Abstract: An electromagnetic drive system for repeatedly opening and closing a valve of an internal combustion engine is comprised of an electromagnetic drive mechanism and a damper mechanism. The electromagnetic drive mechanism comprises a pair of electromagnets, an armature disposed between the electromagnets and a pair of springs setting the armature at a neutral position between the electromagnets when both the electromagnets are de-energized. The electromagnets are alternately energized and de-energized according to a control signal. The damper mechanism is interlocked with the electromagnetic drive mechanism and functions to decrease a speed of displacement of the valve at a terminating period of each of a valve-closing stroke and a valve-opening stroke of the valve.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation apparatus incorporates a mechanism, mounted to a control shaft, to convert rotational motion of a camshaft into pivotal motion of a valve operating cam. The mechanism has different states corresponding to varying angular positions which the control shaft is adjustable to, respectively, The mechanism is continuously variable in state to one of the different states in response to a shift of the control shaft to one of the varying angular positions. The mechanism is also operative to vary the valve operating cam, in position, relative to the associated cylinder valve in response to a shift between the different states.

Abstract: A VVA apparatus includes a control rod controlling position of each of supports that are held for movement within a plane perpendicular to a shaft axis of a driving shaft. The supports have intermediate members, each being drivingly connected between a driving sleeve and a driven hollow camshaft. Spaced cam brackets hold the hollow cams, respectively, on a cylinder head of an engine. The control rod has eccentric cams at predetermined spaced portions for driving connection with the supports, respectively. A control rod holding structure includes a base portion fixed to the cylinder head and bearing portions extending from the base portion. The bearing portions of the control rod holding structure hold the control rod at locations in the vicinity of the predetermined spaced portions where the eccentric cams are.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises a drive cam fixed to a drive shaft, a valve operating (VO) cam supported by the drive shaft for pivotal motion, and a motion transmitting mechanism interconnecting the drive cam and the VO cam. The VO cam having a cam surface that extends at least from a cam lift start point to a maximum cam lift point. The cam surface includes a first section providing a ramp section, a second section providing a positive acceleration section, and a third section providing a zero acceleration section that includes a situation where acceleration continuously vary within a predetermined infinitesimal window about zero.

Abstract: A magnetic tape wind-up device designed to wind up a magnetic tape, which is fed at a constant speed by a capstan and a pinch roller, around a reel is provided with a slip mechanism having a drive slip gear (1) driven by a motor to rotate and a driven slip gear (2) which is in frictional engagement with and is driven to rotate by the drive slip gear (1) while slipping therewith, thereby to drive the reel to rotate. This slip mechanism is configured to be capable of reducing the mean slip torque by periodically changing slip torque, thereby making it possible to wind up a tape cassette having a high rotational load without trouble.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) apparatus comprises a supporting arm to support a pivot center of a rocker arm. The rocker arm operates a valve operating (VO) cam in response to operation of a drive cam on an engine driven drive shaft. The supporting arm is mounted for angular motion about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft to move the pivot center of the rocker arm along a circle about the drive shaft axis. The VO cam is mounted for pivot motion about the drive shaft axis. A supporting arm (SA) actuator is provided to position the pivot center of the rocker arm to any angular position to shift mode of operation of the VVA apparatus.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) apparatus comprises an eccentric rotary (ER) cam fixed to a driving shaft for rotation therewith, a pivotal valve operating (VO) cam, a rocker arm having a first arm and a second arm, a control rod having an eccentric control cam, and a crank arm. The eccentric control cam supports the rocker arm for pivotal motion. The crank arm interconnects the ER cam and the first arm of the rocker arm. A link interconnects the second arm of the rocker arm and the VO cam.

Abstract: A valve-operating device for an internal combustion engine equipped with two cylinder banks each having a variable valve timing and working angle mechanism comprises a drive shaft, a cylindrical hollow camshaft fitted to an outer periphery of the drive shaft to be rotatable relatively about the drive shaft, a non-uniform velocity coupling including an annular disc disposed between the drive shaft and the camshaft for transmitting motion of rotation from the drive shaft to the camshaft, permitting a phase change of the camshaft relative to the drive shaft with non-uniform rotation during eccentric motion of the annular disc, and a control housing rotatably supporting the annular disc. Also provided is a decentering mechanism supporting the control housing rockably to produce the eccentric motion of the annular disc.

Abstract: A device for moving a hollow cam relative to a driving shaft includes an intermediate member between a drive member fixed to the driving shaft and a driven member fixe to the hollow cam. A cam ring in the form of an eccentric cam is disposed between the driving shaft and the intermediate member to maintain eccentric rotation of the intermediate member relative to the driving shaft. A driver mechanism controls the angular position of the cam ring.

