An outer collar member of an end fitting for a flexible pipe. The apparatus comprises an outer collar body portion and an outer collar neck portion extending away from the outer collar body portion. The neck portion is arranged to be secured to a portion of flexible pipe body in a slotted position between layers of the flexible pipe body. The position is located between an outer sheath of the flexible pipe body and at least one armour layer of the flexible pipe body wherein the outer collar body portion comprises a curved inner surface region for determining a radius of curvature of wires of the armour layer bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe bodies and supported by the curved inner surface when the pipe body is mounted in the end fitting.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing an end fitting for a flexible pipe. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an inner and/or outer collar of a flexible pipe at least one of which includes a shaped surface for determining a radius of curvature of wires of an armour layer of the flexible pipe when the flexible pipe body is mounted in an end fitting.
Traditionally flexible pipe is utilised to transport production fluids, such as oil and/or gas and/or water, from one location to another. Flexible pipe is particularly useful in connecting a sub-sea location to a sea level location. Flexible pipe is generally formed as an assembly of a portion of flexible pipe body and one or more end fittings. The pipe body is typically formed as a composite of layered materials that form a pressure-containing conduit. The pipe structure allows large deflections without causing bending stresses that impair the pipe's functionality over its lifetime. The pipe body is generally built up as a composite structure including metallic and polymer layers.
The end fittings of a flexible pipe may be used for connecting segments of flexible pipe together or for connecting them to terminal equipment such as a rigid sub-sea structures or floating facilities. As such amongst other varied uses, flexible pipe can be used to provide a riser assembly for transporting fluids from a sub-sea flow line to a floating structure. In such a riser assembly a first segment of flexible pipe may be connected to one or more further segments of flexible pipe. Each segment of flexible pipe includes at least one end fitting.
It is well-known that there are many varied problems associated with the provision of end fittings for ends of flexible pipe body. The end fittings must ensure both good fastening and good sealing. Particular problems occur when the various specific layers of the multi layer flexible pipe body are terminated. The flexible pipe body may include layers having very different material characteristics such as single polymer layers and/or interlocked metallic layers. The termination of each of these layers in an end fitting brings with it characteristic problems. For example, flexible pipe body typically includes a barrier layer formed generally as a polymer sheath or pressure sheath. Such a layer operates as a primary liquid retaining layer. To prevent rupture of such a layer or indeed any underlying layer under high pressure caused by the pressure of the transported fluid, an interlocked wire layer is often located outside the barrier layer. Armour layers formed by layers of wire may also be provided to sustain tensile loads and internal pressure. If a pressure armour layer is not supported along its length, it is possible for portions of the barrier layer or other such underlying layer to burst through under pressure and cause failure of the terminating structure.
When wires of one or more armour layers are terminated in an end fitting it is accepted practice to bend the armour wires away from the longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe, cut the wires to a selected length locate these end parts in a locating region and fix them in place using some sort of fixent such as epoxy resin. It has been found that when armour wires are bent away from the middle of the flexible pipe problems can occur if the radius of curvature of the wires is too small or is not controlled within predetermined parameters. Effectively the wires are overstretched and this can cause subsequent failure during the lifetime of the flexible pipe.
It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.
It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for providing an end fitting for a flexible pipe.
It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide an end fitting for a flexible pipe in which at least one of an inner collar member and an outer collar member supports wires of one or more armour wire layers of the flexible pipe body such that the radius of curvature of the wires at a bending location is maintained within acceptable parameters.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising an outer collar member of an end fitting for a flexible pipe, comprising:
an outer collar body portion; and
an outer collar neck portion extending away from the outer collar body portion and arranged to be secured to a portion of flexible pipe body in a slotted position between layers of the flexible pipe body, said position being located between an outer sheath of the flexible pipe body and at least one armour layer of the flexible pipe body; wherein
said outer collar body portion comprises an inner surface region for determining a radius of curvature of wires of the armour layer bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe body and supported by the inner surface when the pipe body is mounted in the end fitting.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising an inner collar member of an end fitting for a flexible pipe, comprising:
an inner collar body portion; and
an inner collar neck portion extending away from the inner collar body portion; wherein
an end region of said neck portion comprises an outer surface region for determining a radius of curvature of wires of an armour layer of a portion of flexible pipe body, said wires being bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe body and supported by the outer surface region when the pipe is mounted in the end fitting.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for securing wires of an armour layer in an end fitting of a flexible pipe, comprising:
an inner collar member of an end fitting for a portion of flexible pipe body; and
an outer collar member for the flexible pipe body; wherein
each of the inner collar member and outer collar member include wire supporting surfaces arranged to determine a radius of curvature of wires of an armour layer of the flexible pipe body when the wires are bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe body and supported by the engaging surfaces when the pipe is mounted in the end fitting.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for securing wires of an armour layer of a portion of flexible pipe body in an end fitting, comprising the steps of:
bending wires of an armour layer away from an axis of the flexible pipe body at a predetermined location; and
supporting the wires at said predetermined location via a support surface of at least one of an end fitting inner collar member and/or an end fitting outer collar member, said support surfaces having a shape which ensures that a radius of curvature of wires supported by the support surface does not fall below a predetermined minimum radius of curvature.
Embodiments of the present invention provide an inner collar member and/or an outer collar member which include a shaped surface such as a curve shaped surface or linear shaped surface which is utilised during termination of an end of flexible pipe body in an end fitting to support wires of one or more armour wire layers when they are bent away from the central region of flexible pipe body during a termination process. By shaping the curve shaped surface according to a predetermined shape/radius of curvature or using a linear shaped surface making a particular angle with an axis of flexible pipe body, at least a minimum radius of curvature in the bent wires of the armour wire layers can be maintained and/or curvature of the wires can be controlled so as to remain within predetermined design parameters and occur at desired locations within the end fitting.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.
Throughout this specification reference will be made to a flexible pipe. It will be understood that a flexible pipe is an assembly of a pipe body and one or more end fittings in each of which an end of the pipe body is terminated. FIG. 1 illustrates how a pipe body 100 is formed from a composite of layered materials that form a pressure-containing conduit. Although a number of particular layers are illustrated in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the present invention is broadly applicable to composite pipe body structures including two or more layers.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a pipe body typically includes an inner most carcass layer 101. The carcass provides an interlocked metallic construction that can be used as the innermost layer to prevent, totally or partially, collapse of an internal pressure sheath 102 due to pipe decompression, external pressure, tensile armour pressure and mechanical crushing loads.
The internal pressure sheath 102 typically comprises a polymer layer that ensures internal-fluid integrity. It is to be understood that this barrier layer may itself comprise a number of sub-layers.
A pressure armour layer 103 is a structural layer with a lay angle close to 90° that increases the resistance of the flexible pipe to internal and external pressure and mechanical crushing loads. The layer also structurally supports the internal-pressure sheath and typically consists of an interlocked metallic construction.
The flexible pipe body may also include one or more layers of tape 104 and a first tensile armour layer 105 and second tensile armour layer 106. Each tensile armour layer is a structural layer with a lay angle typically between 20° and 55°. Each layer is used to sustain tensile loads and internal pressure. The tensile armour layers are typically counter-wound in pairs.
The flexible pipe body also typically includes layers of insulation 107 and an outer sheath 108 which comprises a polymer layer used to protect the pipe against penetration of seawater and other external environments, corrosion, abrasion and mechanical damage.
Each flexible pipe comprises a segment of pipe body 100 together with an end fitting located at at least one end of the flexible pipe. An end fitting provides a mechanical device which forms the transition between the flexible pipe body and a connector. The different pipe layers as shown, for example, in FIG. 1 are terminated in the end fitting in such a way as to transfer the load between the flexible pipe and the connector.
FIG. 2 illustrates a riser assembly 200 suitable for transporting production fluid such as oil and/or gas and/or water from a sub-sea location 201 to a floating facility 202. For example, in FIG. 2 the sub-sea location 201 is a sub-sea flow line. The flexible flow line 203 comprises a flexible pipe, wholly or in part, resting on the sea floor 204 or buried below the sea floor and used in a static application. The floating facility may be provided by a platform and/or buoy or, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a ship. The riser 200 is provided as a flexible riser, that is to say a flexible pipe connecting the ship to the sea floor installation. The flexible pipe includes two segments of flexible pipe body 2051 to 2052 and one junction 206 between adjacent segments of pipe body.
It will be appreciated that there are different types of riser, as is well-known by those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the present invention may be used with any type of riser, such as a freely suspended (free, catenary riser), a riser restrained to some extent (buoys, chains), totally restrained riser or enclosed in a tube (I or J tubes). Also it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be used for single segment risers having, for example, a single long length of pipe body terminated at one or both ends with an end fitting or to multi segment risers having more than one segment.
It will also be appreciated that whilst embodiments of the present invention may be applied to the provision of risers, embodiments are generally applicable to any instance when an end fitting must be used to terminate an end of a portion of flexible pipe body.
FIG. 3 illustrates an end fitting 300 for a flexible pipe. The end fitting 300 includes an end fitting body 301 which includes an internal bore 302 running along its length. The end fitting body is made from steel or some other such rigid material. At a first end of the end fitting body 301 the body defines an open mouth region 303 into which an end of a segment of flexible pipe body 100 is located and then terminated. At a further end of the end fitting body 301 is a connector 304. This is formed as a substantially disk-like flared region of the end fitting body. The connector can be connected directly to a matching connector of a further end fitting body of an adjacent segment of flexible pipe. This can be done using bolts or some other form of securing mechanism. In such a configuration the end fittings would be located in a back-to-back arrangement. Alternatively the connector 304 may be connected to a floating or stationary structure such as part of a ship, platform or other structure to which the flexible pipe is to be secured.
FIG. 4 illustrates the end fitting body 301 in more detail. The open mouth region 303 is formed by the open rim 400 of the end fitting body. This rim defines a circular open mouth through which a flexible pipe body may be introduced. The inner surface 401 includes a first stepped region 402 provided to receive a barrier layer sealing ring when a flexible pipe body is located in the end fitting and a further stepped region 403 arranged to receive a further sealing ring for sealing ends of layers of the flexible pipe body. The remainder of the inner surface 401 defines a substantially smooth inner bore along which transportation fluid will flow in use.
The end fitting body 301 includes a fastening region 404 extending outwardly from the waist of the body to which further parts of the end fitting may be secured during process of terminating the of flexible pipe body in the end fitting.
FIG. 4B illustrates an end elevation of the end fitting body in the third angle projection.
Returning to FIG. 3, the inner carcass 101 and barrier layer 102 are terminated by being cut at a particular location to provide an end 305 to the flexible pipe body. The sealing ring 306 is located at the end of the stepped region 403 of the end fitting body so as to help seal the ends of the carcass layer and barrier layer.
An inner collar 500 is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5. The inner collar 500 is formed from a collar body 501 from which extends a neck 502. The inner collar 500 has a central bore 503 having a cross section defined by an inner surface 504 of the inner collar. The collar body 501 and neck 502 are integrally formed although these parts may be separately made. At an end of the neck 502 an outer surface 505 is formed in a curved surface 506. This curved surface has a radius of curvature selected to define a minimum radius of curvature of an inner tensile armour layer supported by the surface. This will be described hereinafter in more detail. FIG. 5B illustrates an end view of the inner collar from the right hand side in FIG. 5 (third angle projection). The inner collar 500 is an integral piece which helps improve efficiency during a mounting/assembly process. It will be understood that the inner collar could be formed as several pieces according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates sealing ring 600 which may be used to form a seal between an outer surface of the barrier layer 102 of the flexible pipe body and the end fitting body 301. The ring may be a composite structure including metallic and elastomeric parts typically silicone based. The sealing ring 600 is a substantially annular ring shaped piece having a substantially rectangular body 601 which includes an abutment face 602. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the abutment face 602 will abut with a portion of the rim formed by the body of the inner collar member. The sealing ring 600 also includes a wedge-like section 603 which has a smooth outer surface 604 arranged to engage with an inner engagement surface of the end fitting body. Part 605 of the inner surface of the wedge-like part of the sealing ring includes small projections. These projections help furnish a good seal by partially digging into the barrier layer outer surface. However, the projections are so small that micro-cracking of the material of the barrier layer is avoided when the sealing ring is driven into sealing engagement with the barrier layer. As the end fitting body 301 is drawn towards the inner collar member 500, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, an engagement surface of the end fitting body engages with the surface 604 of the sealing ring. This tends to urge the sealing ring in a direction from left to right in FIG. 3 until the abutment surface 602 meets with the surface of the inner collar body. Further movement to the right is then prevented. Further movement of the end fitting body 301 from left to right deforms the wedge-like portion of the sealing ring so as to urge the projections 605 into a close sealing configuration with the barrier layer 102 of the terminated flexible pipe body.
