A method and system for compensating residual dispersion curvature in an optical communication network is disclosed. One embodiment employs two types of dispersion compensating fiber to reduce higher order terms in a residual dispersion profile. The two types of dispersion compensating fiber may be co-located in a dispersion compensation module positioned in each transmission fiber link. Alternatively, the two types of dispersion compensating fiber may be distributed across a span of the optical communication network.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method and system for compensating for residual dispersion curvature.
2. Description of Related Art
Dispersion is a known phenomenon in optical communication networks that causes a broadening of input pulses traveling along the length of the fiber. One type of dispersion relevant to the invention is chromatic dispersion (also referred to as "material dispersion" or "intramodal dispersion"), caused by a differential delay of various wavelengths of light in a waveguide material.
Dispersion has a limiting effect on the ability to transmit high data rates. When modulated onto an optical carrier, an optical spectrum is broadened in linear proportion to the bit rate. The interaction of the broadened optical spectrum with wavelength-dependent group velocity (i.e., dispersion) in the fiber introduces signal distortions. The amount of tolerable distortion is inversely proportional to the square of the bit rate. Thus, the combination of increasing spectral broadening and decreasing distortion tolerance makes the overall propagation penalty proportional to the square of bit rate.
This results, for example, in a 10 Gbps signal being 16 times less tolerant to dispersion than 2.5 Gbps signal, while having only 4 times the bit rate. Dispersion accumulates linearly with propagation distance in the fiber and typical propagation distances in standard single-mode fiber (e.g., SMF-28 or equivalent) are ˜1000 km at 2.5 Gbps, 60 km at 10 Gbps, and only ˜4 km at 40 Gbps. Clearly, some form of dispersion compensation is required to obtain meaningful propagation distances at bit rates of 10 Gbps and above.
Fiber-optic system transport capacity has been increasing through combining multiple, separately modulated optical carriers at distinct wavelengths onto a single fiber. This technique is known as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). Due to WDM, it is preferable that dispersion compensation be performed for multiple wavelengths using a common device.
Several methods have been proposed to compensate for dispersion, including fiber Bragg gratings, optical all-pass interference filters and dispersion compensating fiber. Dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) has found widespread practical acceptance and deployment due to numerous advantages. Such advantages include relatively low loss and cost and the ability to simultaneously compensate channels across multiple wavelengths without requiring spatial separation. Further, DCF has the ability to compensate for the unavoidable variation in the dispersion as a function of wavelength (second-order dispersion or dispersion slope) that exists in many current transport fibers.
To compensate for positive dispersion in a transmission fiber, conventional systems use lengths of DCF that have a negative dispersion coefficient. The length of DCF is selected so that the negative dispersion produced by the DCF counteracts the positive dispersion in the transmission fiber. While DCF provides adequate levels of dispersion compensation, it is difficult to produce DCF that also simultaneously compensates the dispersion slope. As transmission lengths between regeneration points increase and data rates increase, the need to compensate dispersion slope is paramount. Uncompensated dispersion slope results in system penalty and can significantly shorten transmission distances and/or channel counts. Ideally, upon reception each channel should have the same amount of net dispersion so that the net dispersion slope is zero.
Some types of DCF provide a high level of dispersion slope compensation. Unfortunately, this high level of dispersion slope compensation can introduce residual dispersion curvature. FIG. 1 is a graph of dispersion versus wavelength for a transmission fiber (referenced as E-LEAF), a first type of DCF (referenced as Type II DCF) and a second type of DCF (referenced as Type III DCF). The dispersion profile for the second type of DCF has a steeper slope and thus can provide a higher degree of dispersion slope compensation. Such transmission fibers and dispersion compensating fibers are manufactured by suppliers such as Corning, Lucent, and OFS-Fitel. In particular, the E-LEAF fiber described above is a popular transmission fiber manufactured by Corning.
FIG. 2 is a graph of residual dispersion versus wavelength for the two types of DCF referenced in FIG. 1. The graph shows the remaining dispersion levels after each type of DCF is used to compensate the 75 km of transmission fiber. As is evident, the residual dispersion after using the first type of DCF (referenced as Type II DCF) is linear, but the level of dispersion is significant, particularly in higher wavelengths. This high residual dispersion is problematic for high wavelengths in the C-band (1520 nm-1568 nm) and L-band (1568 nm-1610 nm).
The residual dispersion after using the second type of DCF (referred to as Type III DCF) has a lower magnitude across the wavelength range, but exhibits quadratic profile with respect to wavelength. Although the effect of residual dispersion and its curvature may not seem large in FIG. 2, the effect is additive when spans are concatenated. FIG. 3 is a graph of residual dispersion versus wavelength for transmissions over multiple, concatenated spans.
As evident from FIG. 3, as the number of spans increases, the quadratic nature of the residual dispersion increases. This gives rise to "dispersion shaping" or the reduction in effective transmission bandwidth since channels located at both the short and long wavelengths experience substantial amounts of uncompensated dispersion, relative to channels in the center. Although the channels near 1550 nm are well compensated, the curve can be linearly translated such that the zero dispersion point may be made to correspond with either the short or long wavelengths. The shape of the residual dispersion curve, however, does not change thereby reducing the effective bandwidth.

Method and system for compensating residual dispersion curvature


The present invention relates to an oral care composition for use in the treatment or prevention of erosive tooth demineralization, plaque, and caries. This oral care composition includes zinc lactate dihydrate, a stannous ion source, at least one phosphate salt, and a buffer system.

Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm or mass of bacteria that is commonly found between the teeth, along the gum line, and below the gum line margins. Dental plaque can give rise to dental caries and periodontal problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental caries tooth decay or tooth demineralization caused by acid produced from the bacterial degradation of fermentable sugar.
Oral care compositions which contain stannous ion sources exhibit excellent clinical benefits, particularly in the reduction of gingivitis and in the treatment or prevention of erosive tooth demineralization. However, there can be difficulty formulating oral care compositions with stannous ion sources. One reason is because the stannous ion can be unstable and may react with other ingredients of the oral care composition to form insoluble inactive tin compounds, thereby reducing the amount of available stannous ion in the composition. One way to overcome the stability problems with stannous ions is to limit the amount of water in the composition to very low levels, or to use a dual phase system. Both of these solutions to the stannous ion problem have drawbacks. Low water oral care compositions can be difficult to formulate with desired rheological properties, and dual-phase compositions are considerably more expensive to manufacture and package.
Thus, there is a need for providing improved stannous ion containing products for treating or preventing erosion of tooth enamel with antimicrobial effectiveness, reducing plaque or treating or controlling gingivitis.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In one example, a method for wafer drying includes providing a surface of a first wafer, the surface of the first wafer including a liquid to be removed with a drying process. The method further includes replacing the liquid with a first solid film in a first processing chamber, the first solid film covering the surface of the first wafer. The method further includes transferring the first wafer from the first processing chamber to a second processing chamber. The method further includes processing the first wafer in the second processing chamber by flowing a supercritical fluid through the second processing chamber, where the supercritical fluid removes the first solid film.

The manufacturing of semiconductor wafers often involves several process steps. Many of those processing steps include removal of by-product chemical species used, for example, in a wet cleaning process. Often deionized water is used as a final rinse step of a wafer cleaning process to remove the cleaning liquids. However, even the rinsing liquid has to be removed prior to further processing. Therefore, wafers are dried to remove traces of the rinsing liquid. However, with scaling of features to ever smaller geometries, drying techniques are being challenged to not damage the features during the drying.
To overcome these challenges, one particular method was developed that involved displacing the rinsing liquid on the surface of the wafer with isopropyl alcohol (IPA). This IPA is then removed using a supercritical drying process, in which the IPA covered wafer is exposed to supercritical carbon dioxide, which removes the IPA.


