A coupling antenna which includes a plurality of turns in series located on a planar support (14) formed by an insulating dielectric substrate. The antenna includes one or several sets of at least one turn (16) located on the planar support, mounted in series, at least one of the sets consisting of at least two spires (16,22) in series superposed along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support and separated by an insulating strip (20) of dielectric ink, thereby resulting in a high inductance value. The invention also concerns the method for making such an antenna and the use of the antenna in a contactless smart card.

This application is a U.S. National Stage of International application PCT/FR00/02983, filed Oct. 26, 2000 and published on May 3, 2001 in the French Language.
The present invention relates to contactless transceiver systems, and relates particularly to a high inductance coupling antenna especially used in contactless smart cards.
At present, contactless transceiver systems are widely used in numerous applications. One of these applications is the contactless smart card system which is being increasingly used in various sectors. In the transport sector, such cards have been developed by motorway operators in order to provide users with subscription possibilities and to simplify toll booth payment operations. They have also been developed as a means of payment. This is the case of the electronic wallet, for example. Many companies have also developed identification means for their personnel using contactless smart cards.
The exchange of information between the contactless card and the associated reader is accomplished by remote electromagnetic coupling between an antenna lodged in the contactless card and a second antenna located in the reader. For developing, storing and processing the information, the card is equipped with a chip acting as a memory zone and a microprocessor, which is connected to the antenna. This chip contains an input capacitance provided by capacitors built into the chip. The antenna and the chip are generally located on a flat neutral support. The optimal operation of the antenna-chip coupling, which must not be resistive, is obtained when the following circuit resonance law is observed:
LCxcfx892=1xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
in which L represents the inductance of the antenna, C represents the input capacitance and xcfx89 the pulsation equal to 2xcfx80f, in which f represents the normalized frequency (for example, 13.56 MHz).
The obligation to observe this law requires chip manufacturers, also called founders, to integrate capacitors in the chips in order to obtain sufficiently high capacitance values. In this manner, the production cost of the chips is necessarily higher due to the presence of the capacitors.
The development of contactless smart cards inevitably includes reducing the production cost of the chips used in these cards. In order to reduce the cost of the chips, founders have been increasingly led to reduce the number of capacitors built into the chips and to thereby reduce the capacitance of the circuit. In this manner, manufacturers can produce smaller chips.
In order to observe the law LCxcfx892=1 and to obtain optimal coupling, the inductance L of the antenna must be increased in order to compensate the decrease in the chip""s input capacitance value. In the case of antennas made by using copper aluminum etching techniques, in the form of turns on a plastic dielectric support, the inductance is generally increased by augmenting the number of turns. This solution, however, causes several major drawbacks. Indeed, since any electric circuit has a certain resistance, the increase in the number of turns, which essentially corresponds to an increase in the circuit""s length, leads to a significant increase in the value of this resistance. This considerably affects the performance characteristics of the antenna and thus also the card. As a result, the reading distance of the card is shortened significantly.
In order to limit the overall dimensions and to maintain the effective area for the electromagnetic flow through the card, the width of the copper tracks must be reduced. As a result, the resistance of the antenna is increased and, above all, the reliability of the cards is downgraded as there is a higher risk of the antenna turns breaking when the card bodies are subjected to the hot lamination operation under pressure.
The unit cost of the engraved antenna increases considerably. Thus, the cost reductions obtained by the founders with chips having a lower input capacity are cancelled out by the supplementary cost of the antennas. Card fabrication and use is thus not more profitable.
The object of the invention is to offset these disadvantages by providing an antenna with a high inductance for a high performance card, featuring proven reliability and having a production cost, and thus a cost price, which is much lower than that of the smart cards currently available on the market.
The invention relates to a coupling antenna consisting of a plurality of turns in series located on a flat support made up of an insulating dielectric substrate. This antenna includes one or more assemblies of at least one turn located on said flat support, mounted in series, at least one of the assemblies consisting of at least two turns in series, superimposed in relation to an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support and separated by an insulating strip of dielectric ink enabling a high inductance value to be obtained.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling antenna includes one or more assemblies of at least one turn of ink screen-printed on the flat support, mounted in series, at least one of the assemblies being made up of least two turns of screen-printed ink, in series, superimposed along an axis perpendicular to an insulating strip of dielectric ink also screen printed on the support.
Another aspect of the invention is the coupling antenna manufacturing process which consists of:
performing the screen printing of a turn of one or several assemblies by depositing conductive ink on one side of a flat support made up of an insulating dielectric substrate,
performing the screen printing of an insulating strip superimposed on the screen printing of the turn of at least one assembly, by means of a dielectric ink depositing operation, enabling the turn to be covered and to leave the antenna""s bonding pads visible and the connecting zones of the turns superimposed,
performing the screen printing of a turn of at least one assembly, superimposed on the screen printing of the insulating strip by depositing conductive ink,
the second and third steps of the process being repeated one or more times when the antenna features one or more assemblies of more than two superimposed turns.
This antenna and its manufacturing process present many advantages:
a) In order to compensate the higher intrinsic electrical resistivity of screen-printable conductive polymer inks, the cross-section of the antenna""s turns must be increased. This is achieved by widening the turns and/or making a thick deposit of ink. On the basis of these design adaptations, the instantaneous performance characteristics of the screen-printed antenna having less than three turns are at least comparable to those of an engraved antenna and even better after the various mechanical and ageing tests (damp heat). When the inductance of the antenna must be increased in order to match a chip having low internal capacitance, increasing the number of turns is detrimental to the screen-printed antenna as the electrical properties are quickly downgraded above three turns (loss of electrical conductivity and leveling off of the inductance). The inventive process allows this technological dead end to be overcome by offering a screen-printed antenna which is compatible with low-capacitance chips.
b) By modifying the geometric parameters of the coupling antenna according to the invention (thickness of the dielectric insulating layer, width and thickness of the turns, overlapping surface area between superimposed turns), it is possible to adjust the inductance value of the screen-printed antenna in order to obtain perfect matching. An antenna configuration can thus be made which allows the founder to significantly reduce the chip""s input capacitance. This xe2x80x9cexternalizationxe2x80x9d of the capacitance offers very interesting cost reduction prospects for founders.
c) The cost of a screen-printed antenna is practically ten times less than that of an engraved antenna. The implementation of the screen printing of an antenna takes place in accordance with a standard procedure in relation to an antenna screen-printed in the plane (three films, three screens, the same inks). The overall cost of the card is thus much lower as the internal capacitance of the chip has dropped significantly.


A gauge for determining the position of a workpiece within a fitting. The gauge comprises a body portion having a reference plane, a wall spaced from the reference plane and a fitting-receiving assembly. A shaft receiving bore is provided in the body portion which extends inwardly from the reference plane to receive at least some of the fitting-receiving assembly. The fitting-receiving assembly has a fitting-receiving portion extending outwardly from the reference plane for receiving a fitting thereon. The fitting-receiving portion has an end spaced from the reference plane and is mounted for reciprocal movement within the shaft-receiving bore relative to the reference plane. A stop assembly is provided which is operatively associated with the fitting-receiving portion and is movable therewith. The stop assembly has stop means spaced inwardly from the end on the fitting-receiving portion. A marking bore is provided in the body portion which extends inwardly for the wall. The marking bore is adapted to receive a workpiece and marking means are provided in the body portion for marking the position of the workpiece within the marking bore.

The present invention relates to a gauge and more particularly to a gauge for determining the accuracy of the position of a tube with a fitting such as a flareless tube fitting. The gauge is particularly adapted to permit inspection of flareless tube fittings with flareless tubes assembled therein to verify that the flareless tube fittings have been properly assembled and that the fitting is properly in place.
In assembling flareless tube fittings the extent to which a flareless tube is mounted within the fitting is extremely important and may be very critical to the proper operation of a particular piece of equipment. If the tubing is not properly located within the fitting, not only may the equipment malfunction, but there is also danger of leakage. The tubing may even be forced out of the fitting by pressure within the system which creates a dangerous situation for those operating the equipment.

Gauge for determining the position of a workpiece within a fitting


The present invention provides conjugate fibers having an ethylene polymer component and a propylene polymer component, which are highly crimpable even at fine deniers. Also provided are nonwoven fabrics made from the fibers. The propylene polymer component of the conjugate fiber contains a propylene polymer having a melt flow rate between about 50 g/10 min. and 200 g/10 min. as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238, Testing Condition 230/2.16.

The present invention is related to conjugate spunbond fibers containing a high melt flow rate propylene polymer and to nonwoven webs produced therefrom.
Spunbond fibers are small diameter filaments or fibers that are formed by extruding or melt-spinning thermoplastic polymers as filaments from a plurality of capillaries of a spinneret. Unlike typical textile yarn and staple fiber production processes which mechanically draw spun filaments, in a spunbond fiber production process, extruded filaments are rapidly drawn while being cooled by a flow of pressurized air or by one of other well-known pneumatic drawing processes. The drawn filaments are deposited or laid onto a forming surface in a random, isotropic manner to form a loosely entangled fiber web, and then the laid fiber web is bonded to impart physical integrity and dimensional stability. The production of spunbond webs is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,563 to Appel et al.; 3,692,618 to Dorschner et al. and 3,802,817 to Matsuki et al. Spunbond fibers have relatively high molecular orientation, compared to other fibers produced with a pneumatic drawing process, e.g., meltblown fibers, and thus exhibit relatively high strength properties.
Conjugate fibers having two or more component polymers that are designed to benefit from combinations of desired chemical and/or physical properties of the component polymers are well known in the art. Methods for making conjugate fibers and fabrics produced therefrom are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,595,731 to Davies et al., Reissue 30,955 to Stanistreet and 5,418,045 to Pike et al., and European Patent Application 0 586 924. It is also known that nonwoven webs containing crimped conjugate fibers exhibit improved tactile properties, including bulk, softness and fullness. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,045 discloses a nonwoven fabric of crimped conjugate spunbond fibers that has highly desirable textural properties and improved fiber coverage. The patent teaches a spunbond nonwoven fabric production process that draws and thermally crimps conjugate spunbond fibers before the fibers are deposited to form a nonwoven fabric.
Although processes for thermally crimping conjugate fibers are known in the art, the process of thermally imparting crimps during the production process of the fibers becomes highly onerous as the average size (thickness) of fibers is reduced to produce fine denier fibers and/or the throughput, i.e., the amount of polymer processed through the spinneret, of component polymers for the conjugate fibers is increased to speed up the production. Consequently, attempts to produce small denier fibers and to increase the throughput or production rate tend to result in flat and dense nonwoven webs. This difficulty in imparting crimps is especially pronounced in the production of spunbond fibers since the pneumatic drawing step of a spunbond fiber production process, unlike a mechanical draw process, provides only a limited drawing force and does not draw the spun fibers with the high drawing ratio capabilities of a mechanical drawing process.
There remains a need for a process for producing highly crimped pneumatically drawn conjugate fibers that can impart high levels of crimps even for fine denier fibers and even at high speed production rates without requiring additional and onerous manufacturing steps.

Highly crimpable spunbond conjugate fibers and nonwoven webs made therefrom


A wireless charging system for charging a tool includes a tool holder and charging module. The tool holder includes a mounting interface, a holding portion extending from the mounting interface, and at least one surface t configured to mount the tool holder onto a support surface, such as of a mobile structure. The charging module is mounted in the mounting interface, and includes an inductive charging device that wirelessly charges a tool resting on the charging module. The holding portion is configured to at least partially engage the tool and act as a transverse support relative to the mounting interface. The at least one surface can include a base of the tool holder for horizontal mounting, a side of the tool holder for vertical mounting, or two opposite sides of the tool holder for mounting on a mounting rail.

A common problem associated with the use of electronic devices and tools is the necessity of powering such electronic devices. Power cords connected to an external power source provide sufficient power, but are an obtrusive and problematic interference, especially with regard to power tools which are desirably easily manipulated in and around workspaces that are often crowded and obstructed.
Further, power cords and external power sources adapted for use with power tools are typically unavailable for power tools in mobile applications. For example a user may need a power tool in a variety of locations, and it may be unfeasible to feed a power connection to each location. Additionally, a power source compatible with the power tool and/or an unobtrusive power cord may not be available at the job site.
Rechargeable systems for cordless tools are a common alternative to corded tools. Such systems typically include a removable rechargeable battery and a charging station. When depleted, a rechargeable battery can be removed from the tool and inserted into the charging station for charging. U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,217 describes a cordless tool battery housing and charging system that accommodates a variety of sizes and power charges of different batteries via a controlled wired charging process. Where a definition or use of a term in a reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. Such technologies as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,217 typically require not only removal of the battery from the tool in order to initiate charging, but also require a wired contact connection between the battery and charging station, which may be susceptible to damage due to, for example, moisture, dirt, or physical damage that prevents the battery from optimally coupling with the charging station.
Technology has been developed in an effort to alleviate these concerns via inductive or wireless charging. U.S. Pat. No. 8,482,160 describes a system whereby a plurality of wireless charging modules are placed underneath a workspace in order to inductively charge a secondary tool placed on the workspace in a region of one of the modules. However, such a system is expensive and complex to install, only enables wireless charging at the fixed regions of the modules, does not ensure that a tool is optimally located within a charging region for optimal charging, and is inapplicable to mobile applications. Further, such a system does not provide protection against a tool being unintentionally jostled and relocated during charging. For instance, a user might place a tool near a charging module with the expectation that the tool will charge. The user might then continue work with another device or tool, and in so doing, unintentionally move the tool away from the module, such that when the user again wishes to use the tool, it has not been charged as desired.
Other types of wireless charging devices have also been developed for charging tools and other devices, and typically resemble a pad on which a device is rested to initiate charging. However, such chargers present undesirable use cases when used as a tool resting surface since they are not secured to a supporting surface, nor do they secure the tool itself from unintended motion or vibration.
In one such undesirable use case, a user is operating a power drill powered by a rechargeable battery. When the battery becomes depleted, the drill becomes inoperable. In order to resume work, the user can, for example, replace the depleted battery with a charged replacement battery, or place the battery and/or tool onto a charging station and wait for the battery to recharge. Replacing the battery requires the user to obtain, store, and maintain charging for multiple batteries, which increases the expense and complexity of operating the drill, and waiting for the battery to recharge can necessitate delays in workflow before the user can resume drilling.
Additionally, conventional wireless charging stations do not guide an optimal location of the battery/tool for optimized charging, and do not secure the battery/tool in place. As a result, the battery/tool that is not optimally placed on a wireless charging station may charge slower or may fail to completely charge. Even if optimally placed, the battery/tool may become dislodged or moved due to inadvertent contact from the user, another tool or object, or other external forces such as vibrations from machinery. In another example, a charging station is positioned in a vehicle, and a battery/tool is placed thereon for charging. During transport, motion from the vehicle can jostle the battery/tool out of position and hinder or prevent charging. These types of impacts, jostling, and vibrations can also result in damage to the battery/tool when the battery/tool is unsecured.
Furthermore, the difficulties in providing external power to power tools described above also apply to providing external power to a charging station. In other words, while the tool itself may be able to operate for a short period without a wired connection, the charging station for the tool still needs to be provided with power to charge the tool. This means that the charging station presents the same risks and concerns due to obtrusive power cords as corded tools, in addition to the other deficiencies discussed above. One result has been that users obtain multiple rechargeable batteries, so that a depleted battery can be replaced even if the charging station is not available to provide power. However, maintaining multiple batteries is expensive, and may lead to cases where a user believes a battery is charged when it is not.
Therefore, what is needed is a way of maintaining a charge of a battery for a power tool such that the power tool is always in a ready-to-use condition. Additionally, what is needed is a way of charging a battery of a tool in mobile applications without interrupting its use or obstructing a workspace with cords or a charging station in such a way that optimally positions the tool for charging and protects against external motion and unintentional interruption of charging of the tool.

Inductive charging holster for power tools in mobile applications


Disclosed is a method, system, and program for modifying raster pel data according to different types of filtering operations. At least two tables are maintained in memory. At least two of the tables provide output pel values for at least two different types of filtering operations based on input pet values. A plurality of pets are read from raster data for a print job. A determination is made of an entry in one table based on the plurality of read pels to determine at least one output pet value that accomplishes the filtering operation associated with the table. At least two of the tables may be used in the same page of raster data to perform the different filtering operations associated with the at least two tables used within one page. The at least one output pel value is used to generate a pulse to control a printer apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system and program for filtering raster data and, in particular, performing different types of filtering operations on raster data.
2. Description of the Related Art
To print an image, a print engine processor, referred to herein as a raster image processor, converts the image in a page description language or vector graphics format to a bit mapped image indicating a value to print at each pixel of the image. Each bit representing a pixel that is "on" is converted to an electronic pulse. The electronic pulses generated from the raster pel data at which to deposit toner turns the laser beam on to positively charge the surface of a rotating drum, which is an organic photo-conducting cartridge (OPC), that has a coating capable of holding an electrostatic charge. The laser beam turns on and off to beam charges at pixel areas on a scan line across the drum that will ultimately represent the output image. After the laser beam charges all pels on the scan line indicated in the raster data, the drum rotates so the laser beam can place charges on the next scan line. The drum with the electrostatic positive charges then passes over negatively charged toner. The negatively charged toner is then attracted to the positive charged areas of the drum that form the image. The paper, which is negatively charged, passes over the roller drum and attracts the toner as the areas of the roller drum with the toner are positively charged to transfer the toner forming the image from the roller drum to the paper.
Many laser printers may filter the bit map images using a look-up table to alter the pulses generated for each pixel to accomplish a certain filtering result. For instance, filters can be used to provide an economy mode where toner is reduced, remove jagged edges, improve print quality enhancement or reduce the density of images. Typically, the laser printer will gather an area of data and replace either one or all the pulse values for the pixels based on the gathered area of pixel data matching a value in the look-up table. Such look-up tables modify the pixel output by altering the pulse normally used for an "on" pixel value with a pulse width modulator to shorten the pulse width to reduce the electric charge the laser beam places on the roller. Reducing the pulse width reduces the charged are for the pel on the roller and, hence, reduces the amount of toner attracted to the roller for that pel, thus reducing the amount of toner used to represent the pel.
Because different look-up tables may be used to perform different types of filtering, it is possible in prior art systems to change the look-up table being used to filter the rasterized bitmap data. However, in order to change the type of filter being applied, in prior art systems, the printer must halt operations, clear the paper path, skip a page, and then load the new look-up table type, e.g., print quality enhancement, toner reduction, etc., to perform a different type of filtering operation.
There is a need in the art for an improved technique for applying different filtering to rasterized bitmap data to modify the electromagnetic pulses for the bit map pixels that are "on" to accomplish the filtering goal of print quality enhancement, toner reduction, etc.

