9830results about How to "Reduce shipping costs" patented technology

The present invention relates to a computer-based system that provides a method for real time data storage and retrieval for the purpose of verifying and validating sales transactions and product return / warranty repair eligibility. An electronic product registration system is provided which stores information on purchased products and which enables a retail store or the like to verify compliance with return policies prior to accepting a product for return or replacement, thereby reducing improper or fraudulent product returns under warranty, while also providing related functionality to third parties such as law enforcement agencies and the like.

The present invention provides systems and methods of consolidating, shipping and distributing items comprising multiple orders to multiple customers. The orders are received by an inventory management service, filled and packaged at a centralized distribution center in fewer containers than there are orders. For instance, if there are N orders destined for a particular authorized outlet, then the N orders will be consolidated and shipped in at most N-1, or fewer, containers. However, each order is individually packaged, controlled, tracked and received as an individual order. The consolidated containers are shipped to an authorized outlet and the individual orders are distributed to the customers. Also provided are systems and methods for returning orders that are not picked up at the authorized outlet to a central location. The items may be, for example, service parts, wireless communication devices, etc. Warehousing, shipping and transportation costs are reduced by this invention.

A method and apparatus for efficient handling of product returns to reduce associated costs. A computer system at a regional product return center scans a returned product for identifying information, accesses a manufacturer return approval computer system through the internet or the like, and then submits the identifying information to the manufacturer for return approval. The manufacturer computer system utilizes the identifying information to access an electronic registration database to determine whether the returned product satisfies applicable return criteria. If so, the product is approved for return to the manufacturer. The regional product return center preferably scans a plurality of returned products in a single session. In response to the product identifying information submitted by the regional product return center, the manufacturer provides a list of approved returns and unapproved returns, along with a return authorization number for the batch of approved returns. The regional product return center then assembles the approved product returns into a box, shipping pallet, or the like, applies a label indicating the return authorization label, and ships the batch to the manufacturer. Shipping costs can be saved by omitting rejected product returns from the shipment. The manufacturer can handle the approved product returns from the regional return center as a batch, thereby reducing costs.

PCT No. PCT / IE97 / 00002 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 10, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 10, 1998 PCT Filed Jan. 10, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97 / 25483 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 17, 1997An ice composite body has an inner ice core covered by a protective outer armor layer. Thermal insulation is provided between the inner core and the outer armor layer. Refrigeration is accomplished by a system of conduits for refrigerant are located within the body. The insulation and the refrigeration are adapted to maintain the ice core in a frozen condition relative to the ambient temperature. The base of the body cavity can be in direct contact with the water bed such that the ice core is freeze bonded to an advancing ice front in the water bed. The ice composite body provides structures of equal or greater strength than equivalent structures using conventional materials.

The present invention includes methods of selecting cases in which to pack items in an item order and selecting the sequence and configuration of placement of items into the selected cases. One such method includes examining an order comprising a list of items to be packed, determining the cases available for packing, determining the minimum number of cases required for packing the items in the list of items to be packed, selecting a case to be packed with one or more of the items in the list of items to be packed, wherein said selecting a case comprises determining a desired average volume per case and selecting the smallest of the cases available to be packed that comprises a volume in excess of the average volume per case, and determining the configuration of placement in the case to be packed of items in the list of items to be packed. Such steps may be repeated until all items in the item list are selected and configured for packing.

A sectional wind turbine rotor blade is provided, the sectional wind turbine rotor blade having first and second blade sections, wherein the first and second blade sections are fixedly mountable to each other via a connector. Furthermore, a method for assembling a sectional wind turbine rotor blade is provided.

Disclosed is a process for reclamation of waste fluids. A conditioning container is employed for receipt of waste material on a continuous flow for treatment within the container by immersible transducers producing ultrasonic acoustic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The treated material exhibits superior separation properties for delivery into a centrifuge for enhanced solid waste removal. The invention discloses a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling of flowback, or frac water, which has been used to stimulate gas production from shale formations. The apparatus is mobile and containerized and suitable for installation at the well site.

The invention relates to the fields of environmental technology and the breeding and processing of microalgae, in particular to a method for producing feed additive from livestock and poultry breeding wastewater and purifying breeding wastewater to reclaimed water. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps that: wastewater enters an acidification adjusting tank through a grille, and the acidified wastewater enters an anaerobic biochemical reactor for treatment and then enters an aerobic biochemical reactor; after the aerobic biochemical treatment, the obtained biogas slurry enters a settling tank for settling, the supernatant enters a membrane bioreactor for further aerobic treatment and is filtered by an ultrafiltration membrane, the generated ultrafiltration clear liquid is sterilized and neutralized and then enters a photobioreactor, algae are added into the photobioreactor to perform microalgae cultivation, and the algae liquid is discharged from the photobioreactor and then enters a flocculation and settling tank; and after flocculation and settling, the supernatant is used for water recycling, the concentrated algae liquid at the bottom enters a filter, and the separated microalgae slurry enters a fermentation / enzymolysis pot (tank) to perform fermentation / enzymolysis to be used as the feed additive. The invention has the advantages of high economic adaptability, zero discharge and the like.

