Abstract: A consumable for use in a printer has a consumable section (for example, paper or ink ribbon) which is consumed during printing operation of the printer, and an RFID tag that stores the specification data of the consumable section. The printer has a printing section and a wireless receiver for data communication with the RFID tag. The printing section is controlled according to data obtained from the RFID tag through data communication.

Abstract: A billet produced by continuous casting having little central segregation, in particular a billet of high carbon steel produced by continuous casting, and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. In the continuous casting billet, the size of the dendritic equiaxed crystal in a billet central portion is reduced to be not more than 6 mm. For this purpose, electromagnetic stirring is performed so that the inclining angle of the primary dendrite within 10 mm of a billet surface layer is increased to be not less than 10°. Furthermore, the mechanical soft reduction is performed during continuous casting so that the diameter of the center porosity in the billet central portion is reduced to be not more than 4 mm. Thereby, in particular in the manufacturing of the continuous casting billet having a carbon content of not less than 0.

Abstract: A consumable for use in a printer has a consumable section (for example, paper or ink ribbon) which is consumed during printing operation of the printer, and an RFID tag that stores the specification data of the consumable section. The printer has a printing section and a wireless receiver for data communication with the RFID tag. The printing section is controlled according to data obtained from the RFID tag through data communication.

Abstract: A billet produced by continuous casting having little central segregation, in particular a billet of high carbon steel produced by continuous casting, and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. In the continuous casting billet, the size of the dendritic equiaxed crystal in a billet central portion is reduced to be not more than 6 mm. For this purpose, electromagnetic stirring is performed so that the inclining angle of the primary dendrite within 10 mm of a billet surface layer is increased to be not less than 10°. Furthermore, the mechanical soft reduction is performed during continuous casting so that the diameter of the center porosity in the billet central portion is reduced to be not more than 4 mm. Thereby, in particular in the manufacturing of the continuous casting billet having a carbon content of not less than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel for steel sheets excellent in workability and showing significantly decreased formation of surface defects, and a method of deoxidizing molten steel for the steel for steel sheets which prevents nozzle clogging during continuous-casting the molten steel. That is, the steel for steel sheets excellent in workability, comprises, based on weight, 0.0001 to 0.0030% of C, up to 0.03% of Si, 0.05 to 0.30% of Mn, up to 0.015% of P, 0.001 to 0.015% of S, up to 0.008% of Al, 0.02 to 0.08% of Ti, 0.0005 to 0.0020% of Ca, 0.0005 to 0.01% of N, optionally containing at least one of 0.001 to 0.02 wt % of Nb and 0.0001 to 0.0010 wt % of B, and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: An optical code reader is held in a hand of an operator and is brought near an article having a 2-dimensional code affixed thereto at the time of reading. The optical code reader includes a read window, a light source for illuminating an article via the read window, and a read control circuit for receiving light reflected by the article via the read window and detecting a 2-dimensional code from an image corresponding to the reflected light. The light source may include a guide beam projector for radiating guide light in a direction almost perpendicular to a read window plane, the guide light indicating a read range corresponding to the size of the read window on a plane parallel to the read window plane. Transparent cap may be provided at the read window for permitting a code on the article to be seen from the outside, while reducing external light entering the cap from the outside of the cap.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus for reading a two-dimensional symbol includes a housing having an opening portion for confronting the symbol, a gripping portion, and a serial I/F for transmitting a two-dimensional code data corresponding to the two-dimensional symbol to an external apparatus. LEDs mounted near the opening portion generate light to illuminate the two-dimensional symbol. A mirror reflects light reflected from the two-dimensional symbol toward the gripping portion. An automatic diaphragm mechanism regulates the light from the mirror. A two-dimensional type CCD generates electrical signals corresponding to the regulated light. Image processing circuits convert the electrical signals to the two-dimensional code data.

Abstract: An optical code reader which is held in a hand of an operator and is brought near an article having a 2-dimensional code affixed thereto at the time of reading, includes an illumination light source for illuminating the 2-dimensional code on the article, a reading unit for reading the 2-dimensional code from a light reflected by the article, and a frame for housing the light source and the reading unit, the frame having a read window through which the reflected light passes. The reading unit has an area CCD for sensing an image corresponding to the reflected light and for converting the image to an electrical signal, and a lens block for focusing the reflected light to the area CCD to form the image. The reading unit further has an optical path length adjusting cap for adjusting the length of an optical path between the read window and the lens block upon a change in the magnification of the lens block.