Method, system, and program for using look-up tables to filter raster data

International Business Machines Corporation


The applicator includes two elongated conveyor rollers arranged in parallel alignment and inclined from a sealant application station toward a tire unloading station. The rollers simultaneously rotate a series of tires in the same direction about a common axis in side-by-side engagement with one end tire adjacent the sealant application station and the other end tire adjacent the unloading station. A kicker assembly unloads the latter end tire, whereupon the rollers advance the remaining tires toward the unloading station while maintaining coaxial rotation thereof. A fresh tire then may be positioned at the application station and the application and advancement steps repeated. The applicator further includes a sealant applicator for effecting airless spray application of sealant to a tire, together with a control system for controlling the position of the spray applicator and causing sealant to be purged a predetermined time after no sealant application is made. The applicator is suited for usage in a system for producing self-healing tires.

This invention relates to systems and methods for producing self-healing tires and to tire sealant applicators suited for use therewith.
Self-healing tires typically include a sealant or air barrier composition which is applied to the tire interior by spray application to the interior tire surfaces underlying the tread area, usually with gradual feathering into the sidewalls. Until this invention, however, tires of this type were fabricated using uneconomical application techniques which did not afford automatic or mass production treatment of a large number of tires. Consequently, in many practical cases, sealant application to tires of this type was effected manually, or on an essentially piecemeal basis, or both. More specifically, application of commercial tire sealants customarily was accomplished by first rotating the tire past a stationary sealant applicator at an application station, and then transporting the tire to a curing station at which the tire was rotated for a sufficient time to allow the sealant to set-up while evaporating solvent therefrom, if any.
Early examples of these and other tire application apparatus of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,471,787; 1,474,654 and U.S. Pat. No. Re 14,765, although all of the aforementioned patents pertain to fabrication of self-lubricating tube-type tires instead of modern tubeless self-healing tires. More recent examples of various tire treatment apparatus and methods especially suited for cleaning tubeless tires in preparation for sealant application, or application of fluid air barrier coatings, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,825,965 and 3,849,819. With the exception of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,654, the apparatus and methods disclosed in the aforementioned patents accomplish sealant application on a piecemeal basis. U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,654 offers simultaneous rotation of several tires at various stages of treatment; however, the tires are conveyed from treatment station to treatment station in endto-end coplanar alignment and, therefore, in most practical applications in which production space is limited, the number of tires which can be treated at one time is effectively limited, depending upon a number of tires which can be accommodated by existing production space end-to-end.

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There is described herein an image segmentation technique using an iterative process. A contour, which begins with a single point that expands into a hollow shape, is iteratively deformed into a defined structure. As the contour is deformed, various constraints are applied to points along the contour to dictate its rate of change and direction of change are modified dynamically. The constraints may be modified after one or more iterations, at each point along the contour, in accordance with newly measured or determined data.

Computer production of images from magnetic resonance has become an invaluable tool in medicine as the structural and biochemical information that can be obtained is helpful in the diagnosis of abnormalities without the possibly harmful effects of x-rays or gamma rays. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides better contrast between normal and diseased tissue than those produced by other computer-assisted imagery.
The final image product of an MRI must first go through a process of segmentation, which refers to the partitioning of a digital image into multiple segments in order to provide an image that is more meaningful or easier to analyze. Objects and boundaries in the image, such as lines, curves, and others, are located and enhanced using shared pixel characteristics, such as color, intensity, or texture. Bones, cartilage, ligaments, and other soft tissues of the body thus become identifiable by the trained eye.
While there exists many different techniques for segmenting MRI images, the quality of the output is only as good as the processing methods. There is therefore a need to improve on existing processing methods in order to provide a better output.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Segmentation of magnetic resonance imaging data


A laundry caddy device is disclosed that provides a precise way of measuring an amount of laundry solvent, and offers several inter-lockable containers that form one easy to carry bottle. Typically, there are four containers which are inter-locked together to form the single component. The device comprises at least one container, a base component, and a dispensing component. The container further comprises an interior cavity for retaining an amount of laundry solvent. The base component is removably secured to the bottom end and the dispensing component is removably secured to the top end. The lid and handle are removably secured to the top end, over the dispensing component. Additionally, at least one of the containers comprises a measuring cup for a dispensing component. Further, at least one of the containers comprises a pour spout, a retaining cup, and a vacuum tube for dispensing the contents of the container.

When doing the laundry, there are certain supplies that are needed. Furthermore, if a washing and/or drying machine is not in a convenient location, a user needs to carry all their supplies and products with them along with their dirty laundry, which can be a very cumbersome task. Additionally, utilizing the laundry measuring cups which are provided on top of a liquid laundry detergent bottle can be messy and inefficient. An effective solution to prevent these problems is necessary.
The laundry caddy device provides an easy and precise way of measuring the amount of detergent, softener, etc. for one or multiple laundry loads, and offers a portable solution for users that do not have convenient access to a washing and/or drying machine. The laundry caddy device also creates a practical solution when a user needs multiple containers of various laundry products or supplies, and eliminates messy laundry cups that have to be placed back on the original container, along with any spillage that might occur.

Compartmentalized laundry caddy for dispensing dosed volumes


To remove ferromagnetic carrier beads from the surface of a photoreceptor leaving a development station in an electrophotographic machine, the carrier beads are magnetically attracted to the surfaced of an elongated, rotating cylinder. The cylinder surface is provided with a raised spiral thread to create a material conveying auger operating to axially convey the attracted beads to a cylinder end portion beyond a side edge of the photoreceptor, where the carrier beads fall into a sump.

In electrophotographic copying machines, the moving surface of a photoreceptor is charged to a substantially uniform potential during passage through a charging station, and then, during passage through an imaging station, the charged photoreceptor surface is exposed to a light image of an original document to be copied. The light image selectively discharges the photoreceptor surface to produce a latent electrostatic image replicating the original document. This latent image is then translated through a development station where it is developed by contacting the photoreceptor surface with developer powder or toner to create a powder image conforming to the latent electrostatic image. The powder image moves with the photoreceptor to a transfer station where it is transferred or offset printed onto a copy sheet. The transferred powder image is fused to the copy sheet surface, thereby creating a permanent copy of the original document. The photoreceptor then returns to the charging station through a cleaning station where residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor surface.
In the case where the development station apparatus uses a two-component developer material to develop the latent electrostatic image into a powder image, fine toner particles or powder are made to adhere to the surfaces of coarse, ferromagnetic carrier granules or beads by triboelectric attraction. This two-component developer is brought into contact with the photoreceptor surface by suitable means, such as a magnetic brush forming roller, to transfer toner from the carrier beads to the latent electrostatic image, thereby creating the conforming powder image. Unfortunately, some of the carrier beads may also be attracted to the photoreceptor surface and are held there with the powder image upon exiting the development station. This phenomenon, known as "bead carryout" can be a persistent problem in electrophotographic copiers. In the transfer station, these spurious, adhering carrier beads prevent localized intimate contact between the copy sheet surface and the toner particles of the powder image, thereby causing copy deletions that degrade copy quality. Moreover, if these spurious carrier beads remain attracted to the photoreceptor surface as it goes through the cleaning station, they can abrade the photoreceptor surface as they are mechanically removed by a rotating cleaning brush. It is therefore highly desirable that all such spurious carrier beads leaving the development station on the photoreceptor surface be removed prior to arrival at the transfer station. It is also desirable that the removal of these carrier beads from the photoreceptor surface be achieved without disturbing the powder image.
Another important consideration is that a carrier bead pick-off device structured to achieve these desired objectives be as compact as possible, since available space within the confines of an electrophotographic copier is typically at a premium.


