Abstract: A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Abstract: A tape for use in tape-automated-bonding of integrated circuits is disclosed. A series of interconnection arrays ("frames") are arranged along the tape, each array being formed by a number of interconnection beams 3. A terminal ("bump") 6 is located on each beam 3 for bonding to a respective interconnection pad 7 of an integrated circuit 8. Conventional bumps are made of gold-plated copper and have uneven and unyielding bonding surfaces which can fail to provide consistent bonds. The bumps 6 of the tape disclosed comprise a conductive material having a Vickers hardness number of 55 or less, and thus have a compliance which facilitates more even bonding. A method of producing the tape is also disclosed.