Abstract: A gas mixture 2 containing a fuel, water and air is supplied to one end of a reforming room 6, and a reformed gas 4 containing hydrogen is discharged from the other end thereof. Two or more such reforming units are connected in series, and the upstream part of each reforming room is filled with a first catalyst 8a which catalyzes a partial oxidation reaction in an oxygen-rich environment, and the downstream part is filled with a second catalyst 8b which performs the reforming reaction. The gas mixture 102 which has been heated in a heating unit 104 passes through a distribution tube 108 and is distributed evenly to the reforming units 114. The reforming room is composed of a reforming tube 130 in which a reforming catalyst 112 is charged, or two or more such reforming tubes, parallel to each other. After being reformed the high-temperature reformed gas 118 is passed around the reforming tubes, and fed back to a manifold 116.

Abstract: The present invention provides a game machine, slot machine, and game program in which, if a game state is for a normal game, an evaluation is made to determine if at least one bonus symbol will be statically displayed or is statically displayed in a display module so that a condition needed for starting a bonus game is met. If the condition is met, a possible payout value that can be awarded to the player as payout in the bonus game is displayed before the bonus game is started. The game machine of the present invention increases a player's curiosity by displaying a possible payout value that can be awarded to the player as a payout for a bonus game before starting the bonus game.

Abstract: The game machine and game program of the present invention display, at the start of a game, multiple static symbols by constantly changing to various types of symbols including the wild symbol. The game machine then executes a static display by displaying such changing symbols statically again in each display area and recognizes the arrangements of each static symbol. Then, the game machine visually displays the arrangement of the symbols by which multiple wins are established or the win line related to such arrangements of the symbols, when the pre-determined combinations of symbols, in which at least one wild symbol is included, are arranged so that multiple wins are established. The game machine and game program according to the present invention increases the player's interest and arouses the player's anticipation.

Abstract: The purpose is to obtain efficiently, from a large piece of flat optical material, flat optical elements that allow for miniaturization of optical devices because they are octagonal, and that can be fixed securely in the inner opening of permanent magnets by brazing. Rounded openings 11, 12 . . . that are circular or elliptical in shape are made at intersections P1, P2 . . . of the cut lines C1, C2 . . . at which flat optical material 10 is cut vertically and horizontally; the flat optical material 10 in which the openings 11, 12 . . . have been made is cut vertically and horizontally; and a number of flat optical elements, each with a nearly octagonal outline with sides that are alternately four straight lines and curves, are obtained.

Abstract: A random number selector selects at least one random number. A display displays at least one of plural symbols in accordance with the selected random number, the plural symbols including at least one first symbol which is associated with a second symbol in a one-to-one correspondence. A replacement controller replaces the first symbol with the second symbol when a predetermined requirement is satisfied under a condition that the first symbol is displayed in the display.

Abstract: When a non-contact IC card is detected, a card reader/writer immediately starts communications. The electronic money information stored on the non-contact IC card is transmitted to a control device of a vending machine. When merchandise is sold, the control device subtracts the price of the merchandise from the balance of the electronic money of the non-contact IC card, replaces the existing data with new data on the non-contact IC card, and releases the merchandise. To easily communicate with the non-contact IC card, the vending machine is provided with a holding unit.

Abstract: A first injection mechanism of an apparatus for molding articles injects coating material into a cavity defined in a clamped mold, thereby forming a predetermined coating on the inner surface of the cavity. After the coating material is injected into the cavity, a decompression mechanism lowers the pressure in the cavity through at least one vent. After the coating is formed on the inner surface of the cavity, a second injection mechanism injects molding material into the cavity. When the pressure in the cavity is being lowered, an opening-closing mechanism opens the vent. Before or during the injection of the molding material, the opening-closing mechanism closes the vent.

Abstract: An insertion instrument body includes a longitudinal metallic core portion, a distending portion and a power supply means. The metallic core portion is inserted into a lumen such as a blood vessel. The distending portion is fixed to an outer face of the metallic core portion. The power supply means heats the distending portion above a transforming temperature. The distending portion includes a cylindrical portion which is mountable on the metallic core portion; and a plurality of rod-shaped portions which are integrally formed in the cylindrical portion and which are made of a shape-memory material. The rod-shaped portion returns to an original shape by displacing in an intersecting direction with respect to a longitudinal direction of the metallic core portion. An electrical insulating layer is formed on an outer surface of the metallic core portion, and the electrical insulating layer is covered with a flexible sleeve.

