A dual-axis rotational rate sensor having two vibratory masses coupled to a restoring element and driven in a resonant counter-phase motion, wherein the two masses vibrate with equal but opposite amplitudes along a single axis. The vibratory structure also accommodates motion of the masses in a plane orthogonal to the vibratory axis. Measurement of the motion of the masses in two axes in this plane provides signals directly responsive to rotation of the sensor about two orthogonal axes. Measurement and drive is facilitated by the use of magnetic masses and electromagnetic drive and sense transducers.

Rotational rate sensors with vibrating resonators, also referred to as "vibratory-rate gyroscopes," measure rotational rates directly by sensing forces generated by the vibrating elements in response to rotation of the sensor. Various configurations of vibratory elements have been developed for use in vibratory-rate gyroscopes, including suspended tuning-fork structures, vibrating beams and vibrating rings. These elements are driven on resonance and the motion of the elements in response to rotation is measured to determine the forces on the elements and the rotation of the sensor.
An illustrative vibratory-rate gyroscope having a tuning fork element is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,784, Vibratory Rate Gyroscopeand Methods ofAssembly and Operation, issued to Steven P. Hotelling and Brian R. Land, Dec. 16, 1997. The Hotelling-Land gyroscope utilizes two vibratory elements, one to detect motion about each of two different rotational axes. However, not only does this design require the use of two tuning forks, the two tuning forks must operate at different frequencies in order to minimize crosstalk between the units. From a perspective of complexity and compactness, it is desirable to have a gyroscope capable of sensing rotation about two axes that requires only one vibrating element.
One difficulty with vibratory rate sensors arises from the fact that the driven vibratory motion is very large compared to the forces and motion resulting from rotation. Small amounts of mechanical transducer misalignment can result in the large driven motion causing errors in the small signals being sensed on the other axes. These errors are typically corrected mechanically, by adjusting sensors and/or by trimming material from the vibrating elements However, such mechanical trimming and adjustment is time consuming and expensive. It is desirable to provide automatic error correction electronically and to further provide correction that compensates over a wide variation in operating conditions.
It is also desirable to provide a rotational rate sensor that is small, inexpensive to produce, is adaptable to a wide range of applications, and is easily integrated with microelectronics. Such adaptability would preferably include the ability to adjust the bandwidth of the sensor and to provide for uniform output from a number of sensors. The present invention is directed to providing these advantages.


An integrated circuit package system is provided including providing a substrate having a die attached and electrically bonded thereto. The system includes forming heat slug pillars on the substrate, positioning a heat slug on the heat slug pillars, and encapsulating the substrate, the die, the heat slug pillars, and the heat slug in a mold compound. The system includes singulating the substrate, the die, the heat slug, and the mold compound.

In the electronics industry, a continuing objective is to further and further reduce the size of electronic devices while simultaneously increasing performance and speed. Cellular telephones, personal data devices, notebook computers, camcorders, and digital cameras are but a few of the consumer products that require and benefit from this ongoing miniaturization of sophisticated electronics.
Integrated circuit ("IC") assemblies for such complex electronic systems typically have a large number of interconnected IC dies (or "chips"). The IC dies are usually made from a semiconductor material such as silicon ("Si") or gallium arsenide ("GaAs"). Photolithographic techniques are used to form the various semiconductor devices in multiple layers on the IC dies.
After manufacture, the IC dies are typically incorporated into packages that may contain one or several such dies. The IC die is mounted on the surface of a substrate, for example, by means of a layer of epoxy. Bond wires can connect electrical contact points on the upper surface of the IC die to the substrate. Solder contact balls can also be provided on the lower surface of the IC die for additional connections between the IC die and the substrate. A molding compound, typically of molded plastic epoxy such as epoxy molding compound ("EMC"), encapsulates the die and the bond wires, providing environmental protection for the die and defining the semiconductor die package. These die packages or modules are then typically mounted on printed circuit wiring boards.
Due to the ever-decreasing size and ever-increasing density, performance, and speed of such IC dies, the power density (the heat output concentration from the dies) is continually increasing. This requires ever more elaborate designs for thermal management to keep the IC die temperatures within acceptable ranges. Otherwise, and due in part to the poor heat transfer properties of the EMC, the packages are subject to malfunction due to heat build up in the package.
The internal thermal resistance and the thermal performance of a semiconductor package are determined by a series of heat flow paths. By making high heat conductivity connections between the bottom of the die and the substrate within the semiconductor package, heat generated in the die can be transferred efficiently from the die to the substrate. Similarly, by making high heat conductivity connections between the bottom of the semiconductor package and the external substrate on which the semiconductor package is mounted, heat can be transferred efficiently from the substrate within the semiconductor package to the external substrate.
For designs where additional heat must be removed from the semiconductor die, the molding compound that encapsulates the die can be partially omitted from the upper surface of the die to partially expose this surface. The exposed semiconductor die surface can then be put in direct physical contact with a heat spreader that overlies the semiconductor die. To enhance the cooling performance, a layer of thermal grease or the like can be spread between the semiconductor die surface and the heat spreader to improve heat transfer to the heat spreader.
The heat spreader is typically formed so that it can also be attached to the underlying substrate, resulting in a mechanically strong package. Additionally (or alternatively), the heat spreader can be encapsulated in the molding compound that forms the semiconductor package, sometimes with the heat spreader exposed on the upper surface of the package for heat emission therefrom.
The heat thus flows first from the IC die to the body of the semiconductor module or package into which the IC die has been incorporated, and then to the heat spreader. Even though the semiconductor packages interfere with thermal emission from the IC dies, the packages are necessary to protect the IC dies from moisture and mechanical damage. Therefore, an increasingly important consideration in making small, high-speed, high-density devices is providing packages that are capable of adequately spreading the heat generated by the devices.
Consequently, there still remains a need for improved, more economical, more efficient, and more readily manufactured and assembled heat spreader systems, heat spreader packages, and package fabrication systems for use with semiconductor devices. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit package system with heat slug


In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to a switchback mechanism that performs switchback of a sheet and an image forming apparatus including the switchback mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical image forming apparatus capable of duplex printing includes a discharging unit that discharges a sheet and a switchback unit that performs switchback of a sheet for duplex printing. The discharging unit and the switchback unit can be realized with two conveying rollers or three conveying rollers. When the discharging unit and the switchback unit are realized with two conveying rollers, switchback of a sheet for duplex printing is performed after the sheet has been discharged.
On the other hand, when the discharging unit and the switchback unit are realized with three conveying rollers discharging of a sheet and switchback of the sheet can be performed simultaneously. Specifically, when the discharging unit and the switchback unit is realized with first to third discharge rollers, discharging of a sheet is performed by the first and second discharge rollers and switchback of the sheet is performed by the second and third discharge rollers. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved as compared with those composed of two conveying rollers. Incidentally, the first to third discharge rollers are arranged in such a manner that the second discharge roller is located between the first and third discharge rollers and the first and the third discharge rollers make a contact with the second discharge roller. When an image is to be formed on only one side of a sheet, after the image is formed on the side of the sheet, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet receiving tray by passing through the first and second discharge rollers. When an image is to be formed on both sides of a sheet, after the image is formed on one side of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed toward the sheet receiving tray by passing through the second and third discharge rollers. After that, the sheet is switchback-conveyed by a reverse rotation of the second discharge roller, and conveyed to a duplex-printing path by passing through the second and third discharge rollers. After the image is formed on the other side of the sheet, the sheet is discharged onto the sheet receiving tray by passing through the first and second discharge rollers.
To exercise such a duplex-printing function, a conventional image forming apparatus must be provided with a drive source capable of driving discharge rollers to rotate in any of a forward direction and a reverse direction and a branch guide for switching a conveying path of a sheet to a switchback conveying path when an image is to be formed on both sides of the sheet.
There has been developed an image forming apparatus that can simultaneously perform switching of a conveying path and switching of a rotating direction of a gear by the use of a drive force of the gear that is driven to rotate in one direction only, i.e., not in both the forward direction and the reverse direction but in either one direction (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-76881). Specifically, such an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of conveying paths, three conveying rollers, a switching guide, a drive unit, and a plurality of gears. The conveying rollers respectively rotate by having contact with the adjacent conveying roller. The switching guide guides a sheet to any one of the conveying paths when an image is to be formed on both sides of the sheet. The drive unit drives the conveying rollers to rotate. The gears transmit a drive force from the drive unit to the conveying rollers. With such a configuration, there is no need to provide a drive source capable of driving the conveying rollers to rotate in both the forward direction and the reverse direction. Therefore, the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified as compared with that of the conventional image forming apparatus.
However, there is still room for improvement in the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

Switchback mechanism and image forming apparatus


A method includes receiving a first signal originating from a first communication device located in a vehicle, the first signal indicating a requested product or service, a receiving time for the requested product or service, and a moving route of the vehicle, determining a receiving location of the requested product or service based on the receiving time and the moving route indicated by the first signal, and transmitting a second signal to a second communication device associated with the determined receiving location, the second signal indicating an instruction to prepare the requested product or service.

