Fuel distribution devices for use with burners are described herein. One embodiment of a fuel distribution device for a burner can include an inlet end having a disc-like annular cover with inlet openings, an outlet end having a disc-like annular support plate with groups of distribution openings, and cylindrical inner and outer walls. These components can define a distribution channel and the device can further include fuel feeding tubes extending from the inlet openings into the distribution channel, and each of the fuel feeding tubes can divide into branch pipes extending through the distribution channel to the annular support plate. Moreover, the branch pipes extending from a same feeding tube can be in communication with distribution openings within a same group, and the branch pipes can be coiled spirally about the inner wall and connected to distribution openings at an inclined angle such fuel ejected therefrom has a tangential velocity.

It is found that there are various factors that may cause an unstable operation of a gasification apparatus, and one common condition is an unexpected feeding interruption of coal material such that an uneven distribution of coal at the outlet of the powder channel is occurred. As a result, the local oxygen-coal ratio increases sharply and therefore the gasification apparatus will be over heated locally, which consequently may lead to a concatenation of shut down of the system or even a damage to the gasification apparatus during operation. This will cause a severely negative impact on the safety, stability and cost-efficiency of the gasification apparatus.
In the known gasifying coal technology, Texaco Co. provides a single burner arranged in atop position and utilizing coal-water slurry as its fuel, which includes three channels for transporting combustion materials: a central channel for oxygen, a second channel for coal-water slurry and an outermost channel again for oxygen. When the coal-water slurry feeding in the second channel is suddenly interrupted, the flow of the coal slurry at the burner nozzles will decrease sharply and inevitably result in shut down of the system. Furthermore, the interruption of coal feeding results in increasing of oxygen-coal ratio instantly, in turn increasing of the temperature of the furnace and aggravating the oxidative corrosion therein, which will cause disadvantageous affects on the furnace wall and the burner.
Shell Co. provides a powdered coal gasifying burner which utilizes powdered coal as a fuel. The apparatus burning the powdered coal is configured as four separated burners which are arranged at the middle or lower part of the furnace cavity evenly along a circumference direction, and these four burners produce flames opposed to one another in the furnace cavity, and the synthesis gas as a resultant is discharged from the upper end of the gasifying furnace while the slag is discharged from the lower end. In this apparatus, each burner has an independent feeding conduit and a corresponding control system, such that upon interruption of feeding coal of one feeding conduit, the other burner symmetrically opposed thereto can be shut down and the rest two burners in opposed positions remain to work to ensure the uniformity of the temperature field in the furnace, which may prevent a damage to the elements due to a deviant combustion. However, the even arrangement of four burners in the furnace cavity requires a precise manufacturing and installation of the burners; and moreover, the above-mentioned arrangement cannot give a solution to the problem that the interruptions of coal feeding are occurred in two feeding conduit of burners located in asymmetric positions at the same time, resulting in the deviant combustion, the oxygen-coal ratio sharply increased and the temperature of the furnace increased, therefore the oxidative corrosion will be aggravated and the furnace wall and the burner may still be damaged.
The applicant of this application disclosed a swirl burner for combustible powder under CN invention patent publication No. CN1710333A, which comprises 2-5 powder tubes arranged in a powder channel of the burner and distributed evenly along a circumference direction of the powder channel. The object of the invention is to adjust the workload of burner by adjusting the supply amount of the powders via increasing or reducing the tubes, and to prolong the service life of burner by optimizing the cooling effects by means of a multi-compartment cooling mechanism. However, there also exist in said powder burner similar problems that, in the event that one or several powder tubes fail or the feeding thereof is interrupted, the non-uniform burning is occurred at the outlet of the powder channel, resulting in higher temperature of the furnace, which will in turn destroy the furnace wall and the burner.


An apparatus and method for selecting whether a central processing unit (CPU) performs instruction reading in units of 16 bits (a first word length) or in units of 32 bits (a second word length). Depending on whether instruction reading is performed in units of 16 bits or 32 bits, increment values (+2 and +4) by which a program counter (PC) is incremented are switched. Data reading or writing is performed in units of a given data length irrespective of the selecting unit. When the CPU issues a request for instruction reading in units of 16 bits or 32 bits or for data reading or writing, a bus control unit performs reading or writing a predetermined number of times according to a bus width designated for a resource located at an address specified in the request.

The present invention relates to a data processor, or more particularly, to a technology effectively utilized for, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), or a microcomputer or data processor including the CPU.
A microcomputer realized with semiconductor integrated circuits has undergone extension of an address space, expansion of an instruction set, or an increase in a processing speed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei5(1993)-241826 or No. Hei6(1994)-51981 describes an example of a microcomputer that has the address space thereof extended or the instruction set thereof expanded while maintaining the interchangeability on an object level.
Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei8(1996)-263290 describes an example of a microcomputer whose CPU is interchangeable with a CPU that executes basic instructions in two execution states, and whose processing is so fast as to execute the basic instructions while bringing them into one state. Furthermore, the microcomputer enjoys really fast processing owing to incorporation of a multiplier independent of the CPU.
Owing to the realization of fast processing, equipment to be controlled by a microcomputer can be designed to operate fast or can be sophisticated. Otherwise, a microcomputer that conventionally consists of a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits can be designed compactly by integrating the semiconductor integrated circuits with one another.
The present inventor has made the proposal described below in the previous application (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-357089). Namely, the width of an internal data bus is made larger than at least a basic unit of an instruction (for example, a word). An instruction register is included for holding a plurality of units of a read instruction. A means is included for monitoring the number of bits representing an instruction present in the instruction register. Based on a basic unit execution time (during which one execution state persists), an instruction is executed so that the instruction will be read in one execution state and a program counter (PC) will be incremented at the same time, and the instruction will have an effective address thereof calculated or undergo a data operation in another execution state. An execution state in which the instruction is merely read can therefore be omitted. In response to a direction given by the monitoring means, the execution state in which the instruction is merely read is omitted (skipped) depending on the number of bits representing the instruction present in the instruction register. Consequently, the number of bits to be read as an instruction during instruction execution is increased or decreased based on the instruction length. Thus, it is intended to reduce the number of execution states and achieve fast processing.

Data processor with selectable word length


A roller belt arrangement for a track-type vehicle has pull-resistant belts with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Drive members are connected to the first surface of the pull-resistant belt so as to extend transverse to a longitudinal extension of the at least one pull-resistant belt. U-shaped members, having a stay and two legs defining a cavity therebetween, are positioned on a second surface opposite the drive members such that the stay rests on the second surface. Cushion members are positioned in the cavity of the U-shaped members. Screw bolts for connecting the drive members to the pull-resistant belt are provided. The screw bolts extend sequentially through the cushion member, the stay of the U-shaped member, the pull-resistant belt, and the drive member. The screw bolts are directly threaded into the drive members.

The invention relates to roller belt arrangements for track-type vehicles, especially for snowmobiles, with one or more parallel extending, pull-resistant belts to which are connected transversely extending drive members with the aid of screw bolts extending through the belts and the head portion of the drive members. The screw bolts furthermore penetrate U-shaped members positioned opposite the drive members on the other side of the belt whereby the drive member attachment includes a cushion member comprised of rubber or a rubber-like material (elastomer) with bores for allowing penetration of the screw bolts.
In known roller belt arrangements of this kind, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,495, the cushion member comprised of rubber or a rubber-like material is arranged at the ends of the screw bolts connected to the drive member. In this embodiment, the drive members are profiled steel members with a U-shaped head portion and the cushion member is arranged between the legs of the U-shaped head portion. The screw bolt is threaded into threaded bores of a bar that pushes the cushion member against the stay.
The cushion member in such arrangements can be mounted in a simple manner only in open profiled members such as a U-shaped profiled member. However, for reasons of stability it is more advantageous to use drive members with closed profiled members. Closed profiled members can be manufactured in a more light-weight construction than open profiled members while providing a greater stability so that the risk of being bent or broken off during operation of the roller belt arrangement is reduced.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a roller belt arrangement of the aforementioned kind such that an excellent elastic securing and easy mountability especially for a drive member with a hollow head portion can be achieved.

Snowmobile roller belt arrangement having drive members attached by a screw connection with elastic cushion


A flexible polymer packaging bag is provided with an easy-open end seal feature for easily tearing through a fused seal. The bag has a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, in which the walls form an interior space. A stack of articles are contained in the interior space. A seal is in one of the walls and includes at least one seal area and at least one weakened zone. A frangible line for opening the bag is in the one wall and intersects the seal at the weakened zone, so that the frangible line can be easily tom where it intersects the seal.

