Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.

Abstract: The method includes defining a duct within a capillary medium, forming an air impingement surface that defines a first opening, the air impingement surface including electrically conductive filaments, and connecting the air impingement surface to a first surface of the capillary medium to form an assembly, at least one first portion of the air impingement surface extending into the first surface.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses to optimize all stages of sparkling wine production using the ‘Champagne’ method. For instance, there is a specially configured apparatus utilized for a method for producing sparkling wine within the wine bottle through a secondary fermentation. The apparatus is attached to the wine bottle to seal in pressure. Specifically, a neck collar of the apparatus is positioned upon a neck section and a sealing cap is pressed onto a mouth opening wine bottle above the neck collar and coupled to the neck collar of the apparatus. A tensioner of the apparatus induces a clamping force between the neck collar and the sealing cap to seal the pressure generated from fermentation. A pressure indicator measures and displays pressure which is retained and limited to a maximum pressure within the bottle via a Pressure Reduction Valve (PRV) of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laser welding the end faces of the joints (5, 6) of two connecting flanges (3, 4), which are held in an adjoining manner, of two connecting partners (1, 2) made of a steel material. According to the method, in addition to being moved in the advancement direction, which follows the longitudinal extension of the joints (5, 6), the welding laser beam (8) is moved back and forth in an oscillating manner transversely to the advancement direction. At least one of the two connecting partners (1, 2) to be welded at the connecting flange (3, 4) joints (5, 6) is equipped with a metal coating at least in the region of the respective connecting flange (3, 4).

Abstract: Some embodiments herein are directed to devices and methods for automatically starting a plasma utilizing a wand. In some embodiments, the wand may be used to start a plasma in a plasma torch such as, for example, a microwave plasma torch or an induction plasma torch, as discussed below. The wand may comprise an elongate, hollow wand member comprising a closed distal end, a proximal end, and one or more apertures extending from a hollow interior of the wand member to an exterior surface of the wand member; and an elongate wire member positioned within the hollow interior of the wand member and extending along at least a portion of a length of the wand member, wherein the wire member is configured to be placed in operable communication through the aperture with a power source, such that the power source can be activated to in turn start the plasma within the plasma torch.

Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device includes an outlet end and a distal end. The article may include a heat diffuser at the distal end of the article. The article may include an aerosol-forming substrate between the heat diffuser and the outlet end. The heat diffuser may include a non-combustible porous body configured to absorb heat from an electric heating element such that the heat diffuser is configured to heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end based on the heat absorbed in the porous body. The heated aerosol-generating article may be included in a heated aerosol-generating system that includes an electric heating element configured to generate heat. The heat diffuser may heat air drawn through the aerosol-generating system, based on absorbing heat generated by the electric heating element.

Abstract: A rotary drum blancher/cooler for processing food includes a skinsheet comprised of a plurality of sections, clamps, and structural channels. Each clamp has clamping and release positions, and includes a base, a bail connected to the base, a draw connected to the bail, and at least a portion of a skinsheet clamp bar connected to the draw. The sections are disposed between structural channels, such that the drum is defined by the skinsheet sections alternating with the structural channels. The base is attached to a structural channel, and the draw extends from within to outside the structural channel. The skinsheet clamp bar is outside the structural channel. When the clamp is in the clamping position the clamp bar holds a skinsheet section to the structural channel in an operating position. When the clamp is in the release position configuration the clamp bar allows skinsheet section to move away from the structural channel in cleaning position.

Abstract: Proposed is a method of processing a superfine blade edge using a femtosecond laser, the method including primarily grinding a blade edge portion by using a grinding wheel, the blade edge being primarily ground in a direction vertical to a rotational direction of the grinding wheel; and secondarily grinding at least a part of the blade edge portion by emitting a femtosecond laser to the ground blade edge portion in a lengthwise direction, wherein the secondarily grinding includes: oscillating the femtosecond laser; modifying the energy distribution of the femtosecond laser; aligning a central portion of the energy distribution of the femtosecond laser to an end portion of the blade edge portion; changing an advancing direction of the femtosecond laser; and emitting the femtosecond laser to the blade edge portion while moving, in the lengthwise direction of the blade, a stage on which the blade is placed.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for dicing a bonded structure are provided. A method for dicing a bonded structure includes thinning a top surface and a bottom surface of a bonded structure. The bonded structure may have a first wafer and a second wafer bonded with a bonding interface. The method may also include forming a series of ablation structures in the first wafer and the second wafer. The series of ablation structures may be between a first part and a second part of the bonded structure. The method may also include separating the first part and the second part of the bonded structure along the series of ablation structures.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a housing defining an internal chamber. The internal chamber includes a cooking portion. The apparatus includes a single cooking container configured and adapted to be removably received in the cooking portion of the internal chamber. The single cooking container defines a cooking volume. The apparatus includes at least two heating elements positioned within the cooking portion of the internal chamber.

