Author: claimsbot

1. A binder mechanism, comprising:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring in a closed position, wherein the base connector comprises an aperture generally shaped to engage the free end of the ring to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector and a portion of the base connector with the aperture is sloped with respect to the base; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position into an upright position.
2. The binder mechanism of claim 1,
wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the first pivotal connection permits the ring to pivot permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened.
3. The binder mechanism of claim 2 wherein the second pivotal connection permits the ring to rotate about an axis of the secured end of the ring and pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
4. The binder mechanism of claim 3,
wherein the first pivotal connection comprises a transverse member;
wherein the base further comprises a central portion, and at least first and second other portions on either side of the central portion; and
wherein the transverse member is positioned between the central portion and the first and second other portions of the base to permit pivotal movement of the free end of the ring away from the base connector.
5. The binder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the transverse member cooperates with at least the central portion and the first and second other portions to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
6. The binder mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a fastener coupling the transverse member to the secured end of the ring permitting the ring to pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
7. The binder mechanism of claim 6, wherein the fastener extends through an opening in a flange of the transverse member.
8. The binder mechanism of claim 3,
wherein the first pivotal connection comprises a transverse member;
wherein the base further comprises a central portion, a flange portion, a pair of arcuate portions on either side of the central portion, and a tab connected to the central portion of the base; and
wherein the transverse member is positioned between the central portion and the arcuate portions of the base to permit pivotal movement of the free end of the ring away from the base connector.
9. The binder mechanism of claim 8, wherein the transverse member cooperates with the central portion, the flange portion, the pair of arcuate portions, and the tab of the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
10. The binder mechanism of claim 8, wherein the arcuate portions of the base further comprise a notch that assists with pivoting the transverse member.
11. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the secured end of the ring cooperates with the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
12. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener.
13. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the flange comprises a shoulder of a transverse member.
14. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the flange comprises a shoulder of a transverse member, and wherein the transverse member cooperates with the base to form the first pivotal connection.
15. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises an opening into which the fastener is inserted.
16. The binder mechanism of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener.
17. The binder mechanism of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a rivet.
18. The binder mechanism of claim 12, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises a threaded opening into which the fastener is inserted and the fastener is a threaded fastener.
19. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener.
20. The binder mechanism of claim 19, wherein the secured end of the ring further comprises an opening into which the fastener is inserted and the portion of the base connector sloped with respect to the base permits the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the aperture and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
21. The binder mechanism of claim 20, wherein a transverse member cooperates with a central portion, a flange portion, a pair of arcuate portions, and a tab of the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
22. The binder mechanism of claim 3, wherein the base connector and free end of the ring are characterized by permitting the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the base connector and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion of the base connector so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
23. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the secured end of the ring cooperates with the base to bias the free end of the ring into an open position in which the free end of the ring is spaced from and proximate the base connector.
24. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the aperture has an upper channel portion and a lower wider portion to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector.
25. The binder mechanism of claim 24, wherein the free end of the ring comprises a circumferentially reduced portion that seats in the upper channel portion of the aperture to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector.
26. The binder mechanism of claim 25, wherein the base connector further comprises a release ring for unseating the circumferentially reduced portion of the ring from the upper channel portion of the aperture.
27. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the portion of the base connector sloped with respect to the base permits the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the aperture and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
28. The binder mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base connector and free end of the ring are characterized by permitting the free end of the ring to be fastened to the base connector by positioning the free end of the ring generally over the base connector and rotating the ring by the top of the ring in a direction so the free end of the ring moves toward the sloped portion of the base connector so that the free end of the ring is fastened to the base connector.
29. A binder, comprising:
a binder casing; and
a plurality of binder mechanisms affixed to the binder casing, wherein each binder mechanism comprises:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring, wherein the base connector comprises an aperture generally shaped to engage the free end of the ring to fasten the free end of the ring to the base connector and a portion of the base connector with the aperture is sloped with respect to the base; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position into an upright position.
30. The binder of claim 29,
wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the first pivotal connection permits the ring to pivot permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened.
31. The binder of claim 30,
wherein the second pivotal connection permits the ring to rotate about an axis of the secured end of the ring and pivot into a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base.
32. A binder mechanism, comprising:
a base;
a ring comprising a free end and a secured end, with the secured end being movably secured to the base; and
a base connector for fastening the free end of the ring in a closed position, wherein the base connector releasably fastens the free end of the ring, permitting the free end of the ring to be repeatedly connected to the base to put the binder mechanism in a closed configuration and repeatedly disconnected from the base to put the binder mechanism in an open configuration; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a first pivotal connection permitting the free end of the ring to be moved away from the base connector when unfastened and the ring to pivot between an upright open position and an upright closed position relative to the base connector, with the upright closed position permitting sheets to be held by the ring and with the upright open position permitting sheets to be added to the ring; and
wherein the secured end of the ring is pivotally connected to the base via a second pivotal connection permitting the ring to pivot from a collapsed position that significantly reduces the height of an upper portion of the ring relative to the base into an upright position, wherein the second pivotal connection comprises a flange coupled to the secured end of the ring with a fastener and the secured end of the ring further comprising an opening into which the fastener is inserted.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A reformer comprising:
a burner adapted to generate thermal energy; and
a reforming reaction unit adapted to be supplied with the thermal energy from the burner to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel,
wherein the burner comprises:
a burner main body having first and second portions formed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit; and
a first catalyst filled in an inner portion of the burner main body.
2. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the reforming reaction unit comprises:
a reformer main body; and
a second catalyst filled in an inner potion of the reformer main body.
3. The reformer of claim 2,
wherein the reformer main body has a cylindrical shape, a first end, and a second end, the first end and the second end being substantially closed,
wherein a reformer inlet is provided at the first end of the reformer main body, and
wherein a reformer outlet is provided at the second end of the reformer main body.
4. The reformer of claim 1,
wherein a burner inlet is provided to the first portion of the burner main body, and
wherein a burner outlet is provided to the second portion of the burner main body.
5. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
6. The reformer of claim 1, wherein the first catalyst has a pellet shape.
7. A fuel cell system comprising:
an electricity generator adapted to generate electrical energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen;
a reformer adapted to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel through a catalytic reaction using thermal energy and to supply the hydrogen-rich gas to the electricity generator;
a fuel supplying unit adapted to supply the fuel to the reformer; and
an oxygen supply unit adapted to supply the oxygen to the reformer and the electricity generator,
wherein the reformer comprises:
a reforming reaction portion having a reformer main body filled with a second catalyst; and
a burner main body having first and second portions formed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, the burner main body being filled with a first catalyst, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit.
8. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
9. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the fuel supply unit comprises:
a fuel tank adapted to store the fuel; and
at least one fuel pump connected to the fuel tank and adapted to discharge the fuel.
10. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the oxygen supply unit has at least one air pump adapted to pump and supply the air to the reformer and the electricity generator.
11. The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of electricity generators are stacked adjacent to one another to constitute a stack of the fuel cell system.
12. A burner for a fuel cell reformer having an reforming reaction unit, the burner comprising:
a burner main body having first and second portions; and
an oxidation catalyst filled in the first and second portions of the burner main body,
wherein the first and second portions of the burner main body are formed by bending a straight pipe at a mid-portion thereof to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, and
wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit.
13. The burner of claim 12,
wherein an inlet is provided to the first portion of the burner main body, and
wherein an outlet is provided to the second portion of the burner main body.
