Carbon materials are light in weight and excellent in chemical and thermal stability, and moreover, they show good thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity even though they are non-metal materials. However, their uses are limited in, for example, semiconductor manufacturing processes because they have the characteristic of dust emission.
In view of the problem, it has been proposed that, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below, a chromium carbide layer composed of Cr23C6 is provided on the surface of a carbon substrate by treating the carbon substrate with a chromium halide gas. However, when a chromium carbide with a high composition ratio of chromium, such as Cr23C6, is formed, the hardness of the chromium carbide becomes high, so chipping tends to occur easily in handling or the like. As a consequence, particles are produced, so a problem with the material is that the material cannot be used for the members for which their characteristic of emitting less dust are considered important, such as the members (for example, jigs) used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.


1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to weights and a support system for exercising the abdominal muscles.
2. Prior art
Strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles is a common goal among exercise enthusiasts. Most of the methods used to meet this goal, however, have either biomechanical or physiological limitations.
Such methods that have physiological limitations are common trunk curl exercises that allow for a high number of repetitions, which have diminishing effects on the desired adaptations, i.e., stronger, firmer muscles.
In order for a muscle to become stronger and firmer, it has to work at certain intensity levels, below which negligible adaptations will occur. The muscles can only contract and perform for short periods of time when working at these higher intensity levels. To effectively train a muscle group for strengthening benefits, it is better to work at higher intensity levels and shorter durations.
Another physiological limitation of these exercises concerns neck muscle fatigue. As the various trunk curl exercises are performed, the trunk and head are lifted up and off the floor or bench. The weight of the head is supported by the neck muscles while the exercises are being performed. If the exerciser holds his/her hands behind his/her head, some weight may be relieved from the neck.
With many abdominal exercises, the exerciser's neck muscles become fatigued due to the prolonged and repeated isometric contractions that occur from having to support the head. This can result in stiff and/or sore neck muscles.
The basic abdominal curl exercise and its variations have a significant biomechanical limitation: the propensity for stretching the neck extensor muscles beyond their normal range of motion. This excessive flexing, which occurs when the exerciser allows his/her head to flex forward when performing the trunk curl exercise, can overstretch and strain the neck extensor muscles. This problem can be accentuated when the exerciser places the hands behind the top of the head and pulls, thus causing excessive neck flexion.
Another critical limitation of abdominal exercises concerns the effective and comfortable application of external resistance. By increasing the resistance that the abdominal muscles have to overcome to lift the trunk up and off the floor/bench when performing abdominal curl exercises, the intensity of the abdominal muscle effort is also increased. This increased effort is beneficial in that it results in a greater strengthening and toning effect on the abdominal muscles.
The relative degree of muscle strengthening that occurs during an athlete's training depends on the resistance which these muscles work against. Accordingly, any increase in resistance by means of weighted training devices, to impose more demands on these muscles and thereby strengthen them, is known to have a beneficial effect.
Up until now, the methods most commonly used to add resistance to abdominal curl exercises have involved barbell plates or dumbbells placed on the exerciser's chest or behind the head. These methods are not only awkward, cumbersome, and uncomfortable, but can be unsafe.


