An easily movable output brake system forms part of or cooperates with a yarn feeder (13) comprising a spatially fixed body supporting a yarn store, from which body a yarn (11) can be drawn off even at advanced speed through an output channel (10). The system comprises a first member (9) which is arranged in a bearing and which, in the functional operation of the system, by means of a surface clamps the yarn being drawn off against a counterstay member (15). The members (9, 15) are designed to effect a yarn-cleaning function dependent on the yarn rotation upon drawing-off, with simultaneous prevention of considerable accumulation of lint, particles etc., in respect of the members. The mobility of the system is obtained by the selection of the components in question. The mobility gives an instantaneous yield and instantaneous return to the previously exerted braking/tensioning effect of a knot on the passing yarn and/or an instantaneous response to one or more controls for modifying the braking or tensioning force of the system during one and the same drawing-off of yarn (machine cycle).

It is previously known to arrange controlled (alt. non-controlled) output yarn braking on yarn feeders. A known brake uses a spring member which is applied over the yarn path with one or more eye-shaped parts which can be tightened and slackened by means of the control member acting on the ends of the spring member. On tightening/slackening, the pressing against the yarn and the counterstay surface is modified (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,855, FIGS. 4-7).
It is also known to arrange individual spring members which are placed around the periphery of the yarn-storing part of the storing body of the yarn feeder. The spring members are in principle secured at their first ends and bear with their free ends against the yarn and press the latter against the underlying surface on the yarn-storing part of the storing body of the yarn feeder (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,855, FIGS. 2 and 3).
It is already known to control such spring elements in order to produce a yarn-braking function in which the spring elements press the yarn to a greater or lesser extent against a peripheral surface on the spool body of the yarn feeder.
It is thus previously known to provide brake arrangements which modify the yarn tensioning during the respective pick in the weaving machine. For example, in a projectile weaving machine, the yarn tensioning (brake effect) will be low or zero at the start of the drawing-off process as the projectile accelerates to its maximum speed. Thereafter, the yarn tensioning (brake effect) should be increased in the brake arrangement on account of the fact that the projectile slows down in its movement towards its other end position, and the yarn balloon formed on the bearing body on account of the drawing-off function would otherwise, as a result of the mass and movement of the yarn, "catch up with" the yarn part running out from the brake arrangement and would cause problems in respect of the brake arrangement. It is therefore desired to adapt the yarn drawing-off (yarn tensioning) to the movement of the projectile in the weaving process. A number of proposals for solving this problem are already known.
For example, in gripper machines, it is desirable to be able to produce a half-wave sinusoidal variation of the braking function/yarn-tensioning function. The first gripper draws out the yarn during an acceleration stage which is followed by a deceleration stage so that the yarn speed upon changeover to the subsequent gripper member is virtually zero. Such a variation also causes problems, since the accelerated yarn mass at the drawing-off point on the storing body must be prevented from pressing against the brake-effecting parts and causing disturbances (entangling tendencies).
It is known to use a controlled brake/tension-generating unit of the type which comprises two surface-supporting parts which can be placed opposite each other and which can be mutually influenced in directions towards and away from each other and between which a thread part running out from the thread store of the thread-storing member is passed during the thread drawing-off from the said member. The first surface-supporting part is positioned at or on the end surface of the thread-storing member, or alternatively consists of a part of the said end surface, and the second surface-supporting part is arranged on a unit situated outside the said end surface.
It is also known to arrange a non-controlled brake for thread-storing members, and the known brake is in this case of the type comprising two surface-supporting parts which can be placed opposite each other and which can be mutually influenced in directions towards and away from each other and between which a thread part running out from the thread store of the thread-storing member is passed during the thread drawing-off. The first surface-supporting part is placed at or on the end surface of the thread-storing member and the second surface-supporting part is arranged on a unit situated outside the end surface.
The prior art inventions relate to a controlled or a non-controlled brake-/tension-generating unit for a thread-storing member, preferably a yarn feeder on a textile machine, for example a weaving machine, and can in this respect be of the type comprising two surface-supporting parts which can be placed opposite each other and which can be mutually influenced in directions towards and away from each other and between which a thread part running out from the thread store of the thread-storing member is passed during the thread drawing-off from the said member. The first surface-supporting part is placed at or on the end surface of the thread-storing member and the second surface-supporting part is arranged on a unit situated outside the end surface.
It is necessary for the brake to be able to function appropriately even on rapidly operating textile machines. For example, in weaving machines of the gripper type, the pick frequency can be 600 picks/min. or more. In addition, the brake will have to be able to effect a braking function which varies during the very quick drawing-out of the yarn. For example, in the case of gripper machines, it is desirable for the brake members to be able to provide a sinusoidal variation of the clamping force, or a variation of the clamping force adapted to the machine function.
It is also important for the brake function to be arranged at parts of the yarn feeder where the yarn drawing-off function is not disturbed and where the brake member does not unduly add to the periphery of the yarn feeder. It should be possible to obtain an effective control of the yarn at the drawing-off area for the yarn.
The known brake members do not solve the abovementioned problems. Brake members with eye-shaped parts which can be tightened and slackened are inexact on account of the fact that the tightening cannot be carried out uniformly around the whole periphery. The actuation of the known individual spring members with magnetic force which will give rise to the pressing of the spring members against the yarn when the latter passes under the spring members is too inexact and can only be used for purely so-called on-off functioning.
There is therefore a requirement to produce a pressing function (braking function) against the yarn, which function is varied during each drawing-off process of the yarn. There is also a requirement that it should be possible for the varied pressing function to be effected during rapid yarn drawing-off processes, and in this respect it may be mentioned that textile machines, for example gripper machines, can operate at high pick frequencies, for example 600 picks/min. or higher. The output yarn brakes known hitherto operate essentially with purely on-off functions, which may be suitable if the only requirement is to achieve braking during part of the drawing-out process, for example in the final part thereof. The importance of the requirement of obtaining a instantaneously varied braking function during the drawing-off process, for example sinusoidal variations of the pressing force, has not to data been appreciated.
It is a complicated technical problem to achieve a suitable braking or yarn-tensioning function which takes into account with sufficient accuracy the acceleration and deceleration processes which occur during the drawing-off of the yarn. The problem becomes greater with increasing speeds of the machines used. Yarn speeds of up to 30 m/s (6,000 rpm) may be encountered in the machines of today and of the near future. Brake arrangement functions which can adapt to such rapid drawing-off processes must be able to operate at brake movement frequencies of between 20 and 200 Hz.
The choice of diameter of the surface-supporting parts in relation to the diameter of the thread store can vary. The weight (mass) of the components forming part of the output brake certainly increases when the diameter of the surface-supporting parts does not deviate substantially from the diameter of the thread-storing member.
It is therefore important to make the brake function more effective at the output side of a thread-storing member. The arrangements concern, inter alia, effective methods and means for effecting a varied brake function/thread-tensioning function during one and the same draw-off, for example one and the same pick in a weaving machine.
It is also important, in equipment of this type, for thread-braking/thread-tensioning generators with different functions to be made available. In this respect, it will be possible in principle for the brakes to have the same basic construction, but it will be possible for them to be designed for manual setting of the brake/thread-tensioning value which in this respect will be able to be kept constant (non-controlled) during a predetermined use period/operation. Furthermore, it will be possible for the setting to be carried out by purely manual means and/or by electrical means.
The present invention aims to solve these problems too and gives details of effectively operating brakes/thread-tensioning generators in which set values for the thread tensioning can be maintained, or alternatively variations can be effected during the same thread draw-off in a rapid and effective manner. The new construction also makes it possible to arrange brakes in which the brake surfaces can be kept free of (textile) lint and the like as a result of the "rotating" movements of the thread in the brake during the draw-off from the thread-storing member. The surface-supporting parts can also be designed with braking or clamping surfaces which provide effective cooling during the thread drawing-off process.
To be more specific than the above, one embodiment of the invention may involve the surface-supporting parts having external diameters which are substantially reduced, for example 10-40% of the external diameter of the thread storing (from which drawing-off takes place).
In further embodiments of the concept of the present invention, further details are given regarding the construction of the brake unit. An important point in this respect is that it will be possible for low-weight brake members to be used.
