Abstract: An automated machine is used to handle and manipulate individual pieces of particulate matter. The particulate matter is contained in a bin. The machine operates to pick single individual pieces of the particulate matter from the bin. The picked individual pieces are then conveyed for further handling. Pneumatic transport is primarily used for the conveying operation. One aspect of the handling involves individually weighing each piece of the picked particulate matters. Another aspect of the handling involves sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter into a plurality of receptacles. Yet another aspect of the handling involves both weighing and then sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter, wherein the sorting operation may be performed based upon the measured weight of each piece.

Abstract: A product contact sensor of the type shown and described herein.

Abstract: A circular image (A1) of a to-be-examined coin (A0) is picked up by a CCD sensor unit (11). The circular image (A1) of the to-be-examined coin (A0) is transformed into a rectangular image (B1) by a transformation processing means (142). On the other hand, a rectangular image (B) of a master coin (A) used as a criterion is prestored in a master-image memory (148). When the circular image (A1) of the to-be-examined coin (A0) is transformed into the rectangular image (B1) by the transformation processing means (142), the rectangular image (B1) is compared with the rectangular image (B) stored in the master-image memory (148) by a comparison means (144). If both of the rectangular images (B1, B) do not coincide substantially with each other, a part of the rectangular image (B1) of the to-be-examined coin is moved from an end thereof to an opposite end by an alignment means (143) so as to generate a new rectangular image (B2) through a shift conversion.

Abstract: A D.C. voltage altering device includes at least one spark induction power conditioner including a first electrode connectable to a high voltage D.C. power source and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and forming a discharging gap therebetween. The second electrode is connectable to a predetermined section of a physical separator and at least one of the electrodes is selectively positionable for altering spatial distance between same. The power conditioner induces a predetermined large amplitude, high frequency current ripple to the second electrode for creating a fluctuating voltage and fluctuating electrostatic field and maintaining continuous current flow through the gap without reversal of polarity. The spark induction power conditioner further includes a dielectric base for housing the electrodes and a plurality of fastening members threadably positionable through the base and engageable with the electrodes so that the discharging gap between the electrodes can be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: An object sorting and orienting apparatus is for sorting, orienting and discharging a plurality of objects, such as, container closures dispensed from a hopper. An endless conveyor transports the closures from a loading area, through an intermediate area, to a discharge area. At least one regulator, including an adjustable spill-plate, regulates the effects of object fill-level within the hopper during a sorting run. Orienting means, including an extension of the adjustable spill-plate and a plurality of flights on the endless conveyor, arrange the closures in a correct orientation. Sorting means, including a belt path disruptor and a substantially vertical belt path, sort incorrectly oriented closures from correctly oriented closures. Discharge means, including a removal device and at least one discharge chute, discharge correctly oriented closures from the discharge area.

Abstract: Apparatus for the electrostatic separation of a mixture of particles that exhibit difference in electrical conductivity, comprising: a conductive surface to which conducting particles lose their charge; feeding means for feeding the mixture of particles onto the conductive surface; an ionising electrode for ionising individual particles in the mixture of particles; and a first static electrode having the same polarity as the ionising electrode and which serves to generate a static electric field, the first static electrode being located sufficiently close to the ionising electrode that the static electric field acts continuously on the particles as they are ionised; wherein conducting particles are separated from non-conducting particles on the basis of their different retained charge after a period of contact with the conductive surface.

Abstract: A platesetting system and method comprising a pair of dual capstan rollers that receives a recording medium and records an image on the received medium as the medium is transported through the system. The system and method advantageously enable at least a portion of the image to extend from a leading edge of the medium to a trailing edge of the medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece. From the imaging station, the mail is conveyed to a buffer, which selectively maintains the mail while the address printed on the mail is determined. After the address for a piece of mail is determined, the piece is conveyed out of the buffer to a printer, which prints a POSTNET barcode onto the piece. The POSTNET barcode corresponds to the address that was determined for the piece. Optionally, the apparatus may include a labeler for applying a blank label onto the mail, and the POSTNET barcode can then be printed onto the label after it is applied to the mail. After the POSTNET barcode is printed on a piece, it is conveyed past a verifier, which scans the printed POSTNET barcode to ensure that the barcode was printed properly.

Abstract: A sheet feeder having parallel opposing shafts with rollers or belts for engaging sheets. The sheet feeder having one control to adjust the height of both sides of one shaft so that the rollers apply the same force to both sides of the sheet to feed the sheet straight preventing the sheets from jamming in the sheet feeder. The sheet feeder can have manual or electronic height adjustments. The gap between the shafts can be quickly and easily changed for quickly changing production runs with different thickness product. The shafts are three-piece shafts for ease of changing the rollers on the shaft. All the bearings are pregreased and sealed to protect the bearings from dirt and debris. Rods connect the height adjustment on both sides of the shaft so both sides are adjusted by the same amount at the same time.

