Abstract: A dehydrator apparatus for dehydrating biological material. The apparatus includes an external housing, and a vessel supported within said external housing and spanning in a longitudinal direction thereof in elevated relation from a bottom of the housing. A loading inlet feeds into said vessel from outside the housing for admission of biological material. An air intake feeds into the housing to deliver heated air thereto from a hot air source, and air routing components within the external housing guide the heated air into heat exchange relationship with the vessel itself, and also into heating and aerating exposure to contents of said vessel. An agitator is installed in operable relation to the vessel to agitate the material fed thereinto via the material inlet. An exhaust outlet exhausts the heated air from the housing after having heated and aerated the vessel and its contents.

Abstract: An auger transfer conveyor apparatus for granular material has a conveyor body defined by side walls, a front wall, and a floor comprising a substantially horizontally oriented front floor section and an upward and rearward sloping rear floor section. A plurality of substantially parallel auger assemblies are provided, each with a substantially horizontal auger section extending along the front floor section, an inclined auger section extending along the sloping rear floor section to a transfer discharge at a top edge of the rear floor section, and a flexible joint connecting the horizontal auger section to the inclined auger section. The auger assemblies are open such that during operation granular material moves from the front wall toward the transfer discharge above and between the auger assemblies, and an auger drive is operative to rotate the auger assemblies.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating containers, including a first treatment unit which treats the containers in a first predefined manner, a transport device which transports the containers away from the first treatment unit, and a second treatment unit which is arranged downstream of the first treatment unit in the transport direction of the containers and which treats the containers in a second predefined manner, wherein the transport device has a first transport unit for transporting the containers and this first transport unit has a guide device which makes contact with the containers and relative to which the containers are moved. The transport device has a second transport unit which is arranged downstream of the first transport unit in the transport direction of the containers and which rotates the containers through a predefined angle relative to the container longitudinal axis during transport of the containers.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transport system configured to transport a receptacle which accommodates an upright sample holder containing a sample, the transport system including a screw includes a rotatable shaft disposed along a predetermined transport path and a helical ridge protruding outward from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a drive unit configured to rotate the screw.

Abstract: A screw conveyor includes a plurality of shafts rotatable in a common imaginary plane, and a plurality of blades arranged on each of the shafts in an axial direction of the shafts such that the blades define a part of an imaginary spiral around the shafts, each of the blades being semicircular in shape when viewed in an axial direction of the shafts, a distance S being longer than a length D, but shorter than 2D, wherein “S” indicates a distance between outer surfaces of two shafts located adjacent to each other, and “D” indicates a length by which the blades extend from outer surfaces of the shafts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing food products is provided. The product conditioning system includes an inlet assembly, a pressurizeable tunnel and an outlet assembly. The inlet assembly and outlet assembly include a pair of vertically extending pressure vessels having entry and exit openings which are both sealable by doors to provide liquid and gaseous tight seals. The inlet and outlet assembly pressure vessels further include a pair of vertically extending parallel screws for transporting food products from one end of the pressure vessel to the other. The pressurizeable tunnel includes a heating stage having microwave sources for irradiating food products so as to pasteurize or sterilize prepackaged food. The pressurizeable tunnel further includes a heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage. Both the heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage include vertically extending pressure vessels.

Abstract: To provide a product accumulation device with superior general-purpose capabilities, being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering the structure thereof. An accumulation means of a product accumulation device includes: a rotary member having a product contact surface relative to products supplied from the product supply means, and a guide member that is provided with the rotary member and that shifts the products from the product contact surface to an approximately perpendicular direction relative to the product contact surface by means of the rotation of the rotation member, thereby being able to cope with the modified specification of target products only by partially altering its structure.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus and a conveyed object inspection apparatus which can perform accurate, damage free image inspection. One conveying roller has a conveying surface formed in a spiral manner on an outer periphery surface thereof. The conveying surface is slanted with respect to the central axis narrowing toward other end side so as to convey a conveyed object while holding it between the conveying surface and other conveying roller. The other conveying roller has a tilt surface provided in a spiral manner on an outer periphery surface thereof. The tilt surface is slanted with respect to the central axis narrowing toward one end side. A feeding means can feed the conveyed object inbetween the conveying rollers. An inspection section has an image acquisition means capable of acquiring an image of an entire outer surface of the conveyed object, and an abnormality detecting means capable of detecting abnormality of the conveyed object based on the image A removing means can then remove an abnormal object.

Abstract: A transport device for transporting a transportable product, especially a bulk-type product, includes an essentially cylindrical chamber containing at least one shaft which extends along the cylindrical chamber and comprises a plurality of first transport elements for transporting products in a product transport direction. The transport elements extending radially outwards from the shaft and are respectively connected to the shaft at connection points on the surface thereof. The individual connection points are located along a helical line on the surface of the shaft and the plurality of first transport elements form a first path which corresponds to the helical line and comprises a first discontinuous section extending in a helical manner around the surface of the shaft. Other elements are arranged at least in partial regions of the first path, such elements protruding into the first path.

Abstract: A screw conveyor for the transport of flowable substances and/or lumps of material comprises a rotatable first screw (1) provided with helical windings (2) arranged in a housing (3) with an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The housing (3) comprises an inlet chamber (4) and a pumping chamber (5) between said inlet and outlet openings and at least in the pumping chamber (5) a second screw (6) is provided with helical windings (7) and arranged for rotation in the opposite direction of the first screw (1), said screws (1, 6) in said pumping chamber (5) providing a positive displacement pumping function by mutual engagement between the two screws (1, 6). By having the parts of the two screws (1, 6) in mutual engagement extending a distance corresponding to at least one half winding out of the pumping chamber (5) and into the inlet chamber (4), overfilling of the pumping chamber (5) and accordingly, the subsequent increased friction in the pumping chamber (5) is avoided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a multiple-extruder configuration in which two co-rotating twin-screw extruders and a counter-rotating twin screw extruder are connected to each other with respect to the flow of material.

Abstract: A cooling station for data carrier disks, in particular for injection-molded substrates of optically readable data carriers, such as CD, CD-R, DVD, CD single, DVD single and the like, has at least three rotatable cooling spindles which are arranged in spaced-apart parallel relationship such that a substrate bears simultaneously upon all cooling spindles. Each cooling spindle has at least two threads with thread grooves of different width to thereby accommodate in the same cooling station, e.g. CD substrates and DVD substrates. As an alternative, or in addition, four or more cooling spindles may be provided and arranged in such a manner that respectively three cooling spindles are provided for transport of substrates with a particular substrate diameter. In this way, substrates of different diameter, e.g., standard CD and CD single, can be accommodated in a same cooling station.

Abstract: A multi-screw auger equipped tank comprises opposing sides sloping downward and inwardly toward one another. A plurality of shaftless screw transfer augers run along the tank bottom. Drivers and transmissions coupled to the transfer augers permit simultaneous rotation of the augers in the same or opposite directions of rotation, at the same or different rotational speeds. Materials within the tank, typically slurries or sludges, can be moved to one end of the tank by the transfer augers. An inclined screw auger is disposed near the end of the tank distal from the location at which materials are deposited in the tank. The inclined screw auger picks up the materials and moves them out of the tank. Baffles in the tank aid in dewatering slurries and sludges. Circulation of materials within the tank may be done by rotating the transfer augers in different directions and/or rotational speeds. The tank may be emptied by the fluid pump for fluids and/or the inclined augers for solids.

Abstract: A multi-screw auger equipped tank comprises opposing sides sloping downward and inwardly toward one another. A plurality of shaftless screw transfer augers run along the tank bottom. Drivers and transmissions coupled to the transfer augers permit simultaneous rotation of the augers in the same or opposite directions of rotation, at the same or different rotational speeds. Materials within the tank, typically slurries or sludges, can be moved to one end of the tank by the transfer augers. An inclined screw auger is disposed near the end of the tank distal from the location at which materials are deposited in the tank. The inclined screw auger picks up the materials and moves them out of the tank. Baffles in the tank aid in dewatering slurries and sludges. Circulation of materials within the tank may be done by rotating the transfer augers in different directions and/or rotational speeds.

