A dental film packet, comprises a film pack in a sealed envelope for intra-oral use for dental X-ray purposes. The envelope consists of a pair of thin pockets 21 and 22 of injection moulded plastics material, mating by means of tongues and cut-outs which may be held together and sealed by a band of adhesive tape. The envelope 20 has edges 29, 30 and corners 31 which are smoothly rounded so that the envelope 20 is devoid of any sharp edges. It will therefore generally cause the patient considerably less discomfort than the conventional form of packet. (FIG. 2)

Dental film packets are widely used for X-raying teeth. The usual form of such a packet is a sealed (i.e. waterproof) packet containing layers of X-ray sensitive film, metal foil, and black paper. The packet is held in place in the patient's mouth while the X-ray is being taken, and is then removed and the film is taken out and developed. The film obviously then shows the desired X-ray; two films are sometimes used, automatically giving two copies of the X-ray picture. The metal foil serves to absorb the X-rays after they have passed through the film, so reducing the total X-ray dosage to the patient. The black paper eases the handling of the film when it is being taken out of the packet tg be developed.
Various forms of envelopes are known for providing the outer sealing of the packet. The usual current form is made of plastics material, typically polyvinyl chloride, and is produced by stamping. Two webs of the plastics material are interleaved with film packs and are fed through a machine in which the two webs are heat-sealed together around each film pack and the resulting packet is simultaneously separated from the webs and the other packets being formed. The manufacture of packets using such envelopes is readily automated and the resulting packets are inexpensive.
As stated above, the packets are intended for intra-oral use. The packet may be supported in a clip on the end of a rod, and held in position in the patient's mouth by the patient gripping the rod between his teeth, or it may simply be held in position by the patient's finger. The X-ray beam is directed from outside the mouth through the teeth and onto the packet.
Packets made in the manner outlined above tend to have somewhat hard and sharp edges due to the heat-sealing of the two layers of plastics material. This is a drawback, because such edges can cause discomfort to the patient, particularly if the patient has a sensitive lining to the mouth (as may easily be the case for someone requiring dental treatment).
Several proposals have involved providing a band of some sort around the periphery of the envelope, to act as a cushion around the envelope's hard and sharp edge; among such proposals are WO 90/02358 (Liese/Eastman Kodak) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,143 (Scheier at al), both of which contain references to other somewhat similar proposals. A packet having such a band will therefore not scratch the patient.
However, such bands have their own disadvantages.
Sometimes the band absorbs moisture and may therefore dry the patient's mouth and cause discomfort in that way, and if the band expands on being moistened, its expansion may easily cause displacement of the packet from its desired position and may even cause discomfort if the expansion is too great.
The automatic manufacture of such a packet is not easy, while manual manufacture is inconvenient, requires particular care to avoid possible contamination, and is expensive. If the band is not made integrally with the envelope, there will be a space along the inside of the band, between it and the envelope, which can be unhygienic, while making the band integrally with the envelope presents manufacturing difficulties and expense. The band can easily trap saliva and so make the exposed packet unpleasant to handle after use.
It has also been proposed, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,511 (Gay/Eastman Kodak) , to provide a heat-sealed packet in which the envelope has an exceptionally wide margin around the central part containing the films. The idea is that this margin of the envelope will bend back on itself in use, so that the tissue of the patient's mouth will be contacted by the curved outer parts of the bends of the margins rather than by the hard edges of the packet.
This, however, increases the size of the packet, and this and the loss of rigidity makes it less convenient to handle, and in particular, it adds significantly to the size of a package, giving rise to inconveniences in bulk storage and supply of such film packets. Also, it may present inconveniences on being inserted into the patient's mouth. If the outer parts of the margin of the two layers of the plastics material used for the envelope are sealed together, then the rigidity of the margin will be substantial, and its width must be particularly great to achieve adequate flexibility, while if the sealing is confined to the inner parts of the margin, the two layers will form a loose crack at the outer parts of the margin which will tend to pick up moisture and so be unpleasant to handle and potentially unhygienic. Also, the folding or bending back of the margin is unlikely to be uniform around the whole of the edge of the packet, thereby producing kinks, and the larger size of the packet compared to a normal packet means that any potential for kinking is likely to be more serious.


An engine control apparatus capable of detecting occurrence of abnormality in the ignition coil with high reliability. The apparatus includes an initial detection level hold device for holding an initial level (In) of a detected ion current value I, and an ignition coil diagnosis device for generating an abnormality decision signal of the ignition coil in dependence on the initial level of the ion current. By positively utilizing noise produced in an initial phase of the ignition cycle instead of eliminating it, the abnormality decision signal is generated, on the basis of which an appropriate engine protection measure is taken.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to simply as the engine) by correcting control parameters on the basis of a detected value of an ion current produced within an engine cylinder in a combustion cycle. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an engine control apparatus which is imparted with a function for making decision as to occurrence of abnormality in an ignition coil with a high reliability.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the engine having a crankshaft driven by a plurality of engine cylinders and a camshaft interlocked with the crankshaft, a reference position signal generated in synchronism with the rotation of the engine is utilized for determining a variety of timings for the engine controls such as an ignition timing, a fuel injection timing and so forth. To this end, an angular position detecting means which serves for generating a reference position signal is mounted on the crankshaft or the camshaft at such a position that the reference position signal as generated indicates a predetermined reference position which corresponds to a predetermined crank angle (i.e., angle of rotation of the crankshaft).
When a misfire phenomenon occurs within an engine cylinder in the ignition cycle, resulting in no satisfactory explosion or combustion, abnormal explosion known as the after-burn will take place after lapse of the ignition cycle, involving injury of the engine cylinder and/or damage of a catalyst employed for catalytic treatment of the exhaust gas due to the contact with an uncombusted gas (i.e., air-fuel mixture undergone no combustion). Under the circumstances, a variety of measures have heretofore been proposed and adopted in an attempt for avoiding the misfire to thereby protect the engine and the catalyst.
For a better understanding of the background techniques of the invention, an engine control apparatus known heretofore will be described in some detail by reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a general arrangement of a conventional engine control apparatus.
Referring to the figure, a reference numeral 1 denotes an angular position detecting means which is usually constituted by a toothed disk mounted on a camshaft for rotation together with the shaft and a sensor installed in opposition to the disk for generating a pulse-like reference position signal T.theta. at a reference position corresponding to a predetermined crank angle for the associated cylinder in synchronism with the revolution of the engine. Usually, the reference position is set at B75.degree. (i.e., at a position 75.degree. before the top dead center) or B5.degree.. A reference numeral 2 designates collectively a variety of sensors for acquiring various engine running state information D such as an intake air flow (or an opening degree of a throttle valve) indicative of a load of the engine, a rotation speed (rpm) of the engine, an intake air temperature and so forth. Further, an ion current detecting means 20 is provided for detecting an ion current I generated within the associated engine cylinder immediately after the combustion. The detected ion current value I is utilized for deciding or determining the combustion state within the associated engine cylinder. A reference numeral 3 generally denotes a control unit which is usually constituted by a microcomputer and which includes an engine control parameter setting means 31 for arithmetically determining a control parameter Ta for each engine cylinder on the basis of the reference position signal T.theta. and the engine running state information or signals D mentioned above. The control parameter setting means 31 includes a misfire detecting means for detecting the misfire event on the basis of the reference position signal T.theta. and the detected ion current value I. The engine control parameter setting means 31 is designed for generating as the engine control parameter Ta a control timing signal which corresponds, for example, to the ignition timing and at the same time performing a misfire suppression processing (e.g., control of the refiring for the engine cylinder in which the misfire took place) on the basis of a misfire detection signal which is generated when the detected ion current value I indicates a misfire level. As the engine control parameter Ta, not only the ignition timing but also other various parameters such as the fuel injection timing, the ignition coil on/off timing, etc., can be mentioned.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the ion current detecting means 20. As can be seen from this figure, the ion current detecting means or circuit 20 is constituted by an ignition coil 21 having a primary winding 21a and a secondary winding 21b, a power transistor 22 for breaking a primary current i.sub.1 flowing through the primary winding 21a in response to a firing pulse (ignition trigger pulse) P generated with an ignition timing, a spark plug 23 connected to the secondary winding 21b for producing a spark through an electric discharge brought about by a high voltage induced in the secondary winding 21b, a DC power supply source 24 for drawing as an ion current i those ions which are produced by the explosive combustion primed by the spark discharge in the spark plug 23, a resistor 25 inserted between the DC power supply source 24 and the secondary winding 21b for converting the ion current i into a voltage signal and an output terminal 26 for outputting the voltage signal (hereinafter also referred to as the ion current signal) indicative of the ion current I.
The DC power supply source 24, the resister 25 and the output terminal 26 provided at the secondary side of the ignition coil 21 constitutes the ion current detecting means 20A (FIG. 3) for producing the ion current signal I detected the associated engine cylinder. Further, the DC power supply source 24 serves as a voltage source for applying constantly a bias voltage of a positive or plus polarity to the spark plug 23.
FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing a waveform of the ion current i. As can be seen from this figure, the ion current (of negative or minus polarity) i assumes a maximum level in the vicinity of the crank angle of A10.degree. (10.degree. after the top dead center) in succession to the explosion triggered by the spark discharge produced at the ignition plug 23 upon breaking of the primary current i.sub.1 in response to the firing pulse P. Parenthetically, it should be mentioned that noise of about three times as high an amplitude as the maximum ion current level is usually produced due to inductance of the secondary winding 21b of the ignition coil immediately after breakage of the primary current i.sub.1. This noise is eliminated through a fly-wheel diode (not shown) connected across the secondary winding 21b.
Now, description will be made of the operation of the engine control apparatus shown in FIG. 3 by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
Usually, the engine control parameter setting means 31 sets the ignition timing (i.e. the time point for ignition) with reference to the reference position which corresponds to a rising edge or a falling edge of the reference position signal T.theta. and determines the ignition timing so as to be optimal for the prevailing engine operation state represented by the signal D by consulting a data map or table, to thereby output as the control parameter Ta a control time or period which is to intervene between the reference position and the firing time point.
On the other hand, the misfire detecting circuit incorporated in the control parameter setting means 32 determines the combustion state within the associated engine cylinder in each ignition cycle on the basis of the reference position signal T.theta. and the detected ion current signal I, to thereby generate a misfire detection signal for the associated cylinder when the detected ion current signal I produced immediately after the explosion stroke is lower than a predetermined reference level (ordinarily set in correspondence to the maximum level). The engine control parameter setting means 31 responds to the misfire detection signal to thereby correct the control parameter Ta for the engine cylinder misfired so that any further occurrence of misfire in that cylinder can be suppressed. To this end, the ignition control may be performed again or alternatively the ignition energy may be increased by elongating the period of electrical conduction of the primary current i.sub.1 through the primary winding 21a of the ignition coil 21. Further, when the fuel injection control is performed to the same end, the injection period may be increased to enrich appropriately the air-fuel mixture. In case the misfire susceptibility is not yet improved by the correction of the control parameter Ta as mentioned above, fuel injection to the engine cylinder suffering the misfire is stopped to thereby prevent the discharge of the uncombusted gas for protecting the catalyst against injury.
In general, when the power transistor 22 is turned off in response to the firing pulse P in the ignition cycle, a high voltage of negative polarity is applied across the spark plug 23 connected to the secondary winding 21b of the ignition coil 21, as a result of which an electric discharge takes place between a pair of electrodes of the spark plug 23 to fire the gas mixture which then undergoes an explosive combustion. At this time, ions are produced within the engine cylinder due to ionization taking place in accompanying the explosive combustion. After the explosion, the spark plug 23 to which a bias voltage is applied from the DC power supply source 24 serves as electrode means for detecting the ion current i.
The electrons within the engine cylinder resulting from the ionizations are caused to migrate under the effect of the electric field of the bias voltage of positive polarity supplied from the DC power supply source 24, thereby giving rise to the ion current i, which is then converted to the voltage signal by the resistor 25 to be outputted from the output terminal 26 as the ion current signal I. Thus, it is possible to make decision as to whether or not the combustion has taken place in the engine cylinder in the ignition cycle by checking the level of the ion current signal I.
In this conjunction, it is however noted that not a little difficulty is encountered in making decision as to whether the misfire as detected is ascribable to a malfunction of the ignition coil 21 or that of the ignition plug 23. In this conjunction, there has already been proposed an arrangement in which a circuit (not shown) for detecting the primary current i.sub.1 of the ignition coil is provided, wherein so long as the primary current i.sub.1 of a magnitude greater than a predetermined value is detected, decision is made that the ignition coil 21 operates normally. However, with such arrangement, abnormality at the secondary side of the ignition coil 21 can not be detected notwithstanding of the fact that the secondary current i.sub.2 actually partakes in the ignition, which in turn means that the decision made with the aid of the arrangement mentioned above is poor in reliability.

