Abstract: An animal feeding system includes a receptacle comprising a microcontroller, one or more applications running on at least one processor of a mobile device, and an access point, wherein the microcontroller, the one or more applications, and the access point are communicatively coupled through a wireless communications network. The receptacle holds pet food consumables. A chute receives dispensed consumables as they pass through an opening in the receptacle. A sensor monitors a level of the consumables in the receptacle, wherein the sensor is communicatively coupled with the microcontroller and transmits information of the monitored level to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller uses the information to determine whether the level of the consumables is below a threshold level. The microcontroller initiates communication with a remote vendor through the wireless communications network when the level falls below the threshold level.

Abstract: An animal feeding system is provided. The feeding system includes a container that holds dry pet food, and a receptacle that gravitationally receives the pet food. The system also provides a conveyor system. The conveyor system moves the dry pet food from the receptacle to a feeding bowl. Additionally, the animal feeding system includes a processor. The processor is configured to deliver start and stop signals to a motor in response to signals sent from a user control unit. The animal feeding system additionally comprises the user control unit. The control unit offers a user interface for programming the system according to a desired feeding schedule. A method for feeding an animal using the feeding system is also provided herein.

Abstract: There is provided an impact grinding assembly. The assembly, according to one aspect, includes a pair of conveyors for conveying at least partially unground material. Each conveyor has a lower portion and an upper portion which is spaced-apart above its lower portion. The assembly includes a pair of vibrating impact plates aligning below the upper portions of respective ones of the conveyors to receive the at least partially unground material. A first one of the impact plates operatively directs material thereon to the lower portion of a second one of the conveyors. A second one of the impact plates operatively directs material thereon to the lower portion of a first one of the conveyors. The impact grinding assembly may further include a material-separation assembly for removing material from the conveyors which has a particle size no greater than a desired particle size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power generation method capable of storing natural energy without specific limitations and capable of taking out the natural energy as needed to generate power. The power generation method of the present invention includes a potential energy storage step and a power generation step. In the potential energy storage step, second objects are transferred from the low place to the high place by using a rotational force of a rotating body that is rotationally driven by a kinetic energy produced when a first object, which is present at a high place in nature, falls. In the power generation step, the power generator is operated by using the kinetic energy produced when the second objects fall.

Abstract: A belt bucket elevator for conveying bulk material includes a driven endless belt (23), which is circulated via drums arranged on a bucket elevator head and on a bucket elevator base, and at least one row of buckets (10), each of which is individually fixed to the belt (23) and has a base (15), a back wall (11), lateral walls (13), and a front wall (12). Each of the buckets (10) has a smaller width at the base (15) than at the upper ends of the lateral walls (13). The belt (23), including the outer lateral edges of the belt, is completely covered by the buckets (10) arranged thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt bucket elevator for conveying bulk material, comprising a driven endless belt (23), which is circulated via drums arranged on a bucket elevator head and on a bucket elevator base, and comprising at least one row of buckets (10), each of which is individually fixed to the belt (23) and has a base (15), a back wall (11), lateral walls (13), and a front wall (12), said row extending in the running direction of the belt (23), characterized in that each of the buckets (10), which are arranged in close succession relative to one another, in at least one row extending in the running direction of the belt (23) has a smaller width at the base (15) than at the upper ends of the lateral walls (13), which thus extend outwards laterally and in that the arrangement of the buckets on the belt (23) is designed such that the belt (23) including the outer lateral edges of the belt, is completely covered by the buckets (10) arranged thereon.

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 container carrier that moves containers in a transport direction has container holder with a recess and a hold-down. The recess receives a container between its mouth and its flange and forms a bearing surface to support a lower face of the flange thereby suspending the container. Meanwhile, the hold-down engages the opposite or top face of the flange to prevent the container from swinging.

Abstract: An ink recirculation system has been developed to enable controlled release of ink collected in an ink receptacle into a printhead. The ink receptacle includes an indentation in a substantially planar surface and is configured to receive ink in the indentation from a printhead. The indentation has a shape that enables the ink receptacle to release ink at varying rates as a pivot angle of the ink receptacle is varied by a positioning system. The shape of the indentation enables the receptacle to dose ink into an ink reservoir in the printhead at known rates to control the amount of ink recycled to the printhead.

