Abstract: A harvester for harvesting a produce planted in a field is provided. An exemplary harvester comprises a cutting and gripping unit, comprising: a top frame; a base ring structure; a plurality of supports arranged in a circular configuration to form a cage-like structure, wherein proximal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the top frame and distal ends of the plurality of supports are affixed to the base ring structure; a set of grippers connected to the top frame; a blade rotatably connected to the base ring structure, wherein the blade is configured to cut the produce while at least a part of the produce is enclosed within the plurality of supports and secured by the set of grippers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for making titanium dioxide, comprising: reacting titanium tetrachloride with oxygen by contacting the titanium tetrachloride with the oxygen in a vapor phase reactor under mixing conditions and at an elevated temperature to form a gaseous product stream containing titanium dioxide; separating the titanium dioxide from the gaseous product stream to form a process stream; analyzing the process stream to detect a concentration of titanium tetrachloride in the process stream; comparing the concentration of titanium tetrachloride detected in the process stream to an aim point concentration; and modifying the oxidation conditions to restore or maintain the concentration of titanium tetrachloride in the process stream at the aim point.

Abstract: This invention provides a laser trimming method for tuning the frequency of a spiral resonator, and for improving the characteristics of a high temperature superconductor filter comprised of high temperature superconductor spiral resonators, by tuning the individual high temperature superconductor spiral resonators. This invention also provides a method for tuning the resonance frequency of a high temperature superconductor planar coil. This invention also provides a laser ablation process for creating high temperature superconductor circuit elements.

Abstract: A marker pen including an improved nib. The nib has an elongated body portion and an integral tip portion. The nib is constructed of a needled nonwoven material preferably impregnated with a thermoset resin, such as melamine. The nib member may have a specific gravity generally falling within a range of 0.34 through 0.80, with a specific gravity of 0.38 being preferred in one construction. The needled nonwoven material preferably contains needle tracks characteristic of inefficient needling. A method of producing the improved nib member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A marker pen including an improved nib. The nib has an elongated body portion and an integral tip portion. The nib is constructed of a needled nonwoven material preferably impregnated with a thermoset resin, such as melamine. The nib member may have a specific gravity generally falling within a range of 0.34 through 0.80, with a specific gravity of 0.38 being preferred in one construction. The needled nonwoven material preferably contains needle tracks characteristic of inefficient needling. A method of producing the improved nib member is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved article of manufacture and method thereof utilizing a fibrous structure of initially discrete layers, each having first and second sides. At least one side of each layer is rough and the structure has a shrinkage of no more than about 2 percent. The structure is impregnated with a thermoplastic-type polymeric material, and in the final structure there is no visible layer separation.

Abstract: An improved article of manufacture and method hereof utilizing a fibrous structure of initially discrete layers, each having first and second sides. At least one side of each layer is rough and the structure has a shrinkage of no more than about 2 percent. The structure is impregnated with a thermoplastic-type polymeric material, and in the final structure there is no visible layer separation.

Abstract: An improved article of manufacture and method thereof utilizing a fibrous structure of initially discrete layers, each having first and second sides at least one side of each layer is uncalendered and the structure has a shrinkage of no more than about 2 percent. The structure is impregnated with a thermoset type polymeric material and in the final structure there is no visible layer separation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for compensating for offset and gain drift in a fast scan direction during an image forming process. To achieve compensation, the present invention samples a plurality of permanently darkened pixels upon powering up image sensors and circuitry therefor and during a sub-scanning process of an image and feeds this information into an offset value generating circuit. The offset generating circuit continually adjusts a pixel offset voltage according to a difference between sequential samples of the permanently darkened pixel, thereby compensating for fast scan offset drift. The present invention also samples a plurality of active pixels during a scanning of a calibration strip. From this scan, a gain corrective value is calculated. The present invention then samples active pixels during a scanning of a platen background.

Abstract: An improved article of manufacture and method thereof utilizing a fibrous structure of initially discrete layers, each having first and second sides. At least one side of each layer is rough and the structure has a shrinkage of no more than about 2 percent. The structure is impregnated with a thermoplastic-type polymeric material, and in the final structure there is no visible layer separation.

Abstract: An improved fibrous composite structure for use in grinding, cutting and/or polishing operations, normally with abrasives. Webs of fibrous materials, preferably blends of fibers having different deniers are fed to a needling apparatus and are needled, starting with at least two such webs. The needles force fibers from the webs along the path of needle travel and withdraw generally clean, leaving voids that define pores. Further individual layers are needled in like fashion to alternating opposite sides of the structure. Needles pass through an amount greater than fifty percent of the then thickness of the structure adequate to produce a unitary composite, though, and most preferably entirely through the thickness. The process for producing the composite products and embodiments of the products are also disclosed and claimed.