Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for positioning randomly oriented, asymmetrically-shaped articles in the same orientation, the apparatus comprising at least first and second oppositely arranged conduits dimensioned to receive the articles therein. Each conduit has an inlet end, and the inlet ends of the at least first and second conduits are spaced-apart to define an opening therebetween for receiving therein, one at a time, a plurality of asymmetrically-shaped articles that are randomly oriented in at least first and second orientations. Suction is created in both of the conduits, the suction being sufficient to selectively draw articles oriented in the first orientation from the opening into the inlet end of the at least first conduit, and sufficient to draw articles oriented in the second orientation from the opening into the inlet end of the at least second conduit, such that articles in the at least first and second conduits are all identically oriented relative to a path of travel through the conduits.

Abstract: A lug nut dispenser including a housing having an interior wall defining an elongate chamber for receiving lug nuts therein, an exterior wall, an upstream end for releasably receiving a drive impact tool, and a downstream end defining a port communicating with the chamber for permitting consecutive release and ejection of the lug nuts therethrough. A displacer ring is carried on the exterior walls of the housing and slides relative thereto. A displacer is connected to the ring and extends through a slot defined by and extending through the housing into the chamber. The displacer slides along the slot for moving the nuts downstream. The displacer includes a shoulder for engaging a nut positioned in the chamber for permitting sequential, axially-aligned movement of the nuts through the chamber. There are also at least two spaced-apart, flexible detent arms. Each arm has first and second ends. The second end includes a tip and is moveable between nut-retaining and nut-dispensing positions.

Abstract: Dispensing apparatus is provided for dispensing items. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing outlet and an item holder having item holding areas and being movably disposed to position the item holding areas one at a time in sequence over the dispensing outlet so that when one of the item holding areas is positioned over the dispensing outlet, the other item holding areas are not disposed over the dispensing outlet. The dispensing apparatus further includes a blocker disposed over the item holder opposite the dispensing outlet, the blocker blocking access to the dispensing outlet from directly above the item holder when the item holder positions one of the item holding areas over the dispensing outlet.

Abstract: An agricultural seed planter and seed meter therefore, wherein the seed meter includes a rotary vacuum drum disposed within a stationary housing to entrain individual seeds on an annular circumferential periphery of the drum. As the entrained seeds rotate with the drum the seeds are singulated before being released from said vacuum drum. The seed metering and dispensing device is adapted to be mounted below the seed hopper to discharge the seeds into a seed tube as is conventional, or alternatively the seed metering and dispensing device is preferably adapted for mounting just above the soil surface and between the furrow opening assembly and furrow closing wheel assembly of a conventional agricultural planter such that the seeds are deposited directly into the seed furrow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport system for refrigerated products such as mineral water cans or bottles, comprising a supply device and a discharge device, wherein the supply device is located, e.g., in a store and the discharge device is located, e.g., in sales premises, where the system also comprises a transport arrangement between the suply device and the discharge device. The invention is characterized in that the system further comprises a cold storage plant for the products.

Abstract: A device for planting seeds in the ground having an inlet orifice via which an airstream transporting seeds arrives, an outlet orifice via which the seeds are planted in the ground and a separating device. The separating device includes a grating which lies substantially in the continuation of the airstream and seed inlet orifice so that a maximum of the air escapes through this grating and the seeds are held back.

Abstract: An orienting ejector is provided capable of orienting and ejecting fasteners of any size such as fasteners having a length that is greater than, equal to, or less than the diameter of their head. The orienting ejector is able to orient a fastener to an appropriate orientation prior to ejecting. A sensor is used to sense whether the fastener is oriented properly. If the fastener is not oriented properly, the orienting ejector discards the fastener.

