Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of conveying and selectively discharging food products by providing a feeding system. The feeding system (14) comprises an inlet end (20), an outlet end (22), a receptacle (24) below the outlet end, a determination unit at the outlet end (22) and a feeder (18) for conveying the food products from the inlet end to the outlet end. When no food product is present at the outlet or in the receptacle (24), the food products are conveyed at a first average velocity. When a food product is present at the outlet end (22) and no food product is present in the receptacle (24), the food products are conveyed at a second average velocity. The second average velocity is lower than the first average velocity. When the food product is leaving the outlet end or is received within the receptacle (24), the feeder (18) is stopped until the individual food product has left the receptacle.

Abstract: A gravity conveyor assembly includes first and second track assemblies positioned parallel to each other. Each of the track assemblies includes a body, having a slot in a first surface. A track member includes a frictional engagement portion received and frictionally engaged within the slot. A track extending portion freely extends above the first surface of the body. The track extending portion is oriented at an angle with respect to an axis oriented transverse to a ground surface such that the track extending portion has a continuous slope with respect to the ground surface. A cassette supported on the first and second track members is adapted for gravity induced rolling motion by the continuous slope. Wheels mounted to opposing sides of the cassette each have a concave perimeter surface aligned for rolling contact with the track extending portion of the track assemblies.

Abstract: A device for spreading aggregate material from a discharge conveyor onto a work surface includes a tremie attached relative to the discharge conveyor and a flexible hose connected to the tremie. A crank connected between the tremie and the discharge conveyor permits adjustment of a frequency and an amplitude of the tremie to provide a desired windrow of material on the surface. A distal end of the discharge conveyor is preferably moveable relative to a supply of material to further optimize the desired windrow of material.

Abstract: A midstream apparatus for the receipt, sampling, cooling, and blending of coal provides a continuous transfer capability from one or more barges containing coals of various grades to an ocean vessel requiring blended coal meeting given specifications. The apparatus is a barge mounted combination, having a number of receiving hoppers into which coal may be loaded by transfer from a series of supply barges, usually by a barge mounted clam shell bucket. A number of hoppers are provided so that coal from each barge, having a given specification, may be loaded into a single hopper. Each hopper has individually controlled transfer capabilities permitting the blending of coal of different qualities into a continuous stream.

Abstract: A device for obliquely conveying pieces of cylindrical hollow shape with a bottom for forming a thin, transparent, bottle-shaped container from the floor level to the height for supplying the pieces to the mold of a blow-molding machine. The numerous pieces are simultaneously injection-molded from a polyethylene terephthalate resin via an injection molding machine, and are supplied to the mold of the blow-molding machine after being cooled to room temperature. Each of the pieces thus formed is conveyed via a rope conveyor in a vertically neck portion upward position as lifted from the conveyor, and is further conveyed obliquely upwardly by an oblique conveyor having a plurality of attachments attached to the conveyor's chain for supporting the pieces at the bottoms to exactly convey the pieces one by one to meet the molding speed of the blow-molding machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting packaged integrated circuit parts and feeding them into the input reservoir of a high-speed handler and tester. Parts slide down an input track to the bottom of a fiber-faced belt stretched around two vertically disposed rollers. The leads of the packaged parts are held in frictional contact with the belt fibers which lift the parts to the top of the handler. Efficient operation is accomplished by providing for loading and unloading parts at the same approximate location.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solids, such as metal cuttings, from liquids, such as machine coolant, the apparatus having an upwardly inclined elongated housing which in cross-section is U-shaped with a semi-circular bottom and parallel sides, the housing being opened at the top and covered throughout its length by a removable lid, a helix rotated in the housing and extending from the lower end to the upper end, the housing having a solids discharge chute near the upper end, a gear motor mounted on the upper end of the housing for rotation of the helix and having at the lower end an upwardly extending fluid inlet chamber, the open top serving as an inlet by which solids containing liquids is conducted into the apparatus and having an upwardly extending overflow chamber connected with the lower portion of the housing, the walls of the overflow chamber being of less height than the inlet chamber, the inlet chamber, the overflow chamber and the lower portion of the housing together forming a quiescent zone in whic