Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical integrated circuit device having a protrusion, a fabrication method of the same and a module of an optical communication transmission and receiving apparatus using the same. The optical integrated circuit device comprises a semiconductor substrate, an convex portion formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a taper shape lateral surface, a protection film formed on a lateral wall surface of the convex portion, a first electrode formed on an upper surface of the convex portion, and a second electrode formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein said convex portion is formed of a first current disconnection layer, a second current disconnection layer and a clad layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum valve including a lid, a depression defined on the lid, a boss formed on the lid at a bottom of the depression, a rotary cover rotatably arranged in the depression, and a closure member detachably coupled to the rotary cover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a fluid ejection device such as an inkjet pen, or a plurality of aligned fluid ejection devices, on a supporting frame known as a printbar for page wide array printing involves provision of datum surfaces on each ejection device in two orthogonally related planes. First datum surfaces on the bottom of the devices support the device in a Z direction and second datum surfaces on opposite generally vertically extending sides of the fluid ejection devices are provided near the remote ends of the devices outwardly of electrical interconnects on each side of the devices. The device interconnects resiliently electrical interconnects mounted on the frame causing rotation of the devices to position the second datum surfaces on the device against positioning surfaces of the printbar to hold each fluid ejection device in correct position.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer comprises forming an image on a media sheet by ejecting ink from an orifice array of an inkjet printhead at a print zone, capturing moist atmosphere from said printed image at a moisture removal zone and conducting moist atmosphere to said orifice array. An inkjet printing mechanism is provided including means for removing moisture from a printed sheet of media and means for conducting moisture removed from said printed sheet to an inkjet orifice array at a print zone.

Abstract: A method of automatically servicing the orifices of an inkjet printhead particularly beneficial for inexpensive fixed or stationary printhead printers capable or printing onto either a series of discrete media sheets or onto a continuous media web. The method includes orifice servicing at the start of each character printing job and at periodic intervals during completion of print jobs. Printing ink is used for automatic cleaning or flushing of the printhead orifices.

Abstract: The footprint of a document scanning unit such as a copier, facsimile machine or document scanner or combinations thereof is reduced by causing overlap of the leading and trailing edges of long document sheets to be scanned in the document delivery roller system downstream of the scanning station. Differential slippage of the overlapping ends between a drive roller and a pinch roller is provided in a first embodiment. A second embodiment uses a moveable pinch roller in the document delivery system to selectively open and close a gap to permit slippage of the leading and trailing edges of the document. A third embodiment uses three document delivery rollers defining two spaced nips in which the leading and trailing edges of a long document are simultaneously present and a crenellated roller surface to guide the leading edge of the document to the desired nip in the delivery system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a fluid ejection device such as an inkjet pen, or a plurality of aligned fluid ejection devices, on a supporting frame known as a printbar for page wide array printing involves provision of datum surfaces on each ejection device extending in three orthogonally related planes. The datum surfaces on the fluid ejection devices mate with positioning surfaces on the printbar to hold each fluid ejection device in correct position. A datum surface on a laterally outwardly extending key on each device is engaged by a biasing spring mounted on the printbar to position the device lengthwise of the printbar and also to prevent incorrect installation of the device.

Abstract: A paper cutter assembly for a printer/plotter is mounted on the printhead carriage for movement therewith to avoid separate mounting and guide structure. A cutter wheel is mounted in a housing for cam induced movement between a raised inactive position and a lower active position by engagement of a cam element carrier mounted for movement in the cutter housing with structure on the printer chassis. The printer platen has a stationary cutter bar which extends in a channel in the platen transversely of the path of paper movement and has a cutter wheel receiving well at one end of the channel into which the cutter wheel drops without contacting the platen or cutter bar at commencement of a cutting operation. Camming surfaces on the platen engage the side of a cutter drive wheel to move the cutter wheel into engagement with the cutter bar and then to raise the cutter wheel to the proper amount of operational overlap of the cutting edges as the cutter assembly moves across the paper path.

Abstract: A governed performance hard shell bat designed to ensure ball exit speed approximating and not exceeding that of a wood bat of comparable weight and geometry is comprised of a thin wall hard shell such as reinforced resin composite or of metal such as aluminum or titanium or alloys thereof filled with light weight semi-rigid material such as a syntactic foam in the hitting area, the bat having longitudinal flexibility approximating that of a similarly shaped wood bat. The filler material has a sectional density and hardness correlated with the thickness of the metal shell wall in the hitting area and may be cast in the thin wall hard shell or it may be pre-formed and subsequently inserted into the shell. The filler has a sectional density in the range of from 10-30 lbs./cu. ft.

