An apparatus for counting the number of times a container has been opened or some other event has occurred, with particular usefulness in medicine bottles and the like. An outer cover portion with a set of teeth holds an indicator wheel with an engaging pawl and another set of teeth and a ratchet wheel with a another pawl. The pawls and teeth in combination with a slot for engaging the ratchet wheel result in a lost motion drive in which the outer cover will turn relative to the indicator wheel each time the container is opened or closed or some other event occurs. Various embodiments of the invention include means for using the cap with child-resistent containers, means for attaching the cap to containers and means to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the device.

The present invention relates to closure members for containers, bottles and the like and, more particularly, to closure members having indicator means to indicate the number of times the container has been opened. The invention can also be used for any other application in which the number of times a given activity is performed must be indicated.
In the medical field, medical drugs have a predetermined therapeutic range in which the effects of taking the drug are beneficial. Under-utilization of a drug may endanger the user with the drug's side effects without reaching levels necessary for a therapeutic action. On the other hand, over-utilization may cause side effects or toxicity to a much greater extent than any possible benefit. Thus it is critically important that a patient follow prescribed directions on medications, yet frequently patients forget whether they have taken medication and either omit doses or repeat them.
A considerable number of pill-timing schemes have been used to solve the problem of reminding a patient to take a dose of medicine or reminding him he has already taken the dose. The most used ones involve some scheme of compartmentalization of the necessary medication, such that the pills are placed in compartments that are labeled by day, dose number or time of day, or that are serially numbered. These devices are reasonably satisfactory if a responsible person is available and has the time and patience to fill the compartments properly.
In dispensing pills of a single type, a number of window-containing bottle caps have been invented. Through the window a movable element marked with an index is visible. In only a few devices does the indicating element index in position relative to the window each time the cap is loosened, removed, replaced, and retightened. Thus, by looking at the index mark displayed through the window, a user can see where in repetitive sequence of dose he or she is.
One of the most serious disadvantages of prior art devices of the window indexing type is that there is no warning to the user in case the user does not turn the device far enough during the opening or closing to properly advance the window. Unless the user is alert to the index value before opening and then after closing such devices, the user will be unaware that the window failed to advance to a new index. Most users, especially the elderly who may not understand how the device operates, will not be this alert to the functioning of the device. In addition, most prior art devices fail to provide positive locking in both directions of movement; thus, the index may be moved appropriately when the device is opened or closed, but additional movement is not prevented when the device is moved in the opposite direction. This allows the index to drift, often causing failure or an incorrect reading, particularly after the device has been used over a period of time.
The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,829 issued Mar. 15, 1977 to Wachsmann, et. al., attempts to provide positive locking in both directions, but because of the direction of the tooth designed to prevent movement of the index upon closure, the device may not work reliably, particularly after wearing with use. Also, the device of Wachsmann does not provide space for the ratchet teeth to slide past the engagement teeth when the device is moving in a direction wherein such teeth should disengage, which may cause unreliable operation over a period of time. Another drawback of this device is its inclusion of the "child proofing" feature with the indexing feature, which makes the device quite complex. Other features of this device, such as the method of providing the lost motion drive and the requirement of a post in the middle of the elements to hold the device together, also increase its complexity.
The device of U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,599 issued Oct. 6, 1964 to Livingston provides positive locking in both directions, but it does so by means of very closely spaced projections that would be difficult to manufacture economically. Furthermore, this device does not provide space for the projections to move while sliding past each other when not engaged.
The device of U.S Pat. No. 4,666,051 issued May 19, 1987 to Trick has an indicator wheel with a serrated rim projecting above and below the plane of the wheel. The serrations engage mating serrations in upper and lower elements in order to drive the indicator mechanism. The serrations are rigid and, therefore, tend to wear excessively as they slide past one another.
The device of European Patent Application No. 87100917.2, published Jul. 27, 1987, by Schwab, has a cup-shaped exterior element that engages a frustoconical closure cap. The Schwab device is somewhat complicated in design and manufacture. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,247 issued Sep. 2, 1980 to Kramer also includes a cup-shaped exterior element which engages an inner element.
Other devices in the art include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,511,050 by Nicol; 4,365,722 by Kramer; 4,749,093 by Trick; 4,782,966 by Thackrey; 4,753,189 by Mastman; 4,705,182 by Newel-Lewis; 4,662,520 by Griffen; 4,641,759 by Kelley; 4,634,012 by Kelley; 4,562,933 by Dennis; 4,528,933 by Allen; 4,511,050 by Nicol; 4,548,157 by Hevoyan; 4,501,370 by Kelley; 4,489,834 by Thackrey; 4,432,300 by Lyss; 4,419,016 by Zoltan; 4,405,045 by Villa-Real; 4,357,192 by Moser; 4,347,804 by Villa-Real; 4,094,408 by Ford; 3,996,879 by Walton; 3,960,713 by Carey; 3,926,326 by Grau; 3,921,568 by Fish; 3,887,099 by Gillman; 3,753,417 by Garby; 3,446,179 by Bender; 3,334,731 by Dale; 2,943,730 by Tregilgas; 2,939,597 by Greene; 2,587,147 by Guion; and 498,851 by Adsit.
It is thus apparent from a review of this art that there is a need for an improved indicator cap that provides positive controlled movement of the index on both opening and closing of the device, while also providing an indication to the user that the index has functioned properly each time the device is used. Preferably, the basic design of such a device could also be used in other applications where it is necessary to have a record of the number of times a given event occurs.


The present invention relates to a broadcast signal processing method and device for 3D broadcasting service. The broadcast signal processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: encoding 3D video broadcast data that includes left image broadcast data having a left image and right image broadcast data having a right image to provide 3D effects; encoding signaling information for signaling the encoded 3D video broadcast data; generating a broadcast signal including the encoded 3D video broadcast data and the encoded signaling information; and transmitting the generated broadcast signal.

As the dissemination of a 3 dimensional television (3DTV) is raging, a transmission of a 3D video content performed by a digital broadcasting as well as the dissemination of the 3D video content performed by a storing media is vitalized.
In general, a 3 dimensional video provides a 3D effect using a principle of stereo vision of two eyes. Since a human feels perspective via parallax of two eyes, in other word, binocular parallax due to a space between two eyes apart from each other about 65 mm, the 3D video may provide the 3D effect and the perspective in a manner of providing a video, which makes a left eye and a right eye see a related plane video, respectively.
The 3D video display method includes a stereoscopic technique, a volumetric technique, a holographic technique, and the like. In case of the stereoscopic technique, it provides a left view image supposed to be watched by a left eye and a right view image supposed to be watched by a right eye. The stereoscopic technique enables a 3D video effect in a manner of making the left eye and the right eye watch the left view image and the right view image respectively using a polarized glasses or a display device itself.
Meanwhile, as mentioned in the above, since a 3D broadcasting needs to make a 3D video by delivering a left and a right view, respectively and then properly processing them in the broadcasting receiver, a signaling information for processing a 3D broadcasting signal should be added.
The 3D broadcasting receiver capable of receiving and processing the 3D broadcasting is required a relatively higher level of hardware and processing capability in comparison with a legacy broadcasting receiver. Hence, it is necessary to have a plan for enabling a 3D broadcasting signal transmitted in a same broadcasting bandwidth to be properly used as a 2 dimensional broadcasting in a manner of receiving by a 2D broadcasting receiver as well.
Yet, it is practically impossible to transmit the 3D broadcasting signal and the 2D broadcasting signal in accordance with each of the broadcasting receivers, respectively. Or, it may cause a problem that the quality of broadcasting video should be degraded if it happens.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Broadcast signal processing method and device for 3-dimensional (3D) broadcasting service


A selection of a fueling station item, graphically depicted on a display of a fuel dispenser and corresponding to an available fueling station product, can be received by at least one data processor of a fuel dispenser. A two dimensional barcode based on the selected fueling station item can be determined. The two dimensional barcode can be provided to the fuel dispenser display for graphical depiction on the fuel dispenser display.

Some current fueling environments rely on traditional methods of communication between fueling transaction components such as a fuel dispenser and a payment information device (e.g., debit/credit card, radio frequency identification (RFID) key fob encoding payment information, and the like). However, these methods have some security vulnerabilities as would-be identity thieves can install payment information interception devices on fuel dispensers and thereby intercept a customer's information.
In addition, fueling stations typically rely on traditional modes of media delivery, such as signage, flyers, posters, and social media to attract customers. It is difficult to deliver media pertaining to secondary products available at fueling stations, such as convenience store sales and on-site car washes, to customers at fueling stations that are solely purchasing fuel. In addition, at times, customers may visit a fueling station to purchase fuel, only to find that all fuel dispensers at the fueling station are occupied, which can result in customer frustration and/or a loss of business in the event the customer is unable or unwilling to wait for a fuel dispenser to become available.

