In one embodiment, a banknote handling machine includes a recognition unit configured to recognize a kind of each banknote taken in a take-in unit, a plurality of stacking units, respectively configured to stack therein the banknotes, a transport unit configured to transport the banknotes, respectively recognized by the recognition unit, to any of the plurality of stacking units, an instruction accepting unit configured to accept an instruction concerning an automatic decision mode provided for deciding the kind of the banknotes to be stacked, by utilizing a recognition result obtained by the recognition unit, for each of the plurality of stacking units, and a control unit configured to control the transport unit to transport each banknote to a destination, which destination is decided based on the instruction accepted by the instruction accepting unit and on the recognition result obtained by the recognition unit.

The invention relates to a device for sorting coins, the diameter and thickness of which are within predefined size ranges.

A currency bill processing system includes a transport mechanism that is configured to transport bills from an input receptacle along a transport path that extends generally horizontally past at least one detector. The transport path transitions generally-vertically upward between a first and a second output receptacle. The transport mechanism is configured to deliver some of the bills toward a first end of the system into the first output receptacle and some of the bills toward a second end of the system into the second output receptacle. The system provides access openings in a front side of the system that are proximate the first and the second output receptacles thereby permitting operator access into the first and the second output receptacles from the front side.

A medium storage and feeding device and a medium processing device that may prevent occurrences of faults more reliably than the related art. A drum (21) is provided that winds up a banknote BL nipped by pairs of tapes (28L, 28R, 30L and 30R) together with the pairs of tapes. Torque limiters (25L, 25R, 27L and 27R) are separately provided at each of tape reels (24L, 24R, 26L and 26R). The torque limiters control torques between the tape reels and reel rotation axle shafts (22 and 23), such that tensions applied to the tapes between the tape reels (24L, 24R, 26L and 26R) and the drum (21) are constant. Thus, tensions on the tapes between the respective tape reels and the drum may be kept constant, banknote nipping stability may be improved, and occurrences of faults may be prevented more reliably than in the related art.

A banknote handling device includes a safe that protects banknotes (casing of a second unit), a first conveyance path externally provided to the safe, and a second conveyance path internally provided to the safe. The safe is provided with at least one opening portion through which the banknotes pass. A passing unit including a passing conveyance mechanism that passes a banknote between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and a left-behind sensor that detects a banknote that is left-behind, is detachably installed inside the opening portion of the safe.

There is provided a cash handling system capable of reliably storing sales proceeds and the like stored in a cash settlement apparatus into a cash accounting apparatus. A cash management system 1 includes a cash settlement apparatus 11, a cash accounting apparatus 21 and the cash transport cassette 30. The cash settlement apparatus 11 and the cash accounting apparatus 21 have reading units 157, 257, respectively, which are configured to read out cassette ID information from a memory unit 35 of the cash transport cassette 30. In addition, the cash management system 1 further includes: a management unit 26 having a depositing judgment unit 26A configured to judge whether cash in the cash settlement apparatus 11 to be received by the cash transport cassette 30 can be deposited into the cash accounting apparatus 21 or not; a guide apparatus configured to guide information from the management unit 26; and a comparison unit 27 configured to compare the cassette ID information read out by the reading unit 257 of the cash accounting apparatus 21 and the information from the management unit 26.

A top cover for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a plate made of a metal and a gasket fixed to the plate. The gasket is made of an elastomer. A surface of the plate includes a fixing region to which the gasket is closely adhered. The fixing region includes a plurality of ridges and in plan view a plurality of filamentous projections extending from each of the plurality of ridges. The plurality of ridges are arranged in the fixing region to increase a surface area of the fixing region. The plurality of ridges and the plurality of filamentous projections extending from each ridge are distributed over the fixing region.

An apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having a shaft surface and a first seal disposed in a sealing engagement with the shaft surface. At least a second seal is disposed in a first position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is not in sealing engagement with the shaft surface and is movable to a second position relative to the rotatable shaft where the second seal is in sealing engagement with the shaft surface.

A gasket for use around a thread neck of an automotive component, the gasket dimensioned to prevent the gasket from falling off of the thread neck and to prevent a male screw portion from biting into the gasket.

