The present invention relates to a positioning device (10) that encourages animals to stand in a desired position to enable efficient and effective treatment of a part of their body. The positioning device (10) of the invention may optionally comprise one or more spraying nozzles (56) adapted for spraying the teats of the animal with a treatment chemical either pre- or post-milking.

In order to maintain the health and welfare of milk producing animals, as well as the quality of their milk, it is very important that their udders and teats are kept clean and healthy. In particular, the bacteria that cause mastitis infections must not be allowed to proliferate and contaminate the milk harvesting equipment, thus risking the transfer of pathogens from animal to animal. To guard against this problem it is well known to treat the teats of animals with a liquid, such as a liquid disinfectant or a washing solution, either immediately before and/or immediately after milking. In the case of a pre-milking treatment application the aim is primarily to remove foreign matter and kill the bacteria present on the outside of the teat before milking. In the case of a post-milking treatment, it has been found beneficial to apply a sanitising solution and in some instances also a barrier liquid to provide a protective film that remains on the teat for some time and that seals and protects the teat end from mastitis causing bacteria. To ensure that such treatments are effective at controlling the bacteria, it is crucial that each teat is entirely coated with the liquid, and this requires the dairyman to maintain a high level of skill whilst operating the treatment process; unfortunately, for some methods of treatment this becomes arduous, especially in cases where the animal herd size is large.
Various different systems are used commercially to apply a treatment composition to the teats of a milk producing animals. One example involves using a "dip cup" container that holds an amount of the treatment composition and into which each teat is dipped. This type of treatment system has been used with liquid and foam based treatment compositions and has the advantage that a reasonably low level of operator skill is needed to make sure each teat is uniformly covered with the treatment composition. However, the use of "dip cups" is a very labour intensive process. As an alternative, the use of a system involving spraying treatment chemicals onto the udders has become popular in some countries, particularly where herd sizes are very large. Spraying has the advantage that it is much faster than dipping the teats individually into the dip cup, but much greater skill and attention is needed to ensure that all four teats are fully and evenly coated, for example there must be no shadowing effects caused by spraying the outside face of one teat and missing to inside face of an adjacent teat. This is true for both hand held and automated spraying systems.
It is known that full and even coverage of animal teats can be more easily achieved if the animal stands with its back legs slightly splayed; this has the advantage that it improves the position of the milking cluster (the cups of the milking machine that are placed over the teats to extract the milk) and presents the teats in the most favourable way for spraying. Various positioning devices that encourage the animal to stand in the desired way are already known. For example the "Wet-IT Wave"® as depicted in Australian Registered Design 0213/2004 has an uneven top profile which dissuades the animal from treading on it, but encourages her to splay her hind legs either side of it. However, the Wet-IT Wave® has several notable disadvantages. Firstly, any slurry and excess treatment liquid will accumulate in the flat valley region lying along the centre line of the device and this will need to be frequently washed out. Secondly, the Wet-IT Wave® has no means for spraying teats therefore it is necessary to involve separate spraying apparatus, for example by spraying the teats using a hand held spray gun or automatically, using an automated teat sprayer. However even with the Wet-IT Wave® positioning device, problems can arise as manual spraying still needs a skilled operator to ensure complete coverage of the teats and typical automated spraying involves a complex system that directs a spray arm either between the cows legs or from behind the cow. The latter arrangement means that the spray nozzles are quite some distance from the target teats, thus making it difficult to spray the teats accurately and to compensate excess treatment liquid is used to increase the chance of hitting the teats with the spray.
Other prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,166 describes a spraying unit having a convex domed exterior surface through which the treatment fluids are sprayed onto the udder of a dairy animal via a plurality of spray nozzles. Although combining a positioning device with an ability to spray the teats, this unit has the disadvantage that it consumes an extremely high amount of treatment fluid: in use the whole volume of the dome fluid chamber 34 is full of treatment fluid prior to it exiting through spray nozzles 23. Also, this prior art describes an arrangement whereby, the spray nozzles 23 are sited in concave nozzle cavities 27. This has the disadvantage that they will fill with excess treatment fluid and slurry as it runs down the outside of the domed exterior surface, and this would contaminate and block the nozzles.
The design representations in recent New Zealand Registered Design 411943 also illustrate a moulding for a teat spray nozzle mounting which may be used to encourage the animal being milked to stand in a favourable position. In this design, the moulding has a central raised ridge portion, on which two spray nozzles are located, and three separate concave portions. It is believed that in practice these concave portions will accumulate excess treatment spray and slurry, and this will again need to be washed away to avoid contamination. Also, the present Applicant has found that the fact that the spray nozzles are located along the central raised ridge portion means that the device does not allow sufficient room for the milking cluster to hang down unimpeded, particularly when milking animals with large udders.
The Applicant has determined that the efficiency of spraying can be maximised, both in terms of making sure all of the teats are effectively covered, and also by minimizing the amount of spray that misses the teats through being off target, if the spraying system has one or more of the following features: i) a positioning device to encourage the animal to stand with its hind legs slightly splayed; ii) one or more spray nozzles on the positioning device; iii) a positioning device which is designed to prevent spray and slurry pooling on its surface thereby avoiding the risk of contaminating the spray nozzles; iv) a positioning device that has its lowest point in the middle to give maximum depth for the milking cluster to hang unimpeded under the animal; v) spraying the animals when they are stationary-exit race spraying systems are found to be wasteful of spray chemical as well as producing inefficient teat coverage because trying to spray a moving target is particularly challenging; vi) ensuring that the spray nozzles are located directly under the udder and teats and not to one side or behind the animal and vii) ensuring that the one or more spray nozzles are positioned proud of the surface of the positioning device to reduce the risk that the nozzles become clogged and contaminated by over-spray (i.e. the spray that misses the target teats) and slurry.
Thus the aim of the present invention is to provide a positioning device that may optionally include spray nozzles, which has an aerodynamic shape to keep its top surface, and any spray nozzles, free of slurry and excess spray chemical and therefore free of contamination. Another aim is to provide a positioning device that allows a suitable depth for the milking cluster to hang unimpeded under the animal to achieve good cluster positioning and therefore a good milk-out. A further aim is to provide a positioning device that has spray nozzles that are controllable independently of one another and which provide a spraying pattern that uses the minimum amount of spray liquid to produce a full and even coverage of all four teats without suffering from shadowing effects. In this way not only can chemical costs be kept to a minimum but it will also reduce the environmental impact of using the spraying liquids. This is a particular issue with poorly directed spraying systems, mentioned above, as these tend to use an excess amount of spray liquid in the hope that at least some of it will hit the desired target, however, in reality most misses and needs to be disposed of into the slurry handling system. It is also an aim to design a positioning device that can be made using simple moulding techniques and preferably easily adapted to alter the separation between the spray nozzles to achieve optimum teat coverage for both large and small animals. These and other advantages are provided by the present invention, as discussed below.
In respect of the present invention all references to the treatment chemical shall be interpreted to include chemical in liquid and/or foamed form.
In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a positioning device comprising a base plate with at least one pair of raised portions upstanding from the base plate and one or more valley regions located between the raised portions in each pair of raised portions; wherein the profile of each of the raised portions, and the profile of the one or more of the valley regions, is convex.
The convex profile of the at least one pair of raised portions and of the one or more valley regions has been carefully designed to be on the one hand, uneven enough to be off-putting to the animal to prevent it from standing on the device, and yet sufficiently "aerodynamic" to ensure that the positioning device is kept free from spray chemical and slurry. The convex shape encourages the slurry and spray chemical to run off the device easily and not to "pool" anywhere on it.
In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a positioning device comprising a first pair of raised portions, a second pair of raised portions and one or more valley regions located between the raised portions in at least one of the first and/or second pair of raised portions, wherein the profile of each of the raised portions and the profile of the one or more valley regions is convex.
Preferably one of the one or more valley regions provides a common valley between all of the pairs of raised portions and notable benefits for the positioning of the milking cluster can be recognised when the common valley region is aligned with a central axis of the positioning device since this arrangement ensures sufficient depth is provided for the milking cluster to hang down freely under the animal and not be impeded by the positioning device. This arrangement achieves good cluster positioning to facilitate good 'milk out'. Thus, in a third embodiment, the positioning device of the present invention preferably has one or more pairs of raised portions with a common valley portion between the raised portions in each pair. When the common valley region is aligned with a central axis of the positioning device, the device is lowest in a line along its middle.
In a preferred fourth embodiment, the present invention provides a positioning device in which the base plate comprises forward and rearward facing ends and wherein the raised portions comprise a pair of elongate and parallel raised portions which form two raised ridges that run towards the forward facing end in one direction and towards the rearward facing end in the other direction, wherein a valley is located between the two raise ridges and further wherein the profile of each of the two raised ridges and the profile of the valley located between the two raised portions is a convex arc running in the direction between the forward facing and rearward facing end portions.
In a fifth embodiment, the positioning device of the present invention may optionally further comprise one or more spray nozzles through which treatment chemical may be sprayed onto the teats and preferably the one or more spray nozzles are positioned proud of the upper surface of the positioning device. This keeps them free from contamination and blockage.
The design of the positioning device of the present invention is adapted for use in any existing or new milking parlours including the more traditional static "abreast" milking parlours, the newer rotary platform milking systems and more recent robotic or automatic milking systems (AMS). The use of the positioning device according to the invention in combination with a rotary platform milking system is especially preferred because the animal teats can be sprayed immediately after milking whilst the animal is still on the rotary platform, i.e. before the sphincter has closed.
