A user support system for cryptographic communication includes a key storage unit for storing keys used for deciphering, a deciphering unit for deciphering an enciphered communication text into a deciphered communication text using a key, and a controller for starting the deciphering unit. only when an input communication text is the enciphered communication text, and for supplying the keys that is necessary for the deciphering in the deciphering unit, by retrieving the key from the key storage.

The present invention generally relates to user support systems for cryptographic communication, and more particularly to a user support system for cryptographic communication wherein a communication is made by enciphering and deciphering the communication in a network system.
When making a communication in a network system in which an unspecified large number of computers are connected, there is a possibility that the communication content is tapped at a repeater site or, the communication is made by a person identifying himself as the authorized user. Because of such possibilities, it is necessary to guarantee the security of the communication by enciphering the communication or by adding to the communication content a certificate or proof which is given by a third party and which certifies or proves that the signature of the sender is that of himself, that is, the authorized user.
Various enciphering systems have been proposed. According to the DES system, a secret key which is common between the communicating users is prepared, and the enciphering is made by use of this secret key. The processing speed of this DES system is high, but the secret key must be held for each communicating user thereby making the key management difficult.
On the other hand, the RSA system prepares a secret key corresponding to a public key, and the enciphering is made by use of the public key or the secret key. The deciphering is made using the secret key when the enciphering is made using the public key, and the deciphering is made using the public key when the enciphering is made using the secret key. The number of required keys can be reduced according to this RSA system; however, the processing speed is low and a long processing time is necessary.
Accordingly, the PEM system which combines the DES system and the RSA system has been proposed.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional cryptographic communication system employing the PEM system. The PEM system enciphers the mail text by a DES secret key according to the DES system, and enciphers this DES secret key by a public key of the receiving user according to the RSA system. The DES secret key is a session key which is generated at random, using time information and the like, when enciphering the mail. The receiving user obtains the mail, including the enciphered mail text of the transmitting user and the DES secret key, by a secret key of the receiving user. In other words, the receiving user deciphers the DES secret key using the DES secret key, and deciphers the enciphered mail text by using the deciphered DES secret key.
In FIG. 1, it is assumed for the sake of convenience that the cryptographic communication employing the PEM system is made from a transmitting (or sending) user A of a transmitting (or sending) system S to a receiving user B of a receiving system R so as to transmit a mail text (communication text) 300.
In the transmitting system S, a DES secret key 301 is generated at random, using time information and the like, when enciphering the mail text 300 according to the DES system. A public key 301xe2x80x2 of the user B is made by the user B and made public to the user A. A secret key of the user B, made in advance and secretly held by the user B, is provided in correspondence with the public key of the user B.
In FIG. 1, a process 302 enciphers the mail text 300 according to the DES system using the DES secret key 301. A process 303 enciphers the DES secret key 301 according to the RSA system using the public key of the user B. Transmitting information 304 is the information to be transmitted in the network.
An enciphered DES secret key 305 is the DES secret key 301 which has been enciphered according to the RSA system. An enciphered mail text 306 is the mail text 300 which has been enciphered according to the DES system using the DES secret key 301.
On the other hand, in the receiving system R, a secret key 307 of the user B is secretly held in correspondence with the public key of the user B. A process 307xe2x80x2 deciphers the enciphered DES secret key 301 which has been enciphered according to the RSA system, using the secret key 305 of the user B. A process 308 deciphers the enciphered mail text 306 which has been enciphered according to the DES system, using the deciphered DES secret key 301. A deciphered mail text 309 is the mail text which is obtained by the deciphering process 308.
In the PEM system shown in FIG. 1, the transmitting user A of the transmitting system S makes (i.e., produces) the enciphered mail to be transmitted to the receiving user B of the receiving system R, and the receiving user B deciphers the enciphered mail in the following
First, the transmitting user A makes (i.e., produces) the mail text 300, and starts an enciphering unit. The transmitting user A generates, the DES secret key 301 by a secret key generator which is not shown in FIG. 1 but will be described later in conjunction with FIG. 3A, and enciphers the mail text 300 according to the DES system using the DES secret key 301. Then, the transmitting user A obtains the public key 301xe2x80x2 of the receiving user B, and enciphers the DES secret key 301 according to the RSA system using the public key 301xe2x80x2 of the receiving user B. Usually, the public key 301xe2x80x2 of the receiving user B is stored in a file such as a floppy disk.
The enciphered mail text 306 which has been enciphered according to the DES system and the enciphered DES secret key 305 which has been enciphered according to the RSA system are transmitted to the receiving user B.
The user B starts a deciphering unit when the receiving user B confirms that the enciphered mail text 306 is being transmitted to the receiving user B. The receiving user B obtains his own secret key 307, which corresponds to the public key made public to the transmitting user A, and uses this secret key 307 to decipher the DES secret key 305 which has been enciphered using the public key of the receiving user B. Usually, the secret key 307 is secretly stored in a floppy disk or the like. In addition, the deciphered mail text 309 is output.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional cryptographic communication system employing a signature check system. According to the signature check system, the transmitting user A enciphers the mail text, and adds his signature, when transmitting the enciphered mail text to the receiving user B.
In the transmitting system S shown in FIG. 2, a mail text 330 is to be transmitted to the receiving user B. A secret key 331 of the transmitting user A is formed in advance by the transmitting user A in correspondence with the public key of the transmitting user A, and is secretly stored in a floppy disk or the like. A public key 332 of the transmitting user A is formed by the transmitting user A and is made public to the destination of the communication, that is, the receiving user B. The public key 332 of the transmitting user A corresponds to the secret key 331 of the transmitting user A.
A digest 333 is regarded as the signature of the transmitting user A, and is obtained by subjecting the mail text 330 to a data compression. This digest 333 is enciphered into an enciphered digest 334 according to the RSA system using the secret key 331 of the transmitting user A. This enciphered digest 334 is regarded as an electronic signature (e.g., xe2x80x9cform signaturexe2x80x9d) of the transmitting user A.
An enciphering unit 340 enciphers the mail text 330, according to the PEM system, into an enciphered mail text 341.
On the other hand, in the receiving system R, a process 335 deciphers the received signature using the public key 332 of the transmitting user A, and a deciphered digest 336 is obtained. A deciphering unit 342 employs the PEM system and deciphers the enciphered mail text 341, which is transmitted from the transmitting user A, into a deciphered mail text 343. A digest 344 of the deciphered mail text 343 is obtained by subjecting the deciphered mail text 343 to a data compression.
A collating process 345 compares the deciphered digest 336, which is obtained by deciphering the enciphered digest 334, using the public key 332 of the transmitting user A and the digest 344 of the deciphered mail text 343, which has been deciphered in the deciphering unit 342. The collating process 345 makes this comparison so as to check the signature.
In FIG. 2, the transmitting user A first makes the mail text 330. This mail text 330 is subjected to a data compression and regarded as the signature of the transmitting user A, and the transmitting user A further enciphers the compressed mail text using the secret key 331 of the transmitting user A. The enciphered signature of the transmitting user A is transmitted to the receiving user B. On the other hand, the mail text 330 is enciphered in the enciphering unit 340, and the enciphered mail text 341 is transmitted to the receiving user B.
In the receiving system R, the receiving user B obtains the public key 332 of the transmitting user A (corresponding to the secret key 331 of the transmitting user A) which is received in advance, and obtains the deciphered digest 336 by deciphering the signature of the transmitting user A (enciphered digest 334) using the public key 332 of the transmitting user A.
On the other hand, the receiving user B receives the enciphered mail text 341 which is transmitted from the transmitting user A, and deciphers this enciphered mail text 341 in the deciphering unit 342. The receiving user B then forms the digest of the deciphered mail text 343 and in addition, the deciphered digest 336 which is obtained from the enciphered digest (signature) 334 and the digest 344 which is formed from the deciphered mail text 343. If the two compared digests 336 and 344 match, it is regarded that the signature is correct. But it is regarded that the signature is incorrect if the two compared digests 336 and 344 do not match.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the constructions of a conventional enciphering unit and a conventional deciphering unit.
