Abstract: An air classifier contains a cylindrical casing provided with at an upper part thereof a feed port to feed high pressure air and a powder material, an umbrella-shaped center core in the casing, and an umbrella-shaped separator core arranged downstream of the center core in the casing and including an opening at center thereof. The air classifier has a configuration containing a dispersion chamber to disperse the powder material, being surrounded by an inner wall of the upper part casing and the center core, and a classification chamber to classify the powder material into fine and coarse powders by centrifugation, being surrounded by the center core, separator core and inner wall of the casing. In the dispersion chamber provided are a louver ring containing guide slats circularly arranged at regular intervals, and a space encircling the louver ring and serving as flow passage of the air and powder material.

Abstract: The powder classifying device classifies powder having a particle size distribution and collects the classified powder. The device includes a disc-like cavity to which the powder is supplied and where the supplied powder is classified, a powder supply port for supplying the powder to the cavity, guide vanes arranged so as to extend from an outer periphery of the cavity in an inner direction at a predetermined angle, a discharge unit for air streams including fine particles discharged from the cavity, a collection unit for coarse particles discharged from the cavity and air nozzles arranged below the guide vanes on an outer peripheral wall of the cavity along a tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall and blow compressed air into an inside of the cavity.

Abstract: A singulating and counting device includes a bulk housing for storing a plurality of substantially identical articles, an exit channel, and in the exit channel, forwardly- and rearwardly-directed jet apertures, each of which is fluidly connected to a positive pressure source. A forwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the forward jet aperture can accelerate singulated articles in the exit channel, thereby increasing the interval between individual articles and rendering them more easily and accurately counted. A rearwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the rearwardly-directed jet aperture can cause articles in the exit channel to return to the housing.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, software and systems are disclosed for improved processing of mailpieces in order to reduce expensive manual steps. Shiny mail, i.e., mailpieces having glossy surfaces that sometimes interfere with printing of barcodes and or ID Tags may lead to rejects. In some embodiments, shiny mailpieces are identified, and at least one new (non-shiny) label is over-labeled in the POSTNET clear zone (108), the ID Tag zone (202), or both. In one embodiment, a specially-configured Reject Encoding Machine (REM) (1142) is employed to label or over-label a POSTNET clear zone (1110), resolve the destination address (1112) if possible, and print the barcode (1114) in a single operation. Thereafter, the mailpiece may be transferred from the REM into a downstream DBCS (1144), thereby re-introducing the mailpiece into the automated mail stream rather than being relegated to a manual stream.

Abstract: A method for screening mixed particulate into multiple sized particulate simultaneously in a low dust high safety environment.

Abstract: A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to the fiber and plastic materials.

Abstract: By either rotating a folded clip within a dispenser, or by folding the clip into a J-shape instead of a U-shape and then placing the clip into a dispenser, more sheets can be placed into the dispenser without causing an increase in dispensing problems. Alternatively, fewer dispensing problems result if the same number of sheets is placed into the dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser was an upright facial tissue carton and the clip was an interfolded stack of facial tissues.

Abstract: A media depository comprises: an input for receiving deposited media items, a discriminator arranged to receive individual deposited media items from the input, and to ascertain whether each individual deposited media item is a banknote or a check; and a combined media container. The combined media container comprises: first and second media entrances, located opposite each other; first and second moveable supports, also located opposite each other; and an urging mechanism coupled to the first and second moveable supports and arranged to urge the first moveable support towards the first media entrance and the second moveable support towards the second media entrance, so that the first and second moveable supports are initially located at the first and second entrances respectively, and move closer to each other as media items are deposited.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for processing sheets, having a deliverer for delivering the sheets which comprises a delivery drum that is acted on pneumatically. The delivery drum has vacuum applied to it. The delivery drum also has disks for carrying the sheets, each of the disks defining vacuum channels for holding the sheets. The vacuum channels have openings and a vacuum connection. The openings and the vacuum connection together form a rotary valve cyclically applying vacuum to the vacuum channels.

Abstract: A paper money handling apparatus comprises a service mechanism unit for delivery of a paper sheet or sheets, a counting processing unit for counting of a paper sheet or sheets, a stacker for storing of a paper sheet or sheets, and conveyance paths for conveyance of a paper sheet or sheets to the service mechanism unit, the counting processing unit, and the stacker. The apparatus further comprises connection guides provided between the conveyance paths and the stackers to perform delivery of a paper sheet or sheets, a motor, a cam and a solenoid, which switch the connection guides to a connected state to connect the same to the conveyance paths and the stackers to enable delivery of a paper sheet or sheets and to an evacuated state to release the connection.

