A headbox, for example, in a pulp or board machine, is suitable for high basis weights which are over 400 g/m2 and for high fiber suspension consistencies which are in a range of 2–5%. The headbox has a turbulence part (1), into which a fiber suspension flows from a tube bank (2), and a slice part (3) which is situated after the turbulence part and from which the fiber suspension flows to a forming section of a fibrous web. The turbulence part (1) of the headbox has at least two passages (5, 6), which converge in the flow direction of the fiber suspension towards the slice part (3). In that connection, the fiber suspension flow is first fluidized in a tortuous turbulence passage part (11) and, after that, it decelerates in another widening deceleration passage (12).

The present invention relates to paper machines, board machines, pulp machines or equivalent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a headbox [according to the preamble of claim 1, which headbox is ] suitable for high basis weights and high fibre suspension consistencies.
This kind of conventional headbox of a paper machine or board machine or pulp machine or equivalent is thus, for example, of the kind comprising a turbulence part for producing a turbulent fibre suspension flow, into which turbulence part a fibre suspension is coming from a distributor means of the fibre suspension, advantageously a tube bank, and a slice part after the turbulence part, from which slice part the fibre suspension flows to a forming section of a fibrous web.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,767, Beloit Corp., discloses a headbox for a high consistency fibre suspension. The U.S. patent proposes a flow passage, which is adjustable in its cross-sectional flow area and narrows stepwise towards a slice part, for a fibre suspension flowing in a foamed state in order that it might be assured that the fibres are uniformly distributed in the fibre suspension. The fibre suspension is passed into the stepped passage from a distributor means of the fibre suspension through tube passages; according to the U.S. patent, the cross-sectional flow area is adjusted by moving a spindle part of the headbox axially away from and towards a slice part in order to increase and, correspondingly, to decrease the cross-sectional flow area.
The use of high consistency and the suitability of today's headboxes for use as high consistency headboxes involve a risk of cavitation and the fact that the use of high consistency requires fluidization of the fibre suspension in order that the fibres might be caused to be distributed uniformly in the fibre suspension and that the quality of the web might be made satisfactory. On the other hand, increase of fluidization limits increase of basis weight, for example, in pulp-drying machines and board machines.

Headbox for a paper machine, board machine, pulp machine or equivalent


An intake control valve for a screw-type compressor is built into the intake line, which it alternatingly opens or closes. The intake control valve, designed as a double seat valve, has a locking body (17), to which are assigned two opposing valve seats, namely a return flow seat (7) and an intake seat (9). Upon starting the screw-type compressor, the locking body (17) is pulled onto the intake seat (9) by means of the resulting intake pressure. As soon as a specific operating pressure is reached, the locking body (17) is lifted from the intake seat (9) by means of the pressure medium by way of a control cylinder (10) with a control piston (11) and moved into an intermediate position between its two seats (7, 9), so that the screw-type compressor can totally transport. As soon as the screw-type compressor is turned off, a weak spring (18) braced against the valve housing (1) pushes the locking body (17) onto the return flow seat (7) and closes it sealingly, so that neither pressure medium nor oil injected for lubricating the screw-type compressor can flow back into the intake line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an intake control valve for a screw-type compressor, in particular for a screw-type compressor with oil injection, which is built into the intake line of the screw-type compressor and includes a locking body which alternatingly opens or closes the intake line and is operationally connected to a control piston or a control diaphragm which can be displaced in a cylinder and which can be pressurized with a pressure medium in the opening direction of the intake line.
2. The Prior Art
Various designs of such an intake control valve are known. The simple models of screw-type compressors are "normally open," i.e., in the pressureless state of the screw-type compressor the intake control valve releases the cross-sectional area of passage of the intake line. Thus, the screw-type compressor starts with an open intake control valve, thus immediately loading the driving motor owing to the entire work of compression. Not until adequate operating pressure has been built up can the intake control valve be totally or partially closed in order to reduce the quantity being transported. Thus, the drawback with this design is that the driving motor is heavily loaded and with frequent starts in the unit of time is also overloaded.
Overloading the driving motor when starting is avoided by means of the other prior art intake control valves of the "normally closed" type. In this known design the intake control valve is held closed by means or spring force. After starting the screw-type compressor, the pressure builds up significantly more slowly and correspondingly there is a smaller load on the driving motor. To accelerate pressure buildup, it has also already been known to design the closed intake control valve so as to leak, e.g., by means of a bore or a channel bypassing the valve.
As soon as a specific operating pressure is reached, the spring force holding the intake control valve closed has to be overcome in this prior art design, a process that usually takes place by means of a differential piston. The piston area of the differential piston has to be correspondingly large, because the force exerted by the piston has to overcome, on the one hand, the spring force acting on the intake control valve and, on the other hand, the gas pressure acting on the intake control valve in the closing direction by means of the built up operating pressure, additionally also the increase in the spring force as a consequence of the spring rate. Thus, it involves relatively large forces, because to guarantee a faultless function the spring force must be positively greater than the intake force of the screw-type compressor and the gas pressure must be positively greater than the spring force.
An intake controlling device of this kind is known from DE-OS 29 44 053. This device has a relatively complicated locking body which controls the intake line and which in the closing direction is spring-loaded and in the opening direction is pressurized by the pressure generated by the screw-type compressor. When the screw-type compressor is started, the spring force is overcome by the pressure building up and the intake line is opened. The cross-section of the direct flow is changed to control the amount to be transported with the aid of another control piston, which is pressurized by a control pressure, e.g., the network pressure and loads the closing body in the direction of the spring force, so that the operating pressure applied to the opposing side of the closing body is overcome.
Common to all of these known intake control valves is that they close against the direction of flow of the gas that has been taken in and have to be held closed against the intake-sided negative pressure. The result is automatically a complicated construction, which is associated with high procurement costs and can cause breakdowns. In addition, the closing spring of the locking body, locking the intake line, causes pressure losses, thus reducing the possible maximum delivery of the screw-type compressor.


The output derived from an electric circuit such as an OCL type power amplifier circuit is delivered to a load such as a speaker, through a switching means such as a relay. When the operation of the electric circuit has come out of a predetermined range of operation, the switching means is operated to break the connection between the electric circuit and the load. A detection circuit for detecting the operation of the electric circuit includes a detecting transistor constructed in a semiconductor integrated circuit. The detecting transistor is connected at its base to the input terminal for external connection of the semiconductor integrated circuit, so as to receive a signal representative of the operation state of the electric circuit. The detecting transistor is so biased as to allow a predetermined electric current to flow therethrough, when the electric circuit is operating within the predetermined range of operation. However, in case of a breakdown of the detecting transistor, or when the operation of the electric circuit has come out of the predetermined range of operation, the current flowing through the detecting transistor is changed from the predetermined level. This change is transmitted to a driving transistor which is adapted to break the switching means such as a relay.

The present invention relates to a protective circuit such as a protective circuit for a power amplifier circuit. A load (speaker) protecting circuit of an OCL (output condenser-less) type power amplifier circuit for example, is one type of a protecting circuit for a power amplifier circuit.
This circuit is intended for preventing damage to a speaker attributable to a deviation in the level (middle point potential) of a direct current of an OCL-type power amplifier. More specifically, this protective circuit is adapted to operate switching means, such as a relay connected between the output of the power amplifier and the speaker, upon detecting that the D.C. component of the output power has exceeded a predetermined voltage level, so as to avoid damage to the speaker which would otherwise be caused by the high direct current flowing therethrough.
When this type of protective circuit is constructed as a semiconductor integrated circuit, the output D.C. level of the electric circuit is applied, through external connection input terminals of the semiconductor integrated circuit, to a detecting transistor which is incorporated in the semiconductor integrated circuit and adapted to detect the output level of the electric circuit.
According to the result of studies made by the present inventors, various high voltages, such as surge voltages and extraordinarily high voltages due to abnormal operation of the electric circuit, are often applied to the external connection input terminals of the semiconductor integrated circuit so as to cause a breakdown of the detecting transistor. These studies have also clarified that there are two modes of transistor breakdown: a burn-out mode and a short-circuiting mode.
As the detecting transistor in the semiconductor integrated circuit is broken, the switching means such as a relay connected between the electric circuit such as the OCL type power output circuit and the speaker fails to operate, so that the load such as a speaker may be damaged due to the direct current flowing therethrough.


