A digital energy system monitors and controls a plurality of industrial energy devices. The system includes a server and one or more interface devices coupled to the industrial energy devices. Each of the interface devices has a dynamically configurable runtime environment. The server sends configuration data to each of interface devices. The configuration data includes variable definitions that reference specific registers on the industrial energy devices. The server monitors the industrial energy devices by obtaining values for one or more of the variables set forth in the variable definitions. To control an industrial energy device, the server sends a write request for the industrial energy device to the interface device with a value for a defined variable in the device definition for the industrial energy device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to digital energy networks and more specifically to monitoring and controlling industrial energy equipment.
2. Description of the Background Art
For enterprises where power is critical, it is desirable to integrate power consumption and power generation devices into a digital energy network that enables centralized monitoring and management of the devices. For example, a hospital needs to monitor its power supply and energy consumption to ensure it has adequate power for all the equipment in the hospital. If there is a disruption in the main power supply, the hospital needs to switch to backup power sources, and it may need to quickly turn off certain non-essential equipment. Similarly, an industrial manufacturing facility may want to monitor its power supply and consumption to ensure it is using energy efficiently. It may switch between energy sources and turn on/off equipment in order to lower the cost of its energy expenses.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a typical digital energy network. A central server 110 (within an enterprise or in the cloud) monitors and controls an enterprise's industrial energy equipment, which includes power consumption and power generation devices 130a-130i. The central server obtains output data from and sends control data to the industrial energy equipment via programmable logic controllers (PLCs) 120a-120c. Specifically, the PLCs obtain raw output data from the equipment, normalize the data, and send it to the central server. Similarly, to control industrial energy equipment, the central server sends control data to the PLCs, which then write the data to specific memory registers in the equipment.
An enterprise/facility may have many different types of industrial energy devices. Generators, switchgears, automatic transfer switches, fuel systems, pumps, chillers, renewable energy sources, and building automation systems are just a few examples. There are usually multiple manufacturers and models for each type of device. Also, the age of the devices can vary greatly. The PLCs may be connected to recently built devices as well as machines that are twenty or thirty years old. Each PLC in a digital energy network may be connected to a different combination of devices.
There is no universal interface for reading and writing data from all these different types of industrial equipment devices. Instead, for each device, data must be read from and written to specific memory registers based on specifications obtained from the manufacturer of the device. Currently, an automation protocol, such as Modbus, is used for communications between the central server and the PLCs, as well as between the PLCs and the industrial energy devices. The PLCs are programmed on a "register-by-register" basis. Specifically, firmware loaded onto each PLC specifies the registers on the industrial energy devices at which output data is to be obtained and the registers on the PLC at which the data should be stored. The firmware may also instruct the PLC to perform a certain calculation (e.g., scale) on data in specified registers and the store the results in other specified registers. When the central server requests the data from the PLC, it references specific register addresses and a port on the PLC. Thus, the central server must know the register addresses at which desired data is stored on the PLC. To do this, an input/output (I/O) register map is created that maps registers on the industrial energy devices to registers on the PLC. The I/O map must specify specific input and output ports via which data can be retrieved. Each input and output on the PLC must be preconfigured and mapped to registers within the PLC.
Configuring the PLCs is tedious, expensive, and time consuming because the combination of devices to which a PLC is connected can vary greatly. There are two ways in which the PLCs are currently configured. One way is to load custom firmware on each PLC. To do this, an I/O register map must be created for the specific devices connected to that PLC. If the devices connected to the PLC change, the I/O register map and the firmware for the PLC must be changed as well.
Another way to configure the PLCs is load the same firmware on each PLC. Such firmware must anticipate all the likely combinations of devices that will be coupled to the various PLCs. To do this, registers, inputs, and outputs must be reserved on each PLC for each potential device that may be connected to the PLC. For example, if eight chillers may be connected to a PLC, then registers need to reserved on the PLC for eight chillers. If there are three different manufacturers of chillers, then registers need to be reserved for twenty-four chillers (eight from each manufacturer), as each manufacturer will require a different I/O register map. The firmware code set becomes enormous and essentially unmanageable once all the potential types of devices, manufacturers, and models are taken into account. In addition, there may not be enough registers on the PLCs to account for all the various combinations. Moreover, every time there is a change to the configuration file, all the PLCs must be updated.
In view of the above, it is clear that this is a great need for an easier and more efficient way to monitor and control energy devices.

System, method and computer program product for monitoring and controlling industrial energy equipment


An electrical coil is created by winding an electrical coil as successive parallel oblique layers of coil turns projecting radially outwardly from a coil former about which the coil turns are wound with the coil turns positioned radially outward of the coil former axis. The winding forms in radial cross-section, a triangle having a base situated against the coil former, a second side constituting an oblique rising edge and a third oppositely oblique side. Alternately upward and downward oblique coil turn layers are successively wound to advance the coil progressively along the axis of the former. To effect a connection to an adjustment tap on a turn n which in normal winding would not be on the radially outer layer of coil turns extending parallel to the winding axis but rather buried within the coil, such succeeding coil turn n of either the downwardly oblique coil turn winding layer or upward oblique coil turn winding layer extending parallel to the third side of the trapezium is left free, and the turn n which would be normally buried in the coil is placed in the last coil turn space of the next upwardly oblique coil turn layer on the outer periphery of the electrical coil to properly position its adjustment tap.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns a method of winding an electrical coil.
The invention applies more particularly to transformer windings, especially high-voltage windings.
2. Description of the prior art
It is known to wind oblique layers with flattened turns perpendicular to the winding axis. As compared with a conventional coil with horizontal layers of contiguous helical turns, this reduces the maximum voltage between turns of successive layers and therefore makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the insulation between layers and in some instances to eliminate it entirely.
FIG. 4 of French patent 717 497 and the relevant text from page 5, line 82 through page 6, line 84 show and describe a coil with 70 turns in 20 oblique layers. The first layer comprises only one turn, the second layer comprises two turns, the third layer also comprises two turns, the fourth layer comprises three turns, the fifth layer comprises four turns, the sixth layer comprises four turns, the seventh through fourteenth layers each comprise five turns, the fifteenth layer comprises four turns, the sixteenth and seventeenth layers each comprise three turns, the eighteenth layer comprises two turns and the nineteenth and twentieth layers each comprise one turn. The layers are at 30.degree. to the horizontal.
These 70 turns wound in 20 oblique layers form five horizontal layers as can be seen in the aforementioned FIG. 4.
Numbering the turns in consecutive winding order it is found that the inner horizontal layer comprises turns 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13, 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51 and 52 and that the outer horizontal layer comprises turns 17, 26, 27, 36, 37, 46, 47, 56, 57, 63, 64, 68, 69 and 70.
A first drawback of this coil is that it requires lateral flanges to retain the turns.
A second drawback results from the fact that, as noted above, the turns of the outer horizontal layer are not consecutive. As a result, if voltage adjusting tape are required, it is not usually possible to obtain a precise adjustment accurate to the voltage of one turn. The adjustment is usually performed in the following manner. If adjustment is required to a voltage 2.5% lower than the total nominal voltage, two taps are formed on the outer turns, the number of turns between the two taps having to be that required to obtain the 2.5% lower voltage. The adjustment is made by bridging between the two taps each connected to a connector. It is therefore clear that in an oblique layer coil as described in the document cited above the voltage cannot be adjusted accurate to the voltage of one turn because the turns of the outer horizontal layer are not consecutive.
The first drawback of this coil is eliminated by the document CH-A-254 093 which describes an oblique layer winding whose half-section in a plane through its axis is trapezium-shaped. The coil thus forms a stable assembly requiring no flanges. To make the coil the first step is to execute a winding with a triangular cross-section.
However, the second above drawback relating to the adjustment tape is not eliminated.
An object of the present invention is to alleviate this drawback.

