Abstract: A hollow shaft of a screw conveyor for transporting powder material receives pressurized air in its interior. A plurality of openings through the wall of the hollow shall permits the pressurized air to exit energetically to prevent build-up of the powder material on the inside wall of the casing of the screw conveyor. In one embodiment, the openings are slits angled with respect to the axis of the screw conveyor at about the same angle as the helical blade. This produces a swirling flow of air which, in addition to preventing build-up of materials, enhances the advance of the powder material and, when the powder material is a mixture of different materials, helps prevent separation of the materials during transport.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for conveying, compacting, and discharging materials such as shavings or swarf in a continuous manner. The material to be compacted is received into a conveyor tube inside which is rotated a screw thread mounted on a shaft. The conveyor tube is formed to have at least one longitudinal passage open to the inside, so that the material being conveyed and compacted does not merely circulate around the outside of the screw thread but is enabled to move longitudinally in a forward direction with a braking effect to facilitate the compaction thereof. In one aspect of the invention, a ratio of the diameters of the outside of the screw thread and the shaft on which the screw thread is provided is less than 3 but not less than 1.

Abstract: A counterflow single-screw extractor includes a screw conveyor having a helical scroll formed from arcuate flight sections each having a plurality of elongated slots extending away from the direction of screw rotation and permitting the flow of effluent through the product and the flights in a manner controlled by the size, number, and orientation of the slots. The slots permit efficient extraction using relatively little extraction medium and at the same time permit a single-screw extractor to be used without having to periodically reverse the direction of screw rotation to unclog the slots and by the pitch of the screw conveyor. The inventive arrangement permits the use of a multi-section extractor employing different extraction media and/or different extraction media wash rates in different sections of the extractor.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for particulate material comprises a first conveyor combination including a first casing and a first shaftless spiral drive element, a second conveyor combination coupled to said first conveyor combination and including a second casing and a shaftless spiral drive element; and a elongated body coaxially arranged with respect to the first shaftless spiral.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying articles supported on hooked members has a helical member which has a varying pitch and outer diameter for conveying the articles at different speeds along its length. The helical member is coupled on one end to a constant speed motor which rotates the helical member to convey the hooked members forward. The helical member is supported within a tube which includes an entrance portion shaped to rotate the hooked members in conjunction with an spring guide from a first position into a second position. A slot is formed within the support tube for receiving the hooked members from the entrance portion and maintaining the hooked members in the second position upon being conveyed by the helical member.

Abstract: A manure spreader has a tank with endwalls including guides for receiving opposite ends of a rotating auger shaft thus permitting a change of position of the rotating auger in the tank relative to the manure. The auger may change position in response to the condition of the manure or may be a controlled change in response to actuation of fluid powered pistons.

Abstract: A coffee bean transport system for moving beans between a bean hopper and a bean operating mechanism has a transitional zone where the beans exit the hopper which serves to merge beans moved by an auger mechanism into a core flow of beans that has a constant density.

Abstract: An unloader for bulk materials is provided to transfer material such as cement from a barge or other bulk container. It includes a moveable and rotatable support member such as a crane or cantilevered arm that is adjacent the bulk container. A first conveyor or auger is connected to the support for pivotal movement and extends generally horizontally. A second conveyor or auger is connected to the distal end of the first conveyor for pivotal movement and is generally vertically oriented. A feeder unit is connected to the distal end of the second conveyor for universal and rotational movement. The feeder includes an uplift portion communicating with the second conveyor, the uplift portion advancing the bulk material at a rate slower than the second conveyor, and a collector portion communicating with the uplift portion. The collector portion includes converging auger assembly to advance the bulk material towards the uplift portion and to assist in transferring it into the uplift portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying articles supported on hooked members has a conveying shaft including a helical groove formed within the shaft. The helical groove is adapted to receive the hooked members and to convey the hooked members upon rotation of the shaft. A helical member is coupled on one end to the conveying shaft, and is adapted to receive the hooked members from the conveying shaft and to convey the hooked members upon rotation thereof. The helical member is supported within a support tube which includes an entrance portion formed on the end adjacent to the conveying shaft. The entrance portion is shaped to rotate the hooked members from a first position into a second position by contact therewith, upon the hooked members being conveyed through the entrance portion by the helical member. A slot is formed within the support tube and is adapted to receive the hooked member from the entrance portion. The slot maintains the hooked members in the second position upon being conveyed by the helical member.