FIGS. 7A to 7B illustrate an outer collar 700. The outer collar 700 includes a substantially cylindrical neck portion 701 which is tapered at a first end region 702 thereof forming an open mouth 710. The tapered end 703 helps when the outer collar is slotted between selected layers of the flexible pipe body. Having a taper thus helps when the outer collar is driven between selected layers. In FIG. 3 the outer collar is shown slotted between an outer sheath and an outer tensile armour layer 106. It is to be understood that the flexible pipe body 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 does not show all of the layers illustrated in FIG. 1 for the sake of brevity. The outer collar 700 is an integral piece which helps improve efficiency during a mounting/assembly process. It will be understood that the outer collar member could be formed as several pieces according to embodiments of the present invention. The outer collar 700 also includes a body portion 704 from which the neck portion extends. The body is turned outwardly with respect to the neck portion as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, but could be turned inwardly. An inner surface 705 of the neck portion 701 is generally cylindrical but towards an open mouth 706 the inner surface flares outwardly. This inner surface region 707 is located at a core region 709 of the body portion 704. In some embodiments, the outer collar member can comprise a substantially cylindrical neck portion defining an open mouth at a first end of the outer collar member and a partially closed mouth at a remaining end region of the outer collar member. The inner surface region 707 may be gently curved and advantageously will have a radius of curvature common to the radius of curvature of the curved outer surface 506 of the inner collar member. In this way when the tensile armour layers 106 of the flexible pipe body are bent away from the barrier layer at a selected location 708, the outermost tensile armour layer may be bent against the curved surface 707. The curved surface 707 thus determines a minimum radius of curvature of the tensile armour layer. A remainder length of the tensile armour layers is located in a cavity in the end fitting in which the wire will be terminated. This cavity is filled with epoxy as described hereinafter in order to lock the wires in position.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the end fitting 300 further includes a casing 307 which is secured via one or more bolts 308 or other such securing mechanism to the end fitting body. The casing acts as a housing and is sealed to the outer sheath 108 of the flexible pipe body via an outer sealing ring 309 of the type illustrated in FIG. 6. The outer casing 307 is first attached to the end fitting and then an end plate 310 is secured to the casing. As the end plate 310 is driven towards the housing to secure the plate to the housing, the plate drives the seal 309 in a direction right to left as shown in FIG. 3. The outer surface of the wedge-like part of the seal thus engages with a surface 311 of the casing which produces an inwards force urging the wedge-like portion of the seal ring into a sealing arrangement with an outer surface of the outer sheath 108.
Ends 312 of the tensile armour layers 106 are terminated within a cavity 313 formed between an inner surface of the housing 307 and the end fitting body 301 and inner collar 500. This cavity 313 can be filled with epoxy or some other flowable sealant so that the end structure is substantially solid. This also helps lock component parts of the end fitting in place to prevent component movement.
FIG. 8 illustrates the end fitting 300 shown in FIG. 3 in cut-away form. As illustrated in FIG. 8, an end part of a segment of flexible pipe body 100 is input into one end of the end fitting 300. At a remainder end of the end fitting 300 the connector 304 provides a rigid structure which may be bolted or otherwise secured to a corresponding connector of an adjacent end fitting or to some other structure to which the flowline formed by the flexible pipe is to be secured. The end of the flexible pipe 100 is terminated within the end fitting with the various layers of the multi-layer flexible pipe being terminated at specific points along the length of the end fitting. A number of seals are provided so as to prevent leakage of transportation fluid flowing along the pipe and end fitting bore.
A method for terminating a segment of flexible pipe body according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The flexible pipe body 100 is to be terminated in an end fitting 300. For this reason the end of the flexible pipe body is cut across at a desired length. Next various parts of the end fitting are threaded over the, at this stage, open end of the pipe. These parts include the jacket 307, end plate (outer collar) 310, and outer seal ring 311.
Next the various layers making up the multi-layer flexible pipe are cut to selected lengths. For example, the outer sheath 108 is cut much shorter than the carcass 101 and barrier layer 102 whilst the tensile armour layers are cut even longer. Next the outer collar 700 is slotted into position at the open end of the flexible pipe body. For example, the neck of the outer collar may be slotted between the outer sheath and outer most tensile armour layer. Once slotted in position the outer collar is kept in place by pressure between the layers of the flexible pipe body acting radially inwardly. These squeeze the neck of the outer collar effectively locking it in place. The armour wires 312 are then bent outwardly away from their supporting role next to the barrier layer of the flexible pipe body. The bend occurs at a selected region 708. As shown in FIG. 3, this region corresponds to the location of the curved surface formed on the inner surface of the body part of the outer collar. By bending the armour layers against this curved surface, a minimum radius of curvature of the wires is controlled so that over-bending does not occur.
Some preparation of the various sealing faces such as measurement of the surfaces and sanding down may then occur followed by a process of securing the inner collar 500 in a relative position to the outer collar 700. This is may be achieved using long bolts 314 or some other such securing means. Part 500 can be manufactured from a single ring or a split ring (and bolted together) and may be secured in place using friction or other attachment mechanism such as bonding with epoxy resin adhesive or being bolted to the outer collar, typically using long bolts 314. Once the armour layers have been bent away from being parallel to the barrier layer and the inner collar has been secured in place, a seal ring 600 is placed around the open end of the pipe. The end fitting body 301 is then moved towards the end of the body of the inner collar 500. The action of drawing the end fitting body on to the pipe swages the inner seal ring 600 down on to the fluid barrier.
In this embodiment the inner collar is secured in place with sufficient force to minimise movement when the swaging process is undertaken. This has the advantage of controlling the location at which the seal ring is secured and thereby the relative position of all the other components. Positioning the body 301 in place then drawing the seal ring on to the body, through the action of an unsecured inner collar moving in direction B as the bolts 313 are tightened is not as advantageous. This is because the point at which the seal ring is secured is fixed relative to the other components: the location of the inner collar, relative to the other components, is not fixed prior to the swaging process. Furthermore though the inner seal ring is initially swaged in direction B, once it bites into the underlying polymer layer the inner seal ring remains fixed and the body 301 moves in direction A potentially crushing the insulator ring 305.
The end fitting body 301 is then moved towards the end of the body of the inner collar 500. As the end fitting is moved towards the flexible pipe, the flexible pipe may be held in a rigid position by the inner and outer collar. As the end fitting body is moved in a direction illustrated by arrow A in FIG. 3, an engagement surface formed as part of the shoulder 402 urges the sealing ring into an abutting relationship with the inner collar. Further movement from left to right, as shown in FIG. 3, causes the shoulder of the end fitting to urge the wedge-like portion of the seal ring inwards into a close sealing relationship with an outer layer of the barrier layer of the flexible pipe body. This energises the seal. The end fitting body 301 may then be bolted to the inner collar using bolts or some other securing mechanism. The free ends 312 of the armour wires are then bent into a position within the cavity 313 which is partially defined at this stage. Such a position is illustrated generally in FIG. 3. The armour wires may be supported on an outer rim surface of the body of the inner collar and an outer surface of the end fitting body. The wires may be secured in place using straps. The outer jacket 307 is then secured, using bolts 308, to the waist of the end fitting body 301. This forms the cavity 313.
The outer seal ring 309 previously hooped on the flexible pipe body is now brought into position by sliding it in a direction illustrated by arrow B in FIG. 3, into the space formed between an inner surface of the jacket 307 and the outer sheath 108 of the flexible pipe body. The end ring 310 is then bolted to the jacket. As the ring is secured it is urged in a direction illustrated as direction B in FIG. 3 towards the jacket. This urges the sealing ring 309 towards abutment surfaces on the jacket which activates the seal.
At this stage the end fitting is hung in a vertical direction. Epoxy or some other flowable sealant is then injected through injection ports (not shown) to fill the cavity 313 in the end fitting. This locks the wires further in place and helps improve overall mechanical integrity.
In conventional end fittings of flexible pipe the complete weight of the end fitting, prior to the filling of the cavity 313 with a material that secures the armour wires in place, is being borne by the anchoring of the seal ring 600 in to the underlying fluid barrier. This direct loading of the seal ring has the effect of increasing the probability that the end fitting process would induce movement at the seal ring and thereby impair its functionality. Where the inner collar is secured on the pipe the load would be shared between the action of the inner collar and the seal ring thereby reducing the risk associated with manipulating the end fitting prior to the filling of the cavity.
In one embodiment of the invention the inner collar 500 is secured by some mechanism (typically through the use of a long bolts 314) with sufficient force and proximity to the outer collar 700 such that the armour wire layers are clamped between the curved surface of the outer collar and the curved surface of the inner collar. This locks the wires in place. It will be appreciated that rather than each of the outer collar and inner collar being provided with a curved surface, only one of the collars may need such a support surface. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the curve of the surface may be linear.
According to embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the support surfaces of the inner collar and/or outer collar may include grooves. FIG. 9 illustrates the curved surface 506 and neck 502 of the inner collar 500 in more detail in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that only a section of the inner collar 500 is shown in FIG. 9 for the sake of convenience. The collar can be an integral cylindrical structure or may be made in sections. Wires forming part of the inner tensile armour layer 106 are wound at a high lay angle with respect to the pipe body 100. As each of these is bent away from the underlying barrier layer at around the bend region 708, each wire is located in a respective guide slot 900. The guide slot is preferably deep enough to encompass the whole diameter of the wire although it will be appreciated that the guide slots may be provided having less depth. Advantageously the guide slots 900 may have a depth of half a wire diameter with a further mating slot being provided on the curved surface 707 of the outer collar.
It will be appreciated that whilst the first armour layer is laid at a first angle with respect to the flexible pipe body, a further tensile armour layer is wound in a different direction. In such circumstances further guide slots (not shown) may be formed in the curved surface 506 of the inner collar at an angle to match the run off angle of those further wires. By providing grooved slots in at least one of the curved surfaces of the inner collar and/or outer collar the curved surfaces of the inner and outer collar can be brought into close juxtaposed relationship. This helps ensure that the neck 502 of the inner collar extends a maximum possible distance so as to support the barrier layer of the flexible pipe as much as possible. Effectively the neck 502 and outer collar neck and outer collar body will support the barrier layer between the end fitting body and a region of the flexible pipe body which retains its integrity. This also helps lock the wires in position to prevent movement which might otherwise damage the epoxy or other features of the end fitting.
Embodiments of the present invention thus provide an end fitting of a flexible pipe. The end fitting has an end fitting body having an open mouth which receives an end of a segment of flexible pipe body which is to be terminated in the end fitting. An inner collar is secured to the flexible pipe and this inner collar includes an elongate neck which has an inner surface which defines a substantially cylindrical bore. The diameter of this bore is selected to closely match the diameter of an outer surface of a barrier layer of the flexible pipe body. When the flexible pipe body is threaded through this central bore, the inner surface of the neck (and indeed a portion of the body) of the inner collar supports the barrier layer of the flexible pipe body. This helps prevent burst through of the material of the barrier layer caused by pressure of the transported fluid pushing through the barrier layer material at unsupported locations.
FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the end fitting 300 includes an end fitting body 301 which includes an internal bore 302 running along its length. The end fitting body is made from steel or some other such rigid material. At a first end of the end fitting body 301 the body defines an open mouth region 303 into which an end of a segment of flexible pipe body 100 is located and terminated.
An inner collar 1000 is formed from a flange body 1001 which includes a body portion 1002 extending from a neck 1003. The flange body 1001 has a central bore which is stepped with a part of the flange body 1001 proximate to the end fitting body 301 having the smallest internal radius. A step outwards in terms of radius occurs part way along the flange and the step distance is arranged to match with a thickness of a pressure armour layer of the flexible pipe body. The inner collar 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 is of a two-piece construction and, in addition to the flange body, also includes an annular tapered ring 1004 which is separate from the flange body. The inner radius of the ring 1004 is greater than the inner radius of the neck region 1003 of the flange body so that a further step region occurs between the ring and neck region. The step size is selected to match with the thickness of one or more layers on the outside of the pressure armour layer. In this way an interstitial layer such as an extruded or metallic layer can be accommodated during termination. The flexible pipe body end of the ring is tapered and has a substantially rounded nose 1005 which is rounded so as to avoid damaging the parts of the flexible pipe body when the ring is slid along the terminated end of the flexible pipe body during assembly. A linear shaped surface 1006 is tapered upwardly away from a central axis of the flexible pipe body with an angle of incidence with the axis being arranged to determine the lift off angle of the armour wires as they are bent away from the flexible pipe body.
The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 also includes an outer collar 1010 which includes a substantially cylindrical neck region 1011 which is tapered at a first end region 1012 thereof. The outer collar 1010 also includes a body portion 1013 part of which is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 11. The outer collar body region 1013 extends from the tapered neck region and has an inner surface initially defined by a substantially cylindrical inner surface 1014 of the neck region and a further linear region 1015 which then bends into an open rim region 1016 of the outer collar. A gentle curved region 1017 is provided between the linear region 1015 of the outer collar body and the linear inner surface of the neck region of the outer collar. Likewise, a gently curved bent region 1018 is provided between the linear support surface 1015 of the outer collar 1010 and the open rim 1016. Each curved region 1017, 1018 is manufactured in a way which ensures that as wires of the armour layers are bent outwardly during an assembly step, no sharp edges remain which could over bend the wires or damage them. The shape of the support surface 1015 is such that it determines the radius of curvature of the armour wires as they are bent away from the flexible pipe body during assembly in the end fitting body. The angle at which the linear surface 1015 meets the axis of the flexible pipe body may advantageously match with the linear support surface 1006 of the tapered ring 1004.
Embodiments of the present invention provide an inner collar which includes an end region having a curved or flat outer surface. The curve of the outer surface is selected so as to determine a radius of curvature of wires of an armour layer of the flexible pipe when those wires are bent away from an axis of the flexible pipe during termination in an end fitting. Embodiments of the present invention also provide an outer collar member having a similar curved surface located on an inner surface region.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for securing wires of one or more armour layers of a flexible pipe when an end of flexible pipe body is terminated in an end fitting. The method includes bending the wires away from an axis of a flexible pipe and locating each wire individually (although more than one wire may be duly located) in a common groove. Contact surfaces of an inner collar and outer collar may be urged together to thereby lock the wires of the armour layer in position at predetermined locations. This helps prevent crumbling of epoxy used to fill the cavity which might otherwise occur when wires are not so locked in place due to a scissor-like action of the armour wires.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for securing an end fitting to a flexible pipe body. The method involves securing some rigid structure, for example, in the form of an inner and outer collar to an end of flexible pipe body. The end fitting is then secured to that structure, such as to an inner collar. By drawing the end fitting body towards the flexible pipe rather than drawing the flexible pipe body towards an end fitting, a more advantageous method of assembly can be provided.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.