Method of winding an electrical coil as successive oblique layers of coil turns


Amorphous polymers which are soluble in organic solvents and can thus be cast as films have high glass transition temperatures which make them suitable for numerous high temperature applications; the polymers comprise ortho aromatic polyketones, polyphthalazines and polyisoquinolines, the polyphthalazines and polyisoquinolines being readily formed from the polyketones.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to aromatic polymers which are amorphous and readily soluble in organic solvents, can be formed with a wide range of glass transition temperatures and can be cast to provide tough, transparent, flexible films; copolymers can also be synthesized; the invention also relates to processes for producing the polymers. The invention is more especially concerned with polyketones, polyphthalazines and polyisoquinolines.
b) Description of Prior Art
Polyetherketones that are para-substituted are commercial materials with modest glass transition temperatures and relatively high melting points; polyetherketones with meta substitution have also been synthesized (P. M. Hergenrother et al, J. Polymer Prepr.--[Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.] 1985, Vol. 26, page 174).
Polyquinolines have been synthesized (J. K. Stille et al, Polym. Chem. Ed., 1975, Vol. 13, page 2233; Macromolecules, 1976, Vol. 9, pages 489 and 496) and exhibit high stiffness and high glass transition temperatures. These polyquinolines are relatively insoluble. One approach to improving the solubility without loss of thermal stability has been the introduction of flexible groups into the polymer backbone, and depending on the chemical repeat unit structure, high molecular weight polyquinolines exhibit a Tg ranging from 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. These polyquinolines are produced by a complex synthesis from costly starting materials and have not been exploited.

Amorphous, soluble, aromatic polymers with high glass transition temperatures


A belt tensioner of the Zed type with a base member, a pivot-arm, a pivot-pin, a pulley attached to the pivot-arm, a torsional spring attached between the base member and pivot-arm, and wherein the base member has a "tube pan" shape with a cantilevered inner wall that supports the pivot-pin, a cantilevered outer wall, and a bottom wall interconnecting the inner and outer walls and oriented with the bottom wall juxtaposed the pivot-arm. Optionally, the spring is connected to a damping mechanism that generates a reaction force in generally the same direction as a belt force or hub load. In another embodiment, a second, damping spring generates a reaction force in generally the same direction as the belt force with a constant damping force.

The invention relates to a tensioner with a torsional spring that biases the position of a pivot-arm to which a belt engaging pulley is attached, but more particularly, the invention relates to a tensioner of the "Zed" type where a radial center plane for the pulley is laterally offset from an axis for a pivot-pin and about which the pivot-arm oscillates.
An example of a "Zed" type tensioner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,362 where the tensioner has a pivot-arm attached to an offset cylindrical member that supports the pivot-arm and rotates about a pivot secured to a base. A torsional spring is used where one end of the spring is constrained at two points by a connection to the pivot-arm, and the other end of the spring is constrained by a connection at the base. A single sleeve-type bushing on the pivot has a bearing surface that supports the cylindrical member connected to the pivot-arm. A housing surrounds and defines an annulus for the spring. The stacked annular walls of the tensioner's spring housing together with a cylindrical shaped damping mechanism located radially inwardly of the spring, tend to make the housing of the tensioner bulky for a tensioner that imparts modest tension (e.g. 50 lbs.) and damping (e.g. 30-40%) into a power transmission belt of a front-end accessory belt drive. Another problem associated with the '362 tensioner is that unequal pressure loads introduced to a single bearing surface of the bushing can result in uneven bushing wear and attendant pulley misalignment.
A tensioner design that reduces bulk while providing comparable belt tensioning capability (e.g. 50 lbs. belt tension) with a comparable pivot-arm length, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,328 and 5,458,541 and which have the same assignee (INA Walslager Schefseffler Kg). The "INA" tensioners are more compact than the tensioner of the '362 patent in that the INA tensionsers exclude the requirement for stacked annular walls at a spring housing. A representation of the INA tensioners as disclosed in the '328 and '541 patents is herein represented by FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 6, the prior art tensioner includes a pivot-arm, a pivot-pin connected on one side of the pivot-arm, a base member of generally "tube-pan" shape with two bushings that support the pivot-pin, a disc type damping mechanism, and a torsional spring with one end constrained at two points by the pivot-arm, and an opposite end constrained at two points by the base. The points for constraining the ends of the torsional spring are not used in conjunction with a mechanism to generate a force to help balance a hub load which must be supported by the bushings. The base member includes a cantilevered inner wall, a cantilevered outer wall and a bottom wall interconnecting the inner and outer walls. An annular spring receiving cavity is defined between the inner and outer walls. The bottom wall of the base faces an open end of the base member located next to the pivot-arm. With such an arrangement, the pivot-pin is supported in a cantilevered fashion by the inner wall of the base and wherein the bottom wall, which supports the cantilevered inner wall, is spaced a maximum distance away from a radial center plane of the pulley. The spacing of the bottom wall impairs rigidity of the inner wall for supporting the pivot-pin and maintaining good pulley alignment. The constrained connection of the spring ends to the pivot-arm and base results in a bearing loading that permits the pivot-pin to "cock" or become misaligned with bearing wear because loads to the bearing surfaces are in opposite directions and are significantly higher than a load imparted at the pulley by a tenionsed belt.
While the INA tensioner is of a good compact design for reduced bulk it also has inherent alignment and stiffness problems due to: the orientation of the base with its open-end facing the pivot-arm and its bottom wall spaced a maximum distance from the pulley; the spring hook-up at one end with two points directly constrained by the pivot-arm and at the other end with two points directly constrained to the base; and a flat disc damping mechanism operative in conjunction with a compressive force generated by the torsion spring that allows axial translation of the pulley with disc wear and thus, pulley misalignment.
In response to belt force BF' at the pulley, the spaced bushings are loaded BL1, BL2 in opposite directions. As the bushings wear, the pivot-pin will cock with attendant pulley misalignment. As the friction surface of the disc type damping mechanism wears, the pulley will move in a direction PM resulting in additional pulley misalignment.

