Author: claimsbot

1. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets; and
d) a payment receiving mechanism.
2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a tablet chute to receive said candy tablets from said tableting machine, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.
3. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
4. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, and the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube.
5. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said feed tube is transparent and said feed tube and said tableting machine are visible to a customer.
6. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.
7. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to said tablet chute.
8. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising a sensor to determine the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
9. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;
d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer; and
e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.
10. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
11. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.
12. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
13. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.
14. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers having motorized augers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers by the action of said motorized augers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;
d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer;
e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute being transparent and visible to a customer, and delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container; and
f) sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
15. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
16. The vending machine of claim 15, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.
17. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and
5) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a customer.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein steps 2, 3, and 4 are visible to a customer.
21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.
22. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and
5) steps 2, 3, and 4 being visible to a customer.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.
25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.
26. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a transparent feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets;
5) discharging said candy tablets into a transparent tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container;
6) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full; and
7) steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 being visible to a customer.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station having:
a first frame including a first electronic component therein,
a second frame including a second electronic component therein,
the second frame being mounted on the first frame so as to be slidable relative to the first frame,
and wiring extending through an opening portion formed in at least one of opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame and electrically connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other,
the dustproof structure comprising:
a packing covering and sealing the opening portion other than a groove portion,
the groove portion being formed on the packing and leading the wiring via the opening portion;
wherein the packing is formed of silicon rubber or plastic plate;
the groove portion of the packing continuously contacts with a surface of the wiring; and
the packing wipes the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portion by sliding operation of the second frame.
2. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction.
3. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing has flexibility.
4. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing has a curtain portion in which a plurality of segments terminating at the groove portion are arranged.
5. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the wiring comprises a flexible board.
6. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the second frame is mounted on the first frame so as to be pivotably slidable relative to the first frame.
7. A slidable wireless mobile station comprising:
a first frame including a first electronic component therein,
a second frame including a second electronic component therein,
the second frame being mounted on the first frame so as to be slidable relative to the first frame,
wiring extending through an opening portion formed in at least one of opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame and electrically connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other, and
a dustproof structure comprising:
a packing covering and sealing the opening portion other than a groove portion,
the groove portion being formed on the packing and leading the wiring via the opening portion,
wherein:
the packing is formed of silicon rubber or plastic plate;
the groove portion of the packing continuously contacts with a surface of the wiring; and
the packing wipes the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portion by sliding operation of the second frame.
8. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion formed in opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame;
the wiring extends through the first opening portion and the second opening portion and electrically connects the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other;
the packing includes first and second packings covering and sealing the first and the second opening portions other than groove portions, the groove portions being formed on the first and the second packings and leading the wiring via the first and the second opening portions, respectively;
the groove portions of the first and the second packings continuously contact with a surface of the wiring, respectively;
the first and the second packings wipe the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portions by sliding operation of the second frame, respectively.

1. A method for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system comprising:
comparing a first measure of performance of a first method for pairing the contacts and the agents with a second measure of performance of a second method for pairing the contacts and the agents.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first method for pairing contacts and agents pairs a random contact with a first available agent.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first method for pairing contacts and agents uses a round-robin method to pair the contacts and the agents.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order contact based on information about a first available agent.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order agent based on information about a first contact to arrive at a contact queue.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting a cumulative effect of using the first method instead of the second method over a period of time.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising cycling between using the first method and using the second method for pairing the contacts and the agents over a period of time.
8. A system for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system comprising:
a processor communicatively coupled to the contact center system, wherein the processor is configured to:
compare a first measure of performance of a first method for pairing the contacts and the agents with a second measure of performance of a second method for pairing the contacts and the agents.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first method for pairing contacts and agents pairs a random contact with a first available agent.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first method for pairing contacts and agents uses a round-robin method to pair the contacts and the agents.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order contact based on information about a first available agent.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order agent based on information about a first contact to arrive at a contact queue.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to report a cumulative effect of using the first method instead of the second method over a period of time.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to cycle between using the first method and using the second method for pairing the contacts and the agents over a period of time.
15. An article of manufacture for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system comprising:
a non-transitory processor readable medium; and
instructions stored on the medium;
wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the medium by a processor communicatively coupled to the contact center system and thereby cause the processor to operate so as to:
compare a first measure of performance of a first method for pairing the contacts and the agents with a second measure of performance of a second method for pairing the contacts and the agents.
16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the first method for pairing contacts and agents pairs a random contact with a first available agent.
17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order contact based on information about a first available agent.
18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the second method is capable of selecting an out-of-order agent based on information about a first contact to arrive at a contact queue.
19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the processor is caused to operate further so as to report a cumulative effect of using the first method instead of the second method over a period of time.
20. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the processor is caused to operate further so as to cycle between using the first method and using the second method for pairing the contacts and the agents over a period of time.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A subjective optometric apparatus comprising:
a main body;
an Alvarez lens provided in the main body, the Alvarez lens having its refraction characteristics continuously changed in response to relative displacement of a pair of optical elements;
earpiece members to be placed on the ears of a subject and a nose pad member to be held in contact with the nose of the subject, the earpiece members and the nose pad member being provided on the main body and having fixed movable ranges so as to allow adjustment according to a positional relationship between the ears and the nose of the subject; and
a lock mechanism for switching the earpiece members and the nose pad member with a single operation between an unlocked state which allows the earpiece members and the nose pad member to move freely within the movable ranges and a locked state in which the earpiece members and the nose pad member are fixed at desired positions within the movable ranges.
2. A subjective optometric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is equipped with a forehead rest member to be held in contact with the forehead of the subject when the main body is attached to the subject,
wherein the forehead rest member has a fixed movable range which allows its adjustment according to a positional relationship between the forehead rest member and the forehead of the subject, and
wherein the lock mechanism switches, in synchronization with the switching of the earpiece members and the nose pad member between the unlocked state and the locked state, the forehead rest member between an unlocked state which allows the forehead rest member to move freely within the movable range and a locked state in which the forehead rest member is fixed at a desired position within the movable range.
3. A subjective optometric apparatus comprising:
a main body;
an Alvarez lens provided in the main body, the Alvarez lens having its refraction characteristics continuously changed in response to relative displacement of a pair of optical elements;
earpiece members to be placed on the ears of a subject and a forehead rest member to be held in contact with the forehead of the subject, the earpiece members and the forehead rest member being provided on the main body and having fixed movable ranges so as to allow adjustment according to a positional relationship between the ears and the forehead of the subject; and
a lock mechanism for switching the earpiece members and the forehead rest member with a single operation between an unlocked state which allows the earpiece members and the forehead rest member to move freely within the movable ranges and a locked state in which the earpiece members and the forehead rest member are fixed at desired positions within the movable ranges.
4. A subjective optometric apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lock mechanism comprises biasing means for biasing the device to be in the locked state.