Abstract: A method is proposed for recovering valuable substances, particularly from construction site wastes and industrial trash as well as a system for implementing the method in which the essential sorters are disposed in a closed container which can be placed onto an elevated foundation. The foundation is formed by intersecting walls which simultaneously serve as partitions for various bunkers.

Abstract: A self-contained chute includes a hood directed through a dwelling wall, with the hood including a first and second respective conduit aligned with a direction chute formed with a chute first and second conduit, with the direction chute fixedly mounted to the dwelling wall exterior surface terminating in a chute lower distal end spaced above a chute housing floor. The chute housing floor includes respective first and second doors receiving a vehicular cart for support of a respective first and second receptacle. The respective first and second receptacle is aligned with the respective first and second chute conduit permitting removal of the first and second receptacle by use of the vehicular cart for storage space within the associated dwelling.

Abstract: For the separate dumping or sorting of different materials, especially household garbage, a plurality of containers of complementary shaping is provided. The containers can be arranged to form a compact unit consisting of a plurality of containers. The containers have preferably triangular or trapezoidal base outline and in the side view, the containers are made substantially trapezoidal.

Abstract: A waste disposal chute assembly is disclosed for segregating waste material in a multi-story building. The chute assembly has a plurality of laterally adjacent chutes, which may be nested together. Each chute has a plurality of elongate, longitudinal, telescoping members. The telescoping members have an inlet port, an outlet port and a telescoping portion. Seam cleats are provided to facilitate the unobstructed telescoping of the telescoping members into those below. Laterally adjacent telescoping members are attached and each chute has an opening to provide access thereto. Each opening may be covered by a door which is adapted to provide access to more than one opening. The chute assembly is retained in the multi-story structure.

Abstract: An arrangement for presorting recyclable materials includes a first sector-shaped plastic bag having a first opening, a second sector-shaped plastic bag having a second opening, and a third sector-shaped plastic bag having a third opening. A first connector connects the first sector-shaped plastic bag to the second sector-shaped plastic bag near the first and second openings such that the second sector-shaped plastic bag can be disconnected from the first sector-shaped plastic bag to allow connection of a fourth sector-shaped plastic bag (that is identical to the second sector-shaped plastic bag) to the first sector-shaped plastic bag without having to remove the first sector-shaped plastic bag.

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: In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of conduits extending from a kitchen area to bins in a level beneath the kitchen. In one embodiment, the upper ends of the conduits are concealed behind a vertical panel hinged at the lower edge to an "island" cabinet and forming a surface of the cabinet. The upper ends of the conduits are accessed by rotating the panel outwardly from the cabinet to expose the ends.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for storing and collecting separated solid waste. The apparatus is a chambered container which includes a container body defining a first chamber for receiving a first waste, and a lid covering an open end of the body. The lid includes a base portion for defining a second chamber for receiving a second waste and a cover for covering the base portion. The system further includes a collection vehicle divided into two compartments, a robot arm for hoisting the chambered container up and over the vehicle, and a pair of guide rails for engaging the lid of the container for causing the contents of the first chamber to fall into one compartment of the vehicle and for causing the contents of the second chamber to fall into the other compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of sorting a mixed group of plastic articles, such as PET and PVC containers, involves individually subjecting each article to a beam of electromagnetic radiation, and detecting a change in the intensity of the beam. The measured intensity varies in a manner indicative of the crystallinity of the plastic from which the article is made, and hence identifies the type of plastic the article is made of. Each article is then sent to one of a plurality of destinations, such as recycling collection bins, according to the type of plastic. The method is particularly useful in separating PET and PVC used in containers, since these plastics are very difficult to sort by conventional methods.

Abstract: The invention is a parts sorting tray in which small parts of any similar nature may be isolated and dumped into individual containers after they have been separated into four (or more) sorting chutes; the tray, to be known as "Quick Sort" uses only gravity to function, and can be easily cast from a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene.

