Abstract: A paper punch includes at least one punch head unit connected to a base and the at least one punch head unit has at least one punch head located therein. At least one resilient plate is cooperated with the at least one punch head. The first end of the at least one resilient plate is fixed to the at least one punch head unit and the second end of the at least one resilient plate is bent for form a connection end. An operation portion is connected between the first end and the second end of the at least one resilient plate. The connection end contacts a lower lateral side of a front pin extending transversely through the at least one punch head. The at least one resilient plate brings the at least one punch head upward after each punching action. The at least one resilient plate occupies less space and is easily installed. The paper punch is safe and easily assembled.

Abstract: Direct metal deposition (DMD) is used to fabricate knife edges with extended service life. A metal alloy powder is deposited along a blank and melted with a laser beam so that the powder solidifies into a strip of material having a hardness and/or wear resistance greater than that of the starting material. The piece is then finished to produce a sharp edge in the solidified material. The powder may be melted while it is being deposited, or it may be melted after being deposited. A slot or groove may be formed in the blank with the metal alloy powder being deposited into the slot or groove. A hardened steel alloy powder is deposited onto a mild steel blank. For example, a tool steel or vanadium steel powder may be deposited onto a 1018 steel blank. An invention line-beam nozzle may be used for deposition and/or powder melting.

Abstract: Pipe machining apparatuses, such as traveling pipe cutters, are provided. One such pipe machining apparatus may cut or bevel a hollow vessel while traveling around the vessel, and include a frame including a top end and a bottom end with the bottom end adjacent an outer surface of the vessel. The apparatus also includes a cable wrapped around the vessel and a pair of rollers coupled to the frame with each roller defining a groove therein for receiving the cable. Each roller rotates about an axis that extends generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The cable is positioned in each groove of the pair of rollers and each axis is positioned between the cable and the outer surface of the vessel. The cable is tensioned to provide a force on the frame in a direction toward the outer surface of the vessel.

Abstract: A cam operated drum tuning system which is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise to tunes a musical drum. A cam ring mechanism employs multiple helical tracks. A removable radius plate and tool facilitates rotation. The tuning system may be attached directly to drum lugs, to a retrofit ring attached to the lugs, or to a full floating I or II framework which use edge or full floater rings, and/or adjustable pull rods to connect the top and/or bottom tuning systems so that nothing need contact the drum shell. Eccentric micro tuners adjust the rim rollers which ride on the inner hoop, which has a lip on the underside to add overlap. Elevators are used to raise and/or lower the cam ring to align it perpendicular to the bearing edge of the drum shell.

Abstract: A snare drum 10 has a hollow cylindrical shell 11, a batter head 12 mounted on one end of the shell 11, a snare side head 13 mounted on the other end of the shell 11 and a snare wire 14 whose both ends are held by the both sides of the shell 11 to span across the surface of the snare side head 13. The snare side head 13 has a plurality of through-holes 13c. As a result, the snare drum 10 reduces sound volume while maintaining natural timbre and feeling of striking a snare drum.

Abstract: A spiked leg includes a first leg part and a second leg part, which are leg members, and a stopper fixed to a distal end of the second leg part. The stopper includes a stopper main body, a spike holder, and a spike. In the stopper main body, a part of the stopper main body is located between a first longitudinal hole and a second longitudinal hole. Due to this, the proximal end of the spike is arranged apart from a distal end of the second leg part when the second leg part and the spike are assembled onto the stopper.

Abstract: A tom-tom supporting device includes a bracket, a first arm having a plurality of first supporting portions for supporting an upper hoop, and a second arm having a second supporting portion for supporting a lower hoop. Two of the first supporting portions provided at ends of the first arm are each located near one of two intersection points at which a diameter of a batter head, which is perpendicular to a vertical plane containing an axis of a shell and an axis of the second arm, intersects the upper hoop.

