Abstract: A system for heating, coating, cooling and screening a granular substrate is provided. The system, such as an apparatus for continuous coating granular particles, includes a preheater apparatus for heating granular particles, a rotary drum having an inlet horizontally coupled to the preheater for receiving heated granular particles directly from the fluidized bed preheater, a coating apparatus positioned within the drum for applying a coating to the heated granular particles, and a cooling apparatus positioned horizontally in association with the drum for cooling the granular particles subsequent to coating.

Abstract: A system for converting an irregular flow stream of solid particulates into a continuously flowing stream of solid particulates is disclosed. The system comprises a bin adapted to receive the irregular particulate flow stream. A level sensor is adapted to produce an output signal representative of the volume of particulates in the bin. The bin level controller has a set point corresponding to a desired level for the volume of particulates in the bin and is adapted to receive the output signal from the level sensor. The bin level controller produces a bin level control signal proportional to the deviation from the set point signal. A movable valve is positioned proximate the outlet adapted to modulate the particulate flow stream out of the bin and a valve controller is operatively associated with the valve. The valve controller is adapted to respond to bin level control signals from the bin level controller.

Abstract: A simplified submerged chain conveyor system for handling ash produced by large-scale coal fired boilers. The system incorporates an endless chain conveyor system moving a coal/ash aqueous mixture within a conveyor segment having a hydraulically closed duct. The system is adapted for retrofit applications of existing coal-fired boiler installations. In each embodiment the chain conveyor elevates the aqueous ash solution to dewater the ash. In several embodiments the boiler ash hopper is partially flooded with water and the system moves the ash mixture through a water column to the dewatering section. In one embodiment the ash mixture is not submersed but is subjected to water sprays before reaching the dewatering section. Great flexibility is provided in locating and positioning the conveyor system. One unit may be implemented to provide ash handling for multiple boilers. Embodiments are described operable in continuous or batch mode processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) for goods to be transported, comprising a transport rake (2) with at least one receiving region (20) for the goods to be transported and a slide arrangement (3) which is arranged in a longitudinally slidable manner along a transport plane in a transport direction (I), said slide arrangement (3) being equipped with at least one lever (4) which can be pivoted about a rotational axis (II) oriented substantially perpendicular to the transport plane. The transport rake (2) is mounted on the slide arrangement (3) by means of the at least one lever (4), and a drive device (5) comprising a first drive unit (50) and a second drive unit (51) is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a coal cake that is suitable for coking and for subsequent charging of a coking oven chamber. At least one vibrating station including a push-table vibrating machine with an oscillatorily mounted vibrating table is provided. A mold box is clamped to the vibrating table. The mold box is filled with granular raw coal material. A weight is placed on top of the mold box. The mold box is vertically oscillated while the weight presses from above into the mold box so as to mold a vibration-compacted coal block. The vibration-compacted coal block is pushed off the vibrating table, using an ejector, onto an underlying support. The vibration-compacted coal block is pushed on the underlying support by a length (x) of the vibration-compacted coal block successive to another vibration-compacted coal block. The vibration-compacted coal blocks are successively stacked so as to form the coal cake. The coal cake is introduced into the coking oven chamber using a transporting device.

Abstract: A conveying installation has a conveying belt and also has drums, load-bearing rollers, load-bearing frameworks, and a transfer section. The conveying installation forms a material-conveying upper strand, with a transfer location for the conveying material, and an at least material-free lower strand. The transfer location contains at least one wear-protection means which contains at least one foamed polymer mix.

Abstract: A belt conveyor, a collecting hopper and a screw conveyor are sequentially disposed below a chute for feeding hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets from a pelletizing portion. Even when the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets fed onto the belt conveyor are dropped off or scattered, the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets can be collected by the collecting hopper that is located below and can be securely transferred to an outside by the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A hopper and conveyor assembly for discharging particulate material from the hopper is provided. Sealing strips may be used to prevent particulate material from moving beyond edges of a conveyor belt of the conveyor assembly.