Abstract: A semi-solidified metal composition having an excellent workability is continuously produced by pouring molten metal into an upper part of a cooling agitation mold, agitating it while cooling to produce a slurry of solid-liquid mixed phase containing non-dendritic primary solid particles dispersed therein and discharging out the slurry from a lower part of the cooling agitation mold. In this case, a ratio of shear strain rate at a solid-liquid interface to solidification rate of molten metal is adjusted to a value exceeding 8000 in the cooling agitation mold.

Abstract: An article file control system includes a host computer for controlling a master article file (which includes article data of various department articles including data items of article codes and unit prices), and a plurality of terminal groups provided for respective article departments. Each terminal group includes a first-type electronic weighing and pricing device (EWPD) for radio communication with the host computer and a second-type EWPD for wire communication with the first-type EWPD. The host computer includes a CPU for reading out article data of each department from the master article file and transmitting the article data to the first-type EWPD of a corresponding one of the terminal groups. The first-type EWPD of each of the terminal groups includes a CPU for receiving article data transmitted from the host computer, transmitting the article data to all of the second-type EWPDs of the same terminal group and controlling a department article file comprised of the received article data.

Abstract: A printer has a thermal head and a cooperable platen roll, which are moveable relatively apart to provide a gap. The cartridge is supplied with a removable installation device which has a guide which can swing outwardly to align the ink ribbon with the gap. When the cartridge is loaded onto locator pins on the printer, the ink ribbon is guided into the gap.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a control circuit for obtaining a transmission text formed of one of a single character and a series of characters, the last of which is one of specified control characters and a character of error check data, and a radio communication unit connected to the control circuit, for storing each character of the transmission text supplied from the control circuit and transmitting the transmission text stored therein. Particularly, the control circuit is arranged to add a dummy character after the character of error check data as a new last character except in the case where the character of error check data has a value identical to the code of the dummy character. The radio communication unit is arranged to transmit the transmission text upon detecting the code of any one of the dummy and specified control characters in the transmission text.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head and a cooperable platen roll. The platen roll is driven to advance a web of record medium and an ink ribbon into cooperation with the print head. The printer can use an ink ribbon cartridge. The printer has a compact arrangement for the record medium supply roll, the ink ribbon cartridge, the printing mechanism, the drive mechanism, the keyboard, and the cutting mechanism for cutting tags from the web. The ink ribbon cartridge has movable guides which are aligned by spindles on the printer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head and a cooperable platen roll. The platen roll is driven to advance a web of record medium and an ink ribbon into cooperation with the print head. The printer can use an ink ribbon cartridge. The printer has a compact arrangement for the record medium supply roll, the ink ribbon cartridge, the printing mechanism, the drive mechanism, the keyboard, and the cutting mechanism for cutting tags from the web.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen roller and a print head for printing information on a recording medium moving between the platen roller and the head in a predetermined direction. The platen roller is supported by a supporting frame which is rotatably mounted on a supporting shaft so that the platen roller is rockable in directions to touch and leave the head. The platen roller is pressed against the head by an urging member. The platen roller is shifted in a direction in parallel to the moving direction by a shifting mechanism as the roller rocks, so that the position of the roller relative to the head is kept constant with respect to the moving direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A slip storing apparatus for storing slips successively issued by a slip issuing machine. The slip storing apparatus comprises: a conveying mechanism for conveying slips issued by the slip issuing machine in one direction, and a slip storing unit having a slip support surface for supporting slips at their lower edges, declined to the rear at an angle to a horizontal plane, and a movable slip holding member having a slip holding surface substantially perpendicular to the slip support surface and supported for movement along a plane including the slip support surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head which is biased towards a cooperable platen roll. The printer uses an ink ribbon cartridge, which is locked into place as the printhead is moved to the print position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printer body having an opening on the top side thereof, and a platen for feeding a paper sheet supported by a paper holder disposed in the printer body. The platen is provided in the body to face the opening. A head unit includes a housing having an opening on the bottom side thereof and a print head disposed in the housing to face the opening thereof. The head unit is moveable between an operative position, in which the head unit is located on the printer body so that the opening of the housing and the print head face the opening of the printer body and the platen, respectively, whereby the paper sheet between the platen and the print head is allowed to be ready for printing, and an open position in which the head unit is off the printer body so that the whole opening of the printer body is exposed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a spindle which can hold a web roll installed either face side in or face side out. Spaced guides define the path from the roll to the printing mechanism; different guides are utilized depending on the orientation of the particular roll being used.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a shaft cover is attached to the front end portion of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side face of a printer body; cores of an ink ribbon are fitted respectively on a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from the said side face of the printer body; the ink ribbon is passed round the outer periphery of the shaft cover; then the cores and the shaft cover are pushed in simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position.