Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes an endless conveyor belt wound around outgoing path side guide pulleys in turn along a helical conveyance path in a bent state where the belt is folded in two in a width direction such that an upper edge portion thereof is supported by the outgoing path side guide pulleys, and wound around returning path side guide pulleys in turn along the helical conveyance path in the bent state where the belt is folded in two in the width direction such that the upper edge portion is supported by the returning path side guide pulleys, and folded back at each turning positions of a horizontal conveyance unit located at an upper side and a horizontal conveyance unit located at a lower side of the support frame and being in an expanded state where the belt expanded in the width direction in a vicinity of the turning position.

Abstract: An endless egg conveyor is provided. The conveyor includes an endless element running around a set of rotational wheels and a drive unit defining a conveying direction. The conveyor has an upper run and a lower run and head sections where the direction of movement of the endless element is reversed. The conveyor also includes an egg retaining pocket coupled to the endless element, moving in the conveying direction. The retaining pocket has a central axis and an upper receiving opening to receive an egg with a longitudinal axis of the egg aligned with the central axis. The retaining pocket is coupled to the endless element by a bearing structure allowing rotation of the retaining pocket around a rotational axis extending parallel to the rotational axes of the rotational wheels, allowing the retaining pockets to remain in an upright position in every position in the lane.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a steep conveying installation for arranging on a slope of an open-cast mining glory hole, by means of which raw materials can be transported from a lower height level, in particular from a mining floor of the open-cast mine, to an upper height level in particular formed by a soil, encompassing a line arranged on the slope. According to the invention, provision is made for a first conveying basket and for a second conveying basket, which conveying baskets can be displaced on the line between the lower height level and the upper height level and are embodied to receive the raw materials, wherein the conveying baskets are in contact with one another via at least one common traction means.

Abstract: A loading station allows transport bags to be loaded for transporting goods in a hanging manner. Each of the transport bags is provided with a first bag wall, wherein the portion of which facing upwards when in the transport position is connected to a carrying member for transporting the transport bag in a hanging manner. A second bag wall of the transport bag forms, together with the first bag wall, a bag which is closed downwards and towards two opposite sides at least when the transport bag is in the transport position. A coupling of the transport bag allows the two bag walls to be detachably connected to each other in a wall connecting portion facing upwards in the hanging transport position of the transport bag or in a lower wall connecting portion. The loading station has at least one conveyor run for conveying the transport bags. The loading station further has the following station sections: an inlet section, a loading section, and a discharge section.

Abstract: The accumulator includes at least one pair of chains substantially parallel to each other to which cradles are connected for receiving products to be stored, the cradles being mutually spaced along the pair of chains. Each cradle is connected to the pair of chains through constraining members. On each chain at least one intermediate constraining member is arranged between two adjacent cradles connected to the chains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and an apparatuses for loading and unloading objects into/from corresponding cavities in holders at a high count rate. For loading, a plurality of objects are present on an object path which mutually converges with a holder path. For unloading, the object path mutually diverges from the holder path. Integration of this method and apparatus respectively into a method of manufacturing unleaky containers and a corresponding apparatus for leak testing containers is also proposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring, at high speed and in a very effective and accurate manner, particulate material from a feeder into reservoirs of a moving endless surface, e.g. a drum, by use of a pressure means, e.g. a specific three-dimensional plate, for applying pressure onto said particulate material present between said plate and said moving endless surface, and then transferring the particulate material with said moving endless surface with reservoirs to a substrate; the apparatus and method being particularly useful for the production of absorbent structures for absorbent articles.

Abstract: Device for recovering fines constituted by a dragging conveyor/loop elevator equipped with scrapers/collecting cups (4) moved by a catenary link according to a closed path and associated to a plate conveyor supported by chains or metallic belt, which conveyor is equipped with pendula/pushers hinged to the transport plates themselves.

Abstract: A material gathering apparatus with a bucket; a motor having a shaft; and a plurality of blades; in which the hydraulic motor is fixed below the bucket; and the plurality of blades are fixed within the bucket and are rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise around the shaft.

