Abstract: A reversible conveyor assembly, which comprises a screw conveyor having one or more projection means formed on both upper and lower portions of the screw conveyor. A conveyor flange has a guiding means and a groove that are engraved on upper portion of the conveyor flange.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging material at spaced intervals each provide a conveying tube and a conveying mechanism for moving material from a first end of the tube toward a second opposite end. Discharge openings are provided spaced along the tube at different heights thereon. Openings near the first end are at a higher elevation on the tube than those near the second end, corresponding to downward slope of material upon initial entry and conveyance within the tube. The decreasing elevation of discharge openings and corresponding slope of material act to delay discharge near the first end, by requiring a build up of material height to reach the opening, and hasten discharge near the second end, by eliminating the need to fill drop tubes or metering devices before conveying material further along the tube. This reduces lag time between progressive discharge openings thereby providing more even material distribution therefrom.

Abstract: In a continuous mixer, a chamber formed in a barrel comprising a feed port for feeding raw material to be mixed on one end side and a discharge port for discharging mixed material on the other end side. A pair of screw provided in the chamber has a feed part for conveying raw material to be mixed which is fed through the feed port and a mixing part for mixing the raw material. The barrel is provided with a raw material discharge port for communicating the position corresponding to the feed part in the chamber to the outside of the barrel, and an opening/closing cover for freely opening and closing the raw material discharge port. The screw can be rotated reversibly. Even though large amounts of raw materials to be mixed may stay in the chamber due to an emergency stop, the raw materials can be easily discharged from the raw material discharge port.

Abstract: This invention relates to a feeder tube for bulk product which comprises a cylindrical drum or tube (2) in which there are accommodated a large number of inlet openings (8) distributed along the length of the tube, a screw conveyer (3) disposed coaxially within the tube (2), a first arrangement for rotating the tube about its axis, a second arrangement for rotating the screw conveyer (3) relative to the tube (2), a third arrangement for moving the feeder tube (1) in the lateral direction, and activators (9A, 9B) for the bulk product, which activators form projections on the outer side of the tube (2) and are disposed on the tube in association with said inlet openings (8), wherein each cross section along at least 40% of the length of the tube (2), preferably at least 70%, more preferred at least 90%, there are disposed at least two inlet openings (8) wherein that at least two actively positioned activators (9A, 9B) are also positioned in each cross section and that for a feeder tube (1) having a desired aver

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a steady state stream of machine tool chips in a chip takeaway system which includes a hopper having finger-like projections which extend toward the center of the hopper at or above the level of auger means to relieve packing forces on chips beneath the projections, and a clockwise/counter-clockwise, rotate/pause method of auger operation which further reduces the tendency for chips to pack.

Abstract: A device for delivering a finely divided coating product to a sprayer. The device includes a conveyer composed of a tube and a worm screw mounted in the tube for transporting the coating product, and a motor coupled to the worm screw for rotating the worm screw. The device is constructed for limiting the torque which must be transferred from the motor to the worm screw for rotating the worm screw.

Abstract: A material handling system is provided having a plurality of separately actuatable flow gates disposed between the storage bin and the unloading conveyor which are sequentially opened and closed by a sliding zipper-type cam member to carefully control the amount of material applied to the conveyor. A compact screw drive assembly is mounted within a hollow of the screw at one end and enables the screw to be initially operable at a low speed to provide a higher break away torque when starting the screw and to be then operable at a higher speed and lower torque during constant running of the screw. The drive assembly includes a reversible motor coupled to a speed reducing gear arrangement in the reverse direction such that the motor is run in reverse when starting the screw and then run in forward during constant running of the screw.

Abstract: A method of unsticking a material delivery apparatus comprises automatically generating and applying to the material delivery apparatus a cyclical drive signal that causes at least two levels of torque to be applied to the material delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A volumetric feeder having a reversible motor, in which the feed screw is driven at a first speed when the motor rotates clockwise, and is driven at a second speed when the motor rotates counterclockwise. The feeder includes a first one-way clutch, having a driven inner race and an outer race which rotates freely counterclockwise relative to the inner race when the inner race is driven clockwise. The outer race of the first one-way clutch rotates with the inner race when the inner race is driven counterclockwise. A second one-way clutch has a driven outer race and an inner race which rotates freely clockwise relative to the outer race of the second one-way clutch when the outer race of the second one-way clutch is driven counterclockwise. The inner race of the second one-way clutch rotates with the outer race of the second one-way clutch when the outer race of the second one-way clutch is driven clockwise. The motor shaft is attached to the inner race of the first one-way clutch.

Abstract: A variable speed drive for a screw conveyor includes a mechanical adjustable variable speed belt drive and a torque-arm speed reducer. The belt drive is associated with the speed reducer through the combination of a mounting adapter and a mounting plate. A coupling shaft extends from the output discs of the belt drive through the mounting adapter and plate into driving relationship with the input of the speed reducer. The output shaft includes a mated splined output for receipt in a female splined input of the speed reducer. The speed reducer is outfitted with a CEMA standard flange for attachment to a screw conveyor with the screw conveyor drive shaft received in an output bore of the speed reducer. The mounting adapter and plate support the belt drive in a C-flow drive power configuration for minimizing space requirements, while avoiding damage to the screw conveyor mounting flange by controlling undesired bending forces thereat.

Abstract: A portable sweep auger apparatus and method for controllably transferring predetermined continuous amounts of granular and powdered gypsum from a pile of gypsum to an irrigation ditch. The apparatus includes a base member, a driver member and an auger assembly member mechanically coupled to the driver member. The driver member and the auger assembly member are pivotally coupled to the base member to effect forward travel that depletes the gypsum pile. A first level of control is effected by a fixed auger design that coact with the driver member for regulating and delivering predetermined amounts of the gypsum material. A second level of control is effected by a slip clutch wheel coacting with the rotating auger shaft for controlling forward movement of the entire auger assembly towards and against the pile of gypsum material until the material has been depleted. A track that compensates for unleveled terrain is provided for guiding the slip clutch wheel.

Abstract: A feedscrew system includes a support structure for rotatably supporting a selected feedscrew assembly adjacent a conveyor in order to control articles moving on the conveyor toward a processing station, mounting components for mounting the selected feedscrew assembly on the support structure, and drive components for driving the selected feedscrew assembly at a desired rotational speed. A plurality of interchangeable feedscrew assemblies is included, including at least a first feedscrew assembly configured to be driven at a first rotational speed and a second feedscrew assembly configured to be driven at a second rotational speed that is different from the first rotational speed. The first feedscrew assembly includes a first feedscrew and a first coupling component connected to the first feedscrew for coupling the first feedscrew assembly to the drive components so that the first feedscrew assembly rotates at the first rotational speed.

Abstract: An improved drive system for pneumatic spreader systems for effective distribution of particulate material onto agricultural fields from a plurality of elongated delivery tubes or booms. The improved drive means of the present invention is utilized to power the lift-auger bringing particulate material from the hopper to the distributor head, and is provided with dual operating parameters or modes, the first mode being low-speed high-torque, the second mode being high-speed low-torque. The low-speed high-torque mode is designed to provide power to initially "break-loose" or otherwise activate the rotation of the auger, with the high-rotational speed being utilized for normal operation. The system is designed to automatically convert from the low-speed mode to the high-speed mode after only a short interval of time, such as may be required to complete from between 1 and 3 revolutions of the lift-auger.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for emptying packages, especially bags, of their contents is described. The bags are introduced through a casing (2) to a rotatable cutting, tumbling and feeding screw (4) for cutting, the contents of the cut bags (54) being removed through perforations (28) in the casing or wall portions (6) associated therewith. Separation is achieved by rotating the screw (4) in a first direction (B) for advancing the cut bags (54) to an end wall (6) of the casing (2) adjacent a rear end (62) of the screw where the bags are caused to tumble about within the casing (2) under the action of the screw rear end rotating in said first direction (B), for separating the contents from the cut bags (54).

Abstract: A worm reduction gear has a casing formed by a pair of tubes oriented at right angles between another and respectively receiving a wormwheel shaft and a wormshaft. In the tube receiving the wormwheel shaft, the wormwheel is flanked by a pair of bearings held by respective bushings prevented from axial displacement by C-clips received in respective grooves adjacent the respective end of that tube. The worm on the wormshaft meshing with the wormwheel is also supported by bearings in the respective tube and at one end of one tube, at least, and preferably an end of the tube receiving the wormwheel, a flange is formed.

Abstract: A conveyor system for use with rotary screw conveyors located side by side has a mechanical arrangement allowing individually adjusting the speed of each conveyor. One end of each conveyor has driven teeth disposed in a circle and coaxial with the rotation axis of the conveyor. Each conveyor is rotated by a circular disk rotating about an axis normal to the axis of the conveyor and provided with driving teeth disposed in a circle on the disk and positioned to mesh with the driven teeth of the conveyor. The driving teeth of each disk are individually mounted so that they may be moved between a working position where they mesh with the companion conveyor driven teeth and a non-working position where they are retracted wholly within the disk. By thus retracting some of the disk teeth, the rotation of the companion conveyor may be step-like, thus controlling its conveying capacity.

Abstract: A spraying system includes a screw conveyor to transmit material to be sprayed from a storage container to a spray nozzle. A predetermined torque is maintained on the screw to thereby maintain a predetermined pressure on the material within the conveyor, so that an instantaneous flow of material at a predetermined pressure can be obtained when the nozzle is opened. The pressure is preferably maintained by means of a hydraulic motor designed to stall at a predetermined torque. A heating jacket for housing heated oil surrounds the screw conveyor and provides heat necessary to maintain the material therein at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A novel method of injecting a back filling injection material employed in a shield-forming process is described herein. A screw type injection pump with a hopper connected to its intake port is utilized. This pump is rotated in a reverse direction to intake a back filling material into said hopper through a delivery hose connected to its delivery port. The upper limit pressure and a lower limit pressure for the injection pump are set for injection of the back filling material. The injection pump is next rotated in its normal direction to inject the back filling material to a desired location through the delivery hose, and then, after completion of the injection filling of the back filling material, the injection pump is rotated in a reversed direction again to intake water through the delivery hose, thereby washing of the hose and the injection pump can be effected.