A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the sweep wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the sweep wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

A powder supplier, which supplies a powder material to a pressure molding mechanism that continuously generates a molded body, including: a casing having an inlet to which the powder material is supplied and an outlet from which the powder material is discharged; one or a plurality of screws being disposed inside the casing and rotationally driven to transport the powder material in an axial direction; motors being disposed outside the casing and rotationally driving screws; and a regulator being disposed between the screws, and the outlet inside the casing, and regulating a flow of the powder material. The regulator has a rotation shaft perpendicular to the axial direction of the screws, and a width direction of the powder material discharged from the outlet, and being configured to rotate about the rotation shaft.

A machine produces twisted paper for loose file packaging. The machine includes at least one auger to reduce a dimension, such as diameter, of paper as it is pulled from a roll. The material moves past the auger into a twisting assembly wherein the paper is twisted or rotated about a longitudinal axis of the machine inside a pipe or tube. The pipe or tube includes a cutout or interruption in the sidewall within which a wheel resides. The wheel grasps and advances the paper through the twisting assembly as it rotates. As the paper leaves the twisting assembly it is pulled or otherwise fed through an exist region and is cut into segments of small twisted pieces of paper. The twisted segments of paper are of suitable size for use as loose fill packaging.

A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.

A gearbox below a grain bin floor can have a shift coupling movable between a drive position and a neutral position. A control rod can be axially movable between a corresponding drive position and a corresponding neutral position. A pair of biasing members can be operably positioned between the control rod and the shift coupling to bias the shift coupling in opposite directions. The opposite biasing forces of the biasing members can act against each other to bias the control rod into the neutral positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the neutral position and the corresponding neutral position, respectively. The opposite biasing force of the biasing members can bias the control rod into the drive positioning recess to retain the external shift coupling and the control rod in the drive position and the corresponding drive position, respectively.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the drive wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

A sweep auger system having a driveshaft with auger flighting and a backboard extending a length from an inward end to an outward end. An input of a gearbox is connected to an outward end of the drive shaft and a sweep wheel having a plurality of notches, arms and feet is connected to an output of the gearbox. A drive shield is placed around a rearward side of the sweep wheel that forms a channel that is configured to capture grain agitated by the drive wheel. A guide plate is connected to the gearbox and covers a portion of the gearbox. The guide plate angles from an upper outward edge downward and forward to a lower inward edge that is configured to urge the grain captured within the channel of the drive shield to move in front of the sweep auger system reducing grain left in the grain bin.

A weighing apparatus for weighing batches of food product is provided. The weighing apparatus comprises a product supply unit arranged to supply food product to be weighed, a weighing unit arranged to receive and weigh a batch of food product, and a product delivery unit arranged to receive the food product from the product supply unit and to deliver a batch of food product to the weighing unit. The product delivery unit comprises a trough extending between a product supply position, at which food product is received from the product supply unit, and a product delivery position, at which the food product is delivered for receipt in the weighing unit, and a transport screw arranged in the trough and configured to rotate in the trough for conveying food product from the product supply position to the product delivery position. The transport screw comprises at least two helical members. A primary helical member extends along a length of the trough substantially from the product supply position to the product delivery position. A secondary helical member extends along a length of the trough substantially from the product supply position to a termination position of the secondary helical member, the termination position of the secondary helical member being between the product supply position and the product delivery position.

A weighing apparatus for weighing batches of food product is provided. The weighing apparatus comprises a product supply unit arranged to supply food product to be weighed, a weighing unit arranged to receive and weigh a batch of food product, and a product delivery unit arranged to receive the food product from the product supply unit and to deliver a batch of food product to the weighing unit. The product delivery unit comprises a trough extending between a product supply position, at which food product is received from the product supply unit, and a product delivery position, at which the food product is delivered for receipt in the weighing unit, and a transport screw arranged in the trough and configured to rotate in the trough for conveying food product from the product supply position to the product delivery position. The transport screw comprises at least two helical members. A primary helical member extends along a length of the trough substantially from the product supply position to the product delivery position. A secondary helical member extends along a length of the trough substantially from the product supply position to a termination position of the secondary helical member, the termination position of the secondary helical member being between the product supply position and the product delivery position.