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The Alan I W Frank Corporation

Alan I Frank

Samuel S Aidlin

Larry K Kincaid

Diane Elizabeth Frank

Stephen A Aidlin

Robert Ledwith

Jane M McIntyre

Cindy B Schiavon

Brent A Murphy

The current invention is an improvement to the random number generator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,737. Random digits are generated by mixing ten differently colored balls in a transparent chamber. The entire surfaces of all the balls are uniformly colored and unmarked. None of the balls contains any electronic identification devices. A color sensor mounted near the settlement pocket of the mixing chamber emits data that is unique for each ball. A miniature computer and novel software correlate the data emitted for each of the ten balls with a different digit. One of the balls is randomly separated from the others and comes to rest near the color sensor without human intervention. The computer and its software record the digit that is correlated with the randomly separated ball and command a mini-projector to display the digit on the ball's surface in an upright position.

Random digit generator featuring differently colored balls

A method and apparatus for playing bingo having a prize structure which is based upon the true mathematical probabilities of forming pre-announced winning bingo patterns after each random bingo number is drawn and telecasting the mechanical random number generating process live, while simultaneously transceiving information interactively over the telephone or a global communications network, for example, the Internet. In this game, players are not required to assemble in one place. An unlimited number of players can participate simultaneously from different remote locations without changing any individual player's chances of winning.

Bingo game for use on the interactive communication network which relies upon probabilities for winning

Apparatus for conveying articles along a path of travel, the articles being of the type having an upper portion for being supported by the apparatus, a lower portion for being suspended from the apparatus and a low-angle transition portion therebetween, the apparatus comprising in combination a conveyor defining a path of travel along its length with neck rails for receiving the upper portions of the article to be conveyed, a pressure source operatively coupled to the conveyor to move the received articles to be conveyed, and control brushes coupled with respect to the conveyor along at least a portion of the path of travel to contact the lower portions of the bottles while being moved for providing a rearwardly directed angle to the articles to thereby abate the forward and rearward swinging of the articles.

Method and apparatus for conveying bottles

A completely automatic, player operable, currency accepting instant lottery machine including a random number generator containing air-mixed balls which are marked on their surfaces with commonly recognized digits and also marked with a uniform pattern of bar code markings arranged in tall and narrow strips. After a mixing process, the balls which have randomly settled into the lower settlement pockets of the transparent random number generator are caused to rotate by jets of compressed air directed tangentially at their surfaces in opposite directions. Bar code scanning light pens located adjacent the settlement pockets and in close proximity to the rotating, randomly selected balls read the bar codes and transmit electronic signals to a computer in the machine which compares the randomly generated number to the player's previously selected number to determine if a successful match has occurred, in which case, a redeemable ticket is dispensed.

Player operable lottery machine with system for automatically

A random number generating device for randomly selecting one of a plurality of suspendable balls which are stirred and circulated in a chamber by an upflowing fluid stream. Upon termination of fluid flow one of the balls falls downwardly through a relatively narrow bottom trough into a lower pocket having a transparent wall. The device is provided with steeply sloping inclined facing sidewalls flaring outwardly from said trough and sufficiently steep so that upon termination of fluid flow non-selected balls are out of contact with the selected ball as it falls from the trough into the pocket. Thereby, any jamming of non-selected balls occurs at an elevated level and does not prevent a single, randomly selected ball from entering the pocket at the end of each cycle.

Random number generator

A process of molding polymeric material comprising causing heated polymeric material to flow in a predetermined direction in a mold and cooling the polymeric material forming a product exhibiting anisotropic properties including greater stiffness in the direction of flow than in any other direction. Also molding apparatus comprising two mold parts each having a mold cavity, the molding apparatus being so constructed and arranged that communication between the two mold cavities may be established and disestablished at will, means for admitting material to be molded into one of the mold cavities and by pressure differential causing flow of some of the material from said mold cavity into the other mold cavity when communication between the mold cavities is established, and means for cooling the flowing material whereby a product exhibiting anisotropic properties including greater stiffness in the direction of flow than in any other direction may be formed.

Method of molding polymeric material

Apparatus for molding polymeric materials

Molding apparatus for forming an article out of heat-softenable polymeric material, the molding apparatus comprising a mold including a mold cavity and a core insertable into said cavity to define a molding space of the configuration desired in a molded product for receiving the heat-softenable polymeric material, the core being made of heat-conducting material, means, normally including a steam chest in thermoconductive relationship to the mold, for heating the mold, means for admitting into the molding space heat-softenable polymeric material for forming the article and means for conducting steam from the steam chest into the mold cavity to aid in forming expanding and the heat-softenable polymeric material into an article having the shape of the molding space, the last mentioned means comprising at least one duct having a cross-sectional area not greater than 0.001 squre inch, preferably 0.0006 square inch or less, extending radially through the heat-conducting material of the core in which moisture in the steam being conducted into the mold cavity is vaporized. For optimum results a plurality of such ducts each having a cross-sectional area not greater than 0.001 square inch are provided which radiate from the mold axis. The means for heating the core may comprise means for conducting steam into contact with the mold, and some of the steam used to heat the mold may be conducted into the molding space to aid in forming the heat-softenable polymeric material into an article having the shape of the molding space. When forming a cup-shaped article the mold has a cup-shaped mold cavity for receiving the heat-softenable polymeric material and the core is comprised of heat conducting material in particular at the portion thereof where the bottom of the cup-shaped article is formed where the temperature is maximum, and in such case the means for conducting steam into the mold cavity may include valve means at the portion of the mold where the bottom of the cup-shaped article is formed and duct means as above defined extending through the heat conducting material of the core at the portion of the mold where the bottom of the cup-shaped article is formed.

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Exton, PA, United States of America

Alan I Frank