Abstract: A gripping appliance is disclosed. A head assembly is releasably attached to, and extends distal from, a base member. A plunger actuator moves a plunger along a proximal-distal axis of the gripping appliance. The head assembly includes a carrier with a through opening which receives the plunger and at least two gripping legs. Each of the gripping legs include a tip portion distal of a fixation portion, an actuation portion adjacent to and proximal of the tip portion, and a flex portion between the actuation and fixation portions. The actuation portions contact the plunger when the plunger is in an extended, distal position. The fixation portions are rigidly mounted to the carrier. The actuation and tip portions are distal from the carrier. When no force is transferred from the plunger to the gripping legs, the tip portions converge in a proximal-distal direction of the gripping appliance.

Abstract: This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.

Abstract: A system (1) dispenses dosages of a powdery substance. It has a robotic handler (2), a weighing module (8) with a weighing pan (9), at least one storage rack (4) for holding a plurality of dispensing heads (3) and at least one storage rack (6) for holding a plurality of vials (5), a dosage dispenser unit (11) with a dispensing head receiver (12), a vial handling tool (17) and a dispensing head handling tool (18), a tool-docking station (19) for the handling tools, and a controller terminal unit (20). Different weighing pan adapters (15) adapt the weighing pan to different shapes and sizes of vials. Relative to a vertical working orientation, tlower portions of the weighing pan adapters are identical, to fit the weighing pan, but upper portions are different, to accommodate different shapes and sizes of vials. A station (16) is provided for storing the weighing pan adapters.

Abstract: A system (1) dispenses dosages of a powdery substance. It has a robotic handler (2), a weighing module (8) with a weighing pan (9), at least one storage rack (4) for holding a plurality of dispensing heads (3) and at least one storage rack (6) for holding a plurality of vials (5), a dosage dispenser unit (11) with a dispensing head receiver (12), a vial handling tool (17) and a dispensing head handling tool (18), a tool-docking station (19) for the handling tools, and a controller terminal unit (20). Different weighing pan adapters (15) adapt the weighing pan to different shapes and sizes of vials. Relative to a vertical working orientation, tlower portions of the weighing pan adapaters are identical, to fit the weighing pan, but upper portions are different, to accommodate different shapes and sizes of vials. A station (16) is provided for storing the weighing pan adapters.

Abstract: A rotatable gripper grips and turns a container cap. When locked, a collet clamp engages the cap, and when unlocked, the clamp releases the cap. The collet clamp is elongate with a first and second ends. The first end has a substantially rigid section. The second end has a gripper section with a substantially cylindrical recess that expands in width to hold the cap when the clamp is moved from locked to unlocked. Between the rigid and gripper sections is a clamping section. An outside surface of the clamping section is conical with a width increasing towards the gripper section. Sliding a ring on the conical clamping section deforms it into the locked position, constricting the recess tightly onto a container cap. When unlocked, the recess widens, permitting the cap to be removed from the recess.

Abstract: A device (14) allows a door of a balance draft shield enclosure (12) to be activated by a carrier fork (4) of a robot (5). The vertically movable draft shield door (13) sets open an access opening in a raised position and closes the opening in a lowered position. A door-lifter with a force-application element (41) is connected to the draft shield door for application of an upward-directed vertical force. A transmitting mechanism (15), standing clear of the balance (11) includes a force-receiving element (20, 21, 26, 27) that is moved vertically by the carrier fork, between upper and lower end positions. It further includes at least one direction-reversing element (22, 23, 24, 25, 29), coupled to the force-receiving element for coupling to the force-application element, a return spring (28), and a spring-biased locking latch (30).

Abstract: A device (14) allows a door of a balance draft shield enclosure (12) to be activated by a carrier fork (4) of a robot (5). The vertically movable draft shield door (13) sets open an access opening in a raised position and closes the opening in a lowered position. A door-lifter with a force-application element (41) is connected to the draft shield door for application of an upward-directed vertical force. A transmitting mechanism (15), standing clear of the balance (11) includes a force-receiving element (20, 21, 26, 27) that is moved vertically by the carrier fork, between upper and lower end positions. It further includes at least one direction-reversing element (22, 23, 24, 25, 29), coupled to the force-receiving element for coupling to the force-application element, a return spring (28), and a spring-biased locking latch (30).

Abstract: A rotatable gripper serves to grip and turn a container cap. The gripper has a rotatably mounted collet clamp. In a locked operating position, the cap can be clamped and turned in the collet clamp, and in an unlocked operating position, the cap can be released from the collet clamp. The collet clamp is of an elongate configuration with a first and a second end, the first end comprising a substantially rigid section and the second end comprising a gripper section. The gripper section contains a substantially cylindrical recess that serves to hold the cap, wherein the recess is designed to expand in width when the operating position is changed from locked to unlocked. A clamping section is arranged between the gripper section and the rigid section of the collet clamp. The gripper section and the clamping section have an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the outside surface of the clamping section has the shape of a cone whose width increases towards the gripper section).

