Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a guide member for directing sheets toward a transfer zone. The guide member defines a set of ribs which hold the sheets above the main surface of the guide member. Thus, any stray marking material which lands on the guide member is relatively unlikely to contact a sheet moving over the guide member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a guide member for directing sheets toward a transfer zone. The guide member defines a set of ribs which hold the sheets above the main surface of the guide member. Thus, any stray marking material which lands on the guide member is relatively unlikely to contact a sheet moving over the guide member.

Abstract: The present invention is an automated system and method of initiating payments from a payor's checking account pursuant to the payor's authorization during a conversation via telephone, computer terminal or other telecommunication devices with a customer service representative. The automated system initiates a debit from the payor's checking account so that funds are automatically transferred to the payee without generating a paper bank draft check payable to the payee. Regardless as to where the payor banks, as long as the bank complies with American Banking Association Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Line regulations, the system automatically decodes the payor's checking account number and the bank's routing number.

Abstract: A preparative two dimensional gel electrophoresis system which serves as a single procedure for separation and isolation of preparative amounts of proteins from complex biological preparations. The system includes sized-up isoelectric focusing tube gels and slab gel molds which allow for sample loads of between about 0.5 and 2 mg or greater. Increased protein loads, resolution and electrotransfer allow for subsequent sequencing of separated proteins by conventional methods.