Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to dynamically and optimally change QoS while taking the balance of a system as a whole into consideration. With the present invention, communications parameters comprising band allocation information with respect to a plurality of interfaces of communications paths are set at a management device, and a host device, a switch device, and a storage device communicate based on the communications parameters that have been set. Then, in the system operation stage, the management device or the switch device acquires statistical information comprising band usage amounts with respect to the communications paths among a port of the host device, a port of the storage device, and a port, of the switch device, changes, based on the statistical information, the band allocation that has been set with respect to the plurality of interfaces, and, further, determines whether or not the band allocation as changed is appropriate with respect to the system (see FIG. 9).

Abstract: A first network device 71 and a second network device 72 transmits a test frame and its response frame therebetween. The first network device 71 acquires a test frame transmission start time, a response frame reception completion time, a test frame reception completion time, and a response frame transmission start time, and calculates, based on the times thus acquired, a PAUSE frame action delayed period that indicates a time period required for a PAUSE frame transmitted from the first network device 71 to actually act on the second network device 72, and sends from the first network device 71 to the second network device 72 a PAUSE frame in which a time period calculated based on the PAUSE frame action delayed period is set as a PAUSE period in order to prevent shortage of a receive buffer 244 in the first network device 71 from causing a loss of frames transmitted from the second network device 72.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to dynamically and optimally change QoS while taking the balance of a system as a whole into consideration. With the present invention, communications parameters comprising band allocation information with respect to a plurality of interfaces of communications paths are set at a management device, and a host device, a switch device, and a storage device communicate based on the communications parameters that have been set. Then, in the system operation stage, the management device or the switch device acquires statistical information comprising band usage amounts with respect to the communications paths among a port of the host device, a port of the storage device, and a port, of the switch device, changes, based on the statistical information, the band allocation that has been set with respect to the plurality of interfaces, and, further, determines whether or not the band allocation as changed is appropriate with respect to the system (see FIG. 9).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that enables easy identification of the cause of failure. The information processing apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring data between first equipment and second equipment. The information processing apparatus further includes an collection unit for collecting data that passes between the first equipment and the transfer unit as well as data that passes between the transfer unit and the second equipment and a first storage unit for storing the data collected by the collection unit.

Abstract: Enhancing expansion of a NAS system without restrictions from a communication network. In the NAS system having existing NAS units and disk storage apparatuses, when adding another NAS unit and disk storage apparatus to expand the system, FC ports of the NAS units are loop-connected to one another via an FC loop.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that enables easy identification of the cause of failure. The information processing apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring data between first equipment and second equipment. The information processing apparatus further includes an collection unit for collecting data that passes between the first equipment and the transfer unit as well as data that passes between the transfer unit and the second equipment and a first storage unit for storing the data collected by the collection unit.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is received into one end of an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus conforming to an 8 inch Form Factor Size. A first reel is held inside this tape cartridge, and a tape wound onto this first reel is extracted from a cartridge including the first reel and threaded by a simple pivotal motion of a tape threading arm, and wound onto a second reel disposed at the other end of the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The pivotal center of the tape threading arm and a recording head are disposed at opposite sides respectively with regard to a line joining a first and second reel axes to facilitate a compact overall construction. Tape guides formed into cylindrical rollers and the recording head are disposed on the inner side of the trajectory of the tape threading to transfer the tape smoothly. The tape guides and the recording head may be arranged substantially in line. Also, the tape guides next to the recording head may be fixed rollers.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer apparatus includes a first arm mounted at its lower end on a base for angular movement about a first angular movement axis extending substantially horizontally. A second arm is mounted at its upper end on an upper end of the first arm for angular movement about a second angular movement axis parallel to the first angular movement axis. The first arm is longer than the second arm. The apparatus further comprises a holder device for releaseably holding a workpiece. The holder device is mounted on a lower end of the second arm. The holder device and the first arm are disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the second arm spaced from each other in the direction of the first and second angular movement axes, so that the holder device, when moving horizontally, does not interfere with the first arm. The first and second arms are angularly moved respectively by first and second drive devices.

Abstract: A caster with an installation base comprises a shaft to be secured to a leg or bottom of a machine or instrument, a frame rotatably mounted on the shaft, movement wheels supported on the frame, an installation base arranged unrotatably and vertically movable on the frame, and a handle member for vertically moving the installation base. The frame comprises a connecting portion rotatably mounted on the shaft and an axle supporting portion for supporting an axle of the movement wheels. The installation base comprises a first portion arranged in the periphery of the connecting portion of the frame and formed in the outer peripheral surface with an external thread and a second portion positioned below the shaft to come into contact with an installation surface.

