Abstract: A parcel sorter system and method. A process performed by a parcel sorter system includes receiving sorting information of a first parcel. The process includes identifying a first destination pallet corresponding to the sorting information. The first destination pallet is associated with a first carousel and a first destination chute. The process includes transporting the first parcel toward the first destination chute. The process includes, while transporting the parcel toward the first destination chute, operating the first carousel to move the first destination pallet proximate to the first destination chute. The process includes delivering the first parcel at the first destination chute for placement on the first destination pallet.

Abstract: A sorting facility (1) for sorting parcels (2), has a sorting conveyor (3), sorting outlets (4) distributed along said conveyor, and a monitoring and control unit (7) for controlling the conveyor so as to sort the parcels into the outlets as a function of their destination addresses. Each outlet is arranged to store a plurality of receptacles (6), each of which is associated with a parcel destination address in a memory of the unit. At each outlet, the facility has a swap-over device (8) for swapping the receptacles over. The unit controls the swap-over device so that a receptacle for which the destination address associated with it in the memory of the monitoring and control unit corresponds to the destination address of a current parcel to be sorted is held stationary in a filling position in which the receptacle is positioned under the sorting outlet so as to receive a parcel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tiles, systems, and methods related to manufacturing bullnose or other non-straight edge tiles. The tiles can comprise a non-straight edge with one or more printed layers. The printed layers can comprise radiation curable inks or other fast-drying coatings. Upon exposure to a curing station, the layers cure quickly. This provides a printed and cured surface that very closely matches the rest of the tile. The tiles, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be of higher quality and can involve more efficient manufacturing than existing tiles, systems, and methods.

Abstract: A method of sorting a plurality of articles (A, B, C), in which each article goes through a sorting installation in at least two passes, comprises the steps of recording the image of each article that is generated during the first sorting pass in a memory and in correspondence with a data item indicating a sorting outlet to which the article is directed during the first sorting pass. If an article is misrouted, a correctly routed reference article is chosen in the vicinity of the misrouted article in the sequence of articles obtained during the last sorting pass, the memory is searched (22-28) for an image of said correctly routed reference article, and, on the basis of said reference article image, a set of article images grouped together in the memory and that includes the image of the reference article is looked through (29-34) to identify an image of the misrouted article.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for mining alluvial gold deposits. The methods can comprise collecting feed from alluvium and washing the feed at high pressure. The feed can be separated into a plurality of separate fractions. At least one fraction is transferred to a metal sensor system using a conveyer, wherein when gold is detected in a piece of the fraction, an air blast can be targeted and delivered at the piece, with the air blast diverting the piece to a receiving container.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for mining alluvial gold deposits. The methods can comprise collecting feed from alluvium and washing the feed at high pressure. The feed can be separated into a plurality of separate fractions. At least one fraction is transferred to a metal sensor system using a conveyer, wherein when gold is detected in a piece of the fraction, an air blast can be targeted and delivered at the piece, with the air blast diverting the piece to a receiving container.

Abstract: The disclosure describes apparatuses and methods of use that may be used to remove material with magnetic properties from compositions, particularly pharmaceutical compositions. The apparatuses provide a conduit or column in which a magnetic field exists and through which a composition flows. Magnetic material in the composition is substantially reduced after flowing through the conduit or column.

Abstract: A spin isolation apparatus comprising a particle source for emitting particles having spins, a receiving section for receiving the particles emitted by the particle source, a magnet for separating the particles into first particles having positive spins and second particles having negative spins, and a trajectory restricting section for isolating the first and the second particles received by the receiving section through restricting trajectories of the first particles and/or the second particles is provided. By applying this apparatus, particles having spins whose every sign is either one of the two signs can be mass-produced.

Abstract: A ferrous object detection circuit for use with automated document processing devices is provided for detecting and sorting documents affixed with ferrous objects such as staples and paper clips. A static magnetic field is positioned to intersect a document path. At least one inductive transducer is positioned relative to the magnetic field to detect changes in the magnetic field resulting from documents traveling along the document path. The movement of ferrous objects through the static magnetic field produces a detection signal in the inductive transducer, identifying the document as having a ferrous object.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a magnetic pattern having a plurality of spaced magnetic areas includes an array of magnetic sensors which are configured and spaced from each other to detect the spaced magnetic areas of a magnetic pattern brought into contiguity with the array. Electrical circuitry connects the array of magnetic sensors in series and a single source is provided for supplying current to the array of magnetic sensors through the electrical circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for verifying the presence or, conversely, determining that one or more ferromagnetic components is missing from an inspected assembly. The apparatus includes a scanning head that creates a magnetic field. An assembly having one or more ferromagnetic components is located in a predetermined position relative to the magnetic field. A load cell subassembly of the scanning head produces an output signal representative of its movement, which movement is proportional to the number and location of ferromagnetic components in the assembly. The apparatus further includes a processing network that processes the output signal in order to provide an indication as to whether or not one or more ferromagnetic components is missing from the assembly. In conjunction with such processing, previously obtained reference values are compared with the determined magnitude obtained by processing the output signal from the load cell subassembly.

Abstract: An ejection station for a conveyor sorter having a carrousel ejector wheel with reciprocating fingers. The ejector wheel has a front side mounted adjacent the edge of the supply conveyor belt. The bottom of the wheel moves at substantially the same speed as the belt and in the same direction. The ejector fingers are mounted around the outer surface of the wheel and move axially out of the front side over the conveyor belt to eject items from the belt. Operation of a finger is initiated when the nib of the finger enters a V-shaped guide groove. As the wheel rotates, the nib moves along one leg of the "V" pushing the finger out. At the middle of the groove, the direction of the finger reverses and the nib moves along the other leg of the "V" retracting the finger into the wheel.

Abstract: Sidewalls of cans from one filling and closing line are magnetized to provide each with a north pole oriented toward the can top. Sidewalls of cans from another filling and closing line are magnetized to provide each with a south pole oriented toward the can top. These tagged cans are randomly merged into one line for further processing without mixing up can top orientations, for instance, for cooking in a conveyor-fed continuous cooker in order to keep the cooker operating nearer full capacity. Then, each can passes a magnetic sensing station where one (top) end of each can is investigated by a probe which senses whether that end is a north pole or a south pole. The sensing station commands a diverter downstream which shunts the cans sensed as having north pole ends into a different line from the cans sensed as having south pole ends.