Abstract: A device attachable to a hunting knife, to adapt same for skinning and field dressing operation. The device comprises a guard member adapted to fit over only a tip portion of the knife blade, with a passage in the guard member receiving the tip portion of the blade, so that the guard member when attached leaves exposed a major portion of the blade cutting surface of the knife, while occluding the tip portion of the blade from cutting exposure. The attachment also features means for removably retaining the guard member in position at the tip portion of the knife blade, such as a leather thong extending through a hole in the proximal part of the guard member, whose end portions may be grasped to retain the guard member in position. The skinning and field dressing attachment device of the invention is readily detachably secured to the knife blade tip portion, to accommodate a quick and simple conversion of the hunting knife to skinning and/or field dressing operation.

Abstract: A bottle sorting system includes a carousel which transports bottles through various stations to classify and separate bottles according to identifying characteristics. At a transfer station, bottles are brought into alignment with gripper mechanisms that are automatically closed to engage the bottles. The bottles are then transported through an inspection staton where they are electrooptically scanned to determine their identifying characteristics. A central processing unit compares the bottle characteristics with stored sets of characteristics to classify each bottle. The locations of each classified bottle is monitored by the central processing unit as the bottles are transported by the carousel. When a particular bottle reaches a location associated with one of a plurality of discharge conveyors, the central processing unit actuates an opening device to open the gripper mechanism and release the bottle onto the conveyor.