Abstract:
This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, catcher and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the catcher through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The catcher is extended in the Z-direction, and lifts the foremost product container from the queue, moving one or more gates out of the way. The catcher then retracts, closing the gate, and the positioning system transports the catcher carrying the product container to a delivery port. The catcher then releases the product container which slides into a delivery port for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the catcher to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. Related methods are also disclosed.
Abstract:
This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, catcher and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the catcher through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The catcher is extended in the Z-direction, and lifts the foremost product container from the queue, moving one or more gates out of the way. The catcher then retracts, closing the gate, and the positioning system transports the catcher carrying the product container to a delivery port. The catcher then releases the product container which slides into a delivery port for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the catcher to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. Related methods are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A storage unit including a frame that defines a storage unit interior space, at least one storage media support structure capable of removably supporting a plurality of storage elements wherein the storage media support structure is adapted to provide a communicating path between the storage elements and the storage unit. The storage media support structure is capable of moving between a retracted position wherein substantially all of the storage elements are within the interior space and an extended position wherein substantially all of the storage elements are external to the interior space. Power and communication are provided to the storage media support structure when the storage media support structure is at or between the retracted and extended positions the power and communication is uninterrupted.
Abstract:
A storage system having at least one storage unit, the storage unit including a frame that defines a storage unit interior space, at least one media blade capable of removably supporting a plurality of storage elements wherein the media blade is adapted to provide a communicating path between the storage elements and the storage unit. The media blade is capable of moving between a retracted position wherein substantially all of the storage elements are within the interior space and an extended position wherein substantially all of the storage elements are external to the interior space. Power and communication are provided to the media blade when the media blade is at or between the retracted and extended positions the power and communication is uninterrupted.
Abstract:
An isolated fusion protein is provided which is a conjugate of a therapeutic polypeptide and an albumin fragment, such as a fragment including an individual domain or subdomain of albumin, or a polymer of albumin (e.g., dimers, trimers, etc.) and which is used to optimize the half-life of that therapeutic agent in the bloodstream in a tunable fashion based on the molecular weight of the fragment or polymer. Albumin fragments useful in the invention include fragments containing any of the individual domains and subdomains of human serum albumin, as well as fragments including specific combinations of binding regions or subdomains. The present invention thus provides fragments or polymers which will allow for optimizing half-lives of therapeutic polypeptides depending on their molecular weight, and this will optimizes protein and vaccine therapeutics to have desired half lives for their greatest effectiveness.
Abstract:
According to some embodiments, systems for low cost coaxial liquid cooling may be provided. In some embodiments, a system may comprise an axis. The system may further comprise a heat exchanger coupled to a pump, wherein the heat exchanger and the pump are oriented with respect to the axis.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for moving media through an image forming device using a roller having a recessed kick area is described herein. The roller includes a contact surface having a first radius that extends 360° around the roller. The roller also includes at least one recess that extends inwardly from the contact surface along a sector of the roller, where a bottom surface of the recess has a second radius less than the first radius. As a result, along the sector of the roller having the recess, the width of the contact surface is less than the width of the roller. The recess comprises at least one kick surface on one end of the recess. As the roller rotates, the kick surface kicks a trailing edge of media exiting the exit roller system into a desired bin of the image forming device.
Abstract:
According to some embodiments, systems for an integrated pump and cold plate may be provided. In some embodiments, a pump may comprise a housing defining an inlet to accept a fluid and an outlet to evacuate the fluid, an impeller disposed within the housing, wherein the impeller is to move the fluid toward the outlet, a motor to power the impeller, and a cold plate disposed at least partially within the housing. In some embodiments, the pump may also or alternatively comprise a motor to power the impeller, wherein the motor comprises a rotor and at least two magnets disposed within the housing and at least two electromagnetic coils disposed outside of the housing.
Abstract:
A diagnostic plasma probe comprises ion sensors for measuring kinetic properties of plasma ions. Ion sensors of the invention include sensors for measuring differential ion flux, ion energy distributions, and ion incidence angle distributions at or near the surface of the probe. The measurement probe is electrically floating so as to cause minimal disruption of the properties of the processing plasma when disposed into a processing environment. A floating electrical bias is applied to the sensors to obtain measurements of ion properties.