A user interaction synthesizer is described in the context of an application program running on a computer system having diverse user interaction devices attached to it. The user interface for the application is dynamically designed and synthesized based on the states of individual application objects that are used by an interaction facilitator to traverse a framework of interaction elements and match situation variables to appropriate elements by a specialization process. Interaction elements are selected by the interaction facilitator to create an interaction space designed to satisfy the information needs of the current active objects in the application. Finally, a number of modules are used to convert the elements in the interaction space to generate a user interface as a function of the resources and devices available for the user.

Interactions between humans and computer systems began with very primitive interfaces, such as a light emitting diodes and switches. The interfaces have quickly evolved to the use of keyboards, touchpads and joysticks for the user to communicate with the computer to multimedia presentations by the computer to communicate to the user. User interfaces also refer to the manner in which programs communicate with each other. Most of these interfaces are static in nature, and are supported by programming in applications and other programs that are running on the computer. When the computer is being used to control real time processes, such as building automation or industrial process control, it is difficult to anticipate all of the potential user interactions with a computer, and to provide a static interface for each such interaction. The process being controlled can do things that are not anticipated, and also, further equipment, such as sensors and motors can be added to the process. There is a need for a flexible interface that can provide for user friendly interactions with the computer, even when the computer is being used to control changing processes.
Static design of user interfaces requires the application of specialized, ever-changing knowledge possessed by talented, trained individuals, responding to evolutionary and revolutionary changes in technological capabilities in an environment where it is difficult to quantify procedures or results. It is difficult for a programmer to keep up with such individuals. Once a static interface for a system is designed, using well known design rules, it is difficult to change, and unless there is a great need, the design usually remains unchanged. This can result with a system having a less than optimal user interface for extended periods of time, while the underlying capabilities of the system may have dramatically changed.
Further, even when performed optimally, static interaction design is no longer sufficient to meet the task and information needs of current systems. Current systems are getting more complex, with multiple collaborating computational and human agents. Areas of maximum unpredictability include which interactions will be required, what information will be available, what hardware and software capabilities will exist in local and distributed forms, what experience and capabilities will be contributed by humans, and what different devices will be used by the same human at different times. This unpredictability will also vary extensively over time and location.
While automatic design critiquing systems exist, there are as yet no systems which perform even the automatic design of static interactions. Earlier efforts abandoned design altogether, given that it was difficult to automate a design process that is difficult even for humans to perform. Instead, researchers concentrated on computer-aided design, which helps designers create static designs. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,971 to Brunner et al., a knowledge base was constructed for automatic generation of query templates based on well understood and unchanging stereotyped interactions, such as query of a database.


A multi-standard transceiver comprises a common balun, a controller, at least one first switch, and at least one second switch. The common balun comprises a primary coil and a secondary coil. The at least one first switch connects the primary coil of the balun to a first signal path associated with a first communication standard, or to a second signal path associated with a second communication standard responsive to a control signal provided by the controller. The at least one second switch connects the secondary coil of the balun to a first amplification path associated with the first communication standard, or to a second amplification path associated with the second communication standard responsive to a control signal provided by the controller. A common mixer is configured to provide upconverted signals to one of the signal paths depending on which communication standard has been selected.

Cellular telephone transmitter subsystems compatible with multiple communication standards, e.g., second generation (2G), second and a half generation (2.5G), and third generation (3G) standards, are available. The 2G and 2.5G standards both specify lower bandwidth systems that can be combined. The 3G standard specifies a larger bandwidth and much more dynamic range, and is generally implemented as a separate IC chip. When a wireless transceiver provides for all three standards, the transceiver may require separate hardware and/or pins for 2G/2.5G and 3G operations. Both the low-band (824-915 MHz) and the high-band (1710-1980 MHz) of the operating frequencies require their own 2G/2.5G output as well as 3G outputs (in all 4 pins) to drive a standard 50Ω load. In addition, any applicable sub-bands in the high-band may need additional outputs (e.g., two more pins).
Differential operation is optimal for circuit design and reduces the impact of offsets, etc. However, use of a single-ended output would waste half of the hardware and available current or require differential to single-ended conversion. Further, because transceivers generally drive a 50Ω load, the current consumption may be higher than desired. In particular, a transceiver chip is generally capable of providing a large output swing that cannot be directly utilized by a 50Ω load. A higher output impedance, and hence a higher swing, is desirable to reduce the current consumption of the transceiver. Thus, there remains a need for improved 2G/2.5G/3G transceiver designs.

Multi-standard transceiver architecture with common balun and mixer


TAC and additives are mixed in a mixture solvent of dichloromethane, methanol and n-butanol to obtain a dispersion solution. The dispersion solution is heated to become a low concentration dope whose concentration is 19.3 wt. %. The low concentration dope is fed with a pump, and supplied through a flash nozzle to a concentrating apparatus to performing flash evaporation of the solvent in the concentrating apparatus. Thus part of the solvent in the low concentration dope evaporates to obtain a condensed dope. The part of the solvent is condensed on a condensation surface to obtain a condensed solvent. The condensed solvent flows through a pipe out of the concentrating apparatus. The high concentration dope has a solid content of 22.3 wt. %, and drawn through a pump. As the solid content of the high concentration dope is high, a polymer film having the self-supporting property can be easily formed of the high concentration dope in a film production line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a high concentration polymer solution, and particularly to a method of producing a high concentration polymer solution that is used for forming a cellulose acylate film.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
As a method for producing a polymer film, there are a melt extrusion method and a solution casting method. In the solution casting method, the polymer solution in which a polymer is dissolved in a solvent is cast from a casting die on a belt or a rotating drum or a belt. The polymer solution is thereafter dried to become a polymer film, and the polymer film is peeled from the belt or the drum.
When the polymer film is formed from the polymer solution in the solution casting method, the polymer film is more excellent in the physical property and optical property than the melt extrusion method. Therefore, the latter method is preferable for forming a film base used for a photo film. Further, the polymer film formed in the solution casting method is more excellent in optical isotropy and constant thickness and has smaller amount of dusts than in the melt extrusion method. The polymer film whose polymer is cellulose acylate, especially cellulose triacetate (hereinafter TAC) is used for optoelectronic products, such as a protective film for a polarizing filter, an optical retardation film, transparent conductive film, antireflection film with antiglare property and the like.
In order to effectively produce the polymer film in the solution casting method, the concentration of the polymer in the polymer solution (or dope) is preferably high. When the concentration is low, the large amount of solvent is necessary for preparing the polymer solution, and the time for drying the polymer solution on the belt or the drum is long, which causes the low productivity. Further, a gas (or vapor) of the solvent that is generated in drying the solution is liquidized for recovery and reuse. The costs therefor depend on the time from casting to peeling, and accordingly, becomes higher when the concentration of the polymer becomes smaller.
Accordingly, it is preferable to prepare a high concentration polymer solution having high concentration for forming the polymer film in the solution casting method. However, there are some problems for preparing the high concentration polymer solution. For example, when the polymer powders are dissolved in the solvent, then undissolved clumps of the polymer powders are generated, which prevents the uniform dissolution. In order to dissolve the polymer uniformly, a high speed stirring machine and an inline dispersing machine are used as described in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-340735. Further, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications No. 2000-256468 and 2001-206981 propose methods for dissolving the polymer powder under high pressure and high temperature to improve the solubility and shorten the dissolving time and for dissolving the polymer powder under supercritical state. Further, the polymer may be dispersed and swollen and the temperature may become lower, to dissolve the polymer in the solvent effectively. However, when the concentration of the polymer solution becomes higher, the solubility becomes lower in any methods. The solubility in this dissolving method for dissolving a large amount of polymer depends on the concentration of the polymer solution.
Accordingly, a concentrating method is proposed, in which a low concentration polymer solution is concentrated to the high concentration polymer solution. In the concentrating method, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-259511, a thin film is formed of the polymer solution with rotating of rotating blades, and the polymer solution is evaporated such that the evaporated gas may be condensed to reuse the condensed solvent and the concentration of the polymer solution may become higher. Furthermore, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-103357 discloses a splash concentration method, or a method in which the polymer solution having high temperature and high pressure is splashed to make evaporation of the solvent. The evaporated gas is separated from the polymer solution and the concentration of the polymer solution becomes higher in the flash concentrating method. The flash point method in the publication No. 2002-103357, as the structure of equipment is simple, has more merits in cost of equipment and running cost than the former method in the publication No. H4-259511.
However, in the flash concentration method of the prior art, as the polymer solution is splashed in a gas phase in the flash tank, part thereof is adhered on an inner surface of a flash tank. The inner surface of the flash tank is heated to supply the heat energy for the polymer solution. Accordingly, the skinning of gel-like material is often formed on the inner surface of the flash tank, and mixed into a condensed polymer solution, which makes the quality of the polymer film lower.

