Abstract: An electronic signature service of a provider network may specify a virtual electronic signing device (ESD) to be used by user accounts (e.g., retail sales businesses) to generate digital signatures for documents (e.g., sales receipts). The electronic signature service may establish an isolated virtual network (IVN) on behalf of the client (e.g., taxing authority or other entity), which is managed by the client via a client interface. The electronic signature service may instantiate, on behalf of a user account, an ESD compute instance based on the virtual ESD specification. In response to receiving a request for a digital signature of a document, the ESD compute instance generates a digital signature based on the document and sends the digital signature to the user account. The service may store the signature and associated document data, which can subsequently be used for auditing (e.g., tax auditing).

Abstract: A header design for an efficient single pass enlargement process of sulfur granules having two internal piping structures within an external header conduit for delivering separate molten sulfur liquid streams to different sets of nozzles, wherein a first set of nozzles is subjected to flow streams and pressures uniquely different from a second set of nozzles. A water header design may also include two internal piping structures inside an external pipe casing for delivering water in at least two sets of nozzles, wherein the first set is subjected to flow streams and pressures different from the second set. A method of sulfur seed generation and sulfur granule enlargement for processing sulfur, employing a unique sulfur header design with dual internal piping structures, and possibly utilizing in tandem a water header design having a dual internal piping structure for feeding two sets of nozzles.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for reorienting and transferring inventory items to a packaging device includes a support member and a packaging conveyor. The support member receives an inventory item and reorients the item to a rejection orientation or a packaging orientation. The item is moved onto the packaging conveyor in the packaging orientation and is transported to the packaging device.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with degassing processes, and more specifically with a degassing apparatus and method for removing hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfides from liquid sulfur in a rapid and efficient manner to result in low residual hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfide levels. Utilizing a rotodynamic degassing pumping unit, a first fluid, typically in the liquid phase, is pumped or drawn under pressure or vacuum, while a second fluid, typically in a gaseous phase, is pumped or drawn under pressure or vacuum into the first fluid, effecting a chemical reaction. A rotary impeller having a plurality of blades is presented at a submerged location in the liquid sulfur surrounded by a draft-tube. The rotor (impeller) is divided into three distinct blade sections: a) a radial flow section; b) a mixed flow section; and c) an axial flow section. An overflow weir controls the depth of the liquid inside the degasser's housing.

Abstract: A film tensioning and steering system can be configured to extract a film from a film source. One or more film characteristics can require that the film tensioning and steering system be isolated from the film source so that a film tension can be maintained within the film tensioning and steering system. A first drive roller pair and a second drive roller pair can be configured to secure the film and enable a dampening roller to maintain the film tension between the first drive roller pair and the second drive roller pair. Additionally, the dampening roller can store an amount of the film as a film buffer. Accordingly, the film tensioning and steering system can maintain the film tension such that a steering system can align the film before the first drive roller pair provides the film at a proper alignment to a downstream system.

Abstract: A system and method that causes at least one item to be placed within a portion of an elastic film positioned across a top surface of a container, the portion including a center portion in which the at least one item is placed. Air may be extracted from the container to create a vacuum within the cavity and to expand the center portion to create a void in the center portion within the cavity. Air may flow into the container to release the vacuum and contract the center portion of the elastic film as the void is decreased and eliminated.

Abstract: A method of preparing a packaging laminate includes conveying a mesh of paper material having perforations against a rigid edge causing, at substantially each perforation, a mesh portion at the leading side to have an average elevation lower than that of a mesh portion on the trailing side of the perforation. The method includes expanding the perforations into cells separated from one another by legs interconnected by nodes defined in the mesh Top and bottom surfaces of the legs and nodes are reoriented from an initial orientation substantially parallel with a direction of conveyance of the mesh to an expanded orientation oblique to the direction of conveyance, such that, in the expanded orientation, the top surfaces of the nodes are substantially parallel with each other. The method includes attaching an outer liner to at least some of the bottom surfaces so as to form the packaging laminate.

Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving the efficiency with which data units are handled within a device, such as a networking device. Received data units, or portions thereof, are temporarily stored within one or more memories of a merging component, while the merging component waits to receive control information for the data units. Once received, the merging component merges the control information with the associated data units. The merging component dispatches the merged data units, or portions thereof, to an interconnect component, which forwards the merged data units to destinations indicated by the control information. The device is configured to intelligently schedule the dispatching of merged data units to the interconnect component. To this end, the device includes a scheduler configured to select which merged data units to dispatch at which times based on a variety of factors described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading packages (103) from a container (106), the apparatus comprising: a conveyor system (109); a supporting frame (209) mounted on the conveyor system, the supporting frame being substantially perpendicular to a length of the conveyor system; and an end effector assembly (112) coupled to the supporting frame and being moveable about a horizontal axis relative to the supporting frame, the end effector assembly comprising: a manifold plate (203) extending along a vertical plane that is generally parallel to the supporting frame; a gripping component (115) coupled to and extending outwardly from the manifold plate along the horizontal axis relative to the supporting frame, the gripping component being configured to engage with one or more of the packages stacked in the container; and one or more sensors (303), the one or more sensors being configured to determine a distance between the end effector assembly and the packages.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of providing survivable communications in a communications network, the method comprising: determining a loss of communications with a communications server, wherein the communications server provides calling features to an endpoint connected to the access node; and after determining a loss of communications with the communications server, forming a cluster of a plurality of access nodes to provide communication service to endpoints served by the plurality of access nodes, wherein the plurality of access nodes comprises the access node, and wherein the access node and a second access node in the plurality of access nodes use different access technology.

Abstract: A spoke for a wheel can include a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween, the first end and the second end extend at an acute angle with respect to each other, the attachment section including a non-circular portion in cross-section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system has a carousel that has a guiderail that forms a loop that has a loading position and an unloading position. The carousel also has a plurality of buckets, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end includes at least one bottom wall that is moveable between (i) a transporting configuration where the at least one bottom wall substantially closes the lower end of the bucket and (ii) a discharge configuration where the at least one bottom wall is moved so as to define an opening in the lower end of the bucket. The buckets are supported by the guiderail such that the buckets can be driven from the loading position towards the unloading position in the transporting configuration. The buckets can be transitioned to the discharge configuration so as to unload inventory items at the unloading position into a packaging material.

Abstract: A packaging system employs a cartridge having moveable walls such that the cartridge discharges or inducts one or more items into a cavity of a package, such as a film that is sealed into a pouch or mailer. A bottom wall of the cartridge is retracted relative to an end panel of the cartridge during the induction process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the movement of portable receptacles within a materials handling facility are described. The materials handling facility utilizes at least one linear induction motor (LIM) to move the portable receptacles having conductive elements from a first location to a second location within the facility. The LIMs may be configured such that most, if not all, of the movement of the receptacles is controlled by the application of energy from the LIMs to the conductive elements of the receptacles. This energy may cause the receptacles to move from one LIM to another LIM, where each LIM in sequence can apply force to the receptacle to pass it to the next LIM in the sequence. In some implementations, the portable receptacles are configured such that at least a base portion of the receptacle includes a conductive element to interact with the LIMs, while maintaining an overall light-weight configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated package unloading system. An automated package unloading system can include an end effector supported by a supporting frame which is mounted to a conveyor system. The end effector and/or the conveyor can be configured to move into and out of a container containing stacked packages. The end effector can be configured to attach to the packages and pull the packages from their original position. The end effector can further be configured to release the packages onto the underlying conveyor.

Abstract: A sachet system enclosed in a pouch is described, the pouch comprising at least two strips of film material of approximately the same size, one overlaid on the other, sealed together at their edges and further sealed together at least once at a point along at least one axis with a partial seal to form at least two joined substantially planar regions, one of which regions comprises a first compartment, another of which regions comprises a second compartment, and wherein the first compartment is separated from the second compartment by the partial seal. This sachet is described as comprising a burstable portion containing a fluid and located in the first compartment, the partial seal providing a communication path between the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the system is capable of being manipulated such that the burstable portion bursts, and arranged such that a fluid contents spilling from the burstable portion is communicated from the first compartment to the second compartment.

Abstract: A method of thermal management for an electrically motorized wheel, the method can include defining a thermally conductive path from at least one component, the at least one component becoming heated during operation of the electrically motorized wheel, providing the path with a thermally conductive material and further defining the path such that the path contacts the at least one component, further defining the path such that the path contacts a hub shell assembly of the electrically motorized wheel thereby conducting heat from the at least one component to the hub shell assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an automated package unloading system. An automated package unloading system can include an end effector supported by a supporting frame which is mounted to a conveyor system. The end effector and/or the conveyor can be configured to move into and out of a container containing stacked packages. The end effector can be configured to attach to the packages and pull the packages from their original position. The end effector can further be configured to release the packages onto the underlying conveyor.