The invention is directed to methods for the pretreatment of a lignocellulose-containing biomass. Pretreatment comprises the addition of calcium hydroxide and water to the biomass to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to relatively high temperatures for a period of time sufficient to render the biomass amenable to digestion. The pretreated biomass is digested to produce useful products such as feedstocks, fuels, and compounds including fatty acids, sugars, ketones and alcohols. Alternatively, the pretreatment process includes the addition of an oxidizing agent, selected from the group consisting of oxygen and oxygen-containing gasses, to the mixture under pressure. The invention is also directed to a method for the recovery of calcium from the pretreated biomass.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods for the pretreatment of a lignin containing biomass to render the biomass amenable to digestion. Pretreatment comprises the addition of calcium hydroxide and water to the biomass to form a mixture, and maintaining the mixture at a relatively high temperature. Alternatively, an oxidizing agent, selected from the group consisting of oxygen and oxygen-containing gasses, may be added under pressure to the mixture. The invention also relates to the digested products of the pretreated biomass which includes useful feedstocks, fuels, and chemicals such as sugars, ketones, fatty acids and alcohols, and to a method for the recovery of calcium from the pretreated biomass.
2. Description of the Background
Biomass can be classified in three main categories: sugar-, starch- and cellulose-containing plants. Sugar-containing plants (e.g. sweet sorghum, sugarcane) and starch-containing plants (e.g. corn, rice, wheat, sweet potatoes) are primarily used as food sources. Cellulose-containing plants and waste products (e.g. grasses, wood, bagasse, straws) are the most abundant forms of biomass. Although they are not easily converted to useful products, a well engineered process to convert them to feedstock may potentially be economical since the costs of feedstock are much less than those of sugar- and starch-containing biomass.
Cellulose-containing materials are generally referred to as lignocellulosics because they contain cellulose (40% -60%), hemicellulose (20% -40%) and lignin (10% -25%). Non-woody biomass generally contains less than about 15-b 20% lignin. Cellulose, a glucose polymer, can be hydrolyzed to glucose using acid, enzymes or microbes. Glucose can serve as a feedstock for fuel alcohol and single-cell protein production. Microbial hydrolysis produces cellular biomass (single-cell protein) and metabolic waste products such as organic acids. Acid hydrolysis, although simple, produces many undesirable degradation products. Enzymatic hydrolysis is the cleanest and most preferred approach. However, production of enzymes, mainly cellulase and cellobiase, can be an expensive step. Apart from alcohol production, lignocellulose can be used as inexpensive cattle feed. Since raw lignocellulose cannot be easily digested by cattle, it must be processed to improve its digestibility before it can be fed to ruminants. Also, anaerobic fermentation using rumen microorganisms can produce low molecular weight volatile fatty acids.
Cellulose is the world's most abundant biological material. Approximately 40% to 45% of the dry weight of wood species is cellulose. The degree of polymerization ranges from 500 to 20,000. Cellulose molecules are completely linear, unbranched and have a strong tendency to form inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. Bundles of cellulose molecules are thus aggregated together to form microfibrils in which highly ordered (crystalline) regions alternate with less ordered (amorphous) regions. Microfibrils make fibrils and finally cellulose fibers. As a consequence of its fibrous structure and strong hydrogen bonds, cellulose has a very high tensile strength and is insoluble in most solvents.
Hemicellulose is the world's second most abundant carbohydrate and comprises about 20% to 30% of wood dry weight. Hemicelluloses, although originally believed to be intermediates in cellulose biosynthesis, are formed through biosynthetic routes different from cellulose. Hemicellulose are heteropolysaccharides and are formed by a variety of monomers. The most common monomers are glucose, galactose and mannose (the hexoses) and xylose and arabinose (the pentoses). Most hemicelluloses have a degree of polymerization of only 200. Hemicelluloses can be classified in three families, xylans, mannans and galactans, named for the backbone polymer.
Lignin is the world's most abundant non-carbohydrate biomaterial. It is a three dimensional macromolecule of enormously high molecular weight. Since its units are extensively cross-linked, it is difficult to define an individual molecule. Lignin provides strength by binding cellulose fibrils together. Being hydrophobic in nature, it prevents water loss from the vascular system and, being highly resistant to enzymatic degradation, it protects plants from insects and microbial attack.
Phenylpropane, an aromatic compound, is the basic structural unit of lignin. The monomers not only cross-link with each other, but also covalently bond to hemicellulose. A great constraint to cellulose and hemicellulose accessibility is the presence of lignin. It has been shown that decreased lignin content causes increased digestibility. Lignin can be removed by physical, chemical, or enzymatic treatments. It must be decomposed to smaller units that can be dissolved out of the cellulose matrix. There are several well developed pulping methods that disintegrate and remove lignin, leaving the cellulose fairly intact. Conventional pulping processes, such as Kraft and sulfite pulping, are too costly as bioconversion pretreatments. Also, economical use of the removed lignin is difficult because its chemical structure and size distribution are highly heterogeneous.
Another major deterrent to enzymatic cellulosic hydrolysis is the highly ordered molecular packing of its crystalline regions. Cellulolytic enzymes readily degrade the more accessible amorphous portions of cellulose, but are unable to attack the less accessible crystalline material. Thus, enzymatic hydrolysis rates increase with decreasing crystallinity index measured by X-ray diffraction methods.
The moisture content of cellulose fibers influences enzymatic degradation. Cellulosic materials are effectively protected from deterioration by enzymes or microbes provided the moisture content is maintained below a critical level characteristic of the material and the organism involved. In general, this critical level is slightly above the fiber saturation point, approximately 40% of dry weight. Moisture plays three major roles: (1) it swells the fibers by hydrating cellulose molecules, thus opening up the fine structure and increasing enzyme access, (2) it provides a diffusion medium for enzymes and for partial degradation products, and (3) it is added to cellulose during hydrolytic cleavage of the glycosidic links of each molecule.
The surface area of lignocellulose is another important factor that determines susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. It is important because contact between enzyme molecules and the cellulose surface is a prerequisite for hydrolysis to proceed. A few other factors that also influence susceptibility include size and diffusibility of enzyme molecules in relation to size and surface properties of capillaries, unit cell dimensions of cellulose molecules, and conformation and steric rigidity of hydro-glucose units.
To enhance susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis, lignocellulose pretreatment is an essential requirement. The heterogeneous enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosics is primarily governed by its structural features because (1) cellulose possesses a highly resistant crystalline structure, (2) the lignin surrounding the cellulose forms a physical barrier and (3) the sites available for enzymatic attack are limited. An ideal pretreatment, therefore, would reduce lignin content, with a concomitant reduction in crystallinity and increase in surface area. Pretreatment methods can be classified into physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological, depending on the mode of action. The literature available on this subject is voluminous. The various pretreatment methods that have been used to increase cellulose digestibility are summarized in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Methods Used for the Pretreatment of Lignocellulosics. Physical Chemical Physicochemical Biological ______________________________________ Ball-milling Alkali Steam explosion Fungi Two-roll milling Sodium hydroxide Ammonia Fiber Hammer milling Calcium hydroxide Explosion Colloid milling Ammonia High pressure Acid steaming Sulfuric acid High energy Hydrochloric acid radiation Hydrofluoric acid Pyrolysis Gas Chlorine dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Oxidizing agents Hydrogen peroxide Ozone Cellulose solvents Solvent extraction Ethanol-water extraction Benzene-ethanol extraction ______________________________________
Biological Pretreatments
Biological pretreatments employ fungi for microbial de-lignification to make cellulose more accessible. Major biological lignin degraders are the higher fungi, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes. Fungal degradation is a slow process and most fungi attack not only lignin, but cellulose also, thus resulting in a mixture of lignin fragments and sugars. Improvements may require developing more specific and efficient microbes.
Physical Pretreatments
Physical pretreatments can be classified in two general categories: mechanical (involving all types of milling) and nonmechanical (involving high-pressure steaming, high energy radiation and pyrolysis). During mechanical pretreatments, physical forces, (e.g. shearing, compressive forces) subdivide lignocellulose into finer particles. These physical forces reduce crystallinity, particle size and degree of polymerization and increase bulk density. These structural changes result in a material more susceptible to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. However, due to enormously high operating costs associated with the high energy requirements, low yields and large time requirements, these mechanical pretreatments are not practical. Nonmechanical physical pretreatment methods also increase digestibility, but have similar disadvantages and thus are not economical for real processes.
Physicochemical Pretreatments
Steam explosion and Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) are the main physicochemical pretreatments. Steam explosion heats wetted lignocellulose to high temperatures (about 25.degree. C.) and releases the pressure instantly. Due to rapid decompression, which flashes the water trapped in fibers, physical size reduction occurs. The high temperatures remove acetic acid from hemicellulose, so this process results in some autohydrolysis of the biomass. These changes result in better digestibilities, but the severe conditions also produce degradation products that inhibit hydrolysis and fermentation. These products are removed by washing with water which results in a loss of water soluble hemicellulose. Thus, although digestibilities are improved, biomass degradation and protein denaturization limits the use of steam explosion.
The AFEX pretreatment process soaks lignocellulose in liquid ammonia at high pressure and then explosively releases the pressure. Pretreatment conditions (30.degree. C. -100.degree. C.) are less severe than steam explosion. An increase in accessible surface area coupled with reduced cellulose crystallinity (caused by ammonia contacting) result in increased enzymatic digestibility. However, use of ammonia (a hazardous chemical) and the high pressure release makes the process quite complex and energy intensive.
Chemical Pretreatments
