Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved shoe drying apparatus that can dry washed and/or unwashed shoes in a short period of time by circulating ozone-containing air in the airtight interior of the apparatus and also deodorize and sanitize shoes by removing odor and bacteria from the shoes.

Abstract: Methods of blow drying vehicles with two or three superimposed dryers mounted for linear movement along the length of a vehicle include blow dryers having either fixed or pivotal nozzles so that air can be blown at the vehicle in predetermined patterns that have been found to more efficiently dry the vehicle. Further, a pivotal nozzle system is disclosed wherein a frustoconical nozzle is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis for reciprocating movement by a linear actuator so that the nozzle can be oriented in desirable positions for effecting the drying operations described in the disclosed methods.

Abstract: A shirt-smoothing device includes a lower part and an inflatable body fixed thereon. Because the inflatable body must be at least the same size as the shirt to be smoothed, the device has considerable height, however, the rigid components in the area of the inflatable body are lowerable to handle the device more easily and, more particularly, to stow it away easily. An internally disposed supporting frame and a button strip tensioner disposed in front of the inflatable body can be lowered after use into the lower part, whereby the inflatable body, which is exclusively connected to the supporting frame at the top becomes folded. The same applies to flexible inflatable support bodied and support nets disposed between the inflatable body and the supporting frame. The storage space required for the shirt smoothing device can be substantially reduced by the invention and the handling and storage thereof simplified.

Abstract: Treatment apparatus and a process for thermal desorption of hydrocarbon contaminants from excavated soil provides efficient contaminant removal by handling the soil in a thermally conductive treatment vessel that fits within an insulated treatment chamber. The soil is treated in this chamber with fresh air that is dried and electrically heated prior to contacting the treatment vessel. The dry air passes through the soil and the air mixed with contaminants is withdrawn from the chamber through piping in the treatment vessel. Excavating the soil directly into the treatment vessel allows the treated soil to be returned to the final disposition site in the same vessel, minimizing soil handling.

Abstract: A two-deck apparatus, one deck above the other, is provided for enabling drying of approximately twice as much material with very little increase in heat used to dry the material, when compared to a single deck dryer. The fan usually provided with dryers of this type requires only a small incremental size increase over prior art. The second or upper deck, in operation, experiences a greater pressure below that deck than the pressure above the deck. Solid material flows into the top of the apparatus from above, and then from the upper deck to the lower deck through what is essentially a one-way valve, with air flow moving from below the lower deck through the upper deck, without impeding the material flow downwardly in the apparatus. The same apparatus, but with the use of cold air to cool the product, rather than hot air to heat and dry a product, is also within the teachings of the present invention.

Abstract: A contamination-free apparatus is provided for moving and drying coated photoreceptors. The contamination free apparatus includes an oven assembly having first and second side walls defining a heating chamber, a guiding track for guiding a photoreceptor carrier or pallet, and first and second magnetic drive loops mounted externally of said first and second side walls. Each of the first and second magnetic loops has first magnetic elements for inducing magnetic forces into the heating chamber. The contamination-free apparatus also includes a carrier or a pallet for holding coated photoreceptors for movement through the heating chamber. The carrier or pallet includes track followers, first and second end walls for facing the first and second side walls of the heating chamber, and second magnetic elements.

Abstract: A plant for the drying and treatment of a pourable mineral material. The plant includes a combustion apparatus, introducing smoke gases into a rotary-driven rotary drum for cocurrently with the pourable mineral material. The rotary drum is inclined in the conveying direction, has installed fittings on the inner circumference and is connected sealingly at its outlet end to a shaft. The installed fittings in a front introduction region of the drum are transport blades. The shaft is put under a vacuum by means of a fan and is set up to take over the material and gas stream emerging from the rotary drum. A Venturi fitting is arranged coaxially in the rotary drum, upstream of the outlet, and a bypass for conveying air is arranged in the drum casing in the introduction region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the removal of moisture from seed cotton in a cotton gin. The moisture level and rate of seed cotton entering a seed cotton dryer stage of a cotton gin are measured, and, based on those measurements and the desired moisture level of the seed cotton, the seed cotton dryer stage of the cotton gin is controlled to remove a precise amount of moisture from the seed cotton.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and computer program for affording Virtual Affiliates access to an existing affiliate system. First, having been assigned a unique identifier within a source affiliate system, a Webmaster operates a web site. Next, a request for a target Merchant Web site triggers a correlation function, such that the source Webmaster unique identifier is correlated to a target Webmaster unique identifier functional within the unique identification system of the requested Merchant system. Next, a properly formatted entry mechanism URL is returned, enabling a hand off to the target Merchant affiliate system and including the correlated target Webmaster unique identifier. The Virtual Affiliate system is notified of transactions that originated from a referring Webmaster. Referring Webmasters may be compensated for each completed transaction according to agreed-upon terms and conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a controlled environment processing chamber of chambers in which parts are to be dried. The parts either contain water on or imbibed into the part. The process includes a means of applying a negative gauge pressure to the chamber to remove air or other non-condensable gases. Further, means are provided for introducing a solvent in a vapor state to the chamber to cause the water to flash off the part. A first system recovers water or aqueous solution(s) from the object being dried and the chamber. A second system, separate from the first system, further recovers residual solvent from the object and chamber after the drying process.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for triggering an advertisement for display via a computer network. One of a several part numbers is received from a user request. An advertisement to be displayed is triggered if (i) the user is associated with a pre-determined desired group corresponding to the triggered advertisement, and (ii) the user is not associated with a pre-determined no-show group corresponding to the triggered advertisement; and (iii) at least one of the received part numbers is included in the portion of part numbers. The triggering step further includes determining whether the triggered advertisement has exceeded a pre-determined maximum number of showings. An advertiser associated with the advertisement is notified of the triggered advertisement and the user. Further, responsive to the user request, stored information is searched for a part corresponding to at least one part number. Further, the user is classified by type within a vertical industry such as the airline industry.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, although not necessarily limited thereto, the system of the present invention may function in the context of an internet based commercial real estate brokering system. In such a system, potential buyers, sellers, lessors and lessees list and respond to offerings having characteristics as described in connection with the listings. For example, a potential landlord may, through interaction with the system of the present invention, list one or more buildings for lease. Communication and interaction may occur on an anonymous basis such that the potential landlord is unaware of the actual identity of the prospective tenant and vice versa until such time as one or the other or both decide to reveal their identity. It is also possible to avoid the need to reveal any contact information associated with either party (including, for example, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, etc.) until such time as a party wishes to disclose such information.

