A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to contain a powder, having an opening in one end thereof, to convey the powder contained in the container body to the opening with rotation of the container body, and having a container-body projection provided on an outer circumferential surface of the container body; and a cylindrical holder, into which the end of the container body having the opening is inserted, to hold the container body rotatably, having a powder outlet through which the powder is discharged from the holder and a holder projection provided on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The container-body projection repetitively contacts and separates from the holder projection with rotation of the container body to vibrate the container body and the holder.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a powder container for containing powder such as toner and an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, a plotter, or a multifunction machine capable of at least two of these functions that includes the powder container.
2. Description of the Background Art
In general, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, or multifunction machines including at least two of these functions include a development device to develop latent images formed on an image carrier. In addition, cylindrical toner containers for containing toner, removably installable in main bodies of image forming apparatuses, are widely used.
For example, FIGS. 55 through 57 show a related art toner container proposed in JP-H11-109737-A. In an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 55, a toner container 320Y is installed in a toner supply device (toner container mount) 310. The toner container 320Y includes a cylindrical bottle 320Y2 to contain a powder such as toner and a cap 320Y1 to engage an end of the bottle 320Y2. The toner supply device 310 includes a toner hopper 700, serving as a holder, to engage the other end of the cap 320Y1 of the toner container 320Y and hold the bottle 320Y2 rotatably, a bottle receiving portion 600, a coupling member 910, a spring 930, and a driving source 900. The bottle 320Y2 has spiral protrusions 320Y2a formed in an inner circumferential surface of the bottle 320Y2 and an opening positioned in one end in which the cap 320Y1 is engaged. A toner outlet is formed in the cap 320Y1.
As the bottle 320Y2 rotates, the toner contained in the bottle 320Y2 is transported along the spiral protrusions 320Y2a to the opening of the bottle 320Y2. The toner discharged from the bottle 320Y2 is discharged outside the toner container 320Y through the toner outlet in the cap 320Y1 and supplied to a development device provided inside a main body 1000 of the image forming apparatus through the toner hopper 700 in the toner supply device 310.
A coupling engaged portion 320Y2h is provided on a posterior end of the bottle 320Y2 that is an end opposite the end at which of the cap 320Y1 is located. The coupling engaged portion 320Y2h includes an outer cylindrical wall 320Y2g, a central support ring 320Y2d, and multiple spokes 320Y2b (projections) connected between the outer cylindrical wall 320Y2g and the central support ring 320Y2d. In addition, a central cylindrical recess 320Y2f and multiple divided annular recesses 320Y2e are formed in the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h.
The coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2 is engaged with the coupling member 910 that presses the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y by the spring 930 provided in the toner supply device 310 in the main body 1000. The driving source 900 to generate a rotary driving force is connected to the spring 930 and is provided in the main body 1000. The coupling member 910 transmits torque from the driving source 900 via the spring 930. A columnar center rotary shaft 912 and multiple tabs 911 are provided on a lateral face of the coupling member 910, facing the posterior end of the bottle 320Y2, and the multiple tabs 911 are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a rotary direction around the columnar center rotary shaft 912 on the lateral face.
With this example, the coupling member 910 is engaged with the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h by contacting the respective tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 with the spokes 320Y2b (projections) of the coupling-engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2. When the coupling member 910 in the main body 1000 rotates in this state, the bottle 320Y2 and the cap 320Y1 are rotated in a state in which the bottle 320Y2 and the cap 320Y1 are held by the toner hopper 700.
With this example configuration of the image forming apparatus, the toner in the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y can be discharged outside, without providing a rotary conveyance member that conveys the toner in the bottle 320Y2, thus reducing the cost of the toner container 320Y. However, in this configuration, since the toner in the bottle 320Y2 is not softened by the rotary conveyance member, the toner is more likely to form agglomeration.
In an effect to counteract the above-described problem that the toner is more likely to form agglomeration, the bottle 320Y2 is rotated in reverse in this example. More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 56 and 57, each of the multiple tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 has a setting face 911d positioned on an upstream lateral end of the rotary direction, a sloped face 911c positioned on a downstream lateral end of the rotary direction, a top face 911b, an exterior face 911a, and an inner face 911e. When the driving source 900 drives the bottle 320Y2 to rotate normally in a direction indicated by arrow E shown in FIGS. 55 through 57, the rotary driving force is exerted to the bottle 320Y2 in a state in which the setting faces 911d of multiple tabs 911 in the coupling member 910 in the main body 1000 hang with (closely contact) upstream faces of the spokes 320Y2b (projections) in the normally rotation direction of the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y. Conversely, when the driving source 900 drives the bottle 320Y2 to rotate in reverse in a direction indicated by arrow F shown in FIGS. 55 through 57, the sloped faces 911c of the multiple tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 respectively contact the spokes 320Y2b of the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2. Then, since the sloped faces 911c of the multiple tabs 911 cannot hang with the spokes 320Y2b of the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2, the sloped face 911c of the tabs 911 slide on respective edges of top faces of the spokes 320Y2b of the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2. At this time, the coupling member 910 that is pressed to the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y by the spring 930 is pressed back to a direction opposite the direction in which the spring force from the spring 930 is exerted, and the coupling member 910 is moved to the main body side (driving source 900 side) with to respect to the posterior end of the bottle 320Y2 in the bottle axis direction (longitudinal direction of the bottle 320Y2). Thus, the tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 cross over the spokes 320Y2b of the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y while the coupling member 910 moves to the main body side with respect to the posterior end of the bottle 320Y2. Then, the tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 are taken off from the top faces of the spokes 320Y2, and the tabs 911 enter the divided annular recesses 320Y2e positioned next to the spokes 320Y2b (projections) of the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h of the bottle 320Y2. At this time, the coupling member 910 moves to a position at which a vicinity of a base of the tabs 911 of the coupling member 910 (the lateral face of the coupling member 910) strongly contacts the top faces of the spokes 320Y2b at a burst. Thus, due to the impact of the contacting coupling member 910 and the coupling engaged portion 320Y2h, a great vibration can be generated in the bottle 320Y2, which can break the agglomeration of the toner in the bottle 320Y2.
However, since the agglomeration of the toner is broken up while the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y is rotated in reverse, the toner in the bottle 320Y2 cannot be conveyed to the toner hopper 700 at this time. Therefore, in order to alleviate the growth of the toner agglomeration, it is necessary to stop the continuous printing operation periodically and rotate the bottle 320Y2 in reverse, which increases the printing time.
Although problems arising in the bottle 320Y2 of the toner container 320Y (powder container) are described above, similar problems may occur in a powder supplying device including the powder container in an image forming apparatuses.

Powder container and image forming apparatus incorporating same


A wiring harness includes one or a plurality of conductor lines and a conduit member which accommodates therein the conductor line or lines, an identification in a predetermined color being applied to an outer surface of the conduit member. A resin identifying portion is formed on the outer surface of the conduit member by extruding a resin, or a resin sheet material or tape material is wound around the outer surface of the conduit member that is formed as the resin identifying portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring harness including a conduit member which accommodates therein a conductor line.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wiring harness is provided in a mobile means such as a motor vehicle to electrically connect equipment mounted. A wiring harness described in JP-A-2004-224156 below includes three high tension electric wires and three metallic conduit members (metallic pipes) which accommodate individually the three high tension electric wires for protection. The high tension electric wires are provided to connect a motor mounted in a front portion of a vehicle and an inverter mounted in an intermediate or rear portion of the vehicle.
The wiring harness is laid to extend along an underside of a body floor which constitutes an outer side of a body frame. Because of this, as the metallic conduit members, a material is adopted which can protect the high tension electric wires from small stones driven or water splashed thereagainst by the vehicle. The metallic conduit members have such rigidity as to protect the high tension electric wires from such small stones or water and to prevent the deflection of the high tension electric wires.


An improved method and system for facilitating no-break power transfer between an APU and a main engine includes determining a required APU speed for conducting power transfer based on various APU operating parameters, such as engine speed, fuel, environmental temperature, etc. The APU controller then adjusts the APU speed up or down to the required APU speed. Communication between an aircraft computer and the APU controller may also be provided so that operational data can be exchanged to adjust the electrical load of the aircraft below a maximum load threshold set by the APU, avoiding overloading of the APU during power transfer. By exchanging operational data between the APU controller and the aircraft computer, both the APU and the electrical load can be adjusted to optimize no-break power transfer despite varying APU operating conditions and main engine generator frequencies.

