Abstract: A device is provided for use in the alignment of sheets transverse to a direction of sheet travel. A sheet retaining device, which conveys the sheets, is displaceably mounted for holding the sheets against a side guide. At least two sheets are situated one above the other in an offset manner in the direction of sheet travel. An effective retaining surface extends in the direction of sheet travel and has a longitudinal length greater than a transverse width. A ratio of the longitudinal length of the effective retaining surface to the width of the transverse width of the effective retaining surface is greater than three.

Abstract: A cyclone for classifying materials has at least one vibrator attached to the downwardly tapering conical housing thereof to set up vibrations which interrupt the normal flow pattern of the downwardly swirling slurry of materials so that some of the smaller particles which would otherwise be trapped in the slurry are freed so that an increased amount of the smaller particles will move into the vortex created in the cyclone and thereby increase the operating efficiency of the cyclone. In a first embodiment, a conventional cyclone having a solid metallic conical housing is modified by having the vibrator attached to the periphery of the conical housing. In a second embodiment, an open-sided conical housing having a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal struts with the vibrator mounted on a strut which is configured to transmit vibrations to the metallic substrates of abrasion resistant liners mounted in the conical housing.

Abstract: A pulse of over six kilovolts with a duration of 200 nanoseconds causes an explosion that fragments a mineral deposit with metals embedded therein. The fragmentation separates the metals from the mineral. A conditioning electromagnet temporarily magnetizes the metals. A sorting magnet attracts one of the magnetized metals.

Abstract: A sheets separation/conveying apparatus has a pick-up roller to take out sheets in the piled up state on the conveying path. The sheets taken out on the conveying path are checked when passing the first roller and plural sheets being conveyed in the overlapped state are detected by a detector and separated each other by the second roller.

Abstract: A small or special media guide-in tray including a media tray, an aperture disposed in the media tray, first and second opposed guide arms extending through the aperture and biased to a first position. The first and second opposed guide arms are pivotally mounted and are synchronously movable when small media is inserted. The opposed guide arms and biasing are used to automatically center the small media as it is inserted between the guide arms. The guide-in tray may be utilized with media handling devices having an L-path media feed wherein the guide-in media tray is incorporated in an input tray or in a C-path media feed wherein the guide-in media tray is incorporated in an exit tray.