Abstract: A ball play system provides a confined play area that has a plurality of balls and a ball cleaning apparatus for cleaning the balls. A target structure is disposed in the play area so that balls which strike a target area pass through a ball supply outlet while balls that miss the target area rebound into the play area. The cleaning apparatus receives balls from a conveyor that communicates with the ball supply outlet of the play area. Cleaned balls from the cleaning apparatus are returned to the play area at a ball inlet by means of a ball return apparatus. The ball return apparatus is a chute, a blower to propel the balls upwardly in the chute to a chute outlet and a rail assembly that receives balls from the chute and returns them to the play area under gravity fee. The rail assembly is serpentine and of a sufficient length so that the cleaned balls undergo drying during transit. A method utilizing this ball play and cleaning system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method are provided for processing charge vouchers against charge card accounts administered by a host institution that issues an approval/disapproval to a merchant for a proposed transaction. The apparatus is processor based and broadly includes a keyboard input having command keys and a charge card reader. Upon activation, account identification data is read from a customer's charge card and the customer enters a maximum charge amount. An autodialer connects the processor to the host institution by way of a transmitter/receiver and a communication line. The host verifies the credit limit of the customer account to ascertain availability of funds. If the host approves the proposed transaction, the maximum charge amount is reversed and an approval signal is sent to the processor; if the host does not approve the transaction, a disapproval signal is sent.