Abstract: A measuring wheel may include a wheel assembly comprising a first wheel and a second wheel, a handle operably coupled to a shaft, a housing to which the shaft and the wheel assembly are operably coupled, and a fixed stand disposed at a portion of the housing substantially between the first and second wheels.

Abstract: A meter wheel system for a dry agricultural product applicator can include a bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units. In one aspect, each meter assembly in the bank can be made from modular meter units. The modular meter units can be connected in a stacked configuration to provide a specific overall length to achieve a corresponding flow rate and then banked together to form the system. A bank of meter assemblies made from modular meter units can be secured between top and bottom plates. The plates can be bolted to each other and have receptacles that receive protrusions from top and bottom surfaces of the meter assemblies. Lengths of meter assemblies can be picked based on particular delivery rates for the section it feeds. An overall length of each meter assembly can be a multiple of a length of the modular meter unit.

Abstract: A site may require that multiple containers, such as bulk material containers, may be utilized to provide a required composition or mixture of materials at a required discharge rate. An arrangement of four or more containers on a frame disposed on a support platform where two faces of each container proximate or adjacent to a face of two other containers to form a rectangle provides a configuration that allows for safe and efficient removal and replacement of containers A rotary table coupled to a motor disposed on the support platform rotates the frame such that each container transitions to different positions. The containers discharge material through an opening of support platform. Containers may be retrieved from one position and replaced at another position or retrieved and replaced from a single position. Such a configuration allows for multiple transport devices to operate without interfering with the operations of each other.

Abstract: A system and a method for packaging compacted powders are provided, wherein the system comprises a first tube (TC), wherein a screw conveyor (C) is positioned inside the first tube (TC) which is configured so as to rotate around an axis (ac) inside the first tube (TC) in order to convey the powders towards an outlet (UT) of the first tube (TC); the system (100) comprises a rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) in the proximity of the output (UT); the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) comprises in its inside cutting means (F) which are configured so as to cut the compacted powders leaving the first tube (TC) when the rotatable terminal (TI) rotates, wherein the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) is positioned so as to contact the end of the first tube (TC) which defines the output (UT).

Abstract: A spreader having a hopper for particulate material with discharge openings over two separate different areas along the hopper bottom, a pair of wheels upon separate drive shafts mounted for rotation to a lower frame which supports the hopper, and a rear frame extending from the hopper to provide a pair of handles. Two rotatable shafts with agitator elements are mounted over each of the different hopper areas. Each of the agitator shafts are coupled for rotation by different ones of the drive shafts. Two gates with openings are disposed below the hopper each along different ones of the areas dividing the hopper bottom. Each gate is movable to close and open the openings of the hopper in the area associated with the gate. A pair of controllers are provided each coupled to a different one of the two gates to independently move the gates between open and close positions.

Abstract: A feed screw for feeding lignocellulosic material to a rotary disc refiner is disclosed. The feed screw includes at least one peripheral thread for feeding the lignocellulosic material axially towards the disc refiner and the feed screw feeds the lignocellulosic material from its upstream end towards its downstream end through the center of the opposed grinding surfaces of the disc refiner, the downstream end of the peripheral thread including an angled end part disposed at an angle with respect to the peripheral thread such that the lignocellulosic material is redirected in a radial direction as it leaves the end of the peripheral thread.

Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device has a drive unit and a receiver for a dosage-dispensing unit. The drive unit has a drive shaft. The dosage-dispensing unit has a delivery orifice with a closure element that is disposed in the delivery orifice. The closure element is coupled to the drive shaft when the device is in an operating state. The closure element provides the delivery orifice with an aperture cross-section that varies between a closed position and a maximally open position. To couple the drive shaft to the closure element and to open the delivery orifice, the drive unit linearly advances towards the dosage-dispensing unit. A closure spring holds the closure element in a closed position up to the point of complete coupling. To prevent premature opening of the delivery orifice during the coupling process, the drive shaft has limited linear mobility in a direction away from the dosage-dispensing unit.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a volume of viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, and a dispenser unit coupled to the gantry system. The dispenser unit includes a housing having a chamber, and a piston disposed in the chamber. The piston has an elongate body and is configured to move between a pre-dispense position and a dispense position within the chamber. The dispenser unit further includes a motor to drive the movement of the piston within the chamber. The motor includes a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel having at least one drive magnet, and a driven magnet disposed between wheel and the piston. The dispenser further includes a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice to dispense viscous material. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing are further disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser of ground coffee having: a reservoir having a flow outlet opening and adapted to contain a quantity of ground coffee; at least one paddle mounted to rotate in the bottom of the reservoir to transfer a predetermined quantity of ground coffee from the reservoir through the flow outlet opening; and a motor assembly connected for driving the paddle in rotation. The motor assembly is composed of: a motor having two input terminals via which operating current is supplied to the motor; and a control circuit having at least one component connected to establish a short circuit between the two terminals after the supply of operating current to the motor has been cut off.

Abstract: A bulk foodstuff dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of foodstuff from a hopper. An auger is driven by a handle capable of movement in two directions, while a clutch allows movement of the auger in only one direction. The forward movement of the handle causes the auger to rotate and move foodstuff forward to be dispensed. The forward movement of the handle is predetermined by setting a stopper, thereby regulating the amount of rotation of the auger and thus determining the portion of foodstuff to be dispensed. A spring returns the handle to its at rest position, so that the dispensing process may be repeated from the same handle position. Gears between the handle and the auger allow the handle to be pulled in a more ergonomically sound way.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser of ground coffee having: a reservoir having a flow outlet opening and adapted to contain a quantity of ground coffee; at least one paddle mounted to rotate in the bottom of the reservoir to transfer a predetermined quantity of ground coffee from the reservoir through the flow outlet opening; and a motor assembly connected for driving the paddle in rotation. The motor assembly is composed of: a motor having two input terminals via which operating current is supplied to the motor; and a control circuit having at least one component connected to establish a short circuit between the two terminals after the supply of operating current to the motor has been cut off.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable device for the automatic delivery of an active ingredient according to an adjustable delivery profile. The device includes a housing; a reservoir operatively connected to the housing and arranged to store an elongate solid composition including the active ingredient, such as a filament of tape; an actuator arranged within the housing to move the solid composition from the reservoir to a transit assembly, providing a water-tight seal wherein the solid composition exits the housing at the transit assembly; a controller that acts on the actuator to adjust movement of the solid composition out of the housing according to the adjustable delivery profile; and a power source arranged to provide energy to the actuator and the controller. The solid composition can be an elongate, solid composition comprising a drug, and up to 90% of a carrier, wherein the composition has a cross-section of less than 0.

Abstract: An improved powder feeder having a hopper with an opening in its bottom. A resiliently deformable element is positioned in the opening of the hopper. The element has a flexible exterior dimension and is suitably positioned in relation to the opening to prevent the free flow of material through the opening. The element is mounted on an axle having an axis of rotation. The element is capable of carrying a metered volume of material through the opening as it is rotated. The axle is connected to a variable speed motor. As the element turns, the material flows into the element and moves through the hopper opening in precisely metered amounts relative to the volume and the speed of rotation of the element.

Abstract: Foodstuffs flavoring apparatus comprises an inlet, a screw conveyor arranged to convey flavoring from the inlet to a rotor disposed in a cylindrical chamber parallel to the axis of the screw conveyor, the rotor including one or more blades extending towards the wall of the chamber. The chamber also includes one or more apertures through which powdered flavoring carried to the chamber from the inlet by rotation of the screw conveyor is ejected in use of the apparatus. An electrostatic charging head located adjacent the outlet ensures adhesion of the flavoring to the foodstuff.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding wood chips and the like into a treatment bin includes a feed tube assembly adapted to lead into the bin at a non-zero angle relative to the horizon. A plate is supported underneath the lower end of the feed tube assembly to collect in a mound wood chips fed through the feed tube. The height of the lower end of the feed tube assembly is adjusted so that the lower end of the feed tube assembly engages the mound of wood chips and thereby forms a seal with the mound. A plow is supported between the plate and the lower end of the feed tube assembly. Either the plate is stationary and the plow rotates or the plow is stationary and the plate rotates to knock wood whips from the mound off the plate. The apparatus optionally includes a feed screw mounted within and longitudinally of the feed tube assembly to compress the wood chips into the mound.

Abstract: The device according to the invention comprises a cylindrical metering chamber (10) of circular section and with an approximately horizontal axis, which, in its upper part, has an aperture (14) opening out into a reservoir (16) filled with product to be metered (12), and which communicates with an outlet channel (18) in which a slide valve (20) moves periodically between a high closing position and a low end-of-metering position; a vane (26) extending radially along a shaft (28) and capable of being driven with a rotary movement of controlled amplitude, during which the free end (30) of the vane (26) sweeps the cylindrical internal surface (32) of the metering chamber (10); and a flap (34) capable of translational movement and of entering the metering chamber (10) periodically to delimit a wall by tangential contact with the said shaft (28), and then withdrawing to allow a complete revolution of the vane (26).

Abstract: The specification discloses an applicator (10) for precisely dispensing granular materials, such as herbicides, pesticides and the like, with improved control while compensating for the speed and travel direction of the implement carrying the applicator. The applicator (10) comprises a hopper (14) with an arcuate hopper bottom extension (40) and an internal feed rotor (42). The arcuate hopper bottom extension (40) is preferably inclined, and the openings (44) in the end preferably include straight lowermost sides oriented parallel to the rotational axis of the feed rotor (42) to obtain better flow control in conjunction with a revolving transfer means (54) located beneath and closely adjacent to the bottom end of the hopper. The revolving transfer assembly (54) preferably includes a plurality of rollers (56) for individually receiving material from the openings (44) in the hopper and distributing it for application.

Abstract: The metering cup assembly is disclosed for use in combination with a pneumatic seeding or fertilizing device. The assembly includes a casing which is secured to the underside of a hopper carrying seed, fertilizing or other granular material and the assembly is connected into a conduit in the pneumatic system. A metering component is journalled for rotation in the casing and provides a metering passageway for seed or other granular material therefrom the hopper into the pneumatic passageway. The metering device is adjustable to control the quantity of the material being transferred from the hopper into the conduit.

Abstract: At its outlet end, a rotary feed screw coacts with a control element which, in a first position relative to the screw, closes a delivery conduit. To effect a dispensing operation, the control element is moved to a second position relative to the screw to form therewith a discharge opening through the delivery conduit, the dispensing being effected by rotating the screw and said opening together to maintain said opening. When the dispensing is to be stopped, the control element is returned to its first position relative to the screw.

Abstract: A toner feeding device comprising a toner box having a toner outlet port formed at the bottom, a roller housed in the toner box in a manner to close the toner outlet port, and a toner catching plate biting the roller. The roller is formed of a porous elastic material and the toner catching plate is slidable such that the toner feeding rate can be controlled by suitably adjusting the position of the slidable toner catching plate.

Abstract: A series of operatively interconnected fuel flow regulators are adapted to meter and direct the flow of particulate fuel from a fuel conveying system into the burners of a furnace or kiln. Each regulator is fed by a conveying system and includes a feeder housing having a flow metering impeller and feed rotor arrangement. Each housing includes an adjustable fuel orifice communicating with a respective burner.

Abstract: A hand held seed dispenser has a generally cylindrical shaped receptacle portion having a bottom wall in which is formed an outlet opening. An agitator blade is mounted within the receptacle and connected to a closure plate which is pivotably mounted below the bottom wall and has a dispenser opening in it. Pivoting oscillation of the closure plate simultaneously moves the agitator blade and the dispenser hole past the outlet opening to discharge seeds or the like from the dispenser. A selector plate having differently sized holes in it is independently pivotably mounted between the bottom wall and closure plate to align a selected control opening with the outlet opening to accommodate different sizes of seeds or the like.