An application binary interface includes linkage structures for interfacing a binary application program to a digital computer. A function in a relocatable shared object module obtains the absolute address of a Global Offset Table (GOT) in the module using relative branch and link instructions through the computer's link register. A dynamic linker lazily constructs a Procedure Linkage Table (PLT) and a pointer table for an object module in a process memory image in which space is allocated for the PLT, but the PLT is not initially provided. The pointer table stores absolute addresses of external functions that cannot be reached by relative branching from the module. The PLT receives calls to these functions, gets the absolute addresses from the pointer table and branches to the absolute addresses of the functions. The PLT also receives calls to functions that can be reached by relative branching from the module, and causes relative branching to the functions. A status instruction precedes each call instruction to a variable argument list function that can pass floating point arguments, indicating if floating point arguments will actually be passed. If so, the function saves the contents of the floating point argument registers in memory. If not, the contents of the floating point argument registers are not saved. Virtual address spaces are allocated for processes respectively. Page table entries for translation of the virtual address spaces into physical addresses are not removed as processes terminate, but only after all virtual address spaces have been allocated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the art of digital computers, and more specifically to an Application Binary Interface (ABI), a structure and method of interfacing a binary application program to a digital computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
An application binary interface includes linkage structures by which a user written and compiled binary application program can interface with a specific digital computer and operating system. In order to set out the background of the present invention, for illustrative purposes, the following description relates to a Motorola PowerPC 601 Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) microprocessor running under the UNIX System V, Release 4, operating system (PowerPC is a trademark of International Business. Machines Corporation, Unix is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.).
The disclosed arrangement is also applicable to the Solaris operating system running on the PowerPC microprocessor (Solaris is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.). It will be understood, however, that the present invention is applicable to any computer architecture having suitable characteristics and is not limited to any specific computer or combination of processor and operating system.
In recent years, an application binary interface has been developed for the UNIX System V operating system for most commercially available microprocessors. These interfaces include generic sections which are applicable to all processor architectures, and other sections which are specific to each processor.
Several aspects of the PowerPC architecture have not lent themselves well to the conventional solutions utilized in the prior art relating to other processors. These aspects include the following:
1. Acquisition of Global Offset Table (GOT) Pointer
Machine code instructions in powerful microprocessors such as the PowerPC RISC instruction set are generally of two types, position-dependent and position-independent. Position-dependent instructions can include absolute addresses. To execute properly, a module containing position dependent machine code must be loaded at a specific virtual address, in order to make the program's absolute addresses coincide with the process's virtual addresses.
Position-independent (also called relocatable code) instructions typically include relative addresses, but not absolute addresses. Consequently, the code is not fixed to a specific load address. This allows a position-independent code module to execute properly at various positions in virtual memory.
When a process image is determined by the system, the executable file containing the main program portion of the process (position-dependent) may have fixed addresses, and the system chooses object library virtual addresses to avoid conflicts with other segments in the process.
To maximize text sharing, shared objects conventionally use position-independent code. Shared object text segments can be loaded at various virtual addresses without having to change the segment images. Thus, multiple processes can share a single shared object text segment, even if the segment resides at a different virtual address in each process.
Instructions that reference memory typically require a base address in a general purpose register, and an offset or displacement field in the instruction or an index value in a second general purpose register. On the PowerPC, the offset is a signed 16-bit quantity. Therefore, absolute addressing of the entire virtual address space (which is typically 32 bits) is not possible. Relative branching is also limited to a range of .+-.32 megabytes from a branch instruction by the limited offsets in these instructions.
Since an address must be loaded into a register to perform any type of memory access in the PowerPC architecture, a Global Offset Table (GOT) is provided in each position-independent shared object module in the process image. The GOT contains addresses of global data such as constants and variables that are identified by symbols and are located outside the module.
The global offset table stores the absolute virtual addresses of these data, and data within it is referenced by adding the absolute base addresses of the global offset table (GOT pointer) and the index or relative offset of the data into the table. This method enables the module to load the absolute address of a data item into appropriate registers and read or write the data from memory using a conventional RISC relative address read or write instruction.
In order for a module to access its global offset table, it is necessary to know the absolute base address of the table. However, PowerPC instructions cannot contain absolute code, and must access memory through registers as described above.
The prior art method for loading the GOT uses the equivalent of a branch and link to the next instruction followed by moving the saved address to a register, followed by adding the difference between the address of the GOT and the address of the instruction to the register. On the PowerPC, this requires four instructions.
2. Calls to Functions in Shared Object Modules
Much as the global offset table redirects position-independent address calculations to absolute locations, the application binary interface comprises a procedure linkage table (PLT) which redirects position-independent function calls to absolute locations. A link editor, also known as a static linker, cannot resolve execution transfers (such as function calls) from one executable or shared object module to another. Consequently, the link editor arranges to have the program transfer control to entries in the procedure linkage table.
At run time, the dynamic linker determines the destination's absolute address and modifies the procedure linkage table's memory image accordingly. The dynamic linker can thus redirect the entries without compromising the position-independence and shareability of the program's text. Position-dependent executable files and position-independent shared object files have separate procedure linkage tables.
Modifying an entry in a conventional procedure linkage table involves changing more than one instruction. This must be done in a specific order, and constitutes a non-atomic operation. If one instruction is changed but not the others, the instruction sequence becomes invalid. This can occur if the dynamic linker is modifying the entry,, and a call from another processor or asynchronous event handling code is made through the same entry. This situation is known in the art as re-entrancy.
3. Variable Argument List Function Calls
Variable argument list functions are generally designated as "varargs" functions in the C programming language. The prime example of a variable argument list function is "printf", which causes specified data to be output to a monitor screen, printer or the like.
A calling process can pass a variable number of arguments of different types to a varargs function, the arguments being broadly classifiable as "floating point" and "non-floating point". The PowerPC microprocessor comprises a large number, (more specifically thirty-two), of 64-bit floating point resisters FPR in addition to the floating-point status and control register FPSCR.
In the prior art, a calling function does not tell the varargs functions whether or not floating point arguments are passed. Therefore, the varargs function itself must save the floating point argument registers because floating point arguments might have been passed. This operation constitutes a waste of operating time if the varargs function does not actually pass floating point arguments.
Also in prior art, a program will incidently acquire a floating point state merely because it calls a varargs function, even though it never "constructively" uses floating point. In such a case, the operating system must store the entire floating point state (all of the floating point registers) when operation is switched to another task, and restore the floating point state when it is called again. This operation also constitutes a waste of operating time if the program does not actually use floating point.
4. Removing Address Mappings for Terminated Processes
The PowerPC memory management architecture is unusual several respects. First, it has one large page table containing translations for all address spaces at once rather than having separate page tables for each address space and switching between them on context switches as in conventional designs.
Second, the page table structure itself is different from conventional designs which employ hierarchical page tables, with various portions of the virtual address being used to index into the page tables at various levels.
A virtual address space is assigned to each process that is to be run on the microprocessor, and physical addresses in the processor's memory are mapped to the virtual addresses by a memory management unit. These mappings are implemented as Page Table Entries (PTEs) in the page table.
The page table maps virtual addresses to real addresses. A virtual address consists of a Virtual Segment Identifier (VSID) concatenated with an offset within the segment, and the PTE for a given offset within a given VSID is obtained by hashing the offset/VSID and searching the indicated portion of the page table.
After processes have been terminated, their corresponding PTEs must be unmapped or removed from the page table to make room for other processes. Due to the manner in which virtual to physical address translation is performed on the PowerPC, uncapping of the PTEs for each process requires that the entire page table be searched for entries having corresponding VSIDs.
The PowerPC includes a 32 bit effective address space (addressable by the program), and a 52 bit virtual address space. Even with the extremely high processing speed of the PowerPC, unmapping of the PTEs for a single process requires a significant fraction of a second. The PTE uncapping operation, if performed in the conventional maimer, constitutes unacceptably excessive overhead in the operation of the system.
5. Conclusions
There still exists a need for an application binary interface and memory mapping system that can (1) efficiently acquire the absolute address of the global offset table, (2) efficiently manage linkage to functions in shared object modules without reentrancy problems, (3) support variable argument functions without unnecessarily acquiring floating point state and avoid the unnecessary saving of floating point registers, and (4) avoid high overhead for page table entry deletion at process termination.
The present invention fills this need.

