Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber, a tank including a second storage chamber, a recording portion, a pivoting member disposed in the second storage chamber, a detector for detecting pivoting of the pivoting member, and a controller. Liquid in the first storage chamber is supplied to the second storage chamber through a liquid inlet port, and from the second storage chamber to the recording portion through a liquid outlet port. The pivoting member is pivotable about a pivot axis when a liquid level of the liquid in the second storage chamber is not higher than a prescribed position. The controller notifies the cartridge should be replaced upon receipt of a detection signal from the detector. A shaft defining the pivot axis is positioned lower than the liquid level of the liquid in the second storage chamber at the time of execution of the notification.

Abstract: In a state where a supply portion of a cartridge is connected to a connecting portion of a cartridge attachment section, a first base part and a first protruding part of the cartridge and a second base part and a second protruding part of the cartridge attachment section have the following positional relationship: as viewed in the horizontal direction, the first base part is overlapped with both of the second base part and second protruding part, the first protruding part is overlapped with the second base part, but is not overlapped with the second protruding part; and as viewed in the vertical direction, the first base part is not overlapped with the second base part, and is not overlapped with the second protruding part, and the first protruding part is overlapped with the second protruding part, but is not overlapped with the second base part.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a cartridge; a cartridge attachment portion; and a switching portion. The cartridge includes: a first storage chamber; a first air communication portion; and a first supply portion. The cartridge attachment portion includes: a second storage chamber; and a second air communication portion. The switching portion changes a passage resistance value of air flowing through one of the first and second air communication portions. An inequality of R2>A×R1 is met, in which R1: a passage resistance value obtained by air flowing through the first air communication portion and a passage resistance value of the liquid flowing through the first supply portion; R2: a passage resistance value of air flowing through the second air communication portion; A: a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing an average cross-sectional area of the first storage chamber by an average cross-sectional area of the second storage chamber.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a cartridge includes: a first storage chamber; and a supply portion. A cartridge attachment portion includes: a connecting portion; and a second storage chamber. The connecting portion is disposed at a first height and connectable to the supply portion. A detecting portion is configured to detect one of a level of a liquid stored in the first storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the supply portion and a level of the liquid stored in the second storage chamber and at a position adjacent to the connecting portion. The first storage chamber has a first cross-sectional area taken along a horizontal plane at a predetermined height between the first height and a second height above the first height. The second storage chamber has a second cross-sectional area taken along the horizontal plane. The second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

Abstract: In an inkjet type image forming apparatus, a cartridge includes a first storage chamber and a first fluid communication portion. The first air communication portion allows the first storage chamber to be in communication with an atmosphere. A second storage chamber stores the ink supplied from the first storage chamber by hydraulic head difference. The switch portion switches a state of the second air communication portion between a first state in which the second storage chamber communicates with the atmosphere and a second state in which an amount of air flow between the second storage chamber and the atmosphere is smaller than that in the first state. The controller controls the switch portion to switch the state of the second air communication portion from the first state to the second state. After the recording process, the controller controls the switch portion to switch the state to the first state.

Abstract: An image-recording apparatus includes a cartridge including a first storage chamber and a first air communication portion, a cartridge-attachment portion including a second storage chamber and a second air communication portion, a switching portion, and a controller. The second storage chamber stores liquid supplied from a supply portion of the cartridge connected to a connecting portion of the cartridge-attachment portion through a liquid outlet port. The switching portion switches the second air communication portion between a first state and a second state. An air flow rate through the second air communication portion per unit of time is lower in the second state than in the first state. The controller determines the liquid level of liquid in the first storage chamber and switches the switching portion to the second state when the liquid level in the first storage chamber is lower than a vertical position of the liquid outlet port.

Abstract: For an image forming apparatus including first and second storage chambers, an inequality expression of “R2>A×R1” is met. R1 is a sum of a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a first air communication portion and a passage resistance value obtained by flowing liquid through a supply portion. R2 is a passage resistance value obtained by flowing air through a second air communication portion. A is a cross-sectional area ratio obtained by dividing a first average cross-sectional area of a first space of the first storage chamber taken along a plurality of horizontal planes by a second average cross-sectional area of a second space of the second storage chamber taken along the plurality of horizontal planes. The first space contains at least a portion adjacent to the supply portion and accumulating the liquid. The second space contains at least a portion accumulating the liquid.

Abstract: A motor driver for driving a motor in a valve timing controller of an internal combustion engine, including an Electronic Driver Unit (EDU) that, upon receiving a target rotation cycle as the instructed rotation cycle, instructs a rotation controller to (i) calculate a duty value of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal for driving the motor based on an instructed rotation cycle and an actual rotation cycle and (ii) output a calculation result of the duty value to a motor drive unit, with the rotation controller outputting, to the motor drive unit, an instruction signal that rotates the motor forward along an actual rotation direction, when the calculation result takes a positive value as a duty ratio of the PWM signal, establishing an accurate motor rotation speed control together with an improved responsiveness.

