Resilient cores preferably for inflatable bodies having resilient slabs that define a plurality of generally columnar holes or resilient arrays of generally columnar solids, methods for making such slabs and arrays, and articles incorporating the same wherein the cores further includes thermal transmission mitigation means for improving a core's resistance to heat transfer beyond the core's innate insulative properties. Non-exclusive and non-exhaustive examples of such thermal transmission mitigation means in slab core embodiments include consideration to hole or bore geometric cross section, frequency, pattern and orientation, the introduction of a thermal barrier at or within at least some holes or bores, and/or slab material selection/treatment. Non-exclusive and non-exhaustive examples of such thermal transmission mitigation means in array core embodiments include consideration to the geometric cross section, frequency (density), pattern and orientation of the solids, the introduction of thermal barriers within inter-solid spaces and/or solid material selection/treatment.

A system 10 for analyzing and trimming irregularly shaped food products which are to be subsequently pressed into a three-dimensional shape (volume) and optionally thereafter sliced or otherwise portioned so as to achieve an optimum harvest, includes a conveyor 12 for carrying the workpieces (WP) to be trimmed past a scanning system 14 for scanning the workpiece (WP) to ascertain the physical characteristics of the workpiece (WP), including, for example, its three-dimensional shape, as well as its position on the conveyor 12, and then past a cutting station 26 for trimming the workpiece (WP) into a desired two-dimensional shape which represents an optimum shape for the workpiece for pressing the workpiece into a desired three-dimensional shape having at least one fixed or specified dimension or other physical specification. Thereafter, the workpiece can be transferred to a slicing station utilizing high speed cutters or slicers for portioning/slicing the workpiece.

A cable tie cut off tool including two elements. A first element has a through hole and internal and external threads, the internal threads being configured in a direction opposite the external threads. A second element includes a through hole with a blade at one end of the through hole and the through hole being threaded with internal threads which mate the external threads of the first element. A keyway is in the internal threads of the first element. The internal threads of the first element are designed to cut into but not all the way through a cable tie end to allow the first element to tension the cable tie and then the first and second elements to be rotated together to engage the blade and cut off the tail of the cable tie.

A cable tie cut off tool including two elements. A first element has a through hole and internal and external threads, the internal threads being configured in a direction opposite the external threads. A second element includes a through hole with a blade at one end of the through hole and the through hole being threaded with internal threads which mate the external threads of the first element. A keyway is in the internal threads of the first element. The internal threads of the first element are designed to cut into but not all the way through a cable tie end to allow the first element to tension the cable tie and then the first and second elements to be rotated together to engage the blade and cut off the tail of the cable tie.

An apparatus is provided for handling overlay sheet material on a cutting apparatus including a conveyor for moving work material in a longitudinal direction and a support for positioning a tensioner frame adjacent the conveyor. A tensioner frame, attached to the support, has a nip wheel and a drive for rotating the nip wheel with a tangential speed in excess of the longitudinal conveyor speed attached to the tensioner frame. The nip wheel engages the overlay sheet material applying a tension thereto in the same longitudinal direction as the conveyor.

Methods and apparatus for automatically preparing food for consumption in which preparation comprises dispensing, manipulation, heating, and other operations using a wide variety of ingredients. The methods and apparatus described use ingredients efficiently and maintain their quality, while avoiding contact between ingredients and apparatus to minimize the risk of system contamination.

Methods and apparatus for automatically preparing food for consumption in which preparation comprises dispensing, manipulation, heating, and other operations using a wide variety of ingredients. The methods and apparatus described use ingredients efficiently and maintain their quality, while avoiding contact between ingredients and apparatus to minimize the risk of system contamination.

A roll-dispensed stock container is provided with fixation strips attached to the body of the container and a cutter assembly attached to a lid of the container. Roll-dispensed stock is secured by the fixation strips when the lid of the container is in a closed configuration and the cutter assembly is configured to separate a sheet of the roll-dispensed stock of a desired length.

A roll-dispensed stock container is provided with fixation strips attached to the body of the container and a cutter assembly attached to a lid of the container. Roll-dispensed stock is secured by the fixation strips when the lid of the container is in a closed configuration and the cutter assembly is configured to separate a sheet of the roll-dispensed stock of a desired length.

A cable tie application tool is described that includes an electro-mechanical tensioning system. When the electro-mechanical tensioning system is controlled by a processor to tighten a cable, a reactionary force through a drive nut that is pivotally mounted to a tension bar can be monitored and measured by a strain gauge, a load cell, or other sensing system. This reactionary force is an indication of tension on the cable tie and is monitored by the processor until the tension reaches a predetermined tension, at which point, the processor causes a motor in the tensioning system to stop increasing the tension on the cable tie. The processor activates a cut-off system to cut the cable tie that has been tightened to the predetermined tension.