| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080272032 | PRE-PRINTED CARD PROCESSING - After pre-printed cards are manufactured at least a corner of each card is imaged. It is then determined whether the position and orientation of markings in the image with respect to the corner are within tolerance. If not, the card is rejected. If the markings are, or include, indicia, these indicia may be identified to allow identification of the card. This allows a determination of whether the card is in an intended order, or it allows selection of the batch into which the card is placed. It also means that cards in a given set of cards arranged in a first order can be randomized by first buffering cards in buffers and then outputting the cards to an output conveyor. In one approach, each unique card in the set is sent to a different buffer such that like cards are buffered in the same buffer. Cards are then randomly fed from the buffers to form a re-ordered set of cards such that cards in the re-ordered set of cards have an order that is random with respect to the first order. In another approach, each buffer is allocated to at least one ordinal position. Then, after determining a random order for a set of cards, individual cards of the set are fed to the buffers such that each card is fed to a buffer having an ordinal position matching an ordinal position of the card in the random order. The cards are then fed out from each of the buffers to the output conveyor based on ordinal positions of the buffers. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080308470 | Logistics System for Transporting Postal Items and Method for Determining a Transport Path - There is provided a logistics and method a logistics system for transporting a mailpiece along a transportation route within a postal distribution network, the transportation route comprising several nodes of the postal distribution network. An exemplary logistics system comprises a node that corresponds to a delivery point, the node being associated with a first unambiguous identifier and a node that corresponds to a sorting point, the second node being associated with a second unambiguous identifier. The exemplary logistics system further comprises a node that corresponds to a subsequent node in the transportation route being associated with a third unambiguous identifier, the node that corresponds to the subsequent node in the transportation route being associated with another node that either precedes or follows the subsequent node in the transportation route. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090127168 | SYSTEM FOR TRACKING MEDICAL WASTE - A system for disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of disposable containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations, each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090145817 | Method and Device for Sorting Flat Mail Items - A method is specified for sorting flat mail items, which allows sorting according to delivery order to be carried out swiftly and reliably. With the method a first sorting pass is carried out in a first segment with at least N storage modules of a sorting device and a second sorting pass is then carried out in a second segment with at least N storage modules of the sorting device. The overflow items, which are assigned to a storage module that has been closed because it is full, are deposited into one of the other storage modules in the first sorting pass and are included in the sorting process of the second sorting pass. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090206012 | SORTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SORTING RFID TAGS - sorting device for RFID tags, comprising a dispensing unit for supplying RFID tags which are applied to a transport belt to a dispensing area, in which the RFID tags are detached from the transport belt; a pick-up unit having a plurality of transport units for respectively picking up the RFID tags in a respective pick-up area onto a corresponding transport belt of the transport units and a positioning device for positioning the dispensing area and a selected pick-up area with respect to one another so that the RFID tags detached from the transport belt in the dispensing area are picked up by the pick-up area of the selected transport unit. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090211951 | Device and Method for Continuously Producing a Defective-Free Carrier Strip - The invention relates to a device ( | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090211952 | Method and Apparatus for Sorting Flat Objects in a Number of Sorting Passes - In a method and device for sorting a quantity of flat objects, especially of mail items, each object passes at least twice through a sorting system with a number of output devices. In each pass of an object the sorting system determines a destination identification of the object and discharges the object depending on the destination identification determined into one of the respective output devices. In the second sorting pass the sorting system groups all objects which are provided with identifications of the same destination into at least one stack such that each stack contains a number of objects and the objects of each stack at least partly overlap each other. The sorting system transports each stack formed in this manner to one of the output devices and discharges it into this output device. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090211953 | Method of Sorting Flat Mail Items - A sorting device has at least one mail item buffer receptacle, a number of storage pockets for mail items arranged one after another and circulating continuously in a conveyor belt and moved past one or more loading stations. Below straight transfer sections of the conveyors fixed intermediate storage receptacles open at the top are arranged to accept one or more mail items from the loaded storage pockets to be opened under control in the transfer sections. On a transport path below the intermediate storage receptacles there are also continuously circulating mail item containers open at the top as sorting end points assigned to the destination addresses or destination address groups. In the mail item containers the mail items are unloaded downwards in a horizontal position in accordance with their read destination address through controllable opening of the relevant intermediate storage receptacle at the point, in which the mail item container assigned to the address is located in the corresponding position below the intermediate storage receptacle with mail items for this mail item container. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090283454 | Shale shakers and screens with identification apparatuses - A screen apparatus, which in certain aspects is a screen apparatus having a support, screening material on the support, a mass member connected to the screen apparatus, and energizable identification apparatus connected to (exteriorly, interiorly, and/or within) the mass member for identifying the screen apparatus; a vibratory separator with such a screen apparatus; and a vibratory separator or shaker with energizable identification apparatus. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090294337 | Device for Separating Flat Mail Items - An apparatus for separating flat mail items includes two transport devices for transporting two independently mobile stacks of mail items to an extraction device for extracting mail items from both stacks of mail items and supplying the mail items to a transport run. A single-component extraction element of the extraction device is provided for extracting mail items from the two stacks of mail items. An economical device for separating flat mail items from both stacks of mail items can be obtained, and the device generates a continuous flow of mail items. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100084322 | METHOD OF SORTING USED TUBULAR GOODS PRIOR TO RECLAIMING OR RECONDITIONING - Methods for reclaiming or reconditioning used tubulars are disclosed. One method includes performing non-visual, non-destructive inspection of used tubulars at a site of a reconditioning or reclaiming plant prior to the used tubulars being cleaned in preparation for reclaiming or reconditioning, followed by sorting the used tubulars based principally on the inspection. The non-visual, non-destructive inspection may be selected from magnetic flux leakage inspection, ultrasonic inspection, Eddy current inspection, acoustic emission inspection, and combinations thereof. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100084323 | CROSS FLOW AIR SEPARATION SYSTEM - A cross-flow air separation system comprises a conveyor configured to project material out over an end of the conveyor generally along a trajectory path into a far receiving bin. An optical sensing system is configured to identify particular objects in the projected material. A first air ejection system is configured to generate a first airstream that ejects the identified objects from the trajectory path into a second near receiving bin. A second cross air current system is configured to generate a second airstream that reduces air resistance for the materials projected along the trajectory path. The second airstream reduces certain aeronautic phenomena that would cause some of the projected materials to unintentionally fall into the wrong receiving bin, thus creating a higher purity/less contaminated materiel stream into the near bin. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100101983 | FLOW SORTING OF NANOMATERIALS - In accordance with the invention there are systems and methods of separating a mixture of carbon nanotubes comprising dispersing carbon nanotubes into a fluid to form a dispersion of individually-suspended carbon nanotubes and focusing the dispersion of individually-suspended carbon nanotubes into a single file stream of carbon nanotubes. The methods can also include characterizing the single file stream of carbon nanotubes and sorting the carbon nanotubes based on their properties. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100116722 | FLAT DETECTOR AND MEDIUM DETECTOR - a flat detector includes a first flat member and a second flat member both made of a nonmagnetic nonmetal, a first conductive wiring that generates an alternating magnetic field, the first conductive wing being disposed on a surface of the first flat member facing toward the second flat member, a first layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and disposed at least on a surface of the first flat member, a second conductive wiring that detects a signal generated by magnetization reversal of a magnetic material, the magnetization reversal being caused by the alternating magnetic field generated by the first conductive wiring, the second conductive wiring being disposed on a surface of the second flat member facing toward the first flat member, and a second layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and disposed at least on a surface of the second flat member. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100147750 | Method for Batching Items - The present invention discloses a method and computer program product for hatching items, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a first item for a batch, analyze the characteristics of said selected item, create a profile of said selected item, determine qualification criteria for forthcoming items, wherein said qualification criteria for forthcoming items is based on said profile created from said first item selected for said batch. Analyzing the characteristics of an item is based on one or more of the following: weighing said item, record and process an image of said item, for determining one or more of the following characteristics: thickness of said item, color of said item, shape of said item, wherein said characteristics is used for creating a profile of said item. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100213106 | APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING IMPURITIES IN MASSES OF INCOHERENT MATERIALS AND RELATIVE METHOD - A device for separating impurities in a mass of incoherent materials disposed on a slide, such as a conveyor belt. The device includes a detection device associated with the slide and a separation device. The separation device includes a plurality of deflecting elements suitable to remove, by mechanical separation action and selective discharge, a portion of incoherent material including an impurity. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100276344 | DETECTING APPARATUS, REMOVING APPARATUS, DETECTING METHOD, AND REMOVING METHOD - A detection apparatus for detecting foreign substances or defective goods, with which it is easy to accomplish inspection even if the inspection objects have a shape that tends to allow rolling, comprises: transparent members | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100282650 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSPECTING TRANSPARENT OR TRANSLUCENT ARTICLES IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE THE OPERATION OF A CONTROL MACHINE - The invention relates to a method for inspecting, with the aid of a machine ( | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110031170 | VISION MEANS FOR QUALITY INCREASE OF CONFECTIONARY - The present invention is related to a confectionary production and/or wrapping machine. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110056874 | SEPARATION METHOD AND SEPARATION APPARATUS - In a method of separating pieces of a specific constituent substance from a mixture by blowing the pieces across a free-fall position of the mixture by pulse air shot out of a pulse air nozzle, there is a problem that a less amount of the pieces is recovered. A separation method of separating first targets ( | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110079545 | SHEET SORTING AND STORING APPARATUS AND SHEET SORTING AND STORING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a sheet sorting and storing apparatus includes: an ID recognizing unit configured to recognize a user ID for identifying a user; a sheet storing unit including plural reuse sheet storing spaces each provided to correspond to the user ID recognized by the ID recognizing unit; a sheet inserting unit into which a sheet is inserted; a printing detecting unit configured to detect whether a front side and a rear side of the sheet inserted into the sheet inserting unit are printed; and a sheet directing unit configured to direct, as a reuse sheet, a one-side-unused sheet detected by the printing detecting unit as not being printed on one of a front side and a rear side to the reuse sheet storing space corresponding to the user ID recognized by the ID recognizing unit and store the sheet in the reuse sheet storing space. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110089088 | METHOD FOR SORTING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICES - A method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a substantially unique identification (ID) code, such as a fuse ID, including automatically reading the ID code of each of the IC devices and sorting the IC devices in accordance with their automatically read ID codes, is disclosed. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110174700 | Method and Device for Storing Glass Plates for Photovoltaic Modules - Disclosed are a device and a method for picking up glass plates from at least one production line in order to convey said glass plates on to a storage housing or a coating plant. An embodiment of the device includes: a) a linearly movable, vertically installed main lifting column with a lifting rake that can be vertically moved therealong; b) a horizontal drive unit for the lifting rake; c) at least one sensor which is mounted on a fork of the lifting rake and is used for detecting the availability of the targeted storage place of a glass plate; d) at least one sensor which is mounted on a fork of the lifting rake and is used for detecting if a glass plate is located on the lifting rake; e) at least one sensor that is mounted on a fork of the lifting rake and is used for detecting cracks in a glass plate. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110198270 | ROLL SORTER DEVICE AND SORTING METHOD FOR SORTING PREFORMS AND TRANSPORT DEVICE WITH SUCH A ROLL SORTER DEVICE - A roll sorter device has a first roll that can be driven rotatably about its roll axis and a second roll that can be driven rotatably about its roll axis opposite the rotation of the first roll. The second roll is arranged spaced from the first roll such that the roll axes of the first and second rolls are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The roll sorter device may include a detection device for detecting seized and/or faulty preforms on the first or second roll and a roll arrangement modification element to modify the arrangement of the first and second rolls to each other when the detection device detects seized preforms. A sorting method for sorting performs and a transport device may employ the aforementioned roll sorter device. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110215035 | METHOD OF STORING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES WITH INFORMATION BEING SCRUTINIZED - A method of sorting a plurality of articles (A, B, C), in which each article goes through a sorting installation in at least two passes, comprises the steps of recording the image of each article that is generated during the first sorting pass in a memory and in correspondence with a data item indicating a sorting outlet to which the article is directed during the first sorting pass. If an article is misrouted, a correctly routed reference article is chosen in the vicinity of the misrouted article in the sequence of articles obtained during the last sorting pass, the memory is searched ( | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110284431 | PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE AND OPTICAL GRANULAR MATERIAL-SORTING APPARATUS UTILIZING SUCH PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE - A piezoelectric valve comprising: a valve main body formed in which are a gas pressure chamber that takes in compressed gas supplied from the outside as well as a gas release channel through which the compressed gas is released from the gas pressure chamber; a valve body placed in the gas pressure chamber to open and close the gas release channel; a piezoelectric element that generates, in the form of displacement, a driving force needed to operate the valve body; at least one displacement amplification mechanism that amplifies a displacement of the piezoelectric element and causes it to act upon the valve body; and a driving means for applying voltage to the piezoelectric element in order to drive the valve body to open the valve and thereby open the gas release channel; wherein such piezoelectric valve is characterized in that the driving means applies voltage to the piezoelectric element in multiple stages so as to suppress fluctuation in the amount of gas ejected from the gas release channel when the valve opens. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110297589 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEED SELECTION - Apparatuses and methods for selecting one or more seeds from a group of seeds based on a predetermined characteristic of the selected seeds are provided. In various embodiments, the seeds are selected from multiple containers of seeds and re-configured into a single container for later use. The apparatus includes an array of seed selectors that expel the selected seeds from the corresponding compartments through contact with the compartments. A transfer member then directs each expelled seed to a cavity of a collection tray or into an envelope or other receptacle. A controller may run operation of the apparatus and associate the selected seeds with the cavities and/or receptacle into which they are deposited. In this way, numerous seeds may be automatically selected substantially simultaneously or in rapid succession and re-configured in a short period of time and with limited user intervention. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120031817 | SHEET HANDLING SYSTEM - A sheet handling system is provided in which sheet handling apparatuses and a central apparatus are network connected and which can set a discrimination level of each of the sheet handling apparatuses from the central apparatus. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120085686 | APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING AND SORTING ARTICLES TRAVELING ON A CONVEYOR - There is provided an apparatus for grouping randomly oriented articles traveling on a conveyor, said conveyor having an in-feed end, an out-feed end and a predetermined width. The apparatus comprises an inspection head located in a fixed position above the conveyor, the inspection head for capturing images of the articles traveling on the conveyor, a grouping unit located in a fixed position relative to the conveyor and downstream of the inspection head and a control unit for receiving and processing the captured images from the inspection head. The grouping unit comprises a plurality of individually controllable pins, the individually controllable pins each moveable between a buffering position wherein the pin arrests movement of an article in alignment with the pin and a grouping position wherein the pin allows the article to move to a grouping location. The processing of the captured images for identifying the location of the articles traveling on the conveyor and for controlling the individual activation of the pins between buffering position and the grouping position. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120111776 | COMPONENT SORTING AND WASTING DEVICE IN COMPONENT MOUNTING APPARATUS - A component sorting and wasting device is provided with a plurality of waste boxes having respective IDs and arranged at predetermined locations for receiving components to be wasted therein and a component mounting mechanism being capable of picking up components from a component supply device in mounting the picked-up components on circuit boards and of sorting and wasting each of components which are recognized as being unable to be mounted on the circuit boards, in one of the waste boxes selected for the component to be wasted. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120118797 | SORTING METHOD AND SORTING CONFIGURATION FOR SORTING TWO TYPES OF ARTICLES TO PRODUCE A SINGLE SUCCESSION - A sorting method and a sorting configuration for sorting two types of articles, particularly two types of flat mail items, on the basis of a prescribed order among the possible values of a prescribed sorting feature. The articles of the first type are sorted on the basis of the order and divided into sequences of sorted articles. A first supply and feed device in a sorting installation takes these sequences to holding apparatuses, so that each holding apparatus contains a respective sequence. A second supply and feed device takes the articles of the second article type to a respective holding apparatus. A transportation device produces a succession of sequences and articles of the second article type and transfers the succession to sorting outputs of the sorting installation. In the sorting outputs all articles have been sorted on the basis of the prescribed order. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120138512 | Sorting apparatus and method utilizing a mechanical diverter - The present invention is an apparatus and method for sorting foreign material and undesirable articles from a product stream. A mechanical diverter having a concave shape is responsive to an inspection station coupled to the product stream. The mechanical diverter is employed to effectively launch or otherwise redirect undesirable articles in an alternate path. In addition, an air ejector in one form of the invention is provided and is responsive to the inspection station and is employed to dislodge foreign material from the product stream. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120145606 | Pneumatic Flotation Machine and Flotation Method - A pneumatic flotation machine ( | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120160746 | PARTICLE SORTING - A particle sorting cell ( | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120205296 | PARTS MANIPULATION, INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Manufacturing lines include inspection systems for monitoring the quality of parts produced. Manufacturing lines for making semiconductor devices generally inspect each fabricated part. The information obtained is used to fix manufacturing problems in the semiconductor fab plant. A machine-vision system for inspecting devices includes a flipper mechanism. After being inspected at a first station, a tray-transfer device moves the tray from the first inspection station to a flipper mechanism. The flipper mechanism includes two jaws, a mover, and a rotator. The flipper mechanism turns the devices over and places the devices in a second tray so that another surface of the device can be inspected. A second tray-transfer device moves the second tray from the flipper to a second inspection station. The mover of the flipper mechanism removes the tray from the first inspection surface and places a tray at the second inspection surface. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120255889 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOVING AT LEAST ONE BOOK CASE FROM A STREAM OF BOOK CASES CONVEYED ALONG A BOOK PRODUCTION LINE - A book case processing portion of a book production line forms a combination with a device for the removal of at least one book case from a stream of book cases conveyed in a main conveying direction along the book case processing portion of the book production line. The device includes a deposit tray that is extendible into the stream to remove the at least one book case from the stream of book cases. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120273399 | Document Sorting Machine - A machine to sort documents includes a stacker having a tier of the plurality of pockets and a magazine positioned at one end of the stacker. A first transport and a second transport operably associated with the magazine are configured to carry the documents through the stacker. A method to sort documents includes separating the documents into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being carried by a first transport through a first end of a stacker, the second portion being carried by a second transport and through a second end of the stacker, and then merging the second portion with the first portion of documents. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120273400 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPENING AND SORTING ENVELOPES - An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. A detector detects a characteristic of the envelope and a sorter sorts the envelope in response to the detected characteristic. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120279909 | GUIDE PLATE FOR GUIDING BULK PRODUCTS AND SORTING MACHINE WITH SUCH A GUIDE PLATE - This application describes a guide plate for collecting and discharging bulk products ( | 11-08-2012 |
| 20130001139 | Device for Sorting out Incorrectly Positioned Cylindrical Bodies in a Separating and Conveying Unit - A separating and conveying unit in which a device for sorting out incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies, such as for hollow bodies, is arranged. The device has a roller sorter with rollers and air nozzles arranged laterally adjacent the rollers. Incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies are blown out of the roller sorter by the air nozzles. The air nozzles can be pivoted and at least one of the air flows escaping from the air nozzles is directed at the cylindrical body at an angle of attack. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130001140 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130008836 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED SORTING OF DICED SUBSTRATES - A method for inspecting and sorting a plurality of IC units comprising the steps of: delivering a frame containing said IC units to a unit picking station; conducting a first inspection of said units during the delivering step and recording the subsequent result; removing said units from the frame, and moving said units from the unit picking station to a flipping station; conducting a second inspection of said units during the moving step and recording the subsequent result; flipping said units to expose an opposed face said units; conducting a third inspection of said opposed face and recording the subsequent result, then; sorting said units into categories based on the recorded results from the first, second and third inspecting steps. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130062262 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTICALLY INSPECTING MANUFACTURED ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION OR CYLINDRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE ROUNDS TO OBTAIN ROUNDS WHICH EXHIBIT SUPERIOR ACCURACY WHEN FIRED - A method and system for optically inspecting manufactured rounds of ammunition or cylindrical components of the rounds to obtain rounds which exhibit superior accuracy when fired are provided. The method includes providing a nominal numerical value and an acceptable range of numerical values for a size or a geometric characteristic of an acceptable manufactured round of ammunition or a cylindrical component of the round for a predetermined caliber of ammunition. Also provided is a high-performance range of numerical values for the corresponding size or geometric characteristic of a high-performance manufactured round of ammunition or a cylindrical component of the high-performance round for the predetermined caliber of ammunition. A generated signal identifies the inspected round or a round including the inspected cylindrical component as having superior accuracy when fired relative to acceptable inspected rounds or inspected cylindrical components having a corresponding measured value which is outside the high-performance range but within the acceptable range of numerical values. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130062263 | DEFECTIVE-WORKPIECE DISCHARGING DEVICE - In a defective-workpiece discharging device, a defective workpiece is discharged to a discharge path from a conveyance path that conveys a plurality of workpieces related to absorbent articles at a predetermined conveyance pitch. The conveyance path has a first path and a second path downstream of the first path. A sorting mechanism between the first and second paths sorts workpieces into either the second path or the discharge path. A defect detection sensor detects a defect and outputs a defect detection signal. A passage detection sensor detects passage of the workpieces at a predetermined position on the first path and outputs a passage detection signal. A controller controls the sorting mechanism based on the defect and passage detection signals. An end of the first path on the sorting mechanism side and the predetermined position are separated by a distance greater than or equal to the conveyance pitch. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130081982 | COLOR SORTING MACHINE - Provided is a color sorting machine in which decreases in yield resulting from the erroneous inclusion of good granules can be prevented by using different selection algorithms and operation ejector nozzle operations resulting therefrom in a first sorting part and a second sorting part. The machine is provided with: a binarization means for binarizing images of granular objects, a flaw-detecting means for extracting flawed parts of granular objects, a reducing means for reducing images of the external contour parts of granular objects, an enlarging means for enlarging images of the flawed parts of granular objects, and a synthesis means for synthesizing the reduced images of the external contours and the enlarged images of the flawed parts; wherein on the basis of an image obtained by this synthesis means, different air-jetting operations are established for the ejection means of a first sorting part and the ejection means of a second sorting part. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130134075 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SORTING OBJECTS BY MEANS OF INTERMEDIATE STORAGE UNITS - A method and a device sort objects, in particular flat postal items, by use of intermediate storage units. A feed transport unit transports the objects to a series of a multiple of intermediate storage units which are connected in parallel. Each object is transported into an intermediate storage unit in accordance with the respectively measured value of a sorting feature. Later, each intermediate storage unit is emptied, and a removal transport unit transports the objects away. Each intermediate storage unit is emptied at the latest when the last object in the series of objects transported in the feed transport unit has been transported into the intermediate storage unit or when the object has been transported past the feed connecting path to the intermediate storage unit. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130186808 | CONVEYANCE CONTROL DEVICE AND DOCUMENT VALIDATOR WITH RECYCLE BOX - A conveyance control device is provided to comprise a turning device | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130256200 | OPTICAL GRANULAR MATERIAL-SORTING APPARATUS UTILIZING PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE - An optical granular material-sorting apparatus includes: a transfer means for transferring objects being sorted; an optical detection means for detecting, at a detection position, objects being sorted as they drop from an end of the transfer means; and a blasting means provided below the optical detection means and designed to blow away objects being sorted through blasting of air based on the result of detection by the optical detection means. The blasting means has a piezoelectric valve which is driven by a driving means to blast air based on the result of detection by the optical detection means. The driving means applies voltage to a piezoelectric element in multiple stages so as to suppress fluctuation in the amount of gas ejected from a gas release channel when the valve opens. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130277283 | COVER FOR A WASTE CONTAINER - The invention relates to a cover ( | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130292307 | HIGH CAPACITY CASCADE-TYPE MINERAL SORTING MACHINE AND METHOD - Methods and systems for achieving higher efficiencies and capacities in sorting feed material are described herein, such as for separating desirable “good” rock or ore from undesirable “bad” rock or ore in an unsegregated, unseparated stream of feed material. In the disclosure, higher efficiencies are achieved with combinations of multiple sensor/diverter cells in stages in a cascade arrangement. The number and combination of cells in the cascade may be determined through a priori characterization of probabilities involved in sensor/rock and rock/diverter interactions, and mathematical determinations of the optimal number and combination of stages based on this probability. Further, as disclosed herein, desired sorting capacities are achieved through addition of multiple cascades in parallel until the desired sorting capacity is reached. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130299396 | Automated Waste Mail Verification - A method for automatically sorting undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail can include capturing a first image of a first UAA mail piece with a camera to create first image data, passing the first image data to a waste verification system and performing optical character recognition to produce a first character recognition data set. The method includes testing the first character recognition data set to determine whether the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece. If the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece, the method includes routing the first UAA mail piece into a first bin. If the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, routing the mail piece to a second bin. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130341253 | Identification of Material Composition - Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a sequential pattern applied to one or more surfaces of the body. The sequential pattern identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is analyzed, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130341254 | HANDLING PORTIONS - The invention relates to a method of handling portions comprising a respective at least one slice, wherein the slices have been produced by slicing food products, wherein the portions are conveyed, in particular line-wise, one after the other in a main conveying stream along a conveying direction, wherein incomplete portions, in particular portions low in weight, are automatically recognized and/or classified, wherein incomplete portions are expelled from the main conveying stream and are supplied to a correction station in a correction stream, wherein incomplete portions are respectively completed by at least one single slice which is removed from a slice store with the aid of an automatic transfer unit and wherein completed portions are automatically channeled back into the main conveying stream. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140061103 | OPTICAL SORTING MACHINE - The present invention intends to provide an optical sorting machine which can improve the collection rate of non-defective products without increasing the size of the machine. The optical sorting machine of the present invention includes a granular object feed unit including storage means that stores an object to be sorted, and transfer means that transfers the object to be sorted from the storage means; an optical sorting unit including optical detection means that detects an object to be sorted falling along a predetermined trajectory from an end portion of the transfer means, determination means that determines a type of the object to be sorted based on a detection signal from the optical detection means, an ejector that removes an object to be sorted determined as a specific type from the predetermined falling trajectory based on a determination result by the determination means, and a discharge hopper having a first discharge passage provided at a falling position of the object to be sorted falling along the predetermined trajectory, a second discharge passage provided at a falling position of the object to be sorted removed from the predetermined falling trajectory, and a third discharge passage formed between the first discharge passage and the second discharge passage; and conveyance means that conveys an object to be sorted discharged from the third discharge passage of the discharge hopper in the optical sorting unit to the storage means of the granular object feed unit. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140061104 | SEED SORTER - A seed sorter system is operable to sort seeds based on one or more characteristics of the seeds. The system includes a seed loading station operable to isolate individual seeds from a plurality of seeds and load the isolated seeds into a seed tray, an imaging and analysis subsystem operable to collect image data of at least a top portion and a bottom portion of each of the seeds in the seed tray and determine one or more characteristics of each of the seeds, a seed off-load and sort station operable to remove the seeds from the seed tray and sort the seeds to desired receptacles based on the determined one or more characteristics of the seeds, and a seed transport operable to move the seed tray between the seed loading station, the imaging and analysis subsystem, and the seed off-load and sort station. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140083915 | SHEET REINSPECTION APPARATUS, SHEET INSPECTION SYSTEM, AND SHEET INSPECTION METHOD - According to one embodiment, a reinspection apparatus which reinspects rejected sheets rejected from sheet processing apparatus configured to convey sheets at first speed, to inspect conveyed sheet in accordance with first determination threshold, and to reject sheets in accordance with an inspection result, reinspection apparatus includes, conveying unit configured to convey taken sheets at second speed lower than first speed, inspection unit configured to inspect sheets conveyed at second speed, determination unit configured to determine whether to reject sheets, and counting unit configured to count sheets which have been determined not to be rejected. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140091013 | AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE SLIDE RETRACT FOR CONVEYOR - A package handling device includes a conveyor, a sensor system and a reject system. The conveyor transports a product along a product handling line. The sensor system is proximate to the conveyor system to determine at least one characteristic of the product for comparison to product acceptance criteria. Failure of the product to meet product acceptance criteria generates a reject signal. The reject system directs the product to a reject bin responsive to the reject signal via a movable assembly that moves a portion of the conveyor to create a gap in the product handling line. The reject system includes an adjustable retraction mechanism coupled to a frame of the conveyor and to the movable assembly. The adjustable refraction mechanism draws the movable assembly inwardly responsive to receipt of the reject signal to define a size of the gap based on information indicative of a size of the product. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140138290 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION/SPEED OF A WORKPIECE - The present disclosure provides systems, methods and assemblies comprising one or more tapered feed rolls. Tapered feed rolls may be used to change the rate and direction of workpiece travel along a processing line while retaining the workpieces in sequential order. Routing workpiece flow with tapered feed rolls may allow the workpieces to be tracked along one or more processing lines, and may reduce the operational space required for workpiece processing. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140144817 | MICROPARTICLE SORTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POSITION IN MICROPARTICLE SORTING DEVICE - A microparticle sorting device that automatically and accurately adjusts the positions of a fluid stream and a collection container is provided. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140144818 | PLANT FOR SELECTION OF CRATES FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THEIR DEGREE OF CLEANLINESS - Plant for the selection of crates, in particular for vegetable products, comprising: transferring means, preferably a continuous conveyor suitable for suitable for transferring said crates in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner, a station for measuring the degree of cleanliness of said crates, comprising measurement and control means suitable to detect the cleanliness degree of said crates, and arranged in an intermediate position in the path of said transferring means. Loading means are provided suitable to reassemble said crates in respective stacks based on their degree of cleanliness measured on each of them, wherein said loading means are arranged downstream of said measuring station and wherein said transfer means supply said loading means, without intermediate stations or processes. In addition, the plant includes a station for aligning the crates on said transfer means in a position stacked upstream of said measuring station. The measuring station is suitable to measure the degree of cleanliness of crates with collapsible walls when said crates are closed. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140166549 | CHUTE FOR OPTICAL SORTING MACHINE - A chute for an optical sorter sorting machine allows objects to be sorted to drop under gravity from the lower end of the chute, thereby supplying the objects to an optical detection section. The chute is provided with: a first portion which includes a portion for receiving the objects to be sorted which are supplied from a supply section; and a second portion which continues from the first portion The first portion is composed of a single part and has: flat surfaces along which the objects to be sorted flow down; and connection surfaces. The flat surfaces located upstream are bent downward, and the connection surfaces located downstream are is bent upward to form a smooth undulation in the surface along which the objects to be sorted flow down. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140166550 | SORTING INSTALLATION AND SORTING METHOD USING A GRIPPING TOOL - A sorting installation and a sorting method use a gripping tool for gripping sorted articles, particularly sorted flat mail items. During sorting, the articles are transported in holding apparatuses having two lateral faces each. Each lateral face is preferably formed with one cutout. A supply station puts each article into one holding apparatus, with the result that the article is situated between the lateral faces and is held by the holding apparatuses. A transport apparatus transports the articles to a removal station and produces a sequence of holding apparatuses with articles being held thereby. The removal station has a gripping tool with at least two gripper arms in a gripper arm sequence. These gripper arms grip between filled holding apparatuses and draw a plurality of held articles from these holding apparatuses simultaneously. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140197078 | SEPARATION APPARATUS AND SEPARATION METHOD - A separation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a conveyor that conveys a group of pieces; a material distinguishing unit that distinguishes between first pieces and second pieces that are placed on the conveyor, according to material; a blower that generates airflow supplied from a middle of the conveyor toward a conveying end along a conveying surface; a first separation unit that blows off the first pieces thrown forward from the conveying end, based on a differentiation result obtained by the material distinguishing unit; a second separation unit that blows off the second pieces toward a different place; and a current plate provided below the group of pieces thrown forward and protruding from the conveyor. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140197079 | METHOD OF EJECTING FAULTY ABSORBENT ARTICLE - A method of ejecting a faulty absorbent article which includes a step of detecting a failure region of an absorbent article in which a failure location of the absorbent article exists, and a type of a failure in the failure region, by identifying a shape of the absorbent article in the course of the manufacturing line, a step of deciding the absorbent article to be ejected based on the detection result of the failure region and the type of failure in the step of detecting, and a step of disengaging, from the manufacturing line, the absorbent article decided in the step of deciding, and then ejecting the absorbent article in the course of the manufacturing line. In the step of deciding, the number of absorbent articles to be ejected in the step of ejecting is decided according to the failure region and the type of the failure. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140216990 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SORTING IDENTIFICATION OBJECTS - A method and a device for sorting identification objects is described, wherein identification objects are fed in a defined sequence, one after the other, to a first transfer position and inspected for defects. Identification objects identified as defect-free are transferred in the first transfer position by a first transfer arrangement to a transfer buffer, and identification objects identified as defective are transported away by a first transport arrangement. The defect-free identification objects are then fed to a first magazine, which is then transported to a second transfer position by a second transport arrangement. The first magazine is then aligned in a first position with a first buffer of a rotatable sorting arrangement, and the defect-free identification objects following the defective identification objects are transported by the first transport arrangement to the second transfer position and transferred by a second transfer arrangement to the first buffer. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140231317 | SORTING MACHINE FOR SORTING FLAT ARTICLES HAVING NON-UNIFORM PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND A METHOD OF SORTING SAID FLAT ARTICLES - A sorting machine ( | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140284253 | CERAMIC WEAR TILE AND METHOD OF USING SAME - The present subject matter provides colored wear tiles for use in optical sorting apparatuses and related methods that separate an associated material into a desired product and an undesired product. The colored wear tiles have a color and/or lightness value that permeates the entire body of the wear tile and sufficiently differs from the color and/or lightness of the associated material in order to allow the colored wear tile, or portions or pieces thereof, that may mix with the associated material, to be separated from the desired product by the sorting apparatus. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140284254 | SORTING PLANT AND SORTING METHOD WITH TWO TYPES OF SORTING TERMINALS - A sorting plant and a sorting method sort objects according to a predefined sort criterion. The sorting plant has a plurality of transfer sites, a plurality of upper pick-up units which can be swiveled into a pick-up position and into a park position, and a plurality of lower pick-up units. The upper pick-up units are arranged in such a manner that the upper pick-up units are located between the transfer sites and the lower pick-up units when the upper pick-up units are swiveled into the park position. For each object to be sorted, one pick-up unit is automatically selected regardless of the sorting criterion value of the object. The object is first moved to a transfer site and then into or onto the selected pick-up unit. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140291217 | SORTING SYSTEM AND SORTING METHOD WITH TWO STORAGE AREAS - Objects are sorted according to a predetermined sorting feature. A first storage area and a second storage area each have a plurality of storage devices. A storage device of the first storage area has a storage device output and an emptying transport path, which leads to a storage device of the second storage area. The value that the sorting feature takes on for each object to be sorted is measured for that object. A storage device is selected on the basis of the sorting feature value. In an emptying-optimized mode, only storage devices of the first storage area are selected, and in a sorting destination-optimized mode, storage devices of the second storage area are also selected. A storage device with a store output is emptied in an emptying-optimized mode by transporting objects in this storage device to a storage device of the second storage area via the emptying transport path. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140339141 | PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE, AND OPTICAL GRANULATED SUBSTANCE SORTER EQUIPPED WITH AIR-BLOWING MEANS THAT USES THIS PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE - A piezoelectric valve whose assembly work can be efficiently performed. A piezoelectric valve according to this invention includes a valve main body having a gas pressure chamber which receives compressed gas supplied from the outside, a plate which is disposed inside the valve main body and is fixed to the valve main body, and actuators each of which has a valve element, a piezoelectric element generating, in the form of a displacement, driving force required for operation of the valve element, and a displacement magnification mechanism for magnifying a displacement of the piezoelectric element and causing the magnified displacement to act on the valve element, are fixed to each of two surfaces of the plate, and are disposed inside the valve main body together with the plate. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140367315 | SYSTEM FOR SORTING MICROSCOPIC OBJECTS USING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - There is presented a system | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140374326 | MATERIAL SEPARATION AND CONVEYANCE USING TUNED WAVES - Systems, methods and computer readable media for material separation and conveying using tuned waves are disclosed. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150021242 | CARD HANDLING DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING SUCH DEVICES - A card-handling device reads a suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card-handling device. Reading of the cards is effected after the cards have been received into a card holding area and before the cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the card-handling device for use. The read suit and rank are then sent to a processor, wherein the processor identifies whether any card is a card that should be rejected from the card-handling device and the card-handling device then rejecting that card from the card-handling device. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150114890 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPENING AND SORTING ENVELOPES - An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. A detector detects a characteristic of the envelope and a sorter sorts the envelope in response to the detected characteristic. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150306635 | Automatic Device for Separating Products According to External Defects, and Method for Releasing Said Products - An automatic device for separating products based on their external flaws, includes a mechanism for selective separation and discharge of the products, in which the suitable products are unloaded onto a first discharge conveyor, and the unsuitable products are unloaded onto a second discharge conveyor; and a set of securing clamps for the products in their radial displacement on the discharge head of the machine jointly and simultaneously with the transport items of the products, whose activation depends on the suitable or unsuitable status of the product. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150352599 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING PARTICLES - A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150353295 | DEVICE FOR ALIGNMENT OF ELONGATED FOOD PRODUCTS | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150360258 | AIRPORT BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM - An airport baggage handling system is described for transferring baggage between airport passenger stations and aircraft loading zones. The airport baggage handling system includes in-line screening devices including at least one high resolution or high risk screening device and at least one low resolution or low risk screening device. Each piece of checked baggage is provided with a tag including, inter alia, information regarding the security status of the piece of baggage. A computer control system for controlling operation of the baggage handling system uses the information regarding the security status of the piece of baggage to selectively route the piece of baggage through one of the high and low risk scanning devices. In one embodiment, the security status of the baggage is derived from the security status of the passenger associated with the baggage. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150375268 | INDIVIDUAL SORTING DEVICE FOR SORTING TABLETS, SYSTEM WITH SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL SORTING DEVICE AND WITH A TABLETING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CHECKING AN INDIVIDUAL SORTING DEVICE - The invention relates to an individual sorting device ( | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160008853 | SORTING APPARATUS AND GENERATING METHOD OF SORTING SETTING INFORMATION | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160016202 | MINING SHOVEL WITH COMPOSITIONAL SENSORS - A mining shovel with compositional sensors comprises a bucket having various inward looking sensors positioned throughout the bucket. The bucket can also have disposed thereon a control enclosure that houses processing equipment that receives and analyzes the data collected by the inward looking sensors. The mining shovel with compositional sensors can be used as part of a system to manage a mining field, including generating and transmitting instructions directing where to deposit material located in the bucket based on the data collected from the inward looking sensors positioned in the bucket. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160016204 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING OBJECTS - A transporting device transports objects in a transport direction from a loading region to an unloading region. The device includes a first conveying unit and a second conveying unit which are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction. Efficient unloading of the objects from the transporting device is achieved by providing a separating device between the first and second conveying units. The separating device is configured to separate the objects into at least two object groups dependent on at least one object property. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160082481 | Apparatus and Method for Segregating Contaminants from a Stream of Bulk Material - The invention relates to an apparatus for segregating contaminants ( | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160250666 | METHODS AND APPARATUS OF PRODUCING COLLECTIBLE CARDS | 09-01-2016 |
