Abstract: Methods and systems include ways to implement change analysis of an automated production line including at least one robot. Monitoring a plurality of operating parameters associated with the automated production line including the at least one robot followed by recording at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. A notification is then provided identifying the at least one change to the plurality of operating parameters. The notification can include mapping the at least one change onto a graphical representation of the automated production line, thereby identifying a portion of the automated production line affected by the at least one change. As a result, at least one of the operating parameters can be adjusted in response to the notification. An action can also be performed in response to the notification. In this manner, the change analysis can optimize operation of the automated production line.

Abstract: A fluidizing apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a nozzle, through which a pressurized fluid can be fed into the vessel. The outlets are spaced at different heights from a base of the vessel and are controlled by valves enabling fluidized solids to be removed in layers from the vessel. In a further embodiment, a single outlet is raised or lowered to a desired position in the vessel.

Abstract: The monitoring and control of jig separators is effected by monitoring the time variation within a jig cycle of at least one operating parameter of the jig, and manipulating the operating parameter(s) to produce the sought after form of the time variation within the jig cycle. Operating parameters include bed voidage, water level, particle velocity in the bed and water or air pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a fluidized bed to effect the separation of a mixture of articles having at least a first density and a second density that is greater than the first density into separate groups. The apparatus includes an inclined trough which is supplied at an input end with either a fluidization medium, such as sand, or a mixture of articles from which a fluidized bed is formed by forcing gas upwardly through the bottom of the trough and through the fluidization medium or the mixture. In the case where a fluidization medium such as sand is used, the mixture of articles is introduced into the fluidized bed medium so as to be entrained therewith to effect separation as the articles travel in the direction of flow of the fluidized bed medium. Vertical oscillatory movement is imparted to the inclined trough to improve the separation and layering where the mixture of articles is fluidized, or to improve the density uniformity where a fluidization medium such as sand is fluidized as the bed.

Abstract: A mineral benefication apparatus having a housing, including opposed stratification hoppers arranged at its lower periphery. Particulate material and water are introduced separately into the housing, which is then oscillated to separate a portion of the particulate material. The apparatus can be modified to operate either on land or in a sea environment.

Abstract: The density of the material in the jig bed is measured in consecutive short segments over the jig cycle, the time period of each segment being not greater than one-tenth the cycle time of the jig, to determine the density signature or profile of the jig. By controlling the operating parameters (e.g. inlet and outlet valve opening and closing, underbed flow rate, discharge gate position and jig working air pressure) of the jig, the density signature or profile is maintained within a control envelope for efficient stratification of the mineral.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting lightweight from heavy material in mixtures of solid materials containing lumpy, granular, and pulverous constituents substantially comprises an upright slim container having a lower portion into which material for sorting is introduced. Pulsating air flows are introduced from the exterior into the container, resulting in an upward flow of pulsating air which loosens the material for sorting and produces a fluidized bed. Simultaneously, the apparatus is vibrated up and down in a linear manner by vibrators to assist in loosening the material. The lightweight material floating in the air stream is conveyed to a discharge channel at the top end of the container, whereas heavy material rapidly sinks down to a tubular member into which a second pulsating air flow is introduced in order additionally to sort the heavy material in a last treatment stage inside the tubular member.

Abstract: In a discharge device for heavy matter discharge in settling machines for the processing of coal or other mineral raw materials by means of a bottom drain with variable opening cross-section actuated by a device for sensing the heavy matter layer, at least two bottom drains arranged one behind the other in flow direction are actuated simultaneously by a single sensing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a percussion jig in which the carrier for material to be separated is freely suspended in the region of its centroidal axis on the piston rod of a hydraulic drive cylinder. This results in a particularly simple construction subject to little wear.

Abstract: A teeter bed density control device is disclosed in a hindered-settling fluid classifier of the type having a teeter fluid supply system in a chamber with a fluidized teeter bed zone, an overflow zone and an underflow discharge outlet with the control device comprising an upper sensor for measuring average particle density from the upper boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a lower sensor for measuring average particle density from the lower boundary of the teeter bed zone to the top of the overflow zone, a controller connected to the sensors for generating a compensating control signal based upon a preselected density standard and the average density of the teeter bed zone as determinable from the upper and lower average particle density measurements, and an actuable valve for regulating the discharge of the underflow discharge outlet with the controller being connected to the valve for actuation thereof responsive to the compensating control signal.