Method of producing high concentration polymer solution


By scanning both sides of a photographic print, data from the back of the print may be associated with the image. If the backside data includes text, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques optionally may be used to convert the image of the back of the photo into text that may be included in a database or other data structure allowing the text to be associated with the photographic image. This allows the user to quickly and easily search a large database of images for either a specific image or a group of images according to some set of search criteria.

The present invention relates to an image capture system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for capturing reflective data from both sides of a photo.
Image capture devices are currently used for a wide variety of applications. Typical applications include document scanning (possibly including optical character recognition (OCR)), digital photography, photographic print scanning, and photographic transparency scanning. Many photographers currently capture images to photographic films using standard 35 mm, medium format, or large format cameras. The resulting print (or film) may then be digitally captured using a scanner. Many of these scanners allow only the capture of images from either transparencies or prints. Some scanners, such as the Hewlett-Packard PhotoSmart(trademark) S20 (Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, Calif.), allow the user to choose between scanning a print, a 35 mm mounted transparency, or a strip of 35 mm film.
Many photo labs print information about the photo, or about the processing on the back of the photographic prints they produce. The advanced photo system (APS) allows cameras to include information such as the date and time, film frame number, cartridge identification number, exposure settings, etc. on an optically clear, but magnetically sensitive coating on both edges of the APS film. The photo lab may then read this information during processing and print it on the back of each photo. Further, many people add their own notations on the backs of their photos, including the names of people in the photos or the location where the photo was taken. Currently, when photographers scan their prints, they usually scan the image on the front of the print and often neglect the information on the back of the print. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus that automatically scans both sides of the print and maintains a correlation of the image data with the backside data.
By scanning both sides of a photographic print, data from the back of the print may be associated with the image. If the backside data includes text, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques may be used to convert the image of the back of the photo into text that may be included in a database or other structure allowing the text to be associated with the photographic image. This allows the user to quickly and easily search a large database of images for either a specific image or a group of images according to some set of search criteria.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

Device that scans both sides of a photo and associates information found on the back of the photo with the photo

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A printing apparatus that sets a setting value to be used as a threshold value for notifying the user of a decreased amount of recording material, the setting value being one of a first setting indicating that a threshold value set by a user is to be used or a second setting indicating that the user-set threshold value is not to be used.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a method for controlling the printing apparatus, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
A printing apparatus performs print processing on a sheet by using a recording material such as toner and ink. The recording material such as toner and ink is stored in a storage unit called a cartridge. The printing apparatus detects the remaining amount of the recording material stored in the storage unit, and displays the detected remaining amount on a display unit. When the remaining amount of the recording material decreases down to a predetermined threshold value or below, the printing apparatus further notifies a user of the decreased remaining amount of the recording material.
In many cases, the printing apparatus can only roughly detect the toner remaining amount. More specifically, the printing apparatus can only correctly detect limited toner remaining amounts such as 0%, 20%, and 50%. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-343621 discusses a method for correcting detectable remaining amounts in such a printing apparatus. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-343621 discusses a technique for predicting the toner remaining amount after completion of printing, by calculating the toner consumption amount based on the dot count value of print data and then subtracting the calculated toner consumption amount from the toner remaining amount. The use of the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-343621 enables even a printing apparatus capable only of roughly detecting the toner remaining amount to predict the toner remaining amount and notify a user of the detailed toner remaining amount.
When the toner remaining amount has decreased down to a certain amount, the printing apparatus notifies the user of toner LOW indicating the decreased toner remaining amount. Meanwhile, there is a user demand for freely changing a threshold value as a reference value for making a toner LOW notification. For example, when the toner remaining amount is about 10%, a certain user does not replace the toner cartridge immediately after the user is notified of toner LOW. Such a user desires to change the toner LOW threshold value to a smaller value.
However, in the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-343621, a predicted value is used to detect the toner remaining amount, hence there may be a large difference between the predicted toner remaining amount and the actual toner remaining amount. For example, there is a case where the actual toner remaining amount considerably decreases before the predicted toner remaining amount decreases down to a threshold value set by the user. In such a case, a printing failure not intended by the user occurs, for example, printed characters may become faded although the user is not notified of toner LOW.
On the other hand, if the user is not allowed to set the threshold value at all, the above-described demand is not satisfied.

Printing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium


An enterprise risk management (ERM) system performs real-time self-diagnosis of functional code of the ERM system that controls the policy enforcement actions within the ERM system. Real-time execution effectiveness of at least one control instance of the ERM system at operationally mitigating real-time authentication services security risk(s) and user access compliance risk(s) is determined. At least one code modification to a control class definition is identified that adjusts one or more real-time operational control aspects of the at least one control instance and that improves real-time execution effectiveness and operational capabilities of a new control instance instantiated from an updated control class definition at operationally mitigating the respective real-time authentication services security risk(s) and user access compliance risk(s) within the ERM system.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for analyzing effectiveness of controls within an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) system. More particularly, the present invention relates to risk profiling for enterprise risk management.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) systems are used by business organizations to define response strategies for business events. These business events may include either internal or external risks or opportunities. By defining the response strategies in advance of the business events, the enterprise may better respond to the events. ERM systems provide data for business governance and documentary evidence for audit and compliance activities. As such, ERM systems allow organizations to better comply with regulatory requirements.
Conventional ERM systems are typically designed to comply with published standards. Two bodies that publish ERM standards are the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS). For example, the COSO framework defines, among other things, risk assessment, risk response, control activities, and monitoring activities within a systematic hierarchy.
An enterprise may use such an ERM system to respond to risks or opportunities that are related to its business objectives and to derive information about opportunity management. These ERM systems provide a framework within which relationships between business processes may be documented. Risks and opportunities associated with these business relationships and the controls to mitigate those risks or take advantage of the opportunities are also documented.
An ERM control catalog provides data for business governance and also provides documentary evidence for audit and regulatory compliance activities. These ERM control catalogs are typically large and complex. As such, as systems increase in size, conventional ERM systems require increasing time and effort to compile and comprehend the results of current controls in defending against identified business risks or in taking advantage of business opportunities.

Risk profiling for enterprise risk management

International Business Machines Corporation


A controllable current source circuit and a phase locked loop contained such a circuit are disclosed. The current source circuit such a single switched driver stage for a switched actuation of the loop filter. A continuously switched-on driver stage is introduced into one of several paths of the current source circuit, so that a continuously weaker current is drawn by the loop filter. The currents are preferably stabilized via a current mirror circuit.

The invention relates to a current source circuit and phase locked loop equipped with such a circuit, by means of which the phase angle of an output signal is controlled with respect to the phase angle of a reference signal, if required with a desired phase offset.
The general design of such phase locked loops is known from xe2x80x9cIEEE Transactions on Communicationsxe2x80x9d, Vol. COM-28, No. 11, November 1980: xe2x80x9cCharge-Pump Phase-Lock Loopsxe2x80x9d by F. M. Gardner, pages 1849 to 1858, where a current source circuit (charge pump) is connected between the outputs of a phase detector and a loop filter which controls an oscillator and contains a capacitance, and this current source circuit feeds the loop filter with current or draws current from the loop filter depending on the respective phase comparison result.
The general design of such phase locked loops is also known from xe2x80x9cIEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuitsxe2x80x9d: xe2x80x9cA 2.7-V GSM RF Transceiver ICxe2x80x9d, Yamawaki et al, Vol. 32, No. Dec. 12, 1997, pages 2089-2096, in which the output signal of the oscillator whose phase is to be controlled is applied, after mixing with the local signal, to the phase comparator, to whose other input a reference signal in the form of an intermediate frequency signal is applied. A current source circuit is connected between the output of the phase comparator and the loop filter which actuates the oscillator, and this current source circuit contains transistor switches in the same way as in the document already discussed, which switch the current supply of the loop filter as a function of the respective phase angle, so that the loop filter capacitance is either charged or discharged. However, the switching of the driver transistors (charge pumps) is in each case associated with switching interference signals so that the overall signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates owing to the switching processes carried out by the driver transistors. In addition, the required circuit complexity is rather high owing to the switching transistors and their circuitry.
The invention is based on the object of providing a current source circuit, in particular for a phase locked loop, in which the number of switching processes is reduced, and the signal-to-noise ratio is thus improved.
This object is achieved by the features cited in patent claim 1. Furthermore, a phase comparator is provided, according to claim 7. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
Only a single switch is now provided in the current source circuit according to the invention, which is switched as a function of a control signal, for example the phase comparison result, and either charges or discharges the component connected on the output side, for example a loop filter. The other function, that is to say the discharging or the charging of the component, is carried out by a continuously switched-on driver transistor. In consequence, this driver transistor does not carry out any switching processes and thus produces no switching noise. The total switching noise produced is thus reduced, and the signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The circuit also provides the advantage that the component which produces the control signal, for example the phase comparison circuit, now need be equipped with only a single output, to which the driver switch is connected, being switched as a function of the control signal, for example the phase comparison result. The required circuit and wiring complexity is thus also reduced at the same time.
The continuously switched-on driver stage is preferably designed in such a way that it carries a current which differs from the current carried by the switched driver stage when it is switched on. This results in a net current difference which acts as a bias current and is used for frequency coverage during a search and lock-on process. In consequence, the circuit design is even further simplified. Yet another simplification can be achieved by the continuously switched-on driver stage being part of a current mirror circuit into which a desired stabilized current flows. This current mirror circuit is preferably also connected to the phase comparison circuit and causes a stabilized current to flow into it.
The total number of circuits and control components required is thus reduced, so that temperature drift problems, matching problems and the like are also reduced. Good circuit characteristics are thus ensured.

