Abstract: A modular steam production system for a home cooking appliance, and a home cooking appliance having a modular steam production system, are provided. The modular steam production system includes a steam generating unit having a heating element for generating steam from water, a water reservoir for storing a quantity of the water and being fluidly coupled to the steam generating unit, a controlled water release system including a valve movable between a closed position and an open position to control a release of the water from the water reservoir into the steam generating unit and thereby controlling a volume of steam generated by the steam generating unit, and a mechanical connection configured to engage a corresponding mechanical connection on the home cooking appliance to provide motive power to the controlled water release system to actuate an opening and closing of the valve.

Abstract: An implant delivery device may include an implant holding portion proximate the distal end, the implant holding portion being configured to retain a sheet-like implant during implantation of the implant. In addition, the implant holding portion may be configured to receive the implant with a fixed implant supporting flange member configured to support the implant on one side, and a movable implant supporting flange member. The movable implant supporting flange member may be configured to be slidable between a distal position and a proximal position, wherein, in the distal position, the movable implant supporting flange member and secures the implant against the fixed implant supporting flange member, and in the proximal position, the movable implant supporting flange member is withdrawn from the distal end of the implant delivery device, thus enabling release of the implant.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and a computer program product for delivering a shoulder-tap to one or more battery-constrained devices are disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a shoulder-tap request; storing the shoulder-tap request in a database; retrieving last known network session information for the one or more battery-constrained devices; calculating shoulder-tap beacon frequency for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; creating a shoulder-tap beacon for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; and sending the shoulder-tap beacon to the destination IP address for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices in the calculated shoulder-tap beacon frequency.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and a computer program product for delivering a shoulder-tap to one or more battery-constrained devices are disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a shoulder-tap request; storing the shoulder-tap request in a database; retrieving last known network session information for the one or more battery-constrained devices; calculating shoulder-tap beacon frequency for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; creating a shoulder-tap beacon for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; and sending the shoulder-tap beacon to the destination IP address for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices in the calculated shoulder-tap beacon frequency.

Abstract: A multi-sided cable clamp for clamping drop cables to main span cables. The cable clamp has a central body and a plurality of cable holding assemblies. The plurality of cable holding assemblies are formed into or secured to a side wall of the central body. A coupling member having an eye is operatively coupled to or integrally formed into a bottom surface of the central body so that the eye can be coupled to an extendable reach tool.

Abstract: A multi-sided cable clamp for clamping drop cables to main span cables. The cable clamp has a central body and a plurality of cable holding assemblies. The plurality of cable holding assemblies are formed into or secured to a side wall of the central body. A coupling member having an eye is operatively coupled to or integrally formed into a bottom surface of the central body so that the eye can be coupled to an extendable reach tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A method of preparing and serving a sandwich involves providing a ring, providing a pita, opening the pita to expose a pocket, placing the pita into the ring, filling the pocket with foodstuffs, and serving the assembled sandwich, in the ring, to a diner.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: A method rapidly cools meat by exposure to a rapid cooling temperature of no more than about ?10° C. for sufficient time to provide a frozen crust on the meat and chills the resultant crust-frozen meat by exposure of said crust-frozen meat to a chilling temperature greater than the rapid cooling temperature but no more than about +10° C. to raise the temperature of the surface of the meat and to maintain said surface at a temperature no higher than the freezing temperature of the meat for at least sufficient time to injure lethally and/or kill bacteria, thereby reducing the viability of bacteria on meat. The method has particular application in the processing of poultry meat to kill bacteria comprising the Campylobacter and/or Salmonella species. The meat is disinfected in a non-intrusive manner, leaving the meat in as natural a state as possible.

Abstract: A laser cleaving apparatus for use in terminating optical fiber cable ends has a laser beam source, the output of which is directed through a beam distorting member, which produces a beam having a chisel shape with a substantially flat side normal to the axis of a connector fiber containing ferrule and focuses it onto the fiber at a point adjacent the ferrule end face with the flat side also adjacent the end face. A single step polishing stage polishes the cleaved fiber end face to make it flat and flush with the ferrule end face.

Abstract: A method of processing a print batch in a print device includes storing characteristics of a plurality of print jobs in the print batch, evaluating the characteristics of the print jobs, and independently determining a pick order, a transfer order, and a delivery order based at least in part on the print job characteristics.

Abstract: Connector systems for dynamically updating information related to a network and methods for developing the connector systems, are provided. A connector system for dynamically updating information related to the network, comprises: a connector; and an integrated circuit integrated in a surface of the connector. A method for developing the connector system comprises: obtaining a connector; and integrating an integrated circuit in a surface of the connector.

Abstract: Methods for sequential saponification and quantitative isomerization of glyceride oils containing interrupted double bond systems, with alkali in a polyether alcohol solvent to yield soaps with conjugated double bond systems are disclosed. The novel properties of the polyether alcohols allow the removal of water added with the alkali by boiling. The preferred embodiment uses a vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid such as sunflower or safflower oil, potassium hydroxide, phosphoric acid to neutralize the soaps. The reaction forms equal quantities of 9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid and 10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acids.

Abstract: Methods for sequential saponification and quantitative isomerization of glyceride oils containing interrupted double bond systems, with alkali in a polyether alcohol solvent to yield soaps with conjugated double bond systems are disclosed. The novel properties f the polyether alcohols allow the removal of water added with the alkali by boiling. The preferred embodiment uses a vegetable oil rich in linoleic acid such as sunflower or safflower oil, potassium hydroxide, phosph ric acid to neutralize the soaps. The reaction forms equal quantities of 9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid and 10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acids.

Abstract: An all-optical semiconductor waveguide optical regenerative device uses a nonlinear ridge waveguide structure to mix an input signal with a local oscillator signal to produce wavelength-switched and optically-regenerated signals. The ridge waveguide structure, and the local oscillator sources, filters and amplifiers may be tunable, microprocessor-controlled and monolithically integrated. The present invention relates to semiconductor waveguide-based structures, photonic application-specific integrated circuits, which can be used for optical signal processing and, more particularly wavelength-conversion, wavelength-shifting, wavelength-translation, wavelength-switching, wavelength-routing and optical signal transmission, amplification, pulse-shaping and regeneration in optical networks by integrating multiple functions on monolithic semiconductor substrates of Indium Phosphide and its ternary and quaternary semiconductor material derivatives.