A supply-regulated VCO exhibits reduced or no supply sensitivity peaking. The VCO includes an oscillator whose supply current is regulated to control the oscillating frequency of the oscillator. A VCO input signal controls the supply current so that there is a relationship between the input signal and the oscillator output frequency. Power supply noise that might otherwise affect oscillator operation is shunted from a supply current input lead of the oscillator to ground by a bypass capacitor. In one example, an auxiliary circuit supplies an auxiliary supply current to the oscillator, thereby reducing the amount of supply current a supply regulation control loop circuit must supply. In another example, a supply regulation control loop circuit supplies a control current to a main oscillator, but the bypass capacitor is not coupled to this oscillator but rather is coupled to a slave oscillator that is injection locked to the main oscillator.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) that make use of a supply-regulated Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) architecture.
2. Background Information
A supply-regulated Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) generally involves a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) whose oscillating frequency is determined and controlled by an input control signal such as a control voltage signal. FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is a diagram of one such PLL 1. PLL 1 involves a Phase-to-Frequency Detector (PFD) 2, a Charge Pump (CP) 3, a loop filter 4, a supply regulation control loop circuit 5, a bypass capacitor 6, an oscillator 7, and a feedback divider 8. The supply regulation control loop circuit 5, the oscillator 7, and the bypass capacitor 6 together form a VCO 9. Supply regulation control loop circuit 5 involves an operational amplifier 10 and a P-channel field effect transistor M1 11 interconnected as illustrated. PFD 2 compares the phase of a reference signal FREF 12 and the phase of a feedback signal FDIV 13 and outputs UP pulses or DN pulses depending on whether the phase of FDIV leads or leads or lags the phase of FREF. Charge pump 3 converts the pulses into a control current signal ICP 14. Control signal ICP 14 is filtered by loop filter 4 and is converted into a control voltage signal VCTRL 15. The supply regulation control loop circuit 5, the oscillator 7, and the bypass capacitor 6 together constitute a VCO because the oscillating frequency of the output signal VCO_OUT 16 of the oscillator is a function of the input control voltage signal VCTRL 15. The VCTRL signal is sometimes referred to as a fine tune signal and is denoted VTUNE. Oscillator 7 is an oscillator whose output signal VCO_OUT 16 has a frequency that is fairly proportional to the supply current ICTRL 17 supplied to the oscillator. If signal VCTRL 15 increases, then the control current ICTRL 17 supplied to the oscillator increases, and this causes the oscillating frequency of the oscillator output signal VCO_OUT 16 to increase. Similarly, if signal VCTRL 15 decreases, then the control current ICTRL 17 supplied to the oscillator decreases, and this causes the oscillating frequency of the oscillator output signal VCO_OUT 16 to decrease. The control loop operates to maintain the frequency and phase of VCO_OUT such that the phase and frequency of signal FDIV 13 as received by PFD 2 matches the frequency and phase of signal FREF 12 as received by PFD 2. When the PLL is in this state, the PLL is said to be in lock.
It is desired that signal ICTRL 17 be a function of the control voltage signal VCTRL 15 and only a function of the control voltage signal VCTRL 15. Unfortunately, there is often noise on the supply voltage VDD_NOISY at supply voltage conductor 18. This noise should not be allowed to affect oscillator operation. The supply regulation control loop circuit 5 operates to keep signal ICTRL 17 a function of control signal VCTRL 15, but the supply regulation control loop circuit has a limited bandwidth. High frequency noise VDD_NOISY that is of a frequency outside the bandwidth of the control loop can cause high frequency variations in the drain current of transistor M1 11. Accordingly, bypass capacitor 6 is provided to shunt such high frequency noise to ground so that oscillator 7 is not unduly affected by such noise.
FIG. 2 (Prior Art) illustrates a problem with the circuit of FIG. 1. Line 19 indicates how supply noise sensitivity varies as a function of frequency. Voltage VS is the regulated supply voltage on the common node at the supply current input lead of oscillator 7 and VDD_NOISY is the noisy supply voltage on supply voltage conductor 18. The supply regulation loop from the control voltage signal VCTRL 15 to the regulated supply voltage VS has two poles at frequencies F1 and F2. The dominant pole at frequency F1 is due to the parasitic capacitance associated with transistor M1 11 and the output resistance of operational amplifier 10. This dominant pole determines the upper frequency bound where the operational amplifier supply regulation control loop circuit no longer rejects supply voltage noise well. The operational amplifier supply regulation control loop rejects power supply noise relatively well for frequencies below frequency F1, but does not reject power supply noise so well for frequencies above frequency F1. F1 is approximately equal to ½π(ROUT*CP), where ROUT is the output resistance of the operational amplifier 10, and where CP is the effective parasitic capacitance associated with transistor M1.
There is a non-dominant pole at frequency F2 due to the bypass capacitor 6 and the effective resistance of the oscillator 7. Above frequency F2, the bypass capacitor 6 works relatively well in shunting supply voltage noise to ground but below the frequency F2 the bypass capacitor 6 does not shunt noise very well. Freg is the unity gain bandwidth of the operational amplifier. F2 is approximately ½π(RVCO*CBYCAP), where RVCO is the effective resistance of the ring oscillator, and where CBYCAP is the capacitance of the bypass capacitor 6. In order to achieve good power supply rejection at low frequencies, the gain of operational amplifier 10 is generally maximized which results in ROUT>>RVCO. This makes F1<F2 and results in peaking 21 in the supply noise sensitivity transfer function (VS(s)NDD_NOISY(s)) as shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is a gap 20 between F1 and F2 where the overall supply regulation circuit does not reject supply voltage noise well. This poor rejection of voltage supply noise is referred to as supply noise sensitivity "peaking" and is represented by arrow 21. The frequency F1 of the dominant pole is determined by parasitic capacitances of transistor M1 11 such as the source-to-gate parasitic capacitance 22 and the gate-to-drain parasitic capacitance 23 and the output resistance of operational amplifier 10. Making these parasitic capacitances smaller would allow the frequency F1 of the dominant pole to be increased, and these parasitic capacitances could be made smaller by making transistor 11 smaller. Unfortunately, transistor 11 must be large enough to supply the required current signal ICTRL 17 to the oscillator 7. The output resistance of the operational amplifier 11 could be decreased to increase the frequency F1 of the dominant pole as well, but this would increase the supply noise sensitivity at low frequencies. For such reasons, the frequency F1 of the dominant pole cannot generally be increased as much as desired to close the F1 to F2 gap 20. Secondly, the frequency F2 due to the bypass capacitor 6 cannot generally be decreased enough to eliminate the F1 to F2 gap 20. One limit on how low F2 can be is the amount of integrated circuit area required to realize a larger bypass capacitor. Another limit is stability of the supply regulation loop. If the non-dominant pole gets too close in frequency to frequency of the dominant pole of the supply regulation loop, then the stability of the supply regulation loop is degraded.
FIG. 3 (Prior Art) is a diagram of a PLL circuit 24 that overcomes some of the problems of the circuit of FIG. 1. A replica 25 of the oscillator 7 has a low frequency current-voltage characteristic (I-V characteristic) similar to the I-V characteristic of oscillator 7. Replica 25 in this case involves a diode-connected P-channel transistor 26 that is connected in parallel with a diode-connected N-channel transistor 27. These transistors are sized such that the I-V characteristic of replica 25 is similar to the I-V characteristic of oscillator 7. In circuit 24 of FIG. 3, the gate of transistor M1 11 of the supply regulation control loop circuit 5 is tied to the gate of a second transistor M2 28. Accordingly, the supply regulation control loop circuit 5 can regulate using transistor M1 11, and can at the same time also supply current ICTRL 29 to the main oscillator 7 via a transistor M2 28. The bypass capacitor 6 is no longer in the operational amplifier supply regulation control loop 5. Hence, the size of bypass capacitor 6 can be increased to mitigate supply noise sensitivity peaking without affecting the stability of the supply regulation loop.
FIG. 4 (Prior Art) is a diagram that illustrates a problem with the circuit of FIG. 3. Dashed line 19 indicates how supply noise sensitivity changes as a function of frequency in the circuit of FIG. 1, whereas solid line 31 indicates how supply noise sensitivity changes as a function of frequency in the circuit of FIG. 3. Vertical dashed lines 32, 33 and 34, indicate F1, F2 and Freg of the circuit of FIG. 1, respectively, whereas vertical dashed lines 35, 36 and 37 indicate F1, F2 and Freg of the replica circuit of FIG. 3, respectively. As compared to the circuit of FIG. 1, the frequency F1 is reduced due to the additional parasitic capacitances associated with transistor M2. As compared to the circuit of FIG. 1, the frequency F2 in the replica circuit can be decreased because the capacitor 6 is outside the supply regulation loop and therefore can be made larger. Because F2 can be made very close to or less than F1, there is little or no supply noise sensitivity peaking. The I-V characteristic of the replica 25 may not, however, exactly match the I-V characteristics of the oscillator 7. This imprecise matching serves to increase supply noise sensitivity at low frequencies as illustrated. Arrows 39 represent the increased supply noise sensitivity at low frequencies that is largely due to imprecise matching of the replica and the oscillator.
Another problem associated with the circuit of FIG. 3 is that the low frequency noise (such as 1/f noise) from the replica transistors themselves 26 and 27 will cause low frequency variations in ICTRL. This can increase the close-in phase noise of the ring oscillator 7 which is an important specification in certain applications. The noise contribution from the replica transistors 26 and 27 will cause a variation in VS. The supply regulation control loop 5 will try to compensate for this variation by applying a corrective voltage to the gates of transistors M1 and M2. However, the corrective voltage applied to gate of transistor M2 will actually cause undesirable low frequency variations in ICTRL. This is because the noise sources in this case are the replica devices themselves unlike the supply noise which is common to both the replica and the oscillator. This is a problem only at frequencies within the bandwidth of the supply regulation control loop 5. At high frequencies, the bypass capacitor 6 will shunt the noise currents to ground.
FIG. 5 (Prior Art) is a simplified diagram that illustrates the low frequency noise problem with the circuit of FIG. 3. The current source symbol 38 represents the noise current INOISE_REPLICA due to replica 25. This noise current has two components, a low frequency component INOISE_REPLICA(LF) and a high frequency component INOISE_REPLICA(HF). The supply regulation control loop involving operational amplifier 10 supplies the total current IREPLICA+INOISE_REPLICA. ICTRL is the desired control current of magnitude K*IREPLICA as supplied to the oscillator 7, where transistor M2 is K times larger than transistor M1. Because transistor M2 is K times larger than transistor M1, the noise current INOISE_REPLICA is multiplied by transistor M2 such that the current supplied by transistor M2 is ICTRL+K*INOISE_REPLICA. Although bypass capacitor 6 can shunt high frequency noise to ground, it does not shunt low frequency noise to ground. Bypass capacitor 6 shunts the K*INOISE_REPLICA(HF) component of current output by transistor M2 to ground, leaving the remaining K*INOISE_REPLICA(LF) to flow into the oscillator 7. This low frequency component of the magnified replica noise causes jitter and phase noise in the signal output by oscillator 7.


