The class comprises methods and apparatus for separating solid
materials and assorting or segregating them in grades or classes
according to physical characteristics.
(1)
Note. The class includes in general separation of grains,
fruits, vegetables, flour, minerals, and, when the assorting is
automatic, various manufactured articles. It, however, does not
include the separation of straw in threshing machines (see Search
Notes below) or certain manufacturing articles the separation of
which has attained a specialized status (for example, printing type and
fraud preventives of check-controlled machines).
(2)
Note. This class does not include devices, either manually
operated or automatic, for testing and separating of defective or
leaky containers from perfect ones unless the separation is based
upon some characteristics, generally dimensional, which forms the basis
of some subclass of assorters in this class.
(3)
Note. This class provides for tanks or receptacles or methods
involving their use which are adapted specially to separate different
grades of solid material from each other, usually by differential
transporting effect of flowing currents of liquid impinging on a
mixture of such solid materials or by differential subsidence of
the solids in liquid which may be stationary or flowing. (See References
to The Current Class, below). Also see Lines With Other Classes below,
for structure of process adapted for the separation of solids from
the liquid in which they are suspended.
(4)
Note. Where an apparatus or method depends upon or is adapted
specially for the separation of solid ingredients from other solids
by chemical action, as by dissolution of certain of the ingredients
to be separated, with or without subsequent precipitation, it is
classifiable in other classes, according to the nature of the material
treated or of the chemical action involved. (See Lines With Other
Classes, below.)
(5)
Note. See Subclass References to The Current Class, below,
for the so-called amalgamating apparatuses or methods when associated
with other types of separation); when dependent upon the adhesion
of amalgamable materials to surfaces coated with mercury or metallic
equivalents; and when the metals to be recovered are collected
within a body of liquid metal which may be mercury, lead, zinc,
etc., or alloys, and the ingredients lighter than the metals sought
are floated by the body of liquid metal. Where chemical or electrical
action is involved, which is not directed to the chemical dissolution
of the metals sought or formation of compounds thereof, such goes
into other subclasses in this class, whether the "amalgamation" is
adhesion to a coated surface of mercury or its equivalent or collection
by a liquid metal body. (See Subclass References to The Current Class,
below, for cites to all these areas.) When chemical dissolution
of the metal or formation of compounds thereof is involved with
subsequent amalgamation, it goes to other classes, for which see
Lines With Other Classes, below.
(6)
Note. This class does not include apparatus or methods which
involve the use of bowls or receptacles rotating at speed high enough to
develop sufficient centrifugal force to separate one class of solids
from others unless there is "amalgamation" involved,
in which case such apparatus or methods are classifiable here (see
References to This Class, below). Cases not falling within the exception
noted are classifiable elsewhere. See Lines With Other Classes,
below.
(7)
Note. This class provides for methods and apparatus for sorting
special items. See Subclass References to This Class, below, for
specific subclasses. Also see this latter section for a reference
to examples of "special items." Bulk materials
(such as grains and ore) are not considered special items and are
generally sorted by methods and apparatus of the type classifiable
in other subclasses. See Subclass References to This Class, below,
for specific subclasses.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
This class provides for tanks or receptacles or methods involving
their use which are adapted specially to separate different grades
of solid material from each other, usually by differential transporting
effect of flowing currents of liquid impinging on a mixture of such
solid materials or by differential subsidence of the solids in liquid
which may be stationary or flowing. Where the structure or process
is adapted for the separation of the solids from liquid in which
they may be suspended, it is classifiable in Class 210, Liquid Purification
or Separation, even though there may be incidental separation of one
grade of solids from another, when there is no structure or process
adaptation intended to promote separation of one grade of solids
from the other. However, in relation to the magnetic separators
in this class (209), subclasses 212 and 213+, when combined
with magnetic separation of particles from a liquid with another type
of separation to remove nonmagnetic particles for the disclosed
purpose of clarifying the liquid is properly classifiable in Class
210, subclasses 222+.
Where an apparatus or method depends upon or is adapted specially
for the separation of solid ingredients from other solids by chemical
action, as by dissolution of certain of the ingredients to be separated,
with or without subsequent precipitation, it is classifiable in Class
23, Chemistry: Physical Processes, Class 75, Specialized Metallurgical
Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder
Compositions, etc.; Class 252, Compositions; Class 422, Chemical Apparatus
and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing;
and Class 423, Chemistry: Inorganic, according to the nature of
the materials treated or of the chemical action involved.