Abstract: Log indexing apparatus includes a frame and a series of laterally spaced spiral rolls that are inclined from front to back between the infeed and the outfeed, and are also inclined sideways. The spiral rolls are rotated synchronously and are arranged so that the gaps between the flights of the spirals define an upward moving log-receiving trough across the width of the device. The sideways inclination reduces the tendency of the logs to ride on the edges of the flights of the spirals.

Abstract: A spiked H-style link for a sharp chain conveyor where the single centrally-placed saddle of the prior art is replaced by a double saddle with a centrally-located opening shaped to receive a sprocket tooth. The double saddle moves each saddle outward from the central portion of the spiked link to enhance the rigidity of the legs between which the connecting pins act. The legs are provided with a thickened offset step on the lower inner portion of each leg. There is a corresponding decrease in the thickness of the legs in the region where the connecting link works. By decreasing the thickness of the legs in the region outside the offset step, the connecting link may be widened, allowing for a greater bearing surface on the connecting pin and thus reducing the rate of wear on the connecting pin.

Abstract: Log indexing apparatus includes a frame and a series of laterally spaced spiral rolls that are inclined from front to back between the infeed and the outfeed, and are also inclined sideways. The spiral rolls are rotated synchronously and are arranged so that the gaps between the flights of the spirals define an upward moving log-receiving trough across the width of the device. The sideways inclination reduces the tendency of the logs to ride on the edges of the flights of the spirals.

Abstract: Log indexing apparatus includes a frame and a series of laterally spaced spiral rolls that are inclined from front to back between the infeed and the outfeed, and are also inclined sideways. The spiral rolls are rotated synchronously and are arranged so that the gaps between the flights of the spirals define an upward moving log-receiving trough across the width of the device. The sideways inclination reduces the tendency of the logs to ride on the edges of the flights of the spirals.

Abstract: Log indexing apparatus includes a frame and a series of laterally spaced spiral rolls that are inclined from front to back between the infeed and the outfeed, and are also inclined sideways. The spiral rolls are rotated synchronously and are arranged so that the gaps between the flights of the spirals define an upward moving log-receiving trough across the width of the device. The sideways inclination reduces the tendency of the logs to ride on the edges of the flights of the spirals.

Abstract: On a conveying device for forming and conveying groups of products, a screw conveyor is supplied at the input with an orderly succession of products, and has an input portion along which the products are formed into groups, and a tubular output portion for feeding the groups separately and successively to a pocket conveyor extending inside the output portion and having a number of push and lead members, each separating two adjacent pockets on the pocket conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertical conveyor (2) with double spirals (21, 31). The vertical conveyor (2) consists of a casing (20) and two shaftless spirals (21, 31). The spirals (21, 31) are driven each by a motor (24) via a gear and journal unit (25). The motors (24) are placed at the one short end of the vertical conveyor (2). The inlet (22) and outlet (23) of the conveyor (2) are disposed on opposite sides of the casing (20). The spirals (21, 31) are driven in opposite directions in such a manner that the material is “drawn” in at the inlet (22), while being “pressed” out at the outlet (23). This takes place thanks to the material being subjected to force components from the two spirals (21, 31) which act in the directions of the inlet (22) and the outlet (23), respectively. In a number of embodiments, a stationary shaft (33) is disposed within the spirals (21, 31) at least in the region of the inlet (22).

