Abstract: This invention is the modification of widely available plastic household plumbing caps to serve as poison bait stations for killing colonies of little fire ants which have infested southern states and Hawaii creating misery for residents due to their bites. The modification consists of inserting into the caps metal screens with wire spacing adequate to allow passage of the tiny ants into the caps but preventing the bait granules from falling out. The bait stations so formed restrict the poison bait access to little fire ant or smaller insects and are protective of the environment and animals.

Abstract: An arrangement of cables, pulleys and cams has been invented which provides a simple, reliable, flexible and inexpensive method of converting rotary carousel motion in the horizontal plane into vertical motion of animals on the carousel. A cam is attached to the center pole of the carousel. The cam is positioned so as to interact with cables which are routed from the carousel animals to be given subsidiary motion (typically up-down). For up-down motion each cable is routed vertically from its animal to the overhead support structure and then along a radial passing neat the center pole and is fastened to the overhead support radially opposite the animal being moved. As the carousel, with animals and cables, rotate around the center pole the cam sequentially intercepts the cables forcing the overhead table paths to lenghten and drawing the animals upward to accomodate the cable path change.

Abstract: A conveyor unit comprises a conveyor carried by a movable support, which support also carries a conveyor drive. The conveyor drive is provided with a control including a light source and a detector cell for sensing the presence of an article on a predetermined region of the conveyor, and the conveyor drive is started and stopped in accordance with signals from the detector cell. A location bar which extends around the conveyor is used for connecting the conveyor unit with another such unit at either end or at the side thereof. The support also carries a services conduit which has an outlet enabling electrical power supply to be provided for the conveyor drive. The services conduit can be connected at each end with the services conduit of an adjoining conveyor unit.