Abstract: Bacterial cultures are provided that comprise a modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium missing or deficient in two or more virulence factors. The two or more virulence factors can be selected from exotoxin A, hemolytic phospholipase C, phenazine-specific methyltransferase, alpha-1,3-rhamnosyltransferase, and 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase. Certain of the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are also missing or deficient in one or more alginate acetylation enzymes including the alginate O-acetyltransferases AlgI, AlgJ, AlgF, AlgX, and/or the C5-mannuronan epimerase AlgG. Methods of producing alginate are also provided along with compositions comprising alginate produced by the modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Abstract: A rotisserie oven with a self-cleaning mechanism in the form of a lifting wash arm. The wash arm is driven to lift and rotate when washing the oven by the action of the pressure from the wash water used therein. By lifting, the wash arm negates the sealing action of fatty build-up around its base which would otherwise impede its rotation.

Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking food product. A rotor is used for supporting and moving a food product in the cooking chamber. A sump is positioned below the cooking chamber that collects water provided to the cooking chamber. A sensor is positioned to detect when the sump is filled to a set level. An inlet valve is configured to control supply of water to the cooking chamber. A controller is configured to carry out a self-cleaning process. The self-cleaning process includes (a) a pre-rinse phase where the controller (i) opens the inlet valve, (ii) closes the inlet valve when the sensor detects that the sump is filled to the set level, and (iii) determines a duration of time that the inlet valve was open during (i), and (b) a later phase during which the controller opens the inlet valve for an amount of time based on the duration of time determined during (a)(iii).

Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking cabinet comprising an internal bottom wall, an internal top wall and internal side walls thereby defining a cooking chamber. A self-cleaning system is provided for cleaning the cooking chamber. A convection system includes a heating element and ventilation system configured to heat the cooking chamber. The ventilation system includes a motor, a fan including a fan shaft connected to the motor such that the motor drives the fan and a bushing including a central channel that receives the fan shaft. The central channel includes an inner surface having a variable inner diameter along an axial length of the bushing such that a first portion of the inner surface is near the fan shaft and a second portion of the inner surface is further from the fan shaft than the first portion.

Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking food product. A rotor is used for supporting and moving a food product in the cooking chamber. A sump is positioned below the cooking chamber that collects water provided to the cooking chamber. A sensor is positioned to detect when the sump is filled to a set level. An inlet valve is configured to control supply of water to the cooking chamber. A controller is configured to carry out a self-cleaning process. The self-cleaning process includes (a) a pre-rinse phase where the controller (i) opens the inlet valve, (ii) closes the inlet valve when the sensor detects that the sump is filled to the set level, and (iii) determines a duration of time that the inlet valve was open during (i), and (b) a later phase during which the controller opens the inlet valve for an amount of time based on the duration of time determined during (a)(iii).

Abstract: A self-cleaning oven includes a cooking compartment and a self-cleaning system for cleaning the cooking compartment. A rotor is centrally located within the cooking compartment. A convection heating system includes an intake which separates the cooking compartment from a heating compartment while allowing air flow between the heating and cooking compartments. An exhaust facilitates air flow between the heating compartment and the cooking compartment. The exhaust includes a vent component through which air exits the heating compartment and enters the cooking compartment. A heating element is within the heating compartment. A convection fan within the heating compartment is configured to draw air from the cooking compartment through the intake into the heating compartment, direct air across the heating element, and expel air from the heating compartment through the vent component into the cooking compartment.

Abstract: A rotisserie oven includes a cooking chamber and a rotor within the cooking chamber. A heating system heats the cooking chamber. A light assembly includes a light source located in a light compartment and a window configured to allow light to illuminate the cooking chamber. A gasket seals the interior of the light compartment from the cooking chamber. The gasket includes a core formed of a first material and an overwrap surrounding the core. The overwrap is formed of a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: A rotisserie oven with a self-cleaning mechanism in the form of a lifting wash arm. The wash arm is driven to lift and rotate when washing the oven by the action of the pressure from the wash water used therein. By lifting, the wash arm negates the sealing action of fatty build-up around its base which would otherwise impede its rotation.

Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven including an oven cabinet including an internal cooking chamber with an access opening. The oven cabinet includes an access opening frame about the access opening. A self-cleaning system is provided for cleaning the cooking chamber with a liquid. A rotor is located within the cooking chamber. A door is mounted on the oven cabinet. The door spanning the access opening with the door in a closed configuration and providing access to the cooking chamber when in an open configuration. With the door in the closed configuration, the door including a plate extending inwardly toward the oven chamber. The plate is located to an interior side of a lip extending outwardly from the access opening frame and toward the door thereby defining a tortuous path for liquid delivered from the self-cleaning system to follow.

Abstract: A self-cleaning rotisserie oven includes a cooking cabinet comprising an internal bottom wall, an internal top wall and internal side walls thereby defining a cooking chamber. A self-cleaning system is provided for cleaning the cooking chamber. A convection system includes a heating element and ventilation system configured to heat the cooking chamber. The ventilation system includes a motor, a fan including a fan shaft connected to the motor such that the motor drives the fan and a bushing including a central channel that receives the fan shaft. The central channel includes an inner surface having a variable inner diameter along an axial length of the bushing such that a first portion of the inner surface is near the fan shaft and a second portion of the inner surface is further from the fan shaft than the first portion.

Abstract: Gripper pads for a gripping device such as that found in a stretch wrap packaging machine are provided with means enabling their simple installation and mechanical attachment to the fingers of a film gripping unit without necessitating the removal of the gripper unit from the machine. Each pad includes a film-contacting surface which is essentially unaffected chemically by plasticizers found in the common stretch films employed in this field. The film-contacting surface is one which is compressible but also has a fast recovery for returning to its original uncompressed condition to accommodate relatively high speed wrapping. Laminated to the film-contacting surface is a solid urethane or comparable material which has strength capabilities enabling the formation of stems or runners on the side opposite the film-contacting surface so that the stems can be threaded through openings in the fingers and used as pulling tools to anchor heads connected to the stems to be anchored in the fingers.

Abstract: A spray system is disclosed for forming directed streams of liquid under pressure. A supply conduit having an open end and a manifold communicating with a plurality of spray nozzles and having an inlet conduit with an open end cooperate for insertion of the inlet conduit into the supply conduit to connect the manifold to the supply conduit, the manifold is placed near the supply conduit in a predetermined but misaligned position. A plate having a slot defines at least a portion of a pair of cam surfaces and a wash arm formed on the manifold defines a cam follower. Rotation of the inlet conduit about its central axis causes the cam follower to contact and cooperate with the cam surfaces to produce lateral force along the inlet conduit, thereby forcing the same into fluid-tight engagement with the supply conduit.

Abstract: A spray system is disclosed for forming directed streams of liquid under pressure. A supply conduit having an open end and a manifold communicating with a plurality of spray nozzles and having an inlet conduit with an open end cooperate for insertion of the inlet conduit into the supply conduit to connect the manifold to the supply conduit, the manifold is placed near the supply conduit in a predetermined but misaligned position. A plate having a slot defines at least a portion of a pair of cam surfaces and a wash arm formed on the manifold defines a cam follower. Rotation of the inlet conduit about its central axis causes the cam follower to contact and cooperate with the cam surfaces to produce lateral force along the inlet conduit, thereby forcing the same into fluid-tight engagement with the supply conduit.