In the case of a hose connector assembly (1) it is provided for a retaining plate (15) to be used for axially fixing at least two hoses (6, 7, 8) in corresponding hose receptacles (3, 4, 5). The hoses (6, 7, 8) are insertable into respective recesses (16, 17, 18) of the retaining plate (15) by way of a lateral insertion movement (19), and the hoses (6, 7, 8) engage behind the recesses (16, 17, 18).

The invention relates to a hose connector assembly having a main body on which at least two hose receptacles are configured, having at least two hoses which by way of the respective ends thereof are plug-fitted in each case into one of the at least two hose receptacles. One retaining edge is configured on each of the at least two hoses, having a retaining plate in which in a manner corresponding to the at least two hose receptacles at least two receptacles are configured into which in each case one of the at least two hoses by way of an insertion movement that is aligned so as to be transverse to a longitudinal direction of the respective hose is insertable, such that the associated retaining edge engages across the retaining plate in order to prevent the hoses being pulled out of the hose receptacles.
The invention furthermore relates to a use of a hose connector assembly in a sanitary fitting.
The invention finally relates to a sanitary fitting.
In the case of sanitary fittings it is known for various components, in particular built-in components, to be provided with connector hoses. Components of this type can be mixing valves or mixing cartridges, for example, other valves or else sanitary outlet parts. In the case of hose connectors of this type there is in general the requirement for a permanent and tight connection to be established. This also entails a sufficient stability in relation to mechanical stresses, in particular tensile stresses on the respective hoses.
To this end, it has become usual practice for the hoses to be provided with a thread which is screw-fitted into a respective hose receptacle. However this has proven to be complex in terms of production.

Hose connector assembly, use of a hose connector assembly, and sanitary fitting


A measurement device that can improve measurement accuracy and increase the number of times of service of a measurement jig. The measurement device includes a movement control section that positions the measurement jig at an instructed position in the transfer direction, an imaging control section that images the positioned measurement jig by the measurement camera and acquires an image data, an image processing section that calculates an actual position of the measurement jig based on multiple measurement marks which are included in the image data, and an error measurement section that measures a positioning error in the transfer direction due to the driving device based on the instructed position and the actual position.

For example, PTL 1 discloses a device for inspecting accuracy of a transfer operation of a component tape in a feeder as a measurement device which measures the operation accuracy of a driving device in a measurement target. In addition, PTL 2 discloses a device which inspects accuracy of the transfer operation of electronic components in a component mounting machine. The measurement devices of PTL 1 and PTL 2 calculate an error between an instructed position and an actual position based on an image data acquired by imaging a measurement jig (master tape, matrix board) with a measurement camera and measure the operation accuracy of the driving device.


The present invention discloses a fixing clip, which comprises an article connection structure, a first clamping body, a second clamping body and a counterweight structure arranged in sequence. The article connection structure is used to connect articles to be fixed, and the article connection structure is arranged on the first clamping body; the second clamping body and the first clamping body are relatively slidably connected to form a first clamping interval with adjustable clamping width; the end of the second clamping body is provided with a counterweight structure connecting piece, and the counterweight structure is installed on the counterweight structure connecting piece, wherein the counterweight structure and the counterweight structure connecting piece can be relatively rotated or fixed; the first clamping body includes a first clamping portion and a first sliding connection portion, and the first clamping portion and the first sliding connection portion form a clamping angle.

It is inevitable that we have to fasten some items into another item in our daily life. In order to make the items securely fastened, we usually use fixing clips, such as fixing an on-screen display lamp to a monitor. Taking the on-screen display lamp holder as an example, either the existing fixtures are suitable for a monitor with a thin frame, such as the monitor of a desktop computer, or suitable for a monitor with a thick frame, such as the monitor of a notebook computer, and it is not possible to have one applicable to both.

ZHEJIANG TOPMB ELETRICAL LIGHTING CO., LTD


A cargo loading system for loading freight into or out of the cargo hold, the system comprising: a tilt control means which can be actuated by control signals in such a way that variances in tilt of a palletized load can be immediately righted; a control panel for actuation by personnel; a power source to the control panel; and a trailer base connected to the tilt control means for accepting freight.

Field of the Invention
This invention describes a freight-loading system adapted particularly for use in loading a portable airborne firefighting system (AFFS) to the fuselage or cargo hold of an aircraft.
Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,627, discloses a portable AFFS that is adapted for use in a host aircraft fuselage. The firefighting apparatus includes a pressurizeable retardant tank disposed in the interior of the host aircraft, the retardant tank being capable of roll-on and roll-off installation, an ejection tube in fluid communication with the retardant tank, and a door plug for mounting within a fuselage orifice in the host aircraft. The door plug provides for fluid communication of retardant from the retardant tank through the ejection tube to the exterior of the host aircraft. At least one sensor is operably connected to the firefighting apparatus to effect user-discernable data for effecting retardant delivery. The system is secured to a pallet which is loaded on and off the fuselage in a conventional manner.
In the loading and unloading of an AFFS, a large holding tank, pressurizing system, controls, and various pipes and structural components are first secured to a pallet structure. The resulting pallet is very large, bulky and cumbersome to move in an out.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,702, describes a freight-loading system located within the cargo hold of an aircraft for enhanced operating safety. The freight-loading system comprises a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), which can be actuated by control signals in such a way that items of freight can be maneuvered into or out of the cargo hold as well as within it. The PDUs are connected by control leads to control panels for actuation by personnel. A control maintenance computer (CMC) is provided and connected to the PDUs and the control panels, and is so designed that status information from the PDUs and the control panels can be read out and that the PDUs and/or the control panels are controllable by the CMC. This system is not adapted for, nor could it accommodate a bulky structure that is intended to occupy a substantial portion of the fuselage.
None of the prior art approaches have been able to improve the loading of a large palletized structure such as a portable AFFS safely and quickly.


Disclosed is a method for producing a liquid crystal polyester, which includes the steps of:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid crystal polyester.
2. Description of Related Art
JP-A-2001-72750 (corresponding application is US2003-0088053A) discloses, as a method for producing a liquid crystal polyester having a high molecular weight with satisfactory productivity, a method for producing a liquid crystal polyester comprising the steps of (1) polycondensing a monomer in a reaction vessel, (2) removing the formed polymer in a molten state from the reaction vessel and solidifying the polymer, and (3) subjecting the solidified polymer to a solid phase reaction.
However, the liquid crystal polyester obtained by the above production method has such a problem that the molding thereof has unsatisfactory mechanical strength.

Method for producing liquid crystal polyester

Abstract: (1) polycondensing a mixture of 70.5 to 71.5 mol % of a compound represented by the defined formula (I) (for example, 4-acetoxybenzoic acid) with 28.5 to 29.5 mol % of a compound represented by the defined formula (II) (for example, 6-acetoxy-2-naphthoic acid) to form a prepolymer, wherein the prepolymer has a flow initiation temperature of 200° C. or higher, and the mixture is polycondensed until reaching the temperature which is at least 30° C. lower than the polycondensation temperature; (2) removing the prepolymer in a molten state, followed by solidification and further grinding to produce prepolymer particles; and (3) subjecting the prepolymer particles to a heat treatment at 200 to 310° C. under circulation of an inert gas while remaining in a solid phase state.


Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are described. Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are usable to ensure consistent and durable alignment of various workpieces while providing access for performing attachment techniques thereon. In one example, the workpiece-holding tool is configured to allow objects to be held or removably affixed to an alignment surface. Holding objects with the workpiece-holding tool ensures that the alignment of objects with an alignment surface does not change while a user is operating upon a workpiece, e.g., as by joining aligned objects together, without interfering or obstructing access to the objects. The ability to hold objects is enhanced by the inclusion of cutouts that provide increased access to interior surfaces of the workpiece-holding tool, such as to increase the area available for use of clamps or other fastening devices.

