Abstract: In one embodiment, a guide for installing a photoconductive film on to a photo imaging plate includes a movable channel located near the photo imaging plate, for example in a digital printing press. The channel has a bed and a pair of sidewalls extending parallel to one another along opposite sides of the bed such that the lateral movement and skew of a photoconductive film lying on the bed is constrained by the sidewalls. The channel movable between a first position in which an open end of the channel is away from the photo imaging plate and a second position in which the open end of the channel is immediately adjacent to and aligned with the photo imaging plate for installing a photoconductive film on to the photo imaging plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an installation for sorting incoming mailings which are assigned to a first plurality of first preselected directions or a second plurality of second remaining sorting directions, according to which the mailings are distributed to receptacles of a track, each mailing being deposited into one of several first receptacles for the first plurality of first preselected sorting directions or into at least one of the other receptacles for the second plurality of second remaining sorting directions. At least one external receptacle from an additional track is replaced with a receptacle from one of the preselected first sorting directions of the track via an interface at least during one passage of the track, the additional track is used as a storage device for the receptacles, and replaced receptacles can be redirected to the respective track thereof via the interface.

Abstract: Movable containers are provided over one part of the section conveyor on which the mail items are filed according to the distribution sequence, said moveable containers circulating in an enclosed transport path and each having several compartments controlled to open downwards for each respective mail item. The compartments can only be emptied if the containers are in the neutral position at a sorting station. Automatic emptying takes place on the sections assigned to the delivery points according to the known destination address of the mail items. After a container has been emptied, it can be driven to a loading station at which the compartments are filled with mail items, the compartments with the mail items being assigned to the delivery points according to the respective destination address and this assignment is transmitted to a device for the controlled opening of the compartments.

Abstract: A pre-separator for separating out large particles from a fluid flow has a housing forming an interior chamber with an inlet and an outlet, and a separator plate in the chamber between the inlet and outlet. The separator plate has a surface facing the inlet that is provided with a liquid carrying tank into which the flow is directed when it enters the interior chamber through the inlet. The separator plate has a series of nozzle openings therethrough adjacent its periphery to the outside of the tank. The nozzle openings adjacent the periphery of the separator plate overlie a surface of the housing adjacent the outlet. The pre-separator thus has two impaction stages that permit use across a wide range of flows. The separator plate and the housing have surfaces which are tapered so that liquid in the housing can be drained out when the housing is inverted.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating hulled and unhulled pistachios includes a rotating drum and a conveyor for depositing pistachios onto the drum. Rotation of the drum frictionally separates hulled and unhulled pistachios.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for removing hulls (152) from a nut mixture (150) is described. The apparatus includes a gravity feed bin (12), a conveyor (28) and removal units (38). The removal units include a drum (40), a position roller (50), a beater (56) and a brush (64) around all of which extends a fibrous mat (96). The fibrous mat has looped or curved fibers (96C) and is formed as a continuous belt in the removal unit. The removal unit also includes a deflector (92) and a shield (93) to guide the removed hulls into an auger (78) to be removed from the apparatus. To operate the apparatus, the mixture is fed from the gravity feed bin onto the conveyor belt (30) of the conveyor. As the mixture moves along a horizontal path of the conveyor, the mixture comes in contact with the fibrous mat rotating in the removal units. The looped fibers of the mat contact and engage the projections (152A) on the outer surface of the hulls and secure the hulls to the mat.

Abstract: Thermoplastic articles are removed from a mixed waste stream and are sorted by heating the articles along the path of the waste stream to different softening temperatures of the different types of articles before the articles contact the separating bodies which have surface formations that are forced into the softened zones of the thermoplastic article so that the articles are impaled upon the body. The articles are then removed. The force with which the softened articles are impaled is obtained by a support or counterforce member juxtaposed with the separating bodies.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating of different plastic products, which plastic products are comminuted, purified, and dried in a conventional way. The dry particles are fed to a heated, movable support base. Plastic particles, having a lower softening point, adhere to the support base, and particles having, a higher softening point, flow freely over the particles adhering to the moving support base and can be separated. After separation of these particles, the adhering particles are scraped from the steel belt.

Abstract: Processes by which a mixture of two or more discrete particulate materials, each of said materials having a different sliding coefficient of friction, can be separated using methods which take advantage of velocity differences generated by the application of a force to said mixture to create movement of said mixture over a surface as a function of its sliding coefficient of friction. Various apparatus to effect such processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of a mixture of discrete particulate solid materials of disparate composition and a system utilizing such apparatus is described in which the material to be processed is caused to slide under the influence of gravity along a straight inclined surface to achieve a substantially uniform velocity and thereafter along an arcuately formed surface where, due to the existence of different coefficients of sliding friction between the mixture fractions, disparate velocities are achieved by the respective particles whereby particles of the respective fractions are separately collected on a velocity basis. The described apparatus utilizes a slide surface of different material and/or a water spray to produce the disparate velocities between the particles of the respective mixture fractions. Deflector plates of various forms may be employed to prevent contamination of the clean product fraction due to bouncing of materials of the waste product fraction from the slide surface.

Abstract: Processes by which a mixture of two or more discrete particulate materials, each of said materials having a different sliding coefficient of friction, can be separated using methods which take advantage of velocity differences generated by the application of a force to said mixture to create movement of said mixture over a surface as a function of its sliding coefficient of friction. Various apparatus to effect such processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: For sorting particles of a mixed particulate material in dependence on their coefficients of sliding friction the particles are fed to a revolving endless belt which, from the feed point to the downstream discharge edge, has a length portion having a length which in dependence on the velocity of the revolving belt is so determined that only those particles of the mixed material which have the highest coefficient of sliding friction will be accelerated to the velocity of the belt while moving on the length portion, all particles having a relatively lower coefficient of sliding friction having a lower velocity at the discharge edge so that the particles which have been discharged will fly along different trajectories and are collected by correspondingly disposed devices.

Abstract: Fluffy grass seed with accompanying coarse trash and fine trash are placed upon the top of a vibrating screen. The fluffy grass seed are enmeshed in the meshes of the screen while the fine trash falls through the screen and the coarse trash is loose upon the top of the screen. The coarse trash is dumped from the screen by inverting the screen. Thereafter the fluffy seed are doffed from the screen by brushes.

Abstract: A method for removing elongated contaminants of polymeric material from a contaminated stream containing pellets and the elongated contaminants, wherein the contaminated stream is passed through an enclosure containing a fixed support member having finger-like projections for snagging the elongated contaminants while allowing the pellets to pass through the enclosure.

Abstract: A system for segregating trash into discrete fractions including a separator assemblage consisting of a staggered multiple-tiered heated belt system or separating thermoplastic materials from other substances. Each heated belt unit is modular and seated in a frame. Each unit comprises a continuous belt reeved about a driven and a driving rotor disposed in space relationship to each other and having a unique heating element disposed therein.

Abstract: Good legumes or pistachio nuts are separated from those to be discarded by feeding the pistachios or legumes to a longitudinally inclined trough between a laterally inclined plate and a rotating cylinder, such cylinder having outwardly projecting edges along its exterior surface. On the opposite side of such cylinder is provided a second cylinder having a brush on its outer circumference, and the two cylinders are driven in opposite directions. Good legumes and pistachio nuts are merely tumbled within the trough by the first cylinder and are fed partly by gravity to a collector at the foot of the device. The unsatisfactory legumes and pistachios are picked up by the outwardly projecting edges of the first cylinder and flipped over where they are then brushed downwaardly off the first cylinder by the brush of the second cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for selecting or sorting tubes for textile machines. Specifically, this method separates tubes which contain yarn residue from those that do not and discharges said residue containing tubes into a special container provided for that purpose. More specifically, the method provides automatic control in the transfer region between a spinning machine and a winding machine in the textile industry.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles in accordance with the sphericity of the particles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing which is supplied with air having a desired humidity, and which accommodates therein a cylindrical rotor with a horizontal shaft. The particles are charged into the housing from a hopper above the rotor, and tend to adhere onto the peripheral surface of the rotor with adhesive force which is dependent on the sphericity of each particle. The rotor is placed into a slow rotation and subjected to vibration whereby non-spherical particles and spherical particles are collected in respective receptacles arranged on both sides of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A machine for classifying, cleaning and arranging textile tubes, including an intake section for bringing in both clean tubes and tubes containing yarn residue, a classifying section which circulates the tubes so that the clean tubes are separated from the tubes containing yarn residue, a cleaning section for cleaning the yarn residue from the tubes containing the same, and an arranging section for arranging the tubes so that they are properly oriented for packaging.

Abstract: A trough-like vibrating conveyor is used to sort and separate two differently shaped components in a mixture of materials of value. The mixture is separated into generally cylindrically shaped parts, such as hollow parts, and generally flat-shaped parts. The conveyor includes at least two unbalanced motors each arranged on an opposite side of the conveyor extending in the conveying direction. Further, the motors are offset relative to one another in the conveying direction. The vibrating conveyor affords a simple operation for separating the differently shaped components of the mixture as the mixture moves between the inlet and outlet ends of the conveyor and particularly for separating any glass particles. The conveyor requires little in the way of technical or personnel expenditure.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for separating good raisins from moldy raisins. The apparatus comprises two conveyor belts which are rotatably mounted to a frame by suitable rollers. The belts are oriented so as to overlap one another slightly, and such that the overlapping portions exert a slight amount of pressure on the raisins as they pass through the overlapping portions. Both belts are simultaneously driven by a single motor so as to travel at the same speed.In use, an untreated mixture of good and moldy raisins is deposited onto the lower belt so as to form a single layer. As the raisins pass through the overlapping portions of the upper belt and the lower belt, the moldy raisins adhere to one of the belts, and the good raisins drop downward from between the belts. The moldy raisins are thereafter scraped from the belts, and the moldy raisins and good raisins are separately collected and stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the spheres from the non-spheres in a large number of particles of lamp fill material of substantially equal mass in which the spheres are placed in the grooves of an inclined surface to roll downwardly thereon under the influence of gravity. The grooves are configured to limit the contact with the particles to two points intermediate the depth of the groove so as to keep the particles out of contact with the bottom of the groove. Vacuum pick-up means are used to remove those particles which do not roll down the grooves because of their spherical irregularities. The surfaces in contact with the lamp fill material are made of stainless steel and the entire operation is conducted within the confines of a dry box to minimize contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting textile bobbins into groups of empty bobbins and bobbins with residual yarn thereon, utilizing an inclined upwardly moving conveyor belt covered with card clothing for conveying upwardly and discharging therefrom bobbins having residual yarn thereon by engagement of the yarn by the card clothing and for downward sliding discharge therefrom of empty bobbins, and utilizing another inclined conveyor belt to transport and feed bobbins onto the card conveyor. By utilizing a wall extending between the two conveyor belts and providing an opening therein of a predetermined size and shape at the location at which bobbins are fed onto the card belt such that only empty bobbins or bobbins having less than a predetermined amount of yarn thereon can pass therethrough onto the card belt, bobbins can be additionally sorted according to the amount of yarn thereon.

Abstract: A batch of raisins in which moldy raisins are mixed with sound ones is immersed in a hot water bath, causing the moldy raisins to assume a mushy and sticky texture while leaving the texture of the sound raisins substantially unaffected. The batch of raisins is then dropped onto a laterally inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moves the raisins over a framework which is rapidly moved up and down to slap the underside of the belt, causing the raisins to bounce up and down on the continuously moving conveyor. The sound raisins, which have retained their firm texture, are bounced substantially higher than the moldy raisins, and thus, bounce down off the side of the conveyor as they move along the length of the conveyor. Because of their mushy texture, the moldy raisins do not bounce as high as the sound ones and therefore do not as readily bounce downward off the conveyor. Instead, they are carried along and off the end of the conveyor.

Abstract: Herein described is a machine for removing raisins spoiled by mold from good raisins. An angularly disposed rotating screened cylinder causes raisins to be lifted and dropped to the bottom of the cylinder. Because of the fact that the bad raisins are soft and sticky they will stick to the screen. Good raisins will be tumbled towards the bottom of the screened cylinder and out. Spray nozzles force water through the screened cylinder washing the stuck raisins into a trough where they are kept separate from the good raisins.

Abstract: The removal of so-called zip-tape from reclaim tobacco is achieved by use of an elongate vibratory conveyor having grooves extending longitudinally therewith and of longitudinal depth profile preselected from groove-containment of the reclaim tobacco, except for the zip-tape content thereof. Rollers having surface affinity for the zip-tape are arranged in overlying relation to the conveyor surface and groove rises, and are disposed in acute angle relation with the conveyor feed direction. The rollers are supported for joint movement with the conveyor so as to be maintained in fixed relation to the conveyor surface during vibration. Zip-tape encountered by the surfaces of the rollers is withdrawn from the conveyor grooves and is displaced successively transversely of the conveyor for collection aside the conveyor.

Abstract: The sorting method includes moving materials at a certain horizontal speed such that on falling their points of impact are disbursed over a moving sorting belt in such a manner that the materials become located at points which are sufficiently different to enable effective sorting to be obtained by small adhesion differences so that the adhering materials are carried by the sorting belt to a discharge region and the non-adhering or weakly adhering materials are rejected by the belt. The apparatus includes a feed device located above a moving adhesion belt having an adjustable speed control and an arrangement for adjusting the position of the feed device relative to the adhesion sorting belt.

Abstract: A batch of raisins in which moldy raisins are mixed with sound ones is immersed in a hot water bath, causing the moldy raisins to assume a mushy and sticky texture while leaving the texture of the sound raisins substantially unaffected. The batch of raisins is then dropped onto a laterally inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moves the raisins over a framework which is rapidly moved up and down to slap the underside of the belt, causing the raisins to bounce up and down on the continuously moving conveyor. The sound raisins, which have retained their firm texture, are bounced substantially higher than the moldy raisins, and thus, bounce down off the side of the conveyor as they move along the length of the conveyor. Because of their mushy texture, the moldy raisins do not bounce as high as the sound ones and therefore do not as readily bounce downward off the conveyor. Instead, they are carried along and off the end of the conveyor.