Abstract: A drive unit for a grain elevator, in particular for agricultural machines, has a drive wheel operatively connected to a screw conveyor for conveying crop into the grain elevator. The drive wheel is provided with a retainer which may be engaged in a positive locking and/or friction-type connection with a continuous tension device of the grain elevator provided with one or more paddles so as to drive the continuous tension device. Several openings are provided in the drive wheel between the arms holding the retainer in such a way that this allows or facilitates crop conveyed by the screw conveyor into the grain elevator along a direction of conveyance to flow through the drive wheel.

Abstract: A plant for extracting electric energy from water power. The plant has an energy extraction module designed as an assembly unit, and includes a drive arrangement, with a multiplicity of flow-impinged components, which can be driven in a circulating direction by water power, two spaced-apart deflection elements around which the drive arrangement is guided in a circulating manner, an electric power generator for extracting electric energy from the circulating drive arrangement, a water conveying duct for forming water receiving compartments interacting with the flow-impinged components, and also a module frame, to which are connected the drive arrangement, the deflection elements, the electric power generator and the water conveying duct. The module frame includes an interface via which the energy extraction module is connected to a sub-structure.

Abstract: A bucket is adapted to be spaced relatively close to adjacent buckets and has sides with a contoured upper edge to facilitate carrying material above the water level capacity of the bucket.

Abstract: “CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND ISOLATION OF THE CONVEYED PRODUCT IN RELATION TO THE DRIVE SYSTEM”, is a conveyor for grains, seeds, fruit, granulated and ground products and similar products. The conveyor has different applications and isolates the product conveyed from the drive system. There are two or more tubes, and in each set of tubes there is a swivel with a drive system using roller chain, chain, cable, belt, et cetera. In this manner, the drive system is isolated from the product, avoiding mechanical damages, contamination, and also increasing the performance of the system.

Abstract: A conveying system includes conveying cells (14) for accommodating in particular hot bulk goods or lumpy conveying material. The conveying cells have a bottom (16), a front wall (30) and a rear wall (31) in the conveying direction of the conveying system and side walls (15) connecting the latter. The conveying cells (14) open at the top are shielded from the surrounding atmosphere by a stationary and gas-tight top cover (17) that spans the open surface of the conveying cells. Both sealing elements (22; 34, 35) shielding intermediate spaces (32) existing between the conveying cells (14) in the conveying direction from the surrounding atmosphere and also sealing elements (22; 28) projecting laterally on both sides beyond the side walls (15) of the conveying cells (14) are disposed in the bottom region of the conveying cells (14) lying opposite the top cover (17).

Abstract: A system is provided with a segmented solid feed pump having a plurality of pump segments disposed along a closed-loop path. The plurality of pump segments are coupled together in series along the closed-loop path, and the plurality of pump segments move along the closed-loop path. Furthermore, each pump segment includes a holding receptacle.

Abstract: Invention describes apparatus automating distributed item processing including pharmacy. Apparatus includes: portable vending cartridges, automatic vending modules, controllers. Cartridge contains conveyor transporting items inside carriers. Cartridges slide-into receptacles inside vending module. Controllers in real-time monitor presence of cartridges; inventory of carries, items; and execute controls of each cartridge and vending module including: indexing conveyors; loading and/or unloading items into/from carriers; maintaining items within specifications: environment, handling, safety with reports confirming compliance. Controllers execute in real-time optimization algorithm achieving required performance: rates of item loading/unloading, power consumption. Pharmacy applications include cartridges handling containers with medications.

Abstract: A pipeline padding machine includes a debris-resistant escalator flight. A pipeline padding machine includes an escalator assembly with multiple flight sections attached to a track. A gap between leading and trailing edges of respective adjacent flight sections may be substantially the same when the track is substantially straight, and when the track is at its maximum curvature. Leading and trailing edge portions of each flight section may be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding track section by a same angle as that between adjacent track sections when the track is at its maximum curvature. The edge portions of respective adjacent flight sections may be substantially parallel to each other when the track is at its maximum curvature.

Abstract: A connector, and coupling system, for portions of a belt for a conveyor system. A connector (10),(60) has inter-cooperating releasable coupling portions (11),(12),(61),(62). These can be provided at respective ends of edge portions of a conveyor belt to be coupled. The releasable coupling portion (male/female) of one belt portion is arranged to releasably couple to the corresponding respective coupling portion (female/male) for the end of a second belt portion. The connector system permits discrete sections of conveyor belt to be removed and replaced for maintenance or repair, or one or more belt sections to be removed or inserted to shorten or lengthen the belt as required.

