A hopper apparatus comprises a movable wall comprising opposing walls movably connected to a support assembly and oriented at acute angles relative to a central vertical axis of the support assembly, and movement control devices configured and positioned to move the opposing walls along the support assembly to control dimensions of a discharge outlet at least partially defined by converging ends of the opposing walls; a liner assembly comprising liner structures at least partially overlying inner surfaces of the opposing walls and configured to remain at least partially stationary relative to the opposing walls during movement of the opposing walls; and pressure sensors between the inner surfaces of opposing walls and portions of the liner structures thereover. A bulk solids processing system and a method of processing a bulk solid are also described.

A hopper apparatus comprises a movable wall comprising opposing walls movably connected to a support assembly and oriented at acute angles relative to a central vertical axis of the support assembly, and movement control devices configured and positioned to move the opposing walls along the support assembly to control dimensions of a discharge outlet at least partially defined by converging ends of the opposing walls; a liner assembly comprising liner structures at least partially overlying inner surfaces of the opposing walls and configured to remain at least partially stationary relative to the opposing walls during movement of the opposing walls; and pressure sensors between the inner surfaces of opposing walls and portions of the liner structures thereover. A bulk solids processing system and a method of processing a bulk solid are also described.

Provided are embodiments of a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down and comprising at least two chute-base sections is described, wherein the at least two chute-base sections form a height offset between one another, wherein at least one guiding device is provided between the at least two chute-base sections in order to guide the article from one chute-base section to the next chute-base section, wherein the at least one guiding device has a vertically adjustable free end that points in the direction of the next chute-base section, and wherein the guiding device has, transversely to the chute base, a plurality of finger elements that are arranged alongside one another and are at least in part vertically adjustable independently of one another.

Provided are embodiments of a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down and comprising at least two chute-base sections is described, wherein the at least two chute-base sections form a height offset between one another, wherein at least one guiding device is provided between the at least two chute-base sections in order to guide the article from one chute-base section to the next chute-base section, wherein the at least one guiding device has a vertically adjustable free end that points in the direction of the next chute-base section, and wherein the guiding device has, transversely to the chute base, a plurality of finger elements that are arranged alongside one another and are at least in part vertically adjustable independently of one another.

A singulator is provided for orienting, sorting and conveying at least one rail fastener, from a bulk supply of such fasteners, and includes a frame defining a lower end and an upper end. A plurality of transverse magnet bars is connected to an endless conveyor system disposed on the frame to move from the lower end to the upper end. A ramp is disposed on the frame, has an underside facing the magnet bars, and an opposite sorting surface opposite the underside and receiving the fasteners. At least one deflector assembly is associated with the ramp and is constructed and arranged for sorting fasteners drawn along the ramp by the magnet bars from the lower end to the upper end so that single fasteners are delivered at the upper end.

A divert chute and a sorting conveyor system having divert chutes that include an array of high-friction rollers in a landing zone to resist the cross-chute momentum of parcels diverted off the sorting conveyor at high speeds. The rollers, which protrude above a flat slide region of the chute, rotate only in a direction down the chute. Parcels sliding axially along the high-friction rollers across the chute are slowed or stopped in the cross-chute direction while being redirected down the chute.

The invention described herein is a vehicle-based feed distribution system comprising: a hopper assembly where a metal ball is located in a hopper outlet located at a bottom portion of a hopper, where an auger inside a horizontal dispensing tube is driven by an auger drive means that directs a feed mix from a hopper longitudinally down the horizontal dispensing tube extending out from the hopper outlet, and where a feed outlet at a distal end of the horizontal dispensing tube distributes the feed mix; where the hopper assembly is coupled to a tow vehicle, and where the tow vehicle controls the auger drive means to meter distribution of the feed mix.

An assembly for directing bulk material from an upper conveyor to a lower conveyor is provided. The conveyors are relatively rotatable in yaw and the lower conveyor is pivotable in pitch. The assembly includes an upper hood portion, a vertical flow cone, and a bottom containment assembly. The upper hood portion redirects material from the upper conveyor downward through an exit aperture. The vertical flow cone underneath the upper hood portion is rotatable in yaw relative to the upper hood portion and is movable vertically relative to the upper hood portion. The vertical flow cone directs the bulk material from the exit aperture toward the lower conveyor. The bottom containment assembly is mounted to the lower conveyor, is movable lengthwise relative to the lower conveyor, is pivotable and movable vertically relative to the upper hood portion, and includes an aperture for receiving the material.

A system for discharging dry solids into high pressure environments is disclosed. The system includes a hopper, a feeder device coupled to the hopper, and a discharge device disposed downstream relative to the feeder device. The feeder device includes a rotatable casing including a plurality of pockets, a stationary core disposed within the rotatable casing, and a plurality of valves. Each pocket includes an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of first through-holes. The stationary core includes a plurality of channels, where each channel includes a plurality of second through-holes. Each valve is disposed at the outlet of a corresponding pocket from the plurality of pockets. The discharge device includes a valve actuator configured to actuate each valve.

A conveying device (4) for conveying rolled bar segments, continuously exiting from a cutting shear (3), comprising at least two conveying channels (10, 11) for conveying the bar segments; at least one separation wall (8) separating a first conveying channel (10) from a second conveying channel (11); and at least one fixed partition (9), provided below the wall (8) and which separates the first channel (10) from the second channel (11); the fixed partition (9) is configured so that, at speed, when a rolled bar is deviated to pass from a direction towards the first channel to a direction towards the second channel, the tail of a first bar segment (30) advances in the first channel (10) by passing below the fixed partition (9), while the head of a second bar segment (31) after the first segment (30) advances in the second channel by passing above the fixed partition.