Internal combustion engine control apparatus with ignition coil diagnosis function


A hand truck comprising a frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion, with the first frame portion being substantially perpendicular to the second frame portion. The hand truck further includes at least two first wheels connected to a lower section of the frame, with the at least two first wheels having parallel first axes of rotation. The hand truck also includes at least two second wheels connected to the lower section of the frame, with the at least two second wheels having parallel second axes of rotation. The first axes of rotation are substantially perpendicular to the second axes of rotation, whereby the item placed on the first frame portion can be moved in a first direction along a first line parallel to the second axes of rotation and a second direction along a second line parallel to the first axes of rotation.

The present invention relates to hand trucks, and in particular to hand trucks able to move in more than one direction.
Hand trucks are used to move large items that are not easily lifted by hand. Typically, hand trucks are used in warehouses and the like for moving merchandise about the warehouses and into and out of trucks. Furthermore, hand trucks are used in the moving industry for easily moving boxes full of personal items.
Heretofore, hand trucks have typically included a first handle section and a second lifting section perpendicular to the first handle section. The first handle section included a pair of parallel wheels connected to a lower end of the handle section. Items were moved using the hand trucks by placing the item on the second lifting section and rotating the first handle section about the wheels until the second lifting section is raised off the ground and the hand truck is supported by the wheels. The item can then easily be moved on the wheels. However, if only a little room is available between the item and another item, a wall, etc., the hand truck cannot typically be used to move the item because the wheels can only move the hand truck towards or away from the item, or possibly in a circular motion. Therefore, in situations where space is limited, moving the hand truck towards or away from the item or in a circular motion may not be available.
Accordingly, a hand truck solving the aforementioned disadvantages and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.


A thermoshaping machine has a movable die operated by a linkage and an actuator having a transmission fixed on the machine, operatively connected to the linkage, and having a transmission flange. A motor has a motor flange spaced along an axis from the transmission flange. The flanges are each formed centered on the axis with a respective circular array of holes, and each hole of the transmission flange is aligned axially with a respective hole of the transmission flange. Respective guide rods have outer ends fixed in the holes of one of the flanges and inner ends extending axially through the holes of the other flange. Respective elastically compressible biasing elements are braced axially between each of the inner ends and the other flange.

It is known to form, for example, cups and lids from a thermoplastic film in a die assembly having a lower die formed with an array of pockets conforming to the outside surface of the workpieces to be made and an upper die that fits with the lower die and that has, in additional to optional plugs fittable into the pockets, nozzles that apply pressurized air to the top of the film above each pocket to deform it downward into the pockets. The two dies, which are normally heated to soften the film, are first moved vertically together to grip the film around each pocket and are pressed vertically together with considerable force while air is admitted and the film is deformed. Once the deformation is completed, the upper die is retracted upward and the lower die is tilted about a horizontal axis to hoop-cut the individual workpieces out of the film and discharge them from the press. The empty lower die is then returned to an upwardly open starting position, a new section of the film is advanced in a horizontal travel direction into position between it and the upper die, and another cycle can be started.
The relative vertical movement of the dies, or at least the vertical movement and tilting of the lower die (the terms "upper" and "lower" being purely relative and nonlimiting), is effected by an actuator or drive assembly comprising an electric motor, especially a servomotor, that is coupled by a transmission with the lower die. This drive motor has a flange coupled to a flange of the transmission, with a circular array of bolts or tie rods interconnecting the two flanges.
Such an actuators also has an intermediate coupling as an additional construction part, with an adapter bell between the electric motor and the transmission that houses the coupling and simultaneously is formed with the flange. In DE 91 08 344.3 an electric motor used as a drive configured with speed-reduction gears and a coupling on which the mold or swivel table of the lower die engages. As a rule, a servomotor is used, as is known from DE 40 33 534. It performs the pivoting by means of a crank motion or a spindle drive, while axial motion is done by means of a cam disk that is moved by a toggle linkage.
During the cutting out of the shaped workpieces from the film, strong impacts and vibrations occur in the actuator moving the dies toward each other. These act upon the drive system, primarily the electrical servomotor that actuates a cam-disk toggle linkage via a downstream transmission, at the end of which the mold table with the die that is mounted on it is mounted, and can cause damage to the motor parts, as well as to its control.

