A developer container includes a cylindrical container main body, a supporting member, a sheet-like developer guiding member, and an adhesion eliminating portion. The container main body has a concavity forming a storage space, has a discharge hole, and conveys the stored developer toward the discharge hole by rotating about its axial line. The supporting member covers a portion including the concavity and the discharge hole over circumferences thereof to support the container main body so as to be rotatable about the axial line, and has a leading through hole for leading the developer discharged from the discharge hole of the container main body to the outside. The developer guiding member guides the developer discharged from the discharge hole of the container main body to the leading through hole. The adhesion eliminating portion eliminates developer adhering to the developer guiding member through rotation of the container main body.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a developer container that stores a developer used for electrophotographic image formation.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 38A and 38B are views illustrating a first related art toner bottle 1. FIG. 38A is a cross section view of the toner bottle 1. FIG. 38B is a perspective view of the toner bottle 1. The toner bottle 1 is formed into a cylindrical shape whose both ends are closed, and has an opening portion 3 formed on one end wall 2 so that a diameter thereof is smaller than a diameter of the cylindrical main body. Part of an inner face of a shoulder portion of an end face 4 on which the opening-portion 3 is formed is made to project from the inner face of the shoulder portion to an edge of the opening portion 3, whereby a projecting portion 5 for lifting toner is formed. An inner face of a periphery wall of the bottle connected to the projecting portion 5 in a circumferential direction is made to project from the edge of the opening portion 3 toward a rotation center line L1 of the bottle, whereby an in-opening projecting portion 6 is formed.
The toner bottle 1 is placed almost horizontally on a bottle holder of a toner supplying device in a state where the opening portion 3 faces sideways, and the toner bottle rotates in this state, thereby lifting toner existing in a lower part of the cylindrical main body to the opening portion 3 and discharging it (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 7-20705 (1995)).
FIG. 39 is a perspective view illustrating a second related art developer supplying container 10. The developer supplying container 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape whose both ends are closed, and has a storing space for storing toner. The developer supplying container 10 has a first projection piece 13 that protrudes inwardly in a radial direction and extends helically about an axial line L10 from an axial one end portion 11 toward an axial center portion 12, and a second projection piece 15 that protrudes inwardly in the radial direction and extends helically about the axial line L10 from an axial other end portion 14 toward the axial center portion 12. On the axial center portion 12 of the developer supplying container 10 is formed a through hole 16 that passes through in the radial direction to make the storing space communicate with a space outside the developer supplying container 10.
The developer supplying container 10 is coupled to an image forming apparatus main body that is not illustrated so that the axial line L10 becomes parallel to a horizontal direction and the axial center portion 12 faces a toner supply opening disposed to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be open upwardly. In this state, the developer supplying container 10 is rotated about the axial line L10 by a driving force from a driving section disposed to the image forming apparatus main body. Consequently, the toner stored in the storing space of the developer supplying container 10 is carried to the axial center portion 12 by the respective projection pieces 13 and 15. When the through hole 16 reaches a position facing the toner supply opening, the toner is supplied to the toner supply opening via the through hole 16 (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 8-339115 (1996)).
FIGS. 40A and 40B are perspective views for describing a third related art toner supplying device. FIG. 40A is a perspective view illustrating a toner cartridge 20 of the toner supplying device. FIG. 40B is an exploded perspective view illustrating a toner cartridge holding portion 21 of the toner supplying device. The toner supplying device has the toner cartridge 20 having a cylindrical shape whose both ends are sealed, and the toner cartridge holding portion 21 that holds the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge 20 is composed of a cylindrical container 22 and a gear 24 disposed to one end of the cylindrical container 22, and holds toner inside the cylindrical container 22.
On a cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container 22 is formed an opening 23 for discharging the toner held inside the cylindrical container 22. The toner cartridge holding portion 21 has a cylindrical shape, and has a toner falling hole 25 formed on a bottom portion of a cylindrical surface thereof and a driving gear 26 for rotating the toner cartridge 20 as an electrophotographic recording apparatus performs a recording operation. The toner cartridge 20 is axially supported so as to be rotatable in the toner cartridge holding portion 21.
A driving mechanism of the toner cartridge holding portion 21 is driven by a driving source of an electrophotographic recording apparatus main body, and a driving force thereof is transmitted to the gear 24 of the toner cartridge 20, whereby the toner cartridge 20 rotates about a cylindrical shaft c in the toner cartridge holding portion 21. Since the toner cartridge 20 rotates in the toner cartridge holding portion 21, the toner held in the toner cartridge 20 is conveyed to the opening 23 of the toner cartridge 20. When the opening 23 fits the toner falling hole 25 formed on the bottom portion of the cylindrical surface of the toner cartridge holding portion 21, and a hole where the toner falls is formed, the toner is supplied to a developing device through the opening 23 and the toner falling hole 25 (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 6-348127 (1994)).
In the configuration of the toner bottle 1 disclosed in JP-A 7-20705, when the toner bottle 1 is nearly full of toner, the toner level is located above the opening portion 3. Therefore, there is a case where the toner flows out from the opening portion 3 and the toner is excessively supplied to the toner supplying device. On the contrary, when the fill quantity of the toner is small, the upper face of the toner is located below the opening portion. Therefore, the quantity of the toner lifted by the in-opening projecting portion 6 is small, so that the quantity of the discharged toner is small. Thus, with the configuration of the toner bottle 1, the quantity of the discharged toner varies depending on the fill quantity of the toner. Since there is a need to change the number of rotations of the toner bottle 1 depending on the fill quantity of the toner, there is a problem that it is difficult to regulate the quantity supplied and it is impossible to keep the quantity of the discharged toner constant.
With the configurations of the developer supplying container 10 disclosed in JP-A 8-339115 and the toner supplying device disclosed in JP-A 6-348127, toner is discharged when the through hole 16 and the opening 23 are located below the upper face of the toner. However, each of the configurations has a problem that when the container stops in a state where the through hole 16 or the opening 23 is located below the upper face of the toner, the toner inside the container flows out in large quantities, which leads to a problem that it is impossible to keep the quantity of the discharged toner constant.

Developer container for storing a developer used for electrophotographic image formation


Procedure for taking a reference measurement employing an optical device which comprises the following: an illuminating means having a source of radiation, its light being directed at a predetermined angle to a surface to be measured; a first optical measuring means which is aligned at a predetermined angle to said measurement surface and which receives a portion of the light reflected from said measurement surface and which comprises a photo sensor which emits a measurement signal characteristic of said reflected light; a second optical measuring means which is aligned at a predetermined angle to said measurement surface and which receives a portion of the light reflected from said measurement surface and which comprises a photo sensor which emits an electrical measurement signal characteristic of said reflected light; a control and evaluation means having a processor and memory means for controlling the measurement sequence and evaluating the measurement results which are then output via an output means. The procedure comprises the following steps: a reference surface is aligned with respect to the optical device and a measurement is taken by the first optical measuring means. A deviation parameter is determined from this measured value and a first stored calibration parameter. A measurement is then taken by the second optical measuring means and a second deviation parameter is derived from this measured value and a second stored calibration parameter. A variance parameter is derived from the first deviation parameter and the second deviation parameter, which is characteristic of the difference between the measured values of the first and the second optical measuring means. The measured value of the first measuring means is stored as the first reference parameter and the measured value of the second measuring means is stored as the second reference parameter or a warning signal is emitted when the variance parameter either exceeds or falls short of a predetermined range.

