Abstract: A split body, rotary C gate, removeable stem vacuum valve using an input assembly with handle extensions that allow for hand movement of the incoming pipe to access an inner aperture body with a curved sealing face that directly seals to a C shaped gasketless gate that can be rotated into and out of the inner body aperture for easy cleaning. The gasketless gate is held in position using gate axles with an outer axle stem connected to a polygon lower body that mates into a matching polygon aperture on the gasketless gate. The middle valve assembly's gasketless housing body defines upper and lower axle washer pockets for locating the axles for proper operation and simple axle pins for securing the axles in position.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting and avoiding conflict along a current route of a robot. The method includes accessing or determining trajectories of the robot and a nearby moving object forward in time from their respective current positions, and detecting a conflict from a comparison of the trajectories. The method includes selecting a maneuver to avoid the conflict, and outputting an indication of the maneuver for use in at least one of guidance, navigation or control of the robot to avoid the conflict. Selection of the maneuver includes determining a plurality of angles that describe the conflict such as those at which the robot and moving object observe one another, and/or an angle between their trajectories, and evaluating the plurality of angles to select the maneuver.

Abstract: A system and method upwards ink deposit onto a substrate in existing printing systems. The system provides for multiple orientations of the print head including jetting in the vertical (or generally upwards) direction to mark a substrate. The system allows the ink jetting to be easily integrated into existing converting or printing processes without the need to add auxiliary web transporting devices such as a turn bar since the print head is jetting the pigment-based ink sets vertically as illustrated in the document provided. To jet vertically the ink viscosity needs to be closely controlled utilizing in line ink heating systems that are deployed throughout the ink supply circuit. The system measures the difference between meniscus and pressure with a predetermined amount of heat applied to the system using in line/integrated heating devices in order to accomplish a vertical jet at speed.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a cutting apparatus, and a controller. The cutting apparatus includes a conveyance path, a first cutting unit configured to cut, at a cutting position with respect to a conveyance direction of the sheet on the conveyance path, the sheet in a width direction perpendicularly intersecting with the conveyance direction, and a second cutting unit configured to cut, at a cutting position with respect to the width direction, the sheet in the conveyance direction. The controller is configured to control the cutting apparatus such that, in a case where the sheet is cut neither with the first cutting unit nor with the second cutting unit, the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path with the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit retreated not to contact with the sheet passing through the conveyance path.

Abstract: Improved intelligent personal assistant (IPA) software agents are disclosed that are configured to interact with various people, service providers, files, and/or smart devices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to an improved Natural Language Processing (NLP) Intent Determination Service (IDS) that is able to determine the likely best action to take in response to generic user commands and queries. The disclosed NLP IDS automatically selects valid (or potentially valid) API paths (e.g., sequence of API calls) to produce desired actions. Associated system actions and known API sequencing rules may then be used to process the incoming user command or query. A feedback loop is also disclosed to identify newly available APIs and success criteria for selected API paths. Discovery of API paths may be performed using predefined information, monitored information, programmatically determined interfaces, and programmatically tested interfaces.

Abstract: A printing material container is detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The printing material container comprises a first device, a second device, and a terminal group that includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and respectively include a first contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and includes a second contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is for the detection of shorting between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal and includes a third contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a fluid flow path defined between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; an orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and including a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice. An outer surface of the valve member is non-linearly flared away from the diaphragm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seal ring structure, which comprises a seal ring member. The seal ring member includes a first ring opening on one side and a second ring opening on the other. A periphery of the first ring opening includes a plurality of leak grooves. When the seal ring member and the valve ball squeeze each other, the plurality of leak grooves can reduce the torque required to rotate the valve ball. A leak-groove length of the plurality of leak grooves is smaller than a seal-ring-member length of the seal ring member. The plurality of leak grooves do not penetrate the seal ring member for avoiding leakage of fluid.

Abstract: Based on operation trajectory data an operation analysis device identifies all open points indicating positions at which the crusher is opened during the operation period and all close points indicating positions at which a crusher is closed during an operation period, calculates, as a shortest distance, a distance between each open point of the all open points and a close point nearest to the each open point, and identifies, as a sorting destination open point, an open point at which the shortest distance exceeds a first threshold value, identifies data until the crusher grasping the dismantling part moves to the sorting destination and returns to the dismantling target again from among the operation trajectory data as movement data of the crusher having moved in the dismantling operation, and identifies data in which the movement data has been removed from the operation trajectory data as grasping operation data.

