A method of filtering a natural gas stream, at the end user's home, business or the like, in which at least a single gas appliance is located, is described in which natural gas odorants have been concentrated in the stream at sufficient levels to be a significant health hazard and/or an adverse environmental threat, such method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the stream to a filter selected from a group that includes at least activated charcoal and/or impingement adsorbing media wherein in the odorant in the gas stream at sufficient levels to be a significant health hazard and/or an adverse environmental threat due to aperiodic loading of the network occurring as a result of dampening effects of compressor-driven equipment and multiple customer outlet usage causing the ordorant to become clumped into packets, is filtered from the gas stream and captured irrespective of mode of transport, (b) passing the filtered natural gas stream to the end user's gas appliance wherein safe use of the energy associated with the natural gas stream occurs, (c) periodically and safely removing the filter of step (a) for disposing of captured odorant, and (d) inserting a new filter in place of the removed filter. In addition to remove odorants from the natural gas stream, the method of the present invention also can remove other types of contaminants previously mentioned and incorporated herein by reference, such as radon.

The development of conventional odorants used to identify natural gas have undergone an eventful history. Odorants have been added to an otherwise odorless gas to detect their presence before becoming a hazard. Pintsch gas condensates to odorize water gas were added to most city gas networks in the late 1800's. An investigation of odorants for natural gas was undertaken in 1931 by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in association with the American Gas Association. As a result, eighty-nine substances were evaluated arid properties for fifty-seven were measured, see U.S. Bureau of Mines Monograph No. 4, such substances being incorporated herein by reference.
The American Gas Association has sponsored subsequent research in which more than 300 materials have been screened.
Natural gas at the wellbore, contains enough hydrocarbons higher than ethane or sulfur bearing constituents (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans etc.) to be detected easily by smell. But such constituents are removed in dehumidification and other purification processes before entry into the natural gas distribution network.
Odorization of natural gas is usually undertaken for one or more of the following reasons:
(i) Customer protection wherein the user can smell a gas leak and obtain assistance to repair the line or equipment;
(ii) Gas leak detection in the natural gas network;
State regulations wherein more than half of the states in the United States require that natural gas have an odor and most states have adopted the National Fire Protection Association Standards requiring odorants within liquid propane.
However, odorants are known to be dangerous. They are known to be corrosive at elevated temperatures such as found in pilot light lines, burner boxes or combustion chambers and to produce by-products that are toxic and a danger to health. As an example of the latter, mercaptans undergo thermal decomposition to form hydrogen sulfide, polysulfides and the like. Amines (within the system as a moisture scrubber) also acts as a catalyst to increase the efficiency of the above-mentioned reactions.
I have also found that once within a human's body, they do not dissipate and instead build in increments to burden the body to a significant degree, such progression being a function of frequency and level of exposure. While the EPA and various State Agencies may be aware of the problem of odorants in gas lines, they do not think the reported exposure is of sufficient levels to be dangerous. Moreover, odorants concentration levels at a customer-end user's home, business and the like are not monitored.
In such situations, I find that surprisingly large concentrations of natural gas ordorants sporadically occur. Sources of such concentration: dampening effects of the compressor-driven network and multiple customer outlet usage that add to aperiodic loading of the natural gas stream coupled with surprising longevity of the in situ odorants. As a result, natural gas odorants can flow to appliances in the customer's home, or the like at sufficient levels to be a health and/or environmental hazard, i.e., exceed Federal and/or State health and safety standards. Moreover, although the original source of gas odorants is in the gas phase, both liquid and gaseous forms can be transported alone or attach to particulates and form the final end-use contamination levels at the appliance to be used.
Conventional odorants to which the present invention relates include mercaptans, aliphatic sulfides and cyclic carbon sulfur ring compounds aloe or in combination, having potencies resulting from normal concentrations of 0.5 to 1.5 lb per million cubic feet of natural gas used in conventional gas gathering and distribution networks:
______________________________________ TYPE CHARACTERISTICS ______________________________________ MERCAPTANS TYPICALLY A SH GROUP such as C2H6SH Examples: ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, teriary butyl and amyl mercaptans. ALIPHATIC TYPICALLY A SULFUR MOLECULE SULFIDES ATTACHED TO A STRAIGHT CARBON (THIOETHERS) CHAIN Examples: dimethyl, ethyl, diethyl, propyl, isopropyl sulfides SULFUR RING Examples: thiophane COMPOUNDS ______________________________________

Method for filtering odorant from a gas stream


Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes a vascular access device, a sensor and sensor electronics, the system being configured for insertion into communication with a host's circulatory system.

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the pancreas cannot create sufficient insulin (Type I or insulin dependent) and/or in which insulin is not effective (Type 2 or non-insulin dependent). In the diabetic state, the victim suffers from high blood sugar, which can cause an array of physiological derangements associated with the deterioration of small blood vessels, for example, kidney failure, skin ulcers, or bleeding into the vitreous of the eye. A hypoglycemic reaction (low blood sugar) can be induced by an inadvertent overdose of insulin, or after a normal dose of insulin or glucose-lowering agent accompanied by extraordinary exercise or insufficient food intake.
Conventionally, a person admitted to a hospital for certain conditions (with or without diabetes) is tested for blood sugar level by a single point blood glucose meter, which typically requires uncomfortable finger pricking methods or blood draws and can produce a burden on the hospital staff during a patient's hospital stay. Due to the lack of convenience, blood sugar glucose levels are generally measured as little as once per day or up to once per hour. Unfortunately, such time intervals are so far spread apart that hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic conditions unknowingly occur, incurring dangerous side effects. It is not only unlikely that a single point value will not catch some hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic conditions, it is also likely that the trend (direction) of the blood glucose value is unknown based on conventional methods. This inhibits the ability to make educated insulin therapy decisions.
A variety of sensors are known that use an electrochemical cell to provide output signals by which the presence or absence of an analyte, such as glucose, in a sample can be determined. For example, in an electrochemical cell, an analyte (or a species derived from it) that is electro-active generates a detectable signal at an electrode, and this signal can be used to detect or measure the presence and/or amount within a biological sample. In some conventional sensors, an enzyme is provided that reacts with the analyte to be measured, and the byproduct of the reaction is qualified or quantified at the electrode. An enzyme has the advantage that it can be very specific to an analyte and also, when the analyte itself is not sufficiently electro-active, can be used to interact with the analyte to generate another species which is electro-active and to which the sensor can produce a desired output. In one conventional amperometric glucose oxidase-based glucose sensor, immobilized glucose oxidase catalyses the oxidation of glucose to form hydrogen peroxide, which is then quantified by amperometric measurement (for example, change in electrical current) through a polarized electrode.


A method of aiding report construction based on inference of implicit application level relationships is provided herein. The method may include the following steps: analyzing a model of a software application to yield data elements associated with base objects of the software application and relationships between the data elements; generating a list of reportable objects comprising the base objects and objects associated with the data elements and their relationships; ordering the reportable objects based on at least one of: content and usage of the reportable objects, to yield an ordered list; and presenting the ordered list in a form usable for building a report on the software application, wherein at least one of: the analyzing, the generating, the ordering, and the presenting, is carried out by at least one processor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to software reporting systems and more particularly, to an aiding tool for such systems.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Users of large information technology (IT) systems usually do not understand the underlying data model of the software applications they are using. This situation is typical since the users, being business people, are not responsible for developing the software applications and so a deep understanding of the data model is not necessary. However, over the life cycle of IT business analysis, reporting, for example, of the compliance of business rules and requirements of these software applications, plays an important role. This reporting is usually carried out by business people mainly because the developers of the software application do not always anticipate all of the reporting needs of the users (business people) of their applications.
Many reporting tools are known in the art and are implemented along the life cycle of IT systems and business analytics. Currently reports are typically generated either based on an existing database schema or based on a finite predefined set of developer provided objects that serve as a rigid set of reportable objects which is the basis for the reports. Current solutions offer little or no flexibility as to the scope of the reportable objects and more specifically, to the relationships between data elements of the software application as manifested in the reportable objects.