Abstract: A floor tom-tom is mounted on three floor tom-tom legs via three tom-tom mounting devices. Each tom-tom mounting device is composed of a memory lock and a floor tom-tom bracket located on the memory lock. The tom-tom mounting device is configured to be capable of fixing the floor tom-tom bracket to the memory lock.

Abstract: A tom holder has a holder body, a pivoting member supported pivotally with respect to the holder body, and a rod, which projects from the pivoting member with the tom fixed to the rod. The tom holder has a pair of openings located at opposed positions. The tom holder is configured to be usable in either a first mode, in which the rod projects from the first opening, and a second mode, in which the rod projects from the second opening.

Abstract: System showing the finger positions on multiple different musical instruments for all the chords in all the keys of the Major Scale, color coordinated to western music's twelve point chromatic scale, showing key signature, character, chromatic scale degree and other relevant musical information.

Abstract: A optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a string of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to string vibrations. A number of dissimilar filter approaches are included to control undesired effects of spurious light, the filter approaches may be structure-based, signal processing-based, and/or optics-based.

Abstract: A ballistic strike plate assembly comprises a first plate formed from aluminum alloy and having a first surface and a second surface. A titanium plate is has a first surface and a second surface. A sheet of ballistic gap foam is adhered to the first surface of the first plate and the first surface of the titanium plate. A multilayer ballistic fabric plate is adhered to the second surface of the titanium plate. A first sheet of ballistic wrap is disposed over the multilayer ballistic fabric plate, and has edges extending beyond edges of the multilayer ballistic fabric plate that are folded over the edges of the multilayer ballistic fabric plate. A second smaller sheet of ballistic wrap is adhered to the portion of the second surface of the first plate not covered by the folded over edges of the first sheet of ballistic wrap.

Abstract: An apparatus may comprise an outer skin having an exterior side and an interior side, an internal structure positioned relative to the interior side of the outer skin, and an inner skin. The internal structure may be capable of absorbing a blast load applied to the exterior side of the outer skin. The internal structure may be located between the outer skin and the inner skin.

Abstract: A structural assembly for use in building applications is disclosed. The assembly has spaced inner and outer face sheets, as well as one or more intermediate panels positioned between the inner and outer face sheets. The intermediate panels are parallel to the inner and outer face sheets, and are supported by alternating flanged web members that engage either the inner or outer face sheets. The assembly provides an enhanced ability to dissipate blast or projectile impact forces and to carry the forces throughout the assembly, thus maintaining sufficient structural integrity in the building to enable the occupants to evacuate, to enable contents to be evacuated, and to enable reuse of the building itself.

Abstract: A bullet-resistant defensive device is disclosed made up of layers of bullet resistant material layered together and connected along their peripheral edge on a frame to form a planar shield. The shield so formed works such that a bullet striking the shield causes the layered bullet resistant material to flex thereby dissipating the force of the bullet, the material when it stretches transfers the force of the bullet from a shear mode to a tensile mode. One preferred embodiment incorporates the invention into a clipboard box for use by police officers for protecting against head, neck and hand wounds from handguns fired at close range from vehicles. The hand-held, bullet resistant clipboard box holds documents and writing implements, and the bullet-resistant material is located within the clipboard box interior cavity and configured for catching a fired bullet before it can pass through the entire clipboard.

Abstract: A bolt carrier for use with the AR15/M16 family of firearms is provided. The bolt carrier includes an integrally formed carrier key and spherical strike face surrounded by a cylindrical counterbore made with a downward angle to act against the tilting force imparted by the operating rod of the firearm's gas operating system. The outer surface of the carrier includes upper and lower running rails that all extend fully to the front face of the carrier to lengthen the carrier's rail support or bearing surfaces against the receiver. To improve the robust operation of the firearm in over the beach operations, the bottom and rear of the receiver extension has drain holes formed through which water is forced out of the receiver extension by the reciprocating action of the bolt carrier when the weapon is fired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for a buffer for the movement of pistol slide against the frame. Wherein said buffer system minimally diminishes the rebound of said pistol slide such that the pistol is still functional with respect to proper blowback operation. Wherein said buffer fits the form of frame and directs pressure from glide rod radially.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a body having an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a discharge port. A supply path extends between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and a booster module is disposed within the body. The booster module includes a control element and an actuator element and defines an exhaust path extending between the outlet connection and the discharge port. A supply port is disposed within the booster module along the supply path between the inlet connection and the outlet connection and at least a first damping means operatively connected to the booster module.

