Abstract: An automatic transmission for a motorcycle includes a torque converter and a geartrain. The torque converter includes a torque converter housing, a torque converter input pulley arranged to receive rotary power from the motorcycle engine and a torque converter output shaft for transmitting rotary power. The torque converter includes fluid coupling elements arranged within the housing to transmit torque between the torque converter input pulley and the torque converter output shaft. The geartrain includes a main shaft for receiving rotary power from the torque converter output and a countershaft arranged in parallel to the main shaft. The main shaft carries a plurality of main gears. The countershaft carries a plurality of counter gears. A plurality of gear pairs are formed by each of the main gears being arranged to form one gear pair with one of the counter gears, the gear pairs being in constant mesh.

Abstract: The disclosed system, device and method for providing a low aspect rack and pinion assembly includes a rack engaged with a ball screw and a pinion. The rack is generally responsive to the rotation of the ball screw and the pinion is generally responsive to the movement of the rack. The separating forces generated by the engagement of the rack and pinion are suitably reacted by one or more stabilizer bearings engaged with the structure of the rack and pinion to prevent the rack and pinion from disengaging while maintaining a low aspect profile.

Abstract: A roller screw mechanism, the return path includes a linear section and two curved return sections. Set the requirement angle of the rollers return path separately into two return path of the return pieces. The circulation components made by injection molding or casting. The linear section is made by composing the fillister of the screw nut and a cap, and the return pieces are fixed by the cap to make entire path easy to manufacture and assemble. The linear section is set in the nut, and two curved return sections are connect the both ends of the linear section and the helical groove to shorten the entire circulation path and sure the section shape to increase the effect of smooth motion.

Abstract: A circulation passage structure for a ball screw, the circulation passage structure is used to connect the helical groove and the circulation hole of the nut, so as to form a circulation path for a plurality of balls and spacers. Due to the spacers move in a manner of being clamped between two balls, the spacer inside the return path will be pushed to move inward. The degree of curvature of the inner guiding surface connected to the inner curve can be moderated by shifting outward the location of the center of the inner curve and increasing its radius of curvature. By such arrangement, the spacer will not contact the inner guiding surface when it is pushed to move inward, and the spacer can pass through the return passage easily without the problem of impacting the return passage.

Abstract: In a worm reducer for reducing the rotation transmitted to a worm and transmitting the reduced rotation to a worm wheel, the worm reducer being composed of the worm with screw faces formed on its outer periphery and the worm wheel with worm wheel teeth formed on its peripheral surface, the worm wheel teeth being in mesh with the screw faces of the worm, the worm wheel teeth are formed so that the lead angle of the worm wheel is smaller than that of the worm.

Abstract: A forged composite gear and a method of making a forged composite powder metal gear. The forged composite gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from a core, a first section having a first powder metal material, a second section having a second powder metal material and a variable boundary profile. The variable boundary profile is formed between the first section and the second section, whereby said variable boundary profile exhibits greater tooth wear resistance on the teeth and greater impact resistance in the core.

Abstract: A gear and a method of making a forged powder metal gear having a plurality of teeth and a variable case depth profile forged in the plurality of teeth. Each tooth of the plurality of teeth has a first surface and a tooth root. A variable case depth profile is formed in each tooth of the plurality of teeth, whereby the variable case depth profile exhibits greater tooth wear resistance on the first surface and greater impact resistance in the tooth root.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steering handle for a vehicle, in which no burden is imposed on a driver's arms and wrists during operation of the steering handle. In the steering handle (23) grasped and rotated by both hands of a driver, an axis (Ls) of a steering shaft included in the steering handle is inclined so as to be higher in level in a forward direction of a vehicle body, and a left grip (24L) grasped by a left hand and a right grip (24R) grasped by a right hand are rotatable in opposite directions about an axis (Lg) perpendicular to the axis (Ls) of the steering shaft. Thus, an upper half of the driver's body sitting on a seat and leaning backwards and a plane of rotation of the steering handle (23) are substantially parallel to each other, thereby ensuring that the driver can rotate the steering handle (23) without stretching and withdrawing his or her arms.