When chemical dissolution of the metal or formation of compounds
thereof is involved with subsequent amalgamation, it goes to Class
75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein,
Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, etc.; Class 423, Chemistry of
Inorganic Compounds, or Class 204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave
Energy, according to whether the action involved is merely chemical
or also involves electrical or wave energy as provided for in Class
204.
Cases not falling within the exception noted in (6) Note above
are classifiable in Class 494, Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators.
This class, however, does include some borderline cases where it
is not clear that the separation of the classes of solids is wholly
dependent upon centrifugal force generated by high speed rotation
of the receptacle.
Where the structure or process is adapted for the separation
of the solids from liquid in which they may be suspended, it is
classifiable elsewhere, in Class 210, Liquid Purification or Separation,
even though there may be incidental separation of one grade of solids
from another, when there is no structure or process adaptation intended
to promote separation of one grade of solids from the other. However,
in relation to the magnetic separators in subclasses 212 and 213+ of
this class (209), the combination of magnetic separation of particles from
a liquid with another type of separation to remove nonmagnetic particles
for the disclosed purpose of clarifying the liquid is properly classifiable
in Class 210, subclasses 222+.
SECTION III - SUBCLASS REFERENCES TO THE CURRENT CLASS
through 3, 4-44, 45-70, 127.1-508, and 710-734,
for apparatus and methods of sorting bulk material (such as grains
and ore that are not considered special items. However, includible in
subclasses indented under subclass 509 are methods and apparatus
not provided for in the subclasses for sorting special items, below.
(see Note 7).
13, 16, 17, 18, 155- 161, 208+ for tanks
or receptacles or methods involving their use which are adapted
specially to separate different grades of solid material from each
other, usually by differential transporting effect of flowing currents
of liquid impinging on a mixture of such solid materials or by differential subsidence
of the solids in liquid which may be stationary or flowing (see
Note 3).
48-50 for so-called amalgamating apparatuses or
methods when dependent upon the adhesion of amalgamable materials
to surfaces coated with mercury or metallic equivalents.
for so-called amalgamating apparatuses or methods
when the metals to be recovered are collected within a body of liquid
metal which may be mercury, lead, zinc, etc., or alloys, and the
ingredients lighter than the metals sought are floated by the body
of liquid metal. (see note 5)
through 181, for where chemical or electrical action
is involved, which is not directed to the chemical dissolution of
the metals sought or formation of compounds thereof, whether the "amalgamation" is
adhesion to a coated surface of mercury or its equivalent or collection
by a liquid metal body. (see Note 5)
(1) Note for examples of special items. (see Note
7). Includible in subclasses indented under subclass 509 are methods
and apparatus not provided for in the subclasses referred to in the
preceding sentence, and bulk material sorting (as well as special
item sorting) effected by use of such methods and apparatus will
be classified in these indented subclasses. (see 7 Note)
Package Making, appropriate subclasses for methods of and apparatus for
encompassing or encasing goods or materials with a separate cover
or band which serves as means for identifying, protecting or unit
handling the goods or materials, particularly
subclasses 155+ for group forming of diverse contents units.
Gas Separation, appropriate subclasses for methods and apparatus for indiscriminately removing
all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209
subclass 132 .
Gas Separation: Processes, appropriate subclasses for methods for indiscriminately removing
all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209
subclass 132 .
Gas Separation: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for indiscriminately removing
all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209
subclass 132 .
Paper Making and Fiber Liberation, appropriate subclasses for paper making processes
and apparatus in which a fibrous slurry is placed in association
with a foraminous screen to form a felted product thereon.
Metal Founding, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for disintegrating
a sand mold or core or portion thereof, while in molding association
with (a) a flask or (b) a casting, except those which involve abrading
means (Class 451, Abrading) or an agitating screen (Class 209) as
the sole means for disintegrating the mold or core.