Abstract: Device for taking back empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans, with a housing which has apparatuses for processing inserted empty containers, an intake chute accessible from the outside that receives empty containers as bulk material and a bottom sloping downward in direction of intake chute. Device is provided that prevents or impedes insertion of excessively large objects into device. Device provides almost unimpeded insertion of empty containers as bulk material into intake chute, and simultaneously prevents that excessively large objects can enter into the device. The bottom of intake chute has a plurality of grooves arranged side by side and running in the intake direction, the grooves flowing into a passage opening leading to the device and whose cross-section is dimensioned in such a manner that empty containers aligned longitudinally in the intake direction can pass unimpeded through the grooves.

Abstract: A side shifting conveyor is provided for a surface mining operation. The conveyor generally includes conveyor sections and conveyor translation devices. Each conveyor translation device includes a drive operable to move the associated at least one conveyor section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor further includes a controller operatively coupled to each drive for controlling operation of the drive and coordinating movement of the conveyor sections. A method for moving a conveyor in a surface mine generally includes sensing that a surface miner operable to deposit material onto the conveyor sections has moved beyond one of the conveyor sections, fixing a position relative to the surface mine of a conveyor translation device associated with one of the conveyor sections, and operating the conveyor translation device to move one of the conveyor sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving proppant from a container has a frame with a surface for suitable for receiving a container thereon, a hopper affixed to the frame, and a conveyor having a surface positioned below the hopper. The hopper has an opening at or adjacent to a lower end thereof. The hopper is suitable for receiving proppant from the container. The surface of the conveyor is suitable for receiving the proppant a discharged through the opening of the hopper. A receptacle is translatably positioned at the surface of the frame. A metering gate is translatably positioned adjacent to the opening of the hopper.

Abstract: A crop delivery system for a harvester including a vessel positioned in a harvester for securing a crop therein. A first tube has a first angled orientation and configured to receive the crop from the vessel. A second tube has a second angled orientation. A transition area is positioned between the first tube and the second tube. A continuous belt extends from the first tube to the second tube. A portion of the belt carrying the crop between the first tube and the second tube is structurally supported and substantially covered by the first tube, the second tube and the transition area. The transition area includes a roller positioned substantially transverse to the first tube and the second tube and in contact with the belt, the roller forming a substantially flat bend area in the belt for transitioning the belt from the first angled orientation to the second angled orientation.

Abstract: A precise-count high-volume preform delivery system. The system employs a soft-drop conveyor system that is used to deliver preforms into a container or another location. An automatically-controlled preform counting system counts preforms before they are delivered to the conveyor, to allow the number of preforms delivered by the conveyor to be determined.

Abstract: A portable truck dump comprises a conveyor system mounted on an elongate frame to transport material from a first end of the frame to a second, opposite end of the frame. A grate is positioned over the conveyor system and is supported by first and second sides of the frame. A ramp extends generally perpendicular to the frame on each side of the frame next to the grate to provide a drive-over access for a material transport vehicle to deposit its load over the grate and onto the conveyor system and a portion of each ramp. A first end of each ramp immediately adjacent to the frame is pivotally connected to the frame to allow the ramp to be articulated towards the grate to move excess material off of the ramp and into the grate.

Abstract: A material handling machine for transferring discrete loads of excavated, uncrushed waste from an excavator or other excavation equipment to a dumping location beyond the reach of the excavator. The material handling machine may include a mobile bridge supported by two or more crawlers. The material handling machine may further include at least one skip that is selectively moved between a first end and a second end of the mobile bridge. The at least one skip may receive material from excavation equipment at the first end and deposit the received material proximate the second end. When the material handling machine includes two skips, one skip may be positioned above the other skip, or the skips may be positioned to be side-by-side.

