There is provided a lithographic printing plate substrate comprising (a) a base layer, (b) a layer of a first adhesive covering one side of the base layer except for at least two opposite edges thereof, and (c) an aluminum layer laminated onto the layer of first adhesive and said opposite edges of the base layer, the aluminum layer thereby being sealed with the base layer at said opposite edges of the base layer. There is also provided a method of manufacture thereof as well as a method of processing in view of recycling. Finally, there is provided a lithographic printing plate comprising the above substrate.

In lithographic printing, a printing plate is mounted on the cylinder of a printing press (typically using clamps on two opposite sides of the printing plate). The printing plate carries a lithographic image on its surface and a printed copy is obtained by applying ink to the image and then transferring the ink from the printing plate onto a receiver material, which is typically a sheet of paper. Generally, the ink is first transferred to an intermediate blanket, which in turn transfers the ink to the surface of the receiver material (offset printing).
In conventional, so-called "wet" lithographic printing, ink as well as an aqueous fountain solution (also called dampening liquid) are supplied to the lithographic image which consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic, i.e. ink-accepting, water-repelling) areas as well as hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas. When the surface of the printing plate is moistened with water and ink is applied, the hydrophilic regions retain water and repel ink, and the ink-receptive regions accept ink and repel water. During printing, the ink is transferred to the surface of the receiver material upon which the image is to be reproduced.
Lithographic printing plates typically comprise an imageable layer (also called imaging layer or imaging coating) applied over the hydrophilic surface of a substrate, typically aluminum. The imageable layer includes one or more radiation-sensitive components, often dispersed in a suitable binder.
To produce the lithographic image on the printing plate, the printing plate is imaged by targeted radiation. This can be carried out in different ways. In direct digital imaging (computer-to-plate), printing plates can be imaged with infrared or UV lasers or light sources. Such a laser or light source can be digitally controlled via a computer; i.e. the laser can be turned on or off so that imagewise exposure of the precursor can be effected via stored digitized information in the computer. Therefore, the imageable layers of printing plates, which are to be imagewise exposed by means of such image-setters, need to be sensitive to radiation in the near-infrared region or UV of the spectrum.
The imaging device will thus etch the image on the printing plate by eliciting a localized transformation of the imageable layer. Indeed, in such systems, the imageable layer typically contains a dye or pigment that absorbs the incident radiation and the absorbed energy initiates the reaction producing the image. Exposure to the imaging radiation triggers a physical or chemical process in the imageable layer so that the imaged areas become different from the non-imaged areas and development will produce an image on the printing plate. The change in the imageable layer can be a change of hydrophilicity/oleophilicity, solubility, hardness, etc.
Following exposure, either the exposed regions or the unexposed regions of the imageable layer are removed by a suitable developer, revealing the underlying hydrophilic surface of the substrate. Developers are typically aqueous alkaline solutions, which may also contain organic solvents.
Alternatively, "on-press developable" or "processless" lithographic printing plate can be directly mounted on a press after imaging, and are developed through contact with ink and/or fountain solution during initial press operation. In other words, either the exposed regions or the unexposed regions of the imageable layer are removed by the ink and/or fountain solution, not by a developer. More specifically, a so-called on-press development system is one in which an exposed printing plate is fixed on the plate cylinder of a printing press, and a fountain solution and ink are fed thereto while revolving the cylinder to remove the undesired areas. This technique allows an imaged, but un-developed printing plate (also called a printing plate precursor) to be mounted as is on a press and be made into a developed printing plate on an ordinary printing line.
If the exposed regions are removed, the precursor is positive-working. Conversely, if the unexposed regions are removed, the precursor is negative-working. In each instance, the regions of the imageable layer (i.e., the image areas) that remain are ink-receptive, and the regions of the hydrophilic surface revealed by the developing process accept water and aqueous solutions, typically a fountain solution, and do not accept ink.
The image on lithographic printing plate can also be produced using laser or inkjet printers.
For a long time, aluminum has been the substrate of choice for manufacturing of lithographic offset printing plates. This is due to its flexibility, durability on press and its recyclability (as scrap metal) after usage. The ever higher aluminum and energy costs have now however intensified a need in the industry for replacement substrates, which would reduce the cost of lithographic printing plate production.
When aluminum is used as a substrate, it is typically treated to produce a generally rough and hydrophilic aluminum oxide layer at its surface. This improves adhesion of the imaging layer and other layers that may constitute the printing plate. This also provides the hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas on the developed printing plate.
Various others substrates are also known, including substrates made of aluminum foil laminated on a plastic or paper base layer. However, these can de-laminate upon use on press and are thus generally useful only for short run printing. More importantly, these substrates are not readily recyclable, which prevented their wide acceptance in the industry.
Also, polymeric substrates on which an imaging layer is deposited are known in the art. Again, these are generally useful only for short run printing. In addition, such substrates have a tendency to stretch upon use, which causes distortion of the printed image. However, these substrates are generally recyclable.
Printing plates generally have a tendency to stick to one another when stacked (for storage or use). To prevent this undesirable phenomenon, sheets of interleaving paper is typically placed in-between the plates. This increases the handling cost as the interleaving paper has to be removed for the plates to be loaded on a printing press. Similarly, it is noted that it is very difficult to cut a stack of printing plates to size without using interleaving paper.
The present description refers to a number of documents, the content of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Substrate for lithographic printing plate


A method for resolving range and doppler target ambiguities when the target has substantial range or has a high relative velocity in which a first signal is generated and a second signal is also generated which is coherent with the first signal but at a slightly different frequency such that there exists a difference in frequency between these two signals of .DELTA.f.sub.t. The first and second signals are converted into a dual-frequency pulsed signal, amplified, and the dual-frequency pulsed signal is transmitted towards a target. A reflected dual-frequency signal is received from the target, amplified, and changed to an intermediate dual-frequency signal. The intermediate dual-frequency signal is amplified, with extracting of a shifted difference frequency .DELTA.f.sub.r from the amplified intermediate dual-frequency signal done by a non-linear detector. The final step is generating two quadrature signals from the difference frequency .DELTA.f.sub.t and the shifted difference frequency .DELTA.f.sub.r and processing the two quadrature signals to determine range and doppler information of the target.

Difficulties arise with high frequency radar when range and velocity are both to be measured, and when either the radar or target has substantial range or velocity. This is the so-called range-Doppler ambiguity. For example, for measurements from an earth orbiting platform at an orbital altitude of about 800 km, the platform velocities are about 7kms.sup.-1, and the two-way time delay for echoes directly beneath the satellite and near the earth's surface will be about 5 ms; however, for a radar transmitting at a frequency of 10,000 MHz, the Doppler shift of a return measured from a radar on the orbiting platform would be on the order of 0.5 MHz. The maximum unambiguous frequency measured by this radar with a pulse-repetition-frequency (PRF) equal to the inverse of the 5 ms ranging time would be 100 Hz. Thus the PRF needed for ranging cannot fully sample the Doppler shift. In radar parlance, the velocity information is "aliased" and ambiguous. Also, since the radar antenna beamwidth causes spreading of the width of the Doppler spectrum, it is possible for this spread to equal or exceed the spacing between Doppler ambiguities, making velocity measurement difficult or impossible.
An example of the need for ambiguity resolution is the case of a 100 GHz wind-velocity sensing satellite radar. Assuming that nadir and forward-looking measurements are needed to sense the velocity components, then for a 30 degree forward angle, the Doppler shift for a 7 km/sec ground-track velocity is about 2.3 MHz. The Doppler bandwidth for a 0.8M antenna would be about 20 kHz. Therefore, for any reasonable PRF, the felocity data is heavily aliased and the spectral expanse of the signal is comparable to the Nyquist interval.

Method for ambiguity resolution in range-Doppler measurements

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A lubricating oil composition comprising (A) an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer satisfying all of the following requirements (A-1) to (A-3): (A-1) an ethylene structural unit content of 30 to 70% by mol, (A-2) a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 to 3000 mm2/s, and (A-3) Mw/Mn as measured by GPC of 1 to 2.5, (F) a sulfur-containing compound in which at least one hydrocarbon group adjacent to sulfur is a secondary or tertiary hydrocarbon group, and as an optional component, (G) an α-olefin polymer having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of 450 to 51,000 mm2/s, a sulfur content of 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, and a component (G) content of 0 to 15 parts by weight. The lubricating oil composition is suitable particularly for gear oil and the like.

