Abstract: Coloring systems and methods include a conveyor that transports a material. An auger is configured to move a colorant from a reservoir to the conveyor. A grinder receives the material and the colorant from the conveyor and grinds the material and the colorant together to produce a colored material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an eyelink conveyor belt and sprocket assembly. The eyelink conveyor belt includes a plurality of eyelets, a plurality of reinforcing drive bars having a driving notch and extending adjacent to the plurality of eyelets, and a plurality of cross rods used to couple the reinforcing drive bars and eyelets together. The sprocket includes a generally disk-shaped drive member having a plurality of teeth formed along and extending outwardly from the outer perimeter of the drive member.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a lateral draper belt of a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The guide assembly includes a first elongated guide for connecting to the header and a second elongated guide for connecting to the header. The first elongated guide has a slot defined by three inner surfaces for receiving a first complementary shaped draper belt portion of the later draper belt. The second elongated guide has a slot defined by seven inner surfaces for receiving a second complementary shaped draper belt portion of the lateral draper belt.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of articulating rows of belt modules having flights formed atop laterally consecutive interleaved hinge elements of adjacent belt rows. The flights on leading and trailing rows are aligned when the belt is running flat, but open up for cleaning as their rows articulate about a sprocket.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system of unloading bulk material that comprises at least a silo for receiving a bulk load discharged from a load transport means; and at least a feeder to feed the load from the silo to a conveyor belt. The system comprises a flow control means that regulates the operating parameters of the feeder to make sure that an estimated calibrated flow rate corresponds to a desired flow rate, where the estimated calibrated flow rate is obtained based on a calibration factor calculated by comparing an estimated flow based on an operating parameter of the feeder with a real flow measured downstream of the silo.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a conveyor, and a separation unit. The image forming device forms an image on a printing medium. The separation unit separates a printing medium from the belt. The separation unit includes a claw portion to contact the belt, and a first wing and a second wing disposed at both sides of the claw portion in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the printing medium. Each of the first wing and the second wing has a guide face to guide the printing medium. The guide face is a sloped face that slopes downward in a direction away from the claw portion with respect to the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the printing medium. Each of the first wing and the second wing has an upstream end that recedes toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A demolding apparatus for removing molded building products from a mold has a conveyor assembly to advance the mold in a machine direction. A removal mechanism contacts a dislodged portion of the molded building product and applies a dislodging force to the dislodged portion of the molded building product.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an apparatus and method for producing a filled-dough food product, such as a fruit-filled turnover (e.g., an apple turnover) or a single-serve pie, on an industrial scale. In one representative embodiment, the apparatus includes a filling-apportionment mechanism and a filling-transfer mechanism. The filling-apportionment mechanism is configured to apportion or separate a supply of filling pieces (e.g., pieces of fruit, such as apple pieces) into one or more portions of a predetermined size. The filling-transfer mechanism includes a vacuum pick-up device that is configured to pick up one or more portions of filling pieces from the filling-apportionment mechanism and deposit the portions on a sheet of dough.

Abstract: An adjustable V-plow apparatus for removing material from a belt may comprise pivotably connected first and second frame arms that may be pivoted at the pivotable connection for adjusting the angle therebetween. A cleaning media is mounted to the first and second frame arms for providing a cleaning edge along the first and second frame arms. A mounting is attached to the first and second frame arms proximate the pivotable connection thereof. The mounting may comprise a base plate and an arm for positioning the adjustable V-plow to engage a belt.

Abstract: A conveying system comprising an endless first conveyor belt circulating between at least first and second divert elements, a top run of the first conveyor belt forming a first conveying surface movable between the divert elements in a first conveying direction, and an endless second conveyor belt circulating between at least third and fourth divert elements, the top run of the second conveyor belt forming a movable second conveying surface movable between the divert elements in a second conveying direction, the second conveyor belt extending at least partly above and along the second divert element, so that the first and second conveyor belts, while including a gap-shaped interspace, are in mutually transverse alignment. In the interspace, intermediate elements, in particular fingers, are arranged that bridge the gap between the first and the second conveying surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling feeding of solid matter in a process with at least one solid matter unloading point, at least one belt conveyor and at least one solid matter feeding point, solid matter being unloaded in the unloading point from solid matter storage to a belt conveyor arranged to convey the solid matter either directly or via at least one other belt conveyor to the feeding point. In the unloading point, the unloading of the solid matter to the belt conveyor is controlled in such a way that the thickness of the material bed follows a set value determined for it; and in the feeding point, the amount of solid matter to be fed is controlled by controlling the speed of the belt conveyor.

