Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for etching at least one surface of a plastic substrate, the method comprising steps (A) to (C), wherein step (B) comprises a contacting with a pre-treatment composition comprising one or more than one fluorine-free surface-active compound, and step (C) comprises a contacting with an etching composition comprising one or more than one manganese species, wherein after step (B) and prior to step (C) no rinsing is applied, and the etching composition is substantially free of, preferably does not comprise, fluorine-containing surface-active compounds.

Abstract: A system for detecting a state of a current collector of an electrically driven vehicle includes a video camera device for digitally recording images of the current collector and an image-evaluating device for the data evaluation of the image recordings. The current collector has optically detectable markings, the position and/or shape and/or surface area and/or color of which can be detected by the image-evaluating device in an automated manner. A system that makes the automatic state detection faster and more reliable is thereby provided.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station charges an energy accumulator in a battery-driven vehicle, namely an electric bus or hybrid vehicle, the vehicle being parked in a pre-defined parking position during the charging process. The charging station contains a base which is arranged in the vicinity of the pre-defined parking position and an articulated arm. One end of which is mounted in a revolute joint on the base and is rotary driven by a rotary drive and the other end is connected to a supply-contact device by a second revolute joint, such that the supply-contact device can be moved, by a pivoting movement of the articulated arm, between an idle position, in which the supply-contact device is positioned above the vehicle roof, and a working position, in which, for charging purposes, electrical contact is made between the supply-contact device and a receiving-contact device arranged in a static manner on the vehicle roof.

Abstract: A system for detecting a state of a current collector of an electrically driven vehicle includes a video camera device for digitally recording images of the current collector and an image-evaluating device for the data evaluation of the image recordings. The current collector has optically detectable markings, the position and/or shape and/or surface area and/or color of which can be detected by the image-evaluating device in an automated manner. A system that makes the automatic state detection faster and more reliable is thereby provided.

Abstract: A non-rail-bound, electrically driven vehicle contains a vehicle body having a vehicle width and a current collector for feeding traction energy from an overhead line. The current collector has two support brackets, an apex member connected to overhead-contact-line-side ends of the support brackets and lying transversely to a longitudinal axis, and two rockers mounted so as to rotate about an apex member axis. The support brackets are articulated at their vehicle-side ends to the vehicle body such that the rockers can be adjusted in height between a lowered idle position and a raised contact position and can be transversely moved between two lateral deflected positions. Accordingly, the rockers can be moved transversely independently of one another, wherein it is possible to adjust a current collector width so that it is less than the vehicle width. Therefore the vehicle can also be licensed for operation outside electrified routes.

Abstract: A sorting installation and a sorting method jointly sort two kinds of flat mail items. For each article to be sorted, a value that a prescribed sorting feature assumes for the article is measured. The article is transported by a first transport device to a separating filter. An article of the first article kind is redirected in a first outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a first set of sorting outputs is selected. The article is transferred outward to the selected sorting output from the first sorting output set. An article of the second article kind is redirected to a second transport device and transported to a second outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a second set of sorting outputs is selected.

Abstract: A sorting installation and a sorting method jointly sort two kinds of flat mail items. For each article to be sorted, a value that a prescribed sorting feature assumes for the article is measured. The article is transported by a first transport device to a separating filter. An article of the first article kind is redirected in a first outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a first set of sorting outputs is selected. The article is transferred outward to the selected sorting output from the first sorting output set. An article of the second article kind is redirected to a second transport device and transported to a second outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a second set of sorting outputs is selected.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method separate flat objects, including flat mail items. The apparatus has a first and a second separator. Each separator extends a plurality of overlapping objects in a direction parallel to the object planes. The second separator has a transport element and a retaining element. The second separator can be operated optionally in a separating mode, in which it is capable of separating objects, and a transport mode. An overlap detection device checks whether an item which is transported by the second separator contains a single object or a plurality of overlapping objects. The overlap detection device measures the respective length of the transported item at at least two instants. If the length changes, the item contains a plurality of overlapping objects. If a plurality of objects has been detected, the second separator is switched over into the separating mode and it separates the objects.

Abstract: A method and device for weighing at least one object, particularly a mail item, includes a scale for weighing an object with a first tolerance in a first operating mode if the object has a first property and for weighing the object with a second tolerance in a second operating mode if the object has a second property. Before weighing an object in the first operating mode, it is checked for the first property. If it is not ruled out that the object has the first property, the scale weighs the object when the scale is operated in the first operating mode, and the measurement result is used as the weight of the object. Otherwise, the scale is switched to the second operating mode. The scale weighs the fed-in object again. If the object has the second property, the measured value is used as the weight of the object.

