Did You Know...
...that to encourage use of his new invention, the shopping cart, market owner Sylvan Goldman hired fake shoppers to push the carts around his store in Oklahoma City? Seems his customers were reluctant to give up their hand-carried baskets.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7975853 | Method and apparatus for sorting small food items for softness The invention relates to the high speed non-destructive sorting of small food items for softness. The food item is conveyed on a series of belts designed to accurately drop the food item onto a flexible surface at an oblique angle. Accelerometers mounted under the f... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7315007 | Method and apparatus for stiffness and thickness detection in mail sorting systems A method is provided for preventing flat mail pieces having excessive thickness or stiffness from entering a mail processing machine wherein flat mail pieces are held on opposite sides and conveyed by paired conveyor belts around one or more curves, including one cu... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7290665 | Automated high-throughput seed sample handling system and method A method and apparatus for processing seed or seed samples includes an autonomous sorter which sorts seed by pre-programmed criteria. Optional features can include a counter to autonomously ensure the correct number of seeds to a seed package, a cleaning device, a s... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7156238 | Apparatus for inspecting sealed packages An apparatus for inspecting sealed packages having volumetric dimensions includes a frame having an inlet and an outlet side, conveyor means for conveying packages along a path of transport from the inlet side through said frame towards said outlet side, and first i... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7111740 | Sorting apparatus, sorting method and alignment apparatus This invention provides a seed-sorting apparatus that includes an alignment trough having a plurality of grooves into which the seeds are distributed, a line sensor camera for inspecting the seeds, a nozzle device having a number of nozzles that is the same as the n... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7111737 | Method and a station for checking the integrity of packages, in particular single-dose packages A method and work station (SV) for checking the integrity of packages (2), in particular single-dose packages uses a first pressing device (4) for applying a reference force to one or a group of packages (2) for a predetermined time interval (Dt... | 09/26/2006 |
| 6998559 | Detection system for sorting apparatus The present invention relates to a system for determining characteristics of products of generally unequal size, e.g. apples, which are conveyed on product carriers, such as rollers of a conveying apparatus, and pass the system, the system comprising a detection dev... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6910687 | Separator sheet handling assembly The present invention is embodied in a separator sheet handling assembly (10) that includes a lifting assembly (20) adapted to receive a pallet (12) containing a stack of separator sheets (14). The lifting assembly (20) positions t... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6541725 | Acoustical apparatus and method for sorting objects An object, such as a pistachio nut, is sorted based on a given trait. The sorting process commences by bouncing the object off a body so that the object emits a sound. The sound emitted by the object is converted to an electrical signal which is analyzed ... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6276536 | Method of measuring ripeness and texture of vegetable or fruit and measuring instrument A method for measuring the ripeness and the texture of a fruit, the method comprising a step for applying a vibration having sequentially hanging frequencies to a fruit to be measured, a step for measuring the intensity of the vibration applied to the fru... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6222145 | Mechanical strength die sorting A method for sorting integrated circuit chips. At least one physical defect is detected in the semiconductor chips. The semiconductor chips are sorted based upon the physical defect.... | 04/24/2001 |
| 5986457 | Methods of measuring currency limpness Measuring the limpness of a note is necessary to separate a worn note out of circulation. Several methods are disclosed which can be used either alone or in combination to test for limpness. One method measures the note's ability to reflect light or trans... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5955741 | Methods of measuring currency limpness Measuring the limpness of a note is necessary to separate a worn note out of circulation. Several methods are disclosed which can be used either alone or in combination to test for limpness. One method measures the note's ability to reflect light or trans... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5943631 | Methods of measuring currency limpness Measuring the limpness of a note is necessary to separate a worn note out of circulation. Several methods are disclosed which can be used either alone or in combination to test for limpness. One method measures the note's ability to reflect light or trans... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5918266 | Method and apparatus for non-destructive measurement of firmness index and calculation of firmness A firmness measuring method and device for non-destructive testing of objects (such as fruits) is disclosed. The device comprises the following components: a means to affect the size and/or shape of the object(s) through application of a compressive force... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5730298 | Process for removing returnable bottles from circulation To determine whether stress cracks are present in the bottom area of a plastic bottle which make it unfit for further use, the bottle bottom is scanned in the potential crack region by the measuring beam of a laser distance-measuring instrument. From its ... | 03/24/1998 |
| 5725720 | Detector for envelopes made of plastic, and flat article processing equipment including such a detector The apparatus of the invention for discriminating mail in a paper envelope from mail in a plastics envelope makes use of a pneumatic technique. In particular, the apparatus comprises a pneumatic system suitable for deforming the envelope to be inspected b... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5691473 | Method and equipment for measuring firmness of fruits and vegetables The invention relates to non-destructive measurement of the firmness of fruits and vegetables, particularly to methods and equipment for measuring the firmness of such edible objects in order to establish their ripeness or maturity stage, not only after t... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5351552 | Machine for squeeze testing glass containers A machine for squeeze testing glass containers comprising a test station, including a fixed pad having a curved container engaging surface and an opposed wheel selectively spaced from the surface, rotating at a predetermined surface speed and in the direc... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5201424 | Apparatus for testing the stiffness of a sheet An apparatus for testing the stiffness of a sheet, such as a currency note, includes first cooperating rollers (36, 38) and second cooperating rollers (28, 32) arranged to urge the sheet along a feed path (48) The first rollers (36, 38) engage frictionall... | 04/13/1993 |
