A leaching chamber, particularly a chamber which lacks ribs and is therefore flexible along its length, has a length in the range 4 to 5 ft, a length to width aspect ratio of between 1.2 and 1.6 and a weight of less than 3 pounds per foot, preferably about 12 pounds for a 4 ft chamber. Since the chamber length is less and the mass is more favorably concentrated, handling of chambers, and installing chambers in trenches is improved. The ability of a string of interconnected chambers to curve is increased.

Molded plastic leaching chambers having arch shape cross section and slotted sidewalls are buried in soil, to receive wastewater, such as from a septic tank, so the water can be percolated into the soil. A popular configuration of widely used chamber is about 6 ft long, about 3 ft wide and 1 to 1.5 ft high. Some specialty chambers, favored for drier and sandier soils are narrower and longer, at about 8 feet. Chambers are connected together at joints, to form a string of chambers within a trench, and then covered with soil or other media. Because water usually flows by gravity into and through a string of chambers, a string must be very close to level. So, the bottom of the trench is prepared accordingly, usually with a mechanical trencher.
To create the string, chambers are sequentially placed in a trench, which is slightly wider than the chamber width. Typically, chambers interlock together to with some kind of load-transferring inter-chamber joints, as by means of overlapping male and female flanges. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,017. Installing the string requires some skill and practice. Typically, a worker cants a second chamber upwardly, as he stands in the empty part of the trench, just beyond a previously installed first chamber. He seeks to engage the features at the first end of the second chamber with the mating details at the end of the first chamber. With the chambers partially engaged, he angles down the second end of the second chamber to a level position, while applying lateral pressure to keep the joint together. The installer's vision of the joint is often impaired by the bulk of the chamber, as the installer has to move down the narrow trench while lowering the chamber into the space he vacates.
The typical 6 foot long by 3 foot wide chamber typically weighs 25-40 pounds. It is thus bulky and awkward to handle. Problems with installing chambers arise, particularly when weather conditions are poor or the worker is impatient or unskilled. The trench may be irregular, with sides that are prone to shedding soil and stones into the trench, should the installer hit a side of the trench. Soil falling into the trench can upset the careful leveling of the trench bottom; and, even a small amount of soil can become captured within the joint, upsetting good engagement. Such problems either slow the work or cause the worker to do remedial work. Sometimes, chambers have to be removed so the trench can be re-leveled. Adding an assistant is undesirable because of increase in labor cost. Whenever there are awkward and repetitive motions, or a worker is irritated, there is a potential risk of injury, which one would want to avoid. Lumbar injuries are most associated with lifting bulky or heavy objects at extreme distances from the body. See the book "Designing for Humans", referenced below. Thus, one aim of the present invention is to ease installation and reduce labor costs.
Another need, which arises when installing chambers, is to make the chambers follow a curved path in the horizontal plane. Sometimes, the contour of a slope must be followed, or minor obstructions lie along a straight path. Prior art chambers with ordinary joints designed for essentially linear strings have a some angular flexibility. For instance, a plus or minus 3 degree bend might be achieved in a joint which is basically intended for straight line connection. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,017 of Nichols. There are prior art chambers with angled ends. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,778 of Nichols et al. But such chambers are basically suited for fixed large angle changes; and, using them presents inventory problems in the manufacturing and distribution system. They have not been favored in commerce. Swivel connections for chambers are known, to address the need. For instance, a joint between chambers running at between plus or minus 10 degrees might be created. See commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/442,810 of J. Burnes et al., filed May 20, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,293 to Hedstrom et al. While such chambers are useful, they add a complexity to the structural design and manufacture. So, it is an aim to alternatively provide for angular variations in the horizontal plane. Additionally, the bottom of the trench may not be precisely planar, and the same limitations and needs apply to vertical plane angling of chambers.
Another problem associated with certain chambers is that chambers are nested for transport, and are difficult to unstack, at the point of use. Lifting one end of a chamber unevenly with the other end, when seeking to remove the chamber from a nested stack, can cause jamming and resistance to separating. Common chambers cannot be grasped and lifted evenly at both ends by an ordinary worker, because of the chamber size compared to work arm spread. So, an undesirable result is that two workers may be required, to lift both ends of a 6 foot long chamber from a stack.
Generally, the ability of a worker to handle chambers depends on the size of the worker relative to the chamber or other article being handled. Women, who are on average smaller and less strong than men, are more commonplace nowadays in construction and other mechanical trades. So, it is a general object to accommodate them, by improving the manner in which inherently large awkward objects can be handled.


A programmable logic device is provided that allows a redundant row of programmable logic to be shifted into place to repair the device when a defect is detected in a row of programmable logic on the device. The redundant row is shifted into place by routing programming data into the normal logic and the redundant logic while bypassing the row of logic containing the defect. Switching circuitry may be used to direct programming data into the serial inputs of various data registers that are then used to load the programming data into the device. The patterns of programmable connections that are made between programmable logic regions on the device and vertical and horizontal conductors also allow redundant logic to be shifted into place. Some connections between the logic and the horizontal and vertical conductors may be identical within a column to facilitate shifting. Other connections may only partially overlap between respective rows. The partially overlapping pattern allows the connections to be less regular, which increases flexibility when routing signals on the device.

This invention relates to programmable logic devices. More particularly, this invention relates to redundant circuitry for programmable logic devices.
Programmable logic devices are integrated circuits that may be programmed by a user to perform various logic functions. Like all integrated circuits, programmable logic devices are susceptible to manufacturing defects. If the rate of defects in a production run is high, the yield of good parts will be low, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost of each good part. In order to increase yields, programmable logic devices may be provided with spare or redundant circuits. When a manufacturing defect is detected in a circuit on the programmable logic device, that defective circuit may be repaired by switching the redundant circuit into use in its place. Programmable logic devices that are repaired in this way operate identically to devices that were manufactured completely without defects. The user therefore need not be concerned with whether a device has been repaired or was manufactured without a defect.
Care must be taken, however, that the overhead in circuit resources that is required to implement a redundancy scheme on a programmable logic device does not unduly increase the cost of manufacturing the programmable logic device. If too many resources are used to implement redundancy, the benefits of redundancy may be lost.
In addition, it is important that the patterns of interconnection conductors used to route signals on the programmable logic device are arranged so that they can accommodate redundancy.
The programmable logic on a programmable logic device may be organized by grouping logic in regions of various sizes. For example, programmable logic devices may contain relatively small areas of logic referred to as logic elements. These logic elements may be grouped to form programmable logic regions. The programmable logic regions and associated programmable memory regions may be grouped to form programmable logic super-regions. Appropriate switching resources and interconnections must be provided to implement redundancy in programmable logic devices that contain programmable logic that is organized in this way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a redundancy scheme in which the circuitry used to switch redundant circuitry into use and the interconnection patterns used to implement redundancy may be simplified and improved.

Programmable logic device with redundant circuitry


A CNG cylinder mounting device for a vehicle according to the present invention has parts different from the typical CNG cylinder mounting device: the gas cylinder supporting frame has a feature of a steel plate shaped into two gas cylinder placement frame units. Each unit uses a belt to fasten the upper cylinder, locks the gas cylinder to the cylinder placement frame unit, and has four cylinder placement frame supporting sleeves underneath. The cylinder placement frame supporting sleeves are placed on the bed supporting bracket whereas the bed support is placed on the bored bed floor and has four bracket supporting sleeves under the floor inside the through holes.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of Engineering relating to a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cylinder mounting device for a vehicle.
(2) Description of Related Art
A structure for holding a CNG cylinder mounting device for a vehicle e.g. automobile, particularly pick up truck should be strong and able to hold the gas cylinder securely, preventing the movement or the slide ability thereof when the vehicle is running. However, the typical mounting device for the CNG cylinder for a vehicle installed on the bed is provided with a structure comprised of angle bars. Such structure exhibits a rather lower strength under the weight of a 98-kg gas cylinder apart from the force from many directions when the vehicle runs. Therefore the disadvantages of such structure include a shorter lifetime and a possible loosened valve installed at the gas cylinder head, causing the leakage of the gas.

Jigs and fixtures of CNG containers for motor vehicles


A friction clutch having a wear adjuster that compensates for wear in the form of an incorrect spacing between the pressure plate and the pressing plate as a result of an abrasion of the clutch friction linings. The incorrect spacing between the disk spring and the pressing plate is compensated by a ramp device. The ramp device and the pressing plate are coupled to one another by a positive connection, which, in order to compensate for the incorrect spacing, is temporarily suspended only when the incorrect spacing has been detected by a position sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a friction clutch, with a wear adjuster, a pressing plate with non-rotatably arranged friction linings that can be pressed between a pressure plate and the pressing plate disposed axially in a limited manner, relative to the latter, whereby the spacing between the surfaces of the pressure plate and the pressing plate is determined in a loaded state by means of a position sensor, and incorrect spacing is compensated by means of a ramp device disposed between the contact surface and the pressing plate depending on the determined incorrect spacing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Friction clutches with appropriate wear adjustment are known. Thus, a displaceable pressing plate is generally provided between pressurizing media, for instance, a disk spring, for pressurizing an axially limited pressing plate relative to a pressure plate for clamping friction linings, and a ramp device that when friction linings are worn out, as is noticeable by an axially incorrect spacing between the pressure and pressing plates, such a ramp device compensates for the incorrect spacing by displacing the ramps relative to one another. So long as they should not be self-adjusted, a ramp device and counter ramps are fixed against the effect of axial forces that can be provided by appropriate energy accumulators via frictional means, against rotation in the circumferential direction. Should a so-called position or wear sensor detect incorrect spacing, frictional effect will be removed and the ramp device, mostly supported by a spring device, will be rotated so long until the ramps and counterpart ramps will have compensated the wear and frictional contact reestablished to fix the ramps onto one another.
An object of the present invention is to improve such friction clutches having wear adjustment. Thereby, simplifications of wear adjustment, increasing the reliability, and/or reduction of the number of components are particularly in the forefront.


