Abstract: A sorting and stacking apparatus has a currency note feeding section for feeding currency notes one at a time; and a currency note inspecting section for inspecting the denomination of a currency note, a normal note, a damaged note, an obverse-presented note and a reverse-presented note. The currency notes of a predetermined denomination among the currency notes fed by the currency note feeding section are fed to a first stacking section having first and second pockets while currency notes of other denominations are fed to the second stacking section. When the first pocket of the first stacking section is filled with the currency notes, the transport path of the currency note is automatically switched toward the second pocket. Subsequent currency notes are thus stacked in the second pocket of the first stacking section.

Abstract: A zip code sorter for an article labeling and stacking system of the type having a labeling head for applying address labels to articles and a stacker for stacking the addressed articles, the labels having control marks identifying the end of a zip code group, with a mode selector for programming either split or oversize stacking, a look ahead counter for programming a minimum stack count, a stack counter for programming a maximum stack count, and a control responsive to selection of split stack mode to establish a threshold count whereat looking ahead for a change of zip code group mark is commenced so that when the threshold count is reached, scanning of the labels for a change in zip code group mark is commenced at an upstream label count equal to the count for which the look ahead counter is programmed, the control responding to detection of an end of zip code group mark to set the eject flag for the stack currently being stacked and assure a last stack in the zip code group having the minimum stack count

Abstract: An installation for assembly-line manufacture in which workpieces move in a row along a production path at a generally uniform spacing. A feed unit holds a supply of workpieces and places them one at a time in a predetermined position in the seats of an input rotary feed conveyor. An inspecting unit defines a portion of the continuous production path for the workpieces and inspects the workpieces as they pass therealong. The inspecting unit itself includes an intake rotary conveyor cooperating with the feed conveyor, an output rotary conveyor, and at least one inspecting carousel between the intake and output conveyors. A controller supervises and coordinates the operation of the other units on the workpieces as same move along the production path.

Abstract: An installation for continuous flow manufacture comprising a feeding unit, (MA) at least one working unit (MT) having a working carousel (MT14) having 10 working seats, and at least one inspecting unit having an inspecting carousel (MC12) having eight inspecting seats. The measured information, emitted by the inspecting unit are reference marked modulo (1) and modulo (8), utilized in real time for surveillance of the machine.

Abstract: An installation for monitoring and controlling a machine for producing items which at the end of production thereof are subjected to quality control with rejection of defective items, comprises a computing means (4), a detector (5) for sensing the number of items produced, a weighing machine for weighing the reject items, a precision weighing means for weighing an item produced, and a display means, the computing means operating on the basis of the data supplied thereto by the sensor, the weighing machine and the precision weighing means to provide the number of items produced, the number of items rejected and the difference therebetween, constituting the number of accepted items.

Abstract: A document and currency handling machine in which bills to be handled are loaded in a cartridge having a first endless belt with a pusher plate which is spring biased towards the sheet-by-sheet feeder in the machine by a spiral spring coupled between the first endless belt and the shaft of one roller over which the first belt passes, so as to assure constant pressure by the pusher plate throughout its travel; a second endless belt, receiving separated bills from the sheet-by-sheet feeder, passes them by a sensor which detects defective bills and activates a diverter which diverts such defective bills into a reject tray, the good bills passing to an output stacker which, when the predetermined number of bills has been received by it, pivots to permit easy removal of the good bills.

Abstract: A seedling grading machine for sorting and collecting seedling trees according to size comprises a conveyor including a longitudinal grate and carrier rods that extend through the grate for moving the seedlings sideways along the grate; an electronic photocell control for measuring the height of each seedling at a front portion of the grate; a series of longitudinally separated gates positioned downstream of the photocell control, each gate corresponding to a given size classification of seedling and opening downwardly to drop the seedling through the gate in accordance with the measured height of the seedling; a dumpable bin in position below each gate to collect the seedlings; an electronic counting means for counting the number of seedlings deposited in each collector bin; a dumping mechanism for dumping each collector bin after a predetermined number of seedlings have been deposited therein; and a conveyor for conveying the seedlings dumped from the collector bin to a packaging station.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting articles traveling in a random pattern along a predetermined path in a selected direction comprising an article counting stage which is positioned along the predetermined path, a source positioned relative to the article counting stage for producing in a scan pattern a plurality of pulsed, spaced parallel beams of radiation such that each article is adapted to independently intercept at least two beams of radiation and to produce therefrom at least two pulses of radiation, each of said beams being directed along a scan path into the article counting stage wherein selected beams of radiation are adapted to be intercepted by a selected portion of the article passing through the article counting stage, a radiation pulse receiver for receiving the at least two pulses of radiation intercepted by and the article and which produces therefrom output signals in a time spatial sequence representing the radiation level of the at least two received pulses of radiation exceeding a threshold level wi

Abstract: The device for sorting and counting a plurality of cans comprises a circular table having a rotatable circular floor and a fixed side wall. Attached around the periphery of the side wall are a plurality of counting tubes, each of which includes a photo-electric cell therein for sensing the number of cans which pass through the tube. Each photo-electric cell is connected to a counter on a display device which records and displays the number of cans passing through each tube. One counter totals all of the cans passing through all of the tubes.