Abstract: A drive transmission apparatus for a twin-screw extruder is provided which transmits a rotational driving force from a single prime mover to a first screw and a second screw disposed in parallel to each other, which comprises a transmission shaft, two idler spur gears attached to the transmission shaft, a pair of mutually parallel idler shafts, two idler helical gears, and a helical gear engaging the two idler helical gears. A meshing adjustment device is incorporated into the design that is capable of adjusting the phase of meshing of the gears and tooth bearing in the gear trains of the drive transmission apparatus without the need to disassemble the components, which is a necessary inconvenience of the prior-art apparatus.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is a buffering device for the transport of documents that comprises four variable pitch screws that have a tapered outside diameter and a tapered root diameter at the input portion of the screw. A upstream screw and a downstream screw are on the left hand side of the buffering device and a upstream screw and a downstream screw are on the right hand side of the buffering device. The upstream screw has its largest outside diameter on the top of the screw and its smallest outside diameter on the bottom of the screw. The downstream screw has its largest outside diameter on the bottom of the screw and its smallest outside diameter on the top of the screw. The screws on the left hand side of the buffering device have a left handed screw thread and the screws on the right side of the buffering device have a right handed screw thread, or visa versa.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique mechanical method and device for sorting pieces (e.g. vegetables and fruits) of any desired size from unsorted and irregularly sized pieces. The device includes a pair of elongated cylindrical brushes, one of which is equipped with a spiraled furrow for propelling the unsorted pieces and another brush being a smooth surfaced bristled brush (an expelling brush) laterally positioned to the propelling brush so as to form a trough between the two brushes for longitudinally moving the pieces. The brushes are rotated in a common rotational direction. A contacting member, such as a pivotally mounted lever, traversing the trough and the smooth surfaced brush and laterally positioned above the trough at a predetermined distance will tangentially contact a piece of a desired sizing and guide the contacted piece along its interfacing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for buffering transport of inked, distorted documents is comprised of an upper deck oriented at an acute angle. The apparatus has a plurality of opposite, parallel, threaded screw conveyers orthogonal to the upper deck. The screw conveyers are positioned in close proximity to provide a support surface for an inked document fed into the buffer apparatus. The individual threads of the screw conveyers are adapted to simultaneously support, advance, and lower the individual sheets incident to rotation of the respective screw conveyers thereby depositing the inked, distorted documents successively onto lower threads. A lower deck is provided for receiving inked documents.

Abstract: Two cooperating spiral conveyors are provided between a transport device having a transport plane and a transport segment. The conveyors are driven in opposite directions and are provided with opposite thread directions. The axes of the spiral conveyors are disposed at the height of the transport plane. The pitch and the thread clearance of peripheral recesses of the spiral conveyors decrease continuously from the transport device to the transport segment. A support surface for a lid is disposed between the two spiral conveyors. At the end contiguous to the transport device, the support surface has the same height as the transport plane, and at the end contiguous to the transport segment, its height is lower by half of the lid diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for buffering transport of freshly inked documents is comprised of an upper deck oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The apparatus has a plurality of opposite, parallel, threaded screw conveyers orthogonal to the upper deck. Inked documents travel upon the threads of the screw conveyers. A lower deck is provided for receiving inked documents. An eject pin mechanism causes the inked documents to be delivered from the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.

Abstract: A method and device for successively feeding flat products, i.e. flat slab-shaped products such as sweets or biscuits, into groups consisting of a number of products arranged on edge; whereby the products, laid flat, are fed successively on a conveyor to the input of a curved channel along which then are fed contacting one another, and from the output of which they are fed successively, in an inclined position, to a user device inside respective compartments of a conveyor defined by two counter-rotating screws, the pitch of which is gradually reduced for varying the inclination of the products and arranging the same on edge.

Abstract: This invention provides a feed system comprising a base on which a portion of the article being fed rests. The base extends along a feed path for the article. The feed system also includes at least one rotatable feed screw lying in an axis parallel to the feed path. The feed screw includes an entry end, a discharge end and a continuous, helical groove having a profile for receiving a portion of the article being fed. The feed system includes a linkage device for transferring reciprocating motion of a reciprocating press into which the articles are fed into rotary motion of the feed screw, and a feeding device for feeding articles into the groove at the entry end. The feed system also comprises a cooperating second screw or a resilient guide bar, for maintaining the article within and along the feed path as the feed screw is rotated.

