Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7364034 | Adjustable aperture apparatus that retains dust from bulk material directed through the apparatus An adjustable aperture apparatus on a bulk material transfer chute that transfers a flow of bulk material from a discharge conveyor to a separate receiving conveyor is automatically closed when no bulk material is being transferred by the transfer chute from the dis... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7363106 | System and method for carrier identification in a pneumatic tube system A system and method provides for the identification and monitoring of carriers within a pneumatic carrier system. Each carrier which is to be employed within the system includes an identification device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which has ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7341406 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331442 | Chip components feeding apparatus A chip components feeding apparatus is provided to be able to lessen a push load applied to a leading electronic part from succeeding electronic chip component to favorably take out the leading electronic part even in the case where a residual pressure phenomenon oc... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7320562 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7318459 | Method and apparatus for conveying flexible fabrics using dual side outlets A system for pneumatically conveying flexible fabric items such as uniforms and table linens has a pair of side outlets at each discharge location to enhance the discharge capacity. Each side outlet is provided with a gate to open and close the outlet. A hopper havi... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7318690 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7316526 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7314337 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7314338 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7311475 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311473 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311472 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311471 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7309192 | Pneumatic transport tube system A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal in... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7290665 | Automated high-throughput seed sample handling system and method A method and apparatus for processing seed or seed samples includes an autonomous sorter which sorts seed by pre-programmed criteria. Optional features can include a counter to autonomously ensure the correct number of seeds to a seed package, a cleaning device, a s... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7289646 | Method and system for simultaneously imaging multiple views of a plant embryo The invention provides a method and system for simultaneously imaging multiple views of a plant embryo. First, the method provides a camera for receiving a first view of a plant embryo (e.g., the top view). Second, the method provides a first reflecting surface for ... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7263844 | Ice delivery and cleaning apparatus Apparatus transports rod(s) of ice of flaked or chipped ice through a tube to a remote ice bin, in which the ice is broken into nuggets. A method of cleaning the transport tube is also provided in which ice pushes a dry conformable article and a wet conformable arti... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7260449 | Device for conveying and positioning of structural elements in non-contact way In a device for conveying and positioning structural elements at a conveying track, a structural element is brought into pending state at the conveying track and the conveying track is tilted in conveying direction so that the structural element slides downwards to ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7241081 | Pneumatic carrier A fluid-tight carrier (10) is disclosed which has main latches (34 and 36). Each main latch has a safety latch (70) which secures the main latches within the latched position until an operator deflects the safety latch (70) away fr... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7165918 | Air conveyance system An apparatus for conveying articles from one or more input streams to at least two output streams using air to support, convey and divert the articles is disclosed. The apparatus uses a plurality of primary air passageways to support and convey the articles and a pl... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7114889 | Powdery particle conveying system and roots blower operating method A powdery particle conveying system is provided in which electric power consumption can be saved when powdery particles are conveyed by use of a roots blower. In the case where the powdery particles are conveyed to a reservoir tank near the roots blower, the frequen... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7097391 | Pneumatic carrier A fluid-tight carrier (10) is disclosed which has main latches (34 and 36). Each main latch has a safety latch (70) which secures the main latches within the latched position until an operator deflects the safety latch (70) away fr... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7080962 | Air conveyance apparatus An apparatus for conveying articles from one or more input streams to at least two output streams using air to support, convey and divert the articles is disclosed. The apparatus uses a plurality of primary air passageways to support and convey the articles and a pl... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7080960 | Apparatus and method for transporting waste materials An apparatus for transporting solid waste drill cuttings material produced in the drilling of an oil or gas well, the apparatus including: a waste supply apparatus; a feeder to transport the material; a pneumatic conveying apparatus to which the material is transfer... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7073985 | System for pneumatically conveying bulk particulate materials A system for pneumatically conveying a bulk particulate material generally consisting of means for holding such material, having an inlet and an outlet; a first material transport line segment including a first conduit formed of a gas permeable material having an in... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7032776 | Vending machine bucket drive control The disclosed invention is a dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing product from a vending machine. The invention employs a motor for bi-directionally rotating a dispenser bucket between two bumpers which physically obstruct and limit the rotational travel, ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6996955 | System for conveying packaging cushions There is provided a system that automatically delivers, monitors and replenishes a string of packaging cushions to hoppers located at multiple packing stations through an elongated cushion delivery duct having a series of intermediate outlets to permit the string of... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6953132 | Method and apparatus for the distribution of ice An ice delivery system includes an ice bin with an ice maker thereon. An auger dispenses ice from the bin and agitators within the bin prevent blockage. The agitation may follow a pattern depending on the location of the agitators with some about the periphery less ... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6945427 | Self-learning depth logic for multi-depth vendor control The disclosed invention is a dispensing apparatus and method for dispensing product from a vending machine. The invention employs a product vend detector to sense when products are dispensed. A controller compares the occurrences of products actually dispensed to th... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6932544 | Dual inserter applicator An apparatus (10) for feeding sliders (31) from a source of sliders to the slider insertion area (27) of at least two slider insertion devices (18, 19). A sensor (30, 52) on a sender track (20, 21) detects a lack of sliders ... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6709203 | Upstream engaging fluid switch for serial conveying An apparatus for directing objects carried serially by a fluid to a desired designation is provided. The apparatus includes an upstream fluid conduit and first and second downstream conduits. The apparatus also includes a sensor associated with the upstream fluid co... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6582159 | Upstream engaging fluid switch for serial conveying The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream cond... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6375393 | Apparatus for the automatic orientation of tubular articles such as stockings Apparatus for the automatic orientation of tubular articles, such as stockings and the like, in which one end is thicker than the other, comprising a tubular chamber (1) with an inlet section (I) and an outlet section (U) for, respectively, the admission ... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6354770 | Upstream engaging fluid switch for serial conveying The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream cond... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6220790 | Process for conveying fine-grained solid A process for continuous conveying of a fine-grained and/or pulverized solid to two or more target points by a conveying medium, e.g. gas. The solid is charged into a distribution vessel and from there to several target points by respective supply lines e... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6109837 | Pneumatic conveyor for small metallic pieces, particularly coins, for payment points In a pneumatic conveyor for coins comprising a plurality of conduits leading from a plurality of payment points, a common conduit into which said plurality of conduits feed, a separator receiving coins from said common conduit and separating said coins fr... | 08/29/2000 |
| 5993117 | Ice transportation system and method A system for transporting ice pieces or the like from a primary bin to one or more satellite bins is disclosed. A dispenser forms a charge of ice pieces in a precharge chamber, which is then transferred by air assist to a delivery tube. A driver member is... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5864485 | Gridlock detection and alleviation for pneumatic carrier systems A pneumatic carrier system is provided for distribution and transport of materials between different locations. The system includes a plurality of carriers for conveyance of materials and a control system for controlling the movement of the carriers in th... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5846029 | Transport system for fabric pieces The fabric transport system comprises a series of fluidly communicating tubes and includes: an intake line configured to receive a fabric piece from the predetermined departure location; a main line fluidly connected at one end with the intake line; a bra... | 12/08/1998 |