This application is based upon and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application 8-077939 filed Mar. 29, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to two-way communication systems which transfer information, such as search conditions and search results, between a client and a server in response to requests from the client. Namely, the present invention relates to, for example, a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system used in a WWW (world wide web) client-server system. The present invention particularly relates to a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system used in the WWW client-server system which allows large quantities of data to be transferred from a WWW client to a WWW server connected through the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Keeping pace with recent developments of the Internet, WWW client-server systems have been increasing in the number of business application fields in which they can be used. Various execution and search requests issued from a WWW client to a WWW server involve sending large quantities of data, especially in the case where a search request composed by the client and to be sent to the server requires a significant amount of data for its definition. What is needed is a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow such massive data transfer from the WWW client to the WWW server.
Special types of search request information, such as genetic information, provided by a server device requires a long search-condition clause to be entered at a client device. Such a long data sequence, is generally not suitable for keyboard data entry. What""s needed is the ability of storing information in a file in the client device in advance, and transferring the information to the server device at the time of the search, so that the server device can carry out the search for requested information based on the transferred file.
Typically, data transfer from a client device to a WWW server connected through the Internet requires data entry into the client device, and such data entry is typically carried out using the following methods.
A first method of data entry is keyboard entry of the data by an operator working at the WWW client device. The data is entered into an input field on the display which typically displays an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) menu transferred from the WWW server, and, then, the entered data is sent to the WWW server through the Internet.
A second method of data entry is to copy (cut and paste) data to an input field from a window on the same display. In this case, the window shows a list of candidate data for transfer to the WWW server.
The first method of keyboard data entry into the input field is prone to key-touch errors during lengthy data entry, and is also time consuming.
The second method of copying (cutting and pasting) data into the input field from a window on the same display is time consuming in terms of copy-range selection, and, also, is susceptible to possible erroneous character transformation during the copying process.
Accordingly, there is also a need in WWW client-server systems for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow massive data transfer from a client to a server without imposing an onerous work load on an operator.
Also, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow data to be transferred from a client to a server by identifying data on a client display, extracting a relevant file from a client memory device, and sending the relevant file to the server, to request the server to register the file, to execute the file, or to search registered files.
Further, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow an execution-request transfer from a client to a server to be made by entering the execution request on the client display and sending the request to the server, or by identifying the execution request on the client display, extracting file-stored execution requests from a client memory device, and sending the file to the server.
Moreover, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow search-condition transfer from a client to a server to be made by entering the search conditions on the client display and sending the search conditions to the server, or by identifying search conditions on the client display, extracting file-stored search conditions from a client memory device, and sending the file to the server.
Also, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which can issue a completion message after completion of a data transfer from a client to a server so as to inform the server of the end of the transfer.
Further, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow a server to store client-sent information, to carry out client-issued requests based on client-registered information provided on a file-unit basis, and to allow the server to notify the client of the execution results.
Moreover, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow a server to generate search parameters based on client-sent search conditions to search for client-registered information provided on a file-unit basis.
Also, there is a need in the WWW client-server system for a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which can request the server to eliminate transferred information when execution results notified by the server are satisfiable.
Accordingly, it is a general objective of the present invention to provide a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which can satisfy the needs described above.
It is another and more specific objective of the present invention to provide a local-file-transfer method and a local-file-transfer system which allow data transfer from a client to a server by identifying data on a client display, extracting a relevant file from a client memory device, and sending the relevant file to the server, in order to request the server to register the file, to execute the file, or to search registered files.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a means for preparing lengthy data in advance at the client display and then transferring such data from the client to the server in a way that significantly reduces the user""s work load.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a method and system of transferring information from a client to a server in a client-server system which achieves significant reduction in operator work load in comparison with conventional keyboard entry. According to the present invention, the data to be transferred to the server is prestored in a file in the memory media of the client. A display is transferred to the client from the server, the display providing fields for entering data. The file in the client""s memory media is subsequently entered on the display provided from the server. The file is transferred to the server at the time of search. The server device carries out the search for requested information based on the transferred file data. A search query can be constructed at the client based on combined search conditions made up from search-condition file names and search condition data previously transferred to the server.
Another aspect of the present invention is that a file name of a file is indicated on a display which is created based on menu information provided from the server. After indicating that file-unit-based information is to be registered; and reading the file corresponding to the file name from the memory media, the file is then transferred to the server. The above two steps are carried out when a file extracted from the memory media is transferred from the client to the server.
As another aspect of the present invention, an execution request is identified at the client on the display which is provided from the server, the execution request being made to the server. The execution request can be directly transferred to the server. But when the execution request is longer than a predetermined data length, the execution request is first read from the memory media and then transferred to the server.
As another aspect of the present invention, a search-condition identifier is entered at the client on the display provided from the server. A file is read from the memory media, and transferred to the server. This file stores the search conditions to be transferred to the server and corresponds to the search-condition identifier that was indicated.
As a further aspect of the present invention, a file-transfer-completion message is issued from the client when file transfer to the server is finished.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the server allocates file space for storing the file transferred from the client. The file-unit-based information transferred from the client is stored in the server""s file space. A receipt-completion message to the client is issued from the server when all files transferred from the client are received. The server carries out the execution request or search conditions request obtained from the client. Upon completion, the server then sends the execution results or search results to the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention search conditions are entered on the display of the client. This display was previously created based on menu information provided from the server. The search conditions to be used by the server are transferred from the client to the server. Search parameters are generated at the server based on the search conditions obtained from the client. Searching is accomplished at the server based on the generated search parameters for file-unit-based information transferred from the client in advance. The search results are transferred to the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention, an elimination request is sent from the client to the server based on one of the execution results and search results which had been previously sent from the server to the client. A file transferred from the client is then expunged at the server based on the elimination request sent from the client.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a system for transferring information between a client and a server which includes: a local-memory for pre-storing information, the information having a file structure for transfer to the server and a search-condition transfer unit for reading at least one file from the local-memory unit and for transferring this file to the server. The server has a search unit which executes a search based on search conditions contained in this file transferred from the client and transfers the results back to the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the search unit of the server has a search-condition storage unit for storing at least one file transferred from the client; and a search-execution unit for transferring search results to the client. The search results are obtained from a search based on combined search conditions made up from at least some of the files stored in the search-condition storage unit.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the search-execution unit includes a search-result transferring unit for transferring search results to the client. The search results are obtained from a search based on combined search conditions made up from at least some of the files and search-condition data transferred from the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the system further includes a file-transfer instructing unit, a file indicating unit and a file-transfer unit. The file-transfer instructing unit accepts an entry of data indicating that file-unit-based information is to be transferred. The entry of the data is made on a display which is created based on menu information provided from the server. The file indicating unit accepts at least one file name. The file-transfer unit reads at least one file indicated by the file indicating unit from the local-memory unit and transfers this file to the server.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the client of the system further includes an execution-request instructing unit which accepts an entry of an execution request on the menu information provided from the server. The client also further includes an execution-request-transfer unit which transfers the execution request indicated by the execution-request instructing unit to the server. Alternately, the execution-request-transfer unit reads the execution request indicated by the execution-request instructing unit directly from the local-memory and then transfers the execution request to the server.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the client of the system further includes a search-condition indicating unit which accepts an entry of a search-condition identifier on a display created based on menu information provided from the server. A search-condition-file-transfer unit of the client reads the files from the local-memory unit based on the search-condition identifier indicated by the search-condition indicating unit and transfers the files to the server. A search-condition-transfer unit transfers the search-condition identifier indicated by the search-condition indicating unit to the server.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the client of the system further includes a transfer-completion-message issuing unit for sending a file-transfer-completion message to the server when either the file-transfer unit, the execution-request transfer unit, or the search-condition-file-transfer unit finishes transfer of all files to the server.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the server of the system further includes: an execution-request-storage unit for storing files of execution requests sent from the client and an execution unit for transferring execution results to the client. The execution results are obtained from an execution based on combined execution conditions made up from a plurality of the files of the execution requests stored in the execution-request-storage unit.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the execution unit of the system further includes an execution-results-transfer unit for transferring execution results to the client, the execution results being obtained from an execution based on combined execution conditions made up from the files of the execution requests and execution-request data transferred from the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the server of the system further includes a completion-message issuing unit for issuing a receipt-completion message when the server receives all files transferred from the client.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the server of the system further includes a parameter generating unit for generating parameters based on the search conditions obtained from the client. The parameters are used for searching in an information-storage unit of the server. The server includes a search unit for searching in the information-storage unit based on the search parameters generated by the parameter generating unit.
As a further aspect of the present invention, the client of the system further includes an elimination-request issuing unit for sending an elimination request to the server based on one of the execution results and search results which are sent from the server to the client; and an elimination unit for eliminating the files stored in the information-storage unit of the server based on the elimination request sent from the client.
According to the present invention, transfer of lengthy data from the client to the server does not require the operator to make keyboard entry of the data. File-unit-based information corresponding to either data registration, an execution request, or a search request is extracted from the memory unit of the client to be sent to the server. Thus, only key information needs to be entered in order to read desired data from the memory unit. Also, the server device stores the search request sent from the client in the memory unit so as to carry out the search request made by the client at a later stage.
Key information for reading file-unit-based information to be transferred to the server from the client memory unit is entered in a menu display provided by the server using predetermined protocols. Since the file-unit-based information is transferred to the server, keyboard entry of lengthy data is unnecessary.
The execution request itself is entered at the client and subsequently transferred to the server. Alternately, the long-data-length request stored in the local memory unit is read according to the execution request and transferred to the server. In the case of a short data length which imposes no load on the operator, the execution request itself entered on the display can be transferred to the server. Alternately, with a long data length imposing the load on the operator if working manually on the data entry, the file-unit-based information extracted from the local memory unit according to the input execution request (local-memory-means-search key) can be transferred to the server. Namely, a request having a short data length can be transferred to the server without resorting to the extraction of the file-unit-based information from the local memory unit, whereas a request having a long data length can be extracted from the local memory unit to be transferred to the server.
Search conditions entered on the display provided by the server are transferred to the server as long as the search request has a short data length. Alternately, long search conditions stored in the local memory unit are extracted according to the input search conditions and transferred to the server if the search conditions have a long data length. Either one of these two operations can be selected for transfer to the server. Accordingly, simple search conditions are directly transferred to the server, and long and complex search conditions are extracted from the local memory unit to be transferred to the server since the keyboard data entry would impose a heavy load on the operator.
The client sends a file-transfer message to the server when the data transfer from the local memory unit of the client to the server is completed. In response to the file-transfer message, the server executes various requests indicated by the client.
The server stores the files sent from the client, and sends a receipt-completion message to the client after receiving all the files from the client. Then, the server carries out a request from the client, and sends execution results to the client. Based on the execution results from the server, the client can make a decision as to whether to issue a further request, to terminate a request process, or some other operation.
The server generates parameters indicating storage positions of files sent from the client, so that the server can access to the starting positions of the stored files.
When the execution results are sent from the server to the client, the client makes a decision based on the execution results, and sends an elimination request for purging files when there is no further request or when files stored in the server are no longer necessary. In response, the server can eliminate the files indicated by the elimination request, so that the server can avoid a waste of the file storage.
The client reads a file from the local memory unit, and sends it to the server. The server carries out a search based on the search conditions contained in the file, and sends the search results to the client.
Search is conducted based on combined search conditions made up from the search conditions of a plurality of files stored in the search-condition storage means.
The server carries out a search based on combined search conditions made up from both the search conditions of a plurality of stored files and the search-condition data sent from the client.
The client indicates a file transfer operation and a relevant file name so as to transfer a file to the server.
The client transfers to the server an execution request which is entered manually. Alternately, the client reads an indicated execution request from the local memory unit to transfer it to the server. The client transfers to the server search conditions which are entered manually. Alternately, the client reads indicated search conditions from the local memory unit to transfer them to the server.
The client sends a file-transfer-completion message to the server when the file-transfer unit, the execution-request-transfer unit, or the search-condition-file-transfer unit finishes transfer of all the files. In response, the server can start executing a process such as a search process.
The server can carry out execution of a plurality of execution files sent from the client by combining them together.
The server can carry out an execution based on a combined execution request made up from the execution-request data sent from the client and the execution-request files.
The server sends a receipt-completion message to the client when the server has finished receiving all the files transferred from the client.
The server searches for stored files based on parameters generated for the search.
The client makes a decision based on the execution results sent from the server, and sends an elimination request for purging files when there is no further request or when files stored in the server are no longer necessary. In response, the server can eliminate the files indicated by the elimination request, so that the server can avoid a waste of the file storage. A summary of the improved results of the invention are as follows.
A large amount of data transfer from the client to the server is achieved in the WWW client-server system. Search for files sent from the client is conducted based on combined search conditions made up from a plurality of search-condition files.
Search for files sent from the client is conducted based on combined search conditions made up from both the plurality of search-condition files and the search-condition data. Information to be transferred to the server is indicated on a display, and a file extracted from the client memory means according to the indication is transferred to the server.
The execution request such as programs to be executed by the server is entered on the client display, and is transferred to the server. Alternately, the indicated execution request is extracted from the client memory unit, and is transferred to the server.
Search conditions to be used by the server are entered on the display, and are transferred to the server. Alternately, the indicated search conditions are extracted from the client memory unit, and are transferred to the server.
The client sends a completion message to the server when all the transfer from the client to the server is completed, so that the server can know the end of the transfer.
The server can carry out an execution based on combined execution conditions which are made up from a plurality of stored execution files such as those containing programs.
The server can carry out an execution based on combined execution conditions which are made up from both the plurality of stored execution files and the execution-request data.
The server stores information sent from the client and carries out a request from the client based on the stored information and then sends execution results to the client. The server receives search conditions from the client, and generates parameters to be used for a search of the client-sent information based on the search conditions.
When the execution results sent from the server to the client are satisfactory or when files transferred to the server are no longer necessary, the client can make a request to the server to purge the transferred files.
As described above, according to the present invention, the local files indicated at the client device are sent to the server. This way, data registration to the server database through a network such as the Internet or a data-base search at the server device can be readily achieved although registered data or search keywords are lengthy.
Especially, when a search is made through a network for gene arrangements stored in a gene-arrangement data bank, the present invention can achieve significant reductions in the operator""s work load and work time compared to conventional keyboard entry of gene-arrangement data up to several kilo bytes.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


