Abstract: A dual-sided, conveyor toaster provides operator-adjustable conveyors that are also operator removable. The removable conveyor assemblies are chain driven and removably supported in the toaster by re-positionable mounting mechanisms embodied as either adjustable pins that engage fixed slots or adjustable slots that engage fixed pins. Fixed pins can be located on the conveyor and engage adjustable slots in the toaster; adjustable pins can be located on the toaster and engage fixed slots on the conveyor. The conveyor assemblies use non-marring plates to urge food products against the heated platen surfaces and to carry the food products across the platen.

Abstract: A method of toasting a food product like an English muffin irradiates the food product with infrared (IR) energy from an infrared energy source while simultaneously directing an unheated air stream toward the food product.

Abstract: A temperature controlled food storage unit is provided with a Peltier device (18) to effectuate the temperature of food place in a thermally conductive container or basin (24). Air from a fan (52) is passed through an air duct (50) and over a heat sink (22), which is thermally coupled to one side of the Peltier device (18). A hand-operated damper (54, 64) is used to control the air flow through the air duct (50) and over the heat sink (22) thereby controlling heat exchange between the Peltier device (18) and ambient air.

Abstract: A food heating device (100) includes a first conveyor (107) having a first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second conveyor (107) having a second thermally-conductive belt (105). A first platen (101) is disposed on a first side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second platen (103) disposed on a first side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105). The first conveyor (107) and the second conveyor (107) are arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a second side of the first thermally-conductive belt (105) and a second side of the second thermally-conductive belt (105).

Abstract: Temperature control is provided to food dispensing vessels like condiment dispensers that are too tall to be stored in a shallow, temperature-controlled tray or basin by using inclined or tilted, thermally-conductive tubes placed inside a temperature-controlled tray. Thermal insulating covers improve the thermal efficiency of the tubes.

Abstract: Passive temperature control is provided to vessels too tall to be stored in a shallow, temperature-controlled tray or basin by a vertically oriented thermally-conductive tube. In one embodiment, an insulative collar covers the tray and insulates portions of the tube that extend above the top of the tray. Optional heat sinking fins and air convection holes increase heat transfer between the tube and the tray.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a food heating device includes a first platen and a first conveyor arranged and spaced to transport a food product between the first platen (501) and the first conveyor (503). A second platen (501) and a second conveyor (503) arranged and spaced to transport the food product (203) between the second platen (501) and the second conveyor (503). A first end of the first platen (501) is disposed near a first end of the second conveyor (503) and a first end of the first conveyor (503) is disposed near a first end of the second platen (501) such that the food product (203) is automatically transferred from the first platen (501) to the second platen (501).

Abstract: One embodiment of a food heating device includes a platen (101) and an opening (103) disposed in the platen (101). The opening (103) is arranged and sized to receive a food product (203) from a first side of the platen (101) and to output the food product (203) to a second side of the platen (101). Alternative embodiments involve diagonally guiding a food product (203) along a different arrangements of platens (801, 901, 1001, 1101, 1401).

Abstract: A food heating device includes a platen (101) and a pair of conveyor segments (103). A first conveyor segment is arranged and spaced to transport a food product (201, 203, 205) between a first side of the platen (101) and the first conveyor segment (103). A second conveyor segment (103/703/903) is arranged and spaced to transport the food product between a second side of the platen (101) and the second conveyor segment (103/703/903). A transfer device (505/705) may be disposed at one end of the platen (101) such that the transfer device transfers the food product (203) from the first side of the platen (101) to the second side of the platen (101).

Abstract: A food heating device usable as a toaster, fryer or warmer uses a metal plate having separately heated regions separated by a thermal break. The separately heated regions use separately energized and controlled heating elements embedded to the material from which the metal plate is made. One region can be kept hot while the other region is shut off or kept at a lower temperature until demand requires both sides to be heated. Separating the regions by a thermal break reduces heat transfer from the hot side to the cool side.

Abstract: A new and improved sealed joint or system is disclosed for securing together the opposite ends of plastic strapping, which is encircled around the package or bale, in order to ensure that the opposite ends of the plastic strapping do not exhibit any slipping or relative movement with respect to each other whereby the predeterminedly formed size or shape of the package or bale is able to be preserved or maintained. In accordance with various different embodiments of the present invention, different arrangements of the sealed joint, with respect to the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, are structured whereby enhanced frictional contact is effectively developed between the sealed joint and the opposite ends of the plastic strapping, or between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping per se, so as to in fact reduce the amount of slipperiness effectively defined between the opposite ends of the plastic strapping.

