Abstract: A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ceramic tape includes a step of directing a tape of partially-sintered ceramic into a furnace. The tape is partially-sintered such that grains of the ceramic are fused to one another yet the tape still includes at least 10% porosity by volume, where the porosity refers to volume of the tape unoccupied by the ceramic. The method further includes steps of conveying the tape through the furnace and further sintering the tape as the tape is conveyed through the furnace. The porosity of the tape decreases during the further sintering step.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a tape advancing through the manufacturing system and a station of the manufacturing system. The tape includes a first portion having grains of an inorganic material bound by an organic binder. The station of the manufacturing system receives the first portion of the tape and prepares the tape for sintering by chemically changing the organic binder and/or removing the organic binder from the first portion of the tape, leaving the grains of the inorganic material, to form a second portion of the tape and, at least in part, prepare the tape for sintering.

Abstract: A tool for holding an article, the tool incorporating a first tube having proximal and distal ends; a cylindrical member received within the first tube, the cylindrical member having proximal and distal ends; a first pair of jaws, wherein one of the jaws among the first pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the first tube, and wherein the other jaw among the first pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the cylindrical member; and a second pair of jaws, wherein a first jaw among the second pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the first tube, and wherein the other jaw among the second pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: An oven hood assembly for shrouding a longitudinal end of a tunnel oven stack, wherein each tunnel oven has longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports, and has a food conveyor having ends extending longitudinally and oppositely longitudinally from one of the tunnel ovens' longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports; the assembly incorporating a channel member having front and rear walls, and having a longitudinal wall spanning between longitudinal ends of the front and rear walls; having a pair of lower tracks supported beneath the longitudinal end of one of the conveyors; and having a pair of upper tracks supported at an upper end of the channel member, wherein the pair of upper tracks engage the pair of lower tracks to suspend the channel member from the conveyor's longitudinal end, and to facilitate motions of the channel member along the pair of lower tracks.

Abstract: A tool for holding an article, the tool incorporating a first tube having proximal and distal ends; a cylindrical member received within the first tube, the cylindrical member having proximal and distal ends; a first pair of jaws, wherein one of the jaws among the first pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the first tube, and wherein the other jaw among the first pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the cylindrical member; and a second pair of jaws, wherein a first jaw among the second pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the first tube, and wherein the other jaw among the second pair of jaws is fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the distal end of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A conveyor tunnel oven incorporating forwardly opening baking case having a rear wall, a longitudinal wall, an oppositely longitudinal wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, the case being further opened by a longitudinal food passage port and an oppositely longitudinal food passage port; a continuous loop conveyor within the baking case, the conveyor extending to the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports; a panel having a forward surface, the panel being fitted for closing the baking case's forward opening; a pair of “L” hooks, each “L” hook including a helically threaded stem and a foot, the hooks positioning the panel over the baking case's forward opening; and a “J” hook having a stem and a tail, the tail having a distal end and a throat engaging the “L” hooks' feet so that the “J” hook's stem overlies the panel's forward surface.

Abstract: A conveyor tunnel oven incorporating forwardly opening baking case having a rear wall, a longitudinal wall, an oppositely longitudinal wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, the case being further opened by a longitudinal food passage port and an oppositely longitudinal food passage port; a continuous loop conveyor within the baking case, the conveyor extending to the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports; a panel having a forward surface, the panel being fitted for closing the baking case's forward opening; a pair of “L” hooks, each “L” hook including a helically threaded stem and a foot, the hooks positioning the panel over the baking case's forward opening; and a “J” hook having a stem and a tail, the tail having a distal end and a throat engaging the “L” hooks' feet so that the “J” hook's stem overlies the panel's forward surface.

Abstract: A new almond variety (Prunus dulcis) designated as ‘Kester’ is provided that is well-suited for serving as a pollenizer of the widely-grown ‘Nonpareil’ variety. ‘Kester’ is cross-compatible with ‘Nonpareil’ and has good bloom overlap with this variety, making ‘Kester’ highly complementary to ‘Nonpareil’ in production systems. ‘Kester’ has demonstrated low potential for Noninfectious Bud Failure and other serious afflictions of almond. Further, ‘Kester’ displays desirable tree and nut qualities, along with exceptional yields.

Abstract: An improved Prunus dulcis variety is provided that is well suited for serving as a replacement for the premium quality ‘Marcona’ variety (non-patented in the United States). A distinctive heart-shape kernel in combination with very high kernel lipid quality is displayed. Good bloom overlap is displayed with the widely-grown ‘Nonpareil’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and pollen is cross-compatible with ‘Nonpareil’ and all major California almond varieties. The tree exhibits an upright-spreading growth habit with good productivity. Desirable fruit and kernel characteristics for shelled and processed almond production are displayed.

Abstract: An improved Prunus dulcis variety is provided that is well suited for serving as a replacement for the premium quality ‘Marcona’ variety (non-patented in the United States). A distinctive heart-shape kernel in combination with very high kernel lipid quality is displayed. Good bloom overlap is displayed with the widely-grown ‘Nonpareil’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and pollen is cross-compatible with ‘Nonpareil’ and all major California almond varieties. The tree exhibits an upright-spreading growth habit with good productivity. Desirable fruit and kernel characteristics for shelled and processed almond production are displayed.

Abstract: A new almond variety (Prunus dulcis) designated as ‘Kester’ is provided that is well-suited for serving as a pollenizer of the widely-grown ‘Nonpareil’ variety. ‘Kester’ is cross-compatible with ‘Nonpareil’ and has good bloom overlap with this variety, making ‘Kester’ highly complementary to ‘Nonpareil’ in production systems. ‘Kester’ has demonstrated low potential for Noninfectious Bud Failure and other serious afflictions of almond. Further, ‘Kester’ displays desirable tree and nut qualities, along with exceptional yields.