A button, knob or control key with an etchable support plate which is engraved on the backside with a fine symbol by laser, erosion or mechanical engraving, which only cuts into the material of the support plate, but not through the support plate. The backside of the support plate is optionally coated. A foil is applied on the laminated layer and affixed thereto. The front side of the support plate is treated with a material-removing substance. The material removal with the material-removing substance is performed until the engraving extending into the support plate is at least partially or completely exposed on the front side. Application of a protective layer to the front side of the support plate from which the material was removed. A function symbol is provided on the button such that it can be backlit. It is engraved in a fine line width providing a sharp optical definition erosion, mechanical engraving.

A shelf-stable snack product having visibly impactful vegetable inclusions, a composite dough for forming the shelf-stable snack product, and method of manufacture is disclosed herein. The shelf-stable snack product includes masa and a fresh vegetable ingredient, and a final moisture content in the range of about 1.7-2.5 weight percent. Additionally, the shelf-stable snack product has an l-value no less than a corresponding l-value of a plain version of the shelf-stable snack product lacking the vegetable inclusions.

Rebaudioside M compositions with improved aqueous solubility and methods for preparing the same are provided herein. The rebaudioside M compositions include (i) disordered crystalline compositions comprising rebaudioside M and rebaudioside D, (ii) spray-dried compositions comprising rebaudioside M, rebaudioside D and steviol glycoside mixtures and/or rebaudioside B and/or NSF-02, (iii) spray-dried compositions comprising rebaudioside M, rebaudioside D and at least one surfactant, polymer, saponin, carbohydrate, polyol, preservative or a combination thereof. Sweetened compositions, such a beverages, containing the rebaudioside M compositions with improved water solubility are also provided herein.

Gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for female or male infants up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of alanine, and/or histidine, and/or isoleucine, and/or proline, and/or valine is adapted based on that found in HM produced for an infant of the same gender and age, and nutritional systems comprising them.

A nutritional supplement powder and method of supplementing the nutritional value of a food or beverage is provided. The nutritional supplement powder includes a protein system, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The protein system has a water solubility of at least about 70% at room temperature. The nutritional supplement powder is essentially free of divalent ions of copper, iron, and zinc, and is also essentially free of vitamin C. When added to a food or beverage, the nutritional supplement powder does not substantially change the organoleptic properties of the food or beverage.

Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide systems and methods for creating a pressed food item in an oven cooking cavity. The oven system is secured within the oven cooking cavity and is not dependent upon oven door movement or any other oven function. An upper platen is configured to move up and down with respect to a lower platen in order to press a food item during the cooking process. The lower platen is generally secured with respect to the oven interior, whether to a jet plate, to an oven wall, or to a frame that is secured within the oven. The upper platen moves along a vertical support system. When the oven system is not in use to create a pressed food item, the upper platen can remain in a lowered position so that the oven may be used without the pressing features described.

The present invention relates to a plant-based wrapping paper for wrapping food. The plants (raw materials) may be fruits, herbs, medicinal plants, tea, vegetables and/or spices. The invention further relates to a method for producing said wrapping paper, its use for wrapping food or its use as packaging material.

A combination of a container and a plurality of food items nested within the container may include base and a first cavity in the base. A first food item may be nested in the first cavity. The first food item may include a decorated section. The first food item may include a disposable wrapper having an exposed upper wrapper edge. The container may include a lid moveable between a closed position and an open position. A first retainer may be on the lid. When the lid is in the closed position the first retainer may overlie a first portion of the upper wrapper edge. When the container is inverted with the lid in the closed position relative axial movement between the first food item and the first cavity may be limited by contact between the first retainer and the upper wrapper edge.

The present invention is directed to novel organoleptic compounds, a process of augmenting, enhancing or imparting taste to a material selected from the group consisting of a foodstuff, a chewing gum, a dental product, an oral hygiene product and a medicinal product comprising the step of incorporating an olfactory acceptable amount of such novel organoleptic compounds, and a process of improving, enhancing or modifying a fragrance composition through the addition of an olfactory acceptable amount of such novel organoleptic compounds.