Abstract: A bucket elevator or conveyor comprises a plurality of removable buckets 10 each pivotally supported between two drive chains 11. The buckets 10 are shaped such that their lips 26 overlap when they are traveling horizontally. In this manner, the buckets 10 can be filled without the risk of spillage.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus is described. The dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of slats, each having one or more holders for holding and dispensing articles. Each slat has a cavity and an open end. Further, each holder includes an aperture through which a pin may extend into and retract from the cavity to assist in dispensing articles held therein. Each open end may include a curved surface to assist in inhibiting the articles from being dispensed prematurely. Further, each slat may include a tongue on one side and a groove on another side. The tongues of each slat fit within the grooves of adjacent slats, allowing them to ride in close conformity to each other and allowing for relatively unencumbered movement between the slats.

Abstract: An article dispensing apparatus is described. The dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of slats, each having one or more holders for holding and dispensing articles. Each slat has a cavity and an open end. Further, each holder includes an aperture through which a pin may extend into and retract from the cavity to assist in dispensing articles held therein. Each open end may include a curved surface to assist in inhibiting the articles from being dispensed prematurely. Further, each slat may include a tongue on one side and a groove on another side. The tongues of each slat fit within the grooves of adjacent slats, allowing them to ride in close conformity to each other and allowing for relatively unencumbered movement between the slats.

Abstract: A bucket elevator for use in grape harvesting which has buckets in sequential alignment which are each attached to a bucket elevator chain so that the orientation of each bucket will remain that of the chain to which it is attached. There are disclosures of shapes of buckets to facilitate collection, emptying and carrying materials and to avoid allowing spaces between the buckets which will ensnare with materials being carried.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor apparatus includes one or more conveyor chains, and a plurality of conveyor buckets which are pivotally mounted on the conveyor chains. While the buckets are positioned in spaced apart relationship along the chains, the present apparatus includes an arrangement for relatively reducing this relative spacing at an infeed station of the apparatus. An arrangement of guide members is provided for relatively reducing the effective length of the conveyor chains thereby relatively reducing the spacing between the conveyor buckets at the infeed station. Efficient loading of material into the buckets is thus facilitated since spillage of material between the buckets during loading is substantially abated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apron conveyor whose mutually overlapping members, consisting of plates with side walls which connect vertically, are arranged on link chains and are partitioned in a way matching the chain divisions. The slats are provided in their overlap area on their oblique edges on one hand with a limb which points upwards away from the plane of the slat and, on the other hand, with an arched recess which covers the raised limb of the adjacent slat. According to the invention, webs connected to the side walls or formed by them are provided along the length of the side walls. These webs connect the chain links laterally. This arrangement allows the use of standardised link chains of which only one in each link pair must be provided with two holes (in particular threaded holes) for connection of the members to the webs.

Abstract: The bucket conveyor system is made up of buckets which are pivotally suspended between two chains and run around an endless circuit. The claims are made up of links being connected by pins in elongated holes. This chain can be compressed to make its length less than when it is under tension. The chain is compressed at the loading station to force the buckets into direct contact with each other and allow continuous 10 loading. At the discharge station the chain is put under tension to space the buckets and allow them to be rotated through 360.degree. to empty out their contents. Guides are positioned at the areas where the chain is under compression to stop buckling from occurring. The system is driven by a motor and sprockets which also control the compression or tension of the chain.

Abstract: A belt type conveyor includes buckets which include front and rear forward angling walls for nesting. The front walls act as a retaining wall and a pour chute for discharging material at the correct time and location. The buckets may also include rear portions which direct material falling onto the rear portion into the next bucket. The rear portions may also include a wear block mounted at the top of the rear wall for preventing wear on the remaining portions of the bucket. The buckets may include flanges extending on either side, which ride under bogies for maintaining proper tension and for following the correct desired path of the conveyor.

Abstract: A bucket elevator system capable of being driven bi-directionally. The system having a plurality of pivoted buckets supported between two endless chains. Each bucket having a primary guide boss with an upper surface and a guide surface thereon. Guides arranged to contact the upper surface of the primary guide boll to restrain the pivotal movement of the buckets.