Application binary interface and method of interfacing binary application program to digital computer


A liquid discharging method for a liquid discharge head having a plurality of discharge ports and a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having a bubble generating area, a bubble generating unit, a plurality of liquid supply ports, and a movable member supported with a minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with a free end. The area of the movable member is surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom are made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path. A period for the movable member is set to close and essentially cut off the opening area during the period from the application of the driving voltage to the bubble generating unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid discharge head for discharging liquid by creating a bubble (bubbles) with thermal energy acting upon liquid, and the method of manufacture therefor. The invention also relates to a liquid discharge apparatus that uses such liquid charge head.
Also, the present invention is applicable to a printer that records on a recording medium, such as paper, thread, fabric, cloth, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramic, a copying machine, a facsimile equipments provided with communication system, and a word processor having a printing unit therefor. The invention further relates to an industrial recording apparatus formed complexly in combination with various processing apparatuses.
In this respect, the term xe2x80x9crecordingxe2x80x9d referred to in the specification of the invention hereof not only means the provision of characters, graphics, and other meaningful images for a recording medium, but also, means the provision of images, such as patterns, which are not meaningful.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, for the so-called bubble jet recording method has been known, which is an ink jet recording method for forming images by the adhesion of ink onto a recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports by the acting force based upon the abrupt voluminal changes following the creation of bubble by applying thermal energy or the like to liquid ink in flow paths of a recording apparatus, such as a printer. As disclosed in the specification of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,129, the recording apparatus that uses this bubble jet recording method is generally provided with discharge ports to discharge ink; flow paths communicated with these discharge ports; and electrothermal converting elements arranged in the flow paths to serve as energy generating means.
In accordance with a recording method of the kind, it becomes possible to record high quality images at high speeds in a lesser amount of noises, and at the same time, to arrange discharge ports for discharging ink in high density for the head using this recording method with such an excellent advantage, among some others, that recorded images are obtained in high resolution even in colors with a smaller apparatus. Therefore, the bubble jet recording method has been widely utilized for a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile equipment, and other office equipment in recent years. Further, this method has been utilized even for an industrial system, such as a textile printing apparatus.
Along with the wider utilization of bubble jet technologies and techniques for the products in various fields, there are increasingly more demands in various aspects. Then, for example, in order to obtain higher quality images, there has been proposed the driving condition whereby to provide a liquid discharge method or the like that performs excellent ink discharges at higher speeds based upon the stabilized creation of bubble or in consideration of the achievement of higher recording, there has been proposed the improved flow path configurations for obtaining a liquid discharge head having a higher refilling speed of liquid into the liquid flow path where liquid has been discharged.
Of these proposals, for the head that discharges liquid along with the growth and shrinkage of bubble created in nozzles, it has been known that the efficiency of discharge energy and the refilling characteristics of liquid tend to become unfavorably by the bubble growth in the direction opposite to the corresponding discharge port, and the resultant liquid flow caused thereby. The invention of a structure in which to enhance the discharge energy efficiency, as well as the refilling characteristics of the kind has been proposed in the specification of the European Patent Laid-Open Application EP-0436047A1.
The invention disclosed in the specification of this European Laid-Open Application is such that a first valve that cuts off the connection between the area near the discharge port and the bubble generating area, and a second valve that cuts off the connection between the bubble generating area and the ink supply portion completely, and that these valves are open and closed alternately (see FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 of the EP436047A1). For example, in accordance with the example shown in FIG. 7 of the aforesaid Laid-Open Application, a heat generating element 110 is arranged substantially in the center of the ink flow path 112 between the ink tank 116 and the nozzle 115 on the base plate 125 that forms the inner wall of the ink flow path 112 as shown in FIG. 37 hereof. The heat generating element 110 resides in the section 120 which closes all the circumferences in the interior of the ink flow path 112. The ink flow path 112 comprises the base plate 125; the thin films 123 and 126 which are laminated directly on the base plate 125; and tongue pieces 113 and 130 serving as closing devices. The tongue pieces in releasing condition are indicated by broken lines in FIG. 37. The other thin film 123 which extends on the flat plane parallel to the base plate 125 and terminates by the stopper 124 is arranged to shield over the ink flow path 112. When a bubble is created in ink, the free end of the tongue piece 130 on the nozzle region, which is in contact with the stopper 124 in its stationary condition, is displaced toward upward. Thus, ink liquid is discharged from the section 120 into the ink flow path 112, and discharged through the nozzle 115. At this juncture, the tongue piece 113, which is arranged in the area of the ink tank 116, is closely in contact with the stopper 124 in the stationary condition. Therefore, there is no possibility that ink liquid in the section 120 is directed to the ink layer 116. When the bubble in ink is extinct, the tongue piece 130 is displaced downward, and it is again closely in contact with the stopper 124. Then, the tongue piece 113 falls down in the ink section 120, thus allowing ink liquid to flow into the section 120.
However, in accordance with the invention described in the specification of the EP436047A1, the three chambers for the area near the discharge port, the bubble generating portion, and the ink supply portion are divided into two each. Therefore, ink that follows the ink droplet becomes a long tail when discharged, and satellites may ensue inevitably more than the usual method of discharge where the growth, shrinkage, and extinction of bubble are carried out (presumably, because the effect of the meniscus retraction that may be produced by the bubble extinction is not usable). Also, the valve on the discharge port side of the bubble tends to invite a great loss of discharge energy. Moreover, at the time of refilling (when ink is replenished for the nozzle), liquid cannot be supplied to the area near the discharge port until the next bubbling takes place, although liquid is supplied to the bubble generating portion along with the extinction of bubble. As a result, not only the fluctuation of discharged droplets is greater, but the frequency of discharge responses becomes extremely smaller, hence making this method far from being practicable.
With the present invention, it is intended to propose the devise to enhance the discharge efficiency satisfactorily based upon a new idea whereby to find an epoch-making method and head structure by improving the efficiency of suppression of the bubble growing component in the direction opposite to the discharge port, while satisfying the higher enhancement of the refilling characteristics, which is directly-opposed idea of providing more suppression on such component of growing bubble on the opposite side of the discharge port.
As a result of the assiduous studies made by the inventors hereof, it has been found to be able to utilize the discharge energy directed backward on the discharge port side effectively by means of check-valve mechanism specially constructed in the nozzle structure of a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid along with the growth of bubble created in the nozzle which is linearly formed. Here, with the special check-valve mechanism, the growing component of bubble directed backward is suppressed, and at the same time, the refilling characteristics are made more efficient. It has been found then that the frequency of discharge responses is made higher significantly.
In other words, it is an object of the present invention to establish a new discharging method (structure) whereby to attain a head capable of obtaining the high quality images at high speed, which have never been obtainable with the conventional art, with the nozzle structure and discharging method that use a novel valve mechanism.
The liquid discharging method of the present invention obtained in the process of the aforesaid studies of the liquid head discharge head, which is provided with a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, comprises the step of setting a period for the movable member to close and essentially cut off the opening area during the period from the application of driving voltage to the bubble generating means to the substantial termination of isotropical growth of the entire bubble by the bubble generating means.
Also, for the aforesaid liquid discharging method, the period for the movable member to close and essential cut off the opening area continues at least until the termination of the period of substantially isotropical growth of the entire bubble by the bubble generating means.
Further, for the aforesaid liquid discharging method, during the growing period of the portion of the bubble created by the bubble generating means on the discharge port side after the period for the movable member to close and substantially cut off the opening area, the movable member begins to be displaced from the position of closing and substantially cutting off the opening area to the bubble generating means side in the liquid flow path, and makes liquid supply possible from the common liquid supply chamber to the liquid flow path.
Further, after the movable member begins to be displaced from the position of closing and substantially cutting off the opening area to the bubble generating means side in the liquid flow path, the movable member is further displaced to the bubble generating means side during the shrinking period of the portion of the bubble on the movable member side to supply liquid from the common liquid supply chamber to the liquid flow path.
Further, the voluminal changes of bubble growth and the period from the generation of bubble to the extinction thereof on the bubble generating area are different largely on the discharge port side and the liquid supply port side.
The liquid discharge head of the present invention comprises a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap of 10 xcexcm or less to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, and the discharge port and the bubble generating means being in linearly communicative state.
Also, the liquid discharge head of the present invention comprises a discharge port for discharging liquid; a liquid flow path communicated always with the discharge port at one end, having bubble generating area f or creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a liquid supply port arranged for the liquid flow path to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap of 10 xcexcm or less to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, and the discharge port and the bubble generating means being in linearly communicative state.
For these liquid discharge heads, it is preferable to provide the movable member also with gaps to with flow path walls forming the liquid flow path.
Also, the liquid discharge head of the present invention comprises a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, and having a period for the movable member to close and essentially cut off the opening area during the period of substantially isotropical growing of the entire bubble by the bubble generating means on the discharge port side after the application of driving voltage to the bubble generating means, and the movable member beginning to be displaced from the position of closing and essentially cut off the opening area to the bubble generating means side in the liquid flow path during the period of the portion of bubble created by the bubble generating means on the discharge port side being grown after the period of the same movable member to close and essentially cut off the opening area, making liquid supply possible from the common liquid supply chamber to the liquid flow path. For this liquid discharge head, given the maximum volume of bubble growing in the bubble generating area on the discharge port side as Vf, and given the maximum volume of bubble growing in the bubble generating area on the liquid supply port side as Vr, the relationship of Vf greater than Vr is established at all times.
In this case, given the life time of bubble growing in the bubble generating area on the discharge port side as Tf, and given the life time of bubble growing in the bubble generating area on the liquid supply port side as Tr, the relationship of Tf greater than Tr is established at all times.
Then, the point of the bubble extinction is positioned on the discharge port side from the central portion of the bubble generating area.
Also, the liquid discharge head of the present invention comprises a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, and the free end of the movable member being minutely displaced in the liquid flow path to the liquid supply port side in the initial stage of the bubble creation, and along with the bubble extinction, the free end of the movable member is largely displaced in the liquid flow path to the bubble generating means side for supplying liquid from the common liquid supply chamber into the liquid flow path through the liquid supply port.