Auxiliary power units (APUs) are gas turbine engines used in aircraft systems to provide pneumatic and electrical power to the aircraft, primarily when the aircraft is on the ground. This pneumatic and electrical power is provided by the main propulsion engines when the aircraft is in flight. Power transfers are required between the APU and the main engines at the beginning and at the end of aircraft flights. Additionally, electrical power transfers are also required between the APU and ground power supplies.
Current aircraft designs typically operate electrical power systems at a constant frequency. Electrical power transfers for this type of system can either be a "break transfer," during which neither the APU nor the main engine generator supplies the electrical bus for a short period, or a "no break power transfer," during which the APU generator temporarily operates in parallel with the main engine of ground power to simultaneously supply electrical power to the aircraft electrical bus.
A no-break power transfer (NBPT) technique may be used to achieve load transfer without interrupting the supply of electrical power to the aircraft. During no-break power transfer, the components of the APU speed (i.e., frequency and phase) and the main engine speed are matched so that the APU and the engine can be connected simultaneously to the same electrical bus. No-break power transfer poses its own problems, however. First, the APU may be required to carry a large electrical load during the frequency matching process, potentially causing the APU to overload and cause high-temperature problems in the APU. The maximum electrical load that the APU can handle varies based on the APU operating conditions, such as air temperature and pressure, APU speed, etc. Electrical overload is particularly a problem if the APU is loaded solely by an electrical load with no pneumatic load that can be reduced to compensate for the increased electrical load.
In aircraft designs operating at fixed speeds, no-break power transfer can be conducted by temporarily changing the engine speed to conduct the transfer with the APU and then returning to the predetermined fixed speed. However, modern aircraft designs are increasingly adopting variable frequency electrical bus networks in place of conventional constant frequency systems. The variable frequency bus causes the no-break power transfer process to occur over a range of frequencies rather than a fixed frequency. This makes successful frequency matching between the APU and the main engine more difficult because the APU and the engine no longer return to a single predetermined fixed speed; instead, the speed can vary over a wide range.
There is a desire for a method and system that can ensure frequency matching between an APU and a main engine in a variable frequency system. There is also a desire for a method and system that can conduct no-break power transfer between an APU and a main engine without imposing excessive electrical loads on the APU.

Method and system for facilitating no-break power transfer


An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a wing of an aircraft, is presented. The actuation system includes a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, a shaft rotating in response to flight control signals to deploy or retract the lift assisting device, means for actuating the lift assisting device between a retracted position and a deployed position along an arcuate path, a plurality of track roller bearings and a plurality of side roller bearings. The roller bearings rotatably contact the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. The track roller bearings are comprised of an outer ring, a split inner ring and liners disposed between bearing surfaces of the outer and the inner rings. The split inner ring is configured for accommodating deflection and bending of a mounting pin coupling the track roller bearing in proximity to the track.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to roller bearing assemblies for use in critical applications and, more particularly, to improved roller bearing assemblies used within an actuation system of an aircraft assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known to use bearings to reduce friction between moving parts of a mechanical assembly. Similarly, it is well known to use bearings that roll on a fixed track to extend a first component from a second component. One implementation of such a track style bearing is within a wing of an aircraft. For example, fixed wing aircraft typically include slats movably arranged along a leading edge of each wing and flaps movably arranged along a trailing edge of each wing. By selectively extending, retracting and deflecting the slats and flaps aerodynamic flow conditions on a wing are influenced so as to increase lift generated by the wing during takeoff or decrease lift during landing. For example, during take-off the leading edge slats are moved forward to extend an effective chord length of the wing and improve lift. During flight, the leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps are placed in a retracted position to optimize aerodynamic conditions.
Generally speaking, leading edge slat designs employ a series of roller style bearings that guide fixed tracks to extend the leading edge slats in order to increase lift at slow speed for landing and takeoff. The tracks may have multiple configurations such as, for example, general I-beam and PI-beam shapes. Since the tracks themselves are typically not overly robust in their construction, multiple load conditions may be realized by the track roller bearings. Similarly, side load rollers or pins typically slide against the track to assist in centering the main rollers on the track. The wing also includes actuation systems for positioning the slats and flaps. Actuation systems include, for example, drive motors (e.g., hydraulic or electric drive motors), drive shafts and other bearings such as spherical bearings, bushings and linkage bearings that assist in deployment and retraction of the slats and flaps. As can be appreciated, aircraft wing designs are being continually developed as engineers seek to improve aircraft performance while increasing system capabilities. Newer designs are tending to increase the number of systems employed within a wing cross section. Accordingly, space within the wing cross section is at a premium. Therefore, it is desirable to improve performance characteristics of components (e.g., to reduce maintenance) within the wing while also minimizing space needed for such components.
Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of this invention to provide an improved bearing for use in crucial applications.

Actuation system for a lift assisting device and roller bearings used therein


A server optionally may delay the transmission of a child window control to a client in order to reduce transmission time of a document that includes the child window control. After a non-negligible period of time elapses, the server may transmit the child window control to the client transparently relative to the user of the client. The child window control may be transmitted to the client in the background mode of operation. This approach is especially well adopted for use in the transmission of web pages from a server to a client.

The present invention relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to transmission of documents from a server to a client.
With the increasing popularity of the Internet, many people are trying to embellish web pages to include richer custom child window controls (xe2x80x9ccontrolsxe2x80x9d). A control is a predefined child window that carries out a specific kind of input or output. A control is typically given its own window class that defines a window procedure for the control and that identifies attributes for the control. One difficulty that is encountered with including controls on web pages relates to transmission time. In particular, transmitting a document from a server to a client when the document includes a control takes a great deal of time. Since many users typically act in a browsing mode where they wish to quickly jump from web page to web page, the substantial delay caused by the transmission of the control can be particularly frustrating.
The present invention eliminates the substantial delay caused by the immediate transmission of the control to a client. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced in a distributed system that has a server and a client. Per this method, a document that includes a child window control is provided at the server. A request to receive a copy of the document is received at the server from the client. The document is transferred to the client such that the child window control is not initially transferred. Instead, drawing commands are transferred to the client from the server to draw a dummy window that has a like appearance to the child window control. Subsequently, the child window control may be transferred from the server to the client after a non-negligible predetermined period of time. Preferably, the child window control is transferred in a fashion that is transparent to a user. The child window control may be received and processed by the client in a background mode of processing. This method is especially useful in transferring web pages as documents.

Delayed transmission of controls from a server to a client


A method of correcting the speed of an encoder and an apparatus therefor are provided. The method includes the steps of detecting an electrical signal corresponding to a driving speed of a motor, calculating driving speed values of the motor in sections of the electrical signal, respectively, storing the calculated speed values in the order of calculation, selecting an intermediate speed value among the speed values calculated from the three or more continuous sections, and correcting the driving speed of the motor in accordance with the selected intermediate speed value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of correcting a speed of an encoder and an apparatus therefore. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of correcting a speed of an encoder by selecting an intermediate speed value and an apparatus therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical encoder method is commonly used for detecting a driving speed of a driving shaft such as a motor or a driving speed of the driving shaft of a driven system driven by the motor.
According to the optical encoder method, a disk along whose circumference a plurality of slits are arranged at regular intervals is fixed to the driving shaft of the motor, and an encoder sensor unit including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion detects the above-described slits.
A controlling unit calculates the driving speed of the motor by an electrical signal output from the encoder sensor unit.
A method of calculating the driving speed of the motor will now be described. The driving speed is calculated through an H level section and an L level section of the electrical signal output from the encoder sensor unit. The position of the encoder sensor unit is set such that a length of the H level section is equal to a length of the L level section.
However, one difficulty experienced when the driving speed of the motor is detected by such a method, is that in order to make the length of the H level section of the electrical signal output from the encoder sensor unit equal to the length of the L level section of the electrical signal output from the encoder sensor unit, it is required to precisely install the encoder sensor unit, which may require significant effort.
When the encoder sensor unit is not precisely installed, errors are generated in detecting the driving speed of the motor by the length of the H level section of the electrical signal output from the encoder sensor and the length of the L level section of the electrical signal output from the encoder sensor. In order to solve such a problem, according to a conventional method of correcting the driving speed of the encoder, the sum of the length of the H level section and the length of the L level section is set to one period to measure a corresponding speed.
However, according to the conventional art, although the slits are arranged at regular intervals to total 360 degrees in manufacturing a wheel encoder, the distance between the first slit and the last slit may not be perfectly uniform. Thus, the speed detected in the corresponding period includes an error value due to a deviation in the distance between the slits.

Method of correcting speed of encoder and apparatus therefor


A pharmaceutical composition for topical administration comprising an analgesic effective amount of a peptide comprising L-amino acids of the formula (I): pGLU-X—Y-Z M (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. X is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of GLY, VAL, GLU, ASP, SER, ALA, ASN, GLN, ILE, LEU, PRO, LYS and ARG, Y is TRP or THR, and Z is any L-amino acid, or Z is null. When Z is any L-amino acid, one but not both of Y and Z is TRP, and when Z is null, Y=TRP. An alkyl group may be attached to an amino acid of the peptide. Also disclosed are the peptide, the preparation of the pharmaceutical composition and a topical method of treating or preventing pain in a mammal.