Actuator for deep-draw thermoshaping machine


A fixing apparatus comprises a forcibly rotated heat roller, a pressing roller rotated in contact with the heat roller, a roller shaft for supporting the pressing roller, a heater for heating the heat roller, a pair of plain bearings for supporting the roller shaft, and springs for supporting each plain bearing and urging the plain bearing towards the heat roller. According to one mode, each plain bearing has a shaft contact portion having an axial length less than that of the plain bearing. According to another mode, the roller shaft is provided with a bearing contact portion having an axial length less than that of the body of the plain bearing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat roller type fixing apparatus provided in an electronic photographing apparatus and a method of supporting a roller shaft of a pressing roller provided in the fixing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electronic photographing apparatus, an image is formed on a recording paper sheet while a photosensitive drum is rotated 360.degree. according to the following process. First, a photo-sensitive face of the drum is electrified by an electrifier. Then, a light signal is radiated on the photo-sensitive face by an exposing device so that an electroslatic latent image is formed on the photo-sensitive face. Then, toner is adhered to an electrostatic latent image on the drum by means of a developing apparatus. The toner image formed on the drum is transferred onto the recording paper sheet by a transfer apparatus. Finally, the toner image on the paper sheet is fixed by a fixing apparatus.
One type of the fixing apparatus provided in the electronic photographing apparatus is a heat roller type fixing apparatus.
According to the heat roller type fixing apparatus, a heat roller is heated by heating means, and a recording paper sheet on which an image has been transferred is passed between a heat roller and a pressing roller. At this time, the paper sheet is pressed by the pressing roller and the toner image bearing surface of the paper sheet is brought into contact with the heat roller. Thus, the toner image on the toner image bearing surface of the paper sheet is heated, pressed on the paper sheet, and fixed.
The heat roller type fixing apparatus is constituted by providing the heat roller, pressing roller and heating means in the body of the apparatus.
The heat roller is constituted by coating the surface of an aluminum cylinder with a synthetic resin material having a good mold release property and heat resistance property. The heat roller is forcibly driven by a rotary drive device. The pressing roller is formed of an elastic material having a heat insulation property and heat resistance property. The pressing roller is formed of the elastic material in order to bring the recording paper sheet into stable contact with the heat roller. The pressing roller is supported on a roller shaft. The roller shaft is made of a metal. This is because the use of metal increases a wear resistance of the roller shaft.
The roller shaft is rotatably supported on plain bearings which are made of a synthetic resin with high wear resistance. The synthetic resin is inexpensive and light. The lower portions of the plain bearings are supported by compression coil springs. The pressing roller is urged towards the heat roller by the plain bearings which are pushed by the springs. Thus, the pressing roller presses the recording paper sheet on the heat roller.
When the heat roller is forcibly rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the pressing roller by friction with the heat roller and paper sheet. As a result, both rollers rotate to convey the paper sheet and at the same time the toner image on the paper sheet is fixed.
The conventional heat roller type fixing apparatus, however, has the following problem:
The rotation of the pressing roller is delayed with respect to the rotation of the heat roller. Consequently, a slip due to the difference in rotational speed occurs between the pressing roller and the heat roller. Owing to the slip, the recording paper sheet may also slip over the heat roller, and the toner image transferred on the paper sheet may be distorted.

Fixing apparatus and method of supporting a roller shaft of the fixing apparatus


A method and apparatus for controlling display of an electronic device are provided. The method includes selecting a specific area of a screen by a user, and switching a display on/off status of the selected specific area of a screen. Wherein, the switching of the display on/off status comprises determining whether display of the specific area is on or off, and, if it is determined that the display of the specific area is on, supplying current to a pixel corresponding to the specific area, and, if it is determined that the display of the specific area is off, discontinuing the supply of the current to the pixel in the specific area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling display of an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for partially turning on/off display of the electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an electronic device uses a display unit to deliver information such as a text, an image, or the like, to a user. When the electronic device needs to deliver the information to the user, the information is displayed by turning on a full screen of the display. When the electronic device does not need to deliver the information, the full screen is turned off. For example, the electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone, a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigator, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), a Television (TV) set, a Personal Computer (PC), etc.) displays the information on the full screen when the user requests to display the information, and does not display any information on the full screen when the user does not request to display the information.
Meanwhile, the recent advancement of electrical and electronic industries results in an increase of users' expectations of the electronic device, and thus various service functions are researched and developed to satisfy such expectations. As one of the service functions, the electronic device provides a function related to a user interface to satisfy various users' desires. For example, such a function provided by the electronic device may be a function of controlling brightness of a display unit according to users' desires or a function of turning off the display unit when there is no user input during a specific time period.
The conventional service functions are not enough to satisfy various desires of individual users. For example, information displayed on a screen of the electronic device may be classified into interesting information and non-interesting information according to desires or situations of the individual users. However, such an aspect is not taken into consideration when the electronic device of the related art displays information by turning on/off a full display screen.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide methods for displaying only the interesting information without displaying the non-interesting information in the electronic device to facilitate user convenience.

Apparatus and method for controlling display of an electronic device


An improved system of removing oil from an internal combustion engine serviced (130) oil pan or sump though an associated dipstick tube (120). This system uses the vacuum source from a second host internal combustion engine (100) through means of a vacuum conduit (24)connected to a reservoir (40) which draws the oil from the engine serviced (130) sump through the dipstick tube (120) by means of a hydraulic conduit (32) to the reservoir (40).

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to internal combustion engine crankcase lubricant removal, specifically, but not limited to, marine inboard internal combustion engines, using a separate internal combustion engine as means of a vacuum source.
2. Description of Prior Art
An internal combustion engine that is mounted inside of a recreational boat is called a marine inboard engine. These engines are of the same basic design of automotive engines, some of the internal parts are retrofitted to accept the marine environment that boats and the inboard internal combustion engines are subject to.
When a 4, 6, or 8 cylinder, four cycle engine is mounted inside of a boat, the crankcase oil pan is set low in the boat hull. Due to the low center of gravity mounting of the engine in the boat hull, the drain plug is nearly impossible to use or if you can access the drain plug it is very messy when you drain the oil. The oil runs all through the inside of the boat hull. Due to the low engine mounting, you can not place a drain receptacle or pan under it. The spent oil is to drain out through the hull drain plug in the back of the boat. After a day of water activities on a lake, river, or ocean the boat is loaded on to a boat trailer. At this time as a normal practice of boating, the hull drain plug is removed to drain out any water that has penetrated the inside of the boat's hull. When this procedure is performed the oil film that has accumulated in the bottom of the boat hull from conventional oil removal servicing runs out on the ground or down the launching ramp and into the water. This is environmentally unacceptable.
To remedy this, marine inboard engine manufacturers have manufactured into the marine inboard engines dipstick tube that is used to check the oil level in the crankcase of the engine, a threaded male end of a garden hose type fitting on the top end of the tube itself, to remove the oil through the dipstick tube itself. The tube extends to the bottom of the crankcase oil pan to be used with the purpose of using some type of suction or siphon system to pull the oil up the tube for removal.
Prior arts try to take advantage of this oil removal system, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,785 to Sendak (1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,469 to Liu (1991) using an electric 12 volt motor to pump the oil out of the crankcase through the dipstick tube. The Boat/US 1996 Annual Equipment Catalog, page 174, shows other prior arts using 110 volt electric drill to drive a handheld pump and another uses a slide pump similar to a bicycle tire pump. This pump is attached to a reservoir and creates a vacuum in a container to receive the spent oil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,053 (1973) to Kuklewicz has a 12 volt electric motorized pump. The electric motor is attached to the engine itself and the suction hose removes the oil from the oil pan by connecting a hose to the drain plug on the bottom of the pan. Nevertheless, all dipstick tube oil removal systems heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) A hose connected to the bottom of the oil drain plug raises concern, the safety valve supplied by a prior art connected to the drain plug to which the hose is connected to can easily be turned. That is why manufacturers of automotive and marine internal combustion engines do not supply such valves, instead they equip the drain plugs with a threaded plug that requires a wrench to remove it, (they don't want the liability claims). The engine vibrating while in operation can cause either the hose to rub on any object(s) in the engine compartment and leaking oil out of the motor, or electrical wire rubbing on engine compartment object(s) causing a circuit to short out and start pumping out oil and not know it until it is too late and the engine seizes up.
(b) All of these prior arts have moving mechanical parts and seals. As a common fact any device that has moving parts will wear out at any given time. Most of these prior arts when purchased, have a parts list of seals and motor replacement parts to replace worn or damaged parts.
(c) Most vacuum oriented prior arts require close surveillance of the device while removing the oil and some require hands-on operation of the pump while in use, or manual manipulation of the pump while in use.
(d) Of these prior arts on average, the time span for drawing the oil from the crankcase takes from 3-10 minutes.
(e) When disconnecting the prior arts fittings from the dipstick tube, oil laying in the hose connected to the dipstick tube will run down the outside of the tube when removed from the tube, causing more of a mess to try to cleanup in the boat's hull.
(f) Marine internal combustion engines are equipped with special electrical wiring to eliminate a spark to minimize the risk of igniting gasoline vapors that reside in the engine compartment causing fatal or serious personal injury. Some prior arts use 12 volt electric motors with battery spring clamps connecting these motors to the batteries located in the engine compartment which may spark and cause an explosion.

Oil devil-crankcase oil removal through dipstick system


A multi-functional tool comprising an extendable power tool handle unit with an interchangeable connect feature able to receive and power various size interchangeable, adaptable adjustable wrench head units and other adaptable tool attachments. The interchangeable wrench head units are easily connected and disconnected to the power tool handle unit. Each interchangeable adjustable wrench head unit has a self-contained transmission connectible to and powered by the adaptive power handle unit. The interchangeable wrench head units comprise of a moveable jaw, a stationary jaw, and a worm gear. The worm gear is meshed with a rack of the moveable jaw and the worm gear is driven by a motor and transmission. Activation of the motor produces linear reciprocating motion of the adjustable jaw. A power source from the handle provides the power to a control switch. The switch controls the function of the adjustable wrench heads and other powered tool attachments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates broadly to power tools and, more particularly, to a multi-functional power tool having a removable and interchangeable adjustable wrench head with a sliding jaw.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A powered adjustable jaw wrench having a sliding jaw and a stationary jaw is known in the prior art. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the powered adjustable jaw wrench 10 of the prior art comprises a wrench body 11 including a wrench body member 12 provided with an integral stationary jaw 15, and a handle cover 16, a moveable jaw 17 adjustable relative to the stationary jaw 15. A handle portion 13 and a head portion 14 of the wrench body member 12 form a unitary single-piece part. A worm gear 19 and a sprocket 18 rotatable mounted in the head portion 14 of the wrench body member 12 coaxially with respect to each other. The worm gear 19 is operably connected to a toothed rack of the moveable jaw 17 so that the rotatable movement of the worm gear 19 is transformed into linear movement of the moveable jaw 17.
The prior art powered adjustable jaw wrench 10 further includes a drive mechanism: a motor 22, a sprocket 21, a drive belt 20, and control switch assembly 25, a switch actuator 26, and a power source 27 all housed in the unitary single-piece part wrench body member 12.
As further illustrated in FIG. 2, an exploded view of the prior art detailing the handle portion 13 and the head portion 14 of the wrench body member 12 form a unitary single-piece part. Wrench body member 12 is provided with compartment openings 22, 23 and 24 housing the electric motor 22, the control switch assembly 25 and the electric batteries 27, respectively.
Therefore, the powered adjustable wrenches of the prior art are made of a unitary single-piece body member having an integral elongated handle portion and a head portion contain the motor, switch, batteries and power transmission integrally in the unitary design for each size powered adjustable wrench manufactured. Each prior art powered adjustable wrench is a single unit and by design is limited to the individual size and characteristic of its jaw opening. Thus, when the size of the powered wrench jaw is not accommodating to the size of the work, a user will have to seek a larger powered wrench to perform the work. In the prior art, it is necessary to have a few individually powered wrenches on hand to perform various sizes of work. The portability of carrying a few powered wrenches in a tool belt is both cumbersome and weight restrictive. Prior art powered adjustable wrenches do not possess a rotating head feature to accommodate various work angles. Prior art powered adjustable wrenches do not have means for detachable heads and handles, nor do they have extendable handles for reach and leverage.

Multi-functional tool with interchangeable adjustable wrench head unit


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for finding person names in electronic resources. In one embodiment, a search query is received. Electronic resources are identified satisfying the search query. A plurality of person names is identified in the resources, wherein each person name is associated with at least one of the resources. A subset of person names is selected from the plurality of person names based on a predetermined metric configured to identify a relative importance of at least one of the person name or resource. A listing of the subset of person names adapted for presentation on a user interface is generated. In certain aspects, multiple person identities can be identified as being associated with person names in the listing. The listing can include resources associated with one of the person identities corresponding to a particular person name in the listing.

This specification relates to searches of network-accessible resources that include references to named people.
Search engines allow users to search Internet resources. Search engines can help users gather information about people, both real and fictional. For instance, users can enter a person name, i.e., a name of a person, or portions of a name, as part of a search query. Existing search engines can return search results, including listings of resources, satisfying the search. Depending on the search algorithms employed by the search engine, resources identified in the set of search results can each include mention of the person name somewhere in the resource. Search engines generally include a link to each resource included in the search results to read allow the user to access the resource to determine whether and how the resource pertains to the person.
Some search engines allow users to sort search results in interesting ways. For example, some search engines return listings of images, videos, and maps identified as being responsive to a particular search query. Some search engines are dedicated to searching for resources of a particular type or searching narrowly-focused databases or resource sets. For example, some search engines include online person directories, such as whitepages.com or people.yahoo.com, that allow users to search an established directory of names, addresses, and phone numbers. For instance, a user can enter a person name to retrieve the address and phone number of the person from the directory. Address directories can also be searched in reverse, with the user entering an address or phone number stored in the directory to retrieve the name of a person recorded as having that address or phone number. The accuracy and scope of such people searches are limited, however, by how often the directory is updated as well as by the breadth of the address or phone directory used by the search engine.


A new cultivar of shrub rose, Rosa ‘BAIload’, characterized by its fully double, deep yellow fragrant flowers that mature to a creamy yellow, its upright and compact plant habit and is everblooming. The new variety has medium green foliage that is resistant to black spot and powdery mildew, is readily propagated on its own roots and is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rosa hybrida. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'BAIload'. 'BAIload' is a shrub rose suitable for landscape plantings.
The new cultivar of shrub rose is a selection from a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor in Yamhill, Oreg. with a focus to create cultivars of roses with greater winter hardiness and improvements in disease resistance combined with good flower quality.
The new variety of shrub rose, 'BAIload', designated as seedling No 97RMX1 was selected among seedlings derived from a cross made in Yamhill, Oreg. in 1991 between the female parent, 'RADsun' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,063) and the male parent, an unnamed intermediate seedling derived from a cross between 'RADsun' as the female parent and 'Noason' (not patented) as the male parent. 'BAIload' was selected as unique and budded onto understock in August 1998 and reselected by the inventors for its distinct characteristics in 2001.
The new cultivar has been asexually propagated by rooting of softwood cuttings from a plant grown on its own roots in Yamhill, Oreg. Asexual propagation determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A laminator 100 in which the diaphragm can be mounted simply and easily without the use of a mounting frame. The laminator 100 includes an upper chamber 110, on the bottom surface of which is mounted the diaphragm 140, and a lower chamber 120 on which the upper chamber 110 is stacked and in which is disposed a support base 130 on which a workpiece A that is to be laminated is set. The diaphragm 140 is larger than the upper chamber 110, and an excess portion of the diaphragm that protrudes outside the upper chamber when the diaphragm is mounted on the upper chamber is folded upward and clamped against the sides of the upper chamber by multiple clamps to fix the diaphragm in place on the upper chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminator for manufacturing laminated objects such as photovoltaic cell modules, and more particularly, to a diaphragm mounting structure used in such a laminator.
2. Description of the Background Art
Examples of conventional laminators used to manufacture photovoltaic cell modules are described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-141743 (JP-H09-141743-A), Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-204811 (JP-H11-204811-A), and Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3037201 (JP-3037201-U). For these types of laminators, an arrangement is employed in which upper and lower chambers are used. The upper chamber is movable vertically, or openably closable, with respect to the lower chamber, and has at its lower end a downwardly expandable diaphragm. The lower chamber has a support pedestal including a heating plate inside. When the upper chamber descends, or closes, it acts as a lid on the lower chamber.
The laminator is used in the following way: First, with the upper chamber raised and opened, a workpiece placed on a conveyer belt is conveyed to and placed on the heating plate provided in the lower chamber. A photovoltaic cell module workpiece has a bottommost layer that is a glass plate, on top of which are layered, in order, a sheet-like filler, the photovoltaic cell, and then another sheet-like filler, with an uppermost layer consisting of a sheet-like backing. The upper chamber is then stacked on top of the lower chamber and the air in both the upper chamber and the lower chamber is removed to form a vacuum, in which the workpiece is heated. Subsequently, air is introduced into only the upper chamber, causing the diaphragm to expand and sandwiching the photovoltaic cell module workpiece between the top face of the heating board and the diaphragm. The heat from the heating board melts the filler, causing a cross-linking reaction and curing to form the laminated object.
The usual method of fixing the diaphragm onto the upper chamber is to prepare a rectangular mounting frame shaped to fit the outer form of the upper chamber and sandwich and fix in place an outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm between the mounting frame and the upper chamber. Multiple bolt holes are opened in the periphery of the diaphragm, and multiple threaded screw holes are provided at corresponding positions in the mounting frame. Further, through-holes are provided at positions corresponding to the bolt holes and the threaded screw holes, such that, when the diaphragm is sandwiched between the upper chamber and the mounting frame, bolts are inserted in the through-holes, screwed into the threaded screw holes in the mounting frame, and tightened, fixing the diaphragm in place.
However, with such a mounting arrangement, when the diaphragm expands tensile stress is exerted on the portions of the periphery of the diaphragm that are compressed by the mounting frame. This tensile stress extends to the diaphragm bolt hole portions as well, the bolt holes tear, gradually grow large, and are damaged, and eventually become unable to maintain a vacuum. Moreover, if the diaphragm is damaged, it must, of course, be replaced. Removing a damaged diaphragm involves removing all the multiple bolts. These bolts must then be reinserted and re-tightened in order to mount the new diaphragm. Thus, replacing the diaphragm generates costs and adds to down-time of the laminator.
One approach to solving the above-described problem is a laminator like that shown in FIG. 6 and a diaphragm mounting structure, proposed by the applicant in Japanese Patent No. 3890206 (JP-3890206-B).
A laminator 10 shown in FIG. 6 includes a rectangular upper chamber 11 and a lower chamber 12 having a top face of the same shape as a bottom face of the upper chamber 11. The upper chamber 11 has a suction port 11a connected to a vacuum pump for depressurization, with a similar suction port 12a formed in the lower chamber 12. A support pedestal 13 on which is set a workpiece A consisting of a photovoltaic cell module is disposed inside the lower chamber 12. A diaphragm 14 is of the same shape as or slightly larger than the upper chamber 11, with a peripheral portion thereof sandwiched between the upper chamber 11 and a mounting frame 15.
The mounting frame 15 is a metal rectangular frame of the same shape and size as the upper chamber 11, on the outside of which are provided multiple hooks 15a. Clamps 16 are mounted on the upper chamber 11 at positions corresponding to the positions of the hooks 15a. Each of the clamps 16 includes a clamp lever 16a and a clamp ring 16b. The clamp lever 16a is rotatable about a shaft 16c. When the hook 15 is inserted into the clamp ring 16b and the clamp lever 16a is rotated from a substantially horizontal position to the vertical position shown in FIG. 6, the diaphragm can be compressed and sandwiched between the mounting frame 14 and the upper chamber 11.
A groove is formed in the bottom face of the upper chamber 11 that contacts the mounting frame 15. A first O-ring 17 is inserted into the groove to make contact between the upper chamber 11 and the diaphragm 14 airtight.
Similarly, a groove is formed in the bottom face of the mounting frame 15 and a second O-ring 18 inserted into the groove, such that, when the upper chamber 11 is set on top of the lower chamber 12, the space between the upper and lower chambers 11 and 12 is airtight.
With such a structure, there is no need to open bolt holes in the diaphragm 14, and thus the life of the diaphragm can be extended. In addition, using clamps instead of bolts in the mounting frame 15 simplifies the work of removing and replacing the diaphragm 14, enabling replacement time to be shortened.
However, in the arrangement disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3890206 (JP-3890206-B), as noted, the mounting frame is metal and substantially the same size as the bottom face of the upper chamber 11. At the same time, the size of photovoltaic cells (and therefore of photovoltaic cell modules also) increases year by year. As a result, mounting frames are also getting larger and therefore also heavier, which means that they can be awkward to handle.


