A piled grain surface management robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory. The processor is configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor is also configured to direct a traversal of a surface of piled grain in a bulk store, wherein a crust layer of the surface is broken up by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system during the traversal.

A piled grain surface management robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory. The processor is configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor is also configured to direct a traversal of a surface of piled grain in a bulk store, wherein a crust layer of the surface is broken up by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system during the traversal.

A piled grain surface management robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory. The processor is configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor is also configured to direct a traversal of a surface of piled grain in a bulk store, wherein a crust layer of the surface is broken up by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system during the traversal.

A piled grain surface management robot comprises an auger-based drive system, a memory, and a processor coupled with the memory. The processor is configured to control movement of the robot via the auger-based drive system. The processor is also configured to direct a traversal of a surface of piled grain in a bulk store, wherein a crust layer of the surface is broken up by auger rotation of the auger-based drive system during the traversal.

A lifting mechanism for operably attaching to one of the plurality of support legs on a bin is provided where the lifting mechanism is configured to sequentially lift and drop the support leg by a predetermined amount, whereby an impact shock generated by the drop is transmitted to the bin through the support leg and promote dislodging of any of the particulate material that may be in a non-flowable state to enhance dispensing of the particulate material from the bin. A bin assembly incorporating such lifting mechanism on at least one of its plurality of support legs is also disclosed.

A lifting mechanism for operably attaching to one of the plurality of support legs on a bin is provided where the lifting mechanism is configured to sequentially lift and drop the support leg by a predetermined amount, whereby an impact shock generated by the drop is transmitted to the bin through the support leg and promote dislodging of any of the particulate material that may be in a non-flowable state to enhance dispensing of the particulate material from the bin. A bin assembly incorporating such lifting mechanism on at least one of its plurality of support legs is also disclosed.

A food material powder supply device 1 of the disclosure includes a supply tank 50 that temporarily stores food material powder in a tank 50A and supplies the food material powder to a processing container 2A of a food processing machine 2, a vacuum device 70 that reduces the pressure inside the supply tank 50 with vacuum pumps 71A and 71B, and a control device 3 that operates the vacuum device 70 to reduce the internal pressure of the supply tank 50 to be equal to or lower than a predetermined atmospheric pressure at which moisture of the food material powder is evaporated and cools the food material powder in the supply tank 50. A stirring member 54 which is driven to rotate during the cooling of the food material powder is arranged inside the tank 50A.

A wet particle storage tank includes a tank body capable of storing wet particles containing particles and solvent. The tank body has an upper storage section having a supply port through which the wet particles are supplied, a lower storage section located below the upper storage section and having a discharge port through which the wet particles are discharged, and a bridge forming section provided between the upper storage section and the lower storage section. The bridge forming section facilitates formation of a bridge by the wet particles to block falling of the wet particles from the upper storage section to the lower storage section.

A wet particle storage tank includes a tank body capable of storing wet particles containing particles and solvent. The tank body has an upper storage section having a supply port through which the wet particles are supplied, a lower storage section located below the upper storage section and having a discharge port through which the wet particles are discharged, and a bridge forming section provided between the upper storage section and the lower storage section. The bridge forming section facilitates formation of a bridge by the wet particles to block falling of the wet particles from the upper storage section to the lower storage section.

A gravity-feed bin includes a generally hollow main bin having an open end, a storage reservoir and a dispensing chute. The dispensing chute has an opening disposed near a distal end. The bin includes a dispensing gate movable between open and closed positions. When the dispensing gate is in the closed position, the dispensing gate blocks the opening of the dispensing chute. The main bin includes a vertical front wall joined to planar first front surface that is disposed below the vertical front wall, at an angle relative to the vertical front wall so as to direct bulk material inwardly towards the interior of the storage reservoir. A second planar front surface is joined to the first front surface, and disposed at an angle relative to the first front surface, so as to direct the bulk material towards the dispensing chute.