Although pain is a crucially important physiological response, it also results in unnecessary suffering and agony. The control and relief of pain is an important branch of medicine. Pain may come about both as a result of disease as well as a result of medical treatment such as chemotherapy. In either case, it is important to alleviate the pain as much as possible so as to enable the sufferer to function normally.
Two neural pathways relating to pain act concurrently in the body: (1) a sensory pathway which senses tissue damage and subsequently produces a feeling of pain; (2) an analgesic pathway which reduces the feeling of pain and prevents the flow of information about the pain to the central nervous system (CNS), thus allowing the organism to maintain ifs normal activity in spite of an injury. Anesthesia can be realized either by use of a drug which inhibits peripheral nerves that act as pain sensors or by enhancement of the natural analgesic system. Since these are different pathways, they are affected by different substances. For example, aspirin and lidocaine are active on the peripheral sensory pathway, while morphine and related substances are active on the analgesic system.
The most efficient analgesics currently in use are morphine-related substances of opiatic origin. It's well known that the brain makes a variety of endogenic opiates, and this explains the powerful effect of these substances. Their action on neurons is mediated by specialized receptors. Signals regulated by these receptors prevent the flow of information from the peripheral pain neurons to the CNS. These CNS neurons are also sensitive to a variety of other chemical substances including catecholamines (serotonin, noradrenalin etc.), neuroactive peptides (neurotensin) and inhibitory amino acids (glycin and GABA).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,916 to Di Stazio discloses 13 new tripeptides of the formula pGLU-X-TRP, where pGLU is cyclized glutamic acid (pyroglutamic acid) and X may be GLY, VAL, GLU, ASP, SER, ALA, ASN, GLN, ILE, LEU, PRO, LYS and ARG. Also disclosed are a process for their preparation, pharmaceutical formulations containing them for oral or parenteral administration and their use as hypotensive and analgesic agents. Further disclosed are lower alkyl esters of the tryptophan residue, in particular methyl or ethyl esters, for use as protecting groups in the production of the peptides. The protecting groups are removed at the completion of the synthesis process. There is no disclosure of a topical formulation.
WO 92/19254 discloses α-substituted mono, di, tri, tetra and pentapeptides useful in treating obesity, anxiety, gastrointestinal ulcers, pain, stroke and inflammation. Peptides of the formula pGLU-X-TRP are not disclosed.
The following tetrapeptides of the formula pGLU-X-TRP-Z appear in the literature:
X=L-Ala; Z=L-LeuOH, L-LeuOCH3, L-LeuNH2, L-MetOH, L-MetOCH3, or L-MetNH2 (DE 3,340,208);
X=Lys; Z=L-AlaOH or L-ProOH (Freer, R. J. and Stewart, J. M. (1971) Cienc. Cult. 23(4):539–42; Francis, B. and Kaiser, I. I. (1993) Toxicon 31(7):889–899);
X=L-Pro; Z=L-ValNH2, L-MetOH, L-MetOCH3, L-MetNH2 L-MetsulfoxideOH, L-MetsulfoxideOCH3, or L-MetsulfoxideNH2 (DE 3,340,208).

Pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic peptide and method for treating pain

S.I.S. Shulov Institute for Science Ltd.


An image forming apparatus, including: an image carrier; an image forming section to form a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer section to transfer the toner image formed on the image carrier to an intermediate transfer body or a recording sheet; a cleaning section to remove not transferred toner particles remaining on the image carrier, an image covering density calculating section to calculate an average image covering density of the toner image formed on plural areas divided in a lateral direction of the image carrier, during a predetermined time period; an obtaining section to obtain a difference of the average image covering density in each divided area, based on the image covering density calculated by the image covering density calculating section; and an adjusting section to adjust an amount of abrasive particles to be supplied to each divided area, based on the differences obtained by the obtaining section.

In recent years, electro-photographic image forming apparatuses have been used in the field of shortrun printing, in which the quality of printed images and operating stability of the apparatus required for such apparatuses, have become very higher and much severer. Further, a large number of technologies have been proposed, by which the printed images exhibiting such high quality can be offered stably for long periods.
In the above usage, a new problem concerning the printed images has been realized, which is uneven reflection density exhibiting longitudinal streaks.
Said streaks will now be detailed.
If an original document, exhibiting various reflection densities of the image in the lateral direction perpendicular to a moving direction of an image carrier (which is a photoconductor), is continuously printed on recording sheets, and if a subsequent original document, carrying an even half-tone image over its total imaging area, is printed on a recording sheet, the above-described streaks are observed on said recording sheet, which are corresponding to the lateral distribution of the reflection density of said original document. Further, the higher the number of continuous prints increases, the more said uneven reflection density tends to occur.
After studying possible reasons of the occurrence of said uneven reflection density, the inventors presumed the occurrence mechanism described below.
The presumed occurrence mechanism will now be detailed.
Finding 1. When not transferred toner particles, remaining on the photoconductor, are removed from the surface of the photoconductor by an edge of a cleaning blade, the surface of the photoconductor is mechanically abraded.
Finding 2. Concerning said abrasion, occurred on the surface of the photoconductor due to the edge of the cleaning blade, the more the amount of the not transferred toner particles, supplied to the cleaning section, the more the rate of abrasion increases.
Finding 3. When the density of a toner image, formed on the photoconductor increases, (that is, when the amount of toner particles adhered on the photoconductor increases), the amount of not transferred toner particles increases.
Based on the relationship shown in Findings 1, 2 and 3, when the surface of the photoconductor is divided into plural areas in the lateral direction, being perpendicular to the moving direction of the photoconductor, the amount of abrasion in each area depends upon an average character coverage ratio of each area. That is, if a previous print carries a reflection density distribution of the images in the lateral direction (being a distribution of the average character coverage ratio), the amount of abrasion changes slightly in each area of the photoconductor, corresponding to the average character coverage ratio of each area.
When the original document, carrying the above-described reflection density distribution of the images in the lateral direction, is repeatedly printed on a large number of the recording sheets, said slight changes of the amount of abrasion accumulate, whereby an area of uneven thickness of the photoconductor increases, and thereby the uneven reflection density becomes visible. In a normal case, in an area exhibiting lower thickness of the photoconductor, the half tone image becomes darker, compared with an area exhibiting relatively greater thickness of the photoconductor.
Further, though the occurrence mechanism differs from the above-described uneven reflection density exhibiting streaks, a technology is offered to prevent the problem of an image quality, which occurs when the original document, carrying a white area or relatively low reflection density image, in the lateral direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the photoconductor, is repeatedly printed on the recording sheets.
Japanese Patent 3,835,503 concerns the problem of image quality, in which bleeding or blurring is generated on the printed images, due to materials which prevent formation of latent images, accumulating on the white areas or the low reflection density areas in the lateral direction of the surface of the photoconductor.
In said Japanese Patent, the image covering density, in an image area on an image carrier facing a transfer sheet, is calculated, whereby in order to supply toner particles to white areas, or to lateral areas of the low image covering density, corresponding to low reflection areas, a toner band (being a toner patch image) is formed at inter-image areas between the image areas, aligned in the moving direction of the surface of the image carrier. Due to a polishing function of the toner particles, at contact portions of the cleaning blade, at the toner band, the materials to prevent formation of the latent images do not accumulate on the surface of the image carrier, whereby image bleeding and blurring are prevented from occurring on the produced image.
That is, the image covering density, at each lateral area in the lateral direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the image carrier, is checked whether the image covering density exceeds a predetermined threshold value or not, after that, the toner particles are supplied to the lateral areas exhibiting the image covering density which is less than the threshold value.
Accordingly, due to the technology listed in the above Patent Document, the uneven reflection density exhibiting the streaks cannot be totally overcome, which occurs due to the difference of the average image covering density, compared between lateral areas distributed in the lateral direction, or which occurs due to white areas or low density areas. Further, no toner particles are supplied to lateral areas of the image carrier, onto which no transfer sheet is introduced. Accordingly, if original documents of a narrow width of images, are continuously printed, and then an original document of a greater width of images and carrying the half-tone images, is subsequently printed, an image, formed on the areas of the image carrier, at which no toner particles were supplied, exhibits lower density as longitudinal strips, compared to areas of the image carrier on which the transfer sheet was introduced, which is a new problem to be solved.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication 2002-328,496 relates to a problem being specific to a single component developer, in which when original documents, carrying a low character coverage ratio, are continuously printed, since very few toner particles fly to the photoconductor drum from a developing sleeve, the toner particles remain on the developer sleeve without fly, whereby due to said remaining toner particles, the density of the printed image is adversely lowered, or fog is generated on the printed image. To overcome these problems, a black even pattern is formed on areas of the photoconductor, corresponding to the areas exhibiting a character coverage ratio of less than a predetermined value, whereby the toner particles of the developer sleeve corresponding to said areas are selected to be conveyed onto the photoconductor, so that the toner particles on the developer sleeve of the developing device are refreshed.
Accordingly, due to reasons described below, the technology disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication 2002-328,496, cannot prevent the uneven reflection density, visible as streaks.
In the technology disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication 2002-328,496, the character coverage ratios of specific lateral areas across the total lateral area are calculated. However, since only a predetermined amount of toner particles are supplied to each specific lateral area, having a character coverage ratio being less than the predetermined value, any abrade gap is not closed on the surface of the photoconductor which has become worn, due to the difference of the densities in the areas, as far as the character coverage ratio is greater than the predetermined value. Accordingly, any uneven reflection density exhibited by streaks, which is caused by differences of the average image covering density in each lateral area on the lateral distribution, still exists adverse.

Image forming apparatus with image covering density calculating section

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle including a first coupling element disposed between an engine and a motor-generator, a second coupling element disposed between the motor-generator and driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle, a sensor for sensing temperatures of the first coupling element and/or the second coupling element and a controller. The controller controls an amount of slippage in either the first coupling element, the second coupling element, or both, depending on the sensed temperatures.

Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2005-221073 discloses a conventional hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes a first coupling element that disconnects and connects a power transmission route between the engine and the motor-generator and a second coupling element that disconnects and connects a power transmission route between the motor-generator and driving wheels. The hybrid vehicle has a motor-using drive mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the power source including only the motor-generator, and an engine-using drive mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the power source that includes the engine. Fuel economy is improved in the hybrid vehicle by shifting the drive mode between the motor-using drive mode and the engine-using drive mode depending on the drive condition. The technology as described in that publication contemplates reducing shock by conducting slip-control of the second coupling element at the engine start upon changeover from the motor-using drive mode to the engine-using drive mode.

Apparatus and method for controlling hybrid vehicle


A multi use utility strap has an elongated first strap member. The first strap member has a first end and a second end. The first end is folded over and coupled to a body section of the elongated strap to form a first loop. The second end is folded over and coupled to the body section to form a second loop. A second strap member having a first end and a second end is provided wherein the first end is coupled to the first strap member. A first pair of D rings is positioned in the second loop. A third strap member is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end of the third strap is folded over and coupled to a body section of the third strap member to form a third strap member loop. A connector is provided for coupling the second strap member to the third strap member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a strap and, more specifically, to a utility strap which may be used for a variety of different purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
People who are active generally require the use of a rope or utility strap in their activities. Most ropes or utility straps are generally a long rounded or flat strap made out of a nylon material or the like. Many people use the rope or utility strap for different purposes. For example, people will use the rope or utility strap to tie objects together, to tie objects to a vehicle, to help in carrying different objects, and the like.
While a rope and a utility strap are useful devices, both of the aforementioned products have certain problems associated with them. The biggest problem is the limited functionality of the rope and utility strap. Because of their respective design (a long rounded or flat strap), the uses of the rope and/or strap is greatly limited. By adding additional pieces to the rope and/or utility strap, the functionality of these items may be greatly increased. Another problem associated with these items is that these items are never around when one needs to use them. Most people generally don't carry around a rope and/or utility strap. Most ropes and/or utility straps are too big and bulky for a person to carry.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved utility strap. The improved utility strap must overcome the problems associated with prior art utility straps. The improved utility strap must have increased functionality. The improved utility strap must further be easy for one to carry.

Multi-purpose utility strap and method therefor


A blanket for transferring a paste image from an engraved plate to a substrate is provided. The blanket includes a foam, a PET layer on the foam, and a paste transfer layer on the PET layer. The foam has a Shore A hardness of 20 to 80 and a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, wherein the foam has a higher Shore A hardness corresponding to a greater thickness.

Technical Field
The disclosure relates to gravure offset printing, and in particular it relates to a blanket of the gravure offset printing.
Description of the Related Art
Printed electronic products possess great market potential. There is a continuing goal to miniaturize. To satisfy the design requirements of lighter, smaller, or thinner products, the volume of each component utilized in the product is strictly limited. Taking conductive wires—the most common component in printed electronic products—as an example, the line width thereof is reduced from the hundred-micron scale to a scale of just several microns. Screen printing is typically used in the manufacture of traditional conductive wires. However, the mass-producible line width is only down to 70 μm due to the intrinsic limitations of the screen. Obviously, such a process capability is insufficient for processing currently popular touch panels. To achieve fine wire production, most manufacturers rely on photolithographic technology. Although this process can produce wires with a line width less than 10 microns, the production cost is significantly higher than that of the printing process. Moreover, this process is not environmentally friendly because of the huge consumption of energy and materials.
To meet the production capacity of thin conductive paths and manufacturing cost considerations, gravure transfer (gravure offset printing) technology has seen a lot of research and trial production in industry in recent years, but the blanket of the gravure offset printing still needs to be improved. For example, the foam of the blanket influences the quality of the gravure offset printing, but no specific description of the relationship between the thickness and the hardness thereof is disclosed.
Accordingly, a foam with a specific relation of thickness and hardness for the blanket is called for.

Method and blanket for transferring a paste image from engraved plate to substrate


An engine control method of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle may include accumulating an EV accumulated driving distance or an EV accumulated driving time. The EV accumulated driving distance or the EV accumulated driving time is compared with each of reference values. An engine is operated for inspection if the EV accumulated driving distance or the EV accumulated driving time is greater than each of the reference values.

Generally, a hybrid electric vehicle is driven by effectively combining at least two different power sources. The hybrid electric vehicle generally uses an engine driven by fossil fuel combustion and a motor driven by a rechargeable battery.
The hybrid electric vehicle can be classified as two types depending on a power source of the engine and the motor. A parallel hybrid electric vehicle is directly driven by mechanical power of the engine and uses electric power of the motor in case of need. A series hybrid electric vehicle is driven by the electric power of the motor which is converted from the mechanical power of the engine by a generator. Therefore, the parallel hybrid electric vehicle is suitable for high-speed driving or long distance driving, whereas the series hybrid electric vehicle is suitable for city driving or short distance driving.
Recently, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which is driven in an electric vehicle (EV) mode for a short distance by a larger battery than that of the hybrid electric vehicle and is driven in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode for long distance has been developed. That is, the PHEV simultaneously has an internal combustion engine driven by gasoline and a battery powered engine, so that the PHEV uses one of the two engines or both engines. The PHEV has a high capacity and high voltage battery, so that it needs to be charged by electricity from the outside.
The PHEV is driven in the HEV mode when a driver's demand for power is greater than a maximum output power of the motor, and the battery or a battery state of charge (SOC) is low. On the other hand, the PHEV is driven in the EV mode when the driver's demand for power is lower than the maximum output power of the motor, and the battery and the battery is charged by the electricity from the outside.
However, if the PHEV is driven in the EV mode without operating the engine for a relatively long period of time to improve fuel efficiency, corrosion, leakage of a lubricant, fuel damage, and so on can occur. Therefore, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle should drive the engine periodically even though the engine operation is unnecessary for driving.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Engine control method of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle


Provided is a protective material ring in which a plurality of silicon members are joined. A protective material ring is to be installed in a treatment chamber of a substrate treatment apparatus performing plasma treatment on a substrate, and the substrate is accommodated in the treatment chamber. The protective material ring includes: three or more silicon members; and a joining part joining the silicon members. The joining part contains boron oxide.

A dry etching apparatus using plasma is used as a substrate treatment apparatus in manufacture of a semiconductor integrated device such as an LSI. The dry etching apparatus includes a cylindrical vacuum chamber. While a wafer to be etched is placed on a cathode of a planar electrode and etching gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber, a high-frequency voltage is applied between the cathode and a counter electrode (anode) by a high-frequency oscillator to generate plasma of the etching gas between the electrodes. Positive ions as activated gas in the plasma enter a surface of the wafer to etch the wafer.
Various ring-shaped members are used in the vacuum chamber of the dry etching apparatus. Representative examples of the ring-shaped member include a focus ring that has a doughnut shape surrounding the wafer to be etched and an annular ground ring placed so as to cover a side surface of a columnar susceptor base portion on which the wafer is mounted. Examples further include protective materials such as an annular shielding ring provided on a peripheral portion of the counter electrode and a side-wall member that covers an inner-wall side surface of the vacuum chamber (Patent Literature 1).
A silicon component is desired to be used in the vacuum chamber of the dry etching apparatus because a metal component causes metal contamination when the metal component is used. It is necessary for the focus ring, the ground ring, and the ring-shaped protective materials to each have a diameter larger than that of the wafer to be etched. A silicon component for 300 mm wafer, which is mainly in current use, is expensive because the silicon component is fabricated from a silicon crystal ingot having a diameter of 320 mm or more. In particular, the diameter of some ring-shaped side-wall members reaches 700 mm or more, and it may be virtually impossible to fabricate the ring-shaped side-wall members from silicon crystal ingots.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

