A coulter assembly is provided that facilitates continuous adjustment of coulter disk penetration depth. In an exemplary embodiment, the coulter assembly includes a gauge wheel configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of a coulter disk into the soil. A depth adjustment assembly is coupled to the gauge wheel and configured to adjust the penetration depth of the coulter disk by continuously varying the vertical position of the gauge wheel. This configuration may enable the coulter disk to operate at any penetration depth within the gauge wheel range of motion, thereby facilitating deposition of fertilizer within the soil at a suitable depth to enhance crop growth.

The invention relates generally to a coulter assembly, and more specifically, to a continuously variable depth adjustment system for altering a coulter disk penetration depth.
Generally, coulters are towed behind a tractor via a mounting bracket secured to a rigid frame of the implement. Coulters are typically configured to excavate a trench into soil, and may assist in delivering a liquid or dry fertilizer into the trench. Specifically, certain coulters include a coulter disk that cuts into the soil as the coulter moves along the terrain. A penetration depth of the coulter disk is generally regulated by a gauge wheel. In a typical configuration, the gauge wheel is positioned adjacent to the coulter disk and rotates across the soil surface. The coulter disk is positioned below the gauge wheel such that the coulter disk penetrates the soil. A vertical offset distance between the coulter disk and the gauge wheel determines the coulter disk penetration depth. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the effectiveness of fertilizer may be dependent upon its deposition depth within the soil. Therefore, precise control of coulter disk penetration depth may be beneficial for crop growth.
However, typical coulter assemblies only facilitate gauge wheel adjustment in discrete increments. For example, the gauge wheel may only be adjusted between two or three discrete positions. As a result, the coulter may not deposit the fertilizer at a suitable depth to enhance crop growth.


A horseshoe impact pad including a molded base of urethane material or the like having a recess formed in the upper, hoof engaging surface thereof and having a resilient honeycomb panel disposed within the recess and fixedly secured to the base. The horseshoe pad may be of full hoof design, for certain racing application, or may be generally limited to the hoof area covered by the horseshoe itself. The hoof side of the pad may also be configured to include a frog support component. The turf side of the pad may be provided with stabilizing ribs, heel shock-reducing projections, etc., and the base may be tapered to provide a desired tilt to the animal's hoof.

1. Field of the Invention
The Present invention relates generally to energy-absorbing pads for interposition between a conventional metal horseshoe and a horse's hoof, and more particularly to an improved pad of the type described which includes a f lexible honeycomb panel affixed to a less compressible, resilient substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has for some time now been the practice to place resilient pads between a horse's hoof and the horseshoe to absorb some of the shock and concussion that is experienced by the unprotected portion of the hoof as it meets the ground or pavement. It is also known to provide various "frog pads" in the central portion of the hoof for therapeutic purposes.
One prior art horseshoe pad is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. to Murphy (4,513,825, issued Apr. 30, 1985) and directed to a horseshoe "full" pad made of an energy-absorbing micro-cellular urethane foam having a tough outer skin. The pad is characterized by having a central layer or sheet which covers and can be trimmed to the hoof. Stabilizer bars and heel shock-reducers are mounted into the turf side of the pad and rise to about the level of the horseshoe so that they, along with the shoe, take up and absorb some of the shock. A frog pad may also be molded into the hoof side of the pad to further protect and stimulate the soft tissue of the hoof.
Since the landing force of a horse is usually four to five times its weight, reducing concussion from an impacting horse hoof onto the ground is not easy to accomplish in a predictable manner, especially in animals which may weigh 1000 pounds or more. Prior to Murphy, most prior art hoof pads were either hard and made of material such as leather, or soft throughout the entire pad and made of nonformed rubber. If it were hard, the pad did not adequately cushion, and it if were soft, the pad did not last. In the Murphy pad, a tough durable outer surface was combined with a soft cushioning interior which, when combined with the functional frog pad and heel shock-reducer, together with central stabilizing bars, yielded improved functional performance.
Applicant has found, however, that through the use of a honeycomb pad, in place of prior art materials, substantial improvements in performance can be obtained.


A push-pull type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer includes a vibrating film having a conductive layer and a pair of fixed electrodes provided at respective surfaces of the vibrating film. The front-side fixed electrode and the rear-side fixed electrode sandwich the vibrating film. A plurality of through holes are provided in the front-side fixed electrodes and through holes having the same shape are provided in the rear-side fixed electrode in positions opposed to the respective through holes provided in the front-side fixed electrode. A sound absorbing material is provided facing the rear-side fixed electrode.

