Abstract: An air wash abrasive particle separator apparatus which separates contaminants from previously-used abrasive particles contained in a contaminated abrasive particle mixture such that the abrasive particles may be re-used multiple times, the apparatus being in combination a contaminated abrasive particle mixture delivery device, an accumulator hopper assembly, a volume sensing device, an automatic flow control valve, a separator assembly and an air transfer device.

Abstract: Devices, method, and systems are described for separating metallic objects, such as bullets, from non-metallic objects, such as rubber pieces. In one embodiment, a separator includes a first conveyor, a blower, and a collector. A mixture of metallic and rubber objects are loaded onto the first conveyor and dropped in front of the blower. The blower directs forced air at the rubber and metal mixture, wherein due to the differing physical properties of the two materials, the rubber objects may be laterally displaced, while the metal objects drop into the collector. Metal objects collected in the collector can be transported to a container via a second conveyor.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for obtaining recycled mixed cullet at a beneficiator. The recycled mixed cullet can be used by glass plants to make new glass articles, such as beverage bottles.

Abstract: A compact housing for a dedusting apparatus utilizes a magnetic flux field to disrupt the static charge attracting dust particles to product particles, which along with fluidization and counter current airflow principles that are proven to dislodge dust particles from the product, provides a highly efficient, compact deduster. The housing supports a double wash deck with product flow separated between the back-to-back primary wash decks. A deflector directing the flow of product onto the primary wash decks is provided with an extension that extends parallel to the wash deck to eliminated product bouncing off of the wash deck. The lower air outlets are eliminated, while the upper air outlets are positioned in extensions to the main housing above the product inlet opening. Air flow through the Venturi zones is enhanced by directing clean air through slots formed in the lower deck members into the Venturi zones.

Abstract: In order to make it possible for an inhomogeneous residue generated in a pyrolysis plant to be separated continuously and in as fully graded a way as possible, specially selected components are combined with one anther in an advantageous configuration. An essential element of the plant is the separation of a coarse residue in a coarse screen and the subsequent separation of the remaining residue in a zigzag separator into a light residue and a heavy residue. By use of the plant, in particular, the carbon-containing constituents are separated from the remaining residue. The individual components are mostly configured to be self-cleaning for fault-free operation.

Abstract: An air classifier with enhanced air flow which maybe used for the simultaneous recovery of two or more distinct grades of foundry quality sand from a single sand stream. The air classifier exhibits improved performance by drawing into the classification chamber, through the use of suction, incoming air through a honeycomb followed by a screen section having two or more screens. The honeycomb removes swirl in the air and the screens slow down the fast moving air more than the slow moving air. After passing through the screens, the velocity profile of the air in the chamber is flat across the inlet flow path and, as a result, improved classification performance is achieved. Classification performance may be further enhanced through the use of a vibrating screen feeder for spreading the incoming particle stream before entrainment in the air flow within the classifier and through upward flowing air in one or more product receiver sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conditioning and/or classifying seed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a seed conditioning/classification unit having an acceleration conduit and a convexly curved Coanda surface provided adjacent to the conduit at its outlet, curving upwardly therefrom. As the crude particulate feed stream is discharged from the outlet, it is conditioned by the Coanda effect into a first outlet stream of entraining gas and lightweight extraneous materials, which is channeled approximately along or parallel to the Coanda surface, and a second stream of relatively heavier materials such as seeds, which is expelled approximately parallel to the central axis of the conduit at the outlet. Seeds which are expelled from the conduit are also classified by momentum discrimination.

Abstract: A droplet forming flow cytometer system allows high speed processing without the need for high oscillator drive powers through the inclusion of an oscillator or piezoelectric crystal such as within the nozzle volume or otherwise unidirectionally coupled to the sheath fluid. The nozzle container continuously converges so as to amplify unidirectional oscillations which are transmitted as pressure waves through the nozzle volume to the nozzle exit so as to form droplets from the fluid jet. The oscillator is directionally isolated so as to avoid moving the entire nozzle container so as to create only pressure waves within the sheath fluid. A variation in substance concentration is achieved through a movable substance introduction port which is positioned within a convergence zone to vary the relative concentration of substance to sheath fluid while still maintaining optimal laminar flow conditions. This variation may be automatically controlled through a sensor and controller configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: The coated roller with permanent identification is characterized in that an externally inducible microtransmitter with a multidigit alphanumerical code is attached at or in the roller core which microtransmitter is not nondestructively removable. Said microtransmitter is preferably resistant to temperatures of up to at least 180.degree. C. and to chemicals.

