Apparatus for washing the wheels and tires of a vehicle includes an elongated tank into which vehicle to be washed enters and exits, and a plurality of impediments spaced along the bottom of the tank. The impediments are in the form of hollow angle irons with apertures formed in at least one of their side walls, and means is provided for spraying water through the apertures in the direction of the vehicle wheels and tires as the vehicle passes over the angle irons.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for washing vehicles. More specifically, it refers to such apparatus for washing heavy duty vehicles that have accumulated mud and grime on their wheels, tires and undercarriages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is represented by apparatus having the same general purpose as disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,164, which was issued on May 24, 1998 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,125, which was issued on Apr. 17, 1990. Each of those patents discloses an elongated trough through which a vehicle passes when mud and dirt are to be removed from its wheels and tires. Expressed generally, the bottom of the trough is configured so that either of two structural modes is presented to the vehicle passing through the trough. In the washing mode, an open-mesh grating is put in place and the vehicle is positioned on the grating, where it is subjected to washing fluid so that these undesirable materials are removed from the wheels and pass through the grating to the bottom of the trough. Then, in the debris removal mode, the grating is pivoted out of its horizontal position and, in a separate series of steps, the accumulated debris is manually removed from the trough bottom.
While the purpose of the present invention is the efficient washing of vehicle tires and wheels, which is the same general objective of my prior patents, the structure of my new invention represents a substantial improvement over those prior structures.
To place the achievements of my invention in perspective, it will be apparent to anyone who has ever observed trucks and other heavy vehicles leaving a construction site that the vehicles often carry mud from the site on their wheels and tires, particularly after that site has been subjected to rain, snow, or other forms of moisture. Even if a hose is used to try to remove such accumulated dirt, the task is at best only partially accomplished, and the truck emerges from the work zone leaving a trail of dirt and debris that is offensive to the eye and potentially dangerous to passing joggers and motorists, who may slip or skid on the mud. As a consequence, this is a widespread problem, and one that may be most expensive for the contractor from whose property the truck is exiting as he attempts to comply with local ordinances forbidding littering the streets as well as to avoid the displeasure of neighboring residents.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whereby mud and debris may be efficiently removed from the wheels and tires of vehicles as they leave a construction or other work site and do not deface non-work zones.
It is a more specific object of this invention that the offending materials be removed in a continuous manner so that there is a continuing, simultaneous washing and debris removal procedure being effected. This continuous washing and debris removal makes it possible for a line of trucks to be washed without interruptions occasioned by the need for debris removal, as was the case with the prior art.
To contrast this object with the operation of my prior, patented apparatus, through use of the present invention there is no need to stop the washing, pivot the grates upwardly out of the path of the trucks, remove the debris, and then lower the grates into truck supporting position once again. Not only does that prior art procedure give rise to delays in washing a line of vehicles, but it will be apparent that problems can arise in attempting to support heavy duty vehicles on open-mesh grates, as the supports for such grates will have to sustain great weights. Further, the washing apparatus, itself, is subjected to moisture and debris so that the pivot mechanisms by which the grates are moved into and out of truck supporting position may well become clogged and inoperative. Those moving parts are subject to failure in the hostile environment of a construction site.
It is still another object of my invention to provide a mobile tire and wheel washing apparatus. This can be accomplished by forming the entire apparatus from metal, so that it may be moved from location to location after a construction site has been closed, for example. The prior art apparatus as embodied in my two patents have contemplated forming at least the trough, and usually the entire construct, from concrete. In any such structure when the construction site is no longer in use by vehicles, it is necessary to remove the concrete trough and entrance and exit ramps, an expensive and time-consuming task. Nevertheless, it will be apparent that a partially below-grade concrete structure cannot remain exposed as a danger to inquisitive passersby, and if after removal of the ramps the trough is attempted to be buried, that underground concrete barrier will remain as a hazard to further construction or other use of the property.
In its most rudimentary form the present invention comprises an elongated tank having opposed, transversely spaced side walls and a bottom. The tank is generally formed in three sections: a centrally located trough in which the primary washing function takes place, an entrance ramp leading from an elevated or ground level into the trough, and an exit ramp by means of which the vehicle leaves the trough after the primary washing function has been completed.
The trough is formed with a multitude of impediments spaced transversely across the trough bottom and extending upwardly from the bottom, so that the vehicle being washed contacts and rides on the impediments as it passes through the trough. When the tires of the vehicle contact successive impediments the vehicle is jarred and debris adhered to the vehicle, its tires and/or wheels is dislodged and falls from the vehicle. Further, at least some of the impediments contain means mounted on them for impelling the flow of washing fluid in the direction of the vehicle, its wheels and/or tires to further dislodge debris from the vehicle.
While the impediments can take different forms, one that has proved efficient are angle irons that are triangular in cross section and over which the vehicle passes as it moves through the trough. Such angle irons can be metal rods that have three sides, one of which is fixed to the bottom of the trough and the other two inclined toward each other to meet at an apex that extends upwardly from the trough bottom and is adapted to come into direct contact with the vehicle tires and, at least partially support the vehicle. The metal rods, which extend in rows across the trough bottom, may be spaced relatively closely together so that the vehicle tires contact the apices of those rods as it passes through the trough, and does not directly contact the trough bottom itself.
In a preferred embodiment of my invention at least one or preferably more of the spaced rows of impediments are hollow and have apertures formed in at least one of the two inclined sides of the impediments along their lengths. Means may be provided within the hollow impediments or rods or angle irons to impel washing fluid from the interior of the impediments through the apertures in the direction of the vehicle overhead. Generally, such fluid will be impelled in a direction normal to the plane of the inclined side of the impediment in which the aperture is formed. It has been found preferred that apertures be formed in both inclined sides of the impediments and that washing fluid be propelled from both of those inclined sides in directions normal to the planes thereof.
A permissive feature of the present invention is found in the structure of the entrance ramp, and in some cases, the exit ramp of the tank. In one preferred embodiment the entrance ramp, like the trough, has a series of rows of impediments mounted on its bottom and over which entering vehicles pass. Like the trough impediments, the ramp impediments are hollow and have means mounted therewithin to impel a flow of washing fluid through spaced apertures in the impediments in the direction of the vehicle. In this embodiment, however, at least some of the ramp impediments are circular in cross-section and are rotatable in order to force washing fluid against the entering vehicle from different directions.
Still another feature of a preferred embodiment of my invention relates to the manner in which mud and debris are removed from the bottom of the trough after, or in this case even during the washing of the vehicle. As stated hereinabove, it is an improvement of my invention that debris can be removed from the trough bottom without lifting a grating on which the vehicle rides in order to gain access to the bottom of the trough. In the present invention the vehicle rides directly in the trough or on impediments fixed to the bottom of the trough. In one embodiment an elongated drain is formed at the base of one of the side walls of the tank, which drain is adapted to received debris, mud and the like from the bottom of the trough. The other side wall of the trough has apertures spaced along its length above the juncture of that other side wall and the trough bottom. Means is mounted at those spaced apertures for impelling fluid from the apertures and across the bottom of the tank, thereby washing debris that has been dislodged from the vehicles into the trough in the elongated drain formed in the first side wall of the trough.
As yet another feature of my invention, it has been found advantageous to maintain a level of liquid in the bottom of the trough so that mud and debris do not become adhered to the bottom of the trough and thereby made more difficult to remove. Thus, it is a preferred aspect of my invention that a level of about 2 to 6 inches of liquid be maintained in the bottom of the trough, with about 5 inches having been determined to be the most preferable. Indeed, it is a feature of my invention that a liquid level in the trough be so high that the fluid being impelled from the impediment apertures pass through the liquid and then through the air toward the vehicle overhead.
As still another aspect of my invention, in certain uses it has also been found desirable to wash the vehicle tires, wheels and/or underbody while it is positioned on the entrance ramp. Thus, that ramp may have impediments spaced across the ramp in the manner of the transversely spaced impediments on the trough bottom, and means is provided within the ramp impediments for directing a flow of washing fluid in the direction of the entering vehicle. With respect to those ramp impediments, however, it has been determined that it is preferable that they be circular, rather than triangular in cross-section and that they be rotatable so that the washing fluid may be directed toward the vehicle at different angles according to the specific vehicle that is being washed. Further, such rotatable, apertured, spray-issuing impediments may be utilized on the exit ramp if desired.
Yet another feature of my invention is that an elongated tank, the improvements to which form a part of my invention, can be utilized as part of a continuous washing system in which means are provided for directing washing fluid and debris from the side wall drain in the trough to apparatus for separating the washing fluid and debris The washing fluid is then redirected to the trough where it is once again used to flush debris into the side wall drain, and even through the apertured impediments, thus rendering the system continuous. Moreover, the system may be formed from metal, so that it is transportable from one construction site to another.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, which description is written in conjunction with annexed drawings in which:

