Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stopping conveying equipment for persons of the type that includes a drive motor, a frequency converter for controlling motor operation, and a holding brake. On activation of a safety element a the frequency converter decreases the speed of the drive motor according to a pre-established braking ramp, the holding brake being activated before standstill of the conveying equipment. Operational safety of the braking system is thus increased.

Abstract: An escalator or moving step assembly includes a control unit, a plurality of input/output units each for providing data concerning a respective one of a location and a function of the escalator, and a standard bus system. The input/output units are connected to the standard bus system for communicating therewith. The escalator also includes a plurality of security position switches each having at least one opening contact and a plurality of security slaves each associated with a respective one of the security position switches and being communicated with the standard bus system. A security monitor communicated with the standard bus system and operating in cooperation with the security slaves initiates an intervention in the operation of the escalator in the event that an opening contact of a security slave is opened.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing optical data carriers using substrates. The substrates are transported by a linear transport system, which operates in a stepwise fashion, from injection molding machines via processing stations to drying stations. To shorten the processing time for the substrates, the transport device (walking beam) is operated with a sequence of single and double or multiple steps.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting flowers, having in a horizontal plane a conveyor with an endless conveyor chain having attached thereto, at predetermined intermediate distances, forks movable between at least two positions, being a transport position and a hang-in position,

Abstract: A belt conveyor or belt accumulator includes at least two tandem zones, each of which is defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor and a continuous belt routed around the motorized roller and the idler roller or rollers. The motorized roller is operable to drive the belt around the rollers to move articles along the respective zone. The belt may have a low modulus characteristic and may be initially stretched at least 0.75% in its lengthwise direction when the belt is reeved or routed around the rollers. The motorized roller of each zone may be independently operable, such as in response to an article sensor at each zone, to convey or accumulate articles on the respective zone of the belt conveyor.

Abstract: The invention proposes a suspension-type conveying arrangement in the case of which conveyable-article carriers (1) are supported, by way of running rollers (9) on guide rails (3) for movement along a conveying route. Arranged on a drag chain/drive chain (15) guided along the conveying route are driver elements (17), preferably brush elements (17), which can be moved between a driving position and a non-driving position. The invention proposes various concepts in order, in the case of a build-up of conveyable-article carriers (1), to transfer the driver elements (17) into the non-driving position, with the result that they act on the built-up conveyable-article carriers (1) at most to a slight extent, if at all. In the driving position, it is possible for driver elements (17) to act on the conveyable-article carriers (1) in order to drive them along the conveying route.

Abstract: A conveying device for conveying articles, in particular vehicle bodies, in a known manner comprises at least one skid, which comprises two parallel skid runners and a supporting structure, which connects the skid runners to one another, for the article to be conveyed. The skid runners are supported on two parallel tracks, which extend along a conveying path. As a driving device a linear drive is used, which comprises a plurality of energizable primary parts disposed in a stationary manner along the conveying path. Provided on each skid is a secondary part, which interacts with the actually adjacent primary part. The length of the secondary part in conveying direction is tuned to the distance between the primary parts such that at least one primary part is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the secondary part.

Abstract: A connector for conveyor belts and the like includes a plurality of connection elements disposed in a side-by-side relationship to extend across the end edge of an associated belt. Each of the connection elements includes outwardly disposed shank portions with free ends shaped for insertion into the opposite faces of the belt, and inwardly disposed loop-shaped center portions arranged to mesh with a like connector on the opposite end of the belt. A generally flat cover element has a central aperture through which the center portions of the connection elements are inserted, and is deformable for folding the cover element over the end edge of the belt and onto the opposite faces of the belt to cover the shank portions of the connection elements on both sides of the belt.

Abstract: A control panel assembly for home appliances devised for a better external appearance and more stable operation is disclosed.

Abstract: It consists of a body (1) having a sliding key (2) that may activate some side actuators (7, 8), and a central actuator (9), which act over the upper base of the cones (13) of a membrane (14) triggering a determined part of a circuit (15). For this purpose, there are at least two fixed guides (5, 6) between the key (2) and the actuators (7, 8, 9) to guide the sliding of a runner (3) rigidly joined to the key (2) that serves to activate the actuators (7, 8, 9). The runner (3) includes a sliding strip (17) having pivots (18) housed in some crossed slots (19, 20) formed in the fixed guides (5, 6), permitting the guided displacements of the key (2) with the runner (3) in two perpendicular directions to activate the mentioned actuators (7, 8, 9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular selection button for actuating contact elements. Said button comprises a housing (6), spring-loaded switching lugs (81) and according to requirements a control switch (10), a rotary knob (11) or a key-operated switch (2) as a rotating actuator, in addition to one of several transmission members (4; 4′; 5; 5′), which transmits the movement from the actuator (10; 11; 2) to the switching lugs (81) via switching cam elements (42; 52). Stops and counter-stops which are fixed and displaceable respectively with respect to the housing (6) form various stop elements that can be used to select the number of switching positions and actuation modes. The various stops are configured on the housing (6), on the key-operated actuator (2) and on the second stop slides (92) that are to be inserted into the housing (6). The various counter-stops are configured in the control switch (10), in the rotary knob (11) and on the transmission members (4; 4′; 5; 5′).

Abstract: An electrical switch and a method of generating an electrical switch output signal. An electric switch senses both pressure placed upon the switch's surface and the contact of the object exerting the pressure on the switch. When both conditions exist, the switch is activated. The electrical switch may employ a piezoelectric element to recognize the application of pressure, a capacitive sensing circuit to recognize the presence of an object applying the pressure, and a microcontroller circuit to control output switch circuity upon satisfaction of both conditions precedent. The electrical switch can be configured to provide a continuous output signal for the duration that the switch is pressed after the conditions are satisfied or to switch between open and closed states each time the switch is pressed after the conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A keyboard pushbutton includes a stationary base forming an upward-extending silo having a rectangular cross section having four corners. Two wedge blocks are formed on an inside surface of the silo and are opposite to each other. A movable cap forms a depending guide post movably received in the silo whereby the cap is movable with respect to the base between a released position and a depressed position. The guide post forms two panels each defining two slits for making the panel resiliently deflectable. Each panel forms a slot defined between two ribs for movably receiving the corresponding wedge block. The ribs converge toward each other at a free end of the panel and the converging configuration of the ribs is complementary to the shape of the wedge block for effectively preventing the cap from separating from the base and slowing down the moving speed of the cap when the cap is forcibly returned back from the depressed position to the released position so as to reduce the noise caused thereby.

Abstract: One or more water distillation chambers are provided wherein water containing salt or other impurities enters an upper inlet at a chamber and flows down a solar heated evaporative surface. The evaporative surface may be the interior of a pipe or the surface of a bottom sheet enclosed by a cover. In this way, the steam produced in the process will be constrained and be guided into a steam drum. The steam drum interior has cooling tubes whereby vapor entering the steam drum will be condensed into fresh water and collected for use. The cover may be heated to limit the amount of vapor condensing back into water before entering the steam drum. Multiple evaporation chambers and steam collection stages limit the distance water vapor must travel before entering a steam drum of a given stage, thereby minimizing the loss of water vapor through re-condensation before the vapor enters the steam drum.

Abstract: A method of recovering acrylic acid from a mixture comprising acrylic acid, water and acetic acid is disclosed, which includes:

Abstract: Disclosed is a distillation system and method for recovering acetic acid from a feed stream containing acetic acid and water stream generated during terephthalic acid production. The invention includes a dehydration column utilizing azeotropic distillation to recover the acetic acid in conjunction with a condenser system to recover the energy. The dehydration column operates with a pressure of at least 1.2 kg/cm2 abs. or higher pressure at the top of the column. The condenser system is a steam generator that condenses the vapor into a concentrated acetic acid stream while generating a low pressure steam of 0.6-2.0 kg/cm abs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the photocatalytic conversion of contaminants in a fluid stream. Fluid is directed through a semitransparent packed bed or an open cell, three dimensionally reticulated, fluid permeable, semiconductor unit. Within the unit, a semiconductor, when exposed to a photoactivating light source, converts the contaminants through a photocatalytic reaction. Both the substrate and the semiconductor photocatalyst are semitransparent to the activating light to allow penetration of light into the unit, thereby distributing the light, increasing the active specific surface area, and improving the net conversion performance of the unit.