A blade sharpening system using the interior surface of a grinding wheel against which a blade is drawn along its entire length for sharpening. The sharpening system includes a blade holding configuration having multiple hinged arms. A cam operating between two of the hinged arms serves to alter the angle of incidence between the blade and the grinding wheel as the blade is drawn across the grinding wheel. The result is that a wide variety of different blade configurations can be easily accommodated by the sharpening system.

There are currently a wide variety of different blade types used on a wide variety of different cutting implements. Depending upon the implement used and the duty cycle that it must endure, periodic sharpening is required. A sharpening system and process is often adapted to the particular type of blade used.
One major drawback in the art of sharpening blades is that there is a certain amount of deterioration of the blade caused by the sharpening process. Over time, this can either destroy or alter the blade's fundamental characteristics. Accordingly, the precision of the sharpening device and sharpening process, (as well as the duty cycle of the blade) become critical to the life of the blade.
One type of blade that is subject to intense duty cycles, and subsequently frequent sharpening programs, is found in shears/scissors, especially those used for cutting hair. There are three types of blade typically found in barber shears/scissors, as depicted in FIG. 11. These include the beveled edge, the hollow ground edge, and the convex edge. There are also a wide variety of different systems and techniques for sharpening such blades. A number of these are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,733,751 to Williams; 2,753,666 to Sasse; 1,832,968 to Armey; 1,806,234 to Boyd; 5,941,763 to Kaye; 7,465,220 to Wolff; 970,227 to Homan; 3,879,899 to Ribar; and 4,528,778 to Wolff. All of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Practice indicates that convex blades are preferred for scissors or shears, especially those used for cutting human hair. Because of the duty cycle for such shears/scissors, frequent sharpening is necessary. Unfortunately, the sharpening of convex blades, such as those preferred in barbering applications, is the most difficult to accomplish. This type of blade is especially vulnerable to degradation or changes in shape during the sharpening process.
Currently, a number of approaches to the sharpening of convex edges, such as those that are used in barber shears exist. The first of these is to maintain the convex edge along the length of the blade by rolling the edge on the outside of a grinding wheel. This technique requires that several passes be made, in which the angle to the sharpening wheel is changed for each pass. The result is usually a series of hollow ground cuts that look similar to a convex edge, but in reality, differs slightly (as indicated in the comparison of edges depicted in FIG. 11). Usually, the last pass on the outer-most cutting edge, results in a hollow ground edge. This undesirable result is very difficult to avoid.
There are conventional sharpening devices that use a flat disk and a clamp to carry out a process of rolling the blade against the flat disk to create a convex edge. However, this approach has a number of problems. Firstly, if the blade is not lifted at exactly the right time (within a millisecond of the precise time required) during the pass, a "micro-bevel" is placed on the outside of the cutting edge. This is a deviation from the true convex edge (as depicted in FIG. 11).
Another problem with conventional sharpening process for shears/scissors is that many scissor manufacturers have started to coat the outside of the blade with electro-plated metals to provide certain blade characteristics. Unfortunately, when conducting the conventional process of rolling the blade during sharpening, the plating can be moved or damaged, resulting in an unsightly finish on the scissors, as well resulting in a failure to obtain a true convex edge.
To complicate matters, such problems are often exaggerated by some scissor designs that include a changing angle from the back of the blade to the tip. This initial design is accomplished in the factory by uniformly sharpening the scissors blades in the manufacturing plant and then bending them to the final curve (which includes the varying edge angle along the length of the blade). The result of this particular design is that the sharpening process is rendered extremely difficult, especially in view of the need to not alter or damage the blade.
Currently, approximately 90% of the barber/beauty shear manufacturing industry production is directed to convex edges. Further, approximately of all barber/beauty shears or scissors are coated with a colored finish. In order to address such products, conventional sharpening systems have become quite complex, and very time consuming. For example, a conventional sharpening process for a convex edge can take as many as four or five abrasive wheel changes (and many passes) for each blade. Even with extreme care and expenditure of time, damage or unfavorable deformation of the blade can still take place with conventional systems.
Accordingly, a need exists for a sharpening system, especially a sharpening system for shears or scissors, that can quickly sharpen a convex blade along its entire length without damaging or deforming the blade from its desired shape, or cover. An improved sharpening system would also be relatively error free while conducting rapid sharpening of both convex and bevel edged shears.

Blade sharpening system for multiple blade shapes


A process is disclosed for forming an improved dye image in an aqueous-developable photographic dry dye-diffusion transfer element comprising the steps of:. providing an aqueous-developable chromogenie photographic dry dye-diffusion transfer element comprising radiation sensitive silver halide, an aqueous-developable material containing color coupler wherein said coupler forms or releases a heat-transferable dye upon reaction of said coupler with the oxidation product of a primary amine developing agent, a hydrophilic binder, and a thermal solvent wherein said thermal solvent has the structure I ##STR1## wherein (a) Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3, Z.sub.4, and Z.sub.5 are substituents, the Hammer sigma parameters of Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3, and Z.sub.4 sum to give a total, .SIGMA., of at least -0.28 and less than 1.53; PA1 exposing said dye-diffusion transfer element to actinic radiation; PA1 contacting said dye-diffusion transfer element with an aqueous-developing solution, wherein said aqueous-developing solution comprises a primary amine developing agent; PA1 contacting said dye-diffusion transfer element with an aqueous stop bath; PA1 drying said dye-diffusion transfer element; PA1 providing a dye-receiving layer and contiguous support, where said dye-receiving layer is in physical contact with said dye-diffusion transfer element; PA1 heating said dye-diffusion transfer element and dye-receiving layer to effect dye-diffusion transfer; and PA1 separating said dye-receiving layer and contiguous support from said dye-diffusion transfer element.. (b) the calculated IogP for I is greater than 3 and less than 10;

Thermal solvents in dry photothermographic systems
Heat processable photosensitive elements can be constructed so that after exposure, they can be processed in a substantially dry state by applying heat. It is known how to develop latent image in a photographic element not containing silver halide wherein organic silver salts are used as a source of silver for image formation and amplification. Such processes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,429,706 (Shepard et al.) and 3,442,682 (Fukawa et al.). Other dry processing thermographic systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,904 (Sorenson et al.) and 3,457,075 (Morgan and Shely). A variety of compounds have been proposed as "carriers" or "thermal solvents" or "heat solvents" for such systems, whereby these additives serve as solvents for incorporated developing agents, or otherwise facilitate the resulting development or silver diffusion processes. Acid amides and carbamates have been proposed as such thermal solvents by Henn and Miller (U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,675) and by Yudelson (U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,776). Bojara and de Mauriac (U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,959) disclose the use of nonaqueous polar solvents containing thione, --SO.sub.2 -- and --CO-- groups as thermal solvents and carriers in such photographic elements. Similarly, La Rossa (U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,980) discloses the use of imidazoline-2-thiones as processing addenda in heat developable photographic materials.
Thermal solvents for use in substantially dry color photothermographic systems have been disclosed by Komamura et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,981), Komamura (U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,698), Aomo and Nakamaura (U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,479), and Ohbavashi et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,502). The terms "heat solvent" and "thermal solvent" in these disclosures refer to a non-hydrolyzable organic material which is a liquid at ambient temperature or a solid at an ambient temperature but melts together with other components at a temperature of heat treatment or below but higher than 40.degree. C. Such solvents may also be solids at temperatures above the thermal processing temperature. Their preferred examples include compounds which can act as a solvent for the developing agent and compounds having a high dielectric constant which accelerate physical development of silver salts. Alkyl and aryl amides are disclosed as "heat solvents" by Komamura et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,981), and a variety of benzamides have been disclosed as "heat solvents" by Ohbayashi et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,502). Polyglycols, derivatives of polyethylene oxides, beeswax, monostearin, high dielectric constant compounds having an --SO.sub.2 -- or --CO-- group such as acetamide, ethylcarbamate, urea, methylsulfonamide, polar substances described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,959, lactone of 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, methyl anisate, and related compounds are disclosed as thermal solvents in such systems. The role of thermal solvents in these systems is not clear, but it is believed that such thermal solvents promote the diffusion of reactants at the time of thermal development. Masukawa and Koshizuka disclose (U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,267) the use of similar components (such as methyl anisate) as "heat fusers" in thermally developable light-sensitive materials.

