Abstract: A conveyor includes a support element (4), that defines a running surface (5), and an endless dragging belt (9,10). The belt (9,10) has seats (3) made, with inwards decreasing section, along one longitudinal edge located over a corresponding section of the surface (5). Containers (1) to be moved rest on the surface (5) and are kept in engagement with the belt (9,10) and in the seats by a lateral striker (7). The belt can be made of synthetic material with cogs (11), or of metallic material with smooth surfaces. The lateral striker (7) is a bar parallel to the straight active run (8) of the belt (9,10), and is moved in relation to the containers (1) size. The support and running surface (5) has indentations in one or more points (4), where there are plates (13) for moving the containers clear of the belt so as to allow additional operations on the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for the drying of particulate material in superheated steam in a closed vessel (1) has a number of upwardly open, elongated and substantially vertical processing cells (2) which are placed around a central part with a heat exchanger (3). The last of these processing cells (2) has a closed bottom and is the discharge cell (4), while the remainder (2) have bottoms (5) through which steam can permeate. The processing cells (2), which lie at the side of one another, stand in mutual connection through openings (11) at the lowermost ends of the cells, so that the particulate material which is dried by the superheated steam which is blown up from the heat exchanger (3) through the steam-permeable bottoms (5) can pass from one processing cell (2) to the next through the openings (11). The discharge cell (4) and/or the last of the processing cells (2) are provided with one or more substantially vertical plates for restraining and/or controlling the flow of particulate material.

Abstract: A method of treating inflammation in patients in need of such treatment by administering an effective amount of I-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-II (General Formula), wherein A is Ala, Gly, Val, Ser, Thr or absent, B is Ala, Gly, Val, Ser, Thr, or absent, C is Ser, Thr or absent, D is Ser, Thr, Asn, Glu, Arg, Ile, Leu or absent, E is Ser, Thr, Asp or absent, F is Ser, Thr, Asp or absent, G is Tyr or absent, H is Thr, Arg, Gly, Met, Met(O), Cys, Thr, Gly or absent and I is Cys or absent II is Cys, an amide group, an ester group or absent. At least one of the amino acids optionally is substituted by a monomeric or polymeric carbohydrate or derivative thereof, such substitution being accomplished through hydroxyl and/or amino acid and/or amido groups of the amino acids, and wherein the peptide composes at least 4 amino acid residues, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: In a device for identification of predetermined coins and/or transponders, coils are connected to a control unit for detecting the passage of predetermined coins and for identifying a code of circular transponders. A stop is operated for stopping the transponders, under control of the control unit, after identification of the transponder code, while the coils read/writes the credit value remaining in the transponder.

Abstract: A surgical method for assisting cardiac function utilizes a balloon initially in a collapsed configuration. The balloon is inserted onto an intrapericardial space about a patient's heart and is disposed about one portion of the patient's heart. The method further includes inflating the balloon in the intrapericardial space to compress one portion of the patient's heart. A lower end portion of the patient's heart is separately compressed by an additional instrumentality to reduce ventricular volume.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for fixing a carriage at a specific position automatically is provided. This locking mechanism includes a fixing device and a transmitting device. The fixing device is used for securing the carriage at the specific position, and the transmitting device is used for driving the carriage to be secured to the fixing device in a first instance and detaching the carriage from the fixing device in a second instance.

Abstract: Intranasal therapy using short peptides of the formula (I): Ra-Ser-Thr-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Rb  (I) where Ra represents an amino terminal residue Ala-, D-Ala or Cys-Ala- and Rb represents a carboxy terminal residue -Thr, -Thr-amide, -Thr-Cys or -Thr-Cys-amide, or a derivative thereof, or a peptide of formula (II): R1-R2-R3-R4-R5  (II) where R1 is an amino terminal residue XR6 or R6 wherein R6 is Thr-, Ser-, Asn-, Leu-, Ile-, Arg- or Glu- and X is Cys, R2 is Thr, Ser or Asp, R3 is Thr, Ser, Asn, Arg, Gln, Lys or Trp, R4 is Tyr and R5 is a carboxy terminal residue which is R7X or R7 wherein R7 may be any amino acid and X is Cys, or an ester or amide derivative thereof, or a physiologically acceptable salt of (I) or (II) is disclosed. Such peptides bind to T4 receptors and are useful for intranasal administration in preventing viral infectivity in mammals by viruses which bind to the T4 receptors. These peptides are believed to act as competitive blocking agents.

Abstract: An automatic biopsy device includes a needle formed by a cannula and a stylet which is sliding axially inside the cannula and which is equipped with a cavity for receiving a sample of the organ to be examined. The device includes a first moving element and a second moving element mounted slidingly inside a box-like covering and aimed at being fastened respectively to a proximal end of the stylet and to a proximal end of the cannula of the needle. The first moving element and the second moving element are fastened by flexible means to a first cam and to a second cam, respectively. The cams rotate, independently one from the other, about a transversal axis of the covering. A first loading lever and a second loading lever, are pivoted to the covering and drive to rotate, the first cam and the second cam, respectively, against elastic means, so as to move to a loading position the first moving element and the second moving element.

