Abstract: A peeling machine having series of insert rollers held down into notches between larger-diameter power rollers by holddowns. The holddowns include pins made of a bearing material received directly in bores in the ends of the insert rollers without conventional bearing sleeves. The heads of the pins may be coned to provide thrust bearings against concave interior ends of the bores.

Abstract: A retort system includes a vessel defining a heating chamber and including a product receiving area therein, and a product agitating arm mounted for reciprocating movement through a wall of the vessel and having a first end within the vessel and a second end outside the vessel. A drive arrangement is located exterior of the vessel and operatively coupled to the arm for moving the arm in a reciprocating manner. The drive arrangement includes a crankshaft assembly, a first flywheel and a second flywheel. The crankshaft assembly includes a crank throw operatively coupled to the arm, the crankshaft assembly having a rotational axis offset from the crank throw. The first flywheel is mounted to the crankshaft assembly to a first side of the crank throw for rotation with the crankshaft assembly about the rotational axis. The second flywheel is mounted to the crankshaft assembly to a second side of the crank throw for rotation with the crankshaft assembly about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A roller-type grader having adjustable, widening gauging passages between consecutive rotating grader rollers and an associated method for adjusting the gauging passages. A drive rotates all the rollers in the same direction on their axes. The ends of the rollers at each end are rotatably and pivotally suspended from adjustment yokes that are movable laterally in unison along tracks by an adjustment shaft. Positioning the yokes positions the ends of the rollers relative to each other. Minimum and maximum widths of the gauging passages at opposite ends of the rollers are adjusted by rotating the adjustment shafts.

Abstract: A retort system includes a vessel defining a heating chamber and including a product receiving area therein, and a product agitating arm mounted for reciprocating movement through a wall of the vessel and having a first end within the vessel and a second end outside the vessel. A drive arrangement is located exterior of the vessel and operatively coupled to the arm for moving the arm in a reciprocating manner. The drive arrangement includes a crankshaft assembly, a first flywheel and a second flywheel. The crankshaft assembly includes a crank throw operatively coupled to the arm, the crankshaft assembly having a rotational axis offset from the crank throw. The first flywheel is mounted to the crankshaft assembly to a first side of the crank throw for rotation with the crankshaft assembly about the rotational axis. The second flywheel is mounted to the crankshaft assembly to a second side of the crank throw for rotation with the crankshaft assembly about the rotational axis.

Abstract: A system for securing a basket containing product securely within an autoclave or retort. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is used with rotational retorts, which generally include a rotational insert for receiving product-loaded baskets, the rotational insert rotated via a drive to rotate the baskets end over end during the autoclave process, for more efficient heat transfer. The present invention contemplates an improvement for securing the baskets within the retort, to facilitate secure rotation of the baskets and their contents, and prevent shifting of the baskets within the retort during rotation. Particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of one or more lift bladders sandwiched between clamping platens situated along the length of the rotational insert, the lift bladders configured to expand to lift and position the baskets into a securing position for rotation, then deflate to release the baskets after processing for removal.

Abstract: A system for securing a basket containing product securely within an autoclave or retort. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is used with rotational retorts, which generally include a rotational insert for receiving product-loaded baskets, the rotational insert rotated via a drive to rotate the baskets end over end during the autoclave process, for more efficient heat transfer. The present invention contemplates an improvement for securing the baskets within the retort, to facilitate secure rotation of the baskets and their contents, and prevent shifting of the baskets within the retort during rotation. Particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates the use of one or more lift bladders sandwiched between clamping platens situated along the length of the rotational insert, the lift bladders configured to expand to lift and position the baskets into a securing position for rotation, then deflate to release the baskets after processing for removal.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt forming a hinge between consecutive belt rows (14A–C) hingedly connected by a noncircular hinge pin (34). Hinge eyes (28) along the forward and rearward ends of each row (14A–C) of belt modules include aligned openings for the hinge pins (34). The belt rows (14A–C) are arranged end-to-end with the hinge eyes (28) of adjacent rows interleaved. In one version, the hinge pins (34) are inserted in the passageway formed by the aligned openings of the interleaved hinge eyes. The hinge pins (34) include first (40) and second (41) hinge pin members, such as flat strips. The openings in the hinge eyes (28) are characterized by a narrow slotted portion (32) for restraining the first hinge pin member (40) against rotation within the slotted portion and a wider sector-shaped portion (33) that allows the second hinge pin member (41) to rotate relative to the first hinge pin member (40).

