Abstract: In the inventory management system managing the inventory status of a commodity displayed in a showcase by using a computer, the showcase is provided with an antenna for communicating with an RFID tag attached to a commodity on a commodity shelf, detecting means for detecting a unique number of the RFID tag by communicating with the RFID tag through the antenna, and transmitting means for transmitting the detected unique number of the RFID tag to the computer through a network. The computer manages the commodity inventory based on the unique number of the RFID tag, the unique number being received from the showcase.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus and a method for producing carbonated water capable of obtaining high concentration carbonated water effectively. Carbon dioxide gas is passed through a first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) composed of a membrane module to be dissolved in water and the carbonated water passing through the first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) is passed through a static mixer (13), which is a second carbon dioxide gas dissolver. Consequently, a high concentration carbonated water can be obtained remarkably, effectively and easily with a simpler structure than conventionally.

Abstract: A control unit of a reader superimposes a control signal for antenna switching on a high frequency signal outputted into an antenna unit from a high frequency circuit. The antenna unit includes: separators for separating the superimposed signals into high frequency signals and control signals; a switch circuit for switching loop antennas; and a control circuit for controlling the switch circuit based on the control signal separated by the separator.

Abstract: An RFID tag reader having an antenna for communication with an RFID tag, a high frequency circuit for processing a communication signal with the RFID tag, a signal line for connecting the antenna with the high frequency circuit, and an impedance matching circuit for impedance matching between the antenna and the signal line includes: a detection unit for detecting a calibration RFID tag provided in a predetermined reading range; and a calibration unit for calibrating the high frequency circuit or matching circuit so that the calibration RFID tag can be detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A control unit of a reader superimposes a control signal for impedance adjustment on a high-frequency signal outputted from a high-frequency circuit to an antenna unit to output a superimposed signal. The antenna unit includes a separating unit that separates the superimposed signal into the high-frequency signal and the control signal, a matching circuit that subjects the high-frequency signal separated by the separating unit to impedance matching and input the high-frequency signal to an antenna, and an adjusting unit that controls a circuit constant of the matching circuit on the basis of the control signal separated by the separating unit.

Abstract: A process for producing carbonated water having a high concentration, inexpensively and easily, involves using a static mixer having 20 to 100 elements so as to provide a value Re×N of 100,000 to 2,000,000, in with Re represents a Reynolds number, when a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas flow in the static mixer.

Abstract: A controller of a vending machine includes a timer for measuring current time and a memory for storing a usual product price for each product. Furthermore, the controller, when current time of product sales is within a predetermined time period, discounts a predetermined amount from the usual product price for product sales control.

Abstract: A carbonate spring producing system includes a gas-liquid separator (6) which is connected on the downstream side of a carbonic acid gas dissolver (4). A carbonic acid gas supply means (10) and hot water supply means are connected to the carbonic acid gas dissolver (4). A liquid lead-out pipe (5) is connected to the gas-liquid separator. Preferably an un-dissolved carbonic acid gas lead-out pipe (23) is connected on the upstream sides of the gas-liquid separator (6) and the carbonic acid gas dissolver (4). The un-dissolved carbonic acid gas lead-out pipe (23) includes a control valve (25), a compressor (27), and a liquid level detection means (22). The control valve (25) controls a flow rate of un-dissolved carbonic acid gas from the gas-liquid separator. The liquid level detection means (22) measures a liquid level of the gas-liquid separator.

Abstract: It relates to equipment and a process for producing carbonated water of a high-concentration inexpensively and easily. Since the equipment for producing the carbonated water and the process for producing the carbonated water using a static mixer having 20 to 100 elements realize production of the carbonated water of the high-concentration inexpensively and easily, they can be applied particularly effectively for so-called one pass production process. Moreover, the carbonated water of a higher concentration can be produced further effectively by providing a value Re×N of 100,000 to 2,000,000, wherein N is a number of elements of the static mixer and Re is a Reynolds number when a mixture of water and a carbonic acid gas flow in the static mixer.