Abstract: A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated. The material classifier includes a tank and an angularly mounted scoop wheel for scooping solid material which has settled on the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A scoop includes a molded one-piece plastic scoop body having a bottom wall portion and a sidewall portion that extends from the bottom wall portion and that cooperates with the bottom wall portion to confine a material-holding space for holding granular material to be transferred. A metal reinforcing member is provided on the bottom wall portion of the scoop body for strengthening the scoop body.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus including a conveying member defining a loop that may be used for transferring a product into a container. The conveying member can be a belt, a chain, or plurality of hinged plates. The invention also includes first and second supporting members individually disposed at opposite sides of the loop and spaced a first distance apart from one another. The first and second supporting members support rotating movement of the conveying member. The invention also includes a moving device operable to translate the first and second supporting members concurrently along a path having at least one bend. The lengths of the portions of the conveying member disposed on opposite sides of the bend can be adjusted by the moving device.

Abstract: A bucket elevator conveyor system of the straight horizontal, “C” and “Z” configurations. In these bucket elevator conveyor systems, loading of the buckets can occur anywhere along the horizontal run adjacent the take-up end and discharge of the buckets can be made at the drive area or along the bottom run of the upper horizontal sections of the “Z” and “C” configuration. This provides not only for discharge of the product from the buckets traveling along the lower path of the conveyor, but also provides for simple, intermediate discharge. In addition, there are provided relapping mechanisms to assure proper relapping of the buckets, This is accomplished by reason of a unique bucket design having a cam on one end combined with the front and rear flanges angled to assure proper operation and lapping of the buckets.

Abstract: In a transport mechanism of a sorting machine for large thin objects, objects to be transported (paper sheets such as postal matter) stored in transport boxes can be made collectable into smaller collection boxes than the transport boxes. The transport boxes storing and transporting the paper sheets given sorting information are attached to a free chain which is supported by the rail that is twisted and always drives, and when it approaches a spot where the rail is twisted, the free chain is also twisted following the rail. The transport boxes attached to the free chain are also tilted at the same time, and the paper sheets reach an end surfaces on the side at which the transport boxes are lowered and are positioned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mail-item container of a sorting device for the controlled transfer of a flat mail item into stationary sorting containers, the container having a stationary wall part and a movable wall part that is disposed at the front in the transport direction, and is inclined counter to the transport direction and has a slide part. In accordance with the invention, the slide part is embodied to swing, completely or partially, such that the front portions of the mail items are given momentum as they slide out, due to a swinging movement of the slide part that is initiated by the opening of the movable wall part, the momentum preventing short mail items from overturning due to the torque generated by gravity; the swinging duration is at least long enough that the respective short mail item has already exited the slide part at the time of the next swinging movement directed at the mail items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transporting device for transporting food products to be processed. The transporting device includes at least one advancing element for advancing carriers of food products for processing that are fixed to the advancing element along a route extending through a processing space and a guide for guiding the carriers along at least a part of the route. The device may also include a carrier having mesh arranged on its side that extends traversely in the direction of movement and having guide elements. The device may further include two transporting devices for transporting food products for processing and a collective transfer device for coupling the two transporting devices together.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor for conveying loose grain in different directions, comprising a bucket having: an opening leading to the interior of the bucket; and a dead space constituting part of the interior at the rear, the space not filled with loose grain when grain is loaded from above to or beyond the level of the opening, its volume being larger than the filled volume immediately below the opening. The conveyor does not spill the loose grain even when the angle of the bucket is changed.

Abstract: A sorting system is disclosed, for example for mail items. In the disclosed system, a circulating storage system can receive items from an inlet, and deposit them in an appropriate output receptacle which has been allocated to items in a particular group. For example, the items can be sorted by destination, and each output receptacle can be allocated to a particular destination. In the event that the destination of an item has not output receptacle allocated thereto, the system controller can determine whether to allocate a receptacle, or whether to recirculate the item within the circulating storage system. This possibility allows items to be grouped together within the system, until there are sufficient items for a particular destination to allow them to be handled efficiently, and in particular allows the allocation of output receptacles to destinations to be controlled efficiently.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filling arrangement (12) for a bulk unloader having a conveyor belt travelling in an endless path and provided with material receiving pockets (9).

