Abstract: Bucket tip tenons requiring refurbishment are removed from the bucket tips by grinding. Groups of buckets are clamped on a rotatable table in positions adjacent an induction heating coil and a robotic welding arm, respectively. While one group is preheated, the other group of buckets is in a welding location, enabling the welding head on the robotic arm to sequentially apply weld buildup material to the bucket tips. After applying weld buildup material in multiple passes and sequentially to the bucket tips, the buckets are removed, stress-relieved and the weld buildup material machined to provide refurbished tenons. Upon removal of the buckets from the table, the table is rotated to locate the preheated buckets in welding locations and additional buckets are clamped to the table for preheating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a terephthalic acid di-ester by the esterification of terephthalic acid with an alcohol at elevated and normal temperature and pressure while the water of the reaction is removed from the reaction mixture via an inert gas or a column.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enabling a Tablet PC to receive a keyboard and to communicate depression of keys on the keyboard to an associated operating system. The keys of the keyboard are translucent or transparent. When the keyboard is in an active position, the operating system displays characters on a portion of the display that receives the keyboard. The translucent or transparent characteristic of the keys enables the display characters to project through the keys. At such time as a key is depressed and touches the display, the character associated with the key is communicated to the operating system. Similarly, when the keyboard is in an inactive position, the portion of the Tablet PC that receives the keyboard does not display the characters thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate by the esterification of terephthalic acid with 2-ethylhexanol at elevated temperature and pressure while the water of reaction is removed from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a first indicator that indicates a recommended resource requirement for an application is read. A second indicator that indicates a permissible flexibility in the recommended resource requirement for the application is read. The application is allocated to a processing entity of a plurality of processing entities based the first and the second indicators.

Abstract: Bucket tip tenons requiring refurbishment are removed from the bucket tips by grinding. Groups of buckets are clamped on a rotatable table in positions adjacent an induction heating coil and a robotic welding arm, respectively. While one group is preheated, the other group of buckets is in a welding location, enabling the welding head on the robotic arm to sequentially apply weld buildup material to the bucket tips. After applying weld buildup material in multiple passes and sequentially to the bucket tips, the buckets are removed, stress-relieved and the weld buildup material machined to provide refurbished tenons. Upon removal of the buckets from the table, the table is rotated to locate the preheated buckets in welding locations and additional buckets are clamped to the table for preheating.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for communicating in a computing system. An example of the method includes establishing a local communications interface at a local site. This example also includes writing local site communication information to the local communications interface, which comprises storing the local site communication information on a first site storage device at the local site, and sending the local site communication information from the first site storage device, to a third site storage device at a remote site, wherein the local site communication information is sent using a remote data replication protocol. The remote site communications interface may read the local site communication information from a third site storage device, and may send the local site communication information to a remote application at the remote site. Similarly, the remote application may send information to a local application at the local site.

Abstract: Server discovery, spawning collector threads to collect information from servers, and reporting such information, is disclosed. A method of one embodiment determines a number of servers communicatively coupled to a network. For each server, a collector thread is spawned to collect information regarding the server by sending requests to the server and receiving responses from the server. The collector threads can be spawned by and run on a computing device other than the number of servers, such that no computer-executable code is installed on the servers for collecting the information. Upon completion of the collector thread for each server, the information regarding the server as collected is stored to a database by one or more writer threads.

Abstract: Transfer apparatus and method are provided from first (15A, 16A) to second (15B, 16B) stations of tooling in a cap (11) making press. This cap is biased against the first upper tools by a first airstream (50) introduced under the cap and moves upward with the first station punch (45). As the punch approaches its top location, a transfer airstream (52) begins while the first airstream is still on, and moves the cap out through a transfer chute (18) to the second station. The cap departs the chute and passes detents (67) on a pair of closed retention fingers (60) which define an extension of the transfer path from the chute into the open second station tools. A vacuum (85) applied to a port in the second station punch then holds the cup against the rising upper tools. When the punch clears the closing fingers and approaches its top location, an ejection airstream (87) commences to propel the finished cup via a discharge chute (19).

Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring activity includes generating first server heartbeat information at a first server at a local site, and storing the first server heartbeat information in a first primary site disk at the local site. The method also includes sending the first server heartbeat information from the first primary site disk, to a first secondary site disk at a remote site. The method further includes receiving information from a second secondary site disk at the local site, and determining if the information received from the second secondary site disk includes updated heartbeat information.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved cap, and apparatus and a method for making such cap, including tooling for the first station. The improved cap is provided with a central button feature in its top panel that can move slightly upward or downward with respect to the remainder of the cap. When a container is filled, liquid Nitrogen is added just before the cap is applied. The liquid Nitrogen turns into gas and creates pressure in the container, causing the button to rise. Other methods can be used to pressurize the contents. When a consumer opens the cap, the gas is released and the button returns to its normal (down) position, or if pressure is accidentally lost the button returns to its normal (down) position. Thus, this feature will indicate loss of pressurization before intended opening, and possible resulting spoilage, or will indicate to the consumer that the container has been open, and may contain only partial product, if he should replace the cap to protect remaining product.

Abstract: A device to encode motion and sound data directly into a computer recognizable format and save the encoded data on a hard disk drive in real time includes a housing having operator controls. A lens and at least one microphone are also on the housing. Processor circuitry within the housing communicates with the operator controls and the at least one microphone. The processor circuitry generates motion data in response to light entering the housing via the lens and captures sound data via the at least one microphone in response to user input made via the operator controls. The processor circuitry includes an encoder to encode the motion and sound data directly into a computer recognizable format. The encoded motion and sound data is saved on a hard disk drive within the housing in real time.

Abstract: A device for applying an adhesive label to a disk such as a CD or DVD includes a platen and a central hub rising from the platen. The label is centered about the hub on the platen. The hub has three deformable legs that are biased outwardly and that are deformed inwardly when a disk is slid down the hub against the label, with the label adhering to the disk on contact. The disk can then be slid back up the hub to remove the disk with label. Centering structure is provided for engaging the label to hold the label centered about the hub until the disk abuts the label.

Abstract: A wireless speakerphone is designed to prevent damage to a user's ear when the phone is placed against the user's ear during speakerphone operation. The phone includes a second speaker, or second speaker, embedded behind its rear surface. The rear surface is shaped so that, when resting against a rigid surface such as a desktop or tabletop, the rear surface and the rigid surface together form a waveguide that directs sound waves from the second speaker into the surrounding room.

Abstract: An approach for omnidirectional audio in a communications device has a communications device housing having a front housing including an opening; an earpiece transducer that directs sound waves through the opening; an audio transducer positioned within the communications device housing to direct audio waves in a direction substantially away from a direction in which the sound waves are directed; a cavity having a long axis oriented off axis relative to the direction in which the audio transducer directs audio waves, the cavity being juxtaposed with the audio transducer so as to receive the audio waves directed therefrom; and an omnidirectional audio port located at an end of the cavity, the omnidirectional audio port including an opening through which the audio waves directed from the audio transducer are emitted.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting data processing equipment to a communications network includes hardware for a range of different communications standards. Also included is a coupler (preferably in the form of a cable) having a particular standard communications plug which contains an identifying code associated with that particular standard plug, which code is used to configure the apparatus to that particular standard. The apparatus contains a digital signal processor controlled by control code contained in a control store having associated therewith a standard identifier code. Control logic reads the standard identifier code associated with the control code and the standard identifying code in the coupler and enables the apparatus if the two match (or disables if they do not match).