An ink-jet recording material having on at least one surface of a base paper at least one ink-receiving layer comprising pigment and binder, with the ink-receiving layer having a rough texture specified by a surface roughness of at least 9.0 xcexcm when measured with a PARKER PRINT-SURF measurement device (PPS) under a soft packing condition of 5 kgf/cm2, a surface roughness of at least 7.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 10 kgf/cm2, a center-line average roughness (Ra) of at least 3.0 xcexcm and an Oken-type smoothness of at most 30 seconds, thereby creating an atmosphere of paintings or calligraphic works in the images printed thereon.

The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording material characterized by its rough texture. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a recording material that is rough in texture and highly suitable for ink-jet recording methods using pigment ink as well as dye ink.
The ink-jet recording method is a recording method of forming ink images on a recording material by directing jets of ink drops at the recording material by the use of various techniques. This recording method enables high-speed and full-color printing to be easily achieved with a low noise level. In recent years, therefore, the utilization of ink-jet recording method has been spreading at a rapid rate.
In the field of ink-jet recording, it has so far been preferred to use recording sheets having high smoothness, and so the recording sheets hitherto developed have high smoothness and glossiness comparable to those of photographic paper used for silver-salt photography. On the other hand, as in the cases of oil paintings, watercolor paintings and Japanese-style paintings and calligraphic works, images are drawn or painted on recording materials having low glossiness and rough texture (such as drawing paper, high-quality paperboard and Japanese writing paper), and thereby they can create their individual textures and tastes. However, it was impossible to reproduce such images by ink-jet recording processes without spoiling their original textures and tastes so far as highly smooth recording sheets hitherto developed were used.
The ink used for an ink-jet recording method generally contains a large amount of solvent, and so the recording materials to undergo ink-jet recording are required to have high ink absorbency. For imparting high ink absorbency to recording materials, it has commonly been carried out to provide an ink-absorbing layer on a support. When the support used is a recording material having a rough texture, such as drawing paper, high-quality paperboard or Japanese writing paper, and an ink-receiving layer having a sufficient ink absorption is provided thereon, the features of such a support material, inclusive of a rough texture and a low smoothness, are lost. Therefore, the recording material provided with such an ink-receiving layer has a problem of being unsuitable for the purpose of reproducing originals having a rough texture, such as oil paintings, watercolor paintings, Japanese-style paintings and calligraphic works.
In many cases, such originals as oil paintings, watercolor paintings, Japanese-style paintings and calligraphic works are displayed for interior or exterior decoration. Therefore, when it is aimed to reproduce paintings of the foregoing types and calligraphic works by the ink-jet recording process, recording materials are required to ensure not only high-density colors and excellent color reproduction but also high resistance to light and water in the images recorded.
In full-color inkjet recording, clear images are obtained mainly by the use of the so-called dye ink, which comprises at least three kinds of ink prepared by dissolving dyes of different colors in separate portions of a solvent respectively. This is because dyes used for the ink are superior in point of color reproduction. However, the dye ink has a problem with light resistance and water resistance. On the other hand, the so-called pigment ink lately introduced on the market comprises at least three kinds of ink prepared by dispersing minute-size pigments of different colors as main coloring ingredients into separate portions of a water-based solvent respectively, and so it is superior to the dye ink in light resistance and water resistance, but inferior in color reproduction. In particular, when the printing with pigment ink is made on traditional high-quality recording materials designed placing importance on ink absorption, satisfactory color reproduction cannot be made on such recording materials. Such being the case, it has been wished to develop recording materials capable of delivering both excellent color reproduction and high ink absorption when the pigment ink is used in inkjet recording.
For instance, in compliance with such a wish, Japanese Tokkai Hei 10-119417 (the term xe2x80x9cTokkaixe2x80x9d as used herein means an xe2x80x9cunexamined published patent applicationxe2x80x9d) proposes providing a layer capable of swelling in ink by containing a water-soluble resin on an ink penetration layer containing an inorganic filler. However, such an ink-swellable layer is slow in ink drying speed and tends to cause bleeding of ink dots, and so it has an image formation problem. In addition, multiply paper is disclosed as drawing paper in Japanese Tokkai Hei 9-143900, but the images printed thereon with pigment ink have insufficient color reproduction.
So we have been made intensive studies on recording materials suitable for reproducing paintings having a rough texture and calligraphic works of Japanese style by ink-jet recording processes. As a result, it has been found that good results can be obtained when an ink-receiving layer having a specified surface roughness and smoothness is provided on a base paper having certain surface roughness and smoothness, thereby achieving the invention.
A first object of the invention is therefore to provide a recording material having a rough texture which can impart the appearance and feel similar to those of oil paintings, watercolor paintings or Japanese-style paintings and calligraphic works to the images reproduced thereon by an ink-jet recording process.
A second object of the invention is to provide an ink-jet recording material which, when full-color printing is done thereon with an ink-jet printer using at least three kinds of ink containing pigments different in color as their respective main coloring ingredients, can absorb the ink in a satisfactory condition, can ensure high resistance to light and water, high color densities and excellent color reproduction in the color images printed, and besides, has suitability for formation of rough-texture images like paintings of various styles and Japanese-style calligraphic works.
The aforementioned objects are attained with an ink-jet recording material having on at least one surface of a base paper at least one ink-receiving layer comprising pigment and binder, with the ink-receiving layer having surface roughness parameters (a), (b) and (c) specified below and an Oken-type smoothness of at most 30 seconds when determined according to Japan TAPPI No. 5:
(a) a surface roughness of at least 9.0 xcexcm, measured with a PARKER PRINT-SURF measurement device (abbreviated as xe2x80x9cPPSxe2x80x9d hereinafter) under a soft packing condition of 5 kgf/cm2 according to ISO 8791-4:1992,
(b) a surface roughness of at least 7.0 xcexcm, measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 10 kgf/cm2 according to ISO 8791-4:1992, and
(c) a center-line average roughness (Ra) of at least 3.0 xcexcm, measured with a stylus-type roughness tester according to JIS B0651.
It is preferable for the foregoing ink-receiving layer to be formed by applying to a base paper a coating composition having a solids concentration of at most 25 weight % and a viscosity of at least 1,000 mPaxc2x7s, measured with a Brookfield type viscometer (abbreviated as xe2x80x9cB-type viscometerxe2x80x9d hereinafter). In particular, it is advantageous to use a base paper having a surface roughness of at least 9.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 5 kgf/cm2, a surface roughness of at least 7.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 10 kgf/cm2, a center-line average roughness of at least 3. 0 xcexcm and an Oken-type smoothness of at most 30 seconds.
By incorporating a water-soluble metal salt in the ink-receiving layer in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of pigment, the present recording material can provide satisfactory ink absorption and excellent color reproduction, especially in the ink-jet recording with pigment ink. When the water-soluble salt incorporated is at least one salt selected from the group consisting of aluminum salts, magnesium salts, sodium salts, potassium salts and zinc salts, the present recording material can ensure more excellent color reproduction in the images recorded in pigment ink, and besides, the incorporation of such salts is favorable because they can heighten the viscosity of a coating composition to reduce the amounts of other thickeners to be added to the composition.
The base paper used in the invention may be any paper as far as the main component thereof is pulp fibers prepared by cooking wood. Specifically, the base paper appropriately used in the invention can be drawing paper, high-quality paperboard, Japanese writing paper or Kraft paper, though it depends on the intended purpose. As the present support, however, drawing paper having high ink absorbency is preferred over the others.
The term xe2x80x9crough texturexe2x80x9d as used in the invention means a surface condition that glossiness is absent and minute asperity is present at the surface. Although it is difficult to express xe2x80x9crough texturexe2x80x9d numerically, we have found that the combination of measurement of surface roughness under no pressure by the use of a stylus-type roughness tester, measurement with an Oken-type smoothness tester under a weak pressure and measurements with a PARKER PRINT-SURF (PPS) measurement device under variable strong pressures can show a very high correlation with the visual observation result.
The surface of a base paper used in the invention preferably has a roughness of at least 9.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 5 kgf/cm2, a roughness of at least 7.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 10 kgf/cm2, a center-line average roughness (Ra) of at least 3.0 xcexcm when measured with a stylus-type roughness tester and an Oken-type smoothness of 30 seconds or below.
To the present recording material, it is advantageous in particular for the surface roughness of a base paper used therein to be from 9.3 to 11.0 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 5 kgf/cm2 and be from 7.7 to 10.9 xcexcm when measured with PPS under a soft packing condition of 10 kgf/cm2, for the center-line average roughness of the base paper to be from 3.2 to 9.0 xcexcm when measured with a stylus-type roughness tester and for the Oken-type smoothness of the base paper to be 20 seconds or below.
Additionally, the center-line average roughness values specified above are those measured with a stylus-type roughness tester according to JIS B0651, the Oken-type smoothness values specified above are those measured in accordance with JAPAN TAPPI No.5, and the surface roughness values are those measured with PPS according to ISO 8791-4:1992.
The higher the printer resolution, the lager amount of ink is struck into per-unit area of an ink-receiving layer, and so the greater ink absorption the ink-receiving layer is required to have. On the other hand, the present recording material is required to have a rough texture characterized by specific surface roughness and smoothness values. Therefore, it is favorable for ensuring both high ink absorbency and intended texture that the ink-receiving layer has a coverage ranging from 5 to 25 g/m2, particularly from 6 to 20 g/m2.
When the coverage of ink-receiving layer is smaller than 5 g/m2, the ink-receiving layer can have a rough texture with ease, but the ink absorption thereof becomes poor and thereby the images formed become blurred. More specifically, even when paper having high ink absorbency, such as filter paper, is used as a base paper, the ink absorption speed of the base paper is lower than that of the ink-receiving layer, so that a part of the ink applied remains without being absorbed by the base paper and the ink-receiving layer overflows with ink to markedly cause bleeding in image areas, particularly in image areas of mixed colors. Such undesirable bleeding is serious in the printing with pigment ink. On the other hand, when the ink-receiving layer has a coverage greater than 25 g/m2, it becomes difficult to adjust the texture of the recording material to the desired extent.
Examples of pigments usable in the present ink-receiving layer include precipitated calcium carbonate, ground calcium carbonate, kaolin, clay, talc, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, satin white, magnesium carbonate, magnesium silicate, calcium sulfate, calcium silicate, aluminum-silicate, aluminum hydroxide, alumina sol, colloidal alumina, alumina such as psuedo-boehmite or hydrated alumina, zeolite, silica, and plastic pigments. Of these pigments, synthetic silica is preferably used in the invention.
For securing the desired ink absorption while keeping the coverage of ink-receiving layer within the range in which the intended texture can be acquired, it is favorable to use a pigment having an oil absorption of 100 to 300 cc/100 g.
Examples of a binder usable in the present ink-receiving layer(s) include various kinds of starch, such as oxidized starch, esterified starch, enzyme-denatured starch and cationic starch, proteins such as casein and soybean protein, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, water-soluble high molecular compounds such as polyvinyl alcohols different in saponification degree and derivatives thereof, and water-dispersible high molecular compounds such as acrylic resin emulsions, vinyl acetate resin emulsions, vinylidene chloride resin emulsions, styrene-butadiene latex, acrylonitrile-butadiene latex and a polyester dispersion. Of course, these examples should not be construed as limiting the binders usable in the present ink-receiving layer, but any materials can be employed as the binder as far as they have strong adhesion to base paper and form films after drying. Such binders may be used alone or as amixture of two or more thereof. Additionally, it is advantageous to use polyvinyl alcohol as a binder in a coating composition for ink-receiving layer when the composition is coated with a bar blade coater, because the composition can have improved coating properties.