Vehicle tire and wheel washing apparatus


An injection molding apparatus providing a supply of flowable material to a mold cavity, the apparatus having a hot runner system comprising a sealing member located between two manifolds that concentrates the sealing pressure adjacent the melt channels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to injection molding machines and more particularly relates to a sealing member inserted in an injection molding machine for substantial reduction or elimination of leakage of a molten material.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Hot runner assemblies are previously known and are used for molds having a plurality of mold cavities for injection molding of articles of relatively large surface dimensions. The advantage of hot runner molds is that the material is maintained in the molten state in the channels during the interval between each injection operation and the following one.
Prior art hot runner molds may be divided into two groups, i.e. hot runner manifolds that are one piece and have all the melt channels formed therein and multi-piece manifolds that are connected together with xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifolds. In the multi-piece arrangement, a xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifold connects at least two sub-manifolds. Melt channels in the bridge manifold align with melt channels in the sub-manifolds. Typically, the bridge manifold is connected to a supply of pressurized molten material.
The melt channels in the xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifold must align with the melt channels in the sub-manifolds when they are at a predetermined elevated temperature. The sub-manifolds typically communicate with at least one injection nozzle for the transfer of the molten material to a mold cavity. Due to thermal expansion during heat up of the various hot runner manifolds, relative motion between the xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifold and the sub-manifolds will occur. In accordance with the prior art, the flat surface of the sub-manifold will rub across the flat surface of the xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifold during heat up, and when the desired temperature is reached, the interface between the respective melt channels will align and seal off by virtue of compressive forces that build up during the heat up process. The reliability and repeatability of this seal off has proven to be problematic and leakage of the molten material between the xe2x80x9cbridgexe2x80x9d manifold and the sub-manifold is a recurrent problem.
Therefore there is a need for an improved hot runner system that increases the reliability and repeatability of the seal between separate manifold melt channels.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a means for reliably sealing the melt channel interface between a bridge manifold and a sub-manifold.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the compressive forces generated in a hot runner subsystem during heat up thereby allowing the use of fewer fasteners.
Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of galling and/or fretting between plates as they move during heat up.
The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a sealing member or compression disk at the interface of the melt channels between the two manifolds. The sealing member preferably has at least one non-flat surface for concentrating the sealing pressure adjacent the melt channels thereby reducing the forces required to create a reliable seal therebetween.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

Sealing member in an injection molding machine


A display device includes a substrate including an outer area neighboring a border; and an insulating layer positioned over the substrate and including a plurality of openings positioned over the outer area. The openings are arranged to be spaced from each other in a direction. The display device further includes a wavy line extending in the direction and passing the plurality of openings.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to a display device.
2. Discussion of the Related Technology
A display device is a device that displays an image, and recently organic light emitting diode displays have been attracting attention.
Organic light emitting diode displays have a self-emission characteristic and do not require a separate light source, unlike liquid crystal displays, and thus their thickness and weight may be reduced. Further, organic light emitting diode displays have high quality characteristics, such as low power consumption, high luminance, and high response speed.
In general, an organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors positioned on the substrate, a plurality of insulating layers disposed between wirings configuring the thin film transistors, and an organic light emitting element connected to the thin film transistor.
Recently, flexible organic light emitting diode displays, which include a flexible substrate made of a polymer material as the substrate, have been developed.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only to enhance the understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A valve for delivering a metered dose of a medicinal aerosol formulation. The valve has a filling state, a filled state, a metering state, and a dispensing state. A metering chamber is formed when the device is taken from the filled state to the metering state. Once the valve has been placed in the filled state it can no longer be placed in the filling state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to valves for delivering metered doses of aerosol formulations, and to such valves having a positive fill metering chamber. In another aspect this invention relates to methods of filling an aerosol canister. In yet another aspect this invention relates to methods of delivering a metered dose of an aerosol formulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional chlorofluorocarbon based medicinal aerosol formulations generally contain a relatively nonvolatile component (e.g., trichlorofluoromethane, propellant 11), a surfactant, a drug, and a volatile propellant system (e.g., a combination of dichlorodifluoromethane, propellant 12, and dichlorotetrafluoroethane, propellant 114). Likewise certain formulations based on alternative non-CFC propellants such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoroethane can contain nonvolatile components such as surfactants and cosolvents (e.g., an alcohol such as ethanol). Such formulations can be filled into individual aerosol canisters by one of two conventional methods: pressure filling or cold filling. Cold filling generally involves the preparation of a mixture of the nonvolatile components at room temperature and ambient pressure to form a concentrate. This concentrate is then cooled to a temperature at which the remaining components are liquid at ambient pressure. The volatile components are also cooled and added to the concentrate to afford a liquid formulation that is filled into individual canisters, also at reduced temperature. A valve is crimped into place on the canister and the finished product is allowed to warm to ambient temperature.
Pressure filling is generally a two step process that involves the same preparation of a concentrate containing nonvolatile components. An appropriate amount of the concentrate is metered into an individual canister at ambient temperature and pressure. A valve is then crimped into place. The volatile components are then added to the canister via the valve under pressure sufficient to liquify the volatile components.
There are several deficiencies in conventional pressure filling methods. For one, conventional pressure fill valves generally involve a gasket or similar seal past which the propellant is forced under pressure great enough to displace or deform the gasket or seal. The gasket or seal functions as a one-way valve. Once a device involving such a gasket or seal is filled, the pressure of the propellant on the gasket or seal is sufficient to prevent release of the propellant. However, the fact that the gasket or seal must be displaced or deformed results in the formulation being passed through a small passageway, producing relatively high backpressures which in turn will limit the speed at which filling can be carried out. Further, since backpressures are relatively high it is problematic to fill relatively viscous formulations. Hence the need to fill certain formulations in the two stage manner described above in order to avoid forcing viscous materials through a small passageway. A resultant disadvantage in conventional pressure filling lies in the fact that it involves two processing steps.
Certain metered dose valves for use in connection with pharmaceutical aerosol formulations have deficiencies relating to the fact that the metering tank must be refilled with formulation before the valve stem is depressed to discharge a dose. In some instances the metering tank holds a dose of formulation for an extended period of time before the dose is discharged. These deficiencies have been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,834 (Thiel) by a valve design in which a metering chamber is simultaneously created and filled upon depressing of the valve stem. Such valves are referred to as "positive fill valves". Such valves, however, still require that a seal or gasket be displaced upon filing.
It can be seen that a valve that overcomes the several disadvantages mentioned above in connection with pressure filling while maintaining the known advantages of a positive fill metering chamber would be of significant utility.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