A measurement apparatus and method for in-situ quantitative texture measurement of a food snack. The apparatus includes an acoustic capturing device and a data processing unit. The physical interaction in the mouth with saliva, when a human being eats/drinks a food snack, sends pressure waves that propagate through the ear bone and produce an acoustic signal. The acoustic capturing device records and forwards the signal to a data processing unit. The data processing unit further comprises a digital signal processing module that smoothens, transforms and filters the received acoustic signal. A statistical processing module further filters the acoustic signal from the data processing unit and generates a quantitative acoustic model for texture attributes such as hardness and fracturability. The quantitative model is correlated with a qualitative texture measurement from a descriptive expert panel. Another method includes a food snack fingerprinting using an in-situ quantitative food property measurement.

The invention concerns a sweetened dairy product comprising a dairy material, at least one steviol glycoside, at least one additive selected from a polysaccharide of fructose units and a salt.

This disclosure describes a simple, low cost method to produce a modular dry mix that can easily be modified and customized to produce a wide range of easy to aerate, no ice cream machine needed, ice cream and frozen dairy and non-dairy desserts and products made by this process. The method relies on successive simultaneous particle size reduction and blending steps without the use of traditional mix drying operations. The formulations produced by this process are modular and allow quick and simple ingredient substitutions to create distinct finished products. The process yields mixes that produce stronger, more stable foams that don't leave an oily mouth feel. The disclosure also includes a formulation and process used to make ice cream, and related frozen dairy and non-dairy desserts at room temperature in one step where the ingredients do not need to be aged, or homogenized, and aeration occurs without the need for simultaneous cooling or freezing. The process allows the end-user to control and vary the texture, freezing rate, melting point and eating qualities of the product without the use of traditional, home or industrial ice cream machines and a product made by this process. A product produced from this mix consists of a (protein-concentrate and emulsifier)—stabilized, protein-based foam created by combining a powder mix with one or a combination of a large range of above freezing temp liquids then immediately whisking the mixture at room temp to a target overrun without pre-aging, and then freezing that product statically till desired hardness is achieved. The main execution of this process involves the use of dry powders that are transported and sold dry and then reconstituted by the end user before they are combined without pre-treatment, freezing homogenization or aging. The manufacturing process offers significant advantages over current dry mix production methods which require significant upfront investment and produce hard to customize mixes. The formulation and finished product making portions of the invention offer significant improvement over existing manufacturing methods for frozen desserts and dessert mixes that require simultaneous freezing and aeration in terms of cost, convenience, customizability, shelf-stability and environmental impact.

A composition and process for making pet food treats is described herein. Auxiliary ingredients are combined to form a plant mixture. The plant mixture is formed into portions. The portions of plant mixture are positioned on a chew stick that comprises rawhide. The pet treat gives the appearance of a grilled shish kabob, where the plant portions are meant for initial taste, while the chew stick will provide the dog with a longer-lasting chewing portion.

The present invention relates to protein compositions. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the production of a composition comprising casein fibrils. Further aspects of the invention area composition comprising casein fibrils, the use of such a composition and a food product comprising the composition.

A storage-stable, flavour composition, wherein said composition comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a non-aqueous dispersing medium, said particles consisting of a first particle population of encapsulated flavour oil, and a second particle population of micronized acidulant particles.

The present specification provides fruit chew dietary supplements comprising proanthocyanidins. Also described are methods for producing the fruit chew supplements.

Gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for infants up to 1 month of age wherein, the total protein content is adapted based on that found in HM produced for infants of the same gender and age, and nutritional systems comprising them.