To streamline the design of all embodiments of the present invention, the underside of the positioning device preferably includes one or more channels to direct treatment chemical supply conduits that convey treatment chemical from one or more remote reservoir containers to the at least one spray nozzle. The underside of the positioning device may also comprise ribs; these assist to strengthen the device and prevent it from breaking or being damaged should an animal accidentally stand on it.
In the case where the positioning device is employed in combination with a rotary platform milking system, the remote reservoir containers can be conveniently located on the rotary platform itself if required to facilitate delivery of the treatment chemical to the at least one spray nozzle. Alternatively, the remote reservoir containers can be located off the rotary platform and one or more supply conduits conveying the treatment chemical from the reservoir to the one or more nozzles, can be directed through a rotary gland provided in the centre of the platform. Such arrangements ensure that the supply conduits turn with the platform without the need for an elaborate rotation means which would be necessary to prevent the conduits becoming entangled as the platform turns.
The positioning device of the present invention may be designed to facilitate the spraying of more than one separate chemical and this makes the device useful for spraying both pre- and post-milking treatment chemicals. Preferably, the design of the positioning device of the present invention will include the ability to spray a first chemical from some or all of the spray nozzles, and to spray a second chemical from some or all of the spray nozzles. Preferably the spray nozzles may be activated to spray in any order and either concurrently or sequentially with one another.
The animal positioning device of the present invention is particularly advantageous if the one or more spray nozzles are located on one or all of the raised portions. In a particularly preferred sixth embodiment, the positioning device according to the present invention comprises two spray nozzles, one of which is located on a raised portion positioned towards the forward facing end of the positioning device and the other nozzle is located on a raised portion positioned towards the rearward facing end of the positioning device. Alternatively, in a seventh embodiment, one of the spray nozzles may be located on a first raised portion and positioned towards one end of the positioning device and the other spray nozzle may be located on a second raised portion and positioned towards the same end of the positioning device. In a further alternative eighth embodiment, the positioning device comprises two convex raised portions, with a convex central valley region located between the two convex raised portions, and four spray nozzles; wherein two nozzles are located on each raised portion. Advantageously, the spray nozzles may be associated with control equipment to activate one or more of the nozzles to spray in any combination at a time. For example, all nozzles may be activated to spray concurrently, separately or in any combination of two or more at a time. In an alternative arrangement, just one of the spray nozzles on one raised portion may be activated to spray from behind the teats and just one of the spray nozzles on the other raised portion may be activated to spray from in front of the teats. In the case where one or more nozzles are positioned towards a forward end of the positioning device on one or both of two opposing raised portions that are separated by a common valley region, and one or more nozzles are positioned towards the rearward end of the positioning device on one or both of the same or different two opposing raised portions, the nozzles may be activated to spray in a diagonal spray pattern. One way to achieve this may involve at least one nozzle towards the forward end on one side of the common valley region can be caused to spray either concurrently or consecutively with at least one nozzle towards the rearward end on the other side of the common valley region. The Applicant has found the diagonal spray pattern to be highly advantageous and in fact the optimum way to achieve the best complete coverage and most even distribution of spray chemical on animal teats, without shadowing or other problems, yet whilst using a minimum amount of spray chemical.
If chemical usage is not an issue or in the case where it is desired to use separate nozzles to spray different chemicals, then an analogous diagonal spray pattern can be employed by causing other spray nozzles to spray the front and rear teats from the alternate opposing sides of the common valley region.
Any type of spraying nozzle may be used in the positioning device of the present invention and typically, using two or more spray nozzles gives better coverage than a single nozzle. However, to optimise the teat coverage for minimum chemical consumption, it is necessary to consider a number of factors, such as the size and velocity of the droplets produced by a particular nozzle and also whether the nozzle produces a solid-cone or a hollow-cone spray pattern; a solid-cone pattern is generally more beneficial.
Moreover, the selected nozzles may be static or adapted to rotate and/or they may be oriented to spray at any suitable angle. For example, on a positioning device of the present invention the one or more spray nozzles may be oriented to point directly upwards so that the treatment chemical is sprayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the base plate. However, in a preferred arrangement, one or more of the nozzles is oriented to be inclined at an oblique angle, so that the treatment chemical is sprayed at an oblique angle towards the animal teats. The overall shape of the spray pattern produced by the one or more spray nozzles may be varied depending on how many nozzles at a time are actuated to spray, their relative positions on the positioning device, whether the nozzles produce solid- or hollow-cone spray patterns, the precise oblique angle at which each of the spray nozzles is oriented, the viscosity of the treatment chemical and the pressure at which the treatment chemical is delivered to the nozzles. A highly preferred arrangement has at least one nozzle towards the forward end of the positioning device on one side of the common valley region which may be activated to spray either concurrently or consecutively with at least one other nozzle located towards the rearward end on the other side of the common valley region, to produce an overall spray pattern that runs diagonally across the positioning device from its forward to its rearward ends. This "diagonal spray pattern" can be further optimised by using a combination of solid-cone nozzles set at an oblique angle to produce an elliptical spray pattern.
It has been found that the spray-pattern is improved when the control equipment which activates the one or more spray nozzles, is located as close as possible to the spray nozzles. This minimises the pressure drop which occurs at the instant the control equipment is activated to actuate supply of the treatment chemical to the nozzles; which pressure drop adversely affects the shape of the spray-pattern. However, siting the control equipment on the rotary platform presents its own technical challenge as it is necessary to ensure the solenoid does not suffer damage by being in close proximity with various fluids including slurry, urine etc. In a convenient arrangement, the present invention overcomes these difficulties by the positioning device having a space provided in the ribs/channels on its underside, which space could be sealed, in which to accommodate a solenoid valve or other spray control device, thereby using the positioned device itself to protect the solenoid valve/control device.
The Applicants have found that a further way to minimise the effects of the drop in pressure that occurs upon activation of the control equipment, is to pulse actuate the equipment, that is to switch it on, then rapidly off, then rapidly on again each time a nozzle is actuated to spray. The idea of having bursts of spraying is to interrupt the spray sequence at the point when the pressure drop reduces the quality of the spray pattern so as to give time for the pressure to recover before the spray is recommenced. There is also a further benefit in using the pulse spray technique; at the first spray the animal will tend to move so by having two bursts of spray increases the teat coverage.
Although it is important to ensure sufficient pressure is maintained to produce an optimal spray pattern, it has been found unnecessary to employ an excessively high pressure. In a preferred arrangement the present invention is capable of operating at a pressure of less than 175 psi.
To simplify cost of production, the positioning device according to the present invention may be injection moulded either as a single item or in two or more component parts. Preferably these component parts are adapted to fit together either directly or indirectly. The advantages of making the device in two or more parts is that it is possible, in the case of a device with a symmetrical design, to produce a single component part which is adapted to fit together with a second identical single component part and thereby make the positioning device. Fixing the two component parts together may be achieved using adhesive, clips, screws or protrusions on a first part of a first component that mate with recesses on a second part of an identical second component. Making the positioning device in two or more parts not only reduces the size of the tool needed for injection moulding, but also provides the opportunity to use one or more extension or spacer pieces to elongate the device, thereby increasing the separation between the spray nozzles and adapting it for larger animals.
The present invention also provides a method of spraying the teats of an animal with a treatment liquid, comprising to steps of:                a) positioning an animal positioning device having at least one spray nozzle as described above beneath the teats of an animal to be sprayed; and        b) providing a source of treatment chemical to the animal positioning device and causing the chemical to be sprayed from the at least one spray nozzle onto the teats being treated.
Preferably the treatment chemical is caused to be sprayed by means of, for example, an electronic signal from the ACR or automatic cup remover (part of the milking machine), a signal from the milking machine, a finger switch on the rotary platform, or a signal generated by the integrated herd management system which controls the milking process.
It is possible to use any conventional fixing means to fix the positioning device according to the present invention in the desired location under the udder of the animal being milked. Examples of suitable fixing means may include bolts and screws through pre-formed holes in the positioning device and the floor of the milking parlour or the rotary platform, alternately clips or adhesive may be used or bayonet type fixings. Further alternatively, the positioning device of the present invention may be retro-fitted and/or removably fitted in a desired location, e.g. on the floor of a milking parlour or on the table of a rotary platform, by means of suitable clips or other fixing arrangements. In a preferred embodiment, a foot plate may be fixed, for example by being glued, bolted or screwed, in the desired location, and the positioning device fitted and/or removably fitted to the foot plate using clips or other fixing arrangements.
The benefits of using the above foot plate system include: being able to retro-fit a positioning device to an existing rotary platform milking system; being able to remove a fitted positioning device to gain access underneath it for example to allow maintenance; being able to replace a positioning device should it become damaged or need updating.
The footplate may be formed as a plastics moulding or from metal and will comprise first attachment means adapted to fix the footplate, for example by means of gluing, bolting or screwing, to the floor of a milking parlour or on the table of a rotary platform; and second attachment means adapted to removably or irremovably attach the foot plate to the positioning device. Advantageously, the foot plate further comprises an aperture to serve as a delivery channel for conduits supplied from under the platform which for example provide treatment chemical, electricity, compressed air, vacuum etc. as required to operate the spray nozzles on the positioning device. The foot plate may be made as a single component or to obtain similar cost reduction and simplified moulding benefits to those described above in relation to the positioning device, a symmetrical design may be made by fitting together two identical components.