Abstract: A non-refillable dispenser containing both premoistened and dry sheets is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having a polygonal shape. The housing has a first compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of premoistened sheets, and a second compartment configured to hold and dispense therefrom a plurality of dry sheets. A dispensing opening is defined in each of the first and second compartments for dispensing the sheets therefrom. At least one pair of openings is positioned through at least one of the first and second compartments of the housing. The openings are configured to receive a roll mount of a standard rolled bath tissue fixture therethrough. The dispenser is coupled to the roll mount, which is coupled to the fixture.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet discharge apparatus including a plurality of stackers on which a sheet discharged from a conveyance passage is stacked, and a gate which changes a discharge direction of the sheet. The gate can move over a first changeover position to guide the sheet to one stacker, and a second changeover position to guide the sheet to the other stacker. When the gate is moved to the second changeover position, the sheet is guided to the other stacker through a bent guide passage. A pressing mechanism is disposed on an upstream side along a conveyance direction of the sheet from the gate. The pressing mechanism applies a pressure and gives a wavy shape to the sheet, and temporarily makes the sheet rigid as long as the gate is in the first position.

Abstract: A manually operated dispenser for medicated or non-medicated orally dissolving strips provided in roll form cuts portions of the roll to a predetermined size in the manner of the strips currently available in single sheets and housed in the vial shown in patent Des. 423,302. The dispenser includes spring-loaded structure rotating the roll and presenting material of a predetermined strip length to a cutting blade, then slicing the strip from the roll.

Abstract: A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen assembly apparatus, the basket having an interior surface, vibrator apparatus connected to the basket to vibrate it and the screen assembly apparatus releasably secured thereto, seal apparatus connected to the screen assembly for sealing an interface with a part of the interior surface of the basket, the seal apparatus including a seal holder removably holding a seal member, the seal holder having a projection projecting into a recess of the seal.

Abstract: A method for separating objects, such as stones, wherein each object is dropped through a predefined path, such as a drop tube. Then, for each object, the time when the object passes through a predefined point in the path is determined, as are selected characteristics, such as the color, of the object. The characteristics of the object are matched, if possible, to various criteria and, depending on the criteria to which the object is matched, a diverter gate is activated to divert the object from the predefined path to an appropriate collection bin.

Abstract: A transporting system and method for use in a high velocity document processing system using lower velocity print technology. The invention including an upstream transport conveying spaced apart documents at a first transport velocity. A deceleration transport decelerates documents from the high speed to a lower print velocity before passing the documents a print transport. A sensor located at the deceleration transport, detects the presence of documents at the deceleration transport, and triggers the deceleration profile to be performed on the document. The deceleration transport is controlled such that a leading portion of a document that is being decelerated overtakes a trailing portion of a downstream document that already traveling at the lower print velocity in the control of the print transport. An overlapping arrangement urges the lead portion of the upstream document to overlap on top of the trailing portion of the downstream document when the upstream document overtakes the downstream document.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking recording sheets; a feeding roller for feeding the recording sheets from the sheet stacking portion; separating means for separating the recording sheet fed out by the feeding roller; a holder for holding the separating means, the holder being rotatably supported on a main assembly of the apparatus; first urging means for urging the holder toward the feeding roller; a preliminary regulating member, rotatably supported on the holder, for regulating a gap relative to the feeding roller; second urging means for urging the preliminary regulating member toward the feeding roller; a first regulating member, supported by the holder, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the holder; and a second regulating member, provided in the main assembly of apparatus, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods of registration system control are provided that compensate for differences in physical properties of various substrates being transported through the system that impact the displacement of the substrate through a given path. Exemplary systems of the invention include at least one roll pair formed by a first, driven roll and a second roll defining a nip therebetween that is part of the transport path through which a substrate is passed. A prestored lookup table includes empirically- or theoretically-derived compensation factors for plural different kinds of substrates, with each compensation factor being based on physical characteristics of the substrate that impact actual travel length of the substrate along the transport path, such as the substrate's mass per unit area, which has been found to have a strong correlation with a substrate's bending stiffness, which has been found to have a strong correlation with detected deviations in linear travel path.

Abstract: A sheet accepting apparatus comprises an inlet (210) for receiving one or more sheets. A transport system (217,350) extracts sheets from the inlet. A first detector (222) detects the passage of a foreign object with the transported sheet(s), the transport system being controllable to divert a detected foreign object to a foreign object collection position (215). One or more further detectors monitor sheets fed by the transport system. At least one store (205) is provided for storing accepted sheets. A controller is responsive to the detectors for controlling the transport system.

Abstract: An auto-bill-dispensing machine is provided. The auto-bill-dispensing machine comprises bill receiver having a plurality of security hooks positioned axially between two positioning plates formed on the two sides of the upper chassis of the bill receiver, and the security hooks are against within a plurality of blocking grooves of the lower chassis to block the bill passage. When the bill enters into the bill passage and being held against on the security hooks, the security hooks of the bill receiver will be out of the blocking groove of the lower chassis to let the bill pass through, and after the bill passes the security hooks, the security device will return to the original position to make the security hooks support within the blocking groove of the lower chassis to prevent the bill being pulled back by a string, a tape, a steel wire or a glued metallic plate.

Abstract: Management of multiple types of empty carriers in automated material handling systems. In one embodiment, an automated material handling system (AMHS) includes a plurality of material carriers including a plurality of empty carriers classified into two or more types and one or more stock areas, each including a plurality of bins for storing material carriers. Each stock area is associated with one or more thresholds for each empty carrier type. The AMHS further includes a control system coupled to a first one of the stock areas for computing an empty percentage for each empty carrier type. The empty percentage for a particular empty carrier type is the percentage of bins of the first one stock area which contain empty carriers of the particular type.