Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid fixation and decalcification of calcified tissues using a MW oven with adjustable variable continuous power output, a specialized tissue handling system and an external temperature control device to maintain reagent temperature control external to the MW environment. Tissues are placed in cassettes, which are then placed in a tissue handling system. The tissue handling system also provides a specialized external container, which allows for the recirculation and cooling of reagents external to the MW cavity. The external device is a recirculation device having both heating and cooling capacities for a range of different processing reagents.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of determining the position or change in position or state of motion of a receiver or receivers, the position or change in position or state of motion of which is or are not already known, in a network of transmission sources some or all of whose positions are known. At a first time, the relative offsets in time, phase, frequency, or derivatives thereof with respect to each other, or with respect to a reference source, of the signals received by a first receiver from a plurality of the transmission sources are measured. At a selected second time, the respective offsets of the signals received by the same or a second receiver, whose position or state of motion is not already known, from the plurality of the transmission sources are measured.

Abstract: An improved system and method for stirring suspended solids in a liquid media to enhance sample growth and improve sample detection results. The system and method employs a sample vessel holder which adapted to receive at least one sample vessel which contains the solids and liquid media and a stirrer, such as a ferrous metal filled stirrer, and maintain the sample vessel in a position such that the longitudinal axis of the sample vessel extends at an angle substantially less than 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal, such as within the range of about 15 degrees to about 25 degrees with respect to the horizontal. The system and method further employs a magnet driver, adapted to move a magnet, such as a rare earth magnet, proximate to an outer surface of the sample vessel to permit the magnet to impose a magnetic influence on the stirrer to move the stirrer in the sample vessel.

Abstract: A method of forming a template for a countertop is provided, wherein the template is usable to form a countertop configured for application to an existing countertop-receiving structure. First, data is collected with a single portable data collection module and according to a coordinate system established with respect to a countertop-receiving structure, wherein the data comprises a plurality of points directly corresponding to and defining the countertop-receiving structure. The data is then processed so as to form a closed-boundary representation of a countertop corresponding to the countertop-receiving structure. Thereafter, the countertop representation is dimensioned to form a template usable to form the countertop such that the formed countertop is thereby correspondingly engageable with the countertop-receiving structure. An associated method of forming a countertop is provided, as well as an associated computer software program product and computer device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supporting spindle and shipping system for shipping hard magnetic disks from the point of manufacture to the final assembly point where those disks are incorporated into a hard disk drive for computer use. The spindle is designed to be outwardly expanding to capture and hold the hard disks only by the central hole of each disks such that no disk comes into contact with any other disk. The loaded spindle is then inserted into a shipping tube that has end openings and an interior region where the smallest dimension is considerably larger than the diameter of the disks to be housed within the shipping tube. The spindle is supported within the closed shipping tube by the end caps of the shipping tube so that none of the disks on the spindle come into contact with the interior of the shipping tube. The shipping tube can also be formed to have an exterior shape that facilitates stacking of the shipping tubes.

Abstract: A single tray or multi tray sheet feed system is provided. A sensor is provided to sense the sheets leaving from the single tray or multi tray system. If the paper weight of sheets of paper on a tray fall within a first range of paper weight values, the sensor is designed to have a first given voltage response condition for sensing these sheets and if the paper weight of the sheets falls within a second range of paper weight values the sensor is designed to have a second given voltage response condition for sensing the latter sheets. A current value supplied to the emitter of the sensor can be controlled to provide the desired voltage response or a resistance in a phototransistor collector circuit can be varied to provide the desired voltage response condition.

Abstract: The sheets in each tray of a multi tray sheet feeder are of the same thickness, but the sheets in one tray may be of a different thickness than the sheets in another tray. The sheets are fed from each sheet feeder tray to an intermediate stacker and then to a printer. A first sensor is provided just prior to entry of a sheet into the intermediate stacker and a second sensor is provided to sense a sheet as it is fed from the intermediate stacker. If the paper weight of sheets of paper on a tray fall within a first range of paper weight values, each sensor is designed to have a first given voltage response condition when sensing those sheets and if the paper weight of the sheets falls within a second range of paper weight values each sensor is designed to have a second given voltage response condition sensing the latter sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feed sensor is designed to have a first given voltage response condition for sensing sheets within a first range of paper weight values and a second given voltage response condition for sensing sheets within a second range of paper weight values. A current value supplied to the emitter of the sensor can be controlled to provide the desired voltage response or a resistance in a phototransistor collector circuit can be varied to provide the desired voltage response condition. If the first range of paper weight values is lighter than the second range of paper weight values, the sensor, when in the first given voltage response condition, will have a voltage response, when sensing a sheet of a given paper weight, which is higher than the voltage response when the same sensor senses a sheet of the same paper weight, when the sensor is in the second given voltage response condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting sheet misfeed from a tray having at least two sheets whose thickness differs from each other. The thickness of each sheet is detected as it enters into the tray and that value is placed in memory. The thickness of each sheet is detected as it leaves the tray and that value of each sheet is compared to the thickness value in memory for the same sheet when it entered into the tray. If the values match, then only one sheet has been fed from the tray. If the thickness value of the sheet as it leaves the tray is more that the thickness value in memory, then that indicates that more than one sheet has left the tray and a signal is produced which results in the sheet feed system being shut down to enable an operator to correct the situation.

Abstract: The thickness of a first sheet fed from each tray of the multi-tray sheet feeder is detected by a first sensor and a thickness value is placed in memory for that tray. Each sheet subsequently fed from the same tray is detected by the same sensor and the thickness value sensed is placed in memory and compared with the thickness value in memory for that tray. When a tray is reloaded, the thickness value in memory for the sheets previously loaded in the tray is erased and the first sheet fed from the reloaded tray is sensed and a thickness value for that sheet is placed in memory for the reloaded tray. After the thickness value of a sheet is sensed by the first sensor, the sheets enter into the intermediate tray. The thickness value of a sheet is detected by an outlet sensor as it leaves the intermediate sheet tray and that value is compared to the thickness value in memory which was detected for the same sheet by the first sensor.

Abstract: The instant invention is an automatic biaxial sun tracking mechanism for use with sun ray utilization devices. Said devices are mounted on said invention, said devices forming no specific part of said invention.The invention is comprised of four principal parts: (1) a mount structure for positioning and supporting said sun ray utilization devices, (2) a polar shaft, (3) a declination crankshaft, and (4) suitable connecting members.Operation of the invention is as follows: The daily axis of said polar shaft is oriented parallel to the earth's polar axis. Said connecting members hold in a mutually perpendicular arrangement the daily axis of said polar shaft, the seasonal axis of a pivot pin for said mount structure, and the main journal axis of said declination crankshaft. Said connecting members with attached parts have suitable means to rotate about said daily axis one revolution per day. Said crankshaft has suitable means to rotate about said main journal axis one revolution per year.

Abstract: The instant invention is an automatic biaxial sun tracking mechanism for use with sun ray utilization devices. Said devices are mounted on said invention, said devices forming no specific part of said invention.The invention is comprised of four principal parts: (1) a mount structure for properly positioning and supporting said sun ray utilization devices, (2) a declination shaft, (3) a polar shaft and (4) a suitable shaft-connecting means.Operation of the invention is as follows: Said shaft-connecting means is caused to rotate about the longitudinal axis of said polar shaft one revolution per day. Said shaft-connecting means is either fixed to a rotating polar shaft or rotatably connected to a fixed polar shaft. Said declination shaft is rotatably connected to said shaft-connecting means and is caused to rotate one revolution per year. The angle between two said shafts is principally determined by the maximum angular difference between the earth's equatorial plane and the sun's ecliptic plane.

Abstract: The instant invention is an automatic biaxial sun tracking mechanism for use with solar energy utilization devices. Said devices are mounted on said invention, said devices forming no specific part of said invention. The invention is comprised of three principal parts: (1) a polar shaft, (2) a declination disk, and (3) a mount structure for positioning and supporting said solar energy utilization devices. Operation of the invention is as follows: Said declination disk, which is rotatably connected to said polar shaft, causes said mount structure, which is pivotly connected to said polar shaft and also has moving contact with said declination disk, to move in its proper declination course while said mount structure simultaneously moves in its proper right ascension course about the longitudinal axis of said polar shaft. The invention may incorporate compensating means to improve tracking accuracy. Proper operating movements are provided by suitable gearing and drive mechanisms.