A system for synchronizing the upstream burst transmission in a cable system to a time specified by the cable head end is disclosed. A device for multifoaming expandable plastics, such as, for instance, EPS, EPE, EPP or polymer mixtures, includes at least one storage or supply means and a foaming vessel for the discontinuous or batchwise afterfoaming of the prefoamed expandable plastics, whereby precisely adjustable bulk densities are attainable in an afterfoaming procedure while observing tight environmental conditions. The coupling comprises arcuate coupling segments with ends extending generally parallel to the coupling center axis and arcuate portions extending between the ends. Complete control of a vending machine’s functionality including usage, control, diagnostics, inventory, and marketing data capture can be effectuated locally or by remote connection to the network. During a time interval from the first point of time to a second point of time, the logical antenna ports are re-mapped to a second set of physical antenna ports. The mobile armature is monostable; in an inactive position, a lever actuated by the mobile armature separates the fixed contacts from the mobile contacts of the apparatus.