In order to make it possible to control titles separately or continuously, title_playback_mode_flag is recorded on an optical disk. When this flag is xe2x80x9c1,xe2x80x9d the CPU of a system controller, when the reproduction of one title on the optical disk has ended, continues to have the next title reproduced. When this flag is xe2x80x9c0,xe2x80x9d the CPU, when the reproduction of one title has ended, causes reproduction to be discontinued then.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus and method, a program offering medium and a storage medium, and more particularly to a reproducing apparatus and method, a program offering medium and a storage medium which enable the user to accomplish reproduction in an unrestricted, variegated manner.
Recently, disks are attracting keen note as storage media for recording video information and the like to replace magnetic tapes. Magnetic tapes, which do not permit random access, are suitable for recording and reproducing video information only consecutively.
As opposed to them, disks permit ready random access, and accordingly enable any desired part of video information, even if it is recorded consecutively with other parts, in any desired sequence.
However, if a prescribed portion of information recorded on a disk is to be reproduced in any sequential position, the sequence of reproduction has to be stored in the reproducing apparatus. As a result, if the disk is to be played back on another reproducing apparatus, that other reproducing apparatus has to be taught and caused to store the sequence of reproduction anew, which meant corresponding inconvenience in operation.
The present invention has been proposed in view of this circumstance, and is intended to achieve improved operating convenience.
According to one aspect of the invention, a reproducing apparatus comprises a reproducing means for reproducing information recorded on a storage medium, an extracting means for extracting playback mode information defining a playback mode from the information reproduced by the reproducing means, and a control means responsive to the playback mode information extracted by the extracting means for controlling the reproduction continuity of main information from the storage medium.
According to another aspect of the invention, a reproducing method comprises a reproducing step to reproduce information recorded on a storage medium, an extracting step to extract playback mode information defining a playback mode from the information reproduced at the reproducing step, and a control step responsive to the playback mode information extracted at the extracting step to control the reproduction continuity of main information from the storage medium.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a program offering medium offers a program to cause a reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a storage medium to execute processes comprising a reproducing step to reproduce information recorded on the storage medium, an extracting step to extract playback mode information defining a playback mode from the information reproduced at the reproducing step, and a control step responsive to the playback mode information extracted at the extracting step to control the reproduction continuity of main information from the storage medium.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a storage medium records thereon playback mode information in accordance with which, when the reproduction of a prescribed part of main information has been completed, either another part of main information continues to be reproduced or reproduction is discontinued.
The reproducing apparatus, the reproducing method and the program offering medium referred to above are responsive to the playback mode information reproduced from the storage medium for controlling the reproduction continuity of main information.
The storage medium described above has recorded thereon in advance playback mode information in accordance with which, when the reproduction of a prescribed part of main information has been completed, either another part of main information continues to be reproduced or reproduction is discontinued.

Reproducing apparatus and method, program offering medium and storage medium


Production device and method for producing fiber-reinforced plastic components comprising a semi-finished prepreg product and a dry semi-finished textile product with an aeration and deaeration chamber and an exhaust line opening into the same for producing a vacuum and a semi-finished textile product chamber to receive a dry semi-finished textile product. Into the semi-finished textile product chamber an injection line for inserting resin opens, whereby a prepreg chamber for receiving a semi-finished prepreg product is provided. The prepreg chamber is located against the aeration and deaeration chamber in an air-permeable manner and the semi-finished textile product chamber is located against it at least in areas in an air-impermeable and resin-permeable manner. Due to the air-permeable membranes, a vacuum in the aeration and deaeration chamber generates a vacuum both in the prepreg chamber and in the semi-finished textile product chamber. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing fiber-reinforced plastic components. In particular a semi-finished textile product for producing a planking field and a semi-finished prepreg product for producing a stiffening element for the planking field that can thereby be provided and combined to form the component.
2. Discussion of Background Information
It is known to produce fiber-reinforced plastic components by a so-called prepreg technique. A large-surface skin field is used as a planking field and stiffening profiles are used as integral reinforcement. The skin field can thereby also be produced by automatic placement. However, the method for use with the prepreg technique is disadvantageous in the production of stiffening profiles with non-windable geometry components have to be laminated manually. Such a process that has to be carried out manually increases production costs.
Furthermore, a resin film infusion technique (RFI) is known, e.g., from U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,388, in which a dry fabric is covered with a pre-impregnated resin film in a curing device. The curing device is loaded and evacuated and is subjected to suitable temperature and pressure treatments in an autoclave to cure the fiber-reinforced plastic component.
Furthermore, methods are known in which fiber-composite components are completely prepared as dry semi-finished fiber products initially. The products are subsequently filled with resin and cured in closed or open curing tools through the application of liquid resin injection along with vacuum and/or pressure.
A method for producing fiber-reinforced plastic components with incompletely windable geometry is known from DE 199 15 083 C1 in which the plastic components are formed with a joining of a semi-finished prepreg product and a semi-finished textile product by a resin. The semi-finished prepreg product and the semi-finished textile product are jointly arranged in a flexible vacuum hood. A resin film arranged on the semi-finished textile product is brought to melting under temperature and pressure treatment. The resin film then impregnates and joins the semi-finished textile product and forms a joint between the semi-finished textile product and the semi-finished prepreg product. In this known method, both the semi-finished prepreg product and the semi-finished textile product are jointly and completely enclosed by the flexible vacuum hood and pressurized through evacuation of the same.
Furthermore an arrangement for producing a component comprising a fiber-reinforced material by resin impregnation of a semi-finished fiber product is known from DE 201 02 569 U1, in which the semi-finished fiber product positioned on a mold is pressurized by a vacuum foil with the evacuation of the same. Liquid resin is fed through the vacuum foil to the semi-finished fiber product.

Method and device for producing fiber-reinforced plastic components


A corona discharge treatment apparatus or system and method for treating both insulating and conductive surfaces including a ground member and a plurality of flat electrodes aligned flat side in a row and each electrode having at least one finger-like protrusion with a pointed tip having a radius in the range of about 0.010 to about 0.125 and operating in a high kilo frequency range of about 20k Hz to 30k Hz. The electrodes are individually rotatably mounted to move to and away from the ground member so that the row length of the electrodes can be adjusted to be the same dimension as the width of material to be treated or to only treat selected portions of the material.

Electric discharge can develop when atmospheric air is exposed to high voltage potentials between two electrodes. When this occurs, an avalanche effect is created, which is caused by the voltage (consisting of electrically loaded molecules) colliding with neutral molecules and changing them to be electrically loaded. This heavily electrically loaded zone creates ozone and nitrogen oxides from the atmosphere. When an isolator, either insulating or conductive, is placed between the two electrodes, the avalanche effect is avoided and the result is a cloud of ionized air. This ionized air or corona discharge can be used for surface treatment of a number of insulating and conductive materials which show poor or no adhesion properties to other materials, such as printing inks, adhesives, and other insulating and conductive materials. The configuration of the electrode which is to be used for surface treatment can be a line source, such as a wire or roller, or an area source, such as a shoe, a plate or a rectangular-shaped ceramic, or a point source, such as a needle. A point source offers advantages over the line and area source, but its design is critical to achieve the optimum corona discharge without effecting the frequency of the generator.

Electric discharge surface treating electrode and system


Upgraded ironing machine, particularly for ironing trousers, comprising a supporting structure (2) of at least two substantially vertical pressing plates (3), arranged so they are facing each other and moving from a home configuration, wherein the pressing plates are substantially a long way from each other, and a working configuration wherein the pressing plates are substantially close together, at least one ironing plate (4) substantially vertical and interposable between the pressing plates in the working configuration, at least one supporting element of at least one pair of trousers positionable with the legs laid respectively on the opposite sides of the ironing plate and automated positioning means of the trousers with respect to the ironing plate.

It is common knowledge that professional ironing machines for ironing clothes are used in the industrial laundry sector or for industrial ironing in general.
With particular reference to ironing the crease of trousers, machines are known comprising a supporting structure of a horizontal resting surface for trousers and a press associated with the supporting structure that moves close to and away from the resting surface.
The press generally has a plurality of steam blow holes and is connected to a steaming system.
Before ironing, an operator lays the trousers on the resting surface, paying particular attention to laying them correctly in order to make the crease along the length of the trousers, at the front and back of the legs.
To iron the trousers, the press is then lowered and put on top of the resting surface with the simultaneous emission of steam from the blow holes.
These known machines are not, however, without drawbacks, among which is the difficulty of the manual operation in positioning the trousers on the resting surface, before they are ironed, wasting a considerable amount of time and labour.
Another problem with this embodiment is the fact it is impossible to iron well in the area between the crutch and the waistband, meaning manual interventions are then necessary which waste still more time and labour.
A second type of known machine entails a supporting frame with a compartment for housing a pair of vertical steam pressing plates, facing each other and moving to and away from each other.
A rigid ironing board and covered with an appropriate transpiring material (e.g. fabric), is associated with the supporting frame, parallel to the plates and movable thanks to the action of actuator means from a position outside the compartment to a position inside the compartment, with interposition between the pressing plates.
Such machines also comprise supporting means to support a pair of trousers, of the spring clip, hanger type or the like; the trousers are positionable with the legs extended along the opposite sides of the ironing plate, respectively.
Before ironing, an operator positions the trousers by hand on the ironing board. The ironing board is then moved inside the compartment, between the pressing plates which come close to each other and steam iron the trousers.
Once the ironing board has been moved back into the position outside the compartment the trousers can be removed for the next finishing phases.
Although these machines do partly simplify the manual operation of positioning the trousers on the ironing board, they still have some drawbacks.
The supporting means, in fact, have to be suitably adapted, before ironing can be done, to allow the correct positioning of trousers of different sizes, lengths, widths and styles with a waste of time and use of labour that all contribute in increasing the overall cost of the ironing process.
In addition, while ironing, creases are normally formed in the crutch of the trousers which have to be put right in subsequent manual finishing operations, costly in terms of time and labour.

