Abstract: An apparatus for delivering particulate material to a frozen confectionery material to provide a single serving to a consumer. The apparatus comprises a chamber for storing the particulate material, and a supply of frozen confectionery. The chamber has an open exit, wherein the chamber is adapted to be rotatable in use such that the open exit follows a pathway having both an upper region and a lower region, and arranged to pass through the lower region at a non-zero speed a plurality of times during a single serving. The open exit is sized to allow a portion of stored particulate material to fall out of the chamber via the open exit under gravity each time the open exit passes through the lower region of the pathway. The apparatus also is arranged to bring particulate material that has left the chamber into contact with the supply of frozen confectionery.

Abstract: Apparatus (20, 22) and a method for mechanically joining a steel sheet portion (28 or 32) of advanced high strength steel to a metallic sheet portion (30 or 34) is performed to a light-safe extent by a detector assembly (106) during the mechanical joining that may be clinching, clinch riveting, full-punch riveting or self-piercing riveting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a welding-type power source that includes a first wire feeder provides a wire to a workpiece. A first wire feeder motor of the wire feeder to move the wire from a wire storage device to the workpiece. A second wire feeder motor moves the wire to and away from the workpiece and superimposes movement of the wire onto the movement from the first wire feeder motor. A moveable buffer located between the first and second wire feeder motors, and configured to accommodate a change in length of the wire between the first and second wire feeder motors when the second wire feeder motor moves the wire away from the workpiece. A sensor senses movement or displacement of the moveable buffer, wherein a speed or direction of the first or second wire feeder motors is adjusted based on data from the sensor.

Abstract: Glass articles and methods for modifying a composition of a surface portion of the glass article are disclosed. The method includes heating the surface portion of the glass article with a laser beam to a temperature within a range of about 1100?C to about 2200?C such that the heating evaporates one or more metalloids and/or one or more alkali metals present at the surface portion, and modifies the composition of the surface portion such that the surface portion has a lower alkali metals concentration and/or a lower metalloids concentration as compared to a portion of the glass article that is not heated by the laser beam.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a squeezing threaded rod, a squeezing component and a food processor. The squeezing threaded rod includes: a rod body, and the rod body includes a feeding segment, a squeezing segment connected with the feeding segment and a residue discharge segment connected with the squeezing segment; and the area of the cross section of the rod body gradually increases from the feeding segment to the squeezing segment. In the squeezing threaded rod provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the stress direction of juice squeezing and residue discharge thereof is consistent with the thrust direction of the rod body, in this case, the juice squeezing force and the residue discharge force can be increased, the food residues at a residue discharge opening can be discharged more easily, then the phenomenon that the food residues block the residue discharge opening can be reduced.

Abstract: The system may be a device that allows for mixture of an additive to a substance in a line of flow. The system may include a hydration pack with a reservoir that may contain a first substance, such as water. The system may include a cartridge with an additive that is mixed to the line of flow through a Venturi which may include a rolling seal that is manipulated with a dial a user manipulates to adjust the amount of additive added to the line of flow. The mixed liquid may then be accessed through a hose from the system to a mouth piece. The system may be modular to allow a user to replace the cartridge by disengaging a first component and a second component of the system through a buckling mechanism and replacing the cartridge within the second component. The cartridges may be reusable, recyclable or disposable.

Abstract: Provided is a method for bonding dissimilar metals to each other, the method comprising: dissimilar metal layer-forming steps (P2), (P3), (P4) for supplying, to form dissimilar metal layers; a second metal layer-forming step (P5) for supplying, on the surface of the dissimilar metal layers, a filler material formed of a second metal, and heating the filler material formed of the second metal to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the second metal, to form a second metal layer formed of the second metal; and a second material-to-be-bonded welding step (P6) for welding a second material to be bonded that is formed of the second metal, onto the second metal layer.

Abstract: A device for storing, baking, and discharging bakery goods includes a plurality of stations with each station having a housing. The plurality of stations include a storage station for receiving a carrier loaded with bakery goods, a baking station for baking the bakery goods located on the carrier, and a discharging station on which bakery goods can be presented and removed. A robot transports the carrier between the plurality of stations. A carrying device provides suspended mounting of the robot, and the carrying device is supported by at least two of the plurality of stations.