Abstract: A conveying system (1), comprising an endless first conveyor belt (3) circulating between at least first and second (2B) divert elements, a top run (4A) of the first conveyor belt (3) forming a first conveying surface (5) movable between the divert elements in a first conveying direction (P1), and an endless second conveyor belt (7) circulating between at least third and fourth divert elements, the top run (8A) of the second conveyor belt (7) forming a movable second conveying surface (9) movable between the divert elements in a second conveying direction (P2), the second conveyor belt (7) extending at least partly above and along the second divert element (2B), so that the first (3) and second (7) conveyor belts, while including a gap-shaped interspace (10), are in mutually transverse alignment. In the interspace (10), intermediate elements (T), in particular fingers, are arranged that bridge the gap between the first (5) and the second (9) conveying surface.

Abstract: A self-clearing article-transfer plate for a conveyor system. The plate is disposed between an upstream article feeder, such as a conveyor belt supplying a stream of conveyed articles, and a downstream article receiver, such as a takeaway belt or an accumulation table. The plate may have a tapered edge or a fingered edge at a first end for receiving articles from the article feeder. Backpressure from the stream of articles pushes the articles onto, across, and off a second opposite end of the plate onto the article receiver. When the stream of articles stops or is interrupted, the last articles in the stream are urged along the plate from the first end to the second end by vibrations from a vibrator affixed to a support for the plate. In this way, articles are cleared from the plate, without being stranded, even in the absence of backpressure.

Abstract: A self-clearing article-transfer plate for a conveyor system. The plate is disposed between an upstream article feeder, such as a conveyor belt supplying a stream of conveyed articles, and a downstream article receiver, such as a takeaway belt or an accumulation table. The plate may have a tapered edge or a fingered edge at a first end for receiving articles from the article feeder. Backpressure from the stream of articles pushes the articles onto, across, and off a second opposite end of the plate onto the article receiver. When the stream of articles stops or is interrupted, the last articles in the stream are urged along the plate from the first end to the second end by vibrations from a vibrator affixed to a support for the plate. In this way, articles are cleared from the plate, without being stranded, even in the absence of backpressure.

Abstract: A conveying system, comprising an endless conveyor mat extending between two divert wheels, for conveying products between the divert wheels in a conveying direction. The conveying system further comprises a slide-over device for transferring, adjacent a divert wheel from or towards the conveying face, products conveyed by the conveyor mat towards or from said divert wheel. The slide-over device comprises a number of fingers extending into the conveying face. The conveyor mat comprises a substantially flat conveying face having at least one substantially straight slot, extending in conveying direction. The fingers each cooperate with a slot. Each finger is connected to the slide-over device so as to be detachable substantially in vertical direction.

Abstract: A sectional article transfer assembly for receiving articles stripped from the conveying surface of a moving conveyor belt. The article transfer assembly includes, as a first piece, a transfer edge member having a base portion lying on and supported by a support frame and a belt-abutting portion that extends from the base portion to closely abut the conveying surface of a conveyor belt as it passes around a sprocket. The belt-abutting portion can have fingers or a beveled straight edge, for example. The transfer edge member mates with a second piece, a transfer plate member, which has a recessed portion that overlaps and mates with the base portion of the transfer edge member and a flat top article-transfer plate continuous and coplanar with an upper surface of the transfer edge member to form an extension of the conveying surface of the belt along which articles arc conveyed.

Abstract: A conveyor includes an assembly for bridging the gap at the end of a conveyor section. It includes an idler roller at the end of the conveyor section. The idler roller is seated in upwardly open slots and can lift completely out of the conveyor frame if an article becomes entrapped between the idler roller and the conveyor belt, in order to release the article.

Abstract: An article removal platform assembly with laterally movable finger plate is provided particularly suitable for abutting a conveyor belt as it passes over a sprocket wheel to remove glass articles and broken glass fragments from the belt. The generally rectangular finger plates are mounted in a lateral sliding configuration to a planar platform by at least three fasteners extending through mounting apertures through the finger plates 50, spaced to prevent lateral or longitudinal tilt. The mount has elongated fastening members adjustably aligned to let fingers mate in a conveyor belt and freely slide laterally a limited amount in either direction. Thus, the finger plates can slide side-to-side to follow belt wander when the fasteners engage ridges of the apertures through the finger plates. Also provided are snap-in caps for the apertures for maintaining a planar discharge surface having a constant coefficient of sliding friction that does not accumulate residue.