In this case, the amount of displacement of the free end of the movable member is defined as h1 as the amount of displacement in the liquid flow path to the liquid supply port side in the initial stage of the bubble creation, and when the free end of the movable member is displaced in the liquid flow path to the bubble generating means side along with the bubble extinction, the amount of displacement thereof is defined as h2, and then, the relationship of h1 less than h2 is established at all times.
For each of the aforesaid liquid discharge heads, thin film of amorphous alloy is provided for the uppermost surface of the bubble generating means. Then, it is conceivable that the aforesaid amorphous alloy is an alloy of at least one metal or more selected from tantalum, iron, nickel, chromium, germanium, ruthenium.
Further, for the aforesaid liquid discharge head, it is preferable to integrally form the food supporting member with the movable member to support the foot of the movable member, and provide such member with a step for deviating the height position of the movable member by one step to the fixing position of the foot supporting member, and to make the thickness of the movable member larger than the amount of such step.
Further, it is preferable to arrange the relationship between a gap xcex1 between the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side and the face of the movable member on the liquid flow supply port side, and the overlapping width W3 of the movable member in the widthwise direction overlapping with the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side to be W3 greater than xcex1.
Further, it is preferable to arrange the relationship between the overlapping width W4 of the movable member in the discharge port direction overlapping with the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and the overlapping width W3 of the movable member in the widthwise direction to be W3 greater than W4.
The present invention also provides a liquid discharge apparatus which comprises a liquid discharge head structured as described above, and recording medium carrying means for carrying a recording medium receiving liquid discharge from the liquid discharge head. With this liquid discharge apparatus, it is conceivable to discharge ink from the liquid discharge head for recording by the adhesion of the ink to the recording medium.
Also, the method of the present invention for manufacturing a liquid discharge head, which is provided with a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, comprises the steps of forming and patterning a first protection layer with respect to the area covering the portion of the elemental base plate provided with the bubble generating means becoming the liquid flow path; forming a first wall material used for the formation of the liquid flow path on the surface of the elemental base plate including the first protection layer; removing the portion of the first wall material becoming the liquid flow path; burying the portion of the first wall material becoming the removed liquid flow path; smoothing the entire surface of the first wall material by polishing; forming a second protection film on the smoothed first wall material for the formation of a fixing portion for the first wall material and the movable member; forming by patterning the material film becoming the movable member in a smaller width than the portion becoming the liquid flow path on the location corresponding to the portion becoming the liquid flow path; forming on the circumference of the material film becoming the movable member a gap formation member to form a gap between the movable member and the liquid supply port; forming on the first wall material a second wall material for the formation of the liquid supply port on the base plate including the gap formation member; forming the portion of the second wall material becoming the liquid supply port so as to make the opening area thereof smaller than the material film becoming the movable member; removing by resolving the first protection layer used for burying the gap formation member, the second protection layer, and the portion of the first wall material becoming the liquid flow path; and bonding the ceiling plate provided with the common liquid supply chamber to the base plate produced in the steps up to the previous stage.
Also, the method structured as described above for manufacturing a liquid discharge head, which is provided with a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid; a plurality of liquid flow paths communicated always with each of the discharge ports at one end, each having bubble generating area for creating bubble in liquid; bubble generating means for generating energy to create and grow the bubble; a plurality of liquid supply ports each arranged for each of the liquid flow paths to be communicated with common liquid supply chamber; and movable member supported with minute gap to the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and provided with free end, the area of the movable member surrounded at least by the free end portion and both sides continued therefrom being made larger than the opening area of the liquid supply port facing the liquid flow path, comprises the steps of forming and patterning a first protection layer with respect to the portion of the ceiling plate becoming the walls of the liquid flow path; forming on the portion of the ceiling plate having none of the first protection layer a gap formation member for the formation of a gap between the movable member and the liquid supply port; forming the material film becoming the movable member on the entire surface of the first protection layer and the gap formation member; forming the material film becoming the movable member with a pattern larger than the opening area of the portion becoming the liquid supply port, and forming through holes on the movable member to facilitate flowing in liquid to resolve the gap formation member; forming by dry etching the common liquid supply chamber with the gap formation member as etching stop layer; removing the gap formation member; forming the liquid supply port by wet etching anisotropically the portion of the ceiling plate having none of the first protection layer; burying the through holes of the movable member with the same material as the material film becoming the movable member, and coating with the film the walls on the etching side; bonding the elemental base plate provided with the wall member for the formation of the liquid flow path and the bubble generating means to the member produced in the steps up to the previous stage.
With the structure described above, the movable member cuts off immediately the communicative condition between the liquid flow path and the liquid supply port during the period from the application of driving voltage to the bubble generating means to the termination of substantially isotropical growth of bubble by the bubble generating means. As a result, the waves of pressure exerted by the bubble growth in the bubble generating area is not propagated to the liquid supply port side and the common liquid supply chamber side. Most of all the pressure is directed toward the discharge port side. Thus, the discharge power is enhanced remarkably. Also, even when a highly viscous recording liquid is used for a higher fixation on a recording sheet or the like or used for the elimination of spreading on the boundary between black and other colors, it becomes possible to discharge such liquid in good condition due the remarkable enhancement of discharge power. Also, the environmental changes at the time of recording, particularly, under the environment of lower temperature and lower humidity, the overly viscous ink region tends to increase, and in some cases, ink is not normally discharged when beginning its use. However, with the present invention, it is possible to perform discharging in good condition form the very first shot. Also, with the remarkably improved discharge power, the size of the heat generating element that serves as bubble generating means can be made smaller or the input energy can be made smaller.
Also, along with the shrinkage of bubble, the movable member is displaced downward to enable liquid to flow from the common liquid supply chamber into the liquid flow path in a large quantity at a rapid flow rate through the liquid supply port. In this manner, the flow that draws meniscus into the liquid flow path is quickly reduced after the droplet is discharge, and the amount of meniscus retraction is made smaller at the discharge port accordingly. As a result, the meniscus returns to the initial state in an extremely short period of time. In other words, the replenishment of a specific amount of ink into the liquid flow path (refilling) is very quick, hence remarkably enhancing the discharge frequency (driving frequency) when executing highly precise ink discharge (in a regular quantity).
Further, in the bubble generating area, the bubble growth is large on the discharge port side, while suppressing the growth thereof toward the liquid supply port side. Therefore, bubble extinction point is positioned on the discharge port side from the central portion of the bubble generating area. Then, while maintaining the discharge power, it becomes possible to reduce the power of bubble extinction. This makes it possible to protect the heat generating member from being mechanically and physically destructed by the bubble extinction in the bubble generating area, and contribute to improving its life significantly.
Also, the foot supporting member is integrally formed with the movable member to support the foot of the movable member, which is provided with a step so that the height position of the movable member is deviated by one step from the fixing position of the foot supporting member. With this arrangement, when the movable member is displaced, the concentration of stress on the fixing position of the foot supporting member of the movable member is relaxed. Further, the thickness of the movable member is made larger than the stepping amount of the foot supporting member of the movable member, hence making it possible to enhance the durability of the foot portion of the movable member, because the concentration of stress is relaxed when it is concentrated on the stepping portion of the foot supporting member of the movable member when the movable member is displaced.
Further, the relationship between the gap a between the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side and the face of the movable member on the liquid supply port side, and the overlapping with W3 of the movable member in the widthwise direction, is overlapped with opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side is established to be W3 greater than xcex1. Thus, as compared with the case where this relationship is W3 less than xcex1, the flow resistance becomes greater in the flow from the liquid flow path to the liquid supply port side to make it possible to effectively suppress the flow from the liquid flow path to the liquid supply port side at the bubble initiation of the bubble growth. Further, it is possible to effectively suppress the flow from the liquid flow path into the liquid supply port through the gap between the movable member and the circumference of the liquid supply port. As a result, the movable member is able to shield the liquid supply port reliably and quickly. With this operation, the discharge efficiency is enhanced still more.
Also, the relationship between the overlapping width W4 of the movable member in the discharge port direction, which is overlapped with the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side, and the overlapping width W3 in the widthwise direction of the movable member is established to be W3 greater than W4. With this arrangement, the contact width between the free end tip of the movable member and the opening edge of the liquid supply port becomes smaller when the movable member, which has been displaced upward to the liquid supply port side by the initial bubbling, begins to be displaced downward to the bubble generating means side in the process of the bubble extinction. As a result, the friction force that may be generated at that time is reduced to make it possible to release the liquid supply port priorly from the free end side of the movable member. This makes the releasing of the liquid supply port by the movable member reliably and quickly. Consequently, refilling into the liquid flow path is carried out more efficiently to stabilize the discharge characteristics.
Also, with the adoption of thin film of amorphous alloy for the cavitation proof film on the uppermost surface layer of bubble generating means, it becomes possible to make its life longer against the mechanical and physical destruction.
Also, in the manufacturing processes of the liquid discharge head in accordance with the present invention, the adoption of the amorphous alloy makes it possible to considerably reduce the damages that may be caused to the wiring layer which is arranged on the lower layer even in the removal step whereby to remove the Al film for the formation of the liquid flow path and liquid supply port as well. This contributes significantly to enhancing the production yield.
The other effects and advantages of the present invention will be understandable from the description of each embodiment which is given below.
In this respect, the terms xe2x80x9cupstreamxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdownstreamxe2x80x9d used for the description of the present invention are the expressions to indicate the liquid flow in the direction toward the discharge port from the supply source of liquid through the bubble generating area (or through the movable member) or to indicate the direction on the structural aspect thereof.
Also, the term xe2x80x9cdownstream sidexe2x80x9d of bubble itself means the downstream side of the center of the bubble in the aforesaid flow direction or the aforesaid structural direction, or it means the bubble to be created on the area on the downstream side of the central area of the heat generating element.
Also, the term xe2x80x9coverlapping widthxe2x80x9d indicates the minimal distance from the opening edge of the liquid supply port on the liquid flow path side to the edge portion of the movable member.
Also, the expression xe2x80x9cthe movable member closes and essentially cuts off the liquid supply portxe2x80x9d used for the present invention does not mean that the movable member is necessarily in contact closely with the circumference of the liquid supply port, but it means to include a condition where the movable member approaches the liquid supply port as close as possible.