Abstract: A hopper loader is provided for supplying particulate material to a processing machine. The hopper loader includes a receiver with latching members configured for coupling to a hopper assembly. The hopper assembly includes a hopper which preferably has translucent side walls to permit visual inspection of the contents of the chamber within the hopper, and a filter element positioned atop the receiver which is configured so that particulate material trapped by the filter element will periodically fall back into the chamber for processing without operator intervention.

Abstract: A laying head tripper has a ramp with a lip detachably secured to its forward edge. The ramp and/or the lip are contoured to match the curvature of the rings being formed by the laying head.

Abstract: A pump system includes a pump that includes a first belt and a second belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of a passage there between. There is an inlet at one end of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, with a passage length that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The passage defines a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the passage inlet. A hopper includes an interior space that terminates at a mouth at the passage inlet. At least one screw is located within the interior space of the hopper and includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance.

Abstract: A cover assembly includes a roller member rotatably supported by a bracket assembly on one end of the intake hopper of an agricultural conveyor such that a sheet member rolled onto the roller member can be unrolled to span across the intake opening. The cover assembly also includes a support frame pivotally coupled to the intake hopper between a working position and a stored position. In the working position a portion of the frame is centrally located above the intake opening and protrudes upwardly beyond respective sides of the housing of the intake hopper to support the sheet member to slope downward from a central apex to prevent accumulation of precipitation thereon. In the stored position the support frame is shorter in height relative to the housing than in the working position and the sheet member is rolled onto the roller so as not to interfere with normal operation of the intake hopper.

Abstract: A rotary loader taught herein comprises a rotatable load plate including a plurality of component pockets arranged about a rotational axis of the load plate, the load plate inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at an angle of inclination of less than 50 degrees and a load wall arranged about a lower portion of the load plate adjacent certain ones of the plurality of component pockets and extending above a height of the load plate. The load wall includes a retention surface extending in a direction parallel to an outer peripheral edge of the load plate and a loading surface inclined with respect a line perpendicular to a top surface of the load plate in a direction away from the retention surface at an angle of inclination of less than 45 degrees.

Abstract: A portable truck dump comprises a conveyor system mounted on an elongate frame to transport material from a first end of the frame to a second, opposite end of the frame. A grate is positioned over the conveyor system and is supported by first and second sides of the frame. A ramp extends generally perpendicular to the frame on each side of the frame next to the grate to provide a drive-over access for a material transport vehicle to deposit its load over the grate and onto the conveyor system and a portion of each ramp. A first end of each ramp immediately adjacent to the frame is pivotally connected to the frame to allow the ramp to be articulated towards the grate to move excess material off of the ramp and into the grate.

Abstract: An arrangement for depositing coating powder on a rotational symmetric body is provided. The arrangement includes a rotation device for rotating the rotational symmetric body around a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the horizontal axis of rotation coincides with the axis of the rotational symmetry of the body, a nozzle arranged vertically above a surface of the rotational symmetric body for providing the coating powder to the surface and a horizontal barrier at a specified distance defining a coating thickness above the surface, wherein the barrier is arranged next to the nozzle in the direction of a rotational movement of the surface at the nozzle. At this point, the nozzle includes a cross section elongated in one direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: This invention is intended to make a crucible feeder mechanism simple in configuration, to realize low cost and to increase the number of accommodated crucibles while making the crucible feeder mechanism small in size. In the crucible feeder mechanism, the crucibles are mounted on an inclined mount surface 311 in parallel and a tapered guide surface guides 312b the crucibles sliding down the mount surface 311 to a crucible moving mechanism 313 provided at an outlet port of a guide member. This crucible moving mechanism includes an accommodation concave portion 3131X accommodating one of the crucibles and provided on a circumferential surface portion 3131a of the crucible moving mechanism. The crucible moving mechanism rotates and moves between an accommodation position at which the accommodation concave portion receives the sliding-down crucible and a feed position at which the accommodation concave portion communicates with a crucible feed port 314 and drops the sliding-down crucible.