Abstract: An apparatus for recycling waste materials includes a first conveyor for conveying a combination of waste material including magnetic responsive metals, magentic non-responsive metals, glass materials in both large and small particles, and plastics. A magnetic separator is positioned to receive the waste materials from the first conveyor and is capable of removing the magnetic responsive metals. A vibrating shaker screen then receives the waste materials and by virtue of its vibration causes the smaller broken glass to pass through spaces in the screen. Next, an air sorter including a large blower receives the waste materials and blows a stream of air across the waste materials so as to blow the lighter metals, such as aluminum and the plastics away from the remaining large glass materials, such as bottles. The glass bottles are carried away on a second conveyor, and the aluminum and plastics are carried away on a third conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic trash disposal system (20) employing a trash discharge station (56) located internally of a building structure (22) and having a plurality of dedicated trash disposal ports (60P, 60M, 60G, 60NR) for receipt of different categories of recyclable trash items and/or non-recyclable trash items; a remotely located trash housing (21) exterior of the building structure (22) and housing a plurality of dedicated removable trash receptacles (36, 38, 39, 40); conduits (64P, 64M, 64G, 64NR) coupling the trash disposal ports (60P, 60M, 60G, 60NR) with respective different ones of the remotely located dedicated trash receptacles (36, 38, 39, 40); and, a blower/motor combination (68/79) for drawing a vacuum in the enclosed remotely located trash housing (21) and the conduits (64P, 64M, 64G, 64NR) for vacuum transferal of items of trash inserted into a particular one of the interior trash disposal ports (60P, 60M, 60 G, 60NR) to a particular one of the remotely located dedicated trash receptacles (36, 38, 39, 40

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the sorting of material in which a rigid rack includes a plurality of horizontally extending elements arranged in vertically spaced arrangement, and a plurality of bags are removably supported on the horizontally extending elements for receiving material therein. The horizontally extending elements and the bag members are respectively constructed and arranged to hold the bag members with their mouth portions stretched open and facing forwardly one above the other on the rack. The rack further includes elements for maintaining the bag members substantially horizontally one above the other with their mouth portions open. The bag members are selectively removed from the frame with the inserted material therein by horizontally sliding the bag member off the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the sorting of material in which a rigid rack includes a plurality of horizontally extending elements arranged in vertically spaced arrangement, and a plurality of bags are removably supported on the horizontally extending elements for receiving material therein. The horizontally extending elements and the bag members are respectively constructed and arranged to hold the bag members with their mouth portions stretched open and facing forwardly one above the other on the rack. The rack further includes elements for maintaining the bag members substantially horizontally one above the other with their mouth portions open. The bag members are selectively removed from the frame with the inserted material therein by horizontally sliding the bag member off the frame.

Abstract: A classifying receptacle for the temporary storage of automobile fasteners and method of employing the same is disclosed. The receptacle comprises a replica of an automobile and includes storage compartments correlated positionwise on the receptacle to the likely location of fasteners to be removed from an actual automobile. The receptacle is used by disposing parts removed from the automobile in the compartments of the receptacle most closely analogous to the location from which the fasteners were removed from the actual automobile, reassociation of the removed fasteners with the automobile being expedited by reference to locations within the receptacle corresponding to complemental locations on the actual automobile.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for inspecting and grading a grain sample involves the use of a first tray having an upwardly-facing grooved surface on which kernels of grain can be arranged in rows for a first inspection. A second tray is placed on top of the first ray and has a resiliently compressible deformable surface which faces downwardly and bears against kernels in the grooved surface of the first tray so as to entrap and immobilize any kernels of grain on the first tray. Both trays are then overturned so that resilient surface of the second tray faces upwardly and grooved surface of the said tray faces downwardly. When said first tray is removed from association with the second tray, the kernels, now overturned, are arranged on the resilient surface of the second tray and are ready for further inspection.

Abstract: A mail sorting case having a plurality of shelves, each of which is divided into a plurality of letter receiving slots defined by vertically extending, spaced, parallel partitions swingably supported from above, includes mechanism to swingingly withdraw the partitions to substantially horizontal position against the underside of the top panel of their respective shelves to provide for the sorting of flat mail by placement on the bottom panel of the respective shelves. Mechanism is also included for simultaneously erecting flats divider partitions swingingly supported against the bottom panel of the shelves and normally lying flat thereagainst.