Aiding report construction based on inference of implicit application level relationships

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and system for providing a class-based statistical language model representation from rule-based knowledge is disclosed. The class-based language model is generated from a statistical representation of a class-based rule net. A class-based rule net is generated using the domain-related rules with words replaced with their corresponding class-tags that are manually defined. The class-based statistical representation from the class-based rule net is combined with a class-based statistical representation from a statistical language model to generate a language model. The language model is enhanced by smoothing/adapting with general-purpose and/or domain-related corpus for use as the final language model. A two-pass search algorithm is applied for speech decoding.

The ability of computer systems to recognize speech has vastly improved with the progress of technology. These improvements have given rise to new areas of speech recognition technology which are being utilized in various fields today. Language models play a very important role in speech recognition systems. There are two common types of language models that are used today. One is a rule-based statistical language model (RSLM) and the other is a statistical language model (SLM).
SLM is statistics-based and uses a large amount of text to determine its model parameters automatically. The parameters govern the natural language processing or speech recognition in an SLM. An SLM can be trained more easily and decode at a faster speed, however, it has many disadvantages. A disadvantage of using an SLM is that it lacks in quality since it depends on a corpus to train the SLM. A corpus is a data set collected from real-world applications. For example, text from a newspaper is considered as a text corpus. Therefore, the SLM requires a huge corpus with a very large coverage to perform at sufficient levels. In practice, the large corpus and coverage requirements impose great limitations, especially in narrow-domain dialogue system. Thus, building an SLM becomes very difficult and even if build results in poor performance.
A rule-based statistical language model (RSLM) can be used to overcome these drawbacks. The RSLM obtains the statistical information directly from the rule net, and builds a statistical language model with the statistical information. A rule net is a net of grammar rules derived from general linguistics or domain knowledge such as syntactic or semantic knowledge. These rules are created for governing the use of words in the rule net. The disadvantage of RLM is that it works well only in closed environment. Another disadvantage of using a rule-based system is that the created rules are often not complete enough to cover all circumstances when the system works in an open environment. Due to lack of complete knowledge, the rule-based system lacks the ability to perform accurately and with precision. Another disadvantage of a rule-based system is when a large amount of rules are used decoding speed slows down drastically and creates a fatal situation during real-time system implementation.

Method and system for using rule-based knowledge to build a class-based domain specific statistical language model


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polycarbonate ether polyol, by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I), a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst and a starter compound. The catalyst of formula (I) is as follows:

Polyurethanes are polymers which are prepared by reacting a di- or polyisocyanate with a polyol. Polyurethanes are used in many different products and applications, including as insulation panels, high performance adhesives, high-resilience foam seating, seals and gaskets, wheels and tyres, synthetic fibres, and the like.
The polyols used to make polyurethanes are polymers which have multiple reactive sites (e.g. multiple hydroxyl functional groups). The polyols which are most commonly used are based on polyethers or polyesters.
One method for making polyether polyols in industry is by reacting an epoxide with a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst in the presence of a starter compound.
The nature and properties of the polyols have a great impact on the nature and the properties of the resultant polyurethanes. It is desirable to include polycarbonate linkages in the backbone of polyether polyols, as carbonate linkages in the polyol may improve the properties of the resultant polyurethane, for example, the presence of carbonate linkages may improve the UV stability, hydrolytic stability, chemical resistance and/or mechanical strength of the resulting polyurethane. The presence of carbonate linkages also increases the viscosity of the resulting polyol, which can limit use in some applications. It is therefore important to be able to control the ratio of ether linkages to carbonate linkages in polyols to tailor properties for widespread application. It is also important to be able to control the molecular weight and polydispersity of the polyol, as these properties impact usefulness and ease of processing of the resultant polyols.
DMC catalysts for use in the preparation of polyethers were first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,256 by The General Tyre and Rubber Company. It was subsequently found that carrying out this reaction in the presence of a starter compound yielded a polyether polyol.
DMC catalysts are also capable of preparing polyether polyols which contain carbonate linkages in the polymer backbone (hereinafter referred to as polycarbonate ether polyols). To prepare these types of polymers, the reaction is typically carried out at high pressures of carbon dioxide. It has generally been found that, for DMC catalysts, in order to obtain appreciable incorporation of carbon dioxide, the reaction must be carried out at pressures of 40 bar or above. This is undesirable as industrial equipment for preparing polyols are typically limited to pressures of up to 10 bar. For example, in US 2013/0072602, the examples set out the polymerisation of propylene oxide in the presence of a starter compound, and an additive at 50 bar CO2. The resulting polycarbonate ether polyols incorporate between 17.8 and 24.1 wt % CO2. Similar results can be seen in US 2013/0190462.
In WO 2015/022290, the examples show that when the polymerisation of propylene oxide is carried out in the presence of a DMC catalyst and a starter compound in the range of 15-25 bar CO2, the resulting polyols incorporated between 10.0 and 15.4 wt % CO2.
It is therefore desirable to be able to prepare polycarbonate ether polyols under pressures used in industrial polyether polyol equipment. It is also desirable to obtain appreciable incorporation of carbon dioxide (e.g. ≥20 wt % carbon dioxide, which requires a proportion of carbonate linkages of ˜0.5 in the polymer backbone, depending on the nature of the starter used) under low pressures.
WO 2010/028362 discloses a method for making polycarbonate polyols by copolymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide in the presence of a chain transfer agent and a catalyst having a permanent ligand set which complexes a single metal atom. The polyols prepared in the examples have a proportion of carbonate linkages ≥0.95 in the polymer backbone. These systems are designed to prepare polycarbonates having little or no ether linkages in the polymer backbones. Furthermore, each of the examples is carried out at high pressures of 300 psig (about 20 bar) carbon dioxide.
WO 2013/034750 discloses a method for preparing polycarbonate polyols using a catalyst of formula (I):

The polyols prepared in the examples have ≥95% carbonate linkages, and generally ≥99% carbonate linkages in the polymer backbone.
WO 2012/121508 relates to a process for preparing polycarbonate ethers, which are ultimately intended for use as resins and soft plastics. This document is not concerned with preparing polyols. The process disclosed in WO 2012/121508 requires the copolymerisation of an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a DMC catalyst and a metal salen catalyst having the following formula:

The examples are each carried out at 16 bar CO2 or above. The resulting polycarbonate ethers contain varying amounts of ether and carbonate linkages. However, said polymers have a high molecular weight, have high polydispersity indices (that is, PDIs of 3.8 and above) and are not terminated by hydroxyl groups. These polymers cannot therefore be used to make polyurethanes.
Gao et al, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 2012, 50, 5177-5184, describes a method for preparing low molecular weight polycarbonate ether polyol using a DMC catalyst and a di-carboxylic acid starter. The proportion of carbonate linkages can be increased up to 0.75 in the resultant polyols by decreasing the temperature (50° C.) and increasing the pressure (40 bar), when using a dicarboxylic acid starter which is apparently crucial to the ability to prepare polyols with high proportions of carbonate linkages. These conditions are unfavourable for economic industrial application. Gao et al suggests that dual catalysts systems for preparing polycarbonate ether polyols are unfavourable.
With previously reported catalyst systems, even at the widest range of temperature and pressures that have been deployed, it has reportedly not been possible to prepare polyols with proportions of carbonate linkages between 0.75 and 0.9.


A method for measuring a mutual capacitance between electrodes of a touch sensitive device includes generating a periodic pulse, communicating the pulse to a drive electrode, and measuring a mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and a sense electrode at a point of intersection between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. Measuring further includes continuously integrating a sense signal from the sense electrode to thereby generate an integrated sense signal, periodically sampling the integrated sense signal at a first time that is prior to a falling edge of the pulse, and at a second time that is prior to a rising edge of the pulse to thereby sample a maximum value and a minimum value of the integrated sense signal, digitizing the maximum value and the minimum value, and determining a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value to thereby determine a mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the sense electrode.

1. Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to capacitive touch sensors, and more particularly to a projected capacitive touch sensor circuit for detecting a touch location.
2. Description of Related Art
Projected capacitive touch sensors typically include a substrate upon which electrodes for sensing a touch location are disposed. The substrate may be a durable glass having high optical transparency for viewing images displayed by an underlying display device that displays images such as graphical buttons and icons. When a user touches, for example with a finger or a stylus, on the outer surface of the substrate at a location corresponding to a desired selection displayed on the display device, the location is determined by sensing changes in capacitances between the electrodes.
In some projected capacitive touch sensors, the electrodes are arranged in rows of electrodes and columns of electrodes. The rows and columns are electrically isolated from one another via an insulating layer. A touch location is determined by driving electrodes of a first orientation (e.g., the column electrodes or drive electrodes) with a square wave signal (i.e., drive pulse). Sense circuitry coupled to the electrodes of the other orientation (e.g., the horizontal electrodes or sense electrodes) measures current flow between the electrodes due to mutual capacitive coupling that exists between the column electrodes and the row electrodes. The amount of current flow is directly proportional to the value of the mutual capacitance and therefore facilitates the determination of the mutual capacitance. The mutual capacitance between the intersection of a column electrode and a row electrode will change when a user touches the substrate in the vicinity of the intersection.
Typical sense circuits for measuring the mutual capacitance operate by repetitively switching the sense electrodes to an input of an analog integrator circuit, which includes an amplifier with a feedback circuit that includes a capacitor that couples the amplifier output to the amplifier input. Such a circuit typically comprises a switch that couples the input of the integrator to the sense electrode just before each falling edge of the drive pulse that drives the drive electrodes and than uncouples just before each rising edge so as to integrate only signals of one polarity. The output of the integrator is then digitized and the digitized value is utilized to determine whether and where a touch has occurred.
However, the relative magnitudes of parasitic capacitances of the switch at the input of the integrator are large in comparison with the mutual capacitances between electrodes, which is typically measured in fractions of a picofarad. To overcome the effects caused by the parasitic capacitances, a number of integration cycles are performed before a touch location may accurately be determined. For example, the integrator may integrate the signal measured on the sense electrode over two hundred or more cycles, which could take 1 ms or more for a drive pulse with a frequency of 200 kHz. The length of time to make a determination increases with the number of electrodes that must be measured, which may affect user experience for relatively large displays that typically have a large number of electrodes to measure, relative to smaller pCap displays used in mobile devices.

Projected capacitive touch sensor circuit


In the third step of joining of the metal members, the pressing force of the rotational tool under rotation is maintained at the third pressing force that is smaller than the second pressing force until a specified period of time elapses after the tip of the pin portion of the rotational tool has reached the specified point that is at a distance from the joining face. Accordingly, the proper plastic flow of the metal member can be generated and thereby the joining strength with a sufficient period of time of agitation can be ensured, by maintaining a high temperature enough to soften the metal member and by preventing the rotational tool from coming into the metal member too deeply or from penetrating the metal member.

The present invention relates to a frictional jointing, and in particular to a frictional joining technology in which different kinds of metal members that lap over are joined.
Members made of aluminum or aluminum alloy (hereinafter, referred to as "aluminum" simply) have been recently used as a body panel and the like of many automotive vehicles to reduce a vehicle weight. Accordingly, the joining of different kinds of metal members, such as aluminum and iron, or aluminum and steel, has been increasing. The frictional joining is also known as such a joining method. In this frictional joining, there is provided a work that is comprised of a first metal member, for example, that is made of aluminum alloy and a second metal member, for example, that is made of steel and has a higher melting point than the first metal member, which lap over. Then, a rotational tool is pushed against this work from a side of the first metal member, the first metal member is softened and made in a plastic flow state by a frictional heat generated via the rotational and pressing operation of the rotational tool, and so both metal members are joined in a solid state (joining in the solid state without melting) under a specified temperature that is lower than the melting point of the metal members.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-245782 discloses a certain spot joining technology. Herein, the rotational tool under rotation having its pin portion and shoulder portion is pushed against the work comprised of plural metal members at the high rotational speed and with the large pressing force at the initial stage in which only the pin portion contacts the work, so the generation of the frictional heat can be promoted. Meanwhile, the rotational tool under rotation is pushed at the low rotational speed and with the small pressing force at the terminal stage in which both the pin portion and the shoulder portion contact the work, so the proper agitation of the softened portion of the work can be promoted.
Also, the applicant has applied for a patent relating to the improved spot joining method and apparatus of the metal members in which the rotational tool is pushed with the stepwise increased pressing force to ensure the proper positioning of rotation by the pin portion of the rotational tool (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/000,063).
Meanwhile, in the case where different kinds of metal members, such as aluminum and steel, are joined, it is preferable in order to ensure the high joining strength that new uncovered surfaces of the metal members are exposed by pushing out the zinc plating layer existing on the joining boundary face from the joining portion of the members or by destroying the oxidation film. In order to do so, the metal member into which the rotational tool comes needs to be softened sufficiently and the plastic flow is generated. Here, in order to properly generate the plastic flow, it is necessary to promptly increase the heat generated at the joining portion to a temperature that can soften the metal member, and then to maintain the increased temperature for a while so that the continuous plastic flow of the metal member can be ensured. Herein, the invention of the above-described patent application is appropriate in order to promptly increase the temperature of the joining portion to the temperature to soften the metal member, because the considerably high pressing pressure is required. However, there are following concerns.
Namely, a certain period of time of agitation by the rotational tool under a relatively high pressing force at the terminal stage with both the pin portion and the shoulder portion of the rotational tool pushed into the metal member to generate the proper plastic flow at the metal member would cause an improper situation in which the rotational tool comes into the upper aluminum plate too deeply, so that the thickness of part of the aluminum existing between the tip of the rotational tool and the lower steel plate (remaining thickness) becomes too thin. Eventually, there would occur a situation in which the aluminum plate has been torn off. As a result, an aluminum loss would happen at the joining portion, and thus there would occur problems of galvanic corrosion or joining-strength decrease due to a difference in electric potential between the aluminum and the steel at this aluminum-loss portion. Also, the torn-off aluminum is attached to the rotational tool, which would prevent the rotational tool from properly operating for joining at subsequent joining portions. Further, the rotational tool penetrates the upper aluminum plate, and reaches the joining boundary face, hitting against the lower steel plate. As a result, the tip of the pin portion of the rotational tool would be worn improperly.

Frictional spot joining method and frictional spot joining apparatus


A color image forming apparatus for forming a plurality of toner images on a rotating image retainer, wherein the image retainer, a group of developing devices disposed below the image retainer and a cleaning device disposed above the image retainer are integrated to constitute a process unit, toner recovered by the cleaning device is stored in the process unit, and the image retainer can be removed from the process unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a color image forming apparatus in electrophotography. More particularly, the present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus which is compact in size and has an improved maintenance property and improved performance for jam processing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming multi-color images such as full color images or functional color images, a charging device for charging a photosensitive drum as an image retainer, image exposure means for exposing images on the photosensitive drum, developing devices for developing an electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum with a toner, transfer device for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive drum onto recording paper, and the like, are disposed around the photosensitive drum.
Among them, the developing device in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus for the full color image consists of three or four developing devices for storing the toners of yellow (Y), Magenta (M) and cyan (C) and, in some cases, black (BK). Each toner image of the yellow (Y), Magenta (M) and cyan (C) and in some cases, black (BK), is formed on the photosensitive drum while it rotates three times or four times, and each toner image is transferred to recording paper to obtain the full color image. In such an image forming system, the color image forming apparatus can be made compact by reducing the width of the three or four developing devices and disposing them closely adjacent to one another.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55661/1986, a color image forming apparatus in accordance with such an image forming system is proposed. Latent images are formed by three exposure means corresponding to three developing devices, respectively, and the photosensitive drum, the developing devices and cleaning means are integrated as one unit so that the unit can be taken out from an apparatus main body. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application No. 320596/1987 discloses an apparatus in which one exposure means is used, developing devices are arranged in superposition with one another and integrated as one unit in the same way as described above so that the integrated unit can be taken out from the apparatus main body.
In the above-mentioned color image forming apparatuses described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55661/1986 and Japanese Patent Application No. 320596/1987, the maintenance property can be improved. It is true, but spill and false mixing of developers are likely to occur when the unit is fitted to, or removed from, the apparatus main body.
In color image forming apparatuses for transferring each color toner image to recording paper by use of a transfer drum, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 72159/1983 discloses an apparatus wherein devices around the photosensitive drum are integrated as one unit.
However, the color image forming apparatus disclosed in this Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 72159/1983 is not free from the following drawbacks.
(1) The image forming portion extends not only to the periphery of the photosensitive drum but also to the transfer drum. PA1 (2) A high level of accuracy must be secured in the peripheral speeds and the gap between the photosensitive drum and the transfer drum. PA1 (3) A release mechanism is necessary in order to take out the photosensitive drum.
In the color image forming apparatus using the transfer drum described above, the mechanism gets complicated as described in items (2) and (3) and the cost of production becomes high. Moreover, image forming means are not concentrated around the photosensitive drum in the same way as in a monochromatic image forming means which does not require a transfer drum, and the merits brought about by the integration into one unit (process unit) of the image forming portions cannot be obtained sufficiently.


