Abstract: Among other things, techniques are described for self-cleaning door handles. A door handle for a vehicle includes a housing including a hand grip; a hygienic film that is formed around a portion of a circumference of the hand grip; a plurality of cylindrical rollers rotatably connected to the housing and are configured to rotationally guide the hygienic film along the portion of the circumference of the hand grip; and a light that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in an ultraviolent spectrum and configured to irradiate at least one portion of the hygienic film to reduce a quantity of bacteria on the at least one portion of the hygienic film.

Abstract: A unit for control or management of products, including rolls of paper material, includes a plant including an operating line including at least one upstream section including a log saw for cutting rolls off elongate logs, a packaging section for primary packaging, including a packing section where the rolls are packed, and a bagging section where the packs are placed in bags and/or a palletizing section where the packs or bags are placed on pallets. A conveying section transports products between one section of the plant and another, in particular between the upstream section and the packaging section and/or between one packaging section and another downstream. A process controller controls the functioning of the plant sections. The unit includes a device for eliminating a defective product or roll.

Abstract: A tamping punch station for filling capsules in a capsule filling machine is described. The machine includes a rotatably drivable dosing disk with bore holes and a filling device for filling the bore holes. Tamping punches and ejection punches are held on a punch support, and vertical movement of the punch support causes the tamping punches to press filling material into the bore holes and the ejection punches to eject pellets created by the tamping punches in the bore holes. A first drive rotates the dosing disk along punches and a second drive moves the punch support. The second drive includes at least two spindle drives acting on the punch support with respectively one spindle nut and respectively one vertical drive spindle guided in the spindle nut and at least two drive motors, which drive respectively one of the spindle drives for vertical movement of the punch support.

Abstract: Polycrystalline silicon chunks are packed for further processing and/or for shipment with minimal contamination by introducing the chunks into a cardboard container lined with a non-contaminating plastic. The process is economical, avoids the problems associated with packaging in plastic bags, and provides far less contamination and spillage during transport.

Abstract: A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet of web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, and a feed station. A tensioning station is disposed between the supply of web material and the drawing station to maintain the tension of the web material at a pre-determined tension. A web accumulation station is between the drawing station and the feed station to provide a slackened length of web material within an acceptable range of slack between the drawing station and the feed station. The supply of web material is disposed on a spool which rotates about a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft has a braking mechanism which protrudes from the shaft to generate a frictional force against the spool.

Abstract: A method for producing an analytical tape, in particular a lancet tape, is proposed. The analytical tape is designed for being used in an analytical testing device with at least a sample-taking function. In the method, at least one supporting tape is provided in a continuous process. A plurality of lancet elements are successively applied directly to the supporting tape at at least one application point.

Abstract: The method for inserting cotton wads into containers uses a wad transport unit, which comprises two star wheels, each having three wad holders. The two star wheels are mounted rotatably on the same rotational axis but with an offset from each other, and each star wheel is driven by its own separate drive means. During rotation of the star wheels, one of the three wad holders of each star wheel is horizontally shifted in such a way that the three wad holders of each star wheel are arranged in a straight line and are thus located above three containers to be filled with the wads.

Abstract: A method and a device for sorting identification objects is described, wherein identification objects are fed in a defined sequence, one after the other, to a first transfer position and inspected for defects. Identification objects identified as defect-free are transferred in the first transfer position by a first transfer arrangement to a transfer buffer, and identification objects identified as defective are transported away by a first transport arrangement. The defect-free identification objects are then fed to a first magazine, which is then transported to a second transfer position by a second transport arrangement. The first magazine is then aligned in a first position with a first buffer of a rotatable sorting arrangement, and the defect-free identification objects following the defective identification objects are transported by the first transport arrangement to the second transfer position and transferred by a second transfer arrangement to the first buffer.

Abstract: A decorative grass having a non-linear side edge that provides the decorative grass with a contoured configuration, as well as methods of producing and using same, are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing filters and inserting the filters into single dose capsules for preparing beverages comprises a punching and forming device for punching material portions from a sheet material and forming the material portions to assume the form of a beaker-shaped filters, an insertion device arranged in a distance of the punching and forming device along a work flow direction for inserting the formed filters into the capsules, a first transport device (175, 176) for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device, a second transport device (177) for accepting a plurality of formed filters from the punching and forming device and transporting the accepted filters to the insertion device. The first transport device (175, 176) and the second transport device (177) are movable with respect to each other.