Abstract: A dispensing system having a hopper with at least one wall moveable to form a dispensing opening at the base of the hopper. At least one air knife is provided which blasts air upwardly into the hopper to lift, levitate, and mix the product within the hopper. Upon termination of the air blast, the product falls downwardly into the base for the hopper, and a selected number of items fall through the dispensing opening. The remaining items tend to bridge the dispensing opening, thereby blocking further dispensing of the product. During subsequent air blasts, the product is repeatedly levitated, agitated, and allowed to drop through the dispensing opening to ultimately dispense the entirety of the product from the hopper.

Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus which conveys electronic components in a ranging condition and feeds a foremost electronic component to a component taking-out position. This apparatus includes a component conveying passage, a shutter for opening and closing a component outlet port of the component passage, a component stopper including an air suction path which leads to the component outlet port, a shutter for opening and closing the component outlet port, an air suction unit having an air suction port, an air tube for communicating an air suction force from the air suction port to the air suction path, and a lever mechanism for operating the shutter and the air suction unit.

Abstract: A component transfer mechanism transfers chip components along a liner passage by applying an inhaling pressure or a discharging pressure of an air bag or an air cylinder directly to the chip components in the liner passage, or by operating a component transfer member through an air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure. A component take-in mechanism stirs chip components in a storage chamber and takes them into a feeding passage by applying the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure of the air bag or the air cylinder directly to the chip components in the storage chamber, or by operating a component stirring member through the air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure.

Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus for conveying aligned electronic components includes a conveying tube, a cylinder for sucking air from an end of the tube, and a movable stopper plate for stopping the conveyed, aligned electronic components.

Abstract: A vacuum seed planter uses a single seed plate for planting multiple plots of seeds. The seed plate rotates through a seed chamber and uses vacuum pressure to pick up seeds to be planted, the seed chamber having an inlet passage for receiving seeds. A singulator dislodges excess seeds from the seed plate, and the excess seeds fall into an excess-seed compartment adjacent the seed chamber, the compartment having an outlet passage for evacuation of the excess seeds. A valve is movable between an operating position, in which the inlet passage communicates with a supply of seed and the outlet passage communicates with a vacuum source for evacuating excess seeds, and an evacuation position, in which the vacuum source is in communication with the inlet passage for evacuating the seeds in the seed chamber. Vacuum pressure on the seed plate can be maintained during evacuation of the seed chamber and excess-seed compartment.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for dispensing products, particularly popcorn and ice, in hangable paper or plastic bags and method to operate the same is disclosed. The standard paper or plastic bags having sealed bottom side and open topside are improved in so that they can be hanged and opened for filling with products. In the machine these bags are hanging in a few rows to provide vending product in several pack sizes. The hanged bags are slide in a queue manner to the loading area where the next one is straightened, filled with product, sealed, withdraw from the rack and later moved to the consumer access area by gravity. The user merely deposits a specified amount of money into the slot of the machine and thereafter receives the completely sealed bag with product.

Abstract: A pneumatic agricultural particulate material delivery system for delivering agricultural particulate material to a growing medium is disclosed. The delivery system includes a particulate material supply chamber, a furrow opening device configured to create a furrow in the growing medium, a plurality of tubes providing an interior passage extending from the particulate material supply chamber to an outlet proximate the furrow opening device and a pneumatic pressure source pneumatically coupled to the interior passage to supply pressurized air to the interior passage to move material within the interior passage. The plurality of tubes includes an end-most material delivery tube providing the outlet. The end-most material delivery tube includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough in communication with the interior passage. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of openings are louvered so as to extend at a downward angle towards the outlet.

Abstract: A stack of folded cardboard boxes (5, 6) is arranged in a magazine (1). Each folded cardboard box (5, 6) has a plane of main extension (7) and two parallel side edges (9, 10). The folded cardboard boxes (5, 6) arrive in the stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of main extension (7). The two parallel side edges (9, 10) of the first folded cardboard box (5) in the stack are first contacted and supported by a first stop (11) and by a second stop (12). The first folded cardboard box (5) is then conveyed in the direction toward the second stop (12) within the plane of main extension (7) until it enters an opening (18) being located in the region of the second stop (12) and it gets totally free from contact to the first stop (11) to be exclusively supported by the opening (18) and by the second stop (12).

