Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing fibrous material wound around a generally cylindrical shaft rotated about a central longitudinal axis thereof. A cutter blade is provided to have a forward edge portion extending along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft, which edge portion is normally spaced from the shaft to define a non-cutting position. The edge portion of the cutter blade is moved about a reciprocating locus defined by a forward movement from the non-cutting position to a predetermined distance from the shaft effective to define a cutting position contacting the fibrous material, a lateral movement in the cutting position along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft to cut the fibrous material for its removal from the shaft, and a rearward movement from the shaft to return the edge portion to the non-cutting position.

Abstract: A method for reducing the fat content in a cooked ground meat patty. The patty is immersed in a potable, substantially non-fat immersion liquid which is maintained at a temperature effective to liquefy at least a portion of the fat contained therein. Pressure is applied to the immersed patty sufficient to exude at least a portion of the liquefied fat into the immersion liquid for its removal from the patty. The pressure on the immersed patty then is relieved to absorb thereinto a portion of the immersion liquid for replacing at least a portion of the fat removed.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to maintain a minimal air-liquid ratio in order to reduce cabonation losses in large, disposable beverage containers such as the plastic ones used to contain carbonated soft drinks. This is accomplished by reducing the volume within a collapsible, pressure-resistant bag within the container as the beverage is removed by sealing the bag at the air-liquid interface.

Abstract: Solar radiation is concentrated by a parabolic reflector having a solar tracking system associated therewith, onto a heat absorbing conduit circulating a heat exchange medium through a steam generator having a burner as an auxiliary source of heat. The steam generator operates a turbine driven electrical generator. The electrical energy output of the generator in excess of load demand, is converted into and stored as chemical energy from which fuel for the burner is derived. The solar tracking system has two moveable signal generating cell means: the first generates a signal in response to solar energy in any position, the second generates a signal controlling a servomotor for tracking.

Abstract: Structure is provided for successively decompacting waste, such as garbage and trash, at a metered rate, weighing the decompacted waste at a metered rate and separating the heavier portions of the waste from the remainder thereof, coarse shredding the remaining waste at a metered rate and in a manner to gradually reduce the remaining waste to increasingly smaller shredded material, fine shredding the shredded material at a metered rate, acting upon the fine shredded material at a metered rate to break up and pulverize the pieces of glass therein, subjecting the waste to a wash bath while agitating the waste with jets of air and collecting the particles of glass which are dislodged from the waste in the bath by the action of the air jets, drying the remaining waste and thereafter separating ferrous materials from the remaining waste through the utilization of magnetic lines of flux and subsequently separating particles of aluminum from the remaining waste.