Apparatus and methods for temporarily sealing a pipe including apparatus and methods for creating a temporary airtight seal at the open end of a pipe in a plumbing or refrigeration system. One such apparatus includes a body, grommet, washer, and a nut. Multiple airtight seals are created including a first primary seal between an exterior of the pipe and the grommet and a secondary seal between the open end of the pipe and the washer. The grommet does not require teeth and the apparatus does not require adhesive, sealant, or any other type of similar materials. Use of the apparatus and methods greatly minimizes and/or eliminates the potential for marring or otherwise distorting the open end of the pipe, thereby facilitating reuse of same.

An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly comprising a housing generally defining an axial flowbore and comprising a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing, a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about a portion of the mandrel of the cylindrical housing, the sliding sleeve being movable from, a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation, and an actuator assemblage configured to selectively allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position.

A spherical annular seal member 40 includes: a spherical annular base member 38 which is defined by a cylindrical inner surface 34 defining a through hole 33 in a central portion, a partially convex spherical surface 35, and annular end faces 36 and 37 on large- and small-diameter sides of the partially convex spherical surface 35; and an outer layer 39 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 35 of the spherical annular base member 38.

A spacer and gasket assembly is shown for receipt between a static structure having an outer and inner surface and fastener holes therethrough and a removable structure having a base with fastener holes and an upper surface and a lower surface. The static structure and removable structure are engaged through a multiplicity of fasteners having a shaft diameter. The fasteners are adapted to apply a compression on the gasket between the static structure and the removable structure. The static structure and the removable structure have opposed, typically flat, facing walls. The spacer and gasket assembly comprising a substantially non-compressible spacer adapted for receipt between the static structure and the removable structure having a spacer thickness. A gasket has a deformable, flowable, elastomeric body and a skeleton having a skeleton thickness, the skeleton substantially integral with the body. The gasket has an uncompressed gasket thickness. The spacer and the gasket are adapted to be placed substantially between the facing walls of the static structure and the removable structure and the removable structure will compress and deform the gasket when the fasteners are torqued down.

A seal including a tubular carrier body (1) and two annular sealing elements (2, 3), wherein the carrier body (1) on both sides of its front face is respectively enclosed by one of the sealing elements (2, 3) on the side of its outer perimeter forming a seal. At least one of the sealing elements (2, 3) is made of a non-elastomeric high-temperature resistant sealing material.

An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set.

A side seal for a linear guide apparatus including a guide rail, a slider, and a plurality of rolling elements includes seal members formed of different materials, a holder plate and covers. Both seal members have recesses formed in a first face of a base and fitted with a protrusion of the holder plate. Both seal members have respective lips directed in opposite directions separated from each other. A tip of the lip of the first seal member is formed to have a shape in plane contact with the face of the guide rail. A tip of the lip of the second seal member is formed to have a shape in line contact with the face of the guide rail.

A fluidic processor includes a first sealing member having a first sealing face, a first compressive face and at least one first sealing member fluid conduit; a second sealing member having a second sealing face, a second compressive face and at least one second sealing member fluid conduit; the second sealing face of the second sealing member being sealingly and slidingly engaged in a substantially fluid tight manner with the first sealing face of the first sealing member; and at least one actuator mechanically engaging at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member, or an XY stage, or mechanism that provides motion in two axes on one sealing member only.

A method of sealing a passage in a body with a sealing composition comprising (a) a major proportion of a latex emulsion or colloid; and (b) a minor proportion of lauric acid or a laurate compound; and (c) at least one further selected additive, ideally a latex coagulation inhibitor, wherein said composition is pumped into said passage where it is set or coagulated to form a seal. Advantageously, the laurate compound is ammonium laurate and coagulation is conveniently induced by adjusting pH of the sealing composition from alkaline to acidic pH range. The method is particularly well suited to sealing in faulty formations or sealing sites and may be used in sealing within salt mines which contain brines.

A cap acting as a grease retention feature and venting system allows crash optimization of a propeller shaft with a plunging constant velocity joint. The cap is located between a constant velocity joint and a tube of the propeller shaft system. The cap includes: a rim sealed against the inner diameter of the constant velocity joint, an interior vent chamber, a vent hole facing the interior components of the constant velocity joint and leading to the vent chamber, and an annular radial groove along the entire circumference connected to the vent chamber. The outer race has a hole perpendicular to the joint axis to complete venting to the atmosphere. In the event of a vehicle crash, the constant velocity internal joint components contact the device, causing the device to dislodge from its fixed position, contact the friction weld curls and fracture at a determined load.

Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel.

A speaker diaphragm of the present invention is formed by mixing polylactic acid as a plant-derived resin, bamboo fibers and a natural binder. It is thereby possible to realize a speaker diaphragm capable of obtaining sufficient sound velocity, while having low environmental load and high sound quality.

A silencer (1) for an exhaust gas installation of an internal combustion engine, particularly of a motor vehicle includes a housing (2), with a circumferential shell (3) closed in the peripheral direction (5) and an end base (6) at each of two longitudinal ends, spaced apart in an axial direction (4). A silencer insert (15) is arranged in the housing (2) and has an inlet pipe (8) for exhaust gas and an outlet pipe (10) for exhaust gas. The shell (3) has, in the peripheral direction (5) has at least one inlet shell-segment (11) and one outlet shell-segment (12). The inlet shell-segment has at least one inlet opening (7), into which such an inlet pipe (8) is inserted from the inside. The outlet shell-segment (12) has at least one outlet opening (9) into which such an outlet pipe (10) is inserted from the inside.

A bone conduction hearing aid device comprising a vibrator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the device. The device further comprises a housing mass forming a housing for one or more operational components of the device, wherein the housing mass is attached to the vibrator so as to move in response to the vibration. The device also comprises a coupling configured to attach the device to a recipient so as to deliver the generated mechanical to the recipient's skull.

A directable sound-absorbing panel comprising a sound-absorbing panel, a fixing member which can be fixed to said sound-absorbing panel, an arm and an articulated joint between said fixing member and said arm, is described. An assembly of directable sound-absorbing panels is also described, said assembly comprising a plurality of sound-absorbing panels, a corresponding plurality of fixing members, a corresponding plurality of arms, a corresponding plurality of articulated joints between each arm and each fixing member, and a fixing bar to which at least a part of said plurality of arms is fixed.

Systems and methods for optimizing low frequency output of marine sources are described. The marine source arrangements and associated methods disclosed herein seek to fully frequency lock bubbles emitted by airguns in close proximity to one another. In this manner, larger effective bubble volumes can be achieved, thus increasing low frequency output.

A device and attendant method to assist the hearing of a user by being removably connected to and disposing a user's ear in an enhanced hearing orientation. The device includes an elongated base, which may be disposable, and has a sufficient length to be disposed in an operative position behind the user's ear. Opposite ends of the base include an adhesive material secured to a common side thereof, wherein different ones of said opposite ends are respectively disposed and maintained in confronting engagement with a rear surface of the ear and adjacently disposed portion of the user's head. The base further includes biasing capabilities disposed and structured to exert a sufficient, forwardly and outwardly directed force on the user's ear to dispose and maintain it in the enhanced hearing orientation, when the base is in the operative position.

A speaker diaphragm contains a material obtained by adding a cycloolefin polymer resin to a carbon fiber-reinforced liquid crystal polymer. The speaker diaphragm having high sound velocity, a speaker, and a production method of the speaker diaphragm can thereby be obtained.

A coating composition has a natural fiber-bearing dry matter mixture, as well as cellular plastic grains, mixed into water. By spreading this composition onto any base, particularly by spraying, and by hardening it, particularly through drying, the coating is formed from the coating composition, which coating provides extremely good acoustic properties. If a special fiber base plate based on chemical pulp is used as the base of the coating, the plate-like acoustic element is obtained.

The invention relates to a loudspeaker mounting and adjustment system and method for installing and operating a professional audio system used in a stadium, concert hall or the like. The system comprises a vertical array of loudspeaker cabinets that can be suspended from a ceiling and that enables the horizontal and vertical angle of the sound dispersion field to be adjusted remotely and/or automatically while the system is suspended. Each loudspeaker cabinet is connected to a vertically adjacent loudspeaker cabinet via a pair of levers located on either side of the cabinet that control the angle between adjacent loudspeaker cabinets. A linear actuator is connected to each lever for controlling the lever position. Each loudspeaker cabinet also comprises a waveguide with at least one actuator for modifying the waveguide angle and thus the horizontal angle of the sound dispersion field.