Abstract: A high degree of water purity is obtained from a mixed-bed deionization process by minimization of cross-contamination of the cation and anion materials. After service, the materials are classified into superimposed uppermost, intermediate and lowermost layers above a perforate barrier in a separator vessel. The vessel has an elongate conduit having an inlet adjacent the barrier and an outlet outside the vessel. At least a major proportion of the material of the lowermost layer is passed through the outlet of the conduit and an interface between materials is detected. Thereupon, the conduit outlet is isolated from the conduit inlet so as to segregate in the conduit material from the intermediate layer. The ion exchange materials are then regenerated and re-mixed. The segregated material is independently removed from the conduit before the next regeneration cycle starts.

Abstract: An elutriation apparatus for de-shotting fibrous material carried in a liquid current comprises a battery of washing vessels located in sequence. A power driven mixing apparatus is provided in the first washing vessel of the sequence for dispersing the fibrous material. The upper section of each washing vessel is divided into two compartments by a baffle, while the vessel's lower section is unobstructed, whereby a current of liquid carrying fibrous material which is introduced into the upper section of the vessel to one side of the baffle travels downwardly and then underneath the baffle and upwardly to the vessel's upper section to the other side of the baffle. The latter upper section is provided with a spout for discharge of the fibrous dispersion from the vessel to the next washing vessel or to the separator apparatus located after the last washing vessel of the sequence for removal of the wash liquid from the de-shotted fibrous material.

Abstract: In mixed bed ion exchange resin regeneration processes, transfer of resin after classification is controlled by detecting a change in a parameter of transfer water dependent on ion concentration, e.g. conductivity. The process includes increasing the ion concentration of the transfer water. The increased ion concentration ensures that large percentage uncontrolled fluctuations in the conductivity of the water do not mask the change required to be detected. The ion concentration can be increased by adding, for example, decationized water to the transfer water.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning drilling mud, wherein a straightflow hopper (1) has a pipe (2) for collecting drillings deposited from the drilling mud, accommodating a device (3) for removing the drillings. The device for removing the drillings comprises two shutters (4, 5) provided at the ends of the pipe (2) for collecting the drillings separated from the drilling mud, which are connected to one another and coupled to an actuator (8) for turning the shutters for alternately shutting-off the cross-section of the pipe (2).

Abstract: An automatic control apparatus of a grain separator for precisely separating a mixture of soil particles and grain having different hue and specific gravity, wherein the grain separator includes a soil discharge opening disposed at the front end of a separating plate which is inclined with a forward elevation in order to perform oscillations back and forth at a larger angle than said inclined angle, and a grain discharge opening disposed at the rear end thereof.The automatic control apparatus is equipped with a light source and a light receiving element at the front end of said separating plate to detect the intensity of the ray reflected from the mixture of soil and grain, at which said light receiving element produces a signal which actuates an electromagnetic driving means to allow or block the discharge of materials from the soil discharge opening, thus discharging only soil particles from the discharge opening.

Abstract: This application discloses a separator for separating granular materials according to specific weight including an air permeable reciprocatory deck for supporting a bed of the granular material thereon and defining an elongate discharge opening therefrom through which a certain separated fraction of the granular material is to be discharged after separation; a fan forcing air upwardly through the air permeable deck and the bed of granular material carried on the deck to fluidize the bed and cause the granular material in the bed to separate according to the specific weight thereof as the deck is reciprocated; and a pneumatic pressure operated gate selectively covering the discharge opening so as to selectively control the flow of the granular material therethrough in response to the pneumatic pressure in said bottom air plenum with the gate selectively varying the effective length and height of the opening in response to the pneumatic pressure below the deck.

Abstract: A process for the wet concentration and cleaning of fine coal is provided which comprises the steps of desliming and thickening a dilute slurry of fine coal and contaminant particles having a size of less than about 10 mm by introducing the same to a hydrocyclone separator to retain a slurry of particles having a size greater than about 0.1 mm, wet concentrating the last-named slurry and removing the heavier contaminant particles by introducing it to an autogenous dense medium separation vessel having a manifold for injecting water at an intermediate level and controlling the underflow of heavier than coal particles to maintain a fluidized bed of heavier particles and causing a slurry of the lighter coal particles to overflow, and concentrating and dewatering the overflow by means of a static or vibratory sizing screen.

