The invention relates to a device and system for underground transport of ore, material and people, which includes electrical and mechanical drive systems, a plurality of hoisting devices, head ropes and balance ropes. The mass per meter of the balance ropes is significantly smaller than the mass per meter of the head ropes.

A friction mine hoist, which may be of the double or of the single conveyance type, may be characterized by a pulley with friction liners, or similar, grooved to the diameter of the head ropes. The conveyances (skip or cage) for a double friction hoist are carried by the head rope(s) with the head ropes laid over the pulley with a contact angle of about 180 degrees. The rope ends are secured to the conveyances. The friction between the head rope(s) and the friction liners allows for a certain difference in rope tension of the two sides of the pulley without the occurrence of rope slip. Balance/Tail rope(s) are attached under the conveyances to limit reduce the difference in rope tension between the two sides of the pulley. Traditionally the mass per meter of the balance ropes has been dimensioned to be equal or nearly equal to the mass per meter of the head ropes. Thereby the safety margin before rope slip occurs is independent or nearly independent of the position in the shaft of the two conveyances.
A single friction hoist is based on the same principle as a double friction hoist, but with the difference that one of the conveyances is replaced by a counterweight. The mass of the counterweight is normally selected to be equal to the conveyance mass plus 50% of the net load. Thereby the difference in rope tension between the two sides of the pulley at empty conveyance and at normal net load will be the same. Friction mine hoists can be ground mounted with head sheaves in the head frame or tower mounted with or without deflection sheaves.
The static load variations in the head ropes occur as a result of loading the conveyance at the lower stop level and then hoisting it to the unloading (dumping) level at the upper end of the shaft whereby the balance rope(s) add mass to the ascending conveyance side, so adding rope tension in the head rope(s). The load variations can either be expressed as differences in tension (MPa or psi) or as load variations in percent of the breaking load of the head rope(s).
The life of the head ropes of a mine hoist of the friction hoist type depends on several factors such as:                load distribution between the ropes in case of multi-rope arrangement        diameter ratio between the pulley and the ropes and between deflection sheaves or head sheaves and the ropes        the rope construction and wire tensile strength        the breaking strength of the rope        rope oscillations at loading and dumping (release) of the load        longitudinal and transverse rope oscillations        quasi stationary loads under acceleration and retardation        static load variations in particular near the rope ends (Static Load Range)
Acceptable rope life is normally obtained for friction hoists in installations with hoisting distances up to 1400 to 1500 m by adopting applicable mine hoist regulations and good engineering practice.
At hoisting distances in excess of 1400 to 1500 m using friction hoists, the Static Load Range (SLR) increases to be the dominating factor determining the head rope life. Thereby, the SLR i.e. the maximum static load variation at the rope ends in percent of the rope breaking strength determines the limit for the practical/economical maximum hoisting distance for friction hoists. The SLR can be expressed by using the following equation:SLR (%)=(Nl+(z2*q2*H))*g*100/(z1*B) where
Nl=Net load (kg)
z2=the number of balance ropes
q2=the mass per meter of the balance ropes (kg/m)
H=the hoisting distance (m)
g=9.81 (m/s2)
z1=the number of head ropes
B=the breaking strength for the head ropes (N)

Method to increase the head rope life for single conveyance friction mine hoists for deep shafts


A press arrangement and a method for producing and processing compacts from powder material include a controller, a press frame, a pressing unit being disposed on the press frame for pressing the compact and having a die with a cavity for receiving powder material, at least two punches which, together with the cavity, provide a mold for a compact and at least one drive unit for moving at least one punch relative to the other punch along a pressing axis. A further processing module has at least one processing unit for machining a compact by metal cutting. The controller at least partially ejects or removes a compact from the die after pressing and, after the ejection holds the compact clamped between the punches. The controller uses the processing unit to process a compact being at least partially ejected from the die and held clamped between the punches.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a press arrangement with a further processing module, to the use of a press arrangement and to a method for producing and processing compacts from powder material.
DE 10 2006 020 213 A1 discloses a press for producing compacts from powder material with undercuts. A die in which a mold cavity is formed by undercutting is arranged on a press frame. An upper punch and a lower punch interact with the mold cavity. The mold cavity is bounded by at least one slide, transverse pressing punch or a movable part of the die, which are displaceable transversely with respect to the vertical main pressing axis of upper and lower punch. A sensor measures the actual states of an adjustment drive for slides, transverse pressing punches and displaceable die part, wherein the actual states are compared with a desired value in a regulating apparatus.
It is the object of the invention to provide a press arrangement, the use of a press arrangement and a method, which press arrangement, use or method provides an improved processing of compacts from powder material.

Press arrangement with a further processing module


The present invention provides a chemiluminescence measuring apparatus which is small in size and high in operability and has a function of performing accurate quantitative analysis and the like. The apparatus includes at least a box-like housing having an opening, a cover provided on a top surface of the housing and having a through hole for introducing a first detachable vessel into the inner space of the housing, a holder having a concave portion and enclosing the opening of the housing, the hollow chamber having an opening at a side wall thereof and partially housing a second vessel, a photo-sensing unit for detecting luminescence from the second vessel via the through hole of the hollow chamber, and a shutter mechanism for intermittently cutting optical path between the photo-sensing unit and the second vessel. Particularly, the shutter mechanism includes a rotatable hollow chamber partially housing the vessel, provided in the hollow chamber and having an opening at a side wall thereof, and a driving motor rotating the rotatable hollow chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for quantitatively analyzing the composition and the like of a sample solution by measuring luminescence such as bioluminescence or chemiluminescence caused when the sample solution and a luminous reagent are mixed with each other.
2. Related Background Art
Consider a case wherein a luminous reagent is mixed with a sample solution obtained by mixing organism cells or a sample solution containing chemical substances, and the sample solution is quantitatively analyzed by measuring luminescence from the sample solution which is caused by this mixing operation. Generally, in this case, when this luminescence continues for a long period of time (i.e., the duration of the luminescence is long), a researcher or the like can perform measurement after one mixes the luminous reagent with the sample solution outside the chemiluminescence measuring apparatus and stores the solution mixture in the apparatus. However, when a sample solution which causes luminescence for only a short duration is to be measured, accurate quantitative analysis cannot be realized by the luminescence measuring apparatus if a measuring operation is performed according to the above procedure. The apparatuses for measuring the sample solution which causes luminescence for only a short duration are described, for example, in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Applications No. 4-29040 and No. 1-22994, and Laid-Open Japanese Utility model Application No. 63-161351.

Apparatus and method for measuring chemiluminescence


There is disclosed herein a syringe with a protector case which holds a carpule and permits the injection of fluid contained in the carpule into the patient. The syringe is molded of plastic or other suitable material which is sterilizable. The device comprises several parts including a body, protector case, needle, needle cap, plug, plunger and harpoon. The harpoon can be integrally molded on the plunger. The major components of the device preferably are molded from a suitable plastic and may be clear or of a color like or similar to a surgical glove.

The increasing threat of AIDS has generated a rapid development of methods for preventing the spread of communicable diseases from the inadvertent reuse of needle devices, accidental needlestick injuries suffered by medical and dental practitioners, and ineffective sterilization of reusable devices. To be effective, the devices employed must be simple to manufacture and easy to use. Our U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,378 discloses a syringe having a rectangular body cross-section which permits the use of a protector case of matching interior cross section. Parent application Ser. No. 0/104,182 describes the application of many of the features of the above patent to the design of an aspirating syringe of the type in common use by dentists for the administering of local anesthesia and in a hospital environment for the administering of controlled substances. The present application describes significant modifications to the features of the aspirating syringe which make it more effective for its intended purpose.
Numerous attempts have been tried to solve the problems noted above with respect to aspirating syringes. Examples of prior art devices are found in the disclosures of the following United States Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,083 discloses a hood for concealing and guarding the needle of a syringe which may be easily retracted when the needle is inside the patients mouth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,046,985 discloses a sleeve adapter which conceals the needle and applies pressure to the gum tissue.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,878,846 and 3,930,499 disclose a dental type syringe with a disposable body and case and a reusable finger grip and plunger. The case provides a sterile cover for the body and attached needle prior to use. The reusable finger grip allows the distance between the flanges of the finger grip to be adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,272 discloses an attachment for a reusable dental syringe which incorporates a sheath as part of the disposable needle assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,701 discloses a reusable shield for attachment to a reusable dental syringe with a needle disconnect means to enable disconnecting the needle with the shield in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,490 shows an injection device having a system for retracting a needle into the body using rearward motion of a plunger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,141 discloses a disposable syringe for use with a cartridge and having an elongated needle mount on the front of the body with a shield over the elongated mount.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,386 discloses a new design of reusable, dental type syringe having a spring actuated, semicircular shield.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,307 discloses a reusable dental syringe with a slidable needle carrier. The needle carrier and needle are retracted into the body section by means of the plunger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,319 discloses a disposable syringe with a system for retracting the needle into the body cavity by means of the plunger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,917 discloses a separate add-on sheath for use with a standard reusable aspirating syringe.