The present invention relates to flexible packaging bags for containing and dispensing articles, More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible packaging bag having an easy-open end seal feature that permits the bag to be easily opened at a seal for dispensing the articles therefrom.
Packaging bags composed of flexible polymer materials have been used for packaging various types of articles, such as infant diapers, child training pants, absorbent pants, feminine care products, and adult incontinence garments. These bags allow packaging of the articles to create a carton-like look and a configuration facilitating transportation and display on retail shelves. The bags may include handles to facilitate the carrying of the bags, and include mechanisms for providing an access opening in the bag.
For those bags made of a flexible polymer material, the opening mechanism can prove to be difficult to operate manually, i.e., to tear open easily with the hands, and particularly difficult when it traverses or intersects a seal formed from the polymer material. These seals typically are formed by ultrasonic bonding, heat bonding, or the like, in order to melt the polymer materials together. These seals are relatively very hard and stiff in nature compared to unjoined polymer material. In those instances where the opening some users manually to operate the opening mechanism where it crosses the seal. In other words, the user cannot, or has a difficult time, in separating the seal where it meets the opening mechanism.
There can be numerous reasons for the intersection of the opening mechanism with a seal. One of these reasons is when the manufacturing and packaging, i.e., filling, of the bag with articles requires the articles to be inserted in a particular manner or direction in order to provide a desired orientation of the articles relative to the bag. Another reason is when the articles are inserted through an opening in the bag that will eventually be closed and sealed to form a top wall or top panel and it is desired that the articles be accessed and removed through that top wall or panel.
Other problems occur if the size of the opening is too large. This can result in the bag no longer functioning as a means to desirably store and transport the articles. For example, if the opening is too large, the flexible polymer bag can begin to collapse and lose its form or shape after a number of articles have been removed.
Conversely, if the bag opening is too small, the articles cannot be easily dispensed through the opening due, in part, by the compressive forces exerted against the articles that keeps them tightly packed together. Consequently, if only a small portion of an article is available to the user to grasp and pull from the bag through the opening, the user will have difficulty in removing an article and in some instances may not be able to do so at all.

Flexible polymer packaging bag with easy-open end seal feature


A flash memory card structure with an external contact structure according to a published standard, such as the USB standard, also includes a second data transmission path, such as a wireless one. A removable cap fits over the card to cover the external contacts when they are not being used as a memory data path. One of two or more different caps may be selected to be placed on the card in order to control operation of the second data transmission path, such as to select the distance of wireless transmission from one of two or more pre-set distances. Power to operate the memory card through the second path, when not connected to a host, may also be provided through the external contacts by including a battery in the caps.

This invention relates generally to the structure and use of memory cards, flash drives and other small non-volatile memory devices.
Electronic circuit cards, including non-volatile memory cards, have been commercially implemented according to a number of well-known standards. Memory cards are used with personal computers, notebook computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital still cameras, digital movie cameras, portable audio players and other host electronic devices for the storage of large amounts of data. Such cards usually contain a re-programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell array along with a controller that controls operation of the memory cell array and interfaces with a host to which the card connected. Popular types of non-volatile memory cards include CompactFlash (CF), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), miniSD, Memory Stick and TransFlash, each of which is sold by SanDisk Corporation, the assignee hereof.
Electrical contact patterns and types vary among the various memory cards. Several of the same type of card may be interchanged in a host card slot designed to accept that type of card but a receptacle designed for one type of card most often cannot accept any other type of card. Adaptors, both active and passive types, have been provided or proposed to allow some degree of interchangeability of electronic cards among such host devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,724 of Harari et al. describes use of combinations of mother and daughter memory cards.
Other small, hand-held re-programmable non-volatile memory devices have also been made to interface with a computer or other type of host by including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector plug. These are especially convenient since personal computers, PDAs and other types of hosts commonly include one or more USB connector receptacles but may not have a receptacle slot that accepts any of above identified standard memory cards. Mechanical and electrical details of the USB connector and interface are provided by the "Universal Serial Bus Specification," revision 2.0, dated Apr. 27, 2000. There are several USB flash drive products commercially available from SanDisk Corporation under its trademark Cruzer. USB flash drives are typically larger and shaped differently than the memory cards described above.
Another, higher transfer rate interface that has become commonplace on personal computers and other host devices is specified by the following standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): "IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus," document no. IEEE 1394-1995, as amended by document nos. IEEE 1394a-2000 and IEEE 1394b-2002. A common commercial form of this bus interface is known as FireWire. Because of its higher speed, this interface is particularly useful for the transfer of large amounts of data to and from a host device.
A wireless communication capability has also been added to memory cards and flash drives in order to allow a notebook computer, PDA or other host device to use the card or flash drive for either wireless communication or non-volatile data storage, or both. These types of devices plug into the host in the same manner as the memory only device but provide the added capability of wireless communication of the host with other hosts, a Local Area Network (LAN), and the like. SanDisk Corporation manufactures combined memory and wireless communication devices as family of Wi-Fi Cards, for example.

Portable memory devices with removable caps that effect operation of the devices when attached


An object is to provide an electrode for electrolysis which is preferable in generation of ozone water usable in cleaning and sterilizing of water and sewage, or cleaning in a semiconductor device manufacturing process by an electrolysis process, and a method of manufacturing this electrode for electrolysis. The surface of a conductive substrate constituting the electrode for electrolysis is coated with a noble metal such as platinum or a noble metal oxide to form an intermediate layer, further a surface layer is constituted of a dielectric material on the surface of the intermediate layer, and the surface layer is provided with holes.

Ozone is a substance having a very strong oxidizability, and water in which ozone is dissolved, so-called ozone water is expected to be utilized in a broad region of cleaning and sterilizing, such as sterilizing of water and sewage or food, and cleaning in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device. As a method of generating the ozone water, there is known a method of dissolving in water the ozone generated by ultraviolet irradiation or electric discharge, or a method of generating the ozone in water by electrolysis of water.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-77060, there is described an ozone water generation device comprising: ozone generating means for generating an ozone gas by an ultraviolet lamp; and a water storage tank. When the generated ozone gas is supplied to the water in the tank, the ozone water is generated. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-333475, there is described an ozone water generation device which mixes the ozone gas generated by an electric discharge type ozone gas generating device with the water at a predetermined ratio by a mixing pump in order to dissolve the ozone gas in the water with a good efficiency.
However, in the ozone water generating method of generating the ozone gas by the ultraviolet lamp or the electric discharge system as described above to dissolve the ozone gas in the water, there is required the ozone gas generating device or an operation for dissolving the ozone gas in the water, and the apparatus is easily complicated. In the method, since the generated ozone gas is dissolved in the water, there has been a problem that it is difficult to generate the ozone water having a desired concentration with a high efficiency.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-80986, as a method which solves the above-described problem, there is described a method of generating the ozone in the water by the electrolysis of the water to obtain the ozone water. There are described an electrode for ozone generation comprising: an electrode base material constituted of a porous material or a net-like material; and an electrode catalyst containing an oxide of a platinum group element or the like, and ozone water manufacturing method and apparatus using this electrode for ozone generation.
The platinum group element is a standard anode material, and has a characteristic that the element is hardly dissolved in an aqueous solution which does not contain any organic material, but the element has an ozone generation efficiency which is insufficient for the electrode for ozone generation, and it is difficult to generate the ozone water by a high-efficiency electrolysis process. In the ozone water generation by the electrolysis process using such conventional electrode for ozone generation, the electrolysis at a high current density is required for the ozone generation, and there is a problem in energy consumption or electrode life.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode for electrolysis which is preferable in generation by an electrolysis process for ozone water usable in cleaning and sterilizing of water and sewage or food or cleaning in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the electrode for electrolysis.

Electrode for electrolysis and method of manufacturing electrode for electrolysis


A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.

The present disclosure relates to MEMS devices, such as acoustic transducers and the like, which include a semiconductor substrate as a support substrate, and a movable electrode and a fixed electrode above the semiconductor substrate, and MEMS device modules including the MEMS devices.
MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices to which semiconductor technologies are applied are a promising technology for reducing the size of and improving the performance of conventional electronic components. Significant achievements have already been made in the mass production of MEMS devices in the fields of microphones, acceleration sensors and the like, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-295516 and the like. In the mass production of these MEMS devices, a semiconductor substrate is employed as a support substrate so that a manufacturing line and a wafer process for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit can be utilized.