As a result of progress in current CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology, such as advances in 65-nm and 45-nm processes, in a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), have increased logic elements and I/O buffer (or pin) densities. Because simultaneous switching noise (SSN) is associated with the number of toggling I/O buffers, signal voltage level, and the switching rate of I/O buffers, it is important for FPGA users to be able to evaluate SSN performance in a “chip-package-board” environment. The SSN caused by FPGA output buffers is widely known as simultaneous switching output (SSO) noise and can be differentiated from the SSN caused by input buffers.
SSN in an FPGA system may be attributed to two primary factors: the mutual inductive coupling among switching I/O buffers and the impedance profile of a power distribution network (PDN) including die, package, and printed circuit board (PCB). In essence, reducing SSN is a design-cost issue. While designers can minimize the mutual inductive coupling by increasing the ratio of FPGA ground pins (or return-current pins) to I/O buffers, this approach sacrifices I/O buffer densities. Engineers can improve PDN performance by increasing on-die capacitance and adding on-package decoupling capacitors, but this approach increases costs.
Because FPGAs are programmable, they fit into a wide variety of user applications, so it is useful for designers to have a tool to determine their own SSN budget without additional costs. Ideally, this kind of tool requires instantaneous and accurate result predictions for various FPGA I/O buffer assignments and ideally would provide an optimum buffer assignment under certain design constraints. In the past, designers have constructed system-level, “SPICE-like” models to anticipate SSN in FPGA systems. These models are based on an understanding of SSN cause mechanisms and correlate well with bench measurements, helping IC and packaging designers improve designs.
However, these models are so complicated that they require signal/power integrity expertise to perform time-consuming, system-level simulations. It is cumbersome for all FPGA designers to perform the same level SSN analysis without considering their different design margins. Therefore, there is a need for a tool to help FPGA users execute a comprehensive FPGA SSN analysis in a short design cycle, though the invention claimed below has applicability to other applications beyond this particular application, as will become apparent from the following description and the drawings which accompany it.


This invention relates to a water treatment unit for the circuit water of open-circuit cooling systems, more particularly for cooling tower circuits, comprising a pipe with a filter unit connected to the circuit water stream of the cooling circuit for branching off and returning a part stream of the cooling water and a pipe for adding fresh water connected to the circuit water stream.
Water treatment units are known, for example from EP 0305897 (Henkel KGaA). The circuit water is passed through heat exchangers where it is heated and then pumped to the cooling tower. Here, the water is cooled by evaporation in an air stream and is re-used for cooling plants, reactors, etc. With open cooling systems such as these, the water lost through evaporation has to be replaced. In addition, additives for preventing corrosion of metal components and for preventing the formation of organic, inorganic or biological deposits have to be added to the cooling circuit water. It is known that the evaporated water can be replaced by untreated water, for example drinking water or ground water, or by pretreated water, for example decarbonized or deionized water. Through the addition of salt-containing water, i.e. water containing calcium or magnesium chloride, the salts are concentrated in the cooling system and generally lead to deposits of calcium and magnesium, particularly at places where the temperature is relatively high. In addition, relatively high chloride levels promote corrosion. It is known that part of the cooling water can be periodically xe2x80x9cflooded offxe2x80x9d to keep the salt concentration within tolerable limits.
In order to reduce the concentration of suspended solids, it is known that part of the cooling water, generally 5% of the circuit water, can be removed from the circuit as a part stream and passed through filters where the suspended solids are removed from the cooling circuit water. The filters are periodically cleaned by backwashing with the cooling circuit water, the backwash water being discharged as wastewater. The backwash water contains only about 1% of solids. As a result of the above-mentioned flooding off of the cooling water and the discharge of the backwash water as wastewater, water treatment chemicals are lost and have to be replaced. With relatively large cooling systems, this requires an elaborate measuring and control system as described, for example, in the above-cited EP 0305897 B1.
In addition, in view of legal requirements and the sensitive chemical environment in the cooling circuit, particularly so far as corrosion and deposits are concerned, the cooling circuit water has to be frequently monitored by chemical analysis. Known systems operated with low-salt or salt-free water are not free from wastewater either because the filters are cleaned by backwashing and the backwash water is discharged. As a result of this loss of filter backwash water, therefore, the cooling circuit water again has to be frequently analyzed and water treatment chemicals continuously added.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a unit of the type mentioned at the beginning for the treatment of circuit water of open circuit cooling systems and a corresponding treatment process which would satisfy the following requirements. Suspended solids would have to be largely removed from the circuit water to prevent the deposits and reduce corrosion. This applies in particular to solids with an abrasive effect. The unit would have to lend itself to operation with low-salt and, more particularly, salt-free water so that few, if any, corrosion-promoting substances, for example chloride ions or sulfate ions, would be present in the cooling circuit water. Wastewater-free operation would have to be possible so that water treatment chemicals would not be discharged. On the one hand, this would reduce operating costs and, on the other hand, would avoid the introduction of chemicals into receiving waters. The quantity of water to be added would have to be minimal; in particular, only the water evaporated in the cooling tower would need to be replaced. This requirement would be fulfilled in particular by wastewater-free operation of the unit. Particularly stable operation of the cooling system would have to be possible in order significantly to reduce the expense of monitoring by chemical analysis in continuously and discontinuously operated systems. Finally, the need for forced circulation during stoppages as necessary in the prior art would have to be eliminated.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film projection system and more particularly to a film projection system wherein in response to the actuation of a selector system, a cartridge containing a film program is automatically transferred from a storage magazine to a film reproduction unit in which the film program is reproduced, the cartridge being returned to the storage magazine upon completion of the film program.
2. The Prior Art
There are many types of film projector systems in the prior art. In one such system, a storage reel containing a film program must be manually placed on the projector and the film manually positioned or threaded through the projector to permit reproduction of the program retained on the film. More recently, projector systems have been developed in which, after the storage reel is placed in the projector, an end of the film is inserted into an automatic threading device and the projector will be threaded automatically. In all of these prior art projection systems the storage reel containing the film has to be positioned on the projector by hand. In addition, the film must either be threaded through the projector by hand or one end of the film must be inserted by hand into an automatic threading device in the projector. In either case, the presence of an individual to assist in the operation of the projector is required which severely limits the use of the projection system, especially in the field of entertainment.
Sound systems have been developed such as the wellknown record player or "Jukebox" which permit individuals to select a sound recording from a collection of recordings, and the sound recording then played automatically. While such sound systems have enjoyed tremendous popularity, no such system has been developed applying similar principles to reproduce film programs in which the individual would not only hear the sound recording but would also see a visual presentation of the artist performing. Such a system would open vast areas to pre-programed film performances which have heretofore been out of reach because of the inability to select and play automatically, a pre-recorded film. Presently, individuals viewing film programs in association with sound recordings must rely on the person in control of or who operates the projection system to select or choose the film to be reproduced.
It is toward the elimination of these and other problems that the present invention is directed.


