Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: Belt modules with wear pads for constructing modular plastic conveyor belts. A conveyor belt made of the modules is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

Abstract: A rotatable retainer for hinge rods in modular conveyor belts. The rod retainer includes a plug that is rotatably received in a socket in the edge portion of a conveyor belt module. An aperture through the plug is adjustable between a first locked and operational position guiding a hinge rod obliquely into a hinge-joint passageway between adjacent rows of belt modules and an unlocked second position guiding the hinge rod straight into the passageway. A sideguard, such as for a stacker belt, can optionally be formed with the plug.

Abstract: A plastic modular conveyor belt constructed of belt modules with wear pads. The belt is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

Abstract: A slat conveyor belt includes connected drive modules that can be easily disassembled and assembled. Each drive module comprises a slat portion connected to a drive portion forming a drive chain. A conveyor frame for the conveyor belt includes a dust cover for the drive chain and a separator for selectively separating a slat portion from an associated drive portion. A magazine automatically removes and stores separated slats.

Abstract: A bone plate comprises a plate body and at least one tab. The plate body defines an inner body surface configured to face an underlying bone, an outer body surface opposite the inner body surface, and an outer side surface that extends between the inner body surface and the outer body surface. The outer side surface defines an outer perimeter of the plate body. The at least one tab includes a head and an arm that extends from the plate body to the head. The tab defines a tab aperture that extends through the head and is configured to receive a bone anchor. The bone anchor can be coupled with a screw hole in the nail. The arm is configured to deflect with respect to the plate body so as to move the head between a pre-fixation position and a fixation position spaced from the pre-fixation position.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A plastic modular conveyor belt constructed of belt modules with wear pads. The belt is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

Abstract: A slat conveyor belt includes connected drive modules that can be easily disassembled and assembled. Each drive module comprises a slat portion connected to a drive portion forming a drive chain. A conveyor frame for the conveyor belt includes a dust cover for the drive chain and a separator for selectively separating a slat portion from an associated drive portion. A magazine automatically removes and stores separated slats.

Abstract: An omnidirectional anemometer and a method for using such an anemometer to measure the airflow along a conveying path, such as a helical path through a processing chamber. The anemometer is a low-profile, omnidirectional, three-axis anemometer with minimal airflow-occluding structure. Because of its low profile, the anemometer can fit in spiral conveyors with a short tier pitch.

Abstract: A bone plate comprises a plate body and at least one tab. The plate body defines an inner body surface configured to face an underlying bone, an outer body surface opposite the inner body surface, and an outer side surface that extends between the inner body surface and the outer body surface. The outer side surface defines an outer perimeter of the plate body. The at least one tab includes a head and an arm that extends from the plate body to the head. The tab defines a tab aperture that extends through the head and is configured to receive a bone anchor. The bone anchor can be coupled with a screw hole in the nail. The arm is configured to deflect with respect to the plate body so as to move the head between a pre-fixation position and a fixation position spaced from the pre-fixation position.

Abstract: A bone plate comprises a body including an elongated opening extending therethrough, the opening being open at a distal end of the body and including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having a width smaller than a width of the proximal portion, the width being a dimension between two longitudinal sides of the opening extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, the body further including an insert including a head portion and a base portion, the base portion being shaped to be slidably mounted within the proximal portion of the opening, a diameter of the base portion being larger than a width of the distal portion of the opening such that the base portion is prevented from exiting the opening through the distal portion thereof, the insert further including a central fixation element receiving hole configured to receive a bone fixation element therethrough.

Abstract: An omnidirectional anemometer and a method for using such an anemometer to measure the airflow along a conveying path, such as a helical path through a processing chamber. The anemometer is a low-profile, omnidirectional, three-axis anemometer with minimal airflow-occluding structure. Because of its low profile, the anemometer can fit in spiral conveyors with a short tier pitch.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor and methods for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of hingedly interconnected belt modules, one or more modules comprises a base conveyor belt module and an insert for integrating a side wall and drive structure. The insert is received in a socket of an associated module. The insert comprising a plug portion received in the socket, a planar portion extending up from the plug portion to form a side guard above the top surface and drive structure for engaging a drive.

Abstract: A bone plate comprises a body including an elongated opening extending therethrough, the opening being open at a distal end of the body and including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having a width smaller than a width of the proximal portion, the width being a dimension between two longitudinal sides of the opening extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, the body further including an insert including a head portion and a base portion, the base portion being shaped to be slidably mounted within the proximal portion of the opening, a diameter of the base portion being larger than a width of the distal portion of the opening such that the base portion is prevented from exiting the opening through the distal portion thereof, the insert further including a central fixation element receiving hole configured to receive a bone fixation element therethrough.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor and methods for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.