Inhibition of expansion of a cereal product, such as a ready-to-eat cereal, by a particulate insoluble component such as fiber and/or calcium is avoided by pelletizing the particulate insoluble component. A binder component, such as gelatinized starch, is used to bind particles of the particulate insoluble component into a coherent mass which is formed into non-expanded pellets for fortification of the cereal product. The expanded cereal products, such as extruded puffed RTE cereals which contain the pellets, exhibit a crisp, uniform texture and cell structure, improved, prolonged bowl life, a non-gritty mouthfeel, and a smooth, uniform surface appearance even though they are fortified with high amounts of the solid or particulate insoluble nutritional components.

Disclosed herein is a nutrient delivery system that provides a nutritional formula for consumption. The nutrient delivery system includes a pod and a nutritional powder comprising at least one phospholipid. The nutritional formula has improved characteristics, such as decreased foaming.

A cartridge (10) containing a dose (12) of at least one substance for preparing a liquid product, e.g., coffee, by means of liquid and/or steam introduced into the cartridge (10). The cartridge comprises a body (14) containing the aforesaid dose (12), with a bottom wall (142), through which the liquid product is able to flow out of the cartridge (10), and a cover (16) that closes the body of the cartridge (10) at the end of the body opposite to the bottom wall (142). The body (14) comprises a crushed-plant-fibre material (e.g., with a base of rice husk), which may also be used for producing the cover. Alternatively, the cover (16) may be made of paper material (e.g., filter paper). The body (14) and the cover (16) are connected together via purely mechanical connection, it thus being possible to avoid gluing or welding.

The present invention relates to an emulsified flavor composition for an alcoholic beverage that does not generate a floating matter or a sediment, that maintains a stable emulsified state, that imparts transparent appearance to the alcoholic beverage and that does not impair the taste/flavor of the alcoholic beverage, even when mixed with a concentrated syrup that has an alcohol concentration several times higher than that of the alcoholic beverage during the steps for producing the alcoholic beverage. The emulsified flavor composition for alcoholic beverages of the present invention comprises: (a) an oil-soluble component containing a flavor; (b) a polyglycerol fatty acid ester whose 1% by weight aqueous solution has transmittance of 65% or higher at 600 nm; and (c) lecithin.

The present invention is directed to recombinant thraustochytrids that grow on sucrose and cell cultures comprising the recombinant thraustochytrids as well as methods of producing cell cultures, biomasses, microbial oils, compositions, and biofuels using the recombinant thraustochytrids.

Hand pliers for assembly purposes includes an assembly limb and a handle limb rotatably connected to one another via a first link joint. The handle limb is divided into an off-handle lever and a handle-near lever and these two levers are rotatably connected to one another by a bolt via a second link joint, wherein a tension wheel and a ratchet wheel with external toothing connected torsionally proof to it are pivotably arranged on the bolt side by side in axial direction, and the tension wheel engages into a tension device that connects both handle limbs to one another, and a spring-loaded dog ratchet is arranged at the handle-near lever, engaging into the ratchet wheel in such a manner that when the handle-near lever makes a latching movement it permits a rotation of the ratchet wheel on closing the pliers, but prevents its rotation in the opposite direction.

A tool bit includes a plurality of fins each having first and second ends and extended radially and longitudinally and including the second end thereof forming two opposite lateral sides each including a reinforcing section extended therefrom. Two adjacent fins of the plurality of fins form a recess therebetween, which has a curved periphery interconnecting two adjacent reinforcing sections of the two adjacent fins. Each fin defines a first length from the end thereof to the curved periphery of the recess extended from the second end thereof. The first length is smaller than a second length defined between two opposite peripheral sides of a hexagonal periphery of a connecting end of the tool bit.

A socket includes a body and a sleeve. The body is made of metal and includes first and second coupling ends for respectively coupling with a fastener and a driving tool. The first coupling end includes an outer periphery having a first protruded section, a second protruded section, and an engagement section extending between the first and second protruded sections. The sleeve is made of metal having a hardness greater than a hardness of the body. The sleeve includes an inner periphery extending between first and second end faces of the sleeve. The inner periphery of the sleeve includes an engagement portion engaged with the engagement section of the body, with the sleeve not contacting the first and second protruded sections.

