Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a sheet stacking member; an air blowing unit configured to blow air onto the sheet bundle placed on the sheet stacking member to suspend multiple sheets of the sheet bundle; a lifting/lowering unit configured to lift/lower the sheet stacking member; an optical reflection sensor configured to detect a suspended sheet suspended by the air blowing unit; and a control unit configured to control the lifting/lowering unit based on an output value of the optical reflection sensor. The optical reflection sensor is configured to be capable of detecting an area corresponding to multiple sheets in a sheet suspension zone extending between a non-suspended sheet bundle and a conveying member configured to convey an uppermost sheet of the multiple suspended sheets. The non-suspended sheet bundle is made up of sheets not suspended during a period when air is blown by the air blowing unit.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a status of clogging a paper due to some cause occurs, controls of inverting a conveyance roller and returning the jammed paper in a paper feeding tray is performed. At this time, the position of a paper damming up member is lowered by an actuator when the jammed paper is returned to the paper feeding tray and the conveyance roller is inverted so as to avoid a state in which the paper damming up member 33 hinders the returning of the paper and the paper cannot be returned to the paper feeding tray. The paper damming up member is lowered to a position that is lower than a conveyance guide plate at a downstream side in a paper conveying direction. Then, the paper is returned to the paper feeding tray without damage. The returned paper can be reused.

Abstract: A sheet feed device comprises: a sheet feed tray configured to be enabled to be drawn from a main body of an image forming apparatus; a bottom plate arranged in the sheet feed tray and configured to stack thereon a plurality of sheets; a driving unit configured to move the bottom plate upward; a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit a driving force from a drive source arranged on the main body to the driving unit; and a one-way rotation transmitting unit configured to unidirectionally transmit input from the drive transmitting unit to the driving unit and configured to be arranged on one side of the drive transmitting unit opposite to a side connected to the driving unit.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a status of clogging a paper due to some cause occurs, controls of inverting a conveyance roller and returning the jammed paper in a paper feeding tray is performed. At this time, the position of a paper damming up member is lowered by an actuator when the jammed paper is returned to the paper feeding tray and the conveyance roller is inverted so as to avoid a state in which the paper damming up member 33 hinders the returning of the paper and the paper cannot be returned to the paper feeding tray. The paper damming up member is lowered to a position that is lower than a conveyance guide plate at a downstream side in a paper conveying direction. Then, the paper is returned to the paper feeding tray without damage. The returned paper can be reused.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxidant-gas supply passage, a compressor, a water injection device, a return passage, and a regulation valve. The fuel cell is to generate power utilizing an electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and fuel gas. The oxidant gas flows toward the fuel cell through the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is provided in the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is capable of sucking and pressurizing the oxidant gas to discharge the oxidant gas toward the fuel cell. The water injection device is to inject water toward a suction port of the compressor. The return passage connects an upstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage upstream the compressor and a downstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage downstream the compressor to bypass the compressor. Opening of the regulation valve is adjustable. The regulation valve is provided in the return passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is equipped with an expander which is driven by an off-gas exhausted from an oxidant eject path, and which transmits motive power to a compressor, a bypass route in the oxidant eject path which bypasses a humidifier, a flow control valve which changes an opening degree of the bypass route, a voltage sensor which detects an output voltage of the fuel cell stack, a current sensor which detects an output current of the fuel cell stack, and a bypass controlling member which changes a bypass ratio which is a ratio of a magnitude of a flow rate of the off-gas circulating the bypass route with respect to an overall flow rate of the off-gas ejected from the fuel cell stack to the oxidant eject path by the flow control valve according to the output power of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxidant-gas supply passage, a compressor, a water injection device, a return passage, and a regulation valve. The fuel cell is to generate power utilizing an electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and fuel gas. The oxidant gas flows toward the fuel cell through the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is provided in the oxidant-gas supply passage. The compressor is capable of sucking and pressurizing the oxidant gas to discharge the oxidant gas toward the fuel cell. The water injection device is to inject water toward a suction port of the compressor. The return passage connects an upstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage upstream the compressor and a downstream portion in the oxidant-gas supply passage downstream the compressor to bypass the compressor. Opening of the regulation valve is adjustable. The regulation valve is provided in the return passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided, which does not malfunction when started below a freezing point nor require a large force to open a purge gas introduction valve. The purge gas introduction valve 42 that introduces a cathode gas into the anode is installed in the bypass pipe that bypasses a humidifier. A plunger 44 that is supported and kept movable in the purge gas introduction valve is kept exposed to the cathode gas atmosphere when the purge gas introduction valve 42 is kept closed. The valve body 45 in the purge gas introduction valve 42 comprises a first pressed portion 45a to act for closing the purge gas introduction valve 42 and a second pressed portion 45b to act for opening the purge gas introduction valve 42.