Thermal solvents for heat image separation processes


A method for forming a proteoliposome comprises incorporating into a liposome a membrane protein combined with a carrier. Further, a method for preparing a giant proteoliposome, comprises freezing and thawing an alkali metal salt solution containing a membrane protein and a lipid, and subsequently dialyzing against a second salt solution or a buffer solution having a lower osmotic pressure than that of said alkali metal salt solution. Further, a method for forming a proteoliposome, comprises by freezing and thawing an alkali metal salt solution containing a membrane protein combined with a carrier and a lipid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming a proteoliposome which has a membrane protein incorporated in a membrane of a vesicle such as or a liposome, and particularly to a method for forming a proteoliposome in which a membrane protein is incorporated in a manner so as to control molecular orientation.
The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a giant proteollposome having a diameter of 5 .mu.m or more in a simple process and in a large quantity under mild conditions.
The present invention further relates to a method for forming a giant proteoliposome having a membrane protein incorporated in a preferable molecular orientation.
2. Related Background Art
A liposome is an assembly of biologically functional molecules and is formed by dispersing and re-associating a lipid, which is a biomembrane-constituting molecule, in an aqueous solution and has a structure like a cellular membrane. The application of the liposome is under investigation as applied to medical diagnosis and treating medicines in medical care, and to production of useful materials in industrial fields.
The proteoliposomes which have a protean incorporated into the above mentioned liposomes can have a further higher function in addition to the function of the liposome because a functional molecule can be added thereto.
Proteoliposomes are prepared by various known methods corresponding to the uses thereof and the types of the protein. The known methods include a dialysis method, a sonication, a freeze-thaw method; etc.
In the dialysis method, a protein is solubilized together with a lipid by use of a detergent, and then the detergent is removed by dialysis to give small proteoliposomes having a diameter of 100 nm or less. In the sonication method, a protein is treated with a liposome by sonication, which gives small proteoliposomes having a small diameter of 100 nm or less also. In the freeze-thaw method, a mixed solution of a protein and a liposome is frozen and thawed repeatedly to incorporate the protein into a lipid membrane, which gives a relatively large proteoliposome of several hundred nm in diameter.
On the other hand, there is a biomembrane comprising a membrane protein embedded with preferable molecular orientation. Such anisotropic membrane constitution realizes vectorial transfer of a substance or of information such as reception and conduction of excitation, and transportation of a substance. Hence, in applications of the proteoliposome to medical treatment and industry as well, a constant orientational incorporation of the membrane protein is advantageous to realize the function effectively.
Conventional methods for producing proteoliposomes are based on the process of chemical or physical dissolution or partial destruction of a lipid membrane, and subsequent reconstruction of a membrane with inclusion of a membrane protein. In the process, no means for positively controlling the molecular-orientation of the membrane protein is achieved.
Practically, in proteoliposome membranes prepared by conventional methods, the proteins are incorporated with random orientation.
Further, the diameter of the proteoliposomes depends on the respective method of preparation, and cannot be optionally selected.
Detailed studies on inclusion of a membrane protein, especially a protein inherent in cellular membrane, into a lipid bilayer membrane in the formation of a proteoliposome is found only in exceptional reports such as "Zakim: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 906, 33-68 (1987)" which discloses that a spontaneous insertion of a membrane protein solubiltzed by a detergent or a membrane protein free from both the detergent and membrane lipid into a lipid bilayer membrane may occur under appropriate conditions with activation energy lower than that of fusion between liposomes, regarding cytochrome, UDP glucuronosyltransferase, bacteriorhodopsin, etc. The inserted protein, however, is not preferably oriented, and is not orientationally controlled at all.
On the other hand, a giant proteoliposome having a diameter of 5 .mu.m or more is applicable as an artificial cell because it has a size equivalent to a cell and therefore can easily mimic various functions of the cell.
Its larger inner volume gives the advantages of a higher efficiency of substance retention, a higher efficiency of substance incorporation, etc. which allows development of high-performance micro-capsules, and chemical sensors, etc. Further, the size exceeding 5 .mu.m in diameter thereof enables easy observation with an optical microscope and permits mechanical operation by means of micromanipulation or microinjection, which is hopefully adaptable to applications inherently different from the conventional proteoliposomes having smaller diameters.
Heretofore, known preparation methods of giant proteoliposomes have been limited to only a few methods such as an electric field fusion method and a giant liposome preparation method, none of which is practical.
The known methods for preparation of giant proteoliposomes, including an electric field fusion method, a stationary hydration method, a reverse phase evaporation method, and a freeze-thaw method are all under severe restriction, and are impractical except for restricted applications.
In the electric field fusion method, a suspension of small-diameter proteoliposomes prepared preliminarily in the conventional method is subjected to application of an electric field, leading to formation of giant proteoliposomes by aggregating and fusing the proteoliposomes. This method has the disadvantages that a low ionic concentration of the solution needs to be maintained because of the high electric field required, that only a small number of giant proteoliposomes can be prepared in one operation, and, further, that the diameter of proteoliposomes suitable for the fusion are limited and their preparation is not easy.
The stationary hydration method and the reverse phase evaporation method are both based on the application of a method for preparation of a giant liposome. The stationary hydration method which hydrates a thin lipid film formed on a glass wall under low ion strength to give a giant liposome, has serious disadvantages in that the ionic concentration of the solution should be 10.sup.-4 M or less and, further that the presence of a protein inhibits the formation of a proteoliposome. Thus this method is difficult for wide applications. The reverse phase evaporation method which employs an emulsion formed by mixing a solution containing a protein with an ether solution of a lipid tends to cause denaturation or deactivation of the protein, and thus incorporatable proteins are strictly limited.
The freeze-thaw method which has been employed for reconstruction of a membrane protein and is applicable to preparation of a proteoliposome having a diameter of 1 .mu.m or less, is known to be able to form only a small amount of giant proteoliposomes of 5-10 .mu.m in diameter, but is of no practical use because of the limited small number and the small diameter of the particles.
As mentioned above, few methods are applicable in the preparation of giant proteoliposomes. All of the methods are strictly restricted and thus are not suitable for practical preparation. Accordingly, development of a method is desired which enables the preparation of a large amount of proteoliposomes by a simpler process under milder conditions.
Moreover, also for the giant proteoliposomes, a method is desired which allows the membrane protein to be incorporated into the membrane with the orientation of the membrane protein.

Method for forming proteoliposome and method for forming giant proteoliposome


This invention relates to compositions and methods to provide an effervescent garbage disposal cleaner. The compositions are contained in a water-soluble film and include encapsulated technologies to isolate ingredients that are sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations, and are also prone to react with each other, which would result in comprising the overall product performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions to clean a garbage disposal and the like. The present invention relates to a non-liquid, effervescent composition for cleaning/sanitizing a garbage disposal. The composition is packaged in a water-soluble film and includes encapsulation technologies to isolate ingredients that are sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations, and are also prone to react with each other
2. Background and Relevant Art
Garbage disposals are commonly found in household sinks, commercial businesses, institutional establishments and the like to dispose of food scraps. A typical garbage disposal is attached to a drain opening formed in a sink, for example, a kitchen sink. The disposal is cup like with walls and a bottom portion that includes rotating blades. Food scraps and tap water are inserted into the disposal. Once the disposal has been activated, the blades rotate at very fast rpms and work to grind and pulverize the food. The pulverized food particles are eventually flushed into a sewer or septic system.
A garbage disposal is convenient to make cleaning up after meals a breeze. However, the garbage disposal can contain mold, bacteria and other food particles that cause unpleasant odors. Odors, bacteria, mold and the like proliferate on the rotating blades and on the walls of the disposal. Thus, cleaning or sanitizing the disposal must be accomplished with a composition that maintains contact with the walls and the rotating blades, whilst the composition must not prematurely be flushed out before the composition has had time to be efficacious.
Liquids are commonly employed to clean garbage disposals. However, almost all liquids have the disadvantage that they are easily flushed down the disposal if the disposal is activated during the cleaning process. Solid tablets are also commonly employed. Tablets have the disadvantage of dissolving concerns, such as incomplete and/or slow dissolution, and handling issues (ie., user has to touch the tablet).
The present invention is a powdered composition packaged in a water-soluble film. The powdered composition comprises particles of encapsulated alkali bicarbonate, encapsulated fragrance, an acid, and a surfactant. Solutions to sanitize or clean a garbage disposal with a powdered composition in a pouch and including an alkali bicarbonate, fragrance, acid and a surfactant are proposed. When the acid and bicarbonate come into contact with water in the disposal unit, carbon dioxide gas is released. The carbon dioxide gas acts with the surfactants and the grinding action of the disposal to build a foam and expand and fill the interior portion of the disposal. This acid/base reaction provides a mechanism for maintaining foam in the chamber to provide contact time with the walls of the chamber and the rotating blades to effectively clean and sanitize the disposal and drain.
One disadvantage of using a powder that includes an alkaline material mixed with an acid is premature decomposition. This occurs because alkaline solution formed on the surface of the bicarbonate reacts with the acidic component(s). The bicarbonate is very hygroscopic and a disadvantage of using a powder that includes a hygroscopic agent is that it will cake when exposed to high humidity or high temperature. Once the composition has become caked, moisture has penetrated the composition and the reaction between the components has prematurely started. The result is a composition that is difficult to dissolve and has lost its effectiveness (ie., because the reaction of the agents has already begun). Indeed, if the components in the composition react prematurely, a consumer may notice little to no foaming performance.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,710 to Kuenn et al, describes a disposal cleaner containing a surfactant, an alkali carbonate and an acid, and is herein incorporated by reference. Keunn describes a powder packaged in a water soluble, biodegradable disposable film, which in turn must be wrapped in a foil pouch to prevent moisture damage. The foil pouch would be opened by a consumer and the entire water soluble pouch containing the composition is dropped into the disposal. The Keunn pouch has the drawback that it must be packaged in a secondary package to protect it and the cleaning composition from humidity and high temperature.
In view of the current state of the art of garbage disposal cleaners/sanitizers, there is a need for a powdered product that is ready to use for the consumer (ie., no measuring or pre-dissolving step is required), effectively cleans the walls and the blades by utilizing the grinding action of the disposal and is environmentally friendly and inexpensive because it doesn't require secondary packaging to maintain stability.