Abstract: The thin sheet sorting apparatus includes a supply device for supplying, one after one, the thin sheets to be sorted. A detecting device classifies the thin sheets into one of normal sheets, improper sheets and damaged sheets. A sorting device directs the improper sheets to a first conveying passageway, and the damaged sheets and the normal sheets to a second conveying passageway, respectively. A counting circuit counts the number of thin sheets guided to the first and second conveying passageways. The supply device supplies the thin sheets in discrete units each containing a predetermined number and the counting circuit counts the number of the sheets sorted for each predetermined number, thus confirming the predetermined number.

Abstract: An article or can sorting apparatus for separating articles having a recycle value from articles having no recycle value is defined by an annular article supporting surface positioned at about 45 degrees to horizontal, a cylindrical wall positioned in relation to the surface to define an article processing chamber, a feed hopper into which a plurality of the articles are deposited for feeding into the chamber, and an article conveying disc or wheel positioned in parallel relation to the surface and having a plurality of outwardly extending article pusher arms for separating the articles, such as discarded beverage cans, from the plurality of articles and conveying the articles one at a time about the annular surface to a material discriminator and a weight scale and toward an accept door or a reject door. The material discriminator or metal detector, the scale, and the accept and reject doors form segments of the article conveying surface.

Abstract: A can sorting, counting and flattening machine flattens empty cans by folding the can body over the back side of the ring or top end of the can so that both the brand name of the can on the can body and all identifying indicia on the ring end of the can are easily readable after the can has been completely flattened in a one step operation by a single machine operator. The machine employs a series of resettable counters which automatically count the total number of each brand of cans, the total number of cans returned per individual customer and the total number of cans reprocessed by the machine in a given time period.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing paper sheets, in which one lot of paper sheets are set in a supply section and supplied one after another to an inspection station which makes optical, magnetic and mechanical inspections for sorting the sheets into at least three categories of sheets, i.e. valid, damaged, uncountable, and directs the valid sheets to a collection receptacle and the damaged and uncountable sheets to another collection receptacle. Each collection receptacle is provided with a counter and the sum of the counters is compared with the number of sheets in one lot. If the comparison results are correct, a subsequent lot is fed from the supply section to be processed. Once an uncountable sheet has been inspected, the counter of the collection receptacle receiving the damaged and uncountable sheets is inhibited and the total number of sheets contained in this collection receptacle must be input by an operator through a keyboard to perform the comparison step.

Abstract: A fluidic assembly for an ultra-high-speed chromosome flow sorter using a fluid drive system, a nozzle with an orifice having a small ratio of length to diameter, and mechanism for vibrating the nozzle along its axis at high frequencies. The orifice is provided with a sharp edge at its inlet, and a conical section at its outlet for a transition from a short cylindrical aperture of small length to diameter ratio to free space. Sample and sheath fluids in separate low pressure reservoirs are transferred into separate high pressure buffer reservoirs through a valve arrangement which first permit the fluids to be loaded into the buffer reservoirs under low pressure. Once loaded, the buffer reservoirs are subjected to high pressure and valves are operated to permit the buffer reservoirs to be emptied through the nozzle under high pressure.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a system for dispensing currency notes are disclosed. The first embodiment of the system comprises two major components, a cartridge (10) and a dispenser (14). The second embodiment of the system comprises three major components, a cartridge (10), a loader (12) and a dispenser (14). The cartridge (10) comprises a housing (28) having a supply spool (30) and two takeup spools (32, 34) rotatably mounted therein. Outer and inner flexible films (36, 38) are secured to and wound about the spools. Individual currency notes (18) are sandwiched between the films (36, 38) and stored on the supply spool (30). The loader (12) separates and verifies individual currency notes from a stack and transports the currency notes to the cartridge (10). The loader (12) causes the supply spool (30) to rotate so that an individual currency note is stored on the spool and further resists the rotation of the takeup spools (32, 34) to maintain tension in the films (36, 38).

