A method for controlling a limb motion intention recognizing and rehabilitation training robot based on force sense information includes: acquiring data of a three-dimensional force and a three-dimensional moment by a six-dimensional force sensor held in a hand; calculating forces and moments produced by a palm, a forearm and an upper arm of a human body according to a constructed human arm model to achieve recognition of limb motion intention; fixing the six-dimensional force sensor on a rocker at an end of the three-degree-of-freedom upper limb rehabilitation training robot, acquiring motion intention of an arm of the human body according to the motion intention recognition method, and controlling the rehabilitation training robot to achieve auxiliary active training under a weak active force.

With the current rapid development of robot technology, human-machine interaction is an important direction. The robots cooperate with humans to complete tasks, so that humans and robots can develop their respective strengths. Therefore, how to achieve friendly interaction between humans and robots has become an important issue. Especially in the field of rehabilitation training robots, studies have shown that proper active rehabilitation can make patients achieve better rehabilitation results. However, the patients often cannot control their limb motions freely like healthy people due to the decline of the physical motion function, and therefore they need to perform active training with the assistance of robots. At this time, the robot needs to accurately recognize the motion intention of the patient and make a corresponding response. The traditional motion intention recognition generally uses electromyography signal or electroencephalogram signal, but it is inconvenient to wear and the signals are unstable. Therefore, it is of great value to develop a motion intention recognition method that is easy to use and has stable signals, and perform motion control of rehabilitation robots.

Method for controlling a limb motion intention understanding and upper limb rehabilitation training robot based on force sense information and posture information


An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a reflection member reflecting light entering from the outside, a movable body turnably holding the reflection member, a fixed body turnably holding the movable body, a drive mechanism structured to turn the reflection member with respect to the movable body and turn the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a turning axis part structuring a turning center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The movable body is capable of turning with respect to the fixed body with a first direction as an axial direction of turning, and the turning axis part includes a first ball disposed on one side of the movable body, a second ball disposed on the other side of the movable body and contacted with the fixed body, and an urging member which urges the first ball toward the second ball.

Conventionally, an imaging device having a shake correction function has been known which is structured to swing an optical element and perform correction of an optical image shake (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-207548 (Patent Literature 1)). An imaging optical system of an imaging device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a front side lens group and a rear side lens group. The front side lens group is composed of a prism on which a reflection surface of light is formed, a first lens which is disposed on a light incident surface side of the prism, and a second lens disposed on a light emission surface side of the prism. In the imaging device described in Patent Literature 1, an optical image shake is corrected by swinging the first lens.
The present inventors have been examining that, in an optical unit with a shake correction function including a reflection member such as a prism formed with a reflection surface on which light entering from the outside is reflected toward an imaging element or the like, the reflection member is turned for correcting an optical image shake. The optical unit with a shake correction function includes a movable body which turnably holds a reflection member, a fixed body which turnably holds a movable body, and a drive mechanism structured to turn the reflection member with respect to the movable body and turn the movable body with respect to the fixed body. An axial direction of turning of the reflection member with respect to the movable body and an axial direction of turning of the movable body with respect to the fixed body are, for example, perpendicular to each other.
Further, the present inventors have been examining that, in the optical unit with a shake correction function, the movable body is turned with respect to the fixed body with a support shaft in a columnar shape which is supported by the fixed body as a turning center. In this case, a shaft passing hole through which the support shaft is passed is formed in the movable body. However, in this case, when a gap space is formed between an outer peripheral face of the support shaft and an inner peripheral face of the shaft passing hole (in other words, when a gap space is formed between the support shaft and the shaft passing hole in a radial direction of the support shaft), the movable bod is inclined with respect to the support shaft and, as a result, the movable body may be inclined with respect to the fixed body.

Optical unit with shake correction function


A fluorescent light source includes a fluorescent lamp having first and second electrodes at or near the ends thereof for capacitive coupling of RF electrical energy to a low pressure discharge within the fluorescent lamp and an RF source having a first output lead electrically coupled to the first electrode and a second output lead electrically coupled to the second electrode. The electrodes include circuitry for inducing an RF magnetic field within the fluorescent lamp in the region of the electrodes. The RF magnetic field improves the performance of the capacitively coupled RF light source by creating an auxiliary inductive RF discharge near the capacitive coupling electrodes. The inductive discharge locally increases the plasma density and the electrode sheath capacitance and provides a reduction in RF voltage across the capacitively coupled fluorescent lamp.

Compact fluorescent lamps have been developed as replacements for incandescent lamps because fluorescent lamps are considerably more efficient and have longer operating lives than incandescent lamps. A compact fluorescent lamp has roughly the shape of an incandescent lamp and can be installed in a conventional lamp socket. Prior art compact fluorescent lamps have had one or more disadvantages. A lamp ballast circuit is required, since fluorescent lamps cannot be operated directly from line voltage. The ballast circuit adds to the cost of the lamp and must be packaged in the base of the lamp. Furthermore, the form factor of the fluorescent lamp tube is less than ideal for use as an incandescent lamp replacement because the light emitted per unit volume is maximized in a long, small diameter fluorescent lamp tube.
Current compact fluorescent lamps use a twin tube or double twin tube architecture. Twin tube fluorescent lamps typically include a pair of straight tubes that are interconnected at or near one end to form a generally U-shaped tube. Conventional twin tube fluorescent lamps have filament cathodes at opposite ends, and a continuous discharge extends between the cathode filaments. A compact fluorescent lamp using a frequency converting ballast to convert 60 Hz line voltage to a frequency in the range of 20-30 kHz is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,806 issued Aug. 15, 1989 to Nilssen. The high frequency output of the ballast is applied to the lamp filaments.
Compact fluorescent lamps utilizing electrodeless fluorescent lamps have been disclosed in the prior art. A closed loop magnetic core transformer, contained in a reentrant cavity in the lamp envelope, induces a discharge in an electrodeless fluorescent lamp in U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,330 issued Jan. 25, 1977 to Glascock et al. Discharge is induced by a magnetic core coil within the envelope of an electrodeless fluorescent lamp in the light source disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,764 issued Apr. 12, 1977 to Anderson. In both of the above-mentioned patents, the operating frequency is limited to about 50 kHz because of the lossy nature of magnetic materials at high frequency. An electrodeless fluorescent light source utilizing an air core coil for inductive coupling at a frequency of about 4 MHz is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,400 issued Mar. 1, 1977 to Hollister. However, such a light source has a tendency to radiate at the power of operation and exhibits nonuniform plasma excitation.
An electrodeless fluorescent light source, utilizing frequencies in the 100 MHz to 300 GHz range, is disclosed by Haugsjaa et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,661 issued Feb. 19, 1980. High frequency power, typically at 915 MHz, is coupled to an ultraviolet producing low pressure discharge in a phosphor coated electrodeless lamp which acts as a termination within a termination fixture.
A compact fluorescent light source wherein high frequency power is capacitively coupled to a low pressure discharge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,167 issued May 5, 1981 to Proud et al. The lamp envelope has an outer shape similar to that of an incandescent lamp. An outer conductor, typically a conductive mesh, is disposed on the outer surface of the lamp envelope, and an inner conductor is disposed in a reentrant cavity in the lamp envelope. Frequencies in the range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz are suggested. An electrodeless discharge tube wherein high frequency energy is coupled to a discharge through external electrodes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,997 issued Jan. 17, 1989 to Egami et al. Another electrodeless fluorescent light source which is energized by a high frequency power source is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,923 issued Jan. 24, 1984 to Proud et al. In all of the lamps that operate at high frequency, it is important to minimize radiation of the high frequency energy.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide improved fluorescent light sources.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact fluorescent lamp that is suitable for replacement of an incandescent lamp.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluorescent light source wherein a fluorescent lamp is capacitively driven by RF electrical energy.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an RF driven compact fluorescent lamp which produces very little RF radiation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly efficient fluorescent light source wherein a fluorescent lamp is capacitively driven by RF electrical energy.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide fluorescent light sources which are low in cost and easy to manufacture.

Capacitively coupled RF fluorescent lamp with RF magnetic enhancement


A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon logic wherein the logic is executable by one or more processors to perform operations is disclosed. The operations may include parsing an object, detecting one or more features of a predefined feature set, evaluating each feature-condition pairing of a virtual feature using the one or more values observed of each of the one or more detected features, determining whether results of the evaluation of one or more feature-condition pairings satisfies terms of the virtual feature, and responsive to determining the results of the evaluation satisfy the virtual feature, performing one or more of a static analysis to determine whether the object is associated with anomalous characteristics or a dynamic analysis on the object to determine whether the object is associated with anomalous behaviors.