Abstract: A grading roll is provided having parallel and circumferentially closed sinuous grooves on the roll surface. The grooves are spaced axially along the longitudinal cross-sectional direction of each groove varies twice in angle with the roll axis, i.e., from 90 degrees to a certain value smaller than 90 degrees and back to 90 degrees. The bottoms of the grooves are at a constant radial distance from the roll axis, while the cylinder surface portions between the grooves decrease in radial distance from the roll axis from a minimum at the 90 degree angle portion of the grooves to a minimum between these portions.

Abstract: A rod feeding and placement mechanism for use in apparatus for making hanging file folders comprises a magazine wherein a plurality of flat, elongated, metal rods are vertically stacked, one above another. A pair of laterally spaced-apart, horizontally disposed, slightly convergent, contra-rotating de-stacking screws located below the magazine engage the lowermost rod in the stack and advance or feed it laterally along a rod-path. Another pair of laterally spaced-apart, horizontally disposed contra-rotating top screws above the de-stacking screws then receive the rod from the de-stacking screws and advance or feed it further along the rod-path to an at-rest position located above a flat paperboard blank. Guide rails and magnetic strips support the rod as it advances along the rod-path. The rod is releasably maintained for a moment in the at-rest position by permanent magnets.

Abstract: An improved metering mechanism for metering highly aerated or fluidized solid materials in a controlled manner is disclosed. The mechanism consists of a bin discharger attached above a rotary feeder assembly. The bin discharger has two augers which rotate in opposite directions relative to one another. The augers rotate such that material flow is directed toward the center of the discharger, and down into the inlet of the rotary feeder assembly. The rotary feeder assembly contains 6-12 rotary vanes. Two vanes form a pocket into which material falls as each pocket comes into mating relation with the rotary feeder assembly inlet. A tight clearance between the outer radial edge of the rotary vanes and the inner surface of the housing of the rotary feeder assembly prevents the material from flushing through the rotary feeder assembly in an uncontrolled fashion. The material exits the rotary feeder assembly as each filled pocket comes into mating relation with the outlet of the rotary feeder assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and feeding elongated pieces, having a rotary drum which is provided on one side of a passage of the elongated pieces extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the passage. The drum has peripheral receiving grooves spaced from one another at a constant pitch. A pushing cam is located in front of the drum to push the elongated pieces into the receiving grooves of the drum one by one. Below the drum are provided threaded shafts having spiral grooves for receiving the elongated pieces from the drum and conveying them in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotation of the drum. An aligning wall is provided on one side of the threaded shafts to align the elongated pieces during the conveyance thereof.

Abstract: A loading device including a frame, a stopper provided along the path through which the products are fed to the predetermined location, a threaded column supported in the frame and rotating in such a manner that the upper surfaces of the threads thereof move clockwise in a direction toward the stopper, a motor rotating the threaded column, and a conveyer supplying the product to the threaded column in such a manner that the product is engaged with the portion between the screw threads. The threaded column has external screw threads turning in a direction toward the predetermined location when the threaded column rotates. The portion between the screw threads receives the product to urge the product along by frictional force from the rotation of the threaded column until the end of the product butts against the stopper. This portion also feeds the product to the predetermined location while urging the end of the product against the stopper.

Abstract: Wet and pliable strands of freshly extruded spaghetti are draped over horizontally disposed rods whose respective ends rest in helical grooves in a first pair of mutually parallel, rotating shafts which carry the rods and the spaghetti through a drying oven, the rods being transferred to helical grooves in a second pair of mutually parallel, rotating shafts which carry the rods and spaghetti through the oven in a direction transverse to the direction in which they are carried by the first pair of shafts.