There is a requirement for a superactive brake/yarn-tensioning arrangement which can react instantaneously to the passage of a knot or other irregularity where it is a question of yielding immediately to the knot/irregularity from an executed braking or tensioning function, so that a yarn break or inadmissibly high yarn tensioning, which may endanger the operation, does not occur. It will be possible for the arrangement to operate at times of the order of magnitude of milliseconds or less. The arrangement will also be able to return to its executed function (braking/tensioning) immediately after the passage within or after the said time period. In the case of controlled braking, the control will be able to take place during the same machine stroke or equivalent. A superactive brake/tensioning arrangement is necessary in this respect. Activation, i.e. engagement and disengagement, increase/decrease, etc., will be able to be effected within the time interval 0.1-1.0 ms, which presupposes quick and light mechanical systems and components.
The present invention aims, inter alia, to solve the problems mentioned above, and the features which may be regarded as characterizing the invention are the fact that the members mentioned in the introduction are designed so as to effect a yarn-cleaning function, dependent on yarn rotation upon drawing-off, while simultaneously preventing considerable accumulation of material to be cleaned (lint, particles, etc.) in respect of the members (9, 15), and the fact that a mobility obtained by means of the component and weight choice for the member(s), bearing(s) etc., and preferably by means of considerably reducing the size of the external dimension of the first member, provides an instantaneous (for example 0.1-1.0 ms) yield and instantaneous (for example 0.1-1.0 ms) return to the previous braking/tensioning in the event of an irregularity/knot occurring on the, even rapidly, passing yarn and/or an instantaneous response to one or more controls for modifying the braking or tensioning force of the system during one and the same yarn drawing-off (machine cycle stroke) from the body.
In one embodiment, a clamping member is arranged to operate in the extension of the longitudinal center axis of the storing body and effects its clamping action by means of an actuation surface/actuation part whose cross-sectional area is considerably reduced in relation to the cross-sectional area of the storing body at its yarn-storing peripheral surface. Another feature in this respect may be that the counterstay surface/counterstay edge has an external diameter which is considerably reduced in relation to the diameter of the storing body at the yarn-supporting part. In a preferred embodiment, the external diameter of the counterstay surface/counterstay edge is about 50% or less of the said diameter of the storing body. In certain embodiments, it is also important to keep the external diameter of the clamping member low, and in one embodiment the maximum external diameter is about 50% or less of the said diameter of the bearing body. In one embodiment, the control unit and the clamping unit are arranged in order to allow the clamping member to effect a variation of the clamping force during the drawing-off process. In one embodiment, the variation is sinusoidal or a variation is provided which is adapted to the machine function for the machine on which the yarn feeder in question is used.
The actuation part of the clamping member can be designed with an actuation surface which is annular and forms an unbroken annular part or consist of a number of elements which are arranged close to each other and which together form a broken annular part. In one embodiment, the clamping member can form part of or be connected to a hollow cylindrical-shaped or essentially funnel-shaped part whose recess constitutes or forms part of an outlet part for the yarn. In addition, the clamping member can be designed so as to be able to bear in resilient manner against the yarn and the counterstay surface/counterstay edge during the whole of or parts of the drawing-off turn of the yarn from the storing body. In the case where individual resilient elements are used, these come into operation one at a time and successively during the unwinding turn in order to carry out their respective clamping functions. The clamping member can constitute, form part of or be connected to a movable actuation unit which is able to effect the variable function during rapid drawing-off processes, for example drawing-off processes of about 50-100 ms.
In the case where the funnel-shaped clamping member consists of a number of resilient elements which are arranged at the front/wider end of the funnel, the elements are preferably secured on the edge of the funnel, on the inside, or in the vicinity of the edge of the funnel. In this case, the free parts of the resilient elements extend towards the center of the clamping member where they press the yarn against a preferably outwardly curving counterstay surface which is situated on a part of the storing body. The last-mentioned part can consist of a ring made of wear-resistant material, for example ceramic. The resilient elements can have the shape of laminae, "fingers", leaves, etc. At their first ends, the resilient elements are attached to or integrated with an annular part which forms a common part together with the elements. The annular part forms securing members which can be secured in the hollow cylindrical-shaped or funnel-shaped member. In the case of the funnel-shaped member, the cone-shaped part of the funnel can consist of one or more resilient elements which, in the clamping function, are pressed against the yarn and the counterstay surface/counterstay edge. The last-mentioned surface or edge can in turn be arranged on a part arranged on the storing body. This can be either rigidly arranged in the storing body or displaceably/resiliently arranged in the same. In a further exemplary embodiment, the part in question is moreover resilient in itself. In the case of a tubular displaceable/resilient part in the storing body, the displaceable resilient part is mounted in a storing housing arranged in the storing body. In the storing housing, the displaceable/resilient part can be pressed in counter to the action of a first spring member. The storing housing and the displaceable/resilient part are adjustable in order to permit adjustment of the spring force obtained from the first spring member. In order to obtain the said adjustment, the storing housing is arranged rotatably in the storing body. The first spring member is arranged between an inner support member and an inner surface of the displaceable or resilient part. The support member can in turn be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the storing body, and the displacement can be effected with the aid of rotational movements of the storing housing.
In one embodiment, the clamping member and/or the resilient element/resilient elements is/are displaceable relative to the storing body/part by means of a control unit which operates by means of electrical energy or gas and/or liquid media. In the case of a number of controllable resilient elements, these can be controlled individually or in unison. In the case of individually controllable elements, these can be allocated controls which give simultaneous clamping forces of essentially the same magnitude and/or clamping forces which vary gradually along the periphery of the unwinding turn. The activation of the resilient elements can be seen as a pulsating actuation function moving around the periphery. This actuation function can be arranged in coordination and asynchronously or synchronously with the yarn drawing-off/yarn drawing-off function. The actuation function can thus operate keeping ahead or trailing behind in relation to the yarn drawing-off function.
In one embodiment with a funnel-shaped clamping member with resilient elements in the cone-shaped part, the latter is connected to or integrated with a yarn carrier tube which extends through a coil. The relative longitudinal displacement movements of the funnel-shaped member in relation to the storing body are effected with the aid of electrical control signals applied to the coil. In this case, a second spring member is used which acts on the outside of the cone-shaped part and is designed to serve as a return spring for the modulation movements of the clamping member generated by means of the electrical control signals.
The longitudinally displaceable clamping member is arranged with an adjustment member by means of which the initial position of the clamping member can be adjusted relative to the storing body. The adjustment member can be manually or automatically actuated. In one embodiment, bellows members are used, and individual resilient elements can be arranged in association with the said bellows members. In a first embodiment, the resilient elements are secured to or in the bellows members at their first ends, in order to be able to drag against the yarn with their free parts and to press the yarn against the storing body or the part related to the latter. In one embodiment, the bellows members can be arranged on a wall or equivalent unit (disc-shaped part) which centrally supports the outlet part. The latter is thus separated from the clamping member. The wall or equivalent part can be adjusted relative to the storing body in order to obtain an initial position.
In the case of a displaceably/resiliently arranged part in the storing body, the said displaceable or resilient part can comprise a hood-shaped member. The latter can comprise an outer annular flange projecting from the member and of comparatively small diameter. The clamping member works against the flange with an actuating surface of correspondingly small diameter. The hood can comprise a projecting flange which serves as a stop member in the bearing of the part in the storing body. A small mass is of importance for the clamping member, and a mass of, for example, at most about 20 grams is used for the movable part in the clamping member. The secure clamping forces may be of the order of magnitude of 0-200 cN.
In one embodiment, the invention can be regarded as being characterized, inter alia, by the fact that the resilient elements are arranged in such a way that they can be tilted about bearing points, from whose first sides there project one or more actuating parts actuable by the control unit for the tilting movements of the resilient elements, and from whose second sides the resilient elements project in order to produce the said pressing. As a supplement or alternative to these features, the invention can be regarded as being characterised by the fact that the resilient elements are actuable from the control unit with a control actuation function pulsating around the periphery of the storing body and synchronous or asynchronous with the unwinding function of the yarn.