A stackable chip carrier, made from plural layers of Kapton or other plastic material, and which may be made using conventional flex circuit techniques, has a central opening, a plurality of stacking apertures extending through the thickness thereof between opposite surfaces of the carrier and a conductive pattern therein which extends between the central opening and the stacking apertures. A chip is mounted within the central opening, and is electrically coupled to the conductive pattern such as by wire bonding or by soldering a ball grid array or other arrangement of contacts on the chip directly to the conductive pattern, and is encapsulated therein with potting compound using conventional chip-on-board encapsulation technology, to form a single layer integrated circuit element. Conductive elements such as metallic balls are inserted into the stacking apertures, and are mounted therein using solder or conductive epoxy, so as to electrically contact the conductive pattern and form a stackable IC chip package. A stack of the chip packages is assembled by arranging a stack of the packages so that the metallic balls which protrude from a surface of each package are inserted into the stacking apertures of an adjacent chip package, where they are electrically and mechanically secured by solder or conductive epoxy. Balls mounted within the stacking apertures of a lowermost one of the chip packages protrude from the bottom surface thereof, so that the completed chip stack forms a ball grid array product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to chip stacks in which a plurality of integrated circuit chip packages arranged in a stack are electrically connected in a desired fashion and to methods of making such stacks.
2. History of the Prior Art
Various common approaches are used to increase memory capacity on a circuit board. Larger memory IC chips can be used, if available. The size of the circuit board can be increased in order to hold more IC chips. Vertical plug-in boards can be used to increase the height of the mother board. The memory devices can be stacked in pancake style (sometimes referred to as 3D packaging or Z-Stacking). The Z-Stacking approach interconnects from 2 to as many as 8 chips in a single component which can be mounted on the "footprint" of a single package device. This approach is the most volumetrically efficient. Package chips in TSOP (thin small outline package) or LCC (leadless chip carrier) form have been used for stacking, and are perhaps the easiest to use. Bare chips or dies have also been used, but the process for forming a stack thereof tends to be complex and not well adapted to automation.
In forming a stack of IC chips such as memory chips, the chips must be formed into a stack and at the same time must be electrically interconnected in desired fashion. Typically, the chips, which are mounted within packages therefor, have most of the electrical contacts thereof coupled in common or in parallel to contacts on a supporting substrate, and several unique contacts which are coupled individually to the substrate to the exclusion of the other chips. The prior art includes various different arrangements for electrically interconnecting the IC chips in a stack. For example, electrical conductors which may comprise thin film metal on an insulating base may be disposed perpendicular to the planes of the planar chips so as to connect those conductors on each chip which are exposed through openings in an insulating layer. Where the chip packages are assembled into a stack, electrical connections may be accomplished by lead frames or solder strips extending along the sides of the stack and attached to the electrical contacts of the chips.
Another common technique for providing the desired electrical interconnections in a chip stack is to form a stack of chips having bonding pads disposed on the chips adjacent the outer edges thereof. After assembling the stack of chips, the chip edges are ground flat and polished before sputtering an insulating layer thereon. The bonding pads on the edges of the chips are masked during the sputtering process to avoid covering them with the insulating layer. Next, a metal layer is sputtered onto the entire edge of the stack in conjunction with photomasking which forms conductor traces of the metal layer in desired locations for connecting the bonding pads.
Further examples of vertical stacks of IC chips and various methods of making such stacks are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,956,694, 5,313,096 and 5,612,570, which patents are commonly assigned with the present application. U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,570, which issued Mar. 18, 1997 and is entitled CHIP STACK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME, describes a chip stack and a method for making the same in which chip packages are first assembled by mounting plastic packaged chips or thin, small outline package chips (TSOPs) within the central apertures of thin, planar frames having a thickness similar to the thickness of the packaged chip. Leads at opposite ends of the package are soldered to conductive pads on the upper surface of the surrounding frame. Each frame also has other conductive pads on the upper and lower surface thereof adjacent the outer edges of the frame, which are coupled to the conductive pads that receive the leads of the packaged chip by conductive traces and vias. A chip stack is then formed by stacking together a plurality of the chip packages and dipping the outer edges of the stack into molten solder to solder together the conductive pads adjacent the outer edges of the frames. The conductive pads adjacent the outer edges of the frame can be interconnected in a stair step arrangement, and pads on opposite sides of each frame can be coupled in offset fashion using vias, in order to achieve desired electrical interconnections of the various chips.
A still further example is provided by copending application Ser. No. 08/935,216, filed Sep. 22, 1997 and entitled CHIP STACK AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME. Such application, which is commonly assigned with the present application, describes formation of a stack of ball grid array chip packages by assembling a ribbon-like structure of thin, planar bases, each with plural terminals and an interconnecting conductive pattern thereon, and with the bases electrically interconnected by flex circuits extending therebetween. A different chip package is mounted on each base by soldering the balls of a ball grid array thereon to the terminals of the base. The bases alternate in orientation, so that alternate chip packages are joined to the tops and bottoms of the bases. The resulting arrangement is then folded over on itself, with chip packages being joined to adjacent bases using adhesive. The resulting chip stack is mounted on a substrate by soldering the balls of the ball grid array at the underside of the lowermost base at the bottom of the stack to the substrate. The conductive patterns on the bases and the interconnecting flex circuits form conductive pads which contact selected terminals of the various chip packages as the paths extend in alternating fashion through the chip stack between opposite sides of the stack.
A still further example is provided by copending application Ser. No. 08/971,499, filed Nov. 17, 1997 and entitled METHOD OF MAKING CHIP STACKS. Such application, which is commonly assigned with the present application, describes the making of a chip stack which begins with the formation of a plurality of panels having apertures therein and conductive pads on opposite sides thereof. Solder paste is deposited on the conductive pads prior to mounting plastic packaged IC chips within each of the apertures in each of the panels so that opposite leads thereof reside on the conductive pads as opposite sides of the apertures. The plural panels are then assembled into a stack, such as by use of a tooling jig which aligns the various panels and holds them together in compressed fashion. The assembled panel stack is heated so that the solder paste solders the leads of the packaged chips to the conductive pads and interfacing conductive pads of adjacent panels together, to form a panel stack comprised of a plurality of chip package stacks. Following cleaning of the panel stack to remove solder flux residue, the individual chip package stacks are separated from the panel stack by cutting and breaking the stack. Score lines across the topmost panel and transverse slots within remaining panels therebelow result in the formation of strips of chip package stacks when longitudinal cuts are made through the panel stack. The remaining portions of the uppermost panel within such strips are then snapped along the score lines thereof to separate the individual chip package stacks from the strips.
The various arrangements and methods described in the patents and patent applications noted above have been found to provide chip stacks and methods which are advantageous and which are suited for many applications. Nevertheless, the provision of further alternative arrangements and methods would be advantageous. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide chip stacks and methods of making such stacks which utilize available materials and known process techniques. The assembly of such stacks should lend itself to automated production methods, and thus would be competitive with other stacking approaches.