Garbage disposal cleaning pouch comprising encapsulated bicarbonate and methods of use


A magnetotherapy apparatus includes an applicator wrap segmented into a grid of hinged panels. The wrap is adapted to be placed around an injured body member to provide a brace or preform for a conventional cast. Each of the panels further includes a magnetic coil for generating an electromagnetic field directionally oriented perpendicular to a target area. The magnetic fields generated in the adjacent panels are of opposite polarity and cumulatively interact for deeper magnetic flux penetration. An electrostimulation component includes stimulator pads which are selectively energized to provide muscle and/or transcutaneous nerve stimulation for pain sedation. Alternatively, the stimulator pads are used for an electrophoretic pharmaceutical delivery system wherein electrically charged porous pads are in fluid communication with a drug medium.

The use of electrical and electromagnetic therapy for stimulating growth and repair of living tissue has been known and recognized as an acceptable form of treatment. Prior devices, utilizing non-invasive magnetic fields, lacked the ability to simultaneously brace and treat a fracture site. Furthermore, the previously known devices did not provide the availability of multiple treatment protocols.
The electromagnetic apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,699, for example, placed a transducer over a previously formed plaster cast. Similarly, the multi-conductor ribbon cable treatment shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,413 and the flat bands described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,804, did not provide an orthotic support. Furthermore, the magnetic fields generated by the aforementioned apparatus were not directionally oriented perpendicularly with respect to a target area. Although the apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,373 generates normally directed magnetic fields from two treatment heads, the heads are not positioned for advantageously combining magnetic flux as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,629 shows a magnetic coil embedded in an orthopedic cast and U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,809 describes another form of cast-embedable coil for electromagnetic therapy. These last two mentioned patents utilize a conventional cast with a removable plug-in connection for a pulse-signal generator. Although these devices provide electromagnetic therapy in combination with a bracing system, the instant device can be used with or without a plaster or fiberglass cast and is furthermore portable for providing continuous treatment, if required.


A dewar includes an inner dewar and a dewar thermal shield. The dewar thermal shield has a thermal shield body formed of a layer of radiative insulation, an inner layer of fiberglass cloth overlying the layer of radiative insulation, a metallic screen overlying the inner layer, and an outer layer of fiberglass cloth overlying the metallic screen. The dewar thermal shield also has a thermal shield tail cap attached to the thermal shield body. The tail cap is formed of a layer of radiative insulation, a layer of fiberglass cloth overlying the layer of radiative insulation, a layer of thermal foil overlying the layer of fiberglass cloth, the thermal foil being formed of thermal conductors embedded in a film adhesive matrix with the thermal conductors extending to the body, and a top layer of fiberglass cloth overlying the layer of thermal foil.

This invention relates to dewars, and, more particularly, to dewars used in measurement of small magnetic fields.
Biomagnetometers are devices that measure the small magnetic fields produced by a living organism. The biomagnetometer includes a number of sensors arranged in an array external to the organism, which measure the magnetic field at a number of locations. Each sensor has a magnetic field pickup coil. When a small magnetic flux change penetrates the pickup coil, a small electrical current flows in the coil. This small current is detected by a sensitive detector of electrical currents, preferably a Superconducting QUantum Interference Device, sometimes known by the acronym "SQUID". The output of the various SQUIDs, after signal conditioning and filtering, is provided to a computer which stores and analyzes the data.
The SQUIDs operate only at superconducting temperatures, and to attain the best system performance the pickup coils and SQUIDs are usually placed into a cryogenically cooled vessel termed a dewar. The dewar contains a reservoir of a cryogenic fluid such as liquid helium, with the sensors and SQUIDs in a structure termed a "dewar tail" that extends downwardly from the reservoir. A thermal shield surrounds the dewar and is supported from the neck at the upper end of the dewar. The thermal shield aids in maintaining the low temperature of the sensors and SOUIDs by intercepting radiant heat that flows inwardly through an outer dewar body and outer insulation. The heat received by the thermal shield is conducted upwardly through the thermal shield to the point of its attachment at the dewar neck, where the heat is transferred to the cryogenic gas that evaporates from the reservoir. The entire structure must be nonmagnetic in order to avoid interfering with the operation of the pickup coils and SOUIDs.
The construction of the thermal shield is a principal focus of the present invention. The thermal shield has conventionally been made from layers of radiative insulation, fiberglass, and coil foil. Coil foil is itself a material of layered construction with a fiberglass cloth support and parallel heat-conducting elements such as copper wires embedded in a film adhesive such as an epoxy. The coil foil is arranged in the thermal shield so that the copper wires extend from the dewar tail upwardly toward the neck of the reservoir that contains the cryogenic fluid. The copper wires conduct the heat received by the thermal shield to the dewar neck for transfer to the evaporated cryogenic fluid.
One problem that has been experienced in the construction of dewars of this type is the difficulty in fabricating the heat shield to the required dimensions, curvatures, and dimensional stability over the broad temperature range experienced by the thermal shield structure. When curvatures are small, it is difficult to form the heat shield in the first place, and there is a tendency for the heat shield to deform and crack in service. Such irregularities in the final heat shield can have a significant adverse effect on the performance of the biomagnetometer. It was sometimes possible to manufacture acceptable dewars of some designs with the prior approach, but success was often dependent upon the skill of the manufacturing personnel.
There is a need for an improved construction for dewars used in magnetometry applications, to permit designers more latitude in selection of the structural designs. Such improved dewars must have good thermal characteristics, and should also be readily fabricated without failures in service. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Cryogenic dewar and method of fabrication


A polyphosphazene derivative and an aromatic ring compound are bonded to one another to obtain an intermediate product. Subsequently, anhydrous sulfuric acid is added in such an amount that the molar ratio is 2 to 8 with respect to a repeating unit of the intermediate product. Further, SO3 and the intermediate product are reacted with each other to sulfonate the intermediate product. The sulfonation is performed under a condition in which the temperature range is −20 to 0° C. and the total time is 5 to 30 hours. Accordingly, a sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative is obtained, in which the number average molecular weight is not less than 25,000 and the ion exchange capacity exceeds 3.0 mmol/g.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative, which is a proton conductor capable of being adopted, for example, as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane or a solid polymer ion exchange membrane for a fuel cell, and a method for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A proton conductor such as a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane is used, for example, as a material for an electrolyte to be interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode of a fuel cell. The hydrogen ion (proton), which is produced by the ionization of hydrogen contained in a fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode, is moved by the electrolyte to the cathode electrode. Such movement occurs even at a relatively low temperature.
The proton conductivity of the perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane is lowered, as the membrane becomes drier. Therefore, when the fuel cell is constructed by using an electrolyte composed of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane, for example, steam is contained in the fuel gas to be supplied to the anode electrode and/or the oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode, so that the membrane is continuously replenished with water. However, in this case, the system is large-scaled, because the fuel cell is additionally equipped with a humidifier for producing steam.
Sulfonated polyphosphazene is exemplified as another proton conductor by Mark V. Fedkin et al. in "Evaluation of methanol crossover in proton-conducting polyphosphazene membranes," Material Letters, January 2002, Vol. 52, pp. 192-196. Sulfonated polyphosphazene is known as a cation exchange resin. The larger the ion exchange capacity is, the larger the moisture-absorbing ability becomes, in the same manner as general cation exchange resins. In other words, in this case, the ability to absorb water in atmospheric air, and water produced by operation of the fuel cell, are enhanced. Therefore, it is possible to ensure proton conductivity without providing any additional humidifier. However, the ion exchange capacity of sulfonated polyphosphazene is about 1.1 to 1.6 mmol/g, which is somewhat low, and its moisture-absorbing ability is poor.
On the other hand, a production method is disclosed in "Sulfonated polyphosphazene ion-exchange membranes," Journal of Membrane Science, 1996, Vol. 119, pp. 155-160, written by Ryszard Wycisk et al. In this method, anhydrous sulfuric acid is added within a range in which SO3 of anhydrous sulfuric acid is 0.6 to 1.9 in molar ratio per repeating unit of a polyphosphazene derivative, followed by performing a reaction at room temperature for 3 hours to obtain a sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative. In this document, it is reported that the sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative, which has a maximum ion exchange capacity of 3.0 mmol/g, is obtained.
However, in the case of the method described in this document, not only the phenyl group as a side chain of the polyphosphazene derivative, but also the N═P bond for constructing the principal chain is also sulfonated during the process to effect the sulfonation. For this reason, the principal chain is dissociated, and the number average molecular weight of the polyphosphazene derivative is decreased. In a solid polymer type fuel cell, gas pressure is allowed to differ between both electrodes in order to improve power generation efficiency in some cases. In such a situation, durability is deteriorated with the membrane being composed of a polymer having a small number average molecular weight.
The maximum theoretical value of ion exchange capacity is 4.9 mmol/g when the two phenyl groups are sulfonated and N of the principal chain is not sulfonated. However, as of yet, no sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative has been known having an ion exchange capacity exceeding 3 mmol/g.
That is, it is difficult to increase both ion exchange capacity and the number average molecular weight of a sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative. For this reason, no sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative has yet been obtained, which is excellent in moisture-absorbing ability together with exhibiting high proton conductivity.