A multi-actuation MEMS switch for high frequency signals includes a substrate, a heater disposed on the substrate, a co-planar waveguide disposed on a lowest metal layer, and a movable membrane including at least two metal layers, and an dielectric layer disposed between the co-planar waveguide and the movable membrane. The movable membrane is a fixed-fixed beam structure with a center indentation. When heat is generated and conducted to the movable membrane or electrostatic force is generated between the movable membrane and the co-planar waveguide or both forces are generated, the movable membrane will bend toward the co-planar waveguide. The position of the movable membrane change capacitance on signal line for switching the RF signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a multi-actuation MEMS switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
The wireless communication standards have more than seven types today including GSM, Bluetooth, CDMA and WiMAX, etc. Each communication standard has specific characteristics such as frequency and band width. This means communication modules are more and more complex, and higher frequency band is used to satisfy the new necessary. Comparing to diode or transistor, elements fabricated by micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology can provide better radio frequency (RF) performance at Giga Hertz (GHz) applications. Thus, if RF MEMS elements and other electric elements could be integrated as a communication module via complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, size and cost of communication modules can be reduced.
RF switch has numerous applications in RF circuits. For example, switching RF signal through one block to another, or changing RF blocks characteristics directly by switching a capacitor in a tuning network. A well designed RF MEMS switches should demonstrate several characteristics including low actuation voltage, low power consumption, high switching speed, low insertion loss, high isolation, and reliability.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of MEMS switch, which are drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,425. The conventional MEMS switch comprises a glass substrate 31, a metal layer 32, two protrusions 33 and 34, two fixed electrodes 35 and 36, a movable terminal 37, and two fixed terminals 38 and 39. The MEMS switch uses the protrusions 33 and 34, and two fixed electrodes 35 and 36 to apply voltage to generate electrostatic force. Thus, the movable terminal 37 is connected to the fixed terminals 38 and 39 and static electricity is driven by higher driving voltages.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another MEMS switch, which are drawings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,352. A micro switch 10 comprises a silicon oxide layer 11, a beam 12, two heating elements 13 and 14, four complementary electrodes 15, 16, 17 and 18, a contact pad 19, two conductive tracks 20, and 21, a cavity 22 and two metal portions 23 and 24. The heating elements 13 and 14 are located in the beam 12. There are several additional MEMS processes are necessary to form the metal portions 23, 24, which form with underlying membrane and work as bimetal. To turn on switch 10, a current is run through heating elements 13, 14. The heat released by Joule effect causes a deformation of beam 12 that tends to come closer to the conductive tracks 20, 21. The deformation is due to the expansion difference between metal portions and beam 12. The expansion difference is sufficient to obtain the buckling of the central portion of beam 12.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Ethylamine derivatives of the formula (I): ##STR1##. (wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy or halogen; R.sup.2 is alkyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, alkylcarbonyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or arylalkyl having 7 to 11 carbon atoms; the ring is a bicyclic compound which consists of at least one benzene ring and may comprise a saturated or unsaturated five- or six-membered ring which may or may not have heteroatoms, providing that when the ring is indole or 1,3-benzodioxole, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 do not constitute, at the same time, two carbon atoms members, and when R.sup.3 is hydrogen, the ring is a bicyclic compound which is not indole, benzothiophene or benzodioxole and R.sup.2 is alkyl having 3 to 5 carbon atoms and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. These compounds are promising as psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, drugs for Parkinson's disease and/or drugs for Alzeimer's disease.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel ethylamine derivatives which are promising as psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, drugs for Parkinson's disease and/or drugs for Alzimer's disease.
2. Description of the Related Art
A great many ethylamine derivatives have already been described in several publications. For example, 6-(2minoethyl)benzoxazolinone derivatives are described as antianxiety drugs and drugs for heart failure in EP 110, 781 and aminoalkylbenzoxazinone derivatives are described as useful remedies for damage of central nervous system in FR 2, 035,749. Moreover, the alkylamines which are structurally similar to the compounds of this invention are described as psychotropic drugs in JP examined publication 06-99, 420. However, as they have the releasing effects to displace catecholamines from their storage place on the central nervous system, they easily cause to release excess catecholamines from storage place such as synaptic vesicle and so on. Consequently, it is indicated that they have side effects as neurotoxicity similar to the effects of stimulants, abnormal behavior (excitation shown in high dose and the increase of intersignal reaction on conditioned avoidance task) or the like. The continuous administration of the drugs which enhance to release excess catecholamines cause decrease of catecholaminergic receptor. Consequently, the response of patients to drugs is reduced gradually and no sufficient therapeutic effect can be obtained as the result. Thus, they are inadequate as drugs for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease for which a long continuous treatment is required.
On the other hand, phenethylamine derivatives are disclosed in WO 88/2254 as psychotropic drugs and so on. These phenethylamine derivatives have the catecholaminergic activity enhancing effect (CAE effect: the enhancing effect on catecholamine release through amplification of the membrane potential dependent exocytosis) which is based on the new mechanism different from the above releasing effect to displace catecholamine from their storage [Life Sci., 58, 945-952 (1996)]. However, their compounds are not settled the effect which increase intersignal reaction on the conditioned avoidance task which is indicator of abnormal behavior. Therefore, the development of drugs which have high selectivity to CAE effect have been required.
The development of the compounds which have little side effects and are promising medicines as psychotropic drugs, antidepressant drugs, drugs for Parkinson's disease, drugs for Alzheimer's disease or the like has been longed for and an purpose of this invention is to comply with the said longing.


An image processing apparatus operative to properly obtain an original area when one or a plurality of originals exists. The image processing apparatus decides an image data area of an original from read image data read thereby. The image processing apparatus has an extracting unit for extracting a plurality of image areas from the read image data and a discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not tilt angles of the image areas extracted by the extracting unit are equal. If one or more tile angles of the image areas are not equal as a result of the discrimination by the discriminating unit, it is determined that each of the image areas is an image data area of the original on the assumption that there are a plurality of originals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for reading an image of an original put on a sheet table (or original table) of an image reading apparatus and processing and outputting the read image. More particularly, the invention relates to an image processing apparatus for reading, in a lump, images of a plurality of originals put on a sheet table and outputting the image every original, an image processing method, and a recording medium in which an image processing program has been recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, image information is frequently handled in association with a development of a communication network, a realization of a high processing speed of a computer, and a realization of a large capacity of a storage medium. Particularly, such a request that image information fetched by a scanner or the like is intended to be read out more accurately and at a higher speed is increasing.
In the related arts, a method whereby a target object to be read is extracted from an original put on a sheet table and an original area of an original position, an original size, and the like is automatically determined has been known. A first method in the related art is a method of deciding the original area based on all of the extracted target objects. The first method in the related arts is a method which is effective when a fact that only a single original was put has previously been known.
A second method in the related art is a method of extracting each target object from a plurality of target objects and deciding an original area based on each of the extracted target objects. The second method has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-46731. According to the second method, since the number of originals is not limited to one, the area of each original can be determined with respect to each target object.
According to the first method in the related art for deciding the original area from all of the target objects, since the process is executed on the assumption that there is one original, there is such a problem that if a plurality of originals were put on the sheet table, the proper original area cannot be decided.
According to the second method in the related art, since each target object is extracted from a plurality of target objects and the original area is decided based on each of the extracted target objects, the proper original area can be decided. However, if a photograph, an image object, or the like is arranged in the original, such a possibility that each image data is extracted as an independent target object (one original) remains. As an example in the case where the photograph, image object, or the like is arranged in the original, there is a case where the original is an index in which thumbnail images of photographs are printed as a list, a reference for presentation in which a plurality of rectangular areas are arranged, or the like.
As mentioned above, there is such a problem that if the method in the related art whereby each target object is extracted from a plurality of target objects and the original area is decided by using the extracted target objects is used, the correct original area cannot be decided.
To solve the problem occurring in the case of deciding the original area, a method of allowing the user to select a proper one of the first and second methods in the related art for the original put on the sheet table by the user himself is considered. There is, however, a case where the beginner user or the like cannot discriminate which one of the processes is proper for the original put on the sheet table by himself.
Further, there is such a problem that since the operation "the user selects the proper process for the original put on the sheet table by himself" is added, the operation becomes complicated. Such a problem becomes an obstacle when realizing such a function that the user puts the original onto the sheet table and merely by pressing a "Read button", an image of a proper reading area can be obtained according to the original.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program recorded recording medium


The rewettability of laundered fabrics, such as cotton fabrics, that are softened by the use of a laundry rinse is improved by using as the laundry rinse a rinse comprising an aqueous solution of a mixture of 20-75% by weight of N-octadecyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and 80-25% weight of N-dihydrogenatedtallow-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride as the fabric softener.

When fabrics are laundered, it is frequently desirable to treat them with fabric softeners, not only to soften them, but to give them greater bulk, make them easier to iron, decrease fabric drying time, and reduce static charge. A fabric softener that is commonly used is N-dihydrogenatedtallow-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride (DTMAC), which is both inexpensive and effective as a softener but, on the other hand, has certain deficiencies, such as its yellowing and reducing the washability of the softened fabrics, having inefficient antistatic activity on polyesters, and decreasing the rewettability of the treated fabrics.
Amine oxides, such as N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxides, are also effective fabric softeners; and fabrics softened with them have been found to have better rewettability than fabrics softened with DTMAC. Thus, it has been proposed to use amine oxides in combination with DTMAC to provide better rewettability than can be obtained with DTMAC as the sole fabric softener. However, when the surfactants have been combined in laundry detergents or in laundry dryer sheets, improved rewettability has not been obtained; and, when an amine oxide such as N-octyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide is combined with DTMAC in a laundry rinse, the rewettability of the fabric is intermediate to the rewettability of a fabric softened with the amine oxide alone and the rewettability of a fabric softened with DTMAC alone.

Laundry rinse containing N-octadecyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-dihydrogenatedtallow-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride


Apparatus for anchor line reeling to raise or lower an anchor using a cranked reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. An additional reel drag is used to prevent reel overturning when the anchor is lowered and hits bottom.

