Abstract: An image acquisition device for a work device performing a task on a target. The image acquisition device includes: an imaging device capturing an image of the target; and an imaging tool that includes a model of the work device and is operable by an operator. The imaging device is attachable to and detachable from each of the work device and the imaging tool, such that that a relative position between the imaging device and the model and that between the imaging device and the work device are identical when the imaging device is attached to the model and the work device. The imaging device captures a part of the model and a part of the work device along with the target when the imaging device is respectively attached to the imaging tool and the work device, the part of the model corresponding to the part of the work device.

Abstract: A method for reducing gel in a polymer kneaded compound flowing in a polymer flow duct includes flowing a polymer kneaded compound in a polymer flow duct to a gel reduction mechanism including a gel reduction member having one or more through holes defining a squeezing flow path having a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than the polymer flow duct. The squeeze ratio S1/S2 of the squeezing flow path is 25 to 177.8, where S1 is a flow path cross-sectional area of the polymer flow duct and S2 is a sum total of flow path cross-sectional area of the squeezing flow path, to generate an extensional flow in the kneaded compound.

Abstract: A continuous mixer includes a barrel with a hollow interior, and a pair of mixing rotors housed in the barrel and that rotate in mutually different directions, each mixing rotor including a mixing portion with plural mixing flights formed about an axial center of the mixing rotor and projecting radially outward. The mixing rotors have a center distance therebetween smaller than a rotation outer diameter of each of the respective mixing flights. An inter-rotor clearance, which is the smallest clearance between the mixing portions at each rotation phase of the mixing rotors in a cross section perpendicular to axial directions of the both mixing rotors, has a dimension allowing an extensional flow to be generated in a material passing through the inter-rotor clearance. The continuous mixer can reliably and efficiently mix a material having a large viscosity difference between a dispersed phase and a matrix phase.

Abstract: A continuous kneading device including a pair of kneading rotors, capable of increasing mesh between the kneading rotors while also suppressing a kneading load applied to the kneading rotors. The continuous kneading device including a barrel and a pair of kneading rotors housed in the barrel. The kneading rotors rotate in mesh in directions different from each other. Each kneading rotor includes a plurality of kneading flights for kneading a material supplied into the barrel. The material is fed axially from the upstream kneading section to the downstream kneading section to be sequentially kneaded. The kneading flight constituting the downstream kneading section has a rotational outer diameter larger than a rotational outer diameter of the kneading flight constituting the upstream kneading section.

Abstract: A method for reducing gel in a polymer kneaded compound flowing in a polymer flow duct includes flowing a polymer kneaded compound in a polymer flow duct to a gel reduction mechanism including a gel reduction member having one or more through holes defining a squeezing flow path having a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than the polymer flow duct. The squeeze ratio S1/S2 of the squeezing flow path is 25 to 177.8, where S1 is a flow path cross-sectional area of the polymer flow duct and S2 is a sum total of flow path cross-sectional area of the squeezing flow path, to generate an extensional flow in the kneaded compound.

Abstract: A continuous kneading device (1) includes a pair of kneading rotors (3), being capable of increasing mesh between the kneading rotors (3) while suppressing a kneading load applied to the kneading rotors (3). The continuous kneading device (1) includes a barrel (2) and a pair of kneading rotors (3) housed in the barrel (2) and rotating in mesh in directions different from each other. Each kneading rotor (3) includes a plurality of kneading flights (11, 15) for kneading a material supplied into the barrel (2). The kneading flights (11, 15) and respective portions of the barrel (2) housing the kneading flights (11, 15) respectively configure a plurality of kneading sections aligned axially of the kneading rotors (3). The material is fed axially from the upstream kneading section to the downstream kneading section to be sequentially kneaded.