A process for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea derivatives of the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Ar represents an unsubstituted aromatic radical or an aromatic radical substituted with a halogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group, which comprises reacting an aromatic mono-nitro compound, an aromatic primary amine, and synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a divalent palladium compound as a main catalyst component and an ammonium or a phosphonium salt containing halogen atom as a co-catalyst component, and a non-polar solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea and more particularly, to an improved process for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea derivatives of the following formula (I) ##STR2## wherein Ar represents an unsubstituted aromatic radical or an aromatic radical substituted with a halogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group, which comprises reacting an aromatic mono-nitro compound, an aromatic primary amine, and synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a divalent palladium compound as a main catalyst component and an ammonium or a phosphonium salt containing halogen atom as a co-catalyst component, and a non-polar solvent.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional N,N'-disubstituted urea is an important intermediate for the production of carbamates which are raw materials for agrochemicals. The conventional methods for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea have heretofore been developed by reaction of amines with carbon monoxide in the presence of non-metal catalysts such as tertiary aliphatic amine (J. Org. Chem., 26, 3309, 1961), selenium (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 93, 6344, 1971), and metal catalysts such as cobalt carbonyl (Can. J. Chem., 40, 1718, 1962), and silver acetate (J. Org. Chem., 37, 2670, 1972).
The disclosure in J. Org. Chem., 26, 3309, 1961 relates to a method to synthesize ureas using tertiary aliphatic amine as a catalyst, but the yield of urea is 86.2% only when an excess amount of sulfur is reacted with amine and carbon monoxide. The use of sulfur produces unwanted by-product hydrogen sulfide and its treatment imposes additional cost to the process economy.
A method of the preparation of ureas as by synthesizing ureas from aliphatic amines, carbon monoxide, and oxygen using selenium as a catalyst is disclosed in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 93, 6344, 1971. The selenium catalyst has a well-known toxicity problem. A continuous flow of oxygen is also required in the method to precipitate the selenium catalyst, which is not only dangerous due to the explosion but also expensive. Those methods using catalysts such as sulfur, selenium, etc., have high yield and selectivity. However, it is very difficult to separate and recover those catalysts. That is, unless the catalysts can be separated for reuse, the catalyst loss generally tends to make the expense of using the process prohibitive for economic purpose.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,454 also discloses a process for the production of ureas by synthesizing disubstituted urea with a selenium or sulfur catalyst. The maximum yield of the disclosure using the selenium catalyst is limited to 67.3%. For the sulfur compound, which is the catalyst actually claimed in the disclosure, the urea yield given in the example is merely 3.4-7.7%, and it is clearly impractical. The disclosure suggests to use more amine in moles than nitro compound. However, this method is limited to the preparation of unsymmetric urea. For the preparation of symmetric urea, the use of water is proposed.
Other methods for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea in the presence of metal catalysts except platinum group catalysts are not practical since the yield and selectivity of the reaction is quite low.
The processes using platinum group catalysts are disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 319,111, Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-41,123, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 58-144,363 and 62-59,253, and J. Org. Chem. Vol. 40 (19), 2819, 1975.
Among such disclosures, European Patent Publication No. 319,111 uses a salt of Cu, Fe, Mn, V, Cr, Zn, Sn, U, or Ce in addition to a palladium compound. It is well known that these salts promote the reaction called the Wacker-type chemistry, which involves a redox cycle between Pd(II) and Pd(O) with a metal salt serving as a reoxidant of Pd(O) to active Pd(II) species. Hence, the presence of a reoxidant is a necessity in this type of reaction. Otherwise, the catalyst is separated as a zero-valent metal, and the efficiency of the reaction decreases. When an excess amount of amine is used, unsymmetric urea is mainly obtained by this method. The best example given in this disclosure is 73% yield of 1,1-dimethyl-3(4-chlorobenzene)-urea for 20 hours of reaction time.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-41,123 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 58-144,365 relate to a process for preparing N,N'-disubstituted urea by reaction of amines with carbon monoxide under an elevated temperature and a high pressure. In such prior art methods, it is not only difficult to control the partial pressure of two kinds of gases involved, i.e. carbon monoxide and oxygen, but also there is a danger of explosion due to the oxygen.
A method disclosed in J. Org. Chem. Vol. 40 (19), 2819, 1975, describes a method of synthesizing N,N'-diaryl urea at 1 atm, 90.degree. C. with the initial amine/nitro compound molar ratio less than 1. In this disclosure, tri-n-butyl amine is used up to 50% together with solvent to maintain the catalyst activity. Otherwise, the activity of the catalyst is suddenly decreased during the reaction. Since a small amount of aromatic primary amine is employed, the decomposition of catalyst is not effectively inhibited. Hence, the catalyst cannot be reused and recycled, and the activity of the catalyst is reduced to 50% of the initial activity after one cycle of the reaction. Although it is ideal for this reaction to dissolve the palladium catalyst completely in the aromatic primary amine, it is actually very difficult to achieve due to the low amine concentration in the reaction mixture. Furthermore, the reaction pressure is too low to conduct an efficient carbonylation reaction. As a result, the yield of the aromatic urea according to the method is as low as 64%.
The process disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 62-59,253 gives relatively high yield and selectivity. However, it requires expensive catalysts such as rhodium and ruthenium compounds. Furthermore, the appearance of the resulting N,N'-disubstituted urea is not neat, and the catalysts are unstable at a high temperature and decomposed around the reaction temperature.
All the above methods use pure carbon monoxide as a raw material. Since carbon monoxide is usually separated from synthesis gas by cryogenic distillation or solvent absorption, additional investments for the purification of carbon monoxide are required. On the other hand, the synthesis gas itself, consisting of mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen in various proportions, can be manufactured cheaply by the methods such as coal gasification, partial oxidation or steam cracking of natural gas and oil, etc. When the synthesis gas is used instead of pure carbon monoxide as a raw material for urea synthesis, it will be superior in the economy of the raw material than any other process disclosed so far. Furthermore, when the hydrogen in synthesis gas reacts with a mono-nitro compound producing a corresponding amine during the synthesis reaction of urea such as formula (I), it can reduce the consumption of the amine which is more expensive than the corresponding mono-nitro compound, and the process economy will be greatly improved.
Inorg. Chem., Vol. 9,342, 1970 disclosed a method of N,N'-disubstituted urea synthesis by reacting nitrobenzene with synthesis gas. The method requires high pressure of carbon monoxide and the yield of urea is as low as 54%.
In order to avoid such problems, the present inventors are also prosecuting another U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/606,721, filed on Oct. 31, 1990, now allowed, which is fully incorporated herein by reference and discloses a process for the preparation of N,N'-disubstituted urea derivatives comprising reacting an aromatic mono-nitro compound, aromatic primary amines, and carbon monoxide in the presence of catalysts. However, it is difficult to separate the carbon monoxide and require a large amount of the aromatic primary amines.

Process for preparing symmetric N,N'-disubstituted aromatic urea


An animal cleaning tool for cleaning and maintaining a hygiene of an animal is provided. An animal cleaning tool includes a top housing portion and a bottom plate surface, the bottom plate surface having a set of brushing elements that are spaced apart and protrude outwardly from the bottom plate. The top housing portion includes an air supply conduit and a cleaning agent supply conduit adapted to be disposed within an interior of the top housing portion of the animal cleaning tool, whereby the air supply conduit is configured to distribute air and the cleaning agent supply conduit is configured to distribute cleaning agent. A method for using an animal cleaning tool is provided that includes dispensing the cleaning agent as an atomized spray of particles onto a surface of the animal using the animal cleaning tool.

Household pets, such as for example dogs and cats, are oftentimes considered to be important members of many homes and families. These pets are regularly included in all family activities and reside with them on a permanent basis. Additionally, household pets are given full access to all areas of the house, including bedrooms and frequently are transported and travel in an owner's vehicle.
Washing and grooming an animal, such as, a household pet is necessary to maintain the hygiene of an animal and to reduce unpleasant odors. Dogs, especially, are associated with unpleasant odors for many reasons, including the fact that their skin does not have sweat glands and does not allow them to sweat, thus trapping many unwanted odors on their bodies. Additionally, dogs frequently run and play in mud or dirt, which then sticks to the hair or skin on their bodies.
While it is possible to take one's pet to be professional cleaned and groomed at a pet salon or similar location, such establishments are costly and do not address the need to be able to groom and wash an animal as soon as the animal becomes dirty. Instead, typically, a pet owner becomes obligated to wash an animal by spraying or pouring large amounts of water and soap over the animal, and either drying the animal off with towels or permitting the animal to air dry on its own.

System and method for cleaning and maintaining a hygiene of an animal


An arc furnace roof has a central portion formed by a circular group of individually suspended segments having sides which cooperatively form openings for the passage of arcing electrodes. Each segment is formed by a metal shell having cooling water inlets and outlets and internal baffles causing cooling water to be guided through the shell so that cooling is adequate to avoid the need for lining the bottoms of the segments with thick refractory linings, the bottoms being only coated with a thin layer of refractory electrical insulation. The electrode openings have refractory electrical insulation to isolate the segments from electrode currents.

An arc furnace designed to melt down scrap and process a resulting melt basically comprises a refractory lined vessel having a refractory hearth for containing the melt and a roof having openings through which arcing electrodes are passed. The vessel can be charged with scrap, and the electrodes adjusted to form arcs with the scrap, and during this meltdown phase, the arcs do not operate smoothly, causing the electrodes to receive relatively violent transverse movements, the impact of which is received by the roof.
The vessel has an opening in its side above the hearth, leading to a pouring spout, and is designed to tilt in the direction of the opening so that a melt in the hearth can the poured from the vessel.
The inside of the roof is directly exposed to thermal radiation from the arcs and from the melt in the hearth.
There are various prior art proposals for using water-cooled segments for an arc furnace roof, exemplified as follows: German Offenlegungsschrift No. 26 39 378, German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2 546 142, German Publication "Fachberichte Huttenpraxis Metallverarbeitung", 1978, pages 77-81.
The object of this invention is to provide an arc furnace roof formed from cooled segments which do not require thick refractory linings on their bottoms exposed to the furnace heat, and which is particularly resistant to damage in the area adjacent to the arcing electrodes. It is there that the roof should be particularly capable of absorbing radial impact loads from the transverse movements of the electrodes.

Fried. Krupp Huttenwerke Aktiengesellschaft


The optical recording medium at least a transparent substrate; a reflection layer; and a print layer. The print layer has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of ink layers made from different inks that have different specific gravities are stacked. A sum of products of viscosity xcex3 (in poise) and weight M (in gram) of the ink used to form the ink layer in the print layer satisfies a relation 30xe2x89xa6xcexa3xcex3iMi (gxc2x7Poise)xe2x89xa6150.