An interface for releasably coupling an extension and a support includes a plurality of tenons extending beyond respective mating edges of the support and the extension to form at least one slot between the tenons and a plurality of bearings to react to loading of the extension. Each bearing has at least one degree of freedom. The one degree of freedom may be a rotational degree of freedom.

Attaching different extension modules to an end of a patient support is desirable for performing different types of treatments. However, it is expensive and difficult to machine the interfaces of the extension modules and the patient support to sufficiently high tolerances to reduce the movement between the two pieces.
Often, the faces of the support and extension are relied upon to provide the points of contact between the two components. Trying to control these faces to sufficiently high tolerances can be a costly and time consuming process. In some situations, it may not be feasible to machine such a large surface within a specific tolerance. These surfaces may contain high points in certain areas which would serve as the points of contact, potentially creating a dangerous uneven loading condition that could lead to catastrophic failure when a patient is on the extension. Other extension systems in the prior art rely upon more complicated mechanisms or tightly toleranced interfaces, such as snap connections and closely machined rods and sockets.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a reliable, cost-effective interface that allows for an extension to be added to a support with minimal effort and reasonable tolerances. There is also a need for an interface that helps ensure even loading across multiple contact points when an extension is added to a support.


Articles are provided for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the articles of the present disclosure are modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil. After use, the articles, in embodiments polyurethane sponges, may have their absorbed materials removed therefrom, and the articles may then be reused to absorb additional materials.

The present disclosure provides articles for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides articles that have been modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil.
Oil spills can adversely affect the environment and are an increasing problem. Oil spills negatively impact waterways, lakes, rivers and oceans, and can be devastating to the environment and animal populations within and/or adjacent the affected waterways. Massive oil spills can result in long-term disastrous effects.
Oil recovery systems are utilized in the clean up of oil spills. One such oil recovery system includes the use of a sponge to soak up the contaminated oil. Once the contaminated oil is absorbed by the sponge, the absorbed oil in the sponge cavity can then be squeezed out of the sponge, leaving the oil-coated sponge behind. The oil-coated sponge can be reused and subsequently may then be disposed, if so desired.
Improved articles capable of removing oil and other hydrophobic materials from hydrophilic fluids, such as water, remain desirable.

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York


Plastic binding strips, one strip having studs which fit through holes in sheets to be bound, the other strip having holes to receive the studs are bound in a machine which compresses the strips toward each other, then cuts of excess stud length and forms rivet heads on the stud ends to bind the strips together. The present improvement over such machines uses a motor to drive linkages previously manually actuated. The binding motor drives linkages on either side of the machine which cause a transverse pressure bar to apply a pre-selected compressive force on the strips, then to initiate the movement of the knives which cut off the studs and form heads thereon and finally release the compressive force. The cutting and head forming functions are performed by springs which pull a transverse rod rearward of the machine to push rearward a support for the knives. A second motor drives a linkage which returns the pressure bar to its upward position as the binding cycle is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new and improved book binding machine of the type using a pair of plastic binding strips, the first strip having studs spaced along the length of the strip and the other strip having holes spaced complementary to the studs. The second strip is installed in the machine, punched sheets are aligned with the second strip, the studs of the first strip are inserted through holes in the sheets and in the second strip and the machine then compresses the strips toward each other, cuts off excess stud length and forms rivet heads on the studs to bind the book together. Thus the present invention comprises an improvement over U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,994,035 and 4,068,997 which employ many of the mechanical elements of the present invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,994,035 and 4,068,997 were manually operated machines, nevertheless motor driven machines are shown in such prior U.S. Pat Nos. as 4,270,970 and 3,811,146. However, the mechanisms used in accordance with the present invention are considerably simpler and less expensive than those heretofore used with motorized binding machines.
Means for returning a pressure bar to its upward position at the end of a binding cycle are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,970. The present invention employs a different mechanism for such return which is energized by a separate motor.


An elongated metal channel having a U-shaped cross-section has a cover and end caps secured thereto forming a housing. Along one wall of the housing are drilled longitudinally spaced holes. In some of the holes (which may have different orientations) are fixed metal collars having secured therein one end of a bundle of optical fibers. The fiber ends are secured by an adhesive which has been cured, after which the ends are polished. The fiber bundles are led through the housing to an opening (which may be in the cover) where a flexible sleeve has one end mounted. The fibers are threaded through the flexible sleeve and secured in a tip at the other end of the sleeve. The fibers in the tip are secured therein by an epoxy and polished. In some cases the metal collars with the fiber bundle are positioned at the end of a gooseneck with a lens mounted adjacent to the tip. The method by which the fibers are mounted in the collars is described.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an illuminating system providing multiple beams of light using one end of a bundle of optical fibers for each beam, while exposing the other ends of the bundles to a high intensity light source. More particularly, an elongated hollow housing has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in each of which the end of a optical fiber bundle is fixed.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,008, Keller et al., entitled: "Multiple Light Transmission from a Single Light Source", discloses a mounting structure which is connected to a light bulb reflector in which multiple optical fibers are mounted.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,790,249, Treace, entitled: "Illuminating Means for Operating Microscope", discloses the use of light carried by a fiber optic light guide to provide the illumination for a microscope.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,926, Heitman et al., entitled: "Fiber Optic Illuminating Assembly", discloses fiber optic bundles having one end adjacent to a light and the individual fiber other ends cut at various lengths to provide a plurality of point light sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,070, Chiu, entitled: "Adjustable Ring Light", discloses a circular housing having circumferentially spaced beams of light which converge. The beams may be emitted by ends of bundles of optical fibers and the point of convergency is movable along an axis.
Although all the foregoing patents disclose various fiber optics arrangements, none of them disclose a light bar structure for providing longitudinally spaced light beams which is readily modified to provide any desired number of such beams. Such a light bar is particularly useful in illuminating display cases so that separate items can be spotlighted and for decorative effects.


A method is provided for utilizing a title signal contained in digital data through a comparison of the title signal to a player signal stored in a player device.

Watermarking (or "digital watermarking") is a quickly growing field of endeavor, with several different approaches. The present assignee's work is reflected in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,841,978, 5,768,426, 5,748,783, 5,748,763, 5,745,604, 5,710,834, 5,636,292, 5,721,788, and laid-open PCT applications WO97/43736 and WO99/10837. Other work is illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,734,752, 5,646,997, 5,659,726, 5,664,018, 5,671,277, 5,687,191, 5,687,236, 5,689,587, 5,568,570, 5,572,247, 5,574,962, 5,579,124, 5,581,500, 5,613,004, 5,629,770, 5,461,426, 5,743,631, 5,488,664, 5,530,759, 5,539,735, 4,943,973, 5,337,361, 5,404,160, 5,404,377, 5,315,098, 5,319,735, 5,337,362, 4,972,471, 5,161,210, 5,243,423, 5,091,966, 5,113,437, 4,939,515, 5,374,976, 4,855,827, 4,876,617, 4,939,515, 4,963,998, 4,969,041, and published foreign applications WO 98/02864, EP 822,550, WO 97/39410, WO 96/36163, GB 2,196,167, EP 777,197, EP 736,860, EP 705,025, EP 766,468, EP 782,322, WO 95/20291, WO 96/26494, WO 96/36935, WO 96/42151, WO 97/22206, WO 97/26733.
Most of the work in watermarking, however, is not in the patent literature but rather in published research. In addition to the patentees of the foregoing patents, some of the other workers in this field (whose watermark-related writings can by found by an author search in the INSPEC database) include L Pitas, Eckhard Koch, Jian Zhao, Norishige Morimoto, Laurence Boney, Kineo Matsui, A. Z. Tirkel, Fred Mintzer, B. Macq, Ahmed H. Tewfik, Frederic Jordan, Naohisa Komatsu, and Lawrence O'Gorman.
The artisan is assumed to be familiar with the foregoing prior art.
In the present disclosure it should be understood that references to watermarking encompass not only the assignee's watermarking technology, but can likewise be practiced with any other watermarking technology, such as those indicated above.
Watermarking has various uses, but the present specification details several new uses that provide functionality and features not previously available.

Method for increasing the functionality of a media player/recorder device or an application program


A data port operates to support symmetric PCI Express-type data transfers when in a first mode of operation. When in a second mode of operation, at least a portion of the data port connections are used to support an asymmetric PCI Express-type data transfer. The asymmetric data transfer is accommodated by supporting, with respect to the asymmetric data port, partial data lanes, thereby reducing the number of data channels implemented in a direction of the lower data rate transfer.

As the processing power of computers increases so has the need for ever faster data transfer rates. Data transfers between computers and computer add-on components have traditionally been accommodated by industry accepted standards. Examples of industry standard bus types include PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), and SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) busses. Another type of data bus for supporting data transfers is generally referred to as PCI Express. PCI Express-type technology defines a standardized method of transferring symmetric data between a general purpose computing device, such as a laptop computer, and an add-in board or device. PCI Express technology defines symmetrical links (channels), as a result, peripheral devices that themselves transfer data asymmetrically use PCI Express technology in an inefficient manner. Therefore, a system and/or method that overcomes this problem would be useful.