The instant invention relates to reeling systems and more specifically to a cranked anchor line reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank.
Hand cranked reeling systems employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank are known. For example, the CAPTAIN'S PAK ONE-HAND-CRANK MANUAL SIDERIGGER brand reel from Big Jon Sports, Inc. of Interlochen Michigan allows the retrieval of a cannonball for downrigger fishing by clockwise rotation of its hand crank. The clockwise rotation of its hand crank automatically tightens the drag so that the rotational motion of the hand crank is transferred to the reel through the drag. The cannonball is attached to wire rope which is wound-up on the reel. If the hand crank is released, counter-clockwise rotation of the reel is prevented by the clutch bearing. If the hand crank is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, the drag is progressively released allowing controlled decent of the cannonball. When the cannonball reaches the desired depth, the hand crank is rotated in the clockwise direction to increase the drag and stop the decent of the cannonball. Surprisingly, anchors have not been raised or lowered using a cranked anchor line reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank.


A method and apparatus for an advanced byte-oriented symmetric key cipher for encryption and decryption, using a block cipher algorithm. Different block sizes and key sizes are supported, and a different sub-key is used in each round. Encryption is computed using a variable number of rounds of mixing, permutation, and key-dependent substitution. Decryption uses a variable number of rounds of key-dependent inverse substitution, inverse permutation, and inverse mixing. The variable length sub-keys are data-independent, and can be precomputed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cryptography, and deals more particularly with a symmetric key cipher for encryption and decryption, using a block cipher algorithm. This algorithm allows the block size, key size, and number of rounds of ciphering to vary.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cryptography is a security mechanism for protecting information from unintended disclosure by transforming the information into a form that is unreadable to humans, and unreadable to machines that are not specially adapted to reversing the transformation back to the original information content. The cryptographic transformation can be performed on data that is to be transmitted electronically, such as an electronic mail message, and is equally useful for data that is to be securely stored, such as the account records for customers of a bank or credit company.
In addition to preventing unintended disclosure, cryptography also provides a mechanism for preventing unauthorized alteration of data transmitted or stored in electronic form. After the data has been transformed cryptographically, an unauthorized person is unlikely to be able to determine how to alter the data, because the specific data portion of interest cannot be recognized. Even if the unauthorized user knew the position of the data portion within a data file or message, this position may have been changed by the transformation, preventing the unauthorized person from merely substituting data in place. If an alteration to the transformed data is made by the unauthorized user despite the foregoing difficulties, the fact of the alteration will be readily detectable, so that the data will be considered untrustworthy and not relied upon. This detection occurs when the transformation is reversed: the encrypted data will not reverse to its original contents properly if it has been altered. The same principle prevents unauthorized addition of characters to the data, and deletion of characters from the data, once it has been transformed.
The transformation process performed on the original data is referred to as "encryption". The process of reversing the transformation, to restore the original data, is referred to as "decryption". The terms "encipher" and "decipher" are also used to describe these processes, respectively. A mechanism that can both encipher and decipher is referred to as a "cipher".
Mathematical algorithms are used to describe the functioning of ciphers. The goal of a cipher is to be computationally infeasible to "break"--that is, it must be nearly impossible to "guess" or derive the original data content from any series of computations that can be performed on the transformed data, absent knowledge of how the encryption was accomplished. Use of a "key" during the encryption and decryption processes helps make the cipher more difficult to break. A key is a randomly-generated number factored into operation of the encryption to make the result dependent on the key. The value used for the key in effect "personalizes" the algorithm, so that the same algorithm used on the same input data produces a different output for each different key value. When the value of this key is unknown to the unauthorized persons, they will not be able to duplicate or to reverse the encryption. Provided that the key is kept secret, the algorithm that performs the ciphering can be made public. The key will be known to the parties intended to encrypt and decrypt the data: they can use the key to "lock" and "unlock" the data contents, whereas unauthorized persons cannot. When the same key is used for encrypting and for decrypting, the key is referred to as being "symmetric".
A cipher to be used in a computer system can be implemented in hardware, in software, or in a combination of hardware and software. Hardware chips are available that implement various ciphers. Software algorithms are known in the art as well.
A commonly used cipher is known as the Data Encryption Algorithm ("DEA"). This algorithm was developed by scientists of the International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM"), and formed the basis of a United States federal standard known as the Data Encryption Standard ("DES"), which was adopted in 1977. DES has been in use since that time. A variant of the DES algorithm, known as "Triple DES", was developed to increase the strength of the result over that available with DES. Triple DES uses three rounds of ciphering, with different keys for each of the rounds.
After twenty years, many believe that a new stronger, more flexible algorithm is needed. One way to make a cipher stronger is to increase the number of rounds of ciphering performed: with each successive transformation, the resulting encryption becomes more difficult to break. Another way to increase the strength is to increase the size of the key. Since the contents of the key remain secret, increasing the size adds another level of difficulty for anyone trying to deduce what transformations may have been performed on the original data, because they are unlikely to guess the random number combination making up the key. Yet another way to increase algorithm strength is to increase the size of the "block" on which the cipher performs its transformations. A block is the unit of original data processed during one ciphering operation. The larger the block size, the more difficult it becomes for an adversary to construct a dictionary of plaintext and matching ciphertext, for a given key, large enough to pose a threat to the security of the algorithm. Further, different keys can be used for each round, increasing the number of random number combinations that would have to be correctly guessed in order to break the cipher. These keys are referred to herein as "sub-keys".
It will be appreciated that when a cipher allows varying the number of rounds, the key size, the key values, and the block size at the same time, an incredibly difficult challenge is presented to a person attempting to discover the original data contents from an encrypted result. It will also be appreciated that the computations involved to cipher the data are quite complex, and that while performing more rounds of ciphering increases the strength of the result, it also causes computation time to increase. When data is very sensitive, this time spent in ciphering will be warranted. It may be, however, that less sensitive data does not warrant the added time and expense of many rounds of ciphering. By providing an algorithm where the number of rounds, the key size and values, and the block size are variable, the ultimate choice between the level of security required and the amount of computation time utilized rests with the user. By allowing the number of rounds, key size, and block size to vary, the cipher of the present invention becomes, in effect, scalable in three dimensions.
The existing DES and Triple DES algorithms use the secret key approach described above, but do not provide for variation in the key size, the block size, or the number of rounds of ciphering. As stated earlier, it is desired to have a more flexible, scalable algorithmic solution, that increases the strength of the result.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved and more flexible cryptographic algorithm. More particularly, a need exists for a method and apparatus for an improved cryptographic algorithm that is block-oriented and uses a secret key. The cipher should use a variable length key, a variable length block, and a variable number of rounds. The cipher should provide for use of a different key during each round, and the key should be symmetric. The technique of the present invention achieves these objectives while using the simple operations of table lookup, exclusive OR, and key-dependent substitution, thereby minimizing the time required to encrypt and decrypt data. The data-independent sub-keys can be precomputed, further minimizing the time required for encryption and decryption. A minimal amount of computer storage is required for data used in the operation of the algorithm.

Method and apparatus for advanced byte-oriented symmetric key block cipher with variable length key and block


A magnetometric sensor comprises a magnetoresistance effect element having a sensitivity axis in a specific direction; including a fixed magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer, and a free magnetic layer stacked in this order on a substrate; and including a first antiferromagnetic layer on the free magnetic layer on the opposite side to the side facing the nonmagnetic material layer to cause an exchange coupling bias between the first antiferromagnetic layer and the free magnetic layer and align the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer in a prescribed direction in a state of permitting variation in magnetization. The free magnetic layer includes a first free magnetic sub-layer, a misfit-reducing sub-layer for decreasing the lattice mismatch of the free magnetic layer with the first antiferromagnetic layer, and a second free magnetic sub-layer ferromagnetically coupled to the first free magnetic sub-layer in this order from the first antiferromagnetic layer side.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a magnetometric sensor and a current sensor comprising the magnetometric sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of such as motor drive technologies of electric vehicles and hybrid cars, relatively large currents are used, and contactless current sensors capable of measuring large currents are in demand. In existing such current sensors, magnetometric sensors detecting induced magnetic fields from currents to be measured are employed. Examples of the magnetism detecting element for the magnetometric sensor include magnetoresistance effect elements such as giant magnetoresistance (GMR) elements.
The GMR element has a layered structure, as the basic structure, composed of a fixed magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer stacked with a nonmagnetic material layer interposed therebetween. In the fixed magnetic layer, the direction of magnetization is fixed in one direction by the exchange coupling bias due to a layered structure of an antiferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer or by RKKY interaction (indirect exchange interaction) due to a self-pinned structure composed of two ferromagnetic sub-layers disposed with a nonmagnetic intermediate sub-layer interposed therebetween. The free magnetic layer can change the direction of magnetization according to the external magnetic field.
In a current sensor employing a magnetometric sensor comprising a GMR element, an application of an induced magnetic field from the current to be measured to the GMR element changes the direction of magnetization of the free magnetic layer. The electrical resistivity of the GMR element is changed according to the relative angle between this magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer and the magnetization direction of the fixed magnetic layer. Accordingly, the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer can be detected by measuring this electrical resistivity. Furthermore, the magnitude and the direction of a current providing an induced magnetic field can be determined based on the direction of magnetization detected with the magnetometric sensor.
Incidentally, some electric vehicles and hybrid cars control the driving of the motor based on the value of a current, and some electric vehicles and hybrid cars adjust the process of controlling the battery according to the value of a current flowing into the battery. Accordingly, the current sensor employing a magnetometric sensor is required to increase the measurement accuracy of the magnetometric sensor such that the current value can be precisely detected.
Enhancement of the measurement accuracy of a magnetometric sensor requires, for example, a reduction in offset, a reduction in the variation of output signals, and an improvement in linearity (output linearity). These requirements are preferably achieved by, for example, decreasing the hysteresis of the GMR element of the magnetometric sensor. Specifically, the hysteresis of the GMR element can be decreased by, for example, applying a bias magnetic field to the free magnetic layer to align the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer even when no induced magnetic field from a current to be measured is applied.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-185044 discloses an example of a method for applying a bias magnetic field to a free magnetic layer by stacking an antiferromagnetic layer on the free magnetic layer, where the antiferromagnetic layer causes an exchange coupling bias between it and the free magnetic layer to align the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer in a prescribed direction in a state of permitting variation in magnetization.
The method for causing an exchange coupling bias by means of the antiferromagnetic layer has advantages, such as the uniformness of the bias magnetic field, compared to a method of causing a bias magnetic field by arranging permanent magnetics in the periphery of a GMR element. However, the GMR element stored under a high temperature environment for a long time has a risk of increasing the bias magnetic field due to the exchange coupling bias caused in the free magnetic layer and thereby decreasing the detection sensitivity of the GMR element.
These and other drawbacks exist.


A wellbore fluid sampling system may comprise a mixing system coupled to a wellbore sample supply and a recycled diluent supply, a fluid analysis system coupled to the mixing system, and a diluent recycle system coupled to the fluid analysis system and the mixing system, wherein the diluent recycle system comprises an evaporator and a condenser. A method for recycling diluent may comprise combining a wellbore fluid sample with a diluent to form a diluted wellbore fluid sample, analyzing the diluted wellbore fluid sample to determine one or more fluid properties, separating at least a portion of the diluent from the wellbore fluid sample in the diluted wellbore fluid sample, and recycling the separated portion of the diluent for re-use.

Provided are systems and methods for diluting wellbore fluid samples for analysis. More particularly, systems and methods may be provided for a real-time analysis of particle size distribution by diluting drilling fluid samples at a well site.
During the drilling of a wellbore into a subterranean formation, a drilling fluid, also referred to as a drilling mud, may be continuously circulated from the surface down to the bottom of the wellbore being drilled and back to the surface again. The drilling fluid serves several functions, one of them being to transport wellbore cuttings up to the surface where they are separated from the drilling fluid. Another function of the drilling fluid is to provide hydrostatic pressure on the walls of the drilled wellbore so as to prevent wellbore collapse and the resulting influx of gas or liquid from the formations being drilled. For several reasons, it may be important to precisely know the characteristics and chemical composition of the drilling fluid.
Determining particle size distribution in drilling operations is beneficial to an efficient drilling operation. Particle size distribution determination may allow operators of a drilling operation to estimate the filter cake properties downhole, characterize drill cuttings found in the drilling fluid, and/or determine the types of filters need to properly screen drilling fluid coming from downhole. For example, particle sizes may indicate filter cake properties such as filter cake thickness, toughness, slickness and permeability. Large particles may cause drilling problems such as stuck pipe and low flow of drilling fluid and smaller particles may not isolate formations from drilling fluids. A preferred particle size distribution, for a specific drilling operation, may need to be checked regularly, allowing a drilling operator to monitor to particle size within drilling fluid.
The frequency of analysis required in drilling operations may make the current methods unduly burdensome. Frequently, drilling fluid samples need to be diluted before analysis. Diluent may need to be constantly transported to the drilling site and mixed with the drilling fluid sample with the waste mixture of the drilling fluid sample and diluent needing to be transported to a disposal area. This may inhibit the ability for an analysis system to function for long periods of time and create large amounts of diluent or waste. Furthermore, the diluent, as well as waste mixture of diluent and drilling fluid sample, may need to be stored on site. This may take up large amounts of space around drilling operations, hindering operation.

Recycle diluent for wellbore fluid sampling system


A data processor comprises an arithmetic logic unit [ALU] for carrying out an arithmetic or logic operation on a first and second input data [OP1, OP2]. It further comprises a stack [STCK] for storing data and for applying a data having a certain position [P(1)] in the stack to the arithmetic logic unit [ALU] as the first input data [OP1]. The data processor can execute an instruction [INSTR] which comprises an address [ADDR] indicating a memory location [REG(i)] among a plurality of memory locations [REG]. The address [ADDR] causes a data, which is contained in the memory location [REG(i)] that it indicates, to be applied to the arithmetic logic unit [ALU] as the second input data [OP2].

The invention relates to data processing by means of an arithmetic logic unit that co-operates with a stack. The invention may be applied in, for example, a multimedia product comprising a controller, in the form of a processor, for providing control data to various functional units.
An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) typically carries out an operation on two input data, also called operands, so as to obtain an output data. The operation, which the ALU carries out, is generally defined by an instruction, also called micro code, in the form of a string of bits. The instruction may cause the ALU to carry out an arithmetic operation, for example, an addition: Z=X+Y; X and Y representing the input data and Z the output data. The instruction may also cause the ALU to carry out a logical operation, for example, an AND, OR, NAND or NOR function.
The ALU may co-operate with a stack. A stack is an assembly of storage elements, each storage element capable of containing data. Input data that are soon to be processed by the ALU are temporarily stored in the stack. An output data from the ALU may be temporarily stored in the stack too. A stack pointer generally indicates the storage element that constitutes the top-of-stack. A data that is placed on the stack is generally written into the top-of-stack and a data that is removed from the stack is generally read from the top-of-stack too. The writing and reading of data into and from the stack will be referred to as pushing and popping hereinafter. Generally, input data for the ALU are obtained by popping data from the stack and output data are stored by pushing data onto the stack. A processor that operates in this manner is referred to as a stack-based processor in the International Application published under number WO95/30954.
It is an object of the invention to allow a reduction of cost.
According to the invention, a data processor comprises an arithmetic logic unit for carrying out an arithmetic or logic operation on a first and second input data. It further comprises a stack for storing data. A data having a certain position in the stack is applied to the arithmetic logic unit as the first input data. The data processor can execute an instruction which comprises an address indicating a memory location among a plurality of memory locations. The address causes a data, which is contained in the memory location that it indicates, to be applied to the arithmetic logic unit as the second input data.
The invention takes the following aspects into consideration. It generally requires a certain number of steps for a stack-based processor to carry out an arithmetic or logic operation. The arithmetic or logic operation itself, which is carried out by the ALU, constitutes one step. One or more additional steps may be required to cause desired input data to be applied to the ALU. Such additional steps generally involve stack manipulations such as, for example, one or more push or pop operations or a combination of both operations. In principle, each step requires at least one clock cycle. Consequently, it will take generally several clock cycles for a stack-based processor to carry out an arithmetic or logic operation. I.e. data processing will be slow. Consequently, the stack-based processor has to be implemented using relatively fast elements if it has to carry out a series of arithmetic and logic operations within a certain time-interval. Such implementations are relatively expensive.
A solution to the speed problem described above is to use a register-based processor for carrying out the arithmetic and logic operations instead of a stack-based processor. In a register-based processor, input data for the ALU is stored in a set of registers instead of a stack arrangement. The desired input data for the ALU is retrieved from the set of registers by addressing two registers, each of which provides an input data for the ALU. Accordingly, an instruction for a register-based processor comprises two address fields. Each address field contains a value that indicates a particular register among the set of registers. Consequently, it will generally require fewer clock cycles for a register-based processor to apply desired input data to the ALU than a stack-based processor. Consequently, a register-based processor can be implemented using relatively slow elements compared with a stack-based processor. Thus, in principle, a register-based processor should allow more costefficient implementations.
However, the amount of memory that is required to store a software program, which defines a series of arithmetic and logic operations, may also play an important role in terms of costs. This is particularly true when the memory in which the software program is stored forms part of an integrated circuit that is not primarily a memory circuit. An example of such an application is a digital signal processor in the form of an integrated circuit that comprises a memory for storing so-called embedded control software. Such a memory is relatively expensive.
It is not always immediately clear which type of processor, stack-based or processor-based, is more advantageous in terms of memory costs. One the one hand, it will generally require more instructions for causing a stack-based processor to carry out an arithmetic or logic operation than for causing a register-based processor to do the same. Thus, a register-based processor is more efficient than a stack-based processor in terms of number of instructions. On the other hand, an instruction for register-based processor is longer than an instruction for a stack-based processor. The reason for this is that a register-based processor comprises two address fields, as explained hereinbefore, whereas a stack-based processor does not comprise any address field. Thus, a stack-based processor is more efficient than a register-based processor in terms of instruction length. Which type of processor, stack-based or register-based, will allow the smallest software program for a certain functionality depends, amongst other things, on the functionality itself.
According to the invention, a processor comprises a stack and a plurality of memory locations that are functionally equivalent to registers. The processor is capable to operate as follows. A data having a certain position in a stack is applied to the ALU as a first input data. A data from a memory location (register) is applied to the ALU as a second input data. The memory location that provides the second input data is addressed by means of an address in an instruction.
Accordingly, the second input data does not need to be on the stack. Neither does it have to have a certain position on the stack. Consequently, a processor according to the invention requires fewer stack manipulations than a stack-based processor. Consequently, a processor according to the invention requires fewer instructions than a stack-based processor, which is advantageous in terms of memory cost. Moreover, it requires fewer clock cycles for a processor in accordance with the invention to carry out an arithmetic or logic operation than a stack-based processor. This further contributes to cost-efficiency.
Furthermore, a processor according to the invention allows instructions that comprise one address only. Consequently, a processor according to the invention allows instructions which are shorter than instructions for a register-based processor. As such, this contributes to a reduction of memory cost. Furthermore, a software program for a processor in accordance with the invention will generally not require much more instructions than a similar software program for a register-based processor. The reason for this is that a result of an arithmetic or logic operation is generally placed on the position the stack that provides input data to the ALU and that it indeed often occurs that the result forms an input data for a subsequent operation. Consequently, relatively few stack manipulations will be required.
In summary, a processor in accordance with the invention is efficient in terms of number of instructions and it is also efficient in terms of length of instruction. Consequently, the invention allows compact software programs which can be stored in a relatively small memory. Consequently, the invention allows cost-efficiency.

Data processor comprising an arithmetic logic unit


During manufacture of certain hollow profiles suitable for use in car body construction the welded profiles are subjected to a further deformation process, namely hydroforming. At present the corresponding welding machines are charged manually. The invention relates to a method and a device for transferring hollow-profile blanks, characterized in that during transfer the positioned fusion faces of the blanks are pressed against each other at least in the area of the weld.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transfer of preformed hollow sections which are to be welded.
Methods and apparatus for the fabrication of welded tubes or other hollow sections have long been known to the expert. Fundamentally in all these methods or apparatus a flat metal sheet is shaped into a section with the desired profile by means of a forming machine. This may involve drawing the flat sheet from a coil and shaping it into a straight-sided or round hollow section by means of a continuous forming process. In other forming machines the flat sheet is drawn from a stack and is shaped into the desired profile step-by-step by means of forming tools. The hollow sections thus preformed are then fed to a welding machine for welding of the butt joint formed by the edges of the sheet.
In the fabrication of hollow sections suitable for use in motor vehicle bodies, the welded sections are subjected to a further forming process. For this forming process, the hydroforming technique is nowadays increasingly employed. This forming technique makes it possible to bend and/or bulge-form given sections as desired, but it imposes more demanding requirements on the quality of the welded joint.
Welding machines that are capable of meeting these more demanding quality-requirements are likewise known to the expert. These machines feature (inter alia) special devices for stabilizing the joint in the preformed parts and feeding it to the laser welding beam with the necessary precision.
In these precision high-power laser welding machines, transfer of the preformed hollow sections is manual. Firstly, this makes it possible to accommodate to the different processing rates of the individual forming machine and the welding machine used. Secondly, the precision welding machine is decoupled from the vibrations produced by the forming tools.
DE-U 8713471 discloses a welding machine for tubes in which a feeler roller engages in the joint between the edges to be welded in order to track the position of the laser beam. EP-A 0672496 discloses a laser processing plant for laser welding flanges to tubes and for cutting openings in the tube walls. U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,310 discloses a workpiece holder for arc welding of tubes.
A problem that can be addressed by the present invention, therefore, is to provide a mechanized transfer of preformed hollow-section blanks between hollow-section machine-tools and precision welding machines that allows preformed parts to be fed into a precision high-power laser welding machine in a time-optimized and vibration-free manner and with the necessary accuracy, so that they can be welded to yield hollow sections suitable for further forming into motor vehicle body components.
This problem is solved by a method in which the blank is seized by a transfer apparatus adapted to remove it from the forming tool and feed it to the welding machine, and is adjusted thereby so that the joint of the blank is in line with the welding point of the welding machine.
In a further process step the edges to be joined are positioned as desired and are presented together at least in the region of the welding point.
An apparatus according to the invention can include an apparatus which has means for seizing the preformed hollow-section blank that are adapted to remove the blank from the forming tool and feed it to the welding machine. By the same means, the joint of the blank can be adjusted so that it is in line with the welding point of the welding machine. Additional means are provided for positioning the joint edges as desired and for pressing the positioned joint edges together at least in the region of the welding point.
Particular embodiments are defined by the features of the dependent claims.
Developments of this method and of this apparatus lie within the skill of the expert, and fall especially into the category of additional measures for monitoring the welding process and controlling the quality of the welded seam. It will be evident that the welding machine can also be provided with a welding beam that is traversable along the joint, and that a weld seam cleaning operation following after the welding operation can be provided. For this transfer method according to the invention and its transfer apparatus, it is of course possible to use welding machines that are not subject to any special requirements as regards precision.

Method and device for transferring a hollow-profile blank


An apparatus and method for modifying collagen containing dermal tissue. The apparatus includes a source of ultrasound energy comprised of a plurality of curvilinear ultrasound transducers shaped to direct ultrasound energy to selected skin depths. The transducers have variable curvature, drive frequency, power level and geometries to effect precise control of collagen modification.

As more members of the "baby boomer" generation age, the number of surgical procedures to maintain a youthful appearance continues to increase. Of these cosmetic procedures, a significant increase has been in the area of non-invasive aesthetic applications. Many laser based systems are on the market with FDA clearance to non-ablatively treat wrinkles and rejuvenate skin texture. Lasers treat the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissues by depositing light energy to heat the tissues. The depth of treatment, however, is limited by the laser wavelength.
An alternative heating method is radiofrequency (RF) heating which provides variable heat penetration. RF energy can be delivered to skin tissues for aesthetic and therapeutic effect using either monopolar or bipolar electrode-coupled induction techniques. These systems require the use of active cooling at the interface between the skin surface and the electrodes to prevent localized burning.
The clinical opportunity in the field of skin tightening/wrinkle removal is therefore very significant and is an accepted treatment. However, that established market is being addressed to varying degrees by technologies which, though they are state-of-the-art today, leave the physician and customer base less than satisfied. These procedures for example require aggressive skin cooling in conjunction with laser/light therapies to provide treatment from just below the epidermis to approximately 0.5-1.0 mm below the skin surface, as well as the various RF induction methods, with low reproducibility of clinical results/outcomes due to inherent limitations in the physics of the approach.
It has long been known that damaging collagen will cause shrinkage and neocollagenesis (rejuvenation). It has been shown that the physiology will allow excellent clinical results that will allow physicians and device companies to serve patients profitably—but they have also proven that those results are often inconsistent. In some cases the clinical outcome is dramatic, in others it is imperceptible, and in still others the end result can be worse than the initial condition (significant burns, overshrinkage and loss of skin form). The cause of these inconsistent clinical results is related to the types of technology applications that apply the thermal energy with these devices—which are, themselves, inconsistent. The goal of the treatment is to heat the underlying tissue (dermis), and some of the deeper tissue, at temperatures ranging from 55° C. to 70° C. for a short period of time while leaving the surface (epidermis) and underlying tissue unaffected. Existing technologies are not able to accurately control where they apply the therapeutic treatment, depth of penetration, or how much therapeutic energy is absorbed by the target region.
There are three primary approaches being pursued by conventional systems using energy to treat skin and subcutaneous fat for aesthetics purposes, (1) disruption of the fat cells through agitation and cavitation to affect liposuction (may be performed invasively or noninvasively), (2) affecting thermal injury to the skin surface (epidermis) to stimulate neocollagenesis (the forming of new tissue) to smooth the texture of the skin, and (3) affecting thermal elevation of the tissue underlying the epidermis to affect removal of deeper wrinkles and tighten sagging skin.
Variations in High Intensity Ultrasound technologies—cellular disruption vs acoustic stimulation to heat tissue. To those who are not experts in the field it may appear that High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is the primary term used to describe the application of acoustic energy for thermal therapy applications and that there are several participants in this field. Actually, HIFU is specific to a particular method of delivery of acoustic energy, and does not encompass several other methods to use ultrasound for treatment.
There are five conventional variations to therapeutic applications of ultrasound:                (1) Low intensity, low frequency stimulation of bone tissue to encourage bone healing or to increase membrane permeability for the purpose of increased membrane transport of chemical agents.        (2) High intensity, low frequency application to affect cellular disruption. The primary applications for this family of devices are for disruption of fat cells in liposuction or disruption of thromoboses in vascular structures.        (3) Low intensity, high frequency application to affect therapeutic heating for muscle soreness. A variety of products in the field of sports medicine have been employed for years.        (4) High intensity, high frequency application to produce molecular agitation and directly interact with the high frequency mechanical properties of the tissue to produce localized heating within a desired therapeutic zone:                    a. The delivery approaches vary, and the use of hemispherical focused transducers is incorporated in the prior art products, and this is the typical HIFU. These include products for "spot" ablation of cancerous tissue and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), creating cardiac lesions to treat atrial fibrulation (E), and tissue dissection/tissue welding.            b. Technology that uses tubular and curvilinear soft-focus and line focus transducer technology in both singular and array structures to create a customized shaped volume region of therapy. This can be achieved through explicit transducer design on an a priori basis and using multiple element designs integrated to permit dynamic adjustment of the therapeutic size and shape, dependent upon the specific tissue treated. Thus, volumetric heating of customized shapes and sizes can be achieved. For mid-size and larger regions, this permits treatment times that are much shorter than achieveable with "step focused" systems. Further, the control of the customized shape and treatment volume is exquisite, permitting an exact lesion size or treatment region to be created.                        (5) Acoustic Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ASWL) for disruption of calcium deposits such as kidney stones and bone spurs.
Regarding methodology 4(a) above, (HIFU) approaches use hemispherical transducers to create focal points of energy (see FIG. 1). This approach works well when the desired result is to create a "cigar-shaped" lesion as the approach would produce a very high intensity energy density in the lateral cross section at the focal depth with a focal length of approximately eight times the lateral focal cross section which is centered at the focal depth. An example would be an external or intracavitary transducer focused at a depth of 3 cm that has a focal zone with a 1 mm cross section and a focal length of 8 to 10 mm. Depending upon the frequency, focal length, focal gain and input power, it is possible to create extremely high power densities at the center of each focal zone. Exquisite control of such energy using real-time, spatially-registered imaging is a requirement to deliver treatment that doesn't leave "gaps" laterally and doesn't seriously injure nearby normal tissues.
Creating a volumetric lesion with standard HIFU approaches would require the creation of multiple small lesions to cover the desired lateral cross section. As an example, a 1 cm2 square lateral region would require approximately eight half-power-width overlapping zones in both lateral directions, producing a 1 cm×1 cm lateral by 1 cm depth zone of temperature elevation. This would require the creation of 64 separate focal zones. Treatment using such an approach would be slow (approximately 60 seconds for a 1 cm region) and non-uniform in treatment.
When affecting a thermal increase in deeper tissue while leaving the tissue adjacent to the applicator probe (i.e. the skin) relatively unaffected, focused ultrasound technology is intrinsically superior to radiofrequency methods for two reasons:                (1) The electrical properties of various tissue types (epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous fat, fibrous septae, and subcutaneous muscle) vary much more than the acoustical properties of those tissue structures. This is because the electrical properties are dominated by water and electrolyte (salt) content, whereas the acoustic properties are predominately dependent on density differences. The result in this wider variation is that the tissue resistivity. Therefore, RF energy is not uniformly absorbed by the tissue below the application probe.                    RF power is not propagated through the tissue. RF is resistive in absorption, i.e. like connecting a network of resistors in a series-parallel combination across a big battery and heating the resistors along the available current pathways. Any propagation of the resultant heat is due to the thermal conductivity of the tissue. Any propagation of the resultant heat to neaby tissue is due to the thermal conductivity of the respective tissue. Small variations in tissue composition and variations in blood perfusion, therefore, can dramatically affect the electrical properties of the tissue and the energy absorption profile with RF treatment (and thus the treatment efficacy) of the underlying tissue. This phenomenon will be discussed in greater detail below.            With a more consistent energy absorption profile from energy that is propagated through the tissue (with ultrasound) the energy absorption (and treatment efficacy) are more uniform and predictable.                        (2) Because RF is a resistive heating phenomenon, dependent on the current density in the tissue, most of the RF effect occurs directly at the electrode/skin interface. Between 50% and 90% of the current (thus resistive heating) occurs in the 750 um of epidermis (a region which must be cooled to prevent skin burns). This means that most of the energy is dissipated and unproductive. Not only is this inefficient, but if there is a variation in tissue characteristics in the region within and below the cooled zone, dramatic changes in energy disposition to the region outside of the cooled zone could occur. Paths of high tissue conductivity next to those that are more resistive produce widely varying RF absorption patterns, often dramatically affecting resultant heating patterns.                    To illustrate this point further—if 75% of the energy is supposed to be dissipated in the cooling process, then only 25% of the energy is delivered to the region to be treated. If the low resistance components (saline from sweat, etc.) are twice as prevalent in the 750 um surface zone, then more energy (than expected) will be delivered to the deeper zone. Since there is no consistent means of monitoring where this energy is deployed, there could be rapid heating and tissue overtreatment in some areas and undertreatment in others within this region.
To illustrate the first point in more detail, the graph in FIG. 2 depicts the known electrical properties of several types of tissue. For example, fatty tissue has impedances ranging from 1,600 ohms to 2,000 ohms, while blood has a resistance of 150 ohms to 200 ohms. Since the cross sectional area of a small vessel could be 0.5 mm, such a structure in a 1.5 cm2 treatment zone represents only 0.5% of the area through which current would travel, but the current density would be ten times that of the surrounding tissue. Therefore, one structure, which is only 0.5% of the current-carrying media, would carry 3.5% of the current to the underlying tissue.
In conventional RF systems, such as described in: "Selective Fibrous Septae Heating". An additional mechanism for Capacitively Coupled Monopolar Radiofrequency", (Karl Pope, Mitch Levenson, E. Vic Ross, MD), the subcutaneous tissue is described as being a network of blood vessels and collagenous structures which connect the dermis to the underlying muscle (the fibrous septae). This anatomy is depicted in FIG. 3. It is asserted that for such RF systems the fibrous septae have significantly lower electrical impedance properties than the surrounding fatty tissue. An infrared image obtained during treatment (FIG. 4 from the prior art cited above) shows non-uniform heating of the underlying tissue. The probe 150 is visible and a cooled region 160 is directly below. The heated regions 170 appear non-uniform within the normal tissue 180. It should be emphasized that these are untouched replications from the literature article, and the lines (drawn by the authors of the paper) are estimations of the location of fibrous septae. The authors' intention was to depict deeper heating and contraction of the fibrous septae.
This image from the prior art literature provides significant clues of the shortcomings of the RF procedure. In FIG. 4 most of the heating appears to be at the fat/muscle interface—about 4 mm to 6 mm below the surface of the probe 150. This would make sense if, as the authors claim, the surface is being cooled and the excess current is being shunted through the surface tissue to the underlying muscle. The intense heating at this interface can explain the fat necrosis which has occurred in several RF heating cases known in the art. In fact, there is a zone in the fat/muscle interface depicted in the tissue cross-section, which appears to show some fat necrosis.
Note also that the heating under the probe 150 is not uniform. There are portions of intense heating in the epidermis (see the bright yellow region on the right, behind the label "Dermis"), while the cooling effect seems to occur under only half of the probe 150. The 2 mm of dermal tissue contains regions of the heated region 170 and the unheated normal tissue 180.
Another fact that the reader should note is that, even in the image depicting a prior art "shallow probe" (See FIG. 5), that there is very little cooling in the epidermal region immediately adjacent to the probe 150 and there is a zone of significant heating at the fat/muscle interface 190 some 4 mm to 6 mm deep.
The tissue cross-sectional photograph from the prior art presents some inconsistencies in the theory. FIG. 3 shows a dense network of fibrous septae—but the infrared (IR) photograph in FIG. 4 shows only a few shunting paths. Either the shunting is occurring along different paths (perhaps blood vessels), or some fibrous septae are more electrically conductive than others. Further, the tissue cross-section photograph shows no shrinkage in the fibrous septae-rich subcutaneous zone. There is significant shrinkage in the dermal layer—as one would expect—but there is none in the underlying zone. The thermal shunting in the underlying zone seems only to contribute to fat necrosis.
These images, indicate that uniform heating with RF is not easily achieved (if it is achievable at all). The acoustic properties of tissue are much more uniform, with the acoustic absorption between brain, kidney, liver, and muscle at a given frequency varying by 15% or less (for purposes of showing the state of the art, see Table 4.19, page 116 in Duck, F A, Physical Properties of Tissue, Academic Press, 1990. Tissue heating is a function of the acoustic velocity and attenuation through the specific tissue type. In general, absorption is directly related to the tissue density. Unlike the case for RF, acoustic energy actually is transmitted through soft tissues and it loses energy to heat conversion as it propagates. By selecting the frequency and focusing parameters judiciously, a large portion of the propagated energy is converted to heat directly in the desired region. The high degree of directivity is attained because at higher frequencies (in the MHz range) the wavelengths are short and can be directed and/or focused, just like light. However, the penetration is significantly greater. Insert Fat Necrosis Comment w/acoustic absorption.
Another conventional device employs a bipolar electrosurgical approach. The theory behind this approach is that the current would pass from one electrode to the other, staying in the underlying tissue. Unlike the RF electrodes described for the RF system, however, which are planar, the electrodes may be considered to approach two short linear sources. As such, the current density (and associated power) fall off as a factor of 1/R3 (as opposed to 1/R2 or 1/R for the planar approach. Most of the current flows along the surface of the tissue. It is virtually impossible to create any heating at depth.
Depending on whether the dissipation mechanism falls off at 1/R2 or 1/R, the monopolar approach results in between 50% and 90% of the energy is applied to the 750 um of epidermal tissue which is cooled to prevent burning (see FIG. 6A). The bipolar system of FIG. 6B, with a dissipation mechanism that falls off at 1/R3, more than 99% of the energy is applied to that 750 um cooled zone. This design feature leaves very little energy available for tissue treatment. Only 10% to 50% of the thermal effect occurs in the zone outside of the cooled epidermis (blue zone in graph) with the monopolar approach. With the bipolar approach of FIG. 6B only 1% of the thermal effect occurs in the zone outside the cooled epidermis. A significant quantity of thermal effect occurs beyond the therapeutic zone with the monopolar approach.
The above described electrosurgical methods for deep skin heating are not uniform and/or not predictable, or produce so little thermal action that they are ineffective. The bipolar linear electrodes produce very little effect. The monopolar planar electrodes allow current to shunt through low impedance structures to produce non-uniform heating in the dermis with a concentration at the fat/muscle interface, which could contribute to fat necrosis.
In light based treatment approaches, the theory behind light-based deep tissue heating requires applying a radiant energy source which dissipates as a function of depth while cooling the surface. The method of action is actually very different from the RF approach, but both have the result that the thermal effect is significantly greater at the probe/tissue interface (skin) than in deeper layers.
With light-based approaches, the molecular entities in the tissue (primarily water) absorb the photons from light-based energies and convert that energy (more-or-less) directly to heat, and that the light energy dissipates much less dramatically than RF. For instance, according to Franceschini, et al, ("Near-Infrared Absorption and Scattering Spectra of Tissues in Vivo") presented at the SPIE in 1999 (http://www.eotc.tufts.edu/Documents/Faculty/Franceschini/papers/spie99-mari.PDF), the absorption rate of infrared light in skin tissue is approximately 20%/cm.
A chart of this absorption profile is presented in FIG. 7. Note that, although a significant amount of applied energy is transmitted beyond the cooled zone (85%), only 20% is absorbed in the therapeutic zone of the dermis, another 20% is absorbed in the subcutaneous fat, and more than 40% is transmitted into the deeper muscle tissue. 15% of the light is absorbed in the cooled zone of the epidermis, 20% in the therapeutic zone of the dermis, 20% in the subcutaneous fat, and 45% in the deeper muscle tissue. Although the skin is spared damage by the cooling process, there is no means of controlling thermal injury to the subcutaneous fat and deeper muscle.
The light-absorbing characteristics of tissue are much more uniform than the electrical characteristics. Thus, light absorption is more gradual and doesn't exhibit the large unpredictabilities found with RF approaches. In Franceschini's paper referenced above, the absorptive characteristics of the three patients ranged from 10%/cm to 25%/cm (a factor of 2.5, while the difference between the electrical impedance of fat and blood could be a factor of 10). There are factors, however, such as the concentration of melanocytes (such as with certain ethnic groups, or variations after recent exposure to the sun) that also affect the absorption levels. Melanocytes act as "absorbers" that selectively absorb light energy, producing inhomogeneous energy absorption, depending upon the amount degree of their presence and uniformity. This can yield highly variable results in such instances. Although the skin is spared thermal injury by the cooling process, there is no means of controlling injury to the subcutaneous fat and deeper muscle.
In another conventional device shown in FIG. 8, infrared energy is applied to the underlying tissue. The prior art device transmits infrared light in the range of 1,100 nm to 1,800 nm. The contact head has a cooling mechanism to protect the skin from burning. There is no mechanism to protect the deeper subcutaneous fat and muscle from thermal injury.
In another light based system (not shown), a NdYAG laser is used and, which transmits in the 1,064 nm range. The device also incorporates epidermal cooling to spare skin damage. This type of devices operates on the principle of applying infrared energy to the underlying tissue. The device transmits infrared light in the range of 1,100 nm to 1,800 nm. The contact head has a cooling mechanism to protect the skin from burning.
Light-based energy sources can effectively heat the near dermal and subcutaneous layers to affect treatment. They transmit only a small portion of their energy in these regions, however, and they cannot control the energy applied to deeper subcutaneous fat and muscle. In order to avoid injuring these deeper structures, they must limit the amount of energy applied altogether. This, in turn, limits the amount of energy applied to the dermal zone and thus, the effectiveness of the treatment. Further, the presence of variable degrees of melanocytes can produce unpredictable variability in absorption.

