Abstract: The present invention reveals an automated sorting device capable of receiving articles from an input source, correctly choosing among which of many output destinations to direct the articles, and transferring those articles without slowing the sorting process. To accomplish its purpose, a sorting conveyor is pivoted at its receiving end about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. The sorting conveyor is cradled within a vertically moveable carriage which, in turn, is mounted within a horizontally moveable frame. The frame is driven horizontally and the carriage driven vertically to align the conveyor's output end with each output destination. In a preferred embodiment, tracks attached to a support structure stabilize the frame and a controller positions the frame and carriage in response to destination indicia associated with each article to be sorted.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating cutlery from food waste, such as for use in a restaurant, includes a glacis which is angled toward the opening of a waste container. Extending from an end of the glacis are a set of flaps having a closed position whereby they guide the food waste into the waste container, and having an open position whereby they separate and expose a receptacle for receiving cutlery. A detector is disposed relative to the glacis for detecting a cutlery item inadvertently mixed with the food waste on the glacis. If a cutlery item is sensed by the detector, the flaps are caused to open and the cutlery item falls into the cutlery receptacle, thereby the cutlery is separated from the food waste.

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 device for sorting rod-like articles, for example cigarettes, according to their weight. The device feeds a single article from a hopper into a channel with the aid of two ribbed drums. The article then drops into a groove in a delivery shaft where it is tipped onto a series of "V"-shaped members located on the top of a balance. The weight of the article is determined and the article is then ejected by lifting arms onto the top wall of a ramp. The article is allowed to roll freely down the ramp. A microprocessor causes one of a number of doors in the top wall of the ramp to open according to the weight of the aritcle and the article then drops into a compartment below the ramp.

Abstract: Apparatus for changing the direction of movement of cylindrical bodies which are moving over a support surface in a first path by forming an opening in the support surface and mounting a diversion gate for reciprocal movement between first and second locations so that, when the diversion gate is at the first location, the cylindrical bodies will continue to move in the first path, but when the diversion gate is at the second location, the cylindrical bodies will be diverted from movement in a second path.

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: An apparatus for testing and sorting electronic components comprises a testing device (4), an output magazine (3) having several parallel receiving ducts (34) for receiving tested components (8) and a component conveyor device (7) including a carriage (36) arranged between the testing device (4) and the output magazine (3) to move transversely to the receiving ducts (34) along a support rod (37) and an eccentric rod (38). The carriage is so engaged with the eccentric rod (38) that when the eccentric rod (38) is rotated at any position of the carriage (36) along the receiving ducts (34) the carriage swivels about the support rod (37) from a stop position to a release position to release a component (8) carried thereby to the adjacent receiving duct (34).

Abstract: Paperback books are fed one by one from a supply hopper to a stripper which separates the cover from the rest of the book and directs the book cover to a sorter; while directing the rest of the book for other disposition. A feed device receive each cover from the stripper and moves it to a sorter so that covers are spaced from each other a distance equal to the size of a bin of the cover sorter. Computer and electronic controls interconnect the supply feed, stripper and sorter, and include: a trigger, in the form of a notched wheel cooperating with a photocell circuit, to trigger required cover spacing; a senser to read UPC markings carried by the cover; and control and computer components to divert covers to appropriate sorting bins while counting the covers so sorted. Feed controls are provided to maintain cover feed through the sorter until all covers are sorted, even though feed of books from the supply hopper has ceased.

Abstract: A system for initially separating injection molded plastic parts from the sprue and runner assemblies formed therewith. The system is primarily intended for in situ use with an injection molding machine and includes a hopper-like structure having a supporting surface adapted to receive the plastic product from the molding machine and thereafter effect a separation thereof by means of the sequential operation of first and second barriers preferably within the time frame of a single cycle of the injection molding machine. The parts are delivered to a storage container while the sprue and runner assemblies are granulated.

Abstract: A contaminant sorting device for sorting contaminant material such as metal and rocks from process materials such as wood chips which are intended to be subsequently processed, comprises a material receiving surface upon which a layer of material is deposited which material contains both contaminant and process material, an impact sensing device for sensing vibrations of the material receiving surface upon impact of the material thereon, an electronic circuit for distinguishing between signals generated by impact of contaminant material from signals generated by impact of process material and for providing an output signal in response to receipt of a contaminant material signal, a flow diverting plate downstream from the material receiving surface which is activated by the signal produced in response to impact of the contaminant material so that the normal flow path of the layer of material is interrupted so as to divert that portion of material containing contaminant material to a separate receptacle, and ti