Abstract: An stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is provided. The stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively applied to the foot of a patient for providing relief from plantar fasciitis. A portion of the stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively attached to the bottom surface of the foot for reducing stress on the plantar fascia.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively accessing a portion of a sterile cryopreserved sample are disclosed. The apparatus may include a container configured to receive the cryopreserved sample and having a first portion and a second portion, a heat sink chamber surrounding the first portion of the container, and a heat source adjacent to the second portion of the container. The chamber may be configured to maintain a non-accessed portion of the sample in a cryopreserved state. The heat source may be configured to separating an accessed portion of the sample from the non-accessed portion of the sample while maintaining the viability of the accessed portion while the non-accessed portion is maintained in the cryopreserved state.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is provided. The stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively applied to the foot of a patient for providing relief from plantar fasciitis. A portion of the stretch resistant plantar fascia support system is adhesively attached to the bottom surface of the foot for reducing stress on the plantar fascia.

Abstract: Apparatus, method, and system for combining a plurality of items into a batch having a set number of items. Number of items are put together onto a production line to form a batch along with non-batch items which are not suitable for inclusion within the batch onto the production line. The batch is advanced on the production line as a partial batch without the non-batch item being added to it when a batch is not complete. A reminder batch is created after the non-batch items have been added to the production line and the remainder batch includes the number of items that must be added to the partial batch to make a full batch.

Abstract: A method for enveloping an item to be packaged includes supplying the item to a wrapping unit using a first feed unit, cutting a packaging blank having two side flaps, a base flap, and a closing flap to size, supplying the packaging blank to the wrapping unit using a second feed unit, combining the item and the packaging blank in the wrapping unit, and wrapping the item with the packaging blank, wherein the item and the packaging blank are supplied to the wrapping unit in a line and in opposite directions, at least in one section. This method further includes wrapping the item by folding the side flaps, and by folding the base flap, in any order, gluing the side flaps and the base flap together, and wrapping the item by folding the closing flap.

Abstract: A towel is formed by hydro-entanglement of an isotropic web formed of predominantly rayon. The towel comprises a surface texture formed during hydroentangling. The towel is compacted into a cake or disk shape for distribution. The cake or disk shape can expand when exposed to moisture such that the towel recovers to substantially the original dimensions and texture.

Abstract: Procedure for the low-risk and zero-emission transportation of sulphur from solid sulphur deposits, in blocks of large dimensions, characterized in that it comprises the formation of blocks of sulphur, having suitable dimensions for being moved, by means of water cut techniques and the wrapping of the blocks obtained in polyethylene sheets.

Abstract: A banding device includes a frame. A feeding assembly is mounted on the frame for feeding elastic tubing into the frame. A transfer assembly disposed within the frame includes transfer arm and fingers. The fingers receive the rubber tubing as fed. A cutting assembly is disposed between the transfer assembly and the feeding assembly for cutting the tubing into bands. The fingers of the transfer assembly move between a first closed position for receiving the band and a second open position for opening the band. The transfer arm is moveable between a first position for receiving the band and a second position for transferring the band. A banding assembly disposed at the second position receives the band from the transfer assembly. The banding assembly stretches the band and receives an item to be bundled within the band. The banding assembly releases the band about the bundle.

Abstract: A seed mat utilizing coir fiber (base or bottom) with a second layer of coir pith particles adhesive, and seeds and possible nutrients (top), the coir pith has a compression of 5:1, the coir fiber layer and adhesive holds the seed and coir pith mixture in place for significant reduction of run off and also adds moisture retention allowing for faster and more successful germination and turf establishment.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved processes and systems for continuously bagging materials. In particular, the improved processes and systems can be used to bag tacky materials with improved throughput. The systems generally include at least one of a feeding section, mixing section, pelletizing section, transport piping, agglomerate catcher, defluidizing section, drying section, pellet diverter valve, and/or bagging assembly.

Abstract: The medicinal tea includes a natural, herbal composition for treating female menstrual pains and post-delivery symptoms. The composition eliminates the side effects of common pain relief or sedative remedies. The composition includes Salvia officinalis, cumin, Artemisia herba-alba, Nigella sativa, Pimpinella anisum, coffee husk, Carum copticom, cinnamon, Achillea fragrantissima, and mint in specific amounts which together provide diuretic, sedative, menstrual and digestive benefits. This composition is easily digestible and provides immediate benefits without any harmful side effects.

