A method for preparing a glass container, and for sealing a glass mouth of a container and the seal is described. The sealing surface of the container is prepared by treatment with fluorine and a metal oxide, or a sulfur oxide and a metal oxide, or fluorine alone or a sulfur oxide alone, at an elevated temperature, in the case of fluorine employing a fluoride compound which decomposes at the temperature and, in the case of a metal oxide employing a metal oxide precursor. To form the closure, a membrane comprising a thermoplastic film is pressed over the sealing surface and heated to result in glass-plastic adhesion. The membrane may be a thermoplastic polymer/aluminum foil laminate.

This invention relates to the preparation of glass for thermoplastic membrane sealing. Heat activated membrane seals for plastic containers are common in the packaging and canning art. Generally a membrane, which may be a laminate of aluminum foil and a thermoplastic polymer, is pressed on the rim of a plastic container and heated to form polymer-polymer adhesive contact. The problem with this method when used with soda-lime-silica glass containers is that the failure of the seal will generally occur within five days of sealing due to poor initial adhesion between the glass and the polymer or poor durability of the adhesion.

Preparation of glass container for thermoplastic closure


This invention relates to devices and methods for purifying, detecting and using biological cells. A variety of cell types including viable tumor, stem, immune and sperm cells can be purified from a complex biological sample using a column, including a pipette tip column. Methods of the invention can aid research, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Purified viable cells can be detected on the column or eluted from the column and detected. Cells on a column can be used as a stationary phase for liquid chromatography. Cells may be removed, recovered and analyzed.

Since the first observations of cells as the "fundamental unit" of all living organisms, ranging from unicellular microbes such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae to multicellular, highly differentiated plants and animal, scientists have invested considerable effort in developing methods for isolating and investigating cells. Some populations of broadly similar cells can be obtained in large numbers by controlled fermentation in the case of microbes, or by tissue isolation in fluids such as spermatozoa or classes of blood cells in mammals, or laterally by cell culture technologies.
Magnetic beads are a popular format for capturing and purifying cells. In this technology, a suspension of beads is mixed with a suspension of cells. The magnetic beads can contain a tag or chemical entity selective for cells or for a particular cell type within the sample. After the cells become associated with the magnetic beads, a magnet is used to collect the magnetic beads with the associated cells. The magnetic beads may be resuspended several times with wash solutions to remove unbound cells. Finally, a solution can be used to release the cells from the beads and a magnet separates the magnetic beads from the cells.
However, magnetic beads have a number of drawbacks. First, they can negatively impact cell viability. Cell damage or death can occur when magnetic beads (with cells attached) are captured by a magnet. During this magnetic capture process, cells can be damaged or killed by crushing or squeezing as the beads are pressed together. This magnetic capture process must be performed several times endangering the cells. Second, magnetic bead methods have lengthy processing times and physically batter the cells which can result in cell clumping and death. Other common problems encountered with magnetic bead methods include low cell yield and impure cell populations.
There exists a need for a column technology that rapidly captures high concentrations of cells, particularly viable cells and then recovers the cells at high purity for research, detection and for other uses.
In the instant invention, it was discovered that cells can be captured on a column. In some embodiments, the captured cells remain viable and viable cells can be eluted from the column. Remarkably, cell capture can be performed by flowing the cells back and forth through a column. Previously, it was shown that small analytes such as proteins could be captured on a column using back and forth flow however, it was quite surprising that cells could withstand this treatment and remain viable.
The columns and methods described herein can be used to purify a desired cell type from a heterogeneous biological sample. Alternatively, contaminants can be captured and the desired cell type can flow through the column.
Captured cells can be manipulated on the column using a number of different strategies. In a second invention described herein, living cells captured on a column solid phase can be used as a stationary phase for liquid chromatography. After cell capture, the cells attached to the column can serve as a stationary phase and reagents, analytes or biomolecules can be passed through the column. In some embodiments, these reagents or biomolecules can be passed through the column using back and forth flow. The interaction of these entities with the stationary phase can be examined. If it is desired, the stationary phase comprised of cells, the cell-based stationary phase may be recovered and analyzed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Columns for isolation, detection and use of biological cells


An external universal battery charging apparatus which can include external universal battery charger circuitry having at least one universal battery charger circuitry input and at least one universal battery charger circuitry output. The universal battery charger circuitry output can include at least one battery charger output, which itself can include at least one universal battery connector and at least one universal battery charger cable. The at least one universal battery charger circuitry output can include at least one adapter pass through output, which itself can include at least one connector adapted to operably connect to an electronic device. The external universal battery charger circuitry can include at least one battery recognition and parameter adjustment circuit, battery current parameter adjustment circuit, charged voltage parameter adjustment circuit, and maximum power draw parameter adjustment circuit. The external universal battery charging apparatus can include a maximum rated power supply determination unit. The method can include detecting a battery, identifying characteristics of the battery, and adjusting at least one parameter in universal battery charger circuitry in response to the characteristics of the battery such that optimum battery charging is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of battery charging devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A battery charging device is a device used to charge and recharge one or more rechargeable batteries. A battery is a device that consists of one or more cells (a cell is a device that converts a store of chemical energy into electrical energy) that are connected to act as a source of electric power. A rechargeable battery is a device whose one or more cells can be substantially reenergized once the store of chemical energy in the rechargeable battery has been partially or completely depleted.
A variety of electronic devices utilize rechargeable batteries (e.g., portable computers, portable computer peripherals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and cameras). Different electronic devices often have different power usage profiles (e.g., a camera will typically have a power usage profile different from a portable computer). The same electronic devices will often have different power usage profiles dependent upon the modes of usage (e.g., a portable computer frequently accessing its hard-disk drive access typically has a significantly different power usage profile from the same portable computer which is instead accessing its Random Access Memory (RAM) rather than its hard-disk drive). These differing power usage profiles often create different size, shape, weight, and electrical loading requirements on the rechargeable batteries being used by the devices.
Because of the wide variety of power usage profiles of the devices which utilize rechargeable batteries, a number of different rechargeable battery chemistries (e.g., nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), lithium ion (Li-ion) and lithium-polymer (Li-polymer)) have been developed, each having certain advantages and disadvantages. In general, the different rechargeable battery chemistries have been developed to provide the optimum of battery power on the basis of certain user-ranked criteria (e.g., cost, constant power drain versus "surge" or "spiked" power drain, time to recharge, total number of possible rechargings, etc.).
The use of different rechargeable battery chemistries often allow modern rechargeable batteries to provide power to their respective devices for times far in excess of rechargeable batteries used in the past. However, it is still common for user requirements to exceed battery life. For example, even the most optimum batteries utilized in modern portable computers typically provide only a useable battery life of somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 hours, with the more common cheaper batteries typically providing between 1 and 1.5 hours of useable battery life. Consequently, it is common for users to carry with them "back up" or "spare batteries" with which to replace a battery when its power is expended, especially when it is likely that a long work-session is likely (i.e., one that will extend far beyond three hours).
At the end of a long work-session, it is not uncommon for a user to have several expended batteries. Since most modern portable devices (such as portable computers) have internal battery charging circuitry, it is possible to charge at least one of these expended batteries by connecting the portable device to an AC power source. However, most users prefer to charge all batteries (i.e., more than one) simultaneously. This is typically done with the use of external battery chargers.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical multi-battery charging scenario as it typically exists in the current art. Shown is portable computer 100. Portable computer 100 may, through DC output connector 101 and its associated cabling, be connected to AC adapter 102, which is in turn connected to AC power outlet 106. Battery pack 104 is also shown which resides within computer 100. AC adapter 102 converts AC power into DC power that can be used to power computer 100 and charge the battery pack 104.
Further shown is external battery charger 120. Depicted is external battery charger base unit 110. External battery charger base unit 110 is connected to AC adapter 112 which is in turn connected to AC power outlet 106. Battery pack 108 is also shown which resides within battery slot receptor 116 within external battery charger base unit 110. AC adapter 112 converts AC power into DC power that can be used to charge battery pack 108.
External battery charger base unit 110 is formed to receive battery pack 108. Furthermore, as was mentioned above, several different battery chemistries are now being utilized within the industry. In order to extract optimum use and life from the batteries, it is necessary to charge the batteries in the fashion most compatible with the battery chemistries. Consequently, it is common for external battery charger base unit 110 to contain charging circuitry optimized for a particular battery chemistry. Furthermore, battery slot receptor 116 also contains a battery connector (not shown) appropriate to the battery to be charged (usually the connector and charging circuitry are vendor specific, and one vendor'external charger cannot be used with another vendor'batteries; furthermore, it is usual for the charger to only be rated as safe to charge one particular type of battery chemistry).
As can be seen in FIG. 1, external battery charger 120 takes up a considerable amount of space. Furthermore, each component has a considerable amount of weight. Since battery powered devices are typically utilized to provide portability and are often transported to remote locations, external battery charger 120 must also be so transported if the ability to simultaneously recharge a number of back-up batteries is desired. Furthermore, since under the current art battery chargers are typically optimized for one particular type of battery chemistry, it is necessary to carry multiple different types of external battery chargers 120, or at the least, external battery charger base units 100, should the use of various different battery chemistries be desired.
It is apparent that external battery chargers are very useful, and that irrespective of advances in battery technology, it is likely that such a need will persist in the future. As has been discussed, current external battery chargers have considerable bulk and weight, and are typically optimized for only one type of battery chemistry. In light of the foregoing, it is therefore apparent that a need exists in the art for a method and apparatus which provide external battery chargers of considerably less bulk and weight than those currently available, and which will also serve as a universal charger across various different battery chemistries.