Welders, carpenters, and other people joining workpieces together often have a need to join the workpieces together at particular angles. A welder, for instance, may frequently need to weld two metal workpieces together at specific angles, such as 90-degrees or 45-degrees. However, a single welder cannot simultaneously hold two or more workpieces himself, align the workpieces to a specific angle, and ensure that the alignment does not change during the welding process.
Conventional tools for aligning workpieces, such as carpentry or speed squares, suffer from numerous limitations that reduce or negate their utility. For example, while a speed square may provide a 90-degree angle, a speed square is substantially planar itself and does not provide flat planar edges on which to properly align workpieces. Further, a speed square lacks the ability to hold workpieces, and both the speed square and the workpiece must be manually held to ensure that an alignment does not change. Due to these limitations, a user of a speed square is often subjected to a time-consuming iterative process of aligning two workpieces with the speed square, removing the speed square, attaching the workpieces to one another, realigning the workpieces with the speed square, adjusting the attachment between the workpieces, and so on.
Further, forming an angle with a conventional tool requires direct placement of the tool in a joint forming the angle. For example, a user attempting to join two workpieces to form a 90-degree angle must place a conventional tool at the point of joinder and directly flush with the workpieces. Such a placement of a tool directly obstructs the ability to operate upon a workpiece at the point of joinder. This is particularly troublesome when the operation involves welding, where the welding implements themselves must occupy an amount of space proximate to the workpieces. Additionally, the point of joinder between workpieces does not always correspond to the intersection of the planes to which the workpieces are aligned. For example, two workpieces may be aligned at an angle of 90-degrees with respect to one another, but attached via a third workpiece that forms a chamfered corner. In scenarios such as these where there is not a single point of joinder corresponding to a desired angle, conventional tools utterly fail and cannot accurately align workpieces.
Thus, conventional tools and techniques lack the ability to quickly and accurately align workpieces in various scenarios, lack the ability to ensure that the alignment does not change during an operation upon a workpiece, and obstruct access to the point of joinder of workpieces.


A remote access module associated with a BIOS of an information handling system having a UHCI-based USB controller allows selection of legacy USB control with a local keyboard or access by a remote keyboard through a remote access bus master adapter. Input from an inactive local or remote keyboard results in automated enabling of the inactive keyboard and disabling of the active keyboard. In one embodiment, remote access to a keyboard port during legacy USB control saves the data associated with the remote access to a memory location accessible to the BIOS and invokes the BIOS to obtain the data. In another embodiment, a legacy USB control option is offered by a display to a user associated with a local keyboard and legacy USB control disabled if the user fails to select local access in a predetermined time period.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of remote access to an information handling system, and more particularly to a method and system for access to keyboard control in USB emulation mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling system to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems are used to provide a number of functions that have a minimal direct interaction with users. For instance, server information handling systems process network information with little if any keyboard or mouse inputs from keyboard or mouse devices directly connected to the server information handling system. Often, administrators or other users who interact with the server information handling system do so remotely through information handling systems that communicate with the server over the network. For instance, the server includes a bus master adapter card that accepts calls from remote devices to keyboard or mouse ports, such as ports 60h and 64h, received through the network and forwards the port calls to the keyboard controller for handling as if the keyboard inputs were provided from a local input/output device. For instance, the Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) card and the Embedded Remote Access Option (ERA/O) emulate keystrokes by writing directly to ports 60h and 64h on the server. Typically, remote input/output devices communicate through software drivers running in conjunction with the operating system to provide flexible control by administrators of a server through information handling systems communication with the server through the network.
One difficulty with access to an information handling system through remote input output devices is that operating system drivers to support remote access are not available during power-up and boot of an information handling system so that the basic input output system (BIOS) generally must coordinate keystroke inputs with what is generally known as legacy USB mode. With USB controllers that comply with the Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI), enablement of the legacy USB mode allows detection of accesses to ports 60h and 64h, stores data values for those accesses and generates a system management interrupt (SMI). The BIOS SMI handler gets data for port accesses from the OHCI USB controller to handle keystrokes. By comparison, with USB controllers that comply with the Universal Host Controller Interface (UHCI) standard, the controller does not keep data that was written to ports 60h and 64h so that data received from a remote device through a bus master adapter generally cannot be retrieved by the BIOS. Thus, an information handling system with a USB keyboard and a UHCI USB controller having legacy USB enabled generally cannot be remotely controlled through a remote access until the operating system is loaded and its USB driver takes control. With a UHCI compliant controller, a remote user cannot perform a number of boot functions, such as pressing F2 to enter setup, CTRL-M to enter PERC/4 configuration utility, F1 in response to a prompt displayed for a boot error or make boot selections from Windows boot manager screen.

Method for selecting local or remote keyboard control in legacy USB mode within predetermined time


The periodic magnetic field generator includes a flat-shaped first yoke, and a plurality of main permanent magnets, an auxiliary permanent magnet, and a side permanent magnet on the first yoke. The plurality of main permanent magnets are magnetized in a first direction of generating magnetic fields, the direction being perpendicular to the first yoke, and disposed such that orientations of the magnetization become opposite alternately in the first direction. The auxiliary permanent magnet is magnetized in a second direction perpendicular to side faces of the plurality of main permanent magnets, and placed between the side faces of the main permanent magnets. The side permanent magnet is magnetized in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and disposed so as to cover end faces of the main permanent magnets and the auxiliary permanent magnet, the end faces being perpendicular to the side faces of the main permanent magnets.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a periodic magnetic field generator having main permanent magnets magnetized in a direction of generated magnetic field, and auxiliary permanent magnets magnetized in a direction different from the main permanent magnets, wherein the main permanent magnets and the auxiliary permanent magnets are disposed alternately. The present disclosure also relates to an actuator equipped with the periodic magnetic field generator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Periodic magnetic field generators are used as devices that generate magnetic fields for driving various actuators such as image-capturing devices equipped with camera-shake correction mechanism, automatic focus (AF) mechanism, zoom mechanism and the like, robots, and motors. There is a growing demand in recent years for the periodic magnetic field generators to generate magnetic fields of increased density of magnetic flux in order to obtain higher driving force.
Patent Literature 1, for instance, discloses a periodic magnetic field generator including a back yoke, main-pole permanent magnets having upward and downward directions of magnetization, auxiliary-pole permanent magnets having rightward and leftward directions of magnetization, and soft magnetic materials disposed on magnetic-field generation sides of the main-pole permanent magnets. According to this periodic magnetic field generator, the influence of magnetic saturation in the magnetic circuit is alleviated by the soft magnetic materials because the generated magnetic field is directed upward (i.e., Z-axis), thereby achieving an increase in the generated magnetic field as compared to a structure having only a Hull Bach magnet array.

