Methods and systems described herein include individual-use beverage containers including sensors and methods of their use. Beverage containers include: a vessel body configured to hold a beverage; and at least one sensor associated with the vessel body, the at least one sensor including a sensor configured to detect one or more substance in a fluid. Systems include: at least one beverage container including at least one sensor configured to detect one or more substance in fluid; and at least one external device including at least one port configured for communication with the at least one sensor. Methods include: detecting one or more substance within fluid with at least one sensor integral to a beverage container; and interfacing one or more of the at least one sensor with an external device.

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage. Movement of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid into a reservoir in a brewer, which is then used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, closing of the brew chamber may cause a lid for a water reservoir to be fully opened or otherwise permit movement of the lid to allow access to the reservoir, allowing a user to provide water into the reservoir. The reservoir lid may open with an abrupt action, causing attention to be drawn to the reservoir lid. In another arrangement, closure of the brew chamber may cause actuation of a baffle, pump, valve or other device to provide a suitable amount of water to a reservoir for beverage formation. In another arrangement, opening of the brew chamber may cause the reservoir lid to be automatically and simultaneously opened with the brew chamber.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage. The capsule includes first and second covering walls connected for forming a cavity containing a beverage ingredient and a contactless identifying element for identifying the capsule by detecting the identifying element using the detector of a beverage producing device. The identifying element is preferably disposed in the cavity.

System for application of ozone on grains made up essentially by one or more ozone mixers with particulates separator (1) for injecting air in the grains mass, one or more ozone mixers (2) for injecting air in the grains mass, a base of the device for grains treatment with ozone (3), a transport and discharge device (4), and an air cooling filter (5) that can be used individually or jointly to apply ozone on the grains mass.

A beverage machine for preparing and dispensing a hot beverage having a pump dispensing system. Hot water passes through a water distributor to infuse material in a filter basket. A coffee tank receives the brewed beverage and maintains it at an appropriate temperature. On demand, a pump dispensing system delivers the beverage through an outlet chamber and spout into a user's cup. The user manipulates a switch to vary the rate at which the pump dispensing system dispenses the beverage.

A molecule comprising a lipid, a peptide and a linker to bind the lipid to the peptide which have specific amino acid sequence to bind to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) of tumor cells, and a liposomal composition which is targeted by the molecule, and method for preparing thereof is disclosed.

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a CD123 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against CD123 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas and leukemia.

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a BCMA monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against BCMA positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas, multiple myeloma and leukemia.

Provided herein are methods of treatment to regenerate, restore or rejuvenate a tissue. Methods include making adult somatic and germ cells pluripotent for administration to a patient. Alternatively, created pluripotent cells may be differentiated to the desired tissue type and administered to a patient to repair or enhance the target tissue.

A cold rolling mill is described wherein the unstressed shape of metal sheet is continuously sensed during rolling by a plurality of negligible displacement force sensors perpendicularly disposed relative to the pass line at a mill location producing a tensile stress above 4,000 p.s.i. in the metal sheet being rolled. The output signals from those sensors underlying opposite edges of the metal sheet are compared to equalize reduction at the sheet edges while the difference between the force measured by a centrally situated sensor and the average force measured by the sensors underlying opposite edges of the sheet provide a signal indicative of the roll bending force required to produce flat sheet.

A button assembly apparatus including a die assembly having two die members movable between an open and closed position. The die members include means for applying a covering on a button shell upon closing of the die members. Upon closing the die members a second time, selectively positionable means render the die members suitable for assembling the covered shell to a body member to complete the button.

Portions of a pin-on button are cut and assembled as a result of a plurality of operations in a machine having a vertical press. Cutter and work deforming tools are displaced by a single press ram to cut blanks and deform the blanks onto a button top placed in one of two die assemblies positioned in alignment below the work deforming tool on the lower end of the ram.

Apparatus for the manufacture of a laminated button comprising a metallic backing plate having a transverse peripheral edge and an outwardly extending flange, an illustrated paper sheet and a protective acetate covering. The apparatus comprises a pneumatically operated press which receives the plate, illustrated sheet and covering, and, with a single downward movement, causes the sheet to conform to the plate and be crimped between the transverse edge and flange.

Apparatus for covering buttons operable in an automatic, semi-automatic or manual mode. The apparatus includes a rotatable table having alternately positioned shell and back receiving lower dies, means for automatically delivering the shells and backs to their respective lower dies, a reciprocating upper die synchronized for movement with the rotation of the rotatable table and engageable with the lower dies at a first station to transfer a shell and fabric covering from a shell receiving lower die to the upper die and press-fit a back from a back receiving lower die into the covered shell in the upper die to form an assembled covered button and having means permitting its use with a range of fabric cover thicknesses, and means for ejecting the assembled covered buttons.

