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. LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
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+.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1, -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).
3.1, -3.3, 44.1-44.4, and 509-707 provide for methods and apparatus for sorting special items (see note 7 above)
12.1, 14, 15, 16, 41, and 42 for so-called amalgamating apparatuses or methods when associated with other types of separation (see 5 Note). 12.1, 13, 15 to 18, 42, 43, 155 to 161, 173, 207, 208+, 268 to 273, and 422+ for the so-called ore and coal washers (see Notes 3 and 5).
12.1, 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).
14, 41, 48 to 50, 174+ (see Note 5).
30+, 311 to 349, 352+ for so-called "winnowers" for grain.
43, 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.
60, 199 (see Class Definition, Note 6).
174+, 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)
176, -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)
212, 213+, for magnetic separators (see Note 3).
509, (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)
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
23, Chemistry: Physical Processes, (see Note 4).
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, and see the note to Class 209 in the main class definition for the line.
53, 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
155+, for group forming of diverse contents units.
55, Gas Separation, appropriate subclasses for methods and apparatus for indiscriminately removing all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209
132,.
65, Glass Manufacturing,
508, for glass fiber forming apparatus combined with assorting means for fibers.
95, Gas Separation: Processes, appropriate subclasses for methods for indiscriminately removing all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209
132,.
96, Gas Separation: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for apparatus for indiscriminately removing all solids from a gaseous suspension. See (3) Note in Class 209 132,.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus,
518+, 569+, and 600+ for apparatus including separating means of that class (99) type.
131, Tobacco,
110, and 311+ for separating in connection with tobacco feeding and disintegrating.
134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, and see (4) Note to class definition for the line.
162, 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.
164, 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.
198, Conveyors: Power-Driven,
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.
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, (see (5) Note). 210, Liquid Purification or Separation, (see (3) Note).
221, Article Dispensing, especially
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.
222, Dispensing, especially
169+, 189.01, 189.02+, and 565 for similar structures for mere dispensing and not having the function of classifying, separating, or assorting solids.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration,
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.
250, Radiant Energy,
281+, for methods and apparatus for the ionic separation or analysis of materials utilizing the mass to electric charge ratio of particles.
252, Compositions, (see Note 4).
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure,
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. 366, 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.
422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, (see Note 4).
423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, (see Note 4).
425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus,
317, for a molding machine for shaping or reshaping nonmetals combined with a Class 209 apparatus.
460, Crop Threshing or Separating, for the separation of straw in threshing machines.
494, 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.
516, 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.
588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment, appropriate subclasses for destroying or containing hazardous or toxic waste.