Abstract: Home entertainment devices may be controlled and on-screen games played with a single controller. At least one gesture by a user is made on a touch pad. If the gesture was made for controlling the home entertainment device, at least one control signal is generated for the home entertainment device based on the gesture. If the gesture was made for playing a game, a game activity based on the gesture is performed and the results displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for activation of a digesting agent for an organic material, the apparatus including a tank, a device for activating the digesting agent in the tank, and a device for enabling the activated digesting agent to contact the organic material. The activating device is preferably a heating element. The enabling device is preferably an exit pipe. The invention has particular application in the preventative maintenance of a grease trap drainage system.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and process for spray-rinsing chemically treated articles or workpieces with a multi-spray counterflow rinse system wherein the rinsing of chemically treated or otherwise processed workpieces are either supported or suspended by a support carrier which is defined by an article support rack or by a perforated process barrel in which the articles or workpieces are supported therein, and wherein the rack and the barrel include an internal spray assembly that is removably coupled to the rinse tank spray assembly when either the rack or barrel are positioned within the rinse tank, and whereby a fresh uncontaminated rinse solution, preferably fresh water, is pressurized when entering the rinse tank spray assembly. The pressurized fresh water also defines a means to purge the rinse tank spray assembly after completion of each rinse cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus is constructed and arranged for activation of a digesting agent upstream of where it is introduced to contact an organic material. The apparatus includes a container for housing dormant digesting agent communicating with a tank having a temperature controlled heating element for activating the digesting agent and a valved exit pipe coupling the tank to a system containing the organic material to be digested. Timers control movement of the agent from container to tank and then out of the tank. The apparatus is particularly applicable to maintenance of drainage systems such as those handling effluent from restaurant kitchens.

Abstract: Insects are killed by passing through a fan mounted inside a shaft. A pair of agitator tubes having inlets in fluid communication with the exhaust in the shaft direct exhaust from the fan over bait provided to attract the insects. The bait is contained in a receptacle spaced upstream from the shaft and which houses a light source and optionally an auxiliary heat source. The outlets of the agitator tubes are inside the receptacle so that any exhaust diverted from the shaft into the agitator tube will entrain vapors from the bait as the exhaust exits through a vent provided in the receptacle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for electroplating that has an electrolyte continually circulating through a rotating plating barrel along with its parts to be plated by having a nozzle spray means with perforation on an elongated perforated tube that is positioned above the center of a barrel, whereby the spray means barrel is provided with recirculated electrolyte by means of a pump recirculating electrolyte from a plating tank to the elongated perforations while the barrel is rotating, so that the parts are agitated and greater speed and efficiency of the plating process can be achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for electroplating that has an electrolyte continually circulating through a rotating plating barrel along with its parts to be plated by having a elongated perforated tube that is positioned above the center of a barrel, whereby the barrel is provided with recirculated electrolyte by means of a pump recirculating electrolyte from a plating tank to the elongated perforations while the barrel is rotating, so that the parts are agitated and greater speed and efficiency of the plating process can be achieved.

Abstract: A method for controlling a closed-loop processing system (100) including the steps of receiving and analyzing an element to be processed to identify the contents thereof. The method further includes the steps of processing and converting the element into a residue which is stabilized, to prevent physical interaction therewith, and then deposited in a permanent landfill storage facility (124). Finally, a plurality of parameters of the residue and the environment surrounding the closed-loop processing system (100) are monitored to provide a plurality of control signals. The control signals are utilized to control each stage of the processing system to ensure a negligible environment effect. Thus, the invention provides a method for controlling a processing system in a closed-loop automated manner with negligible environmental impact. In a preferred embodiment, the closed-loop automated system (100) for processing waste of the present invention receives and analyzes waste.