Abstract: A transporter movable perpendicularly to a transfer path along one or more shelving racks containing shelves, a cargo transfer apparatus is mounted from the transporter, and has a cargo platform for receiving cargo transferred therefrom and thereto along a horizontal transfer path between the platform and a shelf, a traverser disposed along at least one side of the transfer path and having a retracted position along said cargo platform and being extendable from its retracted position to and into the shelf, a first drive for reciprocating the traverser along the transfer path, a pair of transfer arms for pushing cargo toward and away from the cargo platform, and a second drive for moving the transfer arms between their resting positions and their active positions.

Abstract: A control member holder on cam brackets keeps a control member rotatable on the cam brackets, while a control cam holder on supports keeps control cams fixed to the control member cooperating with the supports in such a manner as to cause the supports to move in a plane perpendicular to a shaft axis of a driving shaft to vary eccentricity of intermediate members rotatably supported by the suppports as the control member rotates.

Abstract: An automated warehouse system a plurality of car passages, and a plurality of transport units, each disposed in a car passage containing parallel rails with vertical webbings, each of the transport units have a car, wheels for running on the rails, a drive for moving the car on the rails, the drive having a linear motor body attached to the car and facing a secondary conductor secured to a rail, a power supplying system for the drive, mounted from one side of the car, and having two parallel induction wires secured to and along a rail, at least one induction coil attached to the car and disposed between the induction wires, the warehouse system further includes the induction wires of each of the transport units being connected in series to one or more common panels.

Abstract: A developer supply opening of a developer replenishing cartridge is sealed by a flexible film peelably adhered to the cartridge, and one end of a folded back portion of the film is secured to a gripper which is manipulated by an operator and which is separably mounted on the cartridge. A developer receiving container on which the cartridge can be mounted has a lid. When the lid is opened, the lid engages by the gripper to separate the latter from the cartridge.

Abstract: A developer supply opening of a developer replenishing cartridge is sealed by a flexible film peelably adhered to the cartridge, and one end of a folded back portion of the film is secured to a gripper which is manipulated by an operator and which is separably mounted on the cartridge. A developer receiving container on which the cartridge can be mounted has a lid. When the lid is opened, the lid engages by the gripper to separate the latter from the cartridge.

Abstract: An engine valve control mechanism is disclosed in which the eccentricity of an intermediate member can be varied by a pivotable support and a valve lift of a cylinder valve is varied in response to the varying eccentricity such that a reduced valve lift is produced during operation with the intermediate member held eccentric with a driving shaft which drives, via the intermediate member, a cam which actuates the valve.

Abstract: A cam shaft assembly comprises a first coupling between a drive collar rotatable with a driving shaft and an annular disc at a first position spaced from the shaft axis, and a second coupling between the disc and said hollow cam at a second position angularly spaced from said first position with respect to the shaft axis. The first and second couplings are so spaced from the shaft axis that they are at varying distances from the axis of the disc during operation. Each of the first and second couplings has a movable connection with the disc to permit the variation in its distance from the axis of the disc. The disc is rotatably supported in a disc housing. A control rod is mounted for rotation and has an eccentric control cam which controls movement of the disc housing. A pivot shaft extends through the disc housing for allowing movement of the disc housing following the eccentric control cam in which said plurality of hollow cams are disposed.

Abstract: A handling apparatus for warehousing arrangement which is supported on and guided by a floor rail installed in, for example, a factory for movement along a predetermined track provided in front of load-in/load-out sections of a rack. A pair of front and rear posts upstanding from a travel carriage of the handling apparatus and spaced from each other in the dirction of horizontal movement of the carriage have opposed surfaces on which are formed front and rear guide faces. The elevator is guided at one and the other ends thereof by and along the front and rear guide faces so that the elevator is vertically movable along the guide faces. Cord members for vertical drive are arranged along the opposed surfaces of the pair of posts and are connected to the elevator. On the opposed surfaces of the posts at positions opposite to the cord members is defined a relief spacing between each cord member and each respective post.

Abstract: Eye observation apparatus composed of an illumination optics which is fixed on a frame of a main body and illuminates, a portion of inspection, a photographic optics system for for causing an image ray which is emitted from the portion of inspection to reach an image plane, a photographing means movably equipped in the frame of the main body along with an optical axis and a biasing means for biasing the photographing means so that a tip portion of the photographing means coming into contact with an eye slightly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and derivatives thereof having laminin-like activity. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these peptides, to antibodies effective against these peptides, and to vectors containing a DNA sequence of cDNA coding for the A chain of laminin. The peptides of the invention may be used to treat diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a variable valve timing and/or valve lift system of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The apparatus is easy to mount, install and adjust within a space available over a cylinder head of the engine. The apparatus comprises a rocker shaft, a first cam, a second cam, and a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft. The rocker arm includes a first cam follower arranged to engage the first cam and a second cam follower arranged to engage the second cam. The second cam follower is pivotally mounted on the rocker arm. A hydraulically operated locking bolt is movable from an unlocking position to a locking position. In the locking position, the locking bolt is received in bores formed in the rocker arm and in the second cam follower to establish a positive motion state wherein the rocker arm moves with said second cam follower as a unit.