Neopost Inc.

Smiths Detection-watford Limited

Piers Sebastian Harding

Thomas David Reid Ford

Thomas David Ford

Douglas Jason Green

Gary Howard

Jay Lewington

Christopher Giles

William Richard Mawer

John Walter Czajka

Carmelo Volpe

Stephen John Grimwade

Catherine Mills

Barry Boyes

Jonathan Kemp

Jason Betley

Michael Roy Fairs

Colin Fewster

Peter David Collins

Apparatus for preparing a biological sample for PCR analysis has an inlet () for receiving the sample () and a sieve () through which the sample is forced by screwing down an inlet cap (). A lysis solution between two rupturable seals (and) is effective to disrupt the cells of the sample and release nucleic acid. The apparatus is mounted releasably on a PCR machine () having a motor () releasably coupled with a drive mechanism () in the apparatus to effect a rotary and a vertical up and down movement of its components (). The apparatus has a transparent cuvette () and a needle () extending to the lower end of the cuvette, by which the prepared sample is dispensed to the cuvette for PCR analysis.

Sample preparation apparatus

Mail location apparatus for a postal meter is disclosed in which a required location of a mail piece to receive a postal indicium imprint is defined by guide walls which are engaged by adjacent edges of the mail piece when the mail piece is in the required location. A sensor is provided to provide an indication when the mail piece is in the required location. The sensor includes a sensor element having a face inclined to both guide walls. When a mail piece is inserted, a corner of the mail piece between the two edges of the mail piece engages the face of the sensor element and displaces the sensor element to output an electrical signal when the mail piece is in the required location with the edges thereof engaging the guide walls.

Mail location apparatus

Apparatus for retaining a mail piece includes first and second elements, said elements having an open state in which the first element is spaced from said second element for insertion of a mail item therebetween into a required position and a closed state in which at least one of the first and second elements is displaced toward the other of the first and second elements to clamp the mail piece and further including mail piece retention means mounted on the first element and effective during displacement of the element to retain the mail piece in the required position to which it has been inserted.

Mail retaining apparatus

An ink jet printer mechanism is disclosed in which a print receiving medium is supported in a clamp in a printing station and a print head is traversed through the printing station. A service station for the print head is provided adjacent the printing station and the print head is traversed to the service station between printing operations. The service station includes a carriage which is movable by a drive motor to bring capping and wiping elements into engagement with the print head. A mechanical linkage from the carriage opens the clamp when the capping element is aligned for engagement with the print head.

Ink jet printer mechanism with mechanically linked service station

Growing community of inventors

Buckworth, United Kingdom

Piers Sebastian Harding