Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic of each item being delivered by each vehicle. The system may also include vehicles having an assembly for detecting items being loaded onto or discharged from the vehicles.

Abstract: A system for diverting objects traveling along a conveyor includes an upstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end and a downstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment is located to receive items from the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment. A conveyor shift mechanism is linked to both the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment and the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment for carrying out lateral movement of the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment in one lateral direction while simultaneously carrying out lateral movement of the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment in an opposite lateral direction.

Abstract: A magnet cleaner cooperates with one or more permanent magnets positioned over a conveyer carrying pieces of metal in non-ferrous material so as to remove the metal from the non-ferrous material. The magnet cleaner includes a frame and a capture sheet mounted to the frame and positioned on the frame so as to be substantially flush with the permanent magnets when they are in their lowered positioned. The magnets are spaced by an attenuation distance from the capture sheet when they are in their raised position. The permanent magnets, which may be mounted in a housing, are positionably mounted on the frame so as to be selectively elevatable between their lowered and raised positions upon actuation of an actuator. The actuator is positioned so as to cooperate with the permanent magnets and the frame so as to raise or lower the magnets relative to the capture sheet.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator for classifying solid material in liquid suspension is disclosed. The hydrocyclone separator comprises a head part having an inlet conduit, a conically tapered separation part, an adjustable apex discharge port, and a tail pipe. According to the invention the adjustable apex discharge port comprises an abrasive-resistant resilient body in which an apex orifice port is arranged, and an adjustment sleeve configured to circumferentially enclose the resilient body, which sleeve has a tapered conical surface configured to abut an outer surface of the resilient body, and which sleeve is arranged for axial displacement to thereby vary the size of the apex orifice port.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for liberating particles with specific dimensions from a moist Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator ash (MSWI ash) material comprising particles with differing dimensions. In an aspect, the method comprises feeding an amount of the material in a particle stream, striking the particle stream with a striking body to impart a sudden change in direction of the particle stream, receiving at least a part of the stricken particle stream on a moving surface, and transporting the received particle stream to an outlet beyond the receiving area where the particle stream is divided in a first fraction rich of particles of a first group of particle dimensions, and at least a second fraction rich of particles of a second group of particle dimensions, which second fraction is substantially depleted of particles of the first group of particle dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for recycling currency. The systems and methods may include receiving, at a self-service terminal, a plurality of currency notes; sorting, by the self-service terminal, the plurality of currency notes by denomination; and dispensing, by the self-service terminal, a subset of the plurality of currency notes.

Abstract: A stone sieve assembly includes a cutting blade, a back plate, and a plurality of bars. The plurality of bars are spaced apart from one another and extend between the cutting blade and the back plate. The plurality of bars have a leading section positioned proximate the cutting blade and a trailing section positioned proximate the back plate. The trailing section tapers inwardly as it approaches the back plate.

Abstract: A grain-cleaning machine for obtaining grains has a desired size which is greater than a lower value and less than or equal to an upper value. The grain-cleaning machine comprises an arrangement of sieves. The arrangement of sieves comprises at least two main sieve levels positioned overlapping each other. Each main sieve level comprises a respective fine sieve followed by a respective grain sieve. At least one lower sieve level comprises a respective lower grain sieve. The at least one lower sieve level being positioned below the main sieve levels. Each fine sieve has a first mesh provided with openings having an opening size which is equal to said lower value, and each grain sieve and each lower grain sieve have a second mesh provided with openings having an opening size which is equal to said upper value.

Abstract: A delivery point sorting device with two feeders for receiving and forwarding mail in streams, where a diverging apparatus divert module is configured to process the mail from the two feeders and a merge module converges the streams of mail from the two feeders and distributes the mail to respective endpoints. Sorting endpoints are used for loading the mail received from this converging apparatus. A method where items of mail are sorted through sorting passes including a first, second, and third sorting pass. Sorting passes are; processing mail through two feeders by receiving the mail by the feeders and forwarding the mail articles in streams of mail, converging the streams of mail from the feeders to a conveyor apparatus, loading the mail at sorting endpoints by the conveyor apparatus, and sequentially passing the mail through the first, second, and third sorting pass.

Abstract: An apparatus, composition and method for recycling of a material, such as, for example, unhardened concrete. The apparatus includes a storage tank for storing a recycling composition to be applied to the material to be recycled and a control unit configured to control release of the recycling composition from the storage tank.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and delivering articles in a processing facility. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into trays based on carrier route segments. A manifest is created that comprises a list of the items in a tray. A mobile computing device alerts a delivery carrier when there is an item that needs to be delivered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises actuators and chambers for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Abstract: A particle separation apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: a first input flow path into which a first fluid containing a plurality of particles of different sizes is introduced; a second input flow path into which a second fluid not containing particles is introduced; a connection flow path and the second input flow path so that a third fluid in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed movies; a plurality of discharge flow paths where the plurality of particles which come out through the other end of the connection flow path are separated and discharged according to the size of the particles; and a branch flow path where at least a part of the third fluid which comes out through the other end of the connection flow path is discharged.

Abstract: Embodiments of a water detection apparatus are disclosed that can detect characteristics of food products. The apparatus may include a conveying mechanism configured to move a food product through an aperture in the apparatus, a transmitter coil configured to transmit a signal within the aperture, and a receiver coil configured to receive the signal altered by the food product, and a signal processing unit configured to determine an output value associated with the food product moving through the aperture. The output value can be based, at least in part, on the signal and the altered signal. The output value can corresponds to a characteristic of the food product.

Abstract: For sexing silkworm cocoons, a delivery mechanism carries a checker cocooning frame holding silkworm cocoons. A detection mechanism detects a female silkworm cocoon based on an optical wavelength emitted by the female silkworm cocoon. A sorting mechanism sorts the silkworm cocoons, putting female silkworm cocoons into a female collecting box, and male silkworm cocoons into a male collecting box.

Abstract: An eliminator for detecting and removing products, such as vegetables and fruit, which are oversized and/or have undesired product properties, and a singulator and sorting system provided therewith, and a method therefor. The eliminator comprises a feed system for supplying products, a detector configured to determine dimensions and/or product properties of a product of the supplied products, a controller operatively connected to the detector and configured to determine on the basis of determined dimensions and/or product properties of the product whether the product is suitable for processing in a sorting device, and a remover operatively connected to the controller for separating products which are not suitable for processing in the sorting device from products which are suitable for processing in the sorting device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and delivering articles in a processing facility. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into trays based on carrier route segments. A manifest is created that comprises a list of the items in a tray. A mobile computing device alerts a delivery carrier when there is an item that needs to be delivered.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into separate lanes. Each lane can then be sorted into output bins in delivery sequence order.

Abstract: Paper sheets preprocessing apparatus includes a material remover, a detector, a controller, and a display. The material remover removes a material from a paper sheets assembly. The paper sheets assembly includes a plurality of paper sheets strapped by the material. The detector is located at an upstream side than the material remover, and detects information of the paper sheets assembly. The controller decides whether the paper sheets assembly satisfies a predetermined specification, based on the information detected by the detector. If the controller decides that the paper sheets assembly does not satisfy the predetermined specification, the display displays a reason to decide that the paper sheets assembly does not satisfy the predetermined specification.

Abstract: A sorting system for sorting products, in particular vulnerable products, such as apples and pears, and a method therefor. The sorting system comprises a singulator, a measuring system, and a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets, along with a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system. The control is provided with a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration and a task configuration in which the selection module is configured to select sorting commands and to couple a sorting command to one or more of the available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control. A product allocation system is configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration.