Abstract: A device for separating broken fragments of particles from the particles, comprising a floor arranged such that it receives the particles and the broken fragments, connected to a vibration device arranged such that it makes the floor undergo a vibratory movement, the floor being pierced with orifices to allow the broken fragments to pass through the orifices without allowing the particles to pass therethrough, and a ceiling arranged substantially parallel to the floor. The device further comprises an actuator arranged so as to move the ceiling between a first position in which it is located at a distance from the floor and a second position in which it is in contact with the floor such that the broken particle fragments stuck in the orifices are expelled therefrom.

Abstract: An assembly and method for gravitationally separating gold from particles, and specifically for separating small components of gold, less than 1 millimeter from small particles. A series of sieves having graduated mesh sizes, and arranged in a sequential, stacked configuration sieves the aggregate of large particles and larger components of gold. The remaining small particles and smaller components of gold fall into a container. A pressurized column of fluid is forced into the container. The fluid has sufficient flow velocity to suspend the lighter small particles, but insufficient flow velocity to support the denser, high specific gravity gold. Gold has a large specific gravity relative to the fluid and particles. Gravity causes the gold to falls into a transparent collection conduit. Manipulation of valves enables gold to redirect to a collection bin. Fluid flow is shut, enabling small particles to be flushed out through gravitational forces and excess fluid momentum.

Abstract: A transport apparatus comprises an endless vacuum conveyor belt (310) having a plurality of perforations (311). The conveyor belt transports the particles along a transport direction (T) while they are aspirated to the perforations, thereby defining a moving transport surface (316). The transport surface extends in an essentially vertical plane (x-z), and the transport direction (T) is inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal direction (x). An inclined recycling tray (200) recycles particles that have fallen from the conveyor belt back to a feeding zone (150) purely by the action of gravity. A separating wall (600) separates a processing zone from a clean zone of the apparatus. The conveyor belt interacts with an elongate vacuum box, which is open along one side, the open side being covered by an elongate slider. The slider has suction openings with a cross section that varies along the transport direction (T).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the screening of objects in-transit and materials, for security purposes (i.e. explosives detection). The invention provides an adjustable computerized system suitable for use at airports, seaports, land terminals, distribution centers, railway terminals, border crossings or other transit terminals, in order to achieve maximal efficiency and detection reliability, by adjustment of the screening process of any specific object to its risk factor in conjunction with the characteristics of the available in-line detection equipment. The invention provides an automated security inspection and conveying system for in-transit objects, comprising means for identifying the sender of each package and to profile and import the security status data relevant to the object into the system, and a plurality of various security screening machines in combination with conveying and sorting components.