A video data storage and transmission system for security surveillance using a combination of data compression techniques which enable the system to operate effectively in limited bandwidth scenarios such as those found in commercial aircraft communication. High quality video is captured in the cabin or cockpit of an aircraft and stored or transmitted with sufficient update rate to enable a ground operator to confidently assess the conditions on board the aircraft in a short time. The quality of the video may be dynamically changed, and the transmission of video from air to ground initiated, at either the on-board transmitter or ground-based receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of video data storage and transmission and, more particularly, to a system and method for compressing video images through conversion thereof from a time to frequency domain, enabling selectable storage and transmission quality of the recorded images on a dynamic basis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional MPEG, JPEG and wavelet technologies that rely upon the streaming of information require a predetermined bandwidth in order to transmit video images. When the available bandwidth falls below a required threshold value, the transmission cannot be completed. Thus, in limited bandwidth scenarios, such as those encountered when transmitting from an aircraft, conventional video data formats are often unable to handle the data transfer requirements that may be encountered.
Furthermore, in many video recording applications such as security monitoring, for example, much of the recorded video is routine and uneventful, making it undesirable and impractical to waste the considerable space necessary for storage of conventional video images. However, should an event occur during a surveillance period such that detailed video images are required, storage of data with sufficient detail is necessary to render the stored images of value.
The specific application of security monitoring on board aircraft is of particular interest today following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. While prior to Sep. 11, 2001, the threat of loss of life on an airliner was not considered to be great, today it is recognized that commercial aircraft must be viewed as potential weapons with the capacity for generating significant destruction. The risk to the public at large and the need to protect critical government and public infrastructure could result in the ordering of U.S. tactical aircraft to deliberately shoot down a commercial airliner. Such a decision should only be made with the greatest care and yet the timeline to make this decision may be very short. Hence, it is essential to have as close to perfect situational awareness as is possible in the circumstances at hand. Unfortunately, current voice and aircraft ground radar tracking data may not provide the necessary information directly into the hands of the civilian or military authorities responsible for making the decision as to whether action must be taken to disable the aircraft.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method that provides real-time video information from an aircraft in flight that is of sufficient quality and update rate to enable ground control personnel to accurately ascertain the situation on board the aircraft in order to take appropriate action. In conjunction therewith, a need exists for a video storage and transmission system and method in which video images can be recorded and stored with variable definition according to operator needs and selection, as well as transmitted effectively in limited bandwidth environments.

Video data storage and transmission system and method


A process and apparatus for extracting water from ash that has been quenched in water bath of an ash discharger and which is expelled from the water bath by means of a discharge ram through a discharge chute includes an improvement wherein the discharge chute of the ash discharger is caused to vibrate. The vibration is provided by a vibration generator, particularly of the unbalanced type.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for removing the water from ash that has been quenched in the water bath of a ash discharger, this ash being removed from the water bath through a discharge shoot by means of a discharge ram. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the process.
2. Background Art
In furnaces, the fuel that has been burned moves through a ash shaft into a deslagger that is filled with water and which incorporates a discharge chute that is curved in an arc shape and a discharge ram that can move back and forth and which moves ash that has been quenched in the water bath from the water bath to the outside through the upwardly inclined discharge chute (see, for example, DE-OS 25 39 615).
Because the ash is quenched with water it is, of necessity, completely saturated with water which causes problems with regard to its disposal or if it is to be subjected to further processing. One of the problems lies in the fact that the water that adheres to the ash is in part released during subsequent transportation. This can lead to the undesirable escape of water from the means of transport and, because of the fact that this water contains harmful substances, it can contribute to environmental pollution or to pollution of the ground water. Another significant problem lies in the fact that because of the water that it contains, the ash is correspondingly heavier, which leads to a considerable increase in transportation and dumping costs.

Process and an apparatus for removing water from ash

Martin GmbH fur Umwelt-und Energietechnik


A container has a storage case for storing silicon wafers in alignment which is of a box-like configuration having an opening on its front side, with a multiple-number of fitting slots formed on the inner top and bottom faces near the front opening. The container further has a FIMS door for opening and closing off the front opening of the storage case, a gasket attached to the rim of the FIMS door, a latching mechanism provided in the FIMS door for causing engaging claws to fit into corresponding fitting slots when the FIMS door is attached and releasing the engagement of the engaging claws with the fitting slots when the FIMS door is removed, and an outer door for shipping, fitted on the front side where the storage case has been confined with the FIMS door, for covering the FIMS door.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shipping container for accommodating silicon wafers and the like.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional shipping container, although it is not illustrated, comprises: a storage case having an opening on the top; an inner receptacle for the correct alignment of silicon wafers (to be abbreviated as wafers hereinbelow) therein; a top door being fitted on the top opening of the storage case with a gasket in between to cover the inner receptacle for alignment; and a wafer pressing plate attached on the inner top surface of the top door. The thus configured top opening type shipping container holds a plurality of wafers placed upright in the inner receptacle for alignment, and is transported as appropriate.
Recent years, in order to reduce the development cost and manufacturing cost, unified standardization of wafers is in progress. This has been followed by a proposal of use of internationally standardized shipping containers. Such proposals of standardization have been made in view of development of large-sized wafers (transition to 300 mm or greater diameter wafers in the near future), which need improved positioning and precision alignment (to allow the unloader to perform high-speed accessing), as well as in view of reduction of various costs and to deal with development of the large-sized system and also automation.
Such a shipping container under the unified standards, although it is not shown, comprises: a storage case opening to the front; a Front-Opening Interface Mechanical Standard door (to be abbreviated as FIMS door hereinbelow) which opens and closes off the front opening of the storage case; a plurality of fitting slots formed on the inner peripheral surface of the storage case; and a latching mechanism which enables engaging claws to mate the fitting slots when the FIMS door is attached and to disengage the mating of the engaging claws with the fitting slots when the FIMS door is removed.
Such a front opening type shipping container accommodates plural wafers arranged vertically and this shipping container is transported from a semiconductor manufacturer to an IC manufacturer where it is automatically set in various processors. Subsequently, the latching mechanism is automatically disengaged by a working robot so that the FIMS door is automatically removed from the storage case and then the plurality of wafers are successively taken out from the storage case by the unloader in an automatic manner.
The prior art documents for configurations of this type include Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Sho 63 No. 82,788, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Sho 63 No. 166,948, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 8 No. 279,546 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 9 No. 107,025.
The shipping containers satisfying the unified standard are thus configured and are effective in improving the positioning precision, reducing various costs and promoting automation, but still give rise to a problem with respect to transport. Specifically, a shipping container of the unified standard is effective enough for in-plant transport between the processing sites but having only a FIMS door cannot provide high enough strength to ensure sufficient confinement for long distance transport using airplanes or trucks from a semiconductor manufacturer to an IC manufacturer because the container is exposed to various external environments (including pressure variations, vibrations during flight, etc.). Resultantly, the wafers maybe polluted with particles or subject to organic pollution, which may be accompanied by the entrance of the external air, so that there is the fear that the wafers cannot be retained in high enough quality.


A motor includes a stator having magnets, a rotor having teeth, a commutator secured to the rotor, and brushes. A coil is wound about each tooth. The commutator is connected to the coils. The brushes slidably contact the commutator. The number of the magnets and the number of the teeth are determined such that the resultant of torque vectors that act on the teeth is zero. For example, the number of the magnet is six, and the number of the teeth is eight. As a result, the rotor is prevented from vibrating.