Disposable self-shielding aspirating syringe


A display system for dynamically indicating the status of conditions of a physical system shows as background on a raster display unit, a sketch of the physical system with text indicating the status of the various conditions juxtaposed to the sketch. In the preferred embodiment, the text for each condition is placed adjacent the general area on the sketch to which the condition pertains. It is intended that this display system will be implemented on a general purpose computer system by executing software which converts the computer system into the display system.

There are various physical systems which are controlled by a digital processor, but for which it is also advantageous to provide some level of human monitoring. Examples are electrical generating installations and other systems employing large fuel burners, chemical plants, large heating systems, and all kinds of manufacturing operations. It has been common for many years of course to measure or sense parameters or factors which define the current status of operating conditions of such physical systems, and to then display the current status values of the operating conditions. Those status values which are quantitative are converted to digital numeric or other quantitative form when displaying the related operating conditions. Examples might be pressure, temperature, voltage, etc. Those non-quantitative status values defining current operating conditions are used to select for display for each condition, an appropriate text informing the human monitor of the condition's status. Examples of such conditions might be whether a parameter is within a limit which of a number of operating phases the system is in, what elements of a system are currently operational. etc. These status values defining current operating conditions will be generally referred to hereafter as status information, and are gathered in real time by sensors or by a controller of the system for presentation to the operator who is monitoring operation. These sensors or controllers in which the status information originates are generally referred to hereafter as status sources. A single status source may provide status values for one or more operating conditions, depending on the source itself.
It is possible to display the condition status information in a variety of ways depending on the type of information and the preference of the presentation system designer and the user to whom the information is presented. Thus, one may display a simple numeric value for a quantitative type of condition on a dial or a digital panel, or use charts, graphs, etc. which may be more understandable in certain circumstances. Status of a non-numeric condition has traditionally been shown as a warning or status light on a control panel, or may be presented textually on an alphanumeric display panel.
In many large installations, there are various individual status information items which it is convenient to group together for presentation. This may occur where the installation comprises a number of individual units, each of which have a number of operating conditions which are related because of this common origin and whose status are logical to display in juxtaposition. Another type of condition status display arrangement may arise in these types of installations which have a number of similar units all of which have one or more similar types of conditions associated with them. Where similar such units are operating at the same time, it may be logical to display the status of each similar operating condition together. Heretofore, the procedure has been to simply provide a display element for each of the conditions, or to provide a display element to which a number of the status values defining the conditions may be multiplexed. Where a single display element displays a number of condition statuses, it may cycle either manually or automatically from one to another condition status. It can be thus seen that there are a number of different ways in which presentations of condition status may be done.
With the wide availability of low cost personal computers, it has become natural to consider how their speed, reliability, flexibility, and high quality display monitor may be adapted for the display of status for system operating conditions of an installation. For example, the use of computers for security monitoring of facilities has been done for some time. It is also well known to use a computer-based controller to display the status of conditions in the controlled system. In all except the simplest of systems, to avoid overwhelming the operator with an excess of information on the monitor, it is useful to display less than all of the status of conditions associated with an installation at any time. Such a grouping of a partial selection of condition status will be referred to hereafter as a "screen". In order to display the status of all of the conditions, more than one screen will be required. The operator in some manner selects the screen which contains the status of the conditions to be displayed, and then at his or her convenience, selects another screen, and in this way maintains an overview of the operation of the entire installation.
It is known to change from one screen to another by partially overlaying those selected earlier with the more recently selected. This technique is known as windowing, and is commonly practiced by the operating systems for the various types of personal computers now in use. A new screen is selected by using a mouse or other pointing device to control a cursor which designates a desired screen from a list or menu. Operating a switch when the cursor is positioned on the descriptor of the screen ("clicking" on the item) in the selection list designates the particular screen for display. The size and position of each new screen can be controlled by the user, and in fact, a newer screen can be removed in order to reveal an earlier selected screen for redisplay.
A particular type of physical system for which such a computer-based information display is useful and for which the subject of this patent has been developed, comprises one or more burner installations having a number of individual large fuel burners. In these burner installations, each burner is controlled by its own controller which comprises a microcontroller along with a semiconductor memory for status values for the individual conditions. This memory is conventionally referred to as a random access memory (RAM), and functions as a status source from which is provided status information pertaining to the operating conditions of the burner involved. The control algorithm is executed on a continuous basis by the microcontroller to sequence and time the various phases of operation of its burner. Parts of the control algorithm also allows the controller to meter flow of fuel and air to its burner dependent on demand requests from the user and on signals provided by sensors attached to the burner. These sensors, which may also be considered status sources and which measure the quantitative parameters associated with operation of the burner. These parameter values as well as the operating status are recorded in the RAM for use in performing the control algorithm.
In the particular type of burner installations involved here, a communication module or gateway may have a number of burner controllers connected to it. The communication module receives commands and requests directed to each of the burner controllers from a central computer, typically a small desktop unit, and relays these to the specified controller. The communication module also provides status information received from the individual controllers to the central computer for display to the operator. The communication module is connected to a data port of the central computer either directly or via a modem link. The communication module thus functions as a bi-directional multiplexer which provides status information from the several controllers forming status sources to the central computer, and then routes commands and requests from the central computer to the controllers.
In either the directly connected or modem-connected case, the central computer may be located at some distance from the actual burner installation. This provides safety for the operator and security for the control system by avoiding a situation where malfunction of the installation might prevent access to the central computer or might affect or damage the central computer. However, when the operator is remotely located, it is necessary that status information for the installation is provided in a timely, accurate, and accessible fashion. Experience shows that the information in lists of status for conditions is not quickly absorbed by an operator. In an emergency this may result in failure of the operator to notice or to understand the problem and consequent delays in the response to it.
Operators of these types of systems are not usually skilled computer professionals. Accordingly, presentation of information to them by the display system in a simple and intuitively understandable format allows them to easily learn how to use the system. Further, a simplified interface allows inexperienced and unskilled operators to quickly determine status of the installation when human intervention is required for safe operation. The use of tables and even graphs and charts is not an appealing way of presenting status information for such a system. Accordingly, a display system whose presentation ties the physical structure of the installation to the status of its operating conditions in a readily understandable or intuitive format is a substantial improvement over systems which present the same information in a more abstract arrangement. At the same time, such a display system allows safer and more efficient operation of the installation.

Display system providing a raster image of a physical system with its changeable operating parameters displayed in related locations adjacent to the image of the physical system


A variable stator vane assembly which substantially eliminates leakage paths by utilizing a cantilevered finger spring seal and an o-ring is described. In one form, the stator vane assembly includes a spacer configured to form, with an upper, or outer, surface of the vane trunnion bushing, an annulus. The ring shaped cantilevered finger spring seal is positioned in the annulus and forms a seal between the spacer and trunnion bushing. The stator vane assembly also includes, in one form, an o-ring located at an interface between the stator case and the stator vane metal jacket.

Known gas turbine engines typically include a high pressure compressor having spaced, rotatable blades. A plurality of variable stator vane assemblies are secured to the compressor stator casing and each assembly includes an air foil which extends between adjacent blades. The orientation of the air foils relative to the compressor blades is variable to control air flow through the compressor.
At least one known variable stator vane assembly includes a trunnion bushing partially positioned within a metal jacket. A portion of the air foil extends through the trunnion bushing. The assembly is bolted onto the compressor stator casing. Components of this known stator vane assembly can be removed without removing the top compressor casing and the bushing maintainability and wear life characteristics are good.
Although the known variable stator vane assembly provides certain advantages as explained above, such vane assembly has two possible gas stream leakage paths. The primary leakage path is between the outside diameter of the air foil and the inside diameter of the bushing. The secondary leakage path is between the outside diameter of the metal jacket and the inside diameter of the compressor stator case opening. Such leakage paths can result in an engine performance deficit, which is undesirable.
It would be desirable, of course, to provide a variable stator vane assembly, for use in connection with a high pressure compressor, which eliminates the above described leakage paths. It also would be desirable to provide such a variable stator vane assembly which can be removed without having to remove the top compressor casing.


The present invention is directed to a method of selectively pre-exposing a photosensitive printing element prior to imagewise exposure in order to remove oxygen from the photosensitive layer prior to imagewise exposure. The invention is usable in a computer-to-plate process to produce flexographic relief image printing elements.