Lately with the development of the housing industry, the secondary housing industry has progressed very rapidly, including manufacture of built-in furniture, kitchen sinks, washing stands as unit equipment.
Kitchen sinks and washing stands are one of the interior fixtures essential for every day life, and a variety of such products directed to the taste of customers are being presented on the market.
Since kitchen sinks and washing stands are fixtures which inevitably involve use of water, a top which supports a basin is provided horizontally as one of the constituent members. As such a top there is usually employed that having a structure obtained by making the surface of a wood derived core material repellent to water and at the same time giving a color so as to serve also as surface decoration or bonding a melamine decorative board having a woodgrain pattern. The kitchen sinks and washing stands are, as described above, fixtures utilizing water indoors, and therefore the used water should not leak into other areas than the sinks and washing stands.
Accordingly, various devices have been imparted to the aforementioned tops fitted with basins in order to prevent leakage of water spilt on the surface of the top through a joint part between a flange part of the basin and the edge of a hole in the top for imbedding the basin. One such example is a product in which a basin flange part is mounted on a top, the joint part thereof with the edge of a hole in the top for imbedding the basin is sealed by fixing a rubber packing or other sealing materials, and the top and the basin flange part are fixed together by screwing from the rear surface of the top. However, those having such a structure suffer from disadvantages that with prolonged use, the rubber packing or other sealing materials are degraded and allow spaces around the edge of the aforementioned imbedding hole to cause water leakage, thereby resulting in swelling and corrosion of the top itself, which then forms gaps between the surface of the top and the basin flange part, finally permitting water spilt on the top to drop onto the floor instead of flowing into the basin, thus making the neighborhood of the sink or washing stand very moist.
As an alternative to those having such structure that the joint part between the basin flange part and the edge of the hole in the top for imbedding a basin is sealed using a rubber packing or other sealing materials, there is a structure in which a hole in the top is made larger than the basin itself, and the top decorative board alone is provided with a hole having the same dimention as the open part of the basin, and the basin flange part is fitted and directly adhered to the hole edge of the decorative board on its rear surface using a synthetic resin. By being of such a structure, since the flange part of the basin is situated lower than the surface of the top, all the water spilt on the surface of the top flows into the basin, thus solving the aforementioned problem of drainage of water spilt on the surface of the top. However, with this structure, the strength of the bonded part between the top decorative board and the basin flange part is weak, and it therefore tends to be damaged during transport and the decorative board is also easily impaired. Moreover, the finish treatment of the synthetic resin used for adhering the joint part between the hole edge of the decorative board and the basin flange part is troublesome and requires a lot of labor and time, and therefore it is not applicable to manufacture of products having a structure suitable for mass production.
As mentioned above, in fabricating tops fitted with basins used in kitchen sinks, washing stands etc., various problems are present from a standpoint of working to prevent water leakage in the joint part between the basin flange part and the hole in the top for imbedding a basin.
The present invention aims to present tops fitted with basins which can provide good water drainage and have a structure permitting their mass production by eliminating problems involved in the structure and fabrication of tops fitted with basins which are constituent members for kitchen sinks and washing stands, as well as a process for their production.


The term “displacement element” is to be understood comprehensively in the present case. It includes hatchbacks, trunk lids, engine hoods, doors, in particular side doors, cargo space floors, or the like of a motor vehicle.
However, the drive configuration under discussion is primarily used in hatchbacks and side doors in motor vehicles. It is used for the motorized displacement of the respective displacement element in the closing direction and in the opening direction. It is typically important that the drive configuration also permits manual displacement operation in addition to the motorized displacement operation. The manual displacement operation is significant in particular in case of emergency, for example, in the event of a crash or power failure.
The known drive configuration (DE 20 2005 007 155 U1), from which the invention proceeds, is associated with a hatchback. The drive configuration is equipped with two spindle drives, which each have, in a compact module, a drive motor, an intermediate gearing having clutch, and a spindle-spindle nut gearing. A spring configuration is provided in the respective module, which counteracts the weight force of the associated hatchback. The known drive configuration further has a drive controller, which is used to activate the two drives, in particular the two drive motors. The drives are not designed as self-locking, so that manual operation is implemented in a simple way.
Hatchbacks of significant size and/or significant weight can be adjusted by motor using the known drive configuration. This opens up new degrees of freedom in the design of such hatchbacks. However, an increased risk it event of a failure of drive components is also connected to the increase of the weight.