Abstract: The method and apparatus allow more precise and quicker gluing of frames and mirrors or glass having different shapes and dimensions to furniture panels in general. According to the method, strips of glue are deposited onto a furniture panel by means of sprayer pistols or nozzles and then the frame or the mirror sheet is applied to the panel. The apparatus which carries out the method includes one or more cross-bars sliding over the panel supporting table, and slide carriages carrying the sprayer pistols or nozzles and running along the cross-bar. The apparatus having this configuration can apply the glue along any desired path which preferably matches with the frame or mirror shape. It is also possible to have the apparatus working in accordance with a program prepared in a computer control station.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the reinforcement of a concrete beam, where the reinforcement comprises reinforcement rods which extend longitudinally and transversely and are locked at their mutual points of intersection. The invention consists of placing at least one reinforcement rod in an undercut corner in a cutout along outer sides of assembly frames disposed transversely to the reinforcement rods in that the assembly frames are two longitudinal girders and two transverse girders. A reinforcement rod may be locked with a spring shackle deformed for gripping around the reinforcement rod and one of the girders.

Abstract: In a device for fixing subcutaneous catheters connected predominantly to a so-called open, or partially implantable system, in which a catheter is connected to a venous port, a peridural space, or other parts of a human body, the catheter is situated outside a subcutaneous pocket and introduced into a relative subcutaneous tunnel. The device includes a disc or a cylinder, which is introduced in said subcutaneous pocket and which features, made therein, at least three tubular through cavities, first, second and third, respectively. The three tubular cavities do not intersect. The catheter is introduced into the three tubular cavities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyamide resin composition comprising a polyamide resin, a modified ethylene copolymer, an amide-based dispersant and an electroconductive material, said composition having not more than 1011 &OHgr;·cm of an intrinsic volume resistivity and not less than 30 KJ/m2 of an Izod impact strength measured according to ASTM D256.

Abstract: According to the invention, a trough (1) in an automatic feeder is configured so that it comprises a raised dry-feed part (2) on which the dry-feed (3) is led out and from which the pigs can eat, and with a wet-feed chamber (4) adjoining hereto where the surplus dry-feed (3) is collected, and finally with a water chamber (5) in connection herewith from which water (7) can run into the wet-feed chamber (4) and here soften the dry-feed for the formation of the wet-feed (8). In this way, the pigs are provided with easy access to both the dry-feed (3), the wet-feed (8) as well as clean drinking water in one and the same trough (1). This ensures a calm feeding situation, in that the animals have free access to said feed-stuffs and water, whereby good growth and good living conditions are achieved.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to improve the fan efficiency by the decrease of the shaft power of a fan and/or the increase of the pressure rise owing to a fan impeller, which are accomplished by the rational control of the energy based on the tangential velocity of the prerotation flow generating at ‘the region ahead of an impeller’ inside the suction pipe of a fan, and to reduce fan noise by the improvement of air flow at the portion in close vicinity to an impeller inside the suction pipe. The present invention is related to a by-pass unit (5) disposed upstream an impeller to control the energy generated by the air flowing into the impeller (1), comprising a specific region of a suction pipe (2) as a part of the by-pass unit (5), an air chamber (3), through which the air is able to pass, forming a closed spatial region outside the suction pipe (2), and communicating passages (4) for connecting the closed spatial region to the suction pipe (2).

Abstract: In an apparatus for cold bending a metal sheet for making an elongated article with a predetermined pro-file, supports are provided to receive opposite ends of the sheet being formed. A form, whose cross section defines a predetermined profile, is operated perpendicularly with respect to its longitudinal axis, so as to clamp the sheet, resting on the supports, to a stop. Bending members are carried by two plates which are mounted for oscillating on a vertical plane transversal to the form, so that the bending members rotate around spindles parallel to the stop plate. The bending members are operated in time relation with a synchronous movement of the form and of the stop, so as to fold the two ends of the sheet piece over the form.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the removal of liquid from particulate material by evaporation through the supply of heat, said heat being transferred substantially by superheated vapours or steam of the liquids existing in the particulate material, and where said method is executed in a substantially closed system. The particulate material is supplied continuously to a process chamber which is configured as an annual or partly annular chamber (1) which lies in a substantially horizontal manner, where the superheated vapours are introduced from below and up through openings (11) in a bottom (10) in the annular chamber, so that the particulate material is brought into movement by the superheated vapours, and such that a transport of the particulate material takes place through the annular chamber (1).