Abstract: A fixing device (1) for fixing workpieces, to fix substantially rod-shaped workpieces and workpieces to be machined by wire erosion or lasing, including a support apparatus (20) with a plurality of shaped elements (21) for accommodating and supporting a plurality of workpieces in the correspondingly formed shaped elements (21), and for positioning and fixing the workpieces in at least one translatory degree of freedom (22) in the shaped elements (21), wherein the fixing device (1) has a clamping apparatus (50) by means of which pressure force (52) can be applied to a plurality of workpieces accommodated in the shaped elements (21) so that the workpieces are fixed in the clamping apparatus (50) at least in a friction lock due to the applied pressure force, and wherein the support apparatus (20) as shaped elements (21) includes a plurality of passages (30) through which the workpieces can be guided.

Abstract: A method of making a component includes depositing a metallic powder on a workplane; directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a cross-sectional layer of the component; repeating in a cycle the steps of depositing and fusing to build up the component in a layer-by layer fashion; and during the cycle of depositing and melting, using an external heat control apparatus separate from the directed energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature profile of the component, such that the resulting component has a directionally-solidified or single-crystal microstructure.

Abstract: To provide a laser machine capable of reliably drilling a small hole when drilling of the workpiece is performed. A laser machine 1 includes: a laser oscillator; a light guide path; a processing head; and a nozzle. The nozzle includes: a nozzle tip body that irradiates the workpiece with the laser beam; a charge port formed in the nozzle tip body; and an exhaust port formed in the nozzle tip body so as to oppose to the charge port. The nozzle supplies gas to the inside of the nozzle tip body along a gas flow path extending from the charge port to the exhaust port in a form of crossing across the laser beam in the nozzle tip body, to generate a negative pressure in the vicinity of an opening part of a tip end of the nozzle tip body.

Abstract: A method for resistance spot welding a metallic material to a sandwich material that includes a plastic core layer with two metallic cover layers may involve positioning a first electrode onto a surface of the metallic material, positioning an opposing second electrode onto a surface of the metallic cover layer that is apart from the metallic material, heating a region to be welded in such a manner that the plastic core layer in the region to be welded softens, moving the electrodes together to displace the softened plastic from the region to be welded until the two cover layers make contact with one another in a contact region, and welding the metallic cover layers to the metallic material in the contact region by a flow of electrical current across the first and second electrodes. A device by way of which a simple structure with a limited heat-affected zone is also disclosed for performing such methods.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a food processing system that allows processed food that is sterilized and has a good texture to be identically provided on a large production scale. The food processing system is provided with: a heating unit equipped with a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food; a cooling unit equipped with a cooling mechanism for cooling the food heated by the heating unit; and a transfer unit for transferring the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit. The integrated food processing system according to the present invention allows a large amount of sterilized food having a good texture, good taste and long shelf life to be provided.

Abstract: A delivery unit (1) for an apparatus for making a beverage, in particular for making an espresso coffee. The delivery unit (1) includes a cup-shaped body (2) delimiting an inner chamber (20), the cup-shaped body (2) including a lateral wall (21) and a bottom wall (23). The delivery unit (1) also includes an infeed spout (3) for introducing beverage into the inner chamber (20) and an outfeed opening (45) through which the beverage can come out of the inner chamber (20), the outfeed opening (45) being positioned in a central portion of the bottom wall (23). In the inner chamber (20) the delivery unit (1) includes a partition wall (5) which surrounds the outfeed opening (45) and divides the inner chamber (20) into a peripheral region (26) and a central region (28) in which the outfeed opening (45) is located. The partition wall (5) includes a plurality of passage openings (55) for allowing the beverage to pass from the peripheral region (26) to the central region (28).

Abstract: In a wire electric discharge machine, time from application of a voltage to a machining gap between a workpiece and a wire electrode until occurrence of electric discharge is measured as a discharge delay time, and the measured discharge delay time is integrated over a predetermined measurement period to calculate a discharge delay integrated time. Further, the number of times of the voltage application in the measurement period is counted. An average discharge delay time per voltage application in the measurement period is calculated from the discharge delay integrated time and the number of times of voltage application. The movement of the wire electrode with respect to the workpiece is controlled on the basis of the average discharge delay time.