Abstract: Fixed amount discharging equipment for simultaneously discharging a particulate body from a plurality of containers containing the particulate body, comprising a casing to the interior of which is provided a belt conveyor and having a particulate body discharge hole below the carrying direction end of the belt conveyor, and a plurality of supply arranged in the carrying direction of the belt conveyor and passing through the casing, lower ends thereof penetrating into the casing and being arranged above the belt of the belt conveyor, the lower ends of the supply pipes being such that the downstream sides thereof in the belt carrying direction have notches of a predetermined length from the end faces upward.

Abstract: A side shifting conveyor is provided for a surface mining operation. The conveyor generally includes conveyor sections and conveyor translation devices. Each conveyor translation device includes a drive operable to move the associated at least one conveyor section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor further includes a controller operatively coupled to each drive for controlling operation of the drive and coordinating movement of the conveyor sections. A method for moving a conveyor in a surface mine generally includes sensing that a surface miner operable to deposit material onto the conveyor sections has moved beyond one of the conveyor sections, fixing a position relative to the surface mine of a conveyor translation device associated with one of the conveyor sections, and operating the conveyor translation device to move one of the conveyor sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning disordered sheet material. The apparatus according to the invention in particular has the advantage, that disordered sheet material is fast and reliably aligned, so that the sheet material can be formed into bundles. Since the alignment of the sheet material can be carried out automatically by the apparatus, i.e. in particular has not to be carried out by an operator, moreover, a cost-effective alignment of the disordered sheet material is permitted.

Abstract: A supply unit including a funnel-shaped container for receiving a quantity of unsorted, or randomly oriented, nuts and bolts, a conveyor that is driven, in a reciprocating manner, along an inwardly tapering interior wall of the container. The upper carrying surface of the conveyor dips into the unsorted nuts and bolts on its downward stroke and picks up some of the nuts and bolts. On its upward stroke, or travel, the conveyor cooperates with the adjacent wall to properly orient the majority of the nuts and bolts. Some of the improperly oriented nuts and bolts may fall off the conveyor during its upward travel. Blasts of air, or mechanical deflectors, cause other improperly oriented nuts and bolts to fall back into the container. A step is formed near the top of the container, and the upward travel of the conveyor term mates above the step. The properly oriented nuts and bolts are transferred away from the container by a transport assembly located in proximity to the step.

Abstract: Gravel is fed into and spread onto the floor of a newly constructed basement by a hanging frame which attaches to a window sill and supports a hydraulically driven conveyor belt with a feed spout at a feed end of the conveyor belt and a guidance belt mounted on top of the conveyor belt. The hanging frame converges to a front post which pivotally supports a frame of the conveyor belt for movement side to side about an upright axis through the feed spout and carries an adjustable brace which raises and lowers the conveyor. A feed chute is located outside the window. The conveyor includes a guide conveyor on top and is driven by a power source and pump located outside the building.

Abstract: Gravel is fed into and spread onto the floor of a newly constructed basement by a hanging frame which attaches to a window sill and supports a hydraulically driven conveyor belt with a feed spout at a feed end of the conveyor belt and a guidance belt mounted on top of the conveyor belt. The hanging frame converges to a front post which pivotally supports a frame of the conveyor belt for movement side to side about an upright axis through the feed spout and carries an adjustable brace which raises and lowers the conveyor. A feed chute is located outside the window. The conveyor includes a guide conveyor on top and is driven by a power source and pump located outside the building.

Abstract: A discharge hopper for a tray discharge station for serially discharging shaft trays filled with rod-shaped products includes, a conveying element for carrying away the products flowing from the shaft trays and a connecting device for coupling the shaft trays to be emptied to the conveying element. The connecting device is arranged substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the conveying element to form a channel for the product flow and includes an opening for passage of the products from the shaft tray into the channel. In the region of the connecting device there is provided a closure unit to open and close the opening. The closure device is coupled to a movable actuating element so that the closure device can be opened and closed shaft by shaft in relation to the shaft tray to be emptied.