Abstract: A reaction gas supply apparatus for a fuel cell is able to adapt to various kinds of operating states, and can provide improved responsiveness with respect to a required output. The apparatus has: a compressor 2 that supplies pressurized air to a cathode electrode of a fuel cell 1; a hydrogen supply device 30 that supplies hydrogen to an anode electrode of the fuel cell 1; a control device 10 that regulates the pressure of the cathode electrode by controlling the compressor 2 according to an operating state of the fuel cell 1; and a regulator 5 that is applied with the air pressure of the cathode electrode as a reference pressure, and regulates the supply pressure to the anode electrode based on this air pressure. Moreover there is provided a pressure regulator 39 that is capable of regulating the reference pressure that is applied to the regulator 5, by discharging air from an air flow passage for the air pressure that is applied to the regulator 5.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack 1 in a fuel-circulating fuel cell system is supplied with fuel and an oxidizing agent to generate electricity. The fuel discharged from the fuel cell stack 1 is supplied to the fuel cell stack 1 again through a fuel-circulating passage 6. In the fuel-circulating passage 6 is provided a fuel pump 3 powered from an outside source to circulate the fuel through the fuel-circulating passage 6 at a predetermined circulation rate. An ECU 4 transmits an output instruction value to the fuel cell stack 1 and regulates a circulation rate of the fuel in the fuel-circulating passage 6 according to the output instruction value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for generating power by being supplied with a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a fuel gas supply path for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell, a fuel off-gas circulation path for returning a fuel off-gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel gas supply path, an ejector, provided in the fuel gas supply path and driven by fluid flow energy, for supplying the fuel off-gas in the fuel off-gas circulation path flow to the fuel gas supply path, a fuel pump, provided in the fuel off-gas circulation path or on the fuel gas supply path and downstream with respect to the ejector, and driven by a rotating machine, for pressurizing the fuel off-gas, a discharge valve for discharging the fuel off-gas from the fuel off-gas circulation path; and a control device operatively connected to the fuel pump and to the discharge valve.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated cutoff valve for use with fuel cells has a movable member disposed in a guide housing for displacement upon energization of a solenoid. When the movable member is displaced, a pilot valve is unseated from a pilot valve seat. A fluid in a communication chamber flows through a pilot passage into an output port. The communication chamber is divided into a first communication chamber and a second communication chamber by a diaphragm. Under a pressure difference developed between the first communication chamber and the second communication chamber, a main valve of a valve head is unseated from a valve seat of a valve housing, opening the solenoid-operated cutoff valve.

Abstract: The present invention is carried out to improve the starting capability of a fuel cell at low temperatures. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell 1 which generate electric power by supplying hydrogen gas and a oxidant gas, a hydrogen gas passage 10 for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell 1, a hydrogen off gas circulation passage 20 for returning the hydrogen off gas to the hydrogen supply flow path 10, a hydrogen pump 7 provided at the hydrogen gas off gas circulation passage 20 for boosting the hydrogen off gas, a hydrogen off gas bypass passage 22 for returning the hydrogen off gas to the hydrogen supply flow path 10, an ejector 6 for sending hydrogen off gas in the hydrogen off gas bypass passage 20 provided in the hydrogen gas supply flow path 10 to the hydrogen supply flow path 10.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated cutoff valve for use with fuel cells has a movable member disposed in a guide housing for displacement upon energization of a solenoid. When the movable member is displaced, a pilot valve is unseated from a pilot valve seat. A fluid in a communication chamber flows through a pilot passage into an output port. The communication chamber is divided into a first communication chamber and a second communication chamber by a diaphragm. Under a pressure difference developed between the first communication chamber and the second communication chamber, a main valve of a valve head is unseated from a valve seat of a valve housing, opening the solenoid-operated cutoff valve.