The present invention relates to a procedure for taking a reference measurement, respectively for recalibrating an optical measuring device used in determining surface quality.
Devices employed to determine the quality of surfaces of a wide variety of products are known in the prior art. Since surface quality is a crucial characteristic for many products in providing the total overall impression of the product, the quality of these products"" surfaces often takes on special significance. For this reason, measuring devices are employed in order to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the visual properties of a surface.
Such measuring devices are exposed to dust and other contaminations in particular, but not limited thereto, in the production environment, causing the optics of such a device to become dirtied over the course of time, which in turn changes its transmission properties and may yield erroneous measurements. Therefore, conventional devices undergo routine maintenance at regular intervals.
Another problem arising in surface determinations is that individual elements in the devices age. Especially when using thermal light sources which include filaments, a portion of the filament will vaporize over time, settling on the inside of the surrounding glass bulb and changing the transmission characteristics of the glass bulb such that the light emitted from the light source will exhibit an age-induced spectral change.
The relative position of the light-radiating elements and the sensors to one another can also vary due to the effects of vibrations or jarring impacts, etc., so that the geometrical relational ratios within a measuring device can vary over the course of time.
Consequently, in order to obtain high quality measurements, many of the measuring devices known in the prior art are calibrated, respectively recalibrated, on a frequent basis. In so doing, the measuring device is placed on a surface having known properties and these properties are then determined with said measuring apparatus. The user can then balance or calibrate the device to zero, respectively to a particular deflection, for example by changing potentiometer resistance, so that any deviations in the devices can be compensated for to a certain extent.
To simplify operational handling, automatic calibration procedures are also known in the prior art which automatically recalibrate the measuring device to the corresponding reference value after a reference surface has been measured.
A disadvantage of the known prior art procedures and devices, however, is that many operator errors are not detected. A user frequently relies on the automatic mechanisms of such devices instead of, for example, scrutinizing the optical devices himself and controlling whether said devices are dirtied.
It is therefore the task of the present invention to provide a procedure as indicated above in order to enable making a reliable and reproducible reference measurement for calibrating or recalibrating an optical measuring device.
This task is solved in accordance with the present inventive procedure as defined in claim 1.
Further preferred embodiments of the invention constitute the subject matter of the subclaims.
A procedure according to the present invention for making a reference measurement is performed using an optical device which has at least a first illuminating means comprising at least one source of radiation and which is aligned at a predetermined angle to the measurement surface.
The optical device furthermore comprises at least a first and at least a second optical measuring means, both also aligned at a predetermined angle to the measurement surface and both receiving a portion of the light reflected from said measurement surface.
Both the first as well as the second optical measuring means in each case comprise at least one photo sensor which emits an electrical measurement signal which is in each case characteristic of the received, respectively reflected, light.
A control and evaluation means having at least one processor means and at least one memory means is additionally provided in the optical device in order to control the measurement sequence and to evaluate the measurement results. An output means is provided in the optical device for the outputting of the values.
The procedure according to the present invention using the optical device comprises the following steps which may be performed in the following or in a different order:
a) in a first step, the optical device and the reference surface are aligned with respect to one another; preferably, the optical device is placed upon the reference surface.
b) the first optical measuring means subsequently takes a measurement which is then preferably stored in the memory means.
c) a deviation parameter is derived from the measured value taken by the first measuring means and a first calibration value stored in the memory means which is characteristic of the first optical measuring means, said deviation parameter is a measure of the measured value""s deviation from said first calibration parameter.
d) the next step entails the taking of a measurement with the second optical means.
e) after taking the measurement with the second measuring means, a second deviation parameter is derived from the measured value from said second measuring means and a second calibration parameter stored in the memory means which is characteristic of the second measuring means.
f) a variance parameter is derived from the first and the second deviation parameter, and
g) a subsequent warning signal is issued when the variance parameter either exceeds or falls short of a certain range, or when the variance parameter is greater than a predetermined value.
The procedure according to the present invention has numerous advantages.
Upon employing the optical device for the first time, which usually takes place while still in the production or quality control stage, the device is first adjusted by means of measuring reference standards and making the corresponding precision fine-tuning.
High-quality measuring devices need to be recalibrated at regular intervals in order to essentially equalize, respectively exclude, any changes in geometric circumstances. Therefore, reference surfaces are provided for many measuring devices which have specifically known and defined properties; these reference surfaces may also correspond to the reference standards of the original precision adjustment.
In conventional measuring devices, at least within the scope of the final inspection or the precision adjusting stage, the measuring device is preferably placed upon at least one reference surface and the device then measures said reference surface. The relevant measured value is then stored as the calibration parameter in a memory of the measuring device, respectively printed in the product specification. When such a measuring device needs to be recalibrated during the course of daily operation, it is then placed upon the relevant reference surface and measures the properties of said reference surface.
By comparing the values as thus determined with the calibration parameters stored in the memory means, respectively the printed calibration parameters, the device can be accordingly re-adjusted, thus allowing for a nullifying, at least to a certain extent, of effects as induced by contamination and other such similar factors.
However, it is frequently the case with measuring devices and procedures as known in the prior art for taking, respectively analyzing such a calibration or reference measurement, that these reference measurements are carried out incorrectly.
The procedure according to the present invention has the advantage with respect to the known methods that the measurement results of the first and of the second measuring means are subjected to a plausibility check, allowing for the avoiding of many erroneous reference, respectively calibration, measurements. It is not solely the problem that incorrect reference measurements need to be repeated in order to achieve high-quality meaningful measurement results, it is also the problem that many of these types of errors in reference or calibration measurements are only detected at a later point in time, meaning that, among other things, a number of measurements using the incorrect reference measurements may already been made in the ongoing production operations. Should such errors not be discovered until hours, days or even weeks later, a great number of flawed products may meanwhile have been manufactured during that time frame and to manufacture them anew translates into high expenditure. Neither can the damage to a company""s image arising in the context of distributing flawed products be disregarded.
It is often the case with such types of measuring devices that one of its optics is defiled by, for example, a fingerprint while the other optic is essentially still unblemished. Such circumstances can be reliably determined with the procedure according to the present invention. First a measurement is taken by each optical measuring means during the course of the reference or calibration measurement and a deviation parameter is determined for each respective optics by means of a comparison with each respective calibration parameter stored in the memory means. In the cited example in which one of the optics is contaminated by, for example, a fingerprint, this means that the deviation parameter for this optic will be of a relatively high value while the deviation parameter for the unsullied optic will be small. A variance parameter, derived from the first and the second deviation parameter, will in this case therefore exhibit a relatively high value.
Thus, the procedure according to the present invention enables the quick and reliable determining of faulty reference measurements which may be due to, for example, partially soiled optics so that a warning signal can be emitted and the reference measurement can be re-taken, if necessary, following cleaning of the optics.
In a preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the present invention, at least one of the deviation parameters of the first or the second optical measuring means is derived from the difference between the measured value of the respective measuring means and the respective calibration value, whereby the first deviation parameter and the second deviation parameter in this case is preferably equal to the difference between the respective measured value and the first, respectively second, calibration parameter.
The forming of a deviation parameter from the difference between the measured value and the calibration value is advantageous since small deviations lead to small deviation parameters, while large deviations lead to accordingly larger deviation parameters.
In another preferred embodiment of the present inventive procedure, at least one deviation parameter, i.e., either the first deviation parameter or the second deviation parameter, is derived from a ratio between the corresponding measured value and the corresponding calibration value.
In a further preferred embodiment of one or several of the previously described embodiments, a warning signal is preferably emitted by said output means when the first and/or the second deviation parameter departs from a certain given range; i.e. exceeds or falls below a predetermined value.
This embodiment of the present inventive procedure is highly advantageous since other different possible errors can be reliably determined upon taking a reference or calibration measurement.
In this respect it may be possible, for example, that the illuminating means is dirty or that the radiation source in the illuminating means is defective, so that the radiation source is not emitting at any intensity or only very low intensity. Should a reference value in this case be taken with the first measuring means and the second measuring means, the measured signal will be very low; as a consequence, the error rate from this measurement sequence will be especially high. The deviation parameters derived from the measured values and the corresponding calibration parameters in this case are relatively large such that while both measuring means have, for example, a similar deviation and possibly only a small variance parameter has been determined, the error can be reliably detected in the reference measurement.
It is likewise possible, by means of limiting the deviation parameters, to reliably determine a flawed or contaminated reference surface. Should a reference surface be contaminated, this leads to lower measured values and without the procedure according to the present invention, would lead to an incorrect reference value and thus all subsequent measurements would likewise be faulty.
By the emitting of a warning signal upon one of the deviation parameters either exceeding or falling below an allowable range, contaminated reference measurement surfaces can be reliably detected.
It may furthermore be the case that a user employs an incorrect or unsuitable reference surface for calibration when making a reference measurement. These types of errors may also be essentially reliably avoided by means of limiting of a deviation parameter.
In a further preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the present invention, a warning signal is emitted when at least one of the measured values, taken with the first or the second measuring means while making the reference measurement, exceeds or falls short of a predetermined range.
This offers the advantage that the absolute measure of the individual measured values can be taken into consideration when assessing a reference measurement.
In all of the described embodiments, the first and/or the second deviation parameter can be derived from the original calibration parameter (from the initial precision adjustment) and the corresponding measured value.
It is also possible to derive the deviation parameter from the most recently saved calibration parameter (e.g. the measured value of the most recent valid reference measurement) and the current measured value.
In this variation, a measured value gradient is formed from that between the most recent reference measurement and the current measurement. A warning signal issues upon this gradient exceeding a predetermined and/or a selectable magnitude.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variance parameter is derived from the difference between the first and the second deviation parameter; in accordance with another embodiment, the variance parameter is derived from a ratio between the first and the second deviation parameter.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variance parameter is determined using a mathematic operation such as, for example, a linear, logarithmic or exponential calculation or other such similar calculations. Using a suitable mathematic operation allows for making even enhanced considerations of deviation parameters or measured values which, for example, exceed or fall short of a certain measure so that even further fine-tuned relevant assessments can be made with regard to the type of measurement (gloss, color, etc.).
In one or all of the previously described embodiments of the present invention, the optical device comprises a second illuminating means having at least one light source, its light directed at a predetermined angle to the measurement surface. According to the present preferred embodiment, it is especially preferred that the first illuminating means is arranged symmetrically to the first measuring means and especially preferred is that the second illuminating means is arranged symmetrically to the second measuring means.
It may however also be the case that the individual illuminating and measuring means are aligned at differing angles to the surface, whereby the predetermined angles at which the individual means (illuminating and measuring means) are aligned to the perpendicular of the surface to be measured can be angles of 0xc2x0, 5xc2x0, 10xc2x0, 15xc2x0, 20xc2x0, 30xc2x0, 40xc2x0, 45xc2x0, 50xc2x0, 60xc2x0, 70xc2x0, 75xc2x0, 80xc2x0, and 85xc2x0 or other such similar angles. The arrangement of the angles when employing the inventive procedure also depends upon the measurement task the optical device is to perform.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of said deviation parameters, variance parameters and preferably measured reference values is stored essentially permanently in the memory means upon every reference measurement, whereby especially preferred is the essentially permanent storing in the memory means of at least the first and the second deviation and variance parameters.
This has numerous advantages in that the storing of the individual values also enables the taking of previous reference measurements into account when assessing the currently measured values, respectively deviation parameters, respectively variance parameters.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, a table means is provided in the memory means into which at least one of said parameters and preferably the first and the second deviation and variance parameters are essentially permanently stored on a line or similar object of said table for essentially each reference measurement. A measurement time parameter is preferably additionally stored upon each measurement. Thus the parameters from preceding reference measurements are essentially permanently available, and a warning signal can issue upon two consecutive reference measurements exhibiting a deviation, meaning for example a ratio or a difference between two consecutive parameters or measured values, which exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
As an example, a warning signal can be emitted when the deviation parameter from the nth reference measurement of one of the optics deviates by a certain amount from the deviation parameter from the (nxe2x88x921)th reference measurement of the corresponding optics. Such a configuration also enables the inventive procedure to be applied with an optical device having only one optical measuring means. The previous reference measurements then serve as the reference measurement control and a warning signal is emitted when the measured value recorded from a reference measurement differs from the next reference measurement by an amount which is greater than a predetermined value. The applicants point out that they reserve the right to also claim protection for such a procedure.
In a further preferred embodiment of one or several of the previously described embodiments and configurations of the present invention when assessing a reference measurement, the table means provided in the memory means may be evaluated using statistical selective processes as are known in the prior art.
Should, for example, an offset line yield through linear regression of respectively each of the reference values of the first measuring means and the measured values of the second measuring means (when applicable), a reference measurement can be rejected, respectively a warning signal can be emitted when the current measured value deviates from said offset line by a predetermined measure.
This configuration enables that, for example, a slight increase in contamination can be tolerated as long as contamination does not reach too high of a measure. It simultaneously allows for reliably detecting errors in a reference measurement.
In all of the previously described configurations and embodiments, the warning signal is preferably emitted by the output means, whereby this task can ensue visually, acoustically or in another manner. It is also possible that the warning signal is emitted to a central device via radio or other similar means.
It is also possible that the inventive procedure is carried out using a device which has a plurality of three, four or more measuring means. Deviation parameters can then be determined for all or two, three or more of said measuring means.
Should a warning signal be emitted, the inventive procedure can decline acceptance of the measured value so that the user is required to, for example, re-confirm the value or first be required to eliminate the source of the error before a valid reference or calibration measurement will be accepted.