In recent years, environmental problems have been highlighted on a global scale, and as one of countermeasures, reduction of power consumption or fuel consumption in industrial machines or transportation machines is taken in factories or by transportation carriers, etc. As one means to solve the above problems, there has been required a much higher effect on power saving and fuel saving by various lubricating oils used for the above machines.
Lubricating oil products have a so-called temperature dependence of viscosity that the viscosity generally greatly varies as the temperature is changed. Since the working temperature of equipment using lubricating oil greatly varies in certain cases, the temperature dependence of the viscosity is considered to be preferably small. Then, for the purpose of reducing the temperature dependence of the viscosity, a certain polymer that is soluble in a lubricating base oil has been used as a viscosity modifier for lubricating oils. In recent years, an α-olefin polymer has been widely used as such a viscosity modifier, and in order to further improve a property balance of lubricating oil, a variety of further improvements have been made (patent literature 1).
Such viscosity index improvers as above are generally used for maintaining a proper viscosity at high temperatures. On the other hand, under such circumstances that energy saving and resource saving have been strongly considered to be part of reduction of environmental burden, a viscosity modifier, which holds down viscosity increase particularly at low temperatures (is excellent in low-temperature characteristics) and is excellent also in durability, has been desired recently. In general lubricating oil applications, in order to obtain excellent low-temperature characteristics, control of a concentration of a polymer contained to the lowest is advantageous also from the economical viewpoint, and therefore, use of a polymer having a molecular weight as high as possible is known. However, an α-olefin polymer having a high molecular weight tends to be disadvantageous in terms of shear stability.
Particularly in gear oil applications among industrial lubricating oil applications, high durability (shear stability) has been required, and performance given in consideration of a balance between durability and viscosity characteristics has been desired. Further, of various lubricating oils, gear oils are used under particularly severe conditions, so that requirements for higher performance and longer life are strong, and also with regard to an extreme pressure agent that is a component exerting influence on formation of a stable oil film, further improvement in performance is desired.
As lubricating base oils, mineral oils are classified into three ranks of Groups (I) to (III), and further, poly-α-olefins (PAO) are classified as Group (IV) and the others are classified as Group (V) by the API classification. In various automotive lubricating oil applications, in order to cope with higher performance required and reduction of environmental burden, a ratio of use of Group (II) and Group (III) mineral oils or synthetic oils such as poly-α-olefins has increased though Group (I) mineral oils have been hitherto widely used. On the other hand, also in the industrial lubricating oil applications, long life and high durability are desired, and the aforesaid Group (III) mineral oils or poly-α-olefins have been used. Particularly in the recent industrial gear oils, shear stability is strongly desired as a main parameter of durability. It is difficult to meet the shear stability required herein by the use of conventional viscosity modifiers of high molecular weight type, so that α-olefin polymers of relatively low molecular weight, such as polybutene, have been used. However, there is room for improvement in viscosity characteristics of polybutene, particularly in sufficient fluidity thereof at low temperatures, depending upon the use applications.


There is provided a method and system evaluating performance of a printing device. In accordance with the method a diagnostic routine is executed on the printing device. The diagnostic routine evaluates performance of the printing device using a set of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The set of instructions are configured to identify a fault in the performance of the printing device based on an artifact identifiable on at least one diagnostic output. The diagnostic output is generated by the printing device with the identifiable artifact in accordance with the diagnostic routine for identifying the artifact and associated fault of the printing device.

Diagnosing problems with a printing device may be very difficult, especially for complex printing devices, such as, digital printing presses and production printers and copiers. Typically, when artifacts are identified on a printed sheet, service personnel and/or experts may be needed to diagnose and correct the defect that caused the artifact(s). The use of service personnel and/or experts can become costly as service personnel are usually required to be called on-site to diagnose and correct the defect. Additional costs may also be incurred during the downtime of the printing device, as the diagnosis and correction may be delayed while waiting for service personnel.
Moreover, pressure may be intense during diagnosis and correction of the defect, as each minute of downtime for a machine results in loss of productivity. Thus, quick and accurate diagnosis and correction of defects that cause artifacts is needed to reduce the downtime of the printing device.
Accordingly, a standard diagnostic routine that may be easily executed on the printing device without waiting for service personnel is desirable.

System diagnostic tools for printmaking devices


Mechanical means are provided to control the voltages induced in the windings of a generator/motor. In one embodiment, a lever is used to withdraw or insert the entire stator windings from the cavity where the rotating field exists. In another embodiment, voltage control and/or switching off of the output is achievable with a variable-coupling generator/motor. A stator is made up of two concentric layers of windings, with a larger number of turns on the inner layer of windings than the outer layer of windings. The windings are to be connected in series electrically, that is, their voltages add vectorially. The mechanical arrangement is such that one or both of the windings can be rotated with respect to the other winding about their common central axis. Another improved design for the stator assembly of electromechanical batteries provides knife switch contacts that are in electrical contact with the stator windings. The operation of this embodiment depends on the fact that an abnormally large torque will be exerted on the stator structure during any short-circuit condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements to the electromechanical battery (EMB), and more specifically, it relates to a fail safe version of the EMB with added power control capabilities.
2. Description of Related Art
A particular configuration of permanent magnets (the "Halbach Array") and of stator windings is known, where the windings are locating within a re-entrant insulating cylinder that forms a vacuum barrier, so that the windings are located "in air," i.e., not in an evacuated space. For the purpose of this disclosure, the important features of this design are two: (i) the generator/motor assembly is entirely ironless in nature, not involving any ferromagnetic material and (ii), the dipole field produced by the Halbach Array is highly uniform within the region bounded by the magnets. The consequence of (i) is that the coupling of flux within the windings is accurately determined by geometry alone, being independent of current levels (not true in the presence of ferromagnetic materials). The consequence of (ii) is that the flux intercepted by windings lying inside the Halbach Array is closely proportional to the area of these windings that lies within the array.

Fail safe controllable output improved version of the Electromechanical battery

The Regents of the University of California


Phase change ink comprising colorant and carrier comprising additive of formula

Disclosed herein are hot melt or phase change inks and methods for the use thereof. More specifically, disclosed herein are hot melt or phase change inks particularly suitable for use in phase change ink jet printing processes and containing ingredients from renewable resources. One embodiment is directed to a phase change ink comprising (1) a colorant and (2) an ink carrier comprising an additive of the formula
wherein A, E, G, and J each, independently of the others, are (i) —H, (ii) —Cl, —Br, or —I, (iii) —OH, (iv) —COOH, (v) —NR3R4 wherein R3 and R4 each, independently of the others, are (a) —H, (b) alkyl groups, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, (c) aryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the aryl group, (d) arylalkyl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, or (e) alkylaryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, (vi) alkyl groups, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, (vii) aryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the aryl group, (viii) arylalkyl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, or (ix) alkylaryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, Z is (i) —H, (ii) an alkyl group, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, (iii) an aryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the aryl group, (iv) an arylalkyl group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, (v) an alkylaryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, (vi) —(CH2CH2O)mH or
wherein m is an integer of from 1 to about 8 and q is an integer of from 0 to about 5, (vii) Na or K, (viii) —P(X)(OR5)(OR6) wherein X is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom and R5 and R6 each, independently of the other, are (a) alkyl groups, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, (b) aryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the aryl group, (c) arylalkyl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, or (d) alkylaryl groups, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, or (ix) —C(═O)R7 wherein R7 is (a) an alkyl group, including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, substituted, and unsubstituted alkyl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the alkyl group, (b) an aryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in the aryl group, (c) an arylalkyl group, including substituted and unsubstituted arylalkyl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the arylalkyl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the arylalkyl group, or (d) an alkylaryl group, including substituted and unsubstituted alkylaryl groups, wherein the alkyl portion of the alkylaryl group can be linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, and/or cyclic, and wherein hetero atoms either may or may not be present in either or both of the alkyl portion and the aryl portion of the alkylaryl group, and n is an integer of 0, 1, 2, or 3. Also disclosed herein is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink as disclosed herein; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.
In general, phase change inks (sometimes referred to as "hot melt inks") are in the solid phase at ambient temperature, but exist in the liquid phase at the elevated operating temperature of an ink jet printing device. At the jet operating temperature, droplets of liquid ink are ejected from the printing device and, when the ink droplets contact the surface of the recording substrate, either directly or via an intermediate heated transfer belt or drum, they quickly solidify to form a predetermined pattern of solidified ink drops. Phase change inks have also been used in other printing technologies, such as gravure printing, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,879 and German Patent Publications DE 4205636AL and DE 4205713AL, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.
Phase change inks for color printing typically comprise a phase change ink carrier composition which is combined with a phase change ink compatible colorant. In a specific embodiment, a series of colored phase change inks can be formed by combining ink carrier compositions with compatible subtractive primary colorants. The subtractive primary colored phase change inks can comprise four component dyes, namely, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, although the inks are not limited to these four colors. These subtractive primary colored inks can be formed by using a single dye or a mixture of dyes. For example, magenta can be obtained by using a mixture of Solvent Red Dyes or a composite black can be obtained by mixing several dyes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,560, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,761, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,852, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, teach that the subtractive primary colorants employed can comprise dyes from the classes of Color Index (C.I.) Solvent Dyes, Disperse Dyes, modified Acid and Direct Dyes, and Basic Dyes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,022, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses the use of a specific class of polymeric dyes in phase change ink compositions.
Phase change inks have also been used for applications such as postal marking, industrial marking, and labelling.
Phase change inks are desirable for ink jet printers because they remain in a solid phase at room temperature during shipping, long term storage, and the like. In addition, the problems associated with nozzle clogging as a result of ink evaporation with liquid ink jet inks are largely eliminated, thereby improving the reliability of the ink jet printing. Further, in phase change ink jet printers wherein the ink droplets are applied directly onto the final recording substrate (for example, paper, transparency material, and the like), the droplets solidify immediately upon contact with the substrate, so that migration of ink along the printing medium is prevented and dot quality is improved.
Compositions suitable for use as phase change ink carrier compositions are known. Some representative examples of references disclosing such materials include U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,932, U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,369, U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,948, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,956, U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,045, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,560, U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,170, U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,120, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,852, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,879, European Patent Publication 0187352, European Patent Publication 0206286, German Patent Publication DE 4205636AL, German Patent Publication DE 4205713AL, and PCT Patent Application WO 94/04619, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Suitable carrier materials can include paraffins, microcrystalline waxes, polyethylene waxes, ester waxes, fatty acids and other waxy materials, fatty amide containing materials, sulfonamide materials, resinous materials made from different natural sources (tall oil rosins and rosin esters, for example), and many synthetic resins, oligomers, polymers, and copolymers.
While known inks are suitable for their intended purposes, a need remains for improved phase change inks. In addition, a need remains for phase change inks containing at least some ingredients derived from renewable sources. Further, a need remains for phase change inks with enhanced thermal stability. Additionally, a need remains for phase change inks with reduced costs.

