Abstract: A novel ballistic separator for separating material is disclosed that includes a separator bed adapted to contact the material. The bed has a first agitator with a top surface, with the top surface comprising a conveyor connected to the first agitator. A crankshaft imparts an oscillating motion to the first agitator and conveyor, which move fixed together relative to the oscillating motion. The conveyor is constructed to move laterally across to the top surface.

Abstract: A collecting device for collecting discrete items that are delivered from a conveyor to a delivery location. The collecting device includes a collecting region with a collecting device, in which collecting region the discrete items are collected, a delay region with a discrete items support, and a feed region having a feed device. The delay region is prior to the collecting region and is the region in which the discrete items delivered from the conveyor are held up. The feed region is prior to the delay region and is the region through which the discrete items are fed from conveyor to the delay region. The delay region has a conveying mechanism that is capable of conveying the held-up discrete item from the delay region into the collecting region by way of a conveying-active movement.

Abstract: Provided is a conveying apparatus having simple mechanical and electrical configurations. The conveying apparatus includes: a conveying member that has a dielectric layer having insulating properties and made of an elastomer and a pair of electrode layers placed on both front and back sides of the dielectric layer and having conductive properties, and that is divided into a base portion and a conveying portion being more easily elastically deformed than the base portion and having on its surface a conveying path on which an object to be transported is transported; and a power supply unit that applies between the pair of electrode layers a voltage that changes periodically with time. The conveying portion is elastically extended and contracted with the base portion as a starting point according to a change in the voltage, so that the conveying apparatus transports the object on the conveying path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for transporting and holding of touch-sensitive structural elements or materials, the device comprising the following features: At least an oscillatory plate-like take-up 2 for receiving the object to be transported or held, on which at least an oscillation generator 3 is fixed, and at least two supporting members 4, wherein the oscillation generator 3 is arranged on the plate-like take-up 2 at a predetermined position thereof to set the plate-like take-up into flexural vibrations, and the supporting members 4 are arranged at positions where the amplitude of the flexural vibration is lower than the maximum amplitude by at least 50%, and the oscillation generator 3 is operated with a frequency setting the plate-like take-up 2 into vibrations so that the structural elements or the material are (is) levitating in a contact-free way.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating particles uses tunable standing surface acoustic waves includes a channel defined on a substrate and a pair of variable frequency interdigital transducers. The channel is disposed asymmetrically between the transducers such that the zero order node location is outside of a working region in the channel.

Abstract: A system includes a solid feed pump configured to transport a solid feedstock. The solid feed pump includes at least one passage for the transport of the solid feedstock. The solid feed pump also includes at least one movable wall configured to move along the passage. The solid feed pump further includes a retractable gripping element configured to extend from the at least one movable wall into the at least one passage to grip a portion of the solid feedstock. In addition, the retractable gripping element is configured to retract away from the at least one passage.

Abstract: A non-contact conveyance system of the invention has a static pressure table for levitating a conveyance object upward, a pair of conveying units having vibrating plates and actuators and a moving unit for moving the conveying units in a conveying direction. Then, retaining forces are applied to front and rear edge portions of the conveyance object facing to the vibrating plates by exciting deflection standing waves in the vibrating plates by the actuators. Then, when the conveying units are moved while applying the retaining forces to the edge portions of the conveyance object, the conveyance object is conveyed following the move of the conveying units. Thereby, a number of parts may be cut and the system may be downsized.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device applicable to a wider scope and field and used for transporting a substance of any of wide variety of types to be transported with an improved efficiency without needing to clean a piezoelectric substrate and simultaneously transporting two or more physically separated substances along the propagation direction of a surface acoustic wave. An acoustic wave device has an exciting electrode for exciting a surface acoustic wave formed on a piezoelectric substrate generating a surface acoustic wave by a piezoelectric effect. A transport path plate is disposed adjacently to the exciting electrode over the piezoelectric substrate with a water layer (W) interposed therebetween. When current is supplied to the exciting electrode, a surface acoustic wave is generated on the piezoelectric substrate. The surface acoustic wave causes a longitudinal wave to be emitted into the water layer (W) and attenuates.

