A container jostling system for jostling objects within a container is disclosed, where the container is positioned on a conveyor that includes a plurality of rollers that are mutually spaced from one another. The container jostling system includes at least one container contact element that is movable vertically between at least two rollers of the conveyor, and is movable horizontally in a direction that is substantially parallel with the at least two rollers.

An exemplary suspension member for a reciprocating conveyor has a horizontally oriented resilient spring member, two bases, and a support. The spring member has a main body, two ends, and a center with a mounting portion. Each base has a retention portion for retaining an end of the spring member. The support supports a tray disposed on top of the mounting portion and has at least one support member extending downward to engage the mounting portion.

Methods and apparatuses to activate, modify, and sanitize the surfaces of granular, powdered, or seed material placed in a continuous flow of a low-temperature, reduced-pressure gas plasma. Said plasma may be created with radio-frequency power, using capacitive-inductive, or a combination of both types of discharge. The plasma is generated at pressures in the 0.01 to 10 Torr range. RF frequency ranges from 0.2 to 220 MHz, and correspond to a plasma density between about n.sub.e10.sup.8-n.sub.e10.sup.12 or 0.001 to 0.4 W/cm.sup.3. Inserts and electrodes may be temperature controlled to control process conditions. RF discharge may be pulsed or modulated by different frequency in order to stimulate energy exchange between gas plasma and process material. The apparatuses may be grounded, biased and mechanically activated (e.g., vibration, rotation, etc.).

A conveyor run for moving goods to two or more destinations can be used to move a first fraction of the goods to a first destination and a second fraction of the goods to another destination. A drive motor coupled to a conveyor portion is reversible to enable the conveyor run to move goods in either direction along the conveyor run. An adjustable gate includes a rotatable sleeve with an opening that is positionable relative to conveyor portions between which the adjustable gate is connected. The rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the adjacent conveyor portions to position the opening to set the fraction of the goods that pass from an upstream conveyor portion to the downstream conveyor portion and to set the fraction of the goods that drop from the conveyor run through the opening.

A conveyor system including a tray suspended from above by two or more vertical supports. The tray travels in a forward direction from a tray high point toward a tray low point. The system includes a one directional continuously rotating input mechanism. During a first portion of a single rotational cycle the input mechanism moves the tray in a backward direction, toward a high point. During a second portion of a single rotational cycle the input mechanism allows unrestrained freefall of the tray in a forward direction. The system includes a bumper positioned to provide a sudden stop to the tray as the tray travels in a forward direction. The sudden stop bounces the tray in a backward direction and allows conveyed material positioned on the tray to continue in the forward direction due to forward momentum of the conveyed material.

A conveyor system including a tray suspended from above by two or more vertical supports. The tray travels in a forward direction from a tray high point toward a tray low point. The system includes a one directional continuously rotating input mechanism. During a first portion of a single rotational cycle the input mechanism moves the tray in a backward direction, toward a high point. During a second portion of a single rotational cycle the input mechanism allows unrestrained freefall of the tray in a forward direction. The system includes a bumper positioned to provide a sudden stop to the tray as the tray travels in a forward direction. The sudden stop bounces the tray in a backward direction and allows conveyed material positioned on the tray to continue in the forward direction due to forward momentum of the conveyed material.

A rocker leg configured for a vibratory apparatus includes a rocker leg body having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end having a passage therethrough. A first bushing is disposed in the passage through the first end of the rocker leg body, and a second bushing is disposed in the passage through the second end of the rocker leg body. Each of the first and second bushings include an inner sleeve, an intermediate ring, an outer sleeve, a first layer of resilient material between the inner sleeve and the intermediate ring, and a second layer of resilient material between the intermediate ring and the outer sleeve. Also provided is a vibratory apparatus with a deck, at least one pair of such a rocker leg and a resilient member supporting the deck, and an eccentric drive coupled to the deck.

A rocker leg configured for a vibratory apparatus includes a rocker leg body having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end having a passage therethrough. A first bushing is disposed in the passage through the first end of the rocker leg body, and a second bushing is disposed in the passage through the second end of the rocker leg body. Each of the first and second bushings include an inner sleeve, an intermediate ring, an outer sleeve, a first layer of resilient material between the inner sleeve and the intermediate ring, and a second layer of resilient material between the intermediate ring and the outer sleeve. Also provided is a vibratory apparatus with a deck, at least one pair of such a rocker leg and a resilient member supporting the deck, and an eccentric drive coupled to the deck.