Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed as having a water storage device 2 whose inside is provided with two partition walls 9, 10 to divide the same into three regions R1, R2, R3, and among these, a middle region R2 is provided with a water guide pipe 11 and a water return pipe 12 through which water is taken out or returned to the region R2. The partition walls 9, 10 have communicating bores 13a1, 13a2 through which water flow is admitted.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed as having a water storage device 2 whose inside is provided with two partition walls 9, 10 to divide the same into three regions R1, R2, R3, and among these, a middle region R2 is provided with a water guide pipe 11 and a water return pipe 12 by which water is taken out of or returns to the region R2. Provided on the partition walls 9, 10 are communicating mechanisms 13 through which adjacent regions are brought into fluid communication. The communicating mechanisms 13 have structures that are operative to permit water to be taken out of or to be returned to the region R2 while blocking outflow of water from the region R2 to the other regions R1, R3.

Abstract: A water supply device, which performs humidification and/or cooling of a fuel cell stack (2), is disclosed. The water supply device includes a water tank (25) for storing water, and a pump which sends water from the water tank (5) to the fuel cell stack (2), wherein one of a discharge port (39) and intake port (37) of the pump (26) is situated in the bottom portion of a pump chamber. The water supply device further includes a recirculation passage (28) which recirculates water between the water tank (25) and the fuel cell stack (2), and a compressor (20) which functions to supply water stored in the water tank to the pump by supplying air to the water tank. A controller (6) of the water supply device programmed to: command the compressor (20) to supply air to the water tank, when the fuel cell stack (2) is to be started up, and subsequently command the pump to start.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system provided with a fuel cell (1), a water tank (2) which stores water to be supplied to the fuel cell, and a heating device (10) which defrosts the water inside the tank during activation of the fuel cell. The fuel cell system has a switch (19) which signals activation of the fuel cell; at least one temperature sensor (13, 14) which detects a temperature inside the water tank; a pump (3) which conveys water from the water tank to the fuel cell; a heater (12) which warms the pump; and a controller (15).

Abstract: A water supply system for a fuel cell, which includes: a water storage tank; a pump which is located above a water level in the tank and supplies water to the fuel cell; a first passage from the pump to the fuel cell, which has a first portion placed in a position below a discharge port of the pump; an air compressor which supplies air to the tank and the first passage; a second passage which is connected to the first portion of the first passage and opened to the atmosphere; a valve provided on the second passage, which discharges water remaining in either the pump or the first passage through the second passage; and a controller for controlling the valve, which opens the valve as the water supply to the fuel cell is stopped.

Abstract: An image output system having an image output device for performing a specified output process with respect to image data, and an image input device for providing the image data via reading an image from a document, or via an external device. Both the image input device and image output device have controllers for controlling the respective devices. The controller of the image output device outputs a reset signal to the system controller of the image input device when a response from the controller of the image input device is not appropriate, and continues to output the reset signal until a predetermined time elapses and the response from the controller of the image input device is judged to be appropriate.

Abstract: An apparatus for image processing including a region detector, a density conversion unit, a compression unit, and an expansion unit. The region detector detects an edge region in an image data. The density conversion unit reduces a density difference within the edge region detected by the region detector. The compression unit compresses the image data within the edge region where the density difference is reduced by the density conversion unit, using the discrete cosine transform. The expansion unit expands the image data compressed by the compression unit.

Abstract: An image processing device extracts graphic areas, for example, firstly from image data received, and then extracts other remaining areas, i.e., photographic and character areas. The areas that are extracted firstly can be photographic or character areas. This prevents the areas to be extracted firstly from being extracted accompanying with other areas under the influence of isolation processes to be executed on other areas. The image processing device also can establish the order of extraction of each area depending on the contents of the image data based on the user's operation.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus; an image processor, the image processor includes instruction element for requesting image processing parameter adjustment data from the image forming apparatus; a receiver for receiving image processing parameter adjustment data from the image forming apparatus, and image processor for performing adjustment of an image processing parameter based on the image processing parameter adjustment data received by the receiver. The image forming apparatus includes a data creating device for creating image processing parameter adjustment data, and a transmitter for transmitting the image processing parameter adjustment data created by the data creating element to the image processor.

Abstract: The scanner 10 capable of functioning as a data transmission management device makes a judgment whether data should be allowed to be reused at a file transmission destination based on the nature of the particular destination, produces a reusable file, and transmits it to the destination, if it judges that the reuse of the data is allowed because the destination is within the area of the first network N1 to which the scanner is connected; it produces a difficult-to-reuse file and transmits it to the destination, if it judges that the reuse of the data is disallowed because the destination is outside of the area of the first network

