Abstract: A combination weighing apparatus includes a retaining hopper that retains an article and supplies the retained article onto a transport path. The retaining hopper has a coupling portion adapted to be inserted in along the support rails and pulled off from support rails disposed in a pair. The retaining hopper is thus supportable by the support rails and is readily mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus without using any tool for cleaning and other purposes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure a system for capturing proppant dust particles when positioned at a fracking operation site including a proppant delivery assembly to receive one or more containers having proppant stored therein. The system dispenses the proppant from the one or more containers and delivers the proppant to other fracking operation equipment. Moreover, the system includes a dust collection assembly positioned proximate and associated with the proppant delivery assembly to capture dust particles released by movement and settling of the proppant when being dispensed and delivered by the proppant delivery assembly. The dust collection assembly is positioned to direct an air flow in a flow path overlying the dust particles to capture the dust particles and move the dust particles away from the proppant thereby reducing risk of dust exposure to fracking operation site personnel.

Abstract: Transfer systems for receiving and conveying material such as earthen slurries discharged from vacuum excavators are disclosed. The transfer system may include a holding tank and a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that extends into the tank to remove and convey material from the tank. The transfer system includes a hatch. The hatch is moveable from a closed position in which vehicles travel over the hatch to an open position in which the holding tank is open to receive material from the vacuum excavator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for distributing solid particles in order to load an enclosure with solid particles, including: a device (30) for supporting a device (10) for loading solid particles, said supporting device being arranged such as to maintain the loading device in the enclosure, and a sensor-supporting device (40), said sensor (46) intended for collecting information on the loading of the enclosure, and in which the system for distributing solid particles is arranged such that the supporting device and the sensor-supporting device can be mounted on the device for loading solid particles, while being movable relative to said loading device.

Abstract: A material transport and distribution consist including an offloading car, a generator car, and hopper cars. The offloading car includes a rotatable conveyor that can offload materials forward of and to the sides of the car. The generator car powers a plurality of hopper car conveyors. The hopper cars include a longitudinal conveyor that overlaps with conveyors of forward- and aft-located cars to enable transport of materials between cars and while the cars are negotiating a turn in the tracks. The hopper car hoppers are divided into chutes with respective guillotine-style gates. Each gate includes a resilient panel that flexes to enable closure of the gate without binding on materials exiting therefrom. A control system is provided to manage the gates and conveyors during offloading based on sensed characteristics of the operation thereof. An interlock system is also provided to initiate a cascading shutdown routine when a fault is detected.

Abstract: A conditioner for a fertilizer box configured to convey compacted particles away from a conveyor path of fertilizer particles. The conditioner may include a plurality of wings for deflecting a portion of a flow of fertilizer particles from a conveyor path. A method includes determining a constant effective dispense opening for a fertilizer box having the conditioner and using the constant effective dispense opening to determine a fertilizer dispense rate.

Abstract: Repositionable extendable stops for material handling applications include top loading/unloading stops which engage with actuator through quick disconnects. Actuators are easily repositioned to a new stop location, and the stop reconnected to the actuator by loading the stop through the top of the conveyor.

Abstract: A grain auger having a discharge chute with a primary opening is also provided with at least one secondary opening and a door movable between opened and closed positions relative to the secondary opening. The door is normally closed by spring bias, but will open if the primary discharge opening becomes blocked, thereby releasing grain through the secondary opening, to prevent damage to the auger.

Abstract: A metering device for metering granular product into a pressurized conduit of a pneumatic conveyor has a tubular housing oriented vertically. Intake and discharge openings are defined in opposite housing walls with blank walls between the openings. Upper and lower hubs are rotatably mounted and sealed in ends of the housing above and below the intake and discharge openings. An upper surface of the lower hub slopes downward toward an outer edge thereof. The upper and lower hubs are fastened to a drive shaft extending along the housing axis and a meter drive rotates the drive shaft at a selected rotational speed. Each of a plurality of flexible blades extends between the upper and lower hubs and has an outer edge wiping the inner wall surface of the housing such that a sealed blade chamber is formed between adjacent blades and one of the blank walls as the hubs rotate.

Abstract: A cartridge of tubulars may be removably positioned with a carriage, and the carriage may move the cartridge transversely, vertically, and/or rotationally to roll tubulars on an adjacent tubular receiving member using only gravity from a selected tier of tubulars without human contact. A single trolley disposed with the tubular receiving member both pushes and pulls tubulars toward or away from the drilling deck.