Sulfonated polyphosphazene derivative and method for producing the same


Disclosed are digital predistortion implementations, including a method that includes collecting data for a wireless device with a transmit chain that includes at least one power amplifier that produces output with non-linear distortions, the data including data records that each includes input signal data and corresponding output signal data for the transmit chain, and with each record being associated with a set of operating conditions values, and with a variety measure representative of an extent of distinguishability of the record from other data records. The method further includes selecting at least some of the data records according to a variety criterion computed based on the variety measure for each record, computing, based on the selected records, digital predistortion parameters used to control a digital predistorter of the wireless device, and applying the digital predistorter, configured with the computed digital predistortion parameters, to subsequent input signals.

The present disclosure relates to approaches to digital predistortion, and more particularly to one or more techniques that alone or in combination are applicable to digital predistortion in quickly varying operating conditions.
Power amplifiers, especially those used to transmit radio frequency communications, generally have nonlinear characteristics. For example, as a power amplifier's output power approaches its maximum rated output, nonlinear distortion of the output occurs. One way of compensating for the nonlinear characteristics of power amplifiers is to 'predistort' an input signal (e.g., by adding an 'inverse distortion' to the input signal) to negate the nonlinearity of the power amplifier before providing the input signal to the power amplifier. The resulting output of the power amplifier is a linear amplification of the input signal with reduced nonlinear distortion. Digital predistorted devices (comprising, for example, power amplifiers) are relatively inexpensive and power efficient. These properties make digital predistorted power amplifiers attractive for use in telecommunication systems where amplifiers are required to inexpensively, efficiently, and accurately reproduce the signal present at their input. However, the computation effort associated with conventional digital predistortion (DPD) adaptation processes is substantial, which adversely effects the predistortion accuracy and robustness due to the limits the computational efforts may place on the number and speed at which DPD coefficients can be derived.
There are several challenges for DPD adaptation implementations involving bi-directional wireless communication (e.g., between a base station (BS) and a user equipment (UE). For example, a UE typically transmits (uploads data) as needed and with only sufficient output power to save battery power. The adjustment of output power level is achieved by changing, for example, the baseband input level, RF gain, and power supply voltage of a power amplifier. Furthermore, the UE transmitter may be controlled (e.g., at the command of the BS) to make use of varying frequency ranges (e.g., channels) for transmission. Yet further, the mode of operation and parameters, such as power level, power supply voltage level, output load of PA (e.g., VSWR) can rapidly change in UE devices. The combination of such variations in operating conditions can change the characteristics of the transmit chain, and more particularly change the non-linear nature of the transmit chain that is being compensated for by the DPD.
Therefore, there is a need for a DPD approach(es) that can provide high performance DPD (e.g., measured by linearity, error rate, spectral mask violation, etc.) over a substantial range of operating conditions, as well being able to adapt to rapid changes of such operating conditions.

Digital predistortion in varying operating conditions


A method is provided for utilizing four error correcting code (ECC) pin connections of a PCI/PCI-X bus for one of Grant (GNT) and Request (REQ) pin connections. The method determines a mode of the PCI bus to be PCI-X Mode 1, PCI-X Mode 2, or PCI. If the determined mode is PCI-X Mode 2, the four ECC pin connections are used as ECC pin connections, and if the determined mode is PCI or PCI-X Mode 1, each of the four ECC pin connections is used as a GNT pin connection or a REQ pin connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interfaces and, more particularly, to a PCI host bridge that uses PCI-X Mode 2 ECC pin connections as Grant/Request pin connections when a device is not operating in PCI-X Mode 2.
2. Background Art
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interfaces have been used to provide high-speed connectivity between devices in a multi-device system, for example, a processor based system such as a personal computer.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional implementation of a PCI bus system architecture 100. The system 100 includes a processor 102 coupled to a memory controller 104 via a local bus 106′. The processor 102 and the memory controller 104 are coupled to a PCI local bus 106 (labeled PCI Local Bus #0) via a host bridge 108.
The host bridge 108 provides a low latency path through which the processor 102 may directly access PCI devices 110, for example a network interface card 110a providing access to a local area network 112, a disc drive (SCSI) controller 110b providing access to disk drives 114, an audio card 110c, a motion picture card 110d, or a graphics card 110e configured for driving a monitor 116. The host bridge 108 also provides a high bandwidth path allowing PCI masters on the PCI bus 106 direct access to the system memory 118 via the memory controller 104. A cache memory 120 is independent of the system memory 118 for use by the processor 102.
The term "host bridge" refers to the bridge device 108 that provides access to the system memory 118 for the devices 110 connected to the PCI bus 106. A PCI-to-PCI bridge 122 also may be used to connect a second PCI bus 124 to the PCI bus 106, the second PCI bus 124 configured for connecting other I/O devices 126.
Newer PCI bus protocols are being published, including PCI-X Mode 2, that provide enhanced PCI functionality. These newer PCI bus protocols include the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev 2.3, the PCI-X Protocol Addendum to the PCI Local Bus Specification, Rev. 2.0a, and the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification, Rev 1.2.
The newer PCI host bridge devices may utilize HyperTransport™ technology, which specifies a data rate of 1.6 GHz between each differential signal pair. Hence, the newer PCI bus devices need to be implemented using newer semiconductor fabrication process technology to optimize the higher speed requirements of HyperTransport™ technology.
In normal PCI mode, up to five devices can be supported by the PCI host bridge device. Each device must have two pins, one pin for a Grant (GNT) signal and another pin for a Request (REQ) signal to use the PCI bus. Thus a total of ten pin connections are needed on the PCI host bridge device.
The PCI-X Protocol Addendum Rev 2.0a defines four error correcting code (ECC) signals for use in PCI-X Mode 2. Thus, four pin connections must be added to PCI/PCI-X host bridge device. Only one external device can be supported with ECC in PCI-X Mode 2.

PCI-X error correcting code (ECC) pin sharing configuration


An optical element that includes a substrate having two surfaces, each of the surfaces having a micro-relief structure that includes numerous fine protrusions, and a film that includes one or more layers including a metal layer and that is formed on one of the micro-relief structures.

The present invention relates to an optical element at least a partial section of which has a light absorption property, a method of producing the same optical element, and an optical apparatus equipped with the optical element.
In an optical device such as light-source device, unwanted light out of use may generate stray light in the interior of the device and constitute a noise-component or the like. In the conventional optical device, generation of the stray light has been prevented by arrangement of optical elements having light absorption properties to absorb the unwanted light. Such elements previously known are constituted of members having a plate shape, a cone shape, or the like coated with a black coating.
As another example, black-coated plate having an optical aperture of circular or slit shape has been known as an optical element having light absorption property in at least a partial section. Such an optical element is used to constrict or shape a light flux (beam) to a circular shape, a slit shape or the like. Only to provide a beam-shaping function, a part of such an optical element may has a high reflectance except for a section where the light flux passes through. However, the light reflected from the part of high reflectance become stray light to constitute a noise component. Therefore, so as to prevent the generation of stray light, the reflectance is reduced by applying the black-coating at that part to provide light-absorption property.
An optical element provided recently has a micro-relief structure (micro-relief structure) constituted of numerous micro-protrusions (fine protrusions) formed on a surface of a silicon layer formed on a substrate such as a silica substrate (PCT International Publication for Patent Applications, WO2006/046502). This optical element is arranged such that the light is incident on the optical element from a side where the micro-relief structure is formed. According to this optical element, reflectance is reduced by the above-described micro-relief structure, thereby reducing reflection noise. Therefore, this optical element may be utilized, for example, as an optical mask that generates low reflection noise. In a method of producing an optical element disclosed in WO 2006/046502, a surface of a silicon layer is subjected to dry etching while depositing fine mask material on the surface of the silicon layer. As a result, a micro-relief structure constituted of randomly distributed numerous fine protrusions (micro-protrusions) is formed on the surface of the silicon layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-279084 discloses a source of laser light. There are various applications of laser light sources, for example, a light source of an exposure apparatus used in photolithography.

