An adjustable pitch unscrambler that can adjust the pitch to accommodate boards having different widths, and method of using the adjustable pitch unscrambler to singulate boards in a lumber processing facility.

A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.

A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.

A sprocket configured for use with a conveyor belt and capable of resisting material buildup up is disclosed. The sprocket includes a sprocket body including a hub, a webbing, and a plurality of teeth. In one form, at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth defines a thickness in an axial direction that varies between an inner portion and an outer portion of the tooth. In another form, at least one tooth extends radially from a sprocket root near the webbing, the sprocket root including a curved base that extends axially away from the webbing to a lateral surface of the at least one sprocket tooth. In yet another form, a hub height is greater than a tooth thickness and the tooth thickness is greater than a web thickness.

A sprocket configured for use with a conveyor belt and capable of resisting material buildup up is disclosed. The sprocket includes a sprocket body including a hub, a webbing, and a plurality of teeth. In one form, at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth defines a thickness in an axial direction that varies between an inner portion and an outer portion of the tooth. In another form, at least one tooth extends radially from a sprocket root near the webbing, the sprocket root including a curved base that extends axially away from the webbing to a lateral surface of the at least one sprocket tooth. In yet another form, a hub height is greater than a tooth thickness and the tooth thickness is greater than a web thickness.

A sprocket is provided for a carrier link chain system which has a chain and a carrier link. The sprocket contains a unitary body which has three shaped sections including a central shaped section and two outer shaped sections sandwiching the central shaped section. The central shaped section has teeth for moving the chain of the carrier link chain. The two outer shaped sections have protrusions extending from a circumference and defines a path through which sides of the carrier link traverse and preventing a side-to-side movement of the carrier link and the chain links. The sprocket prevents jamming issues currently seen when a carrier link twists and causes the chain to jump off of the sprocket or the carrier link gets jammed against other portions of the conveyor system.

An apparatus for loading live turkeys from a barn floor to cages on a transport trailer. A continuous motorized drive chain moves attached, solid sheets that are loaded with turkeys from the barn floor into the cage, and then back to the loading position. The drive chain is looped around first and second sprockets. Each rectangular sheet is rotationally connected at two of its corners to the drive chain forming a fixed end and a loose end. When the drive chain rounds the barn end, the loose end of the sheet slides upwards on a guide flap to keep the top of the sheet facing up. The sheets are driven forward to the cages, round the end at the cage end, pulled backwards from the cages toward the barn end, and then driven forward again, all without stopping the motion of the drive chain.

An apparatus for loading live turkeys from a barn floor to cages on a transport trailer. A continuous motorized drive chain moves attached, solid sheets that are loaded with turkeys from the barn floor into the cage, and then back to the loading position. The drive chain is looped around first and second sprockets. Each rectangular sheet is rotationally connected at two of its corners to the drive chain forming a fixed end and a loose end. When the drive chain rounds the barn end, the loose end of the sheet slides upwards on a guide flap to keep the top of the sheet facing up. The sheets are driven forward to the cages, round the end at the cage end, pulled backwards from the cages toward the barn end, and then driven forward again, all without stopping the motion of the drive chain.

In a maceration conveyor assembly (10) a juice deflector (50) deflects juice around a return run of a conveyor into a trough (51). Preferably the juice deflector and trough are configured as opposed axially extending V-shaped stainless steel plates. The assembly (10) feeds into a first mill (11) of a milling tandem, and output from the mill (11) is delivered onto another conveyor and carried to the next mill in the tandem. Low pol maceration liquid is returned to the conveyor via return lines to respective distribution weirs (16) and (17). The conveyor assembly (10) includes an inlet end (20) and an outlet end (21) all supported on a supporting framework (22) so that the assembly is inclined from the inlet end (20) to the outlet end (22). An endless plate conveyor (25) comprises interconnected perforated plates (26) adapted to pivot relative to each other in chain like fashion.

In a maceration conveyor assembly (10) a juice deflector (50) deflects juice around a return run of a conveyor into a trough (51). Preferably the juice deflector and trough are configured as opposed axially extending V-shaped stainless steel plates. The assembly (10) feeds into a first mill (11) of a milling tandem, and output from the mill (11) is delivered onto another conveyor and carried to the next mill in the tandem. Low pol maceration liquid is returned to the conveyor via return lines to respective distribution weirs (16) and (17). The conveyor assembly (10) includes an inlet end (20) and an outlet end (21) all supported on a supporting framework (22) so that the assembly is inclined from the inlet end (20) to the outlet end (22). An endless plate conveyor (25) comprises interconnected perforated plates (26) adapted to pivot relative to each other in chain like fashion.