Faster, yet, completely efficient and exhaustive testing is afforded an entity (e.g., protocol, VLSI circuit, software application) represented as finite state machines by employing the present method in which test sequences are generated according to minimum cost function rules. Minimum cost unique signatures are developed for state identification of the finite state machine. Based upon the minimum cost unique signatures, a minimum cost test sequence is generated to cover every state transition of the finite state machine. As a result, every testable aspect of the entity is guaranteed to be tested using a minimum number of steps which represents a considerable cost savings.

Testing hardware, firmware, and software implementations of communication protocols, testing VLSI circuits and testing rule-based expert systems, to name a few, in effective and efficient ways is crucial for the successful operation and maintenance of the end products. During product development, designers would quickly grasp the chance to uncover as many implementation errors as possible thereby eliminating or severely reducing costly correction and maintenance after product release.
Product complexity and informality of the underlying product specification or interface protocol make exhaustive testing, that is, testing every testable aspect of the specified product, impractical or even infeasible without at least some well-guided computer assistance. It has been estimated that testing a communication protocol implementation at the network layer (ISO layer 3) for ISDN services without an efficient technique for minimizing the testing would require at least ten days due to complexity of the services offered. Ad hoc testing of rule-based expert systems is expected to require a minimum of several months time. In all, testing would be conducted in these examples on only a subset of testable aspects for the product at hand. As a result, the testing procedure would admit a number and, perhaps, a seriously large number of implementation errors to exist undetected.
Looking in more detail at the example of a communication protocol, it is understood that protocols are a precise set of rules used to define possible interactions among elements of a complex communication system. To ensure that such system elements communicate reliably when the system is finally implemented, the system protocols as implemented must be tested for conformance to their specification. Typically, a protocol implementation is tested for conformance by applying, by means of an external tester, a sequence of inputs and verifying that the corresponding sequence of outputs is as expected. Testing is further complicated by limited controllability and observability of the protocol implementation by the external tester. These limitations serve, in the first instance, to inhibit the tester from placing the protocol into a predetermined state and, in the second instance, to inhibit direct observation of the state of the protocol implementation. Since even the most simple protocols may admit an astronomically large number of input sequences, protocol testing becomes a combinatorially challenging problem.
To address these concerns, a method for mechanizing the testing process using unique input/output sequences was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,921 issued to A. Dahbura et al. on Sept. 8, 1987 and commonly assigned. The disclosed method is said to tour through and test all edges of a finite state machine. Protocols and VLSI circuits may be modeled as deterministic finite state machines represented as a directed graph. Vertices of the graph correspond to states of the machine and a directed edge of the graph, from one vertex to the same or a different vertex, represents a transition between the two states. According to the patented method, a test for each edge is developed by constructing a three-part test sequence. The first part is a sequence that places the machine at the head state of the edge, that is, at the state which enables the edge to be reached. The second part executes the transition of the edge by supplying the input signal expected by that edge. Traversal of the edge places that machine in the tail state of the edge. Verification that the tail state was indeed reached is accomplished by the third part of the sequence which provides a input/output sequence unique to the tail state. Unique input/output sequences are selected on the basis of minimized length.

Optimal test generation for finite state machine models


The controller for a single infrared source is capable of being programmed to act as a target for an AIM-9 target seeker. Data are read by the controller comprises (a) temperature data, (b) aperture data, (c) shutter-filter data, and (d) missile ID data. The controller includes a microprocessor CPU, with a program stored in a read only memory. The CPU reads aperture data from the stand, compares the data to signals derived from a potentiometer coupled to an aperture wheel, operates a motor to select an aperture on the wheel, and then sends an aperature ready signal to the stand. For temperature control, the black body is part of a resistance bridge circuit. A plurality of MOSFETs are used to select a value of resistance for a reference voltage in the bridge. The CPU reads temperature data from the stand and uses it to control the MOSFETs. An instrumentation amplifier across a diagonal of the bridge has its output coupled to a transistor circuit which controls power to the bridge, which thereby controls the temperature and resistance of the black body. The CPU reads shutter-filter data from the stand, and uses the data to generate signals to control solenoids for a shutter and two filters which are part of the IR heat source. A black body protection circuit opens a solid state relay to disable the 24-volt power supply to the bridge when the thermocouple indicates a temperature of approximately 905 degrees C. The results of testing this circuit shows that the fuse for the 24-volt supply will blow or the black body temperature will be maintained at approximately 905 degrees.

The present invention relates generally to a universal infrared heat source controller, and more particularly to a controller for a single infrared source capable of being programmed to act as a target for a missile target seeker.
A previous test system in use requires two controllers and two heat sources. Each controller must use its own heat source. It is necessary to switch from the operation of one controller to the other. The switching procedure involves: 1. Removing the heat source that is in the collimating tube and placing it on the provided holding shelf. 2. Unplugging the interface cable from the one controller and plugging it into the one to be used. 3. Performing the recommended calibration after switching controllers. The disadvantage to the system is that it is time consuming and also causes wear on the cabling. The disadvantages to the controllers are: 1. The heat sources are not provided with adequate protection. Heat sources burn up on a yearly basis. 2. Lack of support for repair and calibration of the controllers from the manufacturer. 3. Some of the circuitry in the controllers is unreliable. Repeatability of the controllers is not as good as it needs to be and they need frequent repairs.
United States patents of interest include U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,372, to Wirick et al, which describes a target for calibrating and testing infrared devices. Barnett et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,000, supply energy to a heat source 13 used to test a missile 11. The heat source is operated by a controller 14 connected to a programmer 15. Heat energy impinging on IR cell 17 actuates a detector 18. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,252, Lorenz discusses a calibration method and apparatus for optical scanners used to scan cloudscapes or landscapes from above the earth in an aircraft or spacecraft. Operation in the infrared area of the optical spectrum is described. U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,265 to Buse et al describes a simulator array and method for evaluating the tracking capability of a passive target seeker. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,792 to Grone, a counter-based simulated target generator is used to generate signals for testing a radar system.

Universal infrared heat source controller

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A water-based ink for inkjet printing, including (A) an aqueous dispersion A of vinyl polymer particles prepared by including an oil-soluble black dye or carbon black in a water-insoluble vinyl polymer prepared by copolymerizing a salt-forming group-containing monomer (a), a monomer (b) represented by the formula (I):

