Abstract: A lump coal size sorting grate comprising parallel bars is provided with three spaced apart, parallel cleaning combs which can be individually activated to clean the sizing grid of lodged coal lumps in a predetermined sequence so that the entire sizing grid is never closed during a coal sorting operation. The cleaning combs are made of spaced, parallel bars which can be pivoted upwardly, between and through the bars of the sizing grate. An adaptive system which senses and responds to a clogged condition in the grate can be provided by sensing crusher motor current or, in the alternative, sensing grate bar deflection using strain gage transducers.

Abstract: A compact powder case includes a top case, a bottom case coupled to the top case to open and close the compact powder case, a mid case housed in the bottom case, a lifter disk coupled to the bottom case by a spring supporting the lifter disk elastically, a container to contain a content, the container detachably attached to the lifter disk, and a grinding member rotatably positioned on the top of the mid case, the grinding member including a grinding cap and a grinding insert coupled to the grinding cap, the grinding insert having an aperture to discharge ground content upwardly and a blade disposed at a lower portion of the aperture to grind the content when the grinding insert rotates, wherein the grinding insert rotates along with the grinding cap and against the container when a user rotates the grinding cap.

Abstract: A lump coal size sorting grate comprising parallel bars is provided with three spaced apart, parallel cleaning combs which can be individually activated to clean the sizing grid of lodged coal lumps in a predetermined sequence so that the entire sizing grid is never closed during a coal sorting operation. The cleaning combs are made of spaced, parallel bars which can be pivoted upwardly, between and through the bars of the sizing grate. An adaptive system which senses and responds to a clogged condition in the grate can be provided by sensing crusher motor current or, in the alternative, sensing grate bar deflection using strain gage transducers.

Abstract: The an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a customer specific keyword database and a method of post processing OCR reject mailpieces. Mailpieces that the OCR cannot read and determine the recipient for (“rejects”) are post processed using the customer specific keyword database which contains information regarding addressee field that is particular to the customer. Address cleansing is performed to the information obtained from the OCR system and an addressee match is attempted. If a match is made, the mailpiece is delivered to an appropriate sort bin. If a match is not made then the mailpiece is delivered to a reject bin. The method provides for better automated throughput of sorted mailpieces.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a grain grader has an improved cleaning system utilizing cascades of rollers swingably engaged with a grading cylinder. In a preferred embodiment, a multiple axle roller assembly for dislodging clogged grain in the apertures is suspended from above the cylinder with multiple the rollers swingable in a downward arc to engage the cylinder. Such roller assembly may include a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the assembly for selective engagement with the rotating trammel and to facilitate removal and insertion of cylinders. The roller assembly has a plurality of stages to effectively provide unclogging action without gaps across the entire width of the trammel.

Abstract: A continuous-belt drilling mud separation unit is removably mounted in a box-like housing disposed in the flow path of drilling mud or drilling fluids and is operated by a motor on the housing. The separation unit includes a generally rectangular frame, a tensioning system, and a wide continuous belt in the form of a mesh screen, chain, self-cleaning chain link belt, or combination chain link belt and wire mesh screen which extends around rollers or sprockets and is driven in a continuous loop moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. 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: 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: An automatic inserting apparatus is provided whereby a primary document and selectively collated secondary documents are assembled and inserted into a mailing envelope. Preferably, the mailing envelope is concurrently imprinted with the name and address of the recipient as shown on the primary document. Each primary document bears a preselected name and mailing address and optionally also a secondary document selecting code. In operation, each primary document is read by an intelligent optical character recognition system, and the information so obtained is used to (a) select all secondary documents designated by the primary document code, after which the primary and secondary documents are combined and folded, and preferably (b) concurrently imprint a mailing envelope using the so-read address.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet for coal and the like and two outlets, a sizing grate, a comb, and means for moving the comb relative to the grate for dislodging granular material clogged therein. The grate is affixed to the housing and provides a plurality of openings which are sized to allow granular material of a predetermined size to pass therethrough to the first outlet, while granular material of a greater size is the second outlet to a crusher. The invention also includes a method of automatically sizing granular material using a self-cleaning grate assembly.

