A horizontal slide mechanism for removably replacing an inking unit set in a rotary offset printing press of the type having a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder having parallel rotational axes. The horizontal slide mechanism includes a guide track rigidly mounted to the printing press adjacent and parallel to the plate, blanket and impression cylinders. A slide plate is supported in the guide track for guided movement parallel to the plate, blanket and impression cylinder transverse to the printing press. A pivot mount is attached to the slide plate and is pivotably attached to the inking unit. The pivot mount on the slide plate provides a single pivot axis parallel to the rotational axes of the plate, blanket and impression cylinders, and is positioned spaced apart from the plate cylinder for pivoting the inking unit between a first and a second pivot position. The first pivot position corresponds to inking engagement with the plate cylinder, and the second pivot position corresponds to a spaced apart disengaged position, at which the inking unit is not in operational engagement with the plate cylinder. A latching mechanism is provided by which the inking unit is releasably held and locked in the first position corresponding to inking engagement.

Rotary offset printing machines have been used for a number of years. The basic mechanisms, principles, and steps of operation for modern rotary printers include chemically forming an image on a thin metal image plate. The thin image plate therearound is attached around the circumference of a plate cylinder. Ink and a water solution are applied by inking unit rollers and dampening unit rollers to the respective chemically treated areas that are to form an image on the image plate as it rotates with the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder rolls the image plate against a blanket cylinder offsetting a reverse image around the circumference of the blanket cylinder. A sheet of print paper or other material to be printed is fed into the press and gripped by an impression cylinder. The impression cylinder pulls the paper into rolling contact between the bluet cylinder and the impression cylinder. Under rolling pressure between the two cylinders, the image is imprinted from the blanket cylinder onto the paper. The imprinted image is the reverse of that on the bluet cylinder so that it is appears as originally formed on the image plate. After the paper is imprinted, it is removed from the impression cylinder gripper and transferred to a collection tray, if printing is finished. If additional colors or images are to be applied, the sheet may be transferred to one or more other impression cylinders which grip the print paper from a transfer gripper and roll the paper against a subsequent blanket cylinder for additional printing. Alternatively, in some presses, a large impression cylinder carries the sheet past one or more additional blazer cylinders which roll the next color onto the sheet.
In multi-color offset printers, each color is applied as a series of minute dots or patterns. It is extremely important to precisely locate or register the paper as it is gripped by the impression cylinders, or each of them, so that each subsequent matrix of colored dots can be properly located and coordinated with respect to other color dots to form the desired image. Quality printing requires precise location of the dots within thousandths of an inch of each other. An error in alignment of a few thousandths of an inch can produce a blurred image or an image with improperly mixed and overlapping color dots.
In the past, multiple color offset rotary printers accomplished this precise registration through careful attention to the transfer of the paper using precisely manufactured fixed diameter transtar cylinders. Usually, the transfer cylinders are large enough to carry two sheets of print paper spaced end-to-end around the circumference of the cylinder. The rotation of the transfer cylinders had to be carefully timed with respect to the rotation of the impression cylinders so that the paper when picked up by the transfer cylinders from one of the impression cylinders was carried around the transfer cylinder at precisely the correct speed and distance so that it was gripped by a subsequent impression cylinder precisely in the correct location for registration. The grippers for each impression cylinder had to be adjusted until the dots were printed precisely at the desired location.
The use of transfer cylinders has been important because of the extreme criticality of precise registration. The cylinders, once formed, have a fixed diameter and can be rotated through gears at a fixed speed. Repeatable transfers are thus made possible. However, this structure is complex and expensive. Further, it introduces associate problems. For example, smearing can result because the printed surface of the paper being transferred is directed inward on each transfer cylinder. Thus, the printed surface of the sheet faces outward toward the blanket cylinder when it is gripped by the next impression cylinder. Special coatings, special non-stick screens, and even complex systems for air cushioning the paper as it is carried around the transfer cylinder have been employed in order to minimize this smearing problem.
The cost of manufacturing multiple color offset printers has been very high because of the complexity of multiple transfer gripping mechanisms, large precision-built transfer cylinders, and non-smear mechanisms. Further, because of the need to properly adjust registration of the paper as it is received by each impression cylinder, transferred to each transfer cylinder and then received by each subsequent impression cylinder, the time and expense to set up any given multiple color offset printing job has been substantial. It is not uncommon for an operator to spend a considerable amount of time setting up a job and to use over five hundred (500) trial printing sheets before proper registration is obtained for all of the color impression cylinders. As a result, multiple color offset rotary printing has not been economically feasible for most small printing jobs requiring less than several thousand copies.
Traditional rotary offset printing presses employ inking units, including sets of rollers, which rollers roll against each other and against the printing press plate cylinders. The rollers of the inking unit carry ink from an ink source for distributing and applying appropriate quantities of a desired colored ink onto the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder holds the printing plate which attracts the ink to an image to be printed. The ink image is transferred to the blanket cylinder for imprinting it onto individual sheets of paper which are held against an impression cylinder. There is often limited access area to the plate cylinder, the blanket cylinder and impression cylinder of the rotary printing press. It has been found to be desirable to allow the inking unit to be movable for purposes of allowing easier access to the main cylinders of the printing press.
Various devices have been developed with varying degrees of success for accomplishing the task of allowing access to the main cylinder of printing presses. One such device was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,599, issued to the present applicant, James J. Keller, titled Swing-Away Colorhead for Offset Duplicator. Such a device provided many advantages over fixed inking unit systems. For example, that device would allow access to the plate cylinder, or to the other internal mechanisms of the press. Still, there continues to be a need for a mechanism by which the entire inking unit could be conveniently moved for access withore removing the inking unit entirely, and also a mechanism which would allow the inking unit to be removed and replaced with another inking unit (e.g. an inking unit set up with a different color). Also, there was a need for providing a convenient mechanism and system by which an inking unit having been operated with one color of ink could be cleaned for use with another color of ink.

Horizontal sheet transfer multiple color offset rotary printing press with horizontal slide access


This disclosure relates to a two-stroke engine comprising an engine frame forming a cylinder, and a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in the cylinder. The engine frame further includes a crankcase chamber and inlet flow passages for fresh mixture, which form a crankcase compression arrangement. The cylinder includes a cylinder wall having an intake port and an exhaust port. The piston is movable in compression and combustion strokes between a top-dead-center (TDC) position and a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position in the cylinder, and the piston includes a piston skirt. Movement of the piston toward the BDC position opens the intake port and the exhaust port, and fresh mixture flows from the crankcase chamber into the cylinder and scavenges the burned gases through the exhaust port. When the piston moves toward the TDC position, the inlet flow passage is opened which allows fresh mixture to flow into the crankcase chamber. The exhaust port is also opened, and burned gases in the exhaust port are also drawn into the crankcase chamber and combined with the fresh mixture.

This invention relates to a gasoline internal combustion (IC) engine, and more particularly to a two-stroke engine having reduced hydrocarbon emissions.
As is well known to those skilled in this art, a two-stroke engine develops more power than a four-stroke engine of the same displacement, but the prior art two-stroke engines have the disadvantage of producing greater hydrocarbon emissions. The hydrocarbon emissions are due in part to incomplete combustion of the fuel-oil-air mixture and in part to a loss of some of the fresh mixture or charge during the scavenging part of the operating cycle. During scavenging both the inlet port and the exhaust port are open at the same time, and the fresh mixture flows into the combustion chamber and sweeps the burned gases out through the exhaust port. Unfortunately, some of the fresh mixture also passes through the exhaust port, thereby producing the above-mentioned hydrocarbon emissions. The foregoing operation is described in more detail hereinafter in connection with FIG. 1 of the drawings.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved two-stroke engine which substantially reduces the quantity of hydrocarbon emissions.


A system for counting fetal and maternal red blood cells (RBCs) including a microscope and image capturing device to capture at least one image from a slide holding the fetal and maternal RBCs; a computer readable medium for storing the at least one image; a processor for executing computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium; wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions for: indentifying red blood cells from the at least one image; distinguishing between fetal and maternal red blood cells; and counting the fetal and maternal red blood cells.

