An Example can include an elongate pump barrel extending along a length and defining an elongate hollow piston chamber. The Example can include a piston slidably movable within the piston chamber to compress air within the piston chamber. The Example can include a piston rod connected to the piston. The Example can include a handle connected to the piston rod to reciprocally slide the piston in the piston chamber. The Example can include a piston rod seal disposed around the piston rod and coupled with the elongate pump barrel. The Example can include a downward opening air intake passage, located away from the rod seal, in fluid communication with a top of the piston.

Hand pumps have existed for manual operation in the inflation of various items. Such items include recreational products, but hand pumps have also been used for other purposes such as on tires for automotive vehicles. More commonly, however, hand pumps are used to inflate the tires of bicycles, pneumatic balls and other such recreational items.
Some hand pumps are relatively small and are adapted to be held in one hand and operated with another by reciprocally moving, telescoping or axially aligned components to compress air within a cylinder which is transferred from the cylinder into a valve stem or sealed hole in the article being inflated. Hand operated floor pumps are also well known and typically are larger than the hand held pumps. The hand operated floor pumps are adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and can be held in place with the operator's foot which engages an anchor or pedal on the lower end of the pump.
Hand operated floor pumps typically include an elongated cylindrical barrel having a piston rod with a handle at one end so that the piston rod can be reciprocated relative to the barrel to compress air on alternating strokes. The compressed air can be forced out of an opening in the barrel, which is typically in communication with a flexible hose having a valve head on its terminal end. Valve heads take numerous forms, but are adapted to be connected to valve stems or needles for insertion into sealed openings in pneumatic balls or the like so that the compressed air can be transferred into the article being inflated.
One problem with hand operated floor pumps is that they are not designed for outdoor, public use. Such uses can subject the pump to degradation due to elements, theft and/or tampering. Elements can affect pump performance, such as by seeping into a pump and effecting the performance of internal components. Often, pumps can be carried away and stolen. Pumps can be tampered with, such as via disassembly and/or abuse such as bending. In order to improve public access to pumps, costs should be held to levels that are acceptable to municipalities, such as through the cost reduction of parts, manufacturing, and/or assemblies. Because modern users desire pressure control beyond that which can be sensed by hand such as by pressing on a tire, a pump should allow for precise control of pressure.

Tamper resistant hand-operated pneumatic pump


A backing plate member is securable preferably to a vertically extending wall with at least one or more C-shaped clamping members secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom approximately horizontally. Each clamping member includes a first and second clamp arm with a unique clamp arm adjustment means attached therebetween and positioned between the clamp base and the cylinder gripping zone defined between the clamp arms. The clamp arm adjustment means preferably includes a locking member for adjusting the spacing between the clamps for adjusting the size of the cylinder gripping zone as well as a spacer member with an arcuate abutment surface mated to the adjustment abutment surface of one of the clamp arms to facilitate contact therebetween at various adjustment positions and contact therebetween as the preferably flexibly resilient clamp arms are resiliently flexed to a more open position during urging of a cylindrically-shaped member therebetween into the cylinder gripping zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of wall mounted brackets or retaining devices adapted to secure members thereto. More particularly the devices are designed to be securable specifically with respect to round members and, in particular, cylindrically-shaped members and as such require at least two clamping arms to define an area therebetween to facilitate holding of the otherwise difficult to grasp cylindrical or curved surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous design and utility patents which deal with the purpose of providing a means for mounting of generally cylindrically-shaped members upon a vertically extending surface and, in particular, a wall surface such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,117,491 patented Nov. 17, 1914 to E. Hornung on an "Umbrella Stand"; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,911,781 patented May 30, 1933 to 0. P. Wolfe, Jr. on a "Support And Holder For Brooms, Mops, And The Like"; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,925,767 patented Sep. 5, 1933 to G. W. Mallory on a "Broom Holder"; and U. S. Pat. No. 2,029,051 patented Jan. 28, 1936 to A. C. Blevins and assigned to Nu-Deal Handle Co. on a "Bottle Holder"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,232 patented Aug. 11, 1964 to H. 0. Smootz on a "Torch Holder"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,775 patented Sep. 7, 1965 to G. L. Smith et al on a "Support For Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,644 patented Dec. 28, 1965 to K. Schuch and assigned to VEB Carl Zeiss Jena on an "Apparatus Producing Interferential Test Data For Measuring And Control Instruments"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,550 patented Sep. 7, 1971 to C. Byrd and assigned to Lacy J. Miller Machine Company, Inc. on a "Quick Release Support"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 222,527 patented Nov. 2, 1971 on a "Bracket For Use With Lifesaving Equipment"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,635 patented Oct. 16, 1973 to W. R. Burrell et al and assigned to Burrell Bros., Inc. on a "Bracket For Gas Containers And Similar Tanks"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,972 patented Dec. 25, 1973 to J. C. Brodersen on a "Mounting Apparatus For Gas Containers"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 237,357 patented Oct. 28, 1975 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. and assigned to Ziamatic Corporation on a "Tank Support Bracket For Lifesaving Equipment"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 244,392 patented May 17, 1977 to R. Montambo and assigned to The Ansul Company on a "Combined Fire Extinguisher And Bracket"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,761 patented May 17, 1977 to J. Molis on an "Adjustable Bracket To Stabilize Upright Compressed Gas Containers Against Displacement On Mobile Vehicles And Ship-Board Installations And Maintenance Shops"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 245,929 patented Sep. 27, 1977 to R. Montambo and assigned to The Ansul Company on a "Fire Extinguisher Bracket"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,592 patented Jul. 22, 1980 to D. Lingenfelser and assigned to Caterpillar Tractor Co. on a "Bracket Assembly For Mounting Fire Extinguishers Thereon"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 267,227 patented Dec. 14, 1982 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. and assigned to Ziamatic Corporation on a "Support Bracket For A Gas Cylinder"; and U.S Pat. No. 4,391,377 patented Jul. 5, 11983 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a "Knock-Down Assembly For Supporting Oxygen Tanks"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,358 patented Apr. 24, 1984 to D. Spohn et al on a "Fluid Reservoir And Connector"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,687 patented May 6, 1986 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on an "Air Tank Support Of The Quick Release Type"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,521 patented Aug. 19, 1986 to G. Williams on a "Cylinder Holder"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,432 patented Nov. 25, 1986 to F. Salacuse and assigned to Super Glue Corporation on a "Heavy Duty Clamping System"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,211 patented May 9, 1989 to D. McConnell et al and assigned to ITC, Incorporated on a "Foldable Support For Beverage Container"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,714 patented Jul. 18, 1989 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a "Mounting Plate With Rollers"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 303,738 patented Oct. 3, 1989 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a "Rotatable Cylinder Holder"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 314,325 patented Feb. 5, 1991 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a "Clamping Set Of Bracket Arms For Supporting Tubular Objects"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 319,778 patented Sep. 10, 1991 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a "Vertical Support Brace Bracket Panel For Holding Tubular Objects"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,266 patented Jun. 7, 1994 to H. Liu on a "Drink Holder"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 347,735 patented Jun. 14, 1994 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a "Quick Release Support Tank Bracket"; and U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 353,242 patented Dec. 6, 1994 to G. McCoy, Sr. et al on a "Paint Can Holder"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,508 patented Jun. 13, 1995 to S. Isenga et al and assigned to ITC, Incorporated on a "Foldable Support For Beverage Container"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,246 patented Oct. 31, 1995 to D. Schlenker on an "Anti-Rotation Clamp For Gated Irrigation Pipe"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,133 patented Mar. 4, 1997 to H. Markham et al and assigned to E-Z Metal Products, Inc. on an "Apparatus And Method For Supporting A Cylindrical Tank"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,195 patented Nov. 10, 1998 to D. Haynes and assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army on a "Gas Retaining Device.

Mounting bracket means for detachably supporting a generally cylindrically-shaped member upon a wall surface


A process for producing a copolymer of propylene and other .alpha.-olefins in the presence of a catalyst comprising a titanium-containing solid catalyst component and an organoaluminum compound is disclosed. The process comprises (1) a first step in which propylene is homopolymerized or propylene and a minor proportion of other .alpha.-olefin are copolymerized to prepare polymer particles having a pore volume of from 0.15 to 0.30 cm.sup.3 /g, and (2) a second step in which propylene and other .alpha.-olefin are copolymerized in the presence of said polymer particles. The resulting propylene copolymer particles have improved fluidity and high bulk density.

