Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrodes using an electrostatic deposition unit. In the first step of the process a mixture of magnetic carrier beads and a conductive powder is prepared in the sump of the deposition unit; the mixture forms a magnetic brush on the sleeve of the deposition unit. In the second step of the process, the substrate is positioned away from the magnetic brush to form an air gap. In the third step of the process, a voltage is applied between the substrate and the sleeve of the deposition unit in order to produce a large asymmetry between the magnetic brush and said substrate such that the electric field at the magnetic brush is at least 3.0 times as great as the electric field at the substrate. In the fourth step of the process, conductive powder is deposited onto the substrate.

Abstract: A waterfowl decoy motion system comprised of a multiplicity of movable decoys, a first elastic drive belt, means for connecting said first elastic drive belt to said movable decoys, a a primary drive pulley, a secondary drive pulley, an electric motor connected to said secondary drive pulley, and a multiplicity of idler puller assemblies.

Abstract: A disaster pack comprising a pillow, a blanket, and a mattress pad compressed to a volume of about five and one-half percent of their free state volume. A method for making the packaged product comprises the steps of placing the compressible dry good within a bag; placing the compressible dry good disposed within the bag on a platen; compressing the compressible dry good within the bag; sealing the open end of the bag to form a sealed bag; and removing the dry good within the sealed bag from the platen.

Abstract: A composition comprised of asphalt and filler, wherein said filler is comprised of particles that comprise an inorganic core and a coating disposed on said core, and wherein at least about 60 weight percent of said particles are smaller than about 212 microns.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing medium that contains a thermal transfer layer which contains a first taggant and colorant, wherein: the first taggant comprises a fluorescent compound with an excitation wavelength selected from the group consisting of wavelengths of less than 400 nanometers, wavelengths of greater than 700 nanometers. When the thermal transfer layer is printed onto a white polyester substrate with a gloss of at least about 84, a surface smoothness Rz value of 1.2, and a reflective color represented by a chromaticity (a) of 1.91 and (b) of ?6.79 and a lightness (L) of 95.63, when expressed by the CIE Lab color coordinate system, and when such printing utilizes a printing speed of 2.5 centimeters per second and a printing energy of 3.2 joules per square centimeter, a printed substrate with certain properties is produced.

Abstract: An amalgam separator for purifying a waste stream that contains a mixture of air and waste liquid. The amalgam separator contains filter media that comprises a sulfur-impregnated carrier and an ion exchange resin, wherein the ion exchange resin is present at a concentration of from about 25 to about 75 weight percent. During its operation, the amalgam separator separates the waste stream into air and waste liquid portions, purifies the waste liquid portion, and then combines the purified waste liquid portion with the air.

Abstract: A mineral composition comprised of at least about 90 weight percent of roofing granules, at least about 50 weight percent of calcium carbonate with a hardgrove grindability index of less than about 70, from about 0.1 to about 1.0 weight percent of a pigmented material, from about 0.1 to about 1.0 weight percent of a composition for inhibiting the growth of an organism selected from the group consisting of algae, bacteria, and mixtures thereof, and less than about 100 parts per million of a metal selected from the group consisting from the group consisting of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver, and less than about 100 parts per million of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The mineral composition, when tested in accordance with by ASTM Standard Test D 4977-03, loses less than 5 grams of material.

Abstract: A composition with a Mohs hardness of at least 6.0, wherein said composition contains at least 30 weight percent of spinel crystals, at least 10 weight percent of glass, and less than 10 weight percent of ferrometalsilicate. The composition also contains particles with a particle size distribution such that at least about 95 weight percent of such particles are smaller than about 2.0 millimeters; at least about 70 weight percent of such particles have a particle shape that is either the blocky particle shape or the pyramidal particle shape. At least 20 weight percent of the spinel crystals are equiaxed spinel crystals; the weight/weight ratio of said spinel crystals to said glass is at least 1.2/1; the composition has a melting point in excess of 1440 degrees Celsius; and the composition has a density of from about 3.0 to about 4.5.

Abstract: A multistage process for drying coal in which coal is passed into a first fluidized bed reactor at a temperature of 300 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, air is fed into the first reactor in order to maintain the density of the fluidized bed at from 20 to 50 pounds per cubic foot, and from about 40 to about 60 percent of the water from the coal is removed from the coal and the first reactor. The partially dried coal is then fed to a second fluidized bed reactor which is maintained at a temperature at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit higher than that present in the first reactor, and substantially all of the water remaining in the coal is removed from the coal.

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for correcting scan position errors in an imaging system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes determining an image beam velocity error as a function of a position within a scan line of an image, and using the image beam velocity error to determine a plurality of pixel clock frequencies to be respectively applied to a plurality of positions within the scan line.

Abstract: A disaster pack comprising a pillow, a blanket, and a mattress pad compressed to a volume of about five and on-half percent of their free state volume. A method for making the packaged product comprises the steps of placing the compressible dry good within a bag; placing the compressible dry good disposed within the bag on a platen; compressing the compressible dry good within the bag; sealing the open end of the bag to form a sealed bag; and removing the dry good within the sealed bag from the platen.

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).

Abstract: A ladder retaining assembly for securing a ladder or multiple ladders to a vehicle rack, the assembly includes a rail formed as a channel to receive a ladder or multiple ladders, a sleeve attached to the rail that can be easily attached and removed from a vehicle rack, and a means to secure the ladder retaining assembly and the ladder or ladders to a vehicle rack.

Abstract: A pressure reducing valve assembly for a high pressure oil well comprised of a hollow housing and a metering assembly disposed within such housing, such metering assembly comprising an entry liner having an entry bore, an exit liner having an exit bore, and a rotatable metering cam comprising at least one metering port that connects the entry bore to the exit bore. The metering port forms adjustable orifices with the entry bore and the exit bore, and effects the reduction of pressure within the metering assembly, thereby providing a variable choke of the fluid flow therein. The metering port is adjustable, and preferably replaceable with at least a second metering port by with a simple rotation of the metering cam.

Abstract: A dental implant assembly with an an abutment head integrally joined to an implant body. The top section of the abutment head a shape formed by a linear wall adjacent to an arcuate wall; a ledge is located beneath the top section of the abutment; and the abutment head extends above the ledge a distance of from about 2 to about 4 millimeters. The implant body has a base section and a neck section, each of which has a different degree of roughness.

Abstract: An optical assembly that contains an optical device movably attached to a apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly. The apparatus contains of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut. The assembly contains a device for subjecting the threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said the shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction.

Abstract: A thermal printing assembly comprised of a first flexible section and a second flexible section joined to such first flexible section. The first section of such assembly is a thermally sensitive media that contains either a thermal transfer ribbon, a dye sublimation ribbon, or a direct thermal sensitive substrate (such as thermal paper); the thermally sensitive media is adapted to change its concentration of ink upon the application of heat. The second section of such assembly is a flexible support with two sides, at least one of which has a smoothness of less than 50 Sheffield Units and contains particles with a Knoop hardness of less than about 800 and the other side has an adhesive coating designed to remove dirt and debris from surfaces it contacts during use.