Abstract: An appliance for charging transport pockets with a transport item includes a feed device that feeds the transport item into a transfer zone and a suspended conveying device with a plurality of transport pockets that are arranged one after the other for taking over the transport item in the transfer zone and conveying away the charged transport pockets. The transport pockets each form a receiving compartment for the transport item, and are connected to a conveying member of the suspended conveying device. The transport pockets are moved through the transfer zone in a lying formation in a transfer conveying direction, and the transport item, by way of the feed device, is conveyed into the transfer zone essentially in the transfer conveying direction of the transport pockets, and in a delivery region is delivered from above onto the transport pockets which are moved through the transfer zone below the feed device.

Abstract: Powder feed cylinder assemblies and powder feeders are provided. A powder feed cylinder assembly includes a cylinder, a bit, and bushings. The cylinder has a main passage, a first feed channel, and a second feed channel, each feed channel at two axial locations between the cylinder's two ends. The bit extends through the main passage and has an outer surface including a helical channel formed thereon. A center bushing is disposed in the main passage between the two axial locations and has a first axially-extending passage through which the bit extends. The first end bushing is disposed in the main passage on one side of the center bushing and has a second axially-extending passage through which the bit extends. The second end bushing is disposed in the cylinder on the other side of the center bushing and has a third axially-extending passage through which the bit extends.

Abstract: A downloader conveyor is described and claimed. The downloader conveyor comprises an endless belt to which a plurality of cups is pivotally attached. The cups are adapted to receive apples or like relatively delicate objects. As the cups containing the apples descend into the bin, the cups rotate so as to permit the apples or other objects to roll out of or exit from the cups and to retard the cup acceleration. Each apple engages a skirt, which breaks the fall of the exiting apple. A distal end of the skirt can be arranged to scrape over the bin floor or scrape over the top of apples or other objects already placed in the bin, so as to again break the fall of the apple so that the apple is placed in the bin without substantial freefall.

Abstract: An automated case order preparation system including a crane for transporting groups of depalletized product cases to temporary storage on shelving, and to a plurality of gravity-powered case guides, for accumulating and dispensing cases to fulfill client order pallets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing dust when breaking rock, to a dust separator, and further to a rock-drilling rig. Rock material and air sucked from a borehole or some other operating location is separated from each other in the dust separator. The separated rock material falls into a discharge part of the dust separator, from which it can be dosed in batches into a discharging device. The discharging device comprises a closed compression space in which the rock material batch is compressed into a more compact state. This forms a solid matter cake that is removed from the dust separator.

Abstract: When the operation of an electronic component conveying apparatus is to be stopped, application of a negative pressure to through holes is stopped, and a compressed air blowing mechanism blows compressed air from an exhaust nozzle with a pressure greater than a pressure applied during the operation of the electronic component conveying apparatus. Accordingly, an air curtain is generated at opening portions of the through holes on the guide member side, and the air curtain prevents electronic components from entering the through holes. The electronic components remaining in the through holes located downstream of the position of the exhaust nozzle in a conveying direction are conveyed to a measurement section so as to enable measurement of the characteristics thereof, and then discharged by a discharging mechanism in a discharge section. Thereafter, rotation of a conveying member is stopped.

Abstract: A tunnel dryer apparatus and method is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a drying chamber having an infeed end for receiving articles to be dried, and a conveyor for conveying the articles through the drying chamber along a drying path to a discharge end of the drying chamber. The drying path includes at least one portion having a gradient for causing the articles to be tilted to distribute accumulated liquid on surfaces of the articles thereby facilitating drying of the article. In another aspect the apparatus includes a nozzle, operably configured to direct a pulsating jet of air toward passing articles thereby causing accumulated liquid on surfaces of the articles to be dispersed to facilitate drying of the article.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring pliant articles, such as poultry carcasses or parts thereof, includes a first separator stage comprising a slide plate with spaced apart sets of guides for receiving articles and for conveying the articles toward a second separator stage. The second separator stage comprises a rotary drum with spaced apart hook-like tines which engage articles received from the slide plate for rotation to a position whereby the force of gravity allows the articles to be released from the drum to fall into respective compartments of a third separator stage. The third separator stage includes spaced apart moveable closures which are operated in timed relationship to each other to release the articles onto a conveyor or other apparatus to provide spacing and alignment of the articles generally in single file.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus, systems, and related methods for slowing the speed of components in transport systems. The apparatus includes a component track extending between input and output ends and sized for receiving the components, a speed control device mounted adjacent the component track and comprising a projection configured to move within the component track, a sensor positioned upstream of the input end of the component track to detect the speed of the components approaching the component track, and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to adjust the speed of the projection within the component track based on the speed of the components approaching the component track, to decelerate the components within the component track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to manually discharge bottles from a tray of bottles onto a sloped surface at the bottom of which gravity fed individual bottles are captured at the top receiving edge of a parallel sloped multi-pocketed rotatable indexing wheel and sequentially: (a.) discharged tangentially at the bottom edge of said indexing wheel in a single row, (b.) corrected to a vertical axis, and (c.) exited onto adjoining equipment for further operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers includes a first conveyor for advancing items; a second conveyor for continuously advancing containers; a charging device including first and second chutes each having an inlet adjoining the discharge end of the first conveyor and an outlet positioned above the second conveyor. The first and second chutes adjoin one another in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the second conveyor. A drive shifts the charging device and the discharge end of the first conveyor relative to one another for selectively aligning the inlet of the first chute or the inlet of the second chute with the discharge end for selectively introducing items from the first conveyor into the first or second chute. A sensor detects items advanced on the first conveyor. A control device is connected to the sensor and the drive for operating the drive based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers andn caps including a frame movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of the objects and an angularly displaced conveyor on the frame having a discharge chute at the predetermined location for discharge in objects thereto. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain apparatus defining a path from a transfer point to the discharge chute. The chain has bucket flight apparatus for conveying the objects along the path. A delivery chute is also on the frame for transferring the objects to the transfer point. The delivery chute includes a first tray inclined with the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent the transfer point positioned to feed the objects to the conveyor chain. The delivery chute further includes a second tray located within the first tray at the same or greater angle with the horizontal and positioned to receive the objects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring bottles arriving in an upright position and in laterally adjacent rows on a feed conveyor into a single row of bottles on a downstream or discharge conveyor. The bottles are shifted laterally solely under a gravity effect from the feed conveyor, across an intermediate conveyor whereat they are successively accelerated to the downstream conveyor.