Abstract: A carrier for transporting pellet-like objects is disclosed. The carrier has a fixed jaw portion and a movable jaw portion positioned in spaced relation and opposite to the fixed jaw portion. The movable jaw portion is movable between an open and a closed position. When in the closed position, the jaw portions cooperate to grip the pellet-like item. The jaw portions are mounted on a movable conveyor which moves the carriers through a processing station which performs an operation on the pellet-like object while it is gripped by the jaw portions. An actuator extends from the movable jaw portion and is used to actuate the jaw portions into the closed position. A camming surface engages the actuator to close the jaw portions. Parts of the camming surface are sloped so as to gradually close and gradually allow the jaw portions to open.

Abstract: A distinctive method and apparatus for accumulating selected articles can include an inputting of a plurality of individual articles (28) from an article supply source (26). Each article can have at least a first major facing surface (30), a first article dimension (32) extending along a first article direction, a second article dimension (34) extending along a second article direction which differs from the first article direction, and an article edge region (36). Each article can be directed to a first conveyor (50), and in a particular aspect, the first article dimension of each article can be aligned along a selected machine-direction (22). Another aspect can include an identifying of an article-set (70) which contains a selected, predetermined number of the articles. Further aspects can include a forming of at least one article-set which contains the selected number articles arranged in a stack or other arrangement suitable for packaging; and a moving of the article-set into a package.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring hollow blow molded articles from a vertically disposed wheel blow molding machine to a horizontally-disposed takeaway conveyor. Each mold on the wheel releases multiple blown articles at the six o'clock position on the wheel such that the articles fall freely from the wheel. An inclined end of a takeaway conveyor is located directly underneath the six o'clock position in order to receive the free falling blown articles and transport them to a horizontal transporting section of the takeaway conveyor. Flanges which extend upwardly from the conveying surface of the takeaway conveyor in combination with a powered endless positioning belt which extends a spaced distance along the inclined receiving end are utilized to confine the blown articles on the receiving end and uniformly position the blown articles on the takeaway conveyor.

Abstract: A component carrying device has a simple constitution, and is capable of lining up components and carrying them in one direction with high reliability. The device comprises a guide groove for lining up components into one line and guiding them; a carrying member, provided on the bottom face of the guide groove, which can move forward and backward along the direction of the groove; and driving means, for driving the carrying member forward and backward at a higher speed when moving backward than when moving forward. The speed of the carrying member when moving forward is a speed at which a predetermined sustained frictional force acts between the carrying member and the components, which are mounted on the top face of the carrying member; and the speed of the carrying member when moving backward is a speed at which the frictional force between the carrying member and the components mounted on its top face, substantially breaks, so that the components are carried forward by the difference in frictional force.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for feeding bulk metal objects from a hopper supported by a frame. The hopper includes side panels that taper downwardly to form an interior chamber therebetween with upper and lower openings. Doors are hingedly attached to the side panels adjacent the lower opening and are opened and closed by piston and cylinder combinations pivotally attached to the frame and pivotally attached to members extending downwardly from the doors. Arms extend from the doors into the interior chamber to facilitate the movement of the metal objects in the hopper toward the lower opening to feed through the doors. Vibrations created by various movements of the doors also help move the metal objects toward the lower opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an Installation for feeding a plurality of loads, e.g. cells of aluminum melting furnaces, with a bulk material such as pulverized aluminum oxide. The installation includes a silo for the bulk material. The silo includes a pressure vessel or pump delivering machinery which is connected with a conveying line. A plurality of receiving vessels are connected with the conveying line via valves in the vicinity of the furnace loads. The receiving vessels are connected to the plurality of loads of the furnaces by at least one pneumatic conveying chute or pneumatic pipe channel. Each conveying chute or pipe channel includes at least one discharge per load.

