Abstract: A method of gathering sales information is provided. The method may involve linking, based on a matching score, a sales associate to a customer for assisting in an online sales transaction, and providing the sales associate with best practices information to use during the transaction. The best practices information may have been gathered by monitoring online sales transactions between sales associates and customers, indexing information and sales techniques used by the sales associates during the online sales transactions, and ranking and dynamically re-ranking the information and sales techniques based at least in part on the outcome of the corresponding online sales transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selling goods and services in conjunction with the Internet. The system can receive session information on a customer's website session (e.g., goods and services the customer is searching and metadata about such search and the relevant products) and customer information on the customer. The system can determine from the received information whether the customer is a candidate for sales assistance from a sales associate. The system can create and index information on available sales associates, match the customer with at least one sales associate based on the customer, session, and sales profile associate information, and facilitate communication between the sales associate and the customer (e.g., via chat, VoIP, email, PSTN, etc.). Additionally, the system can provide information on the customer, products or services in which he/she is interested, and collateral sales materials and selling techniques to the sales associate based on the sales opportunity.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting litter from roadways and grounds includes a ground engageable rotating drum with easily removable and replaceable fingers which slip in and out of channels mounted on the drum. A spring finger assembly rotates against the drum to aid in litter pickup and to strip material from the drum and deposit same on a conveyor. The conveyor directs the litter into a hopper, which, when full, is lifted by an arrangement of pivots and linkage arms to raise upwardly, then swing rearwardly and tip to dump the litter into a suitable receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting litter from roadways and grounds includes a ground engageable rotating drum with easily removable and replaceable fingers which slip in and out of channels mounted on the drum. A spring finger assembly rotates against the drum to aid in litter pickup and to strip material from the drum and deposit same on a conveyor. The conveyor directs the litter into a hopper, which, when full, is lifted by an arrangement of pivots and linkage arms to raise upwardly, then swing rearwardly and tip to dump the litter into a suitable receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting flat or semiflat materials while simultaneously retrieving bottles and cans includes a ground engageable rotating drum (50) with a plurality of fingers (80) extending radially from the drum. A spring finger assembly (100) cooperates with the drum (50) to retrieve articles from the ground. The spring finger assembly includes an upper and lower unit (104, 102) each including a plurality of spring fingers (128) mounted on a rotary shaft assembly (116, 118, 122) driven in conjunction with the rotation of the drum. The rotary shaft assembly and the spring fingers attached thereto rotate with respect to fixed stripper plates (140). A camming device (122, 130, 132) acts to rotate and extend the fingers beyond the stripper plates when the fingers move adjacent to the drum fingers and to rotate and withdraw the spring fingers behind the stripper plates upon further rotation such that the material engaged by the spring fingers is stripped therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting flat or semiflat materials while simultaneously retrieving bottles and cans includes a ground engageable rotating drum (52) with a plurality of fingers (60) extending radially from the drum. A plurality of toothed discs (210) is rotatably mounted on a shaft and driven in conjunction with the rotation of the drum in a direction opposite that of the drum. The toothed discs (210) are positioned adjacent to but above ground level during operation of the apparatus and assists in the engagement and movement of objects by the drum and fingers to a collection location (32). A plurality of belts (130) is engaged between pulleys (212) mounted intermediate of the toothed discs (210) and corresponding pulleys (126) on a shaft spaced from the toothed discs. The belts are positioned on the trailing side of the drum and above the toothed discs and assist in engagement and movement of objects by the drum and fingers to the collection station.