Abstract: To provide workpiece inspection equipment that allows increasing inspection items without increasing the installation space of the inspection equipment as a whole by disposing a plurality of inspection stages around a rotating table for workpiece feeding. Workpiece inspection equipment 20 including a rotating table 21 for workpiece feeding which intermittently rotates with workpiece housing portions 22 provided at a plurality of circumferentially equally divided positions, a workpiece carry-in stage S0 and a workpiece carry-out stage S6 provided at predetermined positions separated in the circumferential direction of the rotating table 21, and a plurality of inspection stages S1 to S5 provided at predetermined circumferential positions of the rotating table between both stages S0 and S6, in which by increasing the number of workpiece housing portions 22 to be provided in the rotating table 21, the number of inspection stages can be increased without increasing the rotating table 21 in diameter.

Abstract: To provide workpiece inspection equipment that allows increasing inspection items without increasing the installation space of the inspection equipment as a whole by disposing a plurality of inspection stages around a rotating table for workpiece feeding. Workpiece inspection equipment 20 including a rotating table 21 for workpiece feeding which intermittently rotates with workpiece housing portions 22 provided at a plurality of circumferentially equally divided positions, a workpiece carry-in stage S0 and a workpiece carry-out stage S6 provided at predetermined positions separated in the circumferential direction of the rotating table 21, and a plurality of inspection stages S1 to S5 provided at predetermined circumferential positions of the rotating table between both stages S0 and S6, in which by increasing the number of workpiece housing portions 22 to be provided in the rotating table 21, the number of inspection stages can be increased without increasing the rotating table 21 in diameter.

Abstract: A forging press device for valve including an upsetter in which a plurality of primary forming stages are provided, a forging press main body adjacent to the upsetter, that secondarily forms a primary formed workpiece, and a workpiece conveyance/carry-in device which grips and conveys the workpiece, to carry it into the forging press main body, the device in which the workpiece conveyance/carry-in device is composed of a high speed multi jointed robot capable of circling around a vertical shaft, which has an arm (a chuck) gripping the workpiece. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to provide a forging press device for valve in which the number of deliveries of workpiece from the upsetter to the forging press main body is decreased, which speeds up a valve forging line, and improves the production efficiency.

Abstract: An inventive automated heat treatment system has a furnace for heat treating forged engine valves, a carry-in mechanism for transporting the forged valves into the furnace, and a carry-out mechanism for transporting heat treated valves out of the furnace. Each of the carry-in mechanism and the carry-out mechanism has a retention mechanism for retaining valves hung, and a transport mechanism for transporting valves to the furnace as they are hung. The furnace has heating means, groups of paired rails for supporting and moving the valves hung in the furnace, and a stopper for controlling the positions of the valves on the rails. The engine valves are maintained hung with their umbrella-shaped portions supported by the respective mechanisms throughout the automated heat treatment processes. Thus, the heat treatment of engine valves is done in a fewer steps than in a conventional system.

Abstract: An enzyme preparation for suppressing bitterness of food contains phospholipase and, if necessary, further contains protease. A method for suppressing bitterness of food includes treating a food material with a food bitterness suppressor containing the enzyme preparation. A method for producing a processed food product includes treating a food material with a food bitterness suppressor containing the enzyme preparation. Food treated with the enzyme preparation for suppressing bitterness of food tastes less bitter even when cooked after long-term preservation. Furthermore, an enzyme preparation for suppressing bitterness of food and for, if necessary, tenderizing food can be provided.

Abstract: A forging press device for valve including an upsetter in which a plurality of primary forming stages are provided, a forging press main body adjacent to the upsetter, that secondarily forms a primary formed workpiece, and a workpiece conveyance/carry-in device which grips and conveys the workpiece, to carry it into the forging press main body, the device in which the workpiece conveyance/carry-in device is composed of a high speed multi jointed robot capable of circling around a vertical shaft, which has an arm (a chuck) gripping the workpiece. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to provide a forging press device for valve in which the number of deliveries of workpiece from the upsetter to the forging press main body is decreased, which speeds up a valve forging line, and improves the production efficiency.

Abstract: A method of efficiently cutting and machining opposite ends of rod members in sequence is provided, which comprises steps of: abutting a grinding wheel (5) against the periphery of a long rod material (10a) placed at a predetermined work position; moving the grinding wheel towards and along the axis of a first portion of the long rod material (10a) in rotation to taper the tail end of the first portion (to be provided as a rod member); and then moving the grinding wheel (5) further towards the axis of the rod material (10a) to cut the first portion off the long rod material and at the same time chamfer the leading end of a second portion of the long rod material in contact with the rear side of the grinding wheel. After removing the first rod member cut off, the sequence of these steps is repeated as needed.

Abstract: An inventive automated heat treatment system has a furnace for heat treating forged engine valves, a carry-in mechanism for transporting the forged valves into the furnace, and a carry-out mechanism for transporting heat treated valves out of the furnace. Each of the carry-in mechanism and the carry-out mechanism has a retention mechanism for retaining valves hung, and a transport mechanism for transporting valves to the furnace as they are hung. The furnace has heating means, groups of paired rails for supporting and moving the valves hung in the furnace, and a stopper for controlling the positions of the valves on the rails. The engine valves are maintained hung with their umbrella-shaped portions supported by the respective mechanisms throughout the automated heat treatment processes. Thus, the heat treatment of engine valves is done in a fewer steps than in a conventional system.

