Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for automatically eliminating a group of articles to be treated of which at least one is missing or defective in this group, this apparatus comprising essentially a detecting cell located above the articles or containers transported by a conveyor, a magazine for storing these containers located near the detecting cell, and pushers arranged vertically under the magazine and under the containers transported by the conveyor.

Abstract: Garbage collection device for a built-in sink unit with a garbage discharge opening which is integrated into its top surface and below which a holder is arranged for several waste containers, one of which can be loaded with garbage through the discharge opening. To enable easy sorting of the garbage to be disposed of through the garbage discharge opening, the holder comprises a waste container support in the form of a merry-go-round and an actuating means for the support in order to selectively bring one of several waste containers into the position below the discharge opening.

Abstract: An automatic disk testing apparatus and method for testing flexible disks is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gravity feed disk hopper and vacuum disk plate which sequentially present a series of disks for test. Each disk drops by gravity from the vacuum disk plate to a test position including a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotates the disk, in its disk jacket, at a predetermined rotational speed for testing. Each disk is tested and the test results are stored in memory. After testing, the disk is automatically sorted and moved to an output location based on the test results. The sorting is accomplished by dropping the tested disk into a motor driven shuttle which conveys the disk to the proper output location and drops the disk at that location.

Abstract: An automatic disk positioning apparatus and method for its use in handling of flexible disks in an automatic testing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gravity feed disk hopper and vacuum disk plate which sequentially present a series of disks for test. Each disk drops by gravity from the vacuum disk plate to a test position including a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism rotates the disk, in its disk jacket, at a predetermined rotational speed for testing. Each disk is tested and the test results are stored in memory. After testing the disk is automatically sorted and stored in an output container based on the test results. The sorting is accomplished by dropping the tested disk into a motor driven shuttle which conveys the disk to the proper output container and drops the disk into that container.

Abstract: A bin sorter divided by vertical or inclined parallel walls into a plurality of bins, each having a bin floor which can be lowered to a lumber discharge station and a series of rotatable gates extending from the bottom of each bin wall and functioning to control the discharge of lumber from the individual bins.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting items according to weight or other measurable characteristics. An elongated conveyor feeds the items to be sorted to a combined weighing and conveying mechanism, which after weighing the item, is driven in one direction or another to drop the item weighed onto a uni-directionally driven conveyor. The unidirectionally driven conveyor transports the item it receives and deposits it onto a bi-directionally driven conveyor. The bi-directionally driven conveyor is then driven in the necessary direction to transport the item it receives and to deposit it onto a selected bi-directionally driven conveyor. This bi-directionally driven conveyor, in turn, is selectively driven to cause the item it receives to be deposited into the indicated receiver for items of weight corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A lumber sorting apparatus wherein a bin collects graded lumber. Flexible straps across the bottom are elongated to expand the lumber holding capacity. One end of the strap has a releasable latch mechanism and latching of the straps (after dumping the lumber) is provided by a rigid pivotal arm that receives the latch mechanism in a rewinding operation and pivots the latch member into place for relatching. The latch mechanism consists of a spool that fits between sleeve portions through which a pin is controllably inserted and withdrawn by a manually operated air cylinder.

Abstract: A lumber sorting apparatus wherein a bin collects graded lumber. Flexible straps across the bottom are extended to expand the lumber holding capacity. One end of the strap has a releasable latch mechanism and latching of the strap (after dumping the lumber) is provided by a rigid pivotal arm that receives the latch mechanism in the rewinding operation and pivots the latch mechanism into place for relatching. The arm member includes a length portion that spans the open bottom. Guide pins in the arm member on either side of the length portion define a straight reach across said length portion which is offset downwardly from the straps whereby lumber pieces dropped into the bin are prevented from impacting the rigid arm member.

