A runflat tire having an improved ride comfort performance without impairing the runflat durability, and comprising a carcass 6 and sidewall-reinforcing rubber layers 9 having a crescent-shaped cross section disposed axially inward of carcass 6 in sidewall portion 3, wherein each sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer 9 comprises at least a radially outermost first rubber portion 9a and a second rubber portion 9b which is contiguous to the first rubber portion 9a and extends toward a bead portion 4, and the second rubber portion 9b has a complex modulus E*2 of at least 1.1 times the complex modulus E*1 of the first rubber portion 9a.

The present invention relates to a runflat tire capable of being safely and continuously driven for a relatively long distance in a deflated condition that the tire has lost air pressure due to a puncture, and more particularly to a runflat tire having an improved ride comfort performance in normal running without impairing the durability of tire in runflat mode.
A runflat tire is known as a tire which can be safely driven a certain distance at a relatively high speed in a deflated condition that the tire has lost air pressure due to a puncture or the like. Such a running is hereinafter referred to as "runflat running". A runflat tire of this kind is provided with a sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer having a crescent-shaped cross section in a sidewall portion thereof. When it is deflated, the sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer supports the weight of a vehicle to prevent the tire from collapsing.
However, runflat tires of this kind have the disadvantage of being poor in ride comfort performance in normal running where the tires are inflated by a proper air pressure. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to form the sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer from a soft rubber and/or to decrease the thickness of the sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer, but the runflat durability is decreased thereby.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a runflat tire, the ride comfort performance of which is improved without impairing the durability of the tire in runflat mode.
This and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter.


A peptide which can adopt a 310-helical conformation in which the side chains of two amino acid residues in the peptide backbone are linked by a group comprising an aromatic 5-membered ring.

The 310-helix is defined by intramolecular H-bonds between amino acid residues placed at positions i and i+3, and is an important structural motif in peptides and proteins. It plays important roles in many different biological recognition processes. It is the biologically active conformation of many pharmacologically interesting peptides/peptidomimetics. In addition, many protein segments mediating physiologically or pathophysiologically important interactions between biomolecules (e.g. two proteins or a peptide with a protein) adopt a 310-helical conformation.
Two examples are the interactions between aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and aquaporin-4 and between AQP4 and the antibody NMO-IgG, the latter being important in the pathophysiology of the multiple sclerosis like disease neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
The concept of introducing conformational constraints in peptides which stabilize their biologically active secondary structure has attracted a lot of interest as a way to improve the pharmacological properties of peptides. In particular, this concept has been applied to α-helical peptides and protein segments. Examples include peptides with intramolecular H-bond surrogates1 and so-called stapled peptides, the latter deriving helix stabilization from side chain-to-side chain hydrophobic interactions,2 salt bridges,3 disulfide bridges,4 lactams5 and metathesis derived hydrocarbon bridges.6-8 Significantly, hydrocarbon stapling of α-helical peptides has resulted in a number of compounds with clinical potential, e.g. against cancer.9 Recently, hydrocarbon stapling has also been successfully applied to 314-helical β-peptides,10 extending its range of applicability beyond α-peptides.
The 310-helix, which is defined by intramolecular i→i+3 H-bonds, is an important structural element in proteins, peptide antibiotics known as peptaibols,11 and many biological recognition processes, as well as a postulated intermediate structure in protein folding.12
Over the last decade the predominant water channel in the mammalian brain, aquaporin-4 (AQP4), has emerged as an important target for treatment of brain edema after stroke or trauma.13-16 The present inventors considered the development of selective inhibitors of AQP4 based on side chain-to-side chain cyclised 310-helical analogues of the Pro138-Gly144 segment of human AQP4,17 which has been postulated to mediate adhesive interactions between two AQP4 tetramers.18-20
Examples of i→i+3 and i→i+4 side chain-to-side chain crosslinking in 310-helical peptides by Glu-Lys lactam formation,21 ferrocenedicarboxylic acid Lys diamides,22 photoinduced 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition,23 metathesis derived hydrocarbon bridges,17,24,25 and a p-phenylenediacetic acid bridge26 between two α,α-disubstituted 4-aminopiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (Api) residues have been reported. However, only two studies25,26 have provided atomic resolution detail of the effect of cyclization on helix regularity, i.e. on backbone dihedral angles and H-bond lengths, and very little23 is known on how cyclization/stapling affects the thermal stability of the 310-helix.
In the first X-ray crystallographic study25 of the effect of side chain-to-side chain cyclization in a 310-helical peptide it was observed that the backbone is distorted by an i→i+3 metathesis derived olefinic bridge, resulting in the breakage of one intramolecular H-bond, thus disrupting the 310-helix. The p-phenylenediacetic acid bridge on the other hand appears to afford a highly regular Api/Aib based 310-helix.26 However, α,α-disubstituted amino acids like Aib and N-acylated Api are generally hydrophobic and have a tendency to distort the dihedral angles of neighbouring monosubstituted, proteinogenic residues away from ideality.21,25,27 Hence, alternative methodology for side chain-to-side chain crosslinking of monosubstituted residues, which are expected to be better tolerated in the context of a helical peptide primarily consisting of the proteinogenic amino acids, which does not significantly distort the regularity of the 310-helix, is highly desirable. If, at the same time, the crosslinking provides thermal stabilization of the 310-helix and results in a more hydrophilic bridge, thus increasing the aqueous solubility of the stapled peptide, such a methodology could potentially have broad utility to the study and modulation of biologically important recognition processes involving 310-helical peptides and protein segments.
There has been an explosion of interest in click chemistry28 in recent years, exemplified by the highly popular copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction.29-32 This reaction has been successfully applied to i→i+4 side chain-to-side chain cyclization in an α-helical peptide33,34 and i→i+3 cyclization in peptoids (peptides composed of N-substituted glycines).35 The high functional group tolerance of the CuAAC reaction, the very large dipole moment (˜5D)36 and the relatively high resistance to metabolic degradation37,38 of the 1,2,3-triazole moiety make 310-helical peptides with a side chain-to-side chain triazole bridge highly interesting objects of study.
The present inventors have installed an i→→i+3 constraint by side chain-to-side chain CuAAC between two monosubstituted residues in the context of a 310-helical Aib rich peptide and examined in detail the effect of cyclization on helix regularity and on helix stability. To allow a direct comparison with the results for the i→i+3 hydrocarbon bridge, two octapeptides 21 (Scheme 1) and 23 (Scheme 2) with the reactive/crosslinked residues in the same Aib rich context as the olefinic peptides of Boal et al25 were chosen as synthetic targets.
The inventors provide the first X-ray structural investigation of a (α- or 310-) helical peptide after stapling by CuAAC or with a triazole derived conformational constraint, the first systematic thermodynamic and computational analysis of any stapled 310-helical peptide and the first 2D IR structural investigation of a helical peptide with a conformational constraint installed. Surprisingly perhaps, given the widespread interest in the CuAAC reaction, this study will also afford what appears to be the first crystal structure of a difunctional azide-alkyne compound.


A resin molding apparatus including a release film feeder configured to feed a release film is provided. The release film feeder including a feeding roller around which the release film is wound, a gripper configured to grip an end portion of the release film fed from the feeding roller, a support table configured to support the release film fed by a horizontal movement of the gripper in an X direction, the support table configured to horizontally move at least one of in the X direction or in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, the X and Y directions defining a surface parallel to a surface of the support table, and a position detecting sensor on the support table and configured to detect position information of the release film may be provided.

The inventive concepts relate to resin molding apparatuses, and more particularly, to resin molding apparatuses including a release film feeding apparatus.
A resin molding apparatus may perform a molding process of injecting a molding resin (e.g., an epoxy resin) into a cavity of upper and lower molds in which a chip type element (e.g., a transistor, an integrated circuit, or a light emitting diode) is disposed. The resin molding apparatus may include a release film feeding apparatus for coating a release film on a surface of the cavity of the upper and lower molds to easily separate the molded chip type element from the upper and lower molds after performing the molding process. It is desired that the release film feeding apparatus feed a release film, in which a defect is reduced or suppressed, at an accurate position in the upper and lower molds.

Resin molding apparatus including release film feeder


A fault-tolerant computer system includes at least two servers, each of which is configured to perform a first set of operations. Each of the two servers communicate with a computer that does not perform the first set of operations. In the event of a failure of a component of the system, determining which of the servers will continue to perform the first set of operations based on communication with the computer.