Apparatus for assembling covered buttons in which a first die assembly including a first punch carrying a first sleeve which sequentially receives a piece of covering material and the button shell with its flange extending toward the open end of the sleeve. A second assembly including a second sleeve having a bore one end of which is formed with a first cam surface extending axially inwardly of the above. The second sleeve is spring loaded to an extended position on a supporting post having a centrally located button back fastener receiving cavity in the end thereof with a second cam surface extending inwardly from the outer edge of the end to the bottom of a recess surrounding the cavity. An annular boss at the inner edge of the recess around the cavity is elevated to allow the material and the shell flange to curl inwardly under the button back. In the retracted position of the second sleeve on the post, the second cam surface forms a continuation of the first. In operation, when the first assembly carrying the covering piece and the shell moves toward the second assembly, the first sleeve stops against the spring loaded bottom sleeve and the punch continues forcing the material down so that the material is tucked inward by the beveled or curved surface of the second sleeve. Upon continued relative movement of the assemblies, the shell flange acts on the cam surface of the second sleeve to force the sleeve to its retracted position and the shell flange is moved inwardly of the back wall under the continued action of the first post, the extent of the inward movement of the shell flange being determined by the thickness of the material of the covering piece, as well as the height of the shell and the type of back used.

A universal assembly machine manufactures conventional buttons with formed backs. The machine comprises a rotatably indexable die table to which are mounted pickup and crimp dies. The die table indexes about a center column of the machine frame. A ram die is advancable and retractable in a pickup stroke and a crimp stroke by means of a handle. The ram die includes a ram outer ring that is rotatable by means of a shifter post joined to the die table. Indexing the die table causes the shifter post to rotate the ram outer ring into a pickup mode or a crimp mode to suit the ram pickup and crimp strokes, respectively. The universal assembly machine also manufactures buttons with flat backs by using a different crimp die pedestal than is used with the formed backs. An adapter on the crimp die pedestal used with formed backs allows that crimp die pedestal to also be used for manufacturing buttons with flat backs. The invention also embraces button medallions. A flat back button is loaded into the pickup die, and the die table is indexed. The ram die is advanced in a third press to form the shell frusto-conical wall of the flat back button inwardly to be flat and parallel to the flat back.

A button system and method of manufacturing the same are provided for identifying fiber from which an article of apparel is manufactured. Initially, an article of apparel manufactured with a predetermined fiber is identified. Next, indicia indicative of the predetermined fiber is selected. Next, at least one button is manufactured with the indicia thereon for identifying the fiber from which the article of apparel is manufactured.

An adapter enables a universal assembly machine to manufacture buttons with either flat backs or formed backs. The machine comprises a rotatably indexable die table to which are mounted pickup and crimp dies. A ram die is advancable and retractable in a pickup stroke and a crimp stroke. Indexing the die table causes a shifter post to rotate a ram outer ring into a pickup mode or a crimp mode to suit the ram pickup and crimp strokes, respectively. The universal assembly machine manufactures buttons with flat backs by using the adapter on the same crimp die pedestal as is used for manufacturing buttons with formed backs. The adapter has a top surface that is in the location relative to the ram die that suits flat back buttons. The adapter enables the same crimp die pedestal to be used for manufacturing both flat back and formed back buttons.

A method for forming a multi-colored cap part of a snap button including the steps of forming a design portion of the cap part of snap button using a first group of molds, which includes a first female mold, a first male mold, and a plate-shaped middle mold, and a slide-plate mold adapted to movably assembled to the first male mold and having a plurality of mold cavities for forming the design portion; removing the slide-plate mold having the design portion molded therein from the first male mold; movably positioning the slide-plate mold into a second female mold included in a second group of molds for forming a body portion of the cap part of snap button; positioning a post for the cap part of snap button in a second male mold of the second group of molds; and forming the body portion.

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.

Easy open flow wrappers are provided that include a flexible wrapper body formed from a flexible wrapper body film, the flexible wrapper body having a front panel and a back panel sealed together along one longitudinal seam and two lateral end seams containing a product therein. At least one line of weakness (24) substantially extends around a portion of the flexible wrapper body to define a removable portion (28) of the flexible wrapper body, such that application of a separation force upon the removable portion separates the removable portion from the flexible wrapper body at the at least one line of weakness and forms an opening in the flexible wrapper body. A flexible film member (26) is disposed over and extending beyond the at least one line of weakness, in which the flexible film member is configured to prevent pre-separation of the removable portion from the flexible wrapper body.

The invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device. The capsule has a flange which is partially made of paper and partially made of polymer. The polymer is essentially arranged on the flange to cover at least partially the paper part and so to improve the inside tightness of the capsule, in particular, to prevent air enters inside the capsule via folds and creases.

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.