Current network security appliances receive large amounts of data to analyze, possibly prior to passing to one or more endpoint devices. The large amounts of data make timely analysis difficult as analyzing the entire amount of received data is time-consuming and processing-intensive. Therefore, current network security appliances attempt to employ a filtering process that acts to determine whether portions of the received data exhibit some characteristics of suspiciousness prior to performing an in-depth analysis on the one or more portions of the received data.
However, current filtering techniques are reactive and attempt to match extracted features or other indicators of known malware with a portion of the received data in order to determine whether the portion of received data is suspicious. Specifically, malware detection systems within network security appliances often parse received data attempting to identify and then match a feature of the received data with an indicator of known malware to assess suspiciousness or even maliciousness. This technique often leads to false positives as benign (e.g., non-malicious) data may share an indicator with malware. As a result, in-depth malware analysis may be performed on the benign data, wasting time and requiring unnecessary processing. Of course, where the indicator is a fingerprint or signature in the form of a hash of known malware, the chance of a match with benign data is greatly reduced, but such a fingerprint or signature is often not available (e.g., as is the case with 'zero day' malware).
Many different malware detection approaches can suffer the effects of false positives. Known Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are noteworthy for producing an enormous rate of false positives. Known "two-stage" advanced malware detection systems deployed at the periphery of a network employ a first static analysis stage used to filter incoming data before submitting that portion deemed suspicious for second-stage dynamic analysis via execution in a virtual environment. In such systems, the static analysis is configured to avoid false negatives and, as a trade-off, can unfortunately tag benign data as suspicious and then submit those false positives for dynamic analysis.
Additionally, received data may contain one or more features that seem benign in an isolated manner but, combined with other seemingly suspicious, malicious or benign features, are actually part of a malicious cyber-attack.

Cyber-security framework for application of virtual features


A textile wet processing machine includes a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall. The inner wall is adjustable to accommodate textile fabrics in cloth rope form having great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load. The inner wall may be positioned at any position between a predetermined innermost position and a predetermined outermost position relative to the outer wall of the processing chamber. In a preferred embodiment, adjustment is accomplished by a pinion that is linearly movable on a rack. A connecting rod extends outwardly from the pinion. One end of the connecting rod is rotatably secured to the transverse shaft of the pinion and the other end of the connecting rod is secured to the inner wall. In an alternative embodiment, adjustment is accomplished by a linkage assembly that is rotatable about a transverse shaft. The linkage assembly includes a first rigid link that is fixed to and extends outwardly from the transverse shaft, and a second rigid link rotatably secured to the free end of the first rigid link at one end. The other end of the second rigid link is secured to the inner wall. A locking mechanism is provided for releasably retaining the inner wall in the desired position under the force of the cloth rope as it is circulated through the processing chamber.

Textile wet processing machines are utilized extensively in the textile industry. The term "wet processing" refers to the process of treating the textile fabric with a treatment liquid, such as a liquid dye solution. In a particular application, the wet processing machine is used to perform what is known as "piece dyeing" of large textile fabrics. The fabric is formed in a continuous ring that has the appearance of a thick rope. Thus, the term "continuous cloth rope" or "cloth rope" is used to describe the textile fabric. The cloth rope is inserted into the wet processing machine and circulated through a processing chamber containing a liquid dye solution. As the cloth rope is circulated through the processing chamber, it is in the form of a plug referred to as a "cloth plug." As will be described hereafter, the cloth plug is repeatedly circulated through the processing chamber so that the liquid dye solution is dispersed uniformly throughout the textile fabric.
Known textile wet processing machines typically consist of three primary components. The first component is a large vessel for containing the treatment liquid. The vessel includes means for circulating the treatment liquid, and means for heating and cooling the treatment liquid. The vessel contains, without leakage, all of the treatment liquid used to treat the textile fabric. The second component is a U-shaped processing chamber having open ends. The processing chamber is positioned within the interior of the vessel and is typically formed of a pair of side walls, an outer wall extending transversely between the side walls, and an inner wall extending transversely between the side walls opposite the outer wall. The side walls, outer wall, and inner walls of the processing chamber typically have perforations therethrough to allow the treatment liquid to flow into and out of the processing chamber inside the vessel. The third component is a mechanical means, preferably located near the top of the vessel, for drawing the cloth rope out of the processing chamber so that the cloth rope is repeatedly circulated through the treatment liquid in the processing chamber.
The primary problem with the known textile wet processing machines is that they do not adequately accommodate different textile fabrics having great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load. These variations are naturally exaggerated when the textile fabric is circulated in cloth rope form through a treatment liquid, such as a liquid dye solution. As is understood by those skilled in the art, the handling characteristics of the textile fabric are dramatically influenced by these variations. Accordingly, textile fabrics having great variations in the properties mentioned herein behave very differently in the wet processing machine and typically require a processing chamber of differing volumetric size to enable the machine to realize its maximum capacity for treating a particular textile fabric.
Those skilled in the art of dyeing textile fabrics in cloth rope form realize that textile wet processing machines having processing chambers of fixed volumetric size cannot accommodate textile fabrics having great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load. Dyeing machines manufactured to accommodate heavier or larger diameter cloth rope, cannot also accommodate lighter or smaller diameter cloth rope. If a lighter or smaller diameter cloth rope is circulated through a processing chamber designed to accommodate a heavier or larger diameter cloth rope, the lighter or smaller diameter cloth rope is likely to tangle inside the processing chamber. Likewise, dyeing machines manufactured to accommodate a larger load (i.e., greater length) of cloth rope, cannot also accommodate a smaller load of cloth rope. Similarly, if a smaller load of cloth rope is circulated through a processing chamber designed to accommodate a larger load of cloth rope, the smaller load of cloth rope is likely to tangle inside the processing chamber of the dyeing machine.
In the past, manufactures of textile wet processing machines have responded to the above described problem by manufacturing machines of many different sizes to accommodate the wide range of handling characteristics created by the great variations in fabric weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load. These machines have included proportionally sized processing chambers having fixed side, outer and inner walls. More recently, a certain manufacture has developed a textile wet processing machine which includes a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,526 issued May 14, 1991, to Hacker et al. discloses a textile wet processing machine including a U-shaped fabric processing chamber with an adjustable inner wall. The inner wall includes C-shaped lateral flanges that permit the inner wall to be removably mounted between the side walls of the processing chamber. The inner wall is mounted to the side walls by a plurality of fasteners that are received in perforations pre-formed in the side walls. Because the inner wall may be repositioned by receiving the plurality of fasteners in different perforations in the side walls, the inner wall is selectively adjustable toward and away from the outer wall. Thus, the volumetric size of the interior of the processing chamber may be changed to accommodate the particular textile fabric being processed.
Disadvantageously, however, the adjustability of the inner wall of the wet processing machine disclosed in the patent to Hacker et al. is limited by the distance in the direction of movement of the inner wall toward or away from the outer wall between the centers of adjacent perforations in the side walls. Thus, the position of the inner wall relative to the outer wall is selectively adjustable to only predetermined, discrete positions. Accordingly, the volumetric size of the interior of the processing chamber cannot be changed in small enough increments to accommodate textile fabrics in cloth rope form having the great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load that are typically encountered in the wet processing of textile fabrics.
In addition, the design of the wet processing machine disclosed in the patent to Hacker et al. requires the operator to position himself uncomfortably within the interior portion of the U-shaped processing chamber to remove and replace the plurality of fasteners that selectively reposition the inner wall relative to the outer wall. Thus, each of the plurality of fasteners must first be aligned with the corresponding perforations pre-formed in the side walls to mount the inner wall to the side walls of the processing chamber. To reposition the inner wall (once the plurality of fasteners have been removed), it is typically necessary for a first operator to hold the relatively large inner wall in the desired position while a second operator replaces the plurality of fasteners in the corresponding perforations in the side walls.
Consequently, installing, servicing and repositioning the inner wall of the processing chamber is time consuming and requires considerable dexterity and skill. In wet processing operations that involve textile fabrics in cloth rope form having great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load, the time required to reposition the inner wall to accommodate a different textile fabric may result in significant loss of production. Accordingly, the efficiency of the wet processing operation is greatly reduced, and the cost of processing the textile fabrics is greatly increased.
Further, each of the plurality of fasteners disclosed in the Hacker et al. patent consists of: (1) a hex head bolt having a threaded portion adjacent the end opposite the hex head; (2) an internally threaded nut for engaging the threaded portion of the hex head bolt; and (3) a cup-shaped bracket that engages the C-shaped lateral flanges of the inner wall when the nut is tightened on the bolt. Because each of the plurality of fasteners includes at least three small, separate pieces which must be removed and replaced, it is highly possible that at least one of the pieces of a fastener may loosen during operation of the wet processing machine and cause damage to the machine or to the interior of the processing chamber. If a cloth rope is subsequently circulated through the processing chamber, the expensive textile fabric could be irreparably damaged by the piece of the fastener inside the chamber. In addition, the loose piece of the fastener may damage the finish on an interior surface of the processing chamber. As a result, the textile fabric may be torn, ripped or damaged as it rotates through the processing chamber.
It is apparent that the known textile wet processing machines do not adequately accommodate different textile fabrics having great variations in weight, texture, thickness, flexibility and load. Accordingly, it is clear that a textile wet processing machine including a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall to change the volumetric size of the processing chamber is needed wherein: (1) the inner wall is selectively adjustable to any position between a predetermined innermost position and a predetermined outermost position; (2) the inner wall may be quickly and easily repositioned; and (3) the means for adjusting the inner wall does not include small, separate pieces that may loosen during operation of the wet processing machine and cause damage to the machine or to the interior of the processing chamber.
Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a textile wet processing machine including a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall that is selectively adjustable to any position between a predetermined innermost position and a predetermined outermost position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a textile wet processing machine including a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall that may be quickly and easily repositioned so that adjustment of the inner wall to a new position is not time consuming and does not require considerable dexterity.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a textile wet processing machine including a processing chamber having an adjustable inner wall and a means for adjusting the inner wall that does not include small, separate pieces that may loosen during operation of the wet processing machine and cause damage to the machine or to the interior of the processing chamber.

