Abstract: A drive force transfer device that includes a friction clutch with improved response at the time when the friction clutch is pressed by a hydraulic pressure is provided. A drive force transfer device has: a clutch drum; an inner shaft; a friction clutch that has a plurality of outer clutch plates that are rotatable together with the clutch drum and a plurality of inner clutch plates that are rotatable together with the inner shaft; a piston that receives a hydraulic pressure supplied to a cylinder to press the friction clutch; and a hydraulic circuit that supplies the cylinder with working oil. The hydraulic circuit has a first pump portion that supplies the cylinder with the working oil, and a second pump portion that supplies the cylinder with the working oil at a pressure that is higher than that of the working oil supplied by the first pump portion.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device includes meshing member connected to a first rotational member, a biasing member that biases the meshing member in a direction where a second meshing portion is meshed with a first meshing portion, and a pressing mechanism including a locking portion that presses the meshing member against a biasing force of the biasing member so as to axially move the meshing member. The locking portion is axially immovable relative to the second rotational member, and a cylindrical cam member is provided with a plurality of locked portions to be locked at different axial positions. Locking of the locking portion is shifted from one of the plurality of locked portions to another locked portion placed at a different axial position, and friction torque is caused to synchronize rotation of the first rotational member with that of the second rotational member.

Abstract: A driving-force distribution device is provided that can supply lubricant to an above-positioned pinion gear among a pair of pinion gears even when rotation of a differential case of a differential mechanism stops in a two-wheel-drive mode of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A driving-force distribution device mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a differential mechanism and a clutch mechanism. The differential mechanism includes a differential case, a pinion shaft, a pair of pinion gears, and a pair of side gears. In the pinion shaft, a flow passage is formed through which a lubricant is allowed to flow from the below-positioned pinion gear among the pair of pinion gears toward the above-positioned pinion gear in the two-wheel-drive mode in which the pair of pinion gears rotate in opposite directions with the differential case not rotating. The lubricant is supplied to the flow passage by rotation of the below-positioned pinion gear.

Abstract: The sorting method includes: an X-ray inspection step of irradiating a resin piece with X-rays including a first X-ray and a second X-ray having respective energy ranges different from each other and measuring a first transmission intensity which is an intensity of the first X-ray transmitted through the resin piece and a second transmission intensity which is an intensity of the second X-ray transmitted through the resin piece; a first determination step of making a determination as to whether the resin piece is a candidate for a useful resin piece, using the first transmission intensity; and a second determination step of making a determination as to whether a resin piece identified as a candidate for a useful resin piece in the first determination step is a useful resin piece, using a differential value obtained from the first transmission intensity and the second transmission intensity.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes: a switch member that switches a first rotary member and a second rotary member between a coupled state and a decoupled state; a second friction member that generates a frictional force between the rotary members; a piston member that has first to sixth engaged portions formed in the shape of a staircase and that presses the switch member and the second friction member in an axial direction; a biasing mechanism that presses the switch member and the second friction member toward the piston member; and an engaging member that engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The engaging member rotates the piston member by sliding on a plurality of tilted surfaces of the plurality of engaged portions, and the piston member is always pressed toward the engaging member by a biasing force of the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device includes meshing member connected to a first rotational member, a biasing member that biases the meshing member in a direction where a second meshing portion is meshed with a first meshing portion, and a pressing mechanism including a locking portion that presses the meshing member against a biasing force of the biasing member so as to axially move the meshing member. The locking portion is axially immovable relative to the second rotational member, and a cylindrical cam member is provided with a plurality of locked portions to be locked at different axial positions. Locking of the locking portion is shifted from one of the plurality of locked portions to another locked portion placed at a different axial position, and friction torque is caused to synchronize rotation of the first rotational member with that of the second rotational member.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device includes: a meshing member; an electromagnetic coil; an armature; a cylindrical cam member; and a locking portion. The cam member is provided with a plurality of locked portions to be locked by the locking portion at different axial positions, such that the plurality of locked portions is formed adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction; the cam member rotates only by a first predetermined angle due to an axial movement of the armature from a first position to a second position, and the cam member further rotates only by a second predetermined angle due to a movement of the armature from the second position to the first position; and when locking of the locking portion is shifted from one of the plurality of locked portions to another locked portion circumferentially adjacent thereto so that the locking portion locks the another locked portion at a different axial position, the second meshing portion is meshed with the first meshing portion.

