Abstract: An on-line benchmarking system and method that enables requesting users to define customized peer groups within an extensive database of participants, and to be compared with such customized groups in a wide range of performance categories. The system and method incorporates a range of detailed reporting options that not only present comparison data, but also financially quantify performance gaps and identify and rank a range of solution options.

Abstract: Liquid water soluble polymer suspensions in non-aqueous solvents are extremely stable over long periods of time with minimum separation of the solvent and no hard packing of the dispersed water soluble polymer. The suspensions enable a user to rapidly add the suspension to water, being mixed at low speeds, without the formation of lumps or fisheyes and without generating fugitive dust in the process. The suspensions are environmentally safe and biodegradable. Unlike many other liquid polymer suspensions, the suspensions exhibit minimal oil or grease upon dilution. They contain no surfactants that can add to the oil and grease determination. The suspensions and the fluids produced by diluting the fluids to a working concentration of the water soluble polymer exhibit low toxicity to marine organisms and to humans. The suspensions can be manufactured from ingredients suitable for use in personal care applications such as cosmetics, shampoos and the like.

Abstract: A vend mechanism for transferring articles, or prizes, to a receiving area of a vending machine accessible from outside the machine, including an amusement game machine, has a plurality of conveyors arranged radially on each of a plurality of spaced plates. A first drive mechanism is provided to rotate an assembly of the plates so that a selected column of conveyors is in alignment with the receiving area and, for each plate, a second drive mechanism is provided to operate the conveyor that is in the transferring orientation so that an article, or prize, on the conveyor is transferred to the receiving area.

Abstract: Liquid suspensions of particles in non-aqueous solvents are extremely stable over long periods of time with minimum separation of the solvent and no hard packing of the dispersed particles. The suspensions enable a user to rapidly add the suspension to water and to mix at low speeds without generating fugitive dust in the process. In addition, a liquid dispersion can provide an easy to use liquid containing higher concentrations of the active dispersed phase than can be accomplished by simply preparing an aqueous solution of the dispersed phase. Alternatively, highly water-soluble particles may also be suspended which have poor storage, freeze/thaw, or heat/cool stability. In some cases, liquid dispersions can yield controlled release of the dispersed phase because the dispersed phase is not in aqueous solution. The suspensions are environmentally safe and biodegradable and may be used in environmentally sensitive applications, such as for oil well treating fluids for offshore areas.

Abstract: A high temperture aqueous based zirconium (IV) crosslinked guar fracturing fluid having a pH from about 9 to about 12 includes a polymer solution and a zirconium (IV) crosslinking agent in an amount from about 0.1 PPTG to about 5 PPTG of the polymer solution. The polymer solution includes an aqueous fluid, natural guar gum in an amount from about 10 PPTG to about 100 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a stabilizer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 50 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a non-delayed alkaline buffer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 40 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, and a gelation delaying agent in an amount from about 0.25 PPTG to about 3.75 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, where those agents are combined to produce a fracturing fluid suitable to the purposes of hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations with static bottom-hole temperatures greater than 250° F.

Abstract: In order to provide a head transfer mechanism capable of absorbing a play of a head assembly not only in a thrust direction but also in a radial direction as well as a head actuator assembly and a tape drive using the same, the head transfer mechanism comprises a lead screw with a thread ridge, a head elevation guiding member, a preload bushing arranged in a hollow opened portion of a head lift, and a compression coil spring for applying the head lift with a pressing force in an axial direction of the lead screw. The head elevation guiding member comprises as an integral structure a head lift on which the head assembly is mounted and a head guide having a thread groove engaged with the lead screw and serving to move the head lift up and down along a rotation center axis following the rotation of the lead screw. In the head elevation guiding member, the head assembly is given a biasing load in a radial direction of the lead screw.

Abstract: A staggered calibration track comprising a plurality of calibration tracks for use positioning a tape drive tape head for reading and writing data to and from multiple data tracks. The staggered calibration track is written by positioning the write head to a predetermined location and moving the tape media horizontally as the vertical position of the tape head is incremented in a stepwise alignment. Locating one of the plurality of calibration tracks is accomplished by positioning the read head at the predetermined location corresponding to the edge of the particular calibration track and moving the tape media horizontally as the read head output is recorded. The particular calibration tracks vertical position is derived using the average read head output.

Abstract: A method of confirming that chucking between a supply leader tape (20) and a take-up leader tape (10A) is properly carried out comprises a step of confirming whether or not the chucking is properly carried out and a step of reconfirming whether or not the chucking is properly carried out. The reconfirming step is carried out at least once.

Abstract: A guiding assembly in a tape drive employing a single reel for preventing damage to a tape head during the loading and unloading of magnetic tape media from a tape cartridge also employing a single reel. The guiding assembly having a cam that controls the rotational acceleration of a tape guide to obtain a mechanical advantage as the tape guide is pivoted between a retracted position defining a first tape path for reading and writing data and an engaged position defining a second tape path for loading and unloading the tape media.

Abstract: A lateral tape sensor for a tape drive having a tape head that is not capable of moving vertically as quickly as tape media, wherein the sensor senses lateral movement of tape media as it moves along a tape path between a storage reel and a take-up reel. The lateral tape motion sensor comprising a means for sensing the position of at least one edge of the tape media and a means for comparing the at least one edge position to predetermined thresholds to determine if the tape media moved laterally. When the lateral movement exceeds predetermined thresholds, the tape drive processor and control circuits respond to prevent accidentally overwriting data previously written on an adjacent track during a write operation, to adjust the tape head to locate data being read following lateral tape motion that occurs during a read operation or to warn the user of poor tape media quality.

Abstract: The present method for unlocking a single reel tape cartridge locking mechanism in a tape cartridge load operation aids the release of the tape cartridge locking mechanism by manipulating the supply reel motor which is engaged to the single reel tape cartridge in a manner that causes the stuck tape cartridge locking mechanism to release. In order to aid the release of the tape cartridge locking mechanism during the tape cartridge loading procedure, the supply reel motor is operated cyclically to cause the supply reel to vibrate. This vibration is held for a predetermined period of time. At the end of the vibration cycle, the tape drive attempts to pull the tape cartridge leader out of the tape cartridge. If the tape drive again detects that the tape cartridge locking mechanism is not released, it repeats the vibration sequence. The drive can execute a predetermined number of attempts to release the tape cartridge locking mechanism in this manner.

Abstract: A composition of an aqueous, an aqueous acid, and an aqueous alkaline foaming additive (“foamer”) functions in a wide pH range and under conditions of salt, alcohol, and hydrocarbon contamination. The foaming additive (“foamer”) composition includes a mixture of a salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a polymer or combination of polymers, and either a water miscible solvent for the liquid foamer additive or a silicon compound for a substantially anhydrous foamer additive.

Abstract: A sliding door assembly for a singe reel tape cartridge for enclosing the tape media and retracting the leader tab when the tape cartridge is not in use. The sliding door assembly includes a sliding door to enclose the tape media, an auxiliary leader retractor to retract the leader tab, and an actuator integrally connected between the sliding door and the auxiliary leader retractor. When the sliding door is moved between the open and closed position it actuates the auxiliary leader retractor that pivots to a corresponding open or closed position.

Abstract: The present method for unlocking a single reel tape cartridge locking mechanism in a tape cartridge load operation aids the release of the tape cartridge locking mechanism by manipulating the supply reel motor which is engaged to the single reel tape cartridge in a manner that causes the stuck tape cartridge locking mechanism to release. In order to aid the release of the tape cartridge locking mechanism during the tape cartridge loading procedure, the supply reel motor is operated cyclically to cause the supply reel to vibrate. This vibration is held for a predetermined period of time. At the end of the vibration cycle, the tape drive attempts to pull the tape cartridge leader out of the tape cartridge. If the tape drive again detects that the tape cartridge locking mechanism is not released, it repeats the vibration sequence. The drive can execute a predetermined number of attempts to release the tape cartridge locking mechanism in this manner.

Abstract: The single reel tape cartridge with tape reel centering features provides one or more features to center the tape reel with respect to the interior surfaces of the tape cartridge housing and a rotatably driven feature, such as a drive chuck, in the tape drive that rotates the tape reel. The single reel tape cartridge with tape reel centering features provides mechanical positioning and centering of the tape reel with respect to the drive chuck of the tape drive when the tape cartridge is in any orientation and constrains lateral movement of the tape reel to prevent the tape reel from contacting the interior surfaces of the tape cartridge housing. This is accomplished by the use of a spring that applies a bias force to press the tape reel against the drive chuck in the tape drive, which rotates the tape reel. One end of the spring is seated in a spring sleeve that is formed in the center of the interior surface of the top section of the tape cartridge housing. The other end of the spring engages the tape reel.

Abstract: A method for detecting slippage in a tape path, and re-calibrating a sensing assembly in a tape storage device to account for the slippage. The method includes sensing a position of one of a supply reel and a take-up reel. In response to sensing the position of the supply reel or take-up reel, sensing a position of a guide roller. The position of the guide roller corresponds to the position of the guide roller when the position of the supply reel or the take-up reel is sensed. In response to sensing the position of the guide roller, the tape media is wound through the tape path between the supply reel and the take-up reel. In response to winding the tape media through the tape path, a second position of the one of the supply reel and the take-up reel is sensed. In response to sensing the second position of the one of the supply reel and the take-up reel, a second position of the guide roller is sensed.