Abstract: A new and improved fastening system for attaching relatively thin-gauge sheet metal members, such as, for example 14-25 gauge sheet metal members, wherein the power output parameters of the power tool are controlled such that when the driver blade member of the power tool acts upon each one of the brad-type nail fasteners, the brad-type nail fasteners will attain a predetermined velocity value, such as, for example, within the velocity range of 1000-2500 in/sec. Any one of various different types of power tools may be employed, and in addition, various geometrical characteristics of each brad-type fastener are important, such as, for example, the tip geometry, the aspect ratio A/R of the shank member of the fastener, and the use of an adhesive or painted coating upon the external surface areas of the shank member of the fastener. The fasteners preferably comprise dual-width fasteners which exhibit enhanced pull-out resistance values.

Abstract: A package for unitizing at least two pouches includes a flexible multipack header positioned between the pouches and adhered along a top portion of the pouches. Attachment areas for the pouches may be positioned along an outer surface of the multipack header, an inner surface of the multipack header, folding tabs and/or panels of the multipack header and/or along two sides of a triangular cross-section formed by the multipack header.

Abstract: A method of producing a plastic sheet-strap includes the steps of providing first and second work rollers such that the work rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities. The work rollers are spaced apart with respect to each other so as to define a work roller nip therebetween. A pinch roller is provided that is operably associated with the first work roller. The pinch roller and the first roller defining a deaerating nip therebetween. A solid sheet of material having a thickness is fed into the deaerating nip. The material is pinched against the first work roller and moves with rotation of the first work roller to the work roller nip between the first and second work rollers. The material is simultaneously milled and stretched substantially at the nip during a single pass of the solid sheet material through the nip as the rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities to form a milled and stretched oriented sheet.

Abstract: A meltblowing apparatus for dispensing an adhesive through a plurality of first orifices of a die assembly fabricated from a plurality of laminated members to form a plurality of adhesive flows at a first velocity and dispensing air through a plurality of second orifices in the die assembly to form a plurality of air flows at a second velocity. The plurality of first and second orifices arranged in an alternating series so that each of the plurality of first orifices is flanked on substantially opposing sides by one of the plurality of second orifices, wherein the plurality of first and second orifices are oriented to direct non-convergently the plurality of adhesive flows and the plurality of air flows.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a combustion tool including a combustion chamber, at least one combustion chamber plate disposed in the chamber, the at least one combustion chamber plate and the chamber members being configured for relative reciprocal movement, the combustion chamber assembly having at least one latch member associated with control of movement of at least one plate within the combustion chamber to divide the chamber into multiple volumes. The combustion chamber assembly further has a release for the latch member for permitting relative movement of the at least one combustion chamber plate and the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A gas combustion-powered apparatus includes a piston chamber housing a driveable piston, and a combustion chamber having a generally flat wall assembly and a cup-shaped wall defining at least one combustion volume therebetween. The cup-shaped wall is moveable in relation to the piston chamber, and has a generally flat portion opposing, and generally parallel to, the generally flat wall assembly. An ignition source is in operable relationship to the combustion volume, which can ignite a combustible gas within the combustion volume. The piston forms at least a portion of the generally flat wall assembly when the piston is in an undriven state.

Abstract: A slide zipper assembly comprising an interlocking zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile. The profiles each have a ribbon, a web attached to the ribbon, and an interlocking member attached to the web engageable with the interlocking member of the other profile. The slider is disposed for movement along the zipper and has a top from which two arms depend. The slider arms enclose the profile ribbons and have hooked ends which each hook around a profile ribbon to become positioned between the ribbon and its corresponding web.

Abstract: A process for preparing a PET flake mixture for use in connection with the fabrication of high-performance plastic strapping comprises the steps of initially collecting post-consumer and non-post-consumer PET materials having an initially wide range of relatively low intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively low average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value, and processing the same through solid state polymerization (SSP) so as to obtain a wide range of relatively high intrinsic viscosity (IV) values with a relatively high average intrinsic viscosity (IV) value. The initially collected materials are chopped into flakes and chunks, and the chunks are flattened so as to render the remaining mixture comprised substantially entirely of flake materials or segments. This is advantageous because the flake segments, as opposed to the chunk segments, are able to be substantially increased in intrinsic viscosity (IV) values and within a relatively short period of time.

Abstract: A slide zipper assembly comprising an interlocking zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile. The profiles each have a ribbon, a web attached to the ribbon, and an interlocking member attached to the web engageable with the interlocking member of the other profile. The slider is disposed for movement along the zipper and has a top from which two arms depend. The slider arms enclose the profile ribbons and have hooked ends which each hook around a profile ribbon to become positioned between the ribbon and its corresponding web.