Abstract: A cleaning robot system including a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a robot body, a drive system, a cleaning assembly, and a cleaning bin carried by the robot body and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing configured to receive the robot for maintenance. The station housing has an evacuation passageway exposed to a top portion of the received robot. The robot maintenance station also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and a collection bin carried by the station housing and in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway. The station housing and the robot body fluidly connect the evacuation passageway to the cleaning bin of the received robot. The air mover evacuates debris held in the robot cleaning bin to the collection bin through the evacuation passageway.

Abstract: A cleaning robot system includes a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a chassis, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller, and a cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing and a driven cleaning roller. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing and a docking platform configured to support the robot when docked. A mechanical agitator engages the roller of the robot with the robot docked. The agitator includes an agitator comb having multiple teeth configured to remove accumulated debris from the roller as the agitator comb and roller are moved relative to one another. The robot maintenance station includes a collection bin arranged to receive and hold debris removed by the mechanical agitator.

Abstract: A cleaning robot system includes a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a chassis, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller, and a cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing and a driven cleaning roller. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing and a docking platform configured to support the robot when docked. A mechanical agitator engages the roller of the robot with the robot docked. The agitator includes an agitator comb having multiple teeth configured to remove accumulated debris from the roller as the agitator comb and roller are moved relative to one another. The robot maintenance station includes a collection bin arranged to receive and hold debris removed by the mechanical agitator.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to retard deployment of the towline, a DC motor augments and controls the brake system. The DC motor further controls the retrieval of the object. A cutter mechanism uses a first blade to grip the towing cable to maintain tension thereon as a second blade cuts the cable. A spring biased boom in combination with spring biased fins on the ejected object rapidly deploys the object from its storage housing. A locking mechanism secures the deployment mechanism in a stable locked position upon the object reaching its fully extended position.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for allocating multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a wetdeck process in semiconductor wafer fabrication. A resource allocator allocates multi-function resources among tasks within a process system that executes at least one application process. The resource allocator comprises a monitoring controller, model of the process system and a resource allocation controller. The monitoring controller monitors measurable characteristics associated with the executing application process, multi-function resources and tasks. The model represents the multi-function resources and the tasks, and defines relationships among them. The resource allocation controller operates the model in response to the monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of the multi-function resources among ones of the tasks to efficiently execute the wetdeck process of the semiconductor wafer fabrication process.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for allocating multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a wetdeck process in semiconductor wafer fabrication. A resource allocator allocates multi-function resources among tasks within a process system that executes at least one application process. The resource allocator comprises a monitoring controller, model of the process system and a resource allocation controller. The monitoring controller monitors measurable characteristics associated with the executing application process, multi-function resources and tasks. The model represents the multi-function resources and the tasks, and defines relationships among them. The resource allocation controller operates the model in response to the monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of the multi-function resources among ones of the tasks to efficiently execute the wetdeck process of the semiconductor wafer fabrication process.

Abstract: A sweat scraper includes a core made of a first resilient material defining a scraper blade and a handle. A sheath made of a second resilient material substantially surrounds the side edges of the core and defines a continous border around the scraper blade edges. The first resilient material is preferably substantially less resilient than the second resilient material to form a compliant continues unshaped wiper blade.

Abstract: A retractor for manipulating a vessel in a patient includes a working head shaped to define a working space in the tissue of a patient and at least a first manipulator for manipulating a vessel located proximate the working space, the first manipulator having a retracted position and an extended position. The first manipulator if disposed at least partially within the working space when the first manipulator is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An instrument for manipulating a vessel in a patient includes a cannula having a lumen for providing insufflation to create a working space in the tissue of a patient, and a first manipulator for manipulating a vessel located within the working space. The first manipulator is slidably movable within the cannula from a stowed position, where the first manipulator is substantially disposed within the cannula, to a forward position, where at least a portion of the first manipulator is disposed outside the cannula. The first manipulator is rotatable when in the forward position to an extended position.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing liquid soap or other liquid from either a bag-in-box liquid container or from a bottle of liquid includes a housing. A dispenser actuator is movably mounted on the housing. A first module is provided for insertion into the interior of the housing, the first module including a bottle support and a liquid pump for pumping liquid from the bottle. A second module can also be inserted into the housing interior, the second module including a bag-in-box container support. The modules are selectively alternatively mountable within the housing interior and each of the modules is cooperable with the dispenser actuator when in the housing interior to dispense liquid from the housing interior to a location exterior of the housing responsive to movement of the dispenser actuator relative to the housing.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and methods for making it, for use in opto-electronic devices, employs only MOVPE growth steps. The structure is based on a mesa having substantially non-reentrant sides. To make it, an initial semiconductor structure is produced which comprises a substrate with a mesa thereon, the mesa having a self-aligned, central stripe of metal organic vapour phase growth suppressing material on its uppermost surface. Burying layers are then grown by MOVPE at either side of the mesa, the stripe removed, and covering layers grown over the mesa and adjoining regions of the burying layers. To make an opto-electronic device, a silica window can be formed on the uppermost surface of the covering layers and contacts provided through the window and to the remote face of the substrate. Two methods of making the initial semiconductor structure are described. Devices such as optical detectors and waveguides can be made using methods according to the invention.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a bearing assembly for large rolls, particularly rolls utilized in the paper making industry wherein the end portions of the rolls are tubular to define sockets and inserted in each socket is a sleeve which is particularly configurated to have a housing fixedly fitted therein, the sleeve and housing having axially spaced contacting surfaces and the housing carrying axially spaced bearings with the bearings journalling the housing on the stub shaft. The construction is such that with a roll blocked in place, the housing, complete with bearings and stub shaft, can be removed as a unit from the sleeve facilitating quick and easy replacement.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical dosage unit compositions containing as an active ingredient a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.2, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be identical to or different from each other, are each hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, acyloxy, halogen, nitro or --SO.sub.3 H, andR.sub.3 and R.sub.6, which may be identical to or different from each other, are each hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, acyloxy, halogen, nitro, --SO.sub.3 H, hydroxycarbonyl-methoxy, .beta.-hydroxy-ethoxy or .beta.-amino-ethoxy,Or a salt thereof; and a method of using the same as antiallergics.