A fixing apparatus prevents the offset of toner onto a fixing roller, by forming a surface mold release layer made of pure fluororesin material on a core member of the fixing roller and by applying a bias voltage to the fixing roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus used with an image forming system such as a laser beam printer, copying machine and the like.
2. Related Background Art
An example of a conventional fixing apparatus is shown schematically in FIG. 1.
A fixing roller 1 is formed by coating an insulative layer 3 made of fluororesin, silicone resin and the like on a rigid metallic roller, and a pressure roller 2 presses against the fixing roller 1. A recording medium which bears a toner image formed by electrophotography is passed between the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2, so that the toner image is fixed onto the recording medium. Further, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a DC voltage is applied between the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2 so that the fixing roller contacting the toner image has the same polarity as the toner image.
In this way, an electrostatic repelling force is generated between the fixing roller and the toner image, thereby preventing the occurrence of a so-called "offset phenomenon", where the toner adheres to the fixing roller.
However, in the above-described conventional fixing apparatus, adequate insulation is not obtained, and the offset phenomenon is not completely prevented, depending upon the surface condition of the fixing roller and the material of the insulative layer.

Fixing apparatus having a fixing roller with a non-adhesive surface layer


Methods, systems and computer program products for application centered node selection are provided. A plurality of nodes of a network having node attributes for executing applications are identified. Each node of the plurality of nodes is linked to an application based on a node attribute identified for the respective node. Each node linked to a linked application has a corresponding node attribute for executing the linked application. A node request is received for a target application. The node request may be independent of a node configuration, such as an IP address or DNS name. A node linked to the target application is selected and provided. The target application is executed by the selected node.

The present disclosure relates generally to software applications in cloud computing networks.
Cloud computing provides for applications to execute on any number or arrangement of computers or network nodes. Some systems allow a user or administrator to request a network node for use in executing an application. Existing cloud environments require a network configuration of a node, such as an internet protocol (IP) address or domain name service (DNS) name, to be specified in order to proceed with node selection of for installation or execution of an application. For example, FIG. 1 shows a network cloud 102 with multiple servers labeled node 1 to node 5 (110-150). Node interface 160 is concerned with identifying the specific node to be utilized by an application, including network configuration information such as IP address and DNS name. Such node specificity adds a level of complexity for users.

Application centered network node selection


The present invention relates to a cutting insert particularly for turning of stainless steel comprising a cemented carbide substrate and a post-treated coating with                a substrate of cemented carbide having a composition of from about 5.0 to less than about 8.0 wt % Co, from about 3.0 to about 8.0 wt % cubic carbides of the metals Ti, Ta and Nb with a Ti/(Ti+Ta+Nb) ratio of from about 0.05 to about 0.3 and balance tungsten carbide (WC) having a grain size of from about 1.5 to about 3.5 μm in the as-sintered state. Further, the substrate has a surface zone of from about 5 to about 30 μm characterized by an enrichment of binder phase and a depletion of cubic carbides,        and a coating having a first, innermost layer system of one or several layers of TiCxNyOz with x+y+z≦1 with a total thickness of from about 0.7 to about 5.5 μm and a second multilayer system consisting of from about 5 to about 31 alternating layers of Al2O3 and TiCxNyOz (x+y+z≦1), preferably κ-Al2O3 and TiN, the Al2O3-layers having an individual layer thickness of less than about 0.5 μm and the TiCxNyOz-layers less than about 0.2 μm with a total thickness of the multilayer of from about 1.0 to about 5.0 μm. The multilayer is exposed along the edge line and into the rake and flank face. In an alternative embodiment the multilayer is replaced by an Al2O3-layer.

The present invention pertains to a coated cemented carbide metal cutting tool for the machining of steels in general when a high wear resistance as well as a large toughness behaviour of the cutting edge are required. The tool is particularly suitable for turning of stainless steels.
When cemented carbide cutting tools are used in the machining of steels, the tool is worn by different mechanisms such as abrasive and chemical wear, chipping and fracturing of the cutting edge. For a coated tool normally having thin surface layers of wear resistant carbide, nitride, carbonitride and/or oxide compounds formed by various vapor deposition techniques, the coating contributes to increase the abrasive wear resistance. But it also acts as a thermal barrier for the diffusion of heat from the cutting surface into the underlying cemented carbide substrate. A high temperature within the edge region in combination with high cutting forces result in an increase of the creep deformation within the affected surface region of the substrate and the cutting edge deforms plastically.
The cutting of stainless steel is considered to be a particularly difficult machining operation since in addition to the above mentioned wear mechanisms, adhesive wear and plastic deformation are also prominent factors. Adhesive wear occurs when smearing materials like stainless steels during the cutting operation continuously adhere to and tear off material from the cutting edge. A short tool life is therefore very frequent when machining stainless steels. Furthermore, austenitic and so called duplex stainless steels exhibit strong deformation hardening which results in high contact forces, e.g., between the chip and the surface of the tool. When cutting such workpiece materials at high cutting speeds, considerable thermal energy is transferred to the cutting edge and, in combination with the high cutting forces, the tool edge may partly or entirely deform plastically. Deformation of the edge, which is mainly controlled by the properties of the surface region of the substrate, results in larger cutting forces and thus a reduced tool life. A large requirement of plastic deformation resistance is in clear contrast to a large requirement of edge toughness.
Edge toughness is also required in order to withstand mechanically induced damage of the edge outside the direct area of contact between the tool and the workpiece. This will reduce the number of edges to be used on the insert and, accordingly, the productivity of the tool. Damages of this kind, normally denoted chip hammering and chip jamming, may partly or wholly be avoided by selecting a proper microgeometry of the active edge surfaces of the insert but in several cases this possibility is not enough. U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,069 describes a coated turning insert suitable for turning of forged components of stainless steel. The insert has a cemented carbide substrate containing 2-10 wt-% cubic carbides of groups IVb, Vb and/or VIb of the periodic table (γ-phase), 5-11 wt-% cobalt binder and balance tungsten carbide (WC). The substrate has a highly tungsten alloyed binder phase and in one embodiment the as-sintered microstructure exhibits a 15-35 μm deep Co enriched surface zone free of γ-phase. The coating consists of an inner layer of Ti(C,N,O) with columnar grains and a top layer of finely grained κ-Al2O3. However, regarding the cemented carbide substrate, the combination of a high nominal content of binder phase and a thick γ-phase depleted surface zone followed by a zone characterized by a high concentration peak of γ-phase, all in relative terms, does not favor the resistance against plastic deformation. This will result in rapid wear and short tool life for machining austenitic and duplex stainless steels at high cutting speeds.
Multilayer coatings comprising first and second layers of different materials which are alternately laminated on the substrate, each of the first layers having a first thickness and each of the second layers having a second thickness are known. The two layers should preferably have a different crystal structure and/or at least different lattice spacings. One example is when the Al2O3 growth periodically is interrupted by a short TiN deposition process resulting in an (Al2O3+TiN)n multilayer structure see, e.g., Proceedings of the 12:th European CVD Conference page pr.8-349. GB 2048960A discloses a multilayer coating with a multiplicity of alternating layers of 0.02 to 0.1 μm consisting of hard material of different compositions. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,940, Bryant et al. disclose a cutting insert composed of a cemented carbide substrate with 6.1-6.5 wt % cobalt, a coating including a base layer of titanium carbonitride followed by a multilayered coating. Said coating consists of a plurality of alumina layers separated from and bonded to each other by a group IVb metal nitride, such as titanium nitride.
A cemented carbide substrate with a coating comprising 6-8 alumina layers is also claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,569. EP-A-1103635 describes a cutting tool consisting of a cemented carbide substrate with 9.0-10.9 wt % cobalt and a coating comprising a medium temperature CVD (MTCVD) deposited TiCN-layer and a multilayer composed of totally 741 layers of α-Al2O3 and TiN or Ti(C,N).
Smoothing of coatings by mechanical post treatment in order to e g minimize the friction between the tool and the workpiece is disclosed in EP-A-127416, EP-A-298729, EP-A-693574 and EP-A-683244.
US-A-2004180241 describes a coated cemented carbide cutting tool insert with large requirements on wear resistance and toughness behaviour of the cutting edge particularly suitable for general turning of stainless steels. In one embodiment, the substrate has a γ-phase depleted and binder phase enriched surface zone down to a depth of 5 to 50 μm. The composition of the substrate is 7.0 to 10.5 wt-% Co, 4.0 to 9.0 wt-% cubic carbides of elements from group IVb, Vb or VIb of the periodic table preferably Nb, Ta and/or Ti, a nitrogen content of 0.01 to 0.2 wt-% and balance tungsten carbide, WC. The coating contains an innermost layer system of up to three layers of TiCxNyOz (x+y+z≦1), a second multilayer system comprising 5 to 31 alternating layers of Al2O3 and TiCxNyOz (x+y+z≦1), preferably 11 to 15 alternating layers of κ-Al2O3 and TiN, and an outermost layer system comprising one or more layers of TiCxNy (x+y≦1) or three layers in sequence TiN—TiC—TiN or combinations thereof. Further, the outermost surfaces of the coated insert are mechanically post-treated so that the multilayer and partly the innermost layer system is exposed along the edge line.
In view of the state of the art there is a need for a cutting tool insert for machining steels at high speeds in general and stainless steels in particular. This refers especially to a cutting insert which exhibits an improved resistance against abrasive and adhesive wear, plastic deformation, chip hammering and chip jamming damages.


