Abstract: An optoelectronic module for a light barrier for fill height monitoring of an ice collection container in a household ice maker includes a module housing, which bears a light passage surface located at the boundary between the optoelectronic module and the space outside the module for the passage of a beam of light of the light barrier. The module further has a printed circuit board accommodated in the module housing, an optoelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, serving as a light transmitter or receiver, with a main lobe axis, and a cylindrical light-guiding element for guidance of the light beam located in the beam path between the light passage surface and the optoelectronic component, and at a distance from the component.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module for a light barrier for fill height monitoring of an ice collection container in a household ice maker includes a module housing, which bears a light passage surface located at the boundary between the optoelectronic module and the space outside the module for the passage of a beam of light of the light barrier. The module further has a printed circuit board accommodated in the module housing, an optoelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, serving as a light transmitter or receiver, with a main lobe axis, and a cylindrical light-guiding element for guidance of the light beam located in the beam path between the light passage surface and the optoelectronic component, and at a distance from the component.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module for a light barrier for fill height monitoring of an ice collection container in a household ice maker includes a module housing, which bears a light passage surface located at the boundary between the optoelectronic module and the space outside the module for the passage of a beam of light of the light barrier. The module further has a printed circuit board accommodated in the module housing, an optoelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, serving as a light transmitter or receiver, with a main lobe axis, and a cylindrical light-guiding element for guidance of the light beam located in the beam path between the light passage surface and the optoelectronic component, and at a distance from the component.

Abstract: A sensor for integration into a domestic washing machine or dishwasher includes a sensor housing and an electronic assembly accommodated in the sensor housing with sensor components for a plurality of different measurement functions. The measurement functions include at least an optical measurement function as well as at least one non-optical measurement function. The electronic assembly has a plug-in interface for an electrical connection plug where the plug-in interface has a plurality of electrical interface contacts for the electrical supply of the electronic assembly and for conducting away measurement information obtained by means of the measurement functions.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module for a light barrier for fill height monitoring of an ice collection container in a household ice maker includes a module housing, which bears a light passage surface located at the boundary between the optoelectronic module and the space outside the module for the passage of a beam of light of the light barrier. The module further has a printed circuit board accommodated in the module housing, an optoelectronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, serving as a light transmitter or receiver, with a main lobe axis, and a cylindrical light-guiding element for guidance of the light beam located in the beam path between the light passage surface and the optoelectronic component, and at a distance from the component.

Abstract: A sensor and a method of manufacture of a sensor includes a light interface portion comprising first and second walls, where a cavity is provided between the first and second walls, and where the first wall is configured such that at least a portion of light is totally reflected at the first wall when the sensor-external medium is water, and at least a portion of light is coupled out when the sensor-external medium is air, and a portion of light is coupled out and a further portion of light is totally reflected by the first wall when the sensor-external medium comprises foam. Light that is reflected by the first wall is directed toward a second wall, and reflected at the second wall to be directed to a light receiving element.

Abstract: A sensor and a method of manufacture of a sensor includes a light interface portion comprising first and second walls, where a cavity is provided between the first and second walls, and where the first wall is configured such that at least a portion of light is totally reflected at the first wall when the sensor-external medium is water, and at least a portion of light is coupled out when the sensor-external medium is air, and a portion of light is coupled out and a further portion of light is totally reflected by the first wall when the sensor-external medium comprises foam. Light that is reflected by the first wall is directed toward a second wall, and reflected at the second wall to be directed to a light receiving element.

Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.

Abstract: A sensor device to measure a force or pressure in a washing handling apparatus includes a light source, a light receiver, a light-reflecting surface that reflects light emitted by the light source toward the light receiver, and one or more spring elements that biases the light-reflecting surface into a predefined initial position with respect to the light source and the light receiver where the light-reflecting surface is disposed to be displaceable with respect to the light source and the light receiver in response to application of an external force or pressure against a resetting force of the one or more spring elements.

Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.

