Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Some torque paths are via a sleeve rotatable on a shaft on one of said axes. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.

Abstract: A transmission system (8) comprising at least one floating gear (14a, 16a, 18a) rotationally mounted upon a first shaft the system comprising a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the at least one floating gear (14a, 16a, 18a) and the first shaft (10), the gear activation system comprising a first device (28, 30) having a friction interface (28) for frictional engagement with a friction interface (30) disposed on a first side of the at least one floating gear (18a), and a second device (25, 26) having a locking interface (25) for an interpositional engagement with a locking interface (26) disposed on a second side, opposing the first side, of the at least one floating gear (18a), whereby the floating gear (18a) is rotationally coupleable to the first shaft (10) by the friction interface (28/30) and/or the locking interface (25/26).

Abstract: A constant mesh gearbox has five parallel rotational axes. The input and output axes are not aligned. Some torque paths are via a sleeve rotatable on a shaft on one of said axes. Up to eight forward speeds are disclosed, with two very low ratios suitable for non-highway travel. The transmission is suitable for two and four wheel drive.

Abstract: A lock assembly for use in automotive and industrial transmission systems comprises: an actuator (2) having an impeller (6) movable between two rest positions by energizing the actuator, wherein the impeller is retained in each of the two rest positions by passive magnetic forces generated by the actuator; a locking arrangement (10, 22; 42, 52; 62, 64; 70, 74; 80, 96) switchable between a first configuration in which rotation of a shaft is unimpeded by the locking arrangement and a second configuration in which rotation of said shaft is blocked by the locking arrangement; and a linkage (14, 16; 44, 46, 61, 88) between the impeller and the locking arrangement, wherein the assembly is arranged such that in one of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is in its first configuration and said shaft is freely rotatable, and in the other of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is urged towards and into its second configuration.

Abstract: A telestrator system running on a computing platform enables a video clip rendering on the platform to be telestrated with graphic objects including lines, arrows, or shapes that are drawn by a user using gestures that are captured by a camera system. The user can provide voice commentary while drawing on the video clip which is captured by a microphone in an audio track. A user interface (“UI”) is exposed that enables the user to scrub the video clip to a desired point at which to telestrate, provides drawing markers having different colors, and supports undo and clear capabilities to undo drawing strokes and clear all telestration drawings from the video clip. The telestrator system UI also exposes recording controls so that the user can record a video of the telestration session with the accompanying audio commentary which can then be saved and shared, for example, on a social network.

Abstract: A transmission system (8) comprising at least one floating gear (14a, 16a, 18a) rotationally mounted upon a first shaft the system comprising a floating gear activation system for controlling torque transfer between the at least one floating gear (14a, 16a, 18a) and the first shaft (10), the gear activation system comprising a first device (28, 30) having a friction interface (28) for frictional engagement with a friction interface (30) disposed on a first side of the at least one floating gear (18a), and a second device (25, 26) having a locking interface (25) for an interpositional engagement with a locking interface (26) disposed on a second side, opposing the first side, of the at least one floating gear (18a), whereby the floating gear (18a) is rotationally coupleable to the first shaft (10) by the friction interface (28/30) and/or the locking interface (25/26).

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for presenting an event to a user while allowing a user to make a prediction during the event, allowing the user to choose different content while viewing the event, displaying the chosen content while also displaying the event in an intelligent manner and providing a jump bar to navigate between content and/or features.

Abstract: A lock assembly for use in automotive and industrial transmission systems comprises: an actuator (2) having an impeller (6) movable between two rest positions by energising the actuator, wherein the impeller is retained in each of the two rest positions by passive magnetic forces generated by the actuator; a locking arrangement (10, 22; 42, 52; 62, 64; 70, 74; 80, 96) switchable between a first configuration in which rotation of a shaft is unimpeded by the locking arrangement and a second configuration in which rotation of said shaft is blocked by the locking arrangement; and a linkage (14, 16; 44, 46, 61, 88) between the impeller and the locking arrangement, wherein the assembly is arranged such that in one of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is in its first configuration and said shaft is freely rotatable, and in the other of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is urged towards and into its second configuration.

Abstract: Automated packaging of surgical needle-suture assemblies includes a framing operation in which adjacent sheets of polymer coated aluminum foils are conveyed through a sequence of steps in an apparatus which produces frames containing plastic packets of needle-suture assemblies. A vision system having video cameras connected to a specially adapted computer enables monitoring the product traveling through the framing operation to detect various defects in the foil and in the product formation. Upon detection of a defect, the computer system can either identify and separate rejected product from good product or shut down the apparatus.

Abstract: A process for applying a biobarrier member to a vent opening in a foil member used for medical device packaging. The process provides for cutting a biobarrier member from a roll of stock and sealing the biobarrier member about the vent opening in the foil member. The seal is tested for integrity and the biobarrier member is tested for porosity.

Abstract: Automated packaging of surgical needle-suture assemblies includes a framing operation in which adjacent sheets of polymer coated aluminum foils are conveyed through a sequence of steps in an apparatus which produces frames containing plastic packets of needle-suture assemblies. The apparatus pulls a web of foil off a large diameter feed roll and maintains web alignment as it travels down line through the apparatus by a system that optically detects transverse movement of the web as it is fed into the apparatus and adjusts the position of the feed roll relative to the centerline of travel using a hi-directional stepper motor. Discontinuities in the polymer coating on the top surface of the web of foil are automatically detected so that remedial steps can be taken to avoid processing defective sections of the web. A vision system having video cameras connected to a specially adapted computer enables monitoring the product travelling through the apparatus to detect various defects in the product formation.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.