Secure communications between fueling station components


The present invention provides a liquid composition containing a cationic fluorocarbon surfactant having a general formula [I] or [II] and a polymer compound in a solvent, and a liquid composition containing a cationic fluorocarbon surfactant having a general formula [III] and a polymer compound in a solvent: ##STR1## wherein Rf represents a fluorocarbon group in which at least some of the hydrogen atoms in an alkyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms are substituted by fluorine atoms, each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, HX represents a hydrohalogenic acid, and X.crclbar. represents a halogen anion; ##STR2## wherein n represents an integer from 4 to 12, and X.crclbar. represents a halogen anion.. The present invention further provides an ink set, in which the above liquid composition is combined with one or more inks, a method of forming an image and apparatus for forming the image by applying the ink set and liquid composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of obtaining a water-resistant ink image and reducing the phenomenon known as color bleeding in the formation of a color image on plain paper. The present invention particularly relates to a liquid composition to be used for image formation which employs an ink-jet system, to an ink set comprising a combination of the liquid composition and at least one ink, and to image forming methods and apparatus which use the liquid composition and the ink set.
2. Related Background Art
In an ink-jet recording system, recording is performed by ejecting ink droplets and adhering the ink droplets to a recording medium such as paper or the like. Particularly, in the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 61-59911, 61-59912 and 61-59914 in which bubbles are generated by applying thermal energy to an ink using an electrothermal converter as discharge energy supply means, and the bubbles are used to discharge ink droplets, a high density multi-orifice recording head can be readily manufactured and can record high-resolution and high-definition images at high speed.
However, since the ink used for conventional ink-jet recording generally comprises water as a main component, and a water-soluble high-boiling point solvent such as glycol for drying and preventing clogging of the nozzle, the method has the drawbacks that sufficient fixing properties cannot be obtained when recording on plain paper using such an ink, and that a nonuniform image is produced, possibly due to nonuniform distribution of loading material and sizing agent on the surface of a recording sheet. Furthermore, in the case of color recording, when a plurality of color inks are successively superimposed on a sheet before one of the color inks is fixed to the recording sheet, there is the problem that a satisfactory image cannot be obtained due to color bleeding or nonuniform mixing at the boundary between images having different colors. (This phenomenon is referred to as "bleeding" hereinafter.)
To enhance the fixing properties, therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-65269 discloses a method of adding a compound for increasing penetrability, such as a surfactant, to an ink. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-66976 discloses a method of using an ink comprising a volatile solvent as a main component. However, although the method of adding a surfactant or the like to the ink increases the penetrability of the ink into the recording paper and improves the fixing properties of the ink and decreases bleeding to some extent, the method also causes the problem of decreasing the image density and chroma due to deep penetration of the ink's coloring material into the recording sheet. The method also causes lateral spreading of the ink and consequently causes the problem of decreasing the edge sharpness or resolution. On the other hand, since the latter means of using an ink comprising a volatile solvent as a main component not only produces the same problems as the former method but also readily produces clogging of the recording head nozzle due to the evaporation of the solvent, it is undesirable.
Methods of adhering a liquid to a recording medium before ejection of the ink in order to improve image quality have been proposed for solving the aforementioned problems.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-60783 discloses a method of recording with an ink containing an anionic dye after adhering a liquid containing a basic polymer to recording paper, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-22681 discloses a method of recording an image by mixing a first liquid containing a reactive chemical species and a liquid containing a compound having reactivity to the reactive chemical species on a recording medium. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-29971 discloses a method of recording with an ink containing an anionic dye after adhering a liquid containing an organic compound having at least two cationic groups per molecule to a recording medium. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-9279 discloses a method of recording with an ink containing an anionic dye after adhering an acid liquid containing succinic acid or the like to the recording medium.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 64-63185 and 64-69381 disclose a method of recording with an ink after applying a liquid which makes the dye insoluble.
However, since all of the above methods have been proposed for suppressing bleeding of an image and improving water resistance by depositing dyes themselves, these methods do not sufficiently prevent the above-described bleeding between different color inks. In addition, since the deposited dyes are liable to be distributed nonuniformly on the recording sheet, the formed image has poor coverage of the pulp fibers of the recording sheet, thereby reducing the uniformity of the image.

Liquid composition, ink set and method and apparatus for image by using the composition and ink set


For association with a packaging line, a device for overturning packaged editorial products which grips the editorial products (12) advancing on a conveyor belt (13) and overturns them to superpose them on the next product in order to facilitate their final stacking within a collection element. Such a device is particularly advantageous when handling packaged editorial products the thickness of which varies along their length by virtue of consisting of at least one editorial product (12') combined within its wrapper with a second added product (12") of different dimensions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for overturning packaged editorial products, for association with a packaging line. Special promotion campaigns for specific products can involve combining them with usual editorial products such as newspapers, magazines, books or the like during their packaging within a plastic or paper material which encloses them.
2. Discussion of the Background
In those industries which produce or distribute the said editorial products, these latter are combined at the client's request with an additional gift object such as a book, compact disc, floppy disc, perfume etc., in the form of a product of totally different size to be distributed in accordance with a predetermined program. The added product or object has to cover about one half of the base product and have a relevant thickness within the finished package. This fact results in difficulty in stacking or superposing such finished products one on another. If stacked incorrectly, such packages are subject to breakage or deterioration, either in terms of the product itself or in terms of its containing wrapper (paper or film).
Special devices have been designed for associating the added product with the editorial product before packaging. The operation, which up to this point is automatic, then becomes more difficult. This is because when discharged by a conveyor, the thus packaged products are not easy to collect into stacks as in the case of products of constant thickness.
A stack formed by a usual conveyor for discharging packaged products having a variable thickness along their length is not homogeneous and is difficult to maintain upright and composed during its handling.
Consequently, a combined package in which at least one editorial product and a second added product of very different dimensions have been wrapped together has to be removed manually from the conveyor. This requirement increases costs and does not allow operation at high speed.
In this respect, stacks have to be gradually formed inside the containers as the products are removed with the conveyor associated with the packaging line, while taking account of this variable thickness.

Device for overturning packaged editorial products, for association with a packaging line


The object is to provide a manufacturing method of various elastic rollers whose rubber hardness is remarkably reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an open cell rubber material from a continuous cell rubber material.
The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a rubber roller having a low rubber hardness.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pressure roller used in a heat roll fixing device and in particular a pressure roller having a low rubber hardness and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a copier or printer, a heat roll fixing device is used to fix a non-fixed toner image. The heat roll fixing device is comprised of a heat roller having therein a heater and a pressure roller having an elastic rubber layer. The heat roller and the pressure roller are in press-contact with each other through a press contact mechanism. The pressure roller is comprised of a metal shaft, an elastic rubber layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the metal shaft and a fluororesin tube which surrounds the elastic rubber layer. As the pressure roller rotates in contact with the heat roller having a high temperature, the elastic rubber layer must be heat-resistant and, to this end, is made of a silicone rubber. In this heat roll fixing device, a non-fixed toner image transferred onto a recording paper is molten and fixed onto the recording paper during passage through a nip at which the heat roller and the pressure roller come into contact with each other. In order to enhance the fixing efficiency of the heat roll fixing device, it is preferable that the nip width, i.e., the contact width of the heat roller and the pressure roller be as large as possible. The nip width can be increased by increasing the pressing force of the press contact mechanism of the heat roller and the heat roller. However, an increase in the pressing force invites bending of the pressure roller, thus leading to failure to form a nip having a uniform width in the axial direction of the roller. If the rubber hardness of the elastic rubber layer of the pressure roller is reduced, a wide nip width can be obtained even by a relatively low pressing force. Therefore, there has been need of development of a pressure roller having a heat resistant elastic rubber layer of a low rubber hardness.
In a heat roll fixing device, an oil supply roller is used to supply silicone oil to the heat roller to thereby enhance the releasing efficiency of the heat roller. As the oil supply roller requires a high oil containability, an open cell urethane rubber roller having a large number of pores is used.
Furthermore, in an electro photographic copier or printer, a developing roller is provided adjacent to a photosensitive drum to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. A toner is supplied to the developing roller through the toner supply roller. In the toner supply mechanism, if the hardness of the toner supply roller is high, an undesirable friction occurs between the toner supply roller and the developing roller, so that the toner cannot be stably supplied. Therefore, the toner supply roller requires an elastic rubber layer having a lower hardness to stably supply a predetermined amount of toner to the developing roller.
In order to reduce the hardness of the silicone rubber layer used for the pressure roller of a fixing device, it is possible to use a foaming silicone rubber material. The foaming silicone rubber has therein a large number of cells and, hence, the rubber hardness thereof can be made much smaller than a solid silicone rubber material. However, the foaming silicone rubber material is of a continuous cell type, and accordingly, if the pressure roller rotates in contact with the high temperature heat roller, the temperature of the pressure roller is increased. As a result, the gas in the cells is expanded, thus resulting in an increase in the roller diameter. The increase in the roller diameter causes an increase of the diameter of the fluororesin tube formed on the outer peripheral surface of the silicone rubber layer. If the temperature of the pressure roller is reduced to a room temperature after the fixing device is used, the volume of the gas in the cells of the pressure roller is reduced, so that the diameter of the pressure roller is reduced. Consequently, the fluororesin tube which constitutes the outermost layer is wrinkled. The wrinkled fluororesin layer or tube of the pressure roller considerably reduces the fixing efficiency of the fixing device and affects a smooth movement of the recording paper.
The known oil supply roller is made of an open cell urethane rubber having high porosity and, accordingly, the oil supply roller exhibits a high oil containability but is less heat-resistant, due to a low heat resistance of a urethane rubber. This problem can be solved if the oil supply roller is made of a foaming silicone rubber. However, as a foaming silicone rubber has a continuous cell structure in which the cells are independent from each other, it is impossible to externally fill each cell with silicone oil. Consequently, the amount of silicone oil which can be contained in the oil supply roller is restricted.
Moreover, as the known toner supply roller is made of EPDM rubber of a continuous cell sponge of silicone rubber, the roller hardness is limited approximately to 20° (ASCA C). In addition to the foregoing, if the toner supply roller is used for long time, the rubber hardness is undesirably increased. Under these circumstances, in order to stably supply a toner, a toner supply roller having a lower rubber hardness has been needed.

