A supply device which, in a retainer type continuous-filling packaging system, converts the movement of empty bags supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous motion in a single row and supplies these empty bags continuously to retainers that are conveyed at a constant speed. The supply device includes an empty-bag holding member conveying device and an intermittent bag supply device. In the empty-bag holding member conveying device, a plurality of empty-bag holding members (that contain therein empty bags) disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track that has a pair of parallel sections, and during this movement, the empty-bag holding members are moved intermittently by a specified distance (a distance equal to an integral multiple of an attachment spacing of the empty-bag holding members) on a bag entry side of the parallel sections and are moved continuously at a constant speed on a bag exit side of the parallel section. The intermittent bag supply device simultaneously supplies empty bags to the plurality of empty-bag holding members (with one bag being supplied to each empty-bag holding member) on the bag entry side. On the bag entry side, empty bags are supplied in a plurality of rows to stopped empty-bag holding members by the intermittent bag supply device; and on the bag exit side, the empty bags are successively extracted from the continuously moving empty-bag holding members and supplied to the retainers that are continuously conveyed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a continuous-filling packaging system in which containers (e.g., bags) are continuously conveyed at a high speed, and various packaging operations such as filling with contents and sealing of the opening of the containers, etc. are performed on the containers while the containers are being conveyed; and more particularly to a continuous-filling packaging system that includes a continuous container supply device which converts the movement of empty containers supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous movement in a single row.
2. Prior Art
Conventional retainer type filling packaging systems, in which bags are accommodated in retainers, and packaging operations are performed on the bags inside the retainers while the retainers are being conveyed, are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos. H58-73501 and H58-8280.
These systems are designed in the following manner:
A plurality of retainers which have been conveyed by a single-row conveyor are temporarily stopped and arranged, and a group of retainers which takes these plurality of containers as a unit is intermittently caused to advance, so that this group of retainers is fed onto an intermittently driven multi-row conveyor. Empty bags are simultaneously inserted into this group of retainers on the multi-row conveyor; then, after the mouths of the respective bags have been opened, the retainers of the above-described group are simultaneously pushed out from the multi-row conveyor onto a single-row conveyor. The retainers that have been thus pushed out onto this single-row conveyor are continuously conveyed and are continuously subjected to various packaging operations by a rotary type filling device, sealing device and cooling sealing device. The retainers are then again pushed onto an intermittently driven multi-row conveyor from the single-row conveyor as a group of retainers in which the above-described multiple number of containers are taken as a unit. The retainers are subjected to a cooling operation on this multi-layer conveyor. Furthermore, the discharge operation which extracts the full bags (filled bags) from the retainers is performed in the vicinity of the terminal end of the multi-layer conveyor, and the empty retainer group is pushed back out onto the single-row conveyor.
In such a retainer type filling packaging system, the efficiency of bag supply and discharge is increased by simultaneously inserting empty bags into a plurality of retainers or simultaneously extracting full bags from a plurality of retainers, so that continuity of processing with other devices that can be continuously operated at a high speed (filling devices, sealing devices, etc.) is maintained, thus improving productivity.
However, there are limits to the possible speed increase of the above-described intermittent operation itself, in which continuously conveyed retainers are temporarily stopped, and are then pushed by a pusher after a plurality of retainers have been gathered together. Accordingly, if an even greater improvement in bag supply and discharge efficiency is to be made, the number of containers handled as a group must be increased. If the number of retainers handled as a group is increased and the multi-row conveyor is widened, other problems occur. Installation of the insertion means used to insert bags into the retainers on the multi-row conveyor and the extraction means used to extract bags from the retainers becomes difficult. In particular, the replenishment of bags and maintenance in the portion of the insertion means positioned near the center of the multi-layer conveyor become difficult.
Furthermore, when the intermittent operation in which continuously conveyed retainers are temporarily stopped and a plurality of retainers are pushed out together by a pusher is performed, a large noise is constantly generated as a result of the retainers colliding with each other or with the pusher. This noise increases as the speed of the intermittent operation is increased.
In the retainer type filling packaging system, a much higher operating speed is possible for the rotary type filling device and sealing device. However, the intermittent operation in the supply of bags to the retainers and the discharge of the bags from the retainers forms a bottleneck, so that the improvement in the production efficiency of the retainer type filling packaging system as a whole is limited as described above. Though it is not impossible to perform the discharge of the bags from the retainers in a continuous manner on a single-row conveyor, if a high-speed operation is performed, a large quantity of bags exceeding the processing capacity per row will be conveyed in one row on the discharge conveyor. As a result, problems occur in subsequent processes such as packing the bags into boxes, etc.
In another type of filling packaging system that can be continuously operated at a high speed, such as the spout-equipped bag filling packaging system, a continuous packaging processing at a high speed by means of rotary type devices can be performed for the insertion of the spouts into the bags, the sealing of the mouths of the bags, the filling of the bags with a liquid following the attachment of the spouts, and the capping of the bags, etc. However, problems that are more or less similar to those seen in a retainer type filling packaging system occur. The intermittent operation involved in the supply of the bags similarly forms a bottleneck, and the improvement in the production efficiency of the spout-equipped bag filling packaging system as a whole is limited.
The present invention is made in light of the above-described conventional problems.
One object of the present invention is to provide a continuous container supply device which continuously supplies empty containers to a continuous-filling packaging system for containers by converting the movement of empty containers supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous movement in a single row, thus improving the production efficiency of the filling packaging system as a whole by making a high-speed operation possible.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the production efficiency of the filling packaging system as a whole by conversely utilizing the mechanism of the continuous container supply device for the discharge of full containers (filled containers) and to insure that the number of containers conveyed per row does not exceed the processing capacity of subsequent processes by discharging the containers in a plurality of rows.
The present invention is for a continuous container supply device which is used in a continuous-filling packaging system and converts the movement of empty containers supplied intermittently in a plurality of rows into a continuous movement in a single row in a continuous-filling packaging system.
More specifically, the continuous container supply device is equipped with a container holding member conveying device and a container supply device. In the container holding member conveying device, numerous container holding members disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track (or a race-track shape path) that has a pair of parallel sections; and during this movement, the container holding members are moved intermittently a certain distance (which is a distance equal to an integral multiple of an attachment spacing of the container holding members) on a first side of the parallel sections, and they are also moved continuously at a constant speed on a second side of the parallel sections. In the container supply device, empty containers are simultaneously supplied to a plurality of container holding members so that one empty container is supplied to each container holding member on the first side of the parallel sections. Furthermore, empty containers are supplied in a plurality of rows to container holding members stopped by the container supply device on the first side of the parallel sections, and the empty containers are successively extracted and supplied from continuously moving container holding members on the second side of the parallel sections.
The above-described container holding member conveying device is equipped, for instance, with a rotational conveying mechanism, which rotationally conveys numerous container holding members disposed at equal intervals along a ring-form track that has a pair of parallel sections, and a reciprocating driving mechanism, which causes the reciprocating movement of the rotational conveying mechanism as a whole through a prescribed distance along the parallel sections. The rotational conveying mechanism and reciprocating driving mechanism are respectively equipped with independent driving sources. In this case, the container holding members have a movement speed resulting from the synthesis of the rotational conveying and the reciprocating movement.
In cases where the continuous filling packaging system is, for example, a retainer type system, a retainer conveying device is provided which conveys a plurality of retainers at the same intervals as those of the container holding members and at the same speed as the movement speed of the container holding members along the second side of the parallel sections. With this retainer conveying device, empty containers extracted from the continuously moving container holding members are inserted one at a time into the containers which are continuously conveyed. In this case, an insertion device can be also installed, so that the insertion device extracts the containers held in the container holding members and inserts these containers one at a time into the retainers.
Furthermore, a rotary type transfer device which has numerous transfer means disposed at equal intervals can also be installed on the second side of the parallel sections so as to be a part of the continuous container supply device. This rotary type transfer device continuously receives empty containers from the container holding members through the continuously rotating transfer means and then continuously supplies these containers to the rotor of the device used in the next process. In this case, in other words, the container holding member conveying device continuously supplies empty containers via the rotary type transfer device. Needless to say, the attachment intervals and moving speed of the transfer means coincide with those of the container holding members.
When this rotary type transfer device is applied to a retainer type continuous-filling packaging system, a device of the next process is, for example, a rotary type insertion device which inserts empty containers into the retainers. This rotary type insertion device is arranged, for instance, in such a manner that numerous retainers and empty containers are held on the outer circumference of the rotor of the rotary type insertion device at the same spacing as the spacing of the transfer means and are rotationally conveyed at the same speed as the moving speed of the transfer means. Thus, retainers are continuously received during each rotation of the device, empty containers supplied from the rotary type transfer device are inserted into the retainers, and the retainers are then discharged.
When the rotary type transfer device is applied to the continuous-filling packaging system for spout-equipped containers, a device of the next process is, for example, a rotary type spout insertion device which insert spouts into the containers and seals the mouths of the containers. This rotary type spout insertion device is arranged, for example, in such a manner that numerous spouts and empty containers are held on the outer circumference of the rotor of said device at the same spacing as the spacing of the transfer means and are rotationally conveyed at the same speed as the moving speed of the transfer means. Thus, the spouts are continuously received during each rotation of the device, the spouts are inserted into empty containers supplied from the rotary type transfer device, the mouths of the containers are sealed, and the spout-equipped containers are then discharged.
Furthermore, in the continuous-filling packaging system of the present invention, the continuous container supply device can be disposed on the empty container supply side, and an intermittent container discharge device which is used to convert the movement of full containers supplied continuously in a single row into an intermittent movement in a plurality of rows and discharge these full containers from the filling packaging system can be disposed on the full container discharge side.
The intermittent container discharge device is equipped with a container holding member conveying device. In this container holding member conveying device, numerous container holding members disposed at equal intervals are moved in one direction along a ring-form track that has a pair of parallel sections, and during this movement, the container holding members are moved continuously at a constant speed on the first side of the parallel sections and are moved intermittently a certain distance (which is a distance equal to an integral multiple of attachment spacing of the container holding members) on the second side of the parallel sections. The intermittent container discharge device continuously receives full containers by the continuously moving container holding members on the first side of the parallel sections and discharges full containers in a plurality of rows from stopped container holding members on the second side of the parallel sections.
It is also possible to install a loop type transfer device (described later) or rotary type transfer device on the first side of the parallel sections, so that full containers are continuously received by such a device and intermittently discharged in a plurality of rows.