MEMS device, MEMS device module and acoustic transducer


The present invention is a substrate treatment method in which a treatment by supplying a treatment solution from a nozzle to a substrate is successively performed for a plurality of substrates, which comprises the step of, during the performance of the successive treatments, performing between the treatments a plurality of pre-dispenses for different purposes of the treatment solution, wherein at least a recipe of the treatment solution to be pre-dispensed or a start condition of the pre-dispense is determined for each of the pre-dispenses. According to the present invention, the pre-dispense can be performed at a necessary and sufficient frequency to shorten the suspension time due to the pre-dispenses in the substrate treatment. This improves the throughput and reduces the number of pre-dispenses, resulting in reduced consumption of the treatment solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate treatment method and a substrate treatment apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In fabrication processes of semiconductor devices, a resist coating treatment is performed in which a resist solution is supplied to, for example, a semiconductor wafer (hereafter referred to as a "wafer") to form a resist film on the front face of the wafer.
This resist coating treatment is normally performed in a resist coating unit. The resist coating unit is provided with a nozzle for supplying a predetermined amount of the resist solution to the wafer. The nozzle is connected to a storage tank, which is a supply source of the resist solution, via a pipe. This pipe is provided with, for example, a pump for feeding the resist solution by pressure, a filter for removing impurities, an open/close valve for controlling discharge of the resist solution, and so on. These members constitute a supply mechanism of the resist solution. The resist solution in the storage tank is discharged from the nozzle via the pump, filter, open/close valve, and so on. In the resist coating unit, treatment is repeatedly performed in which the resist solution is supplied to wafers carried into the unit in succession.
By the way, in the resist coating unit, a pre-dispense of once draining the resist solution staying in the pipe via the nozzle has conventionally been performed before actual supply to a substrate. The pre-dispense in the prior art has been performed for the supply mechanism in the same system based on a single recipe and start condition. The reason why the pre-dispense has been performed based on the single recipe and start condition is to simplify control of the resist coating unit which normally has a supply mechanism in a plurality of systems.
However, there are a plurality of purposes of performance of the pre-dispense in the resist coating unit. The pre-dispense includes, for example, one performed at the time of change of lot for stabilizing the discharge amount of the resist solution from the nozzle, one for removing bubbles staying in the filter and pump, one for preventing drying of the nozzle and the like, and so on. The recipes including the discharge amounts of the respective pre-dispenses required for attaining these purposes and start conditions of the pre-dispenses are actually different from each other depending on their different purposes.
If it is desired to accomplish all the purposes of pre-dispenses by one kind of setting in the same supply mechanism as in the prior art, it is necessary to match, for example, regarding the frequency of pre-dispenses, the start condition to the setting of a pre-dispense which has a relaxed start condition, that is, which needs to be performed most frequently. The discharge amount also needs to be matched to the amount of a pre-dispense having the largest discharge amount among many pre-dispenses.
Besides, the resist solution coating treatment successively performed for wafers is performed in succession for every lot of substrates. When the supply of the resist solution to the wafer is stopped, the resist solution remains in the nozzle and the supply pipe. When left standing for a long time, the remaining resist solution dries or changes in quality. Therefore, a pre-dispense is performed at a break between treatments for lots of wafers as described above. Conventionally, the pre-dispense performed at a break between the lots has been performed uniformly every change of lot without fail.
During the pre-dispense, however, the treatment for wafers is suspended, and thus if its recipe is matched to that of the pre-dispense which needs to be performed most frequently, the throughput of the treatment is significantly decreased. Further, the resist solution discharged when the pre-dispense is normally disposed, resulting in increased amount of the resist solution going to waste. This problem also applies to the case in which the pre-dispense is performed every change of lot.

Substrate treatment method and substrate treatment apparatus


A replenisher supplying apparatus for use in a photographic processor having a processing tank to which pieces of a photosensitive material are consecutively transported for processing, so as to supply replenishers to the processing tank. The apparatus includes stock tanks to which the replenishers are respectively supplied and which are respectively provided with level sensors; pumps for supplying the replenishers from the stock tanks to the processing tank; a controller arranged such that when it is detected by any of the level sensors that the liquid level is at a predetermined level or below, the controller stops the driving of the pump for the stock tank whose solution level has dropped to the predetermined level or below, while the controller continues to drive the remaining pumps until a drop in the level to the predetermined level or below is detected by the remaining level sensors; and a correcting device for correcting the sending capabilities of the pumps on the basis of the amount of each of the replenishers supplied during each of the continuous driving operations of the pumps driven continuously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a replenisher supplying apparatus for a photographic processor for processing a photosensitive material to which pieces of the photosensitive material are consecutively transported, so as to process the photosensitive material with optimum processing solutions by supplying replenishers stored in stock tanks to a processing tank by mixing them at an optimum ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photographic processor such as an automatic processor for processing a photosensitive material such as a photographic film, replenishing solutions or replenishers to be replenished to a developing tank and a fixing tank are prepared as undiluted replenishers filled in a cartridge are mixed and diluted. The cartridge is loaded on a solution pan.
The interior of the cartridge is partitioned so that a plurality of kinds of replenishers can be accommodated separately therein. At the same time, the solution pan in which the cartridge is loaded is also provided with partition walls and is partitioned into a plurality of filling tanks. Each of the filling tanks is provided with a pipe coupling. This pipe coupling is fitted to an end of a pipe. The other end of the pipe is connected to each stock tank, so that the filling tanks communicate with the respective stock tanks. For this reason, the solution levels of the undiluted replenishers in the filling tanks in the solution pan and the undiluted replenishers in the stock tanks are constantly made level by atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, as the undiluted replenishers are supplied from the stock tanks through each of electric pumps to the processing tank directly or to a mixing tank located upstream thereof, the undiluted replenishers are supplied gradually from the filling tanks to the stock tanks via the pipes, respectively.
When the undiluted replenishers in the filling tanks in the solution pan run short, the respective solution levels of the undiluted replenishers in the stock tanks drop. This drop in the solution level is detected by each level sensor when the level falls below a predetermined level, making it possible to ascertain the timing of replacement of the cartridge. Flow rates of the pumps are normally factory-adjusted before their shipment to ensure that the undiluted replenishers in the stock tanks will be supplied to the processing tank at fixed flow rates. That is, the pumps are so adjusted that the solution levels will fall below the predetermined values, simultaneously.
However, there are cases where the flow rates of the pumps for supplying the undiluted replenishers decline while the processor is used for long periods of time. The degree of the drop of the flow rates varies depending on each pump, so that the times when the solution levels in the stock tanks drop below the predetermined values do not coincide. This lack of coincidence results in an imbalance of the mixing ratio or concentration of replenishers, which leads to the problem that it becomes impossible to supply optimum processing solutions to the processing tank.

Replenisher supplying apparatus for photographic processor


The second computer detects performance of processing to record the execution status of a batch job on a storing device, selects a recording method to be used from among a plurality of recording methods according to the detected performance, and notifies the first computer of the result. The first computer records the execution status of the batch job, executed in the own computer, on the storing device, using the recording method notified from the second computer.

Batch processing, which is a type of data processing method of a computer, is a system in which data is gathered for a certain period of time or in a certain quantity and is processed collectively as one job. As a large quantity of data is processed collectively, when the processing is terminated abnormally in the middle of the processing, the cost tends to be higher if the processing is re-executed from the beginning. As such, a system has been proposed and put into practice use, in which an execution status of a batch job is stored in a storing device from time to time, and if the processing is terminated abnormally, the processing is re-executed from the middle of the batch job (for example, see JP 9-282192 A (Patent Document 1)).
In batch processing, the same simple processing is often executed repeatedly. As such, batch processing may be performed in a distributed manner using a plurality of computers (for example, see JP 10-326201 A (Patent Document 2)). Such processing is called distributed batch processing, and a system executing such processing is called a distributed batch processing system. In a distributed batch processing system, execution statuses of a batch job in a plurality of computers are often stored in a storing device which is commonly accessed from the computers.
Patent Document 1: JP 9-282192 A
Patent Document 2: JP 10-326201 A
For a computer executing a batch job, processing to record the execution status of the batch job becomes the overhead. As such, if the processing performance of recording the execution status is degraded due to, for example, a failure of a storing device which stores the execution status of the batch job, the processing time required for the recording becomes longer than expected, whereby the processing time of the batch job becomes longer.
Generally, it is often the case that a large quantity of data must be processed by the deadline in batch processing in order not to affect the operation to be performed after it. As such, if a longer time is required for recording the execution status of the batch job, it is difficult to complete the batch processing by the deadline.


Apparatuses and methods for the controlled trailing wake flows. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment is directed to an aircraft system that includes an airfoil having first and second oppositely facing flow surfaces and a tip. The system can further include a vortex dissipation device carried by the airfoil, with the vortex dissipation device including a fluid flow nozzle, a valve device, and a controller. The fluid flow nozzle can be coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and can include an orifice positioned to direct a flow of fluid outwardly from the tip. The valve device can be coupled in fluid communication with the fluid flow nozzle to selectively control the flow passing through the orifice. The controller can be coupled to the valve device to direct the operation of the valve device. Accordingly, the vortex dissipation device can be activated to accelerate the rate at which vortices (e.g., wing tip vortices) dissipate after they are generated.

Current airport capacity is largely controlled by the hours of operation (which are largely confined to daylight hours to prevent noise pollution in the airport environs) and the frequency with which planes can be brought in and out of the airport. A pacing item in landing and takeoff frequency is the time necessary for the dissipation of wake vortices produced by planes in motion. The size and intensity of wake vortices are determined by the size and weight of the aircraft, and can pose turbulent conditions in the wake of wide body airplanes. In worst case scenarios, these vortices can be strong enough to cause airplane crashes. This problem has been recognized for several decades, and a number of approaches have been suggested to alleviate this problem. However, many proposed solutions have proven to be ineffective or otherwise unsuitable for practical applications. Accordingly, there exists a need for improved techniques for handling the effects of wing tip vortices.