A polymerizable composition according to the present invention includes a compound (A) including two or more allyloxycarbonyl groups represented by Formula (1); at least one kind of polymerization initiator (B) selected from the group consisting of a peroxyketal-based radical polymerization initiator, a peroxy monocarbonate-based radical polymerization initiator, and a peroxyester-based radical polymerization initiator; and at least one kind of photochromic compound (C) selected from a naphthopyran compound group.

Photochromism is a reversible action in which in a case where a certain compound is irradiated with light containing ultraviolet rays such as sunlight or mercury lamp light, a color thereof quickly changes, and in a case where irradiation with light is stopped and the compound is put in a dark place, the color returns to the original color, and photochromism is applied in various uses.
For example, photochromism is applied also in a field of a spectacle lens, plastic lenses having photochromic properties can be obtained by curing polymerizable monomers to which various photochromic compounds having the above properties are added. As photochromic compounds, a fulgimide compound, a spirooxazine compound, a chromene compound, and the like which can be suitably used for such uses have been found.
Photochromic spectacles are spectacles which are quickly colored in the outdoors with irradiation of light including ultraviolet rays such as sunlight to function as sunglasses and which fade in the indoors without such light irradiation to function as transparent ordinary spectacles, and demands thereof have recently increased.
With respect to the photochromic spectacle lens, a lens made of plastic is particularly preferred in view of light weight and safety, and the photochromic properties are provided to such a plastic lens generally by combining with an organic photochromic compound. As the combination method, a method of impregnating the surface of a lens not containing photochromic properties with a photochromic compound (hereinafter referred to as an impregnation method) and a method of directly obtaining a photochromic lens by dissolving a photochromic compound in a monomer and performing polymerization thereon (hereinafter referred to as a mixing method) are known. Various techniques have been proposed for impregnation methods (see Patent Documents 1 to 3) and mixing methods (see Patent Documents 4 and 5).

Polymerizable composition, process for producing organic glass using the composition, and organic glass


A catheter adapted for use in passing fluids and medicines therethrough for use in the perfusion or reperfusion of blood or blood-fluid mixtures into the arteries, veins, tissues, conduits, or organs of a patient by selectively adjusting the flow rate of fluid supplied to a drug delivery lumen of the catheter based at least in part on the sensed systemic fluid pressure and the sensed fluid pressure at a distal end of the catheter is disclosed.

The construction and use of catheters and related medical devices is well known. Current technologies allow for the catheterization of arteries and veins, and allow also for the expansion of atherosclerotic plaques in an angioplasty procedure. However, these existing technologies do not allow for the delivery of drugs, especially short-acting drugs to the target area of an organ, for example the heart. In addition, the current devices which permit the delivery of drugs do not allow for the exact control of the concentration of the drug at the site of action, because the drugs are delivered systemically and because the drug delivery may tend to vary due to the flow rate and the volume of the drug(s) being passed through the catheter. Moreover, the controlled delivery of blood, fluids or a combination thereof cannot be achieved, so the control over the conditions and compositions during perfusion or reperfusion of organs and tissues cannot be exercised.
The current embodiments of catheters, as described above, allow the application of principals of modified perfusion to organs and tissues. These principals have been developed and in use over the past 10-15 years. However, the lack of a delivery technology, or in this instance, a delivery device, has impeded the clinical application of modified perfusion and reperfusion.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved catheter constructed to permit the controlled delivery of blood, or a combination of fluids, medications and blood therethrough and into the arteries, veins, organs, or tissues of a patient, and which is also suitable for use in the modified perfusion or reperfusion of the arteries, veins, organs, or tissues of a patient.


Apparatus for treatment of wet organic matter to produce biogas, comprising a closed reactor (11) for anaerobic digestion of the wet organic matter. The anaerobic reactor comprises two vertical 5 tubes, a vertically arranged outer tube (14) defining a first reactor chamber (111) enveloping a vertically arranged inner tube (15) which is divided into a first region (112a) and a second region (112b) of a second reactor chamber (112) by a vertical partitioning wall (16). The first reactor chamber comprises a particle retaining unit (31) connecting the first and the second reactor chambers. The anaerobic reactor (11) exhibits a top discharge pipe (18) for gas developed in either 0 of the two reactor chambers (111, 112). A method for treatment of wet organic matter is also contemplated.

Wet organic wastes (WOW) are to an increasing extent used as source for biogas production by anaerobic digestion (AD) through processes that also yield other products such as nutrient that can be used as fertilizer. The bioreactor technology available for AD often represents a capital cost that is not covered by the value of the products produced, making the implementation of such solutions dependent on idealism and/or government subsidies. More efficient bio processes are therefore required to make AD processes more sustainable and industrially feasible. Additional downstream treatment is often needed to comply with discharge limits and improve the quality of produced gas, organics and fertilizers. The cost of such treatment can be quite high. There is thus a need for an advanced bioprocess to improve production efficiency and product quality, to cut investment and operational costs.
A number of methods and systems/apparatuses have been proposed in this technical field. Anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASB) have been used for high rate anaerobic digestion processes but are not suitable for particle rich fluids such as slurries, cf. Tchobanoglous, G., Burton, F. L., & Stensel, H. (2003). Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and reuse, Advanced Wastewater Treatment, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Metcalf and Eddy Inc. New York.
An anaerobic baffle reactor (ABR) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,315 (McCarty, 1989). McCarty teaches a bioconversion reactor for anaerobic fermentation of organic material comprising a shell enclosing a defined volume, an inlet port through which a liquid stream of organic material can enter the reactor as well as an outlet port through which the material may leave the reactor. A series of vertical and spaced-apart baffle plates are arranged in the reactor forcing the stream to pass under and over the plates respectively.
The anaerobic baffle reactors (ABR) were originally designed to take advantage of the UASB principles while being able to handle feeds with high particulates contents but it has not been very successful since it is not as efficient as intended.
Other methods and devices in this technical field are described in CN 106242162 A (2016); WO 16059621 A (Alessandro, 2016); WO 16050893 A1 (Uller, 2016); WO 15037989 A1 (Koorneef, 2015); RU 2536988 C (Burdin et al., 2013); WO 13112182 A1 (Smith, 2013).
Still, the general challenge of providing cost-effective and space-effective methods and apparatuses in this technical field remains.

