Abstract: An apparatus for transporting objects may include a plurality of grippers having a first spacing at a first position and second spacing at a second position. A drive mechanism may be provided is for selectively displacing the grippers from the first position to the second position to adjust the spacing between the grippers.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant comprising a lower implant part, having a central axis and an apposition section, designed to rest against the covering surface of the adjacent lower vertebra and an upper implant part comprising a bore with an internal thread, a central axis and an apposition section, designed to rest against the covering surface of the adjacent upper vertebra. Specifically, the lower and upper implant parts are secured in relation to each other against rotation about the central axis and a threaded screw with an external thread is guided in the upper implant part and connected to the lower implant part, the external thread cooperating with the internal thread. The lower and upper implant parts, and the threaded screw lie coaxially along their common central axis, the threaded screw being connected to the lower implant part so that it is axially fixed but able to rotate.

Abstract: A generally rectangular intra-spinous spacer preferably made of bone material advantageously has a low potential for bone fusion. The spacer has depressions sized and positioned on opposite sides to receive spinal processes. The depressions reduce the amount of bone-to-spinal process contact. A fixation strap of the spacer secured either to both the superior and inferior spinous processes or to only one of the superior or inferior processes laterally maintains the implanted position of the spacer and limits either flexion and extension, just flexion, or just extension.

Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.

Abstract: A liquid container includes, in a container body 3, an ink containing portion 5, an ink supply portion 7, an ink leading path 9 for leading an ink stored in the ink containing portion 5 to the ink supply portion 7, and an atmosphere communication port 4, and an ink end sensor 11 for detecting an inflow of a gas to the ink leading path 9, thereby detecting that a residual amount of the ink in the ink containing portion 5 is zero is provided in the middle of the ink leading path 9, and furthermore, an air bubble trap passage 13 for catching air bubbles mixed in the ink is provided in the ink leading path 9 between a detecting position of the ink end sensor 11 and the ink containing portion 5.

Abstract: A conventional radiation thermometer encompasses an infrared radiation sensor and a heatable and/or coolable radiation incidence window. The method and radiation thermometer according to the invention use the established dependence of the sensor signal U of the infrared radiation sensor on the temperature Tw of the radiation incidence window W (or any other heatable or coolable optical element in the beam path) for verifying its proper functional operation. Applying the method according to the invention, the radiation incidence window (or perhaps another optical element in the beam path) is heated up or cooled by activating an associated electric heating or cooling device. The resulting change ?Uw in the sensor signal U is detected, preferably in continuous fashion, as a function of the window temperature Tw and analyzed or verified for any deviation from an acceptable value or permissible range.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming device, the liquid container includes: a liquid containing portion; a liquid supply portion that is connected to the liquid consuming device; a liquid guide path that guides a liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion; and an air communicating hole that introduces air from the outside into the liquid containing portion according to consumption of the liquid in the liquid containing portion, wherein the liquid containing portion includes a first inner wall surface, a second inner wall surface that crosses the first inner wall surface, and a liquid containing portion outlet port that is provided in the first inner wall surface close to the second inner wall surface so as to cause the liquid containing portion to communicate with the liquid guide path.

Abstract: In an ink pack 24 stored in an ink cartridge 20 of a printer, a first welded portion is formed by bonding both end portions of a sheet of film to each other. A tube-shaped bag portion 31 is formed by the first welded portion. One opening of the bag portion 31 is thermally welded in a state where a supply member 27 is inserted into the film, thereby forming a second welded portion 38. The other opening of the bag portion is sealed through the thermal adhesion, thereby forming a third welded portion 39. The ink volume capable of being stored in the bag portion 31 of the ink pack 24 is larger than the volume in a frame 26c for storing the ink pack 24.

Abstract: An attachment is mounted on a cartridge holder of a printer as a replacement of an ink cartridge. An ink outlet member having a link passage is separably secured to an attachment body. Ink is supplied from the exterior to the ink outlet member through an ink supply tube. When the attachment is mounted on the cartridge holder, a downstream end of the ink outlet member is positioned with respect to and connected to an ink supply needle of the printer. Accordingly, the attachment is easily and quickly installed in a liquid ejection apparatus. This reduces costs and makes it easy to use the attachment.

Abstract: A portable appliance including a humidifier and an electrically heated scent mechanism. The heated scent mechanism includes a scent generator and an electrical heating element. The heating element and humidifier may be independently controllable such that the appliance can serve as either a humidifier or air-freshener, individually or simultaneously.

Abstract: A camera module of image processing and a method for integrating the camera module with a host are described. The camera module has a display control interface, an image sensor, and a camera control circuit. The display control interface is used to control at least one display module. The image sensor is used to capture image and provide image data signals. The camera control circuit is used to control the camera module. The camera module bypasses the display data signals of a host to display control modules according to a bypass signal. The camera module also performs image processing according to the bypass signal and a command set.

Abstract: The present invention is a gas absorption device arranged in a liquid container storing a liquid fed to a liquid consumption apparatus. The device includes a decompressed container having an opening and a flexible film sealing the opening in the state that the decompressed container is internally decompressed. At least a part of a portion having an inner surface which receives the decompressed pressure in the decompressed container and an outer surface which is in contact with the liquid in the liquid container is formed by a gas permeable material through which gas dissolved in the liquid in the liquid container can permeate. According to the present invention, gas dissolved in the liquid stored in the liquid container can be absorbed using a decompressed space and the existence of a decompressed status necessary to absorb gas can be easily examined.

Abstract: A guaranteed physical delivery futures contract and method and system for consolidating same are disclosed. The method includes guaranteeing physical delivery for future positions of market participants having open first-nearby time positions of a particular size, making additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions of market participants that are less than the particular size and offsetting the additions to and subtractions from market participants' open first-nearby time positions with opposite positions in a second-nearby time. The system includes one or more servers and communications links, the communications links for receiving position data, including open positions, and the servers are configured to make additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions less than a certain size and adjust market participant second-nearby time positions based on the additions to or subtractions from open first-nearby time positions.

Abstract: The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A differential pressure valve unit that is accommodated in a liquid cartridge main body having: a liquid containing portion containing liquid; and a liquid supply portion supplying the liquid in the liquid containing portion to the outside, the differential pressure value unit including: a membrane valve that is opened when a predetermined pressure difference between the liquid containing portion and the liquid supply portion occurs; and a first member that holds the membrane valve and forms a downstream pressure chamber together with the membrane valve, wherein, in the first member, an opposing surface forming the downstream pressure chamber and having a connection port connected to the liquid supply portion has a shape corresponding to a movable range of the membrane valve, and a groove portion is provided at the opposing surface in order to allow the liquid in the downstream pressure chamber to easily flow into the connection port.

Abstract: A system for performing a less invasive surgical procedure and, in particular, devices and methods for spinal fixation. The system comprises dilation tool(s), at least one working/insertion cannula, a plurality of screws, at least one fixation rod for connecting the screws, and a rod inserter. The dilation tool(s) may be used to dilate an incision made in a patient to form an opening. An insertion cannula may be attached to a screw and inserted into the opening. The screws may be polyaxial screws and may be inserted into the vertebrae using a screwdriver. An operator may then move the insertion cannula to manipulate a head portion of the screws such that the head portions may be aligned to receive a fixation rod. A rod inserter may be used to insert a fixation rod into the head portions.

Abstract: A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and two or more anchoring elements. Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axis, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring element may be arranged at an angle of between 65 degrees and 115 degrees relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end.

Abstract: Translational bone fixation assemblies, kits containing such assemblies, and methods of use are described herein. The described assemblies may be used in spinal fusion procedures in which a damaged or diseased disc (or part of a disc) is removed from between a pair of vertebrae and a spinal fusion spacer is placed between the vertebrae. The assemblies may be applied to an anterior portion of the affected vertebrae to span the affected disc space, and may be fixed to the vertebrae using bone screws. The assemblies may function to maintain the vertebrae aligned during the initial period following fixation in which fusion of the spacer to the adjacent vertebrae occurs. The assemblies may also function to share some of the axial spinal load applied to the fusion spacer to prevent extreme subsidence of the spacer into the vertebral body, such as where the patient has poor bone quality.