Abstract: An air treatment apparatus includes an air mover for directing air toward a target compound. The target compound includes at least one of copper, titanium dioxide, and silver. A UV source is adapted to direct light against the target compound. The light preferably has a wavelength of about 185 nm. Light striking the air will generate ozone and the striking the target compound will generate at least one of hydroxyl ions and super-oxide ions. A method for treating air is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas treatment system and method for using the same is disclosed. The gas treatment system, comprises: a non-thermal plasma reactor; and a catalyst composition disposed within said non-thermal plasma reactor, said catalyst composition comprising a MZr4(PO4)6, wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, silver, rhodium, osmium, iridium, and combinations comprising at least one of said foregoing metals. The process comprises exposing said gas to a plasma field and to the catalyst composition.

Abstract: An RF driver circuit and an orthogonal antenna assembly/configuration, are disclosed as part of a method and system for generating high density plasma. The antenna assembly is an orthogonal antenna system that may be driven by any RF generator/circuitry with suitable impedance matching to present a low impedance. The disclosed RF driver circuit uses switching type amplifier elements and presents a low output impedance. The disclosed low-output impedance RF driver circuits eliminate the need for a matching circuit for interfacing with the inherent impedance variations associated with plasma. Also disclosed is the choice for capacitance or an inductance value to provide tuning for the RF plasma source.

Abstract: A coated article that can be used in applications such as insulating glass (IG) units, so that resulting IG units can achieve high visible transmission of at least 70% (e.g., when using clear glass substrates from 1.0 to 3.5 mm thick), combined with at least one of: (a) SHGC no greater than about 0.45, more preferably no greater than about 0.40; (b) SC no greater than about 0.49, more preferably no greater than about 0.46; (c) chemical and/or mechanical durability; (d) neutral transmissive color such that transmissive a* is from −5.0 to 0 (more preferably from −3.5 to −1.5), and transmissive b* is from −2.0 to 4.0 (more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0); and (e) neutral reflective color from the exterior of the IG unit (i.e., Rg/Rout) such that reflective a* is from −3.0 to 2.0 (more preferably from −2.0 to 0.5), and reflective b* is from −5.0 to 1.0 (more preferably from −4.0 to −1.0).

Abstract: A system and method for reducing and controlling the number of defects due to carbon inclusions on magnetic media is disclosed. A diamond like carbon protective layer is deposited on magnetic media using a rotary cathode target assembly. The target and cathode are cylindrical in shape and are mounted on holder that allows the target and cathode to rotate while holding a magnet fixed. The target surface is periodically swept in through a plasma which sputters off the surface of the target. This prevents the build up of redeposited material on the target and consequently keeps the target surface cleaner. The reduction of redeposited material on the target surface reduces the number of unwanted particulates which are ejected from the surface, manifesting themselves as disk defects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a surface coating having a micro-Vickers hardness of about 1600 kgf/mm2 or more on a substrate made of metal, alloy or ceramic. The method comprises subjecting the substrate to a reactive plasma process which uses a target material consisting of tungsten or its alloy, a sputtering gas consisting of argon, and at least one reactive gas selected firm the group consisting of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, to form a tungsten oxycarbide coating on the surface of the substrate, wherein the reactive plasma process is performed additionally using at least one noble gas selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, krypton and radon, as an auxiliary gas, while maintaining the substrate at a temperature in the range of about 550 to 680 K.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display device having two components, an OLED display formed on a film on one side of a substrate and a touch screen formed on a film on the other side of the substrate, the OLED display including components that are sensitive to high temperatures, includes the steps of: partially forming one of the components on one side of the substrate; applying a protector over the partially constructed component; forming the other component of the display device on the other side of the substrate; removing the protector; and completing the formation of the one component on the one side of the substrate.