Textile wet processing machine having an adjustable inner wall


A seal (13) closing off a clearance (9) between one end in the form of a bowl (7) of an arm (4) and a circular shell (1) of a turbomachine is compressed between the rim (8) of the bowl by a support (14) distinct from the platform (10) delimiting the gas flow stream (5) and retained by screws (11) already present to fix the platform to the shell (1). The layout is lighter in weight and the resistance of seal does not depend on the platform (10) exposed to damage.

Turbomachine structures comprise hollow radial arms located between concentric shells, the ends of which consist of rims placed on the shells while leaving a connection clearance between them. A seal is often arranged at this connection to maintain leak tightness, particularly when the hollow arms can provide a pathway for oil leaks that could ignite; the seal would then prevent the fire from propagating outside the arms and spreading around the shell.
In some designs, the seal is formed along the clearance by deposition of a leak tight material that is allowed to set, but the structure assembly time is extended by the need to interrupt other work while waiting for this process to complete. Maintenance of the machine is also complicated if the seal has to be eliminated to separate the arm and disassemble it from the shell, and it also has to be removed again after every operation on the arm.
In document FR-3 010 154-A, the seal is held in place by a support that compresses it in contact with the rim of the arm. This support is a large lip contiguous with the rim that belongs to a platform concentric with the shell and the function of which is to cover the rim of the arms or the vane to shell junctions to restore a smooth circular surface suitable for a gas flow through the turbomachine. Assembly becomes faster, but the design has a disadvantage in that this support significantly increases the weight of the platform; however, there is an ongoing attempt to reduce weight in this technical field. And if the platform breaks, which is possible following the ingestion of solid bodies (hailstones or birds) into the turbomachine, the seal might be unable to retain it and it could escape, creating safety risks.

Connection between a circular shell and a radial structural arm of a turbomachine, comprising a seal and its support


A rotary handle gearshift actuator for operating bicycle gears. The gearshift actuator includes a rotatable housing and a stationary housing. The rotatable housing has a planar surface and including an outer cylinder extending outwardly from the planar surface, the outer cylinder having an inside wall and a recess defined axially in the inside wall. The stationary housing has a planar surface and an inner cylinder extending outwardly from the planar surface of the stationary housing. The inner cylinder has a distal end and a bayonet hook extending radially outwardly from the distal end, the bayonet hook being configured for sliding engagement with the recess of the outer cylinder of the rotatable housing. The inner cylinder of the stationary housing is dimensioned to dispose concentrically within the outer cylinder of the rotatable housing so as to form a bearing point and so that the bayonet hook extends axially beyond the planar surface of the rotatable housing thereby permitting the recess of the rotatable housing to be rotated away from the bayonet of the stationary housing and thereby preventing the inner and outer cylinders from separating axially. The gearshift actuator further includes a latching mechanism for rotatively latching the rotatable housing to the stationary housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gearshift actuators for bicycles and, more particularly, a rotary gearshift actuator having a stationary housing, a rotatable housing and a latching mechanism for interlocking the stationary and rotatable housings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional multiple-gear bicycles employ a derailleur to transfer a bicycle drive chain from one gear sprocket to another. The derailleur is connected to a gearshift actuator through a derailleur control cable so that a bicyclist can select a desired gear by manipulating the gearshift actuator. The gearshift actuator controls movement of the derailleur by adjusting the control cable. For example, pulling the control cable causes the derailleur to shift the drive chain to a larger sprocket, and releasing the control cable permits a return spring to resiliently urge the derailleur to shift the drive chain to a smaller sprocket.
Prior art gearshift actuators, especially those mounted on the handlebar, are convenient to use; however, they do not permit easy installation or replacement of the control cable. For example, DE 44 20 125 A1 discloses a rotary handle gearshift actuator including a handle housing having two half-shell portions, a rotary ring and a carrier affixed to the rotary ring. The handle housing and the rotary ring are connected to each other in the axial direction. Thus, after the handle housing is placed at an end of the handlebar, the rotary ring cannot be easily detached because of the axial joining connection.

Rotary handlebar-mountable gearshift actuator for bicycles


The present invention relates to a vapor recovery system for gas station that is capable of controlling vapor emission to less than 0.38 lbs/1000 gallons fuel dispensed. The system may include at least one canister containing adsorbents such as activated carbon, zeolite, activated alumina, silica, and other adsorbents for passive removal of hydrocarbon vapors in venting air. Additionally, the system may include a means to enhance vapor-liquid equilibrium in the ullage of the fuel tank and accordingly minimize vapor emission level.

