An orbital plant material feed assembly includes a drum structure and hopper assembly. An external surface of the drum structure has a curved shape and includes a peripheral groove. A width of the peripheral groove varies along the external surface of the drum structure. The hopper assembly may define a compression space between the drum structure and a portion of the hopper assembly that covers a portion of the peripheral groove.

An orbital plant material feed assembly includes a drum structure and hopper assembly. An external surface of the drum structure has a curved shape and includes a peripheral groove. A width of the peripheral groove varies along the external surface of the drum structure. The hopper assembly may define a compression space between the drum structure and a portion of the hopper assembly that covers a portion of the peripheral groove.

Objects, such as, for example, preforms for producing PET bottles, are feedable to silo as bulk material by a bulk material feeding device. A fill level sensor of the silo is connected to the control device. The control device actuates the feed drive in order to refill the silo with objects in dependence on the determined fill level of the silo. Connected downstream of the silo is an overhead conveyor and downstream of the overhead conveyor a separating-into-singles system. Both the overhead conveyor and the separating-into-singles system comprise sensors and drives, all the sensors being connected to the control device and the control device controlling all the drives.

Objects, such as, for example, preforms for producing PET bottles, are feedable to silo as bulk material by a bulk material feeding device. A fill level sensor of the silo is connected to the control device. The control device actuates the feed drive in order to refill the silo with objects in dependence on the determined fill level of the silo. Connected downstream of the silo is an overhead conveyor and downstream of the overhead conveyor a separating-into-singles system. Both the overhead conveyor and the separating-into-singles system comprise sensors and drives, all the sensors being connected to the control device and the control device controlling all the drives.

An automated method and system for transitioning a bottle from a horizontal belt conveyor to the entrance of an air conveyor, and vice versa, from an air conveyor to a horizontal belt conveyor. An indexer in a circular arrangement moves around 180 degrees clockwise until the bottle drops into the air conveyor (e.g., pneumatic tube). This motion controls the bottle's movement; otherwise, the bottle would free-fall off the conveyor. The indexer rotary device provides control of the vial transition, keeping it vertical so it goes into the tube in a controlled manner.

A fall impact reducing apparatus for reducing an impact on a falling chip component includes a wire assembly which is formed by stacking a plurality of wire jigs. The wire jig includes a plurality of wires arranged parallel to each other at intervals which allows the chip component C to pass through the wire jig, and the wire jig is formed of an integral body by working a base material having a predetermined thickness, the integral body constituted of a pair of frame portions and the plurality of wires extending parallel to each other between the frame portions. When the chip component is made to fall on the wire assembly, the chip component collides with the wire of any one of wire jigs.

A fall impact reducing apparatus for reducing an impact on a falling chip component includes a wire assembly which is formed by stacking a plurality of wire jigs. The wire jig includes a plurality of wires arranged parallel to each other at intervals which allows the chip component C to pass through the wire jig, and the wire jig is formed of an integral body by working a base material having a predetermined thickness, the integral body constituted of a pair of frame portions and the plurality of wires extending parallel to each other between the frame portions. When the chip component is made to fall on the wire assembly, the chip component collides with the wire of any one of wire jigs.

Connector assembly (100), system and method for converting a batch wise supply of insects (102) to a continuous supply of insects (102). A container unit is present (105) having an internal volume, a water inlet unit (106-109, 117), and a suspension outlet unit (110-113). A receiving unit (101) has a top opening (101a) arranged for receiving batch wise quantities of insects (102) and a bottom opening (114). A conveyor unit (104) has a receiving part (104b) arranged near the bottom opening (114) of the receiving unit (101), and an outlet end (119) extending into the container unit (105). By suspending the insects (102) in water it is possible to transport the suspension of insects (102) in water, e.g. to a buffer container (300).

Connector assembly (100), system and method for converting a batch wise supply of insects (102) to a continuous supply of insects (102). A container unit is present (105) having an internal volume, a water inlet unit (106-109, 117), and a suspension outlet unit (110-113). A receiving unit (101) has a top opening (101a) arranged for receiving batch wise quantities of insects (102) and a bottom opening (114). A conveyor unit (104) has a receiving part (104b) arranged near the bottom opening (114) of the receiving unit (101), and an outlet end (119) extending into the container unit (105). By suspending the insects (102) in water it is possible to transport the suspension of insects (102) in water, e.g. to a buffer container (300).

Provided is a raw material supply device and a device for processing electronic and electrical device part scraps, which can control dropping positions of a raw material containing substances having different shapes and specific gravities, as well as a method for processing electronic and electrical device part scraps using those devices. A raw material supply device 4 includes an accommodating portion 41 for feeding a raw material 100 to a predetermined position, wherein the raw material supply device 4 includes: a receiving port 43 having a first opening 433 for receiving the raw material 100 on a top surface of the accommodation portion 41; a discharge port 42 having a second opening 422 for discharging the raw material 100 on a bottom surface of the accommodating portion 41, the second opening 422 having a cross-sectional area lower than that of the first opening 433; a first guide surface 412 in a front of a side surface of the accommodating portion 41, the first guide surface 412 extending in a vertical direction through the discharge port 42 from the receiving port 43 so as to be contacted with the raw material 100 dropped toward a front of a conveying unit 2 to guide the raw material 100 downward; and a second guide surface 411 on a surface opposing to the first guide surface 412, of the side surface of the accommodating portion 41, the second guide surface 411 being provided with an inclined surface 411a that is continuous with the discharge port 42 and is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and wherein the first guide surface 412 extends such that a lowermost end portion of the first guide surface 412 is located below an intersection P of an extended line extending in an inclination direction of the second guide surface 411 with the first guide surface 412.