Light absorbing optical element having micro-relief structure


When an interpolation point is interpolated using a curve/curved surface, represented by control points, such as a B-Spline curve/curved surface or a subdivision surface, interpolation processing is performed in such a way that a moving vector for moving each control point is calculated using position information on interpolation points constituting the point group, as well as vector information on the unit direction vector that is set for each interpolation point, and the control point is moved in the movement direction and for the movement amount of this moving vector. By, repeating the generation step of a curve/curved surface that interpolates the interpolation point and the movement step of the control point, the position of a new control point is found that fits the curve/curved surface to the positions and the unit direction vectors of the point group.

A free-form surface, which is used for the body of various industrial products such as a ship, a car, and an airplane, combines functionality with beauty, and is used for the design engineering of home electrical appliances and many other consumer products that require good form.
Recently, a 3D laser scanner collects high-density point group data speedily and easily, allowing an object shape to be measured accurately. For example, in the field of 3D modeling, a mock-up model manually created by a designer is measured by a 3D laser scanner to create CAD data, such as curved surface data necessary for producing products, based on the point group data and polygon data captured by a computer. This is the so-called the reverse engineering technique for a shape.
In general, a 3D model is represented on a computer using a polygon model or curved surface patches such as NURBS and B-Spline.
In CAD/CAM, curve/curved surface interpolation and approximation methods based on the point group position information, such as B-Spline, NURBS, and subdivision, are known (Non-Patent Document 1, Patent Document 1). In interpolation and approximation, the normal line information may be used, in addition to the position information on points, to increase design flexibility and to increase the approximation accuracy of an offset curve/curved surface.    No-Patent Document 1: Les Piegel, Wayne Tiller "The NURBS Book" P373-P376 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidenberg 1995 and 1997    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-192209

Interpolation processing method and interpolation processor

National University Corporation Yokohama National University


A laser diode drive includes a first photo diode connection terminal to connect a first photo diode that detects light emission amounts of multiple laser diodes, multiple second photo diode connection terminals to connect multiple second photo diodes that detect light emission amounts of the respective multiple laser diodes, multiple APC controllers to control the light emission amounts of the multiple laser diodes based on monitor currents from the first photo diode or the second photo diodes, multiple switches to connect and disconnect the respective APC controllers with a monitor current path formed between the first photo diode connection terminal and the multiple APC controllers, and a detector to detect whether or not the first photo diode is connected to the first photo diode connection terminal and cause all of the switches to disconnect when the first photo diode is not connected to the first photo diode connection terminal.

Recently, semiconductor laser diodes have come to be widely used in a variety of types of electrical equipment, for example, laser printers, optical disk apparatuses, fiber-optic communication apparatuses, and mobile phones, because of their compact size, low cost, and ease of use.
However, the current/quantity of light characteristic of the semiconductor laser diode is dependent on temperature. Accordingly, it is necessary to control quantity of light to obtain a predetermined quantity of light reliably. This quantity of light control is called Automatic Power Control (APC). In the APC process, before the semiconductor laser diode is actually driven, the laser diode is driven in advance, the quantity of light from the laser diode is received by a photo diode (PD), and the detection current values of corresponding quantities of light are stored in a storage device. Then, the laser diode is controlled using the current values saved in the storage device so as to obtain a desired quantity of light reliably.
Recently, in connection with improvements in writing speed to write data in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, a multi-beam laser method has come to be widely employed in the image forming apparatus. In the multi-beam laser method, multiple semiconductor lasers are provided to form a laser array, and each semiconductor laser is driven at the same time.
In such an image forming apparatus employing the multi-beam laser method, the photo diodes are installed to perform APC. Generally, in the image forming apparatus using the multi-beam laser method, a number of photo diodes is less than a number of the semiconductor laser diodes, further, only one diode may be employed in some case. By contrast, in the image forming apparatus employing a single beam laser method that will be described later, one photo diode is provided for one corresponding laser diode.
Using the multi-beam laser method described above, it is possible to achieve a high speed image forming apparatus and obtain a high quality image. Accordingly, there is more frequent adoption of the multi-beam laser method in the image forming apparatuses.
At the same time, there is increasing demand for a color image forming apparatus. For the color image forming apparatus, a lot of drive methods to drive lasers that form images by, for example, four color components, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) have been created.
When the multi-beam laser method is applied to laser diodes for four color components, a complicated and advanced control system is required, resulting in an expensive image forming apparatus. Accordingly, most general-purpose image forming apparatuses commercially used in the office currently employ multiple circuits for the single beam laser method using a laser diode-photo diode integrated (LD-PD) pair type system.
Accordingly, there is increasing demand for the semiconductor laser diode drive circuit which drives multiple laser diodes regardless of whether the single beam laser method is employed or the multi beam laser method is employed.
Currently, when the image forming apparatus employs the multi beam laser system, a special semiconductor laser drive circuit dedicated to the multi beam laser method is used. Further, when the image forming apparatus employs multiple single beam laser systems, multiple special semiconductor laser drive circuits dedicated to the single beam laser method are generally used.
JP-3542472-B and JP-2000-353851-A disclose example circuit configurations of the special semiconductor laser drive circuit dedicated to the multi beam laser method. However, in both circuit configurations, one photo diode is provided for multiple laser diodes corresponding to multiple channels (ch). Accordingly, they are not suitable for the system to drive the single beam laser system with the single beam laser method. When the circuit configurations described therein are applied to the single beam laser system, a special control is required compared to a case of driving a multi beam laser system.
Further, it may be possible to employ multiple semiconductor laser drive circuits dedicated to the single beam laser system to drive lasers of the multi beam laser system, however, a special control is required also. For this reason, it is necessary to develop a special semiconductor laser drive circuit dedicated to the multi beam laser system, or to the single beam laser system with each new system design, resulting in a cost penalty. Further, a relatively long term is required to develop the overall image forming apparatus.

