Abstract: An automated food preparation system includes a seasoning-dispensing system, a sauce-dispensing system, and a conveyance system. The seasoning-dispensing system includes a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle. Each vessel contains one of a plurality of seasonings. The vessels are in selective communication with the conduit. The sauce-dispensing system includes a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes. Each sauce reservoirs contains one of a plurality of sauces. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with one of the sauce reservoirs via one of the tubes. The conveyance system transports a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings. The scanning head is movable to dispense one or more sauces onto the foodstuff.

Abstract: One variation of a method for slicing a type of whole bread buns includes: retracting a cutting block along a chute into a load position; dispensing a whole bread bun into the chute between the cutting block and a blade extending across the chute; advancing the cutting block along the chute toward the blade; detecting contact between the cutting block and the blade at a contact position; at a first time, advancing the cutting block into a pierce position offset from the contact position toward the blade by a pierce distance less than a common width of the type of whole bread buns; and, at a second time succeeding the first time by a pierce duration, advancing the cutting block from the pierce position into a slice position adjacent the blade to drive the whole bread bun fully through the blade.

Abstract: One variation of a method for tracking temperature exposure of foodstuffs within an automated sandwich assembly apparatus includes: at a topping module, receiving first topping sample and a second topping sample in a column of topping samples; at a first time, determining a first temperature of the first topping sample; in response to the first temperature of the first topping sample exceeding a threshold temperature, setting a first timer assigned to the first topping sample; cutting a slice from the second topping sample; following dispensation of the slice of the second topping sample from the topping module, tracking a position of the first topping sample within the topping module; and in response to expiration of the first timer prior to dispensation of a final portion of the first topping sample from the topping module, disqualifying the final portion of the first topping sample from dispensation onto a topping vehicle.

Abstract: One variation of a method for personalizing food orders includes: from a patron, receiving a taste feedback for a first food item in a first food order submitted previously by the patron; predicting an absolute food preference of the patron from the first food order; predicting a relative taste preference of the patron based on the taste feedback and a recipe of the first food item; generating a taste profile of the patron based on the absolute food preference and the relative taste preference; from the patron, receiving a selection for a second food item in a new food order, the second food item different than the first food item; applying the taste profile of the patron to a recipe for the second food item to generate a personalized recipe; and submitting the personalized recipe with the new food order to a robotic food assembly apparatus.

Abstract: Cases for the protection of musical instruments each with a neck and a body are disclosed. The case includes a case body having an elongated upper portion for receiving the instrument neck and a lower enveloping portion with a far end for receiving the instrument body. The cases also include a selectively releasable cover hingedly affixed to the case body to permit selective access to the case body so that the instrument may be inserted into and removed from the case. The cases also include a protective boot attached to the far end of the case body. Optionally, such boots may include a central region disposed between a pair of opposing regions wherein the central region transfers less shock to the stringed instrument body than the opposing regions.

Abstract: An openable floor vent cover for use in preventing debris from entering a floor vent during construction is comprised of a board having a length and width larger than the vent to be covered. Then board is provided with a cut substantially in the shape and size of the vent to be covered. An airflow permable debris barrier is attached to the periphery of a first surface of the board. The portion of the board within the cut is removable to enable airflow from the vent as desired during construction, and may be replaced when airflow from the vent is no longer needed. The board is nailed to the subflooring surrounding the vent. The cover may be removed after construction.

Abstract: An openable screened floor vent cover for use in preventing debris from entering a floor vent during construction is comprised of a board having a length and width larger than the vent to be covered. The board is provided with a cut substantially in the shape and size of the vent to be covered. A screen is attached to the periphery of a first surface of the board. The portion of the board within the cut is removable to enable air flow from the vent as desired during construction, and may be replaced when air flow from the vent is no longer needed. The board is nailed to the subflooring surrounding the vent. The cover may be removed after construction.

Abstract: The present invention is a squeeze switch device (10) for use in plush toys wherein the device housing is comprised of upper (14) and lower (16) sections secured together by protrusions (44) and slots (24) and wherein springs (62) bias the device for activation by applying a squeezing pressure to the stuffed toy in any one of a plurality of directions. A device (36) for reducing battery drain during device manufacture, storage and shipping are also disclosed.

Abstract: A head track and partition system using such head track and method of installing the same. The head track includes a horizontal web, a pair of vertical flanges extending downward from the web, and a pair of horizontal coplanar flanges extending laterally outward from the web. The horizontal flanges have a free edge and a width greater that the thickness of a sheet of wall panel to be positioned therebelow, thereby creating an exposed flange portion extending outwardly above such wall panel. The exposed flange portion acts both to shield ceiling tiles from slopping of excess joint compound applied to the top end of the wall panel, and to form a cosmetic appearance along the interface of the partition wall and ceiling which is uniform with the T-bars and L-bars of the ceiling grid. The partition system is assembled in few steps, preferably using a head track fabricated at low cost.

Abstract: A head track and partition system using such head track and method of installing the same. The head track includes a horizontal web, a pair of vertical flanges extending downward from the web, and a pair of horizontal coplanar flanges extending laterally outward from the web. The horizontal flanges have a free edge and width greater that the thickness of a sheet of wall panel to be positioned therebelow, thereby creating an exposed flange portion extending outwardly above such wall panel. The exposed flange portion acts both to shield ceiling tiles from slopping of excess joint compound applied to the top end of the wall panel, and to form a cosmetic appearance along the interface of the partition wall and ceiling which is uniform with the T-bars and L-bars of the ceiling grid. The partition system is assembled in few steps, preferably using a head track fabricated at low cost.

Abstract: A method for starting and operating a preheat type fluorescent lamp includes a source of alternating current, a fluorescent lamp having a low impedance starting mode wherein current passes through one or more starting filaments and a high impedance operating mode wherein current passes through the length of the lamp, a starting switch directing current through the starting filaments in the lamp starting mode, and an inductor ballast having a magnetically permeable core operating in a saturated condition when the lamp is in the low impedance starting mode and in a non-saturated condition when the lamp is in the high impedance operating mode.