Abstract: This invention is directed preventing or reducing the print distortion in a heat shrink tunnel. This problem was be solved by isolating the printed area on the film from the hot air in a heat tunnel.

Abstract: Gelling of a liquid or liquefication of a gel are investigated or controlled by differential measurement of thermal characteristics of the involved medium. The temperature of the medium is measured by a first probe (delivering a first temperature indicating signal) while a second probe (sufficiently far away from the first probe not to disturb the latter through temperature changes) imparts heat to said medium and delivers a signal corresponding to its temperature. The signals respectively emitted by the probes are processed in an electrical data processing unit wherein the signals are combined in a correcting stage which corrects the signal delivered by the second probe taking into account the signal delivered by the first probe to deliver information indicating the change of state of the medium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for measuring rheological properties of semi-solid bodies. The apparatus comprises a vessel (4) containing the body (5 ) to be tested, a measuring head (3) immersed in the vessel (4) in the middle of the body, and a drive for driving the head (3) in rotation through the intermediacy of an axle. The driver imparts a sinusoidal or pseudo-sinusoidal rotational motion to the axle (2), a torque sensor (7) and an angle sensor (8) which are mounted on the axle (2) and are both connected to a processing device for processing information, such as a device for processing signals (9) connected to a microcomputer (10).

Abstract: A process of sterilization or decontamination of apparatus, characterized in that an aqueous solution containing at least 0.01% of a compound of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents a C.sub.5 -C.sub.14 n-alkyl radical in the form of the base or a salt thereof, is applied to the apparatus at a temperature in the range of 30.degree. to 120.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure.The process is suitable in particular for the sterilization of milk processing circulation equipment.