A limited-use browser and related security system control access to content stored on a server computer linked to a network. The security system secures the content on the server and only permits it to be downloaded to a client computer running the limited-user browser or a general purpose browser executing an add-in security module providing the same functions as the limited-user browser. The limited-use browser or module secures the downloaded content on the client computer and displays it in a “view-only” mode. While the secured content is being displayed, menu selections, key combination, or pointing device commands initiated on the client computer that would modify the content or create a copy on another medium are either disabled as a default or monitored to determine if the action is permitted.

Businesses and individuals currently use public networks such as the Internet and World Wide Web to distribute large amounts of information or "content" to many users all over the globe. Once this content is distributed over the web, the publisher and/or owner has virtually no control of its redistribution or use. The issue of controlling web content is very important to businesses because most web sites contain at least some content that is considered proprietary. The current lack of control of web content publishing involves a high degree of risk for intellectual property, and may prevent publication altogether. Web users typically compromise the security of web content using any of the methods given below.
1. Copy-and-paste method. The user selects an image or text and chooses 'Copy' from the Edit menu (or alternately presses Control-C or any other keys that perform a copy function), and pastes the image or text into an application which allows saving.
2. Print method. The user prints text or images which can then be photocopied or re-digitized via scanning technology.
3. Print-Screen method. The user copies the screen into the common memory or "clipboard" used for inter-application communication and saves it as an image file. If the user simply intends to obtain text, the user then runs the captured image through an optical character recognition (OCR) application to output converted text.
4. View Source method. The user views and/or saves the hyper-text markup language (HTML) source code of the web page, then recreates and saves the original content.
5. Content Transferring. The user copies the file to disk or another machine or network node.
6. Save Method. The user simply chooses the save function and saves the content to the local machine.
Known solutions to the problem of maintaining control of web content generally fall into two categories. The first category relates to systems for marking and tracking image files. Such systems typically implement a "digital watermark". A digital watermark is typically a small piece of source code that is embedded into an image that enables the owner of the image to track its distribution over the web using specialized software. This tracking solution still provides very little control over how the content is actually distributed and is directed more toward providing some legal recourse once the content is already stolen.
The second category relates to large proprietary secure information distribution systems, which typically do not currently use common web browsers or the web in general. These proprietary systems use specific applications for allowing different levels of user control of certain documents. These specialized systems are usually found inside large corporations, and they tend to be very costly and are generally not accessed by users of the web. Neither solution provides control of web content. Large organizations can use internal intranets, local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) for distribution of information that pose the same problems as those described above for public networks such as the Internet.
Therefore, there is a need for an easy and efficient way to provide controlled access to content and to control the distribution of content over a network in a manner that prevents unauthorized duplication.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A golf ball having a core and at least one layer disposed about the core is disclosed. The at least one layer is formed from a composition having multiple reactive and/or non-reactive ingredients. At least one of these ingredients is a sterically hindered polyamine, preferably formed from an active hydrogen functional compound and an amine/acid ortho- or meta-substituted cyclic compound.

