Abstract: There is described a mechanism for feeding and orienting elongated workpieces. The mechanism comprises a hopper which receives the workpieces in bulk, an inclined rotatable plate forming the bottom of the hopper and provided on its periphery with cavities for collecting the workpieces one by one, and a plurality of devices for orienting the workpieces. The orienting devices are fixedly mounted below each cell, such devices each including a closure member operated by a cam which selectively opens the bottom of the cell, and a feeding spout or channel which orients the workpieces in the desired manner as they fall thereinto. The mechanism of the invention may be applied to advantage in the feeding of partially finished workpieces to a machine tool in which they are further shaped or operated upon.

Abstract: A synthetic concrete laminate is disclosed comprising an outer synthetic concrete layer bonded to an intermediate barrier layer comprised of a synthetic resin, the barrier layer being in turn bonded to a carrier layer comprised of a synthetic resin with reinforcing fibers embedded therein.