An apparatus for dispensing tennis balls is provided having a hopper for storing tennis ball containers, a serpentine track, and a dispensing device for releasing tennis ball containers from the serpentine track. A housing of moderate size supports the various components of the apparatus, and preferably includes a money operated actuator to actuate the dispensing device, and a dispensing bin in a removable front housing panel. The apparatus may be mounted on a stand and used as a free standing unit, or placed on a counter.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing tennis balls, and in particular, to a vending machine for dispensing cans of tennis balls.
Presently it is a common practice for employees of tennis facilities to sell tennis balls directly to patrons. However, this practice is inefficient and inconvenient for patrons, particularly in busy facilities, where the wait to obtain tennis balls may be long. Similarly, consumers who play tennis on remote public tennis courts typically have to purchase tennis balls at locations other than the tennis court sites. The practice of providing for the purchase of tennis balls at tennis facilities or at other locations for use at remote tennis courts is both time consuming and expensive for the tennis facilities, whose employees must provide such service to its patrons. As well, the practice of purchasing tennis balls at locations other than tennis court sites is time consuming and inconvenient for consumers.
Dispensing machines have been developed for a variety of articles, such as beverages and canned foods. Typically, such machines deliver articles along a generally serpentine track or chute to a dispensing space. For example, Beesley, U.S. Pat. No. 2,901,118, discloses a storing and dispensing apparatus having a serpentine chute along which containers of food are stored and fed by gravity to a dispensing space. The apparatus of Beesley includes a plurality of storage cells which are adjustable to accommodate different container sizes. Similarly, Negishi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,590, discloses a dispensing machine having a serpentine track interconnecting a loading space with a dispensing space, and having means for adjusting the track for different sized articles.
Other dispensing machines have been developed which store cylindrical or spherical objects in a hopper area, and deliver them to a dispensing space along a simple track. See, Garvin, U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,669 and Bock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,847. Several dispensing machine improvements have been directed to improved means for dispensing cylindrical objects one at a time to a dispensing space. For example, Rockola et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,945, discloses a solenoid operated vend and feed gate, while Moss et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,179 disclose an improved device employing a pair of spaced, rotatable disc-like structures which rotate in concert to release one cylindrical product at a time from a shelf or track.
A drawback of these dispensing machines, however, is that they are designed for canned goods which are relatively short in length. Although some machines are adjustable within a given range, they remain unsuitable for larger and longer cylindrical containers.
Accordingly, while dispensers have long been known for various articles such as canned foods and beverages, the need continues to exist for an economical means for storing and dispensing tennis balls which will provide quick, easy, and efficient sales to patrons of tennis facilities and remote public tennis court sites.

Dispensing apparatus for tennis ball containers


An objective lens actuator is provided with an objective lens holder and a tilting coil that drives the objective lens holder in a tilting direction. The tilting coil is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, so that a rotation center when the objective lens holder is driven in the tilting direction, is located on extension lines of sides that effectively contribute to driving the objective lens holder in the tilting direction by interaction between a magnetic field formed by a magnet and current that is supplied and flows in the coil among sides of the tilting coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup device that projects a light beam to an optical recording medium so that information can be read or written and an objective lens actuator that is provided to the optical pickup device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure of triaxial driving actuator that is capable of driving an objective lens in three directions.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical recording media including a compact disc (hereinafter referred to as a CD) and a digital versatile disc (hereinafter referred to as a DVD) are widely spread. Furthermore in recent years, for a purpose of increasing quantity of information on the optical recording medium, studies about high density recording on the optical recording medium have been performed. For example, a high density optical recording medium such as HD-DVD that is a high definition DVD and a Blu-Ray Disc (hereinafter referred to as a BD) are being available. When information is recorded or reproduced on such an optical recording medium, an optical pickup device is used, which projects a light beam to the optical recording medium so that information can be recorded or read.
The optical pickup device is provided with an objective lens actuator, so that an objective lens supported by a movable holder can move in a focus direction that is a direction perpendicular to a recording surface of the optical recording medium and a tracking direction that is a radial direction of the optical recording medium. Thus, focus adjustment and tracking adjustment are performed while a spot of the light beam projected to the optical recording medium via the objective lens can follow a recording track of the optical recording medium. Recently, as high density optical recording media have appeared, conditions for a light beam spot to follow the recording track have become strict. In particular, when the optical recording medium generates wobbling while it rotates, it is required to adjust an inclination of the objective lens.
Therefore, as described in JP-A-2005-38527 or JP-A-6-251405 for example, there is developed an objective lens actuator that is a so-called triaxial actuator capable of moving the movable holder not only in the focus direction and the tracking direction but also in a tilting direction that is a direction in which the objective lens is tilted. This triaxial actuator is provided with an objective lens, a fixed portion, and an objective lens holder that retains the objective lens and is supported by the fixed portion via flexible rod-like supporting members so as to be capable of moving in the focus direction, the tracking direction, and the tilting direction.
The movement of the objective lens holder in the focus direction, the tracking direction, and the tilting direction can be realized by electromagnetic actions between each of a focus coil, a tracking coil, and a tilting coil that are provided to the objective lens holder and a magnet disposed at a position opposed to them via the objective lens holder. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams to show a structure of a part of a conventional triaxial actuator having the structure described above. FIG. 8A is a schematic perspective view to show a relationship among the focus coil, the tracking coil, and the tilting coil, and FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of the objective lens holder when viewed from its side.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a focus coil 101 is formed substantially in an elongated rectangular barrel shape and is disposed horizontally. The tracking coils 102 are formed substantially in a rectangular shape and are disposed at the outer peripheral side of the focus coil 101 in a separating manner horizontally at four sides. In addition, the tracking coil 102 is disposed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the focus coil 101. The tilting coils 103 are formed substantially in a rectangular shape and are disposed at the lower side of the focus coil 101 in a separating manner horizontally at the right and the left.
As shown in FIG. 8B, an objective lens holder 104 on which the objective lens 106 is mounted is moved by interaction with a magnet (not shown) in the focus direction that is the vertical direction when the focus coil 101 is supplied with current, in the tracking direction that is the right and left direction when the tracking coil 102 is supplied with current, and in the tilting direction that is a circumferential direction around an axis that passes through a rotation center 105 and is perpendicular to the paper when the tilting coil 103 is supplied with current. Then, by this movement in the three directions, the light beam spot can follow the recording track of the optical recording medium correctly.
However, studying about forces generated by the electromagnetic action in the focus coil 101, the tracking coil 102, and the tilting coil 103 of the objective lens actuator, it is understood that the direction of the force generated by electromagnetic action and the moving direction of the movable holder is the same as to the focus coil 101 and the tracking coil 102, but the direction "a" of the force generated in the tilting coil 103 is different from the moving direction b of the objective lens holder 104 (see FIG. 8B).
Therefore, the objective lens actuator of the conventional structure has a low utilization factor of the force generated in the tilting coil 103 and a low drive sensibility for tilting the objective lens, which means excessive power consumption. In addition, there is another problem caused by an undesired force generated in the tilting coil 103 in the direction other than the tilting direction, which is that the rotation center of the objective lens holder 104 is shifted so that the spot position of the light beam passing through the objective lens cannot follow the recording track of the optical recording medium correctly.

Objective lens actuator and optical pickup device having the same


A protective insert for wires in a junction box is formed by a lockable cover having a frame with an opening and a pivotable cover for covering the opening. The frame is sized to rest on an inner lip of the box, which lip normally holds a lid for the box. The lid rests on the lockable cover. The cover may be pivoted open for access to wires in the junction box and may be pivoted closed, and locked, to protect the wires from theft or vandalism. The lockable cover is held down on the lip preferably by chains fixed to the frame with stakes fixed to a free end of the chains, and by pounding the stakes into the ground at the bottom of the box. In another embodiment, there is a lock. Further, the insert is anchored to the box by J-shaped hooks. In a further embodiment, the insert is anchored by an elongated rod with curled up ends, and may be set in concrete around the box.

In recent years the cost of copper, e.g., copper wire, has increased greatly. Such increases have given rise to thieves stealing copper wire from junction boxes such as those for lighting. Typically, there are in ground junction boxes with copper wires adjacent or proximate virtually every outdoor light post, and other outdoor electrical devices.
When wire is stolen from a box, there is not only the cost of new wire, but also the much larger cost of skilled electricians to rewire the light. There is also a safety hazard due to the light being out, and due to free ends of remaining wire.
One solution that has been used is to replace the entire box with a lockable box. This is extremely expensive. The boxes are formed by a large concrete rectangular block that is in a hole in the ground. The cost of the box and the labor to replace the box is very expensive. Therefore, such a solution is too expensive.
Another solution is to thread the incoming wire into a lockable cylindrical member that essentially squeezes the incoming wires inside it. However, in that case thieves cut the wires at the point of entry into the cylinder, and pull the remaining wires out, necessitating the same or more electrical repair and time than if there were no locking device at all.
A further solution has been proposed for a "vandal resistant pull box insert." Such an insert is offered for sale at www.McCain-inc.com. The insert is a rectangular panel that just fits within the inner dimensions of a pull box. The panel sits on two inverted U-shaped brackets that are friction fit into the pull box. There is ground hardware. The panel locks to one of the brackets. This insert does not use the lip of the pull box as a mounting surface. Moreover, this insert appears to be able to be pulled out. Further, because of the position of the insert it has the grounding hardware. Installation involves pulling existing wires out of the way and normally out of the pull box. There is significant shock hazard.