The present invention relates to a water-based ink for inkjet recording.
Inkjet recording is carried out by directly jetting ink droplets from very fine nozzles to a recording medium, and depositing the ink droplets on the recording medium, to form characters or images. As a colorant for black ink used for inkiet printing, a water-soluble black dye or an aqueous dispersion of carbon black has been used. The water-soluble black dye is excellent in jetting stability. However, there are some defects in the dye such that the dye is poor in water resistance and light fastness. Also, the aqueous dispersion of carbon black gives a high optical density. However, there are some defects in the aqueous dispersion of carbon black such that the aqueous dispersion of carbon black is poor in fixing ability on a paper surface, rubbing resistance and high-lighter fastness.
Therefore, for the purposes of improving fixing ability of the aqueous dispersion of carbon black on a paper surface, there has been proposed addition of a polymer emulsion giving film-forming ability to the aqueous dispersion of carbon black (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Hei 9-208870 and Hei 10-195355 and Hei 10-152640). When a large amount of the polymer emulsion is added, the fixing ability is improved. However, there are some defects in the polymer emulsion such that the optical density is lowered because the polymer emulsion does not act as a colorant. In addition, when the polymer emulsion is added within the range satisfying the optical density, the fixing ability is little improved.
In recent years, for the purposes of improving fixing ability and water resistance, there has been proposed an aqueous dispersion of a vinyl polymer containing an oil-soluble black dye (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9-241565). When this aqueous dispersion is used as an ink colorant, the fixing ability and the water resistance are surely improved, thereby exhibiting optical density like a water-soluble dye. However, the optical density would be insufficient for uses requiring a high optical density. Therefore, there are some defects in the aqueous dispersion such that the stability is lowered when the amount of an oil-soluble dye in the aqueous dispersion is increased for the purpose of improving the optical density, and that the viscosity is increased when the amount of the aqueous dispersion used is increased, thereby lowering the discharging ability.
An object of the present invention is to provide a water-based ink for inkjet recording showing high optical density, not giving distortion including crookedness to printed objects, and showing excellent water resistance, rubbing resistance and high-lighter fastness.
The present invention relates to a water-based ink for inkjet printing, comprising:
(A) an aqueous dispersion A of vinyl polymer particles prepared by including an oil-soluble black dye or carbon black in a water-insoluble vinyl polymer prepared by copolymerizing a salt-forming group-containing monomer (a) [hereinafter referred to as component (a)], a monomer (b) represented by the formula (I):
CH2xe2x95x90C(R1)COO(R2O)pR3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein R1 is hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R2 is a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom; R3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom; p is a number of 1 to 60 [hereinafter referred to as component (b)], a macromer (c) [hereinafter referred to as component (c)], a monomer (d) copolymerizable with these monomers [hereinafter referred to as component (d)]; and
(B) an aqueous dispersion B of carbon black having the same ionicity as the aqueous dispersion A,
wherein the weight ratio of the solid content of the aqueous dispersion A to the solid content of the aqueous dispersion B (the solid content of the aqueous dispersion A/the solid content of the aqueous dispersion B) is 5/95 to 95/5.
As the vinyl polymer used for the aqueous dispersion A, a water-insoluble vinyl polymer is used, and in order to obtain a water-based ink having both high fixing ability and high dispersion stability, there is used a water-insoluble vinyl polymer obtained by copolymerizing the component (a), the component (b), the component (c) and the component (d). or an anionic group when the group is neutralized with an acid or a base.
Representative examples of the component (a) include the cationic monomers and the anionic monomers described in page 5, column 7, line 24 to column 8, line 29 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9-286939.
The cationic monomer includes tertiary amine-containing unsaturated monomers, ammonium salt-containing unsaturated monomers, and the like. Among them, N,N-dimethylaminophenyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, N-(Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-dimethylaminopropyl) acrylamide, N-(Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-dimethylaminopropyl) methacrylamide and vinylpyrrolidone are preferable.
The anionic monomer includes unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, unsaturated sulfonic acid monomers, unsaturated phosphoric acid monomers, and the like. Among them, unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, especially acrylic acid and methacrylic acid are preferable.
The component (b) exhibits excellent effects of increasing the jetting stability of the water-based ink of the present invention, and suppressing the generation of distortion even when printing is continuously carried out.
In the formula (I), R1 is hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group includes linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
R2 is a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom. The hetero-atom includes, for example, nitrogen atom, oxygen atom, a halogen atom and sulfur atom.
Representative examples of R2 include an aromatic ring having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent; a heterocyclic ring having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent; and an alkylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent. These rings or groups may be used in combination of at least two kinds. The substituent includes an aromatic ring having 6 to 29 carbon atoms; a heterocyclic ring having 3 to 29 carbon atoms; an alkyl group having 1 to 29 carbon atoms; a halogen atom; amino group, and the like.
Preferred examples of R2 include a phenylene group which may have a substituent having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; an aliphatic alkylene group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms; an aromatic ring-containing alkylene group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms; and a heterocyclic ring-containing alkylene group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms.
In addition, preferred examples of R2O group include alkylene oxide groups having 2 to 7 carbon atoms such as ethylene oxide group, (iso)propylene oxide group, tetramethylene oxide group, heptamethylene oxide group, hexamethylene oxide group, and combinations of at least two kinds of these tri 15 alkylene oxide groups; and phenylene oxide group.
R3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom. The hetero-atom includes nitrogen atom, oxygen atom and sulfur atom. Representative examples of R3 include an aromatic ring having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent; a heterocyclic ring having 3 to 20 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent; and an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent. The substituent includes an aromatic ring having 6 to 29 carbon atoms; a heterocyclic ring having 4 to 29 carbon atoms; a halogen atom; amino group, and the like.
Preferred examples of R3 include phenyl group, an aliphatic alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aromatic ring-containing alkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms, and a heterocyclic ring-containing alkyl group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms.
More preferred examples of R3 include alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl group, ethyl group, (iso)propyl group, (iso)butyl group, (iso)pentyl group and (iso)hexyl group; phenyl group, and the like.
p is a number of 1 to 60, out of which a number of 1 to 30 is preferable.
Concrete examples of the alkylene oxide group-containing monomer represented by the formula (I) include methoxypolyethylene glycol (1-30: p value in the formula (1), hereinafter referred to the same) (meth)acrylates, methoxypolytetramethylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates, ethoxypolyethylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates, (iso)propoxypolyethylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates, butoxypolyethylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates, methoxypolypropylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates, propoxypolypropylene oxide (1-30) (meth)acrylates, methoxy(ethylene glycol-propylene glycol copolymer) (1-30, out of which ethylene glycol: 1-29) (meth)acrylates, and the like. These monomers can be used alone or in admixture of at least two kinds. Among them, methoxypolyethylene glycol (1-30) (meth)acrylates are preferable. Incidentally, the term xe2x80x9c(meth)acrylatexe2x80x9d as used herein means acrylate or methacrylate. Also, the term xe2x80x9c(iso)propoxyxe2x80x9d as used herein means n-propoxy or isopropoxy.
The component (c) includes macromers which are monomers having a polymerizable unsaturated group and a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 100000, preferably 1000 to 10000. Among them, a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II):
xe2x80x83X(Y)qSi(R4)3-r(Z)rxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
wherein X is a polymerizable unsaturated group; Y is a divalent group; each of R4 is independently hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, an aryl group or an alkoxy group; Z is a monovalent siloxane polymer residue having a number-average molecular weight of at least 500; q is 0 or 1; and r is an integer of 1 to 3, and/or a styrenic macromer having a polymerizable functional group at one end is preferable.
The number-average molecular weight of the macromer is determined by gel chromatography using polystyrene as a standard substance and chloroform containing 1 mmol/L of dodecyldimethylamine as a solvent.
The silicone macromer can be favorably used from the viewpoint of preventing scorching on the printer head of an inkjet printer.
In the silicone macromer represented by the formula (II), X includes a monovalent unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as CH2xe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94 group and CH2xe2x95x90C(CH3)xe2x80x94 group. Y includes divalent groups such as xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 group, a xe2x80x94COOCa H2axe2x80x94 group, wherein a is an integer of 1 to 5, and a phenylene group. Among them, xe2x80x94COOC3H6xe2x80x94 is preferable. R4 includes hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, such as methyl group and ethyl group; an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, such as phenyl group; an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy group, and the like. Among them, methyl group is preferable. Z is preferably a monovalent dimethylsiloxane polymer residue having a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 5000. q is 0 or 1, and preferably 1. r is an integer of 1 to 3, and preferably 1.
Representative examples of the silicone macromer include a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II-1):
CH2xe2x95x90CR5xe2x80x94COOC3H6xe2x80x94[Si(R6)2xe2x80x94O]bxe2x80x94Si(R6)3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II-1)
wherein R5 is hydrogen atom or methyl group; each of R6 is independently hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and b is a number of 5 to 65;
a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II-2):
CH2xe2x95x90CR5xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94[Si(R6)2xe2x80x94O]bxe2x80x94Si(R6)3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II-2)
wherein R5, R6 and b are the same as defined above;
a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II3):
CH2xe2x95x90CR5xe2x80x94Phxe2x80x94[Si(R6)2xe2x80x94O]bxe2x80x94Si(R6)3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II-3)
wherein Ph is a phenylene group; and R5, R6 and b are the same as defined above;
a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II-4):
CH2xe2x95x90CR5xe2x80x94COOC3H6xe2x80x94Si(OE)3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II-4)
wherein R5 is the same as defined above; E is a group represented by the formula xe2x80x94[Si(R5)2O]cxe2x80x94Si(R5)3, wherein R5 is the same as defined above, and c is a number of 5 to 65;
and the like.
Among them, the silicone macromer represented by the formula (II-1) is preferable, and a silicone macromer represented by the formula (II-1a)
CH2xe2x95x90C(CH3)xe2x80x94COOC3H6xe2x80x94[Si(CH3)2xe2x80x94O]dxe2x80x94CH3xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II-1a)
wherein d is a number of 8 to 40,
is especially preferable. Examples of the silicone macromer include a silicone macromer manufactured by CHISSO CORPORATION under the trade name of. FM-0711, and the like.
The styrenic macromer can be favorably used, since an oil-soluble black dye or carbon black is sufficiently included in the vinyl polymer.
The styrenic macromer includes styrene homopolymers having a polymerizable functional group at one end, or copolymers of styrene with the other monomer. Among them, those having acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group as a polymerizable functional group at one end are preferable. It is desired that the content of styrene in the above-mentioned copolymer is at least 60% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, from the viewpoint of sufficiently including carbon black in the vinyl polymer. The other monomer mentioned above includes acrylonitrile, and the like.
The component (d) includes (meth)acrylates such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)propyl (meth)acrylate, (iso or tertiary)butyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)amyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)octyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)decyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)dodecyl (meth)acrylate, (iso)stearyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate; styrenic monomers such as styrene, vinyltoluene, 2-methylstyrene and chlorostyrene; and the like. These can be used alone or in admixture of at least two kinds. Incidentally, xe2x80x9c(iso or tertiary)butylxe2x80x9d means n-butyl, isobutyl or tertiary butyl. Also, xe2x80x9c(iso)xe2x80x9d means n- or iso.
It is preferable that the component (d) contains a styrenic monomer from the viewpoint of improving optical density and high-lighter fastness. As the styrenic monomer, styrene and 2-methylstyrene are preferable. These styrenic monomers can be used alone or in admixture thereof. In this case, it is desired that the content of the styrenic monomer in the component (d) is 10 to 100% by weight, preferably 40 to 100% by weight, from the viewpoint of improvement in optical density and high-lighter fastness.
In addition, it is preferable that the component (d) contains a hydroxyl group-containing monomer from the viewpoint of jetting stability in an inkjet printer. As the hydroxyl group-containing monomer, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate and 3-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate are preferable, and these can be used alone or in admixture thereof. In this case, the content of the hydroxyl group-containing monomer in the component (d) is 10 to 80% by weight, preferably 15 to 50% by weight, from the viewpoint of jetting stability in an inkjet printer.
It is desired that the content of the component (a) in the vinyl polymer is 1 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 40% by weight, from the viewpoint of dispersion stability of the dispersion obtained.
It is desired that the content of the component (b) in the vinyl polymer is 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 10 to 40% by weight, from the viewpoints of jetting stability and dispersion stability.
In addition, it is preferable that the total content of the component (a) and the component (b) in the vinyl polymer is 6 to 75% by weight from the viewpoints of dispersion stability in water and jetting stability.
It is desired that the content of the component (c) in the vinyl polymer is 1 to 25% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, from the viewpoint of increasing the content of an oil-soluble black dye or carbon black in the vinyl polymer and from the viewpoint of suppressing scorching on the heater surface of an inkjet printer.
It is desired that the content of the component (d) in the vinyl polymer is 5 to 93% by weight, preferably 10 to 80% by weight, from the viewpoint of suppression of scorching on the heater surface of an inkiet printer and from the viewpoint of stability. When the component (d) comprising the styrenic monomer is used, it is preferable that the content of the component (d) in the vinyl polymer is 10 to 60% by weight. Also, when the component (d) comprising the hydroxyl group-containing monomer is used, it is preferable that the content of the component (d) in the vinyl polymer is 1 to 30% by weight.
The vinyl polymer is prepared by polymerizing the monomers (a) to (d) by means of a known polymerization method such as a bulk polymerization method, a solution polymerization method, a suspension polymerization method, or an emulsion polymerization method. Among these polymerization methods, the solution polymerization method is preferable.
The solvent used in the solution polymerization method is not limited to specified ones, and any of water-miscible organic solvents and water-insoluble organic solvents can be used. Examples of the solvent include an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone; esters such as ethyl acetate; toluene, and the like. Among them, ethanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and toluene are preferable.
Incidentally, a radical polymerization initiator can be used in the polymerization. As the radical polymerization initiator, any of azo compounds and organic peroxides may be used. It is preferable that the amount of the radical polymerization initiator is 0.001 to 5% by mol, especially 0.01 to 2% by mol based on the total amount of the components (a) to (d).
In the polymerization, a polymerization chain transfer agent may be further added. The polymerization chain transfer agent includes mercaptans, xanthogenndisulfides, thiuram disulfides, halogenated hydrocarbons, and the like. It is preferable that the amount of the polymerization chain transfer agent is usually 0.001 to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the monomers used.
The conditions for polymerizing the monomers (a) to (d) differ depending upon kinds of the radical polymerization initiator, the monomers and the solvent used, and the like. The polymerization temperature is usually 30xc2x0 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably 50xc2x0 to 80xc2x0 C., and the polymerization time period is usually 1 to 20 hours. In addition, it is preferable that the polymerization atmosphere is an atmosphere of an inert gas such as nitrogen gas.
After the termination of the polymerization reaction, a copolymer can be isolated from the reaction solution by a known method such as reprecipitation or distilling off of the solvent. Also, the resulting copolymer can be purified by the removal of unreacted monomers and the like by the repeat of reprecipitation, membrane separation, chromatography or extraction.
The weight-average molecular weight of the vinyl polymer (as determined by the method described in Preparation Example 1) is preferably 3000 to 200000, more preferably 5000 to 100000, from the viewpoints of jetting property, prevention of scorching on a printer head, durability of the water-based ink after printing, and stability of the dispersion.
The oil-soluble black dyes used in the present invention include C.I. Solvent Black 3, C.I. Solvent Black 7, C.I. Solvent Black 27, C.I. Solvent Black 29, C.I. Solvent Black 34, and the like. Also, the carbon black includes Monarch 880, Monarch 280, Monarch 400, Regal 400R and Mogul L (hereinbefore trade names manufactured by Cabot Corporation); PRINTEX-L, PRINTEX-150T, PRINTEX-90, PRINTEX-60 and PRINTEX-80 (hereinbefore trade names manufactured by Degussa-AG); #950, #960 and MA 600 (hereinbefore trade names manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), and the like.
It is desired that the total amount of the oil-soluble black dye and the carbon black is 20 to 400 parts by weight, preferably 30 to 300 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the resin solid content of the vinyl polymer, from the viewpoints of optical density and facilitation of including the black dye or the carbon black into the vinyl polymer.
The aqueous dispersion of the vinyl polymer particles containing the oil-soluble black dye or the carbon black can be prepared by, for example,
(i) a process comprising dissolving the vinyl polymer together with the oil-soluble black dye in a hydrophilic organic solvent, adding a neutralizing agent as occasion demands to cationize or anionize the salt-forming group of the polymer, adding water to the resulting mixture, and thereafter distilling off the hydrophilic organic solvent to phase-invert to a water-based system;
(ii) a process comprising dissolving the vinyl polymer in an organic solvent, adding a neutralizing agent as occasion demands to cationize or anionize the salt-forming group of the polymer, adding water and carbon black and kneading them, and distilling off the organic solvent from the kneaded product to give a water-based system;
(iii) a process comprising adding water, a neutralizing agent and, as occasion demands, a surfactant to a solution obtained by dissolving the vinyl polymer and the oil-soluble black dye in a water-insoluble organic solvent to cationize or anionize the salt-forming group of the polymer, emulsifying the resulting mixture, and thereafter distilling off the water-insoluble organic solvent to give a aqueous dispersion; or the like.
The neutralizing agent usable for neutralizing the cationic group includes inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitrous acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid; and organic acids such as a carboxylic acid having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a dialkylphosphoric acid having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and oxyacids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, glyceric acid and gluconic acid. Also, the neutralizing agent usable for neutralizing the anionic group includes alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide; basic substances such as ammonia, triethylamine and morpholine; alcoholamines such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine and N-methyldiethanolamine, and the like. It is desired that the neutralization degree is adjusted so that the resulting aqueous dispersion becomes neutral.
The average particle diameter of the vinyl polymer particles including the oil-soluble black dye or the carbon black is preferably 0.01 to 0.50 xcexcm, more preferably 0.02 to 0.20 xcexcm, from the viewpoints of prevention of generation of blotting and stability of the dispersion.
It is desired that the amount of the aqueous dispersion A of the vinyl polymer particles containing the oil-soluble black dye or the carbon black in the water-based ink is usually adjusted so that the content of the vinyl polymer particles in the water-based ink is 1 to 35% by weight, preferably 2 to 15% by weight, from the viewpoints of optical density and jetting stability.
The amount of the oil-soluble black dye or the carbon black is preferably 20 to 400 parts by weight, more preferably 30 to 300 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content of the vinyl polymer, from the viewpoints of optical density and facilitation of including the oil-soluble black dye or the carbon black in the vinyl polymer.
Although the aqueous dispersion B of the carbon black is poor in water resistance, it can increase the content of the carbon black as compared with the aqueous dispersion A. Therefore, there can be exhibited an excellent effect that the optical density of the water-based ink of the present invention can be increased.
The aqueous dispersion B of the carbon black has the same ionicity as the aqueous dispersion A from the viewpoint of preventing the aggregation when mixed with the aqueous dispersion A.
The ionicity refers not to the ionicity of each component such as the vinyl polymer, the water-soluble dispersant and the carbon black, but to the ionicity of the aqueous dispersion A or the aqueous dispersion B as a whole. Specifically, it means that if the aqueous dispersion A is cationic, then the aqueous dispersion B is cationic, and that if the aqueous dispersion A is anionic, then the aqueous dispersion B is anionic. The determination of whether the dispersion is cationic or anionic is carried out by, for example, determination of zeta potential.
The aqueous dispersion B includes an aqueous dispersion of carbon black, prepared by dispersing carbon black in water with a water-soluble dispersant, or an aqueous dispersion of carbon black, prepared by dispersing in water a self-dispersible carbon black on which surface a compound capable of dispersing is directly bonded. Among them, from the viewpoint of allowing for a smaller amount of the dispersant, the aqueous dispersion of carbon black, prepared by dispersing in water a self-dispersible carbon black on which surface a compound capable of dispersing is directly bonded is preferable.
The water-soluble dispersant used for the aqueous dispersion of carbon black prepared by dispersing carbon black in water with a water-soluble dispersant can be any of water-soluble dispersants, as long as it is water-soluble and gives excellent dispersion stability even when the aqueous dispersion comprises a large amount of carbon black, and is not limited to specified ones. Representative examples of the water-soluble dispersant include water-soluble styrenic resins, water-soluble acrylic resins, water-soluble polyester-based resins, water-soluble polyurethane-based resins, and the like. In the case of the anionic dispersant, there is preferable a water-soluble copolymer of at least one selected from the group consisting of styrene, a substituted styrene and a (meth)acrylate, and (meth)acrylic acid. Also, in the case of the cationic dispersant, there is preferable a water-soluble copolymer of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, a substituted styrene and a (meth)acrylate, and a tertiary amine-containing unsaturated monomer such as N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, N-(Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-dimethylaminopropyl)acrylamide or N-(Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-dimethylaminopropyl)methacrylamide. It is desired that the amount of the carbon black is 40 to 400 parts by weight, preferably 60 to 300 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the water-soluble dispersant.
In the aqueous dispersion of carbon black, prepared by dispersing in water a self-dispersible carbon black on which surface a compound capable of dispersing is directly bonded, the above-mentioned self-dispersible carbon black can be-prepared, for example, by bonding at least one anionic or cationic, hydrophilic group to the surface of the carbon black directly or via another atomic group. The anionic hydrophilic group includes ZOOM, xe2x80x94O3M, xe2x80x94PO3HM, xe2x80x94PO3M2, xe2x80x94SO2NH2, xe2x80x94SO2NHCOR7, and the like, wherein M represents hydrogen atom; an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium or potassium; ammonium; or an organic ammonium such as monomethylammonium group, dimethylammonium group, trimethylammonium group, monoethylammonium group, diethylammonium group, triethylammonium group, monomethanolammonium group, dimethanolammonium group or trimethanolammonium group, and R7 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, phenyl group which may have a substituent, or a naphthyl group which may have a substituent. Among them, xe2x80x94COOM and xe2x80x94SO3M are preferable. As the cationic hydrophilic group, a quaternary ammonium group is preferable, among which there is preferable a group represented by the formula:
wherein each of R8, R9 and R10 is independently hydrogen atom or R7, wherein R7 is as defined above; and X represents a halogen atom such as fluorine atom or chlorine atom, a carboxylic acid such as acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, gluconic acid or glyceric acid, or an anionic group of an alkylsulfate having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, including the followings:
It is desired that the content of the aqueous dispersion B in the water-based ink is 0.2 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight, from the viewpoint of improving optical density.
The primary particle diameter (the average particle diameter being determined by SEM observation) of the carbon black contained in the aqueous dispersion B is preferably at least 0.02 xcexcm, more preferably 0.03 to 0.10 xcexcm, from the viewpoint of further improving the optical density.
The average particle diameter of the solid content in the aqueous dispersion B is preferably 0.01 to 0.50 xcexcm, more preferably 0.02 to 0.20 xcexcm, from the viewpoint of stability of the dispersion.
The amounts of the aqueous dispersion A and the aqueous dispersion B are adjusted so that the weight ratio of the solid content of the aqueous dispersion A to the solid content of the aqueous dispersion B (the aqueous dispersion A/the aqueous dispersion B) becomes 5/95 to 95/5, preferably 10/90 to 90/10, more preferably 20/80 to 80/20, from the viewpoint of improving fixing ability on paper and optical density.
The total solid content of the aqueous dispersion A and the aqueous dispersion B contained in the water-based ink of the present invention is preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 3 to 15% by weight, from the viewpoints of optical density and jetting stability.
Additives such as a wetting agent, a dispersant, a defoaming agent, a mildewproof agent and a chelating agent can be added to the water-based ink for ink-jet recording of the present invention as occasion demands.

