Abstract: A method and apparatus for aseptic biological production or processing of cells, tissues and/or microorganisms is provided. The apparatus includes a support housing having an interior chamber, a disposable liner lining the interior chamber and a head plate attached to the liner forming a sealed chamber with the liner. After use the liner can be disposed and the apparatus can be reused with a new liner. In this way, the apparatus simplifies cleaning and ensuring validation required by pharmaceutical and food industry standards.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training a troughing conveyor belt are provided. The apparatus includes a training roller enclosing a concentric shaft. The training roller is rotatably connected to the shaft. In addition, the training roller is pivotable relative to the shaft about a pivot axis that is transverse the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The training roller engages the conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt rotates the training roller. When the conveyor belt is properly aligned, the force of the belt against the training roller is equally distributed on both sides of the pivot axis of the training roller. When the belt becomes misaligned, the training roller pivots in response to the unequal force of the conveyor belt on opposite sides of the pivot axis. The belt then travels down the pivoted roller, thereby realigning the belt. The shaft is rotatable between two positions. Rotating the shaft also rotates the pivot axis of the training roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is fed into a shuttle that vertically displaces the envelopes to position the envelopes for entering a justifier. The justifier justifies the top edge of the envelopes and conveys the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The transport conveys the empty envelopes from the extractor to a verifier that verifies that all of the contents have been removed from the envelope before the envelope is discarded.

Abstract: An improved blade for a scraper assembly used with the head pulley of a conveyor system. The improved conveyor blade has a metal base adapted to telescopically engage a rectangular plate projecting radially from a support shaft mounted for rotation about a rotary axis parallel to the head pulley axis, the metal base having sheet-like outer walls disposed in spaced parallel relation from a receptacle for the elastomeric body of the blade. The blade has an under surface confronting the head pulley which projects past the plane of the innermost wall of the metallic base and terminates in a tip engaging the belt on the head pulley.

Abstract: A safety medical device having a sharpened needle is provided. After use, the needle is retracted so that the contaminated needle is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. In one embodiment, the device includes a barrel and a plunger that is slidable within the barrel. The sharpened needle is operable between a projecting position and a retracted position. In the projecting position, the needle projects forwardly from the front end of the barrel. In the retracted position, the needle is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle. When the plunger is displaced forwardly to expel fluid from the barrel, the plunger actuates retraction so that the needle is automatically retracted after use. The needle may be included as an element of a needle assembly that is connectable with the barrel. The needle assembly includes a spring for biasing the needle toward the retracted position and a connector for attaching the needle to the barrel.

Abstract: A stringed instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points. A fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. The strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. Each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. A bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.