Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus such as facsimile apparatus or digital copying machine for digitizing image data into two values or multi-values. The apparatus comprises: an input device to input data of a target pixel to be digitized; a calculating circuit to obtain an average density value of a predetermined region; a digitizing circuit such as a binarizing circuit for digitizing or binarizing the target pixel data on the basis of the average density value obtained by the calculating circuit; and a correction circuit to correct a difference which occurs upon digitization by the digitizing circuit. The calculating circuit calculates the average density value m.sub.1 of the pre-determined region when the target pixel data was binarized to 1 and the average density value m.sub.2 of the predetermined region when the target pixel data was binarized to 0 by using a predetermined weighting mask. The digitizing circuit binarizes the target pixel data by using (m.sub.1 +m.sub.

Abstract: A recording method in which ink is ejected by thermal energy produced by a heat generating element of a recording head in response to application of a driving signal thereto including the steps of changing a waveform of the driving signal in accordance with a temperature of the recording head; and selecting a fixed waveform of the drive signal when the temperature of the recording head exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A waste incinerator is provided which can completely prevent environmental pollution by dioxins. Exhaust gas from an incinerator is guided into a glass melting furnace by a duct, and blown into molten glass through a bubbling pipe to decompose dioxins in the exhaust gas. High-temperature gas produced in the glass melting furnace is supplied into the incinerator by a pipe so as to burn wastes without using auxiliary fuel. Further, exhaust gas is pressurized by pressure pumps in a pipe branching from the duct, while fuel tablets to including ashes are introduced through a fuel inlet and fed into the molten glass under the pressure of exhaust gas to decompose dioxins in the ashes.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide a nitriding method of forming a relatively thick nitride layer on the surface of an aluminum material containing silicon, and an auxiliary agent for nitriding. By using a nitriding auxiliary agent mainly comprising aluminum containing a metal such as lithium or boron, which has a high bonding strength with oxygen, coexists with silicon to form substantially no silicide, or a nitriding auxiliary agent mainly comprising an Al--Mg--Cu alloy or an Mg--Zn--Cu alloy, heat treatment is applied by nitrogen gas with the aluminum material to be nitrided contacted with the nitriding auxiliary agent. Hence, a thick nitride layer can be easily formed even on the surface of an aluminum material containing silicon, and this is most suitable to surface nitride aluminum-silicon alloys, which possess superior castability.

Abstract: An aluminum product having the metal diffusion layer in the present invention has, on the surface thereof, a metal diffusion layer comprising aluminum and a diffusion metal which is diffused setting aluminum as a matrix and which includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ti and Ag; wherein the diffusion layer is formed by diffusing inclinatorily not less than 1 .mu.m from the surface thereof; and the diffusion metal is not less than 1.0% by weight when the whole of the metal diffusion layer is set to be 100% by weight. Also, in a process for producing an aluminum product having a metal diffusion layer, the surface of the aluminum product is brought into contact with the processing agent including at least the diffusion metal powder; and in this state by conducting heat treatment in the atmosphere including nitrogen, the diffusion metal is diffused on the surface of the aluminum product and the metal diffusion layer is formed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in which ink is ejected onto a recording material, the apparatus including a recording head having an energy generating element for producing energy contributable to eject the ink onto the recording material; a recording head driving device for applying drive signals having a waveform to the energy generating element; a temperature detecting device for detecting a temperature relating to the recording head and for producing an output; a changing device for changing the waveform of the driving signals in accordance with the output of the detecting device; and a drive control device for fixing the waveform to a predetermined waveform when the recording material used is an OHP sheet.

Abstract: A case nitrided aluminum product is produced by contacting an aluminum product with a nitriding agent at a part of a surface thereof at least, and by nitriding the aluminum product at the surface with an ambient gas at a temperature of a melting point of the aluminum product or less while keeping the aforementioned contact. The nitriding agent includes an aluminum powder, and the ambient gas virtually includes a nitrogen gas. The resulting nitriding layer has a depth of 5 micrometers or more, and it exhibits a case hardness of from 250 to 1,200 mHv. Thus, it is possible to form the deep and hard nitriding layer on the aluminum product with ease under the conditions where it has been said to be too difficult to nitride aluminum products. The case nitrided aluminum product can appropriately make sliding parts which require high wear resistance.

Abstract: It is possible, in a rolling method of a strip shifting one-side-tapered work rolls in the axial direction and causing the upper and the lower work rolls to cross each other, to appropriately set a quantity of shift and a crossing angle and to improve an edge drop satisfactorily, by utilizing the relationship of the three factors including the quantity of shift and the crossing angle for determining quantities of operation necessary to correcting an edge drop of the strip and the quantity of correction of edge drop corresponding to these quantities of operation in the form of the relationship between the roll gap between the upper and the lower work rolls and the quantity of correction of edge drop, by providing an effective roll gap reference position apart from the strip edge by a prescribed distance.

Abstract: In the recording method and apparatus, ink is ejected by thermal energy produced by a heat generating element of a recording head in response to application of driving signals thereto, the driving signals being of plural waveforms including a fixed waveform. The method includes the steps of detecting a temperature of the recording head and applying the driving signals to the heat generating element of the recording head. The waveforms of the driving signals are changed in accordance with the temperature of the recording head when the temperature of the recording head is below a predetermined level, and the waveforms of the driving signals comprise the fixed waveform when the temperature of the recording head exceeds the predetermined level.