When a modulated wave (sound wave) formed by a amplitude-modulating ultrasonic carrier wave at high sound pressure with an acoustic signal in an audible band is radiated in the air, because of nonlinearity of air, the sound speed becomes high at a location where the sound pressure is high and becomes low at a location where the sound pressure is low. Distortion, therefore, occurs in the waveform as the sound wave propagates in the air. It has been known that, as a result, the distortion is accumulated in the wave form and the carrier component is gradually attenuated as the sound wave propagates in the air, and the acoustic signal component in the audible band used for modulation is self-demodulated. This phenomenon is called a parametric array. Since the self-demodulated audible sound is carried by an ultrasonic wave and has sharp directionality, a speaker applying such a principle is called a parametric speaker, an ultra-directional speaker (ultrasonic speaker), or the like.
As a representative ultrasonic transducer that forms such an ultra-directional speaker (ultrasonic speaker), there are a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer and an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer. The piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer is a resonant ultrasonic transducer that uses a piezoelectric element such as a piezoelectric material as a vibrator and drives it by utilizing a resonant frequency band thereof. Accordingly, the transducer is characterized in that high sound pressure can be efficiently generated, but the sound pressure-frequency characteristic is in a narrow band.
In contrast, the electrostatic ultrasonic transducer is an ultrasonic transducer that allows an electrostatic force to act between a fixed electrode and a thin electrode film to vibrate the electrode film. It is characterized in that the sound pressure-frequency characteristic is in a wide band.
Since the ultra-directional speaker (ultrasonic speaker) is required to generate high sound pressure, a resonant ultrasonic transducer is generally used in a conventional ultra-directional speaker. However, the conventional ultra-directional speaker is often evaluated as being lower in sound reproduction quality compared to a loudspeaker, and is only used for voice application such as a local announcement or an explanation of an exhibition. Thus, since the resonant ultrasonic transducer has sound pressure-frequency characteristics in a narrow band and limited drive frequencies, there are problems that the sound reproduction quality is difficult to improve and it is difficult to adjustment the reproduction range. Further, since the transducer is sensitive to excessive inputs and its elements are easy to break, there is another problem in that the transducer requires careful handling.
On the other hand, in the case of the electrostatic ultrasonic transducer, since the transducer has an output sound pressure per unit area that is lower than that of the resonant ultrasonic transducer, but sound pressure-frequency characteristics in a wide band, there are advantages that the improvement in reproduction quality is easily realized and the adjustment to the reproduction range is easy. Further, since the vibrator (film) is more flexible compared to that of the resonant ultrasonic transducer, there are advantages that the ultrasonic transducer is difficult to break with excessive inputs and there is no need to be so careful in handling as is the case of the resonant ultrasonic transducer.
Thus, it is more desirable that the ultra-directional speaker is formed using an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer in view of improvement in sound reproduction quality and easy handling.
Further, the electrostatic ultrasonic transducer is mainly divided into two types known as a pull-type and a push-pull type in structure thereof. The respective drawbacks and advantages are as follows.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the driving concept of a pull-type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer. An alternating current signal is superimposed on a direct current bias output from a DC bias supply and applied between a vibrating film (vibrating electrode film) 21 formed by depositing a conductive layer on a vibrating film (an insulating film or the like) and a fixed electrode 22. The vibrating film 21 is vibrated by the alternating current signal to output ultrasonic wave.
FIG. 9(a) shows an amplitude state of the vibrating film 21 in the case where a positive (+) side output of an alternating current signal is superimposed on the direct current bias and applied to the vibrating film 21, and FIG. 9(b) shows an amplitude state of the vibrating film 21 in the case where a negative (−) side output of an alternating current signal is superimposed on the direct current bias and applied to the vibrating film 21.
In the case of the state shown in FIG. 9(a), as the potential difference between the fixed electrode 22 and the vibrating film 21 becomes larger, a strong electrostatic force (attraction force) acts between the fixed electrode 22 and the vibrating film 21, and the central part of the vibrating film 21 is attracted toward the direction of the fixed electrode 22. In the case of the state shown in FIG. 9(b), as the potential difference between the fixed electrode 22 and the vibrating film 21 becomes smaller, an electrostatic force (attraction force) between the fixed electrode 22 and the vibrating film 21 becomes weaker, and the central part of the vibrating film 21 is drawn back toward the opposite direction to the fixed electrode 22 by a resilient restoration force. Thus, the vibrating film 21 vibrates according to the alternating current signal and outputs an ultrasonic wave.
In the pull-type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer, since there is no need to provide a through hole or the like for passing through a sound wave in the fixed electrode like a push-pull type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer (which will be described later), there are advantages that the aperture ratio is large and the sound pressure is easily secured. On the other hand, since the components that contribute to vibration are only the electrostatic attraction force and the resilient restoration force of the film, there is a drawback that the distortion in output waveform becomes larger.
Further, FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a driving concept of a push-pull type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer. In the push-pull type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer, a front-side fixed electrode 12 and a rear-side fixed electrode 13 are provided facing a vibrating film (vibrating electrode film) 11. A positive side DC bias is provided to the vibrating film 11 by a DC bias supply and an alternating current signal is applied between the front-side fixed electrode 12 and the rear-side fixed electrode 13.
FIG. 10(a) shows an amplitude state of the vibrating film 11 in the case where the alternating current signal is zero (0). The vibrating film 11 is located in a neutral position (in the middle of the front-side fixed electrode 12 and the rear-side fixed electrode 13). FIG. 10(b) shows an amplitude state of the vibrating film 11 in the case where the negative voltage of the alternating current signal is applied to the front-side fixed electrode 12 and the positive voltage of the alternating current signal is applied to the rear-side fixed electrode 13. The central part of the vibrating film 11 is attracted toward the direction of the front-side fixed electrode 12 by an electrostatic force (repulsion force) between the rear-side fixed electrode 13 and itself and an electrostatic force (attraction force) between the front-side fixed electrode 12 and itself.
FIG. 10(c) shows an amplitude state of the vibrating film 11 in the case where the positive voltage of the alternating current signal is applied to the front-side fixed electrode 12 and the negative voltage of the alternating current signal is applied to the rear-side fixed electrode 13. The central part of the vibrating film 11 is attracted toward the direction of the rear-side fixed electrode 13 by an electrostatic force (repulsion force) between the front-side fixed electrode 12 and itself and an electrostatic force (attraction force) between the rear-side fixed electrode 13 and itself.
Thus, the vibrating film 11 vibrates according to the alternating current signal and outputs sound waves.
In the push-pull type electrostatic ultrasonic transducer, since both the electrostatic attraction force and the electrostatic repulsion force act on the vibrating film, that is, the electrostatic forces symmetrically act positively and negatively, there is an advantage that the distortion in output waveforms become smaller. On the other hand, since the sound wave is output through the through hole provided in the fixed electrode, there are drawbacks that the aperture ratio is smaller and the sound pressure is difficult to secure.
By the way, in the case of using an electrostatic ultrasonic transducer for the ultra-directional speaker, there is a specific problem that, even when ideal amplitude-modulated waves in an ultrasonic wave band are input to the speaker, if the positively and negatively asymmetric distortion of the waveforms (carrier wave) output from the ultrasonic transducer are large, the distortion component becomes an audible sound component, audible sound is directly output from the speaker other than the ultrasonic wave component, and the directionality of auditory sense becomes low. This is because the electrostatic ultrasonic transducer has a sound pressure characteristic in a wide frequency band (when the audible sound itself is directly input, some degree of sound pressure is provided), and a problem specific to the ultrasonic transducer having wide band characteristics. Accordingly, in order to avoid the above described problems, it is more desirable to use a push-pull type having smaller distortion in output waveform than a pull-type.
In the case where an ultra-directional speaker (ultrasonic speaker) is formed by a push-pull type ultrasonic transducer, since through holes for passing through sound waves are provided in both upper and lower fixed electrodes that sandwich the vibrating film in the conventional ultrasonic transducer, the sound wave is emitted toward both the front surface and the rear surface (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
A case where such an ultra-directional speaker is mounted on equipment such as a projector, for example, and screen sound is realized by reflecting sound waves on a screen for projecting a video will be considered. In this case, when the speaker is provided so as to overhang to the outside of the housing of the projector, there is a problem that realistic sensation is hindered because a person watching the screen from the rear side of the projector directly hears not only the sound reflected by the screen but also the sound from the speaker of the projector main body. On the other hand, there is a problem that realistic sensation is also hindered because the sound wave radiated from the speaker rear surface is reflected on the rear wall and a person watching the screen in front of the projector hears not only the sound reflected by the screen but also the same sound from the rear side.
Further, when the speaker is provided inside the housing of the projector, the above described problem does not occur because the sound wave radiated from the rear surface is blocked by the housing or internal structure and the sound wave is radiated only toward the front side. However, the sound wave reflected at a point-blank range of the housing or internal structure directly bounces back to the vibrating film of the ultrasonic transducer and disturbs the vibration of the vibrating film. As a result, there is a problem that the directionality and sound quality of sound wave output from the front surface becomes deteriorated.
[Patent Document No. JP-A-6-209499]

Electrostatic ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic speaker


A method and apparatus for producing clutch bodies, which are suitable for synchronizer systems and provided with teeth or tooth sections, from a blank uses and includes at least one embossing stage, composed of embossing segments and an anvil, for embossing roofs and troughs between root and tip circles into an upper face of the blank, and transfer means for transporting the blanks, First embossing segments form a first section and second embossing segments form a second section for sequential embossing within the at least one embossing stage, wherein the first embossing segments first emboss a first section, then return in relation to the second embossing segments, and thereafter the second embossing segments emboss the second section, wherein the second embossing segments are disposed next to each other in an annular arrangement, and the second embossing segments are designed to be axially movable relative to the first embossing segments of the first section.

The invention relates to a device for producing clutch bodies, which are suitable for synchronizer systems and provided with teeth or tooth sections (both of which my be referred to simply as "teeth"), from a blank using at least one embossing stage, composed of embossing segments and an anvil, for embossing roofs and troughs between the root and tip circles into an upper face of the blank, and transfer means for transporting the blanks.
The invention further relates to a method for producing clutch bodies, which are suitable for synchronizer systems, from a blank using an embossing stage, which comprises at least embossing segments and an anvil and in which troughs and roofs in the edge region close to the circumference arranged next to each other in a ring-like manner are introduced into the upper face of the blank by way of embossing along a root circle and tip circle of the future teeth or tooth sections.
A method for producing stamped parts, in particular synchronizer rings, clutch bodies or clutch plates, is known from EP 2 263 812 A1 in which, in one method step, the strip stock to be worked is clamped between the hold-down elements of a fine blanking tool, and in a further method step at least the teeth are embossed. In a first process step, an impact pre-embossing step is carried out on the strip stock at least in the region of the teeth that are to be cut out later, and subsequently the fine blanking method step is carried out in conjunction with an impact extrusion step on the strip stock. The teeth are formed by way of a fine blanking operation and subjected to impact extrusion at the same time, during which they are displaced into a free volume created by way of pre-embossing.
Impact pre-embossing, which is nothing other than embossing, forces a change in the shape of the strip stock, preserving the cohesion and volume of the material.
This is associated with the disadvantage that stresses or compressions are created in the embossing region of the strip stock as a result of the changes in shape and geometry, which can impair the flatness of the strip to be cut and the dimensional accuracy of the future teeth.
Moreover, DE 2 222 080 A1 describes a method and a die for producing clutch bodies for synchromesh gears comprising teeth, which have a tooth profile having roof-like axial displacement surfaces on the flank side and stepped head surfaces on the end face side, forming stop lugs, for engaging an associated selector sleeve. The teeth are initially fine blanked, and then the tooth profile is embossed. For this purpose, the stamped teeth are in each case pre-embossed in a die comprising a hollow mold corresponding to the tooth profile and subsequently, with the die closed, finished by way of a displacement punch that is moved into the hollow mold, filling the hollow mold.
This known method is very complex since the teeth must be fed consecutively to the die, or each tooth must be assigned a dedicated die. In addition, the teeth must be stamped in an undersized dimension, so that flawless filling of the hollow mold is achieved with the required fine dimension.