Abstract: wherein R1 is hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R2 is a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom; R3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hetero-atom; p is a number of 1 to 60, a macromer (c), a monomer (d) copolymerizable with these monomers; and (B) an aqueous dispersion B of carbon black having the same ionicity as the aqueous dispersion A, wherein the weight ratio of the solid content of the aqueous dispersion A to the solid content of the aqueous dispersion B (the solid content of the aqueous dispersion A/the solid content of the aqueous dispersion B) is 5/95 to 95/5.


An in-line venturi orifice trap (10) in which a condensate flow path (26) defined by the venturi is at an oblique angle with respect to the axis (18) of a pipeline in which the trap is to be mounted. With this configuration, the orifice (30) may be accessible (e.g. through a port (36) formed in a side wall of the trap or pipeline) without requiring removal of the steam trap from the pipeline.

Steam is commonly used in industry as a medium for transporting heat energy from a central location via suitable pipelines to its point of use. The heat energy conveyed in the steam may be released at a suitable point by causing a phase change of the steam from gas to liquid. The phase change releases latent heat from the steam and causes liquid condensate to form.
The condensate and any trapped air needs to be removed from the pipelines, because its presence can cause corrosion and reduce the system's heat transfer efficiency. However, any device for removing condensate also needs to prevent steam from escaping, as this also reduces the system's heat transfer efficiency and may waste the energy transported by that steam.
Traditionally, condensate is removed from pipelines using steam traps. Conventional steam traps comprise moving parts that are arranged to open in the presence of condensate to permit the condensate to drain out of the system and to close in the presence of steam. For example, conventional steam traps may operate mechanically, e.g. using floats and levers. Having parts which move relative to one another in use presents a significant maintenance burden because of an increased risk of failure. Mechanical steam traps may also exhibit limited efficiency, e.g. because of the amount of live steam that is allowed to escape during operation and especially if the steam trap fails when in the open position.
Orifice steam traps are known as an alternative to conventional steam traps. An example of a continuous flow fixed orifice (CFFO) steam trap is described in GB 2 304 300. In such devices, an orifice is located in the flow path of steam travelling through a pipeline. The size of the orifice is chosen carefully such that the condensate, which flows through it much more slowly than the steam, acts to block the steam from passing. The diameter of the hole can be very small, e.g. about 0.4 mm in some cases.
One type of orifice steam trap, known as a venturi orifice trap, has the orifice formed as part of a venturi, i.e. a conduit having a constricted passage therein, the constricted passage having a smaller cross-sectional area then the remainder of the conduit. In venturi orifice traps, the orifice is provided in the constricted part of the venturi, whereby condensate passing through the orifice enters a channel that opens out (e.g. flares outwardly) in the direction of flow. The orifice may thus be provided at the upstream end of a channel having an increasing cross-sectional area. The pressure drop after the orifice causes flash steam to form from the saturated condensate, whereby the venturi restriction is understood to regulate the condensate flow. Such channels have been used in venturi orifice steam trap demonstrated to operate over varying condensate flows without passing live steam. U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,943 describes such an arrangement. Venturi orifice traps are used in systems that exhibit varying loads, e.g. in which the amount of condensate and hence the flow rate of condensate through the trap varies over time (e.g. depending on the level of demand experiences by the heat transfer system).
Venturi orifice traps may be mounted in-line, wherein the venturi is parallel (e.g. coaxial) with the pipeline for conveying the steam. Alternatively, to permit retrofitting and facilitate cleaning of the orifice, it is also known to mount venturi orifice traps on the side of a "quick fit" connector pipe (e.g. a Spirax Sarco pipeline connecter), which itself is mounted in-line. In this arrangement the "quick fit" connector pipe acts to divert the steam to a chamber located out of the pipeline, from which the venturi directs the condensate back into the pipeline (e.g. to a condensate run-off section) in a direction perpendicular to the pipeline. An example of this type of venturi orifice trap is the Emerald Steam Trap manufactured by Gardner Energy Management Limited.
Steam-conveying pipelines used in heat transfer systems as described above contain many steam traps, since the system may have a total pipeline length of several kilometres, and typically a steam trap is required every 30-40 m. For example, an oil refinery may have over 10,000 steam traps distributed along steam pipeline, product trace and jacket heating networks, which may be provided to maintain the temperature of viscous fluids at a level to facilitate pumping.