Propylene polymers are obtained by homopolymerization of propylene or copolymerization of propylene and other olefins in the presence of a so-called Ziegler-Natta catalyst mainly composed of a solid catalyst component containing titanium and an organoaluminum compound. Known polymerization techniques include polymerization in the presence of an inert hydrocarbon solvent, polymerization in liquefied propylene, and polymerization in a gaseous phase in the substantial absence of an inert solvent .or liquefied propylene.
However, in the production of propylene-olefin random or block copolymers, a considerably large proportion of amorphous polymers is by-produced, and the resulting polymer particles have poor fluidity and a reduced bulk density due to their surface tackiness. In an extreme case, the particles adhere to various equipment such as a reaction vessel and a hopper, stop flowing due to bridging, or undergo agglomeration or caking.
The production of propylene polymers, especially random or block copolymers, has thus been under restrictions arising from the above-described poor powder properties such that the copolymerization ratio of other olefins (the amount of other olefins in the copolymer) should be limited. The gaseous polymerization method is considered to slightly alleviate such disadvantages but is still unsatisfactory.
Furthermore, in the production of block copolymers, adhesion of polymer particles to the inner wall of reactors and caking of the particles not only are a great hinderance to stable operation but deteriorate the product quality.

Process for producing propylene copolymer


A dot judgment circuit judges whether there exists color information in dot-pattern-developed image data of pixels around a black pixel under attention. When not finding the existence of color information, the dot judgment circuit selects a head driver for driving a recording head for jetting a slow drying black pixel. When finding the existence of color information, the dot judgment circuit selects a head driver for a recording head for jetting a quick drying black ink or head drivers for recording heads for jetting quick drying Y, M and C inks.

The present invention relates to a color ink jet recording apparatus specifically of the type which can provide high-quality printing of black portions.
Among conventional color ink jet recording apparatuses is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 64-75252. In this color ink jet recording apparatus, printing data is subjected to discrimination between low density level data and high density level data, and two sets of recording heads are provided which respectively use low-density inks Y1 (yellow), M1 (magenta), C1 (cyan)and high-density inks Y2, M2, C2 and K (black). Printing is made using the single black ink in black portions of character and symbol areas where high resolution is required, and using two sets of inks (excluding the black ink) of different densities in dark and light image areas such as photograph areas where high gradation performance is required.
However, since the recording heads are used for the respective inks of high and low densities, the above conventional color ink jet recording apparatus is not only expensive but also complex and bulky.
Further, in the conventional apparatus, a wide black portion in a dark and light image area is printed with the inks for dark and light images. In general, quick drying inks are used for dark and light images, and they cannot provide high-quality printing of black images because of their low printing densities. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, a wide black portion in a dark and light image area cannot be printed with sufficient image quality. On the other hand, if a black portion in or adjacent to a dark and light image area is printed using a slow drying ink, ink running may occur to deteriorate the image quality.

Color ink jet recording apparatus capable of high-quality printing of black portions


A financial transaction customer carries a card key containing a unique, machine-readable code. The code is an encrypted data set representing the user's thumbprint. A scanning system senses the user's thumbprint on or adjacent the card key as he turns the card key in a keyhole. The code and thumbprint are read by laser and must match previously recorded data before an indication of satisfactory identification can be returned. The identification system further includes a centralized database containing data and processing software for recognizing the encoded card keys of the system, in addition to data and processing software for authenticating a user's thumbprint. A network links this centralized database to a number of remote terminals at sites where identification is required. Such a distributed network is common in today's identification systems involving more than one remote site.

In financial and commercial transaction systems today, there is a need to positively verify the status of a person who requests goods and services from a system at an unattended site or from someone to whom he is not known. The same is true of one who seeks access to a restricted site. Such systems are commonly used in connection with retail purchases using credit or debit cards, employee access control at restricted areas, and student identification cards at libraries and campus events, among others.
Some existing identification systems use a secret code, often referred to as a personal identification number (PIN). Other systems rely upon one's likeness to a photograph, or the possession of an instrument such as a key or an encoded card in an effort to confirm an individual's identity. Such a system is offered by Identicator Technology of San Bruno Calif. In this system, the verification process compares the holder's unique fingerprint features that are stored on the magnetic stripe of a card or smart card with the cardholder's live finger image. The fingerprint scanning is performed by the holder placing his finger on a peripheral device that authenticates the owner of the card and links the card to the cardholder. Thus, the scanning is performed apart from the data on the card.
Still other methods, including the evaluation of a signature, the matching of finger prints, sensing the likeness of a voice, the geometry of a hand, and other means, may use these or a combination of methods. Unfortunately, such systems often rely upon the skill and attention of busy sales or other service people, and there is often no way to detect if an instrument has been stolen or otherwise not in the possession of one who is authorized to hold the instrument. In other words, the possession of such an instrument does not confirm an individual's identity, or verify that the holder of an instrument is authorized to do so.
The most commonly used identification methods in use today for credit and debit cards is either the PIN system or comparison with a simple, hand-written signature in a space provided on the card. Such means have proved satisfactory in the vast majority of transactions, because most people are in fact honest. However, for the unscrupulous, the security provided by such means has proved to be inadequate. Thus, there remains a need for a means to positively verify the status of an individual at a point of sale for goods or services, or at an unattended site, such as at an automated teller machine and the like.

Personal verification in a commercial transaction system


A melanin that is soluble in an aqueous solution at a pH between 5 and 9 at a temperature of 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. Advantageously, the melanin is capable of being filtered through at least a 0.45 micron size filter, and has a molecular weight of greater than 10,000 kilodaltons. The melanin is useful for providing a naturally-appearing tan to mammalian skin and hair. Such melanin can be produced by combining dopachrome and an appropriate enzyme, or by incubating 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid alone or with 5,6-dihydroxyindole, or with 3-amino-tyrosine. The melanin is also useful for providing a sun-screen to mammalian skin and hair, to treat post-inflammatory hypo- and hyperpigmentation, to tint glass and plastic, to protect industrial materials against ultraviolet damage, and as a coloring agent in foodstuffs such as coffee, tea, soda, whiskey and liquors.

