Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid includes a liquid storing section for storing the liquid including a developing substance and a carrier liquid. A developer carrier deposits the liquid fed from the liquid storing section thereon. A float type liquid level sensor senses a liquid level in the liquid storing section. The liquid level sensor includes a magnetic force generating member, a magnetic force sensing device, and floats movable up and down in accordance with the liquid level in the liquid storing section. A distance between the magnetic force generating member and the magnetic force sensing device varies in accordance with the movement of the floats, allowing the liquid level to be determined based on the output of the magnetic force sensing device. An image forming apparatus may include the developing device.

Abstract: A weld portion detector (20) and a laser beam projector (10) disposed a predetermined distance behind the weld portion detector (20) are moved together. The weld portion detector (20) detects a weld line and the laser beam projector (10) projects on the weld line detected by the weld portion detector (20) for laser welding. Pieces of data on weld positions sequentially detected by the weld portion detector (20) are stored sequentially in combination with times when the pieces of data on the weld positions are obtained and moving speeds of the weld portion detector (20) in a memory. A time when the weld portion detector (20) passed a point at which the laser beam projector (10) has just arrived is calculated on the basis of the times and the moving speeds stored in the memory. The laser beam projector (10) projects a laser beam on a weld position detected at the thus calculated time.

Abstract: A laser-welding head is capable of applying a fixed pressure to parts to be welded of workpieces regardless of the undulation of the surfaces of the parts to be welded. The laser-welding head includes a pressing device (12) having a roller (16) which rolls along parts of workpieces near a weld line (40) to press together the same parts of the workpieces, a pressing unit (6) for applying a predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12) to press the pressing device (12) toward the parts of the workpieces near the weld line (40), and a laser beam projecting unit (17) mounted on the pressing unit (6) for movement together with the pressing device (12). The pressing unit (6) is provided with a pneumatic cylinder actuator for applying the predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a substance concentration in a liquid wherein a continuously variable thickness of the liquid is formed, and light is emitted such that a portion of the light passes through the formed continuously variable thickness of the liquid, an electrical signal is generated according to the portion of the light that passes through the formed continuously variable thickness of the liquid, and the substance concentration in the liquid is determined based on the generated electrical signal.

Abstract: a developing solution to a photosensitive body, transport screws which stir and transport the developing solution, and the like. A high heat conductivity member which serves as a partition is provided between the transport screws, and a radiator which is led to an outside of the developer and which includes a plurality of radiation fins is constituted in an upper portion of the developer. To increase a heat receiving area for receiving heat from the developing solution, a second high heat conductivity member which is formed out of a graphite sheet is bonded to an inner wall surface of a lower casing, and the second high heat conductivity member contacts with the high heat conductivity member.

Abstract: In an air cycle machine, a turbine is driven by an engine bleed air, and the turbine power is mechanically transmitted to a compressor to compress the engine bleed air or open air. An electric motor may be provided to electrically drive the compressor, if necessary, to thereby serve as an auxiliary power for the turbine power. The air cycle machine is used for an air conditioning system for an aircraft, wherein open air or engine fan air is raised in its pressure by taking advantage of the compressor driven by the turbine power to use as a ventilation air. Therefore, a consumption of the engine bleed air having a high energy level can be efficiently reduced.

Abstract: A weld portion detector (20) and a laser beam projector (10) disposed a predetermined distance behind the weld portion detector (20) are moved together. The weld portion detector (20) detects a weld line and the laser beam projector (10) projects on the weld line detected by the weld portion detector (20) for laser welding. Pieces of data on weld positions sequentially detected by the weld portion detector (20) are stored sequentially in combination with times when the pieces of data on the weld positions are obtained and moving speeds of the weld portion detector (20) in a memory. A time when the weld portion detector (20) passed a point at which the laser beam projector (10) has just arrived is calculated on the basis of the times and the moving speeds stored in the memory. The laser beam projector (10) projects a laser beam on a weld position detected at the thus calculated time.

Abstract: A laser-welding head is capable of applying a fixed pressure to parts to be welded of workpieces regardless of the undulation of the surfaces of the parts to be welded. The laser-welding head includes a pressing device (12) having a roller (16) which rolls along parts of workpieces near a weld line (40) to press together the same parts of the workpieces, a pressing unit (6) for applying a predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12) to press the pressing device (12) toward the parts of the workpieces near the weld line (40), and a laser beam projecting unit (17) mounted on the pressing unit (6) for movement together with the pressing device (12). The pressing unit (6) is provided with a pneumatic cylinder actuator for applying the predetermined pressure to the pressing device (12).

Abstract: A laser beam projector to be employed in an automatic welding machine, such as a robot, includes an optical head of projecting a laser beam and a holding and turning mechanism of holding and turning the optical head. The spot of the laser beam can be accurately located on the portion to be welded by turning the optical head by the holding and turning mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a client-server system in which a software product for performing a specific processing is automatically updated. The client-server system includes one or more client apparatus onto which software (files) for specific processing are installed and a server apparatus onto which the software of the latest version is installed. Each client apparatus, when the software is activated, checks whether one or more updated files exist in the sever apparatus before starting the intrinsic processing. If one or more updated files exist in the server apparatus, the client apparatus downloads the files from the server apparatus and then starts the intrinsic processing using downloaded files.

Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a developing liquid includes a liquid storing section for storing the liquid consisting of a developing substance and a carrier liquid. A developer carrier deposits the liquid fed from the liquid storing section thereon. A float type liquid level sensor senses a liquid level in the liquid storing section. The liquid level sensor includes a magnetic force generating member for generating a magnetic force, a magnetic force sensing device for sensing the magnetic force, and floats movable up and down in accordance with the liquid level in the liquid storing section. A distance between the magnetic force generating member and the magnetic force sensing device varies in accordance with the movement of the floats, allowing the liquid level to be determined on the basis of the output of the magnetic force sensing device. An image forming apparatus including the developing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a pattern dimension measuring method for scanning a sample at a predetermined scanning pitch by a scanning probe as in a scanning electron microscope, forming a sample image using a scanning signal obtained from the sample, scanning a predetermined portion of a pattern to be measured in a sample image by said probe, and measuring a dimension of said predetermined portion by processing obtained scanning signal according to a predetermined algorithm, said scanning pitch is varied according to the case for positioning the pattern to be measured and the case for measuring the pattern dimension when observing in a low magnification, and said scanning pitch for measuring the pattern dimension is adjusted to be small, about a diameter of the probe.

Abstract: A strobe built-in camera includes a camera body having a strobe built therein and at least one photographing lens to be detachably mounted on the camera body. The camera comprises a strobe use-warning device for warning unsuitability of use of the strobe in case of the the photographing lens mounted on the camera body reduces a quantity of light emitted from the strobe to a value less than a correct quantity of light to be irradiated upon an object, or that a spreading zone of the light from the strobe is narrower than a field of view of the photographing lens. Therefore, photographing under inappropriate photographing conditions is prevented and superfluous use of films can be avoided.

Abstract: An exposure control device of a camera by which an appropriate camera-shake limit shutter speed T.sub.vf can be obtained in accordance with a focal length f of a photographing lens, and by which an arbitrary program diagram can be set on the basis of the shutter speed T.sub.vf, in which T.sub.vf is obtained by an equation:T.sub.vf =log.sub.2 f,orT.sub.vf =(log.sub.2 f).multidot..alpha.+.beta.;wherein .alpha.<1, and .alpha. and .beta. are constants which satisfy log.sub.2 f.sub.o =(log.sub.2 f.sub.o).multidot..alpha.+.beta. for a predetermined arbitrary focal length f.sub.o.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus uses fastening members such as screws held on a tape and supplied to the fastening position of a bit. The fastening members are separated from the tape by the bit after the posture of the tape is held in a predetermined state, whereby the fastening apparatus can keep a posture for the fastening operation even after the fastening members are separated from the tape.

Abstract: A camera having a camera body with a strobe built therein and at least one photographic lens that is detachably mounted on the camera body. The camera has a strobe use-warning device for warning of the unsuitability of the use of the strobe in the case where the photographic lens mounted on the camera body reduces a quantity of light emitted from the strobe to a value less than a correct quantity of light for irradiating an object, or where a spreading zone of the light from the strobe is narrower than a field of view of the photographic lens. This prevents photographing under inappropriate photographing conditions and the superfluous use of film.

Abstract: A multi-area brightness measuring apparatus for a camera, which measures the brightness of an object in a center area of a photographing area and a circumferential area surrounding the center area to detect whether the object in the center area is in follow light state or in back light state in order to correct the exposure value. The exposure also can be controlled in accordance with the magnification, i.e. in accordance with the surface area of a main object occupying the center area.

Abstract: An exposure control device of a camera by which an appropriate camera-shake limit shutter speed T.sub.vf can be obtained in accordance with a focal length f of a photographing lens, and by which an arbitrary program can be set on the basis of the shutter speed T.sub.vf, in which T.sub.vf is obtained by an equation:T.sub.vf =log.sub.2 f,orT.sub.vf =(log.sub.2 f).multidot..alpha.+.beta.;wherein .alpha.<1, and .alpha. and .beta. are constants which satisfy log.sub.2 f.sub.o =(log.sub.2 f.sub.o).multidot..alpha.+.beta. for a predetermined arbitrary focal length f.sub.o.

Abstract: A boom positioning apparatus for a rock drill, including a boom mounted with a drilling apparatus, an input device for determining, as set values expressed in a rectangular coordinate system, positions and directions of a number of drilling points formed on a drilling plane disposed immediately in front of a facing so as to transform the set values into values expressed in a coordinate system defined with respect to the boom, respectively, a compensating device for adding compensation values to the set values such that actual drilling positions are located at normal positions of the drilling points, respectively, a boom positioning servo control device, a feedback device for feeding displacement amounts of the boom back to the boom positioning servo control device and a control unit for controlling the drilling apparatus.

Abstract: An explosive charging apparatus for charging controlled amount of explosives sequentially to bores drilled in a rock surface. The charging apparatus includes an explosive charging pipe, a boom mechanism carrying the explosive charging pipe, boom actuators for actuating the boom mechanism so that the explosive charging pipe is moved to a desired position, a control circuit for controlling the boom actuators and the explosive charging pipe.