A reciprocating pump includes a drive section and a pump section. The drive section has a reciprocating coil assembly to which alternating polarity control signals are applied by a reciprocating circuit during operation. A permanent magnet structure of the drive section creates a magnetic flux field which interacts with an electromagnetic field produced during application of the control signals to the coil. Depending upon the polarity of the control signals applied to the coil, the coil is driven in one of two directions of movement. The reciprocating circuit employs a storage capacitor and several switches to capture the energy of the reciprocating coil as the pump is driven downwardly. The charge is recycled as the capacitor dissipates, thereby reversing the polarity of the current through the coil and driving the coil assembly upwardly to its initial position. A drive member transfers movement of the coil to a pump element which reciprocates with the coil to draw fluid into a pump chamber and expel the fluid during each pump cycle. The pump is particularly well suited to cyclic pumping applications, such as fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for delivering fuel for combustion in an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the speed of a fuel injector by using a capacitor to store energy which can be used to accelerate the rate at which an electro-mechanical solenoid returns to its initial position.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide range of pumps have been developed for displacing fluids under pressure produced by electrical drives. For example, in certain fuel injection systems, fuel is displaced via a reciprocating pump assembly which is driven by electric current supplied from a source, typically a vehicle electrical system. In one fuel pump design of this type, a reluctance gap coil is positioned in a solenoid housing, and an armature is mounted movably within the housing and secured to a guide tube. The solenoid coil may be energized to force displacement of the armature toward the reluctance gap in a magnetic circuit defined around the solenoid coil. The guide tube moves with the armature, entering and withdrawing from a pump section. By reciprocal movement of the guide tube into and out of the pump section, fluid is drawn into the pump section and expressed from the pump section during operation.
In pumps of the type described above, the armature and guide tube are typically returned to their original position under the influence of one or more biasing springs. Where a fuel injection nozzle is connected to the pump, an additional biasing spring may be used to return the injection nozzle to its original position. Upon interruption of energizing current to the coil, the combination of biasing springs then forces the entire movable assembly to its original position. The cycle time of the resulting device is the sum of the time required for the pressurization stroke during energization of the solenoid coil, and the time required for returning the armature and guide to the original position for the next pressure stroke. Engine speed is generally a function of the flow rate of fuel to the combustion chamber. Increasing the speed of the engine shortens the duration of each combustion cycle. Thus, a fuel delivery system must provide the desired volumes of fuel for each combustion cycle at increasingly faster rates if the engine speed is to be increased.
Where such pumps are employed in demanding applications, such as for supplying fuel to combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine, cycle times can be extremely rapid. Cycle time refers to the amount of time required for a fuel injector to load with fuel, discharge the fuel into the combustion chamber and then return to its original position to start the cycle over again. Cycle time is typically short for fuel injectors. For example, injectors used in a direct injection system can obtain a cycle time of 0.01 seconds. That equates to the injectors being able to load with fuel, discharge the fuel into the combustion chamber, and then prepare to reload for a subsequent cycle 100 times in a single second. While this cycle time seems very short, it is often desirable to reduce this time even further when possible.
Moreover, repeatability and precision in beginning and ending of pump stroke cycles can be important in optimizing the performance of the engine under varying operating conditions. While the cycle time may be reduced by providing stronger springs for returning the reciprocating assembly to the initial position, such springs have the adverse effect of opposing forces exerted on the reciprocating assembly by energization of the solenoid. Such forces must therefore be overcome by correspondingly increased forces created during energization of the solenoid. At some point, however, increased current levels required for such forces become undesirable due to the limits of the electrical components, and additional heating produced by electrical losses.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved technique for pumping fluids in a linearly reciprocating fluid pump. There is a particular need for an improved technique for providing rapid cycle times in fluid pumps, such as fuel pumps without substantially increasing the forces and current demands of electrical driving components.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fuel injector driver circuit with energy storage apparatus


A fastening structure for securing a stator of a motor includes a copper sleeve with a notch thereon and a fastener. The fastener is composed of a position section and a hook section, wherein the hook section engages with the notch and the position section presses on the top surfaces of the coil bobbin of the stator.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fastening structure for the stator of a motor and, in particular, to a fastening structure for the stator of a motor, which can prevent the stator from falling off by means of a fastener.
2. Description of the Related Art
The stator of a motor is liable to fall off if the assembly strength of the motor is not high enough to withstand the continuous vibration during a long period of operation. In view of this, if one can provide a fastening structure compatible with conventional parts of a motor, the assembly strength of the motor can be enhanced significantly at low cost.
In view of the above, an objective of the invention is to provide a fastening structure for securing the stator of a motor, which enhances the assembly strength of a motor by a fastener engaging with a copper sleeve and thus the stator can be tightly secured to the motor during operation.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a fastening structure for securing the stator of a motor, which can protect the coil by a special design of a fastener.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a fastener includes a position section and a hook section. The two sides of the position section of the fastener are designed to respectively touch the copper sleeve and the top surface of the coil bobbin. The copper sleeve is machined on its side surface to form a notch at a specific distance from the top surface of the copper sleeve, which is designed to be substantially the same as the distance from the position section to the end surface of the hook section. Therefore, when the hook section is inserted into the notch, the two sides of the position section tightly press against the copper sleeve and the top surface of the coil bobbin so as to enhance the assembly strength and establish a firm connection.
According to another embodiment of the invention, one side of the position section adjacent to the coil bobbin is extended to the extent that it can cover the whole coil of the stator, which prevents the friction between the coil and the rotor so as to protect the coil.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, a first notch is formed on the copper sleeve, and a second notch is formed inwardly at the bottom of the first notch. The first notch and second notch together form an L-shaped notch to accommodate the hook section of the fastener. When the hook section is inserted into the L-shaped notch of the copper sleeve, the two sides of the position section press tightly against the copper sleeve and a top surface of the silicon steel sheet covering the coil to secure the stator of the motor.
Furthermore, the fastener may be of a circular structure, an arc structure or a combination of a plurality of arc structures having the same center and radius.

Fastening structure for securing stator of motor


A method of reducing catalyst agglomeration in a slurry hydrocracking zone containing at least two reactors is described. A hydrocarbon feed and a slurry hydrocracking catalyst are contacted in a first reactor to form a first effluent containing slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, and the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, wherein the slurry hydrocracking catalyst agglomerates. The first effluent and an unsupported hydrogenation catalyst are contacted in a second reactor to form a second effluent containing the slurry hydrocracking reaction products, unreacted hydrocarbon feed, the slurry hydrocracking catalyst, and asphaltene reaction products.

As the reserves of conventional crude oils decline, heavy oils must be upgraded to meet world demands. In heavy oil upgrading, heavier materials are converted to lighter fractions and most of the sulfur, nitrogen and metals must be removed. Heavy oils include materials such as petroleum crude oil, atmospheric tower bottoms products, vacuum tower bottoms products, heavy cycle oils, shale oils, coal derived liquids, crude oil residuum, topped crude oils and the heavy bituminous oils extracted from oil sands. These heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks may be characterized by low reactivity in visbreaking, high coking tendency, poor susceptibility to hydrocracking and difficulties in distillation. Most residual oil feedstocks which are to be upgraded contain some level of asphaltenes which are typically understood to be heptane insoluble compounds as determined by ASTM D3279 or ASTM D6560. Asphaltenes are high molecular weight compounds containing heteroatoms which impart polarity.
Heavy oils must be upgraded in a primary upgrading unit before they can be further processed into useable products. Primary upgrading units known in the art include, but are not restricted to, coking processes, such as delayed or fluidized coking, and hydrogen addition processes such as ebullated bed or slurry hydrocracking (SHC).
In SHC, a three-phase mixture of heavy liquid oil feed cracks in the presence of gaseous hydrogen over solid catalyst particles (e.g., as a particulate metallic compound such as a metal sulfide) in a slurry phase to produce lighter products under pressure at an elevated temperature. Representative slurry hydrocracking processes are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,755,955 and 5,474,977.
Some SHC catalysts may agglomerate in later reactors which reduces their effectiveness.
Thus, there is a need for methods of reducing the agglomeration of SHC catalysts.

Staged introduction of additives in slurry hydrocracking process


A corner cabinet fitting has a support with a guide member supporting a shelf in the cabinet interior for transferring the shelf from an inner position in the cabinet interior into an outer position. The guide member has a first end articulated by a guide member joint axis on the shelf bottom and a second end connected pivotably by a support fitting with a corner cabinet part. During closing, a pull-in device associated with shelf and guide member automatically pulls in shelf and guide member into the cabinet interior from a defined intermediate pivoted shelf position onward. The pull-in device is supported solely on the guide member or the shelf in coaxially alignment with the guide member joint axis on the shelf bottom. An actuator, connected to the pull-in-device and movable relative to the guide member, interacts with a driver on the shelf or on the guide member.