The present disclosure is directed to compositions for use in golf ball that has superior resistance to water and moisture vapor in comparison to conventional materials, and golf balls formed from such compositions. One conventional material used to form golf ball covers is balata, a natural or synthetic trans-polyisoprene rubber. The softness of the balata cover allows the player to achieve spin rates sufficient to more precisely control ball direction and distance, particularly on shorter shots. However, balata covers lack the durability required by the average golfer, and are easily damaged. Accordingly, alternative cover compositions have been developed in an attempt to provide balls with spin rates and a feel approaching those of balata covered balls, while also providing a golf ball with a higher durability and overall distance.
Ionomer resins (e.g., copolymers of olefin, such as ethylene, and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as (meth)acrylic acids, wherein the acid groups are partially or fully neutralized by metal ions) have also been used as golf ball cover materials. Ionomer covers may be virtually cut-proof, but in comparison to balata covers, they display inferior spin and feel properties.
Polyurethanes and polyureas, by providing soft "feel," have also been recognized as useful materials for golf ball covers. However, commercially available polyurea compositions typically have high melting temperatures and fast reaction rates, making them difficult to process. They also tend to form hard elastomers.
Therefore, a continuing need remains for novel material compositions usable in forming golf ball portions (e.g., covers) having desirable and/or optimal combination of physical and performance characteristics. Compositions comprising sterically hindered polyamines, such as those disclosed herein, may be suitable for forming one or more portions of the golf ball.


A navigation light pole and method of protecting the navigation light and pole by providing a flexible joint at a base of the light pole which allows the light pole to bend about the flexible joint when the light or light pole is hit, for example, by a low clearance structure such as a bridge or boat lift to prevent damage to the light pole or light.

Boats and other watercraft generally require navigation lights, which in some instances include light poles which are vertically mounted to the highest point on the boat. These lights include a static pole that is mounted to the boat directly and having a light at the top of the pole.
When traversing under bridges or moving a boat into a boat lift for storage, the pole and/or light at the top of the pole are at a high risk of breakage from contacting the bottom of a bridge or the frame of a boat lift cover when the boat moves there below. Because the lights are generally held in a plastic shell on a fixedly mounted pole, the lights are easily broken and the pole can be broken off its mount.
Some navigation lights include a hinge at the base of the pole, allowing a boat operator to fold down the light manually when passing below a structure without enough clearance for the light. However, the user must remember to fold down the light before passing under a low clearance structure and must also remember to place the light back in the navigation position once back to open water.


The invention relates to a fluorination process for producing fluorinated compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fluorination process for producing fluorinated compounds which can be used in particular as electrolyte.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium batteries, in which the anode is formed by a sheet of lithium metal or by a lithium alloy and which operate by movement of lithium ions between the electrodes, have been widely studied. However, their development has been impeded due to the fact that, during their recharging, deposition of lithium metal of dendritic nature occurs, which can lead to short-circuits, resulting in an explosion in the system. This risk has been eliminated by replacing the lithium or lithium alloy anode by an anode composed of a carbonaceous material in which the lithium ions can be reversibly inserted. This novel form of lithium batteries, known as "lithium-ion" batteries, is widely used in the field of portable electronic equipment. The electrolyte of these batteries comprises at least one lithium salt in solution in an organic solvent which can be a polar aprotic liquid solvent (for example, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate or a dialkyl carbonate) optionally supported by a porous plastic support, a polar polymer [for example, a crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide)] or a liquid solvent gelled by a polymer. The lithium salt plays an important role in the operation of the battery. The most widely used salt is LiPF6, which makes it possible to obtain liquid electrolytes which have a conductivity of greater than 10−2 S.cm−1 at ambient temperature. However, it has a limited thermal stability, which results in the formation of LiF and of HF, said HF leading to decomposition of the electrolyte which can result in an explosion in the battery. The lithium salt of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide has been envisaged for replacing LiPF6, but it exhibits the disadvantage of resulting in depassivation of the aluminum current collector of the cathode.
The use of imide salts or methane salts having FSO2 or F2PO electron-withdrawing groups was then studied (WO 95/26056). These salts make it possible to obtain electrolytes with a greater conductivity than their homologues comprising perfluoroalkyl groups instead of the fluorine atoms and they result in markedly lower corrosion of the aluminum collectors. The use of an imide salt or methane salt comprising FSO2 or F2PO groups thus makes it possible to maintain the low level of corrosion observed with LiPF6 while improving the thermal stability with respect to that of LiPF6.
Various processes for the preparation of imide salts or methane salts comprising at least one FSO2 or F2PO group have been described. For example, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSO2)2NH can be prepared by reaction of fluorosulfonic acid FSO3H with urea H2NC(O)NH2. The imide is subsequently isolated by treatment of the reaction mixture with NaCl in dichloromethane, followed by distillation of the pure acid [Appel & Eisenhauer, Chem. Ber., 95, 246–8, 1962]. However, the toxicity and the corrosive nature of FSO3H constitute a major disadvantage.
Another process consists in reacting (ClSO2)2NH with AsF3. The acid (FSO2)2NH is subsequently isolated by treating the reaction mixture with NaCl in dichloromethane [Ruff and Lustig, Inorg. Synth., 1968, 11, 138–43]. The disadvantage of this process lies in particular in the high cost of AsF3, in its toxicity and in the risk of contaminating the compound obtained.
For the phosphoryl derivatives, a process for the preparation of LiN(POF2)2 consists in reacting LiN(SiMe3)2 with POF3. The removal of volatile Me3SiF results directly in the expected product [Fluck and Beuerle, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem., 412(1), 65–70, 1975]. The disadvantage of this process lies in the cost of the silylated derivative and the use of gaseous and toxic POF3.
It is known to prepare a fluorinated compound from the corresponding halogenated compound by a halogen exchange reaction using an ionic halide, such as, for example, KF or CsF, or an organic fluoride, such as tetra(n-butyl)ammonium fluoride. The reaction is a nucleophilic substitution which preferably takes place in a polar aprotic solvent. The exchange reaction is promoted by the presence of a phase transfer catalyst chosen, for example, from quaternary ammonium salts, crown ethers, pyridinium salts or quaternary phosphonium salts. This process has been carried out with KF in particular to obtain monofluoroalkanes, α-fluoroesters, fluoroethers, acyl fluorides or sulfonyl fluorides respectively from the corresponding monohaloalkanes, α-haloesters, haloethers, acyl halides or sulfonyl halides [A. Basbour et al. in M. Stacy and co-editors, Advances in Fluorine Chemistry, Vol. 3, Butterworth, Washington D.C., 1963, pp. 181–250].

