Abstract: A continuous inkjet printer is described, which includes a combination of dispersion agitation means, heated ink supply and printhead and tailored, heated, filtration regime. The use of this combination allows the printing of inks containing a non-magnetic pigment that exhibits “soft settling” upon standing.

Abstract: Apparatus which can collect loose debris, particularly ferrous debris, has a body 2 with upper 3 and lower 4 stabiliser sleeve. The body 2 has a one or more integral magnets or magnetic areas 5. In one embodiment the magnets are located in a first and second row on a split sleeve 6 and are covered by a protective stainless steel sleeve7. The apparatus may alternatively comprise magnetic scraper blades or a magnetic sub. The magnets are selectively activated. There is also described a method of trapping or retaining debris in a well bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for varying the rate of seed population by planters or drills, comprising first and second squeeze jack variable speed pulleys, and a belt running around the pulleys; a cog mounted on the first pulley and a cog mounted on the second pulley, and a drive chain running around the cog mounted on the first pulley and a row unit chain running around the cog mounted on the second pulley; and apparatus to vary selectively the speed of the row unit chain at any given speed of the drive chain and at any slope of the apparatus above or below level ground.

Abstract: A method of making magnetic circuit (1) with coil having an electric coil (2) and a magnetic core (3), the coil (2) comprising a conducting wire (6) and an end plate (4) and connector (5) being arranged at respective ends of the coil (2). The coil is mounted on the magnetic core (3) which is formed of a tore-shaped magnetic wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating specimens in wells of a metallic specimen carrier. The specimen carrier is heated by applying resistive heating directly to the carrier. An AC source and transformer may be used where the specimen carrier is in series with a single turn secondary winding of the transformer. A magnet may be placed in each well and excited by the heating current to provided a stirring effect.

Abstract: A door latching mechanism for the door of an electric household appliance, in particular a washing machine, is described. The door latching mechanism comprises an element (34) of which at least a deflection part changes its spatial position (C, D) upon a change in temperature of the element (34) and thereby operates a bar element (32) for locking and unlocking the door. The door latching mechanism further comprises an electromagnetic device (46) comprising an actuating member (48) for unlocking the door. The actuating member (48) cooperates with an extension (40A) of the bar element (32).

Abstract: An electromagnetic device, specifically a linear or rotary single- or multi-phase motor or generator comprising, for each phase, at least two relatively-movable sets of teeth of soft magnetic material, one set of teeth being associated with the stator and the other with the rotor, the size of the device being such as to enable it to generate a maximum magnetic potential Umax of at least 1.7×10−4 J/&mgr;0 ampere turns. The width E of the minimum air-gap between teeth of the rotor and of the stator as measured in the direction perpendicular to the degree of freedom is approximately equal to or greater than 0.7 &mgr;0Umax/J where &mgr;0 is the permeability of free space, Umax is the maximum generated magnetic potential difference for causing the magnetic field to pass through the air-gap E, and where J is the maximum polarization of the soft magnetic material used for making the teeth.

Abstract: A suspension device has a carrying region, at which it is to be connected to a carrying structure, and also a flexible load beam which essentially consists of elastomer material, is disposed between two articulating zones and has a centrally disposed centre of load distribution. At the latter, the load acting on the said load beam branches out towards the two articulating zones, which in turn are each connected to the carrying region by a carrying leg. The two articulating zones lie in a common transversal plane which extends transversely to the direction of action of the load. The centre of distribution of load is disposed, in the non-loaded condition, between the carrying region and the transversal plane, and the load beam is adapted to approach a stretched position in which the centre of distribution of load lies in the said transversal plane when the load increases and is directed away from the carrying region.

Abstract: A current sensor for measuring a time-varying electrical current (Im) in a portion of primary conductor (1), the sensor including a sensor conductor comprising first and second ends (3,4) for connection to a signal processing circuit, a first conductor portion extending from the first end and having a plurality of windings (5) to form a first coil portion, and a second conductor portion returning to the second end. Centres of the windings define a median coil place substantially parallel to the magnetic field (Hm) generated by the time-varying current (Im) to be measured, the sensor conductor defining one or a plurality of interference field surfaces as seen projected on a plane parallel to the median plane enclosed by clockwise or anti-clockwise interference field current circulating portions (22,23) of the sensor conductor.

