Abstract: An example item storage system may include a shipping container and a plurality of storage modules disposed within the interior of the shipping container. Each storage module may include an upper support structure, a lower support structure, and a frame. The upper support structure may engage with a corresponding lower support structure of a first different storage module. The frame may define an upper level to support a first plurality of moveable container carriers, and a lower level to support a second plurality of moveable container carriers.

Abstract: A system for producing chocolate-based articles in solidifying form includes a transportation system having at least a first conveyor belt looped around at least a first and second axes. A dispensing unit is arranged to dispense chocolate mass in liquid form along an outer surface of a top load carrying side of the at least first conveyor belt. The at least one conveyor belt is arranged for transporting the chocolate mass through at least one cooling chamber at a predetermined speed along a first and a second cooling path, which may be positioned opposite one another. The system may further include a release mechanism positioned along the second cooling path for releasing the chocolate mass from an outer surface of the bottom load carrying side of the at least first conveyor belt.

Abstract: An adjustable reservoir for articles such as smoking articles and smoking article filters comprises a plurality of conveyors mounted one above another in a vertical stack, each conveyor comprising an endless belt defining a curved conveying path of constant radius extending between two ends proximally spaced to define a gap through which articles carried by the belt may drop, and a drive mechanism operable to rotate at least one conveyor about the vertical axis of the stack so as to change the angular position of the gap of that conveyor relative to the gaps of adjacent conveyors. Changing the relative angular positions of the gaps allows the capacity of the reservoir to be adjusted, and further adjustment can be achieved by changing the direction of travel of the conveyor belts. The drive mechanism can be configured to move one or more groups of conveyors in unison, or to move each conveyor individually.

Abstract: A package apparatus includes a first conveyance unit and a second conveyance unit. The first conveyance unit is configured and arranged to convey a plurality of packaged objects in a first conveying direction. The second conveyance unit is provided below the first conveyance unit and configured and arranged to convey the packaged objects in a second conveying direction generally opposite from the first conveying direction. The second conveyance unit is configured and arrange to overlay each of the packaged objects received from the first conveyance unit on an adjacent one of the packaged objects such that the packaged objects are generally oriented in the second conveying direction to form a group of the packaged objects that is conveyed in the second conveying direction on the second conveyance unit.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a turnaround device (18) for a transfer line of products P, in particular pharmaceutical products, comprising at least one turnaround wheel (20) that uses a guide surface Sint, whereby said wheel (20) is mounted so as to rotate around a so-called turnaround axis (30) and at least two belts clamp the products P that are to be turned around, at least one input belt (22) guided by the surface Sint and moving at a speed Vint and at least one output belt (24) moving at a speed Vext, whereby Vint is different from Vext, characterized in that said turnaround device uses guide means (38) that comprise at least one guide surface Sext at the speed Vext of the output belt (24).

Abstract: A temporary storage system (1) of belt type for lightweight hollow bodies (C), said system being particularly suitable for use with empty plastic containers (C) and of the type comprising a storage buffer vessel (2) provided with a feed entry opening (3) in its upper part and a discharge exit (4) in its lower part, said exit (4) being situated above conveyor means (5) for removal from the buffer vessel (2), said system comprising at least one movable storage belt (6a, 6b, 6c) positioned substantially horizontally in the interior of said buffer vessel (2), said storage belt (6a, 6b, 6c) being arranged to receive a falling plurality of desired volumes (D) of said hollow bodies (C), while advancing during the fall of said hollow bodies (C) by a distance sufficient to maintain said volumes (D) separate, said volumes (D) being made to advance towards the discharge exit (4) and allowed to fall onto the removal conveyor means (5) when said stored hollow bodies (C) are required to be withdrawn.

Abstract: An outlet device for chocolates and like products (100) for use with a wrapping machine (50) which has a device (51) for moving each product (100). The outlet device has a first belt (2) for moving products (100) to be rolled, which is operated by an actuator (10), through a first connecting device (5), which connects the first belt (2) to the actuator (10), moving the first belt in a first direction (A) in accordance with the rotary motion of the actuator (10). A rolling device (4) faces the first belt (2) and is used for rolling products (100) moved by the first belt. A second belt (3) moves products (100) which do not require rolling, the second belt also operated by the actuator (10), through a second connecting device (6), the second belt rotated in a second direction (B) also in accordance with rotation of the actuator (10).

Abstract: A system for transferring an object between driven conveyors comprising an upper conveyor comprising a discharge end, a first belt for transporting the object, the first belt engaging a first end roller and a gooseneck roller, where the first end roller is disposed below the gooseneck roller by a displacement sufficient to create a downward sloping section in the first belt; a transfer guide located adjacent to the discharge end of the upper conveyor, to receive the object from the downward sloping section; a lower conveyor comprising a second belt to receive the object from the transfer guide; and means for driving the upper conveyor and lower conveyor such that the first belt moves towards the transfer guide and the second belt moves away from transfer guide. A lower run of the first belt may be disposed above an upper run of the second belt by a belt spacing approximately equal to or less than the thickness of the object.

Abstract: A flipping apparatus for turning over product pieces such as potato crisps having a first conveyor and a second conveyor. A terminal portion of the first conveyor is nested within a concavity defined by an upturned and curved portion of the second conveyor. A channel is provided between the first conveyor and the curved portion of the second conveyor through which the product pieces can pass. Centrifugal force along the curved portion promotes a gentle and effective transfer of the product pieces from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. Thereby, the product pieces are turned over.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently removing grain from a grain storage device, which uses a plurality of augers. An unloading auger is used to begin removal of grain from a grain storage device. As the amount of grain decreases, a proximity sensor sends an activation signal to a cross auger that rests horizontally on the bottom of the grain storage device. The cross auger will pull the remaining grain to the entry point of an unloading auger. The unloading auger then removes the grain from the grain storage device.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for storing a stream of a plurality of thin flexible objects, such as newspapers or similar printed materials, which is constructed from a number of generally parallel conveyor sections arranged in a number of vertical columns. The conveyor sections in each column are connected to one another by diverter belts located at the ends of the columns and the last conveyor section in one column is connected to the first conveyor section in an adjacent column by an offset transfer conveyor. In operation, a lapped stream of objects is fed into the input of the storage device travels in a serpentine manner along all of the interconnected conveyor sections in a first column, across the transfer conveyor to a second column where the process is repeated. The remaining columns are traversed in the same manner until the stream reaches the end of the last conveyor.

Abstract: A system for rapidly receiving and storing a quantity of loose copy, for example newspapers, from a high speed printing press and dispensing them to the point-of-use without having to undergo the traditional operation of bundling the newspapers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a newspaper delivery system comprising a conveyor system for receiving a continuous stream of loose, unbound, newspapers directly from a high speed printing operation, an over-the-road vehicle having a cargo area equipped with a loose copy storage unit for receiving the loose newspapers supplied by the conveyor system and storing the newspapers during transport; and means for dispensing a selected quantity of newspapers once the truck arrives at a delivery destination.

Abstract: An oven with slide-out transfer guides is provided for use in conjunction with multiple conveyors ovens to provide quick and convenient accessibility to an oven's interior in case of product transfer difficulties. A slidable rail assembly is mounted in the oven, which also has an access port for transfer guide egress and ingress, and a transfer guide with opposed lips forming a slot which mounts the transfer guide on the rail assembly. When access to the oven's interior is necessary to remedy a product transfer problem, the oven of the present invention allows the transfer guide to slide along the rail while still supported by same, and said transfer guide can be partially removed from said oven without the need to turn off the oven. In this way, obstructions can be cleared quickly without significant down time, thereby saving the user both time and expense.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler for pouches containing a liquid or semi-liquid material such as tomato paste. The cooler includes a housing, a plurality of generally horizontal endless conveyor assemblies arranged one above the other within the housing in vertically spaced relation and each including an endless conveyor member trained over feed and discharge pulleys at the feed and discharge ends of the conveyor assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining the lateral spacing of parallel rows of tortillas while transferring tortillas between two vertically spaced conveyors. The tortilla transfer guide is positioned adjacent to two generally horizontal, vertically spaced endless belt conveyors. The tortilla transfer guide has at least one scalloped section having a center of curvature aligned with the longitudinal axes respectively corresponding to an associated row of tortillas travelling towards the guide on the upper conveyor and an associated row travelling away from the guide on the lower conveyor. Each scalloped section is capable of moving a laterally misaligned tortilla towards its center of curvature, which is aligned with the proper longitudinal row axis on the lower conveyor.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for selectively bulk filling or blend filling and concurrently discharging particulate material, such as reticulated tobacco and the like, into an open topped silo, bin, or hopper. The material handling apparatus includes a first shuttle car located over the open top of the silo for movement back and forth over the silo, a first belt conveyor on the first shuttle car in alignment with the direction of movement of the first shuttle car, a second shuttle car located over the top of the silo and above the first shuttle car for movement back and forth over the silo along a path parallel to the movement of the first shuttle car, and a second belt conveyor on the second shuttle in alignment with the direction of movement of the second shuttle car.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for surface treating agitable material that includes a conveyor trough for transporting the agitatable material. The trough is at least partially submerged in a treatment bath and it includes at least a first and second shaking chute each having a length along which the material is conveyed. The first and second chutes are disposed at angles from the horizontal such that the conveying direction of the first chute is substantially opposite to the conveying direction of the second chute.

Abstract: A system for segregating trash into discrete fractions including a separator assemblage consisting of a staggered multiple-tiered heated belt system or separating thermoplastic materials from other substances. Each heated belt unit is modular and seated in a frame. Each unit comprises a continuous belt reeved about a driven and a driving rotor disposed in space relationship to each other and having a unique heating element disposed therein.

Abstract: In an automatic sheet reversing apparatus having a convey/reversing section with a plurality of conveyor belts, a stacking/moving section with a stopper for stopping a leading end of a reversed sheet, and a feed section, the stopper is located below the conveyor belts. The upper portion of the stopper is located above the lower surface of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting generally flat items, for example letters, comprises a plurality of sorting destinations arranged in levels, and a conveying system for conveying the items each to an assigned destination. The conveying system includes a plurality of endless flexible tensile elements (8) extending along the machine, the elements each being arranged to cooperate with an adjacent element such as to be capable of transferring the items from one element to another thereby to convey the items from one level to another.There is conveniently provided a climb section at one end of the machine where an element passes over an inclined pulley (9) to take the element to the next higher level.

Abstract: A dough lapper is provided which includes four conveyers, each having a separate conveyer belt. The conveyers include an infeed conveyer which feeds a second conveyer which in turn feeds a third conveyer with the first, second and third conveyers being in superposed relation and in longitudinal alignment. The fourth conveyer is positioned generally normal to the first three conveyers and is positioned below the third conveyer for receiving dough therefrom in a lapped condition. The third conveyer reciprocates back and fourth over the fourth conveyer lapping the dough onto the fourth conveyer. The first three conveyers have separate conveyer belts and are operated by drive means in association with one another to provide gentle handling of the dough and independent but coordinated operation of the three conveyers.

Abstract: A particulate dryer is disclosed in which upwardly moving hot gases contact downwardly moving particulate matter. The particulate matter is supported by rotating trays which, due to the absence of support at their outer ends at selected loci are caused to tilt downward to effect passage of the particulate matter downwardly through the dryer.

Abstract: An automatic bale wagon comprising a frame, at least one load floor mounted on the frame, bale pick-up means operable to pick up bales from the ground for delivery to the load floor, or one of the load floors, conveyor means operable to convey bales on the or each load floor in a predetermined manner and such that the direction of movement of the bales is changed at one or more points in the path of travel, and bale support means movable in synchronism with the conveyor means to support one or more bales at a point at which a change in the direction of movement of the bale or bales is effected.

Abstract: Feed apparatus and method for feeding objects such as ore rocks in such a way that they are arranged into at least one moving stream of spaced apart objects. The objects are fed onto a first conveyor belt which may have longitudinal channels to arrange the objects into moving rows. The moving objects are projected from end of the belt in free flight path and caught on downwardly moving section of a second belt which passes to a horizontal run via a concavely curved belt section so that objects are stabilized on the second belt by centrifugal action to emerge on horizontal run as one or more fast moving streams.

Abstract: An improved grain drying apparatus of the type having a bin with a perforated floor through which hot air is blown upward for grain drying purposes, and a rotary sweep assembly employing a wet grain distributing auger on its lag side and a dried grain retrieving auger on its lead side. One improvement includes an inclined elongate plate forming an overflow dam which extends along the floor on the lead side of the retrieving auger and which is connected to the sweep assembly for rotation therewith so as to build up the thickness of dried grain on the floor ahead of the retrieving auger to increase the resistance of the dried grain to the upward flow of hot air on the lead side such that a greater proportion of hot air will flow upwardly through the floor on the lag side through the wet grain being deposited thereon.

Abstract: A smoker device including a smoke chamber, a smoke generator mounted to the bottom of the chamber, and a plurality of conveyors positioned to move food through the smoke chamber in an alternating path from an entry opening to an exit opening. The associated ends of successive conveyors have complementary shaped portions to provide for the food to be inverted as it passes from a first conveyor to a second conveyor and to inhibit overlapping or other disarray of the food as it passes from one conveyor to the next.

Abstract: Feeder apparatus for feeding at a controlled variable rate particulate solid material, such as coal, from a supply conduit located above a gravimetric feeder to a discharge chute located below the feeder. The particulate material flows to the feeder from the supply conduit along a path having a generally vertical center line and the discharge chute provides a flow path having a generally vertical center line closely laterally spaced relative to the center line of flow to the feeder. The feeder apparatus has a horizontally extending housing with an upwardly facing inlet through which the material flows to the feeder and a downwardly facing outlet forming part of the discharge chute through which the material flows from the feeder.

Abstract: A drying oven comprises a plurality of superposed endless belt conveyers that feed each to the next lower conveyer. The upper two conveyers are separately fed from individual hoopers; and the third conveyer receives all the material from the upper two. In this way, fruits and vegetables of different sizes can be given different drying times, by running the two upper conveyers at different speeds. A plurality of superposed blowers with selectively adjustable louvers is provided, for regulating the flow of hot air to various of the superposed conveyers; and a fan can blow cooling air horizontally across certain of the conveyers.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying cigarettes or similar rod-like articles includes machinery for delivering cigarettes into a junction, and a reservoir including a reversible conveyor for delivering cigarettes to or from the junction to accommodate differences between the rates of supply and demand at the junction, characterized in that the reservoir is formed by a plurality of conveyors defining a zig-zag path extending substantially in a constant plane normal to the axis of the cigarettes and comprising at least two substantially horizontal runs with one or more connecting portions through which cigarettes pass from one run to another.

Abstract: Trash shredder having the discharge from the shredder arranged to spread out the shredded trash for later separation of magnetic fractions and also to collect the dirt and remove it from the operating area of the shredder.