Abstract: An article includes a heating medium injector, a mixture flow path, and a vacuum chamber. The heating medium injector has a heating medium path connected to receive a heating medium such as steam and a product path connected to receive undenatured meat protein. The heating medium injector also includes a mixing structure and a mixture outlet. The mixing structure comprises a structure within the heating medium injector at which the heating medium path and product path merge and the mixture outlet is connected to receive material from the mixing structure. The mixture flow path defines a mixture flow path volume and is connected at one end to the mixture outlet of the heating medium injector and at the opposite end to the vacuum chamber. Undenatured meat protein is contained within the vacuum chamber outside of the mixture flow path volume.

Abstract: A welding method includes: irradiating a plurality of metal foils stacked on a first surface of a metal member in a first direction with laser light to weld the metal member and the plurality of metal foils to each other, the laser light including first laser light having a wavelength of 800 [nm] or more and 1200 [nm] or less and second laser light having a wavelength of 550 [nm] or less, a second surface of a metal foil farthest from the metal member in the first direction among the plurality of metal foils, on a side opposite to the metal member, being irradiated with the laser light.

Abstract: A waffle iron plate for forming a waffle having multiple scores, the plate comprising a base having a front surface and at least two spaced-apart ribs extending from the front surface of the base and configured to form the scores, whereby the waffle may be folded along the scores so as to have a bottom portion and two side portions.

Abstract: A method for determining the cooling rate of a weld, comprising locating at least one non-consumable thermal sensor at a predetermined location from a weld pool generated during an active welding process, wherein the thermal sensor is located within the same plane of travel as a welding device creating the weld pool; determining the travel speed of the welding device; using the at least one non-consumable thermal sensor to gather temperature data from the weld pool; and determining the time interval between when the weld pool has a first measured temperature and when the weld pool has a second measured temperature that is less than the first measured temperature, wherein the determined time interval represents the cooling rate of the weld.

Abstract: A method is provided for transporting flat materials to be welded together, specifically a first flange and/or a second flange and a web for producing a beam through a welding station. The flat materials are aligned and guided by rollers. A slide is arranged upstream of the welding station in the run-through direction and a gripper is arranged downstream of the welding station. The slide introduces the flat materials into the welding station and moves them as far as a first position by means of a pushing movement at an advancement speed. The gripper grips the flat materials at the first position, and pulls the flat materials out of the welding station at the pulling speed and moves them as far as a second position by means of a pulling movement. The slide is arranged upstream of the welding station and the gripper is arranged downstream of the welding station.

Abstract: A microwave heating appliance includes a housing having interior walls with interior surfaces defining a cooking chamber for heating food, a microwave heating source configured to generate microwave radiation for heating the food, and a rapid heating plate disposed in the cooking chamber. The rapid heating plate includes a substrate having a hybrid coating disposed on thereon, with the hybrid coating configured to generate heat upon application of a magnetic field and upon absorption of the microwave radiation from the microwave heating source. The hybrid coating includes ferromagnetic nanowires and ferritic carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polymer to generate heat for transferring to food placed on the rapid heating plate in the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package includes an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package, a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet, a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and operable to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle, and a temperature control assembly including a temperature control element in thermally conductive contact with the product package and the dispensing nozzle to heat or cool the product package and the dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: A coffee grinding machine (10) and an espresso coffee machine are described. The coffee grinding machine comprises a first grinder and second grinder cooperating with each other so as to grind coffee beans, obtaining a first dose of ground coffee during a first grinding cycle. The coffee grinding machine comprises a motor which rotates one of the grinders relative to the other one at a rotation speed. The coffee grinder machine is configured to modify the rotation speed so as to perform a second grinding cycle in which a second dose of ground coffee is obtained. The rotation speed is modified depending on quantitative information received from the espresso coffee machine and based on a coffee preparation cycle performed with said first dose of ground coffee, wherein the quantitative information may be a flow value measured in the espresso coffee machine or a brew ratio value.

Abstract: Welder's shield with AI includes a frame for mounting on a user's head; a camera mounted on the frame and directed forward toward welding zone, to obtain images of welding zone as video data; a display on an inner side of the frame; an optical device to enable the user to see the display; battery; processor receiving a video data from the camera; the processor running an AI application to process the video data; the processor displaying images on the display based on output of the AI application; the artificial intelligence application receiving the video data and detecting a welding arc in the welding zone using a pattern recognition algorithm; and the AI application modifying the video data to reduce an intensity of the welding arc in the images that are to be displayed on the display, without reducing an intensity of the rest of the images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a 3D printing machine for printing cooked foods, which contains at least one printing module comprising at least three main movable bodies: a printing block that includes heating elements able to cook the food simultaneously to the printing thereof; a printing base; and an oven, wherein the main movable bodies being able to slide vertically, independently of one another, along a vertical displacement device. The machine is specially designed for the 3D printing and simultaneous cooking of food products by means of complex elaborations including several ingredients. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining cooked foods using the machine.