Liquid discharge method, head, and apparatus which suppress bubble growth at the upstream side


A process for increasing the yield of C3 olefin in fluidized bed catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks is disclosed. C4 fraction produced from the cracking of hydrocarbon feedstock in the primary reaction zone (riser), optionally with external source of C4 stream is fed into the stripper which acts as a secondary reaction zone at an elevated temperature and at an optimum WHSV. The elevated temperature is achieved by injecting a part of the regenerated catalyst from regenerator, which is at a higher temperature, directly into the stripper through a dedicated additional lift line. This raises the activity of catalyst inside the stripper. The direct injection of regenerated catalyst into the stripper, besides producing higher yields of propylene, improves the stripping efficiency leading to enhanced recovery of strippable hydrocarbons.

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is the most important conversion process used in petroleum refineries. It is widely used to convert the high-boiling, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum crude oils to more valuable gasoline, olefinic gases, and other products. Cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons was originally done by thermal cracking, which has been almost completely replaced by catalytic cracking because of its adaptability towards improved and selective cracking to produce high octane gasoline and valuable lighter olefinic gaseous products. This process also provides flexibility to be tuned to different modes of operational window in order to maximize the product of interest.
The conversion section of FCC unit consists of riser, reactor, stripper, regenerator and their associated hardware internals. The feed is injected into the up-flowing catalyst at the bottom of the riser. Steam is introduced along with the feed for proper atomization. The feed molecules are cracked inside the riser when they are contacted with hot regenerated catalyst producing product vapors and coke. The catalyst activity is reduced due to deposition of coke on the catalyst. The cracked products along with the catalyst move up through the riser and the primary disengagement of the catalyst from the hydrocarbon vapor is achieved through riser termination device. The hydrocarbon vapor after separation from catalyst is fed to a fractionation section for separation into various cuts. The separated spent catalyst is steam stripped in stripper to recover trapped hydrocarbons inside the catalyst pores. The stripped spent catalyst flows to regenerator wherein the coke deposited on the spent catalyst is burnt off in presence of air and/or oxygen containing gases to restore the catalyst activity. The hot regenerated catalyst is subsequently recycled back to the riser bottom to complete the cycle.
The demand for light olefins like ethylene and propylene as building blocks for the production of petrochemicals will continue to grow. Propylene demand growth rate outpaces ethylene due to high demand of poly-propylene and other propylene derivatives. The conventional steam cracking units, which are more energy intensive, cannot meet the incremental demand of propylene as its propylene to ethylene ratio is low. Furthermore, much of the new steam cracking capacity is based on ethane feed, which produces little propylene. Therefore, although steam cracking continues to supply most of the world's propylene, there is an increasing need for production of propylene from other sources.
The present invention discloses a process to substantially increase the propylene yield through selective conversion of C4 hydrocarbons in a FCC unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,642 discloses a catalytic cracking process and apparatus wherein a part of hot regenerated catalyst is passed directly from the regenerator to the stripping zone via a conduit to increase the stripping zone temperature resulting in improved recovery of hydrocarbons from the spent catalyst.
The conversion of the feed-stocks processed is optimized as per the product slate requirement by designing the reaction of severity, i.e. reactor outlet temperature (ROT) and catalyst to oil ratio (C/O). In a FCC unit, ROT is the measured variable which is achieved by controlling catalyst circulation rate (CCR) to the riser bottom from the regenerator vessel. At constant feed rate, increase in ROT leads to a higher CCR and thus a higher CO inside the riser. There are prior art inventions where the C/O has been increased without changing ROT.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,537 discloses an FCC apparatus which mixes a part of spent catalyst with regenerated catalyst in a separate chamber to obtain a blended catalyst stream before contacting with feed. Mixing of the spent catalyst (normally at lower temperature) with regenerated catalyst (normally at higher temperature) in the mixing chamber results in a lower equilibrium temperature at the riser bottom leading to increase in catalyst circulation rate (CCR) at a given reactor outlet temperature (ROT). However, this prior art doesn't teach cracking of C4 hydrocarbons to C3 olefins.
US Application US20040060846A1 discloses a deep catalytic cracking process to produce increased yields of C3 and C4 olefins at the expense of C2 olefins. In this invention, the riser reactor is configured to have two different radii in order to produce improved selectivity to C3 and C4 olefins as products. In the second broader riser section, Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) is significantly lowered, so that gasoline range molecules produced in the first narrower section is cracked to produce high yields of the light olefins. However, the prior art does not teach any method that is directed specifically to conversion of C4 hydrocarbons to C3 olefins.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,660B2 discloses a process for selectively producing C3 olefins from a cracked naphtha stream. A stream rich in C4 olefins is recycled to a dilute phase reaction zone in the stripping zone separate from the dense phase of the stripping zone to improve the propylene selectivity. However, this prior art doesn't provide any means for achieving optimum temperature and catalyst activity which facilitates maximum propylene yield.
In the present invention, an optimum condition of WHSV, temperature as well as catalyst activity is achieved for enhanced production of propylene from cracking of C4 fraction. A part of the regenerated catalyst is injected into the stripper bed for achieving the required temperature and catalyst activity.
The present invention results in augmentation of conversion of C4 into C3 olefins.