The invention concerns a fitting for corner cabinets, in particular for kitchen corner cabinets, comprising an interior that is accessible by means of a corner cabinet door at the front side and is substantially rectangular in horizontal section, comprised of at least one support stationarily supportable in the interior of the corner cabinet for securing at least one one-part shelf of a basic shape that is similar to a semicircle, wherein the support has at least one guide member that supports the shelf in an articulated manner and transfers the shelf on a predetermined movement path from an inner position in the interior of the corner cabinet into an outer position that is substantially located in front of the door opening of the corner cabinet, wherein the guide member is articulated by means of a guide member joint axle on the bottom side of the shelf and is connected pivotably by means of a support fitting with a corner cabinet part, in particular a sidewall part, wherein a pull-in device is associated with the shelf and its guide member for an automatic pulling-in action of the shelf and the guide member into the interior of the corner cabinet, from a defined intermediate pivot position of the shelf on, during the course of a closing movement
A fitting for corner cabinets is disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2004 011 200 U1. This fitting has a support with two guide members controlled a predetermined movement path of the shelf wherein one guide member is supported in one area of the corner cabinet in a pivotable way and another one is supported on another area of the corner cabinet. The two guide members are articulated on the bottom side of each shelf so that they ensure that the shelf is movably supported such that not only a pivot movement about an axis can be performed but moreover the shelf can perform also an additional movement relative to a circular movement path which makes it possible that, as a result of this movement path controlled by the two guide members, a final position can be assumed in which the shelf is positioned for the most part in front of the door opening of the corner cabinet.
It is particularly advantageous in this context that also in case that several shelves are provided that are positioned at a spacing above each other, as a result of the individual guide members associated with each shelf, the shelves can also be individually pivoted outwardly without the other provided shelves having to be mandatorily entrained. In this connection, each shelf support surface is accessible from above for the user.
DE 20 2005 016 432 discloses a pivotable pull-out device for a corner cabinet that, in analogy to the fitting system disclosed in the afore mentioned document, operates with two guide members, wherein one is attached to a sidewall of the cabinet and another to a vertical support column. Due to the two provided guide members, it is also possible in this system to transfer a shelf for the most part to a position in front of the door opening. As a result of a support arm-like construction provided thereat, two shelves that are arranged above each other can only be moved together into the outer position located in front of the door opening so that the lower shelf positioned underneath the upper shelf is no longer freely accessible from above.
Since the fittings that are known from the two documents each have shelves that, due to the movement path controlled by the guide members, can be transferred into an end position in which the shelves are for the most part positioned in front of the door opening of the corner cabinet, a large closing movement of the shelves must thus be performed. In practical use, this leads often to an operating person returning the shelves with a powerful movement into the cabinet which may cause the objects supported on the shelves to fall over and to impair free movability of the shelves in a subsequent opening movement.
Therefore, DE 20 2006 018 725 U discloses a fitting for shelves such as furniture shelves of pieces of furniture with a support that is pivotable between two end positions about an axis fast with the body of the piece of furniture. Its closing movement is provided an automatic pull-in mechanism for the support in at least one of its end positions. For this purpose, an angle lever is provided with a spring which upon surpassing a dead center position pivots the angle lever farther in clockwise direction and thereby entrains the driver positioned on the shelf. This angle lever is supported on the central support which is pivotable between the two end positions about the axis fast with the body of the piece of furniture so that this automatic pull-in mechanism is not capable of being installed where such a central support is not provided. Moreover, this automatic pull-in mechanism has an extremely complex configuration and cannot be retrofitted afterwards on a fitting for corner cabinets.
It is the object of the present invention to further develop a fitting for corner cabinets of the aforementioned kind such that, while maintaining the advantageous support of the shelf by means of a guide member and the possibility to position the shelf for the most part in front of the door opening in an end position, the closing movement can be performed in a controlled fashion by a pull-in device wherein the pull-in device is to be of a simple configuration and is to be retrofitted also for shelves provided with guide members of fittings for corner cabinets.

Fitting for corner cabinets and pull-in device for said type of fitting


A robot includes a body, a wheel having a ground contacting surface when moving, and a wheel drive mechanism that drives the wheel so as to advance from a housing space provided in the body to an exterior and withdraw. The wheel drive mechanism causes the wheel to withdraw to the housing space in a non-ground contacting state when a housing condition is satisfied. The body has a ground contacting bottom face that comes into contact with the ground when the wheel is housed in the housing space in a non-ground contacting state.

Development of an autonomously acting robot that provides conversation and solace fora human, such as a humanoid robot or a pet robot, is being carried out (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). This kind of robot acts in accordance with a control program, but evolves behavior by autonomously learning based on a peripheral situation, and becomes an existence that is close to a living being.


An animal chew including a surface comprising a base composition, wherein the animal chew exhibits a hardness in the range of Shore 70A to Shore 70D as measured by ASTM D2240-05 (2010) and a flexural modulus in the range of 50×103 psi to 500×103 psi as measured by ASTM D790-10 and Ascophyllum nodosum applied onto at least a portion of the surface of the animal chew, wherein the Ascophyllum nodosum is present in an amount of 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight of the animal chew. At least 10% by weight of the total amount of the Ascophyllum nodosum present in the animal chew may be applied to the animal chew surface.

Animal pets, such as dogs and cats, like their human counterparts, are subject to dental health problems including dental plaque and calculus (i.e., tartar). Dental plaque may include multiple species of bacteria that adhere to the surface of teeth. While dental plaque may initially be soft and easily removed, it may begin to harden within 48 hours and within about 10 days, the plaque may transform into dental calculus, which is relatively hard and difficult to remove. Dental plaque may also lead to tooth decay due to acid produced from the bacterial degradation of fermentable sugars and periodontal problems such as gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. If left untreated, the bacteria may spread to cause malodor, periodontal disease, gingival pockets and bone loss.
To address this problem, a variety of products have been manufactured to provide animal pets with objects to chew or gnaw. These products are intended to provide the pet with exercise for the teeth to maintain a healthy oral condition and satisfy a need that arose when the natural pet food, raw meat, was replaced with processed pet foods. While a number of products have been introduced to mechanically remove plaque from the teeth of animal pets, there still remains room for improvement.


A gathering and dispensing scoop with agitating gate valve provides a scoop body defining an upper opening, a bottom opening, and a channel extending therebetween. A handle extends radially from an outer peripheral surface of the scoop body. A gate valve transects the channel obstructing the bottom opening and has a user operable finger tab adjacent to the handle.

For years the food supplement industry and sports drink industry (commonly soda drink manufacturers) hereinafter collectively referred to as the "nutrition industry" have produced and marketed fluidic products that are packaged in a manner that is ready to drink (RTD). Such RTD products are predominately available in single serving size containers and such containers are typically formed of plastic or metal.
The nutrition industry also encompasses the production, packaging and distribution of a wide variety of powdered nutritional products that may be added to liquids such as, but not limited to, water, milk and juices. Powdered nutritional products include, but are not limited to, items such as baby formula, dietary supplements, sports drinks, vitamin additives and flavor additives.
The nutrition industry has discovered the manufacture and sale of nutritional products in powdered form is more economical that RTD products. Powdered products are easier and less costly to package and ship because powdered products weigh less and have less volume. Powdered products are dry and are generally not subject to spoilage with age. Further, powdered products encourage use of re-usable bottles and containers which has the added benefit of reducing the consumption of disposable plastic and metal containers allowing manufacturers to promote their product as "being green" and environmentally sensitive while increasing profit margins by reducing costs. Further still, powdered products allow consumers more freedom than would otherwise be available because a powered product can be easily transported and the drink may be made when needed. For example, parents with infants might be prevented from traveling if there was no ability to make infant formula during lengthy periods of travel on an airplane because refrigeration may not be available and because transport and storage of liquids may be problematic or even prohibited by aviation security regulations.
The nutrition industry has responded to these needs by producing single serving size "tubes" of powdered mixes that are easily transportable. Unfortunately, such "tubes" and single size serving packaging have increased pollution of paper and plastic products, encouraged the use of single serving size bottles of water and prevented end-consumers from adjusting the concentration of the product added to a quantity of liquid to adjust for taste. My dispensing scoop with gate valve resolves various of these continuing drawbacks and problems by providing end-consumers with the ability to adjust for taste and reducing the need for single use containers.
Various types of packaging and containers are used in the powdered nutritional product industry, including but not limited to, waxed cardboard containers, plastic jugs, metal containers and "tubs" of various sizes. Typically such containers carry a bulk quantity of product, which may be accessed through a large opening orifice, generally in a top portion of the container. Because the products are commonly sold in bulk quantities, the opening orifice in the container typically has a removable and re-sealable top and is large enough for a user to insert at least a portion of his/her hand into the container while gripping a tool, such as a spoon or scoop for gathering a quantity of the product and for transferring the product to an end-use container, such as a baby bottle or a water bottle.
If a spoon, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon, is used to gather product from the container and transfer the product to an end-use container, it is difficult to consistently gather and thereafter dispense a consistent quantity of the product because the product is typically "heaped" upon the spoon. This can be a significant issue when calorie control is important. Although a spoon defines a generally concave depression, a spoon generally does not have sufficiently tall perimeter walls surrounding the concave depression to prevent some portion of the product from "sloughing off" the edges of the spoon. As a result, when using a spoon, it is difficult to control the quantity of the product being gathered and thereafter dispensed. Further, although spoons are typically tapered at a "nose end" portion opposite a handle, spoons do not readily facilitate depositing the product into any end-use container that has an opening orifice smaller than a side-to-side dimension of the spoon. The result is that some portion of the product falls outside the opening orifice to the end-use container, causing a mess and waste of the product. This problem may be even greater if the person using the spoon does not have sufficient hand coordination and dexterity, for instance young children.
One alternative to the use of spoons for gathering, and thereafter dispensing such products, has been to include a scoop within the original packaging of the product and the scoop or spoon may be configured and sized for gathering a specified quantity of the product for addition to a predetermined quantity of liquid, for instance one scoop of product per 12 ounces of water. Scoops make gathering and dispensing a consistent quantity of the product easier, but scoops also have continuing drawbacks. Scoops typically have small short handles that require a user to insert his/her entire hand into the product container to gather the product. In addition, it is often difficult to fill and difficult to empty the material from the scoop. These drawbacks are exacerbated by the structure of known scoops and by the fact that many powdered nutritional products, such as infant formula, are a very fine powdered particulate.
Scoops formed by injection molding and vacuum forming have generally planer bottom portions and integrally connected side walls, defining an air tight volume. Such air tight volumes allow air pockets to form within the scoop as the product is being scooped up. Such air pockets prevent the scoop from filling completely with the powdered product. If the scoop does not fill completely, the amount of product being gathered and thereafter deposited into an end-use container such as a baby bottle is not adequate to create the desired/intended nutritional concentration. Another drawback to air tight scoops occurs when the scoop is completely filled with product. A vacuum may form within the volume, causing the product contained within the volume to not "release" for depositing into the end-use container such as a baby bottle without agitation to release the vacuum. Further, and similar to the use of tableware spoons, after the scoop is filled with a quantity of product, the scoop needs to be inverted over the opening orifice of the end-use container to empty the product. Inversion of the scoop frequently leads to spillage of the product, and in many instances the scoop will have an opening orifice that is larger than the opening orifice of the end-use container which leads to the same problem experienced with spoons, the powdered material falling on the outside of the end-use container rather than passing through the opening orifice and into the end-use container. Again, the end result is inconsistent quantities of the powdered nutritional material being added to the end-use container and difficulty gathering and dispensing the powdered material. Finally, many known scoops have a generally planer handle that extends radially from an upper edge portion of the scoop volume. The planer handle adjacent the scoop volume has a tendency to collect an amount of the product being scooped up thereon and unless this "build up" is manually "brushed away" there is additional spoilage when the scoop is inverted for emptying.
Admittedly scoops have resolved some of the problems encountered by users of powdered nutritional products. However, scoops have not solved all of the problems associated with consistently gathering and dispensing consistent quantities of powdered nutritional supplements into end-use containers that have opening orifices smaller than the diameter of a spoon or scoop. Therefore, there remains a need for a device which resolves these continuing needs.
My gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve resolves various of the continuing problems associated with gathering and dispensing consistent quantities of powdered and finely particulated products into end-use containers. My invention has a scoop body defining a volume, an agitating gate valve, and a handle extending radially from the scoop body. The volume is not air-tight so that air pockets do not form within the volume while product is being gathered and to prevent a vacuum which might prevent product from dispensing from the volume. The agitating gate valve breaks surface tension that may form in powdered products to encourage the product to "release" from the volume for dispensing. My gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve need not be inverted to dispense product into an end-use container because the agitating gate valve optionally opens and closes an orifice defined in a bottom of the scoop body so that the product within the volume may be deposited into an end-use container.
A dispensing chute may be attached to a bottom portion of the scoop body and the chute may have peripheral walls that taper inwardly, and may further include steps defined therein for frictional engagement with a rim of an opening orifice of a end-use container so that the dispensing chute may be accurately and consistently placed upon the end-use container for depositing product therein without spillage even by persons lacking hand coordination and dexterity such as young children. Inner surfaces of the dispensing chute are linear and smooth, without steps or ridges, so that product within the volume slides therealong and thereacross for passage into the end-use container.
The agitating gate valve is moveable and is manipulated by a user to open and close the gate valve as desired. The structure of my gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve allows single-hand (left or right) and single-finger use which is of paramount, importance, especially for parents who may be attempting to make a bottle of infant formula while holding an infant in their arms.
Some or all of the problems explained above, and other problems, may be helped or solved by my invention shown and described herein. My invention may also be used to address other problems not set out herein or which become apparent at a later time. The future may also bring to light unknown benefits which may be in the future appreciated from the novel invention shown and described herein.