Upgraded ironing machine for ironing trousers


Systems and methods are provided for hanging inspection systems for aircraft from floor beams of those aircraft. One embodiment is a method that includes selecting a floor beam of an aircraft, attaching a hanging support to a floor beam, and placing an inspection system at a mount of the hanging support.

During fabrication of an aircraft, it may be desirable to inspect the aircraft to ensure that fasteners, stringers, panels, and other components are placed in desired locations. However, inspection systems are often bulky, and must be placed at precise locations within an aircraft in order to provide valuable feedback for analysis. This process is complicated by the fact that an aircraft may be analyzed while it is still being fabricated. Thus, internal structural elements of the aircraft may be exposed. In some environments, there may not even be a floor of the aircraft yet in place.
The factors listed above complicate the process of precisely placing and/or mounting an inspection system, which in turn may result in the need for precise robotic placement systems to align the inspection system. When inspection systems must be placed by advanced robots instead of technicians, the cost of inspection increases. Hence, it is desirable to disrupt the production process as little as possible to accommodate inspections.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that take into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.


The present invention provides an assembly of an intravenous cannula insertion device and an elongate needle protector, said protector comprising a slotted tube, a needle and needle hub, said needle hub comprising a protrusion extending through said slot to allow the needle and needle hub assembly to be slidable within said protector,. a cannula hub operatively inter-engagable with said needle hub within said protector, whereby said needle hub and said cannula hub are extensible together from the protector to allow i.v. insertion of the cannula, and wherein said assembly includes retraction prevention latches for preventing retraction of the cannula hub after it has been fully extended; PA0 and wherein the cannula hub remains interlocked with the needle hub when fully extended until released from the assembly by a fin, so that needlestick is prevented.

Typical over-the-needle i.v. catheter assemblies require the removal and disposal of a contaminated needle after the needle tip and catheter have been inserted into a blood vessel of a patient. Since at the time a needle is withdrawn, the user has other priorities, needles tend to be temporarily discarded for later disposal. This leads to the possibility of accidental scratching or pricking of health personnel which can lead to inadvertent infection with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis.
For this reason various attempts have been made to provide catheter assemblies incorporating various means for preventing a needle tip from coming into inadvertent contact with a user once the cannula hub of the catheter assembly has been left in situ in the patient.
One problem experienced with assemblies of this type is to provide a needle protector which protects the needle both before and after use by using the same elongate protector body. This body should allow a needle and needle hub to be assembled with a cannula and cannula hub within the protector body, said assembly being extended by sliding the same in the body to a position where the cannula hub is free of the protector as, for example, when inserted into a patient. The needle is then retracted within the body of the needle protector for safety.
Prior Art systems, however, allow the cannula hub and protector to be separated without initiating the withdrawal of the needle protector, thereby allowing the needle to become exposed if the device is not utilised properly.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,049, there is described an assembly of an intravenous cannula insertion device and an elongate needle protector, said protector comprising;
a slotted tube, PA1 a needle and needle hub, said hub comprising a fin protruding through said slot to allow the needle and needle hub assembly to be moved within said protector, PA1 a cannula hub operatively inter-engagable with said needle hub within said protector, whereby said needle hub and said cannula hub are slidable together in the protector to allow i.v. insertion of the cannula and wherein said assembly includes retraction prevention means for preventing the retraction of the cannula hub after it has been fully extended for use.

Intravenous cannula insertion assembly with protective shield

Whitehall Road, Colchester, Essex C02 8JH


Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an external read command at a control circuit coupled to a memory array. Individual wordline activation may be delayed according to a delay period determined by a read level voltage magnitude associated with a plurality of memory cells included in the array.

Continuously reducing the size of solid-state memory architecture is an effective way to increase the capacity of such memories for a given amount of circuit real estate. However, the resulting feature size can give rise to design and process challenges. For example, the resistive-capacitive delay along wordlines in a memory array can dramatically increase with feature size reduction, providing strong electrical coupling between adjacent wordlines. The effects can most easily be seen as a reduction of the read threshold voltage (Vt) margin. As the wordlines in an array (both selected and unselected) are driven to desired values at about the same time, the far end of selected wordlines is often coupled to a voltage that is significantly higher than the near end.
The Vt margin may shrink for at least two reasons. First, the wordline coupling magnitude can be highly dependent on the target read level voltage, increasing with lower read voltage levels. For example, in some memories, a read voltage level of 0.1 V gives a coupling differential of 1.7 V, while a read voltage level of 2.7 V provides a coupling differential of only 0.5 V. Second, the offset from the target read voltage at the far end of a selected wordline can also strongly depend on the read voltage level.
As the use of multi-level cell (MLC) memory architecture becomes increasingly popular, preserving adequate Vt margins takes on added significance, because multiple read level voltages can be used within the same memory cell. Conventional approaches include waiting for all wordlines to settle so that read voltage levels can be accurately assessed. However, this solution results in increasingly long read times, so that MLC read operations can take longer than read operations for single cells. Program-verify operations are also affected. Thus, there is a need for apparatus, systems, and methods that provide a mechanism to reduce the read time, and increase read reliability of memory arrays having single-level cell (SLC) and MLC architectures.

Delayed activation of selected wordlines in memory


In order to continuously change the transmission ratio between power-assisted steering mode and emergency steering mode and to maximize the flow of hydraulic oil in the power-assisted steering mode when the steering wheel is rapidly turned, a steering assembly is proposed which uses a common line which bypasses the metering pump, as a supply line for flow amplification during power-assisted operation and as a return line for changing the transmission ratio during emergency operation. This common line is connected to selected supply lines by way of throttles and with corresponding cylinder lines or with all cylinder lines by way of throttles. Steering devices of this type are employed in mobile equipment, in particular in slowly moving vehicles.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic steering assembly with change in transmission ratio and flow amplification, which includes a controllable control valve, a metering pump, a supply connection, a return connection and two cylinder connections.
Steering devices of this type are employed predominantly in slowly moving vehicles with high axle loads.
Hydraulic steering devices primarily include a rotary control valve and an orbit displacer. The rotary control valve is constructed of an outer control sleeve fitted in a housing and an inner control piston disposed concentrically in the control sleeve. The control piston is connected through an internal spline to the steering wheel and also through a pin connection to the control sleeve for relative movement thereto. The control sleeve is rigidly connected to the rotor gearwheel of the orbit displacer through a pin connection and a drive shaft. The control piston is centered relative to the control sleeve by way of a spring element. Control piston and control sleeve are able to rotate relative to each other within limits against the biasing force of this spring element. Commutator bore holes provide a hydraulic connection between the rotary control valve and the orbit displacer.
The hydraulic steering assembly includes connections for connecting to a supply line, to a return line and to two cylinder lines which are connected to the steering cylinder.
Although these hydraulic steering devices feature a high displacement volume, they are not capable of changing the transmission ratio between the power-assisted steering mode and the emergency steering mode. Consequently, if the supply pump fails and the steering assembly suddenly switches to the emergency mode, the entire steering force required to steer the vehicle has to be applied to the steering wheel manually. This is a safety risk, particularly in highway traffic.
For this reason, there is a long-felt need to provide steering units which make possible a change the transmission ratio when the emergency steering mode is engaged, thereby reducing the necessary manual steering force.

Hydraulic steering assembly with change in transmission ratio and flow amplification


A barrel assembly preferably having a first barrel coupler and a second barrel coupler. The first barrel coupler secures the barrel to a carriage. The second barrel coupler retains an end of the barrel in the carriage preventing rotation of the barrel during operation. The barrel section between the first barrel coupler and an end of the barrel is isolated from axial carriage force in operation.