Abstract: A garment sorter for semi-automating the sorting of bulk used clothing, and a method of sorting such clothing. Bales of clothing are uncompressed, and single articles of clothing are fed to an operator. Equally, the system can be used for sorting loose clothing. The operator identifies the article verbally, or by keypad entry. Voice recognition software, or other appropriate application software, recognizes the identification, and associates an address with the identified article. The article is then fed to a compacting device that ensures that it is retained within a certain length along a transfer conveyor. The compacted article is then transported to transfer station where a pneumatic pusher, under the control of a PLC, pushes the identified article off the conveyor into a bin, or secondary sort system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying articles is disclosed. The method includes steps of: (a) providing a plurality of articles, each of the articles having at least one portion that includes a photonically active material; (b) for each article, illuminating the at least one portion with light from a stimulus source; (c) identifying a location of the at least one portion by detecting an emission from the photonically active material; (d) pointing an excitation source at the identified location; and (e) illuminating the at least one portion within the identified location with light from the excitation source. A next step detects an information-encoded emission from the photonically active material in response to the light from the excitation source. An optional step (g) sorts the articles based on the detected emission.

Abstract: A method of processing groups of envelopes that have contents contained therein. The method prints information on at least one side of an envelope and then separates that side from the rest of the envelope. The contents of each envelope are then placed adjacent to the separated side and assembled in series with other separated sides and contents. When the separated sides and contents are assembled, the separated sides act as a boundary between other envelopes, thus preventing the contents of the envelopes from becoming commingled with contents from other envelopes. The printed information on the separated side of the envelope provides an audit trail for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles, the system having a track which defines a route starting at at least one loading point, the route continuing on to a plurality of destination points and arriving back at the loading point. The system also has at least one tray for conveying an article from the loading point to a selected one of the destination points. The track includes a first segment for momentarily tilting a leading end of the tray upward relative to a trailing end of the tray and possibly downward again, and a second segment for laterally tilting the tray at an angle. The first and second segments selectively maneuver an article loaded in the tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to the tray reaching the selected destination point in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at the selected destination point. A scanner is provided for scanning an identification-code disposed on the article.

Abstract: A garment sorting apparatus has a screw conveyor, a flexible chain, a steel frame and a garment identifier. The screw conveyor supplies hanger-supported shirts and pants to the chain which moves the garments to sorting and receiving stations. Each shirt and pant has a visibly coded label which provides customer and routing information. The garment identifier has two visual readers, one above the other, which provide information read from the labels to a computer. The readers may comprise conventional optical character recognition devices or digital bar code scanners, depending upon the code contained in the labels. The garment identifier also comprises two sensors for determining the presence and type of garment on the screw conveyor. If the garment is a shirt, the first sensor signals the computer to prepare the upper reader. If the garment is a pant, the computer prepares the lower reader. A stabilizer restrains swinging motion while the garment is in the field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheets includes a sorting section having boxes, a separating section, and a printing section, the latter two of which are respectively located on both sides of the sorting section. The separating section includes a separating mechanism for downwardly feeding out sheets in a constant gap system, a recognizing mechanism for scanning character information described on each sheet, a bar code scanning unit for scanning bar code information, and a conveying path of the separating section for conveying the sheets fed out of the separating mechanism. The printing section includes a printing mechanism for printing the recognized result as bar code information on the sheets, a verifying mechanism for verifying the printed result, and a conveying path of the printing section for feeding out the sheet on which the bar code is printed, to the sorting section.

