The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.

The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.

A continuous concentrate feeding equipment of the present invention, which can supply the concentrate to a smelting furnace continuously when the concentrate is received, includes a pressure-adjusting tank that temporarily accumulates granular concentrate; a lift tank that receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank and discharges the concentrate to a smelting furnace; an air passage for introducing compressed air into the pressure-adjusting tank and the lift tank, respectively; and control means for controlling the compressed air, and the concentrate is continuously supplied from the lift tank to the smelting furnace even when the lift tank receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank by the control means.

A continuous concentrate feeding equipment of the present invention, which can supply the concentrate to a smelting furnace continuously when the concentrate is received, includes a pressure-adjusting tank that temporarily accumulates granular concentrate; a lift tank that receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank and discharges the concentrate to a smelting furnace; an air passage for introducing compressed air into the pressure-adjusting tank and the lift tank, respectively; and control means for controlling the compressed air, and the concentrate is continuously supplied from the lift tank to the smelting furnace even when the lift tank receives the concentrate from the pressure-adjusting tank by the control means.

A material handling system includes a chassis, a conveyor system supported by the chassis, a pneumatic conveying system supported by the chassis and a storage container supported by the chassis. The conveyor system is configured to convey a granular material from a material unloading station to an inlet of the storage container. Multiple pods are beneath the storage container. Each pod is connected to the storage container by a corresponding pod fill line. A pneumatic conveying line is beneath the pods. The pneumatic conveying line is connected to each of the pods. Each pod has a full level sensor configured to sense when the pod is full or close to full, and an empty level sensor configured to sense when the pod is empty or close to empty.

A material handling system includes a chassis, a conveyor system supported by the chassis, a pneumatic conveying system supported by the chassis and a storage container supported by the chassis. The conveyor system is configured to convey a granular material from a material unloading station to an inlet of the storage container. Multiple pods are beneath the storage container. Each pod is connected to the storage container by a corresponding pod fill line. A pneumatic conveying line is beneath the pods. The pneumatic conveying line is connected to each of the pods. Each pod has a full level sensor configured to sense when the pod is full or close to full, and an empty level sensor configured to sense when the pod is empty or close to empty.

An exemplary diverter valve generally includes a shell, a pipe, and a handle. The shell includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction, a shell inlet port, a shell outlet port, and a positioning slot formed in the body. The pipe is seated in the body for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, and includes a first passage and a second passage. The handle is connected to the pipe through the positioning slot, and is operable to move the pipe relative to the shell between a first position in which the shell inlet port is connected with the shell outlet port via the first passage, and a second position in which the second passage is connected with the shell inlet port and the shell outlet port is disconnected from the second passage.

An exemplary diverter valve generally includes a shell, a pipe, and a handle. The shell includes a body extending in a longitudinal direction, a shell inlet port, a shell outlet port, and a positioning slot formed in the body. The pipe is seated in the body for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction, and includes a first passage and a second passage. The handle is connected to the pipe through the positioning slot, and is operable to move the pipe relative to the shell between a first position in which the shell inlet port is connected with the shell outlet port via the first passage, and a second position in which the second passage is connected with the shell inlet port and the shell outlet port is disconnected from the second passage.

A material handling system includes a chassis, a conveyor system supported by the chassis, a pneumatic conveying system supported by the chassis and a storage container supported by the chassis. The conveyor system is configured to convey a granular material from a material unloading station to an inlet of the storage container. Multiple pods are beneath the storage container. Each pod is connected to the storage container by a corresponding pod fill line. A pneumatic conveying line is beneath the pods. The pneumatic conveying line is connected to each of the pods. Each pod has a full level sensor configured to sense when the pod is full or close to full, and an empty level sensor configured to sense when the pod is empty or close to empty.

A material handling system includes a chassis, a conveyor system supported by the chassis, a pneumatic conveying system supported by the chassis and a storage container supported by the chassis. The conveyor system is configured to convey a granular material from a material unloading station to an inlet of the storage container. Multiple pods are beneath the storage container. Each pod is connected to the storage container by a corresponding pod fill line. A pneumatic conveying line is beneath the pods. The pneumatic conveying line is connected to each of the pods. Each pod has a full level sensor configured to sense when the pod is full or close to full, and an empty level sensor configured to sense when the pod is empty or close to empty.