There are many techniques in the computer industry for regulating access to common items. For instance, only one computer at a time can transmit data on a multi-drop communication line. To preserve the integrity of that communication line, some form of access ownership protocol must be run to uniquely select a single master or owner. Depending on the item being regulated, the controlling techniques may include, for example, collision detection, quorums, tokens, lock managers, distributed lock managers, central arbiters, back off timers, round robin scheduling or fixed arbitration.
Similar techniques are used to preserve system integrity in a fault-tolerant system. Fault-tolerance is the ability of a system to achieve desired results in spite of a failure in the system producing the result. To achieve fault-tolerance, either replication-in-time or replication-in-space must be implemented. Replication-in-time refers to reproducing the result at a later time because the original attempt did not succeed due to a failure in the system producing the result. Replication-in-space refers to having duplicate resources available at the time of the failure such that those duplicate resources are able to continue the intended operation and produce the desired result in spite of a failure.
When dealing with a fault-tolerant system that uses replication-in-space techniques, care should be taken to ensure that those duplicate resources do not accidentally operate independently. For example, a fault-tolerant system can be made disaster-tolerant by geographically separating the redundant components such that no single failure event will disable the entire system. Two computers appropriately linked in side-by-side computer racks can be considered disaster tolerant to one rack tipping over or losing power but will not be considered disaster-tolerant to a fire in that room. The farther apart the machines are removed from each other, the more tolerant they become to larger area disasters.
With separation comes the problem of deciding which machine should continue to operate in the event of a loss of communications between them. Both machines continuing to operate without coordination is a condition know as split-brain. Two computers operating on the same problem with the same preconditions but operating in uncoordinated environments may produce different but nonetheless valid results. An example is scheduling airline seats. Given the same map of assigned seats but with reservation requests arriving in different orders due to geographic separation of the computers, the choice of future seat assignments may be different between computers. Each computer's result is valid given its viewpoint of the problem space. As a result, the computers could create valid, but different, local databases that will be impossible to reconcile when communications are restored between the computers. For this reason, split-brain operation is to be avoided.


An exercise monitoring system for use with an exercise device including a selectorized weight stack includes a static-stack light transmitter for transmitting a reference light to a static-stack reflector and a static-stack receiver positioned to receive reflected reference light from the static-stack reflector. The exercise monitoring system further includes a weight-determination module that outputs a weight indicator based on an amount of reflected static-stack reference light.

Lifting weights using a weight lifting machine is a common way to exercise. Some weight lifting machines include a weight stack that may be adjusted by a user. For example, the user may choose to add more or less weight from the weight stack to increase or decrease the difficulty of a particular exercise. Users may want to perform a desired number of repetitions of an exercise or perform an exercise with a desired range of motion when using such weight lifting machines.


A magnet plate assembly includes a plurality of magnetic substances having predetermined magnetic forces, a magnet supporter supporting at least a corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic substances, and a guide support supporting the magnet supporter and comprising at least one guide opening. The magnetic plate assembly further includes a coupler extending through the at least one guide opening and movable within the at least one guide opening, the coupler being connected to the magnet supporter; and a driver unit connected to the coupler and configured to move the corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic substances with respect to the guide support.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a magnet plate assembly, a deposition apparatus including the magnet plate assembly, and a deposition method using the magnet plate assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, organic light-emitting display devices are active light emitting display devices and have wider viewing angles, better contrast characteristics, low voltage driving characteristics, lightweight thin film shapes, and faster response speeds than other display devices, and thus have drawn attention as a next-generation display device.
Such light emitting devices are divided into inorganic light emitting devices and organic light emitting devices according to a material for forming an emission layer. Organic light emitting devices are advantageous to better brightness and response speed characteristics than inorganic light emitting devices and color display, and thus organic light emitting devices have been recently developed.
Organic light emitting display devices use a vacuum deposition method to form organic layer and/or electrodes. However, since organic light emitting display devices become high resolution, widths of open slits of a mask used to perform a deposition process become narrower.
Information disclosed in this Background section may include information already known to the inventors before achieving the present invention or acquired in the process of achieving the present invention. Therefore, it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to the public. Further, the discussions in the Background section does not constitute an admission of the prior art.

Magnet plate assembly, deposition apparatus including the magnet plate assembly, and deposition method using the magnet plate assembly


In order to divide the inside space of the cabinet into at least two with a speaker being the center, obtain a plurality of emitted sound energies through openings constructed in each divided sphere, and utilize a cabinet of a loudspeaker apparatus as a sound echo box, a partition wall 4 is disposed at a right angle to a baffle board 2 or a front board 7, passing through the center O of a speaker 3 disposed on the baffle board 2 or the front board 7 of the cabinet 6, and divides the inside space of the cabinet 6 into at least two of an upper chamber 11U and a lower chamber 11D, so that sound energies are emitted from openings 8 and 9 which are provided in each chamber of 11D and 11U, respectively.

Conventionally, with respect to an electric guitar amplifier (hereinafter referred to as a guitar amplifier), different types of cabinets (enclosures) are used depending on the music to be played.
Specifically, a cabinet having a structure of open back box baffle, sealed box baffle, bass-reflex baffle, or the like is used, and since high operating efficiency of a speaker is obtained and sound projects forward out of the speaker, the open back baffle is suitable for reproducing such vivid and energetic sound as American sound. On the other hand, in this construction since sound is insufficiently reproduced in bass range, the low-frequency component correction is conventionally performed by an equalizer in an amplifier side.
Then, the sealed box baffle is mainly used for reproducing loud sound such as a live music play, since the operating efficiency of a speaker is low, and in most cases four sets of speakers of 30 cm in diameter are accommodated within the cabinet to be used by a number of musicians producing such hard sound as British rock.
Further, 99% of all the vented baffles (bass reflex) are used in a bass guitar amplifier and the insufficient sound reproduction in bass range is augmented by a bass reflex. The cabinet of bass reflex type is not used as a guitar amplifier. The reason is assumed that the quality of sound in bass range reproduced by a duct may be far from that reproduced by a speaker.
Therefore, either open back box baffle or sealed box baffle is mostly used for a guitar amplifier.
Further, there is conventionally used a cabinet for a guitar amplifier, which is made of thick wood boards of 18 mm to 25 mm in thickness; in order to avoid scratches on the surface and to restrain an unnecessary resonance, the outside surface of which is overlaid with a felt or various kinds of leather (vinyl-leather) similarly to the case of a conventional loudspeaker apparatus; corner sections of which are reinforced by metal fittings; and in which a speaker and an amplifier circuit are accommodated.
When the sound is emitted through the above mentioned conventional guitar amplifier, there arise a problem in which such acoustic expression as variety of timbre, sound echoes and multi-directional emission of sound originally produced by the musical instrument, for example, an electric guitar are not sufficiently reproduced.
When the above-described problem is further studied in relation to a guitar (what is called an acoustic guitar) and an electric guitar, the acoustic guitar has a body of a wooden box which functions as a resonance diffusing box, and emits fundamental tones generated by the strings in simple harmonic motions and also from the body in multiple directions, emits sound of multiple phases having inherent timbre including various tone ratio, in which harmonic tones whose ratio is determined depending on the shape of the body are contained as the containing ratio of harmonics tone attenuates with a lapse of time, thereby producing sound inherent to a guitar.
On the other hand, since the electric guitar emits sound through a guitar amplifier by converting the vibration of metal strings into electric signals using an electro-acoustic transducer (pick-up) which is placed under the strings on a resonance body of either resonance box or single board, it is difficult to achieve a sound expression inherent to a musical instrument such as variety of timbre, sound echoes and multi-directional emissions of sound, which are produced by resonance diffusing box such as the acoustic guitar.
In other words, since the vibration of metal strings is picked up at a single point and is emitted in a single direction as a sound energy, a sound source is considered to be completely different from that of an acoustic guitar, in which every part of the body emits sound in multiple directions.
Even if an electric guitar is equipped with a resonance box, the sound generated by the resonance box is considerably low in comparison to magnified sound from a guitar amplifier, and therefore it is considered to be impossible to reproduce all of its inherent expression.
However, since the strings of the electric guitar are influenced by composite harmonic tones which are generated by a resonance board, electric signals converted from the vibration of metal strings carry contents of various harmonic tones and sound echoes close to a live musical instrument.
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a loudspeaker apparatus, which functions as a guitar amplifier (including a speaker, a cabinet and an amplifier), capable of reproducing sound similar to that of a live musical instrument, in which electro-acoustic signals electrically converted from vibration by a pick-up become sound with intrinsic features of an acoustic guitar, such as various harmonic tones, echoes and multi-directional emissions of acoustic energy.
As described above, a cabinet used for the guitar amplifier is mostly of either open back box baffle, sealed box baffle or bass reflex and is made of non-resonant solid thick wood boards; and since sound energies are emitted in concentric waves from the center of a point where the speaker is attached, there is no sound emission similar to those emitted from the body of an acoustic guitar, and in addition, a high frequency range is restrained by a felt or the like overlaid on the surface of the cabinet and sound signals are emitted as a reproduction sound close to electric signals, which contains less harmonic tones. Accordingly, the second object of the present invention is to improve a cabinet (synonymous with an enclosure, a speaker box, a casing or a housing) so as to obtain a loudspeaker apparatus, in which multi-directional emission of sound from the cabinet is increased, sound in a high frequency range is not to be absorbed, the capability of reproducing sound in a high frequency range (harmonic tones) is enhanced and sound energies of middle and low frequency range is capable of being emitted in multiple directions.


A hardware Secure Processing Unit (SPU) is described that can perform both security functions and other information appliance functions using the same set of hardware resources. Because the additional hardware required to support security functions is a relatively small fraction of the overall device hardware, this type of SPU can be competitive with ordinary non-secure CPUs or microcontrollers that perform the same functions. A set of minimal initialization and management hardware and software is added to, e.g., a standard CPU/microcontroller. The additional hardware and/or software creates an SPU environment and performs the functions needed to virtualize the SPU's hardware resources so that they can be shared between security functions and other functions performed by the same CPU.

To create a computing system (e.g., an information appliance) with a high degree of security, the core computations, and particularly those concerned with security, privacy, information integrity, financial transactions, and the like, need to be performed in a strongly tamper-resistant environment, such as the Secure Processing Unit ("SPU") described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,900, entitled "Systems and Methods for Secure Transaction Management and Electronic Rights Protection," issued on Apr. 6, 1999 ("the '900 patent"). In general, such an environment can be provided if the processing hardware and some internal memory is inside a physically tamper-resistant barrier, and contains software to manage internal functions appropriately.
For such tamper-resistant environments to be commercially practical, however, they should impose minimal additional cost beyond the cost of a similar, but non-secure, computing environment. Thus, for example, a problem with some conventional SPU designs is that the SPU is implemented as a separate chip, to be included in an information appliance along with the information appliance's general-purpose microcontroller. Recently, single-chip microcontrollers containing a processor, memory management unit, peripheral functions, control registers, and a significant amount of internal memory have become widely available. What is needed are systems and methods for efficiently enhancing the functionality of these components to implement an integrated secure processing unit.

Secure processing unit systems and methods


Methods and compositions are provided that related to cementing operations. Methods and compositions that include pumice and/or perlite as a replacement for fly ash.

The present invention relates to cementing operations and, more particularly, in certain embodiments, to calcium phosphate cement compositions that utilize pumice and/or perlite as a replacement for fly ash.
Cement compositions may be used in a variety of subterranean applications. For example, in subterranean well construction, a pipe string (e.g., casing, liners, expandable tubulars, etc.) may be run into a well bore and cemented in place. The process of cementing the pipe string in place is commonly referred to as "primary cementing." In a typical primary cementing method, a cement composition may be pumped into an annulus between the walls of the well bore and the exterior surface of the pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition may set in the annular space, thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened, substantially impermeable cement (i.e., a cement sheath) that may support and position the pipe string in the well bore and may bond the exterior surface of the pipe string to the subterranean formation. Among other things, the cement sheath surrounding the pipe string functions to prevent the migration of fluids in the annulus, as well as protecting the pipe string from corrosion. Cement compositions also may be used in remedial cementing methods, for example, to seal cracks or holes in pipe strings or cement sheaths, to seal highly permeable formation zones or fractures, to place a cement plug, and the like.
Portland cement is commonly used in subterranean cementing applications. Drawbacks may exist to using Portland cements in certain applications, however, because such cements are prone to corrosive attacks by carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid may be naturally present in a subterranean formation, or it may be produced in the formation by the reaction of subterranean water and carbon dioxide (CO2), when the latter has been injected into the formation, e.g., as in a CO2-enhanced recovery operation. Carbonic acid is believed to react with calcium hydroxide that is present in Portland cement, which reaction may cause the cement to become a soft amorphous gel. This is problematic because, inter alia, it may increase the permeability of the cement. As a result, chloride and hydrogen sulfide ions, which may be present in the subterranean formation, may penetrate the cement sheath and adversely affect, or react with, the casing. The degradation of the cement can cause, inter alia, loss of support for the casing and undesirable interzonal communication of fluids.
It has heretofore been discovered that a set cement material known as calcium phosphate cement formed by an acid-base reaction between calcium aluminate and a phosphate-containing solution can have, for example, high strength, low permeability and excellent carbon dioxide resistance when cured in hydrothermal environments. Compositions containing calcium aluminate and a phosphate-containing solution that react to form calcium phosphate cements may generally be referred to as calcium phosphate cement compositions. Fly ash is often included in the calcium phosphate cement compositions as it is believed that the fly ash reacts with components in the composition to form calcium aluminosilicates, which are resistant to carbonic acid corrosion. However, because fly ash is a waste material there may be drawbacks to its use in the cement compositions. For example, the composition of the fly ash may vary depending upon its source, making it more difficult to design compositions with the fly ash as the variability in composition can impact properties of the cement composition, including its thickening time and pumpability, among others. In addition, supply issues have been encountered with fly ash making its availability as a cement additive unpredictable in some instances.

Calcium phosphate cement compositions comprising pumice and/or perlite and associated methods


An arrangement for use in a refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, at least one evaporator unit, and at least one expansion valve. The arrangement includes first and second microsystems and first and second controllers. The first microsystem includes a first MEMs sensor configured to measure at least a first operational parameter of a first of the plurality of refrigeration devices. The first controller is operable to generate a first actuator control signal based on a first control signal, and is configured to generate the first control signal based directly or indirectly on the first operational parameter measurement. The second microsystem includes a second MEMs sensor configured to measure at least a second operational parameter of a second of the plurality of refrigeration devices. The second controller is operable to generate a second actuator control signal based on a second control signal, and is configured to generate the second control signal based directly or indirectly on the second operational parameter measurement.

Cooling systems are used for a variety of purposes, such as for refrigeration or air conditioning. One common type of cooling system is a vapor compression refrigeration system. A vapor compression refrigeration system generally includes, among other things, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, along with a refrigerant and a series of valves and pipes.
As is known in the art, circulating refrigerant enters the compressor where it is both pressurized and heated as a result of the pressurization. This heated vapor is then passed through the condenser which allows the vapor to dissipate heat and thus change to a liquid state. The condenser acts as a heat exchanger by rejecting the heat of the system to an external medium. The liquid refrigerant then passes through a thermostatic expansion valve (TEV or TXV). The TEV creates a substantial pressure drop causing part of the liquid refrigerant to flash evaporate. The liquid and vapor refrigerant mixture then circulates through the evaporator. While in the evaporator, the ambient air of the space to be cooled warms the refrigerant causing more of the liquid portion to evaporate thus absorbing the heat from the ambient space. Ideally, the refrigerant leaving the evaporator will be mostly vapor. This vapor then passes into back into the compressor and the cycle repeats.
One issue that arises with current cooling systems is that specific compartments or spaces may have optimal temperature and moisture requirements that differ from contiguous compartments or spaces. This arises, for instance, in refrigerated cases at the supermarket when foods having different characteristics are stored in the same case with a single controller. The operating costs of the refrigerated case may be higher than necessary because the case will have to be kept at the cooler of the competing settings to prevent food spoilage.
In addition, it is possible that some refrigeration cases require more cooling than others in order to maintain a desired temperature, even if the desired temperature is the same. Additional cooling requirements can result from external factors, such as the exposure to more ambient heat in some refrigerant cases, or placement near warmer zones of the building.
Current cooling systems are limited in their ability to maintain desired temperature in food display cases. Typical control systems for refrigeration include an evaporator pressure regulator valve that is operable to adjust pressure within the evaporator responsive to temperature measurements taken from inside the refrigerator. For example, the temperature measurement used for evaporator pressure regulation may be taken from the air exiting the evaporator (evaporator discharge air). In many cases, there are multiple evaporators connected to a single evaporate pressure regulator device. In such cases, it is not possible to regulate individual case temperature in this manner.
In alternative systems, the flow of refrigerant into an evaporator unit may be regulated responsive to a temperature measurement of the discharge air. Such systems, however, combined with other necessary control systems such as frost control, require extensive wiring and large installation costs. In many cases, the evaporator pressure regulator may be implemented as a mechanical feedback control valve. The use of mechanical feedback reduces wiring costs but is less responsive and less reliable.
Accordingly, there is need for an arrangement and/or method for controlling temperature within refrigerator cases, particularly in large systems, that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

Distributed microsystems-based control method and apparatus for commercial refrigeration


In a nonvolatile memory device (4) provided in a semiconductor device, when data is erased based on a band-to-band tunneling scheme, supply of a boosted voltage to a memory cell (MC) to be erased is ended when a condition that an output voltage (VUCP) of a charge pump circuit (52) has recovered to a predetermined reference voltage is satisfied and additionally a condition that a predetermined reference time has elapsed since start of supply of the boosted voltage (VUCP) to the memory cell (MC) to be erased is satisfied.

Regarding a semiconductor device including an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory device such as flash memory, the time taken for programming (writing) tends to increase with an increase of the capacity of the nonvolatile memory device.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-351166 (PTD 1) discloses a technique for shorting this time taken for programming. Specifically, a flash memory device of this document includes a control logic, a high-voltage generator circuit, and a signal generator circuit. The control logic generates, during a program interval, a first flag signal for indicating that a program voltage is supplied to a word line. The high-voltage generator circuit generates the program voltage supplied to the word line, and generates, during the program interval, a second flag signal for indicating that the program voltage has been recovered to a target voltage. The signal generator circuit generates a program execution end signal in response to the first and second flag signals. When the program execution end signal is generated, the control logic deactivates the first flag signal so that the program interval is terminated.

Semiconductor device having non-volatile memory with data erase scheme


A toner cartridge (1) contains a photoconductive drum (49) having a central shaft (47). Gear (145) turns with the drum and has a stud (602). A coil spring (604) is mounted on the stud to form a spring clutch which is unwound by the rotation of the drum during imaging. Alternatively, a flat frictional surface is pressed against the side wall (600b) of the gear. Both contact areas have a light grease. The drag forces provide accurate, smooth operation during imaging.

