Abstract: An apparatus for ink contaminant drying includes a marker platen having a topside and a bottom side, and a plurality of heating elements located beneath the topside of the marker platen. The plurality of heating elements provides heating with respect to a surface of the marker platen, which prevents ink contaminants on the surface from remaining in a viscous fluidic state over a period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for ink contaminant drying includes a marker platen having a topside and a bottom side, and a plurality of heating elements located beneath the topside of the marker platen. The plurality of heating elements provides heating with respect to a surface of the marker platen, which prevents ink contaminants on the surface from remaining in a viscous fluidic state over a period of time.

Abstract: A self-advancing cleaner and a method of operating the self-advancing cleaner. In an embodiment, a rotatable member can engage a transport belt, wherein the rotatable member includes a cleaning surface comprising a surface sufficiently rough to collect and take away ink debris from the transport belt. During a cleaning operation the cleaning surface remains stationary while the transport belt moves in a sliding relative motion with respect to the cleaning surface, which allows the ink debris to be collected on the cleaning surface. Once an ink contamination level associated with the ink debris attains a threshold and a set friction exceeds the threshold, the self-advancing cleaner advances.

Abstract: A standing tree branch compression ring is adapted to be vertically raised about the trunk of the tree by lifting means. As the ring is lifted it forceably moves the tree branches inward. A plastic ring liner is removably affixed to the outer surface of the ring to reduce its coefficient of friction to mitigate tree branch damage. The ring is polygonal and includes a fully releasable segment to accept the tree trunk from the side. The segment is then reaffixed by a mating tongue and slot joint at one end a latch at the other end before it is raised.

Abstract: A method and device for the real-time, in-situ monitoring of Plutonium content in U—Pu Alloys comprising providing a crucible. The crucible has an interior non-reactive to a metallic U—Pu alloy within said interior of said crucible. The U—Pu alloy comprises metallic uranium and plutonium. The U—Pu alloy is heated to a liquid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. The heated U—Pu alloy is then cooled to a solid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. As the U—Pu alloy is cooled, the temperature of the U—Pu alloy is monitored. A solidification temperature signature is determined from the monitored temperature of the U—Pu alloy during the step of cooling. The amount of Uranium and the amount of Plutonium in the U—Pu alloy is then determined from the determined solidification temperature signature.

Abstract: An apparatus for the real-time, in-situ monitoring of actinide-ion concentrations. A working electrolyte is positioned within the interior of a container. The working electrolyte is separated from a reference electrolyte by a separator. A working electrode is at least partially in contact with the working electrolyte. A reference electrode is at least partially in contact with the reference electrolyte. A voltmeter is electrically connected to the working electrode and the reference electrode. The working electrolyte comprises an actinide-ion of interest. The separator is ionically conductive to the actinide-ion of interest. The separator comprises an actinide, Zr, and Nb. Preferably, the actinide of the separator is Am or Np, more preferably Pu. In one embodiment, the actinide of the separator is the actinide of interest. In another embodiment, the separator further comprises P and O.

Abstract: Used uranium oxide fuel is detoxified by extracting transuranic and reactive fission products into molten salt. By contacting declad and crushed used uranium oxide fuel with a molten halide salt containing a minor fraction of the respective uranium trihalide, transuranic and reactive fission products partition from the fuel to the molten salt phase, while uranium oxide and non-reactive, or noble metal, fission products remain in an insoluble solid phase. The salt is then separated from the fuel via draining and distillation. By this method, the bulk of the decay heat, fission poisoning capacity, and radiotoxicity are removed from the used fuel. The remaining radioactivity from the noble metal fission products in the detoxified fuel is primarily limited to soft beta emitters. The extracted transuranic and reactive fission products are amenable to existing technologies for group uranium/transuranic product recovery and fission product immobilization in engineered waste forms.

Abstract: A standing tree branch compression ring is adapted to be vertically raised about the trunk of the tree by lifting means. As the ring is lifted it forceably moves the tree branches inward. A plastic ring liner is removably affixed to the outer surface of the ring to reduce its coefficient of friction to mitigate tree branch damage. The ring is polygonal and includes a fully releasable segment to accept the tree trunk from the side. The segment is then reaffixed by a mating tongue and slot joint at one end a latch at the other end before it is raised.

Abstract: A towable trailered standing tree baler provides independent maneuverability with sufficient structural strength required for baling large trees. A telescopic wheeled frame provides ground support directly underneath a tree branch compression ring and therefore provides a strong structural foundation for pushing the ring upward. The support wheels of the frame can be both steered and tilted so that the apparatus can be centered on the tree even on uneven ground. A compression ring lifting boom utilizes an interconnecting rotation arm between the end of the boom and the compression ring so that the ring may be positioned at a very low starting point close to the ground and then moved accurately upwardly with the circumference of the ring being held level and centered. A specialized lining material on the ring reduces friction against the tree limb bark and therefore reduces tree limb damage.

Abstract: A towable trailered standing tree baler provides independent maneuverability with sufficient structural strength required for baling large trees. A telescopic wheeled frame provides ground support directly underneath a tree branch compression ring and therefore provides a strong structural foundation for pushing the ring upward. The support wheels of the frame can be both steered and tilted so that the apparatus can be centered on the tree even on uneven ground. A compression ring lifting boom utilizes an interconnecting rotation arm between the end of the boom and the compression ring so that the ring may be positioned at a very low starting point close to the ground and then moved accurately upwardly with the circumference of the ring being held level and centered. A specialized lining material on the ring reduces friction against the tree limb bark and therefore reduces tree limb damage.

Abstract: A system and method of stacking printed sheets with sheet curl stacking problems in an automatically variable configuration stacking system having a spaced array of repositionable initial sheet supporting surfaces providing a generally planar initial stack supporting configuration on which a limited amount of sheets initially stack, and then, in response to stacking additional sheets in said system, the stacking system automatically changes to a different, arcuate, stack supporting configuration by automatically lowering at least some of the spaced array of initial sheet supporting surfaces to arcuately bend the curled sheets in an arcuate direction transverse the sheet curl direction on a fixed stacking surface that is arcuate transversely of the sheet curl direction.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking and unloading system in which sheets are stacked on a stacking tray which is then moved from its sheet stacking position to an unloading position for removing the sheet stack from the stacking tray, and the stacking tray has a sheet stacking surface partially interrupted by at least one handhold area for allowing manual lifting access underneath a portion of a stack, there is automatically inserted into the handhold area at least one supplemental sheet stack supporting member to provide supplemental sheet stacking support, preventing the sheets from sagging in those areas, which supplemental sheet stack supporting member is automatically removed from the handhold area when the stacking tray is moved to its unloading position.

Abstract: A substrate compiling system includes an actuator, cable and tamper device. The tamper device includes a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly is retracted and extended. The clamp assembly can be used to clamp an edge of each compiled set of substrates and transfer the compiled set to a stacking tray, platform or the like. The clamp assembly may remain in an extended position until all other substrate supporting structures no longer support the substrates and an opposing unclamped edge of the compiled set engages the stacking tray below.