Method for manufacturing open cell rubber material and method for manufacturing rubber roller

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical rubber tube (1) is prepared. Thereafter, a metal shaft (2) is inserted in the rubber tube and the rubber tube is secured to the shaft. Thereafter, a coating layer (1a) on the outer peripheral surface of the rubber tube is removed. The rubber roller is located in a chamber and is subject to one or more pressuring operations and one or more evacuating operations to transform the continuous cell rubber layer into an open cell rubber layer. After that, a fluororesin tube is provided to cover the rubber tube or silicone oil is impregnated in the rubber tube, in accordance with the purpose of use of the rubber roller. The rubber rollers produced by the manufacturing method of the rubber roller according to the present invention is deformable at each portion of the rubber layer thereof, depending on the external stress and, accordingly, various kinds of rubber rollers having a reduced hardness can be provided.


A planetary speed-up and -down gearing comprising an external gear having outer teeth (7A) defined by a trochoidal curve and an internal gear having outer pins (9) internally meshed with the outer teeth (7A) of the external gear and being eccentric with respect to the external gear, the external gear and the internal gear being meshed and rotated eccentrically and swingingly relative to each other, so that phases of the external gear and the internal gear are shifted by a difference in the number of teeth between both said gears for each of the eccentric and swinging rotations, to thereby take out, as an output, rotation corresponding to the above difference in phase. Factors such as the radius of a pitch circle of the outer pins (9), the eccentric amount between the external gear and the internal gear, the radius of each outer pin (9), the speed reduction ratio, and the difference in the number of teeth are given a predetermined relationship therebetween, thereby providing a planetary speed-up and -down gearing in which a relative slippage speed in the meshing is reduced and thus a noise level is reduced with the difference in the number of teeth being three or more. Also, by keeping the radius of each outer pin constant and also keeping the number of the outer pins constant, a planetary speed-up and -down gearing is provided in which the same outer pins can be shared by three or more external gears.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a planetary speed-up and -down gearing of the internally meshing type. It is to be noted that since a speed-down gearing also serves to increase a speed if the input side and the output side are reversed, the present invention is concerned with a speed-up and -down gearing inclusive of such a speed-up gearing, but the present invention will be explained in connection with only a speed-down gearing in the following description.
2. Description Of Related Art
There have been proposed various speed-down gearings using planetary gear mechanisms of the internally meshing type. Of the proposed speed-down gearings, a well-known planetary one includes an internal gear which has the arch-shaped tooth profile defined by a pin or a combination of a pin and a roller, and an external gear has a trochoidal tooth profile defined by epitrochoidal parallel curves. An inner pin or both the inner pin and an inner roller are loosely fitted with the external gear. With the external gear kept internally meshed with the internal gear, the external gear is swingingly rotated by an eccentric fitted in the external gear, so that input rotation is outputted while being reduced in speed. The above well-known system is used in a variety of speed-down mechanisms because it can transmit large torque and exhibit a large speed reduction ratio.
One example of the known system will be described below with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing one example of the known planetary speed-down gearing and FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line B--B in FIG. 12.
An input rotary shaft 1 is inserted in and coupled to a hollow eccentric shaft 2 on which eccentrics 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2 are provided. The eccentric shaft 2 has a key way 4 formed in its hollow portion with a key 4A kept inserted in the key way 4. External gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 are respectively fitted over the eccentrics 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2 through rollers 6. The external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 have outer teeth 7 formed along its outer circumference and having the trochoidal tooth profile. An internal gear 8 doubles as an outer casing and is fixedly provided. The internal gear 8 has the arc-shaped tooth profile defined by outer pins 9 which are internally meshed with the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2. As an alternative structure, if necessary, outer rollers may be loosely fitted over the outer circumferences of the outer pins 9. Inner pin holes 10 are formed in the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 and inner pins 11 are loosely fitted in the respective inner pin holes 10. Inner rollers 11A are loosely fitted over the respective outer circumferences of the inner pins 11, and the inner pins 11 are tightly fitted to an inner pin holding flange 12. In the above structure, the inner rollers 11A may be dispensed with. The inner pin holding flange 12 is formed integrally with an output shaft 13.
The internal gear 8 is held by a pair of covers 14, 15 from both the sides in a sandwiched manner and fixed in place by bolts 16. Between the output shaft 13 and one cover 15, there are two bearings 17 provided at axially spaced positions.
It is to be noted that although the internal gear 8 is fixed and an output is taken out from the output shaft 13 in the above-mentioned known example, the structure may be modified, on the contrary, in such a manner as to fix the output shaft 13 and take out the rotation of the internal gear 8 as an output.
In the foregoing known example, one rotation of the input rotary shaft 1 corresponds to one rotation of the eccentrics 3.sub.1, 3.sub.2. However, the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 are prevented from rotating about their axes by the inner pin holes 10 and the inner pins 11 so that they rotate swingingly. Assuming that the difference between the number of teeth of the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 and the number of the outer pins (teeth) 9 is one, therefore, the outer teeth 7 of the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 and the outer pins 9 as the inner teeth of the internal gear 8 are displaced (or slipped) in their meshing by one tooth for each rotation of the input rotary shaft 1. Accordingly, one rotation of the input rotary shaft 1 is reduced to 1/(the number of teeth) rotation of the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2, while the former's rotation is transmitted to the output shaft 13 through the inner pins 11.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the known system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-42382 and Japanese Patent Publication Sho 57-36455. In this known Cyclo Speed Reducer, the number of outer teeth of external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 is less the plural than the number of outer pins 9 of an internal gear 8 (the difference in the number of teeth being two in the illustrated example).
In the planetary speed-down gearings explained above, there exists a relative slippage in meshing between the outer teeth 7 of the external gears 5.sub.1, 5.sub.2 and the outer pins 9 of the internal gear 8. In practice, because of the outer pins 9 being rotatable about their axes, the internal gear 8 bears such a slippage at both the contact portions for supporting the outer pins and meshing with the outer teeth 7. Anyway, the outer teeth 7 and the outer pins 9 are subjected to a slippage in meshing therebetween. The outer teeth 7 and the outer pins 9 have surface roughness due to limitations in machining accuracy, as a result of which there inevitably give rise to noises at the slipping contact portions.
Furthermore, in the prior known planetary speed-down gearings explained above, since the diameter of each outer pin is made different dependent on the respective speed reduction ratios, parts of the internal gear cannot be shared by different types of gearings. Accordingly, the cost for quality control is increased, erroneous operations are unavoidable in assembly, and a large number of parts to be machined are required, thus resulting in the increased production cost.

Internally meshing planetary gear assembly


A process for electrochemical treating flow channels of metal workpieces uses a tool extending into the workpieces and an electrolyte flow between the tool and the flow channel. Either volume flow of the electrolyte, or pressure of the electrolyte, or both, are measured in a reference sample workpiece calibrated previously with test oil under high pressure and the determined electrolyte value is stored as a nominal value and used for a subsequent series treatment of the workpieces. This value is used as a regulating variable for termination of the treatment. The pressure of the electrolyte during the electrochemical series treatment of the workpieces is maintained at about 100 bars.