A vehicle horn control assembly comprises a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly has a sensor array that includes a plurality of sensor zones, with each of the sensor zones being configured to output a respective pressure signal in response to a respective amount of force applied thereto. The controller is configured to determine, based on the respective pressure signals output over a period of time, a touching characteristic representing a manner in which a user touches the sensor assembly to activate a vehicle horn. The controller is further configured to set a respective pressure threshold for each of the sensor zones above which the controller activates the vehicle horn based on the touching characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle horn control assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle horn control assembly having a plurality of horn operating tactile sensor zones that can be set to operate at different contact thresholds based on the touching characteristics of individual users.
2. Background Information
Vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, SUVs and so on are equipped with a horn or other type of warning system. A horn control assembly for activating the horn is mounted in the steering wheel, and is typically at a central location on the steering wheel. The horn control assembly is activated by sensed contact between two or more solid components that is generated when a driver applies sufficient force to the steering wheel. Therefore, the driver can easily activate the horn by applying pressure to the horn control assembly while maintaining their hands on the steering wheel, and thus maintaining steering control of the vehicle.
However, conventional horn control assemblies may accidentally be triggered to sound the horn if the driver inadvertently depresses the horn control assembly during normal driving operations, when entering or leaving the vehicle, and so on. Additionally, conventional horn control assemblies can become overly difficult to trigger in the event that underlying mounting structures such as springs become damaged or are inadvertently omitted from the assembly. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved horn control assembly.


An ink-jet recording medium having at least a light-reflecting layer and a dye-fixing layer formed in this order on a base material in a multilayer structure, wherein the light-reflecting layer contains two or more pigments different in chemical composition, and wherein the average particle size of a pigment (A) having a highest liquid absorbency in the pigments is smaller than the average particle size of a pigment (B) having a lowest liquid absorbency in the pigments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium for formation of a print having texture and image quality comparable to silver salt photographs by application of droplets of a recording liquid such as an ink, especially a recording medium suitable for image formation by ink-jet recording. The present invention also relates to a process for producing the recording medium, and an image-forming method employing the recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
The ink-jet recording method conducts recording by projecting fine droplets of a recording liquid such as an ink to deposit the droplets onto a paper sheet or a like recording medium to record an image or letters. The ink-jet recording method has advantages of high printing speed, low noise generation, ease of multicolor printing, flexibility of the recording pattern, needlessness of image development, and so forth. Therefore, the ink-jet recording methods and apparatuses are being developed and becoming widespread not only as printers but also as output devices of information apparatuses such as copying machines, word processors, and plotters. Recently, digital cameras, digital videos, scanners, and the like of high-performance are commercialized at low prices. As the results of the widespread use of the above apparatuses and popularization of personal computers, ink-jet type printers have come to be used suitably. Under such a background, the ink-jet recording is demanded which is capable of readily outputting images comparable to the multicolor print images formed by silver salt photography or gravure printing.
To meet such needs, the structure of the printer and the method of the recording are being improved for higher printing speed, higher fineness of the printed image, and full color printing. The recording medium used therefor is also being improved in terms of the properties and characteristics thereof.
Various ink-jet recording mediums are disclosed hitherto. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-9074 discloses a recording medium having an ink-receiving layer containing a silica type pigment having a large specific surface area as the main components and having voids to improve the ink absorbing rate. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-22997 discloses a recording medium having adjusted voids in the pigment layer for constituting an ink-receiving layer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 55-51583 and 56-157 disclose incorporation of powdery amorphous silica into the ink-receiving layer to increase the ink absorbency of the ink-receiving layer to obtain printed dots with high printing density without ink running.
Alumina hydrate is attracting attention in recent years as the material for constituting the ink-receiving portion of the recording medium. This is because the alumina hydrate, which is in a state of fine particles having a positive charge, is capable of fixing the dye of the ink and forming a transparent layer to give images with high color-developability and high water resistance. Such recording mediums are disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-232473, 9-66664, and 2-276670. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-99627, and 11-286171 disclose respectively a recording medium having an ink-receiving layer constituted of alumina hydrate particles having a specified crystal thickness, or a specified pore structure. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-95754 discloses a recording medium having an ink-receiving layer mainly composed of aggregate of particles of alumina hydrate formed on a paper base such as a wood-free paper sheet other than a plastic film.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-1060 discloses a recording medium which has an ink-receiving layer constituted of a porous layer containing barium sulfate and a layer containing nonoriented alumina hydrate provided in this order on a base material to raise the ink absorption rate and prevent beading and to achieve excellent print quality. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-79967 discloses a recording medium having a cast-treated layer containing alumina hydrate to achieve simultaneously high ink absorbency and high glossiness of prints. Japanese Patent No. 2686670 discloses a recording medium which has an ink-receiving layer constituted of two layers to achieve higher image density: an upper layer being mainly composed of aluminum oxide having a larger specific surface area and a lower layer being mainly composed of a pigment having a smaller specific surface area. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-10222 discloses a recording medium which has a lower layer containing barium sulfate and another pigment formed on a supporting member and an upper layer containing aluminum oxide as the main pigment formed thereon.
Various methods are disclosed which improve the recording medium for higher ink absorbency for high printing speed of printers without lowering the high image density. For example, an ink-receiving layer is formed with a pigment having a large pore volume to increase the void volume for absorbing and retaining the ink. Otherwise, an ink-receiving layer is formed from an ink-absorbent polymer material. However, such an ink-receiving layer may give rise to white turbidity of the dots by irregular light reflection or other causes not to give desired high image density or high glossiness. Increase of the coating thickness of the ink-receiving layer for higher ink absorbency will increase the cost of the material and production process.
The glossy recording medium having a paper base material involves a problem of waving of the recording face after ink-jet recording to lower the glossiness. The constitution having a barium-sulfate-containing layer disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-1060, which can prevent the waving to a certain extent, needs an additional thick ink-receiving layer thereon in order to obtain sufficient ink-absorbency owing to the less ink-absorbency of the barium-sulfate-containing layer.
Still higher surface glossiness is required for obtaining a printed matter comparable to silver salt type photographs. The constitution of the layer containing barium sulfate and another pigment formed on a supporting member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-010222 is still unsatisfactory in surface gloss or other properties.

Recording medium, image-forming method employing the same, process for producing the same


A visual presenter includes a base having a pivot shaft unit including a shaft support bracket, a support column mounted on the pivot shaft unit so as to be pivotable between a standing position and a forwardly-inclined position, a pivot shaft supported on the bracket, a wave washer inserted through the shaft to be tightened against the bracket by a nut in threading engagement with the shaft, and a return spring attached to the shaft so as to apply a biasing force to the shaft. The braking force and the biasing force counteract a pivotal movement of the support column, and the base includes a counterweight disposed in the base so that the base is prevented from being moved during an operation of pivoting the support column.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a visual presenter which displays on a monitor, screen or the like a captured image of material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional small visual presenters include a base on which a pivot shaft is mounted. A support column is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft. The support column has a distal end to which an imaging camera is mounted. A disc spring or wave washer is attached to the pivot shaft to apply a braking force to the pivot shaft so that the support column is prevented from being inclined forward. JP-A-H10-191105 discloses one of the aforesaid conventional visual presenters.
However, when the support column is inclined forward or caused to stand, a user needs to move the support column with one of his or her hands while holding the base of the visual presenter with his or her other hand. When the user tries to move the support column with his or her hand without holding the base, the base is moved together with the support column, resulting in inconvenience.