The suitable amount of binder added, though varies to some extent depending on the kind of a pigment used together, is in the range of 5 to 60 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 50 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of pigment. This is because the ink-receiving layer has insufficient surface strength when it contains a binder in an amount smaller than 5 parts by weight, while when the amount of binder added is larger than 60 parts by weight the ink absorption of the resulting layer becomes insufficient.
It is appropriate that the coating composition for forming the present ink-receiving layer containing a pigment and a binder as recited above as main ingredients have a solids concentration of 25 weight % or below and a viscosity of 1,000 mPaxc2x7s or above when measured with a B-type viscometer, although the values suitable therefor depend on the kinds of pigment and binder used, the intended coverage of the ink-receiving layer and the coating method adopted. More desirable results can be obtained when the coating composition has a solids concentration of 20 weight % or below and a viscosity of 2,000 mPaxc2x7s or above when measured with a B-type viscometer. When the solids concentration is higher than 25 weight % or the viscosity measured with a B-type viscometer is lower than 1,000 mPaxc2x7s, the ink-receiving layer formed sometimes fails to have the intended rough texture. Additionally, the viscosity measurement with a Brookfield viscometer is carried out according to JIS K7117.
When the coating composition used is highly viscous, it is difficult for the binder in the composition to penetrate into the base paper; as a result, the ink-receiving layer can be prevented from coming off in powder.
Therefore, it is advantageous for the present ink-receiving layer to be formed using a coating composition having as high viscosity as possible. However, the upper limit of the viscosity of a coating composition depends on the coating apparatus employed. For instance, the upper limit of the viscosity is 5,000 mPaxc2x7s in the case of a blade coater. When the viscosity thereof is higher than such a limit, the composition is hard to coat with a blade coater.
It is possible in the invention to control the viscosity of a coating composition by properly choosing the ratio between a pigment and a binder mixed in the coating composition, the molecular weight of the binder used and the addition of thickeners. However, the addition of a water-soluble metal salt to a coating composition is preferred in order to satisfy the conditions desired for the composition. This is because water-soluble metal salts have a thickening effect upon the coating composition and thereby make it easy for the coating composition to satisfy the aforementioned low solids concentration and high viscosity requirements. Further, in the case of printing with pigment ink, those salts produce the effect of fixing the pigment ink to the ink-receiving layer to enable formation of high-density images wherein colors are reproduced in a good condition. Suitable examples of such a water-soluble salt include aluminum salts, magnesium salts, sodium salts, potassium salts and zinc salts. Of these salts, aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate and potassium thiosulfate are preferred over the others. In particular, magnesium sulfate is used to advantage.
Additionally, the addition of aluminum sulfate to the ink-receiving layer tends to cause metallic gloss in printed areas when dye ink is used for recording.
The water-soluble metal salts as recited above are preferably added to the topmost ink-receiving layer of all ink-receiving layers provided on the base paper. The suitable amount of water-soluble salt(s) added is from 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 8 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of pigment in the topmost ink-receiving layer. When the amount of water-soluble salt(s) incorporated is smaller than 0.5 parts by weight, the water-soluble salt(s) cannot satisfactorily produce the effect thereof. On the other hand, when the amount of water-soluble metal salt(s) added is greater than 10 parts by weight, they may have bad influences upon ink absorption and other characteristics.
Additionally, the term xe2x80x9cpigment inkxe2x80x9d as used in the invention is intended to include not only unmixed pigment ink but also the so-called dye-pigment ink containing as coloring ingredients at least 50 weight % of pigment and less than 50 weight % of dye.
Pigment particles contained as coloring ingredients in pigment ink have certain sizes. When improvement in ink absorbency of a recording material is made by forming large pores (voids) in its ink-receiving layer, the coloring ingredients penetrate too deeply in the ink-receiving layer. As a result, neither intended color densities nor desired color reproduction can be attained. On the other hand, when the sizes of pores (voids) formed in the ink-receiving layer are reduced with the intention of enhancing color densities, the colored pigments of the ink remain in surface part of the ink-receiving layer to produce favorable effect on color densities. However, the minute pores are filled readily with pigment particles to impede ink absorption, and the colored pigments confined within a very thin surface region of the ink-receiving layer become a cause of lowering rubbing resistance of the recorded images. Therefore, it has so far been difficult to ensure both satisfactory color reproduction and high ink absorption in ink-jet recording with pigment ink. On the other hand, as mentioned above, the incorporation of water-soluble metal salts in an ink-receiving layer enables improvements in both color reproduction and ink absorption.
In addition, various additives, such as an antifoaming agent, a defoaming agent, a pigment dispersing agent, a release agent, a blowing agent, a pH controlling agent, a surface-sizing agent, a coloring dye, a coloring pigment, a fluorescent dye, a UV absorbent, an antioxidant, a light stabilizer, an antiseptic, a waterproof agent, a dye fixing agent, a surfactant and a wet paper strength increasing agent, can be added in appropriate amounts to the ink-receiving layers so far as the addition thereof does not impair the effects of the invention.
The ink-receiving layer(s) can be provided on a support by using a known coating apparatus, such as a blade coater, a roll coater, an air knife coater, a bar coater, a curtain coater, a gravure coater, a gate roll coater and a short dwell coater. As appropriate ranges of viscosity and solids concentration are different from one coater to another, the solids concentration and viscosity of a coating composition used are adjusted for the coater used so as to ensure the desired rough texture on the recording material surface formed.
In the invention, it is preferable to use a blade coater because the ink-receiving layer formed can have higher surface strength. Reasons why the blade coater imparts higher surface strength to the coating surface than the other coaters cannot be explained clearly. However, it can be supposed that, in a blade coating process, the coverage is adjusted by pressing a metal blade or rod against the coating surface after the coating composition is applied to base paper, so that pressure is exerted on the base paper and the coating composition to enhance the adhesion of the ink-receiving layer to the base paper. In addition, the blade coater is well suited for coating highly viscous coating compositions.
While coaters of the type which perform the coverage adjustment under no pressure (e.g., a curtain coater) or weak pressure (e.g., an air knife coater) enable ink-receiving layers to have a rough texture, the ink-receiving layers formed thereby are subject to deterioration in surface strength. Further, these coaters require the coating compositions to have low viscosity, compared with the blade coater. Therefore, the coating compositions are reduced in solids concentration. As a result, the binder component alone becomes easy to penetrate into base paper during the drying process, and the thus formed ink-receiving surface tends to come off in powder.
In addition, calendered finish may be given to the ink-receiving layer surface by using various calenders, such as a machine calender, a super calender and a soft calender, independently or in combination to the extent that the rough texture of the recording material is not impaired thereby.
The entire disclosure of all application, patents and publications, cited above and below, and of corresponding Japanese application No. 2000-025981, filed Feb. 3, 2000, are hereby incorporated by reference.
Now, specific constitutions of recording materials according to the invention are illustrated by reference to the following examples, and characteristics of the present recording materials are explained by putting them in contrast with those of comparative recording materials. However, it should be understood that these examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Unless otherwise noted, all xe2x80x9cpartsxe2x80x9d and all xe2x80x9c%xe2x80x9d are by weight in the following examples and comparative examples. Additionally, the amounts of hydrated metal salts set forth below are on a anhydrous basis.
The coating composition samples for forming ink-receiving layers are examined for viscosity according to the method defined in JIS K7117. Specifically, the viscosity measurement is carried out using a BM-type Viscometer (a kind of Brookfield type viscometer, made by TOKIMEC Co., Ltd.) and a rotor No.3 or No.4, and adjusting the temperature of each coating composition sample to 23xc2x0 C. and the rotor revolving speed to 60 r.p.m. After a one-minute lapse from the start of the viscosity measurement, the viscosity value of each sample is determined.
Performance evaluations of ink-jet recording materials prepared in Examples and Comparative Examples respectively are made using the following methods.
(1) Surface Roughness
(a) Visual Observation of Texture:
The texture of each recording material sample is observed visually, and evaluated by the following criteria.
⊚: Very rough in texture
∘: Rough in texture
xcex94: Somewhat smooth, but rough in texture
X: Smooth and free of rough texture
(b) Surface Roughness Measurements by PPS:
In accordance with the method defined in ISO 8791-4, surface roughness values are measured using a PPS measurement device, PPS-78, made by H. E. MESSMER Co., under the two conditions of 5 kgf/cm2 and 10 kgf/cm2.
(c) Surface Roughness Measurement by Stylus-Type Roughness Tester:
In accordance with the method defined in JIS B0651, center-line average roughness (Ra) is measured using a stylus-type surface roughness tester (Model SE-3C, made by K.K. Kosaka Kenkyusho) under conditions that the cut-off value is 0.8 and the average roughness-measuring distance is 8 mm.
(d) Oken-Type Smoothness Measurement:
Surface smoothness is measured using an Oken-type smoothness tester (Model KY-5, made by Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.) in accordance with the method defined in Japan TAPPI No. 5.
(2) Recording Tests Using Dye Ink
The recording tests using dye ink are carried out by recording established solid and image patterns on each recording material sample by means of an ink-jet printer, Model PM-770C (trade name, a product of Seiko Epson Corp.), and evaluated by the following criteria.
(a) Color Reproduction:
The black, cyan, magenta and yellow solid patterns are examined for their respective densities by means of a Macbeth densitometer, RD915 (made by Macbeth Co.). Color reproduction of each sample is graded by the sum total of measured values of those color densities.
⊚: 6.5  less than sum total of measured values
∘: 5.8xe2x89xa6sum total of measured valuesxe2x89xa66.5
xcex94: 5.0xe2x89xa6sum total of measured values less than 5.8
X: sum total of measured values  less than 5.0
(b) Ink Absorption:
On each sample is printed a pattern made up of areas solidly colored in red (mixture of magenta ink and yellow ink) and those solidly colored in green (mixture of cyan ink and yellow ink) which are arranged so as to border on one another. And the extent of bleed on the borders is evaluated by visual observation according to the following criteria. Additionally, the bleed on the border between red and green areas has a black color, so the observation thereof enables clear-cut evaluation.
⊚: Absolutely no bleed is observed on the borders
∘: Practically no bleed is observed on the borders
xcex94: A little bleed is observed on the borders
X: Considerable bleed is observed on the borders
(3) Recording Tests Using Pigment Ink
The recording tests using pigment ink are carried out by recording established solid and image patterns on each recording material sample by means of an ink-jet printer, HP DesignJet 2500 CP (made by HEWLETT PACKARD CO.), and evaluated by the following criteria.
(a) Color Reproduction:
The black, cyan, magenta and yellow solid patterns are examined for their respective densities by means of a Macbeth densitometer, RD915 (made by Macbeth Co.). Color reproduction of each sample is graded by the sum total of measured values of those color densities.
⊚: 6.0 less than sum total of measured values
∘: 5.0xe2x89xa6sum total of measured valuesxe2x89xa66.0
xcex94: 4.0xe2x89xa6sum total of measured values less than 5.0
X: sum total of measured values less than 4.0
(b) Ink Absorption:
A pattern made up of areas solidly colored in red (mixture of magenta ink and yellow ink) and areas solidly colored in green (mixture of cyan ink and yellow ink) which are arranged so as to border on one another is printed on each sample. And the extent of bleed on the borders is evaluated by visual observation according to the following criteria. Additionally, the bleed on the border between red and green areas has a black color, so the observation thereof enables clear-cut evaluation.
⊚: Absolutely no bleed is observed on the borders
∘: Practically no bleed is observed on the borders
xcex94: A little bleed is observed on the borders
X: Considerable bleed is observed on the borders


