Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of ethanol and energy. The process includes the steps of fermenting a corn mash in an aqueous medium to produce a beer. Next, the beer is distilled to produce ethanol and a whole stillage. The whole stillage is anaerobically digested to produce a biogas and a residue. The biogas is combusted to produce electricity and steam. The electricity and steam are used during the fermentation and distillation process. The residue may further be separated into a liquid fertilizer and top soil residue.

Abstract: An encapsulated sorbent tube includes a sampling sorbent tube having an open end and containing a sorbent material therein enclosed within an independent encapsulation element that has a body portion and an end portion. The body portion of the encapsulation element has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sampling sorbent tube sufficient to accommodate the sampling sorbent tube therein. The end portion of the encapsulation element is formed and defined by the longitudinal length of the encapsulation element in excess of the sampling sorbent tube, and includes a proximal frangible element and a distal closure seal, each being independent of and separated from the sampling sorbent tube.

Abstract: There is described a closure comprising a wall defining an aperture and a membrane frangibly connected to the wall and closing the aperture. The frangible connection between the membrane and the wall lies in a plane which is inclined to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of ethanol and energy. The process includes the steps of fermenting a corn mash in an aqueous medium to produce a beer. Next, the beer is distilled to produce ethanol and a whole stillage. The whole stillage is anaerobically digested to produce a biogas and a residue. The biogas is combusted to produce electricity and steam. The electricity and steam are used during the fermentation and distillation process. The residue may further be separated into a liquid fertilizer and top soil residue.

Abstract: A tamper-evident closure including a spout and a cap. The spout includes an upwardly extending neck defining a neck opening, an annular cap-engaging retainer extending radially outwardly from the neck, and a fulcrum interconnecting the cap-engaging retainer and the neck. The cap selectively seals the neck opening and includes a top, an annular skirt depending from the top, and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to a lower end of the annular skirt. The tamper-evidencing band has a radially inwardly extending spout-engaging retainer. The cap-engaging retainer is adapted to engage the spout-engaging retainer when the cap is removed from the neck to limit upward movement of the tamper-evidencing band with respect to the neck. A method of using the tamper-evident closure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact disc (10) for a computer incorporates a security device for preventing non-authorized reading of data carried by the disc. The security device includes an LCD laser blocker (16) which is activated or deactivated by means of a microchip (13) powered by a cell (14) and/or solar panel (15). Authorized reading of the data is possible by a fingerprint scanner (12) linked to the microchip and causing it to deactivate the blocker (16), when the scanner recognizes a user's fingerprint which the microchip matches to a programmed authorized fingerprint. Also disclosed is a data carrying compact disc (20) which incorporates security means to allow a first reading of the data of the disc, but to prevent such reading thereafter. An area (21) of the disc, such as a FAT file, can be arranged to be destroyed or blocked, to prevent subsequent reading thereof by the disc reading means.

Abstract: A closure for a container having an opening includes a base cap and an overcap that form a sealed chamber adjacent the opening that is isolated from the contents of the container. The base cap includes an outer skirt having container-engaging structure, a cylindrical well, a frangible membrane connected to the well along an inclined line of weakness and by a hinge member. The hinge member includes a pocket extending downward adjacent lower and upper terminuses of the line of weakness. The overcap includes a body having gripping structure, an inner skirt received within and rotatably connected to the well, and a cutting member depending from a lower end of the inner skirt received within the pocket such that the cutting member extends below the upper terminus. The cutting member severs the line of weakness upon substantial rotation of the overcap with respect to the base cap. A method of using the closure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bottle cap includes a top and a skirt depending from the top, the skirt having a bottom edge, a locking bead radially extending inward from an interior of the skirt intermediate the top and the bottom edge, a tear tab extending downward from the bottom edge, a first tear line proximate the tear tab and extending upward along the skirt from the bottom edge across the locking bead and terminating at a terminus adjacent to or below the perimeter. The first tear line is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cap. The first tear line and the longitudinal axis define a radially extending plane P. The bottle cap also includes a second tear line proximate the tear tab and spaced from the first tear line. An upper portion of the second tear line extending through the plane P and between the terminus and the longitudinal axis. A method of using the bottle cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting and discriminating articles that are within a predetermined range of a specification into lots feeds a plurality of articles into an article portioning system having a counting head assembly that includes an article detecting unit located above and cooperatively controlling through generated signals an upper diverting gate and lower outlet gate which control the passage and/or accumulation of articles in adjacent channels to permit filling of article containers with predetermined article portions as containers are placed beneath, and removed from, the assembly outlet. The method for portioning discrete articles by feeding the articles and generating signals controlling the gates is suited for a combined plurality of such assemblies to provide high speed continuous container filling operations for simultaneous filling of groups of containers.

Abstract: A closure for a container having a foil or membrane sealed opening. The closure includes a cap, a spout and a stem. The stem includes a downwardly extending piercing structure adapted for piercing the foil or membrane of the container upon rotation of the spout relative to the cap. The cap includes a cap top, a cap skirt depending from the cap top, an open sleeve and a stem guide. The open sleeve has an inwardly extending thread adapted to detachably engage the container. The open sleeve extends upwardly from the cap top. The stem guide extends along an internal surface of the sleeve. The spout rotatably engages the sleeve and includes a spout top having an aperture, an outer spout skirt and an inner skirt. The outer skirt depends from the spout top radially outward of the sleeve and rotatably engages the sleeve. The inner spout skirt depends from the spout top radially within the sleeve.

Abstract: An over-center self adjusting cap chuck adapted for operative attachment to a high-speed capping machine includes a housing having an outer peripheral surface defining an inner annular periphery with an interior face. A plurality of independent engagement jaws are aligned along an annular area of, or within a pocket area of, the interior face. Each engagement jaw has a fastener to connect the engagement jaw to the housing and establish a pivot point to support a limited axial rotational movement thereof to a first open axial position and a second closed axial position for receiving and gripping a work piece respectively. Either a singular bias spring or a pair of bias springs pre-dispose the engagement jaws to the first open axial position.

Abstract: Inspection and leak detection of electrically insulated containers having an electrically conductive solution therein in high speed assembly carrier line systems, includes controlled carrier structure and methods for carrying, conveying, orientating, and spinning the containers in a desired line of travel for high frequency high voltage spark testing workstation processing. A plurality of carriers convey the containers along a pathway to a particular orientation relative to a high voltage leak detection system to obtain an electric current volume reading.

Abstract: A disc or like article (10, 115, 119) rotatable by drive means, such as a compact disc for use with a computer, includes indication means (12, 110, 120) which, when the disc is rotated at or above a predetermined angular velocity, provide an indication that rotation has occurred, which indication can be important if the disc contains confidential information. The indication device can be a tube formed with two enclosures separated by a breakable membrane (15, 16, 112, 122), a colored liquid/gel (17, 111 121) being in one enclosure and passing into the second enclosure, by breaking the membrane, when the disc is spun, thereby providing a visual indication thereafter of the spinning having occurred The invention also relates to such an indication means, per se, for after-fitting to a disc recorded on by spinning, and to a method of producing a disc with said indication means.

Abstract: A load cell deflasher for the punch and die deflash processing of product from an extrusion includes a load cell pressure transducer interconnected with a punch to sense pressure measurements of the punch against the extrusion at the die and communicate the measurements to a programmable logic controller that controls the extension and retraction of the punch to the die and the structure accommodating pre-punch alignment of the extrusion to the die. The pressure measurements are logged in a trending database of the programmable logic controller. If a pressure measurement exceeds a threshold value, to programmable logic controller can command instruct a positioning actuator of the punch to abort its punch stroke prior to completion.