Abstract: A filling apparatus for filling containers, and a method of operation, are disclosed, whereby a plurality of container carriers are movable along an upper container guideway of the apparatus. Notably, a pair of servo drives in the form of linear actuators act generally in opposition to each other, at opposites ends to the container carriers movable along the container guideway, to accurately index and position the container carriers with respect to associated filling equipment. Servo-driven transfer wheels, positioned at respective opposite ends of the upper container guideway, effect movement of the containers to and from a return conveyor positioned beneath the upper container guideway, whereby the container carriers are moved from the downstream end of the filling region back to the upstream end thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a conveyor in a mining system. The conveyor includes a chain, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a drive mechanism, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The method includes receiving a first signal associated with a characteristic of at least one of a first sprocket or a second sprocket, determining a value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket based on the first signal, receiving a second signal associated with a characteristic of a chain, and determining a value for the characteristic of the chain based on the second signal. The method further includes comparing the value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket and the value for the characteristic of the chain and determining the amount of slack in the chain based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for dispensing bulk material from storage is provided. The system comprises a plurality of stationary storage silos adapted to store the bulk material therein. A plurality of movable hoppers may be moveably positioned adjacent a bulk material chute of each storage silo to unload the bulk material therein. Once loaded with the bulk material, each movable hopper may then be positioned adjacent an input opening of a vehicle to unload the bulk material therein.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing an article from an article dispensing machine by reducing the amount of time for completing a transaction involving the article is provided. A request related to a selected article and payment information for a balance related to the selected article may be received at the article dispensing machine through a user interface. The payment information may be validated, and simultaneously and in parallel, the selected article may be retrieved from a storage unit in the article dispensing machine. The selected article may be dispensed from the article dispensing machine if the payment information is valid. If the payment information is not valid, the selected article may be returned to the storage unit. Quicker dispensing of articles during consumer transactions with the article dispensing machine may result. The articles may include media articles, such as DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and video game discs.

Abstract: Conveyor belt cleaners are disclosed having a scraper blade for removing aggregate material from a belt surface. Embodiments are disclosed in which a cleaner includes a tensioner assembly; in some embodiments a tensioner assembly comprises a tension adjustment subassembly.

Abstract: A device for sorting objects includes an input conveyor device with a plurality of input storage devices, which are movable in an input conveying direction. A loading station loads each input storage device with one object. An output conveyor device has a plurality of output storage devices, which are movable in an output conveying direction. A sorting end point discharges the objects. A first transfer region, in which the input conveyor device and the output conveyor device are arranged, allows objects to be transferred from the input storage devices into the output storage devices. A second transfer region, separate from the first transfer region, in which the output conveyor device and the sorting end point are arranged transfers objects from the output storage devices to the sorting end point. An additional sorting end point in the second transfer region enables more flexibly operation of the sorting device.

Abstract: A vending machine that dispense feminine hygiene products. Specifically, this invention is a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses sanitary napkins and tampons. This invention allows a user to purchase a feminine hygiene product by placing a coin or multiple coins in a slot within the vending machine and pressing a product release button. The product is then dispensed to the consumer. The apparatus also provides a mechanism for retrieving a coin in the event that the vending machine is out of a specific feminine hygiene. Further, in the free condition, this product dispenser has a time delay to prevent users from rapidly removing all of the products.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting containers, having a circumferential transport path and at least one transport element which is arranged such as to be movable relative to this circumferential transport path, wherein this transport element can be driven at least partially by a magnetic force, wherein the transport path has a plurality of magnetic elements and at least one magnetizable element is also arranged on the transport element, and wherein a movement of the transport element relative to the transport path can be achieved by actuating the magnetic elements of the transport path. According to the invention, an electrically operated working element, which can be supplied inductive with electrical energy, is arranged on the transport element.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium to store inventory information pertaining to items stored in a dispensary system; receive a request from a user via a user device to retrieve one of the items from the dispensary system; determine whether the dispensary system stores the one of the items based on the inventory information; validate an identity of the user, a location of the user, date and time, and a location of the dispensary system; determine which of the lockers of the dispensary system stores the one of the items, in response to a successful validation; transmit to the user via the user device, a message indicating one of the lockers in which the one of the items is stored; and transmit to the dispensary system, a command to open the one of the lockers.

Abstract: The present application provides a cutlery dispenser for use with a number of cutlery utensils. The cutlery dispenser may include a housing and a front cover. The front cover may include a dispensing opening and a spring loaded retainer such that the cutlery utensils may be loaded through the front cover and may be dispensed therefrom.

Abstract: A container gripper adapted for mounting on a container carrying (transport) chain of a container processing machine, the gripper body having a body portion with first and second banks of upstanding resilient, elastomeric fingers upstanding thereof, wherein the fingers of the first bank cross over the fingers of the second bank at upper portions of each finger to allow the upper ends of the fingers to contact and grip a container in a scissor-like manner.

Abstract: A container gripping device for use on machines which are used for filling, capping, sterilizing, or the like containers, particularly fluid containers such as plastic bottles, wherein the device has a base adapted for attachment to a conveyor like chain, and has a container gripping body mounted on the base, and wherein the base and body have cooperating elements of a quick release locking structure for stabilizing the mounting and configuration of lengthy gripper bodies on gripper bases.

Abstract: A removable, adjustable product magazine for use in an article dispensing system includes a central support member including a back wall connected to a base, first and second sidewalls, and a follower. The central support and the sidewalls cooperatively define a product compartment having a front opening. The sidewalls include fastener slots for connecting the follower to one of the sidewalls. Advancement of the follower adjusts the depth of the compartment. Each of the sidewalls has front, rear, and bottom flanges for retaining products within the magazine, connecting the sidewalls to the back wall and base. The base and backwall have fastener slots for adjustable connection of the sidewalls, thereby enabling adjustment of the width of the compartment. The sidewall front flanges terminate above the base to provide a product exit port. The back wall includes an ejector port for providing access to an ejector cylinder to expel product units.

Abstract: Disclosed are a customized scent diffusing device and a customized scent diffusing method for effectively transferring sensibility which can be felt from contents to a user by diffusing a most appropriate scent by synchronization with digital contents. According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, although odor effect information in 4D contents does not correspond to a spice cartridge configuration in a scent diffusing device, an appropriate odor can be provided through combining or mixing spice cartridges in the scent diffusing device.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser array includes a plurality of separate bins, with each bin defined by a housing having a defined first internal space for receipt of first stack of interconnected lottery tickets. A plurality of different sized bin inserts are also provided, with each bin insert insertable into the bin housings and defining a second internal space that is less than the first internal space of the housing for receipt of a second stack of lottery tickets having a lesser individual length than the first stack of lottery tickets. A controller within each bin housing recognizes placement and size of the bin insert within the housing. The controller is in communication with an electronic drive mechanism to modify operation thereof to accommodate the lesser individual length of the lottery tickets in the second stack of lottery tickets.

Abstract: The ordered food and drink conveying apparatus includes: a main belt conveyor to form a conveying path leading to a customer seat from a kitchen side of a restaurant; an auxiliary belt conveyor to be provided in extension from the main belt conveyor on the kitchen side to elongate the conveying path; and a control unit to operate the auxiliary belt conveyor and the main belt conveyor upon a conveyance start operation being performed and to convey the dish of the food and drink placed on the auxiliary belt conveyor to the customer seat, the control unit setting the auxiliary belt conveyor in a stop state enabling placement of the dish to be conveyed next on the auxiliary belt conveyor before stopping the main belt conveyor upon the dish being transferred onto the main belt conveyor from the auxiliary belt conveyor by performing the conveyance start operation.

Abstract: A transfer conveyor apparatus has a horizontally oriented receiving hopper defined by walls and a floor. A transition auger slopes upward and rearward from a bottom end thereof located in a rear portion of the receiving hopper. A plurality of hopper augers extend from the front wall to the rear portion of the receiving hopper. A right hopper auger is in proximity to and parallel to the right side wall and a left hopper auger is in proximity to and parallel to the left side wall. The hopper auger shafts are parallel and spaced apart by a spacing distance substantially equal to or less than the hopper auger diameter, and an auger drive is operative to rotate the hopper augers and the transition auger.

Abstract: A grain elevator system and method are disclosed, where the grain elevator system includes a grain elevator, a grain elevator paddle, and/or a grain elevator paddle insert. When the grain elevator system includes a sensor attached to a side of the grain elevator, the grain elevator paddle may be configured to include a divider piece for biasing grain towards the side of the grain elevator having the sensor attached. When the grain elevator system includes a sensor attached to a side of the grain elevator, a grain elevator paddle insert may be positioned on top of the grain elevator paddle for biasing grain towards the side of the grain elevator having the sensor attached.

Abstract: A sheet-like medium temporary storage device includes a storage coiling block, configured to reel up and store sheet-like medium and being a circular roller with a cavity at the center; a thin coiling tape, having one end fixedly connected to an outer surface of the storage coiling block and configured to reel up the sheet-like medium and wind the sheet-like medium around the storage coiling block; a recycling coiling block, configured to reel up and recycle the thin coiling tape, wherein another end of the thin coiling tape is fixed to an outer surface of the recycling coiling block; and a power motor arranged in the cavity and configured to drive the storage coiling block to rotate and control the recycling coiling block to rotate. One end of the cavity is opened, and at least two air disturbance vanes are uniformly arranged at another end of the cavity.

Abstract: A system for dispensing product-filled containers in which the containers are filled prior to labeling, so that any container may filled at any dispensing station. The system includes multiple dispensing stations, both manual and automated, disposed adjacent a conveyor. Automated dispensing stations include quantities of products, fillable product containers, and a labeling assembly. Each dispensing station dispenses a predetermined quantity of products into a container and labels the container for transport via an exit conveyor to the main conveyor. Carriers are delivered via the main conveyor into a container carrier queue lane, where a sensor reads the RFID before a filled, labeled container is deposited into the carrier. A sensor reads the label bar code and transmits the bar code and RFID information to the computer database, mating the carrier with the filled container. System software load balances the components of an order by routing them to different dispensing stations.