Periodic magnetic field generator and actuator equipped with same

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A golf ball and a method of manufacturing thereof are provided, the golf ball having a core containing a Mg vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a magnesium salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and another vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a co-crosslinking agent other than the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid. Preferably, the ratio xcex1/xcex2 between the content xcex1 of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder and the content xcex2 of another vulcanized rubber powder is 1/4 to 4, and the total content xcex1+xcex2 of the vulcanized rubber powders based on 100 parts by mass of a base rubber of the core is 5 to 30 parts by mass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf balls and methods of manufacturing thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf ball having its core with the mold release property (easiness of removal of the core from a mold) improved without deteriorating the performance of the golf ball, and relates to a method of manufacturing such a golf ball.
2. Description of the Background Art
Golf balls are generally classified into thread-wound golf balls and solid golf balls. Any of the golf balls includes a core formed of at least one layer. The core is produced by vulcanization-molding a rubber composition in a mold. As the core has an unsatisfactory mold release property, the mold release property is ensured conventionally by those methods as described below.
According to one method, a silicon-based or fluorine-based mold release agent for example is applied to the surface of a mold, or the mold release agent is applied to a parting film which is provided on the surface of the mold in which a rubber composition is vulcanization-molded. With regard to this method, some cores exhibit the mold release property deteriorated in a short time. In addition, the mold release agent could be left on the surface of the core to hinder the core from adhering to a cover for example formed on the core, resulting in deterioration in the durability of the resultant golf ball. Further, if an additional process is incorporated into the production line in order to remove the mold release agent which is left attached to the surface of the core, a significant capital investment in equipment as well as enormous energy are necessary.
According to another method, the surface of a mold is subjected to surface treatment with a chromium coating. This method is excellent in that no mold release component is attached to the surface of the core while having a problem of the costly surface treatment and a problem that the mold release effect lasts for only a short period of time.
According to still another method, a mold is cooled after the vulcanization-molding to reduce the core in volume thereby facilitating removal of the core from the mold. A problem of this method is that considerable energy is required for cooling the mold after the vulcanization-molding process.
According to a further method, some of the materials constituting the core are changed. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-100081 discloses a method of facilitating removal from the mold by adding a quinone-based compound for example to an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene-based copolymer rubber composition. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-137000 discloses a method according to which a sulfur or phosphorous element-containing ion surface-active agent is added, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,955 discloses a method according to which a metal salt of higher fatty acid with at least 6 carbon atoms is added.
These methods could deteriorate the performance, resiliency for example, of golf balls. Moreover, the cost of golf ball products could increase if a costly material like the internal mold release agent as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-137000 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,955 is employed.
One object of the present invention is, in view of the above-discussed circumstances, to provide a golf ball having a core with an improved mold release property without deterioration in such performance of the golf ball as resiliency, and to provide a method of manufacturing the golf ball.
The present invention is, with the purpose of achieving the above-described object, a golf ball having a core containing a vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a magnesium salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid (hereinafter xe2x80x9cMg vulcanized rubber powderxe2x80x9d) and a vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a co-crosslinking agent other than the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid (hereinafter xe2x80x9canother vulcanized rubber powderxe2x80x9d).
Preferably, the ratio xcex1/xcex2 between the content xcex1 of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder and the content xcex2 of another vulcanized rubber powder is 1/4 to 4, and the total content xcex1+xcex2 of the vulcanized rubber powders based on 100 parts by mass of a base rubber of the core is 5 to 30 parts by mass.
Preferably, the Mg vulcanized rubber powder contains, based on 100 parts by mass of the base rubber, 5 to 40 parts by mass of magnesium methacrylate, 1 to 50 parts by mass of at least one of tungsten, tungsten oxide and barium sulfate, and 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of organic peroxide.
The golf ball as discussed above is manufactured by blending the Mg vulcanized rubber powder with another vulcanized rubber powder to produce a core of the golf ball.
The present invention is hereinafter described in detail. According to the present invention, a golf ball is produced by forming a core in which a Mg vulcanized rubber powder and another vulcanized rubber powder are blended and surrounding the core with a cover for example.
[Mg Vulcanized Rubber Powder]
According to the present invention, a Mg vulcanized rubber powder is composed of a base rubber, a crosslinking agent, a co-crosslinking agent and a filler for example.
The base rubber is a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber or a mixture thereof. Examples of the synthetic rubber are polybutadiene rubber, polyisoprene rubber, styrene polybutadiene rubber, and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, for example. A particularly preferable one of the synthetic rubbers is a high cis polybutadiene rubber having at least 40%, preferably at least 80% of cis-1,4 content, since the high cis polybutadiene rubber is superior in the resiliency.
The crosslinking agent used here is an organic peroxide for example, and examples of the organic peroxide are dicumyl peroxide, 1,1-bis(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane, and t-butyl peroxide, for example. An appropriate one of them is dicumyl peroxide. Preferably, per 100 parts by mass of the base rubber, 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of the organic peroxide is blended with the base rubber. If the content of the blended organic peroxide is less than 0.1 parts by mass, a resultant golf ball is too soft which deteriorates the resiliency and thus decreases the carry of the golf ball, while the content of the blended organic peroxide exceeding 5 parts by mass makes the golf ball hard which impairs the shot feel.
The co-crosslinking agent used here is a magnesium salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid. Examples of the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid are magnesium acrylate and magnesium methacrylate, for example, and the magnesium salt of methacrylic acid is suitably used. Per 100 parts by mass of the base rubber, 5-40 parts by mass, preferably 10-40 parts by mass of the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid is blended with the base rubber. If the content of the co-crosslinking agent is less than 5 parts by mass, the crosslinking density decreases to impair the resiliency of the resultant golf ball. If more than 40 parts by mass of the co-crosslinking agent is blended, the increased crosslinking density makes the Mg vulcanized rubber powder hard, and consequently, the shot feel of the resultant golf ball tends to deteriorate. Here, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and a magnesium oxide may separately be blended to produce a rubber composition so that the resultant rubber composition contains the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxyic acid therein. An acrylic acid or methacrylic acid is suitably used as the unsaturated carboxyic acid.
The filler according to the present invention may be any which is normally used for the core. At least one of tungsten, tungsten oxide and barium sulfate is suitably used as the filler. Preferably, per 100 parts by mass of the base rubber, 1-50 parts by mass of the filler is blended with the base rubber. The content of the filler exceeding 50 parts by mass increases the mass of the core and accordingly makes the golf ball heavy. In addition, as any of the above-mentioned materials has a relatively high specific gravity, the amount of the filler to be blended with the base rubber may be reduced so as to lessen deterioration of the resiliency of the golf ball. As a filler for the rubber, instead of the fillers as described above, such a filler containing no zinc as calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, clay and diatomaceous earth may be used.
[Preparation of Mg Vulcanized Rubber Powder]