Method for fluorinating a compound comprising a halosulphonyl or dihalophosphonyl group

Abstract: The process consists in reacting a compound (I) corresponding to the formula

Abstract: with an ionic fluoride of a monovalent cation. M represents H, an alkali metal, a quaternary phosphonium group or a quaternary ammonium group. Y represents SO2 and m is 1, or else Y is PO and m is 2. Z represents CR2, N or P. R1 represents an electron-withdrawing group which has a Hammet σP parameter of greater than 0.4. R2 represents a carbonaceous and/or electron-withdrawing group. X represents a halogen other than a fluorine.

Abstract: The fluorinated compounds obtained are of use in particular as electrolytes in lithium batteries.


An air bag device for a motorcycle deploys to cushion an impact to a rider of the motorcycle during a collision. The air bag device is mounted to a body frame of the motorcycle in front of the rider. Bag anchoring members provide a connection between the air bag and the body frame. During deployment of the air bag, the bag anchoring members deploy from grooves in the motorcycle's fuel tank, and extend together with the air bag to hold the air bag securely to the frame body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag device for a motorcycle. Should a collision occur, the air bag device will cushion an impact to a rider of the motorcycle.
2. Description of Background Art
Currently, many automobiles, such as passenger cars, include an air bag device. The air bag device has been adopted as one tool for cushioning an impact to a rider should the automobile suffer a collision. Because of the impact cushioning effect exhibited by air bag devices, use of air bags in the automobile industry is wide spread.
The popularity of air bag devices in the automobile industry has created a desire among consumers for the development of an air bag device for motorcycles. Therefore, there exists a need for an air bag device, which can be used in conjunction with a motorcycle, to provide an impact cushioning effect for a rider in the event of a collision.


A method of providing color to a dried-in-place, non-chromate conversion coating is provided. The addition of a phthalo green pigment and optionally a nonionic surfactant to an aqueous, dried-in-place conversion coating treatment solution provides for a colored conversion coating without adversely effecting the corrosion resistance or adhesion properties of the conversion coating.

The purposes of the formation of a chromate conversion coating on the surface of aluminum are to provide corrosion resistance, improve adhesion of coatings and for aesthetic reasons. The conversion coating improves the adhesion of coating layers such as paints, inks, lacquers and plastic coatings. A chromate conversion coating is typically provided by contacting aluminum with an aqueous composition containing hexavalent or trivalent chromium ions, phosphate ions and fluoride ions. Typical chromium or chromate conversion coatings exhibit a visible coloration ranging from gold to brown.
Growing concerns exist regarding the pollution effects chromate and phosphate discharged into rivers and water ways by such processes. Because of high solubility and the strongly oxidizing character of hexavalent chromium ions, conventional chromate conversion coating processes, require extensive waste treatment procedures to control their discharge.
Attempts have been made to produce chromate free conversion coatings for aluminum. Chromate free pretreatment coatings based upon complex fluoacids and polyacrylic acids are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,596 which issued to Dollman et al., discloses a composition for coating aluminum which comprises a polyacrylic acid and H.sub.2 ZrF.sub.6, H.sub.2 TiF.sub.6 or H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,552 which issued to Sander et al. discloses a nonchromate coating for aluminum which is dried in place which forms a coating having a weight from about 6 to 25 milligrams per square foot. The aqueous coating composition consists essentially of from more than 8 grams per liter H.sub.2 ZrF.sub.6, more than 10 grams per liter of water soluble acrylic acid and homopolymers thereof and more than 0.17 grams per liter hydrofluoric acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,073 which issued to Muro et al., discloses a composition and process for the pretreatment of aluminum surfaces using an aqueous acidic bath containing a stable organic film forming polymer and a soluble titanium compound. U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,622 which issued to Reichgott et al., discloses a dried-in-place conversion coating for metal surfaces such as aluminum and aluminum alloys which employs an aqueous solution of a water soluble maleic or acrylic acid/allyl ether copolymer alone or with an acid.
Most non-chromate based pretreatments generate transparent coatings on metal surfaces. In the use of such pretreatments, the lack of a visible effect such as the color change common in chromate pretreatments makes it virtually impossible to visually verify the presence of a conversion coating. With the prior art chromate pretreatments, it was possible to not only quickly verify visually the presence of the conversion coating, but to also estimate the coating weight by the intensity of the color.
In the treatment of a fast moving coil of metal, visual verification can be very important. With a clear coating, the line must be stopped and a section of metal cut out for testing just to verify the existence of the conversion coating. With the present invention, the color change provides a quick visual verification of the presence of the conversion coating. Prior to the present invention, no methods existed to effectively impart color to a dried-in-place non-chromate conversion coating without anodizing the metal surface.

Visible dried-in-place non-chrome treatment for aluminum


A security method using an imaging barcode reader which captures image data for security purposes. An example method includes receiving an unauthorized activity signal by the barcode reader, and capturing image data by a camera in the barcode reader in response to the unauthorized activity signal.

The present invention relates to barcode readers, and more specifically to a security method using an imaging barcode reader.
Barcode readers are well known for their usefulness in retail checkout and inventory control. For example, an imaging barcode reader typically includes a camera which captures an image of an item, including a barcode on the item. The imaging barcode reader decodes the barcode to obtain information identifying the item.
Retailers have concerns about security at checkout stations. It would be desirable to enable an imaging barcode reader to provide security functions, alone or in combination with other security equipment.

Security method using an imaging barcode reader


One embodiment of a method of operating a NOx abatement system comprises: introducing an exhaust stream to an ammonia generator in a normal flow direction, adsorbing NOx from the exhaust stream in the ammonia generator, diverting the exhaust stream around the ammonia generator, introducing hydrogen to the ammonia generator in a direction opposite the normal flow direction, and generating ammonia within the ammonia generator.

This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for the remediation of NOx emissions generated from internal combustion engines. More specifically, this disclosure relates to ammonia generating devices for use in NOx abatement applications.
It is well known that internal combustion engines produce undesirable by-products as a consequence of burning hydrocarbon fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel fuel, and the like) such as; carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). As regulations governing the emission of these by-products become increasingly more stringent, developing NOx abatement systems to achieve these mandates are of great importance. Although significant advancements have been achieved in reducing CO and HC emissions, further developments are needed to decrease NOx emissions.
Selective catalytic reduction catalysts (SCR's), for example, have shown promise at achieving this goal. These devices are capable of storing ammonia (NH3) for the subsequent reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) into hydrogen (H2) and water (H2O). These devices have proven to be exceptionally efficient at reducing NOx, however carrying liquid ammonia for injection into the exhaust stream is cumbersome and costly. As a result, the development of "on-board" generation of ammonia has become imperative to the success of these devices and their benefits of reducing NOx emissions.
An ammonia generator is disclosed herein that utilizes a catalytic substrate to react a reformate produced by an off-line fuel reformer with the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine to produce ammonia. Furthermore, a NOx abatement system employing this ammonia generator has been designed which maximizes system efficiency.

Device and methods of ammonia generation for NOx abatement


An electronic component includes a component enclosure. At least one subcomponent is positioned within the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent is configured to be thermally coupled to the component enclosure.

Heat dissipation devices (such as heat sinks) have been used to cool heat producing devices (such as electronics). Unfortunately, the use of such heat dissipation devices requires the movement of air across the surface of the heat dissipation device to allow for cooling of the heat producing device to which it is attached. Accordingly, when devices are densely packaged and/or in shielded enclosures, the ability to pass air across the surface of the heat producing device may be greatly restricted. Accordingly, traditional cooling methods may become less effective.


A computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present or conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. An audio module is operable to process markers embedded within an audio stream, wherein the markers comprise structured audio commands.