In North America, there are over 6 million pregnancies annually. Rhesus hemolytic (Rh) disease of the newborn is a serious alloimmune condition, where fetal red blood cells (RBCs) are destroyed by the maternal immune system through the placenta. During pregnancy or child birth, a small number of fetus's RBCs can enter the mother's circulation. If the mother is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive, the mother's body produces antibodies (IgG) against the Rh antigen. This process is termed sensitizing. Most frequently, sensitizing occurs during child birth (about 85% of sensitized cases), but fetal blood may pass into the maternal circulation earlier during the pregnancy (about 15% of sensitized cases) (see J. M. Bowman and J. M. Pollock, "Rh-Immunization during Pregnancy and Grandmother Theory," Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 93, pp. 313-314, 1978). During this or subsequent pregnancies the IgG is able to pass through the placenta into the fetus and consequently cause the destruction of the Rh positive fetal RBCs.
In Caucasian populations about 1 in 10 of all pregnancies are of a Rh negative woman with a Rh positive baby, of which 13% Rh negative mothers are sensitized (see A. S. Prasad, Ed., Acquired hemolytic anemias. In: Bick R L, ed. Hematology: Clinical and Laboratory Practice. St. Louis: Mosby-Yearbook, Inc., 1993). Besides the resulting anemia, fetal-maternal hemorrhage may have devastating consequences for the fetus such as neurologic injury, stillbirth, or neonatal death (B. J. Wylie and M. E. D'Alton, "Fetomaternal hemorrhage" Obstet. Gynecol, Vol. 115, pp. 1039-51, 2010). Many babies who managed to survive would be severely ill. The diagnosis and treatment require quantifying fetal-maternal hemorrhage (i.e., the amount of fetal blood that has passed into the maternal circulation), which is usually performed on Rhesus-negative mothers to determine the required dose of the drug, Rho(D) immune globulin (Rhlg) to inhibit the formation of Rh antibodies in the mother and prevent Rh disease in future Rh-positive children.
Besides Rh diseases, fetal-maternal hemorrhage can also result from the loss of integrity of the normal physiological barrier between the fetal and maternal circulation, which must be quantified in pregnancy care for prompt treatment (e.g., blood transfusion) (C. J. Chen, S. N. Cheng, C M. Lee, F. W. Chang, C. C. Wu, and Y. S. Yuh, "Fetomaternal hemorrhage," J. Med. Sci, Vol. 23, pp. 231-34, 2003). The standard clinical method of quantifying fetal-maternal hemorrhage is the Kleihauer-Betke. (KB) test (Z. Y. Wang, J. W. Shi, Y. L. Zhou, and C. G. Ruan, "Detection of red blood cell-bound immunoglobulin G by flow cytometry and its application in the diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia," International Journal of Hematology, vol. 73, pp. 188-193, 2001). The test takes advantage of the differential resistance of fetal and maternal hemoglobin to acid (fetal hemoglobin is significantly more resistant). A standard blood smear is prepared from the mother's blood (1:1,000 dilution with PBS). After drying, staining and incubating, the blood smear slides are counted under a microscope by certified technologists. Since the fetal hemoglobin is resistant to the citrate buffer, the resulting bright-pink cells are classified as fetal cells. The percentage of fetal-maternal hemorrhage can then be calculated.
The critical component of the KB test is the counting of fetal and maternal RBCs. This counting is presently done manually by trained technologists who look into the eyepieces of a microscope and count a minimum of 2,000 cells. Manual counting takes about 15 minutes and inherently suffers from inconsistency and unreliability.
Although the term 'automated detection of fetal RBCs' was mentioned in the literature, there have been no reported approaches for automated counting of fetal and maternal RBCs, and there have been no reported approaches for distinguishing these two types of cells. In the work reported in the literature (see D. M. V Pelikan, W. E. Mesker, S. a Scherjon, H. H. H. Kanhai, and H. S. Tanke, "improvement of the Kleihauer-Betke test by automated detection of fetal erythrocytes in maternal blood," Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 1-9, July 2003 and see D. M. Pelikan, S. a Scherjon, W. E. Mesker, G. M. de Groot-Swings, G. G. Brouwer-Mandema, H. J. Tanke, and H. H. Kanhai, "Quantification of fetomaternal hemorrhage: a comparative study of the manual and automated microscopic Kleihauer-Betke tests and flow cytometry in clinical samples," American journal obstetrics and gynecology, vol. 191 no. 2, pp. 551-7, August 2004), automation in these works refers to the use of commercial motorized stage to capture cell images. Images were captured first with a green filter, and images were captured again in a second scan with a red filter. Hence, image capturing required the use of a microscope equipped with a green absorption filter and a red absorption filter. Fetal RBCs were distinguished from maternal RBCs based on intensity and distribution patterns of staining by a technologist. The total cell number on a KB slide was also manually estimated.
Image processing methods have been developed for counting other types of cells, but not for counting RBCs. In one study (see N. Bandekar, A. Wong, D. Clausi and M. Gorbet, "A novel approach to automated cell counting for studying human corneal epithelial cells," Intn'l Conf. IEEE EMBS, Boston, pp. 5997-6000, 2011), cell counting was done via non-maximum suppression and seeded region growth to segment the clustering corneal epithelial cells. Nevertheless, only grey-level and spatial information were applied in this algorithm making it difficult to detect ghost cells and segment those clustered cells. In another study, the Hough circle transform was used to automatically count cell colonies in a culturing flask (see J. M. Bewes et al., "Automated cell colony counting and analysis using the circular Hough image transform algorithm (CHiTA)," Phys. Med. Biol, Vol. 53, pp. 5991-6008, 2008). Intensity gradient and circular Hough transform were used to discriminate the colony edges and detect cells. It was useful for quantifying low concentrations of cell colonies while under-segmentations are inevitable on those severely overlapping cells. Furthermore, contaminants cannot be excluded from the counting result.
Prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,180, U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,901 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,077 assigned to CellVision; and patent publications US2011/0170760 to Nextslide Imaging, US2010/0189338 to Nexcelom Bioscience, and US2012/0314092 to Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. The following three are considered relevant to the present invention.
"Network Image Review in Clinical Hematology", US2011/0170760 by Nextslide Imaging, disclosed a method for setting up an internet-based database for cell digital image analysis. Users upload cell images via the internet, and the images are processed on a remote server. No cell counting methods are disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,077, by CellaVision AB, "Microscope system comprising arrangement for positioning of a platform", describes a flexture system to adjust a specimen's vertical position for keeping the specimen within focus.
"Cell Counting System and Methods", as disclosed in US2012/0314092 by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., introduced a system for counting cell numbers using digital images of a sample. The sample holder holding a set of cells is inserted into the slot of the system and the motion mechanism can change the relative positions of the sample holder automatically. Not more than three images are captured during the rotation and translation of the sample holder. The majority of areas on the sample are omitted making counting accuracy undependable. Furthermore, this system is applicable only to the testing of samples having low cell concentrations.
Accordingly, the prior art is silent on automated and sufficiently qualitative method or system for counting and distinguishing between maternal and fetal red blood cells. It is an object of the invention described below to provide a method and/or system that addresses at least one of the aforementioned problems with the prior art.

System and method for fetal and maternal red blood cell counting

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO


A cleaning device may include a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution. The solution tank may include an inlet and an outlet. The cleaning device may include at least one discharge line filter in fluid communication with the solution tank and a pump having a pump intake and a pump discharge. The pump may be configured to direct cleaning solution from the solution tank outlet through the at least one discharge line filter. The cleaning device may include a cleaning head in fluid communication with the pump discharge and a bypass line in fluid communication with the pump discharge and the inlet. The bypass line may be configured to divert cleaning solution received from the pump discharge away from the cleaning head and toward the solution tank.

Cleaning devices that use solution to clean floors or other surfaces typically do not reuse and recycle cleaning solution. Usually, cleaning solution that is applied to a surface is returned, along with any soil or other debris, to a recovery tank of the cleaning device that is used to store dirty cleaning solution. When all of the clean cleaning solution has been used, the cleaning device must generally be taken to a maintenance area so that the dirty solution can be drained and the cleaning device can be refilled with new cleaning solution.
Some cleaning devices utilize a recycling system to filter soils from the cleaning solution to extend the runtime of the cleaning device between empty and refill cycles. Often, recycling systems of cleaning devices include two tanks, a cleaning solution tank and a dirty solution recovery tank. The recovered dirty solution is usually cleaned and deposited into the dirty solution recovery tank. From there, it is often filtered or otherwise sanitized, and then added to the clean solution tank for further use.

Cleaning device with single tank recycling system


A media content item is evaluated for its “sentiment states.” That is, segments of the content item are determined to be, for example, “happy,” “exciting,” “sad,” “funny,” and the like. A “sentiment map” is created that delimits segments of the content item and contains the sentiment-state keywords associated with the segments. Some maps include an amplitude for each assigned sentiment keyword and a confidence value for the segment delimitation and for each keyword. As an exemplary use of the sentiment map, an advertisement broker matches the sentiments of his advertisement offerings with segments of a content item in order to place appropriate advertisements at times when they would be most favorably received. In another example, a recommender system recommends to a user a content item whose sentiment map compares favorably to that of a content item already enjoyed by the user.

Recently, advertisers have begun to look beyond "traditional" media (e.g., magazines and television) and have begun looking to "new media" (e.g., online and mobile services) to increase the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns. Online advertising is appealing because an advertiser can put an advertisement in front of an audience that is actively searching for information. This allows the advertiser to tap into the needs of people prepared to buy rather than, as in the traditional approach, blindly sending advertisements to people who are simply watching television or reading a print medium.
However, even as people spend more time online, traditional media remain very important (and they still receive the majority of advertising dollars). Indeed, rather than simply replacing traditional media time with online time, many people are beginning to combine traditional and new media. For example, while they watch television, they also pay attention to a "companion device" (e.g., a laptop computer or a smart phone). These users then receive programming (which can include advertising) both through the television and through the companion device.
These media are very different and the programming (which, again, can include advertising) delivered through them can be very different. This can cause conflicts when, for example, a user, while watching a very romantic movie, receives a funny advertisement on his companion device. The advertisement may, in itself, be unobjectionable to the user, but the conflicting sentiments between the movie and the advertisement confuses the user and may lead to "advertising dissonance." The dissonance reduces both the user's enjoyment of the movie and the advertisement's effectiveness for this user.