Conveyors: Power-Driven,
subclasses 373+ for an orientation control device for rearranging
conveyed articles responsive to recognition of differences in attitude
(rather than characteristics, as in the instant class); see for
example, subclasses 271 and 275 for conveyor systems including divergent
paths along which articles of mutually different attitudes are respectively directed,
one of the paths (in subclass 275) or both (271) constituting or
including the orienting device.
Article Dispensing, especially
subclasses 156+ for article dispensing devices not otherwise classified
combined with orienting. See section VII of the class definition
of Class 221 for a statement of the line between the classes.
Dispensing, especially
subclasses 169+ , 189.01, 189.02+, and 565 for similar
structures for mere dispensing and not having the function of classifying,
separating, or assorting solids.
Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,
subclasses 24 , 68+, and the notes thereto for the subject
matter of this class combined with comminution of the material.
See sections 8 and 12 of the main class definition of Class 241 for
a statement of the line.
Radiant Energy,
subclasses 281+ for methods and apparatus for the ionic separation
or analysis of materials utilizing the mass to electric charge ratio
of particles.
Supports: Cabinet Structure,
subclass 210.5 for so-called "kitchen-cabinets" which
include sifters merely as parts of organizations which comprise
storage means for kitchen supplies or utilities not directly related
to sifters.
Agitating, for apparatus or method specially adapted for the
agitation of materials and not limited to classification of solids
to some specific chemical reaction or special operation classifiable
in some other class.
Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating:
Apparatus,
subclass 317 for a molding machine for shaping or reshaping
nonmetals combined with a Class 209 apparatus.
Imperforate Bowl: Centrifugal Separators, appropriate subclasses for apparatus and processes
for breaking up a mixture of fluids or fluent substances into two
or more components by centrifuging within a generally solid-walled,
receptacle-like member; see also (6) Note above.
Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations
Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting, appropriate subclasses for subject matter relating
to: colloid systems (such as sols*, emulsions, dispersions,
foams, aerosols, smokes, gels, or pastes) or wetting agents (such
as leveling, penetrating, or spreading); subcombination compositions
of colloid systems containing at least an agent specialized and
designed for or peculiar to use in making or stabilizing colloid
systems; compositions and subcombination compositions specialized
and designed for or peculiar to use in breaking (resolving) or inhibiting
colloid systems; processes of making the compositions or systems
of the class; processes of breaking (resolving) or inhibiting colloid
systems; in each instance, when generically claimed or when there
is no hierarchically superior provision in the USPC for the specifically
claimed art.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Processes and apparatus not classifiable elsewhere which
relate to or are associated with the separation of solids into grades
or classes.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Methods and apparatus applied to particular materials or
articles in which the invention lies in the application of the separation,
which may or may not be novel, per se, to such particular substances
or articles.
(1)
Note. Search should be made in the appropriate classes which
deal with the extraction, manufacture, or preparation of the particular
substance or articles.
Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing,
Preserving, or Sterilizing, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for preparing
or treating inorganic compounds and nonmetallic elements by physical
action.
PRECEDENT PREPARATION OF ITEMS OR MATERIALS TO FACILITATE
SEPARATION:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Methods and apparatus including preparation, e.g., treatment
of materials or items prior to their separation to facilitate the
latter.
This subclass is indented under subclass 3.1. Methods and apparatus including means for sensing a condition
of materials or items and controlling preparation of said materials
or items in accordance therewith.
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a mixture of
materials whereby the physical characteristics of one or more of
the components are altered relatively to those of other components
to permit or facilitate subsequent separation.
(1)
Note. The characteristics of only one may be altered or those
of all may be, but in different degree.
(2)
Note. This subclass will include such methods and apparatus
as are not classifiable in the subclasses indented thereunder, and
may include selective alteration of bulk, specific gravity, or decomposition,
as by dehydration etc.
Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses, especially
subclasses 14 and 102 for processes and apparatus for selectively
comminuting material to enable better separation of the material
into grades.
This subclass is indented under subclass 4. Methods and apparatus by which certain components of a mixture
may be deflocculated or dispersed relatively to others or by which
certain components may be flocculated to facilitate subsequent separation.
(1)
Note. This subclass receives only methods and apparatus in
which the deflocculation or coagulation is contributory to a subsequent
separation of some components from others.
Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations
Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting, appropriate subclasses for subject matter relating
to: colloid systems (such as sols*, emulsions, dispersions,
foams, aerosols, smokes, gels, or pastes) or wetting agents (such
as leveling, penetrating, or spreading); subcombination compositions
of colloid systems containing at least an agent specialized and designed
for or peculiar to use in making or stabilizing colloid systems; compositions
and subcombination compositions specialized and designed for or
peculiar to use in breaking (resolving) or inhibiting colloid systems;
processes of making the compositions or systems of the class; processes
of breaking (resolving) or inhibiting colloid systems; in each instance,
when generically claimed or when there is no hierarchically superior
provision in the USPC for the specifically claimed art.
This subclass is indented under subclass 4. Methods and apparatus by which components of a mixture are
altered in form relatively to other components to permit or facilitate
subsequent separation into classes or groups having like characteristics.
This subclass is indented under subclass 4. Methods and apparatus for developing or for neutralizing
or destroying magnetic properties of components of a mixture to
permit or facilitate subsequent separation of the components of
the mixture.
(1)
Note. The methods and apparatus hereof, insofar as the magnetizing
is involved, are ordinarily independent of any particular structure
of manipulation of the magnetic separator, unless it be adjustment
of strength to the developed magnetic properties. Demagnetizing may
be applied to prepare for a gravity or other separation, as by destroying coherence
between particles which interferes with gravity or other separation.
(2)
Note. For processes directed to the mere chemical (i.e.,
molecular) conversion of a substance or of one or more ingredients in
a material, and the related apparatus, see the appropriate chemical
classes particularly Classes 75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes,
Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions,
etc.; 266, Metallurgical Apparatus; and 423, Chemistry of Inorganic
Compounds. Processes including both a chemical reaction and a magnetic separation
are classified in the appropriate chemical class.
through 232, for separation of solids by magnetic
attraction of materials responsive to the attraction from other materials
not responsive or responsive to a lesser degree.
Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions
for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose
Metal Particulate Mixtures, (see (2) Note).
This subclass is indented under subclass 4. Methods and apparatus whereby the surfaces of some components
of a mixture are altered to permit or facilitate their separation
from other components.
for adhesion separation including a coating operation,
163+, 175, 176, 178, 179, and 181 for flotation involving
some surface alteration of the material to be separated.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Methods and apparatus involving treatment of material after
separation, which are not classifiable elsewhere.
(1)
Note. This subclass includes separating processes which include
treatment after separation, or the treatments themselves when said
treatments cannot be otherwise assigned to some class or subclass elsewhere.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Methods and means for heating or cooling associated with
separation methods and apparatus, not elsewhere classified.
Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions
for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose
Metal Particulate Mixtures, heating in connection with metallurgical processes.
Mineral Oils: Processes and Products,
subclasses 8 and 11 for the separation of bituminous material
from solid natural sources such as rocks, oil shale, bituminous
sands, etc.
Heating,
subclass 13 for a process and subclass 61 for a residual apparatus for
heating material in which a portion of the material is separated
for further heating and the heated portion is returned.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Methods and apparatus involving combinations of different,
distinct types of separation operations.
(1)
Note. This subclass and the subclasses indented hereunder
do not include methods or apparatus which are mere duplications
of the same type of separation. Some of the patents which involve
sifting and assorting, automatic or manual, have been placed in
the assorting subclasses 509-707, and search should be made in such
assorting subclasses for such combination. See (7) note of the class
definition and subclass 509 definition including the notes appended thereto
for the statement of classification control.
(2)
Note. The appropriate subclasses providing for the individual
types of separations should be searched.
(3)
Note. This is the residual subclass for separating combinations
not classifiable in one of the subclasses indented hereunder or
elsewhere.
for methods and apparatus employing a combination
of a condition responsive separating means for either "bulk material" or "special
items" and a noncondition responsive separating means.
See (1) Note supra.
Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses for processes, (i.e.,
subclasses 19 , 20, and 24), and apparati, (i.e., subclasses 68+),
including the combination of material comminution and material separation
operations properly classifiable in this class as subcombinations.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus including electrostatic charges for
assorting materials by segregating those having certain characteristics
from others having different characteristics.
(1)
Note. The characteristics may be of weight, size, electroconductivity,
hysteresis, etc.
(2)
Note. The appropriate subclasses providing for the individual
types of separations should be searched.
Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,
subclasses 554+ for electrical (e.g. electrostatic, etc.) or simultaneous
electrical and magnetic separation or purification of liquids or magnetic
treatment of liquids (other than separation) and subclasses 660+ for
corresponding apparatus.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus in which amalgamation, either so-called
plate amalgamation in which values adhere to mercury coated surfaces,
or liquid amalgamation in which values sink in a body of mercury
or equivalent, sifting, and stratifying are employed to extract
metallic values.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Apparatus and methods employing both fluid suspension and
either suspension by or adhesion to liquid mercury or equivalent
to separate or segregate components of a solid mixture.
This subclass is indented under subclass 15. Processes and apparatus in which both free suspension in
water and amalgamation by mercury are employed to separate metals.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus which employ free suspension in water
and sifting to effect separation or segregation of components of
a mixture of solid materials.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus for separating components of mixtures
of solids which employ both free suspension in water and stratifying.
(1)
Note. The stratification of this subclass may be either wet
or dry.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus employing free suspension in gas,
sifting and stratifying, for the assorting or segregation of components
of a mixture of solids.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Means and apparatus employing both gaseous suspension and
stratifying to separate or segregate components of a mixture of
solids into grades or classes of like characteristics.
This subclass is indented under subclass 12.1. Methods and apparatus for separating and segregating into
grades components of solid mixtures having like characteristics,
which employ both free suspension in gas and sifting.
(1)
Note. Either may precede the other or the operations may
be simultaneous.
(2)
Note. This subclass and those indented thereunder are composed
mainly of patents relating to the separation of grains, flour, and
minerals, but are not restricted thereto.
(3)
Note. Search this class, subclasses 12 and 19 for the combinations,
and the subclasses indented thereunder and under Sifting (subclass
233) for subcombinations. Where the recovery of material carried
by the gas is involved, search should be made in Class 96, Gas Separation:
Apparatus, as well as in the deposition subclasses indented under
Gaseous suspension and sifting (subclass 21), and Fluid Suspension
(subclass 133), in this class.
Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,
subclasses 49+ for comminutors in which material suspended in a
gas stream is conveyed to a separating screen.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Methods and apparatus in which the material to be separated
is subjected simultaneously to sifting and gaseous suspension.
(1)
Note. In the main the material is supported by the sifter
while gaseous currents are sent through it to suspend and carry
off the lighter components, but the subclass is not restricted thereto.
(2)
Note. This is generic and receives such cases as do not permit
assignment to subclasses indented thereunder. The gaseous suspension
must be free, and there must be substantial conveyance of the suspended
material to distinguish from stratification under the influence
of the gas.
(3)
Note. This subclass and those indented thereunder deal mostly
with grain, flour, and minerals, but will also take other materials
when the separations fall within the definitions.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Methods and apparatus in which there is coincident sifting
and gaseous suspension, such as is defined in connection with subclass
22, and also a collection of the material that has been taken up
by the gas.
(1)
Note. This collection may be graded or not and may include
part or all of the material suspended.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Processes and apparatus in which there are coincident grading
suspension and sifting, a horizontal current of gas, generally air,
being employed to effect the suspension.
(1)
Note. This subclass may include cases where the material
is carried by the sifter while subjected to the suspending current,
as well as cases where the material selectively suspended by the
gaseous current is delivered as a horizontal current against sifting
means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 24. Methods and apparatus in which the suspended material carried
by the current is collected.
(1)
Note. This collection may be a grading deposition or a separation
of all or part of such suspended material without any definite grading
in the collection.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Methods and apparatus in which there are coincident grading
suspension and sifting, an inclined current of gas, generally air,
being employed to effect the suspension.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Methods and apparatus in which there are coincident grading
suspension and sifting, a vertical current of gas, generally air,
being employed to effect the suspension.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Methods and apparatus employing both suspension by gas and
sifting to segregate components of mixtures into grades of like characteristics,
the two separations being sequential.
This subclass is indented under subclass 30. Methods and apparatus for subjecting material to be separated
successively to gaseous suspension and sifting, and collecting one
or more of the components suspended by the gas.
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