Abstract: A singulating and counting device includes a bulk housing for storing a plurality of substantially identical articles, an exit channel, and in the exit channel, forwardly- and rearwardly-directed jet apertures, each of which is fluidly connected to a positive pressure source. A forwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the forward jet aperture can accelerate singulated articles in the exit channel, thereby increasing the interval between individual articles and rendering them more easily and accurately counted. A rearwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the rearwardly-directed jet aperture can cause articles in the exit channel to return to the housing.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, software and systems are disclosed for improved processing of mailpieces in order to reduce expensive manual steps. Shiny mail, i.e., mailpieces having glossy surfaces that sometimes interfere with printing of barcodes and or ID Tags may lead to rejects. In some embodiments, shiny mailpieces are identified, and at least one new (non-shiny) label is over-labeled in the POSTNET clear zone (108), the ID Tag zone (202), or both. In one embodiment, a specially-configured Reject Encoding Machine (REM) (1142) is employed to label or over-label a POSTNET clear zone (1110), resolve the destination address (1112) if possible, and print the barcode (1114) in a single operation. Thereafter, the mailpiece may be transferred from the REM into a downstream DBCS (1144), thereby re-introducing the mailpiece into the automated mail stream rather than being relegated to a manual stream.

Abstract: A method for screening mixed particulate into multiple sized particulate simultaneously in a low dust high safety environment.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to the fiber and plastic materials.

Abstract: By either rotating a folded clip within a dispenser, or by folding the clip into a J-shape instead of a U-shape and then placing the clip into a dispenser, more sheets can be placed into the dispenser without causing an increase in dispensing problems. Alternatively, fewer dispensing problems result if the same number of sheets is placed into the dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser was an upright facial tissue carton and the clip was an interfolded stack of facial tissues.

Abstract: A media depository comprises: an input for receiving deposited media items, a discriminator arranged to receive individual deposited media items from the input, and to ascertain whether each individual deposited media item is a banknote or a check; and a combined media container. The combined media container comprises: first and second media entrances, located opposite each other; first and second moveable supports, also located opposite each other; and an urging mechanism coupled to the first and second moveable supports and arranged to urge the first moveable support towards the first media entrance and the second moveable support towards the second media entrance, so that the first and second moveable supports are initially located at the first and second entrances respectively, and move closer to each other as media items are deposited.

Abstract: A mobile material screening apparatus (100) for separating bulk particulate material into groups of particles of differing sizes comprises a support chassis (2), a horizontal screen box (3) housed within the support chassis (2) and an additional inclined pre-screening module (50) which is adapted to be demountably attached to the support chassis (2). The mobile screening apparatus (100) comprises five outputs. Foldable conveyors (7a, 8, 9, 910, 920) can be deployed outwardly from and stowed inwardly against the material screening apparatus. The provision of an inclined pre-screening module (50) provides relief to the horizontal screen box (3) by first removing the larger sized particles from the bulk material which can be returned to a crusher for recycling and serves also to increase the total number of grades of material separated by the screening apparatus.

Abstract: The system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338) which is connected through a network (82, 328) to at least one remote computer (84, 324) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348) which is connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527) connected to the data terminal. A report generating device (384) generates reports (388) which include machine readable indicia corresponding to patients and/or medical items. Users may select patients and dispense medications by reading the indicia from the reports using the reading device.

Abstract: A centrifugal air classifier, in which a relation between an area S1 of a side surface of a cylinder or a truncated cone circumscribed about the rotor blades, an axis of the cylinder or a truncated cone being the rotor rotational shaft, and a calculation average value D of a diameter of a circle orthogonal to the rotor rotational shaft and circumscribed about the rotor blades is S1/D2=0.9 to 1.6, and with the S1, a relation between a cross sectional area S2 of inflow of the air for classification and the D is S2/D2=0.8 to 1.4.

Abstract: A system for sorting and packaging products, chosen from the group consisting of eggs and fruit (10), the system comprising: —a sorting machine with at least one single sorting track (1) with carriers; —at least one sensor for determining at least one characteristic of each product (10); —the control being adapted to classify a said product in accordance with the at least one characteristic; —a plurality of packaging conveyors (2) for supplying and discharging packaging units, such as boxes, crates or trays, crossing the sorting track and extending above the sorting track; —wherein adjacent each packaging conveyor a transferring device (3) is provided at the level of or higher than the packaging conveyor, arranged for taking over a said product from a carrier and for placing the product from above into a packaging unit (20) on the corresponding packaging conveyor.

