Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for distinguishing particles or regions therein to which fluorochrome-labeled antibodies or antigens, termed conjugates, are bound by the specific immune reaction of an antibody with its homologous antigen from particles or regions to which the conjugates are nonspecifically bound. The method is based on the different bleaching behavior caused by the different types of binding. Use is made of a microscope whose entire field of view is conventionally illuminated, a central laser beam serving for bleaching analysis.

Abstract: A device for dispensing tablets, pills and the like includes an enclosure containing a first cavity to store a plurality of tablets, a second cavity disposed adjacent the first cavity and a second cavity including a dispensing wheel including slots to convey a predetermined quantity of tablets or pills to a discharge opening, a control knob placed adjacent the dispensing wheel for moving the dispensing wheel. The control knob has a knurled surface such that a manual locking arm included in the dispensing device can engage a groove of the knurled surface to prevent rotation of the control knob and inadvertent dispensing of the tablets.

Abstract: A ticket diverter module for placement in a ticket handling system includes a housing having a transport passage and a capture passage intersecting the transport passage and includes a diverter member for diverting a ticket from the main transport passage into the capture passage in response to a selective directional movement of the ticket.

Abstract: A device for detecting and sorting out bottles of improper size is suggested in a bottle treatment machine of the type including a filling and closing sections switched in series. The bottles are fed to a cleaning test device and on the way thereto are tested by a recognition device which scans the bottles of improper size and actuates a closing control arrangement adapted to activate grippers on the device of transferring bottles to the cleaning test device such that those grippers do not grip defective bottles which are then withdrawn from the bottle transferring device.

Abstract: A two part paperboard container having adjustable vents is described and is intended for use with a sublimable composition. The container consists of an inner tubular member and an outer tubular sleeve member, both of a truncated, conical configuration. The inner tubular member, which is adapted to receive the sublimable composition, is disposed within the outer sleeve member. The outer surface of the inner member is in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the outer sleeve member which functions to seal the carton. The inner member may be rotated relative to the outer sleeve member to at least partially align apertures provided in the upper cover portions of the tubular members, thereby exposing the composition to the air enabling it to sublime. Continued relative rotation of the tubular members will reset the apertures in the upper cover portions in a nonaligned position, thereby resealing the container.

Abstract: A container from which liquid is dispensed has a metering chamber arranged t its mouth. A metering device is arranged to cooperate with the outside of this metering chamber to control the amount of liquid allowed to flow out. The flow can be controlled either by determining the time for which the metering device opens the metering chamber, or by constructing the metering chamber as a pump chamber of a specified volume so that the metering device pumps the liquid out of the chamber and therefore dispenses a predetermined volume. In the second method, the metering chamber includes an axially compressible bellows portion which forms a pump chamber. Non-return valves are provided at both ends of the pump chamber, and the metering device comprises plates on either side of the bellows section which can be drawn towards one another to squeeze the bellows section.

Abstract: A separator including a vibratory surface having a transverse slot and a plate positioned within the slot to form a grading gap. The plate is mounted independent of said surface so that articles conveyed by said surface are decelerated before reaching the grading gap and the downstream edge of the slot has a lip inclined downward at the angle of vibration of the vibratory surface.

Abstract: In the separation of kernels from the shells of apricot stones the steps of placing at least the medially opened kernels not separated from the shells onto two moving surfaces with the separating gap below the shells, the moving surfaces each moving in an upward direction from the separation gap, and being arranged to carry the said medially separated shells along said separation gap from an input location to an output location.

Abstract: A system for non-destructive, non-contacting use for detecting imperfections in multi-layered supply rolls of wound plastic film comprises a laser which scans the length of the particular roll being inspected with a photo-electric detector at a fixed reference angle which picks up reflected unimpeded and scattered light plus associated indicating and/or recording equipment. Defects in the roll, particularly those related to the upper longitudinal surface thereof, cause light scattering which decreases the signal strength to the indicator or recorder, thus noting the presence of a wrinkle or the like imperfection in the film roll.