Abstract: A bicycle shifter for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to a gear change mechanism mountable at or near an end of the handlebar that returns to a neutral position after each shift operation to decrease aerodynamic drag encountered by the rider. The shifter includes a takeup member, a control mechanism, a holding mechanism and a return assembly. The takeup member is rotatable about a shift axis for winding and unwinding the control cable thereon in a cable-pull direction and a cable-release direction. The control mechanism is movable in a first direction to rotate the takeup member in the cable-pull direction and in a second direction to rotate the takeup member in the cable-release direction. The holding mechanism retains the takeup member in a selected position and the return assembly returns the control mechanism to the neutral position after each shift operation.

Abstract: A brake pedal apparatus including: an operating pedal; and first and second working levers which are pivotable according to respective different lever-ratio characteristics in response to a depressing operation effected on the operating pedal and which are connectable to a pivot member via a clutch member. When a reaction force of an output member does not exceed a switching load, a load reaction lever is held in a reference position whereby the first working lever is connected to the pivot member. When the reaction force exceeds the switching load, the load reaction lever is pivoted to a switching position against a biasing force of a biaser whereby the second working lever is connected to the pivot member.

Abstract: A control lever mechanism is provided for being mounted to a cowl of a main body of a materials handling vehicle. The control lever mechanism may comprise at least one lever structure including a control lever having a section which falls within or is approximately parallel with a lowermost view plane of a view zone of an operator, wherein the operator view zone includes at least one view plane positioned above the lowermost view plane, and apparatus for mounting the lever structure to the main body cowl.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laborsaving cam wheel structure formed of a fixed member and a movable member each having two slopes spirally running in reversed directions on the respective inner side. The slopes of the fixed member are respectively abutted against the slopes of the movable member such that when the movable member is biased relative to the movable member, the peak ends of the slopes of the movable member are moved along the slopes of the fixed member toward the root ends of the slopes of the fixed member.

Abstract: A bale of ferrous scrap for use in a steel making process where the bale comprises a compacted volume of scrap with an external marginal layer surrounding a center portion of the bale and a package of elements formed from commingled flux being compacted into the center portion and encapsulated in the bale.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-resistant material for a low-melting metal casting machine, which comprises calcium silicate and a fluoride.

Abstract: A bottle opener comprises a fish-shaped body with a loop-type bottle cap remover depending from the mouth of the fish-shaped body such that the bottle opener resembles a diving lure, which is particularly attractive to fishermen. Alternatively, the fish-shaped body may be provided with a bill and a lifting tab spaced apart from the bill. The fish-shaped body may have a gently curved dorsal surface that comfortably fits into the palm of a user's hand for easy grasping and use. To further resemble a diving lure, treble hooks or the like may be attached to the body. Such hooks may have rounded ends and no barbs in order to avoid punctures or cuts to the user. Conventional metal hooks may be dipped in a liquid plastic, rubber, or similar material that cures to form a resilient coating for safe handling.

Abstract: A bendable hand tool comprises a handle having a pivotal section at a front end thereof; the pivotal section being formed with a through hole; an extension block for increasing the arm of the force of the handle tool as the hand tool is bent; a front end of the extension block being formed with a head; an upper end of the extension block being formed with a pivotal hole corresponding to the pivotal section of the handle; when the pivotal hole being aligned to the through hole of the pivotal section, a pivotal shaft passing through the pivotal hole and the through hole and thus the pivotal section being pivotally installed to the handle; and a head installed upon the upper end of the extension block. A display is installed on the handle. An internal of the display is installed with an integrated element.

Abstract: A pair of composite material substantially buoyant-in-water hand pliers including a pair of elongated metallic lever members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and formed of higher rigidity metallic material having a density greater than water. The lever members are pivotally connected together at common central portions between the jaw and handle portions. Each handle portion is substantially encapsulated by an elongated molded-in-place contoured grip formed of material buoyant in water wherein the effective density of the pliers is in very close proximity to that of water. Uniquely configured jaw inserts are also provided.