Pliers include upper structure including an upper jaw and handle extending therefrom, and lower structure including a lower jaw and handle. The lower jaw may pivot relative to the upper jaw, and the lower handle may pivot relative to the lower jaw. An overcenter linkage operatively connects between the upper and lower structure, biasing the lower handle and jaw away from the upper handle and jaw, respectively, when in a jaw-opening position, and enabling the lower jaw and handle to be retained in a closed configuration when the linkage is in a jaw-closing position. A lock member is movable between a locking configuration preventing pivoting of the lower handle from the closed configuration and retaining the jaws in a closed position, and a release configuration enabling the lower handle to be moved away from the closed configuration, allowing the jaws to move to an open position.

A method for assembling a structure is described. The method includes locating a position in an assembly stack-up where a one-sided fastener is to be installed, drilling a hole through the assembly stack-up at the position, countersinking the hole to a specified depth, operating a calibrated probe to determine at least parameter associated with one or more of the hole and the stack-up proximate the hole, inserting the one-sided fastener into the hole, applying a rotational torque to the one-sided fastener to complete installation of the one-sided fastener, and comparing a measurement of angular displacement required to complete installation of the one-sided fastener to a range of angular displacement indicative of correct installation of the fastener.

A tool having a main barrel with an inner cavity, a tool bit holder adapted to be removably secured within the inner cavity, the tool bit holder having a first inner cavity adapted for receiving a first reversible tool bit and a second inner cavity adapted to receive a non-reversible tool bit, wherein the inner cavity of the main barrel serves as a first sized nut driver, the first inner cavity of the tool bit holder serves as a second sized nut driver, and the second inner cavity of the tool bit holder serves as third sized nut driver, where first, second, and third sized nut drivers each have a different size.

A socket wrench with a positioning device contains: a body including an accommodating cavity, a first face, and a second face. A toothed holder is accommodated in the accommodating cavity and has a polygonal groove, a first circular portion, a second circular portion, and a ratchet protrusion between the first circular portion and the second circular portion. The first circular portion is inserted to the first face, the second circular portion is inserted to the second face, and the ratchet protrusion engages with a ratchet device. A positioning device includes at least one retaining element disposed on the first circular portion and horizontally moving in the polygonal groove. The first circular portion has a resilient element and a pressing loop which are fitted on the first circular, and the pressing loop has a recess defined on an inner face thereof to correspond to the at least one retaining element.

An apparatus for stitching an interior component is disclosed herein. The component having an outer skin layer and the apparatus is a single needle chain stitch machine with a rotary looper and wherein a needle of the apparatus descends through the interior component and a hook of the rotary looper engages a thread loop formed during retraction of the needle after it has descended through the interior component; and wherein the apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the interior component relative to the needle and looper to establish a stitch length.

A method and a device for cutting at least an upper thread of a sewing machine provided with a fabric clamping member (20), wherein a length of the thread consumed for a cut can be set within a predetermined interval. The method for cutting at least the upper thread (4) of a sewing machine (1) includes the steps: feeding a predetermined length x of said upper thread (4) utilizing a thread feeder (15), pulling out the upper thread (4) said predetermined length utilizing a displacement of said fabric clamping member (20) from a current position to a second position executing by means of a sewing machine processor (C) program sequences stored in a memory (M) for controlling a thread cutter (10) to perform a cut of at least said upper thread (4).

A wipe structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent material with a barrier layer across a face side of the absorbent material and a preformed lightweight loop fabric disposed across the underside of the absorbent layers with loops projecting away from the absorbent layers.

An apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes including acquiring pattern data, specifying an outline of the embroidery pattern based on the pattern data, creating hole data for causing the sewing machine to form a plurality of holes including one or more first holes and one or more second holes, creating first stitch data for causing the sewing machine to sew one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and creating embroidery data for causing the sewing machine to form one or more first holes, and sew the one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and causing the sewing machine to form the one or more second holes, before causing the sewing machine to sew an outline pattern.

A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for embellishing fabric. In accordance with embodiments, a stitching system for a sewing machine is provided comprising a processor configured to control the sewing machine and a user interface configured to receive a stitch selection corresponding to a set of commands executable by the processor to instruct the sewing machine to sew the stitch selection. The set of commands may comprise a first command to sew a first portion of the stitch selection, a second command to stop sewing after completion of the first portion, and a third command to sew a second portion of the stitch selection after completion of the second command. The systems and methods of the present invention may advantageously allow an operator to create a running sequence of perfectly replicated embellishments.

An apparatus for thread-stitching a book block includes a thread tensioning device configured to store and tension a binding thread. A single actuator, including a servo drive, drives the thread tensioning device. The method includes storing a length of binding thread; in a separate step, tensioning the binding thread; and thread-stitching the book block.

A method for manufacturing a strap ring (1), made from a material woven with warp threads (3) and at least one weft thread (4) extending between the warp threads (3). The woven material is a tubular fabric (11) whose warp threads (3) extend parallel to the axis of extension of the tubular fabric (11), the strap ring (1) being made from an axial section (16) of the tubular fabric (11) which is axially cut up by cutting the warp threads (3).

Disclosed is a two-needle sewing machine that improves strength in a convex curve part by bringing a pair of stitches close together when sewing an item. A two-needle sewing machine includes a bed part; a column part; an arm part; a needle shaft that is disposed on the leading part of the arm part; two sewing needles that are attached to the needle shaft; two horizontal hooks that catch the respective needle thread loops of the two sewing needles; and a conveyor member that conveys a material to be sewn in a direction approximately orthogonal to the bed part. On the two-needle sewing machine, the sewing needle, which is positioned in a location distant from the column part, is disposed closer to the conveyance side of the material to be sewn than the sewing needle that is positioned in a location closer to the column part.

A device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of group information pieces, the number of thread colors to be used in embroidery sewing and computer-readable instructions. Each of the group information pieces is associated with one more thread colors among a plurality of thread colors. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor, when executed, to perform processes that includes acquiring image data including pixels, replacing a color of each of the pixels with a thread color from the thread colors, calculating a frequency of using each of the thread colors, selecting, until the number of thread colors selected from the thread colors is equal the number of thread colors to be used stored in the memory, one thread color from each of the group information pieces sequentially, based on the group information pieces stored in the memory and on the calculated frequency.

A digitizer is operably coupled to a quilting machine controller, wherein an operator can input free hand or traced patterns for regulating operation of a sewing head. The digitizer can be an X-Y encoder wherein the encoder includes a transparent or translucent sensing zone which provides for the operator to input a pattern while simultaneously viewing a portion of a textile, which can itself include a pattern.

A carpet and method for producing same that comprises an enhanced seam suitable for separation of an installation portion of the carpet and sacrificial edge portions of the produced carpet.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to acquire pieces of thread color data, acquire image data representing an image, arrange line segments based on the image data, calculate a ratio of a first area occupied by a specific object with respect to the image, identify one or more pieces of first thread color data based on the ratio, identify one or more pieces of second thread color data based on the image data, allocate, to one or more of first line segments corresponding to the first area, first specific thread color data among the first thread color data, allocate, to one or more of second line segments corresponding to the second area, second specific thread color data among the first thread color data and the second thread color data, connect the line segments, and create embroidery data.

