Abstract: A needle sorting device comprises an infeed device which singulates and randomly deposits surgical needles upon a first conveyor for transmission to a processing station. Upon transit, one or more cameras to obtain an image of the deposited needles. The image is digitized and the digital signals are transmitted to a control system computer which evaluates the position and orientation for randomly positioned needles and processes the information to obtain data for communication to one or more robot assemblies having grippers. Utilizing the position and orientation data, the robot assembly grippers removes selected needles from the first conveyor and transfers each needle to an engagement device located upon a second precision conveyor. This second precision conveyor is provided with additional devices to further orient the needle transferred thereto. Each oriented needle is conveyed by the second conveyor to an automatic swaging station where sutures are automatically attached.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically processing a supply of cartons, in flattened form and of different types, in accordance with a selectable number of plural, different and separately identifiable carton types. Unsorted cartons are removed in successive layers from stacks thereof and transported in serial succession along a transport path. Sorting modules are disposed along the transport path, each including respectively associated routing and stacking devices individually predesignated to receive and stack a given, identifiable carton type. A system controller tracks the progress of each carton, simultaneously for plural cartons, along the transport path and when a match of the carton type with a predesignated stacking device is determined, actuates the associated routing device to route a carton of a matching type from the transport path and to the associated stacking device for stacking.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically processing a supply of cartons, in flattened form and of different types, in accordance with a selectable number of plural, different and separately identifiable carton types. Unsorted cartons are removed in successive layers from stacks thereof and transported in serial succession along a transport path. Sorting modules are disposed along the transport path, each including respectively associated routing and stacking devices individually predesignated to receive and stack a given, identifiable carton type. A system controller tracks the progress of each carton, simultaneously for plural cartons, along the transport path and when a match of the carton type with a predesignated stacking device is determined, actuates the associated routing device to route a carton of a matching type from the transport path and to the associated stacking device for stacking.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to the apparatus, for delivery from the apparatus in a uniform orientation, generally comprises a device for determining the orientation of a document according to characteristic features of that document, and devices for orienting the document in accordance with signals received from the orientation determining device. The orientation determining device can operate upon the magnetic ink markings on a check to determine its orientation according to prescribed criteria representative of the anticipated locations for such markings. The orienting devices can then operate to invert the checks from end to end and/or from top to bottom and bottom to top, responsive to signals received from the orientation determining device.

Abstract: Manipulating and selecting unit for recycling pressed or unpressed bodies obtained from plastic material containers as well as others, having a hopper for receiving containers to be processed and for conveying the containers to a cleanser for cleaning the containers and separating pressed from unpressed containers and conveying the pressed containers to a receiver and the unpressed containers to a squeezer or flattener for pressing the unpressed containers and applying to the receiver; a separation is coupled with the hopper for receiving pressed containers and separating them according to color and type of material; and then selecting and determining the type of recovered pressed containers, and forwarding the pressed containers to a processor in accordance with the type of material, whether plastic or not, and the color.

Abstract: An automatic sorting and stamping apparatus includes a supply section to which a stack of mail items including standard-size items and nonstandard-size items is placed. The supplied mail items are transferred to a sorting and stamping section along a transfer path extending through a plurality of processing units while being applied with desired processes thereby. The transfer path is constructed by a plurality of conveyors whose operations are controlled by a control section. The control section stores various control values for determining the operations of the conveyors. One of the control values, which is suitable for processing the mail items of the supplied stack, is selected in accordance with the ratio of nonstandard-size items to all mail items forming the supplied stack. The conveyors are driven, based on the selected control value.

Abstract: A turning device which receives randomly oriented sheet-like items, such as bank notes, and delivers them in a predetermined orientation comprises a testing station which determines the initial orientation of the items, a control device which receives signals emitted by the testing station indicative of the initial orientation, and a conveying system which is responsive to the control device for re-orienting the items. The turning device includes a service station having a conveying path therein. The service station is rotatable about an axis of rotation into first and second rest positions which are separated by 180.degree. by arc. The conveying path of the service station is operable in forward and reverse directions. The conveying path of the service station also includes two openings through which it receives the items and discharges them after they have been reoriented.

Abstract: A regular-interval mail feeding apparatus is disposed between an automatic mail discriminating/postmarking apparatus and an automatic mail sorting apparatus, in an automatic mail handling system. When various kinds of mails are fed at irregularly intervals from the postmarking apparatus to the feeding apparatus, it temporaling stocks the mails at its stock and sends out the stocked mails one by one at a predetermined intervals to the sorting apparatus. When one kind of mails are fed at regular intervals, the feeding apparatus directly conveys the fed mails to the sorting apparatus without passing through the stock, by changing the mail conveying path in the feeding apparatus by using a gate member.

Abstract: A first rotatable conveyor section (16) is positioned axially between upper and lower fixed sections (14,18) of a gravity conveyor. Rotatable conveyor section (16) rotates about an axis extending perpendicular to the conveyor section. A gate (42,44) is provided at each end of the rotatable conveyor section (16). An identification device (84) is positioned upstream of the rotatable conveyor section (16). It identifies the end-to-end orientation of an article (10) which is travelling along the gravity conveyor (12). A computer controls the gates (42,44) and a mechanism (104) for rotating the rotatable conveyor section (16). When an article (10) having an improper end-to-end orientation is encountered, the rotatable conveyor section (16) is rotated 180.degree. for the purpose of reversing the article's orientation. A second rotatable conveyor section (120) is mounted for sideways rotation about an axis which extends longitudinally of the slide conveyor (12).

Abstract: Elongated articles (16) to be singulated are conveyed in bulk into a conveyor (30) which by a shaking motion conveys the articles (16). The bed (80) of the conveyor (30) includes longitudinal channels (100) causing the articles (16) to be aligned lengthwise in the direction of article movement. The conveyor (30) delivers the aligned articles (16) into an alignment receptacle (34) which places a measured amount of the aligned articles (16) into valley regions of a singulator (26). The singulator (36) is composed of alternate and intermediate slat members (108,110), presenting upwardly directed peaks and valleys which are initially in alignment. The alternative slat members (108) are fixesd in position. The intermediate slat members (110) are movable lengthwise relative to the fixed slat members (108). The intermediate slat members (110) are retracted and then extended repeatedly and this motion separates the articles (116) and further advances them to the discharge end of the singulator (36).

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separting the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus; a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for out-sorting envelopes rejected in accordance with the determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of orienting a cylinder with an oblique end such that the slant of same faces a preferred direction. To this end, a special fixture is used which includes a central axial bore having a cylindrical surface which engages in bearing-like fashion with the oblique-ended cylinder. On opposite sides of the bore, are a magnet for imposing a magnetic field across the bore and across therefrom a dowel pin stop. The magnetic field acts to rotate the oblique-ended cylinder about the common axis of the bore and cylinder into a generally preferred position wherefrom the oblique-ended cylinder can come to its final resting position against the dowel pin stop.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a postal matter comprises a main transporter for transporting the matter one by one and first and second auxiliary transporters extending form the feed-out end of the main transporter. The first auxiliary transporter have a feed-out end thereof connected to the feed-in end of the main transporter. A gate is provided between the main and auxiliary transporters to selectively connect the main transporter one of the first and second auxiliary transporters, and a stamper is provided on the second auxiliary transporter for stamping supplied postal matter. The apparatus is stopped when jamming of postal matter occurs in the transporters and the gate causes the main transporter and first auxiliary transporters to be held connected for a predetermined period of time at the time of resuming the operation of the apparatus after removal of the jamming.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of sorting cutlery, comprising opto-electronic dynamic recognition and identification of the cutlery. The pieces of cutlery are brought forward in a longitudinal direction one by one behind each other on a moving conveyor belt (12). The movement of the belt is precision linked to a pulsator (13), which emits pulses with a frequency that is directly proportional to the speed of the belt. The pieces of cutlery are brought by the conveyor belt to pass one by one through an optical read-off unit (14) between a light source (32) and a bar (40) of photo-transistors (33) or light-conductors (38) which transmit light to photo-transistors. The bar extends at right angles to the direction of movement of the belt, so that it is partially shaded by the cutlery when this passes, whereupon the photo-transistors in the parts of the bar shaded at any moment are inactivated.

Abstract: A tester/sorter for performing electrical tests on axial lead devices such as diodes at a very high throughput rate carries the devices on the periphery of a rotating wheel. A contactor assembly periodically makes electrical connection with one or more of the axial lead devices. A flying arm assembly mounts the contactor assembly so that it travels through a closed loop path of motion with respect to the wheel. In a first path portion, mechanical controls acting on the flying arm assembly lower the contactor assembly into electrical contact with the leads of the device. Once in electrical connection, there is no relative motion between the contactor assembly and the leads. After the test is completed, the mechanical controls lift the contactor assembly away from the leads and return it to its starting position. This travel is substantially free of mechanical impacts that could produce vibrations and thereby degrade the accuracy of the testing.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the sex of a chick which includes a sensor for sensing certain characteristics of the chick and for producing output values corresponding to each of the sensed characteristics, a comparator for comparing the output values with preset characteristic values and for producing affirmative signals whenever each of the output values correspond to the preset characteristic values and an indicator for indicating the sex of the chick in response to the affirmative signals.

Abstract: A separator including a vibratory surface having a transverse slot and a plate positioned within the slot to form a grading gap. The plate is mounted independent of said surface so that articles conveyed by said surface are decelerated before reaching the grading gap and the downstream edge of the slot has a lip inclined downward at the angle of vibration of the vibratory surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting slender elongate items, some of which are defective, includes a viewing area with sensing means that sense defects in the items and produces a signal when a defect is sensed, and a removal area with removal means that operate in response to the signals from the sensing means to remove defective items. A conveyor having upstanding walls defining a series of longitudinal side by side channels receives a flow of randomly oriented items and places them in substantially singulated end to end alignment. An endless belt conveyor is arranged as a longitudinal continuation of the first conveyor and has a series of troughs aligned with the series of channels for receiving the substantially singulated and aligned items from the channels of the first conveyor and for carrying the received items through the viewing area and into the removal area in substantially singulated end to end alignment.

Abstract: An apparatus for assorting articles, such as fruits, according to size, the apparatus having a conveyor which includes a pair of belts disposed in transversely upwardly divergent, V-shaped relation for transporting articles rested on the belts through a plurality of assorting stations having individual rotationally driven rollers disposed axially parallel to the direction of travel of the articles and mounted adjacent to the belts for adjustable movement toward and from the belts with the rollers of each station being spaced progressively closer to the belt in the direction of travel to engage articles of correspondingly smaller size and displace them transversely from the belts, the relative speeds of the belts in the direction of travel being independently controllable so that non-spherical articles being transported along the belts are rotatable to select the attitude in which such articles are presented to the rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for sorting a batch (200) of electrical contact pieces (11, 11') into two groups. The apparatus is characterized by a tiltable frame (72) concentrically mounting an assembly of a rotatable circular table (74) in spaced relation to a platform (80) having a radial wall (82) of less diameter than the table (74) to define an opening (86) therebetween. The circular table (74) includes an annulus sized to receive contacts. A guide arrangement (46) including a pair of guide members (50, 52) allows the contacts to pass to the rotating annulus, the good contacts rolling between the opening and through central holes in the table and the bad contacts rotating around and being scraped from the annulus.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting conical bobbin tubes for textile machines with their tip ends located to one side comprises a supply device supplying individual bobbin tubes transversely of their axes along a guide table and between two lateral guide edges. The distance of the lateral guide edges from the guide table is equal to the mean bobbin tube diameter and the mutual distance between which diminishes, seen in the direction of the bobbin tube supply, from a value greater than the bobbin tube length to a value smaller than the bobbin tube length. During their movement in the supply direction the bobbin tubes are forced to move longitudinally in the direction of their tip end, which permits sorting them with their tip end to one side.

Abstract: A liquid flow system contains suspended biological cells for the purpose of orienting them, spacing them from each other and analyzing the cells. Many biological cells are not of spherical shape but may be disk-like or rod-like in appearance. The present flow system includes means for orienting the cells with respect to the liquid flow and for either centering them or displacing them into a desired plane within the fluid flow. The cells are electrically charged, suspended in a dielectric fluid and deflected by a suitable electric field. Optionally an image analysis may be performed.

Abstract: A process of separating wood chips according to their bark content by orienting them between a light source and light detector, measuring the amount of light transmitted through each chip, and separating the bark-laden chips from the bark-free chips on the basis of their light transmittance. An apparatus for separating wood chips according to their bark content, comprising a light source, a light detector, means for properly orienting the wood chips between the light source and detector, and means for differentiating between bark-laden chips and bark-free chips on the basis of their light transmittance.