Prior to 1997 the assignee of this invention has manufactured and sold commercially toner cartridges of two different general designs. For its larger laser printers the cartridge has contained a pump to meter toner of the kind disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,012,289 to Aldrich et al. and 5,101,237 to Molloy, while the external structure of the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,333 to Craft et al. Details of other elements in the cartridge have varied.
For a smaller, light emitting diode printer, the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,032 to Baker et al., which has a toner hopper extending well below a level having the toner adder roller and which has independent driven systems for the photoconductor roller and for the developer roller system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,378 to Baker et al.
Cartridges are typically located by elements on their cover or frame, not directly based on the location of photoconductor. In 1997 the assignee of this invention began selling a printer with cartridge having the shaft of the photoconductor drum as the primary locator and a flat ledge opposite for resting on a roller member in the printer. This cartridge contains a photosensitive roller, the central shaft of which extends unobstructed to be contacted by the printer as a vertical and front to rear locator. A hopper and developer roller assembly is attached to the cartridge cover assembly through a spring force. The cartridge cover assembly has elongated surfaces to receive a downward pressing member from the printer. The hopper and developer roller assembly has flat ledges to ride on rollers in the printer thereby permitting adjustment of the contact between the photosensitive roller and the developer roller. A cover assembly integral with the photoconductive roller has a locating surface near the hopper which rests on the frame of the printer positively locating the photoconductive roller.
The two front support wheels which define the plane of lateral movement between the two assemblies are in the printer, with a flat surface on the hopper to receive these rollers. Since the under side of the developer unit is part of the media path, referencing the hopper assembly to the printer improves location accuracy of the media path. The cartridge is resistant to rough handling. A minor advantage is that the cost of the wheels and their installation is eliminated from the cartridge.
The photosensitive roller is integral with a gear with teeth. These teeth mesh with a gear from the printer. Other mechanisms in the cartridge are separately driven. However, a photosensitive roller is subject to forces from a paper or other media which are pulled across the roller to transfer the toner image. Another influence is the developer roller, which has a nip contact to the photosensitive roller and a higher tangential velocity.
The photosensitive roller experiences drag from the cleaner blade. However, during use the wear of the cleaner blade results in the drag dropping greatly. Other drag forces, such as at the bearings, are very small.
Paper contacting the photosensitive roller is being pulled by the fixing station while the trailing part of the paper is still in contact with the photosensitive drum. Wrinkle-free paper handling often results in tension from the fuser roller that may be significant.
The effects of low inherent drag on the photosensitive roller, an incidental driving force from the developer roller, and the pull from the fuser roller nip, alone or in combination, can result in imprecise and wavering rotation of the photosensitive roller (termed "jitter"). The teeth between the input gear of the photosensitive roller and the drive gear may actually separate tangentially, resulting in quite apparent distortion of the printed image. Additionally, since pressure at the teeth tends to physically flatten surface defects, loss of such pressure results in some loss of precise rotation and consequent impairment of the printed image.
This invention applies a highly uniform frictional drag to the photosensitive drum. A spring clutch operating in the unwind direction applies such a drag and is so employed. Uniform response is also achieved by having grease at the friction surface. Where drag is produced by lateral movement of two contacting surfaces, the friction characteristics of the grease provide uniform drag. In all cases the grease promotes consistent, smooth operation.

Control of photosensitive roller movement


The present invention provides a process control method in spin etching capable of realizing uniformity in etching amount in etching treatment for even wafers each having various conditions, and achieving uniformity of thickness values among etched wafers. In the present invention, weight of a wafer before etching is measured in units of 1/1000 g, followed by predetermined etching treatment in a spin etching section. Thereafter, weight of the wafer is again measured in units of 1/1000 g after rinsing and drying treatment of the wafer, and then an actual etching amount is calculated from a difference between weight before and after etching of the wafer, confirming an etching rate each time etching to thereby control an etching time.

In fabrication of devices in recent years, there has been encountered a situation where wet etching treatment for a wafer with a spin etching apparatus is many times employed for purposes to increase a mechanical strength and to improve electric and thermal characteristics of a chip. In wet etching, with increase in the number of wafers processed therein, an etching rate is reduced since circulation use of an etching solution is common. The most important control item in the wet etching is control of a wafer thickness after the etching treatment. The thickness control is preferably conducted using a method for measuring a wafer thickness directly in light of its purpose. There arise cases, however, where patterning has been applied and electrodes have been formed on almost all wafers when a thickness of a wafer is measured, and further where a tape or a glass substrate is adhered on a wafer in order to protect the patterned surface thereof. A method for measuring a thickness with a good precision in such various conditions is very difficult to be conducted or requires a very expensive measuring instrument.

Process control method in spin etching and spin etching apparatus


The present invention provides a pressure alarm for use in conjunction with conventional pressure gauge unit systems, as a replacement pressure gauge and alarm, or as a pressure alarm system. The invention provides adaptable alarm feedback signals for an operator, preventing the unexpected loss of pressure when using a gas cylinder, pressure boiler, or other device. The invention provides an alarm that may be a visual, audible, electronic, or mechanical low-pressure alarm and may include a means of ordering replacement supplies or sending a warning message. A system controller and memory module prevents false alarms and eases the burden of the operator while allowing external input and control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure alarm device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pressure alarm device operable with, or incorporated into, a pressure gauge incorporated into a pressure regulator for a gas cylinder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Balloons and inflatable advertising displays are often filled with conventional gas cylinder units. Most frequently, this type of conventional gas cylinder unit includes a gas cylinder containing Helium (He), but other conventional non-combustible gasses (Nitrogen and Argon) are also used.
In some circumstances, conventional gas cylinder units also include a control mechanism, frequently placed on the top of the gas cylinder for user convenience. Conventional gas cylinder control mechanisms are threaded into the top of the gas cylinder and are often actuated by a control valve of conventional design. Conventional control mechanisms include a pressure control valve (usually a ball or a needle valve), a combination pressure regulator and gauge, and at least one male filling adapter that mates with a balloon or display opening during filling to provide a gas tight seal. Frequently, multiple male extensions are used to allow ready adaptation with a variety of balloon types.
Conventionally combined pressure regulator and gauge sets include a conventional regulator with a visual gauge and a safety pressure relief device or over-pressure vent opening. Conventional visual gauges have a body enclosing a face and an indicator needle. The needle is registered against a scale printed on the face of the gauge. The needle is most frequently connected to a conventional Bourdon-tube type gauge movement and directly reflects an existing gas cylinder pressure when the conventional regulator is open. Using this type of combined regulator/gauge set, operators may both regulate the available pressure (by opening and closing the regulator) and monitor the existing gas cylinder pressure by viewing the visual gauge.
In an alternative conventional circumstance, a pressure regulator gauge is connected to a propane (LP) cylinder of the type normally associated with a back-yard gas grill. A control valve, in a direct line with the gauge, opens the LP cylinder providing propane access to the grill via a braided hose and a set of quick-disconnect fittings. In use, an operator connects the braided hose to a coupling down stream from the pressure regulator gauge. As the operator opens the valve, the gauge reads the tank pressure. As the LP gas is used, the gauge generally reflects the remaining pressure in the tank and hence the remaining volume of LP gas.
In either conventional circumstance, certain design and safety standards may govern the type of connections and fittings which are used. Particularly of note are the design and safety standards governing conventional pressure regulator gauges are prepared by the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) and other governmental bodies to protect the public.
Unfortunately, end users for either type of conventional gas cylinder unit (LP, He, N, etc.) are often untrained and unsophisticated in monitoring the visual gauges and scheduling appropriate replacement gas cylinder delivery. Additionally, the balloon/entertainment and advertisement industries often cannot afford to competently train end users and may experience sudden workflow changes making reliable and regular cylinder replacement scheduling difficult. Over ordering of replacement gas cylinders increases inventory costs. Under ordering of replacement gas cylinder results in sudden operational shut down and client loss. Finally, conventional indicator needle-type combination pressure regulator gauges often include small and inaccurate scales and are often difficult to read from any distance.
Attempts to make conventional visual gauges more useful include labeling the gauge face, adjacent a zero (0) pressure value, a warning color or other indicia of low pressure. One conventional gauge-less regulator (without a needle-type gauge) includes a spring-loaded "pop-up" indicator providing a visual indicator of low pressure. Unfortunately, these conventional low-pressure warning systems are small, are hard to read, are easily hidden by dirt, or require experience or training to read. Unfortunately, there is no conventionally available and adaptable alarm system for conventional types of gas cylinder units that would overcome these problems and provide easy end user with a simple and cheap warning prior to emptying the gas cylinder.
While complex conventional pressure sensing and alarm system exist, these systems require custom design and are often regulated by external and large computerized feed-back and pressure-check loops, the high cost and maintenance fees associated with acquisition and operation of these systems is prohibitive to the home grilling, balloon, and advertising display industry. Additionally, these large conventional pressure sensing and alarm systems often require lengthy hard-wire connections with separate computer modules and a full time power supply to function reliably.
In summary, the problems of commercially available combination pressure regulator gauges include:                1. Lack of positive audible, visible, or vibratory alarm signal to warn unskilled end users of low-pressure level.        2. High purchase, installation, and maintenance costs for conventionally available systems.        3. Poor gauge face resolution making accurate gauge reading difficult by unsophisticated end users.        4. Lack of adaptable pressure alarms that can be applied to existing conventional pressure regulator gauges in the field without complex or hard-wire support systems for power supplies and sensor operation.        5. Low portability and difficulty in repositioning on replacement modules.        6. Lack of easy communication and/or control between a gauge and an off-site monitor, controller, owner.


