Abstract: A material conveyor system container and method of making same. The container comprises a wear band generally disposed at the points of contact of the bucket with the material being conveyed by the bucket that is made from a highly abrasion resistant material and the rest of the bucket is made from a less expensive polymer, such as polyethylene.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor arrangement having a plurality of bucket conveyor lines (11) arranged alongside one another and having a charging device for charging bulk material onto the bucket conveyor lines (11), wherein a common drive shaft (13) for driving the bucket conveyor lines (11), having in each case a drive motor (17) that is attached to the associated end of the drive shaft (13) and acts on the drive shaft (13), is provided, is characterized in that at least three bucket conveyor lines (11) which are arranged alongside one another and can be coupled to and uncoupled from one or both drive motors (17) in each case individually and separately from one another are provided, wherein the bucket conveyor lines (11) are assigned a common charging device in the form of a bulk-material stream splitter (30) which has a receiving hopper (31) having a central charging point (32) for forming a natural bulk-material cone in the interior of the receiving hopper (31) and also outlets (35) arranged on the receiving hopper (3

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: A system includes a solid feed pump configured to transport a solid feedstock. The solid feed pump includes at least one passage for the transport of the solid feedstock. The solid feed pump also includes at least one movable wall configured to move along the passage. The solid feed pump further includes a retractable gripping element configured to extend from the at least one movable wall into the at least one passage to grip a portion of the solid feedstock. In addition, the retractable gripping element is configured to retract away from the at least one passage.

Abstract: A log accumulator comprising a plurality of buckets, a feed arrangement and a transport system and methods are provided. The feed arrangement loads logs onto the buckets. The transport system transports the buckets past the feed arrangement for loading of the buckets. The transport system and the feed arrangement are configured to maintain the feed arrangement in a fixed relative position with one of the buckets for an extended period of time while the feed arrangement loads the one of the buckets. The accumulator may include an unload arrangement that operates to unload logs in substantially the same manner as the feed arrangement.

Abstract: A conveyer apparatus for transporting and processing pellet-shaped articles includes a conveyer and a discharge device. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier bars to convey a plurality of articles along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier bar has a pocket half that cooperates with a pocket half of an adjacent carrier bar to form an article receiving pocket to receive and transport an article along the predetermined conveyer path. The discharge device is positioned with respect to the carrier bars to dislodge articles from the carrier bars.

Abstract: In a method for depositing a flat object dropping freely into a lower compartment, a wall of the compartment at an angle in relation to a vertical is used as a flat deposit point for a flat side of the flat object. During passage of the flat object into the lower compartment an angular momentum is imparted to the flat object such that an angle of incidence between the wall and the flat side of the flat object is minimized.

Abstract: A system for conveying and/or selecting fruit and/or vegetable products that mitigates damage, to the fruit, and/or vegetable products is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of buckets presenting respective resting surfaces for one or more fruit and/or vegetable products; a conveying line of said buckets along a horizontal axis (X); at least one discharge station arranged by the side of said conveying line; and an assembly for controlling the rotation of the buckets between a conveying position and a discharge position of the product towards said station, where respective resting surfaces of the buckets are upwardly concave, and at least one part of the resting surfaces of the bucket is defined by a plurality of rollers turning about their longitudinal axis, which is parallel to the horizontal axis (X).

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: The present invention concerns a conveying device with an endless conveyor belt, which has catches extending essentially transverse to the conveying direction. In order to further develop a previously known conveying device so that small bulk articles, which tend to stick, are reliably removed from the conveying device at an end point of the conveying device, which cannot be reached satisfactorily with the known devices for stripping, it is proposed that the catches be deepened trough-like or elevated ridge-like modifications of the conveying surface in comparison with the conveying plane, and that the catches can be completely swept by means of at least one stripper lying elastically against the conveying surface.

Abstract: A substantially vertical elevator (5) for the transport of round and/or spherical objects, for example golf balls, between different levels, the elevator including a conveyor belt (11) which extends between an upper roller at an upper level and a lower roller at a lower level and which passes a number of emptying points between the rollers. A number of spaced carrier planes (12) extending transversely of the conveyor belt, on which planes the objects are capable of resting during the movement of the conveyor belt (11) from a replenishment point (6) to the emptying point or emptying points. An ejector (13) is disposed, between the carrier planes (12) and is actuable at the emptying points for removal of the objects on the adjacent carrier plane (12) to a receptacle container provided at the emptying point in question.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus are well known for dispensing material from a package. Described herein is apparatus for dispensing predetermined amounts of material (10, 10') stored in vessels (12) carried by a continuous web (14). Each vessel (12) comprises a body portion (15) and a cap portion (16) with one end (22) of a pressure sensitive strip (24) positioned therebetween, the other end (26) of strip (24) being attached to the continuous web (14). The apparatus comprises a roller (28) over which the web (14) moves. Tightening of the strip (24) as the web (14) passes over the roller (28) causes the body portion (15) of the vessel (12) to become detached from the cap portion (16) and the material (10') is released.

Abstract: A freight transportation system is provided and comprises a loading station, an unloading station and a vehicle moveable therebetween to transport freight. The vehicle includes a lower platform for carrying freight and a pair of doors moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the doors constitute side walls to prevent removal of the freight from the vehicle. In the open position, the doors are located to facilitate removal of the freight from the vehicle. The unloading station includes a door moving mechanism for moving the doors of the vehicle to the open position upon its arrival at the station. A freight removal device moves the freight off of one side of the platform when the doors are moved to the open position.