Abstract: A safety circuit for valves actuated hydraulically via a positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder in one embodiment is configured to be hydraulically or pneumatically depressurized in an emergency. The positioning cylinder has two cylinder chambers configured to be fluidically connected via a working line. A first and a second series-connected shut-off valve are provided in the working line. The positioning cylinder in another embodiment is configured to be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated in an emergency. The positioning cylinder has at least one first cylinder chamber configured, in an emergency, to be supplied with pressurized fluid via a first pressure medium flow path. A first and a second series-connected shut-off valve are provided in the first pressure medium flow path.

Abstract: A downforce controller for an agricultural implement having a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder is configured to be coupled to an agricultural row unit and an agricultural toolbar for transmitting a net downforce between the agricultural toolbar and the agricultural row unit. A first pressure in a first chamber of the cylinder and a second pressure in a second chamber of the cylinder have counteracting effects on the net downforce. A manifold coupled to the cylinder is in fluid communication with the first chamber. A pressure control valve coupled to the manifold is in fluid communication with the manifold and the first chamber.

Abstract: A method of drying a wet carbon dioxide rich gas stream is disclosed. The method includes: feeding a wet carbon dioxide rich gas stream into a dryer unit, bringing the wet carbon dioxide rich gas stream in contact with a hygroscopic salt in the dryer unit, whereby a dry carbon dioxide rich gas stream and brine are formed, withdrawing the dry carbon dioxide rich gas stream from the dryer unit, and withdrawing the brine from the dryer unit. A system includes a method of drying.

Abstract: For separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream, a substantially moisture free gas stream is produced using a first temperature swing adsorption (TSA), a first pressure swing adsorption (PSA), a first vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), membrane separation, a first absorption, or any combination thereof. CO2 is captured from the substantially moisture free gas stream and substantially dry CO2 depleted stream is produced using a second TSA, a second PSA, a second VSA, or a second absorption with a non-aqueous solvent with or without a chemical reaction. Adsorbents and/or absorbents used during moisture removal are regenerated using the substantially dry CO2 depleted stream.

Abstract: A system for capturing carbon dioxide from flue gas exhausted from a burner. The system may generally include a solid sorbent configured to absorb carbon dioxide at a first temperature and release carbon dioxide at a second temperature. In addition, the system may include a flue gas passage defining a flow path for the flue gas exhausted from the burner. The flow path may include an absorption zone in which the flue gas is at the first temperature and a regeneration zone in which the flue gas is at the second temperature. The solid sorbent may be cycled between the absorption zone and the regeneration zone such that carbon dioxide from the flue gas is absorbed by the solid sorbent within the absorption zone and released by the solid sorbent within the regeneration zone.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for micro-hydrocyclone purification for a flue gas carbon dioxide capture system. The method comprises: performing gas-liquid micro-hydrocylone separation with ultralow pressure drop on scrubbed flue gas, to remove aerosol particulates entrained in the flue gas; performing gas-liquid micro hydrocyclone separation with ultralowpressure drop on off-gas vented from the top of an absorption column, to remove entrained aerosol particulates; performing gas-liquid micro hydrocyclone separation with ultralow pressure drop on cooled regeneration gas, to remove entrained aerosol particulates; and performing liquid-solid and liquid-liquid two-stage micro-hydrocyclone separation on a mixed amine solution lean for carbon dioxide discharged from regeneration column, to remove entrained solid particulates and machine oil.