An apparatus for producing a food product is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: an enclosed vessel for holding the food product, the vessel having a first end wall, a second end wall opposite to the first end wall, and a side wall between the first and second end walls; a first agitator rotatably mounted to the first end wall, the first agitator extending inside the vessel towards the second end wall; and a second agitator rotatably mounted to the second end wall, the second agitator extending inside the vessel towards the first end wall. The first agitator is unsupported by the second end wall, and the second agitator is unsupported by the first end wall.

The present invention provides a wafer product decorating apparatus comprising a laser, a collimator, at least one galvanometer driven mirror, and an aspheric scan lens, the apparatus being positionable relative to the wafer product to be decorated wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a laser beam having a spot size of from 100 to 750 μm in diameter on the surface of the product to be decorated and a substantially flat focal plane, characterised in that the focal plane has a depth of field of from 5 mm to 20 mm and that the focal plane of the laser beam is from 5 mm to 30 mm above or below the surface of the product to be decorated. The invention also provides a process for decorating a wafer product.

An apparatus for heating foods comprises a supporting structure, a treatment zone designed to receive at least one food product to be heated, a radio frequency dielectric heating system, a system for moderating the temperature of at least one surface of the food product during heating. The temperature moderating system comprises at least one fluid container intended to be interposed between an electrode of the dielectric heating system and a surface of the food product received in the treatment zone. During use of the apparatus, the radio frequency dielectric heating system supplies energy to the food product in the treatment zone, the at least one fluid container receives thermal energy from the surface of the food product, a fluid circulates in the at least one fluid container between the infeed and the outfeed for removing at least part of the thermal energy received.

Disclosed are methods for making a baby food purée, such as a sweet potato purée, by employing a recipe management system that uses the steps of cold extraction followed immediately by cold deaeration to produce an all-natural baby food purée. The processes disclosed herein eliminate the need for addition of exogenous enzymes, preservatives or anti-oxidants, while further obviating any requirement for blanching vegetable ingredients. Also contained in the present disclosure are methods and systems for generating purees from one or more starting ingredients.

A brewing system includes a brewing apparatus and a capsule containing a substance for brewing. The capsule has an opening on one side and a base on an opposite side. The base includes a light input surface, a light-output surface and a light conductor to conduct light from the light input surface to the light output surface. The apparatus includes: a brewing chamber including an inlet for heated water, an outlet for the brewed beverage, and an opening in communication with the opening of the capsule. A light source on the brewing apparatus emits light into the base via the light inlet surface of the capsule. The light conductor conducts the light to the light-output surface. A light detector of the brewing apparatus detects light emitted by light-output surface on the base of the capsule. A method of operating the brewing system and a capsule system are also described.

A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is disclosed. The capsule includes a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and a flexible sheet-shaped third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the third wall being at least one of perforate and porous. The first, second and third wall enclose an inner space including the extractable product. The third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof. The third wall includes a filtering material. The second wall is one of a flexible porous sheet, a flexible foil provided with a plurality of entrance openings, and a substantially rigid wall that comprises a plurality of entrance openings.

An apparatus includes a spool configured to supply a wire, a cutting device configured to form a notch in the wire, and a capillary configured to bond the wire and to form a stud bump. The apparatus is further configured to pull the wire to break at the notch, with a tail region attached to the stud bump.

An adaptor tool comprises a locking pin removably engaged with a main body defining a hook portion. The main body is configured to pivot about a pivot pin. The adaptor tool further includes a first link having first and second ends, and a first contact face. The first link is configured to receive the locking pin. A second link includes first and second ends, and a second contact face. The second link is pivotally coupled to the main body via the pivot pin. At least a third link includes first and second ends, and a third contact face. The first, second, and at least third links are pivotally coupled end-to-end such that the first, second, and third contact faces define a circular opening. The circular opening is configured to receive a workpiece such that rotational force applied to the main body rotates the adaptor tool and the workpiece.

A surgical tool assembly includes a pair of opposing jaws. Further, a viewing opening may be provided in at least one of the opposing jaws. The viewing opening may extend from an upper to a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The viewing opening may include a material retainer provided proximate the lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. The material retainer may include an inclined surface inclined towards a central axis of the viewing opening. A grasping insert may be molded onto a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided and an elastomeric material of the grasping inserts may within the viewing opening, the material of the grasping inserts covering the inclined surface of the first material retainer.

The wrench adaptor of this invention provides an easy and convenient tool for connection and disconnection of the SMA connections in constrained spaces while allowing use of a standard torque wrench or just fingers. The channel design of the wrench adaptor, accommodating the cable and the protective sleeve therefor, allows access to SMA connectors without bending or disturbing semi-rigid or rigid cables. The wrench adaptor is shown in two embodiments—a single-ended and a double-ended form. The adaptor facilitates access to the hexagonal nut at the panel of an RF device which is mounted to a threaded stud and offsets the wrench application to a location away from the panel. As many of the RF cables have crimped or soldered portions adjacent or within the connector, provision is made in the adaptor by way of a hollow semicylindrical form to cradle the semi-rigid or rigid cable.

