Abstract: A dregs/juice separation apparatus includes a base having a power element driving a shaft to rotate. A pin protrudes from a surface of the shaft. A container includes an opening coupled with the base. A cutter unit includes a guiding member mounted around the shaft. The guiding member includes at least one guiding groove. The pin of the shaft extends into the at least one guiding groove. The cutter unit is rotatable relative to the shaft and is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction. The cutter unit further includes a cutter portion connected to the guiding member. A dreg collecting member includes an opening sealed by a cover. Objects to be processed are placed into the dreg collecting member via the opening of the dreg collecting member. The shaft extends through the dreg collecting member. The dreg collecting member receives the cutter unit.

Abstract: An exemplary system and method for welding a piston assembly includes a piston assembly having a cooling gallery and a loose granulated medium positioned therein. The cooling gallery is formed by a piston body and a cooling gallery ring, and a welder such as a laser welder is positioned proximate the assembly to weld the piston body to the cooling gallery ring. During welding, the assembly is rotated and the loose granulated medium is caused to remain in a gravitationally low portion of the cooling gallery. The weld is formed in an area proximate the loose granulated medium such that weld spatter emitted during welding is emitted into the loose granulated medium.

Abstract: A reservoir for holding a quantity of fluid within a tank, the reservoir including a first resistive element for heating a first part of the tank and a second resistive element for heating a second part of the tank, the second resistive element having a positive temperature coefficient. The reservoir further includes a third resistive element for heating the second part of the tank, the second resistive element and the third resistive element forming a parallel circuit, and the first resistive element being connected in series with the parallel circuit.

Abstract: A brewer unit for a hot beverage dispensing machine includes an upper cylinder (30) for receiving and containing hot water and a brewing material and having an open lower end, a coaxial lower cylinder (40) having an open upper end, a filter unit (43) mounted over the upper end of said lower cylinder (40) preventing passage of the brewing material therethrough, and a reciprocal piston (41) fitted in the lower cylinder (40) for creating a vacuum therein to suck freshly made beverage through the filter unit (43). A drive shaft (14) makes the piston (41) reciprocate and also drives a first cam mechanism for lifting the upper cylinder (30) from the filter unit (43) and a second cam mechanism for moving a scraper unit (5) over the filter unit (43) to discharge spent brewing material therefrom.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a process chamber which accommodates a substrate to be processed; a lower electrode disposed in the process chamber; an upper electrode including an electrode plate that is detachable and discharges a process gas inside the form of shower into the process chamber; a gas supply unit including a central pipe and a edge pipe for supplying the process gas to the upper electrode; a first high frequency power source which applies high frequency power for plasma generation to the lower electrode; pressure indicators which detect pressures inside gas supply pipes; and a controller which measures a degree of consumption of the electrode plate based on the pressures detected by the pressure indicators and calculates a variation in process rate resulting due to the consumption of the electrode plate to adjust process conditions to resolve the variation in process rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conditioning/moisturizing device for almond grains, especially designed to provide the grains of the fruit with the elasticity required in order to cut the grain into flakes, sticks, cubes or other configurations, with minimum loss through production of flour and others. The device essentially comprises an elongate body, with a generally cylindrical shape and tilted position, which includes on the inside thereof a means for sweeping the almond, made up of a spindle which sweeps the fruit in an upward direction in a steam-saturated environment with controlled temperature, for which purpose the cylindrical body comprises a plurality of steam injection nozzles, said steam being distributed externally and fed to said nozzles from an external steam distributor. The device includes temperature and steam sensors whose measurements are suitable for regulating the rotating speed of the spindle in order to adjust the time during which the almond remains in the environment inside the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the laser welding of metal parts that comprises generating a CO2 laser beam, dispensing a protection gas jet made of said gas or gas mixture in the direction of the junction plane between the parts, melting and evaporating the metal of the metal parts with the laser beam in order to generate a metal vapor capillary with the simultaneous generation of a metal plasma that propagates outside the metal vapor capillary and thus forms a metal plasma plume above said junction plane. The protection gas jet is further directed towards the metal plasma plume forming above the junction plane. The gas jet is preferably directed so that the latter comes flush with the top of the metal plasma plume and impinges on the part(s) at a location where the metal of said parts has not been molten by the beam.

Abstract: Egg cooking apparatus comprises a cradle (13, 14) for the egg including resistance means (22), and control circuitry for heating the resistance means. The cradle comprises flexible sheet means wrappable round the egg, mounted in a pair of half-shell units (10, 11) mounted for opening and closing around the egg. The half-shell units are of a silicone elastomer with crimped resistance wire incorporated therein, and each backed by a set of resilient fingers. The control circuitry includes temperature sensing means adjacent to the resistance means, and means (15) for setting the desired temperature and cooking time.

