Abstract: A crosswalk detection device executes a predetermined arithmetic processing on a calculated value calculated based on data obtained through a scanning operation using a main pattern. Next, the device determines whether or not a crosswalk is in a predetermined image based on a relationship between a calculated result of the arithmetic processing and a position of the main pattern MP on the predetermined image. The above-explained calculated value is, for example, an average of the brightness of pixels overlapping each sub pattern of the main pattern. Hence, even if a white pattern of the crosswalk is cracked or the white pattern has a separated part, the value of data is hardly affected. Accordingly, it is possible to precisely determine whether or not the crosswalk is in the predetermined image.

Abstract: A sewing machine system includes a sewing machine and a storage device. The storage device includes an embroidery information storage portion, a conditions information storage portion, and a use history storage portion. The sewing machine includes a mounting portion to and from which the storage device can be mounted and removed, a first individual unit information storage portion that stores the first individual unit information, a use conditions determination portion that determines whether the sewing machine corresponds to the use conditions information, a usability determination portion that determines whether the embroidery information that is stored in the embroidery information storage portion can be used, a first decryption portion that decrypts the embroidery information, an individual unit information storage control portion that stores in the use history storage portion the first individual unit information, and an embroidery portion that performs embroidery sewing on a cloth.

Abstract: A printing system having a first printing apparatus to form an image on one side of continuous recording medium roll, a second printing apparatus arranged downstream from the first printing apparatus to form an image on the other side of the recording medium, and a controller to control conveyance of the recording medium. The second printing apparatus has a control device that identifies the number of pages of the recording medium placed on a path between the first printing apparatus and the second printing apparatus and a storage device to store a value representing a contraction amount of the recording medium thermally contracted by excessive heating in a heat fixing device of the first printing apparatus according to a condition defining the contraction amount to align positions of images formed on both sides of the recording medium.

Abstract: A control apparatus, connected to two image forming apparatuses each forming an image on one of a first face and a second face serving as image forming faces of a continuous recording paper, includes a receiving unit that receives, from each image forming apparatus, information regarding a transfer rate affecting condition that affects a difference in toner transfer rates of the image forming faces; a determining unit that determines, based on a standard amount of toner deposit and the transfer rate affecting condition regarding each of the first face and the second face, a target deposit amount representing a target amount of toner deposit in each of the two image forming apparatuses in such a way that the target deposit amounts have a difference corresponding to the difference in the toner transfer rate between the two image forming apparatuses.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second printing apparatuses that form images on first and second surfaces of a continuous recording sheet, respectively. The second printing apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on the sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit; a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the sheet and fixes the toner image adhered to the sheet; a buffer unit that takes up slack in the sheet generated because of a difference in conveyance between the conveying unit and the fixing-conveying unit; a determining unit that determines a brake force for stopping conveyance of the fixing-conveying unit, based on a buffer amount of the buffer unit, which corresponds to the slack in the sheet; and a conveyance control unit that performs control to stop conveyance of the sheet by the determined brake force.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator in which the adhesion of a conductive coating formed on the surface of the fuel cell separator is further improved. The fuel cell separator (20) includes a metal substrate (24) molded from titanium, and a conductive coating (30) that exhibits conductivity and is formed on the surface of the metal substrate (24), wherein the conductive coating (30) contains conductive particles, and the average particle size of the conductive particles is not less than 1 nm and not more than 100 nm. The average particle size of the conductive particles is preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 10 nm, and more preferably not less than 1 nm and not more than 5 nm.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium; a pressing member that presses the recording medium against the fixing member; an oiling unit that applies release oil onto a surface of the fixing member to clean the surface; a removing member that is arranged between an downstream side of the oiling unit and an upstream side of the pressing member in a rotating direction of the fixing member and movable between an in-contact state where the removing member is in contact with the surface of the fixing member and an out-of-contact state where the removing member is out of contact with the surface; a drive unit that drives the removing member; and an oiling control unit that, when starting earliest fixing, controls the drive unit to gradually move the removing member from the in-contact state into the out-of-contact state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vinamidinium salt represented by the formula (I): [wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or the like; R2 and R3 are the same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, or alternatively R2 and R3 may combine together to form a ring; R4 and R5 are the same or different and each represents a lower alkyl group, or alternatively R4 and R5 may combine together to form a ring; X and Y are the same or different and each represents a bromine atom or a chlorine atom; n represents a number of not less than 2; and m represents 0 or n], which can be used as a general purpose reagent useful for synthesis of various nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic rings having a substituent. The vinamidinium salt has excellent storage stability and reaction selectivity. A method for synthesizing a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ring compound using the vinamidinium salt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator in which the corrosion resistance can be improved. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator 22 that separates adjacent cells 10 of a fuel cell, the method including subjecting a separator substrate 24 composed of a metal material to gold strike plating, thereby forming a first gold plating layer with a thickness of 10 to 200 nm. An additional gold plating is preferably performed on top of the first gold plating layer formed by gold strike plating, thereby forming a second gold plating layer.

Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus and an embroidery data processing program that creates embroidery data usable by an embroidery sewing machine to sew an embroidery pattern that includes a plurality of partial patterns. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program store a maximum sewing region; set a plurality of unit embroidery regions; and modify a size of each of the plurality of unit regions based on the size of the maximum sewing region and a position and a size of each of the plurality of partial patterns contained within the plurality of unit embroidery regions. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program create the embroidery data of a part or a whole of the embroidery pattern being contained within the modified plurality of unit embroidery regions and output the embroidery data.

Abstract: The disclosure presents an embroidery data processing device and a computer program product capable of creating a single unit of tree structure vector data by coupling plural pieces of independent tree structure vector data. A coupling node is added between nodes and of a tree structure vector data, and a vector data to for coupling nodes and, and a vector data to for coupling nodes and are created, and thereby a tree structure vector data is created. In a tree structure vector data, the node mutual direction is converted so that the node existing at the connecting position may be a root node, and a tree structure vector data is created, and this root node is coupled with the coupling node of the tree structure vector data, and a single tree structure vector data is created.

Abstract: To provide methods for preparing alpha-carboline derivatives in few steps, as well as conveniently and industrially advantageously.

Abstract: An operator sets a distance from the page head of an alignment mark using a mark position setting switch mounted in a duplex printing system. A first printer forms the alignment mark in a position of the distance from the page head of a web, and reports position information about the alignment mark to a second printer. The alignment mark is detected by mark detection means of the second printer. Control means performs control of a web transport speed so that a phase between generation timing of a mark detection signal which the mark detection means generates by detecting the alignment mark and control timing calculated from alignment mark position data, alignment mark interval data and a web feed control signal generated at a preset period becomes constant.

Abstract: The disclosure presents an embroidery data processing device and a computer program product capable of tearing off an elastic sheet easily after an item of embroidery has been sewn, thus enhancing working efficiency. A CPU extracts a contour line from needle drop points PN (N=1, 2, . . . , n) stored in embroidery data (S1 to S3).

Abstract: The disclosure presents a quilting data processing apparatus and a program capable of displaying changes of fabric caused by a sewing line, and or easily displaying a visual image of a finished state of quilting. The CPU receives the fabric pattern of quilting, the thickness of fabric, the thickness of elastic material, and the sewing line of quilting, and, when the preview button is pressed, creates a basic mesh pattern, calculates the total deformation degree, deforms the basic mesh pattern sequentially along the sewing line to a deformation degree commensurate with the total deformation degree, and deforms each mesh adjacent to deformed meshes commensurately with the deformation degree, thereby creating a deformation mesh pattern (S1 to S5).

Abstract: A cathodic protection system has electrodes disposed in a coolant passage of an engine filled with a conductive coolant. The electrodes are electrically insulated from the engine. A power supply device provides for a protective electric current to form from the electrodes to the engine through the coolant. The cathodic protection system reduces engine manufacturing and maintenance costs and provides an anticorrosive effect without increasing the size of the engine.

Abstract: An electrode for a cathodic protection device that has one or more electrode bodies formed of a conductive wire. The electrode includes a pair of films made of an insulating material which are bonded to each other while sandwiching the electrode body therebetween. Preferably at least one of the pair of films is bonded to an engine body. The electrode body is exposed to the outside through one or more through-holes formed in at least one of the films. The electrode is less susceptible to short-circuiting or wire breakage when bent and is also easier to manufacture than conventional electrodes.

Abstract: A commodity trade assisting system, for assisting a shop in exhibiting a commodity traded at the shop in a virtual shop and managing it, includes: a communication unit for communicating with a shop terminal which records and manages information on the commodity over a network; a database for storing commodity information sent from the shop terminal as information on the commodity to be sold over the network and received by the communication unit; and an application server (AS) having a function of preparing and posting explanation and other reports about the commodity shown on a commodity guide page of the virtual shop with reference to the commodity information sent from the shop terminal and received by the communication unit and a function of transmitting a signal representing a request to send back information on the commodity to be sold over the network at predetermined time intervals to the shop terminal, updating the information in the database according to the information sent back from the shop termi

Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus and an embroidery data processing program that creates embroidery data usable by an embroidery sewing machine to sew an embroidery pattern that includes a plurality of partial patterns. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program store a maximum sewing region; set a plurality of unit embroidery regions; and modify a size of each of the plurality of unit regions based on the size of the maximum sewing region and a position and a size of each of the plurality of partial patterns contained within the plurality of unit embroidery regions. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program create the embroidery data of a part or a whole of the embroidery pattern being contained within the modified plurality of unit embroidery regions and output the embroidery data.

Abstract: The invention presents an embroidery data processing device and a computer program product capable of easily forming images of finished state of applique even if the fabric for applique is a pattern fabric. A selected fabric image of fabric for applique is displayed, and when the user manipulates the mouse, and moves the cursor to a desired position of the fabric image, and clicks by a specified number of times, the applique pattern preliminarily inputted through the image scanner is displayed at the position of the cursor (S101 to S103). When the user clicks the preview button by the mouse, only the fabric image within the applique pattern is extracted, and an applique image is displayed, and an applique sewing stitch image is overlaid and displayed on the applique image (S104 to S109).