External universal battery charging apparatus and method


Cleaning device for a cylinder of a printing press wherein the cylinder is formed with at least one cylinder gap open at the cylinder circumference and extending in the direction of the cylinder axis, the cleaning device including a beam-type cleaning tool extending over the length of the cylinder gap and disposed so as to be movable transversely to the cylinder axis against the cylinder and into the cylinder gap, includes a swivel shaft disposed parallel to the axis of the cylinder, the cleaning tool being connected to the swivel shaft so as to be swivelable thereabout into engagement with the cylinder and into the cylinder gap for brushing against walls defining the cylinder gap and removing adhering dirtied cleaning liquid therefrom.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cleaning device for cylinders of a printing press and, more particularly, for cylinders, respectively, formed with at least one cylinder gap open at the cylinder circumference and extending in the direction of the cylinder axis, the cleaning device including a beam-type cleaning tool extending over the length of the cylinder gap and disposed so as to be movable transversely to the cylinder axis.
Washing devices for the cylinder jackets of the cylinders of a printing press have become known heretofore. Such washing devices, as disclosed in the published German Patent Document DE 79 33 305 U1, use a cleaning tool which, having been saturated or soaked with cleaning liquid, is pressed transversely to the cylinder axis against the circumference of the cylinder and, after termination of the cleaning operation, is withdrawn. In this regard, the cleaning tool is mounted eccentrically and is formed with a hexagonal cross section. At the end of the cylindrical jacket surface, the cleaning tool is moved into the cylinder gap a slight distance and is thereby stepped up to the next side surface. The latter thereafter again reaches or comes into contact with the rubber-blanket jacket surface.
In the process of washing a cylinder, especially a blanket cylinder of a sheet-fed offset printing press, washing liquid unavoidably gets into the cylinder gap quite frequently and, in fact, to an increased extent when washing media based upon a vegetable origin is used. The washing medium is wiped in the region of the gap bordering on the cylinder jacket, and adheres thereat to the wall defining the gap. When pressure contact is made again, the soiled or dirty washing liquid which has gotten into the gap sprays or spatters onto the printed stock due to the then higher rotary speed of the cylinder, so that the printed material is unusable initially, until the cylinder gap has been cleaned of adhering washing-medium residue by centrifugal force.

Cleaning device for cylinders of a printing press


Compounds, known as heteroarotinoids, having varying abilities to inhibit growth of certain cancerous cells, induce normal cell differentiation, and induce apoptosis or death of cancerous cells, of the general formula:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to anticancer compositions in terms of the inhibition of growth of certain cancerous cell lines and in terms of apoptosis or programmed (or induced) cancer cell death. Specifically, the invention relates to certain heteroarotinoids and derivatives thereof.
2. Background
Retinoids (vitamin A and derivatives thereof) is a name associated with a family of compounds both of natural and synthetic origin. There is significant interest in such molecules because of the observed strong anticancer activity in a number of assays including the hamster tracheal organ culture (TOC) assay, the omithine decarboxylase (ODC) assay, and with HL-60 cells (human leukemic cell line). Heteroarotinoids are a group of derivatives that contain an aromatic ring and at least one heteroatom in a fused, partially saturated ring bonded to an aromatic ring.
Examples of heteroarotinoids and the activity of such in the assays cited above are found in several papers such as: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1985, Vol. 28, pages 116-124, entitled xe2x80x9cSynthesis and Characterization of Selected Heteroarotinoidsxe2x80x94Pharmacological Activity as Assessed in Vitamin A Deficient Hamster Tracheal Organ Culturesxe2x80x94Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Analysis of 4,4-Dimethylthiochrom-6-yl Methyl Ketone-1,1-Dioxide and Ethyl (E)-p-[2-(4,4-Dimethylthiochroma-6-yl)propenyl]benzoatexe2x80x9d, by K. M. Waugh, K. D. Berlin, W. T. Ford, E. M. Holt, J. P. Carrol, P. R. Schomber, and L. J. Schiff; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1987, Vol. 30, pages 1174-1480, entitled xe2x80x9cHeteroarotinoids. Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity in Terms of an Assessment of these Systems to Inhibit the Induction of Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity and to Induce Terminal Differentiation of HL-60 cellsxe2x80x9d, by L. W. Spruce, S. N. Rajadhyaksha, K. D. Berlin, J. B Gale, E. T. Miranda, W. T. Ford, E. C. Blossey, A. K. Verma, M. B. Hossain, D. van der Helm, and T. R. Breitman; and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1991, Vol. 34, pages 430-439, entitled xe2x80x9cNovel Heteroarotinoids: Synthesis and Biological Activityxe2x80x9d, by L. W. Spruce, J. B. Gale, K. D. Berlin, A. K. Verma, T. R. Breitman, X. Ji, and D. van der Helm.
Another report entitled xe2x80x9cHeteroarotinoids; Crystal and Molecular Structure Analysis of Methyl (z)- and Methyl (E)-4-[2-(4,4-Dimethylthiochroman-6-yl)-1-propenyl]benzoatexe2x80x9d, in the journal entitled Structural Chemistry, 1991, Vol. 2, pages 515-522, by W. J. Welsh, V. Cody, K. Suwinska, K. D. Berlin, S. N. Radjadhyaksha, S. Subramanian, and A. K. Verma, contains background data pertinent to the invention as well. Other background information on heteroarotinoids is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,984 (May 2, 1989), U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,254 (May 23, 1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,276 (Dec. 11, 1990). Summaries of the biochemistry, chemistry, and prior biological activity of retinoids, including the few heteroarotinoids known, are found in five treatises, namely xe2x80x9cChemistry and Biology of Synthetic Retiniodsxe2x80x9d, by M. I. Dawson and W. H. Okamura, editors, CRC Press: Boca Raton, Fla., 1990, xe2x80x9cThe Retinoidsxe2x80x9d, Volumes I and II, by M. B. Sporn, A. B. Roberts, and D. S. Goodman, editors, Academic Press: Orlando, Fla., 1984, xe2x80x9cThe Retinoidsxe2x80x9d, 2nd Edition, by M. B. Sporn, A. B. Roberts, and D. S. Goodman, editors, Raven Press: New York, N.Y., 1994, and xe2x80x9cRetinoidsxe2x80x9d, Fifth Edition, Vol. 3, by M. I. Dawson, Chp 44, in Burger""s Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery, M. E. Wolff, editor, J. Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1996.
More recent work in the general area includes: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1999, Vol. 42, pages 3602-3614 entitled xe2x80x9cSynthesis, Structure-Activity Relationships, and RARxcex3-Ligand Interactions of Nitrogen Heteroarotinoidsxe2x80x9d by A. Dhar, S. Liu, J. Klucik, K. D. Berlin, M. M. Madler, S. Lu, R. T. Ivey, D. Zacheis, C. W. Brown, E. C. Nelson, P. J. Birckbichler, and D. M. Benbrook and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1999, Vol. 42, pages 4434-4445, entitled xe2x80x9cHeteroarotinoids Inhibit Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines in vitro and in vivo Through Both RAR and RXR Retinoic Acid Receptorsxe2x80x9d by D. Zacheis, A. Dhar, S. Lu, M. M. Madler, J. Klucik, C. W. Brown, S. Liu, F. Clement, S. Subramanian, G. M. Weerasekare, K. D. Berlin, M. A. Gold, J. R. Houch, Jr., K. R. Fountain, and D. M. Benbrook.
The heteroarotinoids described and claimed herein have not been, to the knowledge of the inventors, previously described in either the patent or literature art. As will be seen, the inventive heteroarotinoids significantly differ both in structure and activity as compared to known compounds. No assertion is made that the inventive heteroarotinoids activate the common retinoid receptors.
The present invention involves the synthesis and use of certain unusual heteroarotinoids which have varying abilities to inhibit growth of certain cancerous cells, induce normal cell differentiation, and induce apoptosis or death of cancerous cells. The inventive structures consist of a three atom urea or thiourea linker group with aryl substituents, one on each end of the group and bonded to each of the nitrogen atoms. One of the aryl substituents has at least one heteroatom in a fused, partially saturated ring. Thus, the inventive heteroarotinoids have in common the basic molecular unit shown below, wherein each aryl substituent is denoted Ar and W and Q denote the indicated alternatives:
The inventive heteroarotinoids appear to be much less toxic than endogenous and synthetic retinoid standards, e.g. trans-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid, etretinate, acitretin, and 4-HPR, on the basis of gross examination in tissue cultures and in animal models. Moreover, the unique three-atom linkage endows the inventive molecules with a certain rigidity not possessed in heteroarotinoids having a conventional two-carbon ester linker group. This structural feature is reasoned to be important in the interaction of the molecules with nuclear receptors and is believed to contribute to decreased toxicity insofar as the body is well adept at processing urea derivatives.
The heteroarotinoids of the present invention are very peripherally related in structure to trans-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and 13-cis-retinoic acid as illustrated. The inventive heteroarotinoids, shown in the general structures 1 and 2, have either oxygen or sulfur as the heteroatom, two aryl rings depending from the three atom linker (either urea or thiourea), and possess the indicated alternatives at G, R, X, Y and Z:
More particularly, the present invention encompasses heteroarotinoids of the following formulas, wherein G, R, Q, W and Z denote the indicated alternatives:
Isomeric heteroarotinoids having the formulas:
Isomeric heteroarotinoids having the formulas:
Heteroarotinoids with only one geminal group of the formulas:
Biological data generated from a large number of representative heteroarotinoids demonstrates significant inhibition of growth of three ovarian cancer cell lines, namely, Caov-3, SKOV-3, and OVCAR-3 cell lines. In addition, the inventive heteroarotinoids were tested against three cell lines of the cervix, namely, SiHa, HT-3, and C-33A, and one vulvar cell line, SW962, using t-RA, 9-c-RA and 4-HPR as controls, wherein a range of inhibitory prowess was observed with several of the heteroarotinoids outperforming the standards. Representative agents screened for apoptosis effect were as good or better than 9-c-RA in inducing apoptosis (cell death) of cancerous cells and were superior to 4-HPR, the clinically used agent. Xenograph investigations of representative heteroarotinoids using nude and immunocompromised mice injected with OVCAR-3 human carcinogenic cells were very demonstrative of the ability to reduce tumor volume and were comparable with that observed with 4-HPR. The concentrations used of the heteroarotinoids were in the microgram range. That the effect could be manifested at such a low concentration is suggestive of a low toxicity in mammals.
The heteroarotinoids according to the present invention hence find a use in therapy as antitumor agents, for the treatment or prophylaxis of benign, malignant, or metastatic neoplasms, as well as in the traditional indications for retinoids, such as skin disorders (acne, psoriasis), as well as degenerative disorders and/or inflammation of the mucosae.
The inventive heteroarotinoids may be readily provided in pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of the heteroarotinoids, or of their addition salts with a pharmaceutically acceptable base or acid when a salifiable group is present, alone or in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic, inert vehicles or excipients. Among such pharmaceutical compositions, there may be mentioned, more especially, those which are suitable for oral, parenteral, nasal, rectal, perlingual, ocular or respiratory administration, and in particular, tablets, simple or sugar-coated, sublingual tablets, sachets, packs, hard gelatin capsules, preparations to be dissolved under the tongue, bars, suppositories, creams, ointments, skin gels, injectable preparations or preparations to be swallowed, aerosols, eye or nose drops, and the like.
The appropriate dosage will vary according to an individual""s age and weight, the administration route and the nature of the therapeutic indication and of any associated treatments, but will be an amount effective to exert a therapeutic effect on a tumor by any mechanism such as by killing tumor cells, reducing cell proliferation or reducing the size of the tumor or, in the case of its use as a chemoprevention agent, an amount sufficient to exert a prophylactic effect or a preventative effect on recurrence after primary therapy, or a prevention of secondary tumors.
In another aspect of the invention, the inventive molecules may also find use as a sensitizing agent administered in advance of or conconcurrently with a chemotherapeutic agent to increase the selectivity and/or efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agent. In this respect an effective amount refers to amounts of the inventive heteroarotinoids capable of sensitizing tumor cells to treatment by one or more chemotherapy agents, including cisplatin, carboplatin, VP 16, teniposide, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, dactinomycin, mitomycin, plicamycin, bleomycin, procarbazine, nitrosourea, cyclophosphamide, bisulfan, melphalan, chlorambucil, ifosfamide, merchlorehtamine, taxol, taxotere, anthracyclines, and ionizing radiation.
A better understanding of the present invention, its several aspects, and its advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein there is shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.

