Abstract: A exit chute for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine comprising a first exit chute portion having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the tablet press for receiving tablets formed thereby. A second exit chute portion is provided that has a first end and a second end and the first end is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the first exit chute portion to form an extended tablet pathway, and the second chute portion includes an aperture therein whereby rejected tablets can be diverted to pass therethrough and accepted tablets will be allowed to pass through the second exit chute portion and out of the second end thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for use in surgery. More specifically, it relates to a spinal fixation device which is adapted to engage a spinal body (e.g. vertebra, or sacrum) and to grip an elongate part, which may be a rod, bar, wire or the like. for convenience. Two or more such devices may engage respective vertebrae and grip a common rod, which may act to improve a spinal defect, such as ankylosing spondylitis, lumbar scoliosis or spondylolisthesis. The invention also relates to surgical instrumentation for use with such a spinal fixation device.

Abstract: Disclosed are profiles of fiber-reinforced polymeric plastic and a pultrusion apparatus and method for the manufacture thereof. The apparatus is preferably vertically disposed. As one or more fibers is fed into the apparatus, each fiber is spread and wetted with monomer resin in a bundle spreader, formed in a die, and then subjected in a curing chamber to a source of radiation which initiates polymerization of the monomer, resulting in a fiber-reinforced polymeric plastic exiting from the pultrusion apparatus. Suitably, the radiation is ultraviolet, the monomer resin is methacrylate resin, and the fiber is quartz. The resultant profile is long and thin like a structural steel wire, but typically will have only 1/4 the weight thereof while having a strength comparable thereto. Thus, the profile is useful as an orthodontic wire as a replacement instead of structural steel wires used as orthodontic wires.

Abstract: A high-capacity collector apparatus and method are provided for collecting sheet articles and advancing collected sheet articles. The collector apparatus includes a stage for collecting a stack of sheet articles advanced thereto wherein the stage is adjustable to accommodate sheet articles of various dimensions or sizes. Pusher/stop members are provided and are operable to stop sheet articles collected in a stack in the stage and to subsequently push the stack of sheet articles from the stage. The pusher/stop members are preferably lug members fixedly attached to a plurality of belts with each belt having one lug member fixedly attached thereto.In a preferred embodiment, the collector apparatus comprises two pairs of independently controlled movable belts each having one lug member attached thereto.

Abstract: Superabsorbent solid organic polymers which absorb over 100 times their weight in water are used in aquatic environment insect population control compositions. Methods for using the superabsorbent polymer insecticidal delivery agents for the control of aquatic environment insect populations, including mosquito population control methods, in an area needing aquatic environment insect population control treatment or in a dry area that is expected to need aquatic environment insect population control, are described.

Abstract: A method for correcting striation artifacts that are generated during a magnetic resonance imaging method. The method involves generating an image of a body area. The image is reconstructed from raw data collected in a spatial-frequency domain. As some of the data points in the raw data from which the image is generated are corrupted, the image of the body area contains striation artifacts. A region containing a homogenous material is selected. Next, the corrupted data points in the raw data are detected and corrected vis-a-vis a Fourier transform correction process, and a new corrected image essentially free of striation artifacts is generated.

Abstract: A tufting machine comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric rotatable by the drive shaft, a connecting member (6) mounted at its proximal end for rotation about the eccentric (4) and coupled at its distal end to pushing means (26) for pivotal movement in relation thereto, a needle mounting means associated, for reciprocating movement, with the said pushing means (26) which impart the reciprocation to the needle mounting means under the impulse of the connecting member (6). The connecting member comprises at least two parts, a distal part (22) for engaging the pushing means and an adjustable proximal part (24) for engaging the said eccentric, the adjustment being possible by varying the position of the proximal part with respect to at least a part of the said eccentric (4). The variation may be provided by a split eccentric with inward facing grooves (10, 12) on the two parts to vary the relative position and thus the focus of the eccentric may be varied without providing a replacement eccentric.

Abstract: Sweating hot plate apparatus simulating the thermoregulatory behavior of human skin and related method for predicting fabric comfort level with the apparatus. Fabric is placed on the top surface of the apparatus, and selected constant inputs of power flux and water flow are supplied to the apparatus, whereby the surface temperature of the apparatus changes and closely approximates the skin temperature of human subjects having levels of heat generation and sweat production corresponding at the same levels of power flux input and water flow input, respectively.

Abstract: Stitch quality monitoring system for use in combination with a sewing machine having one or more stitch threads and comprising sensor means for at least one of said one or more stitch threads for detecting thread motion during each sewing stitch cycle. Encoder means is operatively associated with the sewing machine for creating a predetermined constant number of sensor means sampling signals for each stitch cycle of the sewing machine, and circuit means is electrically connected to the sensor means and encoder means for detecting stitch defects during the formation of potentially defective stitches.

Abstract: A radial inflow centrifugal filter device for separating fine particulates from a fluid flow, including a rotatable plurality of hollow parallel disks mounted in spaced apart relationship and attached via spacers to a tube. The hollow drive tube is in flow communication with the interior hollow plenum of the disks which is at a lower pressure relative to the open space between the disks. Rotating the tube causes the disks to rotate. Particulate-laden fluid is allowed to enter the filter device at the perimeter of the rotating disks and experiences a change in momentum due to the interaction of boundary layers of fluid established on each side of every disk. The centrifugal force imparted to both the fluid and particulates causes them to be separated in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method of therapeutically administering certain medicaments in order to maximize the desired effects and minimize the unwanted metabolite effects on the human body, including the central nervous system, in order to maximize therapeutic effects, such as anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and hypnotic effects, and minimize unwanted side effects, such as ataxic and incoordination effects, of the drug. Also, a method of sublingual or buccal administration of certain medicaments in order to decrease metabolism of the medicaments to unwanted metabolites.

Abstract: An impact pulley apparatus and method are provided for use with a high-speed media processing apparatus by driven attachment to the rotatable shaft of a motor associated therewith to absorb impact energy caused by the high-speed media processing apparatus encountering media to be conveyed. The impact pulley apparatus includes a base plate for mounting on the rotatable shaft such that rotation of the shaft causes identical and simultaneous rotation of the base plate. A pulley member is operatively connected to the base plate by biasing members which are springs in the preferred embodiment such that the pulley member is substantially identically rotatable with rotation of the base plate in one direction in a non-actuated position until an amount of impact energy is encountered by the pulley member sufficient for the pulley member to biasedly rotate in the same direction less than the base plate in an actuated position of the impact pulley apparatus in order to absorb the impact energy.

Abstract: A poultry and swine pulverizing or grinding apparatus comprises an enclosed housing having an inlet end and an outlet end. A grinding drum is rotatably mounted within the enclosed housing and provided with raised cutting teeth extending in a helical orientation along the longitudinal length of the grinding drum. A carcass retention element is positioned adjacent the length of the grinding drum and cooperates therewith to facilitate pulverizing or grinding of animal carcasses by the grinding drum into small size particles which exit the housing through the outlet end. The grinding drum of the apparatus is motivated by an operatively connected motor. Also described is an automated system for preparing animal carcasses for lactic acid fermentation and/or further processing utilizing the aforesaid grinding apparatus.

Abstract: A landfill liner comprising clay and lime for capturing certain leachate contaminants, particularly potentially toxic heavy metals. The lime acts to absorb significantly more of the potentially toxic heavy metals than would a conventional clay landfill liner.

Abstract: A trapezium-metacarpal thumb joint prosthesis having a metacarpal component for insertion into a metacarpal bone of a human thumb and a trapezium component for insertion into a trapezium bone of a human thumb. The metacarpal component has a forward end of generally truncated hemispherical shape with a convex surface and a rear end having a base and a stem. The trapezium component has a forward end of a generally cylindrical shape with a concave surface with a radially built up shoulder and a rear end having a base and a stem. The concave surface is adapted for non-captive rotational abutment with the convex surface. Also, a related method for implantation of the prosthesis into the metacarpal and trapezium bones of a human thumb, wherein the two components are respectively inserted into a pre-cut void in each of the respective bones from a direction above the radial side of the thumb substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each respective bone of the thumb.

Abstract: Fiber optic cable containing a core of S-Z stranded strands comprising optical fibers having first and second alternatively repeating first and second sections, a sheath circumscribing the core, and a plurality of indicators located beneath the sheath and in a medial position between a corresponding plurality of pairs of junctures of first and second strand sections along at least a portion of the length of the cable.

Abstract: A ball is provided for throwing or hitting under circumstances unpractical or undesirable for a baseball and for throwing or hitting in patterns in which a baseball can be thrown or hit. The ball comprises a hollow, round sphere defining substantially equally spaced apart, circular holes therethrough. The outer surface of this sphere defines a series of separated ridges thereon which are structured, raised from and form a curved loop on the outer surface substantially similar to stitches on an actual baseball. In the preferred embodiment, the ball is constructed of high density polyethylene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling tension of lay-in warp yarns knitted on a warp knitting machine is provided for knitting a fabric having lay-in yarns with varying intermittent spacing between horizontally corresponding lengths thereof. The lay-in warp yarns of a warp knitting machine are preferably dividedly passed by two or more flutter bars which are simultaneously moveable in cooperation with one another to simultaneously and reciprocably increase/decrease and decrease/increase tension on lay-in warp yarns passing thereacross. Alternatively, the two or more flutter bars may simultaneously and reciprocably increase/increase and decrease/decrease tension on the corresponding lay-in warp yarns passing thereacross. Each flutter bar is a shaft with a parallel and spaced-apart contact arm for contacting yarn. The flutter bars are connected such that rotational movement by one flutter bar causes rotational movement of the other flutter bar.