Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus video coding station, inserter system, return mail workstation and a web server for interconnecting several components of the system. The system provides a closed loop solution for reducing return to sender mailpieces generated by a company that is sorting incoming mailpieces using an automated system. This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art providing updated data to inserting systems producing such mailpieces. This helps to solve data quality problems at their source and reduce processing costs by reducing the number of return to sender mailpieces.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for optically sorting and/or manipulating carbon nanotubes by creating an optical dipole trap with a focused light source (e.g., a laser) are described in detail herein. In one representative embodiment, light from the light source may be directed onto a mixture of carbon nanotubes, the mixture including a target class of carbon nanotubes having dimensions (e.g., length and diameter) corresponding to particular electronic properties suitable for an application. By identifying a resonant condition corresponding to the target class of carbon nanotubes, and tuning the light source substantially to the resonant condition, an optical dipole trap may be created to attract carbon nanotubes of the target class to allow manipulation and/or sorting of the target class of carbon nanotubes from the mixture, or rotation of the nanotubes via rotation of a plane of polarization of the light, in an embodiment.

Abstract: A composite sorting apparatus for separating conductive materials from non-conductive materials comprising a drum electrode, needle-shaped electrodes, and a plate-shaped electrode, wherein the plurality of needle-shaped electrodes are arranged so that the interval X in cm (in) between discharge sections of adjacent needle-shaped electrodes with respect to the distance L1 in cm (in) from the tips of discharge sections to the drum electrode meets 0<X/L1≦3.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a driving rotary member driven and rotated by a driving source, a rocking member disposed rockably on the driving rotary member, a sheet feeding rotary member rotatably disposed on the rocking member and can be brought into contact with the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device, a following rotary member coupled with the sheet feeding rotary member on the rocking member, a winding and hanging member hung around the driving rotary member and the following rotary member, a separating slant surface disposed on a side of leading ends of sheets fed out by the sheet feeding rotary member for separating the sheets one by one, and rocking force generating device disposed on the rocking member for guiding a tensed side of the winding and hanging member in a direction away from the sheets, and for generating a rocking force, on the rocking member, which brings the sheet feeding ro

Abstract: A screening machine of the type used to separate or classify mixtures of solid particles of different sizes includes a fixed base and a perforate screen deck mounted for movement relative to the base during a screening operation. Leaf springs connect the tail end of the screen deck to the fixed base so that the leaf springs support the tail end of screen deck for movement relative to the base. The leaf springs are oriented horizontally to avoid introducing vertical movement to the screen deck as it moves to and from the head and tail ends. The leaf springs are offset or deflected when the machine is at rest or in the neutral mid-point of its stroke. This arrangement advantageously utilizes the bias of the leaf springs to accelerate, assist or enhance movement of the screen deck during portions of its stroke and likewise to decelerate, hinder or retard the movement during other portions of its stroke. With an appropriate offset, an increase in the effectiveness of the screening process (i.e.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a single sheet feeder includes a stack damper which is rotatably suspended on or near a pre-feed roller axis to prevent buckling of thin media sheets and to impart a slight bend to thick media sheets during sheet movement by the pre-feed roller. The stack damper has a surface which extends from a location proximate the pre-feed roller parallel to the surface of a stack of media from which individual sheets are to be removed.

Abstract: A waste recovery station for a beach cleaner for recovering waste raked up by a beach cleaner. A waste recovery station for a beach cleaner includes a pair of station members arranged in parallel with each other through a required spacing. Each station member is provided with a pair of support posts with a foot such as, for example, a circular or square flat plate fixed to a lower end of each support post and is also provided with a guide member fixed to upper ends of the support posts. In the guide member, a longitudinally intermediate portion is formed as a horizontal portion and front and rear end sides are formed as slant portions and are bent downwardly at an obtuse angle. The beach cleaner A is lifted by the guide members while passing between the station members, whereby waste caught on rakes is allowed to drop onto the sand.

Abstract: A device for separating undesirable oblong and/or curved pieces of scrap from a scrap flow or scrap pile with a higher density, such as chill scrap, by means of an oscillating or shaking screen (1) includes a screen base (2) with a plurality of parallel guide bars (4) running in the longitudinal direction and a plurality of separating bars (3) which present openings (3.2) whose longitudinal and transverse cross-sections have different geometric shapes.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for threading a material web onto a reel. The process includes guiding a leader strip of the material web over at least a part of a circumference of a support drum, guiding the leader strip through an effective region of a guide device toward a waste receptacle, widening the leader strip to a desired width of the material web, placing a reel against the support drum, thereby forming a nip, cutting the material web, and winding the material web onto the reel, thereby forming a wound roll. The apparatus includes a support drum adapted to be at least partially wound around by at least a leader strip of the material web, one of a reel and a wound roll positionable against said support drum to form a nip during a winding process, a waste receptacle positioned after the support drum in a web travel direction, and at least one guide device positioned between the support drum and the waste receptacle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device sorting method and apparatus involve development of small, self-contained and focused “qualification” or “sort” algorithm test programs or “modules”, each of which modules may test for the validity of a particular, selected grade of a memory or other semiconductor device based on the results of a test pattern associated with, or exhibited by, a particular device under test. Separating the test code from the main flow file of the test program into the aforementioned “plug-in” qualification or sort modules permits the test code to be much simpler and facilitates better organization, as each qualification or sort module may be independent of any other qualification or sort module and only determines in response to its associated test pattern whether or not (TRUE or FALSE) a device qualifies in a given device grade.

