Abstract: A universal plate system for mounting tool heads and/or components on manufacturing machines includes a fixed plate assembly on the x-carriage of the manufacturing machine. A mobile plate assembly is configured to removably attach to the fixed plate assembly, to provide mechanical support and electrical connectivity to a tool head assembly mounted to the mobile plate assembly. The mobile plate assembly can be easily detached from the fixed plate assembly and replaced with a different mobile plate assembly having a different tool head assembly mounted thereon. Mating of the mobile plate assembly to the fixed plate assembly provides the mechanical and electrical connection between the manufacturing machine and the newly mounted tool head assembly, thus permitting quick changes of the tool head assembly to be made.

Abstract: A food preparation jar has two rotary food processing tools; one at a bottom part of a vessel and one implemented by a lid. Each food processing tool is contained within the vessel which remains static in use. The lid replaces or combines with a main vessel lid to implement a second rotary food processing function, such as a juicing function, to supplement a main food processing function, such as a blending function, of the preparation jar, when mounted to a base unit of a kitchen appliance in an inverted orientation.

Abstract: A method of controlling an accumulation in a fluid system and associated apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises heating. The heating is adaptive or adaptable. The method comprises adapting the heating in accordance with a parameter associated with a development of accumulation. The parameter is monitored. An associated subsea heating system (20) for controlling an accumulation in a subsea flow line (28) is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal part which comprises attaching a powder forged or wrought outer raced ID splined plate to a powdered metal inner splined connection gear, wherein the outer raced ID splined plate incorporates a female ID profile on the race, wherein the inner splined connection gear contains a mail OD profile on the exterior of the part, and wherein the splined plate and the splined connection gear are attached together by (1) sinter brazing, (2) laser brazing, (3) laser welding, (4) sintering a mechanical joint, or (5) staking. In practicing this method a tight mechanical joint is formed between the splined plate and the splined connection gear which can be made of highly dissimilar materials, such as a wrought metal and a sintered powder metal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring weld cell and related activity is disclosed. The activity is sensed using a variety of sensors, and reported to the controller, or to a remote location.

Abstract: A system for depositing a material on a workpiece may include a tool unit to support an electrode and having an electrode supporting element and movement structure configured to move the electrode via the supporting element. The system may include electrical circuitry to produce a voltage potential between the electrode and the surface. The electrical circuitry may have a power source to provide power to elements of the circuitry, and a bank of capacitors configured to be selectively charged by the power source and discharged via an electrode engaged by the electrode supporting element to the surface. In embodiments, the power source may comprise a rechargeable battery. In embodiments, the electrical circuitry may include a processor to control discharge of the bank of capacitors via the electrode to the surface when the electrode is engaged by the electrode supporting element.

Abstract: An automated pizza oven assembly includes an oven that has an entry and an exit. A conveyor extends through the entry and the exit, and a pizza is positionable on the conveyor. The conveyor transports the pizza through the oven to cook the pizza. A cutting unit is coupled to and extends away from the oven such that the cutting unit is positioned above the conveyor. The cutting unit includes a plurality of blades and each of the blades radiating outwardly from a central point of the cutting unit. The blades are urged downwardly onto the pizza when the cutting unit is turned on to cut the pizza into a plurality of slices. A control unit is coupled to the oven and the control unit is in communication with the heating element in the oven, the conveyor and the cutting unit. The control unit controls operational parameters of the heating element, the conveyor and the cutting unit.

Abstract: A fluid handling apparatus for ejecting fluid into a tank and draining fluid from the tank comprises: a fluid duct for draining/supplying fluid from/to the tank, the fluid duct configured for fluid communication with a tank opening at a tank bottom; a fluid inlet pipe for supplying fluid to the tank, the fluid inlet pipe extending at least partly through the fluid duct and configured to extend through the tank opening into the tank; a rotary fluid ejection device in fluid communication with the fluid inlet pipe; and a rotary drive shaft extending at least partly inside the fluid inlet pipe, the rotary drive shaft being rotatably connected to the rotary fluid ejection device. Also disclosed is a fluid tank system comprising a tank and a fluid handling apparatus, and a method for mixing beer or wort with solid hops material in a tank by a fluid handling apparatus.

Abstract: Exemplary temperature modulation methods may include delivering a gas through a purge line extending within a substrate support. The gas may be directed to a backside surface of the substrate support opposite a substrate support surface. The purge line may extend along a central axis of a shaft, the shaft being hermetically sealed with the substrate support. The substrate support may be characterized by a center and a circumferential edge. A first end of the purge line may be fixed at a first distance from the backside surface of the substrate support. The methods may include flowing the gas at a first flow rate via a flow pathway to remove heat from the substrate support to achieve a desired substrate support temperature profile.

Abstract: Food orders are divided into components or tasks. Systems and methods of food order preparation communicate instructions for automated actions to devices to carry out the automated actions. A toaster operates to toast a bun according to toaster settings. A bun magazine operates to deliver a bun into the toaster. A condiment dispenser receives the bun from the toaster and operates to dispense at least one portion of at least one condiment onto the bun.

Abstract: An intelligent cooking operation method includes: providing a seat; forming, by a back of the seat, a swing connection by using a connecting rod; forming a lifting and rotating connection between a cushion of the seat and a base of the seat through a support rod; and sending, by a cook, one or more voice control commands of a kitchen appliance to a voice signal receiving module according to a cooking requirement, where a voice command recognition module recognizes the voice control commands and generates corresponding appliance voice command data, and a command transmission module sends a command signal to a command receiving module of the kitchen appliance that the voice control commands point to, to control the kitchen appliance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for exchanging electrode tips, e.g., electrode tips used in resistance spot welding, and disposing of used/unusable electrode tips. Used/unusable electrode tips may be collected, e.g., while within an assembly line. Such used/unusable electrode tips may be routed to a receptacle(s) reside outside the assembly line. Accordingly, disposing or removing of the used/unusable electrode tips can be accomplished without stopping the assembly line, and decreasing any chance for safety events.

Abstract: An automatic material changing and welding system for stamping materials includes a welding transfer sliding table and a welding platform. The automatic material changing device further includes a feeding system. The feeding system includes a double-head uncoiling machine, an automatic feeding machine and a flattening machine. The automatic material changing device is used for automatic feeding for a stamping machine. The system triggers a material changing signal through a sensor to control and integrate the welding transfer sliding table and the welding platform to act to execute a welding procedure, so that the stamping materials are in welding connection with new and old coiled materials through a welding connection plate to realize continuous production operation of an automated stamping production line.

Abstract: A domestic appliance for processing foods including: a bowl, with an opening for introducing foods into the bowl and into which a tool for processing foods is inserted, a splash guard, which can be inserted into the opening of the bowl, such that boundary regions of the splash guard are opposite an inner wall of the opening to prevent foods from spraying out of the bowl, and a cover, which can be inserted into the opening of the bowl once the splash guard has been inserted into the opening of the bowl, wherein the splash guard includes a plate which extends substantially flat and ends with boundary regions.

Abstract: A system for roasting particulate material, such as coffee or cacao beans, grains, malt. The system includes a concentrated solar collector configured for heating a fluid; a heat storage device configured for storing heat of the heated fluid; a particulate material roasting device comprising a treatment compartment configured for receiving the particulate material, and at least one generation unit configured for generating at least one gas and/or steam flow with a controlled temperature, through said treatment compartment. The at least one generation unit is configured for exchanging heat between said at least one gas and/or steam flow and a second flow. A circulation system is configured for generating the second flow by using heat stored in the storage device, and is configured for using directly the heated fluid.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing welding currents of at least two welding current sources prior to performing a simultaneous welding process on at least one workpiece, in particular a welding process with non-consumable electrodes, wherein the method includes the following steps: a first welding current source outputting a reference signal, wherein the reference signal contains synchronization information; a second welding current source measuring or receiving the reference signal and evaluating the synchronization information contained in the reference signal; synchronizing a second welding current of the second welding current source with a first welding current of the first welding current source on the basis of the synchronization information. The invention furthermore relates to a welding current source and to a system having at least two welding current sources.

Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for a ventilation conduit for a welding torch, where the ventilation conduit comprises a conduit body comprising at least a first part and a second part, and a conduit nozzle. The first part and the second part are configured to be removably coupled to each other around an outside of a welding torch. The conduit nozzle, with a first end that is beveled and a second end, is configured to be removably coupled by the second end to the conduit body.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tablets for hot beverage brewing includes a reservoir feeding infusible loose food products, a grinding system for the loose food products to obtain grounds of a given size, a moistening system moistening the grounds to a given moisture content, a mixing and homogenizing system for mixing and homogenizing the grounds to a homogeneous mixture, a weighing system of the homogeneous mixture to obtain a dose of predetermined weight, a forming system forming the dose into a tablet of predetermined volume, an irradiation system for electromagnetic irradiation of the tablet to overheat the particles to a partial baking and/or sintering for compactness and self-supporting ability without an enclosure, and a control system acting on the grinding, moistening, homogenizing, system, forming, and irradiating systems to control particle size, moisture content, homogeneity, weight, volume and compactness parameters of the tablet and change water permeability of the tablet accordingly.

Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate and a heating layer. The heating layer is made from a molybdenum material and is bonded to the AlN substrate via transient liquid phase bonding. The heater can also include a routing layer and a plurality of first conductive vias connecting the heating layer to the routing layer. The routing layer and the plurality of first conductive vias can be made from the molybdenum material and at least one of the routing layer and the plurality of first conductive vias are bonded to the AlN substrate via a transient liquid phase bond. A plurality of second conductive vias connecting the routing layer to a surface of the AlN substrate can be included and the plurality of second conductive vias are made of the molybdenum material and can be bonded to the AlN substrate via a transient liquid phase bond.

Abstract: A bowl assembly for a micro puree machine including an inner beaker and an outer bowl. The inner beaker is configured to receive ingredients and has an exterior bottom surface that includes a beaker alignment feature. The outer bowl is configured to receive the inner beaker therein. The outer bowl includes an interior bottom surface that includes a bowl alignment feature and an exterior bottom surface that includes a bowl securing element. The beaker alignment feature of the inner beaker exterior bottom surface is complementary to the bowl alignment feature of the outer bowl interior bottom surface such that, at times the inner beaker is positioned in the outer bowl, the complementary bowl alignment feature and inner beaker alignment feature prevent rotation of the inner beaker relative to the outer bowl. The bowl securing element is configured to receive and attach to a platform of a micro puree machine.