Abstract: A welding gun includes a proximity restricting mechanism that is provided between a shaft and a cover member in a manner to surround the shaft and to be displaceable relative to the shaft in an axial direction in accordance with expansion and contraction of the cover member, and that restricts the cover member from approaching too closely the shaft.

Abstract: A connecting device 1 of a towing vehicle 2 includes a connecting pin 13, a locking arm 22, and an actuator 23. The connecting pin 13 is provided to be rotatable between a connection position where the connecting pin 13 is brought into fitting engagement with a connecting plate 3a of a wheeled platform 3 and a disconnection position where the connecting pin 13 is taken out of the fitting engagement with the connecting plate 3a. The locking arm 22 is driven by the actuator 23 between a locking position where locking arm 22 is locked with the connecting pin 13 such that the connecting pin 13 cannot rotate out of the connection position toward the disconnection position and an unlocking position where the connecting pin 13 is unlocked in the connection position.

Abstract: A method for localization and identification of a structure in a projection image with a system having a known system geometry, includes acquiring a preoperative computer-tomography or CT image of a structure, preprocessing the CT-image to a volume image, acquiring an intraoperative two dimensional or 2D X-ray image, preprocessing the 2D X-ray image to a fix image, estimating an approximate pose of the structure, calculating a digitally reconstructed radiograph or DRR using the volume image, the estimated pose and the system geometry, and calculating a correlation between the generated DRR and the fix image, with a correlation value representing matching between the generated DRR and the fix image. The method significantly decreases the number of wrong-level surgeries and is independent of the surgeon's ability to localize and/or identify a target level in a body.

Abstract: A welding gun includes: a moving mechanism portion (ball screw mechanism) for moving a movable electrode back and forth; a motor that includes a rotor and drives the moving mechanism portion to move the movable electrode back and forth; and a brake mechanism that prevents rotation of the rotor during a braking operation, wherein the brake mechanism includes an annular brake disc that is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and rotates integrally with the rotor, and a clamping portion that prevents rotation of the brake disc by clamping the brake disc during the braking operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resistance welding device, a hollow arm, and a method of manufacturing a hollow arm. A welding gun is provided with the hollow arm for holding a movable electrode. The hollow arm includes an arm body having a cavity portion that is opened on one side, and a cover attached to an opening end surface of the arm body so as to cover an opening of the cavity portion. The arm body and the cover are secured by a friction stir welding portion extending along a peripheral part of the cover.

Abstract: The guidepath includes: a magnet guide tape which carries S pole, and guides a carrier vehicle in a first direction by the S pole by being arranged on a floor so as to extend in the first direction; a magnet guide tape which carries S pole, and guides the carrier vehicle in a second direction by the S pole by being arranged on the floor so as to extend in a second direction which intersects the first direction; and a magnetic body tape which is arranged at a side of the magnet guide tape at a position above which a marker sensor passes upon the carrier vehicle being guided by the magnet guide tape, and suppresses N pole.

Abstract: A welding gun includes: a moving mechanism portion (ball screw mechanism) for moving a movable electrode back and forth; a motor that includes a rotor and drives the moving mechanism portion to move the movable electrode back and forth; and a brake mechanism that prevents rotation of the rotor during a braking operation, wherein the brake mechanism includes an annular brake disc that is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the rotor and rotates integrally with the rotor, and a clamping portion that prevents rotation of the brake disc by clamping the brake disc during the braking operation.

Abstract: An electrode moving mechanism of a welding gun includes a first mechanism portion that has a shaft, a second mechanism portion that has a housing capable of housing at least a portion of the shaft, and supports the shaft in a manner to be relatively movable in an axial direction, and a cover member that covers at least a portion of the shaft and is capable of expanding and contracting in accordance with relative displacement between the first mechanism portion and the second mechanism portion, wherein a communication path is formed that enables communication between an internal space, which is between the shaft and the cover member, and an internal space of the housing.

Abstract: A welding gun includes a proximity restricting mechanism that is provided between a shaft and a cover member in a manner to surround the shaft and to be displaceable relative to the shaft in an axial direction in accordance with expansion and contraction of the cover member, and that restricts the cover member from approaching too closely the shaft.

Abstract: The guidepath includes: a magnet guide tape which carries S pole, and guides a carrier vehicle in a first direction by the S pole by being arranged on a floor so as to extend in the first direction; a magnet guide tape which carries S pole, and guides the carrier vehicle in a second direction by the S pole by being arranged on the floor so as to extend in a second direction which intersects the first direction; and a magnetic body tape which is arranged at a side of the magnet guide tape at a position above which a marker sensor passes upon the carrier vehicle being guided by the magnet guide tape, and suppresses N pole.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enabling volumetric image reconstruction from unknown projection geometry of tomographic imaging systems, including CT, cone-beam CT (CBCT), and tomosynthesis systems. The invention enables image reconstruction in cases where it was not previously possible (e.g., custom-designed trajectories on robotic C-arms, or systems using uncalibrated geometries), and more broadly offers improved image quality (e.g., improved spatial resolution and reduced streak artifact) and robustness to patient motion (e.g., inherent compensation for rigid motion) in a manner that does not alter the patient setup or imaging workflow. The method provides a means for accurately estimating the complete geometric description of each projection acquired during a scan by simulating various poses of the x-ray source and detector to determine their unique, scan-specific positions relative to the patient, which is often unknown or inexactly known (e.g.

