Abstract: A method of classifying a task includes obtaining a plurality of images via an image capturing device and an audio signal via an audio sensor for a predetermined period of time. The method further includes classifying, via a first trained machine learning model, the plurality of images to generate a list of first class probabilities and a list of first class labels. The method further includes classifying, via a second trained machine learning model, the audio signal to generate a list of second class probabilities and a list of second class labels. The method further includes determining, via a merging algorithm, a list of third class probabilities and a list of third class labels based on the lists of first and second class probabilities. The method further includes determining the task corresponding to the predetermined period of time based on the list of third class probabilities.

Abstract: A blade support structure for a rotary knife blade includes a lower blade-engaging ring and an upper mounting section, the lower blade-engaging ring including a circumferential blade support channel operative to releasably rotatably secure and support a toroidal rotary knife therein. The blade support channel is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate when the upper blade holder engagement section of the toroidal rotary knife is constructed of metal, and the blade support channel is constructed of metal when the upper blade holder engagement section of a toroidal rotary knife is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: In combination, a toroidal rotary knife blade having a sharpened circular lower edge and an upper blade holder engagement section and a blade holder for the toroidal rotary knife blade. The blade holder includes a generally toroidal blade holding ring having an upper gear-engaging section including a plurality of gear teeth formed thereon for intermeshing with a drive gear and a lower blade engagement and retention section adapted to receive and retain the toroidal rotary knife blade therein. The blade holding ring is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate. Finally, the generally toroidal blade holding ring is operative to reduce noise and vibration emitted therefrom during rotation of the generally toroidal blade holding ring by a drive gear due to the use of plastic construction materials.

Abstract: In combination, a toroidal rotary knife blade having a sharpened circular lower edge and an upper blade holder engagement section and a blade holder for the toroidal rotary knife blade. The blade holder includes a generally toroidal blade holding ring having an upper gear-engaging section including a plurality of gear teeth formed thereon for intermeshing with a drive gear and a lower blade engagement and retention section adapted to receive and retain the toroidal rotary knife blade therein. The blade holding ring is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate. Finally, the generally toroidal blade holding ring is operative to reduce noise and vibration emitted therefrom during rotation of the generally toroidal blade holding ring by a drive gear due to the use of plastic construction materials.

Abstract: A horizontal meat slicer includes a frame and a lower conveyor belt having forward and rearward ends, the lower conveyor belt operative to receive a meat product thereon and transport it into and through the device. An upper pressing conveyor belt includes forward and rearward ends, the upper pressing conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt cooperating such that meat product is compressed between the lower conveyor belt and the upper pressing conveyor belt. At least one bandsaw blade is rotatably mounted on the frame, a cutting section of the bandsaw blade traveling between the upper belt and lower belts. Finally, at least one drive device such as a motor is operatively connected to each of the conveyor belts and the bandsaw blade to drive them to pull the meat product through the device and cut the meat product via the cutting edge of the bandsaw blade.

Abstract: An automatic skin removal and fat trimming device includes an entry conveyor belt and an upper pressing cylinder device which cooperate to move the meat product into contact with a rotating ridged cylinder which in turn forces the meat product into contact with a skin removal blade mounted adjacent the end of the entry conveyor belt and a second curved fat trimming blade then engages the meat product, the fat trimming blade positioned above the skin trimming blade and spaced therefrom to engage, cut and remove the fat lining surrounding the meat on the meat product, following which a meat removing conveyor belt mounted rearwardly of the skin trimming and fat trimming blades engages the meat product thus removing the meat product from the trimming device in cooperation with the upper pressing cylinder device which compresses and pulls the meat product through the device.

Abstract: A horizontal meat slicer includes a frame and a lower conveyor belt having forward and rearward ends, the lower conveyor belt operative to receive a meat product thereon and transport it into and through the device. An upper pressing conveyor belt includes forward and rearward ends, the upper pressing conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt cooperating such that meat product is compressed between the lower conveyor belt and the upper pressing conveyor belt. A rotating blade is mounted on the frame, the rotating blade having a cutting edge interposed between the lower conveyor belt and the upper pressing conveyor belt. Finally, at least one drive device such as a motor is operatively connected to each of the conveyor belts and the rotating blade to drive them to pull the meat product through the device and cut the meat product via the cutting edge of the blade.