A wide variety of gaming devices are now available to gamers and to casino operators in computerized form, from slot machines to games that are traditionally played live such as poker and blackjack. These computerized games provide many benefits to the game owner and to the gambler, including greater reliability than can be achieved with a mechanical game or human dealer, more variety, sound, and animation in presentation of a game, and a lower overall cost of production and management.
Computerized video game systems must be designed with many of the same concerns as their mechanical and table game ancestors—they must be fair, they must provide sufficient feedback to the gamer to make the game fun to play, and they must meet a variety of gaming regulations to ensure that both the machine owner and gamer are honest and fairly treated in implementing the game. Further, they must provide a gaming experience that is at least as attractive as the older mechanical gaming machine experience to the gamer, to ensure success in a competitive gaming market.
Many computerized wagering game systems have a variety of sound and graphical elements designed to attract and keep a game player's attention, such as sound effects, music, and animation. These game presentation features often include a variety of music, sound effects, and voices presented to complement a video presentation of the wagering game on a display.
But, many challenges are faced in presenting audio to enhance a wagering game. Sounds must be stored on the wagering game system, which requires storage space and is expensive despite many sounds being stored in a compressed format. Even when compressed, sounds must be decompressed to be played, resulting in consumption of significant processor resources.
Further, it is difficult to coordinate the playing of sounds with animation or wagering game activity presented on the screen, particularly when sounds and animations presented run for significant lengths of time. Starting and stopping various audio clips or sounds repeatedly can be distracting as a solution can also be problematic, as this requires management of a greater number of audio clips and the transition between audio clips is often audible due to DC offsets or other sharp transitions.
It is therefore desirable to better manage the audio presented in the computer wagering game.

Audio markers in a computerized wagering game


A device, system and method for in-vivo sensing (e.g., pH sensing, pressure sensing, or other sensing) may include more than one sensor receiving in-vivo data. The sensed data may be analyzed to, for example, determine a gradient or fluid flow. A device including multiple sensors may be held or immobilized in-vivo, and may detect a fluid flow or gradient moving past the sensors.

Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when stomach acid intermittently surges into the esophagus. It is common for most people to experience this acid reflux occasionally as heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a clinical condition in which the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus is frequent enough and severe enough to impact a patient's normal functioning or to cause damage to the esophagus. GERD is sometimes also referred to as "reflux" or "reflux esophagitis".
In known methods for gastroesophageal reflux monitoring a pH sensing device is held in the lower esophagus and the pH levels therein are monitored for a period of time (usually 24–48 hours). The device may be attached to the esophageal wall or it may be suspended in the esophagus from an extension (e.g. catheter or cord). The known methods for in-vivo pH monitoring, specifically for gastroesophageal reflux monitoring, typically measure pH prevailing in a body lumen, such as the esophagus, however they usually do not measure other parameters of a pH reflux, such as pH gradient.


A system, method, and apparatus are provided for maintenance opportunity planning in a production line having a plurality of machines and buffers between machines on the production line, with the buffers processing production units between at least two of the machines. The system, method, and apparatus advantageously indicates maximum allowed downtime for a machine, through monitoring the status of the buffers to determine whether the flow of units through the buffers is favorable, monitoring the status of the plurality of machines, and determining which of the plurality of machines may be shut down for a particular period of time while substantially maintaining the favorable flow of units through the buffers. In this way, the inventive system and method saves time and resources by reducing production line downtime and unscheduled overtime.

In assembly and manufacturing lines, oftentimes there are many machines working simultaneously and production units moving down the line between the machines. Different machines perform different tasks and at different stations, production units may spend more or less time. In a preferred situation, all machines at all stations are operational and production units are moving smoothly in the buffers between stations.
In actual production, not all machines are necessarily operational and production units are not typically moving smoothly in the buffers betweens stations. There may be different reasons that not all machines are operational. For example, a machine may be idle because it is in a starved condition, that is, because there are no production units available at that particular station due to a lack of production units in the buffer feeding into that machine. A machine also may be idle because a personnel shift change is taking place, from, for example, the morning shift to the evening shift. A machine also may be idle if the operator is on a break.
A machine may be idle because the machine may be subject to a maintenance window. That is, it may be idle when maintenance is performed or waiting to be performed on a machine. The maintenance may be done according to a schedule, or there may be an immediate need due to machine malfunction. In this situation, the station operator may be made idle and may take an unscheduled break. The buffer feeding into the station may become full, causing a blocked condition in the machine immediately upstream, while the buffer fed by the station may become empty, causing a starved condition in the machine immediately downstream. This may lead station operators down the line to take unscheduled breaks. In any of these situations, time is not being efficiently utilized and therefore the production process is not cost effective. The common approach to avoiding production losses due to maintenance windows is to schedule maintenance during unscheduled overtime.
In a large production environment such as those used to manufacture automobiles, the production line may include 25 miles of conveyor. The plant itself may be three million square feet. Any increase in production timing precision is desirable for better resource allocation. Accordingly, processes that keep the line moving are advantageous.
For monitoring lines, a monitoring display may be provided in a central location that shows zones of the production that may comprise a plurality of production stations. The display shows the status of the production zones at a particular current time. The number of production units in a buffer at that current time may be shown. From that number, a maintenance operator can determine if a maintenance window on a station down the line is open.
In the current system if there are few or no units in the buffer, the operator views the monitoring display and then can roughly estimate the amount of time maintenance personnel may have to service the machine or machines down the line from the buffer. In the short term, if too much time is allocated or taken for maintenance personnel to service a machine, the buffer before the station may become blocked. Once the serviced machine is back online, the line may take more time than desirable to return to smooth operation.
In another situation relating to the longer term, it is not uncommon for service or trade personnel such as electricians to inadvertently modify parameters which may slow down cycle times. Over a period of time the zone may slow down, even if only by a second or two. However, the cumulative effect over the long term, once noticed, may have a substantial impact on overall production.
As mentioned above, the management is charged with the responsibility of watching display monitors showing rectangular indicators of different colors representing various production zones and their current statuses. According to those display monitors, the maintenance operator generally makes ad hoc decisions as to where and when to allocate maintenance personnel. Routine maintenance occurs when the opportunity arises according to the display monitors, instead of by adherence to a firm schedule of maintenance. The machines and their longevity would benefit from timely scheduled maintenance.
It would be preferable to predict opportunities that maintenance personnel may have to perform their particular maintenance duties. It would further be preferable to relieve the maintenance operator of the tedious task of monitoring the display monitors for short-lived opportunities for machinery maintenance. It would also be preferable to substantially ensure that scheduled maintenance activities occur in a timely manner. Finally, it would be advantageous to utilize maintenance personnel more fully by scheduling their work according to predicted maintenance opportunities and avoiding unscheduled overtime.

Maintenance opportunity planning system and method


A linear actuator assembly for operating a plurality of surgical tools. The actuator can provide motive power to a plurality of different surgical tools which are attachable to a handpiece associated with the actuator assembly and may be foot pedal operated.

The present invention relates in general to surgical instruments and surgical techniques. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a linear actuator for a multifunctional surgical tool for delivery of grafts, drugs, devices, and for irrigation/aspiration of various parts of the body; as well as surgical manipulation and extraction.
There is a need for a device to deliver, extract, and implant medical devices, drugs, tissue, etc. to various parts of the body. Such a device must be capable of delivering an implant in a target site in the body in a controlled, calibrated fashion where necessary. There is a need for implantation of neural and other living tissue, an increasing number of surgical devices, and drugs. In addition, existing implants frequently require treatment involving manipulation and extraction procedures. By way of non-limiting example, a significant number of patients receive vascular prosthetics, e.g. stents, which are provided by way of a catheter. It is desirable that vascular prosthetics and grafts be expressed from the catheter in a controlled and calibrated fashion. Further, there is a need to alter the position of such prosthetic devices in the body or to extract these devices. Likewise, there is a need to deliver, manipulate, and extract other medical and therapeutic devices.
Many self powered surgical tools have been developed which are capable of performing the previously mentioned tasks. Most of these tools have pneumatic drive means. U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,035 issued to Missirlian et al. discloses one such device. Missirlian describes a pneumatically operated microsurgical cutting instrument. A spring biased inner cutting member moves in a first direction relative to a stationary cutting member in response to the applied air pressure. A spring returns the inner cutting member to its original position. This system, like all pneumatic systems suffers from an inherent hysteresis in the system. This hysteresis limits the control that the operator has over the implement thereby complicating delicate procedures. Also, pneumatic systems tend to impart a "jerky" movement to the implement further affecting the precision and accuracy with which the tool can be effectively used. Finally, the pneumatic systems can be subject to leaky and clogged supply/vacuum lines which can affect performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,857 issued to Scheller et al. discloses a foot pedal assembly which can be used for remotely controlling a variety of microsurgical instruments. The system employs pneumatic drive means and is thereby subject to the aforementioned drawbacks.

