Abstract: A sheet feeder provided in an image forming device and includes a sheet feed roller, a pair of rollers provided at both ends of the sheet feed roller and rotatable independent of the sheet feed roller, and a separation pad provided in confronting relation to the sheet feed roller and the pair of rollers. The sheet feed roller has a circumferential surface portion and a cut-out surface portion. When the cut-out surface portion is opposite a sheet and the separating pad, outer peripheral surface portions of the pair of rollers contact the sheet at approximately the same level position that the circumferential surface portion of the feed roller contacts the sheet. This maintains the separating pad in approximately the same position.

Abstract: In combination a screen, a shaker, a conveyor and carbody device which is attachable to a vehicle of choice, such as an hydraulic excavator, a backhoe, etc., and when installed thereon allows the vehicle to perform as a padding machine.

Abstract: A method for dispensing, receiving, storing, testing or binning packaged integrated circuit devices using at least one vertically-oriented, removable, tubular magazine disposed above a controllably-driven, rod-like indexing element extending from a drive below the magazine. A magazine, with an associated indexing element and drive, is configurable as an individual magazine module. The indexing element, under power of the drive, raises or lowers a vertical stack of devices to a desired level adjacent the top of the magazine to dispense or receive an individual device from a feed mechanism, such as a pick-and-place mechanism. A number of magazine modules may be assembled in a multi-module array, which is particularly suitable for binning tested devices, with a sort category being directed to each magazine.

Abstract: A separation device for separating contaminants from fiber pulp suspensions, preferably produced from waste paper, comprises a cylindrical screen number (4) and a rotor (7) arranged therein. An annular inlet passage (14) for incoming suspension surrounds a tubular wall (11), which extends from the screen member (4) coaxially with the rotor (7). According to the invention, a flow deflecting wall member (16) extends toward the rotor (7) to a position in which the wall member is axially in front of an open end (12) of the tubular wall (11) and radially inside the tubular wall. Furthermore, the wall member (16) with a cross-sectional area which is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of the annular inlet passage (14).

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a sheet supporter for supporting sheets, a supply rotary device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporter, a separation member for separating sheets fed by the supply rotary device one by one by elastically changing an inclination angle of the separation member when the sheets fed by the supply rotary means abut against and ride over the separation member, and a sheet guide member removably disposed above the sheet supporting means and adapted to guide the sheet in such a manner that the sheet is subjected to resistance of the separation member smaller than resistance from the separation member to the sheet when the sheets are supplied from the sheet supporter.

Abstract: A large capacity cyclonic separator is used for desanding a conditioned aqueous oil sand slurry comprising aerated bitumen, water and sand to produce pumpable, pipelineable lean froth and sand tailings. The cyclone separator is a vessel which forms an elongated cylindrical separation chamber and has a tangential slurry inlet at one end and, at the opposite end, a peripheral sand removal outlet and a centrally positioned vortex finder. Oil sand slurry is continually tangentially introduced into the cyclone separator to form a rotating vortex, which generates a centrifugal force. The lean froth migrates to the center of the vortex to form an inner core and is removed via the vortex finder. The sand tailings migrate to the outer reaches of the vortex and are co-currently is removed via the sand removal outlet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method in handling of returnable packages, such as bottles and/or cans. The device (10) comprises a rotatable magazine (12) for transferring returnable packages, such as bottles or cans, from a feed station (B.sub.1) further. The device that transfers the returned package from the package feed station (B.sub.1) is a rotatable magazine (12), which includes package spaces (A.sub.1, A.sub.2). The solution of equipment comprises, in the magazine (12), an outer wall, which moves to ahead of the feed gate (B.sub.1) when the magazine is rotated. The identification station (B.sub.2), in which the returned package, such as a can or a bottle, is identified, is placed after the feed station (B.sub.1). The equipment includes means by which a returned package placed in a package space (A.sub.1 or A.sub.2) in the magazine (12) is transferred, by rotating the magazine, from the feed station (B.sub.1) into the identification station (B.sub.2), in which the returned package is identified.

Abstract: A stream of mixed particulates of two or more materials having different induction heating characteristics (i.e., distinct thermal, dielectric strength and/or loss tangent characteristics), such as recycled glass cullet including fragments of glass mixed with fragments of glass-like contaminants such as ceramics, pyroceramics, tempered glass or the like, is sorted using the differing characteristics of the glass and contaminants to cause detectable differences in temperature. A thick heating layer many particles deep is formed on a conveyor path for heating the stream in a compact mass for uniform heating. An electromagnetic induction heater applies microwave energy between 0.915 and 2.45 GHz for heating the mass, which is then spread into a thin detecting layer, for example one particle deep, on a further conveyor. The detecting layer is digitally imaged using a thermal camera.

Abstract: A buckle accumulator including an input feed system, an output feed system located downstream in a path of travel from the input feed system, a receiving space located adjacent the path of travel between the input feed system and the output feed system, and a deflector. The input feed system feeds a plurality of sheets one at a time in a path of travel into the buckle accumulator. Each of the plurality of sheets has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The output feed system feeds a stack of sheets out of the buckle accumulator. Generally, the lead edge for each of the plurality of sheets is substantially unrestrained between the input feed system and the output feed system. The receiving space accepts the plurality of sheets one at a time to create the stack. The deflector is mounted in proximity to the receiving space for selectively actuating between a first position out of contact with a first sheet previously accumulated in the receiving space and a second position in contact with the first sheet.

Abstract: A granular material sorting apparatus comprises a transfer device for causing material grains to fall down, optical detector units mounted along the falling-down locus of the material grains, an injection nozzle device for injecting air to the material grains, and a control unit for controlling operation of the injection nozzle device in response to detection by the optical detector unit. The optical detector units and the control unit optically detect and discriminate colored grains different in color from good material grains and foreign matters in similar color to the good material grains or transparent, which are mixed in the material grains, and activate the injection nozzle device in a predetermined period of time after the detection to remove the detected bad grains. The control unit sets different injection times and different injection delay times depending whether the bad grains are colored grains or foreign matters.

Abstract: A vibrating dual deck dewatering unit which includes a lower screen deck and an upper screen deck. Material being processed by the unit is discharged from the upper screen deck onto the lower screen deck in such a manner that excess water is allowed to backflow beneath the upper screen deck, while solids are directed in an opposite direction. The upper screen deck is provided with a jagged discharge lip which creates interruptions or gaps in the flow of discharged solids. The excess water which is discharged from the upper screen deck is allowed to backflow through the interruptions or gaps in the discharged solids that are created by the jagged discharge lip of the upper screen deck.

Abstract: The method and system of the present invention provides for fast, convenient and low cost installation and removal from a particulate screening assembly of an apparatus for protecting the underlying structural members of the screening assembly from the adverse affects caused by the flow therethrough of particulate material. The subject system includes a wear protector system designed for direct attachment to and removal from the structural members which support the screening assembly. This direct attachment and removal operation occurs without the need to detach or disassemble the support structure from the screening assembly. Thus, the wear protector system can be readily removed and replaced without expending substantial downtime in completing system maintenance.

Abstract: The monitoring and control of jig separators is effected by monitoring the time variation within a jig cycle of at least one operating parameter of the jig, and manipulating the operating parameter(s) to produce the sought after form of the time variation within the jig cycle. Operating parameters include bed voidage, water level, particle velocity in the bed and water or air pressure.

Abstract: A replacement drive roll having an integral bearing for easy replacement and universal usage in a printing machine. The roll member has a bearing having a nonround outer race for retention in a frame member and a nonround inner race for engagement with a driveshaft on one end. The opposite end has a locking member for preventing axial movement along the shaft. The roll assembly has elastomer bands stretched around the outer circumference to form the drive surface of the roll. The roll unit is easily replaced and can be used in numerous locations thereby reducing parts inventory requirements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for grading by thickness sensitive objects (particularly fish), large and small, involving gentle treatment of the objects, using ridge belts which are drawn by a drive along guides which are wider at the output end than at the intake end and covey the material gently without vibration or rubbing, together with infeed equipment.

Abstract: A separation plate (10) includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. Plural pairs of a nozzle (14) and a virtual impactor (16) are provided on the first surface. Each nozzle tapers from an inlet end (14a) to an outlet end (14b). Each virtual impactor comprises a pair of generally fin-shaped projections (24). Each fin-shaped projection includes an inner wall (26) and a convex outer wall (28). The inner walls of the fin-shaped projections of a virtual impactor face each other to define a minor flow passage (30) therebetween. The convex outer walls of the fin-shaped projections of a virtual impactor cooperatively present a convex surface including a virtual impact void therethrough. The virtual impact void defines an inlet end of the minor flow passage. A virtual impactor body (33) is provided between adjacent virtual impactors (16).

Abstract: A screen device including a multitude of parallel rods between which are located the sorting slots. The rods are held in position by supporting elements, which are connected with carriers. The respective cover elements are located at the faces of the rods. Due to their special design, the cover elements may be detachable. The screen devices may be used, for example, in the paper-making industry as cylindrical screen baskets or plane screens.

Abstract: Following a process or handling apparatus, in particular following a drying turret (11), (cigarette) packs (10) are transported along a horizontal conveying section. The latter has a checking section (30). In the region of this checking section, the cameras (48, 49) check the packs (10) for correct formation. In the region of the checking section (30), the packs (10) are transported, or retained by intermediate belts (31, 32), such that the cameras (48, 49) can sense a sub-region of the packs (10) in optimum fashion in each case.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially feeding cards from the bottom of a vertical stack, which includes a card transport drum positioned below the stack so as to support the forward edge portion of the bottom of the stack. The drum includes a set of suction openings disposed transversely across the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and the openings are of oval outline. To sequentially feed the cards, the drum is rotated so that the openings move across the bottom of the lowermost card and the suction grips and holds the lowermost card on the surface of the drum, to thereby advance the lowermost card from the stack. The oval outline of the openings helps ensure that only the lowermost card is gripped and advanced by the suction openings.

Abstract: An improved magnet configuration of the magnet field generated by the magnetic roller in a magnetic separator to increase the separation capability of magnetic separators includes disc shaped magnets forming a magnetic roller beneath a Kevlar.TM. belt upon which withdrawn catalyst is placed. Catalyst particles having paramagnetic and/or ferromagnetic properties are attracted to the belt because of the influence of the magnetic field. Particles not having ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic properties are carried further by momentum than those with the ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic properties. The magnetic roller provides a concentrated magnetic field by placing a series of disc magnets arranged so that like poles face each other with spacers placed between the magnets. In this stacked configuration the magnetic field strength is doubled, which permits a greater range of operation of the speed at which the belt may be operated.