1. Apparatus for dispensing particles, comprising:
a particle retainer for retaining a supply of the particles to be dispensed;
a particle release actuator for causing, in response to an actuation signal, some of said supply of particles to be dispensed from said particle retainer;
a weight measuring device for measuring the apparent weight of particles dispensed from said particle retainer and for outputting a signal representing the measured apparent weight;
wherein said particle release actuator is arranged to transmit a discrete impulse of force to said particle retainer; and
wherein the energy of said discrete impulse of force corresponds to a characteristic of said actuation signal provided to said particle release actuator, whereby the number of particles dispensed from said particle retainer is related to the energy of said discrete impulse of force;
further comprising a processor operatively connected to said particle release actuator and arranged to provide said actuation signal thereto, said processor also being operatively connected to said weight measuring device and being arranged to receive said measured apparent weight signal therefrom;
wherein said processor provides an actuation signal having a characteristic that causes a less energetic discrete impulse of force to be transmitted to said particle retainer as the weight of particles dispensed approaches a target weight.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said particle release actuator is spaced apart from said particle retainer by means of a rod.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said particle retainer and particle release actuator are supported by a pivot and a spring so that the lower end of the particle retainer may be lifted out of, and lowered into, a particle cassette cavity.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particle release actuator is a solenoid.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particle retainer comprises a plurality of apertures through which said particles are dispensed.
6. A method of dispensing particles, said method comprising the steps of:
retaining a supply of particles to be dispensed;
providing an actuation signal;
transmitting a discrete impulse of force to said retained supply of particles, wherein the energy of said discrete impulse of force corresponds to a characteristic of said actuation signal, to thereby cause some of said supply of particles to be dispensed, wherein the number of particles dispensed is related to the energy of said discrete impulse of force; and
measuring the apparent weight of particles dispensed and outputting a signal representing the measured apparent weight;
wherein said discrete impulse of force has less energy as the weight of particles dispensed approaches a target weight.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said discrete impulse of force is provided by a horizontally disposed solenoid.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said particles are dispensed through a plurality of apertures.
9. Apparatus for dispensing particles, comprising:
a particle retainer for retaining a supply of the particles to be dispensed;
a particle release actuator for causing, in response to an actuation signal, some of said supply of particles to be dispensed from said particle retainer;
a weight measuring device for measuring the apparent weight of particles dispensed fiom said particle retainer and for outputting a signal representing the measured apparent weight;
wherein said particle release actuator is arranged to transmit a discrete impulse of force to said particle retainer; and
wherein the energy of said discrete impulse of force corresponds to a characteristic of said actuation signal provided to said particle release actuator, whereby the number of particles dispensed from said particle retainer is related to the energy of said discrete impulse of force;
further comprising a processor operatively connected to said particle release actuator and arranged to provide said actuation signal thereto, said processor also being operatively connected to said weight measuring device and being arranged to receive said measured apparent weight signal therefrom;
wherein said processor provides an actuation signal having a characteristic that causes less frequent discrete impulses of force to be transmitted to said particle retainer as the weight of particles dispensed approaches a target weight.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said particle release actuator is spaced apart from said particle retainer by means of a rod.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said particle retainer and particle release actuator are supported by a pivot and a spring so that the lower end of the particle retainer may be lifted out of, and lowered into, a particle cassette cavity.
12. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said particle release actuator is a solenoid.
13. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said particle retainer comprises a plurality of apertures through which said particles are dispensed.
