Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a control unit. When switching from an increasing operation to a first operation, the control unit increases an on time in the increasing switch at a beginning of the first operation longer than an end of the increasing operation. When switching from the first operation to the increasing operation, the control unit decreases the on time in the increasing switch at a beginning of the increasing operation shorter than an end of the first operation. When switching from the second operation to the decreasing operation, the control unit decreases an off time in the decreasing switch at a beginning of the decreasing operation shorter than an end of the second operation. When switching from the decreasing operation to the second operation, the control unit increases the off time in the decreasing switch at a beginning of the second operation longer than an end of the decreasing operation.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a control unit. When switching from an increasing operation to a first operation, the control unit increases an on time in the increasing switch at a beginning of the first operation longer than an end of the increasing operation. When switching from the first operation to the increasing operation, the control unit decreases the on time in the increasing switch at a beginning of the increasing operation shorter than an end of the first operation. When switching from the second operation to the decreasing operation, the control unit decreases an off time in the decreasing switch at a beginning of the decreasing operation shorter than an end of the second operation. When switching from the decreasing operation to the second operation, the control unit increases the off time in the decreasing switch at a beginning of the second operation longer than an end of the decreasing operation.

Abstract: For providing an optical disk driving device that is capable of accurately performing recording and reproduction of even disks that include warpage without the provision of a tilt mechanism, a clamper is comprised of a central clamper portion for pinching and holding a disk between the clamper and a turntable, and an outer clamper portion for abutting against an outer periphery of the disk and pressurizing the same in case the disk includes any warpage to thereby correct the warpage. It is accordingly possible to restrict an angle formed between a light beam and an information surface of the disk to be within a specified value for accurately performing reproduction.

Abstract: An optical pickup device featuring reduced number of components and improved workability for achieving cost reduction and improved product quality. A base stand (4) is provided with a first guide section (8) and a second guide section (9) which stand upright from the base stand individually and can slidably engage with the first and second engagement portions (11, 12) provided on a mount base (3), respectively. This arrangement permits the base stand (4) having the guide sections (8,9) fixed thereon to be assembled directrly with the mount base (3) including an optical pickup thereon, resulting in simplified assembly operation and enhanced operation efficiency.

Abstract: An optical disc device, having a traverse base includes an optical pickup and a feed motor that drives the optical pickup forward and backward from an inner circumferential position of an optical disc to an outer circumferential position thereof. This device comprises a loading device for transferring an optical disc from the exterior of the device body onto the traverse base, and a loading driving device for driving the loading device by using the driving of the feed motor. The feed motor can move the optical pickup for signal reproduction and eject the optical disc to the exterior of the device, thereby reducing the number of motors used in the device to provide a more inexpensive optical disc device.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to reduce the number of motors used in a device to provide a more inexpensive optical disc device. A traverse base (3) includes an optical pickup (7) and a feed motor (11) that drives the optical pickup (7) forward and backward from the inner circumferential position of the optical disc (70) to the outer circumferential position thereof, and this device comprises a loading means for transferring the optical disc (70) from the exterior of the device body (1) onto the traverse base (3) and a loading driving means (30) for driving the loading means by using the driving of the feed motor (11). The feed motor (11) can move the optical pickup (7) for signal reproduction and eject the optical disc (70) to the exterior of the device, thereby reducing the number of motors used in the device to provide a more inexpensive optical disc device.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a light and inexpensive disc changer that does not require a stocker having a plurality of shelves or a plurality of subtrays. A group of spacers (40) held by a disc holding means are driven by a vertical drive means to select any disc (12) of a group of discs (12) held by the spacers (40). A spindle drive means detaches a holding claw (27). A horizontal transfer means transfers any disc (12) supported on a subtray (11) to a sound recording/reproduction position, and a disc clamp means clamps the disc.

Abstract: For providing a optical disk driving device that is capable of accurately performing recording and reproduction also of disks including warpage without the provision of a tilt mechanism, a clamper is comprised of a central clamper portion for pinching and holding a disk with a turntable, and an outer clamper portion for abutting against an outer periphery of the disk and pressurizing the same in case the disk includes any warpage to thereby correct the warpage, if present, through pressurizing; it is accordingly possible to restrict an angle formed between a light beam and an information surface of the disk to be within a specified value for accurately performing reproduction.

Abstract: A pickup sensor for picking up an image on a floor is installed on a mobile body with a working machine mounted thereon in order to correct for the position deviation of a working machine due to possible deviation in the stop position of a mobile body to always ensure accurate working without increasing the working time of the overall system at the time of stopping the mobile body at a predetermined position and allowing said working machine to perform predetermined operation according to previously given teaching data. At the time the teaching data is given, the pickup sensor picks up an image (reference picked image) including a regular pattern and a predetermined identification mark formed on a floor. At the time the working machine works, the pickup sensor also picks up an image (on-pause picked image) on the floor surface at the stop position.

Abstract: A disc changer includes a tray support horizontally movable between a disc mounting position and a playing position in a housing; a rotation shaft on the tray support; and a tray rotatable around the rotation shaft and having a plurality of disc carrying areas each for carrying a disc, the disc carrying areas being equally angularly spaced. The tray has a generally polygonal profile, and the tray support has a width which is shorter than the effective diameter of the tray.