Abstract: Fluid is continuously recirculated through a thermal fluid-ejection printhead. Prior to firing a thermal resistor of the printhead to thermally eject a drop of the fluid through a nozzle of the printhead, the fluid is recirculated on-demand through a chamber of the printhead between the nozzle and the thermal resistor. The thermal resistor is fired to thermally eject the drop of the fluid through the nozzle. The fluid has a concentration of solids greater than 12% by volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an automotive preventive maintenance service includes: a vehicle information creator that creates vehicle information including vehicle diagnosis information obtained in real time while a vehicle is driven and vehicle state information showing a current state of the vehicle; a vehicle breakdown generation predictor that creates vehicle part states each composed of a preventive maintenance emergency degree and a vehicle part on the basis of the vehicle information, and predicts breakdown generation of the vehicle; an automotive repair shop recommender that recommends an automotive repair shop based on a cost or a distance on the basis of the preventive maintenance emergency degree in at least one of the vehicle part states; and a preventive maintenance service compensator that detects whether to perform a maintenance service about a corresponding vehicle part state according to the preventive maintenance emergency degree, and provides preventive maintenance service compensation.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computing device for identifying a test option associated with an application for a user is described. The method comprises selecting a predefined test indicated by a test identifier associated with the requested application, the test having more than one test option associated therewith, generating a hash of the test identifier and a user identifier associated with the user, processing the hash to generate an index, comparing said index with a distribution of numbers divided into multiple ranges, each range being associated with a test option, and selecting a test option associated with the range into which the index falls. The applications may be computer gaming applications.

Abstract: An ink refill container includes a container main body including an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet-forming portion provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion is closer to the container main body than the valve is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.

Abstract: A rectangular tubing, rectangular hole punching device includes a two-sided die carried by a mandrel upon which a rectangular tubing workpiece is sleeved. The two-sided die makes possible a punched rectangular hole having a width extending substantially from one interior lateral side wall of the workpiece adjacent the side of the workpiece being punched to the opposing interior side wall of the workpiece adjacent the side of the workpiece being punched, and includes a pair of tool steel die pieces that are longitudinally spaced from each other. The portions of lateral side walls corresponding to the position of the two sided die within the workpiece are supported against deformation from punching by applying a high compressive force to the portions of the laterally spaced side walls of the workpiece that are in correspondence with the position of the two-sided die, during the punching operation.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a base with a table surface and a cutting platform. The cutting platform is suspended above the table surface and includes a blade housing. The blade housing includes a blade holder with a linear blade. The blade holder is slidably connected through the base housing. A housing column is configured on the base of the cutting tool. A handle raises and lowers the blade. A guide rail is pivotally connected to the table surface by at least one releasable guide rail connector. The guide rail is releasably locked with respect to the blade at a plurality of angles.

Abstract: The present invention obtains a control system and a control method capable of appropriately suppressing rear lift-up of a straddle-type vehicle. In the control system and the control method according to the present invention, damping forces of suspensions and a braking force generated to the straddle-type vehicle are controlled. Braking force adjustment control is executed to adjust the braking force generated to the straddle-type vehicle so as to suppress the rear lift-up that causes a rear wheel of the straddle-type vehicle to lift off from the ground, and initiation timing of the braking force adjustment control is controlled by using a physical quantity to which states of the suspensions are reflected.

Abstract: A retention device can be used with an adjustable strap. The adjustable strap can be part of a tie down strap system, a backpack, or a fanny pack. A free end of the adjustable strap can be inserted and pulled through a tensioning device. The retention device can be placed around a portion of the adjustable strap adjacent to the tensioning device. The retention device can prevent the adjustable strap from undesirably pulling back through the tensioning device. The retention device can include a top plate and bottom plate that sandwich the strap and then connected to each other. The retention device can also be a strip of material that includes a plurality of tiny loops and a plurality of tiny flexible hooks that are used to attach to the adjustable strap and wrap around the strap.

Abstract: A floating valve for air ventilation mounted in a vent hose connected to a surge tank of a vehicle cooling system includes: an upper port including a first hollow, wherein an upper end portion of the first hollow is connected to the vent hose; a lower port including a second hollow, wherein a lower end portion of the second hollow is connected to the vent hose at a location facing the upper port; a structure portion provided to connect the upper port and the lower port to each other in fluidical communication with the upper port and the lower port; and a floating ball provided to be movable inside the structure portion so that the floating ball floats to seal an opening of the first hollow in the upper port when cooling fluid flows into the structure portion.

Abstract: A valve assembly can include a housing having multiple longitudinally spaced apart ports, a sleeve longitudinally displaceable in the housing, and at least one deflector ring configured to block flow through an annular space formed between the housing and an outer surface of the sleeve. The deflector ring is positioned longitudinally between an adjacent pair of the ports. Another valve assembly can include a housing having a port, a sleeve longitudinally displaceable in the housing, and a nozzle having an orifice in communication with the port. The nozzle is secured to the housing.

Abstract: A T-flange with a snap fit feature will ensure a tight fit once the operator overcomes the snap feature.