Sentiment mapping in a media content item


A biopsy needle consisting of a main portion, a linking portion and a front end portion wherein the main portion has a first bore of uniform circular cross-section, the front end portion has a smaller second bore of uniform circular cross-section and the linking portion has a shoulder between the first bore and the second bore. The outer surface of the linking portion is tapered. The open front end has multiple projecting teeth which serve to cut. There may also be serrations on the outer surface of both the front end portion and the linking portion. The biopsy needle has slits or holes to facilitate the expansion of the captured biopsy specimen and to inject cement for bone support. The needle assembly has a non-slip grip on multiple surfaces and pins hold components in place during rotation of the assembly.

The use of a hollow metal sleeve or cannula in combination with an obturator (which may be referred to as a stilette or stylet), this combination being sometimes referred to as a trocar, is widely used in medicine for obtaining biopsy specimens. The obturator has a sharp point, and when the obturator is within the cannula, the obturator enables the combination to be inserted into the body. If the obturator is then removed, a biopsy specimen can be obtained within the cannula. U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,308 (Islam) describes a bone marrow biopsy needle of this general type, which comprises a hollow tube or hollow needle in conjunction with a trocar needle or stilette, i.e. an obturator. The hollow needle is mostly of constant internal and external diameter, but has sharp facets to form a cutting edge at its front end, and a front end portion of the hollow needle is of reduced diameter, this front end portion being formed by swaging so there is a frusto-conical transition in which the bore is tapered. If the hollow needle is pushed for example into bone marrow, without the obturator, then a sample of the marrow containing bone will go into the hollow needle; the front end portion of reduced diameter tends to grip the resulting sample, so the sample remains within the needle when the needle is withdrawn. This biopsy needle is quite effective, but an improved biopsy needle would be advantageous.


A self-contained portable unit for steam generation and injection by means of an injector wellhead hanger of coiled jacketed capillary tubing with a closed circuit and procedure for operation in oil wells comprises a portable, self-contained equipment for injection and dewaxing of heated fluids mounted on a hauler that includes a heat exchanger, a water tank, a heat exchanger, a softener, a centrifugal pum, a lubricant tank, a power engine, an electrical power generator, a control cabin, a fluids softener, a steam boiler, a reservoir tank, a fuel tank, a hose reel and one hose set for two lines of fluid injection and return of that connect to a wellhead hanger/injector for two capillaries making up a closed circuit. This wellhead includes three module and crowned with a lid, two of which are hangers and the rest are injection-type.

In the oil industry, steam is used in various processes for both Downstream and Upstream, which results in the need to generate designs for each process for each specific case from those studies. The different designs involve constant innovation and creation of new techniques to improve its processes, work environment quality and environment-friendliness. In the processes in which steam is used, the latter is necessary to modify the state of some heavy and extra-heavy oil, and it is then when our development applies, with the best expected results under specific analysis procedures for each well to be worked on, resulting in the application. The developed technique consists in three main steps: generating heat energy in the needed surface, pressurizing it for different operational needs and conducting that energy to the preset depth of the well(s) to be worked on, thus making, by that displacement and residence time throughout the capillary tubing, the heat transference needed to incorporate controlled temperature to the oil, which is immobilized in the depth. It returns to the surface through another concentric capillary tubing, "at no time being the steam/condensate in contact with the oil", thus generating a closed "Depth-Surface" circuit, and minimizing the consumption of water for steam generation as well as polluting gases produced in the surface by the generator equipment. This innovation provides an alternative technology that introduces significant improvements for oil and gas production. These new technologies are applied to services, heavy and extra-heavy oil well stimulation, clean-up of flow line (FL) in wells that are in production, heavy and extra-heavy crude oil wells, python clean-up and washing, tanks, pulling assistance and in trapped tubing. This invention is based on a system for generating, pressurizing and injecting steam in depth in oil wells though highly versatile equipment that links various elements and incorporates equipment and parts that have a high invention value. In the status of the technique we find, on the one hand, equipment that use various elements, such as a steam generating boiler or a water treatment system, or others that incorporate a power generator, a chemical feeding system, an overfeeding pump and an alternative pump for flow and pressure. The versatility of this equipment allows pumping steam or water simultaneously, being it hot or at room temperature, though different lines and up to 12 wells simultaneously, or in a conduction pipe. The same equipment has a steam jenny and it is used to install partially or permanently where the use of high temperatures is required to improve processes.
The main purpose of this invention consists in providing a "SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATION AND INJECTION BY MEANS OF INJECTOR WELLHEAD HANGER OF COILED JACKETED CAPILLARY TUBING WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS OPERATION IN OIL WELLS" that provides a compact portable, highly versatile equipment resulting from the fusion of the formerly mentioned equipment with said second equipment in one single equipment, consisting of a compact automated module that generates steam, heats water, heats oil, feeds chemicals and pumps them independently or simultaneously at high pressure and flow, with or without temperature, obtaining excellent results in new operation modalities.
This equipment consists of a steam jenny, a water/oil boiler, a water treatment plant, a power generator, a chemical feeding system, an alternative pump for flow and pressure, a reservoir tank, independent steam and oil/water conduction lines, an operations control cab and a device named hanger with bottom-hole tool. The assembly, except for the hanger, is mounted on a hauler, which makes it fully portable and self-contained equipment that offers a wide range of applications. The "SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATION AND INJECTION BY MEANS OF INJECTOR WELLHEAD HANGER OF COILED JACKETED CAPILLARY TUBING WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS OPERATION IN OIL WELLS" consists of a compact, portable equipment for generating steam and heating water/oil in any place where necessary, in the field or in facilities such as storage or treatment plants, or simultaneous, in conduction or process pipes, in in situ termination or workover of oil and gas wells. The peculiarity of this equipment is precisely that it takes different components that until today only worked separately and assembles them in one single portable platform, which solves the different stages, having equipment that helps to perform all phases of this activity by the well.
This invention provides a wide range of applications:                Pumping fluid with temperature and flow;        Releasing pinched drilling strings;        Assisting pulling equipment (for saving hours without extracting the tubing;)        Cleaning tubing;        Cleaning conduction pipes;        Testing hermetism;        Cleaning assemblies (receivers, collectors;)        Feeding chemicals;        Injecting fresh water for dissolving or displacing salt or sand in conduction lines;        Generating, pressurizing, transporting and injecting steam in depth in heavy and extra-heavy oil producing wells.
The "SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE UNIT FOR STEAM GENERATION AND INJECTION BY MEANS OF INJECTOR WELLHEAD HANGER OF COILED JACKETED CAPILLARY TUBING WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS OPERATION IN OIL WELLS" provides a novelty hanger, a tool designed for oil recovery applications by means of heating fluid, which consists of a capillary hanger of different sizes, allowing for the circulation of heating fluid throughout the strings, entering though a three quarter (¾) tubing and recovering at three eights (⅜). Said hanger is a surface tool made up of three modules: the lower module (hanger) is set to hang and host a capillary tubing with ¾ external diameter; the mid module is used as a heating fluid (steam/water) injector; and the upper module is identical to the lower one but designed to hang a duct or capillary with an external diameter of ⅜. Said hanging parts hold the capillaries inside the tubing (flow line). To prevent the capillaries from moving, the head has a set of double-clip clamps that allow no movement of the capillaries in any direction, and the set of packing elements (gasket) provide for operation at high temperatures and pressure of heating compressed water. The packing strength applied between the capillaries and the hangers is produced by means of a source or hydraulic power; hence it can be regulated, monitored and modified exactly when necessary, even during production procedure. The injector has the purpose of introducing heating fluid in the capillaries. Inside, it has a heavy-duty sacrificial jacket that is able to endure the change of direction of the heating fluid and the possible erosion caused by it to the ¾ capillary that is inside. This invention provides the following advantages: it provides the circulation of heating fluids at high temperatures and pressures while the double clamp provides for packing strength regulation even after the production process is started. The Procedure: Steam Injection with Jacketed Capillary Tubing: It consists of using two capillaries with different diameters, in this case, a ø ¾ inch capillary tubing through which steam is introduced at 150° C. and inside of which another ø ⅜ inch capillary tubing is placed through which the heating fluid is recovered, thus generating a closed circuit with two concentric lines of flexible tubing. For this, both tubes are hanged by means of the hanger/injector that holds and seals them on a blowout preventer, and the remaining set are the bottom-hole tools, which are moved down to the required depth, accessing it inside of the flow pipe (flow line.) The steam injection technology consists of providing the necessary heat energy to the heavy and extra-heavy oil wells, accessing at preset depths by means of the flow line, conduction pipe and storage tank, in case they are in the same site. This invention resorts to the capillary tubing through the FL (flow line) to drive the heat energy that is generated on the surface to the present depth thresholds. In order to introduce the capillary tubing, said hanger and a bottom-hole tool are available, both designed especially for this sole application, consisting of two different equipment: a coiled jacketed capillary tubing hanger (located on the well valve shaft) and the depth tool which has different components (diffuser-type tip jet, centralizers, shut-off valves and weight bars), a set that is associated to the capillary tubing by connectors that secure the link between both devices. Each head has three modules, two hangers (each holding and packing a capillary), and a central body with side entrance named "injection Tee," which provide for connection the steam inlet line. In this way, a system is generated for injecting steam at 150° C., transporting it by means of pressure applied throughout the flexible tubing with bigger diameter and recovering that steam through the smaller flexible tubing with return to the heat power source. This invention provides a novelty solution for recovering hydrocarbons, since it provides heat power inside oil wells with high viscosity for speeding and increasing production by means of a closed steam circulation system with return that is fully isolated from oil production, which requires less power resources to renew the injected steam.