The present invention is a fuel-control system for a turbine which includes a programmable logic controller. The controller manages utility and stored natural gas sources using a surge tank and pressure-control valve arrangement and is backed up by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell.

Conventional power systems for telecommunications facilities have used AC which is purchased from a commercial utility. Because of blackouts and other disturbances in the commercial power grid, some facilities use a diesel generator to back up the commercial AC. When the AC power goes dead, the diesel generator is activated. It takes a while for the generator to come online, however. In the interim, an array of batteries will bridge the downtime. If the diesel generator fails, e.g., runs out of fuel, the batteries will drain to power the facility until they run out.
Gas turbines have been widely used by utility companies to generate electrical power. Many are adapted such that they operate on natural gas. Such turbines are normally included in an arrangement which ensures that the natural gas fuel is delivered at a steady pressure. This prevents erratic electrical production.

Power system with computer-controlled fuel system


An enclosure for providing both a moisture free and particle free environment is disclosed. A portion of the inner surface of the enclosure, that comprises an electronic device sealed in a container, is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive comprising 4-40 percent, by volume, of a solid desiccant. The preferred adhesive is a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive and the preferred desiccant is zeolite.

This invention relates to enclosures for providing a moisture free and particle free environment by coating an inner surface of a container with a composition having both moisture getter and particle getter properties. It is primarily concerned with maintaining a moisture free and particle free environment in casings and enclosures for semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
It is difficult to manufacture a hermetic packaging for microelectronic devices with low water vapor content and to maintain the wafer vapor content at a low level during the device's useful lifetime. There are various channels by which water vapor finds its way to the inside of the enclosure:
1. The various seals in packagings are usually not perfect and ambient air, containing moisture, leaks inside the enclosure. PA0 2. Many epoxies used to bond dies and substrates outgas moisture in the packaging with time. PA0 3. The packaging material itself outgasses a certain amount of moisture. Baking prior to sealing is necessary to liberate all the absorbed moisture. PA0 4. The sealing atmosphere has to be moisture free. PA0 5. The testing process for leakage rate may itself introduce moisture inside the package if not done with extreme care.
Another problem that often arises in the manufacture of hermetic devices is the presence of unwanted solid particles on surfaces. Such particles may be constituted of metallic residues from solders or wirebonding, organic residue, from adhesives and fluxes, fibers from cleaning tools such as cotton swabs, airborne particles depositing on the surface, etc. These particles can mechanically damage the microcircuits in the device or cause electrical shorts (wires, solder, conductive epoxy). To minimize such potential problem, the manufacturing is carried out in a so-called "clean room", where the ambient air contains only a very small amount of solid particles. In addition, most processing steps have to be followed up by solvent cleaning to remove residual solid particles from the surfaces. Despite such extensive precautions, failure of parts due to particle contamination is still not entirely eliminated.
The prior art teaches various desiccating solids and liquids and some may be useful in electronic packaging applications. Thus, Aoki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,392, teach a moisture absorbent sealed between two plastic films of varying permeability. Anderson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,009, teach a moisture absorbing composite coating made with two solid layers. Plachendov et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,806, disclose a dehumidifying mixture composed of zeolite and a thermosetting plastic binder, which was an improvement over the zeolite+silicone fluid mixture previously used. Evani et al. teach in U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,098 water absorbent compositions of colloidal silica in polymeric binders. Tokuyama et al. teach in U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,823 desiccating salts in a polymer with a fibrous additive. Booe teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,397 a desiccant for electronic devices which consists of alkaline earth oxides in an elastomeric matrix, such a silicone or polyurethane. Deffeyes teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,360 a package having a dessicant consisting of a dessicant material dispersed in a film-forming resin. The resin material is taught as a urethane, and the dessicant is taught as a chloride, sulfate, zeolite or clay. Taylor teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,566 a flexible solid desiccant comprising finely divided molecular seive particles in epoxy.
Some of these teachings may be useful to solve the moisture problem in hermetically sealed enclosures and electronic packages but none of them addresses the problem encountered with residual solid particles.

Moisture and particle getter for enclosures


A portable vise, particularly for use in supporting elongated member, provides a convenient design for safely cutting, drilling, welding, and painting. An elongated member is inserted through an aperture of a vise body. The vise rests upon the ground or other work surface such that one end of the elongated member is supported over the work surface while the other end of the elongated member rests upon the work surface.

While working with elongated materials or workpieces such as, lumber, plastic or metal pipe, conduit, unistrut, rebar, or dowels, it is often desirable to elevate or otherwise support and hold secure such materials above a work surface. Elevating the material allows for the unimpeded movement of painting utensils, saws, drills, welders, and other tools around the circumference of the material. For example, when cutting lumber with a circular hand saw, the circular saw blade will protrude through the backside of the lumber as the cut is being made. If the lumber is not elevated while sawing, the saw blade may bind or penetrate the surface upon which the lumber is situated. This may result in unwanted damage to the surface and potentially hazardous working conditions.
To avoid these problems, workers may support the workpiece with their own body, e.g. by placing their knee under the material or supporting the material in their hand, or they may use a make-shift support or surface, e.g. steps, tables, saw horses, or cement blocks. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the prior art method of holding or self-supporting the elongated material fails to provide a stable, secure support and poses a high degree of risk of personal injury. Make-shift supports may not be intended to support the forces exerted by such activities and are often unavailable, cumbersome to move and impractical for utilities requiring portability. What is needed in the field is a stable, portable support that is capable of elevating and holding an elongated material securely in place.


The present disclosure relates to a condensate trap for a gas furnace for collecting and discharging condensate generated in a heat exchanger and an exhaust pipe, the condensate trap including: a first inlet through which the condensate generated in the heat exchanger is introduced; a second inlet through which the condensate generated in the exhaust pipe is introduced; a first passage through which the condensate introduced from the first inlet passes; a second passage through which the condensate introduced from the second inlet passes; a discharge port through which the condensate, having passed through the first passage and the second passage, is discharged outside; and a backflow prevention device disposed on the first passage and configured to prevent backflow of air, wherein the backflow prevention device includes: a housing; and a core which is movably disposed in the housing, and which in response to an amount of the condensate introduced from the first inlet being less than or equal to a predetermined amount, prevents backflow of the air by closing the first passage.

Generally, a gas furnace is a device for heating indoor air by performing heat exchange between air, supplied indoors, and flame and high-temperature combustion gas which are produced during combustion of a fuel gas.
Particularly, in a condensing gas furnace which performs heat exchange between a combustion gas and indoor air until water vapor contained in the combustion gas is condensed, it is required a condensate trap for the gas furnace which collects and discharges the condensate generated in a heat exchanger and an exhaust pipe.
In a general condensate trap for a gas furnace, if negative pressure is formed in a heat exchanger compared to the outside atmospheric pressure, the outside air backflows into the heat exchanger, thereby causing a problem in that the condensate generated in the heat exchanger may not be discharged.
In order to solve the above problem, an air backflow prevention device is installed in the condensate trap to prevent backflow of the outside air, but if negative pressure is formed in the heat exchanger, a problem occurs in that the backflow of air may not be fundamentally prevented.
In addition, the air backflow prevention device, integrally formed with the condensate trap, may not be assembled or separated, such that the air backflow prevention device has poor compatibility with other condensate trap for a gas furnace, and is inconvenient in repair and maintenance.


A method of operating a centrifugal separator is provided. The method includes supplying a liquid mixture to be separated to the inlet of the centrifugal separator, separating the liquid mixture into at least one separated liquid component and a separated sludge component, discharging at least one separated liquid component from at least one liquid outlet of the centrifuge rotor, removing gas from a space surrounding a centrifuge rotor of the separator, to obtain a sub-atmospheric pressure in the space, and discharging a separated sludge component from at least one sludge outlet arranged at a periphery of the centrifuge rotor to the space which is delimited by a frame, wherein the discharging is performed when the sub-atmospheric pressure in the space surrounding the centrifuge rotor is within a preset pressure interval ΔP.

Today centrifugal separation is used in the food industry for separation of liquids or for separation of solids from liquids. Separation is achieved by introducing the liquid to be processed in a rotating bowl and collecting separated phases e.g. by means of different outlets arranged at the periphery of the bowl and close to the rotational axis.
A centrifugal separator of today may consume much energy, and a part is lost e.g. at the contact between rotating parts and at the contact between the rotating centrifuge rotor with the surrounding gas. These losses may cause unnecessarily high energy consumption of the centrifugal separator.
Energy losses may further increase the temperature of rotating and adjacent parts, which may be undesirable if e.g. fluids sensitive to high temperature are to be separated. In order to decrease the temperature of a separator, a cooling device in the form of a water-cooled casing may be arranged in the separator.
In order to overcome problems with high energy consumption, it is known e.g. from WO10101524 to create a sub-atmospheric pressure around the rotating centrifuge rotor during operation. The removal of gas due to the creation of the sub-atmospheric pressure reduces friction losses during operation.
However, there is still the need for improved methods for operating a centrifugal separator.