Abstract: The present invention provides kneading/extruding equipment capable of stable operation by keeping the pressure of kneaded material before a first-stage gear pump in steady operation (molding) and preventing fluctuation of the pressure of kneaded material before the first-stage gear pump constant from largely affecting the pressure of kneaded material before a latter-stage gear pump at start-up or upon change of production rate, and thus capable of responding to an increase in production rate while securing a high-quality molded product, and an operation control method thereof. The kneading/extruding equipment comprises: a rotational speed feedback control unit for a first gear pump, which feedback-controls the rotational speed of the first gear pump, and a rotational speed feedforward control unit for a second gear pump, which feedforward-controls the rotational speed of the second gear pump.

Abstract: This kneading rotor (1) is rotatably disposed about a horizontally oriented shaft center, the kneading rotor including at least two or more of kneading flights (7) that are disposed about the shaft center and knead a material. In a cross-section perpendicular to the shaft center of the kneading rotor (1), the kneading flights (7) are provided with working faces (9) that face the material when the kneading rotor (1) is rotated. Recesses (10) where a part of the working faces (9) are partially recessed radially inward are formed on the working faces (9) of the kneading flights (7).

Abstract: The present invention provides kneading/extruding equipment capable of stable operation by keeping the pressure of kneaded material before a first-stage gear pump in steady operation (molding) and preventing fluctuation of the pressure of kneaded material before the first-stage gear pump constant from largely affecting the pressure of kneaded material before a latter-stage gear pump at start-up or upon change of production rate, and thus capable of responding to an increase in production rate while securing a high-quality molded product, and an operation control method thereof. The kneading/extruding equipment comprises: a rotational speed feedback control unit for a first gear pump, which feedback-controls the rotational speed of the first gear pump, and a rotational speed feedforward control unit for a second gear pump, which feedforward-controls the rotational speed of the second gear pump.

Abstract: A gel reduction device 1 of the present invention includes a gel reduction mechanism 8 provided in a polymer flow duct 5 in which a polymer kneaded compound flows and adapted to reduce gel present in the polymer kneaded compound. The gel reduction mechanism 8 includes at least one or more squeezing flow paths 10 having a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than the polymer flow duct 5, and a squeeze ratio S1/S2 of the squeezing flow paths 10 is set to be 25 to 180 so as to be able to generate an extensional flow in the kneaded compound flowing in the squeezing flow paths 10.

Abstract: A continuous mixer includes a barrel with a hollow interior, and a pair of mixing rotors housed in the barrel and that rotate in mutually different directions, each mixing rotor including a mixing portion with plural mixing flights formed about an axial center of the mixing rotor and projecting radially outward. The mixing rotors have a center distance therebetween smaller than a rotation outer diameter of each of the respective mixing flights. An inter-rotor clearance, which is the smallest clearance between the mixing portions at each rotation phase of the mixing rotors in a cross section perpendicular to axial directions of the both mixing rotors, has a dimension allowing an extensional flow to be generated in a material passing through the inter-rotor clearance. The continuous mixer can reliably and efficiently mix a material having a large viscosity difference between a dispersed phase and a matrix phase.

Abstract: A mixing degree adjusting device comprises a pair of spacer members arranged at a position sandwiching both round sectional portions of a pair of screws from both sides in the aligning direction of the pair of screws, and a pair of drawing members arranged as a position sandwiching both the round sectional portions from both sides in the orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the aligning direction. The spacer members are movable between an adjusting position opposing to the round sectional portions, and a retracting position, when the screws are extracted from the barrel, for retracting to the outside until the passage of the screws is accepted. Opposing portions opposing to the round sectional portions at the time of moving to the adjusting position are formed in a substantially linear shape extending in parallel with the orthogonal direction seen from the axial direction of the screws.

Abstract: A mixing degree adjusting device comprises a pair of spacer members arranged at a position sandwiching both round sectional portions of a pair of screws from both sides in the aligning direction of the pair of screws, and a pair of drawing members arranged as a position sandwiching both the round sectional portions from both sides in the orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the aligning direction. The spacer members are movable between an adjusting position opposing to the round sectional portions, and a retracting position, when the screws are extracted from the barrel, for retracting to the outside until the passage of the screws is accepted. Opposing portions opposing to the round sectional portions at the time of moving to the adjusting position are formed in a substantially linear shape extending in parallel with the orthogonal direction seen from the axial direction of the screws.