Abstract: The sorting method includes: an X-ray inspection step of irradiating a resin piece with X-rays including a first X-ray and a second X-ray having respective energy ranges different from each other and measuring a first transmission intensity which is an intensity of the first X-ray transmitted through the resin piece and a second transmission intensity which is an intensity of the second X-ray transmitted through the resin piece; a first determination step of making a determination as to whether the resin piece is a candidate for a useful resin piece, using the first transmission intensity; and a second determination step of making a determination as to whether a resin piece identified as a candidate for a useful resin piece in the first determination step is a useful resin piece, using a differential value obtained from the first transmission intensity and the second transmission intensity.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: an electric motor; a multi-disc clutch including outer clutch plates and inner clutch plates that are disposed coaxially with each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other and that are frictionally engaged with each other by being pressed in an axial direction; an input rotary member that rotates together with the outer clutch plates; an output rotary member that rotates together with the inner clutch plates; a cam mechanism that generates cam thrust force for pressing the multi-disc clutch in the axial direction upon reception of torque generated by the electric motor; a strain sensor that detects reaction force against the cam thrust force; and a spring member that is disposed between the cam mechanism and the strain sensor and that buffers an impact transmitted from the cam mechanism to the strain sensor.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes: a switch member that switches a first rotary member and a second rotary member between a coupled state and a decoupled state; a second friction member that generates a frictional force between the rotary members; a piston member that has first to sixth engaged portions formed in the shape of a staircase and that presses the switch member and the second friction member in an axial direction; a biasing mechanism that presses the switch member and the second friction member toward the piston member; and an engaging member that engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The engaging member rotates the piston member by sliding on a plurality of tilted surfaces of the plurality of engaged portions, and the piston member is always pressed toward the engaging member by a biasing force of the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch unit includes: a friction mechanism including a first friction member and a second friction member; a lock sleeve connected to an input shaft member so as to be non-rotatable relative to the input shaft member, and movable in an axial direction of the electromagnetic clutch unit between a first position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with only the input shaft member and a second position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with both an output shaft member and the input shaft member; and a pressing member that constitutes a magnetic path extending over the pressing member and the second friction member, and that presses the lock sleeve with the electromagnetic force to move the lock sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus including a tank which reserves lubricating oil in an accommodating space which is interposed between a housing and an inner shaft and an apparatus case which has a cylindrical accommodating portion which accommodates the housing, and in the case, the accommodating portion has an inner circumferential surface which faces an outer circumferential surface of the housing, and the tank has an oil inlet port which is opened to the inner circumferential surface of the accommodating portion and through which the lubricating oil in the accommodating space is let in based on a centrifugal force generated in association with the rotation of the housing when a four-wheel drive vehicle travels forwards in a two-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device includes: a meshing member; an electromagnetic coil; an armature; a cylindrical cam member; and a locking portion. The cam member is provided with a plurality of locked portions to be locked by the locking portion at different axial positions, such that the plurality of locked portions is formed adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction; the cam member rotates only by a first predetermined angle due to an axial movement of the armature from a first position to a second position, and the cam member further rotates only by a second predetermined angle due to a movement of the armature from the second position to the first position; and when locking of the locking portion is shifted from one of the plurality of locked portions to another locked portion circumferentially adjacent thereto so that the locking portion locks the another locked portion at a different axial position, the second meshing portion is meshed with the first meshing portion.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a first cam mechanism that converts rotational force from a housing into first cam thrust force used as clutch force of a main clutch when the first cam mechanism is actuated through clutch action of a pilot clutch; and a second cam mechanism that is actuated prior to conversion of the rotational force into the first cam thrust force by the first cam mechanism, and that generates second cam thrust force for reducing an interval between clutch plates of the main clutch. The second cam mechanism includes an input cam member that rotates upon receiving rotational force used as actuating force of the input cam member from a cam actuating driving source, and an output cam member that generates the second cam thrust force between the output cam member and the input cam member and outputs the second cam thrust force.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes: an electric motor; a multi-disc clutch including outer clutch plates and inner clutch plates that are disposed coaxially with each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other and that are frictionally engaged with each other by being pressed in an axial direction; an input rotary member that rotates together with the outer clutch plates; an output rotary member that rotates together with the inner clutch plates; a cam mechanism that generates cam thrust force for pressing the multi-disc clutch in the axial direction upon reception of torque generated by the electric motor; a strain sensor that detects reaction force against the cam thrust force; and a spring member that is disposed between the cam mechanism and the strain sensor and that buffers an impact transmitted from the cam mechanism to the strain sensor.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch unit includes: a friction mechanism including a first friction member and a second friction member; a lock sleeve connected to an input shaft member so as to be non-rotatable relative to the input shaft member, and movable in an axial direction of the electromagnetic clutch unit between a first position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with only the input shaft member and a second position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with both an output shaft member and the input shaft member; and a pressing member that constitutes a magnetic path extending over the pressing member and the second friction member, and that presses the lock sleeve with the electromagnetic force to move the lock sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus including a tank which reserves lubricating oil in an accommodating space which is interposed between a housing and an inner shaft and an apparatus case which has a cylindrical accommodating portion which accommodates the housing, and in the case, the accommodating portion has an inner circumferential surface which faces an outer circumferential surface of the housing, and the tank has an oil inlet port which is opened to the inner circumferential surface of the accommodating portion and through which the lubricating oil in the accommodating space is let in based on a centrifugal force generated in association with the rotation of the housing when a four-wheel drive vehicle travels forwards in a two-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus includes a cam mechanism that converts motor torque from an electric motor into first cam thrust force and second cam thrust force. The cam mechanism includes: a cam member that rotates upon reception of the motor torque from an electric motor; a rolling member that rolls on the cam member; and a retainer that outputs the first cam thrust force and the second cam thrust force toward a multiple disk clutch as the rolling member rolls. The rotation of the retainer around a rotation axis is restricted, and the retainer moves in a direction of the rotation axis while retaining the rolling member such that the rolling member is rollable.

Abstract: In a vehicle differential unit according to an embodiment of the invention, a planetary carrier that is a rotatable member that rotatably supports planetary gears is formed of cylindrical members that are unable to rotate relative to each other on the rotational axis of a pair of output shafts. The vehicle differential unit has a thrust force generation portion that receives a driving force from a drive source of a vehicle and generates a thrust force along the direction of the rotational axis of the pair of output shafts, and a relative movement limiting portion that limits a relative movement between the cylindrical members along the axial direction due to the thrust force when the vehicle is in the drive mode.

Abstract: A video recording device includes: a first identification block that reads video information from a first recording medium in which video information on an analog television broadcast is stored, and identifies the broadcasting format of the read video information; a recording execution block that records the video information, which is read from the first recording medium, in a second recording medium other than the first recording medium; a second identification block that when the video information is recorded in the second recording medium by the recording execution block, identifies the broadcasting format of the video information to be recorded in the second recording medium; and a format decision block that decides whether the broadcasting format identified by the second identification block agrees with the broadcasting format identified by the first identification block.