Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The electrosurgical generator system includes an RF stage to output at least one waveform of electrosurgical energy; a sensor module having at least one sensor to sense electrical or physical properties related to the output electrosurgical energy and generate sensor data; and at least one control module executable on at least one processor that controls at least one parameter of the output electrosurgical energy. The at least one control module includes an outer loop controller to generate a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of the sensor data and an inner loop controller to generate a setpoint control signal and provide the setpoint control signal to the RF stage for controlling at least an amplitude of the energy output by the RF stage.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The programmable electrosurgical generator system has an RF output stage for outputting at least one RF operating waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The programmable electrosurgical generator system includes an inner loop system to change at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform; an outer loop system to provide at least one operating command to the inner loop system; and a configuration control system that modifies at least one of the inner and outer loop systems based on received data from a sensor module.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus for waster and/or production residues includes a drive device having at least one high-pole three-phase synchronous motor that is operatively connected to a comminuting shaft having at least one shaft bearing arrangement. The motor is connected directly to the comminuting shaft and the comminuting shaft over its working region has comminuting tools that cooperate with a counterpart member for comminuting the material to be processed. The comminuting shaft extends axially into the three-phase synchronous motor and the at least one shaft bearing arrangement of the comminuting shaft is surrounded at least in portion-wise manner by the synchronous motor.

Abstract: A processor arrangement having a plurality of processor units and a control computer. Each of the processor units is connected to at least one adjacent processor unit and has one control element and at least one communications interface for providing a data communications link with an adjacent processor unit. The control computer is connected to one of the processor units, and is configured for exchanging information with the processor unit and for assigning one control element of the plurality of control elements to a device that is electrically connected to the processor arrangement for the control of the device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The system includes an outer loop controller for generating a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of sensor data from at least one sensor; an inner loop controller for generating a setpoint control signal which is provided to an RF stage in accordance with at least the control signal generated by the outer loop controller and a second subset of sensor data from the at least one sensor; and a configuration controller for generating configuration data and providing first and second configuration data sets of the configuration data to the inner loop and outer loop controllers, respectively, for configuration thereof to provide a type of control selectable from a variety of types of control.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a random number includes a sampler that samples a noise signal to obtain a noise signal sample, and a provider that provides at least three noise signal threshold values selected such that a first probability of the noise signal sample being between the first and second threshold values, and a second probability of the noise signal sample being between the second and third threshold values are different from each other by less than a predetermined differential value or are identical. An outputter outputs the random number such that when the noise signal sample is between the first and second threshold values, a first digit of a random number is occupied by a first logical state, whereas a second digit is occupied with a different logical state, so that a random number which is at least 2 bits wide results from one noise signal sample.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus having a compact, variable-speed drive unit with a high level of efficiency and high torque levels. The comminuting apparatus comprises a drive device having an electric motor operatively connected by way of a transmission device to a comminuting shaft that has comminuting tools at its periphery. The tools cooperate with a counterpart member to comminute the material to be processed. The electric motor is in the form of a high-pole three-phase synchronous motor that is electrically connected to the output of a frequency converter controlled by a control device, and the transmission device is in the form of an epicyclic transmission device. The motor surrounds the epicyclic transmission device at least in part, and the motor and the transmission device are arranged in a common housing.

Abstract: A machining or processing plant (1) is provided including one or several machining stations (2) that are surrounded by a protective partition (13) and are supplied with components (4, 5) from at least one external supply (6) by a feeding mechanism (8). The feeding mechanism (8) is provided with one or several distribution vehicles (9) which can be moved between the supply (6) and the processing stations (2). The distribution vehicles (9) are equipped with a multi-shaft manipulator (10) and a device (36) for surmounting the protective partitions (13). The distribution vehicles (9) are also equipped with one or several receptacles (30) for component supports (24, 25).

Abstract: A clamping device or system (1) is provided for body parts (8, 9), which have a component clamping contour (11), especially a component flange. The clamping device or system (1) has one or more clamping devices (2, 3), which have each a frame-like structure (12) with fixed and mobile clamping units (18, 19) arranged therein, which are present in a plurality of pairs. The clamping units (18, 19) have a strip-shaped design and are adapted to the course of the component clamping contour. Furthermore, the clamping device or system (1) has an adjusting device (21), which feeds the mobile clamping units (19) to the component clamping contour and actuates them together or in a controllable sequence.

