Author: claimsbot

1. A system comprising:
a memory, having stored thereon, a set of instruction, in which, when executed by a computing device, the set of instructions cause the computing device to perform a method comprising the acts of:
providing an indication of a deck of cards;
playing a game using the deck of cards;
determining a first value of a card count describing the deck of cards;
determining at least one card used from the deck of cards in the game, in which rules for determining a winner of the game are defined by the rules of blackjack;
determining a second value of the card count based on the first value and the at least one card;
determining that the second value is at least one of greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold; and
in response to determining that the second value is at least one of greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold, initiating a shuffling of the deck of cards prior to using the deck for any further games.
2. The system of claim 1 in which initiating the shuffle includes signaling that a reshuffle is due.
3. The system of claim 1 in which the card count represents a difference between a number of ten-value cards remaining in the deck and a number of cards remaining in the deck with point values of two through six.
4. The system of claim 1 in which the card count represents a difference between a number of cards with point values of two through six removed from the deck and a number of ten-value cards removed from the deck.
5. The system of claim 1 in which determining the second value of the card count includes incrementing the first value if the at least one card has a point value of two through six, and decrementing the first value if the at least one card has a point value of ten.
6. The system of claim 4 in which the first threshold is nine and in which the second threshold is negative eight.
7. The system of claim 4 in which the first threshold is nine and in which the second threshold is negative nine.
8. The system of claim 1 in which determining at least one card occurs after the first value has been determined and in which determining a second value occurs after the at least one card has been determined.
9. A system comprising:
a memory, having stored thereon, a set of instruction, in which, when executed by a computing device, the set of instructions cause the computing device to perform a method comprising the acts of:
providing an indication of a deck of cards;
playing a first game using the deck of cards;
determining the first value of the first card count describing the first game, in which rules for determining a winner of the first game are defined by the rules of blackjack;
playing a second game;
determining the second value of the second card count describing the second game, in which the second game includes a game played from a separate deck than the first game and in which rules for determining a winner of the second game are defined by the rules of blackjack; and
displaying the first value and the second value together on a display device to non-participants in the first game and second game.
10. The system of claim 9 in which displaying together includes displaying on a public monitor.
11. The system of claim 9 in which the display device includes a screen of a mobile device through which a wager may be placed related to at least one of the first game and the second game.
12. The system of claim 11, in which the method further comprises:
receiving an indication of the wager from the mobile device.
13. A system comprising:
a memory, having stored thereon, a set of instruction, in which, when executed by a computing device, the set of instructions cause the computing device to perform a method comprising the acts of:
providing an indication of a deck of cards;
playing a first game using the deck of cards;
determining the first value of a first card count describing the first game, in which rules for determining a winner of the first game are defined by the rules of blackjack;
playing a second game;
determining the second value of the second card count describing the second game, in which rules for determining a winner of the second game are defined by the rules of blackjack, and in which the second game includes a game played from a separate deck than the first game;
determining a third value of a statistic based on the first value and the second value; and
displaying the third value on a display device to non-participants in the first game and second game.
14. The system of claim 13 in which the statistic represents an average of the first statistic and the second statistic.

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 cell selection andor cell reselection handling by a user equipment attempting to connect to a public land mobile network using a random access channel of a base station entity, wherein the public land mobile network comprises a first radio cell with a first base station entity and a second radio cell with a second base station entity, comprising:
performing, by the user equipment, a cell selection andor cell reselection procedure wherein both the first radio cell and the second radio cell fulfill a cell selection criterion with, the first radio cell being prioritized relative to the second radio cell;
attempting, by the user equipment, to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the first base station entity, and failing to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity; and
performing, by the user equipment, a modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure, under unchanged radio conditions regarding the first base station entity, the second base station entity, and the user equipment, whereby the user equipment attempts to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the second base station entity.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing the modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure further comprises:
applying a penalty information with respect to the first radio cell so as to lower a priority of the first radio cell relative to a priority of the second radio cell.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the penalty information comprises an offset information, wherein applying the penalty information reduces at least one of the following values with respect to the first radio cell:
the cell selection RX level value (Srxlev),
the cell selection quality value (Squal),
the measured cell RX level value (RSRP),
the measured cell quality value (RSRQ).
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the penalty information comprises a penalty-related timer information, wherein the penalty information is applied during a penalty time interval indicated by the penalty-related timer information, and wherein the penalty time interval starts after the user equipment fails to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the expiration of the penalty time interval, the cell selection andor cell reselection procedure is conducted by the user equipment without application of the penalty information.
6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the penalty information is transmitted from the first base station entity to the user equipment.
