A sample transfer system for nuclear irradiation and a method of automatically irradiating sample containers is disclosed. The sample transfer system includes a conduit which may define a passage for transferring a plurality of sample containers, an input assembly which may be configured to allow the plurality of sample containers to pass through the conduit in a predefined order, and an exposure assembly which may be configured to receive the sample containers via the conduit and rotate the sample containers in front of a radiation source.

A waste disposal system for the disposal of consumables through a waste chute into a waste container includes a waste chute having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is situated outside the waste container and the second opening opens toward the waste container. The first opening and the second opening are arranged at a first distance from one another, wherein the waste chute includes a plurality of self-resetting lamellae for the partial or complete closure of the openings. The lamellae form at least two lamella annuli arranged at a second distance above one another, wherein at least one first lamella annulus closes the first opening and at least one second lamella annulus closes the second opening, and the second distance between the lamella annuli is at least one third, preferably at least half and particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance.

A waste disposal system for the disposal of consumables through a waste chute into a waste container includes a waste chute having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is situated outside the waste container and the second opening opens toward the waste container. The first opening and the second opening are arranged at a first distance from one another, wherein the waste chute includes a plurality of self-resetting lamellae for the partial or complete closure of the openings. The lamellae form at least two lamella annuli arranged at a second distance above one another, wherein at least one first lamella annulus closes the first opening and at least one second lamella annulus closes the second opening, and the second distance between the lamella annuli is at least one third, preferably at least half and particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance.

A baling machine may be adapted for use in stacking packages to support binding operations such as strapping, banding or wrapping. A stack of filled packages is accumulated in a chute that is disposed above and in registration with a conveyor, with a baseplate disposed above the conveyor in registration with the chute. The stack of filled packages is released from the chute into a magazine disposed between and in registration with the chute and the baseplate, so that the stack of filled packages rests on the baseplate inside the magazine. The magazine then moves in a conveyor-forward direction to move the stack of filled packages off the baseplate onto a conveyor surface of the conveyor, and the stack of filled packages is released from the magazine to move forward along the conveyor toward a binding machine, such as a strapping machine, banding machine or wrapping machine.

A component supply device includes a storage section, a mounting section, and a component support section. The storage section stores multiple components. The storage section is mounted to the mounting section. The storage section is attachable and detachable in relation to the mounting section. The component support section supports, in a scattered state, multiple components which are discharged from an opening of the storage section which is in a state of being mounted to the mounting section.

A material handling hopper includes an integrally formed handling body that defines an inlet, an outlet, and an axis. The handling body has a seamless sidewall extending between the inlet and the outlet. The sidewall is circular in cross section in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The sidewall is curvilinear and defines a first height between an axial location of a first inner diameter and an axial location of a second inner diameter.

Provided is a raw material supply device and a device for processing electronic and electrical device part scraps, which can control dropping positions of a raw material containing substances having different shapes and specific gravities, as well as a method for processing electronic and electrical device part scraps using those devices. A raw material supply device 4 includes an accommodating portion 41 for feeding a raw material 100 to a predetermined position, wherein the raw material supply device 4 includes: a receiving port 43 having a first opening 433 for receiving the raw material 100 on a top surface of the accommodation portion 41; a discharge port 42 having a second opening 422 for discharging the raw material 100 on a bottom surface of the accommodating portion 41, the second opening 422 having a cross-sectional area lower than that of the first opening 433; a first guide surface 412 in a front of a side surface of the accommodating portion 41, the first guide surface 412 extending in a vertical direction through the discharge port 42 from the receiving port 43 so as to be contacted with the raw material 100 dropped toward a front of a conveying unit 2 to guide the raw material 100 downward; and a second guide surface 411 on a surface opposing to the first guide surface 412, of the side surface of the accommodating portion 41, the second guide surface 411 being provided with an inclined surface 411a that is continuous with the discharge port 42 and is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and wherein the first guide surface 412 extends such that a lowermost end portion of the first guide surface 412 is located below an intersection P of an extended line extending in an inclination direction of the second guide surface 411 with the first guide surface 412.

A method includes: storing (i) a reference image of a chute for receiving objects, and (ii) a region of interest mask corresponding to a location of the chute in a field of view of an image sensor; at a processor, controlling the image sensor to capture an image of the chute; applying an illumination adjustment to the image; selecting, at the processor, a portion of the image according to the region of interest mask; generating a detection image based on a comparison of the selected portion and the reference image; determining, based on the detection image, a fullness indicator for the chute; and providing the fullness indicator to notification system.

A method includes: storing (i) a reference image of a chute for receiving objects, and (ii) a region of interest mask corresponding to a location of the chute in a field of view of an image sensor; at a processor, controlling the image sensor to capture an image of the chute; applying an illumination adjustment to the image; selecting, at the processor, a portion of the image according to the region of interest mask; generating a detection image based on a comparison of the selected portion and the reference image; determining, based on the detection image, a fullness indicator for the chute; and providing the fullness indicator to notification system.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.