A method for the preparation of a polyolefin foil by developing a foil from mass having a content of polyolefin and with subsequent treatment of the foil by an electron beams beam. The polyolefin foil prepare according to the invention specific method distinguishes itself vis-à-vis the state of the art by favorable price, concurrent with excellent ability of being laminated and embossed as well as having high grain stability.

The invention concerns a method for the preparation of a foil from a mass with a content of a non-interlaced polyolefin, of compound structures and shaped bodies made from same, as well as their utilization, for example as interior coverings of motor vehicles, in particular as dashboard foil.
Polyolefin foils are currently utilized in the most diverse sectors of the industry. Of particular significance is their utilization as packing material, as cover foil or in combination with other flat-shaped articles as compound structures. Another area of utilization is their further processing into shaped bodies, for example via deep-draw method. Frequently, the polyolefin foils and/or the composite structures and shaped bodies made from same are intended to also fulfill aesthetic functions. The mentioned areas of application require polyolefins to have a particular property spectrum, whereby said foils, in particular in connection with further processing by deep-draw method, shall at the same time have high mechanical stability and resistance toward aging and be embossable and capable of being laminated and have excellent grain stability.
According to the present state of the art, the polyolefin foil with the named properties is prepared by using partially interlaced polyolefin raw materials in mixture with other thermoplastic polyolefins. The partially interlaced raw materials are not obtainable as reactor products. In order to manufacture them it is, therefore, necessary to perform another reaction step after the polymerization. This additional reaction definitely raises the price for these products above the price level of polyolefin commodities. Another drawback of the previously employed method consists in that the polyolefin foil made from the mixture of partially interlaced polyolefin raw materials with other thermoplastic polyolefins is fixed with respect to its interlacing degree and thus with respect to its properties. A foil made of a given mixture is therefore only suitable for a given application spectrum.
The treatment by electron beams of polyolefin-containing flat-shaped articles for purposes of modification of mechanical properties is known from the state of the art. Thus, EP-A-0 425 695 describes an electron-beam interlaced path-shaped foam, which was obtained via a method which comprises an electron-beam hardening of a mixture of a polyolefin-containing homo- and copolymers and a gas-developing agent and subsequent foaming via thermal treatment. The technical purpose of electron-beam treatment consists in preventing the escape of the gas which develops during the thermal decomposition of the expanding agent by means of interlacing of the polymers on the surface of the foam. The developed foam has a density of 0.005 to 0.1 g/cm3. The subsequently described invention-specific method excludes foaming conditions.
Proceeding from said state of the art, it is the object of the present invention to make available a method for the preparation of polyolefin foils, which are embossable and capable of being laminated, which have excellent grain stability, and in addition, which, in comparison with foils prepared according to previous methods, can definitely be produced more cost-effectively. Furthermore, the invention-specific method shall open up the possibility of also influencing, within certain limitations, the mechanical properties of the polyolefin foils after forming the foils from the starter substances. Moreover, beneficial utilization of these polyolefin foils and/or of the composite structures made from same is being proposed.
According to the invention, this object is solved by means of a method for the preparation of a grained foil from a mass with a content of a non-interlaced polyolefin and, possible, another additive, whereby the obtained foil is treated with electron beams, characterized in that the foil obtained in the conventional manner is treated with electron beams in order to achieve a graining stability suitable for deep-drawing and the grained foil having a density of approximately 0.7 to 1.2 g/cm3 is then deep drawn. As a result of targeted treatment with electron beams, a corresponding interlacing takes place with respect to the previously non-interlaced polyolefin.
The spectrum of the employed non-interlaced polyolefin is, on principle, not subject to any restriction. Preferably employed as non-interlaced polyolefins are: polyolefins such as PP, PE, poly(I-butene), polyisobutylene, poly(4-methylpentene), PP-copolymers or -terpolymers with C2, C4-C12-xcex1-olefins, PE-co-polymers or -terpolymers with C3 to C12-xcex1-olefins or mixtures thereof, whereby diene monomers may also be employed as co or ter-monomers, which contain non-conjugated dual bonds, such as, for example, 1.4 hexadiene, 5-methyl-1.5-hexadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-butyliden-2-norbonene, dicyclopentadiene, 1.4-octadiene, cyclohexadiene or cyclo-octadiene; co-polymers of propylene and/or ethylene with polar co-monomers like acrylic acid and/or its C1-C12 esters, methyl acrylic acid and/or its C1-C12 esters, vinyl-esters, saturated C2-C8 carbonic acids, optionally with carbon monoxide as ter-monomer, graft copolymers of propylene and/or ethylene with 8-45% grafted on units of unsaturated carbonic acids, dicarbonic acids, their esters and/or anhydrides as well as mixtures of the named polymers. Particularly preferentially employed are polypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene-co-polymers or terpolymers with C2, C4-C12-xcex1-olefins and/or polyethylene-co-polymers or terpolymers with C3-C12-xcex1-olefins.
The polyolefins are preferably characterized prior to interlacing by a melt flow index MFI (230xc2x0 C., 2.16 kg) of approximately 0.1 to 800 g/10 min., in particular approximately 0.1 to 200 g./10 min., most particularly preferred approximately 0.1 to 20 g/10 min.
In addition to the non-interlaced polyolefins, the mass employed for developing the foil can also contain additional components. There may thus also be present a percentage of pre-interlaced polymers, whereby said percentage is to be set up so that the above formulated object will be adequately complied with. These pre-interlaced polymers are preferably employed in a quantity which is smaller than 10%, preferably smaller than approximately 5% and in particular smaller than 3%.
In addition to the polymer constituents, the mass employed for the preparation of the foil preferably contains a series of auxiliary agents, such as interlacing substances, anti-oxidation means, light protection means and/or aging protection means. So as to obtain, for example, an adequate interlacing degree during the subsequent electron beam treatment, an interlacing auxiliary is preferably employed. This applies in particular to polyolefins for which the chain fission, which takes place as a concurrent reaction to the interlacing, produces notable effect. Affected are, in particular, polyolefins with tertiary and quaternary C-atoms. Employed as interlaing auxiliaries are, in particular, singly- or multiply-unsaturated compounds, such as acrylate of 1- or multi-valent alcohols, such as, for example, trimethylolpropantriacylate, methacrylate of 1 or multi-valent alcohols, such as, for example, trimethylolpropantrimethacrylate, vinyl-functional components, such as styrene and di-vinyl-benzol, allyl-compounds, such as triallycyanurate, triallylisocyante, sulfur, p-chinodioxime, N-methyl-N, 4-dinitrosaniline, nitrobenzol, diphenylguandine, trimethylolpropane-N,Nxe2x80x2-m-phenylen-dimaleimide.