Abstract: A rotatable wood chip thickness classifying device. The apparatus includes two coaxial, spaced sets of apertured discs, each set defining a drum. The interdisc spacing of each drum is uniform, each drum having a different interdisc spacing from the other drum. For each set of discs, the inside diameter of adjacent discs alternates. Wood chips are fed into the interior of the first drum, this drum having a typical disc interspacing of 2 mm. The common axis of drum rotation is slightly tilted to the horizontal and chips of less than 2 mm fall through the interdisc openings of the first drum. The remainder of the chips pass to the interior of the second drum, typically of 8 mm interdisc spacing. Chips less than 8 mm fall through the interdisc openings of the second drum. The alternation of inside disc diameters, for each drum, yields a chip tumbling effect to thereby inhibit an elongated chip, of a diameter of less than 2 mm for example, from straddling the 2 mm openings and not falling therethrough.

Abstract: A screening apparatus is provided having a plurality of axially aligned discs or rings which are lined up one behind the other, spaced a predetermined distance from each other and rotate as a single unit about a central longitudinal axis. A large central aperture is formed through each of the discs to form a tubular, drum type structure within which material to be separated is placed. Upon rotation of the tubular structure, acceptable material flows through the slots between adjacent discs while over-size material exits one open end of the tubular structure.

Abstract: A pressure sorter for fiber suspensions comprises a rotating screen basket and cleaning blades associated therewith. To improve the operating characteristics, stationary cleaning blades are provided on both the inside and the outside of the screen basket, and the screen basket is provided at one end with an axial channel whose diameter is substantially smaller than that of the screen formed by the screen basket.

Abstract: A cleaning device is provided for use with sizing screens in material reduction apparatus, such as crushers, pulverizers and shredders. The cleaning device automatically clears obstructions from the openings in a screen. The preferred embodiment of the cleaning device includes a rake connected to a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a wheel and rail system. The tines of the rake extend upwards into the openings of the screen. When the wheels move along the rail, the rake tines travel along the openings in the screen, forcing any obstructing material into another portion of the material reduction apparatus. The rake is actuated manually, periodically at predetermined intervals or in response to a sensed reduction in flow.

Abstract: A separating apparatus for classifying particulate material according to size, including a sub-housing enclosing a horizontally extending cleaning screen. A plurality of separate conveyor mounted paddles sweep a top surface of the cleaning screen and a further plurality of paddles are biasing into sliding contact with a bottom surface of the cleaning screen to loosen clogs of particulate material clogged within the screen.

Abstract: A wet comminuting machine is provided with a sieve which is located at the mill base outlet and has orifices of such dimensions that they block the passage of grinding medium. Opposite the exit surface of the sieve a plate, which can be moved toward the sieve, is provided, on the side facing the sieve, with elements for pushing through the orifices of the sieve, and can be moved manually, pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically by means of a connecting rod. The elements of the movable plate are arranged in alignment with the orifices of the sieve, and are in the form of strips or spikes, depending on the particular design of sieve.

Abstract: A roller or brush for cleaning meshes of rotary screens, comprising a shaft having one or several cleaning members each comprising a body of revolution consisting of two concentrically arranged portions. The outer part in contact with the screen surface is of a stiffness several times greater than the stiffness of the inner portion adjacent to the shaft so that dynamic load at the contact of the brush and screen is several times lower, the efficiency of cleaning of meshes of the screen is improved and the service life of the screen is substantially prolonged.

Abstract: A method and separator for removing sugar crystals from a syrup. The syrup is continuously delivered to a space defined by an inner conical first perforated wall subjected to air pressure and an outer conical second perforated wall coaxial with the inner conical wall and subjected to a vacuum from outwardly of the space containing the syrup. The perforations subjected to a vacuum are restricted by projections on a plate that extend axially into corresponding perforations and are movable axially therein to maintain these perforations unobstructed by sugar crystals. Rotationally driven scrapers scrape the inner surfaces of the second perforated wall in synchronism with the projections extending into the perforations.