Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly solid and hollow spheres having a gradient internal density. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. If a mixture of casting materials of different densities is used, the densest material will settle closer to the walls of the mold, while less dense materials will move closer to the center. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly hollow spheres containing low air pressure. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient. Spheres made according to the present invention have a wide range of uses including insulation and bearing balls.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly hollow spheres containing low air pressure. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient. Spheres made according to the present invention have a wide range of uses including insulation and bearing balls.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly solid and hollow spheres having a gradient internal density. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. If a mixture of casting materials of different densities is used, the densest material will settle closer to the walls of the mold, while less dense materials will move closer to the center. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient.

Abstract: Devices are disclosed for the high speed centrifugal casting of one or more spheroids. One or more hollow spherical molds are each caused to rotate at high speed about two substantially perpendicular axes intersecting at the center of the mold. Where the mold is partially filled with casting material, a hollow spheroid having walls of even thickness results. Where the mold is filled with multiple casting materials with different densities, the resulting spheroid will have a core that is less dense than its outer layers. Such spheroids are useful as sporting goods, bearing balls, insulation material, and in numerous other applications.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization and cataloguing of large collections of objects. The objects are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means may be employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur may be substantially eliminated through the use of high speed strobe illumination or a high speed shutter. The invention can be commercialized by having a customer load the belt with objects and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the objects may then be provided to the customer, and the original objects may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization and cataloguing of large collections of objects. The objects are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means may be employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur may be substantially eliminated through the use of high speed strobe illumination or a high speed shutter. The invention can be commercialized by having a customer load the belt with objects and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the objects may then be provided to the customer, and the original objects may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the high speed digitization of large collections of thin, flexible sheets such as photographic prints. The sheets are inserted into transparent pockets on an elongated belt, and the belt is driven rapidly without stopping past a high speed digital camera. A glare reduction means is employed to avoid glare off the transparent pockets, and motion blur is eliminated through the use of high speed strobe illumination or a high speed shutter. The invention can be commercialized by having a customer load the belt with photographs (or other thin sheets) and deliver the belt to a processing location. Digital images of the sheets may then be provided to the customer, and the original sheets may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for the centrifugal casting of spheres, particularly hollow spheres containing low air pressure, as well as solid and hollow spheres having a gradient internal density. Molten or self-hardening casting material is introduced into a hollow spherical mold and the mold made to rotate about two axes intersecting at the center of the mold. The resulting centrifugal forces cause the casting material to be evenly distributed about the inner surface of the mold. If a mixture of casting materials of different densities is used, the densest material will settle closer to the walls of the mold, while less dense materials will move closer to the center. The casting material is hardened and the resulting sphere is removed from the mold. One or more valves may be employed to transport fluent materials into and out of the mold. If gas is removed from a partially-filled mold prior to casting, the product will be a hollow sphere having an interior pressure less than ambient.

Abstract: Photos, cards or other objects to be scanned are inserted into pockets on an elongated belt. The belt is driven through a scanner which preferably uses strobe lighting and a digital camera to digitize the images in the pockets while the belt moves rapidly and continuously. The digitized image information is stored and supplied to the user, and the photos or other items may be left in the pockets on the belt for convenient storage in accordion-fold form.

Abstract: The device has first and second flexible straps forming loops with a soft chin portion fitting under a wearer's chin, and a portion extending around the head, with a frontal bridge portion secured between opposite sides of the loops and being stretched over the front of the wearer's head to pull the lower jaw forwardly and hold it there during sleep. The points of attachment of the bridge easily can be adjusted by the user to maximize effectiveness and comfort.