Trimethylolpropantrimethacrylate is particularly preferred as interlacing agent. In a beneficial specific embodiment, interlacing agents are employed in a quantity of up to approximately 20% by weight, preferably up to approximately 10% by weight, and, more particularly, of approximately 2 to 6% by weight in proportion to the contents of the mass of non-interlaced polyolefins. Preferably included are antioxidation means, especially phenol derivatives, lactones, phosphites, and/or sterically inhibited amines in a quantity of up to approximately 5, preferably up to approximately 3.5% by weight, more particularly of up to approximately 0.2 to 2.5% by weight in relationship to the weight of the mass.
If mention is made, within the scope of the invention, that the invention-specific radiated foil is obtained in the customary manner, then this information, by itself, sufficient for the addressed expert. Specifically involved may be an extrusion method, co-extrusion and calendering method, including blow forming. The foil formation with non-interlaced components has the advantage, especially with respect to the extrusion and calendering method, that is it possible, in contrast to the pre-interlaced component, to perform this process step at low temperature and with greater speed. The interlacing of the foil can be done either directly after foil preparation, after a varnishing process, after a laminating process or an embossing process. Radiation can take place on one side as well as on both sides. With respect to single side radiation, the view side as well as the reverse side may be facing the electron beam source during the interlacing.
The thickness of the foil prepared according to the invention is not critical, whereby a thickness is preferred of approximately 0.2 to 2.0, in particular of approximately 0.4 to 1.4 mm. Within the scope of the invention, the foil thickness, as it exists after radiation lies within relative large parameters, particularly in the range of approximately 0.8 to 1.0, preferably in the range of approximately 0.85 to 0.95 gcm3.
The mechanical properties of the radiated foils in accordance with the invention can be controlled, within certain limitations, by means of the beam dosis applied during the interlacing via electron beams. Beneficially, treatment with electron beams is performed with a beam dosis of approximately 10 to 500, in particular of approximately 30 to 300 kJ/m2. The gel contents of the polyolefin foils, which is of great significance for the mechanical properties, is also influenced by the applied beam dosis. Within the scope of the present invention, the gel content was determined according to the extraction method. Treatment of the foil with electron beams is beneficially undertaken to such degree that a gel content occurs of approximately 5 to 80, in particular of approximately 15 to 65%.
The radiated polyolefin foil prepared according to the invention specific method distinguishes itself by its particularly good embossing capability. In a preferred specific embodiment, the polyolefin foil is, therefore, subjected to embossing, for example graining. The high graining stability of the foil proves itself as particularly beneficial. Another benefit of the polyolefin foil prepared in accordance with the invention consists in the excellent lamination capability, so that it can be beneficially laminated to form composite structures. Beyond that, the polyolefin foil or the composite structures prepared from same can be deep-drawn to form a shaped body in a preferred specific embodiment of the invention. The foil can also be further processed prior to the treatment with electron beams, after an embossing and/or laminating step.
The polyolefin foils prepared according to the invention, and the composite structures and shaped bodies produced from them present numerous advantages. In particular suited are the obtained invention-specific and into shaped bodies transformed polyolefin foils for use as interior linings of motor vehicles, specifically as dash-board foil, whereby high graining stability is an important consideration, since, due to the long usage length of motor vehicles, these very automotive dashboard foils are subjected to high demands. A stable, clean graining image commands particular importance for the quality impression of interior linings of motor vehicles. Substitution of pre-interlaced polyolefins in the starter mass by non-interlaced polyolefins leads to significant cost savings. Another benefit consists in that the subsequent interlacing of the foils by adjustment of an appropriate beam dosis makes it possible, within certain limitations, to influence the mechanical properties. The polyolefin foils according to the invention have, aside from high graining stability, excellent embossing and lamination capability. Thus it has been shown that in the further processing by deep draw method, particularly beneficial properties are being preserved.
With the known methods it frequently happens that during the deep-draw process, areas of the deep-drawn foil are disturbed in their homogeneity and/or even torn apart. These detrimental apparations are largely excluded according to the invention. Finally, the surface shine of the foils obtained in accordance with the invention is significantly reduced.
The inventions will be explained in more detail below, making use of examples:

Method for preparation of a polyolefin foil and its utilization


A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.

The disclosed embodiments relate to a print shop configuration system, and, more particularly, to an approach in which a print shop configuration is optimally selected from a list of possible print shop configurations with a criterion.
Conventional print shops typically are organized in a fashion so that related equipment is grouped together. For example, printing equipment may be grouped and located together, while finishing equipment may be grouped and located in another location. Thus, the print shop may be set up to have a printing department, a finishing department, and other departments corresponding to the type of process or operation that is performed within that department. The organization of a print shop is typically often independent of print job complexity, print job mix and total volume of print jobs.
When a new print job arrives, the print job sequentially passes through each department until the print job is completed. The conventional approach leads to significant time delays and increased work-in-progress and inventory costs.
In accordance with an improved approach, a print shop may be reorganized into autonomous cells as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/706,430 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,266, issued Jul. 18, 2006) by Rai et al. (filed Nov. 3, 2000), the pertinent portions of which are incorporated by reference. For each autonomous cell in a corresponding group, resources (e.g., equipment or stations) are grouped together according to different job classes commonly encountered by a specific print shop.
The above-mentioned techniques for configuring print shops can be very effective in optimizing a print shop configuration, provided the designer of the configuration has a comprehensive grasp of both a significant number of print shop configurations available for use, and a criteria for selecting a suitable configuration from the significant number of configurations. It should be noted that having a comprehensive grasp of available print shop configurations can be rather challenging since the number of possible configurations can be quite significant for print shops employing significant number of equipment pieces (i.e., "stations") and/or cells. In addition, competing goals of different customers of the print shop might make it difficult to determine the appropriate criteria for use in determining optimal print shop performance. It would be desirable to provide a print shop configuration technique permitting a configuration designer to be apprised of a significant number of print shop configurations and to apply a criterion for obtaining a suitable print shop configuration from such significant number of print shop configurations.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed embodiments, there is provided a print shop configuration system for developing a print shop configuration. The print shop configuration includes at least one print processing related cell with at least one print processing related station. The print shop configuration system includes: (A) a memory for storing a list of substantially all possible print shop configurations that can be formed with at least one print processing related cell and at least one print processing related station; and (B) a print shop configuration manager, said print shop configuration manager operating cooperatively with an application for, (1) simulating a processing of each print job of a set of print jobs with each possible print shop configuration set forth in the list of all possible print shop configurations, (2) calculating a criteria value for each simulation performed in (B)(1), and (3) selecting, with the criteria values calculated in (B)(2), one of the print shop configurations from the list of substantially all possible print job configurations.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed embodiments, there is provided a method for developing a print job processing configuration. The print job processing configuration includes at least one print job processing related cell with at least one print job processing related station. The method includes: (A) storing a list of substantially all possible print job processing configurations that can be formed with at least one print job processing related cell and at least one print job processing related station; (B) simulating a processing of each print job of a set of print jobs with each possible print job processing configuration set forth in the list of all possible print job processing configurations; (C) calculating a criteria value for each simulation performed in (B); and (D) selecting, with the criteria values calculated in (C), one of the print job processing configurations from the list of substantially all possible print job processing configurations.
