Abstract: A high rise recycling system for a multi-story building comprises a vertical chute extending from the bottom to top floor, discharge openings on each floor, a rotatable chute at the lower end to discharge garbage into a compactor and to discharge recyclable glass, paper, aluminum and plastic into a selective discharge assembly which selectively discharges each of the separate items into respective containers for such separate items. A control circuit having control switches on each floor controls operation of the selective discharge assembly. A power circuit drives a conveyor belt which carries the recyclable items through the selective discharge assembly to their respective discharge outlets for deposit into their respective containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing wood chips for use in the preparation of pulp in a papermaking operation including a conduit for accommodating a flow stream of wood chips, a rotary valve in the conduit, shunt branch conduits with a first shunt leading to a chip dumping bin and a second shunt leading to a chip processing device; dampers in the branches with the damper for the first shunt branch being in normally closed position and a damper in the other shunt branch being in a normally open position; and a metal detection device upstream of the branches operative to move the first damper to open position and the second damper to closed position for a predetermined time and to stop the rotary valve and to reactivate the dampers and rotary valve after a predetermined time.

Abstract: An apparatus which collects recyclable refuse in sorted compartments. Through either automatic sensors or through an operator panel, the apparatus determines the contents of the refuse and directs it to the proper compartment or container. In this manner, recyclable material such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastics, etc. are easily sorted to encourage the recycling of this material. Further, periodically, the refuse within the compartments are compacted and disinfected to reduce handling requirements and odors.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating selected categories of solid waste (trash) within a home or building and containing outside of the home or building the various recyclable and non-recyclable solid waste which accumulates within the home or building. The apparatus comprises a main chamber having a sloped floor and two or more aligned bins, two wing-shaped chambers, each wing-shaped chamber having a bin, pivoted doors leading into each aligned bin, a swinging gate leading into each bin within the wing-shaped chambers, and mechanism to be actuated by the homeowner/tenant for opening and/or closing each door and gate depending upon the category of recyclable or non-recyclable solid waste being deposited within the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating waste collection so as to enable a plurality of users to simultaneously deposit separated waste according to a predetermined schedule in multi-story buildings having at least one substantially vertical trash chute with access doors thereto located on a plurality of the stories, comprising and carrying out the steps of scheduling a type of waste to be collected during a specified interval of time; generating a waste signal representing the type of waste and an interval signal representing the interval of time; positioning a corresponding waste collection container so as to receive the type of waste during the interval of time; and displaying the waste signal and the interval signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inspection apparatus for peripheral surfaces of nuclear fuel pellets which includes a handling unit, an image pick-up device, a judging device and a sorting unit. The handling unit holds a prescribed number of nuclear fuel pellets in a line and rotates the same on their axes. The image pick-up device is disposed adjacent to the handling unit, and picks up image data as to the peripheral surfaces of the nuclear fuel pellets. The judging device is operably connected to the image pick-up device, and analyzes the image data outputted from the image pick-up device to output judging signals. The sorting unit is operably connected to the judging device and separates defective pellets from non-defective pellets based on the judging signals. The sorting unit includes a plurality of sorting members and actuators. The sorting members are disposed adjacent to the handling unit so as to correspond to the nuclear fuel pellets, respectively.

Abstract: Method for stacking substantially flat products such as meat patties. Rows of patties are conveyed under a metal detector and then to a sigmoidal slide. Patties contaminated with metal trigger the metal detector to send a signal to the slide. Upon receipt of a signal from the metal detector, the slide pivots in a manner to dispose of metal contaminated patties. Uncontaminated patties are conveyed down the slide without flipping over and onto a second lower conveyor having a plurality of vertical blades mounted thereto, between which patties are received in stacks. An optical counter is mounted to count patties conveyed down the slide. The counter is in communication with the second indexed conveyor and signals such conveyor to move forward after a predetermined number of patties have been stacked between two adjacent vertical blades on the indexed conveyor.

Abstract: A system for discriminating radiation-contaminated fragments on the basis of a predetermined radioactive concentration includes a detection device for detecting the radiation of the fragments, the detection device having a generally vertically-extending path of transfer of the fragments, at least one radiation detector disposed at one of the inside and outside of asid transfer path, and a transfer device for sequentially transferring the fragments in the transfer path; a convey device for conveying the fragments to said detection device; and a controller for determining the radioactive concentration of the fragments in accordance with the radiation detected by the detection device and for judging whether or not the radioactive concentration of the fragments is the predetermined radioactive concentration. The controller is also operable to control the transfer device so as to adjust the speed of transfer of the fragments in the transfer path.