Abstract: A motor drive device for valve timing control of an internal combustion engine includes: a motor drive unit that controls a phase of a camshaft to drive a motor for controlling opening and closing operation of a valve; and a determination unit that determines whether a timing is to start up the motor or to normally drive the motor. The motor drive unit drives the motor with an advance angle when it is determined that the timing is to normally drive the motor by the determination unit, and the motor drive unit normally drives the motor without the advance angle when it is determined that the timing is to start up the motor.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for adjusting a cam phase includes a motor control part, which controls a current supplied to a stator coil by controlling plural switching elements forming an inverter to turn on and off. The motor control part stops the current supplied to the stator coil each time a motor rotates a predetermined rotation angle interval in a power generation control mode, in which a rotation torque is generated in a direction to impede the motor rotation. The motor control part maintains the power generation control mode when a rotation signal is determined as varying in a predetermined time period. The motor control part switches over an operation mode to a normal control mode to generate a rotation torque in a direction to promote the motor rotation when the rotation signal is determined as not varying in the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A motor driver for driving a motor in a valve timing controller of an internal combustion engine, including an Electronic Driver Unit (EDU) that, upon receiving a target rotation cycle as the instructed rotation cycle, instructs a rotation controller to (i) calculate a duty value of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal for driving the motor based on an instructed rotation cycle and an actual rotation cycle and (ii) output a calculation result of the duty value to a motor drive unit, with the rotation controller outputting, to the motor drive unit, an instruction signal that rotates the motor forward along an actual rotation direction, when the calculation result takes a positive value as a duty ratio of the PWM signal, establishing an accurate motor rotation speed control together with an improved responsiveness.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus for adjusting a cam phase includes a motor control part, which controls a current supplied to a stator coil by controlling plural switching elements forming an inverter to turn on and off. The motor control part stops the current supplied to the stator coil each time a motor rotates a predetermined rotation angle interval in a power generation control mode, in which a rotation torque is generated in a direction to impede the motor rotation. The motor control part maintains the power generation control mode when a rotation signal is determined as varying in a predetermined time period. The motor control part switches over an operation mode to a normal control mode to generate a rotation torque in a direction to promote the motor rotation when the rotation signal is determined as not varying in the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A logical designing part includes a logical connectivity data storage that stores logical connectivity data, indicating a logical connectivity between plant equipments, including first end point connection data. A geometry data designing part includes a geometry data storage that stores geometry data that is graphical shape data in a three-dimensional space and includes second end point data. A data linking part includes: an automatic correspondence table generating part that compares first end point connection data with second end point data and generates a logical connection and geometry data table including correspondence data that links the geometry connection data and the geometry data of which first and second end point connection data are matched each other. A correspondence storage stores the logical connection and geometry data table. An editing part edits the logical connection and geometry data table on the basis of a user command.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a function to quickly generate a piping route shape reflecting the design intention even if layout conditions are complicated. It is a piping or wiring support device having a routing difficulty level calculating function to output a scalar field, which is space weight information numerically expressing how the difficulty level of routing by the route search space of route search space parameter memory means is affected by the obstacle shape of obstacle shape memory means; and a route shape generation function to output a route passing point sequence of the route by figuring out the route shape in the route search space from the start point to the end route of the route by using the outputted scalar field.

Abstract: An arrangement possible/impossible determination part of a piping order edit device: refers a pipe constituting a pipe list as a pipe subjected to determination; searches a main-branched pipe relationship database for a given pipe using identification information on the pipe subjected to determination as a search key; acquires a main pipe and a branched pipe corresponding to the searched given pipe; and, if there is a branched pipe positioned before the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list or if there is a main pipe positioned after the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list, the “arrangement possible/impossible” of the pipe subjected to determination is set at “impossible”.

Abstract: An arrangement possible/impossible determination part of a piping order edit device: refers a pipe constituting a pipe list as a pipe subjected to determination; searches a main-branched pipe relationship database for a given pipe using identification information on the pipe subjected to determination as a search key; acquires a main pipe and a branched pipe corresponding to the searched given pipe; and, if there is a branched pipe positioned before the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list or if there is a main pipe positioned after the pipe subjected to determination in the pipe list, the “arrangement possible/impossible” of the pipe subjected to determination is set at “impossible”.

Abstract: A route generating apparatus includes: storage section storing geometric data of connection objects; data representing connection relations of group of main route for directly connecting objects, and branch route branching from main route, and connection objects; and data representing each constraint condition for constraining disposition position of branch point on the main route; constraint region generating section that generates each constraint region where corresponding branch point can be disposed, based on the geometric disposition position of corresponding connection object, corresponding connection relation, and corresponding constraint condition; route generating section that generates, as each main route, a shortest main route passing through each constraint region and generates, as each branch route, a shortest branch route that branches from the main route; and constraint region and route display section that displays a geometric figure of each constraint region, each main route, and each branch

Abstract: A logical designing part includes a logical connectivity data storage that stores logical connectivity data, indicating a logical connectivity between plant equipments, including first end point connection data. A geometry data designing part includes a geometry data storage that stores geometry data that is graphical shape data in a three-dimensional space and includes second end point data. A data linking part includes: an automatic correspondence table generating part that compares first end point connection data with second end point data and generates a logical connection and geometry data table including correspondence data that links the geometry connection data and the geometry data of which first and second end point connection data are matched each other. A correspondence storage stores the logical connection and geometry data table. An editing part edits the logical connection and geometry data table on the basis of a user command.