Abstract: A conveyor system includes a drive assembly and a plurality of rollers configured to singulate a plurality of conveyed articles travelling on the plurality of rollers along a direction of travel. Each of the plurality of rollers having a drive end and a base end. The drive end having a drive sheave including a plurality of grooves and a plurality of peaks interposed between the plurality of grooves formed on a surface thereof. The drive assembly is coupled to the drive end of at least one of the plurality of rollers by a drive belt. At least a first portion of the plurality of rollers is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of travel.

Abstract: Material processing apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) with a plurality of vertically stacked inverting pan conveyors (42, 44) therein. Each conveyor (42, 44) includes a plurality of conveyor pans (50) traveling between and around aligned front and rear sprocket pairs (90, 92) to define upper and lower conveyor runs (52, 54). Each pan (50) has a perforated base plate (56) presenting a pair of opposed material-supporting surfaces (58, 60). As the pans (50) traverse the sprocket pairs (90, 92), they are inverted, and material (110) carried by the upper run pans (50) is transferred to the lower run pans (50) by passage of the material around and/or between the sprocket pair (90).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for inspecting and orienting manufactured articles. The apparatus and method include recirculating inspected articles to the inspection station for additional processing.

Abstract: A device for eliminating fugitive material dust emanating from material being transferred from an upper conveyor, feeder or crusher to a lower position, or other location. The device allows adjustability of the chute's total flow capacity where increased capacity is required. The device has a sliding gate disposed in the hopper to control the rate of transfer of the material from the hopper. A chute is disposed below the hopper and is movable in both a lateral direction (transverse to the direction of belt travel), and movable in the axis of belt travel. A choke is slidably attached to the chute, and slidable therein. The gate is positioned to maintain a level of material in the hopper to prevent dust from emanating out of the hopper from the chute. The choke is positioned to reduce airflow through the material as it passes through the chute to a lower position.

Abstract: A declined conveyor for conveying articles in a downstream direction, which is parallel to a longitudinal direction, has one or more controlled conveyor sections interposed between gravity conveyors. Each controlled conveyor includes a plurality of driven rollers which are driven by a drive member disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal direction, and is operatively connected to a plurality of the driven rollers through O belts.

Abstract: An over/under line feed system in accordance with the present invention includes a conveyor assembly positioned adjacent a workstation. The conveyor assembly preferably includes upper and lower conveyors. The workstation includes a workstation support frame and a carriage assembly supported by the workstation support frame. The carriage assembly is configured to receive a container, e.g., a collapsible plastic container, thereon. A lifting device is present to raise and/or lower the carriage assembly between the upper and lower conveyors. A tilting device allows at least a portion of the carriage assembly to tilt, providing easier access to the inside of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a bin with articles such as fruit is provided. The apparatus has a filling conveyor pivotable between a position within the bin to he filled and the top of the bin. The discharge end of the filling conveyor is maintained at an offset distance from the contents of the bin. The filling conveyor carries a plurality of resilient flaps pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the filling conveyor for movement therewith. The flaps successively carry rows of the articles along an upper run from a take-up end to a discharge end, at which end the articles are dropped off of the flap. A second flap, moving along a lower run in a direction opposite to the upper run, gently catches the dropped articles, and deposits the articles in the bin. Subsequent flaps moving along the lower run then sweep the deposited articles away from the drop location and toward to other end of the bin, allowing the articles to pile up at that end.

Abstract: A conveyor (101) to minimize spillage in which the forward run (108) is located below the return run (107) and arranged so that any carry back material dislodged from the return run (107) drops onto the forward run (108).

Abstract: A food product processing transport system (300) includes an overhead transport rail (302) having first and second runs (356 and 358, 390 and 392), a food product carrier (310) suspended from the rail and defining a vertical plane, a drive mechanism (326) for advancing the carrier along the rail, and a turning arrangement (354, 394) between the first and second runs and changing the relative orientation between the vertical plane defined by the carrier and the direction of advancement of the carrier. The carrier includes a slider block (312) slidable along the rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking recyclable books permits the user to retain the recyclable value of the books while effectively deterring third-parties from reselling books which are intended to be recycled. The method includes transporting recyclable books past a designated marking location and marking at least a portion of the covers of the books with a distinguishing mark, and then transferring the marked books away from the marking location. The apparatus includes a marking device for marking the covers of the books, a transport device having a first and a second end for transporting the books past the marking device so that the covers of the books become marked thereby, and a removal device for moving the books away from the marking device after the covers of the books have been marked thereby.

Abstract: A heated conveyor for disinfecting contaminated, size-reduced hospital refuse comprises a scraping conveyor with two endless link chains (1,2) to which drives (6) are fastened. The scraping conveyor is arranged in a housing with electricially heated floor and walls which is closed with the exception of an upper inlet opening (17), an outlet opening (19) and an air vent (18). In the disinfection process implemented by this conveyor compressed saturated steam is injected into the housing through steam nozzles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a food product. A series of processing cabinets are each provided with an inlet and an outlet in one of the cabinet side walls adjacent an end wall. The product is carried by a series of individual product carriers, which are capable of turning relative to the rail. The carriers pass through the cabinet inlets, and are turned relative to the rail thereafter so as to pass through the cabinets in a closely packed arrangement. As the carriers approach the opposite end wall of the cabinet, the carriers are again turned so as to exit the cabinet in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cabinet.