Controllable current source circuit and a phase locked loop equipped with such a circuit


A magnetic data system according to one embodiment includes a head having a plurality of readers formed above a common substrate, each reader further comprising a shield and a sensor, a bias circuit associated with each reader for passing a bias current through the sensor thereof, wherein the bias circuits are floating. A charge clamp electrically couples each shield to the associated bias circuit. A shield biasing circuit is operatively coupled to each shield for setting a potential of the shield independently of the bias current.

Business, science and entertainment applications depend upon computers to process and record data, often with large volumes of the data being stored or transferred to nonvolatile storage media, such as magnetic discs, magnetic tape cartridges, optical disk cartridges, floppy diskettes, or floptical diskettes. Typically, magnetic tape is the most economical means of storing or archiving the data. Storage technology is continually pushed to increase storage capacity and storage reliability. Improvement in data storage densities in magnetic storage media, for example, has resulted from improved medium materials, improved error correction techniques and decreased areal bit sizes. The data capacity of half-inch magnetic tape, for example, is now measured in hundreds of gigabytes on 512 or more data tracks.
The improvement in magnetic medium data storage capacity arises in large part from improvements in the magnetic head assembly used for reading and writing data on the magnetic storage medium. A major improvement in transducer technology arrived with the magnetoresistive (MR) sensor originally developed by the IBM® Corporation. Later sensors using the GMR effect were developed. AMR and GMR sensors transduce magnetic field changes to resistance changes, which are processed to provide digital signals. Data storage density can be increased because AMR and GMR sensors offer signal levels higher than those available from conventional inductive read heads for a given read sensor width and so enable smaller reader widths and thus more tracks per inch. Moreover, the sensor output signal depends only on the instantaneous magnetic field intensity in the storage medium and is independent of the magnetic field time-rate-of-change arising from relative sensor/medium velocity. In operation the magnetic storage medium, such as tape or a magnetic disk surface, is passed over the magnetic read/write (R/W) head assembly for reading data therefrom and writing data thereto.
The quantity of data stored on a magnetic tape may be increased by increasing the number of data tracks across the tape. More tracks are made possible by reducing feature sizes of the readers and writers, such as by using thin-film fabrication techniques and MR sensors.
The interleaved R/W magnetic tape head with MR sensors allows increased track density on the tape medium while providing bi-directional read-while-write operation of the tape medium to give immediate read back verification of data just written onto the tape medium. Tape recording systems may alternatively implement arrays of "piggyback" R/W pairs, where the writer and reader in each pair are aligned in the direction of tape travel.
In any of the above-mentioned types of heads, e.g., AMR, GMR, MTJ, etc., several forces are present, each potentially contributing to adverse effects on the head. Particularly, the tape acquires a charge as it moves through the tape path and over the head. In the head, the sensor element potential is generally set by virtue of the circuit that provides the sensing current passing therethrough. The sensor shields may or may not have a potential matching the sensor element. Further, the sensor shields and other parts of the head may become charged by interaction with the tape. Thus, as can be appreciated, multiple and varying voltage differentials may be found not only between the tape and the head, but also between various components in the head, e.g., substrate, shields and sensor element. As will soon become apparent, these voltage differentials are believed to be at least partly responsible for adverse tribological interactions on the head.
Compounding the problem is the electric field distribution in the head ceramic. The wafer material used for magnetic recording heads (commonly know as AlTiC), is a ceramic composite material consisting of a matrix of insulative aluminum oxide (alumina, Al2O3) plus an irregular but interconnected network of electrically conductive titanium carbide (TiC). The uneven distribution of TiC creates an irregular electric field at the interface with the typically overlying insulator. The electric fields at grain edges can be several folds higher than the average field. These high fields are associated with adverse tribological effects, including electrostatic debris deposition and pitting of the head insulator due to electric discharges. These high fields also promote electrical discharge into the tape, thereby charging the tape.
Due to the varying voltage differentials and irregular electric fields between the various parts of a head as well as between head and tape, magnetic heads tend to suffer from adverse tribological interactions, which include electrical discharge, tape changes, head erosion, debris buildup, chemical conversion, head sensor shorting, etc. In both piggyback and interleaved heads, tribological effects are believed to be aggravated by excessive substrate and/or media voltages. When the substrate is electrically floating, relative motion between the head and recording medium may produce substrate and media voltage swings on the order of several 10s of volts. Such voltages are strongly implicated in unfavorable tribological processes such as electrochemical reactions, electrostatic accumulation of debris, and even certain types of wear.
In shielded MR heads, the lower reader shield of each reader is in close proximity to the substrate, separated therefrom by a thin insulator on the order of 1 micron thick. The voltage differences between the adjacent reader shield and substrate is problematic due to their close proximity, and is compounded by the potentially large localized electric fields created by a conductive substrate, e.g., of AlTiC. Such electric fields are implicated in aggravated accumulation of conductive materials that can actually short the MR sensor to its shields and in turn to the substrate.
Consider the following example. Suppose reader shield S2 and the substrate are separated by a thin insulator. Suppose S2 is at 1.5 V, and the substrate is at 6.5V. The difference is 5 V. If the space between them is 0.5 microns, the electric field (gradient) is 10V per micron, a very large value. For comparison, sparking in air, for example as observed on clothing, occurs from a gradient of approximately 1V per micron. In the example presented, the gradient is 10× that. Other unusual effects have been observed, including formation of solid water at room temperature in the presence of larger electric fields. Furthermore, the conductive grain structure of AlTiC concentrates the fields, which can be several times higher than in this example.
Several solutions have been contemplated, but each of these have drawbacks. These solutions include connecting the substrate directly to ground. However, if the reader shields are not clamped to ground, the voltage differential leads to the aforementioned tribological effects between the shields and substrate. Grounding the shields in a multi-sensor head is generally impractical. Even if the shields are grounded, adverse tribological effects may occur depending on the tape electrical and mechanical characteristics and other aspects of the tape path, such as ground or floating of guides.
Another problem encountered is that the readers are susceptible to shield-shorting which may occur in combination with substrate shorting, as a result of running magnetic recording tape having insufficient lubricity across the head at very low humidity, which in turn is found to produce accumulations of conductive material on the MR element, shields and substrate. Shorting is a well-known cause of reading errors. Proposed solutions, such as prerecessing and/or insulating heads, providing sensor-piggybacked fences and running ionization fans, require changes in head processing, design or implementation, respectively, and so are far more involved than the present invention. For instance, forcibly recessing the sensor so that its components do not develop the conductive accumulation is difficult to manufacture, and also generally produces undesirable spacing loss for the data readers, which must read much higher frequencies than the servo readers. Also, attempting to set shield potentials by tuning the MR bias could result in unacceptable bias values.
There is accordingly a clearly-felt need in the art for a magnetic device with reduced susceptibility to shorting and/or improved tribological characteristics. These unresolved problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by this invention in the manner described below.

