Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheet material that may include a trim section and a stacking section, the stacking section being downstream the trim section for receiving the blanks of sheet material, forming bundles each having a plurality of blanks, and transferring the bundles downstream. The apparatus may further include a plurality of longitudinal positioning systems for independently longitudinally positioning a plurality of components in at least one of upstream or downstream directions so as to create an operator access space. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an incline conveyor section downstream the trim section and upstream the stacking section, and the trim section may have a takeaway conveyor for conveying the plurality of blanks of sheet material to the incline conveyor. In certain embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal positioning systems can individually longitudinally position at least two of the takeaway conveyor, the incline conveyor, or the stacking apparatus.

Abstract: A three-batch method for the precision loading of coal into the individual railroad cars of a moving train, and a loadout system implementing the method. For each railcar, three successive batches are made up and discharged from a single weigh bin. The loadout rate of a single-batch system is approached, but at a significantly reduced facility cost. The first batch is large enough to fill the front of the railcar and to establish a "plugged flow condition," allowing the second batch to be made up and discharged while maintaining a constant load profile in the railcar. After the weigh bin is emptied of the second batch, the third batch is made up and discharged. The third batch is made up with greater precision than the first and second batches.

Abstract: An actuator automatically opens and closes the covers of a railroad hopper car as the car enters a loading/unloading station. The opening actuator includes a support frame disposed along a railroad track at the station that extends upwardly above the railroad car as it enters the station. An actuator bar is carried by the support frame and extends fore-and-aft of the railroad car adjacent the top thereof. The bar has an inclined unlatching segment for engagement by the latch arms of the covers to raise the arms and release the latches as the car passes thereunder, an intermediate substantially horizontally extending segment and a lifting segment for thereafter opening the covers as the car passes beneath the bar. The closing actuator includes a second support frame disposed along the track that extends upwardly above the car once unloaded. A closing bar is carried by the second frame and extends fore-and-aft of the empty car adjacent the top thereof.

Abstract: A method for maximizing the loading capacity of a wagon or wagon train when loading with pourable material from a silo. The method utilizes a computer which determines the type of wagon to be loaded on the basis of values obtained with sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading a traveling bulk container with bulk material. The bulk container is moved in a traveling direction underneath a loading chute. A bulk material stream is put into motion while the bulk container is being moved in the traveling direction underneath the loading chute. The bulk container is loaded with bulk material in the bulk material stream while the bulk container is moving along in the traveling direction underneath the loading chute, and is further substantially completely loaded in a front region thereof close to a front edge thereof with the bulk material. The bulk material stream is constricted at a front side thereof when the bulk material stream is put into motion thereby forming a constriction in the bulk material stream. The constriction in the bulk material stream is opened so as to follow a movement of the bulk container until the bulk material stream flows into the bulk container without the constriction.

Abstract: A method for loading a moving railroad car from front to back with a target weight of particulate material from a loading unit having a silo and first and second weigh bin, which bin means have a combined material weight capacity of less than the target weight, the method comprising the steps of:(a) making a first charge of material into the first bin;(b) discharging a first quantity of material from the first bin into a forward portion of the car;(c) making a second charge of material into the first bin;(d) discharging a second quantity of material from the first bin into a rearward portion of the car, wherein the weights of the first and second quantities are determined and, as a combined weight, is less than the target weight;(e) making a charge of material into the second bin;(f) discharging from the second bin into the car a topping quantity of material equal in weight, to within about 0.

Abstract: A system for loading coal (particles) into railroad cars 16 wherein a control weight of a railroad car 16 loaded with coal (particles) is established and a maximum permissible weight of a railroad car 16 loaded with coal (particles) is known, the control weight being less than the maximum permissible weight, The system utilizes a continuous loading system 12 and a batch loading system 14. Coal (particles) first is loaded into each of the railroad cars 16 utilizing the continuous loading system 12 and the continuous loading system 12 is designed such that the continuous loading system 12 loads an amount of coal (particles) into each of the railroad cars 16 having a weight less than the predetermined control weight.

