Abstract: A distribution apparatus for transporting an article struck from sheet metal is disclosed, which includes a receiving head having a recess for receiving the article struck from the sheet. The recess includes a resilient interference feature extending inwardly beyond the boundary of the article to be received. Transporting apparatus is further provided for transporting the receiving head to a selected destination and, finally, a discharging element is included for discharging the article from the receiving head at the selected destination.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for diagnosing oncological diseases wherein an effective small amount of blood is obtained, such as from a finger, and a solution containing blood plasma or serum is exposed to laser radiation and the values of one or more parameters are determined upon measurements at molecular level. Said parameters are then compared with analogous measured or established parameters of a reference solution to determine whether there are significant variations or similarities which indicate the absence or presence of oncological diseases or a predisposition to same. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, blood plasma or serum is diluted in water up to 25% of the volume and the solution is then exposed to laser radiation in the standard mode.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of cyanide in an aqueous system is disclosed. The method determines the cyanide concentration from a determination of reference thiocyanate concentrations and will measure the cyanide concentration in the presence of sulfides.

Abstract: A new method for determining and reporting lipid fatty acids compositions and its use in diagnosing diabetes is disclosed. Adding internal standards, which are true analogs of the fatty acids to be analyzed, to blood serum or plasma samples before performing a gas chromatographic analysis of the fatty acids allows the results of the analysis to be reported in absolute terms as, for example, mg/L, instead of in relative percentages. Reporting the results as absolute concentrations reveals statistically significant differences in levels of various lipid fatty acids between persons having and not having diabetes.

Abstract: A system for performing chemical analyses includes at least two analyzers and at least one peripheral device capable of serving either analyzer. A control system is coupled to the analyzers and to the peripheral device and selectively commands the peripheral device to serve one or the other of the analyzers depending upon the analyses requested for each analyzer and the analytical method applied. A control system providing sharing of peripheral devices in such a system is also provided, as is a method for performing chemical analyses wherein a peripheral device is shared by analyzers. The system permits simultaneous and asynchronous analysis for a variety of analytes while reducing the physical space occupied by the system and the idle time of both the analyzers and the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously sorting living cells from a mixture of many unlike cells to obtain separate populations of like cells. The invention comprises cell and fluid intake ports, a cell deflection chamber, and a series of output vacuum pumps attached to a like number of collection reservoirs. The cell intake section is a two-stage system that first mixes the incoming cells with a deionized, buffered, processing medium then sheathes the output stream with a centering carrier fluid. An expansion chamber contains one or more electrodes connected to one or more RF generators that act upon the passing cells so that they are fanned out within the expansion chamber according to their size, physical construction, chemical composition and electronic properties. Vacuum pumps draw the fluids through the system and deposit the sorted cells in separate reservoirs.

Abstract: Reactors are described for the continuous reaction of gaseous substances on fixed bed catalysts with continuous temperature control and with the aid of a heat transport medium. These reactors are characterised by the design of the catalyst bed in the form of one or more regularly shaped sheet-like layers having a thickness of 0.01-50 cm, the surface of the catalyst layers being covered by a gas-permeable layer and this surface, on the starting material intake side and/or on the product outlet side, facing a likewise regularly shaped wall at a distance of 0.1 to 10 cm, which wall separates the space for the substances to be reacted or reacted substances from the space for the heat transport medium. The reactors are further characterised by the substances to be reacted being directed so as to flow through the catalyst bed approximately or completely perpendicularly to the sheet-like catalyst layers.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a degree of dispersion of an inorganic material in a composite material comprising an organic material having dispersed therein the inorganic material, the method comprising the steps of: forming a block sample of the composite material; dividing the block sample into a plurality of unit volume pieces; incinerating each of the unit volume pieces under an oxidative atmosphere; quantitatively determining the ash content of each of the unit volume pieces; and calculating the scatter of the inorganic material content within the plurality of unit volume pieces.

Abstract: A method for the qualitative or quantitative determination of the deleterious agent in a substantially non-aqueous medium, such as an oil. The method involves using a non-azo 1,8-naphthalimide dye for the detection or quantitation of the total hydrogen ion activity in a substantially non-aqueous medium. The method includes the steps of: Mixing the dye with the substantially non-aqueous medium, which may or may not contain any hydrogen ion, to form a mixture; irradiating the mixture with a fluorescent light sufficient to cause the mixture to emit a detectable fluorescent emission spectrum; detecting the fluorescent emission spectrum of the mixture; and comparing the detected fluorescent emission spectrum with standard fluorescent emission spectra generated by reacting the dye with different known hydrogen ion activities, wherein differences between the fluorescent emission spectra compared are dependent upon the presence or levels of the hydrogen ion activity present in the mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method and system for injecting liquid into containers and for inspecting containers for the presence of certain substances such as potential contaminants such as ammonium salts or amine salts in glass or plastic bottles. A high speed system and method are provided for detecting these contaminants in these bottles. Ammonia and amines can be detected by chemiluminescence of samples of volatiles emitted from the bottles during the high speed inspection process. A solution of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is injected into the bottles in order to enhance the conversion of ammonium or amine salts to free ammonia or amines which are then released as vapors. This enhances the likelihood that a gas-phase detection system such as one using chemiluminescence detection techniques will detect the presence of contaminants containing ammonium salts or amine salts.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for minimizing the effects of background signals in masking signals indicating the presence of substances to be detected such as contaminants in materials moving rapidly along a conveyor. The contaminants detected may include nitrogen containing compounds and hydrocarbons. The system and method of the present invention minimize during detection of the presence or absence of such substances, the number of falsely positive indications of the presence of such substances due to background signals and changes in background signals. The substances detected are divided into first and second sample portions and the respective portions are heated. The first heated portion is mixed with ozone to cause a chemical reaction therewith in order to generate radiation by chemiluminescence having characteristic wavelengths related to substances in the first portion.

Abstract: A Faraday cage enclosing the flow chamber of a cytometer and ground planes associated with each field deflection plate in concert therewith inhibit electric fields from varying the charge on designated events/droplets and further concentrates and increases forces applied to a charged event passing therethrough for accurate focus thereof while concomitantly inhibiting a potential shock hazard.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for coating a moving support by means of a curtain. According to the present invention, the lip of the coating device has a front surface 10 which is substantially vertical or positive, a positive rear surface 11 defining, with respect to the front surface 10, an angle of less than 90.degree. and a chamfer 12 between the lower ends of the said front and rear surfaces, the said device being characterised in that the ratio between the thickness of the coating composition at the level of the front surface 10 of the lip and the width of the chamfer 12 is at least one.

Abstract: A device for spraying and baking panels within a single automated unit. The spray booth and baking environment are differentially pressurized and purged such that the unit can be located with an environment which is electrically classified as hazardous for flammable materials. Parameters unique for processing materials to be used are programmed into a control computer. Mounted within the spray chamber is an emissions reduction attachment which collects paint and wash liquids used in purging the spray gun during the spray cycles. Significant increase in the useful life of materials collecting paint overspray and a decrease in airborne emissions can thereby be achieved.

Abstract: A container for receiving and separating blood plasma into its ingredients comprises two sealingly coupled sections (1 and 2). One container section (2) and the adjacent portion of the other container section are made of solid material, and the two container sections are screwed together. The container sections (1 and 2) comprise their respective chambers (29 and 30) for receiving their respective fluid ingredients, and these chambers are interconnected through a connecting channel (31) through the abutting portions, at which the container sections (1 and 2) are screwed together. A valve seat (21, 27) is shaped at each end of the connecting channel (31) for each valve member (22, 16) for a sealing closing of the chambers (29, 30) in the separated state of the container sections (1, 2).

Abstract: The presence of fecal occult blood in a stool sample is detected by mixing a liquid stool sample with an acidic liquid, such as a phosphate/citrate buffer, to precipitate hematin from the solution. The precipitated hematin is separated and the presence or absence of hemoglobin is determined by exposing the solution to a peroxidase diagnostic assay. A positive response indicates the presence of blood originating in the lower gastrointestinal tract, a leading indicator of lower GI cancer.

Abstract: A liquid supplying device has liquid supplying piston pumps driven by turns for drawing up liquids contained in chemical vessels through liquid intake passages and sending out the liquids to an analyzer or other inspection apparatus through liquid outlet passages. The liquid intake and outlet passages have change-over valves controlled by an automatic sequence controller so as to send out alternately the liquids in the properly mixed state to the analyzer without pulsation of flow.

Abstract: A general purpose technique called extractive hydrogenation analysis, useful for both trace component and imaging analysis of samples containing organic matter. In processes according to the invention, organic matter is thoroughly decomposed in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under substantially aqueous conditions into products, and one or more of the products is then detected.

Abstract: A headspace autosampling apparatus (92) for generating and delivering gaseous samples to a gas chromatograph or other instrument includes a plurality of vials (98) in a carousel (150). The vials are delivered one at a time from the carousel through a vial delivery mechanism (160) to a heated zone (146) wherein the substances (94, 96) to be analyzed reach equilibrium with the headspace (100, 102) above the samples in the vials, preferably using the full evaporation technique (FET). The vials are generally cylindrical and extend horizontally to facilitate attainment of equilibrium rapidly upon heating. The vials are also preferably rotated about their longitudinal axis prior to sampling so as to achieve a film effect on the interior walls of the vials which further aids in attainment of equilibrium.

Abstract: A feeder unit, which is used for selectively charging an analyzing apparatus with liquid or gaseous sample-, reference- or cleaning media, comprises a sample inlet and a feeder part hinged on the feeder unit at one end. The feeder part contains an intake passage for the cleaning medium to be entered, the sample inlet having a flexible feeder funnel cooperating with a washing element which is attached to the feeder part and can be introduced into the funnel. The feeder part is configured as a cover flap swinging around a fixed pin. The intake passage for the cleaning medium opens into the washing element and is also used for delivering liquid and gaseous reference media. The washing element is located on a support which is elastically attached to the cover flap, and fits into the flexible funnel when the cover flap is closed.