Acoustic applicators for controlled thermal modification of tissue


A boiling water control system for use with a boiling water dispensing apparatus. The boiling water dispensing apparatus includes a water reservoir having a water heating element retained therein for heating water. A top portion of the reservoir is divided into a first and second section. The reservoir includes an inlet for emitting water and an outlet for dispensing water. The boiling water control system includes a steam sensor which produces a control signal in the presence of steam. A control module is associated with the boiling water apparatus and coupled to the steam sensor and the heating element for activating and deactivating the heating element in response to the control signal produced by the steam sensor. A primary steam vent communicates with the first section of the reservoir for allowing steam and air to escape from the first section. An air vent is provided on the primary steam vent for removing heated air from the primary steam vent. Steam travels through the primary steam vent to the steam sensor to produce an accurate temperature reading of the water retained in the reservoir.

The present invention relates to hot water dispensing apparatus, and more particularly a boiling water dispenser capable of maintaining and dispensing large quantities of water at boiling temperature.
It is often desirable for restaurant and other institutional food service applications to have a source of hot water for various cooking purposes, such as preparation of pastas, potatoes, gravies, soups and similar dishes. A constantly available source of heated water, available at near-boiling temperatures on demand is also useful for cleaning purposes. A variety of water heating and dispensing apparatus have been devised to satisfy these applications.
A typical hot water dispenser includes a reservoir in which water is heated by a heating device. A control system senses and maintains the water in the reservoir at a desired temperature. Control systems typically include a temperature sensing probe to monitor the temperature of the water in the reservoir and a level sensing probe to monitor the volume of water retained in the reservoir. Examples of heated water dispensers can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,690 to Knepler and U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,752 to Anson.
The device in the Knepler '690 patent includes a steam sensing unit which senses the temperature of steam which evolves from the heated water-reservoir. The steam serving unit is position to receive steam from a steam discharge tube which communicates with the reservoir. Steam passes from the reservoir through the tube and exits the tube at the steam sensing unit. A steam sensor of the steam sensing unit is coupled to a control system to activate and deactivate the heating element in response to steam exiting the tube. The steam sensor, coupled with the control unit, maintains the water retained in the reservoir within a desired temperature range.
The Anson '752 patent shows a novel steam sensor mounting structure which facilitates positioning of a steam sensor so as to be responsive to the presence and absence of steam vented from the reservoir of the heated water dispensing apparatus. The sensor mounting structure thermally insulates the sensor from the water reservoir and permits free access of ambient air to the sensor in the absence of venting steam.
The teachings of the Knepler '690 patent are very successful when operating with a tank capacity of approximately five gallons. When the structure of Knepler '690 is employed with a heated water dispensing apparatus having a capacity of ten gallons or more, certain performance parameters may not be satisfied. One problem that may arise with a larger volume of water is that the heating element may prematurely deactivate. The heating element may tend to deactivate when the water in the reservoir is approximately 200 degrees fahrenheit. After a period of time the heating element is once again activated to further heat the water to an acceptable temperature.
After considerable study and research of this problem it has been found that when cold water is heated, air which is otherwise dissolved in the water, comes out of the solution and rises to the top surface whereupon it escapes to the ambient atmosphere. The evolution of gas from solution becomes more rapid as the water temperature increases towards the boiling point. The air escaping from solution is heated although it is not yet heated to boiling temperature or formed steam. Since the escaping air is heated it tends to rush out through the steam discharge tube and past the steam sensor. The volume of heated air in the larger capacity system is sufficient to affect the temperature sensed by the steam sensor to the point where the sensor indicates that the water is at boiling temperature when, in fact, this is not the case.
The ten gallon tank, due to its increased capacity, has a larger interior volume than the five gallon tank and is typically designed to be deeper and have a larger top surface area than the five gallon tank. As a result of the dimensional differences between the ten gallon reservoir and the five gallon reservoir, and the substantially large volume retained therein, a sufficient quantity of heated air flows across the steam sensor thereby prematurely deactivating the heating element.
For the forgoing reasons, there is a need for an apparatus which has a substantially larger heated water volume capacity which employs a novel and non-obvious boiling water control system to maintain the temperature of the water retained in the reservoir at or near the boiling temperature for water.

Boiler control system with steam sensor thermally isolated from a water reservoir


Geopolymer-modified gypsum construction materials. Compositions derived from combining geopolymer adhesives with conventional gypsum wallboard slurry formulations produce an interpenetrating network (IPN) which cures by loss of process water to a refractory solid having improved fire and water resistance. Geopolymer adhesive starting compositions includes soluble and insoluble silicates, buffers and salts, and a chemical setting agent in aqueous suspension.

The present invention relates generally to gypsum wallboard construction material, and more particularly to the modification of such materials by the addition of silica-based geopolymer adhesives to produce composites which exhibit improved fire performance, water resistance, and structural properties.
Gypsum wallboard is a widely used construction material because of its low cost and fire resistance. Fire resistance capability is generally proportional to the thickness of the gypsum employed in a fire resisting structure. For example, a simple structure approved for a fire endurance period of one hour uses a 5/8 in. thick slab of Type X gypsum wallboard on either side of a 35/8 in. metal stud with an air filled cavity for a non-load-bearing wall assembly. Other designs provide fire resistance for periods of up to two hours.
Gypsum is a naturally occurring form of the di-hydrate of calcium sulfate. This material can be readily transformed to its stucco form, the hemi-hydrate of calcium sulfate, by one of several calcination processes. Gypsum provides fire protection through two primary mechanisms: the non-combustible nature of inorganic compounds; and the endothermic, energy-absorbing capacity of the dihydrate which produces steam when exposed to intense heat. In equation form, gypsum.fwdarw.Plaster of Paris+Steam-Energy, or CaSO.sub.4 (2H.sub.2 O).fwdarw.CaSO.sub.4 (0.5H.sub.2 O)+1.5H.sub.2 O-4100 cal/mole.
A wall which is to endure fire for a period of at least one hour must be able to withstand temperatures well in excess of 1500.degree. F. This temperature is considerably in excess of the ignition temperature of most organic materials (about 450.degree.-800.degree. F.). Thus, a fire-resistant wall must maintain the temperature of the unexposed face of the wall at a moderately low temperature in order to prevent the spread of the fire. A further consideration for an acceptable fire-resistant wall is the integrity of the wall assembly against penetration by a water stream from a fire hose at the termination of the fire exposure period. Masonry walls achieve these conditions as a result of the high structural/thermal mass and large heat capacity inherent in the dense materials utilized. Lightweight wall assemblies, by contrast, require good thermal insulation in lieu of large thermal mass. The utilization of the heat of dehydration of gypsum can provide an effective cooling mechanism for a fire-resistant wall. However, as this water of hydration, which binds the gypsum material, is converted to steam, the gypsum is recalcined into a fine hemi-hydrate powder, or stucco, leaving a wall component that is devoid of structural integrity, lacking dimensional stability, and without strength after fire exposure. Moreover, the recalcined gypsum material is easily washed away with water from a fire hose. At a minimum, the wall is easily crumbled by the action of water from fire hoses because of shrinking and bending of the studs as well as from the shrinking of the gypsum itself which produces cracks therein.
Structural rigidity of gypsum wallboard, which is proportional to the moment of inertia of the paper facing sheets about the bending axis, derives from the bond of the paper to the core. This bond is affected by the degree of saturation of the paper which also promotes rehydration and crystalline growth of the gypsum into the paper. In addition, the compressive strength of the gypsum core is proportional to the density, the type of crystallization, and the degree of rehydration. Of the naturally occurring forms of gypsum, three are common. Acicular or needle-like satinspar and plate-like selenite do not have adequate structural integrity to be of interest in the construction trades, and physical conditions which promote the growth of these forms prevent the formation of structural gypsum. Massive gypsum, or alabaster, has random three-dimensional crystalline orientation, and while not highly soluble in water, it is hygroscopic and will soften when wet. During this condition, it loses most of its strength and in a wallboard structure, the gypsum/paper crystalline bond is easily destroyed or damaged. If properly dried, the core strength will return.
Care must be exercised in the selection of additives for gypsum wallboard, since a poor choice of additives may cause improper recrystallization (development of an interpenetrating network through random crystalline growth), with a resulting loss of strength both in the core and in the paper facing sheet bond. In addition, the presence of soluble salts and other impurities affects the gypsum/paper bond and the core strength detrimentally. Finally, the setting time, which is directly related to the rate of rehydration and release of heat, must be maintained within strict limits to meet operational criteria of a wallboard manufacturing process specification; that is, the mix must retain a working viscosity while in the mixer and during the wetting of the paper facing sheets, must be plastic but hold its form while passing through the forming rolls and smoothing bars, and must cure to moderate handling strength sufficient for cutting and transport to the dryer within the length of a production line which is typically 4-5 min. for a 1000 ft. line and a board movement rate of 200-250 ft./min.
Retarders are used to prevent initial setting during the first phase and accelerators are used to produce final set within the proper time period. Different compounds affect the initial set and rehydration cycle and the chemistry becomes complex and highly proprietary. The primary accelerator is the addition of freshly ground massive gypsum as a seed crystal. Without retardation, typically by using water-soluble organic acids or bases, the nucleation will proceed to rapid initial set, thereby preventing proper wetting and forming. Additional accelerators such as potash, for example, are employed to enhance the rehydration phase to produce "Vicat Set." That is, the point where the strength measured by a Vicat hardness tester is adequate for cutting and drying, at which time the rehydration exotherm has reached completion and the temperature of the material remains approximately constant.
Natural massive gypsum has a density of about 2.35 g/cm.sup.3 (147 lb/ft..sup.3) which is approximately three times the density of typical fire-resistant gypsum wallboard (47 lb/ft..sup.3). Reconstitution of massive gypsum di-hydrate at atmospheric pressure will not produce the high density of the natural gypsum because of the requirement of excess water to generate a workable slurry mixture. The cured density of Plaster of Paris ranges from a high of about 75 lb/ft..sup.3 with a water:stucco wet weight ratio of 0.8 to a low of 36 lb/ft..sup.3 with a corresponding ratio of 1.7. Compressive strength falls from 2000 psi to 170 psi, respectively. The exact formula specification of 1.5 moles of water added to one mole of calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate to produce the massive gypsum corresponds to a water:stucco ratio of 0.186. Generally, the amount of available water directly determines the final cured gypsum density.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gypsum-based construction material having improved dimensional and structural stability when exposed to fire.
Another object of this invention is to provide a gypsum-based construction material having improved resistance to water after being exposed to fire.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gypsum-based construction material derived from less expensive materials than those currently employed.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Geopolymer-modified, gypsum-based construction materials


Apparatus for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes is provided. A receiving drum having holes to receive the rejected cigarettes is provided coaxial with a fluted drum, so that both drums rotate in the same direction. Via a control ring turning in synchronization with the receiving drum, jets of compressed air eject the tobacco from the rejected cigarettes, before the empty cigarette wrapper (tube) is also expelled from the receiving hole. A timing disk controls the work cycle. Suction pressure applied to the receiving holes of the receiving drum sucks the rejected cigarette into a predetermined stop position in the receiving hole prior to the application of compressed air. With the aid of restraining needles, the cigarettes are held firmly while the jet of compressed air is applied to expel the tobacco. On release by the restraining needles, the cigarette wrapper (tube) is ejected from the receiving hole to a discharge chute by a jet of compressed air applied via the control ring. A method for operating the apparatus is also provided.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes.
From European Patent Specification 0 192 372, a method and an apparatus for ejecting tobacco from filter cigarettes is known. This apparatus features a hopper for rejected cigarettes, a cigarette transport means comprising a fluted drum turning about its center axis and having a plurality of fluted depressions regularly distributed about its periphery, means for restraining single cigarettes, means for supplying a jet of compressed air, collector means for receiving the ejected tobacco and separate collector means for receiving the cigarette wrappers (tubes) and means for coordinating movements of the means of the apparatus. With the aid of these means, the filter cigarettes arriving from the hopper are transported singly to the fluted drum which transports them further by rotating. By means of a movable block having adapters suitable to grip the filter tips of the cigarettes, at least one cigarette located on the periphery of the fluted drum is gripped. Compressed air is blown through the filter cigarette so that the tobacco is ejected from the cigarette tube and transported to corresponding tobacco collector means. The cigarette tubes and the associated filter tips, together with the filter, are transported by the advancement of the fluted drum to a corresponding further collector means. With this apparatus and its method of operation, difficulties are experienced in coordinating the movements of the various means and gripping the rejected cigarettes, due to the longitudinal travel movements and rotary movements of the fluted drum and adapters. In addition, the working capacity of this apparatus is not satisfactory for many applications.
From U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,799 further devices for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes are known. In the apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,799 at least one further fluted drum is provided, and arranged to run in parallel at some distance away from the center-axis of the first drum. This second fluted drum turns in the opposite direction to that of the first such drum. Coordination of the two drums turning in opposing directions enables the cigarettes to be held at specific locations so that the tobacco can be ejected by means of a jet of compressed air. A third such drum can be provided which impinges the filter cigarettes with compressed air to loosen the tobacco filler. In German patent 11 21 522, the apparatus also comprises two drums turning in opposite directions, which are located with their axes parallel and which are fluted on the periphery so that each flute receives a single cigarette. Means are also provided for directing a jet of air against the tobacco in the cigarette. A drum can be provided which coordinates with the flutes of the drum in succession with rotary drum movement so that the compressed air can be directed by tubing into the tobacco of each cigarette as indexed. These tubes can have the form of hollow needles which can be shifted against the cigarette tube at right angles to the center-line of the cigarettes in the flutes so that these needles also constitute means for restraining the cigarettes. The cigarette tubes, the tobacco, and any filter tips provided, are collected in separate containers.

Method and apparatus for reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes