Abstract: DOD ink delivery systems and methods are described herein that are used in DOD card printing systems of card processing systems for supplying ink for DOD printing on plastic cards of the type that bear personalized data unique to the intended cardholder and/or which bear other card information. The DOD ink delivery system is configured to recirculate the ink, or have a second pressure damper container that provides damping to eliminate large and abrupt spikes in ink pressure which can disturb the meniscus of the ink in each nozzle of the print head generated by a vacuum system, or simultaneously operate a supply pump at a lower flow rate than a return pump during an autofill/autodrain procedure on the ink delivery system.

Abstract: Maintenance routines that can be used to maintain the operability of one or more DOD print heads in a card processing system. The maintenance routines can include, but are not limited to: a cover routine where a cover or cap is selectively and automatically located over the print head(s) to protect the print head(s); a shake pulse routine that energizes the nozzles of the print head(s) without causing an ejection of ink; a spit routine where the nozzles of the print head(s) are energized to eject one or more drops of ink; and a purge routine where the nozzles are not electrically energized but the pressure holding the ink in the nozzles of the print head(s) is reversed to push ink out of the nozzles.

Abstract: A flexible coil includes a flexible substrate with a plurality of holes extending through the substrate. Each hole is configured to receive at least a portion of a fastener extending through the hole. Each fastener engages the flexible substrate and an antenna loop to positively retain the antenna loop to the flexible substrate. The holes are arranged in the flexible substrate to align each antenna loop with respect to the other antenna loops mounted to the flexible substrate. The fasteners are removably mounted to the flexible substrate such that the fastener positively retains the antenna loop to the flexible substrate when mounted to the flexible substrate but allows individual antenna loops to be removed from the flexible substrate when the fastener is removed from the flexible substrate. Multiple fasteners are provided for each antenna loop and are spaced apart from each other and positioned along the length of the loop.

Abstract: A label printer mechanism that is configured to produce and affix custom printed customer engagement labels to personalized plastic cards and other substrates. The custom printed customer engagement labels can be used for a number of purposes including, but not limited to, instructions to the intended recipients of personalized plastic cards for activation of the personalized plastic cards, marketing of products and/or services to the recipients, and combinations of activation and marketing.

Abstract: An ink bottle is mounted in a DOD printer with the ink bottle acting as an ink supply reservoir that supplies ink to a DOD print head. A unique cap is provided that is configured to be affixed to an end of the ink bottle via threads or the like. The cap can be provided with one or more mechanical keying features used to limit mounting of the cap and the bottle assembly to a correct receiver in the DOD printer. The cap can also be provided with a valve controlled ink passage that allows ink to flow out of the bottle through the cap and a valve controlled vent passage that allows air to enter the bottle through the cap.

Abstract: A card processing system includes a drop-on-demand card printing system that has at least one drop-on-demand print head with a nozzle plate. An automated cleaning mechanism is provided in the drop-on-demand card printing system that is configured to clean the nozzle plate without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate. Since the nozzle plate is not physically contacted by the cleaning mechanism, damage to the nozzle plate during cleaning is avoided thereby avoiding degrading the resulting print quality of the print head.

Abstract: A system for orchestrating an operation is disclosed. The system includes an case orchestration engine to identify a discrepancy in the operation, and to generate a plurality of hypotheses for resolving the discrepancy. The case orchestration engine further collects evidence pertaining to the discrepancy in the operation, evaluates each of the plurality of hypotheses based on a dialogue-driven feedback received from a user, and selects one of the plurality of hypotheses for resolving the discrepancy based on the evidence and an expected outcome of the operation. The case orchestration engine provides reasons for the discrepancy along with remedial measures for resolving the discrepancy based on the selected hypothesis, and then generates a plan for performing the operation to achieve the expected outcome based on the remedial measures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orchestrating a process are disclosed. In an implementation, a system is configured to extract process information associated with the process. Based on the process information, the system is configured to determine a current model of performing the process based on the process information. The system is further configured to retrieve regulatory information associated with the process, wherein the regulatory information is indicative of at least one of a predefined policy, a predefined rule, and a predefined regulation associated with the process. Further, the system is configured to update the current model based on at least one of the process information and the regulatory information for obtaining a predefined outcome of the process.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system comprises a main frame element, a first conveyor belt attached to the main frame element to transport the food product in a first direction, and a second conveyor belt attached to the main frame element to transport the food product in a second direction. The second conveyor belt is below the first conveyor belt, and a chute element is on a shaft that is substantially horizontal and perpendicular relative to the first direction and the second direction The chute element is below the first conveyor belt and above the second conveyor belt, at an outer end position of the first conveyor belt in the first direction. The chute is rotatable around the shaft between a first position, in which the first conveyor belt is in communication with the second conveyor belt via the chute, and a second position, in which such communication is prevented.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for diagnosing network anomalies and allocating repair resources in a computer network receive network anomaly reports (NARs) from a group of customers. Each NAR specifies a network anomaly observed by a customer at a network endpoint. Each NAR is entered into a database and associated in the database with attributes including at least one customer attribute associated with the sender of that NAR or network attribute associated with the network anomaly specified in that NAR. A time period is detected during which the difference between an aggregate number of NARs received within that time period and a baseline number of NARs received during prior time periods of substantially identical duration exceeds a threshold. The attributes associated with the NARs received during the time period are analyzed to identify a network anomaly specified in those NARs. Repair resources are further preferentially allocated to the identified network anomaly.