The following description of exemplary embodiments is directed to an approach for developing configurations in a print shop environment. However, it should be understood that the principles and techniques described herein might be used in other document production-related environments such as mailrooms, document scanning centers and the like.
For the purposes of discussion hereinafter, a "print shop" refers to a grouping of printing resources. The print shop may be a freestanding entity such as a commercial printer or may be part of a corporation or other entity. A "print job" refers to a logical unit of work that is to be completed for a customer. For example, a request to make 10 copies of a book is a print job. Similarly, a request to make 100 copies of a single document is a print job. A production function can be any operation or processing step involved in the processing of the print job. For example, a production function can be black & white printing, color printing, scanning, or packaging.
Further description of basic print shop configuration development is provided in the above-mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/706,430 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,266, issued Jul. 18, 2006) by Rai et al. As indicated by the '430 Patent Application, configuration resources, such as printers, copiers, cutters, shrink-wrappers and other varieties of equipment, may be partitioned into autonomous cells to form a print shop configuration. When a print job arrives, it may be assigned to a particular autonomous cell for completion. Each autonomous cell may act independently from the other autonomous cells in processing a print job. Print jobs may be partitioned into smaller-sized lots that are concurrently processed by autonomous cells in order to optimize the efficiency and throughput of each autonomous cell. Moreover, multiple print jobs may be processed concurrently by an autonomous cell, and multiple print jobs may be executed concurrently by multiple autonomous cells in parallel.
Print shop resources may be intelligently divided into autonomous cells. An analysis is made of print jobs that are typically performed by a print shop. Each type of print job is classified into a print job class according to the resources required to execute it. A print job class may be depicted graphically as a set of operations that are connected by edges representing the sequence of flow of operations in the print job. The capacity of each of the pieces of equipment or stations in the print shop to perform operation is determined. The capacity for each print job class needed to meet the customer requirements is determined. The print shop resources may then be organized into autonomous cells and used during operation in an optimal fashion.
As evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,328 B2 to Rai et al., the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/052,505 by Rai et al. (filed on Jan. 11, 2002 (published as 20030149747 on Aug. 7, 2003)), the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference, a suitable server (designated with the numeral 10 in FIG. 1) can be used to coordinate production of document processing jobs in a document factory (such as a print shop—designated by the numeral 12 in FIG. 1), and exploit production techniques to control document processing jobs. The server can be run on a number of different platforms, including but not limited to UNIX, Windows or Window NT based-platform, such as a server computer system. The server, being operatively associated with a suitable amount of memory 14 (FIG. 1), determines workflow priorities and manages workflow accordingly. It should be understood that "memory," as that term is used herein, refers to all forms of storage, including volatile as well as non-volatile memory. Moreover, as contemplated, the memory includes all forms of memory that can be associated with the server, including portable and non-portable forms of memory. Finally, the server can, with inputs regarding cell number and equipment types (from, for instance, the CPSC from FIG. 14) develop a print shop configuration in accordance with the framework described below with respect to FIGS. 2-5.
As follows from the description above-mentioned with respect to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/706,430 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,266, issued Jul. 18, 2006) by Rai et al., sound document production principles can be employed to configure print shops so that flows and efficiencies are acceptable. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of production design that the term "flow" is sometimes associated herein with volumetric rate. However, it should be understood that generating or developing print shop configurations, such that efficiency and job scheduling is optimized, can present a significant problem. In particular, the ways in which equipment can be combined in a print shop to make a cellular system may be expressed as:(C+1)S
where, C is the number of cells and S is the number of unassigned stations (or equipment types)
The "+1" represents the fact that a station can be in a cell or unassigned. Thus, if a shop contains eighteen pieces of equipment and is expected to have three cells, then the number of potential shop configurations is 418.
As described in further detail below, one of the disclosed embodiments relates to an approach for determining an optimum print shop configuration by searching (and thereby listing) all potential configurations for a given print shop, and using a selected criterion for determining the optimal one of the potential configurations. It should be appreciated that, in some instances, it may be desirable to use a criterion that includes a combination of two or more criteria. A print shop configuration designer ("user") may wish to constrain the configuration search by (1) determining maximum cell count, and (2) choosing to associate selected pieces of equipment with certain cells. By constraining the search, the user can reduce the number of equipment combinations required, and reduce the search space employed. As will appear, the user determines the criterion on which each configuration will be judged. Some examples of potential criteria include:
Late jobs percent
Average Earliness
Average Lateness
Average PCE Average Turnaround Time (TAT)
Average VAT
Average PRT
Average Station Utilization
A Cost Factor including a Weighted Rating (with multiple criteria)
Before proceeding with a description of an application for determining an optimum print shop configuration, it would be helpful to understand two theoretical approaches underlying such application. In the first theoretical approach, searching technique is improved by reducing the number of configurations considered through eliminating equivalent print shop configurations, and in the second theoretical approach, searching technique is improved by reducing the number of configurations considered through eliminating irrelevant print shop configurations.
Referring initially to the first theoretical approach, the stations in a cell of a print shop are each capable of performing one or more functions at a rate known as the throughput. Each job requires one or more functions, and it is likely that many jobs processed in a print shop can be grouped in sets requiring the same, or at least common, functionality. A vector, representing common functionality, may be constructed, and each component of the vector may correspond to a function.
If the functionality vector (see below) represents the functionality present in a cell, then the magnitude of the component in the vector is equal to the sum of the throughputs of all of the machines in the shop that are capable of providing that functionality.({right arrow over (C)})}=(C1, C2, . . . , Ck)
]where, C is the vector representing the functionality of the cell in the vector space defined by the functionality in the shop.
