Abstract: In a plunger press (P) for producing compressed bales, the plunger press (P) comprising a bale case (1) accommodating a linearly reciprocating plunger structure (11), a material feeding duct (9) laterally leading into the bale case (1), and a plunger structure crank mechanism (14) driven by a drive source, the plunger structure (11) compressing a respective material charges (23) fed into the bale case (1) against a material strand (4) of at least one already compressed material charge, and linearly stepwise shifting the compressed material strand (4) in the bale case by overcoming a back pressure of the material strand, the plunger structure (11) having at least two structurally separated compression surfaces (A1, A2) each being smaller than a cross-section area (A) of the bale case (1), the compression surfaces (A1, A2) being parallelly driven in the linear reciprocation direction and relative to each other with a time shift (T).

Abstract: A switch arrangement for an electrical switchgear includes: a terminal arrangement including an insulating housing, the insulating housing including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact which arc spaced apart along an axial direction; and a breaker moveable along the axial direction in the housing to a first position. When the breaker is in the first position and closed it electrically connects the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. The insulating housing is split into a plurality of separate sections along the axial direction. At least one of the electrical contacts is in a first section and at least another of the electrical contacts is in a second section.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve, and at least one cathode and at least one anode, fixed to the housing. The apparatus further includes two or more passive electrodes, fixed to the housing, and a conducting element, which electrically couples the passive electrodes to one another. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A safety IV catheter includes a unitary, resilient needle guard received in a catheter hub. The needle guard includes a proximal arm or wall that includes an opening through which a needle passes for axial movement. When the needle is retracted from the catheter, it releases the force that had previously prevented movement of the needle guard within the catheter hub. This in turn causes the needle guard to snap into a position in which it is clamped onto the needle shaft and in which its distal wall blocks access to the needle tip. In this condition, the spring needle guard and needle can be removed from the catheter hub. A slot or crimp may be formed in the needle shaft that engages with the needle guard after the protected needle and needle guard are removed from the catheter hub, thereby to prevent removal of the protected needle from the needle guard.

Abstract: A method for joining together constructional parts which are made of a composite material and extend transversely to one another, such as a flange and a web of a profile, includes the steps of: placing the constructional parts in the desired position with respect to one another so as to form a connecting region in which one of the constructional parts abuts against or in proximity to the other constructional part, causing a thermoplastic material to flow out into the connecting region, fusing together the constructional parts under the influence of heat and pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of producing a cellulosic fibre web comprising a) providing a cellulosic suspension and adding a debonder system to the suspension b) dewatering the cellulosic suspension and forming a cellulosic fibre web c) applying colloidal silica particles in an amount from about 0.01 to about 5 kg/t cellulosic fibres to said cellulosic fibre web, wherein no polymer is added to the formed cellulosic fibre web. The invention also relates to a cellulosic fibre web obtainable by the method.

Abstract: Input performance measurement system for a bicycle comprising a drive train, chain ring mounted on a crank, a chain that drives the bicycle's back wheel, and which bicycle has pedals mounted on crank arms and the crank, wherein the system comprises at least one sensor to respond to a force applied to the pedals and transmitted to the chain ring to produce an electronic signal relative to said force transmitted to the chain ring, wherein the sensor is embodied with at least one electrical coil, wherein the coil is supported by a device mountable on the chain ring so as to arrange at least one coil positioned adjacent to the chain ring and/or a crank arm, which element is movable with respect to one coil due to forces exerted on at least one of the pedals so as to vary the electrical impedance of said at least one coil.

Abstract: A port device (10) for a fluid storage bag (46) comprises a housing (12) having a bottom wall (14) and opposing sidewalls (16, 18), and a connective opening (20) in said housing (12) opposite to said bottom wall (14). The connective opening (20) is adapted to be connected with said fluid storage bag (46) and has an elongate surface area shaped by a wide center portion (22) and peaked longitudinally opposing ends (24). A port device (10) further comprises at least one access port (26) in said bottom wall (14) adapted to communicate with the interior of said fluid storage bag (46) through said connective opening (20). In order to be fixable to the fluid storage bag (46) in a safe and easy manner, said port device (10) further comprises at least one bridge element (32) supporting said sidewalls (16, 18) and oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction (34).

Abstract: A mechanism for extending or retracting for a covering for an architectural opening with respect to architectural opening, including a rotatable drive shaft (5); at least one lift cord (11,13), at least one cord spool (7,9) for winding and unwinding the at least one lift cord, the cord spool being mounted for rotation with the drive shaft and being axially stationary. The cord spool has a first diameter end (21, 27) and a second diameter end (23, 29), the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, and the spool has a first generally conical circumferential spool portion (33) therebetween, wherein the first spool portion (33) comprises a plurality of steps (35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45) each step having a tread (35A, 37A, 39A, 41A, 43A, 45A).

Abstract: Devices for cutting interconnected plastic products for use in the medical sector provided in a continuous band of plastic, comprising a laser, a laser control system and an optical acquisition and data processing unit are disclosed. Devices for the manufacture of plastic products, such as finable or filled plastic containers for use in the medical sector, comprising a device for cutting interconnected plastic products provided in a continuous band of plastic as well as a process for cutting interconnected plastic products provided in a continuous band of plastic are disclosed. The optical acquisition unit may determine positional data for the interconnected plastic products provided in the band. From the positional data a cutting pattern may be calculated and transmitted to the laser control system.

Abstract: A position measurement system includes a first part and a second part for determining a position of a first member relative to a second member by providing a position signal representing a position of the first part relative to the second part, and a computational unit comprising an input terminal for receiving the position signal. The computational unit is configured to, in use, apply a conversion to the position signal to obtain a signal representing a position of the first member relative to the second member; and apply an adjustment to the conversion to at least partly compensate for a drift of the first part or the second part or both. The adjustment is based on a predetermined drift characteristic of the first part or the second part or both respectively. The predetermined drift characteristic includes one or more base shapes of the first part and/or the second part.

Abstract: A multiwall sheet can comprise plastic walls, wherein the walls comprise a first wall; a second wall; and a transverse wall, wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the transverse wall extend longitudinally; and a rib extending between adjacent walls; and a sound insulating material disposed in an area between two adjacent walls, wherein the sound insulating material has a velocity of sound greater than the velocity of sound of the plastic walls. A method of sound insulating a structure can comprise: filling the multiwall sheet with a sound insulating material; and attaching the multiwall sheet to the structure.

Abstract: A method of making a sheet-form loop product can include placing a layer of staple fibers on a first side of a substrate, the layer of staple fibers including first staple fibers and second staple fibers that are intermingled with one another, where a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the second staple fibers is greater than a diameter of the smallest circle capable of circumscribing one of the first staple fibers; needling substantially only the first fibers of the layer through the substrate by penetrating the substrate with needles that drag portions of the first fibers through the substrate during needling, leaving exposed loops of the first fibers extending from a second side of the substrate; and anchoring the loops of the first fibers by fusing the second fibers to each other on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of, and associated apparatuses for, determining an overlay error resultant from structure defects such as asymmetry. The method comprises measuring scattering properties of a first target comprising a first structure and a second structure, constructing a model of the first structure using the measured scattering properties, the model comprising a first model structure corresponding to the first structure, modifying the model by overlaying the first model structure with an intermediate model structure, further modifying the model by replacing the intermediate model structure with a second model structure, corresponding to the second structure, calculating a second defect-induced overlay error between the first model structure and the second model structure, the first and second model structures being overlaid with respect to each other in the further modified model and determining an overlay error in a second target using the calculated second defect-induced overlay error.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing system, including: a magnetic component proximate a movable mechanical component; and a magnetic sensor configured to determine a movement of the mechanical component based on a magnetic field produced by the magnetic component. The magnetic sensor includes: a low-offset magnetic sensing element; a high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element; and an offset compensation circuit configured to: determine a zero-crossing of a sensing field from an output of the low-offset magnetic sensing element; sample an offset value of the high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element at the zero-crossing; and subtract the offset value from an output of the high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element.

Abstract: A flexible container for fluid administration is provided having a body defining a cavity, a base, and at least one port comprising a flange in contact with a flange of a terminal port having a punctureable membrane layer. The body has a cross-sectional configuration including a lower body section of a first dimension, a middle body section of a second dimension, and an upper body section of a third dimension, wherein the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension and the third dimension. The flexible container may also include a base having a plurality of creases that are foldable to form two folded ends each including an extension having a base of a first dimension and a tip of a second dimension.

Abstract: A method of classifying a graded-index multimode optical fiber includes taking a series of individual measurements at a single wavelength, and using the measurements to characterize the departure of the multimode optical fiber's actual index profile from the corresponding nominal index profile. The measurements, coupled with intermodal dispersion or EMB measurement, may be used to predict the approximate transmission properties of the optical fiber at wavelengths other than the measurement wavelength. It is desirable for a graded-index multimode optical fiber to possess, at a wavelength of 850 nanometers, a radial offset bandwidth of at least 6000 MHz·km for all radial offsets between 0 and about 70 percent of the radius of the optical fiber's core.

Abstract: Distance measurement methods and apparatus use laser pulse sets having signatures which enable returned pulses to be correlated with emitted pulses. Each pulse set comprises at least one pulse and a signature selected from a set of possible signatures. Pulse sets reflected from at least one surface are detected and, for each set, the signature is recognized and a time of flight is determined. Signatures are defined by one or more of: spacing in time between pulses of a set, wavelength of the at least one pulse of the set, spacing in time between a first subset of a set and a second subset of a set, difference of wavelength between pulses of a set, and difference of wavelength between a first subset of a set and a second subset of a set. Each set can have multiple groups of pulses and pulses within a group can have different amplitudes.

Abstract: A rack for a compost bed (13) includes a rack bottom (1), a carrier (11) which is supported with respect to the rack bottom for the compost bed and a liquid device (10) provided with a liquid supply (20) and a liquid discharge (21) via which a liquid can be passed in order to heat and/or cool the compost bed on the carrier. The liquid device (10) includes at least one flat plate (14), one side of which faces the carrier (11) and the other side of which is directly connected to a liquid-carrying duct and/or which other side delimits a liquid-carrying duct (17), which liquid-carrying duct is connected to the liquid supply (20) and the liquid discharge (21). By element of such a plate-shaped liquid device, the compost bed can be heated or cooled evenly. In addition, aeration pipes (7) are provided for aerating the compost bed.

Abstract: A trip unit includes an actuator and a cylindrical housing container the actuator. The actuator includes a cylindrical pin; a cylindrical closed chamber; a biasing member; a permanent magnet; a coil housing; and a coil supported by the coil housing. The pin is axially movably disposed in the chamber and extends out of the chamber through a sealed opening. The biasing member may comprise a spring, such as a helical spring, and may be configured to bias the pin for an axial movement in a direction out of the chamber. The permanent magnet may at least partly surround the pin during a latched condition of the trip unit. The coil housing may at least partly define the cylindrical closed chamber. In embodiments, an annular gap is provided between the pin and the permanent magnet. Methods associated with the manufacturing trip units are also disclosed.