In biology, melanins are heteropolymers consisting of L-dopa and its enzymatic derivatives. They are ubiquitous in living organisms and are produced throughout the zoological and botanical phyla. In mammalian skin, melanins are produced through enzymatic processes in specialized cells known as "melanocytes". Melanins are the pigments of mammalian skin and hair.
Mammalian melanins are highly insoluble and can be dissolved (solubilized) only through non-physiological treatments such as boiling in strong alkali, or through the use of strong oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide. Tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the melanin biosynthetic pathway, can catalyze the formation of melanin in a test tube using L-tyrosine, L-dopa or 5,6-dihydroxyindole as substrates; however, the product is an insoluble precipitate as described above.
Ito, "Reexamination of the Structure of Eumelanin", Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 883, 155-161, 1986, mentions that natural melanin may be a polymer of 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. Ito, however, does not teach or suggest combining these chemicals to form melanin.
Ito and Nicol, "Isolation of Oligimers of 5,6-Dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic Acid from the Eye of the Catfish", Biochemical Journal, 143, 207-217, 1974, mention that oligimers of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid exist in nature, for example in the tapetum lucidum of the sea catfish (Arius felis). Ito and Nicol, however do not teach or suggest that these structures could be used as a form of soluble melanin.
Palumbo, d'Ischia, Misuraca, and Prota, "Effect of metal ion on the rearrangement of dopachrome", Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 925, 203-209, 1987, mention that the non-decarboxylative rearrangement of dopachrome at physiological pH values, leading mainly to the formation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. They suggest that when considered in the light of the known metal accumulation in pigmented tissues, their results provide a new entry into the regulatory mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of melanin. Palumbo et al., However, do not teach or suggest that such metal ions could be used to affect the color or formation of soluble melanin. Likewise, Leonard, Townsend, and King, "Function of Dopachrome Oxidoreductase and Metal Ions in Dopachrome Conversion in the Eumelanin Pathway", Biochemistry, 27, 6156-6159, 1988, present similar results to those of Palumbo et al. regarding metal ions and the formation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid from dopachrome. Like Palumbo et al., Leonard et al. also do not teach or suggest that such metal ions could be used to affect the color for formation of soluble melanin.
Korner and Pawelek, J. Invest Dermatol. 75, 192-195, 1980, report the presence of an enzymic activity, "dopachrome conversion factor", in melanocytes which catalyzes the conversion of dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. Pawelek, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 166, 1328-1333, 1990, showed that this conversion reaction is an isomerization and that dopachrome conversion factor is an isomerase. Aroca, Garcia-Borron, Solano, and Lozano, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Acta, 1035, 266-275, 1990, suggested that the mechanism is indeed an isomerization which involves a tautomeric shift and proposed that the enzyme be named "dopachrome tautomerase" with the official Enzyme Commission number of E.C. 22.214.171.124. Tsukamoto, Jackson, Urabe, Motague, and Hearing, EMBO J., in press, 1992, reported identification of a gene for dopachrome tautomerase. The above information is reviewed by Pawelek, Pigment Cell Research, 4, 53-62, 1991.
Wolfram et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,497) disclose tanning by applying a composition comprising melanin precursors or melanin precursor-like materials to the skin. They do not teach or claim that applying melanins, either natural or synthetic, to the skin will mimic skin tanning. Rather they teach that such melanins achieve "only superficial external tanning results which is readily removed by rinsing with water or rubbing with a towel".
Herlihy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,773) discloses a skin tanning composition containing a melanin precursor and a tyrosinase enzyme in a cosmetic base. He does not, however, teach or claim the application of melanins, either natural or synthetic to the skin.
Gaskin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,344) discloses a sun protectant composition comprising "melanin" as one of the ingredients. Gaskin further discloses that the melanin is "synthesized from tyrosinase and DOPA". She does not teach or suggest that such melanin is synthesized non-enzymatically or that it is comprised of precursors which confer either negative or positive charges on the polymer, rendering it soluble in aqueous solutions.
Many reports exist exploring the role of sulfhydryl compounds such as cysteine or glutathione in determining the red or yellow colors in melanin (see review by Prota, d'Ischia, and Napolitano, "The Regulatory Role of Sulfhydryl Compounds in Melanogenesis", Pigment Cell Research, Supplement 1, 48-53, 1988. However, these reports do not teach or suggest that said sulfhydryl compounds could be used to influence the colors of synthetic soluble melanins.
It would be of commercial value to have synthetic varieties of melanin with different solubility, molecular size, and color characteristics. That is, it would be useful to be able to produce various melanins of predictable colors and physicochemical characteristics through specific changes in the synthetic reaction conditions. For example, it would be of value to produce a melanin that, at neutral pH, is soluble in aqueous solvents such as those used in skin creams and lotions, while at acid pH, is soluble in organic solvents such as those used in oil-based paints.
Such melanins could impart a natural-appearing tan to mammalian skin and hair. Such melanins would also be effective as sun-screens, since melanins are the chemicals in the skin which absorb ultraviolet radiation and thus provide protection from its harmful effects, such as premature skin aging and the occurrence of skin cancers.
Such melanins would be effective in treating post-inflammatory hypopigmentation due to eczema, acne, trauma, burns and psoriasis. Also, as a cover-up for vitiligo and other disorders of hypopigmentation, soluble melanins would be quite effective.
Since melanins absorb light throughout the ultraviolet and visible spectra, they would also be effective as glass or plastic tinting agents for eye glasses, contact lenses, car windows, house windows, office buildings, etc. Since melanins exhibit brown, red-brown, and golden-brown colors, they would be effective food and beverage colorants for such things as beer, tea, coffee, potato chips, and the like.
Likewise, by absorbing in the ultraviolet range, such melanins would be effective agents in protecting industrial materials against damage from ultraviolet radiation. By "industrial material" or "industrial product" is meant, for example, truck and car tires, paints, laminating materials, plastics, synthetic resins, and fabrics, particularly fabrics containing nylon, and like materials or products. It is well known that the rate of deterioration of paints, wood, plastics and rubber is dramatically increased by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
In application Ser. No. 674,489, filed Mar. 25, 1991, now pending, and in its parent applications Ser. No. 603,111 filed Oct. 25, 1990, now pending, and Ser. No. 525,944 filed May 18, 1990, now pending, there are disclosed novel soluble melanins and processes for their production.
One such process involves reaction of dopachrome with at least one enzyme, now known as dopachrome tautomerase, derived from biological cells or tissues which contain a pigmentary system. Advantageously, 5,6-dihydroxyindole, indole-5,6-quinone and/or melanochrome are also present.
If 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid is included in the reaction system, dopachrome and dopachrome tautomerase may be omitted and a soluble melanin will still be produced.
While the resulting soluble melanins are quite satisfactory in performance, there are certain limitations in their solubility over a broad pH range. Moreover, the colors of the soluble melanins are somewhat limited in scope.


The present invention discloses an on-line wheel cleaning device, having a frame, a cylinder, a motor, a brush chassis, radial brushes, a spline shaft and a spline housing, wherein a sensor enables a wheel to be primarily positioned; a clamping cylinder enables two left clamping rollers and right clamping rollers to clamp the wheel by way of gears, left racks, right racks and a guide rail; a jacking cylinder is used for jacking the brush chassis and the radial brushes through the spline shaft and enabling the brush chassis and the radial brushes to touch a flange plate and a center hole of the wheel, respectively; the motor drives a first belt pulley, the spline housing and the spline shaft to rotate through a synchronous belt and a first belt pulley; an adjusting cylinder jacks up an apex to drive the four radial brushes to move outwards respectively.

In a production process of an aluminum alloy wheel, spraying is a very important procedure, and the procedure is carried out to achieve a better appearance effect for the wheel. However, the procedure contains numerous steps, after spraying bottom powder and colored paint on the wheel for the first time, and before carrying out the next step, bottom powder on a ring flange of the wheel and at a center hole must be removed; at this time, if the bottom powder is removed manually, the efficiency is absolutely very low, and the effect is not good; and therefore, an automatic device is needed to quickly remove the bottom powder online.


An optical pickup position control device according to the present invention automatically adjusts tracking with precision and in a short time. Two deviation signals, which express deviation of a light beam, projected by a pickup which uses the three-beam method, from a target track of a disk, are digitized by two AD converters. Two high-pass filters extract from the deviation signals AC signals, producing a tracking error signal. Further, two low-pass filters extract from the deviation signals DC signals (offset components). Two other low-pass filters extract from the deviation signals low-band signals containing DC components. Using the various foregoing signals, a control circuit calculates correction values to be applied to two offset correcting circuits and to two gain/balance correcting circuits, and corrections are performed collectively and simultaneously on the basis of these correction values.

