Abstract: A system, methodology, and product to sort, organize and store individual members of building/construction toy sets utilizing a multi-level system of bins with sieves at different heights using user applied forces and gravity to automatically sort and organize pieces into bins, while providing a fun hands-on sorting experience for kids. The location, size and shape of the sieves can be designed to optimize sorting speed and user experience for specific toy manufacturer brands including Lego™ bricks made by Lego Corporation. The system also functions as a storage unit for the pieces, during and after sort. A flexible binding mechanism holds the system together during sort. The system is designed with see-through materials to monitor the status of the sort and find specific pieces in respective bins. A set of wheels enables mobility. The “hands-on” involvement in sorting also makes this an entertaining and educational apparatus for kids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for directing indicator-based sortation of shipments are described. In various embodiments, a control system may be configured to utilize indicators to direct the sortation of items in a materials handling facility, such as an order fulfillment center tasked with fulfilling customer orders for one or more items. For a given unsorted item, the control system may cause an indicator to indicate to which of multiple sorting slots the given item is to be placed, thereby sorting the item to its respective shipment assigned to the sorting slot. In various embodiments, the shipment sorting units may be serviced from a rebin side as well as a pack side. The control system may be configured to prioritize the processing of such shipments by utilizing indicators associated with respective shipment sorting slots on the pack side to indicate a priority for processing a given shipment.

Abstract: An elutriation column is installed in a separation tank. The elutriation column includes a vertical separation column having a first side feed arm and a second side overflow arm spaced above the first side feed arm. Water is forced upwardly through the vertical separation column at a controllable velocity. A solid feed mixture is fed through the first side feed arm to the vertical separation column. Water from the tank rising in the vertical separation column at the controlled velocity causes targeted floater materials to move upwardly in the vertical separation column and heavier sinker materials to continue to sink. The floater materials flow from an outlet in the side of the separation tank into the recovery tank. At a discharge, lower end of the vertical separation column, the heavier sinker materials are removed from the separation tank. A mechanism is provided for purging undesirable materials that can cause plugging from the feed arm.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for tensioning a screen in a vibrating screen separator of the type having a box structure defined by two opposing spaced-apart upright side walls separated by at least one screen bed support structure. Included is an actuator support mounted to an exterior surface of a side wall of a box structure for pivotally securing the stationary end of an actuator thereto. The actuator includes a movable end that is cyclically movable from a first releasing position adjacent the sidewall, to a second engaging position, transversely spaced apart from the side wall, responsive to a track follower moving along a track inclined transversely to the side wall of the box. A clamp rail assembly is fixed to the movable end of the actuator to engage and tension a screen responsive to transverse movement of the movable end of the actuator.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for sorting mail pieces that may include both standard and higher class mail. The mail pieces are for delivery to various addresses, and the present invention postpones delivery to some addresses if those addresses are receiving insufficient mail. According to this method, data is collected about each mail piece, and that data for each mail piece is associated with a respective holder that holds the mail piece. Mail is withheld from immediate delivery if the collected data associated with the holder indicates that the mail piece is standard class having a non-immediate delivery deadline, provided that the collected data associated with other holders indicates that there are no other pieces having the same address and having either a higher class or an immediate delivery date.

Abstract: An article sortation system includes a plurality of transport units which are movable along a conveying path between induction stations and discharge stations along each side of the conveying path. Each transport unit has side by side loading and support capability and is operable to receive packages from induction stations and discharge the packages at an appropriate discharge station. The system includes a control which determines the destination of articles and resolves blocking conditions between articles at the induction stations or at the transport units. The system may include a reinduction station for receiving an article from a transport unit and reinducting the article onto a transport unit, in order to resolve a blocking condition between a pair of articles on the respective transport unit.

Abstract: A document jogger jogs unit records such as checks and like value documents. The jogger has a bin for receiving the documents, and a vibrator coupled to the bin to vibrate it. A liner is adapted to be removably attached to the bin. The liner has an impact absorbing flexible material attached to the liner to absorb the shock of the documents as the bin is vibrated. A thin abrasion resistant, low friction layer covers the flexible material to prevent documents from damaging the flexible material and allows the documents to slide easily. The thin abrasion resistant, low friction layer is also soft enough to permit the flexible material to absorb the shock of said documents.

Abstract: A mailing machine including a scanner for detecting data marks printed on documents to be mailed for conveying control information to the machine, for example in the manner known as the “Optical Mark Recognition” system. The machine includes a memory buffer for storing data concerning the marks if the user inputs data indicating that the reference or “gate” mark is at the end of the group of marks. The data may then be read from the buffer in the reverse order. Thus, the data marks may be printed in the same position on all documents regardless of the fold configuration, and thus feed orientation, which is required.

Abstract: A item separating or debris eliminating system includes a tank and a pump for circulating water from one end of the tank around through a duct and back into the opposite end of the tank. A medium density object collector is located within the tank, and a light debris collector is located within the tank. A conveyor filter is included through which substantially all of the water in the tank is circulated. The debris eliminating system preferably also includes a high density object collector within the tank. The system can be used to separate a variety of objects having different densities and terminal velocities in a fluid. Most preferably, the system is utilized for separating debris from potatoes and the like produce.

