Abstract: A food product slicer includes a base, a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base and a carriage mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife. A lift assist assembly is associated with the base and arranged to push the slicer upward toward an upward tilted position, the lift assist assembly arranged for reducing user input energy required to tilt the slicer upward.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement to the useable lifetimes of phenolic-epoxy, phenolic-benzoxazine, phenolic-epoxy-benzoxazine mixtures and other phenolic mixtures through the use of protected phenolics, where a phenolic compound, polymer, or resin is released on demand by the addition of a deblocking agent.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a base and a knife mounted for rotation relative to the base. A carriage assembly is mounted to the base for reciprocal movement back and forth past a cutting edge of the knife. The carriage assembly includes a home position forward of the knife and has a tray arm removably mounted to a carriage arm. An adjustable gauge plate is mounted for movement between a closed position that prevents slicing and multiple open positions that permit slicing at respective thicknesses. An interlock arrangement prevents removal of the tray arm from the carriage arm unless the carriage assembly is in the home position and the gauge plate is in the closed position. The interlock arrangement includes a key member rotatably mounted to the tray arm. A key slot may be located on the carriage arm for receiving an end of the key member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microfluidic device comprising at least one micro-aliquotter for dispensing fixed or variable volumes. The micro-aliquotter includes an rigid, dimensionally stable foundational layer having a fluid port therein that is in fluid communication with a channel within the microfluidic device, and an elastic film positioned on the foundational layer where the film covers the fluid port. The elastic film is sealed to the foundational layer so fluids entering through the fluid port can be captured between the elastic film and the foundational layer. The elastic film being expandable from a rest position on the foundational layer to a dispensing, or aliquotting, position in which an aliquot volume of a fluid is contained between the film and the foundational layer.

Abstract: A composition comprising heme iron and/or heme iron polypeptide in combination with ionic iron(s) and/or chelated iron(s). Administration of effective dosages of the present composition provides a method for treating and/or preventing iron deficiency anemia, and the physiological, biochemical, morphological, and behavioral manifestations symptomatic of same.

Abstract: A dough mixer includes a cabinet and a bowl supported within the cabinet. The bowl includes a bowl body defining an opening through which dough is inserted into the bowl for a mixing operation. An agitator is mounted in the bowl for rotation therein. A refrigeration jacket is mounted to an exterior of the bowl body. The refrigeration jacket includes a plurality of channel members. Each channel member includes a unitary plate member having an elongated center panel extending along a periphery of the bowl body. The center panel is spaced from and facing the bowl body. A first leg is connected to the center panel by a first bend. The first leg extends toward the bowl body. A second leg is connected to the center panel by a second bend. The second leg extends away from the bowl body.

Abstract: A steam cooker includes one or more cooking chamber having an access door. A steam generator unit is provided for heating water to generate steam. The steam generator unit may be connected for selective delivery of steam to one or more multiple cooking chambers. In some embodiments, a steam superheater is provided with a superheating chamber and a delime operation is used to delime the superheater chamber. In some embodiments, the steam generator includes an air flow passageway with a valve that controls passage of air through the air flow passageway into and out of the steam generator during steam generator drain and/or fill operations.

Abstract: A tensioner for tensioning a belt includes a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity. A damping member having a first friction bearing surface is at least partially disposed in the spring cavity. An arm pivotally attached to the support housing has a second friction bearing surface. A spring is located in the spring cavity and operatively connected to the arm and damping member to pivot the damping member about a pivot location such that the first friction bearing surface of the damping member is biased against the second friction bearing surface of the arm to dampen relative movement between the arm and the support housing.

Abstract: A power transmission belt comprising a belt body having a length and defining at least one elongate rib, the rib having an exposed surface that engages a cooperating pulley, the exposed rib surface having at least one longitudinal groove formed therein which reduces transverse modulus of the surfaces engaging the cooperating pulley and thereby reduce noise accompanying running of the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold having an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume. The first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a housing and a cooking plate. Burners are located within the housing and below the cooking plate. A non-powered mechanical thermocouple probe is proximate to a pilot burner with a bi-metal element that produces an electrical signal when heated by the pilot burner. A pilot shutoff valve has an inlet connected to receive gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel manifold, a pilot output connected to deliver gas to the pilot burner, a main burner output connected to deliver gas the burners, and a thermocouple probe input connected to receive the electrical signal produced by the bi-metal element. The pilot shutoff valve is biased to a default closed position where gas is prevented from flowing from the inlet to the pilot output and from the inlet to the main burner output. When the pilot shutoff valve is open, the pilot shut off valve permits gas to flow from the inlet to the pilot output and from the inlet to the main burner output.

