Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the individual or group activation of tipping conveyor elements of a tipping shell sorter, which are provided with an electric motor tipping drive. The electric motor of the tipping drive, is supplied with electrical energy transmitted in a contact-free manner, and is initially brought up to its rated or idle speed (n0), without a load, before the tipping process is initiated. The tipping device has an electronic control device so that when the electric motor, receives a tipping control signal, as the conveyor or elements approach a receiving station, the motor is initially brought up to its rated speed (n0), without activating the tipping device. The tipping device is then automatically activated by the control device. This causes the tipping conveyor element and its horizontal support surface to be tipped to one side so that one or more piece goods will be delivered to a preselected receiving station, while the conveyor system is moving.

Abstract: A two-axis robot includes a vertical tubular post mounted for rotation about its vertical axis, with a vertically slidable shaft extending through the post. An arm on the upper end of the post projects radially outward and has a gripper assembly thereon with operable jaws for gripping a specimen tube. The robot is positioned between two reference locations, for retrieving a specimen tube from one reference location and transferring it to the other. The reference locations are located along a circle circumscribed by a central vertical axis of the gripper jaws as they swing about the rotational axis of the post.

Abstract: A narrow belt conveyor system including a plurality of narrow, continuous, spaced-apart belts adapted to receive an accessory such as a sorter, accumulator, diverter, and/or transfer between the belts. The conveyor system includes a pair of side frame members, each with an elongated track that slidingly receives the accessory so that it can be readily moved to selected locations along the length of the conveyor. A belt tensioning mechanism provides for independent tensioning of the conveyor belts. A belt guide track with a low friction insert supports the loaded belt, while the guide rollers engage the edges of the belts along their return runs.

Abstract: A power drive unit (PDU) for cargo handling systems comprising a frame arranged to be mounted in use for raising and lowering movement relative to a supporting structure, a drive motor carried by the frame and having an output shaft, a drive roller assembly carried by said frame for engagement in use with a unit load device (ULD) or the like to be moved by the PDU, a first gear train transmitting drive from said motor output shaft to a drive roller of said drive roller assembly, a rotatable lifting cam assembly carried by said frame and driven in use relative to said frame to lift and lower the frame on said mounting, a second gear train for transmitting drive from said motor output shaft to said lifting cam assembly to operate said lifting cam assembly, clutch means operable to connect and disconnect said motor output shaft to and from said second gear train, a torque limiting device limiting the torque transmitted through said clutch, when said clutch is engaged, to said lifting cam assembly, and a brake me

Abstract: Roller drive units are used for conveying objects, in particular cargo containers, on a roller conveyor track of an aircraft. They comprise a drive motor, a planetary gear with an input connected to the drive motor and with a first as well as a second gear output. A drive roller is connected to the first gear output to propel the object and a lifting apparatus is connected to the second gear output to lift the drive roller out of a retracted resting position, in which the drive roller does not contact the object, into a raised operating position in which the drive roller can engaged with the object. A first brake is provided to slow down the drive roller and a second brake is provided to keep the lifting apparatus in position. To improve the traction characteristics and in particular to improve the force with which the drive roller can press against the object to be conveyed, the first and second brakes are constructed so as to be controllable.

Abstract: A power bridge rollout service system for removing and installing a power bridge, the power bridge having a housing with an external bus assembly. The power bridge rollout service system includes a roller assembly, an enclosure assembly, and a dolly assembly. The roller assembly is structured to support the power bridge and has a plurality of wheels. The enclosure assembly has a frame assembly structured to support the power bridge and has two wheel tracks. The dolly assembly has a frame assembly, a vertical lifting device, and a plurality of wheels. The vertical lifting device and wheels are coupled to the dolly frame assembly. The vertical lifting device acts upon a work platform such as a skid table assembly. The skid table assembly has a generally flat lifting plate. The skid table assembly may be raised so that the lifting plate is at the same general height as the frame assembly wheel tracks.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided that is particularly well-suited for high temperature applications. The cleaner includes a blade mount that has a layback arm mounting the cleaning blade and which can simultaneously deflect horizontally and vertically via changes in the radius of curvature of a lower arcuate portion connected thereto so as to minimize stress on the blade mount. The layback arm extends toward the conveyor belt at an acute layback angle relative to the immediately upstream belt surface. Preferably, the blade mount is of a shape retentive metal material so that it retains its bias force applied to cleaner blade even in high temperature and high loading conveyor belt applications. To keep the complexity of the blade mount to a minimum, it is preferably of a one-piece, angled spring plate construction including a base integral with the layback arm interconnected thereto by the arcuate portion.