Systems and methods for destabilizing an airfoil vortex


The present invention provides an improved extruder assembly, that includes a wiper for wiping a screw portion in a low pressure extruder stage, whereby the wiping of the screw portion improves melt conveyance through the low pressure extruder stage. The present invention has particular utility when used in a low pressure venting and entrainment extruder stage of a single screw compounding extruder. The present invention also provides an extrusion/injection unit for use in-line compounding molding system that incorporates the improved extruder assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to an improved extruder assembly for preparing a melt of molding material. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to improvements to a single screw compounding extruder wherein at least one wiping element is provided in a low pressure region of an extruder screw passageway, such as adjacent a devolatizing vent or an auxiliary additive feed port, to promote positive conveyance of the compounding material. The present invention has particular utility in the field of in-line compounding wherein apparatus and steps are required for the preparation of melts with entrained additives, for example long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene.
2. Background Information
A large percentage of plastics today are mixed with substantial levels of fillers (e.g. glass, carbon, and natural fibers, minerals, colorants, organic additives, etc.). These compounds are typically produced using a compounding extruder such as a twin screw intermeshing compounding extruder as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,246 to Rauwendaal et al. Typically, the extruders are configured to produce pellets or billets of the molding compound that are subsequently used, in a substantially decoupled manner, as a feedstock into a typical injection or compression molding machine. Alternatively, the compounding extruder may be configured to feed the molten molding compound directly into the molding machine, this process is commonly known as 'in-line compounding' or 'direct extrusion'. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,680, to Boissonnat et al., describes an inline compounding system that includes a twin screw compounding extruder, the extruder being configured for producing a molding compound of a thermoplastic that is blended with reinforcing fibers, and an injection molding machine that is configured to receive the molding compound directly from the extruder, the injection molding machine otherwise producing molded articles in the known manner.
Traditionally, the twin screw compounding extruder has been preferred over those with a single screw, despite some major shortcomings (e.g. considerably more expensive, screw wear, requirement for downstream pumping, etc.) because of their versatility and efficiency. Some inherent advantages of the twin screw extruder include a self-wiping of the outer surfaces of the intermeshed screw flights and shank, positive conveyance of molding materials in low melt pressure regions, good dispersive and distributive mixing, compact (i.e. short UD), flexible process control (i.e. owing to their starve-fed operation), and high throughput. Another reason why the twin screw compounding extruder has been favored has been the availability of modular screws and barrels whereby the extruder may be flexibly configured by simply adding or removing processing sections to achieve an optimal compounding process. Examples of commonly available barrel modules include primary feed, plain, vent, side stuff, and auxiliary feed sections. Similarly, some commonly available screw sections include various flight elements (i.e. feed, compression, venting, pumping, etc.), mixing elements, and zoning elements (i.e. isolate operations within the extruder).
By contrast, the single screw compounding extruder has traditionally been regarded as providing limited processing flexibility and a much narrower processing window. As discussed in detail in a recent paper entitled 'New Single Screw Compounding Extruder', by Chris Rauwendaal of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Incorporated, this perception of the single screw extruder has been shaped by the commonplace practice of flood feeding the extruder, practical limitations on the extruder length, a lack of extruders configured with multiple feed ports, the use of screws and barrels of a unitary construction (i.e. configurations are not easily altered). This paper also proposes how many of these limitations can be addressed. For instance, a modular screw and barrel configuration, derived from the twin screw extruder art, could be used to provide additional processing flexibility. In addition, additional mixers and/or more efficient mixers, as described hereinafter, could be incorporated into the screw and/or barrel to minimize the extruder length required to achieve an acceptable level of additive distribution and dispersion. As well, the extruder may be configured to include a succession of vent/auxiliary ports along the barrel for a staged addition of the compound materials and volatile removal. A method for compounding in a single screw extruder is also proposed therein, with improved processing flexibility, that includes the step of starve feeding the extruder.
As introduced hereinbefore, there are a wide variety of mixer/kneader designs available in the art that are configurable in the single screw compounding extruder to improve its mixing efficiency and thereby minimize extruder length. The mixers may be formed or integrated directly onto the screw, barrel, or both. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,159 to Rauwendaal, describes a mixer that integrates directly onto the screw. This mixer, commonly known as a 'CRD mixer™' (a trademark of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc.), is realized by simply altering the screw flight configuration such that a front pushing face of the flight interacts with the inner surface of the screw passageway in the barrel to form a progressively narrowing passage through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress whereby dispersive and distributive mixing is provided. As an alternative, a 'Buss Ko-Kneader' (a trademark of Coperion Holding GmbH) and generally described in the background section of U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,147, describes a mixer with elements that integrate into both the screw and barrel. In particular, this mixer requires the barrel of the extruder to include one or more axial rows of kneading elements that are arranged along an inner surface of the screw passageway in a high pressure stage of the extruder, as well as complementary shaped slots formed in the screw flights. In operation, the kneading elements move through the slots of the screw flights to create an efficient mixing action of the melt being pumped therebetween. The kneading elements, teeth or pins, are often press-fit, or threaded into the barrel of the extruder. It is also a common practice to integrate the kneading elements into a modular barrel portion that is configured to have a clam shell construction for sake of ease of installation and service.
Accordingly, there is strong potential for the single screw compounding extruder, when properly configured, to match the processing flexibility of the twin screw extruder but at much lower capital and operating costs. Despite this promise, there does remain at least one major problem. In particular, the lack of screw flight and shank wiping in a single screw compounding extruder can cause significant melt flow problems through the low pressure extruder stages (i.e. adjacent vents and auxiliary ports) when processing with at least one compounding material that exhibits a tendency to stick or otherwise coalesce along the boundary surface of the screw (i.e. screw root or flight). Unfortunately, this problem is particularly acute when the extruder is being starve fed.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a wiper for wiping at least a portion of the screw flights and/or shank in the low pressure stages of a single screw compounding extruder adjacent the vent and/or auxiliary port to promote a proper conveyance of the molding material therethrough. This problem is also apparent in a single screw extruder (i.e. non-compounding) for the very same reasons.
When configured and used as intended, the mixing pins of the prior art 'Buss Ko-Kneader' (a trademark of Coperion Holding GmbH), as introduced hereinbefore, are located in extruder stages with sufficiently high melt pressure to ensure that the melt will continue to flow to the extent required to effect a thorough mixing/kneading of the melt as it is sheared between the pins and screw flight sections. However, nowhere is it known to in the art to use a similar configuration in the relatively low pressure stages of the extruder (i.e. near ambient pressure) for fulfilling the entirely different purpose of scraping and otherwise wiping the stalled compounding materials off of the screw flight and/or shank to promote its further interaction with screw and barrel portions to ensure an efficient transit of the low pressure stage extruder stage. In particular, nowhere is it known in the art to install screw wiping elements in the venting/entrainment extruder stages of a single screw compounding extruder.
A similar problem has been known to occur when feeding certain feedstock materials into the primary feed throat of the extruder wherein the feedstock becomes 'tacky' upon heating with a tendency to stick to the screw outer surfaces whereby the in-feed of molding material becomes impeded or blocked. A solution to this problem has been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,323 to Smith. In particular, Smith describes a single screw extruder that includes an auxiliary feed screw that functions to wipe the screw flights of the extruder screw to ensure a positive conveyance of the molding material.
The following is a description of an experiment that was conducted on an in-line compounding molding system, the results from which are illustrative of the problem defined hereinbefore and that may now be advantageously addressed by implementing the improvements to the extruder in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention as described hereinafter.
With reference to FIG. 1 an in-line compounding molding system 10 is shown to include an experimental Husky™ (a registered trademark of Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.) P100/110 E100 two-stage extrusion/injection unit 14 that is coupled to a Husky™ (a registered trademark of Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.) GL300 PET clamp unit 12.