Abstract: A curing agent for epoxy resins that is comprised of the reaction product of an amine, an epoxy resin, and an elastomer-epoxy adduct; compositions containing the curing agent and an epoxy resin; the compositions are useful in electronic displays, circuit boards, semi conductor devices, flip chips and other applications.

Abstract: A supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding.

Abstract: A battery pulsation system including a battery string including a plurality of cells, the battery string defining a positive end and a negative end, a first pulsation device connected to a first cell of the battery string to supply a first pulsation energy thereto, the first cell includes a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal and is generally adjacent to the positive end of the battery string, wherein the first pulsation device applies a greater portion of the first pulsation energy to the first negative terminal than the first positive terminal, and a second pulsation device connected to a second cell of the battery string to supply a second pulsation energy thereto, the second cell includes a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal and is generally adjacent to the negative end of the battery string, wherein the second pulsation device applies a greater portion of the second pulsation energy to the second positive terminal than the second negative terminal.

Abstract: Controller scaling and parameterization are described. Techniques that can be improved by employing the scaling and parameterization include, but are not limited to, controller design, tuning and optimization. The scaling and parameterization methods described here apply to transfer function based controllers, including PID controllers. The parameterization methods also apply to state feedback and state observer based controllers, as well as linear active disturbance rejection (ADRC) controllers. Parameterization simplifies the use of ADRC. A discrete extended state observer (DESO) and a generalized extended state observer (GESO) are described. They improve the performance of the ESO and therefore ADRC. A tracking control algorithm is also described that improves the performance of the ADRC controller. A general algorithm is described for applying ADRC to multi-input multi-output systems. Several specific applications of the control systems and processes are disclosed.

Abstract: A fragrance delivery system comprises a suspension concentrate including a suspending matrix and a fragrance material which system can be diluted with water to form a use composition such as a body wash formulation.

Abstract: A food slicer has a support member including a base portion and an upstanding portion integrally formed with the base portion. The upstanding portion includes a rotating cutting blade for slicing food product. The base portion includes a food product table slidably secured thereto for movement across the cutting blade for holding product while it is being sliced. An adjustable gage plate is provided for determining the thickness of a food product to be sliced. A sharpening mechanism for sharpening the cutting blade as needed is removably secured to a portion of the product table to provide accurate sharpening of the cutting blade. The sharpening mechanism includes a first rotating sharpening member and a second deburring member where the first and second members are mounted independent from each other.

Abstract: Multitank conveyor-type dishwasher (2) for washing items (10) to be washed, comprising at least two wash zones (6, 8) which are arranged in succession in the conveying direction (4); a liquid forward-flow apparatus (26) between in each case two successive wash zones (6, 8) for transferring liquid between these wash zones (6, 8) in a forward-flow direction (28) counter to the conveying direction (4); characterized in that a liquid recirculation apparatus (60) is provided for transferring sprayed liquid of a front wash zone (8), as seen in the conveying direction (4), into a rear wash zone (6) which is arranged downstream of the front wash zone (8), as seen in the conveying direction (4), counter to the forward-flow direction (28).

Abstract: A locking system 24 for securing adjacent concrete form panels 20a, 20b together during assembly of a concrete form 22 is disclosed. The locking system 24 includes a mounting block 50 which is removably attachable to one of the adjacent panels 20a, 20b. A slide member 52 is mounted for sliding movement relative to the mounting block 50 between a first position retracted from aligned apertures 48 in side members 30 of the adjacent panels 20a, 20b and a second position extending through the aligned apertures 48. The slide member 30 includes a bolt member 92 mounted to rotate within the mounting block 50 in its extended position between locked and unlocked positions to secure the adjacent panels 20a, 20b together. Alternatively, the bolt member 206 is configured to receive a wedge member 204 at its projecting end or has a clamping member 304 mounted to rotate on the bolt member 306 for securing the adjacent panels 20a, 20b together.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a curing agent for epoxy resins that is comprised of the reaction product of an amine, an epoxy resin, and an elastomer-epoxy adduct. Additionally disclosed is a process comprising agitating a solution of an amine, an epoxy resin, and an elastomer-epoxy adduct as a dispersant at an elevated temperature in an organic medium.