Abstract: A coffee puck removal device (10) to remove a coffee puck (24) from a portafilter (20) is disclosed herein. The coffee puck removal device (10) has an open compartment (22) containing the coffee puck (24), the coffee puck (24) having an exposed major outer face (26) and a major inner face (28) when the coffee puck (24) is located in the open compartment (22). The device (10) includes: a body (12) having a rim (14) surrounding an aperture (16), with the rim (14) being configured to engage the portafilter (20), with the open compartment (22) facing the body (12) to inhibit air passing between the portafilter (20) and the rim (14); and a vacuum source (30) to remove air from the aperture (16) so that air pressure applied to the major inner face (28) is greater than air pressure applied to the exposed major outer face (26) so that the coffee puck (24) is removed from the portafilter (20).

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a coffee machine (10) including: a body (12); a steam wand (14), to froth milk, attached to the body (12); and a cleaning mechanism (20), the cleaning mechanism (20) including: a stem (22) having a first end portion (24) attached to the body (12), and a second end portion (26) extending longitudinally away from the first end portion (24); and a supply of water under pressure to deliver water to the second end portion (26), wherein water under pressure is delivered to the second end portion (26) to produce at least one water jet directed at the steam wand (14).

Abstract: A coffee puck removal device (10) to remove a coffee puck (24) from a portafilter (20) is disclosed herein. The coffee puck removal device (10) has an open compartment (22) containing the coffee puck (24), the coffee puck (24) having an exposed major outer face (26) and a major inner face (28) when the coffee puck (24) is located in the open compartment (22). The device (10) includes: a body (12) having a rim (14) surrounding an aperture (16), with the rim (14) being configured to engage the portafilter (20), with the open compartment (22) facing the body (12) to inhibit air passing between the portafilter (20) and the rim (14); and a vacuum source (30) to remove air from the aperture (16) so that air pressure applied to the major inner face (28) is greater than air pressure applied to the exposed major outer face (26) so that the coffee puck (24) is removed from the portafilter (20).

Abstract: An induction heater (10) for a jug (11). The jug (11) includes a base (12) from which there upwardly extends a side wall (13). The induction heater (10) includes an outer housing (15) that encloses that chamber (16). Located in the chamber (16) is the electronic component for the heater (10), including an electronic oscillator (17). The heater (10) includes a cavity (18) within which the jug (11) is located.

Abstract: In a method of compaction of a powder (P) by means of nip rollers the powder (P) is transported at a supply speed to the nip rollers and friction between at least one of the nip rollers and the powder (P) at said nip roller is determined. Depending on the friction the rotational speed of at least one of the nip rollers is adjusted. The supply speed of the powder (P) to the nip rollers as well as the distance between the nip rollers are maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a powder coating comprising the steps of: Preparing a powder coating premix comprising a resin and optionally a crosslinker therefor; Feeding the premix through a melt extruder; Cooling the extruded material; and Comminuting it to fine particles, wherein said process is characterized in that between 1 and 25 wt. % (based on the weight of said premix) of a process liquid is added to the melt extruder, wherein said process liquid is immiscible with at least said resin of the powder coating premix and wherein said process liquid evaporates when the premix leaves the extruder.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a powder coating comprising the steps of: Preparing a powder coating premix comprising a resin and optionally a crosslinker therefor; Feeding the premix through a melt extruder; Cooling the extruded material; and Comminuting it to fine particles, wherein said process is characterized in that between 1 and 25 wt. % (based on the weight of said premix) of a process liquid is added to the melt extruder, wherein said process liquid is immiscible with at least said resin of the powder coating premix and wherein said process liquid evaporates when the premix leaves the extruder.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for preparing a powder coating composition, the process comprising the steps of: a. providing a set of base compositions, each base composition comprising a liquid carrier and one or more constituents responsible for an intended property of the coating product, at least one base composition A being an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a film-forming material, b. selecting base compositions to be used to obtain the intended end product property, said base compositions comprising at least one base composition A as specified; c. mixing the selected base compositions in a ratio suitable to obtain the intended end product property; d. drying, preferably spray-drying, the mixture of base compositions or otherwise removing the liquid carrier(s), and e. simultaneously or subsequently, combining the particles of the base compositions into larger particles. Preferably, the particles of film-forming material in base composition A have a d(v,50)<5 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the preparation of a toner powder, in which particles of one or more toner base compositions are combined into larger particles. The toner base compositions may be in the form of dry powders, e.g., manufactured by jet milling or by freeze drying powder dispersions. In that case, the combination of the toner base compositions into larger particles may be done by, e.g., mechanofusion. The toner base composition may also be in the form of an aqueous emulsion or dispersion. In that case, the combination of the base compositions into larger particles can be effected by spray-drying the emulsion or dispersion. In a preferred embodiment, the toner base composition in aqueous form is prepared via phase inversion emulsification, which preferably is carried out in an extruder.

Abstract: A powder coating composition, suitable for providing a coating having certain appearance or performance attributes, which includes composite particles that are agglomerates of individual particulate components fused or bonded together into composite particles such that the composite particles are air-fluidizable and can be applied to a substrate by electrostatic spray without causing the individual particles in the composite particles to break down under the mechanical and/or electrostatic forces associated with their application to a substrate.