Abstract: A wet scrubber (1) useful for cleaning a process gas comprises at least a first spray level system (20) and a second spray level system (26) arranged vertically above the first spray level system (20) in a wet scrubber tower (2). The first spray level system (20) comprises at least one gas-liquid contacting plate (38) which is operative for deflecting absorption liquid, that has been atomized by means of the second spray level system (26) and flowing downward in the wet scrubber tower (2), so deflected absorption liquid (AL) may contact process gas (F) contacted by absorption liquid atomized by the first spray level system (20).

Abstract: A foam removing device, containing: a liquid container; a foam-containing liquid supply pipe; an air bubble outlet pipe; a foam-removed liquid outlet pipe; an inner rotating cylinder: a liquid supply opening; and an air bubble outlet, wherein the inner rotating cylinder contains a foam-removed liquid guide hole formed therein, where the foam-removed liquid guide hole is configured to guide the foam-removed liquid reached to an area adjacent to a perimeter surface of the inner rotating cylinder by the centrifugal separation into a foam-removed liquid accommodating space between an outer surface of the inner rotating cylinder and an inner surface of the liquid container, and a foam-removed liquid outlet opening is provided in the foam-removed liquid accommodating space of the liquid container, where the foam-removed liquid outlet opening is configured to connect the foam-removed liquid outlet pipe with the liquid container.

Abstract: A lean solvent is produced from a CO2 rich solvent using heat exchange with a conditioned stream in a reboiler. A power generator generates a low pressure steam from high pressure steam. A portion of the low pressure steam is sent to a fluid conditioning unit, which conditions the low pressure steam to a temperature and pressure required to allow for the production of lean solvent from a rich solvent in a reboiler.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane comprises aromatic polyimide polymers that comprise a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) wherein X1 and Ar are herein defined.

Abstract: A vial feed device is equipped with a feed arm, which is positioned between a vial tray and an oven and below either of them and having a feeding housing unit and a cooling housing unit, and a vial up-and-down moving mechanism for placing and removing vials in and from vial tray and oven. Feed arm is rotationally driven by a drive motor to move a feeding housing unit, a cooling housing unit and up-and-down moving mechanism toward vial tray or oven. High-temperature vials in oven are housed in cooling housing unit until cooling time T elapses. After cooling time T elapses, cooling housing unit is moved to a lower part of vial tray by feed arm, to be returned to vial tray by up-and-down moving mechanism.

Abstract: A means of suspending flavor medium(s) within a pitcher or vessel containing a consumable liquid. The flavor medium(s) is retained by a removable, substantially central stem(s) which locates to and extends into the vessel. The stem(s) can be made of Stainless Steel, wood, or plastic and be flexible or rigid. The stem can be configurable to be “U” shaped, helical shaped, zigzag shaped, or other shape that aids in retaining fruit, herbs, or other desirable flavor medium(s). The stem functions to hold flavor medium(s) in place while submerging them and while pouring from the vessel. The flavor medium(s) are to be pierced or held under tension while submerged, and function to transfer flavor enhancement to the vessel's beverage with proportional strength to the length of time they are allowed to meld. The insertion of the stem and flavor medium(s) inside the vessel also functions to create an aesthetically pleasing presentation.

Abstract: A liquid food or beverage preparation machine that includes a fluid arrangement and a printed circuit board for controlling one or more functions of the fluid arrangement, with the printed circuit board being enclosed within a substantially impervious housing to protect the printed circuit board from fluid or vapor emissions from the fluid arrangement.

Abstract: An automatic cartridge ejecting unit for a coffee machine has a housing, a top cover, a bottom cover, a cartridge ejecting member and a return unit. The top cover is rotationally assembled on the housing. The bottom cover, which is slidably assembled on the housing and in transmission connection with the top cover, is disposed with an infusion chamber and a cavity. The cartridge ejecting unit is rotationally assembled on the bottom cover and rotates between the initial position and the open position with the action of the top cover. When the cartridge ejecting unit is in the open position, the coffee cartridge is unloaded and falls into the cavity.