Abstract: A delivery device that is usable in a laser peening operation emits a columnar flow of a fluid that contains therein a beam of electromagnetic energy. The beam is retained within the interior of the flow of fluid since the total internal reflectivity of the flow is sufficient to do so. The flow of fluid that serves as a conduit for the beam also itself impinges on a workpiece and thus contains and washes away the plasma that forms from a laser peening operation, and this resists the plasma from reaching and possibly damaging the delivery device. The carrying of the beam in the columnar flow of fluid avoids the need to maintain a fixed distance between the delivery device and the workpiece, which simplifies the movement by a robotic manipulator of the delivery device along a non-planar surface of a workpiece during a laser peening operation.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring laser cutting processes in the high-power range above 1 kW mean output envisage automatic quality control after interruption and/or completion of a cutting process carried out with predetermined cutting parameters. According to the disclosure the cutting process is interrupted after a first partial processing step, whereupon a partial section (K1 . . . KX) of the processing path is scanned. This preferably takes place at a higher speed than that for the first partial processing procedure and preferably close to or on the same processing path. On the basis of the scan result at least one quality feature of the processing result is automatically determined and compared with predefined quality specifications. Depending on the result of the comparison a fault message can then be issued, the processing interrupted, reworking of a defect point carried out, at least one cutting parameter adjusted, and the cutting process continued with the changed set of cutting parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods of adapting the geometrical shape of a laser beam in laser-based powder-bed fusion (PBF) are provided. An apparatus for laser-based powder-bed fusion includes a depositor that deposits a plurality of layers of a powder material. The apparatus further includes a laser beam source that generates a laser beam having a variable beam geometry. A laser application component applies the laser beam in one of a plurality of beam geometries to fuse the powder material to construct a build piece.

Abstract: A system and method for servicing a welding torch is provided. The system includes a gripping module for holding and releasing a component of the welding torch, the gripping module is movable along an axis of the gripping module and rotatable about the axis; and a control system for providing a degree of freedom in a movement of the gripping module to control or reduce a force exerted between mating components of the welding torch.

Abstract: A method for joining a metal material element to a plastic material element, in particular a composite material including a plastic matrix reinforced with fibers for use in the construction of motor-vehicle components. The method involves providing one or more slots in a portion of the plastic material element. For each slot, a corresponding tab is provided in the metal material element, having a shorter width and length than a width and length of the slot. The metal material and plastic material elements are arranged in a position of mutual coupling where each tab is inserted through the corresponding slot and has an end portion protruding beyond said portion of the plastic material element. A laser beam is directed above the protruding end portion, so as to locally melt the metal material of each tab and create an enlarged head on each tab that is welded above the plastic material element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-mode laser device for metal manufacturing applications including additive manufacturing (AM), laser cladding, laser welding, laser cutting, laser texturing and laser polishing. The multi-mode laser device configures off-axis, solid-state diode or diode-pumped lasers into an array to perform precision controlled, direct metal deposition printing, cladding, laser welding, laser cutting, laser texturing and laser polishing through a single device. Dual-mode printing, cladding and welding capability using metal wire and powder feedstock sources in the same device is provided with in-line control, precision wire feed driver/controller, adjustable shield gas diffuser, and nozzles tailored to wire feedstock diameter.

Abstract: An illumination device for a heating zone of a cooking hob. The illumination device comprises a light source element and a reflecting element. Further, the illumination device comprises an insulating layer horizontally arranged within the heating zone. Said insulating layer includes a light channel formed as a cut-out. The illumination device comprises a reflecting, diffusing and/or refracting layer covering at least the light channel. The light source element and the reflecting element are arranged such that a light beam from said light source element is redirected by the reflecting element into the light channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures from a material that is to be solidified by way of location-selective solidification thereof as a result of light-induced chemical and/or physical processes in the material includes a laser source for producing a laser beam, a focusing optical unit for focusing the laser beam so as to form a laser focus, and a beam-splitter optical unit for splitting the laser beam into at least two partial laser beams. The laser source, the focusing optical unit and the beam-splitter optical unit are arranged such that the laser beam, starting from the laser source, passes first through the focusing optical unit and then through the beam-splitter optical unit and the partial laser beams finally are each directed to different locations on the material that is to be solidified.

Abstract: Methods for producing a cohesive laser bond connection, wherein, in a first method step, a bond element (2) made from copper is provided, in a second method step, a contact element (3) made from copper is provided, and, in a third method step, the bond element (2) and the contact element (3) are connected to one another in a joined fashion under the action of green laser radiation (1).

Abstract: Apparatus for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing, including a process chamber for receiving on a build surface of a build plate a bath of powdered material which can be solidified, a support for positioning the build plate in relation to a surface level of the bath of material, a solidifying device for solidifying a selective part of the material; and a build plate preparation means for preparation of the build surface of the build plate such that the object can be build on the build surface of the build plate. Method of producing an object by means of additive manufacturing on a build surface of a build plate using such an apparatus.

Abstract: Conductors for use in heating systems are provided. The conductors are configured to have an extended current path for the current and increased resistance as seen by the current. The heating system may be an induction system. For example, the conductor may comprise a conductive material having a surface which faces an induction coil of an oscillating circuit. This surface may have a predetermined pattern of peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys form a non-linear current path for the induced current when exposed to an electromagnetic field generated by the oscillating circuit. Other conductors such as a heat pipe may be used. The pipe may have walls with varying thicknesses over its length. The varying thicknesses may include a first thickness and a second thickness which alternate. The heat pipe may be used in an induction or direct contact heating system where AC is directly applied to the pipe.

Abstract: An insert for a waterless portable heating device can include multiple containers or shelves arranged in layers for insertion into the device. For example, the insert can have multiple compartments to heat multiple separate ingredients at the same time, e.g., without the ingredients touching each other.