7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the penalty information is stored in the user equipment.
8. A public land mobile network that facilitates cell selection andor cell reselection handling for a user equipment attempting to connect to a public land mobile network using a random access channel of a base station entity, wherein the public land mobile network comprises:
a first radio cell with a first base station entity; and
a second radio cell with a second base station entity;
wherein the public land mobile network is configured to facilitate transmission of a penalty information with respect to at least the first radio cell to the user equipment, wherein the penalty information causes the user equipment to apply a modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure in case of: failure of the user equipment attempting to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity based on a previous cell selection andor cell reselection procedure performed by the user equipment where both the first radio cell and the second radio cell fulfill a cell selection criterion, with the first radio cell being prioritized relative to the second radio cell;
wherein the modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure comprises the user equipment attempting to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the second base station entity under unchanged radio conditions with respect to the first base station entity, the second base station entity, and the user equipment.
9. A user equipment for attempting to connect to a public land mobile network comprising a first radio cell with a first base station entity and a second radio cell with a second base station entity using a random access channel of the first base station entity andor of the second base station entity, wherein the user equipment comprises: a processor and a memory, wherein the processor, based on execution of instructions stored in the memory, is configured for:
performing a cell selection andor cell reselection procedure wherein both the first radio cell and the second radio cell fulfill a cell selection criterion with the first radio cell being, prioritized relative to the second radio cell:
attempting to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity, and failing to connect to the public land mobile network using, the random access channel of the first base station entity; and
performing a modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure, under unchanged radio conditions regarding the first base station entity, the second base station entity, and the user equipment, whereby the user equipment attempts to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the second base station entity.
10. The user equipment according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to receive penalty information from the first base station entity.
11. The user equipment according to claim 9, wherein the memory is configured to store penalty information.
12. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for selection andor cell selection andor cell reselection handling by a user equipment attempting to connect to a public land mobile network using a random access channel of a base station entity, wherein the public land mobile network comprises a first radio cell with a first base station entity and a second radio cell with a second base station entity, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, facilitating performance of the following:
performing, by the user equipment, a cell selection andor cell reselection procedure wherein both the first radio cell and the second radio cell fulfill a cell selection criterion with the first radio cell being prioritized relative to the second radio cell;
attempting, by the user equipment, to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the first base station entity, and failing to connect to the public land mobile network using the random access channel of the first base station entity; and
performing, by the user equipment, a modified cell selection andor cell reselection procedure, under unchanged radio conditions regarding the first base station entity, the second base station entity, and the user equipment, whereby the user equipment attempts to connect to the public land mobile network using a random access channel of the second base station entity.
13. (canceled)
14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the penalty information is transmitted from the first base station entity to the user equipment on a broadcast channel.
15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the penalty information is stored in a firmware-associated memory of the user equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. A turning tool for cutting circumferential grooves into a surface of a polishing pad formed of a resin material and utilized for polishing semiconductor devices, said turning tool comprising:
a cutting part arranged to have a tooth width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a wedge angle within a range of 15-35 degrees, and a front clearance angle within a range of 65-45 degrees.
2. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cutting part has a rake angle within a range of 20-10 degrees.
3. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cutting part has a side clearance angle with respect to a radially outer wall of each of said grooves, which is held within a range of 0-3 degree.
4. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said turning tool includes a plurality of cutting parts which are arranged in a predetermined direction with a pitch within a range of 0.2-2.0 mm.
5. A turning tool according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of cutting parts are arranged in a predetermined direction with regular pitches.
6. A turning tool according to claim 4, further comprising a plate-like shaped tool tip having a plurality of cutting parts integrally formed at one of edge portions thereof so as to protrude outwardly from said one of said edge portions.
7. A turning tool according to claim 6, wherein said turning tool comprising a plurality of said tool tips, said tool tips being fixedly arranged with each other so as to be aligned in a width direction thereof, said cutting parts of said plurality of tool tips cooperate to form a multiplicity of cutting parts.
8. A turning tool according to claim 7, further comprising a predetermined tool-tip holder to which said plurality of said plate-like shaped tool tips are detachably fixed, said tool tip holder and said plurality of tool tips cooperate to constitute a tool unit.
9. A turning tool according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of cutting tips each having one of said cutting parts, said plurality of cutting tips are detachably fixed to each other so that cutting parts of said plurality of cutting tips cooperate to form a plurality of cutting parts.
10. A turning tool according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of cutting tips are superposed on and integrally fixed to one another with spacers interposed adjacent ones of the cutting tips so that the spacers function to keep a pitch of said plurality of cutting tips.