Abstract: A distributor of horticultural seeds for a sowing agricultural implement, comprising a casing (10) and a disc (20) rotatably mounted inside the casing (10), dividing the latter into a seed chamber (CS) and in a suction chamber (CA) maintained in fluid communication with a suction device and selectively and adjustably connectable with the atmosphere, said disc (20) having at least two rows of holes (21, 22), each comprising a selector (50, 60) having a leading edge extension (51, 61), which is selectively displaced, in order to interfere, upon rotation of the disc (20), with the path of a predetermined part of the seeds which are pneumatically carried in each hole of the respective row of holes (21, 22), so that each hole enters the discharge chamber (CD) carrying a desired number of seeds, the discharge chamber (CD) being opened to discharge channels (15, 16) arranged in such a way as to receive the seeds released from a respective row of holes (21, 22), when they enter the discharge chamber (CD) and to direc

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating flexible articles comprising an openable dispenser (116) for retaining one article (123) disposed along the dispenser (116) and arranged so that the (116) dispenser continues to support the article (123) when it is opened and in that the apparatus includes movable gripping means (400) arranged to grip the hose (123) at two predetermined positions and thereafter lift the article (123) from the dispenser (116). The gripping means (400) may comprise a pair of spaced-apart grippers (402) or a gripper and suction tube arrangement mounted on a common support (404) and moveable towards and away from the dispenser by a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder (406) arrangement. A method of manipulating a flexible article is also disclosed.

Abstract: An article of manufacture has a base plate, a bias pusher plate for supporting at least one object thereon and a stripper plate having a removed section. A source of fluid is provided for urging a top most object from the support plate and through the removed section of the stripper plate.

Abstract: A component transfer mechanism transfers chip components along a liner passage by applying an inhaling pressure or a discharging pressure of an air bag or an air cylinder directly to the chip components in the liner passage, or by operating a component transfer member through an air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure. A component take-in mechanism stirs chip components in a storage chamber and takes them into a feeding passage by applying the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure of the air bag or the air cylinder directly to the chip components in the storage chamber, or by operating a component stirring member through the air actuator by the inhaling pressure or the discharging pressure.

Abstract: A cassette for storing and dispensing objects arranged in a stack, such as end disks, has a base plate, a plurality of standoffs attached to the base plate, and a stripper plate having a removed concentric section attached to ends of the standoffs. A hub member is centrally positioned in the base plate and extends towards the central opening of the stripper plate. A biased support plate attached to base plate is in slidable contact with the hub member for supporting a portion of the loading side of an end disk resting thereon. End disks are removed for independent processing one at a time through a removed section in the stripper plate by a stream of air directed between the loading side of the top most end disk and the unloading side of the nearest adjacent end disk in the stack.

Abstract: An orientation maintained fastener delivery system (10) includes an escapement (14), a transfer system (16), and an injector (18). The escapement (14) regulates the flow of fasteners (20) through the orientation maintained fastener delivery system (10). The escapement (14) also delivers fasteners (20) in a desired orientation to the transfer system (16). The transfer system (16) includes a plurality of tubes (26,30) and a distributor (28). The tubes (26,30) maintain the desired orientation of the fasteners (20) as the fasteners (20) are transported to the injector (18). The distributor (28) aligns a tube (26) coupled to the escapement (14) with a tube (30) coupled to the injector (18). The injector (18) receives fasteners (20) from the transfer system (16) in the desired orientation and delivers the fasteners (20) in the desired orientation to an installation device (22).