Abstract: A mobile material screening apparatus (100) for separating bulk particulate material into groups of particles of differing sizes comprises a support chassis (2), a horizontal screen box (3) housed within the support chassis (2) and an additional inclined pre-screening module (50) which is adapted to be demountably attached to the support chassis (2). The mobile screening apparatus (100) comprises five outputs. Foldable conveyors (7a, 8, 9, 910, 920) can be deployed outwardly from and stowed inwardly against the material screening apparatus. The provision of an inclined pre-screening module (50) provides relief to the horizontal screen box (3) by first removing the larger sized particles from the bulk material which can be returned to a crusher for recycling and serves also to increase the total number of grades of material separated by the screening apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed. First and second conveying roller pairs are arranged on the conveying path at a predetermined distance from each other. Overlapping conveyance sensing devices are located between the first and second conveying roller pairs and include opposing transmission device and reception device. A distance between the first and second conveying roller pairs is shorter than a length of a minimum size sheet in a conveying direction. In the conveying path between the conveying roller pairs, guide members are disposed to sandwich the transmission device and reception device. The guide members are configured to project upward or downward from a sheet conveying line by a predetermined amount with respect to the conveying path, the sheet conveying line extending through nip points of the first and second conveying roller pairs.

Abstract: A media cassette comprises: a base on which a stack of media items may be placed, a pusher plate biased towards the base and a plurality of drive rollers located beneath the profiled surface and partially protruding through apertures defined in the profiled surface. The base includes a profiled surface extending from a central low region disposed along an axis of the base to higher regions on opposing sides of the central low region. The pusher plate is operable to urge a stack of media items onto the profiled surface. The plurality of drive rollers are operable to drive a media item in contact with the profiled surface out of the media cassette.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. In another embodiment, the disperser is a travelling head disperser thereby providing relative movement between the modules and the disperser. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. The equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules.

Abstract: A screen basket with replaceable profiled bars and method of making such screen basket are described herein. The screen basket includes profiled bars evenly spaced circumferentially to form a plurality of continuous slots that covers the whole basket length. The profiled bars are fixed in place by a backing structure, including support rings. In pulp and paper industry, this type of basket is mainly used for pulp screening and is commonly referred to as wedge wire basket. As opposed to conventional wedge wire baskets, in which the profiled bars are permanently joined to the rings, the present invention allows replacing the profiled bars when required and to fully re-use the main structural elements. This is achieved with an assembly that allows to insert the profiled bars, preferably consecutively sled into each aligned ring grooves in a vertical movement. The ring grooves are profiled such that there is sufficient clearance for sliding in the profiled bars.

Abstract: This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. In another embodiment, the disperser is a travelling head disperser thereby providing relative movement between the modules and the disperser. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. The equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for sifting feedstock, comprising: a. a static sifter that has a ventilated bottom which is oriented at an angle to the vertical and is penetrated by sifting gas; b. an inlet for feeding the feedstock to the ventilated bottom; c. an outlet for the coarse material; d. a dynamic sifter that is mounted downstream and encompasses at least one rotor with rotor blades and a horizontal rotor axis; e. at least one outlet for the sifting gas loaded with fine material; and f. a housing inside which the static and the dynamic sifter are arranged. The housing area surrounding the dynamic sifter is designed as a housing spiral such that the sifting gas flows against the rotor in a substantially tangential direction. The rotor rotates counter to the direction of flow of the sifting gas in the housing spiral.

Abstract: Apparatus for gathering postal items having a postal item feeding path for feeding postal items at a speed of transport and a postal item gripper for gripping and subsequently releasing postal items. The gripper is circulatable in a sense of circulation along a circulation path downstream of the feeding path. Each time prior to gripping of one of the postal items by the gripper, at least the speed of transport of the gripper is temporarily reduced to a reduced speed of transport or the speed of transport of the postal item along the feeding path is temporarily increased to an increased speed of transport. A method for gathering postal items is also described.

Abstract: Even if a sheet surface detection mechanism outputs a signal indicating that an uppermost sheet among blown-up sheets is within a conveyance range, if a trailing edge sheet surface sensor outputs a signal indicating that the uppermost sheet among the blown-up sheets is lower than the conveyance range when the conveyed uppermost sheet passes by the trailing edge sheet surface sensor, a lifting and lowering portion is controlled to lift the tray so that the uppermost sheet is positioned within the conveyance range.