A system for transporting one or more items is provided. The system includes: a transportation tube disposed at least partially underground or at least partially above ground; a transportation pod to secure items therein for transport; a transportation actuator to propel the transportation pod through the transportation tube, the transportation actuator including a track extending through the transportation tube and a cable disposed at least partially inside the track, the cable configured to be coupled to the transportation pod as the transportation pod is propelled along the track; a first access point located proximate a first end of the transportation tube; and a second access point located proximate a second end of the transportation tube. Each of the first and second access points includes an opening configured to allow the transportation pod to be received into or removed from the transportation tube.

The present invention relates to the technical field of mining instruments, and discloses a sensing method for collecting multivariate information at a goaf side of chutes based on scraper conveyors, wherein gesture sensors are provided at a goaf side of the chutes of a scraper conveyor; building an equivalent model of the chutes, fusing constants and variants of relative information and distance measurements methods, determining collection of multivariate information of detection bodies of the gesture sensors of the chutes and combinational logic algorithms thereof; and sensing gesture changes of the chutes by the detection bodies of the gesture sensors of the chutes and conducting collection of the multivariate information and analyzing relative changes and trends of gestures between the chutes. The present invention can further improve detection real time properties, accuracy, coverage, reliability and environment adaptability compared with other measurement methods.

The present invention relates to the technical field of mining instruments, and discloses a sensing method for collecting multivariate information at a goaf side of chutes based on scraper conveyors, wherein gesture sensors are provided at a goaf side of the chutes of a scraper conveyor; building an equivalent model of the chutes, fusing constants and variants of relative information and distance measurements methods, determining collection of multivariate information of detection bodies of the gesture sensors of the chutes and combinational logic algorithms thereof; and sensing gesture changes of the chutes by the detection bodies of the gesture sensors of the chutes and conducting collection of the multivariate information and analyzing relative changes and trends of gestures between the chutes. The present invention can further improve detection real time properties, accuracy, coverage, reliability and environment adaptability compared with other measurement methods.

A paddle conveyor system for efficiently removing tare, dirt, small particles, and other debris from large bulky products such as sugar beets. The paddle conveyor generally includes a first pulley including a first side and a second side and a second pulley including a first side and a second side. A first linkage is connected between the first side of the first pulley and the first side of the second pulley and a second linkage is connected between the second side of the first pulley and the second side of the second pulley. A plurality of paddles is each connected between the first linkage and the second linkage such that the plurality of paddles forms a loop for conveying a material towards the second pulley. Each of the paddles includes one or more slots through which debris from the material may fall.

A paddle conveyor system for efficiently removing tare, dirt, small particles, and other debris from large bulky products such as sugar beets. The paddle conveyor generally includes a first pulley including a first side and a second side and a second pulley including a first side and a second side. A first linkage is connected between the first side of the first pulley and the first side of the second pulley and a second linkage is connected between the second side of the first pulley and the second side of the second pulley. A plurality of paddles is each connected between the first linkage and the second linkage such that the plurality of paddles forms a loop for conveying a material towards the second pulley. Each of the paddles includes one or more slots through which debris from the material may fall.

A single drive dual hopper conveyor system is presented having a center conveyor system and a pair of side conveyor systems that are connected to one another. A single motor is connected to the center conveyor system and drives movement of a belt within the center conveyor system. The connection of the center conveyor system to the side conveyor system causes the belts of the side conveyor systems to be simultaneously driven as the belt of the center conveyor system is driven. This arrangement eliminates the need for multiple motors. A guide at the center of the belts is configured to guide the belts through the center of the housings and prevent the buildup of grain within a cut-out section of the flights of the belt that is needed to allow access to the links of the belts to facilitate driving of the belts.

Provided are embodiments of a chute for articles, in particular packages and/or consignments, having a chute base for the article to slide down and comprising at least two chute-base sections is described, wherein the at least two chute-base sections form a height offset between one another, wherein at least one guiding device is provided between the at least two chute-base sections in order to guide the article from one chute-base section to the next chute-base section, wherein the at least one guiding device has a vertically adjustable free end that points in the direction of the next chute-base section, and wherein the guiding device has, transversely to the chute base, a plurality of finger elements that are arranged alongside one another and are at least in part vertically adjustable independently of one another.

A conveyor pan for a chain scraper conveyor comprises a bottom plate and a pair of side profiles fixed to the bottom plate by welding. The conveyor pan has an increased wear resistance, in particular due to a specific geometry of a weld groove formed between the profile rails of the side profile and the bottom plate. The weld groove extends deeper into each profile rail, resulting in a more durable weld connection during use of the conveyor pan. In addition, a geometry of a pocket member for connecting adjacent conveyor pans and an inspection opening formed in the bottom plate have also been improved to result in an increased strength of the conveyor pan.

A conveyor pan for a chain scraper conveyor comprises a bottom plate and a pair of side profiles fixed to the bottom plate by welding. The conveyor pan has an increased wear resistance, in particular due to a specific geometry of a weld groove formed between the profile rails of the side profile and the bottom plate. The weld groove extends deeper into each profile rail, resulting in a more durable weld connection during use of the conveyor pan. In addition, a geometry of a pocket member for connecting adjacent conveyor pans and an inspection opening formed in the bottom plate have also been improved to result in an increased strength of the conveyor pan.

The present disclosure relates to a discharge apparatus for discharging a plurality of flexible spouted containers, the apparatus comprising: a container support comprising a support element with an elongated opening for carrying a row of spouts of a plurality of spouted containers from an inlet to an outlet, wherein the inlet of the support element is configured to receive successive batches of spouted containers in the elongated opening; a biasing unit configured to move at least a subset of the spouts received inside the elongated opening in the support element towards the outlet, wherein the biasing unit further is configured to continuously apply a biasing force to the subset of spouts to continuously discharge the containers from the outlet.