Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting mailpieces such as letters and flats, said machine having at least one row of sorting outlets (3) and a trolley for handling the mailpieces as a stack outside the sorting outlets. The trolley is mounted to slide on the machine along said row of sorting outlets and carries a deck that is substantially horizontal and that is mounted to move in rotation relative to the trolley (8) about a vertical axis so as to take up at least two angular positions that are offset from each other by 90 degrees.

Abstract: The invention is a suspension plate system for providing access to hanks of fiber. The system may include a circular, transparent, plastic disc having a plurality of truncated conic circular bores located equidistant from the center of the disc and being substantially equidistant from each other. Each bore has a larger diameter opening on the top of the disc and a smaller diameter opening on the bottom of the disc. A plurality of generally radial slots equal in number to the number of bores are located on the disc to communicate between each bore and the outer edge of the disc. Each bore provides a device wherein a hank of fiber, cut into substantially equal lengths to other hanks and divided by color and/or nature can be presented for display and use. The hank of fiber of like color and/or nature is bound by a knob-like binder that can be captured in one of the bores, with the hank of fiber suspended down from the disc, thus locking the hank of fiber in place relative to other hanks and to the disc.

Abstract: A system uses a single chute in a multi-story building to collect into separate large receptacles different categories of wastes already separated by the tenant for recycling. A turntable carries a large receptacle for each category of waste. Controls on each floor enables a tenant to operate the turntable to position a selected receptacle beneath the turntable to receive a particular category of waste. A microprocessor controller and interlocks on the access doors prevent conflicts between floors. A reciprocating ram automatically compacts the waste in the receptacle after a predetermined number of deposits into the receptacle. The compaction operation is delayed by preset time intervals to avoid conflicts with tenant use. One of those time intervals is proportional to the floor elevation to give waste a time to fall though the chute. The compression apparatus may be arranged to apply different compressive forces to different types of waste and to signal when a container is full.

Abstract: A sorting machine 10 having a lifting and rotating apparatus 11 which includes a rotatable platform 16 upon which a stack of pallets 1 can rest so as to be supported from underneath and a scissor lift 14 for raising and lowering the stack so that the uppermost pallet 1 is moved firstly to an inspection level where it is rotated with the rotatable platform 16 for exposing its top and sides to an operator and then to a transfer level. The machine 10 also has a support device 12 having tynes 17 which moves into an extended position to support and maintain the pallet 1 at the transfer level when the scissor lift 14 is lowered to thereby expose the bottom of the pallet to the operator, and a transfer carriage 13 to engage opposite sides of the pallet 1 and support the pallet 1 from underneath. The pallet 1 is then transported by the transfer carriage 13 to one of a plurality of outfeed stations 25 after the support device 12 is moved into its retracted position.

Abstract: A recyclable material separating device which is placed into a window opening or a cut-out in a wall. When the selection handle is moved to a desired position and the inner access door is opened, recyclable material can be placed into an outside chute which carries material through an elbow chute to a specific collection receptacle below where it is stored for later retrieval.

Abstract: A sorting installation for separating a first type of articles from a second type of articles fed mixed to the sorting installation. The articles of the first type are relatively light and substantially two-dimensional, while the articles of the second type are relatively heavy and substantially three-dimensional. There is provided an article-supporting surface which receives the first and second type of articles in a generally mixed state and which has a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The article-supporting surface is inclined to the horizontal in a direction parallel to the width dimension for causing primarily the second type of articles to move by gravity downwardly on the article-supporting surface transversely to the length dimension and laterally off the article-supporting surface.

Abstract: The device for sorting and counting a plurality of cans comprises a circular table having a rotatable circular floor and a fixed side wall. Attached around the periphery of the side wall are a plurality of counting tubes, each of which includes a photo-electric cell therein for sensing the number of cans which pass through the tube. Each photo-electric cell is connected to a counter on a display device which records and displays the number of cans passing through each tube. One counter totals all of the cans passing through all of the tubes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tobacco leaf grading and stripping apparatus or rack which is easily movable to desired locations accessible to the cured tobacco, and comprises base means, tobacco stick hanger means having a generally wheel-shaped, polygonal periphery, rotatably mounted on the base means and comprising a plurality of individual arms extending outwardly from stanchion means in a spoke-like manner, and each of the arms being provided on its outer portions with support means adapted to receive and support one end of a loaded tobacco stick such that adjacent support means can support jointly the whole stick in a generally horizontal posture. Any number of arms can be provided for supporting any desired number of loaded tobacco sticks, about four or five sticks being preferred.

Abstract: The invention comprises a circular, transparent, plastic disc having a plurality of circular holes located equidistant from the center of the disc and being substantially equidistant from each other. A plurality of radial tabs equal in number to the number of holes and located on radii corresponding to respective holes provides a device wherein a plurality of strands of yarn are cut into substantially equal lengths and divided by color. The yarn of like color is inserted through a hole, and a central portion of the yarn is pulled over a tab corresponding with the hole on its radius, thus locking the strands in place relative to each other and the disc. The disc can be mounted on posts extending from a "lazy-Susan" base.