Abstract: In the harvesting of legumes, apparatus having a plurality of rods mounted on a rotating axle provides a vibratory contact force to the seed containing pods to provide acceleration and impact forces to separate the seeds from the shells or pods containing the seeds, and an auger feeds the pods through the apparatus to optimize the time the pods are in contact with the rods.

Abstract: In the harvesting of legumes, apparatus having a plurality of rods mounted on a rotating axle provides a vibratory contact force to the seed containing pods to provide acceleration and impact forces to separate the seeds from the shells or pods containing the seeds.

Abstract: A mass flow cooler for cooling particulate material comprising a vertical bin having a top end, a bottom end, a material inlet near the top end and a material discharge in the bottom end; the material discharge comprising a plurality of orifices through which the particulate material may flow; a plurality of vertical, tubular heat exchanger elements, each having an open top end and a sealed bottom end and extending from the top of the bin toward the bottom of the bin; a plurality of fluid distribution tubes corresponding to the number of heat exchanger elements, each fluid distribution tube having an open top end and an open bottom end and extending through the top end of a corresponding heat exchanger element toward the bottom end of the heat exchanger element; each fluid distribution tube being connected to a source of cooling fluid; and a discharge orifice plate positioned below the material discharge for controlling the rate at which the material flows through the bin.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a system for making bags or the like from a continuous web or sheet of film material, the system including a perforator for imparting series of transverse perforations onto the web at regularly spaced intervals, which comprises a spreader roll having a reduced diameter portion between two enlarged diameter portions; a switch device located adjacent the reduced diameter portion; wherein the large diameter portions cause each series of perforation to pull apart and form a gap as the web is drawn over the spreader roll; and wherein the switch device is capable of being activated each time a gap passes in close proximity to the switch device.

Abstract: The horizontal wrapping machine of the type wherein a succession of articles are fed into a traveling tube of web material which is sealed longitudinally and severed and sealed between the articles to produce individual hermetically sealed packages. A variable speed motor drives a conveyor which may be provided with article feeding flights and a switch, actuated once each revolution of a timing shaft, provides a pulse corresponding to each flight on the article feeding conveyor. In addition an encoder driven by the variable speed drive motor shaft provides a digital velocity signal used as a reference signal for servo motors that may be coupled, in combination or individually, to drive web feed rolls, longitudinal sealing wheels and one or more sealing and severing heads. A delivery conveyor transporting individual packages may, through a suitable drive train, be driven by the variable speed drive motor.

Abstract: A brake lathe for truing brake rotors includes a tool holder driven by a direct current motor to move a cutting tool radially with respect to the rotor axis in direct proportion to the number of turns of the drive shaft of the direct current motor. A tool feed power control circuit maintains the direct current motor at constant speed regardless of radial forces acting upon the cutting tool and includes a converter/filter circuit, a regulator circuit, a sensing circuit, and a speed control circuit. A speed selection control includes a rheostat for providing a reference voltage corresponding to a select speed. The sensing circuit compares a voltage drop across the direct current motor to the reference voltage and produces an error voltage. The speed control circuit provides a direct current power voltage to the direct current motor in accordance with the error voltage output of the sensing circuit to maintain operation of the motor at constant speed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for rolling up web material which comprises a disk or turret rotatably mounted on a stationary frame and a plurality of mandrels rotatably mounted to the disk, each mandrel being indexable to each of a take-up position, a waiting position and a removal position through selective rotation of the disk, the improvement which comprises a source of compressed air connected to the frame adjacent the removal position, a separate vacuum tube apparatus connected to the frame adjacent the waiting position and being axially movable toward and away from the waiting mandrel, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum tube apparatus for creating a vacuum in the vacuum tube apparatus, the mandrels each comprising a longitudinal bore extending from an open end thereof and a plurality of radial nozzles communicating with the longitudinal bore, wherein the vacuum tube apparatus is selectively movable into contact with the open end of the waiting mandrel so that the vacuum is communicated through the nozzles to there

Abstract: In combination with a web winding machine comprising a spindle for winding up a web of material having a leading edge and an apparatus for transporting the web to the spindle, an air horn proximate the spindle having an arm, a first air tube connected to a forward portion of the arm and a second air tube connected to the arm rearward of the first air tube, wherein the arm comprises an inner surface generally conforming to the spindle and a plurality of apertures extending between each of the first and second air tubes and the inner surface; and wherein the first and second air tubes are connected with a source of air, whereby the air is directed through the apertures to force the leading edge up off of the conveyor belt and against the spindle.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making plastic bags or the like from a continuous film of material comprising a sealing drum having at least one seal bar for imparting transverse seals to the film at regularly spaced intervals and a perforator having a rotatable perforator blade for imparting transverse perforations to the film at regularly spaced intervals, the film comprising print marks appearing thereon at regularly spaced intervals, an apparatus and method are disclosed for tracking the positions of each print mark and each perforation and comparing the difference between these positions to a desired difference and thereafter adjusting the angular position of the perforator blade until the difference between the positions of each print mark and each perforation is equal to the desired difference to thereby maintain a desired spacing between each print mark and each perforation.

Abstract: A device for blending and conveying materials which comprises an elongated trough having an inlet end, a discharge end, and two spaced apart side walls; an apparatus for vibrating the trough; a first blending apparatus connected to the trough between the inlet end and the discharge end including a first lift located adjacent one of the side walls for elevating a first proportion of materials and a second lift located adjacent the other side wall for elevating a second proportion of materials, wherein each lift comprises a ramp connected to a generally horizontal platform; and first and second diverters connected to the first and second lifts, respectively, for folding the first and second proportions of materials over onto a third proportion of materials being conveyed along the trough between the first and second lifts.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting from water damage the electric motor which drives the cog rake bar screen of a waste water treatment plant. A shell of air impermeable material surrounds the motor and has an opening at the shell bottom to drain water. Various arrangements and devices prevent water or debris from entering the opening.

Abstract: A band-like safety bumper for an automatic guided vehicle has a hinge pin rigidly attached at either end with a lever rigidly attached to the pin. A proximity switch is located near the lever and sends control signals to stop the vehicle as a result of obstacle induced movement of the lever.