Abstract: According to an embodiment, a printer includes a thermal head with a plurality of heaters. A memory device stores utilization information indicating a status or cumulative usage amount of the thermal head. A processor is configured to acquire a measured resistance value for each of the heaters in the plurality of heaters and detect whether the thermal head has been changed since a previous use based on differences in the measured resistance values from reference resistance values. If it is detected that the thermal head has been changed, the processor updates the utilization information in the memory device to indicate the thermal head has been replaced.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquirer, an evaluator, a generator, and an adjustment instruction transmitter. The acquirer acquires an image of a print pattern printed by a printer. The evaluator evaluates a print quality of the printer based on the image of the print pattern acquired by the acquirer. The generator generates a command for adjusting the print quality of the printer based on an evaluation result of the evaluator. The adjustment instruction transmitter transmits the command generated by the generator to the printer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a printer includes a thermal head with a plurality of heaters. A memory device stores utilization information indicating a status or cumulative usage amount of the thermal head. A processor is configured to acquire a measured resistance value for each of the heaters in the plurality of heaters and detect whether the thermal head has been changed since a previous use based on differences in the measured resistance values from reference resistance values. If it is detected that the thermal head has been changed, the processor updates the utilization information in the memory device to indicate the thermal head has been replaced.

Abstract: A printer includes a first flash memory of a NOR type, a second flash memory of a NAND type, and a processor configured to control execution of a printing operation using information stored in the first and second flash memories. The processor is further configured to, at startup, read first information stored in the first flash memory and perform an initialization process using the first information.

Abstract: A printer includes a first flash memory of a NOR type, a second flash memory of a NAND type, and a processor configured to control execution of a printing operation using information stored in the first and second flash memories. The processor is further configured to, at startup, read first information stored in the first flash memory and perform an initialization process using the first information.

Abstract: A magnetic-ink-character recognizing device includes a magnetic head, a conveying section configured to convey a medium on which magnetic ink characters are printed, an acquiring section configured to acquire a magnetism detection signal read by the magnetic head, a segmenting section configured to segment waveform data of the magnetic ink characters from the magnetism detection signal, a first calculating section configured to compare the waveform data segmented by the segmenting section and reference waveform data and calculate similarities of both the data, respectively, a second calculating section configured to compare the waveform data segmented by the segmenting section and extended waveform data obtained by compressing or expanding length in a time axis direction of the reference waveform data and calculate similarities of both the data, respectively, and a recognizing section configured to recognize the magnetic ink characters of the waveform data segmented by the segmenting section.

Abstract: A power generator has a power generation unit for generating electric power, a rotary unit and a power transmission unit. The power generation unit includes a stator having a stator core and a rotor disposed in the stator. The rotor has a rotor shaft and a driven gear disposed on the rotor shaft and is configured to be driven to rotate the rotor shaft. The rotary unit has a driving gear for undergoing rotational movement to rotate the rotor shaft via the driven gear to generate electric power. The power transmission unit has an intermediate gear for transmitting a rotational force of the driving gear of the rotary unit to the driven gear of the rotor shaft. The intermediate gear has at least one rotary shaft disposed inside of the stator core.

Abstract: A printer comprises a printing section, a communication module for near-field radio communication with a portable terminal, a reception module, a first output module and a second output module. The reception module receives transaction information from an information processing apparatus. The first output module generates electronic transaction information according to the transaction information and outputs the generated electronic transaction information to the portable terminal via the communication module if the communication module establishes the near-field radio communication with the portable terminal. The second output module generates printing data of the transaction information and prints the generated printing data by the printing section if no near-field radio communication is established by the communication module.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a supply member for supplying an anode fluid to the MEA, and a gas diffusion layer provide between the supply member and the MEA. The MEA has an electrolyte membrane and an anode catalyst. The supply member has at least one anode fluid flow path for supplying the anode fluid toward the MEA. The anode fluid flow path has an opening provided on a discharge side thereof for the anode fluid. A space for storing a gas pushed by the supply of the anode fluid is disposed between the opening of the anode fluid flow path and the gas diffusion layer so that the opening of the anode fluid flow path and the gas diffusion layer are not in direct contact with one another.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly and a supply member for supplying an anode fluid to the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly has an electrolyte membrane and an anode catalyst. The supply member has at least one anode fluid flow path for supplying the anode fluid toward the membrane electrode assembly. A gas diffusion layer is provided between the supply member and the membrane electrode assembly. An opening of the at least one anode fluid flow path on a discharge side thereof for the anode fluid is disposed in contact with a side of the gas diffusion layer facing the supply member. The side of the gas diffusion layer includes a region that stores a gas pushed by the supply of the anode fluid.