Self-contained portable unit for steam generation and injection by means of injector wellhead hanger of coiled jacketed capillary tubing with closed circuit and procedure for its operations in oil wells


An apparatus (10) for providing stitching along the edges of material panels on a semi-automatic basis includes a sewing machine (28) and a material locator assembly (30). The locator assembly (30) incorporates a guide member (62) with a predetermined guide edge for engaging the edges of the material panels prior to sewing. Sensor (46) senses the presence of a material panel in proximity with the sewing machine (28). Sensor (70) senses engagement with guide member (62) by a material panel. A clamp assembly (122) selectively immobilizes each material panel after sewing and before collection by stacker assembly (34). Preferably, air flow is directed through ports (50) formed in a portion of the working surface adjacent to the sewing machine (28) to facilitate advancement of each material panel.

Garments are constructed by interconnecting panels of fabric material. The fabric material is typically woven from natural or synthetic textile fibers. Because woven materials have a tendency to become frayed at the edges, a serge or wraparound stitch is usually provided about the periphery of each fabric panel before assembly into the garment to prevent fraying. Either single thread or multiple thread serge stitches can be utilized. The provision of serge stitching comprises an important step in the production of high quality garments.
Traditionally, panels of fabric have been provided with serge stitching by individuals operating sewing machines. Since the various sections comprising a particular garment are of irregular configurations, much dexterity and experience are required of an operator to develop proficiency at serge stitching. Rapid coordination of the operator's eyes, hands and feet is necessary. Considerable skill is thus involved at high rates of production. There have been some attempts in the past to automate this stage of garment production. One approach has been the use of complex mechanical guiding devices. However, such devices are expensive and suffer from the further disadvantages of low reliability and high maintenance. There is thus a need for a less costly serge device requiring a minimum of manual intervention.


A high voltage converter circuit for an implantable cardiac device. The circuit includes a plurality of transistors that are connected in parallel to a battery and the primary winding of a transformer. A switching element is connected to the circuit so as to periodically connect and disconnect the capacitors to the primary winding of the transformer to thereby induce the capacitors to be charged and periodically discharged across the transformer into charging capacitors. A circuit also preferably includes a disconnect circuit that will disconnect the capacitors from the battery during periods of non-use to inhibit unwanted dissipation of the battery's energy.

Implantable medical devices are devices that are implanted within the body of a patient so as to provide therapy to an organ of the patient. These types of devices have become increasingly common for the treatment of a variety of different medical ailments. For example, implantable cardiac stimulation devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD's), have been in use for many years and provide electrical stimuli to the heart of the patient to regulate heart function. Similarly, neural stimulators are also now being implanted into patients' bodies in order to provide electrical stimulation to selected regions of the patient's brain to regulate brain function. Other medical devices can include devices for stimulating other organs or tissues, such as the pancreas, kidneys, etc.
Typically, an implantable medical device is equipped with a battery that supplies low voltage DC power to the implanted device. Generally, known low voltage batteries such as lithium, iodine, silver vanadium oxide (SVO) or lithium monofluoride batteries are used to provide power to the implantable device. Typically, these batteries provide output voltages in the range of 2 to 4 volts DC. However, it common for the implantable medical device to provide comparatively high voltage waveforms to an organ of the patient in order to regulate the organ's function.
For example, ICD's will often provide waveforms having peak voltage of approximately 800 volts or greater to the heart of a patient in order to terminate ventricular fibrillation. Similarly, neural stimulators will provide voltages in the range of 20 to 50 volts in order to terminate epileptic episodes. Hence, many implantable medical devices are equipped with a high voltage converter that uses the relatively low output voltage provided by the battery to develop a high voltage output signal that can be applied to one or more high voltage capacitors. When the capacitor(s) voltage reaches a programmed value, the charge stops and next the capacitor(s) voltage is applied to the organ of the patient using specialized HV switching means.
A typical high voltage converter used in implantable medical devices generally has a primary winding of a transformer being connected to the positive and negative plates of a battery via a switch, such as a transistor. One or more bypass capacitors are connected in parallel to the battery such that the bypass capacitors help maintain the voltage supplied to the transformer primary at a stable level during charging. A high voltage rectification circuit that includes one or more delivery capacitors is typically connected to the secondary winding of the transformer. Moreover, a switching network is generally attached to the switch such that the switch can be toggled at relatively high frequency. When the switch is turned on, an increasing current is provided to the primary winding of the transformer which stores energy as magnetic flux in the core of the transformer. When the switch is turned off, the stored energy is transferred from the core to the load via the secondary winding. Hence, by repeatedly cycling the switch at a relatively high frequency, energy can be transferred from the battery to the high voltage capacitors.
To improve the efficiency of this high voltage charging process, the bypass capacitors that are used are typically capacitors that have particularly low equivalent series resistance. Lower equivalent series resistance among the capacitors results in less of the battery's energy being dissipated in the form of heat in the resistance. Of course, in implanted medical devices, conservation of battery power is important as replacement of the battery often requires an invasive surgical procedure.
One common family of capacitors that is used as bypass capacitors in high voltage converter circuits for implantable medical devices is ceramic dielectric capacitors with a Y5V dielectric. Advantageously, ceramic capacitors are known to have particularly low equivalent series resistance and, thus, increases the efficiency of converter circuits.
One problem with ceramic capacitors is that these types of capacitors are typically not self-healing. In other words, if cracks develop in the ceramic dielectric, leakage currents will then flow from one plate of the capacitor to the other. This leakage current also represents an unwanted dissipation of the battery's energy and discharge it in a relatively short period. Typically, with the electrolytic capacitors that are also commonly used in implantable medical devices, leakage paths that develop between the plates as a result of applied voltages are often repaired by the electrolyte. Consequently, electrolytic capacitors have reduced leakage currents after an internal defect but, unfortunately, they also have a higher equivalent series resistance.
Hence, while ceramic capacitors are generally preferred to be used as the bypass capacitors in high voltage converter circuits for implantable medical devices, these ceramic capacitors also may produce leakage paths through which battery power can be dissipated when the bypass capacitors are not being charged. Again, dissipation of battery power is undesirable due to the difficulties associated with replacing batteries in implantable medical devices and also the consequences of battery failure in an implanted device. Hence, there is a need for a high voltage converter circuit for an implantable medical device that permits efficient charging of the HV capacitor but also reduces unwanted dissipation of battery power during the quiescent period of the high voltage converter circuit in an event of capacitors degradation. To this end, there is a need for a high voltage converter circuit for an implantable medical device with which high efficiency capacitors, such as ceramic capacitors, can be used as bypass capacitors while the effect of such leakage current that may occur with such types of capacitors can be reduced or eliminated.

High voltage converter for an implantable medical device


There is provided according to the invention a digital retractor to protect ndex finger, palm and thumb of the non-dominant hand of the surgeon during surgery, where the non-dominant hand is used to retract or position tissue. The retractor comprises a curved base plate which fits against the palmar surface of the index finger and extends toward the thumb, and includes one or two rings attached to the base plate through which the surgeon's index finger, and optionally also the long finger, are poised and positioned.

Various surgical procedures require the use of both hands; i.e., the dominant hand for incising or suturing, and the non-dominant hand for retracting tissue to provide physical or visual access. The use of the non-dominant hand in close proximity to sharp surgical instruments such as needles and scalpels presents the danger of injury to the hand. Cuts and punctures not only pose a danger in and of themselves, but present the often more serious risk of infection, including infection with HIV.
The risk of injury to the surgeon's non-dominant hand is notably present during wound closure, particularly when the non-dominant hand is used to elevate the fascia of the abdominal wall during the placement of sutures. This danger is increased by the fact it is often necessary to exert considerable force to elevate the facia, while at the same time inserting a needle from the opposite side of the fascia toward the underlying non-dominant hand.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine of The City University of New York


Computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate performance locations for clinical orders having one or more phases associated therewith, and for presenting order catalog content that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the clinical order are provided. Further provided are computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate a performance location for each phase of a multi-phase clinical order, and for presenting order catalog content for each phase that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the phase. Systems and methods for providing control of plan and phase initiation based at least upon a location associated with the chart encounter are also provided.