An image processing method, a client device, and an image processing system are provided. The method includes: detecting by a client device an image to be processed to obtain image information, and uploading the image information to a server; receiving by the client device at least one case related to the image, the at least one case being obtained by the server according to the image information and sent by the server; and processing the image by the client device according to the at least one case related to the image. The client device includes: a detection module, a receiving module, and a processing module. The system includes the foregoing client device and a server, where the server includes: a receiving module, a selection module, and a sending module. The method not only achieves simple and fast image processing but also improves adjustability during the processing process.

Images are a main source for human beings to obtain and exchange information. Therefore, the application field of image processing is definitely associated with various aspects of human life and work. With the development of science and technology, the application field of the image processing technology also expands, and people have higher and higher requirements for the effect and usability on image processing.
Currently, implementation of image processing is mainly classified into two categories:
The first is hardware implementation, which includes algorithms set in photo image capture devices, and is capable of achieving functions such as automatic white balance adjustment and special color effect adjustment. Different products usually have different adjustment preferences. Taking the photo color as an example, digital cameras of some brands take bright-colored images, while digital cameras of other brands take soft-colored and neutral-colored images. These characteristics are usually implemented through algorithms set in cameras.
The second manner is software implementation, which mainly includes easy-to-use automation software and professional software. Several predefined effect modes are usually set in easy-to-use automation software, and a user may select a specific mode according to the required effect. Easy-to-use automation software, such as nEO iMAGING, is relatively easy to use. Professional software, such as photoshop, provides a lot of adjustment means, and the output effect thereof is not limited, so that users are provided with more choices.
During the implementation of the present invention, the inventor finds that the prior art has at least the following problems:
The hardware product has a fixed processing style, which affects the effect of the processed image; the easy-to-use automation image processing software only provides small adjustability; and the professional image processing software is difficult to use.

Image processing method, client, and image processing system

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


According to certain embodiments, a method (400) by user equipment (UE) (300) is provided for avoiding bearer state mismatch that includes storing, by the UE, a passive context for use in resuming a connection with a network node (600). While the UE is in an inactive state, the UE locally deactivates at least one radio bearer. The UE signals, to the network node, an indication that the at least one radio bearer has been deactivated locally and the network node consequently modifies the stored bearer context.

In LTE, data can be transported over Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers defined between User Equipment (UE) and Core Network (CN). This is referred to as the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer. Over the radio interface between UE and Radio Access Network (RAN) node, EPS bearers can be mapped on (Data) Radio Bearers ((D)RBs). This may be referred to as the Access Stratum (AS) layer. In LTE, there is a one-to-one mapping between EPS bearers of the NAS layer and (D)RBs of the AS layer. Similar concepts and variants thereof exist for other radio access technologies and may apply for new radio access technologies.
In 3GPP Rel-13, there is a new feature for Suspend and Resume of Radio Resource Control (RRC) context. This feature is described in 3GPP TS 36.300 v13.5.0 and 3GPP TS 36.331 v13.3.0, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The general idea is that when a User Equipment (UE) session ends and the UE goes to RRC idle, both the UE and RAN keep a passive UE context; only the RRC connection is suspended. This passive UE context can be re-activated with a slim resume procedure, which causes the suspended RRC connection to be resumed. The use of the resume procedure leads to a fast setup of radio resources, which means low latency for the system and end-users and efficient execution of the procedure in the system.
Specifically, the UE requesting to re-activate or resume a passive UE context signals a request to resume the connection associated with the passive/cached UE context. For example, the UE requests to re-use and re-activate the passive/cached context. However, the S1 connection is typically released upon suspension of the RRC connection. Upon resumption of the RRC connection, the S1 connection is reactivated and/or restored.
In 3GPP, a Rel-14 Work Item on "Signaling reduction to enable light connection for LTE" aims to further enhance the connection handling by, for example, maintaining the S1 connection while the RRC connection is suspended. In this scenario, the UE context is passive.
Work on 5G mobile communication system and a New Radio interface (NR) is also ongoing in 3GPP. For NR and 5G similar concepts with passive UE context, the possibility to keep the connection between Radio Access Network (RAN) and Core Network (CN) when the connection between the UE and the radio access network is released or enters an inactive or passive state are being considered. These concepts are discussed, for example, in 3GPP TS 23.799 v1.0.2, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
When the UE is in an inactive state such as, for example, an RRC idle or suspended state, the UE can locally deactivate bearers defined between UE and Core Network (CN). For example, the UE can locally deactivate EPS bearers in the context of LTE. When the UE is in RRC idle state without a passive/cached RRC UE context and a bearer is locally deactivated in the UE, the UE can indicate this to the CN. Although RRC idle or suspended state are used as examples of "inactive state" herein, it will be appreciated that the solutions described herein may apply to any suitable inactive state, whether currently defined or not, in LTE, NR, or any other appropriate wireless technology. These may include, without limitation, RRC_IDLE and RRC_INACTIVE states. In the context of LTE, the UE may indicate the deactivation to the mobile management entity (MME); however, other appropriate CN nodes may be notified depending on the radio technology so that the CN can instruct the RAN node to establish RBs only for active bearers such to ensure, for example, synchronized bearer states between UE and CN and RAN. In LTE, the UE synchronizes the state of the bearers with the MME through, for example, a NAS Extended Service Request (ESR) or Tracking Area Update Request (TAUR) message containing the EPS bearer context status information element, which is discussed in more detail in 3GPP TS 24.301 v13.7.0, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
However, when the UE is in RRC idle state with a passive/cached RRC UE context and a bearer is locally deactivated in the UE, the RB(s) associated with the deactivated EPS bearer(s) will be reestablished as part of the re-activation/resume of the RRC context/connection, which is triggered when the UE accesses the network. Because the RBs will be reestablished before the CN is made aware of the UE's local bearer deactivation, a bearer state mismatch occurs between the UE, the CN, and the RAN node and between NAS and AS. The state mismatch can lead to loss of data.

Systems and methods for bearer state mismatch avoidance


A network element that allows in-band control of the network element includes a plurality of interfaces for connecting to other network elements. The network element includes a high data rate transceiver logic configured for transmitting and receiving communications having a first data rate over a first communication channel. The network element also includes a low data rate transceiver logic configured for transmitting and receiving communications having a second data rate that is substantially lower than the first data rate over a second communication channel. The network element further includes a shared photodiode for receiving optical signals over the first and second communication channels. The shared photodiode also converts received optical signals into electrical signals for processing by one of the high data rate transceiver logic and the low data rate transceiver logic. A shared laser module configured to be driven by the high data rate transceiver logic and the low data rate transceiver logic is also included in the network element to output an optical signal over a fiber optic cable via one of the first and second communication channels.

Configuration of both the hardware and software of each network element in a network is often required to allow communication between network elements. Such configuration may occur at device start-up, upon device reset, or during routine device operation. For example, configuration can include informing a network element of changes in the topology of the network. Communications associated with such configuration are typically transmitted over what is generally referred to as the "control plane" of the network. For large scale networks, an entire secondary network is often employed just for the control-plane. In some cases, very large networks may employ a tertiary network for control of the secondary control-plane network.


The invention is a selective reduction catalyst useful for converting exhaust gases generated by a lean-burn engine where the atmosphere is oxidizing. The catalyst comprises zeolite containing two forms or rhodium, small metal particles and ion-exchanged into the zeolite, the latter being in significant excess. In addition, the catalyst contains a rare-earth metal having primarily a +3 or higher valence such as lanthanum in a significantly higher amount relative the total amount of rhodium.

Catalysts are employed in the exhaust systems of automotive vehicles to convert carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced during engine operation into non polluting gases. When the engine is operated in a stoichiometric or slightly rich air/fuel ratio, i.e., between about 14.7 and 14.4, catalysts containing precious metals like palladium and rhodium are able to efficiently convert all three gases simultaneously. Hence, such catalysts are often called "three-way" catalysts.
It is desirable, however, to operate gasoline engines under "lean-burn" conditions where the A/F ratio is greater than 14.7, generally between 19 and 27, to realize a benefit in fuel economy. Fuel efficient diesel engines also operate under A/F ratios greater than 19, generally 19-40. Such three-way catalysts are able to convert carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons but are not efficient in the reduction of NOx during lean-burn (excess oxygen) operation. Efforts have thus been made in developing SRC in recent years. Such catalysts act to reduce the NOx through the use of hydrocarbons over a catalyst, the hydrocarbons being in turn oxidized.
Often these catalysts are based on zeolite materials containing a precious metal like platinum which can have major drawbacks. Among the most important are a narrow temperature range of operation and loss of activity (and sometimes physical integrity) under the hydrothermal conditions of automotive exhaust gases. For example, a zeolite material carrying platinum is generally only active at a relatively low temperature, i.e., less than 250.degree. C. At higher temperatures the competitive oxidation of the reductant hydrocarbon molecules by oxygen is so fast that the removal of NOx drops off precipitously with rising temperature so as to make such catalyst inadequate for treating somewhat hotter exhaust streams. Conversely, when the active sites are transition metal ions exchanged into the cationic sites of the zeolite, the onset of SCR activity begins at temperatures greater than 400.degree. C., which renders the catalyst inactive for catalysis during a large portion of the necessary temperature range of the desired catalytic operation. And the stability of an automotive catalyst in dry gases is insufficient to assure the proper long-term function in the presence of steam, as is the case in automotive exhaust. Exposed to such conditions the zeolite becomes "dealuminated" whereby the cationic sites where the divalent exchanged ions are anchored are destroyed.
We have found that these problems associated with conventional zeolites can be overcome with the catalyst of the present invention. In particular, the invention catalyst is a selective reduction catalyst, stabilized against dealumination and resistant to poisons such as sulfur dioxide and water vapor and active in the temperature range pertinent particularly to use in diesel powered vehicles and vehicles powered by other lean-burn power plants.

