Abstract: A mobile asphalt recycling apparatus facilitates recycling pavement to restore it to its original formula. The apparatus includes augers with transfer paddles, sizing paddles, and tumbling paddles which combine together to allow recycled materials to be thoroughly mixed and then applied on a road surface. The apparatus includes computerized aspects that permit accurate measurement of batch sizes, temperature, and other criteria. The present invention also includes a process which utilizes the apparatus. The process includes sampling and testing the existing pavement, restoring it to the original criteria, and facilitating repaving.

Abstract: A produce filling apparatus includes a bin filling head and a disk arranged under the head. The disk is made up of two plates, each having one or more openings. Plural sensors beneath the disk detect the presence of produce at a predefined vertical distance from the lower plate. A control unit detects the instantaneous position of both overlying rotating plates and determines the speed of rotation of each of the rotating plates in a manner that depends on a pre-coded external signal generated by the sensors and by the instantaneous positions of the rotating plates. The control unit processes the information received and controls the respective angular speed of the plates so that the respective openings are vertically aligned, so as to distribute the produce to those bins in which an absence of underlying produce is sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling bins with produce such as fruit includes a filling head, and a disk arranged under the head. The disk is composed of two overlying plates, each having openings arranged radially to a rotating plate. Sensors underneath the disk detect the presence of the produce at a predefined vertical distance from the lower plate. A controller detects the instantaneous position of each of the two overlying rotating plates, determines individually the speed of rotation of each of said rotating plates in a manner that depends on a pre-coded external signal generated by said sensors and by the instantaneous positions of the rotating plates. The control unit processes the information received and controls the respective angular speed of the plates so that the respective openings are vertically aligned in correspondence of the information received in order to distribute the produce inside the bin in those angular positions at which the absence of underlying produce is sensed.

Abstract: A conveyor line for fruit or vegetables has a plurality of rollers defining seats for the products therebetween. At a selection station, a first member detects at least one feature of the product, and at a sorting station, a second member diverts similar products toward the same destination. Upstream of the selection station, the direction of rotation of the rollers is controlled to cause each product to settle correctly in its seat or shift into an adjacent seat, so that during detection of the features of the products, the products remain properly seated.

Abstract: A heating head for a paving apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical head housing, having a top housing edge axially spaced from a bottom housing edge, a sidewall having a spiral cross-sectional shape and a laterally extending top housing cover attached to at least a portion of the top housing edge. The head housing defines an air chamber and is adapted to accept and direct airflow through the heating head. The sidewall defines an intake vent at a radially outward end and an air chamber inlet at a radially inward end. The intake vent and air chamber inlet are spaced apart and in mutual fluid communication via an elongated circumferentially extending air passage to direct airflow from an exterior of the heating head to the air chamber.

Abstract: A heating head for a paving apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical head housing, having a top housing edge axially spaced from a bottom housing edge, a sidewall having a spiral cross-sectional shape and a laterally extending top housing cover attached to at least a portion of the top housing edge. The head housing defines an air chamber and is adapted to accept and direct airflow through the heating head. The sidewall defines an intake vent at a radially outward end and an air chamber inlet at a radially inward end. The intake vent and air chamber inlet are spaced apart and in mutual fluid communication via an elongated circumferentially extending air passage to direct airflow from an exterior of the heating head to the air chamber.

Abstract: A primary furnace device is adapted to heat a paved area to a first predetermined temperature. A secondary furnace device is adapted to heat the paved area to a second predetermined temperature via a multi-stage process having at least two heating zones interspersed with at least one soaking zone. A heater/shaver is adapted to heat the paved area to a third predetermined temperature and to shave the heated paved area to a predetermined depth to create a first mixture located upon a substrate. A mixer/finisher is adapted to collect the first mixture, mix the first mixture, and produce recycled pavement. The primary furnace device, secondary furnace device, heater/shaver, and mixer/finisher travel in series along the paved area in a longitudinal direction. A method of recycling pavement is also provided.

Abstract: The system (1) comprising a conveyor line (3) defined by a plurality of rollers (5) in which there are determined housing seats of the product (2) between adjacent rollers (5), a selection station (6) in which by means of at least one first member (7 or 8) at least one feature of the product (2) is detected, and a station (17) in which by means of a second member (18) the products (2) with the same features are sorted towards the same destination. The system (1), upstream of said selection station (6), comprises at least one assembly (24) adapted to determine the rotation of the rollers (5) so that the product (2) accommodated in its seat may either correctly settle in such a seat or shifts into an adjacent seat.

Abstract: A system for conveying and/or selecting fruit and/or vegetable products that mitigates damage, to the fruit, and/or vegetable products is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of buckets presenting respective resting surfaces for one or more fruit and/or vegetable products; a conveying line of said buckets along a horizontal axis (X); at least one discharge station arranged by the side of said conveying line; and an assembly for controlling the rotation of the buckets between a conveying position and a discharge position of the product towards said station, where respective resting surfaces of the buckets are upwardly concave, and at least one part of the resting surfaces of the bucket is defined by a plurality of rollers turning about their longitudinal axis, which is parallel to the horizontal axis (X).

Abstract: An apparatus for emptying containers of fruit and vegetable produce, wherein a tipping device receives a container, tips the container, and unloads the container onto a conveying device for feeding the container in a given traveling direction and along a path extending between an input station connecting with the tipping device, and an emptying station for emptying the container; the path being of a length, measured parallel to the traveling direction, at least equal to the length of the container, also measured parallel to the traveling direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-destructive measurement of internal properties of individual vegetable or fruit pieces comprises: LEDs constructed and arranged to emit radiation into a vegetable or fruit product; pick-up structure constructed and arranged to pick up radiation, emitted by the LEDs, that has entered the vegetable or fruit product and then exited the vegetable or fruit product; a hollow cylinder between the LEDs and the pick-up structure for preventing radiation emitted by the LEDs from directly reaching the pick-up structure; a spectrometer; structure for conveying to the spectrometer the radiation picked up by the pick-up structure; and structure for processing a spectrum frequency and amplitude data as produced by the spectrometer upon the radiation picked up by the pick-up structure being analyzed by the spectrometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for emptying containers of fruit and vegetable produce, wherein a tipping device receives a container, tips the container, and unloads the container onto a conveying device for feeding the container in a given traveling direction and along a path extending between an input station connecting with the tipping device, and an emptying station for emptying the container; the path being of a length, measured parallel to the traveling direction, at least equal to the length of the container, also measured parallel to the traveling direction.

Abstract: Instrument for measuring the properties of vegetable products, comprising:—an energy source adapted to direct a radiation against the fruit,—means for picking up the radiation being re-emitted by said fruit,—a spectrograph analysing said radiation,—means for conveying said radiation into the spectrograph,—means for processing the data generated by the spectrograph, in which the energy source comprises a plurality of LEDs contained in a single portable casing provided with a handgrip and a probing head. The spectrograph and the processing means are physically separated from said portable casing, to which they are electrically and optically connected via at least a multiple optical/electric connection. The LEDs are provided in closed-loop arrangements on the surface of the probing head and said means for picking up the re-emitted radiation are arranged at the centre of the rings formed by the LEDs that emit radiations whose respective emission spectra are contiguous.