Abstract: A weld-line generating apparatus includes a point-cloud-data acquiring unit that acquires 3D point cloud data of workpieces to be welded that are arranged in a predetermined space, an edge extracting unit that extracts 3D point cloud data of edges from the 3D point cloud data acquired by the point-cloud-data acquiring unit, a workpiece point-cloud-data generating unit that generates a 3D point cloud data component of each of the workpiece based on 3D point cloud data that is obtained by removing the 3D point cloud data of edges extracted by the edge extracting unit from the 3D point cloud data acquired by the point-cloud-data acquiring unit, and a weld-line generating unit 24 that generates weld lines for the workpieces based on the 3D point cloud data components of the workpieces generated by the workpiece point-cloud-data generating unit.

Abstract: A rotating machine abnormality diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a rotating machine includes: an analyzing part which performs a time-frequency analysis to a signal S representing intensity and time relationship of an elastic wave generating in the rotating machine; an extracting part which extracts second data representing intensity and time relationship of a predetermined frequency component from first data obtained by the time-frequency analysis; and a determining part which determines that a first rotor and a second rotor are in contact with each other when the second data contains intensity variation having a cycle represented by T1×b=T2×a, in which a rotational cycle of the first rotor is denoted by T1, a rotational cycle of the second rotor is denoted by T2, and a ratio of a number of protrusions to a number of recesses is denoted by a:b.

Abstract: A rotating machine abnormality diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing an abnormality in a rotating machine includes: an analyzing part which performs a time-frequency analysis to a signal S representing intensity and time relationship of an elastic wave generating in the rotating machine; an extracting part which extracts second data representing intensity and time relationship of a predetermined frequency component from first data obtained by the time-frequency analysis; and a determining part which determines that a first rotor and a second rotor are in contact with each other when the second data contains intensity variation having a cycle represented by T1×b=T2×a, in which a rotational cycle of the first rotor is denoted by T1, a rotational cycle of the second rotor is denoted by T2, and a ratio of a number of protrusions to a number of recesses is denoted by a:b.

Abstract: An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1?L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.

Abstract: An insertion assisting device includes a rotary body formed in a toroidal shape, and a support and drive unit that rotatably supports and rotates the rotary body. The support and drive unit has two supports, a first support and a second support. The first support is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and rotatably supports the rotary body. The second support is formed in a substantially triangular tubular shape, is arranged inside the first support, and supports driving gears that transmit a driving force to the rotary body. The second support is shorter than the first support, and is arranged so that front and rear end portions thereof are located inside front and rear end portions of the first support.

Abstract: A propulsion apparatus for an endoscope includes a propulsion assembly for mounting on a tip device of the endoscope, for propulsion in a body cavity. First and second wire devices are disposed to extend from the tip device in a proximal direction, having a coil winding, for rotating to drive the propulsion assembly. First and second motors are connected with proximal ends of respectively the first and second wire devices, for rotating the first and second wire devices. A timer is actuated if a speed difference between rotational speeds of the first and second motors becomes equal to or more than a reference speed value, for measuring an elapsed time. A break detector detects breakage of the first wire device if the elapsed time becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined time. A controller controls the first and second motors in response to an output of the break detector.

Abstract: A propelling device includes a traveling body that rotates in a state of being brought into contact with an inner wall of an alimentary canal, an external cylinder around which the traveling body is wound, and a mounting cylinder on which a tip end portion of an endoscope is mounted. Three driven rollers are rotatably attached to the external cylinder. The traveling body is pinched between the driven rollers and driving gears. As the driving gears rotate, the traveling body travels in a circulating manner. A rotating shaft of the driven roller located at the center among the three driven rollers is held by a shaft hole that is made long in a gear arrangement direction in which the driving gears are disposed side by side.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system is composed of an electronic endoscope, a light source apparatus, and a temperature converter. The electronic endoscope has a CMOS sensor in a distal portion of an insert section to be inserted into a patient's body cavity. Illumination light from the light source apparatus is applied to the body cavity through the distal portion. The temperature converter obtains an average pixel value of an optical black (OB) region out of an imaging signal from the CMOS sensor, and converts the average OB pixel value into a temperature of the CMOS sensor on a frame-by-frame basis with the use of data in a temperature conversion table. The table represents a relationship between the average OB pixel value and the temperature of the CMOS sensor. Light quantity of the illumination light is adjusted in accordance with the temperature of the CMOS sensor to prevent deterioration of image quality.

Abstract: An insertion assisting device includes a rotary body in the form of toroid, and a support and drive part for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner and rotating it. The support and drive part has an approximately cylindrical supporting member for supporting the rotary body in a rotatable manner. The rotary body is provided with a convex portion for increasing the thickness to improve the strength thereof. A concave portion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion is formed on a portion of a front end surface of the supporting member, which is made in contact with the convex portion. The concave portion prevents the rotary body from stopping rotating, which may be caused by point contact between the convex portion and the supporting member.

Abstract: An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1?L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.

Abstract: A self-propelling device includes a drive unit and a toroid unit supported thereabout. The toroid unit includes a track structure of a toroid shape and a roller support sleeve inside the track structure. Three belt portions are provided in the track structure with high rigidity. The drive unit includes an inner sleeve for mounting on an introducer of an endoscope, and an outer sleeve supported around the inner sleeve. An inner surface of the roller support sleeve and an outer surface of the outer sleeve extend triangularly. Drive wheels are disposed upstream and downstream of respectively flat portions of the outer sleeve. Two follower rollers are disposed on respectively each of flat portions of the roller support sleeve. The drive wheels and follower rollers nip the belt portions of the track structure to move the track structure endlessly.