A method of manufacturing polyurethane (PU) foam toys with no restriction on playing environment comprises steps as follows: (1) Placing the prefabricated flexible cover into the foaming mold, and then vacuuming to firmly attach the cover to the inner wall of the mold; (2) Spraying adhesives at the periphery and the interior of the flexible cover while maintaining the continuous vacuum pressure; (3) Injecting the mixed polyurethane into the foaming mold; (4) Closing the mold and performing condensation reaction; (5) Opening the mold to get the product. The present invention is about the production of polyurethane form toys by formulating polyurethanes and binding the interior polyurethane body and flexible cover with adhesives. Because of its resilient and sturdy characteristics, the thermoplastic flexible cover provides protection to the interior polyurethane foam body, effectively eliminating problems like mildew growth, difficulties of cleaning and preventing damage.

Methods for manufacturing laminated membranes for MEAs, such methods comprising (i) providing a substrate, a catalyst ink fluid, and a first membrane fluid; (ii) providing a second membrane fluid; (iii) simultaneously coating the catalyst ink fluid onto the substrate, the first membrane fluid onto the catalyst ink fluid, and the second membrane fluid onto the first membrane fluid; and (iv) applying a reinforcement layer (such as ePTFE) and allowing for full imbibement. The second membrane fluid (i) consists of alcohol or (ii) is an alcohol-rich fluid comprising polymer electrolyte.

Provided is a method of producing an artificial marble containing amethyst and vermiculite. The artificial marble includes amethyst representing superior performance in terms of a far-infrared emission effect and an antimicrobial property with a fine appearance, and vermiculite serving as an inorganic filler material and representing a superior adiabatic effect with a light weight. The artificial marble has a structure in which the first base layer including amethyst and the second base layer including vermiculite are laminated on each other.

A method for fabricating a repair laminate for a composite part having an exposed surface includes applying a bonding material to the exposed surface and forming an uncured ply stack assembly on the bonding material. The uncured ply stack assembly is formed by forming and compacting a series of uncured ply stacks. The ply stack assembly and bonding material are then cured.

A plasma processing chamber having capacitive and inductive coupling of RF power. An RF power source is connected to an inductive coil and to a top electrode via a variable capacitor to control the ratio of power applied to the coil and electrode. The bottom electrode, which is part of the chuck holding the substrates, is floating, but has parasitive capacitance coupling to ground. No RF bias is applied to the chuck and/or the substrate, but the substrate is chucked using DC power. In a system utilizing the chamber, the chuck is movable and is loaded with substrates outside the chamber, enter the chamber from one side for processing, exit the chamber from an opposite side after the processing, and is unloaded in an unloading chamber. The chuck is then transported back to the loading chamber. Substrates are delivered to and removed from the system using conveyor belts.

Positioning system of sectors of a device for producing an airplane fuselage in which a lamination mandrel comprises a plurality of sectors borne by a supporting structure and mobile along guides between: an expanded lamination position and a contracted disassembling position. Each guide comprises a fixed part borne by the supporting structure and a mobile part sliding along/with respect to the fixed part in a rectilinear direction H. Between a portion of each mobile part facing towards the respective sector and a stiffening structure of the sector a positioning device is provided which allows adjustment of the position of the sector with respect to the guide in two directions which lie in a plane RP perpendicular to the axis H of the guide.

A system for fluid partitioning for chemical amplification or other chemical processing or separations of a sample, comprising a first dispenser of a first polymeric sheet, wherein the first polymeric sheet contains chambers; a second dispenser of a second polymeric sheet wherein the first dispenser and the second dispenser are positioned so that the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet become parallel; a dispenser of the fluid positioned to dispense the fluid between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet; and a seal unit that seals the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet together thereby sealing the sample between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet and partitioning the fluid for chemical amplification or other chemical processing or separations.

A composite strip and a method of manufacturing a pre-cured composite strip. A pre-cured composite strip having a thermoset resin may be placed on a surface of a portion of a composite component where a caul plate seam may be expected. Caul plates may be placed on the composite component after placing the pre-cured composite strip to form the caul plate seam. The composite component may be cured after placing the caul plates on the composite component.