The present invention relates to optimization of delivery to a recipient in a moving vehicle.
At an increasing number of restaurants and other stores, it is possible to place orders (e.g. fast food orders) ahead of time by telephone or via a website or mobile app. In the near future, this trend may apply not only to orders for products to be picked up but also to services, such as roadside services (e.g. fueling, charging, cleaning, or servicing a vehicle). When placing an order for such a product or service while in transit, various problems arise, such as arriving at the store early or late. Conventionally, some of these problems are addressed by estimating the user's arrival time at the store and the order completion time. However, even if such conventional methods are used, further problems exist. For example, even if a user's arrival time is accurately estimated and coincides with the order completion time, such time might no longer be the preferred time for receiving the order due to unexpected weather or traffic conditions. In the case of a food order, the user may not wish to eat an hour earlier or later than intended because the user might not be hungry yet or might be too hungry.
Moreover, a user who is in transit may wish to minimize the delay associated with reaching a store located off the user's route. Conventional systems offer no solution to this problem.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Optimization of delivery to a recipient in a moving vehicle

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Systems and methods are provided for monitoring aircraft to mitigate potential loss of communication scenarios. One exemplary method involves monitoring a plurality of communications channels using an onboard communications system, maintaining associations between respective communications channel assignments and respective operational contexts based on the plurality of clearance communications, and in response to detecting a change in an operational context of the aircraft, providing indication of a recommended communications channel based on an association between the recommended communications channel and one of the plurality of different operational contexts corresponding to a current operational context of the aircraft.

Air traffic control typically involves voice communications between air traffic control and a pilot or crewmember onboard the various aircrafts within a controlled airspace. For example, an air traffic controller (ATC) may communicate an instruction or a request for pilot action by a particular aircraft using a call sign assigned to that aircraft, with a pilot or crewmember onboard that aircraft acknowledging the request (e.g., by reading back the received information) in a separate communication that also includes the call sign. As a result, the ATC can determine that the correct aircraft has acknowledged the request, that the request was correctly understood, what the pilot intends to do, etc.
Unfortunately, there are numerous factors that can cause a failure to hear or reply to a clearance communication, or otherwise result in a misinterpretation of a clearance communication, such as, for example, the volume of traffic in the airspace, similarities between call signs of different aircrafts in the airspace, congestion or interference on the communications channel being utilized, and/or human fallibilities (e.g., inexperience, hearing difficulties, memory lapse, language barriers, distractions, fatigue, etc.). As a result, an incomplete and/or incorrect clearance communication could be acknowledged or acted on by a pilot. One problematic occurrence is a loss of communications scenario, where one aircraft is unable to communicate with a controller, often due to inadvertent mismanagement of communications equipment by a pilot or other aircraft operator. For example, a pilot may mishear a radio frequency assignment, make an error when inputting or selecting a radio frequency, incorrectly anticipate a radio frequency assignment, or simply fail to enable or activate the appropriate communications channel or equipment. As a result, a pilot could be unaware of a potentially prolonged loss of communication with a controller, which could result in an inability to receive clearances, an inability to communicate important information to the controller, potential military interception, or otherwise increase the subsequent pilot workload (e.g., attempting to restore communications once the loss of communication scenario is recognized). Accordingly, it is desirable to provide aircraft systems and methods for mitigating potential loss of communications scenarios. Other desirable features and characteristics of the methods and systems will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.

Methods and systems for assisting radio frequency selection


A drill has a drill housing and a drive spindle centered on and rotatable about an axis, projecting axially outward from the housing, and having an outer end. A chuck element is fixed on the spindle outer end and an annular formation is axially fixed on the housing, centered on the axis, and extends axially to the chuck element. The formation defines with the chuck element an annular chamber. An adjustment ring element is axially fixed but rotatable about the axis on the chuck element. One of the elements is formed with a plurality of axially forwardly open guide passages open axially rearward into the chamber and the other of the elements is formed with a screwthread centered on the axis. The elements both are rotatable about the axis relative to the formation. Respective jaws can move in the passages between axially front and radially closely spaced positions and axially back and radially widely spaced positions and have teeth meshing with the screwthread so that rotation of the ring element in a forward direction on the chuck element displaces the jaws axially forward and radially inward and opposite rotation of the ring element in a reverse direction on the chuck element displaces the jaws axially backward and radially apart. The jaws project rearward from the one element into the chamber in the back positions.

A standard drill has a drill housing and a drive spindle centered on and rotatable about an axis, projecting axially outward from the housing, and having an outer end. A chuck element is fixed on the spindle outer end and an adjustment ring element is axially fixed but rotatable about the axis on the chuck element. One of the elements is formed with a plurality of axially forwardly open guide passages open axially rearward into the chamber and the other of the elements is formed with a screwthread centered on the axis. The elements are both rotatable about the axis relative to the formation. Respective jaws are displaceable in the passages between axially front and radially closely spaced positions and axially back and radially widely spaced positions and have teeth meshing with the screwthread. Thus rotation of the ring element in a forward direction on the chuck element displaces the jaws axially forward and radially inward and opposite rotation of the ring element in a reverse direction on the chuck element displaces the jaws axially backward and radially apart.
The main problem with this type of drill and chuck assembly, which is described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,836,563 and 5,378,002 and in my German patent 3,437,792 is that the overall length of the chuck assembly is excessive. In order to accommodate the axial travel of the jaws, it is necessary to make the chuck fairly long which makes the drill harder to handle while adding nothing to its functionality. Since the chuck itself is normally a standard item that is installed on the drill body, there is little interrelationship between the two parts, that is one is not designed to go particularly with the other.


A reservoir for use in a hydraulic circuit is disclosed which includes a passive gas separating medium to separate gas from the hydraulic fluid as it circulates through the reservoir. The gas separating medium, which may be a membrane-type diffuser, is permeable to air, but not hydraulic fluid. This allows entrained air to diffuse through the membrane element after which it may be expelled to the atmosphere. The membrane diffuser is located within the reservoir housing in a low-pressure portion of the hydraulic circuit in a space between spaced apart double walls of the reservoir such that hydraulic fluid returning to the reservoir must first pass through the membrane. The membrane may have several concentric or spiral layers, depending upon the capacity of the circuit. Gas separated from the hydraulic fluid is withdrawn from the membrane diffuser structure and may be vented to atmosphere through a valve associated with the reservoir housing.

The invention relates generally to the field of hydraulic circuits and, more particularly, to a gas/oil separator associated with a hydraulic reservoir to separate gas from the hydraulic fluid.
The presence of gas, such as air, in hydraulic fluid is known to cause problems in hydraulic-operated devices. The circuits for such hydraulically actuated devices typically include a hydraulic reservoir, as well as a pump for circulating the hydraulic fluid and hydraulic-operated components, such as actuators, within the circuit. Typical problems caused by the presence of a gas, such as air, are pump cavitation, slow or erratic response of the hydraulic components, and increase in the horsepower consumption within the circuits which results in higher operating temperatures for the fluid.
Of special concern is the removal of gas from a hydraulic fluid in hydraulic circuits located in a weight and/or space restricted vehicle, such as an airplane. One of the current techniques for removing gas from the hydraulic fluid in aircraft fluid circuits is to place an aspirator, which operates on the principles of the Bernoulli effect, in the hydraulic circuit at a location outside the hydraulic fluid reservoir. These aspirators mechanically remove air from the hydraulic fluid. However, due to the limited capacity of the aspirator, only a small amount of the supersaturated fluid can be deaerated at any given time. Additionally, aspirator devices require an external power source and contain moving parts (which thereby inherently decrease the reliability of the aspirator). They are orientation-sensitive and must be positioned in the hydraulic circuit at a location outside of the reservoir, thereby significantly increasing the size of the "envelope" of the hydraulic circuit.
A system is needed which can effectively separate gas from the hydraulic fluid circulating within a hydraulic circuit and which, at the same time, minimizes any increase in the size of the hydraulic circuit "envelope".