Abstract: A sheet passage changing apparatus includes a plurality of swingable changing devices for changing a sheet transporting direction; common drivers for swinging the plurality of changing devices; a controller for actuating the drivers, before a sheet reaches an upstream one of the changing devices, to actuate the upstream one of the changing devices, thus changing the sheet transporting direction and for actuating the drivers, after the sheet passing through the upstream changing device and before the sheet reaches a downstream one of the changing device, to actuate the downstream changing device, thus changing the sheet transporting direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a roller bar screen and to the generation of certain parameters for optimal adaptation to the bulk material being processed and as a prerequisite for process optimization. Construction measures—essentially equipping the rollers with variable speed drive mechanisms—are taken in a first preparatory step. Selected control variables and limit values related to the average characteristics to be expected of the bulk material are generated in a single operation by means of a regulation and process control system. The optimum number of revolutions for each individual roller in particular is predetermined in dependence on the process. The rollers can be grouped together.

Abstract: A sheet registration apparatus for registering sheets all at one time by regulating them at a reference position on the side of the sheet transport direction and on the side perpendicular to the sheet transport side. The sheet registration apparatus comprises: a regulation plate for regulating the side of the sheets perpendicular to the discharge direction (or transport direction) thereof with respect to sort bins for receiving the sheets which have been imaged by an image forming apparatus; and a reference wall for regulating the side of the sheets in the transport direction. On the other hand, a registration rod, as extended through inclined openings formed in the sort bins, are moved toward the regulation plate and turned to the direction to feed the sheets toward the reference wall, so that the sheets are registered while being regulated by the regulation plate and the reference wall in accordance with the movement for the registration of the registration rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a multi-step screening apparatus (1), the method comprising controlling other accept, reject and dilution flows in relation to the flow measured in the accept channel (7a) of the first screening step (3a). Thus a simpler control unit (9) can be used and accept of higher quality can be obtained than before. The invention further relates to an apparatus for controlling a multi-step screening apparatus (1), said apparatus comprising a control unit (9) arranged to measure the flows of all accept, reject and dilution water channels (7a-7c, 5a, 5b, 11a, 11b) and to adjust the flow of the other channels on the basis of the flow of the accept channel of the first step.

Abstract: A sheet feeder provided with a feed roller having a circumferential surface portion and a cutout surface portion and capable of reliably feeding sheets regardless of the thickness and weight of the recording medium. The feed roller has a roller shaft extending from both side thereof. Each roller has an inner peripheral surface through which the roller shaft extends, and has an outer peripheral portion serving as a contact portion for contacting with a separation pad when the cutout surface portion is in confrontation with the pad. An annular space is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the roller and an outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft. A spacer is movable over the roller shaft and is insertable into and rectactable from the annular space. In the insertion position, a distance between an axial center of the roller shaft and the contact portion is increased. In the retracted position, the distance is decreased because of the urging of the separation pad toward the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a granular catalyst to a destination such as a reactor at a constant feeding rate uniformly charges the catalyst material into the device. The granular catalyst is loaded into individual compartments of a hopper and is ejected at a discharge rate controlled by a gate. When a vibrator is activated, a trough is caused to vibrate in its obliquely upward direction and the granular material in the trough is smoothly conveyed toward outlets of granular material passages formed in the trough, and is introduced to reaction tubes of the reactor via sieves. Powdery waste of the granular catalyst produced by the vibration of the trough is removed by letting it fall the sieves made in the granular material passages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for classifying a particulate hydrophilic polymer and a sieving device, which can carry out a classification in a small separation particle diameter with high efficiency and exhibit classification ability inherent in the sieving device. The process comprises the step of classifying a particulate hydrophilic polymer in dry particle size with a sieving device, wherein the sieving device is used in a heated and/or thermally insulated state. The sieving device comprises a thermally insulating means.

Abstract: A banknote centering device uses a clutch arrangement to limit inward movement of side engaging plates used to center a banknote. The clutch also allows a fixed cycle motor to be used for both inward and outward movement of the side engaging numbers. The resistance of the banknote to buckling in the slot is sufficient to cause the clutch to slip. The device is rugged, easy to produce, and has proven very reliable.

Abstract: A paper path is provided with a paper guide for guiding paper, an oblique roller for obliquely moving the paper toward the paper guide and an electromagnetic clutch allowing and interrupting transmission of a rotating force to the oblique roller. Sensors for detecting the paper are provided upstream and downstream of the oblique roller. Also provided in the paper path is a controller which controls the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with paper sensing operation of the sensors to drive the oblique roller while the paper is passing under the oblique roller. A low-friction paper guiding surface is formed on the paper guide by coating it with a fluoroplastic.

Abstract: A vibratory screening machine such as used for separating solid particulate material from drilling mud to allow the latter to be re-used, is described. The general form of the construction is similar to that of the VSM100 shaker machine as supplied by the applicant company, but significant differences in the design and construction of the new unit allow a higher throughput of mud to be accommodated. An upper filtering screen (88) extends generally horizontally and serves to separate out the larger particles from the rest. The slurry which passes down to the lower screen (90) (of finer mesh than the upper screen) is further filtered and a mud-like residue of particulate material slowly accumulates on the lower screen (90) and migrates up the screen--to be discharged at the upper outlet end thereof, while liquid material filters through the screen to be recovered in a sump below.

Abstract: An optical device for detecting the printing media in printers includes an element pivoting on two rotation pivots which are incorporated therein a certain distance apart and which are guided in respective independent curved grooves. The pivoting element includes two extensions which point outwards from the central portion of the element, and of which one is intended to receive, at its front and rear edges, the end edges of the laminar printing media during its forward and rearward movements towards and away from the input rollers of the laminar substrate in the printer. The second extension of the pivoting element can move into and out of an opening of the optical detector in a manner corresponding to the rotary movements of the pivoting element brought about by the movements of the printing media.