In further developments of the inventive concept, it is proposed that the actuating part will consist of an annular element from whose inner edge or inside the resilient elements project. The annular element can in this case be disc-shaped and arranged edgeways in the element's own plane. The resilient elements extend from the annular element inwards towards the centre and at small angles in relation to the plane and/or small angles in their own plane. The annular element has recesses for the tilting function, and the recesses in question can be distributed uniformly along the periphery of the annular element.
The resilient elements can be arranged individually or in groups around the periphery and each resilient element or group of resilient elements is allocated its control unit part which effects an individual actuation of the element or group of elements. In this case, the control unit parts can be controlled by a selector member, for example a register member, which successively connects the control unit parts depending on the movement/function of the selector. In this way, the pulsating control actuation function is obtained. In the case of an asynchronous control actuation function, this can operate with trailing behind or lying slightly in advance of the drawing-off function. The control unit is arranged to give a varied control function so that the pressing force, during the drawing-off of the yarn, varies sinusoidally or exhibits a variation which is adapted to the textile machine (gripper machine) for which the yarn feeder is intended. The control unit can operate with electrical control functioning or with some form of control media, for example gas and/or liquid. In the case of gas and/or liquid, use is made of hose parts, bellows members which are arranged beside each other around the section in question. The hose parts, the bellows members etc. are activated by the control unit successively during the pulsating actuation function so that the activation of each spring element or group of spring elements is effected.
According to the invention, there may be cooperating brake units and a brake or detaining unit. The first brake unit has a small mass and acts against a counterstay surface or counterstay edge on or at the nose of the storing body or a part on or at the nose of the storing body. The first brake unit can in this case have a small external diameter (permits small mass). A second brake or detaining unit acts against a second counterstay surface or counterstay edge which can be situated at the large diameter of the storing body, i.e. at the yarn-supporting part. The first brake unit effects at least the principal yarn-tensioning characteristic for the yarn part running out from the first brake unit. The second brake or detaining unit is intended to serve as a preliminary braking which may be deactivated at the start of and during the major part of the drawing-off process. Alternatively, in this part of the drawing-off process, it can operate with a smaller basic braking, which makes only a small contribution to the yarn-tensioning characteristic. During the final part, the second unit will have a braking or detaining effect on the yarn, which prevents slackening of the yarn part between said first and second units. The prevention of slackening eliminates any unacceptable entangling and/or characteristic-affecting tendencies.
In different embodiments, the first and second units are physically separated or physically coordinated. In addition, they can be controlled individually or in coordination from one or more higher-ranking control units for one or more yarn feeders and/or the textile machine in question.
The invention in the form of a brake arrangement, which can be used on a yarn feeder with a storing body for yarn and which, during the drawing-off of the yarn, permits modified or varied brake functioning on the yarn, even during rapid drawing-off processes, can alternatively use a first and second brake unit (detaining unit) or only the second brake unit (detaining unit). In the last-mentioned case, the invention can be regarded as being characterized, inter alia, by the fact that the second brake unit consists of or comprises an annular member and, associated with this, one or more feather-, finger- or bristle-shaped elements which extend from the annular member and inwards, if appropriate slightly inclined in and/or in relation to the plane of the annular element, towards the centre of the annular member. In a preferred embodiment with an annular member and associated elements, the latter are preferably arranged displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the storing body in order to permit reduction or increase of the pressing force of the elements against a counterstay surface or counterstay edge situated on the storing body, and in this respect of the pressing of the elements against the yarn when the latter passes the respective elements and the second counterstay edge/counterstay surface. The said elements can be arranged per se displaceably in the annular member so that the variable pressing force occurs. This displacement can be obtained with the aid of actuation members, in the form of electromagnet functioning, bellows or hose member functioning which operates with media in the form of gas, liquid, etc., and so on.
In a further embodiment, the second brake unit can consist of one or more pole body members with one or more leaf- or wirespring-shaped elements which can be secured at their respective first ends on respective pole body members which are arranged separately or are physically connected to each other to form an annular unit around the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge. Each pole body member can have a concave inner surface directed towards the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge, at which inner surface each resilient element is arranged in such a way that, from its first secured end, it extends with its free part downwards over the second counterstay surface part or counterstay edge part in question, where the said free part forms a part which can cooperate directly with the yarn when the yarn passes the said free part during the drawing-off process. The free part can also be designed with an angled part which forms a stop member which, when the free part bears against the counterstay surface or counterstay edge, comes into cooperation with the latter via a recess. In the case with a number of pole body members, which in this case are preferably distributed uniformly around the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge, the pole body members can be controlled individually or jointly from the said control unit/control units. With the pole body member(s) deactivated, each leaf- or wirespring-shaped element effects a deceleration and/or stop/detaining function on the yarn, and with the pole body member(s) activated, there is an elimination or reduction of the deceleration function and the stopping or detaining function which may optionally follow it.
Each free part of each leaf- or wire-shaped element extends in an arch or curve over an allocated part of the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge. In this case the length of the element can substantially exceed the length of the associated concave surface and can, for example, be up to twice as long as this. Alternatively, the length of the element is substantially equal to the length of the concave surface of the pole body member. Each pole body member can have a rectangular, square or U-shaped cross-section, etc. The second brake or stop/detaining member comprises one or more bearing members arranged spaced over the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge for pin- or needle-shaped members which are designed to act in a radial direction or in a direction which is inclined in relation to the radial direction, seen in the cross-section of the storing body. The pins or the needles act in a direction towards and away from the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge. The said pin- or needle-shaped members assume a first position in which the yarn passing under the pins or the needles moves freely from the pins or the needles, and a second position in which the yarn moves only partially freely (is braked) or is stopped. The taking-up of the second position from the first position can be effected successively. The actuation from the first position to the second position, or vice versa, can take place counter to the action of a spring function or elasticity function in each needle or spring or in a spring member which acts on each needle and spring. Each needle and spring can therefore spring back from its respective actuation positions as soon as the actuation ceases. The mass in each pin and needle is very small, and the bearing can also be designed substantially friction-free. The pins or the needles can lie loosely in their bearings in their non-actuated positions, the result being that they do not exert any real effect on the yarn, but instead the latter can pass the pins/needles and, upon passing the respective pin/needle, can push the latter aside. Upon application of the actuation of the pins/needles, the latter are forced by the actuation force against the counterstay surface/counterstay edge and can exert their braking effect successively (gradually) or directly. The actuation members can consist of electromagnets, one or more hoses which operate with liquid or gas media, etc. The actuation of each needle or pin can be effected via resilient elements which provide the successive braking function. The pins/needles can be designed with head-shaped elements.
In a further embodiment, the second brake or detaining/stop member consists of a part which extends around the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge and can be deformed upon actuation, which can be produced, for example, by means of a piston member, magnet member, etc. Upon application of the actuation, two brake or stop parts occur between the second counterstay surface or counterstay edge and the deformable member. In a further embodiment, the second brake unit comprises one or more brake bands or brake wires which are positioned opposite associated parts of the counterstay surface or counterstay edge. The bearing points for the brake band parts or the brake wire parts can be actuated by means of motors effecting rapid rotational movements.
In one embodiment, the first brake member is provided with one or more rearwardly-extending finger- or wire-shaped elements. The ends of the latter extend over the second counterstay surface/counterstay edge where the ends are arranged, as a function of actuations, for example from one or more magnetic fields, to come into braking or detaining/stopping cooperation for the yarn with the second counterstay surface/counterstay edge.
The feature which can be regarded as characterising one embodiment of the invention is that the surface-supporting parts have external diameters or peripheries which are substantially reduced, for example 10-40%, in relation to the diameter of the thread store.
In further embodiments of the inventive concept, more details are given of the construction of the brake. An important fact in this respect is that it will be possible to use low-weight spring members. In the case of a manually adjustable brake, use is made of a unit which comprises a sleeve or a housing which contains a rotatable screw and a nut. The screw can be subjected to manual rotational movements and the nut is designed in such a way that, upon movements of the screw, the nut executes longitudinal displacement movements in relation to the first surface-supporting part. The nut can constitute a support member for a spring member arranged between the second surface-supporting unit and the support member. The pressing force, with which the first and second surface-supporting parts bear against each other, can therefore be determined with the aid of rotational adjustments of the screw. Said adjustments are advantageously carried out in such a way that thread tensions in the range 0-100 grams are obtained. In one embodiment, the nut can be provided with a guide member which prevents rotational movements of the nut when the screw is turned. The guide member can run in a slot in the sleeve or housing, and the slot and the support member can form indicating members for the longitudinal displacement position of the nut in the sleeve/housing. Said longitudinal displacement position therefore constitutes a measure of the pressing force between the first and second surface-supporting parts.
The brake can also comprise a rough adjustment, by virtue of the fact that the unit as a whole is designed so that it can be adjusted roughly in the direction towards and away from the first surface-supporting part.
In a further embodiment, use is made of a so-called controlled unit for brake/thread-tensioning generation which can operate with great speed and sensitivity and can, during one and the same thread draw-off, for example weft pick, vary the pressing force of the second surface-supporting part against the first surface-supporting part and thereby vary the thread tensioning. Said actuation unit operates with voice (loudspeaker) coil functioning which in a known manner comprises a magnet member arranged in an iron core. In addition, there is a coil which receives electrical controls and, as a function of these, executes longitudinal displacement movements. The coil is connected to a diaphragm-suspended hub, to which the second surface-supporting part is also connected. The movements of the coil can in this way be transmitted to the second surface-supporting part as a function of said electrical controls. The unit comprises a bearing tube for the second surface-supporting part. The tube is suspended in one or more diaphragms. In one embodiment, the first surface-supporting part is arranged in said frame. Alternatively, the part can form part of said frame. Both surface-supporting parts have the shapes of a disc/plate having a straight and a curved section. The discs can be made to bear against each other at said straight sections, and the curved sections together form a large receiving opening for the incoming thread part.
In one embodiment, the first surface-supporting part is arranged in the thread-storing drum in the thread-storing member. Alternatively, the part can form part of, i.e. constitute an integrated part of the said drum. Both surface-supporting parts can have the shape of a disc/plate having a straight and a curved section. The discs in each part can be made to bear against each other via said straight sections, and the curved sections together form a suitable inlet opening for the incoming thread part.
In one embodiment, there is parallelism between the brake discs used. The brake acts by means of the brake discs exerting friction against the thread/yarn passing between them. In an embodiment intended to be able to produce a stable (constant) yarn tensioning, it is important that the pressure between the discs should be as constant as possible over the entire periphery of the brake. This necessitates a parallel and centered adjustment of the discs and their attachment. Since the number of intermediate/adjacent construction elements (for example the yarn feeder jib, in which the counter-brake disc is arranged) in the thread-storing member/yarn feeder is high, there is from the point of view of manufacturing and assembly a complicated problem which has hitherto been difficult to solve.
In a further embodiment, it is proposed to arrange a cavity for drawing the thread/yarn through the brake.
The problems mentioned above are solved in a technically simple but nevertheless satisfactorily functioning manner. The brake function can be integrated with the outlet channel part, which results in advantages from the point of view of construction. The diameter of the brake-effecting unit can be made small. The mass used upon braking can be made small, which is a precondition for rapid regulation of the clamping function and permits the desired rapid variation during the short drawing-out processes for the yarn.
By means of the invention it is possible to retain the advantages by using the rotational movement of the yarn upon drawing-off from the bearing body. Above all, the brake surfaces are effectively kept clean as a result of the sweeping movement. This provides large friction surfaces, which result in good cooling and wear-resistance. If the brake surface is designed as a finger-shaped brake surface, knots and irregularities in the yarn can easily pass without any great increase in tensioning, by virtue of the fact that it is only small masses which have to be lifted. By means of selecting the direction of the finger-shaped elements, it is possible to obtain easily a suitable yarn contact, with simultaneous cleaning by means of lint, particles etc. being transported off in the direction of the fingers. The resilient elements can be made light and of simple construction in order to permit, inter alia, replacement upon wearing and adaptation to different brake requirements. By using a longitudinally displaceable adjustment arrangement, it is possible to achieve a simple arrangement for adjusting the magnitude of the basic brake action, and the adjustment arrangement can also be designed such that brake element replacement, threading etc. are facilitated. The brake elements can be arranged such that a movement can be permitted for any eccentricity in the attachment and the storing body suspension. In the cylindrical yarn outlet part is secured the movable part of the manoeuvring unit, which can have the shape either of a coil or permanent magnet. Around the movable part the magnet coil or the permanent magnet is attached. By means of the electrical control arrangement, the manoeuvring cone can be displaced in the axial direction and exert a force against the coil body which, for the yarn, produces a clamping force between the brake element and the wear ring of the coil body cone. The bellows members in question can operate with air pressure in the bellows, which presses the brake elements against the wear surface of the storing body cone and produces an increased clamping force/brake effect. A control eye placed in the attachment can be used, and the risk of lint accumulation can be eliminated by using a control cone arranged between bellows and brake element.
By means of the measures suggested above, a yarn brake can moreover be built with the desired yarn-braking function.
The control by means of the control unit can be carried out in a manner known per se, and the desired variation of the yarn-actuation can be built in from the control point of view and from the mechanical or electromagnetic point of view.
A coil which thus acts essentially on the cylindrical part of the storing body can conceivably be designed in such a way that a utilised brake collar flange can be designed to be acted upon by, for example, one or more pneumatic elements. Each joint can be designed, for example, simply by punching out holes or slots in the brake collar, which holes or slots can be passed over pins or tips in the suspension ring over the peripheral surface of the storing body of the yarn feeder. The ring or the member which is arranged over the peripheral surface of the yarn-storing part is preferably designed as a closed channel which can comprise one or more air hoses or equivalent. The ring or the unit bearing the air hose is preferably arranged adjustably in the longitudinal direction of the bearing part in order to permit basic tensioning and opening for threading of the yarn between the brake elements.
The finger-shaped brake surface means that knots and irregularities in the yarn can pass more easily, without any great increase in tensioning, by virtue of the fact that it is only small masses which have to be lifted. By using finger-shaped brake diaphragms, the direction of the fingers can be adapted for suitable yarn contact, and cleaning takes place easily by means of lint etc. being transported off in the direction of the fingers. The brake elements are light and can be designed for easy replacement upon wearing and adaptation to different brake requirements. By using a bearing housing for hose parts, the hose can be divided up into a number of partial hoses which are activated successively in a sequence determined by a control unit, the result being that the desired pulsating actuation can be achieved.
A brake function operating for different application cases can be obtained. It is also possible, for example, to use two brakes which are controlled in relation to each other in such a way that a slight preliminary braking is obtained for the brake which effects the actual braking, in which respect it is ensured that the yarn part between utilised brakes is at all times tensioned. The preliminary braking can alternatively consist of a constant light braking, and this can be obtained in different ways according to the invention. At high yarn speeds, the fixed preliminary braking can be replaced by a variable light braking.
At, for example, 75% of the diameter D in question, the particularly important advantage remains that the brake surfaces are at all times kept effectively clear of lint and the like during the thread drawing-off as a result of the "rotating" movement of the thread or yarn in the brake when using the structural design which, independently of chosen diameter relationships, can perhaps be best described or defined as the output brake consisting of a plate brake arranged at the drawing-off end of the thread-storing member, transverse to the direction of linear movement of the thread, in which the second plate in the plate brake (=the second surface-supporting part) cooperates with the first plate, or alternatively directly with the end surface of the yarn-storing member (=the first surface-supporting part) for clamping of the thread or the yarn which, during its drawing-off from the yarn-storing member, runs radially inwards towards the centre of the "plate brake", in which respect this radial entry on account of the drawing-off movement constantly migrates clockwise or anticlockwise (depending on the direction of drawing-off) in the brake, and where the thread or the yarn thereafter runs out from the brake and away from the yarn-storing member through a passage in the centre of the second plate (=the second surface-supporting part).