Belt tensioner with bottom wall of base juxtaposed pivot arm


A monitoring system for monitoring a monitoring area, having an input interface for accepting monitoring images of the monitoring area, having a localization module for locating at least one moving monitoring object in the monitoring area, wherein the localization module is designed to locate a position of the monitoring object, having a definition module for defining a position-dependent protected area in the monitoring area, and having a monitoring module for monitoring the protected area, wherein the definition module is designed to define the position-dependent protected area on the basis of the position of the moving monitoring object.

The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a monitoring area, having an input interface for accepting monitoring images of the monitoring area, having a localization module for locating at least one moving monitoring object in the monitoring area, wherein the localization module is designed to locate a position of the monitoring object, having a definition module for defining a position-dependent protected area in the monitoring area, and having a monitoring module for monitoring the protected area. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring a monitoring area as well as a corresponding computer program.
The practice of monitoring public places, buildings, production halls etc. using monitoring cameras is frequently used nowadays. The evaluation of the image data streams generated by the monitoring cameras is often carried out by security personnel who receive said image data streams displayed on monitors and visually examine the same. As studies have shown, the attention of the security personnel being employed drops over time, so that, in statistical terms, relevant activities in the image data streams are already overlooked after approximately 20 minutes. In order to improve the monitoring security, automatic video analyses are used which examine the image data streams by means of digital image processing and can automatically detect and report relevant activities in this way. A high degree of monitoring security can be achieved from this interaction between the visual examination of the security personnel and the automated monitoring on the basis of the video analyses.
The German patent publication DE 10 2007 041 893 A1, which arguably represents the closest prior art, describes a method as well as a device for detecting and/or tracking moving objects in a monitoring scene. In the monitoring scene, a plurality of static regions are defined which are selectively observed. According to the invention, provision is made for different monitoring rules to be applied in each of the selected regions. The regions are defined as areas in the monitoring scene.

Monitoring system with a position-dependent protected area, method for monitoring a monitoring area and computer program


Methods, systems, and computer program products for storing turbulence radar return data into a three-dimensional buffer. The method involves modeling the radar signal scattering properties of space surrounding the radar/aircraft. Presented turbulent wind variance measurements are compared to predictions of the measurement using the modeled scattering properties, thereby producing more accurate turbulence information for storage into the three-dimensional buffer.

Radar is frequently used to detect atmospheric turbulence. A typical application is to use radar installed on an aircraft to detect hazardous turbulence and display its relative location with respect to the aircraft so that the pilot can avoid it. The detection of turbulence using radar involves the processing of signals transmitted by the radar and scattered from water droplets embedded in the turbulent air. Signal processing is performed to produce the Doppler second moment of the signal, which is then related to the degree of hazard that would be expected from flying through the turbulent area.
Standard practice in using radar to estimate turbulence hazard is to sweep the radar antenna at a pilot selected tilt angle (elevation angle with respect to the horizon), or an automatically selected tilt. The turbulence signal processing is performed as the signals are received, and related spatially to the range and pointing direction. As the antenna is scanned back and forth in azimuth, the turbulence is re-detected each time the antenna sweeps past the turbulent parcel of air. Atmospheric turbulence has some persistence spatially and temporally. That is, a parcel of turbulent air moves relatively slowly (with respect to the time scale of an antenna scan). Also, its intensity changes relatively slowly. By re-detecting the turbulence on every antenna scan, the standard radar cannot take advantage of previous measurements to improve the quality of the estimate of the turbulence hazard.
Because radar detection requires the presence of water droplets of sufficient size, radar is most useful for detecting turbulence associated with convection. The vertical motions caused by convection are responsible for generating the turbulence. As a result, the regions of turbulent air typically have some vertical extent that is not well reflected in the turbulence measurement from a radar scanning at a single tilt.
Therefore, there exists a need to more accurately identify turbulence weather information.

Methods and systems for estimating three dimensional distribution of turbulence intensity using radar measurements


A coaxial cable connector having a stopper in a main body for supporting the circumference of the coaxial cable and preventing the coaxial cable from falling out. The stopper is a ring-shaped fastening portion provided in the main body and whose central axis is the same as that of the main body, and a supporting portion which protrudes from the fastening portion in the direction of the central axis of the main body. A rotation-stopping means constituted by a strip-shaped projection is provided on at least an inner surface of the main body to engage the circumference of the coaxial cable. When an end of the coaxial cable is inserted into the main body from behind, the stopper prevents the fall-out of the coaxial cable because the supporting portion supports the circumference of the coaxial cable, and the strip-shaped projection prevents rotation of the coaxial cable.

When attaching a connector to a coaxial cable, hitherto there has been widely adopted a method of crimping a ring portion integrated with ferrule or shell with pliers or a special tool in order to prevent a drop of the cable.
This method is troublesome, however, because the connector has to be attached by being crimped using some tools. Therefore, as described in patent document 1, the structure of a connector is known, in which an inner claw portion is provided in the inner cylindrical portion and an outer claw portion is provided in the outer cylindrical portion so as to lodge a coaxial cable within the connector only by insertion. Moreover, as described in patent document 2 that the present applicant previously filed, the structure of a slip-free connector without necessity of using any crimping tool is provided, in which a ring-shaped stopper having a claw is outwardly attached to a coaxial cable so that the claw can bite into the cable, in order to prevent the slip, and the related structure of a case for an electronic device having the same terminal is provided.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent publication of unexamined application No. 11-288767
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent publication of unexamined application No. 2002-184536

Coaxial cable connector and electronic device case


According to one embodiment, a method for cleaning and requalifying a component of an exhaust aftertreatment system includes inspecting the component using an x-ray processing technique. The method further includes associating the plurality of cleaning techniques with a plurality of compositions of material, and cleaning the component according to at least one of the plurality of cleaning techniques associated with the composition of material.

Some used components of exhaust aftertreatment systems for internal combustion engines are cleaned, requalified, and reused. Several known processes are known for cleaning and requalifying used aftertreatment system components. For example, diesel particulate filters (DPF) often are cleaned via one of a pneumatic and fluidic cleaning process, and requalifed via a visual inspection process.
Conventionally, only one of a pneumatic and fluidic cleaning process is used to clean a single DPF, and logic is not applied to determine which of the pneumatic or fluidic cleaning processes should be used.
Similarly, conventional inspection processes do not utilize computer-processed x-rays to generate side views of the DPFs, and do not rely on the results of the computer-processed x-ray testing to guide the logic of the cleaning process.

