Abstract: An athletic shoe configured for use in sports such as but not limited to floor hockey wherein the shoe of the present invention is operable to provide a rolling lateral movement for the wearer. The shoe of the present invention includes an upper bound to the sole wherein the sole includes sidewalls and a bottom surface. Formed in the bottom surface of the sole is the roller assembly. The roller assembly includes a cavity being defined by four walls. The cavity has a wheel member mounted therein on an axle that is mounted between the front wall and rear wall of the cavity. The mounting of the axle provides the lateral rolling motion. The wheel member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the second position a portion of the wheel member extends beyond the bottom surface of the sole.

Abstract: An entity enabled interactive gaming platform for deepening the engagement of a customer with an entity comprising and entity global eco-system and an interactive gaming system where the entity alters the provision of a product or service to a customer based at least in part upon any one of or any combination of game play datum associated with the customer having played an entity game. The global eco-system comprises a game structure including game rules, a game database and game overlay descriptions sufficient for printing or otherwise creating a physical game overlay. The interactive gaming system comprises a physical game board with a replaceable physical game overlay, game app and one or more electronically trackable physical game pieces including an identifier, where the replaceable game overlay is printed or otherwise created based at least in part upon the game overlay descriptions associated with the entity game to be played.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus such as an extended reality device can include a handle, an input mechanism, and a biometric sensor located on the input mechanism, where the biometric sensor is to be in contact with an outer surface of a user of the apparatus to measure a physiological state of the user.

Abstract: The invention is of a workout system with a pair of shoes, a handheld device, and wireless transformable game controller headphones. The pair of shoes, the handheld device, and the wireless transformable game controller headphones are communicatively coupled. Force feedback, vibrational feedback, a shake, a jolt, and other interactive motion are emitted by the devices. The wireless transceiver of the handheld device exchanges data with the wireless transceiver of the pair of shoes and the wireless transformable game controller headphones.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving data from a game engine associated with one or more virtual interactions in a virtual world, determining a haptic response based on the virtual interactions, and outputting a signal to a haptic device to cause the haptic device to create the haptic response

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to obtain a user input that was inputted into a first accessory operably coupled with the computing device where the first accessory provides a user interface for user interaction with a video game, determine a language of an intended recipient of the user input based on an identity of the intended recipient, access a multi-lingual library comprising a plurality of words associated with the video game, match the user input to one or more words of the plurality of words of the multi-lingual library to generate a translated message in the determined language of the intended recipient, and provide the translated message to a second accessory for presentation to the intended recipient in real-time. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using natural language processing (NLP) to control automated gameplay in one or more online games within an online gaming platform are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: train a pretrained text-based system to generate sequences indicating one or more activities, wherein activities are associated with characteristics of user-controllable characters such that a particular user-controllable character having a particular characteristic may perform, within the online gaming platform, one or more activities from a particular set that is associated with the particular characteristic; receive user input describing one or more commands; generate, using the pretrained text-based system, a sequence indicating one or more activities based on the user input; transfer the generated sequence to the online gaming platform; effectuate automated execution of activities by the particular user-controllable character in accordance with the generated sequence.

Abstract: It is determined whether execution is to be carried out in a first mode or in a second mode, according to a user's selection operation. In the first mode, a movement of a player object is controlled according to the user's movement operation, and a movement of a non-player object is automatically controlled. Positions of the player object and the non-player object are changed according to the user's position changing operation such that a relative positional relationship between the player object and the non-player object for use in the second mode is a first positional relationship. In the second mode, movements of the player object and the non-player object are automatically controlled while maintaining the first positional relationship.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes input circuitry to receive audio data for a plurality of respective dialogue recordings for a video game, classification circuitry comprising one or more machine learning models to receive at least a portion of the audio data for each dialogue recording and trained to output classification data indicative of a quality classification of a dialogue recording in dependence upon one or more properties of the audio data for the dialogue recording, and storage circuitry to store identification data for one or more of the plurality of dialogue recordings in dependence upon the classification data.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first data from a game engine, the first data associated with a virtual interaction between a virtual hand and a virtual object in a virtual world, determining if the virtual object is interactable based on the first data, determining if the virtual hand is touching the virtual object in the virtual world based on the first data, and when it is determined that the virtual object is interactable and the virtual hand is touching the virtual object, outputting second data describing a relationship between the virtual hand and the virtual object based on the first data.

