Abstract: A survival kit for use in disaster areas where there is a loss of sanitation facilities. The kit is a watertight container that includes one or more survival kit items including food and water and in addition includes a packet containing a chemical toilet composition. After the survival kit items are removed, the container is used as a chemical toilet. For this purpose the top of the container has a commode opening and a cover the releaseably seals the opening.

Abstract: A controller for a graphical display. The controller is preferably integral to a computing device that is operable while being held in one hand. The user views the display through a magnifying lens while controlling the display and controllable elements on the display with the thumb, either by actuating a push plate or by moving the thumb over a window in the push plate.

Abstract: A milking system including apparatus and a method for facilitating the milking of a large number of animals in a milking parlor. Milking stalls in the parlor are arranged to provide a one way-path of travel through the parlor with a controlled entry and exit to facilitate pre- and post-milking treatment of the animals. The milking stalls are separated by an operator's pit. A platform or person mover disposed in the pit carries an operator from one milking stall to another wherein the proximity of a working side of the platform to the stalls allows the operator to have direct access to an animal without leaving the platform. Movement of the platform to a given stall is controlled by a controller acting responsive to sensors that indicate the occurrence of an event at the given stall requiring the operator's attention.

Abstract: A patch bag for, packaging bone-in meat cuts having a thin-walled heat shrinkable monolayer patch film adhered to a thin-walled heat shrinkable multilayer bag film wherein the adherence of one to the other is solely due to the surface energy of the films, the patch film and the heat seal layer of the bag film both including blend of a first polyethylene having a density below 0.900 g/cc and a second polyethylene having a density of 0.900 to 0.915 g/cc and a melting point of 90 to 110° C. and a third polyethylene having a density of 0.900 to 0.915 and a melting point of 115 to 130° C. with EVA being a third component of the bag film heat seal layer and an optional component of the patch film.

Abstract: A sheet of inkjet printed photographic images having orthogonal fiducial marks extending along a leading edge of the printed field and along a lateral side of the printed field. The fiducial marks register with the printed field and provide information regarding the location of the images in the printed field relative to the larger sheet. The registration of the lateral side fiducial mark and print field is accomplished by exercising the nozzles of the print head at each pass of the print head during the printing of the photographic image.

Abstract: A variable volume buffer is employed to conduct a multitude of articles from an elevated supply stream into a container at a lower elevation while maintaining a drop distance for the articles that is shorter than the distance from the source to the bottom of the container. The bottom of the buffer is vertically displaced in response to the height of the articles in the buffer in a continuous or step-wise function to maintain the fill level of the articles in the buffer at substantially a constant drop distance from the source. Upon the bottom of the buffer moving adjacent the bottom of the container, the gate is opened and the buffer is raised to permit the spilling of the articles directly from the buffer and into the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a seamless, non derivatized cellulose tubular film having enhanced rewet shrinkage properties. The enhanced properties are provided by first drying a hydrated extruded tube of non derivatized cellulose gel at one inflated diameter to form a tubular film. The film is then moisturized while holding an inflated diameter smaller than the drying diameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a cellulose solution suitable for extrusion as a seamless tubular film by providing a pulp of substantially open-ended fibrillated softwood fibers having a mean fiber length less than 2.0 mm and then dissolving the pulp in a suitable solvent to produce the cellulose solution. In addition, the present invention provides a method of preparing a cellulose food casing from a cellulose solution of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mandrel structure for extruding a tube composed of a non derivatized cellulose. The mandrel includes a hollow sizing portion having openings which gather gas bubbles that may evolve at the interface between the extruded tube and the sizing portion and allows the gas to pass into the hollow interior of the mandrel.