Abstract: A method for distributing letter-post items, for which the letter-post items are separated and the address information affixed to the items is read, provides that for letter-post items belonging to a predetermined sorting class an identification mechanism is assigned to each letter-post item during the reading of the address information in order to mark the position of the assigned letter-post item in a letter-post item stack and that each identification mechanism is assigned to an element for a predetermined sequence of distribution positions and that the assignment of the identification mechanism to the elements of the sequence for the distribution position is displayed.

Abstract: An information management apparatus dealing with waste in a waste recycling system comprises an information management device for managing information on waste of each depository, and a device of determining the waste collection method based on the information and the process volume of a recycling processor. The apparatus determines the waste collection method so that recycling products can be delivered stably.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixed granular material into granules of different specific gravities or ranges of specific gravity using a powered air flow is described. A divider plate is located below the air flow path within the apparatus to separate the two material flows from each other. The divider plate can be rotated about an axis and can also be translated or displaced within the apparatus in order to precisely define the separation point between the material flows. Hoppers are used to collect and discharge the separated granular materials, and a conveyor belt is provided within the apparatus to transport one of the separated granular materials to the corresponding hopper. The conveyor belt reduces clogging of the separated granular material and also allows a greater degree of separation to be maintained between the hoppers, thereby allowing standard conveyors to be placed beneath the hopper discharge openings.

Abstract: An inventive method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a substantially unique identification (ID) code, such as a fuse ID, includes automatically reading the ID code of each of the IC devices, and sorting the IC devices in accordance with their automatically read ID codes. The inventive method can be used in conjunction with an IC manufacturing process that includes providing semiconductor wafers, fabricating the IC's on each of the wafers, causing each of the IC's to store its ID code, separating each of the IC's from its wafer to form IC dice, assembling the IC dice into IC devices, and testing the IC devices.

Abstract: An automatic teller machine has an input hopper (20) into which checks and banknotes for deposit can be put. An imaging and sorting device (22) separates the banknotes and checks from each other. The banknotes are fed to a temporary banknote storage device (24) and the checks are fed to a temporary check storage device (26). A receipt for the number of items of each kind deposited is issued to the depositor. A further imaging device (28) may be provided for subsequent more detailed examination and further sorting of the deposited items. The subsequent examination preferably takes place when the machine is not being used by a customer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for sorting textiles, as is a system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes steps of (a) providing a plurality of textiles to be sorted, each of the textiles comprising a portion that includes an electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material; for each textile, (b) illuminating at least the portion with laser light that exceeds a threshold fluence; (c) detecting a narrow band laser-like emission of at least one wavelength from the portion in response to the step of illuminating; and (d) sorting the textiles based on the detected laser-like emission. In one embodiment the textile has at least one stitched-in thread, the thread comprising a substrate material and the electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material in combination with scatterers for providing the laser-like emission. In another embodiment the textile has an applied patch containing the electromagnetic radiation emitting and amplifying material.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. A document feeder is positioned downstream from the envelope feeder to selectively feed batch identification pieces into the path of movement.

Abstract: A permanently attached identification device which is a button sized RFID tag having a unique number. The RFID tag is applied to the garment on the first visit and the identification number is then read. Information related to the garment (such as owner name, dates, reason for cleaning, etc.) is input to a computer along with the identification number. Each time the garment is deposited with a dry cleaner the RFID tag is automatically read by a tag reader near the garment conveyor, and information related to the current visit is input to the computer. The computer maintains a history record related to each garment that is keyed to the identification number in the RFID tag.

Abstract: Workpieces in which, for example, wire bonding has been performed are inspected to determine if they are defective or not by an inspection device. Workpieces which have been found to be defective are conveyed to one workpiece magazine and workpieces which have been found to be defect-free are conveyed to another workpiece magazine, thus defective and non-defective workpieces are separated immediately after inspection.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle containing fluorescent lamp separation apparatus is transported to the site of a facility which uses fluorescent lamps and collects used lamps for processing. The lamps are loaded into a bin in the vehicle, the bin is closed to enclose the apparatus from the atmosphere, and the apparatus is then operated to crush the lamps and separate the crushed lamp debris into solid particular matter and dust which can be carried by airflow. The particulate matter which is substantially cleansed of mercury and phosphor powder is discharged into a first receptacle outside the vehicle, and the dust entrained in the air is trapped in a dust filter and discharged into a second receptacle which primarily contains the more hazardous dust materials. The air drawn through the dust filter is further passed through a charcoal filter to filter out mercury and other potentially hazardous vapors from the air before it is discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An automatic label applicator includes means for scanning a group of touching objects to determine their unique coordinates, and means responsive to the coordinates for automatically applying labels to the objects. A robotic arm is controllably movable in horizontal and vertical directions to align the applicator with individual objects disposed in a stack of objects.

Abstract: The chassis (1) of the machine supports a fixed supply table and three successive transfer conveyor belts (3, 14, 19) capable of routing the blood bags towards discharge chutes mounted at the other end. Stations (4, 20) for reading the codes and labels on the blood bags are disposed respectively above the first belt (3) and the third belt (19) on either side of two label appending robots (8). The intermediate belt (14) comprises a weighing unit (16). Application to the labelling of blood bags prior to transfusion.

Abstract: A direct jet monitor illuminates the jet of a flow cytometer in a monitor wavelength band which is substantially separate from the substance wavelength band. When a laser is used to cause fluorescence of the substance, it may be appropriate to use an infrared source to illuminate the jet and thus optically monitor the conditions within the jet through a CCD camera or the like. This optical monitoring may be provided to some type of controller or feedback system which automatically changes either the horizontal location of the jet, the point at which droplet separation occurs, or some other condition within the jet in order to maintain optimum conditions. The direct jet monitor may be operated simultaneously with the substance property sensing and analysis system so that continuous monitoring may be achieved without interfering with the substance data gathering and may be configured so as to allow the front of the analysis or free fall area to be unobstructed during processing.

Abstract: Provided is a method for tagging thermoplastic containers using near infrared fluorescing compounds or copolymerized residues readily capable of detection. Also provided is a method for identifying a thermoplastic container. Also provided are thermoplastic polymer compositions comprised of the near infrared fluorescing compounds or residues and articles comprised of such compositions.

Abstract: A postal indicia is disclosed that contains markings thereon which may be used to distinguish between availability or non availability of additional security and sorting information. The foregoing will make the handling of the mail faster and more efficient. The ink that is used to print portions of the indicia is fluorescent for conventional indicia printing and fluorescent and phosphorescent for value added bit map generated printing.

Abstract: An article sorting method and a system to perform the method, in which a plurality of articles having different sorting destinations are sorted out in a highly efficient manner by one carriage. The article sorting system includes a carriage (3) movable along a track (5). This carriage has on it a plurality of conveying mechanisms (13a, 13b, 13c and 13d) which are provided on the carriage (3). On these conveying mechanisms, articles (11) can be placed. A control device (23) controls the operations of the plurality of conveying mechanisms (13a, 13b, 13c and 13d) independently of one another. The control device drives the conveying mechanisms (13a, 13b, 13c and 13d) individually according to the sorting destination data of the articles, so that a single or plural articles (11) are sorted out by the individual operations or combined operations of the driving mechanisms (15a, 15b, 15c and 15d).

Abstract: A method for sorting items provided with address information includes passing the items successively through a scanning device for generating a video image of each item, a mechanical storage track and a printing station. The video images are supplied to a device for automatically reading the address information and assigning a corresponding code. The printing station prints the corresponding code on the items for which the address information can be read within a predetermined time. The video images of the items for which the address information cannot be automatically read within the predetermined time is stored in a buffer.