Abstract: A seat system includes a seat including a sensor configured to acquire information for detection of a motion of an occupant seated on a seat body, a terminal device configured to acquire the information from the sensor, and a server capable of communicating with the terminal device. The terminal device executes a game using the sensor based on the information, and acquires an execution result corresponding to the occupant for a game played by the occupant. The server generates integrated data by integrating execution results of the game acquired from another terminal device, and computes a reference value for execution results of the game based on the integrated data. The terminal device or the server assigns a difficulty level of the game for the terminal device based on the execution result corresponding to the occupant and the reference value. The terminal device reflects the difficulty level on the game.

Abstract: A method for verifying behavior associated with play of a game is described. The method includes receiving a characterization of a first player from a user account as being abusive and accessing a recording of the behavior of the first player stored for a pre-determined time period in response to receiving the characterization of the first player. The method further includes analyzing, by an artificial intelligence model, the behavior of the first player to determine whether the behavior is abusive. The operation of analyzing whether the behavior of the first player is abusive is performed to determine whether the characterization of the first player is accurate.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that facilitates a performance of operations. The operations may include obtaining an identification of an action to monitor during a gameplay associated with a game, storing a representation of a sliding window of the gameplay in a first storage medium, monitoring, by the system, for the identification of the action during the gameplay, detecting the identification of the action during the gameplay responsive to the monitoring, and responsive to the detecting, storing the representation of the sliding window of the gameplay in a second storage medium that is different from the first storage medium. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute: sending a comment input by a user when transmission of the comment is ordered and the comment satisfies a predetermined transmission condition; displaying the sent comment in a list; specifying an amount of value to be donated to a donation target; and sending the comment and the specified amount of value when transmission of the comment and the specified amount of value is ordered and the comment satisfies the transmission condition, wherein displaying the sent comment in the list includes displaying the comment and the specified amount of value with being associated with each other when the comment and the specified amount of value are sent, and wherein the value can be donated only when the comment is sent.

Abstract: An educational device includes a housing and a computer system disposed within the housing, The computer system comprises at least one processor-readable storage medium, at least one processor in communication with the at least one processor-readable storage medium, and a plurality of sets of processor-executable application instructions. The educational device also includes a display screen that is in operational communication with the at least one processor. A reader is in signal communication with the at least one processor and disposed within the housing, a location of the reader within the housing being indicated on an exterior of the housing by an indicator marker. A plurality of alphabet tags separate from the housing, not connected to a power source, are also provided. When a first alphabet tag of the plurality of alphabet tags is brought proximate to the indicator marker and the location of the reader within the housing, the first alphabet tag transmits first data to the reader.

Abstract: Provided is a toy, game, or puzzle building system. The building system may comprise variously shaped clips that are operatively attachable to cards, paper, or the like. The clips may have a receiving portion adapted to receive the edge of a card or another clip and may connect two, three, four, five, etc. cards or clips in various angles and orientations. For instance, two cards or clips may be connected in a straight line, at a right angle, at an obtuse angle, at an acute angle, etc. Multiple cards may be inserted into each receiving portion of the clips and the cards may be folded, cut, or otherwise manipulated to create a myriad of shapes. Cards may be provided as a part of the building system and may have various shapes, sizes, and images thereon that may be built into a particular item, vehicle, animal, person, building, scene, or landscape.

Abstract: A projectile toy with a body and at least one suction cup. Each suction cup assembly has a cup structure capable of adhering to a surface with suction and a vent valve for venting the suction. The vent valve automatically vents the cup structure only when a pull force is applied to the body. The vent valve is normally closed. When the body of the projectile toy is pulled, the suction cup moves relative to the body and opens the vent valve. In this manner, the toy projectile can be easily pulled from surfaces without damaging the toy projectile.

