Abstract: A conveyor suspends containers from their upper portions, leaving their lower portions exposed. A curved deflector plate is located beneath the conveyor. Containers carried by the conveyor contact the deflector plate and are at least partly dislodged from the conveyor.

Abstract: An ice scraping system including a scraper blade driven by a pneumatic cylinder coupled to an electropneumatic controller Distance of the blade from the surface being scraped is continuously monitored by a command controller which specifies different electrical command signals for the electropneumatic control device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the force required to remove flexible seals from objects such as product cups is disclosed. The object, e.g., cup is held so that the seal defines a substantially horizontal plane and a portion of the flexible seal is attached to a force measuring gripper. The object, e.g., cup is then moved away from the gripper at an angle .theta./2 with respect to horizontal. Forces are then measured by the gripper at an angle .theta. from horizontal. In a particular example, .theta. equals 45.degree. which simulates human removal of the flexible seal. The measured forces are digitized and stored for report generation.