Abstract: A computer controlled system is provided for regulating the flow of coal into a railway car or the like. The coal flows into the car through a loading chute. When the total weight in the car reaches the desired weight as determined by spaced platform scales, the computer control shuts off the flow by actuating the flow gate. The difference in the weight of the front and rear car trucks is noted and the inclination of the loading chute is regulated up or down by the computer control through operation of a hydraulic cylinder. If the chute is raised, the height of the coal within the car is raised and with all factors the same, the front of the car will be loaded more. As the chute is lowered, the height of the coal that can enter the car will be less and, thus, a shift of the weight to the back of the car can be effected. In accordance with the computer reading for each car, the position of the chute can be regulated for each following car of the same size and height.

Abstract: A method for loading particles, such as coal, into a plurality of railroad cars wherein a control weight of a railroad car loaded with particles is established. Each of the railroad cars is weighed prior to loading particles into the railroad car from a weigh bin to determine an unfilled weight of each railroad car and the unfilled weight of each railroad car is compared with the control weight to determine an unfilled differential weight for each railroad car. The particles are loaded into the weigh bin from a surge bin and the surge bin is weighed as the particles are being loaded into the weigh bin from the surge bin so the loading of particles into the weigh bin can be terminated when a weight of particles has been loaded into the weigh bin about equal to and less than the unfilled differential weight associated with the railroad car to be loaded with the unfilled differential weight of particles.

Abstract: A system for loading coal or other particles into railroad cars wherein every other railroad car is designated an EVEN railroad car and the remaining every other railroad cars are designated ODD railroad cars. Each EVEN railroad car is weighed after being filled with coal and before the initiation of the loading of coal into the next EVEN railroad car to determine a filled weight. The filled weight of each EVEN railroad car is compared to a predetermined control weight and, in response to this determination, the termination of the loading of coal into the next EVEN railroad car controllably is varied to bring the filled weight closer to control weight. In a like manner, each ODD railroad car is weighed after being filled with coal and before the initiation of the loading of coal into the next ODD railroad car to determine a filled weight.

Abstract: An improved particulate material loading system for transferring particulate material from a storage assembly to a vehicle having a storage bin wherein the material is protected from the outside environment during the transfer. The storage assembly includes a temporary cover which is operatively engagable with the vehicle to protect the storage bin of the vehicle when a hatch door of the vehicle is moved from a closed position to an open position to enable transfer of the material thereto. The vehicle is constructed to slidably receive the temporary cover of the storage assembly.

Abstract: An improved particulate material loading system for transferring particulate material from a storage assembly to a vehicle having a storage bin wherein the material is protected from the outside environment during the transfer. The storage assembly includes a temporary cover which is operatively engagable with the vehicle to protect the storage bin of the vehicle when a hatch door of the vehicle is moved from a closed position to an open position to enable transfer of the material thereto. The vehicle is constructed to slidably receive the temporary cover of the storage assembly.

Abstract: Cars of a multi-car train are loaded while in transit utilizing an overhead loading hopper into which a load out conveyor delivers bulk material such as coal in quantums to fully and evenly fill the individual receiving cars as each passes beneath the hopper and each quantum of material delivered to the hopper is specially measured to equal the predetermined gross loaded weight of the car in loading position less the car's actual weight as it was measured in transit. Loading of each car from the hopper is regulated by the speed of the conveyor and by an operator controlled diverter gate which initially directs the coal through an aft chute of the hopper which each car reaches first and then through a fore chute to complete its loading.

Abstract: A method for loading a moving railroad car from front to back with a target weight of particulate material from a loading unit having a silo and first and second weigh bin, which bin means have a combined material weight capacity of less than the target weight, the method comprising the steps of: (a) making a first charge of material into the first bin; (b) discharging a first quantity of material from the first bin into a forward portion of the car; (c) making a second charge of material into the first bin; (d) discharging a second quantity of material from the first bin into a rearward portion of the car, wherein the weights of the first and second quantities are determined and, as a combined weight, is less than the target weight; (e) making a charge of material into the second bin; (f) discharging from the second bin into the car a topping quantity of material equal in weight, to within about 0.