Clinical orders are requests placed by clinical or healthcare providers for, e.g., procedures, medications, laboratory tests, evaluations, treatments, and nursing tasks to be done for a patient. In a non-electronic clinical order system, clinical orders from different categories in one healthcare plan (such as medications, labs, diagnostic tests, and nursing orders) are generally documented on a single piece of paper. A healthcare plan includes multiple orders for treatment for a particular problem or ailment. For example, a healthcare plan for a cancer patient may include multiple medication orders and laboratory testing orders. Once these orders are reviewed by a healthcare provider, the necessary orders for different categories are forwarded to the correct location to be completed or filled. For example, if one order includes a medication, a medication paper order may be sent to the pharmacy to be filled. If one of the orders in the healthcare plan is for a laboratory test, a paper laboratory requisition form may be sent to the laboratory. In the paper healthcare ordering system, it is typically possible to go back to the original paper order set containing all of the orders for the healthcare plan. An example of a healthcare plan or procedure would be chemotherapy protocol that includes multiple orders for medications, laboratory tests, and diagnostic tests. Another example would be an arthroscopic surgical protocol that includes a pre-operative consultation, a surgical procedure, post-operative care, and physical therapy.
In an electronic healthcare order environment, if a set of orders is placed for a healthcare plan, once the orders have been reviewed, they are electronically dispersed to the appropriate location, such as the pharmacy or laboratory application. U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/022,540, 11/020,489, and 11/021,509 (each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describe methods and systems for creating and maintaining associations among the orders in a healthcare plan in a computerized environment such that the associations may be accessed and viewed after one or more of the orders is distributed to the proper application to be filled.
Often times a clinical order (or set of clinical orders) will set forth a healthcare plan having components which span multiple phases. For instance, a healthcare plan for a chemotherapy protocol may specify that a particular medication is to be given in a specified dosage on three separate days, e.g., Day 1, Day 8, and Day 15. In this instance, each day may be viewed as a separate phase. Phases, however, are not limited to units of time. In simple terms, a phase is merely a plan and, accordingly, may be a unit of time, a diagnostic grouping, or any other sub-plan within a healthcare plan. In another example, a healthcare plan for an arthroscopic surgical protocol may specify that a pre-operative consultation, a surgical procedure, post-operative care, and physical therapy are to occur for a particular patient. In this instance, each of the pre-operative consultation, the surgical procedure, the post-operative care and the physical therapy are different phases of the clinical order for the arthroscopic surgical protocol.
Typically, in an electronic healthcare order environment, when a clinical order (or set of orders) spans multiple phases, each component of each phase appears to a user as a separate order. More importantly, each component of each phase appears to the electronic environment as a separate order. This means that each component of each phase must be entered into the electronic system separately and any modification to a particular component must be entered for that component in each of the phases in which it may appear. For instance, in the above chemotherapy protocol example, if it is desired to modify the dosage of the medication that is to be given to the patient on each of Days 1, 8 and 15, such modification must be separately entered for each of the three phases. Such duplicate entering is not only inefficient but increases the possibility of human error.
U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/359,011, 11/359,012, and 11/359,013 (each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describe methods and systems for associating components which span multiple phases of a healthcare plan and permitting modification of components thereof to be applied to all components associated therewith. In this way, modifications may be entered one time instead of once for each phase to which they apply.
Utilizing a plan-based system such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/359,011, 11/359,012 and 11/359,013, healthcare plans spanning multiple phases may be ordered by a clinician or other healthcare provider as a unit. That is, a clinician or other healthcare provider may order a chemotherapy or arthroscopic surgery protocol for a particular patient, and each phase associated with the ordered protocol will be ordered. However, such multi-phase healthcare plans may only be ordered if the plan is capable of being performed at the same location or facility. For instance, it may be possible for a clinician to place an order for a chemotherapy protocol as it is likely that each phase of the chemotherapy protocol is going to be performed at the same location, e.g., the hospital or outpatient treatment facility. With respect to the arthroscopic surgery protocol, however, it is likely that some of the phases are not going to be performed at the same location. For instance, the surgical procedure and post-operative care are likely to be performed at a hospital while the physical therapy is likely to be performed at an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Thus, in the arthroscopic surgery protocol example, since all phases are not to be performed at the same location, ordering of the protocol as a single unit by placing a single clinical order is not possible.
Generally, the primary reason that a healthcare plan having multiple phases that are not all to be performed at the same location cannot be ordered by placing a single clinical order is because of the order catalog options made available to the ordering clinician or other healthcare provider. That is, when viewing the order catalog from which to select plans to be performed, the content of the order catalog that is made available to the ordering clinician includes only those plans which can be performed in association with a particular location—generally the location of the chart encounter (that is, the encounter the clinician or other healthcare provider has currently selected within the patient's chart). Thus, if a clinician is currently engaged with a chart encounter associated with a hospital, only plans that can be performed in their entirety at the hospital will be made available to the clinician for selection. In this way, not only are available plans limited to those plans which can be performed in their entirety at a single location, the single location at which they can be performed is the location of the chart encounter. Thus, healthcare plans that include multiple phases, wherein at least two of the phases are to be performed at differing locations with respect to one another, must be ordered as separate orders rather than as a single unit. Further, even plans having multiple phases, each of which is to be performed at the same location, cannot be ordered in association with a chart encounter as such plans will not be made available to the clinician or other healthcare provider for selection.

Presenting multi-phase clinical order content based upon a designated performance location


A two-part replaceable cassette-like device is provided, having a disposable cassette portion and a light sealed buffer box, having a pair of drive rollers therein and which is detachably fastened to the disposable cassette, whereby the photosensitive material driven out of the cassette will be driven through the light sealed buffer box into a camera processor. Upon exhaustion of the photosensitive media within the cassette, the buffer box is removed from the cassette for reuse and the cassette is thrown away.

This invention relates to the field of cassette-like devices containing photosensitive film for use in connection with industrial cameras.
In accordance with a first prior art approach, a cassette is provided containing a roll of photosensitive media. The film is driven from the cassette by a pair of rollers external to the cassette and within the camera. One problem with this type of approach is that the lead end becomes fogged when the cassette is removed from the industrial camera since the lead end must always be present external of the cassette. Should this not occur, it would be impossible to drive the photosensitive media out of the cassette by means of the external rollers upon subsequent use of the cassette.
Another approach is to provide a pair of rollers within the cassette which are capable of eliminating the above-mentioned problem of fogging as the leader may be driven totally within the cassette and thereafter driven out again. This approach, however, is costly since the rollers, being inside the cassette, are thrown out when the cassette is disposed of upon the exhaustion of the photosensitive media therein.
Furthermore, through the use of both of these approaches, it is possible that the film may be driven by error all the way into the cassette (in the second approach beyond the "bite" of the roller pair) so that the media cannot be thereafter driven out of the cassette to thereby waste the remaining material therein.
It is thus highly desirable to provide a replaceable cassette-like supply device wherein the roller portion associated therewith is preserved for use with subsequent disposable cassettes in the interest of economy and the material is not fogged due to the elimination of the extended lead edge.