Hydraulic reservoir with gas/oil separator


An orifice test calibration device tests the functionality of protective mask testers. The orifice test calibration device has a semi-rigid tubular channel with one end for sealing the flow outlet port of the protective mask tester and a second end for sealing the vacuum inlet port of the protective mask tester. The device also includes a sealable opening within the tubular channel and an insertable orifice plug having a set diameter for insertion into the sealable opening in order to calibrate the protective mask tester.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to orifice test calibration devices for testing the functionality of a protective mask tester.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Protective respiratory masks protect the wearer's face, eyes, and lungs from the effects of hazardous airborne chemical or biological agents under circumstances such as soldiers operating in a chemically or biologically contaminated environment. Protective masks may additionally be used in numerous other operating environments, such as firefighting, environmental cleanup, manufacturing, medical hazard handling, quarantining of patients with highly contagious pathogens, biological and chemical warfare, mining, paint applications, construction, and other applications where persons may come into contact with hazardous substances especially airborne hazards. Typically, the protective mask is worn over the wearer's face and seals the face from the ambient atmosphere. The protective mask cleans the air entering the mask by means of a filter device generally having chemically impregnated fibers, HEPA filters, and a bed of adsorbent material such as activated charcoal. During operation, a one-way inlet valve in the mask allows air drawn in by the wearer's lungs to pass through a filter containing the filtration media to provide a flow of filtered air into the mask. As the wearer exhales, the exhaled gas is expelled through a one-way outlet valve out of the mask and the process is repeated with each breath.
The protective mask provides the wearer with protection from toxic airborne substances only with proper fit and function. Therefore, it is extremely important that the mask be properly tested to ensure that it will protect the wearer from these life threatening agents. Proper testing of the protective masks requires that the protective mask testers be properly calibrated. Gas mask testers, such as the Army's M14, commercially available TDA-99M, TDA-99B, TDA-104, Q204 and the Joint Service Mask Leakage Tester (JSMLT), provide a platform for testing the serviceability of gas masks particularly with regard to leakage of the mask. These testers may be portable or fixed devices having clamping mechanisms, inflatable mask seals and clamping adapters for fixing the masks in place for testing. For example, the assessment process of a protective mask using the portable TDA-99M Respirator Function Tester uses a microprocessor to test the reliability of the functional components of the mask, testing for overall mask integrity, the drink train functions and outlet valve assembly operation. The TDA-99M is a self-contained unit with an inflatable mask seal, different sized headforms and several adapters that permit leak testing of protective masks. The assessment process begins with a visual inspection of each mask for numerous specified defects followed by a mechanical evaluation using the TDA-99M. During the mechanical testing process, the mask is strapped on the tester's headform and covered with a shroud. The mask seal is then inflated, sealing the mask to mimic a proper fit. Inflatable seals generally include a conventional solenoid fill port through which pressurized air is directed to inflate the seal. Once the seal is inflated, a fine, non-toxic aerosol is dispersed inside the shroud and on the outside of the protective mask. The TDA-99M creates a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the protective mask, i.e., it attempts to draw the aerosol through the protective mask, using a vacuum within the protective mask area while simultaneously sampling the air inside the protective mask. If the air inside the protective mask is unacceptable, an alarm sounds to indicate the protective mask is leaking. The protective mask, once passing the overall leakage test, is tested for problems associated with the drink train and outlet valve assembly. However, the protective mask testers only provide adequate validation of the protective masks when the protective mask testers are properly calibrated. Generally, these systems do not have external testing devices to verify the tester devices are working properly.
There is a need in the art for mechanisms to provide reliable and efficient calibration of protective mask testers. The present invention addresses these and other needs.

Orifice test device for protective mask testers

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for closed reduction of a bone fracture. The apparatus includes at least: a pulling adaptor including: a handle configured to be gripped by an operator; an insertion rod that is extended from the handle in a longitudinal direction of the handle, and configured to be inserted into the bone fracture which is depressed in at least one area thereof; and a pulling lug that is bent and extended from an end of the insertion rod such that a longitudinal direction of the pulling lug is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the insertion rod or such that the pulling lug is inclined with respect to the insertion rod, the pulling lug being configured to be inserted into the at least one depressed area of the bone fracture, in order to pull the bone fracture.

Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to an apparatus for the closed reduction of a bone fracture, and more particularly, to an apparatus for the closed reduction of a bone fracture, capable of recovering a depressed bone by pulling the depressed bone.
In general, a plastic surgery has been performed with respect to patients having facial bones depressed due to external impacts.
According to such a plastic surgery, a hard surgical instrument is inserted into the depressed area or an area formed by partially cutting the depressed area to perform an operation of spreading or pulling in a lever principle.
For example, when the hard instrument provided in a linear form is inserted into the depressed bone and pulled, other surrounding bones may be damaged.
In addition, the direction of force for pulling out a bone differs from, that is, is inclined with respect to a direction of force of the surgical instrument, so it is difficult to smoothly transmit the force.
Accordingly, in most of cases, since other bones may be damaged in the operation, a skin may be cut and operated to recover the damaged bones.
Although the necessity for such a surgery instrument is increased as the minimally invasive surgery has been increasingly required to minimize a scar, the development of the relevant instrument is not made much more than expected.
According to a conventional surgery instrument, for example, when a frontal sinus fracture occurs, and when there are present several fracture fragments, even if the fracture fragment formed in one direction is reduced (recovered), a fracture fragment formed at a remaining lever part may be more severed in parallagma.
Accordingly, there is required the development of a surgery instrument capable of being inserted into a smaller incision, pulling a fracture fragment in a vertical direction without applying force to the fracture fragment in an opposite direction, or simultaneously pulling a plurality of fracture fragments.

Apparatus for closed reduction of bone fracture

UNIVERSITY OF ULSAN FOUNDATION FOR INDUSTRY COOPERATION


A protective cap for the mouthpiece of a musical instrument includes a cap body fitting over the mouthpiece tip and an extension that is positively captured by a ligature normally holding the reed for the mouthpiece. The cap is designed to replace the reed when the instrument is left idle.

A. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to an improved cap covering and protecting the mouthpiece of a saxophone or clarinet mouthpiece.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Woodwind instruments are referred to herein as musical instruments consisting of a main body used to define a column of air. As is well known in the art, within the body the acoustic characteristics of the column may be modified by various means that are beyond the scope of this invention. Importantly, the air column is vibrated-by a reed disposed in a mouthpiece attached to the body intake by means of a ligature made of metal, or other material. The ligature normally extends circumferentially around the entire outer body of the mouthpiece. The ligature is provided with an integral tightening mechanism that is used to secure the reed to the mouthpiece. Because of the mechanical coupling between the ligature, the mouthpiece and the reed, the structure ligature plays a roll in the sound produced by the instruments, and various types of ligatures are available from different companies, each having its own sound characteristics.
The ligature is normally permanently mounted to the mouthpiece but before performances or practice sessions, a musician has a choice of leaving the reed attached to the mouthpiece, or removing from the instrument.
Because both the reed and the ligature are relative fragile members and because they do play an important role in the operation of the respective musical instruments, such as saxophones, a protective cap is normally attached to the mouthpiece to protect these members. As will be described in more detail below, the protective cap is sized and shaped to form an interference fit with the mouthpiece and the ligature, and only used when the instrument is idle and not in use.
Over time, the cap gets warn away or gets distended, and therefore, the interference fit is not sufficient to hold the cap securely on the mouthpiece, but instead, it falls off and gets lost.
Moreover, when the ligature holds the reed in place, its element and the reed are held tightly against the mouthpiece and there is no movement therebetween. Accordingly, the cap is stable on the mouthpiece as well (especially when it's new). However, if the reed is removed, the ligature is held loosely on the mouthpiece, and, as the musical instrument is being carried, the ligature can move and shift with respect to the mouthpiece. If a cap is mounted on the mouthpiece, because of the movement of the ligature, the cap cannot be secured adequately on the mouthpiece and can fall off very easily.


