Abstract: A vehicular mountable fuel cell system constituted by combusting means 1 for combusting off gas from a fuel cell 4 supplied with reformed gas from a reformer 3 and a turbine compressor 2 for supplying air to the fuel cell 4 by compressing air at a compressor unit 22 by operating combustion energy of the combusting means 1 to a turbine unit 21 to thereby reduce power of a motor for driving to rotate the turbine compressor by recovering power by effectively using waste gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of laminated gas chambers, a plurality of separators that separate the gas chambers, intake passages for supplying fuel gas and oxidizing gas, exhaust passages for emitting the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas, intake ports to supply fuel gas and oxidizing gas from the intake passages to the gas chambers, exit ports to exit the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas from the gas chambers to the exhaust passages, and rectifying plates located at one end of the intake ports and extending across at least one of the gas intake passages. Each of the rectifying plates effectively restricts direct gas flow from one of the intake passages to the intake ports. Therefore, the number of gas chambers can be increased as compared to conventional fuel cells. Even though the number of gas chambers is increased, each gas chamber uniformly receives gas due to the excellent gas distribution achieved by the rectifying plates.

Abstract: Gas passages of a gas-passage plate disposed between fuel cells are improved, in order to enhance gas utilization efficiency and output performance. The supply-gas passages formed on the gas-passage plate on a surface to face one gaseous diffusion electrode comprise an inlet-side channel part, an outlet-side channel part, and an intermediate channel part which connects the inlet-side channel part and the outlet-side channel part. The inlet-side channel part and the outlet-side channel part are lattice-shaped passages. The intermediate channel part has the shape of being folded plural times, and comprises groups of a plurality of straight independent passages, and lattice-shaped passages formed at portions returning from one independent-passages group to the next independent-passages group.

Abstract: An air bag module comprises a housing for being mounted on a vehicle body and a cover fixedly secured on the housing. The housing has a base plate portion and a support plate portion bent down from the base plate portion. The support plate portion is provided with engagement holes. The cover has a cover portion having dimensions sufficient to cover the base plate portion of said housing, a substantially-cylindrical mounting plate portion extending from the cover portion toward the housing and located outside the support plate portion, short cylindrical convexities maintained in engagement with the engagement holes, and indentations formed in the mounting plate portion at plural locations spaced from each other in a peripheral direction of the mounting plate portion. The short cylindrical convexities are formed on the mounting plate portion and are located on a single plane extending across a direction in which the cylindrical mounting plate portion extends.

Abstract: A roller comprises a rotary shaft, an outer peripheral wall member for defining an outer peripheral surface to be contacted with a sheet, and a support member for supporting the outer peripheral wall member so that the outer peripheral wall member surrounds the rotary shaft. The support member defines a space between the rotary shaft and the outer peripheral wall member and supports the outer peripheral wall member with maintaining a condition that the outer peripheral wall member is deformed to swell radially outwardly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism for forming an image and a matrix circuit having connected thereto a plurality of keys including an initiating key for instructing the start of image formation and a stop key for interrupting image formation. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller for controlling image formation by the image forming mechanism in accordance with a control sequence and a memory containing a program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit. Prior to the start of image formation, the controller executes the program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit and executes the control sequence in response to the sensing input of the initiating key. During image formation, the controller executes the program for sensing key input of the matrix circuit such that sensing whether the stop key has been input is executed without sensing whether the initiating key has been input.

Abstract: A document scanning apparatus includes a first scanner for reciprocating an optical member and for exposing an original document put on a document platen, and a second scanner for feeding an original document to an exposure position and for exposing the original document at the exposure position. A selector selects either the first scanner in a stationary exposure mode or the second scanner in a dynamic exposure mode. In the stationary exposure mode, a controller causes forward movement of the reciprocating optical member to stop and the reciprocating member to move backward in accordance with a detection signal signifying that the trailing edge of a recording sheet has passed a predetermined position in the transport path for the recording sheet. In the dynamic exposure mode, the controller controls the second scanner to feed successive original documents in accordance with the same detection signal for the trailing edge of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A thermal head apparatus comprises a heat radiating member, a board having a heater and attached on the upper surface of the heat radiating member, a platen roller brought into contact with a heater formed on the board and rotated to transfer a recording paper sheet on the heater, a roller shaft supporting the platen roller, a pair of bearings supporting both end portions of the roller shaft, a first positioning member formed integral with an end portion of the heat radiating member and abutting on the bearings of the roller shaft, and a second positioning member formed integral with the other end portion of the heat radiating member and abutting on the bearings of the roller shaft.