Abstract: A conveying device used in weighing apparatus for conveying powder comprising a conveying cylinder which is subjected to a vibrational movement by a vibrator to finely control the powder exited from the cylinder. Inside the conveying cylinder, there is a shaft with first and second blade segments which is actuable to rotate, thereby receiving powder from a loading hopper and exiting the powder to an outside. The vibrational movement of the conveying cylinder is irrespective of the rotational movement of the shaft, and either one or both of the conveying cylinder and the shaft is selected to operate to obtain a desired quantity of powder, ranging from a very small quantity where only the vibrator operates to a very large quantity where both the vibrator and the shaft operate.

Abstract: A screw conveyor with a slowly rotating feed screw for precision metering by conveying very small amounts of loose material between screw threads, the same amount of loose material being discharged from the end of the conveyor with each turn of the screw. During the relatively short time interval of a single revolution, which can last one minute or even a multiple thereof as needed, the conveyor capacity itself fluctuates, since discrete amounts of the material being conveyed are always delimited by the individual threads of the feed screw. In order for a screw conveyor to be usable for precision metering of very small amounts to be conveyed; i.e. for conveying very small amounts with a high degree of constancy without the periodicity caused by the nature of the feed screw, the screw conveyor is provided with a rotatably mounted tube surrounding the discharge end of the fixed feed tube and which is driven at a rotational speed proportional to the rotational speed of screw.

Abstract: An ice dispenser for a refrigeration apparatus includes a container for storing ice bodies. The container has opposite front and rear walls and an access opening through the front wall. A housing is secured at the front wall adjacent the access opening and has a dispensing space for dispensing ice bodies. An ice conveyor transfers ice bodies stored in the container to the dispensing space. The ice conveyor includes a wire auger and a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the wire auger for rotation therewith. The cylinder has an outer wall including a helical rib extending outwardly therefrom. The sleeve rib moves ice bodies frontwardly at a slower rate than the wire auger.

Abstract: A portable sweep auger apparatus and method for controllably transferring predetermined continuous amounts of granular and powdered gypsum from a pile of gypsum to an irrigation ditch. The apparatus includes a base member, a driver member and an auger assembly member mechanically coupled to the driver member. The driver member and the auger assembly member are pivotally coupled to the base member to effect forward travel that depletes the gypsum pile. A first level of control is effected by a fixed auger design that coact with the driver member for regulating and delivering predetermined amounts of the gypsum material. A second level of control is effected by a slip clutch wheel coacting with the rotating auger shaft for controlling forward movement of the entire auger assembly towards and against the pile of gypsum material until the material has been depleted. A track that compensates for unleveled terrain is provided for guiding the slip clutch wheel.

Abstract: A manure spreader has a tank with endwalls including guides for receiving opposite ends of a rotating auger shaft thus permitting a change of position of the rotating auger in the tank relative to the manure. The auger may change position in response to the condition of the manure or may be a controlled change in response to actuation of fluid powered pistons. A sealing mechanism is provided to prevent the loss of manure from inside the tank while permitting vertical movement of the auger within slots in the tank endwalls. The seals include a plate and compression springs interposed between the plate and the auger bearings to place an axial load on the seal via the auger.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprises a first conveyor combination including a horizontal casing and a horizontal shaftless spiral drive element, and a second conveyor combination including a vertical casing and a vertical shaftless spiral drive element. The discharge section of the first casing and the free end of the first driving element are directed from the side towards the center axis of the second casing. The casing of the second conveyor combination has a cross section having either a corner or a longitudinally extending rib to increase the friction between the casing and the material which abuts against the same.