Activated carbon has been used for removal of impurities and recovery of useful substances from liquids and gases because of its high adsorptive capacity. Generally, "activation" refers to any of the various processes by which the pore structure is enhanced. Typical commercial activated carbon products exhibit a surface area (as measured by nitrogen adsorption as used in the B.E.T. model) of at least 300 m2/g. Common carbon sources include as resin wastes, coal, coal coke, petroleum coke, lignite, polymeric materials, and lignocellulosic materials including pulp and paper, residues from pulp production, wood, nut shell, kernel, fruit pit, petroleum, carbohydrates, and bone. Typical activation processes involve treatment of carbon sources either thermally with an oxidizing gas or chemically often with phosphoric acid or metal salts such as zinc chloride. U.S. patent No. RE 31,093 teaches a chemical activation of wood-based carbon with phosphoric acid to improve the carbon's decolorizing and gas adsorbing abilities. U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,359 teaches a method of producing activated carbon by treating coal cokes and chars, brown coals or lignite with a mixture of NaOH and KOH and heating to at least 500° C. in and inert atmosphere.
The activated carbon could be in the form of granules, spheres, monoliths, beads, powders or fibers.
California has adopted Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR) regulations for the systems installed at gasoline dispensing facilities for controlling gasoline vapors emitted during the fueling of storage tanks (Phase I) and the refueling of vehicle fuel tanks (Phase II). The gasoline distribution facilities (herein "gas stations") must comply with such adapted regulation by April 2009.
To comply with the new regulatory, about 80% of California gas stations have balanced EVR systems, and about 20% uses vacuum assisted systems. Balanced systems are inherently compatible with on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) equipped vehicles and are generally less expensive than vacuum assisted systems; therefore, they are the major emission control systems adopted by the gas stations.
Vapor recovery systems include all associated dispensers, piping, nozzles, couplers, processing unit (also known as "processor"), underground storage tanks, and any other equipment or components necessary for the control of gasoline vapors during Phase I or Phase II refueling operations at the gas stations. The equipment used to control hydrocarbon emissions from gas station storage tanks is typically known as a storage tank vent "processor." Methods that may be considered for controlling such hydrocarbon emissions include oxidizing the emitted hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, or capturing the emitted hydrocarbons and returning them to the storage tank via a vapor recovery system.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified gas station fuel dispensing system equipped with a balanced vapor recovery system. It includes at least one storage tank 100, typically an underground storage tank or also known as "UST", containing liquid fuel 110 and a vapor space 115 above the liquid fuel level that its volume is commonly referred to as "ullage." The gas station may have one or more fuel dispensing units 201 and 202, typically known as "gas pumps". In FIG. 1, a submersible pump 120 is shown on top of tank 100, although it may be located elsewhere. The submersible pump 120 may be a turbine pump or other types of pump known in the art. As is typical with pumping systems, submersible pump 120 may draw liquid 110 up from within tank 100, through an intake device 125 such as a filter or screen, through a pickup line 122, into submersible pump 120, and then out of the pump through pump outlet line 130 which feeds the fuel dispensing units 201, 202. For gas stations equipped with a balanced vapor recovery system, an air/vapor return line 140 is provided between fuel dispensing units 201, 202 and back to tank 100.
The pressure in tank 100 may vary; therefore, typically a pressure valve (PV) 150 is provided to regulate the tank pressure to values near atmospheric, for example not allowing the tank pressure to depart from atmospheric pressure by more than a few inches water column (w.c). Furthermore, the pressure valve 150 may maintain the tank pressure between an upper (typically slight positive) pressure and a lower (typically slight negative or vacuum) pressure. The pressure valve 150 may comprise one or more physical valves, with one or more piping lines, pressure measuring or detecting devices, control devices, etc. Moreover, several underground storage tanks 100 may be manifolded together to utilize a common pressure valve 150. A vent device 160 may be provided, which may comprise a cover to keep out rain and a flame arrestor for safety. Balanced systems function by operating as a closed system between pressures of about 1.5-3 inches w.c. down to negative pressures (e.g., vacuum) of 3-10 inches w.c.
FIG. 2 depicts a situation when fuel is pumped out of the underground storage tank 100 to a non-ORVR (onboard refueling vapor recovery) vehicle 301. In this example, a metered amount of gasoline from fuel dispensing unit 201 travels though dispensing hose 230 to nozzle 211, and from there into the gas tank of non-ORVR vehicle 301. Simultaneously, an approximately equal volume of air/gasoline vapor is returned through dispenser air/vapor return line 240 back to the fuel dispensing unit 201 and from there through dispenser air/vapor return line 140 to the storage tank 100. Much of this air/gasoline vapor is from within the gas tank of vehicle 301, from which it is displaced by the incoming gasoline. The dispensing hose 230 and dispenser air/vapor return line 240 may be a pair of hoses or a coaxial hose.
In FIG. 2, the approximately equal exchange of fuel from tank 100 to vehicle 301 and air/vapor return from vehicle 301 back to tank 100, results in little pressure change in storage tank 100.
FIG. 3 depicts a situation when fuel is pumped out of the storage tank 100 to an ORVR vehicle 302. The operation is similar to that described above, except that in an ORVR vehicle 302 most of the air/vapor displaced from the vehicle tank by the incoming fuel is vented through the vehicle's own emission control system, the gasoline vapors are adsorbed by the vehicle's activated carbon canister, and the purified air vents to the atmosphere. As denoted by 241, little air/vapor flows back through dispenser air/vapor return line 240, and only a reduced volume of air (and largely devoid of hydrocarbons) is returned to the storage tank 100. The reduced volume of air may be only about 10% of the liquid fuel flow that went into vehicle 302. A net pressure within the storage tank 100 reduces, thereby inducing a flow 161 of makeup air devoid of hydrocarbons (in an amount about 90% of the liquid flow) in through vent device 160 and through the vacuum relief function of pressure valve 150.
In this description, the pressure valve (PV) 150 is used to describe a valve or valves operable under certain conditions to prevent the storage tank 100 from experiencing either an over pressure situation or an under pressure (excessive vacuum) situation. Typically such a system of valves allows air or air/vapors to move in and out of the storage tank 100 under controlled pressure conditions.
Due to the fluid flows as described here, while the gas station is open for business and actively filling a proportion of ORVR-equipped vehicles with gasoline, the net pressure within the storage tank 100 remains under a slight vacuum. After a number of ORVR-equipped vehicles 302 have been filled, the storage tank 100 vacuum may drop low enough for the vacuum relief function of PV valve 150 to open and allow fresh air 161 to enter the storage tank 100 to make up for the dispensed liquid fuel. The makeup air 161 is devoid of hydrocarbons and dilutes the air in the tank ullage 115, thereby reducing the hydrocarbon concentration in the vapor phase. To restore equilibrium, the vapor pressure of the gasoline causes it to partition from the liquid fuel volume 110 to the ullage 115 vapor phase, resulting in a volume/pressure increase within the storage tank 100. While the gas station is open and actively fueling vehicles, the net result is such that the storage tank 100 pressure remains negative and the concentration of gasoline vapors in the tank ullage 115 remains below saturation (for example at about 85%-98% of saturation).
FIG. 4 depicts the situation during periods when the station refueling is inactivity, for example during slow business hours or at night. The partitioning of gasoline from the liquid 110 to the vapor phase 115 to reach a state of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) can cause the storage tank pressure to increase to a level that exceeds the upper pressure limit of pressure valve(s) PV 150, which causes the valve to open and allow air/gasoline vapor 165 to vent to the open atmosphere. The new California Phase II regulations require that the 30-day-average pressure within a tank must not exceed 0.25 inches w.c. (in calculating this average, negative pressures are treated as a value of zero gauge pressure), and the daily pressure cannot exceed 1.5 inches w.c. One purpose of this pressure requirement is to minimize fugitive emissions that can leak from a storage tank and associated equipment. Additionally, vapor emissions may not exceed 0.38 lbs/1000 gallons of fuel dispensed, which implies a total vapor recovery rate of better than 95%.
The balanced EVR systems relies on a relatively "high" vacuum (down to about −8 inches w.c.) to minimize vapor venting emissions. The pressure valve required for regulating the vacuum or pressure within the tank renders the system troublesome. It must be certified and demand regular maintenance or replacement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,807 discloses an auxiliary vapor recovery device for use with a fuel dispenser that includes a vacuum pump and a canister containing adsorbent for removal of hydrocarbons from a vapor/air mixture. The vacuum pump draws air/vapor from the ullage of storage tanks through the canister for removal of hydrocarbon vapor and release of air. Additionally, the vacuum pump draws desorbed gasoline vapors from the spent adsorbent canister. U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,849 teaches a vapor recovery system for fuel storage tank that includes a pair of adsorbent canisters for alternative recovering volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the fuel tank ullage. While one canister adsorbs VOC, the other canister is regenerated by exhausting the VOC vapors from the VOC canisters back into the fuel tank ullage using a vacuum pump. These aforementioned vapor recovery systems require vacuum pump to actively draw vapor/air in the ullage of the fuel tank and desorb the VOC to regenerate the spent adsorbent. The requirement of vacuum pump in such vapor recovery systems consumes additional energy for operation and increases burden in maintenance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,856 teaches a method for controlling pressure in the ullage space of an underground storage tank of volatile liquid fuel. The vapor/air in the ullage is treated or conditioned inside a gaseous flow conditioning apparatus to increase the fuel vapor concentration of the gaseous flow toward saturation, and then released into the fuel tank. The gaseous flow conditioning apparatus may contain at least one chamber where the gaseous flow is passed through a liquid fuel mist chamber or a close proximity of a fuel-wetted mesh. Additionally, the gaseous flow conditioning apparatus may comprise a chamber in which the gaseous flow is entrained into a stream of liquid fuel, and then delivered into a volume of liquid fuel inside the fuel tank. This method of controlling vapor emission requires a separate gaseous flow conditioning apparatus that conditions the gaseous flow in a manner to enhance vapor-liquid equilibrium prior to delivering the gaseous flow into the fuel tank, either to the ullage portion or liquid-filled portion of the fuel tank. The separate gaseous flow conditioning apparatus requires additional capital and installation cost.
Accordingly, there is a need for vapor recovery systems that do not require the use of vacuum pump, or other forced air/vapor system, thereby allowing the systems to control the vapor emission passively, yet effectively at lower energy consumption and maintenance cost.
Furthermore, there is a demand for vapor recovery systems that do not require additional gaseous flow conditioning apparatus in order to reduce capital, operation, and maintenance costs.
It is, therefore, an object of the present to provide for vapor recovery systems that effectively control the vapor emission from the gas station, yet do not require a vacuum pump to actively draw vapor/air from the ullage space and/or a separate gaseous flow conditioning apparatus, thereby rendering the ease of operating and maintaining the systems, as well as lowering the energy and cost for operating such systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide vapor recovery systems that meet the new California regulations for vapor emission of less than 0.38 lbs/1000 gallons fuel dispensed yet without pressure relieve valve in order to simplify system operation and maintenance, as well as to maintain a UST pressure near ambient and ensure regulatory pressure profile compliance of less than 0.25 inches w.c.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide vapor recovery systems having means to enhance the gasoline VLE equilibrium in the tank ullage, thereby minimizing vapor growth and potential venting of air and hydrocarbons to the atmosphere.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide canisters containing regenerable adsorbents that are capable of controlling the vapor emission level to below 0.38 lbs/1000 gallons fuel dispensed (i.e, greater than 95% control efficiency).
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Control of vapor emissions from gasoline stations


A method for testing communication channels of a satellite using a 16-bit n-length compression algorithm wherein the most significant bit (MSB) is used to represent the errored or not errored condition of the compression algorithm. Error patterns are read and downloaded into a PC interface card which decompresses the file real time and passes the error pattern to a bit error rate summer board. The bit rate summer board overlays the error pattern onto the communication links of the satellite which causes precise bits to be errored accordingly.