According to the invention, an adapter is provided to receive and hold a bag-in-box container on top of a conventional water cooler and to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into a sealed water reservoir of the water cooler to maintain a desired level of water in the water reservoir. Level control of water in the reservoir is provided by controlling the venting of the sealed reservoir to the atmosphere and/or by controlling the flow of water into the reservoir from the water supply line. Venting control can be through use of a hydrophobic membrane or through use of float valves in the vent, and control of flow of liquid into the reservoir from the water supply line can be by a special float valve that allows high flow capacity at low pressures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to water dispensers commonly referred to as water coolers. More particularly, the present invention relates to water dispensers or water coolers wherein a container of water comprising a substantially rigid water bottle is placed on the top of the water dispenser and water is fed by gravity from the water container above the dispenser into a water reservoir in the dispenser wherein the water is cooled or heated by the dispenser and the cooled or heated water can then be dispensed by a user from the dispenser.
2. Related Art
Water dispensers, commonly also referred to as water coolers, are currently in common use throughout the world. With such water dispensers, water is supplied to the water dispenser from a substantially rigid, usually five gallon, water bottle made of glass or plastic and having a narrow neck forming the bottle opening. The bottle is inverted and placed on the top of the dispenser so that water flows by gravity from the bottle opening into a water reservoir in the dispenser where the water is cooled, and in newer water dispensers, a portion of the water is also heated. The cooled or heated water is then dispensed from the dispenser when desired by a user into a cup, glass, or other container for use by the user, usually for drinking. When the water bottle is inverted and placed on top of the water dispenser, the end of the water bottle neck with the opening into the bottle extends into the water reservoir. The flow of water from the water bottle is generally controlled by controlling flow of air into the bottle so that water flow is stopped by a vacuum created in the inside top of the water bottle as water flows from the bottle and air is prevented from entering the bottle. Air flow into the bottle is generally stopped by water in the reservoir reaching and closing the bottle opening in the reservoir when the reservoir is filled to the desired level set by the position of the opening into the bottle with respect to the reservoir. As water is dispensed from the dispenser, the water level in the reservoir goes down below the opening to the bottle and air can enter the bottle to allow additional water to flow from the bottle down into the reservoir until the water in the reservoir again covers the bottle opening to prevent further air flow into the bottle. This water flow control is based upon the rigidity of the water bottle. These rigid water bottles are relatively expensive and are generally reusable. Full water bottles are delivered to the site of the water dispenser and empty water bottles are picked up, refilled, and reused.
Bag-in-box container systems have become widely used as packing and shipping containers for a variety of liquid products such as soft drink syrup, milk, and wine. Such systems include a flexible bag or bladder disposed in a cardboard box such as a corrugated cardboard box. The flexible bag can conform to the shape of the inside of the box when filled with a liquid material. The box provides a fixed container shape for the bag and contents and protects the bag and contents during storage and shipping, and, in many instances, provides a holder for the bag during the dispensing of the contents of the bag. The bag will generally include a dispensing fitting secured thereto which is used to dispense the contents of the bag from the bag. The dispenser can be located at various locations on the bag depending upon the application, such as at the bottom of the bag when positioned in the box when the contents of the bag is to be removed by gravity while the bag remains in the box. In such instance, the box will generally include an area adjacent the dispensing fitting which opens to expose the fitting and allow controlled gravity discharge of the contents of the bag. However, the bag does not provide a rigid container for the liquid and the bag collapses within the box when liquid is removed from the bag. Such bag-in-box containers are usually relatively inexpensive to make and easy to produce and assemble. Therefore, the bag-in-box container is usually disposable and is disposed of after use rather than being saved and refilled. Bag-in-box containers come in various sizes, with many such containers having a five gallon capacity similar to the five gallon water cooler bottles.
Recently, water has become one of the liquids packaged in bag-in-box containers and water can be dispensed directly from the bottom portion of the bag-in-box container similarly to the way wine and milk is dispensed from such containers. Dispensers are being developed for cooling and heating water from bag-in-box containers of water and for dispensing such cooled and/or heated water, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,879. However, because the bags containing the water are not rigid and collapse as the water is dispensed from the bag, such bag-in-box containers with a flexible bag cannot be directly used with the various water dispensers designed for use with five gallon rigid water bottles.
Adapters for adapting a conventional water cooler for use with a flexible bag full of water rather than a rigid water bottle are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,398,073, 7,331,487, and 8,117,096. These adapters show holders for receiving and holding a flexible bag of water above a water cooler and such holders include a piercing spike in the bottom thereof to pierce the bag as it is dropped into the holder to allow flow of water from the bag through the spike into the water reservoir of the cooler. U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,073 shows a ballcock float valve in the fluid passage from the spike to the reservoir to control the flow of water from the bag into the reservoir and to stop water flow when the level of water in the reservoir reaches a desired level as indicated by the float of the ballcock valve. U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,487 shows a sealed water reservoir with an open vent tube extending upwardly from the reservoir alongside the bag. The vent tube opens to the atmosphere above the top of the bag so that water fills the sealed reservoir and extends up into the vent tube. The water level in the vent tube is equalized with the water level in the bag. U.S. Pat. No. 8,117,096 shows a completely sealed water reservoir formed in the dispenser so that water flows from the bag into the reservoir and out through the dispenser valve. An air vent between the reservoir and the inside of the bag is provided so that air can flow between the sealed reservoir and the inside of the bag to allow water to flow into and substantially fill the sealed reservoir when the bag is initially connected to the reservoir. In this manner, the water cooler reservoir is substantially filled with water so that the water is cooled or heated in the reservoir prior to being dispensed from the dispenser.
The above described bag dispensers all provide bag receiving holders mounted on the top of the water cooler with spikes in the bottom thereof upon which the full water bags are dropped so that the spikes puncture the bottom of the water bag to extend into the water bag to provide fluid communication between the inside of the bag and the fluid reservoir thereby allowing fluid flow from the bag into the reservoir. The spikes are designed so that the bag being punctured seals around the spike to prevent leakage around the spike. While the water filled bags as used in the above described bag dispensers can be packaged and shipped in boxes, if packaged and shipped in boxes, the bags have to be removed from the boxes before used in the water coolers and the large, heavy, and bulky flexible bags full of water have to be removed from the box, lifted above the bag receiving holder mounted on top of the water cooler, and lowered or dropped into the bag receiving holder so that the spikes penetrate the bottom of the bag to allow water to flow into the water cooler reservoir. After use, the empty or almost empty bags have to be retrieved from the bag receiving holder, and if not completely empty, the remaining water from the bag will run into the bag receiving holder when the bag is removed from the spikes and may continuing running as the bag is moved from the holder to its disposal container.


An improved fluorescent lamp is provided with two conductive poles formed at two ends of the lamp. Each conductive pole is contained in a the the lamp tube and includes a a extending contact pin perpendicularly from a conductive pole and extending outwardly from the end portion of the lamp for associating with a contact socket. In start operation, a voltage is supplied to the conductive pole via the contact pin and the contact socket to ionize and start the lamp. The socket is composed of an end cover, a contact plate, and a spring positioned between the end cover and the contact plate, so that the contact pin of the fluorescent lamp may securely engage with the contact socket. The contact plate of the socket further has a concave portion formed at its central portion to securely receive the contact pin of the lamp.

The present invention relates to an improved fluorescent lamp, and more particularly to a fluorescent lamp having a structure of two unitary conductive poles formed at two ends of the lamp tube respectively.
The well-known fluorescent lamp has various electrical power types of 10W, 20W, 40W and so on. In general, the conventional fluorescent lamp is designed to have shape of tube type, U-shaped type, or circular type. Typically, the fluorescent lamp has a pair of bi-pin filaments contained at each of the two ends of the lamp tube of the fluorescent lamp. Each of the filaments is led to the outer end point of the lamp, serving as a contact pin for connecting outer electrical power leads. That is, there are four contact pins in total and symmetrically formed at the two ends of the lamp tube. In order to start the lamp, it is necessary to first preheat the filament of the lamp by means of a starter, and then it is possible to ionize the inner gas in the lamp tube. Such a theory and the start operation of the fluorescent lamp has never changed since the fluorescent lamp was invented.
It is found that the conventional fluorescent lamp has disadvantages as follows:
1. During the pre-heating time of the lamp, the pre-heating current flowing through the filament is rather high and therefore the lamp consumes a large amount of electrical power. Further, the conventional fluorescent lamp needs a rather long pre-heating time to accomplish the start operation.
2. Because the initial current of the filament is relatively high during the start operation, the filament of the lamp is easy burned out or broken. Once the filament is broken, the fluorescent lamp will be useless.
3. The conventional fluorescent lamp must be provided with a starter to start the lamp by means of the starter. However, the starter often does not work normally due to faulty conditions. In such case, the starter must be replaced for maintaining the normal function of the start operation.
4. The lamp has in total four contact pins at two ends of the lamp. The possibility of faulty condition such as improper contact is relatively high because of more contact pins.
5. The fluorescent material in the lamp tube will be exhausted quickly during pre-heating period of the filament of the lamp.
6. The instant starting current of the lamp is rather large.
7. The starting time of the lamp is typically about 5 seconds. Obviously, in order to accomplish the start operation of the lamp, it will take much time.


