A paper product of the present disclosure having at least one ply is disclosed. At least one outer surface of the paper product has indicia comprising at least one ink disposed thereon and substantially affixed thereto. The at least one ink has a color value defined by a 2-D CIELab (L*a*b*) color gamut. The 2-D CIELab (L*a*b*) color gamut is at least about 190% greater than the Kien 2-D CIELab (L*a*b*) color gamut.

Absorbent paper products are a staple of everyday life. Absorbent paper products are used as consumer products for paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, napkins, and the like. The large demand for such paper products has created a demand for improved aesthetics, visual effects, and other benefits on the surface of the product, and as a result, improved methods of creating these visual effects.
Many consumers prefer absorbent paper products that have a design, or other artwork, printed thereon. For example, during specific holidays, consumers sometimes choose a paper towel product that compliments that holiday.
In the art of absorbent paper products, printed indicia may be provided onto the substrate surfaces using process printing processes which often offer an overall positive consumer response. However, typical prior art process printing methodology and apparatus for absorbent paper products is often limited to having four colors as the basis for generating the resulting color palette. The prior art process printing allows producers and manufacturers with the benefit of absorbent paper products with the ability to print on absorbent paper product substrates at a speed that is commercially viable. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the substrates used for many absorbent paper products, especially through air dried and other formed substrates, have properties such as a relatively low modulus, a highly textured surface, and other physical properties that make such a substrate difficult to print on using conventional high-speed printing processes/apparatus. While practical, the prior art processes for printing on absorbent paper product substrates are held to a four color base for printing, and, as a result, are unable to capture as wide of a color palette as a process/apparatus that takes advantage of a larger number of base colors. Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is thought that providing an absorbent paper product with a color palette that exceeds the prior art color palette (i.e., a product having more vibrant, intricate, or bright printed pattern thereon) will delight the consumer.
Kien, US 2009-0114354 A1, discloses color gamut boundaries defined by the following system of 2-dimensional equations in CIELab coordinates (2-D gamut), respectively:{a*=−41.2 to −29.0; b*=3.6 to 52.4}→b*=4a*+168.4{a*=−29 to −6.4; b*=52.4 to 64.9}→b*=0.553097a*+68.4398{a*=−6.4 to 33.4; b*=64.9 to 42.8}→b*=−0.553097a*+61.3462{a*=33.4 to 58.0; b*=42.8 to 12.5}→b*=−1.23171a*+83.939{a*=58.0 to 25.8; b*=12.5 to −28.2}→b*=1.26398a*−60.8106{a*=25.8 to −9.6; b*=−28.2 to −43.4}→b*=0.429379a*−39.278{a*=−9.6 to −41.2; b*=−43.4 to 3.6}→b*=−1.48734a*−57.6785
where L* ranges from 0 to 100.
More specifically, Kien provides the extrapolated color gamut boundaries defined by the following system of 3-dimensional equations in CIELab coordinates (3-D gamut), respectively:
Vertexes defining each FaceVertex 1Vertex 2Vertex 3E a* + F b* + G L* + H = 0z1x1y1z2x2y2z3x3y3Face Plane Equation CoefficientsL*a*b*L*a*b*L*a*b*EFGH67.7 −33.5 46.766.733.4 42.887.6 −6.166.5−57.8 1358.7 1431.5−35396.167.7−33.5 46.787.6−6.166.593.1−5.648.8461.1−140.8 −494.955524.367.7−33.5 46.766.733.442.836−2.24.681.52089.4−2694.4 87567.167.7−33.546.736−2.24.656.4−41.2 3.6−890.5597.8−1673.2 55526.267.7−33.5 46.779.3−15.9 −15.8 56.4 −41.2 3.61206.2109.6−1239.8 119226.767.7−33.546.793.1−5.6 48.879.3−15.9−15.81611.9123.4−1780.7 168788.666.733.442.887.6−6.166.593.1−5.648.8500.3227.7687.3−72297.866.733.442.893.1−5.6 48.894.3−0.321242.7 186.71793.4−169118.266.733.442.894.3−0.3280.6 16.9−5.9777.013.0968.0−91074.466.733.442.880.616.9−5.9 65.242.4−5.7747.2100.41238.6−111862.766.733.442.865.242.4−5.752.15812.5662.794.5920.4−87567.866.7 33.442.852.15812.536−2.24.6372.51275.0 −2018.467617.093.1−5.648.894.3−0.3279.3 −15.9−15.8 723.460.8−824.477838.394.3−0.3279.3 −15.9−15.8 80.6 16.9−5.9125.4−471.7429.4−39511.479.3−15.9−15.8 80.616.9−5.959.3 −20.7−36.4−171.2 649.8−628.257356.979.3−15.9 −15.856.4 −41.23.659.3 −20.7−36.4 −859.7 −396.1614.3−68641.980.616.9−5.965.242.4−5.761.318.4−27.6 −338.0469.1−553.753104.580.616.9−5.959.3 −20.7−36.4 61.318.4−27.6126.4−757.6861.7−76057.565.2 42.4−5.752.15812.542.5 25.8−28.2−707.9571.6−48.936459.565.242.4−5.742.525.8−28.261.3 18.4−27.6−409.4 480.1−176.531599.252.15812.536−2.24.642.5 25.8−28.2−579.4−59.52195.8−80048.436−2.24.656.4−41.23.648−9.6−43.4 967.2317.01864.6−66456.136−2.24.648−9.6 −43.4 42.525.8−28.281.6384.11586.7−58709.356.4−41.23.659.3−20.7−36.448−9.6−43.4 472.3263.8300.51560.759.3−20.7−36.448−9.6−43.461.318.4−27.685.4−464.0 371.4 −37144.948−9.6−43.442.525.8−28.261.318.4−27.6289.1−624.8133.7 −30760.8
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a printing process and apparatus for providing an absorbent paper product that has a relatively wide color palette.

Web substrates having wide color gamut indicia printed thereon


Elimination of sodium contamination at the negative terminal of an electrical stri resistance heater (1, FIGS. 2 and 4) for a gas sensor (3) can be accomplished by providing a grounding plane (-18′) electrically connected to system ground and located between the heater (1) and the sensor (3).

It was recognized at least as early as 1969 that a planar resistor was exposed to shortened lifetime if sodium ions were permitted to collect in the vicinity of the negative terminal of the resistor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,956 identified this problem and proposed a solution including providing a conductive barrier that could optionally be electrically biased relative to the resistors.
Other known prior art utilized a collector member that was connected to the negative terminal of the resistive heater. This was suggested at least as early as 1985, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,056, and has more recently been commercialized, for instance in many current production motor vehicles employing a planar oxygen sensor provided by Delphi Automotive Systems and identified as the OSP+. In arrangements where the collector member is connected to the heater terminal, and when the heater is turned OFF, there is no electrical field between the collector element and the heater. When OFF no current flows through the heater and there is no potential drop along the length of the heater. Also, in typical implementations where the heater control involves electrically disconnecting the heater from ground to turn the heater OFF, the entire heater goes positive when turned OFF because of the connection of the positive lead to the power supply, but so does the collector member. As a result, the ion collection function is only operative when the heater is operating. This arrangement misses the opportunity to capture ions when the heater is not ON. The substrate typically starts out cold, thus creating a condition that is not conducive to ionic migration through the substrate. Because the ions in the substrate are more mobile at higher temperatures, they are most mobile when the heater is ON and then adjacent to the heater element. Also, because there is a voltage gradient along the length of a resistance heater when in operation, the ions tend to follow the electrical field along the direction where they have the greatest mobility. The higher temperatures along the heater, combined with the electrical field gradient along the length of the heater causes ions to migrate toward the negative terminal of the heater. This ion collection at the negative heater terminal shortens heater lifetime by physically forcing the heater terminal away from the heater leads, causing the connection to the conductive heater leads to be broken. This physical force is due to the physical presence of the ions gathering between the negative heater terminal and its lead.
It has now been discovered that in order to prevent ionic buildup near a terminal of a planar electrical resistance heater (a buildup that can damage the heater and break the electrical connection between the heater and its conductive lead), an ion collector can be employed near the heater to continuously attract the ions. An electrical field is established between the heater and the ion collector attracting the mobile ions toward the ion collector and repelling them away from the heater. To improve the operation of the ionic collection, the collector member is maintained at its attracting potential even when the heater is OFF or is operating at less than full power. Also, the heater is connected so as to establish a high electrical potential difference relative to the ion collector when the heater is OFF repelling the ions from the heater element and toward the ion collector. A heater control mechanism is employed to turn the heater on/off as desired and to regulate the voltage supplied to the heater if it is desired to operate the heater at less than full power. Preferably, the heater control is located between the negative heater terminal and ground.

Sensor isolation plane for planer elements


A fiber optic adapter includes a one piece housing, and the exterior of the housing includes at least one latch for retaining the housing in a panel opening, and at least one projecting wing for reducing play between the housing and the sides of the panel opening into which the adapter may be installed.

The present disclosure relates to an adapter or a coupling for holding two fiber optic connectors in alignment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an adapter or coupling having a one piece, unibody housing.
Recently, the use of fiber optics for communications purposes has grown immensely. Data, voice, and other communication networks are increasingly using fiber optics to carry information. An optical fiber is generally a glass fiber configured to carry light. Individual fibers may be grouped into a line capable of carrying large amounts of data simultaneously.
When constructing a fiber optic network, each individual fiber is generally connected to both a source and a destination device. Additionally, along the fiber optic run between the source and the destination, various connections or couplings may be made on the optical fiber to adjust the length of the fiber. Each connection or coupling requires a connector and adapter to align the fibers such that the light can transmit without interruption. A typical connector includes two symmetrical housings, each housing having a connector latch. An alignment sleeve is placed within the connector latches to ensure the fibers are properly aligned. Then, the two housings are welded (i.e., via ultrasonic welding), riveted, or otherwise attached to each other, thereby forming a coupling. Individual optic fibers are then places within each connector latch, the alignment sleeve aligning the fibers.
This exemplary coupling is expensive to produce as numerous parts are required (each of which may require separate manufacturing), and a welding, riveting or other attachment process must be done to connect the two symmetrical housings. Additionally, alignment issues may result from the attachment process as the two symmetrical housing components may shift during welding.
One approach to reduce the amount of components required is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663 (the '663 patent), issued May 31, 1994 to Beard et al, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the '663 patent, an adapter is taught which includes a single piece housing in which both connector latches are placed, along with n alignment sleeve, to provide an adapter. However, to place the components within the housing, a window is provided in the housing. A housing cover is provided which is welded to the housing to cover the window. While the design of the '663 patent may eliminate any issues with alignment resulting from the attachment of the two housing components, it still requires numerous components and multiple assembly steps including welding the housing cover over the window.
The adapters are mountable in openings in a panel, and the opening will typically have some variance in size. Panels with smaller openings create a tighter fit for the inserted adapter. Conversely, larger openings can yield a loose fit and allow the adapter the freedom to wiggle, as there will be play between the adapter and the sides of the opening. Although it is a benefit to control the play, or freedom to wiggle during seismic events, another goal for controlling, limiting or eliminating play is quality perception where a loose fit of a housing in an opening may not be viewed as being of the same quality as tight fitting parts. Adapter configurations with housings that minimize, or eliminate play are therefore more desirable.

True one piece housing fiber optic adapter


A laser alignment control system is provided for aligning a rotational portion of a machine tool to a master part. The system includes a laser emitter that is mountable to one of the components being aligned and a photosensitive target mountable to the other components. The system further includes a data acquisition subsystem for receiving signals from the target and calculating alignment errors and required corrections for the system. The alignment procedure requires rotating the target for the laser emitter in the rotating tool holder or the master part. The target and/or the laser emitter are provided with a rotational orientation sensor operatively connected to the data acquisition subsystem and operative to produce signals identifying the rotational orientation of the target and/or laser emitter.

Automated manufacturing processes often require precise machining or manufacturing operations to be performed by at least one machine on a workpiece. For example, automated industrial machines may be required to initially bore one or more holes in a piece of stock material. The same machine or a second machine may then be operative to chamfer or enlarge the entrance to the previously bored hole. Still another machine or another part of the original machine may then be operative to tap threads into at least a portion of the previously bored hole. Continuing with this example, the axis of the hole being bored and tapped may be obliquely aligned to adjacent surfaces of the stock material, and at least portions of the machining operation may take place at a relatively inaccessible location within the stock material. Machining operations of this type are carried out widely, for example, in the automotive industry. Large numbers of machining operations must be carried out on engine blocks and on the housings for carburetors, fuel pumps, distributors and such. A very high degree of precision generally is required for such machining operations. This great precision not only improves the quality of the part being produced, but also increases tool life and reduces down time for a machine line. Even small improvements in the currently employed automated machine lines and corresponding reductions in down time can result in very significant cost savings.
All automated machine tool equipment includes means for adjusting the relative alignment between the machine tool and the workpiece. Some manufacturing lines may be adapted to adjust the position and alignment of the machine, others enable adjustments to the position and alignment of the workpiece, while still others enable adjustments to be effected on both the machine tool and the workpiece. The particular arrangement for adjustability will depend, in part, upon the manner of movement of the machine tool and/or the workpiece during a machining operation. Typically adjustments to the machine tool and/or the workpiece are carried out by shim assemblies which are adjustably positioned between the machine tool and a base and/or between the workpiece and a base.
Machine tool alignment typically is checked by employing a master part. A master part is a precisely manufactured piece of stock material that accurately duplicates at least a portion of a specified part. The position and alignment of the machine tool and the master part can be compared, and adjustments to one or both may be effected as needed.
The most widely employed prior art apparatus for checking alignment includes mechanical or electromechanical gauges and/or instruments. The spatial positions and orientations of tools and master parts can be determined by mechanical means which may be operatively connected to electronic readouts to provide an indication of alignment errors. These mechanical or electromechanical gauges are generally complex, costly pieces of equipment that are specifically dedicated to a particular machine or a particular type of machine. Additionally, even the most sophisticated mechanical or electromechanical gauge is subject to geometric distortion in response to the effects of gravity, temperature changes or other variables.
Laser beams are known to define a substantially straight line that is dimensionally stable over a relatively long distance. Lasers have been used in combination with photosensitive targets that are operative to sense and identify the location of the center of energy of a laser beam impinging thereon. This combination of a laser emitter and a photosensitive target have proved to be extremely efficient and accurate for measuring alignment between two spaced apart objects. In particular, the laser emitter may be mounted to one object to be aligned while the photosensitive target is mounted to the other object to be aligned.
A background discussion of early work in laser alignment is presented in Laser Alignment In Industry, ASTME Technical Paper MR68-408, 1968 and in Laser Alignment-Current Uses And Applications, SME Technical Paper MR76-864, 1976.
The operative part of a photosensitive target is a small planar photocell rigidly mounted in a housing. It is often extremely difficult to ensure that the surface of the photocell in the housing of the target is disposed at the preferred target point in the machine tool or master part to be aligned. In particular, the photocell often is disposed forwardly or rearwardly of the point to be aligned or is angularly aligned thereto because of geometric constraints of the target housing, the master part or the machine tool. These errors in the mounting position would yield measurement errors that would offset the potential accuracies of the laser alignment system. These problems were overcome by U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,618 which issued to Martin R. Hamar on Nov. 20, 1984. In particular, the target of U S. Pat. No. 4,483,618 includes a mirror disposed such that a laser beam incident upon the mirror is reflected to a photocell. The photocell is disposed such that the optical distance between the reflective surface of the mirror and the photocell is equal to the distance between the reflective surface on the mirror and a point on the workpiece or tool to which alignment will be compared. These equal distances enable accurate measurements for those instances where it is inconvenient or impossible to actually place the photocell at the desired measurement point. This equidistant relationship ensures that the target of U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,618 will provide accurate readings despite any angular misalignment of the target housing on the object to be aligned. Despite these many advantages, a target manufactured in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,618 may be geometrically well suited for one master part or machine tool, but not geometrically well suited for a different master part or machine tool. The structural requirements of these targets makes it impractical to consider adjustably mounting the photocell relative to the mirror to better accommodate geometric constraints of the particular machine system being aligned.
Another very significant laser alignment apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,202 which issued to Martin R. Hamar on Jan. 28, 1986. U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,202 shows a laser emitter which can be mounted in a spindle or chuck of a rotating tool holder. The laser emitter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,202 is used in combination with a photosensitive target which may be the target of the above described U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,6I8. The laser apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,202 is used by rotating the tool holder in which the laser emitter is mounted. An improperly aligned tool holder will cause the laser beam to generate an annulus on the target mounted in the master part. The displacement and angular alignment of the laser beam can be accurately determined by readings from the target and appropriate adjustments can be made. Although this system is extremely effective, it may require the technician to perform various arithmetic calculations to determine the type and amount of misalignment and the adjustments that would be required to correct the misalignment. These arithmetic calculations may go beyond the abilities of the technician or machinist responsible for ensuring proper alignment. Microprocessors with appropriate software have been made available through Hamar Laser Instruments, Inc. to facilitate certain of these mathematical calculations. However, some technicians have encountered difficulties in working with the available microprocessors, computers and related software. Some of the difficulties have related to the need to convert error readings into actual adjustments. Other technicians have encountered difficulties as they move the available laser alignment equipment from one machine tool and work station to another on a particular manufacturing line, or as they move the laser equipment from one manufacturing line to another. In particular, a technician may have to employ different series of alignment steps and calculations depending upon the equipment being aligned. On some equipment the laser emitter is most conveniently mounted to the tool holder, while on other equipment the laser emitter is most conveniently mounted on the master part. In some instances adjustments are most conveniently made to the tool holder, while in other instances adjustments are more readily made to the master part.
Although the laser alignment equipment shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,6I8 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,202 are sufficiently adaptable to be used on virtually all machine tool systems, the differences in the laser set up, mathematical calculations and alignment steps have often been confusing to the typical technician.
The prior art further includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,940 which also issued to Martin R. Hamar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,940 relates to a control system for a photosensitive target for indicating incidence of the beam on the target, for shifting the electrical sensing center of the photocell to the center of the target housing and for compensating for variations in laser beam intensity.
Another problem with even the more sophisticated laser alignment systems relates to the rotational orientation of the photosensitive target and/or the laser emitter at the time each reading is made. In this regard, a typical laser alignment system requires the laser emitter and/or the photosensitive target to be positioned at each of several different rotational orientations at which readings will be taken. The preferred measurement operation includes taking readings at four rotational positions separated from one another by 90.degree. degrees, namely 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock. To facilitate this aspect of the laser alignment, the photocell target and/or the laser emitter may be provided with four bubble levels. The technician may be required to follow a set sequence wherein the bubble levels are sequentially employed to position the photosensitive target or the laser emitter at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions for readings. The computerized systems that vastly simplify or eliminate the computations required by the technician typically will specify that the readings be taken in a particular order (e.g. 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock). If the technician inadvertently takes readings in a different order, the computer will calculate incorrect errors and identify inappropriate adjustments to be made for correcting those errors. Thus, the great precision enabled by laser alignment equipment and the computational efficiencies afforded by computers can be completely offset by the mere incorrect order of readings taken by a technician.
Error measurement and resulting computations can be further complicated even in those situations where readings are taken in the proper sequence. For example, machine tools are often disposed in close proximity to other manufacturing hardware Structures adjacent to the machine tool being aligned may prevent the laser alignment system from being rotated through the preferred range of 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock orientations. In particular, the wires leading from the laser emitter or the photosensitive target may prevent complete rotation of one or both units. Although an ability to take readings at rotational positions of 2, 6 and 10 o'clock could provide the necessary data for accurately calculating errors and identifying necessary corrections, the computer may not be structured for such angular orientations and the bubble levels generally would be improperly positioned for assuring to the computer that the proper rotational orientation has been achieved.
Still further, a good quality bubble level can provide fairly accurate information as to angular orientation. However, the errors possible with a technician manually aligning a bubble level are far greater than the precision enabled by the laser emitter and photosensitive target. Thus, the high degree of precision enabled by sophisticated photo optical electronic equipment is partly offset by the inaccuracies of manually positioning a bubble level.
Although the above described laser alignment systems are extremely effective and accurate, it is desirable to provide an improved laser alignment system that can be more readily employed and understood by field technicians.
Accordingly, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an improved laser alignment system for aligning machine tools and other apparatus having parts that are movable relative to one another.
It is another object of the subject invention to provide a laser alignment system that avoids the need for mathematical calculations by the technician using the system.
It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a laser alignment system that can be used with any of a plurality of different machine tools in an industrial work place.
Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide a laser alignment system that accurately identified displacement and angular alignment errors and that further identifies the specific machine or workpiece adjustments needed to correct the errors.

Rotational orientation sensor for laser alignment control system


A primer composition comprising (A) a fluorinated alkoxysilane containing an epoxy group, (B) an organic titanium or aluminum compound, and (C) a solvent is effective in bonding fluorinated organic polymers to metal and glass members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a primer composition that forms a strong long-lasting bond to fluorinated materials and is thus suitable as an adhesive for composite materials containing fluorinated materials.
2. Prior Art
Composite materials having organic polymers such as rubber and plastics bonded to inorganic materials such as metals and glass are of greater value in these years. A key for such composite materials to perform well is a strong long-lasting bond between two types of materials.
Among many prior art primer compositions for bonding organic polymers to inorganic materials, compositions predominantly comprising an organic silicon compound having an alkoxysilyl group and an epoxy group in a molecule are known to be effective. More particularly, a primer composition predominantly comprising an organic silicon compound of the following formula (2): ##STR1## was proposed as effective for bonding silicone rubber to metals and plastics.
These primer compositions, however, were insufficient in adhesion to fluorinated organic polymers such as fluorinated silicone rubbers and fluoro-resins and less satisfactory in moisture resistance and water resistance. The primer composition based on a compound of formula (2) could not retain adhesion over a desired service life.


An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit implemented as a revolver or rotary unit driven by a revolver motor, which includes a motor case. A motor support member supports the surface of the motor case at a position beneath the center of gravity of the revolver motor. The motor support member reduces a moment acting on a motor mount about the apparent center of rotation of the revolver motor due the weight of the motor to substantially zero. This configuration enhances the durability of the motor mount or vibration preventing member and thereby protects the revolver from defective rotation.

The present invention relates to a copier, printer, facsimile apparatus or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of the type including a rotary unit rotatable relative to an apparatus body and a drive unit for causing the rotary unit to rotate to and stop at a preselected position.
Today, a color image forming apparatus of the type including a revolver type developing unit, which is a specific form of a rotary unit, is extensively used. To enhance high-speed operation and high durability, it is necessary with the apparatus of the type described to reduce a color switching time, i.e., to rotate the revolver at high speed. It is also necessary to provide the revolver with rigidity high enough to withstand sharp drive and stop and to guarantee an accurate development gap. Further, the diameter of a developing roller must be increased to cope with high linear velocity for development. In addition, the amount of developer must be increased in order to extend a maintenance period. However, higher rigidity, larger roller diameter and greater amount of developer increase the size and weight of the revolver. This results in the need for a revolver drive motor having power great enough to drive the revolver increased in the moment of inertia at high speed.
The great power, revolver drive motor must be accompanied by a sufficient measure against vibration. The vibration of the motor effects, e.g., writing accuracy and thereby brings about jitter images when transferred to the apparatus body. In addition, the vibration turns out high-frequency noise that annoys the operator of the apparatus. It is a common practice to position a motor mount or vibration preventing member, which includes a rubber member, between the apparatus body and a motor mounting surface for thereby intercepting the vibration of the motor. The motor mount may be implemented by, e.g., a pair of metal plates adhered to opposite sides of a rubber member. However, it was experimentally found that such a motor mount broke due to aging when applied to a drive unit for driving the revolver. Not only the revolver but also other rotary units suffer from such damage.
Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 11-035091, for example, discloses an image forming apparatus including a vibration preventing member and a motor position restricting member. The vibration preventing member intervenes between a motor case mounting surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of a motor member. The motor position restricting member contacts or adjoins a motor case surface substantially parallel to the axis of the motor member. The apparatus taught in the above document is constructed to shut off vibration and noise ascribable to a motor member that drives a driven gear mounted on a rotary unit via a drive gear. The motor position restricting member is configured to prevent the motor member from shaking due to a reaction exerted by the driven gear when the rotary unit is in rotation.
The prior art apparatus described above, however, has the following problem left unsolved. The motor position restricting member supports the motor case of the motor member in such a manner as to prevent it from being displaced. As a result, vibration ascribable to motor rotation is transferred to the apparatus body via the motor position restricting member. Particularly, in a high speed, color image forming apparatus, the motor position restricting member transfers, depending on its position, motor vibration to the apparatus body at such a timing that motor rotation and the writing of a latent image on an image carrier overlap. This degrades image quality to a critical degree.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese patent laid-open publication Nos. 11-295961 and 2000-235292.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of enhancing the durability of a vibration preventing member against aging and protecting a rotary unit from defective rotation ascribable to damage to the vibration preventing member to thereby insure stable images.
In accordance with the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body and a rotary unit rotatable relative to the apparatus body. A drive unit causes the rotary unit to rotate to and stop at a preselected position. The drive unit includes a motor member and a vibration preventing member intervening between the motor case mounting surface of the motor member, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the motor member, and the apparatus body. The motor member is mounted on the vibration preventing member. A motor support member supports the weight of the motor member on a motor case surface substantially parallel to the axis of the motor member.
Also, in accordance with the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body and an image carrier for forming a latent image thereon. A writing unit writes the latent image on the image carrier. A rotary unit is rotatable relative to the apparatus body. A drive unit causes the rotary unit to rotate to and stop at a preselected position. The drive unit includes a motor member and a vibration preventing member intervening between the motor case mounting surface of the motor member, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the motor member, and the apparatus body. The motor member is mounted on the vibration preventing member. A motor position restricting member contacts or adjoins a motor case surface substantially parallel to the axis of the motor member. The motor position restricting member is so positioned as to obstruct the displacement of a motor case ascribable to a force exerted by the rotary unit on the motor member when the drive unit is driving the rotary unit, but when the writing unit does not write a latent image on the image carrier.

Image forming apparatus for enhancing the durability of a vibration preventing member and protecting a rotary unit from defective rotation


A mechanical differential assembly having an increased bearing load zone capacity. The mechanical gear assembly maintains a proper load capacity of rollers of the bearings which support a differential gear assembly. The mechanical differential assembly thus maintains alignment of the inner and outer races of the bearings regardless of an axial force placed on the bearings, any loads placed on the differential gear assembly or the like during driving condition. The mechanical differential assembly includes a differential gear assembly supported on a first end by a cylindrical bearing and supported on the second end by a pair of tapered bearings.

This invention relates generally to a mechanical differential assembly and, more particularly, to a mechanical differential assembly having increased bearing load zone capacity.
Machines such as earth working machinery, paving machinery, load transfer carrying machinery and the like use differential assemblies in order to transfer power from a transmission to driving wheels. The differential assembly, in the most general form, consists of an arrangement of gears, bearings and a carrier provided within a rear axle casing of the machine. In operation, an output shaft of the transmission transmits an output torque to a bevel pinion gear of the differential assembly which, in turn, transmits the torque to driving wheel shafts for driving the machine.
More specifically, a typical differential assembly includes a bevel pinion gear which is coupled to the output shaft of the transmission. A pair of tapered roller bearings supports the bevel pinion gear. The tapered roller bearings permit the bevel pinion gear to freely rotate about the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the transmission. The bevel pinion gear meshes with a bevel ring or crown gear that is coupled to a differential gear assembly. The differential gear assembly as well as the bevel pinion gear are housed within a carrier. The driving shafts of the driving wheels extend through a centrally located bore of the differential gear assembly. The differential gear assembly permits the driving wheels to rotate independently of each other such as when turning a corner or traversing an uneven road.
The differential gear assembly is supported by two opposing tapered roller bearings, each at opposing ends of the differential gear assembly. These tapered roller bearings permit rotation of the differential gear assembly, and are typically referred to as a bevel gear heel bearing and a bevel gear toe bearing. The toe bearing is typically smaller than the heel bearing. In order to function properly, it is critical that the tapered bearings be properly pre-loaded thus ensuring that the differential gear assembly is held in proper alignment and is free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of both of the driving shafts during the rotation of the differential gear assembly. The pre-loading of the tapered roller bearings also ensures that both of the tapered bearings are properly loaded during the operation of the machine. In this manner and with the proper pre-loading, the tapered bearings contribute to the performance of the differential gear assembly and hence the machine.
The pre-loading of the tapered bearings is of critical importance, where an improper pre-loading may result in a misalignment of the inner and outer races of either or both of the tapered roller bearings. Improper pre-load may also result in one or both of the tapered bearings operating with a diminished load zone, i.e., where only a few rollers of the tapered bearings carry the entire load imposed by the differential gear assembly during rotation thereof. This may then result in a potential roller overload thus causing a failure of one or both of the tapered roller bearings.
Pre-loading may be affected by many different environmental factors, all of which are important. First, pre-loading of the tapered bearings may be affected by a load placed on the machine, as well as the operating environment of the machine. Both of these conditions may result in a deflection of the carrier which houses the differential gear assembly. This deflection will then place a load on one or both of the tapered bearings thereby affecting the pre-loading, e.g., (i) negating the pre-load or (ii) adding further to the pre-load. In either situation, the pre-load will be influenced thus increasing the potential of failure of the bearings due to a diminished load zone.
A high torque output of the transmission output shaft also affects the loading of the tapered bearings. This is because an axial force will be placed on the differential gear assembly. In this case, the load on the heel bearing will increase and simultaneously unload the opposing toe bearing such that the toe bearing will operate with only a few of the rollers carrying the entire load of the differential gear assembly thus causing a bearing overload. This may result in a premature failure of either the heel or toe bearing. Another condition may simply be an improper pre-loading adjustment of the tapered bearings, or the tolerances of the casing or differential housing being improperly machined.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,417 to May, issued on Mar. 30, 1965, shows an axial carrier unit. In this unit, a differential gear assembly is positioned within a carrier and tapered roller bearings support the differential housing for rotation on opposing sides thereof. A bevel pinion gear meshes with a ring gear of the differential gear assembly. In this arrangement, the tapered bearings and more specifically the inner and outer races of the opposing tapered bearings are prone to misalignment due to deflections on the carrier and other loads placed thereon such as axial forces generated by the bevel pinion gear. This misalignment, in turn, results in a diminished load capacity of one or both of the tapered bearings and thus failure of the system.
The axial carrier unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,417 also includes a stub shaft for connecting to a drive shaft via a coupling. The stub shaft is supported for rotation by a single roller bearing arrangement mounted at the forward end of the shaft and by a pair of tapered roller bearings mounted at the rear end of the shaft. These bearings do not carry the same loads as the tapered bearings which support the differential gear assembly, and thus the same considerations such as, for example, housing deflections which affect the loading of the tapered bearings supporting the differential gear assembly, are of no concern. Also, it is noted that the stub shaft has a different configuration than the differential gear assembly and thus has different loading, weight, torque and the like requirements.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art.
In one aspect of the present invention a differential assembly has a differential gear assembly having a first end and a second end. A cylindrical bearing supports the first end of the differential gear assembly and a pair of tapered bearings support the second end of the differential gear assembly. Bearing cages retain the cylindrical bearing and the pair of tapered bearings on the carrier assembly.
In another aspect of the present invention, a differential assembly has a differential gear assembly and a ring gear mounted thereon. A cylindrical bearing supports the differential gear assembly at the first end and a first bearing cap retains the cylindrical bearing about the first end of the differential gear assembly. An inner and an outer tapered bearing support a second end of the differential gear assembly. A second bearing cap retains an adapter bearing cage which in turn receives the inner tapered bearing and the outer tapered bearing on the second end of the differential gear assembly.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of maintaining a load zone capacity in a differential assembly during driving conditions includes generating a thrust load on a differential gear assembly, transferring the thrust load to a pair of tapered roller bearings thereby eliminating axial forces on a cylindrical bearing.
In yet another aspect of the present invention a machine having a rear axle is coupled to a differential assembly. The machine includes a rear axle housing having a bore and a differential gear assembly having a first end and a second end mounted within the bore. A cylindrical bearing supports the first end of the differential gear assembly and a pair of tapered bearings support the second end of the differential gear assembly. A first bearing cap retains the cylindrical bearing about the first end of the differential gear assembly and a second bearing cap supports a adapter bearing cage which in turn supports an inner and outer tapered bearing at the second end of the differential gear assembly.


A communication device includes a reception buffer configured to receive a pulse signal cyclically transmitted from a transmission source device via a transmission line; a branch circuit configured to generate a branch pulse signal by branching the pulse signal; a delay circuit configured to add a predetermined delay time to the generated branch pulse signal; and a transmission buffer configured to transmit the branch pulse signal to which the predetermined delay time was added to the transmission source device via the transmission line.

In a method for performing highly precise time synchronization between communication equipments, for example, a precision time protocol (PTP) is used. When such a time synchronization method is employed, a plurality of line interface cards mounted in a single transmission device operates in synchronization with a common reference timing. Therefore, a pulse signal generated in a common timing generation card is cyclically transmitted to each of the line interface cards via a back wired board (BWB), which is a wiring substrate.
Regarding signal transmission between devices, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-225173 describes a point that a signal is returned to a transmission path at a reception side to calculate a transmission delay of the signal and delay adjustment is performed.
As a method for synchronizing reception timings of pulse signals among the plurality of line interface cards, for example, a method in which the wiring length of the BWB is made the same between the timing generation card and each of the line interface cards may be used. However, in the BWB, in order to wire signal lines such that each of signal lines for pulse signals avoids other signal lines and the signal lines of pulse signals have the same wiring length, for example, the number of layers of a substrate of the BWB is increased. This causes increase in device cost.
Instead of using the method above, a method in which a transmission delay between the timing generation card and each of the line interface cards is measured and a delay of a corresponding pulse signal is individually adjusted in accordance with a measured value obtained in the measurement may be used. Using this method, synchronization of reception timings of pulse signals is realized without increasing the device cost.
However, assuming a case where techniques described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-225173 is employed, when a signal is returned at a tip of a transmission line, a delay time of a signal, which is generated by a delay adjustment buffer, is unknown. Therefore, precise delay adjustment is not possible.

Communication device, pulse signal delay adjustment method and communication system


A cleaning device for cleaning a substrate is provided. In one aspect, the cleaning device includes a brush including a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an outer surface, and a hollow bore defined in the brush about a central axis of the brush. The brush defines a first cross-sectional area near the first end and a second cross-sectional area near the second end. Both the first and second cross-sectional areas are generally perpendicular to the central axis and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

Cast cylindrical polyvinyl alcohol brushes are conventionally used in automatic cleaning systems to provide a post CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) process to effectively clean surfaces of substrates such as semiconductor wafers or other disc-shaped substrates. Cylindrical polyvinyl alcohol brushes are also used in cleaning systems to clean and dry glass and other non-disc-shaped substrates in flat panel display manufacture, glass production, and printed circuit hoard assembly. Cylindrical brushes may have a length as short as 50 millimeters or as long as 10 meters, for example. The cylindrical brushes extend completely across the substrate being treated, thereby contacting the substrate an entire distance across its diameter.
The cylindrical brushes are located on and driven by a central brush core about a central longitudinal axis in the cleaning process. The cylindrical brushes have a constant cross-sectional diameter when taken perpendicular to the central axis along the length of the brush. An accurate and stable connection between the cylindrical brush and the central brush core is desirable. The cylindrical brushes may have nodules on their outer surface to help clean the substrate.
The cylindrical brushes are expected to accurately rotate on their axis and provide a generally cylindrical surface with a generally consistent nodule pressure pattern. In some cases, the cylindrical brush is formed around the central brush core. For example, the brush core may be placed in a mold and a mixture of chemicals, such as polyvinyl alcohol, is injected into the mold to form the cylindrical brush around the central brush core.
When a rotating cylindrical brush engages a rotating circular substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, slippage between the cylindrical brush and the circular substrate may occur due to differences between linear speeds of points on the cylindrical brush and the circular substrate. Cylindrical brushes rotate at a generally constant rotational speed, and since the brushes are cylindrically shaped, the linear speed of any point on an outer surface of the cylindrical brush is generally constant. As defined herein, the linear speed of a point on a surface or substrate is the speed of that point in a direction which is tangential to a rotational direction of that point. However, as the circular substrate rotates at a generally constant rotational speed, the linear speed of points near the outer edge of the circular substrate is much greater than the linear speed of points near or at the center of the circular substrate. As a result, it becomes impossible to match the linear speed of all the points on the outer surface of the cylindrical brush with adjacent points engaged on the circular substrate, resulting in some slippage between the cylindrical brush and the circular substrate at an engagement area along which the cylindrical brush engages the circular substrate. This slippage becomes a greater issue for larger sized substrates.
As a result, it would be desirable to have a brush in which the linear speed of all the points on the outer surface of the brush is nearly matched with the linear speed of adjacent points engaged on the circular substrate, resulting in less slippage between the cylindrical brush and the circular substrate at the engagement area along which the cylindrical brush engages the circular substrate.

Conical sponge brush for cleaning semiconductor wafers


A cleaning apparatus for a roller includes a platen roller and a cleaning roller brought into contact with the platen roller to clean a surface of the platen roller, where the cleaning roller is configured such that SP values (dissolution parameter) of the cleaning roller and of all additives added in the cleaning roller have differences of at least 2.0 from an SP value of the platen roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus which cleans a platen roller of a printing apparatus and a printing apparatus using the cleaning apparatus, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a printing apparatus, an apparatus of a thermal transfer type where ink of a thermal transfer ink ribbon is thermally transferred to an image receiving layer of an intermediate transfer film to form an image, and pressure and heat are applied to the image so that an image for personal authentication such as, especially, a license or a passport, or a character image such as personal information is recorded on a medium to be recorded has been known.
Such a printing apparatus is provided with a thermal head and a platen roller made of, for example, urethane rubber and spaced from the thermal head in a facing manner thereto. A melting ink ribbon and an intermediate transfer film disposed in a superimposed state are interposed between the thermal head and the platen roller.
The thermal head comes into pressure contact with the platen roller via the melting ink ribbon and the intermediate transfer film to heat the melting ink ribbon and the intermediate transfer film, thereby printing an image on an image reception and adhesion layer surface of the intermediate transfer film.
A cleaning roller for cleaning a surface of the platen roller is provided near the platen roller. The cleaning roller comes in contact with a surface of the platen roller to rotate according to rotation of the platen roller, thereby removing dirt on the platen roller (see Jpn. Pat. Applin. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-225168, for example).
Now, such a phenomenon that the platen roller swells according to degree of use of the platen roller so that its diameter becomes uneven along an axial direction of the platen roller takes place. When this phenomenon takes place, contact pressure between the platen roller and the intermediate transfer film becomes uneven along the axial direction, so that such a problem that difference between dark and light in the axial direction occurs on a printed image. It is thought that the swelling of the platen roller is caused by a relationship between the cleaning roller and the platen roller at a step of bringing the cleaning roller into contact with the platen roller and rotating the cleaning roller according to rotation of the platen roller at a fixed time interval for cleaning dirt of the platen roller.
In the conventional art, however, a platen roller made of urethane rubber and a cleaning roller made of rubber are used, but swelling of the platen roller cannot be prevented sufficiently. Therefore, contact pressure between the platen roller and the intermediate transfer film becomes uneven in the axial direction, which results in such a problem that a dark and light pattern along the axial direction occurs on a printed image.

Cleaning apparatus for roller and printing apparatus using cleaning apparatus


According to one embodiment of the invention, a mold tool for packaging integrated circuits includes a first mold press die including a first non-planar surface and a second mold press die including a second non-planar surface. The first and second non-planar surfaces form the upper and lower surfaces of a mold cavity when the first and second mold press die are engaged. The mold tool also includes a bright TiN coating disposed on the first non-planar surface. The bright TiN coating operates to decrease residue on the first non-planar surface from a mold compound. The mold compound is distributed into the mold cavity to form a package operable to encapsulate an integrated circuit

The packaging of integrated circuits may include encapsulating semiconductor chips and their associated components within a molding. A mold press compresses two mold press dies to encapsulate an integrated circuit within a cavity of the mold. A mold compound is transferred through a distribution system to the mold cavity to allow the mold compound to partially or completely surround the integrated circuit. Because the mold compound usually includes an abrasive, high temperature epoxy resin that leaves residue on the mold press dies, the mold press dies are periodically removed from the production line for the cleaning and restoration. Cleaning processes are performed on the mold press dies to prevent quality issues and to maintain the condition of the mold press dies.

Method and system for integrated circuit packaging


In one embodiment, a torque converter is provided with a fluid coupling and a viscous coupling. The viscous coupling includes a plurality of closely-spaced surfaces, wherein facing ones of the closely-spaced surfaces are alternately splined to rotate with driving or driven elements of the torque converter, and wherein the closely-spaced surfaces have an average spacing that causes ones of the surfaces rotating with the driving elements to exert a viscous pull on ones of the surfaces rotating with the driven elements when the torque converter is filled with a viscous fluid. A fluid receiving portion of the torque converter receives a viscous fluid into the torque converter, and a fluid return portion expels the viscous fluid from the torque converter. The fluid receiving and fluid return portions are positioned to define a fluid pumping path through the torque converter, wherein the fluid pumping path traverses paths between the closely-spaced surfaces of the viscous coupling, and wherein the fluid pumping path increases a shear force of the viscous fluid as the viscous fluid is pumped between the closely-spaced surfaces of the viscous coupling.

A vehicle with an automatic transmission requires a torque converter to vary the transfer of torque between the vehicle's engine and transmission. Without a torque converter, a vehicle with an automatic transmission would be unable to keep its engine running while stopped, and would lurch forward (i.e., at the engine's speed) when put into gear.
At idle and low vehicle speeds, components of a torque converter rotate at different speeds (i.e., some components are fixed to the engine and rotate at engine speed, and other components are fixed to the transmission and rotate at less than engine speed or not at all). As a torque converter transfers more and more torque between a vehicle's engine and transmission, a point is reached where all components of a torque converter rotate at or about the same speed. When this point is reached, it is typically desirable to "lock" the components of the torque converter to one another. When in "lockup", a torque converter transfers 100% of an engine's torque to a vehicle's transmission, despite small (and sometimes moderate) changes in an engine's speed.
Prior to entering "lockup", a torque converter not only fails to transfer 100% of an engine's torque to a vehicle's transmission, but the slip between the driving and driven components of the torque converter results in lost energy, which is lost in the form of excess heat. If a torque converters components are repeatedly subjected to this excess heat, the components of the torque converter can age or fail prematurely.

Torque converter with fluid and viscous couplings


The present invention provides a passenger location information system that provides information on the current location of a user during a trip in real time and in a mode suitable for each user. A configuration is provided in which passenger location information, at least including information on the ends (station, stop, etc.) of a transportation line interval in which a portable information terminal is located, is output at a predetermined time on a user terminal 1 such as a mobile phone terminal connectable to a network. In addition, using notification means such as a ringing tone or a vibrator, the user terminal 1 notifies the user, under a condition set by the user in advance, that the user is approaching a destination to prevent the user from riding past a destination due to dozing.

Guidance services for transportation passengers include a conventional in-car announcement and color-based guidance information, provided in a station and a stop, that helps passengers to identify the number of a station or a stop displayed in a graphic, whose color is predetermined for each line, so that they can instantly know where they are. Another service widely used today is an electric bulletin board installed in a car for guidance. In particular, the widespread use of a wide-field, low profile display enables rich content to be provided. Because this display is effective especially in a crowded car or for hearing-impaired persons, the passenger transportation companies compete for introducing this type of display to provide better services than those of others.
Passengers, who use transpiration in an unfamiliar area or who use an unfamiliar transportation line, must be careful about where they should leave the train, how long it will take, and how much the fare is and they are sometimes feel uneasy. As a result, passengers cannot pass a comfortable time in a car in some cases. In addition, even in the frequently used transportation, passengers sometimes ride past their destination; for example, when they concentrate on reading or composing mail messages or have a chat with fellow passengers, they fail to notice the station plate or the scenery seen from a car window.
In view of the foregoing, some passenger guidance methods, which use a personal portable information terminal such as a mobile phone, are proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-300634A discloses a mobile communication terminal notification system for railway passengers. In this system, the user uses a communication terminal, in advance, to send a message reception condition and registers it with a communication network server via the information processing system of the train. When the location of the communication terminal and the location of train satisfy the message reception condition, the user receives the message notification signal. Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-114149A also discloses a device that combines the transportation line network database, the transportation route search server, and the transportation route derivation server to provide guidance information to the transportation users.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-300634A
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2002-114149A

Passenger location information system, portable information terminal, and server


A system for tracking a catheter in a patient. The system including a plurality of surface electrodes and a surface patch attached to the patient and a processor coupled to the plurality of surface electrodes and the surface patch. The processor determines a location of at least one of the plurality of surface electrodes, stores locations of the surface patch and the at least one of the plurality of surface electrodes, determines a three-dimensional shell shape that corresponds to a portion of the patient, determines a model of an impedance tracking field in at least a portion of the three-dimensional shell shape, injects current through one or more of the plurality of surface electrodes, fits measured voltages from the catheter to the model of the impedance tracking field to determine locations of the catheter, and provides therapy to the patient based on the locations of the catheter.

Some mapping systems provide impedance tracking functionality for navigating catheters in a patient's body. Typically, in these systems, impedance tracking functionality relies on injecting current into electrodes, such that an electric field is generated in the patient. To determine a catheter's location, the electric field distribution in a region of interest, such as inside the heart, is mapped with a dedicated mapping catheter. This mapping catheter may be a magnetically tracked mapping catheter that measures the impedance tracking field in the region of interest. Magnetically tracked locations of the catheter and field voltages measured by the catheter are used to create a map of the region of interest. The system stores the collected data in a map that may include one or more look-up tables of the measured field voltages. To navigate a catheter in the region of interest, field voltages are measured by the catheter and compared to the one or more look-up tables.
Rather than using mapped impedance tracking field information, some systems rely on pairs of electrodes, each placed on opposing sides of the patient's body. The electrode pairs are positioned to generate fields that are approximately orthogonal to each other, such that catheter tracking assumes orthogonal fields.
In other systems, x-ray fluoroscopy is used to navigate catheters in a patient. In x-ray fluoroscopy, a continuous x-ray image is produced and displayed on a monitor by passing x-ray beams through the body. In some procedures, fluoroscopy may be combined with an impedance tracking method, such as the impedance tracking method described above, to navigate the catheter in the patient's body.
The need to first create a map of the impedance tracking field in the region of interest and/or using x-ray fluoroscopy presents disadvantages. One disadvantage is navigating catheters in patients in less complex procedures, where the less complex procedures do not justify the time or money needed for mapping the region of interest. Another disadvantage is exposing patients to excessive x-rays in fluoroscopy procedures, where physicians and/or medical personnel want to reduce exposure to x-rays.
Also, systems employing orthogonal electrode pairs increase cost and complexity of the procedure and equipment, since additional electrode surface patches and corresponding system connectivity are needed. Moreover, assumptions of field orthogonality provide only limited accuracy since the exact electrode locations remains unknown.

Tracking catheters based on a model of an impedance tracking field


Methods and systems for authenticated video acquisition and dissemination are disclosed. A temporally continuous video is acquired and sent to a server. Metadata and authentication information is combined with the video. The video, incorporating metadata and authentication information is provided from a first party to a second party by a third party that provides authentication of the video. Embodiments can be used to generate a video receipt for purposes of creating evidence of shipment of a package to an intended recipient.

Today, it has become commonplace for persons generally unknown to each other to send packages from one to the other, whether it is from a commercial distribution company, such as Amazon™ or the like, or an individual through services like eBay™. The problem is that sometimes a package does not arrive or arrives damaged, and the sender wants to be able to show that the package was actually sent, was sent to the correct address and was not damaged when deposited with the shipping company. Disputes relating to such events occur frequently, with many ending up in litigation. A written record is often provided for shipping transactions, but written records still leave room for dispute. Thus, a need exists for an improved way to prove when a package has been properly and safely shipped to the appropriate recipient.

Video record receipt system and method of use


In multilayer wholly solid lithium ion secondary batteries, a laminate having a collector layer of material with high conductivity superimposed on an active material layer has been disposed so as to attain a lowering of battery impedance. Consequently, in the fabrication of each of positive electrode layer and negative electrode layer, stacking of three layers consisting of an active material layer, a collector layer and an active material layer has been needed, thereby posing the problem of complex processing and high production cost. In the invention, a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer are fabricated from paste consisting of active material mixed with conductive substance in a given mixing ratio, and no collector layer is disposed. This realizes process simplification and manufacturing cost reduction without deterioration of battery performance and has also been effective in enhancing of battery performance, such as improvement to cycle characteristics.

(Patent Reference 1)
JP-A-2006-261008
(Patent Reference 2)
JP-A-2000-285910
(Patent Reference 3)
JP-A-2007-5279
In recent years, electronics has been remarkably developed, which has enabled the production of small lightweight thin portable electronic devices with multiple functions. Accordingly, a demand for small lightweight thin reliable batteries as power source for such portable electronic devices has been rapidly increased. In response to the demand, a multilayer lithium ion secondary battery with a laminate where positive electrode layers and negative electrode layers are stacked via solid electrolyte layers. A multilayer lithium ion secondary battery is fabricated by stacking battery cells having a thickness of tens of μm, so that it can be easily realized to produce small lightweight thin batteries. Especially, parallel type or serial-parallel type multilayer batteries are superior in that they have high discharge capacity even when the battery cell area is small. And all solid state lithium ion secondary batteries using solid electrolyte material in place of electrolyte liquid are reliable without problems such as liquid leakage or liquid evaporation. Furthermore, high unit cell voltage and high energy density can be obtained because they are batteries using lithium.
As for a multilayer all solid state lithium ion secondary battery, a battery is suggested according to Patent Reference 1, where a negative electrode layer, a collector, a negative electrode layer, a electrolyte layer, a positive electrode layer, a collector, and a positive electrode layer are stacked one on top of the other in sequence. FIG. 16 is cross-sectional diagrams of a conventional lithium ion secondary battery. In a battery 101, a collector layer 105 disposed between positive electrode layers 103 and a collector layer 106 disposed between negative layers 104 are stacked interposed by an electrolyte layer 102. The battery shown in FIG. 16 is a parallel type battery where a positive electrode terminal 107 and a negative electrode terminal 108, which are the output terminals of the battery, are disposed along the sides of the laminate and contact with positive electrode layers 103 and negative electrode layers 104, respectively. The battery described in Patent Reference 1 consists of a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer made of only active material. Active material such as metal oxide or metal sulfide is described as preferred material for a positive electrode, and active material such as metal lithium or lithium alloy is described, as preferred material for a negative electrode.
As shown in FIG. 16, the distance from an electrode terminal to the edge of an electrode layer (positive electrode and negative electrode) is comparatively long in parallel multilayer batteries. And, among active material used for a lithium ion battery, oxide material has advantage that lithium ion migration causes small volume change of the electrode layer and hardly causes pulverization and abrasion, but at the same time it has disadvantage that its electrical conductivity is low. When electrical resistance in an electrode layer is high, the internal impedance of the battery is high, then discharge characteristic on load degrades, and discharge capacity decreases. Corresponding to these problems, a battery structure is adopted to reduce electrode impedance by stacking a collector layer with high conductivity on an electrode layer with low conductivity in Patent Reference 1.
However, to fabricate a battery with such a structure, coating and drying process is necessary for the formation of an electrode layer, a collector layer, and an electrode layer for each of a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer. Furthermore, alignment process is necessary to align an electrode layer and a collector layer. So, especially in the case that many layers are stacked, the manufacturing process is complicated and eventually the production cost is high. Since many coating and drying processes are repeated, resulting battery manufacturing yield will become quite low due to the intensity drop and damage (sheet-attack) of an electrolyte layer which is disposed under an electrode layer or a collector layer caused by solvent used in the formation process of the electrode layer and the electrolyte layer.
Patent Reference 2 describes attempted procedure to reduce the electrical resistivity of an electrode layer itself in a multilayer lithium battery. Patent Reference 2 describes a lithium battery having an electrode layer composed of sintered material including solid electrolyte material and metal oxide where electrically conductive particles are diversified. To form an electrode layer, metal oxide which is active material, solid electrolyte material, and electrically conductive particles are mixed with a weight ratio of 8:1:1. Solid electrolyte material is mixed so as to widen the contact area between active material and solid electrolyte material and lower the impedance in the electrode.
However, this technology has a problem that battery energy density is low because solid electrolyte material is included in the electrode layer and sufficient active material cannot be mixed in the electrode layer. Also sufficient amount of conductive particles cannot be mixed in the electrode layer by the same reason. Furthermore, since conductive particles are diversified in electrolyte material in the electrode, they contact with each other by point-contact or they do not contact at all, so that impedance reduction of the battery electrode cannot be effectively accomplished. This is also supported by the embodiment of Patent Reference 2 describing a battery having a collector layer to reduce impedance in addition to an electrode layer. This description shows that, by using the technology disclosed by Patent Reference 2, some minor reduction of impedance can be obtained by mixing conductive particles in the electrode, but satisfactory reduction of impedance cannot be obtained in order to fabricate high-performance batteries without using collector layers.
Accordingly, the present invention is intended to solve above problems and provide lithium ion secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof which enables to reduce electrode impedance, to simplify manufacturing process, and to reduce production cost without using collector layers in a multilayer all solid state lithium ion secondary battery including a laminate having a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a negative electrode layer.

Lithium ion secondary battery and process for manufacturing the same


A method of transmitting PMI (precoding matrix indicator) information in an uplink MIMO system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of receiving channel information from a user equipment and transmitting information on a resource allocated to the user equipment in uplink transmission and PMI information indicating a precoding matrix to apply to a region of the resource among a plurality of precoding matrices to the user equipment based on the received channel information, wherein the resource allocated to the user equipment is allocated by a bundle unit of a prescribed number of subcarriers, wherein each of a plurality of the precoding matrices are applied to regions generated from dividing a whole frequency band into a prescribed number of regions, respectively, and wherein the precoding matrix applied to the resource among a plurality of the precoding matrices has a maximum area resulting from overlapping a frequency band occupied by the allocated resource with a frequency band having the precoding matrix applied thereto.

Generally, in a mobile communication system, a user equipment is able to receive information in downlink from a base station. And, the user equipment is able to transmit information in uplink as well. The information transmitted or received by the user equipment includes data and various kinds of control information. And, various physical channels exist according to a type usage of the information transmitted or received by the user equipment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining physical channels used for such a mobile communication system as 3GPP (3rd generation partnership project) LTE (long term evolution) system and a general signal transmitting method using the physical channels.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a step S101, a user equipment, of which turned-off power is turned on again or which enters a new cell, performs an initial cell search for matching synchronization with a base station or the like. For this, the user equipment matches the synchronization with the base station by receiving a primary synchronization channel (P-SCH) and a secondary synchronization channel (S-SCH) from the base station and then obtains such information as cell ID and the like. Subsequently, the user equipment is able to obtain intra-cell broadcast information by receiving a physical broadcast channel from the base station. Meanwhile, the user equipment is able to check a downlink channel status by receiving a downlink reference signal (DL RS) in the initial cell searching step.
Having completed the initial cell search, the user equipment is able to obtain further detailed system information by receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) according to the physical downlink control channel information.
Meanwhile, the user equipment failing to complete the access to the base station is able to perform such a random access procedure as the steps S103 to S106 to complete the access to the base station. For this, the user equipment transmits a feature sequence as a preamble via a physical random access channel (PRACH) [S103] and is then able receive a response message in response to the random access via a physical downlink control channel and a physical downlink shared channel corresponding to the physical downlink control channel [S104]. Subsequently, in case of a contention based random access except a case of handover, it is able to perform such a contention resolution procedure as a transmission of an additional physical random access channel [S105] and a reception of a physical downlink control channel and a physical downlink shared channel corresponding to the physical downlink control channel [S106].
Having performed the above procedures, the user equipment is able to perform general uplink/downlink signal transmitting procedures including a physical downlink control channel/physical downlink shared channel reception [S107] and a physical uplink shared channel/physical uplink control channel (PUSCH/PUCCH) transmission [S108].
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a signal processing method for transmitting an uplink (UL) signal from a user equipment.
Referring to FIG. 2, in order to transmit a UL signal, a scrambling module 201 of a user equipment is able to scramble a transmission signal using a user equipment specific scrambling signal. This scrambled signal is inputted to a modulation buffer 202 to be modulated into a complex symbol by BPSK, QPSK or 16 QAM according to a type of the transmission signal and/or a channel status. Subsequently, the modulated complex symbol is processed by a transform precoder 203 and is then inputted to a resource element mapper 204. The resource element mapper 204 is able to map the complex symbol to a time-frequency resource element that will be used for real transmission. This processed signal enters a SC-FDMA signal generator 205 and is then transmitted to a base station via an antenna.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a signal processing method for transmitting a downlink (DL) signal from a base station.
Referring to FIG. 3, in 3GPP LTE system, a base station is able to transmit at least one or more code words in DL. Therefore, each of the at least one or more code words can be processed into a complex symbol through a scrambling module 301 and a modulation mapper 302 like the UL case shown in FIG. 2. Subsequently, the complex symbol is mapped to a plurality of layers by a layer mapper 303. Each of the layers can be assigned to each transmitting antenna by being multiplied by a prescribed precoding matrix selected according to a channel status by a precoding module 304. This processed transmission signal per antenna is mapped to a time-frequency resource element that will be used for transmission by a resource element mapper 305, is inputted to an OFDMA signal generator 306, and is then transmitted via a corresponding antenna.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining SC-FDMA for UL signal transmission and OFDMA for DL signal transmission in a mobile communication system.
Referring to FIG. 4, a user equipment for UL signal transmission and a user equipment for DL signal transmission are identical to each other in including a serial-to-parallel converter 401, a subcarrier mapper 403, an M-point IDFT module 404 and a CP (cyclic prefix) adding module 406.
However, the user equipment for transmitting a signal by SC-FDMA further includes a parallel-to-serial converter 405 and an N-point DFT module 402. In this case, the N-point DFT module 402 is characterized in enabling a transmission signal to have a single carrier characteristic by partially canceling out IDFT processing influence of the M-point IDFT module 404.
MIMO is the abbreviation of multiple-input multiple-output. By doing away with using one transmitting antenna and one receiving antenna, the MIMO is the method of raising transceived data efficiency using multiple transmitting antennas and multiple receiving antennas. In particular, according to the MIMO technology, a transmitting or receiving side of a wireless communication system uses multiple antennas to increase capacity or enhance performance.
In order to receive one whole message, the MIMO technology applies a technique of completing the received whole message by gathering data fragments received via plural antennas together without depending on a signal antenna path. Since the MIMO technology is able to enhance a data transmit speed (data rate) within a specific range or is able to extend a system range for a specific data transmit speed, it is the next generation mobile communication technology widely usable for a mobile communication terminal, a real and the like. Many attentions are paid to this technology to overcome the traffic overcome of mobile communication that reaches a critical situation due to data communication expansion and the like.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a general MIMO communication system.
Referring to FIG. 5, if the number of transmitting antennas and the number of receiving antennas are simultaneously incremented into NT and NR, respectively, channel transmission capacity is theoretically increased in proportion to the number of antennas unlike the case that either a transmitter or receiver uses plural antennas. Therefore, it is possible to raise a data rate and to dramatically enhance frequency efficiency. The data rate according to the increase of the channel transmission capacity can be theoretically raised by an amount resulting from multiplying a maximum data rate R0 of the case of using one antenna by an increase rate R, of Math FIG. 1.
MathFigure 1Ri=min(NT,NR)  [Math.1]
For instance, in MIMO communication system using 4 transmitting antennas and 4 receiving antennas, it is able to obtain a data rate 4 times greater than that of a single antenna system theoretically. After the theoretical capacity increase of the multiple antenna system has been proved in the mid-90s, many efforts are ongoing to be made to research and develop various technologies to realize the substantial enhancement of data rate. And, standards of the 3rd generation mobile communication and various wireless communications have already reflected some of these technologies.
Looking into the current MIMO relevant study tendency so far, many efforts are ongoing to be made to the information theory study relevant to MIMO communication capacity calculation in various channel configurations and multiple access environments, radio channel measurement and modeling study in MIMO communication system, spatiotemporal signal processing technology study for transmission reliability and data rate enhancements and the like in various aspects.
The MIMO technology can apply to spatial multiplexing scheme, antenna diversity scheme and the like.
First of all, the spatial multiplexing is the scheme of transmitting different signal series via transmitting antennas, respectively. In this case, signals respectively transmitted via the transmitting antennas are received in a manner of being overlapped with each other. A receiver then separates the overlapped signals by ML (maximum likelihood) scheme, BLAST (Bell labs layered space-time) scheme, ZF (zero forcing) scheme, MMSE (minimum mean square error) scheme or the like. Moreover, in case that channel information is already known, it is able to transmit a signal in a manner of forming orthogonal beam by giving an appropriate weight to each transmitting antenna using the channel information. By this method, it is able to increase data transmit capacity using the spatial multiplexing.
Secondly, the antenna diversity is the scheme of transmitting or receiving one signal series via multiple antennas. In such manner, it is able to raise SNR (signal-to-noise power ratio). If a channel status is unstable, the antenna diversity is useful to cope with fading to enhance error rate performance.

Method for indicating precoding matrix indicator in uplink MIMO system with based on SC-FDMA


A punch press that provides an arrangement of a motor and a crank mechanism so that the motor does not project far from the side of a frame. The punch press includes a servo motor, a ram which drives a press tool, a crank mechanism which converts a rotating motion transmitted to a crank shaft into an elevating and lowering operation of the ram, and a drive transmitting mechanism which transmits rotation of the servo motor to the crank shaft while reducing rotation speed. The servo motor is next to the crank mechanism and its rotating axis is parallel to the axis of the crank shaft. The drive transmitting mechanism includes servo motor side gears joined to respective output shafts of the servo motor. The servo motor side gears respectively engage, directly or via intermediate gears, with crank side gears joined to the crank shaft.

Mechanical punch presses generally employ a crank mechanism as a slide driving mechanism that converts a rotating operation of a motor into an elevating and lowering operation of a ram. In such a punch press, a flywheel is generally connected to a crank shaft so that rotation of the motor can be transmitted to a crank mechanism via the flywheel (for example, the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 6-344059).
In a recently proposed mechanical punch press, a rotating operation of a servo motor is converted into an elevating and lowering operation of the ram via the crank mechanism without the need for the flywheel. The use of servo motor driving makes it possible to control the speed at which the ram elevates and lowers during a stroke. For example, the punch tool can be made to operate quietly by reducing the speed of the ram immediately before it comes into contact with a plate material. FIGS. 7 to 10 show an example. In this punch press, a servo motor 42, a planetary gear type speed reducer 45, and a crank shaft 46 are arranged in series. The speed reducer 45 reduces the speed of a rotational output from the servo motor 42 and then transmits the rotational output to the crank shaft 46 via a coupling 47. Then, a crank mechanism 44 converts the rotation of the crank shaft 46 into an elevating and lowering operation of the ram 43. The crank mechanism 44 is installed in a frame 52 composed of paired opposite plates. The servo motor 42 with the planetary speed reducer 45 is attached so as to project laterally from a side of the frame 52 as shown in the plan view in FIG. 10.
In some recent punch presses, the speed reducer is omitted and high-power motors are coupled directly to the respective sides of the crank shaft.
However, in the punch press shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the servo motor 42, the speed reducer 45, and the crank mechanism 44 are all arranged in series. Thus, disadvantageously, a large length is required to arrange these components, thus increasing the size of the whole punch press.
Further, the servo motor 42 is attached to the frame 52 so as to project far from the frame 52 in a cantilever manner. Consequently, the servo motor 42 tends to vibrate intensely and is thus damaged. This is likely to reduce the lifetime of the motor.
Furthermore, the servo motor 45 and the speed reducer 45, which may act as heat sources, are installed away from the center of the frame 52. This increases a difference in thermal displacement between the right and left sides of the frame 52. Consequently, the frame 52 may be slightly deformed to degrade the machined quality of a plate material work piece W.
Moreover, when the crank shaft 46 is displaced by the load of the ram 43, the speed reducer 45 or a bearing of the motor 42 may be stressed by a shift in the axis. To prevent this, the speed reducer 45 and the crank shaft 46 must be jointed together via the coupling 47 which can absorb a shift in the axis. This increases the number of parts in a drive transmitting system and thus costs.
These problems are not limited to the punch press using the speed reducer 45. Even with the punch press in which high-power motors are coupled directly to the respective ends of the crank shaft, a large length is required to arrange the components, thus increasing the size of the whole punch press, even with a difference in the length by which the motor projects from the frame. Such a punch press also creates the other problems described above.
The punch press shown in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 6-344059 is of a flywheel type in which driving from the motor is transmitted to the flywheel via the belt. It is thus unnecessary to provide a coupling that absorbs displacement of the crank shaft caused by punch loads. However, the use of the flywheel prevents the elevating and lowering speed of the ram from being controlled during a stroke.
Further, in the punch press disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication (Tokkai-Hei) No. 6-344059, the motor is placed closer to the crank shaft than to the flywheel with respect to an axial direction of the crank shaft. The motor is markedly biased toward the flywheel with respect to the center of the ram. Consequently, deformation may occur which results from a difference in thermal expansion between the right and left sides of the frame as described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a punch press that enables the arrangement length of a motor and a crank mechanism to be reduced so that the motor can be installed without being projected far from a side of a frame, the punch press avoiding biasing the motor, which may act as a heat source, to reduce the magnitude of deformation resulting from a difference in thermal expansion between the right and left sides of the frame.
It is another object of the present invention to be able to accomplish this object using a punch press that can control the speed at which a ram elevates and lowers.
It is further another object of the present invention to eliminate the need to provide a drive transmitting system for a crank shaft with a coupling that absorbs a shift in the axis of the drive transmitting system.
It is further another object to reduce noise generated by the drive transmitting system.
It is further another object to eliminate the impact of a thrust caused by a gear used to reduce the noise.
It is further another object to reduce vibration by offsetting an exciting force generated by rotation of the crank shaft.


A patterning method involves providing a flexible web comprising embedded electrical charges, deposition material having polar properties, a substrate, and a transfer electrode, wherein the flexible web is passed through the deposition material and accumulates material in accordance with the embedded electrical charges, and the accumulated material is transferred to the substrate at the transfer electrode. A production line may be configured in a reel-to-reel implementation. Each station may include finishing operations on the deposited material, including but not limited to heating, annealing, curing, fusing, surface-treating, laser-processing, charge neutralizing, barrier processing, etching, electroplating, and passivating.

Many methods have been developed for patterning materials on substrates. One method employs a photoresist and a shadow mask, wherein light passes through the shadow mask and selectively exposes the photoresist. The exposed photoresist is then developed and cured to create a patterned photoresist. An etchant that is subsequently applied to the substrate will etch only regions where the photoresist is absent. Alternatively, materials can be deposited on the photoresist and patterned by a lift process, wherein the photoresist swells on application of a solvent, thereby removing the deposited film where the photoresist is present. Additionally, some semiconductor processing materials have been developed with photo-active properties, providing a dielectric material that can be patterned like photoresist; an example is benzocyclo butene (BCB).
In some cases a thin seed layer is patterned, then this layer is plated up to create a thicker layer. This process is well known using copper as the deposition material, for example in the fabrication of printed wiring boards (PWBs).
Methods for etching deposited films include wet etching in a bath of etchant, dry etching using a plasma process in a vacuum, or sputter etching.
Many efforts have been applied to the concept of low cost fabrication of patterned substrates using reel-to-reel processing. Using this method, desired film materials may be deposited on a moving flexible substrate. Some processes such as ink jet printing may be conducted at atmospheric pressure. However, higher quality films may be produced under vacuum. For fabrication of films requiring vacuum processing, a source reel on which the flexible substrate is wound may be moved into a vacuum system for processing, and a take-up reel containing the processed film may be removed when processing is complete. Inside the vacuum chamber the flexible substrate may move serially through multiple processing stations. However, such vacuum systems tend to be expensive, and the parts produced have had a higher fabrication cost than desired.
Accordingly it is desirable to provide a system for fabricating patterned materials on substrates that can be a reel-to-reel system that is operable to produce high quality films without any vacuum required. Such a system may be amenable to automation and may have the potential for low fabrication cost.

Method for patterning materials on a substrate


A reciprocating film type evaporator for solvents and other chemicals which eliminates the need for a large powerful motor, and other associated equipment such as rotary gaskets, by using reciprocation, versus 360 degree rotation.

Evaporators are commonly known in the prior art. These are most generally rotary in nature and are used to evaporate substances, generally solvents, when chemical or pharmaceutical products are concentrated or distilled. With these evaporators, the liquid substances to be evaporated are placed into the hollow chamber of a rotatable flask (vessel), usually submerged in a heating bath of water or oil. By rotating the vessel, a thin liquid film is formed on the inside of the vessel and the substances, especially the solvent, evaporate from this film. Some of the solvent or substance also evaporates directly from the surface of the liquid that is in the rotating vessel. The vapor is conveyed from the vessel by a vacuum line connected to the vessel. Generally the vacuum line is joined to the vessel by a rotatable connection with the connection site being sealed off by a rotary gasket. The negatives associated with prior art evaporators is the amount of space necessary to accommodate all the components, as well as the drawbacks associated with a rotary gasket, necessitated by the 360 degree rotation of the vessel.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocating evaporator used in chemical processes (most notably radiochemistry) which is small, durable, inexpensive to produce and eliminates the need for a rotary gasket, has adjustable rotation, yet provides quality results.
When examining the size of equipment used in a chemical process, in no other field is size as important as in Radiochemistry. Radiochemicals are used in the field of nuclear medicine as tracers in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Some radiochemical processes (as well as many general chemical processes) require the use of an evaporator apparatus for efficient evaporation of solvents. Commercially available prior art evaporators are large and cumbersome. This large size poses a problem in radiochemical syntheses, because these processes must be performed in shielded enclosures, due to the radioactive chemicals in use. These enclosures are very expensive and their price is determined by the volume contained within. Thus, equipment used inside the enclosure should be of minimal size to reduce the enclosure cost and to allow efficient use of shielded space for other components. Unfortunately, the motor drives utilized in prior art evaporators are large because they must overcome the friction found in the rotary gasket that allows a vacuum to be applied to the rotating flask. Further, typical evaporators use rotation consisting of full, repeated 360 degree cycles. Even when space is not a major concern, having a small efficient evaporator would allow any lab to make more efficient use of its space and resources.
Therefore, in light of the shortcomings of the prior devices, there exists a significant demand for an evaporator that is small yet efficient.