Each function in the print shop is a different dimension in the vector space, and the magnitude of C in any given direction k corresponds to the throughput of the function (k) in that cell C. Thus, Ck is the sum of the throughput of all machines that can perform functionality "k" in the cell represented by the vector C. Accordingly, in order to determine whether two print shop configurations are essentially equivalent, it is sufficient to compare the vectors that represent their functionality, component by component. If the magnitude of each component of the two vectors differs by less than some tolerance (possibly around 10%), then the two print shop configurations may be considered to be functionally equivalent.
Cell configurations can be grouped together on the basis of equivalency. After an optimum group is determined, each configuration in its group will be analyzed to determine how to optimize within the group. For purposes of determining optimum cell configuration, only one configuration per group need be analyzed. Determining which member of the group to analyze is an ill-defined problem because it is difficult to predict, a priori, which member of the group is most representative (or best performing). Therefore, pursuant to the description of the application below, it will be assumed that the tolerance is set in such a manner that performance of all members of the group is roughly similar. Accordingly, which member of the group is simulated becomes unimportant.
The second theoretical approach uses the theoretical underpinning of the above-described functionality vector in conjunction with a job requirement related vector. In particular, if the functionality vector represents a print job, then the magnitude of the component of the vector represents the quantity of work required by that job from that functionality,{right arrow over (J)}=(J1, J2, . . . , Jk)
where, J is the vector representing the functionality requirements of the job and Jk is the specific requirement of functionality "k".
As contemplated by the disclosed embodiments, determining whether a given print shop configuration is relevant can be achieved by comparing the functionality vector of each cell in a print shop with each job to be printed at the shop. Comparing a cell to a job may be done without respect to throughputs, i.e., to the magnitudes of the vector components. Rather, the comparison can simply focus on whether the cell has the functionality to produce the job, i.e., a nonzero magnitude for any component of the vector. Various criteria for "relevancy" are contemplated. For instance, a cell might be deemed relevant if it were capable of printing either (1) one of the most common jobs processed at a given shop, or (2) some fraction of the total jobs processed at the given print shop. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various other criteria, in which requirements for a job are compared with the functionality of a cell, could be employed. The jobs selected for comparison might include, for instance, a preset number of jobs (e.g., five jobs) processed most by the shop or a selected percentile (e.g. top 20 percentile) of jobs processed by the shop. The types of jobs processed can be ordered by "flow", pages, or some other objective criterion.
In the disclosed embodiments, relevancy is assessed on a cell-by-cell basis even though many encountered configurations include multiple cells. It follows that the relevancy of a given configuration might hinge on either the (1) relevancy of each cell associated with the given configuration, or (2) collective relevancies of the given configuration's associated cells. While the approach disclosed herein considers the relevancy of each cell in determining relevancy of a given configuration, the disclosed embodiments also contemplate an approach in which collective relevancies of a given configuration are used to determine configuration relevancy.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, concepts applicable to the development of an optimal print shop configuration are shown in the form of a series of flow charts. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these concepts can readily be implemented on the server 10 of FIG. 1 (also referred to herein as a print shop configuration manager ("manager")). Referring first to 20 in FIG. 2, the manager can, based on input regarding the number of cells (C) desired and available equipment or stations (S), enumerate or generate a list of all possible print shop configurations. Prior to enumeration, a station can be either allocated (i.e., designated for use in one or more of the available cells) or unallocated. To the extent a station is allocated, the number of possible print shop configurations will be reduced in number.
As mentioned above, the number of possible configurations can be very large. Hence, prior to assessing which configuration might be optimal for a given print shop setting (FIG. 5), one or two subroutines can be employed (via the flow charts of FIGS. 3 and 4) to significantly reduce or prioritize the list of possible print shop configurations (hereinafter referred to simply as "list"). In one embodiment, at 22, the configuration development process branches of to relevancy analysis subroutine. Pursuant to branching off to the relevancy analysis, the list of possible configuration is made available.
Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a parameter, designated as "config(i)" is initialized, at 24, to correspond with the first entry in the list. As is common, "i" serves as an index for the list so that i=1 for the first configuration entry in the list, i=2 for the second configuration entry in the list, and so on. Initially config(1) is communicated to a relevancy analysis process 26. As contemplated, all of the components necessary to analyze relevancy are brought together and considered at the process. In one example, the process 26 generates functionality related information (in the form of C vectors) in accordance with the description above.
The process 26 also has access to inputs such as a "Job Set 28." The Job Set includes all necessary information relating to job types encountered at a given print shop. At least some of the information may be obtained by surveying print shop consumers, or directly from shop job logs. In practice, the process 26 may be further provided with, among other things, a performance requirement, such as flow, pages printed, or some other quantity. In one example of operation, the process 26 ranks the job types for the given print shop based on the performance requirement of the job in order to determine the highest volume of jobs produced by the shop. As will be appreciated, depending on particular requirements of shop consumers, other metrics besides print production may be used as a criterion for determining relevancy.
As should now appear, the process 26 is capable of generating job requirement related information in the form of one or more J vectors. Using the C and J vectors, the process, in one example, compares each cell to each job type to determine whether the cell is "relevant." In this way, the process determines, for each cell, whether it can produce one of the most common job types produced by the shop as a whole. Put simply, if a given set of one or more cells can process a given set of one or more job types in a pre-selected manner, then the configuration corresponding with the given set of one or more cells is deemed relevant. After determining whether a configuration (with its associated cells) is relevant (R) or irrelevant (I), an answer of R or I ("R/I") is provided to sorting function 30.
If the configuration currently under consideration is relevant, then it is stored via 32; otherwise, the same configuration is deleted at 34. At 36, the current position of the index i is checked to determine if the last configuration has been considered. If the last of n configurations has been considered (so that i>n), then the relevant configurations may be uploaded (via 38) for use in the main routine of FIG. 5 (i.e., the relevant configurations are made candidates for evaluation); otherwise, the index is increased by 1 (40) so that the next configuration can be retrieved at 24 and analyzed at 26.
Returning again to FIG. 2, the need for a redundancy check is considered at 42. Referring to FIG. 4, if a redundancy check is desired, then the process branches to 44. Referring conjunctively to FIGS. 3 and 4, the step at 44 is similar to that at 24, retrieving configuration related information (i.e., information corresponding with "config(i)") sequentially from the list generated at 20 (FIG. 2). Initially config(1) is communicated to a redundancy analysis process 46. As contemplated, all of the components necessary to analyze redundancy (R) and non-redundancy (N) are brought together at the process 46. In one example, the process 46 is capable of generating cell related information for each configuration, in the form of one or more C vectors.