A well-recognized goal within the field of solid-state color image sensors is the production of a solid-state color imager which is highly sensitive to light, and which produces a clear image while being inexpensive to manufacture. In pursuit of this goal, a number of different types of solid-state color imagers have been produced.
In one such imager, panchromatic image sensing elements in an array are selectively sensitized to color by means of an integral array of color filters disposed over the array of image sensing elements. Highly efficient configurations for such filter arrays which maximize the amount of usable inforhave been described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,065 issued July 20, 1976 to Bayer and U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,203 issued Sept. 6, 1977 to Dillon. However, the resolution capabilities inherent within such arrays are limited by the number of sensing elements that can be placed on the array and are further limited in that only a portion of each element in the array contributes to the resolution of fine detail. Consequently, the spatial resolution of such integral-filter color image sensing arrays, while optimized for the particular design, will not be as high as monochrome image sensing arrays of the same number of elements.
Another structure as proposed within British Pat. No. 2,029,642 and Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 55-39404; 55-277772; 55-277773; and 51-95720 is constructed such that the photosensor is superimposed on top of the information transfer device or solid-state base which is capable of a switching function. The base may be an MOS or CCD switching device. Such devices are described in detail within British Pat. No. 2,029,642 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such structures have potentially high sensitivity due to a larger sensing area than is present within conventional imaging devices where the photosensor is located on the same level as the information transfer device. However, such devices must utilize multi-color filters and the loss of resolution is comparable to normal solid-state imagers as discussed above. In addition, to produce such a structure, the color filters must be arranged in a particular pattern on the image sensing element which creates difficulty in the alignment and bonding of the filters making the production of such devices complex and expensive.
Improvements over the structure disclosed in the aforementioned British Patent are described in European Pat. No. 0046396 and Japanese Patent Application No. 56-133880. The improved structure in the European Patent uses three MOS elements on the solid-state base for each image sensing element. The photo-carrier generated in a photoconductive layer is applied to the gate of an amplifying MOS as compared to the drain or source in the British Patent which in turn is connected to a switching MOS transistor. The third MOS transistor provides a means for resetting the photoelectric conversion elements. Solid-state color imagers with this structure improve resolution and signal-to-noise ratios by preventing picture cells which are not being scanned from providing false signals.
The improved structure in the Japanese Patent Application No. 56-133880 uses a Metal Nitride Oxide Silicon Semi-conductor (MNOS) field effect transistor for detecting and storing data for photosignals, as electrical signals. Similarly to the European Patent described above, the photosignal is applied to the gate of the transistor. Solid-state color imagers with this structure give rise to a nonvolatile memory effect which results from the use of the MNOS semiconductors.
Both of the devices described in the European Patent and Japanese Application No. 56-133880 must still use multi-color filters arranged in a particular pattern on the image sensing element.
A technique for eliminating color filters in a vidicon is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,753 of Kato et al. The vidicon includes a conventional semiconductor layer having a substrate on a plurality of p-n diodes which store electrical signals representing light intensity. An electron beam scans the p-n diodes to provide video read out. By stepping the thickness of the semi-conductor substrate through which the light passes to the p-n diodes, different wavelength light impinges on the p-n diodes, depending on the size of the step. In this manner different groups of p-n diodes can store different color light. Alternatively the p-n diodes can be formed at varying depths from the surface, thereby effectively stepping the thickness of the substrate. In another embodiment, solid state scanning can be provided instead of electron beam scanning. There a junction device and a MOS element is provided at each pixel and selective etching of the substrate results in varying distances between the light receiving surface of the semiconductor substrate and the junction device of the pixel. The apparatus disclosed is not planar due to the stepped or cutout arrangement and does not have the advantage provided by systems using photoconductors as the light responsive element.
A solid-state color image sensing array has been developed wherein the potential resolution is equal to that of a monochrome array of the same size. Such a sensing array has a plurality of superimposed channels (e.g., three superimposed channels for a three-color device) wherein each channel has a different spectral response due to differential absorption of light by a semiconductor material. (See Research Disclosure, August 1978, Vol. 172, Disclosure No. 17240 entitled: "Color Responsive CCD Imager" available from Industrial Opportunities, Ltd., Honeywell, Havant, Hampshire P091EF, U.K.) However, extremely complex and expensive processes are necessary to produce such devices due to the necessity of superimposing the three channels. When utilizing the CCD (charge-coupled device), the channels which carry the information signal must be carefully constructed within precise limitations making the construction complicated and expensive. Although it is possible to produce a single channel on a substrate, it is complicated and difficult to superimpose additional channels thereon.
Devices such as those described in Disclosure No. 17240 indicate that it is possible to produce multiple superimposed varied channels in silicon crystal which can act as multi-channel superimposed color-sensing devices. However, in addition to the expense and complication of their manufacture, as mentioned above, the color separation and selectivity of these devices is poor due to the inherent limitations of the materials used. The materials used in making such devices act as CCD channels which must have good single crystalline properties as well as color selective photosensors.
As mentioned above, there exists a need within the field for a solid-state color imager which is highly sensitive to light and which gives sharp, detailed resolution of the image. By utilizing a device wherein the multi-colored filters are superimposed over the image-sensing elements in an array, the resulting image, as described within U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,065, has limited resolution capabilities, limited sensitivity and is complicated and expensive to produce due to the necessity of precisely placing the multi-color filters. Increased sensitivity can be obtained by utilizing a device wherein a photosensor is superimposed on top of the information transfer device, as described within British Pat. No. 2,029,642, European Pat. No. 0046396 or Japanese Application No. 56-133880. However, resolution of such devices is still somewhat limited because they require the use of multi-color integral filters which also increases the complexity and expense of their production. By utilizing a device having a sensing array of a plurality of superimposed channels, it is possible to obtain a resolution equal to that of a monochrome array. However, complex, expensive manufacturing techniques must be utilized to superimpose three channels on top of each other.
The present invention utilizes a plurality of photosensitive layers which are superimposed on each other and over the base which includes image sensing elements which are used for detecting a single color of light. The invention eliminates the need for multi-color integral filters since each photosensitive layer and the elements on the base of each detects a different color of light. The device has a resolution equal to that of a monochrome array of the same size and can be produced by simple, conventional, inexpensive techniques.


The present invention relates to a carburetor chamber for a power-driven machine, particularly a chain saw, which is provided, at its top, with an engine cylinder and, at its lower part, with an engine crank case and, at the rear part of the cylinder, with a carburetor in a manner that the carburetor is juxtaposed with the cylinder.
Generally, in a machine arranged to operate with the use of an internal combustion engine as a power source, a connecting or communicating of an air-fuel mixture outlet of a carburetor with a suction port of a engine cylinder is effected through a bellows type gas pipe in consideration of the thermal expansion, etc.
In this case, however, the fuel in the air-fuel mixture is very likely to attach to and stay on an inner surface of the bellows, so that the air-fuel ratio is varied due to a dropping of such fuel, so that unexpected variations in revolution occur during an idling speed of the engine. This becomes a cause of the troubles.
Further, in the chain saw, an elongate flexible pipe and the like are used to feed chain-lubricating oil under pressure. For this reason, for example, the problems of pipe breakage and oil leakage are liable to arise as the particular problems of the chain saw. Further the inconveniences such as that of making it difficult to adjust or control the engine output and the engine idling speed due, for example, to a displacement in attachment position of the throttle valve operation lever of the carburetor, have hitherto arisen.


1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for permitting rapid implementation of new services within communications systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system for taking direct advantage of new technological advances in network design and traffic transport. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for allowing independence of session processing from the RF technology utilized in the wireless or satellite system, thus maximizing the re-use of session processing functionality, software, and hardware in diverse wireless and satellite networks. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for partitioning the functions of RF channel assignment, session admission control, authentication, subscriber profile management, fast message services, billing operations, and OAM (Operations, Administration and Maintenance), thus simplifying the design of each function and maximizing the re-use of existing components, thereby allowing network operators to control session admission, session setup and release, the type and number of sessions that concurrently exist, and the quality of service for the sessions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Factors driving the need for wireless and satellite communications arise from changing user needs and demands. Previously, public network needs were driven primarily by voice data telephony. Wireless and satellite communications are sometimes referred to as multiple access communications systems, reflecting the fact that they involve multiple communications terminals that share the same communication medium. Multiple access communications systems are distinguished from so-called "point-to-point" communications which are found in terrestrial telephone networks in which physically separate communications links are utilized.
Data traffic has grown slowly until recently. With the lower cost in telecommunications and increase in processing power of computers, the number of users accessing wireless and satellite communications networks has increased. The needs of these users include, for example, video telephone, low cost video conferencing, imaging, high definition television (HDTV), and other applications requiring multimedia data transfers. Multimedia combines different forms of media in the communication of information between a user and a data processing system, such as a personal computer. A multimedia application is an application that utilizes different forms of communications within a single application. Multimedia applications may, for example, communicate data to a user on a computer via audio, text, and video simultaneously. Such multimedia applications are usually bit intensive, real time, and very demanding on communications networks.
A multiple access communications system is comprised of a set of transmission and reception devices that include individual communications terminals, such as a personal computer or gateways which act as communications hubs for multiple terminals. A communications session is initiated when a communications request is delivered from an originating terminal to some form of Network Control Center (NCC). In a satellite communications system, a connection request is first delivered to a transceiver aboard a satellite. Thereafter, the satellite then relays the connection request message to the NCC which is comprised of the various control devices and entities that must process the request before the connection will be permitted to proceed.
Before the NCC will authorize the satellite to perform the requested connection, the control devices and entities, referred to hereinafter as control interfaces must perform various functions such as user authentication, billing updates, RF channel allocation and updates, etc. As previously discussed, multimedia communications within a multiple access communications system is enormously complex and the control functions required to setup and monitor such communications is likewise multifaceted and complex.
As an example, an NCC may include several distinct devices responsible for different control functions. For simplicity of explanation, these devices will be referred to hereinafter as "control interfaces". Currently an NCC utilized in a multiple access communications system may employ many different control interfaces that individually perform particular control functions such as those involved in communication setup or in monitoring a parameter, such as channel quality, after the communication link has been established. These control functions are often handled as discrete functions and are therefore performed entirely separately without adequate interfacing to permit efficient, orderly and reliable control administration.
The sheer complexity and the substantial potential for confusion resulting in errors are an inherent problem involved in controlling such communications sessions. One example of such an error occurs when an authentic but financially defaulted telecommunications account is erroneously permitted to place a long-distance call. Many other such examples are possible.
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a need exists for a method and system for issuing the necessary instructions to and from communications control interfaces. Such a method and system may be utilized for coordinating activities among the various network devices in wireless and satellite communications networks. Among the advantages of implementing such a method and system is that such a technique would prevent a communications control center (located on a satellite, for example) from receiving conflicting control messages. Such a method and system would thus increase the efficiency and reliability of the control phase of wireless and satellite communications systems. Such a method and system, if implemented, would also be useful to control and regulate network traffic congestion while maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for users of such wireless and satellite communications networks.


