Abstract: An ice shaving system includes a body and a driven member positioned within the body. The driven member is drivable to produce shaved ice. The ice shaving system also includes a motor configured to selectively drive the driven member and a spout having an outlet. The spout is configured to dispense the shaved ice via the outlet. The ice shaving system further includes a shaping device configured to form a portion of the dispensed shaved ice with a predetermined shape. At least a portion of at least one of the spout or the shaping device defines a movable structure that is movable relative to the body. The motor is selectively activatable to drive the driven member in response to actuation of the movable structure relative to the body.

Abstract: A method for processing plate-shaped workpieces made of wood or wood substitute materials, having the following steps: providing a large-format plate made of wood or wood substitute materials, and supplying the large-format plate to an isolation station; isolating plate-shaped workpieces by dividing the provided large-format plate in the isolation station such that cuts are made in the large-format plate by at least one isolation unit; supplying the isolated workpieces to at least one downstream machining station, in order to finish the isolated workpieces. At least a portion of each isolated workpiece receives, from the isolation unit, an alignment portion having at least one reference drilled hole for engagement of gripping elements. The isolated workpiece provided with the alignment portion is received by means of a gripping element, an engagement element or an acquisition element engaging on the alignment portion, following the separation of the isolated workpiece.

Abstract: A sawmill for sawing a log segment in two through the core thereof and a method of sawing a log in half through the core thereof. The sawmill includes a log feed conveyor configured for feeding logs to a band saw and a log positioning rig, the band saw being disposed on a movable carriage of a fixed frame, the band saw being configured for sawing a log from a first end of the log to a distal end of the log. The log positioning rig has a reciprocating cradle having a plurality of spaced-apart cradle segments. The reciprocating cradle is pivotally attached to the fixed frame, and is configured for raising or lowering the first end of the log to align the central core of the log along the length of the log with a blade of the band saw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for vertically felling trees by taking apart the trunk in a stepwise manner combining sagittal and horizontal cross-sections. A vertical frame is attachable to a tree trunk, the vertical frame having a movable portion and a fixed portion. A first cutting device is attachable to the vertical frame and configured to cut the tree sagittally substantially along a longitudinal axis of the tree. A second cutting device is attachable to the vertical frame and configured to cut the tree horizontally from an exterior of the tree to a sagittal cut made in the tree by the first cutting device. A locking mechanism releasably locks the movable portion of the frame to the fixed portion of the frame. The apparatus uses the weight of the upper trunk to maintain stability to steadily decrease the tree height until the entire tree is removed.

Abstract: A pressing tool for pressing workpieces is described. The pressing tool comprises a hydraulic pump for conveying a hydraulic fluid, an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump, a working cylinder which is hydraulically connected to an outlet of the hydraulic pump, a pressure-relief valve which is hydraulically connected to the outlet of the hydraulic pump and which opens at a certain predefined pressure Pv of the hydraulic fluid, an electronic control for controlling the electric motor and a sensor 60 which monitors the state of the pressure-relief valve and emits a signal which describes the state of the pressure-relief valve to the electronic control. Furthermore, a method of operating such a pressing tool is described.

Abstract: A method of preparing a feed ration for an animal includes storing a cut crop material in an accumulation having an oxygen barrier. The cut crop material is fermented within the accumulation to form a silage material. A nutritive value of the silage material is determined with a nutrition sensor. A desired amount of maceration of the silage material is determined based on the determined nutritive value of the silage material. The silage material is then macerated with a mechanical macerator to achieve the desired amount of maceration. The macerated silage material is then combined with other feed materials to define the feed ration, and may then be fed to the animal.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for loosening fiber material packed in bales, comprising a conveyor region for conveying the fiber material along a conveyor direction. The conveyor region includes a feed portion, a buffer portion and a discharge portion. A first roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the feed portion and the buffer portion and a second roller arrangement is arranged in the transitional region between the buffer portion and the discharge portion.

Abstract: A wood chipper comprising a chamber in which wood is chipped, and a pair of rollers for feeding of the wood into the chamber. One of the rollers is a smooth roller and may or may not be an idle roller, and an other of the rollers is driven and has cutting elements thereon. One or more pressurized gas springs are attached to the rollers to apply a predetermined pressure to the rollers to cause the cutting elements to bite into the wood fed between the rollers. The cutting elements are blades each of which is un-notched in a direction radially of the other roller and each of which extends over substantially the entire length of the other roller.

Abstract: A multiple anvil fixture possesses multiple anvils engaged to a base in a fixed relation to each other with the anvils oriented in a common direction. Each of the anvils includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure and the second structure are slidably engaged. Each of the anvils has an extended position and a recoiled position and a biasing-element to bias the first structure and the second structure in the extended position. The multiple anvil structure can be used to rivet brackets onto containers. The anvil protrudes through the container in the extended position to help align holes in the feet of the brackets with openings in the container. The anvil then recoils beneath the container to serve for the fixation of rivets.

