An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A lateral circulator for generating agitation or circulation in a cultivation pond is disclosed. The circulator comprises at least a drive pulley and a secondary pulley, both oriented vertically and placed in the pond separated from one another along the length of the pond. The drive pulley is coupled to a motor, or to a drive train that is itself coupled to the motor. An endless belt is trained over the drive pulley and the secondary pulley. A plurality of cleats is provided along the exterior of the belt. The cleats are typically angled and serve to drive water as the belt rotates through the water. Typically, the belt would extend over much of the length of the cultivation pond, providing agitation and circulation over an extensive, continuous area of the cultivation pond.

A 3D printing apparatus is provided. The 3D printing apparatus includes a plurality of source tanks in which gel-phase source inks having specific colors are respectively stored; a build tray on which a building object to be printed is layered; a head unit including a plurality of printing heads to spray the source inks onto the build tray; a mixing tank disposed on an ink passage between the source tanks and the head unit to mix the source inks supplied from the plurality of source tanks; a first supply tube connecting each of the plurality of source tanks to the mixing tank; and a second supply tube connecting the mixing tank to the head unit.

An adhesive dispensing system for applying liquid adhesive to a substrate using different nozzles with the same manifold is disclosed. The adhesive dispensing system includes a manifold having a body, a first clamp configured to engage the body of the manifold, a second clamp configured to engage the body of the manifold, and a nozzle. The first and second clamps secure the nozzle to the body of the manifold. The body of the manifold has a first contact surface that engages the first clamp and a second contact surface that engages the second clamp and the nozzle, where the second contact surface is angularly offset from the first contact surface.

An applicator for dispensing adhesive is disclosed. The applicator includes a manifold, at least one dispensing module coupled to the manifold, a supply channel configured to contain at least a portion of the adhesive, a recirculation channel configured to contain at least a portion of the adhesive, and a recirculation pump assembly connected to the manifold. The recirculation pump assembly includes an inlet in fluid communication with the recirculation channel, an outlet in fluid communication with the supply channel, a gear assembly, and a drive motor coupled to the gear assembly and operable to pump the adhesive, where the drive motor is configured to operate at an adjustable number of revolutions per minute (RPM). The recirculation pump assembly can be configured to move at least a portion of the adhesive from the recirculation channel to the supply channel, such that a first pressure of the adhesive in the recirculation channel is substantially equal to a second pressure of the adhesive in the supply channel.

An applicator for dispensing adhesive and a method of diverting flow in an applicator are disclosed. The applicator includes a plurality of pump assemblies each having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of dispensing modules each having an inlet, and a flow diverter plate in fluid communication with the plurality of pump assemblies. The flow diverter plate defines a body having a first surface in fluid communication with the plurality of pump assemblies, a second surface opposite the first surface in fluid communication with the plurality of dispensing modules, and a plurality of diverter passages extending from the first surface to the second surface. Each of the plurality of diverter passages has a first opening on the first surface and a second opening on the second surface, and the first opening is in fluid communication with the outlet of one of the plurality of pump assemblies, and the second opening is in fluid communication with the inlet of at least one of the plurality of dispensing modules.

A method for controlling a recirculation pump assembly is disclosed. The method includes receiving a process-dependent characteristic and determining a recirculation flow rate of adhesive that flows to the recirculation pump assembly based on the process-dependent characteristic. The method further includes determining a recirculation pump speed of the recirculation pump assembly for pumping the adhesive to a supply channel using the recirculation flow rate, and adjusting an operating speed of the recirculation pump assembly to match the recirculation pump speed. A system and storage device for performing the above method are also disclosed.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is an applicator for dispensing adhesive onto a substrate. The applicator includes a manifold and at least one dispensing module coupled to the manifold. The applicator may include a least one pump assembly removably mounted the manifold. Each pump assembly having an outlet in flow communication with the manifold, and an inlet in flow communication with the adhesive. The pump assembly includes a gear assembly for pumping adhesive from said inlet to said outlet and a drive motor with a drive shaft connected to the gear assembly. The drive motor has a shaft with an axis that intersects said front surface of the pump assembly. In another example, the shaft has an axis that does not intersect both of a first side and a second side of said manifold.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.