Abstract: The invention provides an improved ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer and a method for making the improved ink jet cartridge. The ink jet cartridge includes a substantially inflexible frame having at least one pressure port, the frame having at least one peripheral edge. At least one malleable web is provided having a first side and a second side the first side being attached to the peripheral edge of the frame defining a substantially closed cavity. The malleable web is conformed to the cavity by applying a subatmospheric pressure to the cavity before, after or while heating the malleable web in order to substantially conform the web to the cavity thereby creating a variable volume cavity having a substantially predictable pressure/volume relationship. A biasing element is disposed adjacent the first or second side of the malleable web for biasing the web relative to the cavity.

Abstract: A dual submergible pumping system permits pumping of fluids from separate zones within a narrowly confined wellbore without commingling of fluids. The system includes a single deployment tubing from which a first and second submergible pumping system are suspended. The system further includes a fluid transport system having one fluid flow path defined by the hollow interior of the deployment tubing and a second fluid flow path isolated from the first flow path.

Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle formed from sections of material joined to one another, e.g., heat-sealed or adhesively-sealed, such that interconnected compartments receivable of an inflating medium are formed. The sections of material may be fabric or discrete sheets of film with optional tear propagation arresting devices. Two or more of the sections of material may be at least partially in opposed relationship to one another and then joined to one another at locations other than at a periphery of any of the sections to thereby form the interconnected compartments between the sections of material. The sections of material may also be joined to one another along parallel lines such that the interconnected compartments formed between the sections of material are elongate, i.e., substantially straight, and when inflated will be tubular.

Abstract: An inflatable shipping device for protecting at least one fragile item during shipment is provided. The inflatable shipping device includes a housing defining a gas receiving cavity and being constructed of a flexible and substantially gas impermeable material. The housing has a flattened state when the gas receiving cavity is substantially free of gas and an expanded state when gas is introduced into the gas receiving cavity. The housing has a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, an opposed second end, and a flexible inner-liner defining at least one item receiving chamber positioned between the first end and the second end. The item receiving chamber communicates with the first side of the housing and the item receiving chamber is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the fragile item. The inflatable shipping device is also provided with an inflation assembly for introducing gas into the gas receiving cavity defined by the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for ascertaining the identity of an object in a seat in a passenger compartment of a vehicle in which a wave-receiving sensor receives waves from a space above the seat and generates an output representative thereof, the weight applied onto the seat is measured and an output representative thereof is generated and the outputs representative of the received waves and measured weight are processed in order to evaluate the seated-state of the seat based and determine whether the seat is occupied by an object and when the seat is occupied by an object, to ascertain the identity of the object in the seat. In apparatus and method for adjusting a component, the identity of the object is first ascertained and then the component is adjusted based thereon.

Abstract: 1&agr;,24(S)-Dihydroxy vitamin D2 which is useful as an active compound of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of disorders of calcium metabolism and for various skin disorders. The invention also includes preparation of synthetic 1&agr;,24(S)-dihydroxy vitamin D2 starting from ergosterol which is converted in six steps to 24-hydroxyergosterol. 24-Hydroxyergosterol is irradiated and thermally converted to 24-hydroxy vitamin D2 which is converted in six steps to 1&agr;,24(S)-dihydroxy vitamin D2. The syntheses also produced novel intermediates.

Abstract: A conveyor belt (5) for transport systems is described, containing an areal textile configuration based on predominantly synthetic yarns, characterized in that the conveyor belt has the form of an endless strip and the yarns extending in the running direction of the conveyor belt are elastic, the elastic yarns having a maximum tensile elongation of at least 60% and consisting at least 70 wt. %, referred to total yarn weight, of a thermoplastic, elastomer copolyether ester containing recurrent structural units of formulas I and II, —O—OC—Ar2—CO—O—R4—  (I) and —O—OC—Ar3—CO—O—R5—  (II), where Ar2 and Ar3 independently of each other represent bivalent aromatic radicals, R4 represents a bivalent aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical, and R5 stands for the bivalent radical of a polyalkylene ether. Likewise described are uses of this conveyor belt, a method of transporting goods, and a transport system.

Abstract: Blood separation systems and methods draw whole blood from a blood donor selected from a population of blood donors. The whole blood of the selected blood donor has a known hematocrit value that varies within the population of blood donors according to morphology of the selected blood donor. The systems and methods operate a pump in the inlet line to convey a volume of whole blood from the donor at a commanded flow rate for processing into plasma constituent and concentrated red blood cells. The systems and methods set the commanded flow rate to vary the volume of whole blood conveyed over time as a function of the known hematocrit value of the selected donor. The systems and methods obtain, after processing the whole blood volume, a targeted volume of concentrated red blood cells, which is substantially constant for the population of blood donors despite variances in known hematocrit values among the donors.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a single motor drives both oil and refrigerant pumps in a refrigeration chiller, the motor and oil pump being disposed in the chiller's oil supply tank and the refrigerant pump being disposed exterior thereof. The refrigerant pump pumps liquid refrigerant to the chiller's compressor section so as to cool the motor by which the compressor is driven while the oil pump pumps oil to chiller locations that require lubrication when the chiller is in operation. A uniquely designed impeller permits low pressure liquid refrigerant in its liquid state to be reliably pumped to a location of use, without significant flashing, from a source location which is at a height only a short distance above the pump inlet. A stand alone refrigerant pump embodiment is also described.

Abstract: A method is presented for inactivating non-enveloped viruses that may be contaminating a biological solution or suspension by mixing the solution or suspension with a photosensitizer to form a mixture, adjusting the operating conditions of the mixture so as to increase the permeability of the viruses to the photosensitizer, and then irradiating the adjusted mixture.

Abstract: The instant high efficiency carousel pizza oven is an oven of the open cavity or open input type which permits food access and fluid communication with the atmosphere through a proximal or front opening within the oven housing. The present oven is preferably defined in terms of a method which employs a solid rotating thermal reservoir in the nature of a circular panel capable of storing large amounts of thermal energy per unit of mass. Rotation of the panel assures that hot spots will not develop thereby eliminating scorching of food items cooked thereon. Provided beneath the panel, in thermal communication therewith, and preferably along a radius thereof situated substantially normal to an axis of rotation of the panel, is a flame burner which furnishes greater heat to the panel as a function of increase in distance from the axis to thereby provide cooking of uniform heating to the rotating panel as a function of increase in circumference relative to distance from the axis.

Abstract: A junction box for routing at least one power wire and at least one data wire through a duct system. The junction box includes a bottom wall, a side wall bounding the bottom wall, and a cover member spaced apart from the bottom wall and supported by the side wall. A first access port is disposed in the cover member and a second access port is disposed in the cover member and adjacent the first access port. A first access region receives the data wire and is disposed below the first access port. A second access region receives the power wire and is disposed below the second access port and is adjacent the first access region. The first access region is sectioned from the second access region such that the power wire is inaccessible from the first access region and the data wire is inaccessible from the second access region.

Abstract: An apparatus having a processing chamber for processing a semiconductor wafer under evacuated conditions that is capable of transfer of the wafer from the processing chamber under conditions that are substantially equal to the pressure of an adjacent environment. In a preferred embodiment, the processing chamber is pressurized and vented with a source of high purity dry gas that is diffused into the chamber through a diffuser to pressurize the processing chamber after processing of the wafer is completed. A chamber equalization port between the processing chamber and the adjacent environment is opened to maintain the pressure within the chamber at or slightly above the pressure of the adjacent environment, and the chamber valve is then opened. The wafer can then be removed from the processing chamber, and a new wafer can be inserted. The chamber is then sealed by closing the chamber valve and the equalization port, and the atmosphere within the processing chamber is evacuated to a desired level.

Abstract: An improved dental prosthesis for replacing a tooth or teeth in an edentulous space in a patient's mouth either adjacent to existing teeth or between a first tooth anterior of and a second tooth posterior of the edentulous space which tooth or teeth are prepared with occlusal mounting grooves and where indicated indentations on the respective buccal and lingual proximals of the same tooth or teeth for receiving said dental prosthesis; has multi-section infrastructure for fabricating the dental prosthesis which includes, a main support bar or beam having a sized and shaped center section and at least one connecting end for fastening the main support bar on the tooth or teeth adjacent the edentulous space, the connecting end or ends has a predetermined shape, material and is sized to permit adjustment thereof as a function of the mesial-distal length of the edentulous space and the relative position of the tooth or teeth adjacent the edentulous space, secondary support means operatively connected to the ma

Abstract: A method of aligning print images of an electrophotographic machine on a print medium includes providing a plurality of rotating photoconductive drums in the electrophotographic machine. Each of a plurality of laser beams is reflected off of a respective one of a plurality of reflectors. Each reflector rotates relative to the respective laser beam to thereby scan the laser beam across a respective one of the photoconductive drums to produce a scan line in a scan direction. The relative rotation between the laser beams and the respective reflectors is cyclically repeated to thereby produce a plurality of substantially parallel scan lines on each photoconductive drum. Each scan line is displaced from an adjacent scan line by a scan line separation distance in a process direction perpendicular to the scan direction. Toner is applied to each scan line on the photoconductive drums. A moving toner transfer medium contacts each photoconductive drum at a respective toner transfer nip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processing system that is capable of achieving substantially optimal control performance of a process facility on a “worst case” process system by accounting for changing system dynamics. The processing system includes a storage device and a processor. The storage device is operable to represent (i) at least one of a plurality of associated processes mathematically to define the various relationships among different inputs and outputs of the one or more represented associated processes, and (ii) uncertainty factors that are associated with these defined relationships. The uncertainty factors define a range of dynamics across which the one or more represented associated processes operate, an error in the mathematical representation, or, alternatively, some combination of the same.

Abstract: A multi-level oiling device drive mechanism suitable for use in an imaging apparatus is disclosed. The drive mechanism includes a prime mover and gear train mounted to a frame of the base machine. A driven member of the oiling device, such as a web take-up spool in an oil web system, is driven by the gear train. When replacement of the oiling device is required, the driven member is disconnected from the gear train, and the device is replaced, without the need for replacing the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A bi-directional current circuit disposed between two power sources and a load. A first switch and a second switch each connect the load to one of the power sources respectively, whereby when the first switch is closed and the second switch is open current flows to the load in a first direction and when the first switch is open and the second switch is closed current flows to the load in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A connector terminal is disclosed including a cylindrical socket body with a spring contact inserted therein. The spring contact has a distal portion that establishes a press fit with the socket body. The socket body may be crimped over the distal portion to more securely hold the spring contact in the socket body. The spring contact further has a plurality of fingers which taper forwardly and inwardly to resiliently grab a male pin as it enters the socket.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the brightness level of a lamp in a backlit LCD display include primary and secondary controllers. The primary controller establishes the arc drive to the lamp to achieve the desired lamp brightness. The primary controller includes a desired brightness set-point as a first input, and a feedback signal corresponding to actual brightness detected at the lamp as a second input. The primary controller operates in real time, essentially adjusting the lamp arc drive instantaneously as a function of the detected brightness feedback signal. The secondary controller is employed to fine tune the control of the lamp by determining whether the desired brightness level may be achieved more efficiently. The secondary controller varies one or more parameters, such as temperature, within the lamp to achieve the optimum operating point of the lamp at the desired brightness level.