Flexographic printing is widely used in the production of newspapers and in the decorative printing of packaging media. Photosensitive printing plates and cylindrical printing sleeves have been developed to meet the demand for fast, inexpensive processing and long press runs.
Solid photocurable elements can exist as cylinders or rectilinear sheets. The photocurable element comprises a substrate, one or more photocurable layers, and often a protective cover sheet. The protective cover sheet is formed from plastic or any other removable material that can protect the plate or photocurable element from damage until it is ready for use. The photocurable element can optionally comprise a slip film disposed between the protective cover sheet and the photocurable layer(s) to protect the plate from contamination, increase ease of handling, and act as an ink-accepting layer.
The use of a photosensitive printing medium for the manufacture of flexographic printing elements, including plates and sleeves, is described in general terms as follows. The photosensitive resin printing material is deposited onto a substrate to form a printing element. The photosensitive resin may be deposited onto the substrate in a variety of ways, e.g., by extrusion, roll coating, heat processing, solvent casting, and the like. These techniques can be readily carried out by those skilled in the art.
The desired image is produced on the printing plate by exposing selected portions of the resin to actinic radiation. Selective exposure of the photosensitive resin can be achieved for example, by the use of an image-bearing transparency such as a negative film on the surface of the photosensitive layer, through the front side of the photosensitive resin. Areas of the transparency opaque to actinic radiation prevent the initiation of free-radical polymerization within the photosensitive layer directly beneath the transparency. Transparent areas of the image-bearing element will allow the penetration of actinic radiation into the photosensitive layer, initiating free-radical polymerization, rendering those areas insoluble in the processing solvent. Alternatively, exposure of selected portions of the photosensitive layer to laser radiation or other focused radiation beam may also initiate free-radical polymerization, rendering those areas insoluble in the processing solvent.
The unexposed and therefore unhardened portions of the resin are selectively removed by using a development process such as washing in a suitable solvent or thermal blotting. Washing may be accomplished by a variety of processes, including brushing, spraying, or immersion. The resulting surface has a relief pattern that reproduces the image to be printed. The printing element is mounted on a press and printing commences.
The support sheet, or backing layer, can be formed from a transparent or opaque material such as paper, cellulose film, plastic, or metal. Preferred substrate materials include steel, copper, or aluminum sheets, plates, or foils; paper; or films or sheets made from synthetic polymeric materials such as polyesters, polystyrene, polyolefins, polyamides, and the like. The support sheet can optionally comprise an adhesive layer for more secure attachment to the photocurable layer(s).
The photosensitive layer(s) can include a variety of known materials, such as polymers, initiators, reactive diluents, fillers, and dyes. Preferred photosensitive compositions include an elastomer compound, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator. Such materials are described in numerous patents and publications and are well known to those skilled in the art.
The photosensitive materials of the invention should cross-link (cure) and, thereby, harden in at least some actinic wavelength region. As used herein, actinic radiation is radiation capable of effecting a chemical change in an exposed moiety. Actinic radiation includes, for example, amplified (e.g., laser) and non-amplified light, particularly in the UV and violet wavelength regions. Preferred actinic wavelength regions are from about 320 nm to about 450 nm, more preferably from about 355 nm to about 415 nm.
As discussed above, photosensitive resin compositions generally cure through radical polymerization, upon exposure to light. The curing reaction is inhibited by oxygen, which is dissolved in the resin compositions, because oxygen functions as a radical scavenger. It is therefore highly preferred that the dissolved oxygen be removed from the photosensitive resin composition prior to exposure. Various techniques have been suggested for removing dissolved oxygen from the photosensitive resin composition. For example, the photosensitive resin composition may be placed in an atmosphere of inert gas (e.g. carbon dioxide or nitrogen) overnight before exposure in order to replace the dissolved oxygen with the inert gas by way of diffusion. The drawback to this method is that it can take a long time and requires a large space for the necessary machinery.
Alternatively, the photosensitive resin printing element may be given a weak blanket "pre-exposure" to consume the dissolved oxygen prior to subjecting the printing element to the main image-wise exposure. This pre-exposure step is often called a "bump" exposure. The bump exposure is applied to the entire plate area and is a short, low dose exposure of the plate that ostensibly reduces oxygen, which inhibits photopolymerization of the plate (or other printing element). Without this pre-sensitization step, fine features (i.e., highlight dots, fine lines, isolated dots, etc.) are not preserved on the finished plate. However, the pre-sensitization step tends to cause shadow tones to fill in, causing the printed gamut to be significantly reduced. This is exacerbated in plate formulations that have very high sensitivity and small exposure latitude. An additional drawback to this method is that the bump exposure requires specific conditions, including exposure time, irradiated light density, and the like, so that only the dissolved oxygen is quenched.
The pre-sensitization effect also wears off as the elapsed time between the bump exposure and main exposure increases. In conventional exposure of a printing plate, the elapsed time between the bump exposure and the main exposure is typically greater than about 20 seconds, allowing some oxygen to re-enter the plate prior to the main exposure. This delay causes the finished plate to have deep shadows. On the other hand, if the main exposure is applied very soon after the pre-sensitization step, as is envisioned in a computer-to-plate process, the tendency of shadow tones to fill is further worsened in comparison with conventional exposure techniques.
Other efforts to improve the relief image printing plate have involved special plate formulations alone or in combination with the bump exposure.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,882 to Kawaguchi et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a photosensitive resin composition that comprises a polymer binder, a radically polymerizable monomer, a sensitizing dye, and a polymerization initiator wherein the preliminary (bump) exposure is conducted with a light that only excites the sensitizing dye and the main exposure is conducted with a light that excites the photopolymerization initiator. In this instance, the preliminary exposure is conducted with a light only exciting the sensitizing dye, and the main exposure is conducted with a light exciting the photopolymerization initiator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,649 to Sakurai, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a photopolymerizable composition that contains at least one water soluble polymer, a photopolymerization initiator and a condensation reaction product of N-methylol acrylamide, N-methylol methacrylamide, N-alkyloxymethyl acrylamide or N-alkyloxymethyl methacrylamide and a melamine derivative. According to the inventors, the composition eliminates the need for pre-exposure conditioning and produces a chemically and thermally stable plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,974 to Ohta et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a photocurable mixture that includes paraffin or a similar waxy substance to inhibit the effect of atmospheric oxygen. Due to its low solubility in the polymer, the paraffin floats at the beginning of the polymerization and forms a transparent surface layer that prevents the ingress of air.
Although various methods of inhibiting/removing dissolved oxygen in the photosensitive resin composition have been suggested, there remains a need in the art for an improved method of removing dissolved oxygen, especially in computer-to-plate (CTP) processes.

Method of pre-exposing relief image printing plate


A gimbal for supporting an air bearing slider proximate a rotating disc. The gimbal comprises a flexure seat with first and second opposite ends. A first pair of long, thin beams extend between the first end and the second end. A first cross beam connects the first pair of long, thin beams at the first end such that the beams are spaced at the first end by a first distance. A second cross beam connects the first pair of long, thin beams at the second end such that the beams are spaced at the second end by a second distance, shorter than the first distance. A central pad is connected to the first cross beam and is suspended between the first pair of beams for connection to the air bearing slider.

The present invention relates to a gimbal for supporting a hydrodynamic air bearing slider over a rotating disc within a storage system. More specifically, this invention relates to a gimbal having improved stiffness properties.
In a storage system, such as a magnetic disc drive, a plurality of discs rotate about a common axis. Each disc in the drive includes a recording surface with a plurality of concentric data tracks. An actuator arm assembly supports a hydrodynamic air bearing slider close to the rotating disc and positions the slider over selected data tracks. The slider carries a magnetic transducer for communicating with individual bit positions on the rotating magnetic disc.
A load arm is connected between the actuator arm assembly and the slider. The load arm supplies a downward force (preload force) that counteracts a hydrodynamic lifting force developed by the air bearing slider. The interaction between the preload force and the hydrodynamic lifting force maintains a nearly constant slider flying height.
A gimbal is positioned between the load arm and the slider. The gimbal resiliently supports the slider and allows it to pitch and roll while it follows the topography of the rotating disc. As such, the gimbal is a critical element in a magnetic disc drive unit.