Centrifugal separator for separating a liquid mixture, and method therefor


A skate includes a midskate hinge in the shoe to preferentially flex the shoe base at the metatarsal area, a forward hinge to allow the rear of the shoe to be raised in relation to the rear of the skate frame, and a third hinge to laterally stabilize the rear of the shoe as the shoe base is flexed.

Traditionally, in-line roller skates and ice skates generally include an upper shoe portion secured by a base to a frame supporting wheels or an ice blade. The upper shoe portion provides the support for the skater's foot, while the frame rigidly attaches the wheels or blade to the shoe. When skating on traditional skates, particularly during thrusting, difficulties are encountered in efficiently transferring the thrust from the skater to the ground. The inefficiencies are due in part, to the frame being rigidly attached to the base of the skate, which decreases the effectiveness of the thrust, as well as the comfort for the skater.
Efficiently imparting thrust to the skate during the skating stroke is especially important to speed skaters. Because of the rigid attachment of the frame to the base, speed skaters are coached not to plantarflex their ankle during the push-off phase of the stroke. The term "plantarflex" is commonly used in the art to describe the rotation of the foot relative to the leg, where the fore foot moves distally from the leg. No plantarflexion at the ankle keeps the blade flat on the ice and prevents the tip of the blade from digging into the ice, thereby causing an increase in friction and reducing the skater's speed. If, however, the skater is permitted to plantarflex his or her ankles during the skate stroke, the fore foot will be able to move distally and allow the calf muscles to generate more power during the skate stroke when compared to a stroke where plantarflexion is prevented or discouraged. Thus, a skate that permits ankle plantarflex should allow a skater to generate more power and speed, in addition to reducing the risk of digging the blade's tip into the surface the skater is traversing.
Prior attempts at allowing ankle plantarflexion have resulted in complicated linkage mechanisms that move the instantaneous point of rotation between the boot and blade forward as the heel lifts. Such a linkage mechanism often results in a skate that is too heavy because of the multiple links. Other attempts at permitting ankle plantarflexion have used a single-hinge joint between the blade and boot, thereby hingedly connecting the blade to the boot. The hinge is located below the boot, between the metatarsal head and toe end of the boot. While a single-hinge point attachment system is lighter, current models fail to prevent medial to lateral motion of the blade relative to the boot when the heel is lifted because of a narrow hinge, thus resulting in an unstable skating stroke.
Also, when the heel is lifted, the force from the boot to the blade is transferred through the hinge point. Thus, the skater cannot change the location of the center of pressure on the blade. This produces an unstable platform from which the skater can apply thrust through the blade.
An additional drawback to skates having a single hinge joint stems from the shoe portion of the skate. As briefly noted above, skates traditionally have a boot or shoe portion that has a rigid or semi-rigid base that impedes the foot from flexing at the ball of the foot during the skating motion, thereby restricting the natural movement in the foot, which occurs during locomotion, and preventing a skater from generating the maximum power from the skate stroke.
Thus, there exists a need for a skate that would permit ankle plantarflexion during a skating stroke, that is also lightweight, stable, and a boot that can allow flexion at the ball of the foot. U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,744 to Allinger et al. addresses these issues to overcome the limitations currently encountered by providing a skate that has a first hinge member defined in the metatarsal head region to provide flexing of the shoe base and a second hinge member that is located substantially at the toe end of the boot to allow plantar flexion of the ankle. The second hinge permits the shoe, as a whole, to pivot in relation to the horizontal surface. However, Allinger et al. failed to address the problem of lateral or sideways stability of the shoe in relation to the frame when the skater plantar flexes the ankle. During the skating stroke involving plantar flexing, the heel of the shoe is moved up and away from the frame with the only attachment being at the front of the shoe, making the heel prone to lateral movement. Furthermore, some skaters may desire to have control over which hinge should flex first. The double-hinged skate as described in the '744 patent has the ability to flex both at the shoe base and to flex the shoe, as a whole, with respect to the frame. However, the construction of the skate described in the '744 patent makes it difficult to have control over which hinge flexes first. Some skaters may desire to flex the metatarsal region of the shoe base prior to plantar flexing the entire shoe in order to provide a more natural movement. The present invention provides a flexing shoe base, double hinged skate, capable of plantar flexing with a stabilizing rear heel hinge. Furthermore, the skate in accordance with the present invention, makes it possible for a skater to substantially flex the metatarsal region of the shoe base first, followed by flexing the shoe, as a whole, with respect to the frame.

Double klap flex base boot with heel linkage


A mine support yieldable prop includes a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in an end of the prop to move into and out of the prop end to move a bearing plate toward or away from a mine roof, and/or a bearing plate pivotally mounted to the end of the prop to level the prop with uneven mine roofs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mine support, e.g. a mine roof prop having a linearly moveable, and/or pivoting, end plate, e.g. a bearing plate, and more particularly, to a yieldable mine roof prop having a bearing plate mounted on one end of a threaded shaft with the other end of the shaft mounted in an end of the prop, or having a bearing plate pivotally mounted on the end of the prop, or pivotally mounted on the end of the threaded shaft.
2. Description of the Presently Available Technology
In general, a mine roof support system includes a plurality of yieldable props, each prop having one end supported on the mine floor and the other end engaging the mine roof, or two or more two yielding props connected to one another by a support cross member. The yieldable props presently available have an inner conduit slidably mounted into an outer conduit and held at a desired length by a clamp assembly used alone or in combination with a collapsible member or insert. Embodiments of clamping assemblies and collapsible members are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,810 B2, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference.
As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, as a compression load, e.g., a shifting mine tunnel roof or floor acts on an end of the prop, the inner conduit slides into the outer conduit. Although the props presently available are acceptable for mine roof support systems, there are limitations. For example, the force of the clamping arrangement that maintains the conduits in a fixed relationship to one another controls the load that the prop can take before it compresses. Because the props are usually manually set and the clamp assembly manually adjusted in the mines, there is a variation in the compressive load each prop can support before collapsing. The limitations of props with clamping assemblies, e.g. the variation in the compressive load is eliminated by using collapsible inserts, e.g. of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,810 B2, to carry the load instead of the clamping arrangements.
Although props having clamping arrangements and collapsible inserts eliminate the limitations of the props having clamping arrangements alone, they also have limitations. More particularly, in the instance when the mine roof or floor is not level, an uneven compressive load is applied to the engaging surface of the bearing plate and to the insert.
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it would be advantageous to provide a prop for a mine roof support system that does not have the limitations of the presently available props.

Mine support having a linearly moveable and/or pivoting end plate


An improved process for combustion flue gas conditioning in which ammonia is injected into a stream of said combustion flue gas, wherein urea is dissolved in water, forming a dissolved urea solution. The dissolved urea solution is heated and pressurized and the dissolved urea therein hydrolyzed, forming ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia and carbon dioxide are then stripped from the resulting hydrolysis solution and injected into the stream of combustion flue gas to be treated. Water from the stripped hydrolysis solution is then recycled for use in dissolving fresh urea.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for treating flue gases and, more specifically, to a process for purifying (conditioning) such flue gases by ammonia addition. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for flue gas treatment by ammonia addition, whereby the ammonia is derived from the hydrolysis of urea.
2. Description of Prior Art
It is well known to add ammonia to flue gases to remove, for instance, nitrogen oxides, which are formed in the course of combustion itself. Reaction between ammonia and nitrogen oxides, in the presence of oxygen, results in nitrogen and water formation in accordance with the following reaction: EQU 2NH.sub.3 +NO+O.sub.2 .fwdarw.3H.sub.2 O+N.sub.2
Ammonia gas is injected into the flue gas stream to be treated by vapor obtained by stripping of the ammonia contained in an ammonia aqueous solution in which the ammonia concentration is roughly 30% by weight. The ammonia aqueous solution has to be transported from the production plant to the user plant, stored, sent to a stripping plant to yield the desired ammonia, and then the ammonia containing residual water has to be neutralized before its disposal.
Ammonia solutions are presently classified as toxic materials. Consequently, certain specific rules have to be followed for its handling, due to the high volatility and pollution level of ammonia.
In order to avoid the aforementioned problems, use of non-toxic, harmless compounds has been proposed which, under the reaction conditions, may yield ammonia. For this purpose, urea has been used to generate ammonia without the formation of any undesired by-product. Use of urea as a conditioning agent of flue gases solves the problem connected with highly toxic material handling and storage; however, to obtain fine particles of solid urea and uniformly inject it into a flue gas stream still presents substantial problems.

Process for ammonia production through urea hydrolysis


A LiDAR system including a laser amplification system is disclosed. The laser amplification system includes a laser source and an optical amplifier. The laser source has a laser cavity and is configured to output electromagnetic radiation. The optical amplifier includes quantum dots and is positioned outside the laser cavity to receive the electromagnetic radiation output from the laser source. The optical amplifier amplifies the received electromagnetic radiation using the quantum dots and outputs the amplified electromagnetic radiation.