Device and method for producing clutch bodies that are suitable for synchronizer systems and provided with teeth or tooth sections


An acellular dermal graft is provided. The acellular dermal graft may be useful in minimizing side effects caused after transplantation since an environment favorable for formation of new blood vessels and proliferation of autologous tissues is provided by forming a multi-penetration structure in an acellular dermal tissue, removing a basement membrane layer and/or subjecting corners to slope cutting, and transplantation is stably performed within a short transplantation time due to improved extensibility and flexibility of tissues. The acellular dermal graft may be useful in reducing a time required to recover tissues after transplantation since the transplantation is stably performed due to improved grafting reaction with a host tissue by enhancing uptake of fibroblasts and promoting angiogenic activities. Also, the acellular dermal graft may be useful in maintaining smooth external appearance since hypodermic implantation is easily performed upon transplantation, and the skin at a graft site does not protrude after transplantation.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an acellular dermal graft, and a method of preparing the same.
Discussion of Related Art
Skin tissues of a human body are mainly divided into three parts: epidermis composed of the outermost layers of cells in the skin; dermis lined under the epidermis; and subcutaneous tissue. Among these, the epidermis is composed of epithelial cells in which a basement membrane capable of strongly binding the dermis to the epidermis is differentiated into various layers, and the other components such as melanocytes, and immune cells, and the dermis lined under the epidermis is composed mainly of fibroblasts and various extracellular matrixes secreted from the fibroblasts.
Some skin tissues or internal organ tissues may be injured by burns, external wounds, sores, etc. Here, a method of transplanting the patient's own skin tissue or internal organ tissue is used to heal the injured tissue or to carry out reconstructive plastic surgery. In this case, since skin tissue or organ tissue should be extracted from the patient who is to receive the transplant, the patient must undergo a substantial amount of surgery. It may be dangerous to carry out transplantation when the patient is not healthy. In addition, there is a method of performing transplantation using a xenograft or synthetic biomaterial. In this case, the patent may receive additional surgery due to an inflammatory response caused by an immune rejection response when the patient carries the transplant for a long period of time. To solve the problem, a method of preparing an acellular dermis for transplantation from a skin tissue extracted from a donor (Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0092985, and Korean Patent No. 791502) and performing an operation is used as a method used to solve the difficulties.
Basically, when a graft is inserted in a host tissue of a human body, the graft causes various problems such as blockage of blood flow and bodily fluid circulation between the host tissue and the graft, blockage of blood circulation around the graft due to a compact structure of an extracellular matrix in the graft, the presence of a basement membrane layer, and a relatively higher thickness of the graft, blockage of bodily fluid circulation, a decrease in generation and migration of new blood vessels, restriction of proliferation of fibroblasts and endogenous collagen tissues, a foreign body sensation caused by an insufficient graft response, increased tendency for inflammation and infection, formation of a capsule of scar tissue around the graft, retention of bodily fluids, etc.
In the case of the acellular dermal tissue, the basement membrane layer is lined on an upper portion of the dermis, serves to strongly bind the dermis to the epidermis, and is attached to the dermis after removal of the epidermis. The basement membrane layer has a problem in that it may be slowly engrafted since its compact tissue significantly reduce an uptake rate of fibroblasts in the established graft site after transplantation, compared with other sites where no grafting is done.
In particular, most currently commercially available acellular dermal grafts have a problem in that they are transplanted in a quadrilateral shape, and thus the skin protrudes at the corners of the quadrilateral graft lined toward the surface of the skin, which leads to an unnatural external appearance. Also, since the front and rear surfaces of graft are not easily discriminated between with the unaided eye (for example, the basement membrane layer has a smooth surface, and a lower surface of the derma has a finely coarse surface), it is very difficult to find a way to discriminate between the front and rear surfaces of graft as required for transplantation. For rapid recovery of a patient after transplantation, it is also necessary to minimize skin incision at a graft site. In this case, a quadrilateral graft may not be easily grafted onto the graft site.


‘PHOS3’ is a distinctive variety of Phormium tenax which is characterized by the combination of its medium upright growth habit, orange tones incorporated into its bronze leaf color, narrower leaf width and resistance to phytophthora root rot.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Phormium tenax, which has been given the variety denomination of 'PHOS3'. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. 'PHOS3' is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.
The Phormium tenax variety 'PHOS3' was finally selected in 2002 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales following a selection process carried out from 1999 to 2001 involving large quantities of common open pollinated Phormium tenax production stock. 'PHOS3' is a single seedling selected from open pollinated common Phormium tenax. 'PHOS3' was selected due to its bronze with orange toned leaf color and survival from exposure to the plant pathogen phytophthora, known as phytophthora root rot. 'PHOS3' was first propagated asexually by division in the state of New South Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated by division and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive 'PHOS3' variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant. In comparing 'PHOS3' to "common Phormium tenax" reference to "common" means typical seedling forms of un-improved or wild types as used in hoticultural industries and home gardens.
'PHOS3' has a medium growth habit with a medium shoot density whereas common Phormium tenax has a variable growth form ranging from short to tall plant height and sparse to dense shoot density. 'PHOS3' has orange tones incorporated into its bronze leaf color whereas other bronze colored Phormium tenax do not have such orange tones prominent. 'PHOS3' has a narrow leaf width compared to other forms of Phormium tenax. 'PHOS3' has a strong resistance to phytophthora root rot whereas common Phormium tenax has weak resistance.
An application for plant breeders' rights for variety 'PHOS3' has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in January 2006 under Application No. 2005/350.


A wireless communication base station apparatus wherein when a frequency scheduling transmission and a frequency diversity transmission are performed in a multicarrier communication at the same time, the adaptive control of a channel for performing the frequency scheduling transmission can be prevented from being complicated. In this apparatus, a modulating part (12) modulates an encoded Dch data to generate Dch data symbols. A modulating part (22) modulates an encoded Lch data to generate Lch data symbols. An assigning part (103) assigns the Dch and Lch data symbols to subcarriers constituting OFDM symbols and outputs them to a multiplexing part (104). At this moment, the assigning part (103) assigns a set of Dch and Lch data symbols to each subcarrier for a respective subband.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a subband setting method and a radio communication mobile station apparatus in multicarrier communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in radio communication, particularly in mobile communication, various kinds of information such as images and data other than speech have become targets of transmission. Demand for higher-speed transmission is likely to increase in the future, and, to realize high-speed transmission, a radio transmission technique is desired that realizes high transmission efficiency by utilizing limited frequency resources efficiently.
Radio transmission techniques that respond to this demand include OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). OFDM refers to a multicarrier transmission technique for transmitting data in parallel using a large number of subcarriers, and is known as a technique that has high frequency efficiency and characteristics of reducing inter-symbol interference under a multipath environment and that is effective in improving transmission efficiency.
Performing frequency scheduling transmission and frequency diversity transmission when this OFDM is used in downlink and data for a plurality of radio communication mobile station apparatuses (hereinafter simply "mobile stations") is frequency-domain-multiplexed on a plurality of subcarriers, is studied (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
With frequency scheduling transmission, a radio communication base station apparatus (hereinafter simply "base station") allocates subcarriers to mobile stations adaptively based on received quality of each frequency band at the mobile stations, so that it is possible to obtain a maximal multi-user diversity effect and perform communication very efficiently. Such frequency scheduling transmission is a scheme suitable for data transmission mainly when the mobile station moves at low speed. On the other hand, frequency scheduling transmission requires feedback of received quality information from the mobile stations and so is not suitable for data transmission when the mobile station moves at high speed. Further, frequency scheduling is generally performed per subband which is obtained by dividing adjacent subcarriers into blocks, and so cannot provide a very high frequency diversity effect.
In Non-Patent Document 1, a channel for performing this frequency scheduling transmission is referred to as a localized channel (hereinafter "Lch"). Conventionally, Lchs are allocated in subband units or in units of a plurality of consecutive subcarriers. Further, generally, adaptive control such as adaptive modulation is performed on Lchs per subband (in the frequency domain) and per subframe (in the time domain). For example, to achieve a required error rate, the base station performs adaptive control on an MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) of Lch data symbols based on received quality information fed back from the mobile station.
In addition, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an example where one frame (10 ms) is divided into 20 subframes (one subframe=0.5 ms) and one subframe includes six or seven OFDM symbols.
By contrast with this, frequency diversity transmission allocates data for the mobile stations to subcarriers in the full band in a distributed manner, and so can provide a high frequency diversity effect. Further, frequency diversity transmission does not require received quality information from the mobile stations, and so is an effective scheme in a state to which frequency scheduling transmission is difficult to apply as described above. On the other hand, frequency diversity transmission is performed regardless of the received quality at the mobile stations, and so cannot provide a multi-user diversity effect as in frequency scheduling transmission. In Non-Patent Document 1, a channel for performing such frequency diversity transmission is referred to as a distributed channel (hereinafter "Dch"). Conventionally, Dchs are set according to FH (Frequency Hopping) patterns which cover the whole band of OFDM symbols.
Non-Patent Document 1: R1-050604 "Downlink Channelization and Multiplexing for EUTRA" 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Ad Hoc on LTE, Sophia Antipolis, France, 20-21 June, 2005

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Integrated circuit for setting subbands in multicarrier communication for radio communication base station apparatus

Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America


The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of an immunogenic composition for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of mycoplasma infections in a subject comprising the cultivation of mycoplasma bacteria in a serum-reduced or swine serum-free, eukaryotic cell system; obtaining an antigen of the mycoplasma bacteria; and addition of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further, the present invention relates to the immunogenic composition obtainable by said method and a method for immunizing a subject comprising the administration of said immunogenic composition to a subject.