Abstract: A device for dispensing single components, in particular rivets of different shapes and sizes, wherein the rivets are conveyed to a riveting station one by one in a given direction along a path; the rivets are moved along and within an elastic sheath (11) by a pressure source (P); the device also includes a device for storing the components and includes a holder (24) for feeding the components one by one to the elastic sheath (11); the device provides for the uniform and steady feeding of rivets to riveting machines such as are used in the aircraft industry.

Abstract: A method for storing and dispensing thin, flimsy objects such as end disks that form the ends of light-tight packages for photosensitive materials. The thin, flimsy objects are loaded onto a hub member and supported by a biased pusher plate that urges the objects one at a time through a stripper plate that has a removed section slightly smaller in dimensions than the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high speed, reliable and repeatable delivery and reflow of solder material onto a substrate are disclosed. The apparatus has a repositionable capillary to direct individual solder material to a specific location on the substrate. An energy source is directed through the capillary onto the solder to reflow the solder to the substrate. The apparatus provides for individual introduction of the solder material into the capillary and urging of the solder material from a reservoir to the capillary while preventing unintended jams and blockage of the solder material.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for an aircart having a fan cooperable with an air seeder system to distribute material to the ground utilizes two or more fluid power sources combined in parallel. Total fluid capacity is increased so that one source may have reserve capacity for serving other loads. Flow controls for the system are set so that one source maintains at least a minimum flow to a load when the flow provided by the other source diminishes. Specifically, an aircart fan is operated by fluid power combined from a tractor source and a ground driven pump source with controls being provided to control the fin speed and proportions of flow from each source. The ground driven source (boost pump) boosts available fluid power volume to meet demands of the aircart fan. The boost pump is located near the aircart fan and connected with short lines to minimize power loss in the lines.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and extracting a component from a tube or channel of a magazine by the employment of a vacuum to a port that engages an open proximal end of the tube or channel of the magazine where the vacuum is sufficient to advance and hold the component as the head is moved away from the proximal end in a direction parallel to the long axis of the tube or channel of the magazine.

Abstract: In a pneumatic conveyor for coins comprising a plurality of conduits leading from a plurality of payment points, a common conduit into which said plurality of conduits feed, a separator receiving coins from said common conduit and separating said coins from air, suction means for creating a suction in said common conduit and said plurality of conduits to convey coins to said separator, and a storage receptacle for receiving coins from said separator; the improvement comprising a sealing means for opening and closing concealing means disposed in each of said plurality of conduits for opening each of said plurality of conduits only when a coin enters one of said plurality of conduits and for closing the associated said one of said plurality of conduits after said coin has passed said sealing means, thereby to preserve said vacuum both in said plurality of conduits downstream of said sealing means and in said common conduits.

Abstract: An improved cable tie dispensing apparatus includes a cutting and feeding apparatus which advances and severs a cable tie from an elongate strip of cables ties for delivery to an automatic cable tie installation tool. The cutting and feeding apparatus provides an elongate platform for supporting a cable tie strip therealong and a severing location adjacent one end of the platform which is defined to support one cable tie. An alignment pilot is supported adjacent the severing location and is movable towards the severing location so as to separate the supported cable tie from the strip to which it is connected. The alignment pilot includes a punch for severing the web between adjacent cable ties upon movement of the pilot toward the severing location. A firing chamber is included which has an open face for insertion of a single cable tie therein. The open face is sealably closed by movement of the pilot toward the severing location.

Abstract: In a connector supply apparatus, a plurality of connectors are successively shifted along a shifting passage of a rail member, and a desired number of preceding connectors are separated from the succeeding connectors by the rise/fall of a pair of stoppers spaced from each other by a prescribed distance L above the shifting passage and the air blow-off from a separator located above the shifting passage.

