An apparatus for receiving and conveying bulk material is provided. The apparatus comprises a hopper for receiving bulk material, at least one outlet configured to enable bulk material, received by the hopper, to exit the hopper, and an agitator arrangement. The agitator arrangement is configured to agitate the bulk material in the hopper in order to counteract cohesion of the bulk material, and configured to urge the bulk material in the hopper towards the at least one outlet.

A discharge assembly for use in or with dispensing apparatus. The discharge assembly includes an entry chamber for receiving one or more items to be dispensed in use. At least one discharge outlet is provided in the entry chamber. The directing member is movably mounted in the entry chamber for directing the one or more items through the at least one discharge outlet in use. At least one opening is defined in or associated with the directing member for allowing the one or more items to move through the at least one opening and towards the discharge outlet in use. A closure member is associated with the at least one opening of the directing member and said closure member is arranged to move in use between an open position, wherein the one or more items can move through the at least one opening of the directing member, and a closed position, wherein the one or more items are prevented from moving through the at least one opening of the directing member. A resilient biasing member is provided on or associated with the closure member to bias the closure member to the open position in use.

An animal feed mechanism with feed agitator assembly includes a feed bin, a funnel-shaped boot attached to a bottom of the feed bin, an agitator system installed in the boot, and a conveying device for conveying feed out of the boot. The agitator system is installed using boot mount brackets attached to end walls of the boot, and holes cut in the sidewalls of the boot after the boot mount brackets are attached. The boot mount brackets each include a lower ledge with a sufficient length to block the free flow of feed out of the holes cut in the sidewalls of the boot due to the angle of repose of the feed. The agitator system includes a motor driven agitator shaft with radial projections that can be inserted through the holes cut in the boot and supported at each end by bearings attached to the boot mount brackets.

An animal feed mechanism with feed agitator assembly includes a feed bin, a funnel-shaped boot attached to a bottom of the feed bin, an agitator system installed in the boot, and a conveying device for conveying feed out of the boot. The agitator system is installed using boot mount brackets attached to end walls of the boot, and holes cut in the sidewalls of the boot after the boot mount brackets are attached. The boot mount brackets each include a lower ledge with a sufficient length to block the free flow of feed out of the holes cut in the sidewalls of the boot due to the angle of repose of the feed. The agitator system includes a motor driven agitator shaft with radial projections that can be inserted through the holes cut in the boot and supported at each end by bearings attached to the boot mount brackets.

A dredging device for dredging a pipe is provided including: a carrying frame, adapted to connected to a pipe; a shaking dredging unit including a first shaking plate and a second shaking plate, and the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate are arranged within the pipe; and a driving unit, connected to the carrying frame. The driving unit is connected to the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate for driving the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate to reciprocate to approach or move away from each other.

A dredging device for dredging a pipe is provided including: a carrying frame, adapted to connected to a pipe; a shaking dredging unit including a first shaking plate and a second shaking plate, and the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate are arranged within the pipe; and a driving unit, connected to the carrying frame. The driving unit is connected to the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate for driving the first shaking plate and the second shaking plate to reciprocate to approach or move away from each other.

An apparatus for starting the flow of a compacted material from a hopper trailer is disclosed. The apparatus may include a means of substantially joining the apparatus with the rim of a hopper trailer, an auger shaft having flighting, and a means of turning said shaft on a longitudinal axis in order to displace compacted material and initiate the flow of same. In one embodiment, the auger shaft consists of an internal shaft capable of receiving segmented sleeves having flighting in order to allow for compatibility with a wide variety of hopper trailers. In another embodiment, the drive means of the apparatus may be operated by wireless control.

An apparatus for starting the flow of a compacted material from a hopper trailer is disclosed. The apparatus may include a means of substantially joining the apparatus with the rim of a hopper trailer, an auger shaft having flighting, and a means of turning said shaft on a longitudinal axis in order to displace compacted material and initiate the flow of same. In one embodiment, the auger shaft consists of an internal shaft capable of receiving segmented sleeves having flighting in order to allow for compatibility with a wide variety of hopper trailers. In another embodiment, the drive means of the apparatus may be operated by wireless control.

The bin arrangement is for collecting and discharging smaller ligno-cellulosic material. The bin has a transition part from a circular section of the bin and downwardly to a rectangular section with a long and short side of the rectangular section. The transition part could be built with few wall segments, thus needing less welding. Two rotary pocket feeders, each with at least one shaft extending parallel to the long side, are arranged directly under the rectangular section, enabling a uniform feed from the bin. The use of two rotary pocket feeders with this design directly under the bin does not destroy the even feed of material through the bin part, which otherwise is experienced from using conventional feed screws that feed material in a transverse direction from the bin outlet. The bin does not need to have a complex bin design which converges to a small circular inlet to a conventional rotary pocket feeder.

The bin arrangement is for collecting and discharging smaller ligno-cellulosic material. The bin has a transition part from a circular section of the bin and downwardly to a rectangular section with a long and short side of the rectangular section. The transition part could be built with few wall segments, thus needing less welding. Two rotary pocket feeders, each with at least one shaft extending parallel to the long side, are arranged directly under the rectangular section, enabling a uniform feed from the bin. The use of two rotary pocket feeders with this design directly under the bin does not destroy the even feed of material through the bin part, which otherwise is experienced from using conventional feed screws that feed material in a transverse direction from the bin outlet. The bin does not need to have a complex bin design which converges to a small circular inlet to a conventional rotary pocket feeder.