Abstract: A method of peeling tubers includes providing a peeler device defining a cavity surrounded by a peeling mechanism, inputting tubers to be peeled into the cavity, directing electromagnetic radiation from an illumination device into the cavity-detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected into lens of a camera from tubers located in the cavity during a peeling operation by the peeling mechanism, and operating the peeler device based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the camera. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A heated blanket is presented that includes a self-regulating heating element contained therein for uniform heating of the heated blanket.

Abstract: An occupant support surface heater includes a foundation, a cover, an optional comfort layer, an activation layer, and at least one bus bar secured between the foundation and the cover. The foundation may include a foam pad and the comfort layer includes a conductive material mat that is contiguous with the foundation. The activation layer includes thermally conductive material in the form of an inorganic or organic nanotube structure to provide efficient thermal diffusion and heat delivery for the occupant support. The occupant support surface heater may be used to heat an occupant in the occupant support or to provide heat at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time in order to destroy live viruses or live bacteria at a surface of the unoccupied occupant support.

Abstract: A method for creating an electric heating source, including a body equipped with one or more housings containing mineral-insulated heating cables. The housings communicate with one or more reservoirs which accept a purely metallic solder material in solid, powder or sheet form. The device is heated in a vacuum degassing plateau, followed by a casting plateau during which the solder melts and fills the housing around the heating cables, resulting in full metal contact between the cables and the body, providing a more uniform temperature and a shorter response time to heating or cooling. Also, a heating source obtained in this manner, including an infrared faired source or an immersion heater for the heating of a liquid bath of molten metal.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a phlebotomy needle having a double-ended needle with a tub between its tips. The apparatus has a clamping electrode for contacting/clamping one end of the needle between the hub and tip and tip electrode for contacting the needle as its tip. A voltage is applied between the clamping electrode and the tip electrode, to soften/melt the needle via resistive heating, at the same time as the tip electrode is advanced to compress the needle tip and blunt it. The apparatus includes means for allowing the needle to be rotated through so that the first tip and the second tip can be blunted. Also disclosed is means for detaching the needle from a main body and/or for removing a cover covering one end of the needle. The apparatus enables a Vacutainer-type needle to be disassembled into its various parts and the needle rendered blunt and non-hazardous.

Abstract: A tube heater for heating a fluid in an interior of the tube has a stainless steel cylindrical core. The core ranges about 3 to 300 mm in length and about 100 to 200 microns in thickness with an outer diameter of about 8 to 20 mm. An inner surface of the core has dimples and a conductive coating. A patterned resistive layer overlies the core in a thickness of about 9 to 15 microns. The resistive layer is thin- or thick-film printed about a circumference of the core. Two glass layers surround the resistive layer. Each glass layer is electrically insulative. The glass underlying the resistive layer has a thermal conductivity of more than 2 W/mK while the glass overlying the resistive layer has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 0.5 W/mK.

Abstract: Various aspects related to a system for preparing a quantity of beverage suitable for consumption. The system comprises a first exchangeable capsule and a second exchangeable capsule, the second exchangeable capsule being larger than the first exchangeable capsule and an apparatus including a first brew chamber part and a second brew chamber part forming a brew chamber for selectively holding one of the first and second exchangeable capsules, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid, such as water, under pressure to the first brew chamber part. The cavity of the first brew chamber part provides guidance to an outer part of the second exchangeable capsule, ensuring proper positioning before commencing the process of preparing the beverage. Optionally, the first brew chamber part comprises a centering module for centering the second exchangeable capsule in the cavity.

Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic chuck with multiple heater zones. The electrostatic chuck with multiple heater zones comprises multiple micro heater zones; a switch module having each switching means connected to each micro heater zone; and a switch controlling module for controlling an operation of the switch module, wherein each micro heater zone can be heated individually by a corresponding heating element, and each partial area of a wafer secured on the electrostatic chuck is heated independently by each micro heater zone.

Abstract: A heater comprises a folded heater wire, a first insulator provided on the folded heater wire, a metal sheath in contact with a part of the first insulator, a first insulating member arranged in parallel to a part of a first end of the folded heater wire taken out from a first end of the metal sheath, a second insulating member arranged in parallel to a part of the first insulating member and parallel to a part of a second end of the folded heater wire taken out from the first end of the metal sheath, a third insulating member arranged in parallel to a part of the first insulating member and the second insulating member, and bundle the first insulating member and the second insulating member, and a cylindrical member arranged in parallel to a part of the metal sheath and the third insulating member.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for integrated compressed air cooling for welding systems. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods may employ compressed air to implement one or more welding processes (e.g., a gouging or cutting processes), with the compressed air being conveyed through such welding systems. In some examples, the compressed air is routed within the welding system to provide cooling for one or more components therein. For instance, components such as power conversion circuitry may heat up during the welding process. Routing compressed air to or near the components will introduce relatively cool air to the environment. As the passing compressed air heats in response to interaction with the heated components, heat is drawn from the components and/or the nearby environment.