Abstract:
The invention provides means for both driving and constraining the trajectory of a flexible member, such as the brassiere strap, such that it will manoeuvre into the required geometric shape and at the same time, where required, thread through, or wind around, various hardware components or other flexible members, preferably in one continuous and smooth motion from start to finish of the said operation. A preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus which is designed for the winding and assembly of the brassiere shoulder strap assembly, in which a length of strap material is threaded through the apertures of normally two hardware articles - the slide and the ring, wherein a fully or semi-confining guide track is shaped to receive a strap from a delivery means and thread the strap firstly, through one aperture of the slide, then back through the second aperture of the slide (as in the action of threading a belt through a common belt buckle), and then secondly through the ring, and lastly again through the first aperture of the slide and back through the second aperture of the slide in the same manner as in the first threading through the slide, but on the inside of the first threading. The strap driving means are drive spindles driving againts spring loaded reaction blocks, positioned at salient points as follows; firstly to drive the strap along the receiving part of the guide track into the first aperture of the slide, secondly to pickup the nose of the strap upon emergence from this said first aperture, perform a "U" turn and return it through the slide's second aperture and along the guide track to the ring, thirdly to pickup the nose of the strap upon emergence through the ring, and fourthly (optionally for longer guide tracks) to augment the drive on the strap prior to its re-threading through the slide, inside of the first threading. The termination of the drive of the strap through the guide track is controlled by the sensing of the double thickness of strap as it emerges from the second threading of the slide, and wherein the completed assembly is extracted from the guide track by the extension of the drive spindles out of the plane of the guide track.
Abstract:
An apparatus for the automatic separation and gating of rigid or semi-flexible labels or tickets comprising a gating mechanism which provides a flexible gating means (6) that facilitates the passage of a single label or ticket (9) through an aperture (8) of the apparatus.
Abstract:
An extraction medium for use in detection of a protein in a biological sample is described. The extraction medium contains a combination of reagents, including a nuclease, that aid in nuclear protein extraction from the biological sample. The medium is particularly suited for use in commercially-available rapid diagnostic assays, where the medium improves sensitivity of the assay to the presence of viral nuclear proteins. Kits comprising the extraction medium and methods of using the extraction medium are also described.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for the sealing of inflatable objects, in particular tires, comprising a gas pressure source, a pressure hose for the connection of the gas pressure source to the inflatable object and a sealing agent contained in a removal unit. In accordance with the invention, the pressure hose simultaneously forms the removal unit containing the sealing agent.
Abstract:
The invention relates to floating moorings and mooring systems for yachts and power boats wherein a support frame mounted to a plurality of floodable buoyancy and sealed stability chambers can be operated to lift the vessel substantially out of the water thereby preventing the growth of marine organisms on the surface of the vessel's hull. The device is submerged to a controlled depth to allow the docking of the vessel within the support frame, after which the vessel is secured by tie lines and the floodable buoyancy chambers are evacuated to cause the lifting of the mooring and the vessel. The invention also includes a plurality of these moorings in a system arrangement that allows the operation and ingress/egress of individual vessels within the system. Such mooring systems offer higher packing densities and at the same time protection of individual vessels from damage due to inter-vessel collisions.
Abstract:
A device for the pick up and placement of a label (4) from a label stack (5) to a delivery point for sewing onto a workpiece (9) comprising a single actuator driven mechanism (1) of two moving cam type parts to pick up a single label (4) from the top of the label stack (5) using vacuum means (3) to lift the top label (4) and separation means (8) to ensure only the top label (4) is lifted, and to place the label (4) accurately into a position on the workpiece (9) and stabilising means (14) to steady the label (4) on the workpiece (9), prior to fixing by clamping or fastening means (13) for sewing onto the workpiece (9).
Abstract:
An extraction medium for use in detection of a protein in a biological sample is described. The extraction medium contains a combination of reagents, including a nuclease, that aid in nuclear protein extraction from the biological sample. The medium is particularly suited for use in commercially-available rapid diagnostic assays, where the medium improves sensitivity of the assay to the presence of viral nuclear proteins. Kits comprising the extraction medium and methods of using the extraction medium are also described.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for separating elongated semiconductor strips (630) from a wafer (400) of semiconductor material are disclosed. Vacuum (500) is applied to the face of each semiconductor strip forming an edge of the wafer (400) or being adjacent to the edge. The wafer (400) and the source of the vacuum (500) are displaced to separate each elongated semiconductor strip (630) from the wafer (400). Further, a method and an apparatus for assembling elongated semiconductor strips (630) separated from a wafer (400) of semiconductor material into an array of strips (630) are disclosed. Still further, methods, apparatuses, and systems for assembling an array of elongated semiconductor strips (630) on a substrate are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An apparatus for the fast feeding of small fabric pieces (29, 31) for automatic sewing operations comprising means for the magazining of a number of stacks (15) of workpieces (29, 31) and automatically feeding each stack (15) to a feeding position, where a pickup and separation module which includes a pair of fabric grippers (8, 9) mounted at each end of a shuttle carriage (10) positioned to move across the axis of the stack (15) to sequentially position each gripper (8, 9) above the stack (15) will pick up individual workpieces (29, 31) from the stack (15) and feed them sequentially onto two offset conveyors (11, 12), and if required to be slightly overlapped, into an inverting module which includes two turnover chutes (27, 28) of identical length to invert every alternate workpiece (31) after which the workpieces (29, 31) will then feed into a folding/sewing module which will fold, hem or otherwise from the workpieces (29, 31) before stitching.
Abstract:
Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a progressive degenerative disorder that results in major neurological disability. In A-T patients, necropsy has revealed atrophy of all cerebellar cortical layers with extensive Purkinje and granular cell loss. We have previously identified an increase in phospho-p38MAPK levels, which was accompanied by downregulation of Bmi-1 and upregulation of p21, as key components of the mechanism causing defective proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from subventricular zone (SVZ) of Atm-null mice. Our results demonstrate that restoration of NSCs by pharmacologic inhibition of p38MAPK signaling has the potential to treat neurological defects of A-T. This study provides new insights into the therapeutic strategy targeting NSCs rather than replacing impaired neurons not only for A-T, but for other neurodegenerative disorders as well.