Process for production of C3 olefin in a fluid catalytic cracking unit


The present invention relates to processes for the manufacture of (3R,5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino)carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt.

Cardiovascular disease and its associated maladies, dysfunctions and complications are a principal cause of disability and the chief cause of death. One specific factor significantly contributing to this pathophysiologic process is atherosclerosis, which has been generally recognized as a leading health care problem both with respect to mortality and health care costs. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposition of fatty substances, primarily cholesterol, resulting in plaque formation on the inner surface of the arterial wall and degenerative change to the arteries.
It is now well established that cardiovascular disorders including myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, hypertension and hypotension, cerebrovascular disorders including stroke, cerebral thrombosis and memory loss due to stroke; peripheral vascular disease and intestinal infarction are caused by blockage of arteries and arterioles by atherosclerotic plaque. Atherosclerotic plaque formation is multi-factorial in its production. Hypercholesterolemia, especially elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis and associated diseases.
The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been used in reducing blood levels of LDL cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced via the mevalonic acid pathway. Reducing the formation of mevalonic acid, a precursor to cholesterol, leads to a corresponding decrease in hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis with a reduction in the cellular pool of cholesterol. PCT Publication No. WO 2004/106299 discloses (3R,5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino)carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt, having the Formula I,
as an effective HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase inhibitor and thus is useful as hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agent.
A procedure for the synthesis of (3R,5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino)carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt is disclosed in WO 2004/106299. The aforementioned synthetic route involves isolation and purification of intermediates at each step of the process by column chromatography. However, the total overall yield is low, and the high cost of production render the process not amenable to large scale manufacture.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for (3R, 5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino) carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt


A hand held olfactory tester includes an elongated housing (12) with an opening at its forward end (30) thereof. An odorant chamber (22) located within the housing moveable axially between a forward (FIG. 4) and a backward position (FIG. 5). A wick (34) extends from the odorant chamber forwardly into a nozzle (32) carried at the forward end of the chamber. A thumb collar (24) located around the outside of the housing allows to move the odor chamber and nozzle forwardly. The forward end of the wick exposed to outside through the opening when moved forward so that vapors from the odorant can be smelled by a patient. O-rings (40, 42) seal the nozzle from the outside when in backward position to prevent vapors from escaping. An elongated spring (28) biases the odorant chamber and nozzle backwardly into its rear sealed position when the thumb collar is released.

The ability to smell various odors and to distinguish odors from each other is obviously important in our every day lives. The sense of smell, which largely influences the flavor of foods, is associated with emotion, with nutrition, with quality of life, and with safety from spoiled foods, leaking natural gas, fire, and other hazardous situations. Loss of smell or the reduced ability to smell, therefore, can significantly impact everyday life. People who lose the sense of smell have major elements of their lives compromised and often become psychologically depressed.
Quantitative tests of the sense of smell can also be useful as diagnostic tools. The measurement of olfactory thresholds, for example, is beneficial in the early detection and management of a number of diseases and disorders. Among these are damage to the olfactory system, such as the olfactory nerves or olfactory bulb, by head trauma, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, acute viral and/or bacterial infections, exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals, side-effects from radiation therapy to the head, and others. A medical diagnostic instrument that can measure olfactory thresholds and other indices of olfactory function in an accurate manner, quickly and at a relatively low cost, would therefore be beneficial. Such an instrument could be used not only as a one time evaluation of a patient, but it could be used to trace a patient's progress over time to monitor for onset of a particular occurrence.
The measurement of olfactory function has been accomplished by various means. Olfactometers have been developed in the past for administering smell tests. One such device was commercially available from Osmic Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, and allegedly was useful for assessing odor threshold, identification, discrimination, and memory. Smaller, less complicated, olfactometers have also been proposed and are described in various patent documents. For example, the following U.S. Patents have issued for alleged improvements to olfactometers: 4,265,248 to Chuiton et al.; 5,565,148 to Pento Fadergrass, Jr.; 6,390,453 and 6,672,129 to Frederickson et al. and 7,152,758 to Fazzio et al.
The olfactometer or odor generator described in Applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/799,034, solves many of the problems associated with other prior art olfactometers and is believed to be the most effective and device available. However, it is relatively expensive and is primarily used by a research facility or the like.
Much simpler tests and devices that can be administered in a doctor's office have also been proposed. One method is by using scratch-and-sniff pads where the test operator scratches the surface to expose the odor, puts it up to the patient's nose, and asks for a response. Another test method is using squeeze-bottle or sniff bottle smell test kits. In the case of threshold testing, a series of bottles with increasing concentration of vapors is used.
Also available is a test sold under the name Sniffin' Sticks which is comprised of a number of tubular containers having an odorant therein and a wicking member that extends from the end of the tube but which is covered by an end cap. Two hands are needed to administer a test as the end cap must be removed with one hand whiled holding the tube with the other. Furthermore, if the end cap is not replaced, the odorant within the tube will dry out.
There is, therefore, a need for an improved hand held olfactory test that is effective, relatively inexpensive and easy to administer.


A process for the preparation of a toner composition which comprises (1) mixing a water soluble monomer or monomers, and an oil soluble monomer or monomers with polymerization initiators, a crosslinking component and a chain transfer component; (2) effecting bulk polymerization until from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the water soluble and oil soluble monomer or monomers have been polymerized; (3) cooling the product obtained; (4) mixing with the aforesaid partially polymerized product components comprised of charge control agents, pigments, dyes, initiators, chain transfer agents and crosslinking agents to formulate a uniform organic phase; (5) dispersing the organic phase into from between about 2 to about 5 times its volume of water containing from between about 1 to about 5 weight percent of a stabilizing component to form a suspension with an average particle size of from between about 5 to about 25 microns and a particle size distribution of from about 1.1 to about; and (6) suspension polymerizing to complete the conversion of said monomer, or said monomers to polymer.