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium capable of recording and reproducing voice and images. More particularly, this invention relates to an optical recording medium having a layer for printing (xe2x80x9cprint layerxe2x80x9d) formed thereon.
Only a few years ago, the CDs (Compact Disc) dedicated for reproducing once stored audio data or for installing once stored computer software were very popular. These CDs had a considerably large storage capacity as compared to the FDs (Floppy Disc), but they required a costly and big scale hardware for recoding data. In recent years, optical recording media called CD-Rs (CD-Recordable) and a CD-RWs (CD-Rewritable) in which data can be recorded at ease have appeared in market and have become very popular. These CD-Rs and CD-RWs use CD-format and make it possible for a common man not only to reproduce the sound or data stored therein, but also record the sound or data using a small scale and low cost recording device.
When analog information such as audio (for example, songs) or visual (for example, photos) information are recorded as digital information, then identical tone or image quality can be obtained if the information is recorded with an identical format. Moreover, theoretically, it has been proved that no degradation of data occurs even if the digital information is copied for what ever number of times. However, it is has been recognized based on sensory evaluation that tone or image quality changes, although slightly, depending on the material used to manufacture the optical recording mediums and the conditions under which the manufacturing is carrier out.
The reasons why such differences occur include signal errors, noise arising due to flow of an excessive currents in a servo system for signal read pickup, electrification and/or magnetization of the surfaces of optical recording mediums and the like. However, the exact cause is not yet known.
The above-stated problems can be roughly solved by following three technical approaches. That is,
(1) by preventing the irregular reflection of a signal read light beam in an optical recording medium;
(2) by suppressing the vibration of the optical recording medium; andc
(3) by preventing or eliminating the electrification and magnetization of the surface of the optical recording medium.
The irregular reflection of a signal read light beam in an optical recording medium listed as (1) above may be prevented with the following methods. That is, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Application Publication No.5-5483, a material that absorbs the irregularly reflecting light may be applied on the surface or sides of the optical recording medium. Moreover, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5-334601, a sheet or an adapter having a hue that absorbs the irregularly reflecting light may be applied on the surface or sides of the optical recording medium. Moreover, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-328727, the irregularly reflecting light may be discharged from the sides of the optical recording medium.
The vibration of an optical recording medium listed as (2) above may be suppressed with the following methods. That is, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-60589, a sheet may be stick on the surface of the optical recording medium. On the other hand, a heavy weight may be mounted on the optical recording medium during reproduction. The function of the heavy weight may be provided to the sheet that may be provided for suppressing the irregularly reflecting light from the optical recording medium. This method, however, involves the following risks. Because of the thickness of the sheet, the overall thickness of the optical recording medium increases and it cannot be mounted on the apparatus that reads/writes from/in the optical recording medium. Moreover, if the sheet is not attached to a position at which it should be attached, then the optical recording medium becomes eccentric thereby degrading the tone quality. If the sheet is pilled-off because of any reason, then the reflection layer of the optical recording medium gets damaged.
The magnetization and electrification or static electricity of the surface of the optical recording medium listed as (3) above may be suppressed or prevented with the following methods. That is, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2942760, a demagnetizer may be used. Moreover, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Application Publication No. 11-246833, pattern-cuts may be provided to the optical recording medium.
Nevertheless, these conventional techniques cannot provide sufficiently satisfactory results and demand for an optical recording medium capable of conducting higher-grade recording and reproduction for audio and visual information is, therefore, rising.
Thus, the conventional techniques have both merits and demerits and do not furnish a satisfactory solution. That is, they do not satisfy requirements of providing thin, light, inexpensive optical recording mediums without mass eccentricity and available to various reproduction apparatuses. The method of suppressing vibration by sticking a sheet on the optical recording medium, in particular, involves the following risks as already stated above. Because of the thickness of the sheet, the optical recording medium cannot be set in the reproduction apparatus. Moreover, if position of the sheet shifts, then the mass eccentricity of the optical recording medium increase thereby degrading the tone quality. Moreover, if the sheet is removed from the optical recording medium, the reflection layer of the medium get damaged.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical recording medium capable of ensuring high-grade recording and reproduction if applied to, in particular, the recording and reproduction of sound information (audio information) and image information (visual information).
It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical recording medium capable of ensuring high-grade recording and reproduction while suppressing the influence of an external dynamic factor (e.g., vibration) by adjusting the constitution of a print layer.
The present invention is intended to provide an optical recording medium which can improve tone quality by suppressing the vibration of the medium, which is markedly thin, lightweight and available to any types of reproduction apparatuses, which is excellent in surface smoothness and appearance, which can suppress mass eccentricity, that is, to provide an optical recording medium capable of realizing high-grade recording and reproduction if applied to the recording and reproduction of audio and visual information and the like.
The optical recording medium according to one aspect of the present invention comprises at least a transparent substrate, a reflection layer, and a print layer. The print layer is characterized in that it has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of ink layers made from different inks that have different specific gravities are stacked.
The optical recording medium according to another aspect of the present invention at least comprises a transparent substrate; a reflection layer; and a print layer. The print layer has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of ink layers made from different inks that have different specific gravities are stacked. If recording and/or reproducing is conducted using a recording and reproduction apparatus having a function of scanning a recording and reproduction light spot on the optical recording medium by rotating the optical recording medium, then a frequency component xcex1m of a vibration amplitude at the number of vibration n times as large as the number of vibration corresponding to the number of rotation of the optical recording medium among vibration amplitudes on an outermost periphery of the optical recording medium has a characteristic to satisfy a relationship of xcex1mxe2x89xa6xcex1sxc3x970.5 with a frequency component xcex1s of a vibration amplitude at the number of vibration n, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1, times as large as the number of vibration corresponding to the number of rotation of the substrate of the optical recording medium among vibration amplitudes on an outermost periphery of the substrate, the substrate solely put on a same rotation system as a rotation system for the optical recording medium.
The optical recording medium according to still another aspect of the present invention at least comprises a transparent substrate; a reflection layer; and a print layer. The print layer has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of ink layers made from different inks that have different specific gravities are stacked. If recording and/or reproduction is conducted using a recording and reproduction apparatus having a function of scanning a recording and reproduction light spot on the optical recording medium by rotating the optical recording medium, then a frequency component xcex1m(f) of a vibration amplitude on an outermost periphery of the optical recording medium has a characteristic to satisfy a relationship of ∫xcex1mdfxe2x89xa6∫xcex1sdfxc3x970.4, where 1 Hzxe2x89xa6fxe2x89xa6100 Hz, with a frequency component xcex1s(f) of a vibration amplitude on an outermost periphery of a substrate of the optical recording layer, the substrate solely put in a same rotation system as a rotation system for the optical recording medium.
The method of manufacturing the optical recording medium according to still another aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing the optical recording medium comprising at least a transparent substrate, a reflection layer, and a print layer. This method comprises the step of forming the print layer from a plurality of ink layers formed from different inks that have different specific gravities, wherein at least one of the ink layers is formed by overprinting the same ink a plurality of times.
The optical recording medium according to still another aspect of the present invention comprises a recording layer for optically recording a signal; a reflection layer for reflecting recording and reproduction light; and a transparent substrate on which the recording layer and the reflection layer are provided. The transparent substrate is provided with a recording and reproduction guide groove which is scanned with a laser light to optically read the signal according to a change of an intensity of the reflected laser light. Moreover, a print layer comprising a plurality of ink layers stacked one above another is formed on one surface of the reflection layer. Each ink layer has inorganic substances dispersed in a resin. Moreover, the print layer has a region, having a thickness of 0.5 xcexcm or more and 5 xcexcm or less, in a layered fashion on an entire surface of the print layer such that the region contains no inorganic particles having diameter 0.5 xcexcm or more.

Optical recording medium and method of manufacturing the optical recording medium


A fluid flow system comprising a supply line, a fluid control unit and at least one end user; wherein fluid flow through the system is facilitated only upon a certified verification signal generated by the end-user and certifying said verification signal by the fluid control unit.

Fluid flow systems, such as urban or domestic water supply systems, gas supply systems in a plant, etc., may require authentication of an end-user in order to confirm fluid consumption through the respective system, by the a particular end-user, and to verify that consumption by the end-user is intentional and recognizable by a fluid control unit of the fluid flow system.
The term end-user as used herein in the specification and claims denotes any fluid consuming device fitted at a fluid flow system. For example, an end-user can be an open ended hose (fitted or not with a nozzle/spout), an irrigation unit or irrigation line, a water supply unit such as a toilet, shower, sink and the like, etc.
The term deterministic end-user as used herein in the specification and claims denotes an end-user configured for consumption of a predetermined amount of fluid. Alternatively, this term can be used for designating an end-user configured for consuming fluid at predetermined times or intervals. Examples of deterministic end-users are a dishwasher, a laundry machine and the like, a controlled/computerized irrigation line, etc.