Abstract: A hollow tube (3) supports a spring (5) coaxially positioned within the tube (3) and free to rotate within it. The tube (3) has a longitudinal slot (4) through which components (2) threaded onto the coils of the spring (5) hang down. A motor 6 rotates the spring (5) causing the components, constrained by the slot (4), to move longitudinally along the slot (4). When they reach the end of the slot (4), they are orientated by the end of the spring (5), which has been suitably shaped, to the correct orientation to be presented for automatic mounting on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A ball dispenser dispenses balls into a flow line leading into a well. The ball dispenser has a subassembly that slides into and out of a cylindrical housing. The subassembly has a shaft that rotates within an array of vertical guide members. A helical flight is secured to the shaft. The subassembly will slide into a loading sleeve for loading purposes. The loading sleeve has a long vertical slot on one side to load the balls onto the flight.

Abstract: A screw seal for conveying bulk particulate solids between spaces at differing gas pressures with minimal leakage of gas. A tubular housing encloses a screw conveyor section and a sealing section receiving the solids and forming a sealing plug. The sealing section has a divergent configuration that functions in combination with friction to create sufficient solids pressure with minimal driving torque and wear on the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus for measuring quantity of grain passing through a conduit which includes a closely fitting auger within the conduit and a separate auger coaxial with the measuring auger arranged to push the particulate materials into the inlet end of the measuring auger to ensure that this is kept full during the measuring rotation and achieving this with the measuring auger fully within the inlet end of the measuring conduit which will substantially avoid cracking of the grain or other particulate materials.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a device for extraction of piece articles heaped up in a hopper (2), made in the form of a gripping screw (4) and a transporting screw (5), arranged along whereof are members (8 and 9) for holding of articles (7) in the predetermined position during transportation. A body (10) of the gripping screw (4) carries at least one spiral groove (12b), a portion of which is a transporting surface (13a) forming pockets (15) jointly with the members (8 and 9) for holding the articles (7). Arranged at an angle to the gripping screw (4) in the hopper (2) is an orienting plate (14) forming inlets to said pockets (15) and installed with a possibility of changing the configuration of said inlets.

Abstract: The invention relates to an excavator and conveyor for an underground jacking apparatus for pipelines having a preferably non-man-sized rated cross section, which is driven into the surrounding soil from a manhole and comprises a digging head and at least one follower, jacking the digging head, and thereafter introducing additional jacked lengths of pipe. Rotating in the end area of the digging head is a digging disc which is set into rotation by a shaft. The shaft is surrounded at a distance by a conveyor tube, the wall of which is compartmentalized with respect to its outer cylindrical jacket in the vicinity of the digging head. Conveyor means are provided in the conveyor tube for conveying the excavated material back to the manhole. Sluice means are also provided in the conveyor cross section between the shaft and the conveyor tube wall, these sluice means serving to prevent incursions of groundwater.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for dispensing balls and a method of loading balls into the apparatus. The apparatus has a housing, a shaft, and a helical rib mounted on the shaft. Rods are mounted in the housing, between the rib and the housing, to keep the balls from rolling down the rib. As the shaft and the rib are rotated, the balls are pushed out the lower end of the housing. A cylindrical loading sleeve fits over the shaft, the rib, and the rods. The balls are loaded onto the rib through a longitudinal slot in the side of the sleeve. The sleeve is then placed on the housing, and the shaft, rib, rods, and balls are lowered into the housing.

Abstract: A storage bin for handling and discharging plug flow material uses shrouds to prevent wedging of plug flow material such as refuse derived fuel between vertical screws and the end walls of the bin. The bin is divided into two separate sections by the vertical screws. Wedging of plug flow material in both bin sections and material discharge is then stopped. The shrouds force the plug flow material into the active surface area of vertical screws and continuous discharge through an elongated discharge aperture is assured. Two horizontal screws are used to further augment material discharge beneath the elongated discharge aperture. The two horizontal screws are parallel and the bottom of vertical screws are between the two horizontal screws.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing toner from a charge-retentive surface and collecting the toner in a receptacle for subsequent disposal thereof. This apparatus is characterized by the provision of structure for minimizing bridging or packing of toner in the flights of an auger forming a part of the removal and collection system as disclosed in the specification. The toner anti-bridging structure provides for imparting vibratory motion directly to the auger. To this end the anti-bridging structure includes a pendulum which is caused to periodically bang into the auger to create vibrations in the auger structure.