Abstract: An assembly for rehabilitating alcohol, including a pressure controllable chamber, a cooler in thermal communication with the pressure controllable chamber, a liquid inlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber, a liquid outlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber, and a gas outlet port in fluidic communication with the pressure controllable chamber. The assembly further includes a partial vacuum source in fluidic communication with the gas outlet port for establishing a partial vacuum in the pressure controllable chamber, and a liquid collection vessel in fluidic communication with the liquid outlet port. The residence time from when a liquid is flowed into the pressure controllable chamber until the liquid exits the chamber is no more than sixty seconds. The partial vacuum is insufficient to evaporate an ethanol solution during residence time in the pressure controllable chamber.

Abstract: An automatic tritium extraction method for environmental monitoring comprises the following steps: 1) cleaning of a distillation chamber; 2) distillation rising; 3) distillation; 4) condensation; 5) discharging samples out of the distillation chamber. By the adoption of the automatic tritium extraction device and method for environmental monitoring, fully-automatic distillation and condensation of environmental tritium samples, automatic cleaning of the distillation chamber, and automatic and accurate addition of required agents are realized, and fully-automatic acquisition, preparation, distillation, purification, measurement and analysis of environmental tritium can be completed; and manual intervention is reduced, so that monitoring results are more accurate, and labor costs are saved.

Abstract: A gas purifying apparatus has: a compressing unit for compressing a gas in which an atmosphere or inert gas and a substance vaporized by heating have been mixed; and an expanding unit for liquefying the substance by expanding the gas compressed by the compressing unit, wherein the gas in which the substance has been reduced is obtained

Abstract: Systems for atmospheric water generation are disclosed. An illustrative system may comprise an atmospheric water generator, and a wireless communications device communicatively coupled to the atmospheric water generator. The wireless communications device may be configured to receive and display status information associated with the atmospheric water generator, and to provide operating instructions to the atmospheric water generator. The wireless communications device may be further configured to display an outside temperature, an outdoor humidity, a water level, an indoor temperature, an indoor humidity, and a dew point. The wireless communications device may be further configured to receive control instructions, and wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to communicate the control instructions to the atmospheric water generator.

Abstract: A system for making resin solutions includes a washer tub having an inner wall, an outer wall aligned parallel with the inner wall and spaced apart from the inner wall by a gap, and a sloped floor disposed within the inner wall. The inner wall, the outer wall and the sloped floor form a basin including a square cross-sectional shape with four rounded corners. A fluid circulation loop is located in the gap between the inner wall and the outer wall and wraps around the inner wall more than once for controlling a temperature of the washer tub. An impeller is centrally located above the sloped floor, an electric motor rotates the impeller under control of a controller, and a user interface receives instructions for various operating cycles of the impeller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cannabis biomass in order to isolate tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). In another aspect, the present invention relates to a process that involves purification followed by extraction of cannabis biomass to isolate and improve yields of high-purity crystalline extracts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying a feed comprising at least one target product in a chromatography system having a plurality of purifying units, each having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve assembly having an outlet port and an inlet port. The inlet and the outlet of each purifying unit being connected to a respective port of the valve assembly. The method comprising loading (S10) the plurality of purifying units with feed provided through the inlet port of the valve assembly by sequentially connecting each purifying unit to the inlet port of the valve assembly: eluting (S12) the plurality of purifying units using an elution provided through the inlet port of the valve assembly by sequentially connecting each purifying unit to the inlet port of the valve assembly: and collecting (S14) the at least one target product from the outlet port of the valve.

Abstract: The invention discloses a separation matrix comprised of porous spherical particles to which antibody-binding protein ligands have been covalently immobilized, wherein the density of said ligands is in the range of 10.5-15 mg/ml and the volume-weighted median diameter of said particles is in the range of 30-55 ?m.