Abstract: This invention is provided to automate an adjusting job of a restaurant and to realize automatic sorting of tableware and to improve an operating efficiency of a restaurant job. Resonance tags are mounted on bottoms of plates of the tableware in which meals are dished up. The plates are placed on a tray, and the tray is placed on a tray placing position of an adjusting apparatus. A tag reader is buried in a lower portion of the tray placing position, and transmitting antennas and a reception antenna are superposed to form the tag reader. In this case, when radio waves of a plurality of frequencies are oscillated from the transmission antennas, different echo waves are oscillated from the resonance tags of the plates. When the echo waves are received by the reception antenna, the plates are sorted by the resonance frequencies of the resonance tags set to the respective plates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reaching a 99% separation of bast and core fibers from herbaceous fiber producing plants using a series of pre-separation cleaning and conditioning steps which place the bast and core fibers in a better condition for separation before they are actually separated. The harvested fiber plants are cut at a specified length. These fibers are then introduced into a conditioning apparatus which breaks up and dries, but does not yet separate the bast and core fibers. The conditioned fibers are then introduced into an auger and feeder which distributes the dried fiber over up to four identical separation lines. Each line includes at least one core separator made up of a large rotating spiked cylinder partially surrounded by a spiked, grated housing, a smaller rotating spiked cylinder which produces an air flow, and an upwardly moving inclined conveyor having openings therein.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a device for the transfer (13) of containers (12) which takes containers (12) from a magazine for containers (11) to convey them in succession to a delivery station (16) passing through means for labelling (14) and means for checking the labels (25) controlled by a control and data acquisition system (2) so as to univocally label each single container with the data related to a corresponding single patient to a corresponding single sanitary event.

Abstract: A resource recycling system and a product circulation system, wherein a search is made for information regarding specifications and production methods for a recovered product and an original product is produced with the recovered product used as resources. These systems include a plurality of production factories for producing a predetermined products, and housing a production apparatus and a reclamation factory. A communication network is connected for transmitting therebetween production information necessary for producing products. Also a recycle plate is created for identifying a production apparatus. The plate is used to transmit accounting information on an amount of money required to reproduce the product from the reclaimed resources. The reclamation apparatus also identifies a production apparatus by which a recovered product was produced, extracts production information on the recovered product and generates a disassembly procedure for the recovered product from the extracted production information.

Abstract: A grain processor for separating and measuring components of a sample of grain as it passes through a rotary sieve having two or more sieving sections having different perforations so that selective separation is made on the basis of the size of the particles in the sample.

Abstract: Provided are water-dissipatable, sulfo-containing polyesters and polyester-amides having copolymerized therein thermally stable near infrared flourophoric compounds. The polymers are useful in coating or ink compositions, which are in turn useful for marking articles for identification/authentication purposes. Also provided is a method for invisibly marking such articles and a method for detecting and sorting articles by utilizing the near infrared flourophoric ink or coating compositions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing multiple level sortation operations upon a number of randomly ordered garments. The garments are identified by unique identification data, which can be scanned and entered into a computer. The computer remembers the order in which garment identification data has been. The garments are then transferred in their entered order to a first sortation assembly in which a rotating wheel assembly accepts and selectively releases garments during indexed rotation of the wheel at one of a number of stop points. Each stop point has associated with it a receiving rail, where each rail represents a different group within a first sortation level. The computer recognizes which receiving rail is the correct rail for each garment according to the first sortation criteria and signals the release of the garment at the correct stop point. The garments collected on each receiving rail comprise a group of first sorted garments according to the first sortation criteria.

Abstract: Provided is a method for tagging thermoplastic containers using near infrared fluorescing compounds or copolymerized residues readily capable of detection. Also provided is a method for identifying a thermoplastic container. Also provided are thermoplastic polymer compositions comprised of the near infrared fluorescing compounds or residues and articles comprised of such compositions. Also provided are new compounds useful as near infrared fluorophoric markers in the practice of this invention. The methods, compositions, and compounds of the present invention thus provide a total system useful for marking, for identification purposes, the various classes of thermoplastic wastes, so that they can be identified, sorted, and subsequently recycled.

