A conveyor flight for a chain comprising at least two spaced apart links, and two side plates that connect the links, with each side plate including two spaced apart extension pins extending from the side plate. The flight comprises a metal support, and the metal support includes two spaced apart cylindrical portions adapted to receive the two spaced apart extension pins. The flight also includes a flexible casing surrounding the metal support.

An automatic tensioning apparatus is provided that includes a tensioning drive unit having: a longitudinally extending stationary base frame with a plurality of guides extending between a lower portion and an upper portion, and a plurality of rotatable feed wheels axially secured at the lower portion, as well as a translatable drive frame slidably coupled to the plurality of guides with a drive assembly coupled to the drive frame, the drive assembly including a drive motor and a tensile member interface for engaging and rotationally translating a tensile member. The tensioning drive unit further including a plurality of drive frame actuators actuatable to move the drive frame between a bottom frame position and a top frame position, as well as a sensor for at least indirectly sensing the position of the drive frame along a longitudinal base frame axis.

An automatic tensioning apparatus is provided that includes a tensioning drive unit having: a longitudinally extending stationary base frame with a plurality of guides extending between a lower portion and an upper portion, and a plurality of rotatable feed wheels axially secured at the lower portion, as well as a translatable drive frame slidably coupled to the plurality of guides with a drive assembly coupled to the drive frame, the drive assembly including a drive motor and a tensile member interface for engaging and rotationally translating a tensile member. The tensioning drive unit further including a plurality of drive frame actuators actuatable to move the drive frame between a bottom frame position and a top frame position, as well as a sensor for at least indirectly sensing the position of the drive frame along a longitudinal base frame axis.

A non-metallic conveyor chain having improved durability as a conveyor chain for a sludge collector, the conveyor chain including a plurality of unit chains and chain pins with which the unit chains are linked to each other, wherein each of the unit chains is provided at one side thereof with a barrel and at the other side thereof with a yoke. The barrel of the unit chain is formed on an outer surface thereof with a chain pocket having a groove structure, and the yoke of the unit chain is formed on an inner surface thereof with a chain boss protruding so as to correspond to the chain pocket of the unit chain to which the chain boss is to be linked.

A glassware manufacturing system, waste handling system, and method are disclosed. The glassware manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises an architectural installation having a forming floor and no basement beneath the forming floor; a glassware forming machine carried on the forming floor; a molten glass feeder configured to provide molten glass to the glassware forming machine; and a glassware manufacturing waste handling system including a sump pit in the forming floor, and a waste liquid trench substantially surrounding the glassware forming machine and flowing to the sump pit. Also, a cullet material handler and/or a molten waste glass sluice may be configured to receive molten glass and unused molten glass streams from the molten glass feeder and hot glassware rejects from the glassware forming machine.

A glassware manufacturing system, waste handling system, and method are disclosed. The glassware manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises an architectural installation having a forming floor and no basement beneath the forming floor; a glassware forming machine carried on the forming floor; a molten glass feeder configured to provide molten glass to the glassware forming machine; and a glassware manufacturing waste handling system including a sump pit in the forming floor, and a waste liquid trench substantially surrounding the glassware forming machine and flowing to the sump pit. Also, a cullet material handler and/or a molten waste glass sluice may be configured to receive molten glass and unused molten glass streams from the molten glass feeder and hot glassware rejects from the glassware forming machine.

A glassware manufacturing system, waste handling system, and method are disclosed. The glassware manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises an architectural installation having a forming floor and no basement beneath the forming floor; a glassware forming machine carried on the forming floor; a molten glass feeder configured to provide molten glass to the glassware forming machine; and a glassware manufacturing waste handling system including a sump pit in the forming floor; and a waste liquid trench substantially surrounding the glassware forming machine and flowing to the sump pit. Also, a cullet material handler and/or a molten waste glass sluice may be configured to receive molten glass and unused molten glass streams from the molten glass feeder and hot glassware rejects from the glassware forming machine.

A glassware manufacturing system, waste handling system, and method are disclosed. The glassware manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises an architectural installation having a forming floor and no basement beneath the forming floor; a glassware forming machine carried on the forming floor; a molten glass feeder configured to provide molten glass to the glassware forming machine; and a glassware manufacturing waste handling system including a sump pit in the forming floor; and a waste liquid trench substantially surrounding the glassware forming machine and flowing to the sump pit. Also, a cullet material handler and/or a molten waste glass sluice may be configured to receive molten glass and unused molten glass streams from the molten glass feeder and hot glassware rejects from the glassware forming machine.

An automatic tensioning apparatus is provided that includes a tensioning drive unit having a longitudinally extending stationary base frame with a plurality of opposing guides extending between a lower portion and an upper portion, and a plurality of rotatable feed wheels positioned about the lower portion. The tensioning drive unit further includes a translatable drive frame having a plurality of rollers engaged with the plurality of opposing guides, along with a drive assembly coupled with the drive frame, and including a drive motor and a tensile member interface for engaging and rotationally translating a tensile member, as well as a first drive frame actuator actuatable to provide a vertically translating force upon the drive frame.

An automatic tensioning apparatus is provided that includes a tensioning drive unit having a longitudinally extending stationary base frame with a plurality of opposing guides extending between a lower portion and an upper portion, and a plurality of rotatable feed wheels positioned about the lower portion. The tensioning drive unit further includes a translatable drive frame having a plurality of rollers engaged with the plurality of opposing guides, along with a drive assembly coupled with the drive frame, and including a drive motor and a tensile member interface for engaging and rotationally translating a tensile member, as well as a first drive frame actuator actuatable to provide a vertically translating force upon the drive frame.