Abstract: The device according to the invention for separating or classifying material to be fed into at least two different grain fractions comprises a screen device, which is formed by rotatable elements, particularly a roller table screen, wherein at least one finer grain fraction passes between the rotatable elements and means are provided for cooling the rotatable elements.

Abstract: A static classifier cage is formed in upper and lower tiers of circumferentially spaced bar-shaped vanes of wear-resistant material. The lower tier is formed by and between a bottom ring and an intermediate ring. The top tier is formed by and between the intermediate ring and a topmost ring. In each tier, the lowermost ring is provided with slots to receive and act as a seat for the vertically oriented vanes while the upper ring in the tier is provided with radially outwardly opening notches into which the vanes are moved in a radial fashion. After the vanes are installed, a retainer is fastened into position to prevent the vanes from backing out of the notches.

Abstract: A component suction method including feeding components accommodated in component storage spaces of a tape base to a predetermined position, lowering a nozzle capable of sucking the components supplied to the predetermined position, stopping the nozzle at a predetermined distance from an upper surface of the tape base, pushing an undersurface of the component up when the nozzle is at a bottom dead center position or a position adjacent to the center, vacuum-sucking the component by the nozzle at the bottom dead center position or at the position adjacent to the center, and moving the component sucked by the nozzle to a predetermined position of a board after the vacuum-sucking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf ball dispenser having an upper container which houses the golf balls and a flange which receives the balls from the container and which supplies the balls individually to a dispensing arm. The dispensing arm, which is disposed such that it is essentially vertical in the rest position, includes structure for pivoting around a horizontal axis when a golf ball is being dispensed, the pivot structure is disposed in the upper part thereof close to the above-mentioned flange.

Abstract: A method of interfolding gloves including superposing finger portion of second glove adjacent finger portion of first glove, with second glove finger portion being disposed parallel and in a direction opposite the first glove finger portion, in a superjacent opposing relationship. First glove hand and cuff are lapped over second glove finger to create lapped, superjacent opposing fold. By repeatedly lapping previous glove hand over subsequent glove fingers, a glove bundle is formed. Folding can be longitudinal before lapped, superjacent opposing folding. Gloves are disposed in portable dispenser with lapped, superjacent folding and dispensing opening cooperating to dispense one glove, cuff first.

Abstract: The powder classifying device classifies powder having a particle size distribution and collects the classified powder. The device includes a disc-like cavity to which the powder is supplied and where the supplied powder is classified, a powder supply port for supplying the powder to the cavity, guide vanes arranged so as to extend from an outer periphery of the cavity in an inner direction at a predetermined angle, a discharge unit for air streams including fine particles discharged from the cavity, a collection unit for coarse particles discharged from the cavity and air nozzles arranged below the guide vanes on an outer peripheral wall of the cavity along a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall and blow compressed air into an inside of the cavity.

Abstract: This invention has as its object an automatic process and machine for inspecting and sorting non-metallic objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier includes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.

Abstract: Gloves and dispensers for gloves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to disposable gloves packaged in a disposable dispenser configured to engage with a carrier. Aspects of the glove assemblies provided herein include a dispenser case having a flange having locking tab for sliding engagement with a channel on the carrier. The dispenser case may be removed from the carrier and a new dispenser case engaged to the carrier.

Abstract: An open configuration is provided for the housing of a particulate material dedusting apparatus through which particulate material passes to be cleaned by air passing through wash decks to separate dirt and debris from the particulate material for discharge from the housing. The front wall and side access doors of the housing are configured to be openable for full access to the front and rear chambers. The primary wash deck is detachably mounted within the housing for removal for cleaning purposes. The generally horizontal floors of the housing are formed with a slope to allow water to drain from the housing. The open configuration of the deduster housing facilitates cleaning, draining and drying of the housing to expedite changeover from one material to another. Furthermore, the open configuration allows access for improved welding to eliminate cracks and openings in joints which accumulate dirt and debris during operation.