Abstract: An endlessly driven belt extends around a drum and carries a product. Removal of the product from the belt is effected by a doctor blade which bears against a portion of the belt traversing the drum. The doctor blade is fixedly connected to the drum for movement therewith to remain parallel to a surface of the belt. The doctor blade is attached to shafts that are mounted in respective bearing assemblies that permit movement of the shafts along their mutually aligned axes. The doctor blade can be positioned between upstanding ribs formed on the belt whereby the ribs can displace the doctor blade in response to pivoting of the drum in order to keep the doctor blade parallel to the axis of the drum.

Abstract: A moving walkway comprising at least one fiat slider belt (6) entrained around rollers (8) and a termination plate (2) at the discharge end of the belt (6). The termination plate (2) may be an end plate or a transfer plate. The configuration of the termination plate (2) is such in relation to the speed of the belt (6) and diameter of the end roller (8) that an object travelling at the speed of the belt and leaving the belt will strike the plate at a position downstream of the leading edge (4) of the plate. The leading edge (4) of the plate is so shaped that it defines with the adjacent portion of the belt (6) a nip (10) of small depth in a vertical direction and which permits easy removal of any material which might happen to become ingested into the gap between the leading edge (4) of the plate (2) and the belt (6).

Abstract: A conveyor suspends containers from their upper portions, leaving their lower portions exposed. A curved deflector plate is located beneath the conveyor. Containers carried by the conveyor contact the deflector plate and are at least partly dislodged from the conveyor.

Abstract: Comb-shaped element for receiving products supplied by a conveying mat, which comb-shaped element is made of a body with an essentially closed top surface and a plurality of teeth formed on the body and extending parallel to each other, there being provided on the undersurface of the body of the comb-shaped element a first and a second hook-shaped element extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the teeth and being capable of resiliently cooperating with an attachment element mounted on the frame of the conveyor so as to fixedly secure the comb-shaped element, while it can yet follow the movement of the conveying mat when it expands and further is readily exchangeable in the case of damage.

Abstract: A cutter for cutting closed shape pieces into sheet material has a bristle bed conveyorized member advancing the sheet material from a receiving end to a discharge end past a cutting tool performing a cutting operation on the material. Disposed at the discharge end is a take-off ramp responsible for separating the sheet material in a single ply or a layup form from the underlying conveyor member at the juncture where the slats making up the bed depart from the upper run of the conveyor defining the support surface.

Abstract: An end element (10) comprises one comb-shaped portion (12) having fingers extending in the passageways between the ribs (13) of an endless conveyor (11) for identifying a surface at the upper part thereof which is substantially the extension of the transfer surface at the end of the conveyor. The end element (10) further comprises a second portion (14) following the first one, which is lowered and is designed to receive, by removable fixing, the slide elements (16, 22) forming the substantial extension of the surface defined by the fingers. The slide elements can be either a roller element (16) or a dragging element (22).

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus used primarily in processing products such as applying liquids such as dyestuff by means of a patterned application of a moving stream of dye, having a first planar portion and an endless flexible element adjacent said first planar portion and a second planar portion adjacent said endless flexible element, where said flexible element has a series of slats mounted thereon that precisely coordinate the processed item underneath the processing element such as an element that provides patterned application of dye in order to achieve precise repeatable results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided, for separating articles from product boards and transporting the product articles to another processing station or packaging area. Because of the sticky nature of confections which may be handled the product must be scraped from a product board. Articles are separated from product boards on which they rest upon encountering a blade member which acts to wedge the product from a board surface. The boards are ejected from the machine for reuse, while product or confections are moved downstream along a belt take-up transport conveyor for deposit onto product delivery conveyor, whereby product orientation may be accomplished.

Abstract: Bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit like apples, are singulated, sorted according to property (e.g., weight), and discharged with a minimum of bruising, even if the fruit is not treated with ALAR (diminozide). The cups for holding the fruit are continuously conveyed by conveying chains, and have larger, more steeply angled front and rear surfaces (in the direction of conveyance) than side surfaces so that the fruit will be held in place during conveyance but can be relatively easily discharged when the cup is tilted at a discharge station. Self-singulating is accomplished utilizing conveyors on either side of the row of cups, an overhead rotating brush, and elongated brush strips. The brushes of the brush strips gently engage the fruit and urge it into position within a cup.

