A sheet finisher for executing preselected processing with a sheet conveyed thereto of the present invention includes a first processing tray configured to temporarily store the sheet and deliver it. A first and a second path are positioned downstream of the first processing tray in a direction of sheet conveyance and configured to convey a first and a second sheet stack, respectively. The first path conveys the first sheet stack upward over the downstream portion of the first processing tray while the second path conveys it downward over the same. A switching device selects either one of the first and second paths. The sheet finisher of the present invention is low cost and highly productive and space saving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet finisher mounted on or operatively connected to a copier, printer or similar image forming apparatus for sorting, stacking, stapling, punching, positioning, folding or otherwise finishing a sheet or sheets carrying images thereon, and an image forming system consisting of the sheet finisher and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
Today, a sheet finisher for the above application is extensively used and located downstream of an image forming apparatus for finishing sheets, or recording media, in various ways. An advanced finisher recently proposed has multiple functions including a center stapling function and a folding function in addition to an edge stapling function. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-19269, for example, discloses a sheet finisher including a roller pair configured to fold a sheet stack at the center while conveying the sheet stack via its nip.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 7-48062 and 2000-153947, for example, each disclose a sheet finisher in which edge stapling and center stapling are effected independently of each other with a sheet path being switched at the inlet of the finisher. Although this type of sheet finisher can be easily constructed into a unit and can adapt to a less-option configuration, it is not desirable in the cost aspect because its functions overlap each other. Further, in a center staple mode, the sheet finisher performs folding of a sheet stack at the same position as positioning and stapling, so that a sheet stack of the next job cannot be brought to the center stapling position until the folding of the previous job completes. This prevents productivity from being enhanced.
In light of the above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2000-11886 and 7-187479, for example, each teach a sheet finisher including a staple tray or processing tray inclined such that its downstream side in the direction of sheet feed is higher in level than the upstream side. A sheet stack is positioned and stapled on such a staple tray in either one of an edge staple mode and a center staple mode and then switched back to be conveyed to another station, which is assigned to folding. More specifically, the stapled sheet stack is conveyed in a direction opposite to a direction in which a sheet stack stapled at its edge is to be discharged. The folding station arranged independently of the stapling station enhances productivity and minimizes an increase in cost ascribable to overlapping mechanisms. However, a fold tray located at the folding station must be configured long enough to enhance productivity. As a result, the staple tray positioned above the fold tray and the fold tray are contiguous with each other in a "<" configuration, making the sheet finisher bulky. This cannot meet the increasing demand for apace saving.
For size reduction, Japanese Patent Laid-Open is Publication No. 2000-63031, for example, proposes a sheet finisher constructed to fold a sheet stack extending over two processing trays. This construction, however, cannot enhance productivity.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 11-286368 and 2000-86067 each propose a sheet finisher in which a fold roller is positioned slightly above the intermediate portion of a fold tray so as to directly fold a sheet stack and then drive it out of the finisher, thereby implementing the shared use of a processing tray and a short conveyance path. Such a sheet finisher, however, not only fails to enhance productivity, as stated earlier, but also is large size because the fold roller is positioned above the inclined tray.
Of course, a sheet finisher with a single function, i.e., a center stapling function, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-183558, cannot meet the needs on today's market.
Generally, in a staple mode available with a sheet finisher, it is a common practice to position consecutive sheets on a position tray, staple the resulting sheet stack with stapling means, and then convey the stapled sheet stack to a tray located at the most downstream portion of the sheet finisher. In a center staple mode, a sheet stack stapled at the center is conveyed to a folding section and then conveyed to the above tray. This type of sheet finisher includes a plurality of paths each being assigned to a particular mode and path switching means for selecting one of the paths matching with a mode selected.
When the sheet finisher with the folding function stated above conveys a sheet stack to a folding station, the sheet stack is apt to become loose if conveyed at high speed although the speed may allow a stapled sheet stack to be surely conveyed. The loose sheet stack cannot be stapled in a neat configuration. However, if the conveying speed is lowered, then the next sheet stack (job) cannot be received. This lowers CPM and therefore requires the productivity of the image forming apparatus to be lowered. That is, how high the operation speed of the image forming apparatus may be, the productivity of the image forming apparatus is limited by the ability of the sheet finisher.
Assume that the path switching means is operated when a job for outputting a desired number of sets (copies) of copies of documents or outputting a plurality of booklets is to be executed. For example, assume that in a center staple mode the path switching means selects a path for conveying a sheet stack downward from a staple tray instead of a path for conveying it upward from the staple tray. Then, the path switching means catches a sheet entering the staple tray and causes it to jam the path or to crease or otherwise deform. Further, if the path switching means is so positioned as to select the downward path when a sheet stack jams the path at a branch portion, it is difficult for the operator to remove the jamming sheet stack.
Moreover, in the case where a sheet stack includes a cover or a slip sheet different in kind and size from the other sheets, a roller or a projection included in the path switching means is likely to catch the sheet stack and damage it. More specifically, the size of a sheet varies when it is passed through a fixing section in accordance with the degree of moisture absorption.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 10-59610, 10-181990, 10-218475, 2000-72320, 2000-118860, 2000-143081 and 2000-68577.

Sheet finisher and image forming system using the same


A herbicide composition is provided comprising a glyphosate herbicide, an activity enhancing alkyl polyglycoside surfactant, and a foam moderating acetylenic diol.

The present invention relates to new and useful herbicidal compositions of N-phosphonomethyl-glycine and/or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof in aqueous solution containing certain herbicidal activity-enhancing nonionic surfactants and a class of foam moderators.
N-Phosphonomethylglycine, also known by its common name glyphosate, and herbicidal salts thereof are highly effective and commercially important herbicides useful in controlling a wide variety of unwanted vegetation. The herbicide is normally applied to the foliage of a very broad spectrum of annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf plants and the like. Once within the plant, the herbicide translocates and is lethal to the whole plant. Usually, glyphosate is formulated in herbicidal compositions in the form of a selected water soluble salt. Commercially, glyphosate in the form of its monoisopropylamine salt is most often sold in concentrated aqueous solution which normally also contains an appreciable amount of a surfactant. The presence of a surfactant provides more efficient utilization of glyphosate and/or its salts dissolved in aqueous solution as compared to like glyphosate-containing solutions to which no surfactant has been added. The more efficient utilization of glyphosate and/or its salts occurs independently of whether the surfactant is anionic, cationic or nonionic.
An undesirable side-effect of the presence of surfactant can be the generation of foam, especially during dilution, mixing and spraying of the herbicide by the user. Alkyl polyglycosides are a class of surfactants useful for enhancing the herbicidal activity of glyphosate formulations but unfortunately have a strong tendency to generate foam which is slow to dissipate.
In European Patent Application 0 220 902 this drawback of alkyl pplyglycoside is not pointedly discussed, but it is suggested that an antifoam agent may be included when an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant is formulated with an aqueous solution of glyphosate. The only antifoam agent suggested in that patent is broadly described as a dimethylpolysiloxane. Most antifoam agents, such as the siloxanes, function by being in a separate phase from the aqueous solution, which allows the antifoam agent to rupture the film surrounding the entrapped air. Thus, in a spray solution, it is desirable that the antifoam agent be insoluble in the aqueous phase of the solution. However, this can have negative effects on the aqueous concentrate solution that is diluted to form the spray solution. It has been found that when silicones, such as the dimethylsiloxanes as suggested in the patent, are used as antifoam agents for aqueous concentrate solutions of glyphosate and an alkyl polyglycoside, a non-homogeneous formulation results upon standing over a relatively short period of time. In other words, there is a pronounced tendency of the silicone to separate from the aqueous concentrate solution as a separate layer. Thus, in such aqueous solutions, the silicone will have to be redispersed before pouring or drawing aliquots of the formulation from its container in order to realize the antifoam properties of the silicone in all aliquots. This redispersion requires agitation, for example, by shaking and stirring. A requirement for shaking or otherwise agitating agricultural chemical formulations prior to use is often ignored by the user, even when clearly advised on the label of the container. When large containers of aqueous concentrate solutions of glyphosate are used, accomplishing the needed agitation may be impractical impossible. Therefore, it is desired in the art to provide an aqueous concentrate formulation of glyphosate containing an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant having an antifoam agent such that the formulation is a homogeneous aqueous concentrate solution where the antifoam agent does not separate with time, yet shows good antifoam properties on dilution with water.
In a publication copyrighted in 1980 by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and entitled xe2x80x9cSurfynol(copyright) Surfactantsxe2x80x94Performance in Agricultural Chemicalsxe2x80x9d, it is disclosed that such acetylenic diol surfactants provide beneficial effects in certain agricultural chemical formulations including wetting/surfactant potentiation, antifoam properties, compatibility with other adjuvants and anticorrosion properties. There is no disclosure of using the Surfynol surfactants to moderate the foam problems with aqueous solutions of glyphosate or with any agricultural chemical formulation containing an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant.
In normal agricultural applications, glyphosate is delivered from the herbicide manufacturer to the user in concentrated liquid form. For example, a commercial formulation may contain about 41% monoisopropylammonium glyphosate, as the herbicidally active ingredient, and about 15% surfactant with the remainder water. The glyphosate-containing aqueous solutions are applied at various rates using various application equipment and techniques. Spraying of diluted solutions of the herbicide on the target foliage is often accomplished with aerial broadcast spray, hand-held or boom-mounted applicators which produce a spray of desired force and configuration of active ingredient delivered at a predetermined rate. Spray solutions of the herbicidal compositions may contain from about one-half percent active ingredient to about five percent active ingredient or more to provide a delivery rate to the target plants of about 0.112 kilograms/hectare (kg/ha) to about 11.2 kg/ha. Thus, many commercial formulations of glyphosate and/or its salts require dilution with water. The formulated glyphosate and/or its herbicidal salts mix readily with water. The dilution may be accomplished by filling the mixing or spray tank with the required amount of water and adding the proper amount of formulated glyphosate or salts thereof. The resulting mixture requires agitation, for example, by circulation or agitation stirring. During mixing and application of the herbicidal composition, undesirable formation of foam of the spray solution may occur. While the above-mentioned alkyl polyglycoside surfactant facilitates the efficient use of the activity of the glyphosate and/or salts thereof dissolved in aqueous solution, the use of conventional application techniques is limited because of the foaming problems.
The present invention provides a stable, homogeneous, concentrate formulation of glyphosate and/or its salts, a herbicidally enhancing amount of an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant, and a foam moderating amount of a Surfynol surfactant, that does not foam unacceptably during dilution, mixing, or spraying. This concentrate formulation does not require shaking or stirring before being poured or drawn from the container in which it is supplied, such that each aliquot does not foam unacceptably during dilution, mixing, or spraying. There is no tendency of the Surfynol surfactant to separate from the solution as a separate layer. Upon dilution, the spray solution may be hazy, which indicates that the spray solution is non-homogeneous and at least two phases exist. This haziness is presumably the Surfynol surfactant, which is not soluble in the aqueous phase of the spray solution, which can then function as an antifoam agent in the spray solution. Thus, the glyphosate and/or its salts, alkyl polyglycoside surfactant, and Surfynol surfactant form a homogeneous aqueous concentrate solution, but the spray solution formed upon dilution of the aqueous concentrate solution is non-homogeneous.
There is provided a herbicidal composition comprising an aqueous concentrate homogeneous solution of
a) glyphosate and/or a herbicidal salt thereof in concentrated form;
b) an activity enhancing amount of at least one alkyl polyglycoside surfactant; and
c) a foam moderating amount of at least one acetylenic diol structurally characterized by a symmetrically substituted triple bond and adjacent hydroxyl groups.
Foaming which would normally occur when a diluted aqueous solution of glyphosate and/or its salts is agitated in the presence of an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant is moderated by the use of the composition of the present invention.
The composition in liquid form is prepared by mixing together a glyphosate herbicide, an activity enhancing alkyl polyglycoside surfactant, an acetylenic diol foam moderator, and water to form a homogeneous aqueous concentrate solution wherein the herbicide is present in an amount greater than required for vegetation control. Thereafter, the resulting concentrate solution may be diluted with additional water to adjust the glyphosate concentration to a suitable spray concentration. The resulting diluted solution may be hazy, thereby indicating non-homogeneity. The diluted solution has a reduced foam-forming propensity by comparison with a similar solution lacking the acetylenic diol. The foam more readily dissipates upon standing and forms in lesser amounts when the foam moderating diol is used in accordance with the present invention. The composition of the present invention may be formulated as a powder or granules in which case water will be added later.

Herbicidal compositions and methods for preparing and using the same


The present invention is to provide a signal analyzing apparatus which can easily identify a pattern high in error rate and a pattern causing bit errors in comparison with the conventional device. In a signal analyzing apparatus (4) for analyzing a signal from an object under test, and having a display unit (21) display an analysis result on the signal, the signal analyzing apparatus (4) includes a statistical processing unit (34) for statistically processing the analysis result for each of divided sections obtained by dividing an analysis section set for the signal; and a display control unit (23) for causing the display device to display statistical results obtained by the statistical processing unit for each of the divided sections, when a divided section are identified as a new analysis section, the statistical processing unit performs statistical processing of the analysis result for each of divided sections obtained by dividing the new analysis section, the display control unit causes the display device to display the statistical results obtained by the statistical processing unit for each of new divided sections.

As an example, a conventional signal analyzing apparatus is designed to detect a bit error from an arbitrary section designated in a pattern of a signal outputted from an object under test to measure a bit error rate. The conventional signal analyzing apparatus comprises a pattern position detecting unit, a pattern generating unit, an error counter and a verification unit. The pattern position detecting unit is operable to output a count enable signal when detecting the designated section from the pattern in response to a synchronization signal from the pattern generating unit. The pattern generating unit stores therein patterns of bits to be used for checking the signal outputted from the object under test. The error counter is operable to start and stop counting the number of bit errors in response to a bit error detection signal outputted from the verification unit when receiving the count enable signal from the pattern position detecting unit (refer to for example patent document 1).
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication No. H07-225263


A toner transport device includes a toner transport path for passing toner, and a toner transport pipe disposed so as to have an up-and-down direction in which the toner transport path extends. Further, the toner transport device includes a pipe supporting member for supporting the toner transport pipe, which is supported so as to move up and down. This allows the toner transport pipe to vibrate up and down, thereby properly preventing retention and solidification of toner inside the toner transport path.

Conventionally, image forming apparatuses employing an electrophotographic system such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine have been widely known. In such image forming apparatuses, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface of a photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner, and a toner image thus obtained is transferred and fixed onto a sheet such as a paper sheet or the like. The toner used to develop the electrostatic latent image is supplied from the developing device to the surface of the photoreceptor. To the developing device, toner is supplied from a toner cartridge via a toner transport device. In a structure in which a toner cartridge is disposed over a developing device, a toner transport device is provided with a toner transport path extending in an up-and-down direction.
On the other hand, in recent years, with the improvement in high image quality of image forming apparatuses, particles of toner have been designed to have a micro diameter. A toner having such micro particles generally does not have good fluidity, so that retention and solidification of toner easily occur in a toner transport path of a toner transport device. In order to overcome such a problem, a toner transport device needs some contrivances.
For example, an apparatus disclosed in patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, No. 174467/1992 (Tokukaihei 4-174467, publication date: Jun. 22, 1992) is arranged such that four developing devices for different colors are disposed in the up-and-down direction and toner is supplied from a toner hopper (equivalent to a toner cartridge) to the developing devices. The developing devices are movable in upward and downward directions so as to face a photoreceptor when used. To enable such movements, an accordion pipe is used for a toner transport path through which toner is supplied from the toner hopper to the developing devices. Further, a rotator is provided by the accordion pipe. The rotator has a plurality of protrusions provided thereon in its circumferential direction, and is driven by a motor so as to rotate. That is, in the patent document 1, by rotary motion of the rotator, the protrusions disposed on the rotator repeatedly hit the outer surface of the accordion pipe, causing toner remaining in pleats of the inner surface of the accordion pipe to fall off.
Further, patent document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, No. 296731/2001 (Tokukai 2001-296731, publication date: Oct. 26, 2001) discloses an apparatus in which four developing devices for different colors are arranged in a lateral line and supplied with toner from respective toner cartridges via a first transport path and a second transport path. Inside the second toner transport path disposed in an up-and-down direction (vertical direction), a spring agitator is provided that moves in upward and downward directions. The movement of the spring agitator corresponds to rotation of an auger, which is provided inside the first transport path disposed in the horizontal direction. That is, in the patent document 2, toner is prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the second transport path, by causing the spring agitator to move in the upward and downward directions inside the second transport path.
However, the conventional structures have difficulties in properly preventing retention and solidification of toner in a toner transport path disposed in the up-and-down direction.
Specifically, in the patent document 1, since the toner transport path disposed in the up-and-down direction is an accordion pipe, structurally, the transport path does not easily prevent retention and solidification of toner inside the toner transport path. In addition, since the rotator gives impacts and vibration to part of the toner transport path, toner easily remains and solidifies in a portion away from the rotator.
Further, in the patent document 2, since the spring agitator is disposed inside the second transport path disposed in the up-and-down direction, toner easily remains and solidifies on the surface of the spring agitator. That is, the spring agitator itself tends to become a cause of restricting toner transport.

Toner transport device, toner supply device, and image forming apparatus


A line sychronizing apparatus includes a conveyer 1 for conveyance of a work, a first transport rail 2 mounted above and in parallel with the conveyer, a main assembly 10 slidably supported on the first transport rail by a plurality of rollers, a second transport rail 14 mounted in parallel with the conveyer, and an operating assembly P slidably supported by the second transport rail by a plurality of rollers. The apparatus prevents the heavy weight of the main body of the apparatus from being applied to the work. The apparatus performs each assembling operation in a synchronized condition while the work is being transported.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line synchronizing apparatus capable of following such as a variety of works or assembly parts moving along a roller conveyer line.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
As an apparatus for providing an operation such as tightening or the like, in sychronization with a work moving along a production line, it is known a "Line Synchronization Apparatus" as disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 62-153019 (Application No. 61-39794, 1986). Such an apparatus includes a synchronizing means disposed over and in parallel with a transport line and suspended downwardly therefrom; fastening means such as a nut runner provided on the lower side of the synchronizing means; and, in addition, engagement means provided on the lower end of the synchronizing means: whereby, as the work is conveyed along the line, the engagement means is lowered to engage with the work, the synchronizing means is turned to its operation condition, and therefore the synchronizing means, driven by the conveying force of the line, also travels following the work. Subsequently, the nut runner port is lowered to perform tightening operation during moving of the work.
However, there were problems in the foregoing construction, in the case that a roller conveyer is used as the conveyer. In such a case, the transport of the work is achieved by friction between surfaces of the roller and the work. On the other hand, the synchronizing means is formed to include therein a drive system for the fastening means, control means and also a housing structure therefor, thereby having a dimension of a large scale and of a heavy weight. Accordingly, especially in the case of a work having a light weight such as formed of aluminum, the friction between the rail and the synchronizing means is sometimes of a value very close to that between the roller and the work, and therefore the work would be undesirably kept as being untransported to cause trouble in the operation of the subsequent process.


In a paper feeding device capable of separately transporting paper without reversely rotating a retard roller being provided with feed rollers and retard rollers which separately transport, sheet by sheet, paper fed from paper feed trays by pickup rollers, a rotary drive unit for rotating the feed rollers in a paper transporting direction, and a pressing unit for pressing the retard rollers against the feed rollers. In the paper feeding device, a retard roller braking unit which supports the retard rollers so as to rotate together with the rotation of the peripheral surface of the feed rollers when the retard rollers are pressed against the rotating feed rollers, and which applies a braking force to the rotating retard rollers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for separately transporting paper sheet by sheet from a paper feed tray in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile, or a printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following technique as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 has been known for use in such a paper feeder.
FIGS. 26 and 27 are explanatory illustrations of a conventional paper feeder which feeds paper from a paper feed tray.
In FIG. 26, a plurality of paper feed trays 01 are vertically stacked on top of each other. Each paper feed tray 01 is provided with a paper loaded plate 02 for supporting, in a raisable manner, that part of a lower surface of the paper piled in the paper feed tray which is close to a paper feed unit, paper side edge positioning members 03 for positioning the side edges of the paper housed in the tray, and a paper front edge support wall 04 for positioning the front edge of the paper in the transportation direction thereof.
A paper feed unit 06 is disposed in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 26 along the side of each paper feed tray 01 close to the paper feed unit (i.e., the right side portion of the paper feed tray). The paper feed unit 06 comprises a pickup roller 07 for feeding the paper stored in the paper feed tray 01, a pivotal arm 08 for supporting the pickup roller 07, a tension spring 010 which pulls the pivotal arm 08 such that it downwardly presses the pickup roller 07, and a separately transporting roller 011 which comprises a feed roller 011a and a retard roller 011b which separately transport the received paper sheet by sheet.
The separately transporting roller 011 is disposed in front of the paper feed tray 01 in the paper feeding direction, and the pickup roller 07 is disposed above the paper feed tray 01. The pickup roller 07, the pivotal arm 08 for supporting the pickup roller 07, and a gear 12 for transmitting torque to the pickup roller 07 are disposed between the lower surface of an upper paper feed tray 01 and the upper surface of the paper loaded in a lower paper feed tray 01.
In FIG. 27, the pivotal arm 08 is provided with a supported pin 08a and a light shielding section 08b for detecting the position of the supported pin.
An operating link rod 014 and a spring link rod 015, both of which extend downwardly, are fixedly attached to a rotary shaft 013 rotatably supported by a frame (not shown). The lower end of the operating link rod 014 is joined to a leading end of an extendable rod 016a of a solenoid 16 so as to be relatively movable in a vertical direction as well as to be relatively rotatable.
The lower end of the spring link rod 015 is joined to a tension spring 017. When the lower end of the spring link rod 015 is downwardly pulled by means of the tension spring 017, the rotary shaft 013 and the operating link rod 014 rotate, which in turn results in the extendable rod 016a being extended.
When the extendable rod 016a contracts as a result of the solenoid 016 being turned on, the operating link rod 014, the rotary shaft 013, and the spring link rod 015 rotate.
A pin rasing member 013a is attached to the rotary shaft 013. When the solenoid 016 is in an OFF state, the rotary shaft 013 rotates via the spring joint rod 015 pulled by the tension spring 017, whereby the pin raising member 013a is retained in an elevated position. The pin raising member 013a, which is retained in the elevated position while the solenoid 016 is in the OFF state, raises the supported pin 08a. While the supported pin 08a is held in the raised condition, the pivotal arm 08 is also retained in an elevated position.
A position sensor 018 is fixedly supported by a frame (not shown) and comprises a light emitting sensor 018a and a light receiving sensor 018b which are spaced apart from each other. While the light shielding section 08b, which vertically moves in conjunction with the vertical movement of the pivotal arm 08, is in an elevated position, it is sandwiched between the light emitting sensor 018a and the light receiving sensor 018b.
A retard roller support frame 021 for supporting the retard roller 011b is supported by a support shaft 022 so as to pivot thereon. The retard roller support frame 021 is retained by a coiled tension spring 023 in such a position as to press the retard roller 011b against the feed roller 011a.
A retard roller support shaft 024 rotatably supported by the retard roller support frame 021 rotatably supports the retard roller 011b via a torque limiter 025. A gear 026 is attached to the retard roller support shaft 024.
A frame F supports a retard roller drive gear 027 which rotates around the support shaft 022.
When the retard roller drive gear 027 rotates, the gear 026 and the retard roller support shaft 024 are rotatably actuated. Resultant torque is transmitted to the retard roller 011b via the torque limiter 025.
The rotation direction of the retard roller 011b is set to be opposite to the paper feeding direction.
FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic representation for explaining the principle operation of the traditional paper feeder shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. With reference to FIG. 28, an explanation will now be given of the case where no paper or only one sheet of paper is pinched by a nipping section (that is, a contact area) between the feed roller 011a and the retard roller 011b. When the feed roller 011a rotates so as to transport the paper from left to right in FIG. 28, the retard roller 011b receives force in the paper feeding direction, from the feed roller 011a or the paper at the nipping section. At this time, the retard roller 011b rotates in a following manner in the direction opposite to the retard roller support shaft 024 that rotates in the direction opposite to the paper feeding direction (i.e., the retard roller 011b rotates in the direction in which the paper is fed). Arrows P1 to P3 shown in FIG. 28 designate the following forces:
P1: a tensile force of the tension spring 023, PA1 P2: an upward force which the gear 026 receives from the retard roller drive gear 027 in a meshed section between them in reaction to the force transmitted by the torque limiter 025, and PA1 P3: a pulling force which the retard roller 11b receives from the feed roller 011a by way of the nipping section in reaction to the force transmitted by the torque limiter 025.
Based on the assumption that distances between the center of the support shaft 022 and action lines of the forces P1, P2, and P3 are L1, L2, and L3, respectively, the sum of angular moments of the forces P1, P2, and P3 in the case of the feed roller shown in FIG. 28 can be expressed by the following expression: EQU P1.times.L1+P2.times.L2+P3.times.L3.
Provided that a force (i.e., a retarding pressure) by which the retard roller 011b is pressed against the feed roller 011a by means of the angular moments is P, and that the distance between the action line of the retarding pressure P and the center of the support shaft 22 is L, the retarding pressure P can be expressed by the following expression. EQU P=(P1.times.L1+P2.times.L2+P3.times.L3)/L
The paper transported between the feed roller 11a and 11b is separated sheet by sheet and fed on the basis of the retarding pressure P.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention!
With reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, the operation of the paper feed unit carried out when the retard roller 011b is reversely rotated so as to return the paper to the paper feed tray 01 will now be described.
Usually, the top few sheets of the paper loaded in the paper feed tray 01 are transported to the nipping section between the feed roller 011a and the retard roller 011b by means of the pickup roller 07.
Assume that two sheets of paper are introduced into the nipping section, as shown in FIG. 29A. Even if a lower sheet of paper tries to exceed the nipping section and advance further together with an upper sheet of paper currently being fed, the lower sheet of paper is returned to the nipping section by the retard roller 011b which reversely rotates, as shown in FIG. 29B. If the retard roller 011b is not reversely rotated, the lower sheet of paper remains in a stopped state at the position to which the lower sheet of paper advanced, as shown in FIG. 29C. If the stop position reaches a transport roller disposed in a downstream direction, the two sheets of paper are transported while overlapping with each other.
Assume that three sheets of paper are introduced into the nipping section, as shown in FIG. 30A. If the retard roller 011b is reversely rotated, it is possible to arrange the paper by returning the lowermost sheet of paper to the nipping section first and, subsequently, the second sheet of paper to the nipping section, as shown in FIG. 30B. If the retard roller 011b is not reversely rotated, the lowermost sheet of paper and the middle sheet of paper are separated from each other, as a result of which the top two sheets of paper may be fed together in an overlapped manner, as shown in FIG. 30C.
Overlapped sheets of paper are more frequently transported when there is a high probability of the top several sheets of paper being introduced into the nipping section by the pickup roller 70, that is, in the case where the paper is fed and introduced into the nipping section at high speed with an increased inertial force. The reverse rotation of the retard roller 011b contributes to the prevention of transportation of overlapped sheets of paper at a relatively high speed. If the paper is not fed at such a speed, the use of the drive force transmission means for reverse drive purposes adds to the cost of the paper feeder. Further, if the retard roller 011b is reversely rotated, load torque and power consumption increase, which in turn leads to increased noise.


