Abstract: A sorting installation for separating a first type of articles from a second type of articles fed mixed to the sorting installation. The articles of the first type are relatively light and substantially two-dimensional, while the articles of the second type are relatively heavy and substantially three-dimensional. There is provided an article-supporting surface which receives the first and second type of articles in a generally mixed state and which has a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The article-supporting surface is inclined to the horizontal in a direction parallel to the width dimension for causing primarily the second type of articles to move by gravity downwardly on the article-supporting surface transversely to the length dimension and laterally off the article-supporting surface.

Abstract: A thin channel split flow process for particle fractionation which effects a rapid and efficient separation of the particles comprising introducing a stream of fluid containing the particles to be separated into the inlet end of a thin enclosed channel whose transverse dimension is very small, applying a special field or gradient or combination thereof transversely across the thin dimension of the channel to create a driving force a component of which is perpendicular to the main flow plane, adjusting the flow rate to achieve laminar flow conditions throughout the channel to allow the particles under the influence of the field/gradient to segregate into different stream laminae as they approach different transverse equilibrium positions, splitting the channel stream at the outlet end into substreams containing different separated fractions of the particles in the initial mixture, recovering the substream and thereby recovering the separated fractions.

Abstract: A transporting system for a robot comprises a self-propelled wheeled platform which travels along a pair of tracks which establish a path between a series of spaced work stations. Accurate positioning of the platform at the work stations is achieved by a toggle-operated platform-mounted mechanism which lifts the platform above the track, using four precisely positioned locator blocks fixed to the tracks at each work station. These blocks provide a reaction and reference surface for the lifting mechanism and have formations which cooperate with formations on the carriage to cam the carriage into the desired longitudinal and transverse position as the carriage is lifted. The lifting mechanism also functions to fixedly clamp the carriage to the locator blocks once the final position has been achieved.

Abstract: A small piece stacker and counter for use in association with laundry ironing machines comprising a conveyor belt means having space defined between two belts with passage therethrough of the piece, blow down means for the blowing down of the piece through the spaced apart conveyor belts, and catch means for the catching of the piece at a central portion thereof.