Method and device for transmitting data using a PCI express port


A process is disclosed for reducing yarn threadline breakage during the washing step of a wet spinning operation to make fine denier yarns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for reducing yarn threadline breakage during the washing step of a wet spinning operation to make fine denier yarns.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,240, issued Nov. 1, 1977 on the application of Gallini et al., discloses a yarn guide which can be used to separate several wraps of a yarn about a pair of rolls. The yarn guide is said to be useful for yarns of greater than 200 denier and it is recommended that the yarn guide grooves be separated by more than 0.4 centimeter.


A drive train unit (HY, G) for a motor vehicle includes a first shaft (TW), a second shaft (PW), and a third shaft (AN). The first shaft (TW) is rotatably mounted at an inner diameter of the second shaft (PW) with a first bearing (L1). The second shaft (PW) is rotatably mounted at an inner diameter of the third shaft (AN) with a second bearing (L2, L2x). A lube oil feed to the first bearing (L1) and the second bearing (L2, L2x) takes place through a bore hole (B1) arranged in the first shaft (TW). An oil baffle chamber (S) is formed at an inner surface of the second shaft (PW) and includes a first outflow (S1) and a second outflow (S2). A drive train for a motor vehicle may include such a drive train unit (HY, G).

A drive train unit can be formed, for example, by a transmission, which is configured for forming different ratios between an internal combustion engine and driving wheels of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the drive train unit can be designed as a separate component, which is arranged in the drive train between the internal combustion engine and the transmission. A component of this type is also referred to as a hybrid module.
Patent application DE 10 2018 205 471.1, which is still unpublished, describes the mounting in a hybrid module for a motor vehicle. This hybrid module includes a damper hub, a housing, an electric machine, a torque converter including a central hub, and an output shaft. The central hub is supported against the output shaft via a bearing and is supported against the damper hub via two further bearings. The damper hub itself is supported against the housing via an additional bearing. The lube oil feed to the bearings is not disclosed, however.
DE 10 2013 219 326 A1 describes a transmission including a multi-disk clutch, in particular, an oil guidance arrangement including two different oil flows to antifriction bearings and to the multi-disk clutch of the transmission. An oil baffle chamber is arranged in one of the oil flows. Due to the oil baffle chamber, this oil flow is distributed between an oil feed to a compensating cavity of the multi-disk clutch and an oil feed to a torsional vibration damper.

Drive train unit and drive train for a motor vehicle


An automatic gain control system for controlling a gain of an A/D converter automatically by controlling reference voltages of said A/D converter at the time of analog-to-digital conversion of a signal which signal being clamped by a clamp circuit to a clamp level which is set to a center level before entering said A/D converter, comprising a clamp level control circuit for detecting the clamp level from an output of said A/D converter to control the clamp level; a first A/D converter for digital-to-analog converting an output of said clamp level control circuit; an automatic clamp level control system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high definition television receiver for decoding a high definition television signal having a compressed band width to an original high definition television signal, and in particular, to an automatic gain control system for performing a signal level control in converting an analog signal to a digital signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to transmit a high definition television signal by using a broadcasting satellite, a system capable of transmitting a high definition television signal via band width compression has been proposed in "A Satellite First Channel Transmission System for High Definition Television (MUSE)", Television Society Technical Report Material, TEBS 95-2, Vol. 7 No. 441; "A Satellite Broadcasting System of High Vision (MUSE)", Television Society All-Japan Meeting Material, 1987, 12-6.
This system is described in greater detail in the documents mentioned above, and the description thereof is omitted here. However, an arrangement (allocation of signals) of a MUSE signal will be described as to a signal format briefly with reference to FIG. 3.
A synchronizing signal consists of a frame pulse and a horizontal synchronizing signal and they are present respectively in a frame pulse section a and a horizontal synchronizing signal section b. A video signal is a time axis multiplexed signal of a color signal and a luminance signal which are respectively present in a color signal section c and a luminance signal section d. As a signal for controlling, there is a control signal which is present in a control section e. A sound signal is present in a sound/additional information section f together with additional information. Clamp level information is present in a clamp level section g. A horizontal line number is indicated for each of these signals.
FIG. 4 shows the format of the MUSE signal in the form of a waveform. As will be appreciated from the waveform, frame pulses 1 and 2 ar inserted every other field.
In this MUSE signal, a clamp level is at a center level of the amplitude of the MUSE signal, and for example, in the case of quantizing by 8 bits, the clamp level is specified to be at a 128th gradation of 256 gradations. Furthermore, the frame pulse 1 is at a 100% level of the signal amplitude, and it corresponds to a white clip level and a 239th gradation of the 256 gradations. The frame pulse 2 is at a 0% level of the signal amplitude, and it corresponds to a black level and is specified at a 16th gradation of the 256 gradations.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a prior art automatic gain control system. The reference numeral 1 designates a clamping circuit for softly clamping a horizontal synchronizing signal period of a MUSE signal by a horizontal pulse, 2 an A/D converter for converting the clamped MUSE signal to a digital signal, and 3 a clamp level control circuit for generating a clamp level control signal by detecting a difference digitally between a level of the 128th gradation of 256 gradations (referred to as a 128/256 level) and a level indicated by clamp level information in each of horizontal line numbers 563 and 1125. Reference numeral 4 designates a D/A converter for converting a digital signal for controlling the clamp level delivered from the clamp level control circuit 3 into an analog signal. Reference numeral 5 designates a DC level control circuit for controlling an offset of a DC voltage so that the clamp level control voltage from the D/A converter 4 becomes a clamp voltage optimum to the specification of the input of the A/D converter 2. Reference numeral 6 designates a frame pulse control circuit for generating a frame pulse level control signal by detecting differences digitally as to the amplitudes of the frame pulses, between a level indicated by information of the frame pulse No. 1 in a horizontal line number 1 and a 239/256 level, and between a level indicated by information of the frame pulse No. 2 in a horizontal line number 2 and a 16/256 level. Reference numeral 7 designates a D/A converter for converting a digital signal from the frame pulse level control circuit 6 into an analog signal. Reference numeral 8 designates a reference voltage control circuit for generating reference voltages for deciding a conversion range of the A/D converter 2 by the frame pulse level control voltage from the D/A converter 7.
In the prior art automatic gain control system as arranged as mentioned above, the clamping circuit 1, A/D converter 2, clamp level control circuit 3, D/A converter 4, and DC level control circuit 5 constitute an automatic clamp level control loop. Furthermore, the A/D converter 2, frame pulse level control circuit 6, D/A converter 7, and reference voltage control circuit 8 constitute an automatic amplitude control loop. When a MUSE signal of a normal amplitude is applied to the automatic gain control system, it is controlled so that each output voltage of the D/A converter 4 and the D/A converter 7 is zero voltage. In this case, when the automatic amplitude control loop is turned off and the A/D converter 2 is being supplied with normal reference voltages without changing the control of the reference voltages, even when the amplitude of the MUSE signal is increased or decreased from the normal amplitude, no clamp level change is caused in the clamped output of the clamping circuit 1 because the MUSE signal is clamped at its center amplitude value (an equivalent level to the clamp level line), and this clamped output is inputted to the A/D converter 2. As a result, the operation of the clamp level control circuit 3 is not changed, and the D/A converter 4 and the DC level control circuit 5 are also not changed. In other words, it is configured such that when the automatic amplitude control loop is maintained turned off, the automatic clamp level control loop is not affected by an amplitude change in the MUSE signal. However, where the automatic amplitude control loop is being turned on, the automatic clamp level control loop is also affected. The operation in such a case will now be described.
FIG. 6 shows a concrete circuit of the reference voltage control circuit 8. Resistors 10 and 11 having resistances R1 and R2 generates a voltage Vl at the junction point thereof. Resistors 12 and 13, an operational amplifier 14, and a transistor 15 constitute an inverted amplifier having a gain of 1 time, and it supplies a voltage -Vl as a reference voltage (Vref1) to the A/D converter 2. Resistors 16 and 17, an operational amplifier 18, and a transistor 19 constitute an inverted amplifier having a gain of 3 times, and it supplies a voltage -3Vl as a reference voltage (Vref2) to the A/D converter 2. Resistors 20 and 21, and an operational amplifier 22 constitute an inverted amplifier having a gain of 1 time, and resistors 23 and 24 generate a voltage Vl at the junction point thereof, and an offset voltage Vl is applied to the inverted amplifier. A resistor 25 serves as a gain adjusting resistor for controlling the reference voltages of the A/D converter 2 by a control output voltage of the D/A converter 7.
In the reference voltage control circuit 8 as configured as mentioned above, when a MUSE signal inputted has a normal amplitude, the output voltage of the D/A converter 7 becomes zero voltage. As a result, the output of the operational amplifier 22 is a voltage Vl, and no current flows through the resistor 25. Thus, the divided voltage Vl of the resistors 10 and 11 is not changed, and the reference voltages of the A/D converter 2 become respectively -Vl and -3Vl.
FIG. 7 shows various conditions of the reference voltages of the A/D converter 2, in which when the input level is normal, the reference voltages are shown at a.
Now it is supposed that, the level of the inputted MUSE signal is increased by about 1 dB from the normal level. The frame pulse level control circuit 6 detects a difference between a frame pulse level and a normal level, and generates a digital difference signal for controlling the level of the frame pulse having the amplitude increasing. The digital difference signal is supplied to the D/A converter 7. The D/A converter 7 generates at its output a voltage -Vo. This voltage -Vo is supplied to the operational amplifier 22 and an output of a voltage VI+Vo is produced. A current flows through the resistor 25 to the voltage dividing point of the resistors 10 and 11 to produce a voltage Vl+.DELTA.vo. As a result, the reference voltages of the A/D converter 2 become respectively (-Vl -.DELTA.vo) and (-Vl -3.DELTA.vo). An increment in the dynamic range of both the reference voltages is 2.DELTA.vo, and since this increment corresponds to about 1 dB, this increment in the range corresponds to an increment in the amplitude inputted to the A/D converter 2. As described above, although the dynamic range of the A/D converter 2 can be retained, a DC voltage shift of the reference voltages amounting to -2.DELTA.vo is generated. This condition is shown at b in FIG. 7.
Next, it is supposed that the level of the inputted MUSE signal is decreased by about 1 dB from the normal level. Similarly to the foregoing, the frame pulse level control circuit 6 generates a digital difference signal for controlling the level of a frame pulse whose amplitude is decreased, and the D/A converter 7 generates a voltage +Vo at the output thereof. This voltage +Vo is supplied to the operational amplifier 22, and a voltage Vl-Vo is outputted. A current flows from the voltage dividing point of the resistors 10 and 11 through the resistor 25. As a result, a voltage Vl-.DELTA.vo is generated at the voltage dividing point of the resistors 10 and 11. Consequently, the reference voltages of the A/D converter 2 become respectively (-Vl+.DELTA.vo) and (-Vl+3.DELTA.vo). A decrement in the dynamic range of both the reference voltages is 2.DELTA.vo, and since this decrement corresponds to about 1 dB, this decrement in the range corresponds to a decrement in the amplitude inputted to the A/D converter 2. In this manner, although the dynamic range of the A/D converter 2 can be insured, a DC voltage shift of the reference voltages amounting to +2.DELTA.vo is generated. This condition is shown at in FIG. 7.
However, the prior art automatic gain control system configured as described above involves a problem in that when the input level of a MUSE signal is increased or decreased from a normal level, the automatic amplitude control loop is operated and the two reference voltages of the A/D converter are changed. Thus, although the dynamic range can be ensured, since the two reference voltages change in the same direction, the center potential is shifted. Accordingly, in order to correct this, it is necessary that the automatic clamp level control loop is also operated. In other words, the automatic amplitude control loop and the automatic clamp level control loop have to be controlled simultaneously. However, the response characteristics and the loop gains of the two loops are complicated, and an input range corresponding to the reference voltages of the A/D converter is biased to one side, and it is difficult to maintain a satisfactory linearity.