Abstract: A junction for torque transmittingly connecting adjacent sections of an auger type conveyor eliminates the need for hanger bearings between conveyor sections. The junction includes a cylindrical sleeve having an external helix inclined to force conveyed material in an upstream direction in the area between the sleeve and trough and thus exert a lifting force on the junction. The sleeve includes a flow passage in registry with the helix and may include internal auger segments which mate with the conveyor sections.

Abstract: An electrographic copier/duplicator has a development station with a sump for holding a supply of two-component developer material. A magnetic brush applies the developer material to a photoconductor moved past the magnetic brush. The developer material may comprise carriers of hard, magnetic material. A ribbon blender mixes the developer material in the sump. The blender includes first and second ribbons with each ribbon having a first, relatively large diameter helical end portion and a second relatively small diameter helical end portion. The second end portion of each ribbon is located substantially within the first end portion of the other ribbon. Because the two end portions of the ribbon are connected, there is good axial mixing of developer material in the area between the two portions of each ribbon, and the level of the developer material tends to remain level throughout the length of the ribbon blender.

Abstract: A valve and a system for transporting normally, non-fluent materials, including such valve, comprises a rotatable shaft, a housing surrounding at least part of the shaft and adapted to form an annular material transport space between the valve and the shaft, a worm-type transport formed on the shaft and extending to the interior surface of the housing and adapted to transport normally non-fluent material through the annular material transport space and a closure mounted on the shaft immediately adjacent one end of the worm-type transport and adapted to open and close the annular material transport space.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for use in a broad range of commercial food service operations which will consistently, accurately, economically and rapidly dispense beverages over extended periods in a dependable and substantially maintenance-free manner. The dispenser includes a cannister/auger assembly providing a completely closed product delivery path with absolute positional immobility. The dispenser also includes a system for dispersing moisture from the product delivery area which will assure complete removal of moisture. The beverage dispenser includes an adjustable device coupled to the auger to enable variation in the beverage strength while maintaining machine simplicity and a rapid water temperature recovery rate with the beverage dispenser being capable of simple, fool-proof, instantaneous disassembly.

Abstract: Solid cyanuric chloride is supplied to the gas space of a cyanuric chloride melt with the help of a gas tight product stopper. Preferably there is used for this a screw conveyor in which the gas tight stopper is formed at the end of the screw conveyor; it is most favorable if the helix ends before the last section of the tube of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying solids from a lower to a higher elevation, such as metal cuttings from machine coolants, including a horizontal auger rotatably mounted in the semi-circular bottom of an open top hopper, one end of the hopper being open, an inclined auger rotatably mounted in a semi-circular bottomed inclined housing, the lower end of the housing communicating with the open end of the hopper, and the lower end of the inclined auger being below the hopper, the housing having a discharge chute at the upper end, liquids and solids inter-mixed being deposited into the opened top of the hopper to permit the liquids to overflow the hopper while the rotating horizontal auger moves solids onto the inclined auger which moves the solids upwardly within the housing, allowing the liquid to be drained therefrom and back into the hopper, the solids being discharged out the outlet chute and the liquids permitted to be returned for reuse or disposal.

Abstract: A screw conveyor for feeding solid granular material including a rotary shaft with a screw blade, a drum surrounding the screw blade and concentric with it, and a bearing supporting the shaft for rotation with respect to the drum at an intermediate axial position of the shaft. The screw blade is discontinued at the bearing, having two end portions spaced apart a distance greater than the axial length of the bearing along the shaft. Arms connect the bearing to the drum for applying an axial force to the material being fed past the discontinuity in the screw blade upon relative rotation between the screw blade and the drum. The drum and shaft are normally rotated in different directions. The arm makes a positive angle of about 15.degree. to 50.degree.

