Abstract: A lotion application assembly includes a handle that is hollow and a roller that is rotatably coupled to the handle for rolling along a user's skin. A conduit is integrated into the handle and the conduit is directed toward the roller. A container is insertable into the handle, the container contains a fluid lotion and the container is in fluid communication with the conduit when the container is inserted into the handle. A cap is removably attachable to the handle and a plunger is slidably integrated into the cap. The plunger is urgeable into the container to urge the fluid lotion outwardly through the conduit and onto the roller thereby facilitating the roller to apply the fluid lotion onto the user's skin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a sidewalk drop spreader for winter services, which is mountable on a vehicle and includes a hopper. The hopper includes a pair of spaced-apart side walls, each one of which extends parallel to the other one of the side walls, a front wall extending between the side walls, and a rear wall extending between the side walls and being spaced apart from the front wall. The hopper also includes a bottom, which in turn includes a rotatable rotor and a compression roller that extend parallel to one another between said the side walls. An agitation system includes a motor mounted to the hopper, which actuates movement of a selected one of the side walls, front wall, and rear wall.

Abstract: A device for expelling/containing a predetermined liquid. The device configured to be built into a liquid tank operable at low or zero gravity and comprising a unitary three-dimensional sponge structure. The sponge structure comprises a set of substantially wire-like elements that extend between a peripheral area of the sponge structure and an area for expelling/containing liquid. The wire-like elements are substantially oriented in the direction of flow of the fluid within the device. The wire-like elements are connected together by crosspieces and are arranged such that the capillary gradient is positive or zero in the direction of flow of the fluid from the peripheral area to the area for expelling/containing liquid.

Abstract: A stencil printer for printing viscous material on an electronic substrate includes a stencil having apertures formed therein, and a print head positioned over the stencil and configured to deposit viscous material within the apertures of the stencil. The print head includes a housing defining an elongate chamber, a source port defining a passage having an inlet positioned to allow viscous material to flow into the elongate chamber, a pair of blades defining a slot that provides an outlet from which viscous material can flow out of the elongate chamber, an elongate plunger movable in the elongate chamber to reduce a volume of viscous material within the elongate chamber, and at least one sensor to detect pressure of the viscous material within the elongate chamber.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus for conveying an article having a ferromagnetic component includes a hopper, a discharge, and a magnet. The hopper has an inlet and outlet and defines a hopper volume for receiving a plurality of the articles to be conveyed. The discharge is spaced from and downstream of the hopper. The magnet is movable between an attracting position proximate the hopper and a discharge position proximate the discharge.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of feeding powders to a subsequent processing step. In particular, the apparatus includes a first hopper, a first metering brush feed, an intermediate chamber, a second distribution brush, a level sensor, and a supply hopper to deliver powder to a pair of rollers. In one embodiment, the hopper is fitted to the roller diameter to produce a uniform, ribbon or free-standing sheets suitable for air-breathing battery and fuel cell electrodes.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus including a rotating carousel to feed material from an inlet to a discharge outlet. In the illustrated embodiments, the carousel includes a cone shaped portion to facilitate material flow to dispense a metered quantity of material. The apparatus described has particular application for dispensing a glutinous particulate or material. In an illustrated embodiment, a scale is used to control metered quantities which as described includes cantilevered beams supporting a floating tray for measuring a dispensed quantity.

Abstract: Bulk material discharge assemblies comprise a bulk material hopper, a conduit for delivering an air stream to entrain with bulk material from the bulk material hopper, and a feeding apparatus for introducing additive to the conduit. The feeding apparatus comprises an additive hopper and an airlock positioned adjacent the conduit. In addition, metering apparatus are provided that comprise an axle and first and second metering wheels. A noncircular perimeter of the axle and the shape of each hub opening of each of the metering wheels cooperate to nonrotatably mount each metering wheel to the axle. The first and second metering wheel are adapted to be selectively mounted in at least one of a first relative position and a second relative position.

