A method for creating multiple punch holes during a finishing process of paper sheets and other sheet materials. A highlight of the present invention is the ability to select between at least two configurations of punch holes automatically, without manual adjustment, and “on-the-fly” without interruption of the sheet or paper flow. The perforation method utilizes two rotatable punches set at different angles such that when one intersects the sheet path, the other clears the sheet path. The speed of rotation is controlled such that the non-selected punch intersects the sheet path in a space between pitches.

An automatic hole punch is disclosed for creating holes in a sheave of sheet material. The automatic hole punch is preferably user-selectable between punching modes, such as two-hole and three-hole modes. A motor is coupled to a camshaft by a gear train. The cam shaft carries a plurality of cams each having an associated punch. As the camshaft rotates, the cams sequentially drive corresponding punches. However, depending on the selected modality, one or more punches may be idle by not being engaged with their respective cams, thus resulting in varying combinations of driven punches resulting in different hole patterns. Finally, a spacer can be inserted into a material receiving slot for adjusting the relative positioning of the material to the punches to properly position the hole pattern along an edge of the material to be punched.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for driving a PDP (plasma display panel). An image signal processor of the apparatus performs gamma correction and error diffusion processes of input image signals. A quantization error compensator compensates quantization errors with respect to an automatic power control (APC) level of image data output from the image signal processor. An error diffuser sets part of the image data output from the quantization error compensator as display errors and diffuses the display errors to peripheral pixels. A memory control and address driver generates sub-field and address data corresponding to image data that have undergone error diffusion by the error diffuser, and applies the data to the PDP. An APC and sustain/scan pulse generator generates a sub-field arrangement structure according to the APC level, generates control signals based on the generated sub-field arrangement, and applies the control signals to the PDP.

A punching machine comprising at least one punching head including a support body having a first end delimiting a peripheral shoulder, a second end, and at least two parallel seats being angularly spaced from one another and extending through said support body from said first end to said second end; a punching tool holder slibably mounted in at least one of said seats; a multiplicity of removable resilient means angularly spaced from one another, each having a first end resting on said peripheral shoulder and a second end facing away from said peripheral shoulder; an annular cap member arranged in front and spaced from said peripheral shoulder and designed to abut against said second end of said resilient means; a rotor member mounted for rotation on said annular cap member and having an inner face thereof facing towards said punching tool holder; a sliding member projecting from said inner face and arranged to slide onto said punching tool holder when said rotor member rotates; and driving means designed to stepwise drive said rotor member, whereby locating said sliding member onto a pre-selected punching tool holder.

A D/A conversion circuit with a small area is provided. In the D/A conversion circuit, according to a digital signal transmitted from address lines of an address decoder, one of four gradation voltage lines is selected. A circuit including two N-channel TFTs is connected in series to a circuit including two P-channel TFT, and a circuit including the circuits connected in series to each other is connected in parallel to each of the gradation voltage lines. Further, an arrangement of the circuit including the two N-channel TFTs and the circuit including the two P-channel TFTs is reversed for every gradation voltage line. By this, the crossings of wiring lines in the D/A conversion circuit becomes small and the area can be made small.

A punch change retainer for positioning a floating punch in a retracted, disengage position and an extended, engage position. The change retainer includes a change retainer body and a punch retainer receiving aperture extending upwardly through the change retainer body from a bottom surface thereof. A gagging member is located in the change retainer body and is actuable by an actuator between a retracted position distal from a nose portion of the change retainer body and an extended position adjacent the nose portion of the change retainer body. A floating punch retainer is receivable within the punch retainer receiving aperture, and includes an upper end positioned for engagement with the gagging member. A punch receiving hole is defined in the floating punch retainer; where the punch receiving hole is adapted to be rotatably positioned about a longitudinal center line of the floating punch retainer within the punch retainer receiving aperture.

The present invention discloses a log sawing system comprising multiple cutting blades. The multiple cutting blades are positioned to cut laterally or perpendicular to the centerline of the log which is to be cut. The logs are transported into cutting position using some type of log positioner. The multiple cutting blades are rotatably mounted on an arm which is pivotally mounted on a shaft in groups, being driven by an electrical or like motor, all of which are mounted onto a platform positioned adjacent to the log to be cut. Hydraulic lifters are used to partially rotate the saw blades into the cutting position adjacent the log. Means utilizing a computer and lasers are provided to develop a log cutting solution to best utilize the logs.

