Abstract: A pallet dispenser includes a frame adapted to support a stack of pallets. The frame includes four screws with spiral flights. The pallets rest on the top edge of the spiral flights of the screws. Rotation of the screws then lowers the stack and allows the bottom pallet to drop to a support below the screws.

Abstract: Fruit handling equipment comprising a conveyor having a plurality of linked carriages, each supporting at least one fruit carrying cup pivotally secured to the carriage, each cup having a latching mechanism operable to hold the cup in a fruit carrying mode and releasable to cause the cup to pivot to a delatched position to eject the fruit, and remotely controllable means in each carriage to release the latching mechanism.

Abstract: A classifying device for classifying particles using a centrifugal force contains a microchannel includes a curved portion including a first tubular channel and a second tubular channel; and a diaphragm that is provided within the curved portion, and that is located at a position between the first tubular channel and the second tubular channel; and wherein the diaphragm has at least a first apertured group formed in a central region of the diaphragm and a second apertured group formed in a first end region and a second end region of the diaphragm, the first apertured group and the second apertured group communicate the first tubular channel with the second tubular channel along a direction of the centrifugal force, the first apertured group has a mesh, and the second apertured group has a mesh that is different in size from the mesh of the first apertured group.

Abstract: A dry cleaning apparatus separates heavy objects from mixture of the heavy objects and light objects having specific gravities smaller than those of the heavy objects. The dry cleaning apparatus includes a casing having a tubular shape having a center axis, an internal cylinder provided in the casing, a recovery section for recovering the heavy objects, a loading section for loading the mixture to above the internal cylinder, a flow inlet for introducing air to between the casing and the internal cylinder, and an outlet for discharging the light objects and air from between the casing and the internal cylinder. The casing has an inner surface extending substantially in parallel to a center axis. The internal cylinder has an upper surface having a center portion projecting upwardly, and has an outer surface having a portion which extends in parallel to the inner surface of the casing and which faces the inner surface of the casing. The recovery section is located under the internal cylinder.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for the weight-controlled assembly of products into a lot, including a delivery element (11) for delivering a plurality of unsorted products, a device (12) for separating the products, a removal element (13) for removing the separated products and a weighing device (14), which is distinguished by the fact that the device (12) includes several holding elements (18) and the weighing device (14) includes several elements (21) for weighing the separated products, each holding element (18) being assigned a element (21). Furthermore, the invention concerns a corresponding method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of consolidation of blocks or slabs made of a building material, which comprises the steps of: providing offcuts of blocks or slabs of a building material; adding and mixing the offcuts with a resin-based composition to obtain a mixture thereof; and applying the mixture thus obtained to one or more faces of a slab or block made of the same building material.

Abstract: A weight selecting apparatus capable of automatically performing calibration, and providing a weight selecting apparatus capable of certainly carrying objects to be inspected with a relatively simple mechanism and performing weight measurement of the objects. The objects, after being subjected to weight measurement by a first weighing unit 2, are sampled by a sampler 5, and those of the objects thus sampled are subjected to weight measurement by a second weighing unit 6. A calibration unit compares, for the same object, the measured result with that obtained by the first weighing unit 2 and discriminates whether or not a difference therebetween is within a specific error range, to perform calibration of the first weighing unit 2. Further, as a carrier 3 for carrying the objects to the weighing unit 2 one by one uses an intermittently rotatable carrying roller 32 having in its outer peripheral surface portion a plurality of carrying pockets 321.

Abstract: A checkweighing station includes a weigh platform mounted on a load cell which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the entire assembly can be rotated to tilt the platform in one direction for an acceptable weight of a weighed item and in another direction for a rejected weight or weight of a different catgegory. A memory device can determine a trend and make adjustments in a production process.

Abstract: A check weigher for a bagging system includes a compartmentalized rotatable drum positioned immediately beneath a chute receiving bags from a conveyor system of a bagger. The rotatable drum is maintained upon a scale adapted to determine the tare weight of the bag and its contents. A receptacle is positioned on each side of the rotatable compartmentalized drum. A reversible stepping motor is connected to and is operative to drive the drum. A controller is interposed between the stepping motor and the scale. When the controller determines that the weight indicated by the scale is within an acceptable range of weights, the compartmentalized drum is rotated in a first direction, causing the bag to be deposited in a first acceptable drum, while simultaneously positioning a new compartment beneath the chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for conveying products, in particular fruit, including two conveyors extending as an extension of one another and having an intermediate transfer zone in which they are disposed side by side and parallel with respect to one another: a first conveyor provided with rollers (7) defining, in pairs, a housing for a product, and a second conveyor provided with conveyor receptacles (15) mounted to tilt on a support (21), each of these receptacles being adapted to be interposed between two rollers (7) in the transfer zone, in order to support the product initially housed between these rollers (7) after these rollers have been retracted.

Abstract: A mixed cargo conveyer (1) for sorting coded pieces of mixed cargo having a driven, endless conveyer track (8) which is a plurality of conveyer elements joined to one another by articulated joints, movable along a guideway (11), and each having a bearing element (12) supported by way of a supporting device (10) on the guideway (11) with a bearing surface (13) that is essentially horizontal in the conveying state for a piece of mixed cargo to be discharged at one designated discharge station (7) of a plurality of discharge stations (7) existing along the conveyer line, by tipping the bearing element (12) on its side; a plurality of loading stations (2), where pieces of mixed cargo to be sorted are each individually loaded onto the bearing surface (13) of an available conveyer element (9); and a computer, which is fed code information about the loaded pieces of mixed cargo read by a scanner, the bearing elements (12) each being able to move out of their normal transport position relative to their supporting dev

Abstract: A system for identification, separation and compacting of empty beverage cans including a first device for distinguishing between cans to be accepted and not accepted and rejecting non-acceptable cans, and for detecting at least one dimension of a can to be compacted, and for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device for compacting the can through interaction of a three arm device, a first arm contacting a mid-portion of the can and compressing that mid portion, and second and third arms acting on end regions on either side of the mid-portion to compress the remaining portions of the can. The arm device is retracted and the compacted can is removed after the compressing action is completed by the arm device.

Abstract: A high speed mechanical weighing system includes a series of article holders carried by chains and forming a flexible conveyor in which the holders are individually pivoted for movement between carrying and discharging positions. The mechanical weighing devices are spaced along the path followed by the holders with stationary guides alongside the holders which are periodically interrupted to accommodate vertically movable weighing guides. The holders have support members which bear either upon the stationary guides or upon the weighing guides. The holders are closely spaced so that a rearmost support member of a leading holder is positioned to laterally overlap but not bear upon the foremost weighing guide member of a weighing station at which the trailing holder is being weighed. The weighing guide members are sufficiently long as to effect accurate mechanical weighing even if the holders are traveling at high speed.

Abstract: In a product grading apparatus in which the articles are conveyed in trays which are allowed to tilt downwardly at a discharge station to deposit an article onto an inclined chute leading to a support underlying the path of travel of the trays, each tray is provided with a flexible strip which trails down the chute and intercepts an article discharged by a tray and gently guides it to and onto the support.