Abstract: A controllable end effector comprising a base component comprising a plurality of motion-defining elements; a plurality of mounting components operatively coupled to the base component, wherein each mounting component is coupled to one of the motion-defining elements; a plurality of drive components each configured to independently control a position of one of the mounting components; and a plurality of pick elements configured to engage with a surface of an object, wherein each mounting component is coupled to at least one of the pick elements. A method of manufacturing using a controllable end effector that includes identifying an object; moving at least two mounting components of the controllable end effector near the object; engaging at least two pick elements coupled to the two mounting components with a surface of the object; moving, via the pick elements, the object; and disengaging the pick elements from the surface of the object.

Abstract: A portable beverage container is provided by an assembly which is formed of a first container for liquids which is removably engageable with a second container for personal property such as a smartphone. The first, when removably engaged to the second container, forms the assembly having an exterior surface configured for removable engagement within a bike bottle cage or hydration belt or pack worn by a user.

Abstract: A portable beverage container is provided by an assembly which is formed of a first container for liquids which is removably engageable with a second container for personal property such as a smartphone. The first, when removably engaged to the second container, forms the assembly having an exterior surface configured for removable engagement within a bike bottle cage or hydration belt or pack worn by a user.

Abstract: A media-guiding system includes a media-guiding roller having a roller axis and an exterior surface having one or more grooves formed around the exterior surface. A media travels along a transport path past the media-guiding roller with a first side of the media facing the exterior surface of the web-guiding roller. An air source provides an air flow into one or more of the grooves, the air flow being directed between the first side of the media and the exterior surface of the media-guiding roller thereby producing a Bernoulli force to draw the media toward the exterior surface of the media-guiding roller and providing an increased traction between the media and the media-guiding roller.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a display device is provided. The display device comprises a body having an opening to a display receiving area. A display is joined to the display receiving area and a generally transparent contact element positioned between the opening and the display. At least two force sensitive elements are between the contact element and the display receiving area, and each force sensitive element is adapted to generate a signal when a force has been applied to the contact element. A controller receives the signals and determines a user input action based upon the signals received. The force sensitive elements are adapted to detect the application of force along different axes and to generate signals that the controller can use to determine when a force has been applied to the contact element and along which of the different axes the force has been applied.

Abstract: A thermal printer and method for operating a thermal printer are provided. The thermal printer has a receiver medium path leading past a print nip between a print head and platen. A processor causes an urge roller to move the receiver medium in the forward direction until a trailing edge of the receiver medium is moved to a point where reverse movement of the receiver medium causes the receiver medium to located against a stop surface. The processor then enables the receiver medium to travel in the reverse direction to engage the stop surface wherein the receiver medium path guides the receiver medium along a path of known length from the stop surface to a print line at the print nip.

Abstract: A flash-capable photographic film camera is provided with an auxiliary light path to direct a portion of emitted flash light through an elongated secondary exposure window formed adjacent a side of the camera picture frame so as to expose an edge demarcation bar on the film in an interframe area between successive exposed picture frames. The secondary window preferably extends along substantially the full length of the picture frame side to produce a positive indication of an image frame edge for enhanced detection by conventional algorithm-based edge detectors irrespective of actual image frame density values.

Abstract: A film camera assembly has a taking lens and an aligned baffle. A film metering mechanism is actuable to transport the photographic film in a longitudinal direction past the baffle. A film support is aligned with the baffle and defines a pair of film stations separated by a light-blocking interspace mask. The first film station has an exposure opening and a pair of lateral edges adjoining the exposure opening. The second film station has a light-blocking image mask and an elongate demarcation opening adjoining the image mask in a second direction perpendicular to the direction of film transport. The exposure opening and demarcation opening are equal in length. The demarcation opening is aligned with one of the lateral edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for facilitating deployment of a software application with minimum down time, and in particular, to an apparatus and method which enables a deployed software application to operate before completion of data migration. In response to a date call it is determined whether the data exists in the existing persistence or the new persistence, and if the data exists in the existing persistence, migrating the data to the new persistence and providing the data for operation of the application.

Abstract: Electrochemical process for preparing heterocyclic and mixed heterocyclic/carbocyclic diaryl iodonium salts using a single compartment and a carbon anode in a single process step. The process proceeds in the presence of a solvent such as acetic acid and an electrolyte such as sulfuric acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical method for producing diaryl iodonium compounds wherein application of an electric current to an electrochemical cell containing a reaction mixture composed of a solvent, an iodoaryl compound and an electrolyte forms an oxidizing agent in situ. In this first step, the oxidizing agent is subsequently converted into a stable oxidized iodoaryl intermediate, typically an iodosyl compound. The electric potential is removed and in a second step a target aryl compound is introduced to the reaction mixture to react with the oxidized iodoaryl intermediate to form a diaryl iodonium compound.