There exists test systems which allow systems engineers to inject bit errors into communications systems in order to analyze the effect of error on the communications system. The currently available devices assume that the communications channel has at least one of two types of error distribution. The first assumption is that the channel has a gaussian distribution of errors. This first assumption allows the devices to inject random errors of which the average error rate will center around a programmable value, e.g., 1.times.10.sup.-6. The second assumption is that the channel errors are of a bursty nature. In accordance with the second assumption, devices for testing cause bursts of error with each error typically having a gaussian distribution at various intervals. For example, the device may be programmed to cause burst errors at a user defined rate (burst density) for a user defined interval (burst length) with a user defined interval of none errors (burst gap).
In certain military satellites, there is a requirement to test communication links with error patterns which are not gaussian and do not fall within the bursty assumptions applied to existing devices. These requirements are also of use with commercial satellites and terrestrial RF communications devices.
In both military and commercial satellites, the communications systems thereof must be modeled, simulated and tested before deployment. Each communication system has various inherent environmental conditions which fall into a gaussian or bursty nature and can be detected utilizing existing devices; however, many situations are arising which do not fall into either of these two categories and can only be tested accurately by injecting precise error patterns generated from computer simulations. Computer simulations may reflect BER patterns which arise in civilian applications from antennae design, collocation of antennas and noisy environments in civilian satellites. In military satellites, unique error patterns arise from the same sources as in civilian applications but also include jamming as well as friendly interference.

Method for testing communications channels

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


A work mounting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a rotating drum divided into upper and lower drums, a head unit arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating drum or the lower drum, a circular work head attached to the head unit, and a suction nozzle protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the work head toward a workbench. While the lower drum is rotating, the suction nozzle of the work head repeats cycloid motion along the workbench with its posture or orientation kept fixed with respect to the workbench. While repeating the cycloid motion, the nozzle receives a work from a work feeder of the workbench by suction, and mounts the work on a printed board on the workbench. The work mounting apparatus further includes a balance weight for the work head, and a friction brake for applying a frictional force to the turning shaft of the work head, to thereby stabilize the turning motion of the work head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work mounting apparatus for mounting an IC chip or some other electronic component, as a work, on a printed board.
2. Description of the Related Art
A work mounting apparatus of this type is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 62-114290, for example. This conventional apparatus comprises a rotating table and a plurality of suction heads arranged at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral edge of the table. Each suction head is capable of up-and-down motion.
A workbench is disposed under the rotating table, and a work supply section and a work mounting section are arranged on the workbench at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the table. A plurality of work feeders are radially arranged in the supply section, while a printed board is disposed in the mounting section.
When one of the suction heads is positioned in one of the work feeders of the supply section as the table rotates, the rotation of the table is stopped. In this state, the suction head is lowered, receives a work from the work feeder by suction, and is then raised to its original position. When the rotation of the table is restarted, thereafter, the suction head is transferred from the supply section to the mounting section. When the suction head is positioned in the mounting section, the rotation of the table is stopped again. In this state, the suction head is lowered again, whereupon the work is released from the suction, so that it is mounted on the printed board in the mounting section.
According to the work mounting apparatus described above, the rotation of the table must be stopped every time the suction head is move up or down, that is, every time the work is received or mounted in the supply or mounting section. In other words, the rotation of the table and the operation of the suction head are performed intermittently, so that the tact time cannot be shortened, and therefore, the work mounting efficiency is low.
In these circumstances, there is a demand for continuous-type work mounting apparatuses in which works can be received and mounted without stopping the rotation of the table.
In one such continuous-type mounting apparatus, for example, a continuously rotatable drum, which is used in place of the rotating table, is surrounded by a plurality of work heads which repeat up-and-down motion as they turn. More specifically, the work heads turn around a turning axis which extends in the radial direction of the rotating drum, and their respective postures are kept fixed during the turning motion.
Thus, if a suction nozzle is provided protruding downward from each work head, it can repeat up-and-down motion while moving in the circumferential direction of the rotating drum, as the drum rotates and as the work head turns.
If the turning speed and turning direction of the work head are properly set with respect to the peripheral speed of the rotating drum, moreover, the relative speed of the suction nozzle with respect to the supply and mounting sections, that is, the ground speed, can be reduced substantially to zero when the suction nozzle lowers so that the supply and mounting sections come closest to each other. Even while the rotating drum is being continuously rotated, therefore, the suction nozzle of the work head can securely receive a work from one of the work feeders of the supply section by suction, and then mount the received work head on a printed board in the mounting section.
In the above continuous-type work mounting apparatus, however, if the up-and-down motion of the suction nozzle in association with the rotation of the drum, i.e., the cycloid motion of the work head, is unstable, the work cannot be accurately mounted in the target mounting position on the printed board, or even the mounting of the work in the mounting position cannot be carried out.
On the other hand, to permit the works to be taken out from different work feeders, the cycle of the cycloid motion need by variable.
Thus, the cycloid motion of the work head must be controlled with high accuracy, and to this end, stable turning of the work head is essential.
The work head, however, has a relatively large mass, and the turning speed thereof is liable to change during one turning motion.
Further, the turning shaft of the work head is usually connected to the drive source by means of gear train, and therefore, backlash of the meshed gears is unavoidable. If the backlash is large, undesirable variation in the rotation of the turning shaft occurs, which is a major cause of instability of the turning speed of the work head.
A belt-type planetary mechanism, for example, may be employed to keep the posture of the work head fixed during the turn of the work head. More specifically, such a planetary mechanism may comprise a toothed pulley provided at the outer periphery of the turning shaft, a toothed pulley arranged coaxially with the axis of the work head, and a toothed belt passed around and between these pulleys. If the planetary mechanism of this type is used, the rotation of the work head is restrained by the toothed belt during the turn of the work head, and consequently, the posture of the work head can be kept fixed.
The work mounting apparatus is further provided with correction means for correcting the posture of the work after the work is attracted to the suction nozzle, and this correction means is indispensable in order to accurately mount the work on the printed board.
In the case of the above planetary mechanism, however, it is difficult to continually maintain the same state of engagement of the toothed belt with the paired pulleys during the turn of the work head. Namely, the teeth of the pulleys and belts are subject to pitch error when they are manufactured. Thus, a slight variation occurs in the posture of the work head during the turning motion, adversely affecting the correction of the work posture by the correction means.


Failure detection in a phased array antenna system is accomplished using a cluster-oriented detection scheme and a mutual coupling test signal injection technique. RF BITE TRM (110) is connected to an RF BITE port (120) on an illuminating means (140). Illuminating means (140) provides a uniform input signal level to many TRMs (150). Each TRM (150) is connected to an antenna element (210). Controller (170) causes one element (220) in a cluster to operate in a transmit mode and causes other elements (230) to operate in a receive mode. Internal detectors in TRMs (150) are used to detect signal levels, and these detected signal levels are used to identify failure modes. This cluster search method operates well for many types of phased arrays including rectangular and triangular lattices, planar and conformal apertures, single frequency and shared aperture types.

Space-based communication systems are being designed and deployed by a number of different organizations. Space-based systems provide unique opportunities and problems because of the space environment. One problem is test and failure identification. This problem is particularly important to antennas because there is not usually a great deal of redundancy included in the antennas due to the size limitations.
Phased array antennas have been used extensively on-board satellites. Prior art systems have included extra hardware to perform on-orbit testing of the phased array antennas. This leads to increased launch costs and decreased payload functionality.
A significant need exists for apparatus and methods for providing more efficient testing and failure identification within a particular satellite antenna system. In addition, there is a significant need for apparatus and methods for increasing the utilization of the on-board resources of orbiting satellites through small modifications to the test strategies.

Phased array radio frequency (RF) built-in-test equipment (BITE) apparatus and method of operation therefor


A method of decarburizing molten metal in the refining of steel using neural networks with a first neural network trained to analyze data representative of many process periods of one or more decarburization operations for providing an oxygen count for a preselected gas ratio of oxygen to diluent gas to cause the temperature of the molten metal bath to be decarburized to rise to a specified aim temperature and with a second neural network trained to analyze data representative of many process periods of one or more decarburization operations for providing an output schedule of oxygen counts to be injected into the bath to reduce the carbon level to a predetermined aim level in one or more successive stages corresponding to a preselected schedule of ratios of oxygen to diluent gas.

