Abstract: A roller guide wheel contains a single set of spherical bearings and is constructed with a precision outer race machined into the guide wheel interior and an inner race formed by the surfaces of two conically-tapered set screws that affix the roller guide wheel within a housing made part of a stage slider. The roller guide wheel, which contacts a rail on one side of the stage body and exhibits a non-nutating axis of rotation, serves as way for the translating slider. The way on the opposing side of the slider is a set of v-groove contacts that make sliding contact with a rail on the corresponding side of the stage body. A flexure is machined into the slider permitting preload of the slider contacts points with the rails. The stage geometry permits a large slider through-hole and the use of alternative way mechanisms with the roller guide wheel.

Abstract: A fruit and vegetable coring system comprises a cylinder exhibiting a cutting edge on one end and attachment to a handle at the other end. This cylindrical blade is used to make a cylindrical incision about the core of a fruit (or vegetable) and slice through the entire depth of the fruit (or vegetable). A planar blade(s) is made part of the interior of the cylinder in the proximity of the cylindrical blade for the purpose of shearing the fruit core and freeing it from the fruit upon rotation of the cylinder. The change in the inner diameter of the cylinder due to the interior taper of the cylinder associated with the blade is disclosed to be sufficient to compress the fruit core and thereby retain it in the cylinder for removal from the fruit.

Abstract: A fruit and vegetable coring system comprises a tube in the form of a cylinder exhibiting a cutting edge (cylindrical blade) on one end and attachment to a handle at the other end. This cylindrical blade is used to make a cylindrical incision about the core of a fruit (or vegetable) and potentially slice through the entire depth of the fruit (or vegetable). In certain cooking applications, it is desirable to remove the core of the fruit, and not slice through the entire depth of the fruit, but retain a floor below the core for the retention of cooking stuffs. To make provision for this application, some form of planar blade(s) is made part of the interior of the cylinder in the proximity of the cylindrical blade for the purpose of shearing the fruit core and freeing it from the fruit upon rotation of the cylinder about its longitudinal axis once inserted in the fruit.