The Mg vulcanized rubber powder is prepared by preparing a rubber composition and vulcanizing the resultant rubber composition to produce a vulcanized rubber which is then crushed into the Mg vulcanized rubber powder.
The rubber composition of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder is prepared by measuring out required amounts respectively of the above-described base rubber, crosslinking agent, co-crosslinking agent and filler for example, and kneading them by means of an appropriate kneading machine like a roll mill, kneader or Banbury mixer.
Vulcanization is accomplished following a conventional method. For example, the rubber composition is set within a mold to have a predetermined shape or supplied into the mold by an injection molding machine so that the mold is filled with the rubber composition which is then vulcanized under a temperature condition of 130 to 180xc2x0 C. for 10 to 60 minutes. The vulcanized rubber composition is then cooled to approximately room temperature to produce a vulcanized rubber.
The vulcanized rubber is crushed following a conventional method. Preferably, the vulcanized rubber is roughly crushed by means of such a known crusher as shredder and then a screw feeder for example is used to supply a constant amount of the roughly crushed vulcanized rubber to a pulverizer which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-1020 for example and accordingly pulverize the vulcanized rubber into fine powder. The vulcanized rubber to be crushed and pulverized is not limited to the one obtained as described above. In consideration of recycle, any golf balls regarded as defectives due to lack of volume for example as well as spews extruded from molds in the vulcanization molding process of the manufacturing process, for example, may preferably be used for the vulcanized rubber to be crushed.
The grain size (diameter) of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder is not limited to a particular one. Preferably, the grain size of the powder is 3 mm or less and more preferably 1 mm or less.
[Another Vulcanized Rubber Powder]
According to the present invention, another vulcanized rubber powder refers to a vulcanized rubber powder which is crosslinked by a co-crosslinking agent other than the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid. Specifically, another vulcanized rubber powder is composed of a base rubber, a crosslinking agent, a co-crosslinking agent and a filler for example, and the base rubber, crosslinking agent and filler are materials similar to those of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder.
The co-crosslinking agent of another vulcanized rubber powder is not limited to a specific one if the co-crosslinking agent is not the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid. Examples of the co-crosslinking agent here are unsaturated carboxylic acid, metal salts except for magnesium salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid, polyfunctional monomer, and phenylenebismaleimide. Among them, such zinc salts of unsaturated carboxylic acid as zinc acrylate and zinc methacrylate are preferably used. The vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a zinc salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid (hereinafter xe2x80x9cZn vulcanized rubber powderxe2x80x9d) included in the core is preferable in terms of the resiliency of the golf ball.
In addition, another vulcanized rubber powder is prepared by a method similar to that for the Mg vulcanized rubber powder as described above. Specifically, a rubber composition is prepared that is vulcanized to produce a vulcanized rubber which is then crushed into powder.
[Core]
The core of the golf ball according to the present invention may include, in addition to the Mg vulcanized rubber powder and another vulcanized rubber powder as discussed above, a base rubber, a crosslinking agent, a co-crosslinking agent and a filler for example.
Here, if the core contains the Mg vulcanized rubber powder, the core exhibits an improved mold release property, i.e., easier removal of the core from a mold, since the adhesion between the mold surface, particularly iron oxide constituting the mold surface and the magnesium salt contained in the Mg vulcanized rubber powder is weaker relative to that between the mold surface and a zinc salt. If another vulcanized rubber powder is contained in the core, the resiliency for example of the golf ball is improved.
Preferably, the ratio xcex1/xcex2 between the content xcex1 of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder in the core and the content xcex2 of another vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a material except for the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid in the core is 1/4 to 4, and more preferably 1/2 to 4. If the content ratio is lower than 1/4, the mold release property of the core could deteriorate while the resiliency of the golf ball could deteriorate if the ratio is higher than 4.
If the core contains both of the Mg vulcanized rubber powder and the vulcanized rubber powder crosslinked by a co-crosslinking agent except for the magnesium salt of the unsaturated carboxylic acid, the total content xcex1+xcex2 of the vulcanized rubber powders based on 100 parts by mass of the base rubber of the core is preferably 5 to 30 parts by mass, and more preferably 10 to 30 parts by mass. If the total content of the vulcanized rubber powders is less than 5 parts by mass, the mold release property of the core deteriorates, while the total content thereof exceeding 30 parts by mass deteriorates the resiliency of the golf ball and further deteriorates the workability in kneading of the rubber composition of the core by means of a roll mill.
Here, the core may be formed of only one layer or may be formed of at least two layers. If the core is formed of two or more layers, the Mg vulcanized rubber powder may be contained in the layer to be in contact with the mold in the vulcanization process and another or other layers may or may not contain the Mg vulcanized rubber powder.
The base rubber of the core according to the present invention is not limited to a particular material. Polybutadiene is preferably used and another rubber such as isoprene rubber, natural rubber or styrene butadiene rubber for example may be blended with the base rubber.
In addition, as a crosslinking agent, such an organic peroxide as dicumyl peroxide may be contained in the core. As a co-crosslinking agent, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof for example may be blended in the core. Further, as a filler, such an inorganic filler as a metal oxide or a metal of high specific gravity may be blended in the core.
[Production of Core]
After the rubber composition is prepared, the rubber composition is vulcanized to produce the core.
The rubber composition of the core is prepared by measuring out required amounts respectively of the base rubber, Mg vulcanized rubber powder, another vulcanized rubber powder, crosslinking agent, co-crosslinking agent and filler for example and kneading them by means of an appropriate kneading machine like a roll mill, kneader or Banbury mixer.
Vulcanization is accomplished by a conventional method. For example, the rubber composition is placed in a mold for example to be vulcanized under a temperature condition of 130 to 180xc2x0 C. for 10 to 60 minutes. Here, a cavity of the mold used for molding the core has its surface to be in contact with the core to be molded, and at least this surface may be made of an iron-based metal such as stainless steel and carbon steel, in consideration of the durability, anticorrosion, cost, and thermal conductivity of the mold for example.
The rubber composition thus vulcanized is then cooled to approximately room temperature to produce the core. According to the present invention, the core contains the Mg vulcanized rubber powder so that the core has an improved mold release property and thus the core having been cooled is easily removed from the mold. Consequently, the production efficiency of golf balls is enhanced.
Moreover, if the core is formed of two layers, i.e., an inner layer and an outer layer, the core is vulcanized by a method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-350793 for example. A hemispheric mold with a hemispheric cavity and a core mold having a hemispheric protrusion in the same shape as that of the core are used so as to produce the outer layer, and then covering the inner layer with the outer layer by means of a mold for the core.
[Production of Cover]
The surface of the core thus produced is surrounded with a cover or surrounded with a cover with a rubber-thread layer therebetween.
The cover is formed of one layer or at least two layers. The material for the cover is not limited to a particular one. Any of various conventional cover materials may be used for the cover. For example, the base resin of the cover may be a resin composition containing one or at least two of thermoplastic resins, particularly such thermoplastic resins as ionomer resin, and polyester, polyurethane, polyolefin or polystyrene-based thermoplastic resin. In addition, an inorganic filler and a pigment for example may appropriately be blended with the resin.
The cover is used to wrap the core according to any method usually employed. For example, the cover composition as described above is molded in advance into hemispheric half shells. Two half shells are used to envelope the core which is accordingly pressure-molded. Alternatively, the cover composition as described above is directly injection-molded onto the core to envelop the core. From aesthetic and commercial considerations, the golf ball of the present invention is thereafter finished with paint and marked with a stamp for example to be brought to the market.

