Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for remote management of printing devices of various types within an enterprise. Printers that are not as well-equipped for printing device management (e.g. legacy printing devices and low-end printing devices) are taken into account by assigning printing device management elements and functions that are present in more modern higher-end printing devices to one or more host computers. As a result, printing device management tasks can be similarly applied to all types of enterprise printing devices without having to use multiple user interfaces or user processes.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is a system and method for harvesting data from at least one device, such that there is stored on a particular device, prior to the start of each harvesting session, an application program, which enables the harvesting of certain data from the device. At the conclusion of a harvesting session, the application program is removed from the device. In one embodiment the application is in the form of a chailet.

Abstract: A die apparatus for supporting and retaining rotary dies in operation having a base, a cover supported by a plurality of columns, a cross member moveable along the columns and modular die supports rollingly engaged with the rotary dies. A method of installing and removing the rotary dies from the apparatus includes moving the dies along a first axis of movement within the apparatus through use of a support strap and moving the dies to and from the apparatus through use of a conveyor.

Abstract: A printer has access to a remote file system. The printer is configured with a remote file system client module configured to create a logical file system mount to a remote file system. Software, which is configured to operate the printer, is obtained by the printer from the remote file system.

Abstract: An improved headwear shaping device which is compact, lightweight, modular and contains an arcuate channel for receiving the visor portion of athletic headwear, shaping the visor by applying equal pressure throughout the perimeter of the visor. The shaping device also provides a stabilizing arm perpendicular to the inserted visor causing the visor to extend parallel to the horizontally axis of the cap for display and storage. The unitary shaped body of the invention is comprised of a lightweight, compact, cost-effective rigid material which also provides for enhanced portability of headwear while not in use.

Abstract: A printer has access to a remote file system. The printer is configured with a remote file system client module configured to create a logical file system mount to a remote file system. Software, which is configured to operate the printer, is obtained by the printer from the remote file system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for remote management of printing devices of various types within an enterprise. Printers that are not as well-equipped for printing device management (e.g. legacy printing devices and low-end printing devices) are taken into account by assigning printing device management elements and functions that are present in more modern higher-end printing devices to one or more host computers. As a result, printing device management tasks can be similarly applied to all types of enterprise printing devices without having to use multiple user interfaces or user processes.

Abstract: In one embodiment there is disclosed a system and method for harvesting data from at least one device, such that there is stored on a particular device, prior to the start of each harvesting session, an application program, which enables the harvesting of certain data from the device. At the conclusion of a harvesting session, the application program is removed from the device.

Abstract: In a distributed computing environment, the described subject matter is a peripheral device that responsive to being powered on, automatically communicates service related information to an entity associated with a service provider.

Abstract: A high speed material processing and stacking apparatus and method for overlapping and slowing the linear progression of material pieces in a continuous stream. The apparatus may include a doubler conveyor for separating material pieces in a stream permitting a substantial reduction in the linear velocity downstream. The apparatus and method may also include a discharge conveyor having a dam separator to introduce controlled separations to form discrete numbers of materials for further processing and shipping.

Abstract: The invention is utilized in the context of a peripheral device that is coupled to a network via a firewall which blocks unwanted incoming message traffic, except for incoming message traffic that is responding to a message dispatched from the peripheral device. A remotely located diagnostic device, which includes code for diagnosis of causes of peripheral device malfunctions, is connected to communicate via the network. The peripheral device includes a memory for storing a diagnostic application that is adapted to execute one or more diagnostic subroutines for diagnosing a cause of a device malfunction. The peripheral device is enabled to dispatch an event message to the remote diagnostic device and to receive a response message from the remote diagnostic device (all via the firewall and the network). The response message causes a diagnostic application to execute a subroutine on the peripheral device in an attempt to determine the cause of the event.