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting workpieces of different classification classes and for forming groups having a pre-set number of workpieces of the same class, comprising a base; a housing support mobile on the base having a number of partitions at least equal to the number of classes; a loading device for loading one workpiece at a time into the support partition when in a determined loading and unloading position with respect to the support; a control group receiving signals indicative of the class of the workpieces; a control device for operating the housing support, the control device being connected to the control group for positioning in the loading and unloading position a relevant partition provided for receiving the workpieces of the same class of the next workpiece to be loaded; an unloading device arranged in correspondence with the loading position; and a driving device for operating the unloading device, the driving device being connected to the control group and including an enabling mechanism for contr

Abstract: An apparatus for processing paper sheets, in which one lot of paper sheets are set in a supplying section and supplied one after another to a detecting section for sorting these paper sheets into fit paper sheets and unfit paper sheets. The unfit paper sheets collected are manually counted by the operator, and their number is inputted as key-in-data. The inputted number of unfit paper sheets is added to the automatically counted number of fit paper sheets, and the resultant sum is checked up with a preset paper sheet number of one lot. The processed fit paper sheets are received in a temporary collecting section until completion of the checkup of the paper sheet number of one lot.

Abstract: A device for sorting out individual articles which differ from the main quantity in a consecutive feedout. Articles to be conveyed in response to specific conditions, for example monetary bills which are to be discharged individually and which are to face the same direction, are supplied to a nip between a pair of rollers, with the axes of said rollers being disposed in a plane forming an acute angle to the path of conveyance through the rollers. The articles are sensed individually after passing said rollers, and if the specific condition is not fulfilled the direction of rotation of the rollers is reversed, whereby the differing articles (bills) are returned towards the place where they originally entered the nip but are conveyed down below a shield which they have passed over in their previous conveyance. The rejected articles are collected after having passed below the shield.

Abstract: An automated color sorter for fruit and the like produces signals in the red and green spectrum from light reflected by each piece of produce passing an inspection station and operates upon these signals to generate color level signals employed to physically direct individual items according to predetermined color grades thereof. Computer operation upon the color level signals allows variation of sort levels or points and continuous inventorying of produce in predetermined grades.

Abstract: A sorting device, particularly for trout and fish eggs which is of the type having an inclined wall against which the eggs are launched and caused to rebound a distance apart depending on the resilience thereof. Collecting means are provided for receiving the eggs according to their different trajectories. The device comprises a tank for receiving eggs and water having a rotating drum associated therewith having a plurality of cups on the outer surface thereof. Each cup is adapted to receive one egg therein and the cups are arranged in parallel transverse rows. The bottom of the cups is perforated so as to permit the water to be discharged therefrom. A fan is provided in order to dry the eggs in the cups through the perforated bottom thereof and a pneumatic launching device serves to launch the eggs against the inclined wall.

Abstract: Articles to be mailed under bulk mail rates are stacked in accordance with their zip code. Articles with identical zip codes are bundled in numbers according to postal regulation minimum and maximum limits. When the number of articles in a zip code group is less than the postal minimum for a bundle, the zip code group is diverted for special handling. The system is capable of identifying consecutive zip code groups of articles each of which are under the postal minimum for a stack and bundling these together in the main stream as long as together the consecutive groups are over the minimum.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for documents requiring secure handling, such as banknotes. The documents are fed one at a time along a main flow-line in which they are sensed to determine whether they are in a fit condition or in an unfit condition. If unfit, they are routed into a secondary flow-line leading to a shredder, the secondary flow-line including further checking structure to ensure that documents classed as unfit in the main flow-line are present in the secondary flow-line at the appropriate time and are guided to the shredder.

Abstract: An apparatus for the sorting, counting and grouping of successively conveyed items includes a conveyor arrangement defining a conveying path; at least one sorting device disposed along the conveying path for removing defective items; a counting device disposed along the conveying path downstream of the sorting device for counting the items unaffected by the sorting device; at least two branch conveyors forming the conveying path downstream of the counting device; a routing device arranged along the conveying path upstream of the branch conveyors and actuated by the counting device for directing a predetermined number of items into selected branch conveyors; a stacking device disposed at the downstream end of the branch conveyors for stacking the items to form item groups each consisting of the predetermined number of items; and a collecting conveyor forming the conveying path downstream of the stacking device for further advancing the item groups.

Abstract: A method of associating one of at least two grades with each of a plurality of articles which are to be fed in succession along a path, comprises feeding one grade of article into the path at a first feed station, for movement along the path, feeding a second grade of article into the path at a second feed station arranged upstream of the first feed station, so that only grades of article other than the one grade travel along the path from the second feed station to the first feed station but after the first feed station all grades of article travel along the path, arranging a first sensor between the first feed station and the second feed station, the first sensor being arranged to emit a signal each time an article passes the first sensor and having means to associate each signal with the article which generates the signal, and utilizing the signals to associate grades with the articles.