Two-part photosensitive media replaceable cassette supply device


The present invention intends to provide a cured material of a silicon-containing polyimide having high heat resistance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, no brittleness and high hardness.. In order to enable liquid coating and impregnation, a silicon-containing soluble polyimide precursor is first prepared. The precursor may be prepared by mixing five compounds of ##STR1## (R.sup.1 is a tetravalent carbon cyclic aromatic group), NH.sub.2 --R.sup.2 --NH.sub.2 (R.sup.2 is an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group, an aromatic aliphatic group or a carbon cyclic aromatic group, a polysiloxane group or 1,3,5-triazine group having a substituent), NH.sub.2 --R.sup.3 --SiR.sup.4.sub.3-k X.sup.1.sub.k and NH.sub.2 --R.sup.3 --SiR.sub.3-m.sup.4 X.sup.1.sub.m (R.sup.3 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.s --, ##STR2## wherein s is an integer of 1 to 4, and R.sup.4 is an alkyl group, a phenyl group or an alkyl-substituted phenyl group and SiX.sub.4.sup.2, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are independently an alkoxy group, an acetoxy group, a halogen or a hydroxyl group), and then heating the mixture. Coating or impregnation of this precursor is then given and afterward heated at a temperature of 50.degree. to 500.degree. C., thereby obtaining the cured material of the silicon-containing polyimide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silicon-containing soluble polyimide precursor, a cured material of the polyimide which is obtained by heating the above-mentioned precursor to crosslink/cure it, and a method for preparing them.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Polyimide resins have maximum heat resistance and low coefficient of thermal expansion considering organic polymer compounds, but these characteristics are inferior to those of inorganic compounds.
In order to improve surface hardness, wear resistance and the like of the polyimide resin with the intention of causing these properties to come up to those of inorganic compounds, a means for filling the polyimide resin with an inorganic material is taken. In this case, however, breakage is liable to occur between the organic material and the polyimide resin inconveniently, and therefore such a means is not always considered to be preferable.
On the other hand, silica which is one example of the inorganic materials has practically preferable characteristics, e.g., low coefficient of thermal expansion and high hardness in addition to excellent heat resistance, but it is brittle and poor in processability and moldability. For this reason, use applications of silica are limited. For the purpose of improving the processability and moldability, a variety of compounds have been synthesized in which groups which are bonded to each silicon are partially replaced with alkyl groups. This technique is successful to some extent, for example, as polydimethylsiloxanes and the like, but such compounds involve drawbacks such as noticeable deterioration of heat resistance, perceptible increase in coefficient of thermal expansion and outstanding degradation of hardness.
For the elimination of these drawbacks, many techniques of chemically combining polyimides with silicon compounds have been reported (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 143328/1982, 7473/1983 and 13631/1983). These techniques are based on the partial replacement of a diamine component, which is the raw material of the polyimide, by a polydisiloxane which is terminated with diamines at both the ends thereof.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 32162/1983 has suggested a crosslinked polyimide having a siloxane group which can be prepared by mixing a polyamide acid, which is terminated with reactive silicon compounds at both the ends thereof, with a polysiloxane having hydroxyl groups at both the ends thereof, and then heating the mixture.
Furthermore, as a process of forming silica films, there has been suggested a technique of calcining a reactive silane such as an alkoxy silane or an acetoxy silane (e.g., Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 16488/1977 and 20825/1977, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 34258/1980 and 250032/1986, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,009).
Products disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 143328/1982, 7473/1983 and 13631/1983 still have disadvantages such as noticeable deterioration of heat resistance, perceptible increase in coefficient of thermal expansion and outstanding degradation of hardness, as in the above-mentioned polydimethylsiloxane and the like.
The compound disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 32162/1983 is excellent in affinity for inorganic compounds but cannot provide any materials having low coefficients of thermal expansion.
With regard to the above-mentioned technique of calcining a reactive silane such as an alkoxy silane or an acetoxy silane, films synthesized by this technique are very brittle, and the thickness of the films is at most several thousand angstroms.
As discussed above, the conventional techniques have various problems, and thus it is now demanded to develop satisfactory substances for the boundary between inorganic and organic materials.

Silicon-containing soluble polyimide precursor, its cured material, and method for preparing them


A system and method for simultaneously capturing multiple pictures or videos on an electronic device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes a first camera and a second camera. The first camera is capable of taking a first picture, while the second camera is capable of taking a second picture. The first picture and the second picture may be simultaneously displayed in a “picture in picture” format on the display screen, stored into memory of the electronic device or transmitted to a remote location.

In recent years, a wide variety of features have been incorporated into portable electronic devices. For example, products have recently appeared in the marketplace that incorporate telephones, personal computers, personal digital assistants (PDA's), digital cameras, video cameras, and other items into a single device. One such device is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,424,843, issued to Nokia oyj and incorporated herein by reference. Another such product is marketed by Nokia under the COMMUNICATOR trademark.
At the same time that these portable electronic devices have become more wide-ranging in their capabilities, users have simultaneously become increasingly demanding as to the features they would like to see in these products. For example, the business traveler does not want to have to carry a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a small personal computer while in transit. Instead, the business traveler would prefer to have all of these features incorporated into a single device. The same phenomenon has also occurred with individuals purchasing these devices for their own personal use. Furthermore, people using these devices for personal use have also shown a desire for additional features relating to the "camera" feature of the device. In recent years, the incorporation of a camera on a portable telephone has exploded in popularity, which has also led to people expecting new features for use with the camera.

Portable electronic devices with picture in picture capability


A power optimizer system for power closure panels includes a closure panel power actuator system comprising at least a motor operatively connected to a vehicle closure panel. A controller is configured to determine an optimal electrical current draw for the power actuator system according to one or more inputs relating at least to a vehicle battery status, a vehicle ambient temperature, a vehicle grade, and a vehicle climate control system status. Methods of modeling/optimizing the appropriate electrical current draw for power closure systems operating in varying voltage, temperature, grade, and climate control system conditions relative to a vehicle, or other similar mechanisms are also described.

It is known to provide vehicles with powered closure panels such as liftgates, decklids, side-doors, tailgates, movable glass panels, hoods, tonneau covers, and others. The power-assisted closure panels may be operated by a number of mechanisms, including without intending any limitation key fob switches, dash panel switches, liftgate switches, motion sensors, voice-command sensors, associated with the closure panels, and others. Typical power controlled closure panels include a power actuator such as a motor and gearing providing sufficient torque to translate the closure panel between an open and a closed configuration. Other conventional power controlled systems include pneumatic cylinders or hydraulic systems having motor-driven fluid pumps, and unpowered mechanical assist components that work in conjunction with a standalone powered motor or actuator.
It is also known to provide lift-assist mechanisms for power controlled closure panels. Such lift assist mechanisms include torsion bars, torsion springs, air spring cylinders, tension springs, counterbalance struts, and others. Lift assist mechanisms reduce the load on the power actuator used to translate the closure panel between the open and the closed configuration. This allows use of much smaller motors, making optimization of performance all the more important and significant in achieving longer component life.
Still more, it is known to provide programmable power-assisted closure panels. As examples, a height to which a power closure panel such as a decklid or liftgate may be pre-programmed or predetermined, to avoid having the panel strike an overlying low surface such as a parking garage roof, sprinkler head, or the like. Moreover, it is known to provide a "stop and hold" function whereby the power closure panel may be stopped manually or automatically such as by a sensor to avoid contacting an obstacle during an opening or closing operation. A representative system providing such a "stop and hold" function is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,547,058, the entirety of the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Various environmental factors may affect power closure panel performance. As non-limiting examples, it is known that extremes of temperature and grade (i.e., a nose-up or nose-down orientation of a vehicle or the angle at which a vehicle is oriented relative to a horizontal plane) affect performance of power closure panels. In such conditions, the torque required for the power assist mechanism increases, and therefore the electrical current draw required by the power actuator likewise increases. For example, when a vehicle is positioned on level ground and/or at normal ambient temperature, a power controlled mechanism must apply a certain amount of opening/closing torque or force and braking to translate the closure panel between an open and a closed configuration. On a grade positioning the vehicle in a nose-down orientation, the closure panel must be pulled "uphill" in order to close the panel, and an increased amount of torque or force is required. On a grade positioning the vehicle nose-up, additional dynamic braking or force is required to prevent the closure panel from overextending during opening. At low temperatures, electrical systems become more efficient and therefore can be operated at a reduced electrical current draw compared to higher temperatures.
For programmable power-assisted closure panel mechanisms, the potential for extremes of temperature and grade must be factored into the programming, i.e. the programming must be configured to compensate for such potential extremes of grade and/or temperature. Conventional programmable power-assisted closure panels must be programmed by trial and error, and attempt to meet all conditions of voltage, temperature, grade, load on gate (for example, snow), etc. using a single performance sensor calibration by way of controlling speed of operation of the lift assist mechanism, for example a strut. Such conventional systems cannot automatically accommodate variations in operating conditions, for example extremes of voltage, temperature, grade, load on gate, etc., which significantly adversely affects the torque required of the power mechanisms and therefore the electrical current draw required for the power actuator to operate the closure panel. A generalized approach to operating a power closure system must ordinarily use current that would be higher than required as these systems have not had the benefit of being customized for the specific conditions of operation, adversely affecting component life.
To solve this and other problems, the present disclosure relates to a performance optimizing system for a power closure panel. The system is configured to adapt to varying conditions of voltage, temperature and grade extremes, and reacts to those conditions by altering the speed of the lift assist mechanism, by adjusting the power required to deliver optimized voltage and current that controls the closure panel opening/closing speed to achieve efficient function despite extreme conditions. The systems further adapt to other variables which can impact closure panel closing force (and thereby the required voltage/current that must be supplied to the power closure panel to ensure a proper panel closing force/speed) such as passenger cabin air pressure and air exhaustion rate. Such an intelligent system, having the environmental input knowledge, would allow for implementation of for example, a SNOW LOAD mode, or other specific conditions where special operating performance parameters are required and are user selectable convenience features.

