Abstract: Electrodes for detecting the position of an incident particle are formed by a global position detection electrode for detecting the global position of the incident particle and a plurality of local position detection electrodes for detecting the local position of the incident particle. The position of the incident particle is identified from the global position information detected by the global position detection electrode and the local position information detected by the local position detection electrodes. A plurality of local position detection electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups and local position detection electrodes belonging to each group are connected to a common signal line. A predetermined number of local position detection electrodes correspond to one global position and the predetermined number of local position detection electrodes corresponding to one global position belong to different groups.

Abstract: A centrifugal casting apparatus has a workpiece withdrawal mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, and a facing material applying mechanism which are disposed parallel to each other on an axial side of a centrifugal casting mold, a unit drive mechanism for moving the workpiece withdrawal mechanism, the cleaning mechanism, and the facing material applying mechanism in unison with each other in the direction indicated by the arrow B across the axial direction indicated by the arrow A, and a pouring mechanism disposed in an opposite axial side of the centrifugal casting mold.

Abstract: A centrifugal casting apparatus has a workpiece withdrawal mechanism, a cleaning mechanism, and a facing material applying mechanism which are disposed parallel to each other on an axial side of a centrifugal casting mold, a unit drive mechanism for moving the workpiece withdrawal mechanism, the cleaning mechanism, and the facing material applying mechanism in unison with each other in the direction indicated by the arrow B across the axial direction indicated by the arrow A, and a pouring mechanism disposed in an opposite axial side of the centrifugal casting mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating a ride on a vehicle has a base, and a simulated vehicle body which is supported on the base with a freedom of two-axis rotation about a rolling axis and a pitching axis. A pair of linear actuators are disposed in a position offset to one side in an axial direction of one of the rolling axis and the pitching axis, e.g., offset to one axial side of the rolling axis relative to the pitching axis. The actuators are disposed symmetrically relative to a plane which crosses the pitching axis at a right angle and which includes an axial line of the rolling axis. A fixing member and a movable member of each of the actuators are coupled to the base and the simulated vehicle body, respectively, through universal joints.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a metal formed product comprises a molten metal-holding furnace; a semisolidified metal-producing mechanism; a cooling member-restoring mechanism arranged adjacent to the semisolidified metal-producing mechanism, for applying a restoring treatment so that chillers have a desired function; a forming machine for forming semisolidified metal to have a predetermined shape; and an articulated robot capable of transporting a crucible to the molten metal-holding furnace, the semisolidified metal-producing mechanism, and the forming machine. The semisolidified metal-producing mechanism includes first to third agitators. The cooling member-restoring mechanism includes first to third treating sections. These components are arranged in a direction of back and forth movement of the articulated robot. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently obtain the metal formed product having a high quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a metal formed product comprises a molten metal-holding furnace; a semisolidified metal-producing mechanism; a cooling member-restoring mechanism arranged adjacent to the semisolidified metal-producing mechanism, for applying a restoring treatment so that chillers have a desired function; a forming machine for forming semisolidified metal to have a predetermined shape; and an articulated robot capable of transporting a crucible to the molten metal-holding furnace, the semisolidified metal-producing mechanism, and the forming machine. The semisolidified metal-producing mechanism includes first to third agitators. The cooling member-restoring mechanism includes first to third treating sections. These components are arranged in a direction of back and forth movement of the articulated robot. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently obtain the metal formed product having a high quality.

Abstract: A heating machine for heating an ingot of a metal such as a magnesium alloy. The heating machine has a heating chamber equipped with a RF induction coil capable of swinging about a horizontally axis. The coil is placed horizontally, and the metal ingot is fed into the coil from an introduction chamber by a pushrod. Stoppers prevent the ingot from falling from the RF induction coil when it is switched from its horizontal posture to its vertical posture. The coil is wound on a cylindrical member. A rotatable hollow shaft is firmly mounted to the holder in a perpendicular relation to a substantially axially central portion of the cylindrical member. A part of the coil is inserted in the hollow shaft via an insulating material. The rotatable hollow shaft is swung by a swinging mechanism. The induction heating coil is wound on a ceramic holder. A metal ingot is inserted in the holder with a given clearance.

Abstract: A method for heating a metal ingot for a injection molding comprising steps of finding out a time in advance relating to the time required for heating up to a set temperature in a test by using a thermocouple and a timer in a test furnace, of heating the ingot to the set temperature by heating it for that period of time in an actual furnace and of measuring a temperature at that time by a radiation thermometer to reserve the temperature based on the measurement. Further, it comprises steps of detecting an oxygen concentration within an atmosphere of the heating chamber after evacuating the heating chamber of the metal ingot to fill with an inert gas and of controlling power fed to an induction heating coil to heat the metal ingot when the detected oxygen concentration within the atmosphere is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: An upper unit of an injecting molding apparatus includes an ingot entry for introducing into the apparatus an ingot to be molded and an ingot heating chamber for heating the ingot supplied via the entry, and a lower unit includes a crusher for crushing the heated ingot and an injecting machine having an axially movable screw shaft for slurring and injecting the crushed ingot into a mold. The upper and lower units are interconnected via a flexible connector unit which is flexible in a vertical direction to allow the lower unit to vertically displace relative to the upper unit. By disengaging the connector unit from the upper unit, the lower unit can be disconnected from and laterally pivoted with respect to the upper unit to permit easy access to both the units. This displacement of the lower unit permits facilitated maintenance operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: A receiving chamber receives a material heated in a heating chamber. An injecting shaft of an injecting machine slurries the material crushed by cutters downstream of the receiving chamber and feeds the slurried material to an injection port formed between the fore ends of the shaft and injecting chamber so that the slurried material is gradually accumulated in the port. The shaft is retracted by counteraction from the slurried material accumulated in the port, over a distance proportional to a current accumulated amount of the material in the port. The current accumulated amount of the material in the port can be detected from a current position of the shaft, and then it is determined whether the detected current accumulated amount has reached a predetermined amount. When the current accumulated amount has not reached the predetermined amount, the cutters and injecting shaft are further driven until the predetermined amount is reached.