Abstract: A label printer mechanism that is configured to produce and affix custom printed customer engagement labels to personalized plastic cards and other substrates. The custom printed customer engagement labels can be used for a number of purposes including, but not limited to, instructions to the intended recipients of personalized plastic cards for activation of the personalized plastic cards, marketing of products and/or services to the recipients, and combinations of activation and marketing.

Abstract: A helmet includes a housing sized for use on a human head and having an opening designed to expose a face associated with the human head and a facemask attached to the housing and situated over the opening to cover the face. The facemask has a slightly curved front portion, a slightly curved right side portion, and a slightly curved left side portion. The facemask has a plurality of substantially vertically oriented bars having different widths. The vertically oriented bars include a first type having a first width, a second type having a second width that is larger than the first width, and a third type having a third width that is larger than the first and second widths. The left and right side portions of the facemask include a first type bar and a second type bar, where the second type bar is situated nearer to the housing than the first type bar.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein describes an improved MR imaging system for breast tissue. The MR imaging system includes a pair of antenna coil arrays that are movable with respect to a base plate on which the coil arrays are mounted. A fixed coil array may also be mounted in a medial location on the base plate. The MR imaging system provides an abdominal support structure and a head support structure to position a patient in a prone position over the movable and fixed coil arrays. An additional support pad may be provided on the upper surface of the medial coil to support the patient's chest. Each of the movable antenna coil arrays may be moved laterally along the base plate to adjust the space between the two arrays. Once adjusted, each of the movable antenna coil arrays may be secured in the adjusted position to immobilize the breast tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for dynamically generating and updating a patrol schedule for a shift based on historic demand event data, and a predicted-demand model based on the historic demand event data. The systems and methods also receive information associated with patrol officers assigned to a shift and constraints on the officers' availability, and generate a patrol schedule comprising patrol assignments for the assigned patrol officers optimized based on at least one policing objective. The patrol schedule may be dynamically updated based on changing information and provided to the patrol officer via mobile device or display in the patrol officer's vehicle.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system comprises a main frame element, a first conveyor belt attached to the main frame element to transport the food product in a first direction, and a second conveyor belt attached to the main frame element to transport the food product in a second direction. The second conveyor belt is below the first conveyor belt, and a chute element is on a shaft that is substantially horizontal and perpendicular relative to the first direction and the second direction The chute element is below the first conveyor belt and above the second conveyor belt, at an outer end position of the first conveyor belt in the first direction. The chute is rotatable around the shaft between a first position, in which the first conveyor belt is in communication with the second conveyor belt via the chute, and a second position, in which such communication is prevented.

Abstract: Pedicle screws that can include a pedicle screw body, housing, plurality of clamps, rod, and set screw are disclosed herein. The clamps may be positioned side by side inside the lower portion of the housing. When the rod and set screw are provided in the housing, the set screw applies a force on the rod and the rod engages the plurality of clamps, causing the clamps to frictionally engage a head of the pedicle screw between the clamps.

Abstract: Pedicle screws that can include a pedicle screw body, housing, plurality of clamps, rod, and set screw are disclosed herein. The clamps may be positioned side by side inside the lower portion of the housing. When the rod and set screw are provided in the housing, the set screw applies a force on the rod and the rod engages the plurality of clamps, causing the clamps to frictionally engage a head of the pedicle screw between the clamps.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for diagnosing network anomalies and allocating repair resources in a computer network receive network anomaly reports (NARs) from a group of customers. Each NAR specifies a network anomaly observed by a customer at a network endpoint. Each NAR is entered into a database and associated in the database with attributes including at least one customer attribute associated with the sender of that NAR or network attribute associated with the network anomaly specified in that NAR. A time period is detected during which the difference between an aggregate number of NARs received within that time period and a baseline number of NARs received during prior time periods of substantially identical duration exceeds a threshold. The attributes associated with the NARs received during the time period are analyzed to identify a network anomaly specified in those NARs. Repair resources are further preferentially allocated to the identified network anomaly.