The following patent applications, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed concurrently herewith, cover subject matter related to the subject matter of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference:
09/791,651 Cradle For A Quick Barrel Change.
09/791,376 Force Isolating Cradle Assembly.
09/791,374 Injection Unit.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention broadly relates to injection molding machines and, in particular to the injection unit of an injection molding machine. Injection molding machines include machines for injecting plastic material, or metal material, or metal material in a thixotropic state.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Operation of an injection molding machine introduces a number of forces, pressures, and stresses on the injection unit. For example, axial carriage force is a force applied to engage the nozzle end of a barrel assembly against a sprue bushing of a mold. This provides a force sealing connection between the nozzle and sprue bushing preventing leakage of melted material during injection. Carriage force is applied and maintained prior to injecting the melt of material.
Injection force is a force directed along the length of a reciprocating screw located in a bore of a barrel assembly. Injection force results in injecting a melt of material into a mold. There is an axial reactive injection force acting along the length of the barrel assembly as a result of moving a screw forward during the injection stage of a molding process.
Injection pressure is a pressure required to overcome the resistance to the flow of the melt of material in the nozzle, runner system, and mold cavity. Injection pressure is exerted on the melt in front of the screw tip during the injection stage of a molding process. The accumulator end of a barrel assembly must withstand injection pressure.
Injection units for molding machines are very well known. For example, the book entitled xe2x80x9cInjection Molding machines A User""s Guide 3rd Editionxe2x80x9d by Johannaber was published in 1994 by Carl Hanser Verlag (ISBN 1-56990-169-4) and contains a detailed description of conventional injection units for plastic injection molding machines in Chapter 3 on pages 38, 39 42, 43, 44, 75, and 76. The reciprocating screw (RS) injection unit includes a barrel assembly which includes a nozzle, barrel head, barrel, axial bore, feed port, heater bands, and thermocouples. A reciprocating screw, which includes a non-return valve, is disposed in the axial bore of the barrel. The axial bore of the barrel includes a metering section and a feeding section. An electric or hydraulic drive operates the screw to feed and meter a melt of material and inject the metered material into a mold. The barrel assembly is fixed and supported, cantilevered, at one end of the barrel by a carriage. Hydraulic or electric actuators connect between the carriage and a frame member or fixed platen of the injection molding system. Operation of the actuators move the barrel assembly towards and away from the stationary platen and provides an axial carriage force through the entire length of the barrel during injection minimizing leakage between the nozzle tip and the sprue bushing. The axial reactive injection force is directed through the entire length of the barrel during injection.
The book entitled xe2x80x9cInjection Molding Operationsxe2x80x9d produced by Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., and printed in Canada, copyright 1980 also contains a description of conventional injection units for plastic injection molding machines on pages 41 through 44. Again, for the reciprocating screw injection unit, a barrel is supported at a distant end by a carriage, which houses the injection cylinder and a rotational drive. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the carriage and a stationary platen. In operation of the hydraulic cylinder, the carriage force is applied along the entire length of the barrel. For a two stage injection unit, a barrel is supported at one end by a carriage. The carriage houses the drive. The nozzle of the barrel feeds into a shooting pot which includes an injection piston. The carriage supports another end of the shooting pot. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the carriage and a stationary platen. In operation of the hydraulic cylinder, the carriage force is applied along the entire length of the shooting pot. The axial reactive injection force is directed through the entire length of the shooting pot during injection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,589 issued on Aug. 20, 1991 to Bradley et al (assigned to The Dow Chemical Company). The patent describes an injection apparatus for injection molding a thixotropic semi-solid metal alloy. The patent contains a description of an apparatus for processing a metal feedstock into a thixotropic state as the metal is fed into a hopper, located at one end of the barrel, and transported into an accumulation zone located at another end of the barrel. The barrel is constructed of a single piece of material with thick walls. A number of heating zones are defined along the length of the barrel, including sections of the barrel having differing thickness. The feed throat area and zone 4 are relatively thick sections. Zone 3 is a slightly thinner section, and zone 2 is the thinnest section. The barrel is conventionally mounted in the injection unit. A feed throat end of the barrel is mounted in an upright support secured to the frame of an injection unit. A bottom surface of the barrel, intermediate the distant ends of the barrel, rests on a second support also secured to the frame. The carriage force is applied along the entire length of the barrel in operation of the apparatus. All sections of the disclosed barrel must be thick enough to withstand the combination of axial carriage force and axial reactive injection force directed through the entire length of the barrel during injection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,978 issued on Nov. 16, 1999 to Vining et al (assigned to Thixomat Inc.). The patent describes a thixotropic metal injection molding apparatus. The barrel is formed in two sections to define a high pressure section and a low pressure section. The low pressure section is thinner than the high pressure section. A feed throat end of the barrel is mounted in an upright support of an injection unit. A bottom surface of the barrel, intermediate the distant ends of the barrel, rests on a second support also secured to the frame. The carriage force is applied along the entire length of the barrel in operation of the apparatus. All sections of the disclosed barrel must be thick enough to withstand the combination of axial carriage force and reactive injection force through the entire length of the barrel during injection.
There are a number of problems and deficiencies with the known prior art devices. Barrels are costly due to the amount of material required to provide a suitable thickness for withstanding the axial force along the entire length of the barrel. The axial force may be the carriage force, or the reactive injection force, or a combination of these two forces.
Special materials are required for barrels in use with thixotropic materials and these special materials are very expensive and are difficult to manufacture.
Thick barrels have a high thermal resistance which affects the efficiency and controllability of heating a material in the axial bore of a barrel.
Barrels, conventionally mounted in the injection unit, are typically difficult to install and remove. The process of installation and removal within a carriage is time consuming. Installation of the barrel in a carriage is further prone to alignment problems.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved barrel assembly for use in an injection molding machine.
A barrel assembly for use in an injection molding machine comprises a first barrel portion, a second barrel portion and a first barrel coupler disposed on said first barrel portion and isolating said second barrel portion from an axial force. The barrel assembly has an axial bore.
As an alternative, the first barrel coupler may include a linkage member. The first barrel coupler may include a second linkage member. The linkage member may include a thermal isolator. In an embodiment of the invention, the linkage member is a pair of standoffs. In another embodiment of the invention, the second linkage member is a ring.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a second coupler disposed on the second portion of the barrel. The second coupler is adapted to cooperate with the second portion of the barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of the barrel and prevent rotational movement of the barrel.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include an axial force linkage member disposed on the first coupler. The axial force linkage member distributes the axial force.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a thermal isolator disposed on the first coupler. The thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between the barrel assembly and a carriage.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a linkage insulator disposed on the first coupler. The linkage insulator distributes the axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between the barrel assembly and the carriage. In an embodiment of the invention, the linkage insulator is an axial force linkage member and thermal isolator.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a plurality of second couplers. In one embodiment of the invention, the second coupler is a recess formed in an outer surface of the second portion of the barrel. In another embodiment of the invention, the recess is a substantially flat pad. In another embodiment of the invention, the recess forms a spline. In another embodiment of the invention, the recess is an axially aligned slot.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a plurality of axial force linkage members. In an embodiment of the invention, the axial force linkage member is of unitary construction formed on a surface of the first coupler. In another embodiment of the invention, the axial force linkage member is retained on the first coupler.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a plurality of thermal isolators. In an embodiment of the invention, the thermal isolator is of unitary construction formed on the first coupler. In another embodiment of the invention, the thermal isolator is retained to the first coupler.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a plurality of linkage insulators. In an embodiment of the invention, the linkage insulator is of unitary construction formed on a side of the first coupler. In another embodiment of the invention, the linkage insulator is retained to the first coupler.
As an alternative, the barrel assembly may include a barrel liner retained in the axial bore to isolate and protect the barrel from the melt of material.
The barrel assembly may be of unitary construction. Alternatively, the barrel assembly may be a plurality of barrel sections secured together. For the case wherein the barrel assembly is a plurality of barrel sections, each barrel section may further include a seal preventing leakage of a melt of material.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.


A method for fabricating a copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell by a wet process under non-vacuum condition is provided. In the method for fabricating a copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell by a wet process under non-vacuum condition, a substrate having a backside electrode layer is provided, and then a first transparent conduction oxide (TCO) layer, a copper/indium/gallium/selenium layer and a cadmium sulfide layer, a zinc oxide layer, and a second TCO layer are sequentially formed on the backside electrode layer by using a first TCO layer forming process, a copper/indium/gallium/selenium layer and a cadmium sulfide layer forming process, a zinc oxide layer forming process, and a second TCO layer forming process to form the copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell with a high conversion efficiency, wherein the first TCO layer forming process, the zinc oxide layer forming process, and the second TCO layer forming process respectively comprise a laser cutting process to individually perform laser cutting and scraping knife cutting for the work piece such that the segmented work pieces are formed for increasing the integration of process and the quality of production.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell, and more specifically to a method for fabricating a copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell by a wet process under non-vacuum condition.
2. The Prior Arts
Since a copper/indium/gallium/selenium (CIGS) solar cell has high conversion efficiency, for example, the conversion efficiency of unit cell is up to 20%, and the conversion efficiency of solar cell module is also up to 14%, such that CIGS solar cells receive significant attention from the solar cell industry, and more particularly, CIGS solar cell is not restricted by the upstream raw materials.
Conventionally, the processes for fabricating CIGS solar cell generally can be divided into vacuum processes and non-vacuum processes. In vacuum processes, evaporation method and sputtering method are mainly used, and however, the expensive process equipments are requested and the efficiency of material utilization is low in vacuum processes, such that the whole fabricating cost is high. In the non-vacuum processes, the printing method and the electrodepositing method are generally used. However, the mass production of large-area solar cell is not matured, and is still stayed in the laboratory stage, so that there is no commercial large-area solar cell product in the market.
Therefore, a highly integrated non-vacuum process method is needed, and more particularly, a process in which a first transparent conducting oxide layer, a copper/indium/gallium/selenium layer, a cadmium sulfide layer, a zinc oxide layer, and a second transparent conducting oxide layer are sequentially formed on a backside electrode layer to form a CIGS solar cell with high conversion efficiency, high quality, and high reliability, and the fabricating cost is low.