Abstract: A method of processing an object is disclosed. The method comprises heating the object by applying radio frequency (RF) energy, monitoring a value related to a rate of absorption of RF energy by the object during the heating, and adjusting the RF energy in accordance with changes in a time derivative of the monitored value.

Abstract: A method for heating a fiber/plastic composite material (FPC) comprising at least one layer (L) of carbon fibers (F) in a plastic matrix (P) includes inducing a magnetic field (MF) by means of a microwave antenna (MA) in the fiber/plastic composite material (FPC), and the field direction of the magnetic field (MF) runs in a plane of the layer (L) of carbon fibers (F).

Abstract: Water heater apparatus is provided with features that allow for a horizontally compact water heater installation comprising upper and lower vertically stacked electric individual water heaters served by a single electrical branch circuit. Each of the upper and lower water heaters has a water storage capacity not exceeding 55 gallons, and the combined water storage capacity of the upper and lower water heaters is greater than 55 gallons. The electric heating elements of the two water heaters are non-simultaneously controlled so that at no time do the two water heaters heat water at the same time.

Abstract: An operation management device performs an operation management for electric resistance welding in which a strip-shaped metal plate is formed to have a cylindrical shape in such a manner that both end portions of the metal plate gradually face each other while the metal plate is conveyed, and a Vee convergence section, which is a portion at which both of the end portions butt against each other while facing each other, is welded.

Abstract: A tortilla molding device holds a tortilla in a desired shape during frying in a shallow depth of oil. The device includes a frame having a pair of lateral sides and a base coupled to and extending between the lateral sides. A plurality of holders is coupled to the frame. Each of the holders has a first end coupled to the frame and a medial portion positioned in spaced relationship to the lateral sides of the frame. Thus, the holders are configured to hold a tortilla in a partially opened folded position adjacent to the frame permitting hands free frying of the tortilla in a pan of oil.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which is a wire feeder for a welding operation having two or more wire driving devices and a switching device which directs the welding current to the appropriate wire driving device for a welding operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for brewing coffee or the like uses a cartridge having filters on two opposed sides that is filled with ground coffee and then pressed through a container of heated liquid. The pressing forces the liquid into one filter, through the ground coffee, and out the other filter to produce the brewed beverage.

Abstract: Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measureable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.

Abstract: The method includes providing a portable self-contained calibration device to an electrofusion controller. The calibration device includes internal or external dummy loads to simulate real fittings to be fused and instructs the electrofusion controller to apply electricity to these dummy load. Then, the calibration device uses a measurement sub-system to measure a pre-determined parameter. A microcontroller sub-system determines if there is a difference between the measured values and the expected values. If there is a difference, the calibration device adjusts the electrofusion controller's memory. The calibration device repeats the measurement with a second independent measurement device to ensure accuracy.

Abstract: A beverage container for a brewing machine comprising a filter cup having a frame including an upper peripheral member and a lower peripheral member and filter material extending thereabout, a cover formed of a flexible material, the cover having a circular recess formed on a lower side of the cover to receive an upper wall of the upper peripheral member, the circular recess having an enlarged portion to receive a guide rib such that the cover is placed on the container in a predetermined location.

Abstract: A steering wheel having a rim portion is provided. The rim portion includes a rim metal core, at least one heating element, which extends around the core, and a coating portion, which coats the heating element. The heating element includes a heat generating member for generating heat when electrified, a heat transfer sheet, and a flexible heat insulating sheet. The heat transfer sheet transfers heat of the heat generating member to the coating portion. The heat insulating sheet hinders heat of the heat generating member from being transferred to the core. The heat insulating sheet has first and second surfaces. The heat transfer sheet is laid on the first surface. The heat generating member is located between the first surface and the heat transfer sheet. The heating element is affixed to the core at the second surface, while being flexed to conform to the surface of the core.

Abstract: A roaster (1) and heating cover (20) thereof are disclosed. The roaster (1) includes a pot (10) and a heating cover (20) covered correspondingly thereon. An inner space of a cover body is separated into an installing chamber (2110) and a hot air chamber (2111). A first motor (22) and a second motor (24) are fixed in the installing chamber (2110). The hot air supply module (23) is disposed in the hot air chamber (2111), and a group of the reduction gears (25) is driven by the second motor (24). A stirring component (26) connecting the group of the reduction gears (25) is disposed in the hot air chamber (2111). Thus an inner space of the roaster (1) will be maintained for flipping the ingredients.