A method and system for eliminating storage and transportation of products within a product distribution system is disclosed saving money and time since businesses do not need to have products shipped and stored. The method and system includes an online store through which designers can upload electronic files of printable products and consumers can view the printable products for purchase, download and printing on a 3D printer. The method and system also allows for implementation of protection systems for designers with the option of insuring the final design is not tampered with by anyone other than the designer.

An insulated shipping liner includes a flexible sealed sack having a first layer and second layer sealed together about their outer peripheral edges to form a housing. An insulating layer made from a single sheet of foam material is located within the housing and is configured to be folded such that a first side portion, second side portion and middle portion create a substantially rectangular box form, with the first and second side portions defining opposing sides of the box form, the middle portion defining a bottom of the box form, the substantially rectangular top flap defining at least part of a top of the box form, and the opposing substantially rectangular first and second side flaps defining at least part of other opposing sides of the box form. The box form can be placed in a container to form an insulated container for shipping and / or storage.

A mobile sterilization system comprising: a sterilization cabinet, the sterilization cabinet comprising: a bottom panel, a top panel, two side panels, a back panel and a door configured so as to define an interior chamber; a plurality of casters or wheels mounted to the bottom panel, each of the plurality of casters or wheels being mounted to the bottom panel by a caster or wheel bracket, wherein the caster or wheel bracket comprises a lateral projection; perforations formed in at least one of the bottom panel, top panel and two side panels; and at least one filter configured to cover the perforations; and a transfer cart, the transfer cart comprising: an upper platform for receiving a sterilization cabinet, the upper platform comprising a pair of transfer cart tracks extending longitudinally along the upper platform, wherein each of the transfer cart tracks comprises a lateral projection; and a lower support structure for supporting the upper platform and for receiving wheels; wherein the sterilization cabinet is received on the transfer cart such that the lateral projections of the caster or wheel brackets engage the lateral projections of the transfer cart tracks, whereby to prevent side-to-side and up-and-down movement of the sterilization cabinet relative to the transfer cart.

Disclosed is a process for reclamation of waste fluids. A conditioning container is employed for receipt of waste material on a continuous flow for treatment within the container by immersible transducers producing ultrasonic acoustic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The treated material exhibits superior separation properties for delivery into a centrifuge for enhanced solid waste removal. The invention discloses a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling of flowback, or frac water, which has been used to stimulate gas production from shale formations. The apparatus is mobile and containerized and suitable for installation at the well site.

A freshness tracking and monitoring system (“System”) and method used for ensuring the freshness of perishable goods, goods fit for human consumption, and final products made from perishable good or goods fit for human consumption (“Items”). The System monitors in a continuous manner all significant environment and transportation parameters associated with an Item, from harvest or production until acquisition for consumption or production, alerts when an Item's monitored variable exceeds a predetermined parameter, takes corrective actions while in transportation, and provides advice about possible changes in the nature of the Item.

Embodiments presented herein describe an apparatus and method to convert carbonaceous materials, particularly biomass and those biomass resources which are remotely located, into a high performance solid fuel. This method, and the apparatus described as the means to accomplish this method, provides a continuous process which can be completely powered by the energy contained in the biomass. The heat, mechanical power and electrical power are provided from the energy in the biomass, through the methods described. In this way, the apparatus is free to operate in remote locations, where no power or auxiliary fuel sources are available.

A shipping container includes a main insert, a top cover and a cardboard or corrugated shell. The container is especially adapted for securing computer disk drives therein. Potential damage to the disk drives is minimized by isolating movement of the disk drives within the container. Each drive is loaded within a compartment defined by surrounding dividers formed on both the top cover and main insert. The overall container height is minimized by incorporating recesses in the inserts that can increase the effective height of exterior cushioning ribs thus reducing the thickness of the floorboard or base member. The incorporation of the recesses results in formation of relatively thin web sections that interconnect base portions of the cushioning ribs to base portions of the dividers.

The invention relates to a dry-type heat-insulating waterproof coating which comprises the following raw materials in percentage by weight: 0-5.5 dispersible polymer powder, 10-20 hollow filling beads, 5-20 sepiolite powder, 5-10 mica powder, 5-30 heavy calcium carbonate powder, 5-15 light calcium carbonate powder, 0.5-1.5 rutile titanium dioxide, 10-20 talc powder and 10-40 white cement. A coat formed by the coating of the invention has favorable heat-insulating waterproof effect (lowers indoor temperature by 4-20 DEG C) and excellent flexibility, impermeability, weathering resistance and bonding strength to a substrate as well as high strength, good brightness, uniform luster, smooth and tender touch feeling, waterproof washing and rubbing, and the like. The dry-type coating has the advantages of simple production process, convenient transportation, long storage time, convenient construction, and the like, no toxicity or pollution, environment-friendly trend suitability, low cost, low VOC and high performance, thereby becoming a new-generation building coating product.

A flow mixer and conditioner for use within a conduit conditions flowing media within the conduit to provide a swirl-free, symmetric, and reproducible velocity profile regardless of upstream flow distortions, disturbances, or anomalies. Tabs are cut from a single plate and bent or affixed to provide mixing and conditioning of the flowing media. Single tabs or tab pairs emanating from common vertices can be formed so that they diverge in, or against, the direction of flowing media. The flow conditioner requires as little as three pipe diameters downstream and upstream to mix and condition the flow stream allowing close placement to elbows, valves, tees, and other disturbances typically seen in industrial plants.

A water-based cleaner is prepared by surfactant primary washing part, alkaline auxiliary washing part, solvent part, preservative and water; wherein the surfactant primary washing part is compounded by anion and nonionic surfactant; the alkaline auxiliary agent part selects trolamine, sodium metasilicate pentahydrate which has dispersive action on dirt and EDTA disodium which has chelation on metallic ions, and excludes phosphate accessory aid which pollutes water quality. The solvent part selectes alcohol, glycol ether or natural orange oil extract D-limonene which have good safety performance, strong solvency and little environmental pollution. The preservative selects food grade preservative propylparaben which is safe and nontoxic. The invention adopts concentrate formula, the preparation method is simple, users can dilute the product according to object to be washed and the degree of dirt, and operate with reasonable using concentration, thus avoiding the waste of washing cost due to excessive concentration and the waste of energy. The inventive water-based cleaner reduces package cost and transportation cost, and has no adverse effect on the environment.

The invention relates to high strength easily forming atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. The invention provides the high strength easily forming atmospheric corrosion resistant steel aiming at the problems in existing steel that the weatherability is bad and the service life is lowered under the condition that the thickness is thinned. The high strength easily forming atmospheric corrosion resistant steel is composed of components of following weight percent: C: 0.04-0.09%, Si: 0.10-0.50%, Mn: 1.20-1.70%, P: <=0.020%, S: < =0.010%, Cu: 0.20-0.60%, Cr: 0.40-0.80%, Ni: 0.20-0.50% and Nb: 0.03-0.07%, and also comprises one or a plurality of Mo: <=0.20%, Ti: <=0.03% and Als: <=0.035%, and allowance is Fe and unavoidable impurity. The yield strength of the steel of the invention is more than or equal to 550MPa, the tensile strength is more than or equal to 650MPa, the percentage elongation is more than or equal to 18%, the corrosion resistance is equivalent to SPA-H steel which is used for previous containers, and the steel has excellent welding performance, cold roll forming performance and low temperature impact toughness, which is beneficial for extending and applying.

A condensate secondary pan for a central air conditioning system is herein disclosed whereby overflow protection of the primary condensate removal system for a fan coil unit of a central air conditioning system is realized. The secondary pan is positioned directly beneath the primary pan of the central air conditioning system to convey condensate safely outside an enclosure should the primary pan overflow due to clogging of the primary drain line, or leak due to cracks or fissures formed in the primary pan. The condensate secondary pan has a predetermined girth sufficient to extend laterally beyond the primary pan of a conventional fan coil unit. The condensate secondary pan also has a bottom panel which is frustoconical in shape, thus minimizing the pooling of condensate on its surface as well as an integral drain pipe connecting means, thereby eliminating the need for a superfluous user supplied connecting means which is typically made of metal and thus is susceptible to corrosion.

A mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly. In one embodiment, a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly having a non-rigid thin-sheet component includes the thin-sheet component which has selected plan area and shape, a backer having a plan shape and area substantially similar to the thin-sheet component, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component.

The invention relates to an edible composition, in particular an edible composition containing active bacterium and suitable for all people, and its preparing process which comprises, (1) bacterial strain screening, bacterium culturing, (3) viable bacteria powder preparation, (4) preparation of edible compositions.

An order promising system (10) includes a commerce module (16) that receives a product inquiry from a user. The product inquiry includes a product configuration that includes a product identifier, one or more option values, and the delivery location for the product. The system (10) also includes one or more inventory engines (12) that receive the product configuration from the commerce module (16) and identify one or more products in the inventory of one or more sellers that exactly or partially match the product configuration based on one or more matching rules. The inventory engines (12) also determine a delivery date for each matching product and communicate the matching products and associated delivery dates to the commerce module (16). The commerce module (16) communicates the matching products and associated delivery dates to the user, receives a request for one of the matching products from the user, and communicates the request to the inventory engine (12), which receives the request and commits the requested product to the user.

Embodiments of methods and systems of transferring proppant for fracking to reduce risk of production and release of silica dust at a well site are provided. An embodiment of a method can include positioning a plurality of containers each having proppant for fracking contained therein onto a conveyor at a well site, downwardly discharging proppant from each respective container of the plurality of containers, funneling proppant from the one or more outlets of each of the plurality of containers through a plurality of conveyor hoppers, receiving proppant onto the conveyor belt, conveying proppant on the conveyor to a chute, and depositing the proppant into the chute for use in a blender or other location at the well site.