Abstract: The invention relates to the area of mineral processing, and more particularly to separation of crushed mined material containing minerals, which are luminescent under the action of exciting radiation, into products to be concentrated and tailing products. The invention can be implemented both in X-ray-luminescent sorters at all beneficiation stages and in product inspection devices, like diamondiferous raw materials testing.

Abstract: A sifting apparatus for stratifying raw material includes a material feed-in device, a material support unit, a gas plenum, and a discharge control device. The material support unit receives material from the material feed-in device and has a surface having a plurality of openings for a gaseous medium introduced from underneath the material support unit, thereby effecting loosening and stratification of the material into a layer of relatively heavier material, and a layer of relatively lighter material atop the heavier material. The introduced gaseous medium originates in a pump, is collected in a pressurized reservoir and is controlled by a metered valve prior to introduction to the material support unit.

Abstract: A process for classifying water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein screens having different mesh sizes are used before and after surface postcrosslinking to remove the undersize (fines).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing aflatoxin-contaminated corn from batches of corn by a floating process, thus producing a distinguishable floating mat of contaminated corn and a separate submerged bed of uncontaminated and less contaminated corn. The methods of this disclosure include removing the floating contaminated corn mat by a vacuum mechanism or by liquid flow. The methods reduce the aflatoxin level in the submerged corn bed as much as 80% from the initial aflatoxin level, while removing no more than 15% from the batch of corn.

Abstract: A high-speed method and system for inspecting a stream of parts at a pair of inspection stations and sorting the inspected parts is provided. The method includes directing a first array of angularly-spaced beams of collimated radiation at an outer peripheral surface of the part from a first side of a travel path when the part is located at a first inspection station to create a corresponding first array of unobstructed portions of the beams passing by and not blocked by the part. The method also includes directing a second array of angularly-spaced beams of collimated radiation at the outer peripheral surface of the part from a second side of the path when the part is located at a second inspection station to create a corresponding second array of unobstructed portions of the beams passing by and not blocked by the part.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sorting hides are provided. In particular, one or more embodiments comprise a tanning control system that enhances the traceability of hides by capturing and utilizing data related to the unloading, tanning, sorting, and packaging of hides. Furthermore, one or more embodiments enable the tanning control system to improve efficiency by sorting hides based, at least in part, on data generated during prior tanning processes. Additionally, one or more embodiments facilitate the tanning control system in customizing the sorting and packaging of hides based, at least in part, on one or more hide characteristics and/or customer specifications.

Abstract: A mining shovel with compositional sensors comprises a bucket having various inward looking sensors positioned throughout the bucket. The bucket can also have disposed thereon a control enclosure that houses processing equipment that receives and analyzes the data collected by the inward looking sensors. The mining shovel with compositional sensors can be used as part of a system to manage a mining field, including generating and transmitting instructions directing where to deposit material located in the bucket based on the data collected from the inward looking sensors positioned in the bucket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting objects is described, and which provides high-speed image data acquisition to fuse multiple data streams in real-time, while avoiding destructive interference when individual sensors or detectors are utilized in providing data regarding features of a product to be inspected.

Abstract: A transporting device transports objects in a transport direction from a loading region to an unloading region. The device includes a first conveying unit and a second conveying unit which are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction. Efficient unloading of the objects from the transporting device is achieved by providing a separating device between the first and second conveying units. The separating device is configured to separate the objects into at least two object groups dependent on at least one object property.

Abstract: A sluice plate for capturing and concentrating heavy metal particles has a main plate and a plurality of spiral pockets. The main plate includes a main body and a drafting surface over which a processing mixture flows. The plurality of spiral pockets traverses into the main body through the drafting surface, wherein the plurality of spiral pockets collects heavy metal particles from the processing mixture. Each of the plurality of spiral pockets has a lateral wall that tapers from an upper opening to a lower face. An inner lip is perimetrically and helically positioned along the lateral wall. The inner lip and the tapered nature of each of the plurality of spiral pockets facilitates the movement of the processing mixture within the plurality of spiral pockets, along with the stratification of the heavy metal particles.

Abstract: A method and system for processing and recycling infill material of artificial turf. The invention includes drying extracted infill material through a fluid bed dryer, the fluid bed dryer passes a process gas through a bed of solids via a perforated plate. The dried infill material is processed using a plurality of vibrating screens to remove excessively large or small particles from the infill material. The plurality of vibrating screens may be a set of progressively finer mesh screens. The processed infill material is separated by density. The density of the infill material may be determined by a high intensity, uniform sheet of laminar airflow. The separated infill material is discharged and is ready to be used again in another artificial turf. In one embodiment, the infill material includes at least one of graded sand, granulated styrene-butadiene rubber, cork, organic infill, thermoplastic elastomers, or ethylene propylene diene monomers.

Abstract: A sorting device that can be transported by road or rail has rotary driven sorting rollers, supported on a frame, that together form a roller screen for sorting a material mixture into a fine grain size which falls through the roller screen and an oversize grain that is conveyed by the sorting rollers over a side edge of the roller screen. An oversize grain conveyor and collector is arranged below the sorting rollers. A channelling means extends along the side edge and is inclined in an operating position towards the oversize grain conveyor and collector, at least in sections, between an upper region, which faces the side edge at a distance, and a lower region which is near the oversize grain conveyor and collector, in order to channel oversize grain, which is conveyed over the side edge of the roller screen, downwards to the oversize grain conveyor and collector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility are provided. At least two bearing surfaces for receiving piece goods are engaged with a conveying system for filling the bearing surfaces with piece goods, the conveying system having transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces may be filled with piece goods separately from one another. A control unit is coupled to the conveying system and a detection device is coupled to the control unit for detecting the position, orientation, and package data of the piece goods. A handling mechanism is also coupled to the control unit for gripping piece goods from the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transfer device.

Abstract: An optical robotic sorting apparatus for identifying and sorting a product is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the optical robotic sorting apparatus illuminates the product with a light source, images the product using at least one imaging device, analyzes the image, and activates a robotic sorter to sort the product; wherein the robotic sorter utilizes a vacuum tool to handle the product.

Abstract: A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

Abstract: A headed retention pin is proposed that seats into recesses in the lower adjoining edges of two screening panels. The heads are tapered vertical from the upper surface of the head to the lower edge of the panels and tapered horizontally from the outer edge of the heads toward the center line of the head which lies on the join line of the two adjacent panels. These appear to be an X in plan view. The advantage is that as well as locating the panels correctly and retaining the panels on the frame they also pull the adjacent panels together to reduce ingress of fines between the panels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sieve screen, which can be positioned in a utility machine-operated screen bucket or in a screening station maneuverable with its own actuator. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of screening plates (3) are spaced from each other and establish a screening surface (2), which is provided with screening slots and on top of which can be placed the material to be screened. Rotatable shafts (4) are present below the screening surface (2). The shafts (4) feature blades (5), which protrude from the shafts and extend through the screening slots to above the screening surface (2). Fraction size is adapted to be changed without removing the shafts (4), by re-grouping the blades (5) and a necessary number of the screening plates (3). The blades (5) can be grouped in such a way on the shafts (4) that at least two blades (5) are set adjacent to each other and the adjacent blades are located within the same screening slot.

Abstract: A method for garment displaying and/or sorting is disclosed comprising, in one embodiment, affixing garments, such as socks, to a hook fastener. In one embodiment, a user may determine whether a select and/or matching pair of socks is affixed and, if a select and/or matching pair of socks is determined to be affixed, the user removes or pairs the select pair of socks or the socks determined to be matching. In another embodiment, a user may determine if a select or matching pair of socks is present among affixed socks and non affixed socks and pair that select or matching pair of socks. Hook fasteners may be affixed to or rested on a desired surface for displaying affixed socks or other garments.

Abstract: A method of controlling the vibration of a vibratory separator, the method including providing a vibratory separator having a frame and a plurality of force generators coupled to the frame and a control unit operatively connected to each of the plurality of force generators, and independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators. Independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators controls a motion profile of the vibratory separator.

Abstract: A device (1) for alignment of elongated food products to be further processed, wherein the device comprises an incoming product conveyor (21) for transporting incoming elongated products into the device, a displacement device (23) displaceable arranged on a displacement track (29) for relocating the incoming products from the incoming product conveyor (21) onto an outgoing product conveyor (26) having capacity for arranging two or more incoming products (20?) side by side, before transporting the two or more incoming products simultaneously out from the device, is described.