Heteroarotinoids containing urea or thiourea linker

Abstract: in which:

Abstract: Ar and Arxe2x80x2 denote aryl substituents, and wherein at least one of said aryl substituents comprises an aromatic ring having at least one heteroatom in a fused, partially saturated ring;

Abstract: W denotes O or S; and

Abstract: Q denotes H or i-C3H7.

The Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University

The Board of Regents for University of Oklahoma


This invention is to realize a final circuit by wiring only the top layer depending on the individual circuits, by fabricating a master slice in the step of up to forming plural semiconductor elements such as transistors on a semiconductor substrate, forming a lower layer of versatile wiring pieces thereon, and forming contact holes thereon. In this way, since the step just before formation of the top layer wiring can be carried out regardless of the features of individual circuits, preliminary mass productions are possible, and final products can be completed only by forming the wiring of the top layer depending on the requirements of the users. Accordingly, it is applicable to a wide variety of products, and the term for development and manufacture can be tremendously shortened.

This invention relates to master slice type integrated circuit device and manufacturing method thereof for mutually wiring plural logic function cells depending on the required circuit configuration by preparing multiple logic function cells integrated on a semiconductor substrate as a so-called master slice.
As the number of integrated transistors in a semiconductor device increases, the semiconductor processing technology becomes complicated, and a longer period is needed for production. In the layout design, on the other hand, the computer aided design (CAD) apparatus has been employed in order to cope with the complicated layout processing, and wiring is being automated. A conventional semiconductor device is shown in FIG. 4, in which plural logic function cells 2, 3 are formed on a semicondutor substrate 1, and these logic function cells 2, 3 are connected by a wiring group 4. When connecting such two or more logic functions 2, 3 by wiring, it is sometimes necessary to connect a terminal 2a of one logic function cell 2 and a terminal 3a of the other logic function cell 3, or to connect a terminal 2b of one logic function cell 2 and a terminal 3b of the other logic function cell 3. At this time, crossing parts occur in the wirings to connect between terminals 2a and 3a, and 2b and 3b.
In the prior art, accordingly, a two-layer wiring is used as wiring group 4. That is, a first layer wirings 5, 6 are formed at the positions indicated by broken line in FIG. 4, and an insulation layer 7 is formed on them, and a contact hole 7a is formed in this insulation layer 7, and second layer wirings 8, 9, 19, 11 are formed at the positions indicated by solid line on the insulation layer 7, and part of them is connected to the first layer wirings 5, 6 by way of the contact hole 7a. Thus, the two logic function cells 2, 3 are connected by two layers of wiring, and the crossing part A does not cause any inconvenience because the first layer wiring 6 and second layer wiring 10 are insulated by the insulation layer 7.
In this conventional wiring method, however, at least three steps are needed until completion of wiring, that is, processing of first layer wiring, forming of contact hole in insulation layer, and processing of second layer wiring. Therefore, if the CAD should be employed, the wiring process cannot be shortened, and the term of development after completion of logic design cannot be shortened.

Method of making master slice type integrated circuit device


A service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container of a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, including a rectangular bottom wall, a rectangular upper wall, side walls and narrow end walls and forms an interior space adapted to receive a trolley for catering goods. The service box is provided with a door at at least one of its narrow ends, the door forming at least the main part of the narrow wall and in the open state permits insertion and removal of the trolley and in the closed state provides for an essentially closed space for the trolley.

As described in earlier applications (EP 13172368.6, EP 13172370.2), service boxes, e.g. trolleys for catering goods, can be stored in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container provided in a cargo compartment of an aircraft. These service boxes are removed from such storage rack arrangement and are moved to the passenger compartment by a transport arrangement so that the individual service boxes become available in a galley when the catering goods are required without the necessity to have all service boxes or trolleys stored in the galley or the like.

Service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container


Provided is a method for cultivating low potassium leafy vegetables at high yield without causing growth failure due to potassium deficiency in hydroponics. Cultivation is performed using a hydroponic solution containing a very small amount of potassium in the late cultivation period of low potassium leafy vegetables, thereby keeping the potassium content low at the time of harvest and also allowing the leafy vegetables to be stably harvested at high yield without causing potassium deficiency.

Recently, cultivation of low potassium vegetables are spotlighted as high added value vegetables cultivated at plant factories. The number of patients being restricted to intake potassium by the doctor, for example, artificial dialysis patients, chronic nephropathy patients, or the like, is said to be about 300,000 in Japan, and the potential demand for low potassium vegetables has been high. As such, it is conceived that low potassium vegetables are attracting attention.
As potassium has long been known as one of the three major nutrients for plants, it is essential for the plant growth and is always contained in vegetables. For this reason, supply of vegetables having low potassium content is desired by patients under potassium intake restriction and medical personnel.
Up to now, methods far cultivating low potassium spinach and other leafy vegetables have been disclosed as the methods for providing vegetables having low potassium content e.g., Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
According to the prior art literatures, low potassium containing vegetables were made available by cultivating with potassium containing hydroponic solution, and subsequently cultivating with potassium-free hydroponic solution which does not contain potassium but includes sodium instead or cultivating with hydroponic solution not including potassium or sodium. For example, the following Patent Literature 1 discloses a method for cultivating low potassium spinach by specifying the periods during which the spinach is cultivated with potassium containing hydroponic solution and potassium-free hydroponic solution.

Low potassium content vegetable, and method for cultivating same


The invention relates to a mobile robot able to move inside a self-storage site comprising a plurality of outer walls defining said inside space and a plurality of storage boxes arranged in said inside space, said mobile robot comprising an entry module configured to allow a user to enter information relative to the location of a storage box, and a distributor of at least one locking means configured to lock said box once it is rented.