Many chemical treatments have been used for lignin removal and destruction of the lignin crystalline structure. Of these chemicals, acids, gases, oxidizing agents, cellulose solvents, and solvent extraction agents, are all able to increase digestibility, but are not as popular as alkalis. Economics, simpler processes and less degradation favor alkalis as chemical pretreatment agents. However, most of these are process for paper pulping and involves the complete or nearly complete destruction of lignin, and a corresponding destruction of cellulose. Although unimportant in pulping, these pulping process are quite severe and not useful as pretreatments for biomass. Furthermore, the traditional pulping processes used by the paper industry are too expensive as lignocellulose pretreatment methods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,060 to Chou is directed to the use of super-critical ammonia to increase lignocellulose digestibility.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,353,713 and 4,448,588 to Cheng are directed to the gasification of biomass or coal which is an endothermic process. These patents also relate to a method for adding the required thermal energy by reacting lime with carbon dioxide which is an exothermic reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,671 to Azarniouch is directed to a method for calcining calcium carbonate in a rotary kiln. The reference relates to the paper/pulp industry where the calcium carbonate would be contaminated with waste biomass. The waste biomass is burned to provide the needed heat of reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,196 to Hulquist is directed to treating biomass with ammonia.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,964 to Kerr is directed to the use of ammonia to promote the kinking of pulp fiber to increase paper strength, not to break down the fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,317 to Roberts is directed to the use of lime and mechanical beating to convert pulp into a hydrated gel. There is no mention of lime recovery or enzymatically hydrolyzing the hydrated gel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,276 to Conradsen directed to a process where biomass is covered with a tarp and then ammoniated with ammonia, which is allowed to dissipate into the atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,286 to Jelks is directed to oxidizing biomass with high-pressure oxygen under elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an acid catalyst, and a metal catalyst, ferric chloride, to break lignin bonds and to increase digestibility. The catalysts are described as essential to the process and calcium hydroxide is utilized as a neutralizing agent to adjust the resulting pH of the hydrolyzed biomass.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,304 to Moore is directed to production of slow-release nonprotein nitrogen in ruminant feeds. An amide, urea, is reacted with waste carbohydrates in the presence of an acid catalyst. The resulting material is pelleted and used as animal feed. Since the nitrogen is released slowly in the rumen, it is nontoxic to the animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,944,463 to Samuelson et al. is directed to a process for producing cellulose pulp of high brightness. The cellulose is pretreated with an alkaline compound at a temperature of between about 60.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. so as to dissolve between 1 and 30% of the dry weight of the material in the pretreatment liquor. The pretreatment liquor preferably contains sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or mixtures thereof, or possible sodium hydroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,206 to Spruill is directed to the treatment of waste water effluent derived from a pulping process with calcium oxide or hydroxide to reduce the fiber and color content of the effluent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,341 to Lagerstrom et al. is directed to a process for increasing the feed value of lignocellulosic material by contacting the material with an alkaline liquid, specifically, sodium hydroxide. The alkaline liquid, supplied in excess, is allowed to run off the material before any essential alkalization effect has been reached. After the liquid absorbed in the material has provided its effect, an acid solution is added to the material to neutralize the excess alkali. The reference does not disclose the interrelationship of temperature and time of alkali treatment, nor does it disclose the optimal amounts of the sodium hydroxide and water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,780 to Lagerstrom et al. is directed to a process for increasing the feed value of lignocellulosic materials by alkali treatment and subsequent neutralization of the materials with an acid in a closed system under circulation of the treating agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,816 to Anthony is directed to a process in which lignocellulose is treated with dilute acid in an amount of about 1.5 to 2.5% of the dry weight of lignocellulose. The mixture is then stored at ambient conditions for 5 to 21 days in an air-free environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,877 to Tyson is directed to a process for the delignification of non-woody biomass (<20% lignin). In this process, non-woody biomass is treated with a chelating agent, to prevent unnecessary oxidation, and maintained at high pH and high temperatures (150.degree. F. to 315.degree. F.) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and pressurized oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide is stated to cause a reaction on the cell walls to allow the hemicellulose and lignin to solubilize and be removed through a subsequent hydrolysis process. Oxygen is added to initiate and accelerate the activation of hydrogen peroxide.
The conditions and results of studies reported in the literature using ammonia (gaseous, anhydrous liquid, or NH.sub.4 0H) and sodium hydroxide as pretreatment agents are listed in Table 2 and Table 3, respectively. The literature available on the use of these two chemicals to enhance lignocellulose digestibility of ruminant feeds, as well as for hydrolysis to glucose, is extensive. The literature on calcium hydroxide pretreatment processes is considerably less compared to that for sodium hydroxide and ammonia. The conditions and results of studies reported in the literature using calcium hydroxide are shown in Table 4.
TABLE 2 __________________________________________________________________________ Reported Ammoniation Conditions Type of Ammonia gNH.sub.3 /kg dry Effect on Reference Biomass State Temp. (.degree.C.) Time Pressure Particle Size biomass Digestibility __________________________________________________________________________ Villareal, Coastal Gaseous ambient -- atmosp. -- 40 Increase in 1988 Bermuda grass DIT, CP.sup.1 Waiss et al., Rice straws NH.sub.4 OH 160 1 h -- 0.64 cm 26/52 Increased.sup.2 1972 Waiss et al., Rice straws NH.sub.4 OH ambient 30 d atmosp. 0.64 cm 50 Increased.sup.1 1972 Millet et al., Aspen sawdust Liquid 30/60/90 1 h 155/360/725 -- -- Increased by 1970 psi 51%.sup.2 Millet et al., Aspen sawdust Gaseous 30 1/2 to 74 h 155 psi -- -- Increased by 1970 47%.sup.2 Brown et al., Limpo grass Gaseous ambient 30 d atmosp. 2.5 cm 20/30/40 Increased.sup.1 1987 Kellens et Wheat straw NH.sub.4 OH 29 21 d atmosp. 2 mm 50 Increased al., 1983 from 13% to 33%.sup.2 Kellens et Wheat straw Gaseous 6 44 d atmosp. 2.5 cm 50 Increased.sup.1 al., 1983 Hultquist, Alfalfa Liq./Gas. 20-30 30 m 70-165 psig 1/16-1/2 in. 5/20 Increased by 1982 50%.sup.2 Millet et al., Aspen sawdust Gaseous -- 2 h 70 psi -- -- Increased by 1975 46%.sup.1 Morris et al., Corn stover -- ambient -- atmosp. 1.3 cm 30 Increase in 1980 DIT, DE.sup.1 __________________________________________________________________________ .sup.1 In vivo. .sup.2 In vitro
TABLE 3 __________________________________________________________________________ Reported NaOH Treatment Conditions g NaOH/100 g NaOH/100 Effect on Reference Type of Biomass Temp. (.degree.C.) Time Particle Size g solution g biomass Digestibility __________________________________________________________________________ Moore et al., Cotton linters 30 1 h 40 mesh 1 20 No effect.sup.2 1972 Moore et al., Aspen 30 1 h 40 mesh 1 20 Increased from 1972 10% to 50%.sup.2 Millet et al., Different wood 25 1 h -- 1 20 Increased.sup.2 1970 samples Fient et al., Different wood 25 1 h, 2 h 40 mesh 0.5, 1 2-20 Increased.sup.2 1970 samples Baker et al, Aspen sawdust ambient 2 h 0.16 cm 0.5 5 Increased from 197570 41% to 52%.sup.1 Anderson et Ryegrass straw ambient 24 h 2.54 cm 0.5-8 7.5-120 Increased from al., 1973 33% to 90%.sup.2 Mandels et al., Bagasse 72 1 h 1/8" mesh 2 -- Increased.sup.2 1974 Mandels et al., Newspaper 70 90 m 1/8" mesh 2 100 Increased.sup.2 1974 Turner et al., Different grass -- 48 m 4 mm 3 -- Increased.sup.2 1990 samples __________________________________________________________________________ Notation used; .sup.1 In vivo, .sup.2 In vitro
TABLE 4 __________________________________________________________________________ Reported Ca(OH).sub.2 Treatment Conditions g water/g g Ca(OH).sub.2 /100 Effect on Reference Type of Biomass Temp. (.degree.C.) Time Particle Size solution g biomass Digestibility __________________________________________________________________________ Playne, 1984 Bagasse 20 8 d 2.25 0.87 12 to 30 Increased from 1972 19% to 72%.sup.2 Waller et al., Corn cobs ambient 14 d Ground 0.6 4 Improved 1975 digestibility.sup.1 Rounds et al., Corn cobs -- -- -- -- 4 No effect.sup.2 1974 Gharib et al., Poplar bark ambient 1 or 150 d 9.5 mm 0.6 4 to 16 Increased from 1975 30% to 52%.sup.2 Felix et al., Soyabean straw ambient/frozen 30 d Chopped 0.65 2 to 5 No effect.sup.1 1990 __________________________________________________________________________ Notation used; .sup.1 In vivo, .sup.2 In vitro
The references cited in the Tables and below are:
Anderson, D. C.; Ralston, A. T. J. Anim. Sci. 1973; 37, 148. PA0 Baker, A. J.; Millett, M. A.; Satter, L. D. ACS Symposium Series 1975; 10, 75. PA0 Brown, W. F.; Phillips, J. D.; Jones, D. B. J. Anim. Sci. 1987; 64, 1205. PA0 Dawish, A.; Galal, A. G. In Proc. Conf Anim. Feeds Trop. Subtrop. Origin 1975. PA0 Felix, A.; Hill, R. A.; Diarra, B. Anim. Prod. 1990; 51, 47. PA0 Feist, W. C.; Baker, A. J.; Tarkow, H. J. Anim. Sci. 1970; 30, 832. PA0 Gharib, F. H.; Meiske, J. C.; Goodrich, R. D.; El Serafy, A. M. J. Anim. Sci. 1975; 40(4), 734. PA0 Hulquist, J. H. U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,296; 1982. PA0 Kellens, R. D.; Herrera-Saldana, R.; Church, D. C. J. Anim. Sci. 1983; 56(4), 938. PA0 Mandels, M.; Hontz, J. R.; Kystrom, J. Biotech. Bioeng. 1974; 16, 1471. PA0 Millet, M. A. et al., J. Anim. Sci. 1970; 31(4), 781. PA0 Millet, M. A.; Baker, A. J.; Satter, L. D. In Biotech. Bioeng. Symp. 1975; 5, 193. PA0 Moore, W. E.; Effland, M. J.; Medeiros, J. E. J. Agr. Food Chem. 1972; 20(6), 1173. PA0 Morris, P. J.; Movat, D. N. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 1980; 60, 327. PA0 Playne, M. J. Biotech. Bioeng., 1984; 26, 426. PA0 Rounds, W.; Klopfenstein, T. J. Anim. Sci. 1974; 39, 251 (abst.). PA0 Turner, N. D.; Schelling, G. T.; Greene, L. W.; Byers, P. M. J. Prod. Agric. 1990; 3(1), 83. PA0 Villareal, E. R. Ph.D. Thesis Texas A&M Univ. College Station, TX 1988. PA0 Waiss, A. C. et al., J. Anim. Sci. 1972; 35(1). 109. PA0 Waller, J. C.; Klopfenstein, T. J Anim. Sci. 1975, 41 424 (abstract).
Playne (1984) investigated the effects of alkali treatment and steam explosion on baggase digestibility. The digestibility of untreated bagasse was 190 g organic matter (0M)/kg bagasse dry matter. It was raised to: 733 g organic matter by using NaOH (and also by using Ca(OH).sub.2 with Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3); to 430 g OM using NH.sub.3 ; and to 724 g OM using Ca(OH).sub.2. When Ca(OH).sub.2 alone was used, a high loading (about 180-300 g Ca(OH).sub.2 kg bagasse) was used. Gharib et al. (1975) used calcium oxide for in vitro evaluation of chemically treated poplar bark. They reported that calcium oxide increased in vitro true digestibility from 38% to 52% for a 150-day treatment, although little improvement was found for a 1-day treatment. Rounds and Klopfenstein (1974) studied the effects of NaOH, KOH, NH.sub.4 0H and Ca(OH).sub.2 on in vivo digestibility of corn cobs by feeding to lambs and on in vitro digestibility using an artificial rumen. Ca(OH).sub.2 alone was unable to increase the in vitro digestibility, although rations treated with Ca(OH).sub.2 +NaOH resulted in higher daily gain and feed efficiency for lambs. Waller and Riopfenstein (1975) used various combinations of NaOH, Ca(OH).sub.2 and NH.sub.4 0H for treating feed for lambs and heifers and reported that the highest daily gain and lowest feed/gain was obtained for the 3% NaOH +1% Ca(OH).sub.2 rations. Darwish and Galal (1975) used maize cobs treated with 1.5% Ca(OH).sub.2 in a milk production ration and found no significant change in milk output. Felix et al. (1990) evaluated the effects of ensiling and treating soya-bean straw with NAOH, Ca(OH).sub.2 and NH.sub.4 0H on ruminant digestibility. Results indicate that there was no significant improvement due to alkali treatment of dry and unensiled straw, although alkali treatment improved digestibility of ensiled straw.
Although the use of calcium hydroxide as a pretreatment agent has been demonstrated, considerably less work has been done employing this chemical compared to other alkalis. Most of the previous work has been performed by animal scientists trying to develop a very simple process to increase the lignocellulose digestibility of animal feed. All these studies were done at room temperature or below, at lower water loadings, for very long periods and without any mixing. These processes required very long treatment times which is very expensive since the reactors must be very large. There is thus a need to improve the currently existing methods of pretreating lignocellulose containing material to render it amenable to enzymatic digestion.


