Abstract: Electrically conductive material for molding in the form of pellets. The electrically conductive material is a thermoplastic synthetic resin having electrically conductive agents embedded therein and having electrically conductive fibers continuously extending from one end of the pellet to the other end of the pellet. The electrically conductive fibers are localized in the core part of the pellet and are covered with the thermoplastic synthetic resin containing the electrically conductive agents which may be electrically conductive powders, electrically conductive flakes, electrically conductive short fibers and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Polyurethane resins having high rigidity and improved physical properties, such as mechanical strengths and heat resistance are obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate with a polyol component comprising a pendant hydroxyl-containing polymer polyol, of high polymer content, derived from a polyol and a mixture comprising a hydroxyl-containing monomer and an unsaturated nitrile, or a combination of said polymer polyol with an epoxy-containing polymer polyol.

Abstract: A composite-motion drive unit comprises an electromagnet and a drive shaft extending through a hole defined in the electromagnet. The electromagnet and the drive shaft are energized and actuated independently of each other for driving distribution tables coupled respectively thereto in a composite motion pattern. A combinatorial weighing apparatus incorporating the composite-motion drive unit has sweep conveyors for transferring articles from the distribution tables, and a guide chute rotatable in a horizontal plane for distributing articles to be supplied to the distribution tables.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus wherein the nozzle on the forward end portion of a sealing gun on a programmable industrial robot includes a nozzle holder and a nozzle body made of a flexible material. The forward inner end of the nozzle body can gradually diverge and a reinforcement pipe can be provided in the nozzle holder. The nozzle body can be in the form of a tubular brush made of nylon bristles, a solid tubular body of polyurethane foam or a solid tubular body of silicone rubber.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus which operates by weighing plural groups of articles of various weighs by a plurality of weighing machines, finding the sums of all conceivable combinations of these weight values or of given combinations thereof, selecting the combination whose sum is equal or closest to a set value, and discharging the articles from those weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination to obtain articles of a desired weight or number. Between the discharge of the articles from the weighing machines and the following supply of fresh articles to the same weighing machines, an operation of determining the best combination by performing the same combinatorial computations with respect to the weight values of the remaining weighing machines which have not discharged their articles, is performed two or more times to improve weighing capability.

Abstract: A partial painting method suitable for partially painting a workpiece or article of a complex surface shape. A surface of the workpiece is coated with strippable paint. The coated strippable paint is dried into a strippable film on the workpiece surface. A laser beam is applied to the strippable film along a prescribed cutting line so as to cut the strippable film. A portion of the strippable film corresponding to a first area of the workpiece surface to be painted is peeled off, while the remaining portion of the strippable film is left adhering on a second area of the workpiece surface to remain unpainted, and thereby masking of the workpiece is completed. The first area is then painted with a paint to form a final paint coating.

Abstract: Batches of articles are charged randomly into a plurality of weighing heads, respectively, and weighing data items which are generated respectively by the weighing heads, are added in combinations. The weighing data items from those weighing heads fewer than all of the weighing heads, preferably substantially half of the weighing heads, are picked up and repeatedly added together to provide a wide variety of combinations of added weighing data items. One of such combinations which gives the added data items equal or closest to a set value is selected to open the weighing heads for discharging a desired combination of batches of articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which control the supply of a product to a pooling unit. A sensor is provided for sensing whether the product has been supplied to a preset level of the pooling unit. The method comprises sensing whether the product has been supplied to the preset level of the pooling unit. A first time period is measured until the preset level is attained once supply of the product has begun. A second time period is calculated and measured based on the first time period, during which the product continues to be supplied to the pooling unit. The supply of the product to the pooling unit is then halted in response to expiration of the second time period. Control is effected such that the overall amount of the product supplied is substantially constant irrespective of any variation in the amount of the product supplied to the pooling unit per unit time.

Abstract: A dispersing feeder for dispersively feeding articles, supplied by a supply device, to a plurality of weighing machines where the articles are weighed. The feeder includes a turntable or conical projection for receiving and temporarily retaining the articles supplied by the supply device, a dispersing bowl disposed concentrically with respect to the turntable or conical projection and having a number of exits on its outer circumferential portion, and an electromagnetic vibrator for subjecting the dispersing bowl to torsional reciprocative oscillation. The surface of the turntable and/or dispersing bowl is provided with a multiplicity of raised and recessed portions to minimize the contact area between the surface and the articles so that the articles may be transferred without adhering to the surface.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method in a combinatorial weighing apparatus comprises the steps of providing two groups of patterns of combinations of weight values issued from a plurality of weighing machines, one of the groups is divided into two subgroups which are complements of each other, and the two groups are successively processed independently and in combination to find an optimum weight combination closest to a target weight value.