Abstract: A harvester includes a conveyor having molded conveyor buckets. The conveyor includes a continuous first chain and a continuous second chain extending parallel to the first chain. Parallel spaced apart rods extend between the chains. Each bucket includes a front wall, a rear wall higher than the front wall, opposed sides connecting the front wall and the rear wall and a bottom portion connecting the front wall, the rear wall and the opposed sides. The front wall includes a mounting portion configured to extend over a rear wall of an adjacent bucket and one of the rods when assembled in a conveyor. The mounting portion is a lip in a first embodiment, an insert in a second embodiment and an upper portion of the front wall folded over in a third embodiment.

Abstract: The heat resistant conveyer belt with side walls according to the invention aims at solving such a prior technical problem that cleats and skirt-boards easily get loose from a base belt. The conveyer belt of the invention comprises a base belt and cleats positioned on the base belt, wherein the conveyer belt is provided with metal frameworks embedded in the cleats and the cleats are fixed on the base belt through fasteners. The cleats and the skirt-boards are respectively embedded with metal frameworks within, so that they can be fixed on the base belt through fasteners, thereby preventing from getting loose from the base belt and increasing the life time of the conveyer belt and reducing its cost.

Abstract: This invention is about water carrying lift that enables water to be used in watering fields (agricultural fields), energy production, etc by increasing the level of water in places like rivers, streams, creeks etc.

Abstract: A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.

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 downloader conveyor is described and claimed. The downloader conveyor comprises an endless belt to which a plurality of cups is pivotally attached. The cups are adapted to receive apples or like relatively delicate objects. As the cups containing the apples descend into the bin, the cups rotate so as to permit the apples or other objects to roll out of or exit from the cups and to retard the cup acceleration. Each apple engages a skirt, which breaks the fall of the exiting apple. A distal end of the skirt can be arranged to scrape over the bin floor or scrape over the top of apples or other objects already placed in the bin, so as to again break the fall of the apple so that the apple is placed in the bin without substantial freefall.

Abstract: A seed belt for an agricultural planter wherein the seed belt includes a continuous belt with a plurality of substantially equally spaced flights. Each of the flights having a concave portion at a distal end.

Abstract: A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.

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: A storage and conveyor system is provided that can store tools, parts and other miscellaneous items of interest. The storage system includes a carousel that is mounted to a base so as to have at least one degree of freedom with respect to the base. The carousel further includes a plurality of carriers for holding the items of interest and is arranged to selectively and recirculatively rotate the carriers about a closed loop track system such that the carriers may be selectively transitioned to advance a select one of the carriers to a desired location. Rotation of the carriers may occur independently of the movement of the carousel relative to the base.

Abstract: A bucket is provided for a bucket elevator of the type including a plurality of buckets supported on an endless belt. Each bucket is in the form of a container having an open top end which includes a plurality of spacer elements molded integrally on the back wall thereof. The spacer elements provide spacing between the back wall of the bucket and the belt upon which it is supported for preventing particulate material being conveyed by the elevator from being trapped between the bucket and the belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous cable conveyor for steep and substantially vertical up-and-down transport, preferably of bulk materials up to extreme transport height which can reach approximately 1,000 m. The transport line is made of extremely resistant fiber cables used as traction means. Guide cables and individual carrier means in the form of buckets are fixed at a distance from each other, over said traction means, at cable clamping connections and endless cable connections designed in a specific manner allowing not only convex returns of the transport line but also concave returns in order to create horizontal or inclined reception and distribution areas. Said transport line is driven, returned, tensioned and guided in a non-positive manner by means of cable pulleys with a possible torsion about the longitudinal axis which can react 180°.

