Abstract: A safety needle device for percutaneous drug delivery to a patient includes a housing that is slidably mounted on a second portion of a substantially L-shaped, hollow needle for drug delivery. The housing includes a chamber provided between a sleeve portion and a passage. A forward end of the needle, which includes a tip, must deflect in order to pass through the passage into the chamber. The forward end of the needle is restricted from exiting the chamber through the sleeve portion and through the passage.

Abstract: In a boxing machine, a conveying and erecting device withdraws one box in an initial flattened configuration. The boxes are arranged with two overlapped layers. The conveying and erecting device gives to the withdrawn box a final erected configuration, in which the box has a parallelogram section. Subsequently, the device transfers the box, at a transferring station, into a pocket of a pocket conveyor. When in use, the pocket has a variable geometry, controlled selectively in the transferring station, to allow the box to be introduced into the pocket.

Abstract: In a method for packaging articles, a tubular blank is conveyed in flat folded configuration to an erecting station to be engaged and rotated by suction cups. The raised blank assumes a parallelepiped shape with a vertical axis, while a striker hits a lateral wall of the blank, so that the blank is erected in a box. While the box is being moved, first and second lower flaps are then folded before the blank is placed on a support plane and moved, by driving and guiding conveyors, to a filling station for insertion of articles, supplied along a vertical direction, into the box. Lastly, the box with the articles therein is moved by the driving and guiding conveyors to subsequent stations for folding lower lateral flaps and upper flaps to close the bottom and the cover of the box. A machine is provided for carrying out the method, with an erecting station and a filling station joined by a horizontal support plane.

Abstract: In a station for forming a pile of layers of items, a surface receives layers of items to be transferred to a first support plane situated after the receiving surface. The items arranged in layers are moved along the receiving surfaces and the first support plane by driving chains connected by rods set crosswise to the receiving surface and support plane. The support plane is spaced apart from the receiving surface to define a window and a descending ramp is situated below the window. An additional conveyor formed by narrow slats or rolls, is situated at the window and is operated so that one flexible plate moves to cover and uncover the window, so that layers of items are alternately either carried from the receiving surface to the support plane or made to pass through the window and released on the descending ramp. The ramp can change inclination so as to connect the receiving surface to either one or the other of second and third support planes situated below the first support plane.

Abstract: In a machine for packaging articles into boxes, a magazine of flat folded tubular blanks is shifted with respect to a conveying line of boxes obtained in an inlet station, by a roto-translating arm for withdrawing blanks and introducing the withdrawn blanks into holding modules, associated to the conveying line. The initial part of the conveying line is situated at an inlet station, while the terminal part of the conveying line corresponds to a discharge station of the boxes already filled with articles. Along the conveying line, a pick-and-place system picks up articles from a feeding line and introduces the articles into the boxes, which are closed before reaching a discharge station. The feeding line and the articles outlet line are arranged, during the machine construction, according to a position of the same machine with respect to the production line, that is in order to allow coupling of the machine with working units, arranged aligned or perpendicular with respect to the machine.

Abstract: In a machine for filling box-like containers with articles arranged side by side and vertically, a station (1) forms a row (11) of articles (10), overlapped at least partially. An article feeding apparatus (2), functionally interposed between the outlet section of the forming station (1) and a filling station (3), operates between a rest configuration (I) and a work configuration (A). When in the work configuration, the apparatus transfers the articles (10) from the outlet section into a box-like container (4), placed in the filling station (3), and directs the articles in a vertical orientation, to define a prefixed filling condition of the first container (4). A conveyor (5) supports the series of box-like containers and is operated, in step relation with the speed of feeding of the articles (10), fed by the articles feeding apparatus (2), so as to move the box-like containers in a container feeding direction (G).

Abstract: A compact non-contact multi-function electrical switch for use in an electrical box mounted on a wall has a one or more capacitance sensors for detecting a presence of a hand placed adjacent to the switch, as well as the directional movements of the hand along an X and/or Y axis and/or Z axis, and for generating data values, and a CPU for receiving the values and for determining which function is to be performed, such as calculating a power output in response to a first data bit. The switch can communicate with nearby switches to avoid sensor interference. The CPU can be used to generate one or more control signals for controlling the predetermined function associated with the specific movements. A processing unit may be used with multiple switches in a gang assembly, so that the switch sensors form an array enabling the switches to perform more complex control functions.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly is used with a trailer having a plurality of wheels each rotatable about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. The hitch assembly includes coupling elements on the trailer for fixedly engaging the trailer to a towing vehicle in a horizontal plane parallel to the ground surface during a rearward motion of the vehicle and the trailer and for pivotably linking the trailer to the vehicle in the horizontal plane during a forward motion of the vehicle and the trailer. A locking mechanism automatically preventing rotation of the wheels about the respective second axes during the forward motion of the trailer and the vehicle and for enabling rotation of the wheels about the respective second axes during the rearward motion of the trailer and the vehicle.

Abstract: The method for packaging of phials in a sterile environment comprises, subsequently: moving of each empty phial (1), according to a forwarding direction (K), from an input section toward a filling station (R); inserting of a dosed quantity of pharmaceutical products (F) inside the phial (1); transporting the filled phial (1) toward a closing station (8); closing said phial (1). It is moreover provided that a first laminar flow (H) of sterilized air, having a horizontal direction, is applied at least to the upper edges (1h) which define corresponding input mouths of the phials (1), at least during the aforesaid phases of filling and closing of phials (1), as well as during their transfer from the filling station (R) to the closing station (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotatable link, which may be incorporated in an upright. The upright may be used in connection with a support for a card terminal. The rotatable link may be characterized as a rotary friction link. Compressive forces caused by a mechanical tension in a pipe are transferred via two first objects to a second object clamped between them. The two first objects are secured and partly built into the pipe, and the second object is rotatable relative to the pipe. The second object constitutes a rotatable link part on which a plate may be welded to provide an upright.

Abstract: By constructing tank cleaning equipment according to the invention such that it comprises a cleaning jetting part (7, 9) as well as a suction part (4), the equipment can work with the same cleaning medium which is recirculated. This saves supply of fresh cleaning medium, and since used medium is thus not discharged, it is not necessary to establish deposit facilities to avoid pollution. Furthermore, this equipment according to the invention may advantageously be used for keeping so-called drilling mud in a mixed and thus ready-to-use state, even when left to stand for an extended period of time in a tank. The nozzle jets (10) thus keep the mud in the tank in a constantly mixed state, and the mud can therefore be sucked through the suction pipe (20) for pumping in the drill pipe, it being ensured that the mud is homogeneous and has a suitable viscosity.

Abstract: In a feeding device, a feeding channel receives articles, or corks, supplied, with a selected orientation, by a selector situated upstream of the device. The feeding channel has, downstream of an initial section, a descending track, in which the articles, or corks are made to slide, due to gravity, toward an outlet section. A first stop, situated in the outlet section, causes an accumulation of articles, or corks, arranged in row, one after another. An extractor is situated at the outlet section to move, with a selected pace, a foremost article, or cork, situated each time ahead of other articles, along a guide toward the discontinuous picking up station for supplying a gripper working at said station.

Abstract: According to a method for statistical weighing of a product supplied by a plurality of nozzles into containers, an empty container, belonging to a withdrawing group, is withdrawn to define an empty seat in the withdrawing group. The withdrawn empty container is weighed by a scale, to determine a tare weight, and then introduced in an empty seat made in a test group of containers, is a position designed to match with a selected nozzle to be tested. After introducing product into the weighed, empty container, by the selected nozzle, the filled container is withdrawn and weighed by the same scale to determine a gross weight. The exact quantity of product introduced into the filled container is thus determined by difference between the tare and gross weights.

Abstract: A pneumatic fixing machine has a piston (30) sliding within a cylinder (33), a first valve (5) movable between opening (L) and closing (D) positions, in correspondence of which the first valve connects an inlet portion (33a) of the cylinder (33) with either a feed of pressurized fluid or with an external outlet, respectively. A second valve (2) is operated by a trigger (7), the second valve being movable between an occlusion position (M) and a passage position (L) to either connect a first duct (9) and a base portion (5a) of the first valve (5) with the feed of pressurized fluid or with an external outlet.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved book cover and removable reading light, the book cover having a central spine section having a longitudinal pocket therein and two outer covers each pivotally connected to opposite edges of the central spine section. An elongated reading light is removably mounted in the pocket of the central spine section, the reading light having a housing including a battery compartment for receiving batteries and a second compartment for receiving an extendable supporting arm for the reading light. The supporting arm and reading light are disposed for movement relative to the second compartment between an open position in which the supporting arm extends out of the second compartment and a closed position in which the supporting arm is disposed within the second compartment. In addition, the reading light is movably mounted relative to the supporting arm for directing light in different directions, as desired by the user.