Abstract: A multi-part lightweight easily extruded or molded wheel rim and wheel particularly for cycling with joined flanges which extend radially inwardly toward the center of the rim and wheel provides strength not found in conventional channel shaped rims. The radially extending flanges are provided with apertures for receiving bent ends of spokes for assembling the rim and a hub to form a wheel which receives an inflatable tubeless or tube tire which need not be dismounted from the rim when repairing or replacing spokes.

Abstract: The method includes the steps of a tape arranging step for arranging a support tape of a slide fastener on a mold having a capacity having a plurality of unit fastening element molding material grooves for molding a plurality of unit fastening elements, a molding material heating and discharge step for separating a molding material of more than two colors from a source material supply unit by the colors by a molding material injection means and then heating and discharging the same, a moving step for grouping external molding material flow paths from the molding material supply unit to an injection port of the mold into more than two groups and then moving different colors molding material by the colors, and an injection step for injecting the molding material into the unit fastening element molding material groove through a plurality of inject-on ports formed in the mold.

Abstract: A modular printer chassis, particularly for large scale printers, includes a lower media module which provides a rigid platen media support surface connected to an upper scanning carriage support module by a plurality of fasteners which are tightened at the time of assembly to thereafter permanently hold the modules, which are accurately positioned with the aid of a gauge at the time of assembly, in place so that the accurate inkjet printhead to media spacing in the print zone is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method of cultivating a plant using a subirrigating method. The apparatus includes a culture medium cell constructed in such a manner that artificial culture medium is packed in a packing material having excellent ventilation and moisture absorptivity to be shaped in a predetermined form, a planting pot which contains the culture medium cell and has holes through which a sufficient amount of nutritive solution and air pass, a cooling/heating device set in the lower portion of the culture medium cell to cool or heat the root of the plant, and a nutritive solution supplying device for automatically supplying the nutritive solution to a plant planted in the culture medium cell placed a distance from one or more nutritive solution containers, thereby supplying the nutritive solution and air to the root of the plant continuously to maintain the optimum growth environment, forcing the plant growth.

Abstract: A flexible skate boot having lower and upper portions made of leather, synthetic leather or similar material is provided with a flexible ankle encircling cuff made of synthetic moldable plastic material capable flexing designed in amounts in the forward and aft and lateral directions to act as an energy storage and release device and without wrinkling so as to minimize discomfort and abrasion on the user's ankle and extend the useful life of the boot. The tongue portion of the boot has a similar molded synthetic flexible panel separating the upper and lower sections of the tongue, the tongue panel being aligned with the flexible ankle encircling cuff which separates the upper and lower parts of the boot from each other. The parts are designed to essentially lock the tongue in the desired frontal position to prevent tongue migration from the desired frontal position during skating.

Abstract: A medical fluid flowline connector comprised of axially aligned relatively rotatable parts preferably comprising a male Luer and a female Luer and an axially compressed elastomeric valve element therebetween includes an elastomeric swabbable stopper permanently positioned in the female Luer, the stopper having a head urged by spring force outwardly of the female Luer when the spring is compressed and also being retained therein by the spring. The spring may comprise an axially compressible resilient portion of the stopper or it may comprise a separate compressible element.

Abstract: A unitary ink supply tube guiding system for a large format inkjet printer includes a tube guide having a bottom comprising a tube support surface, and generally upwardly, preferably vertically, extending front and rear walls and an anti-buckling wall for confining movement of the ink tubes to prevent tube buckling. The ink tubes are supported throughout a full length to convey ink from stationary reservoirs to printheads mounted on a transversely movable printhead carriage. The tubes are preferably bundled together in at least one vertically extending plane and extend through front and rear substantially parallel reaches joined by a bend. The ink tubes are bundled together along a portion of their length by a protective sheath having wear resistant outer ribs which contact the tube guide. Anti-buckling stretch resistant tension ribs are preferably located along one side of the protective carrier or sheath.

Abstract: An end cap assembly for a thin wall tubular ball bat includes an insert sleeve which is closely received inside the barrel end of the bat and defines, with the barrel, a glue chamber into which adhesive is injected to affix the sleeve to the barrel without a mechanical interlock. The end cap is mechanically locked into the sleeve and held in place by a radially projecting locking collar on an axially depending skirt portion of the end cap which is received in an annular recess in the internal cylindrical surface of the sleeve. Abutting shoulders on the end cap and sleeve prevent axial movement of the end cap relative to the sleeve.