Abstract: A method for processing pharmaceutical powders, which comprises providing a feeder module including a plurality of feeder units each with a storage hopper, a weighing cell, a conveyer, and a discharge end, connecting the storage hopper to a refilling system with a refilling valve, connecting the refilling valve to a level or weight indicator disposed above the refilling valve, connecting the discharge end to a common receiving container, refilling the storage hopper with a powder intermittently 40 to 80 times per hour, storing data during refilling, transporting powder from the storage hopper with the respective conveyer, and discharging powder from each feeder unit into the common receiving container. During each refilling of the storage hopper, the refilling valve dispenses powder into the storage hopper and, during the step of transporting the powder from the storage hopper, the conveyer is operated according to the data collected during previous refills.

Abstract: Pivoting members for pivoting a solar array mounted to a torque rail and tracking systems that include such pivoting members are disclosed. The pivoting member may include a liner between a rotating inner member and the outer housing of the pivoting member to reduce friction during pivoting of the solar array.

Abstract: A screw conveyor including a container-type main body provided with a storage tank; a horizontally oriented delivery pipe a front end of which is connected to the storage tank; a discharge pipe connected to a rear end of the delivery pipe and arranged inclined upwards from a connecting end to another end; a screw arranged across an inside of the storage tank and the delivery pipe; a drive mechanism configured to apply rotation to the screw via a rotation transmission section on a front section of the storage tank on an opposite side to the delivery pipe; and a screw support structure in which multiple support blocks configured to slidably contact the screw are fixed to an inside surface of the delivery pipe at different positions, and in which one or two or more of the support blocks are fixed to a front side of the delivery pipe.

Abstract: A toner transportation device according to the present disclosure includes a transportation screw that has a rotational shaft and a transportation fin formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft and a toner transportation pipe that has a circular shape in cross section. The transportation screw is rotatably positioned in the toner transportation pipe. A support member is attached to the rotational shaft that has a bearing portion having an annular shape and rotatably fitted onto the rotational shaft and that has a plurality of leg portions radially protruding outward from an outer circumferential surface of the bearing portion. A distance between an axis of the rotational shaft and a tip of each leg portion is greater than a radius of the transportation fin and equal to or less than a radius of an inner circumferential surface of the toner transportation pipe.

Abstract: A toner conveying device of the present disclosure includes a conveying screw, a toner conveying pipe, and a plurality of convex portions that are formed on an inner wall surface of the toner conveying pipe. The conveying screw has a rotary shaft and a conveying vane that is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft. The toner conveying pipe has a circular section, and the conveying screw is rotatably disposed inside the toner conveying pipe. Each of the convex portions is formed within an area defined by half the circumference along the inner wall surface of the toner conveying pipe and supports the conveying screw so that an axial center of the rotary shaft substantially coincides with a center axis of the toner conveying pipe.

Abstract: A screw conveyor to move media includes a first feed screw having a first end portion, a second feed screw having a second end portion, and a support hanger assembly to support the first feed screw and the second feed screw. The support hanger assembly includes a hanger bracket having a vertical support member and an inner hub secured to and extending perpendicularly from the vertical support member, a shaft portion disposed within the inner hub, an inner sleeve configured to be disposed between the shaft portion and the inner hub, at least one outer hub coupled to the shaft portion, and an outer sleeve configured to be disposed between the inner hub and the at least one outer hub. The first feed screw and the second feed screw are coupled to the at least one outer hub. The inner sleeve and/or the outer sleeve may be fabricated from low coefficient of friction material.

Abstract: A device for transferring sausage-shaped products, carried out of a clipping machine and provided with loop-shaped suspension elements, to a product receiving element, said device containing: a guide bar along which the suspension elements can be guided in the direction of transport by means of conveyor elements, and a front and a rear bearing assembly for the guide bar, the bearing assemblies having a right-hand and a left-hand bearing unit that are each disposed in pairs laterally from the guide bar. It is further provided that the front and rear bearing assemblies form drivable positive guidance mechanisms for the suspension elements.