Exhaust component cleaning and requalification process


An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each having a toner container and a memory. The plurality of cartridges are detachably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus. A plurality of supply systems supply toners to the respective toner containers of the plurality of cartridges. A control system writes information in the respective memories of the plurality of cartridges. When a new cartridge is mounted, the control system writes color information corresponding to a mounting position in the memory of the new cartridge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of, for example, electrophotographic type such as a copying machine or a laser printer, and more particularly, it relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on a recording material, and a cartridge detachably attachable to such an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
For example, as one of color image forming apparatuses, there is an image forming apparatus of four-drum multi transfer type (referred to as xe2x80x9cin-line color printerxe2x80x9d hereinafter) in which a plurality of photosensitive drums as a plurality of electrophotographic photosensitive members are disposed side by side along a conveying direction of a transfer material, developing means such as developing devices containing different color toner are opposed to the respective photosensitive drums, and a full-color image constituted by four color toners is formed on the transfer material conveyed by means of a transfer belt and the like by successively transferring different color toner images formed on the photosensitive drums and developed by the developing means onto the transfer material.
This system can obtain a print image at a higher speed in comparison with an image forming apparatus of type in which different color toner images are successively transferred onto an intermediate transfer member in a superimposed fashion by using a single photosensitive drum and then the toner images are collectively transferred onto a transfer material.
FIG. 6 shows an example of such an in-line color printer. In FIG. 6, an endless transfer belt 6 is mounted on drive rollers 7 and is rotated in a direction shown by the arrow. Along a transfer material conveying direction of the transfer belt 6, there are provided image forming portions Y, M, C and Bk for yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C and Black Bk disposed side by side.
The image forming portions Y, M, C and Bk have similar constructions and include photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d arranged in series along the transfer material conveying direction of the transfer belt 6, charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d as contact type charging means, developing means 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and cleaning means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, which means are located around the respective photosensitive drums.
Now, an image forming operation will be described. Laser beams 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d modulated in accordance with image data from a host computer such as a personal computer are illuminated onto surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d uniformly charged by the charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, thereby obtaining desired electrostatic latent images. These latent images are visualized as toner images by reversal developing at respective developing areas effected by the developing means 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d as the developing devices containing the different color toners. The toner images are electrostatically transferred onto a transfer material P fed by sheet feeding means (not shown) and conveyed by the transfer belt 6 under the action of transfer means 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d at respective transfer nip portions. Further, after the transferring, non-transferred residual toners remaining on the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are removed by the cleaning means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d such as cleaning blade, respectively, for preparation for next image formation.
In the image forming apparatus according to this example, the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, charging rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, developing means 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and cleaning means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are integrally incorporated in cartridge units, respectively, to obtain process cartridges (CRG) 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d as shown in FIG. 7. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows a process cartridge 9a for yellow color including toner supplying means 20a for supplying toner into the developing means or developing device 4a. The toner supplying means 20a comprise a toner container 21a containing toner to be supplied, and a toner supplying mechanism 22a for feeding the toner to the developing device 4a.
In FIG. 7, the toner container 21a containing the yellow toner is connected to the developing device 4a through the toner supplying mechanism 22a so that, when the fact that an amount of toner in the developing device 4a is decreased below a predetermined amount is detected by appropriate detecting means, a predetermined amount of the yellow toner in the toner container 21a is supplied into the developing device 4a by the toner supplying mechanism 22a. Regarding the other colors, the similar arrangements are adopted. Namely, for magenta color toner, cyan color toner and black color toner, there are provided process cartridges 9b, 9c, 9d and toner supplying means 20b, 20c, 20d containing respective toners.
Although various developing systems have been proposed in the past, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, any developing system of contact type or non-contact type may be used and one-component toner or two-component toner may be used as toner or developer. As an example, there is a jumping developing method of non-contact type using non-magnetic one-component toner.
The process cartridges 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d can be detachably mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, the image forming apparatus has means for detecting service lives of the respective cartridges so that, even if the service life of any cartridge is expired, the image forming apparatus can be used continuously by exchanging such a cartridge with a new one by the operator.
In the recent laser printers, in many cases, a process cartridge which does not require maintenance which is exchange of worn part such as photosensitive member or developer difficult to be replaced by the user, waste toner treatment and the like, and which is detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus has been used. For example, various process cartridges such as a developing cartridge obtained by integrally incorporating a container containing toner and developing means, a drum cartridge obtained by integrally incorporating a photosensitive member, charging means and cleaning means and a cartridge obtained by integrally incorporating such a developing cartridge and such a drum cartridge have been proposed.
In these process cartridges, a service life is alarmed in accordance with a worn extent of each part, and each process cartridge can be exchanged by the user himself. Further, since each cartridge is designed to optimize its service life, a good image having no inconvenience can always be obtained until the service life of the cartridge is expired, and the operator can easily exchange the expired cartridge to a new one.
However, in the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, when the user firstly mounts the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus after he bought it, it is required that four process cartridges for respective colors Y, M, C, Bk be mounted to predetermined positions. Further, when the service life of any process cartridge is approached, if a corresponding new process cartridge is not prepared, upon expiration of the process cartridge, the image forming apparatus cannot be further used.
As mentioned above, although the advantage that any expert is not required by using the cartridge in the electrophotographic apparatus can be obtained, in the color image forming apparatus, at least four additional process cartridges for respective colors must be previously prepared. Normally, the service lives of the four color process cartridges are rarely expired simultaneously, and, thus, continual preparation of four kinds of process cartridges burdens the user with high expense. Particularly, for the user who operates and controls a plurality of apparatuses, since the storing condition of the respective color cartridges must be ascertained in accordance with the operating condition, inconvenience is increased.
On the other hand, makers for manufacturing the process cartridges perform manufacturing control such as sorting the cartridges for respective colors and production adjustment, and, thus, the makers are burdened with great load in the process cartridges for the color image forming apparatus. In general, the developing devices for respective colors are designed to have no difference in construction in order to reduce the cost by using the identical parts.
However, even when designed in this way, nowadays, in order to prevent user from erroneous mounting, specifications of process cartridges are made to be different from each other. For example, configurations of the cartridge containers for respective colors have been partly changed, seals identifying particular colors have been adhered to the cartridges for respective colors or colors of packages for the respective color cartridges have been changed. Thus, the number of parts are increased to increase the cost in comparison with the case where the identical process cartridges are manufactured.
The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can reduce the burden of the users and/or makers, and a cartridge detachably attachable to such an image forming apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having low cost, and a cartridge detachably attachable to such an image forming apparatus.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of cartridges each having a toner container and a memory and detachably attachable to a main body of the image forming apparatus, a plurality of supplying means for supplying toners to the respective toner containers, and a plurality of writing means for writing information in the respective memories, and wherein, when a new cartridge is mounted, the writing means write color information corresponding to a mounting position in the memory.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge comprising a toner container and a memory, and wherein, in a condition that the cartridge is never mounted to an apparatus, the toner container is empty.
The other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed explanation of the invention referring to the accompanying drawings.