Abstract: A continuous unloader includes upper sprockets, lower sprockets located below the upper sprockets, and front sprockets located in front of the lower sprockets. An endless bucket conveyer is operatively taken on the upper, lower and front sprockets. A support frame supports the upper sprockets. An elevation/lowering mechanism is provided at a lower end of the support frame. A base part is operatively connected to the lower end of the support frame by way of the elevation/lowering mechanism such that the base part is raised and lowered by the elevation/lowering mechanism relative to the support frame. A link mechanism is connected to the front and lower sprockets such that the front and lower sprockets are lowered when the distance between the front and lower sprockets is narrowed and the front and lower sprockets are raised when the distance between the front and lower sprockets is widened.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and transporting flat articles respectively supplied by an overhead loader includes a conveying device comprising a first traction mechanism and transport containers attached to the first traction mechanism. The transport containers have intake openings facing in a direction of the overhead loader for receiving the flat articles from above the conveying device. A guide arrangement is disposed above the conveying device and includes an endlessly rotating second traction mechanism and a plurality of guide elements attached to the second traction mechanism. The guide elements move in the same direction as the conveying direction of the transport containers and approximately parallel to the intake openings of the transport containers. The guide elements are interspersed in the trajectory of the flat articles from the loader into the transport containers.

Abstract: This invention pertains to apparatus and methods for receiving a stream of units of product, such as from a manufacturing operation, separating the stream into discrete groups of product, in a product carrier bucket, and typically presenting each group for further processing at a subsequent processing station as a group. A novel product bucket is disclosed, including articulated buckets which are typically engaged by a driver, about a first path, while receiving units of product, and are subsequently disengaged from the driver for traversing along a second path to a subsequent processing station. The buckets preferably have cam followers which cooperate for urging the rear wall of a leading bucket and the front wall of a trailing bucket into proximity with each other while traversing an arcuate portion of the first path. Product-receiving compartments may be enlarged for receiving product, and contracted for holding product contained therein.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to a materials handling apparatus that has a plurality of open-sided buckets arranged to travel along a first path having a first sense. The buckets are loadable when traveling along a first portion of the first path. An endless belt is arranged to travel along a second path having the same sense as the first path. The first and second paths coincide in a first zone so that the belt achieves closure of the buckets along a second portion of the first path. The materials handling apparatus may be operated over a wide range of conditions by the ability to preselect and change the vertical distance, and the angle of attack between a catenary string of open-sided buckets and the material to be unloaded. The method of handling material according to the present invention is readily adaptable to the unloading of railroad gondola cars, hopper barges, lighters, trucks, yard materials and the like.

Abstract: There is utilized a particular bucket conveyor apparatus for the transport of fragile articles such as cookies and crackers from an input feed point to a multiple number of discharge areas. At the discharge areas the bucket conveyors are tilted rearwardly to spread the fragile crackers and cookies over a lower transverse belt or vibrating conveyor. In the operation of the apparatus each of the buckets is filled initially to less than about 50 percent of its volume. In this way if there is not an available discharge point, the bucket can once again go through the cycle before it would reach a point of overflowing. When the buckets are in a full condition, they will empty half or more of their contents onto a storage station conveyor prior to passing the input feed point. This bucket conveyor mechanism lends itself to a high degree of computerized control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor provided with a frame and with at least one carrier guided by a guide mechanism, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor by a driving mechanism. At least some of the carriers support sliding pieces, which can be moved with respect to the carriers in question by a control mechanism, in a direction transversely to the intended direction of movement of the carriers during operation, so as to move objects to be transported with the conveyor during operation. The carriers are guided by a single elongated guide mechanism, while a sliding piece is provided with a receptacle which is open at its bottom side. The sliding piece is movable with respect to a carrier(s), between a first position, in which the receptacle is closed by a closing mechanism connected to a carrier(s), and a second position, in which the receptacle in the sliding piece is located beside the closing mechanism and beside the guide mechanism.