THINKON NEW TECHNOLOGY JAPAN CORPORATION


The invention pertains to a scratch-resistant thin film comprising a transparent substrate wherein the substrate comprises at least one micro structured layer on the lower side and at least one scratch-resistant layer on the upper side, wherein said scratch-resistant layer has a convex-concave structure, a surface resistivity in the range from 108 to 1012Ω/□, a pencil hardness of 3H or more as measured according to JIS K5400 standard method, and a haze in the range from 30% to 98% as measured according to JIS K7136 method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scratch-resistant thin film with a cured coating, and more particularly, to an optical thin film applicable to the backlight module in a liquid crystal display (LCD).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Since a liquid crystal panel does not emit light itself, a backlight module, as a brightness source, is an important element for the displaying function of LCDs, and is very important for enhancing the brightness of LCDs. Presently, various optical films are used in the backlight module, and the use of such various optical films has become the most economical and convenient solution to enhance the brightness of an LCD panel to optimize the service efficiency of the light source without altering any element design or consuming additional energy. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of various optical films contained in a backlight module. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical films contained in a common backlight module include: a reflective film (1) disposed below the light guide plate (2); and other optical films disposed above the light guide plate (2), i.e., from the top to the bottom, a diffusion film (3), brightness enhancement films (4) and (5), and a protective diffusion film (6) in sequence.
In recent years, a new technique using a V-cut light guide plate has been developed in the field of backlight modules, which is a popular technology in the field of the backlight modules for the panels used in current notebook computers. The V-cut light guide plate is made mainly by directly micro-fabricating a prism on a light guide plate, and is used in the backlight module in combination with a prism sheet (reverse prism sheet) with downward serration, thereby replacing the two prism sheets with upward serration in conventional backlight modules. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a backlight module having a V-cut light guide plate. As shown in FIG. 2, the V-cut technique mainly employs one reverse prism sheet (9), and one V-cut light guide plate (8) and one reflective film (7) under the reverse prism sheet, and additionally a diffusion film (10) above the reverse prism sheet (9). Compared with the conventional backlight module, the brightness of the backlight module having a V-cut light guide plate can be enhanced nearly by 30%, and thus the required power can be reduced by one third, which is considerably beneficial to the improvement on power-saving performance.
Technically, due to optical properties, the structure of the reverse prism sheet tends to generate bright-and-dark stripes, and the reverse prism sheet has a brightness uniformity of about 75%, which is lower than the 85% uniformity conventionally obtained. Therefore, there is a need for a technical solution to remove the stripes and reduce the warp of the film caused by an ultraviolet curable coating on a single side and the V-shaped structure of the film itself.
In view of the above, the present invention provides a scratch-resistant thin film to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. In the present invention, a novel hard coat solution is used to form a scratch-resistant layer on the surface of a substrate having an opposite micro structured layer on the other surface. After curing, the scratch-resistant layer can improve the hardness of the thin film, and has a certain extent of light-diffusing effect, that is, it has a haze of 30% to 98% as measured according to JIS K7136 standard method, thereby the problems associated with the bright-and-dark stripes and low brightness uniformity encountered by the reverse prism sheet can be solved effectively.

Abstract: The thin film of the invention exhibits both light enhancement and light uniformization properties, has a low volume shrinkage, does not warp, and possesses excellent anti-static and high hardness properties.


First and second latch mechanisms are provided that allow a boat operator to prevent the moveable and stationary portions of an outboard from moving relative to each other. This device can be used during shipping, transportation, or use of an outboard motor in conjunction with a sailboat in which the rudder of the sailboat is used for steering, and it is desirable to maintain the moveable and stationary portions of an outboard motor rigidly with respect to each other. A first latch mechanism is attached to the moveable portion of the outboard motor, and a second latch mechanism is attached to the stationary portion of an outboard motor. The second latch mechanism is rotatable to place a receptacle into a region where a locking device can retain it.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a swivel lock for an outboard motor and, more particularly, to a latching device which permits a rotatable portion of an outboard motor to be rigidly locked in place relative to a stationary portion of the outboard motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Outboard motors are well-known to those skilled in the art and are available in many different types and horsepower ratings. Certain outboard motors, usually of low to medium horsepower ratings, are provided with a tiller handle that can be used to manually control the throttle of the motor and to steer the motor by rotating a moveable portion of the outboard motor relative to a stationary portion of the outboard motor which is rigidly attached to the transom of a boat. Outboard motors with larger horsepower ratings are typically associated with a steering mechanism that allows a boater to use a steering wheel and a steering cable assembly to cause the moveable portion of the outboard motor to rotate relative to the stationary portion.
In certain applications, it is highly desirable to have the capability of locking the moveable portion of the outboard motor in place relative to the stationary portion of the outboard motor. For example, when an outboard motor is shipped from the factory where it is manufactured to various dealerships which sell the motors, it is typically necessary to provide additional brackets and hardware to prevent the moveable portion of the outboard motor from moving relative to its stationary portion during shipping.
On occasion, sailboats are provided with an outboard motor which is rigidly attached to its transom. It is generally preferable to steer the sailboat through the use of its own rudder even when the outboard motor is used as the propulsion device. When operated in this way, it is necessary to prevent the moveable portion of the outboard motor from moving relative of the stationary portion. Normally, when a sailboat is operated in this manner, the outboard motor is locked into a straight ahead position and the boat is steered through the use of its own rudder without any change in the relative positions between the moveable and stationary portions of the outboard motor.
Certain types of fishing utilize a technique referred to as trolling. It is beneficial for certain types of boats, such as walleye boats, to be provided with a means to maintain an outboard motor in a fixed position which causes the boat to move straight ahead while the fishermen in the boat are trolling. In these types of applications, it would also be beneficial if the outboard motor could quickly be converted to full steering capability for short periods of time in order to allow the boat to be maneuvered to a different location where further trolling can be performed.
There are many applications where a marine vessel is provided with an additional, or kicker, outboard motor. Sometimes the kicker motor is used as a backup motor for use in emergencies when the main motor is unavailable for use. When not in use, the extra outboard motor should be held in a stationary manner so that it does not rotate back and forth about its pivot as a result of movements of the boat to which it is attached.
Occasionally during transit on highways, when a boat is transported on a towed boat trailer, it is beneficial to prevent the moveable and stationary portions of the outboard motor from moving relative to each other while the boat is being towed.
For the reasons described above, it would be highly beneficial if a simple means could be provided as part of the outboard motor which allows the operator to lock the moveable and stationary portions together without the need to assemble brackets and clamps to the outboard motor for these purposes.


A catalyst composition and a process for hydrodealkylating a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound such as, for example, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon such as a xylene are disclosed. The composition comprises a zeolite, a metal oxide, and an activity modifier selected from the group consisting of silicon oxides, sulfur oxides, phosphorus oxides, boron oxides, magnesium oxides, tin oxides, titanium oxides, zirconium oxides, germanium oxides, indium oxides, lanthanum oxides, cesium oxides, and combinations of any two or more thereof. The process comprises contacting a fluid which comprises a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a C.sub.9 + aromatic compound to a C.sub.6 to C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that aromatic hydrocarbons are a class of very important industrial chemicals which find a variety of uses in petrochemical industry. It is also well known to those skilled in the art that catalytically cracking gasoline-range hydrocarbons produces aromatic hydrocarbons such as, for example, benzene, toluene, and xylenes (hereinafter collectively referred to as BTX) in the presence of catalysts which contain a zeolite. The product of this catalytic cracking process contains a multitude of hydrocarbons including unconverted C.sub.5 + alkanes, C.sub.5 + alkenes, C.sub.5 + cycloalkanes, or combinations of two or more thereof; lower alkanes such as methane, ethane, and propane; lower alkenes such as ethylene and propylene; and C.sub.9 + aromatic compounds. Recent efforts to convert gasoline to more valuable petrochemical products have therefore focused on improving the conversion of gasoline to more valuable aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of zeolite catalysts. For example, a gallium-promoted zeolite ZSM-5 has been used in the so-called Cyclar Process to convert a hydrocarbon to BTX. The aromatic hydrocarbons can be useful feedstocks for producing various organic compounds and polymers. However, heavier, less useful aromatic compounds having 9 or more carbon atoms per molecule (hereinafter collectively referred to as C.sub.9 + aromatic compounds) are also produced by the conversion process. Furthermore, a zeolite catalyst is generally deactivated in a rather short period because of depositions of carbonaceous material, generally coke, on the surface of the catalyst.
Accordingly, there is an ever-increasing need to develop a catalyst and a process for converting these heavier and less useful aromatic compounds to the more valuable BTX hydrocarbons (hereinafter referred to as hydrodealkylation process) and, in the meantime, for suppressing the coke formation. Such development would also be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy.

Catalyst composition and processes therefor and therewith


A linear resonant actuator includes: (a) an electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuator; (b) a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the EMP actuator being mounted on the first surface of the substrate; (c) clamping structure provided on two sides of the substrate so as to allow the substrate to vibrate freely between the two sides of the substrate, in response to an electrical stimulation of the EMP actuator; and (d) an inertial mass element having a contact surface for attaching to the substrate at the second surface of the substrate. The inertial mass element may include contact structures provided to attach to the substrate along thin parallel lines. In one embodiment, the inertial mass element may have a “T” shape, or any suitable shape for stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The patent invention is related to electro-active polymer (EAP) or electromechanical polymer (EMP)1 actuators. In particular, the present invention is related to EAP- or EMP-based linear resonant actuators that provide a haptic response, suitable for use in handheld or mobile devices. 1 Electromechanical polymers (EMPs) refer to polymers that provide a mechanical response in response to a electrical stimulus and vice versa. EMPs are members of a broader class of polymers known as "electroactive (EAP) polymers," which responses to electrical stimuli are not necessarily limited just to mechanical responses.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Actuators that are light and miniaturized are highly desirable in many mobile applications. A class of actuators, known as linear resonant actuators ("LRAs"), use magnetic fields, electrical currents or both to control an actuator, so as to create a force that imparts motion to an attached mass. The mass may also be attached to a spring, which helps it return to a central quiescent position. Driving the mass in reciprocal motion about the central quiescent position causes a vibration. However, these actuators typically have a very narrow bandwidth, consume significant power and are limited in their applications because of their size. Resonance tuning of such actuators are also relatively difficult to provide.