A connector (F) has a main body (10) with an outer surface. Shafts (11) project from the outer surface and a retainer (12) projects from each shaft (11). A lever (20) has bearing holes (23) with notches (26) dimensioned to receive one of the retainers (12). The notches (26) align with the retainers (12) in a connection ending position of the lever (20) so that the lever (20) can be mounted rotationally on the main body (10) or removed from the main body (10). A resilient lock (14) presses the lever (20) parallel to the axis of the shafts (11) so that the retainers (12) engage edges of the bearing holes (23) to prevent detachment of the lever (20) from the shafts (11) in other rotational orientations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector having a movable member for assisting or performing a connection with a mating connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lever-type connector has a main body with an outer surface and a support shaft that projects from the outer surface. The connector also has a lever with a plate-shaped arm that extends along the outer surface of the main body. The arm has a bearing hole and a cam groove with an entrance. The bearing hole is supported rotatably on a support shaft of the main body. Thus, the lever can rotate between a connection starting position where the entrance of the cam groove faces a mating connector and a connection ending position rotated angularly from the connection starting position. The mating connector has a cam follower that can fit in the entrance of the cam groove when the lever is at the connection starting position. The lever then is rotated towards the connection ending position. Thus, the cam groove engages the cam follower and pulls the connectors towards a connected state.
A resilient locking piece could be provided on the outer surface of the main body for holding the lever at the connection starting position or the connection ending position. The locking piece is deformed by interference with the inner surface of the arm in the process of rotating the lever. However, the locking piece is restored resiliently and engages the arm to prevent rotation of the lever when the lever is at the connection starting position or the connection ending position. The resilient locking piece is held resiliently in sliding contact with the inner surface of the arm during at least a part of the lever rotating process. Thus, a force is exerted on the arm of the lever in a direction away from the outer surface of the main body and in a direction to disengage the bearing hole from the supporting shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,671 discloses a connector with a retaining means for preventing disengagement of the bearing hole from the support shaft. More particularly, the connector has a retainer that projects radially at the leading end of the support shaft. A notch is formed at the opening edge of the bearing hole for receiving the retainer. The lever can be mounted on or removed from the support shaft only at one rotational posture of the lever. In other postures, the retainer engages the opening edge of the bearing hole from the outer side to prevent the bearing hole from being engaged and disengaged.
The above-described retaining means may not function as intended. For example, the retainer and the notch could be aligned while the resilient locking piece is pressing the lever. In this situation, the resilient pressing force exerted by the resilient locking piece could disengage the bearing hole from the support shaft.
The invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to prevent a movable member from being displaced along the longitudinal direction of a supporting shaft due to a resilient pressing force from a resilient locking piece that prevents the movement of the movable member.


A Y-connector With a compression gasket for compressing about a guidewire or catheter when inserted into an inner chamber of a Y-connector and compressed by a rim of a large knurled knob. When the large knurled knob is twisted with an inward force, the rim engages the gasket with inward compression, causing the center portion of the gasket to expand inwardly, thereby frictionally engaging against a guidewire or catheter. The inner expansion of the gasket is substantially equal about the inner circumference of the gasket, thereby providing a seal between the guidewire catheter and bodily fluids, such as blood. A guidewire clamp is included at the end of a side arm extending from the Y-connector body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical device, and more particularly, pertains to a Y-connector with a sealing gasket and guidewire clamp for use in guidewire procedures, catheter procedures, or other related medical procedures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art Y-connectors have experienced problems of creating or maintaining adequate seals between a guidewire or catheter and the Y-connector, particularly the longitudinal chamber of the Y-connector to which a catheter or guidewire is inserted through. If an adequate seal is no maintained between the guidewire or the catheter, body fluids leak out which is not only impractical, but is also unsanitary.
Prior art gaskets and Y-connectors were usually a piece of tubing, such as silicon tubing, which did not provide a good gasket when compressed between the Y-connector and the guidewire or catheter. This caused not only body fluids to leak out, but also did not provide for easy sliding of the guidewire, and most dangerously, sometimes compressed the catheter so that the catheters were then unusable and had to be replaced. This was certainly impractical since replacement of a catheter would usually result in expenditures of a couple hundred dollars for replacement of the catheter because of the collapsing of the catheter by the ill-fitting or ill-compressed gasket.
Guidewires in prior art were often left unsecured in an unorderly fashion near the Touhy Borst adapter, sometimes allowing for longitudinal movement of a guidewire in the adapter or kinking or bending of the guidewire immediately adjacent to the Touhy Borst adapter.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a Y-connector with a compression gasket which provides for even compression about a guidewire or catheter, and also provides for sliding of the guidewire or catheter. Also provided is a guidewire clamp for positive positioning of a guidewire with reference to the Y-connector.


A hydraulic control system for controlling preferably at least two consumers, has a pump supplying the consumers with a pressure medium and having an adjustable pump capacity, an adjustable metering orifice assigned to each of the consumers, a power-beyond connection to which at least one power-beyond consumer is attachable, an inlet pressure scale connected downstream of the pump and provided in a pressure medium flow path between the pump and at least one of the two consumers, wherein the power-beyond connection branches off in the pressure medium flow path between the pump and the inlet pressure scale, a spring with a force acting upon the inlet pressure scale in a closing direction, an inlet having a pressure acting upon the inlet pressure scale in an opening direction, wherein the inlet pressure scale is configured so that it is actable upon in the closing direction selectively by either a highest load pressure or by a pressure that is greater than the highest load pressure.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic control system for controlling several consumers.
Hydraulic control systems of this type are used, in particular, in mobile working devices, e.g., wheel loaders or tractors, in order to supply their consumers, e.g., the working hydraulics, steering, ground drives, and/or add-on equipment, with pressure medium. Publication DE 10 2006 008 940.5 makes known a hydraulic control system that is designed as an LS system. With an LS system of this type, the pump capacity of the pump is regulated such that a pump pressure exists in the pump line that is higher than the highest load pressure of the consumers by a certain pressure difference Δp.
With the known systems, an adjustable metering orifice and an individual pressure scale are assigned to each consumer, via which the volumetric flow of pressure medium to the consumer may be adjusted as a function of the opening cross-section of the metering orifice, independently of the load. With this LS system, an inlet pressure scale may be provided downstream of the pump, via which a connection with the tank may be established. The inlet pressure scale is acted upon in the closing direction by a control pressure that corresponds to the highest load pressure, and by a spring, and it is acted upon in the opening direction by the pump pressure. Its position is a measure of the difference between the pump pressure and the highest load pressure.
A power-beyond connection—which includes a pressure line, a return line, and an LS line—is provided to connect combine-mounted devices or add-on equipment that do not have their own pressure-medium supply. This power-beyond connection enables the load-sensing system of the working device to be used also with the combine-mounted device. The power-beyond connection—for connecting a power-beyond consumer—branches off from the pressure medium flow path between the pump and the inlet pressure scale. The application of pressure to the inlet power scale on the spring side takes place via one of the load pressures of the consumers of the working hydraulics, or a power-beyond consumer. This hydraulic control system ensures that the power-beyond consumers are supplied in a prioritized manner, and that the regulating pressure difference between the pump pressure and the highest load pressure is raised when power-beyond consumers are supplied.
In accordance with DE 10 2006 008 940.5, the regulating pressure difference is increased by increasing the spring preload of the control piston of the inlet pressure scale by using only one spring or by using an additional spring. In a transition phase, the control piston of the inlet pressure scale must travel a path for a certain period of time. This influences the transfer behavior of the system.


An apparatus for determining the order of finish of a race involving toy vehicles. The apparatus includes a base which connects to tracks on which vehicles race and has a resilient surface covering its interior. A transparent cover is hinged above the base and has a trigger which is actuated by the leading vehicle crossing the resilient surface to close the cover on the vehicles within the base thereby determining their positions.