Abstract: An arrangement (10) and a manifold (12) are disclosed for feeding different sized or types of fasteners from a plurality of automatic screw feeding machines (11) into and through the manifold (12) to a fastening tool (21) at a remote location, whereby one fastener is output from the automatic screw feeding machines (11) and delivered to the remote location before another fastener is output from one of the screw feeding machines (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying components wherein a plurality of components are placed on a first end of a track. The components are urged towards a second end of the track with a component stop slidingly mounted at the second end of the track. The urging of the components is discontinued and a vacuum is applied to the first component by the stop. The stop is moved away from the plurality of components to separate the first component from the remaining components.

Abstract: An apparatus, and related methods, for automatically releasing sticks of various materials into oil and gas wells. The apparatus has an enclosed magazine which has several chambers for the sticks. The magazine rotates on a shaft when a sprocket on the shaft is engaged by a rod moving from an extended to a retracted position. The rod movement is actuated by a double acting cylinder which is powered by well gas. When rotated the magazine positions the next chamber above a bottom exit port which is aligned with the well, causing the stick to be released into the well. During the stick loading process, only a single valve need be opened to enable the sticks to be loaded into the stick chambers. The magazine is rotated by hand after each stick is loaded.

Abstract: An air seeder is provided with a pneumatic distribution system for delivering product through a plurality of primary tubes arranged in first and second rows. The pneumatic distribution system has a plenum housing having a plurality of outlet ports also arranged in first and second rows, each of said plurality of outlet ports associated with one of the primary tubes. A fan is in fluid communication with the upstream end of the plenum housing. A damper is mounted in the plenum housing upstream from the outlet ports for directing the air flow toward at least one of the first and second rows of primary tubes, and a perforated baffle plate is mounted in the housing between the damper and the outlet ports. The baffle plate has a plurality of openings adapted for governing the airflow into the outlet ports.

Abstract: A tank pressurization system is provided for delivering pressurized air from a pneumatic distribution system to a product tank in an air seeder. The tank pressurization system has a meter housing which has an air inlet in fluid communication with the pneumatic distribution system and an air outlet in fluid communication with the product tank. The meter housing has an air passage connecting the air inlet to the air outlet, providing fluid communication between the pneumatic distribution system and the product tank. A meter is rotatably mounted in the meter housing. Also, a tank pressurization system has a venturi port in a primary distribution manifold of the pneumatic distribution system, the venturi port having a standard airstream and a venturi for encouraging product from the product tank to enter the pneumatic distribution system at the venturi.

Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple types of seed as a planting apparatus (planter or drill) travels throughout an agricultural field is disclosed herein. The planting apparatus is typically an implement having row units for applying seed to the field as the implement is pulled by a vehicle (tractor). The system includes multiple seed bins configured to store multiple types of seed (e.g., multiple crops or varieties). Multiple bins can be formed within a seed hopper by a removable dividing wall. A switch assembly selectively discharges seed from one seed bin in response to control signals generated in a manual or an automatic mode. The control signals are generated using an operator input device in manual mode, and using location signals and a prescription type map in automatic mode. Discharged seed is received by a distribution assembly for delivery to the row units.

Abstract: A medication delivery cartridge for dispensing consumable medical supplies is provided, comprising a base; a hollow guide member, preferably in the shape of a tube, removably connectable to the base by a guide sleeve, wherein the guide member is shaped and dimensioned to contain a plurality of medical supply containers; and attachment means on the base for allowing the cartridge to be installed within a medication delivery system. The hollow guide member preferably includes an indexing device for aligning the guide member with the base. Each of the medical supply containers may include a lifting device attached thereto for allowing temporary attachment to the probe of the delivery system. Where a magnetic probe is employed, each of the lifting devices includes a ferrous material sufficient to allow magnetic attachment of the probe to the lifting device. The medical supply containers are stacked end to end within a medication tube, and the medication tube is inserted into the guide member.

Abstract: A product disconnect is provided for cutting off product flow between a product tank and an associated metering system. The product is instead directed to a product cleanout where an operator can empty the product tank without sending product through the metering system. The product disconnect may consist of one or more rotary cutoff valves which are selectively movable between an open position allowing product to flow into metering system and a closed position where product is instead directed to a product cleanout.

Abstract: A solder-ball supplying apparatus for a ball-grid array (BGA) IC packaging process is provided, which can supply solder balls of diameters from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm at a preset amount to a solder-ball implanting machine. The solder-ball supplying apparatus is fully automated, in which vacuum means is used to suck out a preset amount of solder balls from a storage tank that are to be supplied. Rotary pneumatic cylinder means in conjunction with valve means are used to control the conveyance of the solder balls to the container. This solder-ball supplying apparatus can supply solder balls fast and in a non-contact manner that can prevent damage to the solder balls being supplied. It is fully automated so that manual labor is reduced and the quality of the solder balls being supplied can be assured.

Abstract: When feeding parts (102) to a mounting machine (A) by using a parts feed cassette (B), prior to parts feed, air is preliminarily supplied to the parts feed cassette (B) to put the parts (102) in neat order, and the parts (102) are preliminarily sent up to a final position in a parts feed route (113). Accordingly, if the parts (102) cannot be securely sent up to the parts feed position (114) in the parts feed route (113) by supplying air (1b) only for a specific limited time for feeding parts (102), the parts (102) can be preliminarily sent forward in neat order, and by the supply of air (1b) for parts feed, the parts (102) can be fed quickly, securely, and stably.

Abstract: A seed metering mechanism including a seed singulator assembly for reducing the likelihood of or eliminating double or excess seeds being carried by a seed disc of the seed metering mechanism to a discharge area of the seed metering mechanism for deposit to the ground. The singulator assembly is disposed downstream of a seed chamber and upstream of the seed discharge area of a seed metering mechanism. The seed singulator of the present invention includes a seed engaging member arranged on opposite sides of the path of travel of a circular array of openings on a seed disc of the seed metering mechanism. The spacings between the seed engaging members being such that only a single seed carried in each opening is permitted to pass therebetween.

Abstract: A ball feeding device is mounted on the ball washer for feeding the dirty balls into the ball washer one by one. The ball feeding device is composed of a cylindrical body in which an upper plate, an intermediate plate, a lower plate, a suction apparatus, a first lobed wheel, a second lobed wheel, and a driving apparatus are housed. The dirty balls are drawn by the suction force into the cylindrical body such that the balls are first arranged in sequence in the first ball cells of the first lobed wheel, and that the balls are subsequently sent to the second ball cells of the second lobed wheel before they are selectively fed one by one into the ball washer.

Abstract: A stocker for wire healdes comprising a housing constructed and arranged such that a plurality of wire healds can be stacked on top of one another in a vertical direction and be arranged so as to longitudinally extend in a horizontal direction. The housing includes a heald refilling aperture at an upper portion and a heald drawing opening at a lower front portion. The heald drawing opening is positioned and configured such that a lowermost one of said plurality of wire healds can be discharged therethrough.

Abstract: A seeding machine comprises: an air compressor for generating a positive air pressure; a soil hardness sensor for measuring soil hardness so as to produce a control signal to adjust the positive air pressure generated by the compressor; an air pressure adjuster for adjusting the positive air pressure generated by the air compressor in accordance with the control signal produced by the soil hardness sensor; a negative air pressure generator for generating a negative air pressure by making use of air under the positive air pressure; a change-over valve for effecting a change-over operation between the positive air pressure and the negative air pressure, so as to selectively supply the positive air pressure or the negative air pressure; a seed adsorber for catching a seed by virtue of the negative air pressure; a first air cylinder adapted to extend or contract by the positive air pressure, to cause a certain reciprocating movement of the seed adsorber; a second air cylinder adapted to extend or contract by the

Abstract: A baffle assembly for a seed metering mechanism that is mounted in combination with a seed hopper holding a supply of seeds that are to be dispensed into a furrow with regularity by the seed metering mechanism. The seed metering mechanism includes a two-piece housing divided into a seed chamber and a vacuum chamber by a rotatable disc having a series of throughopenings or holes arranged circumferentially adjacent the perimeter of the disc. The disc picks up seeds from the seed chamber and carries them around to a discharge area of the seed metering mechanism whereat they are released for gravitational deposit into the furrow in the ground below. A seed delivery chute gravitationally directs the seeds from the seed hopper to an opening defined by the housing from which the seeds are deposited into the seed chamber.