Abstract: A higher applied potential may be provided to a consumable anode to reduce sludge formation during electroplating. For example, a higher applied potential may be provided to a consumable anode by decreasing the exposed surface area of the anode to the electrolyte solution in the electroplating cell. The consumable anode may comprise a single anode or an array of anodes coupled to the positive pole of the power source in which the exposed surface area of the anode is less than an exposed surface area of the cathode to the electrolyte solution. In another example, a higher applied potential may be provided to a consumable anode by increasing the potential of the electroplating cell.

Abstract: A microfluidic system and method, suitable for “lab-on-a-chip” applications, by which a bubble is inflated in fluid flowing through a microfluidic channel at a predetermined location along the channel and the bubble is maintained at that location to stop flow through the channel in the manner of a valve. The microfluidic channel is formed on a semiconductor chip and a pair of electrodes is formed one on each side of the channel, whereby a bubble is electrochemically inflated between the electrodes and held in fixed position by the channel wall when a voltage is applied across the fluid incident to connecting the electrodes to a voltage source. When the voltage is removed, deflation of the bubble valve rapidly occurs to restore flow. The present invention provides flow control in a microfluidic system regardless of channel cross-sectional geometry and with no moving parts and low power consumption. Moreover, the present invention may be practiced using existing fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A bipolar multipurpose electrolysis cell according to the invention for high current loads comprises a clamping frame, two electrode edge plates with metal electrode sheets and supply conductor, as well as bipolar electrode plates, the latter comprising:

Abstract: The invention is a hydrogen generator for supplying hydrogen to the anode of a fuel cell and electrons to the fuel cell electrical circuit. The hydrogen generator employs a consumable electrode comprising an alkali metal which is brought into contact with an aqueous solution of its hydroxide liberating hydrogen. The hydrogen generator operates as an alkaline cell electrode emersed in the electrolyte that is continuously being formed by the oxidation of the alkali metal within the electrode by its reaction in the electrolyte with the cycled water produced at the cathode of the fuel cell. The current flow within the hydrogen generator internal circuit of the reaction chamber is approximately equivalent to the feed rate of the consumable electrode into the electrolyte and the quantity of hydrogen formed is proportional to the equivalent weight of the water reacted.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a high ion conductive solid electrolyte which uses organic and inorganic complex compound having water absorption and water resistance and to provide an electrochemical system using the high ion conductive solid electrolyte. The high ion conductive solid electrolyte is composed of a complex compound including water that has zirconic acid compound and polyvinyl alcohol. An aqueous solution in which zirconium salt or oxyzirconnium salt and polyvinyl alcohol are dissolved is neutralized by alkali. After removing water used as solvent, unnecessary salts are removed from the neutralized solution. The high ion conductive solid electrolyte is obtained which is composed of the complex compound having zirconic acid compound, polyvinyl alcohol, and water. Various electrochemical systems are obtained each of which use the high ion conductive solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A sputter apparatus (10) includes a chamber (13a) housing a target (11), a work piece support (12) and a process area (14) between the target and the support. The apparatus further includes an inlet (24) for process gas and a pumping outlet (27) from the process area. The inlet substantially surrounds the support and the apparatus includes a pumping outlet separate from the inlet. The inlet is shielded from the process area.

Abstract: A source of sputtered deposition material has, in one embodiment, a torus-shaped plasma generation area in which a plasma operates to sputter the interior surface of a toroidal cathode. In one embodiment, the sputtered deposition material passes to the exterior of the source through apertures provided in the cathode itself. A torus-shaped magnetic field generated in the torus-shaped plasma facilitates plasma generation, sputtering of the cathode and ionization of the sputtered material by the plasma.

