A belt unit includes an endless belt member, a first roller provided on an inner circumferential surface side of the belt member, and a stretching member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the belt member. The stretching member is configured to stretch the belt member. A circumferential length of the belt member at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the belt member is shorter than a circumferential length of the belt member at an end portion in the widthwise direction of the belt member.

A chain cleaning and lubricating device for use with chain driven vehicles, such as motorcycles. The chain cleaning and lubricating device includes a lubrication reservoir for storing chain lubricant, a lubrication applicator, and a control lever that is attachable to the handlebars of a motorcycle. A control cable operatively connects the control lever to a control valve that is operatively situated within the lubrication reservoir. The chain cleaning and lubricating device is affixed to a sprocket housing mounted to the frame of the motorcycle. The lubrication applicator includes a plurality of bristles that extend downward from the bottom surface of the lubrication reservoir to continuously engage the rotating chain of the motorcycle to remove debris from the chain. The control lever is selectively operated to regulate the flow of chain lubricant from the lubrication reservoir to the chain of the motorcycle.

A derailleur device, particularly a rear derailleur, includes at least one locking device for locking a chain guide at least in one locking position that is different from the starting position in relation to a movable element, and it is provided therein that the locking device includes a locking element displaceable between a passive position, in which the chain guide is released in relation to the movable element, and at least one active position, in which the chain guide is held in the at least one locking position.

A mixing device for mixing a first and second material together to create an output mixture. The device includes a first chamber containing the first material coupled to a mixing chamber defined between a rotor and a stator. The rotor is disposed inside the stator and rotates therein about an axis of rotation. The first chamber houses an internal pump configured to pump the first material from the first chamber into the mixing chamber. The pump may be configured to impart a circumferential velocity into the first material before it enters the mixing chamber. At least one of the rotor and stator have a plurality of through-holes through which the second material is provided to the mixing chamber. Optionally, a second chamber is coupled to the mixing chamber. The second chamber may house an internal pump configured to pump the output material from the mixing chamber into the second chamber.

A device for depositing a mixture of powders to form an object with composition gradients, including: a plurality of tanks respectively configured to contain different powders; a powder mixer placed under the tanks and including a rotatably mounted mixing member; a plurality of powder dispensing mechanisms respectively cooperating with the tanks, and each configured to regulate mass flow rate of the powder escaping from a respective of the tanks towards the mixer; a powder mixture collector placed under the mixer; and a powder mixture dispenser placed under the collector.

A method and devices comprise a low frequency high energy ultrasound system having at least one sonotrode projecting into a reactor vessel through which the liquid passes via at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice. To avoid cavitation at the sonotrode, in a close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure/amplitude combination close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line is generated at which considerably reduced or no cavitation occurs and in the adjacent region in the vessel at least in a region and at least at times a pressure/amplitude combination is maintained below the pressure-amplitude characteristic line at which cavitation is generated. A device has an inlet orifice arranged such that the liquid impacts directly onto the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface, and is shaped that in the close region of the oscillation-transducing sonotrode surface a pressure close to or above the pressure-amplitude characteristic line prevails.

Provided is a stirrer including a stirring section formed of a plurality of wire members and a handle section to which ends of the respective wire members are mounted, which is capable of preventing, with a simple configuration, liquid such as water from entering inside the handle section from gaps between a mounting part of the handle section and root parts of the respective wire members. The stirrer includes: a stirring section including a plurality of wire members; a fitting body including one or both of grooves and through-holes into which ends of the respective wire members are fitted; and a handle section including a mounting recess to which the fitting body is fitted and fixed under a state in which the ends of the respective wire members are fitted into the one or both of grooves and through-holes.

The present invention relates to electronic devices, in particular organic electroluminescent devices, comprising compounds of the formula (1), and the corresponding compounds.

An electronic device includes, a circuit board including a through hole, a member including a screw hole, a screw including a screw body having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the through hole and a screw head having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the through hole, wherein the screw body penetrates through the through hole to engage with the screw hole and the screw head is disposed on an opposite side of the circuit board to the member, and a first washer provided between the screw head and the circuit board, the first washer including a first washer body and a plurality of first washer legs extending from the first washer body toward the circuit board, the first washer legs being in contact with the circuit board and having a characteristic of reducing stress on the circuit board upon being heated.