Abstract: A method of adapting a plurality of tissues for dispensing, includes cutting each tissue into a rectangular shape having a length and a width; folding each tissue in half lengthwise into a first attitude having the same length and one-half of the width; folding each tissue in half lengthwise again into a second attitude having the same length and having only one-quarter of the original width; placing an even number of equally spaced, widthwise folds, in the tissue dividing the tissue into an odd number of rectangular portions arranged in a Z-folded accordion arrangement; and aligning the plurality of folded tissues in a linear sequence with one rectangular portion of each succeeding folded tissue in the sequence engaged between two adjacent rectangular portions of a preceding folded tissue in the sequence.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for inserting documents (32) in an automated manner into load supports, in particular into containers (30), which are transported by means of a conveyor (26) in an order-picking system (10), comprising: a document guiding device (40) for storing one, preferably single, document (32), and for mechanically guiding same to an assigned load support, which passes the document insertion apparatus (12;12?) by means of the conveyor (26) in an automated manner such that the document (32) can be moved actively into the assigned load support, wherein the document guiding device (40) comprises receiving members (42, 44; 90) which are arranged substantially oppositely horizontal and are mounted movably relative to each other, wherein in a receiving position (FIG. 6A) the receiving members (42, 44; 90) receive the document (32) in a space therebetween.

Abstract: A flower handling system includes loading, cutting, finishing, and boxing stations. Flowers are unloaded from dry-packed boxes at the cutting stations. Each cutting station includes a positioning arm that secures flower bundles and transports them from a first location adjacent a loading table to a second location above a conveyor. A bucket separating device deposits buckets one at a time onto the conveyor, and the buckets are filled with conditioning fluid. A cutting blade is positioned to cut flower stems as the positioning arm moves from the first to the second location. A clamping arm closes around the flowers and lifts them out of the positioning arm before lowering them into a fluid-filled bucket on the conveyor. The flower filled bucket is then transported through the finishing station to a boxing station where the bucket is deposited into a box for shipping to a wholesaler or retailer.

Abstract: A collapsible container made from sheet material, comprising a cover portion and a base portion; the cover portion and base portion each being pivotally connected at respective spaced fold lines to a rear wall each, wherein each of the cover portion and base portion comprises a main panel having, at its edge remote from the rear wall portion, a front wall and, at its opposite side edges, side walls wherein the side and front walls portions of the cover portion interfit with one another to retain them in position extending generally perpendicular to the panel of the cover portion and the side and front walls of the base portion are able, to lie within inwardly facing surfaces of the side and front walls of the cover portion.

Abstract: A system for producing and transporting portions of food includes a filling machine for continuously transporting a stream of food, a separating device for dividing portions from the transported food stream, and a transport device for delivering the portions to a subsequent processing device. To prevent fluctuations in portion size and weight, the system further includes a sensor unit for generating a portion request signal in response to a portion request from the subsequent processing device. The sensor unit outputs the portion request signal to the filling machine, which is designed to control the continuous transportation of the food stream using the portion request signal. The system is operable to synchronize the entire line, including the filling machine, the separating device, the transport device, and the subsequent processing device.

Abstract: A method for producing decorative grass having a non-linear side edge that provides the decorative grass with a contoured configuration is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing stacks of slices (10) from slices (14) packed individually in film, in particular cheese slices, wherein a dispensing roller (1) is provided between the cutting unit (2) and the slice feeding unit (3, 4), first dispensing the slices (14) packed individually in film by the cutting unit (2) transverse to the horizontal main conveyor direction (15), and then transferring said slices to at least two slice conveyor elements (5) of the slice collecting and stacking unit (5-9) by means of two separate conveyor belts (3, 4) of the slice feeding unit (3, 4).

Abstract: A carpet recycling method is disclosed. In a toroidal flow pulper, carpet is disintegrated in a quantity of liquid to form a slurry of fibrous carpet materials and carpet ash. At least a portion of the fibrous carpet materials are separated from the slurry, and the separated fibrous carpet materials are dried. At least a portion of the carpet ash is isolated from the slurry, and the isolated carpet ash is dried. Thus, a first output comprising dried separated fibrous carpet materials is produced, and a second output comprising dried carpet ash is produced.

Abstract: The illustrative method and apparatus provides a more efficient system for automated slicing and loading of food articles into containers. The apparatus includes at least one cutting assembly and at least two chutes and depositing assemblies. The apparatus may include a positioning receptacle that aligns the food articles with a knife set and a driving arm that advances the food article into engagement with the knife set. The chutes may include a movable chute portion, which moves from alignment with the knife set to alignment with the containers, and a chute extension. Openings for the sliced food sections, which extend through the movable chute portion and the chute extension, have a cross section that changes to rotate the orientation of the food sections passing therethrough. Once deposited into the containers, the food sections are oriented with at least some cut faces of the food article adjacent the container wall.