The present invention relates to a core of a rotation apparatus, a method for manufacturing the core, and a rotational apparatus that reduce vibration.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 55-147964 discloses a direct-current motor that includes magnets, an armature having a core, and a commutator. The number of the magnets is represented by a product 2 mn. The number of the teeth in the core of the armature is represented by a product m(2n±1). The number of the segments in the commutator is represented by a product mn(2n±1). In the products listed above, the sign m is an integer that is equal to or greater than one, and the sign n is an integer that is equal to or greater than three. When m is one and n is three, the number of magnet is six, the number of the teeth is seven or five, and the number of the segments is twenty-one or fifteen.
Since the motor has an odd number of teeth, the resultant of magnetic forces acting on the teeth, or the resultant of the torque vectors in the teeth is not zero. The resultant torque constantly acts on the rotor in radial directions.
FIGS. 67(a) to 67(f) show the states of the torque vector resultant in the teeth of a prior art six-pole seven-slot (seven-tooth) motor. As shown in the drawings, the motor includes a rotor 111, which is an armature. The rotor 111 includes seven teeth 110. Six magnets 112, which function as a stator, are arranged about the rotor 111. When the rotor 111 rotates counterclockwise from a position A shown in FIG. 67(a) to a position F shown in FIG. 67(f), the directions and the magnitudes of magnetic forces acting on the teeth 110 change as represented by single-dotted line arrows in FIGS. 67(a) to 67(f). The torque vector resultant T, which is obtained by summing the torque vectors ta to tg in the teeth 110, changes as represented by solid line arrows in FIGS. 67(a) to 67(f). Therefore, when rotating, the rotor 111 constantly receives a radial force that is produced by the resultant torque T, which is always above zero. This vibrates the rotor 111, or the motor.
FIG. 68 illustrates an armature 120 of a typical rotation apparatus such as a direct-current motor and the generator. The armature 120 includes a core 113 having teeth 114 and coils 115, each of which is wound about one of the teeth 114. The armature 120 shown in FIG. 68 is an inner type. If the armature 120 is used as a rotor, magnets arranged about the armature 120 function as a stator. If the armature 120 functions as a stator, the magnets function as a rotor.
To wind each coil 115 about the corresponding tooth 114, the circumferential distance W1 between the distal ends of each adjacent pair of the teeth 114 needs to be sufficiently wide. Also, to systematically and easily wind the coils 115 about the teeth 114, the space S1 between each adjacent pair of the coils 115 needs to be sufficiently wide. However, if each distance W1 is widened, the cogging torque is also increased, and thus the vibration of the rotation apparatus is increased. If each space S1 is widened, the space factor of the corresponding coils 115 is decreased, and thus the performance of the rotation apparatus deteriorates.
FIG. 69 illustrates an outer type armature 119. The armature 119 also may function either as a stator or a rotor. Magnets are arranged in the hollows in the armature 119. The magnets function either as a rotor or a stator. Like the armature 120 of FIG. 68, the armature 119 includes a core 116 having teeth 117 and coils 118, each of which is wound about one of the teeth 117.
The armature 119 of FIG. 69 has the same drawbacks as those of the armature of FIG. 68. That is, the distance W2 between the distal ends of each adjacent pair of the teeth 117 and the space S2 between each adjacent pair of the coils 118 need to be sufficiently wide. Therefore, the vibration of the rotation apparatus is increased and the performance of the apparatus deteriorates.
To solve the problems presented in the arts shown in FIGS. 68 and 69, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. 9-191588 and No. 10-4640 disclose arts in which coils are wound about separately formed teeth and then the teeth are integrated with a core.
However, since the arts disclosed in publications No. 9-191588 and No. 10-4640 require a core and a plurality of separate teeth, the number of parts is increased. This complicates the production control. Also, in the art disclosed in the publication No. 10-4640, half of the teeth are formed completely separately from a core body and the engaged with the core body to form a core. Therefore, the engaging portions of these teeth have a higher magnetic reluctance compared with the teeth that are integrally formed with the core body. As a result, the teeth have different magnetic reluctances. If this core is used as an inner rotor, centrifugal force loosens the engaging portions. This makes the magnetic forces acting on the teeth uneven and thus causes the motor to vibrate.

Method for manufacturing an armature of a rotation apparatus


A method for producing substantially linear hydrocarbons by oligomerizing a lower olefin at elevated temperature and pressure which comprises contacting the lower olefin under oligomerization/polymerization conditions with constrained intermediate pore siliceous acidic zeolite, e.g., ZSM-22, -23 or -35, having Bronsted acid activity; wherein the zeolite has acidic pore activity and wherein the zeolite surface is rendered substantially inactive for acidic reactions. The zeolite surface can be inactivated by contact with dicarboxylic acid, e.g., oxalic acid. The olefin oligomers may be used as alkylating agents to prepare biodegradable alkylbenzenes and alkylphenylsulfonates.

This application discloses a process for producing high molecular weight hydrocarbons from a lower olefin feedstock by employing a shape selective crystalline silicate catalyst which is surface inactivated.
Recent work in the field of olefin upgrading has resulted in a catalytic process for converting lower olefins to heavier hydrocarbons. Heavy distillate and lubricant range hydrocarbons can be synthesized over certain medium pore, shape-selective zeolite catalysts at elevated temperature and pressure to provide a product having substantially linear molecular conformations due to the ellipsoidal shape selectivity of such catalysts.
Conversion of olefins to gasoline and/or distillate products is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,960,978 and 4,021,502 (Givens, Plank and Rosinski) wherein gaseous olefins in the range of ethylene to pentene, either alone or in admixture with paraffins are converted into an olefinic gasoline blending stock by contacting the olefins with a catalyst bed made up of ZSM-5 zeolite. Such a technique has been developed by Garwood, et al, as disclosed in European Patent Application No. 83301391.5, published 29 Sept. 1983. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,150,062; 4,211,640; 4,227,992; and 4,547,613 Garwood, et al disclose operating conditions for a process for selective conversion of C.sub.3 .sup.+ olefins to mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons.
In the process for catalytic conversion of olefins to heavier hydrocarbons by catalytic oligomerization using a medium pore shape selective acid crystalline zeolite, process conditions can be varied to favor the formation of hydrocarbons of varying molecular weight. At moderate temperature and relatively high pressure, the conversion conditions favor C.sub.10 .sup.+ aliphatic product. Lower olefinic feedstocks containing C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkenes may be converted; however, the distillate mode conditions do not convert a major fraction of ethylene. A typical reactive feedstock consists essentially of C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 mono-olefins, with varying amounts of non-reactive paraffins and the like being acceptable components.
Shape-selective oligomerization, as it applies to the conversion of C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 olefins over ZSM-5, may produce higher olefins up to C.sub.30 and higher. As reported by Garwood in "Intrazeolite Chemistry 23", (Amer. Chem. Soc., 1983), reaction conditions favoring higher molecular weight product are low temperature (200.degree.-260.degree. C.), elevated pressure (about 2000 kPa or greater), and long contact time (less than 1 WHSV). The reaction under these conditions proceeds through the acid-catalyzed steps of (1) oligomerization, (2) isomerization-cracking to a mixture of intermediate carbon number olefins, and (3) interpolymerization to give a continuous boiling product containing all carbon numbers. The channel systems of medium pore catalysts impose shape-selective constraints on the configuration of the large molecules, accounting for the differences with other catalysts.
The desired oligomerization-polymerization products include c.sub.10 .sup.+ substantially linear aliphatic hydrocarbons. This catalytic path for propylene feed provides a long chain which generally has lower alkyl (e.g., methyl) substituents along the straight chain.
The final molecular configuration is influenced by the pore structure of the catalyst. For the higher carbon numbers, the structure is primarily a methyl-branched straight olefinic chain, with the maximum cross-section of the chain limited by the dimension of the largest zeolite pore. Although emphasis is placed on the normal 1-alkenes as feedstocks, other lower olefins, such as 2-butene or isobutylene, are readily employed as starting materials due to rapid isomerization over the acidic zeolite catalysts. At conditions chosen to maximize heavy distillate and lubricant range products (C.sub.20 .sup.+), the raw aliphatic product is essentially mono-olefinic. Overall branching is not extensive and may occur at spaced positions within the molecule.
The viscosity index of a hydrocarbon lube oil is related to its molecular configuration. Extensive branching in a molecule usually results in a low viscosity index. It is believed that two modes of oligomerization/polymerization of olefins can take place over acidic zeolites, such as HZSM-5. One reaction sequence takes place at Bronsted acid sites inside the channels or pores, producing essentially linear materials. The other reaction sequence occurs on the outer surface, producing more branched material. By decreasing the surface acid activity of such zeolites, fewer highly branched products with low VI are obtained.
Several techniques may be used to increase the relative ratio of intra-crystalline acid sites to surface active sites. This ratio tends to increase with crystal size due to geometric relationship between volume and superficial surface area. Deposition of carbonaceous materials by coke formation can also shift the effective ratio, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,613.
Dealumination of zeolite surfaces can also reduce surface activity. Conventional techniques for zeolite dealumination include hydrothermal treatment, mineral acid treatment with HCl, HNO.sub.3, and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and chemical treatment with SiCl.sub.4 or EDTA. The treatments are limited, in many cases, in the extent of dealumination by the onset of crystal degradation and loss of sorption capacity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,220 to LaPierre et al discloses that dealumination of zeolite Beta via treatment with HCl solutions is limited to SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratios of about 200 to 300 beyond which significant losses to zeolite crystallinity are observed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,795 to Kerr et al. describes a process for preparing highly siliceous zeolite-type materials from crystalline aluminosilicates by means of a solvolysis, e.g. hydrolysis, followed by a chelation. In this process, the acid form of a zeolite is subjected to hydrolysis, to remove aluminum from the aluminosilicate. The aluminum can then be physically separated from the aluminosilicate by the use of complexing or chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or carboxylic acid, to form aluminum complexes that are readily removable from the aluminosilicate. The examples are directed to the use of EDTA to remove alumina.
EP 0 259 526 B1 discloses the use of dealumination in producing zeolite ECR-17. The preferred dealumination method involves a combination of steam treatment and acid leaching, or chemical treatments with silicon halides. The acid used is preferably a mineral acid, such as HCl, HNO.sub.3 or H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, but may also be weaker acids such as formic, acetic, oxalic, tartaric acids and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,177 to Bowes et al. discloses the preparation of a natural ferrierite hydrocracking catalyst by treatment with oxalic acid to impart catalytic activity for converting slightly branched as well as straight chain hydrocarbons in hydrodewaxing and naphtha upgrading. Increased activity is believed to arise from removal of iron, sodium and other impurities by such treatment.
It is known to use certain basic materials to deactivate the Bronsted acid sites on the surface of aluminosilicate catalysts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,221 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,786, Chen, et al., which are expressly incorporated herein disclose bulky amines, such as di-tert-butyl pyridine, as such basic materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,878 to Bowes et al., incorporated herein by reference, describes production of high viscosity index lubes by converting olefins over medium pore zeolites, e.g., ZSM-23, which are surface inactivated by contacting with aqueous fluorosilicate salt to replace external zeolite aluminum with silicon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,038 to Page et al., which is expressly incorporated herein discloses the use of surface-inactivated zeolites such as ZSM-23 in olefin oligomerization processes which produce substantially linear hydrocarbons suitable for lubes or alkylating for preparing alkylbenzenes or alkylphenylsulfonates. The zeolites are surface-inactivated by contacting with bulky pyridine compound, e.g., 2,4,6-collidine.
The Young U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,301,316; 4,301,317; and 4,298,547, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference, disclose methods for using linear olefins, whereby these olefins are reacted with benzene in a particular way and then sulfonated to form biodegradable alkylbenzene sulfonic acid based detergents, particularly 2-phenylalkane sulfonates.

