Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for characterizing a microlithographic mask. According to one aspect, an apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one light source which emits coherent light, an illumination optical unit which produces a diffraction-limited light spot on the mask from the coherent light of the at least one light source, a scanning device, by use of which it is possible to implement a scanning movement of the diffraction-limited light spot relative to the mask, a sensor unit, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the light that is incident on the sensor unit and has come from the mask, an output coupling element for coupling out a portion of the coherent light emitted by the at least one light source, and an intensity sensor for capturing the intensity of this output coupled portion.

Abstract: Method for synchronized channelling of piece goods onto a respective receptacle of a sorting conveyor, wherein the sorting conveyor has conveying units with in each case at least one receptacle for piece goods, which at a pre-determined conveying speed run past a synchronization conveyor system, and wherein the synchronization conveyor system has a synchronization conveyor and a channelling conveyor adjoining the synchronization conveyor, whereby, whenever a fault condition of a piece good on the synchronization conveyor system is recognized, the conveyor, synchronization or channelling conveyor, on which the piece good is located, is stopped and then the conveyor transporting the piece good is reversed, until the piece good is located in a pre-determined start position, and the synchronization conveyor and the channelling conveyor are moved forward, and sorting device to carry out the method.

Abstract: Method for synchronized channelling of piece goods onto a respective receptacle of a sorting conveyor, wherein the sorting conveyor has conveying units with in each case at least one receptacle for piece goods, which at a pre-determined conveying speed run past a synchronization conveyor system, and wherein the synchronization conveyor system has a synchronization conveyor and a channelling conveyor adjoining the synchronization conveyor, whereby, whenever a fault condition of a piece good on the synchronization conveyor system is recognized, the conveyor, synchronization or channelling conveyor, on which the piece good is located, is stopped and then the conveyor transporting the piece good is reversed, until the piece good is located in a pre-determined start position, and the synchronization conveyor and the channelling conveyor are moved forward, and sorting device to carry out the method.

Abstract: The present relates to a method for producing calcium sulfate solid crystals and hydrochloric acid (HCl) from a calcium chloride solution comprising the steps of feeding a continuous stirred-tank reactor with a calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water; mixing the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water in the reactor; and maintaining the reactor a temperature of less than about 70° C., converting the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water into HCl and calcium sulfate solid crystals. The method described herein can be incorporated as a means for regenerating HCl from CaCl2 solutions which are generated in the metallurgical industry when processing calcium-bearing ores for recovering metals like rare earth elements.

Abstract: The present relates to a method for producing calcium sulfate solid crystals and hydrochloric acid (HCl) from a calcium chloride solution comprising the steps of feeding a continuous stirred-tank reactor with a calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water; mixing the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water in the reactor; and maintaining the reactor a temperature of less than about 70° C., converting the calcium chloride solution, sulfuric acid and water into HCl and calcium sulfate solid crystals. The method described herein can be incorporated as a means for regenerating HCl from CaCl2 solutions which are generated in the metallurgical industry when processing calcium-bearing ores for recovering metals like rare earth elements.

Abstract: An endless track belt for use in an industrial or agricultural vehicle is described. The endless rubber track belt comprises a rubber carcass having an inner surface having one or more drive lugs and an outer surface having tread lugs, the drive lugs having a reinforcement layer of low friction material which extends substantially along the width of the drive lug. The low friction reinforcement material may also optionally extend substantially along the width of the track belt.

Abstract: A method is provided for curing an endless track belt comprising the steps of providing an upper and lower heated mold assembly having outer tread lug cavities in one half of a mold assembly, inner guide lug cavities in the other half of the mold assembly; placing a green uncured track belt carcass in between the mold halves; closing the mold halves and heating the uncured track belt carcass in a first heat cycle; opening the mold halves and indexing the track belt a distance x; sliding one of the mold halves relative to the other mold half a distance T; and closing the mold halves and heating the track belt carcass in a second heat cycle.

Abstract: An endless rubber track belt is provided having an inner surface having inner lugs and an outer surface having outer lugs, wherein the pitch of the inner lugs and the pitch of the outer lugs are not a multiple of the index surface, and a mold apparatus is provided for forming an endless rubber track belt, the mold comprising a lower mold half and an upper mold half, wherein one of the mold halves translates relative to the other mold half.