Abstract: A changeover device (8) is provided for tenter frames (5,6,7) in a treatment station (1) for vehicle bodies. The changeover device comprises at least one frame store (9,10) that can be rotated about a rotational axis (11) and is arranged at a distance from a working point (39), and a transport device (17) provided with a guide (18) and a controllable towing device (28) for the tenter frames (5,6,7). The transport device (17) has a guide (18) on the bottom side, for transporting the tenter frames in a vertical position, and also comprises a bottom-side or lateral stabilising device (64). A towing device (28) for the tenter frames (5,6,7) is arranged in the bottom region of the transport device (17) with at least one driven carriage (29,30).

Abstract: A transport device and a method for transporting motor vehicle body parts (4) is provided. The transport device (49) includes a transportable frame (51) with at least one preferably bar-shaped supporting device (55) for receiving the parts (4) in a stack (5). The transport device (49) includes a loading device (56) which allows individual parts (4) to be put on the supporting device (55) at a loading position (47) and allows delivery of the stack (5) of parts to an unloading position (48) where the stack (5) of parts is pushed off the supporting device (55).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for feeding motor vehicle body parts (4, 5) having passage openings (6) which are preferably closed on their periphery through a protective fencing (2) having a fence opening (3). The feeding device (7) comprises at least one support (8) on which the components are placed by means of the passage openings (6) outside the protective fencing (2) or are fed together with the support (8). The feeding device (7) also comprises a supporting device (9) having a plurality of spaced apart and individually mobile and controllable gripper devices (18, 19) for alternately retaining and releasing the support (8), thereby allowing the components to be transported along the support (8) through the protective fencing (2) while being separated.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator system includes an electrical generator having an RF stage for outputting electrical energy having at least one waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system further includes at least one control module executable on at least one processor which controls at least one parameter of the outputted electrical energy and a configuration controller operably associated with the electrical generator which generates configuration data to configure the at least one control module to provide at least one modality of control of the outputted electrical energy based on the configuration data.

Abstract: An automatic control system for an electrosurgical generator is herein disclosed. The automatic control system includes voltage and current sensing circuits, a processing circuit, an output determining circuit, and a control circuit. Samples of the voltage and current outputs are supplied to the processing circuit and the output determining circuit to generate an output signal. The output signal is compared to a reference signal to generate a feedback signal for controlling a drive circuit.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: In order to provide a comminuting apparatus (1) for waste and/or production residues, of a simple structure, there is proposed an apparatus including a drive device with at least one high-pole three-phase synchronous motor (100) which is operatively connected to a comminuting shaft (20) having at least one shaft bearing arrangement (25, 26; 28, 29), wherein the motor is connected directly to the comminuting shaft (20) and the comminuting shaft over its working region at its periphery has comminuting tools (21) co-operating with a counterpart means for comminuting the material to be processed. The comminuting apparatus (1) according to the invention is distinguished in that the comminuting shaft (20) extends axially into the three-phase synchronous motor (100) and the at least one shaft bearing arrangement (25, 26; 28, 29) of the comminuting shaft (20) is enclosed at least portion-wise by the synchronous motor (100) (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A processor arrangement having a plurality of processor units and a control computer. Each of the processor units is connected to at least one adjacent processor unit and has one control element and at least one communications interface for providing a data communications link with an adjacent processor unit. The control computer is connected to one of the processor units, and is configured for exchanging information with the processor unit and for assigning one control element of the plurality of control elements to a device that is electrically connected to the processor arrangement for the control of the device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The system includes an outer loop controller for generating a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of sensor data from at least one sensor; an inner loop controller for generating a setpoint control signal which is provided to an RF stage in accordance with at least the control signal generated by the outer loop controller and a second subset of sensor data from the at least one sensor; and a configuration controller for generating configuration data and providing first and second configuration data sets of the configuration data to the inner loop and outer loop controllers, respectively, for configuration thereof to provide a type of control selectable from a variety of types of control.

Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.