Abstract: The invention provides a method for cultivating Sphagnum that has been applied to a surface of a field, the method comprising controllably irrigating the Sphagnum, wherein the controllably irrigating comprises applying water to a surface of the Sphagnum and/or to the surface of the field. The invention also relates to Sphagnum obtainable by a method of the invention.

Abstract: A needle apparatus for making a pinning hole in a composite material, the apparatus having a needle with a longitudinal axis, a collar fixed about the needle, a motor having an axis of rotation, and being fixed to the needle such that the needle can be rotated by the motor, the motor and the collar being situated within a motor housing, the motor housing having a first bush, and a second bush, wherein the collar is positioned between the first bush and second bush so as to prevent the needle from moving away from or towards the motor, but allow the needle to rotate freely around its longitudinal axis, wherein each needle apparatus further comprises a linear actuator connected to the motor such that the motor can be moved along the axis of rotation of the motor by the linear actuator.

Abstract: A method for in vitro culturing Sphagnum is provided. The method comprises providing a vegetative fragment of Sphagnum and surface cleaning the fragment with alcohol. The method further comprises dissecting the fragment to provide a piece (106) of Sphagnum. The method further comprises initiating the piece (106) of Sphagnum in a culture medium (104).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for use in culturing Sphagnum (106) is provided. The apparatus (100) comprises a culture vessel (102) for Sphagnum (106) and a culture medium (104) arranged in the culture vessel (102). The culture vessel (102) comprises an enclosed airspace (108) above the culture medium (104), and Sphagnum (106) arranged in the culture medium (104). The apparatus (100) further comprises means (110, 112) for supplying carbon dioxide into the enclosed airspace (108).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing a seedstock of Sphagnum. The method comprises providing in vitro Sphagnum, applying the Sphagnum to a growth surface, and cultivating the Sphagnum in vivo on the growth surface. The method also comprises harvesting the cultivated Sphagnum from the growth surface, and then chopping the harvested Sphagnum to provide a seedstock of Sphagnum for cultivation, the seedstock comprising a plurality of fragments of the in vivo Sphagnum. The present invention also relates to Sphagnum and seedstocks of Sphagnum obtainable by the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for cultivating Sphagnum that has been applied to a surface of a field, the method comprising controllably irrigating the Sphagnum, wherein the controllably irrigating comprises applying water to a surface of the Sphagnum and/or to the surface of the field. The invention also relates to Sphagnum obtainable by a method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for cultivating Sphagnum. The method comprises supplying the Sphagnum with a nutrient composition. The nutrient composition comprises nitrogen, phosphorus, and/or potassium.

Abstract: In a palletizing machine, cases of goods are received from a production line and are arranged into patterned layers. The palletizing machine stacks the patterned layers one on top of another to form a stacked load that can be easily transported by machine. During arrangement of the cases into the patterned layers, some cases may need to be turned to change their orientation relative to their direction of travel. The cases can be turned simultaneously in groups of two, three, or more cases, to minimize the contact of the palletizing machine with the cases during turning. The turning device which bears against the case during turning may also be provided with a component of movement in the direction of case travel so as to effect the speed of the collision when the cases contact the turning device and effect the net speed between the cases and the turning device during turning.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved live roller conveyor system for preventing damage to conveyed cases of goods when stopped upon live rollers. In an embodiment of the invention, a live roller comprises a drive shaft with a plurality of roller members rotatably affixed thereto. One or more bushings are provided between an inner surface of each roller member and an outer surface of said drive shaft. When a conveyed case is stopped along the conveyor, for example, during case layer formation for loading onto a pallet, the rollers underneath the case stop rotating relative to the drive shaft due to slippage between the bushings and drive shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a hoist drive system for controlling the position of a hoist platform in a palletizer. In an embodiment of the invention, a hoist drive system comprises two electrical motors with dual output shafts. One motor may have an encoder for taking measurements relating to the rotation of the motor. A common shaft with a spring set safety brake ties the motors together. The two motors may be flux vector motors controlled with input from the encoder. The motors drive two gearboxes, thereby enabling vertical displacement of a hoist platform coupled to the drive system.

Abstract: In a palletizing machine, cases of goods are received from a production line and are arranged into patterned layers. The palletizing machine stacks the patterned layers one on top of another to form a stacked load that can be easily transported by machine. During arrangement of the cases into the patterned layers, some cases may need to be turned to change their orientation relative to their direction of travel. The cases can be turned simultaneously in groups of two, three, or more cases, to minimize the contact of the palletizing machine with the cases during turning. The turning device which bears against the case during turning may also be provided with a component of movement in the direction of case travel so as to effect the speed of the collision when the cases contact the turning device and effect the net speed between the cases and the turning device during turning.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved live roller conveyor system for preventing damage to conveyed cases of goods when stopped upon live rollers. In an embodiment of the invention, a live roller comprises a drive shaft with a plurality of roller members rotatably affixed thereto. One or more bushings are provided between an inner surface of each roller member and an outer surface of said drive shaft. When a conveyed case is stopped along the conveyor, for example, during case layer formation for loading onto a pallet, the rollers underneath the case stop rotating relative to the drive shaft due to slippage between the bushings and drive shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a hoist drive system for controlling the position of a hoist platform in a palletizer. In an embodiment of the invention, a hoist drive system comprises two electrical motors with dual output shafts. One motor has an encoder and as one motor rotates clockwise, the other motor rotates counter clockwise. A common shaft with a spring set safety break ties the motors together. The two motors are tied together electronically with a flux vector motor controller with input from the encoder. The flux vector motor controller controls the operation of the two motors, which drive two gearboxes, thereby enabling vertical displacement of a hoist platform coupled to the drive system.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling and drying hot moist compressed air comprises sub-cooling the liquid refrigerant from the condenser to eliminate all flash gas and render the entire evaporator effective for refrigeration purposes. The heat exchangers for the evaporator and for sub-cooling the liquid refrigerant are of a novel construction comprising a one-piece finned copper inner cylinder with the routed fin enclosed inside of an annular copper shell in which a 0.020-inch clearance exists between the annular copper shell and the fins to allow passage of a stream of air which causes the laminar flow around the routed fin construction to be agitated by eddy diffusion. The use of the novel heat exchanger in the refrigeration system along with the step of sub-cooling the liquid refrigerant produces a gain in refrigeration effect of about 23% to 30% without an increase requirement for either power or energy.