Abstract: A device for generating a floating state of an object by sound waves includes a rigid support structure having a top surface for absorbing forces generated by the gravitation or acceleration of the levitating object and perpendicularly acting on the top surface. A thin oscillatory element is arranged in parallel to the top surface. Further provided is a vibration generator for making the thin oscillatory element vibrating and levitating above the top surface so that the object is levitating above the thin oscillatory element without contacting it.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing products by chilling or freezing includes a conveyor for conveying the products along a plane of travel; lifting means disposed for intermittent contact with the conveyor during processing; cam means rotatable for contacting and displacing the lifting means to contact and displace the conveyor from the plane of travel, thereby displacing the products on the conveyor to prevent the products from adhering to the conveyor and other of the products; and drive means operatively associated with the cam means to impart rotational movement to the cam means for intermittently contacting and displacing the lifting means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing products by chilling or freezing includes a conveyor for conveying the products along a plane of travel; lifting means disposed for intermittent contact with the conveyor during processing; cam means rotatable for contacting and displacing the lifting means to contact and displace the conveyor from the plane of travel, thereby displacing the products on the conveyor to prevent the products from adhering to the conveyor and other of the products; and drive means operatively associated with the cam means to impart rotational movement to the cam means for intermittently contacting and displacing the lifting means.

Abstract: A system for transporting particles includes a substrate and a plurality of spaced electrically conductive electrodes carried by the substrate. Further included is a carrier medium adapted for the retention and migration of particles disposed therein, wherein the carrier medium is in operational contact with the electrodes, and a vibration generator is positioned in relation to the substrate to impart vibrations into the carrier medium. In an alternative embodiment, the vibration generator is configured to generate an acoustic traveling wave, which includes a vibration component and a motivation component.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device applicable to a wider scope and field and used for transporting a substance of any of wide variety of types to be transported with an improved efficiency without needing to clean a piezoelectric substrate and simultaneously transporting two or more physically separated substances along the propagation direction of a surface acoustic wave. An acoustic wave device has an exciting electrode for exciting a surface acoustic wave formed on a piezoelectric substrate generating a surface acoustic wave by a piezoelectric effect. A transport path plate is disposed adjacently to the exciting electrode over the piezoelectric substrate with a water layer (W) interposed therebetween. When current is supplied to the exciting electrode, a surface acoustic wave is generated on the piezoelectric substrate. The surface acoustic wave causes a longitudinal wave to be emitted into the water layer (W) and attenuates.

Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object has a first housing wall with a first wall support and a second housing wall with a second wall support. A deck has a first lateral edge engaging the first wall support and a second lateral edge engaging the second wall support, so that the deck extends along a deck path and defines a conveyor surface adapted to receive the object. A force assembly is mechanically coupled to the deck and applies a force that bends the deck into an arcuate cross-sectional profile.

Abstract: A device for generating a floating state of an object by sound waves includes a rigid support structure having a top surface for absorbing forces generated by the gravitation or acceleration of the levitating object and perpendicularly acting on the top surface. A thin oscillatory element is arranged in parallel to the top surface. Further provided is a vibration generator for making the thin oscillatory element vibrating and levitating above the top surface so that the object is levitating above the thin oscillatory element without contacting it.

Abstract: Embodiments of a vacuum conveyor system are provided herein. In one embodiment, apparatus for conveying a substrate includes a vacuum sleeve and a plurality of rollers disposed within the vacuum sleeve for supporting and transporting the substrate thereupon. The plurality of rollers is adapted to simultaneously support the substrate thereupon at a plurality of elevations. A leading edge of the substrate is supported at an elevation above an adjacent one of the plurality of rollers in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A vibrating transducer is coupled to one end of an elongated vibrating plate and a receiving transducer is coupled to the other end of the vibrating plate. Langevin transducers are used for the vibrating and receiving transducers. Each transducer includes a pair of annular piezoelectric elements. The vibrating transducer is connected to an oscillator. A controller controls the oscillator. Detection signals of a voltage sensor, which detects the vibrating state of the receiving side of the vibrating plate, are fed back to the controller. The controller controls the oscillator such that the phase difference between the vibration of the vibrating side and the receiving side is within a predetermined range and that the receiving side is vibrated by amplitude greater than or equal to a predetermined amplitude.