In a scanning optical device, a light beam emitted from a light source is deflected by a deflector to reach as a light spot a surface to be scanned through a scanning optical system. At least one of the optical surfaces of optical elements constituting the scanning optical system is provided with a diffraction grating having a power based on a change in pitch. The power of the diffraction grating asymmetrically changes within a plane of the optical element surface, on which the diffraction grating is formed, without any symmetrical axis, in at least one of a main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning optical device and, more particularly, to a scanning optical device suitably used for image forming apparatuses such as a laser beam printer and digital copying machine, in which a light beam emitted from a light source means is guided onto a scanned surface as a recording medium surface through a light deflector such as a rotating polygon mirror, and the light beam is scanned on the scanned surface, thereby recording characters, information, and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional scanning optical device used for a laser beam printer, a digital copying machine, and the like, a light beam emitted from a light source means is deflected by a deflection means, and the deflected light beam forms a spot on a photosensitive drum surface as a scanned surface via a scanning optical means, thereby scanning the light beam on the scanned surface.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the main part of a conventional scanning optical device. Referring to FIG. 1, a light beam emitted from a light source means 11 constituted by a semiconductor laser and the like is converted into a substantially collimated light beam by a collimator lens 12. This substantially collimated light beam is shaped into an optimal beam shape by an aperture stop 13 and strikes a cylindrical lens 14. The cylindrical lens 14 has a power in the sub-scanning direction and forms a light beam image elongated in the main scanning direction near a deflection surface 15a of the light deflector 15 constituted by a rotating polygon mirror and the like. In this case, the main scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the deflection scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the deflection scanning direction. This applies to the following description. The light beam is reflected/deflected by the light deflector 15 at an equal angular velocity to form a spot on a photosensitive drum surface (recording medium surface) 18 as a scanned surface via an f.theta. lens 16 which is a single element lens serving as a scanning optical means having an f.theta. characteristic. This light beam is scanned on the photosensitive drum surface 18 at an equal velocity.
In a scanning optical device of this type, a rotating polygon mirror having many deflection surfaces (reflection surfaces) is generally used as a deflection means, and an optical axis is set at a given angle before and after deflection in the overall scanning optical system. That is, a light beam emitted from a light source means is obliquely incident on the deflection means within a scanning plane. For this reason, deflection surfaces asymmetrically enter and exit within one scanning operation with reference to on-axis scanning. The influences of this asymmetry are noticeable in a sub-scanning cross-section in which a light beam is temporarily imaged near the deflection surface to set the deflection surface and the scanned surface conjugate with each other. This makes it difficult to correct curvature of field.
To realize a scanning optical device with a higher resolution (smaller spot), the influences of asymmetry on curvature of field and f.theta. characteristics in the main scanning direction must be considered. As a means for solving these problems, for example, the scanning optical devices disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 8-122635 and 8-248308 use a means for asymmetrically changing this radius of curvature in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the optical axis. This allows proper correction of curvature of field in the sub-scanning direction throughout the entire scanning width. A lens having such a shape is generally manufactured by plastic molding in consideration of technical and economical advantages.
As is known, however, plastic materials are susceptible to environmental variations. With a change in ambient temperature, in particular, the refractive index of a plastic material changes. As a consequence, the focal point of the plastic lens varies, and for example, the spot size on a scanned surface increases. This makes it difficult to obtain a high-quality printed image.


Provided is an ultrasound observation apparatus for generating an ultrasound image based on an ultrasound signal acquired by an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer. The apparatus includes: an analysis unit that performs FFT on a sample data group having pieces of sample data in RF data generated based on the ultrasound signal, to calculate frequency spectra; a correction unit that generates, based on the frequency spectra, analysis data indicating a relationship between a distance from the ultrasound transducer and an intensity of each of the frequency spectra for each frequency component, and corrects the analysis data based on a correction amount set for each distance, the correction amount causing an intensity of reference data generated from a reference ultrasound signal to be constant regardless of the distance; and a calculation unit that calculates a frequency feature based on a frequency spectrum generated in accordance with the corrected analysis data.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an ultrasound observation apparatus for observing tissues of an observation target by using ultrasound waves. The disclosure also relates to a method for operating the ultrasound observation apparatus, and to a computer-readable recording medium.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, as a technique for observing tissue characteristics of an observation target such as a specimen by using ultrasound waves, a technique that makes an image of a feature of a frequency spectrum of a received ultrasound signal has been known (for example, see JP 5568199 B1). In this technique, the feature of a frequency spectrum is extracted as an amount that represents the tissue characteristics of the observation target, and then a feature image obtained by adding corresponding visual information to the feature is generated and displayed. A user such as a doctor diagnoses the tissue characteristics of the specimen by seeing the displayed feature image.
For example, in JP 5568199 B1, the number of focus stages in an area set in an ultrasound image (hereinafter also referred to as an area of interest) and a plurality of focus positions are determined based on the position of the area of interest and the size of the area of interest, and the feature is calculated by performing frequency analysis on ultrasound waves transmitted to and received from each focus position.

Ultrasound observation apparatus, method for operating ultrasound observation apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium


A probe wash vessel characterized as having a cylindrical-shaped, outer test tube with at least two vertically aligned faucets, and an inner cannula positioned within the test tube, wherein the inner cannula is characterized by a top funnel opening attached to a stem, the stem characterized as having two arm extensions are attached to the two faucets, wherein washing fluid influent and effluent through the arm extensions washes a probe inserted through the top funnel into the stem.

It is well known in the art that probes are used in performing assays which may deal with biological fluids, environmental samples or metal analysis. Such assays generally involve using the probes to draw and dispense either reagents or test samples. Since these probes are used repeatedly to aspirate and dispense a variety of samples or other fluids, they must be washed after each sampling or before each change of reagent in order to prevent the carryover of one fluid to the next and which could contaminate the testing. Before delivering the reaction components to a cuvette, buffer solution is normally passed through the probe to eliminate any residual reaction components prior to subsequent tests. Typically, the wash solution is passed through the probe and dispensed to a remotely positioned waste container. While this internal cleansing of the probe is generally satisfactory, it does not provide for washing of the outer surface of the probe which can retain residual samples in certain assays.
Sample material retained on the probe surface is especially troublesome in automated analyzers where failure to adequately wash the outer surface of the dispensing probe can cause undesired sample carryover to subsequent tests. Preventing sample carryover can be crucial in some assays to maintain the integrity of the sample or the assay.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a probe wash vessel which has a decreased volume capacity that reduces the chance of carry over contamination and reduces the required wash time.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a probe wash vessel which is more efficient and allows for more frequent solvent changes.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a probe wash vessel that can be used with automated equipment, such as an automated sampling device.
The present invention relates to a probe wash vessel comprising
a) an outer test tube of a first length, having an open top end of a first diameter, a closed bottom end, a first cylindrical sidewall, an interior environment and an exterior environment, said first cylindrical sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, which extend between said open top end and said closed bottom end, and at least two holes in said first cylindrical sidewall;
b) at least two faucets, which are aligned with said holes of said outer test tube and attached to the outer surface of said first cylindrical sidewall, one faucet, a lower faucet, being positioned closer to said closed bottom end of said outer test tube and one faucet, an upper faucet, being positioned closer to said open top end of said outer test tube;
c) an inner cannula of a second length which is shorter than said first length, said inner cannula having a top funnel opening, a bottom end, an inner environment, an outer environment and a stem, which comprises a second cylindrical sidewall extending between said top funnel opening and said bottom end, said stem having an outer surface, an inner surface and a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter, said stem having at least two arm extensions protruding from the outer surface of said stem to allow materials to pass from said inner environment of said inner cannula to said outer environment; and
d) said inner cannula being positioned within said interior environment of said outer test tube so that said bottom end and an arm extension of said inner cannula are aligned with said lower faucet of said outer test tube, said top funnel opening fitting securely within said open top end of said outer test tube and said arm extension being aligned with said upper faucet of said outer test tube, to allow materials to be poured into said funnel opening of said cannula and pass through said arm extensions, bottom end and upper or lower faucets to said exterior environment of said outer test tube without being exposed to said interior environment of said outer test tube.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Probe wash vessel having removable inner cannula


A portable cooler for carrying and chilling a standard beverage container having a threaded cap. The container cap is removed, and the container is threaded into the cooler. The beverage container is inverted when the cooler is upright. The container neck threads into a socket which is in liquid communication with a faucet external to the cooler. A cooler cap threads to the body of the cooler, sealing a chilled chamber defined in the cooler, and retaining the beverage container therein. In an alternative embodiment, this cap cooperates with the beverage container, so that the container can be inserted upright, and used in that position. A handle is also optionally provided, so that the cooler can be handled in the manner of a pitcher. A refrigeration plant, which may be a miniature compression cycle type or a Peltier effect type, is housed inside the cooler. An electrical plug enables connection to a suitable electrical power source. In other alternative embodiments, the refrigeration plant either directly contacts a portion of the beverage container, or includes a chilled air circuit flowing across the beverage container. A strap constricts the cooler body about the beverage container. The cap includes an eye or the like for engaging a tether, so that the cooler may be easily carried. The cooler is plugged into suitable power, chills the beverage, and dispenses the beverage on demand by operating the integral faucet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting and cooling a beverage container. The apparatus has a faucet for dispensing the beverage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,258, issued to Shaam P. Sundhar on Aug. 27, 1991, discloses a container for storing and chilling a beverage. The beverage is held within a removable cup. The cup is in contact with the cooled side of an electrothermal cooler. A power cord enables connection to a supply of electrical power, and a switch is disposed within the power circuit.
A refrigerated beverage container having an articulated spout is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,324, issued to Barry S. Allan on Oct. 9, 1990. Chilling is provided by placing a refrigerant in close proximity to a bottle or the like held in the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,225, issued to Mary E. Bighouse on Jun. 12, 1990, is representative of beverage containers comprising an insulated compartment for holding a beverage container, and a built in, cooperating pouch for holding a refrigerant. The container disclosed herein includes a handle.
A food receptacle is held in an inverted position in a cooler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,721, issued to Manfred Kirchler on Dec. 5, 1989. The cooler has an internal cavity cooperating in configuration with a can. A Peltier effect cooler is provided to chill the can.
Another Peltier effect cooler is employed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,611, issued to Hal J. Bohner on Jul. 21, 1987. A wine bottle is maintained at a predetermined temperature. In alternative embodiments, the heated side of the Peltier device is cooled by an electrically powered fan and by ice.
In U.K. Pat. Document 598,067, dated Feb. 10, 1948, it is proposed to provide an auxiliary compartment within an otherwise standard refrigerator having a powered refrigeration plant. The auxiliary compartment is disclosed as cooperating in configuration with a bottle or similar beverage container.
German Pat. Document No. DE 3,412,556, dated October, 1985, discloses a portable cooler having an insulated chamber for holding a beverage container, and a powered refrigeration system. The refrigeration system may be of the compression cycle type, the Peltier effect type, or a liquid absorption type.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


A method for switching between access methods while a data set is open includes attempting, on behalf of a first system, to gain access to a data set. The method further determines whether the data set is already open by a second system. In the event the data set is already open, the method uses a first access method to access the data set. In the event the data set is not already open, the method uses a second access method to access the data set. In certain embodiments, the first access method is an RLS (Record Level Sharing) access method and the second access method is a base VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method) access method. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for switching between access methods for open data sets.
Background of the Invention
In the z/OS operating system, VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method) describes an access method as well as various structures for organizing data. VSAM currently includes four data set organizations, namely key-sequenced data sets, relative record data sets, entry-sequenced data sets, and linear data sets. The first three of these data sets contain records that can be of either fixed or variable length. These records may be organized in fixed-size blocks referred to as control intervals (CIs), and then into larger divisions referred to as control areas (CAs).
Currently, requests to access data from a VSAM data set are processed using a base VSAM access method, which uses one of several buffering mechanisms, or a Record Level Sharing (RLS) access method, which operates separately with it's own buffering and caching mechanism. Each access method has its strengths and weaknesses, and only one can be used at any given time to access a data set. To switch between access methods, a user typically must CLOSE the data set and OPEN the data set using another access method. Unfortunately, several different applications or systems may be accessing a data at the same time, which makes closing the data set difficult and/or inefficient. The result is that some applications or systems may be accessing the data set using an access method that is sub-optimal. Although some third-party products have functionality to tune performance within a single access method, these products typically don't have the ability to switch between different access methods when data sets are open.
In view of the foregoing, what are needed are systems and methods to switch between access methods when data sets are open. Ideally, such systems and methods will perform such switching without requiring the data sets to be closed and re-opened. Further needed are systems and methods that always or frequently enable a most efficient/optimal access method to be used when accessing VSAM data sets.