Reference voltage regulation apparatus for an automatic gain control system

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A vacuum contact type printing device, for carrying out printing with an original film and a photosensitive material maintained in contact with each other, includes a flexible sheet on which the photosensitive material is placed, a sheet holding portion provided below the sheet, an original holding portion for holding an original facing the sheet, and a sealable exposure chamber containing the sheet, the sheet holding portion and the original holding portion. Switching valves for switching the pressure of the central portion and of the peripheral portions of the sheet holding portion between a reduced pressure and the atmospheric pressure are provided at the central and peripheral portions. A vacuum pump is connected to the exposure chamber to reduce the pressure of the exposure chamber, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the exposure chamber is provided. The pressure between the sheet and the sheet holding portion is switched by the switching valves successively from the central portion outwardly to peripheral portions and from the reduced pressure to the atmospheric pressure in response to the output from the pressure sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum contact type printing machine and a method of contact therefor employed in a process of reproduction. More specifically, the present invention relates to a large vacuum contact type printing machine and a method of contact therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A printing machine of interest to the present invention is disclosed in U.S Pat. No. 4,484,813. FIG. 8 shows a main portion of the printing machine shown in this patent. Referring to FIG. 8, a conventional printing machine comprises a printing table 102 holding a flexible blanket 126 on a blanket support plate 122 and an upper frame 103 which can be opened/closed in relation to the printing table 102. The upper frame 103 comprises a transparent plate 105 arranged on a lower surface of an edge frame 104. An airtight seal 114 is provided between the flexible blanket 126 and the transparent plate 105, whereby an exposure chamber A which is air tight is formed. The printing machine further comprises a vacuum pump VP for evacuating the exposure chamber A and a blanket attracting apparatus 130 which evacuates the air in a space B between the flexible blanket 126 and the blanket support plate 122. The space B may be maintained at atmospheric pressure as needed. When the air in the space B is evacuated, the flexible sheet 126 is brought into sealed contact with the blanket support plate 122.
An original film S and a photosensitive material P are held in contact between the flexible sheet 126 and the transparent plate 105 in the following manner. At first, the flexible blanket 126 is attracted to the blanket support plate 122 by means of the blanket attracting apparatus 130. In this state, the pressure in the exposure chamber A is reduced by the vacuum pump VP. Thereafter, the pressure in the space B is kept at atmospheric pressure.
The flexible blanket 126 is attracted to the blanket support plate 122 until the pressure in the exposure chamber A is reduced to some extent. Thereafter, the operation of the blanket attracting apparatus 130 is stopped and the pressure in the space B between the flexible blanket 126 and the blanket support plate 122 is kept at atmospheric pressure. Consequently, as shown by the two dotted chain lines in the figure, the flexible blanket is lifted by the atmospheric pressure in space B. Consequently, the original film S is brought into close contact with the photosensitive material P as shown by the two dotted chain lines in FIG. 8.
The conventional printing machine is structured as described above. It is adapted such that the flexible blanket 126 and the transparent plate 105 are brought into close contact gradually from the central portion to the peripheral portions. Consequently, any entrapped air which is likely to be present between the original film S and the photosensitive material P is readily removed. When attraction is done by the blanket attracting apparatus 130 or when the pressure in the space B is to be maintained at the atmospheric pressure, air is allowed to flow through communicating holes C.sub.1.
The conventional printing machine having the above described structure has the following disadvantages:
(1) Since the atmospheric pressure works uniformly on the lower surface of the flexible blanket 126 through the communicating holes C.sub.1, the flexible blanket 126 is not always brought into contact with the transparent plate 105 from the central portion to the peripheral portions.
(2) Especially in a printing machine having a large printing table, the above described disadvantage (1) becomes more conspicuous and air is more likely to be entrapped in the central portion. Therefore, it is difficult to realize satisfactory vacuum contact at high speed.

Vacuum contact type printing machine and method of contact therefor


The invention relates to a delivery system having a delivery goods vehicle for delivering inward goods, and having at least one automated transfer assembly which for transferring the goods in an automated manner from the delivery goods vehicle to a goods store comprises an object detection device. The delivery system moreover has a safety installation for securing a movement range of the transfer assembly when unloading the goods.