A method of manufacturing fastenings or fasteners with radial outer contours, especially screws or threaded bolts, made of solid metal is performed by a device. The method manufactures the fastenings or fasteners preferably on a multi-stage press. Several recesses running in an axial direction at a fixed radial distance are formed in the shank-shaped section of a blank. The prefabricated blank with the recesses is inserted into a multi-part split mold within a multi-stage press, whose die stocks have an inner profiling forming the outer contour, and are opened in the starting position, that at the places where the die stocks are opened, there are the recesses. During the closing movement of the die stocks, at least one radial outer contour is pressed on the shank-shaped section of the blank by radial action of forces, with the recesses preventing material from getting between the die stocks during the pressing process.

There is provided a nut having a thread portion having a female thread, a metallic plate portion having a base segment, and a hardness gradient portion provided between the thread portion and the metallic plate portion. The thread portion, metallic plate portion and the hardness gradient portion are monolithic each other, a metallographic structure of the metallic plate portion differs from a metallographic structure of the thread portion and a hardness of the hardness gradient portion is lower than a hardness of the thread portion and lowers from the thread portion toward the metallic plate portion.

A rolling machine comprises parallel guides delimiting a workpiece conveying channel extending from a plurality of per se known rolling tools to a machined workpiece unloading arrangement, wherein, upstream of the workpiece unloading arrangement, one of the channel delimiting guides is operatively coupled to a structural element swingably supported by a pivot pin, the structural element being integral with the piston rod of a cylinder-piston unit slidably driving the structural element together with the channel delimiting guide, thereby providing a side unloading opening for the workpiece.

Tap and die devices are provided to repair internal and external threads, respectively. The tap and die devices are provided with components that coaxially align the tap and die to the nut or fitting being repaired. The tap and die devices are easily portable, compact tools that can be used in tight places.

A method for manufacturing a bolting part, such as a screw or a nut. The bolting part having a head with a periphery having at least one shoulder extending in a radial plane. The method includes at least the following forming steps: shearing of a wire of material so as to obtain a part of determined length, calibration of the part so as to correct the geometry of the part, rough machining of the calibrated part so as to obtain the head of the bolting part, and finishing of the rough-machined part by means of a third punch so as to form a head having at least one shoulder. The calibration, rough machining and finishing steps being carried out only by cold heading.

A polishing pad, having a polishing layer comprising a thermoset polyurethane foam, wherein the polishing layer has an in-plane variation of 12 or less in microrubber A hardness, the variation being obtained by measuring the polishing layer from a polishing surface side of the layer, the thermoset polyurethane foam contains, as raw material components, an isocyanate component and active-hydrogen-containing compounds, and the active-hydrogen-containing compounds comprise a trifunctional polyol having at least one terminated hydroxyl group that is a secondary hydroxyl group, and having a hydroxyl group value of 150 to 1,000 mg KOH/g in an amount of 10 to 50 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the active-hydrogen-containing compounds.

The process and apparatus for mobile separation and recovery of used contaminants abrasive blasting material from a work site. Entrained contaminants within used blast material are removed by a self-contained mobile platform process using multiple stage cleaning system including dual cyclonic separation, multiple stage dust filters with large debris magnetic drum, airwash and vibratory separation in a flow through containment and blast media separation process.

A holding body includes a fastening layer which has a fastening surface configured to fasten a flexible grinding device. The fastening layer includes an air- and dust-permeable material and is substantially full-surface. The fastening layer includes a textile material. The holding body also includes a supporting body which has a supporting surface configured to support a holding surface of the fastening layer. The supporting body is air- and dust-permeable and includes an open-cell foam. A grinding system includes such a holding body and such a flexible grinding device.

A deburring device includes a barrel with a granulated polishing member filled therein. The barrel is configured by a case formed with an opening hole, and drop prevention member which is fixed to the case and prevents the polishing member from being dropped from the opening hole. A gap into which a tubular end section of a workpiece is inserted is formed between the opening hole of the case and the drop prevention member.

A run-off securing device, in particular a run-off securing device of a handheld power tool, is configured to avoid running off of a clamping element and/or a tool from a spindle. The device has at least one transmission unit, which is removably coupled to the spindle and has at least one first transmission element and at least one second transmission element. The at least one second transmission element is movable in relation to the at least one first transmission element. The transmission unit has at least one movement changing unit, which at least partially transforms a first relative movement between the at least one first transmission element and the at least one second transmission element into a second relative movement in a braking mode.