Provided herein are methods, systems, and devices for increasing IL-10 expression, inhibiting inflammation, and treating inflammatory conditions using thermal ablation.

The inflammatory response is a complex defensive reaction in vertebrates to infection or injury caused by chemical agents, pathogens, or physical stresses. The complexity of the inflammatory response is illustrated by the "immune cascade" that occurs in response to infection. Macrophages and dendritic cells at the insult site express surface receptors that identify infectious agents. Upon encountering an infectious agent, these cells release inflammatory mediators (soluble factors) such as cytokines and chemokines, which cause vasodilation and exudation of plasma proteins and fluid into the affected tissue. Inflammatory mediators also attract and facilitate transport of leukocytes such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages from the blood vessels into the affected tissue. The inflammatory response is further assisted by the activation of cellular biochemical cascade systems, including the complement, coagulation, fibrinolytic, and kinin systems.
Acute inflammation is an essential component of wound healing, but chronic inflammation can cause tissue destruction and lead to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and autoimmunity. Inflammatory conditions associated with chronic inflammation are highly prevalent, creating a significant economic burden and leading to low quality of life for affected individuals. A variety of anti-inflammatory agents are available for treating these conditions, but most of these agents are administered systemically and are associated with side effects such as increased infection.

Methods and devices for localized inhibition of inflammation by ablation


A braking apparatus for a double bearing type fishing reel, including a braking force adjusting lever turnably arranged on one of side plates for adjusting a braking force applied to a spool rotatably supported between both the side plates, the braking apparatus further including: an arc-shaped defining member turnably arranged on the one side plate, the defining member having a first engaging portion adapted to be engaged with the braking force adjusting lever for regulating the turnable movement of the braking force adjusting lever relative to the one side plate and defining a maximum braking force applied to the spool. The arc-shaped defining member is adjustingly turned and thereafter fixed onto the one side plate by utilizing a fixing screw. A stepless normal working range with a maximum braking force position suitable for fishing conditions can be provided for the turnable movement of the braking force adjusting lever.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for braking a spool provided in a double bearing type fishing reel. More particularly, the present invention relates to improvement for the foregoing type apparatus which includes a mechanism for varying the working range of a braking force adjusting lever used to adjust a drag force applied to a spool of a double bearing type fishing reel.
The Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. Sho. 62-157367 discloses a conventional double bearing type fishing reel in which the working range of turnable movement of the braking force adjusting lever can be selectively varied depending on the kind of objective fish, the kind of fishing line, the kind of fishing rod and various associated fishing conditions.
With the aforementioned conventional reel, however, since a plurality of position determining pieces each for defining the range of turnable movement of the braking force adjusting lever are telescopically arranged around the outer periphery of the reel, the same number of receiving portions as that of the position determining pieces are required, resulting in that the reel becomes unavoidably complicated in structure due to increase of the number of components constituting the reel, and an operation for assembling the components is troublesome and time-consuming. Since the stepwise adjustment is only achieved for the range of turnable movement of the braking force adjusting lever with the arrangement of the above-noted reel, it is practically impossible to finely and continuously adjust or vary the foregoing range. Another problem is that foreign materials such as salty material, sand, dust or the like readily enter in and adhere to the recessed receiving portions accommodating the respective position determining pieces, causing the braking force adjusting lever to become unreliably adjustable within a long period of practical use.


A drive control apparatus includes a magnetic field in which a magnetic field gradient is provided by applying a magnetic field to the magnetic fluid to produce an apparent specific gravity gradient in accordance with the magnetic field gradient. A control member immersed in the magnetic fluid moves under the influence of buoyant force from a gradient of the apparent specific gravity produced in accordance with the magnetic field gradient, so that a driven body interlocking with the control member is driven at a low noise level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive control apparatus for controlling the movement of a driven body such as an elevator cage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art is described below by using an example of a drive control apparatus for an elevator.
In recent years, elevators have been increasingly provided in homes with the growth of the advanced age population. Although there are various types of methods of driving such elevator cages, rope-winding drum-type drive methods or hydraulic methods are mainly used. Such methods are used in ordinary buildings and are thus not described in detail below. However, since houses are generally made of wood, in the case of a rope type drive in which a standing block is provided at the top of an elevator passage, it is necessary to strengthen the elevator passage or provide a separate steel-framed tower in order to support the load of the elevator. A hydraulic type drive is more advantageous than the rope type drive from the viewpoint of building construction, because in the hydraulic type elevator, the load is supported at the bottom of the elevator passage. However, both types employ motors to lift the elevator cage. In case of a domestic elevator which is particularly required to be silent, a great expense for reducing the noise is required. In addition, a domestic elevator is required to have an installation space which is as small as possible.
As described above, since conventional drive control apparatuses for elevators and the like employ motors and thus generate noise, and are generally used for business or industry, the apparatuses have a problem in that they are unsuitable for use in a narrow space such as a house or the like.


A macronutrient sustained release composition for a plant locus having nitrogen containing macronutrient compound adsorbed on the surface of hydroxyapatite phosphate nanoparticles, and a process for preparation thereof. The macronutrient adsorbed hydroxyapatite phosphate nanoparticles are encapsulated within cavities present in wood such that the biodegradation of the wood releases the adsorbed macronutrient compounds in a slow and sustained manner to the soil. Further, the macronutrient particles are encapsulated within the cell cavities of wood and wood is coated with cellulose modified hydroxyapatite phosphate nanoparticles such that the rupture of the nanocoating initiates the nitrogen release followed by the biodegradation of the wood releases the rest of the adsorbed macronutrient compounds in a slow and sustained manner to the soil.

Nutrient availability in the soil-plant system is dictated by complex interactions between plant roots, soil microorganisms, chemical reactions and pathways of losses. The macronutrients required by the plant can be lost by chemical processes such as exchange, fixation, precipitation and hydrolysis, and physical processes such as leaching, runoff and volatilization. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), which are required in large amounts for plants, are not adequately available in natural soils to support the sustained growth of plants. Therefore, these macronutrients (NPK) are needed to be applied externally through fertilizers. Water soluble conventional fertilizers typically result in a large amount of macronutrients being lost by leaching and evaporation. There is an increased interest in developing slow release fertilizers that release macronutrients to plants over time. Advantages of slow release fertilizers are improved efficiency and quality as the fertilizer is released over time thus providing sufficient quantities of macronutrients as required for higher crop yields. In addition, slow release fertilizers result in reduced environmental damage from leaching of macronutrients into water and emissions as gasses, compared to conventional water soluble fertilizers.
Macronutrients in fertilizers can be applied to the soil as a solid in the form of a powder or pellets or as a spray. The uptake of macronutrients by the plant needs to be compensated by their external application to the soil periodically. Nitrogen is a key macronutrient source in agriculture particularly for economic crops such as tea, rubber and coconut. Large amount of fertilizer is applied to the soil of the tea plant to improve the quality and the yield of the leaves produced. For example, a study in Japan (Yamada et al., Journal of Water and Environmental Technology, 7, 4, 331-340, 2009) reported that of the large amount of amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to tea, only 12% of the nitrogen input was up taken by the plant and the rest was discharged to the environment.
Coconut plants require an equatorial climate with high humidity to grow. Coconut plants and trees are grown in different soil types such as laterite, coastal sandy, alluvial, and also in reclaimed soils of the marshy lowlands. One of the unique features of coconut trees and plants are that it tolerates salinity and a wide range of pH (from 5.0-8.0). In terms of fertilizer application, the amount of N, P, and K required varies according to the type of coconut plantation. In addition Mg may become important in some soils.
Therefore, one of the unsolved problems of fertilizer application is, in relation to the amounts of nitrogen applied to soil, the low Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) by crops. This is because an excessive amount of nitrogen, up to 70%, is lost in conventional fertilizers due to leaching, emissions, and long-term incorporation by soil microorganisms. As such, supplying N macronutrient is critical in preventing the decline of productivity and profitability due to degradation and aging of tea plants (Kamau et al., Field Crops Research 1, 108, 60-70, 2008). Attempts to increase the NUE have so far met with little success.
US2006/0135365 discloses wood chips containing macronutrient salts for short term plant growth and release of macronutrients over a period of one week. U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,358 disclose woodchips as a substrate for macronutrients for plant growth. U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,553 disclose converting wood lignin to sugar and forming a urea-formaldehyde condensation product for macronutrient delivery. U.S. Pat. No. 6,900,162 discloses a composition containing nitrogen particles adhered by a binder degraded by soil moisture to provide for the slow release. U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,275 B2 discloses a sustained release composite of water soluble materials that are adsorbed onto an inorganic material and is released by acidic fluids in medical applications.
Solutions are needed to provide slow and sustained release macronutrient formulations for plant growth applications. Therefore, macronutrients incorporated into cavities present in wood could be used to provide slow and sustained release of macronutrients for plant growth.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cellulose based sustained release macronutrient composition for fertilizer application

Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (Pvt) Ltd


A car navigation system is adapted to be installed on a car for estimating a location of the car, detecting occurrence of an accident, storing information for use in analyzing the accident and performing communication with the outside. The system includes a CD-ROM for storing emergency communication data, a location unit for generating car location data, an accident detecting unit and a FIFO memory in which the above-mentioned data are stored, being updated in the course of time lapse. The system may include a voice recorder for recording voice information generated internally of the car and an ID card unit for storing personal information about a driver and accompanying passengers. A change in an acceleration sensor signal generated by an acceleration sensor is compared with a shock-ascribable acceleration change which is empirically determined and previously stored for detecting occurrence of an accident, upon detection of which information stored in the FIFO memory as well as information stored in the voice recorder and the IC card unit are sent out by a communication unit to the outside. These functions are automatically implemented by a program running on a main CPU.