The clamp unit is typical for an injection molding system, and is shown to include a clamp base 18 with a stationary platen 16 securely retained to an end thereof, a clamp block 22 slidably connected at an opposite end of the clamp base 18, and a moving platen 20 arranged to translate therebetween on a set of tie bars 32 that otherwise interconnect the stationary platen 16 and the clamp block 22. As is known, the clamp unit 12 further includes a means for stroking (not shown) the moving platen 20 with respect to the stationary platen to open and close the injection mold halves 26, 27 arranged therebetween. A clamping means (not shown) is integrated within the clamp block 22 for generating a clamping force that is linked through a clamp column 24 to the moving platen for providing, in use, a clamping force between the mold halves 26, 27 during the injection of the melt of molding material, as is commonly known. The hot half of the injection mold 27 is mounted to a face of the stationary platen 16, whereas the complementary cold half of the mold 26 is mounted to an opposing face of the moving platen 20. The injection mold 25 is also shown to include a molding cavity 83 that is formed between the mold halves 26, 27, and a melt passageway 48G that passes through a sprue bushing portion 85 of the mold hot half 27 for interconnecting the molding cavity 83 to the melt passageway 48F of a machine nozzle 46.
The extrusion/injection unit 14 is a modified two-stage injection unit, and is shown to include a single screw compounding extruder assembly 38 that is arranged above, and in fluid communication with, an injection assembly 29. The extruder and injection assemblies 38 and 29 are both supported on a carriage 30 that is itself supported on ways 33 that are provided on the top bed of an injection unit base 28. Accordingly, the extruder and injection assemblies 38 and 29 can be moved together, relative to the clamp unit 12, for controllably coupling a machine nozzle 46 with the sprue of the mold hot half 27. A carriage cylinder 31 connecting the carriage 30 to the stationary platen 16 of the clamp unit 12 provides for the positioning of the carriage 30.
The extruder assembly 38 includes a screw drive assembly 36 that is configured for the rotation of an extruder screw 60 within a screw passageway 48A that extends along a cylindrical inner surface 49 of an extruder barrel 40. In operation, the rotation of the extruder screw 60 draws a first compounding material from a material hopper 34 into the screw passageway 48A, via a feed throat 58, as shown in FIG. 2A, and thereafter conveying the first compounding material through consecutive extruder stages, as shown in FIG. 2B and described in detail hereinafter, to a discharge end of the barrel 40. In the experiment the first molding material was a polypropylene thermoplastic. In contrast to a conventional two-stage injection unit where the screw is reciprocated, in use, by the drive assembly 36, to effect a transfer of an accumulated volume of the molding material in the extruder assembly 38 to the injection assembly 29 for subsequent injection, the present apparatus was operated in a mode whereby the extruder screw 60 is longitudinally fixed from reciprocating in the screw passageway 48A and wherein the steps of extrusion and injection are performed sequentially. The advantage of operating the extrusion/injection unit 14 in this manner will be evident in view of the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention described hereinafter. The extruder assembly 38 also includes an auxiliary hopper 35 which functions to provide intermediate storage for a second compounding material which is introduced into the screw passageway 48A via an auxiliary port 59 that is arranged through the barrel 40 intermediate the primary feed throat 58 and the discharge end of the barrel 40. In the experiment the second molding material was reinforcing glass fibers 82. As is commonly known, the auxiliary port 59 also functions as a vent for the venting of volatile elements of the first compounding material. The extruder assembly 38 is also shown to include a barrel head 41 comprising an annular portion 42, an elbow portion 43, and a transfer portion 44, with a sequence of melt passageway portions 48B, 48C, and 48D configured therethrough, respectively, for fluidly connecting the discharge end of the barrel 40 to a melt passageway 48E of an injection assembly distributor valve 45.
The typical injection assembly 29 includes the distributor valve 45, a machine nozzle 46, a shooting pot 52, and a shooting pot piston assembly 53. In particular, the distributor valve 45 includes a melt passageway portion 48E which is configured for alternately connecting, by controllably orienting a valve spool 47, a melt accumulation chamber 48P, configured within the shooting pot 52, with either the melt passageway 48D of the barrel head 41, for charging the accumulation chamber 48P with the molding compound, or to a melt passageway 48F that extends through the machine nozzle, for a subsequent injection of the accumulated melt into the melt passageway 48G of the mold sprue. The shooting pot 52 includes, from front to back, an annular head portion 57, a cylinder portion 55, and a head of a piston 54 that is configured to reciprocate within a bore of the cylinder portion 55. The accumulation chamber 48P is the volume of the cylinder 55 in front of the piston 54, and also includes a tapered passageway that extends through the annular head portion 57. The accumulation chamber 48P is obviously variable in volume, dependent on the position of the piston 54. In operation, the piston 54 is forced to retract within the cylinder 55 when the accumulation chamber 48P is being charged, during the step of melt transfer from the extruder, and subsequently the piston is forced to advance into the cylinder to empty the accumulation chamber 48P, during the step of injection. The piston 54 is a member of a shooting pot piston assembly 53 that also includes an injection cylinder 56, as is commonly known.
The barrel 40, barrel head 41, distributor valve 45, shooting pot 52, and the machine nozzle 46 each configured to include heaters 50 arranged therealong, as shown with reference to FIG. 2B, for a controlled heating, in use, of the molding materials along the screw and melt passageway portions 48A, 48B, 48C, and 48D, 48E, 48F, as well as the accumulation chamber 48P, as is commonly known.
With reference to FIG. 2A the configuration of the barrel 40 and extruder screw 60 can be seen in detail. The extruder screw 60 includes a cylindrical shank with an outer surface providing a screw root 62 around which extends a helical screw flight 61. With reference to FIG. 2B (note: the variation in the root 62 diameter has been exaggerated and the screw flight 61 omitted for illustrative purposes), it is shown that the diameter of the screw root 62 varies over the length of the extruder screw 60 to provide the stages of melt feeding, compression/melting, and metering, as commonly known. The screw is also shown to include a conical shearing portion 68 followed by a cylindrical shearing section 69, both of which function to assist in establishing a boundary between the adjacent extruder stages to assists in a downstream venting of volatile elements, as commonly known.
Again with reference to FIG.(s) 2B, the boundaries and extent of each of the extruder stages S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8, and the barrel thermal control zones T1, T2, and T3, are shown as configured for the sake of the experiments undertaken with the compounding materials as listed in Table 1, which were starve fed into the barrel 40 at a throughput rate of about 180 kg/h:
TABLE 1Second CompoundingFirst Compounding Material (Blend)Material68% PP Montell VM61002% Polyblond 320030% glass fiber(EC 15-12 P368)68% PP Montell H32GA2% Polyblond 320030% glass fiber(EC 15-12 P368)Table 1
Accordingly, the extruder screw 60, the extruder stages S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8, and the barrel thermal control zones T1, T2, and T3 were configured as listed in Tables 2, 3, and 4, respectively:
TABLE 2Total screw length (L/D):25Screw diameter (mm):100Length of first section (L/D):16Number of flights:2Flight pitch (mm):90Flight depth feed section (mm):10.2Flight depth metering section (mm):3.9Compression ratio:2.6Annular slit (mm):2.1Length of second section (L/D):9Number of flights:1Flight pitch (mm):90Flight depth venting section (mm):13.3Flight depth metering section (mm):5.3Pump ratio:1.51Table 2
TABLE 3S1Feeding Stage (low pressure)S2Compression Stage (high pressure)S3Metering Stage (high pressure)S4Conical Shearing Stage (high pressure)S5Cylindrical Shearing Stage (high pressure)S6Venting and Entrainment Stage (low to ambient pressure)S7Re-Compression Stage (high pressure)S8Metering Stage (high pressure)Table 3
TABLE 4T1First Barrel Thermal Control Zone at 250° C.T2Second Barrel Thermal Control Zone at 240° C.T3Third Barrel Thermal Control Zone at 230° C.Table 4
The experiment was conducted using the in-line compounding molding system 10 described above whilst operating an extrusion/injection molding process that included the steps of:                (i) configuring a first contiguous melt passageway between the extruder assembly 38 melt passageway portions 48A, 48B, 48C, 48D, the injection assembly melt passageway portion 48E, located in the distributor valve 45, and the accumulation chamber 48P, located in the shooting pot 52;        (ii) extruding the molding compound, through the first contiguous melt passageway, for charging the accumulation chamber 48P with a required volume of the compounding material by substantially simultaneously:                    a. providing an inflow, starve fed, of the first compounding material into the screw passageway 48A, of the barrel 40, through the primary barrel feed throat 58;            b. providing an inflow, starve fed, of the second compounding material into the screw passageway 48A, whilst venting volatiles from the first compounding material, through the downstream auxiliary port 59;            c. rotating the extruder screw 60 to convey the first and second compounding materials through a plurality of extruder stages;            d. heating the barrel 40 to attain and thereafter sustain a processing temperature of the first, second, and ultimately the composite compounding materials;                        (iii) reconfiguring the melt passageway to isolate the melt passageway portions of the extruder assembly 38 and to configure a second contiguous melt passageway between the injection assembly accumulation chamber 48P, the melt passageway portion 48E and the melt passageway portion 48F, located in the machine nozzle;        (iv) injecting a portion of the compounding material in the accumulation volume 48P, through the second contiguous melt passageway, into the melt passageway 48G, located in mold sprue 85, for filling the molding cavity 83 of the at least substantially closed injection mold;        (v) substantially simultaneously reconfiguring the first melt passageway for recharging of the accumulation chamber 48P and the cycling of the mold clamp unit 12 to effect the removal of a molded article from the injection mold in preparation for a subsequent molding cycle.
The results of the experiment revealed the problem, introduced hereinbefore, wherein the lack of screw flight and shank wiping in the venting and entrainment stage S6, adjacent the auxiliary port/vent 59, caused significant melt flow problem therethrough. In particular, it was observed that the first compounding material (i.e. polypropylene blend) glued on the screw root 62 without, or with occasionally intermittent, axially feeding by the screw flights 61.