Olefin oligomerization with surface modified zeolite catalyst


A fully emptiable flexible tube wherein at least the skirt and the neck of the tube form a single-pieced unit. The wall is 0.30 1.20 mm thick, preferably 0.30 1.00 mm thick and is made of a material comprising at least one polymer from the polypropylene family and comprises a section modulus of 700 MPa maximum, preferably 500 MPa according to French standard NF EN ISO 178. The tubes can be used in the packaging of any type of product, especially pasty bodies in the field of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention generally pertains to a fully emptiable flexible tube resistant to stress-cracking and forming a water vapour barrier.
The invention also concerns a method for fabricating said tube.
More precisely, the invention, according to a first characteristic, concerns a fully emptiable tube provided with a wall resistant to stress-cracking and forming a water barrier, this tube essentially comprising a flexible skirt and a head, the skirt being elongate along an axial direction and having, at a first end of the tube, a filling end sealed by crushing this skirt along a transverse direction, and the head comprising at least one evacuation orifice and a flexible neck forming a radial extension of the orifice and being joined to the skirt, at least the skirt and neck forming a single piece assembly, the wall at the joining of the neck and skirt and in a longitudinal plane containing the axial direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction, having a determined joining radius, and the skirt in a plane transversal to the axial direction and at mid-distance between the neck end forming the evacuation opening and the filling end of the tube having a determined perimeter and a substantially constant wall thickness, the ratio of the determined perimeter to the joining radius being no more than 4.5.
(2) Prior Art
A tube of this type is described and illustrated for example in patent EP 1 181 207.
Paste products, such as toothpaste, pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, food products, hygiene products, fats and greasy substances, putty and glue are often proposed in packaging of flexible tube type. These tubes consist of a tubular body of constant cross-section, before the filling end is sealed, of circular, oval or other shape. The tubular body forming what is called the "skirt" has a first end generally closed by heat sealing and a second opposite end, configured so as to form a dispensing head for the product contained in the skirt. The dispensing head is provided with screw-on, snap-fit or other closing means of so-called "standard" cap type, so-called "service" cap type or other.
As a general rule, heat sealing of the first end of the tube is made after filling the tube with the paste product to be packaged.
The capacity of the tube is one of its essential characteristics. In the particular case of a tube with constant circular cross-section, the capacity is defined by the length and diameter of the skirt, i.e. by the length and diameter of the circular cross-section of the skirt.
To extract the product from the tube, the consumer presses on the tube wall which undergoes deformation and creasing that are increasingly pronounced as and when the tube is emptied.
The tube skirt must therefore be made in a flexible material. This material must be heat sealable. It must also have characteristics of resistance to stress-cracking, imperviousness to water vapour and no yellowing in time under the effect of the products contained in the tube or through so-called "cross" contamination i.e. attributable to contamination agents external to the tube, in order to meet specifications of compatibility of products intended to be packaged in the tube.
Tubes meeting all these criteria are most often fabricated by assembly or insert moulding of the dispensing head made by injection and of the skirt made by extrusion.
Another method, called injection blow moulding, that is little used and costly, consists of forming the skirt by moving the impression of a mould consecutively to injection of the head in this mould.
Finally, at least the skirt and neck may be made by injection in a single operation as indicated in above-mentioned patent EP 1 181 207.
The fabrication of the tube using the injection method offers numerous advantages: this method can replace a succession of operations by a single operation. It chiefly allows great freedom of shape and eliminates the welding between the neck and skirt of the tube which is a rigid zone hence a factor of discomfort for the user.
The injection method combined with a low ratio between the skirt perimeter and the neck joining radius makes it possible to fabricate so-called "fully emptiable" tubes which can be completely emptied of their content by pressing on the, flexible neck.
The industrial production of these tubes in large series has encountered a major problem however, which up until now has considerably slowed down its extent of application, and which derives from the insufficient reversibility even the total lack of irreversibility of the deformation undergone by said fully emptiable tubes when they are being emptied.
This problem, novel by nature, in no way affects conventional tubes whose head has much greater rigidity than the skirt, and all the more since the skirt consists of a developable surface, cylindrical for example.
In this well-known case and illustrated for example in patent EP 0 856 473, the skirt only undergoes deformations that are topologically equivalent to creases and returns to its rest position under the effect of the substantial elastic return force exerted upon it by the head after being arched.
On the other hand, for fully emptiable tubes, and even in cases when the ratio of the skirt perimeter to the neck joining radius is low, preferably less than 4.5, the skirt's return to its initial shape after pinching of the tube neck is largely impeded by the fact that the neck, on account of its spheroid-type shape, undergoes compression tangential to its surface when pinched at every point of the surface on which pressure is exerted.
For a certain configuration of the tube's physical parameters, it may arise that not only the inversion of concavity which the tube neck undergoes in its zone on which most stress is placed on pinching, no longer has to overcome an elastic return force but is itself propagated to the benefit of an elastic force in reverse direction which tends to apply the neck zone undergoing most stress onto that part of the neck which maintains its initial convex shape.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fully emptiable flexible tube with an amplified return effect


The controlling apparatus includes a wire supplying sensor 18 for detecting a number of rotations of a wire supplying motor 8, a wire twisting sensor 49 for detecting actuation of a loaded torque detecting mechanism c, and a return position detecting sensor 38 for detecting that a wire twisting mechanism b is located at a predetermined waiting position. In response to an output signal from the wire supplying sensor 18, the controlling apparatus stops rotation of a wire supplying motor 7a and rotationally drives a wire twisting motor 7b. In addition, in response to an output signal from the wire twisting sensor 49, the controlling apparatus shifts rotation of the wire twisting motor 7b in the normal direction to rotation of the same in the reverse direction. Additionally, in response to an output signal from the return position detecting sensor 38, the controlling apparatus stops rotation of the twist driving motor 7b.. When a start switch 5 is actuated with an operator's hand the controlling apparatus makes it possible to sequentially perform supplying of a predetermined length of binding wire 2, rotating of a twisting shaft 25 until a predetermined torque value is reached, and returning of the wire twisting mechanism b to the initial position.