A tool selection method, for a machine tool, comprising the steps of identifying the maximum tip distance (D2) of a currently selected tool (141), a next designated tool (142) and an intermediate tool (143) disposed therebetween; moving a tool rest (10) in the +(plus)X-axis direction after a machining by the currently selected tool (141) is completed until the tip of the currently selected tool (141) is spaced from a workpiece (W) along the X-axis by a distance provided by adding a clearance distance (E) to a difference between the maximum tip distance (D2) and the tip distance (D3) of the currently selected tool (141); moving the tool rest (10) in the +(plus)Y-axis direction until the tip of the next designated tool (142) is aligned with the rotation center axis (12a) of the workpiece (W) in the X-axis direction; and moving the tool rest (10) in the −(minus)X-axis direction.

The present invention provides a system and method for tool use management wherein a CNC machine retains information identifying the tools associated with the machine as well as their current locations (if any), and executes an algorithm for determining the source tools needed by a part program and matching the source tools with the available tools.

A refrigerator for monitoring the status of another space by means of a display device mounted to the refrigerator, a monitoring system having the refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a body which is formed with a storage chamber, a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a display device which is mounted to a front side of the door, the display device having a receiving part for receiving a monitoring image signal from a predetermined outside signal supply source, an image signal processing part for processing the received monitoring image signal, a display part for displaying the monitoring image signal and a control part for controlling the image signal processing part so that the received monitoring image signal is displayed on the display part.

A tool selection method, for a machine tool, comprising the steps of identifying the maximum tip distance (D2) of a currently selected tool (141), a next designated tool (142) and an intermediate tool (143) disposed therebetween; moving a tool rest (10) in the +(plus)X-axis direction after a machining by the currently selected tool (141) is completed until the tip of the currently selected tool (141) is spaced from a workpiece (W) along the X-axis by a distance provided by adding a clearance distance (E) to a difference between the maximum tip distance (D2) and the tip distance (D3) of the currently selected tool (141); moving the tool rest (10) in the +(plus)Y-axis direction until the tip of the next designated tool (142) is aligned with the rotation center axis (12a) of the workpiece (W) in the X-axis direction; and moving the tool rest (10) in the −(minus)X-axis direction.

A method for producing cottage cheese by using Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria.

The present invention relates to a process of synthesis of α-sialyl oligosaccharides and in particular of 6'-sialyllactose and its salts comprising a step of coupling by Koenigs-Knorr reaction under conditions that allow its use on an industrial scale.

The present invention is directed to a soybean plant with mutations in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B. Moreover, the present invention is directed to seeds from said plants with altered ratios of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats. In particular, the present invention is directed to plants where the plants exhibit elevated levels of oleic acid.

The present invention relates to a method for detoxification of feed products contaminated by the mycotoxin zearalenone.

A motor-driven compressor includes a connector to which a first and second conductors are connected, and a connector case receiving the connector. The connector case includes a first case member and a second case member. A seal member is provided between the first and second case members. The first case member has a first sealing surface extending along the periphery of the first case member. The second case member has a second sealing surface extending along the periphery of the second case member and facing the first sealing surface. The seal member includes a main seal portion for sealing between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The main seal portion has a first peripheral seal portion for sealing the periphery of the first conductor inserted therethrough and has a second peripheral seal portion for sealing the periphery of the second conductor inserted therethrough.

An electromagnetic pump is provided, which includes a hollow tubular body extending along a longitudinal direction, a piston mounted so as to be able to move inside the hollow tubular body, a solenoid, supplied with alternating current and assembled around at least a portion of the body and a magnetic envelope surrounding at least a portion of the body. The presence of a magnet magnetized longitudinally in a predetermined direction and a magnetic envelope orienting and channeling flux lines created by the magnet either around the solenoid or directly inside themselves creates an oscillating magnetic force on the piston.

A rotary piston pump equipped with a motor having two counter-rotating rotary pistons. The two rotary pistons are housed in an oval pump housing. The two rotary pistons are arranged on a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The first output shaft and the second output shaft are driven and synchronized via at least one elastic element.

A digital filter is configured to convert, into a digital value, the duty ratio of a control signal subjected to pulse width modulation according to a target toque to be set for a fan motor to be driven. A sampling circuit is configured to perform sampling of the output value of the digital filter at a sampling timing that is asynchronous with respect to the cycle of the control signal, so as to generate a torque instruction value. A driving circuit is configured to drive the fan motor according to the torque instruction value thus generated.

