Abstract: An ice dispensing machine including an ice storage bin having a rotatable ice agitating mechanism disposed internally thereof and adapted to move ice within the bin toward a discharge opening located in the bottom wall of the bin; an ice discharge chute is disposed below the opening and includes a wall portion inclined upwardly in the direction of rotation of the ice within the bin to prevent ice jamming between the agitating mechanism and the periphery of the discharge opening; a sink assembly is arranged below the ice dispensing area of the machine and includes a sink that is removably mounted so that it may be conveniently detached for inspection, cleaning and the like without requiring disconnection from associated drain conduits and the like.

Abstract: A product dispensing measuring device especially adapted to be affixed to an axially deformed or non-linearly rotating dispensing shaft in order to measure the rate of rotation thereof. The device comprises a pick-up wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth securely affixed to a rotating shaft and a mounting affixed to the shaft adjacent the pick-up wheel and provided with a plurality of roller bearings which enable the mounting to remain stationary as the shaft rotates therein. A mounting arm extends radially from the outer circumferential edge surface of the mounting, and a sensor mechanism is affixed thereto. The sensor mechanism detects the passing of the radially outwardly projecting teeth and converts these impulses into a shaft revolution speed and displays it to an operator of the device. If the shaft rotational speed is observed to be other than that desired, the speed of the rotating shaft may be easily and quickly adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus for deflecting a stream of spreadable particles comprises a rotatable hollow cylinder having a perforated circumferential shell through which the particles normally pass. The apparatus further comprises means for controlling the operating conditions of the cylinder whereby the particles fed to the circumferential shell of the cylinder can no longer pass therethrough, but are impelled in a different direction. The method for deflecting the particles comprises the steps of closing the passage openings of the cylinder during its rotary movement, reversing the direction of rotation of the cylinder and increasing the speed of rotation of the cylinder. The spreading operation may be monitored by positioning means for capturing the deflected particles adjacent the periphery of the spreading device. The deflected particles may then be transported by conveying means to an appropriate measuring device.

Abstract: A separating and dispensing apparatus for small, rigid, elongate articles which continuously tumbles a mass of such articles to progressively separate articles from the mass and continuously dispenses the articles as separated.

Abstract: A refillable ice dispensing apparatus for automatically vending ice in cracked, chipped or cubed shapes. Use of an oblong shaped storage bin with drainage means and having a specially designed agitation system and ice jogging system facilitates even and relatively complete circulation of the stored ice to a release aperture. A solenoid controlled dispensing gate cooperates with the agitation system to dispense the stored ice, and utilizes lost motion linkage connections with the gate in order to create momentum before lifting of the gate is commenced.

Abstract: An ice dispensing machine comprising a rotatable ice storage bin adapted to have ice from a suitable source thereof deposited therein; an ice shearing blade located below the bin and adapted to shear off ice located within the bin such that said ice is deposited in an ice discharge area; an ice discharge assembly located within the area and including a rotatable member having a plurality of outwardly projecting ice flipper elements operable to cause ice within the discharge area to move toward and into an ice discharge spout, and a control system for selectively operating the bin and the discharge assembly in response to actuation of a control lever which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable ice receiving receptacle, such as a glass or the like, with the control system including cam operated device for selectively positioning the flipper elements at the termination of each of the vend cycles such that one of the flipper elements is covering the inlet end of the discharge spout to prevent any melt water from

Abstract: An appliance for slicing and shredding vegetables, fruits, cheeses and other food products having an improved safety interlock wherein the cover for the receptacle in which the slicing and shredding is performed includes means for completing the mechanical coupling between the motor and the slicing and shredding implement. The receptacle within which the slicing and shredding is performed is provided with a novel slicing and shredding implement which cooperates with the shape of the receptacle to minimize clogging and facilitate the discharge of the sliced and shredded food from the receptacle.

Abstract: The dosing device is installed between a funnel-shaped storage container for the pulverulent material and an open vessel underneath it. It consists of a flat plate arranged between the open vessel and the outlet aperture of the storage container so that a standing column of material is formed between this plate and the outlet aperture, and a dosing rod which is displaceable or rotatable in a horizontal plane. The dosing rod is passed periodically through the column of substance and with each passage conveys an approximately constant quantity of material into the vessel underneath it. This device is also capable of dosing materials which tend to stick together and cake to the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging bulk material from a storage tank includes a support shaft; an impeller wheel mounted on the support shaft in the vicinity of the storage tank floor; and a stepping mechanism for intermittently moving the impeller wheel in either direction. The stepping mechanism has a ratchet wheel mounted on the support shaft and connected to the impeller wheel and a pawl mechanism cooperating with the ratchet wheel. A power cylinder, connected to a hydraulic circuit, is provided for moving the pawl mechanism. Further, there are provided a sensor arrangement for sensing the magnitude of the resistance of the bulk material to the motion of the impeller wheel and a control arrangement connected to the sensor arrangement and the pawl mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation of the impeller wheel when the resistance reaches a predetermined magnitude. The impeller wheel has at least one impeller vane associated with a discharge opening in the storage tank floor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are shown for feeding particulate material into a pressurized container. A rotor is located within the pressurized container, and the rotor hub is connected to a combination drive and material supply tube which extends through a wall of the container in fluid-tight engagement therewith. Particulate material from an unpressurized supply source outside the container is fed to the rotor through the supply tube, and is discharged through radially extending flow passages formed in the rotor. Means are provided for restricting the flow of particulate material at the discharge end of the flow passages such that material flowing therein is compacted by centrifugal acceleration to substantially prevent flow of fluid from the pressurized container through the supply pipe while continuously supplying particulate material to the container.

Abstract: A machine for packaging dehydrated food particles has at least one filling station at which an elongate sleeve is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A saucer-shaped plate is mounted horizontally beneath the lower end of said sleeve by an adjustable clamp which secures the plate to the sleeve for rotation therewith, and for axial adjustment toward and away from the lower end of the sleeve. In operation dehydrated particles are fed into the upper end of the sleeve normally to pile up on the plate and to back up into the sleeve to fill its bore. The sleeve and plate are intermittently rotated to cause predetermined quantities of the product to be flung outwardly over the lip of the plate, and to drop through a chute to containers which are advanced one by one past the station. The dehydrated product is therefore not subjected to any compacting during packaging.

Abstract: Apparatus for positively encouraging a flow of feed from a bulk storage bin to a receiver or conveyor and for supporting the weight of feed in the bin is disclosed. A rotating disk mounted in the plane of the bin exhaust forms apertures with the bin sides and an exhaust collar. These apertures encourage flow of feed from the bin and uniform delivery to the receiver or conveyor. A wand, carried by the rotating plate, extends into the bin to dislodge feed packed or bridged across the bin exhaust opening.

Abstract: A metering device is described which provides for very accurate metering of granular material such as seeds or fertilizer. The device incorporates two main components: a solid casing having a slot with an open side and decreasing cross-section, and a corresponding rotor which frictionally urges material along the slot. The rotor has a resilient surface and can be in the shape of a disc or of a roller to correspond with the shape of the casing. The device allows significant savings in the spreading of granular material over conventional devices.

Abstract: A powder-feeding method and apparatus according to which it is possible to provide one or a plurality of powder-feeding flows in which the powder is fed at a substantially constant rate which is of relatively small magnitude. A cone of powder is maintained substantially centrally of a disc which is rotated at a constant speed. A coarse scraper blade extends inwardly across the periphery of the disc into the cone of powder thereon substantially radially with respect to the disc so that the coarse scraper blade removes some powder on one side of the blade while leaving on the disc on the other side of the blade a layer of powder the depth of which is determined by the distance between the bottom edge of the coarse scraper blade and the top surface of the disc.

Abstract: Feeder mechanism, suitable for use in a high-temperature furnace, comprises a rotatable, height-adjustable flat disc located axially below an outlet of a particulate raw material hopper and above (or within) but mounted on a rotatable funnel. Upon rotation of the disc and funnel, particulate raw material is gravity fed from the hopper onto the disc, then falls off the edge of the disc at a constant rate and is caught by the funnel which transports the raw material to a processing area, e.g. a crystal growing furnace, outside of the high-temperature furnace. A motor-driven, magnetically coupled mechanism for rotating the disc and funnel, and a threaded rod combined with nuts (along with bellows) for adjusting the separation between the disc and the hopper outlet (to control flow rate of the raw material), are provided outside of the space, e.g. high-temperature furnace, in which the combined hopper-disc-funnel are located.

Abstract: An improved seed metering apparatus for use in a seed planter of the type having a seed storage hopper and a drop chute for depositing seeds into an underlying furrow comprises a rotatably driven seed metering disc having a plurality of seed receiving pockets about its periphery. As the planter is pulled forward the metering disc rotates and each pocket is caused to pass through a pressurized chamber wherein a predetermined number of seeds are picked up, and then to pass through a compartment of reduced pressure wherein the seeds are released into the drop chute. A pressure-sealed wear-resistant engagement is obtained between the seed metering disc and the chamber walls by means of replaceable wear plates mounted on the wall edges and a coil spring carried on the disc mounting shaft which causes the metering disc to bear against the wear plates during operation.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for particulate matter which distributes said particulate matter, at substantially the same rate, uniformly across a given area.

Abstract: Bundles of chaff fibers are fed into a rotating preacceleration chamber having a diverging outlet. The chaff fibers are rotated with the preacceleration chamber and are forced radially outward by centrifugal force. A feed mechanism forces the rotating chaff fibers toward the diverging outlet from which they are propelled outwardly at a high velocity and at an angle almost orthogonal to the rotational axis of the chaff dispenser.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a granular material particularly a toner in a copying apparatus, comprises a material container which has a cylindrical interior wall with a discharge opening above the bottom of the wall on one side thereof. A rotatable scooping member in the form of a wire member having an elongated portion extending substantially parallel to and closely spaced from the interior wall along the longitudinal axis of the container rotates in the container and causes an agitation of the material so that it remains uniform and does not adhere to a wall of the container and in addition during its rotation it discharges a portion of the material outwardly through the discharge opening. The rotatable movement of the rotatable scooping member is effected through a driving transmission which includes a rotatable drive member having a leaf spring secured at its one end thereto and which projects radially outwardly.

Abstract: A feeder system for uniformly dispensing particulate raw batch material at a constant flow rate from a high temperature environment. A rotating, height adjustable disc is located below an outlet of a raw material hopper which gravity feeds particulate raw material to the disc surface. The raw material then falls off the disc edge at a constant rate as the disc rotates and is then caught by a receiving means which transports the raw material to a processing area outside of the high-temperature zone. The amount of a given material dispensed depends on the separation distance between the disc and the hopper, the speed of rotation of the disc, and the diameter of the disc surface. Means for rotating the disc, as well as means for adjusting the separation between the disc and the hopper are provided outside of the high temperature environment and are adapted for use in vacuum systems, especially in conjunction with a furnace apparatus for growing crystals from a melt.

Abstract: A discharge device including a discharge member rotating about a vertical axis, arranged below a conical bunker outlet and above a base plate with a discharge opening, over which member is a fixed cover, said member being a peripherally driven disc having openings separated by bars, the openings being eccentric, the cover extending radially, and an adjusting element for adjusting the height of the edge of the cover over the disc.

Abstract: An arrangement in a silo for bulk material, comprising a rotating agitator centrally arranged in the silo. The agitator consists of a rotatable disc equipped with at least one rigid paddle which is mounted on the disc for pivoting about an axis which is offset from the central axis of the disc. The swinging of the paddle about the offset pivot axis is effected by actuating means arranged below the disc. When the disc rotates the paddle is resiliently advanced through the material in the silo in a more or less radially extending position depending on the relation between the force imparted to the paddle by the actuating means and the reactive pressure from the contents of the silo. The paddle is pivotally mounted as a lever having two arms which are both exposed to the material in the silo.

Abstract: A housing for an impeller is disclosed, which is mounted on an impeller shaft and is capable of moving material, the housing comprising an enclosure within which the impeller, mounted on an impeller shaft, may be placed; a plurality of shaft openings in the enclosure through which the impeller shaft may extend; material entrance means in the enclosure through which the material may be placed in the enclosure; material exit means through which the material may leave the enclosure; and access means in the enclosure allowing access for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solids flow control device for controlling the rate of flow and the distribution of flow of solids in a continuous counter current contact between liquid and solid material, and more particularly to apparatus wherein an upwardly directed liquid flow counter currently contacts a solid material, and the downward movement of solids is maintained at a uniform rate across the horizontal cross section of the vessel. The device comprises a vessel in which solids move downwardly in a liquid-solid counter current system to a control mechanism in the form of a plurality of longitudinally parallel rotating rolls and baffles which occupy the entire horizontal cross section of the vessel and maintain the even downward movement of the solids at a uniform rate across the horizontal cross section of the vessel.