Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a substance contained in a sachet for preparation of a beverage has a first member having raised and hollow portions for forming a flow zone and a second member for cooperating with the first member to form a chamber to contain the sachet for extraction of the substance and to grip the edge of the sachet to ensure fluid-tightness upon being tightened, each member being configured for forming substantially half of the chamber for containing and ensuring a specific sachet shape. In one embodiment, the second member has provision for perforating an upper surface of a sachet for introducing water into the sachet. In another embodiment, the first member has an injector member which projects beyond the raised portions for perforating and introducing water into the sachet.

Abstract: A substance for preparation of a beverage contained in a sealed flexible sachet is extracted with a device which provides a chamber formed by two members configured so that they each form a cavity which is substantially one-half of the chamber and so that when brought and fastened together, they form the chamber containing the sachet and provide for penetrating the sachet for subsequent injection of water for extraction of the substance. One member has a base which has a surface from which raised portions project and holes for flow of extract therethrough, and this member and the sachet are configured so that upon placing the sachet on the member, one sachet sheet is supported by the raised portions and a sealed peripheral sachet edge extends onto a rim of the member. Upon bringing and fastening the two members together, the members grip the sachet edge for fluid-tight sealing and shape the sachet uniformly and confine the substance within the sachet within the cavities, and the sachet is penetrated.

Abstract: Fluid comestibles are prepared from substances, particularly roast and ground coffee, contained in cartridges by supporting a peripheral portion of a first surface of a sealed cartridge with a holder which has a base which includes a grille and relief surface element so that the remainder portion of the first surface is positioned adjacent the relief surface element. An opposing cartridge surface is pierced for injection of water into the cartridge while maintaining the base in the position adjacent the first surface, and while maintaining the base in a fixed position, water is injected under a pressure of greater than atmospheric pressure into the cartridge to deform the first surface remainder portion against the relief surface element first to press the first surface against the relief surface element and to wet and compact the substance and then to tear and open the remainder portion of the first surface for flow of fluid comestible from the cartridge and through the grille in a plurality of streams.

Abstract: A substance for preparation of a beverage contained in a sealed flexible sachet is extracted with a device which has two members which are configured to each form a cavity which is substantially one-half of a chamber so that upon being tightened together for holding the sachet for extraction of the substance, the sachet is provided with a desired shape and is perforated to enable injection of water for extraction of the substance. Upon perforation, water is injected which deforms a surface against raised portions of one of the members and then tears the sachet to allow flow of beverage from the sachet through holes of the member containing the raised portions.

Abstract: Systems for preparing comestibles, particularly beverages, from substances contained in sealed cartridges have a water injector, a support for a cartridge holder and a cartridge holder which includes a flow grille and relief surface element so that upon introducing water under pressure into the cartridge to prepare a beverage, a face of the cartridge adjacent the relief surface element and flow grille is deformed and then torn to enable a fluid comestible to be removed from the cartridge and pass through the relief surface element and grille.

Abstract: During the various phases of fabrication of cables, tubes or similar products, it is necessary to load them onto spools. In certain cases, the winding must be particularly carefully done and have only close-packed windings, without overlap. The process and the device described bring a solution to the problem in the form of a feedback-control of the position of the winding guide. This control is realized such as to maintain the tightening-angle constant, that is the angle formed by the product at its loading-point referred to the preceeding turn, taking in consideration the irregularities of the real helix angle and the effect of the flanges of the loading spool.

Abstract: A foundry installation control device is disclosed for causing a rapid cut off of a molten metal flow at the time when a mold is full. Two detectors are provided, one of which collects information concerning the instantaneous rate of metal flow pouring from a ladle into a sprue cup while the other collects information on the level of the molten metal in the cup. An electronic circuit connected to the outputs of the two detectors produces a mold filling signal which undergoes a sharp fluctuation at the precise moment when filling is completed. This signal is compared with an instruction value and causes the generation of a flow cut-off signal which triggers the cessation of pouring by righting of the ladle in the case of a tilting ladle, closing of the stopper in the case of a bottom-pour ladle, or closing the discharge valve in the case of a pressure ladle.

Abstract: A casting plant comprises a pressure ladle and a small-capacity tilting ladle to regulate the filling of molds making up a casting line and successively moving to a position beneath the tilting ladle. The control system comprises two servo loops. One servo loop includes sensors acting upon a motor to control the angular position of the tilting ladle so that the level of metal in the pouring gate of the mold remains constant during the pouring operation. During this time, an optical sensor, an angular-position sensor, and a pressure sensor included in the other servo loop supply input data which are processed to supply a signal acting upon a valve in a gas line feeding the pressure ladle. This valve regulates the flow of molten metal from the pressure ladle to the tilting ladle so that the quantity of metal contained in the tilting ladle remains substantially constant.

Abstract: A foundry installation control device is disclosed for causing a rapid cut off of a molten metal flow at the time when a mold is full. Two detectors are provided, one of which collects information concerning the instantaneous rate of metal flow pouring from a ladle into a sprue cup while the other collects information on the level of the molten metal in the cup. An electronic circuit connected to the outputs of the two detectors produces a mold filling signal which undergoes a sharp fluctuation at the precise moment when filling is completed. This signal is compared with an instruction value and causes the generation of a flow cut-off signal which triggers the cessation of pouring by righting of the ladle in the case of a tilting ladle, closing of the stopper in the case of a bottom-pour ladle, or closing the discharge valve in the case of a pressure ladle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically controlling the pouring of molten metal into a series of closed casting molds is disclosed. Molten metal flows in a stream from a lip-pour or bottom-pour casting ladle into a pouring gate at the top of a mold and partially fills the gate. Visible light or infrared radiation is emitted from the metal surface in the gate and is detected by a sensing device. The sensing device generates a signal which is a function of the radiation received, and therefore the apparent area of the surface of metal in the gate. The signal operates a ladle control mechanism to control the flow rate of the stream to keep the gate level substantially constant during pouring.