Abstract: Apparatus for separating particles contained in threshed leaf tobacco includes a plurality of separating chambers, each including a separation chamber and having a fan system for establishing a generally upward air flow. A covered, high speed conveyor of projects the tobacco across the upward flow of air in each chamber in conjunction with additional make up air from the covered, high speed conveyor. Lighter particles of tobacco are carried upward and exit the chamber via a separating mechanism. Heavier particles of tobacco fall onto an integral conveyor and are discharged from the chamber onto another covered, high speed conveyor connecting it to the next chamber. The separating chambers are mounted in line in a configuration to suit the tobacco being processed.

Abstract: A check weigher for a bagging system includes a compartmentalized rotatable drum positioned immediately beneath a chute receiving bags from a conveyor system of a bagger. The rotatable drum is maintained upon a scale adapted to determine the tare weight of the bag and its contents. A receptacle is positioned on each side of the rotatable compartmentalized drum. A reversible stepping motor is connected to and is operative to drive the drum. A controller is interposed between the stepping motor and the scale. When the controller determines that the weight indicated by the scale is within an acceptable range of weights, the compartmentalized drum is rotated in a first direction, causing the bag to be deposited in a first acceptable drum, while simultaneously positioning a new compartment beneath the chute.

Abstract: A sorting device in which a nozzle (31) having a flat tip portion (31a) for blowing air to a predetermined article X transported by a pair of transport belts (23, 23) is covered with a nozzle cover (32) whose forward-oriented and rearward-oriented end portions in the direction of air blowing are open and whose forward opening (32a) is located forward of the tip portion (31a) of the nozzle (31). Then, by covering above the transport belts (23, 23) with an upper cover (8), as well as providing a sorting cover (33) whose upper forward and lower rear end portions are open at a position opposed to the nozzle cover (32) with these transport belts (23, 23) provided therebetween, a continuous air path from the nozzle cover (32) to the sorting cover(33) is formed.

Abstract: An allocating mechanism of a weighing apparatus that temporarily stores objects and allocates the objects to a plurality of hoppers disposed below is provided to reduce the amount of objects that remain without being allocated. The allocating mechanism 21 is included in the weighing apparatus. The allocating mechanism 21 is a mechanism that temporarily stores objects, and allocates the objects to hoppers 24 and 25 disposed below. The allocating mechanism 21 includes a tubular member 61, a bottom plate 62, a driving motor, and a controller. The bottom plate 62 can, together with the tubular member 61, form a storage space S, in which the objects are stored. The driving motor rotates the tubular member 61 and the bottom plate 62. The controller controls the driving motor to rotate the tubular member 61 and the bottom plate 62, such that the objects are dropped in one of the hoppers 24 and 25.

Abstract: This invention is a moving table for separating valuable heavy particles from an orebearing slurry of heavy consistency. The system uses reversing polarity as well as lateral oscillation. It also uses at least two tables to provide multiple stages of progression.

Abstract: The present invention, therefore, provides stage crushing method for recovering precious metals from slag produced by a coal burning furnace or boiler comprising: a plurality of crushing steps, wherein each crushing step produces slag particles having successively smaller particle diameter sizes, said crushing steps continued until a final desired particle diameter sized is obtained; wherein each of said crushing steps is followed by suspending said crushed slag particles in a liquid medium to form a slurry of light-weight particles and heavy weight-particles and allowing the crushed slag particles within the slurry to separate, based on weight of the particles, thereby forming a light-weight particle population and a heavy-weight particle population; wherein each suspending step is followed by removing said light-weight particles from said slurry, such that said slurry consists of substantially heavy-weight particles; and collecting said heavy-weight particles.

Abstract: The capsules or other products (1) are fed by a vertically arranged tube-shaped conveyor (4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 112, 13) in single file and taken up one at a time by a tangential wheel (16) which is fitted with reference teeth (18), with each tooth supporting one product, and has suction holes (19) to retain the products. When the products are about to reach a position above suitably shaped associated weighing heads (24), the suction that holds them against the wheel is cut off and the products fall, positioning themselves correctly on the heads, aided in part by the halting action exerted by the teeth in front. The products deposited on the heads are weighed and are then discharged by the pushing action of the wheel teeth (18) which place the next product on the heads. A chute (25) collects the products ejected from the heads and a deflection plate (26), controlled by the central processing and control system (32), separates products of the correct weight from those to be rejected.

Abstract: A batching of currently supplied articles with non-uniform weights into portions of a uniform target weight is effected by passing the articles through a weighing station (6, 8) to a distribution system (12), in which the articles (4) are selectively allocated to a plurality of receiver bins (14). It is known to improve the capacity of such a system by way of probability calculations based on the normal distribution of the articles in the supply flow, but it is better to base such calculations on a regularly updated recorded histogram (28) of the weight distribution of a relatively high number of newly weighed articles. Thereby the target calculations will rely on factual rather than just expected conditions, and a result is that it is possible to effect batching even when the article weights in the supply flow are not normally distributed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for handling of packages containing goods in a warehouse and for verifying contents of the packages includes conveying the packages through consecutive stations; performing a plausibility check on the packages by generating and outputting signals which are indicative of respective plausibility parameters, and inputting the electrical signals to the computer for effecting a plausibility determination, the plausibility check being composed of weighing the packages and outputting a signal indicative of weight; measuring volume of the packages and outputting a signal indicative of volume; and measuring at least one property of the goods contained in the packages and outputting a signal indicative of the at least one property; and inputting electrical signals outputted from the identifying and performing steps to the computer; comparing the respective signals inputted to the computer with respective predetermined data stored in the computer and generating a plausibility determination including

Abstract: The selector for badly-filled capsules consists of a constantly rotating ring-shaped capsule transfer plate which has an infeed for the capsules to be selected and an outfeed for the selected capsules, above which a substantially vertical suction mouth is fitted, being of the compressed air type with Venturi effect in the constricted tube, designed to suck up those capsules whose weight is below a preset value, the suction pressure being adjustable by means of the compressed air supply in the mouth.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photoreceptor material reclaim method comprising: (a) centrifuging a first photoreceptor coating solution comprised of a liquid, a photoreceptor material, and impurities, resulting in a residue composition comprised of a lower density material including a portion of the photoreceptor material and a higher density material including a portion of the impurities and a supernatant composition; (b) drying the residue composition to remove a portion of the liquid in the residue composition; (c) grinding the dried residue composition; (d) separating the lower density material from the higher density material of the dried, ground residue composition; (e) forming a second photoreceptor coating solution comprised of the lower density material obtained by (d); and (f) depositing the second photoreceptor coating solution comprised of the lower density material on a substrate.

Abstract: A stand-alone takeaway and correction conveyor system for a food loaf slicer or other food product machine that produces groups of food products that must be held to close tolerance as to weight or some other readily measurable characteristic includes two conveyors, one for reject groups and one for acceptable groups. The two conveyors are mounted on one base, in spaced parallel relation to each other, with the reject conveyor above the accept conveyor. Both conveyors are driven, at related speeds, from one drive; the drive is mounted in the base and is energized and controlled, as to speed, from the food product machine. The conveyor for acceptable groups has a pivotal outboard section to allow for service of packaging equipment without moving the system. Both conveyors have eccentric mounts to compensate for large elevation differences in packaging equipment. A correction tray is used for correction of reject groups of food products.

Abstract: A weight checker-sorter successively weighs products each expected to contain a specified number of articles all weighing about the same, and uses a standard weight value to determine whether weighed products each contains the intended number of articles. Measured weights of products within a predefined range are stored. The standard weight value is updated frequently by averaging a specified plural number of most recently stored weights.

Abstract: Screen for the sifting of materials of differing weight, in which at least part of the screening orifices is covered by elastic diaphragms formed by lamellae.

Abstract: A refuse device for receiving and separately holding heavy articles and light refuse articles. The device includes a first and second open-topped refuse receptacle and a pivoting flap overlying the receptacles. The flap is pivotable between a first position in which it is inclined down to a first one of the receptacles, and a second position in which it is inclined down to the second receptacle. A biasing device is provided to urge the flap to its second position whereby a light article passes across the flap into the second receptacle, and a heavy article causes tilting of the flap member to its first position and then is able to pass across the flap member into the first receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention is addressed to an apparatus and method for carrying out the effective separation or classification of MSW into fractions with improved efficiency. This improved efficiency is achieved inter alia through the use of various separation devices designed to segregate fractions of MSW based on their ultimate usages or physical properties. Through the utilization of devices optimized to categorize by the physical properties of various fractions, a large percentage of the sortation process can be achieved without the use of human sorters.

Abstract: A sorting installation for separating a first type of articles (relatively light and substantially two-dimensional) from a second type of articles (relatively heavy and substantially three-dimensional), includes a travelling conveyor belt having an article-supporting surface receiving the first and second type of articles in a generally mixed state. The article-supporting surface is arranged for travel in its length dimension and is inclined to the horizontal in its width dimension for causing primarily the second type of articles to move by gravity downwardly and laterally off the article-supporting surface. The article-supporting surface slopes upwardly as viewed in a direction of travel. There is further provided a vibrator connected to the belt conveyor for enhancing movement by gravity of the second type of articles on the article-supporting surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling cans is disclosed. Discrimination of overweight conductive material from acceptable conductive materials from a mixed material input, while maintaining a high level of acceptable material recovery is achieved by control of the input to the separation system, as well as control of the separation mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilizing pressurized air discharged through nozzles to segregate a mixture of elements having either different geometrical characteristics or different masses. The mixture is placed in a container having a conveyor track, and is forced to move along the track, across a primary nozzle which forms the mixture into a single layer. The mixture then moves across a blow-off nozzle which propels one set of elements off the track and out of the container while the other remains within the container. A two stage separation may be used to optimize efficiency.

Abstract: A toy or game comprising an elongated transparent tube, the tube containing a column of sand and a sphere or ball. According to the method of the invention, the sphere is moved through the column of sand from one end of the tube to the other.

Abstract: Apparatus for weighing continuously moving articles, and particularly useful for grading produce, comprises a plurality of parallel lines of trays for receiving the articles to be weighed, a weighing device at a weighing station in each line, and drive means for moving the trays in each line one-at-a-time longitudinally across the weighing device in its line. Each weighing device comprises two pairs of rails; one pair at each of its two opposite ends; and each tray comprises two rods extending transversely across the tray, one rod at each of its two opposite ends, engageable with the two weighing device rails, the arrangement being such that each tray is supported by its two rods engaging the two pairs of weighing device rails for a substantial portion of the movement of the tray across the weighing device in its respective line.

Abstract: Blueberry sorting, i.e. classifying, and apparatus therefor, to separate ripe berries from unripened berries and stems, by dynamically immersing all of the berries beneath the surface of a water bath, the unripened berries being controllably allowed to rise to float on the surface of the bath, the ripe berries being deposited on a submersed conveyor and conveyed out of the bath to a separate location. Berry immersion is achieved hydrodynamically by a downward stream of water which propels the berries down to cause release of gas bubbles on the ripe berry surfaces, carry them through a flow zone to the conveyor and then recirculate.

Abstract: Blueberry sorting, i.e. classifying, and apparatus therefor, to separate ripe berries from unripened berries and stems, by dynamically immersing all of the berries beneath the surface of a water bath, the unripened berries being controllably allowed to rise to float on the surface of the bath, the ripe berries being deposited on a submersed conveyor and conveyed out of the bath to a separate location. Berry immersion is achieved hydrodynamically by a downward stream of water which propels the berries down to cause release of gas bubbles on the ripe berry surfaces, carry them through a flow zone to the conveyor and then recirculate.

Abstract: Pool game apparatus having homogenous spherical balls of identical size including a cue ball of slightly higher specific gravity than the specific gravity of the object balls; a pool table internally carries a sorting device for the balls having a chute with a deflectable weighing plate pivotable about an axis parallel to the chute and having a trailing edge at an acute angle to the chute; the weighing plate is counterbalanced to remain stationary when an object ball passes over it, but to deflect on passage of the heavier cue ball so that the cue ball is diverted to the side of the path followed by the object balls by a stationary diverter plate adjacent the trailing edge; the chute floor is slanted to one side of the chute axis and is provided with a side support member so that a ball passing onto the weighing plate is supported by the floor and by the side support member.

Abstract: A conveying system incorporating an apparatus for detecting and rejecting downed and damaged containers, such as open ended cans. The conveying system includes a pair of endless belt conveyors which are spaced apart longitudinally and are adapted to convey cans in an upright condition. The upright cans are adapted to be transferred between the conveyors by a vacuum transfer mechanism which is located above the adjacent ends of the conveyors, the transfer mechanism includes an endless perforated belt that travels across the open bottom of a housing which is divided into a series of chambers. The chambers are subjected to a vacuum which acts to hold the upright cans against the perforated belt so that the cans can be transferred by movement of the belt from one conveyor to the other, while downed cans are ejected from the conveyor system.