Abstract: The conveyor according to the invention provides a supporting device for goods containers positioned in the rear part of an inclined surface of the conveyor. The supporting device provides a supporting surface that can be moved vertically and horizontally with respect to the ground in order to adapt to the different types and sizes of the containers to be supported.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus is disclosed which includes a plurality of carriers which circulate from an upper section of a conveying device to a lower section of the conveying device. The carriers are secured to circulating carriages that are driven by an endless cable that circulates in the two planes, or between the upper and lower sections of the conveying device. The upper and lower sections are connected by a vertically running deflection device which includes one wheel that connects a rear side of the upper section of the conveying device to a front side of the lower section of the conveying device as the cable proceeds from the upper section to the lower section. The vertically running deflection device also includes a second wheel which connects a rear side of the lower section of the conveying device to a front side of the upper section of the conveying device as the cable returns from the lower section to the upper section of the conveying device.

Abstract: A cleat for a conveyor belt, particularly for a vertical conveyor, with a cleat foot 2 attachable to the support side of the conveyor belt, and in which at least one anchoring member 5 is incorporated, and with a cleat section 1 forming a transverse wall of the conveyor belt, which is releasably attachable to the cleat foot 2 with the aid of the anchoring member 5. With the object of enabling a simpler attachment of the cleat section to the cleat foot, the anchoring member 5 is a rod, which extends transversely to the direction of travel 6 of the conveyor belt in the cleat foot 2. The rod may have threaded holes 12, which match holes 13 in the cleat foot 2 and holes 3 in the cleat section 1, through which screws 4 can be thrust in order to attach the cleat section 1. Alternatively, the rod may have bolts projecting radially therefrom, the bolts for extending through respective holes in the cleat section for securing the cleat section to the cleat foot with nuts.

Abstract: An improved bucket conveyor chain that uses a series of plate type lines 3 connected together at adjacent ends by a bars 5 and 9. Ropes 11 are connected to the bars 5 and 9 to protect the chain from breaking in half in case of damage. The bars 5 and 9 are sectionalized and overlapped thereby providing easier maintenance.

Abstract: A pocket belt conveyor is indicated which comprises an endless traction member (1) guided around drive pulleys (2), deviator pulleys (4), and deflection pulleys (6) and including at least two spaced apart supporting belts (8, 10) having between them a plurality of mutually spaced transverse members (12) secured at their ends on the supporting belts (8, 10). Pockets (48) are suspended between the transverse members (12), they each comprise a bottom wall (24) made of rubber or a rubber-like material. Each transverse member (12) has a planar fastening face (21) which serves for attachment of the bottom wall (24) and extends at an angle with respect to the plane of the supporting belt. This predetermined oblique arrangement of the pockets (48) makes sure that bulk material will be received and discharged properly.

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: An improved bucket conveyor chain that uses a series of metal plate type links 3 connected together at adjacent ends by a pair of bars 5. The bars 5 also hold adjacent plates up off the wheel's 1 driving surface, they also provide a surface for attaching buckets 17 and guide bars 19.

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: The apparatus comprises an endless conveyor band (2) of insulating material on which are mounted at even distances apart receptacles (7) composed of a metal adapted to receive separate portions of a dish to be cooked and inductors (10a, 10b) disposed below the upper reach (6) of the conveyor. The inductors have a diameter roughly equal to one-half of the diameter of the receptacles and are disposed in at least two rows in the direction of movement of the conveyor (2) symmetrically relative to the axis of movement of the receptacles. The inner edges of the inductors (10a, 10b) are located beyond a vertical plane containing the axis of movement of the receptacles (7) so as to insure a homogeneous heating of the receptacles.

Abstract: A system of ocean floor dredging comprises a first vessel, two rotatable rollers on the vessel, a third roller lying on the ocean floor, and an endless net extending around the three rollers.