Image forming cartridge set-up and control


A method of producing an encased honeycombed body, in particular a supporting body of a catalytic converter, includes the steps of producing a honeycombed body by stacking and/or winding sheet metal layers, of which at least some are structured sheet metal layers, so that the honeycomb body has channels through which a fluid can flow. A sleeve is introduced into a tubular jacket. The sleeve is smaller in the axial direction than the axial length of the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket. The sleeve has an outer circumferential surface which substantially bears against a part of the inner wall of the tubular jacket. The honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket and into the sleeve and is connected to the tubular jacket and the sleeve. If required, the tubular jacket may also be connected to the sleeve.

The present invention relates to a method of producing an encased honeycomb body.
Honeycomb bodies, which are produced by stacking and/or winding layers of sheet metal, of which at least some are structured layers of sheet metal, are known in a wide variety of forms. Honeycomb bodies including metal sheets are used as so-called support structures for catalytically acting coatings. Support structures of this type, with a catalytically acting coating, are used in motor-vehicle exhaust systems, thereby reducing the emission of certain components of the exhaust gas. Different forms of a configuration as a catalyst support structure are described, for example, in Published European Patent Application EP-A1-0 245 738.
The stacked and/or wound layers of sheet metal are at least partially soldered to one another, so that the honeycomb body is a monolithic structure. The honeycomb body is also soldered to the tubular jacket in which the honeycomb body is located. Soldering of the layers of sheet metal to one another and to the tubular jacket preferably takes place in one soldering operation. Methods of soldering a metallic configuration, including a honeycomb body and a tubular jacket, are known for example from International Publication Nos. WO89/11938, WO94/06594, WO93/25339 and from Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE-A-29 24 592.
It is known from the prior art that the honeycomb body is provided at least partially with a bonding agent, to which a soldering powder adheres. The methods known from the prior art differ from one another with respect to the sequence of applying a soldering powder bonding agent, namely during or after the forming of the honeycomb body. A detailed account of the prior art in this respect is includes in International Publication No. WO89/11938.
The various ways of conducting the method with respect to the soldering of a configuration have various advantages. However, for the cost-effective production of a configuration it is desired to obtain a soldering method in which on the one hand a solder is introduced only into the regions in which a soldered connection is to be created, on the other hand the soldering operation is to take place as quickly as possible and with relatively little effort.
If the configuration including a honeycomb body provided in a tubular jacket is used as a catalyst support structure in an exhaust system, this configuration is subjected to thermal loading or stress. The honeycomb body and the tubular jacket have different thermal expansion characteristics on account of their different material properties. It is therefore desirable to avoid a rigid connection between the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket at at least an end region of the honeycomb body. If there are no rigid connections to the tubular jacket in the respective end regions of the honeycomb body, thermal stresses between the tubular jacket and the honeycomb body are avoided.
It is already known from International Publication No. WO96/26805 that thermal stresses can be avoided by a suitable soldering of the honeycomb body to the tubular jacket. According to International Publication No. WO96/26805, it is proposed that at least one layer of sheet metal of the honeycomb body has at least one smooth portion extending from a least one end face over part of the axial length of the honeycomb body and at least partially surrounding the honeycomb body. The smooth portion forms at the periphery of the honeycomb body an outer layer which bears against the tubular jacket. This achieves the effect that, irrespective of the soldering method, no solder gets between the outer layer and the tubular jacket. The solder can therefore be applied in the way known from the prior art. The connection of the honeycomb body to the tubular jacket takes place over part of the axial length of the tubular jacket, the smooth portion extending in the axial direction of the honeycomb body only up to the connecting region between the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket.
On account of production tolerances of the tubular jacket and the honeycomb body, however, it cannot be ensured that no solder will get between the smooth layer and the tubular jacket. To avoid the outer layers of the honeycomb body becoming connected to the tubular jacket, it is already known that the honeycomb body can be soldered through corresponding masks which cover the outer region of the honeycomb body. As a result, a connection of the outer region of the sheet-metal layers to the tubular jacket is avoided. In particular in the case of honeycomb bodies wound in an S-shaped manner, such unconnected outer regions of the layers of sheet metal cause these end regions of the layers of sheet metal to be prone to oscillate during the operation of the catalyst support structure in an exhaust system. The oscillations of the end regions may cause a destruction of the catalytically effective coating of the metallic honeycomb body.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of producing an encased honeycomb body, in particular a catalyst support structure, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods of this general type.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of producing an encased honeycomb body, which includes the steps of:
forming a honeycomb body by stacking and/or winding layers of sheet metal and providing at least some of the layers of sheet metal as structured layers of sheet metal such that the honeycomb body is formed with channels for a fluid to flow therethrough;
introducing a sleeve into a tubular jacket and providing the sleeve with an axial extent of less than an axial length of the honeycomb body and of the tubular jacket and providing the sleeve with an outer circumferential surface essentially bearing against a part of an inside wall of the tubular jacket;
introducing the honeycomb body into the tubular jacket and into the sleeve; and
forming a connection between the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket and a further connection between the honeycomb body and the sleeve.
In other words, the method according to the invention of producing an encased honeycomb body includes forming a honeycomb body by stacking and/or winding layers of sheet metal, of which at least some are structured layers of sheet metal, so that the honeycomb body has channels through which a fluid can flow. At least one sleeve, which forms a bushing-shaped spacer, is introduced into a provided tubular jacket. The axial extent of the sleeve is less than the axial length of the honeycomb body and of the tubular jacket; the sleeve is preferably introduced in the region of one end face of the tubular jacket. The honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket prepared in this way. The honeycomb body overlaps the tubular jacket and the sleeve. This is followed by forming a connection between the honeycomb body, the tubular jacket and the sleeve, so that the honeycomb body is connected to the tubular jacket and the sleeve. If appropriate, a connection is also formed between the tubular jacket and the sleeve. The sleeve prevents the end regions of the honeycomb body from being connected directly to the tubular jacket. The fact that the honeycomb body is connected to the sleeve achieves the effect that the sleeve forms a compensating element, compensating for the different thermal expansions of the tubular jacket and honeycomb body, and a rigid connection with the tubular jacket is not created in the at least one end region of the honeycomb body.
For technical production-related reasons, a tubular jacket has a certain circularity error with regard to it roundness. There are also tolerances with regard to the variations of an inside diameter of the jacket. As a result of this, a gap may form between the inside wall of the tubular jacket and the sleeve. To avoid solder getting into this gap, and thus creating a rigid connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket, according to an advantageous mode of the method according to the invention it is proposed that the sleeve is pressed against the inside wall of the tubular jacket. This compensates for possible production tolerances of the tubular jacket and/or the sleeve. The pressing operation causes the spacer to undergo an expansion, if the sleeve is of an essentially tubular configuration, so that the sleeve hugs the inside wall of the tubular jacket. Consequently, between the sleeve and the inside wall of the tubular jacket there is no gap, which may cause problems and into which solder can get.
The sleeve may be of a one-piece configuration. The sleeve is preferably of a bushing-shaped configuration, so that the sleeve extends over the entire periphery or circumference of the inside wall of the tubular jacket. The sleeve may also be divided. If the sleeve is divided, the end portions of the sleeve preferably overlap, wherein the pressing of the sleeve in the radial direction against the inside wall of the tubular jacket also ensures that no solder can get between the sleeve and the tubular jacket in the overlapping end portions of the sleeve either.
Pressing of the sleeve may be so intense that the sleeve is undetachably connected to the tubular jacket. This has the advantage that the tubular jacket is easier to handle with the spacer, since the spacer cannot fall out of the tubular jacket.
