Abstract: A recovery device and method of use ensure that any reusable medical device that has been disposed of in a sharps container is recovered, cleaned, sterilized, and repackaged for reuse. In one embodiment, a sharps container and sorting surface are manipulated to rotate together and independently, so that the content of the sharps container are emptied onto the sorting surface, enabling an operator to manually, safely, efficiently, and timely retrieve reusable medical devices from the sorting surface and place these medical devices into a receptacle bin. The non-reusable contents are subsequently dumped into a waste bin, whose contents will subsequently be incinerated or otherwise destroyed. The operator of the recovery device is protected by a shield and an exhaust system that minimize the operator's exposure to airborne biohazardous toxins and enable the sorting to be done without injury to the operator from sharp medical devices.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a combined dry sorting bed, the sorting bed is arranged with an inclination, and the inclination between the longitudinal extending of said bed surface and horizontal plane is from ?2° to +4°, and the inclination between the lateral extending of said bed surface and horizontal plane is from 0° to +15°. By reasonable setting of the angle of inclination, the material being separated spiral overturn continuously on the sorting bed under the influence of the rising air currents and the force of vibration, with the result that the light material in the upper layer is separated under the influence of weight. The material is sorted for many times during the circularly movements, the product with different content of ash can be obtained. This invention also relates to a combined dry sorting device that comprises frame, sorting bed, vibrator and air supply device.

Abstract: A material handling system is provided. The material handling system includes a tank defining a reservoir for receiving a solid material, and a wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping solid material from the tank and subsequently discharging scooped solid material from the tank during rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated. The material classifier includes a tank and an angularly mounted scoop wheel for scooping solid material which has settled on the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A device for reclaiming material, such as used wet ready mixed concrete, having a hopper for receiving the used concrete into a excess of water and floating the suspended cement particles out through a weired overflow for further reclamation while the solid sand and aggregate is augured from the bottom of the hopper for further washing and separation into sand and aggregate for reuse.

Abstract: A item separating or debris eliminating system includes a tank and a pump for circulating water from one end of the tank around through a duct and back into the opposite end of the tank. A medium density object collector is located within the tank, and a light debris collector is located within the tank. A conveyor filter is included through which substantially all of the water in the tank is circulated. The debris eliminating system preferably also includes a high density object collector within the tank. The system can be used to separate a variety of objects having different densities and terminal velocities in a fluid. Most preferably, the system is utilized for separating debris from potatoes and the like produce.

Abstract: A high capacity dry separation apparatus with air-heavy medium fluidized bed having a separation chamber (3) with a fluidized bed above an air distributor (4), a scraper conveyer (2) in the separation chamber (3) having a double-scraper structure made up of two columns of scrapers moving side by side, and a sink discharge outlet (8) at one end of the separation chamber. An up-floating materials discharge outlet (11) and a feed inlet (12) are arranged on opposite sides of the separation chamber (3). An inclined inner circulator (7) for heavy medium is provided in the separation chamber and includes an air inlet tube (13), a cone-shaped buffer chamber (14), a sieve layer (15), a multilayer fabric (16) and a sintered metal plate (17).

Abstract: A separator apparatus to separate less dense particulate material from dense particulate material has a tank for containing fluid which has sidewalls and a sloping bottom with upper and lower ends. A vertically oriented housing is secured to the tank and has an upper and lower end with the lower end being in the tank and the upper end extending above the tank. An auger means is mounted within the housing and extends the substantial length thereof. A discharge location is located in the tank adjacent the lower end of the bottom for removing dense objects therefrom. The housing has a discharge location at its upper end for discharging the less dense objects lifted from the tank by the auger apparatus. A spout is located at the discharge location for the housing and has a spout that has a wall tangential to the cylindrical housing for quickly and easily receiving less dense objects from the outer periphery of the helical flighting.

Abstract: The grit conveyance system of a classifier having a wash region above the liquid layer is provided with a vacuum means in the wash region for positive removal of liquids through a metal screen for disposal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting articles with small density differences utilizing a flotation stream. A separator is provided in which a flotation stream continuously flows through a trough and is used to effect the separation of a mixture of articles having small density differences into several groups. Each density group of the mixture of articles to be separated is introduced at the head of the flotation stream at a selected depth. In one embodiment, the flotation stream may be comprised of a fluidized bed which is created by forcing a gas upwardly through a fluidization medium such as sand. In another embodiment of the invention, the flotation stream may be formed from a liquid.