Bacteria of the Mycoplasma genus belong to the class Mollicutes and represent a group of organisms that derived from the Firmicutes lineage. Mollicutes are the smallest autonomously replicating organisms, which differ structurally from other eubacteria in that they lack a cell wall. The surface of their single membrane is considered a key interface in mediating adaptation and survival in the context of a complex, immunocompetent host. Further, Mollicutes have a small genome and a limited number of metabolic pathways. Therefore, members of the Mycoplasma genus have also been portrayed as "minimal self-replicating organisms." However, despite this apparent simplicity, a large number of mycoplasma bacteria are pathogens of humans and a wide range of animals. In contrast to other pathogenic bacteria where virulence is mostly determined by toxins, invasins, and cytolysins, pathogenic Mycoplasma bacteria appear to have no such typical primary virulence factors (Chambaud, I. et al, 2001, Nucleic Acids Res. 29: 2145-2153, Fraser et al, 1995, Science 270: 397-403). There is currently little knowledge available on the molecular mechanisms and the effectors that allow pathogenic mycoplasmas to cause host cell damage, inflammation and disease.
Pathogenic Mycoplasma bacteria cause mainly atypical pneumonia, uro-genital infections and arthritis in humans and in animals (Blanchard, A., and G. F. Browning (eds.). 2005. Mycoplasmas: Molecular biology, pathogenicity and strategies for control. Horizon Bioscience, Wymondham U. K.; Kobisch M. and Friis N. F. 1996, Swine mycoplasmoses, Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 15, 1569-1605). It is known that reactivation or exacerbation of the signs repeats and transfers gradually to a chronic disease, and thus along with early diagnosis and early treatment, prevention or treatment of exacerbation or reactivation are important. M. hyopneumoniae is the aetiological agent of enzootic pneumonia. In swine it is one of the most common and economically important diseases due to reduced weight gain and poor feed efficiency. The disease causes lesions in the lungs, a chronic cough, dull hair coat, retarded growth and unthrifty appearance lasting several weeks. The lung lesions, particularly in ventral apical and cardiac lobes, are characterized by a hyperplasia of the epithelial cells and an increased perivascular and peribronchiolar accumulation of mononuclear cells. M. hyorhinis, another common mycoplasma of the respiratory tract of pigs, can cause polyserositis and arthritis in piglets. M. hyosynoviae is generally located in the tonsils and can cause arthritic disease, leading to economic losses. M. hyosynoviae is isolated from the joints and pharyngeal/tonsillar samples and can induce antibodies in blood and joint fluid. M. bovis is considered to be one of the more pathogenic bacteria of Mycoplasma and causes significant economic losses worldwide. Mycoplasma bacteria cause severe clinical signs in cattle of all ages. M. bovis is the most frequent Mycoplasma pathogen found to cause pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis in cattle and its etiological role has also been associated with otitis, keratoconjunctivitis, synovitis, and reproductive disorders in cows and bulls.
Because mycoplasma lack a cell wall, they are unaffected by many common antibiotics such as penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Therapeutic agents for mycoplasma infection that are in practical use are some antibiotics such as macrolide-based, or new quinolone-based, or tetracycline-based antibiotics, but such antibiotics have great adverse effects such as advent of drug-resistant strains, which leads the mycoplasma infection to become severe while sufficient treating effects are not expected, and becomes a cause for transfer to a chronic disease. Further, vaccination is an effective method of controlling mycoplasma infection. However, significant high yields of mycoplasma needed for the preparation of vaccines are obtained by cultivation normally only in complex media (Kobisch M. and Friis N. F. 1996, Swine mycoplasmoses, Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 15, 1569-1605; Gabridge M. G. et al. 1976, Cultivation of mycoplasma in a modified tissue culture medium, Applied and Environmental microbiology. 31, 986-989; Sotoodehnia A. Et al 2007, Preparation of agalactia vaccine in fermentor, Archives of rani institute, 62, 45-48; Dahlia et al., 2009 Isolation of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae from pneumonic lung of swine, Tropical Biomedicine 26:341-345). Dependent on the mycoplasma bacteria to be cultivated, the complex media are supplemented with 10-30% serum and sometimes with yeast extract. Thus, due to the high price of serum the cultivation of mycoplasma bacteria is cost intensive. Further, a reduction of serum in the complex media would be beneficial in light of animal welfare, too. Thus, there is a need for the cultivation of significant high yields of mycoplasma in a serum-reduced culturing system for the preparation of immunogenic compositions effective in preventing mycoplasma infection. Moreover, the swine specific mycoplasma bacteria are generally cultivated in complex media containing swine specific serum (Kobisch M. and Friis N. F. 1996, Swine mycoplasmoses, Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz. 15, 1569-1605). However, swine specific serum can contain other swine-specific pathogens or can contain antibodies against swine specific pathogens which can cause a reduced immunogenicity of the immunogenic composition to be prepared. Thus, there is also a need for the cultivation of significant high yields of mycoplasma in a swine serum-free culturing system for the preparation of immunogenic compositions effective in preventing mycoplasma infection.


A gear mechanism for the drive assembly of a heald shaft (1), wherein the gear mechanism (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) comprises an input shaft (7, 7b, 7c) and an output shaft (5, 5b, 5c). The gear mechanism (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) generates a differential angle of rotation between the input shaft (7, 7b, 7c) and the output shaft (5, 5b, 5c) that is superimposed on the angle of rotation and, in dependence on the angle of rotation, is subjected to an oscillating change. This oscillating change can differ from a harmonic oscillation as a result of the non-circular design of the planet gears (11a, 12a, 13a) of the gear mechanism (6, 6b, 6c), thereby making it possible to realize almost any optional movements for the heald shaft (1), with low strain on the gears and the bearings. A simple production method and a compact design are disclosed.

The invention relates to a gear mechanism for a heald shaft drive.
Weaving machines or looms are equipped with a so-called heald shaft or heald frame, which is an essentially rectangular frame carrying a large number of healds. The healds purposely guide the warp threads out of a warp thread plane in order to form a shed. For this, the heald shaft must be moved up and down according to specific settings with the aid of so-called shaft drives that generate an oscillating back and forth movement at the power take-off. This movement is transmitted via a rod assembly to the heald shaft. The oscillating back and forth movement of the power take-off is normally derived from a constant rotational movement of a drive shaft. If an eccentric gear mechanism is used for this, a fixedly specified connection exists between the rotational movement of the input shaft and the oscillating movement at the power take-off, wherein this movement for the most part corresponds to a sine movement.
Reference DE 691 09 899 T2 discloses different options for superimposing a movement with periodic acceleration and delay onto a constant rotational movement at the input of the shaft gear mechanism. Used for this can be a gear mechanism consisting of a hollow gear, two rotating planet gears and a coupling mechanism. The rotating planet gears are connected via cranks and connecting rods to the lever arms on the output shaft in order to rotate the output shaft.
With this type of gear mechanism, the load strain on the two planet gears can be different.
Starting from the above, it is the object of the present invention to create an improved gear mechanism for driving a heald shaft.