A vegetation trimmer comprising an elongate main handle to which is connected a motor that rotatably drives a trimmer head located at a distal end of the handle. The trimmer head defines a rotational axis and includes a housing and a spool rotatably received in the housing for carrying at least one coil of flexible trimmer line. The trimmer head further includes structure for enabling trimmer line to be wound through housing and onto the spool in a user-selected clockwise or counterclockwise direction without removing the spool from the housing such that trimmer line is dischargeable from the trimmer head in an appropriate clockwise or counterclockwise direction dictated by the direction of rotation of the vegetation trimmer drive shaft.

Internal combustion engine and electric motor powered vegetation trimmers are commonly used to cut and trim grass, weeds, brush and other vegetation. The typical motorized trimmer comprises an elongate handle to which is connected an internal combustion or electric motor that rotatably drives a trimmer head located at a distal end of the handle. The trimmer head, in turn, carries radially outwardly projecting cutting means which cuts the vegetation as the trimmer head rotates.
The trimmer head may include one or more flexible or rigid cutting means. If rigid, the cutting means typically assumes the form of blades fabricated from plastic and/or metal and often have corrugations or scalloping about their peripheral cutting edges. The blades are pivotally attached to the trimmer head such they yield when they contact hard objects, thereby prolonging the service lives of the blades. Rigid blades are normally used to cut very dense vegetation but they may cause considerable injury to the trimmer operator or other persons should they accidentally be struck by the blades during operation of the trimmer.
If flexible, the cutting means may be fabricated as a continuous strand flexible monofilament plastic line wrapped about a spool contained within the trimmer head. In such devices, the plastic line is typically selectively dispensed by the operator of the trimmer apparatus. One species of these sorts of devices is semi-automatic in operation and utilizes the centrifugal force generated by rotation of the trimmer head to dispense trimmer line. Commonly known as "bump indexing" or "bump and feed" trimmers, these apparatus dispense trimmer line responsive to an operator tapping the base of the trimmer head against a hard surface. An example of bump indexing trimmer head is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,235.
A disadvantage common among bump and feed trimmers is that the trimmer line frequently becomes jammed when a user attempts to dispense fresh line from the spool. When this occurs, the user must stop the trimming operation, disassemble the trimmer head, fix the jam and reassemble the trimmer head before resuming trimming. Such repeated disruption can be quite frustrating and time-consuming.
Another species of vegetation trimmer apparatus where trimmer line is selectively dispensed from a spool by an operator is fully manual in operation. Devices of this sort comprise one or more, typically spring-biased, indexing pins or buttons that are connected to one or more internal trimmer line carrying spools. In order to dispense trimmer line, an operator displaces the indexing pin(s) or button(s) from seating engagement with one or more holes provided in the trimmer head housing. Once the indexing pin(s) or button(s) are separated from the housing, the user either turns the internal spool(s) or pulls on the trimmer line itself from the spool in order to pay out the line from the trimmer head. When the desired length(s) of trimmer line have been dispensed, the operator reseats the indexing pin(s) or button(s) into their associated indexing opening(s) in the trimmer head housing.
The trimmer line dispensing steps required of conventional fully manual trimmer heads are often cumbersome to perform with two hands. The trimmers are also complicated in design which needlessly increases their manufacturing costs. Examples of various designs of fully manual trimmer line trimmer heads are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,271,595; 4,172,322; 4,097,991; 3,826,068 and 3,708,967.
In addition to trimmer line dispensing problems, presently available semi-automatic and fully manual trimmer heads are often difficult to reload with fresh trimmer line when their spools have been depleted. Once the new trimmer line has been wrapped around the spool, the installer must grasp the trimmer head housing while holding the line in the wrapped position about the spool and then insert the spool into the housing. This procedure is especially cumbersome with respect to bump indexing trimmers because the installer must also hold and/or maintain alignment of any springs or other loose components of the bump and feed indexing system during the spool installation process.
Attempts to overcome these problems have been proposed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,345,683; 5,671,536 and 6,263,580 and Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2004/0134078 and 2005/0076515 disclose spool reloading solutions for bump and feed trimmers wherein trimmer line can be wound onto the internal spool without removing the spool from the trimmer head housing, although the system taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,536 requires additional user participation to anchor the trimmer line to the spool prior to winding/loading it on the spool. However, the results are trimmer line spools of highly complex configuration whose manufacturing costs are unnecessarily expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,287 also describes a trimmer head that enables winding of a desired quantity of trimmer line on a spool without removing the spool from the trimmer housing. In one embodiment, the device incorporates a rigid trimmer line guide tube that spans most of the diameter of the spool. Trimmer line is threaded into one trimmer line exit port in the trimmer head housing and passed through the guide tube. Upon exiting the guide tube the trimmer line is passed through the opposite trimmer head housing exit port. When the desired length of trimmer line is threaded through the trimmer head, the installer rotates a knob integrally connected to the spool and the trimmer line is wound onto the core of the spool.
The trimmer head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,287 suffers certain disadvantages, however. That is, the rigid trimmer line guide tube presents an obstruction in the spool chamber that hinders uniform and compact winding of the trimmer line onto the spool. Additionally, the trimmer line can also be damaged or severed as it comes into contact slotted edges at the opposite ends of the guide tube during winding. And, the trimmer head assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,287, like those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,345,683; 5,671,536 and 6,263,580 and Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2004/0134078 and 2005/0076515 permit winding of trimmer line onto the trimmer line spool in only one direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise, thereby limiting their practical application to a subset of the total population of powered vegetation trimmer apparatus.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,904 discloses a vegetation trimmer head that permits trimmer line to be wound onto the trimmer line spool in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction for appropriate clockwise or counterclockwise discharge. However, the user must engage in a cumbersome and time-consuming procedure when reloading trimmer line onto the spool. That is, a user must disassemble the trimmer housing, remove the spool, manually wind new line onto the spool, reinsert the spool into the housing and reassemble the housing.
An advantage exists, therefore, for a vegetation trimmer apparatus including a rotatable trimmer head that incorporates trimmer line indexing means and trimmer line winding means of simple, economical and reliable design, construction and operation.
A further advantage exists for a vegetation trimmer apparatus including a rotatable trimmer head that incorporates a trimmer line spool onto which trimmer line may be easily and practically wound in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction without removing the spool from the trimmer housing.
Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds.

