Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.

Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for reliably inserting packing trays into packing crates. Thus, the present invention solves the problems of conventional packaging lines by providing a positioning device for depositing packing trays into packing crates. Particularly, the present invention can be incorporated into existing fruit and vegetable packing lines.

Disclosed is a fruit harvesting apparatus (FHA) and method of use. The FHA provides for extended reach harvesting of fruit while eliminating the need for a ladder in order to reach the fruit and for facilitating the fruit's damage-free movement from a tree to a basket or like fruit storage bin. The FHA comprises a fruit harvesting head, a handle, and a chute. In practice, a user, holding the handle, positions the harvest head around a piece of fruit such as an apple that is hanging on a tree, so that the apple is located within the head. The user then moves the head such that the stem of the apple is caught in a notch of the head, and pulls the apparatus such that the apple stem is severed and such that the apple falls into the chute and descends into a fruit receptacle without bruising or damage.

The invention relates to a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down, having at least one storage installation, preferably assigned to the lower end of the chute, for the articles that have slid down along the chute base, wherein the storage installation is configured to be adjustable, in particular pivotable, from an upper receiving position for receiving the articles sliding down the chute into a lower discharging position for discharging the received articles, and back again.

A portable drive-over conveyor is provided with a plurality of inlets and first and second conveyors so as to be arranged for simultaneously unloading multiple trucks side by side. Furthermore, the portable drive-over conveyor may be used in a system with another such drive-over conveyor in parallel to unload a truck having multiple discharges at each of the discharges by forming a bridge in between center structures of the drive-over conveyors allowing the truck to cross over the side by side drive-over conveyors and position the multiple discharges over the inlets of the side by side conveyors. Moreover, the second conveyor is swivably mountable on a frame of the drive-over conveyor such that particulate material is dischargeable at different locations angularly of a longitudinal axis of the trailer. The portable drive-over conveyor includes other novel features which are usable on a drive-over conveyor of the same type having at least one inlet.

A return device for empties includes a housing; an empties-introduction opening by way of which empties are introducible; a conveying mechanism disposed in the housing and by which empties that have been introduced can be conveyed away. The mechanism has an empties-receptacle portion facing the opening and by which the empties from the opening reach the mechanism. The portion is disposed to be adjacent to the opening and spaced apart therefrom such that a gap is present between the opening and the portion. The device further includes an optical detection device disposed in the housing adjacent to the opening, so as to be able to optically detect in an at least substantially encircling manner introduced empties; and a web extending in a region between a lower portion of the opening and the portion, to be able to serve as a bearing for the empties at least partially bridges the gap.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for reliably inserting packing trays into packing crates. Thus, the present invention solves the problems of conventional packaging lines by providing a positioning device for depositing packing trays into packing crates. Particularly, the present invention can be incorporated into existing fruit and vegetable packing lines.

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for reliably inserting packing trays into packing crates. Thus, the present invention solves the problems of conventional packaging lines by providing a positioning device for depositing packing trays into packing crates. Particularly, the present invention can be incorporated into existing fruit and vegetable packing lines.