At this time, it is known to store objects in a specialized warehouse called a self-storage site. Self-storage is intended both for individuals and professionals. It is in particular used by people who are moving or going abroad, students who need to store their belongings during vacations, people who wish to store seasonal goods or keep family heirlooms. It is also intended for individuals who do not have enough room to store all of their belongings in their homes. Companies may use it as a small warehouse where they can keep documents, computers, archives, hardware, tools, etc.
To that end and in a known manner, a self-storage site includes a plurality of partitioned compartments called "boxes" that may each be rented out to store items therein. The site is said to be "self-storage" because a customer having rented a box may, once he has entered the site, access his box personally and without human assistance from the lessor. In a known manner, the customer may enter the site by identifying himself to the receptionist or by identifying himself on an entry terminal that unlocks access to the site.
A potential customer wishing to rent a box to store belongings therein may wish to visit the self-storage site before signing the rental agreement. In this case, it is necessary to have a physical presence by the lessor on the site so that the latter can show the customer the different types of boxes, then, once the box is selected, have him sign the rental agreement.
Potential customers oftentimes visit the site spontaneously during highly variable hours, in particular during breakfast hours, evenings or on weekends. Consequently, to be able to receive them, it is desirable for the lessor to provide a physical presence on the site a large part of the time, for example 10 hours per day, 6 days per week, or 60 hours. However, the number of potential customers in a day may be very small, for example one or two potential customers per day, which represents a low actual visit time, for example about two hours, while requiring the human presence of at least one agent.
With the current solutions, it is therefore necessary to choose between mobilizing staff to receive potential customers during the broadest possible time windows for a very short actual work time, which presents a significant cost and therefore a major drawback, or losing potential customers, which is a major drawback.
There is therefore a need for a simple, reliable and effective solution for managing a self-storage site in particular making it possible to optimize costs while offering a high-quality service.

Method, mobile robot and system for the automated management of a self-storage site


A method and apparatus for comparing two computing platforms installed with instances of an application, a portal or another computerized unit, wherein one computerized unit malfunctions when executed by the corresponding computing platform.

When installing systems, for example computerized systems such as applications or portals, many types of problems may occur. Some problems may occur during installation, whether the installation does not succeed and the system is not installed at all, or the installation is completed but installation errors are reported. However, even if the installation of the system goes well and no problems are reported, the system may still not function as expected. The system may not function at all, may provide only some of the expected functionality, or function incorrectly or in sub-optimal manner. Installation and execution problems may be caused by a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: the used hardware equipment, such as CPU, memory, available disk space; operating system; registry; pre-required systems such as database installations, J2EE versions, .NET versions; portal contents; installed and activated or paused services, and their versions and updates; log and trace files; language, time zone or other regional settings; installed version and available updates for each component of the application or portal; component installation order; deployed components and deployment order; connectivity parameters such as internet or internet connectivity parameters; configurations; user settings; authorizations; and others.
Some systems, such as enterprise systems installed in enterprises, are first installed on a testing environment used exclusively for these purposes, such as a dedicated computer, on which intensive quality assurance, tests, corrections, and adjustments are performed. Only when the testing results are satisfactory, the system is installed on production environments, i.e., on one or more additional computers.
In such situations, it sometimes happens that while the testing environment fully functions as expected, one or more of the production environments does not function at all, functions partially, or produces incorrect or otherwise suboptimal results. In another typical scenario, an enterprise may use an enterprise system, which includes several identical sub-systems. In such systems, wherein all subsystems are expected to behave identically, but practically some of the sub systems function differently from others, or do not function at all. The problem can stem from multiple sources in either the testing environment and/or in the production environment, and may not be easy to find. Locating and correcting the problem may cause serious problems, such as downtime, timetable delays and others.
Thus there is a need for a method and apparatus for detecting problems in systems installed on computers such as production environments, when another system such as a testing environment, is available, wherein one systems is believed to function satisfactorily while the other one does not, or when the two systems provide some functionality and it is not clear which one functions well and which does not.

Method and apparatus for checking installed and executed systems

Abstract: The method and apparatus query the two computing platforms and the two instances for a multiplicity of values associated with a multiplicity of parameters that may influence the functionality, compare the parameter values and report the differences to a user, in order to enable the user to locate the root cause of the problem. The parameters may relate to the instances as well as to the computing platforms and their environment.

Abstract: The parameter retrieval and comparison can be performed by the apparatus, or by components of the instances for handling proprietary data types.


The invention relates to a process for removing hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) and/or carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) from exhaust gases. These exhaust gases are brought into contact with water and bromine so that H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HBr in aqueous solution and possible CO.sub.2 are formed. Bromine is regenerated from the hydrobromic acid in an electrolysis cell. In addition, marketable hydrogen is produced.

The invention relates to a method for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon disulfide from waste gases. Both compounds occur, alone or in combination, as waste gases of chemo-technical processes, for example, during the manufacture of rayon. They are very noxious agents. Carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) can cause acute and chronic forms of poisoning, with psychological and behavioral changes, if the patient has been exposed to a concentration between 30 and 120 mg/m.sup.3. For this reason, maximum concentrations of carbon disulfide of only 30 mg/m.sup.3 are allowed for working environment.
Hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) is similarly poisonous. With concentrations of about 5000 ppm, there is a risk of immediate coma. The presently valid maximum values for hydrogen sulfide are approximately 15 mg/m.sup.3.

Method for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon disulfide from waste gases

European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)


A power stapler including a cover shell, a base, a frame, a circuit board assembly, an electromagnetic valve, a magazine and tie plate assembly, an anvil, a micro-switch, a presser case assembly, a staple magazine constraint control device, an adjusting rod, and a linkage, wherein the valve block of the electromagnetic valve is controlled by the circuit board to drive the linkage causing the presser case assembly reciprocated to achieve a striking in driving a staple through the sheets of paper to be fastened; the adjusting rod is turned to move the circuit board assembly in changing the position of the micro-switch so that the binding position is adjusted.

The present invention relates to staplers, and more particularly to a power stapler for bookbinding.
FIG. 1 shows a power stapler according to the prior art which comprises a motor, a transmission gear coupled to the motor, a driven gear wheel meshed with the transmission gear and having an eccentric rod, a forked link, a striking plate pulled by a spring and stopped by the forked link, and an anvil. When the motor is turned on, the driven gear wheel is turned by the transmission gear to move the forked link by the eccentric rod thereof, causing the forked front end of the forked link released from the striking plate, and therefore the spring immediately pulls down the striking plate causing a staple driven through the sheets of paper being placed on the anvil. This structure of Dower stapler is not suitable for fastening a thick stack of paper because the striking plate is not forced downward to strike the staple by a high pressure from the top but simply pulled down by the spring. When the striking plate is pulled to driven a staple through a thick stack of paper, the driven gear wheel or its eccentric rod or the transmission gear may be damaged easily. Another drawback of this structure of power stapler is that the binding position is not adjustable. Still another drawback of this strucutre of power stapler is its complicated structure.
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a power stapler which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the power stapler including a cover shell, a base, a frame, a circuit board assembly, an electromagnetic valve, a magazine and time plate assembly, an anvil, a micro-switch, a presser case assembly, a staple magazine constraint control device, an adjusting rod, and a linkage, wherein the valve block of the electromagnetic valve is controlled by the circuit board to drive the linkage causing the presser case assembly reciprocated to achieve a striking in driving a staple through the sheets of paper to be fastened.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the adjsuting rod can be turned in either direction to move the circuit board assembly in changing the position of the micro-switch so that the binding position is adjusted.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the staple magazine is automatically pushed out of the magazine seat by a spring for loading staples when the link is rotated.

1F., No. 17, Alley 18, Chiung En Lane, Chiung Lin Road


In color printing, and in the fine arts, cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) color inks are known to possess much higher color saturation and brightness than conventional pigment and dyed based inks. However, prior art CLC ink formulations are inconvenient because in the liquid phase they have to be confined in cells, and in the solid phase, they have to be applied at high temperature, and have to be aligned by some means to produce the optimum color. This invention solves the problem encountered in the CLC prior art, by making pre-aligned CLC platelets or flakes of appropriate thickness and size and mixing them in appropriate host fluids producing a novel CLC ink which can be applied at room temperature and without the need for alignment. The new pre-aligned room temperature CLC ink can be used as a substitute for conventional inks in almost all printing and plotting, and manual drawing and painting. Using the notch filter CLC platelets, the brightness is further enhanced. This invention teaches the CLC ink concepts, its applications and method of manufacturing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of color inks and paints used in the printing, signage, fine and decorative arts industries.
2. Description of Related Art
David Makow in Color, Vol. 11, No. 3, p.205 (1986) has shown that cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC), and in particular, the CLC polymers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,570), possess color properties and effects that are not possible to obtain by conventional dyes and pigments, including: additive color properties; higher saturation and wider color gamut. However, in their present forms, liquid crystal coatings cannot be used as general purpose color inks and paints for the printing, signage, fine and decorative arts industries. CLC's in the liquid phase are not possible to use unless they are somehow encapsulated. The CLC polymer coatings, on the other hand, are solid at room temperature, and as Makow showed, produce remarkable color effects and are highly stable. These CLC polymers are still inconvenient for general purpose applications because they have to be applied at high temperatures. The polysiloxane-based CLC polymers are applied at 140.degree. C. in the liquid crystal phase and its molecules must be aligned to form the helical configuration with the helix axis perpendicular to the substrate (paper or canvas). This constrains the use of CLC polymers only in special applications and only by specialists.
This invention shows that by making CLC polymers into flat flakes or platelets having the helical axis normal to the platelets surface and mixing them in a suitable fluid, the prior art problems are solved, making it possible for CLC polymers to be conveniently used for general purpose applications exploiting their remarkable color properties. This is a CLC ink which is applied at room temperature, and no further alignment by the user is needed, since the platelets are already in the proper helical configuration.

