A sorting system having a main sorting conveyor sorting articles to discharge conveyors feeding articles to diverters having freely rotatable, gravity-activated rollers arranged in an inclined plane. The orientations of the rollers are selectably changed to divert articles riding downward along each diverter to different destinations. The main sorting conveyor comprises a roller belt with belt-roller actuators at sorting locations. The belt-roller actuators and the diverters are identical mechanisms.

A combination weighing apparatus includes a retaining hopper that retains an article and supplies the retained article onto a transport path. The retaining hopper has a coupling portion adapted to be inserted in along the support rails and pulled off from support rails disposed in a pair. The retaining hopper is thus supportable by the support rails and is readily mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus without using any tool for cleaning and other purposes.

A combination weighing apparatus includes a retaining hopper that retains an article and supplies the retained article onto a transport path. The retaining hopper has a coupling portion adapted to be inserted in along the support rails and pulled off from support rails disposed in a pair. The retaining hopper is thus supportable by the support rails and is readily mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus without using any tool for cleaning and other purposes.

A chute tube for facilitating particle transfer and distribution. The chute tube for transferring particles has a charging chute tube with a charge inlet of particles, a discharging chute tube and an intermediate chute tube slantingly connected between the charging chute tube and the discharging chute tube. The intermediate chute tube includes a groove without steps formed by a combination of a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and the groove is of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to two adjacent sides of a triangle.

A chute tube for facilitating particle transfer and distribution. The chute tube for transferring particles has a charging chute tube with a charge inlet of particles, a discharging chute tube and an intermediate chute tube slantingly connected between the charging chute tube and the discharging chute tube. The intermediate chute tube includes a groove without steps formed by a combination of a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and the groove is of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to two adjacent sides of a triangle.

A monitoring system includes a fastener. A sensor is coupled to the fastener. A circuit board is electrically coupled to the sensor. An antenna electrically coupled to the circuit board.

A monitoring system includes a fastener. A sensor is coupled to the fastener. A circuit board is electrically coupled to the sensor. An antenna electrically coupled to the circuit board.

An unloading apparatus for horticultural products such as blueberries and the like, which are conveyed along a predefined advancement path by respective movement units includes at least one dispenser of pressurized fluid, which can be activated on command during the transit of each product in order to send a jet of the pressurized fluid toward the product and consequently cause its fall from the respective movement unit. The apparatus also includes at least one deflector screen arranged facing and proximate to the dispenser, on the opposite side with respect to the predefined trajectory in order to intercept the products struck by the jet. The screen is inclined so as to define, between its face directed toward the dispenser and a vertical plane that passes through the dispenser, a work angle one and ninety degrees configured for the optimum downward deflection of the products.

A high throughput system for depositing seed into germination wells of a germination tray. The system comprises a seed distribution subsystem, and an individual seed transfer subsystem structured and operable to transfer individual seeds from wells in a seed storage tray to the seed deposition subsystem. The system additionally comprises a bulk seed transfer subsystem structured and operable to singulate a plurality of bulk seeds and transfer each singulated seed to the seed deposition subsystem, wherein the seed distribution subsystem structured and operable to receive seeds from the individual seed transfer subsystem and the bulk seed transfer subsystem, and deposit the seeds into wells of the seed germination tray.

A combination weighing apparatus includes a retaining hopper that retains an article and supplies the retained article onto a transport path. The retaining hopper has a coupling portion adapted to be inserted in along the support rails and pulled off from support rails disposed in a pair. The retaining hopper is thus supportable by the support rails and is readily mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus without using any tool for cleaning and other purposes.