A process which has received wide acceptance in the steel industry for refining metal is the argon-oxygen decarburization process also referred to as the "AOD" process. It is the purpose of AOD refining to first remove carbon from a bath of metal, next reduce any metals that may have oxidized during decarburization, and finally adjust the temperature and chemistry of the bath before casting the metal into a product. Decarburization is achieved by injecting mixtures of oxygen and inert gases in such a way as to favor the oxidation of carbon over the oxidation of other metal components present in the bath. At progressively lower carbon contents during the process of decarburization progressively greater dilution of the oxygen by inert gases is injected to favor the oxidation or removal of carbon.
Relationships between the bath weight, chemistry, and temperature, the injections of oxygen and inert gases, and the resultant changes in metal chemistry and temperature have been theorized to achieve both control and understanding of how to optimize the economics of the process. Thermodynamic models have tracked the general relationships between these parameters, but have limited accuracy and have not obviated the need for intermediate sampling of the bath temperature and chemistry in processing any given heat of metal. Some theorists have adopted the approach that the decarburization reaction may be better understood, and hence controlled, by considering the chemical kinetics of the competing oxidations of carbon and the various metal species present. It follows that approaches incorporating both thermodynamic and kinetic considerations have also been constructed. Finally, statistical approaches have been used to empirically model decarburization in an AOD converter.
The traditional modeling of the decarburization cycle of the AOD operation requires not only a comprehensive understanding of how to represent the thermodynamics and/or kinetics for use in a computer program, but also requires the knowledge of many properties of the species involved in the reactions. For instance, normal thermodynamic modeling requires the knowledge of at least 25 pertinent interaction coefficients. The free enthalpies and entropies associated with each potential reaction must also be known as well as a representative pressure exerted on the bubbles passing through and reacting with the bath. Kinetic models that are based on assumptions that diffusion, adsorption and desorption rates significantly affect the relative extents to which the competing oxidation reactions occur are similarly dependent on accurate knowledge of these rates with respect to temperature and base composition. They must also be capable of modeling the surface areas, velocities of the bubbles relative to the surrounding liquid, and the residence times of the bubbles in the metal phase. Thus, the modeling of decarburization based on chemical theories is subject to many items of data being all accurately measured. They also require a correct understanding of the mechanisms of the various reactions. Since models are deficient in at least one of these two requirements, it is normal for known physical "constants" to be altered to make the results of the model fit actual results better. Due to the complexity of these models, great skill is required to adjust the parameters to improve the overall accuracy of an entire population of results. Often it is found that one particular solution or combination of adjusted constants is optimal for representing the results of only one particular set of working conditions. That is, solutions tend not to be general, but rather geared to specific small sets of data for which they were adjusted.
In spite of the variety of approaches, inaccuracies remain and some form of measuring the carbon content during the decarburization process step is normally required. This usually necessitates halting the process, withdrawing a metal sample, analyzing the carbon content and measuring the bath temperature before resuming. Lack of process control during decarburization not only necessitates extra sampling, but precludes operation at the optimal conditions for cost reduction and production maximization.
A computerized system using "neural networks" benefits from the fact that a theoretical understanding of decarburization is not required. Knowledge of the physical properties of the species and thermodynamic and kinetic reactions involved is also not required nor are the heat transfer properties of the reactor vessel required. Given the pertinent input parameters, a neural network can evaluate the input data and provide appropriate output data for controlling the decarburization operation based upon the recognition of patterns between the input and output data which it has learned through a learning or training procedure involving the evaluation of random examples presented to the neural network thousands of times.
The processing of a computer to perform parallel distributive processing logic based upon neural models which simulate the operation of the human brain is, in general, referred to as "neural networks". A neural network utilizes numerous nonlinear elements referred to as "neurons" to simulate the function of neurons in a human brain with each neuron representing a processing element. Each processing element is connected to other processing elements through a connecting weight or "synapse" which is combined by summation. The connecting weights are modified by adaptive learning from multiple examples. Once trained, the neural network is capable of recognizing a pattern between the input and output data which may be utilized, as hereinafter explained in detail, to provide information for controlling a decarburization operation without concern for the thermodynamic activity of the constituents in the bath and/or the kinetics of the reactions. The bath represents the mass of molten metal which is transferred to a refractory lined vessel to be refined in accordance with the present invention.

Method of decarburizing molten metal in the refining of steel using neural networks


A fiber processing system includes a fiber processing machine having a sliver guiding element through which a sliver runs; and a separate device which generates a low pneumatic pressure and which supplies a pneumatic stream to the sliver guiding element.

This invention relates to a textile processing machine such as a drawing frame, a carding machine or the like which utilizes pneumatic pressure and which has at least one sliver guiding element such as a sliver trumpet through which the sliver runs and which is supplied with pressurized air.
In known drawing frames whose upper drawing rolls are loaded pneumatically, a central pneumatic conduit for the drawing frames is provided. From the central pneumatic conduit several branch conduits lead to the individual drawing frames. The pressure in the central pneumatic conduit and in the branch conduits is high (approximately 6-8 bar); for loading the upper rolls high pressure is required. The quantity of the pressurized air, however, is small because it is consumed only during the loading of the upper rolls. In contrast, the pressurized air which is supplied to the sliver trumpet has a low pressure of, approximately, 0.4 bar, and the quantity of air consumed by the sliver trumpet is large because a continuous supply of the air stream is needed. Conventionally, in order to generate the low pressure for the pressurized air stream intended for the sliver trumpet, in each branch conduit a pressure reducing valve is inserted. This arrangement is disadvantageous in that the generation of a large quantity of pressurized air of low pressure for the sliver trumpet involves a high energy input, resulting in a low efficiency of energy utilization.