Abstract: A method of efficiently cutting and machining opposite ends of rod members in sequence is provided, which comprises steps of: abutting a grinding wheel (5) against the periphery of a long rod material (10a) placed at a predetermined work position; moving the grinding wheel towards and along the axis of a first portion of the long rod material (10a) in rotation to taper the tail end of the first portion (to be provided as a rod member); and then moving the grinding wheel (5) further towards the axis of the rod material (10a) to cut the first portion off the long rod material and at the same time chamfer the leading end of a second portion of the long rod material in contact with the rear side of the grinding wheel. After removing the first rod member cut off, the sequence of these steps is repeated as needed.

Abstract: A torque converter apparatus includes a torque converter, a lock-up clutch arranged between the torque converter and an engine, and a lock-up damper arranged between the torque converter and the lock-up clutch and connected to the lock-up clutch, the lock-up damper including a plurality of springs arranged at multiple stages and separated from each other in a radial direction of the torque converter, the lock-up clutch including an outer hub and an inner hub, the outer hub extending toward the lock-up damper and supporting one of first and second frictional engagement members engageable with each other, the outer hub extending toward a first space formed between the plurality of springs in the radial direction, the inner hub extending toward the engine and supporting the other of the first and second frictional engagement members.

Abstract: A method for engagement of an impeller clutch includes a process for decreasing a back pressure relative to a clutch engagement pressure by decreasing an internal pressure of a torque converter in a case where the impeller clutch is brought into an engaged state, the impeller clutch enabling a driving force of an engine to be transmitted and disconnected to and from a pump impeller of the torque converter, transmission and disconnection of the driving force between the engine and the pump impeller being controlled by the clutch engagement pressure that is applied to the impeller clutch through an independent oil passage.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle having a torque converter provided on a power transmission path between an internal combustion engine and a transmission is provided. The torque converter includes a pump impeller, to which rotational power from the internal combustion engine is input to rotate, a turbine runner that receives oil from the rotating pump impeller and transmits the rotational power toward the transmission, and an impeller clutch that is configured to connect and disconnect the rotational power transmission from the internal combustion engine to the pump impeller. The vehicle control apparatus controls the internal combustion engine and the impeller clutch, such that, when a throttle opening degree is equal to or larger than a first threshold value during control of the impeller clutch from a non-engaged state to a completely engaged state, lowers an output torque of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A torque converter apparatus includes a torque converter, a lock-up clutch arranged between the torque converter and an engine, and a lock-up damper arranged between the torque converter and the lock-up clutch and connected to the lock-up clutch, the lock-up damper including a plurality of springs arranged at multiple stages and separated from each other in a radial direction of the torque converter, the lock-up clutch including an outer hub and an inner hub, the outer hub extending toward the lock-up damper and supporting one of first and second frictional engagement members engageable with each other, the outer hub extending toward a first space formed between the plurality of springs in the radial direction, the inner hub extending toward the engine and supporting the other of the first and second frictional engagement members.

Abstract: A torque converter apparatus includes a torque converter having a torus-shaped element, and an impeller clutch transmitting and disconnecting a driving force of an engine to and from an input element of the torque converter, the impeller clutch arranged at a radially outward side of the torus-shaped element of the torque converter.

Abstract: A method for engagement of an impeller clutch includes a process for decreasing a back pressure relative to a clutch engagement pressure by decreasing an internal pressure of a torque converter in a case where the impeller clutch is brought into an engaged state, the impeller clutch enabling a driving force of an engine to be transmitted and disconnected to and from a pump impeller of the torque converter, transmission and disconnection of the driving force between the engine and the pump impeller being controlled by the clutch engagement pressure that is applied to the impeller clutch through an independent oil passage.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle having a torque converter provided on a power transmission path between an internal combustion engine and a transmission is provided. The torque converter includes a pump impeller, to which rotational power from the internal combustion engine is input to rotate, a turbine runner that receives oil from the rotating pump impeller and transmits the rotational power toward the transmission, and an impeller clutch that is configured to connect and disconnect the rotational power transmission from the internal combustion engine to the pump impeller. The vehicle control apparatus controls the internal combustion engine and the impeller clutch, such that, when a throttle opening degree is equal to or larger than a first threshold value during control of the impeller clutch from a non-engaged state to a completely engaged state, lowers an output torque of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle having a torque converter provided on a power transmission path between an internal combustion engine and a transmission is provided. The torque converter includes a pump impeller, to which rotational power from the internal combustion engine is input to rotate, a turbine runner that receives oil from the rotating pump impeller and transmits the rotational power toward the transmission, and an impeller clutch that is configured to connect and disconnect the rotational power transmission from the internal combustion engine to the pump impeller. The vehicle control apparatus controls the internal combustion engine and the impeller clutch, such that, when a rotation number of the internal combustion engine is equal to or less than a first threshold value during control of the impeller clutch from a non-engaged state to a completely engaged state, increases the rotation number of the internal combustion engine.