Abstract: A first rotatable conveyor section (16) is positioned axially between upper and lower fixed sections (14,18) of a gravity conveyor. Rotatable conveyor section (16) rotates about an axis extending perpendicular to the conveyor section. A gate (42,44) is provided at each end of the rotatable conveyor section (16). An identification device (84) is positioned upstream of the rotatable conveyor section (16). It identifies the end-to-end orientation of an article (10) which is travelling along the gravity conveyor (12). A computer controls the gates (42,44) and a mechanism (104) for rotating the rotatable conveyor section (16). When an article (10) having an improper end-to-end orientation is encountered, the rotatable conveyor section (16) is rotated 180.degree. for the purpose of reversing the article's orientation. A second rotatable conveyor section (120) is mounted for sideways rotation about an axis which extends longitudinally of the slide conveyor (12).

Abstract: A control method for a sheet sorter including a plurality of sorting bins, a sheet discharger for discharging sheets to the sort bins and a driver for moving the sort bins to present the sort bins to the discharger includes moving the sorting bins at a first speed in association with receipt of the sheet by one of the sorting bins and moving the sorting bins at a second speed in association with a discharge interval between the sheets discharged by the sheet discharger, by controlling the driver.

Abstract: Apparatus for concentrating gold-containing particulate material includes a housing containing an endless conveyor belt the upper stretch of which is inclined in the direction of its movement. An infeed hopper adjacent the upper end of the belt functions to deposit gold-containing particulate material on the upwardly moving upper stretch of the belt, and said stretch is inclined sufficiently to cause the particulate material to move downwardly over the upwardly moving upper stretch in a manner to effectuate classification of the particulate material by gravity separation into a minor fraction of valuable particles of smaller size and heavier specific gravity, including fine and microfine gold particles, and a major fraction of tailings particles of larger size and lighter specific gravity.

Abstract: A rotary drum log sorter for sorting logs received from a log feeder adjacent to the log sorter. A circular rotating drum is mounted to a frame and has a set of circumferential pockets for receiving logs from the log feeder as the pocket rotates to a position adjacent to the log feeder. Gates are provided which are mounted to the frame and adjacent to the rotating drum. The gates can be in a closed position so that a log in a pocket of the drum is prevented from leaving the packet as the pocket rotates past the closed gate. The gates also can be in an open position which will allow a log to drop from the pocket. An operator using conventional controls linked to the gates can selectively permit a log to drop from a pocket into a given collection bin.

Abstract: Refuse collecting and conveying apparatus for recycling various types of trash is provided which will separate and collect specific varieties of trash in exterior trash cans to be conveyed to a recycling plant.

Abstract: A method of optically checking the appearances of chips and sorting the chips comprises the steps of feeding chips onto chip-passage body to cause the chips to run on the chip-passage body in a predetermined direction; during the running of the chips on the chip-passage body, individually separating the chips to stop the chips one by one at each of two predetermined checking positions; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to a chip at one of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of one of undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a first TV camera; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to the chip at the other of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of the other of the undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a second TV camera; sending the video signals to image processing sections, each of which includes at least an analog-to-digital conversion un

Abstract: A conveying system for crowns used to cap containers having a portion thereof adapted to detect and eject bent crowns comprising a conveyor chute for permitting the gravity feed of bent and unbent crowns therethrough, a conventional crown orienting apparatus for orienting each crown to be in the same relationship and a transfer system between the conveyor chute and the crown orienting apparatus for transferring crowns between the conveyor chute and the crown orienting apparatus and wherein the transfer system has a movable bent crown detecting apparatus for stopping the movement of bent crowns therethrough but permitting the movement of unbent crowns therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the elevation of the head of a flush head countersunk fastener (e.g., a bolt or a rivet) before installation, is disclosed. Fasteners (21) to be measured are dropped, one at a time, into a precisely sized hole (69a or 69b) in a split gauge block (63) such that the heads of the fasteners protrude above the upper surface of the gauge block. The magnitude of head protrusion or elevation above the upper surface of the gauge block is measured by a head elevation measuring instrument (43). If the measured value lies within an acceptable range, a signal suitable for use in controlling the countersink depth of the hole that is to receive the fastener is produced and the fastener is forwarded to a fastener insertion machine. If the measured value lies outside of the acceptable range, the fastener is rejected.

Abstract: Contaminated portions of bulk material are removed from a flow of bulk material with the aid of a flow or drop pipe in a casing that is movable back and forth between a discharge position and a normal flow position. The flow or drop pipe is equipped with baffle plates or bends for sufficiently retarding the free flow of the flowable bulk material to enable a detector and control mechanism to respond to the presence of contaminations and to then move the casing for the discharge of a contaminated portion of bulk material. The movement of the casing of the flow pipe assures that a slide gate or a portion of the casing closes the upper inlet to prevent the further flow of bulk material when the casing is in a discharge position. Due to the retardation of the free flow of the bulk material, it is possible to construct the apparatus with a substantially shorter structural height than was possible heretofore.

