Abstract: A grain for the storage of grain millions of bushels of grain comprises a floor, a peripheral wall and a flexible covering. The grain bin includes an unloading system which enables the grain to be unloaded from the grain bin without the need to remove the covering and which substantially reduces the dust typically produced during unloading of currently used temporary grain bins.

Abstract: A position encoder provides one or more trigger outputs based on position signals developed within the encoder, in addition to traditional position output signals used by other system components such as a motion controller. The trigger outputs may be used directly by a triggered device, bypassing the motion controller and obviating any separate trigger generation electronics. The trigger output(s) can be fully synchronous with the encoder's position output signal(s) with essentially no latency or jitter, increasing accuracy and providing improved system performance. The trigger functionality can be incorporated in a variety of encoder types (e.g., absolute and incremental) and technologies (optical, magnetic, inductive etc.), and used in conjunction with different position output signal formats (e.g., quadrature, serial).

Abstract: A grain turner for turning grain in a drying tower includes opposed generally vertical side walls and a generally vertical dividing plate (which is shorter than the side walls) extending between the side walls; the dividing plate defining inner and an outer vertical channels in a portion of the turner. An inner inclined plate is pivotally connected to one side wall to be within the inner channel and an outer inclined plate is connected to the other side wall to be within the outer channel. The inclined plates are pivotal between a first position in which they are inclined downwardly in a opposite widthwise directions and a second position in which they are generally adjacent their respective side walls. The inclined plates have a length such that when they are in the first position, their lower edges are proximate a bottom of the divider plate.

Abstract: A burner assembly for a grain bin for heating air moving through the assembly to dry grain in the bin. The burner assembly has a collector adapted to receive fuel from a fuel line. A burner housing attaches to the collector receives fuel from the fuel line. A nozzle is secured to the burner. A flame diverter downstream from the burner housing diverts the flame outwardly from the burner nozzle toward the housing wall. A flame cone having a slope generally similar to the slope of the diverter is positioned near the burner to define a gap between the inside face of the diverter and the outer surface of the flame cone so as to provide a path for the burning fuel to travel from the burner outwardly toward the housing walls for a more complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of laser processing methods and systems, and specifically, to laser processing methods and systems for laser processing multi-material devices. Systems and methods may utilize high speed deflectors to improve processing energy window and/or improve processing speed. In some embodiments, a deflector is used for non-orthogonal scanning of beam spots. In some embodiment, a deflector is used to implement non-synchronous processing of target structures.

Abstract: A method of optimising the focus of a fibre laser is described, which comprises positioning the output of a fibre laser relative to a workpiece; measuring at least a portion of back reflected radiation from the workpiece (step 52); determining an integral of this; changing the relative position of the output and the workpiece one or more times (step 54,56), each time determining an integral of values for the back-reflection, and using the integrals to determine optimum focus.

Abstract: A method for controlling the advancement of a grain bin sweep into a grain pile in a grain bin comprises monitoring the amperage of the auger drive and controlling the sweep drive motor based on the amperage load of the auger drive. The speed and direction of the sweep is controlled to maintain the load on the auger drive in a desired range. Hence, the speed of the sweep is slowed if the amperage load on the auger drive exceeds a desired maximum set point by a first amount; the direction of the sweep is reversed if the load on the auger drive exceeds the maximum set point by a second amount which is greater than the first amount; and the forward speed of the sweep is increased if the load on the auger drive falls below a minimum.

Abstract: A plank (10) used to construct a platform such as a catwalk (C3, C4) extending about the exterior or interior of a building (B) includes first and second generally horizontal sections (12, 24). The second generally horizontal section of the plank extends from one side of the first section. During construction of the platform, the first section of one plank overlaps the second section of an adjacent plank. A third generally vertical section (52) of the plank extends generally perpendicularly from one side of the second section and includes lips (58, 60) at its inner and outer ends for attaching the plank to toe boards (40,44) to secure the plank to the frames. When installed, the planks extend from a side of the building. The resulting catwalk extends either in a straight line, or is curved, depending upon the amount of overlap the first and second sections of the respective planks.

Abstract: An animal feeder is provided having a movable gate between a hopper portion and a trough portion of the feeder. An adjustment mechanism is positioned on the hopper wall above gate and is operable to adjust the position of the gate, and hence, the size of the opening between the hopper and trough. The adjustment mechanism allows for easy control of the size of the opening between the hopper and the trough.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprising a plurality of inputs comprising optical fibres which have a non-circular core cross-section, the fibres having a proximal end for receiving light from a respective diode emitter and a distal end, the fibres being combined at their distal ends and joined to a single output fibre which has a circular core cross-section, whereby in use light from a plurality of diode emitters is combined and output through the single output fibre.

Abstract: A corner assembly for a tube conveyor system comprises a housing defining a wheel receiving area and a flow path with ports at opposite ends of the flow path. A wheel rotatably received in the wheel receiving area comprises a rim having an upper surface and a lower surface; a pair of spaced apart channels formed in at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the rim; and at least one flapper pivotally mounted to the wheel inside of the rim. The flapper is freely movable between a position in which it is aligned with a wall of one of the channels and a position in which it is aligned with a wall of the other of the channels. Thus, when the wheel rotates, the flapper will sweep any material in the wheel receiving area towards and through one of the channels and into the flow path.

Abstract: An impactor is externally securable to a container of flowable material to break up bridging or clumping of the material in the container. The impactor comprises a strike plate mountable to an outlet hopper or the like and a drive which axially reciprocally moves the hammer, such that operation of the drive causes the hammer to impact the strike plate to thereby pass vibrations into the container.

Abstract: A method makes a discrete adjustment to static alignment of a laser beam in a machine for selectively irradiating conductive links on or within a semiconductor substrate using the laser beam. The laser beam propagates along a beam path having an axis extending from a laser to a laser beam spot at a location on or within the semiconductor substrate. The method generates, based on at least one measured characteristic of the laser beam, at least one signal to control an adjustable optical element of the machine affecting the laser beam path. The method also sends said at least one signal to the adjustable optical element. The method then adjusts the adjustable optical element in response to said at least one signal so as to improve static alignment of the laser beam path axis.

Abstract: A feed level sensor for a poultry feeding system is positioned within the drop tube of a control feeder of the feeding system. The sensor comprise a first light emitter/light detector pair to detect when the level of feed in the drop tube falls below a predetermined “empty” level and a second light emitter/light detector pair to detect when feed in the drop tube is at a predetermined “full” level in the drop tube. The sensor emits a “start” signal to activate a drive to deliver feed to the feeders along a feed line when it is detected that feed in the control feeder drop tube falls below the “empty” level and emits a “stop” signal to deactivate the drive when it detects that feed within the drop tube is at the “full” level.

Abstract: Laser pulses are selected from a group of closely spaced laser pulses with an optical modulator by adjusting pulse timing relative to an impingement interval. An adjusted pulse is moved from an impingement interval to a non-impingement interval and is blocked. The blocked laser source is stabilized by running nearly continuously. Pulse selection with multiple laser sources is achieved with a single acousto-optic modulator.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of fabricating a mirror for use in limited rotation motor systems, said method comprising the steps of providing a mirror structure including at least one wall section, and exposing the at least one wall section to a fluid etching agent to thereby provide chemical milling of the mirror structure.

Abstract: A combined plenum divider/hopper is provided for a grain drying tower. The divider/hopper is positioned in the drying tower proximate the heater for the drying tower and is operable to adjust the ratio of the length of the heating portion of the plenum to the length of the cooling portion of the plenum.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of laser processing that includes the steps of: generating a sequence of RF pulses corresponding to a sequence of laser pulses having a laser pulse repetition rate, the RF pulses including transmitting RF pulses at transmitting RF frequencies and non-transmitting RF pulses at non-transmitting RF frequencies for causing the sequence of laser pulses to be deflected in respective transmitting and non-transmitting directions, each RF pulse comprising an RF frequency, an RF amplitude and a duration; controlling each RF pulse such that the sequence of RF pulses provides a modulated RF drive signal that is modulated to provide a balanced thermal loading on the acousto-optic deflector; applying the modulated RF drive signal to the acousto-optic deflector; and deflecting at least one laser pulse with the acousto-optic deflector using the modulated RF drive signal to irradiate a selected target position with a predetermined pulse energy.

Abstract: A corner assembly for a tube conveyor system comprises a housing defining a wheel receiving area and a flow path with ports at opposite ends of the flow path. A wheel rotatably received in the wheel receiving area comprises a rim having an upper surface and a lower surface; a pair of spaced apart channels formed in at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the rim; and at least one flapper pivotally mounted to the wheel inside of the rim. The flapper is freely movable between a position in which it is aligned with a wall of one of the channels and a position in which it is aligned with a wall of the other of the channels. Thus, when the wheel rotates, the flapper will sweep any material in the wheel receiving area towards and through one of the channels and into the flow path.

Abstract: A method, system and scan lens for use therein are provided for high-speed, laser-based, precise laser trimming at least one electrical element along a trim path. The method includes generating a pulsed laser output with a laser, the output having one or more laser pulses at a repetition rate. A fast rise/fall time, pulse-shaped q-switched laser or an ultra-fast laser may be used. Beam shaping optics may be used to generate a flat-top beam profile. Each laser pulse has a pulse energy, a laser wavelength within a range of laser wavelengths, and a pulse duration. The wavelength is short enough to produce desired short-wavelength benefits of small spot size, tight tolerance, high absorption and reduced or eliminated heat-affected zone (HAZ) along the trim path, but not so short so as to cause microcracking. In this way, resistance drift after the trimming process is reduced.