Power closure panel system performance optimizer


A lighting device which is well adapted for inviting public attention by a conspicuous and decorative display of bright lights, is disclosed. The device includes at least one light source which is moveably mounted to a base. A motor and drive mechanism including a bent shaft is operatively associated with the light sources to orbit each light source around a respective center point. In many embodiments of the invention the drive mechanism is also adapted for continuously varying the angular positioning of each light source and of the emitted rays of light relative to the vertical direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved lighting device which has at least one light source continuously moveable in a predetermined aesthetically pleasing unique pattern, and which is well adapted for providing a highly decorative display of light for creating attraction for the public.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
High intensity searchlights and beacons are well known in the prior art. A device comprising a very high intensity searchlight similar in construction to searchlights for enemy aircraft widely used in World War II, is currently in widespread commercial use for advertising and like purpose. More particularly, high intensity lights are currently in use for attracting public attention at movie theaters, shopping centers and similar places by shining a very bright light beam into the night sky.
The state-of-the-art high intensity lights currently used for inviting public attention are usually mounted for rotation relative to a stationary base about two mutually perpendicular axes so that the resulting light beam may be moved in several directions across the sky.
Serious shortcomings of the above described state-of-the-art high intensity lights are their relatively high power consumption and their continuous need for an attendant operator. In fact, the high intensity lights presently used for inviting public attention usually derive their power requirement from a hydrocarbon fuel powered portable generator associated with the light.
In addition to the above mentioned high intensity lights and beacons, a relatively large number of decorative or warning light displays were provided in the prior art wherein ordinary "low power input" lightbulbs of fluorescent tubes are moved in various predetermined patterns. Disclosures relating to such prior art lighting devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,531,636; 2,196,424; 1,108,190; 1,960,618; 2,259,999; 2,063,451; 1,553,902; 2,225,401; 2,136,429, 1,576,219; 2,221,483; and 2,446,333.
A difficulty in constructing such lighting devices having moving, particularly rotating or orbiting light sources, lies in the fact that electric power must usually be provided to the light sources through brushes and rotating slip rings. For this reason, in spite of the extensive efforts of the prior art as evidenced by the above cited patents, certain types of highly decorative and attention inviting continuous motion patterns have not been imparted to decorative or warning lighting devices of the prior art.
In an application for a United States patent having Ser. No. 95,223 filed by Marlowe A. Pichel on Nov. 19, 1979, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, a lighting device is described which includes a plurality of high intensity lights continuously moveable in a predetermined rotating or orbiting pattern. Although this lighting device is well adapted for providing aesthetic pleasure and inviting public attention, it still requires the use of slip rings and brushes to provide elecric power to the light sources.
The present invention is directed to a lighting device which overcomes many of the above noted shortcomings of the prior art lighting devices. Furthermore, the lighting device of the present invention in its construction and operation represents a significant advance over the lighting device disclosed in the above referenced United States patent application.

Lighting device for creating public attraction


A one step process for preparing cellulose diacetates from processed film having cellulose triacetate as a base. The process involves use of an organic acid such as acetic acid and a solvolysis agent such as an alkanol or water. Hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst are optionally employed. The process allows for a simple way of recycling a material that presently is not recycled to any appreciable extent.

Cellulose diacetates (CDAs) are used in many applications from filter tow and plastics to pharmaceuticals and coatings. These CDAs are generally prepared by the acetylation of cellulose to the triacetate and then back hydrolyzed to the required DS/AGU. Currently plasticized cellulose triacetate (CTA) is used as a film base for photographic films, movie films, some graphic arts films, and in the USSR for some X ray films. From films that contain silver (B&W films, some graphic arts film, and X ray film) the silver is recovered. No large use of the CTA film base in areas other than these has been developed.
Josef Fabian in a Czech. patent (Cs 155,036 (1972): CA 82:141853k) discusses the recovery of cellulose esters used as film supports. In this patent, he took processed film that has had the image layers removed and then processed this material to recover the cellulose acetate (unspecified degree of substitution).
S. G. Tereshkova et al. disclose a method of restoring triacetate base of cine film (S. G. Tereshkova, E. A. Prodan, O. P. Ol'shevskaya, I. S. Panchev, SU 1,282,064 (1987): CA 107:31144g). This is a multistep process that used aqueous sulfuric acid, water (steam), and acetone to remove the image layers from photographic film. The final DS and form of the film is not mentioned.
The extrusion of "worn out" triacetate photo graphic films is disclosed by L. G. Tovkalo et al (L. G. Tovkalo, 0. A. Fridman, L. N. Malinin, Plast. Massy., (7) 54 (1982): CA 97:110935u). The films are plasticized and extruded at 230.degree. C. to produce reels or cassettes.
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., of Japan disclosed the recycling of photographic films (JP 55118829 (1980): CA 94:93566t). In this patent, they discuss the embossing of scrap films prior to removing the emulsion layers in an "appropriate solution."
It is well known in the art that CDAs may be prepared by the hydrolysis or methanolysis of CTA; however, this type chemistry has not been applied to processed film base containing plasticizers, gelatin, dyes, and the like. The hydrolysis of cellulose triacetate has been carried out in acetic acid with no catalyst (L. A. Hiller, J. Polymer Science, 10, pp. 385-423 (1953)) with strong acid catalysts (H. Yabune, Y. Ikemoto, Y. Kato, M. Uchiada, U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,605 (1984) and K. C. Campbell, J. M. Davis, R. E. Woods, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,642 (assigned to Celanese Corporation) (1973)), and where the strong acid catalyst was neutralized prior to hydrolysis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,972). None of these processes start with processed film.
Since the above processes for recycling processed film are multistep processes (removing emulsion followed by further treatment), there is a need for a one step, economical process to convert processed CTA film into a useful material such as CDA. This process must remove the gelatin, plasticizer, dyes, and other extraneous materials in the processed film. The process should be robust enough to handle materials from various sources without causing processing problems. The conditions of hydrolysis should not be severe enough to cause substantial molecular weight degradation of the polymer.

Preparation of cellulose diacetate by recycling processed film


Disclosed is a facsimile device enabling data transmission in high efficiency independently of the direction in which an original is drawn into the facsimile device. The facsimile device includes a scanner for reading the original, an image memory for storing a read image signal, a circuit for detecting the direction of text lines of a read pixel signal, a circuit for determining whether or not the text line direction is close to a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of arrangement of memory cells in the image memory, a circuit for executing an operation for rotating the image signal by a predetermined angle when a determination is made that the text line direction is closer to the longitudinal direction, a compression circuit for reading the rotated image signal in the lateral direction of the arrangement of the memory cells, to compress the read image signal, and a transmission circuit for transmitting the compressed signal onto lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to facsimile devices and, more particularly, to a facsimile device capable of transmitting an image in high efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, facsimile devices have been playing a significant role in the field of data communication. The facsimile devices serve to read images printed or hand-written on paper or the like by employing scanners including, for example, CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensors and to convert the read images into a digital signal. This digital signal is converted into a compressed digital signal by a coding system called MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ), MMR (Modified MR), etc. The compressed digital signal is then converted into an analog signal, which is then transmitted onto telephone lines.
FIG. 1 shows the principle of reading of an original in a facsimile device in accordance with the CCITT recommendation. With reference to FIG. 1, an original 10 of ISOA4 size, for example, is read in a main scanning direction by a CCD sensor or the like. One main scanning line is divided into 1728 pixels and then converted into a digital signal in accordance with the luminance thereof. Main scanning is repeated repeats in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. When the scanning in the sub scanning direction is completed, the original 10 is entirely converted into the digital signal.
An image which is converted into a digital signal is compressed by the above-described system of MH, MR, MMR or the like. The compressed signal is transmitted onto lines via a modem and then transmitted to another facsimile device on the end of the line.
A processing reverse to that of the sending end is performed at the receiving end. More specifically, the facsimile device at the receiving end converts a received analog signal into a digital signal. The converted digital signal is converted into an uncompressed digital signal by an expansion processing reverse to the compression processing. The resultant digital signal is printed by the same procedure as that employed when the original is read, so that the original image is obtained.
The compression/expansion of the original is directed to enhancing utilization efficiency of the lines and to reduction of communication time by reducing the amount of data to be transmitted.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show as an example the coding system of the MH method. An MH code is based on a one-dimensional run-length coding system. In this system, data of one line is formed of a series of variable-length codes. Each code represents a white or black run-length. A white run-length is called a "white run". A black run-length is called a "black run". A white run and a black run are generated alternately. All lines start with white run codes so as to ensure synchronization of signals for a receiver. If an actual scanning line starts with a black run, a code representing the white run having a length 0 is transmitted. The MH code includes two types of codes, i.e., a terminating code and a makeup code.
FIG. 3 shows the terminating code. The terminating code represents the run-length from 0 to 63 pixels. In order to enhance compression efficiency, a shorter code is allotted to a run-length frequently appearing in image information.
FIG. 4 shows the makeup code. The makeup code represents the run-length from 64 to 1728 pixels in combination with the terminating code. More specifically, the run-length from 64 to 1728 pixels is first coded by a makeup code indicating a run-length equal to or shorter than that run-length. A terminating code thereafter follows indicating the difference between the actual run-length and that represented by the makeup code.
The receiver can obtain uncompressed data by comparing the received data and a previously prepared table for decoding.
As described above, the compression of the transmitted data employing the codes enables the facsimile device to perform the image transmission in high efficiency and in short time.
The facsimile device, however, has the following disadvantages. When original 10 is properly supplied to the device, and the main scanning direction matches the extending direction of text lines 12, as shown in FIG. 1, highly efficient compression by coding is achieved.
However, when original 10 is supplied on the skew, and the main scanning direction does not match the direction of text lines 12, as shown in FIG. 2, the efficiency of compression decreases. This results from the following reasons.
As above mentioned, in the coding system, shorter codes are allotted to the run-lengths frequently appearing in the image information, whereas relatively long codes are allotted to the run-lengths less frequently appearing. Thus, when the direction of a main scanning line 14 read by a single main scanning does not match the direction of text lines 12, as shown in FIG. 2, the frequency of appearance of the run-lengths becomes irregular, resulting in lower efficiency of data compression.
In addition, suppose that the text lines are arranged with spacing d0 as shown in FIG. 1. When original 10 is supplied to the facsimile device in a proper direction, the main scanning line existing within this spacing d0 includes only one white run. Thus, an image of this part can be coded in very high efficiency by employing the above-described makeup code. On the other hand, when original 10 is supplied on the skew to the facsimile device as shown in FIG. 2, the scanning line including only one white run in the sub scanning direction is limited within a spacing d1. As apparent from the figures, spacing d1 is considerably shorter than spacing d0. Accordingly, the compression efficiency in the case shown in FIG. 2 is significantly degraded as compared to the case shown in FIG. 1.
To solve the foregoing problem, a facsimile device and the like performing the function of detecting and then correcting the skew of the original prior to coding are proposed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 55-154871, 62-206962, 63-88963, etc.
In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 55-154871, an original reading method is proposed in which paper including specific marks attached thereto is employed as an original in a facsimile device. The skew of the original can be recognized by detecting the marks upon reading of the original. Data is subject to the transformation of a coordinate system so as to compensate for this skew of the original. This enables an increase in efficiency of coding.
In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 62-206962, it is proposed to employ in an original scanner of a facsimile device, sensors for detecting the time when a leading edge of a supplied original passes. Detecting the difference in respective times when two parts of the leading edge of the original supplied at predetermined speed pass a predetermined sensor makes it possible to specify the spatial relationship between those two parts, and simultaneously the size of the supplied original. The amount of skew of the original can be informed based on the information of the spatial relationship and the size of the original. The compression efficiency of data can be enhanced by subjecting the data to the transformation of the coordinate system so as to compensate for the obtained skew of the original.
In Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 63-88963, it is proposed to adopt to scanning of an original in a facsimile device, a method of detecting the time when one end (extending in a sub scanning direction) of the original is read in response to a change in signal level caused in reading of the original. In each of the main scannings, writing of data into an image memory starts upon the time when the end of the paper is detected. By employing this method, one end of the original is stored in the image memory in such a manner that the one end always be parallel with ends of the image memory. An image per se becomes the one from which the skew of the original is removed, resulting in enhanced compression efficiency.
The foregoing conventional art, however, still presents the following disadvantages. A language in which a text can be written in both vertical and lateral lines is taken as an example such as the Japanese language. In such a language, such a case may occur, as shown in FIG. 4A, that paper of A4 size on which the text is vertically written may be supplied to an original reading unit of a facsimile device in a longitudinal direction of the paper. In this case, compression efficiency can not be enhanced even if the skew of the original is detected and corrected.
Further, even when laterally written documents are supplied to the reading unit, the same problems take place if the documents are fed in a direction crossing the direction of text lines.