Devices, such as compact disk devices and minidisk devices, which optically reproduce (or record) data are provided with an optical pickup, which projects laser light onto a disk, and receives light reflected therefrom. In such devices, the position of the optical pickup with respect to the disk is generally controlled by means of tracking control and focus control. As is commonly known, tracking control is control which causes the light projected by the optical pickup to correctly follow a target track on the disk, and focus control is control which adjusts the focus position of the laser light in order to form on the target track a light spot of a predetermined diameter (i.e., a focused light spot).
Conventional devices for performing this kind of control include, for example, those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 5-217315/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-217315; hereinafter "Document 1"), 5-151592/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-151592; hereinafter "Document 2"), and 5-151590/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-151590/1993; hereinafter "Document 3").
In Document 1, gain of a focus servo loop or of a tracking servo loop (servo computing section) are adjusted automatically with each servo loop in a closed state. In Document 1, a signal of a predetermined frequency, produced by an oscillator (VCO), is applied to the servo loops. Further, by means of a band-pass filter, a signal of a certain frequency is extracted from the output of the servo computing section, and this extracted signal is multiplied with the signal from the oscillator. From the resulting signal, unneeded frequency components are eliminated using a notch filter, and gain is adjusted according to the output value of the notch filter.
In order to determine the state of a servo loop quickly and simply, it is most effective to apply, as above, an external signal to the servo loop. Accordingly, almost all disk devices including an automatic adjustment structure which are now on the market adopt the method of applying an external signal. For this reason, there are many cases in which the external signal producer and the various filters function solely as members for automatic adjustment, and are not used during normal reproducing. Further, since adjustment of the servo loop can only be performed with the servo loop in a closed state, it becomes necessary to repeat the operations of closing and opening the servo loop for each adjustment.
In Document 2, with the tracking servo loop in an open state, the pickup is moved a predetermined time or a distance necessary to cross a predetermined number of tracks. At this time, track deviation signals, which express an amount of deviation from the centerline of the target track, are measured from each side of the track, and a tracking error signal, which is a difference between these two deviation signals, is outputted. Then, by adjusting the gain of one of a pair of variable gain amplifiers through which the two track deviation signals are sent, so that a mean value of the tracking error signals approaches zero, the gain of the other variable gain amplifier is controlled in accordance with this adjustment. When tracking balance has been attained by repeating this gain adjustment until the mean value is zero, the gain control value at this time is stored in storage means (a memory).
In adjusting the balance, the gain of one of the variable gain amplifiers is adjusted, and a comparator determines whether the mean value of the tracking error signals is a value within a predetermined range. If it is determined that the mean value is outside the predetermined range, gain is again adjusted, and gain adjustment must be repeated until the mean value falls within the predetermined range.
In a focus control device according to Document 3, when not receiving the light beam reflected from the memory medium, two signals from position detecting means are measured, and, using these measured values, an offset correction quantity is set. With this method, offset arising in the circuit is corrected in a state free of influence from reflected light and stray light. In order to avoid the influence of gain and balance adjustment, this offset adjustment is performed prior to gain and balance adjustment.
After offset has been corrected, the position detecting means are returned to a state in which they can receive the light beam reflected from the memory medium, and gain adjustment is performed. In gain and balance correction, after adjusting one of the foregoing two signals, fine tuning of a control target position is performed. In fine tuning, gain correction quantity is roughly set so that the maximum amplitudes of the two signals from the position detecting means are equal. Then, when rough adjustment of focus has substantially been completed, gain correction quantity is further varied within a certain range, and the intensity of reflected light from the light projected onto the track is detected. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, gain and balance correction quantities are set so that the intensity of the reflected light is maximum.
Incidentally, the present invention is chiefly directed toward tracking adjustment, but it may also be directed toward focus adjustment. Accordingly, the focus adjustment method of Document 3, which may also be applied to tracking adjustment, has been discussed above as prior art.
In typical optical pickup position control devices, as seen in Document 1, in performing tracking gain adjustment, an external signal is generally applied to the servo loop. This adjustment is naturally only possible when the servo loop is in a closed state. For this reason, control of external signal application, servo opening and closing, etc. becomes complicated. Further, since an external signal unnecessary in normal servo loop operations is applied, the servo system naturally becomes unstable, and the reliability of adjustment is impaired.
Moreover, since it is necessary to provide means for producing the external signal to be applied to the servo loop during tracking gain adjustment, and to perform complex switching of filters, etc. in order to extract the external signal, circuit structure and circuit processing are complicated. Further, if the S/N ratio of the signal to be reproduced has not yet been adjusted, passing the output of the servo computing section through the filters, etc. does not generally improve the S/N ratio, and the gain may not be correctly adjusted. There is also the drawback that adjustment using an external signal takes time. Furthermore, since gain adjustment is performed with the external signal inputted, unlike a case without input of an external signal, gain is adjusted in a somewhat different state due to the influence of each external signal. This accordingly leads to the drawback that tracking gain cannot be adjusted with the optimum value.
With the tracking balance adjustment of Document 2, in order to easily obtain a tracking error signal, the optical head is forcibly moved. Further, by repeatedly increasing and decreasing the gain of a variable gain amplifier with the tracking error signal passing through a low-pass filter, gain is adjusted so that the average value of the tracking error signal is zero. With this adjustment method, since various steps are repeated, the time needed for adjustment is lengthened. Again, the time needed for adjustment is also lengthened by the time required to move the optical head to the predetermined position.
With Document 3 relating to focus control, in order to avoid influence from the optical system by adjusting offset of the focus when the light beam is not projected, a structure for opening and closing the optical path is necessary, and the structure of the device is complicated. Moreover, since only the offset in the circuit is corrected, a drawback is that offset due to stray light cannot be corrected.
Further, since one of the two signals from the position detecting means is corrected using the other signal as a standard, if the standard signal is not a suitable value, the other signal cannot be corrected accurately. This necessitates an operation for adjusting the standard signal to a suitable value. Again, even if the standard signal is a suitable value, it is necessary to confirm whether the other signal has been influenced by the foregoing adjustment, which requires a large amount of time.
Further, in performing focus control, adjustment of offset outside of the optical system (i.e., in the circuit system) is first performed, and then, with the light beam projected, rough adjustment of gain and balance, and finally fine tuning for optimization of the gain correction quantity are performed. Since, with regard to gain/balance, gain correction quantity is set in two stages, control is complicated, with the result that setting the gain correction quantity requires a large amount of time. Moreover, in setting by fine tuning, gain is gradually varied and the maximum value of the reflected light found by repeating operation routines for setting, measurement, storage, comparison, etc., and the gain control quantity at that time is then found. Thus the time necessary for adjustment is necessarily lengthened. In order to obtain the maximum value of the reflected light, in practice, at least two focus position changes and at least three light intensity measurements are necessary, and, in normal use, there are probably many cases in which even more changes and measurements are required.
As discussed above, the prior art in the foregoing three documents has various problems. Further, Document 1 discusses gain adjustment, Document 2 balance adjustment, and Document 3 offset correction and balance adjustment, but with the prior art in these documents, offset correction, gain adjustment, and balance adjustment cannot be performed collectively. In other words, the prior art in each of the foregoing documents has its particular problems, and adjustment must be carried out in steps by performing each of the various steps in turn.


A linear-motion device has: a linear-motion element fitted on a shaft which moves straight along the shaft; a plurality of balls which are retained in a ball groove formed on the inner side of the linear-motion element and roll over between the ball groove and the shaft; a separator interposed between the balls; and, a circulating path formed in the linear-motion element through which the balls are circulated from one end of the ball groove to the other, which is filled with a grease, wherein the separator is a formed product comprising as a resin component a polybutylene naphthalate-based elastomer formed by a hard segment made of a polybutylene naphthalate and a soft segment made of a polycondensate of 2,6-naphthalanedicarboxylic acid with a polytetramethylene ether glycol.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear-motion device such as linear guide device and ball screw to be incorporated in industrial machines, etc. and more particularly to a technique for reducing noise in and prolonging the life of such a linear-motion device.
The present invention relates to a ball screw which has balls to be circulated endlessly in a return tube process and more particularly to a low noise ball screw which is preferably used in machine tools, industrial robots, etc.
In particular, the present invention relates to a ball screw which is preferably used in high speed precision positioning in machine tool bonder, etc.
2. Discussion of Related Arts
As shown in FIG. 1, a linear guide device 10 comprises a guide rail 1 having a rolling groove 3 provided on the outer surface thereof and a slider 2 mounted across the guide rail 1. The side of the slider 2 facing the rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1 is partly opened to form a ball circulating path 4 in the form of racing track with the rolling groove 3 of the guide rail 1. Into the ball circulating path 4 are received rollably a large number of balls B.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, a ball screw device 20 comprises a ball nut 12 provided surrounding a screw shaft 11, and a plurality of balls B rollably disposed in the space defined by a thread groove 12a formed spirally on the inner surface of the ball nut 12 and a thread groove 11a formed spirally on the outer surface of the screw shaft 11 opposed to the thread groove 12a. The ball nut 12 has a ball tube 13 having an external shape of U mounted with its both ends extending to the thread groove 11a of the screw shaft 11. The balls B make a repeated circulation. In some detail, the balls B run around the screw shaft 11 plural times inside the ball nut 12. The balls B are then caught by one end of the ball tube 13 from which they then pass through the ball circulating path 18. The balls B are then returned to the thread groove 11a of the screw shaft 11 from the other end of the ball tube 13.
The linear guide device 10 and the ball screw 20 each normally have a separator provided interposed between the balls B to eliminate sound developed by the collision of balls during driving. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the interior of the ball circulating path 4 of the linear guide device 10 illustrating a series of balls B with a separator 100 provided interposed therebetween. The separator 100 has a concave surface 101 having an arc section corresponding to the outer surface of the ball B. The ball B is rollably retained on the concave surface 101 during circulation through the ball circulating path 4.
The separator 100 is a formed product of resin composition which is unreinforced or comprises a proper reinforcing material incorporated therein. As such a resin there is normally used a polyamide resin such as nylon 66.
However, a polyamide resin is a hard plastic having a high rigidity. Thus, the separator 100 made of such a polyamide resin undergoes a small deformation due to collision with the ball B during the operation of the linear-motion device. Therefore, the separator 100 exhibits an insufficient sound absorbing quality and cannot deform sufficiently when passing through the curved ball circulating path 4 together with the balls B, causing the deterioration of operating characteristics. Actually, frictional force momentarily rises during operation, making it impossible to obtain good operating characteristics invariably.
The recent trend is for more polyester-based elastomers comprising as a hard segment a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) to be used Taking into account ease of assembly or sound absorbing quality.
The polyester-based elastomer comprising PBT as a hard segment exhibits a lower water absorption than polyamide and hence an excellent dimensional stability and has an excellent assembly and sound absorbing quality but is disadvantageous in that it has a deteriorated resistance to grease to be filled into the device for lubrication. Therefore, the separator 100 swells outward with time. At the same time, the position on the concave surface 101 in contact with the ball B deviates toward the center of the concave surface 101, causing the gap between the ball B and the separator 100 to increase gradually and hence raising the noise level. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 4, the separator 100 may fall outside the ball. The separator 100 which has thus fallen can prevent the ball B from circulating, making it impossible to drive the device.
On the other hand, in general, a ball screw is disadvantageous in that balls can difficultly move smoothly through a path defined by the thread groove of the screw shaft and the thread groove of the nut (hereinafter referred to as "ball rolling path") and a return tube.
In particular, when the balls are caught by the return tube from the ball rolling path, there is a tendency that the balls can difficultly move smoothly at the border of the opening at the end of the return tube (i.e., ball catching point) with the ball rolling path (hereinafter referred to as "ball catch starting point").
When the movement of the balls cannot be effected smoothly at the ball catch starting point, slight vibration occurs as the balls pass through the ball catch starting point (hereinafter referred to as "vibration due to passage of balls"), preventing the balls from circulating fairly and hence deteriorating the precision in feeding. This also causes the occurrence of noise.
In order to solve these problems, various ball screws designed to allow the balls to pass through the ball catch starting point smoothly have been proposed.
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-27729 discloses a ball screw having the both ends of a return tube disposed in the direction of lead angle.
A ball screw having the both ends of a return tube disposed in the direction tangential to the ball track has heretofore been known. A ball screw having the both ends of a return tube disposed in both the direction tangential to the ball track and the direction of lead angle is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 06-69502.
Further, Japanese Patent No. 2832943 discloses a ball screw comprising a thread groove on the nut the lead angle of which gradually changes so that the pilot pressure on the balls gradually decreases toward the ball catch starting point and is released at the ball catch starting point in the ball rolling path in the vicinity of the ball catch starting point.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-38829 discloses a ball screw comprising a thread groove on the nut the diameter of which gradually increases so that the constraint on the balls is gradually released toward the ball catch starting point and is completely released at the ball catch starting point in the ball rolling path in the vicinity of the ball catch starting point.
However, the aforementioned four examples contemplate smooth movement of balls only at a part of the portion where the balls move and thus cannot be a complete solution to the aforementioned problems. These approaches leave something to be desired particularly with ball screws which are used at a high feed rate or high rotary speed.
In other words, the ball screws disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-27729 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 06-69502 allow the ball's to move smoothly through the return tube but give no consideration to the movement of the balls through the ball rolling path.
Further, the ball screws disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2832943 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-38829 allow the balls to move smoothly through the ball rolling path (nut side) as opposed to the aforementioned approaches but give no give no consideration to the movement of the balls through the return tube. Accordingly, when there is a difference between the direction of movement of balls through the ball rolling path and the direction of the end of the return tube, the halls collide with the inner wall of the return tube the moment the balls move from the ball rolling path to the return tube, making it difficult for the balls to move smoothly.
Moreover, since the return tube normally has a portion which is curved substantially at the right angle, it is likely that the balls can be prevented from moving smoothly at the bent portion.
In addition to this, a ball screw comprises a screw shaft and a plurality of balls disposed on a spiral track formed between the screw shaft and a nut in which the screw shaft is disposed and is adapted to transmit power between the screw shaft and the nut with the rolling and circulation of the balls. A spiral groove is provided both on the outer surface of the screw shaft and the inner surface of the nut.
The diameter of the balls depends on the diameter and lead (distance of movement of the nut per rotation of the screw shaft) of the screw shaft. The size of the balls is increased depending on the lead of the screw shaft to obtain a sufficient nominal dynamic load.
Heretofore, the ratio of the ball diameter to the radius of curvature of section of groove (hereinafter also referred to as "radius of curvature of groove") has been predetermined taking into account the value concerning rolling bearings rather than the frictional characteristics of ball screw. In order to cope with competitive friction of balls due to dispersion of revolution speed of balls, it has been practiced to provide a spacer ball interposed between the balls.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-39052 proposes the same measure as proposed for ball bearing, i.e., predetermination of the radius of curvature of groove on the screw shaft side to be smaller than the radius of curvature of groove on the nut side for the purpose of rendering face pressure uniform to prolong the life of the screw shaft.
A precision ball screw (precision positioning ball screw) comprises a groove formed in Gothic arch. The gap in the axial direction is predetermined to be as small as about one hundredths of the ball diameter. The balls can make three-point contact even only at axial load during driving, making it possible to obtain a stable rigidity. However, much sliding heat is generated at the three contact areas during driving. This sliding head predominates in the heat generation of the entire ball screw and is a factor lowering the efficiency and life of ball screw.
In order to inhibit the heat generation in the three contact areas, it can be proposed to increase the gap in the axial direction. However, this proposal is not desirable from the stand point of precision and acoustic troubles such as generation of abnormal sound. Further, even when the ball diameter is raised somewhat to increase the nominal dynamic load, the life of the ball screw cannot be prolonged unless the friction is reduced because the life of ball screw is actually determined by surface starting point fracture due to frictional work. The radius of curvature of groove of related art precision ball screws merely follows the value concerning rolling bearings but doesn't take into account the heat generation due to three-point contact.
Problems often arise with life and heat generation involving precision in positioning due to frictional wear more than with face pressure discussed in the above cited Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-39052. The radius of curvature of groove on the nut and screw shaft sides has never been predetermined taking into account these factors.


