Abstract: A paddle (30), a paddle rail (20), a mixer shaft (10) for a mixer (1), a mixer (1) and a method for mixing a product to be conditioned in a mixer (1). As the mixer (1) starts up, a product to be mixed is retained in a starting region of the mixer shaft (10), for instance, until the desired mixing or conditioning is achieved, so that loss-free start-up is made possible. That is to say disposal or recycling of the product when the mixer starts up becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: A cutter dome for use with a reclaimer includes a sidewall that at least partially encircles a central axis and that extends from a lower end to an upper end, the sidewall having a lower portion that bounds a first chamber and an upper portion that bounds a second chamber, a collection opening being formed on the lower portion of the sidewall so that a reclaimer, such as an auger, can pass through the collection opening and communicate with the first chamber. A roof is disposed on the upper end of the sidewall so as to cover second chamber, the roof having a first inlet formed thereon. A first passageway is disposed within the second chamber and extends from the first inlet to a first outlet, the first outlet communicating with the first chamber.

Abstract: An auger assembly that has three individual augers that function cooperatively to transport silage within a silo. Specifically, the auger assembly is used to manipulate silage during the loading and unloading of a silo. The first and third augers have the same flighting and rotate in the same direction. The second auger is positioned between the first and third augers and rotates in the opposite direction and has flighting that is the opposite of the flighting of the first and third augers. The individual augers rotate so that silage is moved along parallel with the longitudinal axes of the augers. The design of the auger assembly allows the assembly to transition from a loading to an unloading configuration by electronically reversing the direction of rotation of the individual augers without mechanically altering the auger assembly configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically loading trays includes a servo motor that is mechanically coupled to a plurality of elongated engagement members. The engagement members are coupled to the servo motor at a first end and include engagement elements at the second end of the engagement member. The engagement elements may be designed to uniquely operate with the type of tray to be lifted by the apparatus. In one embodiment where the apparatus is loading a disposable tray, the engagement member may be an auger-type bit that screws into the trays. The apparatus also includes a lifting mechanism by which the engagement assembly is vertically positioned. The apparatus mechanically engages and retains the tray and moves the tray into position over a carton or other shipping container. The apparatus is vertically displaced to lower the tray into the carton and the servo motor operated in a reverse direction to mechanically disengage the tray.

Abstract: A reclaimer for moving grains and other bulk material in a desired direction includes a substantially cylindrical column upstanding within a storage silo. A track, mounted on the storage silo above the floor, concentrically encircles the column. A motorized carriage is mounted on the track so as to selectively move thereon. Extending between the top end of the column and the carriage is a boom. The proximal end of the boom is rotatably mounted to the column such that movement of the carriage on the tack results in the boom rotating around the column. Suspended from the boom by a pair of winch activated cables is a scraper. The scraper includes an elongated frame having a proximal end that is rotatably and slidably mounted on the column below the boom. Secured along the length of the frame is one or more rotatable augers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silo unloader which combines the advantages of both a single auger unloader and a double auger unloader and substantially eliminates the disadvantages of both, to create a silo unloader that is very efficient and effective. Only a portion of the unloader's auger arms has dual augers working therewith while the remaining portion has a single auger. The dual auger functionality is positioned at the end of the auger where most freezing and compaction occurs, thus creating a very aggressive auger at this point. Additionally, the blower of the present silo unloader is positioned at an angle above the augers. This allows for the use of an efficient closed bottom blower in a double auger system while also allowing the placement of the two augers substantially next to each other. By placing the two augers in close proximity to one another reduces the overall width of the auger arm, thus creating a more efficient auger arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material (11). The apparatus includes a support column (16) mounted at a base into a support floor (25). An auger (17) is attached with an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational declination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of declination (54), to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation (55) wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable (61) is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger declination. A rotational displacement drive (35) is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor (51) is mounted at a distal end of the auger.

Abstract: A device for the emptying of the residual product stored in a silo comprises a series of beams, for example, two or three beams. The first beam is mounted pivotably at a first end thereof on a pivot situated at the center of the discharge opening of the silo. Toward its second end, the first beam is articulated via a pivot to a first end of the second beam. If three beams are provided, the second end of the second beam is similarly articulated via a pivot to the first end of the third beam. Each beam supports a rotatable endless screw for feeding the product in the direction of the first end that beam and thus toward the discharge opening of the silo, and bears against the base of the silo via a drivable wheel which enables the beam to be pivotally displaced over the base of the silo. Each beam also carries a motor assembly for driving the endless screw and the wheel associated with that beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing bulk materials from a laterally enclosed storage area wherein the apparatus may be substantially buried within the bulk material (11). The apparatus includes a support column (16) mounted at a base into a support floor (25). An auger (17) is attached by an axial mount at the base of the support column for enabling rotational inclination of the auger from (i) a vertical orientation vertical orientation wherein the auger is nearly parallel with the vertical axis of the support column, (ii) through intermediate angles of inclination (54), to (iii) a substantially horizontal orientation (55) wherein the auger is adjacent to the support floor. The suspension cable (61) is coupled between the support column and auger to enable selective adjustment of auger inclination. A rotational displacement drive (35) is coupled to the support column to rotate the column about its vertical axis, along with the attached auger. A rotational drive motor (51) is mounted at a distal end of the auger.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting and drying powder used for electrostatic coating of a workpiece has air injection means incorporated into the collection bin both to dry and also to homogenize powder recovered, just prior to withdrawal from the bin.

