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A monetary transaction system consistent with the present disclosure comprises a mechanism allowing a biller to generate at least one invoice for at least one customer, where the invoice contains a unique bar code, comprising data identifying at least the customer and the biller, and a scanning apparatus and associated components, for use by a third party, configured both to scan the bar code and, based on the identifying data of the bar code, to effect payment to the biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount. In method form, a bill payment method consistent with the disclosure comprises: generating a biller invoice for at least one customer, said invoice containing a unique bar code, said bar code comprising data identifying at least said customer and said biller; and enabling a third party to scan and process said bar code and, based on the identifying data of said bar code, to effect payment to said biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount. In another embodiment, a bill payment system consistent with the disclosure comprises mechanisms allowing a plurality of billers to generate bar coded invoices, with each biller generating an invoice for at least one customer, the invoice comprising a unique bar code comprising data identifying at least the customer and the biller, and networked mechanisms allowing a plurality of third parties, in communication with said billers, to scan and process a given bar code and, based on the identifying data of said bar code, to effect payment to its associated biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount.

The present invention relates generally to the field of systems capable of managing the interaction between vendors and end users. To use the system, a user first scans any common barcode using a mobile device. The barcode information along with a user identification number is then sent to a server. The server uses the user identification number to look up the user's preferred vendors and content providers. The manufacturer code from the barcode is also looked up in a vendor database. Once the preferences have been determined, this information is sent to each vendor and content provider which returns information, a list of options, and/or other content. This information is then aggregated into a WAP page by the server and transmitted to the mobile device. The user utilizes the mobile device to select a content provider or vendor.

The invention relates to a fixing device for quickly fastening and releasing a mechanical part that bears on a support base, the device comprising a latching mechanism of the bayonet type and an associated clamping mechanism of the screw-and-nut type that is organized coaxially therewith, the mechanisms being actuated one after the other by actuating a common rotary drive member in the same direction, and the device having a temporary coupling means interposed between that member and the mechanisms so that over a first angle of rotation of the drive member said drive member actuates the latching mechanism, and then over a second angle of rotation, said drive member is uncoupled from the latching mechanism and actuates the clamping mechanism.

The radiation device has an array (11) of light-emitting diodes (12) providing light beams which are directed onto a focus region (20) at the input end of a light conductor (18), used for directing a focused light beam onto the radiation point. The light-emitting diodes are supported in a planar holder (19) at different inclination angles, for providing a light cone illuminating the light conductor input end from their output beams.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for contacting a microfluidic structure. The device comprises a receptacle for the microfluidic structure and also a contact unit. According to one aspect of the invention, the contact unit has at least one hollow needle, which is designed for piercing a layer of elastic material which is provided on the microfluidic structure.

A method and apparatus for making an anastomosis between a tubular duct and a vessel has an annulus having a longitudinal axis, a first set of fingers and a second set of fingers. The first set of fingers extend axially from the annulus in one direction and the second set of fingers extending axially from the annulus in another direction generally opposite the direction of the first set of fingers. The first and second sets of fingers are movable to penetrate the tubular duct and the vessel, respectively, as they move from a biased configuration to an unbiased configuration.

The invention relates to a device for processing poultry carcasses or parts thereof, comprising a conveyor having supports for retaining the carcasses or parts thereof, which conveyor is provided with means for leading the supports in a supply direction past at least one processing installation. The device further comprises a skinner for skinning the carcasses or parts thereof, which skinner is provided with skin gripping means for gripping the skin and means for moving the skin gripping means relatively with respect to the carcass and substantially perpendicular to the supply direction during skinning.

A cutting device, such as a beveling miter saw, includes a base, a work table supported on the base, and a cutting unit operably connected to the base. The work table includes a workpiece support surface and a stop portion. The cutting unit is selectively rotatable about a first axis between leftward and rightward bevel positions relative to the workpiece support surface. A rotatable stop member is coupled to the cutting unit and is selectively rotatable relative to the cutting unit to selectively contact the stop portion to thereby prevent rotation of the cutting unit in one direction about the first axis. The rotatable stop member and the stop portion may be positioned so that those elements contact when the cutting unit is at a predetermined bevel position, such as a vertical (0°) bevel position, relative to the workpiece support surface.

Hand guards for firearms and related methods are provided. In one example, a hand guard for a firearm includes an elongated tubular housing having a lumen extending between opposite ends thereof. A hand guard mounting assembly is coupled concentrically to a rear end portion of the housing. The mounting assembly includes a pair of opposing transverse surfaces respectively disposed on opposite sides of a transverse flange located on a front end of a barrel nut extending forwardly from a receiver of the firearm. At least one of the transverse surfaces is longitudinally moveable toward the other transverse surface. A mechanism adjustably urges the at least one transverse surface longitudinally toward the other transverse surface so as to clamp the flange firmly between the two transverse surfaces and such that the barrel of the firearm is disposed concentrically within the lumen of the housing.

A mobile crane with a carrier and a superstructure which is slewably arranged thereon has a superlift device with an SL counterweight for increasing lifting capacity. The SL counterweight can be lifted from the ground in order to execute slewing movements of the superstructure and its slewing radius is changeable. The crane has an electronic control device with a computing device and with a display. In order to avoid costly conversion work on the SL counterweight and to increase operating safety, a program is stored in the electronic control device, which program determines a permissible operating field for crane parameters from the parameters comprising load size and load radius, size of SL counterweight and SL counterweight radius while taking into account the stability criteria and capacity criteria of the mobile crane and displays this operating field graphically on the display. Within this operating field, these parameters may be safely changed, the rest of the parameters remaining constant, and the lifting of the SL counterweight from the ground can be ensured.