Dynamic access method switching for open data sets

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed herein is a green pigment composition comprising (a) a green pigment comprising a mixture of fine particles of a halogen-free blue pigment and fine particles of a halogen-free yellow pigment and (b) a halogen-free pigment derivative. Since the green pigment composition of the present invention does not generate the harmful substances such as dioxin and PCB at the time of burning processing, it is environmentally friendly, sanitary, easily recycled, excellent in light resistance and heat resistance and has the hue of clearness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel green pigment composition. Specifically, the present invention relates to a novel green pigment composition that is environmentally safe because any hazardous substance will not be generated upon wasting and/or recycled use, and at the same time has a clear shade and an excellent stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, since the environmental pollution has become serious due to the chemical substances, the promotion for solving the problem has been proposed from the viewpoint of the raw materials. Even the coloring materials such as a pigment or the like are not exception for it, the product liability for the safety of the decomposed type and secondary products which generate at the time of wasting and thermal disposal processing for the human body and environments has been examined. There has been a movement in which halide directly causing the generation of PCB and dioxin at the time of burning has to be removed from the raw materials of the products daily used.
The coloring materials of green used as a representative ecological color, at present, in almost all of the cases, are obtained by using chromium oxide green made of an inorganic pigment or cobalt chromium green, chlorination of an organic pigment or, brominated copper phthalocyanine pigment. However, since the former contains chromium, there is a problem upon wasting, the use is limited and in recent years, organic pigments have substituted for it. The latter also contains chlorine and bromine at a high ratio in the chemical structural formula, therefore, for example at the time of burning it, it has a drawback that generates a large quantity of harmful gas. However, at present, especially an organic pigment at an economical cost and having a clarity and an excellent durability which can substitute for phthalocyanine green has not been found yet, therefore, these are at present widely used as the main products for use in green colorants.
However, in recent years, in some fields, a movement intended to use only the materials, which are not the source of causing the generation of hazardous substances, has emerged. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Charged-Open No. 2000-7974, there has been also an attempt for manufacturing a green coloring material by dispersing a blue pigment such as phthalocyanine blue or the like and a yellow pigment not containing a halogen atom into the vehicle, separately or at the same time.
However, the manufactured products of green colorants only by mixing a plurality of pigments, these are neither sufficient for endurance nor sufficient for hue being not clarified, only a green coloring material in which the separation of the colors is readily occurred particularly when it is manufactured into an ink or paint has been obtained.
The present inventors have accomplished the present invention as a result of deliberate studies of systems of green pigment compositions in hopes of solving such problems as mentioned above concerning green colorants. Specifically, having continued to make attempts to let pigment derivative materials cover particles of green pigments obtained by co-wet milling or co-dry milling of halogen-free blue pigments and halogen-free yellow pigments in the presence of milling medium, the present inventors have finally and surprisingly reached a pigment composition that is clear as a colorant and has no color separating tendency, which had not been achieved at all before the invention.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a green pigment having no practical problems even if considering the safety and sanitary problems and environmental pollution problems while maintaining the clarified shade, an excellent light resistance and excellent heat resistance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such a green color pigment composition.
The present invention is a novel green pigment composition comprising (a) a green pigment comprising a mixture of fine particles of a halogen-free blue pigment and fine particles of a halogen-free yellow pigment and (b) a halogen-free pigment derivative.
The green pigment may be a product obtained from a co-fining process of the halogen-free blue pigment and the halogen-free yellow pigment. The pigment derivative contained in the green pigment composition is preferably in an amount of 0.2-30 wt. % based on an amount of the green pigment. The green pigment may be a product obtained by co-wetgrinding the halogen-free blue pigment and the halogen-free yellow pigment. The green pigment may also be a product obtained by co-drymilling the halogen-free blue pigment and the halogen-free yellow pigment.
The blue pigment may be at least one selected from the group consisting of phthalocyanine pigments, threne pigments, and indigo pigments. The yellow pigment may be at least one selected from the group consisting of azo, benzimidazolone, isoindoline, flavanthrone, anthrapyrimidine, anthraquinone, quinolinoquinolone, fluoroflavin and fluoruvin pigments. The pigment derivative preferably has a colorant residue and/or a triazine group.
The present invention is also a pigment dispersion comprising the green pigment composition as above-mentioned and a vehicle component.
In the green pigment composition according to the present invention, the particles of the blue pigment, the particles of the yellow pigment and the pigment derivative may be in a state of homogeneous mixture in their particle size order. Also in the green pigment composition according to the present invention, average particle sizes of primary particles constituting the blue pigment and the yellow pigment are preferably both 0.1 micron or less.
In general, pigment dispersion is a fine particle dispersion system in which each fine-size primary particle is in itself an assembly of crystallites of pigment molecules and in turn each pigment aggregate dispersed is one made of a plurality of such primary particles. In order to realize, by color mixing, a high quality green pigment composition not resulting in color separation or sedimentation, it is considered that it is essential to uniformly disperse, at their particle level of fineness, different kinds of pigment particles and secure the stability. The present inventors have considered that it may be difficult, when considering the circumstance confronted, a system composed of fine particles and where strong interfacial effect is present therefore, to attain such a desired state in the system, solely by means of the simple mixing processes of particles conventionally conducted.
A pigment immediately after being synthesized is typically composed of large particles having a size of 10 micron or more. Such a large particle is made to be fined in the subsequent pigmentation process. The fining process can be recognized as a process in which specific surface area of each pigment particle increases and the number of unstable surface molecules also increases, accordingly. Due to the existence of an extremely large number of such surface molecules, the pigment particles fined are temporarily put under an unusual condition that is thermodynamically extremely unstable and has high energy. Therefore when pigment particles of the same type, which have the same molecular structure and crystal structure and have thus an extremely high affinity each other, are once placed in a state of being finely divided and mixed, the particles tend to readily and rapidly agglomerate each other to realize an energetically stable state. In a pigment system where it has been realized based on a color mixing effect, such affinities between particles of the same kind will compete with those between particles of different kinds, and will work, as a result, to deprive of them the opportunity for mutually coming close to (or further intimately contacting) and homogeneously mixing with each other. The present inventors have considered that the consequence was just the green pigments that have been conventionally obtained and of low qualities where, for example, color separation and sedimentation easily proceed and also in a passage of time degradation proceeds rapidly further.
In the present invention, in order to appropriately cut off the agglomeration between particles of the same type, give the opportunity of closer approximations between pigment particles of different types and give them the stability in a mixed state, a specific substance, which is what we call xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d, is used. xe2x80x9cPigment derivativexe2x80x9d used herein is considered a substance, a chemical compound, which has an affinity to at least one of the blue pigment and the yellow pigment used, has a color development characteristic which is not problematic with the normal color development of the pigment used (or substantially being colorless), and still further, does not have a halogen atom in the molecular structure. xe2x80x9cPigment derivativexe2x80x9d is considered as such an element as described above if it will be understood from its functions. It is further desirable that it has an excellent affinity for vehicle component used upon preparing an ink. As one example of such a xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d, a substitution product substituted by substituents having an excellent affinity for an ink vehicle component typically used of the pigment skeleton of at lease one of the blue pigment or yellow pigment used, for example, sulfonic acid group, sulfoamide group, aminomethyl group, phthalimidemethyl group is considered.
As already described, the same kind of pigment particles already fined has a tendency of reciprocally and swiftly agglomerating each other when particularly inclusion such as a binder resin or the like does not exist. Therefore, it is appropriate that an introduction of xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d used in the present invention to the system of the relevant pigment is performed prior to the point in time when the opportunity of such agglomerates of the same kinds of particles are proceeded or at least on the way of its proceeding. In other words, after the agglomerate of the same kinds of particles is sufficiently proceeded, even if a xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d is further added at least as it is and mixed, it will be, in general, difficult to obtain a pigment composition of the present invention. In order to hinder the agglomerate occurred between the similar kinds of pigment particles, it is effective to perform the fining process en bloc in a mixture state without performing the fining of each pigment (pigmentation) separately and then mixing both.
A green pigment composition of the present invention can be realized via appropriate preparation processes. Once the xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d is incorporated into a pigment dispersion system as intended, the stability of the energy state of the system is realized, at this time, the direct agglomerate of the same type of pigment particles is hindered, the stable color mixture state will be realized and maintained.
As indicated below, the present inventors have obtained the identical positive results, however it is limited, at any case, on the basis of a variety of concrete material selection; that is a proof of validity as the technological concept of the present invention.
A green pigment composition of the present invention may be manufactured by complexing it in the step of fining the blue pigment and the yellow pigment, and then passing through the process of adding a pigment derivative to the obtained green pigment. In the pigment composition manufactured via these processes, its pigment particle is in a state of being covered with the relevant pigment derivative. Due to such a microscopic surfactant environment, a pigment composition according to the present invention indicates a significantly enhanced clearness, color strength and the stability of the dispersion comparing to the conventional green pigment composition without adding the pigment derivative. Particularly, in the case where a pigment derivative having the same pigment skeleton with the pigment used, the effect to be aimed at by a composition of the present invention is significantly obtained.
A green pigment composition of the present invention is different from the green colorants color-matched by simple color mixture at the time of conventional manufacturing of an ink and manufacturing of coating material. Specifically, a green pigment composition of the present invention is good at stability in storage, whose hue is clarified, whose high light resistance and high heat resistance are maintained, and since at the same time, a halogen atom is not contained in the composition at all, it is a safe, sanitary pigment composition having a good quality, not containing the environmental problems and not generating a hazardous chemical substance at the time of burning.
As a result of eagerly studying, the present inventors have found being capable of providing a color material maintaining the similar coloring as the coloring material using a poly-halogenated (chlorinated or brominated) phthalocyanine and still stable colorants by using in combination a blue pigment not containing a halogen atom and a yellow pigment not containing a halogen atom obtained by co-wet milling, and achieved the present invention. As a blue pigment used in the present invention, there is not any particular limitation if it is a blue organic pigment not containing a halogen atom, it can be used by defining the quality level by the color shade to be aimed at and by referring to the durability and economy required. Following are some of examples of blue pigments that may be used in the present invention, being indicated by their color index numbers (C.I. No.): C.I. PIGEMENT BLUE 15, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 15:2, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 15:3, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 15:4, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 15:5, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 15:6, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 16, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 60, C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 64, and C.I. PIGMENT BLUE 66.
As for phthalocyanine pigments, those having Cu as a central metal element are typically used as blue pigments, although others that have Ni, Co, Fe, Si, Al or the like as a central metal element, or of metal-free type, also may be used. Depending on the color shade to be aimed at, various crystal types such as xcex1-type, xcex2-type, xcex5-type or the like may be used. However, copper phthalocyanine is preferable if one stands on an economical viewpoint.
Regarding yellow pigments, as long as it is a yellow organic pigment not containing a halogen atom, basically any of them may be used. However, in order to give an excellent light resistance and excellent heat resistance, the pigment not containing a halogen atom in the structure of benzimidazolone pigments, isoindoline pigments, flavanthrone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinolinoquinolone pigments, fluoroflavin pigments and fluoruvin pigments is preferable. The combination selected from the above-described pigment group may be used. Hereinafter, examples of yellow pigments, which may be used in the present invention, are indicated by the color index (C. I. No.) and general name. However, the present invention is not limited to these.
These are C. I. Pigment Yellow 1, 4, 5, 9, 24, 42, 65, 61, 62, 74, 100, 101, 104, 117, 120, 123, 129, 133, 139, 147, 148, 151, 155, 168, 169, 175, 180, 181, 182, 185, 192, 194 and 213, or quinolinoquinolone, dimethyl quinolinoquinolone, fluoflavin, dimethylfluoflavin and fluoruvin.
The pigment immediately after the synthesis is referred to as a crude pigment in almost all of the cases, which is a form not suitable for colorants and having a size. A crude pigment is typically fined and selected in a particle size in the additional treatment step called as pigmentation, processed into the most suitable size as a color material, and used for an ink and paint. For example, the size of the primary particle of copper phthalocyanine pigment used as a color material is less than 0.1 micron, whereas a crude copper phthalocyanine pigment obtained by the synthesis is a gigantic particle on the order of 10 to 200 microns. The size of it has to be controlled to a size practical as a color material on the order of 0.02 to 0.1 micron by performing a treatment called as pigmentation. In a method of manufacturing a green pigment composition indicated herein, a low cost, crude pigment which has not been pigmented is used as a starting material, via processing steps such as wet-milling, dry-milling or the like, then a green pigment is obtained. Since it is a procedure for realizing a color mixture pigment system starting from a crude pigment, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Charged-Open No.2000-7974, the relevant procedure is far more advantageous in its economy when comparing to the procedures of manufacturing a color mixture pigment system starting from a pigment commercially available, and a dispersion having more excellent suitability is obtained.