This invention is generally directed to processes for the preparation of a polymer or polymers, and toner compositions thereof, and more specifically to bulk and semisuspension polymerization processes. In one specific embodiment, the present invention is directed to economical and noncomplex processes for the preparation of polymers containing both a water soluble, and an oil soluble component. Also, in embodiments the present invention relates to processes for obtaining polymers containing two or more monomers, at least one of which is water soluble, and at least one of which is oil soluble by the combination of bulk polymerization, and suspension polymerization. The polymer or polymers resulting can be selected as toner resins for toner compositions, reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,390, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, as carrier coatings, toner additives, and the like. In embodiments, the polymer particles obtained with the processes of the present invention can possess an average particle diameter of from between about submicron, for example 0.1 micron to about 350 microns, and preferably from between about 1 to about 20 microns.
Copolymers and terpolymers containing at least one water soluble component, and one oil soluble component cannot be effectively obtained by known heterogeneous polymerizations because, for example, of the solubility of the hydrophilic component in the continuous phase. Water-soluble monomer refers in embodiments to monomers having greater than about 10 weight percent solubility in water and oil-soluble monomer refers in embodiments to those monomers having less than about 10 weight percent solubility in water. Consequently, such polymers are usually prepared by solution polymerizations, which are economically less attractive than heterogeneous processes in view of, for example, the lower polymerization rates, inferior heat transfer, and increased costs because of the use of a solvent and its removal. It is desirable to incorporate water soluble monomers into a polymer product to, for example, increase the range of its electrical and physical properties, for example, to effect the modification of the triboelectric characteristics of the polymer, and control the tribo properties of toner compositions thereof.
Semisuspension polymerization processes for the preparation of polymers are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,404, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,898 relates generally to specific bulk and suspension polymerizations, see the Abstract for example; and 4,592,990 relates to toner processes, see column 8 for example.
Disclosed in copending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 339,539 (D/88092), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, are semisuspension polymerization processes for the economical preparation of toners with, for example, an average diameter of from about 5 to about 25 microns, wherein a mixture of monomer or comonomers, a polymerization initiator, a crosslinking component and a chain transfer component are bulk polymerized until partial polymerization is accomplished, for example from about 10 to about 40 percent of monomer or comonomers is converted to a polymer, followed by adding to the formed partially polymerized polymer pigments, or dyes optional additives such as charge control materials, low molecular weight waxes such as polypropylene, or polyethylene, and the like, and mixing with, for example, a high shear mixer to obtain a homogeneous organic mixture, subsequently dispersing the resulting organic mixture in water containing a stabilizing component, which dispersing can be accomplished, for example, by a high shear mixer, transferring the resulting suspension to a reactor, and effecting polymerization thereof, followed by optional washing, and drying. The toner composition obtained can be optionally blended with surface additives, which may function as flow aids, such as colloidal silicas and the like.
As a result of a patentability search in the aforementioned copending patent application there were located U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,559, which discloses the incorporation of a prepolymer into a monomer toner mix followed by emulsion polymerization; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,680,200 and 4,702,988, which illustrate emulsion polymerization. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,886,553 relates to polymerization processes.
Toners can generally be prepared by fusion mixing of pigments (colorants), charge control agents and other additives into thermoplastic resins to disperse them uniformly therein. In view of the high viscosity of the aforementioned mixture, a considerable amount of energy is usually needed to achieve a uniform dispersion of pigments and other additives in the toner resin. The mixture is then cooled, followed by pulverization and classification into desired particles sizes and particle size distribution. It is known that pulverization is an energy intensive step in this process. This preparation method is capable of producing excellent toners, however, it requires the use of a several steps which can be costly, energy intensive and limited in certain respects. In the process for generating toners by pulverization, the material being pulverized must usually be fragile to permit it to be readily pulverized. Therefore, some thermoplastic resins which are not fragile but have acceptable fusing performance may not be selected for the aforementioned prior art processes. Also, if the material being pulverized is too fragile, it may be excessively micropulverized and, therefore, the fines portion of the particles must usually be uneconomically removed. These limitations become increasingly severe for smaller particle size toners, that is with for example a volume average particle size of from about 3 to about 9 microns. Also, when a material such as a polymer resin with a low melting point is employed to improve fusing performance of the toner, the fusion of such material may occur in the pulverizing device or the classifier.
Attempts to prepare copolymers or terpolymers containing a significant portion of water-soluble monomer by traditional suspension polymerizations are prone to failure because the water-soluble components will rapidly diffuse into the aqueous phase, leaving only the oil-soluble monomers in the polymerizing particles. The water-soluble monomers will then solution polymerize in the aqueous phase if a source of free radicals is available. However, if the initial viscosity of the suspended droplets is sufficiently high, and for example if the conversion is between approximately 10 to 40 percent depending on the molecular weight, which varies from about 10,000 to 200,000, the diffusion rate of the water-soluble components will be severely hindered. As a result, these monomers will polymerize in the droplets before they have an opportunity to diffuse into the aqueous phase. The higher the initial viscosity the more restricted is the monomer diffusion; however if the initial viscosity is too high it will not be possible to effectively form small particles with a narrow particle size distribution.
Accordingly, to remove or minimize the disadvantage of the pulverization method, there have been proposed processes for producing toner wherein the toner particles were formed and the desired particle size distribution produced in a reactor. These processes include dispersion polymerization, suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, and the like. Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,559 is the preparation of a toner composition by the incorporation of a prepolymer into a monomer/pigment mixture, followed by emulsion polymerization, see for example columns 4, 5 and 8 of this patent. Also, methods of preparing toner, including suspension/dispersion polymerization, are illustrated in columns 1 and 2 of this patent. In these processes, the pigment and additives such as charge control components are added to a monomer, or comonomers prior to polymerization. Particle formation is achieved by the dispersion of the pigmented monomer or comonomers in a continuous phase such as water, and the droplets of pigmented monomers are then polymerized to form toner particles. One advantage of these processes as compared to other methods is the elimination of fusion mixing (Banbury/extruder) and pulverization classification processing. Nevertheless, it can be difficult with these processes to accomplish polymerization of pigmented monomer droplets in a diameter range of 5 to 25 microns with a narrow distribution of, for example, 1.3. Also, suspension failure is common with these processes especially when the monomer droplet diameter is less than 50 microns and as polymerization proceeds in the sticky region (10 to 40 percent conversion). Further, it is difficult to conduct the polymerization of pigmented monomer droplets since, for example, it is known that polymerization of free radical type monomers are hindered, and may be prevented by the presence of various pigments, especially carbon black. Another disadvantage of these processes for the preparation of toners resides in the resulting poor dispersion of the pigment and other additives within the toner particles which is believed to be caused by the lack of micromixing, that is the diffusional mixing within the monomer droplet. Moreover, many of the prior art processes for the preparation of polymer particles is costly, or not as economical as desired. These and other disadvantages are avoided or minimized with the bulk, and semisuspension polymerization processes of the present invention.

Processes for the preparation of polymers


A method and an apparatus for desorption and a dehumidifier are provided in the present invention, in which an electrical potential is applied to electrodes disposed on both ends of an absorbing material so as to desorb the substances absorbed within the absorbing material whereby the absorbing material is capable of being maintained for cycling the absorbing operation. By means of the method and the apparatus of the present invention, the desorbing efficiency can be enhanced and the energy consumption can be reduced during desorption.

Conventionally, the household dehumidifier uses a refrigerant compressor to condense the moisture in the air to achieve dehumidification. However, the use of refrigerant results in problems such as ozone layer depletion. Therefore, there is need in developing a novel dehumidification technique without using refrigerant.
In rotary desiccant dehumidification, the refrigerant compressor is not required; instead, an absorbing material is used to absorb the moisture in the air and then electrical-thermal heating is used to heat up the gas flow through a regenerating side of the absorbing material to desorb the moisture. The high-temperature and high-moisture gas on the regenerating side is introduced into a heat exchanger to be condensed and the condensed moisture is then collected by a water collector to achieve household dehumidification. Since dehumidification achieved by the rotary dehumidifier using an absorbing material is temperature and humidity independent and refrigerant free, it is advantageous in low noise and low cost without using the compressor.
In the rotary desiccant dehumidifier 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a moist gas flow 90 flows through a heat exchanger 10 into an absorbing material 11 so that the absorbing material 11 is capable of absorbing the moisture in the gas flow 90. The dehumidified gas flow 92 is released by a dehumidifying blower 12 to achieve dehumidification. On the other hand, an electric heater 13 heats up the temperature of a circulating gas flow 91. The water molecules in the absorbing material 11 is vaporized and desorbed by the temperature difference between the high-temperature circulating gas flow 91 and the water molecules in the absorbing material 11. Then, the high-temperature high-moisture circulating gas flow 91 enters the heat exchanger 10 to perform heat transfer with the low-temperature moist gas flow 90 at the entrance of the dehumidifier 1. The high-temperature high-moisture gas in the heat exchanger 10 can be condensed into liquid-phase water 93, which is then collected and exhausted. The circulating gas flow 91 returns to the electric heater 13 to repeat the aforesaid processes to complete moisture desorption. The absorbing material 11, the electric heater 13 and the heat exchanger 10 are integrated to achieve the dehumidification as a dehumidifier 1. In conventional rotary desiccant dehumidification, an electric heater is used to heat up the gas flow on the regenerating side to increase the temperature of the regenerating air. The thermal desorption mechanism comprises two approaches. One is vaporization by heat exchange of the gas flow, wherein a temperature gradient occurs as the circulating gas flow is heated up and the moisture is vaporized to desorb from the dehumidifying structure in the absorbing material by the energy generated during heat exchange. However, this approach costs high power consumption to achieve dehumidification because it takes a long time for vaporization to generate high-temperature gas required during moisture desorption. The other approach is vaporization by thermal radiation, wherein high-temperature gas is obtained by conducting a current flowing through a heating wire in the heater. Thermal radiation enables the water molecules in the absorbing material to receive the heat to be vaporized to desorb from the absorbing material. Since the radiated heat is proportional to the surface temperature to the power of four and the surface temperature of the electric heater is higher than 400° C., the radiated heat is very high. Therefore, the moisture desorption effect is much more important than vaporization by heat exchange of the gas flow. Accordingly, in the aforesaid two approaches, conventional desorption approaches by heating up the circulating gas flow or thermally radiating the water molecules to achieve desorption inevitably lead to high power consumption since the radiated heat is mostly absorbed by the absorbing material. Moreover, the radiated heat increases the surface temperature of the absorbing material, which adversely affects the absorption of water molecules by the desiccative to reduce the dehumidifying performance. Therefore, in a rotary dehumidifier, the power consumption is high and dehumidification efficiency is reduced.
To overcome this drawback, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a conventional plasma dehumidifier/humidifier disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-179037. In FIG. 2, two electrodes 15 and 16 disposed on both sides of a dehumidifying unit 17 are used to generate plasma to desorb the moisture absorbed by the dehumidifying unit 17. Even though, in this pant, a plasma-enhanced moisture desorption technique is disclosed to reduce power consumption, both a dehumidifier and a humidifier are required in the chambers 18 and 19 because it is based on an open gas flow design. Therefore, this technique is used in a large-size open gas flow system. Moreover, the electrodes 15 and 16 are thermally activated, wherein a low voltage (5 to 10 volts) is used to activate the electrodes to generate plasma.

Method and apparatus for desorption and dehumidifier using the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present description relates to a process for measuring outgas emissions in fabrication chambers used for semiconductors, micromachines and the like. In one embodiment, the invention includes inserting a gas adsorption material into a processing chamber exhaust vent, running a process in the chamber, venting gasses in the chamber through the gas adsorption material, removing the adsorption material from the exhaust vent, and analyzing the adsorption material for gases.

1. Field
The present description relates to measuring outgas emissions in fabrication chambers and in particular to sampling outgas emissions during a process and analyzing the outgas samples offline.
2. Background
The manufacture of integrated circuit devices involves the sequential processing of a semiconductor wafer, usually silicon, gallium-arsenide, lithium-niobate or ceramic, to add or remove various layers of material, such as oxides, metals and silicon. The layers are formed by etching, washing, implanting, and depositing.
Photolithography is a process of patterning each layer on the wafer. As many as 35 masks may be required to pattern all of the layers on the wafer. A mask is fabricated by depositing an opaque material, such as chrome, on a transparent or reflective substrate, such as glass or quartz, and then etching the chrome to form features that are many times larger than the desired size on the wafer.
The wafer is covered with photoresist, a material that is sensitive to light. An exposure tool, such as a stepper, shines light through the mask onto the wafer. The optical system reduces the features of the mask so as to print a latent image with the correct dimensions in the photoresist on the wafer. After being exposed, the photoresist is developed to create openings corresponding to the location and intensity of light exposure. Thus, the photoresist serves as a stencil for transferring the pattern, originally in the mask, into the wafer by etching or ion implanting the underlying layers through the openings.
In order to reduce the minimum dimensions of the features on the wafer, the wavelength of the light is reduced and the optical reduction from mask to wafer is increased. These changes require greater accuracy in the optical system that transfers the mask pattern onto the wafer. Contaminants that find their way onto the optical system or onto many other components of the fabrication chamber can reduce the accuracy of the optical system and create errors in the finished product. Over time, the optical system and other components may be destroyed by the contaminants that have been released into a processing chamber by the photoresist, developers and other materials used in the fabrication process.
One source of contaminants is outgassing from the materials used to make the semiconductor. Many materials produce chemicals that are released as gasses into their surrounding environment. In normal room conditions and for some materials, this outgassing may be detectable as odors. The amount of gas produced depends on the environment. Different amounts of outgassing may occur with different light wavelengths, with different light intensities and with different temperatures. For many materials the amount of gas is increased when the material is heated, illuminated and placed in a vacuum. These conditions are common in semiconductor manufacturing and especially during photolithography.
While designers try to select materials with low levels of outgassing, it is difficult to obtain accurate information. Since the amount of outgassing varies in different environments, measurements that are made using test equipment may not reflect the conditions inside an actual fabrication chamber.

Process for screening outgas emissions in semiconductor processing


A liquid discharge head includes a substrate including energy-generating elements that generate energy used to discharge a liquid, discharge ports through which the liquid is discharged, and a channel-forming member having a channel in which the liquid flows and which is communicatively connected to the discharge ports. The channel-forming member includes a first layer and a second layer. The first and second layers are formed from negative-type photosensitive resin compositions containing a photopolymerization initiator. The first layer is located between the second layer and the substrate. The content of the photopolymerization initiator in the first layer is greater than the content of the photopolymerization initiator in the second layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquid discharge heads for discharging liquids and methods for manufacturing the liquid discharge heads. The present invention particularly relates to a liquid discharge head for discharging ink onto a recording medium and also relates to a method for manufacturing the liquid discharge head.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a process using a liquid discharge head is an ink-jet recording process for discharging a liquid onto a recording media. An ink-jet recording head suitable for use in an ink-jet recording process includes fine discharge ports, a liquid channel, and energy-generating elements for generating energy used to discharge a liquid present in a portion of the liquid channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,606 discloses a method for manufacturing an ink-jet recording head suitable for use in an ink-jet recording process. In the method, a soluble resin pattern for an ink (liquid) channel is formed on a substrate having energy-generating elements. The following layer is deposited on the ink channel pattern: a resin coating layer, containing an epoxy resin and a cationic photopolymerization initiator, for forming walls of the ink channel. Discharge ports are formed in the resin coating layer by photolithography so as to be located above the energy-generating elements. The soluble resin is removed by dissolution, and the resin coating layer is then cured, whereby the ink channel walls are formed.
In such a process, the exposure operation used to form the ink channel pattern and the photolithography used to form the discharge ports require great attention to detail as described below. If light is applied to a first surface of the resin coating layer that is opposite to the substrate, the intensity of the light is reduced while the light is traveling from the first surface thereof to the substrate, because the resin coating layer absorbs light. Therefore, in order to securely bond the ink channel walls to the substrate, the light needs to reach a second surface of the resin coating layer that is in contact with the substrate. This allows a portion of the resin coating layer (the epoxy resin) that is located close to the substrate to be sufficiently cured, whereby the ink channel walls are allowed to have ink resistance and can be securely bonded to the substrate. Accordingly, since the light is applied to the first surface of the resin coating layer but must reach the surface in contact with the substrate, the following is important to note. A portion of the light that reaches the substrate is attenuated and therefore has appropriate intensity. However, a portion of the light that travels in a surface region of the resin coating layer is not attenuated yet and has excessively high intensity. The portion of the light having excessively high intensity may prevent the discharge ports from being precisely formed. That is, the following problem can occur: the portion of the light having excessively high intensity may damage a pattern for the discharge ports and/or the ink channel pattern. Occurrence of this problem can lead to a variation in the direction in which droplets are ejected and/or a variation in the size of the droplets. This, in turn, may affect an image that is formed with the ink-jet recording head.

