Abstract: A method and a device form a scaled flow of overlapped articles from a flow of individual, flat and elastic articles, e.g. for stacking, without the following articles impacting with the rear edges of the preceding articles. In order to achieve a high flow rate, independent of the article length, the respectively preceding article remains during the overlapping in a locally fixed position until the supplied, respectively following article impacts from the side with the preceding article in accordance with the predetermined overlapping length. Following this, the two articles as well as all previous articles are jointly transported further until the rear edge of the now last, preceding article has reached the locally fixed position according to the predetermined overlapping length.

Abstract: A separator and sequencing apparatus comprising a first selective document transport means for selective movement of documents and a second selective document transport means for selective movement of documents positioned adjacent to the first selective document transport means, the first and second selective document transport means configured to move at least one of a pair of documents located in said separator and sequencing apparatus.

Abstract: Processes for purification of saline minerals using magnetic separation are disclosed. In particular, saline minerals can include trona, borates, potash, sulfates, nitrates and chlorides. The magnetic separation can include high intensity magnetic separation which can be conducted at greater than about 20,000 Gauss and up to greater than about 50,000 Gauss. Other embodiments of the invention include calcination of a saline mineral in an inert atmosphere or in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a high temperature prior to magnetic separation. A further embodiment of the invention includes pre-alignment of particles on a surface to align the particles of high magnetic force during a magnetic separation step. Also disclosed are various embodiments of magnetic separation which include subjecting an ore to a preliminary magnetic field prior to magnetic separation.

Abstract: A device is used to transfer printed products from the paddle wheel pockets of a paddle wheel or a delivery fan. A gripper chain carries a plurality of grippers which remove the printed products from the pockets without damaging them. A gripper chain drive wheel and the paddle wheel or wheels have a common axis of rotation but are driven separately from each other.

Abstract: A laned conveyor apparatus includes an infeed roller and an outfeed roller rotatably mounted to a frame in spaced apart relation for movably supporting a flexible product-carrying belt that forms a closed loop about the rollers to define a conveying region having a length and a width. A plurality of elastic separating bands are removably positioned around the rollers and the product-carrying belt and spaced apart at intervals along the width of the conveying region to form lanes along the length of the conveying region. The separating bands contact an outer surface of the product-carrying belt to form a frictional interface with the product-carrying belt that causes the separating bands to move in coordination with movement of the product-carrying belt. A guide mechanism mounted to the frame includes multiple guide features spaced apart at intervals along the width of the conveying region for guiding the separating bands so that the lanes are accurately and precisely positioned in relation to the frame.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying unit, two conveying sections turn linked and spaced apart such that sheet jams arising in the course of conveyance through the conveying sections can be easily cleared single-handedly. Wherein the sheet-conveying unit functions to turn over, convey and store sheets in a dual-sided copying section inside a copying machine main body (1), it may include a main frame (30) that is withdrawable frontward from the copying machine main body (1); an intermediate tray (31) storing the reversed sheets; a lower conveyor (32); an upper conveyor (33); and a linkage (34). The upper and lower conveyors (33, 32) have upper and lower conveying guides (50, 45) and upper and lower conveying rollers (51, 46), respectively, and both conveyors are open/closable on the main frame (30) disposed above the intermediate tray (31).

Abstract: The magnetic sweeper of this invention includes a laterally elongated hollow body of non-magnetic material having an open top and containing a pair of laterally spaced permanent magnets. The elongated side walls of the body have outwardly extending flanges slidably receiving a pair of covers of non-magnetic material for the magnets, and the covers have outer downturned ends facing the closed end walls of the body. An opening in each downturned end removably receives a wheel axle having an enlarged end captured between the body end wall and the adjacent downturned end of the cover, and interengaging detents on the body and each cover secures the cover removably to the body. A wheel is mounted rotatably on each axle and a handle extends from the body member for manipulating the sweeper over a surface to be swept of metallic objects.

Abstract: A printer having a facility for manually directing a printing medium along a printing medium path. The printer includes an external housing, a drive roller arranged about an axis of rotation for feeding a printing medium through a processing zone of the printer, a control member arranged about an axis of rotation, and movable between a first axial position in which the control member protrudes from said external housing so as to be manually actuable, and a second axial position in which the control member is retracted relative to the first axial position, and a coupling mechanism selectively coupling the control member and the feed roller to translate rotational movement of the control member into rotational movement of the feed roller, said coupling mechanism being engaged when the control member is in the first axial position and disengaged when the control member is in the second axial position.

Abstract: An assembly connectable to a boom of a machine operable to perform material working functions generally consisting of a handle connectable to the boom; a fluid actuated cylinder assembly operatively interconnecting the boom and handle for pivotally displacing the handle relative to the boom; a bucket member connected to the handle for pivotal movement along an arcuate line of travel between uncurled and curled positions; a fluid actuated cylinder assembly operatively interconnecting the handle and the implement for displacing the implement between uncurled and curled positions; a sifting member connected to the handle for pivotal movement along an arcuate path between retracted and extended positions, at least partially overlapping the arcuate path of the implement whereby when the sifting member is in the retracted position, the implement is in the curled position and the sifting member is displaced from the retracted position to the extended position, the sifting member will be caused to engage and displace

