Abstract: A helical spring coupling for coupling together two helical spring ends, particularly two ends of a carrier in the form of a helical spring in a conveyor, comprises a coupler which is in engagement with both helical spring end portions. Over a certain distance the turns of the two helical spring end portions are turned coaxially into one another and lie one against the other in the axial direction. The turns fit into a helical groove formed in the coupler and whose pitch coincides with the pitch of the turns.The coupler may consist of an elongate core part having a helical rib provided on its outer peripheral surface, the groove being formed in the outer side of the rib. The two helical spring end portions may be fixed by one or more threaded bolts extending transversely through the coupler and pressing against the turns of the helical spring end portions in the groove.

Abstract: A device for the collection of eggs includes a number of egg conveyor belts lying above one another, an egg discharge belt and a device disposed between the egg conveyor belts and the egg discharge belt for transferring eggs from the egg conveyor belts to the egg discharge belt. The transfer device includes an essentially vertically arranged endless egg conveyor which at the top and bottom thereof is guided over reversing mechanisms. The egg conveyor has a first part which can move up past the ends of egg conveyor belts, and a second part which can move down past the egg discharge belt.The egg conveyor is provided with egg accommodation elements disposed abutting one after the other in the lengthwise direction of the egg conveyor, the egg accommodation elements being essentially U-shaped, when viewed in the transverse direction of the egg conveyor, and open towards the outside, and extending over the width of the egg conveyor.

Abstract: A device for feeding animals, in particular pigs and piglets, comprises a feed pan, a superstructure and feed supply means for supplying feed to the feed pan. The feed supply means which are mainly situated inside an extension piece being part of the superstructure comprise a feed supply pipe, a coaxial closing element and a coaxial rotor. The closing element is movable between an upper position in which it closes the feed supply pipe and a lower position in which it is coupled with the rotor so that it functions as a feed distribution element when the rotor is turned by the snouts of feeding animals. The rotor is provided with vanes. The shape of the vanes is such that during rotation of the rotor the vanes scrape away caking feed. The feed pan and the extension piece are preferably made of polyester concrete.

Abstract: A device is provided for counting moving objects, such as eggs lying on a moving conveyor belt. This device comprises a lever which can be moved by the moving objects, a signalling element for generating a detectable signal as a response to a movement of the lever, and a coupling and resetting mechanism for transmitting the movement of the lever to the signalling element and for automatically resetting both the lever and the signalling element during a decrease in the size of the portion of a moving object which is in contact with the lever, after a preceding increase thereof and the associated generation of a signal. The coupling and resetting mechanism comprises an essentially cylindrical drum which is rotatable about a shaft and which is provided with a projecting part extending essentially in a radial direction for operating the signalling element. A cord is looped round the drum.