Abstract: A pill dispenser is provided, comprising a container constructed to hold a plurality of pills, the container including an upper portion and a lower portion; an inclined baffle disposed within the container separating the upper portion from the lower portion, wherein the baffle has an aperture; a first opening in the lower portion; a pill holder, slidably disposed within the first opening and sized to fit through the aperture, for holding a pill located in the container; and an exit port in the upper portion aligned with the inclined baffle, wherein the exit port is sized to allow the pill to exit the upper portion. A pill release mechanism is provided within the pill holder to dislodge the pill from the pill holder by pneumatic pressure once the pill has risen above the baffle. Sensors are located on the exit port to detect the presence of a dispensed pill, which is recorded by an attached computer.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool that conveys the cable tie by pressurized air includes a pressure differential sensing mechanism constructed so as to identify blockages in the transfer tube to prevent subsequent propulsion of the next cable tie into the tube.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight ball bearing feeding device for use in connection with a production process. The device is easily adapted to be mounted at any point along such production process and includes a canister for maintaining a supply of ball bearings, a loading tube for transferring ball bearings from the canister to a two-position loading device, the loading device which places an individual ball bearing in an ejecting position and a delivery tube through which a ball bearing may be delivered to a desired production point. The device does not require any electrical power, employs pneumatic actuation for its operation, automatically senses when a supply of ball bearings is running low and minimizes the introduction of contaminants and magnetism into the ball bearings.

Abstract: The invention is a seed metering device for metered discharging of agricultural seeds and the like. The seed metering device is designed to collect seed in a singular or group fashion and deposit the same at predetermined and accurate intervals in a seed trench. The device includes a seed disk which contains a plurality of seed containment pockets. These pockets can be depressurized by imparting a partial vacuum. The seed disk sits between a manifold and a housing which define a seed collection area and a seed release area. Seed enters the seed collection area through a seed intake opening in the upper portion of the housing. This portion opens to a seed downfall region that widens into the seed collection area. As the disk rotates between the seed collection area and the seed release area, the seed pockets contained on the seed disk are pressurized thereby acquiring a seed and carrying or conveying the seed to the seed release point.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring rod-shaped articles from the outlet of a magazine for parallel articles into the inlet of a pneumatic conveyor wherein the articles are moved in the direction of their longitudinal axes comprises a rotary drum-shaped conveyor having a peripheral surface provided with axially parallel flutes. When the rotary conveyor is driven, its flutes advance seriatim past the outlet of the magazine to accept discrete articles which are thereupon moved sideways toward alignment with the inlet of the pneumatic conveyor. A pneumatic ejector system is utilized to propel successive articles from their flutes into the pneumatic conveyor. The apparatus employs a hood having a concave surface which is complementary to a portion of the peripheral surface of the rotary conveyor.

Abstract: A mass memory storage system, capable of recording and/or playing back optical discs in any optical disc format. The system contains a plurality of optical discs arranged in a vertical array in the shape of a doughnut with no hole in the middle, each disc being stored in a separate radially oriented track. The system employs a central disc transport mechanism comprised of a plurality of read-head modules each of which is capable of picking up and reading data from or writing data to any optical disc in the system. The read-head modules are mounted on a central bi-directionally rotating platform driven by a stepper motor through a gear assembly. Each track contains one sunken area to store an optical disc and one sunken area from which the optical disc may be picked up by a read-head module. The stepper motor and the read-head modules are under control of a microprocessor.