The present invention relates to a wire binder wherein a binding wire is supplied around a plurality of articles such as reinforcement steel rods or the like to be bound so as to allow the binding wire to be circularly wound around the articles, a part of the circularly wound binding wire is seized and twisted so as to allow the circularly wound wire to be tightened, and thereafter, the binding wire is released from the seized state.
A wire binder as disclosed in a Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 59-39027 has been hitherto known as a typical conventional wire binder of the aforementioned type. This wire binder is constructed such that a binding wire wound around a bobbin is unreeled from the latter so as to allow it to be wound around a plurality of articles such as reinforcement steel rods or the like to be bound especially at their intersections, and thereafter, a part of the circularly wound wire is seized and twisted to tightly bind the articles together. Wire supplying, wire cutting and wire twisting and other operations are sequentially performed by actuating a single start lever.
With the conventional wire binder constructed in the above-described manner, as a trigger switch is actuated with an operator's hand, a driving motor is activated, causing a cam to be rotationally driven. While the cam is rotated by one revolution, various mechanism in the wire binder are sequentially actuated. In other words, a predetermined length of binding wire is supplied around a plurality of articles to be bound via an arc-shaped guide, and thereafter, a twisting shaft is rotated by a predetermined number of revolutions to tightly bind the articles with the binding wire.
However, since the twisting shaft is always rotated by a given number of revolutions, in case that the binding wire has a small diameter, there arises a malfunction that the articles fail to be bound together with the binding wire due to the weakly tightened state. To cope with employment of a binding wire having a larger diameter, the wire binder is modified such that it additionally includes a mechanism which serves to induce slippage between a twisting shaft and a driving shaft after a predetermined magnitude of twisting torque is reached with the aid of a clutch or the like in a twist/rotate driving system. However, with this modified wire binder, a time which elapses during the occurrence of slippage is useless for each binding operation. In addition, there arises a problem that clutching sound is intermittently generated during the slippage, resulting in a working environment of the wire binder being deteriorated.
Particularly, since the foregoing type of wire binder is usually operated using a battery, when the twisting shaft is rotated with slippage, there arises another malfunction that the number of binding operations per one battery charge is reduced.
The Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 59-39027 also shows a conventional wire binder having a typical conventional torque detecting mechanism including a clutch mechanism wherein raised portions are brought in engagement with the corresponding recessed portions by the resilient force of a spring spanned between an output shaft and a twist shaft in a speed reduction mechanism operatively connected to a motor shaft. Specifically, the conventional torque detecting mechanism is constructed such that when the loaded torque arising during the twisting operation reaches a predetermined value, the raised portions and the recessed portions are parted away from each other against the resilient force of the spring, causing slippage to occur between the output shaft and the twisting drive shaft, resulting in any torque in excess of a predetermined magnitude of torque failing to be exerted on the twisting drive shaft.
With the conventional torque detecting mechanism constructed in the above-described manner, however, due to the fact that the clutch mechanism is disposed between the output shaft having a reduced speed and the twisting drive shaft, a large magnitude of torque is usually exerted on the clutch mechanism. Thus, there arises a necessity that the spring for bringing the raised portions in engagement with the recessed portions has a high intensity of resilient force. This leads to a problem that an assembling operation and an adjusting operation are unavoidably performed in a complicated manner.
In addition, it is necessary that a movable clutch member is arranged in the axial direction between the output shaft and the twisting drive shaft, and moreover, a spring for squeezing the clutch member and a mechanism for adjusting an intensity of resilient force of the spring are additionally arranged in operative association with the movable clutch member. Thus, there arises another problem that the foregoing mechanism is enlarged not only in size bust also in weight.
With respect to a tool adapted to operate with the aid of a rechargeable battery, since a motor having a large quantity of electricity consumption is rotated further after a predetermined magnitude of torque is reached with the tool, there arises a problem that the number of binding operations to be achieved per one electric charge is reduced, resulting in an operational efficiency being degraded.
The Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 59-39027 further shows a wire binder for binding a plurality of articles to be bound using a binding wire wherein an arc-shaped guide portion is arranged on the front side relative to a wire supplying mechanism for successively supplying a long binding wire in the forward direction, the binding wire discharged from the foremost end of an arc-shaped guide portion is wound around a plurality of articles to be bound by several turns, and the articles are bound together by seizing and twisting a part of the X wound binding wire has been hitherto known as a typical binder of the foregoing type. With the conventional binder constructed in the above-described manner, since it is necessary that the binding wire is cut prior to the twisting after it is wound around the articles to be bound, a cutting mechanism is disposed at the fore end part of the arc-shaped guide portion. To actuate the cutting mechanism, a wire rope is extensively arranged along the arc-shaped contour of the guide portion wherein one end of the wire rope is connected to the cutting mechanism, while the other end Of the same is connected to an actuating mechanism in the binder.
However, with the system for cutting a binding wire by pulling a wire rope in the above-described manner, since the wire rope is elongated during each pulling operation, there arise malfunctions that the binding wire can not reliably be cut by the cutting mechanism, and moreover, reliability on the actuation of the cutting mechanism is degraded. In addition, there arises a necessity for arranging an adjusting mechanism to cope with the elongation of the wire rope. In practice, however, the adjusting mechanism should be readjusted frequently.
Since the wire rope is arranged along the arc-shaped contour of the guide portion, the cutting mechanism receives a large magnitude of resistance during each cutting operation. This leads to a problem that the wire rope is cut due to friction appearing between the wire rope and the guide portion, causing the cutting mechanism to be incorrectly actuated.
If the cutting mechanism is arranged in the linear region before the arc-shaped part of the guide portion, the cutting mechanism can be actuated using a rod without any appearance of the aforementioned problem. However, since a part of the cut binding wire remains still in the arc-shaped part of the guide portion, interference occurs between the guide portion and the bound part of the binding wire after the latter is twisted, resulting in workability of the binder being degraded.
A Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. Hei. 3-60989 teaches a conventional wire binder having an apparatus for controlling a twisting hook employable for a binder for binding a binding wire. According to the conventional wire binder, the apparatus is constructed such that a chucking member adapted to slidably move in the axial direction is arranged around the outer peripheral surface of a twist shaft having a hook for seizing a binding wire pivotally supported thereon so that the hook is opened or closed by slidable movement of the chucking member relative to the twist shaft. In addition, a cam mechanism is employed for the apparatus for slidably displacing the chucking member. This leads to a necessity for arranging a power transmission shifting mechanism which serves to rotationally drive the twist shaft as desired.
The conventional wire binder is required to locate the hook to assume a predetermined angle after completion of a series of binding steps. According to the conventional wire binder, a mechanism for opening the hook by rotating the twisting shaft in the reverse direction after completion of each binding operation, and at the same time, stopping the hook at a predetermined position by bringing the hook in engagement with an abutment member to stop the reverse rotation of the twist shaft by rotating the abutment member is used for the binder. However, with the mechanism as mentioned above, since the abutment member is arranged in the vicinity of a plurality of articles to be bound, there is a possibility that the abutment member is damaged or injured when it comes in engagement with the articles during each binding operation.


A work vehicle comprises a counter weight (1) manufactured by casting, an outer surface thereof being formed in a substantially arc shape, the counter weight (1) including at a lower section thereof an extended portion extending in leftward and rightward directions to have a substantially arc shape, tip ends of the extended portion and a lower part of a center section of the counter weight (1) being provided with a lower attachment base, and an upper face thereof being provided with a canopy attachment base; and a canopy (2) including a roof (22), pillars (21) standing at left side and right side for supporting the roof (22), and a lower attachment member (23) manufactured by casting for fixing lower ends of the pillars (21), the canopy (2) being mounted on the counter weight (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The current invention relates to a work vehicle.
2. Related Art
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary small hydraulic excavator commonly used for public engineering works in urban areas. The small hydraulic excavator includes a counter weight 100 provided at the opposite side of a working machine 90, and a canopy 200. The counter weight 100 works for allowing the vehicle to be balanced with the load applied to the working machine. In order to ensure an operator's safety when the vehicle falls down, recent increasing demands for improved safeties require driver protection structures to conform to the strength standard specified by the ISO standards. Specifically, more canopies or cabs are required to have a Roll-over Protective Structure (ROPS).
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional ROPS canopy attached to a small hydraulic excavator. As shown in FIG. 10, a ROPS canopy support member 110 construct by metal sheet is attached to a frame 150 to support a canopy 210 construct by metal sheet so that the whole structure has a prescribed strength, thereby providing the ROPS canopy (refer to, for example, "Bobcat, Model 56 Hydraulic Excavator Parts Manual", Melroe Company, November, 1986, p.A3).
Another structure is also known as shown in FIG. 11. In this structure, a counter weight 120 is provided to extend upwardly. The counter weight 120 has at the upper end side a support member 221 for supporting a canopy 220 (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-140607 (pp. 2–5, FIGS. 1–6).
However, the conventional ROPS canopy support member 110 as shown in FIG. 10 has a metal plate structure and thus has a problem in that the ROPS canopy support member 110 has a complicated structure having an increased weight in order to support the ROPS canopy 210 to ensure a prescribed strength, thereby requiring a significantly increased manufacture cost.
Furthermore, since an engine (not shown) is provided rearward of the ROPS canopy support member 110 shown in FIG. 10, the ROPS canopy support member 110 becomes an obstacle to the inspection or maintenance works for the engine, thus causing a problem in the maintainability of the engine.
The counter weight 120 as shown in FIG. 11 is provided to extend upwardly and thus allows the center of gravity of the counter weight 120 to move toward the rear end side, thereby to improve the stability during operations. However, since the counter weight 120 is not a structure that satisfies a prescribed strength to support a ROPS canopy, the canopy 220 cannot be an ROPS canopy.
The canopy 220 also has two support members 220a which are provided to stand at the back of an operator seat S and which have a narrow width (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-140607). For an operator who must frequently check the backside for an obstacle or a human, his or her rear field of vision is not always good because of the existence of the two support members 220a located around the center of his or her rear field of vision.
Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 10-140607 also discloses in the second embodiment a case in which one thick support member 220a is provided. In this case, the support member 220a is positioned just behind the operator's seat and thus the center field of vision of the operator is blocked because the support member 220a is positioned at the center of his or her rear field of vision.
Therefore, further improvement for the operator's rear field of vision has been desired.


A fuse unit (1) includes a unit body (10) fixed to a battery post (3) of a battery (2) via a battery terminal (4) and disposed along a top surface (2a) and a side surface (2b) of the battery (2), and a battery cover (20) mounted to the unit body (10) and configured to cover an outer periphery of the unit body (10). The unit body (10) has a battery abutment rib (17) at a portion of the unit body (10) facing the side surface (2b) of the battery (2). The battery abutment rib (17) is configured to secure a mounting space for the battery cover (20).

Various types of fuse units to be directly attached to batteries have been conventionally proposed (see Patent Literature 1). FIG. 1 shows a related art of such fuse units. In FIG. 1, a fuse unit 100 is fixed to a battery post 102 of a battery 101 via a battery terminal 103. The fuse unit 100 includes a unit body 105 and a battery cover 140. The unit body 105 includes a bus bar 110 being a conductive metal plate and an insulating protection 120 provided on an outer surface of the bus bar 110 by insert molding.
The battery terminal 103 is connected to the bus bar 110. The bus bar 110 has: a power supply connection portion 111 receiving power supply from the battery post 102; a starter motor connection portion 112 to which a starter motor terminal 130 is connected; an alternator connection portion 113 to which an alternator terminal 131 is connected; load connection portions (not illustrated) to which load terminals (not illustrated) are respectively connected; an alternator fuse 115 disposed between the power supply connection portion 111 and the alternator connection portion 113; and multiple load fuses 116 each disposed between the power supply connection portion 111 and a corresponding one of the load connection portions (not illustrated).
The unit body 105 has an L-shape bent at right angles and is disposed along a top surface 101a and a side surface 101b of the battery 101. The unit body 105 is thus installed in a peripheral space of the battery 101 which is allotted for the fuse unit 100.
The battery cover 140 has an almost box shape whose bottom is opened. The battery cover 140 includes a cover body 141 and a lid 143 turnably supported by the cover body 141 via a hinge 142. A side surface cover 144 is provided to extend in a portion below one side end of the cover body 141. The side surface cover 144 functions as a slide guide when the battery cover 140 is mounted by sliding. Specifically, in the mounting of the battery cover 140, the battery cover 140 is slid on the unit body 105 from above with the side surface cover 144 used as the slide guide. The battery cover 140 covers the battery post 102, the battery terminal 103, and the unit body 105 from above and from sides. The battery cover 140 serves to provide an insulating function, a waterproof function and the like of the fuse unit 100.