Apparatus and method for treatment of wet organic matter to produce biogas


To provide a hearing aid that allows desired sound to be selectively heard and allows unnecessary sound not to be heard, and that can be used with no bars even in a situation like a meeting that requires a conversation with a plurality of persons. The hearing aid includes: a hearing aid body having a hearing aid function and an external microphone signal receiving function; and a separate external microphone, wherein connection and disconnection of communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone are automatically switched, and the above described hearing aid body functions as a normal hearing aid when the communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone is disconnected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hearing aid, and more particularly to a hearing aid allowing necessary sound only to be selectively heard.
2. Description of the Related Art
General microphones of hearing aids, of whatever type such as a type being inserted into an external auditory meatus, a type being used hung on an ear, or a type being separated from a hearing aid body, are used attached around ears or to bosoms.
Those need hearing aids have relatively narrow dynamic ranges. Thus, in the above described fixed microphone of the conventional hearing aid, microphone gain is set high to obtain an appropriate input level, and automatic gain control (AGC) is sufficiently performed, thereby allowing sudden loud sound such as impulsive sound to be appropriately reduced and transmitted.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional hearing aid. A microphone 33 picks up an audio signal, and an automatic gain controller 34 detects variation in amplitude of the audio signal and automatically controls gain of an amplifier so as to keep the amplitude of the output signal constant, and the signal is amplified by a microphone amplifier 35, frequency corrected by an equalizer 36, and with a power amplifier 37 driven, output from a speaker 38.
However, the conventional hearing aid reacts to unintentional and unnecessary sound such as a rubbing sound of newspaper when a user reads a newspaper, and operates, and the sound is amplified to thereby make the user uncomfortable.
Also, the automatic gain control is performed in accordance with voice of a nearby person or voice of a loud person to sometimes cause difficulty in catching voices of other persons, so that the conventional hearing aid is not suitable for a situation like a meeting that requires a conversation with a plurality of persons.
The present invention is achieved in view of the above described problems of the conventional art, and has the object to provide a hearing aid that allows desired sound to be selectively heard and allows unnecessary sound not to be heard, and that can be used with no bars even in a situation like a meeting that requires a conversation with a plurality of persons.
The above described problem is solved by a hearing aid according to the present invention, including: a hearing aid body having a hearing aid function and an external microphone signal receiving function; and a separate external microphone, wherein connection and disconnection of communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone are automatically switched, and the above described hearing aid body functions as a normal hearing aid when the communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone is disconnected.
Preferably, the communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone is wireless communication, the communication between the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone is disconnected when the above described hearing aid body and the external microphone are joined, and the communication therebetween are connected when the above described external microphone is separated from the above described hearing aid body.


A microwave cooking appliance includes a door which covers a loading opening of a cooking chamber when closed, and has a profiled trap structure to form with an electrically conductive door flange a lambda quarter-wave trap that frames the loading opening. The trap structure includes a metal choke profile with an open face opposite the door flange, inner and outer metal tongues protruding into the open face laterally on an inside and outside, respectively. The metal tongues are connected electrically to the choke profile and separated from one another by a microwave entry slot covered by a microwave-transparent cover. The choke profile is framed laterally on the outside by a parallel overlap region which protrudes from the door flange and has a cover surface facing the door flange at a distance and made of electrically conductive material and having a same shape as a door flange region it covers.

The invention relates to a microwave cooking appliance, having a door, which in the closed state covers a loading opening of a cooking chamber and which has a profiled trap structure, which together with an electrically conductive door flange forms a lambda quarter-wave trap that frames the loading opening in the closed state, the trap structure having a metal choke profile with an open face opposite the door flange, an inner metal tongue protruding into the open face laterally on the inside and an outer metal tongue protruding into the open face laterally on the outside, said metal tongues being connected electrically to the choke profile and being separated from one another by a microwave entry slot, and the microwave entry slot being covered by a microwave-transparent cover. The invention can be applied particularly advantageously to household microwave appliances, for example standalone microwave cooking appliances or ovens and/or steam cooking appliances with microwave function.
In microwave cooking appliances microwaves can be supplied to a cooking chamber, to heat food present in the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is delimited by a cooking chamber wall or muffle, which is essentially impermeable to microwave radiation. The cooking chamber typically has a front loading opening, which can be closed by means of a door. A closed door covers the loading opening and an associated edge region thereof, which is referred to as a door flange. The door and a gap between the door and the door flange should not allow the passage of microwaves to the outside and are therefore sealed in respect of exiting microwave radiation, even if there is no electrical contact in the overlap region between door flange and door. To prevent microwaves exiting between door and door flange when the door is closed, what are known as λ/4 or lambda quarter-wave traps are known, a wavelength of the microwaves being designated by lambda.
GB 2196520 A, US 2004/0079751 A1 and DE 10 2014 224 053 A1 for example describe lambda quarter-wave traps. The lambda quarter-wave traps here are behind a cover, which protects them from dirt or mechanical damage. The cover can be made of microwave-transparent plastic. It is known from DE 102 56 624 B4, US 2011/0290230 A1, EP 2 775 794 A1 and DE 3536589 C2 that the lambda quarter-wave traps can be positioned behind a viewing window facing the cooking chamber.

Microwave cooking device with a lambda quarter-wave trap


The modular squat stand system may include a plurality of upright members, each including a plurality of upright member holes. The modular squat stand system may further include a base including a plurality of upright member sockets, each the plurality of upright member sockets including first, second, and third sides. The first and third sides may be connected by the second side. The first and third sides may be parallel relative to each other, and perpendicular relative to said second side. The first and third sides may each include a plurality of upright member socket holes. At least one of the first and third sides may include an integrated gusset. The plurality of upright member sockets may be configured to removably accept the plurality of upright members by receiving fastening members through the plurality of upright member socket holes and the plurality of upright member holes.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to exercise equipment. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a modular squat stand system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Squat stands are known in the art. Existing squat stands may be used for a variety of exercises. However, different squat stands may be required for different exercises. For example, squats may require one type of squat stand while pull-ups may require a different type of squat stand. Not only may this be inconvenient from the standpoint of a user, it also may be undesirable from a manufacturing standpoint in that, for example, each particular type of squat stand may have specific parts custom to that particular design.
In light of the foregoing and other shortcomings in the art, it is desirable to provide an improved squat stand system.


A method of packaging financial transaction instruments includes preparing a batch of cards, where each card is provided with a first piece of machine readable information, and where the cards in the batch are in an order. A batch of packaging blanks is prepared, where each packaging blank is provided with a second piece of machine readable information. Each packaging blank is provided with a third piece of machine readable information, which is recorded onto a magnetic stripe carried by the packaging blank. A card is picked from a first ordinal position in the batch of prepared cards. A packaging blank is picked from a position, corresponding to the first ordinal position, in the batch of prepared packaging blanks. The picked card in the picked packaging blank is enclosed if and only if a matching condition is verified between the first and second pieces of information is verified.

Stored value cards of different kinds, such as gift cards, are commonly used as a means of payment against a pre-paid account. Used in this way, they are referred to as debit cards.
Debit cards are commonly printed and sold with a face value, say $25. The purchaser pays for the card, which is then good for 25 dollars' worth of the goods or services promoted by the card. When the card is used to make a purchase, the card number is used to identify an associated account. If sufficient funds remain in the account, the account is debited with the value of the purchase, otherwise the purchase is refused. It is becoming increasingly common to sell such cards from open retail spaces. Cards sold in this way are 'activated' (i.e. associated to an account having a positive balance) only after they have been paid for. Prior to sale, they are associated with an inactive account: one that has, in effect, a balance of zero. This arrangement has two significant advantages: first, the retailer does not have to pay for the card until it is sold; and second, there is no incentive to steal cards on display, as they have no value.
There are a several ways of providing for the activation of accounts. Patent application WO 97/39 899 describes a packaging system where the code required to initiate the activation procedure is held on a magnetic stripe on the card. The card is packaged in such a way as to leave its magnetic stripe exposed, so that it can be read by point of sales equipment without removing the card from the packaging. The packaging is arranged to hide the card number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will be used for carrying out transactions once the card has been activated. Any attempt to view these numbers surreptitiously, leaves a trace on the packaging. The sales clerk checks the integrity of the packaging before initiating the authorization procedure. There are two disadvantages of this system: first, the packaging is complex and relatively expensive to produce, and second, the exposed magnetic stripe is easily damaged during transport and handling.
These disadvantages are partially addressed by US patent application No. 2002/043 558, which describes a packaging system with an aperture through which a number carried on the card, possibly the card number, is visible. An exterior surface of the packaging is provided with a magnetic stripe. The card is enclosed and sealed inside the packaging, and then an encoding derived from the exposed number is written onto the magnetic stripe. This has the advantage that the card is protected from damage during transport and handling, but it has the disadvantage that the card number is exposed to view.
US patent application No. 2006/0273153 discloses a secure packaging system for stored value cards, where no part of the card is visible through the sealed packaging. However, the '153 application does not disclose a practical system for bringing cards and packaging together. High speed production systems need to be able to package thousands of cards per hour. There is a need for a method of bringing cards and packaging together that reconciles the speed and reliability requirements of a modern production environment.

