An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

An apparatus for treating organic mass. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber and agitation means provided in the chamber to agitate the organic mass. The agitation means comprises a rotatable shaft extending through the chamber, a plurality of agitator arms extending from the shaft, and a paddle connected to each agitator arm. The paddle is arranged to make a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the agitator arm and a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. There is also provided a system for recycling ammonia generated from the treated organic mass by the apparatus.

A device and method for filling at least one container with fill product are described. The device includes a product reservoir for accommodating the fill product and a stirring element (for stirring the fill product accommodated in the product reservoir. The depth of immersion of the stirring element in the product reservoir can be varied.

A mixing assembly includes a drum including a side wall, a top portion, and a bottom portion, in which the top portion includes a first opening for filling a substance into the drum, a second opening for mixing the substance in the drum, and a third opening for extracting the substance from the drum; and a mixer releasably disposed in the drum, including a head releasably attached to the second opening for mixing, in which the head includes a housing including an internal hollow region extending along the central axis of the head, and external threads configured to be attached to the second opening for mixing by thread engagement, a shaft disposed in the hollow region, and an impeller assembly disposed at a bottom end of the shaft for stirring the substance in the drum.

Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A method of forming a composite material includes mixing granules of thermoplastic(s) and granules of reinforcing material(s) using a mixer with an interior friction coating. The friction generated by interaction between the granules and friction coating causes granules of at least one of the thermoplastic(s) to be heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state. The liquid/semi-liquid thermoplastic(s) act a binder for the mixed material. A system for forming such a composite material includes such a mixer with an interior friction coating. The system may also include a mould and/or a press for forming material produced by the mixer into a finished shape. The method and system may use post-consumer and post-industrial material as an input allowing such material to be recycled. In some cases, cross-contaminated or mixed post-consumer/post-industrial material may be recycled, potentially reducing environmental impacts.

A method of forming a composite material includes mixing granules of thermoplastic(s) and granules of reinforcing material(s) using a mixer with an interior friction coating. The friction generated by interaction between the granules and friction coating causes granules of at least one of the thermoplastic(s) to be heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state. The liquid/semi-liquid thermoplastic(s) act a binder for the mixed material. A system for forming such a composite material includes such a mixer with an interior friction coating. The system may also include a mould and/or a press for forming material produced by the mixer into a finished shape. The method and system may use post-consumer and post-industrial material as an input allowing such material to be recycled. In some cases, cross-contaminated or mixed post-consumer/post-industrial material may be recycled, potentially reducing environmental impacts.

A process for the additive manufacturing of porous gas-permeable shaped articles by selective laser sintering of a polymer powder may include a) Providing a layer of polymer powder within an construction space; b) Heating a polymer layer to a temperature greater than or equal to 0.5? C. and less than or equal to 2.5? C. below the melting point of the polymer powder; c) Spatially resolved melting of a powder bed by means of the introduction of laser energy; wherein steps a-c) are carried out one or more times in the same construction space on consecutively superimposed powder layers and the surface energy contribution to be introduced in process step c) is greater than or equal to 1.7 times and less than or equal to 4.25 times the product of the melting enthalpy, polymer powder filling density and layer thickness of the powder filling.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.