Abstract: A device to capture the relative position of a component (14) of which the position can change relative to a reference component (12) of a washing handling device (10), in particular a washing machine or drier, includes at least one light source (34, 38, 42), at least one light receiver (36, 40, 44), a light-reflecting surface (50, 52), which reflects light which the light source (34, 38, 42) emits to the light receiver (36, 40, 44). The device is designed to capture the present relative position of the changeable-position component (14) relative to the reference component (12), according to the reflected light which the light receiver (36, 40, 44) captures.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preventing the transfer of water from a water-containing foodstuff into a particle, a particle for the joint consumption with a water-containing foodstuff and a fruit preparation for joint consumption with a dairy product. In order to reduce the requirements placed on the storage of water-absorbing particles, the particles, prior to the introduction into the foodstuff, are covered completely with an inner layer made of chocolate and thereafter with an outer layer made of fat, and the particle includes two closed covers applied onto each other made of chocolate and fat, respectively. Also disclosed is a fruit preparation laced with such particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of producing particles of a foodstuff is provided. A liquid form of a sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff is deposited in the form of a film or a strip on a surface of a rotating cooling roller or cooling be1t. The foodstuff is then detached in an at least partly hardened form from the surface of the cooling roller or belt for comminution to the desired particle size. In order to maintain the production of sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff particles, charging and at least partly the hardening of the sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff occurs within an enclosed sterilizable or pasteurizable vessel, and the surface of and the gas surrounding the cooling roller or the cooling belt in the zone of the charging of the foodstuff is lower than 0 ° C.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used for producing particles of a foodstuff with a fat content of at least 50%, a sugar content of not more than 20% and a water content of not more than 10%. The foodstuff which is present in liquid form can be applied by means of a dosing device (2) in the form of a film or in the form of a strip onto the moved surface of a cooling device (5) with which the foodstuff is at least partly hardenable. In order to enable the production of particles under clean room conditions in an economically viable manner it is proposed that the dosing device (2) comprises a permanently opened pass-through cross section and an elastically deformable membrane (15) which is in contact with one surface with the liquid, sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff. The membrane (15) can be reversibly deflected in a direction approximately perpendicular to its plane, as a result of which the volume of a conveying chamber for the foodstuff can be changed.

Abstract: In a method for producing particles of a foodstuff which has a fat content of between 50% and 90%, a sugar content of not more than 20% and a water content of not more than 10%, the foodstuff which is present in the liquid form is deposited in the form of a film or in the form of a strip on a surface of a rotating cooling roller or moved cooling belt and thereafter detached in an at least partly hardened form from the surface of the cooling roller or cooling belt. In the case of a production of an endless film or endless strip there is a comminution to the desired particle size after the hardening of the foodstuff.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used for producing particles of a foodstuff with a fat content of at least 50%, a sugar content of not more than 20% and a water content of not more than 10%. The foodstuff which is present in liquid form can be applied by means of a dosing device (2) in the form of a film or in the form of a strip onto the moved surface of a cooling device (5) with which the foodstuff is at least partly hardenable. In order to enable the production of particles under clean room conditions in an economically viable manner it is proposed that the dosing device (2) comprises a permanently opened pass-through cross section and an elastically deformable membrane (15) which is in contact with one surface with the liquid, sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff. The membrane (15) can be reversibly deflected in a direction approximately perpendicular to its plane, as a result of which the volume of a conveying chamber for the foodstuff can be changed.

Abstract: Two flyweight shafts 12,22 are coupled by means of gears 18,30 each attached to one flyweight shaft 12,22 and two intermediate gears 54,56 each engaging one of these gears 18,30 and mesh with each other. Each of the intermediate gears 54, 56 is mounted on one of the oscillating cranks 32, 34 pivotably mounted on the associated flyweight shaft 12 and 22, respectively. The oscillating cranks 32 and 34 are held parallel to each other and can be pivoted to effect a relative phase displacement of the flyweight shafts 12, 22. The oscillating cranks 32,34 are provided with counterweights 62,64 and are thereby mass balanced to prevent oscillations from becoming effective on the oscillating cranks 32,34 and thus on the adjusting mechanism 60 during vibratory operation due to intertial forces.