The invention relates to a device (1) for machining a stepped shaft (2), having a workpiece rest (6); having a disk arrangement (3) which has a grinding disk (4) and a control disk (5); and having an axial stop arrangement (7), wherein the axial stop arrangement (7) has a contact adapter (8) which can be temporarily placed in contact with an end surface portion (9) of the shaft (2) and which has a punctiform contact surface (10) for contact against a stop part (11) of the stop arrangement (7).

The lubricating base oil of the invention is characterized by satisfying at least one of the following conditions (a) or (b). (a) A saturated compound content of 95% by mass or greater, and a proportion of 0.1-10% by mass of cyclic saturated compounds among the saturated compounds.(b) The condition represented by the following formula (1). 1.435≦n20−0.002×kv100≦1.450 (1) wherein n20 represents the refractive index of the lubricating base oil at 20° C., and kv100 represents the kinematic viscosity (mm2/s) of the lubricating base oil at 100° C.

The present invention relates to a method of driveline device by supplying to the driveline device a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and an antiwear package, wherein the antiwear package includes: (a) derivatives of a carboxylic acid (typically a hydroxycarboxylic acid); and (b) a phosphorus compound. The invention further provides lubricating compositions containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and an antiwear package, wherein the antiwear package includes (a) derivatives of a carboxylic acid (typically a hydroxycarboxylic acid); and (b) an amine or metal salt of a phosphorus compound that is either (i) a hydroxy-substituted di-ester of (thio)phosphoric acid, or (ii) a phosphorylated hydroxy-substituted di- or tri-ester of (thio)phosphoric acid.

A device for cutting tubular and rod-shaped work pieces using the whirling method includes a whirling unit on which a holder mounted so as to rotate, connected with a drive, for a saw blade having internal teeth is disposed. The holder and saw blade are provided with corresponding reference mechanisms for fixation of the saw blade in a defined position. The device also includes a mechanism for automatic replacement of the saw blade. A saw blade having internal teeth is also provided for use in this device. The saw blade has at least two indexing bores and at least two gripping openings, which are disposed offset relative to one another.

In the course of a machining of a workpiece with a tool, a drive spindle with a tilt table secured thereto of a tilt device provided on a work table of a machining center is rotated by a direct drive motor to control the relative angular position between the tool and the workpiece, and within a predetermined period of time in the course of a machining, the direct drive motor is rotated at a high speed with a spindle head and the work table of the machining center kept away to rotate the drive spindle and hence, the tilt table at a high speed, so that chips and cutting lubricant can be shaken from the workpiece and the tilt table.

A tool magazine device includes a magazine body adapted to be disposed on a machine body of a machine tool to confront a working space, a plurality of insertion openings formed in a right side wall of the magazine body and each extending towards a left side wall of the magazine body to form a storage chamber, a plurality of gripping members fitted in the insertion openings for grippingly engage cutting tools, an inlet disposed in the magazine body for introducing therein a flow of pressurized air, and an air duct unit disposed on the left side wall and coupled to communicate the inlet with the storage chambers so as to permit the pressurized air to flow out of the insertion openings to thereby clean swarf from the cutting tools.

A shaping machine system including a shaping device and a computer is provided. The shaping device includes at least one jig mount body configured for mounting a jig; a shaping tool support body configured for supporting a shaping tool; a first drive device configured for rotating the shaping tool; and a second drive device configured for driving the shaping tool support body or the at least one jig mount body or changing a posture of the shaping tool relative to the workpiece. The computer is configured for controlling the first and second drive devices according to predetermined shaping data. The computer includes a jig position measuring unit configured for measuring a position of the jig; a position error detecting unit configured for detecting a position error of the jig, and a shaping data correcting unit configured for correcting the predetermined shaping data according to a jig position error.

A tool handling device for machine tools, comprising a tool magazine having a transfer position for the transfer of the tools, including a tool changer movable between the transfer position and an exchange position, which has a rotatable double gripper, and a supporting structure movable on a foundation, on which the tool changer is mounted. In order to achieve fast tool changes in tight spaces on the machine, the supporting structure has an upper slide and a lower slide which can both be displaced by means of spindle drives in the same direction on a foundation, wherein a single drive motor is provided for driving the two spindle drives.