A tissue expander having a shell, an opening in the shell in communication with an external vacuum source to apply a vacuum within the shell and impart a distracting force to expand tissue, and a rim connected to the shell and adapted to be in contact with a skin of a patient. The rim is non-fixedly attached to the skin of the patient and moves laterally outwardly with respect to the shell under application of the vacuum.

This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 63/122,016, filed Dec. 7, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Field of the Invention
This application relates to external vacuum expanders, and, more particularly, to external vacuum tissue expanders with supporting rims that reduce shear stresses.
Background of Related Art
It is a well-established biologic phenomenon that sustained gentle tension is a natural stimulus for tissue growth. We grow during childhood thanks to the tension generated by the epiphyseal growth plate that lengthens our bones. Internal inflatable tissue expanders and Ilizarov bone distractors are examples of widely used medical devices that enlarge tissues based upon this principle. These medical devices, however, require complication-prone invasive surgical procedures. There is therefore a societal need for distraction devices that are external and non-invasive while still capable of enlarging tissue in a safe, practical, and user-friendly manner.
Cosmetic breast augmentation and post mastectomy breast reconstruction are the two conditions where such a non-invasive method of tissue enlargement might find its most common application. Dating back to the 1800's, a very large number of vacuum based breast enlargement devices have tried to achieve this goal. While some have been marketed over the years, they are essentially all considered novelty items and none have ever proven their efficacy in scientific clinical studies because none could be consistently applied for the prolonged period of time required to induce substantial tissue growth.
The Brava device conceived and designed by the inventor of the present invention, disclosed in U.S Patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,641,527, 6,500,112, 6,478,656, 5,676,634, 5,695,445, 5,662,583, is the only device known to the inventor with scientifically proven efficacy reviewed by the FDA. The Brava device was successful in inducing permanent tissue growth because the inventor identified the biomechanical constraints involved in maintaining a vacuum over the breast for a prolonged period of time and applied biomedical engineering principles to solve these constraints. While a substantial improvement over the prior art, the Brava device has not replaced breast implants because patient compliance remains a major hurdle. The Brava device is impractical and difficult to use all day, every day for the number of months required to achieve substantial tissue growth. In addition to being bulky and cumbersome, the Brava device also has a few other limitations which have yet to be successfully addressed in its over 25 years of use. Thus, the present inventor has recognized the need for improvement of the Brava device.
There are a number of challenges associated with maintaining vacuum to induce a distractive force over the breast in a sustained fashion over a prolonged period of time to achieve breast enlargement. These three challenges are:                1) Preserving the vacuum by avoiding air leaks despite the complex surface contour of the torso, its wide individual variation, and the significant surface topography changes caused by movement of the torso and shoulders.        2) Balancing the distractive force applied to the breast with the counter-force exerted by the rim of the external vacuum expander (shell/dome) in contact with the surrounding skin to prevent excessive pressure that would collapse capillary circulation and lead to pressure ulcerations.        3) Reducing the shear stresses that develop at the junction between the tensed skin inside the vacuum shell (dome) and the skin firmly held down and anchored by the inner lip of the rim of the shell. These shear forces concentrated at the inner lip of the rim are a major cause of skin irritation, blistering and ulceration.
The inventor's prior Brava device attempted to solve challenge #1 with a soft silicone gel bladder that conformed to the complex contour of the chest wall and absorbed, to a certain extent, the varying surface topography associated with normal activity. To avoid air leaks, the sole of that bladder included an adhesive layer that sealed it with the skin. However, that adhesive layer tended to wear out with daily use. Once the adhesive layer deteriorated, air leaks occurred, thus, the Brava device only provided a short term solution to the air leak challenge.
Realizing that an external pressure above 20 mmHg occludes capillary circulation (20 mmHg is the highest pressure that can be safely tolerated under the rim on a prolonged basis as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,112), the Brava device attempted to solve balancing the counterforce (challenge #2) by having the surface contact area of the rim being equal to the surface area of the dome aperture where the vacuum pressure is exerted.
The Brava device attempted to solve the shear stress problem challenge (challenge #3) by providing a contact rim that dissipates the shear by recruiting inward some peripheral skin. The larger the aperture, and therefore the amount of tissue under tension, the larger the shear stress.                Shear Stress=τ=Force/Shear Area        Assuming that the Force=Pressure×Surface Area        Approximating the aperture to a circle, the Surface Area S=πR2         Force=Pressure×πR2         Shear Area=Circumference (2πR)×Thickness of tissue (Thickness)        Shear Stress=τ=Force/Shear Area=P×πR2/(2πR×T)=Pressure×R/Thickness         If Pressure & Thickness are constant, there is a linear relationship between Radius and Shear Stress        The larger the Radius, the higher the Shear Stress.
This is why smaller suction cups, nipple expanders and lactation devices (3-6 cm max.) have little need to address this problem. The skin at the periphery of the breast (at least 10-12 cm aperture diameter) that is anchored down by a rigid rim is under a significant amount of lateral inward stress. Prior to the Brava device, none of the prior art addressed this issue and this might be the reason why none of these devices was ever adopted by the medical community. Since the gel rim of the Brava device has an adhesive sole, to recruit the amount of skin necessary to dissipate the shear stress, the gel rim that is adherent to the skin has to significantly deflect. This proved to be the most difficult issue to solve. For the deflection arc to deliver the required amount of inward recruitment, the gel rim had to be at least 4-5 cm high. It also had to be very compliant, offering little resistance to inward roll. This added bulk, height, weight, and premature wear of the constantly deflecting silicone gel bladder.
None of the over 50 prior art breast enlargement patented devices have features that address the foregoing issues/challenges. In fact, none except the Brava device addresses the counterforce and the shear force, however, even the Brava device has some challenges.
Although suction cups sometimes have rubber rims, the rubber used does not meet the specific durometer and elasticity requirement, and they lack the necessary configuration to meet the counterforce/shear force challenges. Furthermore, they lack sufficient concavity and width. Suction cups are also very different from breast enlargement devices. Their shear stress is minimal compared to breast enlargement devices that are an order of magnitude larger in size. Furthermore, most suction cups are passive as they typically do not have an external vacuum pump—their source of vacuum is the recoil force of the rubber rim itself. Additionally, suction cups are often made of natural rubber which has a high incidence of allergy so are of limited use in medical devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,603,161 discloses apparatus and methods for nipple and breast formation. The apparatus uses adhesion to hold the mold in place. The design of the rim does not taper down and lacks sufficient concavity. The devices of the '161 patent have no way of dissipating the larger shear forces that would cause skin blistering. The breast has a larger surface area than the nipple, so the deformation is larger and the force on the perimeter is higher for the same amount of pressure. The amount that the skin needs to stretch (strain) for the nipple is minimal compared to the breast therefore the shear force is also less for the nipple.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,433,947 (same inventor as the inventor of the present invention), discloses methods and devices for tissue expansion. The patent describes a splint that holds a swollen/pre-expanded breast in place as an alternative to expanding with an external vacuum. It states, "Another way of mechanically coupling the splint to the skin is surface tension. Surface tension is the naturally occurring means by which the body holds together tissues that need to remain mechanically coupled but yet glide and avoid shear forces. This is how the expanding rib cage transmits the mechanical force of inhalation to the soft sponge like lungs to expand and this is how bowel loops can glide past another while held together too." However, surface tension is being used here to apply the tensile expansion force on the tissues as an alternative to the glue to replace the need for vacuum or traditional sticky adhesives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,634 (same inventor as the inventor of the present invention) discloses a method and apparatus for soft tissue enlargement with balanced force. The patent discuses a rim with a surface area sized to prevent excessive contact pressure to the skin. The patent does not address shear.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,112 (same inventor as the inventor of the present invention) discloses a vacuum dome with a supporting rim and rim cushion. This patent describes minimizing shear force by providing an interface between the dome and the skin which allows inward displacement of the contact surface. This reduces the strain dL/L on the skin. dL is the same but L is larger. The contact surface is no longer anchored by a rigid dome, the flexible interface allows the skin to move more freely with lower strain, lower stress, and lower shear force. However, this device still does not fully meet the challenges enumerated above.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,498,565 discloses lactation devices. Embodiments of the device disclosed include a bra-insert to hold the device in place. Some embodiments include shoulder and torso harnesses, or other strapping fabrics and mechanisms to hold the device in place to allow for hands-free expression. In addition, adhesive fabrics, such as Geckskin™ (University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Mass.), to leverage Van der Waals forces on the anterior surfaces of the soft structure 1 of FIGS. 3A & 4A to hold the device in place are disclosed. The patent describes in some embodiments lubricating systems to prevent chafing after repeated uses. Also disclosed are thicker lip shaped structures along the flange of the ellipsoid opening which can include small pores to allow for lubricating fluid to slowly leak upon the user's breast. This lubricating fluid, as described, can also serve as a source of wet adhesion to ensure a proper seal between the device and the user's breast. Some embodiments include user-applied lubrication prior to use or no lubrication can be used. Using lubrication as a means of preventing chafing after repeated uses are disclosed. This is different than using lubricant to reduce shear force. Breast pumps to express milk use a saccadic vacuum that mimics the nursing baby. The chafing from breast nipple pumps is from friction as the nipple is sucked in and out, it is not from shear force. Nipple cream for breast pumps is common. These nipple suckers have limited apertures around the areola and inflict minimal shear stress. www.amazon.com/Motherlove-Certified-Organic-Cracked-Nursing/dp/B0007CQ726
As can be appreciated, the foregoing prior art devices fail to address the drawbacks/challenges enumerated above, and some do not even recognize the importance of, or are not concerned with, shear forces. Therefore, the needs exists for a vacuum expander for tissue expansion that can effectively prevent air leaks to preserve the vacuum, prevent excessive pressure that would collapse capillary circulation and reduce the shear stresses that develop at the junction of the skin. The devices should also be comfortable to wear for extended periods and minimize skin irritation and blistering as well as be concealable and wearable as comfortably as a regular padded bra. Such devices could improve breast expansion/augmentation and well as expansion/augmentation of other body tissue. Furthermore, such devices could also be used for breast reconstruction.