A transfer belt for eliminating an open draw between a press in a papermachine and a transfer point has a supporting base with a particle-filled polymer coating. The coating, which constitutes the paper side of the transfer belt, carries the paper sheet from a press nip in a closed draw to a transfer point without sheet flutter or drop-off. At the transfer point, the paper sheet is readily released to another sheet-conveying papermachine-clothing product. The transfer belt may carry the sheet through more than one press nip. The transfer belt surface has a pressure-responsive recoverable degree of roughness, which is made relatively smooth by compression in the press nip, allowing the thin, almost continuous water film to form between the transfer belt and the paper sheet. When leaving the press nip, the paper sheet is held to the transfer belt by the thin, almost continuous water film. Following exit from the press nip, the transfer belt surface recovers its uncompressed roughness, breaking up the water film, so that, by the time the paper sheet reaches the transfer point, it is readily released by the transfer belt to the next sheet-conveying papermachine-clothing product, which might be a felt, a belt, or a fabric.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the transfer of a paper sheet between sections, or between elements of a section, such as the individual presses in a press section, of the papermachine on which it is being manufactured. Specifically, the present invention is a transfer belt designed both to carry a paper sheet through a portion of a papermachine, so as to eliminate open draws, wherein the paper sheet receives no support from a carrier and is susceptible to breakage, from the machine, and to release the sheet readily to another fabric or belt at some desired point.
II. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art is replete with proposals for eliminating so-called open draws from papermachines. By definition, an open draw is one in which a paper sheet passes without support from one component of a papermachine to another over a distance which is greater than the length of the cellulose fibers in the sheet. All such proposals for eliminating open draws have as their object the removal of a major cause of unscheduled machine shut-down, the breakage of the sheet at such a point where it is temporarily unsupported by a felt or other sheet carrier. When disturbances in the normally stable flow of paper stock occur, the likelihood of such breakage is quite strong where the unsupported sheet is being transferred from one point to another within the press section, or from the final press in the press section to the dryer section. At such points, the sheet usually is at least 50% water, and, as a consequence is weak and readily broken. At present, then, an open draw will place a limitation on the maximum speed at which the papermachine may be run.
The prior-art proposals for eliminating open draws include some form of transfer belt to carry and support the paper sheet between components of the papermachine. In so doing, the transfer belt may have to carry out several of the following separate functions:
a) to take the paper sheet from a press roll or press fabric (felt); PA1 b) to carry the paper sheet into a press nip; PA1 c) to work cooperatively with a press fabric in the press nip to de-water the paper sheet; PA1 d) to carry the paper sheet out of the press nip; PA1 e) to repeat functions b) through d) as necessary where the transfer belt carries the paper sheet through more than one press; and PA1 f) to transfer the paper sheet to another fabric or belt, such as, for example, a dryer fabric.
As will be discussed below, there are specific problems associated with each of these transfer belt functions.
Transfer belts are shown in a number of issued U.S. patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,745 shows press arrangements which may be either the typical paired roller press or a long-nip press. In the press arrangements illustrated, the paper sheet is sandwiched between a press fabric and a looped, endless, and impermeable belt which is relatively smooth and hard, so that the paper sheet may follow the belt upon leaving the press nip without being rewet by a press fabric or other permeable belt. This arrangement utilizes the fact known to papermakers that the paper sheet will follow the surface to which it may be most strongly bonded by a thin, continuous water film, and for this reason will follow a smooth, impervious surface rather than a coarser surface when the two are separated in a papermachine.
Little detail is provided, however, on the structure of the belt itself beyond describing it as having a smooth upper surface with a smoothness and a hardness or density generally similar to a plain press roll cover. The belt surface is said to preferably have a hardness in the range of between 10 and 200 P&J (Pusey & Jones Hardness Scale). No recognition is given to the difficulty which would actually be encountered in attempting to remove a wet paper sheet from the surface of such a belt in a papermachine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,821 shows another press configuration with no open draws. In the press sections described and illustrated therein, there are two successive press nips for dewatering a paper sheet, which passes in a closed draw between the nips. The paper sheet is also transferred from the last press nip of the press section to the drying section in a closed draw by a substantially non-water receiving transfer fabric. The paper sheet is removed directly from the surface of the substantially non-water receiving transfer fabric, and placed onto a dryer fabric by means of a suction roll.
In contrast to the belt shown in the '745 patent, the substantially non-water receiving transfer fabric shown in the '821 patent generally is relatively impervious, and may, for example, be a fabric produced by impregnating a press fabric with an appropriate plastic material. That is to say, it is relatively impervious when compared to an unimpregnated press fabric. As such, however, the '821 patent teaches that the fabric may still to some extent participate in the dewatering of the paper sheet in the press nip, so that the paper produced may be more symmetric in density and surface smoothness than that produced when the transfer belt is smooth and impermeable. While it is said to be easier to remove the paper sheet from the surface of such a transfer fabric, there is no recognition given to the problems actually associated with the use of a transfer fabric of this variety on a papermachine. In actual use, such a sheet transfer belt, designed to function with a low, constant porosity, will eventually meet with failure. Fine particles from the paper stock, such as cellulose fines, fillers, resins, and "stickies", rapidly fill the pores in such a belt. High-pressure water jet showering, the standard method to keep fabrics and felts clean and open on a papermachine, is not efficient on a fine-porous structure such as the one described in this '821 patent.
In general, and referring to the various functions of a transfer belt identified above, where the transfer belt removes the paper sheet from a press roll, a procedure rarely used in practice, it must overcome the strong adhesion the paper sheet will normally have for the roll, which may be very smooth. In the in-going side of a press nip, the paper is squeezed until it becomes fully saturated, at which point water will start to move out from the sheet into the water receptor, the press fabric. As a consequence, there will always be a water film, perhaps partly broken, at the interface between the roll surface and the paper sheet. This film has to be broken before the paper sheet may be reliably transferred from the roll to the transfer belt.
Where the transfer belt carries the paper sheet into a press nip, a belt having a non-air-permeable paper-side surface is generally preferred to one which is permeable. A transfer belt which may be permeable to some extent is described in the '821 patent discussed above. Others are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,500,588 and 4,529,643, which will be discussed below. The disadvantage associated with the use of permeable or semi-permeable transfer belts is the risk of blowing of the paper sheet at the entrance of the press nip, as a result of air being forced out of the porous belt being compressed, or even through the transfer belt from its backside by a press roll.
In the press nip, the transfer belt must work cooperatively with a press fabric to dewater and to densify the paper sheet. As a consequence, the surface topography and compression properties of the transfer belt are critical for producing a paper sheet with a smooth, mark-free surface. Because, as is well known to those skilled in the art, even a high quality, well-broken-in press fabric may provide a very non-uniform pressure distribution in the nip, a transfer belt having a smoother and harder paper-side surface than the press fabric will provide a more uniform pressure distribution to the paper sheet being dewatered, and will impart a smoother surface to the sheet.
Further, a transfer belt with suitable compression properties can in effect lengthen the press nip to increase the time the paper sheet is exposed to pressure and to allow more time for water to leave the paper sheet under a given press load. In addition, a transfer belt with a paper side impermeable to water and air will contribute to the dryness of the paper sheet by eliminating the possibility of rewet after the press nip, as may occur when a conventional press fabric carries the paper sheet out of the nip.
Clearly, a transfer belt must be designed with the understanding that it will work cooperatively in the nip with a press fabric as a functional pair in order to provide high dewatering efficiency and high paper quality.
Referring again to the various transfer belt functions identified above, the transfer belt should carry the paper sheet out of the press nip. That is to say, more precisely, the paper sheet should adhere to the surface of the transfer belt upon exiting the nip, as opposed to following the press fabric out of the nip and then moving over to the transfer belt after the nip. Not only does the latter permit rewet while the paper sheet remains in contact with the press fabric, but the moving of the paper sheet over to the transfer belt after leaving the press nip would also constitute an open draw, the very problem the transfer belt is intended to eliminate. Such a situation can lead to blistering or some other deformation of the paper sheet. A good adhesion of the sheet to the transfer belt on the exit side of the nip is even more important in press configurations where the belt is run in the top position and the sheet is to be transferred on the underside of the belt. As before, the paper-side surface of the transfer belt should be neither water-absorbent nor waterpermeable, so that rewet of the paper sheet by the transfer belt may be avoided.
Where the transfer belt carries the paper sheet through more than one press, the stability of the transfer belt will become an important factor. The speed of consecutive presses in a press section can never be absolutely synchronized, and, normally, will increase somewhat downstream in the section. Under such conditions, the transfer belt must be able to carry the paper sheet without blowing, blistering, or drop off. In addition, the transfer belt itself must be of a durable design, capable of enduring the backside wear and high shear forces, which would attend its use through more than one press, without rapid degradation.
The final, and most critical, function of the transfer belt is to effect a correct transfer of the paper sheet to the next section of the papermachine. In many applications, this will be a transfer to the first fabric in the dryer section. It is preferred that this first fabric should be of a design suitable for both paper drying and for the closed transfer of the paper sheet.
A typical dryer fabric in the first drying position may be a woven, all-polyester monofilament fabric. Fabrics used in first drying positions normally have a low airpermeability and a smooth, fine paper side. Hence, the surface to which the transfer belt is to transfer the paper sheet may initially consist of smooth, hydrophobic monofilament knuckles.
The transfer from the transfer belt to the first dryer fabric should be carried out with as low a contact pressure as possible in order to avoid the marking of the paper sheet by the knuckles. Since the dryer fabric is air-permeable, vacuum may be used to assist the transfer of the paper sheet from the transfer belt. In order to avoid the marking of the paper sheet by the knuckles of the first dryer fabric, the vacuum level used at the transfer point must be as low as possible. It follows, then, that the transfer belt must readily release the paper sheet at the transfer point so that the vacuum level required may be kept at a minimum level.
As noted above, transfer belts of several varieties are known in the prior art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,638 a wet paper web is supported on a press fabric and passed through the nip between cooperating press rolls to extract water from the web. The press fabric, supporting the paper web, then travels through a span of distance and is passed around a heated dryer roll in the dryer section with the felt being interposed between the heated roll and the paper web. The press fabric is thus heated and insulates the paper web from the high temperature roll. The paper web is then separated from the press fabric and travels around the remaining dryer rolls in the dryer section, while the heated press fabric is returned to the nip into position to support the wet paper web.
The disadvantage following such an approach is considerable rewet of the paper sheet in the span between the press nip and the heated dryer roll, because the transfer belt is literally a press fabric. Further, such a transfer belt is not hard enough to replace a smooth roll surface in late presses on a publishing-grade papermachine. In short, the only reasonable application for a transfer belt of the variety shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,638 is in slow machines producing heavy paper grades.
The use of modified press fabrics as transfer belts is shown in several U.S. patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,588 shows a conveyor felt for conveying a paper web through a press section of a paper machine. The conveyor felt is, with the exception of the surface portion of the fiber batt layer facing the web, filled with a filling material so that the felt is completely air-impermeable and has a chamois-like surface. Such a surface is, because of its fibrous character, sensitive to soiling by sticky materials, and the chamois-like structure is sensitive to wear and difficult to maintain.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,643, a press felt for conveying a paper web through a press section of a papermachine is shown. It comprises a support fabric formed of a yarn structure and a fibre batt layer, formed of fibers and needled to at least one side of the support fabric. The support fabric and the fiber batt layer are filled with a filling material, preferably from the surface facing the paper with a rubber or resin emulsion, so that the press felt remains slightly air permeable.
Belts of the variety shown in these two patents have exhibited sheet drop-off upon exit from the press nip. The cause of this sheet drop-off is related to the inability of the porous surface of such a belt to permit a thin, continuous water film to form between its surface and a paper sheet in the press nip, and to maintain such a water film long enough to ensure that the paper sheet will follow the belt rather than the press fabric upon exit from the press nip. In addition, it is difficult to maintain the porosity of this variety of belt at a constant value, as material from the paper stock gradually fills the pores. High-pressure showers have not proved effective on the microporous structure of the surface of such belts, and may actually destroy the belt surface.
Finally, non-compressible, coated belts, such as those used as long nip press (LNP) belts, have also been tested for use as transfer belts. A belt of this kind is shown in Canadian Patent No. 1,188,556, and comprises a base fabric which is impregnated with a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric material. The belt is of uniform thickness, and has at least one smooth surface. While the belt performs in a superior manner in its intended position on a long nip press, all attempts to use it as a transfer belt have failed, as the belt could not be arranged to release a paper sheet to a dryer fabric. This is believed to result from the failure of a thin film of water between the impermeable belt and the paper sheet to break up into droplets, allowing the paper sheet to be separated from the transfer belt.
The present invention provides a long-sought solution to these difficulties in the form of a transfer belt not susceptible to the shortcomings of the prior-art transfer belts discussed above.