Abstract: A device for producing tubular structures for packaging tubes, comprising an elongate mandrel (3) extending axially, around which a substrate web can be subjected to a forming process to produce a tubular moulding (4), where, within the mandrel (3), there are a plurality of gas-outlet apertures (15) to which compressed gas can be applied to produce a gas cushion, in particular an air cushion, between the mandrel (3) and the tubular moulding (4), and where there are welding means for welding the tubular moulding, and where, with the aid of means (19) arranged radially adjacent to the mandrel (3) and capable of providing a combination of pressure-application and conveying, the tubular moulding (4) can be forced radially inwards in a direction towards a mandrel surface (16) which belongs to the mandrel (3) and which is convexly curved in a circumferential direction, and the tubular moulding (4) can be transported in a direction of the longitudinal direction of the mandrel (3) by virtue of a frictional effect bet

Abstract: The invention relates to bioactive compounds derived from an endophytic Aspergillus sp. fungus strain isolated from a Malaysian medicinal plant Garcinia scortechinii and to compositions which contain one or more of these compounds. In particular, the invention relates to compounds according to formula I; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate or prodrug derivative thereof, as pure stereoisomers, mixture of isomers, in enol form or tautomeric form. These compounds have utility in, for example, anti-cancer treatments.

Abstract: A weighing pan for a comparator balance has a surface coated with a polymer lacquer. The coated surface is distinguished by a moderate hardness and increased levels of sliding friction and adhesive friction. By adding anti-static agents, the surface coating can be made sufficiently conductive to avoid electrostatic charges. The coating is resistant to solvents and to the kinds of fluids that are used to perform density determinations.

Abstract: A lift system for effecting a vertical parallel movement of a platform relative to a base, in particular for moving a sample changer platform of a sample changer in a weighing system, has at least three substantially identical and mutually interchangeable mechanical lift units supporting the platform. The lift units occupy an at least triangular flexible layout on the base. The lift system is equipped with a drive system that includes a transmission device and a drive element, wherein the transmission device connects the lift units among each other and to the drive element. The arrangement produces a simultaneous vertical movement of the lift units with the platform always staying aligned in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the gravity force.

Abstract: A load receiver (10) for a balance with arms (11) is designed to support weights of various shapes and sizes (13, 14, 15, 16) by cradling the weights in a depression sloped at a variable slope angle towards the middle of the load receiver. A loading stage (1) arranged to cooperate with the load receiver (10) has one or more weight-placement devices (5) designed so that the load receiver (10) can reach through the weight-placement device (5) without touching the latter. The loading stage (1) and the load receiver (10) are moveable up and down in relation to each other. The weight-placement device (5) is suitably configured to support the different weights (13, 14, 15, 16). The load receiver (10) and loading stage (1) are used in a mass comparator for testing weight standards with a high degree of precision.

Abstract: A weight set for an electronic balance has at least two different weights (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) and a weight-receiving device (19) with receiving positions for each of the weights (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). The weight set (2) has one lifter unit (17) per weight for the vertical movement of each individual weight (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). The lifter units, which are equipped with a weight-seating device and reach through the weight-receiving device (19), are identical and are arranged parallel to each other in the weight set (2).

Abstract: A sample changer for a balance (1) with a weighing pan (18) has at least two sample carriers (3) that are spaced apart from each other. Each sample carrier is configured to receive at least one weighing-object unit and transport the weighing-object unit to the weighing pan (18). An individual draft-shield element (4) consisting at least in part of a transparent material is arranged above each of the sample carriers (3), closing off a sample space laterally and from above.

Abstract: A weighing pan for a comparator balance has a surface coated with a polymer lacquer. The coated surface is distinguished by a moderate hardness and increased levels of sliding friction and adhesive friction. By adding anti-static agents, the surface coating can be made sufficiently conductive to avoid electrostatic charges. The coating is resistant to solvents and to the kinds of fluids that are used to perform density determinations.

Abstract: A lift system for effecting a vertical parallel movement of a platform relative to a base, in particular for moving a sample changer platform of a sample changer in a weighing system, has at least three substantially identical and mutually interchangeable mechanical lift units supporting the platform. The lift units occupy an at least triangular flexible layout on the base. The lift system is equipped with a drive system that includes a transmission device and a drive element, wherein the transmission device connects the lift units among each other and to the drive element. The arrangement produces a simultaneous vertical movement of the lift units with the platform always staying aligned in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the gravity force.

Abstract: A sample changer for a balance (1) with a weighing pan (18) has at least two sample carriers (3) that are spaced apart from each other. Each sample carrier is configured to receive at least one weighing-object unit and transport the weighing-object unit to the weighing pan (18). An individual draft-shield element (4) consisting at least in part of a transparent material is arranged above each of the sample carriers (3), closing off a sample space laterally and from above.

Abstract: A weight set for an electronic balance has at least two different weights (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) and a weight-receiving device (19) with receiving positions for each of the weights (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). The weight set (2) has one lifter unit (17) per weight for the vertical movement of each individual weight (15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). The lifter units, which are equipped with a weight-seating device and reach through the weight-receiving device (19), are identical and are arranged parallel to each other in the weight set (2).

Abstract: A load receiver (10) for a balance with arms (11) is designed to support weights of various shapes and sizes (13, 14, 15, 16) by cradling the weights in a depression sloped at a variable slope angle towards the middle of the load receiver. A loading stage (1) arranged to cooperate with the load receiver (10) has one or more weight-placement devices (5) designed so that the load receiver (10) can reach through the weight-placement device (5) without touching the latter. The loading stage (1) and the load receiver (10) are moveable up and down in relation to each other. The weight-placement device (5) is suitably configured to support the different weights (13, 14, 15, 16). The load receiver (10) and loading stage (1) are used in a mass comparator for testing weight standards with a high degree of precision.