Method of packaging financial transaction instruments, particularly stored value cards


The invention is related to working with variable diffusion functions on a multidimensional diffusion-area (plaintext/ciphertext); every diffusion function run in a cycle times, wherein repeating one certain times on the plaintext to get a ciphertext, and afterward, repeating the other times on the ciphertext to recover the plaintext, is performed in sequence to complete the encryption and the decryption. According to FIG. 1, the system comprises of: inputting a plaintext in encryption or a ciphertext in decryption 100; reading every password segment in order, forward in encryption or backward in decryption 200; and further, converting the plaintext dimensions by the password segment 300; implementing the diffusion function of Point 410, Block 420 or Frame 430, repeated TE times in encryption, TD times in decryption 400; going back to 200 until completing all password segments 500, and outputting the ciphertext in encryption or the plaintext in decryption 600.

The Applicant's following patent application is related to the invention and is incorporated herein by reference: "A Cryptographic Method of Multilayer Diffusion in Multidimension", application Ser. No. 12/726,833, filed Mar. 18, 2010.
In the prior art, such as DES (Data Encryption Standard) and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), the password only works for repeatedly mixing the plaintext. On the contrary, being able to set off any diffusion function, the password in the present invention may be taken as a crypto machine to randomly agitate the plaintext.

Advanced cryptographic method of multilayer diffusion in multidimension


A self-configurable system and method in a cellular telecommunications network for efficiently paging for mobile stations that last registered in a particular cell by automatically adjusting the size of an initial paging area on a per-cell basis. A plurality of sets of cells surrounding the particular cell are identified as Paging Depths (PDs) and are stored in a lookup table in a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The PDs contain varying numbers of cells, and a first PD is selected to utilize for the particular cell""s initial paging area. A plurality of paging attempts are then performed for mobile stations that last registered in the particular cell, and a statistical processor compiles statistics regarding the paging efficiency (percentage of mobile stations found versus total system resources used) and the success rate (percentage of paging attempts that were successful at locating mobile stations within the first PD). If the statistics indicate that the success rate was below a first threshold, the method increases the PD so as to select a set of cells having a greater number of cells than the first set of cells for the particular cell""s initial paging area. If the statistics indicate that the success rate was above a first threshold, and the paging efficiency was above a second threshold, the method decreases the PD so as to select a set of cells having a lesser number of cells than the first set of cells.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to telecommunication systems and, more particularly, to a self-configurable paging system for a cellular telecommunications network that automatically adjusts the size of a paging area on a per-cell basis.
2. Description of Related Art
Locating mobile stations (MSs) in a cellular telecommunications network is a critical function for the delivery of telecommunications services. The paging operation utilized, however, is a time-intensive and resource-intensive operation. For this reason, many methodologies have been developed over the years in an attempt to reduce the amount of time and resources required for the paging function. For example, instead of paging for an MS in every cell across an entire network, prior art solutions have defined staged paging methodologies in which the paging is done in stages. Smaller areas are defined where a paging attempt is first made, and then progressively wider areas are paged until the MS responds, or the page attempt fails. In a typical paging scenario, an MS may first be paged in a Location Area (LA) which is a group of cells related to the last cell in which the MS was registered. If the MS is not found, the search area is widened to a Paging Area (PA) which is a group of LAs. Finally, if the MS is not found in the PA, a network-wide page attempt may be performed in an area know as a System Area (SA).
In current networks, MSs may typically perform periodic registrations with the network every 10-15 minutes, although this time period may be considerably longer in some areas. MSs also register whenever they move from one LA to another. At registration, the identity of the cell (CellID) where the MS is located is converted into an LA. The LA is then temporarily stored in the Visitor Location Register (VLR) in the currently serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in case the MS needs to be located. When the MS needs to be located for delivery of a terminating call, Short Message Service (SMS) message, etc., current systems initially page for the MS simultaneously in all of the cells in the LA where the last registration was performed.
One problem with this existing solution is that the smallest area in which the subscriber is paged, the LA, may still represent a sizeable area, and may still require a large amount of system resources for the first page attempt. Some LAs, for example, can contain several hundred cells. Since the MS can only be in one cell at one time, paging in an entire LA is still a large waste of resources.
Additional proposals have been made to further narrow the initial paging area. One such proposal uses an initial paging area called a Neighbor Area (NA). In this solution, a neighbor list is stored for each cell (i.e., a list of cells adjacent to each cell). When an MS registers, the CellID is used to identify a neighbor list which then defines the NA for the first page attempt. If the MS is not located in the NA, the search is then widened to the LA, the PA, and the SA.
All of the prior art systems and methods for paging, however, still suffer serious disadvantages. First, these methods are implemented network wide, and do not take into account the varying sizes and geographies of the cells or the varying degrees of mobility of the subscribers in different areas. For example, while it may be efficient to search in the NA surrounding a large macrocell, it may not be appropriate to search in the NA of a microcell that is surrounded by other microcells because the area is too small, and the probability of finding the MS there is too low. Likewise, it may be efficient to search in the NA of a cell located in a downtown area where subscribers are generally slow moving, but it may not be appropriate along a highway.
A second disadvantage with the prior art methods is that they are implemented in a static manner. They do not take into account dynamic changes in the network and in subscriber behavior that may negatively impact the effectiveness of a static paging methodology.
In order to overcome the disadvantage of existing solutions, it would be advantageous to have a self-configurable paging system and method for a cellular telecommunications network that automatically adjusts the size of a paging area on a per-cell basis. The present invention provides such a system and method.
In one aspect, the present invention is a method in a cellular telecommunications network of automatically adjusting the size of a paging area on a per-cell basis. The method includes the steps of selecting an initial set of cells to utilize for a particular cell""s paging area; determining a paging efficiency for a plurality of paging attempts within the initial set of cells; and automatically adjusting the number of cells in the particular cell""s paging area if the paging efficiency falls outside an acceptable range.
In another aspect, the present invention is a method in a cellular telecommunications network of efficiently paging for mobile stations that last registered in a particular cell. The method begins by storing in a database, a plurality of sets of cells surrounding the particular cell. The sets of cells contain varying numbers of surrounding cells, and a first set of cells is selected to utilize for the particular cell""s initial paging area. This is followed by performing a plurality of paging attempts for mobile stations that last registered in the particular cell, and compiling statistics regarding how many of the plurality of paging attempts were successful at locating mobile stations within the first set of cells. If the statistics indicate that fewer paging attempts were successful than desired, the method selects a set of cells having a greater number of cells than the first set of cells. If, however, the statistics indicate that the paging efficiency was higher than desired using the first set of cells, the method selects a set of cells having a lesser number of cells than the first set of cells only if the predicted success rate for this set of cells would still be acceptable.
In yet another aspect, the present invention is a system in a cellular telecommunications network for efficiently paging for mobile stations that last registered in a particular cell. The system includes a database for storing a plurality of sets of cells surrounding the particular cell that contain varying numbers of surrounding cells. The system also includes a paging controller for selecting a first set of cells to utilize for the particular cell""s initial paging area, and for automatically adjusting the number of cells in the particular cell""s paging area if the number of successful page attempts/paging efficiency falls outside an acceptable range. Paging resources such as paging channels are used to perform a plurality of paging attempts for mobile stations that last registered in the particular cell. A statistical processor compiles statistics regarding how many of the plurality of paging attempts were successful at locating mobile stations within the first set of cells, the statistics being utilized by the paging controller to automatically adjusting the number of cells in the particular cell""s initial paging area.

Self-configurable paging system for a cellular telecommunications network


A refiner plate including a generally planar surface having annular rows of teeth arranged concentrically on the plate, and at least one of said rows includes teeth including a leading edge corner angle of less than 90 degrees. These teeth may include a leading sidewall having a radially outward portion slanted in a direction opposing the rotation of the plate.