Transfer belt in a press nip closed draw transfer


The present invention aims at providing a method for effluent treatment, which enables the separation and recovery of a high-density and high-concentration aluminum sediment from waste water that is discharged in the smelting of a nickel oxide ore and contains aluminum ions. In the present invention, an alkali and an iron-containing solid are added to waste water containing aluminum ions to form a slurry, and the slurry is allowed to stand to perform solid-liquid separation, whereby an aluminum sediment and an effluent is formed.

In a mine of a non-ferrous metal and a plant from which waste water containing heavy metal ions is generated such as a smelter, a treatment for separating heavy metal ions as an effluent sediment from an effluent so that the heavy metal ions are not contained in a discharged effluent is conducted by providing a step of an effluent treatment.
For example, as the method for separating a heavy metal from waste water, a method including adding an alkali such as lime stone or lime hydrate to an effluent to adjust the pH of the effluent to form a slurry to thereby precipitate and fix the heavy metal as a sediment is generally performed.
Among non-ferrous metals, ores of low-grade nickel oxide ores such as lateritic ore tend to contain a relatively large amount of manganese, which is a heavy metal. In nickel smelting using a high pressure acid leach process (HPAL process), which has been frequently used in recent years, manganese remains in an effluent from which nickel has been recovered. Therefore, a method including adding an alkali to an effluent to separate manganese as a neutralized sediment is adopted so that effects that the manganese is directly discharged to thereby color rivers, and the like would not be generated.
However, in such method, there was a problem that other metal ions that are not necessary to be precipitated and separated such as magnesium also form a sediment at the same time, and thus the amount of the sediment increases. When a sediment is formed by the metal ions that are not necessary to be precipitated and separated, unpreferable effects that the use amount and cost of an alkali required for neutralization increase, the capacity of a place for disposal is pressed, and the like are caused.
Therefore, a method for selectively precipitating and separating only manganese without co-precipitating magnesium, for which precipitation is unnecessary, has been demanded.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, a method for selectively precipitating and separating only manganese without co-precipitating magnesium, by a so-called oxidation-neutralization process, which includes adjusting the pH of waste water to be in the range from 8.2 to 8.8, and blowing an oxygen gas into the waste water to maintain the redox potential to be in the range from 50 to 300 mV, is reported.
However, also in this method, magnesium and aluminum were precipitated at the same time in the case when aluminum ions were contained in the liquid, and thus problems that the neutralizer is required in an amount for neutralizing the magnesium in addition to an amount for removing the manganese, and that the amount of generation of a sediment is increased, have not been sufficiently solved.
Therefore, Patent Literature 2 indicates a method for separating aluminum including adjusting the pH of waste water to be in the range of from 4 to 6 in advance of an oxidation-neutralization treatment of the effluent. The co-precipitation of magnesium and aluminum is prevented by using this method, and thus it becomes possible to effectively separate aluminum.
However, there was a problem that the aluminum sediment formed by the method of Patent Literature 2 is a very bulky sediment and thus is voluminous in handling. This is because the particles of the aluminum sediment are fine and the moisture content in the sediment is high, and thus a considerable part of the magnesium in the effluent tends to be contained as adhesive moisture. Furthermore, since the specific gravity of the aluminum sediment is light as about 1.05 to 1.10 g/ml, which is substantially the same as that of the effluent, the sediment is difficult to settle out. In addition, there are many inconvenient characteristics such as that honeycomb airspaces are easily formed in the sediment by incorporation of air during stirring. Especially, these tendencies were significant in the case of waste water with a concentration of aluminum ions of greater than 2 g/l.
Furthermore, a thickener is frequently used in industrially performing solid-liquid separation. In an operation using a thickener, a flocculant is added, and the solid content in a slurry fed to the thickener settles out on the bottom part of the thickener and becomes a sediment called an underflow, and is suitably removed from the thickener. Since a quantity of liquid adheres to the removed underflow, it is necessary to treat the dehydrated sediment by performing fine filtration by using a filter press or the like.
At this time, an underflow in which the liquid adhered to the underflow is small, i.e., a high-concentration underflow is preferable since the size of the filtration equipment such as the thickener or filter press can be saved and the neutralizer that is added for the neutralization treatment of the adhered liquid after the separation can also be saved. However, especially in the case when a honeycomb sediment as mentioned above is formed, the substance amount of the underflow required for fine filtration is increased, and thus there are problems in costs such as increase in the capacity of the equipment in accordance with the increase in the substance amount of the underflow.
As a method for solid-liquid separation of a poorly settleable and poorly filterable slurry, for example, the method indicated in Patent Literature 3 is exemplified. The method described in Patent Literature 3 is a method for treating a poorly settleable and poorly filterable slurry containing colloidal silica, and a method for improving the settleability and filterability is suggested. Specifically, the settleability and filterability are improved by adding bentonite to a slurry containing colloidal silica.
However, this method described in Patent Literature 3 has little effect on components other than colloidal silica such as magnesium. Furthermore, since bentonite is newly added from outside, the increase in the amount of the sediment by the addition of bentonite is not negligible, and thus there is a limit to apply this method.
As mentioned above, a suitable method by which a high-density aluminum sediment and an effluent from which aluminum has been removed can be obtained from waste water that contains aluminum besides manganese and magnesium as in an effluent discharged in the smelting of a nickel oxide ore has not been developed.

