Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a processing line with printed products, including folded or non-folded printed sheets, from a stack of printed products. The printed sheets are held in a magazine. A conveyor defines a circulating path and moves in a conveying direction for conveying the printed products to the processing line. A synchronously driven separating mechanism, which is pivotally attached to the magazine, acts upon a closed fold or an edge of the printed product and operates to partially remove the printed product from the stack of printed products. A gripping arrangement includes a controlled gripping device attached to the conveyor in a feeding region of the processing line and essentially moves along in the conveying direction for taking over the printed product from the separating mechanism by gripping a front edge of the printed product relative to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating particles having different triboelectric propensities. The method utilizes a voltage of less than five volts electrically charge a surface and to reduce the risk of fires and explosions that are associated with particle treatment facilities. The method charges a surface and the surface is used to attract particles. The method does not focus on charging particles. The method also utilizes apparatus in which the electric charge is frictionally produced by a member positioned on the inside of the apparatus.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine having opposite sides with a plurality of stationary aligned tensioning members mounted on one side and a plurality of nut actuated movable tensioning members mounted on the opposite side and a vibratory screening screen mounted on the stationary and movable tensioning members. The tensioning members have upstanding fingers which are received in apertures in the plates of the vibratory screen, and the edge portions of the vibratory screen include screening material which extends all of the way to the extreme edges of the supporting plate and the fingers are below the screening material. Also, the tensioning structure is mounted on the side walls of the vibratory screening machine below the vibratory screen.

Abstract: A method and system for aligning a moving stack of sheets. A pair of cams, positioned on opposite sides of the moving stack, rotate synchronously to each other but in opposite directions. When the stack approaches the cams, the distance between the outer surfaces of the cams is wider to the stack width to receive the stack. As the stack moves forward further, the distance between the cam surfaces is reduced so as to allow the cam surfaces push the sheets toward a center line until the distance between the cam surfaces is substantially equal to the width of the sheets. In a sheet collator where sheets are moved by a plurality of finger pairs which are linked to a moving chain, the cam can also be linked to the moving chain so that their rotation is synchronous to motion of the stacks.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a document processing and collating machine having a feeding path leading to at least one document conveying devices having one or more document accumulating bins for receiving a series of documents that are fed downstream in spaced apart collations with documents in shingled relationship. The document accumulator bins have an intermediate conveying and diverting apparatus which is momentarily engaged to cause a leading end of a shingled collation of documents to be diverted into a document accumulating bin where the documents are registered at their common leading end at a nip of a set of downstream conveying rollers that are stopped during the registration process.

Abstract: A composite magazine for feeding to a filling or packaging machine pre-formed and flattened containers includes a main magazine suitably inclined in which the containers are piled up. The main magazine includes a long upper back portion which can be opened and closed downwardly. Below the main magazine there is provided an ancillary magazine which initially is in a substantially horizontal loading position in order to be easily supplied with a pile of containers on a bottom plane which leaves uncovered lateral portions of the bottom of the pile. When the upper back portion is emptied, the upper back portion is opened and the ancillary magazine is raised to insert the pile of containers in the main magazine. The upper back portion then closes to retain the pile, while the ancillary magazine returns in the low loading.

Abstract: A pressure screen for separating a liquid mixture is disclosed, comprising a screen housing forming a cylindrical screen chamber, and an inlet housing directly connected to the screen housing and forming a cylindrical inlet chamber, the diameter of which is less than the diameter of the screen chamber. An inlet member is positioned on the inlet chamber for supplying a suspension to be separated substantially tangentially into the inlet chamber and an outlet member is positioned on the inlet chamber for discharging coarse contaminants from the inlet chamber, whereby the scrap particles are prevented from entering the screen chamber.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for sequencing and/or inspecting decks of playing cards is presented. The method and apparatus utilizes pattern recognition technology or other image comparison technology to compare one or more images of a card with memory containing known good images of a complete deck of playing cards to identify each card as it passes through the apparatus. Once the card is identified, it is temporarily stored in a location corresponding to or identified according to its position in a properly sequenced deck of playing cards. Once a full set of cards has been stored, the cards are released in proper sequence to a completed deck hopper. The method and apparatus also includes an operator interface capable of displaying a magnified version of potential defects or problem areas contained on a card which may then be viewed by the operator on a monitor or screen and either accepted or rejected via operator input.

Abstract: A method of reblending aggregate includes delivering aggregate of various sizes to the classification tank having a plurality of stations with primary and secondary discharge valves. The tank is then calibrated to determine raw feed analysis, discharge rates and the flow multipliers needed to develop a mathematical model of the tank. Inputting the calibration information data and the desired production specification into a computer allows the tank to be operated and controlled with appropriate adjustments in discharge rates and valve percent settings at each station. This method provides more accurate control than the existing min-max control methods. The apparatus for this method includes the tank, a pumping device, and a computer interconnected with a PLC and electrohydraulic mechanisms for valves at each tank station such that both the discharge rate from each station and the valve percent settings of the individual valves at each station are variable and controllable.