Abstract: wherein A, E, G, and J are —H, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —COOH, amino, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl; Z is —H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, —(CH2CH2O)mH,

Abstract: Na, K, —P(X)(OR5)(OR6) wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, or —C(═O)R7, and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3. Also, a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink as disclosed herein; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.


An image forming apparatus includes a release processing portion, a regulation processing portion, and a second restriction processing portion. The release processing portion releases regulation on removal of a developer storage portion when a storage amount of developer stored in an image forming portion is equal to or smaller than a second threshold smaller than a first threshold. The regulation processing portion regulates removal of the developer storage portion when the storage amount of the developer stored in the image forming portion is larger than the second threshold and removal of the developer storage portion has not been regulated. The second restriction processing portion imposes restriction on processing of the regulation processing portion when the regulation on the removal of the developer storage portion is released and a restriction condition is satisfied.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and a regulation method that is executed in an image forming apparatus.
There is known an image forming apparatus that is configured to regulate removal of a developer storage portion, such as a toner container, from an attachment portion to which the developer storage portion is attached.
For example, in the image forming apparatus, in a case where an amount of developer stored in a developing portion that develops an electrostatic latent image by using the developer is equal to or smaller than a predetermined first threshold, the developer is supplied to the developing portion from the developer storage portion attached to the attachment portion. In addition, in a case where the amount of developer stored in the developing portion is equal to or smaller than a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold, a regulation on the removal of the developer storage portion is released. With this configuration, as compared with a configuration where the developer storage portion can be replaced at an arbitrary timing, it is possible to reduce the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage portion at the time of a replacement of the developer storage portion.
In addition, in the image forming apparatus, in a case where the storage amount of the developer in the developing portion is larger than the second threshold, and the removal of the developer storage portion has not been regulated, the removal of the developer storage portion is regulated. With this configuration, in a case where the amount of developer stored in the developing portion temporarily becomes equal to or smaller than the second threshold due to low liquidity of the developer in the developer storage portion, it is possible to inhibit the replacement of the developer storage portion.

Image forming apparatus for regulating removal of developer storage portion, regulation method


The present invention is a working machine in which apparatus disposed in an outer peripheral portion of the base machine is covered with a openable guard cover, a window for maintenance, which is opened and closed by a window cover, is provided in front surface of the guard cover, and a locking mechanism, which locks the guard cover in a closed mode and unlocks the guard cover by being operated from the outside, is provided in the inside of the window. According to the present invention, the locking mechanism for the guard cover can be simplified and the guard cover can be made hard to be opened by unauthorized persons.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a working machine such as a hydraulic excavator including a guard cover, which covers pieces of apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an upper rotating body of a hydraulic excavator are disposed pieces of apparatus such as a working oil tank, a radiator, a main control valve, a multi control valve and a selector valve and the like. These are covered with a guard cover, and the maintenance of the apparatus or the like in the cover is performed by opening the cover.
In this case, the guard cover is large and heavy, its opening and closing are troublesome and further a space required for opening and closing the cover is large. Thus, a technology that an openable small window is provided in the cover and the apparatus or the like, which require daily maintenance, are provided in the guard cover so as to face this small window, has been known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei. 10-219741).
Since the hydraulic excavator can be often left at the site after the completion of working, an openable locking mechanism by a key is provided in the cover so that the apparatus or the like are not operated freely by unauthorized persons. Further, in the case of providing the small window, a cover for opening and closing this small window is needed and use of the same locking mechanism in this small cover is also needed.
Namely, two sorts of locking mechanisms for the guard cover and the small window cover are required.
Here, if a key for both locking mechanisms is used in common, only one key is all that is required. However, the both locking mechanisms each require a key cylinder and a locking mechanism enough to satisfy at least safety standards.
Further, to attach a key cylinder a key-operating portion for the cylinder must be fixed to the guard cover. Thus, working for the cover is needed. The working machine of the related art has been disadvantageous in the points of the production steps, cost and appearance of the machine.
It is noted that even if another locking mechanism such as a card open-close type, a dial key or the like is used, it is not changed that two sorts of independent locking mechanisms are required.
Further, since the position of a locking mechanism of the guard cover and its open-close method can be seen from the outside easily by a key hole or the like, there was a problem that the possibility of breaking the locking by unauthorized persons is high.

Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


An adjustable pedal includes a first member with a slot and a second member movable along the slot relative to the first member. A pin is disposed in the slot. A biasing member urges the second member toward the one end. A tension control member is connected to the pin to selectively adjust the second member. The tension control member has a secondary lock member. To prevent movement of the second member relative to the first member in one condition and permit movement of the second member relative to the first member in another condition. An actuation system employing a cable is disclosed.