Coherent LiDAR, or Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR, or Swept Source LiDAR, represent a broad category of well-known techniques for laser-based distance measurements (ranging), laser-based metrology (measurements), laser-based vibrometry, and combined laser ranging and imaging, among other applications. Coherent LiDAR generally also provides velocity information along with distance.
With the emergence of driver assistance systems, autonomous vehicles (e.g. self-driving cars or trucks), drone-based services, human facial recognition, and other previously unforeseen markets, there is a need for laser systems with higher optical powers. For example, to ensure imaging at larger distances, LiDAR systems aim to include a laser system emitting light at around 200 mW. Such high optical power requirements are not unique to LiDAR.
In addition to larger power output, laser systems are also be confined to smaller physical dimensions to ensure that multiple laser systems are capable of being included on existing platforms (e.g., inside autonomous vehicles, drones, etc.).

Chip-scale coherent lidar utilizing quantum dots


An image forming apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that plural sheets of paper are conveyed to a main conveying path and a sub-conveying path at the time of double-side image formation. In performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper, a sequence control section makes a change of sequences for image formation so that a post-process for the previous job can be performed during image formation of the next set. With this, in performing double-side image formation jobs on plural sets of sheets of paper in an image forming system constituted by an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, images can be formed in succession without suspending image formation of the next set to allow post-processing time for the previous set. This makes it possible to achieve a system with high job efficiency.

There are some image forming apparatus to which a post-processing apparatus can be connected as an option to perform a post-process on sheets of paper outputted from the image forming apparatus, and an image forming system is constituted by equipping the image forming apparatus with the post-processing apparatus. Examples of the post-process includes stapling sheets of paper together, outputting sheets of paper onto a designated one of a plurality of paper output trays, and offsetting a position on a paper output tray in which sheets of paper are outputted.
Patent Document 1 discloses an arrangement of such an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus starts a second image formation job without waiting for a post-processing apparatus to complete preparation for change of post-processes and the post-processing apparatus starts a post-process for the second image formation job immediately after completing the preparation for change of post-processes.
That is, after the image forming apparatus suspends the conveyance of sheets of paper on completion of a first image formation job (i.e., the image formation job that came immediately before the second image formation job), the image forming apparatus resumes the feeding and conveyance of sheets of paper at an appropriate timing prior to the completion of the preparation for change of post-processes, and then supplies sheets of paper to the post-processing apparatus at substantially the same timing as the completion of the preparation for change of post-processes.
Thus, the amount of time required between the start of the first image formation job and the completion of the post-process for the second image formation job can be made smaller than ever before.
(Patent Document 1)
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 321482/2005 (Tokukai 2005-321482; published on Nov. 17, 2005)
However, although the arrangement of Patent Document 1 can prevent the image forming apparatus from undesirably waiting for the post-processing apparatus to complete preparation for change of post-processes, the arrangement of Patent Document 1 cannot make it possible to curb the decline in job efficiency that is attributed to the fact that in cases where the image forming apparatus performs image formation jobs in succession, the image forming apparatus delays the start of the next image formation job and waits in order to allow post-processing time for the previous image formation job.

Image forming apparatus and image forming system


By this invention, nucleic acid sequences encoding for fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acyltransferase (wax synthase) are provided, wherein wax synthase is active in the formation of a wax ester from fatty alcohol and fatty acyl-CoA substrates. Of special interest is are nucleic acid sequences obtainable from a jojoba embryo wax synthase having an apparent molecular mass of approximately 33 kD. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from wax synthase proteins and the use of such sequences to provide transgenic host cells capable of producing wax esters.

The present invention is directed to enzymes, methods to purify, and obtain such enzymes, amino acid and nucleic acid sequences related thereto, and methods of use for such compositions in genetic engineering applications.
Through the development of plant genetic engineering techniques, it is possible to transform and regenerate a variety of plant species to provide plants which have novel and desirable characteristics. One area of interest for such plant genetic engineering techniques is the production of valuable products in plant tissues. Such applications require the use of various DNA constructs and nucleic acid sequences for use in transformation events to generate plants which produce the desired product. For example, plant functional promoters are required for appropriate expression of gene sequences, such expression being either in the whole plant or in selected plant tissues. In addition, selective marker sequences are often used to identify the transformed plant material. Such plant promoters and selectable markers provide valuable tools which are useful in obtaining the novel plants.
A desirable goal which involves such genetic engineering techniques, is the ability to provide crop plants having a convenient source of wax esters. Wax esters are required in a variety of industrial applications, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, plastics, and lubricants. Such products, especially long chain wax esters have previously been available from the sperm whale, an endangered species, or more recently, from the desert shrub, jojoba. Neither of these sources provides a convenient supply of wax esters. Thus, in order to obtain a reliable source of such compounds, transformation of crop plants, which are easily manipulated in terms of growth, harvest and extraction of products, is desirable.
In order to obtain such transformed plants, however, the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the desired wax ester products must first be obtained. Wax ester production results from the action of at least two enzymatic activities, fatty acyl reductase and fatty acyl:fatty alcohol acyltransferase, or wax synthase. In addition, a xcex2-ketoacyl-Coenzyme A synthase may also be involved in wax biosynthesis by providing very long chain fatty acyl-CoA substrates for the reductase and wax synthase enzymatic reaction. Preliminary studies with such enzymes and extensive analysis and purification of a fatty acyl reductase, indicate that these proteins are associated with membranes, however the enzyme responsible for the fatty acyl:fatty alcohol ligation reaction in wax biosynthesis has not been well characterized. Thus, further study and ultimately, purification of this enzyme is needed so that the gene sequences which encode the enzymatic activity may be obtained.
It is desirable, therefore, to devise a purification protocol whereby the wax synthase protein may be obtained and the amino acid sequence determined and/or antibodies specific for the wax synthase obtained. In this manner, library screening, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunological techniques may be used to identify clones expressing a wax synthase protein. Clones obtained in this manner can be analyzed so that the nucleic acid sequences corresponding to wax synthase activity are identified. The wax synthase nucleic acid sequences may then be utilized in conjunction with fatty acyl reductase proteins, either native to the transgenic host cells or supplied by recombinant techniques, for production of wax esters in host cells.
Cell-free homogenates from developing jojoba embryos were reported to have acyl-CoA fatty alcohol acyl transferase activity. The activity was associated with a floating wax pad which formed upon differential centrifugation (Pollard et al. (1979) supra; Wu et al. (1981) supra).
Solubilization of a multienzyme complex from Euglena gracilis having fatty acyl-CoA transacylase activity is reported by Wildner and Hallick (Abstract from The Southwest Consortium Fifth Annual Meeting, Apr. 22-24, 1990, Las Cruces, N.Mex.).
Ten-fold purification of jojoba acyl-CoA: alcohol transacylase protein is reported by Pushnik et al. (Abstract from The Southwest Consortium Fourth Annual Meeting, Feb. 7, 1989, Riverside, Calif.).
An assay for jojoba acyl-CoA:alcohol transacylase activity was reported by Garver et al. (Analytical Biochemistry (1992) 207:335-340).
WO 93/10241 is directed to plant fatty acyl-CoA:fatty alcohol O-acyltransferases. A jojoba 57 kD protein is identified as the jojoba fatty acyl-CoA:fatty alcohol O-acyltransferase (wax synthase). The present inventors later reported that the 57 kD protein from jojoba is a xcex2-ketoacyl-CoA synthase involved in the biosynthesis of very long chain fatty acids (Lassner et al. (The Plant Cell (1996) 8:281-292).
Photoaffinity labeling of a 57 kD jojoba seed polypeptide postulated to be an acyl-CoA:fatty alcohol acyltransferase was also reported by Shockey et al. (Plant Phys. (1995) 107:155-160).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,412 describes the isolation of genes encoding soluble wax synthase enzymes which are active on short chain alcohols and acetyl-CoA to produce an acetate ester.
By this invention, nucleic acid sequences encoding fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol O-acyltransferase protein (fatty alcohol acyltransferase, E.C.220.127.116.11), are provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of wax esters from fatty alcohol and fatty acyl substrates. This fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol O-acyltransferase is also referred to herein as xe2x80x9cwax synthasexe2x80x9d. The wax synthase of this invention may be active with a variety of fatty acyl and fatty alcohol substrates, including acyl-CoAs and acyl-ACPs. The carbon chain length of these substrates may vary, although a given wax synthase may show preference for acyl and alcohol substrates having a specific chain length or may be active with acyl and alcohol substrates having a wide range with respect to carbon chain length.
In general, the wax synthase of this invention has activity towards at least those acyl and alcohol substrates having a chain length of from 8 to 26 carbons, although other acyl or alcohol substrates may be tested and further activities discovered. In addition, having obtained the wax synthase protein of this invention, further manipulations are now possible as described in further detail below. These manipulations may lead to production or discovery of other related wax synthases.
In one important aspect of this invention, nucleic acid sequences are provided which encode for wax synthase. Methods are described whereby these sequences may be identified and obtained from the amino acid sequences of the wax synthase proteins of this invention. Uses of the structural gene sequences for isolation of other wax synthase sequences, as well as in recombinant constructs for transcription of wax synthase nucleic acid sequences and/or expression of wax synthase proteins in host cells are described. Uses of other nucleic acid sequences associated with wax synthase protein are also considered, such as the use of 5xe2x80x2 and 3xe2x80x2 noncoding regions.
Thus, this invention encompasses plant wax synthase nucleic acid sequences and the corresponding amino acid sequences, and the use of these nucleic acid sequences in the preparation of oligonucleotides containing wax synthase encoding sequences for analysis and recovery of plant wax synthase gene sequences. The plant wax synthase encoding sequence may encode a complete or partial sequence depending upon the intended use. All or a portion of the genomic sequence, or cDNA sequence, is intended.
Of special interest are recombinant DNA constructs which provide for transcription or transcription and translation (expression) of the plant wax synthase sequences. In particular, constructs which are capable of transcription or transcription and translation in plant host cells are preferred. For some applications a reduction in plant wax synthase may be desired. Thus, recombinant constructs may be designed having the plant wax synthase sequences in a reverse orientation for expression of an anti-sense sequence or use of co-suppression, also known as xe2x80x9ctranswitchxe2x80x9d, constructs may be useful. Such constructs may contain a variety of regulatory regions including transcriptional initiation regions obtained from genes preferentially expressed in plant seed tissue. For some uses, it may be desired to use the transcriptional and translational initiation regions of the wax synthase gene either with the wax synthase encoding sequence or to direct the transcription and translation of a heterologous sequence.
In yet a different aspect, this invention relates to a method for producing a wax synthase in a host cell or progeny thereof via the expression of a construct in the cell. Cells containing a wax synthase as a result of the production of the plant wax synthase encoding sequence are also contemplated herein. Such constructs may employ other nucleic acid sequences which encode for proteins involved in the production of wax esters and/or various fatty,acyl species.
Further, it may be recognized that the wax synthases of this invention may find application in the production of wax esters in such host cells which contain fatty acyl and fatty alcohol substrates of the wax synthase. Such host cells may exist in nature or be obtained by transformation with nucleic acid constructs which encode a fatty acyl reductase. Fatty acyl reductase, or xe2x80x9creductasexe2x80x9d, is active in catalyzing the reduction of a fatty acyl group to the corresponding alcohol. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/659,975 (filed Feb. 22, 1991), Ser. No. 07/767,251 (filed Sep. 27, 1991) and Ser. No. 07/920,430 (filed Jul. 31, 1992), which are hereby incorporated by reference, are directed to such reductase proteins. This information is also provided in published PCT patent application WO 92/14816. In addition, other sources of wax synthase proteins are described herein which are also desirable sources of reductase proteins.
Especially considered in this aspect of the invention, are plant cells which contain the preferred alcohol substrates of a jojoba wax synthase described herein. A method of providing plant cells with such alcohol substrates is considered wherein said cells are transformed with recombinant nucleic acid constructs which encode a fatty acyl reductase nucleic acid sequence. Thus, plant hosts which do not normally contain significant amounts of the alcohol substrates utilized by wax synthase, may be transformed with a reductase construct such that the alcohols are produced. In this manner, the fatty acyl groups present in the host cell will also provide the source of fatty alcohol substrate utilized by wax synthase in the synthesis of wax esters. Depending on the specificities of the wax synthase and reductase proteins, one recognizes that in this manner, plant cells may be obtained which produce a variety of desirable wax ester products. Such products will have different properties depending on the chain length and degree of saturation of the fatty alcohol and fatty acyl groups. Thus, the wax ester products produced according to the methods herein may be recovered from the host cells and are also considered in this invention.
Also considered in this invention are the modified plants, seeds and wax esters obtained by expression of the plant wax synthase sequences and proteins of this invention.