Continuous bag supply device in continuous-filling packaging system and continuous-filling packaging system


A method for manufacturing optical sensor arrangements is provided. The method comprises providing at least two optical sensors on a carrier and providing a cover material on the side of the optical sensors facing away from the carrier. The method further comprises providing an aperture for each optical sensor on a top side of the cover material facing away from the carrier and forming at least one trench between the optical sensors from the carrier towards the top side of the cover material, the trench comprising inner walls. Moreover, the method comprises coating the inner walls with an opaque material, such that an inner volume of the trench is free of the opaque material, and singulating of the optical sensor arrangements along the at least one trench. Furthermore, a housing for an optical sensor is provided.

Optical sensors are widely employed in many different fields such as digital still cameras, cellular phones, security cameras, medical equipment, automobiles and other applications. Especially for small devices complementary metal oxide semiconductor structures and charged coupled devices are of great importance. In particular for these devices, a further miniaturization and a lower power consumption are desired.
For many optical sensor devices it is required that light can enter the device only through an aperture. Therefore, an opaque coating or a housing is required for the optical sensor device. One possible solution is to coat the housing of an optical sensor device with thick coating layers as walls, for example with a mold compound. However, in this case, the production process is complicated and the size and the weight of the optical sensor device is increased.

Method for manufacturing optical sensor arrangements and housing for an optical sensor


An electronic musical instrument utilizes a tone generator installed with a plurality of timbres for generating a musical tone having a timbre selected from the installed timbres. A MIDI interface is provided for receiving timbre designation information which designates a primary choice and a secondary choice of desired timbres. A bank selector operates when the primary choice is present in the installed timbres for selecting the same so that the musical tone is generated in a desired timbre of the primary choice, and otherwise operates when the primary choice is absent in the installed timbres for selecting the secondary choice in place of the primary choice from the installed timbres so that the musical tone is generated in another desired timbre of the secondary choice.

The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument having a MIDI interface capable of transmitting and receiving various musical data for musical operation. More particularly, the invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which can change a timbre according to external control information.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-197090 discloses an electronic musical instrument capable of converting musical tone control information which is externally provided, into internal musical tone control data effective to control characteristics of a musical tone generated by an internal tone generator. More particularly, the disclosed electronic musical instrument operates when the same admits a designation of a timbre which cannot be created, for replacing the designated timbre by another timbre so as to generate musical tones. However, there are easy timbres which can be readily replaced by another timbre and difficult timbres which are not suitably replaced, among various species of instrument timbres. Nevertheless, the conventional electronic musical instrument automatically replaces an unable timbre by an able timbre without practical consideration.
In order to commonly use musical data among different models of the electronic musical instruments, it is desired to assign a common timbre to the different models by an identical timbre code. However, each model has an individual tone generation mechanism with an individual performance. Therefore, each model may have a unique timbre. Further, with regard to the common timbres, a high performance model may install multiple of variations of one common timbre. In application, a simple model having small number of timbre species is used to reproduce musical data which is originally prepared for a complicated model having great number of timbre species. In such a case, the simple model may not be installed with a corresponding timbre. If a missing timbre is replaced by a substitute timbre selected from variations, there is practically no problems. However, if a unique timbre is replaced, the instrument generates inconsistent musical tones to thereby hinder the reproduction of the musical data. Moreover, even with regard to the variations, a simple replacement regardless of timbre installations of individual models may result in rather uniform change of the timbres.

Electronic musical instrument changing timbre by external designation of multiple choices


A mental state awareness system comprises a non-invasive brain interface assembly configured for detecting brain activity of a user, a processor configured for determining a mental state of a user based on the detected brain activity, and a biofeedback device configured for automatically providing biofeedback to the user indicative of the determined mental state of the user.

It is generally known that awareness of one's subconscious mental state, such as anxiety, focus, attention, creativity, positive or negative reflections/attitude on experiences or the use of objects, the employment of certain critical cognitive brain areas, etc., may lead to better emotional mood regulation and more objective decision-making. However, the conscious mind typically has peripheral or no awareness of subconscious mental states. Thus, if a person has a negative or unhealthy mental state (e.g., anxiety) within the context of a life or work experience, such person may not be aware of such mental state, and therefore, will be unable to take corrective actions (e.g., modifying or creating a new life or work experience) in order to alleviate or change this mental state.
There remains a need to make a person consciously aware of his or her subconscious mental state in a normal life and work environment, so that such human may better regulate his or her emotions or make more objective decisions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Biofeedback for awareness and modulation of mental state using a non-invasive brain interface system and method


In certain aspects, a device for wireless transmission includes a transmission path, a feedback path, and a DPD control module. The transmission path includes a digital pre-distortion (DPD) conversion module configured to perform pre-distortion processing on an amplitude and a phase of a transmission signal based on a pre-distortion processing strategy. The transmission path further includes a power amplifier coupled to a downstream of the DPD conversion module and configured to amplify a power of the transmission signal. The feedback path is coupled to the transmission path at the downstream of the power amplifier and configured to generate a feedback signal. The feedback path includes a static gain compensation module configured to be activated during an initial time period of each frame to track and update a static gain for the feedback signal and configured to hold the static gain after the initial time period of each frame. The DPD control module is coupled to the feedback path and the DPD conversion module and configured to adjust the pre-distortion processing strategy based on an amplitude difference and a phase difference between the transmission signal and the feedback signal.

The present disclosure relates to devices for wireless transmission and processing methods thereof.
Power amplifiers may play an inseparable role in a wireless communication system. For example, a power of a transmission signal generated by a modulation oscillator circuit can be relatively small and not suitable for transmission directly. The transmission signal may need to go through a series of amplification stages including, e.g., a buffer stage, an intermediate amplification stage, and a final power amplification stage. In this case, one or more power amplifiers may be needed to implement the series of amplification stages. After processing the transmission signal using the one or more power amplifiers, the transmission signal can be fed into an antenna and transmitted to a receiver.

Device and method for wireless transmission


Disclosed is an optical recording medium, comprising a polymer alloy forming a phase-separated domain structure of a coating object, and a volatile substance interacting with the polymer alloy. The volatile substance in a vapor state is deposited on the surface of specific phase-separated domain, and dispersedly infiltrated into the phase-separated domain. The phase-separated domain and the volatile substance chemically interact with each other. The optical recording medium is operable to perform optical recording by utilizing change in the transmittance, reflectance, refractive index or surface potential thereof in response to irradiation of ultraviolet light, visible light, or infrared light from outside. The present invention can provide an optical recording medium suitable for high-density recording in a wide wavelength range.

There have heretofore been used optical thin films of various compositions in a wide range of application fields. In particular, optical thin films utilizing a frequency-selective transmission or reflection based on optical absorption or interference have been known for a long time. Late years, in the fields of optoelectronics and optronics utilizing laser beams, various developments for creating innovative high-performance optical thin films are driven forward to meet the needs of achieving multi-parallel high-speed information processing utilizing optical multiplicity and of obtaining enhanced phenomenon in optical nonlinear effect or opto-electric effect.
An organic optical material is regarded as one of noteworthy materials or compositions thereof for forming such a new high-performance optical thin film. Generally, the organic material has an advantageous feature of allowing a thin film to be readily produced on a large scale through a synthetic process at a reduced cost. In addition, the organic material advantageously provides an extended range of choice of thin film materials.
Lately, the organic material also comes to the front as the material of high-density recording media.
Specifically, an optical recording medium typified by DVD, CD-R or CD-RW has been recently developed with high priority as high-density information-recording media. In particular, a rewritable optical recording material can be used for various purposes because of its repeatability in information writing and erasing, and developments therefor are actively being made.
The mainstream material of available recording media is an inorganic material typified by chalcogenide materials. In a recording medium using these materials, information is recorded thereon in a heat mode. Thus, a desirably increased recording density cannot be practically obtained therein due to inevitable thermal diffusion in the material.
A specific organic compound, so-called photochromic material, has a property in which its molecular structure is changed through a photoisomerization reaction caused by absorbing a specific light while creating an additional optical absorption capacity (mainly in a visible region), and the photoisomerized material is returned to its original structure through a reverse reaction caused by absorbing a different light. Thus, the photochromic material is expected as a new material of optical recording media for recording, reading and erasing information in a photochemical process (photon mode) including no thermal effect. In the photochromic recording media, information is recorded in a molecular level through photoreaction, molecule, and the photochromic molecule itself has a potential for providing high resolution. Further, a stable molecular material such as diarylethene-based materials can be used to allow even an extremely small record mark to be recorded without instability. Therefore, the photochromic material would be considered as an optimal material of super-high-density recording media using a near-field light (evanescent light).
The inventors proposed an optical recording medium production method using an organic compound, wherein a volatile substance is dispersed in a specific polymer having an affinity to the volatile substance molecules at a high concentration while maintaining a specific function of the volatile substance molecules (see the following Nonpatent Literature-1 and Patent Publications 1 to 3).
[Nonpatent Literature-1]
T. Hiraga, G Chen, K. Tsujita, N. Tanaka, Q. Chen and T. Moriya, A Novel Formation Method of Thin Polymer Film with Densely Dispersed Organic Dye by using Vacuum Technique, "Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals", Gordon and Breach Science Publishers (New York), published 2000, Vol. 344, page 211.
[Patent Publication-1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-256877
[Patent Publication-2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-281821
[Patent Publication-3]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-026884
In application of a functional organic compound such as photochromic compounds to an optical recording medium, it is required to disperse or infiltrate organic compound molecules in a macromolecule or silica gel-like matrix at a high concentration. This process has been performed using a spin coating method in many cases.
While there are various wet-type thin film forming processes using solution, dispersion liquid or developer, for example, a coating method such as spin coating, roll coating, dipping or spraying; a printing method such as planographic printing, relief printing, intaglio printing, stencil printing, screen printing or decalcomania; an electrochemical technique such as electrodeposition process, electrolytic polymerization process or micelle electrolytic process; and a Langmuir projecting process of transferring a monomolecular film formed on the water surface, it is extremely difficult to form a polymer film having functional organic compound molecules while maintaining its homogeneity, using these processes. Further, if it is attempted to disperse organic compound molecules at a high concentration, the organic compound molecules will agglutinate, resulting in disappearance of a specific property of the organic compound molecules.
The conventional optical recording medium also has a problem of deterioration in recording accuracy caused by increased recording density.

Optical recording medium, production method thereof and method of using same

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


The method for manufacturing a thermoplastic elastomer composition of the present invention comprises continuously feeding a mixture comprising pelletized olefinic resin (A), a pulverized product (B) obtained by pulverizing bulk olefinic rubber, and a crosslinking agent (C) into a continuous kneading machine, and performing a dynamic heat treatment to yield the thermoplastic elastomer composition. An olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent tensile characteristics and molded appearance can be manufactured with high productivity by the method of the present invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent tensile characteristics and molded appearance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Olefinic thermoplastic elastomers are widely used as energy-saving, resource-saving thermoplastic elastomers, particularly as substitutes for soft vinyl chloride and vulcanized rubber in automobile parts, industrial machine parts, electronic/electrical machine parts, construction materials, and the like because of being lightweight and easy to recycle.
Dynamic crosslinking methods are carried out in a variety of forms for kneading olefinic rubber and olefinic resin in the presence of a crosslinking agent. Among these, methods for admixing a polyolefin resin after dynamically heat-treating and crosslinking olefinic rubber together with a crosslinking agent in a Banbury mixer, and methods of dynamic crosslinking in the coexistence with polyolefin resin in a Banbury mixer are uneconomical in comparison with continuous methods because of the use of a batch-style Banbury mixer. In addition, the rubber and resin sometimes fail to disperse uniformly, and consistent quality is difficult to obtain.
A method in which olefinic rubber and olefinic resin are melted and mixed in advance in a Banbury mixer, the mixture is cooled and pelletized, and the resultant pellets are fed into an extruder along with a crosslinking agent and dynamically crosslinked inside the extruder has been proposed as a technique for obtaining an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer with stable quality and uniform dispersion of the rubber and resin, but this method is nonetheless lacking in economic feasibility in the sense that the rubber and the resin must be melted and mixed before being crosslinked.
Aimed at overcoming the foregoing drawbacks, a technique has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. H2-52648, whereby an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer having excellent physical properties is continuously manufactured by a simplified method in which the rubber and resin are uniformly dispersed by using pelletized olefinic rubber and pelletized olefinic resin and by feeding these materials to a twin-screw extruder-together with a crosslinking agent.
In actuality however, the ethylene/α-olefin/polyene copolymer rubber mainly used as a raw material rubber for an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer is supplied in a block usually called a "bale", and must therefore be fed to an extruder or other kneading machine and processed into pellets by way of a melted state to obtain a pelletized ethylene/α-olefin/polyene copolymer rubber, which in addition to being not necessarily economical, may also cause the temperature inside the extruder to reach high levels due to shear-induced heating, heat degradation to occur, and the performance of the final olefinic thermoplastic elastomer product to be adversely affected when ethylene/α-olefin/polyene copolymer rubber, which has a high molecular weight in comparison with a resin, is melted and kneaded alone under ordinary conditions.
An object of the present invention, which is aimed at overcoming the drawbacks that accompany conventional techniques such as those described above, is to provide a method whereby an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent tensile characteristics and molded appearance can be manufactured with high productivity.

Method for manufacturing olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition


A method for manufacturing a plurality of filter assemblies is provided that includes providing first and second housing sheets and positioning a filtration medium therebetween. Heat and pressure are applied to form first, second, and peripheral seals of at least two filter assemblies at the same time. Each second seal is positioned outboard of the associated first seal with a non-seal area therebetween, while each peripheral seal is positioned outboard of the associated second seal. The first seal commingles the housing sheets and the filtration medium, while the peripheral seal and the periphery of the second seal commingle only the housing sheets. The peripheral seal may include a tear seal to enable separation of a plurality of adjacent filter assemblies.

Using various manual and automated systems and methods, whole blood is collected and separated into its clinical components (typically red blood cells, platelets, and plasma). The collected components are typically individually stored and used to treat a variety of specific conditions and diseased states.
Before transfusing the collected blood components to a recipient in need of the component, or before subjecting blood components to treatment (such as but not limited to pathogen inactivation), it is often desirable to minimize the presence of impurities or other materials that may cause undesired side effects in the recipient. For example, because of possible reactions, it is generally considered desirable to reduce the number of leukocytes in blood components before storage, or at least before transfusion (i.e., "leukoreduction").
Filters are widely used to accomplish leuko-reduction in blood products today (e.g., warm and cold filtration of leukocytes from whole blood, red cells, and/or platelet products). Filters typically include a filter media disposed between mating walls of a filter housing. Inlet and outlet ports associated with the housing provide flow to and from the interior of the filter. The walls of the housing may be made of a rigid, typically plastic, material, although filters including soft housings are also known. Soft housing filters provide the advantage of being able to withstand handling and centrifuging without breakage of the filter. Examples of soft housing filters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,634 issued Apr. 9, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,397 issued Jul. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,902 issued Jul. 8, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 7,353,956 issued Apr. 8, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 7,332,096 issued Feb. 19, 2008; U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,541 issued Oct. 9, 2007; and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/275,805 filed Mar. 10, 2003, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. Due to the importance of filtering blood or blood components, there exists an ongoing desire to improve the construction, performance, and manufacturability of blood filters.

Methods for making a plurality of filter assemblies


A disk brake having a self-energized brake effect. The disk brake has a sectional lining with a self-energized power brake and made up of a rotating brake disk, a U-shaped stationary caliper enclosing the brake disk from the outside, brake shoes disposed in the caliper, the support plates of the brake shoes, which are connected to a brake lining, being pivotally held in a bearing arrangement, and an actuator disposed on the poles of the caliper for synchronously shifting and pressing the brake shoes against the faces of the brake disk, and inclined surfaces for a self-energized increase of the pressure of the brake shoes against the brake disk being provided in the advance path of the brake shoes. For obtaining an intended self-energizing effect of the brake effect with technically simple structure the radial distance between the bearing arrangement and the brake disk axis is larger than the radial distance between the centers of gravity of the application of force of the brake shoes and the brake disk axis freely movable within limits so that the brake shoes carry out a movement directed toward the circumference of the brake disk upon being pressed against the brake disk. The inclined surfaces are provided in the advance path of the brake shoes extending radially and translating the forces directed toward the circumference of the brake disk into additional pressure forces by a wedge effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a disk brake with a self-energized brake effect particularly for brake systems for vehicles and other technical devices.
2. Background Discussion
In disk brakes normally used, particularly in vehicles, the braking force is generated between the rotating brake disk and the brake shoe accommodated in the caliper by means of hydraulic, electric or pneumatic means, the pressure of which acts on at least one piston installed in the side wall of the stationary caliper. Due to the resulting piston movement the brake shoe directly or indirectly connected to it is pressed against the brake disk rotating with the axletree with its friction lining in parallel to the axle. In the so called floating caliper disk brakes two brake shoes or brake pads are simultaneously pressed against the plane-parallel faces of the respective brake disk. To achieve the required high braking forces the hydraulic piston/cylinder units and their main cylinders need to have relatively large dimensions, which requires mounting space and requires, accordingly, large operating forces on the brake pedal. Different systems of power brakes operated with servo power effect an automatic increase in the pressing forces of the brake shoes with comparably lower pedal operating forces and enable the usage of smaller hydraulic assemblies. Such power brake systems, however, are technically complex and expensive.
Although various disk brakes with an integrated power brake have become known, they have, however, generally not been introduced in practice and particularly in vehicle manufacturing since they obviously do not fully met the complex requirements in year-long driving service.
In German patent 1,284,731 a partially lined disk brake is described, the caliper of which is borne on a tappet fixed to the vehicle with an elongated pole so as to be axially movable. The piston of the hydraulic cylinder mounted in a caliper pole is provided with a pivotable pressure part which engages with a carrier plate of the one brake shoe and allows certain movements of the pressed-on brake shoe in the circumferential direction of the brake disk. The pivotable and axially movable carrier plate of hardened steel has a saw-tooth shaped corrugated profile, the elevations and valleys of the corrugation extending in the radial direction. A steel member fixed to the caliper pole has a corrugated profile adjusted thereto and is in positive engagement with the carrier plate. When the hydraulic cylinder is operated, the pivotally borne carrier plate is moved in the circumferential direction by a small amount due to the frictional engagement of the brake lining and the brake disk. The corrugations, which are thereby displaced with respect to each other, will cause a wedge effect and thus an increased contact pressure of the brake shoes, that is, an increased brake effect. An intended influence on this power brake effect is impossible and problems may arise, particularly in long-term service, due to caking and contamination of the two corrugations. Further, considerable manufacturing requirements must be fulfilled for such disk brakes.
For obtaining a self-energizing effect in a disk brake, German patent 1,019,873 proposes the provision of brake shoe guides contained in the caliper poles under an angle of more or less than 90xc2x0 with respect to the plane-parallel brake disk faces and bearing the respective brake shoes in the guide of the caliper by means of rolling bodies. The amount of the self-energizing effect changes on its own by the pivotable formation of a pivoting shoe guide.
According to German patent publication 2,837,634 self-energizing of a disk brake may also be obtained by integrating a snap ring extending in the circumferential direction into the brake disk, the edges of the snap ring being inclined in certain angles with respect to the disk surface. Into the snap ring an accordingly wedge-shaped shoulder of the respective brake shoe is pressed, a force acting radially inward being generated by the interaction of the two inclined surfaces.
In Japanese patent abstracts 2-102933 and 56-6931 disk brakes are described, the brace disks of which are cone-shaped with the wall width increasing radially outwardly. The brake shoes, which are hydraulically movable in conventional calipers, can only carry out axial movements in the direction of the axis of the brake disk, and the shape of the brake linings is adjusted to the cone shaped profile of the brake disk. These brake disks have no self-energized braking action.
It is a primary purpose of the invention to provide a disk brake having a self-energized braking effect which has a particularly simple construction compared to known embodiments and by which an operationally safe and efficient self-energizing effect is obtained even in long-term use.
Since in the subject matter of the invention the distance between the bearing arrangement of the brake shoes and the brake disk axis is larger than the distance between the center of gravity of the application of force of the respective brake shoe and the brake disk axis, that is, the bearing arrangement is disposed radially outside of the centers of gravity of the application of force, the brake shoes are taken along by the rotating brake disk within the amount of their free movability and simultaneously moved about the pivot axis of the bearing arrangement by a predetermined value due to the frictional engagement of their brake linings. This movement leads to a radial displacement of the center of gravity of the application of force of the brake shoes to the outside with respect to the brake disk. Since the faces of the brace disk interacting with the brake linings on the brake shoes have a predetermined inclination with respect to the axis of the brake disk, the motion of the brake disk results in an increased contact pressure of the brake linings, which means a correspondingly increased braking effect.
The disk brake according to the invention is particularly suited for an assembly into vehicles with one or more tracks since its constructive requirements and its dimensions are approximately equal to those of conventional vehicle disk brakes and therefore no problems concerning positioning in the vehicles will arise and the assembly may also be effected in the common way. The disk brake according to the invention may particularly efficaciously be used as a so called locking brake or overunning brake in different types of trailers since the self-energizing effect occurs even with the slightest rotational movements of the wheels and their brake disks and even with only a small contact pressure of the brake linings in the beginning and will increase progressively.
The self-energizing effect obtainable according to the invention may be selected so that the pressure forces acting only axially on the brake shoes may be drastically decreased as compared to conventional disk brakes. Thus, there arises the possibility to omit the hydraulic power generators so far regarded as absolutely necessary in vehicle manufacturing and to replace them by simpler and cheaper mechanical or electromagnetic actuating systems. Besides, the dimensions of the different devices may be decreased or the hydraulic pressures lowered, or both, while maintaining the hydraulic power generators, which in both cases will have advantageous effects on the manufacturing costs and the safety of operation. Since the actuation forces required for generating the brake effect are relatively small compared to the corresponding actuation forces of conventional brake systems, fluid transmission means, that is, hydraulics or pneumatics, including all related additional devices, may be omitted. Instead, electric actuator motors or solenoids acting directly or indirectly on the brake shoes may be provided on the brake calipers for power generation. With such a use of electric actuation and transmission means in vehicle combinations (towing vehicle and trailer) for which overrunning brake systems are mandatory, so called xe2x80x9ccontinuousxe2x80x9d brake systems as are mandatory in larger vehicle combinations may be designed with the realization of the disk brake according to the invention.
In the disk brake according to the invention the two brake shoes disposed laterally adjacent to the brake disk are borne in a xe2x80x9cfloatingxe2x80x9d manner and can be moved in the tangential direction with respect to the brake disk within predetermined limits. Those movements are effected by a clinging of the brake shoe to the rotating brake disk during the start of the braking operation, the amount of the movement being limited by the interaction of a stopper bolt of the respective brake shoe in a stopper bore of larger diameter.
Compared to known embodiments the disk brake of the invention has the particular advantage that high braking forces or brake effects are obtained by means of relatively small actuating forces even over longer operating times. Since the increased brake forces preferably act in the rotational direction of the disk, the pressure forces oriented parallel to the axis and generated by the hydraulic or pneumatic components may be reduced which enables a lighter construction of the brake calipers. Another advantage resides in the use of the disk brakes according to the invention in combination with common mechanical overrunning means of trailers, whereby a good adjustment of the overall braking reaction of towing vehicle and trailer is obtained since both may be provided with disk brakes. While in conventional brake systems for towing vehicles and trailers different media were required for controlling and operating the individual devices, which rendered a considerable technical complexity necessary, the use of the disk brake principle according to the invention in complex vehicle systems, such as towing vehicles with trailers attached to them, makes it possible to omit various devices and components, which results in a reduction of manufacturing costs while maintaining at least the same safety of operation. Furthermore, for the first time so called continuous brake systems become feasible even for simple vehicle combinations which previously could only be provided with non-continuous overrunning brake systems.
For commercial vehicle combinations so called continuous brake systems, in which the control and operation of the brakes are transferred to the trailer through the towing vehicle by means of conduits, and the brakes of the trailer work in synchronism with the brakes of the towing vehicle, are prescribed by law. In lighter combinations of towing vehicle and trailer without such continuous brake systems the trailers are provided with so called overrunning brakes. During the operation of the brakes of the towing vehicle the trailer, which is not braked in the beginning, will apply a thrust force to the towing vehicle through its draw-bar. That thrust force is used to generate the actuating forces for the wheel brakes of the trailer in the above overrunning brake systems. When such a towing vehicle/trailer combination is to drive backward from a standstill, the driver previously had to get out of the towing vehicle to activate a mechanical lock on the draw-bar of the trailer to prevent an actuation of the trailer""s brakes by the thrust forces applied to the trailer by the towing vehicle during reverse travel.
Modem vehicles or vehicle combinations are required to be provided with so called reverse gear automatics which will automatically release the wheel brakes of the trailer during reverse travel. At the start of the reverse movement of the towing vehicle the draw-bar of the trailer is pushed together by prescribed amounts, which causes a limited advance movement of the brake shoes in the direction of the brake surfaces, for example, via mechanical lever rod assemblies, without generating any other perceptible brake effect (compare German patent publication 196 09 629).
According to an important aspect of the invention reverse gear automatics are realized in a technically simple way by supporting the brake shoes with only one bearing arrangement on the rear side with respect to the normal turning direction so that they are freely movable in a limited way. When an inversion of the turning direction of the wheel and with it of the brake disk occurs with this hinging of the movable brake shoe, the respective brake shoe is moved radially inward in the direction toward the rotational axis of the brake disk due to the effect of the wedge surfaces. Since the wall thickness of the brake disk continually decreases toward the radially inner side, a correspondingly larger clearance is created for the brake shoes. Since the advance path of the brake shoes generated by the hydraulic actuation cylinders is always limited, a position in which the brake linings are free from the active surfaces of the brake disk, and therefore no braking effect is present any longer, is reached due to the radial movement of the brake shoes to the inside. Thus, a trailer provided with the disk brake of the invention suspended on one side enables an automatic release of the trailer brakes during reverse travel. When the vehicle combination runs forward again, the normal positioning of the brake linings is self-restored during the following braking operation, and upon operation of the brake pedal the brake system of the towing vehicle and of the trailer works with the self-energized power brake in the way described above.


A computer-implemented method for generating personalized image filters is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a user request to generate a filter for an input image. The computer-implemented method further includes generating one or more keyword lists associated with the input image. The computer-implemented method further includes determining one or more themes associated with the input image based, at least in part, on one or more keywords selected from the one or more keyword lists. The computer-implemented method further includes identifying one or more candidate images matching the one or more themes associated with the image. The computer-implemented method further includes generating one or more personalized image filters based on one or more features from one or more of the candidate images.

The present invention relates generally to the field of multimedia filters, and more particularly to personalized multimedia filters.
Multimedia filters are filters that use augmented reality (AR) effects by layering digital media onto an existing image or video. Adding a filter to an image or video imposes different or added facial features or objects. Filters can also superimpose a different background onto the image or video.
Some multimedia filters blend one or more images into one singular image or video. Image stylization is the process of taking an image as input and producing a stylized version as output. Neural style transfer is an optimization technique used to take two images and blend them together. In neural style transfer, a content image and a style reference image are blended together to create an output image depicting the content image, but "stylized" or in the style of the style reference image.

International Business Machines Corporation


A self-priming assembly for a multi-stage pump is provided. The self-priming assembly can have a first diffuser, a second diffuser, and an impeller. The first and second diffusers each include a central portion, a diffuser axis, an arcuate channel within the central portion, and a passage extending through the central portion. The first diffuser and the second diffuser are configured to be combined and receive the impeller therebetween with the first diffuser axis, the second diffuser axis, and the impeller axis aligned.

In many fluid pumping applications it may be useful to have a self-priming multi-stage pump. Present approaches to priming a multi-stage pump incorporate secondary equipment. For instance, a separate diaphragm pump or a compressed air powered venturi/vacuum pump can be employed to prime the multi-stage pump. However, these types of systems not only require additional components, but can be costly and complex. Therefore, a self-priming pump that engages in the pumping action when called upon without requiring extensive secondary equipment or intervention by an operator to prime the pump is a more efficient approach to establishing prime and engaging the pumping action.

Self-priming assembly for use in a multi-stage pump


A metallic component (1) for high-pressure applications, which serves in particular for fuel injection systems of air-compressing, self-igniting internal combustion engines, comprises at least one transition region (2). The transition region (2) is re-worked here after a hardening operation. The re-working is performed by electrochemical removal and mechanical removal, in particular honing.

The invention relates to a metallic component for high-pressure applications, in particular for fuel injection systems of air-compressing, self-igniting internal combustion engines.
A high-pressure pump for a fuel injection device of an internal combustion engine is known from the German patent publication DE 10 2004 028 999 A1. The known high-pressure pump comprises a pump element, which has a pump piston that is guided such that it can be moved in a reciprocating manner in a cylinder bore of a pump housing part. The pump piston delimits thereby a pump working chamber in the cylinder bore. The pump working chamber can be filled with fuel via a suction valve during the intake stroke. The pump working chamber additionally has a connection to an outlet via a fuel drainage channel running inside the pump housing, said outlet being connected, for example, to a high-pressure accumulator. An exhaust valve which opens out of the pump working chamber is disposed at the outlet of the fuel drainage canal into said pump working chamber.
The high-pressure pump known from the German patent publication DE 10 2004 028 999 A1 has the disadvantage that the high pressure consistency of the high pressure pump particularly in the region of the outlet of the fuel drainage canal into the pump working chamber is limited at this location. As a result, a range for the admissible internal pressure and thus also the maximum delivery pressure are limited.

Metallic component for high-pressure applications


An image forming apparatus according to the invention includes a scanner for reading an image, a printer for fixing an image formed thereby on paper and discharging the paper, a display for displaying information, and a controller for controlling the scanner, the printer, and the display. The controller is configured to execute control such that jam removal guidance in accordance with an operation of a user is displayed on the display when the operation of the user in an attempt to remove a jam that has occurred in the printer is different from an order displayed on the display. In the image forming apparatus according to the invention, even when the user does not execute the jam removal operation according to the displayed guidance, guidance will be displayed in accordance with the state of the apparatus after the execution of the operation.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatus such as facsimile machines, laser printers, copiers, inkjet printers, and combinations of those machines, MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals), and a method of displaying jam removal guidance. In particular, the invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an MFP which display guidance for steps of operations such as jam processing, toner replenishment, and ink replacement and to a method of displaying jam removal guidance.
2. Related Art
When a jam occurs in an image forming apparatus according to the related art, a detector provided in the image forming apparatus detects the position of the occurrence of the jam, and guidance for operational steps for removing the jam can be displayed.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open "JP-A-61-16309" (Patent Document 1) discloses an image forming apparatus capable of displaying the contents of jam removal guidance according to an output of a detector provided in the image forming apparatus.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open "JP-A-6-138740" (Patent Document 2) discloses am image forming apparatus capable of displaying two displaying screens on a touch panel display provided at the image forming apparatus, the screens being a screen displaying a schematic view of the entire apparatus and a jam mark indicating the occurrence of a jam in the position where the jam has occurred and a screen displaying the contents of guidance for removing the jam.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open "JP-A-10-107940" (Patent Document 3) discloses an image forming apparatus capable of displaying guidance for operational steps for removing a jam on a display of the image forming apparatus, when the user performs an input operation from an input/output portion of the image forming apparatus or when a self diagnosis function provided in the image forming apparatus is activated at the time of the occurrence of the jam. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 is capable of displaying guidance in accordance with a position where a jam has not been removed by making an addition or deletion to or from the contents of guidance displayed on the display based on the progress of jam removal determined from an output of a detector.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open "JP-A-11-231729" (Patent Document 4) discloses an image forming apparatus which allows a user to recognize the position of a remaining jam by making a change in a display of a schematic view of the entire apparatus such as turning off a jam mark associated with each position where a jam has been removed.
In the above-described image forming apparatus, however, when a user (operator) does not execute a process according to displayed guidance and performs a jam removal operation according to a different procedure, guidance after the execution is not in accordance with the state of the apparatus, which has resulted in a problem in that the user is confused.

Image forming apparatus, MFP and method of displaying jam removal guidance


A main controller (55) causes a vision controller (36) to determine the exact location of plies (24) for a composite article in response to images from video cameras (35). The main controller then causes a robot controller (40) to direct a robot (42-46) to pick up the plies and move to a neutral position. The main controller causes the vision controller to determine that the plies were in fact picked up. If so, the main controller causes the robot controller to direct the robot to move the plies to the mold while the vision controller looks for the next ply to be picked up, in overlapped fashion. Failure to properly locate the plies and failure to verify that the plies were picked up causes an automatic retry to locate the plies or verify ply pick up.

Composite material typically include a matrix of orientated fibrous material (such as graphite, boron, glass or polyimides) impregnated with an epoxy, polymeric, phenolic or similar resinous organic, material. The strength/weight ratio of composite materials provides a significant advantage over conventional materials in a variety of applications.
One type of composite material manufacturing utilizes composite materials that are formed by impregnating woven fibrous cloth, yarn, or fiber tow with a predetermined amount of organic resin, and staging and drying the organic resin to form a partially cured ("tacky") composite material (prepreg), which is subsequently packaged in protective film. Prepreg composite material in the tacky condition is handled and processed in all the operations comprising the pre-cure fabrication phase. Another composite material manufacturing process utilizes only the orientated fibrous material matrix in the pre-cure fabrication phase. Organic resin is injected into the orientated fibrous material matrix immediately prior to the initiation of the cure fabrication phase. Prepreg and wet resin manufacturing systems or processes each have distinct advantages and disadvantages in the manufacture of composite articles.
Composite articles may be fabricated in either process utilizing a plurality of stacked, fiber plies which vary in size, shape and fiber matrix orientation. The pre-cure fabrication phase in forming composite articles typically involves several independent operations such as cutting of composite material into individual composite plies, each having the requisite shape, stacking or placing the cut composite plies in the mold cavity in accordance with the desired fiber orientation (layup), and forming each stack of composite plies over a mold surface contour to ensure proper compaction (debulking) of stacked composite plies, e.g., without wrinkling, during curing.
Prior art pre-cure fabrication operations are typically highly labor intensive and time consuming (and thus costly), requiring manual handling of the composite material/plies during the operations of the pre-cure fabrication phase. For example, the composite material workpiece or roll generally must be hand-placed into position, cut along guide lines to the desired shape or pattern (configuration), and hand transported to a molding station or cell where the cut composite ply is hand laid or stacked in a mold cavity. Hand pressure is utilized to conform the stacked composite ply to the mold surface contour and to stack successive composite plies in combination with previously stacked plies.
However, automated systems are very expensive, and therefore use thereof must be maximized to justify the cost. Additionally, some automated processes do not work well enough to alleviate the need of operators who may be required to verify automated operation (rather than performing hand operation).

Parallel processor control of composite material handling


The invention provides a foamable composition for tooth bleaching which can be a one- or two-component system. The system has at least one peroxide compound, and at least one foaming agent. The composition can also contain at least one source of calcium, strontium and mixtures thereof, at least one de-sensitizing agent and at least one source of phosphate. The composition can produce a longer-lasting, collapsible foam structure with enhanced whitening action. The foamable composition can also be a one-component multi-phase system. A two-component composition can be packed in a two-compartment syringe. The syringe can also be fitted with a dispensing tip which may or may not have a static mixer.

The present invention relates to improvements in tooth treatment compositions. In particular, this invention relates to whitening compositions in a form that is capable of delivering fast whitening action.
The coronal portion of the tooth consists of enamel, dentin and the pulp. In the mouth of humans, the enamel is coated with an acquired pellicle. The tooth structures that are generally responsible for presenting a stained appearance are enamel, dentin, and the acquired pellicle. Tooth enamel is predominantly formed from inorganic material, mostly in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals, and further contains approximately 5% organic material primarily in the form of collagen. In contrast, dentin is composed of about 20% protein including collagen, the balance consisting of inorganic material, predominantly hydroxyapatite crystals, similar to that found in enamel. The acquired pellicle is a proteinaceous layer or matrix that forms continuously over the surface of the tooth. Although the acquired pellicle can be removed through intensive mechanical cleaning, it quickly regenerates soon thereafter.
Discoloration of teeth can result from intrinsic and/or extrinsic staining. Intrinsic staining occurs when staining compounds penetrate the enamel and even the dentin, or alternatively, such staining arises from sources within the tooth. Typically such staining can only be removed through chemical methods of tooth cleaning. Some dentifrices, like toothpastes, gels, and powders, contain active oxygen or hydrogen peroxide liberating bleaching agents including peroxides, percarbonates and perborates of the alkali and alkaline earth metals or complex compounds containing hydrogen peroxide.
Commonly used dental bleaching agent include hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide (CO(NH2)2H2O2), or urea hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide carbamide, and perhydrol-urea. Carbamides and hydrogen peroxides are used in over-the-counter compositions as well as bleaching gels are dispensed by dentists and commonly dispensed ones include those containing hydrogen peroxide (available as "DayWhite" from Discus Dental, Inc.) and those containing a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide (available as "NiteWhite", also from Discus Dental, Inc.).
Some prior art discloses the use of concentrated carboxypolymethylene compositions for producing a matrix material having a sufficiently high viscosity, low solubility in saliva, and is sufficiently tacky to retain and hold a dental tray positioned over the patient's teeth for a period greater than about 2 hours without any significant mechanical pressure from the dental tray so as to provide for the dental bleaching agent to be in contact with the tooth surfaces thereby providing bleaching of the tooth surfaces.
The amount of whitening obtained during tooth bleaching is dependent upon (1) the length of time each day the tray is worn; (2) the number of days the tray is worn; (3) the susceptibility of the teeth to the bleaching agent and (4) the concentration of active peroxides. For maximum whitening, an accelerated treatment time of approximately 18-20 hours per day is recommended.
The prolonged period needed for effective bleaching can be time consuming. Thus, any whitening system that can potentially reduce the time factor is desirable.

Whitening system capable of delivering effective whitening action


A shipping frame assembly for transporting an object. The shipping frame assembly has at least one pallet adapted to receive the object and at least one coupling member removably mounted to the pallet, for securing the object to the pallet. The pallet includes a support member, which has at least one first cut-out portion. The coupling member has at least one second cut-out portion. When the coupling member is mounted to the pallet, the first cut out portion and second cut portion cooperatively form an aperture adapted to securely fasten the object to the pallet.

Shipping frames used to transport engine assemblies and other similar objects are generally known in the art. Typical shipping frames use a wide variety of packing materials such as Styrofoam, plastic, and cardboard to secure and protect the object from damage during transport. While these packing materials are generally effective, they are also costly. Furthermore, proper packing of the frame with these materials can be time consuming, and therefore also costly.
When transporting an engine assembly, it is vital that the engine be firmly secured to the shipping frame, to protect the engine from damage. Some shipping frame assemblies require that the engine is mounted in a generally vertical position, or at least that the crankshaft is inserted vertically into an aperture in the pallet. The disadvantage of such assemblies are that they do not provide a stable connection with the engine sufficient to prevent the engine from becoming dislodged or damaged during transport, unless large amounts of packing materials are used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,286 to Gits discloses a reusable shipping frame used for packing large, heavy materials. The reusable shipping frame provides a frame for securing generally heavy manufactured goods. U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,413 to Gits discloses a frame for shipping large, heavy manufactured goods, as well. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,286 and 4,756,413 were both invented by the inventor of the present patent application, and are incorporated herein by reference. While the above mentioned shipping frame assemblies are suitable for their intended purposes, it is desirable to provide a shipping frame assembly configured to securely mount a plurality of engines for transport, while significantly reducing the amount of packing materials used.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a shipping frame assembly with a fastening pallet arrangement to securely fasten a plurality of engines or other objects within the frame. The arrangement provides stackable pallets which can be (1) mounted to coupling members to form the shipping frame or; (2) mounted on each other, when empty to permit compact shipping of the pallets back to the shipper for reuse. Another advantage of this new shipping frame is that it provides a structure for securing one or more engines in a manner such that most, if not all, Styrofoam and cardboard can be eliminated, reducing the cost and time required for packing.

Shipping frame for securely transporting an engine assembly


An image forming apparatus is provided in which image forming sections are provided along an intermediate transfer member and in which a test voltage is applied to a transfer member to control a transfer voltage. In the image forming apparatus, the test voltage is applied to a region of the intermediate transfer member in an upstream image forming section. The test voltage is controlled so as to be applied at a time except when that region of the intermediate transfer member passes through a downstream image forming section. Accordingly, when the intermediate transfer member is charged by applying the test voltage to the transfer member in the upstream image forming section, the transfer voltage can be appropriately controlled in the downstream image forming section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for transferring toner images from image bearing members to an intermediate transfer member or to a recording medium carried by a belt member, and, more specifically, to a control operation for controlling a transfer voltage that is to be applied to transfer members when the toner images are transferred.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium using image forming sections provided along an intermediate transfer member (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-0056587). In the image forming apparatus, in the corresponding image forming sections, toner images formed on photoconductor drums are transferred onto the intermediate transfer member at primary transfer portions by primary transfer members to which a primary transfer voltage is applied. The toner images which are primarily transferred from the image forming sections are simultaneously secondarily transferred onto a recording medium.
In contrast, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-006112 discloses a method for controlling a transfer voltage using so-called active transfer voltage control (ATVC), in which different test voltages are applied to a transfer roller to obtain a voltage-versus-current relationship, and in which a transfer voltage that causes a desired current to flow is set in accordance with the voltage-versus-current relationship.
When the control method using the ATVC is applied to the above-mentioned apparatus, a configuration is provided, in which ATVC operations are simultaneously performed on upstream and downstream image forming sections that are provided in a moving direction of an intermediate transfer belt (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-202651). In this configuration, it is difficult to obtain the voltage-versus-current relationship resulting from stable measurement when the test voltages are applied. As a result, it is difficult to set an appropriate primary transfer voltage.
In other words, when an ATVC operation is performed, the intermediate transfer member is charged. Additionally, currents that flow when the test voltages are applied are changed in accordance with a charge state of the intermediate transfer member. When measurement of a current is performed in a downstream image forming section that is provided in a moving direction of the intermediate transfer member, it is difficult to stably measure the current because the intermediate transfer member is charged by an ATVC operation that has been performed on an upstream image forming section.
FIG. 10 illustrates a voltage-versus-current relationship obtained in a case in which one of the test voltages is applied simultaneously to all of the image forming sections. In contrast, FIG. 11 illustrates a voltage-versus-current relationship obtained in a case in which the test voltage is applied to the image forming sections at different times. Note from FIGS. 10 and 11 that the voltage-versus-current relationship obtained in a case in which the test voltage is applied simultaneously to all of the image forming sections differs from the voltage-versus-current relationship obtained in a case in which the test voltage is applied to the image forming sections at different times.
The difference between the relationships is caused by an influence of the test voltage that has been applied in an upstream image forming section. Regarding a transfer portion of the most upstream image forming section, there is no difference between the voltage-versus-current relationship shown in FIG. 10 and the voltage-versus-current relationship shown in FIG. 11. The reason for this is that the intermediate transfer member has not been charged when a current is measured in the most upstream image forming section. In contrast, when currents are measured in second to fourth image forming sections, the intermediate transfer member has already been charged by an ATVC operation performed on the most upstream image forming section. Accordingly, errors occur.
Next, an influence that charging of an intermediate transfer member has on control of a primary transfer voltage is described. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a current path of a primary transfer portion. The current path can be considered to extend from a power source (not shown) connected to a primary transfer roller 5 to electrical ground. As shown in FIG. 12, the current path is divided into two paths.
The two paths are as follows: a path (1) is a path from the primary transfer roller 5 via the intermediate transfer member 7 to a photoconductor drum 1; and a path (2) is a path through which a current flows due to an influence of a capacitance of the intermediate transfer member 7. A current that is necessary for transfer of a toner image is a current that flows through the path (1). In contrast, the current that flows through the path (2) is mainly used to charge the intermediate transfer member, and it contributes little to transfer of a toner image. For this reason, in order to set an appropriate primary transfer voltage, it is necessary to accurately measure the current that flows through the path (1).
The current that flows through the path (2) can be estimated in a state in which the intermediate transfer member is not charged. Accordingly, a voltage-versus-current relationship is obtained by measuring the amounts of currents in a state in which the intermediate transfer member is not charged. Then, the amount of current that is obtained by adding the amount of current which flows through the path (2) to the amount of current according to the voltage-versus-current relationship, i.e., the amount of current that is obtained by adding the "amount of current which flows through the path (2)" to the "amount of current which flows though the path (1)", is determined as the value of a target current. A voltage that causes the target current to flow is set as a primary transfer voltage. The primary transfer voltage is set in this manner, whereby the current that flows through the path (1) when primary transfer is performed can be easily adjusted to a desired current.
However, when the primary transfer voltage is to be set in accordance with a voltage-versus-current relationship obtained in a state in which the intermediate transfer member is charged, it is necessary to estimate the amount of charge on the intermediate transfer member.
In reality, there are a large number of related parameters, such as parameters related to a charge state of the intermediate transfer member in an upstream image forming section, and parameters related to an attenuation state after the intermediate transfer member passes through the upstream image forming section. Thus, it is difficult to estimate the amount of current that flows through the path (2).


Disclosed is a device for diagnosing and treating pelvic organ prolapse, including a measurement stick configured to protrude into a vagina, a distance measuring mechanism for measuring the distance from an end portion of a protruding end of the measurement stick to a hymen edge of the vagina, and an assessment mechanism. The distance measuring mechanism is connected with the assessment mechanism. The assessment mechanism includes buttons, a memory, a CPU and a display which are connected with the CPU, respectively. The device for diagnosing and treating pelvic organ prolapse provided by the present disclosure can be used in a rapid, convenient and accurate manner, which not only saves a great amount of medical resources, but also alleviates the pain index of patients during diagnosis and treatment.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common gynecological disease that is associated with the age of females. The older the age is, the higher probability of lesions there will be. As reported by related documents, among women aged about 50, nearly 50% of them would suffer from pelvic organ prolapse. The severity assessment for pelvic organ prolapse is an important basis for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. As for the method for assessing the severity of pelvic organ prolapse, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists formulated a pelvic organ prolapse assessment system (POP-Q) in 1995. The assessment system was acknowledged and promoted by the International Continence Society and once formulated. Today, this assessment system has already become the most widely used prolapse assessment system in foreign countries.
The POP-Q assessment system works mainly with reference to the position of the hymen edge, and under the conditions of increased abdominal pressure, the distance from the centerline of the anterior vaginal wall (corresponding to the vesicourethral fold) to the hymen edge is denoted as Aa, the distance from the centerline of the posterior vaginal wall to the hymen edge is demoted as Ap, the distance from the farthest position of the reverse fold distance Aa point of the anterior vaginal fornix to the hymen edge is denoted as Ba, the distance from the farthest position of the reverse fold distance Ap point of the posterior vaginal fornix to the hymen edge is denoted as Bp, the distance from the farthest position of the external cervical orifice to the hymen edge is denoted as C, and the distance from the position of the posterior vaginal fornix (or rectouterine pouch) to the hymen edge is denoted as D; thereafter, these parameters Aa, Ap, Ba, Bp, C and D are compared with the comparison values given by the POP-Q assessment system to obtain assessment regarding the severity of pelvic organ prolapse, thereby offering instructions for subsequent diagnosis and treatment.
After the POP-Q assessment system is applied to clinical diagnosis and treatment, the POP-Q assessment is quite troublesome due to the lack of standard dedicated tools. In view of this, the Patent Office of the People's Republic of China disclosed an invention patent No. CN107788988A entitled "Device for Measuring Severity of Female Pelvic Organ Prolapse" on Mar. 13, 2018. The device for measuring severity of female pelvic organ prolapse disclosed by this patent comprises a handheld portion and a main measurement body. The main measurement body has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the first end is connected to the handheld portion and the second end is bent outwardly by deviating from an extension direction of the main measurement body; and the main measurement body comprises a scale zone having scales marked on the outer surface of the main measurement body; the scales comprise scale lines dividing the main measurement body into multiple zones and scale values showing the lengths. This patent only overcomes the problem of value measurement for pelvic organ prolapse and, when in use, needs to be used in cooperation with an endoscope. Moreover, after measurement, values for pelvic organ prolapse need to be recorded manually. As such, at least one to two assistants are required to help achieve the POP-Q assessment, which appears to be quite uneconomical with tremendous insufficiency of medical staff at present.

Device for diagnosing and treating pelvic organ prolapse and application method thereof


An assembly configuration between a wind turbine rotor blade and a rotor hub includes a rotor hub having one or more pitch bearings, with each pitch bearing having an outer diameter race and an inner diameter race. Rotor blades are affixed to the respective pitch bearing rings, with the rotor blades having a root end with an outer diameter. An adaptor is configured between the root end and the pitch bearing, with the adaptor affixed to the inner diameter race and the root end affixed to the adaptor. The adaptor defines a mounting surface for the root end radially inward of the pitch bearing such that the root end outer diameter is less than the diameter of the inner diameter race.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy from wind using known foil principles and transmit the kinetic energy through rotational energy to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
With conventional designs, a pitch bearing is assembled to the rotor hub for each respective rotor blade, with the root end of the blade bolted directly to the pitch bearing. The pitch bearing design is driven largely by the finite stiffness of the parts to which the bearing mates, particularly the blade root. The bearings deform less under load when the component they are attached to has a greater stiffness. For larger rotor designs, the pitch bearing design margins are often the parameter that dictates the blade root diameter. However, the root area of the blade contributes little to the efficiency of the blade and current blade radius of curvature design/manufacturing limits result in a relatively long spanwise transition from the relatively large root end to the thinner airfoil section of the blade. As such, as the wind turbines increase in size and output (with the corresponding increase in blade size), the cost of the rotor assembly increases as a function of pitch bearing design margins without a proportional increase in blade efficiency.
Accordingly, there is need for an improved bearing/blade root configuration that enables more cost effective rotor system designs and provides for a shorter span-wise transition from the root to the airfoil section of the blade without necessarily decreasing the overall spanwise length of the blades.

Root end assembly configuration for a wind turbine rotor blade and associated forming methods