Abstract: A tunable wavelength filter is independent of the polarization. The filter includes first and second liquid crystal layers. Each liquid crystal layer includes two opposing glass substrates on which transparent electrodes, dielectric mirrors and alignment layers are coated in this order, respectively, and a liquid crystal interposed between the opposing alignment layers. In the first liquid crystal layer, the molecule alignment of the liquid crystal is twisted by n.pi./2 radian to one twisting direction where n is a positive uneven number. In the second liquid crystal layer, the molecule alignment of the liquid crystal is twisted by -n.pi./2 radian to the twisting direction. The first and second crystal layers are laid to overlap each other so that an axis of liquid crystal molecules on the emission side of the first liquid layer is perpendicular to an axis of liquid crystal molecules on the incidence side of the second liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus and method of correcting an offset of a tracking error signal.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes an optical head for irradiating a light beam onto an optical recording medium, an objective lens, mounted on the optical head, for condensing the light beam onto the recording medium, a photodetector for receiving a light beam from the recording medium and for generating a tracking error signal indicative of a positional deviation between a light beam irradiated position and a track, a tracking actuator for moving the objective lens in a direction intersecting tracks of the recording medium, a tracking controller for driving the tracking actuator in accordance with the tracking error signal so as to correct the positional deviation, a position detector for detecting a relative position of the objective lens with respect to the optical head in the direction intersecting the tracks, a measuring device for measuring a relationship between an offset of the tracking error signal and a position of the objective lens from the tracking error signal and an output of

Abstract: A percussion hammer for a tool includes a rotational drive source. A motion converting mechanism is connected to the rotational drive source for convening rotational movement of the rotational drive source into reciprocating movement. A striking mechanism is connected to the motion converting mechanism, and has a drive cylinder. A rotation transmitting mechanism is operative for transmitting rotational movement from the rotational drive source to the tool. A drive wheel is connected to the rotational drive source, and extends around the drive cylinder. A coupling member is connected to the drive cylinder, and extends around the drive cylinder. The coupling member is movable in a percussion axis direction. A movable adjustment member is connected to the coupling member for selectively connecting and disconnecting the coupling member to and from the drive wheel. Teeth are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the drive cylinder.

Abstract: An annular article-wrapping member includes a shrinkable wrapping material is wound on the outer periphery of an annular article to be wrapped in such a manner that the direction of shrinkage of the shrinkable wrapping material coincides with a circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the annular article. The overlapped portions of the wrapping material subsequently are joined together. The shrinkable wrapping material is heated to be shrunk to provide an intermediate wrapping member having sleeve openings having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular article. Sleeve forming portions of the intermediate wrapping member together in a ring-shape along an inner periphery of the annular article. The portion of the shrinkable wrapping material disposed inwardly of the joined portion is removed by cutting, thereby obtaining the annular article-wrapping member.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes a unit for scanning a track formed on an optical recording medium with a light beam, a tracking control unit for correcting a position shift between a radiation position of the light beam on the medium and the track, and an offset correction unit for automatically correcting an offset of the tracking control unit.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing method in which a recording area is divided into a plurality of zones in the radial direction of a disk so that the lengths of recording pits become the same in the entire recording area of the disk and the recording/reproduction of information is effected with the number of revolutions of the disk changed in each zone from the inner peripheral zone toward the outer peripheral zone. The method includes the step of effecting the recording or reproduction of the information without changing the number of revolutions if the amount of information to be recorded or reproduced is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount when seeking is effected from a zone in which a recording/reproducing head is in a standby state to a different zone to effect the recording or reproduction.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus includes a light source for radiating a light beam onto an optical information recording medium. A first photosensor is provided for partially receiving the light beam emitted from the light source and generating an output, and a second photosensor is provided for receiving either a light beam reflected by the recording medium or a light beam transmitted through the recording medium and generating an output. A control circuit controls power of the light beam emitted from the light source using the output from the first photosensor, and a correction circuit automatically corrects linearity of the output of the first photosensor with respect to the power of the light beam emitted from the light source in accordance with the output from the second photosensor.

Abstract: A slipping torque changing mechanism for an impact tool includes a driving source for generating a rotational motion. A motion converting mechanism is connected with this driving source for converting the rotational motion of the driving source into a reciprocating motion. An impact mechanism is connected with this motion converting mechanism for transmitting the reciprocating motion to a tool end. A rotational motion transmitting mechanism is disposed separately from the motion converting mechanism for transmitting the rotational motion of the driving source to the tool end. A plurality of clutches, having different slipping torques, are disposed at different portions on the rotational motion transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus for irradiating a focused light beam to an optical recording medium to record and/or reproduce information. The apparatus includes a device for focus-controlling the light beam, a focus pull-in device for switching the focus control device from an inactive state to an active state, a device for moving an irradiation position of the light beam in a surface of the medium to effect tracking control, and a device for holding the light beam at a center of a movable range by the tracking control device, during the focus pull-in.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is capable of starting image reconstruction simultaneously with the start of scan. A pipe-line system image forming apparatus having an intermediate buffer between a date acquition device and an image reconstruction device, and the apparatus is characterized in that there is provided a path for supplying data from the data acquisition device directly to the image reconstruction device, whereby the first scan data is sent also to the image reconstruction device simultaneously with sending data to the intermediate buffer so as to immediately start image reconstruction according to the scan data.