Method for fabricating copper/indium/gallium/selenium solar cell by wet process under non-vacuum condition


The invention is related to novel azulene-oxindole compounds having formula (I) shown below, wherein one of R1, R2 and R3 represents a moiety of formula (II), each of A1 and A2 independently is nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, each of the others of R1, R2, R3, R1, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, and R14 is as recited in the specification. The novel compound potentially inhibits multiple kinases and thus can be used to treat some disease like cancer or inflammatory.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a medicine, and in particular to azulene compounds which modulate the protein kinases (PKs) activity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Protein kinases (PKs) are enzymes which catalyze the phosphorylation of specific tyrosine or serine/threonine residues in cellular proteins. The PKs mediate cellular signal transduction in regulating cellular function—proliferation, differentiation, growth, cell cycle, cell metabolism, survival/apoptosis, DNA damage repair, cell motility, and response to the microenvironment. Disregulated PKs activity is a frequent cause of disease, particularly in cancers, where kinases regulate many aspects that control cell growth, movement and death.
The PKs can be divided into two classes: the protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and the serine/threonine kinases (STKs). PTKs, which catalyze the transfer of the γ phosphate of ATP to tyrosine residues of protein substrates is one of the key covalent modifications that occurs in multi-cellular organisms as a result of intercellular communication during embryogenesis and maintenance of adult tissues. Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues modulates enzymatic activity of PTKs and the recruitment of downstream signaling proteins. Two classes of PTKs are present in cells: the transmembrane receptor PTKs and the nonreceptor PTKs. PTKs are critical components of cellular signaling pathways, their catalytic activity is strictly regulated. Unregulated activation of these enzymes, through mechanisms such as point mutations or over-expression, can lead to various forms of cancer as well as benign proliferative conditions. The importance of PTKs in health and disease is further underscored by the existence of aberrations in PTK signaling occurring in inflammatory diseases and diabetes. Of the 91 protein tyrosine kinases identified thus far, 59 are receptor tyrosine kinases and 32 are non-receptor tyrosine kinases. The growth factor receptors with PTK activity are known as receptor tyrosine kinases ("RTKs"). They comprise a large family of transmembrane receptors with diverse biological activity. The intracellular kinase domains of RTKs can be divided into two classes: those containing a stretch of amino acids separating the kinase domain and those in which the kinase domain is continuous. Activation of the kinase is achieved by ligand binding to the extracellular domain, which induces dimerization or oligomerization of the receptors. Receptors thus activated are able to autophosphorylate tyrosine residues outside the catalytic domain via cross-phosphorylation. The results of this auto-phosphorylation are stabilization of the active receptor conformation and the creation of phosphotyrosine docking sites for proteins which transduce signals within the cell. Signaling proteins which bind to the intracellular domain of receptor tyrosine kinases in a phosphotyrosine-dependent manner include RasGAP, PI3-kinase, phospholipase C, phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP and adaptor proteins such as Shc, Grb2 and Crk.
The EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor, belongs to a family of receptor tyrosine kinases in mammals which is composed of four members: EGFR (ErB1), ErB2, ErB3, and ErB4. EGFR is an 1186 amino acid residue transmembrane glycoprotein. It consists of an extracellular ligand binding domain, an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain, and a COOH terminal region that contains autophosphorylation sites. The binding of specific ligands, such as EGF, transforming growth factor-beta, betacellulin, heparin-binding EGF, epiregulin, or amphiregulin, results in phosphorylation of multiple tyrosine residues in the COOH-terminal tail, triggering the cellular signaling pathway that regulates fundamental cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival. EGFR is over expressed in many types of tumor cells, such as bladder, lung, gastric, breast, brain, head & neck, cervix, ovary, endometrium, etc. Abnormally high EGFR activity can be characteristic of non-small-cell lung cancers, breast cancers, ovarian cancers, bladder cancers, prostate cancers, salivary gland cancers, pancreatic cancers, endometrial cancers, colorectal cancers, kidney cancers, head and neck cancers, and glioblastoma multiforme. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to EGFR can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high EGFR kinase activity and EFGR kinase disorder diseases.
One of RTK subfamily is referred to as the platelet derived growth factor receptor ("PDGFR") group, which includes PDGFR.alpha., PDGFR.beta., CSFIR, c-KIT and c-fms. These receptors consist of glycosylated extracellular domains composed of variable numbers of immunoglobin-like loops and an intracellular domain wherein the tyrosine kinase domain is interrupted by unrelated amino acid sequences. PDGFR signals induce expression of pro-angiogenic signals (including VEGF) in endothelial cells, further stimulating tumor angiogenesis. The PDGFR signaling pathway may play an important role in cell proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis, and may mediate the high interstitial fluid pressure of tumors.
Another group which, because of its similarity to the PDGFR subfamily, is sometimes subsumed into the later group is the fetus liver kinase ("flk") receptor subfamily. This group is believed to be made up of kinase insert domain-receptor fetal liver kinase-1 (KDR/FLK-1, VEGF-R2), flk-1R, flk-4 and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (flt-1). Abnormally high PDGFR activity can be characteristic of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, and prostate cancer. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to PDGFR can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high PDGFR kinase activity and PDGFR kinase disorder diseases.
FLT-3 (FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3) is a class III RTK structurally related to PDGFR, and colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1). These RTK contain five immunoglobulin-like domains in the extracellular region and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain split in two by a specific hydrophilic insertion (kinase insert). FLT-3 expression was described on bone marrow CD34-positive cells, corresponding to multipotential, myeloid and B-lymphoid progenitor cells, and on monocytic cells. FLT3 expression is restricted to cells of the fetal liver expressing high levels of CD34. FLT3 receptor function can be defined by the activity of its ligand (FL). FL is an early acting factor and supports the survival, proliferation and differentiation of primitive hemopoietic progenitor cells. Ligand binding to FLT3 promotes receptor dimerization and subsequent signalling through phosphorylation of multiple cytoplasmatic proteins, including SHC, SHP-2, SHIP, Cb1, Cb1-b, Gab1 and Gab2, as well as the activation of several downstream signalling pathways, such as the Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3 kinase cascades. Internal tandem duplications (ITD) and/or insertions and, rarely, deletions in the FLT3-gene are implicated in 20-25% of all acute myeloid leukemias (AML). The duplicated sequence belongs to exon 11 but sometimes involves intron 11 and exon 12. The most frequently used nomenclature is FLT3-ITD. Because of the very heterogeneous molecular structure the term FLT3-LM (length mutation) seems to be more adequate. It was also described to be involved in 5-10% myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB 1 and RAEB 2) and rare cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to FLT-3 can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high FLT-3 kinase activity and FLT3 kinase disorder diseases.
C-KIT, SCFR (Stem Cell Factor Receptor), is known as type III receptor tyrosine kinase, structurally related to CSF-1R, PDGFR, and FLT-3, containing an extracellular domains with 5 Ig-like loops, a highly hydrophobic transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity split by a kinase insert (KI) in an ATP-binding region and in the phosphotransferase domain. C-Kit is expressed on the cell plasma membrane in the hematopoietic stem cells, mast cells, melanocytes, and germ-cell lineages. SCF/MGF receptor with PTK activity, binding of ligand (SCF) induces receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation and signal transduction via molecules containing SH2-domains. With the abnormal activity expression, mast cell hyperplasia in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract and skin, gain of function mutations are detected in most patients. It is recognized as clinical features of malignant hematopoietic cell growth are influenced by the time, the location of c-kit mutative events, and the number of associated lesions. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to c-Kit can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high c-Kit kinase activity and c-Kit kinase disorder diseases.
Another member of the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor family is the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) subgroup. VEGFR is a dimeric glycoprotein similar to PDGFR but has different biological functions and target cell specificity in vivo. In particular, VEGFR is presently thought to play an essential role is vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and survival. There are 3 distinct VEGF receptors—VEGFR-1, -2, and -3. Each of them contributes separately to the angiogenic process. VEGFR-1 is thought to play a role in regulating VEGF binding to VEGFR-2 during angiogenesis. VEGFR-2 (KDR) stimulates the proliferation, migration, and survival of endothelial cells during angiogenesis and is recognized as a critical VEGF receptor for angiogenesis. VEGFR-3 stimulates the proliferation, migration, and survival of endothelial cells during lymphangiogenesis, which in turn facilitates metastases. Despite these seemingly distinct roles, all VEGFRs overlap to some degree in their function, leading to significant redundancy. Therefore, inhibition of all identified VEGF receptors may ensure more complete inhibition of angiogenesis. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to VEGFR can be used for the treatment of solid tumors and vascular disorder diseases.
