A powder spreading apparatus includes a hopper having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a front wall, a rear wall opposite from the front wall, and a floor. The front wall, the rear wall, the first end, the second end, and the floor define an interior. An impeller is disposed within the interior of the hopper. The impeller includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes and is configured to rotate about an impeller axis that extends from the first end of the hopper to the second end of the hopper to deposit powder onto a print area. A spreader rod is coupled to the hopper and extends along a spreader rod axis parallel to the impeller axis. The spreader rod is configured to rotate about the spreader rod axis to smooth the powder as it is deposited onto the print area. A powder spreading method is disclosed that operates an impeller to start depositing powder from a hopper into a print area located within a build box as a gantry moves the hopper in a first direction across the print area; operating a spreader rod to smooth out the powder on the print area as the gantry moves the hopper and the spreader rod across the print area in the first direction; and upon the gantry reaching a predetermined position in the print area, stopping the impeller to stop depositing the powder while continuing to operate the spreader rod.

Provided is an improved animal feed distribution system and components, specifically tube belt conveyor system, that provides more efficient manner of delivering feed to the animals, such as poultry by using tube conveyor belt to distribute feed in a re-circulating loop.

A system and a method for gently loading, transporting and unloading frangible products using totes is provided. The system includes a loading station at a first location, an unloading station at a second location and a plurality of totes for use in storing the frangible products for transportation from the first location to the second location. The totes include an interior space that is upwardly curved and concave for gently receiving the frangible products therein as they are laterally discharged off of a lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor. Two or more totes can be sequentially loaded along the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor using backpressure caused by accumulation of frangible product along the edge of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor to redirect incoming frangible products towards a downstream section of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor.

A system and a method for gently loading, transporting and unloading frangible products using totes is provided. The system includes a loading station at a first location, an unloading station at a second location and a plurality of totes for use in storing the frangible products for transportation from the first location to the second location. The totes include an interior space that is upwardly curved and concave for gently receiving the frangible products therein as they are laterally discharged off of a lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor. Two or more totes can be sequentially loaded along the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor using backpressure caused by accumulation of frangible product along the edge of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor to redirect incoming frangible products towards a downstream section of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor.

The present invention relates to a screening apparatus (100) comprising a frame (10); a feed conveyor (20) mounted at one end of the frame and a screen (30) for accepting waste material from the feed conveyor, the waste material comprising fines and oversize material. The screen (30) is mounted on the frame (10) about a pivot axis and comprises a trough (32) with a top opening; and a plurality of driven elongate rotating members (40) disposed in an arc along one side of the trough and along at least a portion of the base of the trough (32) for causing circular or helical flow of the waste material within the trough. The trough (32) further comprises a base opening for discharging the fines material and an oversize material outlet for discharging the oversize material; and wherein the screen is mounted on the frame such that the elongate rotating members (40) are each independently perpendicular to the pivot axis.

The present invention relates to a screening apparatus (100) comprising a frame (10); a feed conveyor (20) mounted at one end of the frame and a screen (30) for accepting waste material from the feed conveyor, the waste material comprising fines and oversize material. The screen (30) is mounted on the frame (10) about a pivot axis and comprises a trough (32) with a top opening; and a plurality of driven elongate rotating members (40) disposed in an arc along one side of the trough and along at least a portion of the base of the trough (32) for causing circular or helical flow of the waste material within the trough. The trough (32) further comprises a base opening for discharging the fines material and an oversize material outlet for discharging the oversize material; and wherein the screen is mounted on the frame such that the elongate rotating members (40) are each independently perpendicular to the pivot axis.

An auger cover for an auger conveyor for a grain bin of a combine harvester includes a cover plate that is hingedly attached to the auger conveyor. The hinge attaching the cover plate to the auger conveyor has a hinge plate that includes a flexible material.

A system and a method for gently loading, transporting and unloading frangible products using totes is provided. The system includes a loading station at a first location, an unloading station at a second location and a plurality of totes for use in storing the frangible products for transportation from the first location to the second location. The totes include an interior space that is upwardly curved for gently receiving the frangible products therein as they are laterally discharged off of a lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor. Two or more totes can be sequentially loaded along the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor using backpressure caused by accumulation of frangible product along the edge of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor to redirect incoming frangible products towards a downstream section of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor.

A system and a method for gently loading, transporting and unloading frangible products using totes is provided. The system includes a loading station at a first location, an unloading station at a second location and a plurality of totes for use in storing the frangible products for transportation from the first location to the second location. The totes include an interior space that is upwardly curved for gently receiving the frangible products therein as they are laterally discharged off of a lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor. Two or more totes can be sequentially loaded along the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor using backpressure caused by accumulation of frangible product along the edge of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor to redirect incoming frangible products towards a downstream section of the lateral discharge portion of the reciprocating conveyor.

The invention is a machine for producing decorative aggregate G-layer on top surfaces of claddings in cooperation with a cladding manufacturing machine. The G-layer production machine may be integrated into the cladding manufacturing machine or a standalone machine. In both options, the machines synchronize the overlaying of the top G-layer with the manufacturing process of the claddings to ensure continuous production of multi-layer claddings with a decorative aggregate layer. The overlaying itself is done under controlled condition to produce homogenous distribution of the aggregates on the top surface of the claddings to provide them an aesthetic look.