Abstract: A combined drop and broadcast spreader for granular material is mountable on the implement of a front end loader. The spreader includes a hopper containing a plurality of discharge openings in the bottom. A rotatable impeller in the bottom forces the granular material from the openings during drop spreadings. A rotatable broadcast disc is coupled to the rear wall of the hopper for discharging granular material in an arc-like pattern. The hopper includes a hole with an auger supplying and metering granular material from the hopper to the broadcast disc. An auger-like agitator moves the granular material in the hopper to the hole.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for the accurate volumetric feeding of materials which require agitation to induce flow, the apparatus includes a hopper for containing said materials including a lower horizontally disposed, cylindrically shaped trough portion, an adjustably feed opening for feeding said material from said hopper disposed at a first end of said lower trough portion, a feeder assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending material working tools circumferentially mounted at equal angular displacements along a rotatable shaft and a feed helix longitudinally mounted on said shaft. The feeder assembly is disposed longitudinally in the lower trough portion and the shaft thereof defines the center of said trough portion.

Abstract: Effective active storage volume of an ice dispenser is increased by an upward and forward sloping bottom wall with a compound curve. A stainless steel helically bent auger rod has a conical shape and closely fits within a trough having a relatively large radius at a rear and a relatively small radius at a front. Larger radius curved lateral areas complete the bottom wall. Ice moves upward toward the front of the bin and then upward at an obtuse angle toward the top of the bin and then tumbles rearward and downward. The rotating auger prevents bridging and continually pushes more ice forward than is dispensed. A helical auger with solid flytes radially extends from a forward portion of the shaft to move ice cubes through the dispensing opening in the front wall at the front end of the trough.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: A heating system for producing heat by the gasification of solid, organic biomass materials. A mass of such materials is maintained on a grate in a primary oxidation chamber of the catalytic type, and materials in such mass are gradually heated in a deficiency of oxidation for full oxidation of such materials to produce a gaseous, combustible effluent. The gaseous combustible effluent is transferred to a secondary oxidation chamber where it is further oxidized to a fully oxidized state by burning. The gaseous effluent from the secondary oxidation chamber is used as a heat source for a water tube boiler. A storage hopper is provided to store the biomass feed materials for delivery to the primary oxidation chamber. The bottom of the storage hopper is inverted and reciprocating plates are provided along the bottom of the storage hopper.

Abstract: Dough pieces are produced in high volume by a plurality of dual extruders spaced across a conveyor and each having a pair of extrusion nozzles aligned in the direction of conveyor travel. A cut-off mechanism severs the dough extrusions to deposit dough pieces on the conveyor. The speed of the conveyor is related to the speed of the cut-off mechanism so that the dough pieces produced by each extruder form a single uniformly spaced line. The extruders are fed from a common supply through individual inlets and means are provided to balance the flow through the nozzles.

Abstract: A discharge installation to be used in a silo for bulk material in powdered or granular condition comprising a central column of interspaced annular collar plates surrounding a central discharge chute, subsequent collar plates merging into each other forming a mainly helical path, a traveling scraper device being provided in the space between subsequent collar plates.

Abstract: Ice from an ice-making source is loaded into a bin and rests upon a curved liner which is spaced above the bottom of the bin. Ice is moved through the bin and above the liner by a wire auger toward a discharge opening. Ice gravitationally feeds through openings in the liner to a cold plate which forms the bottom of the bin. The ice chills the cold plate, chilling beverages flowing through passages in the cold plate. As ice resting on the cold plate takes up heat, the ice melts. Water is drained from above the cold plate. Foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation surrounds the bin. A motor is mounted on the front of the bin. A drive connected to the motor drives the ice-moving auger and discharge equipment. A motor controller is mounted near an ice-discharge chute. Beverage-dispenser valves are connected to the front of the cold plate and are aligned with the dispenser chute.

Abstract: A seeding device to dispense seed suspended in a gel or other carrier medium in either a continuous stream or discrete pulses. A coulter opens a furrow of earth to the proper depth and seed carried in a gel or other suspension medium is delivered in a pulsed or continuous stream into the furrow which is then covered with earth by a trailing coverer. An auger delivers the seed in suspension and the speed of the auger is controlled to vary the volume of seed and gel or other suspension medium delivered. Circumferentially spaced cam lobes on a drive wheel control the frequency and therefore the row spacing of the seed suspension medium distributed in the pulse delivery mode.