Abstract: An automatic disc changer which includes a tray storage section for accommodating a stack of disc trays each having an opening defined in a support surface thereof on which a corresponding information carrier disc is placed. An information pick-up unit is disposed at a location adjoining the tray storage section and supported for movement up and down between elevated and lowered positions corresponding respectively to play and stand-by positions. A tray transport mechanism is provided for transporting a lowermost one of the stack of the disc trays within the tray storage section towards the stand-by position immediately above the information pick-up unit. Also, tray elevating mechanism carrying the information pick-up unit and operable to elevate the disc tray at the stand-by position towards the play position is located in the play section.

Abstract: In the travel control method in the mobile robot system including a plurality of mobile robots and the control station for controlling these mobile robot, the control station directs one of a plurality of mobile robots to the destination robot, responding to the direction, searches the route to the destination directed by the control station and sends the result to the control station. The control station which receives this in formation checks if the travel path searched by the mobile robot is already reserved by other mobile robots or not by the reservation table. If not, the control station informs the reserve completion to said mobile robot. The mobile robot which received the information of the reservation completion travels automatically along the travel path which is already reserved.

Abstract: In the travel control method in the mobile robot system including a plurality of mobile robots and the control station for controlling these mobile robot, the control station directs one of a plurality of mobile robots to the destination robot, responding to the direction, searches the route to the destination directed by the control station and sends the result to the control station. The control station which receives this in formation checks if the travel path searched by the mobile robot is already reserved by other mobile robots or not by the reservation table. If not, the control station informs the reserve completion to said mobile robot. The mobile robot which received the information of the reservation completion travels automatically along the travel path which is already reserved.

Abstract: When mobile robots having no task exist in the system and tasks not completed are remaining, a control station instructs the mobile robots to evaluate the remaining tasks. The mobile robots having no task then evaluate the remaining tasks and report corresponding evaluation values to the control station. The control station sequentially selects the combination of one of the mobile robots, having no task and one of the remaining tasks which are not assigned to the mobile robots so that the combination presenting the best evaluation value is selected, and assigns the task of the selected combination to the mobile robot of the selected combination.

Abstract: A moving robot system, employing a charging control system for robots, is configured by plural moving robots, at least one charging station and a control station. Each moving robot is designed to perform an operation thereof in accordance with programs stored therein under control of the control station. When the power of a charging-type-battery equipped in each moving robot is consumed and lowered to the predetermined level, it automatically moves to its nearest charging station designated by the control station other than the charging station which is used for another moving robot. In this case, the control station controls the moving robots such that plural moving robots are not simultaneously concentrated to one charging station.

Abstract: A plurality of mobile robots forming part of a travel control system are controlled by a travel control station. The travel control station directs each of the mobile robots to a destination where it performs selected operations. The robot, in response to instructions from the travel control station, searches the route selected by the travel control station and sends the results of the search to the control station. The travel control station, upon receipt of this information, determines whether or not the travel path searched by the mobile robot is already reserved by another other mobile robot as indicated by data stored in a reservation table. If the path is available, the control station transmits a reservation completion signal to the mobile robot. The mobile robot then travels automatically along the reserved travel path.

Abstract: A self-contained unmanned vehicle (robot car) is designed to be capable of independently traveling, on the basis of previously specified geographic data, to convey parts, finished products, etc. etc. in a factory or similar, and achieves fine travel position control while simultaneously reducing the X memory capacity for the geographic data and ensures easy preparation and entry of geographic data and facilitates the comprehensibility of the contents of the geographic data.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a pressure chamber and/or a damper chamber to damp the movement of a plunger and a piston after fuel injection has ended. A fuel bypass communicates with the pressure chamber or damper chamber to prevent fuel pressure within the chamber from rising as a consequence of the damping action. The bypass prevents the pressure in the chamber from increasing to the point where the movement of the plunger would be reversed and pressurized fuel would once again be supplied to the nozzle causing secondary injection. The damper chamber and bypass thus serve to prevent bumping between the plunger and the surrounding cylinder and also to prevent secondary injection.

Abstract: A method is for controlling a robotic vehicle having a control section and a travel section, in which the travel section is equipped with a transport device for transporting the robotic vehicle from a start location to a target location. According to the method, the control section is supplied with the target location. An optimal nodal path from the start location to the target location is then determined and defined by a plurality of successive nodes. A plurality of command sets for each of the plurality of successive nodes is respectively prepared. Each command set specifies at least a target speed and target direction of the robotic vehicle as the robotic vehicle is transported from a vicinity of one node to a vicinity of a next node. The plurality of command sets are output to the travel section of the robotic vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for a printed character reading system in which prior to the recognition process, the information obtained by reading the characters on a source document is separated line by line to obtain a line information and then, starting at its one end, the line information is successively separated character by character to obtain a character information for each of the individual characters. In this apparatus, the read character information is stored primarily character by character each for approximately one and a half line width and the 1.5-line information is then dissected in the line direction into blocks each having a line length of two character spacings.