Textile processing machine having pneumatic pressure-generating means


A transfer member of an image forming material for electrophotography, the transfer member including a substrate and an image receiving layer disposed on at least one surface of the substrate. The image receiving layer includes at least a releasing material and has a surface resistivity of 1.0×108 to 3.2×1013Ω/□ at 23° C. and 55% RH.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer member (transfer sheet) of an image forming material for electrophotography for forming (recording) a fine image on an image recording member using an electrophotographic image forming device. The invention also relates to a member having an image recorded thereon, a method for producing a member having an image recorded thereon by using the transfer member, and an apparatus for producing the member having an image recorded thereon using the transfer member. More specifically, the invention relates to a transfer member (sheet) of an image forming material for electrophotography for forming a printed image, a method for producing a member having an image recorded thereon using the same, an apparatus for producing a member having an image recorded thereon, and a member having an image recorded thereon which are used for image-containing bodies such as non-contact type or contact-type information recording media including personal information and image information, e.g., a cash card with a facial portrait, an employee ID card, a student ID card, a personal membership card, a residency ID card, various driver's licenses and various qualification certificates, an RFID tag, an image sheet for identification for use in medical institutions or the like, an image display board, a display label or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as image forming technologies have developed, means for forming images having the same quality in large numbers and at low cost by various printing methods such as image intaglio printing, surface printing, planography, gravure printing and screen printing have been known. Such printing methods are used frequently for the preparation of information recording media that include predetermined information and are capable of communicating with an outer device in a contact or non-contact manner, such as an IC card, a magnetic card and an optical card, or a combination thereof.
However, for example, the above screen printing requires many printing plates corresponding to the number of images to be printed. Furthermore, in the case of color printing, more printing plates are additionally required corresponding to the number of colors. Accordingly, these printing methods are not suitable for dealing with individual personal information for identification (e.g., facial portraits, legal names, addresses, dates of birth, various licenses or the like).
The current mainstream of image forming means for dealing with the above-mentioned problems includes image forming methods using a printer employing a sublimatic or a melt-type heat transfer system using an ink ribbon or the like. Such methods can easily print personal information for identification, but still have problems in that resolution decreases with an increase in printing velocity and in that printing velocity decreases with an increase in resolution.
Furthermore, for the heat transfer system, methods for printing on an image recording member using an intermediate transfer member have been disclosed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 5-096871, 7-068812, 8-142365, 8-156302, 9-314875 and 11-291646). However, in each case, a thin colored layer transferred from an ink sheet is formed on the surface of an intermediate transfer member, and unless this colored layer is firmly transferred to the image recording member, fine image quality cannot be obtained. In addition, since the image quality is basically determined by concavity and convexity of the surface of the image recording member, the image quality is maintained by providing a rubber-like elastic layer on the intermediate transfer member so as to increase the adhesion to the image recording member, adhering firmly by pressure, and transferring the image. The surface layer of the intermediate transfer member is basically designed so as to have releasing property, but a rigid surface layer cannot be used because the surface layer is required to follow the above rubber-like elastic layer. Accordingly, silicone or fluorine rubber is specifically used for the surface layer.
On the other hand, image forming (printing) by an electrophotographic system is carried out by a method of uniformly charging the surface of the image recording member, exposing the surface of an image recording member according to an image signal, forming an electrostatic latent image by potential difference between the exposed portion and the non-exposed portion, and statically developing color powder (image forming material), which is called toner and has the opposite (or the same) polarity to that of the charged potential to form a visible image (toner image) on the surface of the image recording member surface. A color image is obtained by a method of repeating the above-mentioned steps several times, or a method of placing plural image forming devices in parallel to form color visible images, and transferring and fixing (fixation: fixing mainly by fusing of color powder by heat and cooling thereof) these images onto the image recording member to provide a color image.
As mentioned above, according to the electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image is electrically formed on the surface of the image recording member using an image signal. Therefore, not only can the same image be formed repeatedly, but the method can easily deal with different images to carry out image formation. Furthermore, the toner image on the surface of the image recording member can be transferred almost completely to the surface of the transfer member or the image recording medium, and residual traces of the toner image remaining on the surface of the image recording member can be easily removed using a resin blade, a brush or the like. Accordingly, printed articles to be produced in various kinds and in small amounts can be easily produced.
The toner is generally formed by melt mixing a hot melt resin and a pigment, along with additives such as an antistatic agent when necessary, and grinding the kneaded product to form microparticles. Furthermore, since the electrostatic latent image obtained in the electrophotographic system has higher resolution than that of the microparticulated toner, more sufficient resolution can be expected as compared with the resolution obtained by the above-mentioned screen printing or heat transfer system using an ink ribbon.
For the color image, quality of color similar to that obtained by printing can be reproduced theoretically by mixing color toners of the four elementary colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Furthermore, since toner resins and pigments can be mixed relatively freely for the color toners, image masking property by the toners can be easily enhanced.
In addition, heat resistance and light resistance of an information recording medium assuming outdoor use has been investigated little. Specifically, when a driver's license is placed in direct sunlight in a vehicle, a heat-transfer type image using a dye as a color material is decolorized. On the other hand, in the case of a color image formed by an electrophotographic system, the light resistance of the image formed by the electrophotographic system is considered to be sufficiently excellent because the color toner comprises pigments having excellent light resistance corresponding to the colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Similarly, it is considered that the heat resistance of the image formed on the information recording medium can be increased to the level that allows outdoor use by choosing and using a toner having heat resistance.
Moreover, a substrate (core) most frequently used for various cards at the present time is a vinyl chloride sheet, since it has excellent printing property and excellent embossing suitability (concavity and convexity treatment for letters or the like) for use in conventional printing machines. However, the vinyl chloride sheet has a problem in that dioxin is generated when cards disposed due to expiration or the like are burned in a heating furnace or the like. Accordingly, in view of effect on the environment, various sheet films are currently used for the purpose of excluding use of vinyl chloride.
For the preparation of a card, based on the presupposition that embossing is not carried out, a conventional biaxial oriented PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film or the like can be used. However, in many cases, embossing is indispensable for maintaining the conventional functions of cards. Accordingly, an ABS resin film and a polyolefin resin film, which soften at relatively low temperature, a modified PET resin film called as PETG, which is obtained by copolymerizing at least ethyleneglycol, terephthalic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, an integrally-molded film of a modified PET resin film and a PET film, amorphous PET resin film or polycarbonate resin film or the like are currently used.
As an example of a method for printing on various cards using the above-mentioned electrophotographic apparatus, for example, JP-A No. 2001-92255 discloses a method of printing an invisible barcode as well as personal information on a vinyl chloride sheet having a thickness of 250 μm or a polyester sheet having a thickness of 280 μm by electrophotographic means, superposing an overcoat film on the printed surface, and laminating the film using a heat press.
However, the above-mentioned sheet has poor sheet conveying property because the frictional coefficient between the sheets is too high and the sheets adhere firmly. Therefore, the electrophotographic apparatus stops, and in the case where the above-mentioned insulator (sheet) having a thickness of no less than 250 μm is used, the image forming material (toner) is difficult to transfer sufficiently, which sometimes leads to increased deficiency of an image. Furthermore, when the resin film that softens at comparatively low temperature is used for the electrophotographic apparatus to try to form an image, there arises a problem in that adhesiveness property is exhibited during the step for fixing because the fixing temperature is higher than the softening temperature of the film, and the film winds around the fixing device and causes jamming. In addition, when the image forming material offsets on the fixing device or when the fixing of the sheet having a thickness of not less than 250 μm is continued, the fixing device is unnecessarily damaged by edges of the sheet, which frequently requires replacement of components.
As another example, JP-A No. 11-334265 discloses a method for printing personal information for identification on a light transmission sheet in which the printing is carried out using a mirror image. However, the document merely discloses that the light transmissive laminate sheet is preferably a film at least a part of which comprises a biaxial oriented polyester film, ABS or polyester (a biaxial oriented polyester film) and that vinyl chloride may be used.
Accordingly, since the film is merely an insulating material in this document, transfer deficiency of the image forming material on the film surface or the like may occur, and a similar level of resolution to that obtained by a heat transfer system or the like cannot be obtained. Furthermore, since this device puts emphasis on the improvement of productivity and the laminate sheet used for the device has a rolled shape, there arises a problem in that great loss and waste are generated upon dealing with the production of urgent matter or various kinds or the like, such as different printing for cards for one to several persons.
Furthermore, when an information recording medium is produced using the above laminate sheet, plural sheets are superposed, which provides a thick recording medium as a whole. For example, when an information recording medium having a thickness of about 800 μm is used, the above-mentioned method sometimes cannot deal with the demands of the medium.
In addition, automation of a step for conveying and stacking a laminate sheet or the like on which an image has been fixed and a plastic substrate and a step for laminating, as well as a step for forming an image on a laminate sheet, have been investigated little. Therefore, in view of improvement of productivity, further design of the above steps and the production device is required.

Transfer member of image forming material for electrophotography and member having image recorded thereon using the same


An integrated device includes a micro-lens and an opto-electronic device can be formed on a single substrate. The opto-electronic device may be one or more photodetectors and the micro-lens may be shaped to allow partial absorption of light incident to the micro-lens by the photodetectors. The integrated device is capable of simultaneously performing position detection, signal monitoring, and focusing/collimation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the monolithic integration of opto-electronic components and optical components and, more particularly, the monolithic integration of a photodetector and an optical micro-lens for signal-monitoring in an optical switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increasing demands for high-speed Internet service and wireless communications are soon expected to outstrip current telecommunications capacity. Telecommunications carriers are turning to optical fiber networks in an effort to meet future needs. Optical fiber networks are capable of transmitting huge volumes of data at blinding speeds.
In order to implement tomorrow""s optical fiber networks, the telecommunications industry is looking for new optical systems that are inexpensive, energy efficient, and that may be efficiently scaled for use with a growing number of optical signals. Currently, optical systems often include optical lenses, which are used to refract or diffract light beams. Optical lenses may be used for a variety of purposes, including to focus light onto the core of an optical fiber so that the light may be transmitted through the optical fiber. It is important to focus as much of the light as possible onto the optical fiber core to reduce losses.
Optical systems also use a variety of opto-electronic devices. Examples of opto-electronic devices include lasers, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and photodetectors. Each of these devices may be built from semiconductor materials. Lasers and light-emitting diodes generate light. The generated light may be used in a number of ways. Photodetectors are devices used to detect light for a variety of purposes. The detected light is converted into electrical signals. In some applications, photodetectors may be used for control purposes, e.g., to detect the presence or absence of a light beam, the signal quality, and/or the strength or intensity of the light beam. For example, photodetectors may be used to detect the presence or position of a light beam to ensure the proper alignment of two components. Photodetectors may also be used to detect the intensity of a light beam.
Lenses and photodetectors are typically built separately. In a conventional arrangement for detecting a light beam and directing a light beam onto an optical fiber, the light beam must be split into two paths. One path is directed to the photodetector, which detects the light beam. The other path is directed to a lens, which focuses the light beam onto the optical fiber. This arrangement suffers from several problems. Among other deficiencies, the arrangement occupies a relatively large area and requires precise alignment of the individual components. Any disturbance can misalign the components, impairing operation.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has as an object to provide an integrated arrangement of an opto-electronic component, a beam-splitter, and an optical lens.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an inexpensive optical device combining an opto-electronic component, a beam-splitter, and an optical lens.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact arrangement of a photodetector, a beam-splitter, and an optical lens.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple method of forming an integrated device combining an opto-electronic component, a beam-splitter, and an optical lens.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of using an integrated device combining an opto-electronic component, a beam-splitter, and an optical lens.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Monolithic integration of signal-monitoring scheme in an optical switch


An IOL delivery device which has a macro movement actuator which is actuateable to move an IOL into position in the device for the IOL to be delivered, and a micro movement actuator comprising at least one pivotable member which is pivotable to deliver the IOL to the eye. The pivotable member may comprise one or more wheels that are rotatable using one's finger.