A portable terminal device having a first color temperature sensor that is provided on a first side of the portable terminal device, and having a second color temperature sensor that is provided on a second side of the portable terminal device, the portable terminal device includes, at least one camera module configured to capture an image; and an image processor configured to perform image correction to the image that is captured by the camera module based on at least one of first information from the first color temperature sensor and second information from the second color temperature sensor.

Recently, portable terminal devices such as feature phones and smart phones have various functions in addition to a telephone function. One of such functions is a camera function. The portable terminal device may capture a high resolution image by a sophisticated camera function.
For example, the portable terminal device includes a camera lens, image capturing element, a red green blue (RGB) sensor, and so forth and may perform image correction such as white balance adjustment to an image captured by the camera lens and the image capturing element by using the RGB sensor. This allows the portable terminal device to capture a natural image regardless of an outdoor or indoor image capturing position. The RGB sensor that is used for such image correction is provided on a side on which the camera lens is installed, for example.
Differently, there is a case where the portable terminal device includes a display screen such as an LCD and the RGB sensor is installed on a side on which the display screen is provided. The RGB sensor provided on the display screen side is used for adjustment of colors on an image displayed on the display screen and as a proximity sensor, for example. In a case where the RGB sensor is used as the proximity sensor, when a face approaches a microphone or a speaker provided in the portable terminal device on a call, the RGB sensor provided on the display screen side detects the face, and a power supply to the display screen is temporarily turned off. Reduction in power consumption of the portable terminal device may thereby be expected, for example.
As for such image correction, the following technologies are disclosed, for example. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-203437 discloses a technology in which a first photometric sensor is provided on a display side of a display section in an electronic camera, a second photometric sensor is provided on a back side of the display side of the display section, and the display section thereby displays a corrected image to which adjustment is applied in accordance with a lighting environment by using a first lighting condition from the first photometric sensor and a second lighting condition from the second photometric sensor.
It is considered that this technology may provide a unit that properly adjusts appearances of colors of the image displayed on the display section in accordance with brightness of an environment.
Further, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-102018 discloses a technology in which in an electronic still camera that includes a white balance adjustment unit that performs white balance adjustment based on a captured image, reliability of a stored white control signal is assessed based on the number of image capturing frames and an elapsed time from a prescribed time point, and a user is notified of low reliability in a case where the reliability is low.
It is considered that this technology may minimize incorrect white balance adjustment that occurs at an actual image capturing time point in a case the light source conditions of the lighting are different.
Further, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-219128 discloses an image capturing device that changes image capturing modes by controlling the white balance of an image signal obtained by a charge coupled device (CCD) in accordance with the difference between an average first color of an atmosphere that is measured by a color sensor and an average second color of an object that is measured with the image signal.
It is considered that this technology may provide an image capturing device that may perform adjustment to an appropriate white balance in a short time.

Portable terminal device and image correction method


The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for producing pigment-containing, in particular carbon-black-containing, polymer mixtures comprising polycarbonates and optionally elastomers, and/or other components, where the mouldings produced therefrom have, after the shaping process via injection moulding or via extrusion, improved surface properties and improved mechanical properties.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for producing pigment-containing, in particular carbon-black-containing, polymer mixtures comprising polycarbonates and optionally elastomers, and/or other components, where the mouldings produced therefrom have, after the shaping process via injection moulding or via extrusion, improved surface properties and improved mechanical properties. The pigment-containing, in particular carbon-black-containing, polymer mixtures can be produced in a single processing step via simultaneous mixing in the melt of all components, without use of pigment masterbatches premixed in the melt. The components here are mixed in the melt in a corotating twin- or multiscrew extruder under non-aggressive temperature conditions, where, in the region from the plastifying zone as far as the die plate, the ratio between external screw diameter and internal barrel diameter, and also the value of the sum of external screw diameter and screw root diameter divided by twice the axial separation are smaller for the screws of these extruders than disclosed in the prior art (e.g. in DE 10 2004 010 553 A1).
Description of Related Art
When pigment-containing, in particular carbon-black-containing, polymer mixtures comprising polycarbonate and optionally elastomers, e.g. particulate rubbers, in particular particulate graft rubbers, are produced, the mouldings produced via injection-moulding processes or extrusion processes from these polymer mixtures often exhibit surface defects attributable to insufficient dispersion of the pigment particles, to a combination of insufficiently dispersed pigment particles and elastomeric components, or to elastomers that have not been uniformly dispersed. The average diameter of surface defects of this type due to agglomerates of pigment particles and/or due to elastomers is from 10 μm to 300 μm. The size of the surface defects can be determined by way of example by means of a reflected-light microscope. By way of example here, the surface is examined through an objective with magnification of 2.5 in bright-field mode using illumination by a halogen-100 light source, and suitable measurement equipment (e.g. image-evaluation software or a scale on the objective) is used to measure surface defects detected. The average diameter is defined as the length calculated by averaging the maximum diameter longitudinally and the maximum diameter transversely. The longitudinal direction is the direction in which the length of a particle is greatest. The said surface defects produce poor appearance, which is discernible by the naked eye and is perceived as unsatisfactory in numerous applications of these coloured, in particular black-coloured, polymer mixtures. Furthermore, if the agglomerates of the pigment particle and/or of elastomers exceed a certain size, mechanical properties are impaired, for example impact resistance or tensile strain at break.
The production of carbon-black-containing polycarbonates, and the occurrence of surface defects caused by aggregates of carbon during the processing of the said polycarbonate mixtures to give foils, are known and are described in JP 2008094984. This problem with the surface is solved by selecting suitable particle sizes for the polycarbonate and suitable densities for the carbon black when producing the mixture. However, no information is given about technical measures during mixing in the melt (compounding) of the components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,180,702, too, describes polycarbonate mixtures in which carbon black and elastomers can be present, and which are free from surface streaking. The said polymer mixtures, which are produced by conventional processes, with the aid of customary extruders, comprise specific additives aimed at avoiding the surface defects.
WO 2004/094128 describes the production of polymer mixtures made of polyarylene ethers and of polyamides with block copolymers as impact modifiers and with carbon black in customary extruders which have different length-to-diameter ratios in the two different melt-mixing zones.
The distributive dispersion of carbon black masterbatches in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is described in the publication "Plastics Processing Technology Online-News Letter", 4 Jan. 2001, No. 0011 E, from "The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.". Better distribution and dispersion of the carbon black masterbatch in the HDPE is achieved by enlarging the gap between the flight lands of kneading elements and the wall of the barrel specifically in the mixing zone and the barrel-wall part of a twin-screw extruder. In the said publication from "The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.", the carbon black has been previously dispersed within the masterbatch, and this solution is therefore not transferrable to the use of pure, unpredispersed carbon black powder, where this is also an object of the present invention. Furthermore, the effect of additional elastomer components, and of other polymers, on the homogeneity of the mixtures remains unclear.
In the paper "Effect of kneading block tip clearance on performance of co-rotating twin-screw extruders", in "ANTEC-Conference proceedings, 1999, Vol. 1", the "Mixing" section on p. 222 states that in the case of HDPE-carbon-black-masterbatch mixtures enlarging the gap between the flight lands of kneading elements and the barrel wall of a twin-screw extruder impairs the dispersion of the carbon black masterbatch in the HDPE matrix when comparison is made with narrower gaps. In the light of the said publication, a person who is skilled in the art and who is facing the problem to be solved in the present invention would therefore have no interest in enlarging the gap.
In the prior art, for example in DE 10 2004 010 553 A1, gap widths between screw flight land (external screw diameter) and barrel wall section (internal barrel diameter) of less than 1% are stated, corresponding to an external screw diameter:internal barrel diameter ratio of more than 98.4%, and the difference between screw flight land (external screw diameter) and root (screw root diameter) of an adjacent screw element is stated to be at most 1% of the bore diameter, and the corresponding figure for the sum of external screw diameter and screw root diameter divided by twice the axial separation is 99.8%. This disclosure differs from the prior art described in that screw-based machines have screws having gap widths, between screw flight land and barrel wall section, of from 2% to 10% of the bore diameter, and a root clearance of at most 1% of the bore diameter between a screw root and a screw flight land. The said screw elements are intended to be used for shear-sensitive products, since these screw elements permit compounding at non-aggressive temperatures. However, a person skilled in the art would conclude from this information that there can be no improvement in dispersion, since less energy is introduced. Nor is anything actually said about any effects of these screw elements on the quality of dispersion and the homogeneous dispersion of infusible additives. This type of information relating to gap widths is very general in nature and not readily transferrable to filler-containing or elastomer-containing polymer mixtures.
Since no satisfactory measures for solving the present problem can be derived from the prior art, suitable measures were sought for achieving comminution, and homogeneous dispersion within the polymer matrix, of pigment particles, in particular carbon black, during mixing with compounded thermoplastic materials, preferably compounded polycarbonate materials, optionally comprising elastomers, preferably elastomer-containing compounded polycarbonate materials, under non-aggressive temperature conditions in such a way that no significant surface defects occur on the mouldings produced from these mixtures. Surface defects are unevenness phenomena directly on the surface of the moulding. The unevenness phenomena can be either depressions or elevations, where these increase the roughness of the surface. The average diameter of the depressions and, respectively, elevations is usually from 10 μm to 300 μm, where 10 μm is the lower limit of resolution of the measurement method used. This means that smaller surface defects can also occur. The depth of the depressions and, respectively, the height of the elevations is from 50 nm to 100 μm. The depth of the depressions is determined by CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy) topography.
A problem addressed by the invention was therefore to produce polymer mixtures comprising polycarbonate, optionally elastomers, and pigments, in particular carbon black as pigment, and also optionally further additives and thermoplastics, in which the components mentioned have excellent dispersion within the polycarbonate matrix and have such uniform distribution that mouldings obtained via injection moulding or extrusion of the said polycarbonate mixtures have a defect-free surface, and also improved mechanical properties. By virtue of the process according to the invention, and use of the apparatus according to the invention, the surface of the moulding has a smaller number of defect sites larger than 10 μm, where agglomerates of insufficiently dispersed pigment particles and/or elastomers are responsible for these defect sites. Another problem addressed by the invention was the compounding of the abovementioned components in a single melting step in tightly intermeshing, corotating twin- or multiscrew extruders with minimum energy input with avoidance of local temperature peaks and preferably without use of previously compounded pigment masterbatches, e.g. carbon-black masterbatches.

