Abstract: An automated machine is used to handle and manipulate individual pieces of particulate matter. The particulate matter is contained in a bin. The machine operates to pick single individual pieces of the particulate matter from the bin. The picked individual pieces are then conveyed for further handling. Pneumatic transport is primarily used for the conveying operation. One aspect of the handling involves individually weighing each piece of the picked particulate matters. Another aspect of the handling involves sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter into a plurality of receptacles. Yet another aspect of the handling involves both weighing and then sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter, wherein the sorting operation may be performed based upon the measured weight of each piece.

Abstract: An automated machine is used to handle and manipulate individual pieces of particulate matter. The particulate matter is contained in a bin. The machine operates to pick single individual pieces of the particulate matter from the bin. The picked individual pieces are then conveyed for further handling. Pneumatic transport is primarily used for the conveying operation. One aspect of the handling involves individually weighing each piece of the picked particulate matters. Another aspect of the handling involves sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter into a plurality of receptacles. Yet another aspect of the handling involves both weighing and then sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter, wherein the sorting operation may be performed based upon the measured weight of each piece.

Abstract: A sort bin for unloading sorted lumber pieces on a conveyor comprises a compartment having first and second spaced-apart walls for containing the lumber pieces in a pile, an entry located at an upper portion of the compartment for introducing lumber pieces, and an exit located at a bottom portion, the conveyor being below the exit and spaced apart therefrom. A support for supporting the pile of lumber pieces is movable along a course extending between an upper position adjacent to the entry and a lower position below the exit of the compartment, and has side members for preventing a spill of lumber pieces on the conveyor when the support is in its lower position. One of the side members is pivotable between a standard position and an unloading position.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus comprising a number of grippers each designed for receiving therein an object to be weighed, each gripper being mounted on a conveyor via a hingeless connection, so that the grippers are arranged for movement along a gripper path, each gripper comprising a first guide element which, over at least a part of the gripper path, moves over a weighing surface of at least one weighing element, the weight of the gripper and the object located therein being transferred vis the first guide element to the at least one weighing element, the hingeless connection between each gripper and the conveyor comprising at least one assembly of flexible members each having a particularly low spring constant in a direction perpendicular to the at least one weighing sruface.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a plurality of poultry eggs includes means for detecting the opacities of the eggs, means for detecting the temperatures of the eggs, and means for classifying the eggs using the opacities and the temperatures of the eggs. A method for classifying poultry eggs includes measuring the opacities of the eggs, measuring the temperatures of the eggs, and classifying the eggs as a function of the opacities and the temperatures of the eggs.