Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a grinding and infusion assembly comprising a tubular extraction sleeve, infuser head and blade grinder, wherein the system further comprises a first seal, being a linear shaft seal for preventing a flow of coffee brew between the infuser head and inner surface of the extraction sleeve during extraction of the coffee grounds; a second seal, being a static seal for preventing a flow of coffee brew between the infuser head and grinder spindle when the grinder is not rotating and in the retracted position; and a third seal, being a rotary shaft seal for preventing the movement of coffee grounds between the infuser head and grinder spindle when the grinder is rotating in the extended position.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising an infuser head adapted to deliver hot water preferentially to coffee grounds located on the periphery of an inner surface of a central portion of a slidable wall of a coffee cartridge and/or the inner surface of an extraction sleeve.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising: an infuser head in fluid communication with a source of hot water and comprising bedding means for distributing coffee grounds such that they are disposed substantially evenly on an inner surface of a slidable wall of a coffee cartridge thereby forming an extraction bed within an extraction chamber; and infuser means comprising one or more outlets for the hot water, the infuser head being adapted to deliver hot water to the extraction bed within the extraction chamber, whereby coffee is extracted to yield a coffee brew.

Abstract: Described is a system for roasting, grinding, brewing and dispensing coffee comprising a coffee cartridge containing: (i) unground and (ii) unroasted or part-roasted coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a cartridge chamber in which the beans are confined, wherein part or all of at least one wall of the cartridge is openable, and the openable wall of the cartridge is opposed to a slidable wall thereof, said slidable wall comprising: inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface being in contact with the beans; a peripheral sealing portion on the inner surface; and a central portion bounded by the peripheral sealing portion and comprising a screen for retaining the beans within the cartridge chamber while permitting a flow of coffee brew therethrough.

Abstract: Described is a cartridge containing non-coffee plant materials, said cartridge having walls defining a chamber in which the plant materials are confined, the cartridge being adapted to serve as a grinding and extraction chamber for the plant materials.

Abstract: A coffee cartridge containing unground coffee beans, said cartridge having walls defining a chamber in which the beans are confined, the cartridge being adapted to serve as a grinding and extraction chamber for the coffee beans.

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analytic composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a sensor component; (iv) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; and (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); wherein said metering chamber is of fixed volume and shape and substantially ellipsoidal, the metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and/or outlet being in fluid communication wit

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: Described is a modular microfluidic device (MMD) for producing an analyte composition from a biological fluid sample, said device comprising: (a) a reagent module (RM) comprising a reagent reservoir containing a reagent and an eluent reservoir containing an eluent, said reagent and eluent reservoirs being coupled to one or more RM microchannels; and (b) a sample preparation module (SPM) comprising a SPM microchannel adapted to couple with the RM microchannel whereby fluid continuity between SPM and RM microchannels is produced on coupling, and: (i) a sample inlet for receiving said biological fluid sample; (ii) an outlet for delivering said analyte composition; (iii) a mixing chamber; (v) a metering chamber; (vi) an eluent chamber; (vii) a valve; (viii) a solid phase extraction element (SPE); and (ix) an aspirator in fluid communication with the sample inlet of the SPM for withdrawing an aliquot of said biological fluid when contained in a sample vessel, said aspirator being operably coupled to a pneumatic fl

Abstract: A valve mechanism is provided for use in an inhaler comprising a pressurized container, and a metering chamber, and a valve mechanism wherein the inlet and outlet valves are separate and can be operated independently. The pressure of the fluid in the canister is used to aid the opening of the outer valve so reducing the force to fire a dose. A variant of the valve mechanism allows the user to select from a range of dose volumes by appropriate orientation of the stem.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, particularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for repairing a flaw in a surface, partcularly in the field of vehicle glass repair. The apparatus has a housing adapted to engage the surface to be repaired, a repair seal for sealing between the housing and around the flaw to be repaired to define a repair space over the flaw. A reservoir communicates with the repair space and, in use, contains liquid repair material. A vacuum pump communicates with the repair space and the reservoir to apply a partial vacuum to the repair space and to the reservoir without repair liquid from the reservoir being drawn into the repair space in order to degas separately the flaw and repair liquid in the reservoir. After appropriate degassing, repair liquid from the reservoir is caused to flow into the repair space to fill the repair space with repair liquid.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism having a movable carriage and two cutters. Each cutter has an anvil that opposes a blade, and one of these is a roller that rolls against the other for progressively biasing material against the blades, producing cuts through the material. The rollers are rotatably mounted to the carriage, which is mounted to a lead screw that controls the position of the carriage. As the carriage moves across the material, the rollers roll, and the material is cut. The space between the anvil and the blade of at least one of the cutters can be varied to disengage that cutter so that the rolling of the roller will not cut the material. The engagement and disengagement of the cutter is dependent on the position of the carriage.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism having a movable carriage and two cutters. Each cutter has an anvil that opposes a blade, and one of these is a roller that rolls against the other for progressively biasing material against the blades, producing cuts through the material. The rollers are rotatably mounted to the carriage, which is mounted to a lead screw that controls the position of the carriage. As the carriage moves across the material, the rollers roll, and the material is cut. The space between the anvil and the blade of at least one of the cutters can be varied to disengage that cutter so that the rolling of the roller will not cut the material. The engagement and disengagement of the cutter is dependent on the position of the carriage.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus arranged to be used with a tape holding case. The case holds a first supply of image receiving tape and a second supply of laminating tape. An opening is provided between the first and second tape supplies. A printing mechanism is arranged to print an image onto the image receiving tape as it traverses the opening. A cutting location is provided where the image receiving tape is cut after an image has been printed thereon. The cutting location and printing mechanism lie on opposite sides of the first and second tape supplies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printer that has a plurality of keys for defining a label to be printed. Such keys include keys for defining the format of the label. The label printer also includes a display for displaying an image of the label, a printing unit for printing the label and a control unit for controlling the label printer to operate in a layout mode. In the layout mode, the control unit causes the display to display an image of the label in a selected label format and a plurality of layout parameters for defining the label format. Each of the layout parameters is alterable. Thereby, the label image displayed on the display alters with each selection of one of the layout parameters by actuating the format keys.

Abstract: A label printer having a plurality of input keys for inputting data defining a label image to be printed on an image receiving medium. The input keys include a plurality of data entry keys for entering character data and a plurality of function keys for use in controlling printing of the character data. The label printer includes a display area for displaying information relating to a label image to be printed, a printing unit for printing the label image and a controller for controlling operation of the label printer and including addressing unit for addressing the display area. The display area comprises first and second display zones, each being selectively addressable by the addressing unit to display information relating to the label image. The first display zone is addressable to display a plurality of editing options in relation to each function key.