Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the influence of the inclination (?1-?4) of an agricultural spreading device (100, 102) on the distribution of the material to be spread, having the steps of: receiving discharge information on spreading processes of agricultural spreading devices (100) using an analysis device (10) and ascertaining a relationship between a dispensing point of material to be spread onto at least one distribution disc (104, 106, 108, 110) of an agricultural spreading device and the distribution of material to be spread, said relationship depending on the inclination of an agricultural spreading device, using the analysis device on the basis of the received discharge information.

Abstract: A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.

Abstract: A device is provided for holding dispensing and conveying substances such as dry foods such as, for example, flour, breakfast cereal or granola. The device may include a stand holding a possibly hermetically sealed container which may include a conveyor, having a flexible paddle belt mounted on at least two axles and possibly at least one connector. The conveyor is connected to a handle which when rotated may cause the conveyor to rotate and dispense the dry substances such as food from the container into, for example, an outside bowl.

Abstract: A trailer having support wheels and a frame adapted to be hitched to a truck, includes a support track extending longitudinally for supporting an unload conveyor. The conveyor is mounted by a turret to the support track and, thus, to the trailer frame, permitting the turret to move in a fore-to-aft direction, as well as to rotate about the vertical for about 180°, providing flexibility in use as well as transport and storage. A support module, carrying at least one storage container is mounted on the trailer frame. The storage containers may be provided in a number of different sizes and they may be arranged in various configurations suiting the user's needs. The turret is positioned along the track beneath a desired seed container, which may then be unloaded by the conveyor to fill a planter seed box or grain drill, or for other seed handling applications.

Abstract: A rice dispensing system used to store and dispense measured quantities of rice at a single pressing of a button comprised of a housing having an open upper end, an open lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls. The housing has a tapered compartment disposed within the open upper end. The tapered compartment has an open lower end. The tapered compartment holds a quantity of rice therein. The housing has a dispensing funnel disposed within the open lower end thereof. The dispensing funnel has an open upper end and an open lower end. A conveyor system is disposed within the housing disposed below the tapered compartment. The conveyor system serves to deliver rice from the tapered compartment to the dispensing funnel. A timer system is in communication with the conveyor system. The timer system controls the activation of the conveyor system for predetermined lengths of time.

Abstract: A candy holding and retrieving device which moves a powdered candy or any suitable candy from a reservoir onto a plastic or rubber belt which delivers the candy to a user. The device includes a main housing which contains a motor, a power supply, a gearing system designed for the proper torque and speed, and a plastic or rubber belt. The belt can be made with the surface bumpy or have a scoop made into or attached to the belt for collecting hard candy or gum and depositing it out at an opening in the main housing. The upper end of the main housing has a wheel which turns on an axle and which engages the gearing system. The lower end of the main housing has another wheel that turns on an axle. The plastic or rubber belt encircles both wheels on the outside of the main housing. A spaced plastic covering on the outside of the main housing encloses the plastic or rubber belt, and is provided with a contact switch for operating the motor.

Abstract: Volumetric dosage machine particularly for granulates, powders and loose products in general, including products that are not uniform or mutually compacted and have a very limited flow ability, comprising a hopper for loading a product to be metered that is provided with a bottom which has a plurality of dosage chambers and is movable to transfer the dosage chambers from a loading position to a discharge position spaced from the loading position, and/or vice versa. There is also a skimming unit interacting with the dosage chambers during the movement of the bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding fluidized particulate material at a uniform preselected flow rate includes a reservoir for receiving the material from a supply inlet, a device for maintaining material in the reservoir in a state of flux, a chain type carrier for continuously removing and transporting uniform quantities of the fluidized material at variable speed from the reservoir along a predetermined path configured to prevent premature discharge of the uniform quantities, and a control system to detect the quantities of material being transported along the predetermined path to regulate the speed of the carrier according to the desired preselected flow rate, such that the fluid particulate material is discharged at the desired flow rate at the end of the predetermined path.

Abstract: A grit spreader for motor vehicles consists of a container (1) for the gritting material, a dispersion channel leading to a vehicle wheel and an endless conveyor (5). The conveyor (5) is disposed in a first horizontal section (2) of the dispersion channel and is divided into individual chambers (9) by transverse webs (8). The discharge end of the conveyor (5) lies above a second section (3) of the dispersion channel comprising the outlet (4) and which leads to the vehicle wheel and is closable by means of a flap (16). The drive unit (10) of the conveyor (5) is provided with a follow-up control which only stops the drive unit (10) following actuation of a cutout switch when a transverse web (8) of the conveyor (5) enters the upper return section (A) of the conveyor pulley (7) disposed at the discharge end.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and filling tubular bag packages includes a shaping mandrel, about which a sheet of packaging material is shaped into a tube and an open end of the tube is filled with one portion of a product at a time and separated from the formed tube. For sending the portions of the product gently and quickly through the hollow shaping mandrel, a feed apparatus is disposed in the mandrel. The feed apparatus has a plurality of spaced flaps pivotably connected at equal intervals to two synchronous belt drives. In a feed conduit of the shaping mandrel, these flaps define downwardly moved chambers which receive portions of the product and transport them to the lower end of the shaping mandrel, and then, through a relatively narrow return conduit in the shaping mandrel, the flaps return upward again in an upright position by the belts.

Abstract: A control system for vertical storage equipment requires only two sensing devices, in combination with a microprocessor controller, for positioning a selected article carrier at a specified work station. One sensor senses a reference mark having a direct speed and position relation with the carriers. The second sensor senses at least one reference mark mounted to a high speed member in the drive mechanism used to move the carriers. By sensing the high speed member, the resolution of the control system is greatly increased, thereby providing the control system with increased accuracy and versatility. A flywheel having a relative inertia greater than the total of the remaining moving parts is preferably employed to negate the influence of carrier loading conditions on control system smoothness and accuracy.

Abstract: A guide cylinder with its axis directed in the upper and lower directions is provided on the bottom of a hopper. In the guide cylinder are allowed to pass a plurality of measuring containers supported by an endless conveyor which is moving upwardly from the bottom of the hopper, so that bulk foods in the hopper are scooped up into the measuring containers. While the measuring container is still over the hopper, excess bulk foods are caused to fall onto the hopper by way of a suitable shaking operation. Thereafter, the bulk foods are conveyed out of the hopper by the conveyor, and exhausted at an exhausting station by turning the measuring container upside down. The distance between the measuring containers provided on the endless conveyor is made smaller than the length of the guide cylinder so that at least one of the measuring containers is always present in said guide cylinder. This enables the measuring containers to further serve as a bottom covering of the hopper.

Abstract: The arrangement is mainly designed for transporting solid minerals from the floor of the ocean to a support vessel. The arrangement comprises an endless flexible carrier which is made of interconnected container sections. Each section has two chambers -- a load chamber and a float chamber. The arrangement also has means for batched loading of the chambers with solid mineral and compressed gas. During operation of the arrangement, the load chambers are loaded with solid mineral and the float chambers are filled with gas so that the loaded sections of the carrier acquire a positive buoyancy thus enabling displacement of the entire carrier.

Abstract: A hopper device for delivering granular or powdery material to a conveyor system of a type having a circuitous tube and a continuous flexible member having disc members rigidly attached thereto has a material level monitor and control apparatus attached thereto. The continuous flexible member passes through the hopper and a material flow varying mechanism is disposed within the hopper for causing material to be delivered from the hopper into the conveyor system when such mechanism is in operation. A housing having a chamber therein is attached to the outlet side of the hopper and has a float assembly disposed in the chamber for sensing the amount of material being fed into the conveyor system.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the metered feeding of poorly flowable materials by endless conveyor belt having an upper and lower run, the conveyor belt includes carrier plates which define pockets for conveying the material from an inlet through a compacting zone and a metering zone, to an outlet at which the metered compacted material is released from the pockets and allowed to pass out of the outlet. In the metering zone the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt are maintained in close adjacency such that the inward ends of the plates on the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt cooperate with each other to provide a known amount of material in the pockets on the lower run of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A device which can efficiently broadcast oil sorbent materials at a contred rate, uniformly over an oil slick for the purpose of removing the oil from the water's surface. The device comprises a rotating cylinder of wire mesh having a moving endless belt disposed therein. The endless belt uniformly distributes the sorbent material within the wire mesh cylinder. The sorbent material is dropped onto the oil slick at a controlled rate by the rotating wire mesh cylinder.

Abstract: An improved seed planter having a seed conveyor which, in combination with a means for placing seeds on the seed conveyor as they are dispensed from a seed hopper, transports the seeds from the seed hopper to a seed release point in close proximity to the desired seed planting site in the tilled soil.