Abstract: A flower handling system includes loading, cutting, finishing, and boxing stations. Flowers are unloaded from dry-packed boxes at the cutting stations. Each cutting station includes a positioning arm that secures flower bundles and transports them from a first location adjacent a loading table to a second location above a conveyor. A bucket separating device deposits buckets one at a time onto the conveyor, and the buckets are filled with conditioning fluid. A cutting blade is positioned to cut flower stems as the positioning arm moves from the first to the second location. A clamping arm closes around the flowers and lifts them out of the positioning arm before lowering them into a fluid-filled bucket on the conveyor. The flower filled bucket is then transported through the finishing station to a boxing station where the bucket is deposited into a box for shipping to a wholesaler or retailer.

Abstract: A bio-absorbable stand-alone film is derived at least in part from fatty acids. The bio-absorbable stand-alone film can have anti-adhesive, anti-inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and wound healing properties, and can additionally include one or more therapeutic agents incorporated therein. The stand-alone film has one or more perforations or depressions formed therein. Corresponding methods of making the bio-absorbable stand-alone film with one or more perforations or depressions include molding, cutting, carving, puncturing or otherwise suitable methods to create the perforations or depressions in the bio-absorbable stand-alone film. The resulting stand-alone film is bioabsorbable.

Abstract: Among other things, a piece of furniture is formed from three separate precut pieces of flat triple wall cardboard. A first one of the pieces has a bottom edge to rest on a floor with the first piece rising vertically from the bottom edge and has at least one slot at an upper edge of the first piece. A second one of the pieces has a bottom edge to rest on the floor with the second piece rising from the bottom edge and having at least one slot at an upper edge of the second piece. A third one of the pieces has a crease across the piece and at least two slots along at least one edge that is parallel to the fold. The piece of furniture is formed by mating the one slot in the first piece with one of the slots of the third piece, folding the third piece of cardboard at the crease, and mating the one slot in the second piece with another one of the slots of the third piece, with the third piece folded along the crease.

Abstract: A machine for canning tuna and similar food products comprises a conveyor belt feeder, a plurality of dosing chambers aligned with the feeder and formed in a rotor rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the feed direction, a mouth connecting the feeder to the dosing chambers, a blade to separate the product introduced in the dosing chambers from the bulk of fed product so as to obtain product cakes, shaping means suitable to shape the cakes into the desired shape and transferring means arranged at a second station reachable through a partial rotation of the rotor to transfer the shaped cakes into the cans carried by another rotor. The connecting mouth has a cross-section of substantially constant shape and the shaping is performed in the dosing chambers by shapers radially mobile along the arms of the rotor when the dosing chambers are still aligned with the feeder.

Abstract: Method for allocating product carriers and a food processing device The present invention relates to a method for allocating product carriers (13, 14), in particular L-boards, to certain types of product portions (7) of a food product, in particular stacks (6) of slices (5) of a food product (4). During processing of the product portions (7), at least two different product carriers (13, 14) are available, of which a specific product carrier (13, 14) is respectively combined with the product portion (7) in dependency of a property of a product portion (7). Furthermore, the invention relates to a food processing device.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable surface wettabilities are obtained from pre-extracted polymerized silicone hydrogel contact lens products having relatively large amounts of removable or extractable materials. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses can be obtained from non-polar resin based contact lens molds and without surface treatments or an interpenetrating polymeric network of a polymeric wetting agent. Related lens products, polymerizable compositions, and methods are also described.

Abstract: A process for treating a substrate comprised of sorptive material is provided herein. The sorptive material may be an absorbent synthetic material such as polyester. The material is designed to be used for cleaning surfaces in an ultraclean environment. The process first comprises unwinding a roll of sorptive material as a substrate into a cleaning system. The cleaning system utilizes several sections. These include a pre-washing section, an acoustic energy washing section, and a drying section. Preferably, the process of moving the substrate through the cleaning system is continuous. The acoustic energy washing section employs one or more acoustic energy generators. In one aspect, the process also includes cutting the substrate into sections to form wipers after moving the substrate through the drying section. Thereafter, the wipers are placed into bag, and the bag is sealed. An integrated processing or treating system for a sorptive material is also provided herein.