The enciphering unit shown in FIG. 3A enciphers a mail text 350. A storage 351 stores the public key of the transmitting user A. A storage 352 stores a secret key of the transmitting user A in correspondence with the public key of the transmitting user A. A DES secret key generator 353 generates a secret key (session key) at random using random numbers, time information and the like when making the enciphering process according to the DES system.
A storage 354 stores a public key of the receiving user B. A signature part 356 forms a digest of the mail text 350 and enciphers this digest using the secret key of the transmitting user A. An enciphering part enciphers the mail text 350 according to the DES system. An output part 358 outputs the enciphered signature of the transmitting user A and the enciphered mail text to the network.
The deciphering unit shown in FIG. 3B deciphers the enciphered mail 360 which is transmitted from the transmitting user A. A normal mail 361 has not been enciphered. A spool file 362 is a file common to the network on the receiving end, and stores the enciphered mail 360 and the received normal mail 361. A mail box 363 is a file which stores a mail intended for the receiving user B, that is, the mail having the receiving user B as its destination.
A deciphering part 364 inputs the enciphered mail intended for the receiving user B, and deciphers the enciphered mail using the secret key of the receiving user B, or the like, that is necessary for the deciphering process. A storage 366 stores the public key of the transmitting user A. A signature check part 367 deciphers the signature of the enciphered mail intended for the receiving user B, using the public key of the transmitting user A, and checks the signature. A deciphered mail output part 368 outputs the deciphered mail text and the signature check result.
According to the conventional cryptographic communication systems, complicated key management is required, both at the transmitting user A who enciphers the mail and at the receiving user B who deciphers the enciphered mail, in order to provide complete security from the transmitting user A to the receiving user B. In addition, it is necessary to carry out the troublesome process of starting the enciphering unit and starting the deciphering unit every time the communication is made. As a result, there were problems in that the complicated key management and troublesome operations are required.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful user support system for cryptographic communication, in which the problems described above are eliminated.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a user support system for cryptographic communication comprising key storage means for storing keys used for deciphering, deciphering means for deciphering an enciphered communication text into a deciphered communication text using a key, and control means for starting the deciphering means only when an input communication text is the enciphered communication text and for supplying the key that is necessary for the deciphering in the deciphering means by retrieving the key from the key storage means. According to the user support system of the present invention, the cryptographic communication can be made without the user having to start the enciphering unit. In addition, the key management is simple, so that the user does not have to be aware of the key necessary for the enciphering when making the cryptographic communication. Therefore, the user can make the communication between the networks safely and in a simple manner by only making a normal communication text.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the user support system described above which further comprises enciphering means for enciphering a communication text into an enciphered communication text which is to be transmitted using a key, where the key storage means further stores keys used for enciphering, and the control means starts the enciphering means only when an input communication text is the communication text to be transmitted by a cryptographic communication and for supplying the key that is necessary for the enciphering in the enciphering means by retrieving the key from the key storage means. According to the user support system of the present invention, the cryptographic communication can be made without the user having to start the deciphering unit. In addition, the key management is simple, so that the user does not have to be aware of the key necessary for the deciphering when making the cryptographic communication. Therefore, the user can make the communication between the networks safely and in a simple manner by only making a normal communication text.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a user support system for cryptographic communication in a network system in which a first system and a second system are connected via an external network, comprising an enciphering unit, provided in the first system, enciphering a communication text to be output to the external network, where the enciphering unit comprises a first receiver receiving the communication text which is made in the first system and is to be transmitted via the external network, a first key storage storing keys necessary for a cryptographic communication, a first key retrieving part retrieving a key from the first key storage based on a destination of the communication text, an enciphering part enciphering the communication text into an enciphered communication text using the key retrieved by the key retrieving part, and a first transmitter transmitting the enciphered communication text from the enciphering part to the external network. According to the user support system of the present invention, the cryptographic communication can be made without the user having to start the enciphering unit. In addition, the key management is simple, so that the user does not have to be aware of the key necessary for the enciphering when making the cryptographic communication. Therefore, the user can make the communication between the networks safely and in a simple manner by only making a normal communication text.