A method and an apparatus for touch-free testing of the insulating ability of an electric insulation on an electric conductor, where the testing item (8), the conductor, continuously is moved between a system of testing electrodes (2, 4), where the electric current path to the surface of the testing item is established by means of ionized atmospheric air, ion cloud or corona, between the testing electrodes (2, 4), made by a high frequenced high voltage generator (14) with low effect, where the testing item (8) is moved through the center of the electrode system (2, 4), that defects in the insulation are determined by means of a D.C. voltage established in an electric serial connection with the ion cloud, so that insulation defects in the testing item (8) will cause an electric current through the electric charge carrier in the form of ions, and that the electric current is registered by a current measuring circuit (18).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for testing of the insulating ability and of an insulation on an electric conductor, such as an enameled wire or a cable, and of the type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,541 discloses an apparatus, where the difference of voltage for the testing is established between the electric conductor and a mechanical arrangement with rolls; and from U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,578 it is furthermore known to use hanging chains to form connection to the conductor, which insulation has to be tested. Furthermore it is known to transfer the testing voltage to the conductor by means of metal balls or the like, through which the conductor is moved.
These methods have in common that an insulation defect on the conductor, for instance in the form of a crack or a hole, will be registered as a voltage flashover. The voltage has to be chosen so that it does not exceed the puncture voltage of the insulating material, but is larger than the puncture voltage in atmospheric air at the same distance as the thickness of the insulating material.
It is furthermore known to use a contact wheel, where the wire to be insulation tested extends in an angular notch along the periphery of the wheel. That is that puncture may only occur where the sides of the notch touch the wire. An arrangement, where the wheel is substituted by a conducting media, such as salt water or mercury, which is known from the description in Danish patent application No. 2281/88, does not have this defect; but causes pollution of the wire to an unacceptable degree, which requires a subsequent cleaning process. The liquid may be substituted by a metal powder or by metal balls. This will not cause pollution of the surface of the wire; but the surface of the wire may be damaged by grinding.
WO 90/05311 furthermore discloses a test method making use of a superimposed high A.C. voltage on the testing voltage, whereby a puncture may be obtained where the insulation layer is defective. This requires that the superimposed voltage is adjusted to a voltage between the puncture strength for air, or in this case a gas which ionizes easily, Argon, and for the measured insulating material. However, in this case ionizing only occurs if a defect in the insulation occurs.
DD-A-209 912 and DD-A-209 913 discloses a test method, where the conducting media also may be replaced by a sufficient quantity of electric charge carriers, ions, which over a suitable axial distance is arranged to surround the wire. Such an electric conducting cloud may be a plasma cloud, or ionized gaz. A plasma cloud generated by a lighted electric arc is capable of carrying an electric current, by ionizing of for instance a noble gas between the electrodes. An electric arc is aggressive, both towards the electrode materials, the insulating materials and in this connection the item tested, due to the very high temperature to maintain the arc, and thereby the ionizing. This results in unfavourable properties in he form of sporadic damage of the test item and the insulating material and poor durability of the electrodes. However the test method disclosed in DD-A-209 912 is simplified by obtaining a varying division of the supplied voltage and with it a potential displacement between the light arc and the test voltage by means of an ohmic voltage divider.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,461 discloses, that the ionizing also may be obtained by continuously discharging of sparks; but to secure continuous ionizing it requires high power, 150-800 watts at 100-600 Hz, and it therefore causes that the electrodes to be quickly worn down.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,165 furthermore discloses, that the ionizing of atmospheric air also may be provided by means of a radioactive isotope, which may establish a current through the atmospheric air. Due to environmental reasons is not expedient, and requires intensive maintenance.
EP-A-0 264 482 discloses the use of laserbeams to generate the charge carriers, and EP-A-0 367 379 furthermore discloses, that electron emitting materials, such as chemical compounds of barium or calcium may emit electrons--but only by heating to high temperatures.
The aforementioned six methods have the important advantage, that the insulating material and the wire are not touched mechanical, which is why there is neither wear, tearing or physical damage to the surface of the insulation. Hardening of the metal core of the item, which normally may happen by mechanical bending around rolls or the like, does not occur. Such hardening is very unfavorable such as, for example, copper wire for spools in electric machines etc.

Method and apparatus for testing the insulating ability of an insulation on an electric conductor


An object of the present invention is to increase efficiency in review work by appropriately narrowing down review work that verifies shapes of visual defects relating to an enormous amount of defects detected by a visual inspecting apparatus with high sensitivity. In order to appropriately extract defect information from an inspecting apparatus, a filter function and a sampling function are prepared by unitizing the functions. As a result, defects as review targets are narrowed down and extracted automatically using the filter function and the sampling function in combination. In addition, sequencing the filter conditions and the sampling conditions and registering the sequence enables automatic filtering and sampling on the basis of information on a wafer as a review target, and thereby only defect information on the review target is extracted.

