Abstract: A method for increasing golf course revenues through increased sales of consumable items, comprising the steps of stocking a golf cart with a supply of consumable items prior to a golfer's use of said golf cart in a golf outing, taking inventory of said supply of consumable items contained in said golf cart at the end of said golf outing to determine what items were consumed by said golfer, charging said golfer for the cost of the consumable items consumed by said golfer during said golf outing, and restocking said golf cart with a supply of consumable items, using an apparatus comprising: a base section having insulation means, an inner and outer surface, a substantially closed bottom end, an open top end, one or more slotted flanges disposed on said outer surface of said base section for fastening said apparatus to a golf cart, and an inwardly tapered ledge disposed horizontally on said inner surface of said base section near said base section's upper edge; a removable pull-out container configure

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for dispensing items from a dispensing unit. According to the invention, the dispensing unit comprises a plurality of locations in which the items are held, a processor in which records corresponding to the items on the unit are stored, and a plurality of item switches corresponding to the locations in which the items are held. The item switches are connected to the processor so that a user of the dispensing unit can input records of items removed from the unit into the processor. The apparatus described is particularly suited for dispensing medical supplies although the apparatus will be usable for other types of items as well. Preferred embodiments will include a plurality of visual indicators, typically in the form of light emitting diodes, corresponding to the locations in which the items are held.

Abstract: A conveyor system having an automatic lubricating system for the conveyor chain and its associated guide track is provided. The conveyor system includes a conveyor chain, a guide track, a lubricator, and a support frame. The guide track is carried by the support frame, and has a bottom wall with a guide surface and an aperture. The conveyor chain has interconnecting links, and is supported by the guide track for movement. Each of the links of the conveyor chain has a lower surface that may contact the guide surface of the guide track when the conveyor chain is moved. The lubricator is mounted on the support frame, and includes a separator dividing the lubricator into a lubricant chamber and a gas compartment. The lubricator includes an electrochemical cell in the gas compartment for generating gas that flows against the separator to move the separator against the lubricant in the chamber to force the lubricant through an outlet.

Abstract: A method for programming a multi-axis actuator system to perform palletizing uses an intuitive user interface having a data entry screen for palletizing data, which requires only a simple setting of minimal parameters including the number of rows and columns in a pallet and the pitch spacing between pallet positions. Actuator positions necessary for palletizing movements are calculated in real time by an algorithm executed in a digital signal processor of the actuator controllers. Palletizing data entries are stored in a motion profile table in a range of consecutively paired indexes which is separated from the index range dedicated to regular single-step or torque moves.

Abstract: A series of staggered, overlapping coin carousels with coin stalls that receive coins, drive motors that operate to rotate the carousels and position the coin stalls so that the coins can be transferred between the carousels, and coin transfer mechanisms with gates that operate to move the coins between the carousels. An electronic controller is programmed to keep track of the positions and values of the coins in the coin stalls, and to determine and operate the appropriate drive motors and transfer gates for transferring coins between the carousels and for returning change.

Abstract: An adjustable escalator device is provided in a gaming terminal for receiving singulated coins from a gaming terminal output hopper and outputting coins at a higher level. The escalator can be adjusted to define a coin path of adjustable width and/or adjustable thickness and accommodate a range of coin or token sizes. In one aspect, a leaf spring or other flexible member can be moved to define a curved coin path portion with adjustable width and a preferably contiguous rail can be laterally transposed to adjust a width of a second portion of the coin path. Coin path thickness can be adjusted using different rail thicknesses, using shims and/or using screw adjustments.

Abstract: A coin handling and sorting device includes a plurality of coin handling modules which are interconnectable by a user, as desired, to define a coin travel path. Each module is easily assembled by a user without use of tools. To facilitate assembly, bases, gears, retaining clips, and other components of different coin handling modules are interchangeable. The housing and other components of each module are assembled using a plurality of C-clips. Each module is typically manually operated to increase a user's interaction with the device. A clutch mechanism prevents accidental reverse operation of each module by a user. To facilitate interconnection of coin handling modules in any desired order, each has an inlet at a common height with other coin module inlets and an outlet at a common height with other coin module outlets. Each module also utilizes identical interchangeable modified spur/bevel gears that are shaped to accommodate co-planar engagement or angular displacement between engaged pairs.

Abstract: A miniaturized coin hopper device is provided so as to have a lower height. The device has an electric motor which is arranged such that the projection end of a rotated axis thereof is located at a lower side. A first gear is fixed on this projection end of rotated axis. A disk for discharging coins one by one is provided at the bottom of a hopper which stores the coins. A second gear rotates this disk. A gear train connects this second gear and the first gear. The problem of a true coin being disbursed when a pseudo-coin was in a hopper device and the return button was pushed is also addressed. A distinguishing element checks the money kind of a deposited coin. A reserve temporarily holds the coin distinguished by this distinction element. A storage for coins of same money kind and a disbursing element is provided for the the coin in this storage to return the coin reserved in the temporary reservation. A device is also provided to distribute the coin reserved in said temporary reservation to the storage.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic drop off and pick up of merchandise on which service is desired. The system includes a processing device for input of data related to merchandise to be dropped off, a drop off section for receiving the merchandise being dropped off and retaining the merchandise for performing the desired service and a pick up section for storing the merchandise after the desired service has been performed and returning the merchandise to the customer upon receipt of payment by the means for receiving the claim ticket.