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the user support system described immediately above and further comprising a deciphering unit, provided in the second system, deciphering the enciphered communication text input via the external network, where the deciphering unit comprises a second receiver receiving a communication text input via the external network, a deciphered mail extracting part determining whether the communication text received by the second receiver is an enciphered communication text or a normal communication text and extracting the enciphered communication text, a second key storage storing keys necessary for the cryptographic communication, a second key retrieving part retrieving from the second key storage a key that is necessary for deciphering the enciphered communication text when the deciphered mail extracting part extracts the enciphered communication text, a deciphering part deciphering the enciphered communication text into a deciphered communication text using the key retrieved by the second key retrieving part, and a second transmitter transmitting the deciphered communication text from the deciphering part to a destination of the deciphered communication text within the second system. According to the user support system of the present invention, the cryptographic communication can be made without the user having to start the deciphering unit. In addition, the key management is simple, so that the user does not have to be aware of the key necessary for the deciphering when making the cryptographic communication. Therefore, the user can make the communication between the networks safely and in a simple manner by only making a normal communication text.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a user support system for cryptographic communication in a network system in which a first system and a second system are connected via an external network, comprising a deciphering unit, provided in the second system, deciphering the enciphered communication text input via the external network, where the deciphering unit comprises a receiver receiving a communication text input via the external network, a deciphered mail extracting part determining whether the communication text received by the receiver is an enciphered communication text or a normal communication text and extracting the enciphered communication text, a key storage storing keys necessary for the cryptographic communication, a key retrieving part retrieving from the key storage a key that is necessary for deciphering the enciphered communication text when the deciphered mail extracting part extracts the enciphered communication text, a deciphering part deciphering the enciphered communication text into a deciphered communication text using the key retrieved by the key retrieving part, and a transmitter transmitting the deciphered communication text from the deciphering part to a destination of the deciphered communication text within the second system. According to the user support system of the present invention, the cryptographic communication can be made without the user having to start the deciphering unit. In addition, the key management is simple, so that the user does not have to be aware of the key necessary for the deciphering when making the cryptographic communication. Therefore, the user can make the communication between the networks safely and in a simple manner by only making a normal communication text.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

User support system for cryptographic communication in network systems


In hydroformylating an olefinic compound in an organic solvent and in the presence of a rhodium complex and a trisubstituted phosphine to give the corresponding aldehyde, at least one diphosphino compound of the following general formula (I) is added to the reaction system in a proportion of 0.20 to 5.0 equivalents per rhodium atom in the rhodium complex ##STR1## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2, respectively, are aryl groups; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, respectively, are an aryl group or a saturated hydrocarbon residue containing 1 or more carbon atoms; and ##STR2## represents a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms in the main ring.. The addition of diphosphino compound (I) has a remarkable life-prolonging effect on the rhodium catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of hydroformylating olefinic compounds. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of hydroformylating an olefinic compound into the corresponding aldehyde in an organic solvent and in the presence of a rhodium complex and a trisubstituted phosphine, there being added to the reaction system at least one diphosphino compound of general formula (I) ##STR3## wherein A.sup.1 and A.sup.2, respectively, are aryl groups; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, respectively, are an aryl group or a saturated hydrocarbon residue of 1 or more carbon atoms; and ##STR4## represents a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group of 3 to 6 carbon atoms in the main ring, in a proportion of 0.20 to 5.0 equivalents per rhodium atom in said rhodium complex to thereby achieve a substantial prolongation of catalyst activity and, consequently, achieve a more advantageous hydroformylation of the olefinic compound.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is known a hydroformylation reaction in which an olefin, exemplified by ethylene, propylene and butene, is reacted with a gaseous hydrogen-carbon monoxide mixture in an organic solvent and in the presence of a rhodium complex and a trisubstituted phosphine to obtain an aldehyde containing one more carbon atom than the starting olefin. The reaction has been commercially utilized, for example, in the production of butyraldehyde from propylene.