The present invention generally relates to a navigation system installed on a car for estimating a location at which the car is currently traveling. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a navigation system which is operatively interlocked with devices or units installed on the same car such as a communication unit exemplified by a transceiver, a device for detecting traveling conditions of the car and others.
The navigation system known heretofore has been designed for only one function of precisely displaying a position or location of a car at which the car equipped with the navigation system is currently traveling, as is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 266219/1990 (JP-A-H2-266219).
A structure of a known navigation system for a car of the type mentioned above is shown in FIG. 20. As can be seen in this figure, the navigation system is composed of a processor in the form of a CPU 5 having a plurality of inputs supplied with output signals from an azimuth direction sensor 1 operating on the basis of terrestrial magnetism, a distance sensor 2 for detecting a distance covered by the car by measuring the rotation number of a wheel, an absolute position setting sensor 3 in the form of a radio receiver, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory) 4.
In operation of the navigation system shown in FIG. 20, the traveling direction of the car is detected by the azimuth direction sensor 1 while the distance as covered is detected by the distance sensor 2. The absolute position setting sensor 3 receives a signal from a GPS satellite for determining an absolute reference position. The CPU 5 determines the current location of the car on the basis of the output signals from the azimuth direction sensor 1, the distance sensor 2 and the absolute position setting sensor 3 while referring to road network data (road map data) stored in the CD-ROM 4, wherein the location of the car is displayed on a display screen (not shown).
The known navigation system such as described above is designed only for the function of displaying the current traveling position or location of the car, but it is not in the position to detect, record and/or inform to others through radio communication and the like the occurrence of an accident which the car encounters in the course of traveling. Besides, the navigation system is equipped with none of the facilities for storing or recording the track or road history travelled by the car and the traveling or running condition, not to say of the means for recording the intra-car situation (state prevailing within the car) and personal information of the driver and passengers in the car such as names, addresses or the like. Moreover, the known car navigation system is not imparted with the capability of transmitting the information described above to relevant agencies or organizations such as police stations, a JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation Inc.) office or parties concerned. Such being the circumstances, the car involved in an accident is very difficult to locate. Moreover, great difficulty will be encountered in analyzing the cause of the accident. Needless to say, it is impossible or very difficult to inform the accident to liaison offices, organizations concerned such as mentioned above, or the parties concerned such as family or relatives or friends of the driver and/or the accompanying passenger.
Thus, there has long been a need for a system capable of monitoring the location of a car on a road and automatically emitting an accident signal when the car is involved in an accident. In a worst case scenario, if a car accident happened at night at which the event cannot be visually observed, it is vital that a message be sent out substantially immediately and automatically before the situation becomes too serious.


A medical needle device which is reusable and cooperates with a disposable needle assembly. The medical needle device includes a holder, a needle assembly, and an ejector rod cooperating with the holder. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and needle. The holder has a proximal end and a distal end and defines an opening extending therethrough. The distal end has a hub socket for receiving the hub of the needle, with the needle hub received in the socket. The ejector extends into the opening from the proximal end of the holder. The ejector rod is slidably received in the holder and has a distal end configured to engage the needle hub, and a proximal end extending outward from the holder. The ejector rod is used to eject the needle assembly from the holder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical needle device for use in medical procedures and, more particularly, a reusable unit dose needle device having a disposable needle assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Disposable medical devices with piercing elements are well-known for administering medications such as a vaccine or withdrawing fluid from the human body. Such devices include hypodermic needles, blood collecting needles, fluid handling needles, and needles used in the administration of vaccines. These devices require safe and convenient handling to minimize exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Typically, disposable medical devices are discarded in their entirety. For example, numerous devices have shielding mechanisms for shielding the needle cannula after use. Many of these devices are complex to use and costly to manufacture. In addition, the disposal of the entire device is inefficient and costly.
One application for such a device is in the administration of vaccines or other active pharmaceutical ingredients that are applied through the skin. Bifurcated or forked-end needles are well-known for providing a simple and effective means for a medical practitioner to administer a vaccine. During use, the bifurcated tip of the bifurcated needle is placed into contact with either a dried or liquid substance, which adheres to the bifurcated needle tip. The bifurcated needle tip is then placed into contact with the skin of the patient. The skin is either scratched or pierced with the needle tip so that the vaccination material may be absorbed into the skin of the patient. An alternative method of delivering the vaccine includes placing a drop of the vaccine onto the skin of the patient and piercing the skin with the bifurcated needle tip through a drop of the vaccine. A standard pointed needle tip may also be used when the drop of vaccine is applied directly to the skin of the patient.
The bifurcated needle is considered a significant medical advancement because it allows more people to be vaccinated with less serum. This has been especially important for those living in less developed areas because of the efficient and easy to use design, as well as the ease of replication. Vaccination effectiveness, however, is reduced if the bifurcated needle is reused too many times. More importantly, reuse of such vaccination needles exposes patients to the risk of transmission of infectious diseases through percutaneous contact through the skin.
Additionally, medical care workers using traditional vaccine needles are at an increased risk of exposure to infectious disease due to the design of such needles, which makes them difficult to handle. In particular, bifurcated needles used to administer vaccinations are not traditionally sterilized or packaged in a single-use container that would enable convenient storage and use. Such needles have traditionally been difficult to handle because they typically do not include a hub attached to the opposite end of the needle tip, and typically do not include any sort of holder for carrying the needle cannula prior to use or any sort of shielding for covering the needle tip after use.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a reusable medical needle device in which a disposable needle and hub assembly may be used. A specific need exists for a reusable medical needle device that is capable of carrying a bifurcated needle and hub assembly that is quickly and easily disposable after use, such as after use in a vaccination procedure.
The above needs are satisfied with a medical needle device made in accordance with the present invention. The medical needle device includes a holder, a needle assembly, and an ejector rod cooperating with the holder. The holder has a proximal end and a distal end, and defines an opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The distal end has a socket for receiving a needle hub. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and a needle. The needle hub is received in the socket. The ejector rod extends into the opening from the proximal end of the holder. The ejector rod is slidably received in the holder and has a distal end configured to communicate with the needle hub. The ejector rod has a proximal end extending outward from the holder. Movement of the ejector rod into the holder causes the distal end of the ejector rod to bias the needle hub outward from the socket, thereby ejecting the needle assembly from the holder. Desirably, the needle is a bifurcated needle, and is connected to the hub by a medical grade adhesive. A proximal end of the needle hub may define a luer cavity.
The holder may define an internal rib extending into the opening. A bushing is adjacent the distal end of the ejector rod, and may be received about the distal end of the ejector rod between the needle hub and internal rib. Preferably, the needle hub and the socket are in threaded engagement. The bushing may have an outer diameter small enough to prevent threaded engagement with the threads of the socket, such that movement of the ejector rod into the holder causes the bushing to come into rotational contact with the needle hub, thereby unthreading the needle hub from the socket and ejecting the needle assembly from the holder. Also, a spring may be received about the ejector rod and located on an opposite side of the internal rib from the bushing for biasing the ejector rod outward from the proximal end of the holder.
In a further embodiment, the present invention includes a holder for a disposable medical needle assembly. The holder includes an elongated holder body, an ejector rod cooperating with the holder body, a bushing received about the ejector rod, and a spring also received about the injector rod. The holder body includes a proximal end and a distal end, and defines an opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The distal end of the holder has a socket for receiving needle hub. The holder body defines an internal rib extending into the opening. The ejector rod extends into the opening from the proximal end of the holder body. The ejector rod is slidably received in the holder and has a distal end extending into the holder body. The ejector rod has a proximal end extending outward from the holder body. The bushing is received about the ejector rod and is located on a side of the internal rib facing the distal end of the holder body. The spring is received about the ejector rod and is located on an opposite side of the internal rib from the bushing for biasing the ejector rod outwardly from the proximal end of the holder body.
The holder may further include a button enclosing the proximal end of the ejector rod. The button may have a spring engaging end located within the holder for compressing the spring within the holder. Movement of the button into the holder may cause the ejector rod to contact the bushing such that the bushing comes into rotational contact with the needle hub and forcing the needle hub outward from the socket, thereby ejecting the needle assembly from the holder.
Further, an alternate embodiment of the medical needle device having a disposable needle assembly includes a holder, a needle assembly, an injector rod cooperating with the holder, a spring received about the ejector rod, and a button for operating the ejector rod. The button encloses the proximal end of the ejector rod and has a spring engaging end located within the holder for compressing the spring within the holder. Movement of the button into the holder causes the distal end of the ejector rod to force the needle hub outward from the socket, thereby ejecting the needle assembly from the holder.
Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings.


Techniques are disclosed herein that provide a TV receiver that supports a set of existing iTV standards and proprietary iTV implementations. Further, the TV receiver can be extended to support additional iTV standards and proprietary iTV implementations. A digital television data stream is received and processed by a client. The digital television data stream is analyzed to determine which interactive television format is present. A registry of interactive television virtual machines is searched to determine whether a virtual machine is registered for the interactive television format. Each of the interactive television virtual machines is adapted for one of the interactive television formats. If a virtual machine that matches the interactive television format is found, it is loaded and hosted. Hosting the virtual includes providing services to the virtual machine through common application programming interfaces (APIs) machine includes. The common APIs may be used by any virtual machine that is loaded.