Abstract: A magnetron includes a decoupling plate (16) located between the end hat (15) of the magnetron cathode (21) and an output coupling member (11). The use of the decoupling plate (16) presents a high impedance and gives a resonant circuit which is arranged to be resonant at the operating frequency of the magnetron. This prevents or reduces power loss due to capacitive coupling. In another arrangement, the decoupling plate (20) is mounted be a post (21) on the end hat (15) of the magnetron cathode (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids covalently coupled to electrodes via conductive oligomers. More particularly, the invention is directed to the site-selective modification of nucleic acids with electron transfer moieties and electrodes to produce a new class of biomaterials, and to methods of making and using them.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a concentration measuring apparatus, a test strip for the concentration measuring apparatus, a biosensor system and a method for forming terminals of the test strip, whereby a component to be measured can be measured by the test strip fit to the target component to be measured.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor is provided which can be assembled economically and in a few steps. The electrodes (1, 2, 3) with associated electric lines are applied in a planiform manner to a membrane strip, which is impermeable to the electrolyte but permeable to gases. The membrane strip (6) is deposited in the sensor housing in a zigzag-folded pattern, so that the membrane strip limits the opening of the sensor housing for the entry of the measured gas. The electrodes (1, 2, 3) are arranged stacked in the sensor housing (5, 7) at spaced locations from one another due to the membrane strip (6) deposited in a zigzag-folded pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are combination glass pH electrodes, the standard potential of which is stabilized by means one or more of the following structural modifications:

Abstract: An improved rotary confocal fluorescence scanner capable of detecting analytes separated on over a 1,000 capillaries simultaneously. This system uses a confocal microscope objective and mirror assembly that rotates inside a vertical ring of capillaries to provide rapid and efficient excitation and detection of fluorescently labeled fragments separated within a cylindrical capillary array. Use of automated procedures to load and run all capillaries permits one to read more than 350,000 base pairs of raw sequence data per hour.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting marked biopolymers, especially nucleic acid fragments in a gel matrix. A parallel separation takes place in a number of microcapillaries that are filled with a gel matrix.

Abstract: Electrocoat compositions providing coatings having reduced gloss levels are disclosed. The reduction in gloss is achieved through the incorporation of a solid polymer additive to a standard electrocoat composition. The polymer additive includes particulate polyacrylate, particulate aliphatic polyurethane/polyurea copolymers, or mixtures thereof. Low and medium gloss compositions can be achieved. A paste containing these polymer additives is also disclosed. Methods for using these compositions are also disclosed, as are methods for reducing the gloss of an E-coat composition.

Abstract: Novel electrodeposition coating material preparable by (i) melting at least one self-crosslinking binder, or (ii) separately melting at least one externally crosslinking binder and at least one crosslinking agent and supplying the melts to a mixing unit in which the melts are homogenized, introducing the resultant melt into an aqueous medium, and emulsifying it therein; and the use of the novel electrodeposition coating material to coat electrically conductive substrates.

Abstract: A subsea well fluid processing system has a subsea well fluid separator for separating heavier and lighter components of well fluid flowing from a subsea well and directing the lighter components to flow to a surface processing facility. A choke is located downstream of the separator for limiting the flow rate of well fluid from the subsea well. The separator has a cylindrical chamber having a length at least ten times its diameter. A coalescing unit having a plurality of tubes to which an electrical potential is applied is located in the chamber to cause water droplets in the well fluid flowing through the tubes to coalesce into larger droplets. A dielectrophoresis unit having a pair of undulating sheets spaced close to each other is also located in the chamber. The sheets of the dielectrophoresis unit are supplied with an electrical potential to force the water droplets in the well fluid into predetermined passage portions between the sheets to form high water content sections of liquid.

Abstract: The electrodeionization water producing apparatus comprising a depletion chamber packed with an ion exchange material, the depletion chamber being partitioned by a cation exchange membrane on one side and an anion exchange membrane on the other side, and concentrate chambers installed on both sides of the depletion chamber with the cation exchange membrane and the anion exchange membrane disposed inbetween, the depletion chamber and the concentrate chambers disposing between an anode chamber equipped with an anode and a cathode chamber equipped with a cathode, wherein the concentrate chambers are packed with an organic porous ion exchange material having a continuous pore structure in which the wall made from interconnected macropores contains mesopores with an average diameter of 1 to 1,000 &mgr;m. The apparatus ensures reduction of electric resistance and does not form scale in the concentrate chamber during long continuous operation.