According to a further advantageous mode of the method according to the invention, it is proposed that a pressing of the sleeve against the inside wall of the tubular jacket preferably takes place through the use of a mechanical pressing unit. The pressing unit preferably has a mandrel, for example an expanding mandrel, which can be introduced into the tubular jacket in which the sleeve has already been positioned. The sleeve is pressed by the mandrel against the inside wall of the tubular jacket.
Instead of an expanding mandrel, the pressing unit may apply the necessary force or the necessary pressure for pressing the sleeve against the inside wall of the tubular jacket, wherein the pressing unit has at least two radially movable segments, by which the sleeve is pressed against the inside wall. The segments may be moved radially outward through the use of a suitable ram. The advantage of this way of conducting the method is that a pressing unit for tubular jackets of different diameters can be used.
According to a further advantageous mode of the method according to the invention, it is proposed that a pressure unit is introduced into the tubular jacket and a pressure medium is directed through the pressure unit essentially radially outward against the sleeve. The sleeve is pressed against the inside wall by the pressure medium. The advantage is that the sleeve is subjected to pressure over essentially its full surface area, so that it is pressed against the inside wall of the tubular jacket.
To avoid losses of the pressure medium, according to a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that two peripheral seals are brought to bear against the sleeve. The seals are provided spaced apart from each other. The distance between the seals corresponds at most to a width of the sleeve. The seals are preferably 0-ring seals. Between the seals, at least one outlet opening for the pressure medium is provided.
The tubular jacket is preferably subjected to internal pressure through the use of a gas, with the sleeve provided in the tubular jacket. The gas is preferably air.
According to yet a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that the pressure medium is a liquid, in particular water.
By a suitable monitoring of the internal pressure or the pressure of the pressure medium, it can also be checked whether the tubular jacket is impermeable, ice. without leaks.
The pressing of the sleeve against the inside wall of the tubular jacket also achieves the effect of calibrating the diameter of the tubular jacket. This also has the advantage that possible production tolerances of the tubular jacket are eliminated, so that the tubular jacket can be connected more easily to neighboring components of an exhaust system.
According to a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that the sleeve is connected to the tubular jacket. The forming of a connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket has the advantage that, when the honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket and into the sleeve, the latter retains a predetermined position within the tubular jacket, even though the honeycomb body is pressed in the axial direction of the tubular jacket, and consequently also of the sleeve, and, as a result, exerts a force on the sleeve in the direction in which the honeycomb body is introduced.
The sleeve is preferably connected to the tubular jacket through the use of a material. A welded connection is preferred in this case. The sleeve may be connected to the tubular jacket in a punctiform manner by welding spots. Individual, essentially peripheral weld seams may also be formed.
In order to fix the sleeve within the tubular jacket, it is proposed that the spacer is connected to the tubular jacket through the use of a bonding agent or an adhesive agent. The bonding agent may be introduced in certain portions between the sleeve and the tubular jacket. The bonding agent is preferably introduced over the entire periphery of the sleeve. The bonding agent is preferably an adhesive or oil. The fact that the sleeve is pressed against the inside wall of the tubular jacket means that adhesives which only achieve their adhesiveness under increased pressure can also be used.
Alternatively or additionally, the sleeve may be adhesively bonded to the tubular jacket. The connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket is preferably configured in such a way that the strength of the connection is less than the strength of a connection between the sleeve and the honeycomb body. In particular in the case of an adhesive connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket, it may be possible for this connection to be released, for example, during a soldering process due to the temperatures prevailing in the soldering process.
The fact that the connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket has a lower strength than the connection between the sleeve and the honeycomb body also ensures that thermal stresses between the tubular jacket and the honeycomb body are not introduced into the honeycomb body via the sleeve.
The sleeve is preferably produced from the same material as the honeycomb body or the tubular jacket. The connection between the sleeve and the tubular jacket is essentially an assembly connection, by which it is intended to ensure that the sleeve does not change its position within the tubular jacket during assembly, i.e. while the honeycomb body is being introduced into the tubular jacket.
The sleeve may be soldered, in particular hard-soldered, to the tubular jacket. In order to solder an axial subregion or partial region of the tubular jacket to the sleeve, soldering portions or soldering regions may be provided, which do not necessarily extend around the full periphery or circumference between the sleeve and the tubular jacket.
The connection of the individual layers of sheet metal of the honeycomb body to one another and the connection of the honeycomb body to the tubular jacket preferably takes place by one soldering operation. For soldering the configuration formed by the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket, according to a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that firstly at least one end face of the honeycomb body is brought into contact with a roller which contains a bonding agent and can be rotated about a roller axis.
The honeycomb body and the roller are moved in relation to each other in such a way that the roller rolls on at least a part of the end face of the honeycomb body and discharges or releases a bonding agent onto the honeycomb body during the rolling operation. After that, a solder is introduced at least into the honeycomb body.
This advantageous mode of the invention achieves a uniform application of a bonding agent to or into the honeycomb body. A possible unevennesses in the end face of the honeycomb body, attributable to an offset between layers of sheet metal of the honeycomb body, do not adversely affect the application of the bonding agent. The fact that the roller rolls on the end face means that wearing of the roller is also reduced, since it is not always the same locations of the roller that come into contact with the relatively thin edges of the layers of sheet metal. As a result, the service life of a device suitable for carrying out the method is also prolonged.
For applying the bonding agent, the honeycomb body and the roller may be moved. As a result, rapid application of a bonding agent is achieved if the roller and the honeycomb body are moved in a translational manner in opposed directions. To simplify the method, it is proposed that either the honeycomb body or the roller is positioned such that it is fixed in place and the roller or the honeycomb body is moved.
In the case of a honeycomb body which has at least one end region which protrudes from the tubular jacket and is of a rotationally symmetrical form with respect to a longitudinal axis of the honeycomb body, it is proposed that the honeycomb body is turned about its longitudinal axis and the roller, which has a shape adapted to the end region and extends radially inward only as far as the longitudinal axis, is turned about a roller axis intersecting the longitudinal axis at an angle of about 90xc2x0. By conducting the method in this way, the roller is brought into contact with the surface of the protruding end region.
A honeycomb body may be repeatedly brought into contact with the roller by its end face. Before a renewed contacting with the roller, it is expedient to pivot the honeycomb body by a prescribed angle about the longitudinal axis. As a result, the roller passes repeatedly over the end face of the honeycomb body, so that a very uniform application of a bonding agent is achieved.
For certain applications, it is not necessary for all the layers of sheet metal of the honeycomb body to be provided with a bonding agent. To apply a bonding agent to the end face of the honeycomb body only in certain regions, it is proposed that the roller has the bonding agent only in certain regions. This may be achieved, for example, by a corresponding shaping of the roller. By performing the method in this way, it is not necessary, for example, to interpose gluing masks.
According to yet a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that the honeycomb body is provided essentially vertically and the roller is brought into contact with an upper end face of the honeycomb body. The relative movement between the honeycomb body and the roller achieves the effect that the bonding agent does not drip into the honeycomb body.
In particular when low-viscosity bonding agents are used, it is expedient to provide the honeycomb body essentially vertically and to bring the roller into contact with a lower end face of the honeycomb body, thus dripping of the bonding agent into the honeycomb body is avoided.
According to yet a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that a honeycomb body which has two opposite end faces is brought between two spaced-apart, rotatably mounted rollers, so that the two end faces are wetted with a bonding agent essentially simultaneously.
A configuration which includes a honeycomb body provided in a tubular jacket may also be configured in such a way that the tubular jacket protrudes over the honeycomb body at least in an outer portion. In other words, the honeycomb body is provided in the tubular jacket in such a way that at least one end face of the honeycomb body is at a distance from the neighboring end face of the tubular jacket.