Abstract: A method and a device for exchanging a battery of a vehicle, in particular of an electric car. The battery is connected to the vehicle by way of at least one mechanical fastening element and one electrical connection element. The vehicle is brought into a position in relation to a lift table located below the vehicle. The lift table is raised. At least one imaging device connected to the lift table produces at least one vehicle image. The vehicle image shows the battery in the vehicle before removal. A decision of good or bad in relation to the current state of the element is taken in each case by evaluating the vehicle image(s) for each fastening element and each connection element. In one refinement, the vehicle image is displayed on a video display unit, and an input of a user relating to the vehicle image is acquired.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method separate flat objects, including flat mail items. The apparatus has a first and a second separator. Each separator extends a plurality of overlapping objects in a direction parallel to the object planes. The second separator has a transport element and a retaining element. The second separator can be operated optionally in a separating mode, in which it is capable of separating objects, and a transport mode. An overlap detection device checks whether an item which is transported by the second separator contains a single object or a plurality of overlapping objects. The overlap detection device measures the respective length of the transported item at at least two instants. If the length changes, the item contains a plurality of overlapping objects. If a plurality of objects has been detected, the second separator is switched over into the separating mode and it separates the objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for singulating flat items has a first separator and a second separator. The two separators are connected in series. The apparatus is configured in such a way that each object to be separated first of all runs through the first separator and then through the second separator. Each separator is configured for extending a plurality of objects, which partially overlap, in each case in a perpendicular extending plane and separating them as a result. A lateral offset is set between the two separators. As a result, a spacing also occurs between the two extending planes.

Abstract: An excimer laser includes a laser-gas cleaning apparatus. The gas cleaning apparatus includes a cold-trap supplemented by a heat-exchanger. The cold-trap is cooled by a twin-compressor, free-piston, linear motor-driven Stirling-cycle cooler having an adjustable cooling capacity. The cold-trap, the heat-exchanger, and connecting conduits are enclosed in a housing with free space in the housing being filled with a foam insulating material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting appliance-specific evaluation parameters in an instrument is disclosed. In one embodiment, a structure is measured using a reference measurement apparatus or a measurement apparatus, and the recorded measurement data is transmitted to the respective other of the two appliances. The measurement data is contained in the data memory of both the instrument and of the reference instrument. The measurement data items are then evaluated by the evaluation device and the reference evaluation device by determining a determined structure size and a reference structure size. The determined structure size is compared with the reference structure size, and the evaluation parameters of the evaluation device are varied until the difference between the determined structure size and the reference structure size is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A beam parameter monitoring unit for coupling with a molecular fluorine (F2) or ArF laser resonator that produces an output beam having a wavelength below 200 nm includes a detector and a beam path enclosure. The unit may also include a beam splitter within the enclosure for separating the output beam into first and second components, or first and second beam are attained by other means. The detector measures at least one optical parameter of the second component of the output beam. The beam path enclosure includes one or more ports for purging the beam path enclosure with an inert gas to maintain the enclosure substantially free of sub-200 nm photoabsorbing species.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) that are transported along a conveying path. A label strip (1) having a bend that matches the receiving drum surface is pushed onto the side of the pressing and applying drum (17) with the adhesive side thereof facing towards the outside and vertically in relation to the transport plane of the flat objects (20) by means of a label conveying and cutting device (4), whereby said side faces away from the objects (20). The portion which is situated on the stationary pressing and applying drum (17) is cut off by means of a cutter device that is adapted to the bend.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation in a controlled manner and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) which are transported along a conveying path. The aim of the invention is to transport said objects (20) past the pressing and applying drum. Said drum is provided with a first casing region (23) which receives labels and has a circular bend. The centre of the circle is situated within the rotational axis. The drum is also provided with a second casing region (24). The surface of said second casing region is displaced towards the inside to such an extend that the second casing region (24) cannot touch the objects in a disturbing manner. The two casing regions (23, 24) are connected to one another by means of transition areas (25).

Abstract: A F2 laser includes a laser tube filled with a laser gas mixture at least including molecular fluorine for generating a spectral emission including multiple closely-spaced lines in a wavelength range between 157 nm and 158 nm, including a first line centered around 157.62 nm and a second line centered around 157.52 nm, multiple electrodes within the discharge chamber connected with a power supply circuit for energizing the molecular fluorine, a laser resonator including a line selection unit for selecting one of the first and second lines of the multiple closely spaced lines and for supressing the other of the first and second lines, for generating a narrow bandwidth VUV output beam, and at least one intracavity polarizing element. The narrow bandwidth VUV output beam is polarized at least 95%, and may be 98% or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel apoptosis-associated and in particular apoptosis-inducing nucleic acid sequences, to polypeptides encoded thereby and to the use thereof for providing diagnostic and therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to cell systems and transgenic animals and the use thereof for the genetic and/or pharmacological investigation of apoptosis-associated disorders.

Abstract: A molecular fluorine laser includes a discharge chamber filled with a gas mixture including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas and not including a laser active rare gas, multiple electrodes within the discharge chamber defining a discharge region therebetween connected to a pulsed discharge circuit for applying discharge pulses to the electrodes for energizing the gas mixture, and a resonator including the discharge chamber for generating an oscillator laser beam at a wavelength around 157 nm and a bandwidth of less than 0.6 pm. The laser further includes a power amplifier for increasing the energy of the attenuated oscillator laser beam to a second predetermined energy for lithographic processing, a line-narrowing unit for reducing the bandwidth, a low intensity suppressor module to suppress the weaker lines of the F2-laser, and a synchronization unit to synchronize the oscillator and amplifier.