Golf ball and method of manufacturing thereof


A dispenser for storing and dispensing small objects and a method of dispensing small objects with the dispenser. The dispenser has a housing, defining an interior volume and a dispensing aperture, providing access to the interior volume, a dispensing aperture closure, having a closed position for securing objects within the interior volume and a dispensing position for dispensing objects from within the interior volume. The dispenser also includes a fulcrum within the interior volume of the housing, positioned such that, when pressure is applied to a button portion of the closure, a flap portion of the closure contacts the fulcrum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a dispenser for small objects, such as candy, pills, tablets, and other objects of similar size. In particular, the present invention relates to a dispenser having a one touch, flip top closure element, having a flap portion that opens when a button portion of the closure element is depressed.
2. Related Background Art
Dispensers for small objects, such as candy, pills, tablets, and other objects of similar size are well known in the art. Such dispensers, especially those used for candy, typically comprise a hollow body and a separately formed top portion. Typically, the hollow body has a sealed base and an open top. The top portion is a flat top surface with at least one aperture, and includes a closure element that allows access to objects within the hollow body of the dispenser through the aperture when open, while securing objects within the hollow body when closed. Both the hollow body and the top portion are typically formed by injection molding or a similar molding process known in the art. The hollow body is typically formed from a relatively rigid, transparent plastic, such as, e.g., polystyrene, and the top portion is formed from a relatively flexible plastic, such as, e.g., polyvinyl chloride.
The hollow body typically has the general shape of a right rectangular prism, but may be tapered and/or have rounded edges. The base and top opening of the hollow body are generally rectangular in shape, and the top portion is formed with a shape that allows the top portion to be inserted into or placed over the open end of the hollow portion in such a manner that the top portion and the hollow body each securely grip the other, retaining objects within the dispenser when the closure element is closed.
The closure element of known dispensers, typically comprises a generally rectangular flap that covers the aperture, which is generally formed in one end of the top portion. The flap generally is hinged at one end of the aperture near the middle of the top portion, and is configured to securely engage the top portion at the other end of the aperture, near the edge of the top portion, when closed.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,731 to Cillario discloses a generally rectangular dispenser of the type discussed above in which the closure element is configured to reduce the amount of force required to open the closure to obtain access to the objects within the container. The dispenser can be opened with one hand by holding the dispenser in the palm of one hand and pushing up on the flap with the thumb, or with two hands by holding the dispenser in one hand, and lifting the flap with the fingers of the other hand.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,732 to Gilels et al, discloses a cap for a package of chewing gum. The cap is placed on the open end of the rectangular hollow body of the package, and has a frame that surrounds the open end and a pair of hinged covers that are opened to gain access to the gum within the package through a pair of apertures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,985 to Kinslow discloses a dispenser comprising a substantially rectangular container and a plug that is placed in the open mouth of the container. The plug has a top wall with an opening that is closed with a hinged flap integral with the top wall. The flap is secured by a snap-action provided by the free end of the flap and the top wall.
Closures for containers that require a pressing motion rather than a lifting motion to open are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,177 discloses a press-to-open dispensing closure comprising a flexible, partially spherical or partially cylindrical membrane having a cut or line of separation. The cut or line of separation creates a partially detached flap that acts as a flexible aperture cover. Pressing downwards on that portion of the flexible partially spherical or partially cylindrical membrane that is connected to, but not part of, the flap causes the flexible aperture cover to move upwards, uncovering an aperture in the membrane formed by the cut or line of separation. The flexible aperture cover is closed by applying pressure to the upper surface of the partially detached flap. Once the aperture cover is pushed past a certain point of resistance, the shape of the partially spherical or partially cylindrical membrane provides a pulling force that closes the aperture cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,712 to Perrella discloses a generally rectangular dispenser comprising a hollow body and a lid for closing the opening to the hollow body in the manner of a slip-on lid. The use of two separate parts facilitates the filling of the dispenser. However, the disclosed dispenser may be formed as a single piece. The lid comprises a delivery aperture, surrounded on three sides by a support and arresting rib on which a flap closure element rests when the dispenser is closed. Three sides of the flap are free of what is referred to as the xe2x80x9cupper basexe2x80x9d of the lid, and the fourth side of the lid is rigidly connected to the rest of the upper base. To insure the rigidity of the connection, a stiffening rib is added on the underside of the lid and upper base. The remaining portion of the upper base that does not form the flap is formed in one piece with the lid, and is beveled on at least three sides in the form of a truncated pyramid, in which the upper or minor base provides the surface on which pressure is applied to open the flap. Subjecting the minor base of the truncated pyramid distorts the lid, forcing the flap open. Releasing the pressure allows the truncated pyramid to return to its original form, closing the flap.
Because prior art dispensers typically have a generally rectangular shape with a closure on top, holding such dispensers vertically to avoid spillage when opening requires an unnatural position of the hand and wrist of the person holding the dispenser. Therefore, a need exists for a dispenser that can be opened with one hand that reduces the potential for spilling the contents, while allowing for the easy dispensing of the contents. The present invention provides such a dispenser.
The present invention is directed to a dispenser for storing and dispensing small objects and to a method of dispensing small objects with the dispenser of the invention. The dispenser of the invention comprises a housing, having an interior volume and a dispensing aperture to provide access to the interior volume, a dispensing aperture closure, and a fulcrum within the interior volume of the housing. Optionally, the dispenser also comprises a stop positioned to limit the movement of the button portion of the dispensing aperture closure, where the stop is preferably attached to or forms a portion of the fulcrum. The housing may be transparent, and, optionally, comprises separately formed, first and second sides that are attached one to the other. The dispensing aperture closure has a closed position for securing objects within the interior volume and a dispensing position for dispensing objects from within the interior volume, and comprises a flap portion, a button portion, a secured portion, a button hinge connecting the secured portion to the button portion, and a flap hinge connecting the flap portion to the button portion. The secured portion is attached to the housing, such that the dispensing aperture closure is positioned to close the dispensing aperture when the dispensing aperture closure is in the closed positioned. Preferably, the dispenser also has a fill aperture and a fill aperture door that is configured to cover the fill aperture. More preferably, the fill aperture door is substantially permanently closed after filling the dispenser through the fill aperture.
Where the dispenser housing comprises separate first housing and second housing sides, at least one of the first housing side and the second housing side preferably comprises a fill aperture door, configured and adapted to close a fill aperture formed in at least one of the first housing side and the second housing side. The fulcrum and the optional stop may be formed as integral parts of the housing, such as, e.g., as a portion of at least one of the first housing side and the second housing side.
When the dispensing aperture closure is in the closed position, the closure is opened by applying a sufficient amount of pressure on the closure button portion to bend the closure at the button hinge, and displaces at least a portion of the button portion through the dispensing aperture and into the interior volume, such that the flap portion is pressed onto the fulcrum. Contact of the flap portion with the fulcrum bends the closure at the flap hinge, and displaces the flap portion, such that the dispensing aperture closure is moved into the dispensing position.
Similarly, when the dispensing aperture closure is in the dispensing position, the closure may be closed by applying an amount pressure on the flap portion sufficient to press the flap portion onto the fulcrum, thereby bending the dispensing aperture closure at the flap hinge and the button hinge, such that the flap portion and the button portion are displaced, and the dispensing aperture closure is moved into the closed position.
Most preferably, the dispenser has an ergonomic shape, and comprises a top, a bottom, first side and second sides, and first and second ends, where a least one of the top, the bottom, the first side, the second side, the first end and the second end is curved to provide the ergonomic shape. As a result, the preferred dispenser ergonomically fits an average users right or left hand.

Dispenser having one touch flip top opening


An information processing method performed by a computer includes determining a plurality of first support contents corresponding to a care recipient or assistance recipient from a plurality of support contents based on basic information on the care recipient or assistance recipient, outputting first presentation information for presenting the plurality of first support contents and assessment items respectively associated with the plurality of first support contents to a user, determining a second support content from the plurality of first support contents based on assessment results input by the user for the assessment items, and outputting second presentation information for presenting the second support content to the user.

In recent years, care management has been utilized by substantially all care service users in the care insurance system. The care management has been introduced as a mechanism for ensuring the integrated provision of a care service corresponding to user's mental and physical conditions and the choice of a service by the user him/herself at the field level.
Care managers are assigned as people in charge of care management in the care insurance system in in-home care support facilities, community general support centers, care insurance facilities and the like. Duties of a care manager are mainly performed as follows.
First of all, the care manager interviews a care recipient or assistance recipient and assesses the state of the care recipient or assistance recipient. Subsequently, the care manager prepares a draft of a care plan. Then, services based on the care plan are provided to the care recipient or assistance recipient. Thereafter, the care manager monitors the care recipient or assistance recipient and changes the care plan if necessary.
Conventionally, the determination of assessment items, an assessment method and support contents depend on the care manager's experience or performance. Thus, a particularly inexperienced care manager is not necessarily capable of preparing a care plan suitable for a care recipient or assistance recipient.
In such a situation, it is required to prepare a suitable care plan corresponding to a state of each insured person and perform maintenance regardless of the experience and ability of a care manager who prepares the care plan.
Accordingly, for example, a care plan preparation support system of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-304470 prepares an in-home service plan document, which is a document compiling the entire care plan of each insured person, service utilization slips and service providing slips for each insured person based on common item data and additional information of each insured person, a selected problem to be solved, a target in nursing care and the contents of care services, which are input by a user.
However, with the above conventional technique, support contents suitable for a care recipient or assistance recipient may not be presented and further improvement has been necessary.