Abstract: A tool for loosening or tightening screws. The tool has a number of shafts with screwdriver bits on their ends that are stored in elongated grooves that are parallel to the longitudial axis and circumferentally spaced around the handle. Each stored blade can be rotated separately out of the storage handle 180 degrees on a pivoting hinge into a housing head which locks the extended shafts in place for operation. The housing head can be rotated 360 degrees perpendicular to the elongated axis of the handle in order to accomadate each blade separately.

Abstract: The clamping tool comprises a first element (18) and a second element (20) capable of relative displacement as a result of the action of a drive device comprising a screw (10) having a given screw thread such that it can be rotationally driven about an axis (XX) in one direction or in a direction opposite thereto as a result of the action of a motor (M); a nut (12) cooperating with the screw (10) and which can be rotationaly driven in the direction of the axis (XX) of the screw, said screw being translationally coupled to the first element (18); first guiding means (34L) defining linear guidance parallel to the axis (XX) of the screw in order to rotationally block the nut (12) in a first phase of displacement of the nut; and second guiding means (34H) defining helicoidal guidance extending according to the axis (XX) of the screw (12) and which has an inverted thread in relation to the thread of the screw in order to enable the nut (12) to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the screw (10) in a second

Abstract: A precision machining system with a variable projected machining width of the cutting surface of the machining tool, including: a workpiece holder to hold a workpiece; a machining tool holder to hold the machining tool such that the Z axis is substantially parallel to the tool's centerline; a Z translation stage and an X translation stage each coupled to one of the workpiece holder or the machining tool holder; a workpiece spindle coupled to the workpiece holder to rotate the workpiece about the workpiece axis that is parallel to the Z axis; a machining path controller electrically coupled to the X translation stage and the workpiece spindle; and a tool spindle coupled to the machining tool holder. The tool spindle rotates the machining tool about the centerline of the machining tool, which varies the width of the cutting surface of the machining tool projected perpendicular to the machining path.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automatically detecting the position of the cutting tool in the computerized numerically controlled lathe which is capable of preventing over-load operation of a driving motor by allowing an arm having a touch sensor mounted thereto to be safely stop at a position of detecting the cutting tool while the driving motor stops operating. A bearing housing is fixedly mounted to one side of a housing main body fixed to one side of a headstock. A stopper is fixedly mounted to the bearing housing. A touch sensor is mounted to a front end of the arm and is pivoted by means of a gear assembly driven by receiving a driving force from a driving motor. A camshaft is fixedly installed at a radial outer circumferential surface of the arm. When the arm is rotated and reaches at a proper position, the worm and the worm wheel of the gear assembly are rotated until the camshaft is brought into contact with the stopper.

Abstract: A workpiece holder for a lathe includes a receptacle having a workpiece-receiving-cavity that has a polygonal cross-section when viewed along an axis of rotation. The receptacle is sized to receive workpiece stock having a polygonal cross-section.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for avoiding the influence of reaction during tightening operation in the rotary fastening tool.

Abstract: A combined machining apparatus (2) includes a work stand (18) for fixing a workpiece (4), a jet nozzle (6) for jetting high pressure water towards the workpiece, a wire electrode (8), and upper and lower wire guides for supporting the wire electrode perpendicularly. The jet nozzle and upper wire guide are capable of being moved between an operating position where the workpiece can be cut and a respective refuge position separated from the operating position. The workpiece fixed to a work stand is cut to a desired shape by water jet cutting, and the cut surface is then finished to desired high machining accuracy using wire electric discharge machining with the workpiece still fixed to the work stand.

Abstract: A decurl apparatus includes a heating device to heat an image recording carrier web at a constant temperature, which exceeds the glass transition temperature of a support for a constant time period; and a cooling device for subsequent cooling of the image recording carrier web to a temperature equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature, while the image recording carrier web maintains a predetermined shape. The heating device includes an induction-heated heating roller and holding rollers arranged at arbitrary angular positions with respect to the outer circumference of the heating roller. As a result, the image recording carrier web is reliably decurled by a simple construction without being influenced by a transfer velocity or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crosscutting tool for high-speed crosscutting, which comprises a body having a through-hole for a rod to be cut, and a cutting edge delimiting at least a portion of said through-hole, wherein said cutting edge is formed by at least two cutting jaws positioned within, and supported by, said body.