For the initial configuration (config(i)), the process 46 returns a non-redundancy (N) indicator, so that the information is directed from the sorting function 48 to the storage function 50. After storing the information at 50, a check is performed at 52 to determine if all of n configurations have been assessed for redundancy. Assuming the current configuration is not the nth configuration, then the index is increased by 1 (54), and further information regarding the next configuration is obtained at 44.
For a current configuration in which i>1, the redundancy process compares the functionality vector of the current configuration to stored information from each previously considered configuration, in accordance with the description above. In one instance, the process 46 determines which shop configurations are equivalent to each other by determining that they have similar (to within some tolerance) rates of production of the functionalities of each of their cells. As can be understood, since configurations from the above-mentioned list are being compared to one another, it is desirable to save information about each configuration after it has been considered for redundancy. It follows that the saved information can be purged once all of the possible configurations on the list have been considered. Additionally, each redundant configuration may be withheld from consideration (via 56) and non-redundant configurations can be uploaded (58) for use by the routine of FIG. 5 (i.e., the non-redundant configurations are made candidates for evaluation). It should be further noted that, in one exemplary implementation, non-redundant configurations might be placed in one group, while redundant configurations might be placed in another group. In accordance with the description above, selected configurations from the redundant configuration group could then be evaluated (via the routine of FIG. 5) along with possible configurations of the non-redundant configuration group.
Referring now to FIG. 5, unfiltered or filtered configurations (filtered for relevancy and/or redundancy) may be introduced sequentially at 62. Initially, a simulation of the first configuration (config(1)) is performed at 64 for each job of the job set 66. It should be appreciated that the job set 66 does not typically include all types of jobs executed in a given print shop. In one example, the jobs would merely be representative of those types of jobs commonly processed in the given print shop. As mentioned above, the commonly encountered job types can be obtained from, among other sources, consumer surveys or print shop logs.
After simulating the full job set (i.e., after performing a "complete simulation" for the configuration under consideration), one or more criteria is calculated, at 68, for the current configuration. In one example, one of the calculated criteria may relate to job processing time and, in another example, one of the calculated criteria may relate to resource (factory) utilization or cost. A comprehensive discussion relating to the types of data generated in a document production environment (and hence available criteria) is provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/946,756, filed Sep. 22, 2004, by Duke et al., Publication No. 20050065830, published on Mar. 24, 2005, the pertinent portions of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Responsive to user input (not shown), at 70, a current criterion value (CV(i)) (from calculated criteria values) is selected. User input may be obtained prior to the examinations of the enumerated configurations, and it is understood that, in practice, the user would choose a criterion type (such as TAT), rather than any particular value. A check at 72 takes into account that CV(1) is initially the best criteria value (BCV) encountered thus far, and that the corresponding configuration is the best configuration encountered thus far (Configu(1)=NewBest). Assuming that i>1, then CV(i) is, at 76, compared with the currently stored BCV. Viewed from one perspective, CV(i) serves as a rating of the configuration under question. The current rank of CV(i) under question can then be obtained by comparing CV(i) to the currently stored BCV.
If, as determined with 78, current CV(i) is the best value obtained thus far (e.g., faster processing time or better utilization of resources), then current BCV, at 80, assumes the value of the current CV(i), at 80, and the corresponding configuration is designated as NewBest. Notwithstanding the answer obtained at 78, a check is performed at 82 to determine if n configurations (the number of configuration in the enumerated list) have been considered. If i>n, then the process is done; otherwise, the value of i is increased by 1, at 84, and the next configuration in the list is retrieved for consideration.
In view of the above description, various features of the disclosed embodiments can be readily comprehended:
I. By applying a criterion to a list of possible print shop configurations, the disclosed print shop development system employs an optimization search, as opposed to a comprehensive iterative one
II. The disclosed print shop configuration development system contemplates a simulation with a set of print jobs, the print jobs of the print job set being representative of the types of print jobs most commonly encountered by a given print shop configuration system. Moreover, the set of print jobs may vary as a function of user requirements.
III. A value corresponding with a number of print processing related cells may be selected, and the number of selected print processing related cells to be used in each print shop configuration is stored in a memory. Additionally, user input, indicating which one of two or more stations is to be used in developing at least one of two or more cells, may be stored in memory.
IV. Two approaches may be used to shorten or prioritize a list of all possible print shop configurations: (A) the list may be shortened to eliminate any possible print shop configurations that cannot process selected types of print jobs, and (B) the list may be sorted so that substantially equivalent print shop configurations of the list are classified as belonging in one group and substantially nonequivalent configurations of the list may be classified as belonging in another group.
V. Each time a complete simulation is performed with a possible print shop configuration and a print job set, a configuration rating is given to the possible print shop configuration. In turn, one or more possible print shop configurations can then be rated with obtained configuration ratings.
VI. Many criteria, one which might include print job processing time or cost, can be used to select one of several possible print shop configurations.
It will be appreciated that various ones of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. Unless specifically recited in a claim, steps or components of claims should not be implied or imported from the specification or any other claims as to any particular order, number, position, size, shape, angle, color, or material.

System and method for developing a print shop configuration


An illuminating brick includes a block and at least one light-emitting element mounted in the brick. The brick has a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of lateral side surfaces interconnecting the top and bottom faces. The at least one light-emitting element is engaged in and optically coupled to at least one of the bottom face and lateral side surfaces. The lateral side surfaces and the bottom face are configured for reflecting and directing light emitted from the at least a light-emitting element to exit through the top face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illuminating brick and particularly to an illuminating brick using LED components as light source.
2. Description of Related Art
Cast concrete paving components are often referred to as unit pavers when installed abutted or in quantity covering large areas and as stepping stones when installed in strings or individual to form a narrow pathway or walk way. The use of unit pavers and the stepping stones for covering soil or loose surface to provide walkways, pathways, floors or road surfaces is well known. Typically, unit pavers and stepping stones are designed have an attractive appearance as well as being functional. The most common unit pavers and stepping stones are constructed from cast concrete or pressure formed aggregates to provide a heavy weight, hard surface and durable paver or stepping stone, as needed. In addition to being functional, unit pavers and stepping stones are versatile and are typically available in various shapes, sizes, colors, textures and interlocking designs.
A lighting is often desirable for providing light on the paved surface. The most common method for lighting a surface is to use light fixtures, such as lamp posts, designed to cast light onto the surface for aesthetic and safety reasons. However, the light cast from a fixture may only illuminate a portion of the surface adjacent to the fixture and may not sufficiently illuminate the entire surface. Moreover, lighting fixtures may not be practical or desirable to be positioned adjacent to the paved surface to provide the needed light because of natural or man-made obstacles.
What is needed, therefore, is an illuminating brick, which has an improved dissipating structure to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.


