Abstract: An aerial roof height item receiving structure demonstrating novel solutions to issues of item drop damage, noise, aesthetic, weather, item temperature, and safety concerns related to aerial based item delivery systems is presented. A chimney like chute can be made high enough to avoid collisions with people or pets yet still safely receive items dropped into it from heights through the use of impact absorbing pads and a mesh box spring within the chute. Heat exchange with the building structure or active heating or cooling of the box spring mitigate snow, ice, and item temperature issues. A swing door to function as an aerial unit charging platform for added distance delivery can be added to the top of the chute. An item drop box placed at human accessible height can also be added to allow the chute to dual function for traditional item deliveries.

Abstract: A tool designed for separating manure, loose hay and wet bedding from the stall of an animal. The tool comprises a rectangular frame supporting a plurality of spaced parallel rods. The rods extend downwardly at an angle from a wall of the stall such that the lower ends of the rods or the portion of the grate supporting the rods extend into a receiver such as a muck bucket or wheel barrow. When refuse is tossed from a floor of the stall onto the grate, then manure, loose hay and soiled or wet bedding will flow down the grate into the receiver, while reusable bedding will pass through the spaces between the rods for later reuse. The frame is provided with side members which converge at their lower ends to funnel refuse into the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating recyclable corrugated paper from a stream of commingled waste. Commingled waste is loaded onto a conveyor with two alternating sets of jogger beams. A motor drives the jogger beams out of phase with respect to one another causing the waste to fall between the jogger beams, while corrugated paper remains above and moves along the jogger beams, thereby separating the two components. Optionally, a second stage of jogger beams can be positioned forward of the conveyor to create a drop therebetween to further separate the commingled waste. The jogger beams are cantilevered beyond the motor so that waste falls clear of the motor.

Abstract: In a table tennis ball-sorting device, a plurality of rails are disposed side by side in substantially a horizontal direction along the side of at least one playing surface of a table tennis table at intervals that are capable of having passed therethrough only deformed balls, and a plurality of rails are disposed side by side in substantially a horizontal direction along the rear part of the playing surface at intervals that are capable of having passed therethrough only deformed balls. The former rails are disposed to be inclined towards downstream, while the downstream side thereof is overlapped on the upstream part of the latter rails so that balls can be transferred. A table tennis apparatus using the table tennis ball-sorting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device for separating deformed balls from normal spherical balls prior to washing as is common in the ball pen industry. The device comprises an L-shaped tunnel which defines a slot on its lower surface. The slot feeds into a receptacle positioned below the tunnel. Balls enter under the force of vacuum pressure through an intake opening, striking a first bi-angled deflector plate. Deformed balls will fall through the slot into the receptacle in most cases. However, to increase the likelihood of such an eventuality, the balls then strike a second deflector plate and are sent down the second leg of the L-shaped tunnel. The second leg also defines a slot. By striking the second deflector plate, the ball is reoriented and the likelihood of passing through the slot is increased. Thus, normal balls are left and pass from the L-shaped tunnel out through an output opening and on for conventional washing.

Abstract: A portable shaker frame that is particularly adapted for separating irregularly-shaped wood shavings used in animal stalls as bedding materials from manure contained in the bedding material. The wood shavings are recovered for reuse and the manure is separated therefrom for disposal. The shaker frame is inclined and is suspended on springs carried on a carriage having wheels to permit it to be moved from place to place. The springs permit the shaker frame to vibrate relative to the carriage frame. The shaker frame includes a number of longitudinally extending, substantially parallel steel rods that are spaced from each to enable the irregularly-shaped wood shavings to pass therethrough while the manure slides downwardly along the rods and into a collection container for disposal. A vibratory motor is positioned on an end panel of the shaker frame for imparting vibratory motion to the rods carried by the shaker frame.

Abstract: An automatic bulk vending machine is described including specific details as to various aspects of accurate volumetric dispensing, the separation of small broken pieces or fines from the dispensed product, and the easy and sanitary loading of such a machine. Further details as to how to provide a highly flexible selection process are provided. An automatic bulk vending machine according to the present invention may include a touch-screen for providing a visually entertaining and instructive display to guide a customer through the product selection process. Products to be selected may be stored in bins and volumetrically dispensed by a dispenser to a blending and holding pan. From this pan, they are then directed through a dispenser tube including a fines separator and collector to a dispensing cup. Bulk refill containers are also disclosed. Unlike an ordinary vending machine, the customer can choose the blend of product to be purchased.

Abstract: A prewasher for sorting and soaking golf balls prior to entry into a ball washer has a tub for receiving the balls, a standpipe in the tub through which a stream of water moves the balls up out of the tub to deposit them in a track that carries only round balls to the ball washer. Broken balls and/or stones drop through openings in the track and are not delivered to the ball washer.

Abstract: A structure placed in a stream of liquids, carrying undissolved solids, that separates the solids from the liquid and disposes of the solids. Two channels or conduits for carrying the liquid are positioned at different elevations and the structure is angularly disposed between the two channels or conduits to interconnect them. The structure includes plural interleaved plate members, one set of which is downwardly inclined at a first angle and a second set of which is downwardly inclined at a second, lesser angle. The solids collect atop the top edges of the plates inclined at the lesser angle as those plates gradually evolve from the other plates along their extent. A conveyor member at the bottom of the lesser inclined plate members carries the collected solids away.

Abstract: Elongated articles (16) to be singulated are conveyed in bulk into a conveyor (30) which by a shaking motion conveys the articles (16). The bed (80) of the conveyor (30) includes longitudinal channels (100) causing the articles (16) to be aligned lengthwise in the direction of article movement. The conveyor (30) delivers the aligned articles (16) into an alignment receptacle (34) which places a measured amount of the aligned articles (16) into valley regions of a singulator (26). The singulator (36) is composed of alternate and intermediate slat members (108,110), presenting upwardly directed peaks and valleys which are initially in alignment. The alternative slat members (108) are fixesd in position. The intermediate slat members (110) are movable lengthwise relative to the fixed slat members (108). The intermediate slat members (110) are retracted and then extended repeatedly and this motion separates the articles (116) and further advances them to the discharge end of the singulator (36).

Abstract: A golf ball dredge which comprises a shallow draft, buoyant support vessel in the form of a pontoon boat that provides a floating platform from which the dredging apparatus is supported. The pontoon boat has a small outboard motor mounted at its bow for providing a means for propulsion and steering of the boat. A relatively high pressure, gasoline powered, centrifugal water pump is mounted on the pontoon boat with its suction intake located below the water level. The pump provides a high pressure water outlet discharge that is supplied through eductor tubes into the inlet end of a bottom suction intake piping system. The bottom suction intake piping system also is supported on the pontoon boat with its inlet end submerged below the surface of the water to a suitable depth for lightly contacting the bottom of the waterhole.