The rhodium complex as used for catalyzing the hydroformylation reaction is suited for industrial practice in that it helps perform the reaction under considerably milder conditions (lower temperature and pressure) than does a cobalt catalyst and that it contributes to a higher selectivity for normal-aldehyde. However, since the rhodium complex is quite expensive, the industrial value of a hydroformylation reaction with this complex depends largely on the catalyst life of the complex. Therefore, much research has heretofore been done and many proposals made in connection with means of maintaining the activity of the catalyst for an extended time under hydroformylating conditions. These methods may be roughly classified into three categories:
(1) A method in which the contemplated reaction is carried out while various reaction conditions such as the concentrations of the rhodium catalyst and trisubstituted phosphine, the partial pressure of carbon monoxide and the reaction temperature are controlled, each within a defined range, so as to suppress thermal degradation of the rhodium complex and formation of an inactive highly-carbonylated rhodium complex, e.g. see, German Patent Application (abbreviated as DTOS) 2,715,685;
(2) A method in which a small amount of oxygen is allowed to be present in the reaction system, e.g. see, DTOS 2,730,527; ;P (3) A method in which the reaction is carried out while the concentration of poisonous high-boiling byproducts in the reaction system is maintained below a certain level, e.g., see British Pat. No. 1,338,237 and British Pat. No. 1,545,706.
These hitherto-proposed methods, however, have room for improvement when industrial applications are envisaged. The first method (1) is commercially disadvantageous in that any drop in reaction temperature and any increase in concentration of the trisubstituted phosphine result in a reduced reaction rate which would require use of the expensive rhodium catalyst in an increased concentration in order to compensate for the reduction of reaction rate. With respect to the second method (2), the trisubstituted phosphine and the end product aldehyde are unstable against oxygen and tend to be converted to the substituted phosphine oxide and organic carboxylic acid, respectively, with the result that not only is the catalyst activity reduced but there are induced undesirable secondary reactions of the product aldehyde. The third method (3) is disadvantageous in that maintaining the concentration of high-boiling byproducts acting as catalyst poisons below a certain level is industrially equivalent to frequent regeneration, activation and recovery of the rhodium catalyst which are, of necessity, accompanied by losses of the rhodium catalyst and trisubstituted phosphine. Even by the above methods, a depression of catalyst activity is frequently encountered during the reaction and it has been inevitable to carry out the regeneration, activation and recovery of the rhodium catalyst with a fair frequency. This not only means a complicated procedure but also entails losses of the rhodium catalyst and trisubstituted phosphine in the regeneration step. Thus, the conventional methods for maintaining the activity of the rhodium catalyst leave much room for improvement.


Transfer unit includes a shift rod which is slidably supported at both ends in a transfer case and is adapted to cooperate with a shift fork to effect changeover between two wheel and four wheel drive conditions. The shift fork is supported by the shift rod so as to be movable in both shift directions and is resiliently retained in position on the shift rod.

This invention relates to a drive condition changeover apparatus for a transfer unit including a shift rod which is slidably supported in a transfer case and adapted to cooperate with a shift fork to effect changeover between two wheel and four wheel drive conditions.
Generally, a transfer unit receives vehicle engine power through a transmission mechanism and performs such functions as to drive the vehicle in high or low speed drive condition, to interrupt power transmission to drive wheels, and/or to effect changeover between two wheel and four wheel drive conditions.
In a known drive condition changeover apparatus disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 16,752/78, when the transfer unit is operated to shift from two wheel and four wheel drive condition, even though the coupling sleeve at first cannot move to the four wheel drive side by collision between teeth which are to be meshed with each other, the coupling sleeve can be displaced after waiting for meshing between the teeth. However, the waiting mechanism cannot operate when the transfer unit is shifted from four wheel and two wheel drive condition. Thus, the shifting operation is not always easy. Further, the waiting mechanism is exposed outside the transfer case, so that a special lubrication system must be provided other than the ordinary one for the transfer case. Also, as the shift rod is connected with the shift fork at one end, and with the waiting mechanism at the other end, the shift rod must be cantilever supported at the middle portion by the transfer case. Thus, a large bending force is applied to the middle portion of the shift rod during the shifting operation, acting as a large frictional resistance. Spring means provided in the waiting mechanism to displace the shift rod must be strong enough to overcome the frictional resistance, and shift operation force of the operation lever must be sufficiently strong to overcome the spring force.