The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts:
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to apparatus which may be used with racing tracks for toy automobiles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been a myriad of toys developed over the years for use by children of all ages. Many of these toys have become classics and have been reproduced again and again. Those toys which have continued to entrance children over long periods have certain common characteristics. First, they provide a substantial amount of excitement for the child. Second, they are well made and durable. Next, they are sufficiently inexpensive and they appeal to a broad market. Finally, and especially more recently, such toys are safe to use. Meeting all of these criteria has posed substantial problems for many prior art toys.
A popular type of toy includes a gravity or motor powered vehicle which moves down an inclined track, gaining substantial speed, and negotiates some form of racing track layout. Often, two or more such vehicles are raced on adjacent tracks to provide competitive excitement. Although such arrangements can be quite exciting, the rapid action often creates a situation in which it is quite difficult to determine the winner of the competition.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved toy racing apparatus.
It is another object of this invention to provide an inexpensive device capable of determining the winner of a race between a number of toy vehicles.
It is another object of this invention to provide a device which is capable of determining the winner of competition between toy vehicles although the vehicles be of different sizes and weights.
An additional object of this invention is to provide an exciting, inexpensive, durable, and safe toy racing apparatus.


Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.

A reprographic system includes a scanner for scanning paper documents and pictures and storing them into electronic files, image processing software and/or hardware for storing, transmitting, and manipulating the files, and a printer for printing copies of the processed images. Traditional reprographic systems are closed systems having a dedicated, integrated scanner and printer like a photocopier. The dedicated scanner and printer are initially calibrated to operate together by the manufacturer and, after the copier is installed, periodically by a specialized service technician. Technicians manually calibrate the systems with tools and reference materials unavailable to average users and with specialized training.
Modern reprographic systems are moving toward a modular structure, often supporting multiple scanners and multiple printers in a defined architecture. Such systems can also include other output destinations for images, such as facsimile, e-mail, etc. and individual components have unique image characteristics. Manual calibration of these individual components quickly becomes cumbersome, especially for calibration of and selection of enhancement tools for color components.
Color components add to the complexity of calibration since color scanning components typically generate data in a red, green, and blue (RGB) color space and printers typically print in a cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) color space or a cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). Thus, in color systems, calibration must not only account for differences in tone levels of black, but also variances in three other color levels and interrelationships between the color levels and distortions related to different processing techniques of the various components. More specifically, when a color scanner scans a color image, a mix of, e.g., red, green, and blue bits represent each color of the image including black. Distortions involved with the scanning process can cause one or more, or even all of the hues in the color image to be misrepresented by the scanner with regards to color values of pixels and pixel locations. With regards to sharp black images like black text, misalignments of the scanner optics can cause misalignments of pixels, changing black pixels of the text into pixels with one or more color casts.
Distortions involved with color printing processes can cause the red, green, and blue pixels to be misrepresented in CMYK color space on paper, further compounding the errors. Such distortions, which are inherent to color document reproduction on a modular, reprographic system, require multiple combinations of complex image correction or enhancement processes. The number and settings for each of the multiple combinations depend upon the distortions associated with a selected scanner and printer and the original document to be reproduced, as well as how these distortions interact. Having an average user select each the image enhancement algorithms and their settings to produce a suitable copy each page of each document is an impracticable solution for most applications, but failing to adequately correct for distortions, even if an acceptable copy of a high quality original can be made, would significantly degrade image quality as copies are reproduced.

Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing in a color reprographic system


A sensor adapted to sense a side impact in a vehicle comprises an elongate element extending between two substantially fixed points spaced apart along the side of a vehicle, a sensor being provided adapted to sense tension in or longitudinal movement of the elongate element caused by an impact which deforms the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a collision sensor and more particularly relates to a collision sensor for use in a motor vehicle.
It is desired to provide a collision sensor in a motor vehicle adapted to activate safety equipment within the vehicle such as, for example, an air-bag. It is desired to inflate an air-bag when a collision occurs in order to protect the occupants of the vehicle.


A mounting system for mounting a body to a tailgate having first and second latch assemblies that engage a pair of striker plates. The mounting system includes a first mounting bracket having a first striker plate to engage the first latch assembly and a second mounting bracket having a second striker plate to engage the second latch assembly. The first and second mounting brackets mount the body on the tailgate when the first and the second mounting brackets are attached to the body and when the first and second striker plates are engaged with the first and second latch assemblies.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to the art of mounting bodies to vehicle tailgates.
2. Background Art
Bodies, such as workbenches which are used for mounting power tools, are, in some embodiments, portable. Such portable bodies may be employed at remote locations including, but not limited to, construction work sites. Such portable workbenches commonly include stowable legs which may be folded away for transport and which may be deployed for use at the work site. Work sites and other remote locations where such portable workbenches are employed may have uneven terrain or other conditions which may render the workbench unstable or otherwise unsuitable for its intended use. It should be understood that this problem is not unique to workbenches, but may apply to other bodies or apparatuses as well.
There has been a long felt need to provide a stable platform for such bodies. The tailgate of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, provides a relatively stable and sturdy platform. It would be advantageous if a body such as a workbench could be mounted to the tailgate of a vehicle. The present invention addresses this and other problems.

Mounting system for mounting a body to a vehicle tailgate


The invention is a produce handling system with a self-unloading trailer and a free-standing conveyor. The trailer has an unloading conveyor in its bottom covered by removable doors. The free-standing conveyor has an infeed section that receives the produce from the trailer unloading conveyor pivoted to an out feed section which delivers the produce from the infeed section to a stacking position such as a truck.

Material handling systems incorporating conveyors, both of the free standing type and as part of trailers or other container vehicles, are in common use today. While these material handling systems have been relatively successful in handling materials that are relatively durable and thus not easily damaged, they have generally been unsuccessful in handling relatively fragile produce, especially relatively heavy produce such as watermelons, cantaloupes and the like.


The present invention discloses a display device capable of performing black frame insertion. The gamma circuit comprises an either-or multiplex selector. The input data of one input end of the selector is a VCOM voltage outputted by the gamma circuit, and the input data of the other input end of the selector is a voltage converted from a predetermined value after digital to analog conversion stored in a multi time programmable memory of the gamma circuit. As the selector selects the VCOM voltage outputted by the gamma circuit under control of the control port, the outputted VCOM voltage is amplified by an operational amplifier in the gamma circuit and then outputted to the source driving circuit to be a first gamma reference voltage which is required as the source driving circuit performs digital to analog conversion.

With the constant development of the LCD display technology, the requirements for the image display effect of the display panel get higher and higher either for the general consumers or the practitioners in the liquid crystal display industry. The demands for the respective specifications of the liquid crystal display panel also become more and more critical. As well known, the lowest refresh rate of the display panel is 60 Hz, and the period of showing one frame of image is about 16.7 ms. However, the serious lagging images can be easily seen in some particular images. Because of being restricted by the slow response time of the liquid crystals, the image refresh rate cannot be promoted for a long time. With the development of the technology, the response time of the liquid crystals gets faster and faster. The promotion for the refresh rate of the image now is possible. Therefore, for solving the lagging image issue, the refresh rate of the image is doubled, and the technology of inserting a black frame in the original two frames becomes possible. Besides, with the development of the liquid crystal display technology, the 3D display technology comes quickly into the daily life of the people. Nevertheless, 3D display has one biggest issue is that the crosstalk happens to the images for the left, right eyes to influence the display effect of 3D. Thus, the black frame insertion skill is also widely applied in the 3D display technology. For raising the refresh rate of the image for the liquid crystal panel, one black frame is inserted between the images for the left, right eyes to prevent the crosstalk.
At present, the black frame insertion technology is achieved with the outputted digital signals by controlling the time sequence control circuit (T-CON). The black frame insertion with T-CON is that the data of one frame is the data of the normal image, and the data of the other frame is 00000000 (i.e. black frame insertion). For example, a frame of normal image is outputted to be the first frame, and a black frame is outputted to be the second frame, and a frame of normal image is outputted to be the third frame, and a black frame is outputted to be the fourth frame, and so on. The drawbacks of the black frame insertion with T-CON is that as outputting the black frame, the T-CON circuit and the source driving circuit still need to perform the transmission of RGB data to increase the power consumption of the display panel.