Abstract: Described is a pad for an air bag device. The pad has an embedded, plate-like element, which is composed of at least two plate-like members. An edge portion of one of the plate-like members overlaps the other plate-like member.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a unit for starting power supply in accordance with external conditions, a unit for supplying power to the apparatus in accordance with a signal from the starting unit, and a unit for stopping power supply by the power supply unit after a predetermined operation such as a communication operation is completed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus provided with a plurality of operation devices for recording or reproducing an image. Using operation control signals, a controller controls the operation devices in accordance with selected information signals. Appropriate ones of the information signals are selected in accordance with the control signals.

Abstract: A fuel injector including an injector casing having a fuel inlet at a side portion thereof; a valve housing having a fuel injection hole at a front end thereof and having a guide hole at an axial central portion thereof, the guide hole being communicated with the fuel inlet; a valve reciprocably accommodated in the guide hole, the valve being adjusted to close the fuel injection hole when advancing and open the fuel injection hole when retracting; a valve driving device for driving the valve to advance and retract the valve; and a fuel strainer mounted on an outer circumference of the injector casing, the strainer comprising a synthetic resin frame having annular portions at front and rear ends thereof and a metal ring connected to at least one of the front and rear end portions of the frame by insert molding of synthetic resin, the metal ring being press-fitted with the injector casing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, a command unit for commanding image forming conditions, a first switch for connecting a power source to the apparatus, a first director for detecting an operational position of the first switch, a second switch for enabling the first switch to connect the power source to the apparatus, a second detector for detecting an operational position of the second switch, and a memory having microprograms stored therein for operatively controlling loads on the image forming unit. The operation of the image forming unit is controlled by signals derived from the first and second detectors and the microprograms.

Abstract: A control apparatus including a plurality of loads for processing, a controller for controlling operation of the loads, the controller including a first memory having a microprogram stored therein to operate the loads sequentially, a second memory for storing data to be used during control of the loads, means for repeatedly generating a pulse during execution of the microprogram, and an output port for outputting the pulse. The controller is operable to output the pulse repeatedly from the output port during intervals of normal execution of the microprogram. An initializer is further provided to detect the pulse outputted from the output port, and for designating the controller as abnormal if the pulse from the output port is not detected within a predetermined period of time. To prevent the apparatus from operating erroneously, the controller initiates execution of its microprogram in response to initialization by the initializer and clears the data stored in its second memory.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a data communication unit; a speech communication unit; a connection unit for connecting to a plurality of lines; and a switching unit for selectively connecting the data communication unit and the speech communication unit to any one of the plurality of lines. Both speech and data communication units may be used concurrently. The communication apparatus further includes a memory unit for storing line information identifying a line different from another line in use for data communication or speech communication. An automatic calling to both speech and data communication units may be effected by a single calling operation by the operator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of feeding or transporting recording medium of different sizes through the image forming path. A discriminating device determines whether or not a recording medium has reached a predetermined position in the transport path and a detecting member detects the recording medium a predetermined time thereafter to identify the size of the recording medium. If the recording medium is detected within the predetermined time, it is identified as being of a particular size. When the medium is detected during a time period different from the predetermined time period, the medium is identified as being of a size smaller than the particular size. The image formation operation is controlled as a function of the size identification of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, a command unit for commanding image forming conditions, a first switch for connecting a power source to the apparatus, a first detector for detecting an operational position of the first switch, a second switch for enabling the first switch to connect the power source to the apparatus, a second detector for detecting an operational position of the second switch, and a memory having microprograms stored therein for operatively controlling loads on the image forming unit. The operation of the image forming unit is controlled by signals derived from the first and second detectors and the microprograms. Information can be entered via a keyboard during waiting time.

Abstract: A recording head for a recording apparatus, which includes a plurality of recording elements, wherein the length or area of at least one dot in the recording elements at a particular position is varied with respect to the length or area of the dots of the remaining recording elements. Preferably, the length or area of the dot of at least one recording element positioned at the outermost end in the linear row of the plurality of recording elements is greater than the length or area of the dots of the remaining recording elements. By such variation in the length or the area of the dots, so-called "whitening" in the recorded image is prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, a command unit for commanding image forming conditions, a first switch for connecting a power source to the apparatus, a first detector for detecting an operational position of the first switch, a second switch for enabling the first switch to connect the power source to the apparatus, a second detector for detecting an operational position of the second switch, and a memory having microprograms stored therein for operatively controlling loads on the image forming unit. The operation of the image forming unit is controlled by signals derived from the first and second detectors and the microprograms.

Abstract: An imaging forming apparatus in which a photosensitive member is electrostatically charged and the charged area is exposed to light to form a latent image which is subsequently developed to obtain an image the apparatus being featured in that the imaging area on the photosensitive member is exposed to the light of an arbitrary amount while the non-imaging area on the photosensitive member is exposed to the light of an amount determined irrespective of the arbitrary amount, and the surface potential of the area exposed to the light of the determined amount is measured thereby controlling the image formation according to the measured output.