External vacuum expander with non-adhesive rim


Disclosed is a squeeze for a screen printer. The present invention provides a squeeze for a screen printer, which coats a printed circuit board with an adhesive paste while moving parallel over a metal mask on the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board being open through an opening of the metal mask, the squeeze including a solvent storage unit for storing solvents; and solvent discharging holes for discharging the solvents, stored in the solvent storage unit, to an adhesive paste. Accordingly, the squeeze for a screen printer of the present invention may be useful to prevent a dog ear phenomenon, namely that an adhesive paste layer is asymmetrically formed in an indented manner, by controlling a viscosity of an adhesive paste by discharging a solvent onto an adhesive paste layer that comes in contact with the squeeze when the adhesive paste layer is formed in the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a squeeze for a screen printer, and more particularly to a squeeze for a screen printer capable of preventing a dog ear phenomenon that an adhesive paste is asymmetrically formed in an indented shape when an etching portion of a metal mask is coated with the adhesive paste to mount chip parts in a manufacturing process of BOC (Board on chip).
2. Description of the Related Art
BOC (Board on chip) is a substrate for a next-generation high-speed semiconductor capable of minimizing losses of thermal and electrical performances in a high-speed D-RAM semiconductor using a process for directly mounting a semiconductor to a printed circuit board rather than a substrate using a lead frame. This BOC (Board on chip) is manufactured by coating a printed circuit board with an adhesive paste, putting chip parts on the adhesive paste printed at a suitable thickness, and then attaching the chip parts to the printed circuit board by means of a heating process.
The coating of the printed circuit board with the adhesive paste is carried out using a conventional screen printer. Hereinafter, a coating procedure with the adhesive paste using a screen printer is described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
Firstly, a printed circuit board 3 is laminated on a supporter 1, and a metal mask 5 having an opening formed therein is formed on the printed circuit board 3. Subsequently, an adhesive paste 7 is scattered on the metal mask 5, and then a screen printer is operated. In this procedure, the printed circuit board that remains open through the opening of the metal mask 5 is coated with the adhesive paste 7 by pushing the adhesive paste 7 into the opening of the metal mask 5 while a squeeze for a screen printer 100 moves parallel over the metal mask 5.
However, the adhesive paste 7 is attached to the squeeze 100 in the coating process of the adhesive paste 7, and therefore a layer of the adhesive paste 7 is asymmetrically formed in an indented manner, as shown in "A" of FIG. 2. This phenomenon is referred to as a dog ear, which deteriorates adhesion of the chip parts to the printed circuit board and damages stability of the chip parts, resulting in a deteriorated performances of electronic products.
There have been ardent attempts to solve the above problems in the related art, and therefore the present invention was designed based on the above-mentioned facts.


In the transmitting node of an optical transmission system using wavelength multiplexing and including several channels the information content of each channel is transmitted onto its own wavelength (xcex1, xcex2, xcex3, xcex4) by modulating the laser transmitter producing the wavelength in question. The obtained optical signals are combined onto the same optical fibre. In the receiving node the sum signal is separated into different wavelengths by using a wavelength-selective optical separation component, whereby a predetermined wavelength and thus a channel is obtained from each output port of the separation component. In accordance with the invention, instead of using optical or electrical cross-connectors for re-routing a certain signal content to another destination, that transmission wavelength on which the signal content is transmitted is in fact changed at the signal transmission end. Since the components of the transmission network are wavelength-selective, no changes need be made in the components, yet they transmit the old wavelength in accordance with the earlier routing plan to the same destination as before, but the signal content transported in the wave has in fact been exchanged for another.

The invention relates generally to an optical transmission system using wavelength multiplexing, especially to the routing used therein.
In Wavelength Division Multiplexing WDM, several independent transceiver couples use the same fibre, and each couple uses its own wavelength, which is different from the others
FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of wavelength multiplexing. Such a system is used as an example, wherein four channels are used, wherein the wavelengths used are xcex1, xcex2, xcex3 and xcex4 respectively. The transmission and reception channels use here their own optical fibres. At each end of the optical transmission line there are four transceiver units, of which the transmitter is marked generally as Tx and the receiver as Rx. Transmitter TX1 transmits on wavelength xcex1 and receiver RX1 receives on the same wavelength, but from a fibre different from the one on which the transmitter transmits. The other couples use their own wavelengths in a corresponding manner.
The wavelengths produced by the transmitters located at the left end of fibre 8 are combined in an optical multiplexer 1 and they are then conducted to the same optical fibre 8. In a similar manner, the wavelengths produced by the transmitters located at the right end of fibre 9 are combined in an optical multiplexer 3 and they are then conducted to the same optical fibre 9.
The WDM demultiplexers 2 and 4 located at opposite ends of the fibres separate the different components of the combined signal from each other. Each one of these signals is expressed by its own receiver RX1, . . . RX4. Each optical channel may include hundreds and even thousands of logical channels.
Thus, a narrow wavelength window in a certain wavelength range is made available to the signal of each source. The International Telecommunication Union ITU-T has standardised the frequencies to be used on the band in such a way that the band begins from a frequency of 191,5 THz (1565,50 nm) and continues in steps of 100 GHz up to a frequency of 195,9 THz (1530,33 nm).
In order to achieve a maximum benefit relating to the optical transmission system, cross-connection functions are needed in the nodes of the network to route signals with different wavelengths to different paths. Components performing such a function are the multiplexerd/demultiplexer, the add/drop multiplexer, the wavelength switch and the wavelength converter. The original purpose of the multiplexer was, just as shown in FIG. 1, to increase the capacity of the existing fibre without adding any new fibres. However, they can work as an add/drop multiplexer, that is, as an access point for the optical layer and as a separation point for the optical layer as well as a part of the cross-connection arrangement.
The optical cross-connect is a small basic part of the optical coupler matrix. Its task is to route the arriving wavelength into one or more physical output ports. The cross-connect may be implemented with a directional coupler. By combining a great number of such 2xc3x972 cross-connects one another by waveguides, it is possible to build a nxc3x97n coupler matrix. The cross-connect may also be implemented by using a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier SOA.
The wavelength converter converts the wavelength of the arriving signal into another wavelength, and the converter is needed when such systems are fitted together, wherein different wavelengths are used. Available converters are opto-electronic ones, wherein the incoming optical signal is converted into electrical form, it is regenerated and transmitted further by a transmitter using a fixed wavelength.
FIG. 2 shows the principal structure of a certain multiplexer/demultiplexer. It contains port-specific lenses and an interference filter marked F. The input fibre is connected to port named xe2x80x9ccommon portxe2x80x9d, and four wavelength channels )xcex1, . . . xcex4 use that fibre in this example. Wavelength xcex1 (channel 1) goes through lens 21, through interference filter 27 and through lens 22 directly to the output port. The remaining wavelength channels are reflected back from filter 27 and they go forward to filter 28. This filter transmits wavelength xcex2 which is conducted to lens 23. Thus the channel 2 is separated. In this way, the incoming light signal is reflected back and forth within the multiplexer, and at every reflection point one exactly defined wavelength is admitted through the filter.
In the nodes of the optical network various cross-connections must be performed associated with routing, just like in electric transmission networks. In cross-connection, all wavelengths of the input fibre can be connected to the same output fibre, or certain wavelengths of the input fibre can be connected to certain output fibres. The perfect cross-connection device is an exchange, wherein all connecting functions are optical. At the present time, optical cross-connection devices are still scanty available, so in present systems the signal arriving from the optical link is in fact converted into electrical form. The necessary connections are made in electrical form, and only when the information is transferred to the output link it is converted into optical form.
FIG. 3 shows some nodes of an optical transmission network. There the node 31 multiplexes four channels to an optical link by using a coupler 35. It is important to notice that the coupler is not a wavelength-selective component, but each entry of it can be input any wavelength, and the wavelength is then summed with other wavelengths to the same fibre.
The sum signal arrives at an optical add/drop multiplexer 33 located at the middle of the link. It is a device with which one or more of the wavelengths transmitting in the fibre can be separated aside and with which one or more wavelengths can be brought to the fibre. In the arrangement shown in the figure, four optical channels are transmitted to the fibre in transmission node 31: channel 1, wherein the information is transmitted on wavelength xcex1, channel 2, wherein wavelength xcex2 is used, channel 3, wherein wavelength xcex3 is used, and channel 4, wherein the information is transmitted on wavelength xcex4. Using the add/drop multiplexer 33, channel 1, that is, wavelength xcex1 is separated and the signal content to be transported on this wavelength is conducted further in fibre 33 towards node 34. The other wavelengths continue further to node 32, wherein the wavelength components are demultiplexed and they are conducted for further processing. Connections to other nodes also start out from the node (not shown).
In the arrangement outlined in the figure, all components except coupler 35 of node 31 are wavelength-sensitive. This means that e.g. in the case of the multiplexer of node 32 an exact predetermined wavelength is obtained from each output port. FIG. 2 and the related text clarify why this is so. Likewise, in the case of the add/drop multiplexer, an exact predetermined wavelength is obtained from its output port, wavelength xcex1 in FIG. 3. When it is known that the information content of channel 1 is transmitted on wavelength xcex1, it is thus known that channel 1 is conducted to node 34. If the mode of transmission is e.g. SDH, the channel may contain hundreds or thousands of sub-channels.
The use of entirely optical network components causes a difficulty. Due to wavelength-sensitivity the routing of channels is difficult in the network. If, for example, it would be desirable in the add/drop multiplexer shown in FIG. 3 to separate channel 3 to conduct it further to node 34, then the necessary cross-connections must be made in the multiplexer. If the multiplexer is entirely optical, quite extensive changes must be made, the entire component must be exchanged in practice. Correspondingly, when wishing to replace the channel obtainable from a certain output port of demultiplexer 36, in other words, when wishing to route the channel to another output port, changes must be made in the demultiplexer, in the worst case it must be exchanged for another.
The objective of the present invention is to achieve such a channel routing method for use in a wavelength-sensitive optical network, wherein no changes at all need to be made in existing optical network components.
The established aim is achieved with the attributes described in the independent claims.
The invention is based on the realisation that instead of using optical or electrical cross-connectors in order to re-route a certain signal content to another destination, the transmission wavelength of the signal is changed, and the changed wavelength is used to transmit the signal content. Hereby the new signal content is transmitted in the transmission network on the same wavelength used for transmitting the old signal content. Since the components of the transmission network are wavelength-selective, no changes need be made in the components, but in accordance with the earlier routing plan they transmit the old wavelength to the same destination as before, except the signal content to be transported in the wavelength has in fact been exchanged for another. That element at the transmission end which combines different channels onto the same fibre may not be wavelength-selective.


