Abstract: A spiral separator for separating more-desired material from less-desired material has a feed arrangement for feeding a slurry of mixed more-desired material and less-desired material, a spiral trough, and a splitting arrangement for off-take of a concentrate band of more desired material, and the spiral trough is configured to provide an effective cross-trough floor slope of less than 8 degrees to horizontal in a turn immediately upstream of the splitting arrangement. The separator may be a multi-stage separator and include a slurry preparation apparatus between each pair of stages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a replaceable flotation device for providing buoyancy to a flexible hose. The device generally comprises two or more buoyancy members for surrounding said hose, said buoyancy members are operably connected as an assembly which can be easily replaced or repositioned along a length of the hose.

Abstract: A do-it-yourself photo realistic talking head creation system comprising: a template; handheld device comprising display and video camera having an image output signal of a subject; a computer having a mixer program for mixing the template and image output signal of the subject into a composite image, and an output signal representational of the composite image; a computer adapted to communicate the composite image signal to the display for display to the subject as a composite image; the display and the video camera adapted to allow the video camera to collect the image of the subject, the subject to view the composite image, and the subject to align the image of the subject with the template; storage means having an input for receiving the output signal of the video camera representational of the collected image of the subject and storing the image of the subject substantially aligned with the template.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a replaceable flotation device for providing buoyancy to a flexible hose. The device generally comprises two or more buoyancy members for surrounding said hose, said buoyancy members are operably connected as an assembly which can be easily replaced or repositioned along a length of the hose.

Abstract: A system and method for creating, distributing, and viewing photo-realistic talking head based multimedia content over a network, comprising a server and a variety of communication devices, including cell phones and other portable wireless devices, and a software suite, that enables users to communicate with each other through creation, use, and sharing of multimedia content, including photo-realistic talking head animations combined with text, audio, photo, and video content. Content is uploaded to at least one remote server, and accessed via a broad range of devices, such as cell phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, and cellular smartphones.

Abstract: A do-it-yourself photo realistic talking head creation system comprising: a template; handheld device comprising display and video camera having an image output signal of a subject; a computer having a mixer program for mixing the template and image output signal of the subject into a composite image, and an output signal representational of the composite image; a computer adapted to communicate the composite image signal to the display for display to the subject as a composite image; the display and the video camera adapted to allow the video camera to collect the image of the subject, the subject to view the composite image, and the subject to align the image of the subject with the template; storage means having an input for receiving the output signal of the video camera representational of the collected image of the subject and storing the image of the subject substantially aligned with the template.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning an ionising electrode in an electrostatic separator, the device comprising a cleaner for removing dust and other particulate matter from at least a portion of the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for the electrostatic separation of a mixture of particles that exhibit difference in electrical conductivity comprising: a rotating roll with a conductive surface to which conducting particles lose their charge; feeding means for feeding the mixture of particles onto the conductive surface; an ionising electrode for ionising individual particles in the mixture of particles; a first static electrode having the same polarity as the ionising electrode and which serves to generate a static electric field, the first static electrode being located sufficiently close to the ionising electrode that the static field acts on the particles immediately after they are ionised; and splitter comprising a leading edge over which a conductor fraction stream flung from the rotating roll following charge decay in these particles passes, wherein the leading edge of the splitter is positioned beneath the first static electrode so that the conductor fraction remains under the influence of the static electric field as

Abstract: A do-it-yourself photo realistic talking head creation system and method comprising: a template; a video camera having an image output signal of a subject; a computer having a mixer program for mixing the template and image output signal of the subject into a composite image, and an output signal representational of the composite image; a computer adapted to communicate the composite image signal thereto the monitor for display thereto the subject as a composite image; the monitor and the video camera adapted to allow the video camera to collect the image of the subject therethrough and the subject to view the composite image and the subject to align the image of the subject therewith the template; storage means having an input for receiving the output signal of the video camera representational of the collected image of the subject, and storing the image of the subject substantially aligned therewith the template.