Abstract: A pickup mechanism for handling micro components includes a microworkpiece supplying unit, a microworkpiece orientation unit and a microworkpiece separation unit. The microworkpiece orientation unit connects with the microworkpiece supplying unit and the microworkpiece separation unit. The micro components are supplied by the supplying unit, then orientated by the orientation unit. Those components orientated in a specific direction are led to the separation unit and separated for a following working device to process. Therefore, the pickup mechanism provides a continuous supplying, orientation and separation of the micro components for further assembly or fabrication processes.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing an end cap on a cylindrical workpiece includes a stationary support base, a guide member, a push bar, and an applicator device. The guide member is affixed to the stationary support base, and includes a ramp, disposed at an angle to the horizontal. The push bar is slidably movable in relation to the support base. The applicator includes a back plate which is operatively pivotally attached to the push bar at a pivot connection. The lower part of the applicator has a post attached thereto, which rides along the ramp of the guide member. Linear inward movement of the push bar, from a first position to a second position thereof, moves the applicator post up the ramp of the guide member, pivoting the applicator around the pivot connection, and causing the back plate to move from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation thereof.

Abstract: The invention is particularly useful for accumulation conveyors. An assembly located beneath its corresponding zone of item transporting rollers activates the item transporting rollers by lifting the accumulator's narrow belt to engage the underneath side of the item transporting rollers. Electric actuation rather than the traditional pneumatic actuation activates the assembly's vertical movement toward its corresponding zone of item transporting rollers. Whether activated or not, the assembly's rack journals a plurality of pressure rollers that remain contiguous with the narrow belt. Centering of the sideways movement of the narrow belt as the belt travels about the rack is associated with either a pivoting tracking roller journaled in the rack or a flanged pressure roller or rollers channel in the rack. A constant force takeup can be supplied to the belt.

Abstract: A self-unloading, bottom-discharge trailer and a discharge conveyor therefore, are provided. In a working position, the discharge conveyor transports material from a trailer container upwards beyond the rear of the trailer for depositing into storage. In a transport position, a rear section of the discharge conveyor is folded downwards into a substantially vertical position, resting against the rear of the trailer frame and not substantially protruding beyond the back of the trailer. The frame may include a recess sized to accommodate the rear section such that the rear section is substantially flush with the rear of the frame. Consequently, the trailer may remain in compliance with highway safety regulations.

Abstract: A wood chip loading device loads wood chips into a container with a density greater than that achieved using conventional free-fall techniques by 20%-35% or more. The wood chip loading device may include a drum rotating about a generally horizontal axis. The drum includes a plurality of outwardly extending blades that act to fling the wood chips out in a truncated sector pattern. The wood chips form a wide-based stack in the container such that the wood chips have a substantially uniform orientation, thereby allowing for greater packing densities. The device may also include a feed chute assembly that allows for adjustment of the ratio of the input stream that is delivered to the middle and side portions of the spinning drum. In some of these embodiments, this adjustment may be made while the device is operating, thereby allowing for on-the-fly adjustments by the operator.

Abstract: On a main line (2), when an empty space (cutting-out space s) equal to or greater than a predetermined length is detected between lots of articles (1) or between articles (1) being conveyed, this detected empty space is reserved for an article arrival line (3) on which articles (1) are stored. When this empty space approaches a junction with the article arrival line (3) for which the empty space is reserved, articles (1) corresponding to the length of the reserved empty space are cut out from this article arrival line (3) to the main line (2). This method allows it to reduce empty spaces in which articles (1) are not conveyed on the main line (2), increase the joining efficiency, reduce the frequency of storage of articles (1) on the article arrival line (3), and reduce the waiting time for loading articles (1) to the article arrival line (3), thereby increasing the efficiency of the loading of articles (1).

