Abstract: A liquid container is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus having a liquid introducing member. The liquid container includes a storage unit, a supply port assembly, and an elastic seal member. The storage unit is disposed in the liquid container to store a liquid usable for image formation. The supply port assembly is mounted in the storage unit and has a supply channel therein. The liquid introducing member of the image forming apparatus is inserted into the supply port assembly. The elastic seal member is disposed in the supply port assembly. When penetrated by the liquid introducing member, the elastic seal member moves together with the liquid introducing member relative to the supply port assembly to open and close the supply channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a flexible container containing ink; and a restriction mechanism allowing the flexible container to deform only in the direction to decrease the volume of the flexible container. The ink cartridge is used for an image forming apparatus including an inkjet head for jetting ink from nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid carrying container which is removably mounted to a body of an image forming device is disclosed. The liquid carrying container includes a liquid containing bag which contains liquid; and a supply port section which has an elastically deformable portion through which a hollow nozzle member is pierced from the side of the image forming device, wherein the supply port section is directly held within a recess section formed on the liquid containing bag, and the hollow nozzle member penetrates through the supply port section and the liquid containing bag to face inside the liquid containing bag.

Abstract: A liquid discharging-type image forming apparatus capable of securely eliminating mixed air bubbles from the ink liquid and forming a stable image. The apparatus includes: a sub tank 35 of which negative pressure amount is detected; a pump 115 sucking ink when the detected amount of the sub tank 35 is lower than a predetermined amount so that the sub tank 35 and recording heads 34 have negative pressure; a second backflow prevention unit 203 to stop the sent ink to be reserved in a second liquid container 201, which is pressurized as ink increases. When the ink is again filled in the sub tank 35, the ink is sent from the second liquid container 201 before being sent from the first liquid container. Accordingly, ink is not accumulated in the second liquid container 201, allowing the second liquid container 201 to be smaller and the image forming apparatus as a whole to be more compact.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus supports a recording medium swingably in at least two axis directions by a support section formed in a shape having elasticity. When an access can be made to a memory, the recording medium is constantly and reciprocatingly moved in a direction along data row. Thus, a positional relationship with a probe head is always grasped. When an access is made, a moving time associated with position identification is reduced, and precise and fast movement is achieved.

Abstract: A slide valve apparatus includes a first member having a first fluid channel for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough, a second member sliding along the first member and having a second fluid channel formed in a manner to communicate with the first fluid channel, and a first elastic membrane formed in the sliding surface along which the second member and the first member slide relative to each other and having a first communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel. In manufacturing the slide valve apparatus, a gas is spurted from the open edge of the first fluid channel in at least a stage between the start up of the step of forming the elastic membrane and the end of the step of baking the elastic membrane so as to form in the elastic membrane the communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel.

Abstract: An imaging-material container that stores imaging material to be supplied to an image forming device includes a flexible storage member, a pressure unit, a regulation member, and a pushing unit. The flexible storage member stores imaging material. The pressure unit applies pressure on the flexible storage member. The regulation member contacts the flexible storage member to deform the flexible storage member. The pushing unit moves the regulation member as the imaging material is consumed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge removably mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a flexible storage member, a pressurization-space formation member, an output port, and an opening-and-closing assembly. The flexible storage member stores ink. The pressurization-space formation member hermetically houses the storage member and forms a pressurization space to which a fluid is supplied between the pressurization-space formation member and the storage member. The output port is connected to the storage member, through which the ink is supplied from the storage member to the image forming apparatus. The opening-and-closing assembly opens and closes between the output port and the storage member by the fluid supplied into the pressurization space.

Abstract: A liquid container is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus having a liquid introducing member. The liquid container includes a storage unit, a supply port assembly, and an elastic seal member. The storage unit is disposed in the liquid container to store a liquid usable for image formation. The supply port assembly is mounted in the storage unit and has a supply channel therein. The liquid introducing member of the image forming apparatus is inserted into the supply port assembly. The elastic seal member is disposed in the supply port assembly. When penetrated by the liquid introducing member, the elastic seal member moves together with the liquid introducing member relative to the supply port assembly to open and close the supply channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from an imaging apparatus, and including an ink accommodating unit; and a cartridge casing having an opening, whereby the ink accommodating unit includes: an ink accommodating body; and an ink supplying portion including a nozzle insertion path and connected to the ink accommodating body, whereby the ink supplying portion is held by the cartridge casing so that the ink supplying portion is rotatable between a position where the nozzle insertion path faces the opening and a position where the nozzle insertion path faces an inner wall surface of the cartridge casing, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the opening, and when the ink cartridge is detached the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the inner wall surface.

Abstract: A slide valve apparatus includes a first member having a first fluid channel for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough, a second member sliding along the first member and having a second fluid channel formed in a manner to communicate with the first fluid channel, and a first elastic membrane formed in the sliding surface along which the second member and the first member slide relative to each other and having a first communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel. In manufacturing the slide valve apparatus, a gas is spurted from the open edge of the first fluid channel in at least a stage between the start up of the step of forming the elastic membrane and the end of the step of baking the elastic membrane so as to form in the elastic membrane the communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus supports a recording medium swingably in at least two axis directions by a support section formed in a shape having elasticity. When an access can be made to a memory, the recording medium is constantly and reciprocatingly moved in a direction along data row. Thus, a positional relationship with a probe head is always grasped. When an access is made, a moving time associated with position identification is reduced, and precise and fast movement is achieved.

Abstract: A chemical reacting system includes a high temperature reactor; a low temperature reactor where reaction is conducted at a lower temperature than in the high temperature reactor; and a heat transmission joint with a heat transmission controller to join the high temperature reactor transferably in heat with the low temperature reactor so as to change a transferable heat cross section, thereby controlling a heat quantity to be transferred from the high temperature reactor to the low temperature reactor.

Abstract: An infrared ray detection device has a detection cell which has a thermoelectric converting part and an infrared ray absorption layer formed via a space on a semiconductor substrate, a first wiring part formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a supporting part, the detection cell being formed via the space on the semiconductor substrate and supports the detection cell. The supporting part includes a plurality of supporting legs which have a second wiring part electrically connecting the first wiring part to the detection cell and an insulating part covering a surrounding are of the second wiring part, and at least one connection part made of an insulating material connecting the plurality of supporting legs to each other.

Abstract: An infrared ray detection device has a detection cell which has a thermoelectric converting part and an infrared ray absorption layer formed via a space on a semiconductor substrate, a first wiring part formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a supporting part, the detection cell being formed via the space on the semiconductor substrate and supports the detection cell. The supporting part includes a plurality of supporting legs which have a second wiring part electrically connecting the first wiring part to the detection cell and an insulating part covering a surrounding are of the second wiring part, and at least one connection part made of an insulating material connecting the plurality of supporting legs to each other.

Abstract: There is proposed a chemical reactor comprising a vessel for housing an organic raw material having a higher saturated vapor pressure than atmospheric pressure, a reformer for reforming at least a portion of the organic raw material into a reformed gas, an inlet flow channel to which the vessel is removably attached, enabling the vessel to be communicated with the reformer, and an inlet port side cut-off valve disposed in the inlet flow channel and designed to be brought into an open state as the vessel is attached, thus permitting the organic raw material to pass through the inlet flow channel, and brought into a closed state as the vessel is removed from the inlet flow channel, thus cutting off the inlet flow channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a chemical reaction device which distributes reaction fluid through a microchannels having convex and concave portions. The chemical reaction device includes an anodized film for supporting a catalyst, convex and concave portions covered with the anodized film to define microchannel wall members, a curved convex corner disposed in the convex portion, and a curved concave corner disposed in the concave portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a reactor. The reactor is provided with a first member including plural first projections; a second member including plural second projections, the second projections being so dimensioned as to at least partly enter into gaps between the respective first projections; a catalyst supported on at least apart of surfaces of the first projections and the second projections; and a case to house the first member and the second member, the case including an inflow port and an outflow port.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with: a container having a double wall and an opening at an end of the double wall, the double wall including an inner wall, an outer wall and a sealed space defined by the inner wall and the outer wall, the sealed space being evacuated; a fuel supplier supplying a fuel including an organic compound; a reformer reforming the fuel into a reformed gas including hydrogen, the reformer being enclosed in the container; a fuel supply path linking the fuel supplier to the reformer; a heat absorber being in contact with the inner wall and disposed between the reformer and the opening; and a fuel cell receiving and using the reformed gas to generate electricity.

Abstract: A slide valve apparatus includes a first member having a first fluid channel for allowing a fluid to flow therethrough, a second member sliding along the first member and having a second fluid channel formed in a manner to communicate with the first fluid channel, and a first elastic membrane formed in the sliding surface along which the second member and the first member slide relative to each other and having a first communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel. In manufacturing the slide valve apparatus, a gas is spurted from the open edge of the first fluid channel in at least a stage between the start up of the step of forming the elastic membrane and the end of the step of baking the elastic membrane so as to form in the elastic membrane the communicating hole communicating with the first fluid channel.