A tray for receiving printed media from a printer, the tray including a print well, a ramp and at least two side walls. There is at least one support member extending from the tray adapted to engage the printer and position the tray such that the print well is laterally offset from the exit slot of the printer and prints exiting from the printer overhang one of the side walls of the tray. A ledge feature projects from the side wall that exiting prints overhang, the ledge feature configured to bias movement of the printed media exiting the printer and in contact the ledge feature to fall into the print well.

Stubbing is a common problem in many printers; particularly printers that include horizontally oriented stacking trays. Stubbing occurs when after a first print has already been received in the stacking tray, a second print emerges from the exit slot of the printer and the lead end of the emerging print receives interference from the trailing end of the print already in the stacking tray. This type of interference occurs because the trailing end of the print in the receiving tray is proximate to the exit slot. This stubbing problem creates a potential jamming situation for the next print to exit the slot of the printer.
Stubbing can occur in a variety of printers including photographic thermal printers, inkjet printers, electro-photographic printers, and laser printers. Stubbing is probably most common in photographic thermal printers that have the capability of printing more than one size print, for example, 4×6 and 6×8 prints. While the problem of stubbing itself is not a very significant problem, as mentioned above, stubbing can lead to jamming and jamming is quite significant.

Offset print stacking tray with anti-stubbing feature


An engine having an annular cylinder formed about an opening which utilizes an arc-piston reciprocally positioned in the annular cylinder with a partition secured within the annular cylinder separating the annular cylinder into an air intake compression chamber and a gas combustion chamber such that in use upon reciprocation of the arc-piston one of the chambers is expanding while the remaining of the chambers is contacting is disclosed. Within the opening a conventional gas turbine may be positioned and the rotational power of the arc-piston engine is combined with the rotational power of the gas turbine.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an arc piston engine and more specifically to an arc piston drive engine having an output which is enhanced by a turbine engine positioned within the annular cylinder engine block housing the arc piston.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a combined turbine annular piston engine. In either a two-cycle or a four-cycle engine, an arc piston reciprocating along an arc path within the annular cylinder 1 is converted to rotational output of the flywheel 11 via the connecting rod 13 as a crank unit. A radial gas turbine 15 is positioned in the opening in the middle of the annular cylinder. A power enhancing unit is connected to the output shaft 10 of the arc-piston 7 engine or to the gas-turbine shaft 17. As a result, the turbo enhanced annular piston engine has substantially improved heat efficiency.
Advantages of the present invention include reduced weight and volume of the cylinder per horse power. In addition, the arc-piston stroke is longer than that of conventional piston engines since the cylinder is arc-shaped. This results in perfect combustion of the fuel/air mixture because of the increase in air-charging efficiency. Therefore, exhaust pollution is substantially reduced, engine height is lowered, and fuel efficiency is much improved because of an increase in output power. In addition, production cost is reduced because of the simple structure, and safety and durability are excellent as well.
The more pertinent and important features of the present invention have been outlined above in order that the detailed description of the invention which follows will be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention described hereinafter form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed herein may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Further, those skilled in the art can realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.


A method for counting a service duration of time measurement on a clock signal including periodic transitions and for determining an actual duration (tmr) of measurement as a function of the service duration, the signal having undergone spectrum spreading according to a periodic variation algorithm causing a frequency modulation of the clock transitions of the signal and creating a difference between actual duration (tmr) and service duration. There are counted during successive time increments at least service times for starting (t_d_s) and stopping (t_a_s) and, on the basis of these times, there are determined actual times for starting and for stopping (t_d, t_a) serving for the calculation of the actual duration of measurement (tmr) as a function of the parameters of the variation algorithm. A method of continuous compensation of the error between actual and service durations is also disclosed.

In electronics, a clock signal is an oscillating and periodic electrical signal which paces the actions of an electronic circuit and especially the synchronization of the various elements present in the circuit.
The clock signal periodically exhibits a clock transition occurring at a precise frequency termed the clock frequency. This clock frequency of an electronic circuit, for example an application specific integrated circuit better known by the abbreviation ASIC or a microprocessor, is visible during electromagnetic interference measurements, these measurements evaluating the disturbance that the electronic circuit causes on other electronic apparatus situated in its environment.
In the spectral domain, a clock is visible in the form of an abrupt elevation of amplitude at the clock frequency. The resulting graphs exhibit a vertical stroke and it is common to speak of frequency spectral line in this regard.
To limit the amplitude of a clock frequency spectral line, it is known to subject the clock signal to spectrum spreading. A modulation of the transition of the clock signal is then applied intentionally in order to reduce the level of the spectral line at the clock frequency. This can be done by using a periodic variation algorithm creating a spread spectrum. It is possible to use various spreading algorithms with different parameters relating essentially to a degree of spreading, a mode of smearing and/or of modulation.
By applying a variation algorithm for spectrum spreading to a clock signal, the precision of the clock signal is affected by a modulation on the clock frequency. The periodicity of the clock signal is also affected. It is possible to continue to speak of periodicity over a service time related to the deformed-clock pulses but this is no longer true at this level over an actual time. Over the actual time, the periodicity reduces to that of the variation algorithm.
In FIG. 1 can be seen a percentage precision, indicated as ordinate, as a function of time, indicated as abscissa, of the clock signal having undergone spectrum spreading by a linear variation algorithm of plus or minus 5% of the clock frequency and a period of 100 μs of the linear variation algorithm.
For spectrum spreading, the most commonly used variation algorithm is a linear, periodic and symmetric algorithm because it gives a uniform distribution of the clock frequency in a chosen interval of frequencies.

Methods and devices for counting a service duration for a spread clock signal and determining or generating an actual time duration


A controller and an associated method, which may be embodied within a disk array system, are disclosed for verifying, the integrity of command data written to a disk drive (preferably an Advanced Technology Attachment or ATA drive) before such command data is used to execute a command. The controller, which may be implemented in automated hardware or firmware residing external to the disk drive, initially writes the command data to the disk drive, and then reads back and verifies this data prior to initiating execution of the command. If the written-out and read-back command data are consistent, the controller initiates execution of the command; otherwise, the controller enters into an error state that prevents the potentially corrupt command data from being used by the disk drive. The controller may also read a status code from the disk drive more than once to reduce the likelihood of misread status information.

The present invention relates generally to mass data storage systems, and more specifically, relates to methods for verifying the integrity of command data sent to an ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) or other storage device.
Host computers use peripheral data storage devices such as hard disk drives to store large amounts of data. The host computer typically communicates with the storage device over a cable, such as a ribbon cable, according to a particular interface. In the personal computer (PC) industry, the most common disk drive interface is currently the ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) interface, also referred to as the IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface. Several versions of the ATA interface have been developed over time, including ATA-1, ATA-2, ATA-3, ATA-4 (also known as Ultra DMA-33, in which xe2x80x9cDMAxe2x80x9d stands for Direct Memory Access), ATA-5 (also known as Ultra DMA-66), and Ultra DMA-6. Another common disk drive interface is SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface).
One problem with mass storage systems is that data transmitted over the cable between the host computer and the storage device can be corrupted. Such corruption may occur, for example, as the result of radio frequency (RF) emissions from nearby components or appliances. To address this problem, existing interfaces commonly use parity or other error detection schemes to check for transmission errors. Some interfaces, however, such as the ATA interface, do not check for errors in the transmission of commands transmitted from the host computer to the storage device. As a result, a corrupted command may be executed by the storage device, potentially resulting in an unrecoverable loss of data.
The present invention addresses this and other problems related to the integrity of command data transmitted over a cable.
The present invention overcomes the above problems by implementing a process for verifying the integrity of command data written to a disk drive before such command data is used to execute a command. The process is implemented by a controller which controls the disk drive over a cable or other connector. The controller may be implemented within automated circuitry and/or firmware.
In accordance with the invention, the controller initially writes command data to the disk drive, and then reads back and verifies at least a portion of this data prior to initiating execution of the command. In ATA implementations, the command data read back from the drive and checked corresponds to selected registers and bits (preferably registers 2, 3, 4 and 5 in their entirety, and bits 3:0 of register 6) of the ATA command register block. If this command data is consistent with the command data written to the drive, the controller initiates execution of the command (by writing to register 7 in ATA implementations). If, on the other hand, the read-back command data is inconsistent with the written-out command data, the controller enters into an error state that prevents the potentially corrupt command data from being used by the drive. To further protect against transmission errors, the controller may, following execution of the command, read a status code from the drive more than once to reduce the likelihood of misread status information.
In one embodiment, the invention is incorporated into each of a set of automated ATA controllers of a disk array controller. Each such controller implements the host side of the ATA interface within automated circuitry. Preferably, each automated controller includes a command buffer for storing multiple command blocks, so that a new command block can be dispatched to the disk drive immediately following completion of a current command block.
The invention may also be used with interfaces other than the ATA interface, and may be used with peripheral storage devices other than hard disk drives.

Disk array system, controller, and method for verifying command data written to disk drives


Video data is coded at either a minimum transfer rate or maximum transfer rate and stored in a storage unit as a video reply message. In a case where the video data has been coded at the minimum transfer rate and stored, the video reply message is transmitted upon being multiplexed with an audio reply message if the actual transfer rate agrees with the minimum transfer rate. If the two transfer rates are different, invalid bits conforming to the difference between the rates are generated and the invalid bits, the audio reply message and the video reply message are multiplexed and transmitted. In a case where the video data has been coded at the maximum transfer rate and stored, on the other hand, the video reply message is decoded when an incoming call arrives, the video data thus obtained is coded based upon the actual transfer rate, and the video reply message obtained by coding is multiplexed with the audio reply message and transmitted.

This invention relates to an image communication apparatus having an automatic answering and recording function. More particularly, the invention relates to an image communication apparatus which, when an incoming call from an originating terminal arrives in the automatic answering and recording mode, transmits a reply message comprising video and audio to the originating terminal and stores a calling-party message sent from the originating terminal.
A video conference system is one which allows a conference to take place by making possible the mutual exchange of audio and video among video conference sets deployed at remote locations. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video conference system in a case where individuals at two locations remote from each other carry on a conference. The system includes a network 1 and identically constructed video conference sets 2, 3 connected to the network 1 and provided two locations remote from each other. The video conference sets 2, 3 have respective main units 2a, 3a, display monitors 2b, 3b, cameras 2c, 3c, microphones 2d, 3d and speakers 2e, 3e.
Though the details are not shown, the main units 2a, 3a of the video conference sets are each equipped with:
(1) a video A/D converter for converting an analog video signal, which has been acquired from the corresponding camera 2c or 3c, to digital video data; PA1 (2) a video coder for compressing the digital video data obtained by the A/D conversion; PA1 (3) an audio A/D converter for converting an analog audio signal, which has been acquired from the corresponding camera microphone 2d or 3d, to digital audio data; PA1 (4) audio coder for compressing the digital audio data obtained by the A/D conversion; PA1 (5) a multiplexer for multiplexing the video data and audio data compressed by the video coder and audio coder, respectively, and outputting the multiplexed data on a line; PA1 (6) a demultiplexer for demultiplexing multiplexed data, which has entered from the line, into video data and audio data and outputting the data to a video demodulator and audio demodulator; PA1 (7) the video demodulator for demodulating the compressed video data to the original video data; PA1 (8) a D/A converter for converting the demodulated digital video data to an analog signal and entering the analog signal into the corresponding monitor 2b or 3b; PA1 (9) an audio demodulator for demodulating the compressed audio data to the original audio data; PA1 (10) a D/A converter for converting the demodulated digital audio data to an analog signal and entering the analog signal into the corresponding speaker 2e or 3e; and PA1 (11) a line interface for sending the output signal of the multiplexer to the line and entering multiplexed data, which has entered from the line, into the demultiplexer.
The video conference sets 2, 3 thus AD-convert analog video and audio signals acquired from the cameras 2c, 3c and microphones 2d, 3d, apply coding processing (compression) to the video data and audio data obtained by the A/D conversions, multiplex the video data and audio data obtained and sent the multiplexed data out on the line. The video conference sets 2, 3 further demultiplex signals (multiplexed data), which have entered from the line, into video data and audio data, then apply decoding processing (decompression) to the compressed video data and audio data, DA-convert the digital video data and audio data obtained and enter the resulting analog signal into the monitors 2b, 3b and speakers 2e, 3e, thereby outputting video and audio.
Video conference sets having the above-described functions have come into widespread use in recent years and advances have been made in size and cost reduction and in greater functionality. Video conference sets for which there is particularly great demand are those of the type having an automatic answering and recording function that allow a calling party to leave a message if the called party is absent. Such a video conference set is particularly advantageous if there is a time difference between the calling and called parties, as when a connection is made to a party overseas.
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a video conference set having an automatic answering and recording function according to the prior art. Components identical with those shown in FIG. 17 are designated by like reference characters. The video conference set has the main body 2a, monitor 2b, camera 2c, microphone 2d and speaker 2e. The main body 2a of the video conference set includes a coder 4 having a video coder 4a and an audio coder 4b, a decoder 5 having a video decoder 5a and an audio decoder 5b, a line control unit 6 having a multiplexer, demultiplexer and line interface, etc., and a memory 7 such as a hard disk for storing a reply message comprising video and audio, and a calling-party message sent from the terminal of another (the calling) party.
The reply message RMG is created and stored in the memory 7 beforehand. The reply message RMG will amount to a very large quantity of data if the analog signals from the camera 2c and microphone 2d are merely AD-converted by a preprocessor (not shown). For this reason the analog signals are stored in the memory 7 (route C) once they have been compressed (coded) by the coder 4.
If the video conference set's own terminal set to the automatic answering and recording mode receives an incoming call from the party of another terminal under these conditions, the reply message RMG is first read out of the memory 7 and is transmitted to the calling terminal (route A) via the line control unit 6. Next, after the transmission of the reply message RMG, the verbal message MMG sent from the calling terminal is received via the line control unit 6 and stored in the memory 7 (route B).
The playback of the calling-party message MMG sent from the calling party is performed by reading the calling-party message MMG out of the memory 7 in response to a playback command, entering this message into the decoder 5, whereby the message is decoded, then converting the message to analog signals by a post-processor (not shown) and entering the analog signals into the monitor 2b and speaker 2e.
A technique known as Recommendation H.261 is used in the coding and decoding of video. FIGS. 19 and 20 are diagrams illustrating the constructions of the video coder 4a and video decoder 5a in accordance with Recommendation H.261. The video coder 4a shown in FIG. 19 includes an information source coder 4a-11 which executes processing (DCT processing, quantization processing and motion compensation processing) for compressing the information of a video signal input CIF/QCIF, a video signal multiplexing coder 4a-12 for executing data-format generation processing (hierarchical structuring processing and variable-length coding processing such as Huffman coding) after compression, a transmission buffer 4a-13 for obtaining a constant transmission data rate, a transmission coder 4a-14 for executing dummy-bit insertion processing when the transmission buffer is empty as well as processing for adding on an error correction code, and a coding controller 4a-15, to which the available capacity of the transmission buffer 4a-13 is applied as an input, for instructing the information source coder 4a-11 and video signal multiplexing coder 4a-12 to increase or decrease the amount of generated information based upon the available capacity of the buffer 4a-13, thereby controlling the amount of data that flows into the transmission buffer 4a-13.
The video coder 5a shown in FIG. 20 includes a transmission coder 5a-11 for executing dummy-bit removal processing and error correction processing, a transmission buffer 5a-12 which assures enough time for processing to decode arriving reception data, a video signal multiplexing coder 5a-13 for segmenting compressed data, and an information source coder which executes processing (inverse DCT processing, inverse quantization processing and motion compensation processing) for decompressing information that has been compressed.
Since the upper-limit value on the number of bits that can be transferred in one second is decided by the transfer rate, the video coder 4a executes coding (compression) processing maintaining such a quality that the number of bits after compression will fall within the upper-limit bit count decided by the actual transfer rate. In other words, the video coder 4a has a quality conforming to the transfer rate and executes compression processing in such a manner that the transfer can be performed at this rate.
(a) First Problem
With the video conference set having an automatic answering and recording function according to the prior art, compression processing in accordance with a fixed transfer rate is applied to the video data to create the reply message RMG, which is stored in the memory 7 (FIG. 18). Consequently, if the actual transfer rate at which communication is performed with an originating terminal after the arrival of the incoming call differs from the fixed transfer rate mentioned above, the reply message will no longer be capable of being transmitted correctly. For example, if a reply message RMG that has been created by execution of compression processing conforming to a transfer rate of 128 kbps is transmitted to a line at a higher transfer rate of 384 kbps, the display on the terminal that originated the call will reproduce video that appears to be fast-forwarded. Conversely, if a reply message RMG that has been created by execution of compression processing conforming to the transfer rate of 384 kbps is transmitted to a line at the lower transfer rate of 128 kbps, the display on the terminal that originated the call will reproduce video on a slow frame-by-frame basis.
In an effort to solve this problem, the conventional practice is to create a reply message for each transfer rate in advance so as to establish correspondence between the reply messages and various transfer rates. Then, when a connection is made, the reply message corresponding to the actual transfer rate is selected and transmitted. With this method, however, creating the reply messages takes considerable time and a memory having a large storage capacity is required to store the reply messages.
Further, with the prior art, there are instances where the user abandons the inclusion of video in a reply message and usually sends only audio as the reply message. However, a method which sends only audio as the reply message in spite of the fact that video can also be sent and received is without merit detracts from the value of the product.
(b) Second Problem
If, during the reception of a calling-party message from the calling terminal following the transmission of the reply message from the called terminal to the calling terminal, video acquired from the camera of the called terminal is transmitted, the circumstances prevailing in the absence of the user of the called terminal will be transmitted to the calling terminal in the form of an image. This is a problem in terms of security. Conventional approaches for solving this problem include lowering camera brightness and sending a dark image without sound after transmission of the reply message is completed, preserving the final video and sending this video without sound, or sending nothing at all. However, this method of presenting a display is very unnatural and gives the observer at the calling terminal an odd impression.
(c) Third Problem
In the prior art, the calling-party message sent from a videophone or video conference set is separated into audio and video, after which separate files are created and stored. With this method of separating and storing the message, it is necessary to synchronize the audio and video when the calling-party message is played back. Establishing this synchronization is troublesome.
(d) Fourth Problem
According to the prior art, there is no limitation upon the file sizes of the reply message file and calling-party message file and upon the number of calling-party messages stored. This necessitates large-capacity memory means for storing these messages. The result is an increase in the size and cost of the apparatus.