Abstract: A conveyor is used in combination with a supply of bulk material having an outlet of a predetermined relatively great transverse width to move the material from the outlet to an output location longitudinally and horizontally offset from the outlet in a transport direction. This conveyor has a trough itself having an intake of generally the large transverse width and opening upward at the outlet of the supply for receiving bulk material therefrom, a base extending in the direction, and a pair of side walls extending upward from the base and also extending in the direction. The side walls flare upward away from each other at least at the intake and have upper edges spaced transversely apart at the intake by the transverse width and lower edges spaced transversely apart generally along the full length of the trough by a relatively small transverse width.

Abstract: A conveyor is used in combination with a supply of bulk material having an outlet of a predetermined relatively great transverse width to move the material from the outlet to an output location longitudinally and horizontally offset from the outlet in a transport direction. This conveyor has a trough itself having an intake of generally the large transverse width and opening upward at the outlet of the supply for receiving bulk material therefrom, a base extending in the direction, and a pair of side walls extending upward from the base and also extending in the direction. The side walls flare upward away from each other at least at the intake and have upper edges spaced transversely apart at the intake by the transverse width and lower edges spaced transversely apart generally along the full length of the trough by a relatively small transverse width.

Abstract: An endless belt conveyor having a pulley at the tail end with slats forming slots therebetween leading to an interior space, the latter leading axially outwardly, and the pulley having end plates with radial vanes leading radially beyond the slats. The conveyor has a casing with telescoping sections that are relatively adjustable to accommodate variations in belt lengths. It also has trougher rolls mounted on the side walls of the casing, leaving the bottom portion of the interior space clear. It also includes an intermediate discharge unit which includes a pair of relatively displaced rolls, on which the upper belt run travels, which throws the grain in a suspended path, and deflector blades interposed in the suspended path which deflect the grain laterally into a discharge chute.

Abstract: A horizontal plow system method and apparatus has been developed for the homogenous blending and reclaiming of bulk solid particulate matter, such as coal, at a utility plant. The horizontal plow system apparatus comprises one or more displacement assemblies, each further comprising a receiving stationary top plate and a horizontal flight subassembly. Coal is deposited via gravitational forces from an elongated slot bin storage onto the receiving stationary top plate and is then pushed on a bias and ultimately displaced by angular flights during travel of the horizontal flight subassembly along the receiving stationary top plate. Operation of the displacement assembly serves to displace the bulk solid from the sides of the receiving stationary top plate such that portions of coal from along the entire length of the elongated slot bin storage are continuously and simultaneously falling onto a moving transfer belt below, thereby insuring a more even blending of the coal.

Abstract: There is provided an endless conveyor characterized by a plurality of invertable material carrying pans. The invention is particularly concerned with simplified means for effecting inversion of the pans whereby both the upper and lower reaches of the endless conveyor may be utilized to carry material as for example in a dryer. Each of the material carrying pans is provided with a cam for coaction with stationary cam followers to effect inversion of the pan as it approaches the end of the conveyor for reversal of direction, and stabilizing cam followers for controlling the position the pan as it courses around the direction changing apparatus and enters another reach.

Abstract: A scraper-chain conveyor has a scraper assembly and plurality of channel sections defining upper and lower runs for the scraper assembly. The scraper assembly passes round sprocket drums positioned at the ends of the conveyor, and is constituted by two drive chains and a plurality of scrapers connected thereto. The conveyor has first and second straight portions joined by a curved portion. The upper run of the curved conveyor portion is at a lower level than the upper run of the adjacent end of the first straight conveyor portion. The scraper assembly passes between the upper runs of said end of the first straight conveyor portion and the curved conveyor portion via upper and lower deflector rollers which direct the scraper assembly in a Z-shaped path. The upper deflector roller is provided with a drive, whereby the chain tension of the scraper assembly is negligible when the assembly passes round the curved portion.

Abstract: Modular, conveyor-type heat exchange apparatus is provided which is especially adapted for handling large volumes of shale rock and preheating incoming raw shale using hot, spent shale from a commercial processing operation. The apparatus includes an elongated heat exchange zone having a plurality of separate, interconnected, insulated modules; two superposed, oppositely moving sections of an endless conveyor pass through the zone and respectively support hot and raw shale material for heat exchange therebetween. The conveyor includes spaced, interconnected, shale-supporting triangular elements which facilitate gas flow between the conveyor sections in the heat exchange zone. In preferred forms, the modules present restricted inlet and outlet throats, and are provided with slow moving fans for circulation of air currents between the conveyor sections without creation of chimney-like drafts along the length of the modules.

Abstract: This invention is a flow control gate apparatus mounted between a discharge opening of a hopper assembly and between a portion of a conveyor assembly operable to control amount of grain or the like being discharged into the interior of the conveyor means. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor housing having a conveyor chain assembly mounted therein with spaced flight members to move the material laterally. The slide gate assembly is movable to opened and closed positions and control size of the discharge through the conveyor assembly having a horizontally movable slide gate member actuated by a control handle assembly. The control handle assembly includes a rack member secured to the slide gate member, a handle member mounted on a support shaft, and a pinion gear mounted on the support shaft engagable with the rack member to longitudinally move the slide gate member. The slide gate assembly is very compact requiring little vertical height so it can be easily installed in existing conveyor assembly system.

Abstract: Treatment of articles in an enclosure traversed by gases, according to which the articles are advanced translationally and are simultaneously rotated, characterized by apparatus for causing the articles to travel the length of the enclosure several times and at different levels, and for causing the articles to roll on flat superimposed surfaces extending across the enclosure by bringing them in contact with driving components carried in a continuous or endless circuit so that the same components provide for successive travel of the articles first in one direction, and then in the other direction at two different levels.