Electromechanical polymer-based linear resonant actuator


In a radio-controlled device for measuring time, a demodulating unit demodulates the time information from the received electric signal based on amplitude information of the target radio wave. The amplitude information is obtained from in-phase and quadrature-phase components of the target radio wave. A phase calculator calculates phase data associated with a phase of the target radio wave based on the in-phase and quadrature-phase components. A variability calculator calculates a variability of the phase data of the target radio wave relative to a reference phase. The reference phase changes at a constant rate in time according to a frequency error. The frequency error is contained in the reference signal relative to a frequency of the target carrier wave. A reception determining unit determines whether reception of the radio-controlled device is good based on the calculated variability.

Conventional radio-controlled clocks are designed to receive a radio wave amplitude-modulated by time information serving as an official time and frequency standard for a corresponding country; this radio wave is continuously broadcasted from a transmitter located in a time zone where the clocks are used.
The conventional radio-controlled clocks are also designed to demodulate the time information, and correct a measured time based on the demodulated time information. An example of the conventional radio-controlled clock is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-60520.
Specifically, a radio-controlled clock includes an internal oscillator, such as an internal quartz oscillator, and a measuring circuit operative to measure a time based on the oscillator frequency (reference frequency), receive the time information on the radio wave broadcasted from a transmitter, and periodically correct a measured time based on the time information.
If the oscillator frequency (reference frequency) contains a frequency error with respect to the correct frequency, an error contained in a measured time would increase over time. For this reason, a radio-controlled clock is designed to periodically correct a measured time based on the received time information serving as an official time and frequency standard, thereby keeping a measured time to the right time.
Typically, the quartz oscillator frequency is within a few parts per million of the correct frequency, which means it can keep time to within 1 second for a few days or more. Therefore, the correction once per day or a few days make the clock appear to be on the right second.
The time information consists essentially of a time code with a predetermined frame format. The time code includes 60 bits of information, broadcasted at 1 bit per second. Specifically, the time code frame is broadcasted from a transmitter every 60 seconds (1 minute).
For example, in Japan, the time code bits are generated by riding and lowering the power (amplitude) of a carrier wave whose frequency is 60 kHz or 40 kHz with a modulation range of 90% (the ratio of the high amplitude and low amplitude is 10:1.
If there is bad radio reception (low S/N ratio in radio waves), the time information is not always demodulated accurately. For this reason, in order to prevent a measured time from being corrected based on inaccurately demodulated time information, verification of demodulated time information is carried out, which is disclosed for example in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication NO. 2001-108770.
Specifically, as the first check means, for each of the demodulated time code frames, it is checked whether the time code bits meet a predetermined time code format for each time code frame. When it is checked that the time code bits in a demodulated time code frame do not meet the predetermined time code format, it is determined that an error arises in the demodulated time code frame.
As the second check means, a parity is computed for at least part of the time code bits in a current demodulated time code frame, and that is computed for at least part of the time code bits in the next current demodulated time code frame.
Then, it is checked whether the parity of the current demodulated time code is matched with that of the next demodulated time code frame.
When it is checked that the parity of the current demodulated time code frame is mismatched with that of the next demodulated time code frame, it is determined that an error arises in at least one of the current and the next demodulated time code frames.
As the third check means, some bits allocated for "minutes" between two of demodulated continuous time code frames are compared with each other to check whether increment of some bits allocated for "minutes" between two of the demodulated continuous time code frames corresponds to one minute.
When it is checked that increment of some bits allocated for "minutes" between two of the demodulated continuous time code frames does not correspond to one minute, it is determined that an error arises in at least one of the two of the demodulated continuous time code frames.
If it is determined that an error arises in a demodulated time code frame based on any one of the first to third check means, correction of a measured time based on the error-detected time code frame is prevented.
As described above, the second and third check means need to receive at least two continuous time code frames. This takes a few minutes and more to correct a measured time because a time code frame is broadcasted from a transmitter every 60 seconds (1 minute). This may increase power consumption of processes except for the normal time measuring process based on the reference frequency.
Especially, in battery-powered radio-controlled clocks, the power-consumption increase may decrease a life of the battery.
In addition, in order to execute the second and third check means, at least two continuous time code frames need to be properly received by a radio-controlled clock. For this reason, when a radio-controlled clock is put in a place where there is bad radio reception, correction of a measured time may have not been carried out for a long period of time. This may make it difficult for the radio-controlled clock to properly measure time.

Radio-controlled method and device for measuring time


An automatic tissue sampling device includes a housing having an upper opening and a cover closable over the opening. A biopsy needle assembly is operatively disposed within the device, and includes an outer cannula and an inner stylet. A drive mechanism includes a cannula carriage and a stylet carriage slidably disposed within the housing and a system of springs for driving the first and second carriages to pierce a tissue site and obtain a tissue sample. The cannula and stylet of the needle assembly are each supported on the respective carriages by corresponding hubs. The hubs are configured to be received within the carriages to impart driving motion from the carriages to the needle assembly. In one aspect of the invention, the hubs each include a flag attached to the hub and projecting laterally away from the longitudinal axis of the hub. Each flag is sized to be manually grasped to install or remove the hubs from the carriages. The hubs also include a tab projecting outward from the hub opposite the flag. The tabs can be configured to reside within tab slots defined in each of the carriages to lock the hubs to the carriages in axial motion.

The present invention relates to tissue sampling or biopsy devices, and in particular to an automatic tissue sampling apparatus for utilizing two piece biopsy needle systems. In a specific aspect, the invention concerns a needle hub assembly for use with the automatic tissue sampling apparatus.
A typical biopsy needle system may be utilized in obtaining tissue samples from a patient which includes two coaxial needles. The first needle generally consists of a substantially solid shaft in the form of a stylet having a cutting point at its end to facilitate insertion of the needle into the tissue to be sampled. The second needle is typically hollow in the form of a cannula and is disposed about the first inner needle.
In manual biopsy needle systems, the two needle components each have handles at their ends for manual operation. To obtain the tissue sample, the biopsy needle is inserted into the patient into the specific target tissue, preferably at the center of a desired cell mass to be investigated. The two needles are then reciprocated relative to each other to trap tissue within the outer needle cannula. Typically, the outer needle is held stable while projecting the first inner needle or stylet forward a short distance to penetrate the tissue. Then with the outer needle held stable, the inner stylet is retracted, severing the adjacent tissue and confining the tissue within the outer cannula. The entire biopsy needle assembly can then be withdrawn and the tissue sample sent for pathological examination.
In order to facilitate the tissue sampling operation, automatic tissue sampling or biopsy apparatus have been developed. One such device is depicted in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,056 to Lindgren et al. This patent shows a tissue sampling device in which the two needles of the biopsy needle system are driven by a series of compressed springs. Each of the needles is supported by a hub, which hub is removably mounted within a respective slide or carriage. The actuating springs operate on the carriages to drive the stylet into the target tissue and then the outer cannula over the stylet to extract the tissue sample.
Another automatic tissue sampling device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,156 to Shramm et al. This patent shows a biopsy apparatus that utilizes a different driving and actuation mechanism from that shown in the prior Lindgren patent. However, as with most automatic biopsy devices, the sampling apparatus in the Shramm patent also utilizes a carriage assembly to support hubs within which each of the needles are engaged.
The details of automatic tissue sampling or biopsy apparatus of this type can be easily gleaned from either the Lindgren or the Shramm patents. In accordance with the present invention, a tissue sampling apparatus 10, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, is provided which is similar in operation to the device shown in the Shramm U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,156. This biopsy device 10 includes a drive unit 11 which supports a biopsy needle assembly 12. As described above, the biopsy needle assembly 12 includes an outer cannula 13 and a concentrically disposed stylet 14. The stylet defines a tissue recess 15 which is used to capture and excise target tissue. The drive unit 11 includes a drive unit housing 17 that is provided with a hinged cover 18 to permit access to the internal workings of the drive unit 11. Many of the internal components of the drive unit are shown in FIG. 2. It is understood that the representation of tissue sampling device 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 is simply for purposes of illustration and that the device includes other components that are not depicted in the figures for clarity.
The particular tissue sampling device 10 shown in these figures can be a device sold as the MBD (Multiple Biopsy Device).TM. manufactured and marketed by Engineered Medical Systems, Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind. The details of the structure and operation of the MBD.TM. can be easily discerned from the product itself. However, for purposes of illustration in connection with the present invention, a general description of the components of the sampling device 10 will follow. In particular, the drive unit housing 17 is closed not only by the hinged cover 18 but also by a front end plate 19 and an opposite end plate 21. The front end plate 19 includes a slot 20 defined therein through which a biopsy needle assembly 12 extends. A support frame 22 is mounted within the drive unit housing 17 and includes a carriage stop 23 which restricts the longitudinal motion of the carriages within the unit.
The cannula and stylet of the biopsy needle assembly 12 are supported within the sampling device 10 by a cannula carriage 24 at the forward end of the device and a rear stylet carriage 25. The drive mechanism of the device includes a series of springs. A return spring 27 operates to provide a resistive force against reciprocation of the cannula carriage 24. A nest spring 28 and pusher spring 29 provide the actuation force to drive the two carriages 24, 25 forward into the tissue site. A center tube 30 extends through the cannula carriage 24 to maintain the coaxial alignment of the carriages and to support the shaft portion of the actuator handle 32. The actuator handle operates to cock the carriages 24, 25 into their operative positions. A latch 31 engages the carriages to hold them in their loaded or energized positions until the latch is released.
As thus illustrated, the tissue sampling device 10 is similar to automatic devices currently available in the marketplace. With these devices, the biopsy needle assembly 12 can be removed and sterilized and re-inserted into the same drive unit. Alternatively, a pre-sterilized disposable biopsy needle can be provided that fits into the carriages 24, 25 of the device. However, one difficulty with this approach is that the needle hubs affixed to the coaxial needles are often small and difficult to manipulate. In addition, the physician may have to spend time manipulating the hubs to properly position them within the carriages of whatever automatic biopsy device is being used. Finally, another difficulty encountered with these devices utilizing replaceable biopsy needle assemblies is that the assemblies are not easy to remove once a tissue sample has been obtained. Simple and safe removal is essential to protect the physician and to protect the excise tissue sample.
There is a need in the industry for a hub for use with a removable and replaceable biopsy needle assembly that is ergonomically efficient and is economical to produce. In addition, the hub should permit easy placement within the biopsy sampling device, and particularly in the carriages of the device.