Information processing method, information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA


A process cartridge configured to be detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus. A second body member is mounted on a first body member so that at least one of the first and second body members moves between an opened position and a closed position. An auxiliary device is configured to be mounted on at least one of the first and second body members via an opened space formed after at least one of the first and second body members is moved to the opened position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically to the process cartridge for forming images in a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a printer or the like by an electrostatic image transfer process, and to the image forming apparatus which uses the process cartridge.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus, a developing unit consumes toner during image formation. In the case of a two-component developing agent, a magnetic carrier needs to be replaced. Other members within the image forming apparatus, such as a photoconductive body which wears out and deteriorates after a long period of use, a charging unit which becomes dirty due to airborne and scattering toner within the image forming apparatus, and a cleaning blade wears out due to contact with the photoconductive body, also need to be replaced. Restated, the members and units described above must be replaced in order to prevent the images of the character dust, the surface fogging and the like from being generated.
Accordingly, when the character dust or the like is generated, a service or maintenance person goes to the setup site of the image forming apparatus of the user, and replaces the members and/or units. However, the durability of each member and unit within the image forming apparatus has improved, and the serviceable life of the developing agent or the like used in the image forming apparatus has also been extended. Consequently, the need for the service person to attend to the maintenance of the image forming apparatus has decreased. Conversely, when the maintenance person actually attends to the maintenance of the image forming apparatus, it may take an extremely long work time to remove each member or unit within the image forming apparatus and to mount a new member or unit in the image forming apparatus.
Thus, a process cartridge which is detachable with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus has been proposed. The process cartridge integrally supports a process device such as a charging device, a developing device and a cleaning device. The work time of the service person who attends to the maintenance of the image forming apparatus of the user can be reduced by replacing the process cartridge. In some cases, the user himself can easily replace the process cartridge without requiring the service person to attend to the maintenance by going to the setup site of the image forming apparatus. The serviceable life may be different for each member or unit. For example, the serviceable life of the photoconductive body is from 10,000 prints to 80,000 prints, the serviceable life of the magnetic carrier in the developing unit is from 50,000 prints to 100,000 prints, and the serviceable life of the charting unit is from 30,000 prints to 80,000 prints. Conventionally, the user or service person replaces the entire process cartridge regardless of the different serviceable lives of the members and units within the process cartridge. As a result, it is convenient in that the entire process cartridge simply needs to be replaced, but from the point of view of efficiently utilizing the resources, it is inconvenient in that a serviceable member or unit within the process cartridge will be replaced when the serviceable life of one member or unit within the process cartridge ends. From the point of view of the user, there were demands to enable each member or unit usable until the serviceable life thereof ends.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication no. 2003-177651 shows a process cartridge having a cleaning member which removes residual toner on the photoconductive body, and a removed toner accommodating part which accommodates the removed toner. The removed toner accommodating part includes a container-shaped cleaning frame body including a first opening confronting the photoconductive body and a second opening located at a position separated from the first opening, a cleaning member substantially covering the first opening, and a lid frame body provided in a periphery of the second opening. A resilient seal member is provided between the lid frame member and a support part of the cleaning member. According to this proposed process cartridge, the size of both the removed toner container and the process cartridge can be reduced, while accommodating a large amount of toner and improving the amount of removed toner that can be accommodated.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication no. 2003-186305 shows a process cartridge having assembled therein a latent image bearing member and at least one process unit. A developing agent supply box and a removed developing agent recovery box communicate with a developing housing which accommodates a developing agent. The developing agent supply box is disposed at a position on an upstream side of a latent image write position on the latent image bearing member, and the removed developing agent recovery box is disposed at a position on a downstream side of the latent image write position.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication no. 2001-331082 shows a process cartridge which integrally includes at least a developing unit, and one of a charging unit, an electrophotography photoconductive body and a cleaning unit of the electrophotography photoconductive body. The process cartridge is detachably loaded with respect to a main body of an image forming apparatus, and has a structure which enables the process cartridge to be hand-held and easily shaken.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 09-251264 shows a process cartridge, which integrally includes a cleaning unit having an electrical conductive roller having a fur blush, which removes the residual toner on image carrier, and an electrical conductive roller electrically collecting the residual toner removed by the electrical conductive roller.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 08-314352 shows a developing unit, which includes a case for a photoconductive element detachably mounted, and a cleaning device detachably mounted on the case.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 2003-241619 shows a process cartridge, which includes a developing device positioned and connected by a resin-bonding agent with a side cover of the process cartridge.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 07-334036 shows a process cartridge, which includes a driving mechanism from a main body of an image forming apparatus to a latent image bearing member of a process cartridge.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications nos. 2003-177651, 2003-186305, and 2001-331082, can result in a problem in that a process cartridge is collectively replaced by a new one. Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication no. 09-251264 may result in a problem in that a cleaning device could not be replaced. Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication no. 08-314352 may result in a problem in that it is necessary to remove a cleaning device from a process cartridge. Further, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 2003-241619 may result in a problem in that a developing device can not be replaced from a process cartridge. Further, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication no. 07-334036 may result in a problem in that removal of the driving mechanism from a main body of an image forming apparatus to a latent image bearing member of a process cartridge is complicated.

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus


Disclosed is an abrasion resistant fibrous nonwoven structure composed of (1) a matrix of meltblown fibers having a first exterior surface, a second exterior surface, and an interior portion; and (2) at least one other fibrous material integrated into the meltblown fiber matrix so that the concentration of meltblown fibers adjacent each exterior surface of the nonwoven structure is at least about 60 percent, by weight, and the concentration of meltblown fibers in the interior portion is less than about 40 percent, by weight. This fibrous nonwoven structure provides useful strength and low-lint characteristics as well as an abrasion resistance that is at least about 25 percent greater than that of homogenous mixture of the same components. The fibrous nonwoven structure of the present invention may be used as a moist wipe.

Fibrous nonwoven materials and fibrous nonwoven composite materials are widely used as products, or as components of products because they can be manufactured inexpensively and made to have specific characteristics. One approach to making fibrous nonwoven composite materials has been to join different types of nonwoven materials in a laminate. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,242 issued Jul. 11, 1972 to Prentice describes a laminar structure produced by bonding a nonwoven mat of fibers to a plastic film. U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,995 issued Sep. 24, 1974 to Floden discloses multiple ply fibrous nonwoven materials which contain one or more layers of thermoplastic polymer fibers autogeneously bonded to one or more layers of larger diameter natural fibers.
Another approach has been to mix thermoplastic polymer fibers with one or more other types of fibrous material and/or particulates. The mixture is collected in the form of a fibrous nonwoven composite web and may be bonded or treated to provide a coherent nonwoven composite material that takes advantage of at least some of the properties of each component. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,324 issued Jul. 11, 1978 to Anderson et al. discloses a nonwoven fabric which is a generally uniform admixture of wood pulp and meltblown thermoplastic polymer fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,373 issued Jul. 27, 1976 to Braun discloses a nonwoven material which contains meltblown thermoplastic polymer fibers and discrete solid particles. According to that patent, the particles are uniformly dispersed and intermixed with the meltblown fibers in the nonwoven material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,001 issued Jan. 31, 1984 to Kolpin et al. discloses an absorbent sheet material which is a combination of meltblown thermoplastic polymer fibers and solid superabsorbent particles. The superabsorbent particles are disclosed as being uniformly dispersed and physically held within a web of the meltblown thermoplastic polymer fibers.
The integrity of laminate materials described above depends in part on the techniques used to join the layers of the laminate. One disadvantage is that some effective bonding techniques add expense to the laminate materials and complexity to the manufacturing processes.
Fibrous nonwoven composites which contain a generally uniform distribution of component materials can have disadvantages which are related to the arrangement of the components. In particular uniform distribution of certain fibers and particulates may promote linting and/or particle shedding. Another disadvantage is that composites which contain large proportions of uniformly distributed particulates or small fibers (e.g., pulp) generally have less integrity because less strength is provided by the thermoplastic polymer fiber component. This phenomenon can be seen in poor abrasion resistance and tensile strength properties of generally homogeneous composites containing large proportions of pulp and/or particulates. This problem is particularly apparent when such a nonwoven composite is used to wipe liquids or as a moist wipe. However, since pulp and certain particulates are inexpensive and can provide useful properties, it is often highly desirable to incorporate large proportions of those materials in fibrous nonwoven composite structures.
Accordingly, there is a need for a fibrous nonwoven composite structure which is inexpensive but has good abrasion resistance, integrity and wet-strength characteristics. There is also a need for a fibrous nonwoven composite structure which has a high pulp content and is inexpensive but has good abrasion resistance, integrity and wet-strength characteristics.