Abstract: A device for separating a heterogeneous mass of solid material into fractions. The constituents of a heterogeneous mass of solid material are comminuted and dried and then separated into fractions. The mass is received in a trough-shaped and subjected to vibration causing high density constituents to segregate downwards and low density constituents to segregate upwards, so that the fractions may be removed at different layer levels.

Abstract: A separator suitable for processing agriculture products in a fluidized bed flowing through an inclined trough under the influence of gravity. The fluidization medium is recirculated from the output end of the trough back to the input end thereof using a recirculation drum horizontally disposed laterally encircling the output end of the trough and supported for rotation about its own longitudinal axis. The inner surface of the drum includes an endless series of receiving pockets for collecting sand below the output end of the trough and lifting it thereabove. A damper at the output end of the trough is used to accelerate the establishment of the fluidized bed therein by temporarily obstructing the flow of fluidized bed. An ultrasonic sensor is used to determine the depth of the trough and based thereon to control the rate at which fluidization medium is provided thereto.

Abstract: A gas is forced upwardly through a fluidization medium, such as sand, producing a fluidized bed which flows under the influence of gravity through an inclined trough. The separation of the side walls of the trough decreases in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed increasing the depth thereof. The apparent density of the fluidized bed is maintained substantially uniform, regardless of the increase in depth, by correspondingly increasing the pressure of the air forced through the medium in a manner corresponding to the depth thereof. A gas distribution plate beneath the fluidization medium having a higher resistance to the flow of gas than the layer of fluidization medium thereabove contributes to the maintenance of a substantially uniform apparent density in the fluidized bed despite variations in its depth.

Abstract: A rake classifier provides reciprocating movement using crank-mounted drive shafts to establish translatory forward movement as well as lifting and rearward movement of the rake structure.

Abstract: A pulsator for enriching, particularly, hard coal has mounted in a pulsating compartment a hoisting wheel and a bracket both mounted on a drive shaft, or a ratchet wheel mounted on a drive shaft which runs in bearings above the liquid level of a working trough. The pulsating compartment is of cylindrical shape and is connected to working trough along its longer side and separated from the working trough with a wall. The pulsating compartment consists of an outer wall to which is welded a bottom wall shaped as an arc and connected via a vertical wall to an oblique wall of the working trough. The bottom wall is provided at its lowest point with a grate encased with a pulp outlet stub pipe. The hoisting wheel consists of a side wall connected with an outer screen which is connected in turn to an outer ring along the periphery of the outer screen.

Abstract: A jigging machine, particularly a movable sieve jigging machine, for the preseparation of deads from valuable material comprises an oscillatory jig bed in the housing filled with separating fluid and comprises deads and valuable material discharge devices located therein, as well as an oscillatory drive for the jig bed. The jigging machine is suitable for underground mining operations in that the outer dimensions of the jigging machine, with respect to the height and width theeof, are designed smaller than the tunnel cross-section of an underground mining operation. A relatively low structure is achieved by designing the housing as a flat trough towards a deads discharge end with the deads discharge being provided as a rising conveyor parallel to the bottom of the trough. Advantageously it is achieved that the quantity of deads to be conveyed is reduced and a considerable saving is provided in terms of energy and expense.

Abstract: A density-current method and apparatus for separating produce, such as potatoes, from debris, such as roots, vines, corn cobs, wood, metal objects, and rocks. An elongated tank with a non-turbulent flow of water allows the objects to stratify. A chain conveyor seperates the upper strata of debris. An increase in velocity causes the water and produce to be removed from the apparatus. The objects that sink are removed from the apparatus by a chain conveyor. The invention is an efficient method for separating debris from large volumes of produce.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator has a rotating tub with annular dams to trap the heavier components of the slurry fed into the tub through a centrally located feed tube. The latter rotates at a speed slightly different from that of the tub and supports radially extending spokes that have depending tines provided with lower nozzle defining ends in the annular spaces between the dams. Water under pressure emanates from these nozzles. An alternative tub configuration has annular water manifolds inside these annular spaces to provide water under pressure to nozzles in the tub itself for supplementing the action of the nozzles in the depending tines.

