Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus comprising:
a circular and curved rod having a hooked portion disposed within a body portion; and
a bead stop coupled to the body portion,

wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole, said bead stop to force said at least one bead off said rod.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the body portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one gear coupled to a rack and a trigger, the trigger adapted to rotate the at least one gear.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:
a switch coupled to a power supply, and
a motor coupled to the at least one gear, wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the at least one gear.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one of a light-emitting device, a sound producing device, and a light emitting device and a sound-emitting device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a housing, and
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads, wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod is stationary and the bead stop is moveable.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bead stop is stationary and the rod is moveable.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod and the bead stop are both moveable.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a circular rod having a hooked portion disposed within a body portion;
a handle coupled to the body portion;
at least one gear coupled to a motor, the motor adapted to rotate the at least one gear; and
a switch coupled to a power supply and said motor, said power supply and said motor disposed within said handle, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole when said at least one bead is forced off said rod via a bead stop.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising one of a light-emitting device, a sound producing device, and a light emitting device and a sound-emitting device.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
a housing, and
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads, wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rod is stationary and the bead stop is moveable.
18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bead stop is stationary and the rod is moveable.
19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rod and the bead stop are both moveable.
20. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion and a hooked portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides, and
a spring coupled to the rod, the rod having a bent portion to keep the spring in place between the bent portion and one of the plurality of rod guides, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole, and one of the plurality of rod guides is a bead stop adapted to force said at least one bead off said rod.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, further including a trigger coupled to the spring, wherein the trigger is adapted to compress the spring to move the rod.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further including a trigger link coupled to the trigger and the rod.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, further including at least one gear coupled to a rack and the trigger, the trigger adapted to rotate the at least one gear.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:
a switch coupled to a power supply and a motor, and
at least one gear coupled to the motor, wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the at least one gear.
25. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion and a hooked portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides;
a cylinder surrounding the rod; and
one of a light-emitting device, a sound producing device, and a light emitting device and a sound-emitting device, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole, and the rod is slidable within the cylinder.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, further including a pistol handle coupled to the cylinder.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, further including a rod cover coupled to one end of the cylinder, wherein the rod cover is one of transparent and translucent.
28. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion and a hooked portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides;
a cylinder surrounding the rod, wherein the rod is slidable within the cylinder;
a housing; and
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads,
wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable, and said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
30. The apparatus of claim 28, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
31. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion, a hooked portion and a circular portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a hook support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides,
a tab coupled to the rod, the tab adapted to rotate the rod through a bead stop;
a spring coupled to the rod, the rod having a bent portion to keep the spring in place between the bent portion and one of the plurality of rod guides, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole.
32. The apparatus of claim 31, further including a trigger coupled to the spring, wherein the trigger is adapted to compress the spring to move the rod.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, further including a trigger link coupled to the trigger and the rod.
34. The apparatus of claim 32, further including at least one gear coupled to a rack and the trigger, the trigger adapted to rotate the at least one gear.
35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:
a switch coupled to a power supply, and
a motor coupled to the at least one gear, wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the at least one gear to move the rod.
36. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion, a hooked portion and a circular portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a hook support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides;
a tab coupled to the rod, the tab adapted to rotate the rod through a bead stop; and
one of a light-emitting device, a sound producing device, and a light emitting device and a sound-emitting device, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
38. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion, a hooked portion and a circular portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod;
a hook support coupled to the rod, the support including a plurality of rod guides;
a tab coupled to the rod, the tab adapted to rotate the rod through a bead stop;
a housing; and
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads, wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable.
39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
40. The apparatus of claim 38, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
41. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion and a hooked portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod, the rod slidably coupled to a cylinder;
a housing coupled to the cylinder, the housing including a plurality of axles disposed within said housing,
a plurality of gears coupled to a trigger;
a gear rack coupled to the cylinder; and
one of a light-emitting device, a sound producing device, and a light emitting device and a sound-emitting device, wherein said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole, and said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole.
