Abstract: A method and system for receiving, processing, and stunning poultry in a poultry processing facility includes an receiving system for receiving and unloading live poultry from a transport vehicle, a controlled atmosphere stunning system, a stunned poultry hanging station for receiving and transferring stunned poultry to another facility for further processing, such as slaughtering the stunned poultry. Shuttle conveyors and cage pushers coordinate to unload cages of live poultry from the transport vehicle and begin conveying the cages toward the stunning system. Accumulators, cage de-stackers, cage stackers, cage washers, tilted conveyors, and other features may be included with the system.

Abstract: An automated oyster maturation system including a containment assembly rotatably disposed within a housing. The containment assembly includes a spiral construction that includes compartments that are in communication with one another, walls that define the compartments, and ramps. Openings disposed in the walls and ramps increase in size from the outer diameter to the inner diameter of the spiral construction so that, with every complete rotation of the containment assembly, every oyster will tumble further into the spiral construction and ascend from its original compartment into the adjacent inner compartment where opening size is larger than in the original compartment such that only oysters which have grown sufficiently can remain in the adjacent inner compartment while oysters that have not grown sufficiently yet will fall through the openings of the adjacent inner compartment into the original compartment.

Abstract: A method and system for stunning poultry with carbon dioxide gas includes initially establishing an initial elevated CO2 concentration in an initial stun chamber, and then lowering a cage for live poultry downwardly through an open top of the initial stun chamber. The cage is held there for an initial time period, after which the cage is moved into an intermediate stun chamber, where an intermediate elevated CO2 concentration is established. The cage is held in the intermediate stun chamber for an intermediate period of time, after which it is moved into a final stun chamber, where a final elevated CO2 concentration is established. The cage is held in the final stun chamber for a final period of time, and the cage is then raised upwardly through an open top of the final stun chamber and out into an ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image including: a photoreceptor; a charging apparatus for charging the photoreceptor; and exposure apparatus for exposing an image onto the charged photoreceptor and forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; a development apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor; and a plural kinds of air flow paths for discharging air out of the apparatus by ventilating the air in an axial direction of the photoreceptor; wherein air flow directions in the plural kinds of air flow paths are made to be one and the same direction.

Abstract: An electrostatic image developing toner comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner contains a mixture of: (i) a compound represented by Formula (3); and (ii) a compound represented by Formula (1) and/or (2), wherein R1 to R8 each represent an alkyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and X represents H or —CO—R9, wherein R9 represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms:

Abstract: A combination gang saw and edger system cuts both cants and flitches into boards. Cants and flitches are fed singly, lengthwise into the system on an infeed conveyor. On the conveyor, the cant or flitch is scanned to produce a lengthwise cross-sectional profile. An optimizer determines whether the profile is for a cant or flitch and determines how the piece will be cut. A controller responsive to the optimizer directs the positioning of a first and second set of saws on a pivotably mounted saw arbor to cut either a cant or flitch, respectively. The boards cut from the cant or flitch are fed outfed from the system. The system can cut cants with longitudinal curvature and can cut cants or flitches that are placed at an angle to the length of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: A combination gang saw and edger system cuts both cants and flitches into boards. Cants and flitches are fed singly, lengthwise into the system on an infeed conveyor. On the conveyor, the cant or flitch is scanned to produce a lengthwise cross-sectional profile. An optimizer determines whether the profile is for a cant or flitch and determines how the piece will be cut. A controller responsive to the optimizer directs the positioning of a first and second set of saws on a pivotably mounted saw arbor to cut either a cant or flitch, respectively. The boards cut from the cant or flitch are fed outfed from the system. The system can cut cants with longitudinal curvature and can cut cants or flitches that are placed at an angle to the length of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: An improved tool holder, such as a shave tool (20), broadly includes: an adapter plate (23) adapted to be mounted on the screw machine (21) for controlled movement toward and away from the workpiece (W); a tool block (24) slidably mounted on the adapter plate for relative movement relative thereto along a first axis (x—x); a slide body (25) mounted on the tool block for rotation relative thereto about a second axis (y—y), an adjustment mechanism (28) acting between the slide body and the tool block for controllably varying the angular position of the slide body relative to the tool block; and a head (26) slidably mounted on the slide body for movement relative thereto along a third axis (z—z). The head has a roller (22) and cutting tool (T) spaced from the roller.

Abstract: A thread rolling attachment (50) is adapted to be mounted on a machine tool and to be selectively moved in an axially direction relative to a workpiece (W) having a cylindrical surface upon which a thread is to be rolled.

Abstract: A tangential rolling attachment (20) for a machine tool, broadly includes a body (21); a pair of arms (22L, 22R) having their proximal marginal end portions (23L, 23R) pivotally mounted on the body and having distal marginal end portions (24L, 24R). The arms are biased to move in opposite angular directions such that the distal marginal end portions thereof will be urged to move away from one another. A roll (28L, 28R) is mounted on the distal marginal end portion of each arm for imparting an action to a workpiece when the attachment is moved to tangentially engage the workpiece. A wedge (29) is mounted on the body for movement relative thereto in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. An actuator (30) mounted on the body for selectively moving the wedge relative to the body to vary the spacing between the axes of the rolls. The improved rolling head may also incorporate a quick-release mechanism (33L, 33R) for mounting a roll on the arm of the machine tool attachment.

