Abstract: A machine for the sorting by size of pear-shaped objects including a conveyor (10) able to move essentially horizontally. The conveyor includes a first alignment of equidistant and parallel primary rollers (30) separated each from the next by an interval allowing one object to pass through. The conveyor (10) also has a second alignment of secondary rollers (44) each arranged in alignment with an interval. The machine has a device (42) for guiding the secondary rollers (44) along a sorting path (14) of the conveyor. The guide device (42) being such as to move the secondary rollers progressively away from the primary rollers along the length of the sorting path (14). The primary and secondary rollers do not rotate about their axis for the greater part of the sorting path (14).

Abstract: The machine for the sorting by size of pear-shaped objects comprises a conveyor (10) able to move essentially horizontally and comprising a first alignment of equidistant and parallel primary rollers (30) separated each from the next by an interval allowing one object to pass through. The conveyor (10) also has a second alignment of secondary rollers (44) each arranged in alignment with an interval. The machine has means (42) to guide the secondary rollers (44) along a sorting path (14) of the conveyor, the guide means (42) being such as to move the secondary rollers progressively away from the primary rollers along the length of the sorting path (14). The primary and secondary rollers do not rotate about their axis for the greater part of the said sorting path (14).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting elongate produce comprising a drum constituted by longitudinal grids, stationary and movable bars of which are mounted transversally to the longitudinal axis of the drum, the movable bars of each grid being kept in a fixed position one with respect to the other at constant and identical distances through a frame which is able to be moved relative to the stationary bars in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting round objects which are received in a first sorter in which objects not meeting a predetermined minimum dimension are passed out of the apparatus and taken away, whereas objects meeting the predetermined minimum dimension are taken to a second sorter, through which only objects which do not exceed a predetermined maximum dimension can pass. The second sorter includes a pair of substantially parallel gauging members, between which acceptable objects can pass, while objects which are too large are taken away from the sorter.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for inspecting columnar bodies by an eddy current method includes a stockup zone, a feed zone and eddy current inspection equipment with the feed zone. The columnar bodies are fed via guide equipment end to end in an abutting relationship and detection equipment monitors blockages of the columnar bodies and enables dislodgement of the same.

Abstract: A conveying system for crowns used to cap containers having a portion thereof adapted to detect and eject bent crowns comprising a conveyor chute for permitting the gravity feed of bent and unbent crowns therethrough, a conventional crown orienting apparatus for orienting each crown to be in the same relationship and a transfer system between the conveyor chute and the crown orienting apparatus for transferring crowns between the conveyor chute and the crown orienting apparatus and wherein the transfer system has a movable bent crown detecting apparatus for stopping the movement of bent crowns therethrough but permitting the movement of unbent crowns therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the elevation of the head of a flush head countersunk fastener (e.g., a bolt or a rivet) before installation, is disclosed. Fasteners (21) to be measured are dropped, one at a time, into a precisely sized hole (69a or 69b) in a split gauge block (63) such that the heads of the fasteners protrude above the upper surface of the gauge block. The magnitude of head protrusion or elevation above the upper surface of the gauge block is measured by a head elevation measuring instrument (43). If the measured value lies within an acceptable range, a signal suitable for use in controlling the countersink depth of the hole that is to receive the fastener is produced and the fastener is forwarded to a fastener insertion machine. If the measured value lies outside of the acceptable range, the fastener is rejected.

Abstract: A coin acceptor which receives coins in a slanted coin chute with a final size gauge system. The coin is first rebounded against a tapered wall and enters a first zone. All three coin sizes enter the first zone and then the lightest weight one passes down a tapered ramp which is spring loaded, but the lightest weight coins will not depress the ramp and therefore such coins are diverted into a second zone. The heavier different sized coins pass down and trip the tapered ramps, both a first and second one, and then the widest of the coins continues downwardly in the first zone to be processed and sized for diameter. The largest diameter coin is trapped between two pins where it is then tilted off of a ramp onto a diverter and passes into a third zone for processing. As all of the coins reach the bottom of their three separate zones, they enter into a final size gauge system which has three coin chutes sized precisely to reject any coin which is bent, burred, or oversized.

Abstract: Slide fasteners are fed longitudinally one at a time along a path by at least one stream of air flowing along the path, and are then introduced into a clearance or gate which is narrow enough to prevent the passage of sliders so that when the slide fasteners have respective sliders, they are stopped at the gate, while when the slide fasteners have no sliders, they are allowed to pass through the gate and be further advanced by the stream of air. Thus the slide fasteners are automatically sorted or separated into two groups according to the presence of the sliders. Thereafter, the stream of air is interrupted whereupon the slide fasteners stopped at the gate are allowed to fall from the path into a container disposed below the gate. The slide fasteners thus fallen are disposed in the container in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A screening device having a screen deck composed of two screen frames (11, 27) provided with oblong, parallel screening elements (20, 28), the elements (20) of the first frame being arranged between the elements (28) of the second frame. The second frame (27) rests on the first frame (11). The frames are provided with guide and contact elements (22-26, 32) for guiding and retaining the second frame in a predetermined position on the first frame. The second frame (27) can, in order to free material particles which have jammed between the screening elements (20, 28), be raised freely relative to the first screen frame to a predetermined maximum height, the frames and their screening elements remaining parallel to one another. The frames can be resiliently supported for performing oscillating movements relative to a support frame (5) and relative to one another.

Abstract: A machine for processing pod vegetables including a frame. A generally horizontal outer drum is rotatably mounted on the frame and is adapted to contain the pod vegetables being processed. The outer drum has an inwardly presented working surface adapted to interact with the pod vegetables to process them, the working surface having an ascending side and a descending side as the outer drum rotates. An inner drum is rotatably mounted on the frame, the longitudinal axis of the inner drum being oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer drum. The inner drum is adapted to rotate in the same direction as and at a higher rate of rotation than the outer drum, the inner drum having an outer surface.

Abstract: A size grader for pod vegetables includes a horizontally oriented rotatable drum which contains banks of fixed grading members and movable panels oriented over each bank. The banks and panels are wanted on the drum so as to be parallel to its longitudinal axis. The final grading members and the movable panels have grading vanes which are disposed circumferentially to the drum and transversely to its longitudinal axis. The apertures between the fixed grading vanes and the movable vanes defines grading surfaces. A control rod mounted to the drum longitudinally across each row of panels and operatively engaged with a rowring enables movable panel to move selectively with respect to its corresponding fixed panel as the drum rotates so that the movable panel moves toward the fixed panel in grading position when the panel is in a lower level in the drum and moves away from the fixed bank in a clearing position when the panel is located above the drum.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in equipment for separating the residual bark in decorticating facilities, for which, following decortication, the material is moved from the decorticating drum into a collecting funnel or hopper and from there moved on by a conveyor system, where the conveyor system is in the form of a first conveyor belt and is mounted transversely to the lower part of the hopper extending across the end of the drum, the improvement comprising joining one reversing location of the first conveyor belt by another reversing location of a second conveyor belt with an intermediate space between them, an additional roller corresponding in width to the width of the belts mounted between them, and one rectilinear guide member at each end of the additional roller to permit displacement thereof.

Abstract: An electronic inspection fixture is provided which checks a dimension of objects and rejects oversized ones. The inspection fixture includes spaced conducting members set apart at a fixed distance and preferably placed one above the other at angles to the horizontal which enables objects to slide between the members by gravity. An oversized object completes a circuit between the members and causes a fluid-operated cylinder to move the upper member away from the lower one to release the object. The circuit also operates a second fluid-operated cylinder which moves a diverter member into the path of the objects to divert oversized objects from the normal path thereof. Objects which are not oversized pass between the members and past the diverter member.