Laser diode drive circuit and image forming apparatus incorporating same


A process is provided for isolating a protein component of animal muscle tissue by mixing a particulate form of the tissue with an acidic aqueous liquid having a pH below about 3.5 to produce a protein rich solution substantially free of myofibrils and sarcomere tissue structure. The protein rich aqueous solution can be treated to effect protein precipitation, followed by protein recovery.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for recovering protein from an animal muscle source with improved functional properties and to the protein product so-obtained. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for recovering muscle proteins with improved functional properties from an animal source and the protein product so-obtained.
2. Description of Prior Art
Presently, there is an interest in expanding the use of muscle proteins as food because of their functional and nutritional properties. Better use of these materials would be particularly important with aged or frozen raw materials which are less valuable because they have lost protein functionality. It is presently believed that the muscle tissue utilized as the feed in present processes must be fresh rather than frozen or aged. It is common commercial practice to process freshly caught fish at sea on board ship rather than subject the fish to the time of transportation or the freezing necessary to effect processing on land. Ageing or freezing of fish lowers the functional qualities of the tissue proteins. Protein functionalities of most concern to food scientists are solubility, water holding capacity, gelation, fat binding ability, foam stabilization and emulsification properties.
Protein concentrates from muscle tissue, especially fish, have been made by hydrolysis. This approach has improved some functional properties, particularly solubility, which has allowed its use in prepared soups. However, this approach also destroys other functional properties such as gelling ability.
One process that has had some success in stabilizing protein foods has been the process for producing "surimi". This conventional process has been used primarily for fish, although there have been some attempts to produce a surimi-like product from other raw materials such as mechanically deboned poultry mince. In producing surimi, the fresh muscle is ground and washed with a variable amount of water a variable number of times. This is determined by the location of the plant and the product that is desired from the particular species. Water may be used in a ratio as low as about 2 parts water to one part fish up to about 5 parts water per 1 part fish; typically about 3 parts water are used per 1 part fish. The number of washes can vary, generally, from 2 to 5, again depending on the raw material, the product desired; and water availability. Twenty to thirty per cent of the fish muscle proteins are solubilized when the ground muscle is washed with water. These soluble proteins, known as sarcoplasmic proteins, are generally not recovered from the wash water of the process. This loss is undesirable since sarcoplasmic proteins are useful as food. The washed minced product containing the protein in solid form then is used to make protein gels. Originally, this was used to produce "kamaboko" in Japan. Kamaboko is a popular fish sausage in which the washed minced fish is heated until it gels. It is presently believed that it is necessary to add cryprotectants to the washed, minced fish before freezing to prevent protein denaturation. A typical cryoprotectant mixture comprises about 4% sucrose, about 4% sorbitol and about 0.2% sodium tripolyphosphate. These components retard the denaturation of the protein during freezing, frozen storage and thawing. It has been proposed by Cuq et al, Journal of Food Science, pgs. 1369-1374 (1995) to provide edible packaging film based upon fish myofibrillar proteins. In the process for making the films, the protein of water-washed fish mince is solubilized in an aqueous acetic acid solution at pH 3.0 to a final concentration of 2% protein. No attempt was made in this work to re-adjust the pH values of the acidified proteins to re-establish the functional properties attained at pH values above about 5.5. In addition, the use of acetic acid imparts a strong odor to the material which would severely limit its use in a food product.
It also has been proposed by Shahidi and Onodenalore, Food Chemistry, 53 (1995) 51-54 to subject deboned, whole capelin to washing in water followed by washing in 0.5% sodium chloride, followed by washing-in sodium bicarbonate. The series of washes, including that using sodium bicarbonate, would remove greater than 50% of the muscle proteins. Essentially all of the sarcoplasmic proteins would be removed. Final residue was further washed to remove residual bicarbonate. The washed meat was then suspended in cold water and heated at 70° C. for 15 min. This heat treatment is sufficient to "cook" the fish proteins, thus denaturing them and reducing or eliminating their functional properties. No attempt was made to restore proteins to improve the functional properties of the capelin proteins.
Shahidi and Venugopal, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 42 (1994) 1440-1448 disclose a process for subjecting Atlantic herring to washing in water followed by washing with aqueous sodium bicarbonate. Again, this process will remove greater than 50% of the muscle proteins, including the sarcoplasmic proteins. The washed meat was homogenized and the pH varied between 3.5 and 4.0 with acetic acid. In addition, there is an unacceptable odor problem with the volatile acetic acid.
Venugopal and Shahidi, Journal of Food Science, 59, 2 (1994) 265-268, 276 also disclose a similar process for treating minced Atlantic mackerel. The material is washed sequentially with water, bicarbonate solution and again water. The pH is brought to pH 3.5 with acetic acid after homogenization. The proteins were precipitated at pH values greater than 4 on heating the material to 100° C. for 15 min. It is disclosed that "dissolution of structural proteins of fish muscle requires extractants with an ionic strength >0.3".
Shahidi and Venugopal, Meat Focus International, October 1993, pgs 443-445 disclose a process for forming homogenized herring, mackerel dispersions or capelin dispersions in aqueous liquids having a pH as low as about 3.0. It is reported that acetic acid reduces the viscosity of herring dispersions, increases viscosity of mackerel to form a gel and precipitates capelin. All of these preparations were initially washed with water and sodium bicarbonate, which would remove a substantial proportion of the protein, including the sarcoplasmic proteins.
Chawla et al, Journal of Food science, Vol. 61, No. 2, pgs 362-366, 1996 discloses a process for treating minced threadfin bream muscle after it has been washed twice with water and recovered by filtration. The minced fish product is mixed with tartaric, lactic, acetic or citric acid, is allowed to set and then is heated in a boiling water bath for twenty minutes and then cooled to form a gel. This heat treatment is sufficient to denature the proteins. The washing steps undesirably remove soluble sarcoplasmic proteins from the mince. It is also disclosed that unwashed mince failed to provide the desired gel forming property of surimi.
Onodenalore et al, Journal of Aquatic Food Products Technology, Vol. 5(4), pages 43-59 discloses that minced shark muscle is a source of acidified protein compositions. The minced product is washed sequentially with aqueous sodium chloride, aqueous sodium bicarbonate and then water to remove metabolic substances. This washing effects undesirable removal of sarcoplasmic proteins. The minced product is recovered by filtration. The minced product then is acidified to pH 3.5 with acetic acid, heated in a boiling water bath, cooled and centrifuged to recover a supernatant. The supernatant pH was adjusted to a pH 4-10 using NaOH, heated in a boiling water bath, cooked and centrifuged to recover a second supernatant. Heating the protein dispersion comprising the minced product resulted in 87-94% of the protein remaining in solution while heating of the unacidified protein dispersion resulted in protein coagulation. However, the heating causes protein denaturation. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a process for recovering a high proportion of available muscle protein from an animal source including a frozen or aged animal source, rather than requiring a fresh muscle tissue source. It would also be desirable to provide such a process, which permits the use of muscle protein sources which are presently under-utilized as a food source such as frozen-or aged fish. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide such a process which recovers substantially all of the protein content of the process feed material. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a process which produces a stable, functional, protein product which is particularly useful for human consumption. Such a process would permit its operation at will rather than require initiation of the process very shortly after the animal source is killed so that processing can be extended over a desired time schedule.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Protein composition obtained from a muscle source


A handling and packaging system for utensils comprised of a device for packaging the utensils; and a device for obtaining the utensils and moving them to the packaging device. Preferably, the obtaining device includes N specialized end-effectors which seize the utensils, where N.gtoreq.1 and is an integer. A method for utensil handling and packaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining the utensil and packaging the utensil. Preferably, the obtaining step includes the steps of moving an end-effector in proximity to the utensil. An end-effector for a robot comprising a structure and a device for producing magnetic force to seize objects made of metal. The producing device is supported by the structure. A bin for holding utensils. The bin is comprised of a base; and a container wherein the utensils are stored. The container is supported by the base such that one end of the container is higher than the other end of the container. A bin for holding utensils. The bin is comprised of a base having a center line. The bin is also comprised of a first divider disposed on the base on one side of the center line and offset therefrom. Moreover, there is a second divider disposed on the base of the other side of the center line and also therefrom but not opposite the first divider such that utensils are stored in the base behind the first and second dividers and are maintained in a longitudinal alignment thereby.

Robots are currently being made to replace people doing tasks that involve a reoccurring motion. The robots offer the advantages, to name but a few of, not tiring, doing a task essentially the same way again and again, and being able to operate in environments that are inhospitable to humans.
One area that is ideal for the use of robots is the packaging of utensils, such as flatware, which is required to be essentially sterile. The end-effector of a robot can be sterilized such that the flatware handled by the end-effector is not contaminated, as could possibly happen if a person is doing the handling and packaging. Heretofore, there have been no operationally efficient systems which can handle and package flatware. One of the major problems in such systems is the ability of the end-effector to have the dexterity to effectively obtain a single spoon, fork or knife and move it to a location in the system where it is subsequently packaged. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,349 discloses a robotic order picking for filling a kit with desired parts. The kit is filled by a robot arm which opens a tray and lets parts therein fall into the kit. The arm never actually handles each individual part.
The present invention handles and packages objects such as utensils in an efficient manner with a dexterity that allows individual packages of utensils, such as a fork, spoon and knife and even a straw to be combined in a package. There is an end-effector that provides this dexterity to the system, and specifically designed bins increase the ability of the end-effector to obtain a single utensil at a given time. Moreover, the present invention pertains to a system which replaces portions of tasks of people rather than the people themselves. The invention serves to asist people in their tasks and as a result increase overall productivity. For a more general discussion of this topic, see K. G. Engelhardt (1988) "Robots in the Service of Humans: Concepts and Methods"; Proceedings of the 1988 IEEE International Workshop on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 1988.


A projection display device that includes a set of light source units (e.g., lasers or LEDs) and a control mechanism that monitors performance of each of the units, as well as external factors, e.g., time, ambient temperature, etc. is provided. The control mechanism may dynamically adjust each light source unit, for example, to maximize longevity. In operation, an optical modulator is configured to selectively transmit light produced by a subset of the light source units according to video data included in a video signal provided to the projection-type display device. A projection lens system is configured to project light transmitted by the optical modulator along a projection path. A sensor detects real time readings related to the performance of the set of light source units. In accordance with the readings, a control circuitry dynamically controls the laser set to dynamically vary the luminance of the set of light source units.

In general, a projection-type display or video projector displays an image that corresponds to a video signal upon a projection screen or other surface. Most modern devices are capable of correcting distortion, curves, focus, and other inconsistencies by way of manual controls. Traditionally, these video projection devices are widely used for business presentations, classroom training, home theater, etc. For example, projection devices are widely used in many schools and institutions to project onto an interactive white board during the course of teaching students.
Although projection-type display devices were initially developed to display presentations (e.g., business, education), today, these projection devices have become commonplace for home theaters. For example, many households today include home theaters specifically designed to view motion pictures upon a projection screen. These theaters are often equipped with a projection-type display device. Even though the cost of the devices has decreased to an affordable level, at least one difficulty remains with regard to consumer acceptance of the projection display device. This one reservation is that the projection bulbs typically used in projector are expensive lamps that have huge power consumption and a generally short life span. Thus, while the cost of the machine is affordable, maintenance is sometimes too expensive for many families to justify or afford.

Projection-type display and control thereof


A pressing member for fixing includes a substantially cylindrical substrate; a first layer that is disposed on an outer surface of the substrate, that contains bubbles, and that is elastic; a second layer disposed on an outer surface of the first layer; and an adhesive layer bonding together the first layer and the second layer. The pressing member has an adhesive-free unbonded region between the first layer and the second layer. The unbonded region extends to at least one end of the pressing member in an axial direction.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to pressing members for fixing, fixing devices, and image-forming apparatuses.
(ii) Related Art
One method for fixing toner images in electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses involves the use of a heating member that is heated by a heat source and a pressing member having an elastic layer on the outer surface thereof. The elastic layer is formed of a material such as a rubber containing bubbles. This method presses the pressing member against the heating member, which is being rotated, to deform the elastic layer on the pressing member. As a result, a contact area having a certain width in the circumferential direction of the pressing member is formed. A recording medium having a toner image formed thereon is advanced through the contact area to melt and press the toner image, thereby fixing it to the recording medium.

Pressing member for fixing, fixing device, and image-forming apparatus


A shelf hook loading tool for loading multiple articles onto a display or shelf hook. The device includes an angled or flexible tubular member for supporting multiple articles of merchandise, a means for securing the merchandise to the tool, and a mounting means for facilitating insertion of the tool onto a shelf hook. Once the tool is inserted onto a shelf hook, merchandise can be readily loaded by sliding it off the tool and onto the shelf hook. The tool is then removed from the shelf hook for reuse or disposal.