Abstract: A microchip laboratory system and method provide fluid manipulations for a variety of applications, including sample injection for microchip chemical separations. The microchip is fabricated using standard photolithographic procedures and chemical wet etching, with the substrate and cover plate joined using direct bonding. Capillary electrophoresis and electrochromatography are performed in channels formed in the substrate. Analytes are loaded into a four-way intersection of channels by electrokinetically pumping the analyte through the intersection, followed by switching of the potentials to force an analyte plug into the separation channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing degraded organics from an electroplating solution by passing at least a portion of electroplating solution through a filter. The apparatus generally includes a deposition cell including a fluid inlet, a fluid reservoir, and at least one filter disposed between the reservoir and the fluid inlet. The apparatus may further include a control valve disposed between the fluid reservoir and the fluid inlet for passing at least a portion of an electroplating solution to a recovery stream including the at least one filter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating an aqueous electroplating bath solution. The method comprises continuously agitating the solution; adjusting the pH of the solution, adjusting the temperature of the solution while adding an amount of hydrogen peroxide sufficient to promote dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide and generation of hydroxyl radicals; and adding an amount of an iron-containing compound so as to increase the rate of dissolution of the hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals so as to oxidize the organic compounds; whereby the total amount of organic carbon compounds in the solution is reduced. The apparatus comprises a treatment vessel, a pump for transferring a portion of the solution from the vessel to a mixing tank and for transferring a second portion of the solution to a heat exchanger for heating or cooling the second portion of the solution and a pump for transferring hydrogen peroxide to the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an apparatus and method for removing contaminants from a plating solution. The apparatus generally includes a plating cell having an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte drain, an electrolyte storage unit in fluid communication with the electrolyte inlet, and an electrodialysis chamber in fluid communication with the electrolyte drain, wherein the electrodialysis chamber is generally configured to receive a portion of used electrolyte solution and remove contaminants therefrom. The method generally includes supplying an electrolyte solution to a copper plating cell, plating copper onto a substrate in the plating cell with the electrolyte solution, removing used electrolyte solution from the plating cell, and refreshing a portion of the used electrolyte solution with an electrodialysis cell.

Abstract: A pattern of very fine features (18) can be produced by illuminating an inorganic negative tone resist layer (16), provided on an electroplating base layer (14), by a beam (EB), which is able to cure the resist to a cured pattern according to the pattern to be formed, removing the non-illuminated portions of the resist layer and electroplating a layer (20) between the cured portions (18) of the resist layer.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for treating plate-like workpieces with a designated chemical solution, including printed circuit boards, includes: (1) a tray for holding the chemical solution, with the tray having an open top which is configured to receive a horizontally-oriented workpiece, with the tray having a top edge with a portion of the edge forming a dam over which the solution may flow and an opening in its lower portion where the solution can enter the tray, (2) a reservoir tank situated below the tray, (3) a feed line connecting the reservoir tank and tray opening, (4) a drain that returns the solution that overflows the tray top edge to the reservoir tank, and (5) a pump that circulates the solution from the tank to the tray and over the horizontally situated workpiece.

Abstract: A method of fabricating deposits of non-volatile substances, including biomacromolecules, in the form of spots and filing on a substrate surface by electrospray, where the deposits are used to determine the interaction of the deposited non-volatile substances to other substances. Also included in this method is the mass fabrication on a single chip of an array of single and multicomponent microsamples.

Abstract: A complex porous structure of a reticulated foam, felt or fabric types, wherein their metallisation over their entire developed surface, by electrolysis of lead or lead alloys, is made possible by a specific preliminary conductive activation treatment obtained by using two consecutive phases of coating the developed surface of the structures, comprising a first deposition of a conductive polymer, which provides the structures with the required conductivity, and a second thin deposition of conductive lacquer or varnish which ensures the surface protection of the conductive polymer against the deactivating effect of the conductive nature of the latter, due to the cathodic polarisation of the said structures in the electrolytic lead-coating bath.