Abstract: A separation device configured to separate light and heavy components of an effluent mixture. The separation device includes a separation tank, an inlet discharge, an outlet diffuser, and a baffle. The separation tank includes a tank reservoir for containing the effluent mixture during separation, with light components configured to migrate upwardly toward a static water line and heavy components configured to sink adjacent the bottom. The inlet discharge is located within the tank reservoir to supply effluent mixture to the separation tank. The outlet diffuser is spaced from the inlet discharge and located within the tank reservoir to receive a heavy component of the effluent mixture after separation. The baffle is located within the tank reservoir to separate the inlet discharge from the outlet diffuser. The baffle presents a baffle opening adjacent the static water line.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a chamber having an inlet for liquid to enter and at least one outlet for expulsion gas and/or vapour that has separated from the liquid within the chamber under gravity. For some applications the chamber will also have an outlet for the liquid. These systems can rely on the chamber remaining in a static orientation with the gas outlet arranged uppermost. Exemplary embodiments provide the chamber with multiple spaced apart outlets and an ability to sense orientation and/or acceleration of the chamber. A controller uses the output of the sensors to determine the spatial arrangement of the liquid phase and gas phase within the chamber relative to the outlets and selectively opens the multiple outlets to allow one of the liquid phase or gas phase to escape the chamber in preference to the other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid/solid two-phase defoamer composition for reducing hydrocarbon foam and silicon carry-over, comprising a liquid polydimethylsiloxane and a solid silica powder, having effects of reducing the amount of foam generated during the thermal cracking reaction in a delayed coker and suppressing deactivation of catalysts by reducing the silicon carry-over to the subsequent processes.

Abstract: A filter to remove contaminants from potable water. The filter comprises a plurality of porous layers 15,16 forming a fluid path for the water to pass sequentially from the first layer 16 through the layers to the final layer. The first layer 16 is formed of a ceramic and/or sintered material and includes a virucide. Said first layer 16 is distinguishable from an adjacent second layer 15, wherein at least one of the first and second layers 16, 15 comprises a dye material.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a drain port comprising a top portion and at least one surface modification along the top portion. The drain port defines an aperture therein and is alignable with an outlet port. The outlet port includes a seal member that is attachable to an end portion of the outlet port. A portion of the aperture of the drain port is sealable to the seal member when the drain port and the outlet port are aligned such that the at least one surface modification of the drain port does not abut the seal member of the outlet port, thereby creating a sealed connection between the drain port and the outlet port.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1, 1?) for filtering a fluid, in particular a Bernoulli filtering apparatus (1, 1?), comprising: a housing (3, 3?), a plurality of filter elements (55), arranged in the housing (3, 3?), for filtering the fluid, an inlet (5) for admitting fluid to be filtered into the housing (3, 3?), and an outlet (7) for discharging the filtered fluid from the housing (3, 3?). The invention solves the stated problem by providing the housing (3, 3?) with a plurality of housing segments (23) which can be connected to adjacent housing segments (23), and by a filter element (55) being arranged at least partially inside each housing segment (23), and by the housing segments (23) and filter elements (55) together forming a modularly assembled filter module (9).

