Abstract: A seed planter meter that orients plant seed and a delivery mechanism which can transport the seed to the soil while maintaining the seed's orientation during transport to the soil and encapsulation in the soil.

Abstract: A seed treatment apparatus provides for minimal waste of products for treating seeds, in that it is precisely controllable and automatically adjustable. A volume of seeds to be treated and a flow rate of treatment product for treating the seeds can both be sensed. At least one of the flow rate of the treatment product and the volume of seeds can automatically be adjusted if it is determined that a ratio of the flow rate of treatment product to the volume of seeds is not the same as a predetermined flow rate to volume ratio.

Abstract: A target module determines a target ratio between a speed of an input shaft and a speed of an output shaft of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) based on an accelerator pedal position. A maximum rate of change (ROC) module determines a maximum ROC of the target ratio. A switching valve control module, based on a comparison of the maximum ROC and a ROC of the target ratio, selectively actuates a switching valve of the CVT one of (i) from a closed position to an open position and (ii) from the open position to the closed position. The switching valve prevents transmission fluid flow through a flow path between a transmission fluid pump and a pressure regulator valve of the CVT when the switching valve is in the closed position. The switching valve allows transmission fluid flow through the flow path when the switching valve is in the open position.

Abstract: A switching valve control module selectively actuates a switching valve of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) either: (i) from a closed position to an open position; or (ii) from the open position to the closed position. The switching valve prevents and allows transmission fluid flow through a flow path between a transmission fluid pump and a pressure regulator valve of the CVT when the switching valve is in the closed position and the open position, respectively. An adjustment determination module determines a pressure adjustment when the switching valve actuates. A target pressure module determines a target pressure output from the pressure regulator valve. An adjusting module determines an adjusted target pressure based on the pressure adjustment and the target pressure. A regulator valve control module controls opening of the pressure regulator valve based on the adjusted target pressure.

Abstract: A device for producing a 3 dimensional shaped consolidated product. The device includes a rotary drum, defined as a rotary conveyor with a peripheral surface extending in circumferential direction with at least one product shaping area in the form of a cavity on said peripheral surface, the peripheral surface is pervious to air at least in the product shaping area, at least one material feed device to feed a base material into the at least one cavity, a vacuum device designed to generate a negative pressure at least in the at least one cavity, whereby the generated suction is directed towards the interior of the rotary conveyor, and whereby downstream of the material feed device at least one consolidating device is located such that at least a part of the filled cavity is subjected to a consolidating treatment whereby the base material at least partly will adhere to neighboring material.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for metering pulverulent filling material, comprising at least one metering wheel with a plurality of metering chambers for accommodating filling material, wherein a plurality of metering chambers are formed by means of a common component, and the common component can be displaced in the radial direction of the metering wheel using an adjusting means in order to change the volume of the metering chambers.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for metering pulverulent filling material, comprising at least one metering wheel with a plurality of metering chambers for accommodating filling material, wherein a plurality of metering chambers are formed by means of a common component, and the common component can be displaced in the radial direction of the metering wheel using an adjusting means in order to change the volume of the metering chambers.

Abstract: A powder dispensing apparatus is disclosed in which the apparatus includes a drum assembly 2. The drum assembly includes a support portion 10 and a foil 14 which are linearly movable relative to one another. The foil 14 has a plurality of through-apertures 25, and the support portion 10 includes a corresponding number of apertures 20. The base of each aperture 20 in the support portion is closed off by a piston 24. The apertures 25, 20 are aligned at a filling position where powder can fill a compartment. The foil 14 is then translated relative to the support portion 10 in order to close the compartments. The drum 2 can be rotated through 180° to a dispensing position. The foil 14 is moved so that the apertures 25, 20 are aligned and the pistons 24 can be used to dispense powder into a receptacle.

Abstract: A device for feeding charges of non-homogeneous infusion material to a packaging machine includes a metering device for the charges and transfer system for the charges which is positioned downstream of the metering device and which feeds the charges to the packaging machine. The transfer system includes a charge adjustment system equipped with a drum which is rotatable about its own axis A and at least one roller which is rotatable about its own axis B and which is located upstream of the drum. The drum includes a chamber for receiving the charge from the roller. During adjustment of the charge, the chamber is variable between a maximum value coinciding with the receiving step and a minimum value when the charge has been adjusted.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding bulk material into a high pressure conveying line. The feed assembly comprises a rotary feeder that has a material inlet for receiving bulk material from a low pressure source and a material outlet for discharging the bulk material into a higher pressure conveying line which is a source of leakage gas into the rotary feeder. The feeder has venting means to vent leakage gas through the material inlet without such leakage gas contacting the bulk material entering the feeder.