Method for a memory including a first, second, third and fourth cells include applying a read, program, or erase voltage, the first and second cells coupled to a first top interconnect, the third and fourth cells coupled to a second top interconnect, the first and third cells coupled to a first bottom interconnect, the second and fourth cells are to a second bottom interconnect, each cell includes a switching material overlying a non-linear element (NLE), the resistive switching material is associated with a first conductive threshold voltage, the NLE is associated with a lower, second conductive threshold voltage, comprising applying the read voltage between the first top and the first bottom electrode to switch the NLE of the first cell to conductive, while the NLEs of the second, third, and the fourth cells remain non-conductive, and detecting a read current across the first cell in response to the read voltage.

A method for processing workpieces with a laser processing machine including a laser processing head having a nozzle receiving member configured to receive a laser nozzle. The method includes holding a workpiece on a workpiece support plane of a workpiece support, transferring a laser nozzle between a nozzle magazine of a nozzle changing device located at a first side of the workpiece support and a nozzle receiving member of the laser processing head located at a second side of the workpiece support such that the laser nozzle is assembled on or disassembled from the nozzle receiving member, and moving the laser nozzle through a through-opening defined in the workpiece support along a transverse direction to the workpiece support.

A cutting device includes a support base, a first slide module, a second slide module slidably connected to the first slide module, and a cutting module. The support base includes a support surface and a slide portion on the support surface. The first slide module is slidably positioned on the slide portion. The sliding direction of the second slide module is perpendicular to the sliding direction of the first slide module. The cutting module includes a fixed frame fixed on the second slide module, a driving device fixed on the fixed frame, and a cutter connected to the driving device. The driving device drives the cutter to rotate around a central axis of the cutter and move up and down along the central axis. The central axis is perpendicular to the support surface. The cutter includes a hollow cylindrical blade. An end surface of the blade faces the support surface.

Device for managing the electrodes for electrical discharge machining EDM machine tools comprises at least one magazine (1) that has a series of individual housings (33) designed to accept and hold exchangeable elements (5) consisting of electrodes (6, 22) mounted on an electrode holder (11a, 11b), and a changer device (2) equipped with a gripper (2) intended to move the exchangeable elements (5) from the individual housings (33) towards the machine and vice versa. A first adapter piece (21) is associated with each of the exchangeable elements (5). This adapter piece (21) surrounds the electrode holder (11a, 11b) and is gripped around its periphery by the gripper (9) of the changer (2) so as to guarantee that the exchangeable element (5) is held precisely. The device further comprises a second adapter piece (32) associated with each of the individual housings (33) of the magazine (1) that are likely to be used.

A combination component handling and connecting device connectable to a multi-axis robot for use in moving and connecting components and subassemblies includes a housing and an actuator fixedly connected to the housing. The actuator includes an actuating link movable from a first position to a second position. Connected to the actuating link is an end effector for concurrent movement with the actuating link. The component handling and connecting device includes a clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is connected to the actuating link for selectively moving the second jaw toward the first jaw operative to engage a component.

A tool changing device for a cutting head of a machine for cutting flat glass sheets, the tool changing device comprising: a bridge; a carriage for supporting the cutting head, the carriage being slidingly attached to the bridge for translation along the bridge; an electric motor that provides for translational motion of the carriage with respect to the bridge; and a tool supporting slider, which is configured to support a plurality of tools such that the tools can be automatically exchanged between the tool supporting slider and the cutting head, the tool supporting slider coupled, by way of reversible fixing elements to the cutting head supporting carriage during work by the cutting head, and wherein the tool supporting slider is uncoupled from the cutting head supporting carriage during tool changing operations.

Provided is a module for automatic tool exchange device of novel structure wherein electric signals can be transmitted with high reliability while preventing transmission efficiency from deteriorating between a first coupling member and a second coupling member. An electromagnetic shielding member is arranged on an outer circumference of a core member except for a transmission surface, a gap member having electromagnetic shielding effect lower than that of the electromagnetic shielding member is interposed between the core member and the electromagnetic shielding member, and a first module and a second module are provided, respectively, with coil units equipped with coil heads which are constituted to include a coil member, the core member and the gap member.

A tool radius adjusting device executes an operation for adjusting the tool radius of a boring holder in parallel with execution of a machining program for executing an operation of a spindle head and an operation of a tool changer. A carrier control unit determines whether the tool changer is executing a tool changing process. When the tool changing process is not being executed, the carrier control unit allows the carrier device to execute an operation for picking the boring holder out from the tool magazine and an operation for returning the boring holder, of which the tool radius has been adjusted, to the tool magazine.