It is generally known from the prior art for inward goods, in particular material rolls, to be handled. This is often tedious and time-consuming.
The invention is based on an object of achieving a delivery system which is particularly efficient and functionally reliable. Furthermore, a corresponding complete plant and a corresponding method are to be achieved.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a delivery system having a delivery vehicle for delivering inward goods, in particular material rolls, having an automated transfer assembly for transferring the goods in an automated manner from the delivery vehicle to a goods store, wherein the transfer assembly comprises an object detection device, and having a safety installation for securing a movement range of the transfer assembly when unloading the goods.
This object is further achieved according to the invention by a complete plant having at least one delivery system according to the invention, and in particular having a plant, in particular a corrugated cardboard plant
This object is further achieved according to the invention by a method for delivering inward goods, in particular material rolls, comprising the steps:                delivering inward goods by means of a delivery vehicle;        transferring the goods in an automated manner from the delivery vehicle to a goods store by way of an automated transfer assembly which comprises an object detection device; and        securing a movement range of the transfer assembly by means of a safety installation when unloading the goods.
The core concept of the invention lies in transferring the goods in an automated manner, or self-acting manner, respectively, from the delivery goods vehicle to a goods store which is spaced apart from the delivery goods vehicle. The goods herein are unloaded from the delivery goods vehicle by means of the transfer assembly. Personnel is not required.
The object detection device leads to a particularly functionally reliable unloading of the delivery goods vehicle and prevents damage for example to said delivery goods vehicle, the transfer assembly, and/or to the goods. Said object detection device preferably operates in a non-contacting manner and is embodied, for example, as a camera or a sensor. The object detection device in relation to the delivery goods vehicle is preferably directed towards the front, the side and/or the rear.
Personnel can be particularly reliably protected on account of the safety installation. The safety installation is preferably capable of being manually activated or operated, respectively. The safety installation preferably acts in a non-contacting manner Said safety installation is embodied, for example, as an opto-electronic safety installation or as a sensor, a camera, or the like.
It is expedient for the goods to be disposed upright in the delivery goods vehicle. Said goods favourably are standing in at least one row in the longitudinal direction of the delivery goods vehicle.
The delivery goods vehicle is preferably capable of being driven and steered.
The transfer assembly is preferably embodied as an industrial truck.
The goods store is preferably accommodated in a building such as a shed.
The commercial vehicle being a commercial vehicle, in particular a truck or a rail vehicle, is preferably road-legal.
The transfer assembly comprising a gripping device for gripping the goods to be transferred, permits particularly reliable gripping and holding of the item of the goods to be transferred. Said gripping device is preferably able to be fixed in a clamping manner. The gripping device is preferably adjustable between an open position and a gripping position.
The gripping device comprising a first gripper arm installation for engaging on an item of the goods to be transferred, and a second gripper arm installation for engaging on the item of the goods to be gripped spaced apart from the first gripper arm installation, wherein the second gripper arm installation is longer in comparison to the first gripper arm installation when gripping the goods requires only extremely little space. Said gripping device is embodied so as to be asymmetrical. It is expedient for the gripper arm installations to be mutually adjustable, in particular pivotable.
The transfer assembly comprising a lifting device for lifting an item of the goods to the transferred permits unloading of the delivery goods vehicle in a manner that is particularly functionally reliable. The goods are thus also able to be lowered. The lifting device preferably has a lift mast which extends vertically.
The lifting device being embodied as a hydraulic lifting device and comprising a hydraulic fluid pressure variation detection installation for detecting a pressure variation of hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic lifting device preferably operates using hydraulic oil.
The design embodiment, in which the lifting device, upon detecting the completely raised state of an item of the goods to be transferred, lifts the goods further by at least 10 mm, preferably by at least 15 mm, prevents damage to the goods and to the delivery goods vehicle. Said goods are thus able to be readily lifted across a loading sill, fittings, or the like, of the delivery goods vehicle.
The design embodiment, in which the lifting device, upon detecting the completely raised state of an item of the goods to be transferred, lifts an item of the goods further by at most 50 mm, preferably by at most 40 mm, preferably by at most 30 mm, prevents damage to the goods and to the delivery goods vehicle, in particular to a roof of the latter.
The stop marker for predefining a nominal stopping position for the delivery vehicle is preferably disposed on the floor. Said stop marker enables in particular unloading of the delivery goods vehicle in a functionally reliable manner.
The safety installation, in which the safety installation is disposed on the transfer assembly, when in operation is moved conjointly with the transfer assembly, so to speak. Said safety installation is mobile and preferably has a variable safety range or scanning range, respectively. It is expedient for the safety range or scanning range, respectively, to be reduced when approaching the delivery goods vehicle.
The safety installation being installed in a locationally fixed manner, is embodied, for example, as a light barrier, a light grid, a light curtain, or the like. Said safety installation is immobile in relation to a hard surface/floor or a stop marker.
The releasing installation for releasing a movement range of the transfer assembly for the unloading of the goods, for activating or operating, respectively, the safety installation in terms of signaling is preferably at least temporarily connected to said safety installation. The releasing installation is preferably manually activatable.
The transfer assembly, comprising a first navigation installation and a second navigation installation which differs from the first navigation installation, is capable of navigating in a particularly rapid and reliable manner
Due to the second navigation installation, having a position accuracy that is greater than that of the first navigation installation, the navigation installations differ in terms of the position accuracy, or the location accuracy, respectively, of said navigation installations. The first navigation installation serves in particular for basic navigation and, for example, has a position accuracy between 1 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 1.5 cm and 10 cm, preferably of 5 cm, preferably of 2 cm, while the second navigation installation serves in particular for precision navigation and, for example, has a position accuracy between 0.1 cm and 3 cm, preferably between 0.15 cm and 2 cm, preferably of 1 cm, preferably of 0.2 cm. The first navigation installation preferably also permits ranging of the transfer assembly.
Due to the first navigation installation being in particular constantly active when displacing the transfer assembly, in particular up to the identification of an item of the goods to be gripped, the first navigation installation is in particular constantly active when displacing the transfer assembly. This preferably also applies to an automated driverless operation of the transfer assembly as well as to a manual operation of the transfer assembly.
The transfer assembly, in which the second navigation installation is active upon the identification of an item of the goods to be gripped, is particularly efficient. For example, the second navigation installation is active in an immediate vicinity of the item of the goods to be gripped.
The goods identification device, in which the second navigation installation utilizes a goods identification device and is preferably embodied as a three-dimensional goods identification system, preferably operates in a non-contacting manner and is preferably embodied as a sensor or a camera. Said goods identification devices in particular capable of identifying the material roll to be transferred. The goods identification device is embodied, for example, as an object detection device or goods detection device, respectively, and/or goods recognition device. An operating range of the goods identification device is preferably between 20 cm and 10 m, preferably between 30 cm and 8 m.
A superordinate controller by way of items of (position) information from the first and/or the second navigation installation knows in particular the positions of all goods transferred by means of the at least one transfer assembly.
It is expedient for a position and/orientation of the transfer assembly to be continually monitored by the navigation sensor and a superordinate controller, independently of the operating mode of said transfer assembly.
The goods are favourably embodied as material rolls, in particular paper rolls or cardboard rolls, respectively, and capable of being used in a cardboard plant for forming corrugated cardboard. Alternatively, the goods are pallets, or disposed on pallets, for example. Alternatively, said goods are embodied as pallet cages, for example.
The goods, or material rolls, respectively, can differ from one another, for example in terms of the transverse dimension or diameter, respectively, the axial extent, the material, or the like. The transverse dimension, or the diameter, respectively, of the goods or material rolls, respectively, in the store is preferably between 30 cm and 250 cm, preferably between 100 cm and 200 cm. The axial extent is favourably between 60 cm and 350 cm.
The cardboard plant having at least one delivery system according to the invention, and in particular having a plant, in particular a corrugated cardboard plant, is capable of forming a corrugated cardboard web, or corrugated cardboard sheets, respectively.
It is expedient for a transfer assembly to have a dedicated communication installation having a receiving unit for receiving external items of information or signals, respectively, which are items of travel, destination, and/or environment information, for example.
The at least one transfer assembly favourably has at least one dedicated displacement drive for, in particular directly or indirectly, driving at least one drivable running gear of said transfer assembly. The at least one transfer assembly is preferably able to be actuated in an independent manner. In particular, said at least one transfer assembly travels autonomously. Said at least one transfer assembly preferably travels without rails.
It is expedient for the transfer assembly to comprise a dedicated energy accumulator unit which is embodied, for example as a battery or rechargeable battery. The transfer assembly can preferably be steered. Said transfer assembly is preferably capable of travelling in a straight line or through curves.
The indefinite articles used in the claims do not represent a limitation in terms of quantity. For example, a multiplicity of rows having a multiplicity of goods as well as a multiplicity of personnel escape paths are preferably present.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in an exemplary manner hereunder with reference to the appended drawing.


Epicyclical gearing comprising a first and a second gear wheel turning around respective mutually parallel axes, each one comprising a respective first and a respective second crown wheel that are adjacent to each other; the gearing also comprising at least one third and at least one fourth gear wheel that are separate and mutually independent, a support body for the third and fourth gear wheels, the support body having hinge pins formed therewith as a one piece structure, the hinge pins providing a mount for the third and fourth gear wheels on the support body in a rotational manner around a third and, respectively, a fourth hinge axis parallel to the axes, the third gear wheel meshing with the respective first crown wheels and the respective fourth gear wheel meshing with the respective second crown wheels.

In the field of motion transmission by means of gear wheels there is known to use epicyclical gearings comprising a sun gear, a crown, a plurality of planet gears meshing with the sun gear and the crown and a planet gear holder, to which the planet gears are coupled by means of respective hinge pins.
Different configurations are known, in which one or more of the above said components are connected to one or more motors and to one or more users.
With the available envelope being the same for the installation of the gearing, the selection of the kind of architecture depends mainly on the load to be transmitted. As a matter of fact, as the load increases, not only do the stresses increase on the toothing of the wheels, which therefore require a dedicated surface treatment and finishing, but also the stresses on the support structures of the gear wheels such as, in particular, the hinge pins and the planet gear holders. Failures or deformations of the hinge pins or the planet gear holders generate stress concentrations and a subsequent local unpredictable wear of the various details moving one with respect to the other.
In the attempt to overcome such drawbacks, nowadays there are used wheels with a two helicoidal toothing mounted on plain bearings. If on one side such an architecture solves at least some of the above said problems, on the other side, it results poorly satisfactory in that it makes the assembly process of the gearing and the installation of the gearing on the dedicated machines particularly complicated. Besides, the two helicoidal wheel architecture requires an accurate calibration of all of the rigidities of the hinge pins of the planet gears and of the planet gear holder itself to avoid that, in a loaded condition, the toothing of the wheels is arranged in a meshing position other than the intended one and therefore operates in an excessive interference or play condition.


The invention relates to a device (100) for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, in particular a 3D metal printer, comprising a print head (1) and a device (40) for generating an inert atmosphere (22) within the print head (1) by means of a gas (55), in particular inert gas, wherein the print head (1) comprises a housing (3), a device (28) for feeding a metal (14), a piston (5), a reservoir (7) with an outlet opening (10) and an actuator device (12) for displacing the piston (5), wherein the reservoir (7) has a melt region (20) and a displacement body chamber (21) for a liquid phase (8) of the metal (14), wherein the melt region (20) adjoins the  inert atmosphere (22) and is connected to the displacement body chamber (21) such that, as a result of the displacement of the piston (5), the liquid phase (8) of the metal (14) can be caused to pass through the outlet opening (10). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the device (40) for generating the inert atmosphere (22) is arranged outside the print head (1), wherein said device comprises an accumulator (41), at least one means (42, 43) for pressure control, and a gas line (50, 51, 52). The invention furthermore relates to methods for operating the device (100).