Abstract: A saw having a base assembly, a motor unit pivotally mounted to the base assembly, and a first rearward pivotal guard pivotally mounted on the motor unit. The guard is pivotable from a first position surrounding at least a portion of the lower edge of a saw blade to a second retracted position where the portion of the lower edge of the saw blade is exposed. The saw also has a pivotal guard actuating mechanism which moves the rearward pivotal guard from the first position to the second position when the motor unit is pivoted towards the base assembly.

Abstract: A enhanced logdog that provides a positive grip on all surfaces while allowing more clearance for the saw blade. The unit is designed to fit on exiting equipment and mating to that equipment in such a fashion as not to diminish the integrity of it.

Abstract: A fence assembly of a cut-off machine includes a fence base fixed above a worktable of the cut-off machine, a fence plate supported on and movable along the fence base, having a downwardly extending bottom panel and a locking structure for controlling if the fence plate is locked to the fence base. The locking structure includes a fastener defining a separation with a constant length from the fence base, a first block, a second block and a press member. The first block, the second block and the bottom panel are crowded into the constant separation. The bottom panel is disposed between the second block and the fence base. The contact surface between the first block and the second block slopes toward the direction of the separation. The first block is movable substantially perpendicularly to the direction of the separation. The press member selectively presses the first block.

Abstract: A pizza cutting apparatus and portions of the apparatus, and methods of forming the apparatus and of disassembly. The apparatus includes a simple frame assembly made from sheet metal, an actuator assembly and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes a central hub, a number of attached blade and guard combinations, a shaft with a flange and an elastic band. Each blade includes two spaced apart openings, one to receive the flange and the other to be engaged by the band so as to restrain the blades mounted in the hub. Each guard includes perforations for easy gripping by an operator. A blade is removed by having the operator safely grip each guard to stretch the band so as to disengage the blade from the flange and then return and rotate the blade to disengage the blade from the band.

Abstract: A punching device for punching an edge of an oval subject to make a pattern includes a jig having a pattern hole with a predetermined pattern and supplied with the subject to be patterned; a punching member having a punch pin corresponding to the pattern hole so as to form a punching pattern by punching an edge of the subject supplied to the jig; and a base on which the jig and the punching member are coupled, the base giving a base surface on which the subject to be punched is supplied, wherein the base includes: a rotation guide projection for guiding an edge of the oval subject with the same curvature as the edge when the subject is rotating; a positioning guide projection for setting an initial position of the subject together with at least a part of the rotation guide projection so that an initial punching region of the oval subject is punched; and a criterion marking having the same pattern as the pattern of the pattern hole of formed as a part of the pattern so as to set a rotating angle of the oval su

Abstract: In a band saw, it is intended that a so-called blade drift is corrected and straight line cutting of an object is easily performed. Further, an accurate correction is realized by a simple operation. A cutting auxiliary device in the band saw in accordance with the present invention is a device used to correct a shift of a cutting line when the cutting line is shifted from a straight line in the band saw for cutting a work by using a flexible steel band.

