An article retaining device includes a hopper configured to temporarily retain articles and discharge the articles, and a supporting body configured to detachably support the hopper. The hopper has a main body configured to retain the articles, and an extending portion that extends along a width direction of the main body. The supporting body has an engaging portion that engages with the extending portion, and a guide surface configured to guide movement of the extending portion to the engaging portion when the hopper is attached.

A drum loading and unloading system and method for loading and unloading a drum. The system includes a portable base unit having pedestals for holding a drum at a predetermined position for loading and unloading material from the drum; a pair of pneumatic cylinders attached to the portable base supporting a cross-beam; a pumping piston attached to the cross-beam for pumping material into and out of the drum; and a lifting device attached to the cross-beam for lifting the drum onto the pedestals of the portable base.

A fiber material storage device for a textile includes a storage chute having a chute housing and a supply line leading into the storage chamber. Fiber material is pneumatically conveyed with conveying air into the storage chamber. A cleaning unit in the storage chamber cleans contamination from the conveying air and includes a cleaning chamber. A semipermeable dividing wall is situated between the storage chamber and the cleaning chamber to retain the fiber material in the storage chamber and allow the contaminated conveying air to flow into the cleaning chamber. A filter element is situated in the conveying air flow between the cleaning chamber and outer surroundings to retain the contamination in the cleaning chamber and allow filtered conveying air to escape into the surroundings. The cleaning housing has a collection chamber situated underneath the cleaning chamber, wherein the contamination retained by the filter element settles in the collection chamber.

A fiber material storage device for a textile includes a storage chute having a chute housing and a supply line leading into the storage chamber. Fiber material is pneumatically conveyed with conveying air into the storage chamber. A cleaning unit in the storage chamber cleans contamination from the conveying air and includes a cleaning chamber. A semipermeable dividing wall is situated between the storage chamber and the cleaning chamber to retain the fiber material in the storage chamber and allow the contaminated conveying air to flow into the cleaning chamber. A filter element is situated in the conveying air flow between the cleaning chamber and outer surroundings to retain the contamination in the cleaning chamber and allow filtered conveying air to escape into the surroundings. The cleaning housing has a collection chamber situated underneath the cleaning chamber, wherein the contamination retained by the filter element settles in the collection chamber.

A method for handling bulk products may include placing harvested product into a container and facilitating shipment of the container with the harvested product to an end user of the harvested product without further handling of the harvested product. A container for receiving, drying, shipping, and tracking the products may also be provided.

A method for handling bulk products may include placing harvested product into a container and facilitating shipment of the container with the harvested product to an end user of the harvested product without further handling of the harvested product. A container for receiving, drying, shipping, and tracking the products may also be provided.

A fill under tarp for grain and center tower skirt are disclosed. A tarp body has a plurality of tarp sections and a tarp section seam disposed between each adjoining tarp section. A yoke has a center, an inner terminal edge defining a yoke opening and an outer terminal edge. The yoke is disposed generally in the center of the tarp body and configured for strengthening the tarp body. A center tower skirt has a plurality of skirt sections with opposing section edges disposed between opposing upper and lower terminal edges. The lower terminal edges define a center tower skirt opening coincident with the yoke opening configured to receive grain for storing underneath the fill under tarp. At least one of the section edges of each center tower skirt section includes a flared and/or flap portions to prevent grain leakage.

A fill under tarp for grain and center tower skirt are disclosed. A tarp body has a plurality of tarp sections and a tarp section seam disposed between each adjoining tarp section. A yoke has a center, an inner terminal edge defining a yoke opening and an outer terminal edge. The yoke is disposed generally in the center of the tarp body and configured for strengthening the tarp body. A center tower skirt has a plurality of skirt sections with opposing section edges disposed between opposing upper and lower terminal edges. The lower terminal edges define a center tower skirt opening coincident with the yoke opening configured to receive grain for storing underneath the fill under tarp. At least one of the section edges of each center tower skirt section includes a flared and/or flap portions to prevent grain leakage.

A bulk material dispensing system including a dispensing apparatus suspended from a fixed surface that is configured to receive bulk material from a tank. A metering device feeds the bulk material from the tank to the dispensing apparatus, and a weigh scale is located between the dispensing apparatus and the fixed surface. A controller is in communication with each of the weigh scale and the metering device such that, based on a signal received from the weigh scale that is indicative of the amount of the bulk material that has been fed to the dispensing apparatus by the metering device, the controller controls a rate at which the metering device feeds the bulk material to the dispensing apparatus to ensure that an accurate amount of the bulk material is received by the dispensing apparatus.

A bulk material dispensing system including a dispensing apparatus suspended from a fixed surface that is configured to receive bulk material from a tank. A metering device feeds the bulk material from the tank to the dispensing apparatus, and a weigh scale is located between the dispensing apparatus and the fixed surface. A controller is in communication with each of the weigh scale and the metering device such that, based on a signal received from the weigh scale that is indicative of the amount of the bulk material that has been fed to the dispensing apparatus by the metering device, the controller controls a rate at which the metering device feeds the bulk material to the dispensing apparatus to ensure that an accurate amount of the bulk material is received by the dispensing apparatus.