Abstract: A helical screw conveyor having a helical screw rotatably mounted within a casing and cooperating with a chain of platens to convey objects from one end of the casing to the other end or to selected locations therebetween. A thermodynamic combustion engine is provided having a helical screw rotatably mounted within a casing and cooperating with a platen chain to draw a combustible mixture into the casing, compress the mixture for ignition, and exhaust the burned mixture therefrom.

Abstract: A nutritional deficiency identification system includes a temperature sensor connected to a biofeedback instrument, which is connected to a computer. At a testing site, the sensor is attached to a subject, and an evaluation test is performed under software control. The subject's temperature is monitored, displayed, and recorded at regular intervals during the entire evaluation. The beginning of the test comprises a temperature stabilization period in which the subject's body temperature is allowed to stabilize in the testing site's environment. After the stabilization period, a first nutritional supplement is placed on the subject's tongue at the beginning of a testing period. At an intermediate time during its testing period, the supplement is discarded, and the testing period is continued. The subject's metabolic and physiological responses to the supplement are reflected in body temperature fluctuations.

Abstract: A plastic bag removal method and apparatus in which the bag is stored on a large, tightly compressed roll. In the described preferred embodiment, the method and apparatus provide for opening the mouth of the leading bag on the roll, clamping the inside and outside surfaces of each of the opposite side edges of the mouth, pulling the bag out, away from the roll, while still clamping, in order to expose the next bag in the roll, holding the mouth of the next bag in the roll while twisting the leading bag and continuing to pull on the leading bag until the sealed bottom of the bag separates from the next bag held in the roll, and placing that leading open bag onto a filling spout.