Abstract: In a method for reconditioning an industrial oil and in an oil recovery system therefor, a used industrial oil is reconditioned by adding a liquid separation booster to the used industrial oil, and then the separation booster with attracted impurities is separated from the used industrial oil while leaving at least one specific additive in the oil. The separation booster is designed to attract impurities in the used oil while not attracting at least one specific additive in the oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for extracting microvesicles from a biological sample, the method comprising the steps of: adding a polyvalent cationic material to the biological sample to form an aggregate in which the microvesicles and the polyvalent cationic material are aggregated by electrical force; capturing the aggregate by a capture filter while the biological sample including the aggregate passes through the capture filter; and extracting the microvesicles by allowing an elution solution to pass through the capture filter with the aggregate captured therein to isolate the microvesicles from the aggregate. Accordingly, microvesicles may be extracted using a polyvalent cationic material, without a centrifugation process.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include a system for filtering of contaminated fluid. The system can include a fiber manufacturing plant. The system can include a filter system which utilizes a fiber filter produced in the fiber manufacturing plant to clean and recycle a contaminated fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a hollow cylindrical filter for removing efficiently foreign substances from fluids. This is performed by forming complicated passages including an axial direction and a radial direction in the filter. The hollow cylindrical filter is formed by winding a metal wire rod in a spiral and multilayered manner. The metal wire rod includes a recess formed throughout the entire length in a longitudinal direction, or recesses repeated along said longitudinal direction. Some wire rod layers extend in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical filter while the adjacent wire rod layers extend in an intersecting direction, thereby forming a plurality of communication paths for communicating between the overlapping wire rod layers. Additionally, a space is formed between the recess of one wire rod layer and another adjacent wire rod layer, allowing the plurality of communication paths to communicate with each other.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an air filter cleaning device comprising a rotating stage on which an air filter to be cleaned is seated and rotated about its central axis; and an inner outlet head configured to extend through a central opening of the rotating stage and be vertically moveable between a lower position and an upper position at least parallel to the central axis of the air filter, said outlet head having at least one gas outlet for discharging pressurised air outwardly through at least one wall of the air filter for dislodging contaminants; an outer vacuum head located externally to the air filter for suctioning the contaminants dislodged from the air filter by the inner outlet head wherein the inner outlet head is further configured such that the lower position is located less than abourt 1,500 mm above a support surface for the cleaning device.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a passenger compartment air vent filtering device. More specifically, the invention includes a cover that can be placed over top of an existing air vent in a passenger seating compartment to filter the air flowing therefrom, and comprises both a HEPA filter and a UV light disinfection filter. In a preferred embodiment, the novel air vent filtering device further comprises a moveable element, a plurality of LED lights and a scent diffuser.

Abstract: An air processing system is disclosed. The system includes a mobile robot, and the robot includes an intake module, the module includes a manifold, a first airfoil disposed on the manifold and configured to allow air of an area designed to have its air cleaned to enter the manifold, a second airfoil disposed one the manifold opposite the first airfoil configured to allow air from the area to enter the manifold, and a collector provided in between the first airfoil and the second airfoil and disposed on the manifold configured to receive air from the manifold and thus filter the air, and the system further includes a controller configured to provide one of remote control and autonomous control of the mobile robot.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a manifold assembly for a trap filter system having an inlet for receiving a flow of gas effluents containing contaminants generated by a semiconductor processing tool, a housing for a plurality of filters, wherein the plurality of trap filters connected to the inlet and are interchangeable while the semiconductor processing tool remains in operation, and a bypass mechanism configured to selectively direct or shut off the flow of gas effluent to one or more of the plurality of trap filters, wherein each of the plurality of filter is removable and replaceable when the filter is unable to effectuate the removal of contaminants.

Abstract: A mask according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may adjust permeability thereof by including and using an air filter unit which is capable of expanding or contracting, in at least one direction, a filter for filtering particles contained in air passing through the mask by pores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage method for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons. In a desorption step, steam is passed through an adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons, which produces a secondary flow volume containing halogenated hydrocarbons. The secondary flow volume is converted into a condensate containing halogenated hydrocarbons and water by cooling, from which condensate the halogenated hydrocarbons are separated. In a sterilisation step that precedes the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons is brought into contact with steam for at least 10 minutes at a temperature of more than 120° C. and at a pressure between 0.15 MPa and 0.4 MPa.

Abstract: In a method of operating an adsorption apparatus including a plurality of adsorption beds each packed with a physical adsorbent, when an adsorption step is performed in a part of the adsorption beds and another adsorption bed is to be regenerated, after the adsorption target component adsorbed on the physical adsorbent is desorbed, a gas for cooling is caused to flow through the another adsorption bed so that the another adsorption bed is cooled until an outlet temperature of the another adsorption bed reaches a temperature set in advance. Further, the cooled adsorption bed stands by for switching to the adsorption step while a gas for standby for maintaining a cooled state is caused to flow through the cooled adsorption bed.

Abstract: An oxygen generation device having a compressed air supply device, air cooling coil, a fan, pneumatic valve system, a housing, at least one media insert, an on-off switch, a printed circuit board, and a touch screen. The pneumatic valve system includes an air inlet port, a first air outlet port connected to the inlet of the first media insert, a second air outlet port connected to the inlet of the second media insert. The air inlet port receives compressed air from the compressed air supply device and alternatingly provides the compressed air to one of the first media insert and the second media insert. The lower housing includes check valve ball moveable between the first position and the second position and alternatingly controlling a flow of compressed air through the first media insert and the second media insert.

