Abstract: A laser processing system includes a metal platform having a metal surface wherein at least a portion of the platform surface is substantially planar with a substantially smooth topography. A laser source is configured to generate a laser beam having a focal point that is directed toward a substantially planar portion of the platform surface. A motion mechanism is configured to move at least one of the metal platform and the focal point along at least one axis. A restraining mechanism restrains a film against the platform surface such that an adjoining surface of the restrained film remains in intimate contact with the surface. A controller is configured to operate the laser source, the motion mechanism or both to cut the restrained film in a predetermined pattern with a generated laser beam such that the cut does not extend through the adjoining surface of the restrained film.

Abstract: Provided is a conveyor such that, after stopping or restricting supply of granular material to a downstream device, it is possible to restart normal operation of conveying the granular material without delay. This conveyor includes: a casing having a conveying path of a granular material therein and having a discharge port for discharging the granular material to a downstream device; a plurality of conveying units accommodated in the casing and configured to convey the granular material to the discharge port by circulating along the conveying path; an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the discharge port; and a control unit that controls operation of the plurality of conveying units and the opening/closing mechanism.

Abstract: A ball collecting apparatus is provided that employs a human-powered ball transport system that moves balls from a collecting surface to a location above the collection surface. The ball collecting apparatus employs no motors or other artificially powered devices to retrieve and transfer balls, which makes it light and easy to maneuver. The ball collecting apparatus is primarily contemplated for use of picking up tennis balls, but other balls of various sizes may be accommodated by the apparatus, as it is scalable.

Abstract: In one example, a pallet conveyor for a printing system is described, having a track, a pallet to support a print substrate and move on the track, and a vacuum mechanism to selectively apply a vacuum at the pallet. A boundary of the vacuum applied at the pallet is synchronized with an edge of the print substrate.

Abstract: A conveyor system of a type having a flexible circuitous cable with discs attached thereto for conveying material through a circuitous tube, the system including a cable connector for attaching the ends of the cable together, the connector being designed to reduce cable flexing at the cable connector when the cable is going around a turn, for the purpose of increasing the life of the cable.

Abstract: An ash management trench system is provided for harvesting byproducts from sluice water, such as a discharge from a power plant. The system comprises a first section comprising at least one flow control structure. The at least one flow structure is typically configured to capture a predetermined byproduct. The system further comprises a second section comprising a stilling basin. The second section is coupled to the first section by a connection structure.

Abstract: A disc for a cable conveyor comprised of a polymer formed from a resin including a blend of siloxane, and polyethylene. The siloxane may be a high molecular weight siloxane having a viscosity ranging from 10,000 cst. to 1,000,000 cst., preferably about 500,000 cst., and the polyethylene may be an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having a molecular weight ranging from 3 million grams/mol. to 8 million grams/mol., preferably about 3.5 million grams/mol. The siloxane is present in the blend from 0.5 percent to 30.0, preferably about 3.0 percent.

Abstract: A retractable trailer decking system comprises a retractable decking configured to extend from a retracted position, along a pair of rails, to one of a plurality of extended positions. Each of the plurality of extended positions comprises a different length of usable retractable decking. In each of the plurality of extended positions, the retractable decking is configured to divide at least a portion of a cargo storage area into an upper cargo storage area and a lower cargo storage area, and a top surface of the retractable decking is configured to support cargo for storage in the upper cargo storage area.

Abstract: There is described a feeding unit for feeding sealed packs of pourable food products to a folding unit configured to form folded packages from relative the packs; the feeding unit comprising a feeding conveyor adapted to receive packs at an inlet station of the feeding unit and to drive them to an outlet station of the feeding unit; the feeding conveyor comprising at least one push member movable cyclically and having a cooperating surface adapted to cooperate, in use, with a relative pack to push it towards the outlet station along a substantially rectilinear portion of an advancement path, wherein the cooperating surface has an involute-shaped profile. Furthermore, there is provided a corresponding method for feeding sealed packs of pourable food products to a folding unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a clamping mechanism for clamping a liquid crystal panel of a LCD, the clamping mechanism includes a base, a clamping member mounted on the base, and an elastic member connected to the base and applying a drawing force onto the clamping member to allow the clamping member under balanced outer force. With the clamping mechanism, the vertical position of the clamping mechanism can be adjusted as the height of the liquid crystal panel changes, thus, the clamping member can be kept coplanar with the liquid crystal panel, to avoid the fracture of the liquid crystal panel; meanwhile, with the elastic member, the frequency and the precision of adjusting the clamping mechanism can be decreased to reduce the maintaining cost of the clamping mechanism. The present disclosure further provides a carrying device and a transferring apparatus with the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: An assembly for loading and conveying ferrous metal articles including a magnet having north and south poles, an axis between the north and south poles, the poles forming an annular belt support; a powered conveyor belt extending over the belt support for rotating the magnet, the magnet being segmented along the polar axis, a first polar axis segment being a magnet mounting plate, a plurality of second polar axis segments being sub-magnets, each such sub-magnet overlying or underlying the magnet mounting plate having north and south poles, and having a polar axis, and a third polar axis segment being a sheath extending annularly about the magnet's first and second polar axis segments, the sheath having a radially outer surface forming the magnet's annular belt support.

