Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically placing valve vented bags on a filling spout. The apparatus includes a first table disposed adjacent a bag conveyor for sequentially receiving individual bags from the conveyor. A first bag clamp is disposed adjacent the first table for sequentially clamping the bags against the table. A first retractable suction cup device cooperates with the bags for opening the valve vent of clamped bags. A first bag gripper is located on a first carriage supported and guided by a first pair of rails. The first pair of rails are pivotally mounted such that the first carriage is alternately guided to a plurality of filling spouts. The gripper grips the open valve vented bag and transfers the open bag to one of the plural filling spouts.

Abstract: An improved process for making cement wherein aragonite, a natural orthorombic crystalline form of calcium carbonate, is employed in a substantially dry, naturally recovered, unprocessed state as the calcium carbonate constituent. The raw kiln feed of the aragonite and argillaceous materials can be introduced into the kiln together and/or separately to produce the desired raw kiln clinker feed within the kiln. The argillaceous material employed can be in a substantially dry state or can be present as an aqueous slurry.

Abstract: A cement of the same general characteristics of a normal Type I is provided which involves the intergrind of from 1 up to about 25 parts by weight of air-cooled iron blast furnace slag, and from over 75 up to 99 parts by weight of conventional Type I Portland clinker. Traditional set control additives, particularly such as sulfate provided through gypsum, are used in the new cement composition. It is particularly noted that the slag involved is air-cooled, as contrasted to an amorphous material obtained by water quenching. In some respects the new product is better than traditional Type I, and can thus be referred to as an improved Type I.

Abstract: A solid controlled release fertilizer of a discrete particle of a fertilizer material encapsulated within a coating of partially hydrated cement is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the partially hydrated cement coated fertilizer particle is encapsulated within a thin semipermeable elastomer coating. In another embodiment, the thin semipermeable elastomer is in turn encapsulated within a second partially hydrated cement coating which contains micronutrient trace elements.

Abstract: An improved expansive cement composition is provided which has the increased capability of being able to " grab" steel reinforcement members therewithin as the material is curing and expanding to result in effective stressing of the reinforcement members. This cement is made of particulate argillaceous and calcareous materials, and contains from about 1 to about 70% by weight of free CaO and from about 2 to about 7% by weight of MgO uniformly distributed therein, with the remaining portion being primarily tricalcium silicate and containing substantially no dicalcium silicate.