The present invention relates to pneumatic tube systems generally. More specifically, it relates to an automated system for the storage and distribution of empty carriers for a pneumatic tube system. The system comprises an easy to use one-touch process and includes the following apparatus: storage cabinets and pneumatic tube system comprising a blower, controller, retrieval cabinets, and main station. According to the invention there is provided an automated storage and distribution system comprising a pneumatic tube system; a first diverter with blower, and a storage cabinet with a second diverter. The system comprises several methods which are currently in the market place, and is useful in many places, such as hospitals, where the automated processing of pharmaceutical products via robot devices is used. Such a system is disclosed in co-pending application Parenteral Products Automation System (PPAS), application Ser. No. 08/513,569.

A device for connecting two tubular vessels together in a side-by-side or tangential manner is disclosed. The device has an annulus and at least one series of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus. In the preferred embodiment there are two sets of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus in opposite directions. Each finger is preferably biased into an arcuate shape. In use, a deployment apparatus is used to constrain the fingers of the device to be in a relatively planar configuration. The deployment apparatus containing the device is placed between and in contact with the two tubular vessels so that one tubular vessel is above the device and one tubular vessel is below the device and so that the fingers of the device come into contact with the tissue of the vessels. As the fingers penetrate the vessels the constraint on the fingers is removed so that the fingers can assume their biased arcuate shape. In this way, the fingers penetrate and grasp the tissue of the vessels so that the device grasps the vessels and pulls the vessels toward each other.

A system for selectively preventing free flow in a tube includes an in-line occluder disposed in the tube and an actuator pad for creating a flow path between the tube and the occluder. The actuation pad presses towards the occluder from a single side and stretches the tube to create a large flow path. The occluder stem is strengthened to resist deformation and damage from the forces applied by the actuator pad.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the automatic edge grinding of glass sheets under clean room conditions, comprising the following: a) a multi-axis robot at a gripper arm thereof carries a suction frame having a plurality of suction units for receiving a glass sheet, b) a grinding unit having at least one rotatable grinding wheel that is supported in a stationary manner is installed in the usable pivot range of the gripper arm of the robot, c) the ground product occurring during operation of the grinding unit is extracted by an extraction system, d) the degree of wear and the state of the grinding wheel are monitored by a calibration device in conjunction with a detection device, and a computer program for carrying out the method.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for contaminant detection in the food industry. Particularly, the method and apparatus involve collecting air samples containing aerosolized contaminate particles from a foodstuff and analyzing the sample for presence of a contaminate. Aerosol lab-on-a-chip and/or electronic nose devices are utilized for the detection of contaminant particles.

A contact bridge arrangement in a housing of an electronic assembly provides a simplified electrical interconnection of circuit boards while avoiding the need of electrical plugs, sockets and connector cables for connecting the circuit boards. The contact bridge includes an insulating block provided on the floor of the housing, and a plurality of conducting connectors embedded in the insulating block. First electrical contacts, such as contact pads with holes therein, are provided on the circuit boards, and engage the second electrical contacts in the form of contact pins provided by the free ends of the conducting connectors protruding from the insulating block. Assembling the arrangement simply requires pressing the circuit boards onto the contact pins of the contact bridge. The insulating block of the contact bridge may have a step configuration providing two offset flat support surfaces on which two circuit boards may be supported one above the other with a spacing therebetween.

An adjustable steering column for a steer-by-wire steering device may include an actuating unit that comprises a steering spindle mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis in a casing unit. The casing unit may have a first casing tube in which a second casing tube is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the longitudinal axis and is mounted so as to be movable axially in a telescopic fashion. An actuating drive is connected to the first casing tube and the second casing tube and can move the second casing tube relative to the first casing tube. The actuating drive may comprise a spindle drive with a threaded spindle that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, rotatably drivable by a servomotor, supported on and extending within the first casing tube, and screwed into a spindle nut attached in a rotationally fixed manner to the second casing tube.

A membrane pump (1) comprising, a pump housing, a membrane (4), which is mounted to the pump housing and delimits a pump chamber (8) inside the pump housing, an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for feeding medium into and out from the pump chamber, and actuating means (7) for moving the membrane back and forth between a first and a second position. The membrane, the inlet and the outlet are arranged in a first part (2) of the pump housing, the first part being detachably connected to a second part (3) of the pump housing, in which the actuating means is arranged. The membrane is detachably connected to the actuating means by means of a magnetic coupling, which comprises a first magnetic coupling part (9) fixed to the membrane and a corresponding second magnetic coupling part (10) fixed to the actuating means.

A cancer screening method is provided, wherein the method is characterized by administering a compound to a patient, the compound being a complex of a fluorescent marker and a radioactive marker, in a dose emitting between 5 Gy and 20 Gy radiation. Cells are then collected preferably through non-invasive or minimally invasive means. If fluorescence is observed in the exfoliated cells, tomographic scanning is conducted to further locate and/or confirm suspected malignant areas or metastatic areas. Further observation or treatment may be conducted either through fluorescence guided endoscopy, photo-dynamic therapy, and/or radiation treatment.

“The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting movements of objects, preferably an ultrasonic method and apparatus for detecting the movements of blood vessels during the cardiac cycle, including scanning an object by two- or three-dimensional ultrasonic image scanning means at discrete acquisition times to acquire a data set by using surface reconstruction and/or volume rendering techniques, partitioning the three-dimensional data set into a plurality of volume units, wherein each volume unit has a unit surface, calculating the change of volume of each volume unit over said acquisition times to obtain level information of each corresponding unit surface over time, and displaying said three-dimensional data set with its level information over time two- and/or three-dimensionally.”