Abstract: A vacuum conveyance/manifold system is provided for processing mailpieces. The vacuum conveyance/manifold system includes at least one conveyor belt and a compliant deck disposed beneath and supporting an underside surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has rows of aligned apertures disposed therein and a drive surface for engaging a face surface of each of the mailpieces. The compliant deck defines a neutral axis in bending and has a high elongation, low modulus material in a portion of the deck which is distal from the bending neutral axis, and a high yield strength, high modulus material in a portion of the deck which lies coincident with the bending neutral axis. Furthermore, the compliant deck has a plurality of elongate slots formed in the high elongation, low modulus material, which elongate slots are aligned, and in fluid communication, with the rows of apertures in the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method for accommodating a greater height variance of articles in a shrink packaging machine includes: transporting on a conveyor into a hot air chamber an article covered in shrink film and engaging the article being transported on the conveyor with a first roller and a subsequent second roller. The article is engaged with the first roller at a first initial vertical height from the conveyor that is less than the initial vertical height of an axis of rotation of the first roller from the conveyor. The article is engaged with the second roller at a second initial vertical height from the conveyor that is less than the initial vertical height of an axis of rotation of the second roller from the conveyor, which in turn is less than the initial vertical height of the axis of rotation of the first roller from the conveyor.

Abstract: The particulate material handling system comprises a tube, an endless belt that passes through the tube and returns outside of the tube, and a flighting that is suspended a predetermined distance from the belt through the entire length of the tube. The distance may be varied for the various materials being handled. An intake hopper is mounted at one end of the tube for receiving the material to be moved and a discharge spout is mounted at the other end of the tube for discharging the material from the tube. The endless belt and flighting are driven such that their speed may be varied and such that their relative speeds are synchronized to drive the material at substantially the same speed whether it is being carried by the belt or the flighting. The combination of the belt and the flighting drives the material through the tube, minimizing damage to the material, which may be granular fertilizer, pulse crops, grains or other particulate material.

Abstract: The invention provides a vibratory parts-feeding unit wherein downsizing and an improvement in performance of the unit can be compatible and also an improvement in maintainability and a reduction in motion failure is possible. A vibratory parts-feeding unit (100) comprises a vibrating body 113 provided with a spiral parts-lifting path (133a) on the outer circumference thereof, a first linear-feeder (130) which receives parts at a parts-sending portion (133c) of the parts-lifting path (133a), and a second linear-feeder (140) having a parts-collecting path (145) for receiving parts rejected from a parts-feeding path (135) provided on the first linear-feeder (130). The parts-collecting path (145) is installed in parallel with the parts-feeding path (135) and is also, throughout its whole length, arranged lower than the parts-feeding path (135).

Abstract: The present invention includes devices and methods for handling and sorting paper. Devices for accelerating and spreading paper from a paper input to a sensor are disclosed. Operably thin layers of paper are passed through a sensor at cost effective feed rates. One embodiment of the invention includes a spreader positioned to receive paper from the input and an inclined feed section downstream of the spreader. The inclined feed section includes first and second inclined conveyors to further accelerate and spread the paper. A feed accelerator is operably positioned to receive paper from the second inclined conveyor. The feed accelerator further accelerates and separates the paper. The feed accelerator feeds the paper to the sensor which is operably connected to an ejector downstream of the sensor. Targeted paper is ejected from the paper stream and product paper continues downstream to a product conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping and arraying spheroidal bodies is provided. The apparatus comprises a means for continuously supplying a cylindrical body comprising an outer material and a filler material, a cutter assembly having cutter members circumferentially disposed to form a central opening, and an arraying device having an endless belt for transferring a tray. The cutter members slide inwardly to close the opening, and thus the part of the cylindrical body inserted in the opening is shaped into a spheroidal body. An endless belt device is disposed beneath the cutter assembly and the belt is driven intermittently and forwardly and the frame of the endless belt device is moved back and forth in a transverse direction. By moving the belt and frame of the endless belt device so that predetermined positions of its belt are in turn moved to a position directly beneath the opening of the cutter assembly, the spheroidal bodies drop on each predetermined position on a tray placed on the belt.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a conveyor system. A pair of conveyors are located in parallel spaced relation and each conveyor includes a drive pulley with the drive pulleys being axially aligned. A transfer conveyor consisting of a plurality of parallel drive rollers is located between adjacent ends of the main conveyors. A rotatable input shaft driven by a motor is connected to a bevel gear unit which includes a pair of output shafts disposed normal to the input shaft and the output shafts are operably connected to the respective drive pulleys to drive the main conveyors. In addition, the bevel gear unit includes a second output shaft which is operably connected to one of the rollers of the transfer conveyor to drive that roller. Rotation of the driven roller is transmitted to the other rollers in the transfer conveyor by endless bands that are connected between adjacent rollers.

Abstract: An injector with a pair of counter-rotating screws that are mounted along parallel axes in cylindrical chambers formed in a housing are driven in synchronism by a driver. A series of plates are slidably received in a track provided in the housing and are fitted between successive flights of the screws. The plates are carried by the screws in an endless path within the housing. Pockets formed by the plates, screw flights and chamber walls carry particulate solids from an inlet port to a discharge port of the housing for injection into a pressurized hydraulic transport line.

Abstract: A section of a conveying pipe accommodates a conveyor screw, and drives are provided for rotating this conveyor screw as well as axially reciprocating it in the pipe section.