An air pump includes a casing, a blower connected with a motor, an air flow direction switching device, an air valve, and an auto-stop control device. The air flow direction switching device includes a pressure sensor and a pressure switch. The air flow direction switching device includes a movable box and a driving device which drives the movable box. The movable box has an arm and an activation portion. An inflation switch and a deflation switch are electrically connected in parallel to a circuit and are controlled to activate by the activation portion. The pressure switch includes a dynamic contact point connected to the motor, and two static contact points respectively electrically connected to the inflation switch and the deflation switch. The dynamic contact point has a terminal which alternatively contacts the two static contact points.

An integrated control valve body and hydraulic pump for an automatic transmission includes a control valve body having a plurality of control valves and passageways and an internal cavity having an inlet and an outlet, a pump rotor received within the internal cavity and having a plurality of radially and axially extending slots, radially moveable vanes and a shaft, and a device for transferring drive energy from a drive shaft extending between an output of a torque converter and an input of the transmission to the shaft of the hydraulic pump. The device for transferring drive energy may be a pair of chain sprockets and a chain, a pair of spur or helical gears or other inter-axis power transfer components and may affect a speed increase or reduction.

A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a motor assembly, a drive shaft, a first compression mechanism, and a second compression mechanism. The motor assembly may be disposed within the shell. The drive shaft may be powered by the motor assembly. The first compression mechanism may be disposed within the shell and may be driven by the motor assembly. The second compression mechanism may be driven by the motor assembly.

An actuator is provided for driving a camera module to perform a focusing operation. The actuator includes a carrier part, a base, a driving module, and plural balls. The carrier part is used for supporting the camera module and the plural balls. The base is used for accommodating the carrier part. The driving module is used for driving movement of the carrier part. The driving module is located at a corner of the carrier part. The plural balls are located at other corners of the carrier part. The carrier part is guided by the plural balls to be moved in a direction parallel with an optical axis of the camera module.

A periphery coating unit performs a scan-in process of moving a resist liquid nozzle 27 from an outside of an edge Wb of a wafer W to a position above a periphery region Wc of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging a resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27; and a scan-out process of moving the resist liquid nozzle 27 from the position above the periphery region Wc of the wafer W to the outside of the edge Wb of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging the resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27. Further, in the scan-out process, the resist liquid nozzle 27 is moved at a speed v2 lower than a speed v3 at which the resist liquid is moved to a side of the edge Wb of the wafer W.

An actuator includes a stator and a movable component movably mounted in the stator. The stator includes a yoke, a printed circuit board disposed at one axial end of the yoke, a bobbin mounted inside the yoke, windings wound about the bobbin; and multiple terminals mounted to the bobbin to electrically connect the windings ends to the printed circuit board. The bobbin includes a plurality of spaced extending portions extending towards the printed circuit board. The terminals are mounted to a respective end of the extending portions of the bobbin that face the printed circuit board. The terminals are spaced from the yoke. A free length of the terminal between the bobbin and the printed circuit board is short enough to avoid bending which may result in a short circuit between the terminals and the yoke.

A computation & control unit defines, as first and second voltages, A+B_signal voltages at distances which give the maximum and minimum voltages of an S_signal voltage, respectively. The unit further defines the higher one of the first and second voltages as an S_signal validity determination voltage and defines a distance at which the S_signal voltage takes on an in-focus determination voltage. The unit defines first and second lower limit voltages, defines the higher one of the first and second lower limit voltages as a lower limit voltage, and defines, as an upper limit voltage, an A+B_signal voltage at a distance which gives an in-focus determination voltage between the maximum and minimum positions of the S_signal voltage. An input and output unit outputs the upper and lower limit voltages as the upper and lower limit values of a settable range of the S_signal validity determination voltage.

An apparatus for mounting a mobile device on a tripod includes a frame with a rigid peripheral member defining an opening therethrough. The peripheral member includes a mount configured to releasably couple the frame to the tripod. An insert is sized and shaped to be placed into the opening of the frame and releasably engage at least a portion of the peripheral member in an assembled configuration. The insert has a membrane in the form of a cavity configured to releasably receive and support the mobile device. The membrane extends over at least a portion of the opening of the frame in the assembled configuration and includes at least one camera hole extending therethrough that is aligned with a camera lens of the mobile device when the mobile device is mounted in the cavity.

A camera lens front cover and the monitoring camera having the same are disclosed. The monitoring camera may comprise a main body, a lens module and a camera lens front cover. The lens module may be disposed on the main body and comprise a lens holder and a camera lens, wherein the camera lens may protrude from the lens holder. The camera lens front cover may comprise a cylindrical casing and a glass cap, wherein the cylindrical casing may be hollow, and there are two openings at both sides of the cylindrical casing, and the lens module may be disposed inside the cylindrical casing. The glass cap may be disposed on one of the openings of the cylindrical casing and one side of the glass cap may be disposed with a protrusion part for accommodating the camera lens protruding from the lens holder.