Abstract: A safety mechanism for conveyor systems is disclosed that enables components of the system to unfasten when an object, like a person's finger, becomes lodged in a space between two components of the system. The mechanism is automatically releasable when pressure is exerted upon it.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt is assembled of plastic modules having relatively open pintle slots receiving respective connecting rods. The product support surface of the belt is provided by closely-spaced ribs especially well-suited for conveying raw foods and small containers. For transferring product to or from the belt, a transfer plate made-up of closely-spaced, flat-surfaced fingers is provided. The belt is driven and guided by sets of polygonal sprockets having teeth which engage in cavities centrally located on the undersides of the respective belt modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for scraping solid materials from a conveyor belt comprising an elongate segmented scraper blade formed from a plurality of individual component blades which are aligned adjacent one another in a blade holder and which are supported to engage the conveyor belt under variable linear pressure, each component blade being adjustably attached by a flexible member to provide an elongate segmented scraping edge, the segments of which can independently and automatically flex to provide an elongate scraping edge which conforms to an irregular conveyor surface.

Abstract: The abstract related herein is a device for continuously weighing a web during formation thereof such that uniformity can be promoted in a continuous process. A method for forming fiber board is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for rail tie plates or the like including an inclined frame having an upper end and a lower end, and an endless conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links pivotally joined to each other. The links are designed to have plate retaining pockets formed thereon and the belt is adapted to travel a contoured path on the frame between the lower end and the upper end. The belt has an upper working strand and a lower slack strand. A hopper provides a supply of randomly oriented tie plates to the lower end of the conveyor which are agitated or tumbled by the action of the moving conveyor belt. At least one rejector hook is provided to ensure proper positioning of the plates within the pocket. As the conveyor belt progresses towards the upper end of the frame, certain plates are oriented properly within the plate pockets and will be conveyed to the upper end of the frame through the movement of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A film conveying apparatus for conveying a film by conveyors is provided with a fluid spray mechanism for spraying fluid in a flim discharging direction of the conveyors. A film conveying apparatus is also provided with a container for containing the film conveyed by the conveyors, the container being arranged above a board conveyance path in the board feed side of the film peeling position, with its distance from the film peeling position being small.

Abstract: Chain links for forming a conveyor each chain link including a base portion having shaft support members extending upwardly from its top surface and shafts supported between the shaft support members. A plurality of rollers are mounted on each shaft, the rollers including a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion the smaller diameter portions of the rollers defining grooves in the upper article supporting surface of the rollers, the grooves being adapted to house fingers of a fingered transfer plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chain link for use with a fingered transfer plate. The link comprises a base portion and a raised portion integral with and supported by the base portion. The raised portion includes a plurality of coplanar fork-shaped members, each of the fork-shaped members comprising two prongs and a stem, wherein the prongs of each fork-shaped member are parallel to each other and the width of the stem is less than the distance between the prongs, the fork-shaped members being arranged in a regularly spaced row.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in releasing a fragile food product which has become stuck to a support surface as a result of a prior processing operation, and for transferring the released food product from the support surface in an orderly fashion so that the food product can be further processed and the support surface returned for reuse. In a preferred embodiment, a releasing roller having flexible rubber projections thereon rotates below a tray which supports strips of an extruded meat product stuck to the tray, with the projections extending upwardly through apertures in the tray to gently contact the underside of the meat strip. A back-up roller above the tray and offset horizontally from the releasing roller restrains the trays and strips from moving upwardly, thereby cooperating with the releasing roller to free the adhered food product.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously freezing liver pieces which comprises a freezing box having an inlet and an outlet, a conveyor movable from the inlet to the outlet of the freezing box and having a mesh belt, a number of nozzles provided laterally through the box at the upside of the mesh belt of the conveyor for blowing gaseous helium, a supplying guide portion formed at the head of the inlet at the upside of the mesh belt for supplying and placing the liver pieces, a rotatable roller journaled at the striking-off and exhausting portion disposed inside the striking-off and exhausting portion at the head of the outlet at the upside of the mesh belt in an outside contacting state laterally of the mesh belt, the roller having a number of striking-off projections projected from the surface thereof for striking-off the frozen liver pieces on the mesh belt by the insertion of the projections into the mesh belt.