11. A turning tool according to claim 9, further comprising a cutting-tip holder to which the plurality of cutting tips are detachably fixed, said cutting tip holder and said cutting tips cooperate to constitute a unit tool.
12. A turning tool according to claim 10, further comprising a cutting-tip holder to which the plurality of cutting tips are detachably fixed, said cutting tip holder and said cutting tips cooperate to constitute a unit tool.
13. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cutting part has a tip portion arcuately curved in a width direction thereof so that said tip portion has two end parts opposed in said width direction, said two end parts of said tip portion protruding outwardly from an intermediate part of said tip portion in a direction perpendicular to said width direction.
14. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cutting part has a tip portion being serrated.
15. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cutting part has at least one side surface being serrated.
16. A method of producing a polishing pad made of a resin material, comprising the steps of:
positioning a turning tool comprising a cutting part arranged to have a tooth width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a wedge angle within a range of 15-35 degrees, and a front clearance angle within a range of 65-45 degrees, relative to a base for said polishing pad formed of said resin material;
rotating said cutting part of said turning tool relative to said base for said polishing pad about an axis of said base for said polishing pad, for cutting circumferential grooves into a surface of said base such that radially inner most one of said circumferential grooves has a radius of curvature of 10 mm or smaller.
17. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 16, wherein said turning tool comprises a plurality of cutting parts which are arranged in a predetermined direction with a pitch within a range of 0.2-2.0 mm, and wherein said circumferential grooves comprises a multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves, said method further comprising the steps of:
simultaneously cutting a plurality of said generally concentric grooves into said surface of said base for said polishing pad such that radially inner most one of said multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves has a radius of curvatures of 10 mm or smaller.
18. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of cutting parts are arranged in a predetermined direction with regular pitches.
19. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 16, wherein said turning tool comprises a plate-like shaped tool tip having a plurality of cutting parts integrally formed at one of edge portions thereof so as to protrude outwardly from said one of said edge portions and arranged in a predetermined direction with a pitch within a range of 0.2-2.0 mm, and wherein said circumferential grooves comprises a multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves, said method further comprising the steps of:
simultaneously cutting a plurality of said generally concentric grooves into said surface of said base for said polishing pad such that radially inner most one of said multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves has a radius of curvatures of 10 mm or smaller.
20. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 19, wherein said turning tool comprises a plurality of said plate-like shaped tool tips, said tool tips being fixedly arranged with each other so as to aligned in a width direction thereof such that said cutting parts of said tool tips cooperate to form a multiplicity of cutting parts.
21. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 20, wherein said turning tool further comprises a predetermined tool-tip holder to which said plurality of said plate-like shaped tool tips are detachably fixed, said tool tip holder and said plurality of tool tips cooperate to constitute a tool unit.
22. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 16, wherein said turning tool comprises a plurality of cutting tips each having a cutting part and detachably fixed to each other so that cutting parts of said plurality of cutting tips cooperate to form a plurality of cutting parts which are arranged in a predetermined direction with a pitch within a range of 0.2-2.0 mm, and wherein said circumferential grooves comprises a multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves, said method further comprising the steps of:
simultaneously cutting a plurality of said generally concentric grooves into said surface of said base for said polishing pad such that radially inner most one of said multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves has a radius of curvatures of 10 mm or smaller.
23. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 16, wherein said turning tool is adapted to cut said circumferential grooves into said surface of said base for said polishing pad at a feed per revolution of 0.005-0.05 mmrev in a depth direction of said base.
24. A method of producing a polishing pad according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:
blowing ionic fluid toward a vicinity of said cutting parts to neutralize said base of said polishing pad and chips which are electrically charged due to execution of said step of cutting by the turning tool said circumferential grooves into said surface of said base for said polishing pad.
25. A polishing pad comprising:
a base made of a resin material; and
circumferential grooves open in a surface of said base, said grooves having a width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a depth of 0.2-2.0 mm, and a pitch of 0.2-2.0 mm,
wherein radially inner most one of said circumferential grooves has a radius of curvature of not larger than 10 mm.
26. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein radially outer most one of said grooves has a radius of curvature of not less than 100 mm.
27. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein said radially inner most one of said grooves has a radius of curvature of not larger than 10 mm, and said polishing pad has a diameter which is made smaller than that of a working piece.
28. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein said circumferential grooves are spaced apart from each other at uniform pitch.
29. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein said base is a rigid urethane foam member, and said multiplicity of generally concentric grooves are formed with a width of 0.20-0.30 mm, a depth of 0.1-1.0 mm and a pitch of 1.0-2.0 mm.
30. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein said polishing pad is usable for polishing a substrate of multilevel interconnection type in which is formed an interconnect line having a width of 0.18 m.
31. A polishing pad according to claim 25, wherein said polishing pad is adapted to be directly placed on a platen of a polishing device for polishing semiconductor devices, without needing an elastic layer interposed therebetween.
32. A machine for grooving a base for a polishing pad made of a resin material, said machine comprising:
a bed;
a platen including a hollow shaft member supported by said bed via bearing so that said hollow shaft member is rotatably about a C-axis which is perpendicular to said bed;
a suction plate fixed to one of opposite axial end portions of said hollow shaft member remote from said bed and formed with a plurality of through holes arranged evenly over an entire area thereof for attracting the base for the polishing pad to be placed on said suction plate;
drive mechanism for rotating said platen about said C-axis and for positioning said platen at a suitable angular position;
a gate-shaped column having two legs which are opposed to each other with a spacing therebetween and a cross rail extending between and being perpendicular to said two legs, said gate-shaped column being movable in a direction of an X-axis with said cross rail extending across said platen;
at least one saddle mounted on said cross rail so as to be movable in a direction of a Y-axis extending along said cross rail;
a tool rest mounted on said saddle so as to be independently reciprocally movable in a direction of a Z-axis, said tool rest adapted to detachably hold a fixed tool comprising a turning tool comprising a cutting part arranged to have a tooth width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a wedge angle within a range of 15-35 degrees, and a front clearance angle within a range of 65-45 degrees;
drive motors for moving and positioning said platen, said column and said saddle and said tool rest; and
a numerical control apparatus totally control an operation of said drive motor,
wherein said hollow shaft member of said platen is connectable to an air suction device so as to attract said base for said polishing pad on said suction plate by a suction force applied from said air suction device to said base for said polishing pad, and
wherein said machine being operable to cut by said turning tool a multiplicity of generally concentric annular grooves into a surface of said base for said polishing pad with said base for said polishing pad being attracted on said suction plate.
33. A machine according to claim 32, further comprising:
an ion-blowing device for neutralizing said static electricity charged in said polishing pad and chips, for separating said chips from said fixed tool and said polishing pad,
wherein said ion blowing device includes an ion generating device for generating ion, an ion extruding nozzle for extruding said ion toward said cutting part of said fixed tool, an air blowing device for blowing air together with said ion.
34. A machine according to claim 32, wherein said tool rest detachably supports a rotative tool selected from a group consisting of a milling cutter unit and a drill unit.
35. A machine according to claim 32, wherein said milling cutter unit including at least one milling cutter fixedly supported by a tool shaft extending along a center axis thereof, said at least one cutter including a disk-shaped body member and a plurality of cutting edges disposed at an outer peripheral portion of said body member at regular angular intervals, and each having a wedge angle within a range of 20-40 degrees, and a front clearance within a range of 30-45 degrees, a tooth width within a range of 0.3-2.0 mm, and a side cutting edge angle of 0-2 degree.
36. A machine according to claim 35, wherein said machine comprises a plurality of said milling cutters which are fixedly disposed onto said tool shaft such that said tool shaft extend through center axes of said plurality of said milling cutters and said plurality of milling cutters are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of said tool shaft at a uniform pitch of 0.1 or more.
37. A machine according to claim 34, wherein said drill unit comprises a single-spindle type or a multiple-spindle type drill unit, said drill unit including a drill having a drill diameter of 0.5-1.5 mm, a drill length of 20-30 mm two cutting edges of helix angle of 1-10 degrees,
said drill being a straight drill having no back-tapered portion at cutting edges thereof and having a shape edge that has a conical angle with no chisel portion of 55-65 degrees .
38. A machine according to claim 32, further comprises a sequential control device adapted to control operation of said drive motor in place of said numerical control apparatus.
39. A machine according to claim 32, wherein said machine includes two of said saddles, wherein at least one of said tool holders of said two saddles is adapted to detachably support said fixed tool comprising said turning tool comprising a cutting part arranged to have a tooth width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a wedge angle within a range of 15-35 degrees, and a front clearance angle within a range of 65-45 degrees, and an other one of said tool holders of said two saddles is adapted to detachably support said rotative tool selected from a group consisting of said milling cutter unit and said drilling unit.
40. A machine according to claim 32, wherein said machine includes only one said saddle, said tool holder being adapted to interchangeably support said fixed tool comprising the turning tool comprising a cutting part arranged to have a tooth width within a range of 0.005-1.0 mm, a wedge angle within a range of 15-35 degrees, and a front clearance angle within a range of 65-45 degrees, or said rotative tool selected from a group consisting of said milling cutter unit and said drilling unit.