Fatty acyl-CoA: fatty alcohol acyltransferases


Fuel gauges for fuel supplies for fuel cells are disclosed. Each fuel gauge has a property that is readable by an electrical circuit. These properties are related to the remaining fuel in the fuel supplies. These properties include, but are not limited to, electrical capacitance, magnetic, semi-conducting resistance, bi-metal resistance, and oscillating magnetic field. These fuel gauges are functional at any fuel supply orientation.

Fuel cells are devices that directly convert chemical energy of reactants, i.e., fuel and oxidant, into direct current (DC) electricity. For an increasing number of applications, fuel cells are more efficient than conventional power generation, such as combustion of fossil fuel and more efficient than portable power storage, such as lithium-ion batteries.
In general, fuel cell technologies include a variety of different fuel cells, such as alkali fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells and enzyme fuel cells. Today's more important fuel cells can be divided into three general categories, namely, fuel cells utilizing compressed hydrogen (H2) as fuel; proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells that use methanol (CH3OH), sodium borohydride (NaBH4), hydrocarbons (such as butane) or other fuels reformed into hydrogen fuel; and PEM fuel cells that use methanol (CH3OH) fuel directly ("direct methanol fuel cells" or DMFC). Compressed hydrogen is generally kept under high pressure and is therefore difficult to handle. Furthermore, large storage tanks are typically required and cannot be made sufficiently small for consumer electronic devices. Conventional reformat fuel cells require reformers and other vaporization and auxiliary systems to convert fuels to hydrogen to react with oxidant in the fuel cell. Recent advances make reformer or reformat fuel cells promising for consumer electronic devices. DMFC, where methanol is reacted directly with oxidant in the fuel cell, is the simplest and potentially smallest fuel cell, and also has promising power application for consumer electronic devices.
DMFC for relatively larger applications typically comprises a fan or compressor to supply an oxidant, typically air or oxygen, to the cathode electrode, a pump to supply a water/methanol mixture to the anode electrode and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA typically includes a cathode, a PEM and an anode. During operation, the water/methanol liquid fuel mixture is supplied directly to the anode and the oxidant is supplied to the cathode. The chemical-electrical reaction at each electrode and the overall reaction for a direct methanol fuel cell are described as follows:
Half-reaction at the anode:CH3OH+H2O→CO2+6H++6e−
Half-reaction at the cathode:O2+4H++4e−→2H2O
The overall fuel cell reaction:CH3OH+1.5O2→CO2+2H2O
Due to the migration of the hydrogen ions (H+) through the PEM from the anode through the cathode and due to the inability of the free electrons (e−) to pass through the PEM, the electrons must flow through an external circuit, which produces an electrical current through the external circuit. The external circuit may be any useful consumer electronic devices, such as mobile or cell phones, calculators, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, and power tools, among others. DMFC is discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,992,008 and 5,945,231, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Generally, the PEM is made from a polymer, such as Nafion® available from DuPont, which is a perfluorinated material having a thickness in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 0.50 mm, or other suitable membranes. The anode is typically made from a Teflonized carbon paper support with a thin layer of catalyst, such as platinum-ruthenium, deposited thereon. The cathode is typically a gas diffusion electrode in which platinum particles are bonded to one side of the membrane.
The cell reaction for a sodium borohydride reformer fuel cell is as follows:NaBH4 (aqueous)+2H2O→(heat or catalyst)→4(H2)+(NaBO2) (aqueous)H2→2H++2e− (at the anode)2(2H++2e−)+O2→2H2O (at the cathode)Suitable catalysts include platinum and ruthenium, among other metals. The hydrogen fuel produced from reforming sodium borohydride is reacted in the fuel cell with an oxidant, such as O2, to create electricity (or a flow of electrons) and water byproduct. Sodium borate (NaBO2) byproduct is also produced by the reforming process. Sodium borohydride fuel cell is discussed in United States published patent application no. 2003/0082427, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Gauging the remaining fuel is an important consideration during the useful life of a fuel cartridge. The known art discloses various sensors for measuring the liquid level in a vertical tank or sensors to measure the concentration of methanol in the fuel-water mixtures. For example, United States published patent application no. 2003/0077491 discloses a liquid level detector that measures the compressive force exerted by the weight of a container. United States published patent application no. 2003/0091883 mentions a general sensor for ascertaining liquid level. U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,825 discloses a fuel gauge for hydrogen gas. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,254,748 and 6,306,285 and published patent application nos. 2003/00131663 and 2003/013462 disclose various methods and apparatus for measuring the concentration of methanol in the fuel mixture. The prior art, however, does not discloses a fuel gauge that functions at any fuel cartridge orientation.


A turret assembly for use in a container manufacturing apparatus which comprises a rotatable hub, at least one arm extending radially from the rotatable hub and having a medium reception portion thereon for transferring and inserting at least one medium to a location between a first and second portion of container material.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the manufacture of containers, and more particularly to the manufacture of containers having a medium inserted therein during the manufacturing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many versions of container manufacturing apparatus are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,436 and 2,943,167 to Gelbard disclose methods and apparatus for manufacturing plastic bags with handles and pleated side portions, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,666 to Maccherone discloses a method and apparatus for making plastic bags having pleated bottom ends capable of squaring up when the bags are filled.
There is often a need not only to manufacture a container (e.g., a bag), but to insert an item into the container during the manufacturing process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,524,846 to Socke et al. discloses a bag filling or packing machine wherein bags or other containers are filled with cans in an assembly line fashion.
However, in conventional methods and apparatus, a bag or container is typically manufactured as a first step and then an additional step is required to insert the intended item into the completed container. In some instances, this step becomes very complex. For example, an additional step may be required to open the newly formed container by mechanical, pneumatic or other means, such that the insert item may be placed therein. The required additional steps prolong the overall process and increase the costs associated therewith.
Thus a need exists for a method and apparatus for inserting a medium into a container in line, during the manufacturing process without interrupting the overall process.