Image communication apparatus having automatic answering and recording function


A document feed array comprising a pinch-roll mounted to rotate about its center to engage documents, being mounted on a cantilever-arm pivoted at a point distal from said roll-center and including an elastomeric sleeve which, alone, couples the arm to its pivot point (in operation), the sleeve comprising high-damping, durable elastomeric material adapted to accommodate thickness anomalies in said documents, yet to maximize driving contact therewith.

Workers are aware that new and innovative high speed document transport system are desirable. Workers are active in this field. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,845, 4,974,680, 5,098,082, 5,172,900, 4,903,954, 4,346,883, 4,425,694. Many such system have typically employed opposed pinch-rolls and to accommodate variance in document thickness etc., have used resilient means therewith.
Previous resilient elements, such as air dashpots, bushings, sliding contact devices, and magnetic devices, require small gaps between components. These gaps collect paper dust which can interfere with normal functioning of the (movable) pinch roller. Other devices employ flexible damping material in the pinch roll (roller) itself. But this can cause overheating in the roller due to its constant rotation with a pinch load.
My invention avoids the foregoing problems, and involves means for damping a movable document transport pinch roller where the document transport must allow for gaps between documents, for documents of irregular thickness, and/or for unusual protrusions on the document such as staples and folds.
A salient object is to minimize transient motions of the movable pinch roll perpendicular to the document transport direction, so that the pinch rolls remain in intimate contact with the document at all times. Such transient motions occur where there are gaps between documents, irregular thicknesses, and/or protrusions such as staples or folds.
As a feature hereof, damping is provided through the use of a flexible damping material, such as poly-urethane, that also serves as a pivot bearing. A means of assembly prevents the damping material from experiencing a "static pre-load", and avoids related creep problems in the flexible damping material.
It is of particular interest to mount a movable pinch-roll or the like on an arm cantilevered-out from a pivot point defined by a fixed shaft, with this shaft surrounded by two concentric hollow cylinders plus intermediate high-damping elastomeric material, as in FIG. 1.
Additionally, a resilient pre-load is preferably applied as in FIG. 1A (e.g. via a flexure).
Thus, it is an object hereof to address (at least some of) the aforementioned problems, and to provide the herein-cited advantages and functions. A related object is to provide a moving pinch-roll mounted on a pivot arm, whose pivoting is resiliently resisted by flexible damping material.
The methods and means discussed herein, will generally be understood as constructed and operating as presently known in the art, except where otherwise specified; and with all materials, methods and devices and apparatus herein understood as implemented by known expedients according to present good practice.


An interchangeable indicator tip device for a dial indicator gauge features a rotatable turret having a plurality of indicator tips. Each indicator tip is rotatable to position a selected indicator tip into a measurement position where the selected tip functions as the indicator tip for the dial indicator gauge.

Dial indicator gauges are widely used in the machining industry for inspecting and measuring dimensions in a machined work product. Typically, an indicator tip is attached to the movable end of the stationary dial indicator gauge and is brought into contact with the machined surface of the work product to be inspected. The distance traveled by the indicator tip for it to contact the surface is indicated on the dial indicator gauge and is an indication of the measured dimension.
Indicator tips are available in a variety of configurations for measuring dimensions on different types of surfaces and workpieces. For instance, a straight tip can be used to measure the depth of a machined surface, whereas a tip having a ball bearing on the end for contacting the surface to be measured can be used to measure the eccentricity of a machined surface, e.g., the dimensions of a cam. Furthermore, an angled tip can be used, for instance, to measure a surface which is inaccessible to a straight indicator tip. Often, measurements need to be made on the same workpiece using more than one type of indicator tip. In this case, the tip must be changed between measurements, or multiple workpieces must be measured first with one type of tip, and then measured again with another type of tip.


Liquid laundry detergent compositions are provided that show remarkable performance even though they utilize only eco-friendly ingredients and have a sustainability index of greater than 3. Some embodiments include a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising alkyl polyglycoside (APG) with fatty alcohol sulfate, at least two detersive enzymes, an enzyme stabilization system (e.g. borate and/or citrate and/or calcium salts), d-limonene or other natural essence, water and adjuvant. In another exemplary embodiment, APG is combined with fatty acid soaps, at least two detersive enzymes, an enzyme stabilization system (e.g. borate and/or citrate and/or calcium salts), d-limonene or other natural essence, water and adjuvant. Such compositions show remarkable performance, good viscosity, physical storage stability, enzyme stability, and have a sustainability index of greater than 3.

Many consumer, commercial and industrial products, including liquid laundry detergents have been known in the art for decades. For example, in the context of laundry detergents, many are comprised of blends of synthetic anionic, nonionic and conditioning cationic surfactants, along with any number of additional ingredients such as builders, dispersants, soil-release polymers, detersive enzymes and bleaching agents to improve cleaning performance and to arrive at consumer acceptable performance at a reasonable cost.
The prior art is nearly void of compositions that claim suitable performance through the use of eco-friendly ingredients. Heretofore there have simply been no suitable "across-the-board" substitutions of unfriendly ingredients to more ecologically friendly ingredients in a laundry detergent composition to yield compositions that can still provide consumer acceptable performance at reasonable cost to the manufacturer. It is simple (as shown in the art) to make sensible substitutions or reductions of one or a few ingredients, (for example, ability to reduce builder or surfactant by increasing enzyme levels), however, a wholesale replacement of all ingredients in a composition with eco-friendly ingredients typically results in a serious reduction in performance.
One way to increase performance in a laundry detergent and reduce pollution is to replace high surfactant and builder levels with high enzyme levels, for example, through the replacement of surfactants, builders, polymers, and bleaches in detergent compositions with enzymes.
However, it is problematic to apply this strategy for the replacement of all suspect ingredients in a composition, as the required multiple types of enzymes need to be combined and stabilized in ways that heretofore have not been explored and additional ingredients beyond the enzymes will be needed to make up for lost performance. For example, when common surfactants are replaced with eco-friendly surfactants, and the highly alkaline builder/chelant systems are eliminated, then simply increasing enzyme level is not enough, and the technology that is truly missing from the art is how to combine the right combinations of different enzymes at the right levels, using the right enzyme stabilizers with the right eco-friendly co-ingredients to boost the performance back to consumer acceptable levels.
Moreover, until the present invention, laundry detergents (and other products) generally sacrificed performance and biodegradability and/or contained minimal natural ingredients, as well as had higher carbon footprints.
It has now been found that by lowering the surfactant levels and replacing them with other components, a lower carbon footprint can be realized. Additionally, surprisingly the combination of certain biodegradable anionic materials with alkyl polyglycoside surfactants and enzyme mixtures, together with "natural essences", can lead to stable liquid laundry detergents that are comprised entirely or nearly entirely of eco-friendly ingredients, yet still have performance at par or even superior to past traditional liquids that use much less friendly constituents. Importantly, the present invention results in a low "carbon footprint" and maximizes performance and biodegradability, and uses natural ingredients.

Low carbon footprint compositions for use in laundry applications


A filling device for a writing instrument has a reservoir positioned in a housing (for a refillable liquid. A wick-like section of a writing tip exposed on one end of the housing projects into this reservoir. A filling spout for the liquid is able to be attached to the other end of the housing. A movable dosing cap is provided on the filling spout in order to expose at least one filling opening for supplying the liquid before reaching an end position of the dosing cap.

The present invention relates to a filling device and a method for filling writing instruments, as are available under the name Senator "Aqua-Maler", for example, cf. instructions for Aqua-Maler, commercially available. "Writing" includes all ways of applying a marking to a surface, such as painting, ornamentation, and filling out forms.
A known writing instrument has a reservoir positioned in the housing for the refillable writing material, into which a wick-like part of the writing tip, which is exposed at one end of the housing, projects. The housing is open at the other end for refilling and may be sealed closed by a separate cap.
It is the object of the present invention to significantly simplify the filling, refilling, or replenishing of the writing instrument for the user, in particular accelerate it.

Filling device comprising lateral filling windows


The invention provides a method for controlling an electronic manometer for measuring pressure (p) inside a pressurized gas receptacle. The manometer comprises at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data, and at least one information device device capable of transmitting at least one item of information (p).

Such a manometer is described for example in document FR2868160A1.
Because they are reused many times, fluid bottles are successively faced with many cases of use with users who have different needs.
The information displayed or transmitted by the individual manometers measuring the pressure in the bottles are not adapted to the usage situations.
To solve this problem, such electronic manometers require many human interventions (actuation of buttons, sensors or other actuators). Because of this, such manometers have to provide means of actuation, interrogation or configuration which increase the structure and hence the cost of such devices. Moreover, the interventions on such electronic manometers may be the cause of operating errors and increase the electricity consumption of the manometer.
Document WO 01/6934 A1 describes a method for controlling the content of a liquefied gas bottle (propane) only during its use via a pressure sensor associated with electronics to indicate the level of product remaining as a function of pressure measurements compared with predefined thresholds.
One object of the present invention is to alleviate some or all of the drawbacks of the prior art listed above.

Method for controlling an electronic pressure gauge and pressure gauge therefor

L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude