Abstract: System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a method of dispensing a prescription order to a customer at a customer kiosk. The method includes receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk and transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal. The method further includes opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal. The method also includes closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk.

Abstract: A method may comprise placing a plug in a chamber of a housing, sending a carbide powder through the one or more access ports such that the carbide power is directed around the plug and deposited on the inner surface, and removing the plug from the chamber. A rolling element assembly may comprise a housing having an outer surface and inner surface, carbide powder on the inner surface, and a rolling element attached in the chamber with a portion of the rolling element extends from the chamber, wherein the rolling element is in contact with the carbide powder deposited on the inner surface.

Abstract: A method for handling material in a pneumatic materials handling system, in which material is input from an input aperture of an input point and is handled with a rotary shaper, arranged in connection with the input point, to be more compact and is transferred onwards. The rotary shaper includes a rotatable handling device with an aperture, which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation. The rotary shaper includes at least one stationary handling device, in which case the material to be handled is conducted into and through the rotary shaper at least partly by gravity, by suction, or by a pressure difference, or at least partly by a combination of two or more of the gravity, the suction, and the pressure difference.

Abstract: A composite material comprises: an open grid comprising at least two sets of strands. Each set of strands has openings between adjacent strands. The sets are oriented at a substantial angle to one another. A tack film is laminated to the open grid. The tack film has first and second major surfaces, such that a material of the tack film at its first and second major surfaces includes about 50% or more of resinous non-asphaltic component and about 50% or less of asphaltic component.

Abstract: Method for handling material in a pneumatic materials handling system, in which material is input from an input aperture of an input point and is handled with a shaping device, arranged in connection with the input point or in the proximity of it, to be more compact and is transferred onwards. The shaping device is a rotary shaper including a rotatable handling device with an aperture, which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation, and which rotary shaper includes at least one stationary handling device, in which case the material to be handled is conducted into the rotary shaper and/or through it at least partly by means of gravity and/or suction and/or a pressure difference, and in that into connection with the rotary shaper, before it and/or into the rotary shaper and/or after the rotary shaper, replacement air is conducted with at least one replacement air coupling.

Abstract: A composite material comprises: an open grid comprising at least two sets of strands. Each set of strands has openings between adjacent strands. The sets are oriented at a substantial angle to one another. A tack film is laminated to the open grid. The tack film has first and second major surfaces, such that a material of the tack film at its first and second major surfaces includes about 50% or more of resinous non-asphaltic component and about 50% or less of asphaltic component.

Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: A metering assembly is provided for use with an air seeding system for delivering one or more particulate materials to an air seeding apparatus, the air seeding system comprising a product tank, configured to hold a particulate material and having an outlet, the metering assembly comprising at least one metering device, the metering device having a housing, an inlet positioned in the housing to receive particulate material from the outlet of the product tank, a first loading zone and a second loading zone, and a flow controller provided beneath the inlet and operative to route particulate material that has entered the metering device through the inlet in a first direction towards the first loading zone and in a second direction towards the second loading zone.

Abstract: A roller apparatus includes a roller apparatus that is used to transport a transportation target, the roller apparatus including: a roller body which is adapted to be rotatable; and a flow forming apparatus which forms a flow of a fluid between a surface of the roller body and the transportation target.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: An apparatus for batching articles from a continuous stream of articles has a conduit comprising an entry duct (2) in which the articles are accelerated by suction. The suction air is drawn from the exit end of the duct, close to a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers (20) which have resiliently yielding peripheral faces between which the articles pass. At the exit end of the conduit a pair of closure members (24) on opposite sides of the conduit are rotatable in 90° steps in order to collect the articles in batches. The closure members counter-rotate so that in each step they move in the general direction of movement of the articles. In this way it is possible to batch relatively delicate articles at high rates of throughflow.

Abstract: A flap is disposed across the opening between an expansion chamber and an exhaust air duct to control the delivery of fiber tuft-laden air into a feed chute or chamber. The flap has two wings which pivot about a common pivot axis whereby as one wing increases the flow cross section from the expansion chamber, the other wing reduces the flow cross section. A pressure difference produces forces on both wings simultaneously.

Abstract: A throttle valve is provided within a discharge air duct located adjacent a fiber duct receiving a fiber laden air stream. The throttle valve cooperates with a stop in a lowered position to form a gap to allow a minimal air flow therethrough. In addition, a weight is provided on an arm attached to the throttle valve for pivoting therewith. The weight is disposed to counterbalance a substantial portion of the weight of the flap valve in the raised position of the valve so that the air flow maintains the valve in the open condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved air acceleration nozzle for use in airlay web formers which reduce the creation of large scale vortices and turbulence. The nozzle accelerates the air by reducing the cross sectional area of the conduit. The size of the conduit for the air is reduced in both lateral dimensions, and more preferably, both dimensions are reduced with smoothly curving, low angle peripheral walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a nonwoven web comprises a carding drum and a continuously movable, air-permeable collecting surface member, which is arranged to collect the fibers which have been discharged from the carding drum and are entrained by an entraining air stream, through a suction duct, which extends between the carding drum and the collecting surface member. Passages for supplying air to the suction duct are provided throughout a predetermined working width of the drum and disposed adjacent to the duct at leading and trailing boundaries thereof with respect to the direction of rotation of the carding drum.

Abstract: In a device for feeding flocculent fiber material to processing machines, comprising an upper filling chute (1) arranged in a housing, at the lower end of which a feeding roller (8) is arranged cooperating with a beater or opening roller (9) from which a feeding chute (6) branches tangentially, the filling chute (1) and the feeding chute (6) having at least one at least partially air-permeable chute wall (2, 11), an additional pneumatic compacting being performed in the feeding chute by injecting a compacting air flow (C), and the flow of transport air (A) being discharged at the air-permeable chute wall (2) of the filling chute (1), it is provided that the flow of transport air (A) is discharged within the housing (7) into an exhaust air chute (3, 4) that is substantially parallel to the filling and feeding chute (1, 6) to an exhaust air connecting member (5) arranged downstream of the air-permeable chute wall (11), and that a partial air flow (B) of the flow of transport air (A) is supplied into the feeding

Abstract: An air lock for injecting a fibrous or granular material, such as insulation, into an airstream. The air lock has two counter-rotating, generally cylindrical rollers in facing contact with each other along their edges, made of a resilient material such as a closed cell foam. The rollers are also in facing contact with the outside of a tube or cylinder through which the airstream flows. The insulation is positioned on top of the rollers, and the rollers feed the insulation between them and into the airstream. The contact between the rollers and between the rollers and the injection tube create the air lock between the airstream and the atmosphere. The invention can also be used in a vacuum machine, particularly suited for vacuuming and collecting fibrous or granular materials.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying fiber in a chute feed (10) are disclosed including a pivotal air control deflection vane (B) pivoted at an entrance (46) of a reserve section (12). The inclination of the vane (B) may be adjusted, depending on airflow conditions and fiber type, to redirect the incoming horizontal flow (58) of fiber-laden air and deposit the fibers (F) in a column having a level surface (80). The transport air (72) exits the chute (32) of the reserve section through a grille (70). The level column of fibers provides feeding of a uniform weight of fibers across the entire width (W) of the chute for uniform feeding and opening the feed roll (34) and opening roll (39).

Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.

Abstract: A feed chute arrangement for textile machines, such as carding machines includes a feed chute having a plurality of walls one of which is gas-permeable to let gaseous medium to escape from the interior of the feed chute into a neighboring gas output chamber that is bounded by a plurality of additional walls different from the gas permeable wall. One of these additional walls is provided with an opening at which there is pivotally mounted a plate-shaped blocking flap selectively movable between its closed position and a plurality of open positions in which it offers various amounts of resistance to the flow of the gaseous medium from the gas output chamber through the opening into a connecting conduit and eventually into a discharge passage.

Abstract: A receiving/delivering apparatus for rod-shaped objects, according to the present invention, comprises a transport trough having a guide groove for guiding the objects by transported by an air current, a driving pulley located over the groove, first and second driven pulley located over the guide groove, respectively, on the upper-course side of the driving pulley with respect to the transportation direction of the objects, an endless rubber belt stretched between the driving pulley and the first driven pulley, the belt including a belt portion between the driving pulley and the first driven pulley, and running in the same direction as the transportation direction, the belt portion having a parallel portion between the first and second driven pulleys, and adapted to be in contact with the objects in the guide groove, and a slanting portion inclined at a predetermined angle, so as to be more distant from the guide groove than from the second driven pulley, and a pair of acceleration rollers positioned beside t

Abstract: An improved, more versatile applicator (10) for precisely dispensing granular chemicals, fertilizers or seed, includes a hopper (14) with a metering assembly (40) mounted over a material discharge opening (34) in an inclined wall of the closed, convergent bottom end (18) of the hopper. The metering assembly (40), which is preferably removably secured to the hopper (14), includes a plurality of individual sets of metering wheels (64), receivers (56) and gate plates (60) for precise control and more tolerance to tilt. The metering assembly (40) is also adapted to facilitate thorough clean-out of the hopper (14) as well as removal and replacement of the metering wheels (64) without emptying the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a uniform fiber column in a chute feed (A) which includes an entrance opening (34) in a reserve section (30) of the chute at which an inclined air deflection vane (42) is pivoted for deflecting the incoming fiber-laden airflow downwardly in nonturbulent, uniform flow paths. A fiber column (F) with a level top surface (43) is provided along the entire length (L) of the reserve chute (40). An adjustable width throat (B) in the reserve chute compacts and shapes the fibers into a fiber column having a desired form avoiding fiber drag down the chute walls. The adjustable throat includes a pair of longitudinal movable wall elements (66, 68). The wall elements may be adjusted and fixed in position to provide a throat cross-section having a desired width (W) or shape depending on the type fiber being fed.

Abstract: A control system for a textile chute feed is disclosed which includes first and second fiber quantity signals generators (A, B) which generate first and second fiber quantity signals (52, 54) proportional to sensed fiber volumes in chute (16). A fiber delivery weight signal generator (C) generates a delivery weight signal (60) proportional to the delivery weight of the fibers in the fiber batt (44). A delivery roll signal generator (D) generates a signal proportional to the rotational speed of the delivery roll (38). The fiber quantity signal (52) is integrated with a delivery roll signal (68) in a first controller device (70) to produce a feed roll control signal (71). The delivery weight signal (60) and the delivery roll signal (68) are integrated in a controller (74) to produce a control signal (75) which controls the oscillation of an oscillating fiber compaction plate (28).

Abstract: In a transport apparatus, a plurality of flat bodies are respectively aligned uprightly and juxtaposed laterally to form a block of the flat bodies, the block is loaded in a movable capsule, and the capsule is transported under the application of air flow through a transport pipeline. A loading mechanism having a pair of openable and closable holding arms is disposed to oppose a loading opening of a loading station, and an unloading mechanism having a pair of openable and closable holding arms is disposed to oppose an unloading opening of an unloading station.

Abstract: The pneumatic conveyor pipe which connects an article discharging station with an article receiving station in a production line for rod-shaped smokers' products passes through the sealed housing of an article influencing unit which contains friction wheels driven at a peripheral speed which ensures acceleration or deceleration of successive axially moving articles to a selected speed. The thus influenced articles are thereupon accelerated by compressed air so that they are separated from each other by gaps of preselected minimum width to allow for unobstructed changes in the direction of movement of articles which arrive at the receiving station.

Abstract: The outlets of pneumatic pipes in a transporting unit which delivers filter rod sections from a filter rod making machine and wherein the sections move axially admit successive sections into a separating unit wherein the speed of sections is uniformized and the sections are separated from each other by clearances of preselected length prior to entry into the corresponding channels of a deflecting unit which changes the direction of movement of each section from axial to sidewise movement and directs the sections into a junction zone. The latter admits a multi-layer stream of parallel sections which move sideways onto the upper reach of an endless belt conveyor which delivers the stream to a processing machine. The speed of the conveyor is regulated in dependency on the rate at which the deflecting unit receives sections from the separating unit so that the rate of delivery of sections to the processing machine matches the rate of delivery of articles to the separating and deflecting units.

Abstract: A chip material container arrangement is provided for storage of material to be spread in the production of particle and/or fiber boards. The container arrangement is equipped with several discharge rollers arranged one above the other, a base belt and feeder devices. With a discharge opening extending over the width of the container, the density distribution of the material to be spread is controlled by removing appropriately dimensioned material quantities from individual partial streams which partial streams are later combined in the area of the discharge opening to form a total material flow.

Abstract: A chute feed having an opening roller and a vertical chute therebeneath for receiving and collecting fibers, the chute having one generally vertical side wall formed with an area of perforations extending above and below the normal level of fibers collected in the chute, and a blower for generating an air current around the upper portion of the opening roller and toward the perforations to entrain fibers leaving the roller and to assist in equalizing the level of fibers collected in the chute. A fiber level sensing device is provided adjacent the area of wall perforations to control the flow of fibers from the opening roller to the chute.

Abstract: Air is conveyed pneumatically to and through a tobacco feed chute by continuously extracting air from a region in the feed chute and continuously applying air upstream of that region in the direction of movement of the tobacco. The feed chute may include a seal or valve comprising at least one roller defining a throat in the feed chute, the or each roller being rotatable such that in the throat the or each roller surface moves in the same direction as the tobacco, a plurality of vanes mounted on and displaceable radially with respect to the or each roller, a cam arrangement for controlling the radial displacement of the vanes such that they change from being extended in a region away from the throat to being fully retracted in the throat so as to draw air from downstream of the seal, between the vanes, to upstream of the seal, and a flow restricting arrangement for the or each roller for accelerating the drawn air into the throat from an upstream position.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding granular material into a gas stream, for example seed or fertilizer into multiple airstreams of an agricultural vehicle, includes a receptacle for granular material, a duct for a gas stream, and a pair of resiliently compressible surfaces which contact or almost contact to define a nip between them. The surfaces may be provided by contrarotatable rollers and are disposed so that granular material may pass from one side of the nip through a port into the duct, and are moveable into the nip from the other side. The apparatus further includes metering means defining a controllable outlet from the receptacle and positioned with respect to the nip for feeding granular material into the nip from said other side at an adjustable controlled rate. Also disclosed is a distributor for gas-entrained granular material which includes a conical, part-conical or inverted conical surface in a diverging housing.

