Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dispensing system including: a product loading unit; a receptacle configured to receive the product loading unit; a storage area configured to receive product; and a transfer unit for moving the product between the product loading unit and the storage area. The present disclosure is also directed to a dispensing system including: a product loading unit; a receptacle configured to receive the product loading unit; a storage area configured to receive product; a transfer unit for moving the product between the product loading unit and the storage area; and a remote system operable to send and/or receive product information from the dispensing system regarding an amount of product and a type of product within the receptacle.

Abstract: A method of making stepper motor includes: providing a permanent magnet rotor carried by an output shaft; forming a bobbin having an alignment feature, a bearing opening for supporting the shaft, and a passage for receiving the permanent magnet rotor; forming a magnetically soft stator-yoke located around the inside of the passage; winding a coil of electrically conducting wire around the bobbin; and providing a motor housing for receiving the bobbin and where the motor housing has a corresponding alignment feature to align the bobbin with the housing.

Abstract: LED dice and driver chips for generating current for driving LED's are to be mounted on tile modules. Z-axis dimensional control of the LED dice and driver chips is provided by placement of the dice and driver chips face down in a first fixture member to locate the dice against a first datum on the fixture. A front face of the tile is accurately positioned in the x, y plane relative to the dice and driver chips and supported in a second fixture member. The front face of the tile contains adhesive for attachment of the tile to the LED dice and driver chips. The rear face of the tile is located against a second datum in the fixture that is located a fixed distance from the first datum. Thus, the adhesive between the dice and the front face of the tile compensates for the thickness variations of both the dice and the tile.

Abstract: A non-impact printhead such as an LED printhead includes a plurality of modular circuit assemblies, each including a plurality of recording elements and associated integrated circuit drivers. Each modular circuit assembly is mounted upon a tile. Rails are attached to the underside of the tiles to join the tiles together. A heatsink supports the tiles. The tiles are urged into engagement with the heatsink by cantilevered leaf springs.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic actuator of the type having a planar coil armature mounted for movement in a magnetic field by a plurality of planar flexure springs, the flexure springs lie entirely in the plane of the planar armature.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator operable with a source of electric current has two overlapping, oppositely movable armatures that are mounted on resiliently flexible cantilever spring members and coupled together by resiliently flexible spring elements, to provide coordinated cooperative movements of the armatures when energized. The armatures have conductive coils thereon that are connectable to the current source through the spring members and spring elements. A permanent magnet and a pair of flux return plates are disposed near the armatures to provide a suitable magnetic path through the coils. Current flowing through the coils in the magnetic path generates oppositely directed forces on the two armatures. Structure is provided for constraining the coupling spring elements to move in only one direction when such forces are generated, thereby facilitating coordination of desired armature movements in directions substantially opposite to each other and perpendicular to the one direction.