c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor), is the high affinity receptor for HGF/SF, a multifunctional cytokine. Upon ligand binding, MET dimerizes and transphosphorylates tyrosine residues in the C-terminal domain, which then interacts with members of a variety of signaling pathways. These include Grb-2 associated binder 1, phosphoinositide 3′ kinase and c-Src. Under physiological conditions, MET-HGF/SF signaling has been shown to affect a wide range of biological activities depending on the cell target. These activities vary from cell proliferation (mitogenesis) to cellular shaping (morphogenesis) and motility (motogenesis). The coordination of these diverse activities constitutes a genetic program of invasive growth that allows branched morphogenesis (the formation of epithelial tubular structures), myoblast migration and neurite branching. MET/HGF cell targets comprise epithelial and mesenchymal cells, hematopoietic cells, myoblasts, spinal motor neurons. MET-HGF/SF signaling is also essential for normal development: mouse embryos carrying null mutations in both HGF alleles die in midgestation and show impaired liver formation. MET and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) are expressed in numerous tissues although predominantly in cells of epithelial and mesenchymal origin, respectively. MET is amplified and overexpressed in many types of tumors, including tumors of the kidney, thyroid, pancreas and osteosarcoma. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to c-Met can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high c-Met kinase activity and c-Met kinase disorder diseases.
RET is a tyrosine kinase receptor whose ligands are neurotrophic factors of the glial-cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family, including GDNF, neurturin, artemin and persefin. RET activation is mediated via different glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked GRF receptors. 3 main isoforms of RET is detected in human, such as long isoform (RET51): 1114 amino acids, middle isoform (RET 43): 1106 amino acids and short isoform (RET 9): 1072 amino acids. RET is mainly expressed in tumors of neural crest origin: medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma. In human embryos, RET is expressed in a cranial population of neural crest cells, and in the developing nervous and urogenital systems. RET expression is found in several crest-derived cell lines, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, salivary glands, spermatogonia, and recently in normal thyroid tissue, thyroid adenoma and both papillary and follicular thyroid cell neoplasias. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to RET can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high RET kinase activity and RET kinase disorder diseases.
c-ABL (v-abl Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog) exhibit a permanent nuclear and cytoplasmic shuttling activity, driven by 3 nuclear localization signals (NLS) and a single nuclear export signal (NES) close to the C-terminal region. BCR/ABL has a cytoplasmic localization role and all three BCR-ABL fusion proteins have been shown to exhibit oncogenic potential. All three hybrid proteins have increased protein kinase activity compared to ABL: 3BP1 (binding protein) binds normal ABL on SH3 domain, which prevents SH1 activation. Nuclear and cytoplasmic ABL may have different functions. 1—Nuclear c-ABL plays a major role in the regulation of cell death after DNA damage. All DNA damage inducing agents activate nuclear c-ABL kinase in a ATM-dependent manner and in the presence of the p53-homolog p73 protein. The latter is physically associated with c-ABL after DNA damage through the SH3 domain of c-ABL. DNA damage also activates simultaneously p53 pathway, leading to the activation of Rb which induces growth arrest and protects cells from apoptosis. The exact mechanisms of apoptosis induced by c-ABL are unknown. The nuclear entrapment of BCR-ABL has also been shown to induce apoptosis in leukemic cells. 2—Cytoplasmic c-ABL: possible function in adhesion signalling as an efflux of c-ABL from nucleus to the cytoplasm is found in fibroblasts after adhesion. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to c-ABL can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high c-ABL kinase activity and c-ABL kinase disorder diseases.
TIE (tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and EGF-like domains) can be defined into two subgroups. TIE-1 (tyrosine kinase with Ig and EGF homology domains 1) and TIE-2/Tek comprise a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) subfamily with unique structural characteristics: two immunoglobulin-like domains flanking three epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains and followed by three fibronectin type III-like repeats in the extracellular region and a split tyrosine kinase domain in the cytoplasmic region. These receptors are expressed primarily on endothelial and hematopoietic progenitor cells and play critical roles in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis. Human TIE-1 cDNA encodes a 1124 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with an 18 residue putative signal peptide, a 727 residue extracellular domain and a 354 residue cytoplasmic domain. Two ligands, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), which bind TIE-1 with high affinity, have been identified. Ang2 has been reported to act as an antagonist for Ang1. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to TIE can be used for the treatment of solid tumors and vascular disorder diseases.
FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptors) consist of an extracellular ligand domain comprised of three immunoglobulin-like domains, a single transmembrane helix domain, and an intracellular domain with tyrosine kinase activity. The fibroblast growth factors are the largest family of growth factor ligands comprising of 23 members. FGFRs share a similar sequence structure, characterized by three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains (IgI, IgII, and IgIII), a single-pass transmembrane segment, and a split tyrosine kinase (TK1/TK2) domain. The great majority of pathogenic FGFR mutations are missense, and all confer gain of function to the mutated protein. Some mutations are highly recurrent. The gain-of-function mechanisms identified for FGFR2 mutations are (a) selectively enhanced FGF-binding affinity, (b) illegitimate FGF-binding specificity, (c) FGF-independent covalent dimerization, and (d) ectopic spliceoform expression. These mechanisms account for the dominant inheritance of all the associated phenotypes. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to FGFR can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high FGFR kinase activity and FGFR kinase disorder diseases.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) was considered a potential candidate for the treatment of heart failure. However, some animal studies and clinical trials have questioned whether elevating IGF1 chronically is beneficial. Secondary effects of increased serum IGF1 levels on other tissues may explain these unfavorable results. The aim of the current study was to examine the role of IGF1 in cardiac myocytes in the absence of secondary effects, and to elucidate downstream signaling pathways and transcriptional regulatory effects of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R). Activation of the IGF-1 receptor is survival and proliferation in mitosis-competent cells, and growth (hypertrophy) in tissues such as skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. The IGFR signalling pathway is of critical importance during normal development of mammary gland tissue during pregnancy and lactation. Several growth factors and hormones are involved in this overall process, and IGF-1R is believed to have roles in the differentiation of the cells and a key role in inhibiting apoptosis until weaning is complete. The IGF-1R is implicated in several cancers, most notably breast cancer. It is further implicated in breast cancer by increasing the metastatic potential of the original tumor by inferring the ability to promote vascularisation. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeted to IGFR can be used for the treatment of cancers having abnormally high IGFR kinase activity and IGFR kinase disorder diseases.
Kinases such as c-Src, c-Abl, mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) AKT, and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor are commonly activated in cancer cells, and are known to contribute to tumorigenesis. Many of these occur in the same signaling pathway—for example, HER-kinase family members (HER1 [EGFR], HER3, and HER4) transmit signals through MAP kinase and PI3 kinase to promote cell proliferation.
PTK disorder disease includes, such as cancer, asarthritis, diabetic retinopathy, restenosis, hepatic cirrhosis, atherosclerosis, angiogensis, glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, thrombic microangiopathy syndromes, transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and hyperimmune disorders.
Cancers include, without limitation, carcinoma of the bladder, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, head and neck, gall-bladder, ovary, pancreas, stomach, cervix, thyroid, prostate, skin, hematopoietic tumor of lymphoid lineage (i.e. leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, T-cell-lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy cell lymphoma and Burkett's lymphoma), hematopoietic tumor of myeloid lineage (i.e. acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, multiple myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and promyelocytic leukemia), tumor of mesenchymal origin (i.e. fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma), tumor of the central or peripheral nervous system (i.e. astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, glioma and schwannomas), melanoma, seminoma, teratocarcinoma, osteosarcoma, thyroid follicular cancer; and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Azulene-oxindole compounds as multiple-kinase inhibitors and useful as anticancer agents

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A thermal protection circuit has two electrical connection terminals for a device to be protected, and a temperature-dependent switch. The switch is provided with a temperature-dependent switching mechanism, two stationary contacts which are connected to the connection terminals, and a current transfer element, which is arranged on the switching mechanism. The current transfer element is moved by the switching mechanism and comprises two counter contacts, which are electrically connected to one another and in temperature-dependent bearing contact with the two stationary contacts. The thermal protection circuit is provided with a controllable semiconductor valve for AC voltage having two current terminals and a control input. Each of the two current terminals is connected to one of the connection terminals, and the control input is electrically connected to the counter contacts at the current transfer element via the switching mechanism at least when the temperature-dependent switch is closed.