Magnetic data system having a shield biasing circuit with resistor coupled between the shield and substrate


A transmission control system for a wire forming machine includes a slide base and a transmission control device attached thereto. A feed unit is slidably mounted on the slide base and has a screw base mounted thereon. The slide base has a through hole therein and a slot to allow the screw base to move therein and a groove to receive a rail therein. The transmission control device includes a bearing seat received in the through hole of the slide base and a bearing received in the bearing seat. The transmission control device further includes a moving control unit and a power source, the moving control unit connected to the screw base and the power source supplying the power to the moving unit to control the position of the feed unit. The feed unit further includes a horizontal base plate and a vertical support plate. The base plate has a plurality of slides each attached thereto and having a groove to receive the rail and slidably mounted on the slide base. The support plate extends from the base plate. The feed unit has a quill seat attached to the support plate of the feed unit and has a quill attached to the quill seat. The screw base is L-shaped having a bracket attached to the base plate of the feed unit, and having a vertical side extending from the bracket. The screw base also has a nut which is mounted on the vertical side of the bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission control system, and more particularly, to a transmission control system for a wire forming machine that includes a slide base having a transmission control device attached thereto. A feed unit is slidably mounted on the slide base and has a screw base mounted thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a conventional wire forming machine comprises a support plate (70), a tool slide support (80), a feed unit (71) and a straightening unit (73). A quill (74) is attached to the support plate (70) and multiple tool slide supports (80) are inwardly and radially attached to the support plate (70). Each tool slide supports (80) has a motor (81) to supply power to the tool slide support (80) to slide the tool slide support (80) radially on the support plate (70).
The tool slide support (80) has a support seat (85) that is attached to the support plate (70). A tool slide (851) is slidably mounted on the support seat (85). A tool holder (82) and a motor (81) are attached to the tool slide (851). A positioning bar (821) has a first end received in the tool slide (851) and a second end screwed on the tool holder (82). A locking nut (83) is screwed on the positioning bar (821) to limit the tool holder (82) from rotation. A forming tool (84) is attached to the tool holder (82). When the wire forming machine is operating, the wire (50) is pulled by a feed unit (71) having multiple feed rollers (72) through a straightening unit (73) having multiple rollers (731). The forming tool (84) slides downward to abut the wire (50) and continues to move along the support seat (85) so as to form the wire (50) when the wire (50) moves over the quill (74). The characteristics of the wire (50) are determined by the distance between the forming tool (84) and the quill (74). To adjust the distance, a worker must loosen the locking nuts (83) and move the tool holder (82) on the positioning bar (821) toward or away from the tool slide (851).
The locking nuts (83) often need to be loosened to move the tool holder (82) and tightened to adjust the position of the forming tool (84) because the wire forming machine usually has multiple tool slide supports (80). Much time is wasted in adjusting the distance from the quill (74) to the forming tool (84).
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional wire forming machine.

Transmission control system for a wire forming machine


An encapsulated toner composition comprised of a core comprised of a preformed polymer and/or monomer or monomers, a free radical initiator, pigment or dye particles, which core is dispersed in an emulsifier solution, and subsequently encapsulated in a polymeric shell and wherein the toner is stabilized by dispersants during core polymerization, which dispersant is of the following formula ##STR1## wherein x represents the number of repeating units.