Abstract: A silo rotary unloader monitor provides an indication of a rotational speed of the rotary collector ring of a material unloading device suspended within the top portion of a vertical silo. A limit switch has an actuating sensor biased into engagement with a sinusoidal cylindrical surface formed on a wheel mounted for rotation with the rotary collector ring. An electric circuit connected to the limit switch causes a remotely mounted electric signalling lamp or buzzer to flash or sound at a rate proportional to the rotary speed of the collector ring.

Abstract: A belt clamp type unloader includes a vertical-horizontal conveyor assembly having a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion, and a scraping section disposed at a position below a lower end of the conveyor assembly. In the conveyor assembly, two endless flat belts are combined such that their respective conveyance faces are superposed face-to-face with each other. Two tail pulleys are rotatably disposed at the lower ends of the vertically extending portions, and are spaced apart from each other transversely with respect to the direction of the breadth of the flat belt conveyor. A pair of pulleys which have a small diameter middle portion and large diameter opposite end portions are rotatably supported near to the lower ends of the flat belt conveyors but above the tail pulleys so as to press the flat belts into contact with each other, and another pulley is disposed at a bent portion at which the vertical portion meets the horizontal portion.

Abstract: A manure spreader device and method of distributing any of a variety of manure materials having varying consistencies are provided. The device and method embody a concept in which a plurality of elongated augers that are longitudinally positioned within a translatable bin impart a stepped characteristic to the flow of manure material in order to loosen the manure material, if necessary, prior to its passage into a generally vertically oriented expeller assembly.

Abstract: A silo unloader has an auger collector for moving material to an impeller operable to discharge material from a tower silo. A sprocket and endless chain secured to a transition assembly mounted on the impeller drives the collector around the silo wall. Wheels on the outer end of the collector and wheels on a biased arm on the inner end of the frame stabilize the unloader in the silo. A stop pivotally connected to the collector limits its backward movement by lifting the collector from the material.

Abstract: A feeder head assembly is provided which includes a single pair of augers which collect bulk material contained within a vessel. These augers advance the material to a lifting conveyor. A frame pivotally mounted to a rotatable enclosure portion of the lifting conveyor supports the augers on opposite sides of the conveyor with one end of each auger disposed proximate to the open lower end of the conveyor. Hydraulic motors disposed on the frame drive the augers. The assembly includes springs which bias the frame and augers to a perpendicular relation with the lifting conveyor whereby the assembly automatically adjusts to the configuration of the material and the bottom of the vessel.

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: An apparatus for automatically and continuously withdrawing coal from a ship's bunker by means of a screw conveyor suspended from a gantry beam transversely of the bunker in order to convey the coal towards one or both sides. The gantry beam travels on supporting beams extending in the longitudinal direction of the bunker and being movable in their turn on vertical beams by means of hydraulic devices mounted each at one end of the supporting beam and engaging the associated vertical beam. By being arranged in this manner, the screw conveyor covers the entire bunker area and can also be operated while the ship is under way at sea.

Abstract: A top unloading silo unloader pendantly supported in a tower silo. The unloader has a material collector moved around the silo with drive structure. An impeller receives material from the collector and throws the material into an out chute which directs the material to a doorway leading to an upright passageway. The drive structure mounted on the outer end of the collector has leading and trailing drive wheels connected with movable mounts to a leveling apparatus. Power is applied to both wheels by separate drive shafts connected to the power transmission for the augers of the collector. The leveling apparatus has a base secured to the collector. Supports pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the base are attached to the mounts for the wheels. A linear actuator connected to the supports operates to concurrently pivot the supports in opposite directions so that the outer end of the collector can be raised or lowered and held in a selected position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silo unloader which has a center ring supported through a support framework from a single centrally located cable, and a silo unloader is mounted for rotation relative to the ring. The ring is held from rotation through the use of a torque arm, and the unloader is driven for rotation by the same motor which powers the other standard silo unloader components. A chain encompasses the support ring and the drive sprocket and motor orbits around the ring with the silo unloader, which moves in a circular path for gathering and unloading silage through conventional means. The assembly can be suspended at the top of silos in which it is used.

Abstract: A storage and dispensing system for ice in flake or particle form is disclosed utilizing a storage bin with driven screw augers extending outwardly over and above an ice storage space, the discharge end of the screw augers being pivotally mounted at the discharge end thereof with the other end of the augers being flexibly suspended for arcuate movement about the pivoted end to a position above the stored ice and being lowered into contact with the stored ice for auger dispensing, the auger being lowered as ice is discharged; the auger dispenser is oscillatable lengthwise during dispensing drive and is equipped with ice cutting blades on the outer edges of the screw flights and at the free end of such flights so as to ensure cutting a path through the particle ice as the conveyor device descends through the stored ice for dispensing purposes.