The present invention relates to a thermal protection circuit comprising two electrical connection terminals for a device to be protected, comprising a temperature-dependent switch, which comprises a temperature-dependent switching mechanism, two stationary contacts which are connected to the connection terminals, and a current transfer element, which current transfer element is arranged on the switching mechanism, is moved by the switching mechanism and comprises two counter contacts, which counter contacts are electrically connected to one another, are in temperature-dependent bearing contact with the two stationary contacts and thereby connect said stationary contacts electrically conductively to one another.
A temperature-dependent switch which can be used in the thermal protection circuit is known from DE 26 44 411 C2.
The known switch has a housing with a cup-like lower part, into which a temperature-dependent switching mechanism is inserted. The lower part is closed by an upper part, which is held on the lower part by the upstanding rim of the lower part. The lower part can be manufactured from metal or insulating material, while the upper part consists of insulating material.
Two contact rivets, whose inner heads act as stationary contacts for the switching mechanism, rest in the upper part. The rivet shafts protrude outwards through through-openings in the upper part and merge there with outer heads, which are used for the external terminal connection of the known switch. Connecting litz wires can be soldered directly to these outer heads, wherein it is also known to hold angular contacts on the outer heads, to which angular contacts connecting litz wires are soldered or crimped.
The switching mechanism bears a current transfer element in the form of a contact bridge, two counter contacts being provided on the upper side of said contact bridge, which counter contacts are electrically connected to one another via the contact bridge, are brought into bearing contact with the two stationary contacts, depending on the temperature, and then electrically connect said stationary contacts to one another.
The temperature-dependent switching mechanism has a bimetallic snap-action disc and a spring snap-action disc, through which discs a pin passes centrally which bears the contact bridge. The spring snap-action disc is fixed circumferentially in the housing, while the bimetallic snap-action disc is supported on a shoulder of the lower part or on the rim of the spring snap-action disc, depending on the temperature, and in the process either enables the bearing contact of the contact bridge on the two stationary contacts or else lifts the contact bridge off from the stationary contacts, with the result that the electrical connection between the external terminals is interrupted.
This temperature-dependent switch is used in a known manner to protect electrical devices from overheating. For this, the switch is connected electrically in series with the device to be protected and the AC supply voltage thereof and is arranged mechanically on the device in such a way that it is in thermal contact therewith.
Below the response temperature of the bimetallic snap-action disc, the contact bridge bears against the two stationary contacts, with the result that the circuit is closed and the load current of the device to be protected flows via the switch. If the temperature increases beyond a permissible value, the bimetallic snap-action disc lifts off the contact bridge from the stationary contacts, counter to the actuating force of the spring snap-action disc, as a result of which the switch is opened and the load current of the device to be protected is interrupted.
The now de-energized device can then cool down again. In the process, the switch which is thermally coupled to the device also cools down again and then automatically closes again.
Owing to the dimensioning of the contact bridge, the known switch is capable of conducting much higher operating currents in comparison with other temperature-dependent switches in which the load current of the device to be protected flows directly via the bimetallic snap-action disc or a spring snap-action disc associated therewith, with the result that said switch can be used for protecting larger electrical devices with a high power consumption.
As already mentioned, the known switch automatically switches on again after cooling down of the device protected thereby. While such a switching response can be entirely expedient for protecting a hairdryer, for example, overall this is not desirable where the device to be protected should not automatically switch on again once it has been switched off in order to avoid damage. This applies, for example, to electric motors which are used as drive assemblies.
DE 198 27 113 C2 therefore proposes providing a so-called self-holding resistor, which is electrically in parallel with the external terminals. The self-holding resistor is electrically in series with the device to be protected when the switch is open, with now only a nonhazardous residual current flowing through said device owing to the resistance value of the self-holding resistor. This residual current is sufficient, however, for heating the self-holding resistor to such an extent that it emits heat which keeps the bimetallic snap-action disc above its switching temperature.
The switch known from DE 198 27 113 C2 can also be equipped with a current-dependent switching function, for which purpose a heating resistor is provided, which is connected permanently in series with the external terminals. The load current of the device to be protected therefore flows constantly through this heating resistor, which can be dimensioned such that, when a specific load current intensity is exceeded, it ensures that the bimetallic snap-action disc is heated to a temperature above its response temperature, with the result that the switch already opens in the event of an increased load current before the device to be protected has been heated to an impermissible extent.
Such switches have proven reliable for everyday use. They are used in particular for the protection of electrical devices with a high power consumption because they can conduct high currents via the contact bridge. When such switches do not open at the zero crossing of the AC supply voltage, arcs form between the stationary contacts and the counter contacts in the event of the contact bridge being lifted off from the stationary contacts, and the voltage drop across the switch is reduced to the arc voltage. The voltage drop remains at this level until the applied AC supply voltage changes polarity, i.e. reaches its next zero crossing. Then, the arcs are quenched and the switch is reliably opened.
In the conventional application cases of the known switch with a high switching power, a load current with a high current intensity needs to be interrupted, which means that strong arcs form which in turn results in contact erosion and therefore, as a consequence, long term in a change in the geometry of the switching areas and often also in impairment of the switching response.
In the case of uncontrolled flashover in the interior of the switch, arcs can even cause damage to the bimetallic snap-action disc. In addition, arcs can result in the switching areas on the stationary contacts and the counter contacts sticking together, so to speak, and the contact bridge not detaching or no longer detaching quickly enough from the stationary contacts.
These problems are increased with the number of switching cycles even more, with the result that the switching response of the known switch is impaired over the course of time. Against this background, the life period, i.e. the number of permissible switching cycles of the known switches, is limited, wherein the life period is also dependent on the switching power, i.e. the current intensity of the switched currents.
Switches of the generic type by the applicant have, for example, on an AC supply voltage of 250 volts a conventional life of 10 000 switching cycles given a load current of 10 amperes and 2000 switching cycles given a load current of 25 amperes.
Against this background, there is a need for temperature-dependent switches with an increased switching power and an extended life period.
It is known that the formation of arcs cannot be avoided, but that the damage caused by these arcs can be reduced and retarded by corresponding formation of the switching areas. For this, particular geometries and materials need to be used for the contacts, what makes the design of the known switches complex and cost-intensive.
In order to protect the bimetallic snap-action disc from damage as a result of jumping arcs, in addition the design of the known switch is such that the bimetallic snap-action disc is shielded by the spring snap-action disc and the contact bridge with respect to arcs which are produced during opening of the switch.
Although these protective measures have proven successful overall, they cannot wholly prevent the damage associated with the formation of arcs, which limits the life period and switching power of the known switches to the above-mentioned values which are conventional in particular in the case of switches by the applicant.
In addition, a disadvantage consists in that the described measures are complex and cost-intensive.
In connection with relays and contactors, it is known that arcs can be influenced by electromagnetic fields and can be quenched by capacitive and inductive components in the circuit. Furthermore, it is known to guide an arc occurring in contactors by means of so-called permanent magnet blowout such that the arc is quenched quickly.
Further, DE 31 32 338 A1 discloses connecting a controllable semiconductor valve, for example a triac, in parallel with a contactor comprising two fixed contacts and a linearly moveable contact bridge by virtue of the current terminals of said semiconductor valve being connected to the fixed contacts. The control input of the triac is connected to a terminal at the contact bridge via a series resistor and a flexible line, which leads into the interior of the contactor, which terminal is positioned between the contact points with the fixed contacts.
When the contactor is closed, the voltage drop across the contact points needs to be so low that no effective control current for the triac is formed between the control terminal and its reference terminal, which corresponds to one of the two current terminals. The triac is then not conducting, i.e. remains de-energized.
If the contactor opens as a result of external driving, two arcs are produced which must result in such a high arc voltage for a sufficient time span that the contact bridge to the reference terminal has a sufficient potential difference until a control current flows through the series resistor which can trigger the triac. Once the triac has been triggered, i.e. is conducting, it takes up the load current flowing through the contactor, whereupon the arcs are quenched.
By virtue of the rapid electromagnetic actuation of the contact bridge, said contact bridge moves sufficiently far away from the fixed contacts so quickly that renewed triggering of the triac cannot take place once the load current has been interrupted at the zero crossing of the AC supply voltage.
This method therefore has three critical conditions. The voltage drop across the contact points should not be too great when the switch is closed and should not be too low for a specific period of time when the switch is open. In addition, the interrupting speed should be so great that the triac is not triggered again. In addition, it is at least problematic in design terms that a flexible line needs to be guided into the interior of the contactor.
DE 2 253 975 A discloses a circuit wherein an arc forming on opening of a temperature-dependent switch in an AC circuit is quenched by a triac connected in parallel to said switch. The temperature-dependent switch used is a change-over switch having a central contact, which central contact is connected in temperature-dependent fashion either to a main contact arranged in a load circuit of the load, or to an auxiliary contact permanently connected to the control input of the triac. When the auxiliary contact is closed, a permanent residual current is flowing leading to power loss.