Abstract: A process for drying a web provides for guiding a web having a moisture content and subjecting the web to laser radiation to remove at least some portion of the moisture content. A system for drying a web includes at least one laser, a moisture measurement device, and a control device, wherein the control device receives input from the measurement device and influences the at least one laser.

Abstract: A method of promoting a product or a brand in a retail store, or of promoting customer loyalty, comprises the steps of analyzing data determined at a point of sale relating to purchases by a customer, e.g. data from a bar-code scanner, to determine whether a customer has purchased a particular product or brand or has purchased products equaling or exceeding a predetermined value and, if this is the case, entitling the customer to participate in a prize/bonus ticket game configured as a game of chance, conducting a game of chance based on a predetermined win table having a specified number of predetermined winning numbers each associated with a bonus or prize and a further number of no win stops, i.e. numbers which are not winning numbers, and in the case of a win, issuing to the customer a ticket which is a winning ticket associated with the product or product range. The method also includes operating a gaming machine and promoting Internet shopping, as well as a ticket dispenser.

Abstract: A method, and system for increasing the efficiency of customer contact strategies is disclosed. Customers are analyzed based upon historical criteria; a promotional plan (a group of promotion events implemented or to be implemented over a particular time period) is analyzed to determine the effect of each promotion event on the other promotion events in the promotional plan; and, based on this analysis, the optimal promotion stream (a specific subset of the promotional plan to be sent to customers or a group of similar customers) is determined so as to maximize the ROI of the promotional plan as a whole.

Abstract: An advertisement selection system is presented in which vectors describing an actual or hypothetical market for a product or desired viewing audience can be determined. An ad characterization vector is transmitted along with a consumer ID. The consumer ID is used to retrieve a consumer characterization vector which is correlated with the ad characterization vector to determine the suitability of the advertisement to the consumer. The consumer characterization vector describes statistical information regarding the demographics and product purchase preferences of a consumer, and is developed from previous purchases or viewing habits. A price for displaying the advertisement can be determined based on the results of the correlation of the ad characterization vector with the consumer characterization vector.

Abstract: A device and method for advertising service offerings in a communications network. A service offering includes information about the device making the advertisement, including what functions the device may serve. The advertisement also includes information about other devices in the network, when that information is available. Each device in the network determines a time value, at the end of which the device will send an advertisement. Each device listens for advertisements from other devices up to the time previously determined. If a device receives an advertisement that contains information about itself then the device will determine a new time value, at the end of which the device will send an advertisement. If a device receives an advertisement that does not contain information about itself then the device will send its own advertisement.

Abstract: The present invention is provided for utilizing various types of user indicia such as search requests, products purchased, products looked at but not purchased, products purchased and returned, reasons for returning products, customers stated profile including income level, education level, stated profession, etc. for the purpose of customizing a user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for using a mailing label to be applied to magazines, newspapers, circulars or other mass mailing items, which has a subscriber's name and address. The label can be removed from the mailed item and applied to a coupon for retail redemption or to a return mailer, so that the subscriber information can be extracted from the coupon or return mailer, and used to generate a database of computer records forming a mailing list of desirable, motivated customers for the product being promoted.

Abstract: A method for providing product recommendations to customers in an e-commerce environment includes the step of generating content and compatibility representations of products corresponding to a plurality of customers. A similarity function is calculated between pairs of content attributes corresponding to the products. A similarity function is calculated between pairs of compatibility attributes corresponding to the products. The plurality of customers are clustered into a plurality of peer groups. For a given customer, a closest peer group of the plurality of peer groups is determined. At least one potential recommendation is then generated for the given customer based on the closest peer group.