Abstract: A refuse collection system includes a refuse collection robot and a refuse depot. The refuse collection robot includes a chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a motor coupled to the chassis and the tractive element and configured to drive the tractive element to propel the refuse collection robot, a refuse container coupled to the chassis and defining a first storage volume, and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The refuse depot includes a centralized storage defining a second storage volume and a refuse actuator configured to transfer refuse from the first storage volume to the second storage volume. The controller is configured to control the motor to propel the refuse collection to a pickup zone associated with a customer in response to receiving a request for refuse collection from a user device associated with the customer.

Abstract: A depot for autonomous land-based refuse drones includes a chassis anchored to a ground surface, a container defining a storage volume for refuse, a collection implement, and refuse actuators. The collection implement is configured to selectively couple with at least one of (i) refuse within a drone storage volume or (ii) a portion of the one of the autonomous land-based refuse drones that defines the drone storage volume. The refuse actuators are operably coupled with the collection implement and configured to drive the collection implement to perform an unloading operation. The unloading operation includes selectively coupling, moving, and de-coupling from at least one of the refuse within the drone storage volume or the portion of the autonomous land-based refuse drone that defines the drone storage volume to unload the refuse from the drone storage volume into the storage volume of the container.

Abstract: A refuse collection includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) receive a request for refuse collection from a customer, the request including a desired time of the refuse collection, (b) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, and (c) control, based on the request, the refuse collection robot to autonomously navigate to the location of the pickup zone at the desired time and perform the refuse collection.

Abstract: A refuse collection drone includes a chassis, tractive elements rotatably coupled with and supporting the chassis, a propulsion system including a battery and an electric motor configured to consume electrical energy from the battery, and a bin removably coupled with the chassis and including a cover. The propulsion system is configured to drive one or more of the tractive elements to transport the refuse collection drone to a customer location. The bin defines a storage volume for refuse. The cover is configured to be driven by an actuator between an open position to allow access to the storage volume and a closed position to limit access to the storage volume. A lock is operable between a locked state to limit transition of the cover out of the closed position and an unlocked state to allow transition of the cover out of the closed position and into the open position.

Abstract: A refuse collection system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) receive a request for refuse collection from a customer, (b) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, (c) receive location data indicating a current location of the refuse collection robot, (d) generate a route for the refuse collection robot to travel from the current location of the refuse collection robot to the location of the pickup zone, and (e) control the refuse collection robot to follow the route and perform the refuse collection.

Abstract: A refuse collection system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) control a refuse collection robot containing a volume of refuse to navigate to a refuse depot, (b) control the refuse depot to remove the volume of refuse from the refuse collection robot, (c) receive a request from a customer for delivery of a package, (d) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, (e) control the refuse collection robot to receive the package, and (f) control the refuse collection robot to transport the package to the pickup zone.

Abstract: Communications server system, method, and apparatus for managing complex orders of industrial supplies, comprising a processor and a memory, the communications server apparatus being configured, under control of the processor, to execute instructions in the memory to generate, for a plurality of orders of respective different order quantities associated with an order entity, each of the plurality of orders associated with a unique order rule set, determine, for each unique order, a first order element of a first order category, a value of a first attribute parameter indicative of a first order rule requirement determine, for each unique order for a second order element of a second order category, a value of a second attribute parameter indicative of a second order rule requirement compare the values for the first and second order attribute parameters with a minimum order rules set associated with the order entity, use a comparison result to recommend an order change to at least one of the first or second orde

Abstract: A head assembly (10) is provided for use in a rotary head extruder (12) for extruding a food product. The head assembly (10) includes an annular-shaped stator plate (20) and a rotating blade plate (22). The blade plate (22) preferably includes at least six blades, each with a wedge shaped profile, and the stator plate (20) includes extrusion channels that extend at an angle in the range of 20°-50° from tangent to a circle defined by an inner surface (30) of the plate (20).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for scoring documents in response, in part, to parameters related to the document, source, and/or cluster score. Methods and apparatus are also described for scoring a cluster in response, in part, to parameters related to documents within the cluster and/or sources corresponding to the documents within the cluster. In one embodiment, the invention may detect at least one document within the cluster; analyze a parameter corresponding to the document; and compute a cluster score based, in part, on the parameter, wherein the cluster score corresponds with at least one document within the cluster.

Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly with a housing profile that protects components positioned in an interior of the housing from spilt products and is easier to clean than previously known conveyor belt assemblies. The conveyor belt assembly of this invention includes a frame with a sloped surface positioned under the conveyor belt such that spilt product that falls through the conveyor belt lands on the sloped surface and gravity pulls the spilt product off the sloped surface to a side of the housing for easy clean up.

Abstract: A system automatically creates a list from items in existing lists. The system receives one or more example items corresponding to the list and assigns weights to the items in the existing lists based on the one or more example items. The system then forms the list based on the items and the weights assigned to the items.

Abstract: A head assembly (10) is provided for use in a rotary head extruder (12) for extruding a food product. The head assembly (10) includes an annular-shaped stator plate (20) and a rotating blade plate (22). The blade plate (22) preferably includes at least six blades, each with a wedge shaped profile, and the stator plate (20) includes extrusion channels that extend at an angle in the range of 20°-50° from tangent to a circle defined by an inner surface (30) of the plate (20).

Abstract: A head assembly (10) is provided for use in a rotary head extruder (12) for extruding a food product. The head assembly (10) includes an annular-shaped stator plate (20) and a rotating blade plate (22). The blade plate (22) preferably includes at least six blades, each with a wedge shaped profile, and the stator plate (20) includes extrusion channels that extend at an angle in the range of 20°-50° from tangent to a circle defined by an inner surface (30) of the plate (20).

Abstract: A system automatically creates a list from items in existing lists. The system receives one or more example items corresponding to the list and assigns weights to the items in the existing lists based on the one or more example items. The system then forms the list based on the items and the weights assigned to the items.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for scoring documents in response, in part, to parameters related to the document, source, and/or cluster score. Methods and apparatus are also described for scoring a cluster in response, in part, to parameters related to documents within the cluster and/or sources corresponding to the documents within the cluster. In one embodiment, the invention may detect at least one document within the cluster; analyze a parameter corresponding to the document; and compute a cluster score based, in part, on the parameter, wherein the cluster score corresponds with at least one document within the cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus for comprises a base, a wall, and an opening in the wall. The base has a first end, a second end, and a channel system. The channel system is located closer to the first end than the second end of the base. The wall extends from a side of the base to partially enclose the channel system. The opening in the wall is located closer to the second end than the first end. The shape of the wall is capable of retaining a gas introduced through the channel system in a welding location and causing the gas to move away from the channel system and through the opening in the wall.

Abstract: A head assembly (10) is provided for use in a rotary head extruder (12) for extruding a food product. The head assembly (10) includes an annular-shaped stator plate (20) and a rotating blade plate (22). The blade plate (22) preferably includes at least six blades, each with a wedge shaped profile, and the stator plate (20) includes extrusion channels that extend at an angle in the range of 20°-50° from tangent to a circle defined by an inner surface (30) of the plate (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for comprises a base, a wall, and an opening in the wall. The base has a first end, a second end, and a channel system. The channel system is located closer to the first end than the second end of the base. The wall extends from a side of the base to partially enclose the channel system. The opening in the wall is located closer to the second end than the first end. The shape of the wall is capable of retaining a gas introduced through the channel system in a welding location and causing the gas to move away from the channel system and through the opening in the wall.

Abstract: A system automatically creates a list from items in existing lists. The system receives one or more example items corresponding to the list and assigns weights to the items in the existing lists based on the one or more example items. The system then forms the list based on the items and the weights assigned to the items.