Such protruding outer portions of the tubular jacket form connecting regions, so that the configuration can be connected to further components or elements. For example, when using such a configuration in an exhaust system, on the one connecting region of the tubular jacket there may be provided a diffuser, which is connected for example to an exhaust pipe of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. It is also known for the tubular jacket to have two connecting regions, which are formed at the respective end of the tubular jacket, with essentially no honeycomb body provided in these connecting regions.
If, for example, the method of connecting the honeycomb body to the tubular jacket known from Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE-29 24 592 A1 is used, in which the honeycomb body with the tubular jacket is dipped into a dipping bath containing a bonding liquid and is subsequently provided with powdered solder, the connecting regions of the tubular jacket are also soldered, without this being necessary or desired. The connecting regions are provided with the bonding agent not only on an inner surface of the tubular jacket but also on an outer surface of the tubular jacket. This is undesired, since it causes entrainment of the bonding agent. In particular, the handling devices which engage an outer surface of the tubular jacket are also brought into contact with the bonding agent. A considerable cleaning effort may be necessary for the handling device.
The further methods described in Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE-29 24 592 A1 are in principle suitable for achieving a soldering of a tubular jacket and a honeycomb body, but these soldering methods are relatively complicated.
For soldering a honeycomb body in a tubular jacket, in a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that firstly a honeycomb body is formed by stacking and/or winding layers of sheet metal, of which at least some are structured layers of sheet metal, in such a way that the honeycomb body has channels through which a fluid can flow. The honeycomb body is introduced partially into the tubular jacket. The portion of the honeycomb body protruding from the tubular jacket is brought into contact by its end face with the roller containing a bonding agent. After that, the honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket and a solder is introduced into the honeycomb body.
The fact that only the portion of the honeycomb body protruding from the tubular jacket is brought into contact with a bonding agent avoids the tubular jacket also coming into contact with the bonding agent. This achieves the effect that the tubular jacket is free of bonding agent, such that the soldering powder does not adhere to the tubular jacket.
Since the tubular jacket is not provided with a bonding agent, it is also not necessary to free this tubular jacket of any bonding agent in order to avoid entrainment of the bonding agent.
The fact that the portion protruding from the tubular jacket is brought into contact with a bonding agent, such that the honeycomb body is provided with the bonding agent at least partially in its axial direction, also achieves the effect that the honeycomb body is provided with the bonding agent over its entire cross-sectional area, so that even outer regions of the honeycomb body can be satisfactorily provided with a soldering powder. This ensures that a reliable soldered connection can be formed even in the outer region of the honeycomb body or between the honeycomb body and the sleeve.
According to yet a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that, before introducing the solder, a portion of the honeycomb body lying opposite therefore mentioned portion is brought into contact with a bonding agent. In particular in the case of a configuration which has a tubular jacket, the tubular jacket having a connecting region respectively at the opposite end portions, it is proposed that the honeycomb body is pushed through the tubular jacket, so that a portion protrudes from the tubular jacket. This portion is brought into contact with the bonding agent. After that, the honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket in such a way that the honeycomb body essentially does not lie in the connecting regions of the tubular jacket.
For stable handling of the configuration, it is proposed that the honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket in such a way that it is located in the tubular jacket over a significant part of its axial length while one or the other portion is being brought into contact with the bonding agent. As a result, the configuration has a favorably located center of gravity, which prevents tipping over of the configuration.
In particular, it is proposed that the honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket in such a way that it protrudes at least 1 mm, preferably 5 mm, from the tubular jacket. This extent is adequate to prevent the tubular jacket from also coming into contact with the bonding agent.
According to a further advantageous mode of the invention, it is proposed that the portion to be wetted with a bonding agent is brought into contact with an application device which contains the bonding agent, the application device having a wetting surface which is larger than an end face of the portion and completely overlaps the latter. This advantageous mode of the invention achieves the effect that the portion of the honeycomb body can be brought into contact with a bonding agent over its entire cross-sectional area. The advantage of this way of conducting the method can also be seen in the fact that the same application device can be used for wetting honeycomb bodies which have different cross-sectional areas. It is therefore not necessary to adapt the application device to different cross-sectional geometries of honeycomb bodies.
The configuration is advantageously brought into contact with the bonding agent in a vertical position, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the honeycomb body runs essentially vertically. The application device may be provided underneath the honeycomb body for contacting the portion of the honeycomb body. A way of performing the method in which the application device is provided above the tubular jacket and the portion is brought into contact with the application device is preferred.
In the case of such a configuration of the application device, the bonding agent also flows into the portion on account of gravity. Depending on the time during which the portion is in contact with the application device and/or the dwell time of the honeycomb body in this vertical position, the effect can also be achieved that the bonding agent is introduced into the honeycomb body over the entire axial length of the latter or over part of the axial length of the latter. In order to provide the honeycomb body with a bonding agent in regions relevant for a soldered connection over its entire axial length, it is not necessary for it to spend a correspondingly long time at the application device. It is adequate if the portion remains in contact with the application device, in particular with the bonding agent, for as long as it takes for an adequate amount of bonding agent to get into the individual channels of the honeycomb body, so that adequate wetting with the bonding agent of the regions relevant for the formation of a soldered connection takes place. By conducting the method in this way, it is also no longer necessary to bring the honeycomb body into contact with a bonding agent on both sides. In particular, the time which is necessary for transporting the configuration from a wetting station, in which the bonding agent is introduced into the honeycomb body, to a soldering station, in which a soldering powder is introduced into the honeycomb body, can be used for the bonding agent to be transported of its own accord within the honeycomb body if the latter is transported in its vertical position.
In particular in the case of applying a bonding agent through the use of an application device provided above the honeycomb body, it is expedient if the bonding agent carrier or bonding agent support is of an essentially elastic and absorbent form. If, for example, the portion is pressed against the bonding agent carrier which contains the bonding agent, this achieves the effect that the bonding agent emerges from the bonding agent carrier and enters the portion. It is also possible to press the bonding agent carrier against the portion of the honeycomb body. Alternatively, the configuration and the bonding agent carrier may be moved in relation to each other in such a way that they press against each other.
In a serial soldering of honeycomb bodies, the individual honeycomb bodies are successively brought into contact with the bonding agent carrier. If these honeycomb bodies are pressed against the bonding agent carrier, there is the risk of the bonding agent carrier undergoing a loss of structure on account of material fatigue effects, which may have the result that adequate introduction of a bonding agent into the portion does not occur. This may have the effect that adequate bonding agent to which a soldering powder adheres is not made available. In order to ensure that adequate bonding agent can be introduced into the portion of the honeycomb body, it is proposed that contact surfaces of at least two successive configurations that are created during contact of a portion with-the bonding agent carrier or with the bonding agent only partially overlap. This mode of the invention is based on the consideration that the bonding agent carrier is not contacted at the same locations by successive configurations, whereby the bonding agent carrier is at least partially not stressed at the same locations, so that material fatigue of the bonding agent carrier cannot occur, or only after a much longer time.
In order to solder the honeycomb body in an axial subregion or partial region of the tubular jacket and with the bushing-shaped element, it is proposed that at least one soldering region which overlaps the tubular jacket and the element is formed. This is preferably a soldering region that is closed with respect to the peripheral direction of the tubular jacket.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of producing an encased honeycomb body, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