Abstract: A screw conveyor is provided capable of maintaining a relatively uniform flow of conveyed material, even when operating well below its flow capacity, having a helical screw with a plurality of helical blade segments at one end, each segment extending over an arc of from about 100.degree. to about 130.degree. about the central stem of the screw, and having a pitch length within the range from about 0.5 to about 3 times the pitch length of the helical screw; the pitch length of the helical screw being from about 0.5 to about 1 times its diameter; the segments being spaced apart a distance within the range from about 0 to about 22 mm; the plurality of segments taken collectively defining a plurality of through passages extending axially along the central stem of the screw, and extending in uniformly spaced relationship .+-.10.degree. circumferentially about the 360.degree.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading loose particulate solid material having a discharge pipe and a positive discharge device at the outlet end of the discharge pipe. A pressure sensor is arranged to sense the pressure of the material at the outlet end of the positive discharge device and to produce an output signal in response thereto. A positioning device for varying the position of the outlet of positive discharge device is provided and is driven in response to the output signal of the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A hopper device for mounting transversely across the material discharge end of a vehicle mounted dump bed adapted to contain particulate material to be spread over a roadway being travelled by the vehicle. This type of hopper includes fixed first and second spaced end walls, a fixed back wall between the end walls and an elongated auger extending between the end walls, and an arrangement for rotating the auger about an axis to move material through the hopper toward one end of the hopper. The hopper includes a cover member extending between the end walls and movable between a spreading position where the material can dump into the hopper and be spread from the hopper, a dumping position where the material can be dumped over the hopper and a cleaning position where access is possible to the auger for cleaning by a water hose.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a jam resistant shredder-feed device for advancing and comminuting elongate materials, such as copper wire scrap, plastic mold runners and the like. In accordance with the invention, an auger assembly is rotated within a cylindrical housing, the auger assembly advancing the materials to be comminuted toward a stationary knife or breaker. The device is characterized by the employment of one or more idler auger sections adjacent the stationary knife, the upstream and downstream ends of the idler section or sections themselves defining knives, as does the downstream end of the feed auger, the respective knife portions being preferably spaced apart in a longitudinal direction by distances slightly greater than the average thickness of materials to be processed.

Abstract: An improved screw feeder such as may be used for conveying ligno-cellulosic materials such as wood chips, shavings, sawdust and the like to pulping apparatus includes a plurality of stopper bars positioned symmetrically about the inner periphery of the screw feeder throat inlet. The stopper bars are narrow, elongate wedge-shaped and extend from the greater diameter flare bore of the conical throat to the lesser diameter taper bore. The stopper bars prevent material from rotating with the screw rather than advancing longitudinally through the throat and thus decrease plugging and clogging problems so that a higher pulping capacity due to improved feed is obtained.

Abstract: A conveyor for granular material includes an elongated hollow channel covered by a suitable cover and having a hollow interior along which the granular material is to be conveyed. A rotary screw extends along the hollow interior of the channel for conveying the granular material therein, this rotary screw including an elongated shaft and a screw carried thereby. Between the opposed ends of the elongated shaft there is situated within the channel at least on bearing which supports the shaft for rotary movement, and a transverse wall extends across the interior of the channel and is supported thereby, this transverse wall carrying the bearing, so that the bearing together with the transverse wall carrying the same block the travel of the granular material longitudinally along the interior of the channel.

Abstract: An interrupted flight screw press is provided, especially in regions of heavier wear, with one or more longitudinal split worm bodies. The bodies have axially extending end flanges which hook underneath flanges of adjacent collars to hold the worm in place. One or both of the worm bodies are keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft for driving. Relatively slight longitudinal movement of one or both adjacent collars will release the parts of the worm body for repair and/or replacement without disassembling the entire worm-collar-shaft assembly.