Abstract: A method of monitoring machining load on a numerically controlled machine tool in such a way that incorrect judgment due to variations in machining load which are caused according to the machining conditions is made less frequent. The method is started by performing plural trial cutting operations. A signal indicating the machining load during these trial cutting operations is sampled and thus, sampling data is obtained. Reference data about the machining load and its variance are calculated from the sampling data and loaded in a reference data table. A threshold value according to variations in the sampling data is established, using the value of the variance. A load monitor means compares the reference data with data about the machining load obtained from actual measurements whenever each interval of time elapses. A decision is made as to whether the difference exceeds the threshold value. In this way, the machining load is monitored.

Abstract: A road heater comprising (1) a linear heater which is comprised of a linear heating element and a flexible electrically insulating layer formed on the entire periphery of the linear heating element, and (2) an outer textile structure such as a braid which covers the entire periphery of the linear heater. The road heater has a compressive yield load (Lc) of at least 1,000 kg. The outer textile structure is made of a thermoplastic synthetic fiber, preferably, a polyester monofilament, having a melting point of at least 200.degree. C. and a single fiber fineness of at least 1,000 deniers. The linear heating element preferably comprises a flexible heat-generating mixed spun yarn composed of stainless steel fibers and heat-resistant electrically non-conductive fibers.

Abstract: The service life of a cutter is determined with high accuracy by determining a corrective coefficient from a material coefficient determined by a material to be machined by the cutter and a machining condition coefficient determined by machining conditions, multiplying a period of usage of the cutter by said corrective coefficient thereby to correct the period of usage, accumulating corrected periods of usage, and judging the cutter as having ended its service life if the accumulated value exceeds a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: The termite detecting device is placed in an expected invading passage for detecting damage or destruction caused by termites. One configuration of the device includes: a detecting wood sample for attracting termites; a detecting terminal being pressed against the detecting wood sample while the detecting wood sample is supplied with water as required; and a magnetic circuit capable of being opened and closed by the movement of the detecting terminal. When the detecting wood sample is eaten and damaged by termites and becomes fragile, the detecting terminal sinks into the detecting wood sample by virtue of a pressing force and the magnetic circuit is made open. As a result, the device detects the existence of termites. Alternatively, another configuration of the termite detecting device detects vibrations caused by termites so as to detect the invasion of termites.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, images on an original document captured by an image capturing device are classified into a binary image and a gradation image, and the densities of the images are then converted using density conversion curves, which are provided for binary images and gradation images, to output an image signal representing converted images. The state of a certain pixel is judged and is classified as one of a plurality of states between binary images and gradation images. Based on the results of the judgment, one curve is selected from a first density conversion curve for binary images, a second density conversion curve for gradation images and at least one third density conversion curve which interpolates the first and second density conversion curves. The density of the certain pixel is converted using the selected curve.

Abstract: A chip component supply apparatus of the invention includes a container box for storing chip components in pieces, a means for conveying chip components from the container box onto a conveyor belt, which moves intermittently and conveys the transferred chip components toward a take-out port area where a vacuum suction nozzle of an electronic component placement machine takes out the chip components. A stopper is positioned in the vicinity of the take-out port area for stopping the chip components conveyed by the conveyor belt at the take-out port area. The stopper moves and departs from the vicinity of the take-out port area when the conveyor belt finishes intermittent motion and stops, and returns and is positioned at the take-out port area before the next chip component conveyed by next intermittent motion of the conveyor belt reaches the take-out port area.

Abstract: A laser sputtering apparatus includes a laser oscillator for emitting laser beams, a target-supporting member supporting a flat target thereon and being rotatable in a vacuum chamber while the target is inclined relative to the target-supporting member, a driving device for rotating the target-supporting member, a substrate-supporting member for supporting the substrate parallel with the target-supporting member, and an optical device for irradiating the target with the beams emitted by the laser oscillator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a layer of isotropic soft magnetic nitride alloy even by means of mass-production apparatus wherein a target size is large in comparison to a distance between a substrate and a target, by using a bias sputtering method wherein a negative bias voltage is continuously applied to a substrate and sputtering is carried out in Ar atmosphere mixed with nitrogen gas or periodically mixed with nitrogen gas. Furthermore, the present invention may include a heat treatment of the soft magnetic nitride alloy layer deposited on the substrate in a temperature of more than 300.degree..degree.C. to less than 800.degree. C. to improve a soft magnetic characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of supplying electronic components successively to a loading position of an electronic component mounting machine at a high speed and in a stable manner is disclosed, in which a dancing guide is operatively connected with a feeding unit for taking out a predetermined length of the electronic-component tape from a supply reel before feed pins of the feed unit advance a carrier tape of the electronic-component tape to move a leading one of the electronic components into the loading position. Preferably, the apparatus further includes a separating unit, operatively connected with the feed unit, for separating an adhesive tape from the leading electronic component and the carrier tape before said feed pins advance the carrier tape. The separating unit is composed of a pair of spaced movable guide rollers and a fixed guide roller.

Abstract: A laser ablation device for forming a thin film includes a vacuum chamber having a gas introduction port through which an oxidating gas is introduced into the chamber, and a light-transmittable section, a target holder disposed in the vacuum chamber for holding a target made of a film forming material of an oxide, an object holder confronting the target holder for holding an object on which the thin film is to be formed, a short wavelength laser which emits a first short wavelength laser light passing to the target in the vacuum chamber through the light-transmittable section from outside of the vacuum chamber, and a short wavelength laser light irradiating device for irradiating the object with a second short wavelength laser light passing into the vacuum chamber through the light-transmittable section from outside of the vacuum chamber. The second short wavelength laser light has an intensity lower than that of the first short wavelength laser light irradiating the target.