An object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb structural body which is low in pressure loss and can prolong a period up to a regenerating process. The present invention is directed to a columnar honeycomb structural body comprising a large number of through holes placed in parallel with one another in a length direction with wall portion interposed therebetween, wherein: each of the through holes has one of ends sealed; one end face of the through hole differs in opening area from the other end face thereof; a ceramic material which constitutes the wall portion has an average pore diameter in a range from 5 to 30 μm; and the rate of capacity of micro pores each having a pore diameter two or more times larger than the average pore diameter is set to 30% or less of the capacity of the entire micro pores.

Recently, particulates contained in exhaust gases discharged from internal combustion engines of vehicles, such as buses, trucks and the like, and construction machines and the like have raised serious problems as those particulates are harmful to the environment and the human body.
Conventionally, there have been proposed various ceramic filters which allow exhaust gases to pass through porous ceramics to collect particulates in the exhaust gases, thereby purifying the exhaust gases.
As such a ceramic filter, as shown in FIG. 7, there has been known a honeycomb filter 120, which is prepared as a honeycomb structural body made of silicon carbide and the like, and has a structure in which a plurality of square-pillar shaped porous ceramic members 130 are combined with one another through a sealing material layer 124 that serves as an adhesive to form a ceramic block 125, and a sealing material layer 123 is also formed on the circumference of this ceramic block 125 so as to prevent leakage of exhaust gases.
The honeycomb filter 120 uses the porous ceramic members 130 having a structure as shown in FIG. 8 as constituent components, and a partition wall 133, which are formed therein to separate through holes 131 a large number of which are placed in parallel with one another in the length direction, functions as filters.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 8(b), each of the through holes 131, formed in the porous ceramic member 130, is sealed with a sealing member 132 at one of ends of its exhaust gas inlet side or outlet side, so that exhaust gases that have entered one through hole 131 are discharged from another through hole 131 after having always passed through a partition wall 133 that separates the through holes 131.
Here, as described above, the sealing material layer 123, formed on the periphery, is provided for the purpose of preventing exhaust gases from leaking from the peripheral portion of the ceramic block 125, when the honeycomb filter 120 is installed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine.
Since the honeycomb filter 120 of such a structure has superior heat resistance and provides easy regenerating processes and the like, it has been applied to various large-size vehicles and vehicles with diesel engines. In other words, when the honeycomb filter 120 having such a structure is installed in the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, particulates in exhaust gases discharged from the internal combustion engine are captured by the partition wall 133 upon passing through the honeycomb filter 120, so that the exhaust gases are purified.
Moreover, with respect to such a type of honeycomb filter, disclosed is a structure in which the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side, so that the area of the wall portion through which exhaust gases pass per unit volume is made larger so as to improve the effective volume serving as the filter (for example, see Patent Literatures 1 to 12).
FIG. 9 schematically shows a cross-section perpendicular to the length direction of an exhaust gas filter disclosed in Patent Literature 1 (see FIG. 3 of Patent Literature 1). In this exhaust gas filter 310, the respective through holes have the same size, and the number of through holes 312, which are sealed at the exhaust gas inlet side, is made smaller than the number of through holes 311, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side. With this arrangement, the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side, so that the effective volume serving as the filter is improved.
FIG. 10 schematically shows a cross-section perpendicular to the length direction of an exhaust gas filter disclosed in Patent Literature 2 (see Patent Literature 2).
In this exhaust gas filter 320, the opening area and the number of through holes 322, which are sealed at the exhaust gas inlet side, are made different from the opening area and the number of through holes 321, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side. Thus, the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side, so that the effective volume serving as the filter is improved.
FIG. 11 schematically shows a cross-section perpendicular to the length direction of an exhaust gas filter disclosed in Patent Literature 1 (see FIG. 17 of Patent Literature 1). In this exhaust gas filter 330, the opening area of through holes 332, which are sealed at the exhaust gas inlet side, is made different from the opening area of through holes 331, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side.
Moreover, in this filter, the number of the through holes 332 and the number of the through holes 331 are the same, and the through holes 331, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side, are mutually made in face-contact with each other through a partition wall. Also in the case of the exhaust gas filter having this structure, the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side, so that the effective volume serving as the filter is improved.
FIG. 12 schematically shows a cross-section perpendicular to the length direction of an exhaust gas filter disclosed in Patent Literature 3 (see FIG. 5p of Patent Literature 3).
In this exhaust gas filter 340, the opening area of through holes 342, which are sealed at the exhaust gas inlet side, is made different from the opening area of through holes 341, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side. Moreover, in this filter, the number of the through holes 342 and the number of the through holes 341 are the same, and the through holes 341, which are sealed at the exhaust gas outlet side, are constituted not to have face-contact with each other through a partition wall. Also in the case of the exhaust gas filter having this structure, the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side, so that the effective volume serving as the filter is improved.
In these conventional filters, the opening area on the gas inlet side is made larger than the opening area on the gas outlet side, so that the effective filtering area of the partition wall is made greater; thus, it becomes possible to collect a large amount of particulates. Moreover, in these filters, an object thereof is to reduce a pressure loss upon collecting the same amount of particulates in comparison with a filter in which, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cross-sectional shape of all the through holes is a quadrangular shape and the opening area on the gas-inlet side and the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side are the same.
However, these conventional filters tend to fail to sufficiently achieve the latter object, that is, a reduction in a pressure loss upon collecting the same amount of particulates. In the above-mentioned filters, it is considered that the following four factors mainly give effects to the pressure loss.
More specifically, those factors are considered to include: (1) an aperture ratio on the exhaust gas inlet side (ΔPa), (2) friction upon passage through through holes (gas inlet side through hole: ΔPb-1, gas outlet side through hole: ΔPb-2), (3) resistance upon passage through a partition wall (APc), and (4) resistance exerted upon passage through collected particulates (ΔPd). Here, among these, the effect exerted by (4) resistance exerted upon passage through collected particulates (ΔPd) is considered to be greatest.
Here, in the case of the filters having the structures shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the initial pressure loss (pressure loss in a state without particulates collected) tends to become higher in comparison with the filter in which, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cross-sectional shape of all the through holes is a quadrangular shape and the opening area on the exhaust gas inlet side and the opening area on the exhaust gas outlet side are the same. The reason for this is because, although the pressure loss caused by ΔPa and ΔPb-1 is slightly reduced, the pressure loss caused by ΔPb-2 and ΔPc becomes higher.
Moreover, with respect to the pressure loss after collection of particulates in a filter having each of structures as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the filters having the structures shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 have a partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through holes. In the filters having this structure, as shown in FIG. 13, exhaust gases first flow from the gas flow-in through hole 1311 side to the gas flow-out through hole 1312 side through flow passages "a" via the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through hole 1311 and the gas flow-out through hole 1312. At this time, particulates are captured by the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through hole 1311 and the gas flow-out through hole 1312 (see FIG. 13(a)).
Thereafter, as the particulates 1313 are collected on the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through hole 1311 and the gas flow-out through hole 1312, so that the pressure loss in the partition wall becomes higher due to ΔPd, and exhaust gases are allowed to flow from the gas flow-in through hole 1311 side to the gas flow-out through hole 1312 side through flow passages "b" via a partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through holes 1311 (see FIG. 13(b)).
In this case, of the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through holes 1311, it is considered that: the exhaust gases start to flow at the portion closest to the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through hole 1311 and the gas flow-out through hole 1312; and the gas flow-in portion gradually expands to finally allow the entire partition wall forming the gas flow-in through hole 1311 to serve as an effective filtering region.
FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) are schematic diagrams f or describing flow passages of exhaust gases in the conventional filters.
In a honeycomb structural body of this type, when the amount of particulates accumulated on the partition wall commonly possessed by the gas flow-in through hole 1311 and the gas flow-out through hole 1312 is large, it has been difficult to reduce the pressure loss upon collection of particulates.
Moreover, Patent Literatures 3 and 4 disclose a filter in which an average porosity is more than 10% or less and pores have an average pore diameter of 2 to 15 μm, with individual pore diameters distributed in the almost entire range from 0.5 to 70 μm.
The present inventors have also studied methods for increasing the pore diameter in order to reduce the pressure loss. However, as a result of the studies, it has been found that unexpectedly, even when the pore diameter is made larger, the pressure loss is not lowered.
Patent Literature 1: JP-B 03-49608 (1991) (FIGS. 3, 17 and the like), U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,908, JP-A 58-196820 (1983)
Patent Literature 2: JP-U 58-92409 (1983)
Patent Literature 3: U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,761 (FIG. 5p and the like), JP-A 56-124417 (1981), JP-A 62-96717 (1987)
Patent Literature 4: U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,071
Patent Literature 5: U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,316
Patent Literature 6: U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,316
Patent Literature 7: JP-A 58-150015 (1983)
Patent Literature 8: JP-A05-68828 (1993), Japanese Patent No. 3130587
Patent Literature 9: FR2789327
Patent Literature 10: WO02/100514
Patent Literature 11: WO02/10562, DE10037403
Patent Literature 12: WO03/20407, U.S. Patent 2003-41730, U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,132


The present invention relates to processes for producing a deep-nested embossed paper products. The invention relates to a process for producing a deep-nested embossed paper products comprising one or more plies of paper where the resulting embossed ply or plies of paper comprise a plurality of embossments having an average embossment height of at least about 650 μm and have a high finished product wet burst strength relative to the unembossed wet strength. The present invention relates to a process for producing deep-nested embossed paper products comprising the steps of a) delivering one or more plies of paper to a deep-nested embossing process, b) conditioning the one or more plies of paper, wherein the conditioning step comprises heating the one or more plies of paper, adding moisture to the one or more plies of paper, or both heating and adding moisture to the one or more plies of paper, and c) embossing the one or more plies of the paper where the resulting embossed ply or plies of paper comprise a plurality of embossments having an average embossment height of at least about 650 μm.