The present invention generally relates to an intraocular lens (IOL) delivery device used for inserting an IOL into an aphakic mammalian eye that has undergone, for example, a cataract surgery or into a phakic eye in refractive surgery.
Elimination of an opacified crystal lens through an ultrasonic emulsification and implantation of a lens into an eye that has undergone the elimination of a crystal lens are commonly carried out in cataract surgeries. Currently, a soft IOL (such as is disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0082463) made of a soft material, such as a silicone elastomer or a soft acrylic material, is used; an optical part of the IOL is folded by an IOL lens folder (such as is disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0270876) insertion device, the IOL in this state is pushed by a plunger to drive the lens out of a nozzle, and insert it into an eye through an incision made to be smaller than the diameter of the optical part.
IOL insertion devices are designed to insert an IOL into an eye through a tiny incision in order to reduce the possibility of a corneal astigmatism or an infection following surgery. To reduce the possibility of a corneal astigmatism or an infection following surgery, it is desirable to minimize the incision used for inserting an IOL into an eye as much as possible. This requirement in turn places additional demands upon the IOL delivery device.
In order to further reduce the size of the incision, it is necessary to fold an IOL into a smaller size to accommodate the miniaturization of the incision. Folding an IOL into a smaller size while attempting to push it through the necessarily small folder increases friction between the lens and folder thereby resulting in increased resistance to advancement of the plunger used to push a lens out of the IOL delivery device and into an eye. The IOL delivery device plunger must therefore be driven with great force, but in a very controlled manner and without a quick surge of stored energy upon release of the IOL into the eye as it exits the folder's delivery tube.
Syringe like, manually driven delivery devices are hard for users to control, particularly when the IOL exits the folder's tube and the large force necessary for delivery drops almost immediately to zero. Upon this transition of force, there exists a real possibility for the user to lose control of the device tip inserted within the miniature incision and cause tearing or injury to the eye. Similarly, manually operated screw based IOL delivery devices tend to deliver lenses very slowly; they can require two hands to operate, and the user motion necessary to operate them results in moving, pulling and pushing of the IOL folder's tube against the miniature incision which again risks tearing the tissue. Many surgeons prefer to have one hand free to help steady the patient's eye during lens implantation. Electrically driven (i.e., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,354,333; 8,308,736 and 8,808,308), hydraulically controlled (i.e., United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0255579 and European Patent No. EP 0937443), high pressure gas driven (i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 8,998,983 and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0282928) and spring driven (European Patent No. 0937443 and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0088149) types of delivery mechanisms have been contemplated and/or introduced into the marketplace. While these forms of delivery devices can free the surgeon's second hand to assist in the procedure, they often suffer the drawbacks of excess weight, poor balance, mechanical complexity and high expense.
Surgeons performing cataract removal and IOL insertion prefer to execute the procedure expeditiously in order to minimize potential to further traumatize the eye. Additionally, many eye clinics schedule successive procedures closely together in order to utilize the surgeon's time most efficiently. Further, additional handling of lenses by clinic personnel risk damaging the IOLs from handling or misloading them into cartridges and IOL folders which could result in complications during their delivery to the patients eye. Makers of IOLs, recognizing this need for efficiency and error proofing have therefore begun providing IOLs prepackaged sterile, in cartridges having the folder already attached (see, for example, United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0270881). Others have designed special IOL receiving cartridges to simplify loading of IOLs for the clinician in order to reduce human error. These cartridges and IOL folders may be provided as an integral part of the overall delivery device (shown, for example, in United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013/0226193 and 2014/0200589) or in many instances are provided to be retained by special receiving features built into a universal delivery device containing the necessary plunger and drive mechanism to push a lens through the cartridge and folder and into an eye (shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,854).
Typically, makers of IOLs have developed dedicated cartridges and folders that work best with their lens design. Further, these lens makers have, in many cases, developed bespoke plunger tip geometries (examples are shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,733,507; 8,114,095; 8,308,736; 8,758,433; and 8,998,983; as well as United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0086146; 2010/0217273 and 2010/0228261) for the plunger that works best with the features and design of their specific lens, cartridge and folder members.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Intraocular lens delivery device and method of use


A stringed-instrument slide (100) which is a truncated conical shell with the narrower end at the top (110) and with a roughly semi-circular cut-away (150) along the base (130), so a substantial portion of the mass is below the level of the finger-palm joint. The mass of the slide (100) is predominantly born by the region of contact of the slide (100) with the palm (98) rather than along the pinky (99) so the slide (100) has the sensation of being “balanced” and relatively “weightless” on the pinky (99) and the pressure applied by the pinky (90) corresponds closely to the actual pressure of the slide (100) on the strings, and the forces and torques required to move the slide (100) onto and off of the strings is reduced, thereby facilitating play, particularly rapid and/or nuanced play.

A popular method of guitar playing involves the use of a glass or metal cylinder worn on a finger to provide a slideable stop on one or more strings. The location of the slide along a string determines the pitch of the string when played. The position is continuously adjustable (as opposed to a fretted string where a string is pushed against one of a finite number of metal frets on the instrument) so glissandos and vibratos can be easily produced through motions of the slide along the string.
Stringed-instrument slides are typically cylindrical shells, i.e., the outer surface which contacts the instrument strings is cylindrical and the inner surface into which a finger is inserted is a coaxial cylindrical surface. Metal slides are lathe machined or cut from metal tubing. Glass slides were originally made from the necks or top portions of bottles, and the style of play is still often called bottle-neck slide. An advantage of simple cylindrical slides or slides with cylindrical symmetry is that if their diameter is sufficiently large they can be used on any finger. Another advantage of cylindrical slides or slides with cylindrical symmetry is that if the slide suffers a chip or scratch in one area, it can be rotated and an undamaged part of the surface can be used.
However, cylindrical slides have the disadvantage that the center of mass of the slide is located substantially above the finger-palm joint, typically by the length of somewhere between one and two finger joints. Therefore, the playing finger must bear the weight of the slide when the slide is held at an angle from vertical. Furthermore, the displacement of the center of mass from the pivot point at the finger-palm joint means that a substantial force is required to raise and lower the slide from the instrument strings. Furthermore, slide players generally prefer a tight fit of the slide on a finger, so slide manufacturers generally have to manufacture slides in a variety of sizes to fit a variety of finger sizes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide with geometry, dimensions and weight distribution facilitating responsiveness, nuanced play, ease of use, etc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide for low-fretted stringed instruments and low string-tension stringed instruments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the base is contoured so that a substantial portion of weight of the slide is born on the palm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the weight distribution is balanced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide with geometry, dimensions and weight distribution that reduces the weight born by the finger operating the slide.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide with geometry, dimensions and weight distribution that reduces the moment of inertia and therefore the torques and forces required to operate the slide.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the center of mass is lowered.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the center of mass is near the finger-palm joint.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the base is contoured so that a substantial portion of mass of the slide is located below the level of the finger-palm joint.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide which teeters on the finger with a pivot point at or near the top of the palm.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide whose operation involves different physical principles than traditional musical instrument slides.
And also more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the center of mass is moved towards the plane of the palm, and more particularly near or on the plane of the palm, particularly over a range of orientations of the slide-bearing finger.
And still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument slide where the geometry, dimensions and mass distribution are such that the moment of inertia for rotation about the pinky-palm joint is reduced.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

Balanced stringed-instrument pinky slide


A system determines whether text of a document includes a document identifier and uses the document identifier to locate metadata in a database when the text of the document includes the document identifier. The system compares the metadata to the text of the document and associates the metadata with the text of the document when at least some of the metadata matches the text of the document.

Field of the Invention
Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the invention relate generally to information retrieval and, more particularly, to the identification of metadata associated with a set of documents.
Description of Related Art
Modern computer networks, and in particular, the Internet, have made large bodies of information widely and easily available. Free Internet search engines, for instance, index many millions of web documents that are linked to the Internet. A user connected to the Internet can enter a simple search query to quickly locate web documents relevant to the search query.
One category of content that is not widely available on the Internet, however, includes the more traditional printed works of authorship, such as books and magazines. One impediment to making such works digitally available is that it can be difficult to convert printed versions of the works to digital form. Optical character recognition (OCR), which is the act of using an optical scanning device to generate images of text that are then converted to characters in a computer readable format (e.g., an ASCII file), is a known technique for converting printed text to a useful digital form. OCR systems generally include an optical scanner for generating images of printed pages and software for analyzing the images.
It is sometimes useful to associate other information, such as categorization, title, author, publisher, and publication date, with the scanned documents. Currently, skilled researchers manually enter this information based on examining the original document.