Abstract: Apparatus is provided for metallurgical heat treatment of coil springs, or similarly shaped workpieces and articles of manufacture, by electric resistance heating along the entire length of the workpiece so that the ends of the workpiece can be heat treated to the same degree and quality as the section of the workpiece between its two ends.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a beverage dispensing system configured to form one of a plurality of available types of carbonated and non-carbonated beverage types in response to a user selection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for differentiating the spectral response of various optical coatings between a transmitter and receiver are described. The system is effective in determining if an optical coating produces an authorized spectral response for determining if a product having that optical coating is authorized to be used with another product.

Abstract: A laser welding method of the present disclosure includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, a first end of a first workpiece is positioned such that the first end of the first workpiece is overlapped on a second end of a second workpiece to form a corner joint. In the second step, the first end forming the corner joint is irradiated from above with a laser beam. Additionally, the first end is positioned to protrude relative to the second workpiece in the first step.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include multiple atomizers and an atomizer selector that provides for selection of one or more of the atomizers to which electrical current is directed. The atomizer selector may also alter a position of the atomizers relative to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device. Another aerosol delivery device may include an atomizer and an additive selector that provides for selection of one or more additives added to vapor produced by the atomizer. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes: a storage that stores first cooking information indicating a cooking method for a first foodstuff and second cooking information indicating a cooking method for a second foodstuff; a placement unit on which the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff are placed; and a cooking controller that controls cooking of the first foodstuff, based on the first cooking information, and that controls cooking of the second foodstuff, based on the second cooking information, when the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff are placed on the placement unit. The storage includes a memory, and the cooking controller includes a processor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a brewing device (1) adapted for preparing beverages, in particular aromatic beverages such as espresso coffee and similar, by means of mixing a pressurized flow with an edible substance contained in a capsule (2). Said brewing device (1) comprises a force transmission disposition (3), an injection disposition (4), a collection disposition (5) and a structural disposition (6), as well as a base support (7) provided on the downwards-oriented side of said injection disposition (4) and projecting beyond thereof so as to provide support to a downwards-oriented part of said capsule (2), whereby said base support (7) is provided so that can be moved together with said injection disposition (4), and moved relative thereto.

Abstract: A system and methods for electrically starting an arc in a welding process are disclosed. The system and methods may reduce an electromagnetic interference (EMI) footprint during the arc start by reducing the average power spectral density output and broadening the frequency spectrum of the arc EMI footprint. In one embodiment, a welding system may include a welding torch and a welding power source electrically coupled to the welding torch via a weld cable configured to supply electrical energy to the welding torch. The welding power source may include pseudo-random noise (PRN) generator control logic circuitry configured to generate a dithered pulse waveform with a pseudo-randomly selected data sequence of binary values based on one or more baselines, and to apply the dithered pulse waveform to an oscillator during arc starting in a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process performed by the welding torch.

Abstract: A method for gas metal arc welding a first component formed of nitrided steel to a second component with reduced porosity in the weld is provided. A welding wire including a core surrounded by a tube is used to weld the components. The material of the core is formed of mild steel including 0.7 to 3.0 wt. % aluminum and 0.7 to 1.5 wt. % titanium. The material of the tube is formed entirely of low carbon steel. During the weld process, the nitrogen from the nitrided steel combines with the aluminum and titanium of the welding wire to form aluminum nitride and titanium nitride, instead of nitrogen bubbles which lead to high porosity. The method can be used to weld components used in automotive applications, for example to weld a ring gear and can of a flexplate, but alternatively could be used for another automotive or non-automotive applications.

Abstract: A method of displaying parameters of a cooking process involves a step in which an information window is provided within an indicating window. Further, a cooking intelligence applied is temporarily displayed in the information window. A cooking appliance display device can be used for displaying various parameters and steps of a cooking process and for making these available to an operator for interaction, with an information window being provided in which a currently applied cooking intelligence is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser beam processing device, the main part of which is a coupling device (1) for coupling a focused laser beam (2) into a fluid jet (3) of a defined cross-section. The coupling device (1) comprises a housing (4), in which a fluid nozzle is configured for forming the fluid jet (3). In addition, an outlet opening (6) is provided in the housing, through which the fluid jet (3) exits from the housing (4) and the cross-section of which is larger than the cross-section of the fluid jet (3). A passage chamber is provided between the fluid nozzle (5) and the outlet opening (6) for the fluid jet (3).

