Abstract: Included are a chute arranged in an inclined manner to allow sorting targets to flow downward, optical detection means for detecting the sorting targets at a detection position, and ejector means for sorting and removing the sorting targets based on a result of detection of the optical detection means. The chute is provided with an optical detection slit in a direction orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the sorting targets, a slit width of the optical detection slit is adjustable, and the optical detection means images the sorting targets flowing downward on the chute with the imaging means at a position where the optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.

Abstract: Included are a chute arranged in an inclined manner to allow sorting targets to flow downward, optical detection means for detecting the sorting targets at a detection position, and ejector means for sorting and removing the sorting targets based on a result of detection of the optical detection means. The chute is provided with an optical detection slit in a direction orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the sorting targets, a slit width of the optical detection slit is adjustable, and the optical detection means images the sorting targets flowing downward on the chute with the imaging means at a position where the optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.

Abstract: Provided is an optical sorting device including a chute having an optical detection slit and a sorting and removal slit arranged on a downstream side of the optical detection slit, an object to be sorted flowing down on a front surface of the chute. A rear-side illuminating portion of an optical inspection unit and an ejector nozzle are attached to a rear-side housing. The rear-side housing is installed on a rear surface side of the chute such that the rear-side illuminating portion faces the optical detection slit, and a leading end of the ejector nozzle faces the sorting and removal slit.

Abstract: An optical unit for an optical sorter can simplify the assembling operation and the installing operation of the optical sorter through unifying components of an optical section of the optical sorter for sorting objects to be sorted such as a granular object or a sheet object. The optical unit includes an optical detection means for detecting the object to be sorted, an ejector means for ejecting the object to be sorted, a discrimination means for processing detection signal from the optical detection means to make a quality discrimination of the sorted objects, and an ejector driving means for driving the ejector means based on the quality discrimination of the discrimination means. The optical detection means, the ejector means, the discrimination means, and the ejector driving means are integrated into a housing to unify them to provide the optical unit.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an illuminating device for supplying luminous energy to a to-be-detected object, using one illumination light source to create a detection image which is bright in its entirety and free from any shadow area. The light sources necessary to illuminate the object from thereabove and therebelow are commonalized, wherein light from the common illumination light source is divided by the reflectors, such that it becomes upward illumination and downward illumination, to illuminate the object with the illuminations. Optical paths of a part of light rays from the illumination light source are reflected by a refractive mirror, such that the part of the light rays is incident on at least one of the reflectors. This makes it possible to reduce the number of the illumination light sources without causing a decrease in the luminous energy, thereby realizing a reduction in size of the entire illuminating device.

Abstract: An optical unit for an optical sorter can simplify the assembling operation and the installing operation of the optical sorter through unifying components of an optical section of the optical sorter for sorting objects to be sorted such as a granular object or a sheet object. The optical unit includes an optical detection means for detecting the object to be sorted, an ejector means for ejecting the object to be sorted, a discrimination means for processing detection signal from the optical detection means to make a quality discrimination of the sorted objects, and an ejector driving means for driving the ejector means based on the quality discrimination of the discrimination means. The optical detection means, the ejector means, the discrimination means, and the ejector driving means are integrated into a housing to unify them to provide the optical unit.

Abstract: By using an offset parabolic concave mirror as a concave mirror, and arranging a lens having an entrance pupil at the geometric focal point of the offset parabolic concave mirror, a group of rays incident parallel to the optical axis of the offset parabolic concave mirror become chief rays which are telecentric with respect to an object plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the offset parabolic concave mirror, and diverging light from each object point on the object plane can be detected on a quadric image plane formed by the lens at the focal point of the offset parabolic concave mirror without blind spots. An image of the target object is detected after the beams reflected by the offset parabolic concave mirror are bent by the reflecting mirrors and made incident on the lens to reduce the size and cost of the device.

Abstract: By using an offset parabolic concave mirror as a concave mirror, and arranging a lens having an entrance pupil at the geometric focal point of the offset parabolic concave mirror, a group of rays incident parallel to the optical axis of the offset parabolic concave mirror become chief rays which are telecentric with respect to an object plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the offset parabolic concave mirror, and diverging light from each object point on the object plane can be detected on a quadric image plane formed by the lens at the focal point of the offset parabolic concave mirror without blind spots. An image of the target object is detected after the beams reflected by the offset parabolic concave mirror are bent by the reflecting mirrors and made incident on the lens to reduce the size and cost of the device.

Abstract: A protruding section formed at the one side end of a connector section provided in a valve is inserted into a recessed section formed as part of a valve placement section of a fluid apparatus. The valve is caused to pivot with the inserted portion that serves as a supporting point, and an engaging section formed at the front end of a lever of a hook section formed at the other side end of the connector section is allowed to engage with an engaging protruding section formed as part of the valve placement section of the fluid apparatus. The valve is thus attached to the fluid apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a washing method and the like suitable for a long and porous battery separator and a separator producing method including the washing method. The washing method of the present invention includes the steps of (i) transferring a separator in its longitudinal direction and (ii) washing the separator by causing the separator, which is being transferred, to sequentially pass through washing waters in washing tanks.

Abstract: A protruding section formed at the one side end of a connector section provided in a valve is inserted into a recessed section formed as part of a valve placement section of a fluid apparatus. The valve is caused to pivot with the inserted portion that serves as a supporting point, and an engaging section formed at the front end of a lever of a hook section formed at the other side end of the connector section is allowed to engage with an engaging protruding section formed as part of the valve placement section of the fluid apparatus. The valve is thus attached to the fluid apparatus.