Abstract: In an image determination unit, a possibility that a read image is a predetermined image which is prohibited from an image formation is determined. If the possibility exists, an operation of the image formation is interrupted and whether or not the pertinent image is a predetermined image is determined based on the image information which is continuously inputted. If it is determined that the input image is a specific original, the image formation is suspended, while if not, the image formation processing is restarted.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus in which digital data of a certain number (m) of levels are converted into digital data of a larger number (n) of levels, then subjected to certain desired editing processing, and again digitized to data of the original number (m) of levels. The redigitization to m levels is conducted by determining the average density of a predetermined area, utilizing data of pixels already redigitized to m levels, and redigitizing the data of n levels into m levels, utilizing the average value. This process significantly reduces the amount of data processing required without formation of an unpleasant texture on the image resulting from errors in digitization.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which combines a plurality of different image forming methods, the image forming operations of the plurality of image forming methods are controlled in accordance with the color of an original image and the color of a recording agent, so that image formation in a desired color can be reliably attained, and copying errors can be eliminated. In another aspect, by appropriately selecting the plurality of image forming methods in correspondence with the feature of an image, high-quality image formation can be attained in correspondence with the image feature.

Abstract: A system of transmitting and receiving image data comprising a number of pixel data, such as color copying machine or the like, comprises producing image control data regarding the image data to be transmitted on a transmission side; transmitting pixel data of n colors for a period of time when the pixel data of (n+m) colors (n and m are positive integers) can be sequentially transmitted and transmitting the image control data for a period of time when the pixel data of n colors is not transmitted in the period of time when the pixel data of (n+m) colors can be transmitted; producing the pixel data of (n+m) colors on the basis of the pixel data of n colors on a reception side; and executing an image process to the pixel data of n colors or the pixel data of (n+m) colors on the basis of the image control data.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for processing images, with which a specific original can be discriminated from others with a high accuracy. An image processing apparatus includes an input unit (210) for producing visible information and invisible information, a detecting unit for detecting a line image portion of an image represented by the visible information, and a discriminating unit (3) for discriminating an original having a predetermined pattern in accordance with the detection by the detecting unit and the visible information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for processing color image signals is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first judgment unit for judging whether a pixel of interest belongs to a black line image portion, and outputting a first judgment signal indicating a judgment result, a second judgment unit for judging whether pixels in the vicinity of the pixel of interest belong to a black line image potion, and outputting a second judgment signal indicating a judgment result, and a control unit for controlling recording of the pixel of interest based on the first and second judgment signals outputted from the first and second judgment units. With the apparatus, black lines in a color image are satisfactorily reproduced.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a tubular metal shell, a tubular housing having an end attached to the metal shell and another end sealed by a seal member. A solid electrolyte tube is attached to the metal shell and has on inner and outer surfaces thereof electrode layers and lead layers connected to the electrode layers, respectively. A pair of lead wires extend through the seal member between inside and outside of a housing assembly constituted by the metal shell and housing while being sealingly held by the seal member. A pair of metallic leads are disposed inside of the housing assembly for connection between the lead layers and the lead wires, the metallic leads having at one end thereof electrode connecting portions having a spring property, the electrode connecting portions being attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the solid electrolyte tube and held in contact with the lead layers under spring pressure.

Abstract: A high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy and aluminum alloy powder have superior toughness, abrasion resistance, high temperature strength, and creep resistance and are useful to form engine parts for automobiles, airplanes, etc. The high heat resisting and high abrasion resisting aluminum alloy comprises 2 to 15 wt % of Ni, 0.2 to 15 wt % of Si, 0.6 to 8.0 wt % of Fe, one or two of 0.6 to 5.0 wt % of Cu and 0.5 to 3 wt % of Mg, the total amount of Cu and Mg being equal to or less than 6 wt %, one or two of 0.3 to 3 wt % of Zr and 0.3 to 3 wt % of Mo, the total amount of Zr and Mo being equal to or less than 4 wt %, 0.05 to 10 wt % of B, and the balance of Al and unavoidable impurities, and is produced by powder metallurgy.

Abstract: A case nitrided aluminum product is produced by contacting an aluminum product with a nitriding agent at a part of a surface thereof at least, and by nitriding the aluminum product at the surface with an ambient gas at a temperature of a melting point of the aluminum product or less while keeping the aforementioned contact. The nitriding agent includes an aluminum powder, and the ambient gas virtually includes a nitrogen gas. The resulting nitriding layer has a depth of 5 micrometers or more, and it exhibits a case hardness of from 250 to 1,200 mHv. Thus, it is possible to form the deep and hard nitriding layer on the aluminum product with ease under the conditions where it has been said to be too difficult to nitride aluminum products. The case nitrided aluminum product can appropriately make sliding parts which require high wear resistance.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus for intermediate tone processing of an image signal into a binary signal, capable of providing a reproduced image with excellent resolution and gradation with a simple structure, and without the periodic texture inherent to the conventional error dispersing method or average density conserving method. The disclosed apparatus determines the average density of an already binarized predetermined image area, binary digitizing the image signal of a contemplated pixel, utilizing the determined average density as the threshold value, and distributing the error, generated in the binary digitization, to the image data of plural pixels to be digitized thereafter with certain distribution factors. The distribution factors are randomly changed according to random numbers generated by a generator, so that the reproduced image is free from periodic patterns resulting from periodic distributions of the errors.

Abstract: A case nitrided aluminum product is produced by contacting an aluminum product with a nitriding agent at a part of a surface thereof at least, and by nitriding the aluminum product at the surface with an ambient gas at a temperature of a melting point of the aluminum product or less while keeping the aforementioned contact. The nitriding agent includes an aluminum powder, and the ambient gas virtually includes a nitrogen gas. The resulting nitriding layer has a depth of 5 micrometers or more, and it exhibits a case hardness of from 250 to 1,200 mHv. Thus, it is possible to form the deep and hard nitriding layer on the aluminum product with ease under the conditions where it has been said to be too difficult to nitride aluminum products. The case nitrided aluminum product can appropriately make sliding parts which require high wear resistance.