Abstract: The method includes first defining a reservoir in a housing, the reservoir configured to contain a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation being devoid of nicotine and including at least one non-nicotine compound, positioning a heater and a wick in a chamber, the heater being in heating proximity to the wick, second defining at least one first channel, the at least one first channel being configured to communicate the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir to the wick, and third defining at least one first air passage, the at least one first air passage being configured to allow air to enter the reservoir.

Abstract: A cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smoke into a beverage includes a sealing base having a center and an outer perimeter. A chimney stack is aligned with the center of the sealing base and projects from a top major surface of the sealing base. A combustion chamber is disposed within the chimney stack. A smoke directing lip is aligned with the center of the sealing base and projects from a bottom major surface of the sealing base. The combustion chamber is aligned with the smoke directing lip. One or more smoke transfer openings are formed in the sealing base, each having an upper end in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a lower end that is surrounded by the smoke directing lip. The sealing base, the chimney stack, and the smoke directing lip are made of wood. A combustible material may be packed into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A cathode emitter assembly includes a cathode tube having a gas feed portion and a plasma outflow portion; an outer annular cathode insert in the plasma outflow portion of the cathode tube; an inner cathode insert in the plasma outflow section of the cathode tube; and an annular plasma emission portion defined between an inner surface of the outer annular cathode insert and an outer surface of the inner cathode insert.

Abstract: A laser reflow apparatus reflows solder bumps disposed on a side of a semiconductor chip in a workpiece and included in an irradiation range on the workpiece by applying a laser beam to an opposite side of the semiconductor chip. The laser reflow apparatus includes a spatial beam modulation unit including a laser power density setting function to locally set the laser power density in the irradiation range of a laser beam emitted from a laser beam source, and an image focusing unit including an image focusing function to focus the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source and apply the focused laser beam to the irradiation range on the workpiece.

Abstract: Containers are provided for use with a beverage dispensing device. The container can include a housing defining a hollow interior and having an inlet leading to the hollow interior therein, an outlet disposed on the housing and leading to the hollow interior, a tube extending from the inlet and through the hollow interior toward a wall of the housing opposite the inlet, and a valve disposed in the outlet.

Abstract: A method for operating an automated food making apparatus having a motor, actuator arm, and an apparatus. The apparatus may be a paddle with flexible fins. The method rotates the paddle with a pin-shaft mechanism to dispense an ingredient placed in a canister, controls the motor automatically based on weight sensor readings, and locates a position of the actuator arm with position sensors. The same motor dispenses ingredients from a plurality of canisters. The method may have a plurality of paddle rotation and weight measurement steps until a target weight is reached. The plurality of paddle rotation steps may be unidirectional or bidirectional paddle rotation. The paddle may be rotated according to one or more paddle rotation algorithms, an error recovery algorithm, or different algorithms based on the amounts of ingredients remaining in the canister. The paddle may be rocked until the target weight is achieved.

Abstract: An automated food making apparatus having a carousel and at least one canister. The at least one canister may include a disposable bag having ingredients therein, with the disposable bag being disposed at an upper portion of the canister. The at least one canister may further include a reusable lower portion configured to be removably attached to the disposable bag. The reusable lower portion may further include a paddle to aid in dispensing ingredients from the disposable bag. The automated food making apparatus may further include a dispensing apparatus that is configured to dispense ingredients from the disposable bag.

Abstract: A light guide device includes a first light guide part, a polygon mirror, and a second light guide part. The first part reflects and guides a laser light emitted from a laser generator. The polygon mirror rotates and includes reflective parts. The reflective parts are arranged to form a regular polygonal reflective surface when viewed in a rotation axis direction, the polygon mirror reflecting the light guided by the first part by the reflective part while rotating. The second part reflects the light reflected at the reflective part and guides the light so that the light is irradiated to the workpiece at each of the reflective parts. The reflective part reflects the incident light so that the optical axis of the incident light offset in the rotation axis direction. At least two reflective parts differ from each other in position in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: A device for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances such as fragrances and/or active agents, includes a container and a capillary element in contact with said substance to be dispensed that conveys said substance to at least one substance dispensing region by a capillary effect. At least one electrical heating element adjoins said at least one capillary element. An electrical connection element supplies said electrical heating element with electrical energy. The heating element is a constituent part of said container and said container can be releasably connected to said electrical connection element. An electrical contact device is provided for electrically connecting said heating element to said electrical connection element in a releasable manner.

Abstract: A conductive ink may comprise a high temperature thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a plurality of conductive particles disposed in the high temperature TPU. The plurality of conductive particles may comprise between 60% and 95% of the conductive ink by weight. The high temperature TPU may include a melting point between 120° C. and 200° C. The conductive ink may be used for external heated composite structures, such as rotor blades, fixed wings, faring, engine lip electrothermal ice protection, or the like. The conductive ink may have enhanced mechanical fatigue resistance.