The present invention is generally directed to toner compositions, and more specifically to encapsulated colored heat fusible toner compositions. In one embodiment, the present invention is related to encapsulated toner compositions comprised of a core with a polymeric shell thereover preferably prepared by interfacial polymerization. Another specific embodiment of the present invention relates to encapsulated toner compositions comprised of a core containing a preformed polymer and/or monomer or monomers, a free radical initiator, pigment or dye particles and wherein the core which is dispersed into an emulsifier solution is subsequently encapsulated by a polymeric shell, and wherein the toner is stabilized by dispersants at elevated temperatures during core polymerization via free radical polymerization.
Toners suitable for use in electrophotographic copiers and printers may include therein a wide variety of colors, such as black, red, green, blue, brown, yellow, purple, silver and gold. When it is desired to highlight certain features of a document, one or more colored toners are typically used in conjunction with a black toner to provide an image in two or more colors. Full color images can also be generated by developing images with cyan, magenta, yellow and black toners. Generally, it is advantageous for such toners to exhibit low melting temperatures to enable low energy fusing of the developed images to substrates at lower temperatures and lower pressures of, for example, 400 psi versus, for example, about 4,000 psi for cold pressure fixable applications. It is also often advantageous for such toners to possess mean particle diameters of from about 5 microns to about 35 microns and preferably from about 5 microns to about 15 microns to enable images of high resolution, low image noise and high color fidelity. Further, it is generally desirable for these small diameter toners to have very narrow size distributions, preferably with a GSD (Geometric Standard Deviation) of 1.5 or less, to avoid difficulties in the electrophotographic development and transfer associated with oversize toner particles and extremely fine toner particles. These and other advantages can be achieved with the encapsulated toners and processes of the present invention. More specifically, an advantage associated with toner particles of the present invention is the enablement of the stabilization of toner particles at elevated temperatures during core monomer polymerization by the addition of dispersing components including those available as Daxad.TM. from W. R. Grace Chemical Company. The aforementioned stabilization enables the utilization of less emulsifier for the toner particle generation step, and therefore the emulsifiers primary function is to control the particle size of the toner generated during the dispersion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, and moreover the dispersing agents can be selected for stabilization of the toner particles. Further, reducing the quantity of emulsifier selected results in the generation of less fine particles with an average particle diameter of less than about 1 micron thereby enabling, for example, toner particles with clean surfaces. Additionally, with the toner particles and processes of the present invention there is eliminated or minimized undesirable particle agglomeration, especially at elevated temperatures, and furthermore by the incorporation of certain dispersants there is permitted toner particles with heat fusible cores (Tg less than 55.degree. C.) and heat fusible shells with a Tg of, for example, less than 100.degree. C., which particles remain as discrete primary particles subsequent to the free radical polymerization. The addition of dispersants prior to core monomer polymerization when emulsifiers such as polyvinyl alcohol are utilized enable a reduction of grafting or shell incorporation of such emulsifier on the toner particle surface primarily, it is believed, since a minimum amount of emulsifier is needed to generate the desired particle size. By reducing the grafting of the emulsifier such as polyvinyl alcohol, onto or into the shell there is enabled lower heat fusible toners since the thermal properties of the shell are usually not increased. Also, it is advantageous to add the dispersants illustrated herein to the toner synthesis in some embodiments prior to free radical polymerization particularly since its stabilization capabilities permits increased loading of the organic phase into the aqueous phase thereby allowing increased toner throughput. The addition of dispersing agent prior to core polymerization can also desirably influence the triboelectric charging properties of the toner, and can, in some instances, function as a negative charge control additive. Further, the incorporation of the aforementioned dispersants as charge control additives during interfacial polymerization reduces the number of process steps and moreover the dispersant can be incorporated into the shell in some embodiments but may not strengthen or reinforce the shell as in the situation with poly(vinyl alcohol). Also, in some embodiments the dispersants selected for the toners and processes of the present invention do not increase the fusing temperatures of the toner or only cause minimum increases in the aforementioned temperatures.
The toner compositions of the present invention can be selected for a variety of known imaging and printing processes including electrophotographic, electrographic or magnetographic processes. Specifically, the toner compositions of the present invention can be selected for xerographic imaging and printing processes, such as two component development systems and single component development systems both magnetic and nonmagnetic along with ionographic processes wherein dielectric receivers such as silicon carbide are utilized, reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,220 entitled Amorphous Silicon Carbide Electroreceptors, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.
In a patentability search report, there were recited as prior art the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,101, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, which illustrates a free radical polymerization of a toner shell at elevated temperatures and more specifically is directed to the preparation of encapsulated toner compositions, which comprises mixing in the absence of a solvent a core monomer initiator, pigment particles, a first shell monomer, stabilizer, and water, and thereafter adding a second shell monomer to enable interfacial polymerization interaction, and subsequently affecting the free radical polymerization of the core monomer, reference the Abstract of the Disclosure for example; U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,104 which relates to processes for the formation of electrophotographic toners of certain desired sizes by radical polymerization, reference for example column 3, lines 26 to 41, and also note the disclosure in column 6 with respect to colorants beginning at line 29; U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,199, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, which relates to stable polymeric dispersions, which dispersion comprises, for example, a polar dispersion medium having dispersed therein particles comprising a thermoplastic resin core having irreversibly anchored thereto a nonionic amphipatic steric stabilizer comprising a graph copolymer, reference for example column 2, beginning at line 45, and note column 4, beginning at line 57, and continuing on to column 5; U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,617 directed to heat fixable developers with a capsule structure containing a binder resin of a certain glass transition temperature and a colorant coated with a vinyl type polymer, reference for example the Abstract of the Disclosure, and note columns 4 through 10; U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,522 directed to processes for cold pressure fixable encapsulated toner compositions, particularly processes thereof wherein a water phase containing a stabilizing material is selected and hydrolysis is accomplished by heating and there is utilized interfacial polymerization to form the shell, reference for example the Abstract of the Disclosure, and also note columns 4 to 8, the disclosure of the aforementioned patent being totally incorporated herein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,610 relating to the preparation of electrostatic toner materials with a size of between 1 to 10 microns and containing a polymeric shell comprising a copolymer with a glass transition temperature of at least 40.degree. C., see the Abstract of the Disclosure, for example; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,752 which discloses addition compounds suitable as dispersing agents, reference the Abstract of the Disclosure, for example.
Additionally, there is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,764 a pressure fixable microcapsule toner having a colored core material coated successively with a first resin wall and a second resin wall. The first resin wall has affinity to both the core material and the second resin wall. This patent discloses that the first resin wall may be of a material that becomes charged to a polarity opposite to that of the second resin wall and the core material.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,091 discloses a pressure fixable encapsulated electrostatographic toner material. The core comprises a colorant, a polymer, a solvent capable of dissolving the polymer or causing the polymer to swell, and an organic liquid incapable of dissolving the polymer or causing the polymer to swell, and the shell may consist of a polyamide resin. Preparation of the toner material is completed by interfacial polymerization.
Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,924, discloses a pressure fixable microcapsule type toner composed of a core material and an outer wall over the core material. The core material contains at least a combination of a substance having a glass transition point within the range of -90.degree. C. to 5.degree. C. with a substance having a softening point within the range of 25.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. This toner composition may comprise substances such as polystyrene and poly(n-butyl)methacrylate and their copolymers.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,201 discloses a pressure sensitive adhesive toner consisting essentially of porous aggregates. Each aggregate consists essentially of a cluster of a multiplicity of individual granules of pressure sensitive adhesive substance, each granule being encapsulated by a coating film of a film-forming material. Particles of an inorganic or organic pigment and/or a magnetic substance are contained within the aggregate in the interstices between the granules and deposited on the surfaces of the encapsulated granules. The adhesive substance is selected from a copolymer of at least one monomer and as many as three other monomers.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,988 discloses a process for the preparation of encapsulated toner. A monomer composition and a colorant are dispersed in a liquid dispersion medium in the presence of a solid fine powdery dispersion stabilizer. The liquid is pressurized and then ejected into a low pressure section to form particles of monomer composition. These particles are then subjected to suspension polymerization to produce toner particles.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,011 there is disclosed a process for preparing encapsulated toner compositions which comprises mixing, in the absence of a solvent, a core monomer, an initiator, pigment particles, a first shell monomer, stabilizer, and water; thereafter adding a second shell monomer, thereby enabling an interfacial polymerization reaction between the first and second shell monomers; and subsequently effecting a free radical polymerization of the core monomer. The disclosure of this patent is totally incorporated herein by reference.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,051, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, illustrates an electrophotographic developer composition comprising a cold pressure fixable colored toner composition which comprises a core containing a polymer in which is dispersed pigment particles selected from the group consisting of cyan, magenta, red, yellow pigments, and mixtures thereof, other than carbon blacks and magnetites; and encapsulated within a polymeric shell formulated by an interfacial polymerization. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,522 discloses a process for preparing cold pressure fixable toner compositions which comprises admixing a core component comprising pigment particles, a water insoluble organic solvent and elastomeric materials with a shell monomer dissolved therein, and dispersing the resulting mixture in a water phase.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,212, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, Becher et al., describes a microencapsulation procedure based upon an interfacial polymerization reaction wherein the material to be encapsulated is an agricultural chemical such as an herbicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator or a herbicidal antidote. Becher et al., discloses a process wherein a water immiscible material containing the first shell wall component is emulsified into an aqueous solution containing an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates, sulfonated polystyrenes and functionalized oligomers. In Becher et al., an oil-in-water emulsion is formed with the aid of high shear; the second shell wall component is added to the oil-in-water emulsion; and after a short period of time, the shear rate is reduced. Shear is continued for varying periods of time, following which salt is added to the suspension to balance its density. The formulation is subsequently bottled.
Further U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,048, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses a process for the production of microcapsule slurry suitable for use in carbonless copy paper coatings and applications which provide microcapsules with signficant increases in capsule wall impermeability and strength. The disclosed process involves formation of microcapsule walls by hydrogen transfer polymerization in the presence of an aqueous mixture of partially hydrolyzed poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and naphthalene-sulfonic acid formaldehyde (NSF) condensate or diphenyloxide disulfonate (DDS).
There are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,169 microcapsular electrostatic marking particles containing a pressure fixable core, and an encapsulating substance comprised of a pressure rupturable shell, wherein the shell is formed by an interfacial polymerization. One shell prepared in accordance with the teachings of this patent is a polyamide obtained by interfacial polymerization. Furthermore, there are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,922 pressure sensitive toner compositions comprised of a blend of two immiscible polymers selected from the group consisting of certain polymers as a hard component, and polyoctyldecylvinylether-co-maleic anhydride as a soft component. Interfacial polymerization processes are also selected for the preparation of the toners of this patent. Also, there is disclosed in the prior art encapsulated toner compositions containing pigments and dyes, reference for example the color photocapsule toners of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,209; 4,482,624; 4,483,912 and 4,397,483.
There is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,167, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, a process for controlling the electrical characteristics of colored toner particles. The process comprises preparing a first core material comprising first pigment particles, core monomers, a free radical initiator, and optional polymer components, second pigment particles being of a different color from that of the first pigment particles; encapsulating separately the first core material and the second core material within polymeric shells by means of interfacial polymerization reactions between at least two shell monomers, of which at least one is soluble in aqueous media and at least one of which is soluble in organic media, wherein the polymeric shell encapsulating the first core material is of substantially the same composition as the polymeric shell encapsulating the second core material; and subsequently polymerizing the first and second core monomers via free radical polymerization, thereby enabling, for example, two encapsulated heat fusible toner compositions of different colors with similar triboelectric charging characteristics.
Illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,506, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, are single component cold pressure fixable toner compositions, wherein the shell selected can be prepared by an interfacial polymerization process. A similar teaching is present in application U.S. Ser. No. 718,676, (now abandoned) the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. In the aforementioned application, the core can be comprised of magnetite and a polyisobutylene of a specific molecular weight encapsulated in a polymeric shell material generated by an interfacial polymerization process.
Application U.S. Ser. No. 043,265/87, (now abandoned) the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, illustrates an encapsulated composition suitable for use as an electrophotographic toner, which comprises a core encapsulated within a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymeric shell. On page 8 of this application, the specification indicates that the disclosed developer compositions can be charged to preselected values irrespective of the pigment selected for the core. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,209, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, illustrates an encapsulated toner composition with a melting temperature of from about 65.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. which comprises a core containing a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene succinate, polyhalogenated olefins, poly(.alpha.-alkylstyrenes), rosin modified maleic resins, aliphatic hydrocarbon resins, poly(.epsilon.-caprolactones), and mixtures thereof; and pigment particles, where the core is encapsulated in a shell prepared by interfacial polymerization reactions.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,318, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, illustrates an improved process for preparing encapsulated toner compositions which comprises mixing core monomers, an initiator, pigment particles, and oil soluble shell monomers, homgenizing the mixture into an aqueous surfactant solution to result in an oil-in-water suspension enabling an interfacial polymerization reaction between the oil soluble and the water soluble shell monomers, subsequently adding a low molecular weight polyethylene oxide surfactant protective colloid, and thereafter effecting free-radical polymerization of the core monomers by heating.
Free-radical polymerization is well known, and can be generalized as bulk, solution, or suspension polymerization. These polymerizations are commonly used for the manufacture of certain polymers. The kinetics and mechanisms for free-radical polymerization of monomer(s) is also well known. In these processes the control of polymer properties such as molecular weight and molecular weight dispersity can be effected by initiator, species concentrations, temperatures, and temperature profiles. Similarly, conversion of monomer is effected by the above variables.
Accordingly, there is a need for encapsulated toner compositions with many of the advantages illustrated herein. More specifically, there is a need for encapsulated toners wherein toner particle agglomeration is eliminated or minimized. Also, a need continues to exist for improved particle stabilization during free radical polymerization of heat fusible color toners suitable for use in electrophotographic copiers and printers. A need also exists for the stabilization of colored toners which exhibit low melting characteristics preferably with a low melting core Tg of less than about 55.degree. C., and a low melting polymeric shell Tg of less than about 100.degree. C. without particle agglomeration or coalescence during free radical polymerization thereby enabling lower fusing temperatures. A further need exists for dry colored toners with an average mean diameter of from about 5 microns to about 15 microns and a narrow geometric size distribution of less than 1.5 while avoiding micronization or classification. There is also a need for colored toner particles with clean, dirt free surfaces which aid in narrowing the size distribution (reduction of fines to, for example, less than 1 micron) and narrow the triboelectric charging distribution of the developer. Additionally, there is a need for an improved process for decreasing and/or eliminating the generation of fine particles. Also, there is a need for encapsulated colored toners wherein a minimum amount of surfactant or emulsifier is selected to generate toner size particles. There is a further need for encapsulated toners that will decrease or eliminate the grafting or incorporation of components such as poly(vinylalcohol) into the shell at elevated temperatures. Also, there is a need for encapsulated colored toners with a higher loading of organic phase in an aqueous phase. Moreover, there is a need for encapsulated toners wherein images with excellent resolution and no background development are obtained. Additionally, there is a need for encapsulated toners, including colored toners wherein the amount of emulsifier selected can be reduced. These and other needs are obtained with the encapsulated toner compositions of the present invention and the processes thereof.