Abstract: An excavating bucket wheel has a plurality of radially outwardly open bucket chambers disposed in a circular array. During rotation of the bucket wheel each chamber cyclically assumes a material receiving position and a material dumping position. Each bucket chamber is defined by a cutting plate supported at the wheel periphery and having a trailing edge as viewed in the direction of wheel rotation, two axially spaced, parallel side walls and a rear wall extending axially between the side walls. An outer edge of the rear wall is situated adjacent the cutting plate. Each bucket chamber is further defined by a bottom wall extending axially between the side walls and being supported for pivotal motion about an axis oriented parallel to the rotary axis of the bucket wheel and situated adjacent the outer wheel periphery. The bottom wall has a first pivotal position for receiving material and a second pivotal position for dumping material.

Abstract: This relates to the removal of articles from a nest which is travelling along a predetermined path. Most particularly, nests are mounted on an endless conveyor chain and carried thereby past various stations for forming a package beginning with a container, a product placed in the container, and finally a lid. This particularly relates to the removal of such a article as the afore described package. Each nest is provided with a pad or plate in the bottom thereof to be positioned below the container. The plate is carried by a plunger which projects downwardly through the bottom of the nest and also through the conveying chain. In accordance with this invention, the lower end of the plunger engages a ramp which pushes the plunger upwardly as the nest travels along a predetermined path to lift the package out of the nest.

Abstract: An apparatus for the peel off feeding of stacked printed items such as newspapers, periodicals, booklets or the like, comprises a number of open-topped containers for receiving the stacked items. There is furthermore a peel off station into which the containers are moved for the removal of the printed items therein. Each such container for printed items has a bottom shelf with device for guiding it vertically and is slanted towards a removal side, at least in the feeding station. At least during the time it is in the peel off station the shelf in each container may be driven vertically so as to bring the uppermost printed item therein into the range of action of a suction device which cooperates with a scoop plate in lifting and sliding off the items from the top of the container one by one. The scoop plate is able to be moved between a position in which it somewhat overlaps the top edge of the container in the peel off position and a position retracted therefrom.

Abstract: A hanger for transporting dough portions through a fermentation chamber or the like is adapted to be suspended on chains running through said chamber and has an arcuated support member covered by a textile band in the form of an endless loop carrying the dough pieces to be transported. The textile band is fixed to a rod extending parallel to the swivelling axis of the hanger and is connected to a drive means. When this drive means is actuated, the rod is moved along the surface of the support member and thus the textile band carrying the dough pieces is moved relative to the support member so that the dough pieces are transported towards the leading edge of the support member so that the dough portions, when the hanger is tilted, do not have to fall over a considerable distance.

Abstract: A device for depanning freshly baked goods, and in particular pizza, soon after they leave an oven comprising, a pan conveyor adapted to extend from the oven with at least one baking pan disposed thereon, with the conveyor then moveable in a feed path from the oven. The baking pan has a plurality of perforations therethrough. A pin-block conveyor is associated with the pan conveyor and includes at least one pin-block connected thereto and moveable substantially parallel to the feed path of the baking pan. A plurality of pins extend from the pin-block and are arranged in a pattern and number equal to that of the perforations in the baking pan. Each pin has a diameter which is at most smaller than the diameter of each perforation so that each pin can extend through each corresponding perforation.

Abstract: Means for driving the back walls of the buckets of an excavating wheel having a plurality of circumferentially arranged digging buckets. Each digging bucket is provided with a pivotal back wall mounted on the excavating wheel. The excavating wheel is rotatably mounted on a central shaft. A central sprocket is freely rotatably mounted on a bucket wheel hub which is mounted on the central shaft. A mounting bracket is attached directly to the main frame of the vehicle and extends outwardly therefrom. An offset sprocket which is smaller in diameter than the central sprocket is rotatably attached to the opposite end of the bracket. The axes of rotation for the central sprocket and the offset sprocket are parallel. A continuous chain passes around the sprockets with the chain constrained to move in a predetermined path. Push rods are pivotally attached at one end to connecting links of the chain so that the push rods are disposed at equal intervals along the length of the chain.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of an excavating vessel and an associated soil discharging plate are mounted on an endless rotary member in an excavator in such a manner that said excavating vessel goes behind said associated soil discharging plate and the free end of said associated soil discharging plate is placed well into said excavating vessel so that said free end can discharge the soil excavated and contained in said excavating vessel at a predetermined position and, thus, the excavation and soil discharging works can be performed in a continuous and synchronized fashion.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly, at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of push rods are each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets. A rigid collar is interconnected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls which collar is rotatably supported at a point offset from the rotational axis of the excavating wheel so that the push rods and the collar cooperate to positively pivot the movable walls of the bucket between material receiving and material dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A predetermined cam track is disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets and is engaged by a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls to thereby positively pivot the movable wall of each digging bucket between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Abstract: A cart conveyor system for transporting bundles of newspapers from a bundle-forming region within a mail room to a loading dock includes a new cart construction which is elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of motion of the cart train, and a plurality of carts are pivotally connected end to end to form a continuous closed loop train of carts. Bundles are loaded into the cart from an overhead loading structure and the forward wall of the cart is tilted forwardly to allow the clearance of the bundle as it falls from above. The carts are then conveyed to an exit station, where a pusher blade, which pushes transversely across the width of the cart, is engaged by an overhead cam to eject parallel bundles from the cart and into a discharge chute when the cam is operated. The cart, rail and wheel construction is such that the cart is constrained to the conveyor rails. The cart platforms are provided with raised tracking surfaces to serve as a raised platform for slightly bulging newspaper stacks.