A method and tool for driving a bit. The tool includes a handle extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The handle can be in a first configuration to provide a first drive ration. In a second configuration, such as a T-shaped configuration, a gear assembly can be disengaged to provide a second drive ratio for the bit driving system.

Tools (100) are provided for use in uncapping one or more of a plurality of linearly-oriented, spaced-apart tubes; each cap having a cap upper surface with a depression. The tools comprise a body (30) having first portion (40) for engagement by a user and a second portion (50) for engaging a plurality of caps. The second portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart projections (60). Each projection is configured for releasably engaging a cap. The projection may comprise two or more spaced-apart projection elements (62,64). Optionally, the first portion is configured in a non-coplanar relationship with respect to the second portion. Methods of use are also provided.

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.

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 thread hook and a looper thread holder are arranged on a rear side of a needle drop position of a sewing machine. When usual sewing is completed, the thread hook and the looper thread holder swing and move close to a looper. A hook part provided at a tip end of the thread hook holds a needle thread loop caught by the looper and positions it on an advance end side of the looper away from the needle drop position, and a thread receiving part provided at a tip end of the looper thread holder holds a looper thread extending from the looper to cloths and positions it on the front side away from the needle drop position. The sewing machine performs sewing for at least one stitch while maintaining positions of the needle thread loop and the looper thread.

A lower thread ending region detection apparatus prevents problems associated with false stitchings occurring from inability to detect lower thread's exhaustion during sewing operation. The lower thread ending region detection apparatus comprises: light control unit, which contacts a part of lower thread wound on a thread bobbin and activates or inactivates at least one of the functions of emitting light, reflecting light, passing light and blocking light, due to the effect of the physical movement force generated depending on whether the lower thread of the ending region is unwound; light receiving unit, which receives the light transferred out by the light control unit and outputs a detection signal; and control and notification unit, which analyzes the detection signal output from the light receiving unit to determine whether the lower thread has reached the ending region and outputs the result to the user.

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).

A sewing direction control apparatus for sewing machine, comprising: a base plate, a circular ring-shaped transmission element dispose on the base plate and a driving element with a driving unit. During sewing, the driving unit drives the transmission element, rotating a sewing product placed at the center of the transmission element with the driving element, thereby controlling the sewing direction of the sewing product, and thus improving the sewing accuracy. The direction control apparatus has low cost, and is suitable for various types of automatic sewing machines.

A bus seat for use in a bus comprises a frame and a seat back secured to a portion of the frame. The bus seat further comprises a seat cushion secured to another portion of the frame. The bus seat also comprises a removable two piece cover arranged over the seat back, wherein the cover pieces are secured to one another with a zipper. The zippered two piece seat back cover allows for easy installation, removal or replacement of any damaged or worn portions of the seat back trim cover.

A thin film forming apparatus and a thin film forming method using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the thin film forming apparatus comprises a mask that includes a blocking portion and an opening. It also includes an etching source that jets an etching gas through the opening of the mask to etch a thin film according to a pattern. The mask includes a gas blower for blowing a gas around the opening so that the etching gas does not penetrate into a thin film area corresponding to the block portion. When the thin film forming apparatus is used, a normal residual area of a thin film may be safely preserved and patterning may be accurately performed. Thus, the quality of a product manufactured by using the thin film forming apparatus may be improved.

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.

A method of dispensing adhesive onto a stretched elastic strand includes applying a first volume of adhesive onto a first portion of the elastic strand, applying a second volume of adhesive onto a second portion of the elastic strand, and applying a third volume of adhesive onto a third portion of the elastic strand. The second volume is less than the first and third volumes. When the elastic strand is adhered to a substrate to form a personal disposable hygiene product, the first and third portions of the elastic strand define opposing ends of the elastic strand, which are adhered with a larger amount of adhesive to resist creep at the opposing ends. The reduction of adhesive in the second or central portion between the opposing ends significantly reduces the adhesive add on in the personal disposable hygiene product.

A method for making a water-degradable paper sheet involves the following: providing at least one strip of a water-soluble binding material in the form of a dry film; providing at least two strips each made of at least one ply of cellulose wadding; placing the strip of water-soluble binding material between the two strips of cellulose wadding; humidifying, assembling and pressing the three strips; and drying the complex strip thus obtained. The sheet thus obtained can be used for making a roll carrier mandrel by helically winding one or more strips from the sheet about a cylinder. Articles produced from the sheet can particularly be used in the field of products for sanitary or domestic use.