Method of producing an encased honeycomb body

Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH


A method of canceling a short circuit in a wire cut electric discharge machine, capable of speedily and surely canceling the short circuit generated in not only the wire advancing direction but also the perpendicular direction to the advancing one. When the short circuit is detected, the wire is reversed by determined distance L.sub.O, and if the short circuit is not canceled at that time, it is determined that the short circuit occurs in the perpendicular direction to the wire advancing one sequentially, machining profiles and the wire position are determined so that the optimum reversible control can be performed, thus the reversing direction and distance of the wire being determined. Further, the optimum reversible control is carried out on the basis of the determined reversing direction and distance, and the wire is returned to the position where the short circuit is initially detected if the cancellation of the short circuit is detected, thus the electric discharge machining being restarted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of canceling a short circuit in a wire cut electric discharge machine, which cancels the short circuit generated between the wire and a workpiece during the electric discharge machining, and in particular, to a method capable of canceling a short circuit generated in the perpendicular direction to the wire advancing direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
The wire cut electric discharge machine generates a pulse discharge in a space between the wire and workpiece. Part of the workpiece is thereby melted. Then, the melted part is blown off by means of the machining liquid from a nozzle, and this operation is continuously carried out. Thus the workpiece is formed into a desired shape. However, during the wire cut electric discharge machining, if a short circuit is generated in a space between the wire and workpiece, the pulse is not discharged. For this reason, the machining is interrupted.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a state between the wire and workpiece during the discharge machining; FIG. (A) shows a normal state, and FIG. (B) shows a short-circuited state. As illustrated in FIG. 9 (A), the wire 20 is supported by means of the upper and lower guides 7 and 10, and a space with a very short distance .DELTA. is kept between the wire 20 and workpiece 6 by the discharge. Moreover, repulsive force by the discharge machining is generated in the reverse direction relative to the advancing direction 21 of the wire 20. Therefore, deflection of the wire 20 occurs in the center portion 20A of the workpiece thickness. Thus, the discharge machining is carried out under such a state. On the contrary, as illustrated in FIG. 9 (B), once the workpiece 6 and the wire 20 come into contact with each other and a short circuit occurs there, the repulsive force by the discharge machining decreases, while the deflection is gone out of the wire. For this reason, the contact state of the workpiece 6 and the wire 20 is maintained, so that the machining can not be continued. In view of this point, if such a short circuit is detected, the wire is once reversed along the machined path therefrom, and if the cancellation of the short circuit is detected during the reversing operation of the wire, the wire is again returned to the initial short-circuited spot, thus the machining is restarted. Such a method of canceling the short circuit mentioned above is very effective in a short circuit generated in the wire advancing direction.
However, the short circuit is not necessarily generated in the wire advancing direction; for example, in the finish machining, the short circuit may occur in the perpendicular direction to the wire advancing one. In this case, the method of canceling the short circuit mentioned above can not cancel the short circuit between the wire and the workpiece.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a state between the wire and workpiece in the finish machining. In the figure, the finishing allowance 6A of the workpiece 6 is ground by the discharge generated between the wire 20 and the workpiece 6, thus being subjected to the finish machining. In the case of such a finish machining, the offset direction 22 is ordinarily an open surface, so that repulsive force is applied in the oblique direction as shown by an arrow 23 to the advancing direction 21 of the wire 20. For this reason, the wire 20 receives repulsive force of not only the reverse direction 24 to the advancing direction 21 but also the perpendicular direction 25 to the same. As a consequence, deflection of the wire 20 occurs in the perpendicular direction 25. Accordingly, the short circuit is generated in not only the wire advancing direction 21 but also the reverse direction relative to the perpendicular direction.
The short circuit generated in the advancing direction is effectively canceled by the foregoing method of canceling a short circuit, in which the wire is reversed along the path previously machined, but it is impossible to cancel the short circuit generated in the perpendicular direction. In the case where the short circuit is not canceled, the information is given to the operator by an alarm. However, the operator is required to once interrupt the automatic operation pursuant to the alarm, and to move the wire by manual operation in order to cancel the short circuit. For this reason, there are problems that it is troublesome to cancel the short circuit, and impossible to perform perfectly unmanned operations during rough to finish machining.

Method of canceling a short circuit in a wire cut electric discharge machine