Described embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a sound absorption material. The method comprises: forming a low density fibrous web to act as porous bulk absorber, the fibrous web containing a proportion of bi-components fibers, each bi-component fiber having a core material and a sheath material around the core material; applying a thin facing later to the low density fibrous web, wherein the facing layer is adhesively compatible with the sheath material; heating the fibrous web to a temperature sufficient to soften the sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers; and pressing the facing layer and fibrous web together under low pressure such that at least part of the facing layer contacts the softened sheath material of at least some of the bi-component fibers to form an adhesive bond between the facing layer and the fibrous web.

An acoustic damping article includes a substrate, wherein the substrate has a surface area S. The acoustic composition further includes a polymer resin. The polymer resin coats partially the surface area with a set of areas. The ratio of the coated areas over the surface area S is less than 1 and the polymer resin coverage is not greater than about 500 g/m2.

Neutrally-buoyant tools for seismic data collection are provided that may range from several hundred meters to several kilometers in length and have integrated sensors which move along with the borehole fluid in response to a passing seismic wave. The disclosure also provides methods of deploying neutrally-buoyant tools, which includes using a tractor, adding a weight or both to the tool in order to overcome the difficulty of lowering a neutrally buoyant tool into a borehole, and optionally occasionally clamping the tool to the borehole to alleviate tension in the tool. This disclosure also provides methods of acquiring seismic data, which involves positioning a neutrally-buoyant tool in a borehole such that the tool is able to move relatively freely along with the borehole fluid in response to a seismic wave passing through the fluid, firing a seismic source, and using the sensors to collect seismic data generated thereby.

An acoustic attenuator assembly for an acoustic tool for performing acoustic investigation of a subterranean formation is disclosed. The acoustic attenuator assembly includes a first end portion (205) and a second end portion (210) having a bore therethough to enable passage of an electrical line. The acoustic attenuator assembly further includes a fiber portion (230) disposed between the first and second end portion so that the fiber portion attenuates at least a portion of acoustic energy when the acoustic energy is received by one or both of the first (205) and second (210) end portions. The fiber portion (230) includes a continuous flexible portion that allows relative deflection of the first (205) and second (210) end portions.

A sound absorbing body includes a fibrillated part fibrillated into fiber form, and an unfibrillated part that is not fibrillated into fiber form. The unfibrillated part is dispersed inside the single sound absorbing body.

A printing device includes a case, a printing unit arranged inside the case, and a sound absorbing body arranged inside the case. The sound absorbing body has parts with different densities including a dense part with a higher density and a non-dense part with a lower density. The non-dense part includes a fibrillated part that is fibrillated into fiber form, and an unfibrillated part that is not fibrillated into fiber form.

A sound absorbing body includes parts of different densities including a plurality of non-dense parts of lower density and a plurality of dense parts of higher density. The non-dense parts and the dense parts are alternately laminated obliquely.

There is provided a method for optimizing performance of a multi-transducer earpiece, where the multi-transducer earpiece includes a perpendicular flange that partitions the cross sectional area of the acoustic delivery channel in a manner where mixing of signals from both the high frequency transducer and the mid/low frequency transducer is carried out in the ear canal of a user during reproduction of audio signals.

A gundog training tool prevents gun shyness by gradually allowing a pup to adapt to the sound of a gunshot. A pop gun shoots treats upon creating a simulated gunshot so that the dog grows used to the sound of a gunshot and creates positive reinforcement rewarded by the treat. As the pup learns, a charge in a housing is introduced to provide a simulated gunshot that expels a treat that trains the dog to feel excitement at the sound and smell of a gunshot. The size of the charge adjusts to create louder simulated gunshots as the pup learns so that the pup is prepared for introduction to actual gunshots, such as from a shotgun shooting at a bird.

A system for identifying an animal comprises an identification tag/transponder device surgically implanted into tissue of the animal and a scanning unit. As the animal passes in a vicinity of a scanning unit, the system causes the identification device to send a signal to a receiving portion of the scanning unit, and processes the signal, and identifies the animal from the signal. The system is of particular benefit to veterinary surgeries in assisting their smooth operation.

Animal litter having up to a sixty percent reduction in bulk density can be produced by combining flat-shaped cellulosic materials and sodium bentonite clay. Not only is the resulting litter lighter, but it also maintains a high clump strength as compared to clay-based animal litters that contain greater than ninety percent by weight sodium bentonite clay.

