Abstract: A computerised motion control apparatus for controlling a plurality of degrees of freedom of the positioning and orientation of a camera. The apparatus including a dolly (71) positionable by drive means along an extensible track arrangement (72), having a camera (73) mounted thereto and provided with motors to orientate the camera (73) by varying its pan (76), tilt (75), and roll (74). An operator interface device (15) is used to define position and velocity characteristics of the desired motion of each of the camera's axes of motion and a motor driver module (69) calculates a parametric cubic polynomial representation of the desired motion curve. The calculated coefficients of the motion curve parametric cubic polynomial representation are easily stored and used to regenerate the values of the curve for the purposes of display and providing motion curve values for each axis of motion of the camera. These calculations can be performed upon command and in real-time.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to foil laminated tabletops and to methods for their manufacture. Tabletops according to the present invention can be laminated over their entire upper and side surfaces with a continuous sheet of thin foil, the foil typically comprising a plastic material. The foil layer ends at an angular lower edge where the side surface intersects the lower surface of the tabletop. By providing an angle preferably greater than about 120.degree. about the lower edge, the lower edge of the tabletop preferably does not feel sharp and the edge of the foil is at least partially hidden from view. The present invention also provides foil laminated tabletops having an upper surface provided with functional retaining recesses for retaining items on the tabletop.

Abstract: A disk drive head disk assembly having a compact configuration includes an actuator assembly mounted to a base plate through a three point mounting system. The actuator includes a voice coil which engages a magnet assembly having an integrated latch/magnet spacer including a fixed magnetic latch and cantilevered beam crash stop. A magnetic latch pin assembly mounted to the voice coil engages a permanent magnet employed in the fixed magnetic latch. The latch pin assembly includes a movable latch pin which has a degree of lateral movement which allows the latch pin to release from the permanent magnet with a consistent force.

Abstract: This invention relates to an upright partition for use in a modular office furniture system, the partition comprising: a frame comprising: two vertical posts each having outward opposing faces defining spaced apart parallel forward and rearward planes; a plurality of horizontal beams, at least one beam in each said plane, each beam having an inward face and an outward face, the inward face of each beam being connected to one said outward face of an associated post in an overlapping moment resisting connection; and a plurality of cladding panels each connected to one said beam; whereby an internal cavity is defined inward of the outward faces of said beams, and a raceway is defined outward of said outward post faces and inward of the outward faces of said beams.

Abstract: A disk drive head disk assembly having a compact configuration includes an actuator assembly mounted to a base plate through a three point mounting system. The actuator includes a voice coil which engages a magnet assembly having an integrated latch/magnet spacer including a fixed magnetic latch and cantilevered beam crash stop. A single piece tape seal having a thick adhesive formed on a tape substrate encompasses the junction between the base and cover of the head disk assembly providing a substantially airtight seal to thereby maintain a desired clean environment within the disk drive.

Abstract: A load mechanism for loading and unloading magnetic heads relative to a magnetic disk includes a rotatable comb-like structure having lift pins for coacting with the head supporting flexures to maintain the heads securely spaced from the surfaces of the disks during the unload mode and to allow the heads to assume the transducing position during the load mode.

Abstract: A test tube holder for insertion into a cylindrical test tube cavity in a centrifuge rotor to support a plurality of relatively small test tubes within the rotor cavity. The holder includes a body whose shape is substantially that of a cylinder or a longitudinal section thereof. The body has a plurality of small cavities for holding test tubes, the smaller cavities being spaced apart in a direction along the longitudinal dimension of the body. Each of the smaller cavities is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal dimension of the body, and each has a mouth opening onto an exterior surface of the body. The test tube holder further includes means for orienting the holder in the centrifuge rotor test tube cavity so that the mouths of the smaller cavities face the rotational axis of the centrifuge rotor when the test tube holder is inserted into said centrifuge rotor test tube cavity.

Abstract: A rotor apparatus utilizing a lid having an enlarged rim portion which under centrifugally induced forces will move into close sealing contact with the lower portion of the rotor. The lid portion of the rotor is a generally flat circular disc with the thicker rim portion of greater mass located around the periphery of the circular disc. The slight deflection of the lid during centrifugation provides an automatic increase in the seal between the lid and the lower portion of the rotor as the rotational speed increases. The automatic tightening feature enables the user to merely hand tighten the lid onto the lower portion of the rotor without having to use some type of mechanical advantage tool. The lid has a relatively large diameter and contains no holes in order to reduce possible material stress in the lid during centrifugation. The lid is threadably connected to the lower portion of the rotor by a depending stud projecting from the bottom surface of the lid.

Abstract: A mechanical overspeed protection device incorporated in a microtest plate carrier used in a centrifuge rotor. A locking arm actuates into a blocking position on the microtest plates in the carrier to indicate that the carriers on the rotor have been subjected to an overspeed condition during the centrifugation run. A housing within the carrier microtest plate retains the arm in an unactivated position during operation below a specified force field. However, when the carrier experiences an overspeed condition, the locking arm is designed to have sufficient weight, so that in response to the centrifugally induced forces the arm will move out of the housing into an outward blocking position on the carrier plates. The insertion of new microtest plates in the carrier for additional centrifugation runs is prevented, since the locking arm is in its blocking position.

Abstract: A packaging container which can be liquid tight or hermetically sealed is formed from a flat blank comprising an outer member which can be formed into a tubular body with closure flaps at each end and a filling and dispensing aperture, and a flexible membrane fixed to the inside of the outer member along a continuous peripheral seal line. The membrane covers at least 50% of the body portion of the outer member in the widthwise direction and extends over uninterrupted flap portions adjacent the covered body portion and over the filling and dispensing aperture so that after erection in conventional manner filling causes the membrane to move away from the body portion covered in the flat blank.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective varnish layer on a hydrophilic surface carrying at least one area of hydrophobic ink, and the resultant product. The method comprises: applying to at least the inked portions of the surface a layer of an aqueous dispersion containing 5% to about 60% by weight of a film forming polymer or copolymer and 0.5% to about 10% of an auxiliary film forming material capable of raising the critical surface tension of the hydrophobic inked area; and allowing the applied layer to dry.