Various data measuring and collecting devices and methods are useful for analyzing a club, racket, bat, or steering wheel (herein generically referred to as “sporting devices or equipment” or “sports equipment”) during a swing or other operation. In a similar manner, the effectiveness of an impact of a ball with sporting equipment during a swing can be measured in terms of initial ball launch conditions. These launch conditions are determined principally by the velocity of equipment at impact and the loft and angle of the ball contacting surface relative to the intended trajectory of the ball's flight. Ultimately the swing of the user and the force applied on the grip by the user, determine the launch conditions of a ball. There are two general methods for analyzing the equipment during a swing; visual analysis and quantitative variable analysis.
The method of analyzing a swing using visual analysis typically is conducted by an instructor capable of visually discerning swing variables and suggesting corrections to the swing to provide improvement. However, not every user has ready access to professional instruction or can translate an instructor's feedback into a more efficient swing. An instructor can also not “see” quantitative factors such as force and acceleration.
Quantitative variable analysis employs sensors to directly measure various mechanical or physical properties of the equipment during the swing motion. Sensors, such as force sensors or inertial sensors, typically are attached to the handle or the striking surface of the equipment or can be attached to the hands of the user of the equipment. Data collected from these sensors then may be transferred to a signal processor via wires or radio waves, and can be presented in various graphical formats, including graphical and tabular charts. A drawback associated with the use of existing instrumented golf clubs and other sports equipment is that the sensors and associated wires can be obtrusive to the user when the user attempts to swing the club or racket. The force and acceleration profile obtained is not then representative of the user's profile when using an unencumbered device.
Swing characteristics will also be different between practice conditions, where a player may be relaxed and more thoughtful about a shot, and actual play where other tensions come into play.
An objective of the present invention is to provide an instrumented grip for sports equipment that delivers an enhanced comfort level to the user when grasped in the course of actually playing the sport or in a practice environment. The device therefore provides a means for comparing swing parameters in the idealized setting of a practice, with actual performance while playing the sport.
A further objective is to provide a monitoring, diagnostic, and training device integrated with the grip for sports equipment. The device can be used without any interference with the natural feel and comfort that the equipment would have if the device were not there. In particular it is not necessary for a user to wear special equipment such as instrumented gloves to produce meaningful data from use of the equipment.
A still further objective is to provide a grip that comprises a lightweight open structure for weight and weight distribution control. The open structure of the grip also allows for placement of electronic equipment in the grip.


Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to the field of stimulation devices, and especially to conductive implantable stimulation devices.
Description of the Prior Art
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that can be used to modulate brain activity and to promote neuroplastic changes for therapeutic aims. Recent advances include therapeutic success in major depression treatment, potential in chronic pain treatment and stroke rehabilitation. Specific targeting of electrical current is hampered by the skull, which has poor conductivity. This is a well-known problem in brain bio-electromagnetism. The skull thickness and conductivity properties are unknown, which makes the prediction of current flow into the brain a very difficult task that require detailed measurements and modelling of electrical properties of the anatomy and structure of brain and skull.
Moreover, in animal studies with tDCS has been shown that nearly 50% of the electrical current of tDCS does not reach the brain, but rather flows from anode to cathode on the skull 11 surface. Therefore, the output current from the device needs to be increased to reach a desired target levels in the target brain tissue. This, in turn, creates complications such as adverse sensations, skin irritation and possibly skin burns.
In chronic diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or chronic pain, one potential treatment approach is to implant a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device (Parkinson's) or an epidural motor cortex stimulator (MCS, chronic pain). In DBS, the electrodes are installed close to deep brain structures (subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus) to specifically target these structures. In MCS, the aim is to reach specific cortical areas to modulate cortical activity associated with the pain relief. Installation of a DBS electrode is expensive and can lead to serious adverse effects, such as stroke, cerebral infections. Moreover, technically complicated equipment requires periodical maintenance, battery charging or changing that needs to be completed in an operation. Similar complications are present in the MCS implantation.
Thus, a need for an improved stimulation device solving or at least mitigating the above problems is needed.


In the prior art, as a method and device that can integrally mold a pipe with a synthetic resin, there has been known the method and device that uses a mold in which a cavity has on its one end a floating core, having a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the pipe, and a pressure port through which a pressurized fluid is pressure-injected, and the cavity has on its other end an outlet. After the inside of the cavity is filled with a molten resin, the pressurized fluid is pressure-injected through the pressure port to move the floating core to the outlet side, and, thus, to form a hollow in the resin in a main cavity. At the same time, an excess resin is extruded from the outlet, whereby a hollow pipe is integrally molded (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
However, in the method and device described in the Patent Documents 1 and 2, the hollow of the pipe is formed as sort of a moving track of the floating core. Since the floating core moves in only one direction, there is a problem that a pipe with a branch cannot be produced. It is considered to provide a plurality of floating cores and move the floating cores in different directions so that the pipe with a branch can be integrally molded; however, because of the structure of the mold, it is extremely difficult to enable the plurality of floating cores to move in the different directions.
Patent Document 3 discloses a method of manufacturing a pipe with a branch by molding using a floating core.


Many processing systems include multi-core processors in order to decrease the processing time to perform a task. A multi-core processor includes two or more cores coupled together. Hence, by dividing the operations of a processing task between the multiple cores, an improvement in the time required to complete the processing task can be achieved. However, this improvement is limited by the number of operations in the processing task that can be performed in parallel. For example, commutative operations, such as addition or multiplication of a series of numbers, can be performed in parallel to improve the processing time. However, other operations are serial in nature and cannot be substantially improved through parallel processing. For example, calculating a running total based on user input requires the processor to wait for the user input prior to performing each calculation. Thus, the operation is serial in nature and will not benefit substantially from parallel processing on a multi-core processor.
Parallel performance is also limited by the amount of communications overhead required to integrate the partial results that are computed on different cores. For example, in the case of adding n numbers together, each of p cores can add n/p of the numbers together in parallel. However, after this parallel step, there is a communications step in which the cores exchange the partial sums that have been computed. This is a communications overhead that does not occur when adding the numbers on a single core.
In order to benefit from the improvements offered by a multi-core processor, application code is often parallelized, where appropriate, such that each core is assigned a portion of the processing tasks that can be performed in parallel. However, current techniques for producing parallelized or concurrent application code suffer from various limitations. For example, one technique involves having a programmer write the application code using a parallel language designed for multi-core processing. However, manually producing the code using a parallel language is more prone to human error and places an additional burden on the programmer.


With the wide application of Chinese characters, learners of Chinese often fail to pronounce some word segments in a process of reading a Chinese character text aloud, especially some polyphonic word segments. Therefore, the learners of Chinese always come across obstacles of reading aloud. Even though pronunciations of a polyphonic word segment can be obtained by looking up a dictionary, much time is required to do so. In addition, because a vocabulary included in the dictionary is large, it is difficult for a user to grasp the most accurate pronunciation of the polyphonic word segment. This lowers the efficiency and effects in text reading, thereby affecting effects in Chinese learning.