A multiple dial lock includes reset dials rotatable around a lock shaft. Each reset dial must be at a specific angular position for a user to unlock the lock or reset the combination. Each reset dial has a magnet. A master key includes sensors, each in communication with one signal. Each of the signals indicates to a user that a respective magnet is adjacent a respective sensor, thus assisting a user in recovering a lost combination. A rotary lock includes a dial which rotates a drive cam, which in turn rotates several wheels to their unlocking positions. One magnet for each wheel is provided on the drive cam. Each magnet communicates with one sensor provided on a master key, which also includes signals, indicating that a respective magnet is adjacent a respective sensor, thus assisting a user in recovering a lost combination.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to combination locks, and more particularly to a combination lock that is provided with a master key, which can be used to recover a lost combination.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a resettable multiple dial combination lock has reset dials connected to the interior surfaces of outer dials. To reset the combination of such a lock, the outer dials are turned to the correct combination, and a reset button is then pressed. The reset dials move along with the reset button, disengaging from the outer dials, which allows the outer dials to freewheel. Upon the reset button's release, the reset dials slide into and engage with the outer dials once more, resetting the combination to that shown by the new positions of the outer dials. However, once a combination to such a lock is lost or forgotten, it can be extremely difficult to recover.
A rotary lock includes a single dial, which rotates a spindle that passes through clearance holes in the centers of wheels (one wheel for each number in the combination), and turns a drive cam located behind the wheels. A drive pin protruding from the front surface of the drive cam engages a wheel fly on the back surface of the backmost wheel. Each wheel has one wheel fly on its back surface and one on its front, such that each wheel is rotated by the wheel directly behind it. In dialing the first number in the combination, a user rotates the dial several complete rotations clockwise, such that all the wheel flies are engaged with one another, and thus all the wheels are rotating, until the frontmost wheel is at its unlocking position. At its unlocking position, a notch in the wheel is directly below a fence. This is repeated counterclockwise for the second wheel, and so on until all wheels are at their unlocking positions, at which point the fence falls into the notches, unlocking the lock.
Other combination locks have been provided with a master key feature. While such a feature may permit opening of the lock without the combination, it does not facilitate recovery of a lost combination.


The invention concerns a home kit and a method for detection of the presence of a fecal parasite in a stool.

The present invention is generally in the field of kits, and more specifically concerns kits for domestic use for the self-detection of various physiological conditions.
Parasitology is one of the very few remaining tests in clinical medicine which relies on the visual recognition skills of a trained technologist. It involves, in fact, two visual recognition skills. One is the identification of particular morphological features characterizing an organism as belonging to a certain species, and being able to recognize it by name. The other, and much more difficult skill is the ability to recognize old, young, damaged, deformed, or even partially degraded organismsxe2x80x94perhaps occurring only at the edge of a microscopic fieldxe2x80x94and know that it is a particular parasite. Such being the case, a negative result for a parasitology test only indicates that no parasite was found, and can not be conclusive that a patient is negative for parasites.
The problem of parasite identification for the laboratory is additionally difficult due to the fact that parasite frequency can vary widely, and may not have any relation to severity of disease. Parasite reports are typically graded from rare to many. It is possible, in fact for a person to have a serious parsitological infestation, but to have only infrequent, periodic, or occasional shedding of parasitic organisms. In the case of low frequency of occurrence in the stool, organisms may or may not be present in the particular specimens being examined under the microscope.
The problem of parasite identification for the laboratory is additionally complicated due to the fact that transportation of specimens from the patient to the clinical laboratory is usually delayed and during this delay the parasites may die or be degraded, thus decreasing even further the chances of identification.
Thus, the situation exists where many clinical laboratories fail to detect parasites which, in fact, are present in patient specimens. Clinical laboratory surveys in the United States frequently report a positive prevalence of parasites of 1-3%, and rarely over 5%. Yet various published studies by specialty, or university based laboratories, show that the true positive rate can be as much as 4- or 5-fold higher than
In response to this situation, parasitologists have developed methods of concentrating parasites and staining them with contrasting colors so as to improve recognition ability. Thus, a concentration procedure followed by a trichrome staining procedure has been developed as the standard method of properly performed parasitology analysis. This method, however, is laborious and time consuming. It is, therefore, not done by all labs all the time, in spite of recommendations to that effect. Even when performed, it does not address or solve all the problems mentioned above.
In recognition of this situation diagnostic device companies have developed tests for particular parasites. Notably tests for giardia lamblia, entamoeba histolytica, and cryptosporidium sp. are commercially available. These take two forms, either being an ELISA test (i.e.: Alexon-Trend, Inc), or fluorescent tagging of the organisms followed by direct microscopic examination (ie:Meridian Diagnostics, Inc). The problem with these tests, however, is that they attempt to identify a particular organism, and not all organisms or the overall presence of parasites. Furthermore these tests require laboratory procedures and the intervention of skilled technicians.
The nature of parasite examination, and prevalence in the world, divides the parasites into two large groups: protozoans, and worms and eggs. Protozoans are single celled organisms, and are the most common parasites found in developed countries of the world. They are, also, as a rule, smaller than worms and eggs, and are examined on high power (40xc3x97) of the microscope. Worms and eggs on the other hand are multi-cellular organisms, and are very common in underdeveloped countries of the world. They are, as a rule, larger than protozoans and are examined at low power (10xc3x97) of the microscope.
What is needed by medical science and the market, therefore, are two testsxe2x80x94one for protozoans, and one for worms and eggs. It would be sufficient to identify those specimens which are positive and differentiate them from those that are negative. It would be even more advantageous, however, to identify specifically those particular parasites which are present in each specimen.
The present invention is based on the realization that there is a need for a non-invasive, fast, accurate, and user friendly method for diagnosing the presence of parasites, both protozoan and non-protozoan, in stool. The need is especially evident in view of the high false negative diagnosis of many standard laboratory tests and the high level of skill required to identify, under a microscope the instance and type of the parasite. The present invention is further based on the realization that detection of the presence of parasites in stool is of the type of detections which may be carried out at home, or at a doctor""s clinic, without involving an analyzing laboratory, since the patient (or doctor) can easily understand a positive result of such a test, and proceeds to treat the parasite, with consultation with a doctor by the administration of anti-parasitic compounds. Furthermore, there is a great advantage of detecting parasites in fresh stool instead of waiting until the parasite reaches the laboratory resulting many times in non-viable or degraded parasites.
The present invention is further based on the realization that it is possible to develop a kit for such a non-invasive, reliable and home (and practitioner""s office) testing.
Thus the present invention by its first aspect concerns a home kit for detection of the presence of a parasite in a stool sample, the kit comprising:
(a) a vessel for mixing a stool specimen with a diluting liquid to produce a diluted stool specimen;
(b) a housing holding within a substrate, the substrate comprising at least one zone containing at least one anti-parasitic antibody, the housing further comprising reagents for producing a visually detected reaction when an antibody-parasite antigen complex is formed, the housing further comprising at least one conveying means for receiving diluted stool specimen and transferring it to the anti-parasitic antibody containing zone of the substrate;
(c) the housing further comprises an indicator for showing the presence of the visually detected reaction.
Preferably the anti-parasitic antibodies are polyclonal, in order to ensure that they interact effectively with all varieties of a specific specie of parasites. The antibodies may be prepared by any method known in the art, for example, by immunizing an animal with a suitable parasite or an immunogenic portion thereof, and then collecting the antibodies produced. Where the antibody is monoclonal, it should be against a conserved epitope of the specific parasite spears which is common to any many varieties of the parasite species as possible.
The antibodies may be against an immunogenic epitope present on the external surface of the protozoa or non-protozoa parasite, or against an immunogenic epitope of a compound shed of secreted from the parasites, such as parasite eggs.
The term xe2x80x9chome kitxe2x80x9d in the context of the present invention refers to the fact that the kit of the invention, and the detection reaction produced therein, does not necessitate any complicated machinery for collecting the specimen and preparing it, for positioning the specimen in the kit, and for reading and interpreting the resultsxe2x80x94and typically, the results can be viewed by the naked eye, or by simple optical reactor. The term does not necessarily mean that the kit is only operable at home, since due to its non-invasiveness and it is easy, user friendly manner of operation, it can be also used in a practitioner""s office or even in hospitals without involving an analytical laboratory.
The kit of the present invention comprises a vessel in which a small amount of stool specimen can be placed and diluted by a suitable diluting liquid. The vessel can then be sealed and the stool and diluting liquid shaken to produce a diluted stool specimen. The diluting liquid may be plain tap water, but according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the diluting liquid is, saline, distilled water, 10% formalin solution, sodium acetate solution with or without detergent and the like, and this diluting liquid is also provided as part of the kit""s present invention, either a priori present inside the vessel or in a separate container.
The vessel may be for example in the form of a regular capped tube, having graduations, which indicate the volume of the raw stool specimen which is to be placed inside the tube, as well as the amount of the diluting liquid to be added.
The kit may also comprise a construction for collecting the stool, such as a disposable sheet to be placed inside a toilet bowl, a disposable vessel for stool collection, etc., as well as a scooping device, for example in the shape of a small spoon to pick a determined amount of stool. The scooping device (scoop) may be an integral part of the vessel""s cap.
The kit""s main component is a housing which holds within a substrate. For example the housing may be a plastic container. The substrate may be sandwiched between two layers of the plastic container. On a predefined zone of the substrate are present antibodies against at least one parasite, and by a preferred embodiment they are immobilized on that zone. Examples of the substrates are absorbent material such as nitrocellulose sheets, gel-films, cellulose acetate, fiberglass sheet, paper, agarose gels, and in general any media featuring capillary force or absorbent forces of fluid. Typically the housing has at least one conveying means which can receive the diluted stool specimen and transfer it to said zone. The conveying of the liquid may be by capillary or absorbing flow, which are due to the inherent properties of substrate, or the inherent properties of a specifically desired layer or by the construction of specific flow channels which bring the fluid to the antibody-containing zone.
By one option the conveying means are a combination of an opening in the container which opening is associated with a construction which can transfer to diluted stool specimen to the zone on the substrate which holds the anti-parasite antibody and where the antibody-antigen interaction takes place. For example, the conveying means are in the shape of an opening in the housing through which a small amount of the diluted stool can be poured. The stool is then transferred to the antibody containing zone of the substrate, for example, by capillary forces either of the substrate itself (which is made of absorbent material) or by capillary or absorbent forces of a specially designed layer which sole purpose is to transfer the diluted stool to the antibody-containing zone, or by flow in specially designed channels.
By another option the conveying means is an absorbent material or material composed of capillaries which protrudes out of the housing, for example, an absorbent wick protruding out of an opening in the housing. In such a case the protruding substrate material is dipped in the diluted stool and due to capillary forces the liquid is transferred to the antibody-containing zone which is present inside the housing.
The anti-parasite antibodies may be immobilized on the substrate by any interaction such as covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic forces contained within voids of beads, etc.
Typically, large particles have to be filtered out of the diluted stool before the diluted stool is conveyed to the antibody-containing zone of the substrate. Said filtering may take place in the vessel itself, for example by constructing a two part cap: the more distal part serving as a seal, which hermetically closes the vessel and allows the user to vigorously mix its contents. However, this cap may be opened fully or partially to expose below a filter sieve which can ensure that only relatively small particles are poured from the vessel into the convening means.
Alternatively, the housing itself may comprise said filtering sieve, which for example may be present either at the mouth of the opening of the convening means, or may be present as a continuous filter sieve layer above the substrate zone on which the anti-parasite antibodies are present.
By a preferred option where the substrate is an absorbent material, the stool particles may be sieved on its upper layers of the substrate so that a filtered specimen reaches the layer of immobilized antigen.
By one embodiment, the kit may comprise a single parasite in stool antigen and in such a case it can give a binary (yes/no) indication, whether the stool contains that parasite. Alternatively, the indication may be quantitative, for example, by giving three shades of the same colorxe2x80x94a darker shade indicating xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d (amount of parasites in stool), than medium shade xe2x80x9cmediumxe2x80x9d, and light shade xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d.
By a preferred embodiment, the kit of the present invention is used to detect a plurality of different parasites, and in such a case it is possible to determine, in a single assay, whether the individual has a parasite in his/her stool and which type.
Kits in accordance with a preferred embodiment are generally divided into two groups according to the parasites to be detected; kits or the detection of protozoa parasites and kits for the detection of non-protozoa parasites.
The kits for the detection of fecal protozoan parasites are for the detection of protozoa (single cell parasite): Amoeba histolytica, Amoeba hartmanni, Amoeba coli, Amoeba nana, Giardia lamblia, , Cryptosporidium sp., Blastocystis hominis, Chilomastix mesnili, lodamoeba butschlii, Dientamoeba fragillis.
The kits for the detection of fecal non-protozoan parasites are for the detection of Platyhelminthes (flat worms): flukes (liver, intestines, lungs and blood) and tapeworms (intestines), Nemathelminthes (round worms); Strongyloides, Trichuris, Trichinella, Pin worms, Ascaris, et al.
