Abstract: A balanced voltage amplifier is disclosed as comprising a single stage containing three pairs of vacuum tube triodes configured to amplify two input signals (+INPUT, ?INPUT) and to generate two output signals (+OUTPUT, ?OUTPUT). The balanced voltage amplifier offers high voltage gain, wide bandwidth and low output impedance. Local feedback may be applied between the outputs and the second pair of triodes. Overall feedback may be applied between the outputs and the first pair of triodes. If local or overall feedback is used, it will further broaden the bandwidth, lower the output impedance and improve the overall balancing.

Abstract: A single use biopsy device (100) is disclosed. The device (100) includes a receptacle (102) having a port (104) for allowing tissue from a biopsy site to protrude into the receptacle (102) and a cutter (106) that is supported in the receptacle (102) and arranged so that when tissue from a biopsy site protrudes into the receptacle (102) through the port (104) the cutter (106) is movable to sever the tissue so as to obtain a biopsy sample. A stop (108) arrests the cutter (106) after the cutter (106) has severed the tissue. The arresting of the cutter by the stop (108) prevents reuse of the device (100). A method of obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site using the biopsy device (100) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An envelope filling machine for introducing sheets into envelopes includes a sliding surface, for transferring the sheets to an envelope filling station by means of pushing lugs, operated along the sliding surface. An envelope supplying conveyor supplies individual envelopes to the station placing them between vertical shafts of a pair of screws. The turns of the screws hold the sides of the envelopes and move each envelope downwards keeping the envelope separated from a subsequent envelope. When the envelope has come to rest on a conveyor belt placed between and under the screws, the lugs push the sheets into the envelope kept steady by movable stop strips yieldingly maintained by elastic means. When the sheets are fully inserted, the lugs push the envelope and force the movable strips to swing and let the filled envelope leave the envelope filling station.

Abstract: A vortex grit trap comprising a generally vertically extending tank of circular cross-section including a separation zone having an inlet and an outlet for liquid flow to and from the tank, and in which liquid is circulated about a longitudinal axis of the tank, and, a grit collection zone positioned beneath the separation zone in use, the trap being characterized by a generally circular tank divider centered on the vertical longitudinal axis of the tank and extending transverse thereto, the divider defining a notional boundary between the separation and collection zones of the tank and being of smaller diameter than the adjacent region of the tank so as to define with the adjacent tank wall an annulus through which grit passes from the separation zone to the collection zone in use, and, means for generating a cloud of gas bubbles migrating in use upwardly through substantially the whole of said annulus whereby substantially all grit passing from the separation zone into the collection zone passes through the

Abstract: A method for producing shoes includes the following steps: obtaining an assembly (T,T1), formed by a shoe upper (2) and an elastic element, fastened to the shoe upper at least along the sections facing the lower edges of the shoe upper central-fore area; obtaining a sole (5), whose size corresponds to the size of the shoe upper, and whose upper surface has fastening means (50), engaging at least the central-fore portion thereof, so that the upper surface defines at least one fore fastening area (Z) and at least one rear fastening area (Z1); mutual fastening the fore fastening area (Z) of the sole (5) to a corresponding fore portion of said assembly, and of the rear fastening area (Z1) of the sole (5) to a corresponding rear portion of the assembly, to obtain a sole—assembly group (W,W1); introduction of a user's foot into the sole—assembly group (W,W1), with a subsequent transversal stretching of the elastic element (60) and adapting of the shoe upper (2) to the foot conformation; pre-fastening of the elastic

Abstract: In a structure for supporting components of a wall, one lower profile section is shaped to form longitudinal recesses and an operating unit is associated with the lower profile section base, and removably coupled at top to at least one structural element. The operating unit has one foot, shaped to form at least one protrusion for coupling, when the operating unit is rotated about a vertical axis, with the longitudinal recesses by engagement at least of the protrusion with a matching portion of the recesses, thus forming a bayonet joint between the operating unit and the lower profile section.

Abstract: A dynamic temporary storing device for articles like syringes and similar articles is situated between an outlet of a first machine and an inlet of a second machine. In the dynamic temporary storing device, two pairs of side-by-side belts transfer articles from an outlet of said first machine downstream to an inlet section of an article conveying path. The articles are gathered, one after another, to form groups of articles in the inlet section. The conveying path ends with an article outlet section situated near the inlet of the second machine. Driving means are associated to the conveying path and pass at adjustable time intervals through the inlet section so as to pick up said groups of articles and move them along the conveying path up to the outlet section. Then the groups of articles are transferred them to the inlet of said second machine. Changes in operation rate of the second machine are compensated by changing the number of articles in each group or by changing the length of the conveying path.

Abstract: An electric sharpener for writing instruments, e.g. an electric pencil sharpener, is disclosed as including an electric motor, a cutting blade which may be driven by the electric motor to rotate to cut an end of a pencil received within the sharpener, a circuit opening arrangement operatively associated with the motor in which the circuit opening arrangement is adapted, upon insertion of the pencil into the electric pencil sharpener by a pre-determined length, to open an electric circuit in the sharpener to cease operation of the electric motor, and an adjustment member operable to change the orientation of the circuit opening arrangement relative to a longitudinal axis of the electric sharpener to vary the pre-determined length.

Abstract: A plug-in connector (10) for a control unit (100) of a window opener in a motor vehicle, including a box-like housing (1). The plug-in connector (10) includes a plurality of motor connections (2), situated in corresponding longitudinal seats (4). Each motor connection (2) includes a base (21), partially embedded in the box-like housing (1) and a terminal, clamp portion (22), which engages with a relative comb connector (3) of the complementary female connector. A longitudinal slot (25) is made in an intermediate portion (24) of the connection (2). The areas (26a, 27a) joining longitudinal prongs (26, 27) and the base (21), and the areas (26b, 27b) joining the prongs and the clamp portion (22), deform, like hinge points of a pivot parallelogram.

Abstract: Comprehending a profile (104) that, from the outside, constitutes the means of support for the closings and accessories, while on the inside, the same structure configures the struts for the assembly of components and electric and electronic devices, in addition to which this profile (104) presents a cross section with a geometry defined by a central core in the tubular shape with a quadrangular section (105), where the vertex (106) is oriented to the inside of the cabinet (100), while the opposite vertex (107) is oriented to the outside of this cabinet (100), and these two vertexes are formed by single walls, which does not apply to the other two remaining vertexes (108) and (109), which are defined by the junction of the sheet that forms the first two vertexes (106-107) and from this point on, the double walls (110) are extended in a coplanar position in relation to the adjacent walls (106a-106b) of the vertex (106), forming opposite rims (111a 111b), whose ends are perpendicularly folded forming short ends

Abstract: A ball valve (10), in particular for controlling the amount of medium supplied to a heating or cooling system, is adapted such that the characteristic of the valve may be determined so that it may be adapted to its use in the heating or cooling system. The ball valve consists of a housing having a ball valve body (4) which is rotatable in two cups (3, 5) of a corresponding ball shape. An insert (7) is arranged at the discharge side of the housing, said insert having a concave ball face which corresponds to that of the ball valve, and which is provided with a slot or recess (10) which, together with the through bore of the ball, defines the outlet opening of the valve. A desired characteristic of the valve may be provided by imparting a suitable shape to the slot (10). The insert is fixed in a holder (6) in the valve housing by means of axially extending teeth (13) in the face of the housing which receives the insert.

Abstract: In a machine for packaging articles into box-like containers, obtained from tubular blanks in flat folded configuration, tubular blanks are conveyed from a feeding station to an erecting station, by an erection unit, moving between the erecting station and a station for vertical introduction of articles into the erected blanks. A folding element cooperates with the unit to fold a second lower flap of the blank by ninety degrees. A horizontal plane supports the blank and articles contained in the blank. The blank is transferred and guided on the horizontal plane while blank flaps are folded. At closing stations a bottom and a cover of the so obtained pack are closed.

Abstract: In a station for erecting tubular blanks in boxes, a gripping and raising unit engages a second lateral wall of the blank and subsequently raises the blank into a 90° rotation, so that the blank assumes, due to raising and rotating and because of the weight, a parallelepiped shape with a vertical axis. A first folder is operated by a first actuator in step relation with rotation of the blank and folds at least a first lateral wall of the blank adjacent to the second lateral wall, engaged by the gripping unit, to erect, the blank in a box with a vertical axis.

Abstract: In an apparatus for picking up flat folded tubular blanks from a magazine and for moving the blanks to an erecting station, a horizontal transmission shaft transmits a rotational movement about a first articulation axis to a functional arm hinged with one side to a terminal portion of the transmission shaft. Another side of the functional arm is hinged to an arrangement control mechanism for controlling arrangement of the functional arm about a second articulation axis. The functional arm is also operated into rotation about the first articulation axis between a position in alignment with the functional arm, and a square position arranged at 90 degrees with respect to the functional arm, and vice versa. A pick up arm is connected to arrangement control mechanism and carries suction cups for picking up a flat folded tubular blank through the open bottom of the magazine.

Abstract: In a machine for washing and/or sterilizing supplying-batching devices, an enclosing structure has supporting means for a supplying-batching device to be washed and/or sterilized. Feeding ducts are to be connected to a hopper of the supplying-batching device for feeding washing fluids. Working devices are to be connected to batching means and to supplying means of the supplying-batching device, and are to be operated to reproduce working operation of the batching means and supplying means, so as to perform working cycles with said washing fluids fed to the hopper.

Abstract: In a counting machine, a feeding tray contains articles in bulk to supply the articles to a rotating disc-shaped support with a plurality of through holes. A check station has a transparent plate operating to keep the articles in the holes and cooperating with vision devices provided for checking integrity and presence of articles in the through holes A rejection station has plurality of wings to keep/release articles into/from respective through holes according to signals coming from the vision devices. Also a discharge station has a plurality of wings to release/keep articles from/into respective through holes, according to signals coming from the vision devices.

Abstract: A blistering machine for producing blister packs has a production line, which includes consecutively: at least one thermoforming station of a first continuous band of thermoformable material; a station for feeding the products and filling the blister band; a feeding station of a second band, feeding the second band over the blister band; a closing station, including two opposite rollers; and a cutting station, in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs. A tension mechanism is situated upstream of the closing station, to cooperate with the rollers of the closing station, to perform a selected tension on at least the first band.

Abstract: A blistering machine (M1) for producing blister packs (B1) has a production line including, arranged in a series: at least one thermoforming station (101) of a first continuous band (102) of thermoformable material, in order to define a blister band (102) with blisters containing products (104); a station (105) for feeding the products (104) and filling the blister band (102) with the products; a feeding station (106) of a second band (107), feeding continuously the second band (107) over the blister band (102) to form a blister pack band (NB1); a closing station (108), where the first blister band (102) is sealed by the second band (107) to obtain a blister pack; a station (200) for processing the blister pack band (NB1); and a cutting station (R1), in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs (B1) filled with the products (104). The production line extends, at least beginning from the products feeding station (105), along a continuous feeding path (A1), substantially horizontal.