Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted into sealing elements of a single surgical access device. The sealing elements can be movable along predefined pathways within the device to allow surgical instruments inserted through the sealing elements to be moved laterally, rotationally, angularly, and vertically relative to a central longitudinal axis of the device for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic AC electric motor that includes harmonics shunting such that high frequency harmonics are shunted from the AC electric motor without the use of one or more high frequency filters in the associated motor drive. A related method of operating an AC electric motor includes shunting high frequency harmonics to a fluid passing through the AC electric motor. Also disclosed is a simplified variable speed motor drive system which eliminates the need for a filter for removing high frequency harmonics.

Abstract: Conveyors to clamp the upper and lower surface of bulk slabs of cheese allowing precise control of feed rates against a drum shredder to promote uniform shred length without the need for cubing of the cheese prior to the shredding process. An anti-caking material may be placed in the drum to treat cheese shreds prior to their discharge.

Abstract: A cutter, preferably a cheese cutter, for cutting food into consumer-size chunks. The cutter comprises a feed conveyor, slab drive apparatus for driving a slab along the feed conveyor, and a cutting harp adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor. The cutting harp has cutting devices which make cuts extending across an opening. A slab discharged from the conveyor passes through the central opening, and the cutting devices cut the food product in the direction of advance of the slab. Transverse harp drive apparatus drives the harp transverse to the direction of advance of the slab, severing chunks of product from the slab. A take-away conveyor takes the severed chunks away from the cutting harp, to a weighing device which weighs the chunks. A controller receives weights from the weighing device, and sends adjustment instructions to the slab drive apparatus to adjust subsequent weights of product cut from such slabs.

Abstract: A manually operable "bubble" button for an amusement device, such as an arcade game, includes inner and outer nested, generally cup-shaped members formed of suitable plastic material. The inner member has an annular flange which seats on an annular shoulder of the outer member to limit the depth of insertion so that the concave wall portions of the members are spaced apart. Circumferentially spaced ribs on the inner member engage the outer member to center the members and a locating tab on the inner member seats in a recess in the outer member to ensure proper relative orientation of the members. An indicium is disposed between the inner and outer members, preferably being fixed to the inner member, at least the outer member being substantially transparent to visible light so that the indicium can be seen therethrough. The members are fixed together adjacent to their open ends.

Abstract: An adsorbent and a process for its use in removing trace oxygen from an inert gas. The adsorbent comprises a porous reducing support such as activated carbon, carbon black, coal, petroleum coke and titania which is impregnated with about 10% to about 90% by weight of an alkali metal oxide or an alkaline earth metal oxide.

Abstract: Blocks of cheese are entubed in relatively thin plastic film wrapping material that is heat shrinkable and sealable. According to the method and apparatus, the entubed blocks of cheese are heated to tightly shrink the wrap onto the blocks of cheese to drive air out from between the cheese and the film wrap to provide for good shelf-life and to maintain flavor and other qualities of the product.

Abstract: The ice fishing tipup includes a heated flotation member which can be a bowl-like member. A vertically extending tubular member is supported by the bowl-like member and a rotatable shaft is disposed therein. A fishing line spool is carried on the lower end of the shaft beneath the bowl-like member and is rotatable with the shaft to play out fishing line. A trip lever is carried at the upper end of the shaft above the bowl-like member and is rotatable with the shaft. Signal means are provided on the tubular member and are releasably engageable with the trip lever. The signal means serve to interrupt rotation of the trip lever to thereby set the depth of the fishing line, and is released with rotation of the shaft to indicate the playing out of fishing line. In the case of a floatable bowl-like member, combustible materials may be contained therein to generate heat upon ignition.

Abstract: A shipping unit formed of foldable sheet material is provided for accommodating a pair of chairs arranged in inverted stacked relation. The unit includes an upright container having a bottom and side panels forming a chamber in which the pair of chairs is disposed. A first inner packing member is positioned within the chamber adjacent a lower corner thereof formed along one peripheral side of the bottom. The first inner packing member has a first means for snugly accommodating a segment of the back of the inverted one of the pair of chairs and second means for snugly accommodating the ends of the front legs of the upright one of the pair of chairs. A second inner packing member is positioned within the chamber adjacent an upper corner thereof wherein the inner packing members are diagonally disposed relative to one another.

Abstract: A manipulator system having a master control console and a slave mainpulator arm controlled by signals from the master control console is disclosed. The master control console includes a translation controller and a rotation controller, and the slave manipulator arm includes pivoted arm segments moved by translational servos in response to signals generated by the translation controller and pivoted wrist units moved by rotational servos in response to signals generated by the rotation controller. The slave manipulator arm has six degrees freedom of movement defined as three translational degrees of freedom in range, azimuth and elevation and three rotational degrees of freedom in wrist pitch, yaw and roll. The signals generated by each of the translation controller and the rotation controller are rate command signals. The translational servos compare commanded range, azimuth, elevation or attitude rate with the actual range, azimuth, elevation or attitude rates of the slave manipulator arm.

Abstract: The method of forming a uniform cross-sectionally dimensioned loaf of food in a mold by filling a mold, which has a moveable plug covering one end, with stuffable food, cooking the food which expands and pushes the plug in one direction, and thereafter squeezing the food while chilling by pushing the plug in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method for stuffing meat material into loaf molds for processing in a continuous loaf processing system where the loaf is open at one end and closed at the other end, and which includes the steps of moving the mold onto a stuffing horn until the stuffing horn is positioned at the closed end of the mold, discharging pressurized meat material from the stuffing horn and causing the mold to be filled and to be moved off the stuffing horn, controlling the return of movement of the mold off the stuffing horn, and ending the discharge of the meat material from the stuffing horn when the mold is filled. The apparatus includes a stuffing platform having a mold supporting carriage movable therealong, a stationary stuffing horn, control means for initiating and ending discharge of meat material from the stuffing horn, and means for controlling the rate of stuffing.

Abstract: An assembly of loaf molds defining a magazine, including a pair of vertically extending and horizontally spaced forks and a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced molds secured near opposite ends to the forks. Wheels are mounted on the forks to coact with support rails along which the magazine may be driven. Driving pins are also mounted on the forks to coact with a suitable driving mechanism.

Abstract: A product knockout and receiving means for removing a loaf meat from a mechanism of loaf molds including a gang of knockout bars, one each in alignment with each mold for engaging and pushing a plug within the mold to drive the loaf meat product from the mold, and a gang of receiving means (such as trays) for receiving the loaf meat product as it is removed from the molds.

Abstract: A mold for processing a food material, including a plug and ratchet take-up mechanism for accommodating expansion and contraction of the food product. The plug is provided with ratchet arms having ratchet teeth and the take-up mechanism includes spring biased pins or pawls coacting with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A conveyer for indexing wheeled support magazines along a track or rail, including coacting moving and locking bars which alternately connect to the unit for either moving the unit from one position through a given distance to a next position or locking the unit at a position for a desired dwell time.

Abstract: An apparatus associated with a closed loop of indexing magazines, including a bottom transfer means for transferring a magazine from the closed loop outside of the closed loop to a work station, a center transfer means for transferring a magazine from the work station to an elevator which moves the magazine to a given point in the closed loop and a top transfer means for transferring the magazine from the elevator into the closed loop. A further elevator is provided in the closed loop for bypassing the work station outside the closed loop in the event that no magazine is being transferred from the work station to the elevator for reinsertion into the closed loop.

Abstract: Mechanism for applying a squeezing force to a food product in a mold, including a fluid motor driving a reciprocal rod for engaging and applying a force to a plug movably positionable within the mold. The reciprocal rod is driven by the fluid motor to move the plug into the mold until the resisting force of the food produce within the mold balances the force exerted by the fluid motor. The squeezing force is applied a plurality of times to obtain a uniform cross-sectionally dimensioned food product.

Abstract: This invention encompasses a water-to-water heat-pipe heat exchanger having vessel, at least one partition dividing said vessel into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments further having a fresh water input means and a fresh water output means, and a different compartment having a hot waste water input means and a hot waste water output means, and a plurality of heat exchange pipes for transferring heat between said compartments. The invention is generally in heat exchangers, and for dissipating heat in any system by transferring heat from a hot to a cool substance. Such a system may be used to alleviate the excessive heat generated during thermonuclear reactions, wherein cool water is exposed to a vessel containing hot waste water to cool the temperature of the waste water, such that no mixing or interchange of hot and cool water occurs.