The present invention relates to review work for observing products in process and parts, and more particularly to a system for supporting review work that verifies outward appearance of dust particles and pattern defects on surfaces of a semiconductor wafer, a photo mask, a magnetic disk, and the like.
In semiconductor manufacturing processes, a dust particle and a pattern defect on a surface of a wafer cause a product defect. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify dust particles and pattern defects (hereinafter referred to as visual defect), and to continuously monitor whether or not there are problems in production equipment and production environment. Moreover, by observing a shape of the visual defect, it is necessary to verify whether or not a visual defect will exert critical influence on a product.
Because of microminiaturization relating to a semiconductor device, capability and performance enough to detect a minuter visual defect are required for an inspecting apparatus. Responding to such request, an inspecting apparatus, which can detect a visual defect with high sensitivity, is emerging. Review work for observing a shape of a visual defect on the basis of an enormous amount of defect information extracted by such an inspecting apparatus is important for improvement in yields.
Conventionally, such review work for observing a shape was often performed by manual operation. Because of it, there were the following problems: positions of defects as review targets deviated depending on an observer; and defects, which should be reviewed, were not uniformly determined. Recently, for the purpose of solving the problems, the following techniques have been introduced: ADR (Automatic Defect Review); and ADC (Automatic Defect Classification).
As regards inventions that improve efficiency in defect review, those disclosed in {circle around (1)} Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-92094, {circle around (2)} Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 9-191032, {circle around (3)} Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-214462, {circle around (4)} Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-332071, and the like, are known.
Because sensitivity of an inspecting apparatus becomes higher, detection of a minute defect becomes possible. As a result of it, the number of detected defects is enormously growing. Therefore, it is impossible to observe all of the defects one by one during the so-called review work for verifying a shape of a visual defect. In order to use the automation technique described above effectively, a technique for appropriately extracting information on defects as review targets from defect information, which has been obtained from an inspecting apparatus, is required.
The invention, which was disclosed in each of the official gazettes, is not enough to increase efficiency in the review work.


A medical needle comprising a flat puncturing part having front and back surfaces that are parallel to each other, wherein the puncturing part comprises a pair of side-surface inclined parts and provided at tips of respective side surfaces and a front-surface inclined part provided at a tip of the front surface, the pair of side-surface inclined parts and the front-surface inclined part each extend in an inclined manner relative to a puncturing direction so as to be tapered, and the tip of the front-surface inclined part adjoins a blade edge part formed by adjoining the tips of the pair of side-surface inclined parts and a depression is formed in the front surface of the puncturing part so as to partially indent the pair of side-surface inclined parts and the front-surface inclined part.

To date, with respect to medical needles for puncturing a living body such as a human body, research has been made on configurations for reducing pain (luring puncturing. For example, the medical needle disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has ascending regions and descending regions whose cross-sectional areas increase or decrease with a predetermined regularity according to the distance from the tip. The frictional force between the needle and surrounding cells, which increases as the ascending region at the furthest tip penetrates a living body, is reduced due to the subsequent passage of the descending region, and it is thus possible to prevent damage to the surrounding cells and lessen pain.


A method of selectively leaching a metal such as nickel from an ore or ore processing intermediate comprising the metal and cobalt. The ore or ore processing intermediate is contacted with an acidic leach solution comprising an amount of an oxidising agent sufficient to oxidise a major portion of the cobalt to thereby cause it to be stabilised in the solid phase while a major portion of the metal is dissolved for subsequent recovery.

Nickel is a valuable commodity and is predominantly sourced from either sulphide or laterite mineral deposits. Large high grade sulphide deposits are increasingly rare and so the processing of laterite ores is predicted to become the dominant source of the metal.
A common method of treating laterite ores is to leach the solids in acid. Acid leaching is generally followed by impurity precipitation, commonly achieved by adding limestone. Following impurity precipitation, nickel and cobalt are usually recovered from the aqueous solution together by either mixed sulphide precipitation, or mixed hydroxide precipitation. Mixed hydroxide precipitation is a relatively recent large scale industrial technology achieved by adding a basic chemical such as magnesia, lime, limestone or sodium hydroxide to the leach solution. The mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) consists of mostly nickel hydroxide but also contains valuable cobalt hydroxides and various other impurities. The MHP represents a more value concentrated product in that the approximately 1% nickel and 0.1% cobalt present in the original laterite ore are upgraded substantially in terms of their relative amounts in the MHP. Since the MHP has such a high valuable metal content, the feasibility of operating a centralized nickel and cobalt refinery increases. This is because the transportation costs for the upgraded intermediate product would be a fraction of that for the as-mined ore.
The MHP may be further processed in a number of ways. For example, it may be added to the melt of an iron smelter in order to alloy the contained nickel with iron. This process is not suitable for MHP with significant cobalt content as the valuable cobalt is not recovered.
Another major processing route for refining MHP is by leaching the material in an ammonia/ammonium carbonate solution. The nickel and cobalt dissolve in the ammonia solution to form ammonia complexes. Nickel is then extracted into an organic solvent to separate the nickel from the cobalt. The extracted nickel is then stripped from the organic phase and precipitated using steam. This forms a basic nickel carbonate which is then calcined to form nickel oxide which can be sold as a product in its own right or reduced using hydrogen gas to form nickel metal compacts. The cobalt is subsequently precipitated from the aqueous phase as a cobalt sulphide using hydrogen sulphide gas. This cobalt sulphide is then re-leached in acid, passed through multiple stages of solvent extraction and ion exchange to remove impurities, then switched to the aqueous ammonia system and concentrated before being precipitated as a pure cobalt oxy-hydroxide by steam stripping.
Such prior art approaches are generally either relatively energy intensive, do not return optimal nickel and/or cobalt recoveries, require an excessive number of processing stages or are sensitive to the presence of other impurities such as aluminium, iron and chromium.
There is a need for an improved method of recovering nickel from nickel containing ores. It would be desirable to provide for a straightforward separation of nickel from cobalt in MHP and enable an efficient recovery of both commodities.
Further, although the discussion above relates to the recovery of nickel and its separation from at least cobalt in a nickel and cobalt containing ore it will be appreciated that there is a need for the effective separation of a range of metals, in a similar manner, from the cobalt they are naturally associated with.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of ore processing using mixture including acidic leach solution and oxidizing agent


A process for producing a high gasoline permeation resistant plastic blend container, comprising preparing a modified polyamide by modifying polyamide with a compatibilizer precursor and then laminar blend blow-molding using a cheap conventional blow-molding machine from a composition of a polyolefin incorporated with a modified polyamide (MPA) into a bottle. The invention relates further to a high gasoline permeation resistant container obtained according to the above-described process, characterized in that it consists of a MPA laminar structure within a HDPE matrix, and has a gasoline permeation resistance of less than 5 vol. % of the total gasoline content thereof after storage at 40xc2x0 C. for one year.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of methods of production of plastic containers, and containers produced by such methods. More particularly, the invention pertains to methods of production of plastic containers which are resistant to organic liquids and hydrocarbons such as gasoline, and containers produced by these methods.
2. Description of Related Art
Gasoline is liable to permeate out of its container. Current gasoline containers such as, for example, the common storage container and oil boxes used in a car, motor, mower, and the like, are mostly produced from material composed of high density polyethylene (HDPE) having low cost but excellent processability, as well as physical and chemical properties.
Unfortunately, HDPE containers, when used for storing gasoline, are subject to serious gasoline permeation that results in problems associated with environmental protection and public health, as well as a great loss of resources. Recently, various approaches have been used successfully for improving resistance of gasoline permeation, for example, by using HDPE that has been subjected to surface fluorination (J. P Hobbs., M. Anand. And B. A. Campion, in Barrier Polymer and Structures, W. J. Koros Ed., Chapter 15, American Chemical Society, Washington (1990)) or sulfonation (W. E. Walles, in Barrier Polymer and Structures, W. J. Koros Ed., Chapter 14, American Chemical Society Washington (1990)), or using a multi-layer co-extrusion/laminar blend blow-molding process (S. Willian, Chemtech August 481 (1988)).
However, surface treatment approaches may have several disadvantages such as process risk, high pollution, high investment or difficulty in recycling the waste. On the other hand, multi-layer co-extrusion method has disadvantages of complicates in the blow-molding machine, high capital investment, and difficulty in recycling the waste. On contrary to the above-mentioned two processes, in addition to the absence of the above-described disadvantages, the laminar blend blow-molding has advantages as simple processing in that a traditional PE blow-molding machine can be used, capability of recycling and re-use of the waste, as well as lower investment over the above-mentioned two processes. Therefore, the laminar blend blow-molding technique has attracted the interest of the container manufacturer and is developing rapidly in recent years.
Nevertheless, the technical level of the laminar blend blow-molding is very high in that the parallel distribution of the growing polyamide laminar must be controlled effectively, and that, at present, it can be carried out only through using a special designed and expensive patented blow-molding machine from Dupont. The concept of lamination blow molding has been disclosed in a few patents such as ROC Pat. No. 53,999(1992) as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,942 (1983) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,513 (1990). However, PA is incompatible with PE, and the interface adherence between them is poor, such that it is often necessary to incorporate CP into PE/PA during the processing to increase the interface adherence of PA to HDPE.
Polyolefin has characteristics of low cost, low weight, good environmental stress cracking, excellent compact resistance, low moisture absorption, easy processability and flexibility in product designing. It thus becomes the most commonly used packaging materials. However, when used for packaging organic liquids and vapors, it has often suffered from its low permeation resistance.
Various prior art techniques for improving the permeation resistance of the polyolefin has been proposed, such as those described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,811,468; 3,862,284; 3,998,180; 4,081,574; 4,142,032; 4,394,333; and 4,467,075, wherein processes for surface treating plastic film and container with fluorine or bromine gases to improve effectively permeation resistance with respect to the solvent but not to the vapor were disclosed.
Further, JK No.55-80439 disclosed a process for treating surface of polyolefin article with a fluorocarbon plasma; U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,457, JK No.59-103726 and JK No.59-103727 disclosed processes for co-extruding six-layer structure of polypropylene/adhesive layer/ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer/adhesive layer/regenerated material/polypropylene and then blow-molding by using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOS) as the barrier layer, characterized in that the product thus produced can resist effectively the permeation of gas.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,857,754 and 3,975,463 disclosed production of a resistant 3-layer film by blending homogeneously a polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and carboxylated thermoplastic resin with high shear equipment. As the technique to improve the permeation resistance of polyolefin with polyamide, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,667 disclosed a method for improving a blend of polyolefin/polyamide by thermal treatment.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,373,222, 3,373,223 and 3,373,224 disclosed the use of a carboxylated polyethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer as the dispersant for improving the barrier property and the mechanical strength. Unfortunately, these patents had emphasized on the technique for the preparation of homogeneous polyolefin/polyamide blend, and can not improve effectively the barrier property of the polyolefin.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,410,482, 4,416,942 and 4,444,817 disclosed a heterogeneous laminar blend that is composed of a polyamide distributed within a polyolefin matrix containing a compatibilizer, and is characterized in that it had a high permeation resistance to hydrocarbon compounds. The disadvantage thereof relied on that, since the preparation of said blend comprised a dry blend step of compositions, a special extrusion equipment must be used and further, high shear force and high energy should be avoided carefully to complete the melt procession.
ROC No. 53,999 disclosed the preparation of a modified polyamide by reacting extruding aliphatic polyamide and a semi-aromatic polyamide with compatibilizer in a conventional extrusion equipment, wherein a blend of polyamide/modifiedpolyamide was produced. Unfortunately, the degree of improvement for permeation resistance could not satisfy the requirement of the environmental protection law with respect to the leakage, and therefore was unfavorable to its commercial production.
In view of the forgoing, the inventor has done extensive study and finds that a PE/MPA blend bottle can be produced by selecting appropriate composition of CP and PA, preparing modified polyamide (MPA) using a twin-screw extruder, incorporating properly said MPA into PE and finally, producing said PE/MPA blend bottle using a conventional non-expensive blow-molding machine. The PE/MPA blend bottle thus produced can achieve a high gasoline permeation resistant effect that only less than 5 vol. % of the content will permeate out of the bottle after storing at 40xc2x0 C. for one year. This effect is several-fold higher than that achieved by prior art. Further, the process according to the invention can be carried out in a conventional cheap blow-molding machine instead of the patented one so that it has an advantage of low production cost.
The invention relates to a process for producing a high gasoline permeation resistant plastic blend container, comprising preparing a modified polyamide by modifying polyamide with a compatibilizer precursor and then laminar blend blow-molding using a cheap conventional blow-molding machine from a composition of a polyolefin incorporated with a modified polyamide (MPA) into a bottle. The invention relates further to a high gasoline permeation resistant container obtained according to the above-described process, characterized in that it consists of a MPA laminar structure within a HDPE matrix, and has a gasoline permeation resistance of less than 5 vol. % of the total gasoline content thereof after storage at 40xc2x0 C. for one year.