Abstract: A sheet transport system for an image-forming apparatus including a scanner unit on an upper part of an image-forming unit. A paper ejecting path ejects an image formed paper sheet to an ejected paper stacker via the image-forming unit. The paper ejecting path includes a straight sheet feeding path and a turn-around sheet feeding path. A scanning sheet path conveys an original document through an original document platform to a scanned paper stacker via the scanner unit. A sheet path selector selects one of the paper ejecting path or scanning sheet path, the scanning sheet path and the paper ejecting path crossing each other. A manual paper ejecting path selector allows manually selecting one of the straight sheet feeding path and the turn-around sheet feeding path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that uses an air damper for absorbing vibrations when a pick up roller contacts the tray and supported stack of paper. The air damper has a circular tube that has an opening formed in the base of the frame. A piston is then connected to the bottom surface of a tray that is supported in the frame. The piston is pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the tray and protrudes into the circular tube. A plunger is attached to the free end of the piston and maintains contact with the inner surface of the circular tube. The air damper reduces the amount of acceleration that the tray undergoes when the tray is free to move towards the pick up roller of the electrophotographic device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can control a number of paper sheets to be stacked onto a paper receiving tray based on a read paper sheet size. This structure is particularly relevant if a receiving paper tray is inclined and has an area above the paper receiving tray limited by a structure formed above the paper receiving tray. A height of stacked paper sheets on the paper receiving tray can be sensed, and a number of paper sheets allowed to be stacked on the paper receiving tray can be limited based on the read paper size and the sensed height of the stack of paper sheets. Further, the number of paper sheets allowed to be stacked onto the paper receiving tray can be limited based on the read paper size.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device for separating deformed balls from normal spherical balls prior to washing as is common in the ball pen industry. The device comprises an L-shaped tunnel which defines a slot on its lower surface. The slot feeds into a receptacle positioned below the tunnel. Balls enter under the force of vacuum pressure through an intake opening, striking a first bi-angled deflector plate. Deformed balls will fall through the slot into the receptacle in most cases. However, to increase the likelihood of such an eventuality, the balls then strike a second deflector plate and are sent down the second leg of the L-shaped tunnel. The second leg also defines a slot. By striking the second deflector plate, the ball is reoriented and the likelihood of passing through the slot is increased. Thus, normal balls are left and pass from the L-shaped tunnel out through an output opening and on for conventional washing.

Abstract: A small-size apparatus for sorting sheets or the like can form a delivery route by repeating sorting operation and prevent an overflow of sheets or the like. To this end, auxiliary sorting compartments are provided in an accumulator in the sorting operation for the first time, and when an overflow occurs, the allocated sorting compartments are shifted each by one compartment to the side of the auxiliary sorting compartment. In the first-time sorting operation, destination codes and thicknesses are stored in memory, and by the destination codes and thicknesses stored, overflow is predicted, a plurality of sorting compartments are allocated. By this arrangement, the sheets or the like can be prevented from overflowing, so that those sheets or the like which are rejected need not be manually added afterwards, and the efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.

Abstract: An inventive method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a substantially unique identification (ID) code, such as a fuse ID, includes automatically reading the ID code of each of the IC devices, and sorting the IC devices in accordance with their automatically read ID codes. The inventive method can be used in conjunction with an IC manufacturing process that includes providing semiconductor wafers, fabricating the IC's on each of the wafers, causing each of the IC's to store its ID code, separating each of the IC's from its wafer to form IC dice, assembling the IC dice into IC devices, and testing the IC devices.

Abstract: A separation process is provided for treating a feed material comprising silica, feldspar, and metal impurities, including at least one of mica, iron impurities, or refractory heavy minerals, to form one or more products for use in making glass. In the process, the feed material is floated in the presence of a depressant to inhibit the flotation of feldspar and thereby form a concentrate containing at least most of the silica and a tailings fraction containing at least most of the feldspar. The concentrate and tailings fractions can be converted into the products by magnetically removing the metal impurities therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating contaminants from particulate material for separating undesirable debris from particulate material such as sand or gravel quickly and efficiently for increasing the production of separated gravel. A conveyor having a frame and a belt with corrugated side walls defining a channel for retaining water. The conveyor includes a second roller adjacent a rear portion of the conveyor, wherein a cornice of the second roller is preferably at an elevation equivalent to an upper edge of the corrugated side walls. At least one dividing member having a front edge, wherein the front edge projects into an upper layer of water within the channel for separating the upper layer from a lower layer of the water. Water is supplied to the channel adjacent the rear portion and a mixture of contaminated rock is supplied thereafter through a delivery chute.

Abstract: A device for separating at least one item from a housing part includes a gripping device, a pushing-out means and, if appropriate, a sensing device for identifying the item. The separating device can be used expediently for installations for the disassembly of cassettes or cartridges for audio, video, data or film applications.

Abstract: A sorting system wherein particulate material is dispersed by centrifugal force in a layer on an inner surface of a rotating drum, and particles which possess at least one predetermined characteristic are removed from the layer.

Abstract: A garment sorter for semi-automating the sorting of bulk used clothing, and a method of sorting such clothing. Bales of clothing are uncompressed, and single articles of clothing are fed to an operator. Equally, the system can be used for sorting loose clothing. The operator identifies the article verbally, or by keypad entry. Voice recognition software, or other appropriate application software, recognizes the identification, and associates an address with the identified article. The article is then fed to a compacting device that ensures that it is retained within a certain length along a transfer conveyor. The compacted article is then transported to transfer station where a pneumatic pusher, under the control of a PLC, pushes the identified article off the conveyor into a bin, or secondary sort system.