Drive condition changeover apparatus for a transfer unit


A pulse write driver circuit comprising a first NAND gate for inputting a write enable signal and a data input transfer negative signal, a second NAND gate for inputting the write enable signal and a data input transfer positive signal, an odd number of first inverters for sequentially inverting an output signal from the first NAND gate, a first NOR gate for inputting the output signal from the first NAND gate and an output signal from the first inverters, an odd number of second inverters for sequentially inverting an output signal from the second NAND gate, a second NOR gate for inputting the output signal from the second NAND gate and an output signal from the second inverters, an odd number of third inverters for sequentially inverting the write enable signal, a third NOR gate for inputting the write enable signal and an output signal from the third inverters, a fourth NOR gate for inputting output signals from the first to third NOR gates, and a fourth inverter for inverting an output signal from the fourth NOR gate. Also, the pulse write driver circuit comprises first and second NMOS transistors and first and second PMOS transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pulse write driver circuit in which current consumption is minimized in a writing operation and data bus lines are precharged upon completion of the writing operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional pulse write driver circuit and FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of signals in the pulse write driver circuit in FIG. 1. Data input transfer positive and negative signals D and /D are applied to NAND gates G1 and G2. In intervals T0-T1 and T5-T6 other than write intervals T1-T5, output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 are precharged with logical "1" regardless of the data input transfer positive and negative signals D and/D because a write enable signal WE is logically "0". At the moment T1 that a writing operation is started, the write enable signal WE becomes logical "1" and the output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 have their inverted states according to states of the data input transfer positive and negative signals D and /D through the NAND gates G1 and G2. Namely, because both the output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 were precharged with logical "1" before the time T1, one (for example, DI) thereof remains at logical "1", whereas the other (for example, /DI) goes from logical "1" to logical "0".
Subsequently, inverters 121-123 and a NOR gate G4 constituting a pulse generator are operated. In the interval (pulse width) T1-T2, a node N2 becomes logical "1" and a node N3 then becomes logical "1" through a NOR gate G5 and an inverter I3. As a result, NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 are turned, thereby causing the output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 to be transferred to positive and negative data bus lines DB and /DB, respectively.
In the case where the states of the data input transfer positive and negative signals D and /D are changed in the write intervals (for example, T3), one (for example, DI) of the output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 goes from logical "1" to logical "0" and the other (for example, /DI) goes from logical "0" to logical "1". Subsequently, inverters I11-I13 and a NOR gate G3 constituting a pulse generator are operated. In the interval T3-T4, a node N1 becomes logical "1" and the node N3 then becomes logical "1" through the NOR gate G5 and the inverter 13. As a result, the NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 are turned, thereby causing the output signals DI and /DI from the NAND gates G1 and G2 to be transferred to the positive and negative data bus lines DB and /DB, respectively.
As mentioned above, in the conventional pulse write driver circuit, the writing operation is performed only in the intervals T1-T2 and T3-T4 necessary to the writing operation and it is not performed in the remaining intervals T2-T3 and T4-T5. Therefore, current consumption can be minimized and a direct current (DC) current path can be blocked in the writing operation.
However, the conventional pulse write driver circuit has a disadvantage in that it is turned off upon completion of the writing operation, resulting in an increase in the time required in charging the data bus lines of a ground voltage with a power source voltage to perform the subsequent writing operation.

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A dispenser is provided that heats and dispenses a gel or lotion prior to the gel turning into lather. The dispenser can be selectively engaged with different sized and/or shaped cans.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heated gel or lotion dispenser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dispensable gels or lotion are used for a variety of applications, such as shaving gels for application to the face. It is often desirable to heat the gels to improve comfort for the user. For shaving that uses a gel that turns into foam or lather upon application to the face, it is desirable to heat the gel prior to application. However, the heating of the gel causes the gel to begin to expand and turn into lather.
The present invention relates to a device and method for heating gel prior to application by the user.