Abstract: A box formed by a set of walls closed by a pivoting bottom which is openable so that the object which it carries falls vertically in the ejection zone to be collected in a receptacle. The walls are extended below the bottom so that the pivoting operation may be started before the box quite reaches the ejection zone. The bottom in the closed position forms an angle with the horizontal, thus the object which it carries is automatically jolted against the rear wall during the conveying phase. The portion of the rear wall above the rest position of the bottom is given a slight forward inclination to promote the sliding of the object towards the discharge position. A comb-shaped separation scrapes the bottom (indented) so as to loosen any object adhering abnormally thereto.

Abstract: Dry offset printing apparatus for high speed printing on cylindrical objects fed either horizontally or vertically to the printer, which comprises a three-roller system including a single roll ink-metering system, plate cylinder and blanket or print roll. The ink roll is provided with a relatively soft, smooth elastomeric surface as is also the offset print roll blanket. A doctor blade is configured and oriented with respect to the ink roll to meter a uniformly even, thin film of ink onto the roll. Means are provided for evenly distributing the ink film on the ink roll in both horizontal and vertical embodiments of the printer. Means are also provided to prevent excessive ink buildup on print roll when skips occur at the printing station. Rotary transfer means are provided for positively feeding the cylindrical objects to the printer at high speeds in either horizontal or vertical orientation.

Abstract: An egg transporting system having a plurality of egg belt conveyors leading from cages of a poultry installation includes a transition mechanism for dividing and orienting the eggs at the output end of each of the egg belt conveyors into a plurality of separate rows and depositing the eggs on an elevator. The elevator includes a plurality of endless loop belts on which there is attached egg transporting cradles for receiving eggs from the transition mechanism at vertically and horizontally-spaced input locations at the input side of the elevator and for transporting the eggs to the opposite side of the elevator and releasing them onto a main conveyor which extends in communication with several egg elevators for accumulating and collecting eggs from the poultry installation. The transition and elevator mechanism cooperate to provide a minimum of egg breakage and a maximum conveying speed for transferring eggs from the egg belt conveyors onto the main conveyor.

Abstract: On the frame of a broiler having a chain conveyor with cross rods rounding some end sprockets, there are provided brackets affording transversely aligned, loose bearing notches open to the top. A doctor blade has transversely aligned intermediate shoulders operating in the bearing notches and has a depending skirt urged by gravity and serving as a counterweight to move the blade in the notches so as to urge the transverse upper edge of the doctor blade, and contact fingers extending therefrom, toward the chain conveyor cross rods and so to dislodge patties advancing on the chain conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for delivering animal feed to animals and especially to feedbunks for cattle. The apparatus includes a carriage which travels back and forth over a conveyor belt which carries the feed along the feedbunk. The carriage has a plow and a deflector which engage feed and discharge it off one side of the belt or the other. The plow and deflector are located obliquely at angles to the belt so as to discharge all of the feed entirely off one side. An arm moves both the plow and the deflector from one oblique position to another when actuated by trip members located at predetermined positions along the belt. The deflector engages any feed not discharged by the plow and discharges it off the same side of the belt, and also cleans the belt.

Abstract: An improved slat-type counting machine which prevents continuous miscounting of discrete articles, such as tablets, capsules, and the like, is disclosed. The slats are provided with conventional cavities, each of which carry a tablet or capsule therein to be counted. Each cavity is provided with a slit therethrough which slit penetrates the bottom of the cavity and partially into its supporting slat. The stationary ejector blade mechanism of the present invention is mounted to the counting machine. As the slats travel in a closed loop path, each slit is penetrated by a blade, the tip thereof entering the slit at a point beyond the bottom of the cavity to thereby eject any tablet wedged in the cavity, which tablets failed to discharge by force of gravity at a predetermined discharge station area. Means are also disclosed for adjusting and aligning the ejector blade mechanism with respect to the slit cavities disposed in the moving slats.

Abstract: A spring or weight loaded blade or scraper element e.g. in the form of a wire rides up and down over the cross wires of the conveyor of a food roaster between the conveyor and a food product repeatedly striking the lower side of the food thereby joggling the food product to separate it from the conveyor.The invention is particularly useful in a meat broiler such as a hamburger broiler since hamburgers frequently stick to portions of the conveyor chain.