An image sensing and printing digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing further storing therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots on the card and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; and a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media. The microcontroller integrates on a single chip a VLIW processor, a printhead interface, and an output buffer effecting communication between the VLIW processor and the printhead interface.

A periphery monitoring apparatus capable of photographing a vicinity of a vehicle without impairing the outer appearance of the vehicle includes a light source configured to be provided in the vehicle for illuminating the periphery of the vehicle, and a camera photographing a condition of the periphery of the vehicle with an optical axis changed by a mirror toward the underside of the circumferential edge of the vehicle illuminated by at least a portion of light irradiated from the light source reflected by the mirror configured to be disposed on the outer side of the circumferential edge of the vehicle.

An image photographing apparatus capable of maintaining the size of a sensor plate even in a case when the size of a shutter assembly is increased, the image photographing apparatus including a shutter assembly configured to control an amount of light entered, an image sensor disposed at a rear of the shutter assembly to change the light to an electrical signal, a sensor plate configured to support the image sensor, and a main frame configured such that the shutter assembly and the sensor plate are be mounted thereon, wherein the main frame includes a frame base, and a shutter mounting portion protrudedly formed from the frame base such that the shutter assembly is mounted in a sliding manner on the shutter mounting portion.

A system for capturing images in a booth. The system includes a network, a server communicatively coupled to the network, the server comprising a database operable to store images. The system further includes a booth communicatively coupled to the network, the booth comprising an input device operable to receive one or more inputs from a user, a camera operable to capture one or more images of the user, a display operable to present the one or more images, and a booth computer operable to transmit the one or more images to the server.

A toy projectile launching system including at least one launchable toy projectile, including at least one RFID tag, and a toy projectile launching apparatus, including a housing, a projectile launching mechanism, a projectile receptacle, and an RFID writer adapted to write tag data to the at least one RFID tag, wherein the toy projectile is adapted to be loaded into the projectile receptacle and launched by the projectile launching mechanism.

A swinging bob toy having three bobs constrained on a string, the middle bob being slideably constrained between the two end bobs, and at least one of the bobs being reversibly separable into two partial bobs. A wide variety of new tricks and maneuvers are made possible by the separability of the bobs. The two partial bobs have roughly the same weight thereby providing balanced orbits. Each of the two partial bobs slides less easily along the string than a non-separated bob. The two partial bobs have roughly the same diameter along at least one axis thereby allowing visual illusions to be performed.

A collapsible and expandable children's toy building block is described. The toy blocks may be made in various sizes and shapes. The toy block includes an internal frame. A cover is positioned over the internal frame to form the toy block. The toy block converts from a collapsed position to an expanded position, and the toy block converts from the expanded position back to the collapsed position.

The system described in this disclosure may be configured to read information stored on toy objects that indicates whether the toy objects have been used and/or are being used with other toy objects, gaming systems, and/or other devices. The system described in this disclosure may be configured to facilitate an association of the information stored on the toy objects with virtual entities in a virtual space, update virtual content associated with the virtual entities, determine relationships between users, and/or other perform other functions based on the information stored on the toy objects. The information stored on the toy objects may be updated responsive to the toy objects being used by users with other toy objects, gaming systems, and/or other devices. The use of the toy objects by users may include two or more users playing together with toy objects and/or playing with gaming systems associated with the toy objects.

The present invention provides a system, or kit, of blow molded panels having integrally formed connectors which combine to form an enclosure, commonly in the form of a utility shed. The corner sections, roof, wall and floor panels are formed of blow molded plastic with integrally formed connectors to interlock with one another. In one embodiment, the ends of the wall panels have locking plugs that are constructed and arranged to fit into corresponding sockets and slide to an engaged position for interlocking cooperative engagement rigidly connecting the components together.

A squirting toy is comprised of a cylindrical housing and a piston that slides within to force water into or out of the housing via a hole therein. The housing is encased within a shell creating a water impervious volume sufficient for the toy to float in water. The shell is soft, so that the gun is not a safety hazard when left floating in a swimming pool. Handles associated with one or both actuating portions of the squirting toy are provided for gripping and operating the squirting toy more effectively.

This invention relates to hand manipulated toy construction equipment such as backhoes, trucks, etc. In one embodiment, the truck body is hollow at one end so that the truck may be manipulated by inserting one's arm into the truck body and grasping and manipulating a transverse dowel handle. Spring-loaded means are provided within the truck body and are coupled to the dumper to control the motion of the equipment. A sound module is also provided to simulate construction sounds.