A fiber processing machine includes a fiber processing roll carrying a first clothing on the surface thereof; and a countermember carrying a second clothing thereon. The first and second clothings cooperate with one another during operation of the fiber processing machine. A sensor determines a clearance between facing points of the first and second clothings. The sensor is mounted on the countermember and faces the first clothing when effecting measurement of the clearance.

This invention relates to textile fiber processing machines, such as cards, cleaners or the like and is more particularly concerned with an apparatus for measuring the clearance between clothings of two cooperating components such as a clothed roll and a clothed countermember, such as a travelling flat bar. The apparatus includes at least one sensor which determines the clearance between two clothings, that is, it detects the distance between the points of one clothing on the one hand and the points of the other clothing, on the other hand.
In the assembling operation of carding machines, a predetermined distance between the clothed main carding cylinder and the flats, for example, the travelling flats is set manually with the aid of templates. Such an adjusting operation also sets, at the same time, the clearance between the points of the carding cylinder clothing and the points of the flat clothing. During operation, centrifugal forces and thermal expansions alter the distance between the carding cylinder and the flats and thus, likewise, the clearance between the clothing points of the carding cylinder and the flats varies. Such a change is, as a rule, taken into consideration during the manual setting.
In a known apparatus, between the clothed carding cylinder and the clothed flats cooperating therewith at least on one side of the carding cylinder, externally of the clothing respective sensors are positioned for monitoring, during operation, the set distance between the carding cylinder and the flats. The distance is always measured from the carding cylinder. On the flats, opposite the carding cylinder, counter members are associated with the sensors. Upon changes caused by centrifugal forces and thermal expansions during operation the distance between the sensor and the counter member diminishes and thus, during operation, the known apparatus may directly measure the altered distance between the carding cylinder and the flats. In case the clothing has been replaced by a new clothing that is, there is no wear-caused change of the point height of the clothings--a change of the originally set distance between the clothing points of the carding cylinder and the clothing points of the flats may be indirectly determined. Such a conventional arrangement is disadvantageous in that during operation the actual distance between the clothing points cannot be measured after an extended run of the machine. The point height of the clothing is reduced because of wear so that the distance between the carding cylinder and the flats on the one hand and the distance between the facing clothing points on the other hand become increasingly independent from one another as the service period increases. It is a further disadvantage that measuring a change of the clothing point height of the carding cylinder clothing is not possible after an extended operational period.

Measuring clothing clearances directly at the facing points


A bicycle according to the present invention comprises of a steering axis and an axle of rear wheel that are attached in one unit with a frame to build a form; a pair of guide members with guide holes formed therein are attached to both cut ends of the frame; a pedal axle with the attachment of pedals and a rotating gear in a unit are respectively assembled and fixed onto the guide members; the bicycle according to the present invention comprises a crankshaft of which a pair of crank cams is assembled and fixed into both cut ends of the frame; a gear which engages with the gear; and a spindle which supports a unit of the gear and a sprocket to rotate; the bicycle according to the present invention is run by a running system in which the crank cam rotates when the pedals are reciprocated up and down.