A controller regulates pressures of a positive pressure space and a negative pressure space and maintains the pressures at setting pressures when ink is circulated in a circulation path, by: driving an air pump to apply the setting pressures to the positive pressure space and the negative pressure space; and after the setting pressures are applied, controlling opening and closing of a positive-pressure-side pressure regulation valve, opening and closing of a negative-pressure-side pressure regulation valve, and driving of the air pump according to the pressures in the positive pressure space and the negative pressure space, and opening the positive-pressure-side pressure regulation valve or the negative-pressure-side pressure regulation valve simultaneously with the driving of the air pump.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an ink circulation type inkjet printer.
2. Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-162262 describes an ink circulation type inkjet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink from an inkjet head while circulating the ink.
The ink circulation type inkjet printer includes an inkjet head, a positive pressure tank disposed upstream of the inkjet head, and a negative pressure tank disposed downstream of the inkjet head. A positive pressure is applied to the positive pressure tank and a negative pressure is applied to the negative pressure tank, thereby causing circulation of ink. The pressures of the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank are set so that a nozzle pressure of the inkjet head is appropriate for ejection of ink.
However, during circulation of ink, a variation in the liquid levels of ink of the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank causes a variation in the pressures of the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank. Consequently, due to a variation in the nozzle pressure, an appropriate pressure may not be achieved.
To address this, there has been proposed a technique in which a variation in the pressures of the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank due to a variation in liquid level is reduced by using the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank provided with sufficiently increased air capacities, and thereby a variation in the nozzle pressure is suppressed.
Also, a technique is known which uses a pressure regulator including a mechanical damper to suppress a variation in the pressures of the positive pressure tank and the negative pressure tank, and thus suppress the variation in the nozzle pressure.
In some inkjet printers, the positive pressure tank is disposed at a position higher than the inkjet head so that a positive pressure (hydraulic head pressure) is generated by the difference in height. In such an inkjet printer, the positive pressure tank is opened to the atmosphere during circulation of ink. Since the positive pressure tank is opened to the atmosphere, a variation in the pressures of the positive pressure tank is suppressed, and thus the variation in the nozzle pressure may be suppressed


A system and method for selecting a configuration of coils in response to a multi-coil wireless charging system initiating charging are provided. The system includes a ping generator to measure a reference coil peak voltage for each of the coils of the multi-coil wireless charging system; an object detector to detect that an object is placed on a surface associated with the wireless charging system; a charge detector to detect that the object is chargeable; and in response to the object being chargeable, a switch transmitter determines which of the coils of the multi-coil wireless charging system to connect to a power source.

Mobile electronics and devices are becoming increasingly popular. Often times, the mobile device includes an energy storage device, and employs the power in the energy storage device to operate the functionality associated with the mobile device. The mobile device may be, but is not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, or the like.
In order to charge the mobile device, a wired power charging system has been conventionally provided. An operator of the mobile device may connect the mobile device to a charging source (for example, a wall outlet or a vehicle electricity adapter), and wait for the device to become charged fully, or more. The connection may be permeated via a wire, or a socket associated with the mobile device that allows a user to plug in the mobile device into a charging source.
In recent years, the concept of wired charging has been replaced or augmented by wireless charging. The early implementations of wireless charging employed a coil that transmitted wireless energy to a mobile device. The mobile device would be equipped with a technique to receive the wireless energy, and translate the wireless energy to usable and storable power.
In this implementation, a singular coil is provided. Thus, an implementer of this sort of wireless charging may provide various indicia that serves to guide a user of a location or context of where to place the mobile device. In this way, the user is effectively guided in placing the mobile device in an area that optimizes and ensures wireless charging efficiency.
Recently, a plethora of mobile devices have been released. The various mobile devices each have different sizes and charging capabilities. Accordingly, the single coil system may not effectively serve the wireless charging demands of a user.
To counter this concern, a wireless surface or sheet is provided. Accordingly, a user may place their mobile device on the wireless surface or sheet, and in response to this action, initiate a charging of the wireless device. Thus, a user may not be prompted to place the device in specific location.
The wireless surface or sheet, to permeate wireless charging, may be provided with multiple coils. Each coil may be selectively turned on and off at different times to initiate the charging of a mobile device. Each coil may wireless charge the mobile device with a varying amount of power and efficiency.

Selecting a configuration of coils in response to a multi-coil wireless charging system initiating charging


An apparatus for preventing a relay attack that includes a microcontroller, a receiver, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive a challenge message from a verifier. The challenge message has a challenge message frequency at a first challenge message frequency during a first time slot. The transmitter is configured to transmit a response message to the verifier. The response message has a response message frequency at a first response message frequency during the first time slot. The first response message frequency is different than the first challenge message frequency. The challenge message frequency is at a second challenge message frequency and the response message frequency is at a second response message frequency during a second time slit. The second challenge message frequency is different than the second response message frequency.

Contactless wireless security systems, including automotive keyless entry systems, such as Passive Entry/Passive Start (PEPS) systems and near field communication (NFC) payment systems, face a threat referred to as a "relay attack", which permits a vehicle or payment information to possibly being stolen without the owner's awareness.
A relay attack typically involves two individuals, although any number of individuals may be utilized, working in cooperation with each other. Each of the two individuals carries a device (referred to as an attack kit) capable of receiving a signal, in the case of a PEPS system, from either the vehicle or the vehicle's key fob and forwarding the received signal to the other individual after amplifying the signal. In one scenario, the individuals follow the vehicle and its driver. The driver stops at, for example, a store or a restaurant. Individual-1 stands adjacent to the parked vehicle while individual-2 follows and stands next to the owner of the vehicle (who may be inside the store or restaurant or any other location away from the car). Individual-1 initiates a door unlock operation by touching the car handle, pulling the car handle, or pushing a button on the car, which normally requires a valid key fob to be within a certain distance of the door. Upon initiating the unlock operation, the vehicle broadcasts a wireless signal intended for reception by a valid, nearby key fob.
The attack kit carried by individual-1 picks up the wireless signal being broadcast by the vehicle and relays the signal (such as physical layer signals or encrypted bit streams) to the attack kit of individual-2. Upon receiving the signal from the attack kit of individual-1, the attack kit of individual-2 replicates the signal in the format commensurate with the key fob and transmits the replicated key fob-compliant signal to the key fob carried by the vehicle's owner (which presumably is within sufficient range of individual-2); thereby waking up the key fob. The key fob which receives the wireless signal and cannot distinguish individual-2's attack kit from the vehicle itself considers the attack kit carried by individual-2 as the vehicle, and, as it is configured to do, transmits a wireless response signal to authenticate the key fob to the vehicle. This response signal is then received by the attack kit of individual-2 which relays the signal back to the attack kit of individual-1. The attack kit of individual-1 receives the response and replicates a wireless signal compatible with the vehicle. The vehicle's wireless communication system cannot distinguish a wireless signal from the attack kit of individual-1 from the key fob itself and performs the designated operation (e.g., unlocks the door). A similar relay attack is possible on payment systems utilizing NFC technology.


A solid catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising. [A] a particulate carrier composed of (i) an oxide of at least one element selected from among those belonging to the groups of II, III and IV of the periodic table, and containing (ii) at least 1.0 % by weight of water, PA0 [B] an organoaluminum oxy compound, and PA0 [C] a transition metal compound of a metal belonging to the group IV B of the periodic table containing a ligand having a cyclopentadienyl skeleton, PA0 wherein the organoaluminum oxy compound [B] and the transition metal compound [C] are supported on the particulate carrier [A].

Known hitherto as catalysts for the preparation of .alpha.-olefin polymers, e.g. ethylene polymer or ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers, are titanium based catalysts composed of titanium compound and organoaluminum compounds, or vanadium based catalysts composed of vanadium compounds and organoaluminum compounds.
Recently, novel Ziegler type catalysts composed of zirconium compounds and organoaluminum oxy compounds have been developed as catalysts for the preparation of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers in high polymerization activity, and processes for the preparation of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers using these novel catalysts have been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent L-O-P Publns. Nos. 19309/1983, 35005/1985, 35006/1985, 35006/1985, 35007/1985, 35008/1985, etc.
These novel catalysts formed from the transition metal compounds and organoaluminum oxy compounds as proposed in the prior art are excellent in polymerization activity especially ethylene polymerization activity in comparison with the catalysts formed from transition metal compounds and organoaluminum compounds which have been known prior to the advent of the above-mentioned novel catalysts. Nevertheless, the majority of these novel catalysts are soluble in the reaction system and, in most cases, processes for the preparation of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers using these novel catalysts are applicable only to the solution polymerization system. When it is intended to prepare polymers high in molecular weight by using these catalysts, there is brought about such inconvenience that a markedly increased viscosity of the solution containing the resulting polymer will reduce productivity of the process, or there is involved such a problem that it becomes difficult to obtain spherical olefin polymers excellent in particle characteristics.
In the meantime, attempts have been made to polymerize olefins in the suspension or vapor phase polymerization system by using a catalyst composed of a transition metal compound and an organoaluminum oxy compound, at least one of the compounds has been supported on a porous inorganic oxide carrier such as silica, alumina and silica alumina.
For example, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent L-O-P Publns. Nos. 35006/1985, 35007/1985 and 35008/1985 describe to the effect that catalysts prepared by supporting transition metal compounds and organoaluminum oxy compounds on silica, alumina or silica alumina are useful in the preparation of ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymers.
Japanese Patent L-O-P Publications Nos. 106808/1985 and 106809/1985 disclose processes for the preparation of compositions containing polyethylene polymers and fillers, wherein ethylene is polymerized or ethylene and other .alpha.-olefin are copolymerized in the presence of a product obtained previously by contacting a highly active catalyst component containing a hydrocarbon-soluble titanium compound and/or zirconium compound with a filler, an organoaluminum compound and a filler which has affinity with polyolefins.
Japanese Patent L-O-P Publn. No. 31404/1986 discloses a process for the polymerization of ethylene or copolymerization of ethylene and other .alpha.-olefin in the presence of a mixed catalyst comprising a product obtained by reaction of trialkylaluminum with water in the presence of silicon dioxide or aluminum oxide, and a transition metal compound.
Japanese Patent L-O-P Publn. No. 276805/1986 discloses polymerization of olefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium compound and a reaction mixture obtained by reacting a reaction mixture resulting from aluminoxane and trialkylaluminum with an inorganic oxide having a surface hydroxyl group such as silica.
Japanese Patent L-O-P Publns. Nos. 08610/1986 and 296008/1986 disclose processes for the polymerization of olefin in the presence of a catalyst having supported a transition metal compound such as metallocene and aluminoxane on a carrier such as inorganic oxide.
However, when olefins were polymerized or copolymerized in the suspension or vapor phase polymerization system in the presence of such solid catalyst components supported by carriers as mentioned above, the polymerization activity attained in these system was very low in comparison with the case of the above-mentioned solution polymerization system, and a bulk density of the polymer thereby formed was not sufficiently satisfactory.
Further, the polymers thus formed are required to have various characteristics according to the process by which they are molded or to the purpose for which they are used. For example, when an inflation film is molded at a high speed from the polymer as formed, the polymer used for must be selected from among those having a large melt tension considering their molecular weight in order to carry out a stable molding operation at a high speed without flickering or tearing the bubble. Similar characteristics are necessary for the polymer at the time of blow molding thereof in order to prevent the sagging or tearing-off of the polymer or at the time of T-die extrusion thereof in order to keep the shortage in breadth of film to a minimum. In the case of the copolymers, they are required to have a narrow composition distribution when formed into film in order to prevent the film from being sticky. Further, if the polymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution, the molding conditions therefor are sometimes limited, and according to the purposes for which the molded products are used, olefin polymers having a broad molecular weight distribution are required. The solid catalyst components supported on the carriers proposed hitherto were not found to satisfy such requirements as mentioned above.

Olefin polymerization catalyst and olefin polymerization


A load control device may be used to control and deliver power to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise multiple actuators, where each of the actuators is connected between a terminal of the control circuit and a current regulating device. The number of the actuators may be greater than the number of the terminals. The control circuit may measure signals at the terminals and determine a state configuration for the actuators based on the measured signals. The control circuit may compare the state configuration to a predetermined dataset to detect a ghosting condition.

Home automation systems, which have become increasing popular, may be used by homeowners to integrate and control multiple electrical and/or electronic devices in their house. For example, a homeowner may connect appliances, lights, blinds, audio systems, thermostats, cable or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, or the like to each other via a wireless network. The homeowner may control these devices using a controller or a user interface provided via a phone, a tablet, a computer, and the like directly connected to the network or remotely connected via the Internet. These devices may communicate with each other and the controller to, for example, improve their efficiency, their convenience, and/or their usability.
A controller (e.g., a load control device) may include multiple actuators and a control circuit, where each actuator may be configured to control one or more electrical loads, such as those described with respect to home automation. The control circuit may include an integrated circuit (IC) having a preconfigured number of terminals (e.g., pins), where each actuator is coupled to one or more of the terminals. For example, each actuator may be coupled between two of the terminals or between one of the terminals and a reference (e.g., such as a supply voltage or circuit common). The number of terminals of the control circuit limits the number of actuators of the control device. One way to increase the number of actuators of a load control device without changing the number of terminals of the control circuit is to adopt a multiplexing technique, such as a charlieplexing technique. The charlieplexing technique may enable the reading of up to N(N−1) actuators using N terminals. For example, the charlieplexing technique may enable the reading of up to six actuators using three terminals.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example prior art circuit 100 that is configured to perform the charlieplexing technique. The circuit 100 includes a processing device 102 (e.g., microprocessor) that has three terminals 104, 106, 108 (e.g., pins). Since the processing device 102 is configured to perform the charlieplexing technique and includes three terminals 104, 106, 108, the circuit 100 may include up to six actuators 112-122, where each actuator 112-122 is electrically coupled in series with a respective diode 124-134. Further, each actuator 112-122 is electrically coupled between two terminals of terminals 104-108. Each diode 124-134 is configured to conduct current in one direction and block current in the opposite direction. The diodes 124-134 help to ensure that the processing device 102 can distinguish which actuator 112-122 is being actuated. For example, the path from terminal 108 to terminal 104 passes through actuator 120 but not through actuator 122, because diode 134 blocks current from flowing from terminal 108 to terminal 104. In another example, the path from terminal 106 to terminal 108 passes through actuator 118 but not through actuator 116, because diode 128 blocks current from flowing from terminal 106 to terminal 108. As such, the processing device 102 can determine whether a particular actuator 112-122 is actuated by pulling down terminals (e.g., terminals 104, 106) and driving one terminal (e.g., terminal 108) high towards a supply voltage. The processing device 102 may measure the states at terminals that are pulled down (e.g., terminals 104, 106). For example, if the processing device 102 measures that terminal 104 is in a high state, then the processing device 102 may determine that actuator 120 is actuated (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1). For further example, if the processing device 102 pulls down terminals 104 and 108, drives terminal 106 high towards the supply voltage, and measures that terminal 108 is in a high state, then the processing device 102 may determine that the actuator 118 is actuated.
However, by simply reading the states of terminals to determine whether an actuator is being actuated, the processing device 102 may erroneously determine that a particular actuator has been actuated when in fact multiple actuators have been actuated. This may be referred to as a ghosting condition and result in a faulty operation by the circuit 100. A ghosting condition may occur when there are multiple current paths between the two terminals, for example, by actuation of multiple actuators. For example, if actuators 112 and 116 are pressed (e.g., the user accidently hits two buttons at once), the processing device 102 may erroneously determine that actuator 120 has been pressed and the circuit 100 may perform the associated function. In this example, the processing device 102 may drive terminal 108 high and determine that terminal 104 is in a high state. The processing device 102 may associate this state configuration with the actuation of actuator 120 even though actuator 120 was not actuated by the user.

Detecting actuations of buttons of a control device


A positive electrode for electrochemical device includes a positive current collector and a positive electrode material layer supported on the positive current collector. The positive electrode material layer includes a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material includes an inner core portion containing polyaniline and a surface layer portion containing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polythiophene. The inner core portion is fibrous or grain-aggregate, and the surface layer portion covers at least a part of the inner core portion. Furthermore, an electrochemical device includes the above-described positive electrode, a negative electrode including a negative electrode material layer that occludes and releases a lithium ion, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution having lithium ion conductivity.

In recent years, electrochemical devices having intermediate performance between a lithium ion secondary battery and an electric double layer capacitor attract attention. For example, use of a conductive polymer as a positive electrode material has been investigated. Since electrochemical devices containing, as a positive electrode material, a conductive polymer are charged and discharged by adsorption of anions (doping) and desorption of anions (dedoping), these devices have a small reaction resistance. Thus, the electrochemical devices have a higher output than general lithium ion secondary batteries.
The positive electrode containing a conductive polymer is fabricated by forming a conductive polymer layer on the surface of a positive current collector. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-130706 teaches that polyaniline is used as a conductive polymer. Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-245468 teaches that a polymer complex of polyaniline and polypyrrole and/or polythiophene is used as a conductive polymer.

Positive electrode for electrochemical device and electrochemical device, and method for manufacturing same

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A packaging apparatus for making two-lobed tea bags with squeeze feature envisages a consecutive series of stations located along a feed line and used to make a continuous tube of heat-sealable filter paper with a longitudinal center line and including individual pouches containing charges of product; each pouch is delimited by a front and rear area closed off from the other pouches by a crossways seal. At one of the stations, a heat-sealable thread is made to follow a path, forming a coil, on the free surface of the pouches and is sealed to the latter, with the ends of the thread placed on corresponding front areas of each pouch on opposite sides of the center line. The next station cuts the continuous tube and the thread crossways in such a way as to form a tea bag consisting of a pair of pouches. At the last station, the pouches are folded over and sealed to each other at their free ends where a tag used for picking up the tea bag is then applied.

The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus and, in particular, an apparatus for making filter paper bags containing infusable products such as tea, coffee or chamomile.
The use of filter paper bags, referred to more simply as tea bags, for making infusions has become widespread throughout the world because they are so handy and easy to use.
The increasing world-wide popularity of tea bags has led distributors of tea and other infusable products to invest huge resources into research targeted to improving tea bag design and ease of use.
This research has aimed to improve tea bag forms, the ease with which the product is released into the liquid during infusion, shelf life, ease of packaging the tea bags into their final containers and so on.
Over the years, the original single-lobed tea bag, with pick-up thread and tag has been replaced by the now well-established two-lobed tea bag (still with pick-up thread and tag and with or without individual overwrap). The two-lobed tea bag is made from a piece of tubular filter paper filled with two charges of infusable product each in a separate pouch. The two pouches are then folded over each other so that there is a larger surface area in contact with the liquid thus allowing the two charges of product inside the pouches to infuse more effectively.
A more recent market development has been the possibility of making tea bags which, after infusion, that is to say, at the moment they are removed from the liquid, can be squeezed in order to wring as much liquid as possible from the bag and also to prevent the liquid from dripping while the bag is being disposed of.
This squeeze feature allows the user to make the most of that part of the infusion (usually containing a high concentration of product) which is normally lost when the tea bag is removed from the pot and thrown away. The squeezing action is achieved by pulling the thread which typically attaches the tea bag to the tag. At present, the squeeze feature is applied to single-lobed tea bags, as disclosed, for example, by international patent publications N. WO-94/22721, or N-WO-95/10461 and WO-95/10462 or N. WO-96/15033 and WO-95/27666.
Attempts have recently been made to apply the squeeze feature to the two-lobed, and more widely-used, tea bags as well.
To obtain two-lobed tea bags of this kind, it is necessary to provide tea bags with squeezing means that are practical and reliable for users and, at the same time, economical enough not to raise the unit cost of each tea bag.
In this regard, we refer to the two-lobed tea bag described in patent application N. WO-97/19005 where, between the two pouches which contain the product charges and whose opposite ends are joined to each other, there is a thread by which the tea bag can be held during infusion and which is attached to a first area at the bottom end of the bag and not forming part of the product pouches. The thread extends to a second area at the top end of the tea bag and again in the space between the two folded pouches.
The thread is looped in such a way that it forms a coil between the two pouches that does not protrude from the sides of the tea bag itself. The thread loop is attached to the said end areas. The thread is also attached to a tag which allows the user to pull it and thus squeeze the tea bag.
The squeezing action is enhanced by the fact that between the pouches the coil forms a cross which makes it easier to draw the opposite corners of the tea bag together.


A color image processing device includes an acquiring unit that acquires sample values of an original document at a prescribed cycle from a plurality of line sensors provided in parallel with a main scanning direction at a prescribed interval between one another, a storage unit having a capacity that stores the sample values for a prescribed number of samplings and a transferring unit that transfers relatively the original document and sampling positions of the line sensors. A correction unit corrects by carrying out a gap correction process for correcting a gap of the sampling positions of each of the line sensors in accordance with the sample values stored in the storage unit and an instructing unit instructs the transferring unit. In accordance with a rate of magnification for scanning the original document and the capacity of the storage unit, the instructing unit determines whether the gap correction process according to the rate of magnification can be carried out. When the gap correction process can be carried out, the instructing unit instructs the transferring unit to transfer at a correction speed so that a sample value to be used for the gap correction process can be acquired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color image processing device which processes color image data generated by scanning an original document.
2. Description of the Related Art
A scanner device is used independently or loaded in a copy machine or the like to be used for, for example, converting an original document printed on paper into digital data. Recently, a color scanner device, which can scan an original document by color, is becoming widespread. For example, such a color scanner device includes line sensors for individually scanning each of a red component (R), a green component (G) and a blue component (B). In accordance with voltage values obtained from the line sensors, the color scanner device generates image data. Each of the RGB line sensors is provided in parallel to a main scanning direction at a prescribed interval between one another (hereinafter simply referred to as a "line gap"). Therefore, at a prescribed timing, each of the line sensors is scanning different lines on the original document, respectively. A line correction memory is provided for accumulating pixel data acquired from each of the line sensors. The pixel data of a preceding line sensor is loaded from the line correction memory with a delay. By composing the loaded pixel data, pixel data of a RGB format is generated for the same line. Then, by combining the pixel data of the RGB format generated for each line, image data of the original document is generated.
In case a sampling cycle of the line sensors is constant, a rate of magnification in a scanning process of the original document is determined by a relative transferring speed of sampling positions of the line sensors with respect to the original document. For example, when enlarging an original document, the transferring speed is decreased. When reducing an original document, the transferring speed is increased. Therefore, according to the transferring speed, there are cases in which each of the line sensors cannot scan the same line on the original document. When the pixel data acquired from each of the line sensors is composed in this case, the image quality deteriorates. As the technology for correcting such a gap in the scanning lines generated by enlarging or reducing a document, there is technology being proposed to change the sampling cycle and the time for starting a main scanning process in each of the line sensors.
According to the above-described conventional technology, the sampling timing of each of the line sensors (the time for starting the main scanning process) is controlled according to the rate of magnification. Therefore, the same line can be scanned at any rate of magnification. However, hardware for controlling the sampling timing for each of the line sensors is necessary to be provided in both the line sensors and the control circuit. The hardware cannot be shared and as a result, the device results in being expensive.