Abstract: A kit for converting a conventional bicycle to a self-propelled snow bike. The kit includes a ski, an elongated member for mounting the ski to the front fork of a bicycle and a bias means for urging the ski to maintain a proper orientation as the ski pitches with respect to the elongated member. When the kit is attached to the front fork, the front end of the bicycle is raised so as to place more weight over the rear wheel for improved traction. Elevating the front end also provides greater ground clearance for the bicycle pedals so the bicycle may be pedaled even though the bike may settle into snow covered ground.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for lacing an extruded tube of a non derivatized cellulose through an S-wrap to collapse the tube to a flat width. The lacing to form the S-wrap is accomplished without slowing the extrusion speed. At the start of the extrusion operation, the extrusion path leads between a pair of horizontally lacing members. After the leading edge of the extruded tube has passed downwardly through the space between the lacing members, the members are rotated as a unit to bring them into contact with opposite sides of the extruded tube. This collapses the and creates the S-wrap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package containing a plurality of cut lengths of fibrous casing which are moisturized to substantially soaked levels of moisture and are retained in an evacuated plastic bag wherein the moisture level of the casing is derived from free water added into the bag prior to evacuation. Also disclosed is a method of packaging cut lengths of casing which provides for the addition of soaked levels of moisture to the casing in the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the diameter of a clear extruded molten tube wherein the extruded tube contains a volume of a clear liquid and the level of the liquid is indicative of the tube diameter so the level rises as the tube diameter decreases. A light beam passing through the tube is refracted from a straight line path when the liquid level rises above the level of the beam. The refracting of the beam in turn triggers the introduction of air into the extruded tube to increase the diameter of the extruded, molten tube.

Abstract: A method of applying an indicia to the surface of a cellulose casing by non contact printing wherein the indicium is applied in-line with the casing manufacture at a location between the wet end and the dry end of the casing manufacturing process wherein the indicia comprises an ink that is cured and cross linked with the cellulose prior to the casing reaching the dry end of the process. The indicia preferably is in the form of a dot matrix pattern that is visible yet presents no barrier to the passage of smoke.

Abstract: The removal of a cellulosic casing from about a sausage, stuffed and processed in the casing, is accomplished by contacting the casing, either before or after stuffing, with a food grade enzyme, e.g.a. cellulase or cellulase enzyme complex, to metabolize the cellulosic casing on the sausage thereby producing a substantially casing-free sausage. Contacting the casing with the enzyme is accomplished prior to stuffing by applying an enzyme solution to the internal surface of the casing as part of an internal shirring spray or as a stripe to the exterior of the casing. Contacting with the enzyme after stuffing is accomplished by showering the stuffed casing with the enzyme solution. Also disclosed is the use of a combination of pre and post stuffing methods for applying the enzyme to the casing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming a cellulose film suitable for direct food contact by precipitation from a solution of cellulose water and a tertiary amine oxide cellulose solvent. After precipitation of a cellulose gel from the solution, the gel is washed at ever increasing temperatures and then dried to provide a cellulose film having a solvent level to not more than 40 ppm. Portions of the wash water is collected and treated to recover the solvent for reuse.

Abstract: The removal of a cellulosic casing from about a sausage stuffed and processed in the casing is accomplished by contacting the sausage with a cellulase or cellulase enzyme complex to metabolize the cellulosic casing on the sausage thereby producing a substantially casing-free sausage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bag arrangement and packaging method for packaging bone-in cuts of meat using two bags to provide a double wall of film surrounding the cut of meat for bone puncture resistance. Both bags are bottom sealed bags formed of a heat shrink film, the inner bag has an interrupted bottom seal to provide an opening for venting air between the bags and the outer bag has a continuous bottom seal. The outer bag is longer than the inner bag so the outer bag can be closed without involving any portion of the inner bag in the closure. The bone-in cut of meat is inserted first into the first bag and then the first bag and its contents are inserted into the second bag, the bags are evacuated and then the outer bag is closed.

Abstract: Described is an edible, water insoluble film which is a blend of polysaccharide and protein and, in particular, a ternary blend of konjac flour as a major constituent, agar and gelatin. Also, described is a method of forming the film including a deacetylating step to insolubilize the konjac flour.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of extruding a solution of cellulose and an amine oxide cellulose solvent as a tube about a sizing mandrel which diametrically stretches the extruded tube. An aqueous poly(ethylene oxide) solution is introduced into the interior of the extruded tube to facilitate passage of the tube over the sizing mandrel and to extract the amine oxide cellulose solvent from the tube. After such extraction, the aqueous poly(ethylene oxide) solution containing the extracted amine oxide cellulose solvent is contacted with an anion exchanger to remove the poly(ethylene oxide) so the amine oxide cellulose solvent can be recovered.