Abstract: A baking apparatus including an oven having an inlet and an outlet through which pans are taken into and out of the oven is disclosed. Stationary pan receiving members are vertically arranged in multiple layers in the oven. First and second vertical feed members are provided on each side of the stationary multiple-layer pan receiving members. Movable pan receiving members are rigidly secured in multiple layers to the first and second vertical feed members at intervals twice as large as those of the stationary pan receiving members. Lateral feed members are provided to feed the pans laterally when the movable pan receiving members are aligned horizontally with the stationary pan receiving members, whereby the pans are made to move up or down in a zigzag pattern and pass the heat sources while they are moving horizontally, thus enabling the oven to be designed to have a vertical structure.

Abstract: A coiled material looping apparatus is provided having a loop guide mechanism which guides the material unwound by the uncoiler mechanism into a spiral loop that spirals or deviates perpendicular to the direction of material feed so that the loop is formed at the side of the coiled portion of the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided wherein a pressed material is withdrawn from a lower metal mold in a press in accordance with a horizontal, pivotal movement and a vertical, linear movement of a carry-out arm, and a material to be pressed is fed from a preceding stage to the press in accordance with a horizontal, pivotal movement and a vertical, linear movement of a carry-in arm. In this method of feeding a material to be pressed, the height of a path along which the carry-out arm is turned is set greater than that of a path along which the carry-in arm is turned. The operations of the carry-in arm and carry-out arm are timed in such a manner that a material being newly fed and a pressed material being removed are overlapped as they are vertically spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, in a position above a lower metal mold in the press.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a blank having a first blank-retaining member for retaining a blank before turnover; a second blank-retaining member for receiving the blank from the first blank-retaining member, the second blank-retaining member having its inner end rotatably linked to the inner end of said first blank-retaining member; first and second horizontally moving members adapted to be movable only in the horizontal direction and rotatably supporting the outer ends of the first and second blank-retaining members, respectively; and a driving force transmitting means which maintains the first and second blank-retaining members in their respective horizontal positions in their inoperative states but draws down the linked inner ends of the first and second blank-retaining members in their operative states so that the first and second blank-retaining members come in contact with each other at their respective vertical positions and then returns said first and second blank-retaining members to their respecti

Abstract: An automatic workpiece delivery apparatus includes a support member mounted on a body for vertical movement. A slide bar is supported by the support member for horizontal movement and has a pair of workpiece holders at its opposite ends. First and second cams are mounted on a common cam shaft. First and second cam mechanisms are operable respectively in response to the cam surfaces of the first and second cams. A first displacement transmitting mechanism operatively connects the first cam mechanism to the slide bar for displacing the slide bar horizontally. A second displacement transmitting mechanism operatively connects the second cam mechanism to the support member for displacing the support member vertically. A motor has an output shaft connected to the cam shaft for rotating the first and second cams.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to an apparatus for turning a workpiece upside down.

Abstract: An automatic feeding apparatus is disclosed which includes an arm having at one end a hand for holding a workpiece and which is pivotally mounted at the other end in a vertically movable manner, a swinging member that is swung by a swinging mechanism driven by a single motor and which is swung to move the other end of the arm vertically, and a guide member that is shifted along a guide groove in conjunction with the swinging motion of the swinging member to control the movement of the one end of the arm holding the workpiece. The guide groove consists of a curved area that controls a horizontal movement of the one end of the arm and straight areas that control the vertical movements of the one end of the arm at each extremity of the horizontal movement. The swinging action of the swinging member causes the hand to move horizontally between the feed position and working position of the workpiece and to move vertically by a predetermined distance at each position.

Abstract: A vacuum suction apparatus for feeding a work piece to a press, removing the work piece that has been subjected to primary working, and feeding said work piece to the adjacent press for secondary working is disclosed.The vacuum suction apparatus comprises two vacuum cups for holding a work piece to be pressed or a work piece that has been subjected to primary working, vacuum cup supporting means and an arm coupled to the vacuum cup supporting means by bolts. An air channel having two vacuum hose connecting holes and one communicating hole is formed in the interior of said vacuum cup supporting means. Another air channel having a vacuum hose connecting end and a communicating hole is formed in the interior of said arm. The vacuum hose connecting holes of the air channel in the cup supporting means are connected to vacuum hoses connected to the respective vacuum cups. The vacuum hose connecting hole of the air channel in the arm is connected to a vacuum hose connected to vacuum source.

Abstract: A turnover apparatus for use in the secondary working stage of a press line is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bed that rotatably supports a main shaft, a pair of links the base of each of which is rotatably connected to each end of the main shaft, an inverting shaft parallel to the main shaft which is rotatably connected to the top end of each link, a piston rod in a driving cylinder connected to one of the two links, said piston rod causing the link to rotate about the main shaft, a pinion fixed to the main shaft, a piston in an inverting cylinder connected to a rack that engages the pinion, two sprockets of the same diameter fixed to both the main shaft and inverting shaft, a chain extending between the sprockets, an inverting plate fixed to the inverting shaft horizontally and a receiving plate rotatably connected to the inverting shaft.