Abstract: In a small power generator 1, a rotary dial 31 is disposed in the middle of the surface. By turning the rotary dial 31 with a finger, a rotor of an inner rotor type power generation unit 6, which is disposed inside the small power generator 1, is rotated by the rotational force through at least one intermediate gear. As a result, electric power is generated to charge a power supply for a portable electronic apparatus. The small power generator 1 includes an intermediate gear in order to transmit the rotational force of the rotary dial 31 to a rotating unit 3, and at least one of the shafts of the intermediate gear is provided between a plurality of core windings 67 circularly disposed in a stator core 66 of the power generation unit 6. Thus, in the small power generator 1, the planar size is reduced by providing the shaft of the intermediate gear inside the stator core of the inner rotor type power generator.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a combined power source with power cells configured electrically independently. A switch arbitrarily changes connection paths of the power cells by selectively connecting terminals of the power cells through switching elements. A detector detects differences in electrical potentials between power cell terminals. An output detector detects a power consumption in a load and/or an output power of the power source. ON-OFF states of the switching elements are controlled by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing detected differences in electrical potentials, power consumption, and output power. A connection status of each power cell is controlled so as to halt outputting of the power cell having the lowest output voltage if it is detected that a detected power value is equal to or lower than an output power preset based on a power generating capacity of the power source.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a combined power source with power cells configured electrically independently. A switch arbitrarily changes connection paths of the power cells by selectively connecting power cell terminals through switching elements. A voltage detector detects differences in electrical potentials between the power cell terminals. A controller controls ON-OFF states of the switching elements by controlling the switch by a control signal generated based on voltage signals representing the differences in electrical potentials detected by the voltage detector so as to isolate one of the power cells to stop a supply of electric power therefrom when a voltage generated in the power cell has dropped to a specified voltage or lower. The controller restarts the supply of electric power from the power cell whose power supply has been stopped when the duration of a down time of the power cell has reached a predetermined time or longer.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator has a reaction chamber that contains a complex hydride capable of reacting with an aqueous acid solution to generate hydrogen. A storage chamber contains an aqueous acid solution that is supplied through a supply pipe to the reaction chamber to react with the complex hydride to generate hydrogen. The total weight of water contained in the aqueous acid solution is 0.2 times or more, but 3 times or less, than the weight of the complex hydride. A control device controls the supplying of the aqueous acid solution through the supply pipe to the reaction chamber based on a reference pressure such that the aqueous acid solution is repeatedly supplied to the reaction chamber when the reference pressure is greater than the internal pressure within the reaction chamber and not supplied to the reaction chamber when the reference pressure is less than the reaction chamber internal pressure.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with one side of a paper, a second thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with the other side of the paper, and a controller. The first thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on one side of the paper. The second thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on the other side of the paper. The controller is configured to shift the energization times between the first thermal head and second thermal head.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve has a first pressure deformation portion connected to and receiving a pressure on a fuel demand side, a second pressure deformation portion opposed to the first pressure deformation portion and receiving a predetermined pressure, first and second flow passages, and a communication passage communicating the first and second flow passages to each other. A valve member has a connecting portion connecting the first and second pressure deformation portions together, and has a valve element provided at the connecting portion and configured to close the communication passage when moved toward the second pressure deformation portion. When the pressure on the fuel demand side is lower than a predetermined value, the valve element does not close the communication passage, but when the pressure on the fuel demand side is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the valve element closes the communication passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell has cell units and a manifold for uniformly supplying an anode fluid to the cell units. The manifold has a fluid supply plate with a flow conduit for feeding an anode fluid, and a plate structure having a flow space and openings arranged in a preselected direction. The flow space receives an anode fluid fed from an opening part of the flow conduit, reduces a flow rate of the anode fluid, and disperses the anode fluid at the reduced flow rate along a plane direction orthogonal to the preselected direction. The block group is arranged between the openings and the opening part so that the flow space is disposed between the block group and the opening part. The block group comprises blocks spaced apart from one another to form paths for dispersing into the openings the anode fluid dispersed by the flow space at the reduced rate.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with one side of a paper, a second thermal head which is so provided as to be brought into contact with the other side of the paper, and a controller. The first thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on one side of the paper. The second thermal head energizes a plurality of heater elements to print dot image data on the other side of the paper. The controller is configured to shift the energization times between the first thermal head and second thermal head.

Abstract: A fuel cell system supplies a reacting solution from a liquid storage section to a reaction section to generate a reacting gas. A gas storage section stores the reacting gas and supplies it to a solid polymer membrane fuel cell which generates electricity using the reacting gas as fuel. The reacting solution is supplied from the liquid storage section to the reaction section when the pressure in the liquid storage section is higher than the pressure in the reaction section and the supply of reacting solution is stopped when the pressure in the liquid storage section is lower than the pressure in the reaction section. In this manner, the supply volume of the reacting solution is controlled in accordance with the driving state of the fuel cell.

Abstract: In a fuel cell power source system comprising a fuel cell, a fuel supplier for supplying a fuel to the fuel cell, an electricity storing member capable of charging and discharging an energy, and a control circuit for controlling outputs of the fuel cell and the electricity storing member and the fuel supplier for supplying a power to an external load, there are provided a method of operating the fuel cell power source system and a fuel cell system promoting safety of the fuel cell system and reducing a deterioration in the fuel cell by removing the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell after stopping the fuel supplier. At an initial stage of supplying the power to the external load and inside of the fuel cell system, the power is supplied from the electricity storing member, and the electricity storing member is charged by using an output outputted from the fuel cell by generating the power by the fuel cell by using the fuel remaining at inside of the fuel cell system after stopping the external load.