The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical treatment of metal workpieces, in particular of their flow channels, by means of a tool inserted into the flow channel and an electrolyte flow between the tool and the wall of the flow channel.
Such method is known from DE 40 40 590 C1. Subject matter of the known method is the continuous measurement of the electrical voltage at the working gap between tool and workpiece, wherein with increasing gap width due to the erosion of the material, the operating current is increased in order to reduce the work time. In such method it has already been suggested to make the end of the working process dependent on attaining a nominal final voltage at the working gap. Since according the known method, the operating current during the treatment procedure is to be raised continuously, for the regulation of the current increase a physical variable has been suggested which varies with increasing size of the working gap. In the simplest case, as the physical variable the gap voltage is addressed there. Alternatives are the throughflow volume and the pressure of the electrolyte.
When deburring workpieces which comprise narrow flow channels, in particular nozzle bodies with intersecting bores, the suitable length of time of treatment for the removal of the burrs is determined in several test runs. But no calibration can be achieved with this method.
The result is that in spite of constant electrochemical treatment, tolerances on the order of magnitude of 8% of the nominal throughflow, are present. Each individual nozzle must subsequently be calibrated with test oil under high pressure wherein the actual oil throughflow is measured. Depending on the measured values, the nozzle bodies are subsequently divided into different tolerance groups.

Process for the electrochemical treatment of flow channels in metal workpieces


A flush toilet includes a toilet main body made of ceramics and a control unit. The toilet main body includes a skirt, and a rear storage that can store at least a part of the control unit, the rear storage includes a supporting wall that divides a storage region into upper and lower regions and that supports the control unit, the skirt forms a double wall including an outer wall and an inner wall, the double wall has at least a part that forms an internal space between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the skirt includes a single wall in which the internal space of the double wall is removed in an upper end above a joining portion between the double wall and the supporting wall.

Conventionally, as a flush toilet which is flushed with flush water to discharge waste, there is known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-89282), Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-169538) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-114633), a so-called "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet in which a skirt formed on an outer side than a side surface of each of a bowl of a toilet main body made of ceramics and a water discharge trap is formed all around the toilet main body. In this conventional "full skirt" or "total Hakama" flush toilet, a storage region that can store a control unit including a function of controlling the spout water to the bowl of the toilet main body is provided in a region more rearward than the bowl of the toilet main body.
Further, in a conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 1, a side wall of a skirt forms a double wall including an outer wall forming an outer surface, and an inner wall provided inside this outer wall. The side wall of the skirt has a structure of the double wall, forms an internal space between the outer wall and the inner wall in the double wall and is joined to a supporting wall that supports the control unit in a storage region of the control unit of the toilet main body. Next, in a conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 2, a side wall of a skirt that forms a storage region of a control unit more rearward than a bowl of a toilet main body forms a double wall including an outer wall forming an outer surface, and an inner wall provided inside this outer wall, and the side wall forms an internal space between the outer wall and the inner wall. Also, in a part above the double wall of the skirt, a single wall is made in which the internal space between the inner wall and the outer wall is removed. Furthermore, in a conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 3, a supporting wall provided in a storage region of a control unit of a toilet main body extends in a horizontal direction from a joining portion to a water discharge trap to skirts on opposite left and right sides. Opposite left and right ends of this supporting wall are joined to single walls of side walls of the left and right skirts, respectively, and in the side wall of the skirt below the joining portion, a double wall is formed. That is, the opposite left and right ends of the supporting wall are supported by the single wall above the joining portion to the skirt, and are also supported by the double wall below the joining portion to the skirt.
On the other hand, one of aims that have been requested to be achieved in recent years with design diversification of the flush toilet and improvement in design such as appearance of the flush toilet is to acquire a large storage region that stores a control unit in a region more rearward than a bowl of a toilet main body, while reducing (slimming) an external dimension of the whole toilet main body. For example, in the conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 1, the double wall of the side wall of the skirt is joined to the supporting wall of the storage region of the control unit, and hence a storage section with a sufficient strength to withstand a weight of the control unit can be acquired. However, there is a problem that a structure of the side wall of the skirt with a thickness of the double wall in an entire region from a lower end to an upper end reduces and narrows the storage region of the control unit. Furthermore, in the conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the supporting wall of the storage region of the control unit in the toilet main body is not attached to the double wall of the side wall of the skirt, and deformation such as distortion of the supporting wall that supports the control unit might be likely to occur due to insufficient strength. Additionally, in the conventional flush toilet described in Patent Document 3, a region of the skirt below the joining portion between the supporting wall provided in the storage region of the control unit and each of the left and right side walls of the skirt is a double wall, and a region of the skirt above the joining portion between the supporting wall and each of the left and right side walls of the skirt is a single wall. Consequently, there is a problem that the storage region of the control unit cannot be acquired in a region below the horizontal supporting wall and is integrated in the region above the horizontal supporting wall, and hence it is difficult to acquire a large storage region of the control unit in each of the regions below and above the wall part. Also, the storage region integrated in the region above the supporting wall is surrounded with the single wall of the side wall of the skirt and might lack strength depending on a weight of the control unit stored in a storage part, and there is a problem that deformation such as distortion of the supporting wall or the skirt affects an appearance shape or the like of the toilet main body.
Accordingly, the present invention is aimed at solving problems of the conventional arts described above and is aimed at providing a flush toilet in which a large storage region of a control unit in a toilet main body can be acquired, and strength of the whole toilet main body can be increased, while suppressing an external dimension of the whole toilet main body.


An aerial closure for protecting an electrical or optical cable splice from weathering forces is provided. The aerial closure has a central header portion and wing-like housing segments that may enclose a cable splice. The wing-like housing segments may be raised, providing access to the cable splice from either side of the cable splice and below the cable splice. Each end of the aerial closure has a seal assembly for sealingly engaging the ends of the cable segments whereby the ends of the aerial closure are also protected from the weathering elements. The seal assembly has concentrically circular and corrugated features thereon so that an appropriately sized hole may be cut into the seal assembly for any standard cable size. The corrugated features allow marking the standard cable sized alternatingly on either side of the seal assembly so that it is easier to find and cut the correct sized hole for the cable. The housing segments may be locked with a simple latch, a nut and bolt assembly, or both. In the closed position, the bottom edges of the housing segments interlock for mechanical strength, but also have small spaces or cracks to allow any water to drain from the closure.

Aerial closures are generally employed to enclose joined or spliced suspended cable for protecting the splice or termination from the elements.
The telecommunications cables are suspended between poles, towers, or the like. Typically, twenty-five or more pairs of insulated wires for conducting electrical signals or optical fibers for conducting light signals are enclosed in a braided sheathing which in turn is enclosed in an insulated cable sheath. In some telecommunications cable, the cable does not have sufficient inherent strength to support its own weight between the poles, therefore, a support strand is suspended between the poles above and in parallel with the cable. Periodically along the length of the cable it is tied or clamped to the support strand. In other installations, the support strand is enclosed in the sheathing around the telecommunication cable to form a self-supporting cable.
A splice in the telecommunication cable is generally required for connecting ends of cable segments. For example, a splice is required where the distance between the two places to be connected is greater than the length of a roll of telecommunications cable. A splice is also required to form a branch or drop line that extends from the main cable to service a particular subdivision, facility, or individual customer.
Terminal blocks are generally employed for connecting corresponding pairs of conductors to form a splice in the aerial terminal system. An enclosure of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,830 is often employed for enclosing cable splices for protection from the environment, plants, and animals.
The typical aerial cable enclosure includes a housing formed of two housing members joined by a hinge and a header member connected to the support strand. The aerial closure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,830 is constructed such that one of the housing members is suspended from the header member by a pair of straps and the other housing member is suspended from the first housing member by a hinge. When the housing members are in the open position and disengaged from the header member, the housing members are suspended below the cable segments, thereby providing access to the ends of a cable segments.
Aerial terminal systems incorporating cable enclosures of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,830 are typically installed a predetermined distance, for example, 18 inches, from the center of a pole in a series of poles supporting the telecommunications cable. An opening is formed in the cable sheath and a strand clamp is attached to a support strand or messenger cable that conventionally supports the weight of the telecommunication cable.
Aerial cable enclosures of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,830 are commercially available from Communications Technology Corporation of Dallas, Tex. under its registered trademark "HAWK" and with terminal blocks mounted in the enclosure under the trademark "TERMAX".
Cable closures of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,829 and commercially available from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the trademark "SLICK" comprise a generally cylindrical casing formed as a single unit with a compression molded longitudinally extending hinge on a single deformable unit to provide a pair of semi-cylindrical casing sections, one of which is connectable by hangers to a support cable. One of the semi-cylindrical casing sections is pivotally movable relative to the other semi-cylindrical casing section to provide access to the cable splice.
End seals for aerial closures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,574 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,672 to provide environmental protection between the ends of the closure and cable segments.