Bicycles are one of the popular means of transportation throughout human history as they have mainly been used for the purposes of movement and transportation. On the other hand, various bicycles have been developed for specific purposes, for instance, recreational sports, mountain climbing, and the like.
Bicycles are mostly run by mechanical running system. With relevance to its structure, a user sits on a seat holding a steering bar and thereafter rotates the pedals by the legs so that the rear wheel rotates. Many researches and efforts have been underway to invent a new way of riding a bicycle, for almost all of the bicycles are conventionally ridden by the method mentioned above.
A bicycle ridden by the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-9205. The present invention is a new running method by the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down as opposed to the conventional running method by the rotary movement of pedals.
The present inventors have developed a new running system for a bicycle, which enables a person to rotate the rear wheel by the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down.
Conventional bicycles are indispensably equipped with a seat due to its running method of rotating the pedals. In the case of riding a bicycle sitting on a seat, a person can mainly expect to exercise the muscle of the lower half of the body, as contrary to the minor effect of exercising the muscle of the upper half of the body. In recent times, bicycles are widely used not just for transportation purposes but also for leisure sports. These bicycles have the effect of exercising the muscles of the whole body and may be fit for the current trend.
Apart from that, a user can enjoy riding the bicycle in a standing posture by pedaling up and down repeatedly. This enables the whole body to work out by which the bicycle is ridden by the user s legs pedaling each pedal by turns while holding the steering bar with both hands. Further, it is more enjoyable to ride the bicycle of the present invention in a standing position than a conventional one.
Furthermore, conventional bicycles are simple and dull whilst the bicycle of the present invention is more energetic and thrilling. Nevertheless, the bicycle of the present invention is neither dangerous nor is it difficult to learn on how to ride it.
Conventional bicycles are equipped with brakes at both the front wheel and the rear wheel, and an accessory stand is also equipped. Anybody who can ride a conventional bicycle will enjoy riding the bicycle of the present invention.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new type of bicycle, which is ridden by the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle without a seat by reciprocating the pedals up and down and thereafter enabling the bicycle to move forward.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle to bring a better effect of exercising the whole body by using thereof in a standing posture rather than riding a bicycle in a sitting position.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle which is much easier to operate in its structure by converting movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down into rotary movement without difficulty.
The objects mentioned above relating to the present invention will be illustrated in detail in the following.
The pedal axle 10 is fixed onto the frame 3 and therefore the former does not rotate, but the guide members 11a, 11b are pivoted on the pedal axle within a certain degree. The pedals 12a, 12b actually move along a circumference, which results in the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down.
Guide holes 13a, 13b are respectively formed inside the guide members 11a, 11b, and thereafter the protruding members 26a, 26b formed on crank cams 22a, 22b are received into the guide holes.
The crank cams 22a, 22b are assembled into the crankshaft 20 in one unit, and the gear 21 is also assembled on the crankshaft in one unit.
When the pedals 12a, 12b are reciprocated up and down, the protruding members 26a, 26b rotate along the guide holes 13a, 13b, and simultaneously the crank cam 22a, the crankshaft 20, and the gear 21 rotate. For the rotation, there should be a bearing (not shown in the drawings) in between the rotating crankshaft 20 and the frame 3.
When the gear 21 rotates, the engaged gear 31 rotates to the opposite direction, and the sprocket 32 constructed with the gear 31 in a unit rotates together.
The spindle 30 assembled into the frame 3 and fixed thereon does not rotate, but only the gear 31 and the sprocket 32 rotate. Accordingly, the gear 31 and the sprocket 32 with the bearing between are assembled on the spindle 30.
For an easier operation of the running system of the present invention, when pedal 12a is located at the top dead point and the other pedal 12b is located at the bottom dead point, the protruding members 26a, 26b of the crank cams 22a, 22b shall be laid slantly in the same direction of the rotation at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20.
The present invention will be illustrated in detail with reference to the attached drawings in the following.
The present invention relates to a bicycle which enables a user to run the rear wheel by reciprocating the pedals up and down in a standing posture without the need of a seat. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the bicycle in which a user can ride in a standing posture without the need of a seat according to the present invention.
With reference to FIG. 1, the bicycle according to the present invention like other conventional bicycles comprises a front wheel 1, a rear wheel 2, a frame 3, a steering axis 5 and the like with other accessorial devices such as a brake, a stand, and so on.
However, unlike any other conventional ordinary bicycles, the wheels 1, 2 are far smaller in size and there is also no seat to sit on. A structured object for converting movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down into rotary movement is placed inside the bifurcated frame of the bicycle according to the present invention. The structured object inside the bifurcated frame is certainly illustrated to be seen for the illustration of the present invention, but it is actually assembled under a covering apparatus (not illustrated here) in the upper middle part of the frame.
The most important technological subject matter in the bicycle of the present invention is about a running system that enables it to convert movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down into rotary movement.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the running system in the bicycle according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the running system for illustration.
The running system according to the present invention is divided into three assemblies: a pedal axis assembly comprising a pedal axle 10, a pair of guide members 11a, 11b, and a pair of pedals 12a, 12b; a crankshaft assembly comprising a crankshaft 20, a gear 21, and a pair of crank cams 22a, 22b; and a spindle assembly comprising a spindle 30, a gear 31, and a sprocket 32.
The crank cams rotating by movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down, convert the reciprocating movement into rotary movement. FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the main parts for better comprehension of the running system according to the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a structure of the running system and a method thereof will be illustrated in detail in the following.
(A) Pedal Axle Assembly
A pedal axle assembly comprises a pedal axle 10, a pair of guide members 11a, 11b, and a pair of pedals 12a, 12b. The pedal axle 10 fixed onto the frame 3 does not rotate. Guide members 11a, 11b are respectively assembled onto the both end parts of the pedal axle, and pedals 12a, 12b are respectively attached with the guide members.
The pedal axle 10 is fixed onto the frame 3, but the guide members 11a, 11b are assembled to pivot on the pedal axle. On the other hand, the guide members do not rotate for one round completely but rotate within a certain range of angle since the guide hole 13 is formed in the guide members with the crank cam 22 received and assembled thereinto.
The pedals 12a, 12b attached with the cut ends of the guide members, rotate along a circumference, which results in movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down. If a pedal 12a goes down, the other pedal 12b goes up, and if the pedal 12a goes up, the other pedal 12b goes down. The bicycle moves forwards while the pedals are reciprocated up and down.
For pedals to be reciprocated up and down, a bearing has to be placed in between guide members 11a, 11b and pedal axle 10, which can be carried out easily by an ordinary skilled person in the art.
Binding holes 16a, 16b are formed inside the cut ends of the pedal axle 10. An assembling member 14 in which an assembling hole is formed is attached with the guide member 11. In a process of the assemblage of the guide members into the pedal axle, the pedal axle is inserted into the assembling hole 15 and thereafter fixed by a bolt 17.
(B) Crankshaft Assembly
A crankshaft assembly comprises a crankshaft 20, a gear 21, and a pair of crank cams 22a, 22b. The crankshaft 20, the gear 21, and a pair of the crank cams rotate in one unit at the same time. The crankshaft and the crank cams are assembled through the assembling hole 24 and the binding hole 25 with a bolt (not illustrated here) to form one unit.
The crankshaft 20 is fixed into the frame 3, and a bearing (not illustrated here) shall be placed in between the frame and the crankshaft for the crankshaft to rotate, which can be carried out easily by an ordinary skilled person in the art.
The protruding members 26a, 26b formed on the crank cams 22a, 22b in a unit are received into the guide holes 13a, 13b formed inside the guide members 11a, 11b, and functions to convert movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down into rotary movement of the crank cam. When the protruding members 26a, 26b rotate as put inside the guide holes of the guide members 11a, 11b, it shall be proper for the protruding members 26a, 26b to be inserted into idlers 23a, 23b to make the rotation smoother and minimize friction.
Meanwhile, the location of the protruding member 26a (or idler 23) when one pedal 12a is laid at the top dead point is very important in the present invention. The principle is illustrated in FIGS. 5, and 6.
FIG. 5 is a drawing which illustrates the principle of converting movement of reciprocating up and down into rotary movement in the running system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a drawing which illustrates the principle of converting movement of reciprocating up and down into rotary movement in the running system according to the present invention wherein the drawing is a diagram in the case when the present invention cannot possibly work.
With reference to FIG. 5, the pedal 12b is laid at the bottom dead point when the pedal 12a is located at the top dead point. The protruding member 26a of the crank cam 22a shall be laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line. The angle of θ3 shall fall within the range of 5° to 45°, but it is not limited to the scope.
The pedal 12a is located at the bottom dead point when the pedal 12b is located at the top dead point. The protruding member 26b of the crank cam 22b in this case is also laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20.
If the protruding member 26a of the crank cam 22a is laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20, the pedal 12a goes easily down when the pedal 12a is pedaled, and as a result the crank cam rotates easily. When the pedal 12b is pedaled with left foot the pedal 12b goes down to the bottom dead point by the weight, the protruding member 26b of the crank cam 22b at this time is laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20. When the pedal 12b goes down to the bottom dead point, the pedal 12a goes up to the top dead point, the protruding member 26a of the crank cam 22a is laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20. If the pedal 12a is pedaled with right foot at this time, the pedal 12a goes easily down to the bottom dead point by the weight. This action is repeated consecutively.
If, as referred to the FIG. 6, the protruding member 26a of the crank cam 12a is located along the perpendicular center-line and not laid slantly at the angle of θ3 from the perpendicular center-line of the crankshaft 20, the pedal 12a when pedaled does not go down. That is, it is not possible to rotate the crank cam in this case. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the angle θ1 at the time when the pedal 12a reaches the top dead point shall always be smaller in size than the angle θ2 at the time when the pedal 12b reaches the bottom dead point. The angle may differ depending on the distance between the pedal axle 10 and the crankshaft 20 or the radius (length) of the crank cam, but it is usually proper for θ1 to be smaller than θ2 by 2° to 10° in size. In FIG. 5, the distance between the pedal axle 10 and the crankshaft 20 is 90 mm, the radius (length) of the crank cam is 35 mm, θ1 is 18°, θ2 is 22°, and the distance between the top dead point and the bottom dead point is 220 mm, but this is merely an example and therefore these are all modifiable depending on the size of a bicycle.
In particular, the distance between the top dead point and the bottom dead point is very important with regard to the amount of exercise. The distance between the top dead point and the bottom dead point is closely related with the length and the angle of the guide members 11a, 11b. A distance of the reciprocating movement may be properly determined within the range of 150 to 300 mm.
(C) Spindle Assembly
A spindle assembly comprises a spindle 30, a gear 31, and a sprocket 32. When the pedals 12a, 12b are reciprocated up and down, the protruding members 26a, 26b rotate along the guide holes 13a, 13b, and simultaneously the crank cams 22a, 22b, the crankshaft, and the gear 21 rotate together.
When the gear 21 rotates, the engaged gear 31 rotates to the opposite direction, and the sprocket 32 placed with the gear 31 in one unit rotates together.
The spindle 30 assembled and fixed onto the frame 3 does not rotate, but only the gear 31 and the sprocket 32 rotate. Accordingly, the gear 31 and the sprocket 32 with a bearing (not illustrated in a diagram) therebetween are assembled on the spindle 30.
As referred to FIGS. 2 and 3, the gear 31 is smaller than the gear 21 in size, which means that when the gear 21 rotates for one round the gear 31 rotates for a lot more rounds. Further, the number of the rotation of the gear 31 and the sprocket 32 is identical, but the linear speed of the sprocket 32 is faster than the linear speed of the gear 31 owing to the fact that the radius of the sprocket 32 is larger than the radius of the gear 31. It means that the rear wheel can rotate faster in proportion to that difference in radius. The sprocket 32 is connected to the rear wheel sprocket by a chain, and the rear wheel rotates as the rear wheel sprocket rotates. Preparing different sizes of these gears can be easily carried out by an ordinary skilled person in the art.
If a running system like this is applied to a bicycle, a bicycle without a seat is possibly produced thanks to the movement of reciprocating up and down. The bicycle without a seat requires riding in a standing posture, and in so doing, enables the whole body to work out its muscles with greater effect.
The present invention has the effects of enabling the rear wheel to rotate by the movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down and to provide a bicycle without a seat to run by such movement. Further, the present invention provides a smooth running for the bicycle by converting movement of reciprocating the pedals up and down efficiently into rotary movement.
The present invention shall be easily carried out by an ordinary skilled person in the art, and any modifications and changes are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.


The present invention provides a gland packing in which impairment of the sealing performance due to cracks that unwillingly occur in an end portion in the width direction of an expanded graphite tape of a braiding yarn in the gland packing can be suppressed. In gland packings 1, 2, braiding yarns include braiding yarns 10A in each of which an expanded graphite tape 30 is bent so as to contract in the width direction, and both end portions 31 in the width direction of the bent expanded graphite tape 30 are folded back, or braiding yarns 20A in each of which at least an outer end portion 31xe2x80x2 in the width direction of a twisted expanded graphite tape 30 is folded back.

The present invention relates to a gland packing which is to be used in a shaft seal portion of a fluid apparatus or the like.
Conventionally, as plural braiding yarns in a braided gland packing, for example, known are braiding yarns which are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-27546 and Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 6-74346. In each of the braiding yarns, an expanded graphite tape is bent so as to contract in the width direction, the whole outer periphery of the bent expanded graphite tape is covered by a reinforcing member configured by a knitted body or a braided body.
An expanded graphite tape is easily affected by tension or torsion. In a braiding yarn of a gland packing, therefore, cracks (breaks) sometimes unwillingly occur in end portions in the width direction of an expanded graphite tape. As such cracks are larger in number and in size, and as the number of braiding yarns in which such cracks occur is larger, the sealing performance of the gland packing is further impaired.
Even in the case where such cracks do not exist immediately after the production of a gland packing, cracks sometimes occur when, after the production, the gland packing is compression-molded to a predetermined size or into an annular shape. In the case where a gland packing is set to an apparatus so as to function as a seal, when a large fastening force is applied to the packing, such cracks may occur. When such cracks occur immediately after the production of a gland packing, a situation that the cracks are expanded by the compression molding or the fastening force is of course caused.
The gland packing of the invention is configured so that, in a plurality of braiding yarns in a braided gland packing or a twisted gland packing, the braiding yarns include braiding yarns in each of which an expanded graphite tape is bent to contract in a width direction, and both end portions in the width direction of the bent expanded graphite tape are folded back.
The gland packing of the invention is configured so that, in a plurality of braiding yarns in a braided gland packing or a twisted gland packing, the braiding yarns include braiding yarns in each of which an expanded graphite tape is bent to contract in a width direction, and both end portions in the width direction of the bent expanded graphite tape are folded back.
According to the thus configured gland packing, the braiding yarns in a gland packing include braiding yarns in each of which an expanded graphite tape is bent to contract in a width direction, and both end portions in the width direction of the expanded graphite tape are folded back. Even when a crack occurs in an end portion in the width direction of the expanded graphite tape, therefore, either of the following states arises. In the case where the crack is large, there arises a state where the crack is broken to contract, and, in the case where the crack is small, there arises another state where the crack is opposed to an outer side piece portion of the bent expanded graphite tape. Therefore, the crack is not exposed in a state where the crack is straightly elongated as it is, so that impairment of the sealing performance of the gland packing can be suppressed.
In some cases, a gland packing is compression-molded to a predetermined size or into an annular shape after the production, or in the case where a gland packing is set to an apparatus so as to function as a seal, the gland packing receives a large fastening force. Also in such cases, when a gland packing comprises such braiding yarns, cracks hardly occur because the end portions in the width direction of an expanded graphite tape are folded back, and, when cracks already occur, it is possible to suppress expansion of the cracks.
As the number of such braiding yarns in a gland packing is larger, cracks in an end portion in the width direction of the expanded graphite tape exert less influence, and impairment of the sealing performance of the gland packing due to the cracks can be suppressed more effectively.
The other gland packing of the invention is configured so that, in a plurality of braiding yarns in a braided gland packing or a twisted gland packing, the braiding yarns include braiding yarns in each of which an expanded graphite tape is twisted, and at least an outer end portion in a width direction of the twisted expanded graphite tape is folded back.
According to the thus configured gland packing, the plural braiding yarns include braiding yarns in each of which at least an outer end portion in the width direction of a twisted expanded graphite tape is folded back. In the same manner as the gland packing having the above-mentioned configuration, even when a crack occurs in an outer end portion in the width direction of the expanded graphite tape, therefore, either of the following states arise. In the case where the crack is large, there arises a state where the crack is broken to contract, and, in the case where the crack is small, there arises another state where the crack is opposed to an outer side piece portion of the expanded graphite tape. Therefore, impairment of the sealing performance of the gland packing can be suppressed. The invention has another advantage that, even after the production, cracks hardly occurs in the outer end portion in the width direction of the expanded graphite tape in the same manner as the gland packing having the above-mentioned configuration. As the number of such braiding yarns in a gland packing is larger, impairment of the sealing performance of the gland packing due to cracks in the outer end portion of the expanded graphite tape can be suppressed more effectively.


A content supply apparatus is interposed between a portable terminal and a content server, to obtain content demanded by the portable terminal and transmit the obtained content to the portable terminal. A content holding section holds content obtained from the content server. A content supply section obtains the demanded content from the content holding section if the demanded content is there, or from the content server, and transmits the demanded content to the portable terminal. In a preferred embodiment, the content supply section transmits the content in divided content units of a maximum information amount that can be displayed by the portable terminal. In another embodiment, a prefetching section prefetches other content, referred from the transmitted divided content units, and stores the prefetched content in the content holding section.

In general, a portable terminal provided with radio communication function, obtains HTML file, image file, sound file or other contents on a content server according to the following procedures.
First, the portable terminal transmits a content acquisition demand specifying the URI (Universal Resource Identifier) to the gateway server by radio communication, The gateway server obtains the specified content from the content server specified in the URI. Here, the gateway server and the content server are network connected by Internet or the like. The gateway server that has obtained the content, transmits the content to the portable terminal. Upon the reception of content, the portable terminal display this content using an information display on the portable terminal. The content sometimes includes a plurality of URI format link information to the other contents, and if the user operation selects on of them, the selected content is obtained again.
Here, both the communication from the portable terminal to the gateway server and the communication from the gateway server to the content server are low in communication amount; therefore, most of time required for content acquisition is occupied by the transmission time of content from the content server to the gateway server and the transmission time of content by radio communication from the gateway server to the terminal.
On the other hand, as for a general client terminal which is not a portable terminal, as a technology for reducing the time from the content acquisition demand emitted by the user to the actual display of that content on the client terminal, there is a technology to prefetch previously contents that can be asked by the client to obtain. This technology is classified roughly into a first method for storing in the portable terminal and a second method for storing in the gateway server (or proxy server).
As an example of the prefetch technology of the first method, the Japan Patent Publication HEI 6-110926 proposes a technology for investigating link information in the content displayed actually on the portable terminal, and prefetching by the portable terminal the content on the content server contained in the link information before the link is specified by the user, and holding in the portable terminal. When a next content is demanded to be obtained by the user operation, a rapid response is realized by displaying the demanded content, if it exists in a group of prefetched contents in the terminal. On the other hand, the Japan Patent Publication HEI 8-87526 proposes a technology for reducing the necessary memory on the terminal side compared to prefetch the whole contents, by giving priority order based on the user operation history or the like on the client terminal side or the server side, when the terminal prefetch the content, and prefetching only those of high priority and holding on the terminal side.
As an example of the prefetch technology of the second method, the Japan Patent Publication HEI 11-149405 proposes a technology for prefetching the content referred to by the content asked by the terminal to obtain and caching in the server side. Moreover, a technique to reduce the content to prefetch by giving priority to each cached content according to its request frequency, and prefetching based on the priority of the content asked by the user to obtain or the importance of that user. For instance, if the priority of the content asked by the user to obtain if "high", the whole contents referred to by this content are prefetched or reloaded, and if the priority is "middle", only already cached content among contents referred to by this content is reloaded, and it the priority is "low", only content already cached and having "high" priority among contents referred to by this content is reloaded. Here, "reload" means the processing of replacing already cached content with the newest original content on the content server, and "prefetch" means the processing of obtaining non cached content from the content server and caching the same.

