Abstract: A male population of mosquito pupae sorted according to a sorting method is described. The sorting method may include adding a mixed population of mosquito pupae into an interior volume of a sieving container including base defining a set of openings enabling movement of mosquito pupae from the interior volume through the set of openings. The mixed population of mosquito pupae may include male mosquito pupae and female mosquito pupae. The method may also include adding a volume of aqueous solution to the interior volume. The method may also include removing a portion of the male pupae from the mixed population of mosquito pupae to by performing a sieving action that causes the portion of the male pupae and a portion of the volume of water to pass from the interior volume through the set of openings. The method may also include capturing the portion of the male pupae as the male population of mosquito pupae after the portion of the male pupae has passed through the set of openings.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for sorting arthropod larvae and pupae and in particular, although not necessarily, to sorting arthropod pupae on the basis of size, especially in mosquitoes. The apparatus comprises two parallel bars (14) pivotally mounted in a frame such that the distance between the bars is adjustable. Insect larvae and pupae may be inserted into a chamber with one side formed by the grid of bars and inserted into water to separate the different forms.

Abstract: There is proposed a mechanical coin-acceptor unit with a coin running channel which has a running rail for rolling a coin, in or on which testing arrangements for testing the properties of the rolling coin are provided, having a coin-acceptor shaft and a return shaft disposed below the running rail, where the running rail is mounted on a basic body and has a recess in the running direction of the coin for testing the thickness of the coin which falls possibly through the recess into the return shaft, and the running rail is mounted rotatably on the basic body via a point of rotation.

Abstract: An automated device that separates out desired shells from a batch of mixed shells. The device allows an operator to gather all spent shells from a shooting range, for example, where many different caliber bullets have been fired, and have all the shells separated by size, or caliber. The preferred embodiment provides for includes a container with adjustable slots in four of the container's sides. An electric motor is also provided that is used to rotated the slotted container. The selected shells fall through the slots into a shell catcher. The sides can be removed and replaced, to adjust the slot size, or container sides with adjustable slots can be provided.

Abstract: A separator for use in separating larger rocks from smaller rocks and soil in which the upper rear support includes a connecting member allowing the sizing members to be adjusted to reject different minimum sizes, and in which the connecting member is recessed to protect it from damage during transport.

Abstract: An adjustable grading system 10 comprises a frame 12, a plurality of elongated bars 14 retained at opposite ends within the frame 12 and moveable along the frame, and a spreading device 16. The spreading device 16 is provided with a plurality of recesses 18 each for receiving a bar 14. Adjacent recesses 18 are spaced apart by a pre-determined spacing distance D and separated by a tooth 20. The spreading device 16 includes first and second combs 40 and 42 each of which are pivotally coupled to link bars 46 and 48. The pivot connection allows the spreading device 16 to be manipulated so that the distance between the combs 40 and 42 can be varied while maintaining them parallel to each other. A group of bars 14 can be spaced by the spacing distance D by orientating the device 16 so that the combs 40 and 42 extend diagonally across the group of bars 14 at an angle so that their respective teeth 20 are disposed between adjacent bars 14.

Abstract: Aggregate mixtures such as dirt, sand, rock, concrete, etc. are separated into piles according to size by continuous agitation of the mixture and by gravitational and centrifugal forces exerted thereon. A container for the material, such as the bucket of a backhoe, has the bottom thereof at least partially open. An adjustable, hydraulically-driven rotating disk attaches to and covers the open portion of the bottom of the container, the combination having a gap, or a selected spaced-apart relationship, between the stationary container and the rotating disk. The mixture is agitated by the rotating disk and by contact with the other particles in the container. Particles smaller than the selected gap distance are thrown out through the gap between the disk and the open portion of the container by centrifugal force. Material larger than the selected gap size remains in the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of machines for directing and aligning plastic containers and particularly relates to an universal device for automatically adjusting vertically directing and aligning means in dependence on said containers size. The orienting means are formed by a plurality of cradles (5) and the aligning means are formed by a corresponding plurality of discharge channels (6), both means are provided with movable parts (10) and (35) respectively adjustable in dependence on plastic containers size. The device provides at least one control member (7) located on the machine outer stationary cylindrical wall (3) and adapted to engage movable parts (10) and (35) of cradles and discharge channels respectively while the inner hopper holding bulk plastic containers rotates.

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: An adjustable grizzly has a series of parallel bars which form a grate. Each bar of the grizzly is adjustable along the width of a frame. Pins on the underside of the bars drop into slots in the frame. The bars are slid into position along the frame and then locked into place by tension wedge locks. Matching spot faces on the bars with buttons on the frame further secure the bars into position and prevent lateral movement of the bars when the grizzly is in use.

Abstract: A grizzly screen apparatus has a screen of grizzly bars having first ends mounted in a transverse end member and second ends placed in a slotted comb member having alternating shallow and deep bed slots. The screen is rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the second ends of secondary grizzly bars in the deep bed slots are lowered relative to the second ends of grizzly bars in the shallow bed slots, resulting in simultaneous steepening of the screen and an increase of the interbar distance, to remove obstructing oversize objects from the screen. Each grizzly bar has a transverse lock bar at the first end which retains the grizzly bar within an aperture in the transverse end member without bolts or other fasteners. Obstructions on the grizzly screen may be cleared without the use of manually operated tools, and if desired, may be cleared by remote control.

Abstract: A vibratory bowl defines a number of predetermined attachment locations in one side thereof adjacent to a parts discharge port defined by the bowl. One or more support plates are detachably mounted to the bowl side in a vertical position via the number of predetermined attachment locations, and each of the one or more support plates defines a horizontal support edge having a parts receiving unit detachably mounted thereto. The parts receiving unit is supported by the one or more support plates and has one end thereof positioned adjacent to the parts discharge port of the bowl and an opposite end extending away from the discharge port. The parts receiving unit may be configured to orient parts supplied by the vibratory bowl according to a desired orientation. A parts confining member is detachably mounted to one of the one or more support plates and is operable to confine parts within the parts receiving unit.

Abstract: An adjustable sieve mechanism for an agricultural harvesting machine comprising louvres positioned behind one another and being movable through a range of positions between a fully closed and a fully opened position. Consecutive louvres define an opening when in an opened position. An adjustment mechanism is provided for changing the opening. Also provided is an opening indicator including a movable part which is unitarily moved with one of the louvres when the opening is adjusted. The indicator permits verification of the sieve opening even when the louvres are not accessible for measurement with gauges, and a direct link between the louvres and the movable part avoids the inaccuracies which are conceivable when the indicator is sensing the movement of further, intermediate components of the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for grading crayfish is provided, comprising a tank having a bottom and sides forming a cavity which will hold water; and a grate assembly having multiple, vertically separated tiers to form spaces between adjacent tiers of sufficient size to accommodate a pre-determined amount of crayfish of pre-determined size. Each tier comprises multiple, horizontally separated round bars, the spacing between the bars in each succeeding lower tier being less than the spacing in the upper tiers. A process for grading crayfish of multiple sizes is also provided, comprising the steps of loading crayfish onto a top tier of a grate assembly of the type described above positioned in a water-filled tank, lifting the grate assembly from the tank after a period sufficient in time to allow all crayfish to seek the lowest level tier achievable in accordance with their size, and removing all crayfish located between one set of adjacent tiers separately from crayfish located between any other set of adjacent tiers.

Abstract: The machine according to the invention comprises a channel which is:constituted by two shaped panels giving it an open bottomed V-shaped section and which are associated with relative spacing adjustment members,provided with spraying conduits and overlapping plates closing off its top part,and associated with an endless conveyor comprising thrust bars brought successively by the conveyor in a transversal position in the channel passage section.The machine according to the invention finds an application in the sorting and grading of fish of the Salmonidae family.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting produce by size is disclosed. The produce travels over a series of openings (34), ranging from small to large. The produce falls through the openings and is collected beneath them. The openings are adjustable (91) to handle various types and sizes of produce. A plurality of fingers (52) is provided which move from below up into the openings to dislodge any produce jammed in the openings.