Control pedals are typically provided in a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, which are foot operated by the driver. Separate control pedals are provided for operating brakes and an engine throttle. When the motor vehicle has a manual transmission, a third control pedal is provided for operating a transmission clutch. A front seat of the motor vehicle is typically mounted on tracks so that the seat is forwardly and rearwardly adjustable along the tracks to a plurality of positions so that the driver can adjust the front seat to the most advantageous position for working the control pedals.
This adjustment of moving the front seat along the tracks generally fills the need to accommodate drivers of various sizes, but it raises several concerns. First, this adjustment method still may not accommodate all drivers due to very wide differences in anatomical dimensions of drivers. Second, the position of the seat may be uncomfortable for some drivers. Therefore, it is desirable to have an additional or alternate adjustment method for driver control devices to accommodate drivers of various sizes.
Many proposals have been made to selectively adjust the position of the control pedals relative to the steering wheel and the front seat in order to accommodate drivers of various sizes. It would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that these adjustable control pedals can actuate both conventional cable controls and electronic throttle control (ETC), because the ETC is a function separate from adjustability and the ETC module would typically be positioned remote from the mechanism for adjustment of the control pedals.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,183; 5,697,260; 5,722,302; 5,819,593; 5,937,707; and 5,964,125, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference each disclosure an example of an adjustable control pedal assembly. This control assembly includes a hollow guide tube, a rotatable screw shaft coaxially extending within the guide tube, a nut in threaded engagement with the screw shaft and slidable within the guide tube, and a control pedal rigidly connected to the nut. The control pedal is moved forward and rearward when an electric motor rotates the screw shaft to translate the nut along the screw shaft within the guide tube. While this control pedal assembly may adequately adjust the position of the control pedal to accommodate drivers of various sizes, this control pedal assembly is relatively complex and expensive to produce.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,643,525 and 3,643,524, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, each disclose an example of an adjustable control pedal assembly which is much less expensive to produce. Each control pedal assembly includes an upper arm having a single horizontal slot, a rotatable screw shaft attached to the upper arm and extending along the slot, a nut in threaded engagement with the screw shaft and having a pin slidable within the slot, and a control pedal rigidly connected to the nut. Each control pedal is moved forward and rearward when an electric motor rotates the screw shaft to translate the nut along the screw shaft. While these control pedal assemblies may adequately adjust the position of the control pedal to accommodate drivers of various size and they are still complex and relatively expensive to produce.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an adjustable control pedal assembly which selectively adjusts the position of the pedal with a simplified actuation system employing a cable to accommodate drivers of various size, is relatively inexpensive to produce, is highly reliable to operate, and prevents pedal adjustment movement in the event of cable failure.
The present invention provides an adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle, which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable control pedal includes, in combination, a first member having one end, another end, and a slot formed between one end and another end. A pin is disposed in the slot a second member is connected to the pin and is movable along the slot relative to the first member. A biasing member is adjacent the pin and biases the second member toward one end. Additionally, a tension control member is connected to the pin to selectively adjust the second member. The tension control member includes a secondary lock.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable control device for pedals includes, in combination, first and second control pedals, each control pedal includes a first support member and a second support member adjacent to the first support member. The first member has a first end, a second end and a slot formed between the first end and the second end. A pin is slidably mounted in the slot and is secured to the second support. The second support member is movable along the slot relative to the first support member. A biasing member is between the pin and the first member and biases the second member toward the one end. A tension control member is connected to the first support member to selectively adjust the second member along the slot. The biasing member includes one of a torsion spring, an elastomeric member, and a coil spring.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of adjustable control pedal assemblies. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, feature-rich, low cost assembly. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred feature illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of an adjustable control pedal as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, and shapes of the pedal arms and the slots will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin feature may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the control pedal assembly illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward refers to an upward direction in the plane of the paper in FIGS. 1 through 5, 7 and 9 and down or downward refers to a downward direction in the plane of the paper in FIGS. 1 through 5, 7 and 9. Also in general, fore or forward refers to a direction toward the front or firewall of the motor vehicle, that is, to the right in the plane of the paper in FIG. 3 and aft or rearward refers to a direction toward the rear of the motor vehicle, that is, to the left in the plane of the paper in FIG. 3.


A navigation system (10) includes one or more non-geostationary satellites (26) that generate signals having integrity information. A navigation receiver (16) determines range and position of the satellite (26,28) in response to the signals. The navigation system (10) may also determine accuracy and reliability of the range and position in response to the signals.

The present invention relates generally to navigation systems. More particularly, the present invention is related to a system and method of operating a global positioning system and related architecture.
The current global positioning system (GPS) provides timing and navigation for a wide range of applications, such as intelligent transportation systems, telecommunications, delivery of military munitions, and power control grids. The applications may be military or civilian related. Civilian applications include commercial and noncommercial applications.
The GPS is designed to provide three-dimensional navigation anywhere in the world, at any time, and under all weather conditions. The GPS generates a pair of timing signals that are broadcasted on two frequencies of the L-band. The two frequencies are designated as L1 and L2. Time, range, and position information of each satellite can be obtained from the timing signal. A GPS receiver can use time of arrival information to determine range information. The receiver, by receiving multiple timing signals from multiple satellites, can also determine position information. Each satellite transmits a unique code, which enables the satellites within the GPS system to use the same L1 and L2 frequencies. The timing signal on the L1 frequency is broadcasted having a short unencrypted code that is used for both military and civilian applications. The coded timing signal on the L2 frequency is broadcasted having a longer encrypted code that is only used for authorized users of the United States military and its allies.
The use of the two frequencies allows the military GPS receivers to account for some atmospheric effects on the ranging signals. Thus, the military operated GPS receivers are typically more accurate than the civilian receivers. The military receivers are accurate to approximately within ten meters (see the Precise Positioning Service Performance Standard for military specification standards) as opposed to the civilian receivers, which are accurate to approximately within tens of meters (see the Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard for civilian specification standards).
The current GPS is not designed for civilian aviation applications that require integrity or guaranteed position accuracy, and is therefore limited for aviation use. Civilian aviation requirements, which are meant to assure accuracy of the GPS received signals and prevent collisions or injuries to vehicles and occupants therein, are more stringent than existing GPS operating requirements for such applications. Civilian requirements include an assured accuracy requirement that is on the order of approximately ten meters in the vertical direction. Civilian requirements also include a "time to alert" requirement that refers to a maximum allowable amount of time to notify a pilot when a navigation system malfunction or inaccuracy exists within the GPS signals. When a malfunction that is undesirable exists within the GPS, the GPS navigation solution or resulting data is no longer safe for use.
There currently exists several regional satellite health monitoring systems including the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), and the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). These systems monitor integrity of the GPS signals and determine errors associated with positions and clocks of satellites, and atmospheric attenuation. The error information along with other integrity information is transmitted to the geostationary satellites, which is then retransmitted such that an aircraft may determine a current GPS status and errors associated with the received GPS signals. These monitoring systems enable trusted, but limited vertical navigation over selected service volumes, such as the continental United States for the WAAS, western Europe for the EGNOS, and mainland Japan for the MSAS.
The current GPS requirement for response time for a stand-alone GPS without additional regional monitoring is approximately six hours. Actual response time varies from approximately one half an hour to four hours. This is unacceptable for civilian applications that require received and used navigation values to be reliable. Such a long time delay to warn can result in a collision and injury to an aircraft and occupants therein.
Although the GPS-enabled avionics is relatively inexpensive to deploy, accuracy and time to alert deficiencies of the GPS prevent it from being relied upon during the landing phase of civilian flight. Currently, in low visibility conditions, a civilian aircraft is capable of landing through use of an instrument landing system (ILS). The pilot of the aircraft monitors an instrument that senses a radar signal from the ground and in response thereto performs a landing. However, the ILS is expensive and is only available at a limited number of airports, which are typically large commercial airports, such as international airports. It is unsafe to land an aircraft in a low visibility area without use of an ILS system and is generally not permitted by regional civil aviation authorities.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved navigation system that is accurate, provides integrity information quickly, is global, and is inexpensive such that it may be used and relied upon for civilian aviation applications.

GPS Navigation system with integrity and reliability monitoring channels


Based on the proportion that exists between the length of a conductive material and its electrical resistance and using a Wheatstone bridge type circuit, with four resistances to which a given input voltage is applied, and when the bridge is in balance the output voltage is zero, consists of using as such resistances respective extension measurement bands, based on a grid (1) mounted on an electrically insulating support (2), in such a way that preferably two of said grids (1) are orientated in a principal direction of maximum deformation, whereas the other two (1′) are in a direction at right angle to the previous one, in such a way that the dimensional variations of said bands, determined by the increase or reduction in the dimensions of the tree or plant to be controlled, create an output voltage, positive or negative, which proportionally corresponds with said measurement increase or decrease.

Conventionally, and to improve the yield of a plantation, only parameters external to the actual plants, basically such as climate and irrigation of the soil, were examined and considered.
However, and since some time, it is known that plants undergo contractions/dilations throughout the day, namely an increase and decrease of their diameter (in the case of the trunk or of a fruit) that is a function of its "hydric" condition, of its "stress", so that a dendrometric and permanent control of the plant allows decisions much more adapted to improving the yield to be taken, than if only parameters external to it are considered.
Evidently these dimensional changes are minimal because of which the dendrometer used must be of great precision.
One well-known and commonly used solution in this respect consists of so-called linear movement sensors, structured by means of an electromagnetic ring-shaped coil, in whose cavity a nucleus formed by a rod freely moves, that, due to the effect of the magnetic field of the coil, is kept constantly pressed against the surface of the plant, such as, for example, against the trunk of a tree, so that when this latter expands or contracts (a few microns a day), the nucleus or rod undergoes the equivalent axial movement generating a modification in the field of the coil, that can be perfectly measured and, using suitable conversion tables, transformed into a measurement of length.
Also known are sensors or dendrometers based on the use of micrometrical gauges or extension measurement bands, based in turn in the fact that in all materials that are conductors of electricity a proportion exists between the length of said conductive and its electrical resistance, so that a proportion can be obtained between the relative change of length of a conductor and the change in its electrical resistance, that allows the dimensional increase or decrease of the plant being analysed to be deduced.
In this area the U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,355 patent should be noted, in which a Wheatstone Bridge is used as a measuring element, in which four electrical resistances connected between four points or ends of the bridge are used, which is supplied at two points to produce an output voltage in the other two that must be zero when the bridge is in balance, in such a way that this outlet voltage of value zero will vary becoming positive or negative depending on whether an increase in one or other of the resistances, that form part of the Wheatstone Bridge, occurs.
This solution, perfectly valid from the theoretical viewpoint, in practice presents problems arising from the geometry of the plant, so that the orientation in the deformation of the plant is usually neither aligned with the electro-resistant element, nor does it offer a fixed angulation, because of which differences exist between the measurement taken and the real value that can become unacceptable.


