Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas W Reeder

Edward J Moe

Joy A Packard

Thomas A Turgeon

Thomas J Packard

Alan P Dieken

Ty A Duval

Edward J Woo

Stethoscope component

A cartridge can contain a photoreceptive sheet(s), allow for the introduction of the photoreceptive sheet to an imaging apparatus, and receive the photoreceptive sheet from the imaging apparatus. The cartridge can store the photoreceptive sheet(s) in a curved form or in a flat form. The cartridge can include internal rollers for driving the photoreceptive sheet in and/or out of the cartridge.

Photoreceptive sheet cartridge and method of using the same

An ergonometric chestpiece for a stethoscope adapted to receive auscultatory sounds from a body and adapted to be coupled to an earpiece for a user. The chestpiece is adapted to be grasped by a thumb and at least one finger of the user. The chestpiece has a bottom surface which is generally planar and is adapted to be placed near the body for receiving the auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece has an upper portion opposite the bottom surface. The upper portion has a raised center portion defining left and right indented gripping surfaces which form recesses defined by the left and right indented gripping surfaces and by a surface generally parallel to but opposite the bottom surface. The left and right indented gripping surfaces are adapted to receive the thumb and at least one finger of the user, respectively. The indented gripping surfaces have indented impressions adapted to be easily, securely and comfortably grasped by the thumb and fingers of the user. The indented gripping surfaces are each further defined by a protruding edge on the top surface of the raised center portion which prevent the fingers of the user from slipping upward and thus prevent the chestpiece from slipping out of the user's hand. The raised center portion form a physical stop to prevent the thumb and fingers of the user from slipping forward and contacting the body when the thumb and the at least one finger grasp the raised center of the upper portion. The left and right walls may be concave. The ergonometric chestpiece may be generally circular and the left and right walls are cylindrically concave around axes generally orthogonal to the bottom surface. The top surface of the raised center portion may be sloped with respect to the bottom surface, the top surface being closer to the bottom surface at the front of the chestpiece than at the rear of the chestpiece.

Ergonometric stethoscope chestpiece

An apparatus useful for passively steering an endless belt toward a lateral target belt position while the endless belt is transported by a transporting mechanism. A steering roller contacts the belt inner surface, the steering roller being rotatable about a roller axis and being pivotable about a steering axis, and the steering roller having a first roller end. A carriage supports the steering roller and is pivotable about a steering axis such that the steering roller is pivotable about the steering axis. A first member is positioned adjacent to the first roller end and functionally connected to the carriage. The first member contacts the belt inner surface when the first belt edge extends sufficiently beyond the first roller end. The first member applies greater friction to the endless belt than the steering roller when the belt contacts the first member. The first member is positioned relative to the steering axis such that contact between the first member and the belt causes the first member to apply a first torque to the carriage means about the steering axis.

Apparatus and method for steering an endless belt

A photoreceptive sheet within an imaging apparatus is repeatedly transportable through a transport path and capable of capturing and transferring images. In addition, the photoreceptive sheet is repeatedly transportable for capturing and transferring a number of images. A transport path of the photoreceptive sheet can be a transport loop having a loop distance which can be greater than the length of the photoreceptive sheet. Excess ink or toner can be removed from the photoreceptive sheet by directing the excess to the resulting gap between a first end and the second end of the photoreceptive sheet and into a container.

Exchangeable photoreceptive sheet and method and system for using the

An apparatus and method for cleaning developer from an imaging substrate carry out a plurality of cleaning operations. The apparatus and method first operate to move the imaging substrate in a first direction while delivering cleaning liquid to the imaging substrate. In a subsequent operation, the apparatus and method operate to contact the imaging substrate with a cleaning blade that cleans at least some of the developer from the imaging substrate. At the same time, some of the developer cleaned from the imaging substrate collect on the cleaning blade. In another operation, the apparatus and method operate to move the imaging substrate in a second direction. During this operation, the imaging substrate removes developer collected on the cleaning blade, and the cleaning liquid cleans from the imaging substrate the developer removed from the cleaning blade. The apparatus and method next operate to discontinue contact of the cleaning blade with the imaging substrate, and discontinue delivery of the cleaning liquid to the imaging substrate. Discontinued contact and delivery of cleaning liquid can cause some of the cleaning liquid to collect on the imaging substrate. A cleaning surface therefore is applied to clean away at least some of the cleaning liquid collected on the imaging substrate.

Growing community of inventors

Asheville, NC, United States of America

Thomas W Reeder