Abstract: A flat heater includes a housing including an accommodating groove formed inside the housing; a circuit unit disposed within the housing to control the heater, wherein the circuit unit includes a circuit board and a first rectifier disposed on the circuit board; a heating module disposed in the accommodating groove and electrically connected to the circuit unit, wherein the heating module includes a plurality of heating pipes and a plurality of second rectifiers disposed in each of the heating pipes; an upper cover assembled to a top surface of the housing and comprising a long side and a short side, wherein a plurality of fluid-permeable holes are formed on the upper cover; and a suction member inserted into the through hole and attached to an object and thereby fixing the housing to the object.

Abstract: A series of metallic heating elements of large sizes are presented. A conventional metallic tubular heating element is positioned into a hollow metallic profile, wherein additional high temperature resistant components are used in different assemblies, as required. A coiled resistance conductor is positioned within the interstice of two metallic tubes fitted into one another, wherein an electrically insulating powder or grit is used within the interstice, and to embed the coiled resistance conductor, and wherein additional high temperature resistant components are used in different assemblies, as required. The assemblies provide methods to reduce the use of electrically insulating powders and/or thermally conductive powders for large size heating elements, and more particularly for radiant purposes; and components are also presented to improve the emissivity of the outer surface of the radiant heating elements with a colorful look, for surface temperatures operating around and up to 500° C. to 600° C.

Abstract: A method of joining together adjacent overlapping copper workpieces by way of resistance spot welding involves providing a workpiece stack-up that includes a first copper workpiece and a second copper workpiece that lies adjacent to the first copper workpiece. The faying surface of the first copper workpiece includes a projection that ascends beyond a surrounding base surface of the faying surface and makes contact, either directly or indirectly, with an opposed faying surface of the second copper workpiece. Once provided, a compressive force is applied against the first and second copper workpieces and an electric current is passed momentarily through the first and second copper workpieces. The electric current initially flows through the projection to generate and concentrate heat within the projection prior to the projection collapsing. This concentrated heat surge allows a metallurgical joint to be established between the first and second copper workpieces.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a masticating juicer may include a housing defining a compression chamber with an inner wall, at least one inlet, at least one juice outlet, and at least one pulp outlet. An auger may be rotatably mounted within the compression chamber and may include upstream and downstream ends and an auger surface in between. The auger may be rotatable about an axis of rotation to masticate and convey material in a downstream direction. The auger may be sized so that a cavity is formed between the auger surface and the inner wall of the compression chamber. An elastic restrictor may extend circumferentially around an interior of the compression chamber to at least partially span the cavity. The elastic restrictor may be shaped to provide variable resistance to material conveyed by the auger depending on a relative position of the material between the inner wall and the auger surface.

Abstract: A heatable media line includes a connecting part, which establishes an electrical connection, and serves to introduce a heat conductor into a media line section. A connection of the heat conductor with contact-forming parts is set up in an end part, and the heat conductor is tightly accommodated in boreholes of a coupling part by means of two sealing bodies spaced apart from each other, as well as introduced into the media line section by way of a supporting body for purposes of heating a medium flowing in the latter. In order to produce a reliable seal intended to prevent the medium from penetrating into the end part, recesses in the walls of the coupling part and an interruption of a creepage distance are configured between the sealing bodies such that the heat conductor is directly in contact with the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A system for cutting a substrate that is transparent within a predetermined range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum is provided that includes: a laser capable of emitting light along a light path and of a predetermined wavelength that is within the range of wavelengths in which the substrate is transparent; an optical element positioned in the light path of the laser such that the laser in conjunction with the optical element is capable of generating induced nonlinear absorption within at least a portion of the substrate; and an interface block composed of a material that is transparent over at least a portion of the predetermined range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum in which the substrate is also transparent. The interface block is positioned in the light path and between the substrate and the optical element. Further, the substrate will include an edge when extracted from a sheet.