Abstract: A bulk material handling conveyor system having a set of buckets carried in a continuous manner from an infeed zone where the buckets are filled with product by way of a metering vibratory feeder to an unloading zone and back to the infeed zone. The buckets may be selectively at least partially emptied in the unloading zone.

Abstract: An improved filling system for containers of mixtures of liquid and solid material where the liquid/solid ratio is critical is disclosed. A prior art problem was that sticky solid material would adhere to the receptacle or bucket in which it was delivered to a filling chute or funnel and it would also stick to the funnel. This problem is solved by putting the sticky solid in the buckets and by using the liquid to flush the funnel and by using an air jet to remove any remaining particles from the buckets which are upturned over the funnel. Alternately, a part of the liquid may be placed in the delivery bucket and when it is tilted or turned upside down to fill the container the remaining part of the liquid is used to rinse the receptacle. The filling system is especially useful for soups containing noodles or other pasta products.

Abstract: An inverting mechanism according to the present invention comprises an inverting body for inverting which includes a plate member fixed to each of a plurality of carriers connected to an endless chain and four inverting elements rotatably supported on each plate member at circumferential positions spaced equidistant from each other, and an inverting cam provided on a rack rail on which the inverting elements roll. The inverting element on the body traveling on the rail drops into a groove formed in the inverting cam to rotate the body about the dropped inverting element as another inverting element rolls along a projection on the reversing cam to downwardly direct the top opening of the carrier and thereby an article to be transferred can be taken out of the carrier.

Abstract: A cargo reclaiming apparatus that may be fitted to a ship for emptying bulk solid material from the holds or to a warehouse for emptying such material from storage bins. The apparatus has a gantry movable across the top of the storage containers, a rotatable structure mounted to the gantry, and a boom supported by and extending from the rotatable structure at a selectable angle. The boom has a digging wheel at its outer end for feeding material to the inner surface of a belt encircling the boom. The material passes through the rotatable structure and gantry and is fed to a collection location. The belt on the boom may carry material from the container even when the outer end of the boom is positioned above the end of the boom connected to the rotatable structure.

Abstract: An endless belt is driven between two yarn processing machines. A plurality of package carrier members are mounted at spaced intervals to the endless belt by pivot connections which permit the carrier members to travel in freely pivotal hang disposition. The carrier members support packages thereon to transport the packages from one machine to the other. A contact member adjacent the machine receiving the supported packages contacts the carrier members to release the supported packages therefrom as the carrier members travel thereby.

Abstract: A lift apparatus adapted for reliable, substantially maintenance-free operation in material transfer systems, including systems that are subject to considerable contamination. The lift apparatus includes an open top container, a support plate for normally supporting the container in upright position, and a ball screw drive for moving the support plate and container between a filling station in which material may be introduced into the container and a discharge station. The container is supported for relative pivotal movement with respect to the support plate, and a chain and sprocket arrangement is provided for automatically pivoting the container to a dumping position as it is raised into the discharge station and for returning the container to its normal upright position as it is lowered from the discharge station following dumping.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for use with a bucket conveyor in which spaced-apart buckets are supported between spaced-parallel conveyor chains. The mechanism has a cylindrical trough with a feed auger extending across the chains. The trough has a discharge slot in its bottom coextensive with the width of the bucket. Materials fed to one end of the auger are advanced along the length of the trough. The discharge slot is adjustable in width so that it may be reduced for the major part of its length but is fully open at its remote end. A hollow cylindrical drum surrounds the auger to be rotated in synchronism with the chains. The drum has openings around its circumference to register with the open tops of the buckets, and skirts are provided between the discharge openings and the drum openings to direct the material from the discharge openings through the drum openings.

Abstract: A bucket distribution system for receiving products at an infeed station and selectively discharging the products at a plurality of distribution stations. A plurality of buckets travel in a continuous path and each receive a predetermined portion of products at an infeed station. Bucket trip apparatus at each of the discharge stations selectively pivots the buckets in a direction opposite to the direction of bucket travel to cause the buckets to discharge products therein. Feeders at primary distribution stations are adapted to roll in and out of position for servicing. Products may recirculate within the system to thereby reduce the amount of products taken off-line.