Abstract: River rocks are used in a therapy regime whereby the river rocks are used to absorb excess oils from the skin of a user. In one method, river rocks are collected from a source (e.g., river or supplier), sorted for size and color, engraved with logo or other content, packaged and shipped to customers or retailers with instructions on use. Use comprises placement of the river rocks on oily portions of the user's skin for an appropriate time period allowing the river rock to absorb the excess oils. The river rocks are reusable after being washed with mild soap and water.

Abstract: Decorative grass, such as Easter grass, may be produced from a sheet or web of material having a decorative and/or embossed pattern thereon. The decorative pattern may have a non-linear side edge that provides the decorative grass with a contoured configuration.

Abstract: A multi-layered wound dressing includes a moisture-retaining portion for enhancing the healing of a wound. The wound dressing includes an intermediate layer that has both water soluble and water insoluble fibers. An apparatus that includes a cutting tool and a reservoir of liquid to pre-moisten a portion of the dressing may be used to manufacture the dressings.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of producing embossed promotional cards which minimize nesting of adjacently embossed cards in a stack, the apparatus and method provide for offsetting the embossed indicia between adjacently stacked cards or for varying the embossed indicia between adjacently stacked cards.

Abstract: A portion capsule for producing a beverage is proposed, having a capsule body with a capsule base and a filling side, with a cavity for accommodating a pulverulent or liquid beverage base being formed between the capsule base and the filling side, with a filter element being arranged between the beverage base and the capsule base, and with the filter element having a non-woven which is arranged in the region of the capsule base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conveying articles, in particular product slices produced by simultaneous slicing of a plurality of food products or respective portions including a plurality of product slices, wherein the articles are conveyed in a conveying direction on a main conveying path in multitracks in desired arrangements formed by articles from different tracks, in particular in rows extending transverse to the conveying direction, incomplete arrangements of articles having at least one deficient point are expelled onto a secondary conveying path and desired arrangements are formed from the articles forming the incomplete arrangements.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that allow meat logs to be manually loaded into a slicing station and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the slicing station, a harping station, and an insertion station for automated packaging thereof without the need for handling of the meat stacks by workers. To this end, the slicing station is effective to form smaller sections or chubs from the meat logs and to do so such that the chubs are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces to ensure that high quality meat slices are generated therefrom. The chubs are then transported to the harping station where each of the chubs undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices in the configuration of the chubs for generating well-formed stacks of the slices.

Abstract: A method for producing decorative grass having a decorative pattern thereon is disclosed. The decorative pattern may be printed material and/or an embossed pattern, or the decorative pattern may be a non-linear side edge that provides the decorative grass with a contoured configuration.

Abstract: Decorative grasses having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such decorative grasses from materials, wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance or texture of cloth.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tank for storing hydrogen in metal hydride powder comprising a closed enclosure divided into closed elementary cells (1) defined by walls (2, 3, 4, 5), each of the cells (1) containing metal hydride powder (6), characterized in that each of the cells (1) is manufactured successively by carrying out the following steps: certain of the walls defining it are assembled in order to form an open cavity or alveolar cell, and then one or more massive pieces (7) of a material capable of forming a metal hydride are placed in said cavity, and then the last walls of the cell (1) are assembled in order to close the latter; the aforementioned steps are repeated for manufacturing all the cells (1) of the enclosure, and then the enclosure is closed, hydrogen is introduced into the enclosure for transforming the massive piece(s) (7) into the metal hydride powder (6).

Abstract: A system and method are provided that allow meat logs to be manually loaded into a slicing station and thereafter be continuously automatically processed at the slicing station, a harping station, and an insertion station for automated packaging thereof without the need for handling of the meat stacks by workers. To this end, the slicing station is effective to form smaller sections or chubs from the meat logs and to do so such that the chubs are provided with substantially parallel flat end-faces to ensure that high quality meat slices are generated therefrom. The chubs are then transported to the harping station where each of the chubs undergoes a single cutting operation, thus simultaneously forming the meat slices therefrom and substantially maintaining the slices in the configuration of the chubs for generating well-formed stacks of the slices.

Abstract: Decorative elements and decorative grass provided with a substantially flat configuration which, upon activation, can assume a curled or crimped configuration at the point of sale or point of use, as well as methods for producing the same.

Abstract: A process for the automatic filling of cans with foodstuff that is in the form of a continuous cylinder, characterized in that it includes transporting and inserting a portion of the cylinder into a can that is positioned vertically, and then slicing the cylinder so that it is level with the can.