Abstract: A field apparatus includes a first memory that stores a program specifying an operation of the field apparatus; a second memory that stores parameters to be used in the field apparatus; a log generation unit configured to generate an operating log in which first information representing a type of an event generated within the field apparatus, second information representing a time at which the event was generated, and third information related to the event are associated; and a control unit that includes the log generation unit, the control unit storing the operating log in a log storage region secured in a free space in one of the first memory and the second memory.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a center electrode of a spark plug, comprising the steps of forming a cylindrical electrode member having a medium diameter portion and a small diameter portion and forming a barrel portion by extruding the medium diameter portion when the value of (S1?S2)/S1×100) is 30 or more, S1 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the medium diameter portion perpendicular to an axial direction, and S2 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of each small diameter portion perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: A spark plug includes an insulator having an axial hole, a first inner circumferential surface, a second inner circumferential surface whose diameter is greater than that of the first inner circumferential surface, and a ledge portion connecting the first and the second inner circumferential surfaces. The spark plug also includes a center electrode having a large-diameter portion, a projection portion, and a circular columnar leg portion that projects into a space surrounded by the first inner circumferential surface. The spark plug includes a seal portion which fixes the center electrode within the axial hole. When C<A, A?C?B?A, where A represents a diameter of an imaginary cylinder having the minimum diameter required for surrounding the projection portion, B represents a maximum diameter of the large-diameter portion, and C represents an average diameter of the leg portion present in the space surrounded by the first inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrodes for a spark plug that reduces manufacturing time. The method includes a supply step of supplying a workpiece to a die for extrusion forming, wherein the die has a supply hole and an extrusion hole located adjacent to the supply hole for forming the workpiece to have a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The supply hole has a cross section greater than a cross section of the extrusion hole. The method also includes a forming step of pushing the workpiece, supplied to the supply hole, through the extrusion hole so as to form the workpiece into a shape corresponding to the cross section of the extrusion hole. In the supply step, the workpiece is supplied such that a plurality of workpieces form a vertical line in the die.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a center electrode of a spark plug, comprising the steps of forming a cylindrical electrode member having a medium diameter portion and a small diameter portion and forming a barrel portion by extruding the medium diameter portion when the value of (S1?S2)/S1×100) is 30 or more, S1 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of the medium diameter portion perpendicular to an axial direction, and S2 being the cross-sectional area of a cross-section of each small diameter portion perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: A memory updating system for a field device involves a fieldbus, one or more field devices that incorporate a nonvolatile memory and are connected to the fieldbus, a host system that is directly or indirectly connected to the fieldbus and transmits an updating instruction and updating data to one of the field devices in order to update the nonvolatile memory of the field device, and a current control circuit that controls a current provided from the fieldbus. The current control circuit increases the current provided from the fieldbus to a value greater than a normal value before the field device erases data stored in the nonvolatile memory, and returns the current provided from the fieldbus to the normal value after the field device completes the erasing of the data stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A memory updating system for a field device involves a fieldbus, one or more field devices that incorporate a nonvolatile memory and are connected to the fieldbus, a host system that is directly or indirectly connected to the fieldbus and transmits an updating instruction and updating data to one of the field devices in order to update the nonvolatile memory of the field device, and a current control circuit that controls a current provided from the fieldbus. The current control circuit increases the current provided from the fieldbus to a value greater than a normal value before the field device erases data stored in the nonvolatile memory, and returns the current provided from the fieldbus to the normal value after the field device completes the erasing of the data stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: An automatic transaction apparatus for allowing users to deposit money in the form of financial documents such as checks has a depository inlet, a document feed mechanism, a reading mechanism, a printing mechanism, and a storage mechanism, all for automatically settling financial documents deposited by users. The depository inlet has a guidance mechanism for indicating a pattern in which to insert the financial document into the depository inlet. According to the pattern indicated by the guidance mechanism, the user can insert the financial document with face and back sides properly directed and in a proper orientation into the depository inlet. Since the financial document is properly inserted into the depository inlet, the automatic transaction apparatus may have a relative simple document deposition mechanism for processing the inserted financial document as the document deposition mechanism does not need to handle financial documents inserted in different patterns.

Abstract: A transaction device, having an input portion, and a processing device, having a client file, which is located at a processing center, are connected by a telephone line for processing data input on the transaction device. The transaction device sends an alarm signal when a transaction is carried out under duress via the transaction device. The updating of the client file is prevented when the alarm signal is received at the processing center and a false funds received processing text is sent to the transation device indicating that the client file was updated.