Abstract: A removing apparatus for rod-like articles comprises a removing drum (24) as part of a transport path for the articles such as cigarettes, double filter cigarettes and filter cigarettes in a filter cigarette manufacturing machine, and many transport grooves (48) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum (24) for receiving the articles. Adjacent grooves (48) have suction holes (52) at different axial positions thereof. While passing through a suction holding region (A) of the removing drum (24), the adjacent transport grooves (48) receive holding pressure for the articles, from the corresponding holding passages (68) of the region (A) through the suction holes (52). The passages (68) extend longer than the pitch of the transport grooves (48). When compressed air is supplied to a passage (68), the passage (68) allows the compressed air to blow out from connected suction holes (52) to thereby remove the article from the corresponding transport groove (48).

Abstract: A plant and a method for carrying out orderly arrangement of products in ranks along a packaging line, wherein an alignment device is set between a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt. The products arrive on the first belt in ranks with substantially disorderly transverse alignment and with longitudinal distances that may vary between the said ranks, and are accelerated to obtain, on the second belt, ranks aligned in an orderly way and properly spaced from one another.

Abstract: A freight load carrier for transporting freight load pallets is provided. The freight load carrier has a rectangular carrier base with a longitudinal axis having a top face, bottom face, first and second ends and first and second side rails wherein the top face is configured to receive a freight load pallet thereon. The carrier also includes at least one tailgate hingedly mounted to at least one end of the carrier wherein the tailgate is movable between a freight load pallet blocking position and a freight load carrier releasing position. A method of distributing freight load pallets is also provided.

Abstract: An inline feeder for delivering oriented parts, said inline feeder including a hopper section including a vibratory hopper for storing parts and transporting parts to an elevator section including an inclined elevator for receiving parts from said vibratory hopper and depositing said parts onto a linear feeder. Said inline feeder further including a part sensor for sensing flow of parts along said linear feeder, said sensor sensing flow and orientation of said parts on said linear feeder; and a an air fitting/valve for applying a burst of compressed gas against a part for rejecting and removing said part from said linear feeder, wherein said air valve operably in communication with said part sensor means for triggering a part rejection due to misorientation or jammed parts from said linear feeder and allowing properly oriented parts to be delivered.

Abstract: In a conveyor chain coupling structure, a block link A has a connecting rod (2) provided at one of conveying-directional ends thereof to project in the conveying direction and a coupling bore (5) formed at the other conveying-directional end. A pair of toroidal bush bearings (25, 30) is provided and a spherical bush (2) to be fixed to the connecting rod (2) is provided between the pair of toroidal bush bearings (25, 30). The first toroidal bush bearing (25) is fitted slidably on a portion, at the side of the other conveying-directional end, of the spherical bush (20) while the second toroidal bush bearing (30) is fitted at the spherical concave surface (31) thereof slidably on a portion, at the side of the one conveying-directional end, of the spherical bush (20). Owing to this construction, the coupled parts will not rattle, which will thus cause no pulsation or noise but will assure a smooth relative oscillation or reciprocal relative rotation of the block links.

Abstract: A board turner (1, 31) is intended for use on a conveyor (3) for transporting large volumes of boards. The conveyor (3) defines a plane for carrying boards (14) and the board turner (1, 31) has a rotation unit (4) and a gripping unit (7) mounted on the rotation unit (4). The gripping unit (7) has an open position and a closed position and is switchable between these positions in response to a signal from a sensor. In the open position, the gripping unit (7) rotates past the carrying plane without making contact with the synchronously arriving board (14). A signal from the sensor switches the gripping unit (7) between the open position and the closed position while the gripping unit (7) grips two opposite surfaces of a sideways extending part of the board (14) and continues to rotate above the belt conveyor (3) in order to turn the board (14) in this way.

Abstract: An improved orienting disk is provided for better wood strand alignment in wood strand orienter machinery. The disk has a plurality of fin-like teeth projecting upwardly from the periphery of a generally circular plate. In a preferred embodiment each of the teeth has a straight leading edge facing the direction of rotation of the disk, and a curve trailing edge. Most preferably, the disk has six such teeth, each separated from another by 60° about the periphery of the disk.