Abstract: A photo realistic talking head creation system and method comprising: a template; a video camera having an image output signal of a subject; a mixer for mixing the template and the image output signal of the subject into a composite image, and an output signal representational of the composite image; a prompter having a partially reflecting mirror therebetween the video camera and the subject, an input for receiving the output signal of the mixer representational of the composite image, the partially reflecting mirror adapted to allow the video camera to collect the image of the subject therethrough and the subject to view the composite image and to align the image of the subject therewith the template; storage means having an input for receiving the output image signal of the video camera representational of the collected image of the subject, and storing the image of the subject substantially aligned therewith the template.

Abstract: Apparatus for the electrostatic separation of a mixture of particles that exhibit difference in electrical conductivity, comprising: a conductive surface to which conducting particles lose their charge; feeding means for feeding the mixture of particles onto the conductive surface; an ionising electrode for ionising individual particles in the mixture of particles; and a first static electrode having the same polarity as the ionising electrode and which serves to generate a static electric field, the first static electrode being located sufficiently close to the ionising electrode that the static electric field acts continuously on the particles as they are ionised; wherein conducting particles are separated from non-conducting particles on the basis of their different retained charge after a period of contact with the conductive surface.

Abstract: A method for metallising solid substrates involves the use of non-equilibrium plasma treatment of a supported metal precursor layer. This technique can be used to make pure metal or alloy coatings. An oxidising plasma pre-treatment step of the supported metal precursor layer, or the incorporation of a plasma polymer coupling layer prior to metallisation, can result in improved adhesion. The method can be applied to the preparation of lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a grained and anodised aluminium substrate coated with a metallic layer, preferably a silver layer, on top of which is applied a layer of an oleophilic resin. Imagewise exposure of the precursor by means of a high intensity laser beam allows for the direct provision of press ready plates showing increased cleanliness in background areas and providing excellent start-up properties on press, high image quality and improved press durability, without the requirement for the use of intermediate film and developer chemistry, or the need for any post-exposure processing. Lower levels of metal deposition on the substrate surface result in the plate precursors showing enhanced sensitivity on exposure, whereupon removal of the metallic layer occurs in the exposed areas.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a grained and anodized aluminium substrate having coated thereon a silver halide emulsion layer, the back surface of said substrate being coated with an inert coating which does not chemically or physically interact with an adjacent silver halide layer when two plates are placed in front to back contact. Fogging of the silver halide layer is avoided and the use of the back coating eliminates the requirement for the use of tissue interleaving when wrapping and packing the lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A method of image formation which comprises (a) providing a radiation sensitive plate comprising a substrate and a coating containing a heat softenable disperse phase, an aqueous soluble or swellable continuous phase and a radiation absorbing substance, (b) image-wise exposing the plate to at least partially coalesce the particles of the disperse phase in the image areas, (c) developing the image-wise exposed plate to remove the coating in the unexposed areas, and (d) heating the developed plate or subjecting it to irradiation to effect insolubilization of the image. Good quality images of high durability are obtained.

Abstract: Laminates of aluminum and plastic form the substrate of printing plate precursors that are suitable for imaging in conventional roll-fed imagesetters or phototypesetters.

Abstract: A light sensitive material suitable for coating onto a support to produce a light sensitive plate for use in, for example, the manufacture of a printing plate comprises groups of the formula: ##STR1## attached to carbon atoms of a polymer, wherein --Z-- is --o-- or ##STR2## or ##STR3## wherein R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R is an aromatic radical; a is zero or unity; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, cyano groups, or specified aliphatic or aromatic groups; X is a deactivating group; R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, a cyano group or a specified aliphatic or aromatic group; and Ph is a phenyl group. The material may be produced by reacting a polymer containing epoxide groups, hydroxyl groups, or primary and/or secondary amino groups with the halosulphonyl group of a compound having the formula: ##STR4## wherein R, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 R.sub.3, and a having the above meanings, wherein X has the above meaning or is a halosulphonyl group and R.sub.