Abstract: A dispenser of substances for agricultural uses, to include a container (10) for holding the substances to be dispensed, a rotator (17) that is rotatably inside the container and provide with a cladding (20) of soft material, and a guiding disc (14) provided with apertures for unloading the substances down towards the soil. The rotator (17) is associated with adjustment mechanisms (18, 19) that are actuatable in view of displacing the rotator along the axis of rotation thereof and causing it to selectively move into differentiated positions so as to enable substances having different physical characteristics to be dispensed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the volumetric measuring and dispensing of ice from a holding bin. The ice is desirably in a crushed or cubed state and is agitated during storage to prevent its freezing into a solid block. When a volume of ice is desired, a user activates the machine to dispense the desired amount. As the ice is dispensed, it rotates a wheel that provides a volumetric measurement and closes a door to the holding bin when the proper amount is dispensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a particulate material. There is a drum having a peripheral surface and a central axis which is rotatable about its central axis. There is a first particulate material retaining wall which has an inner and outer edge. This wall is positioned such that said outer edge is remote from the peripheral surface of the drum and the inner edge is adjacent the peripheral surface of the drum. The inner edge is moveable from said peripheral surface of said drum. A second particulate material retaining wall having an inner and outer end and positioned such that said outer end is remote from the peripheral surface of the drum and the outer end is remote from the peripheral surface with the drum. The first particulate retaining wall is preferably spaced from the peripheral surface of the drum by a distance which corresponds to the angle of repose of the particulate material being used.

Abstract: A portable device for dispensing a particulate salt material upon a ground surface having a body with a substantially hollow interior, a forwardly located and open end and a reclosable end cap engaged with a rearwardly located end for permitting the hollow interior to be filled holding a volume of the particulate material. A rotor element is mounted in communication with the first open end and includes a plurality of individual and arcuately arrayed dispensing portions arranged around a central cross wise extending and rotatable shaft. A driving mechanism is associated with the body for actuating the rotor element to dispense volumes of the held particulate and may include either a hand-operated crank or an electric motor operatively connected to the rotatable shaft and powered by at least one battery contained within the hollow interior of the body and electrically communicable with the motor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing articles into a container or basket and for controlling the dispensing mechanism to more accurately, efficiently, and intelligently dispense the desired articles with less damages to the articles. The dispenser includes a primary storage location which can take the form of a bulk storage hopper, an accumulator storage location into which the dispensed articles are transferred during the dispensing of the articles. A reversing drum and a flexible, resilient diverter are configured and arranged to reduce article breakage and/or to transfer different types of articles. The drum is also designed to provide a self-alignment between the drum and a motor shaft when the drum is mounted onto the drum motor shaft. A load/weight sensing/measuring assembly accurately and intelligently weighs the articles in the accumulator by an adaptive weighing method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing articles into a container or basket and for controlling the dispensing mechanism to more accurately, efficiently, and intelligently dispense the desired articles with less damages to the articles. The dispenser includes a primary storage location which can take the form of a bulk storage hopper, an accumulator storage location into which the dispensed articles are transferred during the dispensing of the articles. A reversing drum and a flexible, resilient diverter are configured and arranged to reduce article breakage and/or to transfer different types of articles. The drum is also designed to provide a self-alignment between the drum and a motor shaft when the drum is mounted onto the drum motor shaft. A load/weight sensing/measuring assembly accurately and intelligently weighs the articles in the accumulator by an adaptive weighing method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for metering a powder, having a device for the delivery of powder, a axially symmetrical metering element arranged underneath the delivery device, and a drive for the axially symmetrical metering element, wherein the axially metering symmetrical element has a surface profile extending in the circumferential direction, and is adapted in its configuration so that the powder is not compressed during movement about the axially symmetrical metering element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel granular material metering and dispensing system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a novel adjustable-rate apparatus for metering and dispensing granular chemicals, seeds and fertilizers. A metering dispenser for granular materials comprising: (a) a metering assembly for affixing to a resevoir of granular materials; and (b) at least one roller comprised of two opposed, truncated cones rotationally mounted on a metering shaft in the metering assembly.