Loads that act on all the bearings that support a main spindle are derived from a variation in the state of the main spindle and, in addition, raceway surface contact pressures of the respective bearings are analyzed, so it is possible to accurately keep track of the state of each bearing. Then, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds a corresponding threshold, a machining condition is changed to execute control such that the raceway surface contact pressure does not exceed the corresponding threshold, and, furthermore, when the raceway surface contact pressure exceeds the corresponding threshold even when the machining condition is changed, the main spindle is controlled to stop, so it is possible to prevent a seizure of each bearing. Thus, it is possible to improve machining accuracy by controlling the main spindle with high accuracy.

A multi-channel optoelectronic device is configured to establish a redundant status link with a remote device. The optoelectronic device can transmit N transmit optical signals to the remote device over a plurality of transmit channels and receive N receive optical signals from the remote device over a plurality of receive channels. The optoelectronic device includes one or more spare transmit and receive channels. When used with a remote device having spare transmit and receive channels, each device can establish a status link with the other and use the status link to switch out transmit and/or receive channels to identify and permanently switch out the worst transmit and/or receive channels. Alternately, the device can interoperate with a non-status-link enabled remote device by determining that the remote device is not status-link enabled, transitioning to a low transmit power mode, and transmitting and receiving over a plurality of default transmit and receive channels.

A signal transmission device drives a light-emitting element and outputs an optical signal depending on a data signal from an electronic device. The device includes an element driving portion which supplies a driving current to the light-emitting element, wherein the driving current is obtained by superimposing a modulation current on a bias current, the modulation current being dependent on the data signal indicating emitting information of the light-emitting element. A temperature compensation portion of the device controls the bias current and the modulation current depending on the temperature so that a temperature-current characteristic of the light-emitting element is reproduced based on the voltage which is dependent on the temperature and the voltage which is independent from the temperature, thereby performing current control depending on the temperature.

Provided is a polarization separation device which converges filter coefficients used in polarization separating process more quickly. The polarization separation device according to the present invention comprises: a first filter means 11 which applies filtering process on each of first and second input signals, which are detected from an received optical signal, with elements of a characteristic matrix representing the inverse characteristics of an optical transmission path as filter coefficients, and uses each of the filtered signals to output a first output signal; a second filter means 12 which applies filtering process on each of the first and second input signals with the other elements of the characteristic matrix as filter coefficients, and uses each of the filtered signals to output a second output signal; a filter coefficient update means 13 which updates the first filter coefficients using a relation between the elements of the characteristic matrix so as to further reduce both error signals of the first and second output signals; and a filter coefficient update means 14 which updates the second filter coefficients using the relation between the elements of the characteristic matrix so as to further reduce both error signals to the first and second output signals.

An optical transport network system includes a plurality of NEs, each transmitting wavelength-multiplexed optical signals. Each NE includes a routing information DB that is used to store reachable area information, which contains identifiers of other NEs in a range within which the optical signals can be transmitted from the own NE without using an REG. A FROM NE includes a path candidate searching unit that searches for a plurality of path candidates for transmitting optical signals from the FROM NE to a TO NE. The TO NE includes a path selecting unit that selects a path for transmitting optical signals from among a plurality of path candidates. The path selecting unit obtains the number of times for which the REG is used for each of the plurality of path candidates; and, based on each number of times that is obtained, selects a path for transmitting the optical signals.

The device identification apparatus includes: a remote controller signal detecting section for detecting an optical signal from a remote controller; a receiving section for receiving the optical signal from the remote controller; a signal decryption section for decrypting the optical signal received by the receiving section; and a transmitting section for transmitting a device identification signal when the optical signal is a device selecting signal, and configured such that operations of the receiving section, the signal decryption section, and the transmitting section are started in response to a detecting signal of the remote controller signal detecting section, thereby realizing a device identification apparatus in which power consumption during standby is minimized.

The invention relates to embedding data symbols of a data signal into a luminance output of an illumination device. The device includes a controller configured for receiving a first base pattern and a second base pattern within a frame period, and generating a shifted second pattern by phase shifting the second base pattern within the frame period with respect to the first base pattern in response to the data signal such that the data symbols are embedded in the luminance output of the device. The device also includes a first light source configured to generate a first luminance output in response to the first base pattern and a second light source configured to generate a second luminance output in response to the shifted second pattern. The first and second luminance outputs have different output spectra and the luminance output of the illumination device comprises both the first and second luminance outputs. With this approach, the short-time average light output of the illumination device remains constant, decreasing the visible flicker and allowing the use of lower switching frequencies relative to the prior art approaches.

