A method of shape sorting abrasive particles involves disposing initial crushed abrasive particles with agitation against the surface of a tool, the surface defining a plurality of shaped cavities having an average aspect ratio of at least 1.2, thereby causing a first portion of the initial crushed abrasive particles to become retained within at least some of the shaped cavities, and causing a second portion of the initial crushed abrasive particles to remain as loose particles on the surface. Substantially all of the shaped cavities contain at most one abrasive particle. The second portion of the initial crushed abrasive particles is separated from the tool. The first portion of the initial crushed abrasive particles is then separated from the tool and isolated as loose sorted crushed abrasive particles. The average aspect ratio of the loose sorted crushed abrasive particles is greater than that of the initial crushed abrasive particles.

A conveying device for conveying bulk material, comprising products and product breakage thereof, in a conveying direction has a first conveying element and a second conveying element which is arranged downstream of the first conveying element, with the result that a gap is formed between the first and the second conveying element. A covering element is arranged above the gap. The gap has a first width according to a predefined separating criterion in such a way that the passage of product breakage through the gap is allowed and the passage of products through the gap is prevented.

A conveying device for conveying bulk material, comprising products and product breakage thereof, in a conveying direction has a first conveying element and a second conveying element which is arranged downstream of the first conveying element, with the result that a gap is formed between the first and the second conveying element. A covering element is arranged above the gap. The gap has a first width according to a predefined separating criterion in such a way that the passage of product breakage through the gap is allowed and the passage of products through the gap is prevented.

A system for diverting objects traveling along a conveyor includes an upstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end and a downstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment is located to receive items from the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment. A conveyor shift mechanism is linked to both the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment and the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment for carrying out lateral movement of the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment in one lateral direction while simultaneously carrying out lateral movement of the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment in an opposite lateral direction.

A system for diverting objects traveling along a conveyor includes an upstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end and a downstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment is located to receive items from the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment. A conveyor shift mechanism is linked to both the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment and the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment for carrying out lateral movement of the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment in one lateral direction while simultaneously carrying out lateral movement of the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment in an opposite lateral direction.

A stone sieve assembly includes a cutting blade, a back plate, and a plurality of bars. The plurality of bars are spaced apart from one another and extend between the cutting blade and the back plate. The plurality of bars have a leading section positioned proximate the cutting blade and a trailing section positioned proximate the back plate. The trailing section tapers inwardly as it approaches the back plate.

A stone sieve assembly includes a cutting blade, a back plate, and a plurality of bars. The plurality of bars are spaced apart from one another and extend between the cutting blade and the back plate. The plurality of bars have a leading section positioned proximate the cutting blade and a trailing section positioned proximate the back plate. The trailing section tapers inwardly as it approaches the back plate.

An unloading arrangement (10) for unloading items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) which are arranged, in particular, on trays or tray-like objects (6), in particular items of washware (5a, 5b, 5c) from place settings. The unloading arrangement (10) has a feed conveyor belt (11) for feeding the items of washware. The unloading arrangement (10) also has a large number of unloading stations (12, 13, 14) arranged one behind the otheras seen in the conveying direction of the feed conveyor belt (11). For successively unloading the feed conveyor belt (11) or for successively unloading the trays or tray-like objects (6), a predefined or predefinable washware group is preferably associated with each unloading station (12, 13, 14) and each unloading station is designed to unload preferably only items of washware of the associated washware group from the washware which is fed by the feed conveyor belt (11).

A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline. The initially separated packages are more fully culled in a conveyor comprising a roller conveyor belt with package-supporting belt rollers rotated in a direction to push packages sidewise toward a culling element that extends along the length of the roller conveyor belt.

A conveyor system and methods for conveying and unstacking flat and non-flat packages. The conveyor system includes an inclined conveyor belt delivering packages to a tilted conveyor belt that conveys flat packages along its length while non-flat packages tumble off its lower side edge to initially cull flat packages from a bulk flow of packages. Retention means, such as a high-friction outer conveying surface or a raised barrier along the length of the outer conveying surface of the tilted conveyor belt, holds flat packages on the tilted conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor belt has stop elements spaced apart along the belt's length and is advanced in stop-and-go fashion to help unstack piggy-backed packages as they are conveyed up the incline. The initially separated packages are more fully culled in a conveyor comprising a roller conveyor belt with package-supporting belt rollers rotated in a direction to push packages sidewise toward a culling element that extends along the length of the roller conveyor belt.