The present invention relates to shelf hooks for displaying merchandise and more particularly to a method and apparatus for loading merchandise onto shelf hooks.
Shelf hooks, of the type normally used to display products or merchandise on store racks, are a popular means of storing multiple articles in a relatively small space and in a manner that allows purchasers to readily access a product without having to move or disturb other products or the display arrangement itself.
At present, there are a variety of shelf hooks used for displaying articles but most share common characteristics of having a horizontally disposed rod attached at one end to a vertical support surface or wall, with the other end of the rod projecting outward to receive the displayed products. Articles to be displayed are typically loaded onto this outward end of the shelf hook and then pushed along the shelf hook rod toward the support wall in order to make room for loading of additional merchandise.
In order to help retain articles on the shelf hook, the outward end of the rod often includes a bend directed in an upward, outward angle. While presumably adequate for its intended function, this bend or hook often complicates loading the shelf hook with merchandise. Threading the shelf hook through multiple product tags can be cumbersome because the bend at the end of the rod tends to catch or snag on individual tags. Often, merchandise is simply loaded one unit at a time to overcome this difficulty. In addition, when removing shipping packaging to access merchandise for loading, individual units often become disarrayed and are not packaged in a way that lends itself to rapid loading of multiple units on a shelf hook.
Therefore, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for loading multiple products onto a shelf hook in an easy and rapid fashion, preferably using a device capable of being incorporated into the product packaging prior to shipping to the display destination.
A shelf hook loading tool in accordance with the present invention providing an elongated, tubular body adapted to receive a product or products for loading onto a shelf hook. The device includes a head portion, a mounting member facilitating the insertion of the device onto a shelf hook, and a rear portion extending angularly from the head portion. A tail member is attached to the device, preferably near the terminus of the rear portion and is adapted to be selectively secured to and removed from the head portion. The head portion can include a means, such as a tab or slit(s), for attaching the tail member to the head position.
The following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth by way of illustration and example, a now preferred embodiment of this invention, among others.


A voltage waveform is applied to a development electrode in an electrophotographic apparatus to assist in the cleaning of the development electrode without degrading the photoconductor surface with excessive toner particles. The waveform establishes a bias voltage of one polarity on which are impressed pulses of the other polarity of sufficient amplitude and duration to dislodge charged toner particles from the surface of the development electrode, but insufficient to move the toner particles to the photoconductor surface.

This invention relates generally to a liquid electrophotographic apparatus, and more specifically, to improvements in cleaning a development electrode in a liquid electrophotographic apparatus.
A typical liquid electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor and a development electrode. The development electrode provides an electrical potential which, together with the potential on the photoconductor, provides an electrical field which serves two functions: first, the electrical field urges toner toward the latent image on the photoconductor, secondly, the electrical field urges toner from the non-image areas of the photoconductor toward the electrode and thereby cleans the background (i.e. non-image) areas on the photoconductor. Development electrodes have achieved widespread acceptance in the electrophotographic industry because they can provide a continuous, even coat of toner to the entire image area, including the solid image areas.
One disadvantage of the prior art biased development electrode is that the development electrode itself gets plated with toner while it is performing its cleaning function, thereby rendering it coated with a thick layer of toner particles and impeding the performance of its aforementioned functions. In the prior art, the development electrode has been cleaned by reversing the electrical bias on the development electrode between copies and thereby repelling the charged toner particles toward the surface of the photoconductor. Thus, in a known liquid electrophotographic apparatus, when a latent image on the photoconductor surface is passing the development electrode, an electrical potential having the same polarity as the photoconductor is applied to the development electrode. The potential applied to the development electrode is such that it attracts toner particles from background areas of the photoconductor but is not strong enough to remove toner particles from the image areas on the photoconductor surface. When the image area on the photoconductor has passed from the development electrode region, the bias on the development electrode is changed so as to repel the charged toner particles which had been deposited on the development electrode pushing them back onto the photoconductor surface. Thus, the known cleaning method is based on the fact that the toner deposited on the development electrode can be removed by changing the attractive force to a repulsive force. The toner particles are subsequently removed from the photoconductor surface at a cleaning station located further downstream in the electrophotographic cycle with respect to the movement of the photoconductor.
Prior art systems and methods for cleaning a development electrode suffer several disadvantages. First, the cleaning station has a work very hard to remove the large quantity of toner which was repelled from the development electrode and placed on the photoconductor surface. Secondly, in the prior art systems, it is impossible to run copies continuously, because those systems require a dead band (i.e. an area without an image) on the photoconductor surface between copies. This is especially disadvantageous in an electronic printer or in a very high speed web copier where there is no dead band and copies advantageously follow one immediately after another.
Furthermore, by requiring the cleaning station to remove a large quantity of toner from the photoconductor surface, prior art systems make the changing of toner colors very cumbersome and time consuming.

Pulsed voltage development electrode cleaner


An image forming apparatus, for ejecting liquid from openings to form an image on a printing medium, includes a head cap for covering the opening surface through which the openings open when a liquid ejection head in which the opening are formed is not in use and for protecting the openings from external air, a rechargeable battery for activating the image forming apparatus, a fuel cell for charging the rechargeable battery, and a liquid path along which water generated as the fuel cell is activated is introduced into the head cap. With this arrangement, when the liquid ejection head is not activated, moisture retention in the head cap can be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for ejecting a liquid from an opening formed in a liquid ejection head and forming an image on a printing medium, and a method for humidifying in ahead cap, whereby, when the liquid ejection head is not used, the circumferential edge of the opening is covered in order to protect the opening from external air.
"Printing" described in this specification includes not only the forming of meaningful information, such as characters and figures, on printing media, but also the forming of images, designs and patterns, regardless of whether the data are meaningful or whether the data are visible to a person, and the performance of a process, such as an etching process, for a printing medium.
The term "printing medium" includes not only general purpose paper used for a printing apparatus, but also liquid acceptable media, such as a fabric, resin film, a metal sheet, glass, ceramics, wood and leather, and a three-dimensional object other than a sheet member, for example, a spherical member or a cylindrical member.
The term "liquid" should be interpreted broadly as well as in the definition for "printing", and is a liquid that can be used, by being ejected onto a printing medium, to form images, designs and patterns, to perform a process, such as an etching process, for a printing medium, or to perform an ink process, for example, a process for solidifying, or rendering insolvable, a color material contained in ink to be ejected onto a printing medium. In other words, the term "liquid" represents any kind of ink used for printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A printing unit, incorporated in various types of printers, copiers and facsimile machines, employs image data to be printed, and prints a dot pattern image on the surface of a printing medium, such as a paper sheet or a plastic film. Such an image forming apparatus can be classified as an ink jet printing type, a wire dot-type impact printing type, a thermal printing type and a laser beam printing type, depending on the form of the printing.
Among those types, an ink jet image forming apparatus ejects liquid droplets, such as ink droplets, onto a printing medium through an opening in a liquid ejection head, and attaches the ink to the surface of the printing medium to obtain an image. Since the ink jet image forming apparatus requires only a simple configuration, this apparatus can be provided comparatively in a small size and at a low price. Therefore, the ink jet image forming apparatus is regarded as the one that can cope with the recent demand for high-quality image output for digital cameras, and the demand for the mass printing of documents, and its use has spread rapidly.
There are some ink jet image forming apparatuses that use a liquid ejection head wherein a plurality of openings are integrated and arranged in order to increase the printing speed, or that use a plurality of liquid ejection heads to perform color printing. Furthermore, to cope with requests for high-resolution images or high-quality images, downsizing the openings and increasing the density of the openings have tended to be accelerated for the liquid ejection head. Further, to increase small printer usability, with the appearance of Li ion batteries, portable printers have begun to be sold on the market. In, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-213359(1997), a portable printer is disclosed that to perform printing also employs a fuel cell so there is no need to be concerned about the power remaining in a cell.
For portable ink jet printers or high-quality and high-performance printers, the downsizing of openings has increased, and the range of the temperature and humidity for the use of printers, including outdoor use, has been extended. Therefore, a countermeasure for drying openings has become more important. When an opening is dried, for example, water present in a liquid path communicating with the opening evaporates, the viscosity of a liquid such as ink is increased, and the solidified liquid is attached to the inner wall of the liquidpath. As a result, liquid ejection can not normally be performed, and in the worst case, the liquid ejection head must be exchanged.
Thus, in order to smoothly eject liquid droplets from an opening, there is a proposal according to which suction is applied to periodically remove liquid droplets from am opening to outside a liquid ejection head, and to discharge very viscous liquid and solidified liquid attached to the inner wall of a liquid path. Another proposal is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-251484 (1998), according to which water is sprayed near an opening in a liquid ejection head.
In a situation wherein an ink jet printer is connected to a home personal computer and a user employs software to shut down the OS of the personal computer and turns off the ON/OFF switch of a power outlet to reduce power consumption, the supply of power to the printer connected to the power outlet is cut off. Therefore, for a printer wherein a cap member closely covers the circumferential edge of the opening when the printer is not is use, supply of power may be cut off before the cap member has covered the opening. In this case, the opening is not fully protected by the cap member and may be dried, and it may be difficult for liquid to be normally ejected from the opening the next time the printer is used.

Image forming apparatus and method for humidifying in head cap