Method for effluent treatment in smelting of nickel oxide ore


In case that a skipping section is provided by editing in a recording region other than a recording region for block data in an information recording medium recorded with at least more than one collation table of time recording location, which is composed of more than one collation data by each fixed time interval and time compensating data, a collation table of time recording location is read out from the information recording medium and divided in response to a designated skipping period. A collation data, which assigns block data of designated skipping period, are deleted. A second time compensating data is calculated in response to the skipping period. Combining the second time compensating data with collation data succeeding the deleted collation data composes a new collation table of time recording location. The new collation table of time recording location is written back to the information recording medium in conjunction with a collation table of time recording location temporally preceding the deleted data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium and an editing apparatus therefor, particularly, relates to a rewritable information recording medium which is divided into a plurality of sectors having predetermined volume of data, and relates to an editing apparatus and method of editing audiovisual information recorded in the information recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is commonly performed that data of digital audiovisual information are compressed and the compressed data are recorded in an information recording medium with recent progress and development of information processing technology. With respect to video information, particularly, a total volume of information content is huge. Therefore a high degree compression technology is utilized for an information recording medium so as to utilize limited volume of information content of the information recording medium effectively. The high degree compression technology is represented by not only data compression by correlation within one frame, which is a unit of video, but also a method of compressing data by correlation among a plurality of frames, which are adjacent to each other temporally. It is widely utilized for recording and transmitting video information.
In case of editing a result of data compression of video information, it is impossible to delete a frame by frame if a frame correlation is utilized. It is caused by that a frame to be referred can not be decoded if a referring frame to be correlated is deleted. Therefore, it is commonly prepared for a subsequent editing process that a plurality of frames are grouped in blocks and the blocks are encoded so as to be able to process them independently without processing frame correlation among the blocks. These block data, which are encoded block by block basis, are well known that each data volume varies by complexity of video signal in a block or a degree of correlation among frames.
Block data mentioned above are recorded on an information recording medium. However, it is necessary to be considered that a search operation can easily be performed in a reproduction process with arranging the block data in a sector from a head of the sector so as to occupy an integer number of sectors. It is realized by a well-known method that block data are encoded with including embedded data at an end of the block data. Accordingly, block data are recorded in an information region xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d as shown in FIG. 1.
It is commonly performed that a video information is grouped in blocks by an individual number of frames so as to compress the video information efficiently. In other words, it shall be considered that a displaying period of each block shown in FIG. 1 is different from each other by a frame period as a unit. In addition thereto, a volume of block data is different from each other as shown in FIG. 1 since compression ratio per block is different from each other.
In case that the above mentioned method is compared with other method such as linear pulse code modulation (PCM) which is not compressed and has a proportional relation between a elapsed time and a total volume of coded data, it is conceivable that a search reproduction starting reproduction from a block data array at a designated timing is very difficult by the above mentioned method.
To solve the above-mentioned problem, the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 9-23404/1997, which is titled as xe2x80x9cMedium Recording Method, Apparatus Therefore and Medium Reproduction Apparatusxe2x80x9d, discloses that a search reproduction is performed by using a collation table which is previously recorded as a collation table of time recording location. According to the medium recording method disclosed in the above mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication, video information as prescribed main information is encoded by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system, which is an international standard of moving picture, and a plurality of GOPs (Group of Pictures), which is a unit of compression, are produced, then the produced plural GOPs are recorded on a recording medium. In case that the video information is divided by a predetermined time unit, a start address of data at each time unit is produced and recorded on a recording medium in conjunction with plural GOPs.
According to the medium recording method, a collation table of time recording location is composed of arrays of reproduction start address at each predetermined time unit. Encoded data are grouped in blocks by a compression unit, GOP. The recording method records information indicating a head portion of a GOP as a reproduction start address. The FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of data array as one concept.
The current method mentioned above functions properly for a search reproduction under a condition of not updating a block data array such that a block data array is recorded on a read-only medium. However, some problems may happen when the block data array is updated. In case that a block data array is recorded on a rewritable recording medium, contents of the block data array can be edited. For example, it is conceivable that a reproduction is skipped by a block data unit during a period of xe2x80x9csxe2x80x9d as shown in FIG. 2. Generally, it is not necessary to erase a block data to be skipped since information, which designates reproduction sections and reproduction sequence of the reproduction sections, is recorded on a recording medium as reproduction control data.
In case of skipping the block data xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction period xe2x80x9csxe2x80x9d for two block data xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d becomes zero in the reproduction mode, that is, two block data xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d equivalent to the reproduction period xe2x80x9csxe2x80x9d are not reproduced and the reproduction is forwarded to the subsequent blocks after the block data xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d. In addition thereto, the reproduction start address 3 shall be deleted from the collation table of time recording location since the reproduction start address 3 designates the section to be skipped. Further, all reproduction start addresses after the reproduction start address 4 and subsequent reproduction start addresses must be updated so as to designate correct location since the period xe2x80x9csxe2x80x9d is independent of a period xe2x80x9cuxe2x80x9d. Accordingly, it is necessary to recalculate address information based upon a correlation between a capacity of blocks subsequently to the block xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d and a reproduction period, and an editing process is disposed to be very complicated.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium recorded with a collation table of time recording location, which is suitable for editing of assigning a sectional skip, in conjunction with encoded data. Another object of the present invention is to provide an editing apparatus, which can assure simple and high speed editing.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, according to an aspect thereof, an information recording medium which comprises a first recording region recorded with a plurality of block data continuing in time sequence, wherein the plurality of block data are compressed by an encoding system of varying an amount of codes per each block after temporally continuing information signals are divided into a plurality of blocks, and comprises a second recording region recorded with at least more than one collation table of time recording location, wherein the collation table of time recording location is composed of more than one collation data by every fixed time interval for reproducing an arbitrary block data out of the plurality of block data recorded in the first recording region and time compensating data.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there provided an information recording medium which is further characterized by that the collation data includes a block data location information of designating a block data out of the plurality of block data recorded in the first recording region, which is reproduced at a timing of each fixed time interval xe2x80x9cuxe2x80x9d after reproduction begins with a head of the first recording region, and characterized by that the collation table of time recording location is recorded with continuous reproduction sections by xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d in the second recording region in case of xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d continuous reproduction sections existing in the first recording region by editing, where xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d is a natural number, and characterized by that a nth collation data of each collation table of time recording location, where xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d is a natural number, is composed of a combination of a block data location information designating the block data of one of the xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d continuous reproduction sections, which is reproduced at a time of (nxc3x97u)xe2x88x92c, where xe2x80x9cuxe2x80x9d is the aforementioned fixed time interval and xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d is a period of time, elapsed after reproduction begins with a head block data of one continuous reproduction section in response to the collation data and a time difference information of time difference between a reproduction start time of the block data designated by the block data location information and the time of (nxc3x97u)xe2x88x92c, and characterized by that the time compensating data is data of compensating the time xe2x80x9ccxe2x80x9d, in case that the nth collation data is information of designating block data to be reproduced by the nth collation data at a time of (nxc3x97u)xe2x88x92c elapsed after the reproduction of the continuous reproduction section is started.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there provided an editing apparatus and method comprising readout means for reading out a collation table of time recording location from an information recording medium of rewritable, which is composed of a first recording region recorded with a plurality of block data continuing in time sequence, wherein the plurality of block data are compressed by an encoding system of varying an amount of codes per each block after temporally continuing information signals are divided into blocks by predetermined time unit, and composed of a second recording region recorded with at least more than one collation table of time recording location, wherein the collation table of time recording location includes more than one collation data by each fixed time interval for reproducing an arbitrary block data out of the plurality of block data in the first recording region and a first time compensating data. The editing apparatus further comprises memory means for temporarily storing the collation table of time recording location read out from the second recording region by the readout means, skipping period designating means for designating skipping period of skipping a part of continuous reproduction section of the block data recorded in the information recording medium, dividing means for dividing the collation table of time recording location read out from the memory means in response to the designated skipping period, deleting means for deleting collation data from the divided collation table of time recording location, wherein the collation data designates block data at a skipping period, calculating means for calculating a second time compensating data in response to the skipping period, writing back means for writing back to the memory means a collation table of time recording location newly composed of combining collation data succeeding the collation data deleted by the deleting means with the second time compensating data in conjunction with a collation table of time recording location composed of the first time compensating data and the collation data preceding the collation data deleted, and writing means for reading out a plurality of collation tables of time recording location written back to the memory means by the writing back means and for writing the plurality of collation tables of time recording location into the second recording region of the information recording medium.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a rewritable information recording medium. An information signal continuing in time sequence is divided into blocks by predetermined time unit. The rewritable information recording medium comprises a first recording region recorded with a plurality of block data in time sequence after the blocks have been compressed by an encoding system of which an amount of codes of each block varies and a second recording region which is recorded with more than one collation data per fixed time interval and at least more than one collation table of time recording location including a first time compensating data for reproducing an arbitrarily block data from the first recording region. In case that the rewritable information recording medium is edited so as to skip one section of a series of block data, the previously recorded collation table of time recording location is read out from the information recording medium and the collation data is divided into two sections by the dividing means so as to posses block data location information in each continuous reproduction section since the continuous reproduction section is divided into two sections.
Successively, collation data designating block data of assigned skipping period is deleted from a divided collation table of time recording location. Since it is necessary to add time compensating data newly for a group of collation data in response to a later continuous reproduction section located after a skipping period in time sequence, a duration of reproduction time of block data to be reproduced is calculated prior to block data designated by collation data at a head of a group of collation data in response to the later continuous reproduction section. A second time compensating data is calculated by the calculated duration of reproduction time. A new collation table of time recording location is composed by combining the second time compensating data with collation data after the deleted collation data, which is a group of collation data, in response to the later continuous reproduction section located after a skipping period in time sequence and is written in the second recording region of the information recording medium. Accordingly, the present invention assures that each collation data can accurately be acknowledged as information at a time elapsing from a head of a continuous reproduction section by reproducing by using the new collation table of time recording location.
Other object and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Information recording medium, and editing apparatus and method therefor


Apparatus and a method for orienting a container preform in a particular orientation to position a closure thread in a desired position relative to the body of the blown container. The preform is supported by a preform carrier that is rotatably supported in a pallet. A drive motor is engaged with the preform carrier to rotate the carrier and the associated preform, and a pawl is engagable with a notch formed in the closure thread on the preform neck to stop rotation of the preform carrier at a specific circumferential orientation. When the container is subsequently blown at a blowing station, the orientation of the thread start relative to the container body permits attachment of a dispensing closure, or the like, at a desired orientation relative to the container body to facilitate dispensing by a user of a pourable product from within the container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for orienting a tubular preform to a desired circumferential position before the preform is placed within a blow mold to be blown into a hollow article, such as a container. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and a method for blow molding from a tubular preform a plastic container having a molded-in thread or outwardly extending ridge at the container neck, wherein the thread or ridge includes a gap or notch for permitting circumferential orientation of the preform to a desired position relative to the blow mold.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blow molded containers often include a closure that permits dispensing of a pourable product carried within the container. For example, a closure cap can contain a particular orientation of pouring holes, or a pouring spout, which is desirably oriented in a particular way relative to the container in order to facilitate pouring or dispensing of the product from within the container by a user. In that regard, if the container is of a specific shape to facilitate gripping by the user, such as an oval shape that can optionally include surface depressions or other formations to facilitate gripping or holding of the container, it is desirable that when the container is held for dispensing the product, the dispensing opening is properly positioned relative to the user's hand, so that the dispensing opening is on the distal side of the container, relative to the user, for ease of dispensing.
The notion of providing on a container or on a container preform specific structure to permit orientation of the bottle in a particular position has been suggested before. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,841, which issued Jul. 15, 1980, to Edmond Michel, there is disclosed a container preform for blow molding, the preform including a false neck having at least one outwardly extending positioning lug to permit positioning the preform in a particular orientation. The false neck is essentially an appendage that is cut from the container after the completion of the blowing operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,426, which issued May 29, 1984, to Jose Branchadell, there is disclosed another form of bottle preform having a false neck. The false neck includes a circular, toothed collar, the teeth of which are engagable by a gear wheel to permit the preform to be rotated by the gear wheel to a predetermined angular position. Again, the false neck is removed after the blowing operation.
The prior art structures described immediately above permit orientation of a preform for subsequent blowing, but because the structure that is used for preform orientation is subsequently removed from the final, blown article, it must be trimmed in a separate operation and then either discarded or recycled, which adds to the costs associated with producing such articles. Additionally, the prior art structures for orienting the preform are unduly complicated.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art arrangements.

