Abstract: A method for removal of pollutants from a pulping process byproduct liquor, the method comprising injecting an oxygen-containing gas into said liquor and condensing the water vapor from the stripping gas so as to produce a condensate comprising pollutants. Also a method of controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of a pulping process byproduct liquor, the process comprising injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the liquor in a reactor, processing the liquor in a flash tank so as to create a cooled liquor and combining at a least a portion of the cooled liquor with new liquor as the new liquor enters, or while the new liquor is in, the reactor.

Abstract: The method of forming a field joint around the bare joint of two joined insulation covered pipes includes providing a first angular cut back in the coating to expose the end of a pipe and providing a second cut back in the coating to provide an annular band of the coating of a lesser diameter than the coating on the pipe. A thin coating of polyurethane may then be applied over the first and second cut backs and a recess provided in the band of coating. A mould may then be secured around the lesser diameter band, and polyurethane pumped into the mould in a sufficient amount to form a field joint which extends into the second cut back and lies flush with the coating of the pipes so as to allow for reeling and laying of the pipe without snagging. The field joint can be located around the bare joint and includes a polyurethane infill recessed into the insulated coating of the pipes such that infill lies flush with the surface of the coating on the pipes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided, for separating articles from product boards and transporting the product articles to another processing station or packaging area. Because of the sticky nature of confections which may be handled the product must be scraped from a product board. Articles are separated from product boards on which they rest upon encountering a blade member which acts to wedge the product from a board surface. The boards are ejected from the machine for reuse, while product or confections are moved downstream along a belt take-up transport conveyor for deposit onto product delivery conveyor, whereby product orientation may be accomplished.

Abstract: In the commercial production of licorice bites, each about 1 inch long, a group of extruded 54-inch licorice strips are lifted by a programmable controlled robot from the discharge end of a lower conveyor and deposited at the input end of an upper conveyor which carries the strips to a cutting station. The robot hand has a lower stainless steel blade for insertion under the group of licorice strips to wedge the sticky strips from a board on which they are being carried by the lower conveyor. The robot hand includes an upper bar. The bar is moved relative to the blade after insertion of the blade under the licorice strips, thereby clamping the strips between the bar and the blade. The arm of the robot then lifts the hand and clamped group of licorice strips and deposits the front ends of the strips at the input of the upper conveyor.

Abstract: In the commercial production of licorice bites, each about 1 inch long, a group of extruded 54-inch licorice strips are lifted by a programmable controlled robot from the discharge end of a lower conveyor and deposited at the input end of an upper conveyor which carries the strips to a cutting station. The robot hand has a lower stainless steel blade for insertion under the group of licorice strips to wedge the sticky strips from a board on which they are being carried by the lower conveyor. The robot hand includes an upper bar having a food-grade rubber undersurface. The bar is lowered relative to the blade after insertion of the blade under the licorice strips, thereby clamping the strips between the lowered bar and the blade. The arm of the robot then lifts the hand and clamped group of licorice strips and deposits the front ends of the strips at the input of the upper conveyor.

Abstract: In licorice manufacturing equipment, a cylindrical multibladed cutter assembly for cutting licorice strips into bite length has its blades radially positioned in a cylindrical roller and its cutting edges transverse to the direction of movement of a conveyor carrying extruded licorice strips. For the purpose of preventing the severed bites of licorice from becoming wedged between the adjacent cutting blades, ejector rods are provided, one between each pair of cutting blades. Camming means cam the ejector rods radially outwardly at the circumferential position at which cutting takes place, thereby to dislodge and eject the licorice bites from the cutter.