14. The burner of claim 12, wherein the burner main body has a coil shape wound in a helical configuration.
15. The reformer of claim 12, wherein the oxidation catalyst has a pellet shape.

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first tray adapted to carry a first plurality of devices;
means for machine-vision optical inspecting a first side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray; and
means for simultaneously flipping an orientation of each of the first plurality of devices from a first inspection orientation that allows machine-vision optical inspection of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray to a second inspection orientation that allows machine-vision optical inspection of a second side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each the first plurality of devices while in the first tray.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the apparatus further comprising:
means for moving the first tray, from a location where means for the flipping of the orientation is located to a location where the means for machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices is located, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the apparatus further comprising:
means for moving the first tray, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side, from a location where the means for machine-vision inspecting of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices is located to a location where the means for flipping of the orientation is located; and
means for moving the first tray, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side, from a location where the means for flipping of the orientation is located to a location where the means for machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices is located.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for flipping further comprises:
means for placing a surface against the first sides of the first plurality of devices;
means for inverting the first tray, the surface, and the first plurality of devices such that the first plurality of devices rest on the surface; and
means for sliding the surface relative to the inverted devices such that the devices move into the first tray.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the apparatus further comprising:
means for moving the first tray, from a location where the means for machine-vision inspecting of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices is located to a location where the means for flipping of the orientation is located, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.
7. A method for machine-vision inspecting a first plurality of devices and for inverting the plurality of devices from an initial position in a first tray and for placing the first plurality of inverted devices back in the first tray, each of the first plurality of devices having a first side and an opposite second side, the method comprising:
providing a first tray adapted to carry a first plurality of devices;
machine-vision optical inspecting a first side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray; and
after the machine-vision optical inspection of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices, simultaneously flipping an orientation of each of the first plurality of devices with respect to the first tray from a first orientation that allowed the machine-vision optical inspection of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray to a second orientation that allows machine-vision optical inspection of a second side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the flipping of each of the first plurality of devices further comprises:
placing a surface against the first sides of the first plurality of devices;
inverting the first tray, the surface, and the first plurality of devices such that the first plurality of devices rest on the surface; and
sliding the surface relative to the inverted devices such that the devices move into the first tray.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray after the flipping.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the method further comprising:
moving the first tray, from a location where the machine-vision inspecting of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices is performed to a location where the flipping of the orientation is performed, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the method further comprising:
moving the first tray, from a location where the flipping of the orientation is performed to a location where the machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices is performed, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, the method further comprising:
moving the first tray, from a location where the machine-vision inspecting of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices is performed to a location where the flipping of the orientation is performed, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side; and
moving the first tray, from a location where the flipping of the orientation is performed to a location where the machine-vision inspecting of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices is performed, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.
13. An apparatus for machine-vision inspecting a first plurality of devices in a first tray and for inverting each one of the first plurality of devices from a first inspection position that allows machine-vision optical inspection of a first side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray to a second inspection position that allows machine-vision optical inspection of a second side of each of the first plurality of devices while in the first tray, the apparatus comprising:
a first machine-vision inspection station configured to perform a first inspection of the first side of the first plurality of devices while held in the first tray in the first inspection position; and
a device-inverting mechanism that, after the first inspection, simultaneously inverts each of the first plurality of devices while the devices are held in the first tray, wherein the device-inverting mechanism is adapted to then hold the inverted devices, and operable to position the first tray under the devices and to place each one of the inverted first plurality of devices into the first tray such that the devices are in their second inspection position.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a first conveyer that moves the first tray having the first plurality of devices therein to the device-inverting mechanism; and
a second conveyer that moves the first tray having the first plurality of devices therein from the device-inverting mechanism.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a pusher configured to slide the inverted first plurality of devices into the first tray in the second inspection position.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device-inverting mechanism includes a surface that is placed against the first sides of the first plurality of devices during the rotation of the first tray by the rotator such that the inverted first plurality of devices are held in the first tray in the first inspection position by the surface, and wherein the pusher is configured to slide the inverted first plurality of devices from the surface and into the first tray in the second inspection position.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a second inspection station configured to perform a first inspection of the second side of the first plurality of devices while held in the first tray in the second inspection position; and
a tray-transfer device configured to move the first tray with the first plurality of devices held in the first tray from the first inspection station to the device-inverting mechanism and to move the first tray with the first plurality of devices held in the first tray from the device-inverting mechanism to the second inspection station so that the first sides of the first plurality of devices can be inspected at the first inspection station in the first tray and the second sides of the first plurality of devices can be inspected at the second inspection station in the first tray.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
a third inspection station configured to perform a second inspection of the first side of each of the first plurality of devices while held in the first tray; and
a fourth inspection station configured to perform a second inspection of the second side of each of the first plurality of devices while held in the first tray.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first tray has a long dimension side and a short dimension side, and the tray-transfer device moves the first tray from the first inspection station to the device-inverting mechanism in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side so as to reduce a distance of movement needed.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tray-transfer device moves the first tray from the device-inverting mechanism to the second inspection station in a direction substantially perpendicular to the long dimension side.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
an image generation unit operable to generate image data of a subject;
a recording unit operable to record a first type of image file or a second type of image file to a recording medium based on the image data generated by the image generation unit; and
a controller operable to control the recording unit,
wherein the controller controls the recording unit to record the first type of image file at a lower level of a first directory in the recording medium and record the second type of image file at a lower level of a second directory in the recording medium, and record in the recording medium information used to analyze a recording order of the first type of image file and the second type of image file in the recording medium, while relating the information to the second type of image file.