In addition to video and audio data, broadcast media streams may contain data for interactive television (iTV). One example of iTV is delivering movies or other programming to a specific user "on demand," in which case the user does not affect the content. In this example, there is no return path to the broadcaster. For example, once the movie is downloaded all control over the movie presentation may be on a user's set top box (STB). As another example, the users affect the iTV programming such as by real-time voting. In this example, audience members cast votes to create decisions that are reflected in how the show continues. Note that in this latter example, there is a return path from the users to the program provider. Still another example of iTV is using part of the broadcast media stream to deliver games to a user. For example, one part of the broadcast media stream contains more conventional non-interactive content, whereas another part contains an interactive game. There is virtually no limit to the possibilities of interactive TV; therefore, the foregoing should be understood to be non-limiting examples.
More and more broadcasters are choosing to adopt iTV. Some countries even require that broadcasters provide iTV support. However, there exists a wide variety of iTV standards such as Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG), Broadcast Markup Language (BML), Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), and OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP). Furthermore, a broadcaster may use a proprietary iTV implementation rather than an established standard.
Many iTV standards define the interface for a virtual machine (VM). In general, a VM is software that can be thought of as an implementation of a machine (e.g., computer) that executes software applications like a real machine. A goal of a VM is to allow applications to interact with the VM independent of the actual hardware and operating system. A given iTV standard may define how an iTV VM for that iTV standard should behave, what inputs to accept, how to react to the input, and what APIs to provide to applications that interface with the iTV VM. As one example, with respect to MHEG-5, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides the document, "Coding of Multimedia and Hypermedia Information—Part 5, Support for Base-level Interactive Applications" (ISO/IEC 13522-5). As another example, BML is governed by ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses) standard body, which provides the "Data Coding and Transmission Specification for Digital Broadcasting Standard (ARIB STD-B24).
As suggested by the foregoing, the user's receiver may have one or more applications that provide programming services, such as electronic program guides (EPG) that need to interface with the iTV VM. Because the interface for an iTV VM for a given type of iTV is standardized, the same software application can interface a given type of iTV VM. For example, an EPG application should be able to interface with an iTV VM that complies with MHEG regardless of what computing platform and operating system is in use. However, typically the same application cannot interface with iTV VMs that comply with different standards. For example, the interface to an MHP iTV VM may be substantially different from the interface to an MHEG iTV VM, thus the same EPG application may be unable to interface with both.
Thus, a problem is designing a TV receiver that will support a set of existing iTV standards and can be extended to support additional iTV standards.


A heavy duty tire includes a tread portion with a pair of circumferentially extending crown main grooves and a pair of circumferentially extending shoulder main grooves to form a crown land portion, a pair of middle land portions and a pair of shoulder land portions, wherein crown main grooves have groove widths of 2-5% of a tread half width, shoulder main grooves have groove widths of 6-9% of the tread half width, crown lateral grooves are provided on the crown land portion to form a plurality of crown blocks, middle lateral grooves are provided on middle land portions, shoulder lateral grooves are provided on shoulder land portions, crown and middle lateral grooves have groove widths of 0.4-2.0 mm, and shoulder lateral grooves have groove widths of 6-9% of the tread half width.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heavy duty tire in which rolling resistance can be reduced while keeping wet grip performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
By the request of energy-saving in recent years, a pneumatic tire with low rolling resistance is required to improve fuel efficiency of passenger cars. Generally, half amount of rolling resistance of tires depends on energy losses caused by deformation of rubber components in tires. Accordingly, in order to prevent a large deformation in a tread portion of a pneumatic tire, it is proposed that reducing the volume of a crown main groove and a shoulder main groove which continuously extend in the tire circumferential direction. Since the tire above has a high compression resistance in the tread portion as to prevent a large deformation, rolling resistance can be reduced.
However, the tire above tends to have low drainage performance, and thereby the wet grip performance can be deteriorated. As previously mentioned, rolling resistance and wet grip performance are in the relation of antinomy.
For improving such antinomy, there is proposed for example Japanese Patent laid open No. 2006-111091, wherein a heavy duty tire with a specified relation between a land ratio of a tread portion and a circumferential rigidity of a block row in a heavy duty tire is proposed.
However, further improved tire is required by the request of energy-saving in recent years.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heavy duty tire in which rolling resistance can be reduced while keeping wet grip performance.


Disclosed is a correction system for an alignment film printing plate, including: a roller and a printing plate mounted as a sleeve outside of the roller, wherein a first end portion of the printing plate is provided thereon with a plurality of columns of buckle groups, and a second end portion of the printing plate is provided thereon with a plurality of columns of slot groups engaged with the buckle groups. The correction system for the alignment film printing plate further includes an image controller used for measuring a deviation value between an actual position and a preset position for printing of an alignment film on a substrate. The correcting system of the alignment film printing plate has a simple structure and is capable of realizing different stretching degrees of an alignment film pattern at different positions on the printing plate, so as to improve a correction effect of the printing plate. As a result, deviation can be reduced between an actual position and a preset position for printing of the alignment film on the substrate, without significant increase in costs.

In an existing manufacturing procedure of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display screen (TFT-LCD), an alignment film (PI film) is coated on both sides of a thin film transistor substrate and a color film substrate (TFT/CF) in order to allow liquid crystal molecules to have a fixed pretilt angle.
There are mainly two approaches to coat the alignment film on a glass substrate: inkjet and print, wherein a printing plate (APR plate) is usually necessary for print.
The printing plate is made of a resin material. As shown in FIG. 1, with the increase in the number of prints, the resin material will be stretched, leading to deformation of a pattern on the printing plate. An arrow in FIG. 1 indicates a stretching direction. As a result, as the number of prints increases, an operator will observe deformation of the pattern on the printing plate, and move a printing roller integrally to enable integral correction of the pattern on the printing plate. Due to different stretching degrees, a printing start end and a printing end will be different from each other in deviation values of the pattern, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, which depict in a direction from the printing start end to the printing end. Different positions have different stretching degrees. However, integral correction causes integral deviation, and thus cannot meet different correction requirements of different printing positions due to the different stretching degrees. Therefore, even if an image on the printing plate is corrected through integral deviation, the pattern of the alignment film at different positions of the printing plate is still subject to different degrees of deviation. Solid lines in FIGS. 1 to 4 indicate original boundaries of the pattern, and dashed lines therein demonstrate boundaries of the pattern after being stretched.
In order to solve the problems in the prior art, it is necessary to provide a new correction system and method for the alignment film printing plate.