The parabolic trough collector has a receiver formed by several single absorber tubes (13). The single absorber tubes (13) are supported by absorber tube supports (14) and surrounded by a glass tube (15). Because of different expansion behavior of the absorber tube (13) and the glass tube (15) during collector operation flexible unions (17) are foreseen between absorber tube (13) and glass tube (15). In order to use the radiation coming to the non active-area where the absorber tube supports (14) and the flexible unions (17) are installed a mirror collar (20) is installed on this area. The mirror collar (20) is able to reflect the solar radiation, which is coming from different directions, to the active absorber part of the single absorber tubes (13) also when the sun incident angle is changing.

The invention is related to a parabolic trough collector. The collector has a receiver formed by single absorber tubes that are installed on absorber tube supports and a parabolic reflector that reflects the solar radiation onto the receiver. The single absorber tubes of the receiver are surrounded by glass tubes. Special flexible unions are foreseen to compensate the heat expansion between the steal of the single absorber tubes and the glass tubes.
Commercial parabolic trough collectors for high temperature show high optical losses in the flexible unions between glass and absorber tubes. In those areas, where the absorber tube supports are supporting the receiver, the glass tube is interrupted and the flexible unions are installed. Therefore, the absorption of the concentrated solar radiation by an active absorber tube surface is not possible in those areas.
The one axis tracking parabolic trough collectors concentrate the solar radiation on a focus line where the receiver is situated. The heat transfer fluid, usually thermal oil or water, flows through the receiver. A big part of the solar radiation is converted by the receiver into thermal heat and is transferred to the heat transfer fluid. In order to avoid high thermal losses the single absorber tubes are surrounded by glass tubes. The space between absorber tube and glass tube is evacuated. Because of static reasons the absorber receiver consists on several single absorber tubes that are welded together in one line and in the welding area metal supports are installed that fix the single absorber tubes in the focus line of the parabolic trough collector. In operation conditions, the irradiated single absorber tubes become hot and expand more than the colder glass tubes. Therefore, in commercial parabolic trough collectors flexible unions are foreseen between absorber tubes and glass tubes. Normally, metal bellows are used to compensate the different expansions of the single absorber tubes and the glass tubes. The flexible unions are protected by aluminum sheets against the concentrated solar radiation that would produce dangerous high temperature gradients in the glass—metal welding area.
Commercial solar parabolic trough collectors for high temperature have high optical losses in the flexible union area. Because of the necessity of flexible bellows and the space for the absorber tube supports those areas cannot be used as active absorber area. About 4-6% of the reflected radiation is concentrated onto those non-active areas and lost for the system. The use of the concentrated radiation onto those non-active areas seems very complicated because of the continuously changing sun incident angle.


Provided is a method of purifying oil by which nano particles are effectively removed from the oil. According to the oil purifying method, oil is effectively purified at a high temperature using a carbon nanostructure-metal or -metal oxide composite nano porous membrane composed of a carbon nanostructure-metal composite.

With recent high growth of industries, membrane technology with a high purity separating function is recognized to be very important, and its importance is increased in various fields including chemical industry, food industry, medical industry, medicine, biochemistry, and environmental fields.
In the field of oil, it is recognized to be important in environmental and economical aspects that various oils, for instance, lubricants, are filtered and recycled during use or after use, and thus are used for a longer period of time.
The illustrative lubricants serve to prevent the irregularities of frictional surfaces from being worn or damaged by high pressure and friction, and to reduce the consumption of power, thus increasing the efficiency of the machine. In addition, lubricating oils have a function to absorb heat generated on frictional surfaces and to discharge the absorbed heat to the outside, thus preventing the frictional surfaces from sticking and becoming damaged. Also, lubricating oils serve to disperse a load concentrated on a contact surface and provide sealing between two frictional surfaces so as to prevent the entry of water or dirt. Moreover, lubricating oils serve to prevent a lubricated surface from being corroded by oxygen and water.
Such lubricating oils are contaminated by worn metal pieces and burned carbides during the operation of machines so that the performance thereof is reduced. For this reason, a unit for filtering and purifying lubricating oil should be provided in systems, or lubricating oil should be replaced with fresh lubricating oil after it has been used for a given period of time. Also, waste lubricating oil may be recycled for reuse as fuel oil or the like.
A method of removing the impurities from the lubricant includes a method of using a centrifugal separator (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-7002799, and European Patent Application No. 20040741406), a method of removing fine iron particles using a magnetic force (Korean Patent Application No. 10-1999-0049190), or a method of filtering impurities using an oil filter (Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-1996-040148, 10-2003-0065486, 10-1990-0014047, and 10-2000-7014517, and European Patent Application No. 2008066756). A method of purifying the waste lubricant after use includes a method of using a compound (Korean Patent Application No. 10-1999-0036078), a method of using a catalyst (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0005708), or a method of using a screw (Korean Utility Model Application Nos. 20-2005-0003461, and 20-2005-0003462).
In the purifying methods, however, micro-particles can be removed by separating and filtering, whereas nano-particles cannot be removed. In particular, the nano-particles having a predetermined size reduce the performance of the lubricant, and thus cause a large obstacle when the lubricant is reused. Such nano-particles have a problem in that they reduce not only the performance and life expectancy of the lubricating oil, but also the oil filters. Also, filtration of the lubricating oil needs to be carried out at high temperatures, because lubricating oil has high viscosity. However, conventional oil filters have a problem in that they are deformed at high temperature, because they are based on polymers.

Oil purification method and apparatus with porous membrane


A process for preparing an instant beverage is provided which includes heating a dried soluble coffee under sufficient pressure thereby forcing gas into internal voids of the dried coffee. The heated dried soluble coffee is cooled and depressurized to produce a dried soluble coffee having internal voids filled with pressurized gas. An instant dry beverage comprising soluble coffee having internal voids filled with pressurized gas is also provided, and this product is advantageous in that it produces a beverage with foam on its surface when reconstituted.