Abstract: A pickup mechanism for handling micro components includes a microworkpiece supplying unit, a microworkpiece orientation unit and a microworkpiece separation unit. The microworkpiece orientation unit connects with the microworkpiece supplying unit and the microworkpiece separation unit. The micro components are supplied by the supplying unit, then orientated by the orientation unit. Those components orientated in a specific direction are led to the separation unit and separated for a following working device to process. Therefore, the pickup mechanism provides a continuous supplying, orientation and separation of the micro components for further assembly or fabrication processes.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprises an elongated conveying bed which includes a proximal end and a distal end. A support structure for the conveying bed accommodates vibratory motion of a portion of the conveying bed extending from the proximal end a substantial distance toward the distal end but dampens vibratory motion at the distal end. In addition, a piezoelectric driver is operatively connected to the conveying bed adjacent the proximal end. Consequently, operation of the piezoelectric driver will induce a wave motion in the conveying bed which will effectively convey a material from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: An apparatus levitates and transports an object. The apparatus levitates the object above the surfaces of a plurality of vibrators by air pressure of sound waves that are generated by the vibrators. The apparatus has a plurality of vibration devices, each of which corresponds to one of the vibrators. Each vibration device includes a first transducer for vibrating the corresponding vibrator. Each transducer includes a super-magnetostrictive material. A common power source is connected to at least two of the first transducers for actuating the first transducers.

Abstract: An apparatus for levitating objects has an elongated diaphragm and a transducer. The diaphragm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is fixed to a horn and the second end portion is fixed to a supporting member. The transducer is connected to only the horn. The transducer vibrates the diaphragm and an object is levitated above a surface of the diaphragm by radiation pressure of a sound wave generated from the diaphragm. Therefore, the elongated diaphragm can be vibrated by one transducer in a stable condition with a simple structure.

Abstract: A linear translation thrust system for moving an object from one location to another that includes at least two platforms and pivotally connected members. The distance between one platform and the second is varied by inflating and deflating an inflatable bladder. The linear translation thrust system may also include a conduit for coupling the exhaust system of a vehicle to the interior of the bladder so that the exhaust pressure of the vehicle inflates the bladder.

Abstract: An apparatus for levitating and transporting an object includes a pair of elongated vibrators, a pair of oscillators and a pair of flection limiting rods. Each oscillator includes a horn and a transducer and corresponds to one of the vibrators. Each transducer vibrates the corresponding vibrator through the corresponding horn to generate sound waves from the vibrator. The object is levitated by radiation pressure of the sound waves. Each flection limiting rod corresponds to one of the vibrators. Each rod contacts the lower surface of the corresponding vibrator at a position where the displacement due to vibration is relatively small and reduces the flection of the vibrator due to the weight of the vibrator and the weight of the transported object.

Abstract: A handler for transporting planar substrates, in particular wafers, used in the semiconductor industry, between at least two stations. The handler includes a movable flat support arm for receiving a substrate and means for defining the location of the substrate in the area of a predetermined point on the support arm. A vibration generator for generating a longitudinal ultrasonic vibration is provided, that the vibration generator interacts with the support arm in such a way that a substantially stationary vibration with at least one antinode can be set on the flat support arm, which permits a levitation of a substrate placed thereon. A means for defining the location of the substrate provide a lateral positioning exclusively by an interaction with the edge area of a substrate.

Abstract: A method of controlling an object levitating apparatus is disclosed. The levitating apparatus levitates an object on a plurality of vibrating bodies with air pressure generated from sound waves produced by the vibrating bodies. Each vibrating body is vibrated by a corresponding vibrating apparatus. Each vibrating apparatus has an oscillator and a transducer. The transducer is actuated by the oscillator to vibrate the corresponding vibrating body. The method includes determining impedance of each transducer, and controlling each oscillator in accordance with the determined impedance to restrict displacement of the levitated object.

Abstract: Conveying systems and methods in which a series of inflatable bladders are inflated and deflated in such a way as to convey objects in given directions.