Method of making a high gasoline permeation resistant plastic container


A method of manufacturing silicon nitride sintered bodies comprising the steps of preparing a powder consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of silicon nitride, 2.about.15 parts by weight of a rare earth element, 0.5.about.15 parts by weight of a Zr compound and 0.3.about.5 parts by weight of SiC, molding the thus prepared powder and firing the resulting molding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing high density silicon nitride sintered bodies having an excellent mechanical strength at high temperatures.
2. Related Art Statement
Up to this time, known various methods have been known for manufacturing high density silicon nitride sintered bodies having an excellent mechanical strength. As for one example, there is disclosed, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-25677, a method of manufacturing high density silicon nitride sintered bodies wherein a powder consisting essentially of powdery raw materials of silicon nitride and Y, Mg, Zr as sintering aids is formed to obtain a formed body, and the formed body is fired.
According to the known method mentioned above, it is possible to obtain the high density silicon nitride sintered bodies, but it is not possible to achieve a complete crystallization of an intergranular glass phase which affects a mechanical strength at high temperatures. Therefore, there is a drawback such that it is not possible to obtain certainly the silicon nitride sintered bodies having the excellent mechanical strength even at high temperatures.
In order to eliminate the drawback mentioned above, if a reheating treatment technique for crystallizing the intergranular glass phase disclosed in for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-50944, is applied to the above silicon nitride sintered bodies, it is possible to obtain the silicon nitride sintered bodies having the excellent mechanical strength even at high temperatures. However, in this case, since the reheating treatment must be performed after firing the formed body, there is a drawback such that a manufacturing cost of the silicon nitride sintered bodies is increased.

Method of manufacturing high density silicon nitride sintered bodies


Methods and apparatus are disclosed related to classifying illuminated objects. A computing device can receive a sequence of images including first and second images. The first image can be of an environment of a vehicle taken at a first time. The second image can be of the environment of the vehicle taken at a second time. The vehicle can include a light source that illuminates a portion of the environment. The first and second times can differ. The computing device can detect an object having a first size and a first brightness in the first image. The computing device can detect the object having a second size and a second brightness in the second image. The computing device can classify the object based on a brightness difference between the first brightness and second brightness and a size difference between the first size and second size.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Some vehicles are configured to operate in an autonomous mode in which the vehicle navigates through an environment with little or no input from a driver. Such an autonomous vehicle (AV) typically includes one or more sensors that are configured to sense information about the environment. The AV can use the sensed information to navigate through the environment. For example, if the sensors sense that the AV is approaching an obstacle, the vehicle can navigate around the obstacle. The AV can operate in various weather and lighting conditions, such as, but not limited to, days, nights, good visibility conditions, and/or reduced visibility conditions.

Using object appearance changes due to high reflectivity for feature detection


The invention pertains to low profile additives (“LPA”) comprising branched polymers having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least about 20,000 grams/mole and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least about 3,000 grams/mole and methods for making the LPAs. The invention further concerns compositions comprising LPAs synthesized from one or more difunctional monomers and one or more branching agents. Also, disclosed are thermosettable resinous compositions and molded articles comprising the LPAs.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to low profile additives ("LPAs") comprising branched polymers and methods for making the LPAs. The invention further concerns thermosettable resinous compositions, e.g., sheet molding compound ("SMC") and bulk molding compounds ("BMC"), comprising the LPAs.
The Related Art
Polyester resins and vinyl ester resins may be used for thermosetting resin materials. Thermosetting unsaturated polyester resins are generally prepared by reacting dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides with glycols. Thermosetting vinyl ester resins are typically the reaction product of about equal amounts of a polyepoxide and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. When applied to thermosetting compositions, polyester and vinyl ester resins may be used in combination with fibrous reinforcement and inert fillers to manufacture composite structures, such as SMC and BMC. Such composite structures may be made by pre-mixing the resin, filler, fibrous reinforcement, and other additives to form the molding compound. For SMC, in particular, the resin, filler, initiator, and other additives can be mixed to form a paste, which is then sandwiched between two rolling polyethylene sheets, one of which is covered with chopped fiberglass reinforcements. Resinous paste wets the fiberglass and the whole mixture gets compacted while passing through a series of calendering rolls to form the SMC. BMC, on the other hand, is prepared by premixing resin, filler, and other additives to form a molding paste. Fibrous reinforcements are then added to the paste and mixed to form the BMC. The molding compound then can be formed into the desired shape and cured in a heated, matched metal die.
Chemical thickening of the relatively low viscosity liquid resin, e.g., with a Group II metal oxide or hydroxide and water, to form a high viscosity gel after the resin has been mixed with all other ingredients in the molding compound can be applied in the manufacture of SMC or BMC. This thickening or B-staging has several advantages. Unthickened molding compounds are sticky masses, which are difficult to handle. After B-staging, they are firm to very high viscosity solid-like gels whose surfaces are relatively dry, and may appear like leathery sheets, like in the case of SMC. In this form, the compound can be handled easily. During the molding operation, the molding compound flows within the die set to fill the die cavity. The increased viscosity of B-staged molding compounds inhibits segregation of the various components of the molding compound during flow and promotes compositional uniformity of the composite over the entire volume of the structure.
Thermosetting resins shrink in volume during 'cure'. This shrinkage can cause warpage, internal stress build-up, dimensional changes, and poor surface cosmetics when reinforced composite objects are made from these thermosetting resins. Thermoplastic additives, typically referred to as LPAs, are known to reduce 'cure shrinkage' and associated problems. There are several types of polymers that may be used as LPAs, including saturated polyesters, polystyrene, poly(methylmethacrylate), poly(vinylacetate), and the like. Saturated polyester LPAs are generally linear polymers made primarily from aliphatic dibasic acids or anhydrides, like adipic acid or succinic anhydride, and diols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or diethylene glycol. Linear LPAs made with high levels of aromatic diacids, like various phthalic diacids and anhydrides, and mixtures of symmetrical and asymmetrical diols, as well as those prepared with the addition of trimellitic anhydride, are also disclosed in the art.

Branched low profile additives and methods of production

Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC


In a first aspect, the present invention relates to the use of xenon in the preparation of a medicament for providing analgesia in a newborn subject and/or a fetal subject. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of providing analgesia in a newborn subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of xenon. In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of providing analgesia in a fetal subject, the method comprising administering to the mother of the fetal subject a therapeutically effective amount of xenon for both the mother and fetal subject.