Abstract: A method of loading containers in an optimum way on a load-carrying platform of a vehicle calculates moment weight Wi·i which is multiplication of total weight W1 of containers in each row distant forward by i rows from the platform center by i; calculating moment weight W−i·i which is multiplication of total weight W−i of containers in each row distant rearward by i rows from the platform center by i; calculating the bias load ratio in the traveling direction, which is the ratio of the difference |&Sgr;Wi·i−&Sgr;W−1·i| between the total &Sgr;Wi·i of moment weights of rows located forward of the platform center C and the total &Sgr;W−1·i of moment weights of rows located rearward of the platform center C relative to the sum of same (&Sgr;Wi·i+&Sgr;W−i·i); similarly calculating the bias load ratio in the breadth direction; and loading the containers such that the calculated bias load ratio in the trav

Abstract: A method for selecting a container model for component parts capable of selecting the most profitable, optimum container model for component parts such as vehicle component parts is provided. After calculating the total expenses of all different container models, the method selects the most inexpensive, optimum container model by comparing the total expenses in predetermined years thus calculated with each other and with the total expense in predetermined years of a disposable container.

Abstract: A method of loading containers in an optimum way on a load-carrying platform of a vehicle calculates moment weight W1·i which is multiplication of total weight W1 of containers in each row distant forward by i rows from the platform center by i; calculating moment weight W−1·i which is multiplication of total weight W−1 of containers in each row distant rearward by i rows from the platform center by i; calculating the bias load ratio in the traveling direction, which is the ratio of the difference |&Sgr;W1·i−&Sgr;W−1·i| between the total &Sgr;W1·i of moment weights of rows located forward of the platform center C and the total &Sgr;W−1·i of moment weights of rows located rearward of the platform center C relative to the sum of same (&Sgr;W1·i+&Sgr;W−1·i); similarly calculating the bias load ratio in the breadth direction; and loading the containers such that the calculated bias load ratio in the trav

Abstract: In a method and a device enabling any operator even without skill to efficiently, constantly determine an optimum packaging specification of vehicle parts, or the like, various factors possibly damaging articles are presets as protective properties, and at least one of the protective properties is determined for a particular article based on its surface materials, longest size of its dimensions and its weight. Based on the protective property determined, at least one of packaging materials classified in property is determined for packaging the article, then a packaging form is determined from the determined packaging material and the article property, and a packaging order of the determined packaging form is determined according to packaging priorities preset for such packaging forms.

Abstract: A method for selecting a container model for component parts capable of selecting the most profitable, optimum container model for component parts such as vehicle component parts is provided. This method sets a prototype container unit price u, per-use container recovery expense r, annual purchase frequency n, durable period in year y, and annual demand quantity D of each container model other than corrugated containers of each specific component part. Then, for a container model having a durable period shorter than one year, the method calculates the annual container purchase expense C on the basis of the annual demand quantity, next calculates the annual container recovery expense R on the basis of the annual demand quantity, container recovery expense and annual purchase frequency, and next calculates the total expense Z in predetermined years on the basis of the annual container purchase expense C and the annual container recovery expense R.

Abstract: In a knife used in an underwater cutting granulating device for cutting and granulating a fused resin extruded from a die to a water chamber by a cutter rotated in the state where the knife is opposed to the die, the knife of the cutter has a convex guide surface for guiding a water flow in the direction of drawing it toward the die, which is formed on the surface opposite to the surface facing the die and a curved concave guide surface on the side facing the die.

Abstract: A method of determining a storage charge of a storage rack is capable of determining a reasonable storage charge reflecting the quantity of actual storage in the storage rack. The method determines the storage charge by deducting from the full storage charge a reduction value obtained from a vacancy ratio &agr; that is the ratio of the total volume of vacant storage sections relative to the total volume of all storage sections 2, 12, 22, 32, 33, 42 of the storage rack 1, 11, 21, 31, 41.