Abstract: An endorectal cooling device (ECD) includes an elongated body, a cooling fluid circuit, and a gas bubble removal device. The elongated body includes an insertable portion for insertion into a patient's rectum and an external portion that remains external to the rectum. The cooling fluid circuit is defined in the elongated body from the external portion to the insertable portion and circulates cooling fluid to regulate a temperature of a cooling surface on the insertable portion. The gas bubble removal device can include a coil, a tube, a mesh, and/or a hole that is disposed on or defined in the insertable portion of the elongated body, such as the cooling surface. A low-pressure source, such as a vacuum pump or a Venturi structure, can be fluidly coupled to the gas bubble removal device to remove fluid and bubbles by a suction force after the ECD is inserted into the rectum.

Abstract: An endorectal cooling device (ECD) includes an elongated body, a cooling fluid circuit, and a gas bubble removal device. The elongated body includes an insertable portion for insertion into a patient's rectum and an external portion that remains external to the rectum. The cooling fluid circuit is defined in the elongated body from the external portion to the insertable portion and circulates cooling fluid to regulate a temperature of a cooling surface on the insertable portion. The gas bubble removal device can include a coil, a tube, a mesh, and/or a hole that is disposed on or defined in the insertable portion of the elongated body, such as the cooling surface. A low-pressure source, such as a vacuum pump or a Venturi structure, can be fluidly coupled to the gas bubble removal device to remove fluid and bubbles by a suction force after the ECD is inserted into the rectum.

Abstract: An assembly to crease a paper set in a booklet maker is provided. A booklet is formed in a booklet marker when a crease blade strikes the middle of the stack and pushes it toward a set of nipped crease rolls. The assembly engages spring-loaded idlers against the crease rolls after the crease blade initiates the buckle of the stack and prior to creasing. The spring loaded idlers apply a drive force to the stack that assists the formation of the crease. With the assistance of this extra drive force, the crease blade tip can be stopped in time to avoid jamming while reducing the chance of getting a cover, or more sheets tearing off the booklet. This design is compact in size and therefore may also be retrofitted into existing designs.

Abstract: An assembly to crease a paper set in a booklet maker is provided. A booklet is formed in a booklet marker when a crease blade strikes the middle of the stack and pushes it toward a set of nipped crease rolls. The assembly engages spring-loaded idlers against the crease rolls after the crease blade initiates the buckle of the stack and prior to creasing. The spring loaded idlers apply a drive force to the stack that assists the formation of the crease. With the assistance of this extra drive force, the crease blade tip can be stopped in time to avoid jamming while reducing the chance of getting a cover, or more sheets tearing off the booklet. This design is compact in size and therefore may also be retrofitted into existing designs.

Abstract: A finisher for an image forming apparatus includes a pair of rotatable downstream rollers and a pair of rotatable upstream roller between which a path on which an imaged medium travels. The finisher determines when a trailing edge of the medium is about to leave a nip of the upstream rollers and then stops a leading edge of the medium. By stopping the leading edge of the medium, the medium buckles and the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line. A finishing device performs a hole punch, staple, or other finishing operation to the medium when the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line. The finishing operation is performed at a speed equal to or greater than a speed at which the image forming apparatus forms the image on the medium and outputs the medium to the finisher.

Abstract: A semi-active retard feeder employs a hysteresis clutch to provide the resisting torque to a retard roll. A low cost Hall Effect sensor is added to the clutch assembly to provide a feedback signal during the feeding cycle in order to detect the onset of degraded feeding performance. This signal can be used to instruct a user to order and replace the retard roll.

Abstract: A semi-active retard feeder employs a hysteresis clutch to provide the resisting torque to a retard roll. A low cost Hall Effect sensor is added to the clutch assembly to provide a feedback signal during the feeding cycle in order to detect the onset of degraded feeding performance. This signal can be used to instruct a user to order and replace the retard roll.

Abstract: A finisher for an image forming apparatus includes a pair of rotatable downstream rollers and a pair of rotable upstream roller between which a path on which an imaged medium travels. The finisher determines when a trailing edge of the medium is about to leave a nip of the upstream rollers and then stops a leading edge of the medium. By stopping the leading edge of the medium, the medium buckles and the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line. A finishing device performs a hole punch, staple, or other finishing operation to the medium when the trailing edge registers against the upstream nip line.