Coil springs (40) bias the lock arm (46) forwardly to a usual position. Insufficient connection preventing portions (34) project from the housing (18) toward the lock arm (46) and the lock arm (46) is provided with stroke guides (51). The stroke guides (51) move onto the insufficient connection preventing portions (34) during connection of the connectors (10, 20). The housing (18) also has an arched press-preventing portion (32) for preventing the lock arm (46) from being pressed from above when the lock arm (46) is at the usual position.

Abstract: A wire fixing portion (26) with a substantially U-shaped cross section that projects from an edge section of a wire draw-out opening (22) of a wire cover (20). The wire fixing portion (26) has a pair of bundling holes (28) through which a bundling band (40) can be introduced for bundling wires (W). In order to fix the wires (W) to the wire cover (20), the bundling band (40) is put on the wires (W) and the wire fixing portion (26) to fasten the wires (W). At this time, the wires (W) can be firmly fixed to the wire fixing portion (26) by suitably selecting a mounting path of the bundling band (40) based on the number of the wires (W) to be fixed and the outer diameter thereof.

Abstract: A connector has male and female housings (10, 20) that are fitted to each other. A pushable portion (58) is pushed by a pushing portion (14) of the male housing (10) so that a slider (51) resiliently compresses springs (50) to move the slider (51) back in the female housing (20) while accumulating biasing forces that urge the slider (51) forward. Guidable portions (61) of the slider (51) are engaged with guides (41) in a terminal accommodating portion (21), and the slider (51) is inclined about axes of supporting pins (60) at its rear. When the housings (10, 20) are connected properly and the slider (51) is inclined sufficiently, the pushable portion (58) disengages from the pushing portion (14), and the biasing forces of the springs (50) are released. As a result that the slider (51) is moved forward at an inclined posture.

Abstract: A connector (20) has a housing (18) for accommodating female terminal fittings (22). A resiliently deformable lock arm (46) is formed separately from the housing (18) and is adapted to lock the connector (20) to a mating connector (10). Coil springs (40) bias the lock arm (46) forwardly to a usual position. Insufficient connection preventing portions (34) project from the housing (18) toward the lock arm (46) and the lock arm (46) is provided with stroke guides (51). The stroke guides (51) move onto the insufficient connection preventing portions (34) during connection of the connectors (10, 20). The housing (18) also has an arched press-preventing portion (32) for preventing the lock arm (46) from being pressed from above when the lock arm (46) is at the usual position.