Abstract: Shrimp processing apparatus to head and optionally sever the mud veins of shrimp, along with methods for heading and mud vein severing are described herein. The shrimp processing apparatus may be provided in systems may include one or more processing stations configured to perform one or more of the following functions on each shrimp: measurement of individual shrimp, severing the mud vein of individual shrimp, and heading of individual shrimp.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting ammunition casings and adapted to be mounted on a vibrating base. The apparatus includes an input hopper adapted to receive ammunition casings and a sorting track in communication with the input hopper where the sorting tracks has a graduated opening the bottom of the track such that the diameter of the graduated opening increases as the opening extends away from the hopper. The apparatus further includes sorting compartments arranged under the sorting track. Vibration moves the casings from the input hopper to the sorting track, and as the casings move along the sorting track, smaller diameter casings fall through a first opening portion into a first sorting compartment, and larger diameter casings move along the sorting track past the first opening portion and subsequently fall though a second opening portion into a second sorting compartment thereby separating the ammunition into different calibers.

Abstract: A dispenser of substances for agricultural uses, to include a container (10) for holding the substances to be dispensed, a rotator (17) that is rotatably inside the container and provide with a cladding (20) of soft material, and a guiding disc (14) provided with apertures for unloading the substances down towards the soil. The rotator (17) is associated with adjustment mechanisms (18, 19) that are actuatable in view of displacing the rotator along the axis of rotation thereof and causing it to selectively move into differentiated positions so as to enable substances having different physical characteristics to be dispensed.

Abstract: A doughnut or puck-shaped spacer has a centrally positioned square hole. A pie-shaped cutaway portion of the spacer allows the spacer to be elastically deformed mounting on a square rod. The rod and spacers join together the bars of a bar screen rack. Bars making up a screen bed are approximately one-quarter inch thick and cantilevered sections of the screening bars benefit from being joined together to control the spacing of the bars and to add rigidity to each rack of bars which makes up the bar screen rack. For ease of assembly, canted slots receive a square rod. The spacers are readily positioned between legs on the square rod. The individual bars are then joined by tightening a nut at the threaded end of the rod, clamping the bars in spaced parallel relation.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting fragile objects has a grading structure connected to a base. The grading structure is movable in first and second substantially horizontal directions with respect to the base. A displacement mechanism imparts reciprocating, substantially horizontal movement of predetermined frequency and amplitude to at least part of the grading structure to thereby move the objects in the first substantially horizontal direction along the grading structure. A displacement controller variably controls the frequency and amplitude of the reciprocating horizontal movement. The frequency of movement in the first substantially horizontal direction is controlled independently of the frequency of movement in the second substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: The present invention represents a further extension of the automation of the various steps of the wood gluing process. This invention presents a method for automatically selecting and transmitting to further work stations appropriately size pieces of stock which, when glued together (utilizing variations of the apparatus shown in the art for glue such strips together) saves time in the formation of the end products.

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.

Abstract: A substrate grader accepts or rejects a substrate depending upon the degree of warp and then sorts the accepted substrates according to a dimension thereof. The grader comprises a first plate which is U-shaped and inclined at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal, the two arms of the first plate extending above the base thereof. A first elongated member (or lower guide) that is attached to the front of the base has a straight side which is adjacent to and spaced a short distance away from the opening in the first plate. A second elongated member, that is attached to the back of the free ends of the arms, supports a second plate (or upper guide) thereon which extends between the arms, which has a top surface in a plane containing the top surfaces of the arms and base, and which has a stepped edge in the opening.

Abstract: A sorting machine feeds longitudinally aligned carrots onto a transversely directed sloping conveyer. The conveyer, after first positioning one end of each carrot against a baseboard, transports the carrots past progressively longer supporting rods parallel to but progressively displaced from the baseboard. The rods allow progressively incrementally longer carrots to drop through the conveyer into one of several bins. Thereby, each bin is filled with carrots of less than a predetermined length, which length is commensurate with the displacement from the baseboard of a respective one of the supporting rods.