Abstract: A sort tray characterized by two sorting sections hinged together along a common wall. The sorting sections, which are substantially mirror images of each other, can be folded together to allow compact storage of the sort tray. Sliding gates are provided at the mouths of the sorting sections to permit the contents of one of the sorting sections to be poured out without pouring out the contents of the other section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ova removed from fowl moving along a poultry processing line. Ova are removed from the fowl shortly before inspection, and the removed ova are transferred to a separate ova conveyor. One or more ova-ejection stations are located along the ova conveyor, which operates at a speed correlated to the speed of the bird conveyor line. If a defective fowl is detected by inspection after removal of ova, ova are ejected from a corresponding location along the ova conveyor, thereby ejecting any ova removed from the defective fowl. Ova reaching the end of the conveyor are collected for use.

Abstract: A method for linen handling in a hospital or similar institutions uses non-iron sheets with color coded thread and corresponding color net containers to simplify and facilitate handling and distribution of linens. A daily bed care unit has a set of linens for a complete bed change. In one embodiment, essentially all transport and laundering of linens takes place in net containers.

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: A sorting method and apparatus for sorting steel products such as bars, rods, shapes and tubular products which are delivered in a random manner, according to the ordered lengths, sizes and so forth. The steel products are made to stay on a sorting apparatus temporarily. Then, pieces of products of the same class are successively selected and forwarded to a bundling bed from the sorting apparatus, while the latter receives a new piece of steel products. This operation is repeated for successive classes to sort the steel products into a plurality of classes having different ordered lengths, sizes or other sorting condition. The sorting apparatus has a vertically movable sorting roller table and a sorting truck arranged in a side-by-side relation to the sorting roller table and movable in the direction normal to the direction of movement of the steel products.

Abstract: A stone sorting apparatus for viewing stones individually through a microscope includes a platform having a reservoir adjacent a surface thereof for storing the stones. One end of a rod projects upward through an opening disposed at the bottom of the reservoir, the rod adapted to slide along the opening, and having at the one end a concave indentation facing upward and shaped to support one of the stones. Connected to the other end of the rod is means for sliding the one end of the rod between a first position within the reservoir, and a second position outside the reservoir, whereat the one end is positioned exactly within the field of view of an objective of the microscope such that a stone supported by the indentation is disposed precisely at the focal length of the microscope objective.

Abstract: A box for separating articles, such as seeds, small stones, or the like, from other materials, such as leaves, flowers, sand, soil, or the like, is formed from an integral blank which can be easily folded into a set-up configuration. The box can also be folded into a flat envelope or storage container which is conveniently carried in a pocket, such as a shirt pocket, or the like.

Abstract: A tray for counting a discrete number of pills or capsules from a bulk supply including a housing having a bottom wall, two vertical opposed sidewalls and a pair of arcuate-shaped end walls that are arranged to turn upwardly and inwardly from the bottom wall. A divider extends between the two sidewalls or the housing to separate it into two individual compartments. A horizontal platform is removably supported upon the top of the divider in contiguous relationship with the end walls to establish elongated entrances to each compartment therebetween. In operation a bulk supply of pills or capsules is deposited upon the platform and the desired amount counted out using a conventional spatula. The counted tablets are passed into the entrance of one compartment while the overage remaining on the platform is passed into the other thereby positively segregating the tablets.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus and method for sorting mail matter. The apparatus comprises a cabinet including a series of rows of pigeonholes, each pigeonhole having in registry therewith indicia provided on a shiftable support setting forth destination information, as well as related code information, for the mail matter to be placed therein. One indicia-bearing support is provided for each row of pigeonholes, and the indicia are arranged thereon in sets. The full complement of indicia-bearing supports are simultaneously shiftable between multiple given positions corresponding to the number of sets of indicia.The method is carried out by first positioning the full complement of supports to display a primary set of indicia. The destination of the uncoded mail matter to be sorted is matched with the indicia of the primary set and deposited in the appropriate pigeonhole.

Abstract: A substrate grader accepts or rejects a substrate depending upon the degree of warp and then sorts the accepted substrates according to a dimension thereof. The grader comprises a first plate which is U-shaped and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal, the two arms of the first plate extending above the base thereof. A first elongated member (or lower guide) that is attached to the front of the base has a straight side which is adjacent to and spaced a short distance away from the opening in the first plate. A second elongated member, that is attached to the back of the free ends of the arms, supports a second plate (or upper guide) thereon which extends between the arms, which has a top surface in a plane containing the top surfaces of the arms and base, and which has a stepped edge in the opening.