A status detection apparatus for electrical equipment includes a plurality of distributed multiparameter sensors in a containment vessel or other fluid filled region of the electrical equipment. The sensors are capable of providing data relating to plural parameters of the fluid simultaneously at different positions in the fluid. The data provided by the sensors can be processed to permit localization of incipient faults or can indicate other operating states when combined with known flow data of the fluid through the electrical equipment. A method for detecting status of electrical equipment includes sensing parameters simultaneously at multiple locations in the fluid and determining operating status based on the sensed parameters.

The invention relates generally to electrical equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a status detection apparatus for determining operating status of electrical equipment in real time through measurement of various parameters of fluid surrounding components of the electrical equipment, and to electrical equipment incorporating the status detection apparatus.
Electrical equipment, particularly medium-voltage or high-voltage electrical distribution equipment, require a high degree of electrical and thermal insulation between components thereof. Accordingly, it is well known to encapsulate components of electrical equipment, such as coils of a transformer, in a containment vessel and to fill the containment vessel with a fluid. The fluid facilitates dissipation of heat generated by the components and can be circulated through a heat exchanger to efficiently lower the operating temperature of the components. The fluid also serves as electrical insulation between components or to supplement other forms of insulation disposed around the components, such as cellulose paper or other insulating materials. Any fluid having the desired electrical and thermal properties can be used. Typically, electrical equipment is filled with an oil, such as castor oil or mineral oil, or a synthetic xe2x80x9coilxe2x80x9d such as chlorinated diphenyl, silicone oil, vegetable oil, or sulfur hexafluoride.
Often electrical distribution equipment is used in a mission critical environment in which failure can be very expensive or even catastrophic because of a loss of electric power to critical systems. Also, failure of electrical distribution equipment ordinarily results in a great deal of damage to the equipment itself and surrounding equipment thus requiring replacement of expensive equipment. Further, such failure can cause injury to personnel due electric shock, fire, or explosion. Therefore, it is desirable to monitor the status of electrical equipment to predict potential failure of the equipment through detection of incipient faults and to take remedial action through repair, replacement, or adjustment of operating conditions of the equipment.
A known method of monitoring the status of fluid-filled electrical equipment is to monitor various parameters of the fluid. For example, the temperature of the fluid and the total combustible gas (TCG) in the fluid is known to be indicative of the operating state of fluid-filled electrical equipment. Therefore, monitoring these parameters of the fluid can provide an indication of any incipient faults in the equipment. For example, it has been found that carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide increase in concentration with thermal aging and degradation of cellulosic insulation in electrical equipment. Hydrogen and various hydrocarbons (and derivatives thereof such as acetylene and ethylene) increase in concentration due to hot spots caused by circulating currents and dielectric breakdown such as corona and arcing. Concentrations of oxygen and nitrogen indicate the quality of the gas pressurizing system employed in large equipment, such as transformers. Accordingly xe2x80x9cdissolved gas analysisxe2x80x9d (DGA) has become a well accepted method of discerning incipient faults in fluid-filled electric equipment.
In known DGA methods, an amount of fluid is removed from the containment vessel of the equipment through a drain valve. The removed fluid is then subjected to testing for dissolved gas in a lab or by equipment in the field. This method of testing is referred to herein as xe2x80x9coff-linexe2x80x9d DGA. Since the gases are generated by various known faults, such as degradation of insulation material or other portions of electric components in the equipment, turn-to-turn shorts in coils, overloading, loose connections, or the like, various diagnostic theories have been developed for correlating the quantities of various gases in fluid with particular faults in electrical equipment in which the fluid is contained.
However, since known methods of off-line DGA require removal of fluid from the electric equipment, known methods do not, 1) yield localized position information relating to any fault in the equipment, 2) account for spatial variations of gases in the equipment, and 3) provide real time data relating to faults. If analysis is conducted off site, results may not be obtained for several hours. Incipient faults may develop into failure of the equipment over such a period of time. MICROMONITORS, INC(trademark) and SYPROTEC(trademark) have each developed a gas sensor which resides in the drain valve, or other single locations, of a transformer and overcomes some of the limitations of off-line DGA. However, location data relating to a fault is not discernable with such a device because it is located in one predefined position and does not provide any indication of the position of the source of the gas, i.e., the fault.
Various multiparameter sensors are known for detecting parameters such as temperature, acidity, concentrations of various gases, degree of polymerization or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,321 discloses an array of semiconductor diode sensors, each for detecting a particular parameter. Also, distributed arrays of sensors have been used in various applications for detecting a single parameter, such as temperature. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,191,206, 5,696,863, and 5,499,313 are exemplary of distributed temperature sensors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,487 discloses a distributed temperature sensor for electric motor stator windings. Distributed multiparameter sensing has been used in process control as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,305. U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,806 discloses an apparatus for monitoring transformers including a top oil temperature sensor and a hot spot temperature sensor located in a known hot spot of the transformer. However, this apparatus falls short of providing data required to localize faults.
Known processes and apparatus do not provide accurate, real-time data indicating the type and location of incipient faults in fluid filled electrical equipment. Also, since known processes do not account for spatial variations of parameters in fluid filled electric equipment, the accuracy of fault determinations with known processes is reduced.
The invention is directed toward a status detection apparatus, for electrical equipment comprising a plurality of distributed multiparameter sensors in a containment vessel or other fluid filled region of the electrical equipment. The sensors are capable of providing data relating to plural parameters of the fluid simultaneously at different positions in the fluid filled region. The data provided by the sensors can be processed to permit localization of incipient faults when combined with known flow data of the fluid through the electrical equipment.
A first aspect of the invention is an electrical apparatus, comprising a containment vessel configured to contain a fluid, at least one electrical component disposed in the containment vessel, and distributed multiparameter sensors disposed in the containment vessel. A second aspect of the invention is a status detection apparatus for detecting faults in electrical equipment of the type having a containment vessel configured to contain a fluid, and at least one electrical component disposed in the containment vessel. The status detection apparatus comprises distributed multiparameter sensors disposed in the containment vessel and configured to generate data indicative of sensed parameters, a data acquisition device for determining operating status of the electrical equipment, and means for conducting signals from the multiparameter sensors to the data acquisition device. A third aspect of the invention is an electrical transformer comprising a containment vessel, a transformer core having coils thereon, and distributed multiparameter sensors disposed in the containment vessel. A fourth aspect of the invention is a method of detecting operating status in electrical equipment of the type having a containment vessel, at least one electrical component in the containment vessel, and a fluid in the containment vessel surrounding the at least one electrical component. The method comprises the steps of sensing plural parameters of the fluid at plural sensing locations in the fluid simultaneously and determining operating status of the electrical equipment based on the results of the sensing step.

Status detection apparatus and method for fluid-filled electrical equipment


A novel species of microorganism of the Genus Rhodoccoccus filed as strain GIN-1 and deposited under No. 40340 at the National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria, Ltd. (NCIMB) at Aberdeen, Scotland.

Coal fly ash is known to contain a variety of metals such as aluminium, titanium, zinc, copper, cobalt and others, usually in the form of insoluble metal oxides. Many of these metals and their oxides are environmentally hazardous, in that when the coal fly ash is disposed in land fills, in the sea or in other waterways metal oxides are leached out and find their way into potable water and into animal and vegetable food for human consumption. For example, it has been reported that food sources contaminated with aluminium may affect the brain and trigger off Alzheimer disease.
It is thus evident that the disposal of coal fly ash which in many industrialized nations amount to millions of tons yearly, poses a serious environmental problem.
Depending on their nature and concentration, the metals present in coal fly ash as oxides may in themselves be of industrial value. Accordingly, the gravity of the environmental problem arising in connection with the disposal of coal fly ash on the one hand, and the fact on the other hand that the recovery of metals from such waste products may in itself be of economic value, both of which have long been released, have for a long time prompted investigators in the field to look for processes for the removal of metal oxides from coal fly ash.
By some proposals, metals are extracted from coal fly ash by conventional chemical leaching processes which, however, are not economically attractive as they require the use of strong acids and other chemicals and expensive acid-proof equipment. It has further been proposed in relation to coal fly ash to employ bioleaching methods, but the known microorganisms utilized for this purpose require extremely acidic conditions for growing and, moreover, also produce acids themselves so that here again similar processing problems arise. Moreover, in addition to being technologically onerous, these known chemical and biotechnological, acid-consuming processes are in themselves ecologically hazardous due to the need of handling and disposing large amounts of acids.
In principle, biotechnological leaching could provide a satisfactory and environment friendly solution to the problem of removing metal oxides from coal fly ash, provided it is operated under mild conditions. However, hitherto no suitable microorganism was found that would combine efficient extraction of metal oxides with environment friendly operating conditions.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an ecologically and economically viable process for the bioextraction of metal oxides from coal fly ash.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide microorganisms that can be used for that purpose.

Species of a microorganism of the genus Rhodococcus


An example block assembly for optical signal filtering is provided herein. The block assembly includes a base with at least one aperture to receive a mandrel in a plurality of adjustable positions and orientations relative to an axis of the base. The block assembly also includes a first member and a second member extending from the base.

Optical fibers and optical connectors are used in data communication systems. Optical fiber connectors may introduce unwanted higher order optical signal modes in optical signals traveling within optical fibers. A current method to eliminate the unwanted higher order optical signal mode is to wrap the optical fiber around an individual mandrel. A mandrel is a small cylindrical shaped spool and is available in varying fixed sizes. The unwanted higher order optical signal mode can be filtered out depending on the diameter of the mandrel, the point in the length of the optical fiber where the mandrel is located with respect to an optical transceiver in a data communication system, and the number of turns the optical fiber is wrapped around the mandrel.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


The present invention provides an EEPROM core structure embedded into BCD process and forming method thereof. The EEPROM core structure embedded into BCD process comprises a selection transistor and a storage transistor connected in series, wherein the selection transistor is an LDNMOS transistor. The present invention may embed the procedure for forming the EEPROM core structure into the BCD process, which is favorable to reduce the complexity of the process.

A BCD process is a technique for monolithic integrated process, through which devices such as bipolar transistor (Bipolar), complementary metal-oxide field effect transistor (CMOS), and double-diffused metal-oxide field effect transistor (DMOS) can be fabricated on the same chip, abbreviated as BCD process. The BCD process is gaining more and more attention since the BCD process synthesizes respective advantages of the three types of devices above.
Products such as a system on chip (SOC) formed through the BCD process may apply to aspects such as automotive electronics, power management, etc. In such applications, there is often a need to integrate electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) into the product. However, both traditional BCD process and EEPROM formation process are quite complex. Thus, how to embed EEPROM into the BCD process and how to optimize the process so as to simplify its process become a hot area for research in recent years.
The traditional EEPROM core structure (also know as bit cell) primarily includes two transistors, one of which being a high voltage (e.g., 15V) NMOS transistor as a selection transistor, and the other one being a storage transistor with a floating gate. The process for forming the high voltage NMOS transistor and the storage transistor is quite complex. Take an example of a product which includes a 3.3V low voltage CMOS transistor, a 15V high voltage CMOS transistor and a storage transistor (including three metal layers), then the number of photolithography layers shall be more than 23. The conventional BCD process is also very complex, including forming process for devices such as low CMOS transistors, middle and high voltage LDNMOS transistors, bipolar transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc. The number of basic photolithography layers for the BCD process (including two metal layers) is more than 21. Therefore, if the process for forming traditional EERPOM core structure is simply embedded into the BCD process, its process procedure would become too complex, making no sense to be applied in industry.

ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A solar simulator filter includes filter material configured to achieve class A performance for the spectral output of the optical source except between about 900 and 1,100 nm. Openings in the filter material increase the average effective transmittance between about 900 and 1,100 nm to achieve class A performance for the spectral output of the source.

Solar simulators are used for testing photovoltaic modules. One requirement of a solar simulator is that it must produce an optical output spectrum that closely matches that of natural sunlight. Standards defining an acceptable spectral output for solar simulators have been developed by both ASTM International and the IEC. Such standards specify the fractions of total optical power in each of 6 100 nm or 200 nm wide wavelength intervals (or bins) from 400 to 1,100 nm. To achieve class A spectral performance, the output of the simulator must be within +/−25% of the mean values specified in the standard.
The most commonly used light source in pulsed solar simulators is a low pressure Xe arc lamp. Although such a lamp possesses adequate short wavelength output (less than 500 nm), it emits excessive near-infrared (greater than 700 nm) radiation.
To compensate for this excess radiation, optical filters (often arranged in an array configuration with large-area simulators) can be used to attenuate the output in the near infrared. The two most important features of the filter design are its cutoff wavelength (the wavelength at which the transmittance equals 50%) and the average transmittance in the long wavelength region (900 to 1,100 nm). The cutoff wavelength primarily affects the simulator output in the 700 to 800 and 800 to 900 nm bins, while the long wavelength transmittance mostly affects the output in the 900 to 1,100 nm bin.
It can be very difficult to control these two filter parameters independently. Typical filters are typically made using a multitude of dielectric layers each of a thickness less than the optical wavelength. Design changes made to affect the cutoff characteristics may not yield the most desirable long wavelength properties. Conversely, tailoring the long wavelength properties may adversely affect the cutoff characteristics and, in some cases, even reduce the transmittance at the shortest wavelength region (less than 450 nm) which needs to remain high to give adequate near ultraviolet (400 to 500 nm) output. The difficulty of controlling these filter characteristics is manifested in an output spectrum resulting from such prior art filters which are not class A by virtue of a slightly too high output in the 800 to 900 rim and 900 to 1,100 nm bins.