Apparatus and method for orienting container preforms


The invention concerns a method for controlling a switching assembly comprising a plurality of transistors connected in parallel, having a linear operating mode, a closed-switch operating mode and an off operating mode including a first operating phase during which a current flows from a source terminal to a drain terminal and a second operating phase during which no current flows. The method includes the following successive steps; (a) controlling the switching assembly in closed-switch mode during part of the first phase; (b) controlling the switching assembly in linear mode; (c) controlling the assembly in off mode during part of the second phase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns the control of transistors and more particularly MOS transistors (MOSFETs).
2. Description of the Related Art
In certain applications, an MOS transistor is included in an electrical conversion bridge, such as a voltage rectifying bridge. Such an electrical conversion bridge, for example an inverter, can be used reversibly. Thus it is known how to make function as an alternator an electric motor controlled by a reversible inverter comprising MOSFETs, using an internal diode of the MOSFETs as a rectifying element. This amounts to using the inverter as a diode bridge. However, the voltage drop at the terminals of the internal diodes gives rise to significant electrical losses.
This is why each MOS transistor is switched into the on state when a reverse current (negative current) flows between its drain and its source (phase I), and into the off state the rest of the time (phase II).
In addition, in order to increase the intensity of the current allowable in each switching unit, it is known from the U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,071 how to employ switching assemblies comprising a plurality of transistors connected in parallel. These switching assemblies used in electrical conversion bridges are controlled alternately in off saturated mode and in on saturated mode. Nevertheless, because of the voltage drop at the terminals of the internal diodes, significant switching losses are observed.
It is also known, from the document WO-A-2004/034439 how to control the MOSFETs in linear mode in the on state, this is to say to control their internal resistance linearly in order to keep constant the voltage at the drain/source terminals of the transistor. This is achieved by means of a control.
However, in the case of currents of high amplitude, the control imposes an instruction on the transistor such that the latter can go into closed-switch mode, the internal resistance of the transistor then reaching its minimum value (ON state). When the transistor must be then switched into the non-conducting state (OFF state), the command must make it pass from the ON state to the OFF state. For this purpose, it is necessary to discharge the electrical charges accumulated in the transistor. Consequently there is in general observed a delay in the switching that gives rise to the appearance of a high overlap current. This may reduce the performance of the conversion bridge, in particular the radio interference, losses by Joule effect and stray ripples on the on board system.


A jig (1) for holding a transmission casing (2)provided with boltholes (3) for mounting the casing to the jig comprises a pair of upright stanchions (4,5) coupled together via an extendible cross-bar (6). A first lateral extendible arm (13,14) is provided at the base of each stanchion, each first arm being rotatable about an axis passing longitudinally through the stanchion. A second lateral arm (21,22) is also provided at the base of each stanchion adjacent and parallel to the first arm and rotatable about the same axis, each of the first and second arms having a bracket (24,26) rotatably attached to an end of the respective arm. The brackets are arranged so as to lie substantially in the same plane, whereby boltholes (3) in different size casings (2) can be aligned with boltholes (28) provided in the brackets by appropriately extending the cross-bar and the first arms and by rotating the arms.

This invention relates to jigs of the type used for holding heavy equipment, and more particularly to such jigs which are suitable for holding automobile automatic transmission casings.
It is known for transmission casings to be mounted on jigs when they are being worked on in a workshop or garage. However, hitherto it has been necessary to have a particular jig for each different type of transmission, as the casings, which are provided with boltholes for such mounting, are all different for each different make of car.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transmission holding jig which can hold different types of transmission casings.


An apparatus and method for zeroing, calibrating and setting a surgical knife. The surgical knife includes a blade that has a tip which can move relative to a footplate that extends from the body of the knife. The apparatus includes a calibration housing that is coupled to a surgical microscope. The calibration housing has a transparent sleeve coupled to a holder, which are both adapted to receive and support the surgical knife. The calibration housing is constructed so that the knife and sleeve are in the line of sight of the microscope. The knife typically has a sensor that can sense the position of the blade tip relative to the footplate. The sensor provides an output signal to a visual display which converts the signal to a visual readout. The visual display also has an input device that allows the surgeon to zero the visual display. To calibrate the knife, the surgeon inserts the knife into the calibration housing until the footplate is parallel with a marking on the sleeve. The surgeon then adjust the knife until the tip of the blade is parallel with the marking and the footplate. When the three members are parallel the surgeon " zeros" the visual display. Movement of the blade within the sleeve can also be used to calibrate the visual display and set the knife.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for zeroing, calibrating and setting a surgical knife.
2. Description of Related Art
There presently exist a surgical procedure for correcting defects in the human eye such as myopia and astigmatism, which is commonly known as radial keratotomy. Radial keratotomy includes cutting a series of radial, non-penetrating incisions on the outer periphery of the cornea. The incisions alter the shape of the cornea and correct the deficiencies in the eye.
The incisions are typically performed by a knife that is held and manipulated by the surgeon. Surgical knives used for radial keratotomy have a blade which can move relative to a footplate that extends from the body of the knife. The incisions are formed by placing the footplate on the surface of the cornea and moving the knife across a portion of the eye. The depth of the cut is therefore determined by the relative distance between the footplate and the tip of the blade.
The knife typically has a thimble that allows the surgeon to move the blade relative to the footplate. The length of the blade is set by rotating the knife a predetermined number of turns. A typical radial incision depth is between 580-620 microns with a required accuracy of plus or minus 5 microns. It is therefore important to establish a high degree of accuracy when setting the blade of the knife.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,489 issued to Berkman et al, discloses a surgical knife and a method for setting the blade relative to the footplate of the knife. Incorporated into the body of the Berkman knife is a linear variable differential transformer ("LVDT") which senses the position of the blade relative to the footplate. The LVDT is coupled to a visual display which provides a readout that indicates the distance between the tip of the blade and the footplate.
To obtain an accurate readout, the blade must be initially aligned or "zeroed" with the footplate. Zeroing the Berkman system is performed by inserting the knife into a zeroing sleeve. The zeroing sleeve has a reflective membrane that reflects a pattern of light to a plurality of light sensors. The knife is inserted into the sleeve until the footplate is in contact with the reflective membrane. The knife is then adjusted until the blade advances to a point where the tip deflects the reflective membrane. Deflection of the membrane disturbs the light pattern which is sensed by the sensors and interpreted by the visual display as the zero position of the blade. The Berkman system for calibrating the knife has been found to be somewhat unreliable to use and expensive to produce.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,075 issued to Mastel et al, discloses another method of zeroing and setting a surgical knife that uses an apparatus typically referred to as a micron table. The micron table has a microscope coupled to an X-Y table. The lens of the microscope has a cross shaped reticle which provides a pair of reference lines for the user. The knife is placed on the X-Y table and the table is adjusted until the footplate and blade are centered within the reticle. The knife thimble is then rotated until the tip of the blade is zeroed with the footplate of the knife. After the blade is zeroed, the X-Y table is adjusted to move the footplate and blade a predetermined distance from the center of the reticle. The knife thimble is again rotated so that the blade is moved back to the center of the reticle. The knife is then transferred to a sterile operating field.
During the transportation of the knife, the tip may move to a different location, resulting in an inaccurate blade setting. When this occurs the knife must be returned to the micron table and reset. Additionally, while performing surgery it may become apparent to the surgeon that the blade setting is either too short or too long. Resetting the knife again requires a trip back to the micron table. The micron table is typically located separate from the operating field, wherein the knife may require resterilization every time the knife is calibrated and set. Such a procedure wastes valuable operating time. It would therefore be desirable to have a system for accurately zeroing and setting a surgical knife at the operating site.

Apparatus and method for calibrating a surgical knife