An elastically deployable three-dimensional panel structure for a solar array that can be collapsed to a flattened state and subsequently rolled, bended, or folded to achieve a compact stowage volume. The panel structure has top facing planar surface region on which one or more photovoltaic modules are attached, and other non-planar regions, located at the structure edges, that increase the deployed stiffness and strength of the structure. The deployable structure may include one or more panel structure modules mechanically interconnected in series and one or more photovoltaic modules electrically interconnected and mechanically adhered to the panel structure surface or tensioned within an openings within in the panel structure. Structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of the one or more panel structures from their stowed state. Deployment control is provided to ensure a known and repeatable deployment path through interlocking strips attached to one or more panel structures.

Most deployable solar arrays for spacecraft have used crystalline solar cells mounted to rigid honeycomb panels. Certain prior art describes mechanisms to effectively package, carefully deploy, and maintain the shape of arrays of rigid panels. Flexible solar arrays have also been used, but have been limited to crystalline solar cell arrays packaged in a long roll or pleated stack that is deployed using a separate boom or booms.
Spacecraft most commonly use solar cells to collect solar radiation and convert it into the electrical power necessary to operate the spacecraft. The solar cells are normally disposed on a solar array. A solar array typically comprises one or more solar panels electrically attached to each other and to the spacecraft. Each solar panel in an array typically comprises numerous individual solar cells, which are usually laid out in rows and connected together electrically at their adjacent edges. These photovoltaic cells form a two-dimensional array and are frequently mounted on a rigid honeycomb composite solar panel.
Optimization of standard solar array systems (complete/assembled structural and electrical wing system) incorporating standard thickness multijunction solar cells (nominally 140 um thick cells with 100 um thick coverglass) are approaching ˜100 W/kg BOL specific power and ˜13 kW/m3 stowed packaging performance plateaus. Current state-of-the-art optimized solar array systems utilize heavy carbon composite honeycomb panel-structures to provide necessary deployed/stowed strength and stiffness (frequency) to meet mission requirements. Additionally, these current rigid honeycomb panel solar arrays require very complex and complicated synchronization mechanisms to ensure reliable and repeatable deployment control. Other promising solar array arrays that incorporate flexible blanket technologies promise even higher specific power beyond 100 W/kg and more compact stowed packaging performance, but because these structures must also support and protect the standard-thickness heavy multijunction solar cells their performance metrics are also reaching a plateau. These lighter weight flexible blanket solar arrays always require complex mechanisms to ensure reliable and repeatable deployment control. State-of-the-art deployable solar array structures also occupy large stowage volumes. In some cases the large stowage envelopes are beginning to interfere within the allocated launch volumes and are prohibiting the ability to provide significant power growth for future missions (i.e., more power requires more volume, which is not available).
The new proposed solar array embodiment, an elastically deployable panel structure, has been created to significantly simplify the complex mechanisms required for deployment control, and to significantly simplify the overall structure composition to provide high specific power, low/mid power capability, high reliability, compact stowed volume, high structural performance (stiffness), modularity, reconfigurability, simplicity/reduction in piece part components, and affordability.
The primary prior art solar arrays in the subject field are comprised of rigid honeycomb panel structures interconnected with discrete hingelines and deployment mechanization. These solar array types are not elastically deployable structures that deploy from their own strain energy, but are prior art in terms of solar array systems in the relevant field.
Flexible photovoltaic arrays have also been implemented in the subject field. The most notable and technically mature flexible blanket solar arrays produced to date, and an indication of their blanket construction, are listed below:                ATK's UltraFlex which is a radial rib structure with tensioned single layer open weave mesh substrate blanket (open backside)—motor driven deployment        Lockheed Martin's SAFE (Solar Array Flight Experiment), International Space Station (ISS), and Milstar all of which are a central structure tensioned rectangular Kapton glass-reinforced blanket—motor driven deployment        ESA/British Aerospace Hubble Space Telescope (HST) which is a dual-side structure tensioned rectangular Kapton glass-reinforced blanket—motor driven deployment        AEG-Telefunken/Spar Aerospace L-SAT and Olympus which is a central structure with tensioned rectangular Kapton glass-reinforced blanket—motor driven deployment        Northrop Grumman (TRW) EOS-AM/Terra and APSA which is a central structure with tensioned rectangular Kapton carbon-reinforced blanket—motor driven deployment        Boeing (Hughes) FRUSA which is a dual-sided structure tensioned rectangular Kapton glass-reinforced blanket, and flown in 1971—motor driven deployment        DSS ROSA—Roll-Out-Solar-Array which is a dual side structure tensioned rectangular dimensionally stable blanket—elastically deployable or motor driven deployment.
With the exception of DSS's ROSA solar array, all past solar array flexible blanket solar arrays developed, built, and flown to date are deployed through electrical motor actuation. As such, these past solar arrays are not elastically deployable structures, except the DSS ROSA system. DSS's innovative Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) relies on a highly reliable innovative self-elastically deployable Roll-Out Boom that deploys immediately and predictably under its own strain energy. One other notable solar system that is in development that also does not deploy with a motor is from Composite Technology Development (CTD). CTD's non-motor driven solar array integrates unique elastic memory composite materials (EMC—also referred to as shape memory composites—SMC) that deploys from a stowed state to a deployed state through the application of heat.
The proposed elastically deployable panel structure for solar array applications that is described herein is uniquely different from all solar array structures to date, and as previously referenced. The panel solar array structure does not consist of separate boom(s) used to deploy a separate flexible solar array blanket, but rather the entire assembly is a unified panel structure that uniquely serves a dual use purpose as the structural platform and the carrier for the photovoltaic modules. Photovoltaic modules may be mounted to the panel structure itself or to windows within the panel structure. The elastically deployable panel structure may be rolled or folded to a compact stowage volume and forms a stiff, stable, structure when deployed. Implementation of an elastically deployable panel structure minimizes the required deployment mechanization, reduces parts count, increases the system reliability and reduces the system cost. The proposed embodiment targets small to mid-power-level solar array applications and eliminates the deficiencies of current state-of-the-art solar array structure technologies.

Elastically deployable panel structure solar arrays


A mounting member for a switchgear assembly is provided. The switchgear assembly includes a mounting element, an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and being coupled to the mounting element, a metering module having a number of terminals and being spaced from the electrical switching apparatus, a number of electrical conductors electrically connecting the terminals of the metering module to the terminals of the electrical switching apparatus, and a support member adjacent the electrical switching apparatus. The mounting member includes a base portion structured to retain the metering module; a number of coupling portions structured to couple the mounting member to the support member; and a number of directing portions, each directing portion being structured to receive a corresponding one of the electrical conductors.

1. Field
The disclosed concept pertains generally to power distribution systems and, more particularly to power distribution systems including electrical enclosures such as for example, panelboards and switchboards. The disclosed concept also pertains to switchgear assemblies for power distribution systems, such as for example, electrical switching apparatus including a metering module. The disclosed concept further relates to mounting members for switchgear assemblies.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus used in power distribution systems are often mounted within a switchgear enclosure either individually or in combination with other switchgear (e.g., without limitation, circuit switching devices and circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers, contactors, motor starters, motor controllers and other load controllers). Molded case circuit breakers, for example, include at least one pair of separable contacts which are operated either manually by way of a handle located on the outside of a case, or automatically by way of a trip unit, in response to a trip condition.
In known power distribution systems, metering modules (e.g., without limitation, power monitoring metering modules) are often coupled to electrical switching apparatus to monitor current and voltage. Additionally, some electrical switching apparatus such as, for example, some medium-voltage and low-voltage circuit breakers, can be relatively large. In order to facilitate movement (e.g., installation; removal; maintenance), such circuit breakers are commonly coupled to draw-out mechanisms which permit the circuit breakers to be relatively easily moved into and out of the switchgear enclosure.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a three phase molded case circuit breaker 2 includes a housing 4 and a molded case 6 on the outside of the housing 4. The housing 4 includes a cover 8 and an opening 10 through which an operating handle 12 extends. The circuit breaker 2 includes a load side 14 having a number of load conductor receptacles 16. A number of load terminals 18 are located within the load conductor receptacles 16. A metering module 52 is structured to be coupled to the circuit breaker 2, as shown in FIG. 1B, and includes an attachment portion 54 structured to be attached to a corresponding portion 20 of the circuit breaker 2. In the attached position of FIG. 1B, the attachment portion 54 of the metering module 52 abuts the portion 20 of the circuit breaker 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the circuit breaker 2 is shown installed inside a draw-out element 32 (partially shown). As seen, the draw-out element 32 includes a projection 34 that extends from the load side 14 of the circuit breaker 2 a distance 36. Accordingly, the metering module 52 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) cannot be attached to the circuit breaker 2. In other words, the metering module 52 cannot be physically accommodated by the circuit breaker 2 when it is installed inside of the draw-out element 32.
There is thus room for improvement in power distribution systems, and in switchgear assemblies and mounting members therefor.