Abstract: A chute feed having a chute formed in part by an upper perforated wall portion and a lower oscillating wall portion. Two compartments are formed adjacent the chute and are separated therefrom by the upper and lower wall portions, and a divider wall is disposed to extend from the front of the chute feed to a location between the upper and lower edges of the upper perforated wall portion, such divider wall separating the two compartments and permitting the compartments to be exposed to upper and lower parts of the perforated wall portion, respectively.

Abstract: A receiving station at the outlets of several pneumatic conveyor pipes which discharge discrete files of axially moving filter plugs accommodates a separating unit immediately downstream of the outlets and an orientation changing unit immediately downstream of the separating unit. The separating unit defines discrete lanes, one for each file of filter plugs. In each of the lanes, the filter plugs of the respective file are converted into a series of axially spaced filter plugs which continue to move lengthwise, and the filter plugs of each series are delivered into discrete upright ducts of the orientation changing unit wherein each series is transformed into a row whose filter plugs move sideways.

Abstract: A continuous gasification furnace and method of operation. The charge is fed into the furnace chamber between two rolls at least one of which is driven. The furnace chamber can be sealed from the ambient atmosphere. The bed of the furnace contains three zones from top to bottom, these zones are; a volatilization zone, a char reaction zone and an ash zone. Additionally, there can be a drying zone above the volatilization zone. Fuel, air, and steam enter the lower portion of the furnace through strategically located inlet ports. Fuel is used to start up the burning bed while carefully controlled steam to air ratio is used during continuous operation of the furnace. Simultaneously controlled steam cooling effects and exothermic reactions occur in the char reaction zone whereby all or controlled amounts of the oxygen is consumed so that pyrolysis can occur in the volatilization zone without the danger of combustion in that zone or combustion of the fumes leaving the bed.

Abstract: A uniform web of fiber tufts is delivered to a textile fiber processing machine such as a carding machine by a feed chimney provided with a perforated wall. The fiber tufts are impelled into the upper portion of the chimney by means of a fan, a uniform web of fibers being discharged between rollers at the lower end of the chimney. The level of tufts within the chimney is maintained constant and under constant pressure by a regulating valve and a two-position reversing valve. The reversing valve serves to put the suction side of the fan into communication either with a tuft storage area or with the atmosphere.

Abstract: An arrangement for supplying a card by means of a feed chute to which the fiber material is supplied from above and from which it is removed below for delivery to the card. The feed chute for compressing fiber material has at its lower end air exit openings and at its upper end an arrangement delivering flowing air fiber material. The air exiting from the air exit openings is drawn in and fed again to the feed chute at its upper end. One end of an outflow channel is connected to the air exit openings and the other end to a unit delivering air to the fiber material. This unit may be capable of generating flowing air in spurts or continuously. It may be a check-valve type pump or a fan. A filter device is located in the outflow channel, and an air distribution arrangement may be placed behind the unit for delivering air.

Abstract: A method for changing the direction of travel of a sheet includes the steps of providing a pocket, guiding a sheet traveling in a first direction into the pocket, and providing a fluid stream in the pocket to bias the sheet in a substantially opposite direction, thereby reversing the direction of travel of the sheet.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for forming webs from textile fibers entrained in an air stream in a conduit with a perforated plate dividing the interior of a housing into first and second chambers so that the entrained fibers fall to the bottom of the first chamber and the air passes through the plate while a portion of the plate is oscillated. The passage between the conduit and first chamber increases in cross-section from conduit to first chamber to reduce the velocity of the air and entrained particles.

Abstract: A powder metering device for distributing powder which is stored in a hopper, the powder then being delivered by the device to distributing nozzles. The metering device comprises a roller defining an engraved periphery which receives powder from the hopper. The roller carries powder at a controlled rate to a passage where the powder is then moved with the fluid to the distributing nozzles. The chamber holding the roller is maintained under positive pressure. Gaskets are located on opposite sides of the roller and maintained by the chamber pressure against the roll side walls and in engagement with the chamber walls. These gaskets, as well as the positive pressure conditions serve to discourage seepage of powder away from the path between the hopper outlet and the passage leading to the distributing nozzles.