Abstract: A sharpening apparatus for a rotary knife blade includes a sharpening material support base and at least one lower sharpening device such as a metal pin mounted on the sharpening material support base. At least one upper sharpening device is mounted on the sharpening material support base, the upper sharpening device extending at an acute angle upwards above and relative to the lower sharpening device. The upper and lower sharpening devices are disposed relative to one another to generally simultaneously engage upper and lower surfaces of a blade to be sharpened and a guide device such as a curved wall structure is operative to releasably guide a blade between the upper and lower sharpening devices to assist with sharpening of a blade.

Abstract: A boning and defatting knife includes a blade support unit including a handle, a blade support ring connected to and extending from the handle and a drive shaft mounted on at least one of the handle and the blade support ring. The knife further includes a blade unit having a generally toroidal blade engaging and locking device having a drive means engaging section and a releasable fastening and locking section and a generally toroidal blade having an outer locking edge and an inner cutting edge. The releasable fastening and locking section of the blade engaging and locking device is operative to releasably receive and lock the outer locking edge of the blade thereon, whereby the blade is removable and replaceable and the blade unit is adapted to be removably and rotatably seated on the blade support ring with the drive device engaging the drive device engaging section of the blade unit such that the blade unit is rotated within the blade support ring by the drive device.

Abstract: A boning and defatting knife includes a blade support unit including a handle, a blade support ring connected to and extending from the handle and a drive shaft mounted on at least one of the handle and the blade support ring. The knife further includes a blade unit having a generally toroidal blade engaging and locking device having a drive means engaging section and a releasable fastening and locking section and a generally toroidal blade having an outer locking edge and an inner cutting edge. The releasable fastening and locking section of the blade engaging and locking device is operative to releasably receive and lock the outer locking edge of the blade thereon, whereby the blade is removable and replaceable and the blade unit is adapted to be removably and rotatably seated on the blade support ring with the drive device engaging the drive device engaging section of the blade unit such that the blade unit is rotated within the blade support ring by the drive device.

Abstract: A sharpening apparatus for a rotary knife blade includes a sharpening material support base and at least one lower sharpening device such as a metal pin mounted on the sharpening material support base. At least one upper sharpening device is mounted on the sharpening material support base, the upper sharpening device extending at an acute angle upwards above and relative to the lower sharpening device. The upper and lower sharpening devices are disposed relative to one another to generally simultaneously engage upper and lower surfaces of a blade to be sharpened and a guide device such as a curved wall structure is operative to releasably guide a blade between the upper and lower sharpening devices to assist with sharpening of a blade.

Abstract: An automatic skin removal and fat trimming device includes an entry conveyor belt and an upper pressing cylinder device which cooperate to move the meat product into contact with a rotating ridged cylinder which in turn forces the meat product into contact with a skin removal blade mounted adjacent the end of the entry conveyor belt and a second curved fat trimming blade then engages the meat product, the fat trimming blade positioned above the skin trimming blade and spaced therefrom to engage, cut and remove the fat lining surrounding the meat on the meat product, following which a meat removing conveyor belt mounted rearwardly of the skin trimming and fat trimming blades engages the meat product thus removing the meat product from the trimming device in cooperation with the upper pressing cylinder device which compresses and pulls the meat product through the device.

Abstract: An automatic skin removal and fat trimming device includes an entry conveyor belt and a forward section of an upper pressing conveyor belt which cooperate to move the meat product into contact with a rotating ridged cylinder which in turn forces the meat product into contact with a skin removal blade mounted adjacent the end of the entry conveyor belt and a second curved fat trimming blade then engages the meat product, the fat trimming blade positioned above the skin trimming blade and spaced therefrom to engage, cut and remove the fat lining surrounding the meat on the meat product, following which a meat removing conveyor belt mounted rearwardly of the skin trimming and fat trimming blades engages the meat product thus removing the meat product from the trimming device in cooperation with a rear section of the upper pressing conveyor belt which compresses and pulls the meat product through the device.