Abstract: Pressure screening apparatus for screening a suspension of paper fiber stock employs a rotor in which a single impulse or foil member is carried or positioned to move along a discrete portion of the screen surface. This arrangement improves efficiency of operation of the pressure screen by reducing the rotational effect of the rotor on the stock suspension being screened and by providing a less disturbed screening region through which the single foil operates. Embodiments are shown in which multiple single impulse elements sweep over discrete portions of a screen and in which a single foil is combined, in screening apparatus, with multiple foils in accordance with the increase in consistency of the stock as it passes through the screen.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for centrifugal separation of polyamide and polypropylene materials contained in a liquid slurry. The polypropylene material has a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the liquid carrier and the polyamide material has a specific gravity which is greater than the specific gravity of the liquid carrier. A gas, preferably air, is injected into the slurry prior to feeding the slurry to a hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A pair of cylindrical composite rollers formed of a metallic drum having a thick outer elastomeric layer are mounted transversely in a rectangular frame of a drilling mud separation unit over which a wide endless-loop chain-link belt is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. The drive roller has a plurality of axially spaced circumferential rows of radially extending teeth that are machined in the surface of the elastomeric material. The endless belt is formed of a plurality of laterally adjacent jointed links hinged together by transverse rods. As drilling mud or drilling fluids are conducted onto the moving belt, liquids and particles smaller than the openings in the belt pass through the openings and liquids and particles larger than the openings are transported on the moving belt and are discharged off of one end as the belt completes its path.

Abstract: Screen panels are arcuately distorted and wedged between lifter tubes inside of trommels for varying the orifice size, shape or distribution or repairing drum screen sections in trommel screen separators. In lieu of replacing screens on the drum framework, the drum is ordered with the largest screen opening for the anticipated application. Additional screen panels are inserted or laminated to the original drum screen to reduce or change screen openings and to produce the smaller fines. Because these small screen panels receive structural support from the drum screen, quick change screen panels can be fabricated out of many different frames, screening materials and screen opening sizes. In preferred embodiments, the smaller, lighter, framed screen panels are easily managed and quickly exchanged as required, reducing downtime and loss of production. Quick change screen panels have resilient arcuately bendable semi-rigid frames and are designed to be handled manually.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus includes a first grating of spaced parallel bars and a second grating of spaced parallel bars positioned parallel to the first grating. Relative lateral movement of the first grating and the second grating alters the lateral spacing between the parallel bars of the first grating in relation to the parallel bars of the second grating. This enables rocks to be sorted into three piles; a first pile of rocks that will pass through when openings in the first grating and second grating are out of register, a second pile of rocks that will pass through only when openings in the first grating and second grating are in register, and a third pile of rocks that will not pass through.

Abstract: A screen is disclosed which, in certain aspects, has screening material between opposed frame sides and one or more lower strips beneath the screen. In one aspect these strips are only inteconnected via their ends and not along their lengths. In certain aspects, a plurality of lower strips are bonded to the screen and extend across the screen from one frame side to the other. In one aspect one or more of the strips has one, two, or more humps or ridges corresponding to one or more corrugations in a corrugated perforated plate and/or corrugated screen assembly which is on the plate or, with no plate present, on the strips. In another aspect instead of the strips a solid corrugated perforated plate is used. In one aspect openings or perforations through the plate are triangular. In one aspect the screen is undulating screening material and lower portions of the screening material are bonded to a plate or to strips. Optionally screen mounting hooks or frame edges or screen edges may be used with such screens.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for subjecting a mixture of two types of electrically charged particles to intense physical contact through a pneumatic transfer modified by turbulent flow and path interruptions to produce surface electrical charges on the particles, and separating the charged particles to recover particles having the same charge. Seeding with a recoverable catalyst may be used as well as forming the path of the mixture from one of the two types of electrically neutral particles. The path interruptions may be sudden directional changes, circuitous paths, baffles, induced vortices and other mechanical apparatus.

Abstract: A process for converting components of poultry production feather waste into value-added products involves a single counterflow or batch system wash in a polar organic solvent solution. The feather waste can contain loose, picked feathers, and non-feather avian parts. The feather-waste stream is exposed to a concentration gradient of solvent which sanitizes, denatures, dehydrates, and de-oils it. In one aspect, the counterflow contact between solvent solution and feather waste takes place in an inclined screw conveyor. The process produces avian oil and protein from a liquid intermediate stream and dry fiber and protein powder from the converted waste stream. Fiber from this process can be used in fabrics, composites, extrusions and laminates. Oil and protein can be used in biochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, animal feed, and fertilizer products.

Abstract: A transportable trommel assembly is provided with a frame, a cylindrical trommel screen, having an infeed end and a discharge end rotatably mounted to the frame, and conveyors for carrying away sized material from the trommel screen. An infeed conveyor is movably connected to the frame and positionable to an operating position for infeeding material into the infeed end of the trommel screen and to a transport position where it is held within the infeed end of the trommel screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of sorting and transferring components, such as computer chips. The method comprises sorting a plurality of components into a plurality of separate groups, wherein each component in a common group has a common property, and depositing each of the groups of components into separate receptacles. The receptacles are then marked and one a plurality of bins for receiving components transferred from the marked receptacle is also marked. The group of components from the marked receptacle is then transferred to the marked bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting individual pieces includes a plurality of conveying elements which are guided along a closed track and are coupled to each other to form an endless conveying chain. The conveying elements have an at least approximately horizontal support plane configured to place the individual items thereon. For feeding the conveying elements, they travel along the track past at least one feeding station and they travel past several target stations for emptying the conveying elements. Each target station is provided with a sweeping or deflecting device which travels alongside of the conveying elements and pushes the individual piece from the conveying elements.