Abstract: A first port for introducing hydrogen is defined in a side wall of a first valve body, and a hot water passage for passing therethrough hot water to heat a region in the vicinity of the first port is defined in the first valve body above the first port. The first valve body has a recess defined therein at a position facing a valve head of a valve mechanism, providing a clearance between the valve head and the first valve body when the valve head is unseated from a seating surface. A solenoid unit includes a movable core having a land which faces a recess defined in a shaft guide. An elastic member made of an elastic material is mounted on the land.

Abstract: To provide a fuel circuit of the fuel cell system, wherein a fuel pump can be scaled down, power consumption can be reduced, and required amount of fuel circulation is kept in the time of the output change in a fuel cell, including a fuel cell which generates electricity by being supplied with fuel and an oxidant; a fuel supply stream passage for sending the fuel to the fuel cell 1; a fuel circuit stream passage for making the unconsumed fuel discharged from the fuel cell merge with the fuel supply stream passage to be recirculated; the fuel pump (hydrogen pump) which takes in and sends out the unreacted fuel; and an ejector which inhales the unreacted fuel using the negative pressure generated when the fuel flows, the unreacted fuel being made to be merged with the fuel supplied to the fuel cell thereafter.

Abstract: A reaction gas supply apparatus for a fuel cell is able to adapt to various kinds of operating states, and can provide improved responsiveness with respect to a required output. The apparatus has: a compressor 2 that supplies pressurized air to a cathode electrode of a fuel cell 1; a hydrogen supply device 30 that supplies hydrogen to an anode electrode of the fuel cell 1; a control device 10 that regulates the pressure of the cathode electrode by controlling the compressor 2 according to an operating state of the fuel cell 1; and a regulator 5 that is applied with the air pressure of the cathode electrode as a reference pressure, and regulates the supply pressure to the anode electrode based on this air pressure. Moreover there is provided a pressure regulator 39 that is capable of regulating the reference pressure that is applied to the regulator 5, by discharging air from an air flow passage for the air pressure that is applied to the regulator 5.

Abstract: A variable flow-rate ejector for precisely controlling the flow rate based on pressure is disclosed. The ejector has a simple mechanical structure which comprises a nozzle for ejecting a first fluid; a diffuser into which a second fluid is drawn due to a negative pressure produced around the first fluid, where the first and second fluids are merged; a third-fluid chamber formed by first and second diaphragms attached to the needle, and the body of the ejector; and a fourth-fluid chamber formed by the second diaphragm and the body. The area of an opening around the needle in the opening at the head of the nozzle is changed by displacement of the needle along the central axis according to movement of first and second diaphragms which move in accordance with the pressure produced by the first fluid, the third fluid, and the fourth fluid.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell for generating power by being supplied with a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a fuel gas supply path for supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cell, a fuel off-gas circulation path for returning a fuel off-gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel gas supply path, an ejector, provided in the fuel gas supply path and driven by fluid flow energy, for supplying the fuel off-gas in the fuel off-gas circulation path flow to the fuel gas supply path, a fuel pump, provided in the fuel off-gas circulation path or on the fuel gas supply path and downstream with respect to the ejector, and driven by a rotating machine, for pressurizing the fuel off-gas, a discharge valve for discharging the fuel off-gas from the fuel off-gas circulation path; and a control device operatively connected to the fuel pump and to the discharge valve.

Abstract: The present invention is carried out to improve the starting capability of a fuel cell at low temperatures. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell 1 which generate electric power by supplying hydrogen gas and a oxidant gas, a hydrogen gas passage 10 for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell 1, a hydrogen off gas circulation passage 20 for returning the hydrogen off gas to the hydrogen supply flow path 10, a hydrogen pump 7 provided at the hydrogen gas off gas circulation passage 20 for boosting the hydrogen off gas, a hydrogen off gas bypass passage 22 for returning the hydrogen off gas to the hydrogen supply flow path 10, an ejector 6 for sending hydrogen off gas in the hydrogen off gas bypass passage 20 provided in the hydrogen gas supply flow path 10 to the hydrogen supply flow path 10.