Color image processing device and color image processing method


A computer-controlled funds processing and remittance processing system, for use by individual, business and other bank customers. The system eliminates the problems associated with batch processing of remittances and remittance advices in lockbox systems. Each participating bank receives, from each participating customer, identifying information regarding bills that are to be paid for that customer with the automated system. After initially collecting all necessary data regarding a participating customer's bills, the bank produces a paper form, which is manually completed by the customer, on a periodic basis. The customer manually inserts the amount to be paid for each bill being processed by the system, opposite pre-printed indicia indicating the identity of the payee. The resulting customer payment instruction document is delivered to the bank, and is optically scanned, to read the specific amounts to be paid for the respective bills. The bank has stored, in computer memory, the names and other identifying information regarding the billers for each customer. Once the customer payment instruction is received and scanned by the bank, which can occur on the day it is received, funds can automatically and promptly be transferred, together with appropriate customer identifying information, to each biller's designated bank and its application, using conventional clearinghouse systems. The invention includes a mailing envelope carrier for the information-containing document.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to automated banking systems and means. In particular, the invention relates to a Customer Initiated Entry system, in which the Bill Payer periodically completes, on a sheet of paper, information in machine-readable form regarding Bills required to be paid and transfers that form to the Payer's Bank. The sheet of paper is optically scanned, the relevant payment information read, and the transaction for transfer of data is then automatically handled by a suitable clearinghouse with prompt transfer of funds to the Biller.
2. Glossary of Terms
As used herein, the following terms shall have the designated meanings.
"Application" means a Biller's computer program, which records accounts receivable and payments for its Bill Payers.
"Automated Clearing House" or "ACH" means a substantially paperless automatic settlement mechanism by which one bank can transfer funds quickly and electronically to another bank through one or more electronic clearinghouses. There are many such clearinghouses; they may be quasi-public (created by a group of banks) or private.
"Bill" means "Remittance Advice" or "Bill", as defined below.
"Bill Payer" means an individual, organization or business paying a Bill to a Biller.
"Biller" means a creditor, which sends periodic Bills to its customers or debtors for payment. A Biller may be a mortgage company, credit card company, public utility or department store chain, by way of example.
"Collection Float" means the time for funds, once credited to a Biller's account, to be verified for availability from the Payer's Bank.
"Customer Initiated Entry" or "CIE" means an automated or semi-automated system in which a Bill Payer may use a rotary telephone (voice input), a touch-tone telephone (voice or key input) or a computer (key input) to communicate to the payer's bank by voice (in the two former events) or keystroke (in the two latter events) to create instructions to make a payment to a Biller.
"Customer Payment Instruction" or "CPI" means a document which is preprinted with Bill Payer identification and a list of Pre-Registered Billers and includes an area for the machine readable, manual designation or insertion of (1) a sum of money for each such Biller, and (2) optionally, a Designated Date.
"Designated Date" means a date designated by a Bill Payer for payment of a bill to a Biller. It may be date specific, e.g., the 15th of each month, or date non-specific, e.g., immediately. For example, a Biller may designate the first of the month as a due date, but will accept payment, without penalty, up to the tenth of the month. The Bill Payer will then prefer to specify the tenth of the month as the Designated Date.
"Electronic Remittance" means electronic transfer of information to effect payment of a Bill by a Bill Payer to a Biller with an associated credit transaction to reflect the payment for the Bill Payer's account with the Biller.
"Electronic Remittance Instruction" means an Electronic Remittance including the following information:
1. The Bill Payer's account number with the Biller;
2. Other nominal data required for the Biller to process a Remittance, such as a transaction number;
3. The amount of the Remittance; and
4. Any applicable data conventions, to permit the data to be recognized and processed. The data conventions (or protocols) are standard, commonly accepted definitions, which may be found, for example, in the Operating Guidelines of the Mid-Atlantic Clearing House Association and The National Automated Clearing House Association.
"Lockbox" means a system of Bill collection in which a Biller designates a bank or other institution as its agent and addressee for receiving payments from Bill Payers and for immediately depositing them, upon receipt, into the Biller3 s account and to collect these funds from the Payer's Bank, and processing the Remittance Advice for the transaction. In some instances, the Biller may act as its own Lockbox agency.
"Mail Float" means the time for a Bill Payer's check, when mailed, to be delivered to the Biller's Lockbox bank.
"Payer's Bank" means a bank where a Bill Payer has an account.
"Preauthorized Payment" means a system whereby a Bill Payer gives the Biller written authorization and instructions to allow the Biller, through its bank, to routinely (usually monthly) automatically deduct predetermined sums from a Bill Payer's account for the credit of the Biller through ACH.
"Pre-Register" means provide a Payer's Bank with the following minimum information for a Biller, as to a Bill Payer:
a. Bank routing number (Biller's bank, Federal Reserve district and account number); PA1 b. Biller's account number at the Biller's bank; PA1 c. Bill Payer's account number; PA1 d. Bill payment period (e.g., month, calendar quarter, etc.); PA1 e. Bill payment due date (e.g., the tenth of each month); PA1 f. Other nominal remittance processing data required for the Biller to process the remittance (for example, transaction number); and PA1 g. Applicable data conventions (the protocols that are required to construct the applicable processing record). PA1 (a) Read the headers. PA1 (b) Read in the Remittance amount from a scan line on the Remittance Advice which has OCR or MICR characters. PA1 (c) Read in the applicable check (which has MICR characters). PA1 (d) Record on each Remittance Advice and check in the batch, a sequential number. PA1 (e) Take an image of the check and Remittance Advice and place them in storage of a computer in sequential order. PA1 a. The items may or may not be processable, depending on the payment acceptance parameters of the Biller in the payment processing software of the Lockbox operator. PA1 b. If the item is deemed to be unprocessable, the data base is so marked for the particular Remittance Advice and check. PA1 c. If the item is deemed to be processable, then the data base is so marked for the particular Remittance Advice and check. PA1 a. The checks for the particular batch are input into a computer-controlled MICR encoder. PA1 b. From the amounts keyed and accepted, the checks are MICR-encoded. PA1 c. The encoded checks are then processed through the normal check clearing (batch) processes in place for the bank. PA1 d. An interface file and reports are created for the Biller's use (from scan/MICR information on the Remittance Advice) in the Biller's accounts receivable collection system/application.
"Remittance" means the act of sending money in payment of an obligation or the money so sent or transmitted.
"Remittance Advice" or "Bill" is the portion of a biller's bill or statement for a bill payer that is to be returned by the biller. It identifies the biller, the bill payer's account number, the due date and amount due, and usually includes a space for the bill payer to insert the amount of the enclosed payment.
3. Prior Art
Automated Clearing Houses are well-known and well-established in the banking field. Although these have been moderately successful, they have not captured the bulk of the Bill Payer check processing business, which is still handled inefficiently using Lockbox systems.
Some Customer Initiated Entry services are currently available, using telephones or computer data entry as means for achieving semi-automated bill payment by the Bill Payer. These have received limited acceptance.
Thus, the prior art includes systems whereby a Payer's Bank may automatically effect fund transfers as a debit to a Bill Payer's account and a credit to a Biller of that bank customer at a remote bank. However, these systems have limited appeal and have not yet obtained widespread acceptance and use.
For Bill payments which are regular and fixed (such as a monthly mortgage or car loan payment), it is possible to provide the Payer's Bank with Preauthorized Payment instructions, so that, on a given date, the Payer's Bank will automatically debit the Bill Payer's account with a pre-determined amount. This amount can then be transferred and credited to the Biller's account automatically, in accordance with the predetermined approval and instructions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,927,071 to Wood; 3,576,972 to Wood; 4,128,202 to Buros; and 3,531,628 to White, Jr. show document carriers for checks having transparent windows.

Automated customer initiated entry remittance processing system


A filter cloth having a needle felt layer laminated to a nonwoven fabric sheet made of ultrafine fibers. The fibers of the nonwoven fabric sheet have a fineness of 0.2 denier or less and the fabric sheet is formed by the melt blow method. The needle felt layer preferably has a weight of from 150 g/m.sup.2 to 900 g/m.sup.2, a longitudinal tensile strength of at least 20 kg/5 cm, a transverse tensile strength of at least 20 kg/5 cm and a bursting strength of at least 10 kg/cm.sup.2.

Generally, in the field of dust collection by means of bag filters, the filter cloth must be possessed not only of the capability of catching dust, but also high mechanical strength and form retention capability because the cloth must be subjected to a periodical mechanical shaking operation to remove the dust which has accumulated in the cloth so as to reactivate the same.
Thus, most conventional filter cloths in the bag filters are either a woven cloth or felt.
On the other hand, in the field of dust collection by means of bag filters these days, the dust is becoming more and more finer, as exemplified by dye, cement or resin powder, etc. It is becoming more and more difficult to efficiently cope with such fine powder-like dust by means of conventional filter cloths. Namely, as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), in a conventional filter cloth 4a, the pores 2a, constituted by the fibers 1a forming a filtering surface 7a, are relatively large, and the fiber fusions 3a, caused by singeing or pressing, occupy relatively large two-dimensional areas. Therefore, conventional filtering mechanisms, which rely upon dust accumulation within the cloth, are prone to clogging and the shaking off of the dust is difficult, which results in higher pressure drop and shorter useful life.
Consequently, the problems associated with the conventional filter cloth are: (a) the pores in the filtering surface are too large to catch fine particles on the filtering surface; and (b) separability (clearing) of dust is inadequate.
In an attempt to improve the above-mentioned dust separability, it has been proposed to treat the filter cloth with a fluorocarbon or silicone resin. The so-treated filter cloth is in fact effective in its early stage of use; however, its durability is rather poor. Thus, it does not provide a satisfactory solution.
By way of another possible solution, it has been proposed, with a view of forming minute pores on the surface, to provide a coating to the filter cloth, the coating being that of a urethane resin or foamed acrylic resin. However, they have a rather low porosity and high pressure drop and result in insufficient performance. In addition, such processing requires higher manufacturing costs.
Furthermore, there is a filter cloth laminated with a membrane on its surface, the membrane being obtained by spreading a PTFE (tetrafluoroethylene resin) film, typically known as "GOATEX" (trade name of Goatex Co.). The thus obtained filter cloth, because of the superior dust separability due to the minute pores and the function of the resin, may be called the best filter cloth at the present time. However, it has a drawback in that its manufacturing cost is very high. Moreover, the anti-wear property of the membrane is rather inferior and it is prone to breakage. Therefore, if recovery of a powder product is intended, it poses a serious problem in that the fragments of the membrane that fall off are mixed with the product.
On the other hand, in use as air filters for automobiles or for air conditioners, a filter cloth comprising a unitary layer of nonwoven fabric formed by the so-called spun bond method or melt blow method, or comprising composite layers of nonwoven fabric formed by the spun bond method and the melt blow method respectively, is widely used. Out of these new types of filter cloth, the nonwoven fabric produced by the melt blow method is formed of much finer fibers as compared with conventional ones, and the pores formed as a result of the entanglement of the fibers are small enough to seize fine particles. However, it is rather difficult to utilize the above-mentioned filter cloth made of nonwoven fabric as a filter cloth for use in bag filters. The reason is that such cloth is not possessed of the strength and form retention capability necessary for withstanding the high dust load as well as the repeated mechanical reactivation operation common in bag filters.
In order to cope with this problem, it is conceivable to laminate a nonwoven fabric produced by the melt blow method to the surface of felt by means of needle punching. However, by so doing, the minute pores formed by the melt blow method are likely to be enlarged by the needle punching, rendering the attempt rather meaningless. Moreover, since the nonwoven fabric formed by the melt blow method is made of ultrafine fibers, it may not be adequately bonded with the felt layer which functions as a base material.
Even if one tries to bond them together using fine, rapidly moving fluids, such as water jet punching in place of needle punching, it is not possible to bond them strongly, and moreover, the fluids tend to leave traces on the surface of the layer made of the ultrafine fibers, making the surface rugged which will adversely affect the separability of dust.