Abstract: A continuous bucket elevator used in a method of separating coal according to its size and for cleaning refuse material from the coal in a Baum-type jigging apparatus wherein each bucket is connected to the adjacent bucket by a link received by a roll pin held by a bushing at each end in each bucket and the flange of a plate which is centrally welded to the bucket and has portions biased outwardly therefrom which merge into further portions having openings for receiving the roll pins, the diameter of the aligned openings in the further part, in the bushings, and in intervening link and the diameter of the roll pins being such so as to restrict wear due to the abrasive nature of the material being handled so that all components of the elevator wear out at about the same time and need not be replaced until after two or three cycles of use, each cycle being normally for seven and ten months.

Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus for separating and sorting solid bodies of different densities.

Abstract: A washbox comprising a vessel divided into a stratification compartment and an adjacent reject compartment, a perforate grid plate extending across upper parts of the compartments. First pulsation means activates the water in the stratification compartment, and second pulsation means activates the water in the reject compartment separately and in isolation from the stratification compartment. A divider is mounted above the part of the grid plate which extends over the reject compartment, an upper surface of the divider defining a first outlet channel by which material of a lower density may pass from the washbox, whilst a lower surface of the divider, together with the said part of the grid plate which extends over the reject compartment, defines a second outlet channel along which material of higher density may pass from the washbox.

Abstract: A wet-type rotary sand classifier of this invention is provided with a plurality of helicoid blades which are secured onto the inner surface of the rotary drum along the entire length of the drum with their respective rear ends terminating at the rear end plate of the rotary drum at a desired angle relative to the axis of the rotary drum. Due to the above construction, the sand which has settled onto the inner bottom surface of the rotary drum can be transferred to the rearmost corners formed by the helicoid blades and the rear end plate whereby the thus transferred sand is raised upward by the helicoid blades corresponding to the rotation of the drum without carrying the water dams which are usually formed in the conventional wet-type sand classifier.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus comprising an air classifier system which includes a material receiving chamber having at its lower end a discharge conveyor which removes material from the chamber to another area, and conveyor means within the lower end portion of the chamber for moving material which has been deposited in the chamber and discharging it onto the discharge conveyor without clogging, together with suitable air locks and controls for regulating material flow through the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for clarifying treated waste water in which the waste water is floated and settled in a flotation tank equipped with a rotatable carriage provided with multi-scoop means. The multi-scoop means is rotated as it is passed through the upper strata of the treated waste water for the removal of floated particles or sludge with no appreciable disturbance of the main body of waste water. The multi-scoop carries the floated particles or sludge to a sludge outlet in an efficient manner without clogging by an unique construction self-cleaning in operation.

Abstract: In apparatus for treating and separating products in granular form, a container is provided with fluidization and vibration means, the grains and the pulverulent solid are subjected to the fluidization treatment only in a vertical portion of the bed, the circulation currents arising therefrom are utilized for separating, within the container itself, the treated product in granular form from the pulverulent solid, and the vibrations are utilized for discharging the treated products to the outside.

Abstract: An unloading ramp assembly for a vibratory finishing machine of the type having a toroidal bowl or hopper includes an input platform extending to a media separation assembly which in turn extends to an output platform leading out of the vibratory finishing machine. A rod extends across and above the hopper adjacent to the input platform, and a ramp is pivotally engagable with the rod and is adapted to extend downwardly therefrom into engagement with the bottom of the hopper. The insertion sequence for the ramp is initiated by engaging the upper end of the ramp with the rod across the entire width thereof and then engaging the lower end of the ramp with the moving media and piece parts in the hopper, whereby the lower end of the ramp is pivoted downwardly into engagement with the bottom of the hopper. The withdrawal sequence for the ramp is initiated by pivoting one side of the ramp out of engagement with the rod, whereby the moving media in the hopper pivots the ramp out of the hopper.