A swing auger towable by a tractor features a main auger, and a feed auger pivotally coupled to the main auger and reaching transversely outward therefrom. One or more additional conveyors each are positioned alongside the tractor with the discharge of the conveyor(s) feeding into the feed auger, and with the conveyor hopper positioned longitudinally forward of the tractor under the bottom discharge of the trailer or other source receptacle. A stabilizing device for the main auger doubles as a lift arm for elevating the conveyor in a transport position, and may be installed with a tandem axle that compensates for angular frame variation in the working position of the main auger. Alternatively, a novel auger frame is pivotally coupled to the inlet end of the man auger, remains parallel to the ground regardless of the main auger's position, and is equipped with a hitch connector and rear stabilizer arms.

A passive alignment conveyor suitable for elongated bodies including at least one piece of material including an indentation in an alignment direction as an alignment lane, which alignment lane includes at least one slot in the alignment lane in an angle to the alignment direction, at least one means for optical detection, at least one electronic circuit-based control device, wherein least one movable knife mounted shifted from the means for optical detection in the alignment direction, mounted in an angle to the alignment direction and mounted in such a way that it can move within the slot in the alignment lane.

A loading and unloading machine for loading goods into, or unloading goods from, a container such as a standard shipping container. The loading and unloading machine has a goods conveyor extending into the container and configured to convey goods to or from the container, a transfer system located adjacent an end of the goods conveyor configured to maneuver goods from or to the loading machine into or from the container, respectively, and a height adjustment system configured to adjust the height of the transfer system to a desired height.

A tubular transfer system is disclosed which includes a trough coupled between a pair of lifting apparatus, a base member coupled to each of the pair of lifting apparatus, a first adjustment device disposed on the pair of lifting apparatus for adjusting a presentation angle of the trough, and a second adjustment device coupled to the base member and a portion of each of the pair of lifting apparatus for adjusting a presentation height of the trough.

A hydraulic actuator is provided within a belt-type agricultural conveyor for controlling the position of the tension roller of the conveyor belt, together with a hydraulic controller which supplies a controlled pressure of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator. In this manner, a consistent tension can be applied to the endless conveyor belt in an automated manner through a large range of movement so that the maintenance step of periodically removing a section of the belt as the belt stretches can be minimized in frequency. Furthermore, the endless belt is always operated at an optimum tension for extending the life of the belt. The hydraulic actuator also enables the tension to be removed from the belt in a simple manner by displacing a switch to remove tension from the belt whenever the conveyor is not in use for yet further extending the life of the conveyor belt.

A transfer device for introducing and/or removing articles to a process device includes a basic frame and a conveying unit, which is supported by the basic frame and transfers or receives articles to or from the process device. The conveying unit is designed to be movably positionable in order for the transfer device to be reversibly advanced up to the process device. The conveying unit includes an output element of a magnetic coupling and is designed for reversibly coupling the transfer device to a corresponding drive element of the magnetic coupling, the drive element being provided on the process device. When the drive element and the output element are coupled to one another, the magnetic coupling effectuates a force transmission from a drive unit of the process device to the conveying unit.

A belt-type, portable, radial conveyor system is provided that may include a conveyor frame extending from a rear end to a front end, and having rear portions and front portions, a hopper disposed adjacent the rear end of the conveyor frame, a conveyor belt mounted to the conveyor frame, a tracked or wheeled drive carriage to support the conveyor system during relocation from site to site, and an engine mounted to the rear portion of the conveyor frame remote from the carriage.

A portable drive-over conveyor for unloading particulate material from trucks features a towable trailer supporting a conveyor system having two stages, each transferring the unloaded material in opposite directions along a length of the trailer so as to progressively elevate the particulate material to a suitable height above the ground for discharging from the portable drive-over conveyor. A first stage of the conveyor system transfers the material in one direction from an inlet of the conveyor system to a transfer discharge, whereat the unloaded material is transferred to the second stage transferring the material in an opposite direction to a discharge of the overall conveyor system which is located at a higher elevation than the transfer discharge.

A conveyor system includes a conveyor, a support structure, and a staging structure. The conveyor includes a proximal end and a distal end and is operable to move an item from the proximal end to the distal end. The support structure includes a first leg and a second leg. The first leg supports the proximal end of the conveyor. The second leg supports the distal end of the conveyor. The staging structure is disposed at the proximal end of the conveyor and includes a turntable operable to rotate about a first axis.

Work-saving improvements for food-process lines include (1) mounting alternate machines of a food process line on pivot hardware to speed up washing and maintenance operations, (2) mounting the machines on rolling riding gear in order to speed up the activities of building and re-building food process lines of a different series of machines, or (3) isolate the food process line in its own tunnel and hence its own climate-controlled atmosphere to reduce conflicts with running two food process lines side by side where one food process line is a source of air borne allergens.