Abstract: A tool holder for use as a surgical assistant, the tool holder including: first and second beam members; a frame; at least one linkage member coupled to the frame and the first and second beam members; a mounting configuration to hold a tool, the mounting configuration being coupled to the first and second beam members; and a drive mechanism mounted with respect to the frame, wherein the at least one linkage member and the mounting configuration are coupled to the first and second beam members in a parallelogram configuration, the drive mechanism is configured to drive a tilt movement of the mounting configuration with respect to the frame by movement of the first beam member with respect to the second beam member to orient the mounting configuration to a tilt angle, and the drive mechanism is configured to drive a pan movement of the tool about a pan axis, the drive mechanism being further configured to orient the pan axis with respect to the frame dependent on the tilt angle.

Abstract: A tool holder for use as a surgical assistant, the tool holder including: first and second beam members; a frame; at least one linkage member coupled to the frame and the first and second beam members; a mounting configuration to hold a tool, the mounting configuration being coupled to the first and second beam members; and a drive mechanism mounted with respect to the frame, wherein the at least one linkage member and the mounting configuration are coupled to the first and second beam members in a parallelogram configuration, the drive mechanism is configured to drive a tilt movement of the mounting configuration with respect to the frame by movement of the first beam member with respect to the second beam member to orient the mounting configuration to a tilt angle, and the drive mechanism is configured to drive a pan movement of the tool about a pan axis, the drive mechanism being further configured to orient the pan axis with respect to the frame dependent on the tilt angle.

Abstract: A tool holder for use as a surgical assistant, the tool holder including: first and second beam members; a frame; at least one linkage member coupled to the frame and the first and second beam members; a mounting configuration to hold a tool, the mounting configuration being coupled to the first and second beam members; and a drive mechanism mounted with respect to the frame, wherein the at least one linkage member and the mounting configuration are coupled to the first and second beam members in a parallelogram configuration, the drive mechanism is configured to drive a tilt movement of the mounting configuration with respect to the frame by movement of the first beam member with respect to the second beam member to orient the mounting configuration to a tilt angle, and the drive mechanism is configured to drive a pan movement of the tool about a pan axis, the drive mechanism being further configured to orient the pan axis with respect to the frame dependent on the tilt angle.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism 5 for use with a carrier of a linear drive device 1, where the mechanism 5 includes: a housing 3; a first gear 6 coupled to the housing 3 and having gear teeth 61 configured to engage a threaded shaft 2 of a linear drive device 1, so that rotation of the shaft 2 causes the housing 3 to move along the shaft 2 in a first mode of operation; and a first clutch arrangement associated with the first gear 6 and configured to prevent substantial rotation of the first gear 6 with respect to the housing 3 when a rotational force applied to the first gear 6 is less than a threshold force and to permit rotation of the first gear 6 with respect to the housing 3 when a rotational force applied to the first gear 6 is greater than the threshold force.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism 5 for use with a carrier of a linear drive device 1, the mechanism 5 comprising: a housing 3; a first gear 6 coupled to the housing 3 and having gear teeth 61 configured to engage a threaded shaft 2 of a linear drive device 1, such that rotation of the shaft 2 causes the housing 3 to move along the shaft 2 in a first mode of operation; and a first clutch arrangement associated with the first gear 6 and configured to prevent substantial rotation of the first gear 6 with respect to the housing 3 when a rotational force applied to the first gear 6 is less than a threshold force and to permit rotation of the first gear 6 with respect to the housing 3 when a rotational force applied to the first gear 6 is greater than the threshold force, such that the housing 3 can be manually moved along a length of the shaft 2, in a second mode of operation, by exerting a force on the housing 2 such that the rotational force applied to the first gear 6 through the interaction of the threaded shaft 2 and the g

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for scanning a product to detect metal in that product. The apparatus comprises a drive coil (4), for generating an electromagnetic field in the product, and a detection coil arranged to detect fluctuations in the magnetic field caused by the presence of a metallic particle in the product. A drive circuit (26) for the drive coil (4) comprises a plurality of switches (19 to 22) driven by a controller (16), which switch alternately connect the drive coil across a potential difference to cause the drive coil to be driven at an operating frequency determined by operation of the switches. Using a switching circuit to drive the drive coil (4) greatly increases the number of frequencies at which the drive coil may be operated. The invention has particular application to the food industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for scanning a product to detect metal in that product. The apparatus comprises a drive coil (4), for generating an electromagnetic field in the product, and a detection coil arranged to detect fluctuations in the magnetic field caused by the presence of a metallic particle in the product. A drive circuit (26) for the drive coil (4) comprises a plurality of switches (19 to 22) driven by a controller (16), which switch alternately connect the drive coil across a potential difference to cause the drive coil to be driven at an operating frequency determined by operation of the switches. Using a switching circuit to drive the drive coil (4) greatly increases the number of frequencies at which the drive coil may be operated. The invention has particular application to the food industry.

Abstract: A method of preparing a ferrous iron-containing glass composition is provided. The method comprises melting a batch of glass-forming components including an iron source and refining the resultant melt. The iron source comprises a fayalite-containing material. Glass can be produced having an increased ferrous content and an associated higher level of solar heat absorption with improved visible light transmission as a result of lower iron (III) content.