Encapsulated toners and processes thereof


An oil separator includes a separation container. The separation container has a side surface portion to which an inlet pipe is attached. The separation container has an upper surface portion to which an outlet pipe is attached. An oil reservoir is provided in a lower portion of the separation container. The separation container has a lower surface portion to which an oil return pipe is attached. The separation container has an inner wall surface provided with a liquid passage section. The liquid passage section is provided with a groove. The groove is disposed to extend in a direction of gravity toward the oil reservoir. The groove is formed to be gradually increased in depth from an upper portion of the groove toward a lower portion thereof.

An air conditioning apparatus includes an oil separator used for separating, from refrigerant, the oil (refrigeration oil) discharged together with the refrigerant from a compressor so as to return the separated oil to the compressor. In order to ensure the reliability of the compressor and improve the performance of the refrigeration cycle, the oil separator is required to efficiently separate the refrigeration oil from the refrigerant.
Conventionally, there has been a cyclone-type oil separator as an example of an oil separator. It is important for the oil separator of this type as to how efficiently refrigeration oil is separated by utilizing centrifugal force. Furthermore, in order to efficiently separate refrigeration oil, it is also important for the oil separator to prevent a phenomenon in which the separated refrigeration oil is stirred up by refrigerant and dispersed again so as to flow together with the refrigerant.
In recent years, downsizing of the oil separator has been required. In accordance with downsizing of the oil separator, the influence exerted by re-dispersion of the refrigeration oil is increased accordingly. Also, at a relatively high flow rate of the discharged refrigerant, the influence exerted by re-dispersion of the refrigeration oil is increased accordingly. For example, PTL 1 proposes an oil separator for solving such problems.

Oil separator and air conditioner including the same


A metering apparatus for liquids and a method for metering liquids which facilitate the operation of a further metering after detaching the pipette point or syringe.

The present invention is related to a metering apparatus for liquids with means for holding a pipette point or syringe and with means for detaching the pipette point or syringe and an electric drive motor for moving a displacement member of a displacement device for aspirating or ejecting air into or from out a pipette point, or for moving coupling means adapted to be coupled with a syringe piston of the syringe. The means for detaching the pipette point or syringe are actuated separately in this, without that the displacement member or the syringe piston and the coupling means coupled therewith are moved. The invention relates further to a method for metering liquids using such a metering apparatus.
Metering apparatuses are mainly used in the laboratory for metering liquids. The liquid amounts to be metered are particularly located in the range of 100 nl up to several 100 ml. Metering apparatuses by which liquids are taken up in one single step and given off in one single step are designated as pipettes. Metering apparatuses by which liquids are taken up in one single or several steps and given off in plural steps are designated as dispensers.
The liquids are taken up in pipette points or syringes and given off from that. Pipette points are small pipes with an opening at the lower end and an opening at the upper end. The lower opening is mostly smaller than the upper opening is. Syringes have a syringe cylinder and a syringe piston, disposed movably in the syringe cylinder by shifting in the direction of the cylinder axis. Further, the syringe cylinder has a syringe opening in the syringe bottom, that is often disposed in a small pipe which projects from the syringe bottom.
When metering, the pipette point is held on the metering apparatus such that the upper opening is in communicating connection with a displacement device of the metering apparatus. The displacement device is mostly a cylinder with a piston that is shiftable therein. By moving the piston, an air cushion is moved, so that liquid is aspirated through the lower opening into the pipette point or is ejected from the same.
The syringe is held on the metering apparatus such that the syringe cylinder is stationary with respect to the metering apparatus, and the syringe piston is mechanically coupled to coupling means of the metering apparatus. By dislocating the coupling means, the syringe piston can be shifted in the syringe cylinder in order to aspirate liquid into the syringe cylinder and to eject it out of the same.
In order to move the displacement member or the coupling means, known metering apparatuses feature a manually driven drive mechanism or an electric drive motor. A metering apparatus with an electric drive motor is controlled by means of electric control means and it has an electric power supply connected to the electric drive motor and the electric control means (for instance an accumulator, a battery or a mains supply device). In addition, the electric control means are electrically connected to input means. Via the input means, metering steps (for instance to take up and to give off liquid) can be controlled, and/or the amounts of liquid to be taken up and to be given off can be selected and/or modes of operation (for instance pipetting or dispensing) can be selected. The input means can be electric touch-buttons or switches in particular. Further, metering apparatuses with an electric drive motor have often a display device (a LCD display for instance) in order to output information regarding the operating condition of the metering apparatus and/or the progress of a metering procedure and/or selected metering amounts and/or a selected mode of operation.
The means for holding the pipette point are mostly realised as a clamping seat (for instance as pin-up lug or blind hole). A passage opening in the front side of the pin-up lug or in the bottom of the blind hole, respectively, is communicatingly connected to the displacement chamber of the displacement device.
The means for holding the syringe are for instance cylinder gripping levers, which are associated to a cylinder accommodation in a casing of the metering apparatus in order to hold a flange on the syringe cylinder in the cylinder accommodation. Further, the means for holding can comprise piston gripping levers in a coupling dome, into which an end of the syringe piston or of a syringe piston rod is insertable in order to couple the same with the coupling dome.
Pipette points and syringes are detachably connected to the metering apparatus, so that they can be replaced by new pipette points or syringes after use. Thereby contaminations at subsequent meterings can be avoided. Pipette points or syringes for single use are available at low cost from plastic material.
The means for detaching a pipette point often comprise a throw-off slider having one end that is associated to the pin-up lug or the blind hole. The other end of the throw-off slider features an actuation button. A pipette point can be pushed off from the pin-up lug or be pushed out of the blind hole by displacing the throw-off slider.
In this, the means for detaching the pipette point or syringe is preferably arranged laterally on the outside of the base body and is not in connection with the displacement member of the displacement device, mostly the cylinder, or the movable coupling means of the metering apparatus in case that syringes are used.
In order to detach the syringe, the gripping levers may be pivotal towards the outside. For this purpose, the cylinder gripping levers can be provided with actuation ends that are manually actuable from the outside and have contact sites on the inner side which co-operate with actuation ends of the piston gripping levers, so that the piston gripping levers are moved upon actuation of the cylinder gripping levers when the syringe cylinder is completely thrust into the syringe piston. The means for detaching a syringe can also feature a mechanism which can be actuated by way of one single actuation button and acts on the cylinder gripping levers and the piston gripping levers. In particular, the means for detaching the syringe may bring about a detachment of the syringe from the metering apparatus, irrespective of the position of the syringe piston in the syringe cylinder.
In the metering apparatus with electric drive motor, detachment of a pipette point does not have any effects on the positioning of the piston in the cylinder of the displacement device. If the throw-off of the pipette point takes place for instance when the piston is in an upper position after the suction stroke, the piston must be dislocated into a base position by additional actuation steps, starting from which a completely new metering process can be initiated again. If a metering apparatus having an electric drive motor is laid aside after detaching the pipette point, the piston being in its upper position, and is thereafter used by another person, difficulties may arise when this person does not recognise that the piston must first be brought into a lower position for the metering in order to take up liquid by the metering apparatus.
Generally, for the user of a metering apparatus with controllable drive, an electric one in particular, it is not obvious in which position the actuation member or the coupling means is when he/she has thrown off the pipette point or syringe from the metering apparatus.
In a metering apparatus, there is also the situation in which the user wants to throw off a pipette point or syringe even though a liquid taken up or particles taken up together with the liquid, like magnetic beads, are at least partly still present in the pipette point or syringe. In this case, the displacement member or the coupling means, respectively, is not moved down up to the bottom, and the pipette point or syringe, respectively, is thrown off in spite of this by the means for detaching the pipette point or syringe, respectively, that is separate from the displacement device or the coupling means. As the position of the displacement member or of the coupling means, respectively, is not known for the next user of the metering apparatus in this situation, in particular when this user is another one than that one which has used the metering apparatus before, he/she does not known after putting up a new pipette point or syringe whether he/she has to move the displacement member or the coupling means downward at first in order to take up liquid by the metering apparatus, or whether the displacement member or the coupling means are already in the bottom position.
Similar problems may arise when a syringe is detached in a metering apparatus with electric drive motor before the syringe piston and with it the coupling means had been brought into its lower position.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,749 B2, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a portable automatic pipette with a throw-off device for pipette points. A sensor detects whether a pipette point has been removed. When the sensor detects the removal of a pipette point, a micro-processor controls the output of an alarm signal, in order to give notice to the user that an erroneous operation had occurred. The user has to set the pipette into the starting condition anew for a new metering process.
The solutions mentioned in the following from the following documents can also be applied to the metering apparatus and the process of the present invention. The description relevant to this is incorporated by reference into the following application.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,990, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, a metering apparatus for pipette points having an electric drive and a throw-off device for pipette points is known. From this document, electric control means for controlling the dislocation of the piston of the displacement device and a method for metering liquids are also known, in which the piston is dislocated in a special manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,917 B1, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, US 2007/0276546 A1, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, and US 2008/0011042 A1, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, disclose apparatuses with electric control means, input means and display means. Special control—as well as input—and display methods are also known from these documents.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,448 B2, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, describes a metering apparatus with a throw-off device for pipette points. From this document, it is also known that the casing of the pipette features a casing upper part with a mechanical drive mechanism and a casing lower part detachably connectable therewith and having a displacement device. A disc on a piston rod of the piston is pressed against the end of a driving rod of the drive mechanism under spring pre-stress.
From US 2008/006100 A1, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, a metering apparatus with a casing upper part and a casing lower part and a coupling between the piston and the drive mechanism is known, the coupling comprising an elastic element.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,660, the entire contents of this is incorporated herein by reference, describes a metering apparatus with cylinder gripping levers and piston gripping levers for detachably holding syringes.

