Author: claimsbot

1. An image processing apparatus that processes time-series images that include a plurality of images captured in time series, the image processing apparatus comprising:
an interval setting unit that sets a time-series interval on the basis of a variation between images of the time-series images; and
an area classifying unit that performs, in an image included in the time-series interval, classification into a plurality of category areas using a classification reference for each time-series interval set by the interval setting unit.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a variation computing unit that computes a variation between an image of the time-series images and another image located near the image in a time-line, wherein
the interval setting unit sets the time-series interval on the basis of the variation computed by the variation computing unit.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the area classifying unit comprises:
a feature computing unit that computes a feature of an image included in the time-series interval; and
a distribution estimating unit that estimates a feature distribution of each category area located in an image included in the time-series interval on the basis of a feature distribution that is a distribution of the feature computed by the feature computing unit, and
the area classifying unit performs, in an image included in the time-series interval, classification into the category areas on the basis of the feature distribution of each category area estimated by the distribution estimating unit.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the area classifying unit comprises an image selecting unit that selects an image from the time-series interval, and
the distribution estimating unit estimates a feature distribution of each category area located in an image in the time-series interval on the basis of a feature distribution of the image selected by the image selecting unit.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the distribution estimating unit comprises:
a clustering unit that divides the feature distribution that is the distribution of the feature computed by the feature computing unit; and
a category determining unit that determines a category of each cluster obtained by the clustering unit, and
the distribution estimating unit estimates the feature distribution of each category area on the basis of feature data of each cluster of which the category is determined by the category determining unit.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interval setting unit sets the time-series interval on the basis of a cumulative value that is obtained by accumulating the variations between images in time sequence.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the interval setting unit sets the time-series intervals such that parts thereof are overlapped in a time-line, and
the area classifying unit integrates classification results for the time-series intervals to perform, in an image included in the overlapped interval, classification into the category areas.
8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image selecting unit selects an image on the basis of a variation between images.
9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image selecting unit selects an image on the basis of a cumulative value that is obtained by accumulating the variations between images in time sequence.
10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the category determining unit changes a category determination criterion for each of the time-series intervals.
11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the variation computing unit computes a variation by comparing pixels or areas that positionally correspond between images.
12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the variation computing unit computes a variation by comparing amounts of statistics of pixel values.
13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the feature computing unit divides an image included in the time-series interval into a plurality of areas and computes a feature for each divided area.
14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area classifying unit divides an image included in the time-series interval into a plurality of areas and performs category classification for each divided area.
15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time-series images are images inside an intra-body canal.
16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the category areas include at least any one of a mucous membrane, a content, foam, and a lesioned part.
17. A program storage medium having stored thereon instructions that causes a computer, which processes time-series images that include a plurality of images captured in time series, to execute:
an interval setting step of setting a time-series interval on the basis of a variation between images of the time-series images; and
an area classifying step of performing, in an image included in the time-series interval, classification into a plurality of category areas using a classification reference for each time-series interval set by the interval setting step.

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 the treatment of wood or wood products, especially for the manufacture of sandwich boards, in which method moist wood or wood products (1) are dried by first pressing and further by heating so that a desired degree of dryness is reached, wherein in a first stage, i.e. in a pressing stage, the wood or wood products (1) arranged between treating elements (2) are pressed between the treating elements (2) so that a considerable amount of water is removed from the wood being treated, next the compression pressure between treating elements (2) and wood or wood products is varied so that compression of the wood or wood products is relieved and after that the compression pressure is varied so that compression of the wood or wood products is increased and the wood or wood products (1) remain compressed between the treating elements (2) and the wood or wood products are dried further in a drying phase by applying heat.