A remote operation and control system for a pressure filter; a PLC controller in a pressure filter body is connected to the interface of a GPRS-DTU communication network; the aerial of the GPRS-DTU communication network is linked to a communication tower via a signal; the communication tower is connected to a GGSN communication interface and an SGSN communication interface, forming a GPRS communication network; the GPRS communication network is connected to the wiring port of a router; a wire connects to a firewall via the router, and enters the wiring port of a switch; an industrial Ethernet is configured to connect to the wiring port of the switch. The remote operation and control system for a pressure filter achieves unattended operation on the working site of the pressure filter, thus improving the technical level of the control system.

A pressure filter is a device mainly for solid-liquid separation. A control system is a component of the pressure filter for filtering. The filtering procedure of the pressure filter is performed by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control system completely. The PLC control system is installed on the pressure filter and is operated by an operator. However, the pressure filter is operated in humid environment and materials to be filtered may contain a caustic chemical gas, hence the operator at the scene is in danger and may get injured. In addition, the labor cost and the production cost for operating the pressure filter at the scene are high, and the control system for the pressure filter is not advanced, which are the disadvantages for the existing operation and control system for the pressure filter.

Remote operation and control system for pressure filter


The present invention discloses a compound is represented by the following formula (I) or formula (II), the organic EL device employing the compound as phosphorescent host material, hole blocking material, hole blocking electron transport material, can display good performance.

Organic electroluminescent (organic EL) is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissive layer is a film made by organic compounds which emits light in response to an electric current. The emissive layer of organic compound is sandwiched between two electrodes. Organic EL is applied in flat panel displays due to their high illumination, low weight, ultra-thin profile, self-illumination without back light, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, high contrast, simple fabrication methods and rapid response time.
The first observation of electroluminescence in organic materials were in the early 1950s by Andre Bernanose and co-workers at the Nancy-University in France. Martin Pope and his co-workers at New York University first observed direct current (DC) electroluminescence on a single pure crystal of anthracene doped with tetracene under vacuum in 1963.
The first diode device was reported by Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke at Eastman Kodak in 1987. The device used a two-layer structure with separate hole transporting and electron transporting layers resulted in reduction in operating voltage and improvement of the efficiency, that led to the current era of organic EL research and device production.
Typically organic EL device is composed of layers of organic materials situated between two electrodes, which include a hole transporting layer (HTL), an emitting layer (EML), an electron transporting layer (ETL). The basic mechanism of organic EL involves the injection of the carrier, transport, recombination of carriers and exciton formed to emit light. When an external voltage is applied to an organic EL device, electrons and holes are injected from a cathode and an anode, respectively, electrons will be injected from a cathode into a LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and holes will be injected from an anode into a HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital). When the electrons recombine with holes in the emitting layer, excitons are formed and then emit light. When luminescent molecules absorb energy to achieve an excited state, an exciton may either be in a singlet state or a triplet state depending on how the spins of the electron and hole have been combined. 75% of the excitons form by recombination of electrons and holes to achieve a triplet excited state. Decay from triplet states is spin forbidden, Thus, a fluorescence electroluminescent device has only 25% internal quantum efficiency. In contrast to fluorescence electroluminescent device, phosphorescent organic EL device make use of spin-orbit interactions to facilitate intersystem crossing between singlet and triplet states, thus obtaining emission from both singlet and triplet states and the internal quantum efficiency of electroluminescent devices from 25% to 100%.
Recently, a new type of fluorescent organic EL device incorporating mechanism of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) has been developed by Adachi and coworkers is a promising way to obtain a high efficiency of exciton formation by converting spin-forbidden triplet excitons up to the siglet level by the mechanism of reverse intersystem crossing (RISC).
The organic EL utilizes both triplet and singlet excitons. Cause of longer lifetime and the diffusion length of triplet excitons compared to those of singlet excitons, the phosphorescent organic EL generally need an additional hole blocking layer (HBL) between the emitting layer (EML) and the electron transporting layer (ETL) or the electron transporting layer with hole blocking ability instead of typical ETL. The purpose of the use of HBL or HBETL is to confine the recombination of injected holes and electrons and the relaxation of created excitons within the EML, hence the device's efficiency can be improved. To meet such roles, the hole blocking materials must have HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy levels suitable to block hole transport from the EML to the ETL and to pass electrons from the ETL to the EML, in addition, the good thermal and electrochemical stability of the phosphorescent emitting host material are also needed.
There continues to be a need for organic EL materials which is able to efficiently transport electrons or holes and block holes, with good thermal stability and more efficient EML material for high emitting efficiency. According to the reasons described above, the present invention has the objective of resolving such problems of the prior-art and offering a light emitting device which is excellent in its thermal stability, high luminance efficiency, high luminance and long half-life time. The present invention disclose a material having general formula (I) or formula (II), used as phosphorescent emitting host, hole blocking layer (HBL) or hole blocking electron transport layer (HBETL) have good charge carrier mobility and excellent operational durability can lower driving voltage and power consumption, increasing efficiency and half-life time of organic EL device.

Compound for organic electroluminescence device

Abstract: The same definition as described in the present invention.


Embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing an image sensor which may include forming a gate pattern including a tunnel oxide film, an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film, a floating gate and a control gate over a semiconductor substrate. An oxide film and a nitride film may be formed over the semiconductor substrate including the gate pattern. A photoresist pattern may be formed which covers the oxide film and the nitride film formed over the gate pattern. The nitride film may be etched in a region not covered by the photoresist pattern. The oxide film may be etched to have a predetermined thickness. A deep implant process may deeply implant an N-type dopant into the semiconductor substrate. Ashing and cleaning processes may remove the remaining photoresist pattern.

