Abstract: A scale for weighing material as it is transported along a movable conveyor is disclosed as including a pair of wheatstone bridge load cell assemblies which are mounted subjacent and across a roller assembly forming a part of the conveyor. The entire scale assembly is mounted between the framework stringers of the conveyor by a pair of inexpensive IPS pipes. In accordance with the invention, the entire scale assembly is mountable on differing width conveyor systems simply by changing the lengths of the IPS pipe portions of the scale framework so as to fit the frame on the respective stringers. Input into the dual wheatstone bridge circuits is fed into a computer, along with input relating to the speed (displacement) of conveyor movement to provide data needed for calculating a number of potential output figures. Remote display and monitoring of numerous such conveyor scales provides for ease of monitoring multiple conveyor systems.

Abstract: A rotary engine includes a housing in which two rotors are mounted on mutually transverse axes and are provided with lobes which interact with the sides of the other rotor to provide compression and combustion chambers in which a fuel is compressed and subsequently fired to exert a torque on one of the rotors as the rotors rotate in synchronism.

Abstract: A shackle supporting the product to be weighed is lifted off the pendant of an overhead conveyor by a chain driven in synchronism with the conveyor, and the chain then carries the shackle and the product which it is supporting across a weighing platform before lowering the shackle back onto the pendant.

Abstract: The birds to be processed in a poultry processing plant are individually weighed and subsequently sorted into respective weight categories of either over or under a calculated reference weight which varies with the weights of a number of the lastweighed birds in a base sample to maintain the numbers of birds being currently sorted into the two categories substantially equal.

Abstract: A product carried by a rigid support device swingably suspended from an overhead conveyor is dropped from the support device by a striker mechanism which sharply strikes the support device to cause it to swing out from under the product.

Abstract: A product carried by a rigid support device swingably suspended from an overhead conveyor is dropped from the support device by a striker mechanism which sharply strikes the support device to cause it to swing out from under the product.

Abstract: A system for processing poultry incorporates automatic weighing and sorting which drops a predetermined number of predetermined grades and sizes of birds at a selected packing station to provide a total weight within a predetermined weight tolerance.