Display device capable of performing black frame insertion

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd

Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


Apparatus for removing burrs which develop on semifinished metallic produ in the course of a flame cutting operation has a shaft which is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis and carries an array of round, polygonal and/or oblong cutting tools which extend radially beyond its peripheral surface. The shaft is movable up and down adjacent the path of movement of metallic products with the burrs located at the undersides of the products. When a burr is moved to a position above the shaft, the latter is lifted and is set in rotary motion so that its axially staggered tools remove and simultaneously fragmentize the burr. The shaft is then lowered and the product is advanced to move another burr of the same product to an optimum position for removal of the burr or to provide room for transport of another product to the deburring station. The tools can be used for removal of burrs from straight or curved metallic products.

The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing projections from metallic workpieces, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for removing burrs, fins or other irregularities from semifinished metallic products such as slabs, billets, blooms, ingots and the like. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing burrs which develop as a result of flame cutting ingots, slabs and/or other semifinished metallic products.
Burrs develop when a metallic slab, billet or a like semifinished product is subjected to a flame cutting operation. Such burrs consist of or contain slag and/or molten or at least partially broken off metallic ribs, webs or other configurations, normally at the underside of the product. Such burrs cause, or are likely to cause, problems during subsequent advancement through an oven or another suitable temperature raising unit and/or during movement through a rolling machine or one or more other treating stations. The presence of burrs in the products which are rolled affects the appearance and/or the quality of the finished product or products. Therefore, it is necessary and desirable to completely remove or to smoothen the burrs, preferably immediately downstream of the flame cutting station.
Published German patent application No. 37 00 207 discloses a burr removing apparatus wherein a rotary roller-shaped carrier is placed adjacent the path of movement of semifinished metallic products in a rolling machine or mill and is provided with several pivotable or rockable hammers which are installed next to each other and are designed to perform pendulum type movements. The path of movement of the hammers is tangential to the path of movement of that edge of a semifinished product which carries a burr. The path of hammers extends transversely of the burr or burrs which are to be removed. A drawback of the apparatus which is described and shown in the published German patent application is that it is expensive and overly sensitive and prone to malfunction because it comprises a large number of mobile parts. Moreover, pivotal mounting of several hammers on a rotating carrier is likely to be dangerous if a hammer happens to become detached or a portion of the hammer becomes detached and is propelled by centrifugal force to cause injury to one or more persons nearby and/or to cause much material damage. Still further, the apparatus of the German reference exhibits the drawback that it tends to remove elongated burrs which can present serious problems in connection with their comminution and disposal.

Apparatus for removing burrs from metallic workpieces

Plakoma Planungen und Konstruktionen von maschinellen Einrichtungen GmbH


A semiconductor emission element is disclosed including a plurality of the laser oscillator formed on the opposite side of a base of a substrate. P-side electrodes are connected to the laser oscillator while extract electrodes having a function of radiation by increasing its thickness, are connected to the p-side electrodes. The extract electrodes cover two of the laser oscillators while covering the other two laser oscillators with insulating layers in between. As a result, thermal interference can be terminated while deterioration of the performance of the emitting portion by generation of heat can be suppressed even if the substrate is provided on the base with the opposite side of the emitting portion of the substrate facing the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor emission element comprising a plurality of emitting portions on the same substrate and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, various kinds of apparatuses such as an optical disk device, a laser-beam printer, a duplicator and so on using a laser diode (LD) which is a semiconductor emission element, have been developed so far. Recently, a high-speed operation and high performance in each of these apparatuses have been sought, and using a plurality of laser beams is thought to be one method for achieving them. For example, reading speed in an optical disk device can be easily made faster through simultaneously reading a plurality of tracks using a plurality of laser beams. Accordingly, developing a semiconductor laser (that is, multi-beam laser) which is able to simultaneously emit a plurality of laser beams has been required.
FIG. 1 shows a disassembled configuration of a multi-beam laser of the related art. The multibeam laser 100 comprises four laser oscillators 120 formed on the same substrate 111, and each contact electrode 181 formed respectively on a base 180 through each wire 182 is electrically connected to each electrode 115. However not shown in the figure, each wire connecting portion for connecting an electrode through each wire is respectively provided in each of the wires 182. Each of the laser oscillators 120 are respectively connected to power source (not shown in figure) through each wire 182 being respectively connected to each of the wire connecting portions.
When manufacturing such a multi-beam laser, first, each of the laser oscillators 120 is respectively formed on the substrate 111. Next, apart from that, each of the contact electrodes 181 are am respectively formed in the base 180 before respectively connecting each of the laser oscillators 120 formed in the substrate 111 and each of the contact electrodes 181 formed in the base 180 to each other. Accordingly, there is a problem with this multi-beam laser that mass production is difficult since alignment of the position of each of the laser oscillators 120 and each of the contact electrodes 181 becomes difficult when the spaces between each of the laser oscillators 120 become extremely narrow. Recently, an idea of placing the substrate 111 to the base 180 with the laser oscillator 120 side of the substrate 111 placed towards the opposite side of the base 180 has been considered. A multi-beam laser can be easily manufactured without having a problem in alignment of the position if the substrate 111 is made to be supported by the base 180 as described.
However, on the other hand, in a case where the laser oscillator 120 side of the substrate 111 is placed towards the opposite side of the base 180, radiation of heat generated in each of the laser oscillators 120 becomes more difficult comparing to a case of the related art. For example, in a case where the laser oscillator 120 side of the substrate 111 is placed towards the base 180 side as the related art, the base 180 can serve a radiating function by forming it with a material with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum nitride (AIN) so that heat generated in each of the laser oscillators 120 can be actively radiated through the base 180. In contrast, in a case where the laser oscillator 120 side of the substrate 111 is placed towards the opposite side of the base 180, the distance between the laser oscillator 120 and the base 180 becomes further so that the radiating function of the base 180 can not be expected. Accordingly, in a case where the laser oscillator 120 side of the substrate 111 is placed towards the opposite side of the base 180, there is a problem that threshold current of each of the laser oscillators 120 is increased and the emission power is decreased unless radiation of heat is encouraged in someways.
The invention is designed to overcome the foregoing problems. It is an object to provide a semiconductor emission element which is able to be easily manufactured while encouraging radiation and a method of manufacturing the same.
A semiconductor emission element of the invention comprises: a base; a substrate supported by the base; a plurality of emitting portions each composed of a plurality of semiconductor layers which are formed by being laminated on the opposite side of the base of the substrate; a plurality of ohmic electrodes respectively provided on the opposite side of the substrate by corresponding to each of the emitting portion while being electrically connected to each of the emitting portion; and at least one radiation layer formed on the ohmic electrodes.
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor emission element of the invention includes the steps of: respectively forming a plurality of emitting portion each made of a plurality of semiconductor layers which area formed by being laminated on a substrate; respectively forming a plurality of ohmic electrodes on each of the emitting portion, which are electrically connected by being corresponded thereto; forming at least one radiation layer on the ohmic electrodes; and supporting the substrate by a base by making the base face the opposite side of the emitting portion of the substrate.
In the semiconductor emission element of the invention, an electric current is flowed into each of the emitting portion through each of the ohmic electrodes and emission occurs in the emitting portion. At this time, generation of heat occurs in the emitting portion, however, the generated heat is actively radiated by a radiation layer. As a result, influence by generation of heat is eliminated and deterioration of the performance of the emitting portion is suppressed.
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor emission element of the invention, a plurality of emitting portions respectively made of a plurality of semiconductor layers formed by being laminated on a substrate are respectively formed. Further, a plurality of ohmic electrodes are respectively formed on the substrate of each of the emitting portion while at least one radiation layer is formed on the emitting portions. Further, the substrate is supported by a base by making the base face the opposite side of the emitting portions of the substrate.