Abstract: A capsule includes a deformable and/or compressible casing, provided with a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity that is open and suitable for containing an initial product to obtain a final food product. A supporting element is fixed to a first edge of the casing and facing the cavity and a nozzle is fixed to the supporting element and arranged for delivering a fluid into the cavity which interacts with the initial product to make the final product. The nozzle also opens the base wall and enables the final product to exit when the casing is compressed and crushed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking device with optical identification means for identifying food to be cooked. A motion detector is provided to activate the optical identification means. The motion detector may also activate a light source for lighting the field of vision of the optical means. Optical identification is controlled by the outer appearance of the food. A controller accesses a physical feature database and compares previously stored picture data to the physical features of the food to be cooked. The controller calculates a matching probability rank between the stored picture data and the food to be cooked. The controller is also programmed to have a learning ability for recognizing a previously unknown food product. Based upon the identification of the food product to be cooked, the cooking device starts the recipe for cooking the food product.

Abstract: A tortilla making machine comprising three mechanisms mainly for the process of manufacturing of tortillas and comprises a mixer that supplies and positions the portions of dough to be cooked, a moving press that flattens and shapes the portions of dough, and a cylindrical broiling oven that roast the product by using the curved surfaces on the inner and outer sides of the oven, that incorporates one or several burners or other source of heat in order to keep the surfaces and the inside volume of the oven at an accurate temperature to broil and complete the baking process on the inner side of the oven. The broiling oven is made up of metal tabs laid out along the curved surface of the oven that fold over, either towards the inner or to the outer side of the cylinder, this by gravity alone or supported by springs and closing and opening guides to allow the transition of the product to the inner side to be baked and to the outside to be unloaded.

Abstract: The grills of the present disclosure provide several devices and methods for ensuring that cooking platens are level and provide the correct amount of pressure when cooking a food product. In contrast to currently available cooking devices, those of the present disclosure can be automatically leveled on set up, and adjust during or after operation, thus being able to withstand unpredicted events or normal use that may knock the grills out of level.

Abstract: A cooking surface for a grill includes a fire column. Food placed on the grill surface directly above the fire column will be impinged by the heat of the heat source, made even more intense by the upward, directional flow of air through the fire column. Food placed on the grill surface but not directly above the fire column can be cooked with indirect heat.

Abstract: Described are embodiments of a grilling apparatus and associated methods that can include a bottom portion defining a cavity and a firewall. The firewall can be positioned within the cavity defined by the bottom portion such that the cavity can be divided into a first section and a second section, where the first section can retain a heating element. A grate assembly that can include a grate and a handle can be positioned within the bottom portion and can be configured to rotate relative to the bottom portion. The grilling apparatus can include a lid that can be configured to cover at least a portion of the grate assembly.

Abstract: A manual baler for compressing thin plastic sheeting for efficient recycling including downwardly extending fingers on the compression plate that serve to gather and retain the plastic sheeting during compression and a latch and twine threading system for holding the bale in compression while allowing ties to be wrapped around the bale to retain it in a compressed state.

Abstract: A round baler is provided having a frame, a baling chamber formed on the frame to form a round bale, a discharge region formed between the baling chamber and a base surface, and at least one handling element which is arranged in the discharge region and which extends parallel to the rotation axis of the round bale and serves to support the round bale during the discharge process. To reduce the mechanical load of the round bale, the handling element has an elastic layer which is elastically deformable under the effect of the round bale during the discharge process.

Abstract: A flexible manufacturing system includes a printing system, a projection system and a remote device. The projection system is calibrated with the printing system and helps with aligning graphics to be printed on an article. The remote device receives information from an optical device corresponding to a projection area of the projection system. The remote device can be used to control the alignment of a projected graphic on the article when the article is inside the projection area.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for applying markings, particularly to springs, that are clean (ink in self contained storage units), allows quick color changes and reduces wasted ink or paint. An application means that does not dry out during short down time periods, keeps up with production rates, and is cost effective.