A high vanadium, powder metallurgy cold work tool steel article and method for production. The nickel, chromium, vanadium, and carbon plus nitrogen contents of the steel are controlled during production to achieve a desired combination of corrosion resistance, metal to metal wear resistance, and hardenability.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to highly wear and corrosion resistant, powder metallurgy tool steel articles and to a method for their production by compaction of nitrogen atomized, prealloyed high vanadium powder particles. The articles are characterized by exceptionally high metal to metal wear resistance, which in combination with their good abrasive wear resistance and corrosion resistance, makes them particularly useful in machinery used for processing reinforced plastics and other abrasive or corrosive materials.
2. Background of the Invention
Basically, there are three types of wear that can occur, often in combination, in the barrels, screws, valves, molds, and other components used in processing reinforced plastics and other aggressive materials. They include metal to metal wear caused in areas where the metal components come into direct contact during operation, abrasive wear caused by continued contact at high pressures of the components with hard particles in the process media, and corrosive wear caused by acids or other corrodents either originally present or released from the process media at elevated temperatures of operation. To perform satisfactorily, the articles used in processing these materials must be highly resistant to these forms of wear. In addition, they must possess sufficient mechanical strength and toughness to withstand the stresses imposed during operation. Further, they must be readily machined, heat treated, and ground to facilitate the manufacture of parts with the required shape and dimensions.
A wide range of materials have been evaluated for the construction of the components employed in the processing of reinforced plastics and other abrasive or corrosive materials. They include chromium plated alloy steels, conventional high chromium martensitic stainless steels such as AISI Types 440B and 440C stainless steels, and a number of high chromium martensitic stainless steels produced by powder metallurgical methods. The compositions of this latter group of materials are broadly similar to those of the conventional high chromium martensitic stainless steels, except that greater than customary amounts of vanadium and carbon are added to improve their wear resistance. The high chromium, high vanadium, powder metallurgy stainless steels, such as CPM 440V disclosed on page 781 in Volume 1 of the 10th Edition of the ASM Metals Handbook and MPL-1 disclosed in recent publications, clearly outperform conventional steels in plastic processing, but none of these materials fully meet all the needs of the newer plastic processing machinery which cannot accommodate large wear related changes in the geometry of the operating parts and where contamination of the process media by wear debris must be minimized. Of all the required properties, the metal to metal wear resistance of the high chromium martensitic stainless steels made either by conventional or powder metallurgy methods is remarkably low.

Corrosion resistant, high vanadium, powder metallurgy tool steel articles with improved metal to metal wear resistance and method for producing the same


A method and apparatus for processing signals output from an array of X-ray radiation detectors which receive X-ray radiation emanating from an object irradiated by a source beam of X-ray radiation, to thereby produce an visual image of internal object features, utilizes repetitive sampling P times and digital accumulation of signals output from each detector to increase signal-to-noise ratio of the images by the factor 1/✓P. In a basic embodiment, each of the N detectors in a linear detector array is sampled P times. In another embodiment, artifacts resulting from decay of detector pre-amplifier output voltages on capacitors of low-pass filter circuits, referred to as pseudo-integrators, are reduced by sequentially sampling and accumulating each of N detector amplifier output voltages P times in turn, and repeating the sampling and accumulating sequence Q times, thereby reducing variations in the P×Q accumulated values between the first and last detector channels of an N detector array.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus which employ X-ray or gamma ray radiography to obtain images of internal features of a human body, or objects within luggage or other such containers. More particularly, the invention relates to improved signal processing methods and apparatus for converting signals output from an array of X-ray radiation detectors which receive X-radiation emanating from an object irradiated by a source beam of X-ray radiation, to visually discernible images of internal features of the object.
B. Description of Background Art
Electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths substantially shorter than visible light, specifically X-rays and gamma rays having wavelengths less than about 0.1 nm, are routinely used to obtain visually discernible images of internal or sub-surface features of an object, by a method referred to as radiography. For example, transmission X-radiography has been in use since shortly after the discovery of X-rays to obtain visual images of internal features of human bodies, such as bones and organs. Transmission X-ray radiographic images are created by exposing an X-ray sensitive device to X-ray radiation which has been transmitted through an object from a source of X-ray radiation. Historically, photographic film plates were among the first X-ray sensitive devices used for X-ray imaging, and are still widely used in the medical field. In transmission X-ray radiography using photographic film plates, an X-ray source such as an X-ray tube emits a generally conically-shaped beam of X-ray radiation which irradiates a distant film plate holder. An object such as a human being or selected portion of the human's body is positioned between the X-ray source and the film plate holder, and upon being suitably positioned relative to the film plate holder and X-ray source, held stationary at that position. The X-ray source is then momentarily energized for a relative short, e.g., 1-second time period which has been calculated to be just sufficiently long to form an adequate image in the emulsion of a photographic plate held in the plate holder. The exposure time is kept as short as possible because X-radiation has a cumulative destructive affect on biological cells. Therefore, the dosage; which is equal to the product of X-ray intensity multiplied by exposure time, is desirably kept as small as possible.
Some X-ray-ray radiation which irradiates an object such as a human body is transmitted with little attenuation, while rays which impinge on denser internal portions of the body, such as bone, are more heavily absorbed or scattered, thus forming in the emulsion of the photographic plate a shadow image of the denser object features. The film plate is developed and fixed by conventional film processing chemistry reactions and is kept as a permanent visual record for viewing and analysis by medical professionals. One variation of transmission X-radiography, called X-ray fluoroscopy, utilizes in place of a film holder, a screen which visibly fluoresces in response to X-radiation, enabling real-time dynamic viewing of internal object features.
Another variation of transmission X-radiography utilizes in place of a film plate or fluorescent screen a matrix array of photodetectors which are overlain by a scintillator material that produces flashes of light or scintillations when irradiated by X-ray-radiation. Electrical signals output from the photodetectors are amplified and processed to form an electronic image of X-radiation incident upon the plane of the photodetectors. The electronic image can be converted to a visual image by a cathode ray tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display device of a television or computer monitor. The electronic image can also be input to a computer which uses display recognition software to automatically recognize contraband such as guns and explosives hidden in luggage examined by an X-ray radiography system.
To reduce the dosage of radiation on an object, some newer X-radiography systems uses a collimator made of an X-ray absorbing material such as steel, which has a slit-shaped aperture which thus deforms a conically-shaped X-ray beam into a relatively thin, vertically elongated, wedge-shaped fan beam of X-ray radiation. Such systems utilize a vertically disposed linear array of one or more columns of scintillator-type X-ray detectors positioned at a target plane located on the far side of an object field positioned between the collimated X-ray source and the target plane. A mechanism is used to cause the fan beam of X-ray radiation to horizontally scan the entire width or horizontal extent of an object to be imaged. One method for causing the fan beam of X-ray radiation to scan an object utilizes horizontal motion of the object, on a conveyor belt for example, to move the object relative to a fixed X-ray radiation source and detector array. Another scan method used in Computerized Tomography (CT) scanning utilizes rotation of the X-ray source and, synchronous orbital motion of the collimator and detector plane, so that the beam remains at a fixed location on the detector array as the beam traverses the width of a stationary object located in the object field.
Whichever method is used to effect relative horizontal motion between a fan beam of X-ray radiation on an object, each instantaneous position of the beam on a particular column of detectors in an array produces detector output signals indicative of features in a single narrow vertically disposed slice of the object. Thus, as the fan beam of X-ray radiation horizontally traverses the object and detector array, a sequence of electrical signals is output from the detectors. This sequence of output signals corresponding to a vertical stack of locations of an object, must be concatenated to form a horizontal array of concatenated, sequentially sampled vertical signal slices to form a two-dimensional image of the object.
Now, the number of detectors in a linear array is generally relatively large, corresponding to the vertical extent of an object field to be scanned. Thus, for example, a typical linear detector array may consist of 1024 square detector elements, each having a length and width of 2 mm. Thus, because simultaneous parallel processing of 1024 detector signal channels would required unnecessarily large and complex electronic signal processing circuitry, most signal processing circuitry currently used on scanning X-ray radiography systems sequentially samples the outputs of a vertical detector array. This is accomplished by using a multiplexer to sequentially transfer or present output signals from individual detectors in the array to a circuit component such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The time required to sequentially sample the output signals from each column or line of detectors corresponding to a single vertical image slice of an object, referred to herein as a scan line, must be shorter than the time required for the fan beam to traverse the object slice to an adjacent object-space slice, to ensure that no object feature is missed. Thus, for example, if the object is moved relative to the X-ray fan beam at a speed of 200 mm per second and the width of the detector array is 2 mm, scanning a line of detector image data must be completed in less than 2 mm/200 mm/sec= 1/100 second.
To accommodate requirements for different size object spaces, some scanning X-ray radiography systems in current use utilize a variable number of detector array boards, each having 2n detectors per board, where n can be any desired number, depending on the size of the detectors and the desired vertical extension or height of the detector plane, which is a function of the object field size and the distances between the detector plane, object space, and X-ray source. A plurality of detector boards may be arranged end-to-end to increase the number of detectors and height of the detector image plane.
Usually, each detector array board includes in addition to an array of detector elements some of the signal processing circuitry required for a scanning radiography system to form electronic images. Typical signal processing circuitry includes pre-amplifiers, and gain and offset adjustment circuitry. The present invention was conceived in response to certain limitations of existing scanning radiography systems, which will now be described.
A first type of prior art detector array board arrangement for use in scanning X-ray radiography systems circuitry in use utilizes one or more identical X-ray detector array boards, each board having 2n detectors. Typical numbers of detectors per board are 32, 64, 128, 256 or more. The first type of detector array board uses a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In this type board, a separate pre-amplifier is usually provided for each detector element in a detector array. Typically, each pre-amplifier includes a low-pass filter, and is sometimes referred to as a pseudo-integrator. The purpose of the low pass filter or pseudo-integrator is to develop an output voltage which is proportional to the time average of photodetector output currents produced in response to visible light scintillation photons which are produced in response to X-ray photons that irradiate the scintillator material, the visible photons in turn impinging on a photo-sensitive region of the photodetector. The low-pass transfer function of the pseudo-integrator is effective in averaging out statistical fluctuations in both the scintillator material photons and the photodetector output signal currents, thus reducing system noise.
In the first type detector array board for scanning digital radiography systems, the output terminal of each pre-amplifier or pseudo-integrator is connected to a separate input terminal of an analog multiplexer circuit. The output terminal of the multiplexer is in turn usually connected to an input terminal of an analog gain/offset compensation circuit, which in turn has an output terminal that is coupled through an analog switch to a board signal output terminal. Analog signals input by each detector pre-amplifier/pseudo-integrator circuit are sequentially transmitted through the multiplexer, under command of signals from a scan and transfer control circuitry which may be located on the board. Output signals from a single board or a plurality of detector array boards are sequentially input to a single ADC, which may be located exterior to the boards.
The first-type of detector array board for scanning X-ray radiography system requires a relatively fast ADC. Thus, a system with 1,000 detectors scanning at 200 lines per second requires an ADC conversion rate of 200 KHZ. Practical systems of this type in reality generally require a faster ADC, since time must be allowed for address decoding and settling time of signals on cables and buses. To reduce photon noise statistics without requiring the complexity and cost of utilizing true integrator circuits in each detector signal processing channel, each detector channel generally includes a pseudo-integrator (essentially a low-pass filter), which accumulates a new output signal that delays at a known rate to allow input and accumulation of a new signal of a new scan line. This circuit implementation requires only a single operational amplifier per detector channel. Selecting the time constant for the pseudo-integrators is a trade-off between signal-to-noise ratio and image sharpness. A shorter time constant will result in a sharper image but more photon statistic noise. Each detector array board of the first type is usually provided with gain and offset adjustment circuitry, which is used to tailor board operation to a particular system size, X-ray source type and strength, and system geometry.
Scanning X-ray radiography systems using a single ADC require transmission of analog signals through a cable/bus which may be many feet long; therefore, such systems are subject to noise interference from the environment. To reduce noise susceptibility, a second-type of prior art detector array board for scanning X-ray radiography systems currently in use utilizes a separate ADC for each board. Since placing a separate. ADC on each board increases the cost of each board, such boards often are provided with true integrators in place of pseudo-integrators. In this second, true integrator board, the signal output of each detector is captured by a separate analog integrator during each scan line. At the end of the scan line, charge from each integrator is transferred to a separate sample-and-hold circuit. Each integrator circuit is then reset by discharging its storage capacitor. During the next scan line, while new data is collected into the integrators, analog signals from each sample-and-hold circuit are input to an analog multiplexer and are sequentially output from the multiplexer through a gain/offset compensation circuit to an on-board ADC. Digital output signals from the ADC are transferred under the control of scan and transfer control circuitry to a host computer.
Since the second type, true-integrator board is provided with a separate, on-board ADC, analog signal paths are limited to a few centimeters, and confined to a shielded environment provided by an electrically conductive box which encloses components of the detector array board. The cost and complexity of each second type, true integrator detector array board is substantially greater than that of the first-type, pseudo-integrator board described above. This increase results from the larger number of components required for the true integrator circuits, sample-and-hold circuits, switching circuits, additional ADC and control logic. For example, each detector channel of the true-integrator detector array board requires 2 operational amplifiers and 2 analog switches. However, data output from the true integrator detector array board is less susceptible to photon statistic noise. Typically, the ADC is this type system samples each detector channel only once per scan line and passes converted data to an external host computer for image processing.
A third type of detector array board used in scanning X-ray radiography systems utilizes a plurality of n ADC's on each board, each ADC having an input terminal connected to the detector pre-amplifier output terminal of a separate detector channel. The digital output signal from each of the n ADC's is input to a register or memory storage location where it is accumulated to thereby effect digital integration. Digital integration boards of this type eliminate the requirement for all analog switching and signal processing functions, thus eliminating generation of spurious electronic noise. Such digital integrator boards generally use ADC's with relatively great resolution, e.g., 20 bits or higher, and produce a high quality image signal at high cost.
All prior art detector array boards for use in scanning X-ray radiography systems, including the three types described above produce output signals which must be further processed to produce electronic images of objects. Typically, the additional signal processing is performed in a data acquisition module located in a digital signal path between a host computer and detector array board or boards, but may optionally be performed solely within the host computer.
Each of the three detector array board types described above has certain less than optimum characteristics. For example, in a typical system which uses boards pseudo-integrators and a single ADC, the analog signal output from each pseudo-integrator of each detector channel is sampled and digitized once per scan line. In this implementation, selecting a time constant for the pseudo-integrator that is relatively long will result in low photon-statistic noise, but if the time constant is too long, electronic images derived from the signals will be blurred. A shorter pseudo-integrator time constant will result in a sharper image, but if made too short, variations in image brightness caused by photon statistic variations will become noticeable, particularly in low signal areas, and result in a grainy image. The foregoing constraints on pseudo-integrator time constants dictate that the time constant be reduced if the system scan rate must be increased, requiring that time-constant determining components of the pseudo-integrators be changed, which is usually only practicable by physically interchanging boards having components with different values.
In the second type, true-integrator detector array board described above, a practical limitation is imposed on board performance by a limitation in the amount of charge that each detector channel integrator circuit can hold. Using the same integrator circuits in a system with high power X-ray-ray sources or longer integration times can cause the charge storage capacitor of an integrator circuit to reach a maximum, saturated level while the detector output signal is still increasing, thus causing image information to be lost. To avoid integrator saturation resulting from higher detector output signals and/or slower scan times, it is necessary to change the value of the integrator storage capacitor to one having a higher value of capacitance. As a practical matter, this generally requires physically interchanging boards having the different components.
As mentioned above, the third type detector array board implementation which has a separate ADC for each detector channel avoids the limitations of the pseudo-integrator and true integrator boards described above, but is costly.
In view of the performance limitations and/or undesirably high cost of prior art detector array boards of the type described above, the present inventor developed a novel and improved system and methods for processing X-ray image data, which systems and methods are the subject matter of the present disclosure and described below.