Liquid discharge head and method for manufacturing liquid discharge head


A spark plug having a metallic shell extending along an axis (CL1) and a solid annular gasket. The metallic shell has an externally threaded portion and a seat portion, and the gasket has an inside diameter smaller than the thread diameter of the externally threaded portion and is provided between the externally threaded portion and the seat portion. The forward end surface of the gasket has an inclined portion which inclines rearward with respect to the direction of the axis (CL1) from the radially outer side toward the raidally inner side. The thickness of the gasket along the axis (CL1) is 2.0 mm or less; the distance along the axis (CL1) between the outermost circumferential edge and the innermost circumferential edge of inclined portion is 0.02 mm to 0.12 mm; and the Vickers hardness of the gasket is 60 Hv or more.

A spark plug is mounted to a combustion apparatus, for example, an internal combustion engine, and is used for igniting an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber. Generally, the spark plug includes an insulator having an axial bore. A center electrode is inserted into a forward end portion of the axial bore. A metallic shell is provided externally of the outer circumference of the insulator. A ground electrode has a proximal end portion joined to a forward end portion of the metallic shell and a forward end portion forming a spark discharge gap in cooperation with the center electrode. Also, the metallic shell has an externally threaded portion for mounting the spark plug to the combustion apparatus. A solid annular gasket may be attached to the screw neck of the externally threaded portion (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2008-135370). When the spark plug is mounted to the combustion apparatus, the gasket provides airtightness between the spark plug (metallic shell) and the combustion apparatus.
Meanwhile, for example, if the spark plug is mounted to the combustion apparatus in such a positional relation that the ground electrode is present between a fuel injection device and the spark discharge gap, injected fuel hits against the back surface of the ground electrode. Accordingly, the presence of the ground electrode hinders the supply of an air-fuel mixture, potentially resulting in deterioration in ignition performance. Thus, according to a conceivable practice, the relative position of formation of a thread of the externally threaded portion in relation to a region of a forward end portion of the metallic shell where the ground electrode is fixed is set to a position corresponding to, for example, a thread-cutting start position of an internally threaded portion of a mounting hole of the combustion apparatus, whereby, when the spark plug is mounted to the combustion apparatus, the ground electrode is disposed at a fixed position in relation to a combustion chamber.
However, even when the thread of the externally threaded portion is formed at a predetermined relative position in relation to a forward end portion of the metallic shell (ground electrode), and the spark plug is mounted to the combustion apparatus with a predetermined tightening torque, the forward end portion of the metallic shell (ground electrode) may fail to be disposed at a fixed position in relation to the combustion chamber by the influence of, for example, frictional force generated between the gasket and the combustion apparatus.
The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a spark plug having a gasket which allows accurate establishment of the relative position of a forward end portion of the metallic shell (ground electrode) in relation to a combustion chamber in mounting the spark plug to a combustion apparatus, as well as an assembling structure of the spark plug in which the spark plug is mounted to the combustion apparatus.

Spark plug and assembling structure thereof


The present invention is related to a container fixing support and particularly to a deliberately designed container fixing support which is specially applied to be quickly and conveniently installed between the two front seats of a car (such as sedan and station wagon) or in a suitable position in the car, essentially comprising two holders, two inner fixing supports, two outer fixing supports, two connecting bases, two fixing plates, a connecting rod and a connecting container; when assembly, the two inner fixing supports are installed at the two ends of connecting rod, and when to install the container together, firstly to dispose the connecting rod between the two fixing supports (plates) on the rear side of the container and then to lock the two inner fixing supports onto the two ends of connecting rod, and then to lock the container in a position nearby the lower side between the two inner fixing supports; secondly to engage the upper and lower ends of each fixing support with a holder and a connecting base respectively, then to lock the two holders in a suitable position on the two inner fixing supports respectively and to lock the two outer fixing supports onto a lower edge of connecting container by means of a long bolt and two nuts; and finally to lock each fixing plate onto each connecting base, then the container fixing support as a whole is well assembled to be installed on the main frame of car between the two front seats in the car (such as sedan and station wagon) or in other suitable position therein through fixing the two fixing plates so that such articles as recording tapes, maps or driving manuals can be container in the container which can be used ar an armrest.

The present invention is related to a container fixing support and particularly to a deliberately designed container fixing support which is specially applied to be installed between the two front seats of a car (such as a sedan or a station wagon) or in a suitable position in the car.
The conventional container installed in the car is only provided with a hanger or a holder, so it can only be hanged or fixed in a suitable position on the two inner sides or ceiling of the car and looks unpleasant, occupies a large space and will affect the comfort of passengers. Therefore only a few people install and use it.
Recently my wife, Mrs. Huang, invented a container (rack) to be particularly installed between the two front seats of a car (sedan) and filed with the U.S. Patent Office as per the Application Ser. No. 07/782,591. However the fixing support thereof is divided into four pillars which are rather inconvenient for installation, adjustment and use. In view of the above, the present inventor, through his experience in assisting his wife to develop the foregoing container (rack), has invented a container fixing support of which the installation, adjustment and use are quite convenient.

4th Floor, 12-1 Alley 15, Lane 214, Chunghsin Road, Sec. 4


An automated bagging system fills and closes a bag by delivering an air jet to open the bag. A pair of horns engage the inner surfaces of the bag wherein the bag is subsequently filled. A bag transfer mechanism engages the outer surface of the bag with pinch belts and the pinch belts transfer the bags to a bag closing apparatus to close the filled bag.

For filling and tying bags of certain products, such as tortillas, the bags are generally filled manually and moved by a worker to a bag closing apparatus. Tortillas and similar items are generally stacked one on top of the other to form a generally cylindrical stack of a predetermined number of tortillas. The stack is then deposited in a bag and the bag closed for shipment.
Further, filling bags with granular material or several small items generally requires that the bag be held in an upright position while it is being filled and transported until the open neck of the bag has been closed.
A need exists for a bagger that can open and hold a bag while it is being filled and associated apparatus for removing the filled bag from the bagger, closing the bag and depositing the closed bag on a suitable conveyor to be deposited in boxes or other containers for shipment.


Atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G. Atorvastatin potassium crystalline Forms A, B, E, F, and G may be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia.

Atorvastatin, ([R-(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid), depicted in lactone form in Formula (I) and its calcium salt trihydrate of Formula (II) (water molecules not shown) are well known in the art, and described, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,893 and 5,273,995, and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/166,153, filed Nov. 17, 2000, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Three polymorphs of the potassium salt of atorvastatin, namely I, II and III are disclosed in International Patent Publication WO 06/021216, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Form II was described as an amorphous material, while forms I and III were characterized by the following XRPD peaks in degrees 2θ:
Form IForm III8.47.649.09.2610.09.7610.510.1411.2414.116.3816.517.4617.118.1218.4419.9219.7420.9820.3222.0820.8223.2421.3223.8422.9825.224.3427.825.8229.627.3431.328.8432.1630.5636.3437.3242.839.2
Form I was also characterized by a melting peak of 155-165° C. in its DSC. Form II was characterized by a melting peak at 173-183° C. and form III was characterized by a melting peak at 143-156° C. in the DSC.


A wave gear drive (1) has first and second end plates (2) and (3) arranged to rotate relative with each other by means of a cross roller bearing (4) positioned between the plates (2, 3). An inner race (41) of the cross roller bearing (4) is formed integrally on a circumferential Inner surface with an internal gear (11). The inner race (41) is directly fastened to the first end plate (2), while an outer race (44) of the cross roller bearing (4) is fastened to the second end plate in a manner such that a circular boss (17) of a flexible external gear is held between the outer race (44) and the second end plate (3). The internal teeth (11) are positioned approximately at a radially inner side of a raceway (47) of the cross roller bearing (4). Thus, the wave gear drive (1) is small and compact, and the rigidity is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wave gear drive having a flexible external gear that can be made compact and small and also has a high rigidity.
2. Related Art Description
There has known a wave gear drive that has a flexible external gear. Typically, this flexible external gear comprises a cylindrical body, a circular diaphragm extending outward in a radial direction from one open end of the body, a circular boss formed integrally on a circumferential outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm, and external teeth formed on a circumferential outer surface of the other open end portion of the body.
The invention proposes a wave gear drive that can be made small and compact in structure, especially in length measured along an axial direction thereof. For example, such a wave gear drive is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open No. Hei 8-312730 assigned to the same assignee of the present invention.