Preferably the kits of the invention are for the detection of protozoa parasites.
The kits of the invention may be used for human and veterinary usage. Many times domestic animals and pets suffer from the same parasite problems as humans and the kit of the invention may be used to detect parasites in animal stools.
Typically, regions of the substrate surrounding the zone on which the anti-parasite is immobilized are saturated by non-specific hydrophilic polymers such as bovine serum albumin, other proteins, or polyethylene glycol to block unspecific binding of the antibody to the substrate.
Interaction between the anti-parasite antibodies, a priori present in the kit, and parasites or parasitic components (for example, epitopes shed or secreted by parasites, for example, eggs which are present in the stool specimen, yields an antigen-antibody complex. In the kit of the invention the presence of such a complex should produce a visually detected reactionxe2x80x94i.e. a reaction which produces a visible indication, which may be viewed either by the naked eye, or by an optical reader. Examples of such a reaction is a color reaction (achieved by ELISA method) or a precipitation reaction which can easily be detected. A plurality of methods for producing visually detected reaction for antigen-antibody complexes are well known in the art, for example, as specified in xe2x80x9cImmunoassay Handbookxe2x80x9d. by David Wild, 2nd Edition, Nature Publishing Group, pp 159-175, 271-277). An example is indirect ELISA, a procedure which is used to identify the presence of the stool antigen utilizing, for example, antibodies against the parasites conjugated to a visually detectable moiety (such as gold particles) or conjugated to an enzyme producing a color reactor). Another possibility is by detection of the presence of antibody-antigen aggregates, by visually detectable precipitation reaction.
The indicator is typically an opening in the housing (xe2x80x9ca windowxe2x80x9d), which allows direct viewing of the visually detected reaction. Typically the opening is immediately above the region on which the antibodies are immobilized. The view may be by the naked eye, for example, by the detection of a colored bar, or a colored dot, or alternatively may be viewed by an optical reader, to increase sensitivity.
Where a single parasite is to be detected, a single indicator can be used which when showing the indicator (color bar, dot, etc.) indicates that there exists the specific parasite in the stool.
Where a plurality of parasites are to be detected, a plurality of indicators (windows) can be used so that each indicator is associated with a single parasite. Alternatively, a single indicator giving different readings can be used wherein each reading is in accordance with the specific antigen-antibody complex formed and thus each reading is indicative of a different parasites, present in the sample.
For example, where five different parasites are to be tested, it is possible to construct a housing with five different and separate anti-parasite-antibody containing substrate zones, so that in each zone a different anti-parasite-antibody will be immobilized, and for each zone there will be associated a separate indicator. This will ensure that the visually detected reaction in each zone is specific to the anti-parasite antibody (and hence parasite) present on the substrate of said zone, and the indicator (xe2x80x9cwindowxe2x80x9d) will simply be specifically associated with each zone. In the above case the housing may have a single means convening for example in the form of an absorbent layer.
The liquid stool specimen is poured into an opening, and due to the fact that the substrate is absorbent, capillary forces present in the absorbent material, cause transfer of the diluted stool specimen through all the separate zones on which are immobilized different anti-parasite antibodies. Then, the specific visually detected reaction is formed in each separate zone which reaction can be viewed by the specific indicator associated with that zone (for example by a xe2x80x9cwindowxe2x80x9d in the container through which a colored bead can be viewed).
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the kit also contains internal control. The internal control is composed of those parasitic epitopes which specifically interact with the immobilized antibodies, present a priori, in the zone of the antibodies. The purpose of these, a priori, present parasitic antigens, is to form aggregates with the anti-parasitic antibody, to produce a visually detected reaction, in order to determine that the reagents used for producing the reaction are functioning properly.
The antibodies detected by the kit of the invention may be any antibody, monoclonal or polyclonal against a parasite.
As indicated above, polyclonal antibodies are preferred for ensuring that they react with all varieties of the species of parasites tested. Monoclonal antibodies are used and they should be directed against an epitope conserved in all varieties of the parasite species.
The present invention also concerns a method for detecting the presence of a parasite in a stool sample, the method comprising:
(a) obtaining a stool specimen;
(b) diluting the stool specimen with a diluting liquid to produce a diluted stool specimen;
(c) introducing the stool specimen into the kit of the invention; and
(d) viewing the indicator, the presence of a visually detected reaction in the indicator, indicating the presence of the parasite in the stool.

Kit and method for detecting fecal parasites


A method for restoring a virtual path, provisioned between a source and a target node, in a mesh zoned optical network is described. The method, in one embodiment, broadcasts or floods restore path requests in the network to expedite the identification of an alternate route and minimize the service disruption for failed virtual path. The flooding of requests is controlled to ensure efficient performance of the network yet guaranteeing minimum restoration time to allow critical telecommunication related traffic to flow through the network with virtually no interruption. The constant update of nodal topology by each node allows a fast identification of alternate physical path for failed virtual path.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of information networks, and more particularly relates to a protocol for configuring and restoring routes over a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's networks carry vast amounts of information. High bandwidth applications supported by these networks include streaming video, streaming audio, and large aggregations of voice traffic. In the future, these bandwidth demands are certain to increase. To meet such demands, an increasingly popular alternative is the use of lightwave communications carried over fiber-optic cables. The use of lightwave communications provides several benefits, including high bandwidth, ease of installation, and capacity for future growth.
Optical infrastructures are capable of transmission speeds in the gigabit range, which helps address the ever-increasing need for bandwidth mentioned above. Such infrastructures employ various topologies, including ring and mesh topologies. In order to provide fault protection, ring topologies normally reserve a large portion (e.g. 50% or more) of the network's available bandwidth for use in restoring failed circuits. However, ring topologies are capable of quickly restoring failed circuits. This capability is important in providing reliable service to customers, and is particularly important in telephony applications, where a failure can result in alarms, dropped calls, and, ultimately, customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue. In a similar vein, because of bandwidth demands, protocol overhead related to provisioning, restoration, and other functions should be kept to a minimum in order to make the maximum amount of bandwidth available for use by customers.
An alternative to the ring topology, the mesh topology reduces the amount of bandwidth needed for protection. The mesh topology is a point-to-point topology, with each node in the network connected to one or more other nodes. Because a circuit may be routed through various combinations of the network's nodes and over the various links which connect them, excess capacity through a given node or over a given link can serve to protect several circuits. However, the restoration of a circuit following a failure in a mesh topology can consume a relatively large amount of time.

Virtual path restoration scheme using fast dynamic mesh restoration in an optical network