Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head with multiple heat elements for printing on roll paper; a measurer that measures heat element resistance; printer memory storing a resistance evaluation table relating the resistance of the heat elements to heat element defect levels defined based on a specific range of reflectivity in the symbol image; and an evaluator that references the resistance evaluation table stored in printer memory, acquires a defect level based on the resistance measured by the measurer, and evaluates the defect state of the thermal head based on the defect level of a consecutively adjacent count of heat elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head with multiple heat elements for printing on roll paper; a measurer that measures heat element resistance; printer memory storing a resistance evaluation table relating the resistance of the heat elements to heat element defect levels defined based on a specific range of reflectivity in the symbol image; and an evaluator that references the resistance evaluation table stored in printer memory, acquires a defect level based on the resistance measured by the measurer, and evaluates the defect state of the thermal head based on the defect level of a consecutively adjacent count of heat elements.

Abstract: A controller and a control method for a controller can simplify application development and can improve the performance of device control processes. When a request is received from an application 1 and the received process request is an initialization request, whether or not the received request is the first initialization request received after the application 1 started running is determined. If the received initialization request is the first initialization request, the request is passed to the device driver 3 and initialization settings information describing the configuration of the device driver 3 after the initialization process ends is stored. If an error has occurred in the device driver 3 when the device driver 3 status is detected, an error handling process is executed according to the device driver 3 state. When the device driver 3 has recovered, a request for setting the device driver 3 state to the state based on the initialization settings information is asserted.

Abstract: A controller and a control method for a controller can simplify application development and can improve the performance of device control processes. When a request is received from an application 1 and the received process request is an initialization request, whether or not the received request is the first initialization request received after the application 1 started running is determined. If the received initialization request is the first initialization request, the request is passed to the device driver 3 and initialization settings information describing the configuration of the device driver 3 after the initialization process ends is stored. If an error has occurred in the device driver 3 when the device driver 3 status is detected, an error handling process is executed according to the device driver 3 state. When the device driver 3 has recovered, a request for setting the device driver 3 state to the state based on the initialization settings information is asserted.

Abstract: A controller and a control method for a controller can simplify application development and can improve the performance of device control processes. When a request is received from an application 1 and the received process request is an initialization request, whether or not the received request is the first initialization request received after the application 1 started running is determined. If the received initialization request is the first initialization request, the request is passed to the device driver 3 and initialization settings information describing the configuration of the device driver 3 after the initialization process ends is stored. If an error has occurred in the device driver 3 when the device driver 3 status is detected, an error handling process is executed according to the device driver 3 state. When the device driver 3 has recovered, a request for setting the device driver 3 state to the state based on the initialization settings information is asserted.

Abstract: A web service processing method for a web server providing device, and a web service providing device enable eliminating the process delay that occurs the first time a web service is accessed. A web service provider 1 has a services table 26 storing a list of web services 24 that can be provided, and provides web services 24 to users. The web service provider 1 monitors if the web services 24 stored in the services table 26 are in a usable state, and if as a result of this monitoring determines that a web service 24 is not usable, asserts an initialization process request to the web service 24 to initialize the web service 24 for use.

Abstract: A controller and a control method for a controller can simplify application development and can improve the performance of device control processes. When a request is received from an application 1 and the received process request is an initialization request, whether or not the received request is the first initialization request received after the application 1 started running is determined. If the received initialization request is the first initialization request, the request is passed to the device driver 3 and initialization settings information describing the configuration of the device driver 3 after the initialization process ends is stored. If an error has occurred in the device driver 3 when the device driver 3 status is detected, an error handling process is executed according to the device driver 3 state. When the device driver 3 has recovered, a request for setting the device driver 3 state to the state based on the initialization settings information is asserted.

Abstract: A photoreceptor unit capable of stabilizing rotation of a photoreceptor drum housed in a housing of the photoreceptor unit without causing a displacement of the photoreceptor drum. The photoreceptor unit is provided with a braking member as a mechanism for stabilizing the rotation of the photoreceptor drum, the braking member being arranged between a part of the photoreceptor drum and a part of the housing or a support shaft for rotatably supporting the photoreceptor drum so as to effect a load in a radial direction throughout the entire circumference of the rotation of the photoreceptor drum.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety, of Cornus kousa, called "Tsukuba-No-Mine" of white dogwood plant substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of (1) upright growth habit with thin branches and high branching characteristics; (2) small leaves; (3) flowering in a period from early to late June, over approximately 20 days; (4) blossoms being yellowish white; and (5) blossoms having thin patulous of narrow substantially lanceolate-shape of approximately 0.9 to 1.2 cm in width, and small diameter of approximately 6 to 7 cm.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety, called "Benifuji", of a pink dogwood tree substantially as herein shown and described characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of the appearance of a large number of branches with an upright limb growth habit, as tall as the known variety "Miss Satomi", having leaves of medium size substantially equivalent to the wild varieties, a flower diameter of approximately 8-9 cm with the color of the flower being deep purplish pink and the distance between branches being small. The plant substantially does not become unbalanced as a result of trimming.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Ilex plant named ‘Screen Play’, that is characterized by its well-branched, dense, upright plant habit with suitablity for use as a hedge or privacy screen, its vigourous growth habit with plants growing an average of 1.5 m per year in Georgia when young, its large leaves that emerge light green tinged with bronze in color and maturing to a deep green color, its leaves that are glossy and spineless with very finely serrated margins, its berries that ripen to a deep red color in early fall and persist on the plant through the winter, its cold tolerance; remaining evergreen in U.S.D.A Zone 7, and its ease of pollination by ambient pollen when grown in Georgia.