Abstract: A device used for preventing arcs and initial power line current increase in an electrical wiring circuit in an electric circuit contains an output source terminal, an input load terminal, a suppressor coil, and a shunt circuit. The output source circuit can be either an alternating power source or a direct current power source. The suppressor coil is electrically connected in between the output power source and the input load terminal. In order to prevent arc formation and shape the current passing through the suppressor coil, the shunt circuit is electrically connected in parallel to the suppressor coil. The shunt circuit includes at least one resistor. The suppressor coil can use either a permeable coil or an air core coil. The design of the device allows a circuit breaker to be used in series without affecting the normal operation. Moreover, the device does not require resetting after use.

Abstract: A device used for preventing arcs in an electric circuit contains an output source terminal, an input load terminal, a suppressor coil, and a shunt circuit. The output source circuit can be either an alternating power source or a direct current power source. The suppressor coil is electrically connected in between the output power source and the input load terminal. In order to prevent arc formation and shape the current passing through the suppressor coil, the shunt circuit is electrically connected in parallel to the suppressor coil. The shunt circuit includes at least one resistor, at least one inductor, and at least on capacitor. The suppressor coil can be either a permeable coil or an air core coil. The design of the device allows a circuit breaker to be used in series. Moreover, the device does not require resetting after use.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a customized nutritional serving is made up of ingredients stored within a device incorporating the system. The device has a controller in whose memory is stored an inventory of the ingredients available in the device, their compositions and properties and customer profile data. The controller is programmed to formulate a serving which best matches the customized serving selected by the customer within constraints set by the programming taking into account the inventory of ingredients and the health profile of the customer. The customer is then presented with the selected serving and either accepts it or modifies it. The device is then programmed to prepare and dispense the final selection.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing or modifying a cheese or cheese-like product comprising mixing into a cheesemaking mixture or a product, a heat-killed ferment of an exopolysaccharide-producing-microorganism without separating the exopolysaccharide from the other components of the ferment. The invention also provides an analogous method for modifying a milk protein concentrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the production of a carbohydrate composition from lactose comprising a mixture of 10-50% galactose, 048% glucose, 1-25% fructose, 148% gluconic acid and 0-25% unconverted lactose and non-lactose di- and oligo-saccharides; and compositions produced by the process as well as food and drink containing the compositions.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a customised nutritional serving is made up of ingredients stored within a device incorporating the system. The device has a controller in whose memory is stored an inventory of the ingredients available in the device, their compositions and properties and customer profile data. The controller is programmed to formulate a serving which best matches the customised serving selected by the customer within constraints set by the programming taking into account the inventory of ingredients and the health profile of the customer. The customer is then presented with the selected serving and either accepts it or modifies it. The device is then programmed to prepare and dispense the final selection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a meat packing process in which carcasses of animals (102) are weighed (100) and moved on a boning line (101) in sequence past a number of boning and trimming stations (103 and 105). The trimmed cuts are transferred to a main conveyor (108). The cuts are placed in bags dispensed by one or more machines (22) which produce bag's whose lengths and widths are matched to those of the cuts placed therein. Each hook (38) has a bar code (39), which is scanned at the boning stations. Feed conveyors (241-243) are controlled by the central processor (34). The travel of the main conveyor (108) is monitored by the central processor so that each position on the main conveyor to which the cuts are transferred from the feed conveyors is identified at each trimming station and at the bagging station. By this each bagged cut can be identified with the animal from which if was derived.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a young cheese or cheese curd in which the natural ripening process is slowed. The method involves fanning a coagulum of cheese curd from milk, salting and draining the whey. The curd is then formed into particles and dried to a preferred moisture level of 5% to 30%. The dried curd particles may be stored over extended periods and then used in the manufacture of processed cheese.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a packaging apparatus (10) for producing packages of variable lengths from rolls of plastic film wherein the apparatus produces packages to be accessed at a first, or front, end (22) of the apparatus (10) and the apparatus may be serviced from a second, or rear, end (24) of the apparatus. The apparatus (10) comprises a frame (12) wherein a plurality of packaging devices, two being shown, (14, 16) are slidably mounted on a sliding roller mounting mechanism (18, 20). Each packaging device (14, 16) can be pulled backwards from the frame (12) along a sliding roller mounting mechanism (18, 20) such that each packaging device (14, 16) may be serviced at the rear of the frame (12) without interfering with the operation of the other packaging devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading an object into a package includes a loading fork 60, a conveyor 18 for delivering the product to said loading fork 60, a loading horn 110, said loading horn 110 and said loading fork 60 being movalbe relative to each other to place said bag over said product. A system for loading an object into a package includes a loading fork 60 to receive an object from a conveyor 18, loading apparatus 22 to load the object into a package while located on the loading fork 60 and means to transfer the object and package together from the loading fork to a takeaway conveyor 20. A method of loading an object into a package is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a loading fork (10) and a system for smoothly transferring an object between the loading fork (10) and an infeed or take-away conveyor (110). The loading fork (10) may include a plurality of fingers (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20) mounted above a carriage (22) that is coupled to a chain conveyor (100). The conveyor (110) may be a plurality of parallel aligned narrow belts (102) between which the fingers (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20) of the loading fork (10) may pass to ensure a smooth transfer of the object between the loading fork (10) and the infeed or take-away conveyor (110). The present invention also discloses a sweeping conveyor (136, FIG. 3) for assisting the transfer of an object from the loading fork (10) to the take-away conveyor (110).