Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating entangled parts includes a receptacle container mounted for reciprocating movement in a vertical direction and having a grid structure at the bottom thereof for supporting and separating component parts which are entangled. In order to overcome the unbalance of the reciprocating container or parts bin a counterweight structure is provided which will effectively counteract or neutralize the unbalance created by the reciprocation of the parts bin. A drive motor through reduction means and connecting rod and crankshaft structure is appropriately connected to both the parts bin and the counterweight structure. The grid structure of the parts bin may be replaced with different size spacing grids for different size of parts to be untangled. The parts are untangled by the method of shaking them in a vertical direction and allowing the parts to be so vibrated that they tend to separate and become unentangled.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for harvesting earthworms from a bedding comprising a drum rotatably mounted upon a housing, the housing including a base which is adapted to be placed upon a planar supporting surface, the drum being formed of a plurality of parallel elongated rods arranged in a circular manner with spaces between the rods, the longitudinal center axis of the drum being located in an inclined manner with respect to the base of the housing, and material inlet means connected to the housing to supply material to the interior of the drum, outlet means connected to the housing located adjacent the other end of the drum for discharging material from the interior chamber of the drum, and means for effecting rotation of the drum with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A collector of dental scrapings and dust for use by a dental technician. The collector consists of a main housing which is provided with a dust inlet at the lower portion of its front side and which has an open rear side normally closed by a filtering cover provided with a plurality of vent holes and on which is secured an air-permeable foamed plastic sheet for dust collection. A partition wall is provided in said main housing to divide the interior thereof into a suction portion leading from the inlet and an exhaust portion leading to the filtering cover. An electric blower is provided between said suction portion and said exhaust portion to cause air flow from said suction portion to said exhaust portion. The suction portion is provided with a forwardly concave first, relatively short, metal grating of suitable mesh size which is coextensive in width with the inlet and whose length is approximately 1.