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. An impact driver for driving an elongate object into a body in any plane from the horizontal to the vertical, said impact driver comprising
a) chassis,
b) a ram supported by said chassis in a manner allowing rectilinear movement of said ram relative to said chassis,
c) a linear induction motor including
(i) a stator mounted to said chassis, and
(ii) a linear induction motor reaction member composed of at least one plat of an electrically conductive material mounted to said ram,
(iii) the stator being positioned to operatively interact with linear induction motor reaction member to accelerate the reaction member substantially along a length of movement of the reaction member to move the reaction member
from a retracted position to an impact position, and
from the impact position to the retracted position,
d) whereby, when the said reaction member is accelerated to move from said retracted position to said impact position, the ram is accelerated at an increasing rate throughout its movement by the reaction member to substantially increase its kinetic energy for causing an impact force to be imparted on said elongate object in the elongate direction thereof.
2. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ram includes an impact head for receiving said impact force from the ram and transmitting it to an elongate object.
3. The impact driver as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ram includes an elongate ram support structure, said ram support structure having a first and second ends, and wherein said impact head is provided at a first end of said ram support structure.
4. The impact driver as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reaction member is of an elongate configuration, and is secured to the ram support structure to extend in the elongate direction of said ram support structure between said first and second ends thereof.
5. The impact driver as claimed in claim 2, wherein said impact head is of a robust and substantially solid material suitable for the transferal of an impact from the ram to the elongate object.
6. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis provides bearings which locate and support said ram for rectilinear movement within said chassis.
7. The impact driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bearings are located within a casing of said chassis, said ram also at least in part provided and retained by said bearings within said casing of said chassis.
8. The impact driver as claimed in claim 6, wherein said stator of said linear induction motor is positioned within the casing of said chassis.
9. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis includes a casing defining an elongate chamber within which at least part of said ram is able to move in the elongate direction.
10. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relative position of said ram at least when in one position with respect to said chassis is able to be sensed by an electronic sensor.
11. The impact driver as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electronic sensor is a limit sensor for detecting the reaching of the ram to or proximate to its retracted position.
12. The impact driver as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electronic sensor is in communication with a controller for controlling of the linear induction motor, in order for the electronic sensor to actuate the controller to accelerate the said ram from the retracted position to the impact position.
13. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stator is controlled to accelerate the ram from the retracted position to the impact position at a rate different and most usually greater than from the impact position to the retracted position.
14. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein an anvil assembly is positioned relative to said chassis to hold an anvil in alignment to the rectilinear direction of movement of said ram to be interposed between the head of said elongate object and said impact head for the purpose of providing a cushioning to the impact force of said ram applied to said elongate object.
15. The impact driver as claimed in claim 14, wherein said anvil assembly is in a translatable engagement with said chassis.
16. The impact driver as claimed in claim 14, wherein said anvil assembly presents said anvil at a location remote from said chassis.
17. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis is mounted to a support structure.
18. The impact driver as claimed in claim 14, wherein said chassis is mounted to a support structure and said anvil assembly is in a translatable engagement with said support structure to permit its movement relative thereto and parallel to the rectilinear direction of movement.
19. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a mounting arrangement for mounting the chassis to a vehicle.
20. The impact driver as claimed in claim 19, wherein said mounting arrangement allows said support structure to rotate relative to said vehicle.
21. The impact driver as claimed in claim 19, wherein said mounting arrangement allows said support structure to translate relative to said vehicle.
22. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chassis is mounted to a support device selected from one of a vehicle, a vessel and a derrick.
23. The impact driver as claimed in claim 22, wherein said chassis is connected to the support device by an articulated mounting arrangement configured for mounting the chassis to the support device in an articulated manner.
24. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impact driver is a pile driver.
25. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said reaction member is accelerated to move from said retracted position to said impact position, the acceleration of the said ram is enhanced by the addition of a gravitational force component that increases from zero in the horizontal plane to a maximum additional acceleration of 9.81 ms2 in the vertical plane.
26. The impact driver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate object can be extracted from said body by nature of the following arrangement:
a) said impact position and said retracted position are reversed with respect to said elongate object so that the said ram is accelerated away from said elongate object,
b) said ram includes an engagement arrangement for engaging with said elongate object to transmit forces from the linear induction motor to the elongate object, thereby to extract the elongate object; and
c) the movement of said ram being controllable though said linear induction motor to reduce said ram’s impact on said elongate object to a lesser extent when said ram returns to a more proximate position to said elongate object between extraction strokes.