This invention relates generally to refiners for removing contaminants from fiber materials, such as recycled or recovered paper and packaging materials. In particular, the present invention relates to teeth on refiner plates and especially to the leading sidewall surfaces and leading edges of such teeth.
Refiner plates are used for imparting mechanical work on fibrous material. Refiner plates having teeth (in contrast to plates having bars) are typically used in refiners which role is to deflake, disperge or mix fibrous materials with or without addition of chemicals. The refiner plates disclosed herein are generally applicable to all toothed plates for dispergers specifically and refiners in general.
Disperging is primarily used in de-inking systems to recover used paper and board for reuse as raw material for producing new paper or board. Disperging is used to detach ink from fiber, disperse and reduce ink and dirt particles to a favorable size for downstream removal, and reduce particles to sizes below visible detection. The disperger is also used to break down stickies, coating particles and wax (collectively referred to as "particles") that are often in the fibrous material fed to refiner. The particles are removed from the fibers by the disperger, become entrained in a suspension of fibrous material and liquid flowing through the refiner and are removed from the suspension as the particles float or are washed out of the suspension. In addition, the disperger may be used to mechanically treat fibers to retain or improve fiber strength and mix bleaching chemicals with fibrous pulp.
There are typically two types of mechanical dispergers used on recycled fibrous material: kneeders and rotating discs. This disclosure focuses on disc-typed disperger plates that have toothed refiner plates. Disc-type dispergers are similar to pulp and chip refiners. A refiner disc typically has mounted thereon an annular plate or an array of plate segments arranged as a circular disc. In a disc-type disperger, pulp is fed to the center of the refiner using a feed screw and moves peripherally through the disperging zone, which is a gap between the rotating (rotor) disk and stationary (stator) disk, and the pulp is ejected from the disperging zone at the periphery of the discs.
The general configuration of a disc-type disperger is two circular discs facing each other with one disc (rotor) being rotated at speeds usually up to 1800 ppm, and potentially higher speeds. The other disc is stationary (stator). Alternatively, both discs may rotate in opposite directions.
On the face of each disc is mounted a plate having teeth (also referred to as pyramids) mounted in tangential rows. A plate may be a single annular plate or an annular array of plate segments mounted on a disc. Each row of teeth is typically at a common radius from the center of the disc. The rows of rotor and stator teeth interleave when the rotor and stator discs are opposite each other in the refiner or disperger. The rows of rotor and stator teeth intersect a plane in the disperging zone that is between the discs. Channels are formed between the interleaved rows of teeth. The channels define the disperging zone between the discs.
The fibrous pulp flows alternatively between rotor and stator teeth as the pulp moves through successive rows of rotor and stator teeth. The pulp moves from the center inlet of the disc to a peripheral outlet at the outer circumference of the discs. As fibers pass from rotor teeth to stator teeth and vice-versa, the fibers are impacted as the rows of rotor teeth rotate between rows of stator teeth. The clearance between rotor and stator teeth is typically on the order of 1 to 12 mm (millimeters). The fibers are not cut by the impacts of the teeth, but are severely and alternately flexed. The impacts received by the fiber break the ink and toner particles off of the fiber and into smaller particles, and break the stickie particles off of the fibers.
Two types of plates are commonly used in disc-type dispergers: (1) a pyramidal design (also referred to as a tooth design) having an intermeshing toothed pattern, and (2) a refiner bar design. A novel pyramidal tooth design has been developed for a refiner plate and is disclosed herein.
FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c show an exemplary pyramidal plate segment having a conventional tooth pattern. An enhanced exemplary pyramidal toothed plate segment is shown in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0194482, entitled "Grooved Pyramid Disperger Plate." For pyramidal plates, fiber stock is forced radially through small channels created between the teeth on opposite plates, as shown in FIG. 1c. Pulp fibers experience high shear, e.g., impacts, in their passage through dispergers caused by intense fiber-to-fiber and fiber-to-plate friction.
With reference to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, the refiner or disperger 10 comprises disperger plates 14, 15 which are each securable to the face of one of the opposing disperger discs 12, 13. The discs 12, 13, only portions of which are shown in FIG. 1c, each have a center axis 19 about which they rotate, radii 32 and substantially circular peripheries.
A plate may or may not be segmented. A segmented plate is an annular array of plate segments typically mounted on a disperger disc. A non-segmented plate is a single piece, annular plate. Plate segment 14 is for the rotor disc 12 and plate segment 15 is for the stator disc 13. The rotor plate segments 14 are attached to the face of rotor disc 12 in an annular array to form a plate. The segments may be fastened to the disc by any convenient or conventional manner, such as by bolts (not shown) passing through bores 17. The disperger plate segments 14, 15 are arranged side-by-side to form plates attached to the face of the each disc 12, 13.
Each disperger plate segment 14, 15 has an inner edge 22 towards the center 19 of its attached disc and an outer edge 24 near the periphery of its disc. Each plate segment 14, 15 has, on its substrate face concentric rows 26 of pyramids or teeth 28. The rotation of the rotor disc 12 and its plate segments 14 apply a centrifugal force to the refined material, e.g., fibers, that cause the material to move radially outward from the inner edge 22 to the outer edge 24 of the plates. The refined material predominantly move through the disperging zone channels 30 formed between adjacent teeth 28 of the opposing plate segments 14, 15. The refined material flows radially out from the disperging zone into a casing 31 of the refiner 10.
The concentric rows 26 are each at a common radial distance (see radii 32) from the disc center 19 and arranged to intermesh so as to allow the rotor and stator teeth 28 to intersect the plane between the discs. Fiber passing from the center of the stator to the periphery of the discs receive impacts as the rotor teeth 28 pass close to the stator teeth 28. The channel clearance between the rotor teeth 28 and the stator teeth 28 is on the order of 1 to 12 mm so that the fibers are not cut or pinched, but are severely and alternately flexed as they pass in the channels between the teeth on the rotor disc 12 and the teeth on the stator disc 13. Flexing the fiber breaks the ink and toner particles on the fibers into smaller particles and breaks off the stickie particles on the fibers.
FIGS. 2a and 2b show a top view and a side perspective view, respectively, of a standard tooth geometry 34 used in disperging. The tooth 34 has a pyramidal design including strait sidewalls 36 that taper to the top 38 of the tooth. The sidewalls are planar and flat. The sidewalls of the conventional tooth are each substantially parallel to a radius of the plate.
A primary role of the disperger plate is to transfer energy pulses (impacts) to the fibers during their passage through the channels between the discs. The widely accepted toothed plate has generally incorporated the square pyramidal tooth geometry with variations in edge length and tooth placement to achieve desired results.
Refiner material passing through the channels on the plates can erode teeth. Each tooth has a leading edge that faces the pulp flow resulting from the rotation of the rotor plate. The leading edge is formed by the intersection of the front tooth surface and a leading tooth sidewall. The tooth sidewalls are planar, i.e., flat, on conventional teeth. Further, the corner of the sidewall and front surface of a conventional tooth is typically 90°. The leading edges of the teeth wear and become rounded due to the erosion.
Disperger plates are replaced typically because their teeth become rounded and lose their efficiency for disperging or refining the pulp and lose the ability to feed the pulp through the refining or disperging zone. The rounding of the teeth often results in taking the disperger or refiner offline to replace plate segments. This reduces the efficiency of the disperger and refiner. There is a long felt demand for teeth designs that extend the life of plate segments and reduce the wear on teeth.

Tooth refiner plates having V-shaped teeth and refining method


An electrical connector assembly is provided and includes a carrier having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is configured to face a host circuit board. The upper surface is configured to face a component circuit board of an electrical component. The carrier includes a plurality of contact openings therethrough. The electrical connector assembly includes contacts coupled to the carrier and passing through the corresponding contact openings. Each contact has a conductive polymer column extending between an upper mating interface and a lower mating interface. The conductive polymer column is compressible between the upper mating interface and the lower mating interface. The conductive polymer column includes an inner core and an outer support body. The inner core is manufactured from a first material. The outer support body is manufactured from a second material. The second material has a lower compression set than the first material. The first material has a higher electrical conductivity than the second material.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connector assemblies.
The ongoing trend toward smaller, lighter, and higher performance electrical components and higher density electrical circuits has led to the development of surface mount technology in the design of printed circuit boards and electronic packages. Surface mountable packaging allows for a separable connection of an electronic package, such as an integrated circuit or a computer processor, to pads on the surface of the circuit board rather than by contacts or pins soldered in plated holes going through the circuit board. Surface mount technology may allow for an increased component density on a circuit board, thereby saving space on the circuit board.
One form of surface mount technology includes socket connectors. A socket connector may include a substrate holding an array of contacts. Some known socket connectors have an array of conductive polymer columns that are compressible to provide an interposer between the host circuit board and the electronic package. However, known socket connectors have a low deflection and working range. Conductive polymers may exhibit stress relaxation over time as the loading material disrupts and adversely affects the crosslinking of the polymer material. The material of the conductive polymer may experience permanent set or creep over time causing the socket connector to have a potentially limited working lifespan and the inability to be reused.
A need remains for an electrical connector assembly having improved contacts with an extended working lifespan.