Metering apparatus for liquids and method for metering liquids


A power supply apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display external devices allowed to receive power from the power supply apparatus, an input reception unit configured to receive, from a user, an input for selecting an external device as a power supply target from among the displayed external devices, and a power supply target device identification unit configured to identify the selected external device as a power supply target.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a power supply method, and a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, mobile terminals such as cell phones, smartphones, tablet personal computers, and notebook personal computers are equipped with their own batteries, thus eliminating the use of power cables to improve portability and pursue user-friendliness. Furthermore, there is a known technique that allows a charging apparatus to charge the battery in a non-contact (wireless) manner without any connection unit such as a connector.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-16170 discusses a device as a technique for a power supply apparatus. The device is able to detect a positional change of a power receiving apparatus and allow a display unit of a power supply apparatus to display a charging state of the power receiving apparatus having such a change.
Furthermore, multifunction peripherals (MFPs) have developed so that they can cooperate with mobile terminals such as those described above to give a desired print output and to receive a scanner input via wireless network.
Another known technique allows an MFP and a mobile terminal to cooperate with each other. Through this technique, power is supplied to the mobile terminal by wireless power supply using the MFP as a power-supplying point. This technology allows a user to perform processing without consideration of draining of a battery during cooperation between the MFP and the mobile terminal.
In the conventional technique for wireless power supply, a power supply apparatus automatically acquires a power supply protocol and the identification number of a power receiving apparatus in a power supply zone, and then automatically performs wireless power supply upon establishment of a power supply link.
However, when using the MFP as a power supply point, a mobile terminal user approaching the point to cooperate with the MFP does not always desire power supply. In other words, the conventional technique for wireless power supply has a problem in that a user may receive unnecessary power supply.

Power supply apparatus, image forming apparatus, power supply method, and program


To prevent response delay and to damp torsional vibration transmitted to a power transmission route. A vibration damper includes a first route R1 provided with a coil spring 43 as an elastic member, and a second route R2 provided with a sun gear 5s as an inertial body formed to be parallel as power transmission routes between an engine 10 to a transmission 20, and by switching the first route R1 and the second route R2 by a first clutch C1 and a second clutch C2, switchover to a state in which an inertial torque acts on the power transmission route by the sun gear 5s and a state in which the inertial torque is not generated is carried out.

Vibration dampers having an arrangement mentioned above have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-225482, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-001905, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei 9-196122. In Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2012-225482 for instance, a vibration damper which includes a shock-absorbing member for absorbing torsional vibrations, and an inertial body that generates an inertial torque acting on a power transmission route has been described. In this vibration damper, the inertial body is connected to a sun gear of a planetary gear mechanism via a centrifugal clutch. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-001905, a vibration damper which includes a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear that rotates integrally with an inertial body, a carrier that rotates integrally with an input shaft of a transmission, and a ring gear that is fixed selectively by a brake unit, has been described. In this vibration damper, the carrier of the planetary gear mechanism is connected to an engine via a damper that absorbs a fluctuation in torque. Moreover, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei 9-196122, making a carrier of a planetary gear mechanism function as an inertial body has been disclosed.
However, in the vibration damper described in each of the abovementioned patent literature, it is possible to damp the torsional vibrations by making a damping force by the shock-absorbing member and the inertial body act on the power transmission route, but a response of a vehicle is degraded due to the damping force.


Provided are systems, methods, and liquids related to electronic vapor devices. In one aspect, the application relates to a water-based vaporizable liquid for use in the systems, methods and electronic vapor devices. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Consumers utilize electronic vapor cigarettes, pipes, and modified vapor devices to enjoy what is commonly known as "vaping." Vaping is an increasingly popular market segment, which has been, and continues to be, steadily gaining market share over the last several years. The fluid utilized for vaping within some electronic vapor devices is commonly known as "eJuice." The eJuice currently utilized in the vaping market contains at least one of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). In fact, a majority of the liuid contained in an eJuice cartridge, chamber, soaked batting system, or other receptacle for eJuice is made up of one or both of PG and/or VG. The PG and/or VG are largely responsible for the vapor plume created by the vaporized eJuice inhaled and exhaled by users. Some users do not enjoy the 'vapor cloud' created by using eJuice containing PG and/or VG in vapor devices. Further, there are consequences associated with the vapor cloud produced by PG and/or VG. Namely, the vapor cloud is an annoyance to many non-vapor users which has triggered subsequent banning of vaping in certain designated areas, such as restaurants, workplaces etc. Additionally, utilizing vapor devices with PG and/or VG creates a large amount of wasted fluid as much of the vapor ends up not absorbed and exhaled into the air.
Despite the widespread population of vaping, eJuice that is substantially free from PG and VG has remained elusive. Thus, there remains a need for vaporizable liuid that produces a substantially invisible vapor cloud and methods of making and using same. These needs and others are met by the present invention.

Water-based vaporizable liquids, methods and systems for vaporizing same


Briefly, some embodiments of the invention provide devices, systems and methods for locating a wireless communication station. For example, a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a wireless access point to transmit a low-power security query through a dedicated security channel; and a wireless communication station to transmit, in response to said security query, a low-power security response through said dedicated security channel.

In the field of wireless communications, a wireless communication system may include, for example, a wireless Access Point (AP) and a wireless communication station able to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication standard or protocol, e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.
The wireless station may be moved by its user, for example, within or around an office or a residence. The wireless station may be, for example, out of the coverage range of the wireless AP, such that the wireless AP may not be able to communicate with the wireless station.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Device, system and method of locating a wireless communication device


A fire-resistant polyurethane foam is provided. A hydroxyl-containing inorganic fire retardant is premixed with a polyisocyanate and a polyol, respectively, to form two premixtures. Then, the two premixtures are mixed for reaction to form a fire-resistant polyurethane foam. Preferably, a combination of different particle sizes of the fire retardant is employed to maximize the amount of the fire retardant and increase the fire resistance of the foam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polyurethane (PU) foam, and in particular relates to a low-density, fire-resistant polyurethane foam and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fire-resistant construction materials are classified into three groups: inorganic fiber board, inorganic fiber cotton, and organic fire-retardant foam. Inorganic fiber board is relatively heavy and has a fixed shape which restricts its use and the thermal insulation is unsatisfactory. Inorganic fiber cotton has superior fire resistance and thermal insulation, but has no mechanical strength. Organic fire-retardant foam, such as phenolic foam, is light and has good thermal insulation. However, organic foam generally has poor fire resistance, and tends to shrink and gasify under exposure to flames.
A polyurethane foam incorporated with inorganic fire retardant combines the advantages of organic and inorganic materials, which are, high processability, light-weight, and high thermal insulation for organic materials and excellent fire resistance for an inorganic materials. However, in the conventional art, an inorganic fire retardant is merely physically blended in polyurethane, exhibiting limited improvement in fire resistance. Furthermore, the additional amount of the inorganic fire retardant has restriction. For example, the maximum permissible amount for a 1 μm aluminum hydroxide in polyurethane is only 36.5 wt % (based on the total weight of the fire resistant foam). If the amount exceeds the value, the resulting mixture would not be processable due to unusually high viscosity.
FIG. 1 illustrates a fabrication scheme of a fire-resistant polyurethane foam disclosed by Canadian Patent No. 1222599A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,889, wherein a fire retardant is first added to a polyol, which is then mixed with a polyisocyanate to cause a foaming reaction. Because the fire retardant is only present in the polyol, the amount of the fire retardant (and therefore the fire resistance) is limited by the volume of the polyol solution.
FIG. 2 illustrates another fabrication scheme of a fire-resistant polyurethane foam disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,565 and GB 1472245, wherein a fire retardant, a polyisocyanate, and a polyol are mixed together simultaneously. Because the contact of the polyisocyanate and the polyol initiates the foaming reaction immediately, it is not possible to incorporate a large amount of the fire retardant in such a short period.
FIG. 3 illustrates a further fabrication scheme of a fire-resistant polyurethane foam disclosed by GB 1499168 and EP0308769B1, wherein an open-cell polyurethane foam is impregnated with a cross-linkable latex solution including aluminum hydroxide.
It should be noted that the conventional art uses a single particle size for the inorganic fire retardant. None of the above cited references address the effect of using inorganic fire retardants having different particle sizes.