A toy building block (1) for stacking is provided on top (4) with one or more studs (3) and in the bottom (7) with recesses (6). The studs (4) show a toothwheel-like cross-section with rounded teeth crests (12) and rounded grooves (10) between the teeth (12) as well. The recesses (6) are provided each with a number of vertically extending lands (14) matching in shape the grooves (10). The studs easily slide in and out of the recesses (6), yet a rotational arretation of low play is obtained. Preferably, the building blocks are produced by a blowing process and may be provided with screws (21) for a safe interconnection. External slots (46) may allow the combination with panels (47) bearing images, additional functional elements etc.

An improved set of toy building or construction blocks, each block having a substantially square cross-section and a generally rectilinear configuration. Incorporated into the structure of the individual toy blocks are transversely oriented slots, grooves and protrusions of predetermined size and location. The slots, grooves and protrusions of pre-determined size and location are of either male or female configuration disposed medially along one or more plane of each block. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced perpendicular to the female slot of one end of another block, a frictional engagement is created resulting in a right angle. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced to the female slot in a linear fashion the result is a line segment. Joining a plurality of said toy building or construction blocks using various perpendicular connections in conjunction with linear connections results in the stable formation of construction or geometric structures without the use of fasteners or other connecting elements.

An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.

A toy construction system is provided that includes, in a toy construction system having a multiplicity of interconnecting members adapted for constructing a variety of projects, a rotator head device including a device housing having a conical-shaped cavity formed therein. The housing includes a plurality of female twist-lock connectors formed on the outer surface thereof, and the female connectors are adapted for attaching a first member of the toy construction system to the rotator head device housing. A rotating member, which is conical in shape and slightly smaller in size than the cavity formed in the device housing is included. The rotating member is rotatably disposed within the cavity and has a male twist-lock connector stem extending from an end thereof for connecting a second member of the toy construction system to the rotating member, whereby the first member is rotatable with respect to the second member.

Disclosed herein is a mini-figure that may be used with existing and standard toy block systems and also have the appearance of a sports figure. Improvements over traditional mini-figures include additional separate components in the arms and feet, an optional variation in torso shape, accessories which create visual impression of sports figures in natural use, unique markings identifiable by specific player or production, and a unique method of marketing and distribution.

An image capturing toy may include a toy vehicle that may include at least one wheel and a camera, the camera including a camera lens and/or a housing that may include a first aperture and a wheel chock configured to inhibit displacement of a wheel. The housing may be moveable from an open position in which the toy vehicle may be placed in and removed from the housing, to a closed position in which the housing releasably encases the toy vehicle such that the camera lens is accessible through the first aperture and the wheel chock engages the at least one wheel.

A toy figure is provided that incorporates an articulated armature, the armature including a torso member and multiple limbs, where each limb may be the same or different, and each limb includes at least one limb segment. Each limb segment includes two longitudinal primary plates that intersect approximately orthogonally, and a plurality of substantially parallel secondary plates that intersect with and are approximately orthogonal to both primary plates. The outer edges of the primary and secondary plates of each limb segment substantially define a shape and a volume for that limb portion of the toy figure. The articulated armature is surrounded by a resilient body material to simulate flesh.

An interlocking toy block set may include at least two blocks with at least one constraining groove formed in a surface of each of the at least two blocks. At least one connector may have at least two attachment members formed thereon. The attachment members may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the constraining grooves.

A water disc toy comprises an upper platter, a lower platter, and a plurality of supports. Both the upper platter and the lower platter comprise a plastic structure with a flat or even slightly convex outer surface which facilitates skipping the device across a water surface. The upper and lower platter are interconnected with the plurality of integral supports. Each support comprises a small cylindrical plastic structure. The area between the upper platter, the lower platter, and the supports is filled with a lightweight foam material which allows the entire device to float in water.

A toy apparatus and method for interactive communication between a cellphone and a toy apparatus is disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided, the method including: transmitting by the cellphone at least one signal; receiving by the toy apparatus the at least one signal; analyzing by the toy apparatus the at least one signal; determining by the toy apparatus at least one response to the at least one signal; and producing by the toy apparatus the at least one response.

A plurality of individual toys, at least a first one of which generates acoustic signals and at least a second one of which receives acoustic signals. When the second toy receives acoustic signals from the first toy, it responds, for example, by generating a sound and/or controlling its motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toys flock and/or form a procession of toys which follow a leader toy, for example a mother goose and a plurality of following and preferably quacking goslings.