Abstract: An automatic disk testing apparatus and method for testing flexible disks is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gravity feed disk hopper and vacuum disk plate which sequentially present a series of disks for test. Each disk drops by gravity from the vacuum disk plate to a test position including a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotates the disk, in its disk jacket, at a predetermined rotational speed for testing. Each disk is tested and the test results are stored in memory. After testing, the disk is automatically sorted and moved to an output location based on the test results. The sorting is accomplished by dropping the tested disk into a motor driven shuttle which conveys the disk to the proper output location and drops the disk at that location.

Abstract: The device comprises a flat element (9), mounted on a pivot (12) substantially lying in the plane of symmetry of the conveyor belts, and having a stroke that runs from a first lateral sorting position of the carried objects (8), to a second symmetrical position with respect to the pivot, and moreover a set of chutes (7) with convergent axis, placed symmetrically and below on both sides with respect to this pivot, to convey the objects being transported to their respective containers (3), situated below said chutes, said stroke being controlled by a suitable actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selectively sorting objects which comprises a fixed conveyor table having guide rails thereon and an endless conveyor member movable over the table. The conveyor member is formed of a plurality of connected plates which each have a slot therein and which each include a slidably mounted pushing element. The pushing element includes a throttle planet wheel comprising at least two spaced rollers engageable with the rail to move the slider transversely across the respective plate. Objects are thus discharged from the conveyor at selected stations spaced along the conveyor travel path. Each station is provided with a multi-positioned hopper which can supply the discharge object into one of a plurality of containers.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for receiving an integrated circuit (10) presented at a pick-up station (22), transferring the integrated circuit (10) laterally to a spaced output chute (84, 90), and depositing the integrated circuit (10) into said chute (84, 90). The device includes a shuttle (24) mounted for pivotal and lateral movement on a shaft (40). The shuttle (24) is driven by an angled arm (62) mounted pivotally beneath the shuttle (24). The arm (62) is pivoted about an axis by means of a motor (56) and a linking shaft (52). A housing (76) carried by the arm (62) at an end thereof opposite the end by which it is pivoted encases and holds therein a spherical bearing (78) which is free to swivel within the housing (76) for rotation about three mutually perpendicular axes. The bearing (78) has an aperture (80) formed therethrough. The aperture (80) accommodates a rod (72) carried by the shuttle (24) at its underside.

Abstract: In apparatus for disposing DIP leads in a predetermined and preselected condition of straightness and orientation, a trackway for operatively supporting and moving DIPs therealong from a loading station to a discharge station, a forming station positioned along the trackway subsequent to said entrance station. The forming station includes laterally spaced rotatable forming rollers on opposite sides of the trackway, anvils confronting the inner faces of the leads between the forming rollers and anvils. The rollers and anvil having cooperating confronting surfaces adapted to engage the DIP leads adjacent the shoulder to the outer terminal ends, the forming rollers cooperatively associated with the anvils and spaced therefrom to define a nip gap. DIPs are moved through the nip gap whereby DIP leads are contacted to align them in predetermined orientation and at a predetermined angle relative to the body portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing electrical harnesses, the apparatus comprising a wire feed path extending horizontally and axially of the apparatus, a connector attaching device located alongside the wire feed path. The attaching device includes a punch and a die to press the wires into the connectors, and a cutter located adjacent to the punch and die such that the cutter is operated independently of the punch and die. A wire measuring and feeding device is reciprocally movable along the wire feed path, with the wire measuring and feeding device including an intermittently movable chuck enabling the connected-attached wires to be pulled to a desired length. A connector selecting and supplying device enables the connectors having a desired number of poles to be selected from connectors and supplied onto the die. A wire selecting and supplying device includes a chuck for selecting the wires which correspond to the selected connectors and supplying the selected wires to the connector attaching device.

Abstract: A remote optical inspection system including an inspection head. The inspection head has a passageway through which pellets or other objects are passed. A window is provided along the passageway through which light is beamed against the objects being inspected. A plurality of lens assemblies are arranged about the window so that reflected light can be gathered and transferred to a plurality of coherent optical fiber light guides. The light guides transfer the light images to a television or other image transducer which converts the optical images into a representative electronic signal. The electronic signal can then be displayed on a signal viewer such as a television monitor for inspection by a person. A staging means can be used to support the objects for viewing through the window. Routing means can be used to direct inspected objects into appropriate exit passages for accepted or rejected objects. The inspected objects are advantageously fed in a singular manner to the staging means and routing means.

