A hot melt adhesive supply system includes a container configured to receive a supply of unmelted hot melt adhesive pieces, and an agitation device configured to agitate the supply of hot melt adhesive pieces situated in the container. The hot melt adhesive supply system further includes a transfer conduit configured to communicate hot melt adhesive pieces from the container to a hot melt adhesive melter.

A material handling system. The system includes a plurality of material sources for providing material to be transferred and a plurality of destination locations for receiving material from the material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination valve. The system further includes a distribution mechanism, a plurality of source conveying tubes each connecting a source location to an opening on the distribution mechanism, and a plurality of destination conveying tubes each connecting an opening on the distribution mechanism to a destination location. The system further includes a vacuum source operatively connected to each of the destination valves, a vacuum sensor disposed on each of the source conveying tubes configured to sense a change in pressure in the source conveying tube, and a programmable controller connected to each of the vacuum sensors for determining if a correct connection has been made.

A water and seafood flow distributor (1) for routing flowable mass from a first location to a selected one of a second plurality of locations. The distributor (1) has a first pipe (5) and a second bent pipe (51), which are in communication with one another at a first end (8, 8) via a mass mover. The second bent pipe (5) is rotatable about the first end (81) to displace a second end (91) along a circle (121). A first conduit (10) is in communication with the first location, and a plurality of second conduits (10) are in communication with a respective one of the second plurality of locations, and the ends of the conduits are arranged along a circle (12) described by the second end (91) of the second bent pipe (51). The first and second conduits can be fluidly connected through the first and second pipes.

A water and seafood flow distributor (1) for routing flowable mass from a first location to a selected one of a second plurality of locations. The distributor (1) has a first pipe (5) and a second bent pipe (51), which are in communication with one another at a first end (8, 8) via a mass mover. The second bent pipe (5) is rotatable about the first end (81) to displace a second end (91) along a circle (121). A first conduit (10) is in communication with the first location, and a plurality of second conduits (10) are in communication with a respective one of the second plurality of locations, and the ends of the conduits are arranged along a circle (12) described by the second end (91) of the second bent pipe (51). The first and second conduits can be fluidly connected through the first and second pipes.

A system distributes raw material powder from a reservoir to a plurality of at least two additive manufacturing machines. The system includes at least one gas flow drive and at least two conveying lines for conveying the powder to the at least two manufacturing machines by a gas flow driven by the at least one gas flow drive. The system further includes a feeding manifold for feeding the at least two conveying lines with the raw material powder. The feeding manifold is configured and arranged to selectively guide, controlled by at shut-off valves, the raw material powder into one of the at least two conveying lines. Each of the shut-off valves is arranged at the feeding manifold and is configured to selectively close and open for selectively feeding the at least two conveying lines with the raw material powder.

The invention discloses a distribution unit for the distribution of a liquid flow to one of several selectable outlets. A flexible element is arranged in the distribution unit, which can be rotated and positioned to direct the liquid flow to the chosen outlet.

The invention discloses a distribution unit for the distribution of a liquid flow to one of several selectable outlets. A flexible element is arranged in the distribution unit, which can be rotated and positioned to direct the liquid flow to the chosen outlet.