Method to manufacture a heat emission apparatus in a semiconductor laser


A developing device incorporating a developer supply unit and a developer discharge section, in which a supply developer including a mixture of toner and carrier is successively supplied to a developer container from the developer supply unit and a deteriorated developer in the developer container is discharged through the developer discharge section. The developer supply unit has a sponge roller for selectively attracting toner to a surface thereof, a magnet roller for selectively attracting carrier to a surface thereof, and a member for scraping and bringing the toner and carrier attracted to these rollers into the developer container. The developer including toner and carrier in a predetermined ratio is thus stably supplied to the developer container. In another example of the developer supply unit, agitating of the developer is performed while shovelling the developer deposited in a lower part of the unit by a transport screw. With this structure, since the toner and carrier are evenly mixed in the unit, the developer having a uniform toner concentration is supplied to the developer container, thereby continuing satisfactory development.

For example, a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor surface into a visible form using a two-component developer including carrier and toner is often used in dry-type copying machines. In such a developing device, the toner is consumed during a developing operation, while the carrier is not consumed and remains in the developing device. Consequently, the carrier deteriorates as the carrier and the toner in the developing device are frequently agitated. Then, a resin coat layer on the surface of the carrier is removed and the toner adheres to the surface thereof. As a result, the charging performance of the developer is gradually degraded.
In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Publication for Examined Patent Application No. 21591/1990 discloses a device which restrains the degradation of the charging performance by continuously supplying a small amount of carrier to the developing device as well as toner that is consumed during a developing operation.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 55, a developing device 108 includes a developer container 116 having therein a rotatable developing roller 117 formed by a magnet roller, and a rotatable agitating roller 118. Developer held in the developer container 116 is composed of carrier and toner. The carrier is formed by a magnetic substance and includes a resin coat layer for restraining the toner from adhering to the carrier surface. When the carrier and the toner are agitated by the agitating roller 118, the toner is charged by friction. The developing roller 117 transports the carrier by attracting the carrier with a magnetic force and forming a magnetic brush. The toner attracted to the carrier by Coulomb force is supplied to a photoreceptor 104 and attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 104, thereby developing the image. The length of the magnetic brush is regulated by a doctor 119.
An opening for the supply of the developer is formed in a top wall 116a of the developer container 116. A developer supply unit 120 is placed above the opening so that it fits into the opening. The developer supply unit 120 is separated into two rooms, a toner storage 120a and a carrier storage 120b. The toner storage 120a stores toner, and the carrier storage 120b stores carrier only.
Disposed at the bottom of the storages 120a and 120b are a developer supply roller 121 and a carrier supply roller 122. As the developer supply roller 121 and the carrier supply roller 122 are rotated, the toner and the carrier in the toner storage 120a and the carrier storage 120b flow downward into the developer container 116 during the time in which the rollers 121 and 122 are driven. The rollers 121 and 122 are driven according to a detection signal of a toner-concentration detecting sensor 123 incorporated into the developer container 116.
The excess developer caused by the supply of the carrier is discharged from the developer container 116 through a discharge opening 116c formed in a predetermined location of a developer wall section 116b by an overflow mechanism, and collected in a collecting container 124. By successively suppling the toner and carrier and discharging the developer in a repeated manner, the deteriorated developer in the developer container 116 is replaced with newly supplied toner and carrier. With this structure, the amount of developer in the developer container 116 is maintained uniform, the charging performance of the developer is maintained, and degradation of copy quality is restrained.
However, with the structure of the developing device 108, since the toner and the carrier are separately supplied to the developer container 116 by the detection signal of the toner-concentration detecting sensor 123, the toner and the carrier have not been sufficiently mixed immediately after the supplying process. If copying is performed using developer in such an insufficient mixing state, copy quality is degraded. For example, when copying is performed immediately after the supply of carrier, some areas may have very low densities. On the other hand, when copying is performed immediately after the supply of toner, images may become foggy or some toner spots may appear on a produced copy, resulting in degraded copy quality.
Another developing device has a developer supply unit 130. As illustrated in FIG. 56, the developer supply unit 130 stores in a developer storage 130a a high-dense developer including toner and carrier in a predetermined ratio, and supplies the developer in the developer container by rotating a developer supply roller 131 located under the developer storage 130a. This developing device has a simplified structure compared to that of the developing device shown in FIG. 55 but enables simultaneous supply of toner and carrier to the developer container 116.
However, the above-mentioned developing device suffers from the following drawbacks. Specifically, although the developer to be supplied has been arranged to have a predetermined toner concentration, when the developer is introduced into the developer storage 130a, the carrier whose specific gravity is larger than that of toner is deposited on the bottom. As a result, the balance of toner and carrier in the developer becomes uneven, the toner concentration becomes lower in a lower part 131 (indicated by hatching in FIG. 56) than in an upper part 132.
If developer having such an uneven toner concentration is supplied to the developer container 116, the amount of carrier in the developer in the developer container may abruptly increases or the toner concentration in the developer therein may be unexpectedly increased. Such variations in the toner concentration in developer which is to be supplied to the developer container 116 prevent expected replacement of the deteriorated developer, thereby failing to maintain a desirable replacement ratio. Consequently, the charging performance of the developer in the developing device varies, resulting in degraded copy quality.

Developing device with developer-supplying mechanism


The invention provides a seal for placement between a washer plate of a rock bolt and a rock face, wherein the washer plate has an outer edge at a perimeter thereof and wherein the rock bolt has a longitudinal axis, wherein the seal comprises a body made of a spongy material, wherein the body is planar and has an outer dimension that matches that or that is larger than that of outer edge of the washer plate and an inner dimension that has a void towards the center of the inner dimension through-which the longitudinal axis of the rock bolt can pass. The seal is for preventing the leakage of cementing grout (that is used in securing the rock bolt in a bore hole in a mass of rock below a rock face) between the washer plate and the rock face.

A rock bolt is an anchor bolt used for stabilizing a rock excavation during construction of a tunnel, for example a transportation tunnel or a mining tunnel. During construction of a tunnel, a cavity is created in a mass of rock. The interface between the remaining portion of the mass of rock and the underlying cavity is unstable, and a plurality of rock bolts are installed at the interface between the remaining mass of rock and the cavity in order to help stabilize the interface. The rock bolts stabilize the interface by transferring load from the unstable exterior of the rock mass at its interface with the cavity to the interior of the rock mass, which is much stronger and more stable.
An individual rock bolt can be one to twelve meters in length and is installed in an exposed rock face from the cavity side by boring a hole in the rock mass that is at least as long as the rock bolt and of a slightly bigger diameter. The rock bolt is placed in the hole, and a mechanism within the rock bolt is engaged to anchor the rock bolt into the hole towards the distal end of the rock bolt. The anchored rock bolt is then sealed within the hole by applying cementing grout into the hole, which hardens to seal the rock bolt in place. Not only does the cementing grout seal the rock bolt in place, the cementing grout acts as a coating for the metal parts of the rock bolt within the bore hole which protects these parts of the rock bolt from corrosion. A typical rock bolt which may be installed in this manner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,945. Such a rock bolt is commercially available under the trademark CT BOLT® from Vik Oersta A/S—Rock Support, Strandgata 59, N-6151 Oersta, Norway.
Before hardening, the cementing grout is a runny paste which is injected into the rock bolt in such a manner (discussed in greater detail below in the Detailed Description of the Invention) that the bored hole surrounding the rock bolt is filled with the cementing grout. The rock bolt comprises a flange or washer plate towards its proximal end, with the flange or washer plate resting adjacent to the rock face, and the purposes of the flange or washer plate are (1) to position the rock bolt in place with its distal end in the hole and its proximal end outside the hole prior to engagement of the anchor mechanism and insertion of the cementing grout and (2) to help prevent the cementing grout from running out of the hole before the cementing grout hardens.
Unfortunately, the flange or washer plate does not do an adequate job at preventing the cementing grout from running out of the hole. As previously explained, the rock face is the interface between the rock remaining after rock is removed during excavation and the cavity created by the excavation. It is naturally a roughened surface, unless ground down or cemented over with a material such as shotcrete. Gaps will exist between the flange or washer plate and the rock face (or the rock face with the surface coating of the material such as shotcrete), and cementing grout can escape through these gaps before the cementing grout hardens. For ease of reference, the term "rock face" will be used herein to refer to a face of exposed rock and a face of exposed rock covered with a coating of a material such as shotcrete interchangeably.
Since the cementing grout is inserted into the hole through the rock bolt under pressure, cementing grout escaping through the gaps creates a mess at the worksite during installation of rock bolts. The mess created by the escaped cementing grout goes beyond the aesthetic. Bore holes into which cementing grout is inserted are often located in a rock mass overhead of where workers are installing the rock bolts and applying the cementing grout. Escaped cementing grout will land on the workers and worksite underneath, which is a health and safety hazard. Work must be stopped after a cementing grout leak to clean up the workers and worksite in order to eliminate the hazard of the escaped cementing grout. It is always a goal in any business to prevent, or at least lower the possibility of unnecessary work stoppages and workplace hazards, so practitioners in the field have tried to find a solution to the problem of cementing grout escaping during the grouting process during installation of rock bolts.
Practitioners in the field have previously tried to plug these gaps with rags at the first sign of cementing grout escaping through a gap. This solution is unsatisfactory since it is reactionary—one must detect escaping cementing grout before a gap is plugged with a rag. Time is taken away from the job of installing a rock bolt when one has to detect and plug leaks manually, and further time is taken away since one still has to clean up the cementing grout that has leaked out of the gaps prior to insertion of the rag plug. Another solution is to apply a resin-based substance to fill gaps between the flange or washer plate and the rock face prior to insertion of the cementing grout. Such a substance that has been used in the past is made of an isocyanate polyol resin with flame retardants and amine catalysts added. This substance is inserted in the gaps as a liquid which forms an expanding resin-based foam which fills the gaps. While this solution is proactive since it fills the gaps before cementing grout is installed and can escape through gaps, this solution is also unsatisfactory since one must wait for the substance to harden before cementing grout can be installed, thereby increasing the time taken to apply cementing grout by making the grouting process a two-step process. Workers first have to place a rock bolt in a bore hole and fill gaps with the resin-based substance, wait for the substance to harden and then, in a second step, revisit the rock bolt after the substance has hardened to insert the cementing grout. Such a two-step process with installers revisiting the workspace a second time increases expenses for an installing contractor and always introduces the possibility that certain rock bolts are missed in the second step and are not cemented in place with cementing grout.
The present invention provides a seal for placement between the flange or washer plate and the rock face. The seal will plug potential leaks proactively in an installation process wherein the installing workers do not have to wait for the seal to harden before inserting the cementing grout.