Abstract: A conveying system including individually motorized transport elements or shoes that transport articles laterally across a conveyor. The motorized transport elements ride along tracks across the width of the conveyor. A motor drives each transport element across the conveyor. Local controllers in the transport elements or in the conveyor control the application of power to the motors and, thereby, the lateral positioning of the transport elements and the conveyed articles.

Abstract: A trap door system for receiving a plurality of articles from a pick and place mechanism, moving those articles to the vicinity of an underlying tray on a conveyor, and dumping those articles on said conveyor in a pre-arranged layout, forming loaded trays, which loaded trays may then be positioned in a frame to form a cube for retort processing of the contents of the articles. The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a horizontally situated product gate for receiving a plurality of pouches which are received upon four side-by-side holding slots running the length of the pouch gate by a pick and place mechanism.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt forming a hinge between consecutive belt rows (14A-C) hingedly connected by a noncircular hinge pin (34). Hinge eyes (28) along the forward and rearward ends of each row (14A-C) of belt modules include aligned openings for the hinge pins (34). The belt rows (14A-C) are arranged end-to-end with the hinge eyes (28) of adjacent rows interleaved. In one version, the hinge pins (34) are inserted in the passageway formed by the aligned openings of the interleaved hinge eyes. The hinge pins (34) include first (40) and second (41) hinge pin members, such as flat strips. The openings in the hinge eyes (28) are characterized by a narrow slotted portion (32) for restraining the first hinge pin member (40) against rotation within the slotted portion and a wider sector-shaped portion (33) that allows the second hinge pin member (41) to rotate relative to the first hinge pin member (40).

Abstract: A conveying system including individually motorized transport elements or shoes that transport articles laterally across a conveyor. The motorized transport elements ride along tracks across the width of the conveyor. A motor drives each transport element across the conveyor. Local controllers in the transport elements or in the conveyor control the application of power to the motors and, thereby, the lateral positioning of the transport elements and the conveyed articles.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt forming a hinge between consecutive belt rows hingedly connected by a two-part hinge pin. Hinge eyes along the forward and rearward ends of each row of belt modules include aligned openings for the hinge pins. The belt rows are arranged end-to-end with the hinge eyes of adjacent rows interleaved. The hinge pins are inserted in the passageway formed by the aligned openings of the interleaved hinge eyes. The hinge pins include first and second hinge pin members, such as flat strips. The openings in the hinge eyes are characterized by a narrow slotted portion for restraining the first hinge pin member against rotation within the slotted portion and a wider sector-shaped portion that allows the second hinge pin member to rotate relative to the first hinge pin member.

Abstract: A system for loading retorts, sterilization systems, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present system provides both loading and unloading modules, the loading module designed to automatically load fragile containers, in mass and layer by layer into a self-supporting cube array of stacked trays nested in a basket frame. The unloader module automatically unloads the cube array layer by layer after the contents of the cube array are processed in mass. The stack of trays, or batch cube remain as an intact, stacked unit throughout the entire retort process. A hydraulic ram which is associated with each the loader and unloader, lifting the batch cube from the basket frame and indexing the batch cube vertically during the loading/unloading process, respectfully. Each layer in the stack is either loaded or unloaded as that layer is positioned in the home position.

Abstract: A conveying system including individually motorized transport elements or shoes that transport articles laterally across a conveyor. The motorized transport elements ride along tracks across the width of the conveyor. A motor drives each transport element across the conveyor. Local controllers in the transport elements or in the conveyor control the application of power to the motors and, thereby, the lateral positioning of the transport elements and the conveyed articles.

Abstract: A system for loading retorts, sterilization systems, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present system provides both loading and unloading modules, the loading module designed to automatically load fragile containers, in mass and layer by layer into a self-supporting cube array of stacked trays nested in a basket frame. The unloader module automatically unloads the cube array layer by layer after the contents of the cube array are processed in mass. The stack of trays, or batch cube remain as an intact, stacked unit throughout the entire retort process. A hydraulic ram which is associated with each the loader and unloader, lifting the batch cube from the basket frame and indexing the batch cube vertically during the loading/unloading process, respectfully. Each layer in the stack is either loaded or unloaded as that layer is positioned in the home position.

Abstract: An article-diverting conveyor belt and modules for constructing such a belt. The conveyor belt includes a series of modules interconnected end to end to other like modules. At least some of the modules include a module body with a positioning belt arranged to move transversely on the module body. A cam follower, attached to the positioning belt, extends below the bottom side of the module. A transport element, also attached to the positioning belt, extends above the top side of the module. The transport element may be a separate piece attached to the positioning belt or an integral outer surface of the positioning belt. The cam follower is guided along a track in the bottom side of the module by a network of guides in a supporting conveyor frame beneath the conveyor belt along the carryway. Because the transport element is attached to the positioning belt on the top side of the module, movement of the cam follower causes the transport element to move by means of the positioning belt.

Abstract: Water storage device for use with potted plants is disclosed. This water storage device is a liquid nutrient reservoir usable with a wick regulating element inserted into and extending from the bottom of the planting pot to the storage device for control of liquid nutrient delivery rate. The water storage device accommodates some sizing variance in potted plants and securely holds the potted plant as a coupled modular unit. The water storage device is provided with structure for hanging the coupling. Additional structure is provided for contiguous alignment of a plurality of the water storage devices with secured potted plants as well as structure for elevation of the coupling to prevent moisture damage to a setting surface.

Abstract: An article-diverting conveyor belt and modules for constructing such a belt. The conveyor belt includes a series of modules interconnected end to end to other like modules. At least some of the modules include a module body with a positioning belt arranged to move transversely on the module body. A cam follower, attached to the positioning belt, extends below the bottom side of the module. A transport element, also attached to the positioning belt, extends above the top side of the module. The transport element may be a separate piece attached to the positioning belt or an integral outer surface of the positioning belt. The cam follower is guided along a track in the bottom side of the module by a network of guides in a supporting conveyor frame beneath the conveyor belt along the carryway. Because the transport element is attached to the positioning belt on the top side of the module, movement of the cam follower causes the transport element to move by means of the positioning belt.

Abstract: Structure and method for maintaining side-by-side belt modules aligned in a belt row of a modular conveyor belt in the absence of a hinge pin along at least a portion of one end of the belt row. Mating engagement structure on confronting sides of side-by-side modules maintains the modules in alignment. One version of mating engagement structure includes a protrusion, such as a rectangular pad, extending from a side of a belt module and a mating receptacle formed at the confronting side of an adjacent side-by-side module. The receptacle is defined by discontinuous wall structure forming a gap opening toward the top or bottom surface of the module. The modules are put together by sliding the protrusion into the receptacle through the gap in the wall structure. When modules with the mating engagement structure are interconnected side by side by a hinge pin through the hinge eyes along one end, the modules remain aligned despite the absence of a hinge pin interconnecting the hinge eyes on the opposite end.

Abstract: Structure and method for maintaining side-by-side belt modules aligned in a belt row of a modular conveyor belt in the absence of a hinge pin along at least a portion of one end of the belt row. Mating engagement structure on confronting sides of side-by-side modules maintains the modules in alignment. One version of mating engagement structure includes a protrusion, such as a rectangular pad, extending from a side of a belt module and a mating receptacle formed at the confronting side of an adjacent side-by-side module. The receptacle is defined by discontinuous wall structure forming a gap opening toward the top or bottom surface of the module. The modules are put together by sliding the protrusion into the receptacle through the gap in the wall structure. When modules with the mating engagement structure are interconnected side by side by a hinge pin through the hinge eyes along one end, the modules remain aligned despite the absence of a hinge pin interconnecting the hinge eyes on the opposite end.