Abstract: A screening device (1) comprises a first compartment (3) for receiving solid particulate material, a second compartment (5) for receiving screened particulates from said first compartment (3), a perforated wall (7) separating the first (3) and second (5) compartments from each other for screening the solid particulate material into at least two particulate size-dependent fractions, and a gas permeable layer (21) for fluidization of particulates in said first compartment (3). The first compartment (3) is provided with a solid particulate material inlet (9) located at a first end (22) of screening device (1), and a particulate material outlet (11) located at a second end (24) of screening device (1), with perforated wall (7) extending from first end (22) to second end (24) of screening device (1), enabling simultaneous transport and screening of at least a portion of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus is described, and which includes a conveyor which transports a produce stream for inspection. The conveyor has various regions formed in part of ridges, troughs and apertures which reduce the weight of the produce stream, as well as reduces the vertical and horizontal components of motion of the produce stream, as the produce stream progresses from one end to the other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting a gas-driven stream of generally flat and light-weight articles of varying dimensions execute a, preferably optical, inspection and upon so finding a non-conforming article remove the latter from the stream. In particular, the inspection and the sorting are executed during a substantially straight movement of the articles. The removing is executed through gas driving in a direction substantially transverse to the straight movement. Advantageously, the inspection is preceded by orienting the articles through a centrifugal force that orients said articles against an inclined wall in a transition to the vertical movement. Also airflow means (83,84) can be used to confine the articles in a thin layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating multiple food pieces and removing clumps from food pieces in order to process individual pieces for subsequent packaging includes a vibrating conveyor bed which receives a substantially continuous supply of a dried product, such as RTE cereal or another snack product, and delivers the dried product to a screen unit including a plurality of spaced slots through which only individual food pieces can pass for further processing. Prior to the screen unit, the bed can be provided with an upstanding deflector member which diverts the traveling food product away from a discharge chute and onto the screen unit. In any case, the screen unit includes an upwardly angling portion, extending away from the discharge chute, for retaining product which needs to be further processed, while the discharge chute also has an associated, raised lip for product retention purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing debris from a fluidized sand bed. One or more troughs extend radially from a vertical shaft. Associated with each trough is a perforated chute. The apparatus is placed into the fluidized bed of sand, and rotated. As the apparatus rotates, the perforated chute sifts, or separates, debris from the fluidized sand. That is, the fluidized sand flows through the perforations, but the debris does not. When the apparatus is removed from the fluidized bed, the debris tumbles down the chute, into the troughs, if it has not already done so, and is captured.

Abstract: A conveyor is provided for liquid media, such as cooling-lubricating liquids containing production residues, such as machinery chips. The conveyance takes place along a gutter via a driven scraper conveyor extending into it and extending along its linear direction and under the effects of a downslope of the bottom of the gutter. A separation of large-grained production residue from the liquid media containing fine-grained production residue is achieved already in the course of their conveyance in the gutter. This separation is made possible in that the gutter is divided into an upper and lower area via a perforated divider bottom extending along the length thereof and spaced apart from the gutter bottom. The lower area is a flushing channel to receive liquid media containing fine-grained production residue.

Abstract: A pair of signal paths 3-1 and 3-2 are connected in parallel to an input 2, each composed of the respective mixing stages 4-1, 4-2, low-pass filters 5-1, 5-2 and mixing stages 6-1, 6-2. The mixing stages 4-1, 4-2 are connected to the oscillator 8 in a phase-quadrature relationship. The mixing stages 6-1, 6-2 are connected to the oscillator 9 in a phase-quadrature relationship and are both connected to a superposition circuit 7 having an output 10. For obviating the drawback of unbalance in the signal processing in the signal paths 3-1, 3-2, the receiver 1 includes a control signal arrangement 11, which is constituted by the respective further mixing stages 14, 25, low-pass filters 47, 48, and mixing stages 17, 29 for producing at the control signal outputs 22, 34 an amplitude and a phase control signal for correcting this unbalance.