Abstract: A carton glue monitoring system includes a conveyor moving a plurality of cartons in a first direction. An encoder provides pulses at a rate proportional to conveyor line speed. A glue applicator applies a glue strip having a fluorescent material added thereto to the cartons on the conveyor. A glue check station includes a UV source for illuminating the fluorescent material in the glue and a UV sensor for sensing the fluorescent material. The glue station further includes a glue skip detector and an excess glue detector for generating a glue flag and for holding the glue flag until the carton exits the glue station. A glue shift register includes Y registers and is connected to the UV sensor and the encoder for shifting the glue flag in the Y registers. Y is proportional to the encoder rate and a distance between the rejection marking device and the glue station exit minus the carton length.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating recyclable waste which has a conveyor belt transport track, collecting belt under a section of the transport track, and belt guides positioned along a section of the transport track. The conveyor belt is provided with openings and mutually contacting surfaces of the conveyor belt and the belt guides are profiled such that movement of the conveyor belt along the transport track causes a portion of the belt passing the guides to shake in a direction substantially transverse to the transport track.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for separating and recycling plastics from plastic parts containing, for example, light metal, rubber, non-ferrous metals and labels of any type attached. The plastic parts are also reduced to selected sizes. The method and apparatus basically includes shredding the plastic parts so as to reduce the plastic parts into a first reduced size of plastic pieces; moving the shredded plastic pieces to subject them to a magnetic device so that light metal material is removed from the shredded plastic pieces; subjecting the plastic pieces to a grinder device to reduce the plastic pieces to smaller pieces; subjecting the smaller plastic pieces to a sufficient high pressure steam to remove contaminate materials from the plastic pieces; and drying the plastic pieces and contaminate materials and separating the plastic pieces from the contaminate materials.

Abstract: Provided are water-dissipatable, sulfo-containing polyesters and polyester-amides having copolymerized therein thermally stable near infrared flourophoric compounds. The polymers are useful in coating or ink compositions, which are in turn useful for marking articles for identification/authentication purposes. Also provided is a method for invisibly marking such articles and a method for detecting and sorting articles by utilizing the near infrared flourophoric ink or coating compositions.

Abstract: An improved method of recovering recyclable materials from commingled recyclables is described as well as apparatuses for doing same. Ferrous materials recovery is achieved using the unique combination of a magnetic belt and a vibratory conveyor. Other materials are then separated with a light/heavy separator which uses finger screen, air knife, and vibratory means to separate glass from plastics and aluminum prior to conventional handsorting operations. Excess glass unsuitable for recovery is introduced into a trommel processing loop wherein contaminates are removed and the glass reduced to a particulate useful in the production of glasphalt and aggregate. Air emanating from the air knife is filtered in an improved gravity separator for reintroduction to the light/heavy separator.

Abstract: A device for the identification of a roller shell includes a microchip incorporated into a flexible material roller shell for printing presses. A scanning device excites the microchip for emitting signals permitting a definite identification of the microchip and of the roller shell.

Abstract: A method for separating the long outer bast fibers from the short woody inner core fibers of herbaceous fiber producing plants which includes the steps of requiring that such plants harvested at a certain cut length are processed through a first and second stage core separator, each of which includes a rotating spiked cylinder and a set of angled moving conveyors for coarse separation of the bast and core fibers; then processed through a first and second incline core separator each of which include a series of rotating spiked cylinders provided at an inclined angle; then introduced into a single saw separator; then passed through a jet air separator having an adjustable blade therein; and finally, run through a four cylinder fiber cleaner. Each of these steps provides further and more complete separation of the woody core fibers from the longer bast fibers so that by the time the bast fibers exit the four cylinder cleaner they are over ninety-eight percent (98%) free of the woody core fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing recyclable or other selected items from a load of mixed trash. An identifier generating a non-visual identifying signal is secured to the item and is used in conjunction with sensor devices to locate the position of the item anywhere within the load of mixed trash, to control the movement of the load along a conveyor to an extracting device, to control the movement of the extracting device and the operation of the extracting device so as to remove the selected item from the load without human intervention and under automated control.

Abstract: A process for sending to a recipient either a message, especially computer information, or items such as a document, envelope, letter, packet, parcel, load and others. It allocates to each message, or item, two references called respectively "identifier" and "locator" which together correspond to a single recipient, the identifier being formed by the combination of a code for geographical location and the recipients telephone number, whilst the locator is formed by coordinates, preferably in the form of digits coming from a grid which is established for a certain geographical zone, coordinates which correspond to a mesh of the grid representing the most accurate geographical location possible of the recipient. According to a particular mode of application, the geographic location code is formed by the official code of an administrative zone such as a Department for France, a County for the USA and the U.K., a "Landkreis" for Germany and similar.