Abstract: A self-propelling device includes a turning unit and a supporter. The supporter includes a first support sleeve, a second support sleeve and a cover formed respectively cylindrically. A drive wheel is secured to the first support sleeve in a rotatable manner. A pair of follower rollers are secured to the second support sleeve together. The cover is fitted on an outer surface of the second support sleeve externally, and disposed in the turning unit together with the second support sleeve. The turning unit is pressed by the follower rollers to the drive wheel. When the drive wheel rotates, the turning unit is circulated around the second support sleeve in a longitudinal direction of the first support sleeve. An inner wall of a body cavity will not be damaged, as the follower rollers are covered by the cover and do not appear externally even if the turning unit breaks.

Abstract: An auxiliary thrust device includes a membrane, a carrier tube, and a drive cylinder. First and second insertion holes into which first and second torque wires are inserted are formed in a wire sheath. First and second gears are fixed to tip portions of the torque wires, which protrudes from a tip of the wire sheath, respectively. The first gear fixed to the first torque wire meshes with a spur gear portion of the drive cylinder, and the second gear connected to the second torque wire meshes with the first gear. Since the respective torque wires are inserted into one wire sheath and are bent in the same shape, a frictional force generated between the first torque wire and the inner surface of the wire sheath is substantially the same as that generated between the second torque wire and the inner surface of the wire sheath.

Abstract: A propulsion assembly for mounting on a tip device of an endoscope includes a barrel sleeve having inner and outer surfaces. A flexible endless track device is disposed to extend along the inner and outer surfaces of the barrel sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction, for propulsion by contacting a wall of a body cavity. A drive gear is engaged with the endless track device, for moving the same. A driving mechanism rotates the drive gear. Engaging teeth are formed on the endless track device at a predetermined pitch, arranged serially, moved by the drive gear in mesh therewith. A peripheral surface of the engaging teeth is curved without a sharp form. Furthermore, a support sleeve is disposed between the driving mechanism and the endless track device, for supporting the drive gear in a rotatable manner.

Abstract: The endoscope is equipped with: a curving manipulation unit provided on the main body manipulating unit, for performing a manual operation which causes the curving portion; a curving drive unit for coupling the curving manipulation unit to the curving portion so as to curve the curving portion in response to a manipulation performed by the curving manipulation unit; a manipulating force detecting unit for detecting a manipulating force applied to the curving manipulation unit; a manipulation assisting power calculating unit for calculating manipulation assisting power corresponding to the manipulating force detected by the manipulating force detecting unit; and a rotation driving force generating unit for applying a driving force via a driving force transferring mechanism to the curving drive unit, so as to generate the manipulation assisting power calculated by the manipulation assisting power calculating unit; in which the rotation driving force generating unit is arranged in an appendix unit.

Abstract: If an instruction indicating advance is input, first and second motors are driven to rotate first and second torque wires. A rotary body is circulated by the rotation of the first and second torque wires, and a propelling unit advances. The first and second TGs detect the rotating speeds of the first and second torque wires. If disconnection of the first torque wire is detected by a disconnection detecting section, a motor control section stops driving of the first motor coupled to the disconnected first torque wire, and rotates the second motor coupled to the second torque wire that is not disconnected at a low speed to rotate the second torque wire at a low speed. Through the low-speed rotation of the second torque wire, the propelling unit advances at a low speed or retreats at a low speed.

Abstract: An insertion and extraction assisting device of an endoscope has a promotion unit attached on the front end side of the endoscope and a transmission section whose one end is connected to a promotion unit, and the other end is drawn along the endoscope, and an outside unit. The other end of the transmission section is connected to the outside unit, and rotational force or a turn signal from the outside unit is transmitted to the promotion unit, so that driving force is generated by the promotion unit. When the other end of the transmission section is connected to, the outside unit reads an ID code expressing a kind of the promotion unit and controls the rotational force or the turn signal to send to the promotion unit.

Abstract: A cylinder portion is inserted into a gap fanned between an outer peripheral surface of a tip end rigid portion of an endoscope and an inner peripheral surface of a self-propelled device from the side of a tip end face of the tip end rigid portion. A ring portion is disposed at a front end side of the cylinder portion, and a handle portion is disposed at a rear end side thereof. A position regulating portion for receiving the tip end face of the tip end rigid portion to define an insertion position of the tip end rigid portion is disposed in the cylinder portion. In some instances, the self-propelled device moves to a fixed position on the tip end rigid portion, and is fixed thereto by the ring portion. The cylinder portion is separated from the ring portion, and pulled out from the tip end rigid portion.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope main body and an assisting drive unit. The endoscope main body includes an endoscope insertion portion having a curving portion on the leading end side thereof, a curving operation portion operating or curving the curving portion, and a curving drive portion driving or curving the curving portion according to an operation force applied to the curving operation portion. The assisting drive unit generates a drive force assisting a curving drive operation to be carried out by the curving drive portion. Curving information regulated at each curving angle corresponding to curving amount of the curving portion is stored previously. The curving amount ?a of the curving portion is detected. The drive force is generated from the assisting drive unit using the curving information corresponding to the detected curving amount ?a.

Abstract: An attachment jig includes a cylinder portion at one end of which a ring portion for fixing a self-propelled device to an endoscope is provided, and a handle portion which is provided at the other end of the cylinder portion and is gripped so as to rotate the cylinder portion. An O ring is brought into press-contact with the outer periphery of an insertion section of the endoscope, such that the self-propelled device is fixed to the insertion section. When the handle portion is further turned, a thin-walled breaking portion is broken, and the ring portion is separated from the cylinder portion. When the handle portion is rotated in an opposite direction, the cylinder portion is taken out from the insertion section, while the ring portion remains in the fixed position.