Medical linear actuator for surgical delivery, manipulation, and extraction


A receiver for a tarp bow, a tarp bow and a frame for supporting a removable covering. The receiver is adapted to be attached to a side wall of a container with an open top, said receiver further adapted to be pivoted in a vertical plane with respect to the side wall. The receiver has an open end that is circular in cross section with a coalesced side channel for receipt of a leg of a tarp bow. The tarp bow is preferably formed of aluminum tubing having a cross section complementary to the receiver. A plurality of bows spanning the width of the top opening and mounted in the receivers forms a frame that can be pivoted out of the top opening at either end of the bow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aluminum receiver, preferably for use with an aluminum tarp bow to form a strong tarp frame that can be swung up, totally out of the way, from the left or right, by a driver.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The top opening of trucks, trailers and other containers are often covered with a tarp or other covering which forms a protective canopy, covering the load. A plurality of bows spanning the width of the top opening forms a frame for supporting the tarp.
When the bows are fixed to the side walls of the container, the frame hinders access to the inside of the container and the bows may be damaged by items passing through the opening, such as equipment or rocks, if contact is made. Aluminum or steel bows have to be straightened or replaced when they are bent. Plastic bows bend when they are hit but the frame is still in the way for loading large items and the bows are not as strong. Even regular exposure to small items, such as grain particles, will cause abrasion of the bows with extended contact over time. The bows in a fixed frame can be removed but this requires the driver to climb up on the trailer to remove the bows, which must be stored somewhere while the container is being loaded, and then reinstalled. When the bows are made of steel, they are heavy for the driver to handle and injuries do occur.
There are tarp bow systems wherein the bows swivel up and mostly out of the top opening. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,584 assigned to Wahpeton Canvas Co. South Dakota, Inc., describes a rope operated system wherein the bows are pivoted to a ridgepole and swung about angled receivers seven-eights of the way from the opening. The angled receivers and the bows sold by Wahpeton Canvas are made of steel as bows made of aluminum tubing that is circular in cross section would not be strong enough to be pivoted in the frame. Another ground controlled system, formed of steel, is sold by A.T.B. Inc. wherein one end of the bows is attached to a rod, which when rotated, lifts the other end of the bows up and mostly out of the top opening. Both the Wahpeton and the A.T.B. system are permanently mounted such that the frame is swung away only on the driver's side, requiring that the container be loaded from the left side. This is a serious limitation as loading from the left is not always convenient, or even feasible.
There is a need for a tarp bow and a complementary receiver that can be used to form a tarp frame which can be easily swung up, totally out of the way, from the left or right, by the driver. The bows should be light weight but strong so that they can be easily handled, remained attached to a side wall on one side of the container, out of the way during loading, but readily available for reinstallation. It is to this need that the present invention is addressed.


A magnetoresistance effect type head including a ceramic substrate, a first magnetic film provided on the ceramic substrate, a second magnetic film provided above the first magnetic film, first and second insulating films provided between the first and second magnetic films, a magnetoresistance effect type film provided between the first and second insulating films, a bias film provided between the first and second insulating films in contact with the magnetoresistive film for applying magnetic field to the magnetoresistive film, a first conductive film provided between the first and second insulating films and above the bias film to be nearly as thick as the mean free path of free electrons, and a second conductive film of an electrode structure mutually separated between the first and second insulating films in contact with the first conductive film. The first conductive film is a nickel-chromium film or a chromium film which is resistive to a fluorocarbon-series gas to be used for etching. The second conductive film is made of a metal which is etched with a fluorocarbon-series gas and which has a thickness of 200 nm or more. The bias film and the magnetoresistance effect type film are protected from over-etching. The second conductive layer is made up of two metallic layers having contact tightness with the second insulating film and a third metallic layer which is sandwiched between the two metallic layers and which has a conductivity larger than the two metallic layers and also a thickness larger than the two metallic layers.

The present invention generally relates to a magnetoresistance effect type head and a manufacturing method therefor and, more particularly, to a technique which can be effectively used for a magnetic head of a magnetic disc device or the like.
A magnetoresistive head is a reproduction exclusive head utilizing such a phenomenon that the electric resistance of a magnetoresistance effect type film, which will be sometimes referred to merely as the MR film, hereinafter, varies depending on its magnetizing direction.
The magnetoresistive head comprises lower and upper magnetic shield films made of magnetic material and an MR element disposed between the upper and lower magnetic shield films. The MR element has an MR film, bias films for applying a horizontal bias to the MR film, and a pair of conductive electrodes for passing a signal detection signal to the MR film. A magnetic domain control layer may be provided in the MR element to provide a single magnetic domain to the MR film. A current is continuously passed to the MR film through the conductive electrodes, and a voltage between the electrodes is continuously detected. When a leak magnetic field ranging from a magnetic recording medium to the MR film varies, this causes the magnetizing direction of the MR film to be varied so that the resistance of the MR film is changed and a signal is generated between the electrodes. In this manner, information is reproduced from the medium.
The processes for forming the electrodes and MR film of the prior art MR element include (a) formation of the MR film on the electrodes and (b) formation of the electrodes on the MR film.
The process (a) has a problem that the formation of the MR film on the electrodes involves the formation of steps in the MR film and the formation of magnetic walls in the steps, which results in generation of Barkhausen noise at the time of reproduction.
The process (b) can avoid such a problem as the formation of the steps in the MR film unlike the process (a), but process (b) is defective in that the formation of the electrodes on the MR film causes damage of the MR film. More specifically, when an electrode film is formed on the MR film and then subjected to an ion milling for formation of the electrodes for example, the MR film is damaged because of its subjection to ions.
For the purpose of minimizing the damage of the MR film, there has been suggested an electrode processing method which is based on a reactive ion etching. In this method, as shown in JP-A-Hei 4-3306, a film Nb, Ta, Ti or the like capable of being subjected to a dry etching with use of such a fluorocarbon gas as a CF.sub.4 gas for formation of electrodes, or a film of Au, Pt, Cr or the like capable of being subjected to an etching with use of a chlorine-series gas, is formed on an MR or bias film subjected to a patterning of a predetermined shape, and subsequently the etched film is subjected to an etching to form electrodes having a desired shape. During the over-etching for the formation of the electrodes with use of the fluorocarbon gas or chlorine-series gas, the MR or bias film is subjected to the etching and therefore damaged.
Disclosed in JP-A-63-117309 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,708) is a magnetoresistance effect type head reader/converter in which a spacer film and a soft magnetic thin film are provided on an MR film. This invention also discloses vertical/horizontal biasing effects based on the use of a vertical bias film and a soft bias film.