Power distribution system, and switchgear assembly, and mounting member therefor


A USB charger for electronic cigarettes, comprising a USB interface configured for connecting with a power supply and a load end configured for connecting with a load, wherein, the USB charger for electronic cigarettes further comprises a voltage comparison unit, a benchmark circuit, a sampling circuit, a current detecting element, a state indicating unit, and a low voltage difference linear regulator connected between the USB interface and the load end; the benchmark circuit is connected between an output end of the low voltage difference linear regulator and an input end of the voltage comparison unit; and the state indicating unit is connected with an output end of the voltage comparison unit; the USB charger for electronic cigarettes of the present invention achieves advantages effects of being safer and improving users' experiences.

In most current USB chargers for electronic cigarettes, some ones are straight-through type chargers, wherein such a charger is only equivalent to an adapter (i.e., a USB interface switched into an interface matching battery rods of the electronic cigarettes); some ones only comprise comparators and state indicating units (e.g., state indicator lamps) for indicating charging states, and do not include low voltage difference linear regulators for over-temperature, over-current and short-circuit protection; and some ones only adopt low voltage difference linear regulator (LDO) control, but do not include comparators and state indicating units (e.g., state indicator lamps) for indicating charging states. In use, the above three kinds of USB chargers for electronic cigarettes may generate certain hidden dangers and bring bad experience effects to users.


A radiometer imaging system includes an antenna array having a plurality of sub-arrays, each being formed of a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a sub-Y-type, a receiver array having the same number of receivers as the antenna elements, each receiver being associated with one of the antenna elements in a one-to-one correspondence to thereby define a channel to generate a first signal and a second signal from an output of each antenna element, and a correlation processor for calculating a correlation for each correlated channel pair, by using the first signal and the second signal for each antenna element, to thereby obtain an 3-D image for the object.

Interferometric synthetic aperture radiometers have been developed to obtain a high angular resolution using a static array of small antennas, avoiding the scanning of the large size antenna required by real aperture radiometer. An imaging system using a synthetic aperture radiometer reconstructs an image by receiving a radiant energy naturally emitted from an object on the ground in a micrometer-wave or a millimeter-wave band via an antenna array. In this radiometer imaging system, the structure of the antenna array is an important fact that determines acquisition efficiency for image. In general, the antenna array employed in the radiometer imaging system has a pattern in which an overall arrangement is in a Y-type, a Δ-type or a T-type. Among a variety of antenna array patterns, it is well known that the Y-type antenna array is capable of obtaining a narrow width of synthetic aperture beamwidth and a wide range of alias free FOV (Field Of View)
In a conventional Y-type antenna array, however, a number of antenna elements are required to obtain a high resolution image. For example, 130 or more antenna elements are needed to obtain a synthetic aperture beamwidth of about 1°. However, with the increase of the antenna elements, the structure of an overall antenna array becomes complicated, and an operation calculation for obtaining correlations between signals received from each pairs of the antenna elements becomes difficult, which results in an increase of power consumption and a demand for a large-scale system.
Further, in the high resolution imaging system, spatial frequency sampling is performed using the relative distance difference between antenna elements. However, visibility functions in visibility coverage are not sampled in a spatial frequency domain to introduce the alias effect, which is one of the factors deteriorating the image quality recovered by the imaging system.

Radiometer imaging system and method thereof

Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology


Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for administration to lactating, non-lactating, and menopausal women, which comprise specific regimens of critical nutritional agents. The supplements are specifically tailored to meet nutritional requirements and maintain a woman's health during each stage of life.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multi-vitamin and mineral supplements, and particularly to multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for administration to women during different stages of life.
2. Description of Related Art
Vitamin and mineral preparations are commonly administered to treat specific medical conditions or as general nutritional supplements. Recent studies have elucidated the important physiological roles played by vitamins and minerals, and established a correlation between deficiencies or excesses of these nutrients and the etiologies of certain disease states in humans. See, e.g., Diplock, "Antioxidant Nutrients and Disease Prevention: An Overview," Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 53:189-193 (1991); Document Geigy Scientific Tables, 457-497 (Diem and Cemtuer eds., 7th ed., 1975).
It has further become recognized that various life-stage groups of the human population require different quantities and types of vitamins and minerals to prevent or alleviate diseases, as well as to maintain general good health. For example, it is known that pregnant women commonly require iron therapy to prevent or treat iron-deficiency anemia. Various prior patents have been directed to improving the efficacy of iron supplements for use during pregnancy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,283, for example, discloses nutritional mineral supplements which include iron and calcium compounds in combination with citrates or tartrates, ascorbates, and fructose. The tendency of calcium to inhibit the bioavailability of iron is said to be reduced in such compositions, so that the conjoint bioavailability of these two minerals is enhanced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,634 maximizes the bioavailability of iron in prenatal iron supplements by maintaining the amount of calcium compounds in the supplement at 300 mg or less and the amount of magnesium compounds at 75 mg or less per dosage unit.
Another approach to the same problem is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,479, wherein a multi-vitamin and mineral dietary supplement is provided which includes (a) one or more divalent dietary mineral components such as calcium or magnesium; and (b) a bioavailable iron component, presenting a controlled release form and adapted to be released in a controlled manner in the gastrointestinal tract.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,387 discloses a nutritional supplement preparation for pregnant and breast-feeding women which contains 10-20% by weight of protein, 16-28% by weight of fat, 43-65% by weight carbohydrates, and at most 3.5% by weight of moisture, minerals, trace elements and vitamins.
Despite the foregoing efforts to improve vitamin and mineral supplementation for pregnant women, conventional prenatal supplements are not ideally suited for women during other phases of their lives. For example, the nutritional needs of lactating women following a pregnancy differ from the needs during pregnancy. The vitamin/mineral requirements for non-lactating and menopausal women also differ from the requirements of pregnant women.
Conventional nutritional formulations are poorly designed for administration to women during various stages of life in which the physiological requirements of the women vary significantly. It would therefore be desirable to provide a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement which obviates this deficiency of known vitamin/mineral products.

Multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for women


A supporting rack assembly has a frame module, multiple shelf holders and multiple shelf bodies. Each shelf holder has a holder body, a supporting portion, two first inserting plates, two second inserting plates, and two engagement plates. The supporting portion is connected with the holder body. The first inserting plates are connected with an end of the holder body, and the second inserting plates are connected with the other end of the holder body. The first inserting plates and the second inserting plates are inserted into the frame module. The engagement plates are connected with the ends of the holder body. The shelf bodies are mounted on the shelf holders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rack assembly, and more particularly to a supporting rack assembly having pivotable and positionable shelf holders.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional rack, such as a cabinet, a bookcase, a shoe rack, or a filing cabinet, has two pairs of frame modules 63, multiple shelf bodies 61 and multiple hooks 62. Each frame module 63 has multiple slits 64 formed in and arranged longitudinally on the frame module 63. The hooks 62 are respectively inserted into the slits 64 to be mounted on the frame module 63. Each shelf body 61 is mounted on two of the hooks 62 that are at a same height, such that the shelf bodies 61 can be used for placing objects. Therefore, when the hooks 62 are inserted in slits 64 at another height, a height of the overall shelf body 61 can be altered.
The hooks 62 are inserted into the slits 64 to be mounted on the frame module 63. Therefore, when the hooks 62 are inserted in the slits 64, a vision error may affect a user to mount the hooks 62 on the slits 64 of different frame modules 63 of each pair respectively at different heights. Therefore, the hooks 62 may be positioned at different heights. Furthermore, the hooks 62 may be detached from the slits 64 when the hooks 62 are forced by an external force from objects that are placed on the shelf body 61.


In a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having each at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer (RL), green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer (GL) and blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer (BL) on a support and further having a hydrophilic colloidal layer (AH-1) containing black colloidal silver between the support and the nearest light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the light-sensitive material further has a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer (DL) between the hydrophilic colloidal layer (AH-1) and the support, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer (DL) comprises at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion, and optical information is recorded by an exposure to light through the support, and the light-sensitive emulsion layer (DL) or its adjacent layer has a color-forming coupler.

