Abstract: A loading device for loading a container with packages, comprising a transport channel for transport of the packages in the direction of the container. The transport channel has an upper inlet to supply packages into the transport channel and a lower outlet to supply packages into the container. At least one upper, and at least one lower, finger position each with at least one finger element are provided in the transport channel. The at least one of the finger elements of the upper and lower finger positions in each case have at least two flexible flank elements extending from one end to the opposing end of the finger element. In each case, the at least two flexible flank elements are flexibly connected via a plurality of webs. The finger elements in each case may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back.

Abstract: A gravity-driven tire delivery apparatus includes a base and a tire delivery chute that extends vertically from the base. The tire delivery chute includes a wall including a braking projection mounted to the wall that extends into a travel path of a tire through the tire delivery chute. The braking projection is sized to allow the tire to pass by the braking projection once the tire is moved laterally by the braking projection.

Abstract: A device for gently and uniformly filling a tube, in particular a tubular reactor, with particulate filling material, in particular catalyst particles; wherein the device includes specially designed fall arrester elements and also comprises deflectors that reduce the wear of the fall arrester elements. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for filling a tube using these articles.

Abstract: The juggling practice tool is a device that is designed to collect objects that are dropped in the course of practicing juggling. The juggling practice tool is a catch basin that is worn by the juggler during the practice session. The catch basin is attached to the juggler through the use of a plurality of shoulder straps, a waist belt, and a belt connector. The plurality of shoulder straps and the waist belt hold the catch basin perpendicular to the plane of juggling in such a way that when a juggled object is dropped the catch basin catches and hold the dropped juggled object in a location readily accessible to the juggler. The juggling practice tool comprises a catch basin, a plurality of shoulder straps, a waist belt, and a belt connector.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for debris removal are provided comprising a flexible chute having a mouth, a body, and an exit. The flexible material can be collapsible. The flexible material is rip-stop nylon. When the chute is used, a user can take the chute in a collapsed configuration and scale a tree for pruning. Upon reaching a top area of the tree, the user secures the chute to the tree and allows the body and exit portions to deploy by releasing those sections. Gravity allows the body and exit portions to fall to towards the ground. As debris is removed from the tree, it is placed into the mouth and passes through the body and out exit. If desired the exit can be placed in other desired locations such as proximate to a wood chipping device for shredding debris or proximate to a truck bed, dump box or trailer for catching the debris as it exits the chute. Thus, the chute can safely collect, control and direct debris generated from pruning vegetation.

Abstract: An elongate flume is provided for receiving items of produce. The flume comprises a first side and an opposite second side. A plurality of baffles are provided, each baffle having a first end at or adjacent the first side of the flume and a second end which is spaced apart from the first side of the flume and spaced apart from the second side of the flume.

Abstract: A rebuildable conveyor roller includes a hollow, cylindrical roller tube having a first end opposite a second end. The roller tube has a rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly provided at the first end and the second end. The rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is affixed to the roller tube such that at least a part of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is removable from the roller tube. A hub of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly has a generally circular shape that is dimensioned to fit inside the internal diameter of the roller tube. The hub has a centrally located hole through which a stub shaft may be inserted. A bearing holder is inserted in an internal cavity provided within the hub for securing the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly to the roller tube.

Abstract: A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to move through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential.

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: A vertical flow path in a pipe is delimited by channels (3) disposed at an angle. The inclined channels produce a zigzag flow in a mixture of powders which follow the flow path. The zigzag flow causes stirring to maintain homogeneity of the mixture even if its components have very different physical characteristics.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sorting apparatus for granular products (7, 8), such as peas, nuts, raisins, and suchlike, with a detection system (3), a removal system (4) and a transport device (1), where the latter has a sloping distribution surface (1′) over which said products (7, 8) are moved, whereby said surface (1′) is convex over at least a certain distance in the direction of travel (10) of said products (7, 8), such that said surface (1′) has a curvature in the direction of fall of said products (7, 8) equal to or slightly less than that of the path (9) which the products would follow at said surface (1′) in free fall, independent of said surface (1′).

Abstract: Apparatus for gathering berries, such as raspberries, from bushes has a transport base which is movable along the ground adjacent to the berry bushes. Shaking members are disposed on the transport base to shake the bushes. Rotating, plate-like recovery members formed of soft material form a path through which the bushes pass. Inclined baffle-like guides guide berries shaken from the bushes to a conveyor for transport to storage means.

Abstract: A vehicle for aerial working has a vehicle chassis having a front frame and a rear deck, a lift mechanism disposed on the front frame, a platform vertically movably supported by the lift mechanism and having a cab thereon, a box-shaped pallet disposed on the rear deck of the chassis, and a chute for guiding picked fruits from a tall tree into the pallet. A lower end of the chute is attached to the pallet and an upper end of the chute is movably supported by the platform. The picked fruits drop within the chute and collected within the pallet. Then, the collected fruits are carried by driving the vehicle within the cab.

Abstract: A guide chute for dropping articles has four shock absorbable members arranged in a vertical direction at regular intervals, and four ropes for connecting the shock absorbable members to one another. Each of the shock absorbable members is composed of a frame member, a plurality of elastic trapezoidal plates which are secured to the frame member, and coil springs for retaining the trapezoidal plates in a throttled condition. The width of each of the trapezoidal plates is increased towards its free tip end. The free tip end of each of each of the trapezoidal plates extends downward and toward the axial center of the frame member and is overlapped with adjacent free tip ends of adjacent trapezoidal plates to form a conic cylindrical body by virtue of the coil springs. And the free tip ends of the trapezoidal plates define an opening of a diameter smaller than that of articles to be dropped. When the dropping articles drop, they enlarge the opening of each of the shock absorbing members.

Abstract: Apparatus for aiding a picker in harvesting fruit and like items, including a closed container releasably secured to the picker's side at the thigh and having a crush-resistant, flexible hose of a large diameter compared to the item to be picked connecting into the container. The hose and its free end are releasably secured to the arm and hand of the picker. A funnel member partly surrounds the hand, with the hand passing into the funnel area through a side opening in the funnel member. The side opening closely surrounds the wrist so as to prevent any loss of fruit through it. The funnel member connects with the free end of the hose. The rim of the funnel is releasably secured to open between the upper wrist and smallest finger so that the thumb and main fingers of the hand can readily pick fruit and like items and propel or drop them into the funnel, wherefrom they may roll or fall through the hose and into the container.

Abstract: A conveying tool comprises a funnel-shaped hopper and a tubular conveying part connected to the bottom of and hanging downward from the hopper, the conveying part comprising one unit section or a plurality of unit sections detachably connected end-to-end, each unit section comprising a pair of opposed and spaced-apart, rectangular main sheets and a pair of opposed rectangular side sheets with vertical edges secured to respective vertical edges of the main sheets thereby to form a tubular structure. The main sheets possess elasticity and flexibility and have, on the inner surfaces thereof, a large number of elastic projecting members, and the side sheets possess flexibility and are more pliable than the main sheets. Picked fruit dropped into the hopper are braked in their descent by the elastic projecting members and the inner wall surface of the conveying part and are thereby slowly lowered without damage to a container on the ground or on a vehicle.

Abstract: An implement to be used by a fruit picker person to gently deposit the fruits in a box, directly from climbed positions near the box, irrespective of the level of fruits in the box, with easy and readily removal from among the fruits when the box has been filled, and with readily disconnectable components for convenient assembly and dessassembly in the orchard. This fruit picking implement comprises a support fitting onto a conventional orchard box, a frame removably mountable on the support, a hanger bracket removably connecting to the frame, fruit braking shelves pivotally attached to the hanger bracket, and a flexible tube having one end hooking to the belt of one fruit picker person and having another end entering into a whirling eductor overlying the uppermost shelf to gently drop fruits successively onto that uppermost shelf and dropping of the fruits serially through the vertically spaced apart shelves.

Abstract: A fruit collector for hillside orchards, which includes a channel spaced chute formed of inflated tubes, the two sides of the chute being joined by a cross web having a series of fruit receiving openings approximately the spacing between rows of trees, the chute being laid downhill between sloping rows of trees. In a first embodiment, the openings are formed by U-shaped slits to receive fruit, and retarding flaps extend into the chute to retard movement of the fruit. In a second embodiment, the cross web is tubular, but non-inflated, and receives a series of longitudinally extensible and retractable ribbons protruding from the upper margins of the openings and extending into the chute between the openings; the strips serve to retard movement of the fruit and may be in axially overlapping relation, and adjustable to change their retarding effect thereby to compensate for different degrees of slope.

Abstract: A harvesting aid in the form of a bag or tubular chute having frame means to maintain its entrance in an open condition and hand hold means operable, in use, to engage a portion of a harvester's hand while leaving the fingers free to move at the entrance.