Abstract: A coin dispensing assembly with an improved coin transport surface facilitates a sliding movement of coins within a hopper through the use of a low friction wall surface for contacting the coins as they move towards a coin feed mechanism. The wall surface can have protrusions of a substantially smaller size than the coin which are arrayed to provide minimal contact with the coin surface. Alternatively, a plastic liner can be fastened to the wall of the hopper assembly and can include graphite particles on its surface for contacting the coins. The graphite particles will have a substantially higher hardness than that of the coin, thereby preventing scratching and the formation of metal particles within the hopper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable conveyor for use with an apparatus handling contamination-sensitive discrete items. The conveyor has at least one cavity, each cavity capable to carry at least one discrete item. The conveyor is adapted to be mounted on the contamination-sensitive apparatus that, in operation, is capable to impart movement to the conveyor for displacing the conveyor, and its cavities, along a predetermined path. The present invention also relates to a method for transporting discrete items in a machine performing production runs with different types of contamination-sensitive discrete items. The method involves installing a conveyor as described above on the machine and using it to perform a first production run with a first type of discrete items. The conveyor is then disposed of and a new conveyor installed on the machine, used to perform a second production run with a second type of discrete items, different from the first type.

Abstract: A feed hopper for loading a conveyor with bulk pellet-like items is disclosed. The hopper has a chamber with a top opening for receiving the items and a bottom opening positioned above the conveyor for discharging the items. A plurality of baffle plates are arranged in spaced relation one above the other within the chamber, the baffle plates being angularly oriented with respect to the horizontal and extending partially across the chamber. Bulk pellet-like items received in the top opening impact on the baffle plates as they fall under gravity through the chamber onto the conveyor beneath, the weight of the pellets being supported by the baffle plates and not directly all at once on the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor system for moving flowable bulk material is equipped with a funnel (12) that has a circular funnel inlet (13) formed by a cylindrical wall section (16′) and an orthogonal funnel outlet (14) formed by eight funnel walls (18; 17, 17A; 17′, 17″) connected at one end to the cylindrical wall section (16′) and forming at the opposite end the orthogonal funnel outlet (14). Four walls (17, 17A; 17′, 17″) of the eight funnel walls are flat or plane and form funnel side or lateral walls. The remaining four four walls (18) have a curved cross-section and form funnel corner walls which interconnect the funnel lateral plane walls. The eight funnel walls are substantially longer in the axial direction than the cylindrical wall section (16′). The corner walls (18) and the lateral plane walls have approximately the same axial length (H≈H′). The eight funnel walls cooperate in avoiding clogging of the bulk material as it flows through the funnel.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a granular catalyst to a destination such as a reactor at a constant feeding rate uniformly charges the catalyst material into the device. The granular catalyst is loaded into individual compartments of a hopper and is ejected at a discharge rate controlled by a gate. When a vibrator is activated, a trough is caused to vibrate in its obliquely upward direction and the granular material in the trough is smoothly conveyed toward outlets of granular material passages formed in the trough, and is introduced to reaction tubes of the reactor via sieves. Powdery waste of the granular catalyst produced by the vibration of the trough is removed by letting it fall the sieves made in the granular material passages.

Abstract: A sprinkling device for applying powdery to granulated materials, particularly super-absorbing swelling substances (SAP-material) to a continuously moving material web in the manufacture of suction cores for sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, etc. The SAP-material is withdrawn from a supply container by a toothed belt of a conveyor system. The toothed belt has conveying troughs of varying shapes to enable an exact volumetrically metered amount of SAP-material to be disposed onto a predetermined surface of the material web.