Invertible trimmer line spool for a vegetation trimmer apparatus


Provided herein are antibodies specific for CLL-1.

C type Lectin Like molecule 1 (CLL-1) is expressed on AML cells, and on cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are cells that can give rise to additional cancer cells.
One of the major limitations of chemotherapy is the general inability of anticancer drugs to discriminate between normal and cancer cells. Almost all members of the major categories of antineoplastic agents have considerable toxicity for normal cells.
Compositions that specifically target cancer cells can avoid this problem. However, existing cancer targets do not target CSCs. For this reason, existing chemotherapeutic strategies, even when specifically delivered to cancer cells, do not effectively eliminate the cancer. Risk of recurrence remains because the surviving CSCs can give rise to new cancer cells.
CSCs express CD34, similar to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but CLL-1 is not expressed on HSCs. This allows CSCs to be specifically targeted using CLL-1. Provided herein are CLL-1 antibodies that recognize a high percentage of CLL-1 expressing cells. The present CLL-1 antibodies are effective for both complement dependent and antibody dependent cytoxicity of CLL-1 expressing cells, and inhibit tumor growth of CLL-1 expressing cancer cells. The presently described antibodies provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for targeting CLL-1-associated disorders.


A method and apparatus for optimizing digital processing in a computer system is accomplished when at least one of a plurality of digital processing operations (i.e., a set of programming instructions) receives a user request. The user request may include a request to execute the set of programming instructions and may further include data which would be operated upon by the digital processing operation. Upon receiving the request, the addressed digital processing operation (DPO) informs a controlling digital processing operation of the request, such that the controlling DPO may determine whether the addressed digital processing operation is of a first type. A first type digital processing operation is one that may produce a hang-up, an error, or is not optimized when executed alone or when executed in parallel with another digital processing operation. When the digital processing operation is of the first type, the controlling digital processing operation determines whether the addressed digital processing operation can be executed without alteration. Such a determination is based on whether the addressed digital processing operation will be executed individually or in parallel with others. When the addressed digital processing operation is not executable without alterations, the controlling digital processing operation selects at least one alternate digital processing operation (i.e., work around software) to be executed instead of the digital processing operation.

Computers are known to include a central processing unit ("CPU"), memory, audio processing circuitry, video processing circuitry, and peripheral interfaces such that the computer may interface with a keyboard, printer, mouse, etc. The memory may be in a variety of forms; such as cache, hard drive, magnetic tape, floppy disk, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM(Read Only Memory), CDROM (Cassette Disc Read Only Memory), etc. Such memory temporarily or permanently stores programming instructions, that when read by the CPU causes the CPU to manipulate digital information based on the programming instructions.
While the CPU is executing one set of programming instructions (E.g., for a particular application), the CPU may receive a request to execute another set of programming instructions (i.e., another application). If the CPU grants the request, it may be performing a plurality of applications simultaneously. The CPU may deny, or suspend, the request when parallel execution of the particular applications, or algorithms, have overlapping operations. For example, if each of the particular algorithms require the same registers to be dedicated thereto, the CPU must allocate the registers in a controlled manner. Without controlling access to these registers, the algorithms may not be executed properly. The CPU must further control the registers when the currently executing applications, or algorithms, generate inter-dependent data, i.e., the data generated by one application is needed by another application.
The CPU needs to further control the registers, and overall execution of applications, because of design flaws of newly released applications and/or newly released Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC). The design flaws may be relatively minor causing the application, or the ASIC, to malfunction occasionally or may be somewhat severe causes the application, or the ASIC to hang up. To correct the flaws of new applications or ASICs, a system is expanded to include work around software. Work-around software is most predominately used for new ASIC releases and corrects deficiencies in the ASIC such that the desired performance is achieved.
While work around software overcomes the design flaws of newly released applications and/or ASICs, it does so with some cost to the overall efficiency of the computer system. The decrease in efficiency occurs because the core memory is expanded to include the work-around software, which slows access to the core memory. As is known, when the size of memory increases, especially for ROM, the accessing of such a memory slows, thereby slowing the overall efficiency of the system.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that optimizes execution of digital processing operations.

Method and apparatus for optimizing digital processing


The present invention provides a method, an apparatus, and an automated semiconductor fabrication facility for determining control information based on global goals of a semiconductor manufacturing facility. The method includes accessing information indicative of at least one global goal of a semiconductor manufacturing facility, determining control information based on the at least one global goal, and providing a portion of the control information to each of a plurality of control units. Each of the plurality of control units is configured to control a corresponding manufacturing activity based on the provided portion of the control information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to manufacturing integrated circuit devices and, more particularly, to an automated integrated circuit device manufacturing facility employing a centralized control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor fabrication facility typically includes numerous processing tools used to fabricate semiconductor devices. The processing tools may include photolithography steppers, etch tools, deposition tools, polishing tools, rapid thermal processing tools, ion implantation tools, and the like. Wafers (or wafer lots) are processed in the tools in a predetermined order and each processing tool modifies the wafers according to a particular product design and/or operating recipe so that a desired product is formed in or on the wafer. For example, a photolithography stepper may be used to form a patterned layer of photoresist above the wafer. Features in the patterned layer of photoresist correspond to a plurality of features, e.g. gate electrode structures, which will ultimately be formed above the surface of the wafer.
Operation of the processing tools in the semiconductor fabrication facility is generally controlled by a variety of control units, each of which is responsible for a different aspect of the fabrication process. For example, the semiconductor fabrication facility may include one or more materials handling controllers that may be responsible for providing necessary materials to the processing tools. The materials controlled by the material handling controllers may include wafers, test wafers, chemicals and/or gases used in the processing, and the like. The semiconductor fabrication facility may also include one or more wafer control units, such as run-to-run (RtR) controllers, Fault Detection and Control (FDC) controllers, Contamination Free Manufacture (CFM) controllers, and the like that may be used to monitor the wafers and/or modify the operating recipes, e.g., if faults or defects are detected. One or more excursion/exception controllers may be included to detect tool failures, shortages of supplied chemicals and/or gases, and the like. A data systems network is typically included to control the exchange of data between the processing tools and the various controllers and a planning system and control unit may be used to determine priorities associated with different products formed on the wafers processed in the semiconductor fabrication facility. Controllers may also be associated with particular types of processing tools, such as photolithography tools, etching tools, chemical mechanical polishing tools, and the like.
The control units in the semiconductor fabrication facility operate largely independently of one another. For example, the materials handling controllers may make decisions regarding provision of wafers, chemicals, and/or gases to one or more processing tools based on information collected from the processing tools. However, the materials handling controllers may not account for data collected by, or actions taken by, other control units such as the wafer control units, the excursion control units, the data systems network, and/or the planning systems controller. For another example, a photolithography tool controller may take actions to control operation of one or more photolithography tools independently of the state of other tools (e.g., etching tools, diffusion tools, chemical mechanical polishing tools, metrology tools, wafer electrical test tools, and the like) that may be a part of the same process flow as the controlled photolithography tools.
The independent nature of the various control units may make it difficult to coordinate operations of the control units to achieve global goals of the semiconductor fabrication facility. For example, the number of each type of product formed by the semiconductor fabrication facility, as well as the deadlines for producing these products, may be determined by forces such as current market demand for each product, shipping commitments made to clients, lot requests by research and development teams, and the like. In a conventional semiconductor fabrication facility, engineers manually configure the various control units to attempt to meet the global goals. This process is time-consuming, may reduce the efficiency of the semiconductor fabrication facility, and is not always successful. Furthermore, if any of the forces that determine the global goals should change, the various control units must be manually reconfigured to attempt to meet the changing goals.

Automated integrated circuit device manufacturing facility using central control


There is provided an array device including functional circuits for a plurality of channels, constant current generating circuits for the plurality of channels for generating constant currents used to drive the functional circuits, respectively, in accordance with a control signal supplied from the outside, and a wiring for supplying therethrough the constant currents from the constant current generating circuits to the functional circuits, respectively, which are formed on an integrated circuit chip, wherein the constant current generating circuits provided so as to correspond to the channels are arranged concentratedly in a specific region on the integrated circuit chip, and the wiring is comprised of a common wiring extending from one terminal provided in the vicinity of the specific region to the vicinities of the constant current generating circuits.