Apparatus and process for producing products from pigment-containing polymer mixtures


The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an image recording body comprising: image-forming, to form an image on a surface of a film by an electrophotographic method; positioning, by overlaying the film onto a support so that at least one side of the support and a side of the film on which the image is formed are opposed to each other so as to obtain a laminate body; and heating and pressing the laminate body, wherein cleaning at least one of a surface of the laminate, a surface of the film and a surface of the support is conducted during at least one of a timing between the positioning and the heating and pressing and a timing between the image-forming and the positioning. The present invention further provides an apparatus for manufacturing an image recording body in accordance with the method.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an image recording body such as a plastic sheet using an image formed by an electrophotographic method image forming apparatus, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing image recording bodies used in an information medium of non-contact or contact type, containing personal information and/or image information-recorded. Examples of such an information medium are a photograph-containing cash card, a staff identity card, a student identity card, a membership identity card, a residents identity card, various licenses, and various qualification certificates. Further examples of image recording bodies the invention relates to are identity verification image sheets and image display boards used, for example, in medical areas, and display labels. The information also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, accompanied with developments in image formation techniques, means to form images of the uniform quality in large quantities and at low cost by various printing methods are know. Examples are intaglio printing, letterpress printing, lithography printing, gravure printing and screen printing. Such printing methods are also used in many cases for surface printing of an information medium which holds prescribed information, and can communicate with an external apparatus in a contact or non-contact manner, such as an IC-card, a magnetic card, an optical card, and combinations thereof.
However, for example, in screen printing many printing plates corresponding to the number of images to be printed are necessary and, in the case of color printing, further, printing plates becomes necessary with the number of colors. For this reason, these printing methods are unsuitable for application singly to discrete personal information (such as photographs, name, address, date of birth, and various licenses).
In response to the aforementioned problems, an image forming device which is most popular currently is an image forming method with a printer, which adopts sublimation-type or melt-type thermal transfer using an ink ribbon. These can easily print personal discrimination information. However, there is still a problem that, when a printing rate is increased, resolution is decreased and, when the resolution is increased, the printing rate is reduced.
In contrast, image formation (printing) by electrophotographic methods is performed by a method of forming a visible image (toner image) on an image carrying body surface. This is done by: uniformly electrifying an image carrying body surface; irradiating this with light, in response to an image signal, to form an electrostatic latent image due to a potential difference between an exposed part and a non-exposed part; and, thereafter, electrostatically developing a color powder (image forming material) called toner, having a polarity opposite to (or the same as) the electrification. In the case of a color image, color visible images are formed by repeating these processes a number of times, or aligning plural image formers. These color images are transferred onto an image recording body, and this is fixed (fixation is solidification due to melting and cooling of a color powder mainly by heat), thereby, obtaining a color image.
As described above, in an electrophotographic method, since electrostatic latent image on an image carrying body surface are electrically formed by image signals, not only can the same image be formed many times, but also different images can be easily handled, thereby, images can be formed. In addition, since a toner image on an image carrying body surface can be almost completely transferred onto an image recording body surface, and a toner image slightly remaining on an image carrying body surface can be easily removed by a resin blade or brush, it is a printing method which can easily be prepared for small batch production of various article.
The toner is usually formed by melting and mixing a heat-meltable resin and a pigment and, optionally, an additive such as an electrification controlling agent. This kneaded product is then ground and finely-divided. Further, the electrostatic latent images in the aforementioned electrophotographic method have considerably higher resolution than that of the finely-divided toner, and sufficient resolution can be expected compared to the resolution of the screen printing or thermal transfer using an ink ribbon.
Regarding a color image, by using four primary colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black as color toners, and mixing them, theoretically the same colors as that of printing can be reproduced. In addition, in a color toner, since a toner resin and a pigment can be blended relatively freely, it is easy to increase image masking properties with toner.
For using the aforementioned electrophotographic apparatus to manufacture various cards, there have already been several proposals (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos.2004-188603 and 2004-195973).
In the apparatuses disclosed in them, a plastic sheet of high resolution can be produced at high productivity. However, the following problems are present.
That is, a light-transmissible film on which an image has been formed by an electrophotographic method is charged up, and the film tends to adsorb dust in the air unless the charge is removed. Therefore, although a plastic sheet is manufactured inside a portion of a plastic sheet manufacturing apparatus, there is a very high possibility that dirt or dust is adhered to the light-transmissible film during positioning, heat-pressing, or conveying. This dirt or dust made apparent as defects of the plastic sheet, and the quality of manufactured plastic sheet is thus deteriorated.

Process for manufacturing an image recording body and apparatus for manufacturing the same


Systems and methods for foreign key identification are described. The method includes computing a threshold value for each of a primary key-foreign key (PK-FK) pair of a super-set of PK-FK, and generating a sub-set of PK-FK pairs based on comparison of the threshold value and a predefined threshold value. The predefined threshold value is indicative of an acceptance criterion. Further, the method includes determining a conformance score for each of the PK-FK pair of the subset of PK-FK pairs. The conformance score is based on deviations between Cumulative Probability Distribution (CPD) values of PK and CPD of FK for each PK-FK pair. Further, the method includes comparing the conformance score of the each PK-FK pair of the sub-set of PK-FK pairs with a predetermined acceptability index. The predetermined acceptability index is indicative of an acceptance of at least one positive FK from the set of PK-FK pairs.