Abstract: A particulate material dispensing system suitable for metering seed for individual rows of a seed sowing drill. The seed sowing drill having a container which acts as a seed hopper. Positioned beneath the container is a metering device. Below the metering device are a number of tubes which are seed outlets to which the metering device feeds the seed it receives from the container. A peripheral guide forms part of the metering device. The peripheral guide is a disc of material that defines an aperture. On the inner walls of the guide is a seed track and an outlet. There are a plurality of seed track/outlet combinations, one for each of the outlets. A vertical-axis rotor fits within the aperture of the guide. The rotor rotating within the aperture causes seed falling from the container into the guide to be dragged down and around the inside walls of the guide. The seeds are guided by a seed track to a guide outlet and into the appropriate seed outlet. At the base of the seed track is a flange.

Abstract: A metering system is driven by a transmission for metering product from a product tank. The metering system has a meter housing, within which is mounted a meter cartridge having an inlet releasably coupled to the product tank. A meter roller which has an axial bore is rotatably mounted in the meter cartridge. A drive shaft extends through the axial bore of the meter roller for rotating the roller with the drive shaft. A meter drive is fixed to an end of the drive shaft against rotation relative to the drive shaft. The meter cartridge has an engaged position wherein the meter cartridge is mounted in the meter housing and the meter drive is engaged by the transmission for rotating the meter roller, as well as a disengaged position where the meter drive is not engaged by the transmission for allowing the meter cartridge to be removed from the meter housing and for allowing the inlet of the casing section to be at least partially uncoupled from the product tank.

Abstract: A particulate matter or seed dispensing system for an agricultural implement having a mobile frame with a plurality of row units mounted to the frame. The seed dispensing system includes an upright storage hopper that is adapted to be carried by the frame and has the capacity for holding a large quantity of particulate matter such as seed. A bin is adapted to be carried on each row unit for holding a quantity of particulate matter or seed. Notably, each bin holds substantially less than the quantity of particulate matter adapted to be held in the storage hopper. A metering unit is adapted to be arranged on each row unit proximate a furrow opener of the row unit. The metering unit is arranged in material receiving relation relative to a respective bin on each row unit. The dispensing system of the present invention further includes an apparatus for delivering particulate matter from the hopper individually to each bin as a function of the quantity of particulate matter or seed material in the bins.

Abstract: An apparatus for the distribution of particulate material including glass beads onto one of freshly applied paint or polymer material applied to a surface, includes a housing having defined therein an upper chamber for the receipt of particulate material and a lower chamber including a downwardly directed opening. The housing additionally has feeding control means positioned between the upper chamber and the lower chamber to allow the particulate material to pass in a controlled manner from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. At least one distribution grid is positioned in the lower chamber through which substantially all of the particulate material to be applied onto the surface passes to the downwardly directed opening.

Abstract: A dispenser for powder or granular material which has a hopper for containing the material to be dispensed. The hopper includes an arcuate bottom member having a plurality of discharge openings. A wiper is positioned along the length of the bottom member and mounted to a rotatable shaft. The wiper includes a plurality of wiper elements mounted to the shaft each having at least one radially extending blade. The radial extent of each blade is sufficient to contact the openings during rotation of the shaft. Adjacent blades are mounted so as to be offset from each other. A drive is provided to rotate the shaft.

Abstract: A conveying device for metering of bulk material includes a sleeve having an interior region having an inner threaded groove. The threaded groove is disrupted by a plurality of cross-wise extending compensating grooves. The conveying device further includes a rotatable part, at least a portion of the rotatable part being disposed inside of the interior region of the sleeve. The rotatable part has one or more flexible first bodies, an outermost point of the first bodies extending to an inner wall of the sleeve. The device conveys bulk material as the rotatable part rotates such that the first bodies move along the threaded groove from one compensating groove to a next compensating groove.

Abstract: A device for discharging particulate material from a container with a table to support the particulate material includes a feed unit which is movable on the table for discharging the material through a peripheral outlet opening, and a drive for driving the feed unit; the feed unit includes at least two spaced feeding elements disposed to successively move the material in a direction from the center of the table towards the outlet opening; the feeding elements are arranged, during a full cycle of movement of the feed unit, to be alternately active within an arbitrary section of the table extending between the center part and outlet opening for feeding a layer of particulate material in front of them in the direction toward the outlet opening and inactive while returning to a starting position.

Abstract: A droplet dispenser for pasty material, for example a puree, comprises a reservoir having a multiplicity of dispenser tubes. A rotor having blades rotates in the pasty material which is kept at a constant level. The tips of the blades do not touch the inlets of the dispenser tubes but pass a certain distance therefrom which is typically from 20 to 30 times the maximum dimension of the particles in the pasty material. Typically, the rotor is rotated at from 20 to 50 rpm.

Abstract: A powder supplying apparatus supplies, for example, a powder spraying apparatus with fine powder particles such as of ceramics having particle sizes of several .mu.m to 10 .mu.m at an extremely small rate of several grams to several tens of grams per hour, in the form of micronized discrete particles dispersed at a high degree of uniformity. The powder spraying apparatus is capable of spraying the fine powder particles on an object surface with a high degree of uniformity of distribution. The disclosed apparatus is used typically in uniformly spraying the above-mentioned fine powder particles which serve as spacers between a pair of transparent substrates of a liquid crystal display panel, for the purpose of maintaining a uniform and constant gap to be filled with a liquid crystal between these transparent substrates.

Abstract: An automatic portioning and weighing arrangement for loose products (15) comprises at least one store drum (2) whereby the store drum (2) comprises at least one portioning capacity (6) wherein separate portions of the products (15) are formed. The weighing arrangement (4) comprises at least one collecting capacity (40) for the loose products. The store drum (2) has been arranged almost horizontally and the portioning capacity (6) extends over almost the complete length of the store drum (2). As a consequence, the chance for choking ups is almost nonexistant on delivery of the loose products (15).

Abstract: The hand held housing has a depressible trigger effective when actuated to energize a motor. The motor drives a cylindrical brush to rotate within the housing. As the brush rotates, the ends of the radially extending bristles contact and remove ink from the conical surface of the felt tip of a marker, the end of which extends through an opening into the interior of the housing. Ink removed from the marker is propelled through another opening in the housing in a stream.

Abstract: A top dresser (10) is disclosed in a first preferred form including a discharge gate (56) of a pusher (44) movably mounted in a hopper (30) for forcing material forward towards a rotating, cylindrical, dispensing drum (66) as the top dresser (10) is being pulled forward. The pusher (44) is slideably mounted by slides (50) secured to ears (48) extending between the sides (36) and the bottom (34) of the hopper (30) and slideable on tubular rails (52) positioned on the outside of the hopper (30). The pusher (44) is moved by expandable and contractable actuators (58, 60) pivotally mounted by their opposite ends to the frame (12) and the pusher (44) in a non-parallel, crossing manner. The drum (66) includes corrugated sheeting (70) around its periphery for gripping the material in the hopper (30) and drawing it under a metering gate (72) and a rotating brush (74) which propels the material onto the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and spraying a slurry. The apparatus comprises a housing including a channel. The channel is in fluid communication with an inlet at its upstream end and curves to an outlet at its downstream end. The outlet is in fluid communication with an air atomization nozzle. A mixing surface is capable of rotation with respect to the housing and the channel is open to the mixing surface.

Abstract: Spreading apparatus for use with a tractor, comprising frame means for attachment to the three-point-linkage of a tractor, a hopper mounted on the frame means, the hopper having means for allowing a substance, contained within the hopper, to be spread onto the ground; and means for moving the hopper relative to the frame to allow the hopper to rotate from a spreading position in which the hopper is in a substantially upright position to a loading position in which the hopper is in a substantially horizontal position whereby the hopper may be used as a shovel to allow the substance to be spread over the ground to be loaded into the hopper, means being provided to effect movement of the hopper between positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering product into a feed tube including a tip over drum which has a tray supported between two side walls. The tray has a convex hump near the axis of rotation for dividing product fed by a gravitational feed into two portions.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position and receiving the first mating member.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging refuse into an incinerator comprising a housing and a drum disposed in the housing for rotation about a horizontal axis, the housing having an inlet communicable with an elevated mass of refuse for guiding the refuse into the housing and depositing it on a periphery of the drum and an outlet communicable with an incinerator at a lower level, and the housing having a wall spaced from the periphery of the drum defining a passageway intercommunicating the inlet and outlet of the housing whereby upon refuse being guided through the inlet and deposited on the periphery of the drum and the drum being rotated, the refuse deposited on the periphery of the drum will be conveyed through the passageway by the drum and discharged through the housing outlet.