A jogger for a signature feeder includes a back stop disposed at a first side of a hopper of the feeder and a flexible jogging element disposed at a second side of the hopper opposite the first side. As a stack of signatures is formed in the hopper, the flexible jogging element is oscillated in a lateral direction so as to periodically bend the flexible jogging element against the stack of the signatures and form a pushing zone and a vibrating zone in the hopper. The vibrating zone is below the pushing zone, and the vertical lengths of the pushing and vibrating zones are a function of the height of the stack of signatures. The signatures in the pushing zone are urged against the back stop by the flexible jogging element so as to register the signatures as the stack is formed, and the signatures in the vibrating zone are vibrated by the flexible jogging element so as to improve the registration of the signatures in the stack. The jogging action adjusts automatically to the height of the stack and the characteristics of the signatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to a flexible jogger for a signature feeder in a printing press.
2. Background Information
During printing press operations printed signatures are feed to downstream processes. Signature feeders are used to collect and align (register) the signatures for controlled feeding to a subsequent operation. Mechanical jogging devices have been used for loading signatures into a hopper, or feeder pocket, of a signature feeder to xe2x80x9cjog,xe2x80x9d or move the signatures into alignment, as they are come into the hopper, thereby improving signature registration. Existing mechanical joggers push incoming signatures against a backstop plate in a hopper, thereby registering the signatures as they form a stack in the hopper.
Existing mechanical joggers do not adjust to signature stack height or to signature characteristics.
An object of the present invention is to provide a signature feeder having a jogger which automatically adjusts to signature stack height and to signature characteristics so as to improve signature registration.
The present invention provides a jogger for a signature feeder having a hopper for receiving signatures at an upper end of the hopper and forming a stack of the signatures in a vertical direction starting at a lower end of the hopper, the jogger comprising: a back stop disposed at a first side of the hopper; and a flexible jogging element disposed at a second side of the hopper opposite the first side, the flexible jogging element being oscillated in a direction lateral to the vertical direction so as to periodically bend the flexible jogging element against the stack of the signatures and form a pushing zone and a vibrating zone below the pushing zone in the hopper, the signatures in the pushing zone being urged against the back stop by the flexible jogging element so as to register the signatures as the stack is formed, the signatures in the vibrating zone being vibrated by the flexible jogging element so as to improve the registration of the signatures in the stack.
The respective vertical length of each of the pushing zone and the vibrating zone is a function of the height of the stack
The flexible jogging element bends toward the stack of signatures so as to assume a curved shape, the curved shape being a function of at least one of the height of the stack of signatures and a characteristic of the signatures, such as a modulus of a material of the signatures, a stiffness of the signatures, a size of the signatures and a shape of the signatures.
The curved shape that the flexible jogging element assumes may be parabolic. The flexible jogging element may be non-translatably and non-rotatably fixed at a lower end of the hopper. The flexible jogging element may be pivotably fixed at a lower end of the hopper.
The flexible jogging element may be oscillated at a portion of the element disposed at an upper end of the hopper.
The flexible jogging element maybe a thin plate. The flexible jogging element may include a plurality of adjacent fingers.
The flexible jogging element may be made of metal or of a plastic material.
The flexible jogging element is oscillated using at least one of a cam and a crank arm.
The back stop may be rigid or flexible, and may be curved. The back stop may have a motion imparted to it.
The present invention also provides a method for jogging signatures in a signature feeder, the method comprising: receiving the signatures at an upper end of a hopper of the signature feeder and forming a stack of the signatures in a vertical direction starting at a lower end of the hopper; and oscillating a flexible jogging element in a direction lateral to the vertical direction so as to periodically bend the flexible jogging element against the stack of the signatures and form a pushing zone and a vibrating zone below the pushing zone in the hopper, the flexible jogging element being disposed at a first side of the hopper, the signatures in the pushing zone being urged by the flexible jogging element against a back stop disposed at a second side of the hopper opposite the first side so as to register the signatures as the stack is formed, the signatures in the vibrating zone being vibrated by the flexible jogging element so as to improve the register of the signatures in the stack.