Abstract: A machine for retreading tires includes a rotatable hub that includes a moveable conical element, and an expandable rim disposed around the rotatable hub. The expandable rim includes a plurality of shoes. Each shoe of the plurality of shoes may have a base portion and a rim portion. The base portion may have a two-piece construction that allows for replacement of a worn interface that may include a channel and a ramp. A method for assembling an expandable rim for use in a tire retreading machine, and a method for servicing a machine having an expandable rim are also disclosed.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: A method of managing inventory may include using a handheld scanning device to locate one or more inventory items on a retail display. The method may further include scanning the identification symbols of inventory items on a retail display to determine the type of the scanned item. An associated apparatus may include a communication interface to receive information from a remote database and to send information to a remote server. The received information may include predetermined information about proper locations for individual inventory items on the retail display, thereby reducing the need to manually determine the proper locations of multiple inventory items, which may be, for example, greeting cards on a retail store display.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: The invention encourages users to not only pay themselves first, but to pay themselves first in the largest amounts possible, even if they are not able to fully pay outstanding debts. In general, the invention obtains information related to the user's income, income sources, user's debts (e.g., bills) and user's goals, then provides recommendations related to the prioritization of paying certain bills and the amount to pay for each bill based upon, for example, savings goals, minimum amounts due, due dates and available income. The invention also determines a payment hierarchy which includes transferring funds to the user's savings account prior to paying all or a portion of certain bills. The invention also monitors a consumer's purchasing activity based upon an established budget.

Abstract: A method of managing inventory may include using a handheld scanning device to locate one or more inventory items on a retail display. The method may further include scanning the identification symbols of inventory items on a retail display to determine the type of the scanned item. An associated apparatus may include a communication interface to receive information from a remote database and to send information to a remote server. The received information may include predetermined information about proper locations for individual inventory items on the retail display, thereby reducing the need to manually determine the proper locations of multiple inventory items, which may be, for example, greeting cards on a retail store display.

Abstract: A method of managing inventory may include using a handheld scanning device to locate one or more inventory items on a retail display. The method may further include scanning the identification symbols of inventory items on a retail display to determine the type of the scanned item. An associated apparatus may include a communication interface to receive information from a remote database and to send information to a remote server. The received information may include predetermined information about proper locations for individual inventory items on the retail display, thereby reducing the need to manually determine the proper locations of multiple inventory items, which may be, for example, greeting cards on a retail store display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a purchaser incentive program on a network-wide level. The system associates SKU and UPC data on a network level to provide consumers with a purchasing environment that is both convenient and cost-efficient. The association of SKU and UPC data at a network level also provides consumers with the ability to analyze their own purchase data for a variety of purposes, including analyses relating to the consumer's spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates a network-wide search for an item that a consumer desires to purchase under terms or conditions that are selected by the consumer and are therefore perceived to be optimal by that consumer.

Abstract: A biomass drying system includes a rotary biomass dryer that includes a helically threaded auger shaft rotatably driven by a prime mover, such as an electric motor. No external source of heat is required to dry a wet biomass material that is supplied to an input of the biomass dryer. Instead, the helical threads on the shaft have a variable width, designed to gradually increase the compression applied as the biomass material is advanced through a generally cylindrical bore in the biomass dryer. A variable compression nozzle is disposed at a distal end of the bore and can be adjusted to achieve a desired level of a parameter such as the moisture content of the dried biomass material produced by the system. The variable compression nozzle, which can be automatically controlled, includes longitudinally extending segments that are forced radially inwardly to increase the compression force applied to the biomass material.

Abstract: Systems and methods concerned with design advancements with respect to the dispenser technical art. Some of these design advancements have led to increased water shedding effectiveness, minimization of dispensing head size, and higher quality resonance from the dispenser.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a purchaser incentive program on a network-wide level. The system associates SKU and UPC data on a network level to provide consumers with a purchasing environment that is both convenient and cost-efficient. The association of SKU and UPC data at a network level also provides consumers with the ability to analyze their own purchase data for a variety of purposes, including analyses relating to the consumer's spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates a network-wide search for an item that a consumer desires to purchase under terms or conditions that are selected by the consumer and are therefore perceived to be optimal by that consumer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the graphical display of data at a summary level. In such embodiments, icons are used, where a visual representation of each of the icons represents a feature of underlying data. A user can select an icon in a summary data view to navigate to more detailed data associated with the icon. Embodiments of the invention also provide methods for calculating and using a student proficiency ranking index for use in comparing, aggregating, or otherwise processing heterogeneous test data.

Abstract: The invention encourages users to not only pay themselves first, but to pay themselves first in the largest amounts possible, even if they are not able to fully pay outstanding debts. In general, the invention obtains information related to the user's income, income sources, user's debts (e.g., bills) and user's goals, then provides recommendations related to the prioritization of paying certain bills and the amount to pay for each bill based upon, for example, savings goals, minimum amounts due, due dates and available income. The invention also determines a payment hierarchy which includes transferring funds to the user's savings account prior to paying all or a portion of certain bills. The invention also monitors a consumer's purchasing activity based upon an established budget.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a purchaser incentive program on a network-wide level. The system associates SKU and UPC data on a network level to provide consumers with a purchasing environment that is both convenient and cost-efficient. The association of SKU and UPC data at a network level also provides consumers with the ability to analyze their own purchase data for a variety of purposes, including analyses relating to the consumer's spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates a network-wide search for an item that a consumer desires to purchase under terms or conditions that are selected by the consumer and are therefore perceived to be optimal by that consumer.

Abstract: A parabolic reflector for combined use as a solar concentrator and communications antenna having both a shared and joint use mode. In both the joint and shared use mode, the dish concentrates the electromagnetic energy at the focal point where a signal receptor such as a feed horn and LNA captures the signal. In the shared use system, a heat exchanger is positioned to receive solar flux and the signal receptor is shielded or is in an out-of-the-way position during periods of high solar energy. In a joint use system, the location of the receptor of solar energy and the receptor of electromagnetic energy are separated by use of selective surfaces which selectively reflect and absorb energy. In one embodiment, a wire mesh having a mesh size of less than approximately one-sixteenth of the wavelength of the signal radiation is interposed to reflect electromagnetic energy to the signal receptor but allows solar energy to pass through to impinge upon the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A wire clamping and retaining device comprises first and second integrally interconnected leg members which are separated by a predetermined separation distance while in a normal position. A biasing force is established, preferably by the inherent properties of a rigid material capable of resilient deformation, so as to bias the leg members into the normal position. A cavity is defined in the device and intermediate the cavity and the terminal ends thereof, an inclined surface is provided so that when the device is laterally moved relative to a wire, outward displacement of the leg members will be effected so as to gain access to the cavity. Once the wire is accepted in the cavity, the biasing force will once again return the leg members to their normal position and thus frictionally engaged the wire contained in the cavity to prevent axial slippage relative thereto. Thereafter, a nail or other suitable means is utilized to secure the device to a substrate.