Abstract: A device for dosing and forming pods (1) containing a product for infusion and comprising a piece of filter material containing a dose of the product for infusion. The device comprises: a station (2) for feeding the product into at least one forming impression (3) defining a single dose of the product and made in means (4) for forming a respective compressed disk (5) of the infusion product and releasing the compressed disk (5) from the impression (3) in the filter material to form the pod (1).

Abstract: A device for metering product, includes a stationary stand, at least one block (6) mounted to pivot about an axis on the stand, and at least one metering chamber (8) having an axis that is transverse relative to the pivot axis of the block and that opens out laterally to the outside of the block, a delivery piston (10) being mounted in the metering chamber to slide parallel with the axis of the chamber. The piston is secured to a rack (11) engaging a pinion (12) that is mounted on the block to rotate about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the block. Drive elements for rotating the pinion are connected to the stand, and the device includes holder elements for holding the piston in a position that is substantially constant during pivoting of the block.

Abstract: A piston device for dispensing controlled amounts of pasty substances, such as ice creams, that is connectable to the freezing chamber of an ice cream making machine.

Abstract: A piston device for dispensing controlled amounts of pasty substances, such as ice creams, that is connectable to the freezing chamber of an ice cream making machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing media is provided. The apparatus has a rotating element having a cylindrical bore with a first end and a second end where the rotating element rotates the first end and the second end. The apparatus also includes a housing which has a fixed input port and a fixed output port where the housing encloses the rotating element. The first end and the second end of the rotating element intermittently switches between being aligned with the fixed input port and the fixed output port and being aligned with the fixed output port and the fixed input port, respectively. The apparatus also has a cylindrical piston contained within the cylindrical bore where the cylindrical piston has a length that is less than the cylindrical bore and switches from being closer to the fixed input port and the fixed output port.

Abstract: An apparatus for kneading portioned dough pieces comprises a drum (2) rotating around a horizontal axis and being provided on its periphery with alternatively disposed receiving openings (3,4) of different size for the dough to be kneaded. In each receiving opening (3,4) a piston (43) is guided in radial direction and a restricted guidance (48) is provided for the adjustment of these pistons. A change-over means (50) enables one to position always only one of the two sizes of the receiving openings (3,4) below the kneading device (25), so that this kneading device is common of all sizes of the receiving openings (3,4). Thereby, dough pieces having a large range of weight can be kneaded (FIG. 1).

Abstract: The material to be metered fills the cylinder 1 when it is in front of the admission orifice 31, whereupon the cylinder 1 moves opposite the delivery orifice 32 where the piston 2 describes a movement towards top dead center in order to eject said material out of the cylinder 1. The cylinder 1 then moves towards the admission orifice while the piston 2 remains at top dead center to avoid any return flow, whereupon the cycle starts over again.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling the dividing of a paste composition from the dispensing cavities in a carrier in which floatable pistons in the cavities regulate the amount of paste composition which is discharged from the respective dispensing cavities. The stroke of each piston in its respective cavity is controlled in an operative state to regulate the amount of paste composition discharged from each cavity and each piston is selectively locked in its respective cavity in an inoperative state to prevent discharge of paste composition from the respective cavity.

Abstract: A rotary volumetric piston dispenser is provided which receives material from a manifold assembly, portions that material while it traverses a path to a dispensing location, and dispenses the portioned material at the dispensing location. The rotary volumetric piston dispenser is suitable for timed communication with a movable belt or the like in order to deposit the portioned material according to a predetermined sequence. A camming assembly is also provided which is suitable for use within the rotary volumetric piston dispenser, the camming assembly including a cam track assembly having an adjustable camming pathway in order to vary the radial position of a radially movable element such as a piston while the element moves in a pattern that generally corresponds to the cam track assembly. The rotary volumetric piston dispenser is especially suitable for use in dispensing condiments, whether they be wet or dry, onto a moving surface, such as a plurality of proteinaceous patties spaced along a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A bread dough dispensing machine consisting of a drum (2) with a cylindrical hole (3) which runs from end to end and in which a piston (4) moves, both the drum (2) and the piston (4) having alternating movement which is transmitted to the drum (2) through a disk (9) and a rod (10) and to the piston (4) through a rotating arm (7) and a cam surface (8) which act on the end of the stem (5), the machine being equipped with a hopper (1) on the upper part of the drum (2) and an endless belt conveyor (11) on one side to which the dough is expelled.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for obtaining a uniform dose for filling containers with metered quantities of powdered materials. The powdered materials are drawn from a rotating container by a plurality of dosing devices which are advanced by a conveyor along a predetermined path, at least a portion of which extends above the movable container. Each of the dosing devices comprises a tubular punch vertically movable relative to the movable container and to the conveyor. A piston reciprocates inside each tubular punch. The punch has an open end facing the movable container to define within the punch a variable volume dosing chamber.

Abstract: A metering sleeve having radial openings in which radially extending plungers reciprocate to vary the effective volume of the openings, and a weight within the sleeve and connected to the plungers to reciprocate the latter in response to rotation of the sleeve. The plungers are loosely connected to the weight to lessen the tendency of the plungers to jam during rotation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A material-feeding apparatus having a casing provided with inlet and outlet openings. The casing encloses a rotor provided with circumferentially-arranged cylinders each fitted with a free piston. The cylinders progressively register with the inlet opening which is at or near atmospheric pressure and the outlet opening which is exposed to high pressure as the rotor is rotated intermittently by a drive mechanism. The casing and rotor are provided with a network of conduits which interconnect selected cylinders as the motor moves through one complete revolution and balances the pressure between the two extremes existing within the inlet and outlet openings. Fluid pressure slightly in excess of the pressure present within the outlet opening is fed to each cylinder is register with that opening to move the piston and discharge the material from the apparatus.

Abstract: The charcoal wheel is provided with pnuematic means for forcing the pistons outwardly to dispense charcoal and a second pneumatic means for the retraction of the pistons. The pneumatic ejection of the pistons permits a high speed output, for example 6000 inserts per minute i.e. more than twice the output of current state of the art machines. Each piston is made in one piece with an integral stop to limit the outward movement and the inward movement of the piston.

Abstract: Self-cleaning bucket wheel lock comprising several cells or compartments. The apparatus which permits coalescent material to be introduced into a closed apparatus comprises a casing with a material inlet and discharge outlet, and a rotor basket. The rotor basket is mounted in position on a drive shaft passing through the casing and an elastic hose is secured to the rotor basket. The hose enables the volume of each cell to be varied whenever the drive shaft is caused to rotate.

Abstract: A coal feed lock is provided for dispensing coal to a high pressure gas producer with nominal loss of high pressure gas. The coal feed lock comprises a rotor member with a diametral bore therethrough. A hydraulically activated piston is slidably mounted in the bore. With the feed lock in a charging position, coal is delivered to the bore and then the rotor member is rotated to a discharging position so as to communicate with the gas producer. The piston pushes the coal into the gas producer. The rotor member is then rotated to the charging position to receive the next load of coal.

Abstract: A device for feeding granular and dust coal to a coal-gasifying reactor which operates under a pressure of 5 to 150 bars. A stationary housing is connected to the coal inlet of the reactor and a lock chamber member is rotatedly mounted therein. The lock chamber member is movable between coal-receiving position and a coal-discharging position. The lock chamber member has at least one chamber which is open only at one end and contains a displacing device which extends approximately to the entrance of the chamber. The displacing device substantially prevents an ingress of product gas into the chamber when in the discharge position.

Abstract: Two spaces are provided, one of which is at a higher pressure than the other. A transfer arrangement serves for transferring a finely divided solid material, e.g., a combustible fuel, from one to the other space, usually from the lower-pressure space into the higher-pressure space. This arrangement includes a housing bounding a spherical chamber having two openings each of which communicates with one of the spaces. A spherical body is located turnably in the housing and provided with a blind bore the open end of which can be placed into communication with one or the other of the openings, depending upon the turning of the spherical body. A piston is reciprocable in this bore and can be retracted to draw a quantity of solid material into the blind bore when the open end thereof registers with one of the openings, and can be advanced for expelling the quantity when the open end registers with the other of the openings. A direct communication between the two spaces is therefore reliably avoided at all times.

Abstract: The invention relates in the first instance to apparatus for dispensing granular material, for example plastics granules dosed with a coloring agent. Granular material and the coloring agent are located in supply hoppers and metering means feed predetermined metered quantities to a mixing device which supplies the dosed material to a supply hopper. The apparatus is arranged to operate when the level of dosed material in the supply hopper falls below a predetermined level, whereupon actuation of the metering means causes automatic replenishment to that level.In a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a shroud, such that the materials are discharged within the shroud to contact a mixer blade and then fed to the injection molding machine.The invention also contemplates a metering device including a cylinder with an opening in its wall to communicate with a measuring chamber located within the body of the cylinder.