Abstract: A cargo reclaiming apparatus that may be fitted to a ship for emptying bulk solid material from the holds or to a warehouse for emptying such material from storage bins. The apparatus has a gantry movable across the top of the storage containers, a rotatable structure mounted to the gantry, and a boom supported by and extending from the rotatable structure at a selectable angle. The boom has a digging wheel at its outer end for feeding material to the inner surface of a belt encircling the boom. The material passes through the rotatable structure and gantry and is fed to a collection location. The belt on the boom may carry material from the container even when the outer end of the boom is positioned above the end of the boom connected to the rotatable structure.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus that orients unfilled cans having an open end and a closed end such that all of the open ends face the same direction. Unoriented or scrambled cans are first loaded onto a vacuum belt and then conveyed into a sorter mechanism. The ends of the cans are coupled to the vacuum belt by a partial vacuum. The closed ends are distinguished from the open ends by proximity switches which control a solenoid regulated air blast capable of knocking cans having their open ends facing one direction off of the vacuum belt and into a gravity track. The cans are turned to a desired orientation as they descend through the gravity track. Cans on the vacuum belt having their open ends facing in another direction are not subjected to an air blast and are removed from the vacuum belt by another gravity track which turns descending cans into the same desired orientation. The newly oriented cans blend together upon exiting from either gravity track.

Abstract: A device is provided for counting moving objects, such as eggs lying on a moving conveyor belt. This device comprises a lever which can be moved by the moving objects, a signalling element for generating a detectable signal as a response to a movement of the lever, and a coupling and resetting mechanism for transmitting the movement of the lever to the signalling element and for automatically resetting both the lever and the signalling element during a decrease in the size of the portion of a moving object which is in contact with the lever, after a preceding increase thereof and the associated generation of a signal. The coupling and resetting mechanism comprises an essentially cylindrical drum which is rotatable about a shaft and which is provided with a projecting part extending essentially in a radial direction for operating the signalling element. A cord is looped round the drum.

Abstract: An aircraft belt loader having electric motors to power the drive wheels and an electrically driven hydraulic pump for actuation of a hydraulic ram for elevation of a belt conveyor. A battery pack and the hydraulic compartment are positioned between the drive wheels and the steerable wheels and are spaced apart laterally to define a channel to accommodate the linkage including the hydraulic ram, supporting the conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement on a conveyor of the type which comprises a flexible chain whereupon objects, e.g. parallelepipedic packing containers, are conveyed. The conveyor comprises guide rails (4) located on either side of the chain (1) which steer the packing container. In curves the guide rails are substituted on the one side by a curve disc (5) having a sloping steering surface (8) which acts upon the packing container outwards against the guide rails located on the opposite side of the conveyor. As a result packing containers of different sizes can be conveyed on the conveyor without the conveyor needing adjustment.

Abstract: Rollers for use with singulators for orienting articles, typically fruit, prior to optical sensing, for example, of the fruit's surfaces, wherein fruit having diverse diameters, irregular shapes and bumpy surfaces are properly oriented by contacting a pair of symmetrically disposed truncated conical surfaces sloping uniformly inwardly to a point short of center to form a sheave portion, as well as a deep pocket within each roller and between adjacent rollers, and wherein spacing between rollers remains constant notwithstanding the diverse diameters of the fruit. A drive belt is engageable within the sheave portion of the roller for controlling speed and direction of rotation of the rollers.

Abstract: A curved escalator comprising a plurality of segment steps having step axles connected to an inner and an outer endless loop of step chains so that the steps circulate along the endless loops, and inner and outer sprocket wheels having different diameters for turning around the step axles along a conical surface in turn-around portions of the loop in engagement with the inner and outer endless chain loops, the bottom surfaces of the teeth being engageable with the step axles of the inner and outer sprocket wheels having sloped surfaces that are parallel to the axis of the step axles in the turn-around portion, and the teeth having the same pitch circle. Since the bottom surfaces of the teeth engaging the step axles have sloped surfaces that are parallel to the axis of the step axles in the turn-around portion, and since the pitch circles of the teeth are the same, the driving force is transmitted to the step axles and the step chain, and the steps are smoothly turned around to provide a better ride.

Abstract: A harvester of the riding type for tobacco or other leaf crop plants grown in parallel rows. The harvester comprises a vehicle of suitable height and width to span several plant rows. Primers' stations are suspended from the vehicle at a height from the ground suitable for the harvesting of the crop plants. One station is provided for each row. The vehicle has a platform positioned above plant height for an operator who manually transfers harvested leaves to a container located on the platform from conveyors provided at each of the stations for raising the leaves to the platform. The conveyors are positioned to partially surround the container at evenly spaced locations in order to minimize the total distance moved by the operator between the conveyors and the container. The vehicle has a lifting device used to interchange the container, when full, with an empty container and to unload the containers at the end of a row of plants.

Abstract: A distribution conveyor for packages and the like having at least one transport including a carrier on which the packages are placed, and adapted to travel on an endless track responsive to a spaced, free-working chain. Each transport is further provided with cylinders which are connected to the transport for rotation about horizontal and vertical axes, and which are arranged in the direction of travel. The track is provided with generally parallel rails which are vertically arranged in rising, dipping and spiralling running areas so that the carriers are adjusted to remain horizontal in these areas.

Abstract: A conveyor system (28-30) includes a track (110) and a conveyor chain (70) for movement along the track. The conveyor chain comprises a plurality of identical links (72) each including a first connection member (74), spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending plates (76) and a second connection member (78). The plates are connected to the connection members for pivotal movement about vertical axes, and the connection member of adjacent links are connected to each other for pivotal movement about horizontal axes thereby accommodating horizontal and vertical flexure of the conveyor chain. The conveyor chain (70) is actuated by a drive mechanism (180) including a drive chain (198) and chain engaging members (206) carried thereby which engage the conveyor chain along an arc having a substantial radius, thereby propelling the conveyor chain through the track (110) without subjecting the conveyor chain to periods of high acceleration.

Abstract: A frame structure for a curved escalator comprises a plurality of truss units connected to each other to define an arc in plan, the frame structure having upper and lower horizontal sections and a sloped section therebetween. The frame structure further comprises an upper transition section including at least one truss unit and connected between the upper horizontal section and the sloped section, and a lower transition section including at least one truss unit and connected between the lower horizontal section and the sloped section.

Abstract: The system is for conveying and guiding electrical construction elements such as resistors and capacitors on a conveyor belt while maintaining the orientation of the electrical construction element. The system employs a belt having tabs that extend outwardly from the plane of the belt. Under the tab is a perforated opening. Wheels or discs are used to move the belt. These wheels or discs have a plurality of projections or pins which engage in the perforated opening of the belt.

Abstract: For each continuous row of products (1), two accelerating belts (3, 4) acting continuously upon both sides of the respective continuous row of products (1). In a non-launching condition, the belts hold the products at a predetermined waiting position and, under launching conditions, launch a group of products (1) at the speed of a support conveyor belt (7) while bringing the following products in the continuous row to the waiting position. Preferably the accelerating belts (3, 4) are powered through DC servomotors with permanent rare-earth magnets.

Abstract: This invention relates to a workpiece loader which loads workpieces onto a continuously moving conveyor of a type frequently used in manufacturing factory environments. The workpiece loader is comprised of a short length endless belt which is intermittently moved to stack workpieces against a movable fence. Movement of the movable fence is coordinated with motion of the loader belt to enable groups of workpieces to be placed on the conveyor as desired. A first embodiment discloses the workpiece loader belt travelling in a direction perpendicular to the continuously moving conveyor, whereas the second embodiment discloses such belts moving in parallel directions.

Abstract: A carriage for a transport and sorting machine having tracks and a carriage-dragging device therealong has a carriage support. The carriage support is dragged along the tracks by the carriage-dragging device, but a tiltable object-carrying plate on the carriage support is tilted by an electric motor on the carriage support and movable therewith.

Abstract: A bucket elevator includes a continuous driven chain supporting inter-engaging buckets on swinging links. The links carry rollers which travel along guidance tracks which diverge from the track which guides the chain. Thus, the buckets pass around a curve of greater radius than the chain due to movement of the swinging links and will separate from each other while remaining horizontal.

Abstract: A carpenter's elevator and conveyor which includes a pair of spaced framework elements transversely interconnected by braces. An elongated material supporting plate extends between the framework elements over the braces and is joined at one longitudinal edge to a guidance plate which extends at an acute angle to the plane of the material supporting plate. An elongated chain channel is positioned centrally in the material supporting plate, and extends parallel to the guidance plate. An endless flexible conveyor has an upper reach lying in the chain channel and carries a plurality of spaced material pusher flights. A motor is drivingly connected to the conveyor and is mounted between the spaced framework elements, and horizontally spaced from one end of the material supporting plate. A motor switch plate is mounted between the motor and material supporting plate, and a motor guard bar extends between the framework elements on the opposite side of the motor from the switch plate.

Abstract: A variable capacity region for rod-like articles such as cigarettes, particularly a buffer reservoir (48) arranged at the juction between a conveyor (10) and the entrance (28) to a consuming machine, includes a continuously-driven inclined conveyor (36) to promote recirculation of articles within the reservoir and discourage extended periods of occupation by individual articles.

Abstract: An endless chain of link members having oil accumulating cavities disposed therein is circulated in a well at a controlled rate carrying oil to the surface where same is dumped and removed by brush and wipers.

Abstract: A conveyor transfer system is used in a foundry to transfer an article between first and second article-travel-paths. The system includes a first conveyor which has a pair of beams defining the first article-travel-path. One of the beams is movable in a vertical direction to lift an article from the other beam and for placing an article supported by the one beam on the other beam. One of the beams is movable in a horizontal direction to move an article supported thereby along the first article-travel-path. A second conveyor is provided having a pair of beams defining the second article-travel-path. The beams of the second conveyor function similar to the corresponding beams of the first conveyor. A shuttle conveyor is provided for transporting an article between the first and second conveyors. The shuttle conveyor has a first portion in alignment with the first article-travel-path to form a continuation thereof.