An image sensor converts an optical image into an electrical signal. Image sensors may be classified into complementary metal-oxide-silicon (CMOS) image sensors and charge coupled device (CCD) image sensors. The CCD image sensor may have better photosensitivity and noise characteristics compared with the CMOS image sensor, but may be difficult to fabricate in relatively large scale integration and has higher power consumption than CMOS. In contrast, the CMOS image sensor may have a simpler manufacturing process, leading to higher scale integration, and lower power consumption, compared with CCD image sensors.
Technology for manufacturing the CMOS image sensors has improved, CMOS characteristics have improved, and thus research into CMOS image sensors is ongoing. A pixel of the CMOS image sensor includes photodiodes for receiving light and CMOS components for controlling image signals received from the photodiodes. In the photodiodes, pairs of electrons and holes are generated according to the wavelength and intensity of light of red, green and blue input through color filters and an output signal varies depending on the amount of generated electrons, thereby sensing an image.
A CMOS image sensor may include a pixel region, in which photodiodes may be formed, and a peripheral circuit region for detecting signals generated by the pixel region. The peripheral circuit region may surround the pixel region.
To increase photosensitivity in the CMOS image sensor, a depletion region in a photodiode may be made large. As shown in FIG. 1, an N-type dopant 1 may be ion-implanted at a high energy into a silicon epi layer 10 including a photodiode to deeply form a low-concentration N-type doped region 13.
However, the N-type dopant 1 is implanted at high energy and can sufficiently pass through a gate pattern 12. A gate region cannot be perfectly protected when the N-type doped region 13 is deeply implanted to make the region larger. Thus, the N-type doped region 13 partially overlaps the gate pattern 12 to cause a channeling phenomenon.
The N-type doped region 13 may be made into a source region of a transistor. However, the overlap portion may cause large leakage currents when the CMOS image sensor operates, and a threshold voltage of a transistor located between pixels may not be uniform.


A drill bit for percussive drilling includes a front surface in which cutting inserts are mounted. A recess is formed in the front surface, and a fluid channel extends through the drill bit for supplying flushing fluid to the recess. The recess is completely bordered by an endless land. Some of the cutting inserts are mounted in the land. Others of the cutting inserts are mounted in the recess in order to be cooled and flushed by a cushion of flushing fluid created in the recess.

This invention relates to a rock drill bit and tool for percussive drilling. The bit includes a head portion having a front surface in which a number of cutting inserts are mounted. The inserts include outer inserts arranged in an annular row, and a number of front inserts placed radially inside that row. A first portion of the front surface is recessed in relation to a surrounding second surface portion. At least one channel for feeding flush medium to cool inserts and convey away drill cuttings terminates in the recessed portion of the front surface.

Rock drilling tool including a drill bit having a recess in a front surface thereof


A chip detector assembly includes a body member with a cylindrical passage for receipt of a chip detector. The chip detector includes a triangular flange which cooperates with a congruent triangular window in the housing to permit the chip detector to engage and lock to the housing in any one of three equally spaced, distinct positions.

This invention relates to a chip detector assembly and, more particularly, to a chip detector assembly of the type which includes a valve body member that may be attached to or inserted into an engine block or transmission block and which further includes a chip detector that cooperatively fits into the valve body member.
The use of a chip detector assembly in combination with engines and with transmissions has been common, particularly in circumstances where the use of such an assembly provides an immediate and important indication of a need for servicing an engine or transmission. For example, aircraft engines and transmissions commonly use chin detectors which detect the presence of magnetically attracted metal chips in the transmission fluid or lubricating oil of the transmission casing or engine block. Detection of metal chips or shards is an indication of the need for servicing the transmission or engine.
Typically, a chip detector assembly includes a valve body member which is threaded into the engine block or transmission. A chip detector then connects into the valve body member. The chip detector typically includes a magnetic assembly which is designed to attract metal shards or particles. An electric connection associated with a detector circuit is provided to the chip detector to transmit a signal indicating the presence of metal shards or chips attracted by the magnetic assembly. In this manner, detection of a potential engine failure or a requirement for servicing of the engine or transmission is provided. As mentioned, such chip detector assemblies are especially useful in aircraft and other environments where failure of an engine or transmission may have a catastrophic result.
Typically the chip detector comprises a cylindrical or tubular housing which attaches into a cylindrical chamber in the valve body in one of two positions which are 180.degree. apart. In this manner, the chip detector may be oriented in any one of two opposite directions to facilitate connection of electrical lead wires to the chip detector. There are occasions, however, when the availability of only two such orientations of the chip detector is not convenient, useful, efficient or adequate. Thus there has developed a need to provide a chip detector having connection positions to a valve body member with at least an additional alternative direction or orientation for attachment of the chip detector to the valve body member, particularly when the electrical connection to the chip detector is a right angle connector.

Bayonet lock construction for a chip detector


Method, system and program product, comprising obtaining agent performance data; ranking, agents based the agent performance data; dividing agents into agent performance ranges; partitioning callers based on criteria into a set of partitions; determining for each partition an outcome value for a first agent performance range and a second agent performance range; calculating for the partitions a respective outcome value difference indicator based on the outcome value for the first agent performance range and the outcome value for the second agent performance range for the partition; matching a respective agent to a respective caller in one of the partitions, based on the outcome value difference indicators for the partitions.

The present invention relates generally to the field of routing phone calls and other telecommunications in a contact center system.
The typical contact center consists of a number of human agents, with each assigned to a telecommunication device, such as a phone or a computer for conducting email or Internet chat sessions, that is connected to a central switch. Using these devices, the agents are generally used to provide sales, customer service, or technical support to the customers or prospective customers of a contact center or a contact center's clients.
Typically, a contact center or client will advertise to its customers, prospective customers, or other third parties a number of different contact numbers or addresses for a particular service, such as for billing questions or for technical support. The customers, prospective customers, or third parties seeking a particular service will then use this contact information, and the incoming caller will be routed at one or more routing points to a human agent at a contact center who can provide the appropriate service. Contact centers that respond to such incoming contacts are typically referred to as "inbound contact centers."
Similarly, a contact center can make outgoing contacts to current or prospective customers or third parties. Such contacts may be made to encourage sales of a product, provide technical support or billing information, survey consumer preferences, or to assist in collecting debts. Contact centers that make such outgoing contacts are referred to as "outbound contact centers."
In both inbound contact centers and outbound contact centers, the individuals (such as customers, prospective customers, survey participants, or other third parties) that interact with contact center agents using a telecommunication device are referred to in this application as a "caller." The individuals employed by the contact center to interact with callers are referred to in this application as an "agent."
Conventionally, a contact center operation includes a switch system that connects callers to agents. In an inbound contact center, these switches route incoming callers to a particular agent in a contact center, or, if multiple contact centers are deployed, to a particular contact center for further routing. In an outbound contact center employing telephone devices, dialers are typically employed in addition to a switch system. The dialer is used to automatically dial a phone number from a list of phone numbers, and to determine whether a live caller has been reached from the phone number called (as opposed to obtaining no answer, a busy signal, an error message, or an answering machine). When the dialer obtains a live caller, the switch system routes the caller to a particular agent in the contact center.
Routing technologies have accordingly been developed to optimize the caller experience. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,584 describes a telephone system for equalizing caller waiting times across multiple telephone switches, regardless of the general variations in performance that may exist among those switches. Contact routing in an inbound contact center, however, is a process that is generally structured to connect callers to agents that have been idle for the longest period of time. In the case of an inbound caller where only one agent may be available, that agent is generally selected for the caller without further analysis. In another example, if there are eight agents at a contact center, and seven are occupied with contacts, the switch will generally route the inbound caller to the one agent that is available. If all eight agents are occupied with contacts, the switch will typically put the contact on hold and then route it to the next agent that becomes available. More generally, the contact center will set up a queue of incoming callers and preferentially route the longest-waiting callers to the agents that become available over time. Such a pattern of routing contacts to either the first available agent or the longest-waiting agent is referred to as "round-robin" contact routing. In round robin contact routing, eventual matches and connections between a caller and an agent are essentially random.
Some attempts have been made to improve upon these standard yet essentially random processes for connecting a caller to an agent. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,549 describes a telephone routing system wherein an incoming caller's language preference is collected and used to route their telephone call to a particular contact center or agent that can provide service in that language. In this manner, language preference is the primary driver of matching and connecting a caller to an agent, although once such a preference has been made, callers are almost always routed in "round-robin" fashion.

Call mapping systems and methods using variance algorithm (VA) and/or distribution compensation


A cleaning tool includes a tool body and an extension part that extends from the tool body and that includes: a head that presses a cleaning element onto a cleaning target on a pressing surface; an inner guide part through which the head is inserted; and an outer guide part through which the inner guide part is inserted. When cleaning a first optical connector, an outer peripheral portion of the outer guide part guides the head with respect to a ferrule endface of the first optical connector. When cleaning a second optical connector that includes a housing having a different shape from a shape of a housing of the first optical connector, the outer guide part retracts and the inner guide part is exposed toward the second optical connector.

Connection of optical connectors is achieved by causing optical fiber end-faces at joining end faces of respective optical connectors (ferrule endfaces) to come into abutment with each other. If any of the joining end faces of the optical connectors or the optical fiber end-faces is contaminated, the contamination may cause damage to the optical connector(s) and the optical fiber(s), and increase in transmission loss, for example. Therefore, prior to such abutment connection, the joining end faces of the optical connectors need to be cleaned.
As a cleaning tool, for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 describe a cleaning tool including a tool body, and an insertion portion (corresponding to an extension part to be described later) including a head member that presses a cleaning element onto a joining end face of an optical connector. According to the cleaning tool, when the tool body is moved with respect to the insertion portion in a state in which the cleaning element is pressed onto the optical connector, the cleaning element is supplied and collected, and the head member is rotated so that the joining end face of the optical connector can be wiped with the cleaning element. In the cleaning tool described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, when the insertion portion extending from the tool body is inserted into an optical adapter (or an optical connector receptacle), a ferrule endface inside the optical adapter can be cleaned. In addition, when an attachment including a guide is attached to the insertion portion, a ferrule endface of an optical plug can be cleaned as well.