A multi-function pet leash system generally comprises a substantially rigid handle and a substantially rigid tether/carrier engaged with the handle. The tether/carrier may have one or more means for removable tethering and carrying of accessories, whereby with a pet attached to a leash engaged with the tether/carrier, a user may grasp the handle coupled to the leash through the tether/carrier and walk the pet while conveniently carrying one or more accessories. The handle may be disengaged from the tether/carrier and so serve a separate function, alone or in combination with one or more of the accessories.

The present invention relates to a system and method of managing a group of dairy animals. More particularly, the invention relates to measuring one or more milk parameters, comparing this parameter to a criterion, and allowing an animal access to a pasture based on this comparison. The milk parameter is related to the composition of milk obtained from a dairy animal in as far as the composition is defined by at least one of the amount of protein and the energy intake of the dairy animal. The measured milk parameter is, for example, urea. Access to the pasture will be completely or partly blocked for a dairy animal having a high content of urea. This dairy animal is thus prevented from taking in an undesirably large amount of protein.

A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.

A method for enhancing the production of aquatic organisms under cultivation, including the steps of exposing the aquatic organisms to a submerged illumination source inside water of a rearing unit; and maintaining illumination in the rearing unit for a rearing period.

This invention describes a collagen fiber reconstituted rawhide useful in the production of pet chews, and a method for making the same. Beginning materials include animal skins with hair, depilated limed splits and leftovers from the manufacture of rawhide pet chews. The materials are pretreated, ground, subjected to acid treatment to swell and separate the collagen fibers that comprise the animal hide, further ground into pulp, vacuum filtered, mixed with a dehydration agent that chemically shrinks the expanded fibers, drained, formed and dried into sheet and finally exposed to a cross-linking agent to increase the adhesive strength of the end product. Edible materials, including meats, may be added to the solution prior to draining, to enhance the nutritional value and palatability of the final product, and the reconstituted rawhide sheets may be bleached for appearance.

An animal emotion display system 100 including: a transmitter 10 which is attached to an animal; and a receiver 20 which is capable of communicating with the transmitter, wherein the transmitter 10 includes: a tail wagging detection sensor 12 to detect a plurality of kinds of tail wagging of the animal as a plurality of kinds of emotion of the animal, respectively; and a transmitting section 15 to transmit emotion data corresponding to the respective kinds of tail wagging detected by the tail wagging detection sensor 12 to the receiver 20, and the receiver 20 includes: a receiving section 22 to receive the emotion data transmitted by the transmitting section 15; a display section 25; and a display control section 24 to display a display content corresponding to the emotion data received by the receiving section 22 on the display section 25.

A multi-material pet toy includes a first member having an attractant for making the multi-material pet toy interesting to a pet and a second member for protecting the first member to lengthen a serviceable life of the first member. The toy may be configured so that the first member includes a sound-producing member for making a noise without air movement passing through the sound-producing member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the sound-producing member. The toy may also be configured so that the first member includes a mouth-feel member for providing attraction for the pet with the noise of air movement passing through the mouth-feel member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the mouth-feel member.

An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform.

An elongate rectangular cultivation box having an open top, is configured so as to allow an outer tank, which serves as a cultivating water storage part, and an inner tank, which serves as a receptacle for bivalves (benthic organisms) S that are to be cultivated, to be both combined and separated. A gap that serves as a water supply opening and a gap that serves as a space in which sediments can accumulate on the bottom of the outer tank are defined when the inner tank is accommodated in the outer tank. Water passage holes are provided in the bottom of the shellfish receptacle (inner tank) and a mesh filter such as netting is stretched across the top face of the bottom. The cultivation boxes are arranged in a vertically stacked manner, with the front portions and rear portions thereof staggered so that cultivation water W that overflows over a front ledge of a shellfish receptacle flows downward into the supply water storage part of a lower cultivation box.

A chew toy for canine dental care formed of a plurality of elongated rawhide strands, each strand defining a width within the range of about 0.20 to 7.5 millimeters and a thickness within the range of about 0.20 to 3.0 millimeters. The strands are braided together so as to define at least one rawhide braid of a desired size. The rawhide braid is wound or twisted and tied to define a desired chew toy size and shape that, upon be chewed by a dog, provides a messaging of the dog's gums and a cleaning and flossing of the dog's teeth. The chew toy can be soaked in an aqueous solution containing one or more therapeutic agents and/or an animal attractant and baked dry to impregnate the agent(s) or attractant within the rawhide for release when chewed by a dog.