Magnetoresistance effect type head having a damage immune film structure


A phase change memory cell is disclosed. The phase change memory cell includes a first thin film spacer and a second thin film spacer. The first thin film spacer defines a sub-lithographic dimension and is electrically coupled to a first electrode. The second thin film spacer defines a sub-lithographic dimension and is electrically coupled between a second electrode and the first thin film spacer. In this regard, the phase change memory cell is formed at a boundary where the first thin film spacer electrically contacts the second thin film spacer.

Semiconductor chips provide memory storage for electronic devices and have become very popular in the electronic products industry. In general, many semiconductor chips are typically formed (or built) on a silicon wafer. The semiconductor chips are individually separated from the wafer for subsequent use as memory in electronic devices. In this regard, the semiconductor chips define memory cells that are configured to store retrievable data, often characterized by the logic values of 0 and 1.
Phase change memory cells are one type of memory cell capable of storing retrievable data between two or more separate states (or phases). The phase change memory cells have a structure that can generally be switched between states. For example, the atomic structure of one type of phase change memory cells can be switched between an amorphous state and one or more crystalline states. In this regard, the atomic structure can be switched between a general amorphous state and multiple crystalline states, or the atomic structure can be switched between a general amorphous state and a uniform crystalline state. In general terms, the amorphous state can be characterized as having more electrical resistivity than the crystalline state(s), and typically includes a disordered atomic structure. In contrast, the crystalline state(s) generally has a highly ordered atomic structure and is associated with having a higher electrical conductivity than the amorphous state.
Materials that exhibit this phase change memory characteristic include the elements of Group VI of the periodic table (and their alloys), such as Tellurium and Selenium, referred to as chalcogenides or chalcogenic materials. Other non-chalcogenide materials also exhibit phase change memory characteristics. One characteristic of chalcogenides is that the electrical resistivity varies between the amorphous state and the crystalline state(s), and this characteristic can be beneficially employed in two level or multiple level systems where the resistivity is either a function of the bulk material or a function of the partial material. As a point of reference, it is relatively easy to change a chalcogenide between the amorphous state (exhibiting a disordered structure, for example, like a frozen liquid) and the crystalline state(s) (exhibiting a regular atomic structure). In this manner, manipulating the states of the chalcogenide permits a selective control over the electrical properties of the chalcogenide, which is useful in the storage and retrieval of data from the memory cell containing the chalcogenide.
The atomic structure of the chalcogenide can be selectively changed by the application of energy. With regard to chalcogenides in general, at below temperatures of approximately 150 degrees Celsius both the amorphous and crystalline states are stable. A nucleation of crystals within the chalcogenide can be initiated when temperatures are increased to the crystallization temperature for the particular chalcogenide (approximately 200 degrees Celsius). In particular, the atomic structure of a chalcogenide becomes highly ordered when maintained at the crystallization temperature, such that a subsequent slow cooling of the material results in a stable orientation of the atomic structure in the highly ordered (crystalline) state. To achieve the amorphous state in the chalcogenide material, the local temperature is generally raised above the melting temperature (approximately 600° C.) to achieve a highly random atomic structure, and then rapidly cooled to "lock" the atomic structure in the amorphous state.
In one known structure of a phase change memory cell, the memory cell is formed at the intersection of a phase change memory material (chalcogenide) and a resistive electrode. Passing an electrical current of an appropriate value through the resistive electrode heats the phase change memory cell, thus affecting a phase change in its atomic structure by the principals described above. In this manner, the phase change memory cell can be selectively switched between logic states 0 and 1, and/or selectively switched between multiple logic states.
With the above background in mind, the known lithographic techniques for forming phase change memory cells can be improved upon. In particular, the known lithographic techniques for forming phase change memory cells result in large contact areas between the resistive electrode and the phase change memory material such that temperature induced changes between logic states is not optimum.


A cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid compound is prepared by reacting a malonic acid compound and a 1,2-dihalogeno compound with an alcoholate as a condensation agent which is gradually added to a mixture of said malonic acid compound and said 1,2-chloro compound as a solution or suspension is an alcohol.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid derivatives from malonic acid derivatives and 1,2-dichloro compounds.
2. Description of the Background
Cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid derivatives are valuable starting materials for the manufacture of drugs and plant protection agents (see e.g. EP 0 512 211, DE 41 14 733, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,747).
Diethyl cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate was first prepared by W. H. Perkin (Ber. d. Dt. Chem. Ges., 17 (1884), 54) by means of an intramolecular condensation reaction between diethyl malonate and 1,2-dibromoethane with sodium ethylate as the condensation agent. The yield was 27 to 29% of theory. A. W. Dox and L. Yoder (J.A.C.S., 1921, 2097) were able to increase the yield to 40% of theory, as confirmed by J. M. Stewart and H. H. Westberg (J. Org. Chem., 30 (1965), 1951). One disadvantage of this process is its low yield. The main by-product identified by W. A. Bone and W. H. Perkin (J. Chem. Soc., 67 (1895), 108) is tetraethyl butane-1,1,4,4-tetracarboxylate, which is formed in a competing intermolecular reaction. When using 1,2-dichloroethane, as an alternative to 1,2-dibromoethane, which is a desirable alternative to the 1,2-dibromo compound because it is a cheaper starting material available in industrial quantities, the yield of this by-product can increase to as much as 50% of theory.
Another disadvantage of the process, according to J. M. Stewart and W. H. Westberg, loc. cit., is the difficulty of separating unreacted malonic acid ester by distillation. The authors solved this problem by reacting the malonic acid ester with n-butylamine to give the corresponding n-butyldiamide.
The disadvantages mentioned are considerably alleviated by using potassium carbonate in place of a sodium alcoholate as the condensation agent (D. A. White, Synth. Comm., 7/8 (1977), 559). Yields of dimethyl cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate of 73% of theory are indicated when 1,2-dibromoethane is used. An improved process employs potassium carbonate as the base, with 1,2-dichloroethane as the starting material, and is described in DE 43 26 917. Although the yield ranges up to 85% of theory in this process, carbon dioxide is produced in appreciable amounts, as with all processes using potassium carbonate as condensation agent. This waste gas entrains 1,2-dichloroethane, which is of environmental concern and has to be removed in a special purification step. A need therefore continues to exist for a process for the preparation of cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid derivatives from malonic acid derivatives and inexpensive 1,2-dichloro compounds, but produces no waste gas, and which also gives even better yields than the process of DE 43 26 917.

Process for the preparation of cyclopropane-1, 1-dicarboxylic acid derivatives


The disclosure provides a bicycle front derailleur configured to be mounted on a bicycle frame. The bicycle front derailleur includes a fixed component, a chain guide, a linkage assembly, and an adjustment component. The fixed component is configured to be mounted on the bicycle frame. Two opposite ends of the linkage assembly are respectively and pivotably disposed on the fixed component and the chain guide. The adjustment component is pivotably disposed on the fixed component. The adjustment component is configured to press against the bicycle frame so as to adjust a position of the bicycle front derailleur with respect to the bicycle frame.

A bicycle may equip with front and rear derailleurs in order to effect a desired speed change. The front derailleur is used for selectively shifting the drive chain from one chainring to another. The rear derailleur is used for selectively shifting the drive chain from one sprocket to another sprocket of the cassette. The combination of the selected chainring and sprocket by the front and rear derailleurs can determine the gear ratio that is needed by the cyclist.
A typical front derailleur is mounted on the seat tube of the bicycle frame and has a chain guide (front derailleur cage) that can used to shift the chain among the chainrings. It is known that the chain guide should run approximately parallel to the chainring to avoid chain run in cross gears. There are various kinds of seat tubes in the market, however, the conventional front derailleurs might not be suitable for the seat tubes of different sizes and shapes, which may result in misalignment of the chain guide to the chainrings and thus affecting the movement of the chain among the chainrings. Accordingly, the bicycle manufacturer is working on solving the aforementioned problems.