Method and apparatus for producing aligned cholesteric liquid crystal inks


A fixing board, for an attraction-fastening type freight carrying device to be mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle, has been improved. The fixing board is composed of a magnetic attraction force contact plate, a film-like suction-cup, and a releasing handle. The magnetic attraction force contact plate has a three-layer structure comprising a soft magnet plate, an iron plate and smooth thin-film sheet coated on the iron plate. The iron plate has a plurality of grooves radially extending, which are elongated dead-end grooves. Further, the magnetic attraction force contact plate has a through-hole into which a substantially cylindrical seal lip extending from the suction film is inserted so as to make an air value. This air hole takes on a closed state when the freight carrying device is installed on the vehicle roof, and takes on an open state when being removed therefrom. The film-like suction-cup is formed throughout the circumference of the magnetic attraction force contact plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing board for an attraction-fastening type freight carrying device which is directly attachable onto a roof of a motor vehicle and others to allow freight, such as skis, to be fixed thereon.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As one example of ski carriers for motor vehicles being mounted on roofs thereof in order to carry elongated articles, such as skis, by the vehicles, the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Hei 3 No.42446 discloses, WADA a ski carrier which is equipped with a magnetic base section magnetically attracted onto the outside surface of the vehicle roof. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the present application, such a conventional ski carrier is provided with a magnetic base section 101 magnetically attracted onto a roof R of a car A and having a hooked portion 101A for removal at an appropriate portion of its peripheral edge section. A semi-cylindrical block 102 is integrally attached to a central portion of the upper surface of the magnetic base section 101 and a ski supporting plate 105 is rotatably and elevatably fit onto the block 102 through a pair of right- and left-hand pedestals 104 rotatable in the forward and backward directions of the car body with a rotary shaft being rotated about its rotational center between a falling-down position and a standing-up position with respect to the block 102. For use, the ski supporting plate 105 is held to take the standing-up position and ski plates 106 are fitted into a pair of right- and left-hand ski fitting grooves 105A formed in the ski supporting plate 105. During the use, the ski supporting plate 105 lowers chiefly by the load of the ski plates 106 to come into a surely engaged condition with the ski plates 106 at a state in which the ski supporting plate 105 is kept in its standing-up position. When being lifted to be released from this engaged condition, the ski supporting plate 105 can be fallen down.
However, in a prior ski roof-carrier, the attachment of the ski plates 106 to the ski supporting plate 105 is made such that, after the ski plates 106 are fitted in the ski fitting grooves 105A, a rubber band (not shown) is wound around the ski plates 106 and hooked by rubber band hooking portions 129. On the other hand, the removal of the ski plates 106 is accomplished by the untying of the rubber band therefrom. Accordingly, the attachment and removal of the ski plates 106 are troublesome and detract from its workability. In addition, the magnetic base section 101 is structurally integrated fixedly with a metallic flat plate 111a and a magnet base plate such as a rubber magnet 111b, while the car roof R has a number of curved surfaces, for which reason, to tightly fit and fix the FIGS. 1 to 3 ski carrier onto the roof R, there is a need for the metallic flat plate 111a of the magnetic base section 101 being flexible to follow the curved surfaces of the roof R so that the magnet base plate 111b is brought closely into uniform contact therewith throughout. There is a problem which arises with such an structure, however, in that difficulty is encountered to make the metallic flat plate 111a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, freely curved to the curved surfaces of the roof R, since the metallic flat plate 111a usually has a great rigidity.
Various other ski carriers based on the same concept have heretofore been proposed, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,529 HINDERAKER which discloses a collapsible ski rack set as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the illustrations, onto a roof 116 of a car 118 there is fixedly secured a set of racks 110 comprising front and rear side racks 112 and 114 to, as shown in FIG. 4, hold ski plates 120 thereon. For example, the one rack 112 is constructed such that, as shown in FIG. 5, a mild steel made base plate 122 and a plastic magnet (or the like) made fixing means 124 are adhered to each other and a holding mechanism 126 is vertically set thereon. The FIG. 5 structure includes arms 134, 136 and a leg 132 and the end portion of the leg 132 serving as a supporting portion 130 is rotatably supported by a clip 128 which in turn, is welded to the base plate 122. As to the other rack 114 in FIG. 4, reference numeral 138 represents a base plate (the same as 122), numerals 150, 156 denote arms, and numeral 148 indicates a leg.
As well as the FIGS. 1 to 3 ski carrier, this ski rack structure also has a disadvantage in that difficulty is experienced to follow the curvatures of the roof 116 of the car 118, thus not eliminating the problems.
Moreover, as generally known, the board for fixing freight such as a ski onto a roof of a motor vehicle employs a structure in which it is attached through metallic fittings to projections such as gutters at both sides of the roof, with the result that it is necessary needed to additionally use metallic fittings.

Fixing board for use in attraction-fastening type freight carrying device


A solvent-soluble flexographic retort ink particularly suitable for use in laminating packaging applications. The inks maintain lamination bond strength after being subjected to retort conditions.

This section provides information helpful in understanding the invention but that is not necessarily prior art.
Flexible packaging includes a wide variety of materials such as various plastic films, laminates, and foil that extend the shelf life and protect many products, such as food products. In order to extend the shelf of a food product the food product is packaged and subjected to pasteurization or sterilization using high temperatures, high pressure, or both (retort process) to destroy bacteria.
Retort ink systems have been known for some time in gravure printing. However, due to the necessary pigment load and solvency of the resin required so as not to swell flexographic plates, development of retort inks for flexographic printing has been limited. Despite prior efforts, there remains a need for an improved flexographic ink for printing on flexible packaging material that provides high lamination bond strength when subjected to high temperature or pressure processing, such as in a retort process.

Solvent-based flexible packaging ink composition for high temperature and pressure


Light beams directed toward each surface of a sheet are reflected therefrom as first reflected light beams and second reflected light beams. The intensity and/or density of the reflected light beams are acted on to compare the reflectivity of the sheet surfaces, e.g. to determine which surface of the sheet has a more reflective surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for comparing relative surface reflectivity.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Technical Problems
In the handling of sheets having a coated surface, it is necessary to determine the orientation of the coated sheet surface so that the sheet is properly handled in subsequent operations. There are available in the prior art, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,963,938; 3,666,360 and 3,792,930 techniques for inspecting sheets, e.g. glass sheets for internal and external defects. Although the techniques taught in the above-mentioned patents are acceptable for their intended purposes, they are not designed to distinguish between coated and uncoated sheet surfaces. Also in the prior art e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,572,951; 4,035,085 and 4,072,426 there are taught techniques for inspecting reflective coatings on glass sheet surfaces. Although these systems are acceptable for their intended purposes, there are no teachings therein for adopting these techniques for distinguishing between a coated and an uncoated surface of a glass sheet to determine sheet orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,251,613 teaches a system for determining smoothness of a sheet surface. In general, a light source has its light beams incident on an ink mark on a sheet surface. The light beams of another light source are incident on the opposed surface. The intensity of the reflected beams from each surface are compared to determine the comparative smoothness of the sheet surface. The drawbacks of the system taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,251,613 are the additional steps required to impose and remove the ink mark and the risk of damaging the surface while the mark is being imposed and/or removed.
From the above it can be appreciated that it would be advantageous to provide a system for comparing and/or distinguishing between reflective surfaces of a sheet.

Method of and apparatus for comparing surface reflectivity


High quantum efficiency (.gtoreq.5%) ultrafast (.ltoreq.100 picosecond) and broad band (30 KeV to 80 KeV for medical application) X-ray photo-electron cathode, high gain X-ray real time image intensifier and portable low intensity real time projection type X-ray imagescope use new vacuum photo-electron devices. A new type X-ray photo-electron cathode has a specially designed alkali halide electron emission layer that makes possible high quantum efficiency, high speed and broad band X-ray photon detection. An X-ray photo-electron cathode followed by a direct coupled micro channel plate and an output phosphor display screen form a new type panel shaped direct view X-ray intensifier tube which can have both high spatial resolution (.gtoreq.10 lp/mm) and high gain (.gtoreq.10.sup.4). The thickness of this panel shaped disc X-ray intensifier can be less than 1 cm. A portable real time projection X-ray imagescope which employs this new type X-ray intensifier and other devices (small x-ray tube, small built-in high voltage power supply) can be widely used for medical, industrial and security applications.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an image intensifying X-ray to visible converter and, more particularly, to such a converter utilizing a photo-electron cathode for the direct conversion of an X-ray image to an electron equivalent image which can be intensified to produce an enhanced real time visible image. A panel type direct view real time X-ray image intensifier with high spatial resolution and high gain has been made by using this new type X-ray photo cathode. A portable low intensity real time projection type X-ray imagescope has also been made by using the new type X-ray image intensifier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most of the early X-ray intensifiers are indirect conversion type, wherein the X-ray is converted to visible light in a scintillator, a visible light photo-electron cathode then converts the photons to electrons which are accelerated and multiplied by different techniques, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,516, U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,900, U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,666 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,046. One commercially available X-ray imagescope employs an unstable radio active isotope X-ray source and an indirect conversion X-ray intensifier which consists of an X-ray scintillator, a pair of fiber-optic plates, a visible light photo-electron cathode, a micro channel plate, a phosphor display screen and a magnifier. There are numerous disadvantages in these prior art X-ray image intensification devices. The most obvious disadvantage being the use of a scintillator, wherein the response time is limited and unsuitable for use in ultrafast X-ray imaging. It is difficult to have both high spatial resolution and high sensitivity. In order to increase sensitivity, the thickness of the scintillator must be increased, which degrades the spatial resolution. Another disadvantage in using scintillators is that they usually are based on a fiber-optic plate which is the input window of a visible light intensifier. These fiber-optic plates must be specially manufactured for reducing the size of the image in order to improve the coupling and the viewing of the field. The complicated techniques for making fiber-optic plates and visible light photo-electron cathodes and the complicated structure of the intensifier itself, make these intensifiers very expensive. On the other hand, the use of these expensive fiber-optic plates also introduce further loss of light intensity and spatial resolution. It is further noted that because of the use of a visible light photo-electron cathode, the intensifier must be light shielded. Still another disadvantage is the inconvenience of using a radio active isotope as the X-ray source. The source not only supplies X-rays during the operation of the device, it also radiates constantly, day and night, and since the energy of the X-ray is not adjustable the isotope usually has a rather short life time.

X-ray to visible image converter with a cathode emission layer having non-uniform density profile structure


An improved power tong brake apparatus provides an integral drum secured at a preferably integral mounting flange to the power tong jaw carrier. The drum has an exposed braking surface portion contacted during operation by a cooperating shoe which is adjustably attached to the tong housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oil field apparatus or tool, and more particularly relates to an improved power wrench brake or drag assembly. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved power wrench brake assembly providing an adjustable brake assembly having external, easily accessible brake drum surface and brake shoe portions which can be quickly field adjusted or field removed/replaced.
2. General Background and Prior Art
In the oil field and in oil/gas drilling, there is often utilized a "power wrench" or "power tong" for making up and braking up sections of drill pipe, casing, or other like piping assemblies which are generally made up into strings from a plurality of joints. Many of these power tongs or power wrenches are in use which quickly make or brake the desired connection using power supplied by an electric or hydraulic motor for example. Generally, power wrenches of this type have a clutch or drag or brake assembly which transforms rotary power through a gear reduction system into gripping power through a cam mechanism, thus allowing the pipe to be gripped at the joint and the desired torque applied. Power wrenches and power tongs of this type are known.
The clutch or drag assembly of a power wrench requires adjustment. This is because the frictional contact between a drum surface and a shoe surface to one or both. Further, adjustment of the drag assembly makes a great deal or torque or a lesser amount of torque (as desired) transferable directly to the gripping jaws of the power wrench. In other words, whether or not the frictional engagement of the drag assembly is great or small determines at least to some extent the force with which the pipe joint will be gripped. The adjustment must be maintained over a long period of time during the drilling operation. As wear occurs on the shoe and/or drum, adjustments must be made to assure the same gripping strength to the pipe. Generally the brake mechanism is internal to the wrench and cannot be adjusted in the field. Adjustment with internal brake assemblies must be performed by a shop mechanic or other technical person who inspects the wrench and readies it for operation at a shop or other site, usually removed from the actual drilling location. Often a portion of the wrench itself must be disassembled to gain access to the brake assembly for replacement/adjustment.
Other prior art type clutch assemblies recommend and teach that a duplicate clutch assembly or drag assembly or brake assembly be kept in the field with the tool to replace the original assembly since field adjustment is impossible or at least very difficult. With such assembly, the shoe and drum are a single unit, with adjustment on the entire unit being possible but when outside the wrench.
When a driller is required to spend excessive down time on the adjustment of a particular part of his drilling equipment, very expensive down time results which loses production for the driller desirous of completing a drilling of the well. Needless to say, time is money and the driller as well as all other persons connected with the drilling of the well desire that it be completed as soon as possible with as little down time to the equipment as possible.
Several devices have been patented which address the concept of a brake or drag apparatus for a power tong. U.S. Pat. No. 2,618,468 issued to C. A. Lundeen and entitled "Power Tong", shows a brake rim and a cooperating stationary brake band.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,661 entitled "Apparatus for Coupling and Uncoupling Pipe Sections", there is shown a pair of brake members which function as a brake apparatus for a power tong.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,070 issued to C. A. Lundeen, there is also seen a friction band having a lining which encircles an upright rim.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,141,362 issued to Simon Tammy and Zenis Weisel provides a "Jaw Operating Structure for a Power Operated Wrench". A annular brake pad 61 is provided with a cooperating drum structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,308 issued to J. E. Ham and Merrill Willsey provides a power tong transmission assembly which shows a brake band engaged with an annular wall. Further provided with the Ham-Willsey device is a means for applying more or less braking force to the band designated as a brake actuator mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,326 issued to J. L. Dickman provides a "Pipe Tong Head". This patent is also discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,308.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,742 issued to Howard S. Flick and entitled "Jaw Actuating Means for Pipe Tongs" provides a brake band having an inner lining which cooperates with a drum structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,095 issued to James Barnett provides a brake means for use with power tongs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,323 issued to A. B. Campbell and entitled "Power Wrench" illustrates a braking structure which is comprised of flat annular disc like braking elements. The Campbell device also utilizes as a preferred means for braking a drum and brake shoe structure.
These and other prior art type brake devices for use with power wrenches and power tongs are generally hard to regulate, and are hard to replace. Many are deep within the housing of the wrench or power tong and require a disassembly of the wrench and order that they be adjusted and/or replaced. Further, many of the above devices have no adjustability with respect to the brake shoe and brake drum portions, thus having no way to adjust the torque applied by the wrench or to compensate for wear or either the brake or drum structure. At least one device above (U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,308) does provide an adjuster screw, which can be adjusted to get more or less braking force to the tong assembly. However, in that patent to J. E. Ham and Merrill Willsey, the adjustable screw is unbalanced and difficult to adjust. Further, the entire assembly is not freely available for inspection and/or replacement.
Most prior art devices are difficult and/or impossible to replace in the field should the need arise. Further, they are plagued by the problem of adjustability of the frictional contact of the drum and shoe during operation of the wrench. Further, they often require extensive use of extra tools to precisely vary the torque provided by the wrench through the braking assembly if such adjustability is available at all.
Those devices which have braking members which are within the housing of the wrench usually require shop maintenance removed from the site of the use of the tong in order to properly repair, replace, and/or adjust the braking apparatus.
3. General Description of the Present Invention
The present invention provides an improved power tong brake apparatus which utilizes a preferably integral brake drum body provided with an outer bearing surface. The brake drum body is affixed to the power tong at the jaw carrier portion thereof with the bearing surface portion of the brake drum body projecting externally to the outside of the power tong housing when affixed thereto during operation.
An adjustable brake shoe adapted for frictional engagement with the brake drum is provided and also externally mounted on the outer frame portion of the power tong with the shoe being movably adjustable on the power tong frame with respect to the drum.
In the preferred embodiment, the brake drum is an integral single body having a downwardly depending cylindrical drum portion provided with an outer curved drum bearing surface. The drum surface is entirely external to the power tong itself and thus easily accessible by a driller, repairman, or other technical person when adjustment is required. The brake shoe can be for example, semi-circular in structure and attaches to the external portion of the power tong frame and registers with and contacts frictionally the brake drum at its outer circular bearing surface. The brake shoe is provided with an external adjustment which allows it to be quickly and easily moved and adjusted with respect to the brake drum surface minimizing down time, minimizing repair time, and maximizing production of the oil well or other installation to which the entire power tong apparatus is assigned.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power tong brake apparatus which is generally external to the power tong allowing easy access thereto.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable power tong brake apparatus which is generally externally adjustable and easily adjustable in the field where the power tong is being utilized.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a power tong brake apparatus which is simple in structure and simple to manufacture, and requiring little maintenance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a power tong brake apparatus providing a semi-circular brake shoe, which is externally mounted to the power tong and is externally adjustable on the power tong with respect to the brake drum.
A feature of the present invention is that it can be externally adjusted with conventional tools in the field at the site of the oil well, gas well, or other installation or job to which the power tong is being used.
Another feature of the present invention is that it provides a power tong brake apparatus which includes a brake drum and brake shoe, which are mutually separate parts that can be individually changed without the changing of the other part associated therewith.


A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. A substrate having a memory region is provided. A plurality of fin structures are provided and each fin structure stretching along a first direction. A plurality of gate structures are formed, and each gate structure stretches along a second direction. Next, a dielectric layer is formed on the gate structures. A first patterned mask layer is formed, wherein the first patterned mask layer has a plurality of first trenches stretching along the second direction. A second patterned mask layer on the first patterned mask layer, wherein the second patterned mask layer comprises a plurality of first patterns stretching along the first direction. Subsequently, the dielectric layer is patterned by using the first patterned mask layer and the second patterned mask layer as a mask to form a plurality of contact vias. The contact holes are filled with a conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method of forming of a semiconductor structure, and more particularly, to a method of forming a semiconductor structure having contact plugs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, as various kinds of consumer electronic products have been constantly developed towards miniaturization and the size of semiconductor components has reduced accordingly, in order to meet requirements of high integration, high performance, low power consumption, and demands for the products.
However, with the miniaturization development of the electronic products, current planar transistors no longer meet the requirements of the products. Non-planar transistors, such as fin field effect transistors (Fin-FET), have been therefore to obtain a high drive current and to lessen short channel effect. However, due to the three-dimensional structure of the Fin-FET, a lot of drawbacks raises as well. For example, in conventional Fin-FET, the fin structure includes a corner with a nearly 90 degrees, which may result in uneven voltage distribution through the channel. Consequently, the quality of the Fin-FET is affected.
Therefore, there is still a need for a novel FET structure and a method of making the same.

Method of forming semiconductor structure


Horizontal foraminous piping is placed in non-cohesive subsoil by means of an upright engaged disengageably at its bottom end to the top end of an open-ended hollow upright stanchion. Fluid jetted into the top end of the placement pipe and out of the bottom end of the stanchion to fluidize subjacent subsoil enables the pipe to be pressed downward until the stanchion reaches a desired depth. With an end of the cable attached thereto, winding up of the cable draws the foraminous piping to the stanchion, while fluid jetted from the horizontal foraminous piping downward onto and into subjacent subsoil to fluidize it enables the piping to move down into and laterally within the subsoil, for attachment to the stanchion. The placement pipe is disengaged and removed--but may be reattached to facilitate subsequent removal of the stanchion and the piping, usually with fluidizing flow from the piping into adjacent subsoil.

Numerous methods have been suggested and many have been used in an effort to control erosion, and to encourage accretion, of sand and other subsoils non-cohesive when wet, especially in the instance of beaches--and to discourage deposition of (or to displace) undesired sand or soil, especially in channels useful for shipping. Attempts to overcome undesired effects of wave action have usually been unavailing in the long run, sometimes producing the opposite of what was sought and/or other deleterious results. Man has to learn to use nature rather than to fight it in such environmental efforts.
Channel maintenance (or creation) traditionally is accomplished by dredging, repeated whenever current or wave action tends to fill in the channel (frequently). Dredging costs enough the first time, and necessary repetition is an aggravation of expense. Fluidization as an alternative to dredging is also well recognized, noted as long as a century ago by Scott in U.S. Pat. No. 510,713.
However, even such alternative channel clearing and maintenance have relied upon the energy-intensive step of dredging to enable the necessary piping to be buried preparatory to fluidizing use.
The piping placement art is represented by van Steveninck U.S. Pat. No. 3,695,049, in which piping to be buried is supplied with one or more small accompanying pipes to fluidize underlying subsoil "causing the pipeline together with the fluidization pipes to sink into the fluidized seabed." The present inventor has proposed aids to placement of fluidizing piping in his U.S. patent application Ser. No. 465,838 filed Jan. 16, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,857 and has cited additional prior art therein.
The present invention provides improved means and methods for emplacing foraminous piping and means for retaining such piping in place, as for use in non-cohesive soil fluidization for channel maintenance, or use in subsoil stabilization for beach maintenance.

Emplacement of foraminous piping in non-cohesive subsoils


An anti-splash guard to enclose the open upper portion of a toilet bowl to shield and contain liquid and matter splashing from the interior thereof when attempting to unclog or dislodge debris from the plumbing when using a plunger including an upper elongated handle and a lower plunger member, the anti-splash guard comprising a cover with or without an upper opening to receive a portion of the upper elongated handle therethrough and a lower opening to receive a portion of the toilet bowl such that when the anti-splash guard is operatively mounted on the toilet with the lower plunger member disposed therein liquid and matter is shielded and contained when splashed therefrom when the plunger is used to dislodge debris from the plumbing.

1. Field of the Invention
An anti-splash guard to enclose the open upper portion of a toilet bowl to shield and contain liquid and matter splashing from the interior thereof when attempting to unclog or dislodge debris from the plumbing when using a plunger.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Plungers or plumber""s helpers are well known for use to unclog a toilet or associated plumbing. Such plungers normally have a concave hemispherical rubber cup with handle attached. Manual reciprocation of the handle alternately compresses and expands the rubber cup, alternating applying pressure and suction to an obstructed fluid flow line thereby clearing the line. The plunger works best when operated vigorously, which increases the chances for splashing, often directed at the operator.
Numerous devices have been developed to reduce the splashing of liquids, including water, from toilet bowls during operation of such plungers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,368 teaches a device for clearing obstructed soil pipes without splashing water from a sink or toilet bowl comprising an elongate handle having a plunger member at a lower end and an anti-splash shield having a central passage to receive the elongate handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,170 describes a shield to prevent water from splashing from a toilet bowl when using a plunger in attempting to unplug a clogged toilet or toilet drain comprising a resilient single piece having an outer rim and a flat portion providing a positioning surface against the upper rim of a toilet bowl and a central portion dome shaped concave surface. An aperture is positioned centrally in the dome with the aperture accepting the handle of a toilet plunger forming a frustrum or truncated conical passage way for the toilet handle extending downwardly from the dome.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,149 relates to relates to a hygienic covering for the bearing surface of an annular seat of a water closet consisting of a layer of paper, plastified paper or the like in the form of a cylindrical ring including two annular resilient edges provided with elastic bands for providing a covering which can be positioned on the surface of the seat in order to be engaged with one resilient edge with the elastic band at the outer edge and to be kept substantially tensioned above the surface of the seat by means of the other resilient edge with the elastic band.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,418 teaches a sanitary diaper handling apparatus which is configured so as to fit standard size diaper pails and which will fit over most toilet bowls in which the diapers are pre-washed. A standard sized diaper pail lid is utilized, the lid having a section of see-through material and two additional openings, each of the openings having a raised lip so that standard rubber gloves may be securely attached to the lid, the rubber gloves extending below the lid itself. This arrangement allows the user to pre-wash soiled diapers and to place them in the standard diaper pail without touching the diapers with the bare hands.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,528 shows a system for containing the splashing produced when using a toilet plunger to unclog a flush toilet comprising a substantially flat stiff splash plate to cover the upper opening of a toilet bowl when the plate is rested on the toilet bowl rim. The plate has a central aperture for a plunger handle to freely pass through.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,527 discloses a splash deflector for plungers for deflecting splashes having a disc with a circumferential lip on one side thereof. A plurality of stiffening ribs and anti-tearing ribs and openings may be provided on the disc. The disc is positioned on a handle and attached thereto via flaps formed by selectively slitting the disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,185 describes a toilet bowl protector which fits as a skirt around a toilet bowl comprising a flexible water-proof sheet to cover the exterior surfaces of a toilet bowl and a hole in the central area thereof and an attachment means for enabling the periphery around the hole to be releasably attached to the upper rim of the toilet bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,555 teaches a commode plunging shield apparatus including a convex shield formed with a planar lower rim in confronting relationship to a complimentary configured commode rim surface to position the shield in overlying relationship to the commode. An aperture through the crown of an uppermost surface of the commode in alignment with the commode drain pipe slidingly receives a commode plunger therethrough to align the plunger with the commode drain and directs splashing water interiorly of the concave interior surface of the shield to contain such water within the shield and the interior of the commode.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,669 shows a splash guard for a toilet bowl to prevent water from splashing out of the toilet bowl when unclogging the toilet by the use of a plunger comprising a flat plate to cover the open upper end of the toilet bowl including a flexible central diaphragm provided with an opening to receive and allow movement of a plunger handle whereby vertical movement of the plunger will not result in water splashing out of the open upper end of the toilet bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,661 discloses a decorative cover for a toilet bowl having a top opening including two pieces, a first elongated flexible band having adhesive material on its opposite sides and a unit consisting of a second elongated flexible band having adhesive material only on one side thereof and carrying a skirt for covering the toilet bowl when the skirt and band unit is applied to the edge of the toilet bowl.
Additional examples of prior part are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,092; U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,611 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 341,414.
The present invention relates to an anti-splash guard to enclose the open portion of a toilet bowl to shield and contain liquid and matter splashing therefrom when attempting to unclog or dislodge debris when using a plunger. The plunger comprises an upper handle and a lower plunger member.
The anti-splash guard comprises a cover including an upper opening with a handle seal disposed adjacent thereto and a lower opening with a bowl seal disposed adjacent thereto.
The cover comprises a membrane or pliable canopy; while, the handle seal and the bowl seal each comprises a resilient or elastic ring-like or continuous element.
In use, the upper handle is passed through the upper opening with the handle seal sealing the periphery of the upper opening against the upper handle such that the lower plunger member is disposed beneath the membrane or pliable canopy. So assembled, the lower plunger member and the lower portion of the upper handle are placed into the interior of the toilet bowl.
With the anti-splash guard and the plunger so positioned relative to the toilet bowl the bowl seal is placed against the outer surface of the toilet bowl the rim and the toilet seat to seal the lower opening with the upper portion of the toilet bowl and around the toilet seat. The anti-splash guard may be used with the seat in either the up or down position with equal performance.
With lower plunger member placed over the lower portion of the toilet or associated plumbing, the upper handle of the plunger is vigorously moved up and down to dislodge or unclog debris from the lower portion of the toilet or associated plumbing with the membrane or pliable canopy of the anti-splash guard shielding and containing liquid or matter splashing from the interior of the toilet bowl.
When the process is complete, the toilet is flushed with the anti-splash guard in place to assist in containing any liquid or matter overflow if plunging is unsuccessful.
Then the anti-splash guard and the plunger are removed from the toilet bowl. Finally, the anti-splash guard is removed from the upper elongated handle and disposed of.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.


