Abstract: The disclosed feature makes it possible to accurately determine a change that has occurred in a tissue. The feature includes: a binarizing section (41) that generates, from an image to be analyzed, a plurality of binarized images having respective binarization reference values different from each other; a Betti number calculating section (42) that calculates, for each of the plurality of binarized images, a one-dimensional Betti number indicating the number of hole-shaped regions each of which is surrounded by pixels each having a first pixel value obtained by binarization and is constituted by pixels each having a second pixel value obtained by binarization; and a determining section (44) that determines a change that has occurred in the tissue, based on a binarization reference value and a one-dimensional Betti number in a binarized image in which the one-dimensional Betti number is maximized.

Abstract: There are provided systems for providing a walking environment and supporting walking, and a method for providing a walking environment including: a location information collection step that collects a location information of a walking support equipment; an environmental information collection step that collects an environmental information used upon providing the walking environment while going out; and a process execution step that executes a process of providing the walking environment to an user of the walking support equipment, based on the environmental information collected in the environmental information collection step and the location information collected in the location information collection step.

Abstract: A conveyance system includes a track, ceiling conveyance vehicles, and a conveyance controller configured or programmed to output a conveyance instruction for a FOUP to the ceiling conveyance vehicles. When a first FOUP on a downstream port is waiting for collection, the conveyance controller waits without outputting a conveyance instruction instructing collection of the first FOUP until any of the conveyance vehicles conveying a second FOUP to an upstream port has been recognized until a waiting time set in advance has elapsed since the first FOUP changed to a state waiting for collection and outputs the conveyance instruction instructing collection of the first FOUP when the waiting time has elapsed since a point in time when the first FOUP changed to the state waiting for collection.

Abstract: A conveyance system includes a track, ceiling conveyance vehicles, storage apparatuses, and a conveyance controller configured or programmed to control operations of the ceiling conveyance vehicles and a local vehicle in accordance with an operation mode. The storage apparatus includes a storage plate and the local vehicle that transfer a FOUP between the storage plate and an apparatus port. The conveyance controller switches the operation mode among a first mode prohibiting transfer from the apparatus port to the storage plate by the local vehicle, a second mode prohibiting transfer to the storage plate by any of the ceiling conveyance vehicles and transfer from the storage plate to the apparatus port by the local vehicle, and a third mode that does not restrict transfer by the local vehicle.

Abstract: A conveyance system includes a track, ceiling conveyance vehicles, and a conveyance controller configured or programmed to output a conveyance instruction for a FOUP to the ceiling conveyance vehicles. When a first FOUP on a downstream port is waiting for collection the conveyance controller waits without outputting a conveyance instruction instructing collection of the first FOUP until any of the conveyance vehicles conveying a second FOUP to an upstream port has been recognized until a waiting time set in advance has elapsed since the first FOUP changed to the state waiting for collection and outputs the conveyance instruction instructing collection of the first FOUP when the waiting time has elapsed since a point in time when the first FOUP changed to the state waiting for collection.

Abstract: A conveyance system includes a track, ceiling conveyance vehicles, storage apparatuses, and a conveyance controller configured or programmed to control operations of the ceiling conveyance vehicles and a local vehicle in accordance with an operation mode. The storage apparatus includes a storage plate and the local vehicle that transfer a FOUP between the storage plate and an apparatus port. The conveyance controller switches the operation mode among a first mode prohibiting transfer from the apparatus port to the storage plate by the local vehicle, a second mode prohibiting transfer to the storage plate by any of the ceiling conveyance vehicles and transfer from the storage plate to the apparatus port by the local vehicle, and a third mode that does not restrict transfer by the local vehicle.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes: an inner shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis and extend in an axial direction are formed; an outer shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis and extend in the axial direction are formed; a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between each of the recessed grooves and the corresponding recessed groove so as to form a line in the axial direction; a pair of stoppers; and a buffer body unit. Each of the stoppers restricts falling of a rolling body at an end portion of the corresponding line from the corresponding recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body unit integrally includes a pair of buffer bodies, and a connection portion that connects the pair of buffer bodies.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between recessed grooves of the inner shaft and the outer shaft and form a line in an axial direction, a stopper, and a buffer body. The stopper restricts falling of the rolling bodies from the recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body is interposed between the stopper and a rolling body at an end portion of the line. An end surface of the buffer body includes an inclined abutment portion that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the inner shaft. The abutment portion abuts against the rolling body at the end portion of the line at a stroke end of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A shaft-to-universal joint coupling structure includes: a column shaft; a universal joint including a shaft yoke; a sleeve to which the column shaft and the universal joint are fitted; and a coupling pin inserted into a through-hole of the shaft yoke and an insertion hole of the sleeve. The coupling pin has a small-diameter portion inserted into the insertion hole, and a step portion positioned inward of an inner peripheral face of the sleeve in the radial direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: In a coupling structure for coupling a shaft to a universal joint yoke, an insertion portion of a shaft is passed through an insertion hole of a universal joint yoke. An outward protrusion of a distal end portion of the shaft faces a peripheral edge of a first opening of the insertion hole across a gap in an axial direction. A fixed portion that adjoins the insertion portion is fixed to a peripheral edge of a second opening of the insertion hole by welding. An engaging portion formed on an outer periphery of the insertion portion and an engaged portion formed in an inner periphery of the universal joint yoke, which defines the insertion hole, are engageable with each other in a rotational direction with a rotation permitting gap for phase adjustment.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes: an inner shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in a direction perpendicular to an axis and extend in an axial direction are formed; an outer shaft where a pair of recessed grooves that face each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis and extend in the axial direction are formed; a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between each of the recessed grooves and the corresponding recessed groove so as to form a line in the axial direction; a pair of stoppers; and a buffer body unit. Each of the stoppers restricts falling of a rolling body at an end portion of the corresponding line from the corresponding recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body unit integrally includes a pair of buffer bodies, and a connection portion that connects the pair of buffer bodies.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, a plurality of rolling bodies that are disposed between recessed grooves of the inner shaft and the outer shaft and form a line in an axial direction, a stopper, and a buffer body. The stopper restricts falling of the rolling bodies from the recessed groove of the inner shaft. The buffer body is interposed between the stopper and a rolling body at an end portion of the line. An end surface of the buffer body includes an inclined abutment portion that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the inner shaft. The abutment portion abuts against the rolling body at the end portion of the line at a stroke end of the inner shaft with respect to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A shaft-to-universal joint coupling structure includes: a column shaft; a universal joint including a shaft yoke; a sleeve to which the column shaft and the universal joint are fitted; and a coupling pin inserted into a through-hole of the shaft yoke and an insertion hole of the sleeve. The coupling pin has a small-diameter portion inserted into the insertion hole, and a step portion positioned inward of an inner peripheral face of the sleeve in the radial direction of the sleeve.

Abstract: In a coupling structure for coupling a shaft to a universal joint yoke, an insertion portion of a shaft is passed through an insertion hole of a universal joint yoke. An outward protrusion of a distal end portion of the shaft faces a peripheral edge of a first opening of the insertion hole across a gap in an axial direction. A fixed portion that adjoins the insertion portion is fixed to a peripheral edge of a second opening of the insertion hole by welding. An engaging portion formed on an outer periphery of the insertion portion and an engaged portion formed in an inner periphery of the universal joint yoke, which defines the insertion hole, are engageable with each other in a rotational direction with a rotation permitting gap for phase adjustment.

Abstract: A printer that enables a determination whether a failure has occurred in a device during initialization or a radio wave condition is bad. Receive electric field strength during a time period from a time at which a turn-off message is outputted to a time at which turn-on message is outputted and receive electric field strength after the turn-on message is outputted are measured. The measurements are compared with each other and information indicating the condition of each of a plurality of channels is printed out according to the results of the comparison. A user can reference the printed information to determine whether a failure has occurred in a device or the radio wave condition is bad.

Abstract: A mold clamping apparatus includes a frame including a holding portion for holding a mold and an open portion allowing the mold to be inserted into/taken out from the holding portion in a direction of the longer side of the mold, a mold moving device for moving the mold to insert/take out the mold into/from the holding portion through the open portion in the frame, and a mold opening/closing device for opening/closing the mold located outside the frame. This mold clamping apparatus is capable of holding the mold securely in a closed state resisting a pressure acting to open the mold and allows reduction of energy consumption, equipment maintenance cost, production cost, and the size thereof.

Abstract: A printing apparatus can be easily initialized, and can easily know an error correcting method. Upon first power-up, a storage unit stores in the apparatus the initialization item data indicating the items to be initialized, and prints out the stored initialization item data. Since the contents to be initialized are printed out, the operation can be performed according to the contents without reading impossible instruction manual, thereby improving the initializing operation efficiency. Additionally, the storage unit stores the error correcting operation data indicating the operating method for correcting an error when the error occurs in the apparatus, and prints out the stored error correcting operation data. Since the error correcting operation method is printed out, an occurring error can be easily corrected by referring to the output method.

Abstract: A mold clamping apparatus comprises a frame including a holding portion for holding the mold resisting the generated mold opening force and an open portion allowing the mold to be inserted into/taken out from the holding portion in the direction of the longer side of the mold, mold moving device for moving the mold to insert/take out the mold into/from the holding portion through the open portion in the frame; and mold opening/closing device for opening/closing the mold located outside the frame. This mold clamping apparatus is capable of holding the mold securely in a closed state resisting a pressure intending to open the mold and allows reduction of energy consumption, equipment maintenance cost, production cost, and the size thereof to be achieved.

Abstract: A printing apparatus can be easily initialized, and can easily know an error correcting method. Upon first power-up, a storage unit stores in the apparatus the initialization item data indicating the items to be initialized, and prints out the stored initialization item data. Since the contents to be initialized are printed out, the operation can be performed according to the contents without reading impossible instruction manual, thereby improving the initializing operation efficiency. Additionally, the storage unit stores the error correcting operation data indicating the operating method for correcting an error when the error occurs in the apparatus, and prints out the stored error correcting operation data. Since the error correcting operation method is printed out, an occurring error can be easily corrected by referring to the output method.

Abstract: A printer that enables a determination whether a failure has occurred in a device during initialization or a radio wave condition is bad. Receive electric field strength during a time period from a time at which a turn-off message is outputted to a time at which turn-on message is outputted and receive electric field strength after the turn-on message is outputted are measured. The measurements are compared with each other and information indicating the condition of each of a plurality of channels is printed out according to the results of the comparison. A user can reference the printed information to determine whether a failure has occurred in a device or the radio wave condition is bad.