| 5182722 | Apparatus for assessing the stiffness of a sheet The invention relates to an apparatus (2) for assessing the stiffness of a sheet (4), such as a currency note, by measuring the extent and rate of movement of the trailing edge of the sheet (4) away from a feed path for the sheet. Such movement is part of... | 01/26/1993 |
| 5156802 | Inspection of fuel particles with acoustics An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the integrity of coated fuel particles via acoustic characterization. Particle supply means (4) drops the nuclear fuel particles (2) individually onto the face (6) of a transducer (8). The generated si... | 10/20/1992 |
| 5152401 | Agricultural commodity condition measurement The instant invention pertains to ascertaining the condition (i.e. texture, maturity and extent of damage (if any)) of an agricultural commodity by: (a) inputting band-limited vibrations (i.e. limited to a specific frequency band); (b) sensing vibrational... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5082118 | Device for separating hard objects, such as stones, from a stream of wood A device is disclosed for separating hard objects, such as stones, from a stream of wood in an apparatus for conveying or manipulating logs or blocks of wood including a conveyor section. The device includes a transducer disposed in a location suited for ... | 01/21/1992 |
| 4955484 | Device for separating hard objects, such as stones, from a stream of wood A device is disclosed for separating hard objects, such as stones, from a stream of wood in an apparatus for conveying or manipulating logs or blocks of wood including a conveyor section. The device includes a transducer disposed in a location suited for ... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4884696 | Method and apparatus for automatically inspecting and classifying different objects Univeral conveying apparatus and method for automated inspection and classification of a variety of natural or man made product classes, having various geometrical configurations, e.g. spheroidal, spherical, cylindrical, parallelepiped, disc and plate sha... | 12/05/1989 |
| 4800932 | Method and apparatus for judging inner pressure of filled can An apparatus for determining the internal pressure of a filled can by measuring the reaction force of a filled can body when the can is passed between back-up and measuring rolls which are spaced apart from each other by 2 mm or more than the average diam... | 01/31/1989 |
| 4676379 | Apparatus for sorting out defective plastic crates for bottles An apparatus for discriminating and sorting out defective plastic bottle crates from sound bottle crates comprising driving means for urging an indenter or contact tip provided at the tip of a vibrating rod of an ultrasonic hardness tester into steady con... | 06/30/1987 |
| 4671101 | Package handling apparatus and method Apparatus for testing for leaks in flexible packages containing a product such as potato crisps and some air comprises three probing stations. Packages are transferred from station to station by suction cup heads carried on a reciprocable beam. Probes inc... | 06/09/1987 |
| 4666046 | Shell sorter An improved shell sorter is disclosed. One improvement resides in the incorporation of a bandpass filter with a center frequency selected on the basis of the signals produced by a transducer in response to the impact of shell fragments or other components... | 05/19/1987 |
| 4625872 | Method and apparatus for particle sorting by vibration analysis A novel particle sorting system based on vibrations induced by impact against a strike plate is disclosed, wherein two strike plates in succession are used, the first to absorb kinetic energy from certain particles on a preferential basis due to particle ... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4602716 | Process for determining the soundness of sowing seeds and their soundness-dependent germinative ability, and apparatus for carrying out the process A process for determining the soundness, and the soundness-dependent germinative ability of sowing seeds is based on detecting the characteristic difference between the acoustic excitation response functions of right and damaged seeds. The seeds are excit... | 07/29/1986 |
| 4555028 | Apparatus for compression testing and sorting golf balls An apparatus for testing the compressability of golf balls and sorting them in accordance with predetermined compression ratings. The apparatus includes a golf ball movement path having a rotary anvil on one side thereof for driving the golf balls one at ... | 11/26/1985 |
| 4550658 | Device for sorting and compressing packagings, principally beverage cans, in several stages A device for sorting packagings such as cans having overall dimensions within a pre-determined range as regards length and diameter, comprising a first sorting stage, including a pivoted supporting member for carrying the packagings and a frame with an op... | 11/05/1985 |
| 4545488 | Device monitoring the quality of cigarettes in a packaging machine A device for monitoring the quality of cigarettes in a packing machine, which may be mounted on an input hopper of a packing machine of cyclic type in order to monitor the quality of the cigarettes of a stack moving in steps along each output channel of t... | 10/08/1985 |
| 4542689 | Apparatus for sorting packagings such as cans based on the material thereof Apparatus for sorting packagings such as cans of a certain type of material from packagings of other types of materials comprising a support member transporting the packagings one by one to a compression station at which are disposed first and second pres... | 09/24/1985 |
| 4511046 | Method and apparatus for detecting an irregular product in a product flow Method and apparatus for detecting and intercepting an irregular product in a product flow are disclosed. The product flow is conveyed along a path from a first, product feed station past other product handling stations. Product flow is singulated and ali... | 04/16/1985 |
| 4466543 | Method and device for distinguishing between field crops, particularly potatoes on one hand and stones or clods of soil on the other hand A method and apparatus for distinguishing and separating both stones and soil clods from field crops, in which a sensor (5) is simultaneously responsive to both impact and influence on a sensor-generated magnetic field and generates output signals charact... | 08/21/1984 |
| 4455879 | Inspection method and apparatus for inspecting fastener sliders with automatic lock means An inspection method for fastener sliders with automatic lock means in which at the final step in the assembly operation of said slider, the pull tab of said slider is applied a downward biasing force thereto by a predetermined constant stroke of a dial g... | 06/26/1984 |
| 4393717 | Apparatus for testing medicinal tablets Apparatus for testing medicinal tablets for thickness, diameter and hardness wherein there is a support for receiving and supporting tablets for testing one at a time, a gauge movable relative to the support to measure the thickness, a gauge movable relat... | 07/19/1983 |