Fluid flow monitoring, verification and control system and method


Methods and apparatus for handling material for the insulating glass industry are disclosed. One method of handling material for the insulating glass industry in accordance with the present invention includes the step of arranging a plurality of bars into a plurality of stacks with adjacent stacks defining spaces dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member. The stacks of bars may then be transported to a desired destination. A bar engaging member may be inserted into a space defined by the stacks, and one or more bars may be grasped using the bar engaging member. A container for handling material for the insulating glass industry is also disclosed. The container may advantageously include a plurality of prearranged bar locating members configured to hold a predetermined type of bar stock.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for handling material for the insulating glass industry. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling elongate barstock that is useful for forming components such as, for example, spacer frames and muntin bar lattices.
Today, insulating glass units have achieved widespread use as building components. In order to produce insulating glass units inexpensively and in high volume, modern manufacturing of insulating glass units is often mechanized and/or automated. Various materials may be used to manufacture insulating glass units, including sheets of glass, spacer frames, and various sealants. Insulating glass units may also include muntin bars. Muntin bars may be used for both functional and decorative purposes with glass windows or doors. The muntin bars are particularly useful when they retain their geometric configuration and do not separate, as well as when they are able to remain in a flat mating surface relation with the glass.
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for handling material for the insulating glass industry. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling elongate barstock that is useful for forming components such as, for example, spacer frames and muntin bar lattices. One method of handling material for the insulating glass industry in accordance with the present invention includes the step of arranging a plurality of bars into a plurality of stacks with adjacent stacks defining spaces dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member. The stacks of bars may then be transported to a desired destination. A bar engaging member may be inserted into a space defined by the stacks, and one or more bars may be grasped using the bar engaging member. In some implementations of the invention, the step of grasping one or more bars using the first bar engaging member includes the steps of inserting a second bar engaging member into a second space defined by the stacks and trapping one or more bars between the bar engaging member and the second bar engaging member.
A container for handling material for the insulating glass industry is also disclosed. In some implementations, the container includes a container frame and a plurality of combs selectively fixed to the frame. In one aspect of the present invention, each comb includes a plurality of tines that are spaced to define a plurality of channels dimensioned to accept bars having a predetermined width. In another aspect of the present invention, the tines are dimensioned to create spaces between adjacent channels, with each space being dimensioned to receive a bar engaging member. In some implementations, each tine comprises a shaft and a sleeve disposed over the shaft. The sleeve may advantageously comprise a no-mar material.
In some implementations, the present invention includes a container having a frame and a plurality of combs that are selectively fixed to the frame by a coupling mechanism. In some implementations, the coupling mechanism comprises a plunger fixed to the frame of the container and a detent defined by a base of the comb. The detent may be advantageously dimensioned to accept at least a portion of the plunger. The plunger may comprise, for example, a ball and a spring arranged to bias the ball toward the detent.
In certain advantageous implementations, the present invention utilizes a container including a first forklift interface and a second forklift interface. In some implantations, each forklift interface comprises a first receptacle and a second receptacle. Each receptacle may comprise, for example, a lumen defined by a tube. In some advantageous implementations, each forklift interface comprises a first tube positioned on a first side of a centroid of the container and a second tube disposed on a second side of the centroid of the container. When this is the case, the first tube and the second tube may be advantageously positioned substantially equidistantly from the centroid of the container.
A method of handling a first type of bars having a first dimension and a second type of bars having a second dimension is also disclosed. In some implementations, this method includes the step of providing a container including a frame and a first set of combs selectively fixed to the frame. Each comb in the first set of combs preferably has a plurality of tines spaced to accept bars having the first dimension. The first set of combs may be removed from the container and a second set of combs may be selectively fixed to the frame of the container. In certain implementations, each comb in the second set of combs advantageously has a plurality of tines spaced to accept bars having the second dimension.
Another method in accordance with the present invention may include the following steps:
1) Providing a container having a plurality of prearranged muntin bar retaining channels configured to hold a predetermined type of bars.
2) Placing a plurality of bars in the retaining channels of the container.
3) Placing a plurality of containers in a transportation vehicle. In some applications, the containers may be stacked in a semi trailer.
4) Removing the containers from the transportation vehicle.
5) Delivering at least one container to an arrival bay arranged to receive a container.
6) Sequentially removing bars from the container one at a time.

Material handling for the insulating glass industry


An article for delivering a cleaning composition to a wash water, preferably for laundering clothes, is formed from a flexible substrate folded into an S-shaped construction. Within one region of the folded substrate is positioned a detergent composition that includes a surfactant and builder in the form of a paste having adhesive strength sufficient to bind the two surrounding substrate areas together. In a second region of the folded substrate separate from that occupied by the detergent composition, there is a further composition, adhesive in nature, containing a component which may be a bleach, bleach precursor, enzyme and/or fabric softener. No other bonding is present between the three substrate area flaps constituting the S-shaped construction. The compositions between the substrate areas are easily released to the wash water when the article is placed therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a detergent sheet of laminate construction useful for the washing of fabrics.
2. The Prior Art
Heavy duty detergent products for laundering of fabrics conventionally have been sold in the form of powders and liquids. Consumers have been required to measure appropriate dosages from containers holding these products. This measuring process sometimes leads to accidental spillage, often is inaccurate, and can generally be described as messy or inconvenient.
Therefore, the industry has sought to overcome these problems by use of a single article containing premeasured amounts of detergent plus other functional cleaning aids within a single package. Two approaches have been taken to providing a single dosage article, namely pouches and impregnated sheets.
Pouches filled with powdered detergents are now presently on the market. These products have some inherent delivery problems. Transfer of the powder actives through the pouch walls is not always sufficiently fast. There are also limits to the amount of product that can be dosed per pouch. By virtue of its construction, the pouch is also bulky and rather large.
Impregnated sheets, on the other hand, have the advantage of being thin. There is also a larger surface area from which the actives can be delivered. This allows greater dissolution rates than available with a pouch. There is no longer a problem of substrate porosity being a limiting factor of construction as in the pouch. Too large a porosity in a pouch will allow powdered product to sieve through during handling. By contrast, sheet articles operate better with large porosity substrates because higher loadings can be achieved. Pouch products also contain trapped air which during the laundry process causes the pouch to float on top of the water surface. This reduces the propensity for contents to dissolve and thereby also delays dosing. Sheets do not suffer from this disadvantage.
There are, however, two significant problems with impregnated single sheets. First, the impregnate detergent formulation must not be overly sticky but rather substantially solid at room temperature. Consumers dislike sheets that feel tacky, wet or greasy. Likewise, the impregnated sheet must have a certain degree of flexibility for ease of use and aesthetic appeal. A boardy hand would not be acceptable. Another disadvantage is the limitation upon amount of the formulation capable of being impregnated into a single sheet. Active detergent loading normally is severely limited by the absorptive capacity of a substrate.
An alternative to the single sheet is a several sheet laminate construction. Lamination sandwiches the detergent formulation between a pair of substrates. This construction avoids the problem with tacky or wet feel and can also achieve higher loadings than the single sheet vehicle. A further advantage is that active systems with up to 30% water can be utilized. This effectively eliminates any need for drying the products.
There are a number of laminated sheet articles reported by the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,528 (Sternfield et al.) discloses a disposable cleaning tissue wherein an adhesive abrasive cleansing mixture is placed between two fibrous substrates. The tissue is intended for re-usable application in cleaning hard surfaces wherein the abrasive mixture slowly released over time. A disadvantage with this construction is that upon complete leaching of the adhesive cleansing medium, the article separates into a pair of substrates which aesthetically detracts from the product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,678 (Urfer et al.) also reports a multiple use article. A layer of fabric softening chemicals is coated both as an outermost and innermost layer of a folded multi-layered flexible substrate. Initially, only the outer coating of fabric conditioner is released to the clothes being tumbled in a clothes dryer. After the first use, the folded article is peeled apart at a loosely-bonded end thereby exposing additional fabric conditioner coated on the inner surface of the article. Similar to impregnated single sheets, this system also features the undesirable aspect of a potentially tacky outer coating. The innermost coating of active material is inhibited from release by attachment of the "free" ends of the folded sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,703 (Haq) discloses an article for wiping surfaces comprising two substrate layers bonded together in such a way as to create a plurality of compartments. Within these compartments may be lodged a treating chemical including soap, detergent or bleach. Although this system is described in terms of a laminate construction, in actuality the wiping article is a series of adjoining pouches with all the attendant problems for laundering purposes.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning article in flexible substrate form which when being handled avoids a wet, greasy or tacky feel.
Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning article which has the capacity to carry a relatively large loading of detergent active material.
Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning article capable of carrying more than one distinct cleaning composition in physically separate regions of the article.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning article wherein mutually incompatible compositions of enzyme, bleach, fabric softener and/or detergent are held apart from one another within the article.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a cleaning article which has a substrate that separates into but a single substrate upon exhaustion of the detergent active material therefrom.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a cleaning article which is simple in its manufacture and convenient to store.
It is an even further object of this invention to provide an effective, convenient product for cleaning clothes in an automatic washing machine.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.


A winterizing system (10) for underground sprinkler systems which can be newly installed during the sprinkler system installation, or can be utilized as a retrofit design, having a single valve means (13) and a drive shaft (19) to allow winterization completely from the exterior of building structure (50). Drive shaft (19), which may be flexible for most retrofit installations, is mounted such that it is accessible from the exterior. Upon manipulation of drive shaft (19) inlet port (14) and drain port (16), with connected drain line (24), can be opened and closed by a technician without entrance into building structure (50). Additional features include backflow prevention devices, tamper-proof drive shaft keys, and special connectors.

Since the popularization of suburban living, people have become very involved and concerned with the care and appearance of their lawns. Industries have been devoted to the continuous research and development of new lawn care products, including underground sprinkler systems. Typically, these systems involve a number of special sprinkler heads located and buried flush with the ground surface. The sprinkler heads are connected together by buried piping and linked to a valve control box. When a large area is to be watered there may be several individual zones operated separately through the valve control box. Eventually the entire system operates from a main control drawing water from a main water supply line located within a building structure. Initialization of any one zone, or all zones, begins with a valve opening and increased water flow to that zone. Sprinkler heads pop-up to release the water, returning to their flush position when water pressure is reduced below a certain level. Such a sprinkler system is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,157 to Martell. To the extent the information in the Martell reference is helpful in understanding the general features of the present invention it is hereby incorporated by reference.
Unfortunately, due to the possibility of freezing water and severe damage to the system in many areas of the U.S. and foreign countries, these systems must be seasonally relieved of their residual water--the water which remains in the system after a watering cycle--before the onset of the cold winter months. This is called winterizing or system winterization.
In winterizing, the underground exterior components are voided, and a portion of the piping located within the building structure and leading back to the main water line, must also be drained. With present systems this requires access to the residential or commercial dwelling to turn off water flow control valves. Most often, however, because of the high-powered equipment necessary, specially trained personnel are charged with the winterization process. While the actual draining may take only a few minutes of time, 30 minutes to an hour can be spent at each unit due to the necessity of entering the dwelling to accomplish a portion of the work. To drain each prior art sprinkler system the technician must first enter the dwelling and proceed to close a main shut-off valve, and open a first hose bib. The technician then returns outside where a second shut-off valve is closed and a high-pressure air compressor is connected to a second hose bib (36). Upon operation of the compressor the section of feedline located within dwelling (34) is drained of residual water. The technician must then return to the interior of the dwelling to close off the first hose bib. Returning to the outside once again the technician operates the compressor after opening the second shut-off valve. Residual water located in the underground system is forced out of the sprinkler heads. This finally completes the process. It is no wonder that technicians can spend weeks or months trying to get every system flushed in his/her assigned area.
This process presents other problems which must be considered when using prior art devices. First of all, field technicians do not have free access to each building structure. This can manifest as scheduling problems, causing the bulk of winterizations to be performed in evenings and on weekends. Secondly, with the unpredictability of weather, an early freeze could be disastrous. Not only would a number of systems be damaged because they could not be winterized in time, but scheduling would become even more complex trying to winterize systems to prevent further damage.
Until the present invention, there has been no known device which permits technicians to effect all the necessary winterization from a single location outside of the residential or commercial dwelling. One attempt is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,732 to Buehler. This system utilizes a simple air valve to replace a single sprinkler head. With this valve put into place most of the external sprinkler lines can be flushed of water. Feedlines which are not located between sprinkler heads, particularly those which lead back towards the main water source line, would not be drained, and would therefore still present a freezing problem. In addition, the removal, replacement, reattachment of a sprinkler head would take an inordinate amount of time compared to the present invention. Alternatively, there is at least one U.S. patent for a frost proof sillcock (U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,243 to Edwards), but this is not designed for use on an underground sprinkler system. The water pressure and/or water flow generated from this type of device/system would not be sufficient for a proper underground sprinkler system. This is due, in part to the restrictive nature of the valve and piping used. Edwards does teach locating the valve well outside the freeze-zone for outside sillcocks--a field quite different from that of the present invention--but without the teachings of the present invention Edwards' device would not easily permit drainage of an attached sprinkler system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,090 to Nakajima et al. also shows a non-freezing valve for use on a sill or water cock. This nature of the Nakajima design is believed to have limitation very similar to that of the Edwards device, particularly since both focus on the same problem.
Another problem, which has added to the already high cost of installing underground sprinkler systems, relates to plumbing. In order to tap into the main water source line a certified plumber must be employed to perform the necessary connection. Most sprinkler installers are not certified plumbers, and therefore are required to subcontract this process. If the plumber needs to spend an inordinate amount of time lining up the feedline, the cost of a sprinkler system can be greatly inflated. The present invention, utilizes means which permit high tolerances for the installation of the necessary valves in new and retrofit systems. This feature can be a tremendous time savings for the plumber, resulting in a significant financial savings to the consumer.
The present invention, in both its apparatus and methods, recognizes and addresses the criteria for winterizing, and water demand and pressure in an underground sprinkler system, and overcomes the limitations perceived by those skilled in the art by presenting a design which, among other aspects, allows for complete control outside of the residential or commercial dwelling. Those skilled in the art of underground sprinkler systems have long been aware of the problems inherent to winterizing sprinkler systems, specifically scheduling difficulties which must be reckoned with, and the unnecessary time spent moving between indoor control valves and outdoor control valves at each location. Unfortunately, the focus has apparently been on designing better sprinkler heads--as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,157 to Martell--rather than on the valving of the system. Until the present invention, prior art devices have been incapable of quickly and easily winterizing a system, with little or no hassles. All the while the necessary arts and elements for implementing the disclosed invention have existed for sometime. Some of the various patents cited show that while those skilled in the field may have understood that a problem existed, the exact problem was not readily apparent to them. Particularly, with reference to the patent to Buehler, a device is employed which still requires the need for entering the dwelling to close off a main water valve. This only serves to teach away from the direction taken by the inventor of the present invention. In many instances, instead of understanding the true problems, manufacturers and installers have coped with the inherent limitation to the existing devices and methods. There appeared to be a failure to fully understand the problems and impacts of providing a cost and time efficient underground sprinkler system.

Winterizing system for an underground sprinkler system


A horizontal magnetic reading head for a perpendicular recording on a magnetic tape.. A magnetic layer (50,51,52) is interrupted by two spacers arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of a monopole (56). A U-shaped magnetoresistant element is constituted by two ribbons (34,35) parallel to the monopole and respectively located in the two spacers of the magnetic layer. The two ribbons are joined by a magnetoresistant bridge (36). Optionally, the head can have a conductor coil so that it could write in addition to read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistance magnetic reading head for a perpendicular recording, as well as to a process for producing such a head. The invention is used in reading on a magnetic tape and optionally writing information on a support such as a disk or tape.
2. Discussion of the Background
A known horizontal magnetic reading and writing head for a perpendicular recording on a magnetic tape is shown in FIG. 1. It is possible to see a thick horizontal magnetic layer 2 having a central pole piece 3, a conductor coil 4 surrounding said pole piece and embedded in an insulating layer 5, a thin magnetic monopole 6 extending the central pole piece and finally a hard dielectric layer 7 making it possible to obtain an outer planar surface ("flight plane").
The support on which the information is written and read is constituted by a magnetic layer 10 deposited on a substrate 12. The assembly passes infront of the monopole 6.
The operation of such an apparatus is as follows. The magnetic field created by the flow of a current in the coil 4 has its lines very close together in the monopole 6 and divides and is then closed again by the lateral pole pieces of the thick magnetic layer 2. Under these conditions, the magnetic induction in the recording zone of the layer 10 is perpendicular thereto. This is why such apparatuses are called perpendicular or vertical recording heads. On reading, the variation of the flux detected by the monopole induces a current in the coil. Such a head is recorded in U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,157 granted to J. P. Lazzari on Mar. 15, 1988.
It is also pointed out that another category of reading and writing heads designed for reading or writing a magnetic induction located in the plane of the magnetic layer is known. The heads are called longitudinal or horizontal recording heads. They comprise a magnetic circuit with an air gap. They play no direct part in the present invention.
Independently of the technology of thin film heads, efforts have been made to form magnetic information reading heads using magnetoresistant elements. It is known that a magnetoresistor has magnetization, whose direction can rotate under the effect of an external magnetic field. This rotation is accompanied by a variation .DELTA.R of the resistance R of the layer. This resistance can be measured by passing a weak current into the layer. In practise, for a 0.1 .mu.m thick iron-nickel layer, the resistance variation is approximately 1% when the angle of the magnetization turns by 90.degree.. To increase the sensitivity of the measurement and improve the linearity, it is possible to orient the magnetization of the magnetoresistance layer beforehand to 45.degree. of the current lines.
Such a magnetoresistance apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,378, the apparatus being placed beneath a space interrupting a magnetic circuit forming an air gap.
In the same way, European Patent 284 495 describes an apparatus with two magnetoresistors positioned to the rear of a magnetic circuit defining an air gap.
In all cases, these are heads for longitudinal recording, i.e. with an air or head gap. No perpendicular recording apparatus equipped with a magnetoresistor is known.

Magnetoresistance magnetic head for perpendicular recording on a magnetic support