Abstract: A dust control apparatus and method for a bulk material handling transfer system having a chute comprising a pathway there through for handling varying volumes of bulk material flowing through the chute using gravity flow. A self-adjusting air restrictor gate is mounted in the chute for engaging the upper surface of flowing bulk material through the chute for restricting the air pathway during material volume flow variations to reduce dust emissions. The gate member contacts the upper surface of flowing bulk material and moves up and down in response to the flow of bulk material through the chute to restrict the flow of air to reduce dust. A counterweight mechanism and a damper helps maintain controlled contact of the air restrictor gate with the upper surface of bulk material flowing through the chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller conveyor module, comprising at least one rack, a plurality of rollers mounted to said rack in a serial arrangement, and the upper circumferential surface parts of the plurality of rollers define a load carrying plane. According to the invention, a lever mounted to said rack is provided, wherein the lever is adapted to swivel between an unbalanced position and arranged at least partially above said load carrying plane and wherein the lever is free to swivel in two opposite directions, a passing position, wherein the lever is arranged below the load carrying plane to allow an item moving on the rollers to pass in the first direction, and a stopping position, wherein a stopping portion of said lever is arranged above said load carrying plane to hinder an item moving on the rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A hopper is provided with which damages of articles can be suppressed without lowering the processing speed. A hopper (4) includes a first hopper main body (40), and a first gate (G1). A first inner surface (41) of the first gate (G1) forms a collecting space (A1) for holding articles with the first hopper main body (40), and stores articles in the interior of the collecting space (A1) when in the closed state and discharges articles by turning to open. The first inner surface (41) includes a first upper slanted surface (S2) and a first lower slanted surface (S3) that are continuous. An angle formed by the first lower slanted surface (S3) and the horizontal plane is smaller than an angle formed by the first upper slanted surface (S2) and the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A bulk material leveling and volumetric measuring and feeding apparatus includes a conveyor for transporting bulk material from a hopper to a leveling assembly. The leveling assembly includes a pair of augers located perpendicular to the conveyor and with the auger terminal ends at a desired height from the conveyor. Side walls are provided parallel to the conveyor direction of travel and extend up to the auger terminal ends. Each auger is positioned within a semicircular longitudinal channel of a trough. Bulk material being transported and which is located above the augers terminal ends is lifted by the augers and thrown back towards the hopper. Thus, bulk material being transported under and beyond the leveling assembly is maintained at a desired depth. By monitoring and/or controlling the conveyor speed and the depth of the transported bulk material, the volumetric feed rate and total volume of transported material can be determined and/or controlled.

Abstract: A sorting deck for paper, board, or pulp rolls has a plane (1) for transporting the rolls and controllable stops (2) for holding the rolls in place and releasing them. The stops (2) are positioned to form at least one line (3) in placed consecutively in the longitudinal direction (4) of the plane (1), and at least one row (5), in which the stops (2) are positioned adjacently to each other along the lateral direction (6) of the plane (1). At least some of the stops (2) are a collector (41) and a feeder (42), both of which can be moved freely between the hold and release positions, so that the travel of the rolls over the stop (2) can be optionally prevented, freely permitted, or permitted one roll at a time. The same sorting deck can be used to handle rolls of different widths.

Abstract: This invention is about water carrying lift that enables water to be used in watering fields (agricultural fields), energy production, etc by increasing the level of water in places like rivers, streams, creeks etc.

Abstract: A method for forming a number of side by side lying rows of objects such as for producing sandwich biscuits. Firstly the products being supplied to the even channels are turned over and, as well as the not turned over products are brought on a conveyor belt. In a second step by means of a continuous rotatable first roller positioned above the conveyor belt and being provided with pins a product can be released from each channel and the next product can be stopped for the formation of rows of turned over and not turned over products running in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. Thereupon by means of rollers at least one of which is movable in axial direction, the turned over and not turned over products are moved in longitudinal and transverse direction to obtain alternate transverse rows of turned over and not turned over products.

Abstract: A measuring device is arranged to store a block or group of a plurality of objects in a state where the objects are congested in the block, to suppress the scattering magnification of the objects when the objects are dropped off to prevent failures such as seal bite in a filling device disposed below the measuring device, to shorten the dropping length of the objects, and to reduce the contact resistance of the objects to a receiving opening of the filling device during the objects are dropped off to attain the discharging speed of the objects. The shapes and opening degrees of a gate unit can be changed so that a lower opening of a hopper is disposed inside the receiving opening of the filling device in a top plan view.