Abstract: A conveyor/elevator for moving bulk granular materials from a first location, at a designated height, to a second location, at an elevated height. The apparatus includes an endless conveyor web which is tensioned and has oppositely facing elevating and return runs. A plurality of carriages or buckets are attached to the conveyor web, and, as the web is driven, the granular material is introduced into the buckets at the first location proximate the bottom of the elevating run. The carriages or buckets into which the material has been introduced move, thereafter, upwardly along the elevating run and over the apogee of the structure. Each bucket has a floor which, when the bucket is moving along an elevating run, extends, at an acute angle, upwardly and away from the conveyor web. When the bucket moves along the return run, the floor extends, at the same angle, downwardly and away from the conveyor web.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor system 13 for a harvesting machine which can move along a row of plants. The bucket conveyor system has a pair of parallel endless roller chains 18 guided for movement along a generally rectangular path 17, and open-topped buckets 19 connected to the chains 18 at equally spaced intervals along the chains. The buckets each have a rear lip 36 extending over and beyond the front wall 32 of the next rearward bucket 19 to prevent gaps through which harvested fruit or juice can fall. The sole connection of the buckets 19 to the chains 18 is by a single shaft 44 projecting outward from the upper end of each side wall 31 of the buckets. As a bucket 19 is elevated, a fixed vertical bucket guide 27c engages a substantially vertical front wall 32 of the bucket to keep the bucket erect, with the engagement of the bucket guide 27c with the bucket wall 32 being at a substantial distance from the pivot connections 44 of the bucket to the chains to minimize stress in the bucket.

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 conveyor with a pair of parallel draw elements between which the buckets are supported on spindles about which they rotate pendulum fashion. Forward rollers are mounted on the ends of the spindles and rear rollers are mounted at the opposite edge of the bucket. Each bucket has a flange or lip which overlaps the top edge of an adjacent bucket. The rollers on the buckets engage guide rails to properly orient the buckets as they pass over return gears and from the loading area to the dumping area and back again. By maintaining proper orientation of the buckets, the load level of each bucket and thus the capacity of the conveyor is increased. The bucket conveyor is of simple design, has low wear and high conveying capacity.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor assembly includes both a bucket endless conveyor and a cover endless conveyor, with the cover endless conveyor being located inside a horizontal section of the bucket endless conveyor. The cover endless conveyor is driven so that covers (40) mounted on its lower flight are superimposed with gaps (44) between buckets (24) mounted on the bucket conveyor at a loading zone (26). Material to be loaded into the buckets is gravity-fed between the top and bottom flights (36A and B) of both the bucket endless conveyor and the cover endless conveyor and dropped into bottom-flight buckets (24) through the bottom-flight covers (40). The covers have an unsymmetrical inverted V-shape, with the leading side (46) of the V being on a steeper angle than the trailing side (48) of the V.

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 continuous conveyance system comprising a series of ship-shaped conveyance containers whereby bulk load is conveyed, two pairs of endless chains adapted to support and carry said conveyance containers at both front and rear portions thereof, said pairs of endless chains consisting of a pair of inner chains adapted to carry the front portion of each said container and a pair of outer chains adapted to carry the rear portion of said container, chain wheels around which said endless chains are passed, said chain wheels consisting of the inner chain wheels around which said inner endless chains are passed and the outer chain wheels around which said outer endless chains are passed, said both inner and outer chain wheels being secured to a common shaft at the rotatory section where the bulk load is received, the rotatory section where bulk load is dropped and the rotatory section where the direction of movement of the conveyance container is merely changed by 90.degree.

Abstract: Horizontal basket extractors with a continuous conveyor with spaced baskets or cells are arranged with traveling splitters movable along the top and/or bottom runs of the conveyor synchronously with the baskets arranged to divert a continuous flow of solids and/or liquids from a preceding basket to a following one, thereby eliminating the intermittent feeding of the material being charged in succession but avoiding passage of the material through the spaces between the baskets.

Abstract: A live bottom pit for a solid waste disposal system is disclosed in which an endless device or endless belt-like structure driven by a motor is positioned near the bottom of the pit and extends upward along one side of the pit at an angle in excess of 35 degrees. A plurality of the endless belt-like structure may be provided to cover the entire bottom of the pit. The endless belt-like structure is comprised of a plurality of plates pivotally joined together. The plates are provided with projecting members which slice through a solid waste mass piled thereon. The solid waste is piled to a substantial height on the live bottom. A layer of solid waste is fed from the bottom of the mass of solid waste. Material from the rear of the mass of solid waste is fed first by the endless belt-like structure. The material being piled to a substantial height and the feeding action of the endless belt-like structure causes the mass of solid waste to become packed thereby allowing the pit to hold more solid waste material.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor has buckets which are supported by transverse elements extending between two conveyor belts, each conveyor bucket being connected to the neighboring bucket at the transverse element but without pivotal movement between the buckets at this connection, flexure of the conveyor belts at drive and guide rollers being accommodated by bending of a part of one of the transverse bucket walls of reduced thickness.