Abstract: One embodiment provides for a material reclaiming apparatus for use with a bulk storage bin. The bulk storage bin includes a bottom which defines an elongated plurality of outlet openings from the storage bin. The material reclaiming apparatus includes a plurality of gates. Each gate is associated with a respective outlet opening, and each gate is moveable from a first position (blocking the associated outlet opening), to a second position (not blocking the associated outlet opening). The material reclaiming apparatus further includes a traveling reclaimer located beneath the bottom of the bulk storage bin, and which is configured to travel along the bottom beneath the gates. The traveling reclaimer includes a gate actuator. As a result of positioning the traveling reclaimer under any given gate, the gate actuator engages the gate to allow the gate actuator to move the gate from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally orienting pre-glued elongated wood strands for forming OSB panels includes a spreading head with disc rolls that each have discs arranged parallel to one another on a rotatable shaft arranged over a forming belt. The discs of a given disc roll intermesh overlappingly in the interspaces between the discs of the adjacent disc rolls, to form vertical orienting passages between the intermeshing discs. The shaft or the individual discs of at least one of the disc rolls is/are slidably adjustable in the axial direction of the shaft, to adjust the axial width of the orienting passages. In a method of operating the apparatus, the width of the orienting passages is adjusted depending on the dimensions, the dimensional variation or tolerance, and/or the throughput quantity of the supplied strand material. Thereby, the throughput quantity and the longitudinal orienting of the strands can be optimized, depending on the particular strand material.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first conveyor and a second conveyor, the first and the second conveyor being arranged in line with each other, having the same conveying direction and, in use, having substantially the same conveying speed, while between the first and the second conveyor a pattern former is arranged which is adapted to pick up products supplied by the first conveyor and, while maintaining the forward conveying speed, to place the products on the second conveyor, the pattern former being provided with steering means to displace each product in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, and optionally reorient it, between the pickup and placement of the product.

Abstract: An apparatus 40 for controlling the deposition of feed material, such as coal 24, on a deposition build-up surface 64 subjected to deposition loading of feed material is provided for use in a feeder arrangement having an endless conveyor 42 for conveying feed material to the rotating blades 46 of a distribution rotor 44 for further conveyance of the feed material. The deposition control apparatus 40 controls the deposition on the deposition build-up surface 64 of feed material that has exited the endless conveyor 42 yet has not been conveyed beyond the distribution rotor 44. The deposition control apparatus 40 includes a device for influencing the movement of feed material relative to the deposition build-up surface 64 such that the deposition of feed material on the deposition build-up surface 64 is hindered.

Abstract: A device for dispensing labels of value comprises a lockable housing for containing a roll of transport medium having a plurality of labels releasably adhered thereto successively along its length. The housing has a slot through which the transport medium can be discharged from the housing, and pinch rollers for engaging the medium outside the housing adjacent to the slot and, upon actuation, for drawing the medium through the slot. Upon command the pinch rollers are actuated to draw only sufficient medium through the slot to expose a single label for removal from the medium. The pinch rollers engage the medium with sufficient frictional force to rupture the medium if an attempt is made to manually pull the transport medium out of the slot when the rollers are not actuated.

Abstract: A load distributing airbag module having an airbag, a load plate, and a fastener is disclosed. The airbag has an airbag mount and the load plate has a load plate attachment member. The fastener may define a generally enclosed shape to capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member. To capture the airbag mount and the load plate attachment member, the fastener has an unfastened and fastened state. In the unfasten state, the fastener may be a “U” shaped channel. In the fastened state, the fastener is generally box shaped.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion module is disclosed. The inflatable cushion module is configured to be combined with other inflatable cushion modules to form a modular airbag system. Such modular airbag systems may be used to protect passengers of a vehicle from impact with a side surface of the vehicle. In general, the inflatable cushion module has an airbag and an attachment mechanism for attaching the airbag to the airbag of another module. When combined, the inflatable cushion modules form a single airbag system which can be used to protect the passengers of a vehicle from lateral impact. The airbag system can be configured to protect passengers in a single row of seats as well as passengers in two or more rows of seats.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor device which is used to transport work-pieces, especially the work-pieces of motor vehicle bodies, through a processing area for surface treatment of said work-pieces, comprising a conveyor which brings the work-pieces which are respectively maintained by a holder into the processing area; transports them through said area and removes them therefrom. The inventive conveyor device requires less maintenance in comparison with known conveyor devices. The holders respectively comprise a base part which moves in a translatory movement along a conveyor device and a rotating part on which the work-piece is arranged and which is held in such a way that it is rotatable on the base part. The conveyor comprises at least one drive device enabling at least one directly driven respective holder to be driven directly in a movement along the conveyor device.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner scraper blade for cleaning the surface of a conveyor belt and a method of manufacture of the scraper blade. The scraper blade includes a body having a base member adapted to be attached to a cross shaft of a conveyor belt cleaner and a scraping member which extends outwardly from the base member to a scraping tip. The scraper blade includes one or more electrical sensors that are embedded in an insert member. The insert member and the sensors are molded and embedded within the body of the scraper blade. Each of the sensors is adapted to provide an electrical output signal representing a physical condition of the scraper blade sensed by the sensor. A variety of sensor embodiments are described, as well as two embodiments of control and monitoring systems for use in conjunction with the various blade and sensor combinations.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting articles is disclosed. The conveyor is for transporting articles having an initial pitch, wherein the initial pitch of the articles is subsequently decreased and/or increased. After the subsequent increase and/or decrease in pitch, the initial pitch can then be restored or a different pitch obtained.

Abstract: Bays 100, 200, 300 . . . are connected to an inter-bay transfer line 400 via bay stockers 130, 230, 330 . . . , respectively. The bay 100 is, in this embodiment, composed of a single wafer transfer line 120 having a looped planar shape and processing equipments 101–106 arranged side by side along the longitudinal transfer direction of the transfer line (direction crossing the transfer direction of inter-bay transfer line 400). Processing equipments 101–103 are arranged side by side along one side of the transfer line 120, and the remaining processing equipments 104–106 are arranged side by side along the other side of the transfer line 120. The processing equipments 101–106 are equipped with transfer robots 11–16, respectively. Moreover, processing equipments 101–106 are each equipped with a chamber (not shown) for processing wafers W one by one (single wafer processing chamber).

Abstract: A transport system for articles includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, and an elevator having an elevator conveyor and movable in a vertical direction between a lower end position in which the elevator conveyor is in alignment with the lower conveyor, and an upper end position in which the elevator conveyor is in alignment with the upper conveyor. The transfer of the articles between the conveyors and the elevator conveyor is controlled by a control unit which cooperates with a signaling assembly including a first signaling member associated to one plane for indicating that the elevator has reached an upper trigger position during movement from the lower end position to the upper end position, and a second signaling member associated to the other plane for indicating that the elevator has reached a lower trigger position during movement from the upper end position to the lower end position.

Abstract: Apparatuses designed to provide support to a conveyor belt in a new manner. In a first illustrative embodiment, a conveyor belt is supported by a number of magnets. A first set of magnets are disposed on the edges of the conveyor belt, and a second set of magnets are disposed on a support apparatus for the conveyor belt. The first and second sets of magnets interact to create repulsive forces that provide both lateral and vertical support to the conveyor belt. Tension provided by the lateral forces can help the belt move smoothly and with less wear than the support provided by existing support idlers.

Abstract: A dispenser of single-use portions of preparations for beverages, comprising a structure that supports at least one storage assembly for single-use portions provided with a discharge outlet for the discharge of the portions, at least one distribution assembly for the portions which is provided with an outlet for dispensing said portions and with a device for transferring the portions from the discharge outlet to the dispensing outlet, which are interposed between the storage assembly and the distribution assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor belt with advertising is fabricated by coating at least one flexible belting member with a vinyl size coating. A white base coat is applied over the vinyl size coating. Special white PVC coated belting material is also used. A variety of printing processes are used to print advertising images on the belting member. These processes include silkscreen, flexographic, offset and digital inkjet printing. The belting member may be coated with a clear coating material and cured under ultraviolet lighting. The belting members may be made in lengths shorter than the entire length of the conveyor belt with removable attachment means, permitting individual advertising images to be replaced without replacing the entire conveyor belt. Methods for fabricating the belting members including ink formulations, handling and drying steps are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk cargo from an intermodal container, which includes an upper frame mounted on an intermodal container transfer equipment device, a middle frame mounted on the upper frame and a lower frame mounted on the middle frame with the lower frame engaging an intermodal container. The middle and lower frames are arranged to pivot with respect to each other about an axis near one end of the frames. A winch motor is positioned on the upper frame and a cable is attached to the lower frame so the lower frame can pivot away from the upper and middle frames and empty the contents of the intermodal container.

Abstract: Chain guide assemblies for conveyor systems including matched chain guide strips and preassembled straps that interconnect and locate the chain guide strips in constant perpendicular spacing. In certain aspects, the matched chain guide strips are preassembled with the straps to form preassembled chain guide assemblies. The chain guide assemblies can describe straight segments as well as circle segments. The chain guide assemblies present a relatively open configuration to facilitate cleaning and servicing the chain guide assemblies and attached conveyor chains.

Abstract: A handkerchief dispensing apparatus for containing and dispensing handkerchiefs for a user. The handkerchief dispensing apparatus includes a housing comprising a base wall and a perimeter wall. The perimeter wall and the base wall define a receiving space of the housing for receiving the handkerchiefs. The perimeter wall comprises a dispensing slot extending through the perimeter wall of the housing for permitting a portion of each of the handkerchiefs to extend through the perimeter wall when the handkerchiefs are positioned in the receiving space of the housing. A lid member is hingably coupled to the housing. The lid member selectively closes the open end of the receiving space when the lid member is positioned over the housing. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the housing. The dispensing assembly is designed for feeding one of the handkerchiefs through the dispensing slot when the dispensing assembly is actuated by the user.

Abstract: A conveying device (10) for transporting transported goods includes at least one profile rail (12), at least one transported goods support (14) that is supported by the at least one profile rail and is moveable along the profile rail, and a drivable conveyor unit (16) extending along at least one profile rail (12), whereby the at least one transported goods support (14) has at least one engagement unit (20), which is in locked-in engagement with the conveyor unit (16) or can be brought into locked-in engagement with the conveyor unit. The engagement unit (20) has an engagement element (24) revolving about a bearing unit (22), and in addition, a coupling assembly that effects the revolving movement of the engagement element (24) is provided.

Abstract: A control architecture for material handling includes multiple tiers of controllers, such as three. The lowest-level controllers interact directly with sensors and actuators used in the material handling system, such as photo-eyes and motors used with conveyors. The lowest-level controllers receive higher level commands from one or more mid-level controllers. The mid-level controllers, in turn, receive still higher level commands and information from at least one upper level controller. Each mid and low level controller is designed to include sufficient intelligence to deal with many of the signals and messages it receives without having to forward those signals or messages to the next higher level controller and await instructions from that higher level controller. The system thus distributes intelligence amongst the controllers. The system is well-adapted for application to conveyor control systems.