Abstract: A system and method for bridging existing paper-based invoicing methods to electronic methods that is simple to use and cost effective is disclosed. A billing party generates a transaction identification number in the process of preparing an invoice and sends the transaction identification number to the consumer via a physical mail piece or e-mail. The invoice data is stored in a standard format in a secure server along with the transaction identification number. The consumer, upon receipt of the physical mail piece, inputs the transaction identification number to a computer, such as, for example, by scanning, accesses the secure server and sends the transaction identification number to retrieve the invoice data. The invoice data is then automatically entered into the consumer's software systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which comprises a portable treatment method and apparatus for treating sediment and other waste material. A preselected solid composition is added to the sediment as it is drawn through a system which mixes the sediment and composition thoroughly to produce a homogenous mixture, which is then in turn deposited in a storage device for eventual removal from the site.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A mobile article transporter for carrying and storing a plurality of similar articles in a compact configuration. The transporter comprises a plurality of relatively friction-free conveyors located one above the other. Each conveyor includes a set of rollers that lie in an inclined plane along which the articles gravitate. Alternate ones of the conveyors tilt in opposite directions to form a Z-shaped structure through which the articles cascade to load the transporter from the bottom up. Pivoted article transfer carriages mount in the transporter for transferring articles between adjacent conveyors. The transfer carriages include guide arms and control arms that direct articles from an upper conveyor to the next lower conveyor. When the lower conveyor is filled with articles, the uppermost article thereon abuttingly engages the guide arms to prevent rotation of the transfer carriage, thereby preventing articles from gravitating onto the full conveyor.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The box-processing units, which are serially arranged and operate in parallel, include a seal-removal tool, a lid-opener tool, a box-inverter that dumps the box contents into a coin sorter/counter system, a lid-reset tool and a seal-insert tool.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A reusable electronic seal is provided for detecting whether the contents of a container may have been disturbed. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic seal is used in conjunction with a coin box of a pay telephone. The reusable electronic seal is adapted to permanently or removably attach to the lid of the coin box. The electronic seal includes a latch pin, a switch operatively connected to the latch pin, a timer chip operatively connected to the switch, a latch pin spring for securing the electronic seal to the latch of the coin box and for resetting the timer chip, and a crystal for generating a fixed frequency to the timer chip. The electronic seal further includes an infrared light emitting diode that modulates the light emitting diode and sends a signal to a communications device, and a phototransistor for reading the clock signal from the communications device and a battery for supplying power to the timer chip, the infrared light emitting diode, the phototransistor and the crystal.

Abstract: A keyboard is adapted for entry of graphical information into a computer by providing the keyboard with an extended, two dimensional member situated in overlapping relationship with at least one of the keys of the keyboard and which is adapted to generate for storage and display by the computer a signal designating a position on the member.

Abstract: A cable connection unit includes a mounting arrangement for holding a variety of modular interconnection units for interconnecting a variety of communication cables. Each interconnection unit has the same length and a width which is an integer multiple of the width of the narrowest interconnection unit. The mounting arrangement can be mounted to a plate surface or to an apparatus enclosure having cable entry and exit opening and a moveable front panel. The apparatus enclosure perimeter includes a mortise and tenon to enable mechanical interconnection to one or more additional housing enclosures.