Methods of forming a field emission device with self-aligned gate structure, comprising a substrate on which at least one wedge or tip electrode and one accelerating or gate electrode are provided. The only photolithographic step involved is to pattern an integrated gate electrode opening on high quality, thermally grown oxide which can withstand a strong electric field. The formation of the emissive electrode by etching starts at the edge of the integrated gate electrode opening defined by the oxide material layer. As a result, the distance between the emissive electrode and the gate electrode is minimum. Simple wet chemical etching may be used to form the emissive electrode.

The field emission device consists of a cathode or emitter electrode, a gate or accelerating electrode and an anode or collector electrode. In general, the distance between the emitter and the accelerating electrodes is extremely small--in the order of one micron or less. As a result, a small voltage applied between the two electrodes generates a strong electric field. Electrons are emitted from the emitter electrode under the action of a strong electric field, a process called field emission. The difference between field emission and thermionic emission is that in thermionic emission, electrons are emitted from a hot electrode as a result of the heat. Hence the kinetic energy of the electrons is higher than that of the potential barrier between the electrode material and the vacuum. In field emission, electron emission is caused by a strong electric field so that a hot emitter electrode is not required. Thus the major advantage of field emission over thermionic emission is that a small electron source unit without the heating element can be constructed.
There are several prior art methods which can be used to fabricate silicon field emission devices. One method is to start with a silicon substrate, 1, on which silicon dioxide islands, 2, with a diameter of say 1 micron are patterned (FIG. 1). A silicon etching process is carried out until the diameter of silicon under each oxide island, 3, is in the order of 0.2 micron, with the oxide islands being used as an etching mask (FIG. 2). A dielectric layer, 4, of 0.3 micron thickness, for example, silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, is deposited by thermal evaporation or chemical vapour deposition on the entire substrate (FIG. 3). This layer will cover the top of the oxide island and around the oxide islands but will not trickle beneath the oxide islands. A second silicon etching process is carried out and a tip emitter electrode, 5, is formed. A layer of metal, 6, such as aluminum or chromium, is then deposited on the entire surface (FIG. 4). As a result, the metal sitting on the dielectric layer acts as the gate or accelerating electrode.
This prior art method does not require a photolithographic alignment process, however, the breakdown voltage of the dielectric layer deposited by thermal evaporation or chemical vapour deposition is not as high as that of thermally grown silicon dioxide. Therefore, a field emission array fabricated using the above method is not efficient enough for long term device operation. If an electrical breakdown between the gate and the substrate occurs, the corresponding field emission device becomes defective. It is thus highly desirable to develop a process which utilizes thermally grown oxide as the insulator between the gate and substrate.

Methods of forming field emission devices with self-aligned gate structure


Disclosed is an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam useful in insulating applications. The foam has an open cell content of about 70 percent or more. The foam has an average cell size of about 70 micrometers or less. The foam is particularly useful in evacuated or vacuum insulation panels. Further disclosed is a process for making the open-cell foam. Further disclosed is a fabricated foam article.

This invention relates to an extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer foam and a process for making.
To significantly improve the performance of insulating systems, vacuum panel technology is currently being evaluated by industry. The absence of air or gas in the panels affords the possibility of substantial enhancement of insulating performance.
To further significantly improve the performance of insulating systems, microcellular foams (e.g., about 70 micrometers or less) are being evaluated by industry. The small cell size affords the possibility of substantial enhancement of insulating performance in many instances.
Extruded, closed-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foams of medium cell size (e.g., 0.2 to 1.0 millimeter (mm)) have been employed in insulating systems for decades. They offer good insulating performance and excellent mechanical strength. However, the closed-cell structure makes them unsuitable for use in vacuum systems. Closed-cell foams cannot be evacuated of entrapped gas easily or without collapsing them.
A means to address the problem of inability to evacuate would be to employ an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam with very high open cell content. However, the only known microcellular, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foams are those prepared by phase separation or with supercritical fluids as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,673,695; 4,473,665; 5,158,986; and 5,334,356. These foams are expensive to produce and have limited mechanical strength.
It would be desirable to have a strong, economical, microcellular, open-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam to employ in vacuum insulation systems. It would further be desirable to have such foams in a cell size range of about 70 micrometers or less.

Extruded, open-cell microcellular alkenyl aromatic polymer forms, process for making, and articles made therefrom


The present invention is directed to a method for producing a biomolecule conjugate where the method is integrated into a single unit operation.

With the advances in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals have been developed to meet unmet medical needs. However, their short in-vivo half-life requires patients to take frequent and/or large doses of these biopharmaceuticals to achieve the target therapeutic or prophylactic goal. Long intravenous therapy or frequent injection could affect the patients' quality of life. Various polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), can be conjugated to a biomolecule (e.g., protein) to enhance the half-life and biologic activity of many biomolecules (Reddy, Ann. Pharmacother. 34:915-923, 2000). Other benefits of polymer conjugation include (a) improved product stability during the manufacturing process; (b) reduced renal clearance (Fung, et al., Polym. Prepr. 38:565-566, 1997); improved tumor trageting (Yowell, et al., Cancer Treat. Rev. 28 Suppl. A:3-6, 2002); reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity (Muller, et al., Br. J. Haematol. 110:379-384, 2000; Abshire, et al., Blood 96:1709-1715, 2000); and greater tolerability (Safra, et al., Ann. Oncol. 11:1029-1033, 2000; Judson, et al., Eur. J. Cancer 37:870-877, 2001). PEGylation has been applied to human growth factors (Kim, et al., Biomaterials 23:2311-2317, 2002; Wu, et al., Protein Expr. Purif. 48:24-27, 2006), growth hormone-releasing factor (Piquet, et al., J. Chromatogr. 944:141-148, 2002), adenovirus vector (Eto, et al., Int. J. Pharm. 354:3-8, 2008) and plasmid DNA (Hosseinkhani, et al., J. Control Release, 97:157-171, 2004). Due to the benefits of PEGylation, many conjugation reaction chemistry (Roberts, et al., Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 54:459-476, 2002) and polymer derivatives (European Patent No. 1578841) have been developed. As the application of biomolecule-polymer conjugation increases, it is necessary to develop simple, reproducible, and scalable unit operation to meet the manufacturing needs.

Method for activation and conjugation of biomolecules


A laser machining apparatus capable of performing a high-speed and high-precision machining of a workpiece. One end of each of a first-axis and a second-axis expandable arms is supported on a fulcrum. The fulcrum is angularly movably within a predetermined range about the fulcrum in a plane parallel to a machining plane. A machining head is supported at a joint point of the first-axis and second axis expandable arms. Each arm has a ball screw and a cover having an expandable and contractible tube structure, and the machining head has a ball nut threaded to engage with the ball screw. As the ball screw is rotated by a servomotor, the arm extends and contracts to move the machining head. A Z-axis adjusting mechanism is provided between a joint portion of each arm and the machining head and a machining nozzle that is disposed on a tip of the machining head. A three-dimensional parallel drive system or a combination of a serial drive system and a parallel drive system may be used to drive the machining head.

A laser machining apparatus for machining, such as cutting, boring, welding, surface-treating, a material using laser beam is advantageous in freely selecting a desired machined shape and is therefore widely used particularly as machining means for manufacturing a little amount of variety of products. FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional laser beam machine using carbon-dioxide gas.
In FIG. 1, the laser beam machine 1 is equipped with a carbon-dioxide gas laser oscillator 2 as a laser beam supply source. Laser beam LB outputted from the carbon-dioxide gas laser oscillator 2 reaches a main machining unit 4 via a non-illustrated shield-light duct and is then transmitted to a machining head 5 of the main machining unit 4 via mirrors M1, M2.
A condenser lens (not shown) is mounted in the machining head 5 so that the light refracted downwardly by the mirror M2 is gathered and concentrated by the condenser lens, whereupon the concentrated light is projected on a workpiece W from a machining nozzle 6 mounted on a tip of the machining head 5. In order to improve a machining speed and a degree of the machined surface roughness, it has been a common practice to blow assist gas to the machining surface from an assist gas nozzle attached to the machining head 5.
A machining point on which laser beam LB strikes is disposed just under a machining nozzle 6 of the machining head 5. Accordingly, the position of this machining point is determined by positioning the machining head 5 with respect to the X axis and the Y axis. In order to obtain a desired shape of the machined workpiece, the machining head 5 is mounted on an X-Y drive mechanism. The X-Y drive mechanism is a mechanism for moving the machining head 5 in a straight line in .+-.X-axis direction and .+-.Y-axis direction and typically comprises a ball screw 6A for X-axis driving, a linear bearing 6B, a servo motor 7, a ball screw 8 for Y-axis driving, and a servo motor 9.
Each servo motor 7, 9 is usually controlled by a computerized numerical controller (CNC) 3. As a playback operation is carried out after teaching a machining program to the numerical controller 3, the machining head 5 is positioned at positions on X-axis and Y-axis (or X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis positions) in order corresponding to position data contained in the machining program so that machining is accomplished according to the desired shape designated by the machining program.
The Z-axis position of the machining head 5 is often made adjustable independently by a suitable Z-axis moving mechanism. Alternatively, the same control as the X-axis and Y-axis control may be performed using a servo motor and a numerical controller. Instead of moving the machining head 5 by the X-Y drive mechanism, it is also known to move a worktable for mounting a workpiece by the X-Y drive mechanism.
However, the conventional laser machining apparatus utilizing the above-mentioned serial X-Y drive system is not advantageous in quickly moving the machining point as its machining speed is low as compared to other machining tools such as punch press. Namely, if the machining head is moved at a high speed, the degree of rigidity of various constituent members does not conform such high-speed moving so that only inadequate machining accuracy can be achieved. If the degree of rigidity of the individual constituent members was increased in an effort to avoid lowering of the machining accuracy, the load on the drive mechanism would have increased in moving the machining head, which requires a large-sized drive mechanism and hence cannot be a practical solution.

Laser machining apparatus with head support by angularly movable expandable arms


The present invention relates to various processes that utilize one or more supercritical fluids to disperse various inorganic and organic materials, including crystalline materials, into polymeric compositions, substrates or pre-formed articles without the utilization of melt processing of the polymeric compositions or exposing the various inorganic and organic materials and the polymers (or polymeric precursors) to a hot environment. The present invention also describes the unique properties that can be imparted to a polymer/resin composition or article once it has been subjected to a process according to the present invention versus those normally attributable to conventionally treated/processed polymer materials.

Various compounding ingredients conventionally are added to rubber or polymer compositions to enhance the physical and/or chemical properties of the compositions. Additives commonly added to rubber or polymer compositions include antioxidants, vulcanizing agents, accelerators, accelerator activators, plasticizers, softeners, tackifiers and extenders. In some cases it may be desirable to add other additives such as fillers, colorants, slip agents, lubricants, anti-bacterials, anti-statics, anti-corrosives (e.g., volatile corrosion inhibitors), anti-mildew agents, anti-settling agents, UV-protectants, insecticides, pesticides, oils (including biodegradable oils), etc., to a rubber or polymer composition.
In most instances to date, an additive or additives are combined with the rubber or polymer composition by mixing the rubber or polymer composition (or polymer composition pre-cursor) with the additive or additives together on a roll mill, in an internal mixer (such as a Banbury mixer) or within an extruder. During the mixing process, the rubber or polymer composition is masticated to convert the rubber or polymer composition into a more pliable form. With many polymers, the mastication of the polymer per se generates sufficient heat to cause the temperature of the mix to rise substantially. The increased temperature of the polymer causes the mix to become more pliable and permits the compounding ingredients to be more easily dispersed throughout the polymer. With some polymers, however, external heat is necessary to impart to the polymer the desired degree of plasticity. However, the temperature rise of the composition achieved during the mechanical mixing process or because of externally applied heat can be detrimental to some polymers. Such a temperature rise could cause degradation at temperatures realized during the mechanical mixing operation. Additionally, some additives cannot withstand the temperatures reached during the mechanical mixing procedure. For example, when incorporating various additives into polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the PVC often is heated to temperatures of up to about 180° C. to about 200° C. to cause the PVC to form a pliable plastic mass into which the additives can readily be incorporated. At such temperatures, the PVC commences to rapidly degrade. Even certain additives which might be considered desirable for use in PVC compositions cannot be used since at the processing temperatures achieved such additives would decompose or be otherwise objectionably affected. Many potential additives for rubber compositions also would be adversely affected by the temperatures reached during mixing of the composition on roll mills, in an internal mixer or in an extruder. Some ultra-fast accelerators, if added to a rubber batch being mixed on roll mills, in an internal mixer or in an extruder, would cause the rubber batch to "scorch" (pre-cure) during the mixing operation if the temperature of the rubber batch becomes too high.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,196 describes the separation of one organic compound from another using a supercritical fluid. In practicing the process, a supercritical fluid is placed in contact with a mixture of liquids and/or solids during which period one of the components in the mixture is dissolved in the supercritical fluid. The dissolved component is removed from the supercritical fluid by reducing the pressure of the supercritical fluid "solvent."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,566 describes removing organic adsorbates which have been entrapped by a polymeric adsorbent using a supercritical fluid as an inert solvent for the adsorbate. The spent polymeric adsorbent, with the adsorbate adhered to it, is exposed to a supercritical fluid that is a solvent for the absorbate to cause the adsorbate to become dissolved in the supercritical fluid stream, thereby rejuvenating the adsorbent and rendering it capable of adsorbing more adsorbate. The adsorbate dissolved in the supercritical fluid is separated from the supercritical fluid solvent by reducing the temperature and/or pressure of the supercritical fluid to a subcritical state (to change the fluid from being a solvent for the adsorbate to being a non-solvent for the adsorbate) or by reacting the adsorbate with another material added to the supercritical fluid to form a compound readily separated from the fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,331 pertains to an extraction process for recovering organic carboxylic acids from aqueous solutions of salts of the carboxylic acids. In utilizing the process, the aqueous solution is contacted with carbon dioxide in a supercritical state. The carbon dioxide reacts with the salt of the organic carboxylic acid in the solution to produce carboxylic acid which dissolves in the supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid phase is separated from the aqueous phase. The pressure of the supercritical fluid is reduced which significantly reduces the solvent capabilities of the carbon dioxide, resulting in the carboxylic acid separating from the carbon dioxide. The carboxylic acid is removed from the carbon dioxide which can be re-pressurized and re-used.
A process for recovering tall oil and turpentine or their components is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,200. The process involves contacting wood chips to be extracted with a fluid at supercritical conditions, the fluid being selected so that at supercritical conditions the fluid is a solvent for the components in the wood desired to be extracted. The supercritical fluid is maintained in contact with the wood chips until the desired degree of extraction is achieved. The tall oil and turpentine are retrieved from the supercritical fluid by reduction of the pressure of the fluid phase. By step-down reduction of the pressure, the various components of the tall oil and turpentine can be retrieved as separate fractions.
In addition to the extraction processes mentioned above, supercritical fluid extraction has been used for: removal of caffeine from coffee and tea; removal of nicotine from tobacco; deodorization of oils and fats; removal of vegetable oils and fats from seeds; de-asphalting petroleum fractions; removal of lanolin from wool; oil removal from potato chips; removal of monomer from polymer; removal of α-acids from hops; extraction of flavors and fragrances from lilac, lemon peel, black pepper, almonds, nutmeg, ground chilies, etc.; and extraction of oils, such as triglycerides, from soybean flake and corn germ. The aforesaid uses of supercritical fluids all concern extraction of a component from a complex matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,151 describes a process for filling the pores of a resilient open-cell porous material with a pressure expressible material. The process can be used for filling the interconnecting cells of a resilient microporous rubber ink pad with ink. The process involves soaking the open-cell resilient material in a mixture of (a) a volatile solvent swelling agent for the resilient polymer and (b) the pressure expressible material. The volatile swelling agent swells the polymer material enlarging the interconnecting pores (cells) of the microporous material. The solvent/ink mixture then is able to enter and fill the enlarged pores (cells) of the microporous material. The volatile swelling agent then is allowed to evaporate from the microporous material leaving the pressure expressible material contained within the open cells of the microporous polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,752 pertains to a process for infusing an organic additive into a polymer using a compressed fluid that is normally a gas at room temperature and pressure. The organic additive must have some degree of solubility in the compressed fluid and the solution of compressed fluid and organic additive must have some degree of solubility in the polymer. In accordance with the process, the solution of the normally gaseous fluid and organic additive and the polymer are brought into contact under pressure until a desired quantity of the solution is absorbed into the polymer. The compressed fluid then is diffused from the polymer leaving organic additive infused within the polymer.
Therefore, a process for incorporating additives into polymers that achieve uniform deep penetration of an additive into a polymer film or object without subjecting the polymer or additive to the relatively high temperatures encountered during mechanical mixing procedures would be extremely useful. Additionally, a process for incorporating one or more additives into a previously formed or "pre-formed" polymer film or object would be useful.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for incorporating one or more materials into a polymer composition and products produced thereby

Northern Technologies International Corporation


The auto-erection tower crane possesses a tie-free jib, mounted at the summit of a mast and extended, toward the rear of its connection point to the summit of the mast, by a counter-jib, the end of which is connected, by a rear tie, to a bogie truck element of the crane. For the transport of the crane, the counter-jib is folded up in a vertical plane on the rear part of the jib. The unfolding and folding-up of the counter-jib are realized automatically, simultaneously with the automatic erection or dismantling of the crane. The structure of the counter-jib also allows adjustment of the working position, horizontal or inclined, of the jib.

The present invention relates, in general terms, to the field of tower cranes and more particularly to auto-erection tower cranes, having a tie-free jib and a collapsible counter-jib. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a device which, in such a crane, in the erection and dismantling operations, ensures automatic unfolding and folding-up of the counter-jib in the vertical plane of the jib.

Tower crane with collapsible counter-jib


A method of preparing primary refractory metals (e.g., primary tantalum metal) by contacting a particulate refractory metal oxide (e.g., tantalum pentoxide) with a heated gas (e.g., a plasma), is described. The heated gas comprises hydrogen gas. The temperature range of the heated gas and the mass ratio of hydrogen gas to refractory metal oxide are each selected such that: (i) the heated gas comprises atomic hydrogen; (ii) the refractory metal oxide feed material is substantially thermodynamically stabilized (i.e., the concurrent formation of suboxides that are not reduced by atomic hydrogen is minimized); and (iii) the refractory metal oxide is reduced by contact with the heated gas, thereby forming primary refractory metal (e.g., primary tantalum metal and/or primary niobium metal).

Certain refractory metals, such as tantalum and niobium, can be difficult to isolate in their pure (or primary) form due in part to the thermodynamic stability of precursors thereof, such as oxides. The production of primary refractory metals is desirable because they are used in such applications as raw materials from which capacitor anodes may be prepared. Existing methods of forming primary refractory metals typically involve multi-stage processes in which a refractory metal oxide (e.g., tantalum pentoxide or niobium pentoxide) or other precursor (e.g., tantalum halides) is reduced through one or more steps followed by further refining and purification steps. Such multistage processes typically result in the formation of co-product waste streams.
Raw materials from which tantalum metal may be produced include, for example, heptafluorotantalate (K2TaF7), tantalum halides and tantalum pentoxide. The reduction of potassium heptafluorotantalate with sodium is a known older method of producing tantalum metal. Potassium heptafluorotantalate and small pieces of sodium are sealed in a metal tube, and heated to an ignition temperature which results in the formation of a solid mass that includes tantalum metal, potassium heptafluorotantalate, sodium and other co-products. The solid mixture is then crushed and leached with dilute acid to isolate the tantalum metal, which is typically less than pure.
Tantalum metal may also be formed by a further method in which a molten composition of potassium heptafluorotantalate is reduced in the presence of a diluent salt (e.g., sodium chloride) by the introduction of molten sodium metal into the reactor, under conditions of constant stirring. The molten sodium reduction process results in the formation of a solid mass containing tantalum metal, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride and other co-products. The solid mass is crushed and leached with a dilute acid solution, to isolate the tantalum metal. Typically, additional process steps, such as agglomeration, must be performed on the product tantalum metal for purposes of improving physical properties. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,950,185.
The electrolytic production of tantalum involves electrolyzing a molten mixture of potassium heptafluorotantalate containing tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) at about 700° C. in a metal container. The electrolytic reduction results in the formation of a solid mass containing tantalum metal, potassium heptafluorotantalate, tantalum oxides and other co-products. The solid mass is then crushed and leached with dilute acid to isolate the tantalum metal, which is typically less than pure. Such electrolytic methods of producing tantalum metal typically are not presently used on a manufacturing scale.
Other methods of producing refractory metals, such as tantalum metal, include the reduction of tantalum pentoxide with calcium metal in the presence of calcium chloride as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,728,941; and the reduction of tantalum pentoxide in the presence of a silicide, such as magnesium silicide and a hydride, such as calcium hydride, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,516,863. Such other methods involve multiple stages and result in the formation of co-products from which the refractory metal must be separated.
A more recent method of producing refractory metals, such at tantalum metal, involves less than completely reducing a refractory metal oxide (e.g., tantalum pentoxide or niobium pentoxide) by contacting the refractory metal oxide with a gaseous reducing agent, such as gaseous magnesium. The less than completely reduced refractory metal is then leached, further reduced and agglomerated. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,363 B1.
Another recent method of producing refractory metals, such as tantalum and niobium, involves first passing hydrogen gas through powder refractory metal oxide (e.g., tantalum pentoxide) thereby producing an intermediate refractory metal suboxide (e.g., tantalum mono-oxide). In the second stage, the refractory metal suboxide is reduced by contact with a gaseous reducing agent (e.g., gaseous magnesium). The nearly fully reduced refractory metal is then leached, further reduced and agglomerated. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,447 B1.
Still further methods of preparing refractory metals involve introducing a refractory metal halide (e.g., tantalum pentachloride) or a refractory metal alkoxide (e.g., tantalum alkoxide) into a plasma formed from hydrogen gas. Such plasma methods result in the formation of undesirable co-products, such as corrosive gaseous hydrogen halides (e.g., gaseous hydrogen chloride), and gaseous alkanols. Refractory metal halide plasma methods are described in further detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,211,548; 3,748,106; and 6,689,187 B2. Refractory metal alkoxide plasma methods are described in further detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,783.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,065 discloses purifying tantalum by means of plasma arc melting. In the method of the '065 patent, powdered tantalum metal is placed in a vessel, and a flowing plasma stream formed from hydrogen and helium is passed over the powdered tantalum metal.
European Patent Application No. EP 1 066 899 A2 discloses a method of preparing high purity spherical particles of metals such as tantalum and niobium. The method disclosed in the '899 application involves introducing tantalum powder into a plasma formed from hydrogen gas. The temperature of the plasma is disclosed as being between 5000 K and 10,000 K in the '899 application.
It would be desirable to develop methods of preparing substantially pure refractory metals, such as primary refractory metals, that do not involve multiple process steps, and preferably involve only a single reduction step. It would also be desirable that such newly developed methods of refractory metal preparation: make use of feed stocks that are readily available and comparatively safe to handle; and at least minimize the formation of undesirable co-products that must be separated and/or otherwise further processed.

Method of preparing primary refractory metal


Apparatus, systems and methods for alignment of a glass member for high temperature processing are disclosed. The high temperature processing can, for example, pertain to a slumping process to mold glass into a predetermined shape (e.g., a three-dimensional shape). In one embodiment, a glass slumping system can have a mold and an alignment system that support a glass member to be slumped relative to the mold. The alignment system may have a plurality of alignment members being configured to move away from the glass member as the temperature increases during the slumping process to allow the glass member to bend around the mold without interference.

Various processes have been proposed for slumping glass or shaping glass to impart a bend or curvature thereto. One process is a "dropout" process. Vacuum forming processes have also been used to shape glass softened by heating. However, numerous disadvantages and drawbacks are associated with the dropout and vacuum forming processes for slumping glass. These processes utilize fixed alignment systems to secure the edges of the glass to the molds. However, these fixed alignment systems can inhibit the glass from dropping or sagging into the cavities of the molds. This results in formation of protruding, perimetrical flanges in the glass after shaping, such flanges circumscribing or surrounding portions of the glass that have been allowed to drop or sag into the cavities. Depending on the intended use for the shaped glass, such flanges may be undesirable and require removal. Removal of the flanges adds additional cost, labor and time to the glass shaping processes.
Another drawback is that the glass tends to be undesirably stretched when they drop or sag into the molds. Additionally, although dropout processes are effective for relatively thick (e.g. ½ to 1 inch thick) glass, such processes are generally unsuitable for relatively thin (e.g. ¼ inch thick or less) glass. Most dropout processes involve heating the glass relatively rapidly, which is detrimental to relatively thin glass and/or "art" glass. Some dropout processes also involve multiple heating cycles (firings), movement of the glass during heating, repositioning of the glass in or on the molds and/or transfers of the glass between different molds, thusly adding undesirably to the complexity, cost, time and labor for the glass shaping processes.
Furthermore, these processes typically involve contacting the glass with chemicals, gases or extraneous mechanical components, which is undesirable. Additionally, when vacuum forming, the glass may crack or otherwise be impaired due to inconsistencies or lack of control in the applied vacuum. Moreover, the appearance of the glass may be undesirably altered due to application of the vacuum, which is a significant drawback when aesthetics are important. Furthermore, in each of these processes, after the glass is slumped, the glass must still be grinded to form the finished edges.

Glass alignment for high temperature processes


The present invention is directed to a channel calibrator and a method of calibrating in-phase and quadrature phase channels for use with a quadrature mixing receiver. In one embodiment, the channel calibrator includes a balancer and an equalizer. The balancer reduces frequency dependent imbalance between an in-phase channel and a quadrature phase channel associated with the receiver. The equalizer decreases frequency independent mismatch between the in-phase channel and the quadrature phase channel.

The exchange of information through wireless communications systems continues to grow with the increase of pagers, cellular telephones, wireless local area networks (WLANs) and other wireless communication devices and networks. A majority of the wireless communications systems include a transmitter and a receiver using a superheterodyne architecture employing a low intermediate frequency (IF). In a low IF superheterodyne receiver, a received radio frequency (RF) signal is downconverted to a low IF by two mixers driven by quadrature phases of a local oscillator. Instead of using a low IF, some wireless communications systems may use a zero IF or direct conversion architecture which also employs quadrature mixing. For more information regarding zero IF receivers, see Asad A. Abidi, Direct-conversion Radio Transceivers for Digital Communications, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol 30, No. 12, December 1995 at 1399, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Nevertheless, both low IF and zero IF receivers employ quadrature mixing and should address a common problem of matching or balancing the amplitudes and phases of an in-phase and quadrature phase branch, or channel, of the received RF signal. The mismatch between the two channels may be the result of bipolar transistors, MOS transistors and finite tolerances of capacitor and resistor values used to implement the analog components of the receiver. While balanced channels in a quadrature mixing receiver correspond to a pure frequency translation, any mismatches introduce a frequency translation that results in a mixture of an image and a desired signal when the in-phase and quadrature phase channels of the received RF signal are not exactly 90 degrees out of phase, and the image is seen as interference.
In Mikko Valkama, et al., Advanced Methods for I/Q Imbalance Compensation in Communication Receivers, IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, Volume 49, NO. 10, Oct. 2001, at 2335, which is incorporated herein by reference, several methods have been proposed for imbalance compensation for in-phase and quadrature phase channels using baseband digital signal processing. One suggested method involves a structure based on a traditional adaptive interference canceller. Improved image rejection may also be obtained by using advanced blind source separation techniques, which do not require known training signals.
The proposed image rejection methods, however, concentrate on an application wherein the receiver imbalance properties are solely frequency independent. Nevertheless, image rejection in quadrature mixing receivers is also created by frequency dependent sources. Addressing both frequency dependent and independent causes of image rejection in quadrature receivers increases the complexity of a solution. The suggested methods of imbalance compensation either require complex and expensive structures or do not sufficiently reduce the imbalance between the in-phase and the quadrature phase channels of quadrature mixing receivers. Furthermore, the suggested methods of imbalance compensation do not sufficiently address the degradation of the signal-to-noise ratio of the received RF signal for higher data rates of, for instance, 54 Mbits/s and up.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an improved system and method for reducing a degradation in the performance of quadrature mixing receivers including a reduction in the image rejection associated therewith.

Channel calibrator for use with a quadrature mixing receiver and a method of operation thereof


The present invention is directed to an aqueous hair dressing or hair styling composition which comprises from about 1.5 to about 5.0 weight % polyquaternium 37/propylene glycol dicaprylate dicaprate and ppg-1 trideceth-6, also known as polyquat 37, and also known as Salcare 96. The compositions of the invention have good hair styling and manageability properties without tackiness.

Hair dressing compositions are known in the art. They are usually solutions containing a hair styling or holding polymer in a suitable vehicle such as alcohol and/or water along with auxiliary conditioning agents such as silicones, esters, and the like, to provide the required film forming properties. In such compositions, the styling resins provide the desired hair styling properties whereas the auxiliary conditioning agents are there to modify the film properties to make them pliable and hair manageable. Hair dressing compositions are applied by placing a small amount in the palm of the hands, spreading evenly by rubbing the palms together, and applying the composition to the hair. Since the product is applied with the users' hands, a common complaint of such compositions are that they are very tacky and sticky. It is this stickiness that is responsible for the good styling that compositions provide. Polymers having less stickiness are available, but they do not have the desired film forming properties. Also, the tackiness of the high film formers can be modified by the use of auxiliary ingredients such as silicones and esters, but the addition of these compounds detracts from the styling properties. To overcome some of these drawbacks, formulators have also attempted to put these resins into emulsions where the water base containing the styling resins is emulsified in the oil phase containing silicones or oils. While these compositions have improved non-sticky properties they still effect the styling properties of the resin. Hair styling compositions described above are available in the commercial market under trade names such as BRYLCREAM, ALBERTO VO5. They are also described in various text books such as Harry's Cosmetology.


A multistation automatic textile machine, such as a multi-position winder or spinning machine, having a passageway formed through the machine's end frame structure for accommodating a transport conveyor or other transport path for spinning bobbins and other strand-supporting tubes.

The present invention relates generally to automatic textile machines of the type having a plurality of work stations arranged adjacent one another, each station being adapted for processing or otherwise handling a yarn, roving or other textile strand, e.g., multi-station textile yarn winding machines, textile yarn spinning machines, and the like.
In automatic multi-station textile machines of the aforementioned type, it is typical to provide each work station with only the operational components necessary for performing the particular strand processing or handling functions to be carried out in identical manner at each work station, with the work station components being operatively connected to common supply components extending to centralized supply devices housed within frame structures at one or both ends of the machine.
It is also typical to provide a conveyor or like transport system for delivering strand packages such as textile bobbins to and from the work stations, such transport systems generally also including centralized devices for performing a processing step on, or otherwise handling of, the bobbins or other packages.
Thus, it is known that the floor space required for such textile machines in textile mills must be sufficient to accommodate the multiple work stations of the machine and the machine's end frames, as well as the associated bobbin or package transport system. Since the floor area requirement for a given textile machine directly determines the total number of such machines which can be accommodated within a given building size or within a given amount of available floor space, a reduction of the floor space a machine requires can provide the significant advantage of enabling a greater number of machines to be operated within the same floor area. Likewise, in the design and planning of new construction of textile manufacturing buildings, a reduction in the floor space a machine requires can enable a corresponding reduction in the size and cost of the building.

Automatic multi-station textile strand handling machine


A positive pressure oil well production package, comprising a separator vessel connectable to an oil well head and a pressure tight storage vessel connected to receive fluid from the separator via a conduit. First and second vapour outlets connected to a gas disposal system are provided for the separator vessel and pressure tight storage vessel respectively. A weir in the pressure tight storage vessel separates the pressure tight storage vessel into first and second compartments. The weir has a lip over which oil may spill from the first compartment into the second compartment. An oil removal port is provided in the second compartment of the pressure tight storage vessel. The conduit has a discharge end and the conduit extends into the first compartment with the discharge end terminating at or above the lip of the weir.

The inventor has been a pioneer in the odorless production of oil from oil wells. One of his designs is shown in Canadian patent no. 1,274,785 issued Oct. 2, 1990. The inventor has since provided a new design in which fluid is heated before introduction to a separator and then stored in a pressure tight storage vessel after an initial separation of gas and oil in the separator. This design has proved successful, but has encountered some difficulties in operation, particularly in cold weather.

Positive pressure oil well production package