A database usually refers to an organized collection of data. The database comprises collection of data records, files, and other objects. Generally, the database comprises multiple tables. Each table of the databases may comprise one or more fields. For example, a table for storing personal records of employees of an organization may have multiple fields, such as name, address, date of birth, mobile number, e-mail address, and emergency contact number. The record of each of the employees is stored in the table as a row. With time, values or other data type stored in the database may need to be updated, new records may need to be added, and old records may need to be deleted.
Generally, organizations may have multiple databases to facilitate its business operations and for use by various software applications. To ensure the quality of data in each database, a database management system (DBMS) is used. The DBMS is usually configured to maintain the accuracy, availability, usability, and resilience of the database(s). The DBMS controls the creation, maintenance, and/or use of the databases. Further, the DBMS facilitates concurrent access of the multiple databases by the software applications.
A type of DBMS that is based on a relation model is a relational database management system (RDBMS). In a relational model, the data and the relationships amongst the data are stored in the form of one or more table(s). The data can be accessed or reassembled in many different ways without having to change the table forms. Various conventionally known databases, such as MySQL®, and Sybase™, are based on the relational model. The RDBMS provides relational operators to manipulate the data stored in the tables. The tables in a database pertaining to the relational model may include a row of column names specifying one or more attribute fields, and zero or more data rows containing one scalar value for each of the attribute fields.
A conventional RDBMS is typically queried using structured query language (SQL) based queries received from various software applications or from a user. The query received from the user may identify a primary key (PK). The primary key of a table uniquely identifies each record in the table. The PK may be a single attribute or a combination of multiple attributes. Generally, a foreign key (FK) is an attribute of one table/data set that maps with PK of another table/data set to form a relationship between the two tables/data sets. In other words, A foreign key (FK) is an attribute(s) in a table in the database that matches with the attributes of the PK to form a relationship. This relationship is conventionally referred to as a Primary Key-Foreign Key (PK-FK) pair. The relationship identified as PK-FK pair is useful to relate and identify the relationship of one variable with another. The PK-FK pair relationship further helps to obtain the information requested by the user without going through the numerous tables, thus saving time and effort. However, identification of such PK-FK pair relationships in large scale databases containing hundreds of thousands of rows and columns is a processor-intensive, computationally-intensive process and may often lead to many false positives.

Foreign key identification in database management systems


In the check valve of a hydraulic tensioner, a bell-shaped retainer is provided with plural, branched, leg portions which resiliently grip the outer surface of a ball seat. Oil induction slots are formed between adjacent branched leg portions of the retainer to provide oil flow paths that are unimpeded by the plunger-biasing spring of the tensioner.

Hydraulic tensioners have been widely used in the timing transmissions of automobile engines to maintain proper tension in the timing chain or belt, and to suppress vibration.
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in a conventional hydraulic tensioner 500, a plunger 520 is slidable in a plunger-accommodating hole 511 formed in a housing 510. The plunger 500 is formed with a cylindrical hollow portion 521 with one end open. The hollow portion receives a plunger-biasing spring 530, which urges the plunger 520 in the protruding direction.
The housing and the plunger together form a high pressure chamber R. A check valve unit 540 extending from the housing into the high pressure oil chamber at one end thereof comprises a ball seat 541 having a tapered ball-engaging opening 541b, which serves as a valve seat, a check ball 542 facing the ball seat 541, a ball biasing spring 543, which biasses the check ball 542 toward the ball seat 541, and a retainer 544, which supports the ball biasing spring 543. A through hole 544a is formed at the peak end of the retainer 544, through which, oil in the high pressure chamber R is replenished from an oil passage 541a in the ball seat 541. The hydraulic tensioner of FIGS. 10-12 is described in United States Patent publication 2002/0142871, published Oct. 3, 2002.
FIGS. 13-15 show another conventional hydraulic tensioner 600, in which holes 644a are formed in a side surface of a retainer 644 in a check valve unit 640, for replenishing oil in a high pressure chamber R from an passage 641a in a ball seat 641 to R. The hydraulic tensioner of FIGS. 13-15 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,295, granted on Feb. 21, 2006.
In a hydraulic tensioner disclosed in United States Patent publication 2002/0142871, as shown in FIG. 11, the retainer 544 of the check valve unit 540 is attached to the ball seat 541 and is pressed against the bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole 511 by the plunger-biasing spring 530. When the plunger 520 slides rapidly with changes in tension in a timing chain, the retainer 544 can shift its position along the ball seat 541. As a result, the movement of the check ball 542 is not reliably restricted by the retainer 544, and the check valve ceases to function reliably.
Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 11, when the plunger 520 is pressed back into the plunger-accommodating hole 511, the plunger-biasing spring 530, located in the gap between the plunger 520 and the retainer 544, impedes the flow of oil from the high pressure chamber R to the outside of the tensioner through the leakage path between the plunger and the internal wall plunger-accommodating hole 511. As a result, rapid changes in tension in the timing chain cannot be absorbed instantaneously.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, oil in the high pressure chamber R, is replenished by oil from the oil passage 541a of the ball seat 541 through a circular through hole 544a in the peak of the retainer 544. In this check valve, if excessive oil is supplied from the external oil supply, the check ball 542 can close the through hole 544a, cutting off the oil supply to the high pressure chamber R.
The hydraulic tensioner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,295, has a problem similar to the problem exhibited by the tensioner in FIGS. 10-12. As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the retainer 644 of the check valve unit 640 (FIG. 13) is attached to the ball seat 641 and is pressed against the bottom of the plunger-accommodating hole 611 in tensioner housing 610 by the plunger-biasing spring 630. The check ball 642 is biased by a spring 643 into engagement with a tapered surface 641b formed at the end of the opening 641a of the ball seat 641. When the plunger 620 slides rapidly with changes in tension in a timing chain, the retainer 644 shifts its position along the ball seat 641. As a result, the movement of the check ball 642 is not reliably restricted by the retainer 644, and the check valve ceases to function reliably.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, when the plunger 620 is pressed back into the plunger-accommodating hole 611, the plunger-biasing spring 630, which extends into the hollow portion 621 of the plunger, and part of which is located in the gap between the plunger 620 and the retainer 644, impedes the flow of oil from the high pressure chamber R to the outside of the tensioner through the leakage path between the circumferential surface of the plunger and the internal wall of the plunger-accommodating hole 611. As in the case of the tensioner of FIGS. 10-12, rapid changes in tension in the timing chain cannot be absorbed instantaneously.
As shown in FIG. 15, since a plurality of holes 644a on the side of the retainer are provided to replenish oil to the high pressure chamber R from the oil passage 641a in the ball seat 641, when excessive oil is supplied from the external oil supply through the ball seat and holes 644a to the high pressure chamber R, changes in the tension of the timing chain are generated.
The plunger-biasing spring 630 in the gap between the plunger 620 and the retainer 644 impedes flow of oil from the high pressure chamber R through the gap between the plunger and the wall of the plunger-accommodating hole 611 to the outside of the housing. An increase in tension in the timing chain causes the plunger 620 to be pressed back into the plunger-accommodating hole 611, and, since leakage of oil to the outside the housing is impeded by the plunger-biasing spring 630, the pressure inside of the high pressure chamber R becomes abnormally high, and the plunger 620 does not move as it should.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a hydraulic tensioner in which a bell-shaped retainer and a ball seat are reliably incorporated and fixed into check valve unit, the check valve unit functions reliably, and oil from the external oil supply oil leaks between the plunger and the wall of the plunger-accommodating hole to the outside of the housing without being influenced by the plunger-biasing spring.


A prime number based pointer allocation technique. A packet-forwarding system incorporating the technique stores cells of a packet in packet memory, according to allocated pointers that have a fixed correspondence to locations in the packet memory. Each packet input interface of an ingress module has a memory parameter counter that is incremented by a different prime number each time a memory pointer is allocated to that input interface. The memory parameter counter includes a memory interface portion and a memory bank portion that correspond to the memory interfaces and memory banks of a packet memory with which the memory pointers are associated.

Packet-switched networks are responsible for forwarding packet-based traffic. In some hardware devices, such as switches and routers, packets are broken into fixed-length cells and forwarded from an ingress module, across a switching fabric, to an egress module, where the cells are typically reassembled into packets. While awaiting transmission from the ingress module to the fabric, from the fabric to the egress module, reassembly in the egress module, etc., a packet, broken into cells, may be temporarily stored/buffered in memory. Additionally, the packet, broken into cells, may be represented by a list of pointers that correspond to the one or more memory locations occupied by the one or more cells of that packet.
However, while the cells of packets are being read from or written to memory it is possible for memory resource conflicts or memory resource oversubscription to occur. A way to improve performance is to minimize memory resource conflicts and oversubscription. For example, some memories, such as DRAM incur a time penalty for accesses to the same interface and bank that are not on the same row. Minimizing resource conflicts and time penalties is an on-going optimization problem.
In view of the desire to minimize resource conflicts and time penalties, what is needed is a pointer allocation scheme that reduces conflicts. It would be further desirable to distribute memory reads and memory writes across packet memory interfaces and packet memory banks so that no interface or bank goes under- or over-utilized.