2. A method for the treatment of wood or wood products, especially for the manufacture of sandwich boards, in which method moist wood or wood products (1) are dried by first pressing and further by heating so that a desired degree of dryness is reached, wherein in a first stage, the wood or wood products (1) arranged between treating elements (2) are pressed between the treating elements (2) so that a considerable amount of water is removed from the wood being treated, next the treating elements (2) are locked so that the wood or wood products (1) remain compressed between the treating elements (2) and the combination of treating elements (2) and wood or wood products (1) between them thus formed is moved into a drying chamber (D), where the wood or wood products are dried further by applying heat.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the first stage, i.e. in the pressing stage, the wood or wood products (1) being treated are heated, preferably to a temperature below the boiling point of water.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wood or wood products in the drying phase, such as in the drying chamber (D), are heated to a temperature exceeding the boiling point of water.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein heated medium, such as air andor steam, is passed from the drying phase, such as the drying chamber (D), when necessary, to be utilised in the pressing stage.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wood or wood products (1) being treated are transferred in a selective manner from the first stage into one of several drying chambers (D).
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the combination of the wood or wood products (1) and the treating elements (2) is moved into a cooling chamber (C).
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the combination of wood or wood products (1) and treating elements (2) is moved from the cooling chamber (C) to a discharge station, where the wood or wood products are released from the treating elements and removed to a further processing stage.
9. A method for producing a wood product board, especially a sandwich board, such as a plywood board, wherein the wood products (1) used in the method consist of fresh veneer sheets, a desired number of which are placed one upon the other between treating elements (2), and a binding agent, such as glue, is applied to all the sheets placed one upon the other, the board blank formed by the veneers and binding agent is first dried in a first stage at a first temperature (T1) andor under a first compression pressure (P1), the temperature is raised to a second temperature (T2) and the compression pressure is increased to a second compression pressure (P2).
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the binding agent used is a thermally activated binding agent, which is activated e.g. at the second temperature (T2).
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first temperature (T1) is lower than about 130\xb0 C., preferably 95-105\xb0 C.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the second temperature (T2) is higher than about 130\xb0 C., preferably 130-140\xb0 C.
13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the length of time during which the board blank is held in the first stage, at the first temperature (T1) andor under the first compression pressure (P1), is determined according to the degree of dryness of the veneer sheets.
14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first stage and the second stage are performed in the same apparatus, preferably also in the same space.
15. A method according to claim 9, wherein, during the first stage, moisture is increased if necessary, e.g. to equalise variations in the dryness of the veneer sheets.
16. An apparatus for the treatment of wood or wood products, said apparatus comprising a press by means of which moist wood is first dried by pressing, means for heating the wood or wood products so as to achieve a desired degree of dryness, wherein the apparatus comprises a pressing chamber (P) containing separate pressing means, a drying chamber (D) and treating means (2) forming spaces between them where the wood or wood products (1) can be arranged, which treating means can be locked in a pressing position, and that the combination of the treating means and the timber (1) between them can be moved from the pressing chamber into the drying chamber and from there to a further processing stage.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein apparatus further comprises means for conveying heat from the drying chamber (D) into the pressing chamber (P) when necessary.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means for conveying heat comprise a passage (8) provided with a shutter element (9), such as a valve element.
19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus comprises several drying chambers (D).
20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the capacity of the pressing means and pressing chamber (P) has been fitted to feed several drying chambers (D).
21. An apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the combination of treating elements (2) and wood or wood products (1) is moved from one chamber to another by means of an actuator.
22. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the drying chamber (D) contains at least two fans (10) disposed on opposite sides of the chamber and that an air flow is directed from the fan to the suction side of the fan placed on the opposite side of the chamber.
23. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the treating elements (2) can be locked with respect to each other by means of locking devices (6).
24. An apparatus for manufacturing a wood product board, especially a sandwich board, such as a plywood board, wherein the apparatus comprises a pressing chamber (P) containing pressing means, a drying chamber (D), and treating means (2) with spaces between them where a sandwich board blank consisting of fresh superimposed veneer sheets (1) and binding agent (G) can be arranged, which treating means can be locked in a pressing position, and that the combination of the treating means and the sandwich board blanks (1) in the spaces between them can be moved from the pressing chamber into the drying chamber andor to a further processing stage.
