Centre De Recherche Industrielle Du Quebec

Institut National D'optique

Investissement Quebec

Denis Hotte

Denis Lépine

Jean-Claude Ouellet

Olivier Marcotte

Sylvain Bilodeau

Bertrand Maheux

Marc Levesque

Frédéric Lamontagne

Marc Lévesque

Richard Gagnon

Paul Grenier

Yann Le Bihan

Claude Lejeune

Marc-André Boucher

Marc Daigle

Nicolas Deschênes

François Bédard

Denis Lepine

Alain Martel

Nicholas Drolet

Marc-Andre Boucher

Frederic Lamontagne

A system and method for preparing a shelled crustacean body part for meat extraction are provided. The method involves capturing an image of said body part, evaluating the thickness of the shell from the image, determining from the thickness evaluation at least one laser parameter for forming a line of weakness within the shell, the line of weakness being dimensioned to facilitate meat extraction, while preserving the sensory characteristics of the meat, and sweeping a laser beam on the body part in accordance with the laser parameter to form the line of weakness within the shell. The method and system provide the advantage of facilitating meat extraction without compromising the quality or commercial value of the meat all while increasing productivity and performance in comparison with completely manual extraction techniques.

System and method for preparing crustacean body parts for meat extraction

A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

V-shaped light distributor system

A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in an open-ended photo-bioreactor having an aqueous liquid for a photosynthetic culture, comprising: at least one light distributor each including a concentrator supporting section with a light entry surface adapted to receive sunlight rays, an elongated rod section with a light distribution surface adapted to redirect the received sunlight rays within the aqueous liquid, a light concentrating element provided at the light entry surface which concentrates within the elongated rod at least a portion of the sunlight rays received at the light entry surface; a displacement system operatively connected to the light distributors and adapted to change an orientation of the light entry surface of the light distributors to track a solar position.

Sun tracking light distributor system

A method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material uses friction-induced plasticity of the latter to attach the component to the workpiece. The component includes a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded, and an insert portion having a penetrating end and provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end, to initially receive the threaded working end. The outer surface of the insert portion being made of a second material harder than the first material, a rotary tool can be used to insert the component through the workpiece surface, by rotating the rotary tool in a first direction while applying an axial force onto the head portion base to produce substantially full insertion of the insert portion, and by maintaining the axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce the attachment.

Method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece

A component for use with a rotary tool is designed to be inserted through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material showing friction-induced plasticity for attachment to the workpiece. The component has a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded at its outer surface, and further has an insert portion having a penetrating end and extending along an insertion axis. At least an outer surface of the insert portion is made of a second material harder than the first material. The insert portion is provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end and extending along the insertion axis to initially receive the threaded working end. The head portion base is adapted to be secured to the rotary tool for rotation in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the head portion base to produce substantially full insertion of the insert portion along the insertion axis by plasticizing the first material through friction and to produce attachment after a sufficient setting time.

Component to be inserted through the surface of a workpiece

A safety system for containment of explosion when servicing a tire mounted on a rim includes an enclosure capable of receiving the tire and provided with openings to allow passage of air upon tire explosion, and a support device attached to the enclosure for contacting the tire to secure thereof in a servicing position within the enclosure and without contacting the rim. The system also includes a first energy absorbing unit attached to and located within the enclosure to face a first rim side and capable of substantially absorb kinetic energy of first rim parts ejected upon tire explosion. The system further includes a second energy absorbing unit attached to and located within the enclosure to face a second rim side and capable of substantially absorb kinetic energy of second rim parts and any portion of the tire ejected upon tire explosion.

Tire explosion safety system

A rotary tool () for use with a rotary driving unit () for inserting a component (&#x2033;) through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, includes a tool body () having a working end () defining a shoulder portion () and a securing device (') for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device () capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body () in the first rotation direction (), to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction (&#x2032;), to provide deburring of the workpiece surface.

Apparatus and method for inserting a component through the surface of a workpiece

A system and method for handling wicket bags involve a wicket bag holder for transporting wicket bags to a working position along a transport path, the bag holder including one or more holding devices each being operable between an open position allowing receipt of an upper tab of the wicket bag and a closed position whereby the bag is held suspended within a working zone. Also involved are one or more main gripping devices each being operable between an open position allowing receipt of a suspended wicket bag and a closed position whereby the bag is gripped to form a bag neck portion. The system and method may be used for bag filling applications.

System and method for handling wicket bags

A component for use with a rotary tool and to be inserted through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, is rotated in a first direction while an axial force of a sufficient magnitude is applied onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The component includes a connection portion and an insert portion having a penetrating end defining a maximum outer diameter, and an outer surface forming at least one generally circular anchoring recess defining a minimum diameter. The connecting portion is adapted not to substantially deform upon insertion of the insert portion, and a ratio of minimum diameter and maximum diameter is between about% and%.

Growing community of inventors

L'Ancienne-Lorette, Canada

Denis Hotte