The human fetus and newborn are known to experience pain sensation [Anand K J S et al, New Engl J Med 1987; 317:1321-1329; Fitzgerald M, Br Med Bull 1991;47:667-75]. However, of greater concern is that untreated pain in the newborn may adversely affect development of the central nervous system resulting in long-term physiological and psychological consequences [Taddio A et al, Lancet 1997; 349:599-603; Graham YP et al, Dev Psychopath 1999; 11:545-565; Anand K J S et al, Biol Neonate 2000; 77:69-82; Ruda M A et al, Science 2000; 289:628-630]. As a consequence, appropriate analgesic therapy is even more important in the anaesthetic management of the very young than in adults.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been used for clinical anaesthesia in the young and the old for more than 150 years and remains the most commonly used anaesthetic gas. N2O usage in the paediatric surgical patient is based upon the assumption that its anaesthetic and analgesic efficacy matches that seen in adults [Eger E L, Nitrous Oxide/N2O; Elsevier, New York, 1985]. However, the expectation that efficacious analgesic drugs in adults will exert the same beneficial effects in neonates has been challenged by our recent report that nitrous oxide (N2O) is ineffective in neonatal rats because the immature pain pathways cannot activate the descending inhibitory pathway in response to nociceptive stimuli [Fitzgerald M et al, Brain Res 1986;389:261-70; van Praag H, Frenk H, Dev Brain Res 1991;64:71-76]. Experiments have shown that N2O lacks antinociceptive effects against thermal [Fujinaga M et al, Anesth Analg 2000; 91:6-10] and inflammatory [Ohashi Y et al, Pain 2002; 100:7-18] stimulation in rats under 3 weeks of age. If extrapolatable to humans, this would mean that N2O is ineffective as an analgesic agent in subjects up to and including the toddler stage. A similar rationale was thought to apply to the use of xenon as an analgesic agent.
The present invention seeks to provide an analgesic agent capable of providing effective pain relief in newborn and/or fetal subjects which alleviates one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Analgesic agent for newborn or fetal subjects


A cap element mainly composed of a three-layer fabric, the three-layer fabric member including: a mesh-like front surface fabric; a waterproof back surface fabric; and a non-woven fabric formed of water absorptive high molecular fibers, which is sealed between the front surface fabric and the back surface fabric. At least one of the front surface fabric and the back surface fabric may be subjected to ultraviolet ray shielding treatment, or composed of a knitted or woven fabric formed of fibers of a high molecular polymer containing an inorganic material capable of absorbing ultraviolet rays and reflecting the heat rays of the sun.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling cap element used as a hair band attached to a head portion and a cap for preventing the rays of the sun in hot outdoors or for performing works comfortably and safely in a high temperature/high heat work field, or used as an inner cap attached inside a helmet.
2. Prior Art
In a welding work field applied with high heat; a high temperature work field for iron-making, casting or power equipment construction; an outdoor work field under the blazing sun for fork lift work, civil engineering work or agricultural work; or outdoor sports, hiking and sport watching, to suppress sweating, a towel dipped with water has been attached on a head portion or a sweating preventive material has been attached in the cap. In an environment at a temperature of 30.degree. C. or more, however, the towel containing water generally loses the cooling effect for a short period of time, for example, from 5 to 10 min. Moreover, such a towel is undesirable in terms of appearance and safety.
In the case where a strong cooling effect has been required, a band-like bag enclosing a gel-like cooling agent has been sometimes used. It is frozen in a refrigerator before being attached to a head portion. In this cap element, however, the sustained time of the cooling agent is restrictive, and the cooling agent must be frozen again for re-use. Accordingly, in the outdoors with no refrigerator, such a cooling agent cannot be actually re-used, and even when being frozen, it takes a lot of time to freeze the cooling agent, and thereby the cap element cannot be immediately re-used.


To an original plate holder 16 to which an original pattern plate 15 is set in ordinary exposure, a transmittable plate 20 having a concave-shaped concave portion 22 formed at a middle of a quartz glass plate is set in self-cleaning and irradiated with ultraviolet light emitted from a light source 11. The ultraviolet light is diffused through the concave lens of the transmittable plate 20 and an entire surface of a projection lens 17 is irradiated with it. Accordingly, molecular bonds of a contaminant adhering to the surface of the projection lens 17 are cut off with strong energy of the ultraviolet light, so that the contaminant is decomposed, vaporized, and then removed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a self-cleaning method for a semiconductor exposure apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to a technology for optically cleaning a semiconductor exposure apparatus to remove a contaminant which adheres in the exposure apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In manufacturing of a semiconductor integrated circuit, there is utilized a photolithographic technology in which an exposure apparatus is used to irradiate with light a photo-resist with which a semiconductor wafer is coated and to perform patterning, thereby forming a pattern of an element or a wiring line.
With an increase in integration density of a semiconductor circuit in recent years, there has been a need for forming a finer pattern having a higher density. As a solution for that, a shorter wavelength of an exposure light source has been used. Presently, an ArF excimer light source having a wavelength of 193 nm or an F2 light source having a wavelength of 157 nm is under development.
In an exposure apparatus using such a light source to form fine patterns having a high density, a contaminant in the air which adheres to a surface of an optical element causes harmful effects such as decrease and irregularity in illumination intensity. Therefore, nitrogen purge is carried out by which an optical path in the apparatus is purged with nitrogen gas to suppress the influence of the contaminants. However, even if such nitrogen purge is carried out sufficiently, there occurs such a harmful effect that the illumination intensity is deteriorated or made irregular due to contamination of the optical element when an optical path system is exposed to the air in maintenance or even in routine operation.
Therefore, especially in an exposure apparatus using an exposure light source having a short wavelength, a self-cleaning method referred to as optical cleaning is additionally used, by which ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less is emitted from a light source, and an optical system is irradiated with the ultraviolet light to cut off with strong energy of the ultraviolet light a chemical bond of a carbon compound, which is a main component of contaminants adhering to a surface of this optical system, thereby decomposing the compound.
For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1993-335206 describes a technology, by which in a projection type exposure apparatus comprising an illumination optical system 1 for emitting illumination light, a filter 3 for passing through it only a wavelength useful to exposure by the illumination light, an exposure mask 4 on which a necessary exposure pattern is formed, a projection optical system 5 for projecting the exposure pattern to a subject 10 to be processed, a holder 6 to which the subject to be processed is mounted, and a stage 7 for moving the holder 6 with respect to the projection optical system 5. In its self-cleaning, an ultraviolet light filter 2 is placed in an optical path in place of the filter 3 and the exposure mask 4, so that the holder 6 is irradiated with ultraviolet light that has passed through this ultraviolet filter 2 through the projection optical system 5 in order to oxidize and remove organic foreign matters and impurities adhering to this holder 6.
However, a conventional projection type exposure apparatus has the following problems. That is, since the ultraviolet light filter 2 is placed on the optical path in place of the filter 3 and the exposure mask 4, the same positions along the same optical path as those in the case of ordinary exposure are irradiated with ultraviolet light for optical cleaning. Therefore, it is impossible to remove the contaminant adhering to a position other than the ordinary exposure path, so that the remaining contaminant might move to the exposure path and it might have a bad influence on the exposure path.

Self-cleaning method for semiconductor exposure apparatus


A process for the preparation of a sulphur cement product is disclosed. Sulphur is mixed with a coupling agent and with a particulate inorganic material at a temperature at which sulphur is molten to obtain a molten sulphur cement product, which is solidified. The coupling agent is supplied as a solid composition comprising the coupling agent and at least 10 wt %, based upon the weight of the solid composition, of carrier material selected from one or more of wax, inorganic filler and polymer. The coupling agent is chosen from the group of organosilanes and organotitanates.

Sulphur cement generally refers to a product comprising at least sulphur and a filler. To improve the properties of the sulphur cement, the sulphur may be modified using a sulphur modifier, e.g. naphthalene or olefinic compounds such as 5 ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) or 5 vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB), dicyclopentadiene, limonene or styrene. Typical sulphur cement fillers are particulate inorganic materials.
Sulphur cement-aggregate composites generally refer to a composite comprising both sulphur cement and aggregate. Examples of sulphur cement-aggregate composites are sulphur mortar, sulphur concrete and sulphur-extended asphalt.
It is known to use organosilane compounds as a stabilising agent in sulphur cement or sulphur cement-aggregate compositions to improve water stability. In WO 2007/65920, sulphur cement or a sulphur cement-aggregate composite is prepared by admixing an inorganic filler and a polysulphide-containing organosilane, mixing with molten sulphur and solidifying the admixture.
It is desirable to incorporate the organosilane into the sulphur prior to its use in the sulphur cement manufacturing plant, thereby avoiding the need for additional and potentially complex process steps at the manufacturing plant. Organosilanes are typically liquid reagents and it is preferable to use solid reagents in the manufacturing plant. WO 2008/148804 discloses a process wherein the organosilane is incorporated into a sulphur cement pre-composition. The sulphur cement pre-composition can be mixed with particulate inorganic material and optionally with additional sulphur to provide a sulphur cement product.
The present inventors have however found that the sulphur pre-composition of WO 2008/148804 may be liable to degradation if stored for an extended period, particularly if the weight percentage of organosilane is high. Additionally, the organosilanes and molten sulphur can exhibit poor miscibility, which may lead to phase separations when preparing sulphur cement products. The present inventors have therefore sought to provide a method for preparing sulphur cement products which does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular a pre-composition that may be stored and does not phase separate when preparing sulphur cement products.

Process for preparing a sulphur cement product


A method of assembling a pair of magnetic material elements with an assembly having a bimetal element secured between means for carrying the magnetic material elements and means adapted for supporting the assembly.