Abstract: A scroll strip conveyor system comprises a conveyor belt for carrying a series of relatively flat scroll strips thereon in a flat, edge-to-edge spaced apart condition. An inspection station is located along the conveyor for inspecting the scroll strips to identify rejects. An ejector is provided for ejecting the rejects from the conveyor belt. A hopper feed apparatus is located at a terminal end of the conveyor belt for receiving the scroll strips therefrom one by one in an edge-to-edge condition and for redirecting the scroll strips into a parallel surface-to-surface spaced apart condition to be stacked in flat, surface-to-surface abutting condition in a hopper.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus is provided for sorting articles such as film envelopes. The envelopes are loaded into carriers, on an endless conveyor, which convey them past a plurality of drop chutes. The carriers hold the envelopes so the long axes thereof, in end view, are parallel to the path of movement of the conveyor. At the proper positions, the carriers are opened to release the envelopes into selected ones of the chutes. Each envelope is directed into a preselected one of a plurality of bins, that are displaced transversely of the path of movement of the conveyor. The apparatus operates under control of a data processor which causes the conveyor and carriers to deliver the envelopes to the proper bins based on information contained in a bar code on the envelopes.

Abstract: A method of detecting and sorting pieces of insulating materials admixed in small pieces of conductive materials, which comprises detecting and amplifying the surface potentials of the conductive materials and the insulating materials by a surface potentiometer on the basis of a time differentiation method, inputting the signal to a comparator, and sensing the presence of the insulating materials. This method is utilized to detect and sort plastics admixed in pulp and papermaking materials or cereals.

Abstract: A point of sale wood chip classifier includes apparatus for receiving and discharging unclassified wood chips onto a longitudinally extending downwardly angled trough-shaped vibratory classification bed which includes a plurality of rotating disks for promoting tumbling of the chips toward an overflow end, the bed including openings between the disks defining a plurality of classification zones of increasing size along the bed in the downhill direction. A plurality of collection bins are located below the classification zones for receiving the classified chips, the classification bins being carried on respective load cells which signal the individual weights of a sample to a microcomputer for calculation of totality of chips and percentages of each classified component.

Abstract: An installation for stacking piles of stick-separated sawn lumber, which includes a number of sink compartments to receive various kinds of lumber and a lumber conveyor in order to bring lumber from a loading point for unsorted lumber to the sink compartment. The lumber conveyor also transports to the sink compartment sticks required for the stick separation of the lumber.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables which is arranged to convey fruits and vegetables of various shapes such as spheroidal shapes, spherical massive shapes, non-spherical massive shapes or amorphous shapes one by one on a tray device, a measuring device including a planar-shape dimension measuring unit, a side-shape dimension measuring unit and a weight measuring unit is arranged at a part of a conveying path to sort and rank the object to be sorted by comparing the results of measurement with sorting classification values preset by a computing device. The measuring device permits selection of the planar shape, side shape or weight. The apparatus includes a fruit or vegetable distribution section which includes receiving bins of different sizes determined according to ranking by the measuring device. One or plurality of the objects are dispersively discharged into these bins by a discharge device according to the sizes of the bins.

Abstract: In a system for conveying objects bearing indicia of destination addresses to associated receptacles, the indicium on each object is converted to an address code identifying a particular receptacle, and the code is fed to a control device for storage. The objects are then moved sequentially past a meter which reads and feeds their indicia to the control device and counts the objects as they pass on to a succession of uniformly spaced containers traveling in a continuous, closed path near the receptacles. All objects passing the meter thus become associated with respective containers, and their number equals the number of containers sequentially passing an arbitrary metering point along the closed path. Any container carrying an object reaches a point over its target receptacle when the meter count for that object corresponds to the indicium/address code which associates that object with that receptacle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing and counting artificial drill cuttings from a returning drill mud containing a mixture of both artificial and natural drill cuttings. The artificial drill cuttings are injected into the drilling fluid and supplied to a drill string and have magnetic properties, while the natural drill cuttings do not. A rotary magnetic drum having a first endless belt travelling therearound receives the cuttings mixture and the magnetic artificial cuttings adhere to the first belt by being attracted to the drum, while the natural drill cuttings do not, thereby permitting separation of the two. The artificial cuttings are removed from the drum by a second endless belt cooperating with the first endless belt to define a nip between them. The belts positively engage with and remove the artificial cuttings from the drum.

Abstract: A sorting method and apparatus for sorting steel products such as bars, rods, shapes and tubular products which are delivered in a random manner, according to the ordered lengths, sizes and so forth. The steel products are made to stay on a sorting apparatus temporarily. Then, pieces of products of the same class are successively selected and forwarded to a bundling bed from the sorting apparatus, while the latter receives a new piece of steel products. This operation is repeated for successive classes to sort the steel products into a plurality of classes having different ordered lengths, sizes or other sorting condition. The sorting apparatus has a vertically movable sorting roller table and a sorting truck arranged in a side-by-side relation to the sorting roller table and movable in the direction normal to the direction of movement of the steel products.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for weight grading and further processing eggs. After being weighed, the eggs are supplied to a conveyor for the transportation of the weighed eggs to a plurality of buffers, such as belts arranged in a refrigerated space, each said buffer being adapted to receive eggs of a given weight class, and from which the eggs can be discharged in the unpacked state when needed.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (OS) with a circuit for use in a television receiver is carried to a location of a conveyor (OD) for testing process. A printed circuit board takeout device (OB), automatic parts testing device (OF), first sorting device (OG), first automatic parts measuring/adjustment device (OI), second sorting device (OJ), second automatic parts measuring/adjustment device (OK), third sorting device (OL) etc. are sequentially arranged on a path of conveyance of the printed circuit board on the conveyor (OD). The automatic parts testing device (OF) is adapted to test whether or not a component part of a desired value exists in a desired location of the printed circuit board (OS). The first sorting device (OG) is adapted to transfer an unfit printed circuit board to a conveyor (OH) for unfit printed circuit board.

Abstract: A system for routing correspondence from a first location including a plurality of slot entries to a predetermined conveyor path to a second, discharge location. A collection assembly is disposed at the discharge location for collection of routed correspondence along two adjacent conveyor paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting workpieces of different classification classes and for forming groups having a pre-set number of workpieces of the same class, comprising a base; a housing support mobile on the base having a number of partitions at least equal to the number of classes; a loading device for loading one workpiece at a time into the support partition when in a determined loading and unloading position with respect to the support; a control group receiving signals indicative of the class of the workpieces; a control device for operating the housing support, the control device being connected to the control group for positioning in the loading and unloading position a relevant partition provided for receiving the workpieces of the same class of the next workpiece to be loaded; an unloading device arranged in correspondence with the loading position; and a driving device for operating the unloading device, the driving device being connected to the control group and including an enabling mechanism for contr

Abstract: A machine for sorting objects of various destinations, particularly for bulky postal correspondence. A guide defines a path passing through at least one loading station and at least one sorting station. At least one succession of compartments for containing individual objects is moved along said guide. Each compartment is in the form of a narrow pigeon hole, which has its surface of maximum size perpendicular to the direction of movement of the compartment and is provided with an operable base wall.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus whereby pieces of timber are sorted into lots on supporting arms which are suspended by flexible and extensible members. As the timber is added, the arms are lowered and finally extend down to a conveyor apparatus. The arms then open to discharge the timber on to the conveyor apparatus and are then drawn up, are closed and reach the start position where a new lot of timber is received.

Abstract: A sort bin having substantially vertical bin walls and a vertically movable bin floor, the floor being mounted such that it is in a predetermined and fixed inclined attitude throughout its vertical movement.

Abstract: A trimming saw arrangement comprises a root-cutting station, a trimming station, and a feed line for advancing timber, perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, through the stations and to a sorting station having a sorting conveyor. The stations include a plurality of cutting or trimming places arranged one after the other in the feed direction and a distribution flap and conveyor for distributing arriving timber to the respective places responsive to the amount of timber accumulated in a storage bin associated with each cutting or trimming place.

Abstract: Intended primarily for use in the commercial photofinishing industry, a convertible loading and delivery pouch together with associated mounting means in an automatic sorter device is disclosed. A number of such pouches demountably installed at successive loading stations along the sorter conveyor path are maintained suspended from parallel support arms in normally open, article receiving position with the front walls of the individual pouches bowed outwardly to accommodate the articles being discharged from the conveyor at such stations. With the pouches removed from the support arms, the front walls can be bowed inwardly against the sidewalls and rear wall in order to permit interengaging the cooperating elements of a closure device such as a slide fastener to secure the contents within the pouch for delivery purposes.

Abstract: High speed document processing and sorting apparatus. A stream of documents is guided along a path at high speed. A detector is mounted along said path to detect identifiable documents. A magazine is mounted to receive the detected documents. A vacuum wheel is mounted to remove the detected documents from said path to said magazine. The vacuum picker comprises a vacuum wheel mounted a predetermined spacing over said path, the vacuum wheel having a surface speed equal to the high speed document speed. A solid wheel is movably mounted below said vacuum wheel and below said path. A detector control moves the solid wheel and document up into contact with the vacuum wheel when it is desired to remove a document moving at high speed.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for selectively sorting timber into different compartments. When a compartment is filled, it is emptied onto a conveyor for removing the timber from the apparatus. Each of the compartments includes a flexible support which can be lowered beneath the dividing wall of the compartment to form an opening through which the timber can empty onto the conveyor. The flexible support is then pulled tightly to ensure that all of the timber leaves the compartment.

Abstract: A conveyor moves a series of cartridges containing undeveloped film and sender-identified mailers in correlated side-by-side relation from a loading station past a cartridge sensing station, a dual labeling station, and a plurality of discharge stations. Information sensed from each cartridge is stored in a memory and later controls the off-loading of the correlated cartridges and mailers at an appropriate one of the discharge stations from which the cartridges go their separate ways for film processing. Prior to off-loading, the side-by-side cartridge and mailer receive separate labels preprinted with correlating indicia enabling the developed film and the mailer to be correctly reunited for return to the sender.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows the sorting of particles or cells in accordance with their physical and/or chemical properties such as size, DNA and/or protein content.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating metallic contaminations from a fibre transporting duct in spinning preparation, wherein an air stream transports fibre flocks through the duct. At a branching point of the fibre transporting duct leading to a waste duct there is pivotably arranged deflecting means operatively connected with and activated by a drive mechanism. The deflecting means are activated in response to the passage of a metallic object or other metallic contaminations through a section of the fibre transporting duct surrounded by a metal detector arranged upstream of the branching point, by means of a control device connected with a power source and the drive mechanism. Within a short time the deflecting means can be shifted from an idle or ineffectual position, where the transporting duct is open and the waste duct is maintained closed, into a working position, in which the transporting duct is closed and the waste duct is maintained open.

Abstract: The method for separating particles having mixed density and/or size, comprises dispersing the particles in a fluid stream, passing the fluid stream into a housing which causes the fluid stream to be diverted from its original direction, and capturing certain of the particles within the housing which deflect the least amount in response to the directional diversion of the fluid stream. Apparatus for accomplishing this method include a channel in which the air flow undergoes a change in direction of 90.degree., one boundary being a right angle bend and the other being formed from a circular curve or rectangular hyperbola. Another device for accomplishing the method includes an inlet channel which enlarges in diameter and which includes capturing means placed along the longitudinal axis of the inlet channel, whereby the fluid must divert radially outwardly around the capturing means as it passes from the inlet channel through the enlarged portion thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating seeds and twigs from vegetable material is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of an outer container which is divided into a first portion and a second portion by a wall attached to the first portion. A battery-operated electrical motor is attached to an inner surface of the first portion. A switch is provided for activating the motor. A rotatable shaft extends from the first portion through a hole in the wall into the second portion and a gear mechanism drivingly couples the rotatable shaft to the electric motor. A rotatable separating mechanism is fixedly secured to the rotatable shaft within the second portion and includes an apertured container into which vegetable material to be processed is placed. The second portion defines a collection chamber for receiving vegetable material from the apertured container after seeds and twigs have been separated fro the vegetable material.

Abstract: Worms are harvested by placing worm-containing bedding material from a breeding bin on a flat breaking board mounted within a wooden frame. The bedding material is pushed from the board onto an adjacent screen mounted within the frame at approximately the same level as the board. The screen is covered by the bedding material to a uniform depth while exposed from above to light. A worm-receiving tray with dark inner bottom surface is removably mounted in darkness within the frame below the screen. The frame is leg-supported at one end, while its screen-end rests on the top edge of a bin to be harvested. An upper layer of the bedding material is gradually skimmed from the screen into the bin, causing the worms to work their way deeper into the bedding material remaining on the screen. The skimming process is repeated until all worms have worked their way down through the bedding material to the screen. From there the larger worms crawl through the screen into the tray below.