Abstract: A coated confectionary tablet product has a compressed tablet center; a first coating layer surrounding the tablet and comprising a fat; a second coating layer surrounding the first coating layer and comprising a hard shell made from one or more sugars and polyols; and a third coating layer surrounding the second coating layer and comprising a film containing film forming agents.

Abstract: An improved method and system for a liftcrane in which a load is lifted through the combined action of first and second hoist drums. The method and system use a first rope wound on one hoist drum and a second rope wound on the second hoist drum. The ends of the ropes opposite the hoist drums are linked together to transmit tension between them. The load is coupled to the ropes. If the take up speed of one of the ropes exceeds the take up speed of the other, the linked ends of the ropes will shift. This condition is detected and the operation of at least one of the first and second hoist drums is modified to bring the take up rates into balance. This system is advantageously used with a hoist block sheave arrangement. This system can also be used with a single rope in which each of the ends of the single rope are wound on a separate one of the hoist drums and the load is coupled to the middle of the rope.

Abstract: A high speed spindle motor is constructed from a stator assembly including a stator having multiple conductors that create a plurality of magnetic fields when electrical current is conducted by the conductors and a body of a phase change material such as a thermoplastic substantially encapsulating the stator. A rotatable hub having a magnet connected thereto is in operable proximity to the stator. The high speed motor also includes a shaft, a bearing surrounding the shaft and one of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the stator assembly and the other of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the rotatable hub. Hard disc drives using the motor, and methods of developing and constructing the motor and hard disc drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle fuel filter for mounting to a fuel pump in a fuel tank comprises a tubular body having an axis, a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a pump connection neck positioned on the first end of the tubular body and having a filter outlet opening for mounting the filter on a fuel pump intake tube, the filter outlet opening having an axis at a substantially right angle to the axis of the tubular body; an inlet opening on the second end of the tubular body, the inlet opening extending axially in the direction of the axis of the tubular body; an envelope of filter fabric surrounding the inlet opening such that fuel entering into the envelope can pass into the tubular body through the inlet opening; and a supporting body fixedly connected to the tubular body at the second end and at a predetermined angle to the tubular body, at least a portion of the supporting body preventing the filter envelope from collapsing.

Abstract: An ice making machine has a water system, including a pump, an ice-forming mold and interconnecting lines therefore; a refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator in thermal contact with the ice-forming mold, and a receiver. The receiver has an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to the expansion device and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, two interconnected receivers are used. A cabinet housing the evaporator is preferably less than 18 inches deep. The pump is preferably mounted so that the pump motor is located outside of the water compartment, but can still be removed from the front of the machine.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for producing a chewing gum with a modified release sweetener selected from the group of N-substituted derivatives of aspartame, particularly neotame, as well as the chewing gum so produced. The modified release neotame or other N-substituted derivative of aspartame sweetener is obtained by physically modifying the sweetener properties by coating and drying. Neotame or another N-substituted derivative of aspartame sweetener is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption or extrusion, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, absorption, or extrusion. The coated sweetener is then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified high-intensity sweetener. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the sweetener and/or produce a modified release when the gum is chewed.

Abstract: A method of making and harvesting ice cubes includes freezing water in an ice-forming mold having a back surface, an open front face and dividers mounted on the back surface forming pockets for the formation of individual ice cubes, the water also forming ice bridges between the ice formed in the pockets, thus forming a slab of ice cubes; heating the ice-forming mold to release the ice cubes from their individual pockets; and using pressurized fluid to push the frozen slab of ice cubes out of the ice-forming mold. An ice making machine for practicing the present invention preferably includes an air compressor to supply compressed air as the pressurized fluid. The compressed air is directed preferably through a plurality of holes in the back of the ice-forming mold.

Abstract: A method of making antacid coated chewing gum products comprises the steps of providing chewing gum cores; providing a coating syrup comprising a bulk sweetener, calcium carbonate and a binding agent; and applying the coating syrup to the cores and drying the syrup to produce a sugarless coating on the cores. The coating on the cores produces a high viscosity in saliva when the gum is chewed, in that 4.5 grams of said coating dispersed in 30 ml of water has a Brookfield viscosity at 23° C. of at least 1.6 centipoise.

Abstract: A method of making antacid coated chewing gum products comprises the steps of providing chewing gum cores; providing a coating syrup comprising a bulk sweetener and a neutralizing antacid suspended in the coating syrup, the coating syrup containing from about 25% to about 50% by weight of the solids in the syrup of a neutralizing antacid, selected from the group consisting of aluminum salts, bismuth salts, magnesium salts, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, sodium potassium tartrate, tricalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof, and applying the coating syrup to the cores and drying the syrup to produce a coating on the cores. Methods of use of the product to provide relief in the gastrointestinal tract are also included.