Abstract: A symbol definition system for a programmable machine controller (PMC) for defining symbols (signal names) in a sequence program of the PMC. Since the function of the signals between the PMC and a numerical control apparatus is fixed, a first group of symbols is supplied to a program creation unit as system data, and therefore, when a sequence program is created, the first group of symbols need not be defined. Further, the first group of symbols is transferred to the PMC together with the sequence program and used for editing and maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating data indicative of robot control axis position. The method has a step of inputting data specifying the shape of a workpiece (WK) and data (.alpha., .beta., .gamma.) specifying the attitude of a tool (TL) conforming to a task to be executed by a robot, a step of calculating a position (X, Y, Z) of a tip (P) of the tool in the workpiece coordinate system X-Y-Z by using the data specifying the workpiece shape, a step of specifying the position of each axis constituting the robot by using the tool tip position and the tool attitude data, and a step of successively specifying positions of each control axis of the robot along a tool path (PT).

Abstract: In an automatic analyzer of samples, the liquid specimen and the reagent are mixed in a reaction container to react. If, however, there is a bubble in the reagent container, a accurate amount of a reagent may not be dispensed. Accordingly, a liquid surface detecting circuit for detecting the liquid surface on the basis of the impedance change between a pipet and a ground is disposed, and the height of the liquid surface before and after suction of the reagent is compared on the basis of the liquid surface detecting information, and the bubble is detected when the difference is more than a specified value, and accordingly the driving circuit of the driving source is controlled by the control circuit. Thus, when dispensing the reagent in the reagent container by a pipet, the bubble can be detected securely and accurately, and this apparatus may be used in a slender reagent container.

Abstract: Chip-type electronic elements are applied in line on the surface of a carrier tape before they are supplied to an automatic electronic-element supply apparatus so as to be automatically mounted on a printed circuit board. Side plates are disposed at an end portion of the body frame of the automatic electronic element supply apparatus for a chip-type electronic element mounting apparatus in such a manner that a plurality of carrier tape reels can be fastened to the side plates and the carrier tapes are discharged from the tape reels in a ratchet manner while moving adjacently in parallel to one another through another end portion of the body frame. Thus, a multiplicity of different kinds of electronic elements can be supplied from one supply apparatus.

Abstract: A tire warm-up wrap used for pre-heating tires of motor racing cars and motor cycles immediately before the start of a race is provided with a heat generating narrow fabric woven from a warp containing (i) an electrically heat-generating flexible yarn made of a mixed yarn composed of discontinuous conductive metal fibers and non-conductive fibers, and (ii) a non-conductive fiber yarn, and a weft composed of a non-conductive fiber yarn. The fabric has in both of the lengthwise end portions thereof wefts composed of conductive metal wires which are divided into a plurality of metal wire electrodes. The electrically heat-generating flexible yarns of the warp and the divided metal wire electrodes form together a series circuit extending forward and backward alternately along the length of the fabric between the divided metal wire electrodes in both the end portions thereof.

Abstract: A tool management method in a factory automation (FA) system uses an FA computer and machining cells. An FA computer such as a cell controller is connected with computer numerically-controlled units via bi-directional communication lines. When data on a tool service life or the like is changed on the cell controller (S1, S2), the changed data on the tool service life is sent to a computer numerically-controlled unit (S3) to update the data on the tool service life stored in the computer numerically-controlled unit (CNC) (S4). Similarly, when the computer numerically-controlled unit changes the number of times the tool has been used or the like, the changed data is sent to the cell controller in the same way. This enables the cell controller to be always informed of the most recent tool management data. And as the computer numerically-controlled units can immediately obtain tool management data that has been changed at the cell controller, a more efficient tool management is ensured.

Abstract: A laser ablation apparatus includes a laser beam source for ablation for emitting a first laser beam, a lens for focusing the first laser beam, a vacuum chamber having a window on its wall through which the first laser beam is injected into the vacuum chamber, a target holder arranged in the vacuum chamber to hold a target onto which the first laser beam is irradiated, a substrate holder arranged opposing to the target holder in the vacuum chamber to hold a substrate, and a laser beam source for particle decomposition for emitting a second laser beam in the vacuum chamber to decompose particles turned out from the target by the first laser beam in the vacuum chamber. The apparatus can further include a pair of mirrors, arranged on both sides of the target holder, for multiply reflecting the second laser beam over the target holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal transfer control system of a programmable controller for transferring I/O signals between the PC and an external device. An I/O unit (26) includes an I/O signal region (1) for storing I/O signals transferred or received to or from an external device, and mapping data (2) for defining the mapping of the I/O signal region (1). Further, a RAM (23) of the PC includes point data (3) for defining the address to which I/O signals from the mapping data (2) are to be transferred, and an I/O data region (4) for storing the I/O data. Input signals are stored in the I/O signal region (1) and each of the I/O signals is mapped by the mapping data (2), and the point data (3) determines the address to which each of the mapped input signals is to be transferred. Namely, the addresses to which the input signals are to be transferred are determined by the mapping data (2) and the point data (3), and the input signals are then transferred to the I/O data region (4).

Abstract: A laser sputtering apparatus comprising: a laser oscillator for emitting a pulsed laser beam; an optical unit for uniforming intensity of the laser beam; a vacuum tank which contains a target; and an optical system for irradiating the laser beam onto the target through the optical unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a malfunction diagnosis system used for the diagnosis of a malfunction of a numerical control system (CNC) having a programmable controller (PC) by a remote host computer. A host computer (4) reads input and output signals of a programmable controller (PC), diagnoses the malfunction, and repairs the malfunction by processing the input and output signals, whereby the malfunctions can be repaired by a remote control operation.