Abstract: A secure band saw table support apparatus, proving stability and for adjusting the worktable of a band sawing machine. The secure band saw table support having a single piece turning member affixed to the bottom side of the worktable. The single piece turning member having at least two arc shaped protrusions, wherein the two arced shaped protrusions being one member and attachable to the bottom side of the band saw table. The arced shaped protrusions as part of the turning member having arc shaped slots therein. A base piece also included which is attached to the band saw base and table support turning member. Also included is a guiding shaft to assure smooth operation, an adjusting shaft having a handle wherein and operator can turn the handle adjusting the inclination of the table and a pressing shaft having a handle so that the handle can be tightened wherein locking the table in place preventing the table from movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting knife for rotary cutting installations for printed products or webs of flexible materials such as paper, plastic, fabric, leather or wood, especially multi-layer paper products that are separated in a tiled arrangement. Said cutting knife has a substantially circular, discoid cutting base having an axis of rotation which is substantially disposed in the center of the disk, and cutting sections at the edge of said base. The cutting sections have at least two different alternating areas. The first area is configured as a kind of saw tooth by notching the cutting base and the second area is configured as a kind of paring knife and extends conically towards the edge of the cutting knife relative to a width of the cutting base. The cutting base, in the second area, has an at least partially larger radius than in the first area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a CD-jukebox to a digital jukebox provides a flat-panel touch-screen monitor or all-in-one panel computer to the door of a CD-jukebox to interface with the existing audio and payment components within the jukebox. The method may be used with floor-mount or wall-mount type CD-jukeboxes. Some or all of the existing CD-jukebox components to be left in place and reused if desired. The apparatus includes a bezel member that supports the touch-screen monitor, and which mounts to the jukebox door replacing the title window of a traditional CD-jukebox. A control computer connected to the touch-screen monitor runs software that enables the music selections and controls the playback of the music on the jukebox.

Abstract: An automatic playing system is independent of acoustic pianos, and is designed to perform music tunes expressed by sets of MIDI music data codes on the acoustic pianos; since the acoustic pianos have their own individualities, control parameter table, which were prepared through experiments on a standard piano, are not optimum for most of the acoustic pianos due to the individualities: the automatic playing system can tailor the control parameter tables defining relation between the magnitude of driving signal and the MIDI velocity and relation between the magnitude of driving signal and time lag from the supply of the driving signal and the collision between the hammers and the strings for each sort of acoustic pianos before the automatic playing so that the automatic playing system reproduces the music tunes at high fidelity regardless of the sort of acoustic pianos.

Abstract: While an automatic player piano is reenacting a music tune, the automatic player piano sometimes fails to miss a tone or tones in a repetition due to a high-speed key movement; a controller searches a music data file for a series of key events expressing the repetition, and makes the key movements uniform without changing the lapse of time from the last key event before the repetition and the lapse of time to the first key event after the repetition so that the automatic player piano is less liable to miss a tone.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument comprises a keyboard having a plurality of playing keys, a fallboard pivotably supported at its rear end for covering the keyboard when the instrument is not in use and exposing the keyboard when the instrument is in use, and a rear top board. An accommodation space is provided between the keyboard and the rear top board and is adapted for receiving the fallboard which turns through 180 degrees to wide open the space from above the keyboard through above the rear top board. Thus, while the instrument is in use, the fallboard will obstruct neither the player's view nor the sound propagation from the loudspeakers, and further the fallboard will help in supporting the music sheets.

Abstract: A player changes the pitch of tones produced through a trombone by controlling the breath and a slide, and the control of slide is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the trombone, and includes a manipulating board fitted to an appropriate portion of the trombone close to the slide, a driving mechanism connected to the slide and a controlling unit connected to the manipulating board and driving mechanism; when the player wishes to change the pitch of tones through the sliding motion of the slide, he moves a lever on the manipulating board by a distance shorter than a target stroke of the slide, and the controlling unit calculates the target stroke so as to supply a driving signal to the driving mechanism; and the driving mechanism exerts force on the slide so as to assist the player in varying the length of the column of air.

Abstract: A cap for maintaining the reed of musical instruments moist when not in use comprising a cone shaped housing having an open end. An elongated slot is formed in the side wall of the housing. An offset compartment adjacent the closed end of the housing is provided for a flexible moisture pad. Means is provided for frictionally holding the mouthpiece in the cap with the reed confronting and engaging the moisture pad to wet the reed when the instrument is not in use.

Abstract: A percussion instrument in which at least one drum board can be folded on a main board for easy and compact storage of the instrument. At least one arm having a free end and a proximal end is mounted at its proximal end to a part fixed relative to the main board so that the free end can be displaced in position. The drum board is mounted to the free end of the arm and changeable between an unfolded configuration suitable for a musical performance and a folded configuration suitable for storage by being configured to be unfoldable from and foldable to the main board via the arm.