Abstract: A gas mixture 2 containing a fuel, water and air is supplied to one end of a reforming room 6, and a reformed gas 4 containing hydrogen is discharged from the other end thereof. Two or more such reforming units are connected in series, and the upstream part of each reforming room is filled with a first catalyst 8a which catalyzes a partial oxidation reaction in an oxygen-rich environment, and the downstream part is filled with a second catalyst 8b which performs the reforming reaction. The gas mixture 102 which has been heated in a heating unit 104 passes through a distribution tube 108 and is distributed evenly to the reforming units 114. The reforming room is composed of a reforming tube 130 in which a reforming catalyst 112 is charged, or two or more such reforming tubes, parallel to each other. After being reformed the high-temperature reformed gas 118 is passed around the reforming tubes, and fed back to a manifold 116.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet support on which sheets are supported thereon, a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheets from the sheet support, a first conveying unit for conveying the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit to the vicinity of an image forming device for forming images on the sheets, a second conveying unit for feeding the sheets conveyed by the first conveying unit to the image forming device so as to be cable of forming images thereon, and a control for controlling the sheet conveying speed of the sheet feeding unit, the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit, and the control controls so that the sheet conveying speed may become higher in the order of the sheet feeding unit, the second conveying unit and the first conveying unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with sheet supporting means on which sheets are supported thereon, sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets from the sheet supporting means, sheet conveying means for conveying the sheets fed by the sheet feeding means to the vicinity of image forming means for forming images on the sheets, image forming and conveying means for feeding the sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying means to the image forming means so as to be capable of forming images thereon, and control means for controlling the sheet conveying speed of the sheet feeding means, the sheet conveying means and the image forming and conveying means, and the control means controls so that the sheet conveying speed may become higher in the order of the sheet feeding means, the image forming and conveying means and the sheet conveying means.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a sheet feeding device for feeding sheets from a sheet supporting device on which the sheets are supported, a first sheet conveying device, a second sheet conveying device and a third sheet conveying device successively disposed downstream of the sheet supporting device with respect to the feeding direction of the sheets for conveying the sheets, a sheet interval judging device for detecting the passage of the sheets between the second sheet conveying device and the third sheet conveying device, and judging whether the interval between the sheets is a predetermined interval, and control device for controlling the sheet feeding device, the first sheet conveying device and the second sheet conveying device so that the sheets can be conveyed at the predetermined interval on the basis of the judgement of the sheet interval judging device.

Abstract: A private mobile communication system serves to support communication between mutual portable or mobile radio telephone equipment which are registered in the system, and communication between the portable or mobile radio telephone communication equipment and telephones connected to a public communication network. Portable or mobile radio telephone equipment which is not registered in the system transmits a call request to the public network through a private control channel controlling section. A radio base station of the system transfers the call request through a private channel to a private branch exchange (PBX). The PBX serves to support the call to the public network in response to the call request transmitted through the private channel.

Abstract: A dual mode mobile telephone apparatus includes a transmitting/receiving portion (2, 3) for different kinds of modes, an operation portion (4) for assigning an available call mode, a call mode detection portion (13) for detecting the call mode, a call mode store portion (11) for storing a call mode, a response signal generating portion (12) for generating a response signal and changing the call mode, a call mode changing signal generation portion (14) for generating a call mode changing signal. Accordingly, the dual mode mobile telephone apparatus of the present invention is capable of changing the mode as determined by the user at any time or automatically.

Abstract: A mold for integrally molding a cover and a pad on a steering wheel. The mold includes a first mold and a second mold relatively movable to the first mold. The first and second molds are separated from each other to place a metal core between the first and second molds. The first and second molds are then joined with each other to define a first cavity for molding the cover. Afterwards, the first and second molds are separated from each other to remove the metal core and the cover. A float core is located between the first and second molds. The float core cooperates with the first and second molds to define a second cavity for integrally molding the pad with the cover when the first and second molds are joined with each other. A pivoting mechanism pivots the float core to remove the steering wheel from the molds.

Abstract: A private mobile communication system serves to support communication between mutual portable or mobile radio telephone equipment which are registered in the system, and communication between the portable or mobile radio telephone equipment and a telephone connected to a public network. A portable or mobile radio telephone equipment which is not registered in the system transmits a request for call to the public network through a private control channel controlling section. A radio base station in the system transfers the request for call transmitted through a private channel to a PBX. The PBX serves to support the call to the public network in response to the request for call transmitted through the private channel.

Abstract: A video coding apparatus ensuring a high coding efficiency even at a low bit rate includes a moving object analyzer which extracts a moving part from an input picture signal, analyzes its motion, and outputs a residual signal relative to a reconstruction image and motion parameters. The apparatus further includes a residual coding device for coding the residual signal, a reconstruction device for reconstructing a picture using the motion parameters, and a device that performs a variable length coding of the motion parameters and residual coded information.

Abstract: A blood pump for circulating blood by a rotor rotating in a space of a casing which is formed substantially in a flat shape and has a suction port and a discharge port, comprises a conical projecting portion provided at the central portion of the rotor, and a blade body formed continuously to a vicinity of the outer periphery of the base portion of the projecting portion, in which upper side recessed passages and lower side passages are alternately and radially formed. Base portions of the upper side recessed passages and the lower side passages are interconnected to each other by communicating passages. With this blood pump, the passages for blood are formed at either of the upper and lower gaps between the rotor and the casing, so that blood is transferred to the outer peripheral portion, thus preventing the solidification of the blood due to the stagnation thereof.

Abstract: A voice transmission method and apparatus in a duplex radio system are disclosed in which a voice signal to be transmitted in a constant period of time is subjected to 1/N time compression, N being a numeral not smaller than 2.0. The time-compressed voice signal is supplied to a transmitter as a modulating signal and a transmitting operation is performed by the transmitter in synchronism with a period of time when the modulating signal is inputted to the transmitter. A receiving operation of receiving a time-compressed and modulated signal transmitted from the transmitter to demodulate it is performed by a receiver in a period of time other than the period of time when the transmitting operation is performed. A demodulated signal is subjected to N-ple time expansion to obtain a reproduced receive voice signal, and both the transmitting operation and the receiving operation are repeated at the constant period of time.