Abstract: An upper conveyor and trimming blade assembly for an automatic trimmer adapted for trimming a layer of material, conforming with the shape of a trimming blade, from a meat product. The assembly includes an upper conveyor mounted in a vertically spaced relation above a lower conveyer wherein cooperative movement of the upper and lower conveyor is operative to transport the meat product into trimming engagement with a trimming blade. A trimming blade is mounted on the skinning machine base frame, for trimming the unwanted material from the meat product. The trimming blade is mounted in a holder adapted to bend the blade into a shape conforming with the shape of the meat product being trimmed.The assembly may be constructed as a replacement kit for installation on existing machines or installed during the fabrication of the automatic trimming machine.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor having lower and upper tie plates, guide tubes, spacer grids, an instrumentation tube, and extended fuel rods which extend to the lower tie plate and which are spaced radially and supported along the guide tubes by the spacer grids, at least one of the extended fuel rods having at a lower end a fuel rod lower end cap secured by a first spring within an aperture in the lower tie plate and which exerts a lateral force against the lower end cap. The upper tie plate further includes a fuel rod support housing which extends down over the upper end of the at least one of the extended fuel rods and has a second spring positioned in a bore in the fuel rod support housing which exerts a lateral force on the upper end of the extended fuel rod positioned within the bore in the fuel rod support housing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a toolless quick change blade holder for receiving and supporting a blade in a skinning machine for trimming a layer of unwanted material from a meat product. The disclosed blade holder is equally well adapted for both automatic and manual machines. The blade holder comprises a lower base plate and an upper clamping plate adapted to be removably secured to the lower base plate. The blade is positioned between the forward portions of the lower and upper plates. A fulcrum device is included for removably securing the upper plate to the lower plate and for limiting upward movement of the central portion of the clamping plate relative to the base plate. A device for releasably separating the rearward portions of the upper and lower plates activates the fulcrum device causing pressure to be applied on the forward portions of the plates urging them together thereby creating a clamping action on the blade, retaining it in position.

Abstract: A boiling water reactor fuel assembly having a lowered fuel rod support plate and increased fuel rod length while restraining the fuel rods against lateral vibration.

Abstract: A bent blade holder for receiving, bending and supporting a flexible blade in an automatic skinning machine for trimming a non-linear layer of unwanted material from a meat product. The bent blade holder has a base plate having a base curved surface of a size and shape for removably receiving the flexible blade, a clamping plate adapted to be removably secured to the base plate and having a clamping curved surface substantially conforming to the base curved surface and means for removably securing the clamping plate to the base plate. The blade is removably secured between the base plate and the clamping plate and bent to conform to the base and clamping curved surfaces. A meat product is transported to the blade and maintained in trimming engagement therewith such that a portion of material conforming to the curve of the blade is trimmed from the meat product.

Abstract: An automatic feed mechanism upper conveyor for an automatic trimmer wherein a layer of material may be removed from a meat product. The automatic feed mechanism upper conveyor comprises: a conveyor frame, means for mounting the conveyor frame, first and second drive shafts mounted at each end of the frame and connected in tandem by a drive chain. A plurality of friction engagement wheels is mounted in spaced relation on each of the first and second drive shafts. The friction engagement wheels in cooperation with the feed means is operative to advance the meat product into trimming engagement with the trimming means and is operative to trim a layer of material from the meat product without pivoting the meat piece.

Abstract: The inclined automatic trimmer apparatus of the present invention includes a base frame and trimming blade mounted on the base frame for trimming unwanted material from the meat product. A feed conveyor is situated forwardly of the trimming blade for transporting the meat product to the trimming blade. A feed roller is mounted on the base frame adjacent the trimming blade to receive the meat product transported by the feed conveyor and to advance the meat product into trimming engagement with the trimming blade. A press roller is mounted on the base frame for rotating the meat in trimming engagement with the trimming blade. The feed roller trimming blade and press roller all form a "V" shaped trough for receiving the meat product.