Abstract: A keypad assembly, which includes at least one key configured to be provided at an outer surface of a body of an electronic device, a substrate including at least one switch that closes when the at least one key is depressed, and a supporting plate configured to detachably attach to an inner surface of the body of the electronic device, the supporting plate fixing the at least one key and the substrate to the body of the electronic device.

Abstract: Keyboard apparatus has a frame and a key pivotably mounted on the frame. Key guide structure includes a key-side guide member provided inside the key, and a frame-side guide member provided on the frame. The key-side guide member has at least one convexly-formed portion projecting from the inner surface of a distal end portion of the key, remote from a pivot point of the key, toward the pivot point. The frame-side guide member permits movement of the key-side guide member along a pivoting direction of the key, but limits lateral movement of the key-side guide member.

Abstract: A musical staff and notation system which incorporates both the Grand Staff and numerical notation, and is based on a pattern visually corresponding to the keyboard of the piano. The present invention replaces the Grand Staff's complex system of lines, spaces, sharps, flats, and accidentals with a system of “pitch stripes” of two colors, and adds the numerical notation to the Grand Staff's notes. This new musical staff and notation system can make it significantly easier for people to read music scores, play keyboard-based musical instruments (such as the piano) by a displayed score, sing by a displayed score, and learn the music theory. Furthermore, compared with the Grand Staff, the new musical staff and notation system can enable the user to obtain or produce a musical score for the same piece of music on different Keys (as in Key of C major, for instance) in a much simpler, faster and error-proof manner.

Abstract: A music generation engine automatically generates musical compositions by accessing musical sections and corresponding properties including similarity factors that provide a quantified indication of the similarity of musical sections to one another (e.g., a percentage of similarity). A sequential relationship of the musical sections is then determined according to an algorithmic process that uses the similarity factors to assess the desirability of the sequential relationship. The algorithmically created musical composition may then be stored, such as by rendering the composition as an audio file or by storing a library file that refers to the musical sections. The created musical composition may include layers respectively having different audio elements such that the created musical composition has a first dimension along a timeline and a second dimension that provides a depth based upon the presence of different audio elements.

Abstract: A playback device includes a storing unit storing a contents database in which contents including at least music and tempo information indicating the tempo of the music are correlated with each other; a playback unit for performing playback of the contents; a tempo measuring unit for measuring an exercise tempo obtained along with the body movements of a user; a searching unit for searching contents from the contents database based on the information of the measured exercise tempo by the tempo measuring unit; and a contents selecting unit for selecting the contents searched by the searching unit as contents to be played by the playback unit.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU core, and the CPU core executes a music playing game according to a game program. During the game, a player plays a guitar as if he or she plucks the strings displayed on an operation screen while viewing a musical score of a desired music (tune) by utilizing a stick. During playing, the timing of the tempo of the music being played by the player is detected, and when the timing of the head of the quarter note in the detected tempo and the timing at which the player currently plays are coincident, a sound effect such as clapping sound, and the like is output. The volume of the clapping sound is increased when the tempo is stable, and decreased when the tempo is unstable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning a tone for an object displayed in a mobile device or a digital convergence product having a display function are provided. The method includes displaying a screen in which a staff and at least one musical note are assigned to each of a plurality of display objects on the screen; and if a display object of the plurality of display objects is selected from the screen and tone modification is requested, modifying the tone of the selected object, so that the modified tone is assigned to a musical note of the selected display object.

Abstract: An audio processing system includes a first audio detecting device for detecting a first audio signal stored in a storage module and a beat length of the first audio signal, a second audio detecting device for detecting a second audio signal and a beat length of the second audio signal, and a processor coupled to the first audio detecting device and the second audio detecting device for transforming the first audio signal and the beat length of the first audio signal and the second audio signal and the beat length of the second audio signal into corresponding information.

Abstract: A digital light used with stage items. The digital light can form a portion of a stage performers costume, by for example illuminating a logo of the or a shape or color onto that costume. The digital light can also form effects when used in conjunction with phosphor paint. Another aspect includes using the digital light to signal the performer.