NO.sub.x selective reduction catalyst with broadened active temperature range


A light emitting diode includes a substrate, graphene layer, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first semiconductor layer is on the epitaxial growth surface of the substrate. The active layer is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode electrically is connected with the second part of the carbon nanotube layer. The graphene layer is located between the active layer and the first semiconductor layer.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a light emitting diode (LED) and a method for making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
LEDs are semiconductors that convert electrical energy into light. Compared to conventional light sources, the LEDs have higher energy conversion efficiency, higher radiance (i.e., LEDs emit a larger quantity of light per unit area than conventional light sources), longer lifetime, higher response speed, and better reliability. At the same time, LEDs generate less heat. Therefore, LED modules are widely used as light sources in optical imaging systems, such as displays, projectors, and so on.
A conventional LED commonly includes an N-type semiconductor layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, an N-type electrode, and a P-type electrode. The active layer is located between the N-type semiconductor layer and the P-type semiconductor layer. The P-type electrode is located on the P-type semiconductor layer. The N-type electrode is located on the N-type semiconductor layer. Typically, the P-type electrode is transparent. In operation, a positive voltage and a negative voltage are applied respectively to the P-type semiconductor layer and the N-type semiconductor layer. Thus, holes in the P-type semiconductor layer and electrons in the N-type semiconductor layer can enter the active layer and combine with each other to emit visible light.
However, extraction efficiency of LEDs is low because typical semiconductor materials have a higher refraction index than that of air. Large-angle light emitted from the active layer may be internally reflected in LEDs, so that a large portion of the light emitted from the active layer remains in the LEDs, thereby degrading the extraction efficiency.
What is needed, therefore, is a light emitting diode and a method for making the same, which can overcome the above-described shortcomings.


An apparatus and associated method are described which reduce air turbulence in a disc drive assembly. In a method of use, a groove is machined into a side portion of an actuator arm and then a streamlined actuator arm side rail is inserted into the groove to provide streamlining characteristics to the actuator arms. An actuator arm is provided which has a groove which extends along a side portion of the actuator arm. A streamlined side rail is attached to the side portion of the actuator arm, and is preferably arrowhead-shaped so that the side rail mates with the groove. The streamlined side rail reduces air turbulence in the disc drive caused by air flow against and around the actuator arms, yielding an improvement in the power consumption of the disc pack spindle motor.

Computers commonly use hard disc drives to store large amounts of data in a form that can be readily accessed by a user. A disc drive generally includes a stack of vertically spaced magnetic discs that are rotated at a constant high speed by a spindle motor. The surface of each disc is divided into a series of concentric, radially spaced data tracks in which the data are stored in the form of magnetic flux transitions. Typically, each data track is divided into a number of data sectors that store data blocks of a fixed size.
Data are stored and accessed on the discs by an array of read/write heads ("heads") mounted to a rotary actuator assembly, or "E-block." Typically, the E-block includes a plurality of actuator arms which project outwardly from an actuator body to form a stack of vertically spaced actuator arms. The stacked discs and arms are configured so that the surfaces of the stacked discs are accessible to the heads mounted on the complementary stack of actuator arms.
Head wires included on the E-block conduct electrical signals from the heads to a flex circuit, which in turn conducts the electrical signals to a flex circuit bracket mounted to a disc drive basedeck. For a general discussion of E-block assembly techniques, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,636 entitled METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A DISK DRIVE ACTUATOR, issued Apr. 11, 1995 to Stefansky et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
The actuator body pivots about a cartridge bearing assembly which is mounted to the disc drive housing at a position closely adjacent the outer extreme of the discs. The actuator assembly includes a voice coil motor which enables the actuator arms and the heads attached thereto to be rotated about the cartridge bearing assembly so that the arms move in a plane parallel to the surfaces of the discs to selectively position a head over a preselected data track.
The voice coil motor includes a coil mounted radially outwardly from the cartridge bearing assembly, the coil being immersed in the magnetic field of a magnetic circuit of the voice coil motor. The magnetic circuit comprises one or more permanent magnets and magnetically permeable pole pieces. When current is passed through the coil, an electromagnetic field is established which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit so that the coil moves in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As the coil moves, the actuator body pivots about the pivot shaft and the heads move across the disc surfaces.
Each of the heads is mounted to an actuator arm by a flexure which attaches to the end of the actuator arm. Each head includes an interactive element such as a magnetic transducer which either senses the magnetic transitions on a selected data track to read the data stored on the track, or transmits an electrical signal that induces magnetic transitions on the selected data track to write data to the data track. Air currents are caused by the high speed rotation of the discs. A slider assembly included on each head has an air bearing surface which interacts with the air currents to cause the head to fly at a short distance above the data tracks on the disc surface.
There is a generally recognized trend in the industry to decrease the power requirements of modern disc drives. It has been determined that air turbulence within the disc drive creates drag on the discs, thereby having a negative affect on the power requirements of the disc pack spindle motor. Simply stated, the more air turbulence inside the disc drive, the more power it takes to spin the disc pack. Because discs are being turned at ever increasing revolutions per minute, the problem of air turbulence in the disc drive becomes even more significant.
Prior art actuator arms have had blunt leading edges. The air flow caused by the high speed rotation of the discs within the drive runs strikes against the blunt leading edges of the actuator arms, creating turbulence within the drive. This turbulence results in drag on the discs and increased power consumption by the disc pack spindle motor. Thus, there is a need for an improved technique for reducing air turbulence within the disc drive.
The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Actuator arm with streamlined leading edge to reduce air turbulence


An all-terrain straddle type vehicle includes, inside a wheel, a disc rotor that rotates as the wheel rotates, a caliper for clamping the disc rotor to brake the rotation of the wheel, and a scraper for scraping out dirt, mud, sand, snow and other debris deposited on a rim of the wheel. An edge of a scraping surface of the scraper extends obliquely from upstream toward downstream of a rotation direction of the wheel with respect to a rotation plane of the wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an all-terrain straddle type vehicle, and more specifically to an all-terrain straddle type vehicle having a disc brake provided within a wheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional straddle type vehicles involve a problem in that when a vehicle runs on rough terrain, mud or the like adheres onto the vehicle wheels, and the mud or the like clogs and solidifies within the wheel of each vehicle wheel. In the case of a straddle type vehicle having a disc brake provided within the wheel, in particular, mud or the like can easily clog the gap between a brake caliper and the wheel. If the running of the vehicle is continued while leaving the mud or the like clogged in the gap as it is, the clogged mud or the like is gradually compressed by the brake caliper. The mud or the like compressed in the gap between the brake caliper and the wheel is difficult to remove manually. Further, if, as a result of interference with the brake caliper, the compressed mud is scattered and thrown in the form of dust and enters the gap between a disc rotor and a brake pad, this accelerates wear of the brake pad, causing a reduction in the life of the brake pad.
Accordingly, it is necessary to quickly remove mud or the like deposited inside the wheel. A device for removing mud or the like deposited inside the wheel is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2006-71042 (Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 discloses a brake caliper supporting structure in which the brake caliper includes a pair of brake pads for clamping a brake disc, a piston for pressing the brake pads, a caliper body accommodating the piston in a movable manner, and a caliper bracket mounted to a caliper supporting portion which is connected to a knuckle to support the caliper body in a movable manner, and in which the distance from the center of the vehicle wheel to the caliper supporting portion is larger than the distance between the center of the vehicle wheel to the piston. Since the caliper supporting portion is located radially outside, mud, snow, or the like adhering onto the inner side of the wheel can be scraped off by the caliper supporting portion.
However, in the case of the brake caliper disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the mud, snow, or the like inside the wheel is scraped off in the vertically downward direction by the caliper supporting portion, the majority of the mud, snow, or the like thus scraped off keeps accumulating inside the wheel. In this regard, in the case of a straddle type vehicle that runs on rough terrain, in particular, in order to improve the riding comfort by absorbing vibrations resulting from the unevenness of the road surface, it is required to provide a large suspension stroke by setting a high minimum ground clearance for the vehicle. Since an increase in suspension stroke results in a corresponding increase in the depth of the wheel, this makes mud, snow, or the like even more likely to accumulate inside the wheel. If the mud, snow, or the like that has once been scraped off is allowed to keep accumulating inside the wheel thereafter, the amount of mud, snow, or the like deposited inside the wheel increases as the running time of the vehicle becomes longer. Eventually, the removal of the old mud, snow, or the like can no longer keep pace with the rate of depositing new mud, snow, or the like, thereby resulting in clogging.