Abstract: A grain auger having a discharge chute with a primary opening is also provided with at least one secondary opening and a door movable between opened and closed positions relative to the secondary opening. The door is normally closed by spring bias, but will open if the primary discharge opening becomes blocked, thereby releasing grain through the secondary opening, to prevent damage to the auger.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged.

Abstract: A cigarette bundle feeder has a discharge duct which forms a lower part of a hopper and delivers filter cigarettes towards a bottom plate located under the hopper to produce a cigarette bundle, the discharge duct having a plurality of discharge passages arranged adjacent to each other in a width direction of the hopper to make the filter cigarettes flow downwards separately, the discharge passages opening in one direction; a front plate disposed at one side of and adjacent to the discharge duct, and extending in the width direction to cover the discharged passages of the discharge duct; and a plurality of suction holes formed in the front plate and having open ends that open towards the discharge duct, for sucking, through the open ends, tobacco shreds that spill from the cigarette ends of the filter cigarettes and drop into a gap between the front plate and the discharge duct.

Abstract: Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute.

Abstract: A fruit guide assembly may include a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder, a vibrator connected to the frame, and a fruit guide body having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes. Each pair of adjacent ridges may extend outwardly beyond an end of an intervening valley to define an opening to permit passage therethrough of a corresponding portion of the multi-position feeder. This defines integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit. In other embodiments, the fruit guide body may be used without a vibrator, for example. The fruit guide body may include an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body. For example, the fruit guide body may include rotationally molded polyethylene.

Abstract: In the present invention, in order to reliably smoothly recover different kinds of medicines separately and pack them, the apparatus is provided with hoppers 18, 19 with at least two separated passages, and wherein each hopper 18, 19 can feed a different kind of medicine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which the apparatus has a hopper and a tube secured to the hopper, the tube having an opening between distal and proximal end portions thereof. The apparatus may have a second tube secured to the first tube at the opening, and the second tube may extend substantially vertically downward. The lower end of the second tube may be aligned to terminate at a vertical level that is substantially equal to a vertical level of an opening in the distal end portion of the first tube. A Y-shaped tube may be secured to the distal end of the first tube to further distribute the grain. In use, grain is introduced into the hopper, and a first portion is passed to a first tube. The first portion of grain is divided into second and third portions, the second portion is passed through a second tube, and the third portion is passed to a distal end of the first tube.

Abstract: A method for distributing a flow of bulk material amongst several sub-flows. The method is characterized in that the flow of bulk material accumulates in an essentially vertically oriented pipe. The sub-flows branch off from the accumulated flow of bulk material are led over a horizontal or slightly inclined section so that a bank forms inside and blocks the sub-flow. The bulk material is then removed from the sub-flow by vibration, the bank block being constantly replaced by the particles which slide down correspondingly. A device for distributing a flow of bulk material amongst several sub-flows utilizes a supply container located upstream connected to at least one substantially vertical distribution pipe connected downstream. The distribution pipe has at least one part that branches off with a branch pipe connected thereto and with the branch pipe having a section which is positioned at a slightly smaller downstream angle than the bank of bulk material.

Abstract: A wood processor is disclosed for cutting a log into a series of shorter lengths and subsequently splitting the shorter lengths into individual pieces of firewood or the like. The processor includes a carriage for receiving the log. Clamps engage the log from both sides to secure it in the carriage which advances the log into contact with a plurality of parallel rotating saws. After the carriage is retracted a pusher rod moves the cut log pieces along an axis onto a plurality of cradle members, one cradle supporting each log section. The cradle members are tilted to dump the log sections alternately onto opposite sides of the axis of log movement. The logs dumped from the cradles are fed to a plurality of individual hydraulically operated log splitters.

Abstract: A device for precisely releasing individual electrical components, especially electronic integrated circuits (IC's) to sort, position and/or store the components on a slanted work table, without relative friction between connector pins, soldering terminals and stop strips, and to avoid exerting lateral pressure causing the pins or the like to become deformed, a positioning section is designed as a supporting cap with a leading edge, behind which a component to be released is loaded from the rear. The supporting cap tilts relative to a supporting surface by means of a fitting that permits lateral movement of the component, and upon tilting of the cap releases of the component where desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading open top grain hopper rail cars and trucks which eliminates the buildup of a core of small material and grains directly beneath the load out spout. Also, the grain will not build up heat as easily with the core eliminated and a more representative sample, for grading purposes, can be obtained from the hopper car or truck. The spout line buster is a small, stove-shaped chamber which attaches to the end of a grain load out spout and is lowered about six inches into the hopper rail car or truck being loaded. The grain passes through the down spout and enters the spout line buster where the flow of the grain is directed and slowed by a series of baffles or flow guides. In the model designed for loading hopper rail cars, the grain strikes a screen assembly consisting of a cone screen and two diagonal screens.

Abstract: A silo chute hopper attachment that fits underneath an existing silo chute having a swivel end, and an upper hopper portion that has flanges slidably mounted onto brackets fixed to the silo wall so that the hopper slides in and out like a drawer underneath the silo chute. It can be easily removed for getting into the silo chute. When removed the bottom outlet opening of the silo chute is completely open.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing ice including a plurality of elongated vertical tubes of uniform internal cross-sectional dimensions, a cylindrical shell for each tube of length less than the tube and surrounding a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the internal nominal diameter of the shell being greater than the maximum external cross-section dimensions of the tube, the shell having a spiral groove formed in the cylindrical wall thereof, the depth of the groove being such that the interior surface of the shell at the groove contacts at least part of the exterior surface of the tube thereby forming a flow path in the annular area between the exterior of the tube and the interior of the shell which is, at least in part, spiraled. Refrigerant gas is expanded in the tube-shell annular areas to chill the tubes. Water is introduced into the upper end of the tubes to flow downwardly through them and form in each tube a rod of ice.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and a device for the distribution of a conveyed flow, such as particles for the preparation of chipboard, fiberboard, or the like, by means of a separation of the conveyed flow into two partial flows. The distribution is continuous and uniform and provided, for example, by a distributing device which may have a variable insertion into the flow stream. The distributing device may have a separating plate with an active edge having regularly-spaced tongues and slots. A dividing plate having chutes of variable width extending through it can be used to vary the ratio of particles separated in the two directions. Baffled rollers may be used to ultimately guide the separated streams. The separation may also be accomplished by chambered rollers rotating in opposite directions.

Abstract: Silo discharge chute forming means, or a silo including such means fixed astride an upright slot opening in its wall. The discharge chute is comprised of a vertically disposed series of doors, each larger than the silo opening but vertically segmented so that each segment can be individually removed through the opening to erect or disassemble the discharge chute. The means for attaching the doors to the silo and supporting the same are suitably attached to the silo wall and can include ladder means to provide access to the top and interior portions of the silo through the usual exterior chute thereof.

Abstract: An inverted discharge chute, positioned in the interior of a silo opposite the unloading openings thereof, comprises an upright series of oppositely-disposed side wall panels each hinged to a side of the unloading opening of the silo and normally projecting inwardly thereof. An upright series of retainer panels removably connects the opposed side wall panels to form the inner end of the inverted chute, the side wall panels being swingable outwardly to cover the adjacent opening portion when the retainer panel is removed.