Abstract: An ash handling system includes a conveyor and crusher extending from an ash collection trough beneath an underfeed stoker retort to a hopper from which ash is discharged into an ash receiving zone of a container. A suction nozzle is used to extract ash from the zone for disposal.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying adhesive or adhesive pastes in strips on construction or building surfaces comprising a heated hopper container for adhesive mounted on a traveling positive displacement pump, a manifold at the pump outlet provided with a plurality of moveable outlet openings and connected to separate conveying tubes and application nozzles, the positive displacement pump having a widened intake cross-section or a feed screw with a widened in-take cross-section and the hopper having a cylindrical upper section and a lower section conical in only one plane with a heatable screen grid in the transition point between the upper and lower hopper sections, the feed screw and the pump being at least partially heated, the drive shaft of the pump being provided with a safety crank and thermostatically controlled heating element and the hopper being provided with a closable by-pass carrying 2 or more individually or jointly, adjustable horizontally and vertically and elastically rotable slot nozzles mounted sl

Abstract: An ingredient feeder for adding a first ingredient to a second ingredient including a hopper for receiving and discharging the first ingredient and a rotating auger located within the hopper. A portion of the auger extends out of the hopper and is surrounded by an auger housing. The auger housing has a discharge opening formed therein. A hollow chamber funnel is pivotally mounted to the auger housing and surrounds the discharge opening. A metering wheel housing, having a metering wheel therein, is positioned beneath the auger housing and the funnel directs a first ingredient into an inlet of the metering wheel housing. A passage extends below an outlet of the metering wheel housing and is in fluid communication therewith. The first ingredient is discharged from the metering wheel housing outlet into a second ingredient flowing through the passage. The funnel is oscillated relative to the auger housing.

Abstract: An ice piece dispenser comprising a receptacle for storing ice pieces and including a front plate having a discharge opening therein. There is provided a dispenser horizontally supported in the receptacle and includes a rotatable feed section having an inlet end and a discharge end with a central axle therebetween, the feed section comprising a cylindrical collar adjacent the front plate and a double bladed screw auger within the collar forming two helical passages. The blades of the screw auger extend from the central axle to the collar and are spaced rearwardly from the front plate with the trailing edge of each blade being curved rearwardly between the axle and collar sufficiently to prevent ice pieces being wedged between the front plate and the blades during rotation of the feed section. A wire auger which is rotatably driven is secured to the feed section for rotation in unison therewith.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for discharging storage bins within which difficult-to-handle materials are stored, the apparatus including a container adapted to be fixed to the bottom of the storage bin or silo, having horizontally spaced apart parallel shafts disposed within the container for counter-rotational movement therebetween. Working tools are attached to the shafts by radially extending arms and extend toward and substantially up to the side walls of the container. The working tools are double wedge shaped having substantially triangularly shaped sides converging toward each other at their connection to the shafts and converging toward each other to define a forward or leading edge in the direction of rotation of the tool. The bottom surfaces of the tools are recessed from the bottom edges of the triangularly shaped sides.

Abstract: An ice dispenser comprising a receptacle for storing ice pieces and having a front discharge opening. Supported in the receptacle is a cylindrical, rotatable, feed section having the outer end thereof positioned adjacent the receptacle discharge opening and the inner end thereof having an opening to receive ice pieces. A rotatable wire auger comprising an elongate axial portion is secured to the cylindrical, rotatable, feed section at one end and at the opposite end to a helically coiled portion concentric therewith and spaced therefrom. The helically coiled portion has a terminal end spaced from the feed section and the axial portion of the auger. A drive arrangement is provided to rotate the feed section and auger.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plant for the preparation of floated fodder, i.e. fodder in aqueous suspension made from humid grit or granulate and water with supplementary nutritional components and is based on a gastight high-rise silo comprising a central gravity shaft to which the grit is fed and from which the grit is extracted at the bottom via a conveyor facility. In accordance with the invention, a metering worm or screw opening onto a mixer is joined in gastight manner to the outlet of the bottom silo extractor, a second open mixer receiving supplementary nutritional components from containers which are not necessarily gastight, via individual metering worms or screws being situated in the water supply pipe or in the delivery pipe of the mixer.