Abstract: A method for transferring an object levitated by sound waves from a transporting device to an unloading device. The transporting device includes a transporting vibrator, which levitates the object with sound waves. The unloading device includes an unloading vibrator mounted on a platform. The platform is arranged at a predetermined position below the object, at which the distance between the top surface of the unloading vibrator and the bottom surface of the object is less than one half the wavelength of a standing wave generated by the unloading vibrator. The platform is then moved upward toward the object from the predetermined position to levitate the object. The unloading vibrator generates sound waves to levitate the object. The object is then levitated by the platform to a position at which the levitating force of the transporting vibrator does not affect the object.

Abstract: This invention provides a convey apparatus capable of conveying a convey target without locally applying an excessive force to it. The convey apparatus includes a convey portion and a medium pressure switching unit. The convey portion has a plurality of medium passages for passing a medium therethrough, and at least part of the surface of the convey portion is made of an elastic material. The diameters of the medium passages can be freely increased/decreased. The medium pressure switching unit controls the pressures of a medium supplied to the respective medium passages of the convey portion to increase or decrease the diameters of the medium passages, thereby generating a carrier wave on the surface of the convey portion.

Abstract: An apparatus used in electrophotographic printing or copying for conveying magnetically attractable toner or developer particles that includes a stator, electric windings, and an end-plate made of magnetizable material arranged in parallel with the major dimension of the stator. The end-plate and the stator define a channel therebetween in which the particles are conveyed. Electric current supplied to the windings creates a magnetic field whose force moves the particles within the channel. This apparatus may be realized by converting a linear induction electromotor having a stator, an armature, and a translator and replacing the armature and translator with the magnetizable end-plate. Alternatively, this apparatus may be realized by converting a linear induction electromotor having a double stator and a translator and replacing one of the stators and the translator with the magnetizable end-plate.

Abstract: An object levitating apparatus, an object transporting apparatus equipped with the object levitating apparatus, and an object levitating bearing as well as an object levitating process and object transporting process are described which, simultaneous to not placing restrictions on the material and so forth of the objects handled, are able to handle objects having relatively large weights and dimensions, while also being compact in size, inexpensive, preferable in terms of safety and so forth, and easy to control.

Abstract: A conveyor with a carriage activates actuators which encourage the carriage along a path. The position of the carriage is detected and used to activate mechanical stimuli to advance the carriage position. Only the portions of the device which are directly advancing the carriage are consuming energy thereby providing an efficient conveyor. Various geometries are suggested such that the conveyor function is independent of carriage path. Various forms of mechanical actuators can be utilized to achieve the same results. The devices have function independent of any particular actuator.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting constituents of a mixture according to density and/or grain size includes a vibratory table which extends at an inclination underneath a feed inlet for transport in a conveying direction and sorting of the mixture. The vibratory table is subdivided transversely to the conveying direction into single table sections, with each table section being driven by two crankshafts of a crank mechanism and with the movement of the table sections being adjusted to each other by the crankshafts at a phase shift. In order to bridge the gap between successive table sections, flexible transition members are provided by which neighboring table sections are connected with each other end-to-end.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which vibration members of the running track type to form travelling waves are arranged in the vertical direction so as to face each other and a sheet sandwiched between them is fed by frictional forces is disclosed. In order to reduce the number of parts of a circuit to drive the upper and lower vibration members, the polarizing directions in the A-phase piezoelectric transducer portions of the piezoelectric transducers for the upper vibration member are opposite to the polarizing directions in the A-phase piezoelectric transducer portions of the piezoelectric transducers for the lower vibration member. Further, the polarizing directions in the B-phase piezoelectric transducer portions for the upper vibration member are the same as the polarizing directions in the B-phase piezoelectric transducer portions for the lower vibration member.

Abstract: A wood particle screen particularly useful for separating fines from wood chips in which a bed of flexible foraminous material having holes therein sized to permit fines to pass therethrough is flexibly mounted for receiving a flow of wood chips and fines thereon. Beater rolls are disposed beneath the screening bed, each including a plurality of spaced beater bars so positioned as to contact the bottom of the screening bed as the bars rotate through the uppermost position of the rolls.

Abstract: A method of conveying sheets by displacing in a sheet-conveying direction an upermost sheet of a pile of sheets having a contact surface of given length includes linearly lifting the sheet at a trailing edge thereof, briefly opening periodically and successively suction-air openings disposed above the pile of sheets in the sheet-conveying direction so as to form a wave crest running through the sheet starting from the trailing edge thereof and moving the sheet a displacement distance in the sheet-conveying direction in a plane relative to a top surface of the pile of sheets. The displacement distance corresponds to an amount by which the length of the sheet contact surface is shortened by the formation of the wave crest. A device is also provided for performing the method.