The embossing of paper products to make those products more absorbent, softer and bulkier, over unembossed products, is well known in the art. Embossing technology has included pin-to-pin embossing where protrusions on the respective embossing rolls are matched such that the tops of the protrusion contact each other through the paper product, thereby compressing the fibrous structure of the product. The technology has also included male-female embossing, or nested embossing, where protrusions of one or both rolls are aligned with either a non-protrusion area or a female recession in the other roll. U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,034, issued to Burgess et al. on May 1, 1990 provides additional background on embossing technologies.
Deep-nested embossing of multiply tissue products is taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,686,168 issued to Laurent et al. on Nov. 11, 1997; 5,294,475 issued to McNeil on Mar. 15, 1994; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/059,986; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/700,131. While these technologies have been useful in improving glue bonding of multiply tissues and in providing new aesthetic images on paper products, manufacturers have observed that when producing certain deep nested embossed patterns the resulting paper loses a significant amount of its strength through the embossing process. This undesirable loss of strength is exacerbated as the depth of the embossing is increased. As expected, paper products having this lower strength detract from the acceptance of the product despite the improved aesthetic impression of the deep nested embossing.
Manufacturers have been forced to temper their desire for a deeply embossed tissue by their inability to maintain the papermaking strength through the embossing step. It was recently been found that a new embossing apparatus comprising rounded embossing protrusions can provide a deep-nested embossed paper product which maintains more of its initial strength after going through the embossing process. Now, it has also been found that a process for manufacturing deep-nested embossed paper products comprising the step of conditioning the paper before it is embossed to change the characteristics of the paper to make it more plastic increases the resulting average embossment height at a given emboss knob depth of engagement. Therefore, by the addition of this conditioning step a more dramatic aesthetic emboss may be achieved without increasing engagement, thereby avoiding a corresponding loss of strength. Alternatively, a manufacturer can obtain a constant average emboss height at a lower emboss engagement and obtaining a corresponding higher strength in the product.

Process for producing deep-nested embossed paper products


Transactional costs associated with providing professional services are reduced by allowing prospective patients/clients (bidders) and professional service providers to negotiate competitively for desired fees for proffered services through an interactive on-line communications network such as the Internet. A transaction system server handles online communications and procedures for conducting auctions for delivery of proffered services and maintains a registration database of service providers and bidders. An authentication/qualifier engine automatically researches and verifies service provider credentials and background information upon registration of a service provider with the system. A service feedback interface and database are provided for handling online feedback information and comments from patients/clients and providers regarding the complexity and quality of services received or provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a business model method and apparatus for reducing transactional costs and/or facilitating improved choice in access times, locations and providers of professional services such as medical services and products. In general, the present invention relates to a method and system for implementing an electronic auction of medical services and products via the Internet.
2. Related Art
During the advent of a booming e-commerce over the Internet, many people have become familiar with the flexibility and cost effectiveness of shopping "online" for various goods via the use of Internet sites that offer public auctioning forums of one sort or another where sellers and buyers may participate in some form of interactive bidding process. However, while online auctioning has been employed somewhat successfully in the context of bartering for various products, problems arise when trying to accommodate the need for assessing professional service provider qualifications, scheduling, location and quality. One of the problems confronting an online bidder for professional services is that there is no readily convenient means for verifying the qualifications of an otherwise unknown service provider or for assessing the quality of services likely to be rendered by a particular provider.
Online auction systems for some types of medical practices have already been attempted. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,191—DiRienzo (1999) discloses a system where certain remotely accessible physicians' services are auctioned so as to better distribute the availability/utilization of those services across geographic/time domains. DiRienzo is specifically directed toward the reading of radiological and other medical images (i.e., image-reading diagnostic services). In this context, DiRienzo generally teaches:                ". . . The essence of the invention is the use of a decentralized, i.e., self-organizing, distribution system combined with bid queues to establish a market place which allows for continuously negotiated prices with control (over who reads the images, when they are read and what the fee will be for such a reading) being totally in the hands of the patient/gate keeper and the diagnostic physician." [column 8, lines 31-37].
Additional prior art patents of possible interest include:                U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,208—Javitt (1999)        U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,700—Tallman et al (1999)        U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,939—Berman et al (1999)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,629—DeBruin-Ashton (2000)        U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,288—Solomon (2000)
Javitt is directed to a system that allows a doctor to forecast utilization of services. Tallman et al discloses an online system that allows an insurance company member to select the most appropriate doctor. Berman et al teaches an e-mail system between doctors and others involved in a specific patient's health care. DeBruin-Ashton teaches a method of compiling a customized directory of medical service providers for a particular patient. Solomon is generally directed to online bidding for a service (i.e., any service, medical or otherwise) in which the price can be negotiated.
More recently, an Internet "web"-site, having a URL (uniform resource locator) address of "HealthMarket.com", has begun providing an online exchange for locating and comparing prices of proffered health care services/physicians. This web accessible facility purports to provide "an internet-based utility that allows employers, individuals, brokers and insurers to find, evaluate, purchase and finance healthcare insurance", and does not currently suggest or support online auctioning of personal medical services or products. Of course there are also the well known E-bay, Priceline.com, etc. online auctions and reverse bidding systems that are already well known.

Method and system for provision and acquisition of medical services and products


The present invention provides a robot arm. The robot arm is for forking a substrate, and includes: a substrate fork and vacuum cups. The substrate fork includes parallel spaced prongs, and an upper surface of each prong is provided with vacuum cups spaced along an extending direction of the prong; and vacuum cups on two prongs at outermost sides of the substrate fork are scratch-resistant vacuum cups, and a top face and a side face of each scratch-resistant vacuum cup are connected through an arc-shaped surface. By setting the top face of the scratch-resistant vacuum cup connected to the side face through the arc-shaped surface, when the substrate is bent with the gravity, the contact area between the substrate and the scratch-resistant vacuum cup can be increased, to improve the friction therebetween, prevent the substrate from being scratched in a transportation process, and ensure the security of substrate transportation.

The present invention relates to the field of display technologies, and in particular, to a robot arm.
With the development of display technologies, flat panel display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays are widely applied to various consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, televisions, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, notebook computers, and desktop computers due to the advantages such as high definition, power saving, a thin body, and a wide application range, and have become the mainstream in the display devices.
Most LCDs in the current market are backlight LCDs, which include an LCD panel and a backlight module. The working principle of the LCD panel is injecting liquid crystal molecules between a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a color filter (CF) substrate, and applying drive voltages to the two substrates to control the rotation directions of the liquid crystal molecules, to refract light of the backlight module to generate images.
A glass substrate is an important component of the LCD, is a basic raw material of a liquid crystal panel, and greatly affects product performance. The key technical indicators such as the resolution, the transmittance, the weight, and the view angle of the display are directly closely related to the performance of the glass substrate. Currently, in a production process of the LCD, a robot arm is used to fork the glass substrate. As shown in FIG. 1, a current robot arm includes: a substrate fork 10 and vacuum cups 20. The substrate fork 10 includes a plurality of prongs that are spaced and parallel 101, and an upper surface of each prong 101 is provided with a plurality of vacuum cups 20 spaced along an extending direction of the prong 101. During forking, the substrate 102 is located on an upper surface of the substrate fork 10 and drawn by the vacuum cups 20 on each prong 101. When forking the substrate 102, the substrate fork 10 supports a middle region located in the substrate 102, and an edge region of the substrate 102 is not effectively supported, and may be bent to a curved state due to the gravity, causing the substrate 102 to be in contact with the sharp edges of the vacuum cups 20. In a motion process of the robot arm, the friction between the substrate 102 and the vacuum cups 20 may scratch the substrate 102, affecting subsequent processes.

Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.