Abstract: The present disclosure makes it possible to further improve convenience of customers and the like accompanying purchase of merchandise. An autonomous traveling unit is provided with: a driving portion including an autonomous traveling ability, the driving portion being configured to be movable together with a storing portion configured to store merchandise; and a controlling portion configured to execute: acquiring settlement completion information about the merchandise stored in the storing portion, the merchandise being merchandise in a store; and controlling the driving portion to cause the merchandise storing portion to move to a first point outside the store after acquiring the settlement completion information.

Abstract: A method of producing a phosphate-coated SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder, the method including stirring a slurry containing a raw material SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder, water, a phosphate source, and an aluminum source to obtain a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder having a surface coated with a phosphate.

Abstract: A crank arm comprises an arm body, an axle fastener, and a biasing element. The arm body includes a crank-axle receiving opening and an axle-fastener receiving opening. The axle-fastener receiving opening has a second opening axis. The axle-fastener receiving opening is partly in communication with the crank-axle receiving opening by a connection opening. The axle fastener includes a fastener body having a splined portion. The splined portion is configured to engage with the splined end of the crank axle in a mounted state where the crank arm is mounted to the crank axle. The biasing element is configured to bias the axle fastener in a biasing direction parallel to the second opening axis.

Abstract: A surface treatment device utilizes an electrode device. The electrode device is provided with a closed part facing a bottom part of a bottomed hole when inserted inside the bottomed hole, and a flow through hole linking the inside and outside of the electrode device is formed in the electrode device. When surface treatment is implemented on the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole, the hollow electrode device is inserted into the inside of the bottomed hole, the electrolytic treatment solution is made to flow through the space inside the bottomed hole, and power is applied across the electrode device and the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole. The closed part faces the bottom part of the bottomed hole as an electrode across a prescribed surface area; therefore, electroplating at the bottom part of the bottomed hole proceeds to the same extent as other sites.

Abstract: An electrode device is provided with a closed part facing a bottom part of a bottomed hole when inserted inside the bottomed hole, and a flow through hole linking the inside and outside of the electrode device is formed in the electrode device. When surface treatment is implemented on the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole, the hollow electrode device is inserted into the inside of the bottomed hole, the electrolytic treatment solution is made to flow through the space inside the bottomed hole, and power is applied across the electrode device and the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole. The closed part faces the bottom part of the bottomed hole as an electrode across a prescribed surface area; therefore, electroplating at the bottom part of the bottomed hole proceeds to the same extent as other sites.

Abstract: This zinc-nickel composite plating bath contains a zinc source, a nickel source, silicon dioxide particles and an ammonium-based dispersant in such ranges that enable the achievement of a zinc-nickel composite plating film wherein the codeposition amount of nickel is 10-16 wt % and the codeposition amount of the silicon dioxide particles is 7 vol % or more. Meanwhile, the pH of this zinc-nickel composite plating bath is 5.6 to 6.8.

Abstract: An electrode device is provided with a closed part facing a bottom part of a bottomed hole when inserted inside the bottomed hole, and a flow through hole linking the inside and outside of the electrode device is formed in the electrode device. When surface treatment is implemented on the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole, the hollow electrode device is inserted into the inside of the bottomed hole, the electrolytic treatment solution is made to flow through the space inside the bottomed hole, and power is applied across the electrode device and the inner wall surface of the bottomed hole. The closed part faces the bottom part of the bottomed hole as an electrode across a prescribed surface area; therefore, electroplating at the bottom part of the bottomed hole proceeds to the same extent as other sites.

Abstract: This zinc-nickel composite plating bath contains a zinc source, a nickel source, silicon dioxide particles and an ammonium-based dispersant in such ranges that enable the achievement of a zinc-nickel composite plating film wherein the codeposition amount of nickel is 10-16 wt % and the codeposition amount of the silicon dioxide particles is 7 vol % or more. Meanwhile, the pH of this zinc-nickel composite plating bath is 5.6 to 6.8.

Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly includes a fixing member for fixing a sprocket to a crank arm. The fixing member includes a radially-extending projection, to prevent the sprocket from moving relative to the crank axle in an axial direction, and an axially-extending base portion, which is secured to the crank arm. A contact part is provided on an inner periphery of the base portion and contacts the crank axle or is provided on the crank axle and contacts the base portion. The contact part permits force to be transmitted between the crank axle and the fixing member to limit flexing of the crank axle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a teaching data preparation device and a teaching data preparation method for an articulated robot. Pre-existing position data that approximates new position data is retrieved from a database that, from among data related to working points for a pre-existing workpiece, stores for each working point pre-existing position data that indicates the position of the working point and pre-existing orientation data that indicates the orientation of an end effector at the working point. Next, pre-existing orientation data that is associated with the retrieved pre-existing position data is extracted. Next, incomplete new orientation data is completed using the extracted pre-existing orientation data. As a result of this series of processes, the precision of teaching data can be improved.

Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly includes a fixing member for fixing a sprocket to a crank arm. The fixing member includes a radially-extending projection, to prevent the sprocket from moving relative to the crank axle in an axial direction, and an axially-extending base portion, which is secured to the crank arm. A contact part is provided on an inner periphery of the base portion and contacts the crank axle or is provided on the crank axle and contacts the base portion. The contact part permits force to be transmitted between the crank axle and the fixing member to limit flexing of the crank axle assembly.

Abstract: A processing time prediction method includes the following steps. A plurality of sampling points are set, defined by segmenting an operation time period into respective sampling time intervals. A posture assumed by a first robot and a posture assumed by a second robot for each of the sampling points are calculated, and a posture calculation time is measured. The posture assumed by the first robot and the posture assumed by the second robot for each of the sampling points are calculated, the presence or absence of interference is detected, and a posture calculation and interference detection time is measured. An interference detection time at the plurality of sampling points is computed, from a difference between the posture calculation and interference detection time and the posture calculation time. A unit processing time is computed by dividing the interference detection time by a number of the set sampling points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a teaching data preparation device and a teaching data preparation method for an articulated robot. Pre-existing position data that approximates new position data is retrieved from a database that, from among data related to working points for a pre-existing workpiece, stores for each working point pre-existing position data that indicates the position of the working point and pre-existing orientation data that indicates the orientation of an end effector at the working point. Next, pre-existing orientation data that is associated with the retrieved pre-existing position data is extracted. Next, incomplete new orientation data is completed using the extracted pre-existing orientation data. As a result of this series of processes, the precision of teaching data can be improved.

Abstract: A bicycle crank axle assembly has first and second crank arms that are attached to opposite ends of a crank axle. The ends of the crank axle are non-rotatably disposed in axle mounting openings of the first and second crank arms. A first end of the crank axle has at least one axially extending first spline that protrudes radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of its middle body portion. The at least one axially extending first spline non-rotatably couples the crank axle to the first crank arm and prevents outward axial movement of the first crank arm away from the second crank arm. The second end portion of the crank axle has at least one recess that extend radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the middle body portion to form at least one axially extending second spline.

Abstract: A bicycle crank arm includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a crank axle interacting portion and a first recessed part around the crank axle interacting portion. The second member is attached to the first member. The first member has a first side facing the second member and a second side opposite to the first side. The first recessed part is recessed from the second side toward the first side such that the first recessed part includes an attachment area attached to the second member on the first side.

Abstract: A composite bicycle component comprises a first member, a second member, a bonding member, and an inner holding member. The first member is made of metallic material. The second member is made of non-metallic material. The first and second members are configured to form an interior cavity therebetween in a state where the first and second members are attached to each other. The bonding member is configured to attach the first and second members to each other. The inner holding member is configured to be disposed within the interior cavity so as to prevent the first and second members from being separated from each other until completion of attaching the first and second members to each other.

Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm that includes a first outer shell, a second outer shell, and a pedal attachment structure. The first outer shell is a one-piece, pressed sheet metal member with the projecting part being a bent portion that defines the first pedal axle opening. The first outer shell has a projecting part projecting from the first outer shell in an axial direction. The first and second outer shells are adhesively attached together to form an interior cavity. The pedal attachment structure includes an abutment face with a recess formed in the abutment face such that the abutment face contacts the first outer shell adjacent the first pedal axle opening and the projecting part of the first outer shell is disposed in the recess of the pedal attachment structure.

Abstract: A piston that maintains excellent lubricating performance even when the internal combustion engine is operated in severe environments. A primer layer including a resinous material is disposed on the sliding surface of the skirt of a piston, and solid lubricating parts, preferably including silver (Ag), a silver alloy, copper (Cu), or a copper alloy are disposed on the primer layer. In the primer layer and the solid lubricating parts, a fibrous filler including metallic fibers, etc., is present so as to extend across the boundary between the primer layer and the solid lubricating parts.

Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is basically provided with a crank axle, a first outer shell member, a second outer shell member, a first crank axle supporting member and a second crank axle supporting member. The crank axle has an end portion with an external mounting surface and an internal mounting surface. The first and second outer shell members are arranged relative to each other with a space being formed between the first and second outer shell members. The first crank axle supporting member is disposed on the first outer shell member and supports the external mounting surface of the crank axle. The second crank axle supporting member is disposed on the first outer shell member and supports the internal mounting surface of the crank axle.

Abstract: A composite bicycle component comprises a first member, a second member, a bonding member, and an inner holding member. The first member is made of metallic material. The second member is made of non-metallic material. The first and second members are configured to form an interior cavity therebetween in a state where the first and second members are attached to each other. The bonding member is configured to attach the first and second members to each other. The inner holding member is configured to be disposed within the interior cavity so as to prevent the first and second members from being separated from each other until completion of attaching the first and second members to each other.