42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the housing includes a handle.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the handle has a pistol grip.
44. The apparatus of claim 41, further including a spring coupled to the rod.
45. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a switch coupled to a power supply, and
a motor coupled to the plurality of gears, wherein the motor is adapted to rotate the plurality of gears.
46. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads, wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable.
47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
48. The apparatus of claim 41, further including a quick bead-loading device adapted to hold a plurality of beads in place.
49. An apparatus comprising:
a rod having an end portion and a hooked portion, the end portion and the hooked portion being at opposite ends of the rod, the rod slidably coupled to a cylinder;
a housing coupled to the cylinder, the housing including a plurality of axles disposed within said housing,
a plurality of gears coupled to a trigger;
a gear rack coupled to the cylinder; and
a storage compartment including a lid, the storage compartment adapted to store a plurality of beads, wherein the lid is one of slidably removable and rotatably removable, and said hooked portion adapted to string filamentous material through at least one bead having a thru-hole.
50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the storage compartment is removably coupled to the housing.
51. A method comprising:
sliding at least one bead onto a rod having a hook portion;
hooking a section of filamentous material over the hook portion; and
threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material, wherein said threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material is completed by moving a bead stop and forcing said at least one bead off said rod.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the forcing said at least one bead off said rod activated by pulling a trigger coupled to the rod.
53. The method of claim 51, wherein the forcing said at least one bead off said rod activated by closing a switch coupled to a motor.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein the rod is one of straight or curved.
55. A method comprising:
sliding at least one bead onto a rod having a hook portion;
hooking a section of filamentous material over the hook portion;
threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material, wherein said threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material is completed by moving said rod through a bead stop and forcing said at least one bead off said rod.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the moving said rod through said bead stop is activated by pulling a trigger coupled to the rod.
57. The method of claim 55, wherein the moving said rod through said bead stop is activated by closing a switch coupled to a motor.
58. The method of claim 55, wherein the rod is one of straight or curved.
59. A method comprising:
sliding at least one bead onto a rod having a hook portion;
hooking a section of filamentous material over the hook portion;
threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material, wherein said threading the at least one bead onto the filamentous material is completed by moving said rod toward a bead stop and moving said bead stop toward said rod and forcing said at least one bead off said rod.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the moving said rod toward the bead stop and moving said bead stop toward said rod is activated by pulling a trigger coupled to the rod.
61. The method of claim 59, wherein the moving said rod toward the bead stop and moving said bead stop toward said rod is activated by closing a switch coupled to a motor.
62. The method of claim 59, wherein the moving said rod toward the bead stop and moving said bead stop toward said rod is activated by using a quick bead loading device.
63. The method of claim 59, wherein the rod is one of straight or curved.

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 robot comprising:
a base;
a first arm that is coupled to the base and rotates with a first rotation axis as an axial center;
a second arm that is coupled to the first arm and rotates with a second rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis as an axial center;
a first drive source that rotates the first arm through a first angular velocity command;
a first inertia sensor that is installed at the first arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the first arm around the first rotation axis;
a first angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the first drive source;
a second drive source that rotates the second arm through a second angular velocity command;
a second inertia sensor that is installed at the second arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the second arm around the second rotation axis;
a second angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the second drive source;
a first drive source control unit that feeds back a first correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A1 of the first arm around the first rotation axis obtained from the first inertia sensor and an angular velocity \u03c9A1m of the first arm around the first rotation axis obtained from the first angle sensor, and controls the first drive source; and
a second drive source control unit that feeds back a second correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A2 of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second inertia sensor, and an angular velocity \u03c9A2m of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second angle sensor, and controls the second drive source.
2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein:
the first drive source control unit feeds back the first angular velocity command by the first correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A1m from the angular velocity \u03c9A1, by a feedback gain; and
the second drive source control unit feeds back the second angular velocity command by the second correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, by a feedback gain.
3. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third arm that rotates with a third rotation axis in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis as an axial center;
a third drive source that rotates the third arm through a third angular velocity command;
a third inertia sensor that is installed at the third arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the third arm around the second rotation axis;
a third angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the third drive source; and
a third drive source control unit that feeds back a third correction component, which is derived from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, an angular velocity \u03c9A3 of the third arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the third inertia sensor, and an angular velocity \u03c9A3m of the third arm around the third rotation axis obtained from the third angle sensor, and controls the third drive source.
4. The robot according to claim 3, wherein:
the first drive source control unit feeds back the first angular velocity command by the first correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A1m from the angular velocity \u03c9A1, by a feedback gain;
the second drive source control unit feeds back the second angular velocity command by the second correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, by a feedback gain; and
the third drive source control unit feeds back the third angular velocity command by the third correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2 and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain.
5. A robot comprising:
a base;
a first arm that is coupled to the base and rotates with a first rotation axis as an axial center;
a second arm that is coupled to the first arm and rotates with a second rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis as an axial center;
a third arm that rotates with a third rotation axis in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis as an axial center;
a first drive source that rotates the first arm through a first angular velocity command;
a first inertia sensor that is installed at the first arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the first arm around the first rotation axis;
a first angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the first drive source;
a second drive source that rotates the second arm through a second angular velocity command;
a second inertia sensor that is installed at the second arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the second arm around the second rotation axis;
a second angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the second drive source;
a third drive source that rotates the third arm through a third angular velocity command;
a third inertia sensor that is installed at the third arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the third arm around the second rotation axis;
a third angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the third drive source;
a first drive source control unit that feeds back a first correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A1 of the first arm around the first rotation axis obtained from the first inertia sensor and an angular velocity \u03c9A1m of the first arm around the first rotation axis obtained from the first angle sensor, and controls the first drive source;
a second drive source control unit that feeds back a second correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A3 of the third arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the third inertia sensor, an angular velocity \u03c9A2m of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second angle sensor, and an angular velocity \u03c9A3m of the third arm around the third rotation axis obtained from the third angle sensor, and controls the second drive source; and
a third drive source control unit that feeds back a third correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A2 of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second inertia sensor, the angular velocity \u03c9A3, and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m, and controls the third drive source.
6. The robot according to claim 5, wherein:
the first drive source control unit feeds back the first angular velocity command by the first correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A1m from the angular velocity \u03c9A1, by a feedback gain;
the second drive source control unit feeds back the second angular velocity command by the second correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain; and
the third drive source control unit feeds back the third angular velocity command by the third correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2 and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain.
7. A robot comprising:
a base;
a first arm that is coupled to the base and rotates with a first rotation axis as an axial center;
a second arm that is coupled to the first arm and rotates with a second rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis as an axial center;
a third arm that rotates with a third rotation axis in a direction parallel to the second rotation axis as an axial center;
a first drive source that rotates the first arm through a first angular velocity command;
a first inertia sensor that is installed at the first arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the first arm around the first rotation axis;
a first angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the first drive source;
a second drive source that rotates the second arm through a second angular velocity command;
a second inertia sensor that is installed at the second arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the second arm around the second rotation axis;
a second angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the second drive source;
a third drive source that rotates the third arm through a third angular velocity command;
a third inertia sensor that is installed at the third arm and detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the third arm around the second rotation axis;
a third angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of the third drive source;
an angle detection unit that detects the arm angle formed between a longitudinal axis of the second arm and a longitudinal axis of the third arm;
a first drive source control unit that feeds back a first correction component, which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A1 of the first arm around the first rotation axis of obtained from the first inertia sensor and an angular velocity \u03c9A1m of the first arm around the first rotation axis obtained from the first angle sensor, and controls the first drive source;
a second drive source control unit that feeds back either a value which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A3 of the third arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the third inertia sensor, an angular velocity \u03c9A2m of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second angle sensor, and an angular velocity \u03c9A3m of the third arm around the third rotation axis obtained from the third angle sensor, or a value which is derived from an angular velocity \u03c9A2 of the second arm around the second rotation axis obtained from the second inertia sensor, and the angular velocity \u03c9A2m, as a second correction component according to the arm angle, and controls the second drive source; and
a third drive source control unit that feeds back a third correction component, which is derived from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, the angular velocity \u03c9A3, and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m, and controls the third drive source.