Abstract: A process and apparatus that includes multiple counterflow rinsing of chemically treated, anodized, plated or otherwise processed workpieces, utilizing a single on-line spray-rinse tank or station with successively less concentrated or contaminated rinse solutions that are sequentially pumped from one or more off-line tanks or reservoirs that provide at least three overlapping counterflow spray rinse cycles that cover the treated workpiece or workpieces which can be supported individually or together in a bulk processing barrel in the spray-rinse tank, whereby the workpiece or pieces are decontaminated for any additional processing of a finished part using a minimum amount of water or rinse solution during the rinsing process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding articles such as pallets from flake-like wood particles mixed with binder, the pallets housing a deck and integral molding legs. A loosly fitted mat of wood flakes is formed by depositing a first plurality of layers of wood flakes onto a supporting surface with a flake aligners provided for causing alignment of those flakes which will form legs of the pallet. A second plurality of layers are formed with a flake aligner provided for causing alignment of flakes which will form the legs of the pallet and in a direction transverse to the direction of alignment of the flakes of the first layers.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus that provides, in combination, a multi-spray counterflow rinse system that is interconnected to a plating barrel which includes an internal spray nozzle so as to spray rinse a multiplicity of chemically treated workpieces which are supported within the plating barrel. The plating barrel is rotatably carried by a superstructure from one process station to another so as to be positioned within a single in-line rinse tank that is employed during the steps of an electroplating process. The invention includes two embodiments of a self-aligning coupling device defined by first and second coupling members that are interposed in a rinse-solution supply line. One coupling member is secured to the superstructure and the other coupling member is mounted to the rinse tank, whereby the two coupling members are coupled together as the superstructure and barrel are lowered into the rinse tank for the rinsing process.

Abstract: A process and apparatus that includes multiple counterflow rinsing of chemically treated, anodized, plated or otherwise processed workpieces, utilizing a single on-line spray-rinse tank or station with successively less concentrated or contaminated rinse solutions that are sequentially pumped from one or more off-line tanks or reservoirs that provide at least three overlapping counterflow spray rinse cycles that cover the treated workpiece or workpieces which can be supported individually or together in a bulk processing barrel in the spray-rinse tank, whereby the workpiece or pieces are decontaminated for any additional processing of a finished part using a minimum amount of water or rinse solution during the rinsing process.

Abstract: An atmospheric evaporator for reducing the water content of various chemical solutions, more particularly useful in the electroplating industry, wherein the evaporator includes a solution-secure molded tank in which a removable blower sleeve is mounted having a blower inlet duct and support strut members formed at the opposite end thereof to support a multiplicity of finned evaporator members over which the solution is sprayed. When a large-volume, low RPM blower is mounted to the inlet duct, a straight-line downdraft of both air and solution is created, allowing the air and evaporated water to exhaust through an up-facing outlet duct, thus defining a substantially "U" shaped duct arrangement from the inlet side to the exhaust side of the tank with the heavy chemical particles returning to the process tank from the bottom of the evaporator tank.

Abstract: A method for molding articles such as pallets from flake-like wood particles mixed with binder, the pallets housing a deck and integral molding legs. A loosely fitted mat of wood flakes is formed by depositing a first plurality of layers of wood flakes onto a supporting surface with a flake aligners provided for causing alignment of those flakes which will form legs of the pallet. A second plurality of layers are formed with a flake aligner provided for causing alignment of flakes which will form the legs of the pallet and in a direction transverse to the direction of alignment of the flakes of the first layers.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for winding an elongate fibrous material, such as a sliver or roving, comprising: package tube mounting means to support first and second package tubes in winding positions in transversely spaced parallel relationship; a material delivery arm for delivering material first to one of the package tubes to form a first package and then to the other of the package tubes to form a second package; drive means for rotating the package tubes for winding on material; the delivery arm being arranged during the building of a package to contact the package at a winding-on point which lies in a plane containing the axes of rotation of the two package tubes and to deliver material at the winding-on point direct to the package under a winding tension localized in the region of the winding-on point by the delivery arm; first traversing means for causing relative traversing movement between each package tube and the delivery arm in the direction of the axis of rotation of the tube for building a parallel

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for winding an elongate fibrous material comprising package tube mounting means to support first and second package tubes in winding positions in transversely spaced parallel relationship, a material delivery arm for delivering material first to one of the package tubes to form a first package and then to the other of the package tubes to form a second package, and variable speed drive means for rotating the package tubes.