Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a lip assembly for a vacuum gripper or suction device that is designed to work well with both soft flexible packages and articles with rigid surfaces. The lip assembly can have a compliant or flexible inner lip that soft packages can blossom over when suction is applied, while the outer lip of the lip assembly is also suited to working with hard, rigid packages. The vacuum gripper can be mounted on an end of arm tool of a robotic arm and can therefore be configured to work with a wide variety of packages and package types. The small footprint achieved by having a single vacuum gripper that is able to work with both types of packages enables a better opportunity to pick individual packages at one time and maintain a grasp on the package during medium to high-speed transport.

Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein relate to an item conditioning assembly, which includes a support frame and a conditioning belt supported by the support frame so that a first portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a first tension and a second portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a second tension relatively lower than the first tension. The second portion of the conditioning belt can be suspended over a conveyor such that an item received between the conditioning belt and the conveyor, enters in an unconditioned state and is released in a conditioned state.

Abstract: Various example embodiments described herein relate to an item conditioning assembly, which includes a support frame and a conditioning belt supported by the support frame so that a first portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a first tension and a second portion of the conditioning belt is supported by the support frame at a second tension relatively lower than the first tension. The second portion of the conditioning belt can be suspended over a conveyor such that an item received between the conditioning belt and the conveyor, enters in an unconditioned state and is released in a conditioned state.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for a lip assembly for a vacuum gripper or suction device that is designed to work well with both soft flexible packages and articles with rigid surfaces. The lip assembly can have a compliant or flexible inner lip that soft packages can blossom over when suction is applied, while the outer lip of the lip assembly is also suited to working with hard, rigid packages. The vacuum gripper can be mounted on an end of arm tool of a robotic arm and can therefore be configured to work with a wide variety of packages and package types. The small footprint achieved by having a single vacuum gripper that is able to work with both types of packages enables a better opportunity to pick individual packages at one time and maintain a grasp on the package during medium to high-speed transport.

Abstract: An alcohol reforming system for an internal combustion engine includes a reformer in selective fluid communication with a fuel line via a reformer inlet line for receiving liquid fuel from the fuel line. The reformer reforms the alcohol in the alcohol-gasoline mixture of the fuel into a reformate mixture comprising hydrogen gas and gasoline. A buffer tank in fluid communication with the reformer receives the reformate mixture and disengages the hydrogen gas from the gasoline in the reformate mixture. The buffer tank includes a liquid fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fuel line for re-introducing the gasoline as a liquid into the fuel line, and a reformate gas outlet for delivering the reformate gas to a reformate line through which the reformate gas is delivered to the engine.

Abstract: An alcohol reforming system for an internal combustion engine includes a reformer in selective fluid communication with a fuel line via a reformer inlet line for receiving liquid fuel from the fuel line. The reformer reforms the alcohol in the alcohol-gasoline mixture of the fuel into a reformate mixture comprising hydrogen gas and gasoline. A buffer tank in fluid communication with the reformer receives the reformate mixture and disengages the hydrogen gas from the gasoline in the reformate mixture. The buffer tank includes a liquid fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fuel line for re-introducing the gasoline as a liquid into the fuel line, and a reformate gas outlet for delivering the reformate gas to a reformate line through which the reformate gas is delivered to the engine.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer including an ink bottle having a cap assembly secured to an outlet neck, an ink reservoir having an ink filling passage, and an insert receptacle positioned within the ink filling passage. The insert receptacle includes a probe having an inlet end and an outlet end. The system also includes an actuating assembly that is configured to mate the ink bottle with the ink reservoir by mating the cap assembly of the ink bottle with the probe of the insert receptacle.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer including an ink bottle having a cap assembly secured to an outlet neck, an ink reservoir having an ink filling passage, and an insert receptacle positioned within the ink filling passage. The insert receptacle includes a probe having an inlet end and an outlet end. The system also includes an actuating assembly that is configured to mate the ink bottle with the ink reservoir by mating the cap assembly of the ink bottle with the probe of the insert receptacle.

Abstract: A mount (9) is disclosed for mounting an ink jet printhead (11) in position to imprint indicia on a surface (7) of an object (5) conveyed along a path (3) past the printhead. The mount comprises a support (21) and a slide (53) carried by the support. The slide has a slide body (55) connected to the support, a slide member (57) movable relative to the slide body along a slide axis (SA) between an extended position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a retracted position (not shown), and means for resiliently biasing the slide member relative to the slide body toward its extended position. Means (43) is provided for carrying the slide relative to the support such that the slide axis (SA) may be adjusted relative to the support so as to position the slide axis so as to either be perpendicular to the direction of movement of the object conveyed along the path or to be angled (as shown in FIG. 3) toward the object approaching the printhead at an oblique angle.

Abstract: A one-piece, unitary clamp for a longitudinally extending structural member, such as a tube, is provided which can be mounted to a mounting surface such that the structural member received in the clamp is either parallel to or perpendicular to the mounting surface. Additionally, two clamps of the present invention can be fastened together to form a cross-over clamp, a T-clamp, or another compound clamp which will hold two structural members together in a desired relationship. The clamping arms of the clamp have an elastic hinge which allows an upper portion of the clamping arm to move relative to a lower portion of the clamping arm when the clamp is tightened. Additionally, when the clamp is loosened, the elastic hinge of the clamping arms cause the clamping arms to pull away from the structural member received in the clamp to fully release the grip of the clamp on the structural member.

Abstract: A mount (9) is disclosed for mounting an ink jet printhead (11) in position to imprint indicia on a surface (7) of an object (5) conveyed along a path (3) past the printhead. The mount comprises a support (21) and a slide (53) carried by the support. The slide has a slide body (55) connected to the support, a slide member (57) movable relative to the slide body along a slide axis (SA) between an extended position (as shown in FIG. 1) and a retracted position (not shown), and device for resiliently biasing the slide member relative to the slide body toward its extended position. Mounting plate (43) is provided for carrying the slide relative to the support such that the slide axis (SA) may be adjusted relative to the support so as to position the slide axis so as to either be perpendicular to the direction of movement of the object conveyed along the path or to be angled (as shown in FIG. 3) toward the object approaching the printhead at an oblique angle.