Abstract: A ceramic tooth restoration has two neighboring ceramic tooth replacement elements each having a recess. A connecting member is placed into the recesses. A glass paste is provided for anchoring the connecting member in the recesses by sintering at a temperature below approximately 800° C.

Abstract: A cutting device for light-induced curing of dental materials includes a hand-held apparatus containing a light source whereby the hand-held apparatus is pistol-shaped and comprises a main body and a grip connected to the main body. A cable connects the grip of the hand-held apparatus to a supply station. A support for receiving the hand-held apparatus is provided. The support is detachably connected to the supply station or a stand such that the support in which the hand-held apparatus is received is storable at the supply station or separate from the supply station.

Abstract: A method of controlling an oven for producing tooth replacement components. An electric motor moves a piston that acts upon a moldable restoration material. The restoration material is introduced into a muffle oven having an oven hood that can be removed from the muffle. The compactibility curve is established as a function of the type of dental material utilized. Immediately after conclusion of the mold time, the motor is turned off and the oven hood is removed.

Abstract: A universal fruit-picking tool including a cage of a generally elliptical spheroid shape having a three-dimensional triangular opening in its upper half fitted with four cutters. Each cutter has a V-shaped gathering and cutting slot of unique design. The cage is supported by a tele-handle. The complex structure of the cage and cutters allows the new device to easily pick and, at the same time, safely catch the fruits, whatever the position of the tele-handle and the opening, which turn arbitrarily in three-dimensional coordination as the user desires. The general structure of the device is rigid, it does not dangle, it is aerodynamically shaped and agile and therefore it is possible to direct and push the device into the crown of fruit trees among close twigs, small branches and leaves in order to pick fruits easily.

Abstract: A drink mixer which may be used by children as well as by adults to mix a liquid with a wide variety of ingredients including air, other liquids, or solids, which may be comminuted during mixing. The device consists of four major components or assemblies, these being a tapered cylindrical container (12), a container top assembly (14), a handle assembly (16), and a mixing disk (18) carried by the handle assembly. The parts are so designed so that the mixing disk may be pushed down repeatedly by the handle assembly to mix the liquid within the container with other ingredients, an internal spring returning the mixing disk to its raised position. The container top assembly is secured to the container is a liquid tight manner, the container top assembly having a pour spout which may be covered tightly. A part (110) which changes color when the contents change temperature may be incorporated into the mixer.

Abstract: A clip holder has a base body and an elastic securing clip connected to the base body for securing the clip holder to a body part of the user by elastic stress. The base body has at least one cutout for receiving a dental material unit, preferably containing a single dose of dental material.

Abstract: In the method for manufacturing a dental replacement a dental support structure is provide that has a labial and a buccal side. A fired, pre-shaped ceramic part is placed onto the labial or the buccal side and at least partially embedded in a ceramic paste. Subsequently, the thus assembled dental replacement is fired.

Abstract: A liquid pumping apparatus for pumping liquids, more specifically a linear peristaltic pump apparatus. The apparatus consists of a high durometer compressible elastomeric liquid flow tube (12), an infeed valve assembly (26), an outfeed valve assembly (38), an extensible and retractable actuator anvil (34) having a round surface which engages the flow tube (12) at all times, an opposed anvil (24.1) having a round surface in engagement with the flow tube at all times, the flow tube being held between the anvils (34, 24.1) in a slightly compressed state when the anvil (34) is retracted, and a control assembly (100) for causing the movable anvil to be sequentially extended and retracted to cause flow within the flow tube (12) from the infeed valve assembly (26) to the outfeed valve assembly (38). With this apparatus the lumen of the flow tube (12) to the sides of the anvils is not completely reduced to zero volume during displacement compression whereby gas embolisms do not erupt or explode when discharged.

Abstract: The pessary 22, which will alleviate the common female problems of stress incontinence and prolapse, includes an annular hollow body 24 and an air tube 26. The hollow body is ring shaped and is made deflatable. While the body 24 is being inserted into the vagina it is evacuated which diminishes its size and thereby reduces the discomfort associated with insertion. Once in place in the vagina, air is given free access to the hollow device 24 whereby elasticity of the device causes it to expand to its normal shape. When the device 24 is to be removed from the vagina the tube 26, which is preferable coiled and stowed at the center of the ring shaped device 24, is extracted and connected to the hollow needle of a syringe. When the syringe sucks out air, the hollow body 24 diminished in size, which reduces the discomfort associated with its removal.

Abstract: A condiment dispensing apparatus for dispensing condiments from a bag-in-box type container (108). There is a high durometer compressible elastomeric liquid flow tube (14), an infeed and outfeed thereto and therefrom, and a movable anvil (26) with a round surface to compress the tube. There is an opposed stationary anvil (28) which holds the tube for compression by the movable anvil. The tube is held between the anvils (26, 28) in a slightly compressed state even when the anvil is retracted. There is a control assembly (FIG. 15) that causes extension and retraction of the movable anvil to cause flow through the tube, and subsequent delivery of condiment to a dispensing fixture (110).

Abstract: The present invention consists of a method and apparatus providing for the continuous stream blending, preferably on a mass ratio basis, of two or more liquids. Each individual liquid stream is synchronously dosed in precise mass ratio to a common mixing point. The flow of each stream is on-off or digital. Repeated mass ratio doses of defined and matching flow interval, referred to as synchronous digital flow, interspersed with a defined interval of no flow, constitutes digital flow at a net rate sufficient to meet or exceed some required take-away of the blended liquids. In one preferred embodiment, each dose stream flow is produced and measured by a four element apparatus preferably consisting of a servo motor and controller, a precision positive displacement pump, a Coriolis mass meter and a precision flow stream shut-off device. The servo motor and controller establish and control a periodic and intermittent flow rate necessary to displace a defined mass dose in a precisely defined flow interval.

Abstract: A muffle furnace for producing dental prosthesis has a muffle into which dental material is placed and a drive to which a piston is connected. The piston is moveable by the drive into the muffle to apply pressure onto the dental material. A pressure sensing device for measuring pressure applied to the dental material is provided. The pressure sensing device has a pressure sensor and a deformation member having a first side and a second side. The first side of the deformation member is subjected to a counter force of the piston and the second side of the deformation member is fixedly attached to the muffle furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a viscous compound has a dispensing device and a sleeve having a first end detachably connected to the dispensing device. The dispensing device has a plunger and a rotary drive acting on the plunger for applying pressure onto the viscous compound contained in a container attached to the dispensing device for dispensing the viscous compound. The dispensing device has an actuator that couples the rotary drive to the plunger. When the sleeve is attached to the dispensing device, the actuator allows movement of the plunger in the dispensing direction of the dispensing device upon actuation of the rotary drive.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for infusing fruits (which may include vegetables) with sugar. The apparatus includes a series of interconnected tanks (10, 12, 14 and 16). A stratified column of infusing liquor is caused to flow from a tank (50) via variable output pump (52) through fruit which is placed within the tanks to cause the fruit to become saturated with sugar. In addition, the fruit is placed in a plumping liquid in the tanks prior to infusing and the infusing liquor will drive the plumping liquid in front of it. The fruit may be conditioned in various ways prior to placement in the tanks, which conditioning may remove fruit juice from the fruit, the fruit juice being collected in a tank (36) for subsequent use. Alternatively, if fruit juice is not removed from the fruit during a conditioning process, fruit juice is extracted from the downstream portion of the plumping liquid.

Abstract: A mains-operated device for curing by light polymerizable dental material has a housing with a light guide and a cooling fan. A halogen light source, including a reflector and a spiral-wound filament, is positioned in the housing and emits light through the light guide. A control device is connected to the light source. The reflector is positioned at an end of the filament remote from the light guide. The reflector is transmissive for infrared radiation. The reflector is positioned in the cooling air flow of the fan. The control device supplies the filament with a voltage of 100 V to 240 V. The filament provides luminance of more than 750 cd.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting liquid from a liquid-containing slurry. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus (10) includes a plurality of interconnected press assemblies (12), the outlet (82) of one press assembly (12) being connected to the inlet (92) of a successive press assembly (12). Each press assembly has a foraminous cylindrical container (14), and a two-part piston assembly (18) movable between extended and retracted positions within the foraminous container (14). During operation, a pump (90) continuously feeds slurry under pressure through the inlet of the first press assembly to cause liquid within the first stage slurry upstream of the two-part piston assembly (18) to be radially expressed through the foraminous container (14). After a suitable amount of liquid has been extracted from the first stage slurry, batch processing of the partially dewatered slurry will commence.

Abstract: A syringe for dental material has a cylinder with a dispensing socket and an open end opposite the dispensing socket. A plunger is inserted through the open end into the cylinder and is guided in the cylinder. The plunger is made of a porous, sintered material.

Abstract: A curing device for curing dental materials by light-induced polymerization has a supply station and a hand-held apparatus including a light source. A detachable cable connects the hand-held apparatus to the supply station. An output control device controls the light source in order to ensure a uniform light intensity, wherein the output control device has a preset nominal output. The output control device includes a control FET. The cable is connected within the output control device. The output control device prevents switching on the curing device or emits a warning signal when the nominal output requires a voltage, surpassing a control bias voltage minus a potential difference of the control FET, or a corresponding current.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to paving machines capable of spraying a liquid binding material in the form of an emulsion on the road surface prior to the application of a hot asphaltic bituminous concrete paving material. The paving machine including a self-propelled chassis having a hopper and a paving material accumulator on the front end for receiving paving material, a transversely extending spray bar at the rear of the chassis for spraying the liquid binding material on the surface of the road bed, a conveyor for conveying the paving material from the hopper to a discharge location to the rear of the spray bar, the conveyor including two or more conveying augers mounted in auger troughs, and auger covers from the accumulator to the discharge location, which cover reduces heat loss from the paving material.