Abstract: A sheet finisher includes: a sheet stacking section on which sheets are stacked; a pair of folding rollers for pressing and conveying the sheets; a roller driving device for driving the pair of folding rollers; a protruding member which is protruded toward a nipping position of the pair of folding rollers to fold the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking section in two; and a protruding member driving device for driving the protruding member to protrude toward the nipping position. When the protruding member driving device drives the protruding member toward the nipping position, the roller driving device is suspended to drive the pair of folding rollers to be conveyed.

Abstract: An apparatus for self-serve checkout of large order purchases is provided. The apparatus includes one or more product code entry devices for entering a product code of an item to be purchased, a controller and a carousel assembly that includes a rotating mechanism, a rack coupled with the rotating mechanism, and a scale underneath the rotating mechanism and rack. The rack holds a plurality of bags open for packing a plurality of items, and may be rotated along with the rotating mechanism to present a select one of the bags for packing the item to be purchased. The scale provides a weight signal corresponding to a weight of packed items in the plurality of bags on the carousel. The controller monitors the weight signal to detect any abnormal weights or weight changes. The apparatus also may be provided with a large item holding assembly that includes a second scale which provides a second weight signal corresponding to the weight of one or more oversized items on the large item holding assembly.

Abstract: A wafer transferring robot capable of restraining the vibration of wafers during the transfer. The robot comprises a rotating base (2) rotatable on a base (1), two horizontally extensible robot arms (3A, 3B) arranged laterally symmetrically to each other on the rotating base (2) and comprising first arms (32A, 32B), second arms (33A, 33B), and third arms (34A, 34B), respectively, and chucks (4A, 4B), fixed to the third arms (34A, 34B), respectively; wherein the lower surface of the second arm (33B) of one robot arm (3B) is higher than the upper surface of the wafer (WA) held over the third arm (34A) of the other robot arm (3A) via the chuck. Accordingly, the rigidity of transferring parts can be so enhanced that the vibration of wafers (WA, WB) can be prevented.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for transporting a joint of pipe between a position adjacent a pipe storage rack and a rig floor elevated above the pipe storage rack is provided. The pipe handling apparatus includes a support frame, substantially horizontally disposed platform supported by the support frame having a pipe receiving groove formed therein for receiving the joint of pipe, a carriage member, and a pusher member. The carriage member is movable from a lowered position wherein the joint of pipe which is positioned in the pipe receiving groove of the platform is supported in a substantially horizontal position and a raised position wherein the carriage member supports a first end of the joint of pipe at an elevated position relative to an opposed second end of the joint of pipe. The pusher member is movable along the pipe receiving groove between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet process device capable of performing a sheaf discharge operation to discharge sheaves of sheets stacked on a process tray to a stack tray, without discharging a next sheet to the process tray during the sheaf discharge operation and stopping an operation on a body side of an image formation apparatus. In the sheet process device, for example, in a case where an original consisting of six sheets of paper is carried, the first to third sheets are stacked on the process tray as they are without any designation, and the following fourth sheet is designated as a sheaf discharge sheet since it is the sheet two before the final sheet of the sheaf, whereby the sheaf discharge of the first to fourth sheets is performed. The fifth sheet after the sheaf discharge is designated as a wind sheet since a value of a wind counter has been set to be “2”.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing and distributing loose particulate material includes a system for applying an agent to the loose particulate material. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container for holding and transporting the loose particulate material to the site of application. A feeder regulates the flow of loose particulate material out of the container. Loose particulate material exiting the feeder is blown out of the apparatus through a hose by an air stream produced by a blower. An agent is introduced via a carrier fluid to the air stream carrying the loose particulate material, whereby the resulting mixture of the agent with the carrier fluid is then mixed with the loose particulate material carried by the air stream.

Abstract: An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.

Abstract: A paper web is drawn into a printing and can be guided along a selected one of several paths. The paper web is weakened along a line of separation and is then held by a retaining system that can move the web in a conveying direction along a first path. The web is fed to a different conveying path and is separated ot torn along the line of separation. This line of separation or weakening is formed at an angle to the production direction.

Abstract: A paper separating unit and an electronic printing apparatus which includes said paper separating unit wherein paper is picked by a pick roller from a paper container, is fed into a gap between a first feed roller and a separate roller which are rotating in the same rotational direction, then the first sheet of paper is separated from the other and is fed to a second feed roller, and when the first paper is acceleratedly fed, and a motor which drives the first feed roller and the separate roller is stopped, a one-way clutch which prevents a separate roller from reverse-rotating together with the paper conveyed by the second feed roller so that feeding more than one sheet of paper can be firmly prevented.

Abstract: The fire suppressant foam generation and application apparatus comprises a backpack mounted unit that produces a low moisture content fire suppressant foam for use in fire fighting applications. This apparatus draws fire suppressant foam concentrate from a reservoir mounted on the backpack and injects pressurized gas into the flow of the fire fighting foam concentrate to create the fire suppressant foam. The pressurized gas drives the fire suppressant foam through a delivery apparatus where the fire suppressant foam is agitated as it passes through the delivery apparatus to expand the foam and reduce the moisture content. A pressurized gas operated pump can be used to actively draw the water/foam mixture from a supply tank and supply it under pressure to the delivery apparatus, which can be a hose that is equipped with a nozzle.