Abstract: In a developing station functioning on the principle of cross-blending in an electrophotographic printing device, two mixing screws running in opposite directions are arranged at a distance from one another. The first mixing screw is situated in a mixing trough provided with a plurality of oblique slots and comprises two mixing strips in the delivery region of the developer mix which are offset by 180.degree. and which neighbor one another. A scraper strip having an actual scraping region and scraping teeth is situated above the two mixing screws. A metering baffle is arranged at an angle relative to this scraper strip, this metering baffle extending through the teeth of the scraper strip and including baffles at its lower end for controlling the flow of the developer mix.

Abstract: A metering apparatus includes a roller charging device having an encircling groove which allows an accurate metering in minimum quantities, using the respective angle of slope of a pourable loose material.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position to the first mating member. Thus, only the cartridge having the first mating member may be properly held by the holder for carrying out a toner replenishing operation.

Abstract: A unit for moulding concrete mix, asphalt or other flowable material is disclosed which has a plurality of paddles mounted on a rotatable paddle wheel. The paddles compact and extrude the material into and through a mould box.

Abstract: A material spreader for handling both rock and powder-like materials incorporates a hopper assembly with a hydraulically motor driven side discharge as compared to the conventional bottom discharge. The hopper assembly in one embodiment is supported directly above the surface being covered by hydraulically motor driven wheeled frames and in another embodiment is supported by a carriage on a bridge spanning the work surface. A gasoline engine driven hydraulic system mounts on and moves with the hopper assembly during spreading and includes a mechanism for automatically reversing the direction of travel.

Abstract: An apparatus for adding grinding media to a grinding mill is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a supporting structure including a face plate adapted to be mounted on a wall of a hopper or pipe containing the grinding media, a resilient rubber wheel mounted on the supporting structure and protruding through a slot in the face plate and said wall of the media container, and means for rotating said wheel at a low speed for withdrawing grinding media from said container and delivering the same to other conveyances for direction to the grinding mill.

Abstract: A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position to the first mating member. Thus, only the cartridge having the first mating member may be properly held by the holder for carrying out a toner replenishing operation.

Abstract: A material spreader for spreading large rock over a wet concrete or other surface utilizes a pair of hoppers which are driven back and forth on a bridge support spanning the surface. A gasoline engine mounts above the hoppers and furnishes power for a reversibly-controllable hydraulic hopper drive motor. The rock is dispensed by a rough-surfaced hydraulically motor driven cylinder with the discharge opening being controlled by a pair of spring-loaded gates which position themselves in response to the size rock being spread and the direction of travel of the spreader.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining granular components. The granular material, in finely divided form, is moved from spaced-apart locations into flight paths or trajectories which overlap or cross one another. The mixing of the components first takes place in the crossover zone of the trajectories. The material is thus continuously and uniformly mixed in a simple manner. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes two drums which are rotated in opposite directions. Receivers for the components are distributed on the surfaces of the drums. An extraction device is located between the drums for removing the granular material from the receivers as the drums rotate. In the region below the extraction device, there is disposed a mixing zone in which the trajectories of the material cross one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly dispensing particulate food materials onto a moving article which comprises a hopper for holding a supply of the particulate and having a horizontally disposed orifice through which the particulate material can exit, a rotatable drum located below the orifice and having a plurality of spaced fins protruding radially therefrom and disposed on a zig-zag pattern and operable to counteract the tendency of the particulate material to fall off the drum, and a scraper adapted to engage the drum surface between the fins and operable to follow the zig-zag pattern of the fins to lift particulate material off the surface of the drum and guide it to a discharge precipice over which it falls onto the moving article.