Coffee extract is brewed by contacting the roasted or ground coffee with boiling or near-boiling water for a predetermined brewing time. The extract, including the solutes, is then separated from the insolubles to obtain the resulting beverage which is promptly consumed. However, in this day and age where there is a significant trend towards convenience foods, the use of instant coffees is preferred by a segment of coffee consumers.
Instant coffee is basically the dried water-extract of roasted, ground coffee. The beans used to make instant coffee are blended, roasted and ground as they are in the making of regular coffee. In order to make instant coffee, the roasted, ground coffee is then charged into columns called percolators through which hot water is pumped, resulting in a concentrated coffee extract. The extract is then dried, usually by either spray drying or freeze drying, to produce the final coffee powder which is sold to the consumer. Upon the addition of hot water to the dried coffee powder, coffee is obtained without the need to go through the usual and more complicated brewing steps.
As is explained in Canadian Patent No. 670,794 (to Standard Brands Incorporated), spray-dried instant coffee consists of hollow spheres or aggregates thereof which form a fine and persistent foam when hot water is added to the coffee powder. This is in contrast to the coarser and more quickly subsiding foam which is formed when a hot water-extract of ground roasted coffee is poured into a cup. Consequently, because typically brewed coffee does not have such a foam, the foam produced by the spray-dried instant coffee is undesirable. Accordingly, many techniques have been developed to reduce, alter or eliminate the foaming characteristics of spray-dried instant coffee. For example, in Canadian Patent No. 670,794, a small amount of a monoglyceride of a higher fatty acid is incorporated in the spray-dried coffee to change the appearance of the foam produced when the coffee is contacted with hot water. The new foam has the characteristics of the foam in a cup of brewed coffee rather than the more persistent fine foam normally associated with spray-dried instant coffee.
On the other hand, the production of foam on coffee is not always undesirable. In particular, espresso coffee is a special coffee beverage type that is winning increased approval with the consumer. Espresso coffee typically comprises finely milled roasted beans which are brewed rapidly with pressurized water/steam which coincidentally results in the formation of in-cup foam. The resulting espresso beverage provides body and flavor aspects very distinct from the normal cup of coffee. Espresso is said to have a dark, rich flavor and appearance and is accompanied by a head of lighter-colored froth or foam which espresso beverage devotees consider crucial. The foam contains colloidal oil droplets and solid particles which give the espresso its characteristic texture and mouth feel. It is to be noted that the froth or foam characteristic of espresso coffee is not at all similar to the foam formed from the spray-dried instant coffee described above.
As would be expected, due to its unique flavor and other characteristics, espresso coffee is not easily made. In order to produce a consistently high-quality espresso beverage, the brewing process must be controlled very closely, i.e., a very short brewing time, specific pressures, temperatures, volumes of water delivered to the ground coffee, the need for precise adjustments, etc. Consequently, espresso brewing machines are relatively complicated, large and expensive and require a certain amount of skill to operate. Accordingly, it would be preferable to find an alternative method for providing an espresso beverage, one which is simpler and easier to employ.
Although the flavor of espresso coffee may be mimicked by the use of dark roast Arabicas and extraction processing conditions, the foaming characteristics of espresso are not easily replicated as the foaming of roasted and ground espresso is primarily induced by high-pressure steam which is provided by an espresso machine. The high-pressure steam provides a source of sparging gas, which, with the aid of surface-active species present in the coffee, form foam cells. Espresso brewing also results in the emulsification of oil into the brew and the foam. The resultant foam consists of water, gas, surface-active species and oil, and has a creamy appearance and texture.
It is widely accepted that the protein present in unroasted coffee beans is not retained in roasted coffee or in soluble coffee powders produced from extracts of roasted coffee. Coffee protein is rapidly and substantially denatured and degraded by the high temperatures and chemical reactions that occur during roasting and extracting. See, for example, Coffee, Volume 1: Chemistry, R. J. Clarke and R. Macrae, Eds., Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, New York, 1987, pp. 138-143. As reported in Coffee, Recent Developments, R. J. Clarke and O. G. Vitzthum, Eds., Blackwell Science Ltd, London, 2001, p. 155, coffee beverages contain "transformed proteic material grouped under the broad name of melanoidins". Accordingly, soluble coffee powders, including soluble espresso powders, produced from roasted coffee are regarded as being devoid of protein. Unlike typical food foams, which are stabilized by proteins such as occur in milk, eggs, wheat, and the like, it is believed that carbohydrates, particularly coffee polysaccharides, stabilize espresso foam. As also reported in Coffee, Recent Developments, p. 15, the stability of espresso foams is directly related to the concentration of polysaccharide present and the foam stabilizing effect is attributed to viscosity imparted to the extract by galactomannan.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,717 to Panesar et al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for making a spray-dried instant coffee using a process of foaming a coffee extract by gas injection followed by homogenizing the foamed coffee extract to reduce gas bubble size and then subsequently spray drying the homogenized extract to produce a soluble espresso coffee powder having voids formed by gas bubbles. As a result, the resulting entrapped gas bubbles at atmospheric pressure are provided by gas dispersed in a liquid extract prior to spray drying.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,113, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a powdered soluble foaming ingredient which has a matrix containing a carbohydrate, a protein and entrapped pressurized gas. The gas is released upon addition of the dry powder to liquid.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0026836, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for forming tablets or powders of carbohydrate-based pharmaceuticals or foods which includes subjecting tablets or powders which comprise a beverage base such as soluble coffee, foamed powder, sugar and creamer to pressure and temperature to produce a tablet or powder with increased solubility or dispersability on contact with water. In addition, a method is disclosed which promotes the dissolution or dispersion of a tablet or non-foaming powder by subjecting the tablet or powder to pressurized gas so that gas is entrapped therein to promote dissolution or dispersion of the tablet or powder on contact with water. Improved dissolution of carbohydrate-based tablets comprised of spray-dried coffee and either carbohydrate crystalline sucrose or foamed carbohydrate powder and spray-dried creamer powder containing entrapped gas is demonstrated in working examples therein. However, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0026836 does not demonstrate in any working examples of manufacturing a foaming soluble coffee powder or foaming soluble espresso powder containing entrapped pressurized gas therein. Further, improved dissolution or dispersability of a coffee powder, alone or in combination with other ingredients, containing entrapped gas is not demonstrated in any working example therein.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,830,869 and 4,903,585, both to Wimmers, et al., incorporated herein by reference, disclose a method for making a coffee beverage having a thick layer of foamed coffee on its surface, similar in appearance to cappuccino coffee. A measured amount of spray-dried instant coffee and a small amount of cold water are combined with vigorous agitation to form a foamed coffee concentrate. Then, hot water is added to make a coffee beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,500 to Forquer, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method for preparing a brewed espresso-type coffee beverage which has a head of froth on the surface of the beverage. Relatively dry steam is injected into the brewed coffee beverage to produce the froth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,378 to Rhodes, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an apparatus for foaming a coffee extract. Gas is introduced into the coffee extract and the foamed coffee is then spray-dried to make a soluble coffee product having a low bulk density.
Although soluble espresso coffee powders are available, there is still a need for a soluble dry espresso coffee composition which, upon reconstitution, exhibits a foam characteristic desired by true espresso connoisseurs. For example, prior resulting espresso beverages lack sufficient foam, the foam dissipates too quickly or there is a combination of both. Accordingly, an instant dry soluble espresso coffee product is desirable which provides foam characteristics of a conventionally made espresso beverage.

Method of preparing a foaming soluble coffee powder


A sheet feed device includes a sheet storage portion, a pick-up unit, a sheet-feed separation unit, and an air blower. The sheet storage portion stores a stack of sheets. The pick-up unit picks up the sheets stored in the sheet storage portion. The sheet-feed separation unit separates and feeds one by one the sheets picked up by the pick-up unit. The air blower blows air against a lateral side face of the stack of sheets stored in the sheet storage portion. The pick-up unit picks up the sheets while the air blower blows air and before the sheet-feed separation unit starts to operate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine and a printer, and more specifically, to an air-blow sheet feed device used therein.
2. Description of the Background
Image forming apparatuses are used as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multi-functional devices combining several of the foregoing capabilities. For such image forming apparatuses or sheet conveying devices used therein, various sheet feed devices using air separation instead of frictional separation have been proposed to enhance sheet-separation performance with various different types of sheets.
For example, a conventional sheet feed device has a sheet press member that enables separation air blown from one side of the device to pass through the device to the opposite side.
Another conventional sheet feed device has a member for opening and closing an air passage near a point at which an air knife contacts loaded sheets, thus allowing the thickness of the air knife contacting the loaded sheets to be sequentially changed.
In still another conventional sheet feed device, blowing air is directed downward to an upper face of a sheet.
In further still another conventional sheet feed device, the shape of an air-blow nozzle is selectable or replaceable in accordance with sheet characteristics to separate various types of sheets, which range from thin paper to cardboard, having different properties.
However, such sheet-feed separating systems using air flow may depend largely on factors associated with sheet shape, such as elasticity and deflection. Although various improvements in nozzle shape or air blowing angle have been attempted, it is difficult to provide a quantitatively assured separation quality since its manufacturing process depends largely on manual operations.
When a compressor is used in such sheet-feed device, increases in power consumption and noise may need to be improved.
Furthermore, the adhesion force between sheets cannot be defined by only the friction coefficient between sheets. For example, the sheet adhesion force falls into a mechanical adhesion force due to burrs generated in cutting, a tacky adhesion force generated by changes in surface coat layers due to changes in temperature and humidity, and an electrostatic adhesion force as generated in an OHP (overhead projector) sheet.
Then, as the capacity of a sheet feed tray in such sheet feed device is increased, lower sheets receive more weight of upper sheets. As a result, the adhesion force between sheets is increased, thereby lowering the sheet-feed separation performance.
Other conventional sheet-feed mechanisms have been proposed in which a member for assisting the sheet separation function of a sheet-feed separation unit with airflow is separately provided independent of the sheet-feed separation unit. Although various improvements have been attempted on such mechanisms, a recent increase in sheet types may pose challenges for the reliability of such sheet-feed mechanisms.

Sheet feed device and image forming apparatus