Correction system and method for alignment film printing plate

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An automated system and method for diagnosing and monitoring the outcomes of atrial fibrillation is described. A plurality of monitoring sets is retrieved from a database. Each of the monitoring sets include recorded measures relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis. A patient status change is determined in response to an atrial fibrillation diagnosis by comparing at least one recorded measure from each of the monitoring sets to at least one other recorded measure. Both recorded measures relate to the same type of patient information. Each patient status change is tested against an indicator threshold corresponding to the same type of patient information as the recorded measures which were compared. The indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology resulting from atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm abnormality that is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease-related morbidity in the world. Clinically, atrial fibrillation involves an abnormality of electrical impulse formation and conduction that originates in the atria, that is, the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation can occur in patients with any type of underlying structural heart abnormality, such as coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathies of various kinds, thereby complicating patient management and therapy. Further, atrial fibrillation can sometimes occur in patients with no known underlying structural abnormalities or in patients with lung disease or hormonal or metabolic disorders. As well, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation can exacerbate other disorders, for example, myocardial ischemia or congestive heart failure. Effective treatment must include weighing the presence of any comorbidities primary or secondary to atrial fibrillation and whether therapy should be directed against rate control or restoration of normal sinus rhythm.
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by multiple swirling wavelets of electrical current spreading across the atria in a disorganized manner. The irregularity of electrical conduction throughout the atria creates irregular impulse propagation through the atrioventricular node into the ventricle and can frequently cause a patient to notice a disturbingly erratic sensation of the heartbeat. These symptoms of an erratic heartbeat, or palpitation, can be trivial or seriously disturbing to the patient's daily functions. Occasionally, the impulse conduction is extremely rapid, leading to reduced diastolic filling of the heart chambers and reduced cardiac pumping action. Rapid heart rate, as well as poor coordination of atrial and ventricular pumping functions, not only lead to a decrease in cardiac output, but also, depending upon the nature of any underlying heart disease, can exacerbate heart failure, coronary blood flow, and pulmonary disorders. Atrial fibrillation may also occur and be totally inconsequential in its cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary consequences or its affect on the patient's quality of life. Yet, even if silent from a cardiovascular and symptom perspective, if persisting beyond a 48 hour period, atrial fibrillation can also result in blood clot formation in the atria, thereby creating the potential for thromboembolism which can lead to strokes or injuries to limbs and major organs. Thus, the outcomes or consequences of atrial fibrillation can be gross or subtle and be rapid or gradual in onset, consequently requiring a range of approaches, from observation to providing emergent interventions.
The early diagnosis, prevention and monitoring of the consequences of atrial fibrillation can be relatively difficult. First, atrial fibrillation onset runs an erratic, unpredictable course and is generally silent and undetectable to the patient. More often, atrial fibrillation either results in no symptoms at least for some period of time early in the course of onset, or in fatigue or difficulties in breathing usually in the case of those patients having comorbid conditions. Occasionally, a patient will have no complaints but will unconsciously compensate by limiting his or her daily activities. Sometimes, the consequences of atrial fibrillation are more overt. In any case, fatigue or difficulty breathing is often a consequence of atrial fibrillation complicating the pathophysiology of coexisting conditions of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and/or respiratory insufficiency, for example.
The susceptibility to suffer from atrial fibrillation depends upon the patient's age, gender, physical condition, presence or absence of heart failure, coronary artery disease, lung disease, and the incidence of other factors, such as diabetes, lung disease, high blood pressure, anemia and kidney function. No one factor is dispositive. Evaluations for atrial fibrillation and its consequences, with annual or even monthly checkups, provide, at best, a "snapshot" of patient wellness and the incremental and subtle clinicophysiological changes which portend the onset or progression of atrial fibrillation often go unnoticed, unless electrocardiographic documentation is obtained and simultaneously correlated with cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary physiological measures. Documentation of improvements following initiation of therapy can be equally elusive.
Nevertheless, taking advantage of frequently and regularly measured physiological measures, such as recorded manually by a patient, via an external monitoring or therapeutic device, or via implantable device technologies, can provide a degree of detection, treatment and prevention heretofore unknown. In addition, monitoring of the physiological consequences of the onset and offset of atrial fibrillation can provide invaluable guidance in directing when and what therapeutic intervention is most appropriate, particularly when atrial fibrillation is coupled with other comorbidities. For instance, patients already suffering from some form of treatable heart disease often receive an implantable pulse generator (IPG), cardiovascular or arrhythmia monitor, therapeutic device, or similar external wearable device, with which rhythm and structural problems of the heart can be monitored and treated. These types of devices are useful for detecting physiological changes in patient conditions through the retrieval and analysis of telemetered signals stored in an on-board, volatile memory. Typically, these devices can store more than thirty minutes of per heartbeat data recorded on a per heartbeat, binned average basis, or on a derived basis from, for example, extensive data regarding atrial or ventricular electrical activity, minute ventilation, patient activity score, cardiac output score, mixed venous oxygen score, cardiovascular pressure measures, and the like. However, the proper analysis of retrieved telemetered signals requires detailed medical subspecialty knowledge, particularly by cardiologists and cardiac electrophysiologists.
Alternatively, these telemetered signals can be remotely collected and analyzed using an automated patient care system. One such system is described in a related, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,378, issued Nov. 6, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A medical device adapted to be implanted in an individual patient records telemetered signals that are then retrieved on a regular, periodic basis using an interrogator or similar interfacing device. The telemetered signals are downloaded via an internetwork onto a network server on a regular, e.g., daily, basis and stored as sets of collected measures in a database along with other patient care records. The information is then analyzed in an automated fashion and feedback, which includes a patient status indicator, is provided to the patient.
While such an automated system can serve as a valuable tool in providing remote patient care, an approach to systematically correlating and analyzing the raw collected telemetered signals, as well as manually collected physiological measures, through applied cardiovascular medical knowledge to accurately diagnose the consequences of the onset of a particular medical condition, such as atrial fibrillation, is needed. One automated patient care system directed to a patient-specific monitoring function, albeit focused on ventricular rather than atrial arrhythmias, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,869 ('869) to Nappholz et al. The '869 patent discloses an implantable, programmable electrocardiography (ECG) patient monitoring device that senses and analyzes ECG signals to detect ECG and physiological signal characteristics predictive of malignant cardiac arrhythmias. The monitoring device can communicate a warning signal to an external device when arrhythmias are predicted. However, the Nappholz device is limited to detecting tachycardias. Unlike requirements for automated monitoring of the consequences of atrial fibrillation, the Nappholz device focuses on rudimentary ECG signals indicative of malignant cardiac tachycardias, an already well-established technique that can be readily used with on-board signal detection techniques. Also, the Nappholz device is patient specific only and is unable to automatically take into consideration a broader patient or peer group history for reference to detect and consider the progression or improvement of cardiovascular disease. Moreover, the Nappholz device has a limited capability to automatically self-reference multiple data points in time and cannot detect disease regression even in the individual patient. In addition, the Nappholz device must be implanted and cannot function as an external monitor. Also, the Nappholz device neither monitors nor treats the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary consequences of atrial fibrillation.
More specifically, the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation using implantable anti-arrhythmia devices has been widely addressed in the prior art and is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,857 ('857) to Prieve et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,593 ('593) to Olson et al. The '857 patent discloses an implantable device which continuously monitors for tachyarrhythmia conditions and an associated patient activator. Two sets of arrhythmia detection criteria are utilized for evaluating autonomous and patient-activated anti-arrhythmia therapy. The '593 patent discloses a device capable of arrhythmia detection and classification based on a set of prioritized rules. However, both the Prieve and Olson devices are directed to diagnosing and treating the arrhythmias in isolation without detailed consideration of coexisting conditions and the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary consequences of those disorders.
As a result, there is a need for a systematic approach to detecting trends in regularly collected physiological data indicative of the onset, progression, regression, or status quo of atrial fibrillation diagnosed and monitored using an automated, remote patient care system, such need being particularly heightened in the presence of comorbidities, such as congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia, respiratory insufficiency, and related disorders. The physiological data could be telemetered signals data recorded either by an external or an implantable medical device or, alternatively, individual measures collected through manual means. Preferably, such an approach would be capable of diagnosing the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary consequences of both acute and chronic atrial fibrillation conditions, as well as the symptoms of other cardiovascular diseases. In addition, findings from individual, peer group, and general population patient care records could be integrated into continuous, on-going monitoring and analysis.

System and method for analyzing a patient status for atrial fibrillation for use in automated patient care


A disclosed lens module includes a zooming actuator, a cam, an auto-focusing actuator and at least two sets of lenses. The cam is coupled to and driven by the zooming actuator. The cam 104 has at least two tracks. The auto-focusing actuator is coupled to and moved along one of the tracks of the cam. One of the sets of lenses is coupled to and driven by the auto-focusing actuator. Another one of the sets of lenses is coupled to the another track of the cam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a lens module, and more particularly, to a miniaturized lens module capable of continuous focusing with different focus lengths.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the progress of the communication industry, mobile phones have been broadly used by the people. Nowadays, a person owns one or more mobile phones; even children or seniors use the mobile phone for communicating with relatives. Accordingly, a great demand on handsets is obvious and is progressively growing. As a consequence, the handset market is overwhelmingly growing.
Along with the development of the multimedia technology, more and more handsets with additional functions, such as photographing function and video-graphing function, are now become general requisite functions of a handset. To meet the present compactness, flatness and thinness trend, the optical system and actuator of a built-in camera has to be designed as simple and compact as possible.
Accordingly, the camera module in a handset is limited to have the auto-focusing and zooming in steps functions only. For example, the lenses of the lens module in some handsets are driven by a cam, wherein an auto-focusing is available at the wide-end and the tele-end thereof. During a continuous zooming, for example, from the wide-end to the tele-end, there is no auto-focusing function for an intermediate zoom magnification at all.
In order to realize continuous zooming, i.e. auto-focusing function covering different focal lengths, the tracks of the above-mentioned cam must have a complex structure, which would increase the cam diameter, and therefore it would difficult achieved present trend of miniaturization.
The Korean Patents KR 10-0526652 and KR 10-0542074 disclose such a zooming scheme using a motor to indirectly or directly drive a barrel cam with groove tracks. According to the Korean patents however, it is difficult to have an auto-focusing function, unless the auto-focusing function is provided at the wide-end or tele-end thereof only by designing the groove tracks of the barrel cam. But the scheme is difficult to realize the auto-focusing covering all different focus length sections.

Industrial Technology Research Institute