Abrasion resistant fibrous nonwoven composite structure


A content addressable memory is provided that includes a memory cell and a first plurality of lines connected directly to the gates of access transistors to this memory cell. These access transistors are further connected to a second plurality of lines. The first and second plurality of lines each perform different functions during read, write, and comparison modes. In another embodiment of the present invention, p-channel transistors are used for a match transistor and its associated pass transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semiconductor memory cells, and in particular to cells suitable for use in content addressable memories in which a memory is searchable by the contents of the memory data.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,260 discloses a configuration using a content addressable memory (CAM). Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates this configuration, the CAM cell array 11 is connected to a bit line descriptor circuit 1. Bit line descriptor circuit 1 includes a programmable bit line writing circuit, a comparand register, a mask register, and a sense amplifier (all not shown). The comparand register programs the programmable bit line writing circuit with the data to be written onto the bit lines BL and BL coupled to CAM cell array 11. Data is read from CAM cell array 11 through bit lines BL and BL with a predetermined word line WL selected. The signal on bit lines BL and BL is amplified by the sense amplifier.
Data in the mask register is used for programmable bit masking. A logic "1" in the mask register will overwrite the data in the comparand register, whereas a logic "0" in the mask register will allow the corresponding data in the comparand register to appear on the bit line for writing in a cell. Any or all bits can be masked in this manner.
Descriptor circuit 1 exchanges data with bit bus 10. A row decoder 2 is connected to CAM cell array 11 by a plurality of word lines WL for selecting different words in the array. A bit line precharge circuit 3, which precharges the bit lines to the optimal levels for high speed cell reading, is connected to CAM cell array 11 through a plurality of bit lines BL' and BL'. CAM cell array 11 is connected to a word masking and reset circuit 4, match detector 5, and priority encoder 6 via a plurality of match lines ML.
Word masking and reset circuit 4 masks any or all words with an empty or skip bit. The entire array is reset by resetting all the empty bits. Both of these operations are well-known in the art and, therefore, are not explained in further detail. Match detector 5 detects a "no match" or "match" condition. Priority encoder 6 encodes the address of the location in CAM cell array 11 when a "match" condition occurs.
The control logic 7 provides inputs to word masking and reset circuit 4, match detector 5, and priority encodes 6 in response to instructions received from bus 10. Specifically, instructions received from bus 10 generate the appropriate internal timings to accomplish the operations of each circuit.
A typical content addressable memory cell, shown in FIG. 2, comprises nine transistors. Transistors 206-209 form a memory cell 216. Information is stored in the form of voltage levels in memory cell 216. Memory cell 216 has two states: logic state "0" and logic state "1". For example, if logic state "0" is designated by node 204 having a high voltage and node 205 having a low voltage, then logic state "1" has the opposite stored voltages, i.e. node 204 having a low voltage and node 205 having a high voltage.
In logic state "0" the high voltage on node 204 turns on N-channel transistor 209 and turns off P-channel transistor 207. The low voltage applied to node 205 turns on P-channel transistor 206 and turns off N-channel transistor 208. The voltage on node 204 remains high because current flows through transistor 206 from voltage source Vdd, which is typically 5 volts. The voltage on node 205 remains low because current flows through transistor 209 to voltage source Vss (typically ground).
In logic state "1" the transistors which were on in the logic "1" state are now off, and the transistors which were off are now on, thereby providing a low voltage on node 204 and a high voltage on node 205. Node 204 remains low as current flows through transistor 208 to voltage source Vss (ground), while node 205 now remains high as current flows from voltage source Vdd through transistor 207. Thus, both logic states are stable with neither branch 216A, including transistors 206 and 208, nor branch 216B, including transistors 207 and 209, conducting.
To read memory cell 216, bit lines 200 and 201 are precharged to a high voltage. Transistors 202 and 203 are subsequently turned on by a high voltage on word line 215. The logic state stored by memory cell 216 pulls one bit line, 200 or 201, low. For example, if memory cell 216 is in logic state "1" with a low voltage on node 204 and a high voltage on node 205, then bit line complement 200 is discharged through transistors 202 and 208 to ground. Bit line 201 remains charged. The difference in voltage between bit lines 200 and 201 is then sensed.
To write a logic state in the memory cell 216, data is placed on bit line 200 and data complement ("data") is placed on bit line complement 201. Applying a high voltage to word line 215 turns on transistors 202 and 203, thereby transferring data and data to nodes 204 and 205, respectively. This voltage transfer drives memory cell 216 into the desired configuration.
During a comparison operation, data is placed on bit line 201 and data is placed on bit line complement 200. For example, assume memory cell 216 stores a logic "0". A match fail condition results when a low voltage and a high voltage are provided on bit lines 200 and 201, respectively, in the comparison mode. To ensure transistors 202 and 203 remain off, the voltage on word line 215 remains low. The high voltage stored on node 204 is applied to the gate of N-channel pass transistor 211, thereby turning on pass transistor 211. The low voltage on node 205 is applied to N-channel pass transistor 210. Therefore, pass transistor 210 remains off. Thus, with transistor 211 on, data (i.e. a high voltage) on bit line 201 is applied to the gate of N-channel transistor 213, thereby turning on this transistor as well. Because transistor 213 turns on, current flows through transistor 213 to voltage source Vss (ground), thereby discharging the voltage on match line 214 which was precharged for the comparison operation. Thus, in summary, if the data match those in memory cell 216, then match line 214 remains charged. If memory cell has data that do not match, match transistor 213 turns on and discharges match line 214.
A drawback of the above-described content addressable memory is that the bit lines must be discharged to zero to prepare for a comparison operation. Therefore, a need arises for an improved content addressable memory.
Another drawback is the large number of transistors required, nine in this configuration, which introduces an undesirable increase in the size of the array. Therefore, a need also arises for a smaller content addressable memory.


A robot apparatus includes: an image pickup device; a goal-image storing unit that stores, according to sensitivity represented by an amount of change of a pixel value at the time when a target aligned with a goal position on an image at a pixel level is displaced by a displacement amount at a sub-pixel level, goal image data in a state in which the target is arranged; and a target detecting unit that calculates a coincident evaluation value of the target on the basis of comparison of image data including the target and the goal image data stored by the goal-image storing unit and detects positional deviation of the target with respect to the goal position on the basis of the coincidence evaluation value.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a robot apparatus, a position detecting device, a position detecting program, and a position detecting method.
2. Related Art
In a manufacturing process for an electronic apparatus, most of work in assembly is automated. In this automated manufacturing line, for example, an assembly robot grips and conveys objects such as a single component and an assembly component and assembles an electronic apparatus according to visual feedback control based on a picked-up image picked up by an image pickup device. In this automatic assembly by the visual feedback control, for example, when an object is a precision component or a component having a fine shape, in some case, it is necessary to detect the object at accuracy higher than position detection accuracy determined by pixel resolution indicating the performance of the resolution of the image pickup device.
In the past, a sub-pixel estimation technique is known as a technique for detecting the position of an object at accuracy higher than position accuracy determined by the pixel resolution of an image pickup device. For example, there is known a method of estimating the position of an object at a sub-pixel level by fitting-interpolating a coincidence evaluation value calculated at a pixel level (see, for example, Masao Shimizu and Masatoshi Okutomi, "Meaning and Characteristics of sub-pixel estimation in matching of images", The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers Transaction D-II, December 2002, Vol. J85-D-II, No. 12, pp. 1791-1800 (Non-Patent Document 1).
However, since the method is estimation based on the coincidence evaluation value calculated at the pixel level, an error due to the estimation occurs. As the pixel resolution falls, the estimation error increase and a position error also increases.

Robot apparatus, position detecting device, position detecting program, and position detecting method