In the past, various and sundry different types of thermostats have been employed for effecting regulation of the temperature of a space in which the thermostat may be located, and various different types of means have been employed in such thermostats for sensing the temperature of the space. For instance in some of the past thermostats which employed a temperature sensing means comprising a bimetal element having a generally spiral configuration, such spiral bimetal element had a pair of inner and outer generally radially spaced ends, and the inner end was attached by suitable means to a post rotatably mounted on a base plate of the thermostat casing. The spiral bimetal element and the post were conjointly rotatable in response to the manual adjustment of a temperature selector to a set-point temperature desired for the space in which the thermostat was located. Thus, the spiral bimetal element was rotated to adjusted positions correlative to the set-point temperatures indicated by the temperature selector in response to the manual movement thereof by an operator of the thermostat, and in respective ones of such adjusted positions correlative with the particular selected set-point temperature, the spiral bimetal element expanded or contracted in response to variations in the temperature with respect to such selected set-point temperature of the space in which the thermostat was located. In this manner, the temperature sensing movement, i.e. the aforementioned expansive or contractive movement of the spiral bimetal element, was translated into or was operative to effect a switching operation of the thermostat. In other words, when the thermostat was in a selected one of its heating or cooling operating modes, the temperature sensing movement of the spiral bimetal element was effective to cause a switching operation so as to initate or terminate the operation of a heating or cooling device conditioning the temperature of the space in which the thermostat was located.
Of course, this aforementioned switching operation of the thermostat in response to the temperature sensing movement of the spiral bimetal element was effected in various different manners. For instance, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,120, either one or a pair of mercury switches were predeterminately positioned on a mounting bracket attached to the radially outer end of the spiral bimetal element so as to be conjointly movable with the spiral bimetal element in response to the temperature sensing movement thereof, and of course, such movement of the mercury switches affected the switching operation thereof so as to control the heating or cooling operating modes of the thermostat. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,082, a permanent magnet was attached to the radially outer end of the spiral bimetal element, and the temperature sensing movement of the spiral bimetal element conjointly moved the permanent magnet so as to operate a magnetically actuated reed-type switch associated therewith in order to control the heating or cooling operating modes of the thermostat.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,539,259 a pair of pivotally movable magnets were respectively driven by the temperature sensing movements of a strip-type bimetal element so as to operate a pair of movable or magnetically actuated electrodes in a mercury switch associated therewith in order to control the heating or cooling operating modes of the thermostat.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,573,698, one end of a generally U-shaped bimetal element was biased so that the temperature sensing movement of the other end of such bimetal element was correlative with the set-point temperature selected in order to effect the biasing of the one end of such bimetal element. The other end of the generally U-shaped bimetal element carried a pair of armatures respectively movable toward and away from magnetic coupling engagement with a permanent magnet associated therewith and encapsulated in a reed-type switch. The temperature sensing movement of the armature with the generally U-shaped bimetal element attracted the magnet within the reed-type switch between a pair of generally opposite switching positions to control the heating and cooling mode operations of the thermostat.

Method of assembling components of a thermostat


In a content addressable memory, a plurality of non-volatile memory cells each are provided in conjunction with the associated one of a plurality of match lines, thresholds of the plurality of non-volatile memory cells are selectively altered on the basis of a teacher-signal, and in read out of data, selected is a match line associated with a non-volatile memory cell having a maximum weight, if the match signal appears on a plurality of match lines, the thresholds of the non-volatile memory cells being treated as the weights, thereby reading out data which has been stored in the word memory involved in the maximum weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a content addressable memory or an associative memory comprising a number of word memories each for storing digital data in units of words, and having such a function that retrieval data are input to the word memories and the word memories, which have stored digital data having a bit pattern coincident with that of the retrieval data in its entirety or in a part specified, are retrieved, and further relates a method of the use of the content addressable memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been proposed a content addressable memory or an associative memory provided with the retrieval function as mentioned above.
FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of the conventional content addressable memory by way of example.
Referring to FIG. 6, a content addressable memory 10 is provided with a number of word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n each consisting of a 5-bits serial memory. Further, the content addressable memory 10 comprises a retrieval register 12 which is adapted to latch a word of retrieval data when it is entered the retrieval register 12. A bit pattern of the retrieval data latched in the retrieval register 12 in its entirety or in a part specified is compared with a bit pattern of the portion corresponding to the bit pattern of the latched retrieval data with respect to data stored in each of the word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n. As a result of the comparison, if there are found any of the word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n of which the bit pattern is coincident with that of the retrieval data, a match signal given by a logic "1" (here 5.0 volt) will appear on the associated ones of match lines 14a, 14b, ..., 14n which are provided in conjunction with the word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n, respectively. On the other hand, a mismatch signal given by a logic "0" will appear on the remaining ones of the match lines 14a, 14b, . . . , 14n.
Assuming that the signals "0", "1", "0", "0", "1" . . . , "0" appear on the flag lines 14a, 14b, . . . , 14n, respectively, these signals are applied to a priority encoder 15. The priority encoder 15 is so arranged to output an address signal corresponding to the highest priority match line given with a highest priority among the match lines (here, the match lines 14b and 14e) on which the match signal given by a logic "1" appears. Supposing that the priority is higher as alphabet of a suffix of the reference character becomes younger, in this case, the match line 14b is selected as the highest priority match line. Thus, the priority encoder 15 outputs an address signal AD corresponding to the highest priority match line 14b, which address signal AD is passed to an address decoder 16. The address decoder 16 decodes the received address signal AD and outputs an access signal (here a signal given by a logic "1" to the associated one (here a word line 17b) of word lines 17a, 17b, . . . , 17n which are provided in conjunction with the word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n, respectively. Thus, data stored in the word memory 11b associated with the word line 17b on which the access signal appears is read out to an output register 18 and latched therein.
If the data read out in this way is not a desired one, the match line 14b is masked by means of entry of such information so that the associated signal on the flag line 14b is changed from the logic "1" to the logic "0". Thus, the match line 14e serves now as the highest priority match line, so that data stored in the associated word memory 11e is read out to the output register 18.
As described above, according to the content addressable memory 10, the contents or data stored in a number of word memories 11a, 11b, . . . , 11n are retrieved using the retrieval data in its entirety or a part specified, so that an address of the word memory corresponding to the match data is generated, and thus it is possible to read out the whole data stored in the word memory.
The content addressable memory arranged in such a way as mentioned above, however, may be associated with the following drawbacks in a case where a match signal "1" appears on a number of match signal lines.
FIG. 7 is a view useful for explanation of the drawbacks in such a case.
It is assumed that when a data retrieval is carried out using "ken" as a retrieval data, five match data as shown in FIG. 7 are obtained. Incidentally, it is noted that the five Chinese characters " ", " ", " ", " "," " are pronounced in Japanese as [ken], but they are mutually different in meaning. Supposing that the priority is given in the named order as shown in the figure and a desired data is "ken ", it is informed that first read out data "ken " is not a desired one, next, it is informed that second read out data "ken " is also not a desired one, and the similar operation is repeatedly performed until a desired data "ken " is located. This procedure takes much time for the data retrieval.

Content addressable memory and method of use thereof


A portable, internal combustion powered work device, such as a device for setting or driving fastening elements into a receiving material, includes a combustion chamber (9) wherein an air-fuel mixture is ignited. A guide cylinder (8) and a piston (7) are axially displaceably guided within the combustion chamber. When the air-fuel mixture is ignited, the piston (7) is driven and, in turn, drives a fastening element into the receiving material. Following the ignition of the air-fuel mixture and the driving of the fastening element, the combustion chamber volume is reduced to approximately zero, whereby a purely mechanical clearing of the combustion chamber is effected without the necessity of an additional flushing air flow.

The present invention is directed to a portable, internal combustion powered work device, such as a device for setting fastening elements into a receiving material including an axially extending combustion chamber for receiving an air fuel mixture to be ignited therein. An axially extending guide cylinder is located within and axially displaceable relative to the combustion chamber and an axially extending piston is displaceably guided in the guide cylinder.
Such a work device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,318.
This known work device has a cylindrically shaped combustion chamber divided into a rear partial combustion chamber and a front partial combustion chamber relative to the setting direction. The chambers communicate with one another via a check valve which permits flow from the rear chamber to the front chamber. Front partial combustion chamber has a central opening on its front side covered by a differential piston which encloses the combustion chamber coaxially at the outside. When an air-fuel mixture is ignited in the combustion, chamber the differential piston moves forwardly away from the combustion chamber and compresses the air located in front of it, the air is stored in a supply tank. The compressed air is used, on one hand, for moving the piston rearwardly, since the vacuum pressure required for such movement, which is already present in the combustion chamber, is not sufficient due to the combustion residues present in the chamber, and on the other hand, for the required opening of the check valve by means of a tappet, as well as for opening an exhaust gas duct for flushing the combustion chamber. Flushing the combustion chamber is effected by air sucked in above the differential piston and pressed into the combustion chamber through a flushing duct located between the combustion chamber and the differential piston as the piston is guided rearwardly. After completion of the rearward guiding of the differential piston and the flushing of the combustion chamber, the exhaust gas duct is closed and the combustion chamber receives compressed air from the supply tank flowing through the flushing duct. Since the combustion chamber has received a new supply of fuel, an air-fuel mixture is now located in the combustion chamber and can be ignited for again moving the differential piston.
As mentioned above, the combustion residues are flushed from the combustion chamber by an additionally produced air flow, accordingly, a flushing gas volume is required which is greater than the combustion chamber volume, since the interior of the differential piston must be flushed first. Therefore, this known work device requires a relatively large volume and a complicated air flow flushing system.