Abstract: In order to improve the accuracy of spacing, direction and velocity, a feeder for feeding discrete objects one by one has a belt which circulates at a controlled speed. The belt carries a series of buckets formed by four flaps which are normally closed but can be opened by a cam adjacent the path of the buckets. The objects are inserted one by one in the buckets adjacent the top of their vertical descent, and are discharged when the flaps are opened. In this way, the buckets define the spacing and velocity of the objects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conveyor belt system for transporting materials by directly driving a conveyor belt. A plurality of continuous cables are disposed generally parallel one to the other. A continuous conveyor belt is disposed between the continuous cables which includes a plurality of unitary, open top, pocket-like receptacles for transporting the materials. The receptacles are located so that they extend above and below the plane of travel of the continuous cables whereby the materials can be transported within the confines of the receptacles in both a horizontal path of travel and a vertical path of travel, respectively, until the materials are conveyed to the point of travel where they are discharged from the conveyor system for further subsequent processing. This results in the continuous, uninterrupted transportation of the materials carried by the conveyor belt for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A collecting device for polyethylene-sheet calendar manufacturing machines including a supporting plate having horizontal upper and lower plates, a pair of rollers disposed adjacent to the supporting plate, a belt disposed on and driven by the rollers and a plurality of receiving devices engaged on the belt and supported by the supporting plate. Each receiving devices has a fixing piece secured on the belt and a receiving box engaged with the fixing piece by a bearing, so that the opening of the receiving box faces upwards during operation.

Abstract: An endless loop tractor drive mechanism has equally spaced pushers meshing with a bucket train where its filled circular buckets are traveling along a substantially straight ascending path to a dumping support wheel. Wire rope cables or other flexible tension elements extend between the buckets. The pushers have drive rollers for pushing the buckets, and additional rollers for guiding the cables. Additional support wheels guide the bucket train along a catenary loading span where the buckets are dragged through bulk material to fill the buckets. At least two pushers engage at least two successive buckets at all times, to distribute and share the lifting load among two or more buckets. Due to the straight ascending path, the cables are not flexed when the lifting load is applied. Thus, the combination of high tensile stresses and high cable flexure is avoided. Wear and tear on the cables are thereby minimized. Fraying and breakage of the cables are no longer problems.

Abstract: A bucket type elevator having a head pulley and a boot pulley with a belt entrained about both pulleys is hydraulically driven. The drive mechanism comprises a hydraulic motor mounted in the boot pulley. It is connected, via flexible hydraulic lines, to an electric motor driven pump and fluid source located near ground level outside the boot housing, easily accessible for maintenance and replacement but far enough away from the elevator to avoid risks of explosion from the electrical power source. The elevator also includes a tensioning system for maintaining adequate and uniform tension across the width of the belt and for preventing slippage and miscentering of the belt on the boot pulley.

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 belt-type bucket elevator in which each bucket is connected to the belt by two movable fastenings arranged one behind the other in conveying direction. Each bucket is divided into front and rear bucket portions along a dividing plane extending between the fastening joints perpendicularly or approximately perpendicularly to the plane of the belt. The two bucket portions are connected to each other by connecting joints mounted coaxially on the side walls of the two bucket portions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conveyor belt system for transporting materials by directly driving a conveyor belt. This is accomplished by directly driving a plurality of clips attached at their inner end to the belt and securedly coupled at their outer end to a pair of continuous cylindrical cables. Even though the belt is directly driven, the subject conveyor system can effect continuous relative movement between the conveyor belt and cables, thereby compensating for differences in the respective lengths of said belt and cables and in the configuration of the respective drives. This is accomplished in great part by the novel construction of clips of this invention which is designed for facilitating secured engagement with the cables and effective and efficient movement of the conveyor belt. This results in the continuous, uninterrupted transportation of the materials carried by the conveyor belt for extended periods of time.

Abstract: An endless belt with bottomless buckets or other gripping elements bolted to its outer surface at spaced locations, has endless wire ropes each loosely received in a longitudinal bore formed in confronting faces of two rows of discrete blocks of resilient material bolted to the inner surface of the belt to form a continuous rail member. The wire ropes are firmly coupled to the endless belt as they pass around end pulleys together by the wedging action created as the tension in the endless belt pulls the associated two rows of discrete blocks which have tapered side walls down into peripheral grooves in the end pulleys which also have tapered, but slightly narrower side walls. With the belt firmly coupled to the wire ropes, radial digging forces tending to pull the belt away from the end pulleys, and lateral forces generated as the digger is advanced into a pile of bulk material on a bias which tends to cause the belt to creep laterally on the pulleys, are resisted by tension developed in the wire ropes.

Abstract: A conveying plant in which a bucket-type conveying belt has along its opposite longitudinal edges, which are transversely spaced apart, successions of pairs of blocks which form guide rails for the conveyor. The blocks can clamp over steep stretches of the belt, respective traction ropes which are driven to relieve the belt.

Abstract: A rope bucket elevator has a drive with at least one drum, a transport part having a rope member, a plurality of buckets attached to said rope member, and a plurality of clamp members each connecting a respective one of the bucket members with the rope member, wherein the clamp member has a surface which faces toward a surface of the drum and is provided with a recess, in which at least a portion of an attachment for the clamp member is accommodated.

Abstract: A transport belt for a conveyor or bucket conveyor especially for transporting products whose temperature exceeds 200.degree. C. is provided wherein a flexible belt carries on its outer face a metal carrier means adapted to receive or pick up the hot products which are to be transported, said metal carrier means being secured to said belt and the metal carrier means being at least partially thermally insulated from the belt by one or more cushions of air formed by one or more pockets of heat insulating air space between the bottom of the metal carrier means intermediate its ends and the outer face of the belt, said pockets being defined by a shaped member which contacts said belt at one or more intervals with a line or point contact providing one or more zones of minimum contact between said metal carrier means and said belt whereby heat transfer between said metal carrier means and said belt is minimized.

Abstract: A conveyor bucket and bracket assembly in which the bucket is attachable and separable from the bracket without the use of screws, bolts or other fasteners.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor comprises a drive pulley and at least one guide pulley with endless traction cable means engaged over the guide pulley and the drive pulley. A bucket member or a conveyor trough has an axle thereon on each side and with a pulley on the axle. In one embodiment the pulley is pivotal on the axle and in another embodiment the pulley is fixed on the axle. In addition, the construction includes a guide pin on the trough on each side of the axle and the endless traction cable is trained around each guide pin and has a loop engaged over the pulley between the pins. In this manner the endless cable is guided between the drive pulley and the guide pulley and around the pin of each bucket and over the bucket pulley on an axle of the bucket and around the pin on the opposite side of the bucket pulley. The construction is applicable both for a fixed bucket in respect to the traction cable or a bucket that pivots or swings in respect thereto and in which the bucket pulley is rotatable on its bucket axle.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously dredging submarine mineral deposit comprising plural pairs of pulleys, each of which is pivoted coaxially at a preset distance. Plural pairs of specific endless ropes are adapted to be brought into contact with said pulleys and to be driven in translation movement with each other. Means is provided for preventing slippage between said ropes. When buckets for scraping up ores are being circulated between the upper deck of a barge and the seabed, said endless ropes are directed to travel downward from the upper part in a diagonally rearward direction. Also provided is an ore discharging chute adjacent to a spot where each of said buckets begins to glide down.

Abstract: The buckets used for producing hoist conveyor devices according to the invention comprise at their upper and lower edges reinforcing means for the purpose of improving the rigidity of the wall of said buckets, which walls include laterally a greater convergence so as to prevent the largest passage for the lateral feeding between the walls of the upper bucket and the leading edge of the following bucket. For the purpose of modifying the positioning pitch according to the nature of the substance to be carried, the rear surface of the bucket becoming supported on the conveyor belt includes at its upper edge a bevel shoulder whose cutout is of a size to circumscribe the contour of the lower part of the bucket placed immediately above.

Abstract: A detachable conveyor bucket apparatus attached to an endless conveyor belt. The apparatus used with a plurality of buckets to quickly detach and mount the buckets on the conveyor belt used in transferring grain in a grain elevator.

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.

Abstract: An improved bucket conveyor chain that uses a series of .[.metal plate type links.]. .Iadd.plates .Iaddend.3 connected together at adjacent ends by a pair of bars 5. The bars 5 also hold adjacent plates up off the wheel's 1 driving surface, they also provide a surface for attaching buckets 17 and guide bars 19.