The invention relates to an apparatus for additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, especially a 3D metal printer, and to a method of operating an apparatus for additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces.
In a multitude of manufacturing methods, for example 3D printing or metal inert gas welding, comparatively unreactive or chemically inert gases are used to prevent an unwanted reaction of an oxidation-sensitive material, especially a metal, with atmospheric oxygen. Customary gases usable as inert gases are, for example, nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide or mixtures of these. An inert gas may accordingly be either a gas or a gas mixture. The inert gas is typically stored in external tanks or bottles and supplied via a 2/2-way valve.
DE102016224047, which was yet to be published at the date of this application, discloses a printhead for a 3D printer, especially metal printer, comprising a housing, an apparatus for supply of a metal, a piston, a reservoir with an exit orifice, and an actuator device for moving the piston.
It is a feature of this document that the reservoir has a melt region and a displacement chamber for a liquid phase of the metal, wherein the melt region adjoins an inert atmosphere and is connected to the displacement chamber in such a way that the movement of the piston can induce the liquid phase of the metal to pass through the exit orifice.
Compared to thermoplastics, metals have a significantly higher melting point and simultaneously a significantly lower viscosity in the liquid state, as a result of which the actuator pulses needed to generate droplets are energy-intensive. The establishment of the inert atmosphere is not described in detail.

Device for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, and method for operating a device for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces


A light emitting diode circuit with an emitter coupled logic (ECL) interface is provided with temperature compensation by a series circuit consisting of a pair of resistors which are separated by at least one diode. A first switching field-effect-transistor which receives the output of the interface has its drain-to-source path coupled to the junction of one of the resistors and the diodes, while an output drive field-effect-transistor has its gate coupled to the junction of the other resistor and the diodes and its drain-to-source path coupled in series with a light emitting diode (LED).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transmitter for optical data communication. More particularly, this invention relates to a light emitting diode transmitter circuit with temperature compensation and with an input which is compatible with emitter coupled logic.
2. Description of Prior Art
In the present state of the art, optical data communication systems require transmitters which can convert electrical analogue or logic signals into lightwave signals. Commercially available emitter coupled logic (ECL) integrated circuits can operate up to the range of 200 to 300 megabits per second. This range is matched by the operating range of light emitting diodes (LED's). The electronic circuit which converts the logic or analogue input signal into a modulated current flowing through the LED is called a driver. For effective optical data communication the optical signal of the LED is required to be modulated with large amplitude, thus the driver is required to provide a large modulation of current through the LED.
Many applications require operation of the transmitter in wide temperature ranges. For example, in military applications operation at temperatures of -55 to 125 degrees Celsius are often required. However, the intensity output of LED's is sensitive to temperature variations such that intensity decreases as temperature increases. The effect of temperature increase can be compensated by increasing the current flowing through the LED, thereby restoring the optical intensity. For applications where the temperature can vary but the transmitter output signal must not vary in amplitude, the driver circuit must be supplemented by a circuit which senses the temperature increase and causes the LED current to increase.
Heretofore, LED driver integrated circuits with temperature compensation were known. A review of such circuits is given in Optical Fiber Telecommunications, Ed. S. E. Miller and I. P. Kaminow, Academic Press, 1988, pp. 727-730. However, in such circuits the LED current flows through many transistors comprising the driver and/or the temperature compensation circuitry. This means that the transistors for the driver and temperature compensation must be able to handle the large currents required for the LED. Transistors with larger currents have higher power dissipation, shorter operational lifetimes and are more expensive. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a transmitter circuit where the LED current flows only through one transistor in the driver and does not flow through the temperature compensation circuit.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transmitter circuit which can be fabricated from the metal semiconductor field effect transistor (FET) process for integrated circuit fabrication. As described in the review by Miller and Kaminow, driver circuits with temperature compensation have utilized bipolar transistors. However, the proliferation of foundries for the custom fabrication of FET integrated circuits has resulted in the need for new driver circuits which take advantage of the advantages of FET processing while minimizing their weaknesses. Among these advantages is a high reproducibility of transistors. Among the weaknesses is a low precision in resistors. The present invention of a LED driver circuit with temperature compensation maximizes the use of transistors and minimizes the use of resistors.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmitter circuit which is capable of being fabricated with the driver circuit and LED on the same integrated circuit substrate, also known as monolithic integration. Recent developments in semiconductor device processing methods enable the fabrication of such an integrated transmitter.

Light emitting diode transmitter circuit with temperature compensation


Compositions and methods based on quantification of extramitochondrial DNA (exmtDNA) sequences are provided that are useful for detecting the presence of or risk for having a disease associated with altered mitochondrial function, and for identifying agents suitable for treating such diseases. The exmtDNA sequences have strong homology to authentic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences.