14. A method of dispensing particles, said method comprising the steps of:
retaining a supply of particles to be dispensed;
providing an actuation signal;
transmitting a discrete impulse of force to said retained supply of particles, wherein the energy of said discrete impulse of force corresponds to a characteristic of said actuation signal, to thereby cause some of said supply of particles to be dispensed, wherein the number of particles dispensed is related to the energy of said discrete impulse of force; and
measuring the apparent weight of particles dispensed and outputting a signal representing the measured apparent weight;
wherein said discrete impulse of force is less frequent as the weight of particles dispensed approaches a target weight.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said discrete impulse of force is provided by a horizontally disposed solenoid.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said particles are dispensed through a plurality of apertures.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for synthesizing a sex attractant pheromone comprising:
producing a compound of formula Y\u2032\u2014R1\u2014X (2) in step A, wherein step A comprises an oxidation reaction on a compound of formula Y\u2014R1\u2014X (1);
producing a compound of formula
(3) in step B, wherein step B comprises an alkylation reaction on (2);
producing a compound of formula
(4) in step C, wherein step C comprises an alkylation reaction on (3);
producing a compound of formula
(6) in step E, wherein step E comprises reacting (4) with a compound of formula R3\u2014R5\u2014X\u2032 (5b), wherein (5b) is synthesized from a compound of the formula R3\u2014R4 (5a) through a halogenation reaction; and
producing a final compound of formula R3\u2014R7\u2014R1\u2014Y\u2032 (7) in step F, wherein step F comprises a reduction reaction and a hydrolysis reaction on (6),
wherein:
X is chlorine,
X\u2032 is bromine,
Y is \u2014OH,
Y\u2032 is \u2550O,
R1 is \u2014CH2\u2014m,
R2 is \u2014C\u2261CH,
R3 is CH3\u2014CH2n\u2014,
R4 is \u2014C\u2261CH,
R5 is \u2014C\u2261C\u2014p,
R6 is \u2014C\u2261C\u2014q,
R7 is R8,
W is \u2014O\u2014CH2\u2014CH3,
R8 is the geometric cis configuration represented by structure
m is 10,
n is 1,
p is 1, and
q is 2.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidation reaction of step A is a TEMPO oxidation.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said alkylation reaction of step B is an O-Alkyl-C-alkoxy addition reaction.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said reduction reaction and said hydrolysis reaction of step F is an alkyne reduction and an acetal hydrolysis.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said alkylation reaction of step C is an alkynyl-de-halogenation reaction.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein step E comprises a cycle of oxidative additions and reductive eliminations.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein step E comprises a Cadiot-Chodkiewicz reaction.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein (3) comprises a halo substituted dialkoxy substituted alkyl.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein (3) comprises 10-chloro-1,1-diethoxydecane.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein (6) comprises a dialkoxy substituted diynyl.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein (6) comprises 16,16-diethoxyhexadeca-3,5-diyne.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein (7) is (Z,Z)-11,13-hexadecadien-1-al.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein (5b) comprises 1-bromobut-1-yne.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein (5b) is synthesized from a compound of the formula R3\u2014R4 (5a) through a halogenation reaction,
wherein:
R4 is \u2014C\u2261CH.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein (5a) comprises but-1-yne.
16. A method for synthesizing a sex attractant pheromone comprising:
producing a compound of formula Y\u2032\u2014R1\u2014X (2) in step A, wherein step A comprises an oxidation reaction on a compound of formula Y\u2014R1\u2014X (1);
producing a compound of formula
(3) in step B, wherein step B comprises an alkylation reaction on (2);
producing a compound of formula
(6) in step H, wherein step H comprises reacting (3) with a compound of formula R3\u2014R5\u2014R10-M (8b); and
producing a final compound of formula R3\u2014R7\u2014R1\u2014Y\u2032 (7) in step F, wherein step F comprises a reduction reaction and a hydrolysis reaction on (6),
wherein:
X is chlorine,
Y is \u2014OH,
Y\u2032 is \u2550O,
R1 is \u2014CH2\u2014m,
R3 is CH3\u2014CH2n\u2014,
R5 is \u2014C\u2261C\u2014p,
R6 is \u2014C\u2261C\u2014q,
R7 is R8,
W is \u2014O\u2014CH2\u2014CH3,
R8 is the geometric cis configuration represented by structure
R9 is \u2014CH3,
R10 is \u2261C(\u2212),
M is sodium,
m is 10,
n is 1,
p is 1, and
q is 2.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein (8b) comprises 1,3-hexadiyne.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein (8b) is synthesized from a compound of the formula R9\u2014R6\u2014R9 (8a) through an isomerization reaction.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein (8a) comprises 2,4-hexadiyne.
20. A method for synthesizing a sex attractant pheromone comprising:
producing a compound of formula Y\u2032\u2014R1\u2014X (2) in step A, wherein step A comprises an oxidation reaction on a compound of formula Y\u2014R1\u2014X (1);
producing a compound of formula
(3) in step B, wherein step B comprises an alkylation reaction on (2);
producing a compound of formula
(6) from a reaction comprising (3); and
producing a final compound of formula R3\u2014R7\u2014R1\u2014Y\u2032 (7) in step F, wherein step F comprises a reduction reaction and a hydrolysis reaction on (6),
wherein:
X is chlorine,
Y is \u2014OH,
Y\u2032 is \u2550O,
R1 is \u2014CH2\u201410,
R3 is CH3\u2014CH21\u2014,
R6 is \u2014C\u2261C\u20142,
R7 is the geometric cis configuration represented by structure
and
W is \u2014O\u2014CH2\u2014CH3.