Abstract: A transport apparatus comprises an endless vacuum conveyor belt (310) having a plurality of perforations (311). The conveyor belt transports the particles along a transport direction (T) while they are aspirated to the perforations, thereby defining a moving transport surface (316). The transport surface extends in an essentially vertical plane (x-z), and the transport direction (T) is inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal direction (x). An inclined recycling tray (200) recycles particles that have fallen from the conveyor belt back to a feeding zone (150) purely by the action of gravity. A separating wall (600) separates a processing zone from a clean zone of the apparatus. The conveyor belt interacts with an elongate vacuum box, which is open along one side, the open side being covered by an elongate slider. The slider has suction openings with a cross section that varies along the transport direction (T).

Abstract: A transport apparatus comprises an endless vacuum conveyor belt (310) having a plurality of perforations (311). The conveyor belt transports the particles along a transport direction (T) while they are aspirated to the perforations, thereby defining a moving transport surface (316). The transport surface extends in an essentially vertical plane (x-z), and the transport direction (T) is inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal direction (x). An inclined recycling tray (200) recycles particles that have fallen from the conveyor belt back to a feeding zone (150) purely by the action of gravity. A separating wall (600) separates a processing zone from a clean zone of the apparatus. The conveyor belt interacts with an elongate vacuum box, which is open along one side, the open side being covered by an elongate slider. The slider has suction openings with a cross section that varies along the transport direction (T).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sorting particles into quality classes are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a measurement device (400) for determining at least one analytical property of said particles. A transport device (300) transports the particles past the measurement device. A sorting device (500) is operatively coupled to the measurement device and sorts the particles into at least two quality classes based on the analytical property. To achieve rapid and reliable transport, the transport device comprises a transport surface (310) configured to move in a transport direction. The transport surface has a plurality of perforations. The transport device further comprises a pump (130) for applying a pressure differential to these perforations, to cause particles fed to the transport device to be aspirated to the perforations and to be transported on the transport surface past the measurement device to the sorting device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sorting particles into quality classes are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a measurement device (400) for determining at least one analytical property of said particles. A transport device (300) transports the particles past the measurement device. A sorting device (500) is operatively coupled to the measurement device and sorts the particles into at least two quality classes based on the analytical property. To achieve rapid and reliable transport, the transport device comprises a transport surface (310) configured to move in a transport direction. The transport surface has a plurality of perforations. The transport device further comprises a pump (130) for applying a pressure differential to these perforations, to cause particles fed to the transport device to be aspirated to the perforations and to be transported on the transport surface past the measurement device to the sorting device.