Abstract: A storage hopper temporarily stores articles supplied from above and then discharges the articles downward. The storage hopper includes a holding member of an article holding change mechanism in a storage portion. The holding member changes a state in which the articles are held in the storage portion according to a state of the articles.

Abstract: A abutment module for automatic processing and conveying equipment having an abutment member arranged on a base for objects moving in a movement plane in a current direction of working motion. The abutment member being able to be moved in and out of the movement plane by electrical actuating apparatus. An electrical rotary drive is provided for the electrical operation.

Abstract: A first gate opens obliquely downward, and maintains the posture, rendering the slope angle of the bottom surface thereof steeper than that of the bottom surface of the second gate. Thus, the bottom surface of the second gate forms a gentle slope sliding surface, and the bottom surface of the first gate forms a steep slope sliding surface. Then articles drop following the shape of a parabola toward the bottom surface of the first gate on the steep slope side, with momentum gained from sliding down the bottom surface of the second gate on the gentle slope side, and then change the sliding trajectory inward upon bumping into the bottom surface of the first gate. The articles then drop following the shape of a parabola toward the center area of a dispersal table, with momentum gained from sliding down the bottom surface of the first gate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coordinating automated package and bulk dispensing at a remote site. A hopper apparatus includes a series of storage compartments and access doors. The compartments and doors are linked to a PLC that is further linked to an inventory provider. The inventory provider takes product orders from an end-user. The end-user is provided an end-user access code. The inventory provider communicates with the PLC and reserves for the ordered product(s) a vacant storage compartment(s). The inventory provider delivers the product(s) ordered by the end-user to the hopper apparatus. Upon delivery, the inventory provider enters the appropriate end-user access code(s), causing the PLC to open the storage compartment(s) previously reserved by the inventory provider for the products ordered by the end-user. The inventory provider loads the appropriate storage compartment(s) with the end-user product(s).

Abstract: A supply station of articles to a plurality of channels opening above a continuous blister strip, of a type comprising supply organs for containing the articles and for dispensing the articles towards conveying means located downstream, which conveying means select and direct the articles in an ordered fashion in an advancement direction towards mouths afforded in the plurality of channels; collection and transfer means, functionally associated to the mouths and receiving and collecting excess articles which accumulate at the mouths, and transferring the excess articles upstream of the mouths, in proximity of a predetermined first zone of the conveying means.

Abstract: A device for feeding a bolt-shaped element having a head and a shank to a processing unit, in particular for feeding a screw to a die head of a press. The bolt-shaped element can be fed along a firing direction of the device and the latter has a conveyer channel, which is configured to line up several bolt-shaped elements and to transport them to the processing unit. The device is equipped with a receiving hopper that tapers in the firing direction. The hopper is configured to receive shaft-end of the bolt-shaped element first and is formed of several hopper segments. One of the hopper segments is formed by a feed element that can be displaced in order to transport the bolt-shaped fixing elements in a linear manner and at least another of which is formed by a blocking element that protrudes into the conveyer channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for feeding threadlike objects (2) such as hooks for garment hangers (3). The device (1) comprises a guide rail (4) along which threadlike objects (2) are to be conveyed, a feeder element (5) having a groove (6) into which threadlike objects (2) may be partially or completely received, the feeder element (5) being movable in relation to the guide rail (4) such that a threadlike object (2) received in the groove (6) can be conveyed by the feeder element (5) along the guide rail (4) as the groove (6) moves along the guide rail (4). The guide rail (4) is movable towards and away from the feeder element (5) such that a distance between the feeder element (5) and the guide rail (4) can be adjusted to the size of the threadlike objects (2) that pass through the device (1). The invention also relates to a system (22) for conveying and feeding garment hangers (3) from a first conveyor section (23) to a second conveyor section (24) and to a method for feeding threadlike objects.

Abstract: A package sorting conveyor apparatus comprising: a conveying track; a conveyor chute downstream from said conveying track; a speed control device for controlling the speed of packages in said chute; and at least one unloading station downstream from said conveyor chute. In the preferred embodiment, the package sorting conveyor apparatus comprises: a transition zone funnel for receiving packages from said conveying track and directing the package into said conveyor chute, said transition zone funnel including a positioner assembly for selectively positioning the outlet of said transition zone funnel between at least a first and a second position along at least two axes. Also in the preferred embodiment, the speed control device comprises: an attachment portion for attaching said speed control apparatus to a support structure; a package interface portion for contacting the packages; and an integral hinge between said attachment portion and said package interface portion.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and software product for moving bulk materials effectively through a path gate in a distribution system provides at least two independently operable conveyors aligned in series such that the end of the first conveyor is adjacent to the beginning of the second conveyor with a pass gate positioned downstream of the two conveyors. In cases where the bulk material has formed into a cohesive block, the first conveyor is operated to bring the block near the second conveyor. Then, the first conveyor is slowed or stopped while the second conveyor is operated at a higher speed than the first conveyor. This action causes the portion of the cohesive block adjacent to the second conveyor to topple or break down, thereby breaking down the cohesiveness of the block and directing a portion of this toppled bulk material forward onto the second conveyor. Then, the second conveyor urges this portion of the bulk material toward the downstream path gate.