Abstract: In a server-client type system, when a large volume of data to be transmitted whose volume is not less than a predetermined value is generated, a server notifies to a terminal device as a transmission destination to the effect that the large volume of data is to be transmitted by the D-channel packet exchange, and after receiving a data transmission timing signal from the terminal device, starts transmission of the large volume of data using a B-channel to cause the terminal device to download the large volume of data, and the terminal device monitors a state of a free B-channel line in all ISDN communication devices on the client side connected to the same digital service unit upon receiving the notification of transmission of the large volume of data from the server and notifies the server of the data transmission timing signal by the D-channel packet exchange at timing not preventing use of a B-channel line.

Abstract: This invention concerns an apparatus and a method for producing carbonated water capable of obtaining high concentration carbonated water effectively. Carbon dioxide gas is passed through a first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) composed of a membrane module to be dissolved in water and the carbonated water passing through the first carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) is passed through a static mixer (13), which is a second carbon dioxide gas dissolver. Consequently, a high concentration carbonated water can be obtained remarkably, effectively and easily with a simpler structure than conventionally.

Abstract: A button holding base member includes a button housing portion. A button is so housed in the button housing portion as to move in a button pushing direction. A button holder is assembled from the back side of an operation panel with the button. The button holder and the button interpose the operation panel inbetween thereby to prevent an illuminating light leakage. Moreover, the button holding base member and the button holder include a sliding portion at a position away from the button housing portion. As a result, the sliding structure is arranged independently of the illuminating light leakage preventing structure thereby to elongate the sliding distance. The stability of the button can be improved while retaining the illuminating light leakage preventing function.

Abstract: A button holding base member includes a button housing portion. A button is so housed in the button housing portion as to move in a button pushing direction. A button holder is assembled from the back side of an operation panel with the button. The button holder and the button interpose the operation panel inbetween thereby to prevent an illuminating light leakage. Moreover, the button holding base member and the button holder include a sliding portion at a position away from the button housing portion. As a result, the sliding structure is arranged independently of the illuminating light leakage preventing structure thereby to elongate the sliding distance. The stability of the button can be improved while retaining the illuminating light leakage preventing function.

Abstract: An inner cutter for a dry shaver has a plurality of blades 30 supported on a base 20 and is driven in hair-shearing engagement with an outer cutter 10 for cutting the hairs. The blades 30 are arranged in parallel with each other and are each provided on opposite sides at its top with cutting edges 32. The cutting edge 32 is defined between the top face of the blade and a rake fade 33 on the underside of the blade. The rake face 33 is inclined with respect to the top face at an angle of ? (°), while the cutting edge is rounded at its tip to have a curvature radius R (?m) which satisfies a relation that R??0.067·?+4.7. With this result, the cutting resistance for cutting the hair can be lowered below a load necessary for bending the hair. Thus, the blade of the inner cutter can itself cut the hair without bending the hair, giving a flat cutting plane finish and enabling a close shave only with a fewer shaving strokes.

Abstract: An inner cutter for a dry shaver has a plurality of blades 30 supported on a base 20 and is driven in hair-shearing engagement with an outer cutter 10 for cutting the hairs. The blades 30 are arranged in parallel with each other and are each provided on opposite sides at its top with cutting edges 32. The cutting edge 32 is defined between the top face of the blade and a rake fade 33 on the underside of the blade. The rake face 33 is inclined with respect to the top face at an angle of &agr; (°), while the cutting edge is rounded at its tip to have a curvature radius R (&mgr;m) which satisfies a relation that R≧−0.067·&agr;+4.7. With this result, the cutting resistance for cutting the hair can be lowered below a load necessary for bending the hair. Thus, the blade of the inner cutter can itself cut the hair without bending the hair, giving a flat cutting plane finish and enabling a close shave only with a fewer shaving strokes.