A number of degenerative diseases are thought to be caused by or be associated with alterations in mitochondrial function. These diseases include Alzheimer's Disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, dystonia, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, schizophrenia, and myodegenerative disorders such as "mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke" (MELAS), and "myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber syndrome" (MERRF). Other diseases involving altered metabolism or respiration within cells may also be regarded as diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function.
Functional mitochondria contain gene products encoded by mitochondrial genes situated in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and by extramitochondrial genes not situated in the circular mitochondrial genome. The 16.5 kb mtDNA encodes 22 tRNAs, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNA) and only 13 enzymes of the electron transport chain (ETC), the elaborate multi-complex mitochondrial assembly where, for example, respiratory oxidative phosphorylation takes place. The overwhelming majority of mitochondrial structural and functional proteins are encoded by extramitochondrial, and in most cases presumably nuclear, genes. Accordingly, mitochondrial and extramitochondrial genes may interact directly, or indirectly via gene products and their downstream intermediates, including metabolites, catabolites, substrates, precursors, cofactors and the like. Alterations in mitochondrial function, for example impaired electron transport activity, defective oxidative phosphorylation or increased free radical production, may therefore arise as the result of defective mtDNA, defective extramitochondrial DNA, defective mitochondrial or extramitochondrial gene products, defective downstream intermediates or a combination of these and other factors.
Mitochondria are the subcellular organelles that manufacture bio energetically essential adeno sine triphosphate (ATP) by oxidative phosphorylation. Defective mitochondrial activity, including failure at any step of the ETC, may result in the generation of highly reactive free radicals that have the potential of damaging cells and tissues. These free radicals may include reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide, peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals, and potentially other reactive species that may be toxic to cells. For example, oxygen free radical induced lipid peroxidation is a well established pathogenetic mechanism in central nervous system (CNS) injury, such as that found in a number of degenerative diseases, and in ischemia (i.e., stroke).
There are at least two deleterious consequences of exposure to reactive free radicals arising from mitochondrial dysfunction that adversely impact the mitochondria themselves. First, free radical mediated damage may inactivate one or more of the myriad proteins of the ETC. According to generally accepted theories of mitochondrial function, proper ETC respiratory activity requires maintenance of an electrochemical potential in the inner mitochondrial membrane by a coupled chemiosmotic mechanism. Free radical oxidative activity may dissipate this membrane potential, thereby preventing ATP biosynthesis and halting the production of a vital biochemical energy source. In addition, mitochondrial proteins such as cytochrome c and "apoptosis inducing factor" may leak out of the mitochondria after permeability transition and may induce the genetically programmed cell suicide sequence known as apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD).
Second, free radical mediated damage may result in catastrophic mitochondrial collapse that has been termed "transition permeability". For example, rapid mitochondrial permeability transition likely entails changes in the inner mitochondrial transmembrane protein adenylate translocase that results in the formation of a "pore." In any event, because permeability transition is potentiated by free radical exposure, it may be more likely to occur in the mitochondria of cells from patients having mitochondria associated diseases that are chronically exposed to such reactive free radicals.
Altered mitochondrial function characteristic of the mitochondria associated diseases may also be related to loss of mitochondrial membrane electrochemical potential by mechanisms other than free radical oxidation, and such transition permeability may result from direct or indirect effects of mitochondrial genes, gene products or related downstream mediator molecules and/or extramitochondrial genes, gene products or related downstream mediators, or from other known or unknown causes.
Diabetes mellitus is a common, degenerative disease affecting 5 to 10 percent of the population in developed countries. The propensity for developing diabetes mellitus is reportedly maternally inherited, suggesting a mitochondrial genetic involvement. (Alcolado, J. C. and Alcolado, R., Br. Med. J. 302:1178-1180 (1991); Reny, S. L., International J. Epidem. 23:886-890 (1994)). Diabetes is a heterogenous disorder with a strong genetic component; monozygotic twins are highly concordant and there is a high incidence of the disease among first degree relatives of affected individuals.
At the cellular level, the degenerative phenotype that may be characteristic of late onset diabetes mellitus includes indicators of altered mitochondrial respiratory function, for example impaired insulin secretion, decreased ATP synthesis and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Studies have shown that diabetes mellitus may be preceded by or associated with certain related disorders. For example, it is estimated that forty million individuals in the U.S. suffer from late onset impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IGT patients fail to respond to glucose with increased insulin secretion. A small percentage of IGT individuals (5-10%) progress to insulin deficient non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) each year. Some of these individuals further progress to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). These forms of diabetes mellitus, NIDDM and IDDM, are associated with decreased release of insulin by pancreatic beta cells and/or a decreased end-organ response to insulin. Other symptoms of diabetes mellitus and conditions that precede or are associated with diabetes mellitus include obesity, vascular pathologies, peripheral and sensory neuropathies, blindness and deafness.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder associated with altered mitochondrial function and characterized by the loss and/or atrophy of dopamine-containing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra of the brain. Like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), PD also afflicts the elderly. It is characterized by bradykinesia (slow movement), rigidity and a resting tremor. Although L-Dopa treatment reduces tremors in most patients for a while, ultimately the tremors become more and more uncontrollable, making it difficult or impossible for patients to even feed themselves or meet their own basic hygiene needs.
It has been shown that the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces parkinsonism in animals and man at least in part through its effects on mitochondria. MPTP is converted to its active metabolite, MPP+, in dopamine neurons; it then becomes concentrated in the mitochondria. The MPP+ then selectively inhibits the mitochondrial enzyme NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase ("Complex I"), leading to the increased production of free radicals, reduced production of adenosine triphosphate, and ultimately, the death of affected dopamine neurons.
Mitochondrial Complex I is composed of 40-50 subunits; most are encoded by the nuclear genome and seven by the mitochondrial genome. Since parkinsonism may be induced by exposure to mitochondrial toxins that affect Complex I activity, it appears likely that defects in Complex I proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD by causing a similar biochemical deficiency in Complex I activity. Indeed, defects in mitochondrial Complex I activity have been reported in the blood and brain of PD patients (Parker et al., Am. J Neurol. 26:719-723, 1989).
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by loss and/or atrophy of neurons in discrete regions of the brain, and that is accompanied by extracellular deposits of .beta.-amyloid and the intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles. It is a uniquely human disease, affecting over 13 million people worldwide. It is also a uniquely tragic disease. Many individuals who have lived normal, productive lives are slowly stricken with AD as they grow older, and the disease gradually robs them of their memory and other mental faculties. Eventually, they cease to recognize family and loved ones, and they often require continuous care until their eventual death.
There is evidence that defects in oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria are at least a partial cause of sporadic AD. The enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (COX), which makes up part of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), is present in normal amounts in AD patients; however, the catalytic activity of this enzyme in AD patients and in the brains of AD patients at autopsy has been found to be abnormally low. This suggests that the COX in AD patients is defective, leading to decreased catalytic activity that in some fashion causes or contributes to the symptoms that are characteristic of AD.
Focal defects in energy metabolism in the mitochondria, with accompanying increases in oxidative stress, may be associated with AD. It is well-established that energy metabolism is impaired in AD brain (Palmer et al., Brain Res. 645:338-42, 1994; Pappolla et al., Am. J. Pathol. 140:621-28, 1992; Jeandel et al., Gerontol. 35:275, 1989; Balazs et al., Neurochem. Res. 19:1131-37, 1994; Mecocci et al., Ann. Neurol. 36:747-751, 1994; Gsell et al., J. Neurochem. 64:1216-23, 1995). For example, regionally specific deficits in energy metabolism in AD brains have been reported in a number of positron emission tomography studies (Kuhl, et al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 7:S406, 1987; Grady, et al., J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol. 10:576-96, 1988; Haxby et al., Arch. Neurol. 47:753-60, 1990; Azari et al., J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 13:438-47, 1993). Metabolic defects in the temporoparietal neocortex of AD patients apparently presage cognitive decline by several years. Skin fibroblasts from AD patients display decreased glucose utilization and increased oxidation of glucose, leading to the formation of glycosylation end products (Yan et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 91:7787-91, 1994). Cortical tissue from postmortem AD brain shows decreased activity of the mitochondrial enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase (Sheu et al., Ann. Neurol. 17:444-49, 1985) and .alpha.-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (Mastrogiacomo et al., J. Neurochem. 6:2007-14, 1994), which are both key enzymes in energy metabolism. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown increased levels of inorganic phosphate relative to phosphocreatine in AD brain, suggesting an accumulation of precursors that arises from decreased ATP production by mitochondria (Pettegrew et al., Neurobiol. of Aging 15:117-32, 1994; Pettigrew et al., Neurobiol. of Aging 16:973-75, 1995). In addition, the levels of pyruvate, but not of glucose or lactate, are reported to be increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients, consistent with defects in cerebral mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) activity (Parnetti et al., Neurosci. Lett. 199:231-33, 1995).
Signs of oxidative injury are prominent features of AD pathology and, as noted above, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical mediators of neuronal degeneration. Indeed, studies at autopsy show that markers of protein, DNA and lipid peroxidation are increased in AD brain (Palmer et al., Brain Res. 645:338-42, 1994; Pappolla et al., Am. J. Pathol. 140:621-28, 1992; Jeandel et al., Gerontol. 35:275-82, 1989; Balazs et al., Arch. Neurol. 4:864, 1994; Mecocci et al., Ann. Neurol. 36:747-51, 1994; Smith et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10540-43, 1991). In hippocampal tissue from AD but not from controls, carbonyl formation indicative of protein oxidation is increased in neuronal cytoplasm, and nuclei of neurons and glia (Smith et al., Nature 382:120-21, 1996). Neurofibrillary tangles also appear to be prominent sites of protein oxidation (Schweers et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 92:8463, 1995; Blass et al., Arch. Neurol. 4:864, 1990). Under stressed and non-stressed conditions incubation of cortical tissue from AD brains taken at autopsy demonstrate increased free radical production relative to non-AD controls. In addition, the activities of critical antioxidant enzymes, particularly catalase, are reduced in AD (Gsell et al., J. Neurochem. 64:1216-23, 1995), suggesting that the AD brain is vulnerable to increased ROS production. Thus, oxidative stress may contribute significantly to the pathology of mitochondria associated diseases such as AD, where mitochondrial dysfimction and/or elevated ROS may be present.
One hallmark pathology of AD is the death of selected neuronal populations in discrete regions of the brain. Cell death in AD is presumed to be apoptotic because signs of programmed cell death (PCD) are seen and indicators of active gliosis and necrosis are not found. (Smale et al., Exp. Neurolog. 133:225-230, 1995; Cotman et al., Molec. Neurobiol. 10:19-45, 1995.) The consequences of cell death in AD, neuronal and synaptic loss, are closely associated with the clinical diagnosis of AD and are highly correlated with the degree of dementia in AD (DeKosky et al., Ann. Neurology 27:457-464, 1990).
Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be critical in the cascade of events leading to apoptosis in various cell types (Kroemer et al., FASEB J. 9:1277-87, 1995), and may be a cause of apoptotic cell death in neurons of the AD brain. Altered mitochondrial physiology may be among the earliest events in PCD (Zamzami et al., J. Exp. Med. 182:367-77, 1995; Zamzami et al., J. Exp. Med. 181:1661-72, 1995) and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels that result from such altered mitochondrial function may initiate the apoptotic cascade (Ausserer et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:5032-42, 1994). In several cell types, including neurons, reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (.DELTA..PSI.m) precedes the nuclear DNA degradation that accompanies apoptosis. In cell-free systems, mitochondrial, but not nuclear, enriched fractions are capable of inducing nuclear apoptosis (Newmeyer et al., Cell 70:353-64, 1994). Perturbation of mitochondrial respiratory activity leading to altered cellular metabolic states, such as elevated intracellular ROS, may occur in mitochondria associated diseases and may further induce pathogenetic events via apoptotic mechanisms.
Oxidatively stressed mitochondria may release a pre-formed soluble factor that can induce chromosomal condensation, an event preceding apoptosis (Marchetti et al., Cancer Res. 56:2033-38, 1996). In addition, members of the Bcl-2 family of anti-apoptosis gene products are located within the outer mitochondrial membrane (Monaghan et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 40:1819-25, 1992) and these proteins appear to protect membranes from oxidative stress (Korsmeyer et al, Biochim. Biophys. Act. 1271:63, 1995). Localization of Bcl-2 to this membrane appears to be indispensable for modulation of apoptosis (Nguyen et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:16521-24, 1994). Thus, changes in mitochondrial physiology may be important mediators of apoptosis. To the extent that apoptotic cell death is a prominent feature of neuronal loss in AD, mitochondrial dysfunction may be critical to the progression of this disease and may also be a contributing factor in other mitochondria associated diseases.
Regardless of whether a defect underlying a disease associated with altered mitochondrial function may have mitochondrial or extramitochondrial origins, and regardless of whether a defect underlying altered mitochondrial function has been identified, the present invention provides methods that are useful for determining the risk or presence of diseases associated with such altered mitochondrial function, and for identifying agents that are suitable for treating such diseases. In particular, as is elaborated herein below, the present invention provides compositions and methods for the detection of diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function by quantification of unusual mtDNA-like sequences not found in mitochondria and referred to as extramitochondrial DNA (exmtDNA), and other related advantages.

Compositions and methods for identifying agents that quantitatively alter detectable extramitochondrial DNA:mitochondrial DNA ratios