Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a printer cartridge having a cartridge barrel for containing print material, an extruder having a nozzle and a lever arm, the lever arm including a plunger, the plunger having an inlet port, and a pneumatic system including a pneumatic piston, a solenoid valve and a Y-connector, wherein the pneumatic piston is configured to receive pressurized air from (1) the Y-connector to lower the lever arm to align the inlet port with an entry point of the extruder enabling print material to flow into the extruder through the inlet port, and (2) the solenoid valve to raise the lever arm to misalign the inlet port and the entry point to prevent additional print material to flow into the extruder. The apparatus further includes a build platform, and a plurality of rods and screws for guiding the extruder to dispense print material on the build platform.

Abstract: Banknote processing equipment is disclosed, which comprises a chamber having an open end for insertion of a bag into the chamber and an extractor adapted to establish a lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag to that within the bag to cause the bag to expand into an open configuration during a banknote filling operation, whereby the banknote processing equipment can deposit banknotes in the bag.

Abstract: An automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus that can be used to feed bulk material into a mixer in order to create a feed mixture for farm animals. The automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus includes a support frame that supports a hopper and an inclined belt conveyor that operate under control of a controller to accurately feed a desired quantity (in weight) of a bulk material item from the hopper to the mixer by forward-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor. Excess bulk material that has been loaded into the hopper (bulk material over the desired quantity in weight) is reclaimed by the controller controlling opening a rear gate of the hopper and reverse-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor.

Abstract: A filling device for containers, especially for beverage bottles, having a filling valve with a discharge opening, a holder for the container in a suspended arrangement, and a weighing device. In order to obtain a robust weighing device and a more precise measurement at least one portion of the weighing device is arranged vertically above the discharge opening.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering composition in a container filler installation, the device comprising a tube having at least an end provided with a nozzle and an opposite end provided with means for fastening to a feed line of the filler installation, and the device further including a plate fastened to the tube and provided with a support having a portion extending in register with the nozzle to support a container. The invention also provides a filler installation including at least one such device.

Abstract: A filling device for containers, especially for beverage bottles, having a filling valve with a discharge opening, a holder for the container in a suspended arrangement, and a weighing device. In order to obtain a robust weighing device and a more precise measurement at least one portion of the weighing device is arranged vertically above the discharge opening.

Abstract: A container-filling-and-weighing device having a frame and a connected weighing member. A first single point load cell is connected near the top of the weighing member and attaches to the frame. A second single point load cell extends from near the bottom of the weighing member and attaches to the frame. The load cells are preferably parallel, essentially identical and intersected by a vertical line. Any nonvertical force applied to the upper load cell is offset numerically by an equal and opposite nonvertical force applied to the lower load cell. These disparities are removed by averaging the numerical output from each load cell.

Abstract: A blood donation monitoring means comprising a support platform (12), being rockably supported by a support (18), a drive means (37, 39, 40) supported operatively connected to the support platform (12) to cause a rocking of the support platform (12), a weight sensing means (23) associated with the support for the support platform, a flow line support (16) adapted to receive a flow line for a receptacle to be supported on the support platform (12), the flow line support (16) including a flow control means (42) to control the flow through the control line, a control means operatively connected to the flow control means (16) and having an input from the weight sensing means (23), said control means having a monitoring means which is adapted to monitor the rate of change of weight of the contents of the support platform (12) and activate the flow control means (16) in accordance with the weight changes of the contents of the support platform (12) and ensure delivery of a predetermined quantity of blood to the rec

Abstract: A system, a portable propellant loading tank and loading method for bipropellant spacecraft servicing to load propellant into a spacecraft. The spacecraft has a propellant storage tank with a propellant input and a vent output. The system comprises a portable propellant loading tank for storing and transferring propellant that is couplable to the propellant input of the propellant storage tank in the spacecraft. The propellant loading tank is a stainless steel tank that is electropolished on its interior surface. A portable weighing system having a plurality of load cells provides output signals indicative of the weight of the propellant loading tank. A load cell readout device is coupled to the portable weighing system for providing an output indicative of the weight of the propellant storage tank. A receiver tank is coupled to the vent output of the propellant storage tank in the spacecraft.

Abstract: The device for simultaneous weighing and agitation comprises a tray (14) for receiving an object (15) to be weighed, which object is a receptacle (15) for progressively receiving a substance (18), and the tray (14) is associated both with means (16) enabling the weight of said object to be measured, and with means (1) enabling agitation motion to be imparted thereto. The tray (14) and the agitation means (1) are mounted on a common support (17) on which exact measurement is then performed with an error of not more than 5% of the weight of the combined device and object (15) to be weighed during agitation.

Abstract: A blood agitating and weighing device includes a base member and a support member, pivotally mounted with respect to the base member, for journally supporting a container, such as a flexible blood storage bag. A spring member is provided for biasing the support member to a first tilted position relative to the base member and a flexible bladder is positioned beneath the support member. The bladder is expandable in response to the introduction of pneumatic pressure therein to overcome the bias of the spring member to move the support member to a second tilted position relative to the base member. The bladder is contracted in response to the release of pneumatic pressure to allow the spring member to move the support member back to the first position. The support member is therefore alternately moved between the first and second positions by the alternating expansion and contraction of the bladder to agitate the blood in the container.

Abstract: A blood collection bag is suspended from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a properly filled blood collection bag, energizes an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generates a pulse to momentarily energize a coil in proximity to a permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood to the blood collection bag is actuated on release of a weight retained by the magnetic field of the magnet, which release is achieved by the disruption of the magnetic field on energization of the coil.

Abstract: A blood collection bag is suspended from a leaf spring, which leaf spring, on being repositioned a specified distance by the weight of a properly filled blood collection bag, energizes an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit generates a pulse to momentarily energize a coil in proximity to a permanent magnet and momentarily disrupt the magnetic field of the magnet. A clamp for terminating the flow of blood to the blood collection bag is actuated upon the disruption of the magnetic field.

Abstract: An automatic weighing and bagging machine and method for holding and opening a first bag of a plurality of juxtaposed bags held in the machine in a manner whereby the first bag may be filled with a weighed product and released from the plurality of bags. The bags are of the type having an extended tab secured to a portion thereof and extending above a mouth opening of the bag. The machine comprises a holding device for engaging at least a portion of the extended tab of the first bag. A retractor member is also provided for opening the mouth opening of the first bag by pulling a side wall portion of the first bag opposite to the engaged portion of the tab and away from the engaged tab. The retractor member also clamps the side wall portion to hold the bag in an open position whereby the bag is held from opposed sides for filling the bag with the weighed product. A container is provided to hold and weigh the product to be bagged.

Abstract: A fluid collection, dispensing and measurement device for use in connection with a blood container, for example, and flexible tubing leading thereto. A hollow balance bar, with mobile spherical weights disposed therein is provided and rapid, forceful cut off of the blood flow through the flexible tubing is achieved when the moment created by the filling blood container, accentuated by the motion of the spherical weights, overcomes the moment produced by a preset adjustable counter weight. An adjustable clamping apparatus allows the fluid collection device to be affixed to a stationary object and subsequently adjusted to a level plane to insure accuracy of measurement. A simple modification of the device allows it to be used as a fluid dispensing device. A full container of fluid can be hung on the modified device and a measured quantity of fluid can be dispensed with cut off being achieved as described above.

Abstract: Weight monitoring apparatus supports and agitates a fluid collection bag to mix a received flow of fluid with a fluid contained within the bag while simultaneously monitoring the increasing weight of the bag. When a predetermined weight of the bag and its contents is achieved, the inflow of fluid is automatically interrupted.