Time share digital integration method and apparatus for processing X-ray images


An apparatus for producing a non-woven product is disclosed. The apparatus is located substantially within an enclosure and includes a mold or former and at least two moveable material application heads. A controller controls various elements located within or connected to the enclosure. The footprint of the enclosure is smaller than 2 m×2 m.

A small scale printer for 3D product printing is relatively new but a well known process. It features a very desired customization level for products and easy access to producing products "at home" with its added convenience and independency. The nonwoven industry usually employs full scale, very large machines for regular production of nonwoven disposable products such as diapers, etc. The massive quantities of products used by individuals and the different desired and required specs create the need for a small scale production system, for home usage and for institutional usage (hospitals, home-care, children garden, army, space ship etc.). There is also a growing interest in the field of home printing, and the possibility of printing cloths for regular daily use is something people are looking for.

Apparatus for producing a nonwoven product in a non-industrial environment


A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a display panel which is disposed at such a position as not to face a cassette pressing member between a lid and a holder, thus making it possible to provide display portions by making effective use of a space defined between the lid and holder.

This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and more particularly is applicable to a digital audio tape recorder for example.
Conventionally, as such a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus has been known the one (referred to as a digital audio tape recorder hereinafter) adapted to convert an audio signal into a digital signal and obliquely record it onto a magnetic tape in sequence.
In case that such a kind of digital audio tape recorder could be made small in size and driven by means of a battery, it is supposed that it might become possible to enjoy music by carrying the portable digital audio tape recorder as required and to improve its usefulness.
If a display could be formed from a liquid-crystal display board so that a residual amount of a tape, an operation mode and the like could be confirmed through the display it would be convenient.
But, when the display is formed in that way, operation members cannot be correspondingly reduced in size without making their operation difficult.
Instead of making the operation members smaller in size, it may also be thought possible to make the display board smaller in size. But a small display becomes inconvenient to look at. In short, it is difficult to make the digital audio tape recorder smaller.


Apparatus and method for mounting a downrod, and therefore a fixture, to a ceiling, according to which an adapter is disposed in a bore of a hanger ball that is connected to the ceiling, a portion of the downrod is disposed in a bore of the adapter and the downrod is between the hanging ball and the fixture.

This invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a fixture to a ceiling utilizing a downrod extending between the fixture and the ceiling.
Various ceiling-mountable fixtures, such as fans, lights (semiflushes, chandeliers, pedants, etc,) are usually connected to an electrical box, terminal, or the like, at the ceiling. When it is desired to lower the fixture from the ceiling, a downrod is often connected between the electrical box, or terminal and the fixture. To this end, a hanger ball has been used that is mounted to the ceiling and has an inner bore that receives the upper end portion of the downrod in a manner so that the downrod can be hung from the hanger ball.
The diameter of the bore of the hanger ball should correspond to the outer diameter of the downrod so that the end portion of the downrod can fit in the bore with minimum clearance to insure a stable connection. However, the diameters of the downrods often vary, creating a compatibility problem with the hanger ball, and vice versa.
Therefore, what is needed is an adapter to enable a downrod to be connected to a hanger ball in a stable manner despite variances in the diameter of the downrod and the bore of the hanger ball.

Apparatus and method for mounting a fixture


Provided is a method for identifying and suppressing abnormal growth of fibroblasts at an early stage. Provided is a method for identifying the growth state of fibroblasts using as an index the level of expression of ETFB (electron transfer flavoprotein beta subunit), comprising: judging, in cases where the level of expression of ETFB is high, that there is a high probability that fibroblasts are abnormally growing; and judging, in cases where the level of expression of ETFB is low, that there is a high probability that fibroblasts are normally growing. Further, by inhibition of ETFB, abnormal growth of fibroblasts can be suppressed.

Abnormal growth of fibroblasts are involved in hypertrophic scars formed after injury, and various diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, cirrhosis and nephrosclerosis. It is said that TGF-β is involved in processes that induce these abnormal growth (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3). However, since TGF-β is a multi-task biological substance, treatment of these diseases by simple suppression of TGF-β has been difficult in many aspects, and it is thought that such a fact is preventing development of an effective TGF-β inhibitor having only small side effects. That is, it is thought that discovery and selective suppression of factors positioned downstream of TGF-β, which factors are responsible for the abnormal growth of fibroblasts directly involved in these diseases, may be an effective means for suppressing the abnormal growth of fibroblasts.
On the other hand, although ETFB is a protein involved in electron transfer (see, for example, Patent Document 4, Patent Document 5, Patent Document 6 and Patent Document 7) and sometimes used as a biomarker, its functions are hardly known. It is reported, for example, that a mutation of ETFB is found in lipid storage myopathy (see, for example, Non-patent Document 1), that ETFB may be a factor involved in type II diabetes (see, for example, Non-patent Document 2), and that ETFB may be a factor involved in multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) (see, for example, Non-patent Document 3). However, no function of ETFB is known at all for the skin or fibroblasts. Further, no relationship between ETFB and TGF-β is known.
On the other hand, it has already been reported that, when fibroblasts are cultured under tension in a collagen gel, promoted cell growth, increased expression levels of collagen and the like, and phenomena similar to those observed in fibrosis can observed, and that, in cases where this culture is carried out in the presence of TGF-β, differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts can be observed (see, for example, Non-patent Document 4). However, no factor for the cell growth in such a phenomenon has been clarified.

Method of identifying abnormal cells by expression levels of ETFB


A hearing aid assembly includes a receiver speaker enclosed within a receiver housing. The receiver housing defines a circuitous receiver acoustic channel, wherein the receiver channel defines an open side along at least a portion of the receiver channel. The receiver channel also defines a pass-through passage extending from a first side of the receiver housing to a second side of the receiver housing, wherein the pass-through passage is partially defined by the wall defining a receiver opening. The hearing aid assembly also includes an earbud configured to fit over at least a portion of the receiver housing and partially cover the open side of the receiver channel.

Hearing aid components are often positioned within a user's ear canal during use, where they provide amplified or otherwise processed sound to the user's ear. A receiver housing is an example of a hearing aid component that can be positioned in a user's ear canal. The receiver housing encloses a receiver speaker, commonly referred to as a receiver, which generates the amplified or processed sound. Earwax accumulation can damage hearing aid components, such as a receiver speaker, if earwax enters the housing of the component. Some hearing aid components have structures that allow earwax to easily enter a receiver housing. Failure to clean a hearing aid component, such as the receiver housing and openings in the receiver housing, to remove accumulated earwax can negatively impact acoustic performance of the device and lead to problems with device function.
Some hearing aid components include replaceable barriers to reduce the likelihood of the earwax entering a receiver housing. The barriers can become clogged and then significantly reduce the sound delivered to the user's ear. Even before becoming clogged, the barriers can reduce acoustic performance of the device. The barriers can be difficult to replace due to their tiny size. Lack of replacement of these barriers can lead to early failure of the hearing aid.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wax protection for in-canal hearing device


The present disclosure discloses a waterless foam generator for fracturing shale oil and gas reservoirs and use thereof. The structure of the waterless foam generator includes: a top of the proppant storage tank is provided with a proppant inlet, a second feed port of liquid CO2 and a safety valve, and a bottom of the proppant storage tank is connected to the high-pressure gas-liquid-solid mixer, a side wall of the high-pressure gas-liquid-solid mixer is provided with a first feed port of liquid CO2, an feed port of N2 and an feed port of waterless foam foaming agent, and the high-pressure gas-liquid-solid mixer is connected to the first shaker of waterless foam fracturing fluid, the first shaker of waterless foam fracturing fluid, the second shaker of waterless foam fracturing fluid and the third shaker of waterless foam fracturing fluid are connected in sequence.

The efficient development of shale oil and gas reservoirs is of strategic significance for the optimization of oil and gas energy composition. However, generally, shale oil and shale gas formations suffered to problems such as small matrix pores and extremely low permeability. It is difficult to achieve effective development and utilization of shale oil and gas using conventional oil and gas development methods. Because of the inherent disadvantages of shale oil and gas reservoirs, fracturing is an inevitable way to achieve industrial production and utilization of them, while the vulnerability of the reservoir puts forward strict requirements for reservoir protection. Most of traditional water-based fracturing fluids use polymers as thickeners, and those fracturing fluids are suffered to problems, such as difficulty in gel breaking, high residue content, clay expansion and poor capacity of flow back. Those problems will easily cause low-productivity of wells after fracturing stimulation of the reservoirs. In addition, the process of water-based fracturing stimulation consumes high amounts of water and has various types of potential pollutions to groundwater, surface water and soil. Therefore, developing an efficient and environmental fracturing technology with low water consumption, low reservoir damage is the key to efficiently develop the shale oil and gas. The waterless foam fracturing fluid is the highly energized fluid formed with liquid CO2 as an external phase and N2 as an internal phase. Since the system is almost entirely composed of gas, the water consumption and pollution caused by fracturing are greatly reduced, and there is no polymer residue in the system, the system has good compatibility with shale reservoirs, completely avoiding the damage of fracturing fluid to formation, and it has great application prospects in the development and utilization of the shale oil and gas reservoirs.
Fully mixing liquid CO2 and high-pressure N2 to form foam fluid is one of the keys to the waterless foam fracturing technology. Traditional foam generators are mainly designed for water-based foam, and there are less patents or research reports on waterless foam generators. And there is a big difference between a water/gas system in water-based foam and a liquid CO2/N2 system in waterless foam, which also makes it difficult for traditional water-based foam generators to meet the requirements for efficient generation of waterless foam. First of all, both liquid CO2 and N2 are non-polar molecules, the types of foaming agents for waterless foam are obviously different from those of traditional water-based foam systems, and the types of foaming agents that can be selected are very limited. There is relatively small space for optimizing the foaming capacity of the foaming agent itself Therefore, a foam generator with stronger mixing capacity is required for liquid CO2 and N2 to produce uniform and dense waterless foam fracturing fluid. At the same time, different from traditional foams that contain water, the physical properties of waterless foam, such as the viscosity and density and interfacial tension of liquid CO2, are extremely sensitive to temperature, so a certain temperature control capability is required for the foam generator during the foam generation. In addition, an important role of the waterless foam fracturing fluid is to transport proppant into the fractured shale, in order to construct an efficient flow channel for shale oil and gas, which puts forward higher requirements for the waterless foam generator on ground: while mixing liquid CO2 and N2 to form waterless foam fracturing fluid, the concentration of the proppant in the waterless foam fracturing fluid can also be controlled, and the generator can withstand the strong abrasion of the proppant in the high flowing fracturing fluid.

Waterless foam generator for fracturing shale oil and gas reservoirs and use thereof