In a photographic camera, a neutral density or other light reducing filter in the viewfinder obscures details of a subject viewed through the viewfinder in low light to provide a warning that ambient light is insufficient for a proper daylight exposure. The filter has little or no light reducing capability at a central portion and along a peripheral portion to serve as aiming and framing features, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to a camera viewfinder. More specifically, the invention relates to a camera viewfinder in which a neutral density or other light reducing filter obscures details of a subject viewed through the viewfinder in low light to provide a warning that ambient light is insufficient for a proper daylight exposure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When taking a picture it is necessary to know not only in what direction to aim the camera but also how much of the subject will be included in the picture. For this reason practically every camera has a viewfinder of some kind.
Typical prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,255,167, issued Feb. 5, 1918, discloses a viewfinder with a disk that is rotatable to bring respective openings in the disk successively into registration with a front lens of the viewfinder. Some of the openings are covered by different color light retarding materials to change the amount of ambient light that can enter the viewfinder through the front lens, and they have corresponding notations indicating recommended times of exposure. In operation, the disk is manually rotated until the opening in registration with the front lens makes the subject viewed through the viewfinder appear somewhat faint. Then, the associated time of exposure is selected. If, however, the subject is too faint, the associated time of exposure is too short. A problem with the design is that it may be difficult to aim the camera at the subject and to frame the subject because the view of the subject through the viewfinder is made faint.


A vehicle drive device, wherein the fluid coupling accommodating space is formed between the rotating electrical machine accommodating space and the speed change mechanism accommodating space in an axial direction of the speed change mechanism and is configured such that no oil is supplied to a region around the fluid coupling, the discharge oil passage has an introducing opening that opens to the second oil reservoir, and a lowest end of the introducing opening is located below a lowest end of the rotating electrical machine.

The present disclosure relates to vehicle drive devices including: a rotating electrical machine; a speed change mechanism disposed in a power transmission path connecting the rotating electrical machine and wheels; a fluid coupling that drivingly couples the rotating electrical machine to the speed change mechanism; and a case forming, as spaces that are independent of each other, a rotating electrical machine accommodating space accommodating the rotating electrical machine, a speed change mechanism accommodating space accommodating the speed change mechanism, and a fluid coupling accommodating space accommodating the fluid coupling.
Related art of such vehicle drive devices includes, e.g., a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-105195. In the description of this section, the names of relevant members in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-105195 are cited in parentheses "[ ]." In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-105195, an oil reservoir portion [oil reservoir portion 101] that stores oil to be supplied to a rotating electrical machine [electric motor 1] is formed in the lower part of the space in a case accommodating the rotating electrical machine. In this configuration, as described in paragraph [0045] and FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-105195, oil in the oil reservoir portion is scooped up by rotation of a rotor [rotor 13] to cool the rotating electrical machine. In the configuration of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-105195, since oil scooped up by rotation of the motor is supplied to the rotating electrical machine, rotation resistance of the rotor tends to increase, which reduces energy efficiency of the device accordingly.
The vehicle drive devices typically include an oil reservoir portion that stores oil to be supplied to the speed change mechanism. Accordingly, in one possible configuration, oil in the oil reservoir portion is supplied to the rotating electrical machine. An example of such a configuration is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-095389. In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-095389, oil in a first oil reservoir portion U1 communicating with a speed change mechanism accommodating space is supplied to a rotating electrical machine MG. The oil supplied to the rotating electrical machine MG is collected by a second oil reservoir portion U2 communicating with a rotating electrical machine accommodating space SG. The collected oil is supplied to the first oil reservoir portion U1 via a discharge oil passage AD. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, etc. of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-095389, the discharge oil passage AD includes a first discharge oil passage AF extending in the horizontal direction from a first opening ADo that opens toward the first oil reservoir portion U1, and a second discharge oil passage AE extending in a downward direction (tilted downward at about 45 degrees) with respect to the horizontal direction from a second opening AEo that opens into the second oil reservoir portion U2 and communicating with the first discharge oil passage AF.


For the production of positive photographic prints a composite material in strip form is used as an intermediary to form the print images and is then adhered in a continuous procedure to a main support strip such as paper. The resultant strip is then cut to separate the individual prints. The composite material has a transparent film of biaxially-oriented plastics film not more than 50.mu. thick and water-resistant and to which photosensitive emulsions are applied, and a further layer overlying the emulsions to protect them, the further layer being adhered to the main support. This layer is reflective, as by incorporation of a white pigment, so that the image is seen through the transparent film against the background of this layer rather than the main support. The reflective layer may contain other chemicals relevant to processing.

Material for the production of photographic prints conventionally comprises a sheet-form main substrate or support, photosensitive material on the support sheet and an overlying layer of protective material. The term "photosensitive material" as used herein includes those materials, which may be formed in a number of layers, which contribute to the formation of the visual image in the final print. The photosensitive material includes photosensitive emulsions, a number of which may be utilised in producing colour prints, and emulsions or other materials required for auxiliary functions in the forming of the image such as support for dyes, protective filters and so on.
The protective layer above-mentioned usually consists of hardened gelatin, possibly with the addition of other colloidal emulsion-formers or plastics, which are intended to improve the mechanical properties of the protective layer. Such protective layers occasionally also contain means for changing the texture and the reflecting power, e.g. matting agents.
Since such protective layers swell in water, they are sensitive to undesirable marks such as water stains, finger-marks, and so on.
The main substrate or support used in most cases for photographic printing materials is paper. Apart from the fact that it is cheap, paper has important advantages: it can readily be manufactured in different weights and with different textures. It can be coloured and have various coatings. However, paper also has disadvantages which have an adverse effect on its use as a support for photographic images.
With wet processes of the kind conventional in photography the paper loses its mechanical strength and dimensional stability for example. Because of its absorption it can absorb large quantities of chemical processing solutions so that there is a risk of chemicals being transferred from one bath to another during processing. Finally, paper prints usually have to be washed for a very long period to make them durable and as free from harmful chemicals as possible.
There are known steps adapted to obviate these disadvantages. For example, the paper used as an emulsion support for positive photographs can be replaced, for example, by an opaque non-absorbent plastics film, e.g. a white-pigmented triacetate or polyester film. Such materials are expensive and unsuitable for mass sales, however, in the thickness requires for photographic prints. Another method of producing non-absorbent image supports is to coat paper with a thin plastics film. Thus at the present time papers coated with polyethylene on both sides are being used in large quantities for the production of photographic prints. Support materials of this kind are relatively cheap, but they still have some disadvantages. For example, the edges of cut papers are of course unprotected. Chemicals can penetrate into the paper felt here and cause edge discoloration. In practice, the polyethylene surface is wetted unevenly; it is very difficult to produce uniform layers on such a surface without some cloudiness.
United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 355 303 (Saunders) issued in 1931 describes a process for the production of black and white positive photographs in which a black and white transparency is first produced in an emulsion carried on a conventional celluloid support and is cemented at the emulsion side to a reflecting support paper after processing and drying. This process avoids some of the above disadvantages of conventional paper prints; more particularly, the paper does not come into contact with chemical processing solutions and the outwardly facing celluloid film effectively protects the image from mechanical damage.
There is no appreciation in the Saunders specification that his process can have the advantage of avoiding contact between the paper and processing chemicals, nor has the Saunders process become established. One reason for this is the use of celluloid, which is conventional in the photographic industry, as a support for the photographic emulsions. Such supports are at least 60.mu. thick and relatively stiff. Because of their stiffness they are not easy to cement. Celluloid supports are also relatively expensive.
Another disadvantage of the process disclosed by the Saunders specification is that if laterally correct photographs are to be obtained exposure must either be through the celluloid support or laterally reversed directly on to the emulsion side. Exposure through the support results in lack of sharpness which increases with the support thickness. Laterally reversed exposures are unpopular in printing for various reasons. Cementing the image-bearing emsulsion layer to the paper support can result in a further loss of sharpness.
Printers have to keep in stock printing materials not only of different gradation but also of different surface types (textures) and thicknesses. This occupies a considerable amount of space and requires capital. The potential for easing this problem offered by the process disclosed in the Saunders specification has not been previously recognised.
One object of the present invention is to enable positive photographic prints to be produced without contacting the main paper support with processing chemicals while obviating the difficulties arising out of the process of Specification No. 355 303.

Photographic process using a thin flexuous layer and reflective layer