The blending ration of a blue pigment and a yellow pigment when a green pigment is manufactured can be adjusted depending upon the green shade to be aimed at. The range of the blue pigment: yellow pigment =90:10 to 10:90 is preferable and then desirably, in the range of 70:30 to 20:80.
In a method of preparing a green pigment of the present invention, a mixture in which a blue pigment powder and a yellow pigment powder has been previously mixed may be used. When charging into a wet milling equipment or a dry-milling equipment, the blue pigment and yellow pigment may be charged individually so that they are in the designated ratio.
As a method of wet-milling, concretely, a small amount of aqueous solvent is added as a lubricant to the mixture of the blue pigment, yellow pigment and an aqueous inorganic salt at the above-described blending ratio, strongly and mechanically kneaded and ground by grinder such as a kneader or the like into a fined pigment, and then the aqueous inorganic salt and aqueous solvent may be removed. The weight ratio of the aqueous inorganic salt to the pigment is in the range of 2 to 20:1, and more preferably in the range of 3 to 10:1. The weight ratio of the aqueous solvent to the pigment is in the range of 0.5 to 3:1, and more preferably in the range of 0.7 to 2. For the removal of the aqueous inorganic salt and aqueous solvent, after the kneaded mixture is put into water, agitated and made it into a slurry shape, filtrations and washings are repeated.
Examples of aqueous inorganic salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium sulfate. Examples of aqueous solvents include 2-methoxy ethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-(isopentyloxy) ethanol, 2-(hexyloxy) ethanol, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, triethylene glycol, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, liquid polyethylene glycol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether and liquid polypropylene glycol.
The desirable temperature when wet-milling is, although it also depends upon the kinds of pigments used and blending ratio, typically in the range of 40 to 130xc2x0 C., and more preferably in the range of 60 to 120xc2x0 C. The wet-milling time depends upon the kinds of pigments, blending ratio and the green shade to be aimed at, however, usually may be in the range of 1 to 12 hours. The additional ratio of solvent, grinding material or the like and the grinding temperature are preferably adjusted so that the hue to be aimed at is obtained in the range of these. After completing the pigment mass grinded and ink milled is re-slurried in a large amount of water, depending upon the cases, heating is performed, after uniformed slurry is made, the grinding material and grinding solvent may be completely removed by performing filtrations and washings, and depending upon the cases, washing by the solvent such as methanol or the like. A wet cake of the green pigment composition to be aimed at may be obtained by passing through these processes.
In the case where a pigment is prepared by dry-milling, the known dry-milling equipment such as an attritor, a ball mill, a vibrating mill or the like may be used. The green pigment composition having the color shade to be aimed at may be obtained by performing the processing such as pigmentation and emulsion treatment to the green pigment grinded and obtained and selecting the particle size if it is necessary.
The term xe2x80x9cpigment derivativexe2x80x9d in the present invention means a compound consisted of an organic dye, a pigment or its precursor not containing a halogen atom. The term xe2x80x9cdyexe2x80x9d is referred to a pigment soluble in water or oil, and the term xe2x80x9cpigmentxe2x80x9d is referred to a pigment substantially insoluble in water and oil.
The pigment derivative may have a structure represented by the following general formula. The structure may be selected while considering the effect on a vehicle component used and the color balance to the green pigment.
Q represents an organic pigment residue that does not contain a halogen atom. X1 and X2 are different from each other, and a hydrogen atom or a substituent indicated as follows; i and j independently represent an integer of 1 to 4, respectively.
R1, R2 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, respectively and independently. Or, R1 and R2 together may constitute a 5 or 6 member ring structure which may further contain N, O or S atom. R3, R4, R5 and R6 are a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. However, all of R3, R4, R5, and R6 are not to be hydrogen atoms. Y represents a hydrogen atom, xe2x80x94NO2, xe2x80x94NH2 or xe2x80x94SO3H. M represents a hydrogen atom or divalent or trivalent metal atom, m represents an integer of 0 to 4, L represents valence number of M, and n represents an integer of 1 to 8.
A represents direct bonding, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2NHCOCH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CR7R8xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2NR7xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2NHCOxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2NCONR7xe2x80x94 (R7 is an hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms or an aryl group, R8 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms or an aryl group), or a divalent linkage group indicated by the following formula:
Z1 represents direct bonding, xe2x80x94CONHxe2x80x94R9xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94SO2NHxe2x80x94R9xe2x80x94, or xe2x80x94CH2NHCOCH2xe2x80x94R9xe2x80x94 wherein R9 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an arylene group. Z2 represents xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94. Z3 represents a hydroxide group, an alkoxy group or a substituent indicated by the following general formula:
In the formula, each of R1, R2, Z2, n and Ym is as already described above. In the case where i represents 1, Z3 may represent xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94Z1xe2x80x94Q.
X3 represents an amino group, X4 represents a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a nitro group, a hydroxide group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, an alkyl group which may be substituted or not be substituted, or an alkenyl group which may be substituted or not be substituted. k represents an integer of 1 to 3, 1 represents an integer of 0 to 2.
Aryl group herein means a phenyl group or a naphthalene group, which may be substituted by an alkyl group or not be substituted. Arylene group herein means phenylene group or naphthalene group, which may be substituted by an alkyl group or not be substituted.
Preferable examples of an organic pigment residue Q include halogen-free colorant residues of phthalocyanine-type, threne-type, indigo-type, benzimidazolone-type, isoindoline-type, flavanthrone-type, anthrapyrimidine-type, anthraquinone-type, quinolinoquinolone-type, fluoroflavin-type, fluoruvin-type, diketopyrrolopyrrole-type, quinacridone-type, perylene-type, perinone-type and types of metal complex. Furthermore, pale yellow aromatic ring compounds such as those of naphthalene-type or anthraquinone-type, which generally may not be called a colorant, are also included.
These pigment derivatives may be synthesized by known methods such as those described in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Published No. S39-28884, Japanese Patent Application Charged-Open No.S58-28303, Japanese Patent Application Charged-Open No.1-217078, Japanese Patent Application Published No.3-14073, or Japanese Patent Application Charged-Open No.11-199796 and the like. The pigment derivative preferably has a hue not changing or having less influence on the shade the green pigment used has originally produced. The pigment derivative is preferably a compound having the same colorant skeleton as that of the green pigment itself used. It is preferably colorless or pale yellow.
For a method of adding a pigment derivative, although the pigment derivative in a dried powder form may be added during the dispersion process of the green pigment, the pigment derivative may be used by previously mixing with the green pigment, preferably, it is added at the time when the pigment is sufficiently fined during wet-grinding or dry-milling, so that the particles of the green pigment are co-present and covered with the derivative material. Nonetheless, the method is not strictly limited to a certain one.
The preferable amount of addition of the pigment derivative is in the range of 0.2 to 30 wt. % with respect to the green pigment, and determined by the particle diameter, structure of the green pigment, the structure of the pigment derivative and further the vehicle composition used. It is preferable that the amount of addition is lesser, so long as the effect is suitably obtained, and it is more preferable that the amount is optimized in the range of 1 to 15 wt. %.
It is presumed that the added pigment derivative exerts to adsorb on the surfaces of fine particles of the green pigment present, prevent the separation between blue pigment particles and yellow pigment particles which constitute the green pigment, provide resin-adsorbing layers to pigment particles at the time when it is in a dispersion medium, and enhance the dispersion stability. Therefore, it is important to select a pigment derivative having a color skeleton. In order to promote the resin absorption, the affinity between the terminal structure of the pigment derivative and the vehicle for forming the dispersion is also important. From these viewpoints, it is desirable that the most suitable pigment derivative is selected.
In the step of wet-milling or dry-milling, other additives may be added in the range not inhibiting the object of the present invention. The resins may be used in combination in order to prevent a strong agglomeration which will occur at the time of drying the fined green pigment, and easily enable to disperse it into transparent resin or the like. The resins may be used in combination during the pigmentation of the present invention, thereby probably resulting in obtaining a softer fine particle comparing to this. As a resin used, it is preferable solid at room temperature and insoluble in water. Examples of resins include a natural resin, a modified natural resin, a synthesized resin, and a synthesized resin modified by a natural resin. For a natural resin, rosin is typically used. Examples of modified natural resins include a rosin derivative, a fibrous cellulose derivative, a rubber derivative, a protein derivative and oligomers thereof. Examples of synthesized resins include epoxy resin, acryl resin, maleic resin, butyral resin, polyester resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, polyurethane resin, and polyamide resin. Examples of the synthesized resins modified by a natural resin include a rosin-modified maleic resin and a rosin-modified phenolic resin. The usage amount of the resin is preferably in the range of 5 to 100 wt % with respect to the green pigment.
Furthermore, in the processing step, additives such as a pigment dispersing agent, a plasticizer or inorganic pigments such as calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, silica or the like except for the resins may be used in combination.
A vehicle component used for a pigment dispersion may be a vehicle for an offset ink, a vehicle for a gravure ink, a vehicle for a paint, a vehicle for a printed circuit board ink, a vehicle for a resist ink for a color filter, a vehicle for an ink jet, a resin for a toner, or a resin for a molded plastic.
A vehicle for an offset ink may be a vehicle in which a resin such as a rosin-modified phenolic resin, a rosin-modified maleic resin, a petroleum resin, an alkyd resin or the like is combined with soybean oil, tung oil, linseed oil as main components.
A vehicle for a photogravure ink may be a vehicle in which a resin such as a lime rosin resin, a polyamide resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a cyclized rubber, a urethane resin, an acryl resin, a maleic resin, a nitrocellulose is combined with a solvent such as an aliphalic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenation hydrocarbon, an alcohol, a ketone, an ester, an ether, an ether-alcohol, an ether-ester and water as main components.
A vehicle for a paint may be a vehicle in which a resin such as a nitrocellulose lacquer, an aminoakyd resin, an acryl lacquer an aminoacryl resin, a urethane resin, polyvinylacetal resin, an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinylidene fluoride resin, a polyether sulfone resin is combined with a solvent such as an aliphalic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenation hydrocarbon, an alcohol, a ketone, an ester, an ether, an ether-alcohol, an ether-ester and water as main components.
An ink vehicle for a printed circuit board may be a vehicle in which an unsaturated group containing a resin such as a polycarboxylic resin, a bisphenol A type epoxy compound, an ultraviolet ray hardening resin or thermal hardening resin is combined with a polymerization initiation agent and a solvent such as a ketone, an ester, an ether, an aliphatic hydrocarbon and an aromatic hydrocarbon as main components.
An ink vehicle for a resist ink for a color filter will be described as follows: Examples of thermal hardening resins and thermal plastic resins include a butyral resin, styrene-maleate copolymer, a vinyl polyacetate, a polyurethane based resin, a phenol resin, a polyester resin, an acryl based resin, an epoxy resin, celluloses and a urea resin. Photosensitive resins may contain a photocrosslinking group such as (metha) acryl compound, cinnamic acid is introduced via an isocyanate group, an aldehyde group, an epoxy group or the like into a linear polymer having a reactive substituent such as a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an amino group and the like. A monomer, an oligomer or the like for forming a similar coating film with a resin by being hardened with radiation irradiation may be used. The ink vehicle may contain a photo-initiator, sensitizer, and solvent. Examples of such solvents include an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenation hydrocarbon, an alcohol, a ketone, an ester, an ether, an ether-alcohol, or an ether-ester solvents such as cyclohexanone, cellosolve acetate, diethylene glycol dimethylether, ethylbenzene, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, xylene, methylethyl ketone, and ethyl acetate.
An ink for printing, a coloring resist or the like is finally produced by performing the removal of large particles and/or contained dust which may be more than 5 xcexcm in size, preferably more than 1 xcexcm, more preferably more than 0.5 xcexcm, by means of a centrifuge, a sintering filter, membrane filter or the like.
As a vehicle for ink jet printing inks, a resin soluble in water such as an acryl resin, a styrene-acryl resin, a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyurethane resin and a fluororesin, or an emulsion having dispersibility or colloidal dispersion resin may be used. A neutralizing agent such as ammonia, amine, inorganic alkali or the like is added to these resins according to the necessity. Examples of solvents used include water, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and substituted pyrrolidone. Alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and the like may be used for the purpose of accelerating the dryness after printing. Furthermore, an anion activating agent, a non-ion activating agent, a cation activating agent or an amphoteric ion activation agent may be used for enhancing the dispersing stability of an antiseptic agent, a penetrant, a chelate agent and a pigment.
Examples of resins for toners include polystyrene, a styrene-acryl copolymer, a chloride resin, a styrene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a rosin-modified maleic resin, a phenolic resin, an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, a low molecular polyethylene, a low molecular polypropylene, an ionomer resin, a polyurethane resin, a silicone resin, rosin ester and rosin.
Examples of resins for a molding plastic include polyolefin based resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a copolymer of xcex1-olefin and acrylic acid or maleic acid, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid or maleic anhyride, a vinyl resin such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl acetate, acetal resin such as formyl resin and butyral resin, acryl resin such as polyacrylonitrile and a methacryl resin, a styrol resin such as polystylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-stylene copolymer, a polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate, a nylon such as 6-nylon, an unsaturated polyester resin, an epoxy resin, a urea resin, a melamine resin, and a cellulose resin.
Furthermore, as a resin for the above-described variety of vehicles, a biogradable raw material such as starch-modified resin, cellulose/chitosan, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid may be used.