Abstract: A bin for storing and discharging free-flowing granular material such as sugar has a flexible, inflatable double-walled cup-shaped bag resting on the bin floor with the discharge opening in the bottom and a conveyor for discharging to the bin side above the bin floor. In one embodiment, the bin has at least a partial false floor built up to the level of the conveyor. In another embodiment the conveyor is in an upwardly inclined tunnel shaped enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for the deburring or coating removal of workpieces which are subjected to direct heat exchange with a low temperature coolant, e.g. liquid nitrogen, has a transport path extending around a sling wheel to which a granular path medium is supplied via a hollow shaft which is cantilever journaled externally of the treatment chamber. The blast medium is fed to the sling wheel via a nonrotatable tube extending through the hollow shaft so that centrifugal force does not cause free flow media to adhere to the inner walls of the shaft and impede delivery to the sling wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading granular material, such as fertilizer, has a carriage (1) on which there is mounted a vertical conveyer (5, 6) which comprises a vertical cylindrical housing (5) and a conveyer screw (6) rotatably mounted therein. The screw (6) is rigidly connected at its lower end to an infeed cup (8) and directly connected to a driving mechanism (7) below the cup (8). The cylindrical housing (5) and the screw wing of the screw (6) extend downwardly into the cup (8), and the cylindrical housing has guide means (9) conducting the material inwardly towards the screw blade of the screw. The material is supplied from a supply container (1A) directly down into the cup (8). At its upper end, the screw (6) is non-rotatably connected to its spreader (12) to which the granular material is conveyed via a discharge opening (20) in the cylindrical housing and a distributor disk (21).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ice cream machine for home use. The ice cream machine of the invention having a mixing auger and a mixing cone uses a unique drive system to vertically drive the cone to engage the auger and mix the products contained within the cone. An arc gear, pinion gear and a rack gear are provided in the drive train of the invention and are intermeshed with each other and interconnected with a manually operable lever arm to accomplish the desired vertical drive of the mixing cone. This configuration allows increased leverage and efficiency in the vertical drive movement. Also provided herein are various size reduction and easy cleaning features. Finally the unique gear drive train allows for a steady extrusion of a deliciously mixed, flavored ice cream or ice milk product.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a hot melt thermoplastic consists of a hopper containing granular thermoplastic, an extruder for melting the molten thermoplastic and delivering it to a manifold and then to an applicator for dispensing the molten thermoplastic. Optionally an accumulator can be attached to allow the molten thermoplastic to accumulate during off-periods of the applicator. Operation of the applicator controls operation of the extruder and the accumulator.

Abstract: A main screw feeder having a main screw housing set at an incline from the base of a bin. The main screw housing has two outlets, the advanced outlet and the recycle outlet. The advance outlet communicates with a metering screw housing in which twin screws of identical pitch are rotated in synchronous, intermeshed revolution. The delivery outlet for the metering screw housing communicates with the processing stages. The recycle outlet is positioned at an elevation higher than the advance outlet and discharges to the bin. A flow measuring device measures the return flow of granulated or powdered material expelled from the recycle outlet. The flow measuring device projects a prestressed cable into the recycle path of the return flow. A device for measuring any deflection of the cable and fluctuations in the tension thereon produce a signal which is a function of the return flow and which is used to control the speed of the main screw feeder.

Abstract: Ice is stored for dispensing in a semicylindrical bin. A cone-shaped wire auger is mounted on radial extensions from a sloped axle near the bottom of the bin. A large flyte of the auger pushes ice from the rear of the bin toward smaller flytes near the front of the bin. Distal ends of generally radially extending fingers sweep an opening in the front of a bottom wall. Interchangeable plates with varied size openings control dispensing rate from the bin. The large flyte pushes the ice toward the front where some of the ice drops through the dispensing opening and some of the ice is recirculated upward. Ice clusters near the dispensing opening are broken by the fingers which extend generally radially and slightly rearwardly from the axle on which the conical auger wire is mounted.

Abstract: A high-pressure conveyor discharges a powdery or granular material from a pressurization tank through a discharge unit into a conveyor pipe. The discharge unit includes a guide cylinder or trough mounted on the tank, a screw feeder extending through the guide cylinder and having an end extending into the tank in overhanging relation to an aerator in the tank and the other end coupled to a variable-speed drive unit such as a motor. The material as it is fluidized on the aerator under a high pressure is supplied into the discharge cylinder, from which the material is fed by the screw feeder out of a discharge port in the guide cylinder into the conveyor pipe. A plurality of discharge units may be connected to the tank at angularly spaced intervals for uniform or adjusted distribution of the material to a plurality of locations.

Abstract: Sample-taking apparatus, includes a container for bulk material feed, the container having an upper cover region, a lower discharge region and a side wall having a discharge opening formed therein, the bulk material feed flowing at least discontinuously from the upper cover region to the lower discharge region of the container, an exposed sample-taking worm being attached to the side wall and projecting through the discharge opening into the feed for conveying bulk material samples from the feed by rotating, a rotary drive connected to the sample-taking worm, and a collecting device integral with the container, the worm having a shaft with an end, at least the end being immersed in the feed, the worm having worm threads formed thereon with surfaces forming an imaginary surface of projection extended normal to the worm shaft, the worm thread surfaces forming worm segments with increasingly smaller conveying surfaces as seen in direction toward increasing depth of immersion of the worm into the feed, during sam

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for transferring solid particles from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone comprises a centrifugal rotor and a housing that are each rotatable about a central axis. The rotor debouches particles into the interior of the housing and a screw conveyor is arranged in the housing for transporting particles along the inner surface of the housing to an outlet which is coaxial to the central axis.

Abstract: An attachment unit removably engaged on the open top of the supply tank of a beverage dispensing machine and operating to mix together metered quantities of powdered beverage concentrate and water and to deliver a resulting beverage into the tank when the liquid level in the tank lowers to a predetermined low level and until the level rises to a predetermined high level.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for use in a broad range of commercial food service operations which will consistently, accurately, economically and rapidly dispense beverages over extended periods in a dependable and substantially maintenance-free manner. The dispenser includes a cannister/auger assembly providing a completely closed product delivery path with absolute positional immobility. The dispenser also includes a system for dispersing moisture from the product delivery area which will assure complete removal of moisture. The beverage dispenser includes an adjustable device coupled to the auger to enable variation in the beverage strength while maintaining machine simplicity and a rapid water temperature recovery rate with the beverage dispenser being capable of simple, fool-proof, instantaneous disassembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing frozen comestibles has a cup for receiving a frozen comestible and a rotatable auger mounted for movement relative to the cup. The cup is moved to the auger to create a pocket in the frozen material in a first relative movement and mixes the frozen material with an added flavoring and extrudes the mixture from the cup in a second operation. A counter is provided which counts only the number of second operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically and continuously feeding, blending and mixing particulate material. In a non-mixing mode, a primary material is gravity fed through a vertical flow tube disposed in a chamber. Material flows into the chamber until an equilibrium level is established within the chamber. The volume of material fed through the system is governed by the through-put of a take-off screw, which communicates with a port in the bottom of the chamber. In a mixing mode, secondary materials, such as additives, are metered into the chamber at a point above the equilibrium mixing level, which secondary materials are mixed with the primary material, thereby automatically proportioning the final product feed. The vertical flow tube can be rotatable about its longitudinal axis in either mode to enhance mixing and feeding.

Abstract: A plastic metering machine or assembly mounted on a plastic extruder, feeds plastic aggregate material of two different bulk densities simultaneously into the barrel of an extruder. The assembly has a housing which is divided into two compartments or hoppers by a downwardly converging wall which feeds into the mouth of a funnel on the upper end of a feed tube which passes through the lower compartment and terminates at its lower end adjacent to or in the entrance to the extruder. The feed tube has an external auger which, when the feed tube is rotated, meters the material in the lower compartment into the extruder. The feed tube also has outwardly extending arms which form anti-bridging elements for agitating the material in the lower compartment. A blower feeds plastic scrap material to a grinder which also receives sheet plastic scrap material and loose plastic scrap. The ground scrap from the grinder is fed into the lower compartment as the low bulk density material.

Abstract: The extruder assembly includes a barrel, a screw received within the barrel, a motor drive and transmission connected to one end of the screw for driving same and an extruding die at the other end of the barrel through which material is forced by the screw. The barrel has a slot therein and the assembly further includes a ram feed assembly having two pivotally mounted ram sections positioned on either side of the barrel for forcing molten plastic through the slot into the barrel. The ram sections are pivotable between an upper operating position and a lower exposed position providing easy access to the ram sections for cleaning and maintenance thereof.

Abstract: An injection molding machine which is capable of injecting both thermoplastic compounds and glass loaded thermosetting polyester compounds, wherein the machine is capable of rapid conversion from its thermoplastic configuration to its thermosetting configuration, and vice versa. The machine comprises an elongated charge forming barrel having a rearward thermoplastic feed opening, which is customarily supplied by pelletized thermoplastic material from a vertical feed hopper, and a thermosetting material feed opening extending into the barrel at a position forwardly of the thermoplastics feed opening. When processing thermoplastics materials, a conventional, fully flighted plasticizing screw is installed in the barrel so that the pelletized material is conveyed forwardly from the rear feed opening, and plasticized for subsequent injection. During thermoplastics processing, the thermosetting feed opening is plugged.

Abstract: A demand preparation soluble coffee urn utilized as a replacement for conventional roasted coffee urns and constructed in a manner to closely simulate a roasted coffee urn as to size, shape, appearance, exterior configuration and provided with plumbing and electrical fittings to enable it to occupy the same position as a roasted coffee urn, thereby facilitating the use of freeze-dried coffee in institutional feeding operations, restaurants, fast food shops, cafeterias, coffee shops, diners, and the like. The soluble coffee urn includes a structure for storing and dispensing coffee powder, mixing it with hot water and discharging coffee into a cup or other suitable receptacle upon demand, that is, as long as an actuating handle is operated and to provide single or double-sided service with one or more products, including hot water, being dispensed from either or both sides of the urn.

Abstract: A injection molding nozzle with an automatic shut-off valve is disclosed. The present invention is intended for use with injection molding machines employing a screw plasticizer and an injection plunger. The nozzle, as a conversion unit, fits any in-line screw injection machine. The nozzle can, also, be employed as part of a two-stage injection molding machine capable of injection molding, conventional, semi-foam or structural foam. The nozzle of the present invention has smooth flow passages and a few parts which are of simple construction allowing the nozzle to be easily cleaned for conversion to different materials.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new and improved screw conveyor useful for bagging animal bedding comprising subdivided newsprint. The screw of the auger has flights of predetermined different heights which avoid undue compaction of the bedding as it is conveyed.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing mastic material such as butyle mastic sealant consists of a hopper for receiving cold mastic material and which is arranged to be heated to soften the material for feeding towards an outlet by a feed screw in a lower longitudinal receptacle. A pre-heating coil is provided in the hopper and a lower part of the latter and the lower receptacle and an outlet barrel are housed in a tank containing a heating fluid such as oil heated by thermostatically controlled immersion heaters to maintain the mastic material in the required softened condition in the hopper receptacle and barrel. Heated oil from the tank is circulated through the pre-heating coil. A reduced continuation of the feed screw operates in the barrel for force feed of the heat softened mastic material to the outlet. In use an applicator nozzle or gun is connected by a hose to the outlet. Both the hose and gun are heated to maintain the mastic material in a required softened condition up to the point of issue from the gun.

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 cleaning apparatus for removable insertion in an electrophotographic copying machine includes an exhaust cylinder having an opening at an end portion thereof and a conveyor in the cylinder operable for carrying particulate developer through the cylinder to the opening thereof. A shutter having a second opening is movable with respect to the cylinder between a first position in which the shutter closes the cylinder opening and a second position in which the openings of the shutter and cylinder are aligned, a bias spring being effective to normally maintain the shutter in its first position. When the apparatus is inserted in a copying machine, the cylinder end portion is inserted into a hopper for receiving particulate developer, causing the shutter to move to its second position in which the openings are aligned to permit movement of developer into the hopper from the exhaust cylinder.

Abstract: The powder material transportation apparatus for transporting powder materials such as developer powder, by a rotating member such as a coil is provided with an agitator for destroying a bridge of powder material which is apt to be formed in an upper portion of the rotating member. The diameter or pitch of a rotating coil member is designed to be greater in a transportation termination portion than in a transportation initiation portion, whereby the powder material transportation force is increased in the transportation termination portion and formation of the bridge of powder material is prevented.

Abstract: This feeder device, for the automatic dispensing of feed to animals, consists primarily of a feed-containing bin, to which is attached a housing on a back plate. Within the housing is mounted a motor and a timer, for dispensing feed once or twice a day, and a worm shaft is driven by the motor, that will move the feed, and let it drop through into a trough or elsewhere.

Abstract: A device for feeding or pressing plastics material to an extruder includes a conically shaped housing with its apex directed downwardly and with a similarly conically shaped feeding member within the housing. The outer surface of the feeding member is parallel to and spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the housing. A screw blade is secured to and extends helically around the outer surface of the feed member. A partition wall divides the interior of the housing into an upper storage chamber and a lower material conveying chamber. The partition wall is constructed to provide variable openings for admitting material from the storage chamber into the conveying chamber.

Abstract: A volumetric screw feeder is interchangeably convertible from a twin screw feeder to a single screw feeder without modification of the gearing or drive means. The change from twin screw feeder to single screw feeder is made by interchanging the screws and the feeder hopper. Moreover, the drive shafts for all of the screws are brought out through a unitary seal.

Abstract: A mounting structure for the granulate hopper of the injection unit of an injection molding machine which is convertible for use with a selectively horizontally or vertically oriented injection unit, the structure comprising two joined, rotatable tubular connectors each with an oblique end face, the lower connector being seated on an inclined face of the mounting hub which holds the plastification cylinder, and the upper connector carrying the hopper. The latter consists of a conical lower hopper portion and a cylindrical upper hopper portion which is inclined against the former so as to have one common straight side line which is vertical in both configurations. Conversion adjustment is accomplished through rotation of the lower connector and of the hopper by 180.degree..

Abstract: A device for spreading particulate material from a vehicle mounted dump bed includes a hopper device mounted transversely across a material discharge end of the dump bed and a broadcast spreader beneath one end of the hopper device. The hopper device includes first and second spaced end walls, a fixed back wall between the end walls, and an elongated auger extending between the end walls arranged to be rotated about an axis parallel to the back wall. Rotation of the auger causes particulate material entering the hopper device to be moved toward one end wall beneath which the broadcast spreader is located. Spreading through, dumping over, and cleaning of the hopper device are possible as a result of an independent cover member extending between the end walls and movable between three corresponding positions.

Abstract: A hopper for use with grain elevators is the subject of the present invention. Two components are separable but are held together by a friction coupling. The first component comprises a trough which partially encloses the auger and receives the second component which presents a hopper for receiving grain. The holding area of the hopper empties into an opening which is in alignment with the open area of the auger for feeding grain to the latter. A pair of side flaps extend from the holding area down into the trough to present a coupling to hold the two components together.

Abstract: A shaft with a spiral blade is supported in a receptacle for receiving a developer removed from the surface of a photosensitive drum. The developer is conveyed toward a collection box during the rotation and movement of the shaft. When an excess load is applied to a screw shaft due to an overflow or blockage of the developer, the shaft is moved in a direction opposite to that in which the developer is conveyed, causing it to abut against a sensor to permit the sensor to be rendered ON.

Abstract: A dispenser for crushed and cubed ice has a housing arranged forming an article containing chamber from which ice can be dispensed on demand through a discharge opening provided in the housing. A plurality of parallel, coextending screw conveyors are disposed within the chamber and disposed adjacent a floor thereof selectively moving ice toward the discharge opening of the housing without excavating the ice beneath the conveyors, with a baffle being disposed extending from adjacent the discharge opening for preventing bridging of ice within the chamber of the dispenser by causing part of the ice moved by the conveyors toward the discharge opening to orbit about the chamber.

Abstract: A system for introducing a predetermined amount of particulate matter to a continuous flowing stream of material. The system consists of a hopper connected via a tube having a screw drive positioned therein to a flowing stream of plastic material to be injection molded or extruded. The hopper and tube are constructed and arranged so that dye material in the hopper contacts only the hopper and the inside of the tube, thereby facilitating easy changing of the hopper and tube to permit the introduction of a different colored dye to the plastic material to be injection molded or extruded. The motor mechanism used to drive the screw can be swung out of the way to permit motors to be changed and also to permit the easy changing of both the hopper and the tube containing the screw drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for the extrusion of thermofusible materials which are applied while being heated comprises a prefusion and feeding chamber, a heating element for the prefusion and feeding chamber, a shaft capable of rotation at the base of the chamber, the shaft while in rotation mixing the thermofusible material and an extruder comprising an extrusion screw axially connected to said shaft. The extrusion screw is located in a cylindrical tubular structure which is provided with an exit for the thermofusible material. Preferably the shaft is located at a predetermined distance from the bottom wall of the prefusion chamber whereby a passageway is formed between the bottom wall and the shaft, the chamber and the shaft being so dimensioned that the shaft during rotation forces the entire mass of thermofusible material through the passageway.