Abstract: Polyurethane resins having high rigidity and improved physical properties such as mechanical strengths and heat resistance are obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate with a polymer polyol derived from an epoxy-containing monomer, for example, glycidyl esters of unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and a polyol, and bringing about ring-opening reaction of epoxy radicals in the presence of an epoxy curing agent, simultaneously with, or before or after the urethane-forming reaction.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing or counting method of the type in which weight data items from a plurality of weighing machines are combined to find an optimum combination giving a total combined value equal or closest to a target value within preset allowable limits, and the weighed articles are discharged from the weighing machines constituting the optimum combination. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a first storage device provided individually for each of the weighing machines. The method includes the steps of clearing the status of the first storage device corresponding to those weighing machines that participate in the optimum combination and updating by a predetermined quantity the status of the first storage device corresponding to those weighing machines that do not participate in the optimum combination. The clearing and updating are carried out each time an optimum combination is found, and it is discriminated whether the status of each of the first storage devices exceeds a preset value.

Abstract: A weighing and packaging system operates by combining weight data from a plurality of weighing machines, obtaining a combination of weighing machines giving a total combined weight value equal to a target value or closest to the target value within preset allowable limits, discharging articles from those weighing machines belonging to the combination obtained, and packaging the discharged articles. In performing combinatorial weighing, the articles discharged from the combinatorial weighing machine are temporarily retained in a cylinder, and light-emitting and light-receiving elements are arranged to detect the level of the retained articles, thereby making it possible to detect the volume of the articles charged into a package.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of articles in the supply troughs of a combinatorial weighing apparatus. A plurality of flow regulating plates or baffle plates are disposed in respective or selected supply troughs arranged to extend radially from a dispersing table. An operating mechanism is provided for moving the baffle plates so that they move within the supply troughs by rotating about the center of the dispersing table.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus is provided with a plurality of weighing heads arranged in a row which is diagonal with respect to the direction of travel of collection buckets in which articles are collected. Discharge buckets are disposed in a row between each weighing head and the path along which collecting buckets are advanced. Each weighing head comprises a weighing machine, a weighing hopper and a device for feeding articles into the weighing hopper. Chutes which are small in length are provided between each row of discharge buckets and the path along which the collecting buckets travel, and serve to guide articles, discharged by the discharge buckets, into a collecting bucket as it is advanced in the collecting direction. The number of discharge buckets in each row increases by one in the direction of travel of the collecting buckets, and the discharge buckets are adapted to be inverted at a position adjacent the corresponding chute to facilitate the discharge operation.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus combines weight data from a plurality of weighing machines, finds a combination of weights giving a weight sum equal or closest to a target weight value within an allowable weight range setting, and discharges articles from the weighing machines providing the combination of weights. The combinatorial weighing apparatus includes a reweighing device for reweighing the discharged articles. The reweighing device is composed of a checking hopper for retaining the discharged articles and a checking weighing machine attached to the checking hopper for reweighing the articles in the checking hopper. The combinatorial weighing apparatus further includes a display unit for displaying the reweighed result and a selection unit for accepting or rejecting the articles based on the reweighed data to prevent those articles giving a total weight outside the allowable weight range setting from being delivered to a packing machine.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus which operates by weighing plural groups of articles of various weighs by a plurality of weighing machines, finding the sums of all conceivable combinations of these weight values or of given combinations thereof, selecting the combination whose sum is equal to closest to a set value, and discharging the articles from those weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination to obtain articles of a desired weight or number. Between the discharge of the articles from the weighing machines and the following supply of fresh articles to the same weighing machines, an operation of determining the best combination by performing the same combinatorial computations with respect to the weight values of the remaining weighing machines which have not discharged their articles, is performed two or more times to improve weighing capability.

Abstract: An alarm setting device for a timepiece that can be operated by means of an axle for adjusting the alarm setting wheel, by rotating it in a clockwise and a counterclockwise directions. The device includes an alarm setting wheel, an alarm intermediate wheel, and an alarm setting cam, all disposed coaxially. The alarm setting wheel is rotated and adjusted by the alarm setting wheel adjusting axle. The alarm intermediate wheel rotates together with a wheel train of a timepiece. The alarm setting cam is provided between said alarm setting wheel and alarm intermediate wheel. A protrusion provided in the alarm setting cam engages with a loose joint provided in the alarm intermediate wheel. Through this engagement, the alarm intermediate wheel drives the alarm setting cam by dragging it loosely. On the respectively facing surfaces of the alarm setting cam and the alarm setting wheel, either an alarm finger or an engaging portion is provided, respectively.