Provided is an item dispensing device that can reduce the height of each device without decreasing the number of items to be stored. The item dispensing device includes: a storage case for storing capsules; an item ejection port provided in a side wall of the storage case; a vertical rotating shaft attached to the storage case; a motor for driving the rotating shaft to rotate; a circular plate provided in a lower part of the storage case and rotated by the rotating shaft, the circular plate being provided with item holders along the circumferential direction, each of the item holders having an opening in the outer circumferential direction and provided to be engageable with a capsule, wherein a part of the outer circumference of the circular plate is opposed to the item ejection port; and a capsule ejection mechanism for energizing the capsule engaged with one of the item holders toward the item ejection port side when the item holder is positioned at the item ejection port.

Provided is an item dispensing device that can reduce the height of each device without decreasing the number of items to be stored. The item dispensing device includes: a storage case for storing capsules; an item ejection port provided in a side wall of the storage case; a vertical rotating shaft attached to the storage case; a motor for driving the rotating shaft to rotate; a circular plate provided in a lower part of the storage case and rotated by the rotating shaft, the circular plate being provided with item holders along the circumferential direction, each of the item holders having an opening in the outer circumferential direction and provided to be engageable with a capsule, wherein a part of the outer circumference of the circular plate is opposed to the item ejection port; and a capsule ejection mechanism for energizing the capsule engaged with one of the item holders toward the item ejection port side when the item holder is positioned at the item ejection port.

Powder feeding apparatuses (100; 200) and methods. The powder feeding apparatus (100; 200) can include first and second cylindrical rollers (106, 107; 206, 207) adjacent to each other and spaced apart by a gap (108; 208). The first roller (106; 206) can rotate intermittently and independently of the second roller (107; 207). The second roller can rotate intermittently and independently of the first roller. Powder from a hopper (102; 202) is fed through the gap as one or both rollers rotate. The powder feeding method may include a method of feeding powder by intermittently and alternately advancing a first and second roller to dispense powder from the hopper.

A friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.

Provided is an item dispensing device that can reduce the height of each device without decreasing the number of items to be stored. The item dispensing device includes: a storage case for storing capsules; an item ejection port provided in a side wall of the storage case; a vertical rotating shaft attached to the storage case; a motor for driving the rotating shaft to rotate; a circular plate provided in a lower part of the storage case and rotated by the rotating shaft, the circular plate being provided with item holders along the circumferential direction, each of the item holders having an opening in the outer circumferential direction and provided to be engageable with a capsule, wherein a part of the outer circumference of the circular plate is opposed to the item ejection port; and a capsule ejection mechanism for energizing the capsule engaged with one of the item holders toward the item ejection port side when the item holder is positioned at the item ejection port.

A meter for controlling the flow of feedstock from an in-feed hopper to a distillation unit, including a cylindrical roller having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter, the roller defining a recess that extends helically substantially from the first end to the second end, a sleeve circumscribing a portion of the outer diameter of the cylindrical roller, the sleeve having an open first side that allows the passage of feedstock into the recess of the roller, and an open second side that allows the passage of feedstock out of the recess of the roller as the roller rotates relative to the sleeve, and a housing fixedly attached to the sleeve and capable of attachment to the in-feed hopper and the distillation unit such that feedstock must pass through the housing to get from the in-feed hopper to the distillation unit.

A medicine conveying apparatus includes storage containers and a circulation driving unit configured to circulate the storage containers so as to make a round along a circulation path, wherein an introduction position and a discharge position are set on the circulation path, so that the medicine introduced into each storage container that has arrived at the introduction position, and the medicine is discharged from each storage container that has arrived at the discharge position, the circulation path includes a first directional path and a second directional path, and the circulation driving unit allows an operator to select one of the first and second directional paths through which the storage containers are conveyed from the introduction position to the discharge position and circulates the storage containers through the selected path.

A medicine conveying apparatus includes storage containers and a circulation driving unit configured to circulate the storage containers so as to make a round along a circulation path, wherein an introduction position and a discharge position are set on the circulation path, so that the medicine introduced into each storage container that has arrived at the introduction position, and the medicine is discharged from each storage container that has arrived at the discharge position, the circulation path includes a first directional path and a second directional path, and the circulation driving unit allows an operator to select one of the first and second directional paths through which the storage containers are conveyed from the introduction position to the discharge position and circulates the storage containers through the selected path.

Pivot structures for use on bin sweeps, for example at the inner end of a bin sweep or along the length of a bin sweep, include a ball and socket. The socket is preferably defined by a collar having opposing open ends through which a shaft extends, with the shaft also extending through the ball such that the ball can slide on the shaft. The collar/socket is then affixed to a section of a sweep, and the shaft is affixed to an adjacent section, or is alternatively defined by a central stanchion within the bin. The pivot allows the sweep section to move in up to four degrees of freedom with respect to the adjacent section, or with respect to the central stanchion.

A central assembly for a bin sweep apparatus having at least two sweep elements movable substantially independently of each other about the central assembly may comprise a center post and a pair of sweep interface assemblies on the center post. Each sweep interface assembly may be associated with one of the sweep elements of the bin sweep apparatus. In some embodiments, each sweep interface assembly may be configured to sense a position of one of the sweep elements. In some embodiments, each sweep interface assembly may be configured to provide power to one of the sweep elements.