Internal combustion powered device for setting fastening elements


A method for producing coated hot-rolled or cold-rolled products, particularly steel strip, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein thin strip is cast especially by a travelling mold and the cast strip is guided on-line as a master strip into an inversion casting plant for strip coating, the surface of the coated strip is smoothed with rolls, and if necessary, the thickness of the coated and smoothed strip is reduced in a rolling process. The apparatus includes a strip casting plant, particularly with a travelling mold for producing a thin strip, an inversion casting plant arranged on-line following the strip casting plant for coating the thin strip or master strip from the strip casting plant, at least one pair of smoothing rolls arranged following the inversion casting plant for smoothing the surface of the coated strip emerging from the inversion casting plant, and, if necessary, a subsequently arranged rolling mill for a reducing deformation of the coated and smoothed strip to the strip thickness to be produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing coated hot-rolled or cold-rolled products, particularly steel strip. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
For producing hot-rolled and cold-rolled strip preferably of steel in the field of casting methods with approximate final dimensions, the Bessemer two-roller method is known in the art. On the other hand, also known in the art is the inversion casting method (EP-B1-0 311 602; DE C1-43 19 569; DE C1-195 09 681; as well as dissertation of Dr. Vonderbank and Dr. Hamacher/RWTH Aachen, Institut fur Eisenhuittenkunde, 1995).
The Bessemer two-roller method is today used preferably for casting stainless steel but also carbon steel. However, in the case of casting thicknesses of 10 to 2 mm and widths of 500 to 1,800 mm, it is difficult to adhere to a tolerance of the thickness profile over the width of, for example, <1% at the cast product. This desired profile which is required by the market must be adhered to by percentage during casting because, due to the high flux resistance in transverse direction, an improvement of the profile in the roll gap of a roll stand cannot take place.
For practical purposes, it can be stated that, in the case of a width to thickness ratio of >100, a transverse flux in the roll gap of a roll stand does not take place and, thus, a profile improvement cannot be carried out. The production results with the two-roller method and also with other strip casting methods on the basis of wall molds confirm that the thickness deviations in the width direction (profile) as well as in the casting or rolling direction (planarity) are outside of the tolerance for plates required by the steel market.
For example, strip material, preferably of stainless steel, which in the past has been produced on the basis of travelling molds and particularly, for example, on the basis of the Bessemer two-roller method, which up to now is used most widely by numerous strip casting techniques on the basis of travelling molds, can only be utilized for punched products which do not have a high requirement with respect to planarity in the width direction as well as in the rolling direction.
Another strip casting method not based on travelling molds is the inversion casting method. In that case, a thin strip, called master or starting strip, is continuously guided through a melt in a crystallizer over a controlled period of time. Taking into consideration the temperature of the master strip when entering the melt, for example, room temperature or also, for example, 800.degree. C. and the temperature of the melt, expressed as overheating temperature X in .degree. C. (T.sub.actual =T.sub.li +X.degree. C.), during the dwell time of the master strip in the melt a controllable quantity of melt, also called secondary material, crystallizes onto the master strip.
Depending on the above-described parameters, this crystallization of the secondary material onto the master strip, which may have an initial thickness of, for example, between 0.5 to 10 mm, is between 5 and 500%.
Thus, a high percentage crystallization of, for example, 500% occurs onto a cold and thin master strip (e.g. room temperature 20.degree. C. 1 mm thickness), with a low overheating temperature of, for example X=15.degree. C. and a long dwell time of, for example, 2.5 sec. On the other hand, a minimum coating of, for example, 5-10% can be achieved on a master strip preheated to, for example, 600 to 800.degree. C. and with a thickness of, for example, 2 to 5 mm, with a relatively high overheating of, for example, X>15.degree. C. and a short dwell time of, for example 1 sec.
This inversion casting method can be utilized for monomaterials as well as for composite materials and has the significant advantage of providing the possibility of producing a planarity as it is required by the steel market of strips and plates, for example, with a profile <1%, by a smoothing roll pair mounted above the melt or above the crystallizer, as disclosed in DE-C1-43 19 569.
However, when used as a casting method, the inversion casting method requires the partially necessary return of the rolled finished product of, for example, 1%, for maintaining a stock of master strip of 2 days or 4,000 t in the case of an annual casting capacity of 0.6 million t which, in turn, results in an accumulation of defects, for example, oxidic inclusions, in the product which is not acceptable in the long term. This inevitable system-imminent accumulation of defects can only be corrected by using master strip which is purchased from the outside.
Moreover, when coating hot-rolled strip in the range of 50 to 5%, it is necessary to preheat the master strip, for example, to 800.degree. C.
This preheating is technically very complicated when considering that a master strip of, for example, 2 mm is introduced into the melt of the crystallizer with a speed of between 10 and 100 m/min.
Preheating can be carried out, for example, inductively or also with furnace immediately before the master strip enters the crystallizer or also in a shaft within the crystallizer or the melt, as disclosed by DE-C1-195 09 681. This preheating unit must have a high power density, requires a great investment and leads to high operating costs.

Method and apparatus for producing coated hot-rolled and cold-rolled strip


A venting plate for a containerized candle, which improves scent distribution while still providing a clean soot free combustion is disclosed. The venting plate includes a flat disc shaped top and a channeled annular baffle. The venting plate sits atop the mouth of the containerized candle and is supported above the rim of the vessel mouth by a number of mounting bosses or feet. The mounting feet space the top above the candle brim to permit the flow of inlet air underneath the venting plate between the plate top and the brim of the candle vessel. The baffle extends downward into the mouth of the vessel around the exhaust vent and has six recessed longitudinal furrows, which allow inlet air into the vessel interior. The baffle redirects the inlet air flow, which enters the candle horizontally from underneath the venting plate, downward along the vessel sidewall. The inlet air flow passes through the six inlet channels, which columnate the inlet air flow into distinct columns of air. Columnating the inlet air flow increases the velocity of the air flow down the vessel side walls. The increased inlet air flow velocity allows more scent particulate to be picked up as the air flow moves over the melted wax pool towards the flame, thereby promoting improved scent distribution.

This invention relates to a venting plate for containerized candles, which improves the candle""s combustion and eliminates candle smoke, and in particular a venting plate having a channeled baffle or skirt, which increases the air flow velocity to improve scent distribution.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,962 granted May 7, 2002 describes a venting plate that is used with apothecary candles to improve the efficiency of the combustion. This venting plate has a central exhaust vent opening and a plurality of peripheral inlet vent openings which are situated to facilitate concentric laminar air flows within the vessel by separation of the cool inlet air from the hot exhaust air.
An improved venting plate for apothecary jar candles has been created by Tod A. Papai of LaPorte, Ind., which is marketed by Smith Mountain Properties, LLC. of Forest Va. This venting plate includes an internal baffle for physically separating the inlet and exhaust air flows within the vessel interior. The venting plate is supported atop the candle by a number of feet which space the plate over the brim of the candle to create an annular inlet vent. The baffle directs inlet air flow downward into the interior of the candle through the inlet vent downward along the sidewalls of the vessel and separates the downward inlet air flow from the upward exhaust air flow.
This venting plate creates an annular curtain of inlet air to the wick; however, the large cross sectional area of the inlet vents creates a relatively slow moving (low velocity) inlet air flow into the candle. Low velocity inlet air flows pick up less scent particulate from the melted wax pool than faster moving air flows. Consequently, it is desirable to increase the velocity of the air flow created by the venting plate, in order to improve the scent distribution of the candle.
The venting plate of this invention provides improved scent distribution of a containerized candle while still providing clean soot free combustion. The venting plate includes a flat disc shaped top and a channeled annular baffle. The venting plate sits atop of the candle vessel supported by the mounting feet with the baffle extending downward into the candle mouth. The mounting feet space the top above the candle brim to permit the flow of inlet air underneath the venting plate between the plate top and the brim of the candle vessel. The annular baffle extends downward into the mouth of the vessel around the exhaust vent and has six recessed longitudinal furrow or inlet channels, through which the inlet air flow passes into the vessel interior. The baffle redirects the inlet air flow, which enters the candle horizontally from underneath the venting plate, downward along the vessel sidewall. The inlet air flow passes through the six inlet channels, which columnates the inlet air flow, that is, funnels it into distinct columns of air. Columnating the inlet air flow increases the velocity of the air flow down the vessel side walls. The increased inlet air flow velocity allows more scent particulate to be picked up as the air flow moves over the melted wax pool towards the flame, thereby promoting improved scent distribution. The baffle is also a physical barrier, which separates the opposing air flows (inlet and exhaust) to reduce turbulence within the interior of the vessel and stabilize the flame.
Accordingly, an advantage of the venting plate of this invention is that it provides improved scent distribution.
Another advantage of this invention is that the channeled baffle columnates the inlet air flow into separate columns of air, which increases the inlet air flow velocity and thereby improves scent distributed.
Another advantage is that the venting plate includes an internal baffle for directing inlet air flow downward along the sidewalls of a containerized candle.
Another advantage is that the venting plate stabilizes the combustion flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion of conventional containerized candles, thereby reducing the smoke produced in the combustion process of containerized candles.
Another advantage is that the venting cover reduces turbulence in containerized candles by separating concentric laminar air flow within the candle vessel, which enables sufficient ambient air flow directly to the base of the flame.
Other advantages will become apparent upon a reading of the following description.

Venting plate for a containerized candle with a channeled baffle