Abstract: A machine for applying pellets and powder, especially micropellets, to the soil, incorporating, first, a reservoir with outlets, second, ridge wheels that are rotated by a drive shaft at varying rates and the distribute uniform volumes of the material flowing out of the reservoir through the outlets into exit pipes that communicate with a blower and that have outflow openings, and, third, base plates below the ridge wheels. To ensure uniform application of material that tends to clog up the ridge wheels the machine is provided with scrapers that are intended for cleaning the ridge wheels, that engage the depressions between the ridges, which are positioned one after the other in the sense of rotation, and that are appropriately constructed to scrape the depressions out.

Abstract: Toner dispensing apparatus comprising a toner hopper the walls of which form an elongated opening from which toner is capable of being dispensed and a dispensing roll to dispense toner from the hopper through the elongated opening into the developer chamber. The dispensing roll is a cylindrical resiliently deformable foam roll having a plurality of depressions of predetermined size, shape and volume uniformly disposed on the roll and being capable of holding finely divided toner. The deformable foam roll including the depressions has a thin toner impermeable surface. In a preferred embodiment, the depressions are a plurality of longitudinal surface grooves parallel to the axis of the roll and uniformly spaced around the circumference of the roll. The roll is positioned relative to top and bottom lobe members in the toner hopper such that it provides a seal between the toner hopper and the developer chamber.

Abstract: Toner dispensing apparatus comprising a toner hopper, the walls of which form an elongated opening from which toner is capable of being dispensed and a dispensing roll to dispense toner from the hopper through the elongated opening into the developer chamber. The dispensing roll is a cylindrical resiliently deformable foam roll having a plurality of depressions of predetermined size, shape and volume uniformly disposed on the roll and being capable of holding finely divided toner. The deformable foam roll including the depressions has a thin toner impermeable surface, the thin toner impermeable surface and the foam roll of the dispensing roll being separate layers bonded together at their interface. In a specific embodiment, the depressions are a plurality of longitudinal surface grooves parallel to the axis of the roll and uniformly spaced around the circumference of the roll.

Abstract: A granular herbicide or other agricultural chemical is applied using an applicator including a hopper with orifices in its base for discharging the granular material onto metering wheels mounted on a drive shaft beneath the hopper, the wheels feeding the material to a spreader; a motor for driving the shaft to rotate the wheels; and a control circuit which monitors the speed of the motor by constantly monitoring an A.C. feedback from such motor, and controls motor speed by adjusting the current fed to the motor to compensate for speed changes of the motor.

Abstract: Method for applying loose, free-flowing powder compositions to the skin from a dispensing container utilizing a dispensing ball or roller containing filamentous hair-like projections over its exterior surface, and dry antiperspirant powder compositions based on particulate aluminum and/or zirconium chlorohydrate as the active antiperspirant ingredient including minor amounts of a surfactant vehicle to aid in maintaining the powder on the skin after contact therewith.

Abstract: A process for the continuous leaching of ores and an apparatus for practising this continuous leaching process are disclosed. According to this process, a plurality of unit layers composed of a pulverized uranium ore or other ore are continuously laminated while a minimum necessary amount of an acid, alkali or organic solvent (hereinafter referred to as "solvent") is uniformly sprinkled on the flat surfaces of these unit layers. In the state where the concentration of the solvent mixed into the ore is maintained at a high level, the heat generated by exothermic reaction caused by contact among the solvent, ore and water is effectively stored and used for thermally curing the ore. According to this process, the speed of extraction of the intended metal component can be increased, the leaching time shortened and the filtration characteristics improved, whereby a highly concentrated pregnant liquor can be recovered at a high efficiency.

Abstract: A seed singulator uses two opposing surfaces, one of which has a groove extending across it dimensioned to receive seeds in a single file. The two surfaces are moved relative to each other, with the groove having an angled relationship of less than 90.degree. with the relative direction motion of the two surfaces. Variation of the angle controls spacing between seeds independently of the velocity of relative movement between the surfaces. The surfaces are preferably flat with a centrally disposed seed containing area and the groove extending from that area to the periphery of the surfaces for discharge of the seed. In this form, the relative motion between the surfaces is preferably rotary to provide continuous operation.