Abstract: A removable material hopper assembly for gravimetric batch blenders including a hopper, a metering assembly and a releasable securing assembly. The hopper is removable from the blender, and includes a metering slide gate that can be used to tightly seal off the bottom of the hopper during the removable operation. The releasable securing assembly incorporates a tongue and groove subassembly and a pin and bracket subassembly to properly align and secure the hopper to the blender during operation, but also enables easy removal of the hopper when necessary.

Abstract: A lumber bin has live bin walls. The lumber bin may be used in lumber sorting. The bin has upstream and downstream walls located above a conveyor. A lumber support in the bin has an elevator mechanism and can be lowered to a discharge position in which lumber on the lumber support can be carried away by the conveyor. A gate is mounted below the conveyor. The gate is in an upright position as the lumber support is lowered. The gate can be pivoted downstream to a lowered position below a level of the conveyor to gently discharge lumber onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A log singulator and associated method for conveying and controllably discharging logs are provided. The singulator has a plurality of rotatable lifters with outwardly-extending arm members that contact the logs with a leading side to convey the logs to successive positions, for example, along a log cradle structure. The logs are conveyed to a discharge surface, which can be disposed at a declined angle so that the logs thereon tend to roll toward a discharge position. Discharge lifters, which are configured to discharge the logs from the discharge surface, have arm members that define angled cam surfaces on their trailing sides. The cam surfaces contact and retain the logs on the discharge surface until the logs reach the predetermined discharge position. Thus, the logs can be controllably discharged, for example, at a desired time.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for regulating the delivery rate of bulk tablets to a tablet transportation system.

Abstract: A device for feeding particulate material includes a conveyor belt, a material inlet located above at least a first portion of the conveyor belt, and a movable plate located above at least a second portion of the conveyor belt, that provides a force on the particulate material.

Abstract: A feed hopper for loading a conveyor with bulk pellet-like items is disclosed. The hopper has a chamber with a top opening for receiving the items and a bottom opening positioned above the conveyor for discharging the items. A plurality of baffle plates are arranged in spaced relation one above the other within the chamber, the baffle plates being angularly oriented with respect to the horizontal and extending partially across the chamber. Bulk pellet-like items received in the top opening impact on the baffle plates as they fall under gravity through the chamber onto the conveyor beneath, the weight of the pellets being supported by the baffle plates and not directly all at once on the conveyor.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for metering produce into “clam shell” type containers carried past the dispensing mechanism by a conveyer, as part of an automated conveyer driven packaging system. The dispensing mechanism includes a side mounted hopper, a guide shoot, and a pair of elongated produce stops. The interior of the hopper is divided by internal partitions into a large bin and a dispensing queue. The body of the hopper has an inclined floor, and converging side and end walls that funnel produce toward two vertically oriented metering gates. One gate meters produce from the large bin into the queue and the second gate meters produce from the hopper into the containers. The guide shoot is pivotally connected to the hopper beneath the second gate. The guide shoot directs the produce from the hopper into the moving containers as they are carried along the conveyer.

Abstract: A system for the automatic loading and/or unloading of products comprises a store (13, 19) with shelves inclined and provided with a mobile transversal blocking means (9, 12), and at least one traveling lift (3) provided with mobile bearing tops (4), also inclined and provided with at least one mobile transversal blocking means (9, 12). Said inclined shelves and bearing tops (4) are provided with transversal, parallel, idle and inclined rollers (5) whereon a product or a product container (1) can slide by gravity when the blocking means is lowered.

Abstract: Overhead conveying system trolleys supported by canted driven rollers engage on and form spiral loci of engagement with a rotated drive shaft in a powered section, and each has a top wheel used to lift the driven rollers off of the drive shaft as the trolley enters a gravity rail section where the wheel is supported on a rail and where a step feeder releases trolleys one at a time from or along the gravity rail section. A pivoted step feeder arm in a receiving and holding position receives the wheel of the lead trolley, which actuates a release limit switch, to cause the arm to rotate and release the trolley. In this release position, the retention abutment mounted on the accumulation side of the arm, prevents any following trolley from actuating the release limit switch. The arm remains in the release position until a second limit switch is actuated by the released trolley moving away, to cause the arm to rotate to the receiving and holding position to receive the next lead trolley.

Abstract: A flow control device 7A for use with apparatus 1 for discharging granular material from storage, which has an inlet adapted to receive granular material from the storage, a containment chute 7 for receiving material from the inlet and for discharging the material through a discharge opening to a conveyor system 13, includes a pivotally mounted segment gate 11 adapted to move in an arcuate manner across the discharge opening 8 of the containment chute 7 to vary the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 8 and an actuator 12 for moving or positioning the segment gate.

Abstract: A part-conveying apparatus allows parts to align and slide down a sloped chute without stacking therein. The part-conveying apparatus has a chute sloped to align and slide down parts, and a first mobile blade for slidably supporting the parts in a bottom section of the chute in the direction of the chute 9. The lower end section of the chute is connected to a horizontal guide path, and a second conveying blade movable forward and backward is provided in a bottom section of the guide path. The second conveying blade reciprocates in a manner so as to move backward faster than to move forward, thereby conveying forward the parts placed thereon. A projection in the lower end of the first mobile blade engages with a groove of the second mobile blade so as to cause fine movements of the first conveying blade in the direction of the chute in synchronous with back and forth movements of the second conveying blade 26. This allows the parts to side down.

Abstract: A gravity flow rail conveyor and picking system comprises a plurality of conveyor rail lanes having module or pallet support surfaces that rise at a suitable gravity flow angle from a selectively erected abutment chock. When erected, the chock abutment prevents gravity flow of modules along the support surface below the chock. When retracted, at least one module is allowed to flow by gravity onto a level support surface suitable for interfacing with an automatic picking machine. As the picking module flows onto a respective level surface, the chock rotates to an erect position for preventing additional modules from passing the abutment point.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a granular catalyst to a destination such as a reactor at a constant feeding rate uniformly charges the catalyst material into the device. The granular catalyst is loaded into individual compartments of a hopper and is ejected at a discharge rate controlled by a gate. When a vibrator is activated, a trough is caused to vibrate in its obliquely upward direction and the granular material in the trough is smoothly conveyed toward outlets of granular material passages formed in the trough, and is introduced to reaction tubes of the reactor via sieves. Powdery waste of the granular catalyst produced by the vibration of the trough is removed by letting it fall the sieves made in the granular material passages.

Abstract: A grading unit divides a supply of objects into constituent portions and directs the divided portions to various predefined locations. At least one passageway is defined, being sufficiently inclined so that the supply of objects flows through the unit solely under the force of gravity. Diverting gates disposed along the passageway selectively divert objects from the passageway toward and through an associated secondary opening located adjacent the passageway. A dividing chute associated with each secondary opening is provided to direct the diverted objects to one of a plurality of different predefined locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a flow of gravity fed, magnetic container closures along a path includes an electromagnet proximal to the path. The electromagnet captures at least one container closure flowing along the path in a magnetic field when the electromagnet is energized. The captured container closure blocks the container closure path, and stops the flow of container closures. Circuitry which incorporates a rectifier energizes the electromagnet when the flow of container closures is not desired. When the flow of container closures is desired, the rectifier reverses the current to the electromagnet and the circuitry deenergizes the electromagnet to positively release the captured container closure.

Abstract: A particulate material feeder is provided having a material dispensing hopper cooperating with a continuous conveyor revolving in a vertical plane having a plurality of spaced flights operating over a horizontal bedplate for controlled feeding of material over the bedplate in a uniform thickness layer. The dispensing hopper is positioned in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor at one end thereof and has a discharge throat located a distance vertically above the bedplate with a transfer plate extending from the throat to the bedplate with a portion of the transfer plate at its end joining with the bedplate being arcuately curved in conformity to the path of movement of the conveyor flights. The dispensing hopper has a selectively positionable valve plate that is adjusted to and maintained at a position with respect to the throat for control of the depth of material displaced over the bedplate.

Abstract: A flats singulation apparatus includes a input buffer section having a substantially horizontal ramp which is adapted to support thereon a stack of flats mailpieces on edge. The buffer section includes a moving belt and ram plate for moving the stack of flat pieces toward the front end of the ramp. A transfer section is at the end of the ramp and is adapted to remove the flat pieces substantially one at a time from the ramp and drop them downwardly. The transfer section includes a plurality of edge rollers extending across the end of the ramp and adapted to move the flat pieces from the stack, and a ledge plate extending downwardly from the edge rollers and having a horizontal ledge onto which the flat pieces drop. A pusher shelf is movable across the ledge to push the flat pieces off of the shelf. A separation section extends substantially horizontally across the end of the transfer section and includes means for moving the flat pieces away from the transfer section and separating flat pieces.

Abstract: A particulate material feeder is provided having a material dispensing hopper cooperating with a continuous conveyor revolving in a vertical plane having a plurality of spaced flights operating over a horizontal bedplate for controlled feeding of material over the bedplate in a uniform thickness layer. The dispensing hopper is positioned in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor at one end thereof and has a discharge throat located a distance vertically above the bedplate with a transfer plate extending from the throat to the bedplate with a portion of the transfer plate at its end joining with the bedplate being arcuately curved in conformity to the path of movement of the conveyor flights. The dispensing hopper has a selectively positionable valve plate that is adjusted to and maintained at a position with respect to the throat for control of the depth of material displaced over the bedplate.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the travel of articles along a conveyor track. The apparatus includes a frame (14) positioned relative to the conveyor track (11), and having a downstream end and an upstream end. A first pair of gates (20) extends from the downstream end of the frame (14) into the travel path of the article. The first pair of gates (20) rotates synchronously between a closed position and an open position. A second pair of gates (21) extends from the upstream end of the frame (14) into the travel path of the article. The second pair of gates (21) likewise rotates synchronously between an open position and a closed position. A drive train, including sprockets (30, 31, 36 and 42) and chain (43) simultaneously rotates the first pair (20) and the second pair (21) of gates so that when one of the pairs of gates is in a closed position the other of the pairs of gates is in an open position.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an inclined chute to which the articles are delivered in portions and from which they slide down into a tray which oscillates in a horizontal direction together with the chute. The tray is open at its end remote from the chute and at the top, but closed on its remaining sides. The tray is pivotally supported in extensions of the chute side walls so that it can pivot between a horizontal loading position and a vertical discharge position. In front of the open end of the tray there is provided a vertical plate which is coupled to the chute and the tray in such a way that in the horizontal position of the tray it closes the open tray end while in response to the pivoting of the tray to vertical position it is moved some distance down into the mouth of a subjacent bag, substantially retaining its vertical orientation. During the emptying of the tray the plate functions as one of the walls defining a discharge opening through which the articles are transferred to the bag.

Abstract: The invention contemplates mechanism for ejecting incomplete fascicles (H) which are astride a transport rail (1) and are carried along by driver means (3, 4) moving in the lengthwise direction of this transport rail. The ejector mechanism has a guide rail (9) which starts at an offset from the transport rail (1) that is greater than the thickness of complete fascicles (H) and which extends from this starting end upward and to the side at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the fascicles moving along the transport rail (1); the upward slope peaks at a highest point, the location of which (with respect to the transport rail) is selected such that incomplete fascicles (H) leave the active region of the driver means (3) only after the center of gravity of the fascicle has passed the highest point of the guide rail (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying loose material for making tile-like elements comprising, a conveyor for receiving a continuous layer of the loose material, a loose material supply apparatus for supplying the continuous layer of loose material to the conveyor and a driving unit connected to the conveyor for intermittently driving the conveyor to intermittently move the continuous layer. A material drawing bell is movable mounted with respect to the conveyor and includes a porous diaphragm and peripheral edge extending outwardly therefrom for receiving a tile-size dosage of the material in the continuous layer. A second drive unit is connected to the material drawing bell for moving the bell toward the conveyor to receive the tile-size dosage of material. A suction apparatus is connected to the bell for establishing an underpressure therein so that the tile-size dosage of material is retained against the porous diaphragm.

Abstract: A conveyor for transport of bags of refuse comprising a feed tube in which bags of refuse are introduced and transported from one end to the other and a feed screw in the tube for driving the bags of refuse through the tube. The feed screw is constructed as a helix forming successive spaced flanges and the pitch of the helix is such that the space between successive flanges will accommodate a bag of refuse of predetermined maximum overall size. The feed screw is eccentrically journaled in the feed tube and is in tangential contact at the bottom thereof. A charging device for introducing the bags of refuse into the feed tube comprises a vertical tube with an inlet unit which limits the size of the bag of refuse which can be introduced to that which can be accommodated between the flanges of the helix.