Abstract: An annular article-wrapping member is includes a shrinkable wrapping material which is wound on the outer periphery of an annular article to be wrapped in such a manner that the direction of shrinkage of the shrinkable wrapping material coincides with a circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the annular article. The overlapped portions of the wrapping material subsequently are joined together. The shrinkable wrapping material is heated to be shrunk to provide an intermediate wrapping member having sleeve openings having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular article. Sleeve forming portions of the intermediate wrapping member together in a ring-shape along an inner periphery of the annular article. The portion of the shrinkable wrapping material disposed inwardly of the joined portion is removed by cutting, thereby obtaining the annular article-wrapping member.

Abstract: An annular article-wrapping member includes a shrinkable wrapping material which is wound on the outer periphery of an annular article to be wrapped in such a manner that the direction of shrinkage of the shrinkable wrapping material coincides with a circumferential direction of the outer periphery of the annular article. The overlapped portions of the wrapping material subsequently are joined together. The shrinkable wrapping material is heated to be shrunk to provide an intermediate wrapping member having sleeve openings having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular article. Sleeve forming portions of the intermediate wrapping member together in a ring-shape along an inner periphery of the annular article. The portion of the shrinkable wrapping material disposed inwardly of the joined portion is removed by cutting, thereby obtaining the annular article-wrapping member.

Abstract: An electric hammer drill including a vacuum dust collecting device for collecting dust from an area of an article being drilled by a drill bit wherein a hose extending from a body of the hammer drill is directly connected to an end of a movable first pipe which is slidably received in a stationary second pipe. A fan for transporting the dust by vacuum is fixed on a shaft extending across a dust collecting chamber in the body. The shaft is coaxial with, and releasably coupled with, an armature shaft of a motor. With this releasable coupling, the armature shaft is relatively short and unlikely to bend or flex, so that vibration produced during a drilling operation is small. During the drilling operation, the first pipe slides back and forth along the second pipe as a suction hood moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the drill bit.

Abstract: A method of operating a disk player that reproduces information recorded on a disk. Programs on the disk are addressed from a directory in a memory and the programs are sequentially accessed according to the order in the directory. The directory can be filled by inserting random numbers or by scanning through the programs or over the tracks. A table of contents at the beginning of the disk is read if possible. The tracks can be scanned and only tracks having new programs are reproduced. Also a playback position servo operates with a dead-zone in the drive voltage.

Abstract: The image diagnosis apparatus of the present invention is equipped with means for automatically determining a window level and a window width for image displaying in accordance with the value of reconstructed image data. With this window level/window width calculating means (13), the window level is obtained with respect to each reconstructed image on the basis of the virtual average value of its pixel data and the window width is also obtained which has a certain relationship with that window level. When displaying each reconstructed image, a display is made in accordance with each window level and each window width thus obtained. Instead of the obtained window level and window width, those set by a manual setting section (23) may be used by a changeover operation when necessary.

Abstract: A disc player comprising a signal pickup unit to read information from a disc on which program information including address information is recorded, the signal pickup unit being movable with respect to the disc, pickup drive means to drive the pickup unit for movement with respect to the disc, and a control circuit including an address memory for storing the newest one of the addresses read from the disc, a counter operative to count addresses at predetermined time intervals for producing a signal representative of an expected address indicative of the position to which the pickup unit is expected to move in the next, the expected address being updated at predetermined time intervals, a detector circuit to produce a signal each time a discrepancy is found to exist between the newest address and the expected address.

Abstract: In a vessel composed of a thermoplastic polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, by incorporating a predetermined amount of a terminal amino group-containing polyamide or an amino group-containing compound into the polyester, acetaldehyde formed in the vessel wall can be effectively caught.

Abstract: An automatic disc player including a housing, disc carrier means to convey a disc between predetermined playback position and a predetermined withdrawal position ready to be withdrawn out of the housing upon termination of plaback operation, signal generating means for producing control signals to be predominant over various steps of the playback operation, and an electric control circuit responsive to the control signals to control the various steps of the playback operation, the signal generating means comprising position detecting means responsive to movement of the disc to the withdrawal position and operative to produce a signal when the disc being moved away from the playback position reaches the withdrawal position, and playback re-start switch means which is operative to produce a signal in response to slight movement of the disc from the withdrawal position toward the playback position, the control signals to be produced by the signal generating means including signals to control the start of playbac