Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulating a load having a desired weight, and then transferring the load to a reversible conveyor. The reversible conveyor extends between a pair of unloading stations, and is capable of delivering the load to either one of the unloading stations, depending upon the direction in which it is driven. In one class of preferred embodiments, the inventive apparatus is portable, and is capable of weighing out selected amounts of any of a variety of products (for example, frozen fish or other foods). In one such embodiment, the invention includes a single gated bin which feeds a single weighing hopper, and a vibrating conveyor mounted on a vibration-absorbing frame assembly for feeding the gated bin. The weighing hopper (which does not vibrate) feeds as reversible conveyor, and the reversible conveyor in turn feeds two unloading stations.

Abstract: A portable multi-directional hand truck A is illustrated including a frame 10 having a toe plate 14 and a pair of rear indexing wheel assemblies B. Indexing mechanism D is connected between the frame 10 and a contoured wheel C in each wheel assembly having a first position in which wheels C are aligned for forward movement and a second position for movement transverse to the forward movement. Wheels C include a contoured surface 54 for forward movement and a rounded contoured surface 56 for transverse movement. Surface 56 provides a rounded support surface over which the load may be broken and transported in which configuration the load is supported in a raised position for transporting long loads transversely down narrow passageways without dragging and sagging ends of a long load.

Abstract: A feed finger device for holding and feeding a bar of stock material on an automatic screw machine includes a hollow cylindrical finger open at both ends one with one end being adapted for attachment to a feed tube carried by the machine through which the bar is fed. A plurality of elongated closed-ended slots extends obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical finger and the cylindrical member is crimped a desired amount intermediate the ends of the slots whereby the feed finger may be made to grip and feed different sizes and shapes of bar stock material without scratching or marring the flats of the bar stock.