25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the pressing chamber and the drying chamber are the same space.
26. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the pressing chamber and the drying chamber are separate spaces.

1. A changing device for coating media comprising:
a) a plurality of supply units, each of which has at least one inlet, which is connectable to a reservoir, and an outlet, between which a flow duct extends;
b) at least one coupling unit, which is movable relative to the supply units and has an entrance and an exit connectable to an application device, between which a through-duct extends;
c) the entrance of the coupling unit being complementary to the outlets of the supply units in such a way that the entrance of the coupling unit is couplable to the outlet of one of the supply units and separable therefrom again,

wherein
d) the coupling unit is formed as a pig station.
2. The changing device according to claim 1, wherein a section of the through-duct of the coupling unit defines a pig space, in which medium can flow past a pig situated in the pig space and at least regionally along it as it does so.
3. The changing device according to claim 2, wherein the through-duct is symmetrically widened in the section which defines the pig space.
4. The changing device according to claim 2, wherein blocking means are present in the coupling unit, which prevent a movement of a pig out of the pig space in the direction of the entrance of the coupling unit.
5. The changing device according to claim 4, wherein the blocking means are formed by at least one abutment element which is arranged in the through-duct and against which a pig can abut at an end face.
6. The changing device according to claim 5, wherein the abutment element comprises at least one abutment lance with a tip which is arranged in such a way that a pig can abut at its end face against the tip of the abutment lance.
7. The changing device according claim 2, wherein holding means are formed in the pig space, which hold a pig in a position axially parallel or coaxial to the through-duct.
8. The changing device according to claim 7, wherein the holding means are formed by at least one guide rib which runs on the inner wall of the pig space.
9. The changing device according claim 2, wherein an initial drive device not formed by a coating medium or flushing medium is present, by which a pig situated in the pig space is pushable in the direction of the exit of the coupling unit.
10. The changing device according to claim 9, wherein a fluidic force or a mechanical force is exertable on the pig by the initial drive device.
11. A coating system for coating objects comprising:
a) an application device;
b) a plurality of reservoirs for respectively one coating medium;
c) at least one changing device having a plurality of inlets, each of which is connected to its own reservoir for coating medium, and at least one exit, which is connected to the application device, and through which selectively a coating medium is conductible from a reservoir to the application device,

wherein
d) the changing device is a changing device according to claim 1.

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 method for adaptively analyzing a natural language document containing at least one lexical item, said analysis to determine an attitude of an author towards an entity, comprising:
determining at least one actual valence for the at least one lexical item by analyzing the at least one lexical item in context;
determining the attitude based on the at least one actual valence;
associating the author, the entity and the attitude; and
wherein the at least one lexical item encodes attitude information about the entity.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining at least one base valence for the at least one lexical item.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining at least one base valence for the at least one lexical item; and
wherein analyzing the at least one lexical item in context includes adjusting the at least one base valence based on at least one contextual valence shifter (CVS).
4. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the at least one CVS is at least one of: a negator, an intensifier, a presupposition, a connector, a modal, reported speechthought, an elaboration, and a genre.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the negator CVS is a word or phrase that can negate the at least one base valence.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the intensifier CVS is a word or phrase used for emphasis or de-emphasis that can strengthen or weaken the at least one base valence, respectively.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the presupposition CVS can have a negative impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of a not born-out expectation are negative and can have a positive impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of the not born-out expectation are positive.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the connector CVS is a word or phrase that indicates a different point of view and can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the modal CVS is a word or phrase that establishes a condition wherein the condition can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
10. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the reported speechthought or other linguistic device CVS describes a context in which attitude is ascribed to a second entity rather than the author and can neutralize the at least one base valence with respect to the author.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the reported speechthought CVS does not neutralize the at least one base valence if the author adopts the attitude ascribed to the document entity.
12. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the elaboration CVS adjusts the at least one base valence to reflect the valence of at least one elaborating lexical item that elaborates on the lexical item.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein:
a contradiction between the lexical item and the at least one elaborating lexical item can indicate irony.
14. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the genre CVS can adjust the base valence using knowledge of expected genre content.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein:
the genre can be a movie review.
16. The method of claim 2 wherein:
the at least one base valence represents positive or negative attitudinal information encoded in the lexical item.
17. The method of claim 2 wherein:
determining the at least one base valence is based on taking into account the domain in which the at least one lexical item occurs.
18. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the at least one lexical item can be a contextual valence shifter.
19. A method for adaptively analyzing a natural language document containing at least one lexical item, said analysis to determine an attitude of an author towards an entity, comprising:
determining at least one base valence for the at least one lexical item.
determining at least one actual valence for the at least one lexical item by adjusting the at least one base valence based on at least one contextual valence shifter (CVS);
determining the attitude based on the at least one actual valence;
associating the author, the entity and the attitude; and
wherein the at least one lexical item encodes attitude information about the entity.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein:
the at least one CVS is at least one of: a negator, an intensifier, a presupposition, a connector, a modal, reported speechthought, an elaboration, and a genre.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the negator CVS is a word or phrase that can negate the at least one base valence.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the intensifier CVS is a word or phrase used for emphasis or de-emphasis that can strengthen or weaken the at least one base valence, respectively.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the presupposition CVS can have a negative impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of a not born-out expectation are negative and can have a positive impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of the not born-out expectation are positive.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the connector CVS is a word or phrase that indicates a different point of view and can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the modal CVS is a word or phrase that establishes a condition wherein the condition can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
26. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the reported speechthought or other linguistic device CVS describes a context in which attitude is ascribed to a second entity rather than the author and can neutralize the at least one base valence with respect to the author.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein:
the reported speechthought CVS does not neutralize the at least one base valence if the author adopts the attitude ascribed to the document entity.
28. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the elaboration CVS adjusts the at least one base valence to reflect the valence of at least one elaborating lexical item that elaborates on the lexical item.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein:
a contradiction between the lexical item and the at least one elaborating lexical item can indicate irony.
30. The method of claim 20 wherein:
the genre CVS can adjust the base valence using knowledge of expected genre content.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein:
the genre can be a movie review.
32. The method of claim 19 wherein:
the at least one base valence represents positive or negative attitudinal information encoded in the lexical item.
33. The method of claim 19 wherein:
determining the at least one base valence is based on taking into account the domain in which the lexical item occurs.
34. The method of claim 19 wherein:
the at least one lexical item can be a contextual valence shifter.
35. A system for adaptively analyzing a natural language document containing at least one lexical item, said analysis to determine an attitude of an author towards an entity, comprising:
a base valence calculator to determine at least one base valence of the at least one lexical item;
a contextual valence adjuster coupled to the base valence calculator, the contextual valence adjuster to adjust the at least one base valence based on at least one contextual valence shifter (CVS);
an entity identifier to identity the entity;
an attitude mapper coupled to the entity identifier and the contextual valence adjuster, the attitude mapper to determine the attitude based on the at least one adjusted valence and to associate the author, the entity, and an attitude.
36. The system of claim 35 wherein:
the base valence calculator utilizes a lexical resource; and
wherein the lexical resource provides the at least one base valence of the at least one lexical item.
37. The system of claim 36 wherein:
the lexical resource uses domain information to determine the at least one base valence.
38. The system of claim 35 wherein:
the base valence calculator utilizes domain information to determine a domain for the at least one lexical item.
39. The system of claim 35 wherein:
the at least one CVS is at least one of: a negator, an intensifier, a presupposition, a connector, a modal, reported speechthought, an elaboration, and a genre.
40. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the negator CVS is a word or phrase that can negate the at least one base valence.
41. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the intensifier CVS is a word or phrase used for emphasis or de-emphasis that can strengthen or weaken the at least one base valence, respectively.
42. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the presupposition CVS can have a negative impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of a not born-out expectation are negative and can have a positive impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of the not born-out expectation are positive.
43. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the connector CVS is a word or phrase that indicates a different point of view and can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
44. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the modal CVS is a word or phrase that establishes a condition wherein the condition can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
45. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the reported speechthought or other linguistic device CVS describes a context in which attitude is ascribed to a second entity rather than the author and can neutralize the at least one base valence with respect to the author.
46. The system of claim 45 wherein:
the reported speechthought CVS does not neutralize the at least one base valence if the author adopts the attitude ascribed to the document entity.
47. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the elaboration CVS adjusts the at least one base valence to reflect the valence of at least one elaborating lexical item that elaborates on the lexical item.
48. The system of claim 47 wherein:
a contradiction between the lexical item and the at least one elaborating lexical item can indicate irony.
49. The system of claim 39 wherein:
the genre CVS can adjust the base valence using knowledge of expected genre content.
50. The system of claim 49 wherein:
the genre can be a movie review.
51. The system of claim 35 wherein:
the at least one base valence represents positive or negative attitudinal information encoded in the lexical item.
52. The system of claim 35 wherein:
the at least one lexical item can be a contextual valence shifter.
53. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a system to:
determine at least one actual valence for the at least one lexical item by analyzing the at least one lexical item in context;
determine the attitude based on the at least one actual valence;
associate the author, the entity and the attitude; and
wherein the at least one lexical item encodes attitude information about the entity.
54. The machine readable medium of claim 53, further comprising:
determining at least one base valence for the at least one lexical item.
55. The machine readable medium of claim 53, further comprising:
determining at least one base valence for the at least one lexical item; and
wherein analyzing the at least one lexical item in context includes adjusting the at least one base valence based on at least one contextual valence shifter (CVS).
56. The machine readable medium of claim 53 wherein:
the at least one CVS is at least one of: a negator, an intensifier, a presupposition, a connector, a modal, reported speechthought, an elaboration, and a genre.
57. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the negator CVS is a word or phrase that can negate the at least one base valence.
58. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the intensifier CVS is a word or phrase used for emphasis or de-emphasis that can strengthen or weaken the at least one base valence, respectively.
59. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the presupposition CVS can have a negative impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of a not born-out expectation are negative and can have a positive impact on the at least one base valence if the consequences of the not borne-out expectation are positive.
60. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the connector CVS is a word or phrase that indicates a different point of view and can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
61. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the modal CVS is a word or phrase that establishes a condition wherein the condition can neutralize or negate the at least one base valence.
62. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the reported speechthought or other linguistic device CVS describes a context in which attitude is ascribed to a second entity rather than the author and can neutralize the at least one base valence with respect to the author.
63. The machine readable medium of claim 62 wherein:
the reported speechthought CVS does not neutralize the at least one base valence if the author adopts the attitude ascribed to the document entity.
64. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the elaboration CVS adjusts the at least one base valence to reflect the valence of at least one elaborating lexical item that elaborates on the lexical item.
65. The machine readable medium of claim 64 wherein:
a contradiction between the lexical item and the at least one elaborating lexical item can indicate irony.
66. The machine readable medium of claim 56 wherein:
the genre CVS can adjust the base valence using knowledge of expected genre content.
67. The machine readable medium of claim 66 wherein:
the genre can be a movie review.
68. The machine readable medium of claim 53 wherein:
the at least one base valence represents positive or negative attitudinal information encoded in the lexical item.
69. The machine readable medium of claim 54 wherein:
determining the at least one base valence is based on taking into account the domain in which the at least one lexical item occurs.
70. The machine readable medium of claim 53 wherein:
the at least one lexical item can be a contextual valence shifter.