Abstract: A method for producing a chewing gum, as well as the chewing gum so produced, incorporates a physiological cooling agent, such as acyclic carboxamide, or combinations of physiological cooling agents. In another embodiment a combination of physiological cooling agents is made in a modified release structure. The modified release/cooling agents combination is preferably obtained by physically modifying the properties of the combination of cooling agents by coating and drying. When incorporated into gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the flavor and/or produce a modified release when the gum is chewed. In other embodiments, the physiological cooling agent is present with menthol and menthone and coated chewing gum has a coating that comprises a physiological cooling agent.

Abstract: A method for producing a chewing gum with an improved release of active agent, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by adding an active agent to a chewing gum coating. The active agent is added to the coating in a coating solution or premixed with a flavor or solvent. The coating solution may contain sweetener or other transdermal enhancing agents to obtain increased transmucosal absorption. An active agent may also be used in the gum core.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high speed spindle motor comprising a stator assembly including a stator having multiple conductors that create a plurality of magnetic fields when electrical current is conducted by the conductors and a body of a phase change material such as a thermoplastic substantially encapsulating the stator. A rotatable hub having a magnet connected thereto is in operable proximity to the stator. The high speed motor also includes a shaft, a bearing surrounding the shaft and one of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the stator assembly and the other of the bearing or shaft being fixed to the rotatable hub. Hard disc drives using the motor, and methods of developing and constructing the motor and hard disc drives are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of imparting bulk and/or visual aesthetics to a tissue basesheet involves pressing the basesheet with a felt having a raised pattern on it so that the pattern becomes inherent in the sheet. A pattern is stitched into a carrier layer which is joined to a substrate to form the felt. As the basesheet is pressed into the felt, the raised pattern displaces fibers in the sheet, effectively inducing the pattern in the basesheet. The novel felt with a raised patterned layer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a chewing gum with a controlled release of an antimicrobial agent, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by physically modifying the release properties of the antimicrobial agent by coating and drying. The antimicrobial agent is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, and absorption. The coated antimicrobial agent is preferably then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified antimicrobial agent for use in chewing gum. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to produce a fast release or a delayed release when the gum is chewed. The preferred antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine digluconate.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated chewing gum with a controlled release of an active agent, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by physically modifying an active agent's properties by coating and drying. An active agent is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, and absorption. The coated active agent is then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified active agent. When incorporated into a chewing gum coating, these particles release into the mouth but mask bitter and other off-tastes in the mouth, and are readily ingested.

Abstract: A method of making coated chewing gum products containing an antigas agent comprises the steps of providing chewing gum cores; providing a coating comprising a bulk sweetener; providing an antigas agent; and applying the antigas agent and coating syrup to the cores and drying the syrup to produce a coating on the cores.

Abstract: A method of making coated chewing gum products comprises the steps of providing chewing gum cores; providing a first coating syrup comprising a bulk sweetener; providing a second coating syrup separate from the first coating syrup and comprising a high-intensity sweetener; and applying the first and second coating syrups to the cores and drying the syrups to produce a coating on the cores. Calcium carbonate or another antacid may be incorporated in the coating by being mixed into the first coating syrup.

Abstract: A method of making antacid coated chewing gum products comprises the steps of providing chewing gum cores; providing a coating syrup comprising a bulk sweetener and calcium carbonate having a median particle size of greater than about 3 microns and being suspended in the coating syrup; and applying the coating syrup to the cores and drying the syrup to produce a coating on the cores, the coating containing from about 25% to about 60% calcium carbonate.

Abstract: A confectionery product having improved shelf life comprises one or more sensation producing ingredients having relatively high moisture absorbing characteristics; and confectionery having relatively low moisture absorbing properties; wherein the one or more sensation producing ingredients is at least substantially encased in the confectionery such that the confectionery serves as a moisture barrier to improve the shelf life of the confectionery product.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling at least one fluid includes separable cold plate and dispenser units. The cold plate unit includes a coolant system, a fluid system and a metallic unit. The coolant system defines a cold plate portion and a tower portion. The cold plate portion of the coolant system has a primary inlet manifold and a primary outlet manifold, and the tower portion has a secondary inlet manifold and a secondary outlet manifold. The coolant system further includes a first plurality of coolant line segments connecting the primary and secondary inlet manifolds and a second plurality of coolant line segments connecting the secondary and primary outlet manifolds. The fluid system also defines a cold plate portion and a tower portion, the portions being in heat exchange relationship with the coolant system. The metallic unit includes unitary cold plate and tower portions which respectively incorporate the cold plate and tower portions of the coolant system and fluid system.