Electrical connector assembly having hybrid conductive polymer contacts


A fan-type grinding wheel which can be driven in rotation in a direction of rotation comprises, on an annular rim region of a support plate, grinding blades which are configured in the form of a triangle. The outer edge of each grinding blade defines a portion of an outer rim of a grinding blade package. The inner edge extends from an inner rim of the grinding blade package to the outer rim. The rear edge is exposed and extends in a leading manner from the inner rim to the outer rim of the grinding blade package—with respect to a direction of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fan-type grinding wheel which is drivable in a direction of rotation,                with a support plate which comprises                    a centre line,            an inner hub            an annular rim region, and                        with grinding blades which                    are fastened on the rim region so as to form an annular grinding blade package.
2. Background Art
A fan-type grinding wheel of this type is known from EP 1 142 673 B1. With this known fan-type grinding wheel, the grinding blades have a rectangular configuration. They have two mutually parallel straight edges and a concave edge and a convex edge. The convex edge and the concave edge are each configured in the form of an arc of which the radii are equal, but where the centres of the radii are offset from one another on a line parallel to the straight edges. The advantage of this configuration of the grinding blades is that they can be cut, with out scrap, in other words without waste from a grinding belt with mutually parallel edges. The grinding blades are fastened in a mutually overlapping manner on the rim region of the support plate, a portion of the outer rim of the grinding blade package being formed by the convex edge of each grinding blade.


An image forming apparatus includes an input unit that inputs an image forming job, a raster image generating unit, a transport path, a plurality of image forming engines, a calculating unit that calculates the displacement amount between the formation position of the pattern formed by each image forming engine and an ideal formation position thereof, and a controller that supplies each of the plurality of image forming engines with a driving signal instructing formation of a blank image during the time period when the calculated displacement amount is larger than a second threshold value, supplies each of the plurality of image forming engines with a driving signal instructing formation of the image corresponding to each raster image generated by the raster image generating unit and a preset mark when the displacement amount is smaller than the second threshold value.

(1) Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method and a computer-readable medium for storing a program for the image forming apparatus, and particularly to an image forming apparatus and a method for forming an image on continuous paper as a recording material and a computer-readable medium for storing a program for the image forming apparatus.
(2) Related Art
According to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, toner images of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are superposed on one another by using four image forming engines of cyan, magenta, yellow and black to implement formation of a full color image. In order to achieve a desired full color image by superposing these four color toner images, it is necessary that the respective color toner images are transferred to the same position on the recording material. If the transfer position of any one or plural colors is displaced from that of the other colors, that is, a so-called registration displacement occurs.

Image forming apparatus, image forming method and computer-readable medium for storing program therefor


Electronic circuitry compensates for variations or sags in electrical voltage within a thermal ink-jetting (TIJ) printing apparatus. Ground potential and other supply-related voltages are monitored and corresponding signals are provided. The signals are used, directly or by other circuitry, to affect the biasing of one or more transistors coupling TIJ resistors to supply voltage or ground nodes. Printing errors and related problems associated with voltage variations are reduced or eliminated accordingly.

Thermal ink-jet printers form images on media by controlled ejection of ink from a printhead. A resistor is electrically energized so as to rapidly boil ink within a firing chamber and a quantity of the ink is then ejected through a nozzle. A printhead typically includes numerous firing chambers and a corresponding number of thermal ink-jetting (TIJ) resistors.
As the number of TIJ resistors within a printhead increases, or as they are fired with increasing frequency toward greater printing speeds, the electrical power required increases accordingly. Supply voltage levels tend to vary or sag with increasing power demands resulting in printing errors, inconsistencies or other imaging problems. The present teachings address the foregoing and related concerns.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A retractable assembly, comprising: a housing; a media connection with complementary connecting means; an immersion tube; and a probe provided in the immersion tube. The probe has a probe head on its end facing the medium, wherein, in the service position, the probe head is arranged within a treatment chamber formed in the housing, wherein the immersion tube is divided into three regions, and, indeed, a upper region facing away from the containment, a middle region, on which a sealing system is provided, and a lower region facing the containment, wherein the sealing system is so embodied that in no position of the immersion tube does an exchange of medium or impurities from the drive to the treatment chamber, or vice versa, occur.

Retractable assemblies are widely used in analytical measurements technology. They serve to introduce probes into a process, and, therewith, into a medium, and then to withdraw such from the process, without interrupting the process as it is running, at pressures up to 10 bar and more. The probes are moved by means of a drive manually or automatically, for example, pneumatically, axially between a process position and a service position. In the service position, the probe is typically sealed from the medium.
Probes in the sense of this invention include probes with at least one accommodation for at least one sensor for measuring one or more process variables as well as sample takers, which withdraw from or feed to the process a determined amount of medium.
The fields of use of retractable assemblies for measuring physical or chemical process variables of a medium, e.g. of a fluid, especially a liquid, in process technology are vast. For determining process variables, sensors are used, wherein such sensors include, for example, pH-sensors, conductivity sensors, optical or electrochemical sensors for determining a concentration of a substance contained in the medium to be monitored, e.g. O2, CO2, certain types of ions, organic compounds, etc.
If the retractable assemblies are used for accommodating a sensor for determining at least one process variable, the sensor in the service position can be checked, calibrated, cleaned and/or replaced, wherein the sensor, in such case, is located in a treatment chamber arranged in the housing of the retractable assembly.
If the retractable assemblies are used as sample takers, in the service position, the medium taken by the sample taker into the treatment chamber can be examined, forwarded and/or filled, or the sample taker can be checked, cleaned and/or replaced. If one or more media need to be added to the process, in the service position, the sample taker can be filled with medium by means of a corresponding apparatus and then moved by the retractable assembly into the process.
Especially in pharmaceutical technology, however, for example, also in the chemicals and foods industries, retractable assemblies are used to monitor the manufacturing of products. The monitored processes must be kept very clean, i.e. free of impurities, partially even sterile, since a contamination of the process media with impurities, or, generally, with undesired media, influences the end product, and, thus, also the customers, or, depending on application, also the patients.
The use of retractable assemblies in sterile processes is problematic, since washing, or rinsing, media, e.g. calibration liquids, lubricants of the drive or other impurities can be allowed in no case to reach the process, because thereby the product safety or the patient safety would be endangered, as well as customer satisfaction damaged.
It is questionable that, in the case of known solutions, there is no reliable isolation between the treatment chamber and the drive. As a result thereof, in the presence of a lack of sealing in the region of the treatment chamber, medium can migrate unnoticed into the drive, which can lead to a failure of the drive;, moreover, it is not out of the question that medium can escape via the drive unit into the environment. Worse, however, is, that "unclean", certainly, however, unsterile materials can migrate or be dragged from the drive chamber or the environment into the treatment chamber and, thus, in the "clean", possibly even sterile, region of the retractable assembly. In the most unfavorable case, the unclean materials get from the treatment chamber into the process. Then, the medium becomes contaminated with undesired materials and cannot be used for patients or customers. Critical characterizing adjectives for the medium can include, for example: Valuable, expensive, combustible, etching or corrosive, poisonous, bio-endangering, radioactive, etc.

ENDRESS + HAUSER CONDUCTA GESELLSCHAFT FUR MES- UND REGELTECHNIK MBH + CO. KG