Abstract: An oven appliance and method of operation are provided herein. The oven appliance may include a cabinet defining an oven cavity, a heat source disposed within the oven cavity, an acoustic wave reader, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) temperature sensor receivable within the oven cavity, and a controller in operable communication with the acoustic wave reader. The controller may be configured to initiate a sensor protection sequence. The sensor protection sequence may include initiating a preset oven cycle of the heat source, and monitoring the oven cavity for a condition signal in response to the initiated oven cycle. The sensor protection sequence may further include determining a state of the SAW temperature sensor based on the monitoring, and halting the preset oven cycle based on a determined cavity-enclosed state of the SAW temperature sensor within the oven cavity.

Abstract: A coffee roasting apparatus is disclosed that comprises a compartment for holding coffee beans; a roasting element for roasting the coffee beans in said compartment; a controller for controlling the roasting element; and a sensor for monitoring a total amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by said coffee beans during roasting and providing the controller with an indication of said monitored amount. The controller is adapted to receive an indication of the total weight of the coffee beans in the compartment and control the roasting element as a function of the indication of the monitored total amount and the indication of the total weight, said function defining the total VOC release characteristics of said coffee beans during roasting. A coffee brewing apparatus and coffee roasting method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric heating and stirring machine that heats and stirs a substance or substances placed in a carafe for brewing coffee, tea, or extracting substances into fats or oils. The device uses a motor to rotate a magnet holder upon which magnets are mounted. The rotation of the magnets magnetically rotates a stirrer, through attraction to the rotating magnets, rotation of the stirrer stirs the contents of the carafe. The contents of the carafe are heated, preferably by an infrared or induction heater located below the carafe. The base of the stirrer is heated via induction or direct infrared heat. The temperature of the substance in the carafe is measured by a thermometer. A control circuit can be used to control the speed of mixing, the temperature, and the time of both stirring and heating.

Abstract: A low-frequency heating apparatus is provided. The low-frequency heating apparatus includes a signal generator configured to generate an operation frequency for inducing a current through a coil unit surrounding an internal area of a housing of the heating apparatus, a power amplifier configured to amplify power of the operation frequency to a predetermined level and transmit the amplified operation frequency to the coil unit, the coil unit configured to be energized to heat an object provided inside the housing through a magnetic field generated by the current, and at least one processor configured to monitor an impedance value of the coil unit resonating at the operation frequency and control a resonant operation of the coil unit based on the impedance value of the coil unit and an impedance value of the power amplifier.

Abstract: A single-use coffee capsule is disclosed that has a cup-shaped body and an extraction foil member for the preparation of a liquid coffee extract in a coffee preparation apparatus. Also disclosed is a system that includes the capsule and the coffee preparation apparatus. Further disclosed are methods of making and using the capsule and system.

Abstract: A chemical liquid thermostat control device is provided, and has a chemical tank for accommodating a chemical liquid, PTC resistor patterns for heating and maintaining the chemical liquid in a constant temperature, a current limit circuit for controlling the PTC resistor patterns to heat or to stop heating according to a real-time resistance value of each of the PTC resistor patterns, so as to maintain the chemical liquid at the constant temperature. The PTC resistor patterns are uniformly spaced in the chemical tank and immersed in the chemical liquid. Each of the PTC resistor patterns is connected with the current limit circuit through a wire. A heating power of a heating device can be real-time adjusted for intelligently heating. Thus, it is safer and a fire risk can be prevented. The life time of the PTC resistor patterns is more than a decade, and doesn't need be replaced frequently.

Abstract: A pipe assembly station for performing operations on a field joint during pipe assembly has an active rail extending around an opening through which the pipe can pass. Tool carriages are arranged to traverse along the active rail and around a periphery of the pipe. The station also comprises a standby position, distanced from the active rail and a switch arranged to transfer the tool carriage from the active rail to the standby position. By providing such a combination of a rail and a standby position, a tool carriage can be brought into position on the active rail to perform a pipe joining operation and can be subsequently set back to the standby position, where it is out of the way of operations taking place on the pipe. Such a switching arrangement allows for more effective use of the limited space around the joint.