An improved wire feeding and measuring apparatus having a pair of cooperating feed belts to feed a wire in an axial direction. A drive wheel is located downstream of the feed belts and rotates in contact with the wire at a slightly faster speed than the feed belts, while a measuring wheel, operably connected to an encoder, is also engaged with the wire and is located opposite the drive wheel. The measuring wheel is biased toward the drive wheel by a spring exerting a light force. Guides are associated with each wheel and each guide includes a wire supporting surface and a slot located adjacent the supporting surface. The periphery of each wheel projects a slight distance through the slot in the respective guide and engages the wire. The guides maintain the wire in a tangential relation to the periphery of the wheels and prevent wrap around of the wire on the wheels.

The conventional wire feeding and measuring apparatus feeds a wire from a supply reel in an axial direction to wire processing equipment. The processing equipment may, for example, be a wire cutter or a cutter-stripper which serves the wire into segments of predetermined length and strips the insulation from the severed end of the wire.
In a typical wire feeding and measuring apparatus, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/480,770, filed Feb. 15, 1990, the wire is fed by a pair of cooperating endless feed belts formed of an elastomeric material which engage opposite sides of the wire. The feed belts are intermittently driven by a servo motor which is programmed to operate the feed belts forwardly to feed a predetermined length of wire and then stop movement of the wire. A wire measuring means in the form of a measuring wheel, that is located upstream of the feed belt, measures the actual distance the wire has moved and provides a feedback signal through an encoder to a controller. In the event wire slippage occurred during forward feeding movement, the controller employs the feedback signal to ascertain whether less or more wire than the predetermined length has actually been fed, and commands the feed belts to feed the wire either forwardly or in reverse to correct for the discrepancy. The wire measuring wheel senses the direction and distance the wire moves during the correction operation and signals the controller accordingly, thereby enabling the controller to actuate the feed means to stop wire movement when the predetermined length has been fed.
The typical wire feeding and measuring machine, operating in the manner described above, is very accurate and repeatable, if a single gauge of wire is processed. However, if a different gauge of wire, or a different type or thickness of insulation is employed, the system must be recalibrated. Recalibration for a different gauge or type of wire requires the initial length of wire to be measured to determine whether the length has been precisely cut to the predetermined length and to reset the machine, if there is a variance. After resetting, the procedure is repeated to check the actual cut length against the predetermined length. This trial and error calibration procedure not only is time consuming, but also can result in considerable scrappage of wire.


A PBI compound includes imidazole nitrogens at least a portion of which are substituted with a moiety containing a carbonyl group, the substituted imidazole nitrogens being bonded to carbon of the carbonyl group. At least 85% of the nitrogens may be substituted. The carbonyl-containing moiety may include RCO—, where R is alkoxy or haloalkyl. The PBI compound may exhibit a first temperature marking an onset of weight loss corresponding to reversion of the substituted PBI that is less than a second temperature marking an onset of decomposition of an otherwise identical PBI compound without the substituted moiety. The PBI compound may be included in separatory media. A substituted PBI synthesis method may include providing a parent PBI in a less than 5 wt % solvent solution. Substituting may use more than 5 equivalents in relation to the imidazole nitrogens to be substituted.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) constitutes a well known class of heterocyclic polymers and is described, merely by way of example and not limitation, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,400 issued to Sansone. One PBI known as poly-2,2′(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole has been used, as well as other PBI compounds, to form ionically conductive materials, fire resistant materials, and various types of separatory media, such as membranes and ultrafilters. Poly-2,2′(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole is resistant to strong acids, bases, and high temperatures up to 500° C. but exhibits very poor solubility in common organic solvents. It is soluble under harsh conditions in highly polar, aprotic organic solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), which exhibit high boiling points and low vapor pressures. Accordingly, such solvents are not preferred for polymer processing.
As such, it would be advantageous to modify a PBI, such as poly-2,2′(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole, to exhibit better solubility in common organic solvents more preferable for polymer processing. Also, an appropriate method for modifying PBI would be advantageous.


An apparatus is provided that makes it possible to make following cars aware when a door is open and simultaneously illuminate a feet area, including, a lens that is attached at a door position that faces the feet area when a vehicle door is open, and a light guide member that is attached at a door position that faces following cars. One or more LEDs for the feet area are provided on the inner side of the lens, and one or more LEDs for the rear direction are provided that irradiate light on the light guide member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus of a vehicle door for illuminating the feet area of the door when a vehicle door is open and also for making following cars aware that the vehicle door is open.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a lighting apparatus that makes following cars aware that a vehicle door is open according to the prior art, an apparatus is known in which a light source (lamp, LED, etc.) is provided in biparting doors at a location in a rear door that faces the rear side of the vehicle when the rear door is open (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2280). Further, as a lighting apparatus that is provided to illuminate the feet area of a passenger getting in or out of a vehicle when the door is open to ensure safety when the passenger is getting in or out, i.e. a courtesy lamp, an apparatus is known that comprises a valve, a lens covering the valve, and a terminal that is attached to the inner surface side of the lens and holds the valve, wherein a terminal fixing part is formed at an edge on the inner surface side of the lens, and a leg of the terminal is fixed to the terminal fixing part (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-291722). A device is also A known in which a lens is provided at a step part of a vehicle, and an LED light source is provided that covers this lens (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2280).
However, the apparatuses disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-291722 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-239881 only function as courtesy lamps, and are simply devices that enhance the appearance from the external surface side of the lens and devices that attempt to improve the visibility of a step part. The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2280 has only a function to make following cars aware that the door is open, and does not have an adequate function as a courtesy lamp. Furthermore, even if these apparatuses are combined, it would merely result in a device in which the courtesy lamp or LED is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-291722 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2280 is attached to the front door in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002 -2280.


A rodent trap structured for capturing one or more rodents as a piece of bait is being consumed within the trap. Slidably mating, telescopically extendable upper and lower inverted and upright cup-shaped members, respectively, define a closed interior volume into which a rodent may enter through an entrance hole formed through a side wall of the lower member when the upper member is held in an armed position above the bottom of the lower housing. To hold the upper member in the armed position, a slender elongated trip rod of one embodiment downwardly extends from a central point of the top of the upper member, to be supported on a rigid piece of bait held above the bottom between uniquely configured spaced bait posts. These bait posts are connected to and upwardly extend into the interior volume from the bottom of the lower member. When so supported by the trip rod on the rigid bait, the upper member will only drop by gravity from the armed position to a closed position after sufficient bait is consumed by rodent to allow the remaining bait portion to pass downward between the bait posts, closing the entrance holes and capturing all rodents within the device at that time. The trap is preferably transparent for viewing of captured prey before disposal and includes evenly spaced entrance holes facing in all directions.

1. Scope of the Invention
This present invention relates generally to rodent traps, and more specifically to traps particularly suitable for capturing mice and other small rodents or roaches in a reusable container which may then be readily emptied without injury to the trapped rodent.
2. Prior Art
The art of animal trapping is well-known and many different trap designs have been invented in an attempt to provide a reliable and inexpensive device for capturing and removing small rodents from building interiors. Typical approaches to this problem involve the use of devices such as glue traps and spring traps.
Unfortunately, the use of such traps can be disadvantageous in a number of respects. Glue trap or "sticky trap" products attempt to entrap rodents onto a sticky surface, usually within a device such as a cardboard box with open ends. Small animals such as mice which get trapped in these devices will inevitably suffer terribly for hours or days and are often thrown into the trash while still alive and stuck to the adhesive.
Common wood base spring traps are designed to instantly kill rodents while the rodent attempts to remove bait from a spring loaded trip pad mechanism. These devices, however, can be excessively cruel and inhumane, especially when they fail to function as desired. Moreover, the risk of injury is especially high to young children or household pets.
These are some of the reasons why there is a further need for a simple and low cost rodent trap that is at least as inexpensive as the aforementioned conventional products but does not present the noted disadvantages. I have previously invented a non-hazardous trap a disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,625 which teaches a device similar to that of the present invention, relying upon a piece of consumable bait to support a closable hinged door mechanism. A number of other prior art devices are also known to applicant for trapping rodents as follows:
______________________________________ Knights 1,186,406 Deane 2,736,984 Muelling 4,232,472 Broman 4,462,181 Straver 4,682,441 Ha 4,829,700 Lindros 5,005,313 ______________________________________
The present invention, similar to my '625 patent, is provided to entrap a number of rodents therewithin which are consuming a piece of bait. As the bait is consumed by the rodent(s) and reaches a certain reduced size, the upper inverted cup-shaped member is automatically released to fall to a closed position. The bait utilized may be a peanut half because of its size and structure and the attractiveness of the peanut odor as food for rodents. Other bait shapes are also disclosed.