The present invention relates in general to an array device having functional circuits for a plurality of channels such as optical receiver modules for optical interconnection or like optical receiver amodules, and more particularly to an array device including current generating circuits which are capable of supplying the same current to the functional circuits for a plurality of channels.
In recent years, as the multi-media which handles a text, a voice and an image have been developed, the request for promoting the large capacity and the high speed transmission of data in information/communication equipment is increased and as a result promotion of the high frequency and increase of the number of connections become the serious problems in the electrical interconnections within the equipment and between the equipment.
In particular, all the severe system requests for reduction of the waveform distortion and the attenuation, the EMI measures, the ground isolation, and the low power consumption become difficult to be fulfilled by the electrical interconnections.
On the other hand, the success in the optical communication technology shows that for the signal transmission of the high speed, large capacity and long distance, the procedure that an electrical signal is temporarily converted into light and the resultant light signal is transmitted through a transmission line formed of optical fibers is more advantageous than the procedure that an electrical signal is directly transmitted as it is. That is, it is shown that the light transmission in which the electro-optic and opto-electric conversion function is introduced into a system is excellent in terms of practical use.
Therefore, while it is evident that the optical communication technology becomes more and more the important technology in the future, it is a urgent necessity to develop the optical interconnection technology for solving the above-mentioned problems associated with the electrical interconnection by utilizing the various features of light.
In addition, in recent years, the performance of element devices which are essential for realizing the optical interconnection has been drastically enhanced, and also the progress in the element technology development relating to the optical and electrical mounting results in a module in which the electrical connection can be replaced with the optical interconnect being actively developed. But, in the optical interconnect module aiming at replacement from the electrical interconnect, there are many requirement problems, which are considered to be essential for the practical use, such as "to realize good convenience similar to an interface IC (integrated circuit device)", "to be small size", and "to attain both low power consumption and low cost".
In particular, in the optical transmitter module out of the multi-channel parallel interconnect modules, there is employed an array of semiconductor lasers or light emitting diodes as the electro-optic conversion devices. Each of these devices is basically a current driven device and hence requires a constant current source a current from which is controlled at a constant DC value in order to determine the bias current and a constant amplitude of a pulse driving current for extracting the device characteristics. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a transmission driver as a main portion of the optical transmitter module. In the figure, the transmission driver has transistors Q1 and Q2, and to bases thereof are inputted inputs 1 and 2, respectively. A constant current circuit 100X is connected to each of emitters of the transistors Q1 and Q2. A load DIODE is connected to a collector of the transistor Q2. The load DIODE is also connected to a constant current circuit 100X' in order to secure a high speed operation in the transmission driver.
On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a receiver circuit as a main portion of an optical receiver module. The incident light signal is converted into a current signal I.sub.IN through a photodiode and an output is obtained from a transimpedance amplifier ZAMP. A constant current generating circuit 100Y is used to compensate for a dark current of the photodiode and also to apply an offset to the input current signal.
But, the array device constituting the optical interconnect module is configured, from the circumstances in which the characteristics of the individual original constituent elements are equal to each other, in such a way as to have only to be able to supply the same current to all the constant current generating circuits of the channels.
In this connection, in the conventional design, since the high speed parallel type integrated circuit has the configuration in which the power sources and the grounding points are provided independently for every circuit in many cases, the constant current generating circuits thereof are necessarily provided independently of one another.
In such cases, since the individual unit circuits constituting the array circuit are configured in such a way as to have the independent power sources, ground and control circuits, there is the merit in which the crosstalk between the channels through direct wiring path can be in principle readily suppressed.
On the other hand, however, since not only the number of external control signals to be supplied to the circuit and the number of input/output lines containing the power source lines become enormous, but also the individual channels need to be adjusted independently of one another during use of the modules, the labor for the adjustment is complicated and also the increase in the system cost is immeasurable.
In addition thereto, it is not said as the practical means that the individual ones of a plurality of wiring lines require the fine manual adjustment on the printed card board.
Therefore, it is desirable that the power sources and the ground lines are respectively made common so that the current to be caused to flow is controlled from one common terminal.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an equivalent circuit diagram, as a prior art example, of a circuit which is designed in such a way that circuits of multiple channels are controlled at the same time by one common voltage. In addition, referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the outline of an arrangement of current generating circuit blocks 100A' (301', 201', and 101') to 100N' (30n', 20n' and 10n') of channels and functional circuit blocks 401' and 402' to 40n' which are formed on an integrated circuit chip 1'.
In this example, a control signal VCTRL which has been inputted to a control signal input terminal IN is caused to flow through the positions of the current generating control blocks 100A' (301', 201' and 101') to 100N' (30n', 20n' and 10n') of the channels which are arranged in the distributed positions on the integrated circuit chip so as to generate the desired currents therefrom, and also the circuit blocks 401' and 402' to 40n' to which the constant currents are supplied from the respective current generating circuit blocks 100A' to 100N' are also distributively arranged on the integrated circuit chip. Incidentally, reference numerals 301' and 302' to 30n' designate respectively input circuits each comprised of an active circuit or a low-pass filter.
While such a layout is conventionally general, with such a layout, the ground voltage level as the reference in each of the distributed positions changes every channel due to the finite resistance which the wiring on the chip has, and hence the current generating circuits are controlled on the basis of the substantially different voltages. Then, as a result, there arises a problem that the dispersion occurs in the currents which are generated for the respective channels.
On the other hand, in the high speed optical interconnect module, the semiconductor laser is employed in order to convert an electrical signal into, a light signal. In general, it is well known that the semiconductor laser device has the property in which the characteristics thereof are sensitive to the change in the temperature, and the influence of the temperature change appears in the form of increase of the lasing threshold and reduction in the efficiency of converting the current into light. Then, both the change in the optical output and the change in the frequency bandwidth resulting from the temperature change in the oscillation threshold and the conversion efficiency influence directly the signal transmission characteristics of the optical interconnect module.
Then, therefore, in the optical communication system, in order to suppress the temperature change, a control circuit is incorporated therein to be used which is designed in such a way as to monitor the intensity of a laser output beam so as for the laser output beam to maintain the fixed average intensity at all times. However, in the field of the optical interconnect in which the requirement for the miniaturization of the module is strict, it is difficult in reality to incorporate a large scale circuit for such control in order to use it.
For this reason, conventionally, the circuit system has been adopted such that with respect to the signal which is used to control the output current of FIG. 3, the input voltage is made constant and also the output current is kept constant as much as possible. As a result, however, there arises a problem that the signal transmission characteristics of the optical interconnect module are changed in such a way that: the dynamic range of an input of the receiver circuit becomes narrow; the error rate is changed along with the change in the ambient air temperature; and the band width is changed.
As described above, in the interconnection technology, in particular, in the transmitter/receiver circuit of the parallel optical interconnect module which is connected to a plurality of optical fibers in order to carry out transmitter/receiver of the optical signal, for example, the transmission functional circuit blocks for a plurality of channels constituting the parallel optical interconnect module requires the constant current source in which the current to be supplied can be controlled from the outside, and also it is essential thereto that all the channels can be controlled at the same time by one common voltage signal. In other words, while the semiconductor laser devices each of which serves to convert the electrical signal into the optical signal are respectively employed in the transmission functional blocks, the semiconductor laser device has the feature that its output is changed along with the temperature change and the current change.
Then, the transmission functional circuit blocks are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of channels, and hence in order to make the output adjustable, the constant current source is required in which the current value of the driving signal which is supplied to each of the transmission functional circuit blocks can be controlled from the outside. In addition thereto, in order to make the output adjustment able to be readily carried out, it is essential that all the channels can be controlled simultaneously by one common voltage signal.
However, there arises a problem that the above-mentioned conditions are not essentially fulfilled in the conventional circuit and even if those conditions are fulfilled in terms of circuit configuration, the circuit does not have the characteristics essential to the optical interconnect, or even if the circuit has such characteristics, the characteristics are insufficient.
In the light of the foregoing problems associated with the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an array device having functional circuits for a plurality of channels which is capable of preventing the ground offset voltage from influencing thereupon.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an array device having functional circuits for a plurality of channels which is capable of relatively reducing the crosstalk between the channels of the functional circuits.

Array device having functional circuit for a plurality of channels


A glassware manufacturing system in which hot glass containers from an individual section machine are directed by an endless conveyor through a container inspection station. A container to be removed from the conveyor is identified by the inspection equipment for calibration purposes. An air jet is controlled by the inspection equipment for selectively removing the container from the conveyor into a trap, within which a progressively increasing force is applied to the container for arresting motion of the container without physical damage. The container may then be removed from the trap by an operator for manual inspection to calibrate the inspection equipment.