Abstract: An automatic sausage slicing machine for salami and the like comprises a framework carrying an electric motor which drives an orbital blade and a feed device for continuously feeding a line of products to be sliced towards the path of displacement of the orbital blade. The feed device comprises a plurality of entrainment shafts located side by side and separated by longitudinal containment partitions, each entrainment shaft having a helical ridge on which a respective product to be cut rests in use, the product being inserted between a corresponding pair of containment partitions. A drive mechanism provided for simultaneously rotating the entrainment shafts in synchronism with the movement of the orbital blade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the storage and mechanical transfer of stock or matrix capacitors in the form of substantially parallelepipedal bars obtained by stacking films of metalized plastic material on a wheel of large diameter. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a plurality of endless screws arranged along an arc having a diameter substantially matching that of the parallelepipedal bars after being cut on the wheel, each screw terminating in a circular groove parallel to the transfer direction. The apparatus is employed for the transfer of stock or matrix capacitors towards a station to be cut into unitary capacitors.

Abstract: A device for filling a bag with material is disclosed. The device includes a shroud ring adapted to hold a pleated bag and an auger device for forcing material from a hopper through a tube to a funnel and into the bag. The entire device is mobile so that the bag can be placed on a surface and the auger, hopper and funnel assembly can be moved away from the closed end of the bag as it is filled.

Abstract: In a calciner of the type having a radiant heat source and a screw conveyor for advancing material to and through a calcining reaction chamber by means of mated, intermeshing, rotating conveyor screws, an improvement comprising scraper means attached to and rotating with the conveyor screws for preventing agglomeration of material in the conveyor and for absorbing heat and conducting the heat to the material and lifter means attached to and rotating with the conveyor screws for increasing exposure of the material to the radiant heat and for absorbing heat and conducting the heat to the material.

Abstract: A device for filling a bag suitable for curing silage including a shroud ring adapted to hold a pleated bag, an auger device for forcing material from the hopper in which the auger lies into the bag. The entire device is mobile so that the bag can be placed on a surface and the auger, hopper and shroud ring assembly be moved away from the closed end of the bag as it is filled.

Abstract: A machine and method of packaging loose fill material such as fiber insulation into a rectilinear bag is described consisting of a storage tank above a trough enclosing twin counter rotating augers which forcibly drive the loose fill material into a passageway over which the bag is stretched, forcing the bag off the stretcher as it is filled. A hinged can assembly contains the bag and is guided along a track as the bag is filled and forcibly moved off the stretcher, presenting the filled bag to an operator who removes it and seals the bag.

Abstract: At least one pair of vertically superimposed conveyors are located in the bottom region of a bunker in order to discharge the bulk material. The conveyors are spaced apart to create a void or at least a loosened zone free from horizontal pressures in the bulk material between the conveyors. The void prevents the bulk material from bridging over so that gravity flow is not impeded.

Abstract: A rotary piston conveyor comprising a plurality of interengaged rotors in which at least one rotor is driven and, in turn, drives the other rotors. Each pair of adjacent rotors have spiral vanes which mesh to form the conveyor path as the rotors rotate. The degree of interengagement of the flanks or edges of the meshed vanes determine the efficiency of the conveyor path formed by the meshed vanes for any particular material or groups of material. Hence the rotors are adjustable to vary the interengagement of the vanes. The clearance between vanes in a direction parallel to the shaft determines the size or cross-section of the conveyor path. Hence, the rotors are longitudinally adjustable with respect to each other to vary the clearance. The adjustment device includes a split gear on the driven rotor and means for making each of the two adjustments as well as markings or indicia which may be read against a marker to show the degree of adjustment.

Abstract: A plant for physical or thermal treatment of products supported upon rectangular carriers, said plant comprising a vertical conveyor for moving the carriers upwards and downwards from in inlet station to an outlet station, the conveyor being constituted by four screw-threaded spindles, positioned near the four corners of the carriers. The helix of each spindle is a rod which is helically wound around a core. The pitch of the helix is, along an angular portion of this surface, zero at the level of the inlet and outlet station.

Abstract: A root crop harvester having an annular root elevating conveyor supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and for elevating mud laden roots, a retaining mechanism to contain roots being elevated in the conveyor and a cleaning mechanism for removing mud and foreign materials from the elevating conveyor.