8. The robot according to claim 7, wherein:
the first drive source control unit feeds back the first angular velocity command by the first correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A1m from the angular velocity \u03c9A1, by a feedback gain;
the second drive source control unit feeds back the second angular velocity command, using either a value obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain, or a value obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, by a feedback gain, as the second correction component; and
the third drive source control unit feeds back the third angular velocity command by the third correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2 and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain.
9. The robot according to claim 7, wherein:
the second drive source control unit feeds back the second angular velocity command by the second correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m and the angular velocity \u03c9A3m from the angular velocity \u03c9A3, by a feedback gain when the arm angle is equal to or larger than a first threshold and is equal to or smaller than a second threshold that is larger than the first threshold and that feeds back the second angular velocity command by the second correction component obtained by multiplying a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity \u03c9A2m from the angular velocity \u03c9A2, by a feedback gain when the arm angle is smaller than the first threshold or larger than the second threshold.
10. The robot according to claim 9,
wherein the first threshold is set within a range of 45\xb0 to 135\xb0, and the second threshold is set within a range of 225\xb0 to 315\xb0.
11. The robot according to claim 1,
wherein the first inertia sensor is installed at a tip portion of the first arm, and
the second inertia sensor is installed at a tip portion of the second arm.
12. The robot according to claim 3,
wherein the first inertia sensor is installed at a tip portion of the first arm,
the second inertia sensor is installed at a tip portion of the second arm, and
the third inertia sensor is installed at a tip portion of the third arm.
13. The robot according to claim 1,
wherein the first rotation axis coincides with a normal line of an installation surface of the base.
14. A robot comprising:
a base;
a first arm that is coupled to the base and rotates with a first rotation axis as an axial center;
a second arm that rotates with a second rotation axis orthogonal to the first rotation axis as an axial center;
a first inertia sensor that detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the first arm;
a first angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of a first drive source of the first arm;
a second inertia sensor that detects the angular velocity or acceleration of the second arm;
a second angle sensor that detects the rotation angle of a second drive source of the second arm;
a first control unit of the first drive source of the first arm that feeds back an angular velocity derived from a detection result of the first angle sensor and an angular velocity detected from the first inertia sensor; and
a second control unit of the second drive source of the second arm that feeds back an angular velocity derived from a detection result of the second angle sensor and an angular velocity detected from the second inertia sensor.

1. A corrosion resistant electrically conductive component, comprising:
an alloy substrate comprising 10-30 wt. % Cr, 0.5 to 7 wt. % V, and base metal comprising Fe; and
a continuous intermixed oxide-nitride surface layer essentially free of base metal comprising at least one nitride selected from the group consisting of chromium nitride, vanadium nitride, and a combination of chromium nitride and vanadium nitride, wherein a contact resistance of said component is less than 20 mohm-cm2 at compaction pressures above 120 Ncm2, and
wherein said continuous intermixed oxide-nitride surface layer comprises chromium and a vanadium phase selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide, vanadium nitride, chromium vanadium nitride, vanadium-doped chromium oxide, and a combination thereof.
2. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, wherein said nitride comprises a form selected from the group consisting of nitrogen doped metal oxide, metal oxynitride and discrete discontinuous segments of nitride.
3. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, wherein said continuous intermixed oxide-nitride surface layer comprises at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of chromium oxide, vanadium oxide and chromium vanadium oxide.
4. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 3, wherein said at least one nitride comprises a form selected from the group consisting of nitrogen doped metal oxide, metal oxynitride or discrete discontinuous segments of nitride.
5. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, where said at least one nitride comprises discrete discontinuous segments of nitride.
6. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, wherein said wt. % Cr is 20-27%.
7. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, wherein said wt. % V is 0.5-6%.
