Abstract: In an image scan reader, a white reference plate is attached to a transparent plate on which an original is to be placed. Different regions are defined on the reference plate and respective optical densities on a plurality of scanning lines (L.sub.Al -L.sub.An, L.sub.Bl -L.sub.Bm) are detected and averaged within each region (R.sub.A, R.sub.B). The maximum averaged densities are selected for each given pixel position to be used for correcting the non-uniformity of CCD cells which are employed in reading the white reference plate and the image of the original.

Abstract: A multi-gradation image signal obtained by multi-gradationization of a signal obtained by reading through a CCD an original having a half tone is supplied to an unsharp signal producing part, which in turn outputs an unsharp signal produced from the multi-gradation image signal and the multi-gradation image signal itself. A comparator discriminates a shadow portion of the original by comparing the multi-gradation image signal with a reference value. As a result, a signal which is unsharp in the shadow portion of the original is produced from the multi-gradation image signal and the unsharp signal.

Abstract: Amounts of read position errors in subscanning direction with respect to respective scanning positions of line image sensors, which are provided in parallel with main scanning direction, are found in advance by a number of scanning lines. In actual scanning, output image signals from the line image sensors are delayed, in respective main scanning positions of the output image signals, by respective line numbers corresponding to the respective found amounts of read position errors in the subscanning direction, and are output.

Abstract: In reading of the original by a plurality of image pickup elements, the image is read by the image pickup elements covering overlapping image regions. Among those located within the overlapping portions, a pixel having small density change values with respect to adjacent pixels is detected and specified as a switching pixel. The image pickup signals read by the image pickup elements are connected at the switching pixels, thereby to obtain a reproduced image.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for controlling vaporized hydrocarbon of fuel for a gasoline engine wherein the vaporized hydrocarbon is led from a carburetor float chamber to a canister through a pipe in which a chamber for separating fuel and vapor is provided.

Abstract: Vehicle-mounted gaseous fuel generator consisting of a primary heat-exchange chamber holding coiled pipes for separately preheating a liquid hydrocarbon and water, a secondary heat-exchange chamber similarly equipped with coiled pipes utilizing the heat of the engine exhaust to heat and vaporize each of the fuel materials which have been preheated in the primary heat-exchange chamber, a reaction-reforming chamber composed of an outer reaction chamber for blending the hydrocarbon vaporized in the secondary heat exchange chamber with air for partial oxidation and an inner steam-reforming catalyst layer through which the combined flow of the partially oxidized gas and the vaporized water is passed to be transformed into an inflammable gas, and an apparatus for collecting the inflammable gas in a gas-collector and transmitting it via the primary heat-exchange chamber to the carburetor of the engine.