Abstract: Auxiliary drag mechanism at variable speed, consisting of a variable pitch worm being geared with connection means of the components to be moved, at least during part of their path of travel, at variable speed. The worm is mounted between two end supports (8) and at least one intermediate support (9), whose supports leave free the gearing area between the connection means and the worm, along said worm.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transporting sticky and/or wet material in horizontal direction comprising a shaftless spiral or screw having an outside diameter and an inside diameter, a stationary trough having a prismatic shape with at least at its underside a cylindrical part with a liner for supporting the outside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw, and drive means for rotating the shaftless spiral or screw around a stationary straight centerline, the stationary trough having an inlet opening for receiving transportable material and at its underside an outlet opening for discharging transported material. According to the invention the shaftless spiral or screw is provided over its active length between the inlet opening and the outlet opening along the centreline with a pipe which is rotatable in the inside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw.

Abstract: An elevating conveyor for flowable material comprises an inlet (14) and an outlet (20) at opposite ends of a tubular barrel (1) surrounding a helical elevating member (2). Elevating member (2) is restrained against rotation about a longitudinal axis and tubular barrel (1) is co-axially rotated about elevating member (2) by a drive mechanism (16).

Abstract: A poultry chiller 100 has a hanger 140 suspended from the upper portion of the tank 102 that supports the bearing block 160 of the auger shaft 112 between the auger blades. A conical bird deflector 175 is mounted on the auger shaft and radially deflects the birds away from the bearing block as the birds are urged across the bearing block.

Abstract: A hanger bearing assembly for use in an auger type poultry chiller, the poultry chiller has an auger with a first flight and a second flight both secured to an auger shaft, the first flight having a first flange plate and the second flight having a second flange pate. A bearing disk is secured between the first flange plate and the second flange plate. A bearing block disposed about the bearing disk, a lower bearing plate is secured to the poultry chiller, and the lower bearing plate has a support segment configured to receive the bearing block. An upper bearing plate configured to receive the bearing block. The upper bearing plate is secured to the lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining the bearing block adjacent the bearing disk and securing the auger to the lower bearing plate.

Abstract: A rotary pipe and fixed channel auger with intermediate outer supporting elements includes alternated portions of a rotary spiral, within the fixed outer channel and, respectively, of a fixed spiral clamped within an outer pipe which turns rigidly therewith, the portions of rotary pipe having preferably a like length and bearing on outer supporting elements which substantially includes pairs of centering rollers connected by shafts which are parallel to the axis of the spiral.

Abstract: An apparatus for displacing material includes a transport thread composed of a central thread spiral and an outer thread. The outer thread spiral is fixed to one of the radially directed defining surfaces of the central thread spiral. The central thread spiral is dimensioned so as, without permanent deformation, to absorb at least the major portion of the mechanical forces occurring in the axial and radial direction of the transport thread. The outer thread spiral has an outer surface which faces away from the geometric centre axis of the transport thread and is of shorter extent in the axial direction of the transport thread and is located more distally from the center axis than the outer surface of the central thread spiral. By regulating the extent in the axial direction of the transport thread of the surface of the outer thread spiral turned to face the substrate, the abutment pressure of the transport thread will be adapted to the substrate in relation to the properties of the material being displaced.

Abstract: A seal assembly 74 used between two members 42, 45 which are capable of relative movement is disclosed. Various construction details are developed which enable the seal assembly to accommodate other movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement while accommodating movement in the direction of movement. In one embodiment, the seal assembly extends between two circumferentially extending surfaces which face each other. The seal assembly is formed of a plurality of circumferentially spaced seal elements 74 having flaps 116 which are radially and circumferentially flexible but relatively stiff in the axial direction in comparison to the radial and circumferential flexibility.

Abstract: In a hydraulic screw pump, a sealing element for the peripheral edge of the rotary screw. The sealing element is formed with a channel along its length to fit over this edge of the rotary screw. The channel may be varied in depth to adjust the gap between the rotary screw and a water-carrying trough for the pump. The width of the channel may also be adjusted to accommodate rotary screws of varying thicknesses. The sealing element, thus, retains the desired width of the gap even though the edges of the rotary screw are chipped or worn away.