Abstract: A die apparatus for supporting and retaining rotary dies in operation having a base, a cover supported by a plurality of columns, a cross member moveable along the columns and modular die supports rollingly engaged with the rotary dies. A method of installing and removing the rotary dies from the apparatus includes moving the dies along a first axis of movement within the apparatus through use of a support strap and moving the dies to and from the apparatus through use of a conveyor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for repetitively making products, such as cap liners continuously from web material. A rotary knife drum having an array of die cutters cooperates with a counter-rotating anvil to thereby define a convergent web working zone therebetween. A pair of servo-motor driven nip feeders feed a web through the convergent work zone of the drum and anvil.

Abstract: A method of making a pair of rotary die cylinders with lands having coacting cutting edges which cut blanks from a web of material passing through the nip of the rotating dies. In cross section each land has an outer face and a pair of spaced apart side faces which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the chord of the outer face to provide a clean cut and facilitate release of the cut blank from the cutting blades as it emerges from the nip of the dies. The die cylinders are journalled for rotation by recesses with frusto conical locating surfaces in their opposed ends. Each die cylinder is made by machining the recesses in the opposed ends of a generally cylindrical workpiece of tool steel and then utilizing the recesses to locate and orient the workpiece relative to a cutting tool to produce a cylindrical surface on the workpiece concentric with the axis of the recesses and then to machine away portions of the periphery of the cylindrical surface to form the cutting blade lands thereon.

Abstract: A pair of rotary die cylinders with lands having coacting cutting edges which cut blanks from a web of material passing through the nip of the rotating dies. In cross section each land has an outer face and a pair of spaced apart side faces which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the chord of the outer face to provide a clean cut and facilitate release of the cut blank from the cutting blades as it emerges from the nip of the dies. The die cylinders are journalled for rotation by recesses with frusto conical locating surfaces in their opposed ends. Each die cylinder is made by machining the recesses in the opposed ends of a generally cylindrical workpiece of tool steel and then utilizing the recesses to locate and orient the workpiece relative to a cutting tool to produce a cylindrical surface on the workpiece concentric with the axis of the recesses and then to machine away portions of the periphery of the cylindrical surface to form the cutting blade lands thereon.

Abstract: A pump 10 for materials having a viscosity up to about 3.0.times.10.sup.5 cps, such as cellulose acetate, has a pump body 12 formed with a gear receiving means and, mounted thereon for closing the gear receiving means 13, a pair of side plates 16, 18 having bearing receiving cavities 21. The side plates 16, 18 have pressure relief means 50 for relieving pressure that builds-up in the intermesh of gears 14 when highly viscous material, such as cellulose acetate, is being pumped. This means of diverting the pressure buildup enables the pump 10 and component parts, such as shafts 22, 24 and plain bearings 20, to resist premature failure due otherwise to the resultant load caused by residual pressure buildup. In the preferred embodiment, wear resistant ceramic plain bearings 20 are press fitted in the bearing cavities. Grooves or channels 30 in the interior walls 32 of bearings 20 provide a means to lubricate shafts 22, 24 rotatably supported in the bearings 20.

Abstract: A self-expanding flexible pouch that can be used as the measuring device for reconstituting a concentrated product contained therein. The flexible pouch includes an extensible stay located in the throat area of the pouch that is biased toward a circular or elliptical configuration but initially held substantially flat in a stressed condition by the pouch's sealed top portion. When the pouch's top portion is removed, the extensible stay expands to its unstressed circular configuration and thereby expands and opens the pouch's throat area. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pouch's bottom section is provided with a pleated bottom gusset panel that is attached to the sidewall panels' inner surface. When the reconstituting fluid is poured into the pouch, the pouch's bottom gusset panel unfolds and drops downward which allows the pouch's bottom section to also expand and assume a substantially tubular configuration.

Abstract: An overcap assembly for a liquid container that prevents dirt from contaminating the container's integral top lid and sufficiently reseals the container's product-dispensing orifice after initial opening by means of a resiliently deformable sealing member which allows subsequent shaking of the container to redistribute suspended solids such as orange juice pulp. The overcap assembly may be hingedly fixed to or fully removable from the container.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of apple, fruit and tree called “Stella Minnesota” provides a fruit having improved taste and crispness, resistance to browning, characteristic white star marks in the fruit skin and in the tree, shows large green leaves.