Abstract: A multi-axis roll-forming system for forming a stepped diameter in a cylinder includes a support that spins about a rotation axis while supporting a workpiece that includes the cylinder. A first actuator translates a first roller perpendicularly to the rotation axis. A second actuator moves a multi-axis roller radially outward, relative to the rotation axis, and upward along the rotation axis. The system may also include a first roller arm to which the multi-axis roller is coupled. The first roller arm is connected to a pivot joint having a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis. The second actuator may include a linear-drive actuator that is coupled to the first roller arm and extends along the rotation axis to force the multi-axis roller to pivot about the pivot axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a lumber handling and cutting apparatus, including an incoming material conveyor assembly, a material infeed assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly, a cutting assembly adjacent to the material infeed assembly, a material outfeed assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, an outgoing material conveyor assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, and a printer assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly and the material infeed assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bamboo strip shaping method, which includes the following steps: S01: cutting a bamboo tube, and removing inner joints, outer joints and bamboo outer skin; S02: trisecting or quartering the bamboo tube in a longitudinal direction to obtain curved bamboo strips; S03: placing the curved bamboo strips in a bamboo strip shaping device for processing; S04: subjecting the curved bamboo strips to steam treatment and heating softening treatment; S05: pressing and shaping the curved bamboo strips to obtain flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a first time under a maintained pressure; S06: wetting bamboo outer skin surfaces and bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a second time; and S07: wetting the bamboo outer skin surfaces and the bamboo inner skin surfaces of the flattened bamboo strips, and drying for a third time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dual-blade agricultural grinder are disclosed. A dual blade grinder comprises a casing, a hopper, a cutting mechanism, a chute, and a display. The grinder is configured to cut a plant to a desired particle size. The casing is configured to provide rigid structural support for components of the grinder and provide a safety barrier between the user and the cutting mechanism. The hopper is configured to store and distribute a plant to the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism comprises a static blade with one or more serrated edges and one or more plain edges, a floating curved blade, and a particle screen. The display is configured to accept input from a user operating the grinder, and to control operational settings of the grinder. The grinder and its components may be comprised of a food-grade quality steel configured to resist bacterial growth.

Abstract: A blind riveting device is provided, which is adapted for engagement to a handle having a powered translating member projecting therefrom. Force from the translating member imparted to a drive piston moves a second piston to pull a blind rivet connected to a jaw engaged with the second piston, thereby mounting the blind rivet.

Abstract: A press can include an upper platen, a lower platen, a support arm, and an adjuster. The support arm can be adapted to move the upper platen substantially parallel to the lower paten between an open position and a closed position. The adjuster can have a cam adapted to engage a surface of the support arm and to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to the support arm. Rotation of the cam from the first rotational position to the second rotational position can move the upper platen toward the lower platen.

Abstract: A sealed assembly for pill crushing and delivering and a method for using thereof are provided. The assembly includes: a connecting valve with different diameters, including a first end, a valve and a second end provided with a syringe-abutting interface, wherein, an opening diameter of the first end is larger than that of the second end; and a pill-crushing carrier including a sealed cavity having only one filling-in opening, the pill-crushing carrier has a first state when separated from the connecting valve and the filling-in opening is exposed for delivering pills into the carrier, and a second state when the filling-in opening is connected to the first end of the connecting valve, crushed and dissolved pill powders in the sealed cavity can be taken out through the connecting valve. The assembly can crush pills and dissolve powders in a sealed cavity, deliver powder-dissolved liquid and prevent powders from dispersing.

Abstract: A lumber cutting and delivery system for use in assembling trusses on a truss table includes a saw configured to receive a piece of material therein. The saw is configured to cut the piece of material into one or more pieces and at different lengths and angles so that at least some of the one or more pieces are the components of at least one truss. A trunk conveyor system is positioned to receive the one or more pieces cut from the saw. The trunk conveyor system has a first conveying element to transport the one or more pieces over a distance in a travel direction and an ejector configured to discharge the one or more pieces from the first conveying element in a first discharge direction. A branch conveyor system is configured to receive the one or more pieces discharged from the trunk conveyor system in the first discharge direction. The branch conveyor system has a main conveying element to transport the one or more pieces.

Abstract: A system of pullers, in particular for extruding metals, the system comprising at least a first puller and a second puller, each equipped with gripping means adapted to engage and grip an end portion of a profile, in particular of an extruded profile exiting from an extrusion press, the system comprising a first guide and a second guide, where the at least two, first and second, pullers can be translated along the first and second guides, where the first guide is dedicated to the translation of both the at least two, first and second, pullers in a single first translation direction, and where the second guide is dedicated to the translation of both the at least two, first and second, pullers in a second translation direction opposite to the first translation direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus, method and kit to flatten wide boards with an apparatus. The apparatus comprises two sets of rails, one set spanning laterally and the second set spanning longitudinally. The second set of rails is operative to move along the first set of rails by use of short members attached to the second set that interface with the first set of rails. Then, a carriage is operative to sit on top of the second set of rails and move along them. This is done by the carriage arms engaged on the second set of rails.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus, method and kit to flatten wide boards with an apparatus. The apparatus comprises two sets of rails, one set spanning laterally and the second set spanning longitudinally. The second set of rails is operative to move along the first set of rails by use of short members attached to the second set that interface with the first set of rails. Then, a carriage is operative to sit on top of the second set of rails and move along them. This is done by the carriage arms engaged on the second set of rails.