Abstract: An apparatus for tipping about a horizontal axis a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to fill the bucket with contents at a predetermined location and empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location. The apparatus comprises a bucket pulley mounted for rotation with the bucket on one end thereof concentric with the horizontal axis about which the bucket is tipped, and an elongate bucket pulley-engaging device positioned adjacent said chain at a predetermined point on the circuit where the contents of the bucket are to be emptied. The bucket pulley-engaging device has a length at least as long as the circumference of the bucket pulley and frictionally engagable with the circumference of the bucket pulley to rotate the bucket pulley and thereby rotate and invert the bucket mounted thereon as the chain moves the bucket along the length of the bucket pulley-engaging device.

Abstract: A continuous bucket conveyor/elevator is provided which comprises a series of buckets mounted on at least one endless cable. The cable or cables and attached buckets are urged forward by means of an adjacent driving mechanism, such as, a pneumatic or hydraulic piston, which engages contact members attached at intervals to the cables. Because no drive chains or sprocket wheels are employed, lubrication is minimized even in corrosive or abrasive environments.

Abstract: A cargo reclaiming apparatus that may be fitted to a ship for emptying bulk solid material from the holds or to a warehouse for emptying such material from storage bins. The apparatus has a gantry movable across the top of the storage containers, a rotatable structure mounted to the gantry, and a boom supported by and extending from the rotatable structure at a selectable angle. The boom has a digging wheel at its outer end for feeding material to the inner surface of a belt encircling the boom. The material passes through the rotatable structure and gantry and is fed to a collection location. The belt on the boom may carry material from the container even when the outer end of the boom is positioned above the end of the boom connected to the rotatable structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator having buckets (14) disposed at regular intervals along a drive belt (1) which co-operates with guide units (11) for guiding the belt round a path which is concave towards the said most distant points (14b) of the buckets so as to reduce the speed of the most distant points (14b) of the buckets from the belt in a loading zone.

Abstract: A device for elevating water by means of a vertical chain (5,21) of buckets (10,20) supported and driven by an upper reversing wheel (7,25), the lower part of the bucket chain (5,21) running through a filling tank (1,15) having a height adjustable overflow edge (4,18) over which water from the lower level (2,19) may flow into the passing buckets (10,20). Structure (11,25') is provided for discharging the buckets (10,20) at the higher level (13,39). The bucket chain (21) in its entirety preferably is adjustable in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A continuous vertical the ground-excavating arrangement which comprises a guide post for being driven vertically into the ground deeper than the desired excavation depth so that said guide post can stand independently of excavation, a lower earth loading mechanism slidably secured to the guide post, a lower earth loading mechanisms, a vertical conveyor including an endless chain and conveying containers, and a horizontal earth discharging mechanism secured to the top end of the guide post. The lower earth loading mechanism includes means for securing cut ends of the endless chain for ease in adding chain links to the endless chain as the lower earth loading mechanism is periodically moved to lower excavating depths.

Abstract: A particulate dryer is disclosed in which upwardly moving hot gases contact downwardly moving particulate matter. The particulate matter is supported by rotating trays which, due to the absence of support at their outer ends at selected loci are caused to tilt downward to effect passage of the particulate matter downwardly through the dryer.

Abstract: Self-cleaning apparatus for removing material from a rotating drum. Buckets are associated with a scraper which is maintained in a substantially fixed position relative to the local gravitational force vector. The scraper is maintained in said position by means of a counterweight. A scraping action is achieved as the drum and buckets rotate.

Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal treatment of commodities packed in containers, such as tins or glass jars, comprises a treatment chamber or space through which a conveyor travels in a loop-shaped path, which path extends outside this chamber. The conveyor consists of two chains, located at some distance from and parallel with each other, each chain consisting of link plates and pivot pins. Each pair of opposite links from both chains carries a supporting plate which is curved in cross section and fastened upon an extended portion of a respective link of both chains, two adjacent plates forming a carrier for the temporary receipt of sheaths, filled with sticks of containers. Carriers are loaded and unloaded in one single operation by a loading and an unloading station, disposed within the path of travel of the conveyor, but outside the treatment chamber, additional means being provided at the location of said stations for filling and emptying the sheaths with containers.

Abstract: The disclosed unloading machine, which is foldable in height to facilitate its insertion into a ship or the like, comprises an endless train of circular buckets, with axial tension elements therebetween, a foldable vertical leg including two parallel guide tubes, the buckets being movable down the first tube and up the second tube, a boom which is swingable vertically about a pivot at the lower end of the leg, a first conveyor wheel for directing the buckets out of the lower end of the first tube and outwardly along the boom, a second wheel on the outer end of the boom for directing the buckets downwardly into a suspended catenary flight where bulk material is dug, a third wheel for directing the buckets from such flight into the lower end of the second tube, a fourth wheel for directing the buckets from the upper end of the second tube and then downwardly to dump the material, a fifth wheel for directing the buckets upwardly, a sixth wheel for directing the buckets into the upper end of the first tube, the l

Abstract: An elevator having a bucket conveyor for moving material, as grain, from a hopper to a discharge location. The conveyor has an endless belt trained about idler and drive pulleys. A plurality of cups secured to the belt carry columns of material from the hopper to the head of the elevator. The cups include a plurality of open bottom cups and a closed bottom cup located below a column of open bottom cups to carry a column of grain. An arcuate curved material guide element is located adjacent the cups moving around the drive pulley at the upper end of the elevator to retain material in the cups as they move around the drive pulley. The guide element is a curved baffle that is adjustably mounted on the elevator head housing allowing the position of the baffle relative to the outer lips of the cup to be adjusted to retain the material in the cups as the cups move over the head pulley and to control the discharge of the material from the cups.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor includes a plurality of spaced buckets which pass through a loading zone with gaps between adjacent buckets. Flexible sheets are enclosed at their leading ends to a fixed part of the conveyor and extend over the buckets in the loading zone to cover the gaps and so prevent material passing between the gaps. The trailing end of one sheet extends beyond the leading end of the following sheet.

Abstract: A bucket wheel type excavator is provided in which a vibrating movement is imparted to the individual cutting components of each bucket on the wheel. Moreover, each such imparting movement to the individual teeth or cutting components is from a single excitation device fixed in the axis of the wheel and driven from a power source coaxially through a hollow shaft for the wheel. The imparting movement is through flexible bars extending from the excitation device to a point adjacent the cutting components wherein the vibrating end of the respective flexible bar is spaced from and intermittently vibrates the cutting component which, in turn, is pivotally mounted.

Abstract: A flexible belt trough type conveyor is directed over a hump having an upwardly angling inclined side defined by belt supporting rails, then over a sprocket or similar rolling support device, and down the declined side of the hump on further rails. At the apex of the hump the belt is tensioned sufficiently to stretch the trough structures and partially or entirely flatten them, creating a loading station for granular materials such as explosives. When the belt has traveled over the apex, the tension decreases and the trough structure returns and automatically separates the granular material into discrete load units separated by the raised edges of the troughs.

Abstract: A guide is provided for the buckets of an endless dredging line comprising an emptying station incorporated into the guide. A system comprising a pair of trolleys and a pulley system is provided to hold each bucket stationary at the emptying station for dumping. The endless line travels over the pulleys, some of which are mounted on the trolleys. When a bucket approaches the emptying station, the trolleys are actuated to travel in opposite directions so as to allow the endless line to move at its normal speed while holding the bucket at the dumping station stationary.

Abstract: The invention provides a bucket-conveyor device suitable for emptying bulk materials from a ship's hold, comprising an endless chain conveyor having buckets fixed to spaced links which are emptied as the buckets pass over an upper return pulley. In order to control the direction of emptying of the buckets and thereby minimize spillage of the bulk material, discharge chutes are pivotally articulated to the upper return pulley at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the buckets.

Abstract: An excavating wheel is disclosed which includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls are selectively actuated under fluid pressure to pivot each movable wall to the material dumping position. A plurality of springs each connected to one of the movable walls are provided to pivot each movable wall to the material receiving position.