Abstract: In a mineral preparation plant which receives a raw mineral feed and separates the raw mineral feed into a clean mineral and a refuse, an apparatus is provided for use therein. The apparatus retains dilute media which is formed as a by-product of the separation process. The apparatus includes a sump formed in a floor of the mineral preparation plant and configured to receive and retain: (a) dilute media, consisting of finely sized particles of mineral, refuse, media and water, from an underpan of at least one refuse screen and a clean mineral screen, and (b) mineral, refuse and media particles spilled by mineral processing equipment in the mineral preparation plant. The apparatus further includes a pump associated with the sump for pumping the dilute media and the spilled mineral, refuse and media particles received in the sump as a mixture to a media separating device, and a nuclear density gauge and integrated control system for controlling the amount of media fed to the media separating device.

Abstract: In combination, a dump truck mountable particle screener for mounting atop the dump body of a dump truck, and a dump truck. The dump-truck mountable particle screener has a support frame, a screen deck, a plurality of spring assemblies connecting the screen deck to the support frame, and a vibrating mechanism attached to the screen deck for imparting the vibratory motion to the screen deck. The dump truck receives the particle screener atop the dump body.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a mixture of fine and coarse particles in a fluid stream by size or density comprises a housing, a boundary layer momentum transfer device, and an inlet flow control mechanism. The housing comprises an inlet, an interior chamber, and a fine particle outlet. The boundary layer momentum transfer device comprises a plurality of disks stacked in spaced, parallel relation in the interior chamber. The disks are rotatable about a disk axis. The disks have respective central openings cooperatively defining a plenum having a closed axial end and an opposing open axial end. The plenum communicates with spaces defined between each adjacent disk to cooperatively define a fine particle flow path from the interior chamber, through the spaces, through the plenum and the open axial end thereof, and to the fine particle outlet. The inlet flow control mechanism communicates with the interior chamber and provides an adjustable inlet flow path into the interior chamber.

Abstract: A method for sorting products including the steps of conveying the products in a product stream, scanning the products in the product stream casting light onto the products on the basis that certain products will emit light, observing emitted light from the products, making a selection of certain products from the product stream as a function of the observed light, and separating certain products from the product stream as a function of the selection. A device is provided that is arranged to sort the products according to the method of the invention and includes a light device that is arranged to cast light onto products and an observation device that is arranged to observe light emitted from the products. A selection device is also provided that is arranged to make a selection of whether to separate certain products from the product stream observed by the observation device.

Abstract: A sheet conveyed by a conveying member is pressed against a registration roller pair in a stop state, thereby forming a loop in a loop formation space between the conveying member and the registration roller pair. A lower member which forms the lower surface of the loop formation space has a shape with which the sheet conveyed by the conveying member moves toward the registration roller pair along an upper member which forms the upper surface of the loop formation space in forming the loop. When the lower member is pressed by the sheet conveyed by the registration roller pair while attenuating the loop, the lower member moves downward.

Abstract: An air assisted sheet guide device in a printing machine which is operable during either positive pressure (blast) air operation as well as suction air operation to permit reliable and stable sheet guidance with reduced air flow turbulence. The sheet guide device includes at least one module that defines a guide surface having air flow openings therein and an air flow channel, and a pneumatic system for creating either a positive or suction pressure generated air flow in the flow channel. One or more plate-like air directional elements are mounted within the air flow channel which create a uniform pressure distribution on the guide surface during positive (blast) air operation and which more uniformly direct air to the pneumatic system during suction pressure operation.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention removes defects from citrus pulp. An advancing mechanism advances citrus pulp along a predetermined path of travel into an inspection zone. A citrus pulp imager is positioned at the inspection zone and acquires image data of the citrus pulp. A processor is operatively connected to the citrus pulp imager and receives the image data and processes the image data to determine defects within the citrus pulp. A rejection mechanism rejects any citrus pulp determined to be defective.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the separation of husks and other chaff material apart from bird seed includes a smaller diameter inner container that is placed inside of a larger diameter outer container. A plurality of feet elevate the inner container above a floor of the outer container. A lid is used to cover the outer container and also the inner container. A housing is attached to the inside center of the lid and it includes a motor disposed distally from the lid with a fan blade attached thereto to displace air. A plurality of vanes are attached to the housing from which they extend until they contact the inside surface of the inner container. The vanes prevent a cyclonic air current pattern from occurring and so help to displace the husks apart from the seed. An offset mass introduces vibration which tends to raise more of the husks to the surface where they are displaced out from the inner container.

Abstract: The invention provides a vibrator assembly (5) having a pair of vibrators (1) held in spaced apart relationship by a frame (10), screen assembly (1), having a screen (2, 3) extending between a pair of side plates (4), is securable between the vibrators (11) to the frame (10). The frame (10) transmits loadings transverse to the side plates (4) directly between the vibrators (11) to avoid undesirable stresses being absorbed by the screen assembly (1).

Abstract: Drill cuttings slurries and the like are transported by high pressure pumping the slurry through an extended pipeline, if necessary after treatment of the slurry to render it suitable for high pressure pumping. Apparatus for pumping the slurry includes a tank for receiving the slurry to be pumped, means for agitating the slurry in the tank to mix it, and a high pressure pump for receiving slurry from the tank for pumping away from the tank.