Abstract: In a case where the depressurizer is driven so as to enable removal of any of the liquid containers for replacement in a state where the pressurized fluid is supplied through the pressurized-fluid passage to the individual liquid containers, the control section controls the individual open or closed states of the pressurization passage valve corresponding to a to-be-replaced liquid container that is to be removed for replacement and the pressurization passage valve corresponding to a remaining liquid container that continues to be used to become opposite to each other.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a current collector and a negative electrode active material layer carried on the current collector. The negative electrode active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles. The current collector has a surface including a depression and a plurality of projected regions defined by the depression. The projected regions carry the columnar particles. Further, the present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery using the foregoing negative electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-capacity negative electrode excellent mainly in cycle characteristics for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.

Abstract: A power storage device of the present invention includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes an organic compound as an active material having a portion contributing to an oxidation-reduction reaction. The organic compound is crystalline in both a charged state and a discharged state.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge (1) includes a fuel storage container (2), and a fuel supply port (4) for taking out a fuel stored in the fuel storage container (2). The fuel supply port (4) is provided with a fuel supply port protecting mechanism. The fuel supply port protecting mechanism includes a door (10) for opening/closing an opening (11) provided between the fuel supply port (4) and an outside, and a lock mechanism (20) for locking the door (10) so that the door (10) does not open. This can prevent, with the fuel cartridge not installed on a fuel cell, the leakage of a fuel from the fuel cartridge caused by improper handling by a user, etc.

Abstract: Liquid is sent from a liquid retainer to a liquid ejection head via a liquid supply line by pressurization force generated by a pressurization device that is driven by a driver. A method for cleaning a liquid ejection apparatus includes drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head through a nozzle by a suction device; and obtaining a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer. The method further includes determining an operational speed of the driver in correspondence with a result of the calculation; and operating the driver at the determined operational speed when drawing the liquid by the suction device. Thus, liquid is consumed completely without being wasted.

Abstract: A technology capable of preventing or suppressing a display defect in a PDP (detrimental effect due to local contamination of the display area caused by admixture of impurity gas at the time of introducing discharge gas) is provided. In a PDP, first barrier ribs and first phosphors formed between the first barrier ribs are provided so as to correspond to a display area. In a non-display area outside the display area, an air hole for evacuation from a discharge space and gas filling into the discharge space is provided in a part of an outer perimeter of the panel. Further, an area in which second phosphors having a property of absorbing impurity gas are formed is formed at a position between the display area and the air hole in a part of the non-display area, in particular, in a part of a dummy rib area.

Abstract: To provide a proton conducting material with which an electrode and a fuel cell capable of functioning in a stable manner even without humidification in a temperature range from room temperature to about 200° C. can be achieved. The proton conducting material includes a porous structural material having pores and a heterocyclic organic compound having proton conductivity. The organic compound contained inside the pores has a crystallite size D of 50 nm or less.

Abstract: A garment is provided which a purchaser can freely cut after purchase into any design shape and then wear, and also which has a cut-off part requiring no high-level cutting and sewing processing techniques. The garment is formed of a fray-preventing knitted fabric woven with heat-welding elastic yarn. Sizes of opening parts of the neck, side, and bottom of the garment are smaller than those of a standard product; a total length and sleeve length of the garment are larger than those of the standard product; and a body width, cuff, waist, and lower bottom edge of the garment are equal to those of the standard product. The garment can be cut into any design shape and can be used with the opening parts left cut-off.

Abstract: A negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector, first protrusions on a surface of the negative electrode current collector, a separation-stopping area on at least a part of a surface of each first protrusion, and a negative electrode active material layer including a negative electrode active material and formed on at least a top face of the first protrusion. This structure suppresses the separation of the negative electrode active material layer from the negative electrode current collector, the degradation of the current collecting ability, and the deformation of the negative electrode itself. A lithium ion secondary battery including this negative electrode has a high battery capacity, a high energy density, and an excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristic, and is capable of stably maintaining a high power over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.

Abstract: A polyurethane elastomeric filament-containing weft knit fabric is obtained by plating a bare yarn of highly fusible, alkali-resistant polyurethane elastomeric filament having at least 50% retention of tenacity following dry heat treatment under 100% extension at 150° C. for 45 seconds, a melting point of 180° C. or below, and at least 60% retention of tenacity following treatment in a 2 g/L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution under 100% extension at 100° C. for 60 minutes at every loop of a weft knit fabric having a 1×1 rib. knit structure or a center yarn-containing reversible knit structure composed of at least one type of non-elastomeric yarn, then heat setting the plated structure so as to thermally fuse the highly fusible, alkali-resistant polyurethane elastomeric filaments to each other or to the non-elastomeric yarns at crossover points therebetween.

Abstract: A proton conductor comprises a base material, an acidic substance and a basic substance, wherein the acidic substance has protons; at least part of the protons are dissociated by the basic substance; and at least one of the acidic and basic substances is immobilized on a surface of the base material. At least part of the acidic substance and/or at least part of the basic substance may be a polymer. A powder or a porous body having pores or through-holes can be used as the base material. An organic compound having a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part in the molecule can be used as the at least one of the acidic and basic substances.

Abstract: A printer including a recording head, a flushing box and a movement mechanism is disclosed. The recording head has a nozzle-forming surface in which nozzle openings are defined and ejects a liquid through the nozzle openings. The flushing box has an opening corresponding to the nozzle openings and is capable of receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzle opening as a waste liquid. The movement mechanism moves the flushing box between a receiving position at which the flushing box is capable of receiving the waste liquid and a non-receiving position at which the flushing box is incapable of receiving the waste liquid. The receiving position is a position at which the opening is closely opposed to the nozzle-forming surface, and the non-receiving position is spaced from the receiving position.

Abstract: A drive force transmission device that causes a plurality of driven members to operate in different operational areas for different operational purposes includes a lead screw and at least one movable member. The lead screw has a threaded portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the lead screw. The lead screw is rotated about the axis of the lead screw when a drive force is generated. The at least one movable member has an engagement portion that is arranged to engage with the threaded portion of the lead screw. The movable member is moved along the axial direction of the lead screw through the engagement portion guided by the threaded portion when the lead screw rotates. While moving, the movable member associates with the driven members in a state in which the drive force is transmissible from the lead screw to the driven members and operates each of the driven members by the drive force.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head, a liquid receiver, a liquid receiver movement mechanism, and a lid body is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle surface. The nozzle surface includes a nozzle opening. The liquid ejection head ejects a liquid from the nozzle surface. The liquid receiver has an opening provided in correspondence with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head. The liquid receiver is capable of receiving the liquid ejected as a waste liquid from the nozzle opening of the liquid ejection head through the opening of the liquid receiver. The liquid receiver movement mechanism moves the liquid receiver between a receiving position at which the opening of the liquid receiver opposes the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. The lid body is arranged at the non-receiving position.

Abstract: A wiper device wipes a nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head along a wiping direction. The nozzle surface has a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting liquid and step. The steps are located outside of the area in which the nozzle openings are provided and extend along the wiping direction. The wiper device includes a wiper member that wipes the nozzle surface along the wiping direction. The wiper member has a first portion corresponding to the steps and a second portion corresponding to the area in which the nozzle openings are arranged. Wiping force for wiping the nozzle surface of the first portion is greater than that of the second portion.

Abstract: In a liquid ejection apparatus, liquid is supplied to a liquid ejection head through a liquid flow promoter device. The liquid flow promoter device includes a liquid passage and a liquid receiving chamber provided in a liquid passage. The liquid receiving chamber is defined by an inner wall surface including a substantially arcuate surface. The liquid flow promoter device also includes a liquid inlet portion through which a liquid is introduced from a portion of the liquid passage upstream from the liquid receiving chamber to the liquid receiving chamber in a tangential direction of the substantially arcuate surface. After having been introduced into the liquid receiving chamber through the liquid inlet portion, the liquid proceeds in the liquid receiving chamber in a manner revolving along the substantially arcuate surface.

Abstract: Liquid is sent from a liquid retainer to a liquid ejection head via a liquid supply line by pressurization force generated by a pressurization device that is driven by a driver. A method for cleaning a liquid ejection apparatus includes drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head through a nozzle by a suction device; and obtaining a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer. The method further includes determining an operational speed of the driver in correspondence with a result of the calculation; and operating the driver at the determined operational speed when drawing the liquid by the suction device. Thus, liquid is consumed completely without being wasted.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.

Abstract: The electrolyte membrane of the present invention is an electrolyte membrane (1) having ionic conductivity that includes a base material (2) and organic molecules having ion exchange groups, wherein the organic molecules are chemically bonded to the surface of the base material (2) to form an organic layer (3), and ions are conducted via the ion exchange groups in the organic layer (3). By providing this type of electrolyte membrane, it is possible to obtain an electrolyte membrane having ionic conductivity whose configuration is different to that of a conventional electrolyte membrane.