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information used to analyze the recording order is information that identifies the first type of image file.
3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first type of image file and the second type of image file are created based on different standards.
4. A recording apparatus comprising:
a recording unit operable to record information conforming to a first standard at a lower level of a first directory in a recording medium and record information conforming to a second standard at a lower level of a second directory in the recording medium; and
a controller operable to control the recording unit,
wherein the controller controls the recording unit to generate association information for associating a recording order of the information conforming to the first standard with a recording order of the information conforming to the second standard, and to record the association information in the recording medium.
5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the association information is recorded in conformity with at least one of the first standard and the second standard.
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the association information includes a file name of the information conforming to the first or second standard which is recorded in the recording medium.
7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the association information includes a directory number assigned to a directory name in conformity with the first standard and includes a file number assigned to a file name in conformity with the first standard, the directory number and the file number being associated with a file defined by the second standard.
8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the directory number and the file number are numbers based on a directory number and a file number that are assigned next in conformity with the first standard when the file defined by the second standard is recorded.
9. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first standard is a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standard and the second standard is an AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) standard.
10. A file management apparatus comprising:
a recording unit operable to record information in a recording medium; and
a controller operable to control the recording unit,
wherein the controller controls the recording unit to record a first type of file at a lower level of a first directory in the recording medium and record a second type of file at a lower level of a second directory in the recording medium, and record in the recording medium information used to analyze a recording order of the first type of file and the second type of file in the recording medium, while relating the information to the second type of file.
11. The file management apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information used to analyze the recording order is information that identifies the first type of file.
12. The file management apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first type of file and the second type of file are created based on different standards.
13. A display apparatus that obtains and displays information from a recording medium that stores first information conforming to a first standard and second information conforming to a second standard, the recording medium storing association information for associating a recording order of the first information with a recording order of the second information, the display apparatus comprising:
a display unit operable to display at least one of the first information and the second information; and
a controller operable to cause the display unit to display the first information and the second information, based on the association information.
14. The display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the association information is recorded in conformity with the second standard.
15. The display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the association information includes a directory number assigned to a directory name in conformity with the first standard and includes a file number assigned to a file name in conformity with the first standard, the directory number and the file number being associated with a file defined by the second standard.
16. The display apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller is further operable to:
arrange the first information according to an order of the directory number and the file number which are assigned in conformity with the first standard,
determine a recording order of the first information and the second information based on the directory number and the file number which are included in the association information, and
display the first information and the second information on the display unit by inserting the second information between the first information based on the determined recording order.
17. The display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first standard is a DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standard and the second standard is an AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) standard.
18. A computer readable recording medium comprising:
computer executable code operable to cause a computer to operate as a file management apparatus including a recording unit operable to record information in a recording medium, and a controller operable to control the recording unit, wherein
the controller controls the recording unit to record a first type of file at a lower level of a first directory in the recording medium and record a second type of file at a lower level of a second directory in the recording medium, and record in the recording medium information used to analyze a recording order of the first type of file and the second type of file in the recording medium, while relating the information to the second type of file.