Gathering and dispensing scoop with gate valve


An end face polishing apparatus has a support member mounted for undergoing rotational movement. A tubular member is mounted on the support member for rotation therewith. The tubular member has a first surface connected to a main surface of the support member and a second surface extending in an axial direction at a first distance from the main surface of the support member. A lapping member is mounted on the support member for rotation therewith. The lapping member has a first surface connected to the main surface of the support member and a second surface extending in the axial direction at a second distance from the main surface of the support member smaller than the first distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an end face polishing apparatus for polishing an end face of a rod-shaped member such as a fiber for optical communication.
2. Description of the Background Art
Fibers for optical communication are adhesively secured in the central hole of a ferrule, a main member of a connector, and then the ferrule end face and the end face of fibers are polished together and thus finished into a smooth, mirror surface. If the polished end faces of the ferrule and the fibers are not vertical to the central axis of the ferrule or if there is a flaw on the polished faces, the precision in positioning such ferrules as they are connected facing each other in an optical connector is lowered, and the loss increases. Therefore, the face of the ferrule including the optical fibers must be polished with high precision.
A conventional apparatus for polishing the end faces of optical fibers is disclosed for example by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 26456/1991. The disclosed end face polishing apparatus includes an eccentric adapter that rotates on a circle concentric with a rotating disc, and a planetary gear that transmits the rotation of a revolving motor to the eccentric adapter. These elements are coupled in a lapping machine, so that the lapping machine is allowed to rotate and revolve, while the end faces of a plurality of ferrules held by a polishing fixture are pressed against a lapping member secured to the lapping machine for lapping.
As described above, in the conventional optical fiber end face polishing apparatus, the plurality of ferrules held by the polishing fixture are pressed by a spring or the like against the lapping member secured to the lapping machine that rotates and revolves. However, the ferrules are polished based on time, and the polishing length for the ferrules cannot be controlled. When the ferrules mounted on the polishing fixture have the same length, there would be no problems. However their lengths are not equal because of the precision of ferrules or adhesive used to secure optical fibers coming out from the tip ends of ferrules and cured. When therefore such ferrules having different lengths are slid into contact with the lapping machine, the polishing fixture could be inclined relative to the lapping machine, and the lapping angle, the radius of curvature and the eccentricity could be deviated. The ferrules after the polishing could have different lengths.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional art and it is an object of the invention to provide an end face polishing apparatus with improved polishing precision regardless of the length of ferrules when end faces of the ferrules are polished.
According to a first aspect of the present invention directed to a solution to the above disadvantages, an end face polishing apparatus polishing a rod-shaped member mounted at a polishing fixture by pressing the rod-shaped member against a lapping member on a lapping machine provided on a surface plate which is supported at the main body of the apparatus to rotate and rock includes a plurality of rod-shaped guide members provided at the polishing fixture and radially outwardly projecting, and a tubular member capable of supporting the polishing fixture through the guide members on the surface plate. The guide members at the polishing fixture and the tubular member abut against each other, so that the movement of the polishing fixture in the pressing direction is restricted.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to the first aspect, the polishing fixture is provided with at least three such guide members.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to the second aspect, the polishing fixture is provided with six such guide members.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the tubular member is placed on the surface plate as its movement in the radial and circumferential directions is restricted.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the tubular member and the surface plate are closely contacted by magnetic force.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the rod-shaped member is a ferrule including a ferrule tubular body for holding optical fibers and a collar member provided at a rear end of the ferrule tubular body for holding coated optical fibers.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to any one of the first to six aspects, the position to provide the lapping machine at the surface plate and the position to provide the tubular member are level and controlled in height by grinding, and the heights of the lapping machine and the tubular member are controlled by grinding.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing apparatus polishes a rod-shaped member mounted at a polishing fixture by pressing the rod-shaped member against a lapping member on a lapping machine provided on a surface plate that is supported at the main body of the apparatus to rotate and rock, the polishing fixture has a plurality of rod-shaped guide members radially outwardly projecting, and the apparatus includes a tubular member supporting the polishing fixture through the guide members on the surface plate.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the surface of the guide member in abutment against the tubular member in the end face polishing apparatus according to the eighth aspect is a plane.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention, the surface of the tubular member in abutment against the guide member in the end face polishing apparatus according to the eighth aspect is a plane.
According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the plane in the end face polishing apparatus according to the eighth aspect is horizontal.
According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing apparatus includes a tubular member at the outer periphery of a surface of a surface plate, and a lapping machine provided on the surface of the surface plate, and the lapping machine is parted from the tubular member in the axial direction and has a height lower than that of the tubular member.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing apparatus includes a tubular member at the outer periphery of a surface of a surface plate, a lapping machine that is provided on the surface of the surface plate, parted from the tubular member in the axial direction and has a height lower than that of the tubular member, and a polishing fixture having a guide member held slidably at a surface on the side of the tubular member opposite to the side facing the surface plate.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing apparatus includes a tubular member at the outer periphery of a surface of a surface plate, a lapping machine that is provided on the surface of the surface plate, parted from the tubular member in the axial direction and has a height lower than that of the tubular member, and a polishing fixture having a guide member thereon. The guide member is held slidably at a surface on the side of the tubular member opposite to the side facing the surface plate.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing apparatus includes a tubular member at the outer periphery of a surface of a surface plate, and a lapping machine parted from the tubular member in the axial direction and having a height lower than that of the tubular member on the surface of the surface plate, and the polishing height is controlled based on the difference between the heights of the tubular member and the lapping machine.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing jig includes a plurality of guide members radially outwardly projecting.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, a polishing fixture holds a ferrule at an inclined surface on a outer peripheral side thereof, the ferrule includes a ferrule tubular body for holding optical fibers and a collar member provided at the rear end of the ferrule tubular body for holding coated optical fibers, the polishing fixture holds the ferrule so that the front end of the ferrule tubular body is positioned at the lower side and the lower part of the circle of the collar member in contact with the outer periphery of the ferrule is positioned at the upper surface.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the invention, an end face polishing jig includes a guide member radially outwardly projecting at the upper surface of the polishing fixture in the seventeenth aspect, and having a lower surface in a position on an extension of the upper surface of the polishing fixture.
According to the invention, a polishing fixture is provided with a guide member and a tubular member capable of supporting the polishing fixture through the guide member on a surface plate, so that the polishing fixture can be kept parallel to the surface plate, and the polishing precision for bar-shaped members can be improved. In addition, the lengths of the bar-shaped members after polishing can be equalized.