Fire-resistant polyurethane foam and fabrication method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A optical scanner control method and a optical scanner capable of positioning a mirror at a high speed independently of a rocking angle, and a laser machining apparatus for irradiating a printed circuit board with a laser beam by use of the optical scanner to thereby perforate the printed circuit board. In order to operate an actuator for rocking the mirror based on a deviation of a current position from an commanded value, a change in gain of the actuator is measured in accordance with each rocking angle in advance, and the manipulated variable of the actuator is corrected to cancel the change in gain. Thus, the influence of the alteration of a torque constant in accordance with the rocking angle can be suppressed so that the response characteristic becomes uniform all over a scanning region, and the positioning speed can be improved.

A printed circuit board perforating laser machining apparatus as an example of a laser apparatus having a function of scanning with laser beams is an apparatus for irradiating a printed circuit board with pulsed laser beams so as to make holes for connecting conductor layers of the board with each other. For example, a background-art printed circuit board perforating laser machining apparatus has an XY table servo mechanism and a pair of optical scanner servo mechanisms (for example, see JP-A-2002-137074, page 2 and FIG. 6). A printed circuit board is mounted on the XY table servo mechanism and moved thereby in X)- and Y-directions within a horizontal plane. The pair of optical scanner servo mechanisms are provided for scanning the printed circuit board with laser beams in the X- and Y-directions.
As for the structure of an optical scanner, for example, a coil is fixed to a central section of a single-piece penetrating rocking shaft, and a pair of bearings are disposed adjacently to the opposite ends of the coil. An angle detector is disposed outside one of the bearings, while a mirror mounting portion is disposed outside the other bearing (for example, see JP-A-2002-6255, page 2 and FIG. 6).
Description will be made below more in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a mirror servo mechanism (optical scanner servo mechanism) in a background-art laser machining apparatus.
An electromagnetic rocking actuator 110 of a optical scanner 100 rocks a rocking shaft 111. A mirror 130 is attached to one end portion of the rocking shaft 111 with a mirror mount 131, while an angle detector 120 is attached to the other end portion.
Due to the aforementioned configuration, the direction of the mirror 130 is changed in accordance with the rocking of the rocking shaft 111 so that the outgoing direction of a laser beam 30 incident on the mirror 130 is changed. The rocking angle of the rocking shaft 111, that is, the mirror 130 is detected by the angle detector 120.
An upper control unit 10 compiles an NC program and gives an command to a optical scanner control unit 20 as to a target positioning angle 11 of the mirror 130 in accordance with the position on a to-be-machined piece on which the laser beam 30 should be positioned.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a scanner servo mechanism constituting the background-art optical scanner control unit 20. A portion to be executed by software with a servo processor is illustrated on the left of the broken line, and the connection relationship of hardware and the flow of signals are illustrated on the right.
A target trajectory generating unit 210 calculates a target value 215 of the rocking angle of the optical scanner every moment based on the target positioning angle 11, and generates a target trajectory of the scanner servo mechanism. A detected rocking angle 255 of the scanner is subtracted from the target value 215 by a subtracting unit 222 so as to obtain a deviation 225. The deviation 225 is subjected to control and processing in a compensating element 220 so that a manipulated variable signal 226 is calculated. The manipulated variable signal 226 is converted into an analog signal in a D/A converter 230. Thus, an commanded value (driving signal) 21 of a current control system 240 is obtained. An armature of the actuator 110 is connected to the output side of the current control system 240, and a current detection resistor 241 is connected in series with the armature. The terminal voltage of the current detection resistor 241 is detected by a differential amplifier 242, and fed back to the current control system 240 as a current signal. An encoder 120 linked with the rocking shaft 111 generates pulses (position signal) 22 in accordance with the rocking quantity. The pulses are counted in a pulse counter 250 and fed back as a rocking angle 255.
When the aforementioned processes are repeated, the mirror 130 approaches the target position gradually. When the mirror 130 has been positioned, a positioning completion signal 12 is sent from the optical scanner control unit 20 to the upper control unit 10.
The laser beam 30 outputted from a not-shown laser oscillator is reflected by the mirror 130. Thus, a machining position of the piece to be machined is irradiated with the reflected laser beam 30 through an Fθ lens 140. In FIG. 5, three machining positions A, B and C corresponding to three rocking angles of the mirror 130 are illustrated.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the actuator.
A cylindrical inner yoke 112 is disposed to surround the rocking shaft 111. Outside the inner yoke 112, circumferentially divided four permanent magnets 113a, 113b, 113c and 113d are disposed to be separated from the inner yoke 112 through a cylindrical air gap G. The permanent magnets 113a to 113d have been magnetized to be polarized radially. The permanent magnets 113a and 113c are magnetized in one direction, while the permanent magnets 113b and 113d are magnetized in the opposite direction.
An outer yoke 114 is disposed outside the permanent magnets 113a to 113d, and these parts form a magnetic circuit. Due to a magnetic field formed by the permanent magnets 113a to 113d and the inner yoke 112, a magnetic flux M is generated substantially radially in the air gap G. In addition, strand sets 115a, 115b, 115c and 115d forming the coil of the armature are disposed in the air gap G as illustrated.
With the configuration described above, when a current is applied to the coil, a current flows in the illustrated direction in the strand sets 115a, 115b, 115c and 115d. Due to the interaction between the magnetic flux and the current, a force (Lorentz force) acts on the strand sets 115a to 115d circumferentially. Since the coil, that is, the strand sets 115a to 115d are fixed to the rocking shaft 111, the force serves as a torque for driving the rocking shaft 111. The torque is proportional to the current flowing through the coil, and the proportionality factor is a torque constant.
In recent years, there has increased a requirement to improve the efficiency in machining with a optical scanner application product such as a laser machining apparatus. High speed response is also required to a optical scanner servo mechanism. A optical scanner operates to rock a mirror within a limited angle range, but the characteristic of the optical scanner is not always uniform in this angle range.
That is, in the optical actuator 110 shown in FIG. 7, the magnetic flux M near the center of each permanent magnet 113a-113d trends radially, but tilts with respect to the radial direction and is low in density as approaches an end portion of the permanent magnet 113a-113d. Therefore, the torque constant is lowered when the strand sets 115a-115d approach the end portions of the permanent magnets 113a-113d.
FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between the rocking angle and the torque constant. The rocking angle θB designates the center of rocking, the rocking angle θA designates a negative-side angle, and the rocking angle θC designates a positive-side angle. The rocking angles θA, θB and θC correspond to the machining positions A, B and C in FIG. 5 respectively.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing deviation signals of the servo mechanism when positioning was performed in identical strokes in the machining positions with the rocking angles θA, θB and θC.
As is apparent from FIG. 9, a suitable response is shown at the rocking angle θB, but overshoot appears at the rocking angle θA or θC. That is, due to the torque constant changing in accordance with the rocking angle, there occurs a problem that the servo mechanism having good positioning responsiveness at one angle produces overshoot or overdamp at another angle.
However, it is difficult to uniformalize the intensity of the magnetic field acting on the coil independently of the rocking angle. Accordingly, the magnitude of the torque acting on the rotor alters in accordance with the rocking angle in spite of the same current applied thereto. In the same manner, even in an optical scanner generating torque by use of another structure, it is difficult to prevent the torque constant from having any alteration depending on the rocking angle.

Optical scanner control method, optical scanner and laser machining apparatus