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a meat packing process is disclosed in which carcasses of animals which have been slaughtered are weighed and moved on a boning line in sequence past a number of boning and trimming stations at each of which cuts are removed from the carcasses and trimmed. The trimmed cuts are transferred to a main conveyor which moves past the trimming stations and carries the cuts to a station at which the cuts are placed in bags dispensed on demand by one or more machines which produce bags whose lengths and optionally widths are matched to those of the cuts placed therein. The bagged cuts are then taken to a vacuum packing station. Each hook on which a carcass is placed on the boning line has a bar code which is scanned at the boning stations. The scanned bar code information is fed to a central processor. Apparatus is provided to ensure that the cuts are trimmed at each trimming station in the order in which the carcasses arrive at the boning stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a meat packing process in which carcasses of animals (102) are weighed (100) and moved on a boning line (101) in sequence past a number of boning and trimming stations (103 and 105). The trimmed cuts are transferred to a main conveyor (108). The cuts are placed in bags dispensed by one or more machines (22) which produce bag's whose lengths and widths are matched to those of the cuts placed therein. Each hook (38) has a bar code (39), which is scanned at the boning stations. Feed conveyors (241-243) are controlled by the central processor (34). The travel of the main conveyor (108) is monitored by the central processor so that each position on the main conveyor to which the cuts are transferred from the feed conveyors is identified at each trimming station and at the bagging station. By this each bagged cut can be identified with the animal from which if was derived.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a meat packing process in which carcasses of animals (102) are weighed (100) and moved on a boning line (101) in sequence past a number of boning and trimming stations (103 and 105). The trimmed cuts are transferred to a main conveyor (108). The cuts are placed in bags dispensed by one or more machines (22) which produce bags whose lengths and widths are matched to those of the cuts placed therein. Each hook (38) has a bar code (39) which is scanned at the boning stations. Feed conveyors (241-243) are controlled by the central processor (34). The travel of the main conveyor (108) is monitored by the central processor so that each position on the main conveyor to which the cuts are transferred from the feed conveyors is identified at each trimming station and at the bagging station. By this means each bagged cut can be identified with the animal from which it was derived.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out a meat packing process in which carcasses of animals (102) are weighed (100) and moved on a boning line (101) in sequence past a number of boning and trimming stations (103 and 105). The trimmed cuts are transferred to a main conveyor (108). The cuts are placed in bags dispensed by one or more machines (22) which produce bags whose lengths and widths are matched to those of the cuts placed therein. Each hook (38) has a bar code (39) which is scanned at the boning stations. Feed conveyors (241-243) are controlled by the central processor (34). The travel of the main conveyor (108) is monitored by the central processor so that each position on the main conveyor to which the cuts are transferred from the feed conveyors is identified at each trimming station and at the bagging station.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for producing discrete packages which can be individually varied in length so that they can be used for packaging articles such as cuts of meat which vary in length. The apparatus comprises drive rolls for feeding a flat tube of plastics packaging material through a cut off device. The apparatus may also comprise a heat sealing device (to form the tube into a bag) and a blower head combined with a suction device which opens the leading portion of the bag to facilitate the placing of an article in the bag. A proximity sensor is provided adjacent the cut off device and immobilises the drive rolls when it detects the arrival of a leading portion. In one form of the apparatus the sensor is mounted on a movable carriage which can be quickly moved by hand or by a ram.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner for cleaning one surface of a conveyor belt of length L and transverse width W includes a cleaner blade formed as an elongated strip of flexible elastomer, usually rubber or urethane. The blade, preferably of constant thickness, has a width much smaller than L and a length greater than W. The blade extends across the conveyor belt and has fasteners at its opposite ends. A tensioner, connected to one of the blade fasteners, applies a longitudinal tensioning force to the cleaner blade to maintain the cleaner blade in contact with the surface of the conveyor belt. In the preferred construction two tensioners are used, at opposite ends of the cleaner blade.

Abstract: In an automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle brake, an adjuster member acts on a part of an adjustable strut assembly for maintaining a substantially constant braking clearance between a braking member and a rotatable braking surface, the adjuster member acting on the part through a driven ring, and an overload spring urges a clutch face on the driven ring into engagement with a complementary clutch face on the part so that the driven ring and the part are movable together unless the reaction between the clutch faces exceeds the loading of the overload spring whereafter the driven ring can rotate relative to the strut assembly to preclude adjustment.