Abstract: A tracking and navigation system is provided. The system includes an imaging or treatment device, a tracker device, and a fiducial marker. At least part of the imaging or treatment device is movable relative to a patient. The tracker device is mounted on the imaging or treatment device and is movable therewith relative to the patient. The fiducial marker may be fixed relative to the patient to define a patient coordinate system. The fiducial marker is detectable by the tracker device to substantially maintain registration between the tracker device and the patient coordinate system. A tracking and navigation kit including the tracker device and at least one fiducial marker may also be provided, for example, for retrofitting to existing imaging or treatment devices.

Abstract: A connecting device 1 of a towing vehicle 2 includes a connecting pin 13, a locking arm 22, and an actuator 23. The connecting pin 13 is provided to be rotatable between a connection position where the connecting pin 13 is brought into fitting engagement with a connecting plate 3a of a wheeled platform 3 and a disconnection position where the connecting pin 13 is taken out of the fitting engagement with the connecting plate 3a. The locking arm 22 is driven by the actuator 23 between a locking position where locking arm 22 is locked with the connecting pin 13 such that the connecting pin 13 cannot rotate out of the connection position toward the disconnection position and an unlocking position where the connecting pin 13 is unlocked in the connection position.

Abstract: A tire mounting method is provided for automatically mounting a tire onto hub bolts of a motor vehicle. The method includes gripping the tire and temporarily tightening nuts on the hub bolts on which the tire has been placed with a first working mechanism. The nuts that have been temporarily tightened by the first working mechanism are fully tightened with a second working mechanism, which is disposed in association with a first mounting region on a front wheel side or on a rear wheel side of the motor vehicle. The nuts that have been temporarily tightened by the first working mechanism are fully tightened with a third working mechanism, which is disposed in association with a second mounting region on the rear wheel side or on the front wheel side of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A tire mounting apparatus is constructed from a first working mechanism and a second working mechanism that are separate from each other. The first working mechanism is provided with a tire holding device for holding a tire and with a temporary tightening device for temporarily tightening nuts onto hub bolts to which the tire is mounted. The second working mechanism is provided with a final tightening device means for finally tightening the temporarily tightened nuts. The final tightening device includes two nut runners and an interval adjuster for adjusting an interval between the two nut runners.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enabling volumetric image reconstruction from unknown projection geometry of tomographic imaging systems, including CT, cone-beam CT (CBCT), and tomosynthesis systems. The invention enables image reconstruction in cases where it was not previously possible (e.g., custom-designed trajectories on robotic C-arms, or systems using uncalibrated geometries), and more broadly offers improved image quality (e.g., improved spatial resolution and reduced streak artifact) and robustness to patient motion (e.g., inherent compensation for rigid motion) in a manner that does not alter the patient setup or imaging workflow. The method provides a means for accurately estimating the complete geometric description of each projection acquired during a scan by simulating various poses of the x-ray source and detector to determine their unique, scan-specific positions relative to the patient, which is often unknown or inexactly known (e.g.

Abstract: A method of determining bone fragment navigation may include receiving pre-operative 2D image data of a reference bone structure and a bone fragment. The reference bone structure may include a first set of fiducial markers provided thereon, and the bone fragment may include a second set of fiducial markers provided thereon. The method may further include performing a 2D-3D registration between the pre-operative 2D image data and a 3D model of the reference bone structure and the bone fragment, after manual repositioning of the bone fragment, receiving second 2D image data, performing 2D-2D registration of the first set of fiducial markers and the second set of fiducial markers between the pre-operative 2D image data and the second 2D image data, and determining 3D movement of the bone fragment based at least in part on the 2D-2D registration.

Abstract: A tire mounting apparatus is constructed from a first working mechanism and a second working mechanism that are separate from each other. The first working mechanism is provided with a tire holding device for holding a tire and with a temporary tightening device for temporarily tightening nuts onto hub bolts to which the tire is mounted. The second working mechanism is provided with a final tightening device means for finally tightening the temporarily tightened nuts. The final tightening device includes two nut runners and an interval adjuster for adjusting an interval between the two nut runners.

Abstract: A tire mounting apparatus is constructed from a first working mechanism and a second working mechanism that are separate from each other. The first working mechanism is provided with a tire holding device for holding a tire and with a temporary tightening device for temporarily tightening nuts onto hub bolts to which the tire is mounted. The second working mechanism is provided with a final tightening device means for finally tightening the temporarily tightened nuts. The final tightening device includes two nut runners and an interval adjuster for adjusting an interval between the two nut runners.

Abstract: A tire mounting method for automatically mounting tires onto hub bolts of a motor vehicle using a tire mounting device having a first working mechanism and a second working mechanism. The method includes feeding the motor vehicle intermittently so that hub bolts of a front wheel and hub bolts of a rear wheel are successively positioned in a tire mounting station. Tires are gripped by a tire gripping unit of the first working mechanism, and nuts are successively temporarily tightened onto hub bolts of front and rear wheels to which the tires are mounted. The nuts, which have been temporarily tightened, are then fully tightened using the second working mechanism.