Abstract: The installation for manufacturing objects such as receptacles by thermoforming pellets of thermoplastic material includes conveyor means for conveying the pellets through the various stations in the installation, said stations including a heating station and a thermoforming station. The conveyor means comprise conveyor elements (46) defining cells (48) which are open upwards and downwards, and each of which is suitable for containing one pellet (12) while the entire top and bottom faces of the pellet remain unobstructed, means for depositing the pellets in the cells, drive means for driving the conveyor elements through the heating station, and transfer means (20) for transferring the heated pellets to the thermoforming station. The heating station includes bottom heater means (52) that co-operate with a support for the pellets while said conveyor elements are being driven through the heating station.

Abstract: Inmates place free incoming calls to a call processing system and are prompted to choose between accessing a voice mail system and calling an outside party. If an outside party is to be called, an inmate provides a phone number and an outgoing call is placed to the outside party. If the outside party provides payment for the call, the inmate is connected to the outgoing call and the incoming call is terminated. If the outgoing call is not accepted, the inmate may record a voice message for the outside party in a voice mailbox assigned to the inmate. For an access fee, the outside party may access the voice mailbox assigned to the inmate. Advertising messages may be presented to inmates during incoming calls and/or to outside parties during outgoing calls. Advertising revenue may cover incoming call charges. Inmates and/or outside parties may record voice messages for advertisers.

Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A disposable heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gases such as volatile or Manic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.