Facsimile device with skew correction and text line direction detection


An automatic feeding apparatus including a body member for being coupled to an aquarium, a hopper for receiving a canister of fish food, a valve device movably coupled within the body for periodically receiving the fish food in a first position and for discharging in a second position the fish food into the aquarium. An actuating device is provided for continuously rotating the valve between the first and second position. A clutch is interposed between the actuator and the valve for allowing the operational position of the valve to be continuously adjusted between the first and second positions, whereby the exact discharge time of the food into the aquarium may be adjusted. A plurality of time striations are included on the body member and a time indicator is coupled to and rotates with the valve so as to indicate the relative time interval before the discharging of the fish food.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus, and more particularly, to a feeding apparatus of the type which is coupled to an aquarium for periodically feeding a predetermined amount of food to the fish therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many people find substantial rewards in raising and caring for various types of small animals. While the present invention relates primarily to a fish feeding device, the apparatus will be adaptable for feeding various other types of animals.
An aquarium may be viewed as a predominantly self-contained eco-system in that the waste and by-products of one population of the aquarium are utilized by another population of the aquarium as life sustaining elements. However, the recent popularity of exotic fresh and salt water aquariums having unusual and rare fish populations requires careful eco-system balancing. It is highly desirable to periodically provide a healthy and nutritious food for the fish, and it is also highly desirable to meter the distribution of the food so that the ecological balance of the aquarium will not be disturbed. That is, too much food added to the aquarium will accumulate and cause an unhealthy environment for the fish. On the other hand, too little food will have a detrimental effect on the health and growth of the fish.
It is also helpful to feed the fish on a routine that does not vary from day to day. Experience indicates that the fish are more docile in their behavior if adequate amounts of food are periodically disbursed. Typically the fish in an aquarium are fed once each 12-hour period. Some owners prefer to feed their fish only once every 24 hours, but this tends to cause overfeeding and a partial accumulation of food about the aquarium until the fish have fully consumed the deposited food. Manual feeding of the fish food is preferred by some owners, but consistent manual feeding is not always possible in view of work routines and schedule requirements which force aquarium owners to leave town for several days or even weeks at a time.
The careful balance maintained in the eco-system of the aquarium will allow the fish and other populations of the aquarium to exist for extended periods of time if the fish are fed predetermined amounts of food at regular intervals. The present invention is related directly toward the dispensing of a predetermined amount of food on a periodic basis over a long term so that the owner of the aquarium will be free from these daily responsibilities. Various other inventors have sought to design similar automatic feeding devices for other animals or aquariums, but each of these inventions falls short of the economy, flexibility and accuracy of the automatic feeding device described herein.
One complex automatic fish feeder is disclosed by Suchowski in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,299, which has been assigned to the Hartz Mountain Corporation of Harrison, N.J. This automatic fish feeder is air-operated. A cup travels through a hopper containing the fish food in order to scoop a predetermined amount of the food and to deposit it into the aquarium via a suitable chute. The high cost of manufacturing the Suchowski device and its inherent complexity substantially detract from its desirability as an inexpensive and reliable automatic feeding device.
Marx, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,371, discloses an automatic fish feeding device which utilizes a synchronous electric motor to rotate a drum which dispenses a predetermined quantity of fish food over a given period of time. The drum disclosed by Marx must be filled by opening a small door in the container and filling the container with a funnel from a larger quantity of food. Marx also uses a scoop having a variable size inlet which is moved through the loosely stored food. This type of loading action for the food depositing subsystem is likely to foul when moisture causes the stored fish food to clump. Large clumps of the food may then harden and will not allow sufficient smaller quantities of food to pass through the open mouth. The existence of these problems are characterized by the existence of a movable hammer which is required to strike the dispensing vessel to dislodge the food stored therein. In contrast to the form of the invention disclosed by Marx, it is more desirable to vary the size of the dispensing container in order to control the amount of the food deposited in the aquarium rather than varying the size of the mouth of the container.
Malek, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,767, discloses a fish feeder which utilizes a synchronous motor and a cam in order to rotate typical fish food containers. The adjustable aperature in the mouth of the container is utilized to control the amount of the fish food which is dispensed. The synchronous motor and cam merely shake the container in a manner similar to the motion of the hand. Experience indicates that the aperatures in the fish food container will easily clog because of the moisture which is continuously present immediately above the surface of the aquarium. Thus, the Malek device does not provide for an accurate and reliable means for regulating the quantity of fish food actually dispensed.
Hoday, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,328, discloses an automatic fish feeding device which utilizes a synchronous motor to move several hoppers having food therein. Various aperatures are provided in the moving elements such that the food is dispensed when the aperatures are in the proper alignment. Various other fish feeders having similarly designed linearly actuated fish food dispensers are disclosed by Appleton in U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,029, Krag in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,109, Klein in U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,850 and Loudon in U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,790.
Kaunzner, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,693 discloses an automatic fish feeding device which employs a synchronous motor for rotating a container having a plurality of compartments therein. As the container is rotated the food moves from a main storage compartment, through a connecting tunnel, and into a dispensing compartment which is adjustable in size. The compartments are arranged so that the dispensing compartment is loaded on one portion of the movement cycle of the container and is unloaded on the opposite motion of the container. While this design provides for a periodic dispensing of a predetermined amount of food, the device is complex to produce, difficult to load and is subject to fouling with clumps of fish food as previously discussed with regard to other similar inventions. Also, it is difficult for the operator to accurately control the time at which the food is dispensed if it becomes necessary to adjust the feeding schedule.
Smrt, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,146, discloses an automatic feeding apparatus which stores the fish food in a hopper. A rotary valve is used as a gate for dispensing food from the hopper. The rotary valve is controlled by a ratchet wheel which is intermittently driven by a reciprocable actuator which is alternately engaged and then disengaged by a thermostatic metallic strip. During each heating and cooling cycle of the strip, the ratchet wheel advances allowing the dispensing container to also advance. FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this disclosure illustrate a generally disc-shaped dispenser which employs a container which is intermittently, but not continuously rotated to various positions in communication with the food storage hopper (two neutral positions, and one food dispensing position). While this disc-shaped dispenser reduces the possibility of the device jamming or dispensing the food unevenly, the size of the dispenser is not adjustable and it is difficult to adjust the time at which the food is dispensed. The use of a heated metallic strip also raises questions as to the safety of the device under certain failure modes. The construction of the device is not well-suited to economical production and reliable operating over long-term usage.