The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material and, more particularly, to a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material having a silver halide emulsion layer for recording optical information produced by exposure from a back side thereof, in which the recorded information has a sufficient density for reading the information after developing treatment.
In the present specification, a front side of a photographic material means the side on which a red-sensitive, green-sensitive and blue-sensitive silver halide emulsions are coated. On the other hand, a back side of a photographic material means the reverse side against the support to the front side mentioned above.
Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials, particularly color photographic light-sensitive materials for photographing are strongly required to give excellent images.
In addition, at photographing with cameras, a date and time of photographing are optically recorded by exposure from a back side of a photographic material for photographing. After developing process of the photographic material for photographing, this information is optically recorded on another light-sensitive material for printing, together with a subject which was exposed from the front side of the photographic material.
Although this optical record is recorded, in some cases, outside an image plane on which an image of a subject is recorded, i.e., unexposed part, the record, in many cases, is recorded inside the image plane on which a subject is recorded and at a part near the margin of the image plane (for example, right downer from the image plane).
For this reason, the record becomes very difficult to be read depending upon color, density and shape of the subject which has been exposed from the front side in some cases and, thus, there was a demand for improvement.
As an amount of a colorant to be coated, such as black colloidal silver in an antihalation layer and an amount of silver halide in an emulsion layer are reduced, an amount of light to be exposed from the back side is increased and it is possible to raise a density of the optical record to some extent.
According to this method, although the effect of raising a density of optical record from the back side is observed on a part having a lower image density of the subject which was obtained by exposure from the front side, the effect of raising a density of optical record is small on a part having a higher image density of the subject which was obtained from the front side.
In addition, it is well known that as black colloidal silver in an antihalation layer is coated at a lower amount, sharpness is reduced. Moreover, besides this reduction, an infrared absorbing density of a light-sensitive material is reduced and it becomes impossible to detect the light-sensitive material with infrared rays in a developing apparatus and, which leads to potential conveyance troubles and incorrect replenishment of a developer.
Conversely speaking, when an amount of black colloidal silver to be coated in an antihalation layer is increased in order to improve reduction in sharpness or enhance an infrared absorbing density, a density of optical record is further reduced and it becomes difficult to read it.
On the other hand, British Patent 1,519,993 has proposed an invention which improves the interlayer effect by inclusion of colloidal silver in water-impermeable layer adjacent both a green-sensitive layer and a red-sensitive layer. However, the inclusion of colloidal silver has no effect of raising a density of optical record by exposure from a back side.


A ball valve includes a housing, a valve member, and a grip. The housing has a valve chamber in the center portion for containing a valve portion of the valve member consisting of the valve portion and a shaft portion extending up from the valve portion and out of the housing to combine with the grip able to rotate the valve member to open or close a passageway formed by the cavity of the valve portion, an inlet portion and an outlet portion at two sides of the housing. An anti-leak gasket is fixed around the lower end of the shaft for preventing liquid in the valve assembly from leaking out. Further, a soft auxiliary gasket is fixed around the shaft portion under the anti-leak gasket for lessening friction between the shaft portion and the shaft hole of the housing to permit the ball valve manually handled to open or close smoothly.

A conventional ball valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a housing 1, a valve member 2, and a grip 22. The housing 1 is provided with a valve chamber 10 in the center 12 portions and an inlet portion 11 and an outlet portion respectively at two sides of the valve chamber 10 and a shaft hole 13 formed in an upper center portion.
The valve member 2 consists of a valve portion and a shaft portion 21 extending up from the valve portion, and the valve portion has a cavity 20 to align or not to align to the inlet portion 11 and the outlet portion 12 so that the valve portion together with the shaft portion 21 may be rotated by the grip 22 fitted with the upper end of the shaft portion 21 for opening and closing the ball valve. The shaft portion 21 has an anti-leak gasket fixed around the lower end of the shaft portion to prevent liquid in the ball valve from leaking through the gap between the shaft portion and the shaft hole of the housing 1. In fabricating the ball valve, the valve member is formed in advance, and then placed in a mold for injecting molding the housing 1 to combine the valve member 2 in the housing 1.
However, In the molding process of the housing 1, the mold is heated up to a high temperature of about 200° C. to produce some damage to the outer surface of the valve member 2, so the contact areas of the shaft portion 21 with a coarse rough surface 210 and the shaft hole 13 may not be very close enough as they should be for anti-leakage. Moreover, the coarse surface 210 of the shaft portion 21 may cause extremely large friction to hamper smooth rotation of the valve member 2 in opening and closing the ball valve, affecting the service life of the ball valve.
A valve assembly disclosed in two U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,210 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,299 includes a body 10 and a valve closure member 14 separately formed and combined together. So they have a flaw of complicated manufacturing processes, expensive cost, with a structure different from the ball valve in this invention.
Next, another U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,860B1 tilted "PLASTIC BUTTERFLY VALVE" includes a hollow cylindrical body 1 and a valve disk 4, which are separately fabricated and then combined together. This valve also has the same drawback of complicated manufacturing processes, expensive cost, and a structure different from the ball valve in this invention.


There is provided a method of plating, comprising: a process of providing a substrate that includes a first face and a second face having different patterns; a plating process of respectively supplying electric current of a first plating current density and electric current of a second plating current density to the first face and to the second face of the substrate, so as to form a plating film on the first face and a plating film on the second face; and a process of, after plating is completed first either on the first face or on the second face, supplying protection current to the face where plating is completed first, wherein the protection current has a smaller current density than the first plating current density or the second plating current density of the electric current supplied to the face where plating is completed first during plating.

Conventionally, wiring is formed in fine wiring grooves, holes or resist openings provided on the surface of a semiconductor wafer and bumps (bump electrodes) are formed on the surface of a semiconductor wafer or the like to be electrically connected with electrodes of a package or the like. For example, an electroplating method, a vapor deposition method, a printing method, a ball bump method, and the like have been known as the method of forming such wiring and bumps. The electroplating method that allows for miniaturization and that has relatively stable performance has widely been employed, accompanied with the recent trend of an increase in the I/O number of semiconductor chips and a reduction in the pitch size.
A known configuration of an electroplating apparatus aims to perform double-sided plating as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-007075 (Patent Document 1). This plating apparatus is configured to supply different amounts of electric current from a first external connecting portion and a second external connecting portion of a substrate holder to respective faces of a substrate and thereby plate the respective faces of the substrate. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-74975 (Patent Document 2) describes a configuration of applying a second voltage in a forward direction between an anode and a substrate prior to plating or after completion of plating, so as to prevent the flow of electric current in a reverse direction to the direction of electric current supplied during plating and thereby prevent dissolution of a copper plating film.

Method of plating, apparatus for plating, and non-volatile storage medium that stores program


A self-organizing mesh network is made up of individual devices configured to use other network devices to pass data from one point to another. The network also includes a secondary operating mode that accommodates handheld and other non-fixed transient network nodes. Each device in the network maintains a configuration link that is used to detect the presence of a handheld device. The handheld device uses the configuration link to identify nearby network devices. A user of the handheld device can then select one of the network devices and establish a small point-to-point subnetwork between the handheld device and the selected network device.

This invention relates generally to self-organizing mesh networks. In particular, the invention relates to a wireless handheld configuration device and an operating mode that allows the handheld device to communicate with a selected device of a self-organizing mesh network.
A self-organizing mesh network is a communications network made up of individual devices that are configured to use other networked devices to reliably pass data from one point to another. Ideally, each device has many paths available for passing data to its intended destination. When a new device joins the network, a network manager provides the new device with a schedule which the new device will use to talk to other devices in the network. Each device in the network is provided with "slots" (specific times and radio frequencies) for passing data to or from one or more "children" and one or more "parents". Using different times and frequencies allow many devices to pass messages in the same space without collisions. Frequency hopping also helps to secure the data that is being passed in the network. Secured self-organizing networks frequently employ authentication and encryption to further protect the network. While these attributes result in a very secure and reliable network, they also make it difficult and inefficient to use a wireless hand held configuration device in the network, because it may take several minutes for the device to be recognized in the network and to establish necessary communication links to the wireless devices to be configured. The presence of such a "transient" participant in the network can also disturb the network, making it less efficient and more power hungry as the device joins, moves around in and un-joins the network.
Secure self-organizing mesh networks of the type in question use a process known as "joining" to incorporate new devices into the secured network. During the joining process, a number of information exchanges and configurations take place.
The new device uses a network pre-determined channel to discover similar devices within radio range. These are the existing network nodes the new device has available to it in order to gain membership into the network. The presence of each device within earshot is recorded. Later in the joining process, the new device will provide its "neighbor" list to the network manager so that the network manager can determine the links that must be established to allow the new device to participate in the network. The network manager also needs to be aware of "excess" neighbors not needed for the new device to communicate on the network. The network manager must ensure that the newly established links do not interfere with the pre-existing links of these neighbor devices.
The new device uses its pre-configured security information to decode a joining message from the manager and sends back the expected security response along with other information necessary for the manager to establish links from the new device to other devices in the network.
The new device and the new parents and children receive and implement configuration information from the network manager to establish the required links. The new device is then fully joined and participating in the network.
In most networks, the joining process described above happens only when new devices join the network. The process may take some time (15 to 20 minutes depending on the network) but since it happens very infrequently, the impact is minor. A wireless handheld device used to interrogate and configure devices in the network may, however, join many times as it is moved around to configure different devices. It is not practical for this type of device to join the network as if it were a standard fixed position device. Not only would this be extremely inconvenient for the user to wait many minutes for the handheld device to join the network, but the frequent joining and un-joining will impact network performance. There is a need for a different method for allowing special devices (such as a wireless handheld configuration device) that are not fixed in the network to join and leave a self-organizing mesh network.

Wireless handheld configuration device for a securable wireless self-organizing mesh network


A projection extending substantially perpendicularly from an arm or lever of a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket serves as a retention member for a component assembly in the ZIF socket. The ZIF socket comprises: a body having a plurality of electrical contact apertures for receiving a plurality of component assembly pins from a component assembly placed over the body; a binding member located below and slidably coupled to the body allowing insertion in and extraction of the pins from the plurality of electrical contact apertures of the body when the binding member is in a first position relative to the body, and retaining the plurality of component assembly pins when the binding member is in a second position relative to the body; and a first arm member rotatably coupled to the binding member for positioning the binding member relative to the body. The retention member comprises a first projection extending substantially perpendicularly from the first arm and extending over a portion of the electronic component to provide a retention force toward the body.

In the early days of personal computers ("PC"s), microprocessor central processing units ("CPU"s) and other major electronic components thereof were soldered directly to a circuit board. Although this was a cost-efficient mounting method as far as manufacturing was concerned, there were several major drawbacks. First, heat generated during the soldering process sometimes overheated the components, rendering them useless or limiting their lifetime. Although soldering techniques improved over the years, such overheating remained a concern. Second, if the component was found faulty during a later-performed test, the component had to be unsoldered from the circuit board and a new one resoldered in its place, again with the risk of heat overexposure during soldering. As the components grew more integrated and sophisticated, pin count increased, increasing heat delivered to the component during soldering and greatly complicating component replacement.
Because of the above-discussed deficiencies of direct solder-mounting of components, low insertion force ("LIF") sockets were developed. LIF sockets were designed to be directly soldered to the circuit board in lieu of a component. LIF sockets provided a plurality of apertures on an upper surface thereof for receiving the component pins. Each of the apertures contained a spring-loaded contact that frictionally gripped each pin as it was inserted. The combined frictional force of all of the spring-loaded contacts on the component pins retained the component in the socket and provided for good electrical contact between the component pins and those on the LIF socket.
As component size and pin count continued to grow, however, LIF sockets became problematical. Each spring-loaded contact in the LIF socket required a certain amount of spring force to maintain good electrical contact. However, as pin count grew, the total spring and frictional force also grew. At some point, the combined frictional force of all of the spring-loaded contacts made insertion or extraction of the component from the LIF socket difficult. Sometimes, the required insertion force bent or folded slightly misaligned component pins, placing the entire component at risk. If the insertion or extraction force was not applied uniformly, pins were at risk of being bent or broken. The design of many-apertured LIF sockets required keeping individual aperture friction to a minimum to keep total insertion or extraction force to a practical level. However, a sufficient amount of spring-loading in each aperture was needed to maintain reliable electrical contact. Often, a special-purpose component removal tool was required for extracting many-pinned components (particularly microprocessor CPUs) from LIF sockets.
Today's PCs are often designed to operate with improved components as they are developed. For example, as an improved microprocessor becomes available, a user wishing to increase PC performance need only replace the existing microprocessor with an upgraded model. Unfortunately, many users lack the dexterity, gentility, strength and confidence necessary to install many-pinned components in LIF sockets. Thus, the many users that would benefit from the increased performance of a component upgrade are deterred from undergoing the transition.
In response to the user's concern, PCs are beginning to be equipped with zero insertion force ("ZIF") sockets to eliminate a need for the user to apply substantial insertion or extraction forces to upgrade components. Like LIF sockets, ZIF sockets are designed to be directly soldered to the circuit board. ZIF sockets also provide a plurality of apertures on an upper surface thereof for receiving the component pins. Unlike LIF sockets, the apertures do not contain spring-loaded contacts, but accept each component pin without substantial frictional resistance. An arm is rotatably mounted to the ZIF socket. Rotation of the arm causes a relative translation of portions of the ZIF socket with respect to each other. The portions place the component pins in a mechanical shear or bind within the apertures. The mechanical bind brings about a good electrical contact for each of the component pins. The combined mechanical bind of all of the apertures presents a substantial retention force to hold the component in the ZIF socket. Unlike LIF sockets, ZIF sockets do not need to sacrifice individual aperture retention force and concomitant electrical contact integrity to keep total insertion or extraction forces to an acceptable level. Thus ZIF sockets therefore typically have high retention forces relative to LIF sockets.
As components have increased in size and power density, it has become attractive to pair the larger components, particularly the microprocessor CPU, with a heat sink. Typically, this is done by providing a retention clip that wraps around the heat sink and grasps the component on its underside. The component and the heat sink therefore become a single assembly that can be inserted or extracted from a LIF or ZIF socket in a single step. Unfortunately, heat sink/component assemblies are relatively heavy. This becomes most disadvantageous when the PC is transported. As the PC is rotated, bumped and jarred, the weight of the heat sink/component assembly generates forces sufficient to dislodge the assembly from its socket. If forces are of sufficient strength, even components that do not have a heat sink attached may generate enough force to become dislodged from a ZIF socket.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a structure for providing additional component retention forces in a ZIF socket to minimize a probability of component movement or detachment while locked in the socket.

Retention member for zero insertion force socket


A carbon-graphite/silicon carbide composite article is provided. The composite article includes a carbon-graphite body intimately bonded to a dense silicon carbide body by a transition/bonding region which links the two bodies. The transition/bonding region between the carbon-graphite body and the silicon carbide body typically includes a layer rich in silicon metal and a small silicon carbide/silicon metal/carbon graphite area where some of the carbon-graphite from the carbon-graphite body has been converted to silicon carbide. The carbon-graphite body may also include a variety of impregnants.

In the area of friction and seal components for demanding applications, seal designs are often compromised by the need to choose among materials which have exclusive and independent benefits, and sometimes conflicting characteristics. The seal designs are often compromised in material selection because, while some materials have beneficial properties in certain respects, the materials may have disadvantages, or less desirable characteristics, in other respects. For example, some seal materials (i.e. carbon/graphites) have self-lubricating properties, and therefore perform very well in dry run and process upset conditions. Typically, such materials also have a low modulus of elasticity, which allows the materials to deflect against the mating face of a seal (which is usually a high modulus ceramic). However, because of the low modulus, such materials lack strength and stiffness. Further, the materials also lack high oxidation resistance.
Other seal materials (e.g. self-sintered silicon carbides) have superior strength and a high modulus of elasticity, which provides the stiffness necessary to give the entire seal assembly stability and strength, and have high oxidation resistance. However, such materials are not self-lubricating. Therefore, the materials have poor dry running and/or process upset response characteristics.

Carbon-graphite/silicon carbide composite article


Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic head having a sensor stack and a bias material that is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a media facing surface. The sensor stack and a first portion of the bias material are laterally bookended by synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structures, and a second portion of the bias material is laterally bookended by a dielectric material. In this configuration, the SAF structures are decoupled from the bias material, which minimizes the disturbance to the bias material.

1. Field
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic read head for use in a hard disk drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
The heart of a computer is a magnetic disk drive which typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read and/or write heads over selected tracks on the rotating disk. The suspension arm biases the slider towards the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent a media facing surface (MFS), such as an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider, causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
One type of conventional sensor used in the read head is a scissor sensor. The scissor sensor stack typically has two free magnetic layers with magnetizations that move in a scissor fashion relative to each other. The scissor sensor stack has a first surface located at the MFS and a second surface opposite the first surface and a bias material is typically disposed adjacent the second surface of the sensor stack. Side shields, such as synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structures, typically laterally bookend the sensor stack and the bias material. The side shields minimize the demagnetization energy of the dual free layer. However, in this configuration, strong interaction between the SAF structures and the bias material can occur, such that the stray field from the SAF structures disturbs bias material stabilization.
Therefore, an improved read head is needed.

Scissor reader with side shield decoupled from bias material