Abstract: A tangential rolling attachment (20) for a machine tool, broadly includes a body (21); a pair of arms (22L, 22R) having their proximal marginal end portions (23L, 23R) pivotally mounted on the body and having distal marginal end portions (24L, 24R). The arms are biased to move in opposite angular directions such that the distal marginal end portions thereof will be urged to move away from one another. A roll (28L, 28R) is pmounted on the distal marginal end portion of each arm for imparting an action to a workpiece when the attachment is moved to tangentially engage the workpiece. A wedge (29) is mounted on the body for movement relative thereto in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the workpiece. An actuator (30) mounted on the body for selectively moving the wedge relative to the body to vary the spacing between the axes of the rolls. The improved rolling head may also incorporate a quick-release mechanism (33L, 33R) for mounting a roll on the arm of the machine tool attachment.

Abstract: An improved end-working attachment (30) for a screw machine or a rotary transfer machine is particularly suited for use in rolling threads on a workpiece. The attachment broadly comprises: a slide base (31) having an axis (y-y); at least two members (32, 32) mounted on the slide base for sliding movement in a radial direction toward and away from the slide base axis; a tool, such as a thread die (33), on each member; an infeed mechanism (34) for selectively causing the slide members to move toward the slide base axis such that said tools will engage said workpiece; and a return mechanism (35) for urging the members to move away from the slide base axis.

Abstract: A rigid tool slide support is disposed to be mounted in a screw machine in either of two different operating positions in each of which a tool slide reciprocates on the upper surface of the support to convey a cutting tool to and from the work that is to be machined. Projecting centrally from the bottom surface of the slide is an elongate, dovetail shaped guide which is slidably mounted in a similarly shaped but slightly wider recess in the support. Secured in the recess of the support adjacent one side thereof, and slidably engaged with a confronting side of the dovetail guide of the slide, is an elongate expansion gib having therein an adjusting screw that is rotatably adjustable to expand or contract the length of the gib, thereby to adjust the running clearance between the support and the slide.

Abstract: The attachment includes a generally U-shaped bracket having a pair of roll arms which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the outer ends, respectively, the two arms of the U-shaped bracket. Each roll arm has a thread roll rotatably mounted on its outer end and a roller follower rotatably mounted on its inner end. The bracket is secured on the slide of a screw machine for reciprocation thereby in a direction selectively to engage the thread rolls tangentially with diametrally opposite sides of a rotating workpiece that is to be threaded.

Abstract: Chipping heads are mounted for lateral movement in one dimension in a gang saw module which is itself moveable translationally in the first dimension and angularly in a second dimension, for skewing relative to an in-feed direction of a curved cant. The chipping heads are mounted on an in-feed side of the gang saw assembly. Stationary drive motors are mounted directly above the chipping heads, supported by a tower that is independent of the gang saw module. Vertical drive lines with U-joints drivingly connect the drive motors to the chipping heads while permitting the chipping heads to be moved normal to the axes of rotation of the drive motors. The motors are centered above the chipping heads, with their vertical drive axes midway between lateral endpoints in each dimension of the range of travel of the chipping heads. Motor spacing above the chipping heads and the drive line lengths are sufficient to accommodate that range of lateral travel.

Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a plurality of dryer modules, each module creating a drying zone and having a plurality of tubes disposed above and below an upper surface of a conveyor that supports a product within the apparatus for transport therethrough. At least one circulation fan in each module causes heated air to circulate to the tubes, which direct the air flow to impinge upon and dry the product. Each module also includes a burner for heating the air within the module to a desired temperature. The circulation fan and burner of each module are independently controllable, so that the apparatus can produce an air-flow rate and an air temperature in at least one of the drying zones different than the air-flow rate and air temperature in at least one other of the drying zones.

Abstract: A layer of a substance such as a metal, non-metal or metal alloy is deposited, preferably by sputtering, onto the surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The adatoms of the deposited layer are mobilized by being bombarded with a flux of low energy neutral atoms or molecules at an oblique angle of incidence to enhance step coverage and/or planarization of the semiconductor wafer. The neutral atoms or molecules are formed within the plasma by applying a negative bias potential to a reflector electrode which will attract positive ions from the plasma. The neutral atoms or molecules elastically scatter from the surface of the electrode to bombard the adatoms being deposited during the operation of the sputter source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for applying a uniform layer of a fluid material such as photoresist onto the surface of a rotating workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer. A dispensing nozzle is provided with a rectangular or oblong shaped opening for painting a broad swath of the fluid material onto the surface of the workpiece while the nozzle moves along a radial path inwardly from the peripheral edge of the workpiece. The use of a rectangular or oblong shaped nozzle opening minimizes the amount of fluid material being consumed while providing a uniform thin film coating on the workpiece surface.

Abstract: A device for cooling a sputter target of a deposition apparatus utilizes an annular shaped member of high thermal conductivity disposed between the cathode and the target electrode. The member is constructed of a base disposed in a corresponding recess in the cathode, or integrally formed therewith, and a member projecting perpendicularly from the base disposed in a corresponding annular shaped recess in the target electrode. One or more members are disposed proximate a source of cooling water applied to the cathode, and at points of greatest power flux in the target electrode. Upon heating, the target electrode expands radially against the members, thereby effecting reduction in the temperature of the target electrode.