Abstract: An energy conversion system comprising: a riser conduit comprising a first liquid; a down-comer comprising a second liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with the riser conduit, the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with a first tank and a second tank; a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system, and to discharge the first liquid thereafter; and a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension, the third liquid comprising second liquid and further finely divided material in suspension. The recirculator is arranged to discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid.

Abstract: An energy conversion system comprising: a riser conduit comprising a first liquid; a down-comer comprising a second liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with the riser conduit, the second liquid comprising first liquid and finely divided material in suspension such that the second liquid has a higher specific gravity than the first liquid, the down-comer in fluid communication with a first tank and a second tank; a converter device arranged to convert energy of the first liquid into energy for output from the energy conversion system, and to discharge the first liquid thereafter; and a recirculator arranged to recirculate third liquid to maintain the finely divided material in suspension, the third liquid comprising second liquid and further finely divided material in suspension. The recirculator is arranged to discharge the third liquid to mix with the first liquid from the converter device to form the second liquid.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cell culture apparatus having multiple stacked cell culture units each having multiple cell culture chambers. The multiple cell culture units are connected by a manifold which connects the cell culture units and provides a mechanism for efficiently filling the multiple cell culture chambers.

Abstract: A spool of banding material orbits a product to be banded, with the banding material unwinding from the orbiting spool and about the product to form a band about the product As the spool unwinds banding material, the shaft or other structure supporting the spool continuously urges the spool in the rewinding direction, thereby enhancing the tension on the unwinding banding material When initiating a band, gripping fingers grasp an end of the unspooled banding material and hold it adjacent the object being banded as the spool orbits the object and wraps the object and the fingers The fingers then slip out from between the object and the forming band, preferably with the assistance of a blast of pressurized air, and grasp the unspooling banding material between the spool and the banded object The length of banding material extending to the object is cut.

Abstract: A spool of banding material orbits a product to be banded, with the banding material unwinding from the orbiting spool and about the product to form a band about the product As the spool unwinds banding material, the shaft or other structure supporting the spool continuously urges the spool in the rewinding direction, thereby enhancing the tension on the unwinding banding material When initiating a band, gripping fingers grasp an end of the unspooled banding material and hold it adjacent the object being banded as the spool orbits the object and wraps the object and the fingers The fingers then slip out from between the object and the forming band, preferably with the assistance of a blast of pressurized air, and grasp the unspooling banding material between the spool and the banded object The length of banding material extending to the object is cut.

Abstract: A device for trapping extraneous gas or bubbles is disclosed. The device is defined as having a gas collection area in a tapered neck portion such that when used as a cell culturing apparatus, extraneous gas or bubbles are trapped and isolated from the cell growth areas where cells or media reside.

Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.

Abstract: An optical beam is selectively output towards a scanner in accordance with image data for a scan line of an image. The optical beam has a beam irradiance distribution that is elliptical in shape. The optical beam passes through an aperture stop, ordinarily creating side lobes within a focus irradiance distribution of the optical beam. The scanner scans the optical beam to form the scan line on a photosensitive surface by selectively exposing positions along the scan line in accordance with image data. The optical beam is modified before it reaches the photosensitive surface to substantially remove the side lobes that have been created within the focus irradiance distribution and/or to substantially prevent the side lobes from being created within the focus irradiance distribution of the optical beam.

Abstract: A scan lens for an imaging device includes first, second, third, and fourth lens elements optically positioned in ascending numeric order between a scanning component and an imaging surface. The first lens element has an optical power in an in-scan direction of the imaging device and an optical power in a cross-scan direction of the imaging device, the optical power in the cross-scan direction being positive and greater than the optical power in the in-scan direction. The second lens element has a negative optical power in the in-scan and cross-scan directions. The third lens element has a positive optical power in the in-scan direction and cross-scan directions. The fourth lens element has an optical power in the in-scan direction and a positive optical power in the cross-scan direction, the optical power in the cross-scan direction being greater than the optical power in the in-scan direction.

Abstract: A device for minimizing the formation of bubbles or foam in cell culture is disclosed. The device has a manifold which directs the inflow of cells and cell culture media into a cell culture vessel so as to allow for displaced air or gas to vent from the cell culture vessel without mixing with the incoming cell culture media, thereby preventing the mixing of air and cell culture media and minimizing the formation of bubbles or foam inside the cell culture vessel.

Abstract: A scan lens for an imaging device includes first, second, third, and fourth lens elements optically positioned in ascending numeric order between a scanning component and an imaging surface. The first lens element has an optical power in an in-scan direction of the imaging device and an optical power in a cross-scan direction of the imaging device, the optical power in the cross-scan direction being positive and greater than the optical power in the in-scan direction. The second lens element has a negative optical power in the in-scan and cross-scan directions. The third lens element has a positive optical power in the in-scan direction and cross-scan directions. The fourth lens element has an optical power in the in-scan direction and a positive optical power in the cross-scan direction, the optical power in the cross-scan direction being greater than the optical power in the in-scan direction.

Abstract: A device for trapping extraneous gas or bubbles is disclosed. The device is defined as having a gas collection area in a tapered neck portion such that when used as a cell culturing apparatus, extraneous gas or bubbles are trapped and isolated from the cell growth areas where cells or media reside.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes cell culture units having cell culture chambers, each with at least one manifold. The manifold connects the cell culture unit to a fluid flow channel. The manifold has a dam which allows liquid to pool in the manifold and allows for the creation of an airspace in the manifold, which reduces hydrostatic pressure inside the apparatus and enables the stacking of multiple cell culture units. Embodiments include cascading manifolds, manifolds having reservoirs, and manifolds having valves.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to groups of anamorphic prisms that are configured to reduce smile in a multi-beam optical system are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for trapping extraneous gas or bubbles is disclosed. The device is defined as having a gas collection area in a tapered neck portion such that when used as a cell culturing apparatus, extraneous gas or bubbles are trapped and isolated from the cell growth areas where cells or media reside.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to groups of anamorphic prisms that are configured to reduce smile in a multi-beam optical system are disclosed.

Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.

Abstract: A device for minimizing the formation of bubbles or foam in cell culture is disclosed. The device has a manifold which directs the inflow of cells and cell culture media into a cell culture vessel so as to allow for displaced air or gas to vent from the cell culture vessel without mixing with the incoming cell culture media, thereby preventing the mixing of air and cell culture media and minimizing the formation of bubbles or foam inside the cell culture vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for stitching multiple images together in a printer to form a single, seamless, composite image. The use of multiple laser sources and multiple scan lenses with one or more scanner assemblies and various image stitching methods achieves seamless image stitching in a manner that provides benefits over prior printers using single laser sources and single scan lenses. Such benefits include, for example, a wider image format, smaller optical spot size, reduced cost, and reduced overall size for the printer.

Abstract: A device for trapping extraneous gas or bubbles is disclosed. The device is defined as having a gas collection area in a tapered neck portion such that when used as a cell culturing apparatus, extraneous gas or bubbles are trapped and isolated from the cell growth areas where cells or media reside.