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously removing water and acid gases from methane in a single process without requiring dehydration prior to acid gas removal. A feed stream comprising these components and little or no hydrocarbons heavier than methane is separated in a series of separators, including an absorber column using methanol as an absorber. A treated methane stream comprising at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, most preferably at least 99%, of the methane from the feed stream and an acid gas waste stream comprising less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, most preferably less than 1%, of the methane from the feed stream are produced. Using methanol as a physical solvent allows removal of water and acids gases in a single step using substantially less energy than conventional separation methods. The system and method are particularly useful in treating landfill gas feed streams.

Abstract: A gas separation system for controlling a concentration of a first gas species and a second gas species in an outlet gas comprises a splitter unit. The splitter unit comprises a gas membrane system having a gas inlet port. The gas inlet port is in fluid connection with an air intake. A membrane is a selective barrier and allows some things to pass through but stops others.

Abstract: A desiccant replacing apparatus may include a supply-discharge member, a supply connection line connected to the supply-discharge member, an air conveyor coupled to the supply connection line, a discharge connection line connected to the supply-discharge member, and an air amplifier coupled to the discharge connection line. The supply-discharge member may include a housing providing an internal space, an injection line providing an injection path and penetrating the housing, an exhaust line providing an exhaust path connected to the internal space, and a filter in the internal space or the exhaust path. The supply connection line may be connected to the injection line, and the discharge connection line may be connected to the exhaust line.

Abstract: Methods related generally to the removal of atmospheric pollutants from the gas phase, are provided, as well as related apparatus, processes and uses thereof. A single-stage air scrubbing apparatus is provided that includes at least one reaction vessel, at least one introduction duct, and a turbulence component, wherein a residence time is sufficient to allow the conversion of at least one atmospheric pollution compound to at least one other compound, molecule or atom. In some embodiments, the at least one atmospheric pollution compound comprises nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide or a combination thereof. Additionally, methods of removing atmospheric pollution compounds from a waste gas stream are disclosed that include introducing a waste gas stream and at least one additional gas stream, mist stream, liquid stream or combination thereof into a single-stage air scrubbing apparatus at a flow rate sufficient to allow for conversion of the at least one atmospheric pollution compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for microalgae carbon fixation regulated based on natural environmental changes, which includes the following units: a microalgae cultivation unit; a light condensing unit configured to receive sunlight and increase light power density, the light condensing unit including one or more angle-adjustable light-condensing reflective panels; a light splitting unit configured to receive and split light transmitted from the light condensing unit, the light splitting unit including one or more angle-adjustable light splitting panels, the light splitting panel being capable of transmitting light within a spectral band in which microalgae has highest photosynthetic efficiency to thus allow the light to irradiate the microalgae cultivation unit, while being capable of reflecting light within other spectral bands; and a thermosiphon temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of the microalgae cultivation unit by controlling an opening degree of an air regulating va

Abstract: A reactor for reducing the concentration of NOx in a stream comprising: an inlet for the stream; an outlet for a stream containing a reduced concentration of NOx ; one or more catalyst beds comprising a ceramic or metallic foam with a NOx reduction catalyst; one or more flow paths from the inlet to the outlet that passes through at least one catalyst bed wherein the catalyst beds are closed at the top and bottom so that the flow path through the catalyst bed passes through the sides of the catalyst bed in a lateral flow is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtration device including: a flow rate control unit; a separation membrane module; a liquid flow rate detection unit detecting a liquid flow rate at a freely-selected part; and an external control unit controlling a state of the flow rate control unit, in which the external control unit includes: a target range setting step of setting a target flow rate range A; a control state recording step of recording a state S of the flow rate control unit when the liquid flow rate at the freely-selected part first enters within the target flow rate range A; a state setting step of setting the flow rate control unit to the state S; and a flow rate controlling step of controlling the liquid flow rate to be within the target flow rate range A.