Abstract: Apparatus for draining liquid droplets from a surface is described. The apparatus comprises an array of oleophilic channels substantially interspersed with oleophobic material, wherein a width of an oleophilic channel is arranged to move liquid associated with said droplets along the oleophilic channel by capillary action and wherein a distance between two successive oleophilic channels is less than a critical droplet diameter, the critical droplet diameter corresponding to a droplet that will separate from the surface. The oleophilic channels act to preferentially attract condensed oil and the oleophobic material acts to repel condensed oil such that formation of droplets is restricted by the oleophilic channel. By selecting an appropriate channel width, the size of droplets is prevented from exceeding a critical size, at which the droplets can no longer be held by surface tension to the condensing surface and drip away from the condensing surface.

Abstract: A device for guiding sheets in a sheet-fed rotary printing press or diecutter includes a sheet-guiding plate with openings and a cover plate disposed parallel thereto and being displaceable by an applied operating pressure. A flexible intermediate layer disposed between the sheet-guiding plate and the cover plate has passages with a cross section which is variable by the operating pressure. A sheet brake, a diecutter and a printing press having the sheet guiding device are also provided.

Abstract: A flexible manufacturing system for an article of footwear includes a printing system for printing graphics onto the footwear. The flexible manufacturing system also includes a projection system for aligning a projected graphic with a predetermined portion of the article prior to printing the graphic to the article. The graphic can include a masked portion that corresponds to a design element on the article.

Abstract: An initiator assembly can include an outer body can have a first end, a second end, and an internal passage between the first and second ends. An initiator canister can be joined to the outer body at the first end and can define a charge chamber that includes a pair of pins extending therefrom. An insulative material can be molded within the passage to form an insulative structural member that joins the canister and pins to the outer body and insulates the pins and a portion of the canister from electrical contact with the outer body. An electrostatic discharge dissipater can be formed from an electrically conductive material and can be molded to the outer body. The dissipater can provide a controlled dissipation path for electrostatic discharge energy carried by the initiator assembly.

Abstract: Portable data reader apparatus and methods are presented for verifying electronic detonator locations at a blasting site in which the reader electronically interrogates one or more detonators connected to wires accessible at the blasting site and receives a detonator serial ID number. The reader searches an internal data store or wirelessly queries an external device to obtain a position number corresponding to the received detonator serial ID number and displays the position number to the user.

Abstract: High-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic systems, and methods of making, are presented herein. A ternary high-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic system includes: a solvent of copper (Cu) metal; that comprises 50 to 95 atomic percent (at. %) of the metallic system; a first solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system; and a second solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system. The internal grain size of the solvent is suppressed to no more than 250 nm at 98% of the melting point temperature of the solvent and the solute metals remain uniformly dispersed in the solvent at that temperature. Processes for forming these metallic systems include: subjecting powder metals to a high-energy milling process, and consolidating the resultant powder metal subjected to the milling to form a bulk material.

Abstract: A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead having an outer casing. The warhead includes a frangible container within the outer casing of the warhead and a destructive element within the frangible container. The destructive element is formed with a non-explosive material. The weapon may also include a guidance section configured to direct the weapon to a target.

Abstract: The invention provides a marker projectile a hollow body (4) having an opening at the front; a marker substance (3) disposed within the hollow body (4); and an expelling member (5) within the hollow body (4) behind the marking substance (3); the hollow body (4) and expelling member (5) being configured such that upon impact of the projectile with a target, the momentum of the expelling member (5) relative to the hollow body (4) carries the expelling member (5) forwardly to expel the marking substance (3) through the opening, a separator (1) extending at least partly over the front opening, the separator (1) defining two or more spaces through which the marker substance (3) may pass when expelled through the opening and characterised by a deformable closing member (2) positioned between the marking substance (3) and the separator (1), the closing member (2) configured to deform under the impact of the travelling expelling member (5) whereby to release the marking substance (3) from the hollow body (4).