Content supply apparatus for transmitting the content to a portable terminal in transmitted divided units and prefetching other contents from the transmitted divided units


In a non-volatile memory structure, the source/drain regions are surrounded by a nitrogen-doped region. As a result, an interface between the substrate and the charge trapping layer above the nitrogen-doped region is passivated by a plurality of nitrogen atoms. The nitrogen atoms can improve data retention, and performance of cycled non-volatile memory devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments described below are related to non-volatile memory devices, and more particularly to systems and methods for improving the reliability of non-volatile memory devices.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional non-volatile memory devices rely on floating gate technology, or a trapping layer construction to store charge that can then be read out of the device. Such non-volatile memory devices can be viewed as enhancements to the standard metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor. As is well understood, a MOS transistor comprises three main terminals: a source, a drain, and a gate. A potential applied to the gate directly controls the formation and conductivity of a channel formed below the gate between the source and drain. The conductivity of the channel affects the flow of current between the source and drain terminals. The channel becomes significantly conductive as the gate potential exceeds a certain threshold, referred to as the transistor's threshold voltage.
A floating gate memory cell differs from a standard MOS transistor in that it has an additional electrically isolated gate, a floating gate, below the standard control gate and above the transistor channel. Such a floating gate is typically composed of a conducting material, such as a polysilicon layer. A floating gate memory device stores information by holding electric charge within a floating gate. Adding or removing charge from the floating gate changes the threshold voltage of the cell, thereby defining whether the memory cell is in a programmed or erase state. Charge flowing in the channel can then be attracted to, or injected into the floating gate or trapping layer.
Charge trapping structures, such as nitride read-only memory structures, on the other hand, include a trapping nitride layer configure to store the charge instead of a floating gate suspended above the cell. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional nitride read-only memory structure 100. As can be seen, nitride read-only memory 100 is constructed on a silicon substrate 102. The silicon substrate can be a P-type silicon substrate or an N-type silicon substrate; however, for various design reasons P-type silicon substrates are often preferred. Drain/source regions 104 and 106 can then be implanted in substrate 102. A trapping structure 108 is then configured on substrate 102 between source/drain regions 104 and 106. Control gate 110 is then formed on top of trapping layer 108.
Drain/source regions 104 and 106 are silicon regions that are doped to be the opposite type as that as substrate 102. For example, where a P-type silicon substrate 102 is used, N-type drain/source regions 104 and 106 can be implanted therein.
Charge trapping structure 108 comprises a nitride trapping layer as well as an isolating oxide layer between the trapping layer and the channel in substrate 102. In other embodiments, trapping structure 108 can comprise a nitride trapping layer sandwiched between two isolating, or dielectric layers, such as oxide layers. Such a configuration is often referred to as an Oxide-Nitride-Oxide (ONO) trapping layer.
Charge can be accumulated and confined within trapping structure 108 next to drain/source regions 104 and 106, effectively storing two separate and independent charges. Each charge can be maintained in one of two states, either programmed or erased, represented by the presence or absence of a pocket of trapped electrons. This enables the storage of two bits of information without the complexities associated with multilevel cell technology.
Each storage area in nitride read-only memory cell 100 can be programmed independently of the other storage area. A nitride read-only memory cell is programmed by applying a voltage that causes negatively charged electrons to be injected into the nitride layer of trapping structure 108 near one end of the cell. Erasing is accomplished by applying voltages that cause holes to be injected into the nitride layer where they can compensate for electrons previously stored in the nitride layer during programming.
In general, because the stored charge is confined next to the drain/source regions within the trapping layer, numerous program-recycles can be performed without significantly degrading the cell's performance. Unfortunately, the interface trap density (Dit increases as nitride read-only memory device 100 is cycled. The cycles induce interface traps, i.e., traps at the interface between charge trapping structure 108 and substrate 102. These interface traps will then trap charge at the interface between trapping structure 108 and substrate 102. The interface trap density (Dit) is a measure of the amount of trapped charge per cm2.
The cycling-induced interface traps will cause swings in the I-V curve for nitride read-only memory device 100 as well as threshold voltage shifts. The I-V swings and threshold voltage shifts can degrade the performance of nitride read-only memory device 100.
For example, the interface traps can cause nitride read-only memory device 100 to pass a program verify operation with much fewer electrons trapped in charge trapping structure 108 than it would typically take for a newer device to pass a program verify operation. Further, high temperature baking anneals the traps, leading to further threshold voltage loss. Thus, cycled nitride read-only memory devices cannot retain their data well in a high temperature environment.
Similar cycle induced interface traps can occur in other non-volatile memory devices, such as the floating gate devices described above. As a result, the performance of non-volatile memory devices can be improved by reducing the interface trap density.

Non-volatile memory device including nitrogen pocket implants and methods for making the same


The present disclosure relates to a container for cultivating peanut sprouts, comprising a container body which houses peanut sprout cultivation seedbeds for cultivating peanut sprouts, and forms a cultivation room; a bottom plate provided at the bottom of the container body to control temperature in the container body; and a water spray unit provided horizontally and vertically in the container body and for supplying water to the peanut sprout cultivation seedbeds, wherein the bottom plate is provided with a heating pipe in which hot water is circulated by means of a boiler.

Recently, there is an increasing interest in peanut sprouts as a dietary supplement. It is known that peanut sprouts are very effective to enhance human health. Peanut sprouts contain folic acid six times more than broccoli and resveratrol 50 times more than red wine. In addition, it is known that the fine roots of peanut sprouts contain saponins six times more than red ginseng, and aspartic acid eight times more than bean sprouts.
Therefore, they are widely used for treating prostatic diseases, anti-aging, preventing and treating cancers and menopausal disorders, supplementing folic acid for pregnant women, losing weight and recovering from too much drinking.
FIG. 1 illustrates the appearance of a peanut sprout. As shown FIG. 1, the peanut sprout is composed of a hypocotyl b, a plumule c and roots a which grow from a peanut. While the benefits of peanut sprouts are widely known, methods of mass-cultivating peanut sprouts have been studied.
The Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0698489 discloses a method of cultivating peanut sprouts.
However, the conventional disclosed method of cultivating peanut sprouts is difficult and complicated, and involves much labor and energy input when a cultivator cultivates peanut sprouts because of the water spray process which continues at 3-hour intervals in a greenhouse of hydroponic cultivation environment.

Container for cultivating peanut sprouts


An imaging preventing apparatus includes imaging means for obtaining an imaged image signal by performing imaging processing, image analyzing means for performing image analyzing processing on the imaged image signal obtained by the imaging means, imaging preventing operation performing means for performing a preventing operation against imaging by a different camera system, and control means for determining the possibility of being imaged by a different camera system based on the analysis result information by the image analyzing means and, if it is determined that there is a possibility of being imaged, causing the imaging preventing operation performing means to perform the preventing operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging preventing apparatus and an imaging preventing method and, in particular, it relates to a technology that allows the prevention of imaging without permission, such as pirating.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the significantly wide spread of imaging apparatus such as video cameras and digital still cameras, the reduction of the size of the apparatus has been fostered. In this situation, the acts of invasions of personal privacy and/or the right of publicity by easy imaging have been concerned.
Particularly, there are situations where images, which have been imaged without permission, are published on Internet websites, and serious problems have been caused by imaging without permission.
Many people do not like being imaged without permission, but a small-scale system that controls imaging based on the intension of a subject has not been developed yet.
For that reason, it is being considered that so-called pirating, for example, may be prevented by using a technology as proposed in JP-A-2005-223601 (Patent Document 1).
The technology in Patent Document 1 embeds specific pattern information and/or an IC tag in a subject, the imaging of which is not desired, such as a picture and a book in advance. A camera side recognizes the specific pattern information or IC tag information and is forcibly limited in (or prohibited against) the imaging. By not embedding such specific pattern information or an IC tag in a subject, which does not prohibit against imaging particularly, a camera can recognize that the subject does not have any specific pattern information or IC tag information and can perform imaging thereon.
Thus, the damage can be avoided from so-called "digital shoplifting" of a subject the imaging of which is not desired while imaging a subject, which is allowed to image, can be permitted freely.

Imaging preventing apparatus and imaging preventing method