Abstract: Capacitor blanks (10) are gravity advanced down an inclined chute (22) into engagement with a flipper vane (36) whereat one (18) of a pair of oppositely disposed test probes (18) and (19) is advanced to engage and push the capacitor blank into engagement with the other probe. If the capacitor blank is not engaged by the test probes so that a predetermined minimum capacitance reading is attained by a test set (29), the test probe (18) is withdrawn and a signal generated to control the operation of the flipper vane (36) which functions to thrust the capacitor back up the chute. Upon proper positioning of the capacitor and completion of a test, the flipper vane is again operated in such a fashion that the tested capacitor passes to a sorting device (61, 64, and 65) which directs the capacitor blank into either an accept recepticle (62) or reject recepticle (63).

Abstract: Poultry necks severed from poultry bodies during production line processing are gravitationally conveyed across a load platform of a weighing device to detect and direct heavier necks along a separate path for subsequent reassembly with poultry bodies. The load platform in its unloaded position is coplanar with an inclined slide surface onto which the severed necks are dropped from the neck cutter. A weight limit above which the heavier necks are detected is established to control the proportion of heavier necks selected for reassembly.

Abstract: A component sorting apparatus (110), (210) having a shuttle carrier (142), (278) on which are provided a pair of shuttle rails (116), (118) and (216), (218) spaced from one another in fixed relation a distance determined by the spacing between any two contiguous paths (122), (222) of an output tray (120), (220) associated with the shuttle carriage. By this arrangement, each of the rails of the shuttle (114), (214) need travel only one half of the width of the associated output tray; a distance corresponding to roughly one half of the number of outputs, depending on whether there are even or odd number of same. It is proposed to employ either a slide-crank mechanism (164), (166), (170) or a capstan/encoder drive system (306) for reciprocating the dual shuttle (114), (214), largely depending on the number of output paths provided in the apparatus.

Abstract: Drills (35), vertically oriented in a row/column array in a drill block (31), are moved in the column direction across a slot (49) located at a loading station (41). As the drills in each partially or fully occupied row reach the slot and drop, drill block movement halts. Thereafter a vertically oriented turn-over tube (51) is moved in the row direction beneath the slot (49). When an occupied drill position is reached, the drill drops into the turn-over tube, tube row movement temporarily halts, and the tube is rotated. The drill slides out of the turn-over tube (51) and down the channel (59) of a measuring station (43) until it hits a movable stop (61). After drill diameter is measured by a pneumatically positioned LVDT (87) and overall drill length is measured by a pneumatically positioned linear potentiometer (69)/proximity detector (PX3) combination, the stop (61) is withdrawn and the drill enters a clamp (95), which grips the adapter shank of the drill.

Abstract: The invention relates to the measurement of the shade of a particle. The particle is illuminated with light of variable intensity and viewed against a background level of illumination. A measurement is made of the ratio of time for which the intensity of light from the particle exceeds the intensity of the background to obtain a measurement of the shade of the particle.

Abstract: Workpieces (10; FIG. 7), differing from each other only in their color, are optically sorted by illuminating the workpieces with a light beam (13) of stable color temperature. The diffuse reflection from the workpieces is analyzed by three photo-detectors, each of which is filtered to respond to a different color. Two of the colors are primary colors, as defined by the Tristimulus Theory. The third color is not a true primary color but, when added to a percentage of one of the other two colors, effectively synthesizes the third primary color. A workpiece is identified by comparing the set of Tristimulus signals it generates with a look-up table stored in the memory (25) of a microprocessor (17).

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting workpieces belonging to different classification classes from a loading device, to a plurality of outputs for the different classification classes, comprising a quide chute to direct the workpieces towards the relevant outputs and control apparatus adapted to receive signals responsive to the class of each workpiece in order to actuate the guide chute, the guide chute including a support adapted to let the workpiece to be sorted while in transit from the loading device to the relevant output, the support including a first end communicating with the loading device and a second end mobile in order to be selectively placed in communication with one of the outputs, the control apparatus being adapted to position the second end in correspondence to the output related to the workpiece to be sorted.

Abstract: A method of eliminating hot spots in a mass of sponge iron particles made by gaseous reduction of iron ore. A layer of the particulate product is moved to a separating station, near which the layer is viewed by an infra-red detector that generates a control signal when insufficiently cooled particles register therewith. The control signal is used to shift the position of a particle guide member at the separating station to cause insufficiently cooled particles to be diverted from the main particle stream. Preferably the separation is carried out in two stages. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in sorting a succession of articles which are moving along a path, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of receiving devices arrangeable to move adjacent to the succession of articles travelling along the path, so that over at least a part of the path each article moves in unison with one of the receiving devices; means for transferring each article to a receiving device as it moves in unison with the article, and a plurality of delivery stations past which the receiving devices travel, each receiving device being operable to feed an article which it has received to any one of the delivery stations as the receiving device passes the delivery station.