1. An apparatus for automatic tallying drill rods of a drill string for use with a drilling machine, the machine comprising a rack and a rotary drive configured for longitudinal displacement relative to the rack between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position, the drill rod tallying apparatus comprising:
a sensor system configured to:
monitor the machine to detect a clamping force applied to rotationally immobilize the drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by the rotary drive;
detect a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat the break-out torque is generated; and
detect a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive whereat a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive; and
a controller configured to:
prevent release of the clamping force until the make-up torque is detected; and
automatically enable release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is detected and, concordantly, to update a drill rod tally only when the first longitudinal position is different than the second longitudinal position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to update the drill rod tally only when the first longitudinal position is different than the second longitudinal position and in response to detecting that the clamping force is automatically allowed to release after the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first longitudinal position is a distal position proximate a location where the drill string enters the ground; and
the second longitudinal position is proximal of, and spaced apart from, the first longitudinal position by at least a distance equal to a length of a drill rod.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to increment the drill rod tally by one count in response to the combined steps of the rotary drive generating the break-out torque at the first longitudinal position and the rotary drive generating the make-up torque at the second longitudinal position.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to decrement the drill rod tally by one count in response to the combined steps of the rotary drive generating the break-out torque at the second longitudinal position and the rotary drive generating the make-up torque at the first longitudinal position.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:
prevent release of the clamping force until a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive;
detect the second longitudinal position of the rotary drive at which the torque generated by the rotary drive reaches a predetermined make-up torque; and
automatically allow release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive and concordantly update the drill rod tally if the first longitudinal position is different than the second longitudinal position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface configured to generate a human-perceivable indication of a change to the drill rod tally.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled to the controller, the user interface configured to generate a rod tally display and a torque display or audible indicator of the torque generated by the rotary drive in a rod-tightening direction.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to release the clamping force subsequent to automatically enabling release of the clamping force in response to an operator action.
10. A method of automatically tallying drill rods for use with a drilling machine, the method comprising:
monitoring the machine to detect a clamping force applied to immobilize a drill string and to detect a break-out torque generated by a rotary drive;
detecting a first longitudinal position of the rotary drive at which the clamping force is applied and the break-out torque is generated;
preventing release of the clamping force until a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive;
detecting a second longitudinal position of the rotary drive at which the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive; and
automatically allowing release of the clamping force after the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive and updating a drill rod tally when the first longitudinal position is different than the second longitudinal position.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally comprises detecting that the break-out torque is generated by the rotary drive at one of the first and second longitudinal positions and that the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive at the other of the first and second longitudinal positions.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally comprises:
detecting that the break-out torque is generated by the rotary drive at one of the first and second longitudinal positions and detecting that the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive at the other of the first and second longitudinal positions; and
detecting that the clamping force is automatically allowed to release after the make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein:
the first longitudinal position is a distal position proximate a location where the drill string enters the ground; and
the second longitudinal position is proximal of, and spaced apart from, the first longitudinal position by at least a distance equal to a length of a drill rod.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally comprises:
incrementing the drill rod tally by one count in response to the combined steps of the rotary drive generating the break-out torque at the first longitudinal position and the rotary drive generating the make-up torque at the second longitudinal position.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally comprises:
decrementing the drill rod tally by one count in response to the combined steps of the rotary drive generating the break-out torque at the second longitudinal position and the rotary drive generating the make-up torque at the first longitudinal position.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a human-perceivable indication of a change to the drill rod tally.
17. A method of automatically tallying drill rods for use with a drilling machine, the method comprising:
detecting whether a rotary drive of the machine is at a first longitudinal position or at a second longitudinal position;
monitoring the machine to detect a break-out event and a make-up event; and
automatically updating a drill rod tally based on detecting a combination of the break-out and make-up events.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally is based on detecting a combination of the break-out and make-up events and detecting positions where the break-out and make-up events occurred.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically updating the drill rod tally is based on detecting a combination of the break-out and make-up events, detecting positions where the break-out and make-up events occurred, and determining a chronological order of the break-out and make-up events.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
preventing release of a clamping force applied to a drill rod or a drill string until a make-up torque is generated by the rotary drive; and
automatically allowing or enabling release of the clamping force after the make-up event is detected.
21. The method of claim 17, further comprising releasing the clamping force subsequent to automatically allowing or enabling release of the clamping force in response to an operator action.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a human-perceivable indication of a change to the drill rod tally.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A radiation-imageable element for lithographic printing comprising:
a hydrophilic anodized aluminum base having a surface comprising pores; and coated thereon
an image-forming layer comprising polymer particles, the ratio of said average pore diameter to said average particle diameter being from about 0.4:1 to about 10:1.
2. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, wherein said average pore diameter to said average particle diameter ratio is from about 0.5:1 to about 5:1.
3. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, wherein said pores have an average pore diameter from about 10 to about 100 nm.
4. The radiation-imageable element of claim 3, wherein said average pore diameter is from about 10 to about 75 nm.
5. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, wherein said polymer particles have an average particle diameter from about 1 to about 250 nm.
6. The radiation-imageable element of claim 5, wherein said polymer particles have an average particle diameter from about 10 to about 200 nm.
7. The radiation-imageable element of claim 6, wherein said polymer particles comprise a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer.
8. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, wherein said image-forming layer further comprises a pigment.
