Abstract: A high pressure transfer device has a rotor mounted in a housing for rotation with respect to inlet and outlet ports and having through going pockets. The pockets have interior surface configurations substantially devoid of nooks, crannies, and related flow restrictions. This can be accomplished by providing inserts in the pockets, or by constructing the pockets so that there are substantially smooth interior wall tubes extending from one end of the rotor and the other and cooperating with an inlet and an outlet at the same time. Using the high pressure transfer device to feed wood chips or the like in a slurry using a high pressure transfer pump can result in flow through the rotor pockets that is more uniform by at least 5% compared to in conventional high pressure transfer devices.

Abstract: An ejector for providing motive gas for conveying particulate solids from a solids supply vessel through a conveying pipeline includes a gas introduction stage and a solids introduction stage. The gas introduction stage includes a fluids mixing chamber having a principal inlet port for connecting to a source of high-pressure compressed gas, an outlet port connected to the solids introduction stage, and a secondary inlet port that is open to the atmosphere or other low-pressure gas source. The solids introduction stage includes a fluids/solids mixing chamber having an, inlet port connected to the gas introduction stage, an outlet port for connecting to a pipeline, and a material receiving port for connecting to a vessel outlet. As the compressed gas enters the gas introduction stage, the high velocity gas induces atmospheric air or other low-pressure gas from the secondary inlet port, thus increasing the mass flow into the solids introduction stage.

Abstract: A skirt board and mounting plate for sealing the side edges of a conveyor belt to prevent spillage of material being transported. The skirt board comprises an elastomeric sheet having regularly spaced parallel ribs integrally formed on one major surface thereof and adapted for insertion within regularly spaced parallel slots formed in a metal mounting plate that is adapted for attachment to a frame disposed above or along side the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaning apparatus with an elastomeric biasing means. Some given number of the apparatus are seated on a horizontal mount which spans the width of a conveyor belt. Each unit is hollow. This void is loaded with filler material. A metallic blade seat is integral with the elastomeric material and configured to accept a blade.

Abstract: The invention is an adjustable portable vacuum assisted device for collecting dense matter, such as nuts, while separating and ingesting less dense matter in the same original environment as the nuts, such as leaves or other lawn refuse. The source of vacuum may be the inlet side of a lawn blower. In the invention, ambient forces, such as gravity and turbulence disengage dense solids in a gaseous stream from less dense matter in the gaseous stream induced by the vacuum means without operational malfunction caused by clogging or jamming of the device. Disengaged dense matter is collected within a collection chamber while less dense matter is ingested through and discharged by the vacuum means.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding semiconductor chips has a structural body having grooves which serve respectively as parallel feed paths for semiconductor chips, the feed paths corresponding to respective quality levels of the semiconductor chips, the structural body being made of partially stabilized zirconia. A stopper mechanism for temporarily stopping semiconductor chips fed along the feed paths comprises piezoelectric bodies disposed in the feed paths in front of terminal walls of the feed paths. A counter mechanism for counting semiconductor chips fed along the feed paths have electrodes disposed in the feed paths near the terminal walls. The apparatus serves as a feed system for floating articles with ejected air and feeding the floated articles, and lends itself to being automatized.

Abstract: A conveyor for the sorting of mixed cargo, especially of packages, small packets, containers and pieces of luggage, includes Carts (5) coupled to each other and each movable along Running Rails (9) and having an Undercarriage (6). Support Elements (12) are arranged on the Undercarriage (6) and spaced apart from each other in the Direction of Motion (F). A Tilting Axle (4) is mounted on the Support Elements (12) and runs in the Direction of Motion (F) for supporting through a Lever (13) a Carrying Tray (3) that can be swiveled out of a transport position that is generally horizontal into a tilted position for the lateral delivery of Mixed Cargo (2) into a predetermined target station. A Sliding Element (16) is connected in a movable fashion with the end of the Lever (13) turned away from the Carrying Tray (3) and guided between and at the Support Elements (12) crosswise to the Direction of Motion (F), for carrying out the tilting movement.

Abstract: A bottle conveyor to maintain positive control over the orientation of bottles includes guides above and below a collar around the neck of the bottles on either side of the neck. The guides may be endless belts and/or fixed guides. Endless belts may also advance the bottles and may be driven at the same or different speeds to prevent or induce rotation in the bottles as desired. The distance between guides may be adjusted to adapt the conveying system to bottles having various collar thicknesses and neck diameters and to regulate the amount of allowable swing.

Abstract: A sieve screen utilizes a frame to support a plurality of profiled screen wires. These screen wires are arranged on the frame in a symmetrical manner about a center line which is transverse or normal to the direction of flow of material to be separated. The sieve screen can be inverted and rotated to extend its life after the profile screen wires initially situated above the transverse central line have lost their separatory effectiveness.

Abstract: A sieving device includes a sieve having a base, a drum and a main rim. A screen assembly having a mesh screen and a screen frame extending around a periphery of the mesh screen is resiliently mounted within the main rim. A low frequency vibrational drive vibrates the sieve at low frequencies. An ultrasonic vibrational probe rests on the screen frame free of rigid attachment thereto and vibrates the mesh screen around a periphery thereof. The ultrasonic vibrational drive includes an ultrasonic processor which drives the ultrasonic probe. A probe tip of the probe extends through a side wall of the main rim and rests on a top surface of the screen frame vibrating the screen from the periphery of the screen inwardly to sieve a particulate material. An alternative embodiment has a tab which extends outwardly from the screen frame. The probe tip extends through the sidewall of the main rim and through a sidewall of the drum to abut the tab.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of removing and transporting empty, recyclable, aluminum and plastic beverage containers returned to redemption centers without requiring the redemption centers to sort the containers by distributor and then separate the containers into like materials for removal. The present invention also illuminates the burden imposed on the distributors from having to pick up the containers from the redemption centers, then shred or bale the materials, and then sell the materials to recyclers. The invention comprises the steps of collecting and depositing the aluminum and plastic containers into a single holding bin at the redemption center's facilities. Using a blower such as a centrifugal fan and chute to blow the contents of the holding bin into a transporter such as a semi-trailer or compactor. Transporting the transporter to a separating facility which automatically separates the aluminum and plastic containers into like materials.

Abstract: A device for transporting flat articles with a cover belt system consisting of a lower and an upper belt, between which the articles are transported, and a deflection mechanism for deflecting the cover belt run. The deflection mechanism has one or more main cylinder rollers and one or more secondary rollers and the upper belt is guided around the main cylinder roller and the lower belt over the secondary cylinder roller, such that the lower belt is guided past the main cylinder roller in such a way that the articles are transported in the deflection mechanism between the upper belt and the main cylinder roller. A short guide belt may be provided around the main cylinder roller and an additional secondary cylinder roller disposed between the main cylinder roller and the secondary cylinder roller guiding the lower belt at the output of the deflection mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is a vending machine with the ability to accept multiple purchase requests per money transaction. As the vending machine dispensing receptacle is of limited size, a weight sensor determines if an article in the multiple dispensing sequence has been taken by the user, allowing for the subsequent article in the sequence to be dispensed. Additional features include error messages displayed to the user as well as an alarm to alert the user if an article has not been removed in some predetermined time.

Abstract: A modular assembly line system is proposed having transport means for the transport of workpiece carriers (64) receiving parts or components and having processing stations (61, 62) arranged one behind the other in the direction of conveyance, wherein the transport means have a main circulating path (10) composed of main circulating path segments arranged one behind the other and secondary path segments (31 to 37) which can be branched off from the main circulating path segments, and the secondary path segments (31 to 37) each have a feed-out section (42) and a feed-in section (44) extending transversely to the main circulating path, a secondary transport section (59) being arranged between feed-out section and feed-in section and extending in the direction of conveyance of the main circulating path (10), with the feed-out section (42) and the feed-in section (44) having opposite directions of conveyance and with the main circulating path segments and/or the secondary path segments accommodating at least one p