Abstract: The image processing device 1 generates edge image data from input image data, measures the distances between edge pixels in the main and secondary scanning direction, and interpolates between the edge pixels where said distances are less than a specified number of pixels in order to generate connecting edge image data of a group of connecting edge pixels. Next, it extracts a rectangular area circumscribing said group of connecting edge pixels as a local area, extracts diagonal direction edge components of said input image data that belong to said local area, and identifies said local area if the content of said diagonal direction edge components is within a specified range.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that automatically expels bubbles trapped at a filter—which removes foreign materials from ink supplied to the inkjet head—to eliminate ink discharge problems caused by trapped air bubbles. Ink (40) is supplied through ink-supply-line part (23), filter (24), and ink-intake opening (202) to inkjet head (2) of inkjet printer (1). If a bubble (30) in ink (40) becomes trapped at the top surface (24a) of filter (24), the bubble (30) is separated from the filter top (24a) by the buoyancy of the ink (40). When the bubble (30) separates from the filter top (24a), it forms a spherical bubble (30A). This spherical bubble (30A) then rises through conically shaped ink-path-connection part 222 and ink-supply-line part 23. The internal volume of ink-path-connection part 222 is less than 1.1 times the volume of a sphere internally tangent to ink-supply-line part 23. Therefore, bubble (30A) freely rises through ink-supply-line part 23.

Abstract: A control method for an ink jet printer capable of a non-discharge nozzle driving operation for stimulating and vibrating an ink meniscus in each ink nozzle of the ink jet head to prevent nozzle clogging does not lead to a drop in print speed. An ink jet head 30 is moved on a carriage 302. Prior to printing on a printing medium (block B2), this non-discharge driving operation (block B31) is performed while the carriage 302 is moving the ink jet head to the print position. Printing is therefore not delayed by the non-discharge driving operation, and nozzle clogging can be prevented without lowering the print speed.

Abstract: A power roller (18c) comprises a power roller inner wheel (93) in frictional contact with a input/output disks (18a, 18b), a power roller outer wheel (94) provided in a trunnion (17a), a ball bearing (92) interposed between the power roller inner wheel (93) and the power roller outer wheel (94), and an inner wheel supporting shaft (95) which supports the power roller inner wheel (93) such that it is free to rotate, the shaft having a shaft base part (95b) supported in the trunnion (17a), and arranged so that the radial support rigidity is set high in a gyration axis direction and set low in the direction perpendicular to the trunnion gyration axis (19a) and the power roller rotation axis (15d).

Abstract: A control method for an ink jet printer capable of a non-discharge nozzle driving operation for stimulating and vibrating an ink meniscus in each ink nozzle of the ink jet head to prevent nozzle clogging does not lead to a drop in print speed. An ink jet head 30 is moved on a carriage 302. Prior to printing on a printing medium (block B2), this non-discharge driving operation (block B31) is performed while the carriage 302 is moving the ink jet head to the print position. Printing is therefore not delayed by the non-discharge driving operation, and nozzle clogging can be prevented without lowering the print speed.

Abstract: A toroidal continuously variable transmission (1) comprises power rollers (18C, 18D, 20C, 20D) which transmit a torque between input disks (18A, 20A) and output disks (20A, 20B), and trunnions (104, 105, 114, 115) which drive the power rollers (18C, 18D, 20C, 20D) in a perpendicular direction to a rotation shaft (16A) according to a differential pressure between a first oil chamber (101) and a second oil chamber (102). When the second oil chamber (102) is at higher pressure than the first oil chamber (101), the toroidal continuously variable transmission (1) causes a downshift, and when the first oil chamber (101) is at higher pressure than the second oil chamber (102), the toroidal continuously variable transmission (1) causes an upshift. The first oil chamber (101) is connected to a first passage (176) and the second oil chamber (102) is connected to a second passage (177). A speed ratio control valve (70, 70A) controls a direction and a flowrate of the first passage (176) and the second passage (177).

Abstract: In a printer-copiers system of an office area (“OA”) network, an automatic document feeder (ADF) is used in an image output device which selectively outputs the image read from the document or received from an external device (for printing or facsimile transmission). If some trouble occurs during the reading of a document and disables the read operation, the conventional image output device is brought into a substantially non-operating state (system down), when viewed from the external device, and remains therein till the trouble is removed and the read operation is enabled. Unless the user promptly takes the proper measures, not only the copy job but also the print job stagnates. It is therefore an object of the present invention to minimize the duration of a period during which the read operation is disabled by promptly canceling the hang-up of the processor for controlling the reading of the document.

Abstract: A copying system consisting of a scanner and a printer which are directly connected, including a printer controller controlling a printer engine based on data received from an external computer via a network line, an interface switching unit switching the occupancy of the printer engine between the printer controller and the scanner, and a controller that makes the printer controller occupy the printer engine by means of controlling the interface switching unit when a trouble occurs while the printer engine is occupied by the scanner.

Abstract: An image processing device having an image processing unit 10 that adjusts colors of the foreground image data that are approximately equal to a uniform color that makes the boundary between the foreground image data and the background image data recognizable to all the colors of the background image data that serves as the foreground image data's back ground, and synthesizes the foreground image data and the background image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for changing a layout of a character string and/or a drawing contained in image data is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first detection means, a second detection means, a change means, a recognition means, and a replacing means. The first detection means detects a directive word, which is a character string that indicates a drawing position. The second detection means detects a drawing whose position is indicated by the directive word. The change means changes a layout of the character string and/or the drawing position. The recognition means recognizes positional relation between the directive word and the drawing after a layout change. The replacing means replaces the directive word based on the positional relation.