This disclosure relates to a closure hatch assembly for the access port of a utility pole. The access port has opposed, lateral edges and opposed, longitudinal edges. The hatch plate has a closure wall that is adapted to close the access port. The closure wall has a reverse face with laterally spaced protuberances extending outwardly therefrom. Opposed walls on the protuberances define a channel therebetween, and a bracket member is receivable within the channel. The bracket member presents longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces that are adapted operatively to engage the opposed longitudinal edges of the access port. The bracket member also has laterally spaced walls that are receivable within the channel in sufficiently close proximity with the opposed walls that define the channel in order to transfer compressive forces therebetween. A fastener releasably secures the bracket member within the channel and thereby mount the bracket assembly to the utility pole.

Originally, highway utility poles were wood, steel or concrete, but such poles provided rigid resistance to impact from vehicles. As a result, when a vehicle struck such a utility pole the occupants of the vehicle were commonly subjected to excessive deceleration forces that often result in extremely severe, or even fatal, injury. This result led to the development of highway utility pole structures which greatly reduced not only the deceleration forces but also the high incidence of sever, or fatal, injuries. In fact, utility poles utilized on federally funded highway projects must now meet rigid breakaway performance criteria. The presently required breakaway performance criteria are set forth in the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Publication entitled "Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaries and Traffic Signals 1985."
To meet these requirements, highway utility poles have been constructed of lightweight materials such as aluminum and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). FRP materials--typically reinforced with fiberglass--have proven to be particularly desirable not only in meeting the breakaway performance criteria, but also because such utility poles are not electrically conductive. Thus, when FRP poles are broken the pole itself can not serve as a conductor. This is a definite advantage attributable to the FRP utility pole.
Electrical service is frequently provided to utility poles by underground lines, and the hollow interior of even the non-conductive utility poles serves as the path along which the electrical service lines may extend to provide the desired electrical power to lights, or the like, mounted at the top of the pole, or to whatever height required. An access port is typically provided in the utility pole, normally at a height which can be reached by a worker standing on the ground or on a relatively short ladder. Such access ports are each provided with a closure hatch assembly that employs an adjustable mounting means, such as a screw and bracket, or bar, to secure the closure hatch, or plate, in a position over, or within, the access port. The bracket engages the interior surface of the hollow pole to provide a base into which the screw can be tightened in order demountably to secure the closure hatch in position.
The presence of an access port, however, has been found to reduce the bending strength of the utility pole at that location where the port penetrates the wall of the utility pole, and that location is normally above that at which the pole is intended to fail when struck by a vehicle. The reduced bending strength of the utility pole results not only by virtue of the absence of wall material at the location of the port but also because most access ports are configured such that stress concentrations are induced, particularly at any locations around the perimeter of the access port which presents a relatively sharp corner. A significant reduction of stress concentrations can be accomplished by eliminating any vestige, of sharp corners, and by providing rounded surfaces to define the perimeter of the access port. Even so, the very existence of the access port has heretofore resulted in an unavoidable reduction in the bending strength of the pole at the location of the access port.
Because of this tendency of the utility poles to buckle in proximity to the location of the access ports when subjected to compressive stresses, standards which delineate the magnitude of the bending stresses which utility poles must withstand have been imposed upon utility poles used in conjunction with federally funded highways. In general, such poles must be capable of withstanding two times the maximum compressive loading imposed on the pole by the maximum anticipated wind load calculated in conformity with ANSI C-136.2 standards. The specific testing routine is also delineated by that accepted governmental standard.
The specific tests have, heretofore, been difficult to satisfy without adding undue wall thickness, and the concomitant additional weight, to FRP utility poles.

Strength enhancing closure hatch assembly for access ports in highway utility poles


A method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a plurality of species of ions; analyzing the ions during a plurality of sequential acquisition periods so as to obtain spectral data relating to the ions; varying the value of an operational parameter of the spectrometer such that it has different values during the different acquisition periods, wherein the spectral data obtained for a given ion varies depending on the value of the operational parameter; storing the spectral data obtained during the different acquisition periods separately; selecting a target ion; and then interrogating the spectral data so as to identify a set of first acquisition periods that include data corresponding to said target ion. Selecting spectral data from only a subset of the first acquisition periods allows the selection of the optimal spectral data for the target ion, while discarding less optimal data.

In mass spectrometry it is sometimes required to control an operational parameter of the instrument in order to optimise the acquisition of data from species of interest. However, it is often not possible to determine the optimal acquisition parameters for the species of interest in advance of an experiment. Also, different parameters may be optimal for different species of interest.
It is known to analyse ions and accumulate data whilst the value of an operational parameter, such as collision energy, is being ramped. This enables the operational parameter to be optimised for each of the species during a part of the acquisition period and hence the data obtained can be used to generate a spectrum having contributions from optimal values for each species. However, the operational parameter will not be optimised for any given species during much of the acquisition period and hence the spectrum necessarily includes significant contributions from non-optimal values.
For example, when using an analytical filter such as a quadruple mass filter in which a single species is transmitted at any one filter setting, instrument conditions may be optimised for each mass to charge ratio value independently. One example is the optimisation of DC potentials on a DC focussing element for best ion transmission in an atmospheric pressure ion source. In many cases there is a compromise of selecting between DC potentials that optimise ion focussing so that ion transmission is improved and DC potentials that cause ion fragmentation due to collisions with background gas. In some cases, this fragmentation may be desirable and in others it may reduce the transmission of a selected ion. Such a DC focussing element may be termed Source Fragmentation Voltage (SFV) or "Cone Voltage".
In contrast, a time of flight (TOF) instrument transmits the whole mass range at once, and so the SFV cannot be optimised by for every mass to charge ratio being analysed at the same time. The state of art is to either fix the SFV for an experiment or to scan the operational voltage over a range while acquiring multiple time of flight spectra and then average the resultant spectra. This leads to poorly optimised signals and for a given mass to charge ratio the SFV may give poor sensitivity and/or promote fragmentation of other masses, causing increased noise.
Although a couple of examples have been provided above, many other operational parameters would benefit from being optimised according to the nature of each spectral species. The current state of the art can only result in a best compromise value of the operational parameter for the species which are simultaneously analysed.
It is therefore desired to provide an improved method of mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry, and an improved mass spectrometer.