Abstract: An automatic smoothie machine having three vertical heating plates arranged in a sequential parallel manner creating a pair of food cartridge cavities. The two outer heating plates are movable and the middle heating plate is stationary. The two outer heating plates configured to provide cyclic pressure to the pair of food cartridge. Each of the pair of food cartridges are maintained within each of the pair of food cartridge cavities in a manner to allow the pre-cut dispensing end to be arranged along a bottom portion of each of the pair of food cartridge cavities in order to allow the volume of food matter to be ejected downwards. At least one sensor configured to detect dispensing of the volume of food matter and terminate the operation of the automatic smoothie machine.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient from a pod. The dispensing apparatus comprises a pod support region configured to support a pod, an actuator configured to engage with a corresponding actuator engagement region of the pod, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the pod. The apparatus is configured to cause the actuation member to cause an opening to be formed in a pod supported by the pod support region. The apparatus is further configured to cause the rotation mechanism to cause the pod to rotate about an axis of rotation during a dispensing operation, so as to cause the beverage preparation ingredient to be released from the pod via said opening.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion system includes a plurality of individual build chambers, with each individual build chamber including an area laser scanner optical device and a point laser scanner. A single, area beam delivery system and the plurality of build chambers are moveable relative to each other, such that the area beam delivery system may be positioned to provide an area scanning laser beam to any of the area laser scanner optical devices in any of the plurality of build chambers. The point laser scanners may be used to contour an edge of an object, and the area scanning laser beam may be used to fill in large areas of the object.

Abstract: A heating unit for heating fluid is described having at least one electrical resistance heating element on an outer surface of a tube. At least one indexed groove is provided around a surface of the tube allowing for at least one retention clip to hold the electrical resistance heating element. A heating chamber is also provided to enclose a portion of the tube and to provide a flow channel therebetween. The heating chamber includes an optical sensor to detect overheating of the at least one electrical resistance heating element. Fluid is heated by flowing over the surface of the at least one electrical resistance heating element and through the tube.

Abstract: Provided is an arc evaporation source capable of stably retaining an arc spot on the front end surface of a target and apparatus downsizing. An arc evaporation source includes a target to be melted and vaporized from its front end surface by arc discharge and at least one magnet disposed apart from a side surface of the target radially thereof. The magnet is disposed to form a magnetic field satisfying conditions a) and b) below, on the side surface, in a region of up to 10 mm from the front end surface axially of the target: a) an angle which magnetic lines of force forms with the side surface of the target is 45 degrees or less; and b) a component of the strength of the magnetic lines of force along the axial direction of the target is 200 G or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing all or part of the skinsheet of a rotary drum blancher/cooler from being clean in place totally removable is disclosed. The drum includes the skinsheet (in sections) with a plurality of clamps and catches. Each catch is comprised of two catches—a clean in place catch and a totally removable catch. Each clamp is attached to a section and has an clamping position and a release position, and includes a bail. When a clamp is in the clamping position and its bail is in either the clean in place catch or the totally removable catch of a corresponding catch on an adjacent second section, the catch and clamp hold the adjacent sections together to form a part of the drum. When the clamp is in the release position and the bail is in the clean in place catch of the adjacent section, the clamp and clean in place catch allow adjacent sections to separate, but do not allow them to be removed.

Abstract: A tortilla cooking device includes induction stages arranged in a substantially vertical configuration, with some of the induction stages including one or more induction elements. The cooking device also includes tortilla pans. A respective tortilla pan is configured for being removably positioned on at least one of the induction stages and formed from a material suitable for magnetic induction based heating. The tortilla pay converts magnetic energy received from at least one induction element of the induction stage to thermal energy. A respective induction stage includes a recessed portion substantially matching a protruding bottom surface of the tortilla pans. The tortilla pans further include a lip structure for retaining one or more materials on a cooking portion of the tortilla pans. The cooking device further includes a casing unit configured to contain the plurality of induction stages arranged in a substantially vertical configuration.

Abstract: A scanner controller has an acceleration/deceleration computation unit configured to perform an acceleration/deceleration control for an instructed speed and controls a laser output power depending on the instructed speed and a result of the acceleration/deceleration control. This scanner controller further has a robot deceleration rate computation/determination unit configured to externally output information on a speed after being subjected to the acceleration/deceleration control.

Abstract: A disposable assembly and method for providing a liquid chemical for administration which is disposable. The disposable assembly including a tank having an airflow chamber and a liquid chamber, a vaporizer having a first end, a second end, and a movable ring. The first end of the vaporizer is operable to removably attach to the tank. The second end of the vaporizer is operable to removably attach to a battery. Attaching the battery to the second end of the vaporizer actuates the movable ring, and actuating the movable ring introduces air into the liquid chamber of the tank.