A controller includes at least one processor that implements the instructions to execute a plurality of tasks. The plurality of tasks includes a management table obtaining task that obtains, from the management table including first information indicating a region and second information indicating a country or a region, a destination information obtaining task that obtains third information indicating a region of a shipping destination to which the terminal device is to be shipped, a first specifying task that specifies a first function, a determining task that determines whether a second function, with reference to the second information, needs to be specified, an estimation information obtaining task that in a case where the second function is determined to be necessary, obtains estimation information corresponding to the second information from an external device, and a second specifying task that specifies the second function.

A device may need a different function, depending on a destination (a country or a region to which the device is shipped) of a product.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following content. First, a device requests an application list screen together with information on a country or a region in which the device is used, to a server. The server specifies an application associated with destination information and transmits list information on applications available in the country or the region in which the device is used, to the device.
Patent Literature 2 discloses the following content. First, a device is automatically connected to a network after the device is installed. The device estimates a region, based on information obtained from a specific server. The device reads initial setting screen information of the region from a storage portion, and displays the information, on a display portion.
Patent Literature 3 discloses the following content. A device obtains destination information stored in a storage portion at startup, and creates WEB screen information of a user terminal by a language used in the destination information.

Controller and terminal device control method


A sachet [(10, 22, 110, 210, 510)] for the packaging and dispensing of an item or a flowable substance [(125)], such as a liquid, powder or paste, has a semi-rigid member [(112)] with a weakened region [(120)] formed thereon so that upon bending across the weakened region [(120)] the semi-rigid member [(112)] will fracture along the weakened region [(120)]. The sachet [(110)] also has a reservoir [(114)] formed by overlaid first and second flexible film layers [(116,118)] which are adapted to contain the flowable substance [(125)]. In one form, an annular region [(128)] of the second flexible film layer [(118)] immediately surrounding the aperture region [(126)] is sealed to the adjacent region of the semi-rigid member [(112)] so as to prevent leakage of the flowable substance [(125)] from within the reservoir [(114)]. In use, fracturing along the weakened region [(120)] will expose the aperture [(126)] so as to allow the flowable substance [(125)] to be dispensed.

The concept of a sachet for storing and dispensing of a single serve of a condiment such as tomato sauce or the like is known. See, for example, a selection of patents to Sanford Redmond including U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,574 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,715 which show a sachet arrangement having a ridge portion through which condiment is expressed.
Australian Patent Application 65366/96 discloses an alternative arrangement which utilizes a flat rather than ridge like dispenser arrangement.
Sachets have also been used to store and protect specific items prior to use. Such items can include but are by no means limited to liquid impregnated articles such as tissues and swabs of various kinds. In this context the aperture for expression of the stored article will often need to be larger than in the case where a flowable substance such as a paste or cream is to be expressed.
A problem with both the raised and non-raised arrangements referred to above relates to the sealing of the dispenser aperture during the period when the sachet is being used for storage and, in conjunction with this, the manner of opening or rupturing of the aperture at the time of first use of the sachet to dispense its contents. Particularly where the sachet is not disposed of after initial expulsion of its contents but, rather, is retained for further or subsequent expulsion of contents at a later time problems occur with interaction between the remaining contents of the sachet and the ruptured opening, including in some instances, the degradation of portions of the sachet.
It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned problems or at least provide a useful choice.

Dispensing sachet by bending and method of sachet manufacture


Antigens are removed from the surface of an organism, such as a microorganism, without disrupting the organism and releasing internal antigens of the organism. The free surface antigens of the organism may be used to determine the presence of infection in an animal due to the organism by determining the presence of antibodies that bind to the free surface antigens in a sample obtained from the animal.

Perhaps the most important aspect in diagnosing the cause of symptoms experienced by a patient when an infectious agent is suspected as being the cause of the symptoms is the establishment of the identity of the specific organism that is etiologically responsible for the symptoms. Additionally, a significant need exists for a method to identify people and animals that have been infected with an organism, such as a microorganism, including people and animals who are not exhibiting signs or symptoms of disease associated with the organism.
Classically, the presence of infection due to a particular infectious microorganism has been established by isolating the organism from the body of a patient, culturing the organism on a suitable culture medium, and identifying the cultured organism based on biochemical, immunological, or other tests. This method suffers from several disadvantages. Diagnosis by culture and identification often requires a substantial period of time when growing organisms that have a slow growth rate. For example, standard culture and identification methods for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the causative organism of Johne's disease in cattle and Crohn's disease in people, may require 8 to 16 weeks or more to perform due to the very slow growth rate of this organism. Another disadvantage to culture and identification methods of diagnosis is that the particular organism causing disease in a patient may fail to grow on standard culture media, leading to a negative culture result and a failure in diagnosis. Additionally, because such methods require the isolation of an infectious organism from a patient, these methods are inappropriate at times when the patient is not shedding the organism or if the organism is located in an inaccessible location within the body of the patient.
In recent years, molecular biological and immunological methods have been developed for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. These methods generally fall into three categories, detection of genome nucleic acids, detection of protein, and detection of antibodies directed against a pathogen.
Diagnosis by identification of genome nucleic acids is typically performed using either or both amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by identification of PCR fragments produced or by use of probes that bind specifically to a portion of the genome of a suspected causative organism. These methods, especially when used in combination, can be very sensitive and specific methods to establish a diagnosis of a causative organism. There are several disadvantages associated with these methods. They are expensive, require sophisticated technical expertise to perform, and generally take several days to obtain enough microorganisms for a diagnosis. Another significant disadvantage associated with diagnosis by detection of genome nucleic acids is that an organism must be isolated in order to obtain the genome nucleic acids.
Diagnosis by identification of proteins is typically performed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this test, an antigen from a microorganism, typically a disrupted microorganism or a portion of a microorganism, is bound to a solid support and reacted with a first antibody in a test sample, typically serum, that is specific for the antigen of interest. A labeled second antibody that binds to antibodies in test serum is then exposed to the solid support complex to provide a means for identification of the presence of the antigen. ELISA tests, however, suffer from several disadvantages including low sensitivity and the requirement to provide two different antibodies for the detection of an antigen. ELISA testing requires skilled laboratory technicians and can provide false results if samples contain cross-reacting antibodies.
An example of an infectious disease for which currently available diagnostic methods are inadequate is Johne's disease, a disease in cattle caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne's disease results in decreased milk production and early culling of infected cows resulting in an annual loss of approximately $1.5 billion to the agricultural industry in the United States. Considerable evidence exists that MAP is also the causative organism of Crohn's disease in humans. Despite this significant impact on the U.S. economy and on human health, there is no effective diagnostic test to determine early infections by MAP.
At present, fecal culture is considered to be the most accurate means of diagnosing MAP infection. However, this diagnostic test has low sensitivity (less than 50%) and is capable of detecting infections only in animals that are actively shedding MAP in their feces. Additionally, diagnosis of MAP by culture typically requires 8 to 16 weeks for growth of the organism.
Other diagnostic tests for Johne's disease include PCR, complement fixation, agar gel immunodiffusion, and ELISA. These tests, each of which utilizes a molecular extract of MAP, have inherently low specificity or sensitivity for MAP and suffer from the disadvantages present with these methods as indicated above.
A significant need exists for a diagnostic method to detect infection by an organism, such as a microorganism, that can be performed rapidly, is highly sensitive, is highly specific, and which may be performed by an individual lacking sophisticated laboratory training. Particularly, a significant need exists for such a diagnostic method that is useful for diagnosing diseases such as those caused by MAP.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation