The present invention is concerned with solid oral dosage forms of comprising

The invention relates to solid oral dosage forms containing valsartan, in particular solid oral dosage forms containing valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and a process of forming the same.
The angiotensin 11 receptor antagonistxe2x80x94Valsartanxe2x80x94is known to be effective in the treatment of congestive hear failure and reducing blood pressure irrespective of age, sex or race and is also well tolerated. Its combination with HCTZ is also known for the treatment of hypertension.
The oral administration of such pharmaceutical agents as tablets or capsules has rennin advantages over parenteral administration such as i.v. or i.m.: Diseases requiring treatment with painful injectable formulations are considered to be more serious than those conditions which can be treated with oral dosage forms. However, the major advantage with oral formulations is held to be their suitability for self administration whereas parenteral formulations have to be administered in moat cases by 2 physician or paramedical personnel.
However, valsartan is difficult to formulate and heretofore it has not been possible to make oral formulations in the form of tablets in a reliable and robust way.
Capsules are undesirable since large capsules must be used to accommodate effective amounts of active agent, which in the case of valsartan, is of low density and is therefore rather bulky.
We have now found a solid oral dosage form containing valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof optionally in combination with HCTZ which can be produced according to a reliable and robust process, which solid oral dosage form is small relative to the amount of active agent used. Said solid oral dosage forms are smaller, for a given amount of active agent, than any known formulations of this active substance.
According to the invention there is provided a solid oral dosage form comprising
a) an active agent containing an effective amount of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and
b) pharmaceutically acceptable additives suitable for the preparation of solid oral dosage forms by compression methods
preferably wherein the active agent is present in an amount of more than 35% by weight, preferably more than 50% by weight based on the total weight of the solid oral dosage form. In particular, the amount of active agent may be present in an amount of from 45 to 65% by weight, e.g. 57 to 62% by weight.
Solid oral dosage forms according to the invention provide for the administration of the active substance in a smaller oral form than was heretofore possible for a given unit dose of active agent. Furthermore, the oral dosage forms obtained are stable both to the production process and during storage, e.g. for 2 years in conventional packaging, e.g. scaled aluminium blister packs.
By xe2x80x9ceffective amountxe2x80x9d is meant the amount of active agent which halts or reduces the progress of the condition being treated or which otherwise completely or partly cures or acts palliatively on the condition. Such an amount can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art by routine experimentation and with no undue burden.
In a solid oral dosage form according to the invention wherein the active agent consists entirely of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, it is preferred if the active agent is present in an amount of from 10 to 250 mg, more preferable 40 to 160 mg, most preferably 40 to 80 mg, e.g. 40, 80 or 160 mg.
The active agent valsartan is particularly suitable for combination with other active agents, e.g. HCTZ.
Accordingly, in an further embodiment of the invention there is provided a solid oral dosage form as hereinabove described additionally containing HCTZ as a component of the active agent.
It has been found that valsartan, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, combined in a dose range from about 10 to 250 mg with hydrochlorothiazide in a dose range from about 6 to 60 mg, is suitable for more efficient treatment of hypertension. With these dose ranges of the combined active agents, valsartan is found to have a greater efficacy in reducing elevated blood pressure to normal levels than it would have if used at the same dose range in monotherapy. Moreover, when hydrochlorothiazide is being administered in combination with valsartan, the diuretic agent is more effective as compared to monotherapy at the dose range indicated. Particularly suitable is a dose range from about 50 and 100 mg valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and from about 10 to 30 mg hydrochlorothiazide. More preferred is a unit dose of about 80 mg valsartan and 12.5 mg or 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide and 160 mg valsartan and 12.5 mg or 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. The weight ratio of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to hydrochlorothiazide is from about 1:6 to about 42:1, more preferably 2:1 to 13:1, most preferably 2:1 to 10:1.
The present invention particularly relates to a solid oral dosage form, which contain as the active agent a)
a unit dose between about 10 and 254 mg, especially between about 54 and 100 mg, of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and
a unit dose between about 6 and 60 mg, especially between about 10 and 30 mg, of hydrochlorothiazide.
An especially preferred embodiment of the invention is a solid oral dosage form, which contain as the active agent a)
a unit dose of about 80 mg or 160 mg of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and
a unit dose of about 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide.
The preparation of valsartan is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,578 which is incorporated herein by reference. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of valsartan can be prepared in a manner known per se. Thus for example, acid addition salts are obtained by treatment with an acid or a suitable ion exchange agent. Such salts can be convened to free acid in a conventional manner by treatment with a suitable basic agent.
Valsartan is preferably in its free form, that is, not in one of its salt forms.
Hydrochlorothiazide is a known therapeutic agent which is useful in the treatment of hypertension.
A solid oral dosage form according to the invention comprises additives conventional in the dosage form in question. Tabletting aids, commonly used in tablet formulation can be used and reference is made to the extensive literature on the subject, see in particular Fieldler""s xe2x80x9cLexicon der Hilfstoffexe2x80x9d, 4th Edition, ECV Aulendorf 1996 which is incorporated herein by reference. These include but are not limited to disintegrants, binders, lubricants, glidants, stabilising agents, fillers or diluents, surfactants and the like.
As disintegrants one can particularly mention CMCxe2x80x94Ca, CMCxe2x80x94Na, crosslinked PVP (Crospovidone, Polyplasdone of Kollidon XL), Alginic acid, radium alginate and guar gum, most preferably crosslinked PVP, Crospovidone, crosslinked CMC and Acxe2x80x94Dixe2x80x94Sol.
As binders one can particularly mention starches, e.g. potato starch, wheat starch, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, e.g. products known under the registered trade marks Avicel, Filtrak, Heweten or Pharmacel, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, e.g. hydroxypropyl cellulose having a hydroxypropyl content of 5 to 16% by weight and a Mw of from 80,000 to 1,150,000, more particularly 140,000 to 850,000.
As glidants one can mention in particular colloidal silica, e.g. Aerosil, magnesium trisilicate, powdered cellulose, starch, talc and tribasic calcium phosphate.
As fillers or diluents one can mention confectioner""s sugar, compressible sugar, dextrates, dextrin, dextrose, lactose, mannitol, microcellulose, in particular having a density of about 0.45 g/cm3, e.g. Avicel, powdered cellulose, sorbitol, sucrose and talc.
As lubricants one can mention in particular Mg, Al or Ca stearate, PEG 4000-8000 and talc.
One or more of these additives can be selected and used by the skilled artisan having regard to the particular desired properties of the solid oral dosage form by routine experimentation and without any undue burden.
The amount of each type of additive employed, e.g. glidant, binder, disintegrant, filler or diluent and lubricant may vary within ranges conventional in the art. Thus for example, the amount of glidant may vary within a range of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 5% by weight, e.g. 0.1 to 0.5% by weight; the amount of binder may vary within a range of from about 10 to 45% by weight, e.g. 20 to 30% by weight; the amount of disintegrant may vary within a range of from 2 to 20% by weight, e.g. 15% by weight; the amount of filler or diluent may vary within a range of from 15 to 40% by weight; whereas the amount of lubricant may vary within a range of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight.
It is a characteristic of the present solid oral dosage forms that they contain only a relatively small amount of additives given the high content of active agent. This enables the production of physically small unit dosage forms. The total amount of additives in a given unit dosage may be about 65% or less by weight based on the total weight of the solid oral dosage form, more particularly about 50% or less. Preferably the additive content is in the range of about 35 to 55% by weight, more particularly 45 to 55% by weight, e.g. 38 to 43% by weight.
The absolute amounts of each additive and the amounts relative to other additives is similarly dependent on the desired properties of the solid oral dosage form and tray also be chosen by the skilled artisan by routine experimentation without undue burden. For example, the solid oral dosage form may be chosen to exhibit accelerated and/or delayed release of the active agent with or without quantitative control of the release of active agent.
Thus, where accelerated release is desired, e.g. about 90% release within a ten minute, more particularly a five minute period, a disintegrant such as crosslinked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, for example those products known under the registered trade marks Polyplasdone(copyright)XL or Kollidon(copyright)CL, in particular having a molecular weight in excess of 1,000,000, more particularly having a particle size distribution of less than 400 microns or less than 74 microns, or reactive additives (effervescent mixtures) that effect rapid disintegration of the tablet in the presence of water, for example so-called effervescent tablets that contain an add in solid form, typically citric add, which acts in water on a base containing chemically combined carbon dioxide, for example sodium hydrogencarbonate or sodium carbonate, and releases carbon dioxide could be used.
Whereas if delayed release is desired one can employ pellet coating technology, wax matrix systems, polymer matrix tablets or polymer coatings conventional in the art.
Quantitative control of the release of the active agent can be achieved by conventional techniques known in the art. Such dosage forms are known as oral osmotic systems (OROS), coated tablets, matrix tablets, press-coated tablets, multilayer tablets and the like.
In a solid oral dosage form wherein the active agent consist entirely of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, preferred additives are microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or CMCxe2x80x94Ca, Mg, Ca or Al stearate, anhydrous colloidal silica and talc. The amounts of additive employed will depend upon how much active agent is to be used. The stearate, e.g. Mg stearate is preferably employed in amounts of 1.0 to 5.0% by weight, e.g. 1.5% to 3.0% by weight. Whereas the silica is preferably employed in an amount of from 0.5 to 10% by weight.
In a solid oral dosage form wherein the active agent consists of a combination of both valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and HCTZ it is preferred to employ additives selected from any of those additives recited in the previous paragraph and crosslinked polyvinylpyrollidone. The stearate is preferably employed in an amount of from 1 to 5% by weight, e.g. 3%. The cellulose material, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose is preferably present in an amount of 10 to 30%, e.g. 21%. The silica is preferably present in an amount of from 0.5 to 10%, e.g. 1% by weight. The crosslinked polyvinylpyrolidone is preferably present in an amount of from 10 to 20%, e.g. about 13% by weight. Particularly preferred solid oral dosage forms contain as additives microcrystalline cellulose and crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).
The solid oral dosage forms according to the present invention may be in the form of dragxc3xa9es in which case the solid oral dosage form is provided with a coating typically a sugar, shellac or other film coating entirely conventional in the art. Attention is drawn to the numerous known methods of coating employed in the art, e.g. spray coating in a fluidized bed, e.g. by the known methods using apparatus available from Aeromatic, Glatt, Wurster or Hxc3xcttlin, in a perforated pan by the Accela Cota method, or to the submerged sword coating method. The additives commonly used in confectioning are employed in such methods.
The solid oral dosage forms of the present invention are useful for lowering the blood pressure, zither systolic or diastolic or bath. The conditions for which the instant invention is useful include, without limitation, hypertension (whether of the malignant, essential, reno-vascular, diabetic, isolated systolic, or other secondary type), congestive heart failure; angina (whether stable or unstable), myocardial infarction, artherosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cardiac myopathy, renal insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cognitive dysfuntion (such as Alzheimer""s) and stroke.
The exact dose of active agent and the particular formulation to be adminstered depend on a number of factors, e.g. the condition to be treated, the desired duration of the treatment and the rate of release of the active agent. For example, the amount of the active agent required and the release rate thereof may be determined on the basis of known in vitro or in vivo techniques, determining how long a particular active agent concentration in the blood plasma remains at an acceptable level for a therapeutic effect.
The invention provides in another of its aspects a process of making a solid oral dosage form as hereinabove described. Such solid oral dosage form may be produced by working up components a) and b) defined hereinabove in appropriate amounts, to form unit dosage forms.
In a preferred embodiment there is provided a process of making the solid oral dosage forms as hereinabove described comprising the steps of
i) grinding the active agent and pharmaceutically acceptable additives,
ii) subjecting a mixture of the grand active agent and additives to compression to form a coprimate
iii) converting the coprimate to form a granulate and
iv) compressing the granulate to form the solid oral dosage form.
The process is carried out in the absence of water, i.e. it is a dry compression method The process may be carried out under ambient conditions of temperature and humidity; it is not necessary to ensure that the process is carried out in a dry atmosphere.
The initial grinding step i) may be carried out according to conventional milling methods or micronisation methods.
The active agent and the additives can be milled either individually or together to particle sizes from about 0.1 xcexcto about 200 xcexc, preferably 1.0 xcexcto 100 xcexc. At least 90% of the crystals of both the active agent and the additives are present in these ranges. Particles of this size are obtained by conventional comminution methods, e.g. grinding to an air jet mill, hammer and screen mill, fine impact mill, ball mill or vibrator mill.
Micronisation is preferably effected by known methods using an ultrasonic disintegrator, e.g. of the BRANSON Sonifier type, or by stirring a suspension with 2 high spud agitator, for example with a stirrer of the HOMOREX type.
The ground particles may optionally at this stage be sieved and mixed according to known methods.
Compression to form a coprimate requires the compaction of the dry ground components. Compaction may be carried out using a slugging technique or preferably, roller compaction. Roller compaction apparatus is conventional and essentially utilises two rollers which roll towards each other. A hydraulic ram forces one of the rollers against the other to exert a compacting force against the ground particles fed into the roller compactor via a screw conveyor system.
A compaction force of between 25 and 65 kN is preferably used. Within this range of compaction forces it has surprisingly been found that for each particular formulation a minimum compaction force should be used in order to obtain a solid oral dosage form wherein the granulate disintegrates into discrete primary particles at a desirable rate, e.g. disintegration occurs approximately six times faster for a solid oral dosage form compressed above a minimum compaction force. Such a rapind disintegration rate is unusual for tablets and is similar to the disintegration rate of a capsule formulation. The particular minimum compaction force is dependent on the active agent content in any given formulation and therefore also depends on the amount and nature of the additives present.
A solid oral dosage form containing an active agent consisting of 80 mg valsartan and 12.5 mg HCTZ, and appropriate additives in appropriate quantities is preferably made by a process wherein the compaction force used to produce the coprimate is at least 30 kN. Appropriate additives in appropriate quantities for this active agent may be 31.5 mg microcrystalline cellulose, 1.5 mg anhydrous colloidal silica, 4.5 mg magnesium stearate and 20 mg crosslinked PVP.
A solid oral dosage form comprising a unit dose of 160 mg valsartan and 12.5 mg HCTZ, and appropriate additives in appropriate quantities is preferably made by a process wherein the compaction force used to produce the coprimate is at least 25 kN. Appropriate additives in appropriate quantities for this active agent may be 75.5 mg microcrystalline cellulose, 3.0 mg anhydrous colloidal silica, 9.0 mg magnesium stearate and 40 mg crosslinked PVP.
Given this information, the skilled addressee would clearly be able to determine the minimum compaction force for other formulations using routine experimentation and without undue burden.
The roller speed is set at between 1 and 15 rpm and is preferably 1.3 to 7.5 rpm. After passing through the rollers the compacted mass (the coprimate) resembles a thin ribbon in segments.
The coprimate may be screened and or milled to produce the granulate. Screening in its simplest form involves the passing of the coprimate emerging from the rollers through a seive under mechanical pressure. More preferably, the coprimate is screened using an oscillating mill, e.g. a MGI 624 Frewitt (Key International Inc.).
The granulate thus formed has a rather wide particle size distribution e.g. from 9 to 340 microns. At this stage of the roller compaction process it is conventional to sort the under-sized and over-sized particles and remove them from the granulate for recycling or recirculation. Thus removed the over- and under-sized particles art typically compacted an additional one or more times in order to obtain the desired particle size distribution of the granulate. Such a process is time consuming and therefore increases the cost of manufacture of solid oral dosage forms. Furthermore, the additional passes through the roller compactor under such high compaction forces can have deleterious effects on the active agent and also render the granulate less suitable for compression into the solid oral dosage form.
It has been found however, that the granulate first emerging from the roller compactor after screening or milling and containing both over- and under-sized particles can in fact be compressed to form solid oral dosage forms without affecting the properties of the solid oral dosage form.
The compression of the granulates to tablet cores can be carried out in a conventional tabletting machine, e.g. in an EK-0 Korsch eccentric tabletting machine or a rotary compression machine, preferably at a compression greater than 2 kN. The tablet cores may vary in shape and be, for example, round, oval, oblong, cylindrical or any other suitable shape, and may also vary in size depending on the concentration of the therapeutic agents. A characteristic of tablets according to the invention is their small size having regard to the amount of active agent contained therein.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention tablets obtained by the compression method described above are slightly oval. The edges of the tablets may be bevelled or rounded.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a solid oral dosage form is compressed in the form of a tablet having an oblong shape in which the ratio of dimensions length:width:height is 2.5-5.0; 0.9-2.0; 1.0 and preferably in which the base and top face of the tablet independently of one another are planar or convexly curved about the longitudinal axis; the side facts are planar, the end faces can be of any shape and the edges are optionally bevelled or rounded.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a solid oral dosage form is compressed, from the granulate, in the form of a tablet of oblong shape in which the length is approximately 10.0 to 11.0 mm, the width approximately 5.0 to 6.0 mm and the height approximately 3.0 to 4.0 mm.
In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention a solid oral dosage form is compressed from granulates in the form of a tablet of oblong shape in which the length is approximately 15.0 to 16.0 mm, the width approximately 6.0 to 7.0 mm and the height approximately 3.5 to 5.0 mm.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a tablet which is essentially disc-shaped with the upper and lower faces having a slightly convex surface. Preferably the tablet has a diameter of about 8 to 8.5 mm and a depth of about 3 to 3.5 mm, or a diameter of about 16 mm and a depth of about 6 mm. The tablets may occupy a volume from about 0.1 cm3 to about 0.45 cm3, more particularly 0.2 to 0.3 cm3, e.g about 0.125 cm3 or 0.25 cm3.
They may furthermore be transparent, colourless or coloured and also marked so as to impart to this product an individual appearance and to make them instantly recognizable. The use of dues can serve to enhance the appearance as well as to identify the compositions. Dyes suitable for use in pharmacy typically include carotinoids, iron oxides or chlorophyll.

Abstract: a) an active agent selected from valsartan and optionally HCTZ , and

Abstract: b) Pharmaceutically acceptable additives suitable for the preparation of solid oral dosage forms by compression methods.


Disclosed is a multi-way valve comprising a valve casing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets, first and second chambers defined in the valve casing, a partition disposed between the first and second chambers and having a plurality of fluid paths, a plurality of valve elements each engaging a corresponding fluid path from the first chamber side for opening and closing the fluid path and a driving device having cams which selectively drive the valve elements from the second chamber side. The multi-way valve can be manufactured as a small-sized one, and therefore, a water purifier using the valve also can be assembled as a small-sized one as a whole. The amount of resident fluid in the valve can be decreased, thereby improving the hygienic property of the water purifier. The operation for taking off or exchanging valve elements can be simplified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-way valve, a water purifier using the same, and to a method for distributing or mixing a fluid, and more particularly to a multi-way valve for distributing or mixing a fluid, and to a water purifier and a fluid distributing or mixing method that embodies this multi-way valve.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional multi-way valves, for distributing or mixing a fluid, include a so-called rotary-type valve wherein individual fluid paths are switched by rotating a seal member (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,172,796, 4,770,768 and 5,160,038) and they also include a so-called sliding-type valve wherein fluid paths are switched by linearly moving a seal member. However, any of these multi-way valves has problems with durability and sealing. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, the following valves have been proposed.
(1) a multi-way valve wherein a plurality of spherical elements for closing fluid paths are provided in a valve casing having a single chamber, wherein any one spherical element is pressed and moved in a circumferential direction relative to the casing by rotating a rotatable shaft for opening a corresponding fluid path (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication HEI-7-12770) PA0 (2) a multi-way valve wherein a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlets are provided to a valve casing, and spherical elements are provided for closing the respective fluid outlets, and any spherical element is moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable member by rotating the rotatable member for opening a corresponding fluid outlet (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open HEI-4-132271) PA0 (3) a multi-way valve wherein a fluid inlet and two fluid outlets are provided in a valve casing, and balls are provided for closing the fluid outlets by pressure of water supplied from the fluid inlet, and any ball is displaced from a valve seat by rotation of a shift arm for opening a corresponding fluid outlet (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open HEI-6-16778)
However, when a multi-way valve described in the above (1) is employed, because the spherical element must be moved in a circumferential direction by rotating the rotatable shaft, the amount of movement of the spherical element inevitably becomes great, with the defect that the multi-way valve becomes large-sized and the amount of resident fluid in the valve increases causing a problem of poor hygienic property originating from the great amount of the resident fluid. Further, because the spherical elements must be taken off by disassembling the valve casing when the spherical elements are checked or exchanged for checking or improving the sealing ability due to the spherical elements, the required work becomes remarkably troublesome. Furthermore, there is a further problem that the shape of the rotatable shaft and the inside shape of the valve casing are complicated and the multi-way valve becomes expensive.
In a case where a multi-way valve described in case (2) is employed, because the spherical element must be moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the rotatable member by rotating the rotatable member, the amount of movement of the spherical element along the axis of the rotatable member becomes great, causing a defect that the multi-way valve becomes large-sized. If the multi-way valve becomes large-sized, the amount of resident fluid in the valve increases and there is a problem of poor hygienic property originating from the great amount of the resident fluid. Further, because the spherical elements must be taken off by disassembling the valve casing when the spherical elements are checked or exchanged for checking or improving the sealing ability due to the spherical elements, the work becomes considerably troublesome.
In a case where a multi-way valve described in the above (3) is employed, because the ball must be moved in a single chamber of the valve casing by rotating the shift arm, the size of the chamber inevitably becomes great, and the multi-way valve becomes large-sized, the amount of resident fluid in the valve increases and hygienic problems originate from the great amount of the resident fluid. Further, because the balls must be taken off by disassembling the valve casing when the balls are checked or exchanged for checking or improving the sealing ability due to the balls, the work becomes remarkably troublesome. Furthermore, because the shape and the attachment condition of the shift arm must be set in proper conditions, the multi-way valve must be assembled with meticulous care and there is a fear of causing a defect and the multi-way valve becomes expensive.
Further, a multi-way valve having an inflow path and a plurality of outflow paths wherein the fluid paths are switched by a pushing member is also known.
As this type of multi-way valve, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 63-8460 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open SHO 60-151972, there is a cylinder-piston type valve comprising a cylinder having a fluid inlet and fluid outlets and a piston sliding in the cylinder and having a seal member. Further, as disclosed as switching valves in JP-A-SHO 48-10631 and JP-A-SHO 52-45732, there is a ball-type valve closing a fluid outlet by a ball and opening the fluid outlet by moving the ball.
However, in the former cylinder-piston type multi-way valve, because the seal member fixed to the piston is slid on the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet of the cylinder while being pressed, there is a problem that abrasion quickly progresses and the seal member must be exchanged in a short period of time.
On the other hand, in the latter ball-type multi-way valve, because the fluid paths are switched by rolling the ball provided as a seal member, the problem of abrasion, such as the one in the former valve, can be improved. However, because an operating lever connected to an operating member provided for moving the ball extends through a valve box and both end portions thereof protrude outside of the valve box, a motion of grasping one end of the lever to pull the lever or pushing the other end of the lever is required for the switching operation, and such an operation is inconvenient and cannot be easily performed.
In order to improve such a problem, a valve able to operate only at one end of an operating lever was proposed, for example, as a ball-type water passage switching device for a faucet described in Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 51-26357. In this switching device for a faucet, however, because a certain length is required for a rotatable shaft of an operating lever extending through a wall of a switching chamber in a direction perpendicular to the wall and a seal member must be provided for sealing the rotatable shaft, the valve body tends to become large-sized in the axial direction of the shaft and such a valve is not preferred as a valve for a faucet of an ordinary home. Further, because most faucets for an ordinary home are formed as a type in which a discharge pipe can be rotated in right-hand and left-hand directions (clockwise and counterclockwise directions), the method for operating an operating lever by moving the lever in right-hand and left-hand direction has a problem that the operation is not easy because the discharge pipe is rotated together with the operating lever.
Further, JP-B-HEI-5-31036 discloses a ball-type check valve for water in which an operating lever is moved in frontward and rearward directions relative to a discharge pipe. In this check valve, however, because pushing rods for moving balls, springs and seal members are required by the same number as that of fluid outlets, the number of parts increases and the structure of the valve becomes complicated.

Multi-way valve and water purifier using the same


A method of heating a fluid utilizing a process heater having one or more first combustion zones and one or more second combustion zones. The combustion of a fuel is divided between the first and second combustion zones. The oxygen is provided for combustion within the first combustion zone by one or more oxygen transport membranes that contribute between about 50 and 99 percent of the stoichiometric amount of oxygen required for complete combustion of the fuel passing through the process heater. A supplemental or secondary oxidant is introduced into second combustion zone to complete combustion of the fuel and thereby produce a flue gas stream containing between about 1 and 3 percent oxygen to ensure complete combustion of the fuel. In this manner, the surface area of the oxygen transport membranes may be reduced below the surface area that otherwise would be required if 100 percent of the oxygen were contributed by the oxygen transport membranes.

The prior art has provided process heaters to heat fluids. A common example of a process heater is a boiler that is used to either raise steam from feed water or to superheat steam that has already been generated. Typically, process heaters combust a fuel in the presence of an oxidant, for example, air, to raise the heat necessary to heat the process fluid. In recent years, it has been suggested to incorporate oxygen transport membranes in process heaters in order to produce permeated oxygen to support the combustion in place of air.
The major advantage of using an oxygen transport membrane in a process heater to supply oxygen for the combustion is that steam present within the flue gases resulting from the combustion can be condensed at a higher temperature than in flue gases produced by combustion supported by air alone. The reason for this is that when the combustion is supported by oxygen produced by the oxygen transport membrane, the flue gases essentially contain carbon dioxide and water. When air is used as the combustion oxidant, the flue gases also contain substantial amounts of nitrogen and the water contained in such flue gases will condense at a much lower temperature, typically about 25° C. lower than the case in which the combustion is supported by oxygen. The condensation of the steam at high temperature allows heat that would be otherwise lost in the stack gases to be recovered and recycled for use in preheating the feed to the process heater. As such, a process heater utilizing an oxygen transport membrane can be more thermally efficient than one using air. In addition to the foregoing, since the flue gases essentially contain water and carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide can be easily sequestered through conventional removal of the water. Moreover, since only a small amount, if any, of nitrogen is present during the combustion, very little NOx is produced from the combustion.
As well known in the art, oxygen transport membranes can be fabricated from ceramics that are formed into plate or tubular elements that when heated to an operational temperature of between about 400° C. and about 1000° C. exhibit oxygen ion transport. When an oxygen containing gas, for instance, air, is contacted on one side of the membrane, known as the cathode side, the oxygen ionizes by gaining electrons. The resultant oxygen ions are transported through the membrane and emerge from an opposite side, known as the anode side, where the oxygen ions combine to form elemental oxygen and in so doing produce electrons. The electrons are transported back from the anode side to the cathode side to ionize the oxygen. If the ceramic material is a mixed conductor, typically a perovskite, the electrons will be transported in the ceramic material itself. Other types of materials use dual phases of an ionic material, such as ceria or yttria stabilized zirconia, that is capable of only transporting the oxygen ions and an electronically conductive phase. The electronically conducting phase is utilized to conduct the electrons. The transport of the oxygen ions is driven by an oxygen partial pressure differential between the cathode and anode sides of the membrane. This partial pressure difference can be created in whole or in part by consuming the oxygen at the anode side through combustion of a fuel.
There have been a variety of designs for process heaters incorporating oxygen transport membranes proposed in the prior art. Such example can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,043 that incorporates oxygen transport membranes within a combustion chamber to provide oxygen to support combustion of the fuel and thereby to generate heat. Part of the heat generated is used to heat the oxygen transport membrane to its operational temperature. The remaining portion of the heat is used to raise steam or to superheat steam passing through transfer passages extending through the combustion chamber. Flue gases produced from the combustion can be recirculated and mixed with the fuel. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,104, a fuel is combusted within a combustion chamber and the heated flue gases are passed in a cross-flow relationship to oxygen transport membranes that are used to generate oxygen. In one embodiment, the oxygen transport membranes and steam tubes are interspersed within a combustion chamber. In another embodiment, the oxygen transport membranes and steam tubes are separated. A combustion chamber contains the steam tubes and the resultant flue gas is passed to the oxygen transport membranes as a sweep gas. The flue gases become enriched in oxygen and are then recirculated to the combustion chamber.
The problem of an oxy-fuel combustion system that utilizes oxygen transport membranes is that the oxygen flux in fuel rich conditions is substantially greater than in fuel lean conditions by an order of magnitude. Thus, in order to have complete combustion in such a system, a large membrane surface area is required to contribute the oxygen necessary for stoichiometric combustion. As will be discussed, the present invention provides a method of heating a fluid by a process heater having integrated oxygen transport membranes that overcomes this problem by not utilizing oxygen transport membranes as the sole source of the oxygen that is used to support the combustion.


The present invention is an aluminum assembly comprising at least two components brazed to each other. The assembly comprises: at least a first aluminum based component having a coating of a zinc-antimony alloy having at least 1.0 wt. % antimony applied to a region of a surface of the component which is to be joined to a second aluminum based component; and at least one second aluminum based component disposed adjacent to the coating; whereby the at least first aluminum based component and the at least second aluminum based component are joined together during a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an aluminum assembly, such as a heat exchanger for automotive vehicles, manufactured by controlled atmosphere brazing ("CAB").
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide automotive vehicles with assemblies including heat exchangers such as condensers, evaporators, heater cores and coolers generally made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. These heat exchangers are alternating rows of tubes or plates. The heat exchangers often include convoluted fins brazed to the external surfaces of the tubes and turbulators disposed within the tubes and brazed to their inner surfaces. The tubes (or fins) generally carry a clad layer which has a melting temperature lower than that of the tube (or fin) core aluminum alloy. During brazing, the clad layer melts and forms brazed joints between the tube and the fins. For example, sheets made of aluminum alloys for the core with a clad layer can be formed into shape and welded into tubes. However, if greater strength (such as pressure to burst) is required of the tube, as may be in condensers, then extruded tubes instead of welded tubes are generally used. Since it is not commercially feasible to have a clad layer on the internal surface of the extruded tube, cladding on fins is used to provide the molten material needed for brazing. It is recognized that use of a clad layer adds to manufacturing complexity, cost, and component weight.
When aluminum is exposed to air, the surface layer oxidizes and forms aluminum oxide. Thus, flux is generally an important ingredient of the brazing process. Previously, the brazing of the fins and turbulators to the tube surfaces has been carried out in a vacuum furnace. Recently, however, a process known as "controlled atmosphere brazing" (CAB) has been employed. CAB furnace brazing is preferred over vacuum furnace brazing due to improved production yields, lower furnace maintenance requirements and greater braze process robustness. The function of the flux includes displacing any oxide from the surface of the aluminum and protecting it from further oxidation, reducing filler metal surface tension, and thus promoting wetting. Chloride-based fluxes are generally not used because they are highly hygroscopic and very corrosive to the aluminum. A flux commonly used in CAB furnace brazing is Nocolok.TM. (potassium fluoaluminate represented often as "KALF"). This flux or other similarly formulated fluxes are non-corrosive to aluminum after brazing.
Magnesium is generally included in the aluminum core to improve its strength. During the high temperatures of brazing, the magnesium may migrate through the core alloy and the clad layer to the surface where it reacts with the flux, forming high melting temperature compounds, thereby rendering the flux ineffective; i.e. the flux is "poisoned" by reacting with the magnesium. This is highly detrimental to formation of a sound braze joint because they interfere with the "wetability" of the aluminum surfaces to be brazed together. To avoid this poisoning, the magnesium content in the core alloy must be below 0.1 wt. %. From the standpoint of aluminum alloy strength, however, it is very desirable to increase the magnesium content in the core alloy.
We have unexpectedly found that these problems can be overcome by providing a coating of an zinc-antimony (Zn--Sb) alloy on the aluminum component. Such a coating substitutes for the clad layer to provide the molden metal needed for the formation of brazed joints during brazing, making it feasible to use extruded tubes and unclad fins, for example, for heating exchangers. Further, the zinc-antimony coating prevents magnesium in the core from migrating to the surface and interacting with the flux which would interfere with formation of a sound braze joint, i.e. use of this coating prevents poisoning of the flux by the magnesium. We have unexpectedly found that the use of a coating of Zn--Sb on aluminum parts allows for the formation of sound, continuous joints between parts which have desirably higher levels of magnesium, even as much as 3 wt. % magnesium. The use of our zinc-antimony coating also provides brazability for the joint, corrosion protection for the aluminum core, and enhanced brazed joint strength.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,275, Knoll discloses a method whereby immediately after an aluminum shape is extruded and before it is exposed to the atmosphere, it is coated with a molten metallic layer of zinc or a zinc-base alloy. This coating is to function as a fluxless soldering or low temperature brazing material when heated. Kroll teaches that the zinc alloy is preferably a zinc-aluminum alloy which may also comprise copper. The addition of aluminum it taught to improve wetting of the aluminum by molten zinc and in combination with copper results in a sufficiently ductile coating of high tensile strength in a cold state. One of the drawbacks of the '275 method is that it requires immediately coating the aluminum part after extrusion.

Aluminum components coated with zinc-antimony alloy for manufacturing assemblies by CAB brazing


In forming a deposited film composed mainly of Al according to the CVD method utilizing gas of alkyl aluminum hydride, hydrogen gas, and if desired, further gas containing Si atoms, film formation is carried out by shifting the deposition rate from a low deposition rate to a high deposition rate.. According to this method, excellent selectivity is exhibited and also a film excellent in flatness can be deposited at a high deposition rate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for forming a deposited film, particularly a process for forming a deposited film composed mainly of Al which can be preferably applied to electrodes or wiring of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, etc. and to a process for preparing a semiconductor device.
2. Related Background Art
In the prior art, in electronic devices or integrated circuits by use of semiconductors, for electrodes and wiring, aluminum (Al) or a metal containing aluminum as main component such as Al--Si and the like has been primarily used. Al has many advantages such as that it is inexpensive and high in electroconductivity, that it can be also internally chemically protected because a dense oxidized film can be formed on the surface, and that it has good adhesion to Si, etc.
As the method for forming a film for electrodes and wiring of Al or Al--Si as mentioned above, there has been used in the prior art the sputtering method such as magnetron sputtering, etc.
However, selective deposition and selective growth can not be realized by the sputtering method which has been used in the prior art. The sputtering is the physical deposition method based on flying of sputtered particles in a vacuum. The thickness at the stepped portion or the insulating film side wall becomes extremely thin, leading to wire breaking in an extreme case. Nonuniformity of film thickness or wire breaking has the drawback that reliability of LSI is markedly lowered.
On the other hand, since the integration degree of the integrated circuit such as LSI, etc. is increased, and fine formation of wiring or multi-layer wiring has been particularly required in recent years, there is an increasing great demand not found up to date for Al or Al--Si wiring of the prior art. With finer dimensional formation by increased integration degree, the surface of LSI, etc. is subject to excessive unevenness due to oxidation, diffusion, thin film deposition, and etching, etc. For example, electrodes or wiring metal must be deposited on the surface with a stepped difference, or deposited in a via-hole which is fine in diameter and deep. In 4 Mbit or 16 Mbit DRAM (dynamic RAM), etc., the aspect ratio (via-hole depth/via-hole diameter) of via-hole in which a metal composed mainly of Al such as Al--Si, etc. is to be deposited, is 1.0 or more, and the viahole diameter itself also becomes 1 Mm or less. Therefore, even for a via-hole with large aspect ratio, the technique which can deposit an Al--Si compound is required.
Particularly, for performing sure electrical connection to the device under insulating film such as SiO.sub.2, etc., rather than film formation, Al--Si is required to be deposited so as to embed only the viahole of the device. In such case, a method of depositing an Al alloy only on Si or metal surface and not depositing it on an insulating film such as SiO.sub.2, etc. is required.
As the improved sputtering method, there has been developed the bias sputtering method in which a bias voltage is applied on a substrate and deposition is performed so as to embed Al or an Al--Si compound only in the via-hole by utilizing the sputter etching action and the deposition action on the substrate surface. However, since the bias voltage of some 100 V or higher is applied on the substrate, deleterious influence on the device occurs because of charged particles damages such as change in threshold of MOSFET, etc. Also, because of presence of both etching action and deposition action, there is the problem that the deposition speed cannot be essentially improved.
In order to-solve the problems as described above, various types of CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) methods have been proposed. In these methods, chemical reaction of the starting gas in some form is utilized. In plasma CVD or optical CVD, decomposition of the starting gas occurs in gas phase, and the active species formed there further react on the substrate to give rise to film formation. In these CVD methods, surface coverage on unevenness on the substrate surface is good. However, carbon atoms contained in the starting gas molecule are incorporated into the film. Also, particularly in plasma CVD, the problem remained that there was damage by charged particles (so called plasma damage) as in the case of the sputtering method.
The thermal CVD method, in which the film grows through the surface reaction primarily on the substrate surface, is good in surface coverage on unevenness such as stepped portion of the surface, etc. Also, it can be expected that deposition within via-hole will readily occur. Further, wire breaking at the stepped portion can be avoided. Furthermore, there are no damages caused by charged particles which have been observed in the case of the plasma CVD or the sputtering method. The methods of such a kind include, for example, the method seen in Journal of Electrochemical Society, Vol. 131, p. 2175 (1984). In this method triisobutyl aluminum (i-C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.3 Al (TIBA) is used as organic aluminum gas and an Al film is formed at a film formation temperature of 260.degree. C. and a reaction tube pressure of 0.5 Torr. The substrate temperature is then maintained at about 450.degree. C. and SiH.sub.4 is introduced to diffuse Si in the Al film, thus obtaining an Al--Si film.
When TIBA is to be used, a continuous film can not be obtained unless pretreatment is effected in which prior to film formation, TiCl.sub.4 is flowed to activate the substrate surface to form nuclei. Furthermore, in case where TIBA is used, there is a problem that surface flatness is not sufficient even when TiCl.sub.4 is used. By this method it is not possible to effect selective growth such as Al--Si deposition only in via-holes.
As another method, there is the method described in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 27, No. 11, p. L2134 (1988). In this method, TIBA and Si.sub.2 H.sub.6 diluted with Ar gas are supplied, and the gases are heated before TIBA reaches the substrate. By this method, an Al--Si film of a low resistivity can be epitaxially grown on a Si (100) wafer. Although the film obtained by this method has good high quality, there are problems involving difficulty in process control due to the necessity of heating the gases and a complicated apparatus for effecting this method.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 63-33569 describes a method of forming a film by using no TiCl.sub.4, but using in place thereof organic aluminum and heating it in the vicinity of the substrate.
According to this method, Al can be deposited selectively only on the metal or semiconductor surface from which the naturally oxidized film has been removed.
In this case, it is clearly stated that the step of removing the naturally oxidized film on the substrate surface is necessary before introduction of TIBA. Also, it is described that, since TIBA can be used alone, no carrier gas is required, but Ar gas may be also used as the carrier gas. However, the reaction of TIBA with another gas (e.g. H.sub.2) is not contemplated at all, and there is no description of using H.sub.2 as the carrier gas. Also, in addition to TIBA, trimethyl aluminum (TMA) and triethyl aluminum (TEA) are mentioned, but there is no specific description of other organic metals. This is because, since the chemical properties of organic metals generally vary greatly if the organic substituent attached to the metal element varies little, it is necessary to investigate individually by detailed experimentation to determine what organic metal should be used.
In the CVD method as described above, not only is there is the inconvenience that the naturally oxidized film must be removed, but also there is the drawback that no surface smoothness can be obtained. Also, there is the restriction that heating of the gas is necessary, and yet heating must be done in the vicinity of the substrate. Moreover, it must also be experimentally determined at what proximity to the substrate heating must be done, whereby there is also the problem that the place for setting the heater cannot be necessarily freely chosen.
In the pre-text of the 2nd Symposium of Electrochemical Society, Branch of Japan (Jul. 7, 1989), on page 75, there is a description of film formation of Al according to the double wall CVD method. In this method, TIBA is used and the device is designed so that the gas temperature of TBA can be made higher than the substrate temperature. This method may be also regarded as a modification of the above-mentioned Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 63-33569. Also in this method, Al can be selectively grown only on a metal or semiconductor, but not only the difference between the gas temperature and the substrate surface temperature can be controlled with difficulty, but also there is the drawback that the bomb and the pipeline must be heated. Moreover, according to this method, there are involved such problems that no uniform continuous film can be formed, that flatness of the film is poor, etc., unless the film is made thick to some extent.
As set forth above, the prior art methods have the problems that it is difficult to obtain a flat Al--Si film of a low resistivity and good quality, that there is considerable limitation in apparatus and in film formation.
As described above, prior art methods cannot necessarily effect well selective growth of Al--Si, and even if possible, there is a problem with respect to flatness, resistance, purity, etc. of the Al film formed. Also, there has been involved the problem that the film formation method is complicated and can be controlled with difficulty.
Furthermore, according to the prior art as described above high throughput sufficient to get a final commercial success has not been achieved.

Process for forming deposited film by use of alkyl aluminum hydride and process for preparing semiconductor device


Provided are an electromechanical transducer including a light movable member that is easy to move and charged portions whose amount of electrostatic charge does not substantially change over time and a method for manufacturing such an electromechanical transducer. The electromechanical transducer using electrostatic interaction between a charged portion and a counter electrode to perform transduction between electric power and motive power includes a fixed substrate, a movable member being movable with a predetermined distance maintained between the fixed substrate and the movable member, the movable member having grooves in a surface facing the fixed substrate, the grooves being formed at intervals in a moving direction of the movable member, charged portions formed on the surface of the movable member so as to alternate with the grooves; counter electrodes disposed on a surface of the fixed substrate in the moving direction, the surface facing the movable member, and a cover layer containing copper and covering at least side walls of the movable member inside the grooves.

Electromechanical transducers are known that use electret, which semi-permanently carries electric charge, to generate electrostatic interaction, thereby performing transduction between electric power and motive power. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a power generator in which a disk-shaped rotor including a conductive (e.g., metallic) substrate and a disk-shaped stator including electret are disposed substantially in parallel. Patent Literature 2 describes an electrostatic motor including an annular rotor and a stator that respectively include patterned electret electrodes and other patterned electrodes thereon and face each other. Patent Literature 3 describes a rotary member of an electrostatic induction generator wherein charged films are disposed on the rotary member every predetermined angle with gaps interposed therebetween. In such an electromechanical transducer, for example, charged portions are formed on a movable member (rotor) and counter electrodes are formed on a fixed substrate (stator).
Patent Literature 4 describes an electret device including a charge outflow inhibition film that is formed so as to surround side end surfaces of an electret film and inhibits electric charge stored in the electret film from flowing out. Patent Literature 5 describes an electrostatic induction conversion device including an electret and a moisture-proof film covering the electret wherein the electret moves relative to a conductor. Patent Literature 6 describes an electret device including conductive electrodes on a substrate wherein the conductive electrodes are formed in areas where electret films are not formed and the device includes concaves between the electret films and the conductive electrodes to prevent electric charge stored in the electret films from flowing to the conductive electrodes.

Electromechanical transducer and method for manufacturing same


A method and apparatus for printing a product, article or other object at a printing station and for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink being applied to a product, article or other object at the printing station, comprising the steps for: printing a UV-curable ink with a printing head of a printer on a substrate, product, article or other object at a printing station; providing a primary light source of UV light preferably comprising at least one set of UV-LED arrays of UV-LED chips adjacent the printing head; and partially curing the ink dots by emitting light on the ink dots from the primary light source to set and partially polymerize, coalesce, coagulate and/or gel the ink dots so as to substantially inhibit the growth of the ink dots and prevent, running or smudging of the ink dots. The curing of the ink dots are completed by emitting light on the ink dots from a secondary light source, such as from one or more fluorescent lamps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for utilizing ultraviolet (UV) light and other light sources for curing ink on products, articles or other objects as the ink is applied to the products, articles or other objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, UV-light emitting diode (LED) arrays have been proposed for curing inks, coatings or adhesives. Thick polymers require longer wavelengths for curing. Surface curing requires shorter wavelengths.
Pigmented coatings are better cured with wavelengths dissimilar to the absorption wavelength of the pigments. This is also true for the wavelength absorption characteristics of resins and additives in an ink, coating or adhesive.
Also, oftentimes the ink dots are applied so rapidly that some running, bleeding and/or smudging of ink occurs.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for ink jet printers and other printers wherein running, bleeding and/or smudging of ink dots is reduced or altogether inhibited.


An apparatus is described for producing fluidic jet perturbations for controlling a fluid stream and mix of fluids. The invention is especially applicable to aerodynamic bodies for delaying separation and increasing the maximum angle of attack. The teachings of the invention can easily be converted to produce mechanic or mechanical fluidic effects. The apparatus provides simultaneous perturbations applicable for successive perturbations in the longitudinal direction as well as for segmented requirements. However, the invention may be advantageously used in other applications, such as increasing the angle of divergence in diffusers, controlling and increasing the mixing rate of fluids in the mixing process without adding any mass, and vectoring fluid streams. It can also be applied, among others uses, for a windshield defogger or a vortex generator.

Under certain conditions, wall-bounded flows separate. At separation, the viscous layer departs or breaks away from the bounding surface. The surface streamline nearest to the wall leaves the body at this point; the rotational flow region next to the wall abruptly thickens. The normal velocity component increases, and the boundary layer separates. Due to large energy losses associated with boundary layer separation, the performance of many practical devices is often controlled by the separation location.
For example, the loss of lift, commonly referred to in the literature as "stall", results from the separation of the boundary layer in the airstream flowing over the wing as a result of an adverse pressure gradient which cannot be negotiated by the boundary layer. Such a separation is induced by an increase in the angle of attack of the wing above a predetermined maximum, and limits the maximum lift of a wing of given dimensions.
A similar separation of the boundary layer occurs in diffusers having an enlargement for slowing the fluid flow and recovering pressure. Thus, the angle of the diffuser surface at the enlargement is limited, typically to a 60-degree equivalent angle, in order to prevent separation of the boundary layer.
On the other hand, if separation is postponed, the pressure drag of a bluff body is decreased, the circulation and hence the lift of an airfoil at high angle of attack is enhanced, and the pressure recovery of a diffuser is improved. Separation control is of immense importance to the performance of air, land or sea vehicle, turbomachines, diffusers and variety of other technologically important systems involving fluid flow and fluid mixing.
Apparatus for delaying the separation of flow from a solid surface (such as a wing) has been disclosed; see, e.g., Israel Wygnanski et al, "Method and Apparatus for Controlling the Mixing of Two Fluids", U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,224, issued Mar. 24, 1981, and Israel Wygnansid "Method and Apparatus for Delaying the Separation of Flow from a Solid Surface", U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,438, issued May 11, 1993. The perturbation-producing elements in both of these patents are of mechanical interference, with the flow field or induced oscillations by periodically injecting a fluid jet via a rotating nozzle. Further, the perturbations induced in the flow are predetermined directed.
Substantial alteration of the flow conditions in a fluid stream may be effected by the application of controlled disturbances to the boundary of or within the stream by one or more piezoelectric actuators; see, e.g., Ari Glezer et al, "Method and Apparatus for Controlled Modification of Fluid Flow", U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,560, issued Aug. 20, 1991, and Michael Amitay et al, "Aerodynamic Flow Control Using Synthetic Jet Technology", 36.sup.th Aerospace Sciences Meeting & Exhibit (Reno, Nev.), Jan. 12-15, 1998 (AIAA 98-0208).
Apparatus for producing either fluid perturbations with zero net mass-flux or simultaneous perturbation and constant flow is needed. Such apparatus would be useful for controlling the separation of a boundary layer of a fluid stream flowing over a solid surface.
It is therefor an object of this invention to provide a new simple and efficient fluid control apparatus. The output of the apparatus is an oscillating air stream derived by a configuration of piezoelectric elements confined in a resonance cavity. The piezoelectric elements can be driven to produce an output jet at a predetermined frequency or an output jet perturbation at different frequencies band sensed by a detector or programmed in advance. The apparatus of the present invention is to be distinguished from the possible perturbation-producing elements described in Wygnanski et al and in Wygnanski, both cited above. The perturbation producing elements in both of those patents are of mechanical interference with the flow field or induced oscillations by periodically injecting a fluid jet via a rotating nozzle. In contrast, the present invention apparatus provides zero net mass flux jets.
Another difference is that the perturbations induced in the flow of the above-mentioned Wygnanski patents are predetermined directed (see also the Glezer et al and Amitay et al references cited above), whereas in the present invention, the direction of the induced perturbation can be electrically controlled without any geometrical or mechanical changes. In addition, no physical change is needed for the jet output nozzle or the shape of the surface on which the flow is being controlled or the jet perturbations apparatus positioned underneath the surface. The perturbations in the above-mentioned patents to Wygnanski et al and Wygnanski are two-dimensional (2-D) without any possibility for longitudinal modulation, nor even staggered activation.
In the present invention, the shape of the 2-D disturbance jet can be easily modified to 3-D, thereby allowing longitudinal modulation in the frequency, amplitude and phase sense. The present invention allows control of unlimited and different phase lag between unlimited and different longitudinal sections. The present invention also allows control of the perturbation frequency as a 2-D perturbation or 3-D for different longitudinal sections. In the present invention, the controlling features, namely, the frequency changing and the longitudinal modulation of phase and amplitude can be easily achieved electrically.
The apparatus of the present invention is also to be distinguished from previously-known techniques, such as those disclosed by Glezer et al and Amitay et al, which aim to create a "synthetic jet" by driving one side of a cavity using a piston or a piezoelectric diaphragm in a periodic manner. Those techniques suffer from poor frequency response band. Eventually, they have only one discrete resonance frequency. Modulation of the input feeding power (pulsed modulation excitation) accomplished by transient response time causes limitation for modulation at higher frequencies, while the modulated input feeding causes a modulated output signal with higher harmonics. In the present invention, there is no need for modulated input while the output is a pure frequency controllable perturbation jet. Another disadvantage of the previous techniques is geometrical length limitation, while the present invention allows infinite length.


An example method for printing in accordance with the present disclosure is provided. The method comprises detecting a selection of a manual mode for a print job, detecting that a stacker is in a manual mode condition, printing the print job and outputting the print job to the stacker.

Printers, for example large format printers, may have a number of different output supports for the printed media, such as baskets, bins and/or stackers.
When printing on photographic media or other glossy media, often a user remains near the printing apparatus in order to make sure the printing process and media output proceed as desired and the printed jobs are undamaged, especially if high quality images have to be obtained.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


Presented are automated manufacturing systems for fabricating engineered textiles, footwear and apparel formed with such engineered textiles, methods for making such engineered textiles, and memory-stored, processor-executable instructions for operating such manufacturing systems. An automated manufacturing system constructs engineered textiles from workpieces composed of superposed, unwoven wires. The system includes a movable end effector bearing a stitching head and an image capture device. The stitching head has a thread feeder and sewing needle to generate stitches. The image capture device captures images of the workpiece and outputs data indicative thereof. A system controller receives this image capture device data and locates, from the captured image of the workpiece, gaps defined between quadrangles of the superposed wires. The controller commands the end effector to sequentially move the stitching head and thereby align the sewing needle with the gaps, and commands the stitching head to insert a succession of stitches within these gaps.

Articles of footwear, such as shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, and the like, are generally composed of two primary elements: an upper for securing the footwear to a user's foot; and a sole for providing subjacent support to the foot. Uppers may be fabricated from a variety of materials, including textiles, polymers, natural and synthetic leathers, etc., that are stitched or bonded together to form a shell or harness for securely receiving a foot. Many sandals and slippers, for example, have an upper with an open toe and/or open heel construction. Some designs employ an upper that is limited to a series of straps that extend over the user's instep and, optionally, around the ankle. Conversely, boot and shoe designs employ a full upper with a closed toe and heel construction that encases the foot. An ankle opening through a rear quarter portion of the upper provides access to the footwear's interior, facilitating entry and removal of the foot into and from the upper. A shoelace or strap system may be utilized to secure the foot within the upper.
A sole structure is mounted to the underside of the upper, positioned between the user's foot and the ground. In many articles of footwear, including athletic shoes and boots, the sole structure is a layered construction that generally incorporates a comfort-enhancing insole, an impact-mitigating midsole, and a surface-contacting outsole. The insole, which may be located partially or entirely within the upper, is a thin and compressible member that provides a contact surface for the underside "plantar" region of the user's foot. By comparison, the midsole is mounted underneath the insole, forming a middle layer of the sole structure. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces, the midsole may help to control foot motion and impart enhanced stability. Secured underneath the midsole is an outsole that forms the ground-contacting portion of the footwear. The outsole is usually fashioned from a durable, waterproof material that includes tread patterns engineered to improve traction.
Footwear that employ a full upper with a closed toe/heel design will conventionally take on multilayer constructions that are formed by joining together a variety of cutout sheet material elements. These sheet elements may be selected to impart wear-resistance, moisture-control, stretchability, flexibility, air-permeability, comfort, etc., to different areas of the upper. To fabricate the upper, the individual elements are first cut from sheet stock to desired shape, and then joined together through stitching, adhesive bonding, or other suitable joining technique. The sheet elements are often joined in an overlapping or layered configuration to impart multiple properties to individual areas. As the number and type of sheet elements incorporated into the upper increases, the time and expense associated with transporting, stocking, cutting, and joining the elements increases proportionately. Waste material from these manufacturing processes also accumulates to a greater degree with the increase in the number and type of sheet elements incorporated into an upper. Moreover, recycling an article of footwear becomes increasingly more difficult for uppers manufactured from a large number of individual sheet elements.

Vision-guided stitching systems and logic for fabricating engineered textiles with interstitched superposed wires


A biometric token is generated for a user and provided to a user-operated device. A pre-staged transaction is defined by a user and the user supplies the token for association with the pre-staged transaction. Subsequently, a user visits a transaction terminal and a new candidate token is generated from biometric attributes of the user. The candidate token is matched to the token associated with pre-staged transaction to authenticate the user and the pre-staged transaction is processed at the transaction terminal as a completed transaction.

Technology has advanced consumer transactions in a variety of manners. One of the first conveniences that technology provided was introduced decades ago as Self-Service Terminals (SSTs), which permitted consumers to check out or perform banking transactions without clerk assistance. More recently, mobile phones can be used by consumers to perform Self-Service (SS) checkouts within retail stores or remote from any specific brick-and-mortar stores. In some cases, the mobile phones interact with SSTs at retail locations to perform SS checkouts.
Some transactions raise more security concerns for both the consumers and the retailers than other transactions do. For example, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM—one type of SST) is capable of dispensing currency to consumers. The currency in the ATM and the account balance of a consumer with a financial institution are both at risk of loss when unauthorized withdrawals are performed at the ATM by someone other than the true consumer.
Typically, ATMs provide a variety of security features (hardware and software) to thwart theft from the financial institutions and from the consumers' accounts. For instance, ATMs include encrypted Operating Systems (OSs), secure peripherals that perform independent security operations for each transaction, and secure network connections to financial networks. The consumer performs a transaction by inserting a bank card into a card reader peripheral and providing a Personal Identification Number (PIN) through an encrypted PIN pad at the ATM. Yet, security measures can and are still breached resulting in losses to both the consumer and the financial institution.
A financial institution may also face substantial regulatory liabilities as a result of security breaches of the institution's customer data assets. Thus, institutions do not want to be responsible for centrally housing even more customer information in a perceived effort to improve security because even the best-intended security can be compromised and data centrally stored can result in liability for exposure to the entire institution's customer base.
As more convenience in transaction processing is offered by retailers and financial institutions, additional security measures are needed. Adding secure hardware and software security techniques may be unrealistic for many retailers and, is particularly problematic for financial institutions because legacy security provided in the ATM hardware and software is tightly coupled together, such that one small change to accommodate a new consumer feature can require substantial amounts of hardware and human resource capital outlays.
Consequently, and largely due to security concerns and potential liabilities of financial institutions during a data breach, financial institutions are reluctant and, in some instances, actively resistant to adding any new transaction-based features at their ATMs for consumer convenience and/or to centrally storing additional sensitive consumer data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides an improved power tong a body having with a rotating assembly. The power tong further has a plurality of jaw members positioned within the rotating assembly with two of the jaw members being pivoting jaws adapted to interlock when in a closed position. In an alternate embodiment, the improved power tong will have a compensating jaw assemble to limit the axial load placed on the tubular member being gripped.

The present invention relates to power tongs typically used in the oil and gas industry to make up and break apart threaded joints on pipe, casing and similar tubular members.
Power tongs have been in existence for many years and are generally employed in the oil and gas industry to grip and rotate tubular members, such as drill pipe. It is necessary to grip drill pipe with high compressive forces while applying a high degree of torque in order to break apart or tighten threaded pipe connections. In most cases, power tong designs employ a cam mechanism for converting a portion of the torque into a gripping (compressive) force normal to the pipe. This conversion is often accomplished utilizing a power-driven ring gear having an interior cam surface. A cam follower (roller) on a jaw member rides upon the cam surface. As the ring gear is rotated, the follower (and thus the jaw member) is urged into contact with the pipe. An example of such an arrangement can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,876.
Most current power tong designs include a ring gear camming member with an open slot or throat, through which the drill pipe is passed in order to place the power tong in position around the pipe. Some tong designs employ a ring gear camming member which has no open throat and is thus a solid circular member. However, a power tong with a solid ring gear camming member must be employed by passing it over the end of a pipe because there is no open throat to facilitate installation. A power tong with a solid ring gear must be left in place around the pipe until conditions permit removal by sliding the tong off one end of the pipe.
Due to the tremendous forces generated during use, open throat power tongs must resist spreading during use. Prior art open throat tongs employ heavy duty rollers and other support structure to resist spreading. Despite such precautions, prior art tongs often spread and fail during use, resulting in tremendous costs and down time during expensive drilling operations. While power tongs having solid circular camming members do not have the spreading problem, the versatility of open throat designs is much preferred.
Another problem often encountered with power tongs using a rotating cam surface to grip the tubular member is that the axial load on the tubular member is proportional to the torque. Therefore in applications where high torque forces are needed, these types of power tongs may transmit such a high axial load to the tubular member that the tubular member is damaged or rendered unusable.


When data is recorded to a recording medium having a sector structure, the data is recorded with synchronization signals (frame marks) placed at a constant interval for use during data reproduction. When the data is then reproduced from this recording medium, these frame marks are detected to demodulate the data based on the detected signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data recording apparatus and a data reproducing apparatus for respectively recording and reproducing data to and from a recording medium having a sector structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When digital signals are recorded to a recording medium such as an optical disk or magnetic disk, the recording tracks are generally divided into plural sectors, and the data is recorded and reproduced by sector unit.
Specifications related to the data disk are regulated, for instance, by ISO/IEC DIS 10090. FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of the conventional reproducing apparatus according to the above regulation and FIGS. 13 and 14 show the sector format and the data format according thereto, respectively.
Each sector includes an ID section and a data section. Each data section contains a resynchronization (RS) mark every 15 bytes, but there are no RS marks or equivalent marks written to the ID section.
A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing signals recorded with this conventional format generally uses a reproducing method as described below. Specifically, the synchronization marks (SB1, SB2, SB3; referred to as "SYNC" hereinbelow) indicating the beginning of the data unit and the RS marks are detected by SYNC detection circuit 41 and RS detection circuit 42, respectively, and the data is read by synchronizing to these detected signals. Some means of interpolation must also be applied when the signals required for synchronization are not correctly detected, however, because the data cannot be reliably read without accurate synchronization. These interpolation methods have typically interpolated the needed synchronization marks based on a previously detected normal signal to output the expected signal at the point where it should have been detected. For example, a missed RS mark is interpolated from the previous RS mark by RS substitution signal generator 44, and SYNC mark is interpolated from the SM detection signal, the detected SYNC signal of the previous sector, or the final RS mark in the data unit of the previous sector by SYNC substitution signal generator 43.
However, when there is a significant time lag between the previously detected signal and the interpolated signal, implementing the above method necessitates a trade-off between the use of large-scale, complex circuitry or a drop in data reliability.

Data reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from sector units of a recording medium

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An aqueous composition for treating metal surfaces, particularly formed aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces, comprising a surface tension reducing agent selected from the group consisting of sulfosuccinate salts and derivatives and mixtures thereof, a surfactant selected from the group consisting of propoxylated and ethoxylated linear alcohols, and an acid such as phosphoric acid, as well as preferably a bactericide and a defoamant, and a method for treating metal surfaces, particularly beverage containers, such as of aluminum and aluminum alloy with such a composition.

Aluminum cans are commonly used as containers for a wide variety of products, notably food and beverages. After manufacture, aluminum cans are washed, typically with an acidic cleaner, to remove aluminum fines and other residues. The cans are then rinsed with tap water, followed by deionized water, and dried in a hot air oven.
The rinsing of the aluminum cans in the cleaning treatment cycle results in the retention of a large amount of water on the surfaces of the cans. The retained water necessitates long oven drying time and high temperature to obtain efficient drying of the cans. Not only does this result in increased production time and cost, but water droplet formation increases the likelihood of water spot formation. Water spots decrease adhesion to subsequently applied overcoatings and finishes, such as decorative inks and overvarnishes.
Therefore, a chemical composition and method are highly desirable which provide water-break-free surface properties to aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces and minimize the amount of water on such surfaces after being cleaned and rinsed, without adversely affecting adhesion properties. It would be ideal if the use of such a chemical composition could be incorporated into the treatment cycle, without necessitating changes to existing can manufacturing facilities.
The treatment should preferably provide the surface of an aluminum container, in particular aluminum beverage containers, with a clear, colorless, thin coating that retains the brightness of the aluminum surface, yet will not affect the taste of the food or beverage to be contained therein. More preferably, the treatment should reduce the surface tension, and thereby the amount, of water remaining on aluminum surfaces after washing and rinsing. Additionally, the treatment should provide the surface of the aluminum container with water-break-free surface characteristics so that water droplets do not form, thereby avoiding water spots. In the prevention of water spots, the treatment should not adversely affect, and preferably should optimize, adhesion to subsequently applied overcoatings and finishes. Moreover, the treatment should preferably decrease the time and temperature required to dry the aluminum surfaces, thereby reducing production time and cost.
These benefits are realized through use of the present inventive composition and method, which provide aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces with water-break-free surface characteristics and reduce the quantity of water remaining on such surfaces after cleaning and rinsing. Water-break-free surface characteristics aid in the prevention of the formation of water droplets and, subsequently, water spots. Consequently, adhesion to subsequently applied overcoatings and finishes is optimized. Furthermore, the time and temperature required to dry the aluminum surfaces are decreased, thereby reducing production time and cost.


A flow control valve includes a valve body defining fluid inlet and outlet sections interconnected by a connecting port. A valve unit is disposed in the valve body and is operably connected to an actuator to be moved thereby for opening and closing the connecting port. The valve unit includes a valve element which has a bleed passage extending therethrough for communicating the fluid inlet and outlet sections with one another. A bleed piston is operably connected to the actuator and is movable thereby relative to the valve element for opening the bleed passage when the valve unit is in a port-closing position. The valve unit also includes a pressure balancing passage which communicates front and rear ends of the valve element with one another and tending to aid in statically and dynamically balancing the fluid pressures acting on the valve element.

The present invention relates to a flow control valve, especially for use in refrigeration systems for controlling the flow of refrigerant.
A refrigeration system typically includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a flow control valve which meters the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator and converts liquid refrigerant to a mixture of liquid and vapor. The flow control valve is positioned upstream of the evaporator where it functions as an expansion valve for converting high pressure, sub-cooled liquid refrigerant into a low pressure, low-temperature mixture of liquid and vapor. Also, a flow control valve could be positioned downstream of the evaporator (i.e., between the evaporator and the compressor) where it functions as a suction valve for regulating evaporation pressure in the evaporator.
The flow control valve typically comprises fluid inlet and outlet passages interconnected by a connecting port that is bordered by a valve seat. A valve element is arranged be moved toward and away from the valve seat by an actuator, such as an electric solenoid or stepping motor.
When such a flow control value is being used as a suction valve in a refrigeration system, the size of the connecting port must be large enough to accommodate an ample flow therethrough during conditions of low pressure drops. Due to its relatively large size, it is difficult to maintain a precisely metered flow through the connecting port when the valve is opened only slightly. For example, during periods of high refrigeration demands, the suction valve should be opened only slightly (e.g., at 2.5–3.5% of maximum opening). Under those conditions, a slight inaccuracy in the amount of valve openness can produce a relatively large change in fluid flow. Achieving a precise flow is made even more difficult if the actuator is a stepping motor which can position the valve element in a only limited number of positions. In the event that the compressor is being driven by an internal combustion engine, a flow rate which is too low or even terminated, may cause the internal combustion engine to be choked.
A different problem may be encountered when a refrigeration system is shipped from a manufacturer to a customer, since there may be refrigerant in a portion of the refrigerant line situated between the expansion valve or suction valve and another valve. If the system were exposed to high enough temperatures, the refrigerant pressure could increase to such a degree that one of the valves or the piping could break.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a flow control valve capable of providing a precisely metered low flow.
Another object is to provide such a flow control valve that is actuated by a stepper motor.
Still another object is to provide such a flow control valve that can function as either an expansion valve or a suction valve in a refrigeration system.
A further object is to provide a flow control valve that can relieve high pressures generated by high temperatures encountered by the system, e.g. when being shipped or stored.

Flow control valve for refrigeration system


An image-forming apparatus comprising image input means for inputting image data, storage means for successively storing the image data input by the image input means, on a input image data basis, feature-extracting means for producing histogram data per input image data which is stored in the storage means, and extracting the features of the respective image data on the basis of the histogram data, image-selecting means for selecting an image to be output, on the basis of the extracted features of the images, and image output means for forming the image selected by the image-selecting means on recording paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming apparatus for recording digital images, such as a printer or copying machine, which has the function of, prior to outputting the input image data to recording paper for reproduction of the images, extracting characteristic image data from a group of plural image data, and outputting the image data from an output device to facilitate setting the conditions for forming the images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known image-forming apparatus for reproducing (forming) a desired image on recording paper is designed so that the driving of a semiconductor laser is on/off controlled depending on image data, to irradiate a photoconductor drum as a recording medium with laser light in order to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum which corresponds to the image data, the electrostatic latent image is then made visible by development with a toner as a coloring agent, and the developed image is transferred to a sheet of recording paper which is timely conveyed, to form an image on the sheet of recording paper which is then output outside the apparatus.
The image data may be produced by a variety of methods, including a method in which a document to be copied is read with a scanner, a method in which a personal computer or the like is used to create a graphic, text, etc. as necessary. It is well-known that apparatuses for outputting the image data from personal computers as hard copies of the images are described as "printers", while apparatuses which are integrally equipped with scanners and output data on the images captured by the scanners to record paper for reproduction of the images are referred to as "copying machines".
With prior art image-forming apparatuses for outputting the input image data to recording paper for reproduction of the images as hard copies, test copying may be performed in order to check the output state from the image-forming apparatuses in advance. For example, the image-forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Disclosure HEI 6-95463 is designed so that test copying of an image to be output is performed by outputting a test copy of the image to a sheet of recording paper of size smaller than the size of the desired sheet of recording paper. This prevents wastage of recording paper, and allows the user to set (or adjust) the conditions for forming the actual image, for example, to adjust the hue of a colored image or the image density, while visually checking the test copy, in order to output an image conditioned as desired by the user.
With the image-forming apparatuses of the prior art, however, an image corresponding to the image data on the first placed document is usually formed and output as a test copy.
An operation for setting the conditions for adjustment of the densities and hues of the images is performed while visually checking the output image which is formed on the recording paper. Particularly, in cases where the image of the document is not characteristic such that it contains no areas with clear density gradations, however, not only is it impossible to set optimum density conditions by visually checking the test copy, for all the images to be formed, but also the setting operation is very troublesome and requires skills. These problems are entirely the result of test-copying the document which was selected from the plural documents only for the reason that it was first placed.
Therefore, with the image-forming apparatuses of the prior art, it is impossible to set the conditions as desired by the user for making a test copy; since a document selected only for the reason that it was first placed is reproduced on recording paper, the operation for setting the optimum conditions while visually checking the output image is troublesome. It takes therefore longer to set the conditions, and thus not only does it take a longer time to make the hard copies, but also more test copies are wasted.
In addition, in cases where the image of information to be formed extends over more than one sheet of recording paper, since a test copy is made on the first sheet only, the hard copies of the image will be made under unfavorably adjusted density conditions, with the densities of respective copies not adjusted properly.

Image forming apparatus with image storage and image selection based on feature extraction


The invention is to processes for producing a nanoglass powder batches and to powder batches formed by such processes. In one embodiment, the process comprises the steps of providing a precursor medium comprising a first metal oxide precursor to a first metal oxide, a second metal oxide precursor to a second metal oxide, and a liquid vehicle; and flame spraying the precursor medium under conditions effective to form aggregated nanoglass particles comprising the first and second metal oxides, wherein the aggregated nanoglass particles have an average primary particle size of from 25 nm to 500 nm. The aggregated nanoglass particles preferably have an average aggregate particle size of from 50 nm to 1000 nm and may be amorphous or crystalline.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to manufacturing nanoglass, and more particularly, manufacturing nanoglass in a flame spray reaction system.
2. Description of Related Art
There is currently a heightened interest in the use of nanoparticles for a variety of applications. However, nanoparticles may vary significantly in terms of size, particle size distribution, morphology or other physical properties. For example, nanoparticles may range in size from 1 nm to 500 nm, depending primarily upon the conditions employed for forming the nanoparticles. Larger sized nanoparticles may be desirable for some applications, while smaller sized nanoparticles may be desired for others. For example, in the case of nanoglass particles used in photovoltaic applications, larger particles may be desirable because they create a glass layer with greater porosity that allows gases to escape during the firing process. On the other hand, smaller particles or smaller aggregates may be desirable in other applications because such smaller particles allow more intimate mixing with the conductor and allow firing at lower temperatures and/or shorter times. Particle size may also be critical in colloidal stability of dispersions and in the thixotropic behavior of pastes produced from such particles. Additionally, for some applications spherical nanoparticles may be preferred over non-spherical nanoparticles. For other applications, it may be preferred to have nanoparticles that are agglomerated, or aggregated, into larger units of aggregates having a controlled structure. Also, for some applications, certain characteristics for other properties may be desired, such as the density or morphology of the nanoparticles.
Conventional processes for making nanoparticles have achieved some success in making nanoparticles having certain compositions and other properties. New processes are desired, however, that provide additional and commercially viable capabilities to satisfy a need for a broader range of nanoparticulate compositions and properties.

Nanoglass and flame spray processes for producing nanoglass


A screw (114) is rotated to move a head (110, 110′) against a first squeeze bar (30) and through a threaded opening (114) in a second squeeze bar (32), for moving the squeeze bars (30, 32) relatively together. This movement rotates cam bars (100, 102, 104, 106) in position, causing them to move a lower spread bar (24) away from an upper spread bar (22). This pulls downwardly on a bolt (16) which is connected to the lower spread bar (24). As the bolt (16) moves downwardly, its head (18) pushes downwardly on an upper clamp member (52′), moving it towards a lower clamp member (54″). This firmly clamps bottom flanges (78, 80) on a conveyor slat (70) between the upper and lower clamps member (52″, 54″), firmly securing the slat (70) to a transverse drive beam (56′).

The Background of the Invention section in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293 B2, granted Jun. 10, 2003, and the patent itself, are incorporated herein to form the Background of the Invention section of this patent.
My U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293 B2 discloses an upper clamp member designated 52 in FIG. 14 of that patent which fits into the conveyor slat that is designated 70 in FIG. 14 of that patent. Inwardly directed bottom flanges 78, 80 on the conveyor slat 70 are disposed vertically between a first or upper clamp member 52 and a second or lower clamp member 54 that is carried by the transverse drive beam 56. U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293 discloses pulling the two clamp members 52, 54 relatively together by use of vertical bolts that when tightened draw the two clamp members 52, 54 towards each other and into clamping engagement with the slat flanges 78, 80. In one embodiment, the bolts extend vertically upwardly and thread into openings in the upper clamp member 52. This construction is shown by FIG. 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293 B2, for example. In another embodiment, the bolts extend downwardly through the clamp members 52″, 54″. A nut 230 is attached to the lower end of each bolt 226 and is rotated to draw the two clamp members 52″, 54″ together and into clamping engagement with the lower flanges of the conveyor slat.
The two embodiments disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,293 B2, require access from below to either a bolt head or a nut that is positioned inside of the transverse drive beam. There is a need for a system for drawing the two clamping members together that does not require access from below to either a bolt head or a nut located inside of the transverse drive beam. There is a need for a clamp operating apparatus that includes an adjustment screw that is accessible from one end of the drive beam and is rotatable to cause the two clamp members to move relatively together into clamping engagement with the lower flanges of the conveyor slat. The principal object of the present invention is to fill these needs.