Abstract: An improved voltage unipolar generator utilizing a pair of electrically interconnected, counter-rotating, circumferentially segmented, conductive disks. Rolling contacts such as conductive balls or tapered pins are used to electrically interconnect the two counter-rotating disks in a manner that places the majority of the disks' segments in an electrical series. An axially magnetized co-rotating, neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet having a diameter similar to said disks is the preferred field source. A ferrite disk of appropriate thickness is placed opposite the field source to compress said disks and rolling contacts for optimized electrical interconnection of said disk segments.

Abstract: A bookbinding repair kit containing instructions, diagrams and equipment to carry out repair to damaged or torn backing shoulder joints of any book, the equipment comprising a complete endpaper consisting of one evenly folded sheet of paper with a double-sided adhesive strip no less than 7 mm and no more than 10 mm in width but of a particular length, with a peel away backing paper attached to the endpaper adjacent one side of the endpaper fold, a double-sided self adhesive strip of mull cloth of a particular width and length, two thirds of each side of the mull cloth being covered with a peel away backing strip and the remaining third adhered to the adhesive side of a sconelined, one sided self-adhesive paper the same size as the endpaper, the endpaper side without the adhesive strip being glued to the plain side of the scorelined paper.

Abstract: The testing of a cutting-edge geometry of a tool takes place during time intervals that comprise time instants at which it is to be expected that a region, to be tested, of the tool enters a measuring beam. At time instants at which the tool does not enter the measuring beam, no measurements are performed, which increases the reliability of the test and avoids spurious measurements. For this purpose, a measuring system is used that preferably comprises programmable units in order to use the invention flexibly for various machine tools and tools without changing the construction of the measuring system.

Abstract: Exercise devices which are arranged to replicate the feel and effect of exercising with free weights but providing resistance in two directions away from a null position are disclosed. One example of a device comprises a handle 1021 which can be grasped by an exerciser and which is mounted on an articulated arm portion 1002 which in turn is mounted to a frame 1005. A weight 1031, lever arm 1032 and hydraulic transmission means provide resistance to movement. A first arm member 1022 is pivotally mounted to allow pivotal movement about an axis. Pivotal movement about this axis in two directions away from a null position is resisted by the weight 1031. The weight 1031 also tends to urge the arm member 1022 back towards the null position. The null position can be adjusted using the hydraulic arrangement.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a box is provided for placement upon the official scorekeeper's table which includes a plurality of lights on a surface thereof. By actuating corresponding switches on the exterior of the box, the official scorekeeper is able to illuminate lights (or conversely to extinguish lights) in order to indicate how many time outs have been used by each team. In the preferred embodiment, the time-out indicator lights are integrated into the same box which is used to display the possession arrow for each team.

Abstract: A hand held utensil having a head portion connected to a handle, wherein the handle includes structure for encouraging a user of the utensil to present the head portion to an article at a preferred angle.

Abstract: The aqueous ophthalmic formulation for the treatment and prevention of infections contains ofloxacin as active ingredient and a chitosan having a weight average molecular weight of 500,000-5,000,000 Daltons and a deacetylation degree of 30-90% as solubilizing agent of ofloxacin. Chitosan having a deacetylation degree of 30-90% may be also used for solubilizing ofloxacin suspended in an aqueous media having a substantially neutral pH in any other applications.

Abstract: A drilling and anchoring device comprises a drilling pipe (8), a drilling tool (12) mounted at the end of the pipe, and one or several cables (4) and/or other anchoring reinforcements. The cables and/or other anchoring reinforcements are so attached to the drilling tool that the drilling tool remains in a grout body (7) formed by cement injection in the ground surrounding a drilling hole (6).

Abstract: A method of producing intra-ocular lenses or contact lenses including the following steps: a) mechanically forming a lens blank such that it is suitable for correcting an ametropic visual defect, b) measuring the aberration of an eye to be corrected, c) calculating an ablation profile with respect to the lens blank on the basis of the measured aberration, and d) ablating material of the lens blank in accordance with the calculated ablation profile by means of laser radiation.

Abstract: A pipe testing apparatus comprising an elongate tester body having sealing means and actuator means to deform said sealing means on activation. The apparatus is further provided with means to bias actuator means axially away from the sealing means on deactivation of said actuator means. The apparatus is typically used to test the integrity of pipelines at specific points, for example joints or welds.