Abstract: An automatic drill loader is used with a drill grinding machine to automatically present drills to the drill grinding machine workhead for being ground thereat and to carry ground drills to a storage receptacle. The automatic drill loader comprises a magazine, a timing station, and two sets of grippers. The magazine stores a quantity of drills, which may have stepped shanks. The magazine is adjustable to suit drills of different lengths and diameters. The magazine presents one drill at a time to a staging station. A load gripper grips the drill at the staging station and conveys it to the timing station, whereat the drill is linearly and angularly oriented. The load gripper then transports the drill to the drill grinding machine workhead. Simultaneously, an unload gripper carries a ground drill from the drill grinding machine workhead to the storage receptacle.

Abstract: A conveyor system having a conveyor belt (21) having a substantially horizontal segment with hopper walls (26) overlying the segment and providing a hopper channel (25) terminating at a distance above the belt to provide clearance space below the hopper walls, and a skirtboard (74) mounted on the hopper walls, projecting into the clearance spaces and terminating in flexible sealing flaps (75) confronting the upper surface of the belt (21) to limit the flow of particulate material (M) through the clearance space. The hopper walls (26) have upwardly-directed guide tracks (37) on their outward sides to receive elongated slides (44) for longitudinal displacement in the associated track (37). The skirtboard (74) extends transversely to and between adjacent slides (44) to position its flexible sealing flaps (75) in confronting relation to the conveyor (21).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method in handling of returnable bottles (P), wherein the returnable bottle is dropped vertically from an upper space (E.sub.1) into a lower space (E.sub.2) and wherein the returnable bottle is transferred from the drop space (C.sub.1) placed underneath the tube (11) further to a new storage position. According to the invention, the returnable bottle is dropped from the tube (11) into the space between the bristles (12a) in the transfer brush (12) and the guide part (17) and transferred out of said drop space (C.sub.1) further away, being shifted by the bristles (12a) or equivalent in the rotatable brush (12). The invention also concerns a device for handling of returnable bottles.

Abstract: A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers and 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 of objects thereto. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain defining a path from a transfer path to the discharge chute. The chain has bucket flights 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 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: Spreading apparatus for attachment to a vehicle for distributing granular materials such as fertilizer and the like, using air as the distributing medium. The spreading apparatus includes a rear-mounted boom and an air system in which the material distribution passageways are substantially straight from the discharge of the fans to the point of material introduction to the discharge nozzles along the boom. This is achieved by the use of two blowers that move air in opposite directions through a cross-over tube array into which the already-divided material is introduced into individual air passageways leading to the discharge nozzles mounted along the boom. The boom itself is designed so that it can be quickly and easily folded and pivoted for storage or transport.

Abstract: A conveying system particularly for solid municipal waste to be subjected to air classification as provided which comprises a ram tube conveyor. The ram tube conveyor includes a cylindrical casing connected at its forward end to an outwardly tapered tube and a feeder hopper at the forward end of the casing. Hydraulically activated ram supported upon wheels closes the bottom of the feeder hopper during its operation and pushes material from the feeder hopper into the tapered tube. The tapered tube is proportioned to compress the materials and the ram serves to self clean the ram tube conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement for assembly parts comprises a rectilinear vibratory conveyor track comprising two conveyor track parts constituting guide members for the assembly parts, a device for feeding the assembly parts to the conveyor track, a base plate separate from the feeding device and supporting the rectilinear conveyor track, vibrating drive mounting the conveyor track on the base plate, and the guide members being adjustably displaceable in relation to the base plate.

Abstract: A feed apparatus in which a feed chute upstanding with its four sides surrounded, and opened at its top and bottom ends is vibratably supported and a vibrator is provided for applying vibration to the feed chute to thereby enable discharge of articles fed from the top end opening of the feed chute substantially at a given density from the bottom end opening and the flow of the articles discharged from the bottom end opening is divided with respect to length for feeding of the articles in the form of blocks, each of a fixed quantity. According to this apparatus, the fixed quantity feed of articles can be obtained, with simplicity in structure and accuracy, in the situation where the articles are packed and divided in fixed quantities.