The invention concerns a bioreactor obtained by compressing a mixture of an enzyme, a conductor and chitosan. The conductor can consist of carbon nanotubes. This bioreactor can be produced according to the following steps: preparing a mixture of powders in which the proportion of enzyme powder relative to a carbon nanotube powder is of the order of 50/50 by weight; preparing a viscous solution of chitosan in a ratio of 5 to 15 (in mg) of chitosan to 0.75 to 1.25 (in ml) of acetic acid diluted to 0.4 to 0.6% by volume in water; adding the viscous chitosan to the mixture of powders in a proportion be weight of 3 to 5 of powder to 5 to 10 of chitosan; carrying out a first compression followed by light grinding; carrying out a second compression to produce a pellet; and drying at ambient temperature.

The present invention relates to a reactor implantable in vivo, where a reaction is capable of occurring between elements confined in the reactor and compounds present in the host organism. The reaction may for example result in a deformation of the reactor, in the generation of an electric potential, or in the chemical transformation of the compound interacting with the reactor.
A reactor causing the generation of an electric potential may form an electrode of a biofuel cell or of a biosensor, of sugar-oxygen type, for example, glucose-oxygen.
A reactor causing the chemical transformation of a compound interacting with the reactor will for example form a glucose killer by, for example, transforming glucose into a compound which will be eliminated by the organism.
Although the invention and the state of the art are described herein mainly in the case of bioelectrodes of a biofuel cell, it should be understood that the invention generally applies to any reactor implantable in vivo.


A door impact beam for a door of a motor vehicle includes a first fastening portion configured to be fastened to a first fastening intersection of the door and a second fastening portion configured to be fastened to a second fastening intersection of the door. A profiled portion extends between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion. The profiled portion is designed at least in sections as a hollow profile with two side walls disposed opposite to each other and two connecting walls disposed opposite to each other which connect the side walls to each other. The connecting walls have an outwardly directed convex curvature.

It is fundamentally known that what are referred to as door impact beams are used in doors of motor vehicles in order to be able to provide appropriately greater stabilization effects in the event of a crash. Known vehicles thus have, within a door, what is referred to as side impact protection which can be provided, for example, by profiled portions of such a door impact beam. Such profiled portions are distinguished in that they provide a mechanical stabilizing effect when an action of force in the form of a collision takes place from the side of the door.

DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT


The present invention relates to a method of sequencing DNA by oligomer hybridization, DNA/RNA hybrid oligomers applied onto a support and optionally DNA oligomers and/or RNA oligomers being used as hybridization matrix.

The present invention relates to a new method of sequencing by oligomer hybridization, DNA/RNA hybrid oligomers applied onto a support and optionally DNA oligomers and/or RNA oligomers being used as hybridization matrix.
In addition to the DNA sequencing known for a long time and effected by the application onto gels, a further method was developed some years ago, namely the sequencing by oligomer hybridization. See, e.g., Drmanac et al., 1989, Genomics 4:114-128; Bains et al., 1988, J. Theor. Biol. 135:303-307. For this sequencing method a complete set of short oligonucleotides and oligomers, respectively, e.g., a set of all conceivable 65.536 octamers, is bound in an ordered grid on a support material, so that the position of each individual oligonucleotide is known. A DNA fragment whose sequence shall be determined is hybridized on such a hybridization matrix and an xe2x80x9coligomer chipxe2x80x9d, respectively, under conditions which only permit a specific duplex formation. As a result, the DNA fragment only binds to the oligomers whose complementary sequence corresponds accurately to a portion, e.g., an octamer when an xe2x80x9coctamer chipxe2x80x9d is used, of its own sequence. By the detection of the binding position of the hybridized DNA fragment, all oligomer sequences present in the fragment are thus determined. On account of the overlap of adjacent oligomer sequences, the continuous sequence of the DNA fragment can be determined by suitable mathematical algorithms. This principle is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 for a DNA fragment having a length of 13 bases, whose sequence shall be determined by octamer hybridization sequencing.
A major problem occurring when this method is practiced consists in that as a function of their sequence, the oligomers have a differing bond strength, i.e., dissociation temperature, but have to bind specifically and in full length to the DNA fragment to be determined under a single set of experimental hybridization temperatures. However, when high stringency is employed, weakly binding oligomers do not bind to the DNA fragment even though their complementary sequence is included therein (false negatives). In the case of low stringency, however, partial regions of oligomers, e.g., only six or seven nucleotides of an octamer, having high bond strength also bind, so that false positives form. Because of the width of the stability differences both artifacts occur under most conditions. For utilizing this sequencing technique it is therefore necessary to bring the bond strength of all oligomers to a level, irrespective of their sequence. By now, this has been done by varying the oligomer concentration. Khrapko et al., 1991, DNA Sequence 1:375-388. However, this is accompanied by the drawback that great technical difficulties occur when the hybridization matrix is produced, since a specific concentration has to be adjusted additionally for every oligomer. A second approach serving for bringing the bond strength of all oligomers to a level is represented by the introduction of base derivatives which result in a change of the stability of the particular base pairing. In connection therewith it is disadvantageous that many differing derivatives have to be used and the specificity of the base pairing is changed by the introduction of the derivatives. A third solution for modulating the bond strength of the oligomers provides for the hybridization in tetraalkylammonium salts which reduce the stability differences existing between G:C and A:T base pairs. Wood et al., 1985, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:1585-1588. However, this effect is insufficient for short oligomers. Moreover, the use of the highly molar salt solutions impedes the hybridization. Therefore, it was the object of the present invention to bring the bond strength of all oligomers to a level in a sequencing method by means of oligomer hybridization and simultaneously avoid the above described drawbacks.
The present invention relates to a method of sequencing DNA by oligomer hybridization, DNA/RNA hybrid oligomers applied onto a support and optionally DNA oligomers and/or RNA oligomers being used as hybridization matrix.

Method of sequencing by oligomer hybridization

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung des Offentlichen Rechts