8. The corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1, wherein said alloy substrate further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, C and N.
9. A method to prepare a corrosion resistant electrically conductive component, comprising the steps of:
providing an alloy substrate comprising 10-30 wt. % Cr, 0.5 to 7 wt. % V, and base metal comprising Fe,
exposing said alloy to a oxygen containing gas at an elevated temperature, and
subsequently exposing said alloy to an oxygen free nitrogen containing gas at an elevated temperature to produce the corrosion resistant electrically conductive component of claim 1.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of exposing is carried out in a sealed system wherein said oxygen containing gas also contains nitrogen such that reaction will proceed with essentially complete consumption of said oxygen and forming said oxygen free nitrogen containing gas for subsequent exposing to said oxygen free nitrogen containing gas without exchange of gases in the sealed system.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of exposing is carried out at a temperature of 700 to 1.000\xb0 C.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of exposing is carried out with a gas containing H2, O2 and either N2, a noble gas, or N2 and a noble gas.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of exposing is carried out with a N2\u2014H2\u2014O2 or Ar\u2014H2\u2014O2 mixture.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of exposing is carried out with a N2-4H2-0.5O2 or Ar-4H2-0.5O2 mixture.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of exposing is carried out for a period of time required for the formation of a chromium oxide and vanadium oxide surface layer of about 0.05 to about 0.5 mgcm2.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of subsequently exposing is carried out at a temperature from 800 to 1000\xb0 C.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of subsequently exposing is carried out with a N2\u2014H2 mixture.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein subsequently exposing said oxygen free nitrogen containing gas is carried out with a N2-4H2 mixture.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein subsequently exposing said oxygen free nitrogen containing gas is carried out for a period of time required for the formation of a chromium nitride and vanadium nitride surface layer of about 0.05 to about 1 mgcm2.

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 platen device applying suction to a conveyed recording medium opposite a printhead, comprising:
a platen divided perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the recording medium into a plurality of suction zones with suction holes in the surface on the side that contacts the recording medium; and
a plurality of shutters disposed to the platen and respectively opening or closing the suction holes in the plural suction zones according to the width of the conveyed recording medium.
2. The platen device described in claim 1, wherein:
the plural suction zones are divided by a plurality of guide ribs extending in the conveyance direction on the surface of the platen;
the suction holes are disposed in the recessed surface of the platen between two adjacent guide ribs; and
the shutters are disposed on the recessed surface.
3. The platen device described in claim 2, wherein:
the shutters can move freely forward and back in the conveyance direction between an open position that opens and a closed position that closes the suction holes; and
through-holes that communicate with the suction holes in the open position are formed in each shutter.
4. The platen device described in claim 3, wherein:
a protrusion is disposed to the side wall of the guide rib; and
two grooves that engage the protrusions in the open position and the closed position are disposed to the shutter.
5. The platen device described in claim 4, further comprising:
a plurality of actuators that respectively open or close the plural shutters; and
a control unit that individually controls the plural actuators,
the control unit selectively controlling the plural actuators based on the input type of recording medium.
6. The platen device described in claim 4, further comprising:
a plurality of actuators that respectively open or close the plural shutters; and
a control unit that individually controls the plural actuators,
the control unit selectively controlling the plural actuators based on the input temperature and humidity of the environment around the recording medium.
7. A platen device applying suction to a conveyed recording medium opposite a printhead, comprising:
a platen divided perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the recording medium into a plurality of suction zones with suction holes in the surface on the side that contacts the recording medium;
a plurality of suction chambers corresponding to the plural suction zones disposed to the platen and communicating with the suction holes;
a plurality of air channels communicating respectively with the plural suction chambers;
a common air channel in which the plural air channels merge and communicate with the air suction source; and
a plurality of dampers disposed respectively in the plural air channels to open or close the corresponding air channel.
8. The platen device described in claim 7, further comprising:
a plurality of actuators that respectively open or close the plural dampers; and
a control unit that individually controls the plural actuators.
9. A printing comprising:
the platen device described in claim 1; and
an inkjet printhead.