This invention relates to a novel polypropylene composition having specific utility in the manufacture of oriented polypropylene films and to polypropylene films prepared therewith. More specifically, it relates to polypropylene compositions containing certain fatty acid amides not heretofore known to be useful as components in polypropylene compositions.
In the manufacture of polypropylene films, it is common practice to include, in the polymer formulation, additives referred to as slip agents. These additives migrate to the surface of the film and decrease the coefficient of friction between the film and the metal rollers over which it is passed during processing, thus facilitating the processing of the film. They also decrease the coefficient of friction between layers of the film when it is wound into rolls thereby facilitating unwinding of the rolls for further processing.
The slip additives employed in most commercial polypropylene films are relatively high molecular weight fatty acid amides. The most widely used fatty acid amides are erucamide, an unsaturated 22 carbon amide (13-docosenamide) and behenamide (docosanamide), the saturated analogue of erucamide. Both of these compounds are readily available, naturally occurring materials. They are normally provided as mixtures containing a small amount of other amides containing about 18 to 20 carbons.
Erucamide works quite well as a slip agent, but it is not favored by some producers and converters as it is relatively volatile and extra care is required during film manufacture and conversion to avoid having quantities of the additive escape from the film and plate out on processing equipment, thereby causing a clean-up problem. For this reason, some producers prefer to use behenamide as the slip agent. As slip agents, erucamide and behenamide appear to perform substantially equally well but behenamide is less volatile and therefore films containing behenamide are easier to handle during processing since the behenamide does not escape and plate out on the processing equipment.
Despite the inconveniences encountered with erucamide-containing film, erucamide is the fatty acid amide slip agent of choice for those who wish to print the film using the well known rotogravure printing technique. In the rotogravure process, ink is applied to the print surface from a gravure cylinder containing the desired image as depressions on its surface. Ink is applied to the cylinder and the surface of the cylinder is wiped by a doctor blade to remove excess ink. The film to be printed is then contacted by the gravure cylinder and the image is thus transferred from the cylinder to the film. While the film is in contact with the cylinder, a small amount of erucamide is deposited on the raised portion of the cylinder. Since erucamide is soluble in the alcohol or ketone ink solvent, it is dissolved by the solvent in the next application of ink and is removed by the next swipe of the doctor blade. Thus, no build-up of erucamide occurs on the doctor blade or on the gravure cylinder.
Behenamide, on the other hand, lacking the carbon-carbon unsaturation found in erucamide, is substantially less soluble in the alcohols and ketones found in printing inks. Thus, when, in the course of rotogravure printing, some of the behenamide is deposited on the printing cylinder, it is not dissolved in the printing ink and wiped off when the next application of ink and wiping by the doctor blade takes place. As a result, the behenamide is merely wiped off by the next swipe of the doctor blade and substantially all of it remains on the blade. After multiple swipes of the blade, a behenamide build-up forms on the doctor blade and on the printing cylinder, eventually reaching a point at which the blade is prevented from wiping the surface of the printing cylinder clean. This build-up causes streaks to form on the printed film, requiring an interruption of the job in order to clean the doctor blade.
It will be immediately apparent that a slip additive that does not cause the film processing problems associated with erucamide but which allows the film to be rotogravure printed without causing the problems associated with behenamide would be a welcome contribution to the polypropylene film art. In accordance with this invention, there has been discovered a slip additive that accomplishes this objective.
It is an objective of this invention to provide oriented polypropylene films that exhibit improved properties in rotogravure printing as compared to films presently known to the art. It is likewise an objective of this invention to provide film-forming compositions for preparing such films.
In accordance with this invention, it has been found that certain bis-fatty acid amides exhibit a combination of properties that makes them highly satisfactory as slip agents in oriented polypropylene films. In particular, this combination of properties make them highly satisfactory as slip agents in films that are to be printed in rotogravure printing operations.
Briefly stated, the invention is a composition comprised of a polymer or copolymer of propylene and an N,Nxe2x80x2-bis-alkylene fatty acid amide having the general structural formula Rxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2 wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 are the same or different alkyl or alkenyl groups having about 15 to 21 carbon atoms xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 is a carbonyl group and n is an integer from 2 to 4 said N,Nxe2x80x2-bis alkylene fatty acid amide being present in an amount from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight based on the combined weight of said amide and the polypropylene.
In another aspect, the invention contemplates an oriented film comprised of a polymer or copolymer of propylene and an N,Nxe2x80x2-bis-alkylene fatty amide having the general structural formula Rxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2 wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 are the same or different alkyl or alkenyl groups having about 15 to 21 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 2 to 4 and xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 is a carbonyl group said N,Nxe2x80x2-bis alkylene fatty acid amide being present in an amount from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight based on the combined weight of said amide and the polypropylene.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is a composite film comprised of a polypropylene core having, on at least one of its surfaces, a film layer comprised of a composition comprising polypropylene and up to about 0.5% of an N,Nxe2x80x2-bis-alkylene fatty amide having the general structural formula Rxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2 wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 are the same or different alkyl or alkenyl groups having about 15 to 21 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 2 to 4 and xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 is a carbonyl group, said N,Nxe2x80x2-bis alkylene fatty acid amide being present in an amount from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight based on the combined weight of said amide and the polypropylene.
As used in the description of this invention and in the attached claims, the term xe2x80x9cfilmxe2x80x9d refers to a stand-alone film, i.e. a film of a sufficient thickness to have the strength and other characteristics required to have utility in packaging and other applications without having to be united with another film to support it. Stand-alone monolayer films are seldom seen in commerce. However, the compositions of the invention are suitable for use in such films.
Oriented polypropylene films of commerce are usually composite, i.e. multilayer, structures in which a core layer of a thickness sufficient to impart stand-alone properties to the overall structure carries one or more thin functional layers on its surface(s). The term xe2x80x9cfilmxe2x80x9d will also be used to refer to these thin functional layer films although they do not have sufficient thickness to stand alone.
Composite polypropylene films are typically comprised of a homopolypropylene core having one or more functional layers on its surfaces. Functional layers can act, e.g., as heat or cold seal layers, as receiving layers for printing or other decorative material or as barrier coating receiving layers. In these cases, it is not required that the polymer in the surface layer be the same as that employed in the core, although it may be the same polymer formulated differently to serve the functional role that it is to serve in the completed film. Frequently, the surface layer will be of a different polymer that has been found to perform the desired function more satisfactorily than would the polymer employed in the core.
When reference is made herein to polypropylene, it is intended to indicate a crystalline (isotactic) propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene with ethylene or an xcex1-olefin having 2 to 5 carbon atoms in an amount insufficient to have a significant effect on the crystallinity of the polypropylene. Typically, the comonomer will be ethylene in an amount of 6% or less.
Suitable polypropylenes are the commercially available isotactic polypropylenes having a melt flow rate between about 2 and about 10 dg/10 min at 230xc2x0 C. and 2.16 Kg. load and a DSC melting point of about 160 to 166xc2x0 C. One polypropylene that can be used is the isotactic homopolymer having a melt flow rate of about 3.5 dg/1 0 min at 230xc2x0 C. and 2.16 Kg. load, available from Aristech Chemical Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa. Suitable polypropylenes are also available from Montell, Inc. Wilmington, Del., Exxon Chemical Company, Baytown, Tex. and Fina Oil and Chemical Co., Deer Park, Tex.
Since different layers are formulated differently, it is possible that different slip agents may be used in the different layers or that some layers contain no slip agent. Thus, it is possible and desirable, in cases where problems are encountered when using conventional slip agents, e.g. in the rotogravure printing process as described above, to limit the use of the bis-amides of the invention to the functional layer where its presence yields the desired advantage. In such cases, where in the past the conventional slip agents have been added to the core layer and allowed or forced to migrate into the functional layers, it is found that the presence of the bis amides almost completely prevents the migration of the conventional slip agent, e.g. erucamide or behenamide from the core to the functional layer where it can cause a problem.