In the manufacture of glass containers, molten glass is molded in so-called individual section (IS) machines to form hot containers. The hot containers are placed by the machine sections on an endless belt conveyor, on which the containers are conveyed to an annealing lehr. Within the lehr, the containers are annealed for stress relief, and begin to cool. From the lehr, the containers are conveyed to various cold-end equipment for inspection, packaging etc. The lehr thus effectively divides the "hot end" from the "cold end" of the manufacturing process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,544 illustrates the glass manufacturing process described above.
It is proposed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/856,829 filed May 15, 1997 to inspect glass containers at the hot end of the manufacturing process by means of optical inspection equipment disposed between the IS machine and the annealing lehr. It is difficult to calibrate such inspection equipment, however, because of the speed of movement of the conveyor and the high temperature of the glassware. Hot glassware is highly susceptible to damage due to physical contact, and it is important that glassware to be used for calibrating the inspection equipment not be damaged during the sampling process. It has been proposed as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,354,865 and 4,421,542 to remove glassware from the endless conveyor at the hot end of the manufacturing system by directing a jet of air onto selected containers for propelling the containers down a chute or the like. However, for calibration of inspection equipment, the likelihood of damage to the containers renders such a technique undesirable.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, method and system for selectively removing hot articles of glassware from the conveyor at the hot end of the manufacturing system without damaging the glassware. Another and related object of the present invention is to provide a method of calibrating hot-end glassware inspection equipment that includes facility for selectively removing glassware for calibration purposes without physically damaging the sampled glassware.
Apparatus for selectively removing and holding hot glassware from a conveyor between a glassware manufacturing machine and an annealing lehr in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the invention includes an air jet for selectively propelling an article of glassware on the conveyor in a direction lateral to motion of the conveyor. A hot container catcher or trap is disposed on a side of the conveyor opposite the air jet for receiving a glassware article propelled from the conveyor, and for progressively engaging the glassware article so as to resist and arrest motion of the article. The glassware article is then held in position until removed by an operator. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the article of glassware removed from the conveyor is progressively engaged by a plurality of interdigitated flexible curved vanes that are so disposed with respect to each other as to progressively increase resistance to motion of the glassware article through the vanes. The article of glassware is brought to rest over a perforated plate adjacent to a back wall, from which the article may be removed by the operator.
A method of sampling hot glassware following inspection of the glassware as the glassware moves along a conveyor between a forming machine and an annealing lehr in accordance with another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of identifying an article of glassware to be removed from the conveyor, and engaging the article with a first force lateral to the conveyor when the article reaches a preselected position along the conveyor. The article so engaged and removed from the conveyor is then engaged with a progressively increasing second force opposite to the first force so as to arrest motion of the article without damaging the article, and the article of glassware is then held in position for removal by an operator. A method of calibrating the inspection equipment in accordance with a third aspect of the invention thus includes the steps of identifying at the inspection equipment an article of glassware having a property to be calibrated, and then removing that article from the conveyor such as by directing an air jet onto the article from a direction lateral to the conveyor. The article enters the trap of the present invention, within which it is engaged by flexible vanes for progressively increasing an arresting force on the article and bringing the article to rest within the trap without damage. The article was then inspected so as to calibrate the inspection equipment.

Sampling of hot glassware in a glassware manufacturing system


A vehicle comprises a processor programmed to: responsive to detecting a predefined event, transition a plurality of vehicle systems from a normal mode of operation to a quiet mode of operation, the transition including to adjust vehicle exhaust setting to a quiet mode, engage active noise cancellation, close vehicle windows, and adjust vehicle suspension to a predefined suspension mode.

Many modern vehicles are provided with advanced features to enhance user/occupant experience. For instance, an active exhaust system may turn up the exhaust sound in a sport mode and turn down the volume in a quite mode. Similarly, an adaptive suspension may adjust the response of suspension between stiff configuration for better handling and soft configuration for ride comfort.


A ball joint includes an outer race having an exterior surface extending from an outer axial end to an inner axial end thereof and having an interior that has an opening proximate the outer axial end. The ball joint includes a ball with a stem extending therefrom. The ball is disposed in the interior area with the stem extending out of the opening. The ball joint has an anti pull-out collar disposed around the outer race and located entirely beyond a center point of the ball towards the outer axial end of the outer race. The anti pull-out collar has a radial thickness configured to prevent radial expansion of the outer race.

As shown in FIG. 4, ball joints 100 typically include a spherical ball 110 that has a stem 112 extending therefrom. The ball 110 is rotatingly disposed in a concave spherical interior area 114A of an outer race 114. The stem 112 extends axially outward from an opening 114X in the outer race 114. The spherical interior area 114A extends over the ball 110 in an axial direction, towards the opening 114X and radially inward to axially retain the ball in the outer race 114. The ball 110 and stem 112 are configured to rotate and misalign relative to the outer race 114. The outer race 114 includes a stepped flange 114F extending circumferentially around and proximate to the opening 114X. The stepped flange 114F has an axially facing surface 114G that extends circumferentially around the stepped flange. The outer race 114 has a substantially cylindrical exterior surface 114B extending therearound. The outer race 114 is disposed in an interior area 116K of a bearing housing 116, such that the exterior surface 114B of the outer race engages a cylindrical interior surface 116A of the bearing housing 116. Typically, the outer race 114 is press fit (i.e., interference fit) into the bearing housing 116.
During operation, the ball joint 100 is subject to axial loads as indicated by the arrow Q. The axial load Q can become so great as to cause the stepped flange to deform radially outward in the direction of the arrows D causing a gap G to be formed between the ball and the outer race 114, proximate the opening 114X. The gap G can become so large that the axial load can cause the ball 110 to be pulled out of the outer race 114, thereby causing failure of the ball joint. Typically, the stepped flange 114F has a radial thickness that is insufficient to preclude the radial deformation and formation of the gap G.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need to provide a device that helps resist the radial deformation and helps preclude the foregoing pull-out of the ball 110 from the outer race 114.


A power transformation system that is constructed and arranged to transform power from one or more primary voltage nodes to a separate secondary voltage node using one or more columns comprised of a plurality of capacitive modules each of which is capable of being either electrically inserted into the column or electrically isolated and electrically bypassed. There is a secondary voltage node, at a non-ground potential, to which a first end of the column is electrically connected. In the two-primary node example there are two high voltage switches, each in series with a reactor; one high-voltage switch adapted to electrically connect a second end of the column to the first primary voltage node and the other high-voltage switch adapted to electrically connect the second end of the column to a second primary node. A controller is adapted to control high voltage switches to connect the capacitances comprising the column sequentially to each primary node so as to transform power, by resonant exchange of energy, between those primary nodes and the secondary node.

Technologies used in transformation of electric power between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) have advanced rapidly, as has the use of DC as a means of transporting large amounts of power. While AC developed into networked systems very shortly after its introduction, DC's use has been largely limited to point-to-point transfer of large blocks of power, the latter limit due in part because with DC, unlike AC, it is difficult to directly transform power from one DC voltage node to another of differing voltage.
The above notwithstanding, evolution of the world's electric supply system have brought the industry to the point where large networks of interconnected DC lines are needed to overlie existing AC systems; a development that will, in integrating major existing DC lines, require an economic means of transforming power between two or more DC nodes of differing voltage.
As system planners address reliability issues associated with the prospective overlay of AC systems with DC grids, it becomes apparent that any equipment configuration connecting the DC grid with AC system must be self-redundant, i.e. capable of suffering the loss of any one DC line or its associated equipment without interruption of exchange of power to or from the underlying AC system. Conventional high voltage electrical equipment can fulfill that requirement by the configuration shown in FIG. 1, wherein two DC lines entering a junction point convert their power to AC by conventional AC-to-DC converters 20, then then transform the resulting AC power to the appropriate AC voltage by magnetic transformers 21 and thence to an AC node 22, thus allowing exchange from either of the incoming DC lines during failure of the other line or its associated terminal equipment. While the configuration of FIG. 1 satisfies the self-contingent requirement, it is expensive, requires a large substation area, and permits transfer of power between the two incoming DC lines only by means of double DC/AC conversion.
Furthermore high voltage DC grids will, as do AC grids, require an economic means of transforming power from one DC voltage level to another, a function previously achieved in a limited number of applications by triple transformation; first transforming DC to AC through conventional converter systems, then using magnetic transformers to convert AC to a different voltage level, and finally converting the new AC voltage back to DC through the same conversion technology. The need for a more direct means of DC-to-DC transformation has led to proposals of competing technological options, the simplest of which is based on columns of capacitive modules, each of which is first charged with all modules in series by the voltage present on a higher DC node, then reconfigured with a lesser number of modules in series before charge exchange with a second, lower voltage node. The novel systems and methods described herein, extend the principles used on column-based DC-to-DC transformation to enable an economic means of achieving self-redundant ties to underlying AC systems while simultaneously allowing transfer of power from one incoming DC line to another without double conversion between AC and DC.


The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a molding with a core by using compression molding means having upper and lower double-structured punches; the method comprising the steps of supplying molding material for the core and molding material for the outer layer respectively, the step of compression-molding the molding material for the core and/or the molding material for the outer layer, and the step of compression-molding the whole molding with a core, wherein: the step of supplying the molding material for the outer layer posterior to the step of supplying the molding material for the core is performed until a tip of the lower center punch finally takes a position protruding from a tip of the lower outer punch; and the step of compression-molding the whole molding with a core is performed with the tips of the lower center punch and the lower outer punch aligned with each other. This method can be expected to bring about the effect of enhancing the strength of a portion of outer layer forming the sidewall of the molding and/or the effect of allowing the molding material for the outer layer supplied after the step of supplying the molding material for the core to be led to under the temporary molding of the core thereby making it possible to manufacture a molding with a core through the molding material supply step performed twice.