9. The radiation-imageable element of claim 6, wherein said polymer particles comprise a graft polymer having a hydrophobic polymer backbone and a plurality of pendant groups represented by the formula:
QWY
wherein Q is a difunctional connecting group; W is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment; Y is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment; with the proviso that when W is a hydrophilic segment, Y is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment, with the further proviso that when W is hydrophobic, Y is a hydrophilic segment.
10. The radiation-imageable element of claim 6, wherein said polymer particles comprise a homopolymer or a copolymer formed from polymerization of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, ester of acrylic acid, ester of methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide, styrene, p-hydroxystyrene, -methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, vinyl acetate, methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, vinylphosphonic acid, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, N-vinyl pyrrolidone and N-vinyl carbazole.
11. The radiation-imageable element of claim 6, wherein said polymer particles comprise latex particles, phenol-formaldehyde resin, a cresol-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, a polyurethane resin and a combination thereof.
12. The radiation-imageable element of claim 6, wherein said polymer particles have a coagulation temperature of at least 40 C.
13. The radiation-imageable element of claim 12, wherein said coagulation temperature is at least 60 C.
14. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, further comprising a photoconverter.
15. The radiation-imageable element of claim 14, wherein said photoconverter is selected from the group consisting of: a dye or pigment.
16. The radiation-imageable element of claim 14, wherein said photoconverter is selected from the group consisting of: an infrared absorbing dye, carbon black, a metal boride, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a metal carbonitride, bronze-structured oxide and a conductive polymer particle.
17. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic anodized aluminum base is an oxide base which comprises oxides and one or both of phosphates and sulfates of aluminum.
18. The radiation-imageable element of claim 17, wherein said oxide base is present in a coverage of greater than 100 milligrams per square meter of said hydrophilic anodized aluminum base.
19. The radiation-imageable element of claim 18, wherein said oxide base is present in a coverage of greater than 500 milligrams per square meter of said hydrophilic anodized aluminum base.
20. The radiation-imageable element of claim 1, further comprising an overlying layer.
21. A radiation-imageable element for lithographic printing comprising:
a hydrophilic anodized aluminum base having a surface comprising pores having an average pore diameter from about 10 to about 100 nm; and coated thereon
an image-forming layer comprising polymer particles having an average particle diameter from about 1 to about 250 nm; the ratio of said average pore diameter to said average particle diameter being from about 0.5:1 to about 5:1.
22. The radiation-imageable element of claim 21, wherein said average pore diameter is from about 10 to about 75 nm.
23. The radiation-imageable element of claim 21, wherein said polymer particles have an average particle diameter from about 10 to about 200 nm.
24. The radiation-imageable element of claim 21, wherein said polymer particles comprise a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer.
25. The radiation-imageable element of claim 21, wherein said image-forming layer further comprises a pigment.
26. The radiation-imageable element of claim 24, wherein said polymer particles comprise a graft polymer having a hydrophobic polymer backbone and a plurality of pendant groups represented by the formula:
QWY
wherein Q is a difunctional connecting group; W is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment; Y is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment; with the proviso that when W is a hydrophilic segment, Y is selected from the group consisting of: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment, with the further proviso that when W is hydrophobic, Y is a hydrophilic segment.
27. The radiation-imageable element of claim 24, wherein said polymer particles comprise a homopolymer or a copolymer formed from polymerization of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, ester of acrylic acid, ester of methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide, styrene, p-hydroxystyrene, -methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, vinyl acetate, methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, vinylphosphonic acid, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, N-vinyl pyrrolidone and N-vinyl carbazole.
28. The radiation-imageable element of claim 24, wherein said polymer particles comprise latex particles, phenol-formaldehyde resin, a cresol-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, a polyurethane resin and a combination thereof.
29. The radiation-imageable element of claim 35, wherein said oxide base is present in a coverage of greater than 100 milligrams per square meter of said hydrophilic anodized aluminum base.
30. The radiation-imageable element of claim 36, wherein said oxide base is present in a coverage of greater than 500 milligrams per square meter of said hydrophilic anodized aluminum base.
31. A method of producing an imaged element comprising the steps of:
providing a radiation-imageable element for lithographic printing comprising: a hydrophilic anodized aluminum base having a surface comprising pores; and coated thereon, a image-forming layer comprising polymer particles, the ratio of said average pore diameter to said average particle diameter being from about 0.4:1 to about 10:1; and
imagewise exposing said radiation-imageable element to radiation to produce exposed and unexposed regions.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said radiation is thermal radiation.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of exposing said radiation-imageable element to thermal radiation is carried out using an infrared laser.
34. The method of claim 31, further comprising postbaking said imaged element.
35. An imaged element prepared by the method of claim 31.
36. A method of producing an imaged element having complementary ink receiving and ink rejecting regions, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a radiation-imageable element for lithographic printing comprising: a hydrophilic anodized aluminum base having a surface comprising pores; and coated thereon, a image-forming layer comprising polymer particles, the ratio of said average pore diameter to said average particle diameter being from about 0.4:1 to about 10:1;
imagewise exposing said radiation-imageable element to radiation to produce exposed and unexposed regions; and
contacting said imagewise exposed radiation-imageable element and a developer to selectively remove said exposed or said unexposed regions.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein said contacting selectively removes said unexposed regions.
38. An imaged element prepared by the method of claim 36.