Abstract: A discharge-controlled method for a compressed air-controlled wet settling machine for the preparation of mineral mixtures, particularly for the washing of raw coal, is carried out such that the preparation takes place by means of pulsation of a separating liquid in a work chamber, whereby the pulsation is controlled by means of inlet and outlet valves and results in a stratification of the minerals on the settling machine carrier such that the heavier materials are stratified below the lighter materials. The layer level of the heavier material is measured by a scanner, in particular a float, and an actual-reference regulation controls a discharge apparatus for the heavier minerals. Measurement of the actual value of the heavier material layer level takes place by way of the scanner during a period of time which lies asymmetrically between the opening time of the outlet valve and the opening time of the inlet valve, and in particular shortly before the opening time of the inlet valve.

Abstract: A mixture of anion and cation exchange resins is separated into their respective resin types by classifying the resin mixture, using a fluid such as water, in the presence of a solid, inert material (e.g., copolymer beads of styrene, divinylbenzene and methyl methacrylate) which, upon classification, forms a layer intermediate between the layers of the anion and cation resins. The degree of resin separation and the location of the layers of the classified anion resin and cation resin are determined by measuring a conductivity property of the resulting classified resin bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously regulating the slurry-weight or slurry-concentration of the discharge for wet-mechanical separated solids from suspensions in which a discharge cross-section of a separation is controlled as the slurry is discharged including means for measuring the viscosity of a discharge slurry formed from separated solids for altering the cross-sectional opening of a discharge member the separator by either increasing or decreasing the discharge cross-section in relation to the slurry viscosity and acccordingly the slurry weight is retained constant and at an approximate predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fractionation with hydrocyclones for providing the relative sharp separation between separate meshes being divided, by cumulating a slurry-fill as a regulative bulk measured variable below a lower reject nozzle, and adjusting the clearance between the surface of the slurry-fill and the lower edge of an overflow adjusted to a predetermined length which is reversely proportional to a desired separation mesh by means for changing or retaining constant the fill level of the slurry fill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a mixture of cation and anion resins is disclosed. The separation involves introducing the mixture of cation and anion resins to a treatment zone in countercurrent flow with a carrier fluid to achieve hydroclassification of the resins. The method and apparatus may be employed to separate cation and anion resins on either a batch or continuous basis.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a fluid-tight housing oscillated about a vertical axis, the housing containing a central deflector separating the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Baffles are provided in both chambers, above and below the deflector. The upper baffle directs the incoming slurry radially outwardly in a torical path, throwing the particulate material toward a periphery of the housing in the first separation zone, in a gravity induced flow, through the annular passageway into the lower hopper where the relatively lighter and heavier constituents are then separated and separately discharged from the housing. A ring dam formed in the second baffle provides a recess into which the lighter constituents overflow where they are reunited with the liquid flow path and thus discharged from the housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic classifier for sand has a vessel of circular cross section about a vertical axis and tapers downward to an aperture in its bottom. A rotor is slowly rotated on a hollow shaft coaxially mounted in the vessel. It includes a hollow member conically tapering from an annular lower orifice upwardly spaced from the bottom aperture toward a smaller upper orifice, a flow tube mounted on the shaft for receiving liquid upwardly discharged from the upper orifice of the hollow member for upward flow, agitating blades projecting radially outward beyond the flow tube above the hollow member, and a nozzle on the shaft below the hollow member for forcing cleaned sand through the bottom aperture of the vessel by means of a flushing medium. A washing nozzle directs a liquid washing medium radially inward toward the conical hollow member intermediate the orifices of the same whereby washing medium is deflected into the flow tube and draws additional liquid from the upper orifice.

Abstract: Mineral separating apparatus comprises a hydraulic classifier provided with an exterior wall, an open bottom sorting column within said exterior wall, and means for introducing a swirl of hydraulic medium in the sorting column. The exterior wall provides a quiescent zone between the bottom of the sorting column and further has a spigot connected to the quiescent zone for discharge of refuse. A launder section is disposed above said exterior wall and sorting column and is in communication therewith. First and second weirs in said launder section are located on opposite sides, respectively, of said exterior wall. The first weir is higher than the second weir to provide a hydraulic flow gradient therebetween.

Abstract: A Baum Jig for gravitational enrichment of minerals, particularly hard co in which a screen deck is transversely located to the axis of the jig. Air chambers are made of plates as cut-outs of a cylindrical surface. The axes of symmetry are deflected from the perpendicular by an angle of 5.degree. to 15.degree. in the direction of the mineral to be enriched. The chambers are provided with asymmetric guide vanes adjustable in the horizontal direction. The side walls of a water cistern possess at the height of the screen decks, horizontal off-sets outside the cistern. Spring-loaded protection plates are provided in the off-set supports. The lower edge of one wall of each chamber is shaped as a conduit of back water provided from the bottom with a deflectable arched diaphragm.