The present invention provides a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device in the form of an integrated structure in which a droplet may be transported by a digital microfluidic array and transferred to a microfluidic channel. In one aspect of the invention, a hybrid device comprises a first substrate having a digital microfluidic array capable of transporting a droplet to a transfer location, and a second substrate having a microfluidic channel. The first and second substrates are affixed to form a hybrid device in which an opening in the microfluidic channel is positioned adjacent to the transfer location, so that a droplet transported to the transfer location contacts the channel opening and may enter the channel. The invention also provides methods of performing separations using a hybrid digital and channel microfluidic device and methods of assembling a hybrid digital microfluidic device.

Method and apparatus for performing a discrete glucose testing and bolus dosage determination including a glucose meter with bolus calculation function are provided.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and process for forming medical devices from an injectable composition. The apparatus includes a supply assembly configured to maintain and selective dispense a first precursor and a second precursor, a mixing assembly configured to mix the first and second precursors, and at least one catalyzing element including a transition metal ion to aid in the polymerization of the first and second precursors. The process includes dispensing a volume of the first precursor and a volume of the second precursor into a mixing assembly and mixing the first and second precursors. The first and second precursors each possess a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity with each other. The mixed precursors are contacted with a transition metal catalyst to produce a flowable composition for use as a medical device.

The present invention extends to a disinfection cap for disinfecting a male luer end of an infusion therapy device. The disinfection cap can include an internal reservoir containing an antimicrobial or saline solution which is sealed with a flexible septum to prevent the solution from evaporating. The septum can include one or more slits or pierceable seams that allow a male luer end of an infusion therapy device to be inserted through the septum and into the solution. While the male luer is inserted through the septum, the solution contacts both the inner and outer surfaces of the male luer. Because the septum reduces evaporation of the solution and prevents the solution from leaking out of the cap, the solution remains in contact with the male luer for a longer duration then when typical disinfection caps are used thereby increasing the effectiveness of the disinfectant.

Microfluidic devices of the present disclosure relate to quick and inexpensive microfluidic manipulation/handling. A number of channels may be supplied with fluid ingredient(s). In some embodiments, a number of protrusions as well as a sealing material may be disposed adjacent to the channels. When the channels are supplied with fluid ingredient(s), the channels may be partitioned into a number of separate cavities that are fluidly isolated from one another. For instance, a sealing material may be compressed so as to deform into the channels, obstructing fluid flow. In some embodiments, the channels supply fluid ingredients to a number of pre-formed cavities. Once the cavities are supplied with fluid ingredient, channels connecting the cavities may be sealed off; that is, the cavities may be subject to fluid isolation. When appropriate, contents within reaction chambers may be subject to further processing (e.g., thermal cycling, various analyses).

The present invention includes microfluidic systems having a microfabricated cavity that may be covered with a removable cover, where the removable cover allows at least part of the opening of the microfabricated cavity to be exposed or directly accessed by an operator. The microfluidic systems comprise chambers, flow and control channels formed in elastomeric layers that may comprise PDMS. The removable cover comprises a thermoplastic base film bonded to an elastomer layer by an adhesive layer. When the removable cover is peeled off, the chamber is at least partially open to allow sample extraction from the chamber. The chamber may have macromolecular crystals formed inside or resulting contents from a PCR reaction. The invention also includes a method for making vias in elastomeric layers by using the removable cover. The invention further includes methods and devices for peeling the peelable cover or a removable component such as Integrated Heater Spreader.

A sensing device including an inlet port for receiving a fluid, a measurement chamber for sensing the fluid, a fluid channel coupling the inlet port and the measurement chamber for transporting the fluid from the inlet port to the measurement chamber, and a fluid stop unit for stopping and controllably releasing the flow of fluid between the inlet port and the measurement chamber.

The present invention generally relates to a sample receiving device for releasably storing a substance. The sample receiving device includes a lid having a reservoir for retaining the substance, and a pierceable barrier sealing the substance within the reservoir; and b) a funnel for receiving a sample and configured for closure by the lid. The funnel is configured for releasable attachment to a sample receptacle such that a sample can be provided to the funnel and travel through the channel in the funnel into the sample receptacle. Further, the funnel includes one or more cutting ribs for cutting the pierceable barrier such that upon cutting of the pierceable barrier the substance is released from the reservoir, flows through the channel in the funnel and into the sample receptacle to be mixed with the sample. The present invention also provides a kit for collecting and storing biomolecules.