Abstract: In an article elevating apparatus, articles such as cigarette cartons, are picked up at a loading station by inclined roller carriers moving in an upward vertical direction. During upward movement the articles are held on the roller carriers by sliding engagement of the downward end of the articles against a vertical rail. The articles roll off of the carriers at a discharge station defined by the upper end of the rail.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating objects of different shapes or sizes is described. A vibrating conveyor belt is equipped with upwardly projecting fingers spaced at intervals to entrap therein objects of a particular size or shape and convey them in the direction of the movement of the belt and to simultaneously support objects of another shape or size on the ends of the fingers and to convey them by vibration in a direction different from the movement of the belt, thereby separating the objects.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting slender elongate items, some of which are defective, includes a viewing area with sensing means that sense defects in the items and produces a signal when a defect is sensed, and a removal area with removal means that operate in response to the signals from the sensing means to remove defective items. A conveyor having upstanding walls defining a series of longitudinal side by side channels receives a flow of randomly oriented items and places them in substantially singulated end to end alignment. An endless belt conveyor is arranged as a longitudinal continuation of the first conveyor and has a series of troughs aligned with the series of channels for receiving the substantially singulated and aligned items from the channels of the first conveyor and for carrying the received items through the viewing area and into the removal area in substantially singulated end to end alignment.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for shaking pieces of breaded food to remove excess breading intermixed therewith and for sifting said breading to recover reusable portions thereof. The breaded pieces of food are placed in a fryer basket which is positioned within a shaker housing, and the housing and the basket are then mechanically shaken to cause excess breading intermixed with the pieces of food to fall onto a screen located below the basket within the housing. The excess breading is sifted by the screen and the reusable portions of the breading are then recovered in a recover pan located therebelow.

Abstract: In a reservoir for use in treating a solution fed thereto, the improvement comprising: an overflow system, said system including: an overflow stand-pipe in the reservoir for use in skimming solution in the reservoir and removing the same therefrom; and a sensor in the reservoir for use in detecting the solution level in the reservoir and for controlling the introduction of further solution into the reservoir, thereby to control the amount of solution skimmed into the stand-pipe. In a proportioner for use in metering and dispensing specified proportions of additives, for example into a solution, the proportioner including conduit apparatus for receiving and mixing at least two solution feed supplies fed thereto, the improvement comprising: a metering pump connected to a selected one of said solution feed supplies, for metering the flow therefrom.

Abstract: A spiral separator includes an upright column supported with its axis substantially vertical and adapted to receive at an upper end thereof a pulp of water and particles to be separated. The spiral separator also includes a plurality of helical turns mounted to said upright column wherein at least in a top portion of the separator there is provided a channel located on an outer part of the separator. The channel is initially narrow and deep and becomes progressively wider to enable the particles to obtain or maintain an initial velocity so as to maintain the flow of pulp without the coarser and/or less dense particles becoming stationary or stranding and wherein the coarser and/or less dense particles may be retained in an outer section of the channel and the finer and/or denser particles may move toward an inner section of the channel and be retained in said inner section.

Abstract: Device for grading or sorting objects such as eggs, provided with weighing devices which are located in at least two mutually parallel endless tracks and are adapted to be moved one after the other by conveying members along said tracks, each of said weighing devices being provided with a dischargeable gripper. Along said tracks devices being mounted for feeding objects to said grippers, each of said tracks having a part (A) in which said weighing devices are free to reach an equilibrium position and further separate discharge stations being provided near each of said tracks, each of said stations being allotted to a predetermined weight class of the objects.

Abstract: In this screening bottom, the screening elements which are mounted on a support structure are provided with an exchangeable and automatically clamped rubber plate acting as a wear-and-tear resistant layer. Beneath the rubber plate, a reinforcing structure is provided consisting of plastic ribs and/or a reinforced structure which is imbedded in a plastic material, as well as clamping elements. The reinforced structure and the clamping elements constitute a unitary grid which is undetachably coupled with the rubber plate. Thereby, it is possible to transfer the advantages from the unit construction assembly technique to screening bottoms with associated screening elements which basically are composed of rubber with a high abrasion resistance characteristic. No complicated and expensive vulcanization molds and devices are required for making the screening elements. The molding tools which are already available for making plastic screening elements can be partially used.

Abstract: A plug valve adapted to meter precise quantities of material passing therethrough in which a cylindrical valve plug is rotatably mounted in a cylindrically shaped aperture in a valve body. First and second sets of radially extending inlet and outlet passageways are connected to the valve body aperture, with each inlet passageway being radially opposite a corresponding outlet passageway. Two orthogonally oriented, nonintersecting valve ports extend through the valve plug perpendicular to its axis of rotation, the ports being closely spaced from each other along the axis and with the diameter of each valve port being approximately one-half the diameter of the passageways such that one valve port connects one set of inlet and outlet passageways while the orthogonally positioned second port simultaneously connects the second set of inlet and outlet passageways.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system especially adapted to cryogenic storage systems which includes a single fluid transmitting casing extending from the top to near the bottom of the storage container, a normally closed spring biased foot valve on the bottom of the casing, a sealing gland closing the top of the casing having a shiftable portion, and a pump and motor unit suspended through the shiftable portion of the sealing gland in the casing and adapted to open the foot valve. The pump and motor unit is centered in the casing and aligned with the foot valve by mating frusto-conical collars associated with the pump and motor unit and with the valve assembly. The shiftable sealing gland allows the pump and motor unit to be lifted off the foot valve so as to close the valve without venting the casing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including potatoes, onions, tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. The objects to be sorted move along the zone supported from two positions for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilience are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. .[.By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multi-stage sorting system is made available..].