The slip additives employed in the compositions and oriented films according to this invention are N,Nxe2x80x2-bis- fatty acid amides having the general structural formula Rxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Rxe2x80x2 wherein R and Rxe2x80x2 are the same or different alkyl or alkenyl groups having about 15 to 21 carbon atoms, n an integer from 2 to 4 and xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94 is a carbonyl group. The compounds employed in the compositions of this invention are characterized by having a relatively low degree of volatility and a relatively high degree of solubility in alcohols, ketones and esters.
Compounds meeting the above definition and description include, by way of example, N,Nxe2x80x2bis-ethylene stearamide, N,Nxe2x80x2-bis ethylene oleamide, N,Nxe2x80x2-bis ethylene behenamide, N,Nxe2x80x2-bis ethylene erucamide, N,Nxe2x80x2-bis propylene stearamide, N,Nxe2x80x2bis butylene oleamide.
The N,Nxe2x80x2-bis-alkylene fatty acid amide is present in the compositions of the invention in a concentration of about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the concentration of the slip additive is between about 0.05 and about 0.25% and most preferably between about 0.5 and about 0.2%.
The slip agents of the prior art such as erucamide or behenamide are sufficiently volatile that a measurable portion of them always migrates from the interior of the film and forms a layer of slip agent on the film""s surface, whether the film is a composite or a monolayer. The amount present on the surface can be measured by a technique referred to as Attenuated Total Reflectance Infra-Red Spectroscopy (ATRIR). When the ATRIR spectrum of a film sample stored at room temperature is compared to that of a film stored for 16 hours at 55xc2x0 C., an increase in the amount of a prior art slip agent is detected. (Such heat aging is commonly applied to simulate film aging conditions.) The amount of the slip agents of this invention that migrates to the surface of a film cannot be measured by ATRIR. Their presence on the film surface is demonstrated only by their efficacy as slip agents.
The presence of conventional slip agents on the surface of a film can also be detected by rinsing the film surface with a solvent and testing for the slip agent by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Similarly, no accumulation of the slip agent of the invention can measured on the film surface by this technique, whereas it is readily detected in the solvent employed to wash the surface of a prior art film.
In prior art practice, slip agent is frequently incorporated into the core layer of composite films, which are then heat treated to force it to migrate to the surface layers. In other cases, if the slip agent is present only in a surface layer, it tends to migrate into the core layer although, as a rule, it is not needed there. In either case, this migratory tendency results in slip agent being present in locations where it is not needed. Moreover, it also requires the use of greater quantities of slip agent than are needed in order to assure that sufficient quantities are present in the area where the real need exists.
It has been found that the slip agents of this invention exhibit a very low tendency to migrate between layers or even within a layer of the film. Thus, a slip agent incorporated in a surface layer does not migrate into the core layer, nor does it migrate and accumulate on the surface of a layer as do the slip agents of the prior art. When tested by the ATRIR test or the surface rinse procedure mentioned above no accumulation of the slip agent is detected on the surfaces. The low migratory character of these slip agents causes them to remain in the layer into which they are incorporated.
Despite the absence of measurable amounts of the slip agent on the film surface, the slip agents of the invention are substantially equal to those of the prior art in decreasing the coefficient of friction (COF) of the film surface. Thus, the COF measured on the surface of a prior art film containing erucamide as the slip agent is about 0.15 to 0.35. That measured on a prior art film containing behenamide is about 0.15 to 0.35. The COF measured on the surface of a film of this invention is generally between about 0.15 and about 0.45.
The low migratory character of the slip agents of the invention also leads to other favorable effects on film processing. For example, the problem of vaporization encountered with erucamide and to a lesser extent with behenamide is eliminated. Also, as will be apparent from the above, in the preparation of composite films, it is not always necessary to have a slip agent in the core layer. Since the slip agent of the invention will not migrate into the core layer, one can put only the amount actually needed to give the desired slip properties in the surface layer and it will not migrate into the core layer and reduce the level in the surface layer below that required to give the surface of the film the proper slip quality.
As indicated hereinabove, the compositions of the invention have particular utility in the manufacture of rotogravure printable oriented polypropylene film thanks to the unique combination of good alcohol, ketone and ester solubility and low volatility exhibited by the N,Nxe2x80x2-bis-alkylene fatty acid amides. Due to their low degree of volatility, these compounds do not vaporize from the surface of the film during manufacturing and conversion. Due to their relatively high degree of solubility in the solvents that are normally employed as solvents for printing inks, whatever small amounts these compounds that might be on the film surface does not form a build-up on the doctor blade during rotogravure printing. Films prepared using these compositions thus combine the favorable properties of conventional films containing behenamide during the manufacture and conversion of the film with the favorable properties of those containing erucamide for use in rotogravure printing.
In yet another aspect, the slip agents employed in the films of the invention are found to be improved candidates for use as cold seal films. Cold seal films are prepared by treating the films with a cold sealable adhesive such as a rubber cement and many applications for printed films are applications in which cold seals are preferred over more conventional heat seals. In prior art usage, particularly when erucamide is employed as the slip agent, it is found that the high level of the slip agent on the film surface weakens or even, in extreme cases, destroys cold sealability. Using the slip agents of this invention at the levels specified, very little or no harmful effect on cold seal is seen.
In addition to the slip agents of this invention, conventional additives, in conventional amounts, can also be included in the films. Suitable conventional additives include, by way of example, antioxidants, pigments, orientation stress modifiers, flame retardants, antistatic agents, antiblocking agents, and antifoggants. Any such additives that do not interfere with the functioning of the slip agent can be present.
In any embodiment of the films of the invention, the film can be either clear and transparent or it can be opaque. Typically, polypropylene films are rendered opaque by loading the core layer with a void forming opacifier such as calcium carbonate. Such opacifiers cause opacity by forming microvoids in the polymer matrix during the drawing operation. Other types of opacifiers which cause opacity simply by increasing the optical density without voiding can also be employed. Typical of such an opacifier is titanium dioxide.
The total film thickness, for either the single or multiple layer films, is preferably in the range of about 0.25 to about 1.5 mil, i.e. about 25 to about 150 gauge. In the multilayer embodiment, the core layer preferably has a thickness of about 23 to about 40 gauge, while the other layers preferably each have a thickness of about 2 to about 10 gauge.
To prepare a printable surface, the surface of the film that is to be printed is subjected to an oxidation treatment to impart a degree of polarity to the surface, which ensures good adhesion of the printed information to the film. Suitable oxidation treatments include, by way of example, corona discharge, flame and acid etching. The preferred treatment is with corona discharge or with flame. The use of flame and corona, seriatim, is also known and frequently employed.
The oxidation treatment is preferably carried out to a degree sufficient to create a surface tension on the film surface equal to about 35 to about 60 dynes/cm. A preferred surface tension is about 35 to about 40 dynes/cm.
As stated hereinabove, composite films can have, in addition to the printable surface, other functional layers on the surface opposite the print layer. If the layer on the side opposite the print layer is a barrier coating receiving layer, that layer will also be subjected to an oxidation treatment to approximately the same degree as is applied to the print layer.
While the invention has been described with emphasis on its utility in rotogravure printing, it will be apparent that other types of films, including functional layers, can also benefit from the low volatility and the lower degree of migratory tendency of the slip agents of the invention. One type of such film is metallizable film where the greater migratory tendency and volatility of conventional slip agents tends to result in a greater amount of slip agent on the film surface, which can sometimes interfere with bonding of the metal coating to the film surface. The same effect is also noted with cold seal coatings applied to the film surface.
Polypropylene films according to the invention can be prepared using film forming and orientation methods and techniques well known to the plastic film art. Thus the films can be prepared using the tubular or bubble process wherein a tube of film is extruded through a circular die and is drawn and inflated simultaneously to effect biaxial orientation. Likewise, they can be prepared by the tenter process in which a flat sheet of the film is drawn from the die at a multiple of the lineal rate of extrusion to effect longitudinal orientation and is thereafter drawn laterally by a preselected multiple of its original width to effect lateral orientation. As a rule, films prepared by the bubble process are drawn uniformly 6xc3x97 by 6xc3x97 or 7xc3x97 by 7xc3x97. When the tenter process is employed, the draw is usually carried out to 5xc3x97 in the machine direction and 10xc3x97 in the cross direction. These draw ratios are also suitable for the films of the invention, although other ratios can be employed if desired.