Abstract: A vehicular conveying apparatus (10) for use in a car wash includes a plurality of plate-like pushers (20) individually mounted for pivotal movement to engage the rear of a wheel (12) and push in an upward and forward direction to urge the wheel (12) to roll downstream along a predetermined path (18). Four parallel shafts (56) are supported for linear movement underneath the pushers (20). Catches (42) are disposed on each of the shafts (56) for engaging and moving the pushers (20). On the bottom of each pusher (20), a spring-biased coupler (40) is pivotally attached for movement toward and away from an associated catch (42). An actuator (38) is attached to the bottom of each of the pushers (20) for moving the coupler (40) of the next adjacent upstream pusher (20) toward its associated catch (42). Thus, when a wheel (12) engages one pusher (20), the next adjacent upstream pusher (20) causes the wheel (12 ) to roll into engagement with another pusher (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting articles, the articles being positioned on bar-like members which in turn are caused to bend periodically in a wave pattern. The periodic bending is controlled to produce a driving force on the articles in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A flexible, perforate grate, e.g. made of a mat of meshed metal chain links or wirecloth belting, is provided at intervals spaced across its length, with individually extensile/retractile supports. By coordinately extending and retracting the supports, the material fed onto the grate at one margin can be walked, rolled, tumbled and similarly redistributed and moved across the grate to the opposite margin, and, for instance dumped off the far edge of the grate into a residue collecting system. The grate may be basically horizontal, or it may have a general cascade-like tilt either forwards or rearwards. In one embodiment, the supports are seen each having a grate mat contact member which pivots during extension and retraction in order to further alter the shape of the grate mat intervening two adjacent supports.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a translatory movement between two mutually contacting bodies. A wave formation is caused to move along one active portion of at least one of the bodies, which active portion is in contact with the other body. The wave formation either causes an interruption in the contact between the bodies and separates two parts of the active portion which is in contact with the other body, or forms a contact between the bodies and separates two parts of the active portion which are not in contact with the other body. The distance between two arbitrarily selected points of respective pairs of the separated parts measured along the surface of the active portion will then be longer than the shortest distance between the same points. An arrangement using the method for obtaining a translatory movement of one body relative to another with which it is in contact is also described.

Abstract: An improved juice extractor is adapted to separate the juice of a fruit pomace from the pulp thereof. The juice extractor has an elongated flexible open-ended sleeve positioned adjacent a bearing or backup surface, and having an entrance end adapted to receive the pomace. The sleeve is formed of a foraminous material permeable to the juice to be extracted, but substantially impermeable to the pulp of such fruit. The cross-sectional area of this sleeve decreases toward its exit end. A plurality of roller members are adapted to press proximate portions of the sleeve against the bearing surface, and are also mounted for movement along the sleeve. The action of the moving roller members causes the pomace to be advanced along the sleeve. Such movement of the roller members, coupled with the decreasing cross-sectional area of the sleeve, gently squeezes the pomace to separate the juice from the pulp. The juice passes through the sleeve and is collected. The pulp is discharged through the exit end of the sleeve.

Abstract: The conveyer system comprises a conveyer trough, a pneumatic cell, and a conveyer surface. The conveyer surface may be laminated to the pneumatic cell, and may include a multiplicity of distally, parallelly, transversely disposed ribs.

Abstract: A device for displaceably supporting a body in relation to a support surface comprising at least two elastic elements positionable between the support surface and a surface of the body and separately expansible and contractible in a direction towards and from the support surface and the body surface and means for alternately expansing and contracting the elastic elements, the elastic elements thereby being alternately loaded by and unloaded from the weight of the body, the body being displaceable substantially parallel with the support surface by means of elastic shearing in the elastic element at the moment loaded by and supporting the body, and the means for expansing and contracting the elements being adapted to contract and unload the loaded element after a predetermined deformation thereof and to expanse the other element to a loaded position, the unloaded element thereby elastically resuming its non-deformed position.