A method of manufacturing a molding by compressing and solidifying molding material, a representative of which is powder granule etc., is generally used in a wide range of industry including, for example, not only industrial fields of pharmaceuticals and foods (functional foods and general foods) but also electronic material fields such as molding of semiconductor encapsulating resin, battery-related products, powder metallurgy-related products, electronic functional parts and the like, and fields of agricultural chemicals and sanitary products.
In the field of pharmaceuticals, among formulations for oral administration in particular, a solid molding called "tablet" is presently one of the most widely used form of medicines in view of various merits including simplicity and convenience in manufacturing and easiness of oral administration. Among such moldings, the molding having an internal core is called "tablet with a core" since such a molding is manufactured by compression-molding powder granule placed around a core (center tablet) to form an outer layer.
Such a molding with a core as a dry coated tablet was conventionally manufactured by a method comprising: preparing a core as a molding by another tablet machine previously; supplying the core as a molding into a die of a dry coated tablet machine fed and filled with powder granule for an outer layer; and further supplying and compression-molding the powder granule for the outer layer. This manufacturing method involves serious problems of an increased amount of operation and a lowered production efficiency as compared with a method of manufacturing an general compression molding. Further, the method involves problems associated with feeding of cores, such as an occurrence of a tablet with no core, multiple cores, or off-centered core and hence requires a complicated mechanism or apparatus for monitoring core feeding and checking final molded products to assure the quality of each product, thus resulting in the machine or equipment increased in size and complicated in structure.
In view of such circumstances, the inventors of the present invention invented a method of manufacturing a molding with a core efficiently from such a molding material as powder granule at a time, as described in patent document 1. This method uses compression molding means having a die and an upper and a lower punches, of which at least the upper punch, preferably both of the upper and lower punches have a double structure comprising a center punch and an outer punch surrounding the outer periphery of the center punch, both of the center punch and the outer punch being slidable and capable of a compressing operation. This manufacturing method comprises: the steps of supplying molding material for the core and molding material for the outer layer respectively; the step of compression-molding the molding material for the core and/or the molding material for the outer layer; and the step of compression-molding the whole molding with a core.
Further, the inventors of the present invention invented a rotary compression molding machine described in patent document 2 as an apparatus for practicing the aforementioned method of manufacturing a molding with a core.
A specific example of such a method of manufacturing a molding with a core by using upper and lower punches both having such a double structure comprises: an outer layer supply step 1 of supplying molding material for the outer layer into a space defined above a lower center punch and enclosed by a lower outer punch; a core supply step of supplying molding material for the core into a space defined above the molding material for the outer layer supplied in the preceding step and enclosed by the lower outer punch; an outer layer and core molding step of compression-molding the molding material for the outer layer and the molding material for the core supplied in the preceding steps; an outer layer supply step 2 of supplying the molding material for the outer layer into a space defined above and around the outer layer and core molding in the die molded in the preceding step; and a whole molding step of compression-molding the outer layer and core molding and the molding material for the outer layer.
Patent Document 1: International Laid-Open Publication No. WO 01/98067 pamphlet
Patent Document 2: International Laid-Open Publication No. WO 02/90098 pamphlet

Method of manufacturing a molding with a core


An arrangement and method for producing a camshaft comprised of a shaft (2) and of a number of cams (3, 3′, 3″) pressed thereon comprises at least two machining stations (11) of which at least one is provided in the form of knurling station (4) and at least one is provided in the form of a press-on station (5). A shaft (2) is firstly fixed in a brandishing station (4) with the aid of a positioning element (7) fastened to the shaft, and the shaft is subsequently brandished. Afterwards, a cam (3) is pressed onto the shaft (2) in a press-on station (5). To this end, the press-on station (5) comprises a workpiece holder, which corresponds to the positioning element and which serves to provide a holding, particularly to provide an angle-precise holding, of the shaft (2) with the positioning element (7) fastened thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for producing a camshaft comprising a shaft and a number of cams pressed thereon having the features of the preamble of the independent claims.
2. Description of Related Art
Numerous method for producing camshafts by pressing cams onto a shaft are already known. For example, WO A1 01/94802 describes a method in which the shaft is treated by plastic deformation at the positions provided for the cams, whereby accumulations of material are formed, a cam is pressed onto this position whereby this material is deformed by the cam and the cam is fixed on the shaft.
EP 462 081 B1 describes an automatic machine for force-fitting cams onto a camshaft. The cams are guided via a feed channel to an assembly seat located on the work table of the automatic machine. The shaft is then inserted into the hole of the cam and lowered. If the cams are to be arranged in different angular orientations on the shaft, the shaft is turned about its own axis in the automatic machine in a computer-controlled manner. The shaft is not rolled between the pressing steps according to this document.
DE 28 38 995 A discloses a device for assembling a camshaft which contains a rotary table and a cylinder bearing the camshaft which moves the shaft through the cams located on the rotary table. The cams are fixed on the rotary table in dies. The number of dies corresponds to the number of cams for the camshaft. The dies are brought into the desired position before assembling the camshaft.
In practice, however, it has been found that the known construction is complex and handling is difficult. The costs for purchasing possibly one previously described indexing rotary table are very high. Also changes in the number of cams for the camshaft to be constructed or changes in the angular position of the cams make the handling of the indexing rotary table difficult.

Arrangement and method for producing a camshaft


A unitary corrugated board insert for a bicycle shipping container. The insert is fashioned from a generally unitary blank of corrugated paperboard, with panels of the insert defined by vertically extending score or fold lines. One of the panels is provided on one of its surfaces with an adhesive. The insert is formed by folding the several panels about the fold lines so as to yield an insert in the general form of two vertically running channels or enclosures for parts which must be added by the consumer to complete the assembly of the bicycle. These two channels are joined by folding the blank and attaching its free left and right ends to that panel which has been provided with adhesive. The two channels store some of the components of the bicycle which must be added by the consumer to complete bicycle assembly. The channels also sandwich a portion of the rear wheel of the bicycle to thereby provide shock resistance to the wheel and to assist in maintaining the bicycle in its desired position within the shipping container.

This invention relates to a packaging insert and more particularly to an insert for packaging a bicycle in a shipping container, the latter typically formed of corrugated paperboard.
Bicycle shipping containers and inserts for them are known and are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,355 issued to Stolpman, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,330,448 issued to Reaume, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,339,947 issued to Reaume, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,660,297 issued to Desposito, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,224 issued to Ritter. With many bicycles shipped from factories in only partially assembled condition, inserts are often used for the segregation and storing of various components which must be added by the customer to complete the assembly of the bicycle.
Inserts for containers are typically employed to position an article packaged within the container, to provide protection against shock forces, and often to define compartments for storing components required for full assembly of the packaged article.


A polyamide resin composition having a multi-phase structure and a process for producing the same are disclosed, the composition comprising:. (A) from 60 to 97 parts by weight of a polyamide resin containing at least 2 parts by weight of (A-1) a polyamide resin having a concentration ratio of terminal carboxyl group to terminal amino group of 1.5 or more, PA0 (B) from 3 to 40 parts by weight of an ethylene copolymer comprising: PA0 (C) from 0.01 to 20 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the sum of the components (A) and (B), of a polyfunctional compound having at least two functional groups reactive to a carboxylic anhydride group or a carboxyl group in the molecule thereof,. (a) from 40 to 90% by weight of an ethylene unit, PA1 (b) from 5 to 60% by weight of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester unit, and PA1 (c) from 0.3 to 10% by weight of a maleic anhydride unit, and. a part of the polyamide resin (A) constituting a matrix phase, the ethylene copolymer (B) constituting a first-order disperse phase, and the rest of the polyamide resin (A) constituting a second-order disperse phase in the first-order disperse phase.. The composition has well-balanced physical properties, such as impact resistance, rigidity, and thermal resistance, and excellent moldability.. A process for producing the above multi-phase structure is also included, in which a part of a polyamide resin constitutes a matrix phase, an ethylene copolymer constitutes a first order dispersed phase, and the rest of the polyamide resin constitutes a second order dispersed phase in the first order dispersed phase.

Polyamide resins are generally excellent in rigidity, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, thermal resistance, and electrical characteristics and have therefore been widely employed as engineering plastics.
Polyamide resins, however, still leave room for improvements in impact resistance, molding stability and the like, which have constituted hindrances in exploiting their utility. Thus, various proposals have hitherto been made to improve impact resistance of polyamide resins.
Typical proposals include a reinforced multi-phase thermoplastic resin composition comprising a polyamide having dispersed therein an ethylene copolymer, e.g., an ethylenemaleic anhydride-acrylic ester copolymer, to a particle size of from 0.01 to 1.0 .mu.m as disclosed in JP-B-55-44108 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"); a high-impact polyamide comprising a polyamide having dispersed therein a maleic anhydride-modified ethylene-propylene rubber to a particle size of not more than 0.36 .mu.m as disclosed in JP-A-60-221453 (the term "JP-A" a used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"); and a high-impact polyamide resin composition comprising a polyamide having dispersed therein an ionomer resin to a particle size of from 0.005 to 3 .mu.m as disclosed in JP-A-58-108251.
It is well known, as stated above, that properties of a polyamide resin composition greatly depend on the dispersed state, i.e., the micro-phase separation structure, of the constituent polymer. It is hence important to elaborate on the optimum phase separation structure for manifestation of excellent physical properties. Most of the so far proposed impact resistant polyamide resins have revealed through microscopic observation a simple two-phase separation structure (particle structure) called sea-island structure in which a second component having rubbery properties is finely dispersed as a particulate phase (island phase) in a polyamide matrix phase (sea phase).
The latest report, POLYMER COMMUNICATIONS, Vol. 29, pp. 163 (1988), describes that polyamide 6.6 and 20% by weight a maleic anhydride-modified ethylene-propylene rubber are melt-kneaded in a 30 mm.phi. twin-screw extruder to provide a multi-phase structure. According to the examination by the present inventors, however, since the multi-phase structure in this report is unstable, if the compound is further melt-kneaded or a part or the whole of the sprue and runner is recycled to injection molding, etc, it has turned out that the multi-phase structure becomes a sea-island two-phase structure and, also, various physical properties are deteriorated.
It is also known that polyamide resins having a higher terminal amino group concentration give better results as disclosed in JP-B-62-25182, suggesting use of a polyamide resin having a concentration ratio of terminal amino group to terminal carboxyl group of 3.5 or more and in JP-A-59-164359, teaching use of a polyamide resin having a terminal amino group concentration of 5.5.times.10.sup.-5 eq./g or more. Further, JP-B-61-37305 proposes use of a polyamide resin having a relative viscosity of at least 3.5.
It has also been disclosed in JP-A-63-199755 and JP-A-63-235365 that a combined use of an ethylene-(meth)acrylic ester-maleic anhydride copolymer with a polyfunctional compound as a partial crosslinking agent provides a polyamide resin composition exhibiting fairly improved impact resistance over the conventional polyamide resins, but the composition is still insufficient in maintaining physical properties, such as thermal resistance, rigidity, impact resistance, and processability, in a good balance. That is, the improved impact resistance and softness are offset by other mechanical properties poorer than those of a polyamide resin per se, such as rigidity, tensile strength, hardness, thermal resistance, and processability.
It has turned out that the conventional sea-island structure has its own limit in making a balance between impact resistance and rigidity of a polyamide resin which are conflicting with each other while satisfying molding processability, i.e., high fluidity. In other words, a specific phase separation structure should be established before a material exhibiting impact resistance combined with rigidity, thermal resistance, and moldability can be obtained. None of the above-described conventional techniques is based on this point of view.

Multi-phase structure and process for producing the same


A tool is provided for addressing a number of issues related to assembling software stacks including multiple uncoordinated components such as open source projects. The tool identifies individual projects for stacking, manages dependency relationships and provides an intuitive graphical interface to assist a user. A project filter is also provided for controlling access to or installation of projects in accordance with filter criteria. In this manner, compliance with internal policies regarding the use of open source or other software is facilitated.

Conventionally, packages of software have been formed from proprietary applications. These applications have generally been provided by a single source or by industry partners such that the applications have been developed in a coordinated way to facilitate such packaging. However, the assembly and use of such packages has generally been limited by associated licenses. More recently, open source software has grown rapidly in importance and availability. Generally, open source software is software where the source code is available for copying and modification and whose licenses generally give the user freedom to use the software for any purpose as well as to modify and redistribute the software. In this regard, open source software is distinguished from proprietary software in that the source code of proprietary software is generally not made available to the end user and the licenses for proprietary software generally place significant restrictions on use, copying, modification and redistribution. In addition, open source software is generally made available for free or for a reasonable reproduction fee whereas proprietary software is frequently provided on a for profit basis.
Open source software has a number of potential advantages for end users. First, because the source code is available to the end user and the licenses allow for substantial freedom of use and modification, the end user has significant flexibility to adapt and optimize the code for a particular endeavor. In this regard, the end user is not tied into a particular proprietary system. In addition, studies have shown that open source software tends to be of very high quality. That is, due to the open nature of the software and the opportunity for virtually unlimited peer review, the open source software is generally continually improving in quality. Moreover, because the open source software is generally available for free or at a nominal cost, there is a significant potential to use the open source software in a cost effective manner. For these and other reasons, many governments and other entities have mandated or encouraged a transition from proprietary software to open source software for systems under their control.
At the present time, however, significant obstacles remain with respect to fully realizing the potential advantages of open source software or other independently developed or uncoordinated software. One such challenge is assembling software stacks. Typically, a software system, application or tool ("project") does not function in isolation. Rather, a particular project may require another project (e.g., open source or proprietary) as a prerequisite to its proper operation and, once installed, may be used by other projects. Because of these vertical dependency relationships, end users often require or desire a software stack including multiple projects. Assembling such stacks involves identifying individual projects required for an endeavor as well as addressing the dependency relationships. This may require significant expertise and time. Although some open source providers offer coordinated projects or stacks, open source software tends to be uncoordinated.
Another difficulty associated with the use of uncoordinated software such as certain open source software relates to installation. Installation involves addressing various machine configuration issues, integrating software projects, resolving conflicts and testing for proper interoperation of the individual projects as well as interoperation between the projects and machine components. Again, installation often requires significant expertise and time.
In addition, there are a number of post-installation issues relating to the use of such uncoordinated software. For example, the use of any software may require occasional reference to user manuals and other documentation. Such documentation may not be readily available in the context of a stack including multiple uncoordinated (e.g., open source). Even when documentation is available for individual projects, such documentation may not be adapted for the environment of a particular software stack. Similarly, training materials such as tutorials may not be available or optimized for a software stack environment. Other post-installation issues relate to uninstalling projects or altering installed projects or stacks.

Tools for stacking uncoordinated software projects


Devices and methods for gradual displacing of the soft tissues covering bones. The gap developing between the bone and the displaced soft tissue will be filled with bone callus as it is in distraction osteogenesis. The devices and methods allow formation of bone in distraction osteogenesis without cutting a segment of the bone. The devices and methods are particularly useful in dental implantology for vertical ridge augmentation by displacing the periosteal tissue and for sinus lift by displacing the Schneiderian membrane. The devices and methods can also regenerate soft tissue between the bone and the displaced soft tissue.

The present invention relates to improved methods and devices for tissue regeneration especially bone augmentation.
Treatment of edentulous patients with osseointegrated fixtures made of titanium is a well-known procedure in the art. The procedure includes installing a fixture in the alveolar bone of an at least partially edentulous jaw. Usually several months are required for proper healing after fixture installation.
After healing, an abutment is installed on the upper portion of the fixture. After several weeks, an artificial tooth may be mounted on the abutment and the procedure is complete.
Installation of implants requires sufficient alveolar bone, generally about 10 mm height and 6 mm width.
When a tooth is removed, the alveolar bone is gradually resorbed because of the absence of stimulus of ossification-inducing pressure from the teeth. As the resorption process advances, the size of the bone gets reduced, i.e. the bone on which the dental roots are positioned—the alveolar ridge start shrinking.
The absence of just one tooth can cause modifications throughout the dental arch and even prompt a possible softening (loss of insertion) which may cause the loss of other teeth. The absence of several teeth aggravates the problem. Bone loss may finally modify the patient's appearance and, depending on the loss, may make him incapable of receiving bridges, implants or even dentures.
It is then necessary to carry out several surgical operations to reconstruct the alveolar ridge of the maxilla or mandible.
Although these methods of surgical reconstruction have been successfully performed, this type of operation has had drawbacks. Certain methods have involved opening the periosteal tissue (which is the tissue surrounding the bone and is easily detached from the bone) along the entire length of the atrophic alveolar ridge and then placing a bone graft material and a membrane on top of the graft and then suturing the delicate periosteal tissue back together to cover the membrane. The role of the membrane is to maintain the bone graft in its place and to prevent the mucoepithelium from growing into the graft and interfering with the process of bone regeneration. This surgical operation called guided bone regeneration has had drawbacks resulting from the lack of enough soft tissue to cover the enlarged bone.
In order to overcome some of these drawbacks, another small surgical procedure is done before the performance of the procedures mentioned above. In this procedure an expandable device is placed beneath the periosteum through a small incision. This device made of silicon is gradually filled with a liquid through a cannula. While this expandable device expands tension is transferred to the periosteum leading to enlargement of the periosteum. When the periosteum reached the desired dimension the expandable device is taken out and a bone graft is placed as described above, but now there is no need to stretch the mucoperiosteal tissue therefore reducing the complications.
This procedure has two significant drawbacks:                1. Two surgical procedures are needed. A small procedure for insertion of the expandable device and a big procedure for placing the bone graft and the membrane.        2. All the hazards of a relative big operation in the mouth.
Another method to regenerate bone is distraction osteogenesis, which is a process whereby bone is stretched to increase bone volume. According to distraction osteogenesis processes, at least one portion of a bone is at least partially separated from the bone. The position of the portion is gradually altered with respect to the bone. Time is then provided for new bone to fill in the space between the portion and the overall bone.
When distraction osteogenesis is used in dentistry dental applications, a portion of a patient's jawbone will be at least partially severed from the overall jawbone. The jawbone segment may then be gradually separated from the rest of the jawbone. New bone then fills in the space between the segment and the jawbone. By increasing the volume of bone in the jawbone, additional area can be provided to anchor or at least more securely anchor dental implants. Distraction osteogenesis can also be used in dental applications simply to strengthen a location on the jawbone to increase the bone volume at that location even if implants are not to be secured in the jawbone at that location.
These techniques of distraction osteogenesis has some disadvantages:    1) It is difficult technically to the surgeon.    2) It is traumatic to the patient.    3) This procedure can be done if the height of the ridge is at least 6 mm    4) This technique is not using the new materials available today that enhance bone regeneration.
The present invention is unique because these methods and devices allow distraction osteogenesis without cutting a segment of the bone therefore the procedure is simple minimal invasive and not traumatic. In the present invention only the periosteal tissue is separated from the bone. In another embodiment of the invention materials that enhance bone regeneration can be added to the distraction gap.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.