Abstract: A sorting conveyor has pivotally mounted flaps for sorting articles into sorting outlets as a function of a sorting indication affixed to each of the articles. The conveyor includes a monitoring and control unit designed to cause each flap to pivot between a closed position in which the flap forms a conveyor portion suitable for conveying an article in a certain conveying direction and an open position in which the flap interrupts conveying of an article on the conveyor to deflect it towards an appropriate sorting outlet. The monitoring and control unit is also arranged to retrieve thickness data from a memory giving a certain thickness for the article to be deflected, and to respond by causing the flap to pivot into an open position through a certain opening amplitude determined as a function of the thickness data about the article that is to be deflected.

Abstract: A method and system for sorting workpieces, such as chicken nuggets. The sorting system includes a conveyor system that advances in a forward direction and one or more blow off bars positioned over the conveyor system. The blow off bars extend along the forward advancing direction. The blow off bars include one or more valved nozzles connected to a pressurized source of a fluid, and the nozzles are positioned to discharge the fluid across the conveyor system.

Abstract: In order to provide an airflow sorting device having high accuracy and easy adjustment properties with a simple configuration, there are provided a conduit which has a central shaft line and which lets an object to be sorted to fall due to gravity on the inside of the conduit along the central shaft line; an air supply port which is provided at a lower part of the conduit and configured to blow air upward along the central shaft line; a suction port which is provided above the air supply port of the conduit and is an opening oriented downward of a suction pipe provided parallel to the central shaft line; and an input port provided above the suction port of the conduit through which the object to be sorted is input into the periphery of the suction pipe which is in the conduit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering mining material to a multimodal array of different types of sensors and classifying and sorting the mining material based on the data collected from the multimodal array of sensors. The arrays of different sensors sense the mining material and collect data which is subsequently used together to identify the composition of the material and make a determination as to whether to accept or reject the material as it passes off the terminal end of the material handling system. Diverters are positioned at the terminal end of the material handling system and are positioned in either an accept or reject position based on the data collected and processed to identify the composition of the mining material.

Abstract: A method for recycling metal scraps, particularly aluminum scraps, is provided. In the method, an amount of metal scrap, particularly aluminum scrap, is provided in the form of a plurality of separated split lots. A composition analysis is carried out for each split lot and an item of composition information based on said composition analysis is associated with each split lot that has been analyzed. Also provided is a device configured for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as “a three-dimensional separation.

Abstract: A food article defect removal apparatus includes a manifold that defines one or more chambers for holding pressurized fluid. First channels extend from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with the chambers. Second channels extend from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold. Valves selectively connect corresponding first channels and second channels together to dispense the pressurized fluid from the manifold. The manifold can have an exterior wall that at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber, with an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The interior wall can define the second channels. The valves can be included with a valve assembly, which includes a driver operably coupled with the valves. The valves can be pluggably coupled with the driver.

Abstract: Particle processing systems and methods utilize a sort monitoring system to monitor an operational characteristic for a particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be related to the performance and operation of a sorter or a group of sorters in the particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be monitored based on monitoring particles for an output of a sorter or of a group of sorters. Operational characteristics which may be monitored include sort error, sort fraction, yield, purity and recovery percentage. The sort monitoring system may evaluate the monitored operational characteristic, for example, as related to sort performance, and take an action, for example, a corrective action or a notifying action, based on the evaluation of the operational characteristic.

Abstract: A system (1) for analyzing and sorting material (2) including a feeder (10) for transporting at least one piece of material along a feeding surface (15) towards and onto an upper portion (21) of a chute (20), a sorting device (50), a laser device (30), a spectrometer (40) configured to detect an emission from the piece of material and to produce an output signal corresponding to the emission, and a controller device configured to receive the output signal and to operate the sorting device. The laser device and the spectrometer are both provided on a level below the feeding surface. Also, the laser device is configured to produce a laser beam that can be incident on the piece of material when the piece of material is at least partially protruding from the chute or has fallen off from the chute via the lower edge of the chute and is airborne.

Abstract: A system and method directed to the economical recovery of valuable iron constituents from iron blast furnace and steel-making slag fines wherein the slag is obtained and subjected to a series of classification steps which progressively sort the slag fines by various physical characteristics, including magnetism, size, and density, into relatively iron-rich and relatively iron-poor classifications, resulting in the isolation of iron-rich commercial byproduct at one or more of the classification steps.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for associating an asset with a sort location, the system comprising a conveyor belt assembly and a user device configured to be worn by a user. The conveyor belt assembly comprises: an acquisition device and a plurality of stripes defining a non-repeating pattern, the plurality of stripes comprising a plurality of unique sets of stripes. The acquisition device is configured to capture image data comprising asset identifier data and conveyor mechanism data, the conveyor mechanism data including one of the plurality of unique sets of stripes. The user device is configured to capture conveyor mechanism data including one of the plurality of unique sets of stripes; remotely receive asset identifier data associated with the user device captured conveyor mechanism data; and generate and display to the user, relative to the asset, at least one visual indicator of one or more sort instructions for the asset.

Abstract: A method for sorting waste, in which waste or recyclable material intended for sorting is brought in waste bags to a sorting apparatus, which includes a conveyor, from which the waste bags belonging to different waste components are separated from each other by guiding them into the containers according to the waste components or to further processing. A waste bag, an identifier arranged in connection with it and/or the content of the waste bag is identified with a sensor system, which includes a number of sensors monitoring different properties, which sensors essentially simultaneously read and/or identify a waste bag, an identifier arranged in connection with it and/or the content of the waste bag when the waste bag is transferred on the conveyor via the reading area of the sensors, and in which method on the basis of information coming from the sensors the waste bags are sorted into different waste components using one or more handling devices of the sorting apparatus.

Abstract: System and method of managing waste at waste transfer stations. Open faced bins allow human entry for sorting, segregation or quarantining waste before it is moved to or mixed with bulk waste stations. Bins are located in covered or uncovered bays located away from waste stations. Stops and guides for precise and safe placement of bins in bays are provided. Bins have quick hitch connection points. To collect, store and redirect leachates in bins, a liquid capture zone and drain hole is provided. Bay design prevents public access to machine areas and adjacent bays.

Abstract: A microparticle sorting apparatus includes a detection unit which detects microparticles flowing through a flow path; an imaging device which images a droplet containing the microparticles which is discharged from an orifice provided on an edge portion of the flow path; a charge unit which applies a charge to the droplets; and a control unit which determines a delay time as from a time that the microparticles are detected by the detection unit to the time at which the sum of intensity of an image region imaged by the imaging device reaches a maximum, making it possible for the charge unit to apply a charge to the microparticles once the delay time has lapsed after the microparticles are detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A hopper and a mineral material processing plant. The hopper includes hinged side walls configured to be pivoted into a first position and a second position and a connection wall attached between the hinged side walls. The connection wall includes a flexible member and is configured to fold together in response to the hinged side walls being pivoted from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a candling apparatus for the rapid discrimination, removal and relocation of non-live avian eggs. The invention further relates to methods of use of the candling apparatus for the candling, removal and relocation of avian eggs.

Abstract: A conveyor and a method for weighing conveyed objects or sorting them by weight. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt having electrically conductive rollers that are rotated with a constant torque in a lateral direction by a linear-induction stator defining a roller-activation zone along a carryway. Because the lateral acceleration of a conveyed object is inversely proportional to the object's weight, lighter objects are displaced laterally farther and at greater speeds than heavier objects. So their weights can be determined from the lateral acceleration, speed, or displacement. And objects can be sorted off the side of the belt by weight.

Abstract: A vibrating screen for screening particulate material fed into an inlet hopper of a conveyor features a screen comprising a first mesh portion locating openings therein that are sized for receiving individual particles of the particulate material therethrough. The vibrating screen includes a mounting assembly arranged for removably mounting to the inlet hopper that features a frame sized and shaped to be contained within the inlet hopper at a location above the conveyor so as to be supported thereabove by engagement with the side walls of the inlet hopper. The vibrating screen also features a suspension system resiliently supporting the screen on the mounting assembly such that the screen spans across at least a portion of an inlet opening at a top of the inlet hopper. A vibrating device supported on the screen is arranged for vibrating the screen relative to the inlet hopper of the conveyor.

Abstract: A system and method for loading material from a converter bed, such as that in a converter of an acid plant, is provided. The system, may include a vacuum source; a dust collector connected to the vacuum source by a first vacuum hose; a cyclone operatively connected to the vacuum source through the dust collector, wherein the cyclone may be connected to the dust collector by a second vacuum hose; a drop-out hopper operatively attached to the cyclone by a valve, such as an air actuated valve, wherein the drop-out hopper includes a first feed hose; and one or more material storage containers operatively associated with the cyclone via a second feed hose. The method of loading material into a converter bed may include providing a system for loading the material in the converter bed; setting up the system; and loading the material into the converter bed.

Abstract: Vibratory separator screens separate solids and/or fluids, methods form said screens and vibratory screen apparatuses utilize said screens. The vibratory separator screens, methods and apparatuses have a mesh portion having a first side of the mesh portion and an opposite second side of the mesh portion, a first hem crimp affixed to the first side of the mesh portion, and a second hem crimp affixed to the second side of the mesh portion.