Abstract: A reusable cartridge and method for forming a beverage using a beverage machine. The cartridge may include multiple openings, e.g., arranged to receive an inlet needle, through which liquid may be introduced into the cartridge. One or more of the openings may be closed to flow, e.g., by a plug that engages with a corresponding opening by a friction fit. A filter basket may be inserted or removed into the interior space through the opening and a cover may engage at top to seal the opening closed.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.

Abstract: A system and method for an automated cooking device that includes a multi-ingredient dispenser with a base, liquid dispenser and a dispensing selector, wherein the base comprises a set of base receptacles; a set of ingredient dispenser units that removably couple with the base receptacles and controllably open when in an engaged mode with the dispensing selector of the multi-ingredient dispenser; a cooking apparatus with a heating unit and mixing unit; and a control unit that is configured to process a multi-stage cooking process and that at least partially controls the dispensing selector, heating unit, mixing unit, and liquid dispenser.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a metallic workpiece in layers by additive manufacturing, metallurgical layers of the workpiece being produced by providing a metal material in a manufacturing chamber for each metallurgical layer and applying a laser beam to the metal material, and providing a gas atmosphere in the manufacturing chamber during the application of the laser beam to the layers of the metal material, wherein a part of the gas atmosphere is drawn off from the manufacturing chamber as a gas stream, at least one parameter of the gas stream and/or the gas atmosphere being determined and being compared with a desired value. Depending on the comparison of the parameter with the desired value, the gas stream is fed back to the manufacturing chamber and a process gas is supplied to the manufacturing chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a laser processing method for drilling a hole in a glass substrate with using a carbon dioxide laser, including the steps of: irradiating the laser onto a drilling position on the glass substrate from a side of the glass substrate on which a protective sheet is adhered so as to form a blind hole; removing the protective sheet from the glass substrate and performing an annealing treatment; and performing a wet-etching process on a side of the glass substrate not irradiated with the laser so as to convert the blind hole into a through hole.

Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor includes performing an oxide formation operation on a sheet of material. The oxide formation operation forms an anode metal oxide on an anode metal. A thermal compression is performed on the sheet of material after the oxide formation operation is performed. The thermal compression applies thermal energy to the sheet of material while applying pressure to the sheet of material. After the thermal compression, the capacitor is assembled such that at least one electrode in the capacitor includes at least a portion of the sheet of material.

Abstract: A metal heater system. More specifically, a plurality of metal heaters is coupled to the surface of the lower end of a pipeline at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline, and PTC heating elements inside the metal heaters conduct heat to local portions of the pipeline. Convection is generated in a fluid inside the pipeline because of the heat conducted to the local portions, and thus the overall pipeline is maintained at a constant temperature, efficiently preventing the freezing and bursting of the pipeline in winter.

Abstract: In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to prevent dry firing of the heating elements by measuring temperatures over time with the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A laser welded assembly and method of making. The laser welded assembly includes a first work piece having a thickness (T1) defined between an external surface and a faying surface; a second work piece having a thickness (T2) defined between an external surface and a faying surface of the second work piece; a weld seam having a core fusion zone extending from the external surface of the first work piece through the faying interface and at least partially into the thickness (T2) of the second work piece; and a protruding fusion zone extending laterally from the core fusion zone adjacent to the external surface of the first work piece. The protruding fusion zone may be formed by post-heating or concurrently with the core fusion zone.

Abstract: A deicing system may include one or more walkway cassettes, a temperature control element, and a control unit. Each walkway cassette may include a casing and a heat tracing; cable in good thermal contact with the casing. The temperature control element may include a comparatively smaller casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing, and may exhibit similar heat loss characteristics to the walkway cassettes. The temperature control element may include a temperature sensor on a top surface of its casing, which may generate temperature data and send the temperature data to the control unit. The control unit may provide power to the temperature control element and the walkway cassette(s) in parallel based on the temperature data. The temperature control element may be placed in proximity to the walkway cassette(s), and may be exposed to substantially the same environmental conditions as the walkway cassettes.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a screw, a food processing cup assembly, and a food processor. The screw comprises a screw body including a feeding area for feeding and a crushing area connected to the feeding area; a first spiral rib is spirally arranged on the feeding area along the axial direction of the screw body, and extending to the crushing area along a top of the screw body; a cutting surface extending from the top of the screw body to the crushing area; a plurality of second spiral ribs are disposed on the screw body at intervals along the axial direction of the screw body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for peening by coupling a laser shock wave and an ultrasonic shock wave in real time. The device includes a synchronization device, a laser device, two ultrasonic shock devices, a working platform and a control system. An upper casing is supported above a base through second hydraulic cylinders. Two supporting beams are provided under the upper casing through the second hydraulic cylinders. Limiting slide rails are provided under the upper casing through first hydraulic cylinders. The two ultrasonic shock devices are connected through the synchronization device, which is configured to synchronize movement and rotation of the two ultrasonic shock devices. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam to pass through the upper casing and irradiate a surface of a workpiece. The control system controls the laser device to lag behind the two ultrasonic shock devices to perform laser shock.

Abstract: Joining methods and corresponding structures are disclosed. In some instances, a method for joining two or more components may include generating a shockwave in a first component to form a jet of a material of the first component directed towards a second component. The jet may penetrate the second component to connect the first component with the second component. Articles of pre-joined and joined components are also described.

Abstract: An arc welder includes a welding power supply, a forward/reverse welding wire feeder, and a controller for the power supply and the wire feeder. Welding is implemented by repeating unit welding steps each including a short circuit stage with the welding wire and a base material being short-circuited and an arc stage with an arc being generated between the wire and the material. A transition period continues from a starting point of the arc stage till the wire feeding rate reaches a forward maximum. An average welding current is defined as an average of the welding current during the short circuit and arc stages. Within the transition period, the controller sets a current suppression period during which welding current is smaller than the average welding current. Transition period length T0 and current suppression period length T1 are set to satisfy the inequality 0<T1/T0?0.8.

Abstract: A fixture used in the manufacture of an eyepiece, to cut the eyepiece to a particular shape, and a method of using the fixture to cut the eyepiece to have a desired shape. Embodiments are directed to a configurable fixture to align, hold, and protect a plastic sheet (e.g., a wafer) while a laser cutting apparatus is cutting one or more eyepieces out of the wafer. During the cutting, the fixture protects the eyepieces from reflected laser light by providing voids around the laser cutting lines, and by supporting each eyepiece near its perimeter. The fixture can be quickly rearranged for different eyepieces, different eyepiece shapes, and/or different plastic sheet sizes.

Abstract: A control body is coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, with the cartridge being equipped with a heating element. The control body includes first and second positive conductors connectable with respectively a power supply and the heating element. The control body includes a series pull-up resistor and switch connected to and between the first and second positive conductors. A microprocessor is configured to operate the switch in a closed state in a standby mode in which the pull-up resistor causes a logical high level of voltage at the second positive conductor when the control body and cartridge are uncoupled, and in which the heating element is unpowered causes a logical low level of the voltage when the control body and cartridge are coupled. The microprocessor is configured to measure the voltage and control operation of functional element(s) of the aerosol delivery device based thereon.

Abstract: The beverage brewing device, which is configured for use with a beverage brewer having an inlet probe for dispensing water and an outlet probe, includes a body defining a brew chamber configured to contain a dry beverage medium and at least one outlet probe receptacle extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the body. The outlet probe receptacle is sized and configured to receive an outlet probe of a beverage brewer. A lid is removably securable to the body and is engageable with the body to selectively enclose a top opening of the body. An inlet probe opening is defined in the lid for receiving an inlet probe of the beverage brewer. At least one filter is defined within in the body, wherein the filter is configured to retain a dry beverage medium within the brew chamber while allowing a brewed beverage to pass through the brew chamber.

Abstract: In a laser irradiation apparatus 1 according to one embodiment, each of first and second flotation units 30a, 30b includes a base 31, and a porous plate 32 bonded to an upper surface of the base 31 by an adhesive layer 34, the base 31 includes a rising portion 312 protruding upward at an outer periphery facing at least the gap, and the porous plate 32 includes a cutout portion 321 configured to fit to the rising portion 312, and the adhesive layer 34 is formed along an inner wall of the rising portion 312 having fitted to the cutout portion 321.

Abstract: An air fryer comprises a main body and a lid assembly. The lid assembly is operable to removably cover the main body. The air fryer comprises a support structure removably assembled to the lid assembly; wherein the support structure is operable to be seated on a working surface for supporting the lid assembly, thereby providing convenient placement of the lid assembly.

Abstract: A flavored vapor generator (100, 200, 300, 400) used for an electronic smoking apparatus (10) comprises a housing; a liquid retention material (155, 255) which is filled, soaked or immersed with a flavored liquid and received inside the housing; an electric heater (150, 350, 450) for heating the liquid retention material (155, 255) to generate flavored vapor; and a sensor (156, 356, 456) for monitoring soaking or wetness conditions of the liquid retention material (155, 255) and providing signals for determining whether the flavored liquid in the liquid retention material (155, 255) is exhausted or almost exhausted.