Abstract: A drug storage/discharge apparatus which makes it possible to easily clean drug discharge paths and to visually check if the guide paths have been cleaned sufficiently, and which does not require high dimensional and assembling accuracy for component parts. Each cabinet supports a plurality of vertically arranged rows of feeders on both sides thereof. A plurality of feeders forming each row are coupled together, and each feeder row thus coupled together has one end thereof pivotally coupled to the cabinet so as to be pivotable into its open position. When in the closed position, the feeder rows form one side wall of each drug guide path. The drug guide paths are exposed by drawing out the cabinet and opening the feeder rows on one side of the cabinet.

Abstract: Mounting apparatus for a traction machine disposed in a hoistway includes a pair of beams that extend through the hoistway to the pit. One of the beams includes a mounting plate disposed at the top of the beam and to which the machine is fastened. The elevator car frame is engaged with guide rails that are functionally separate from the beams. In a particular embodiment, the guide rails are retained to the beams by clips. The clips retain and position the guide rail without subjecting the guide rails to the load of the traction machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a motorcycle or a secondary vehicle onto a carrier so that the carrier can be secured to a primary self-propelled vehicle for transporting. The carrier employs a docking unit which can be lowered to ground level allowing for ease of loading a motorcycle thereon. The docking unit may then be retracted by a pivoting conveyor assembly that guides the docking across roller supports to a raised position. The conveyor assembly rests upon a series of nested sleeves that allow the conveyor assembly to pivot to an inclined, loading/unloading orientation to the horizontal, transporting orientation. Elastomeric suspension elements dampen shock loads transferred to the device during travel. The device includes mounting shafts for securement either to a receiver hitch or a trailer. A system of interlocking pieces restricts relative motion of the device during travel. Tie downs and wheel chocks further assist in control of a vehicle during loading and transporting.

Abstract: A material handling system includes a depalletizer comprising a tower frame and a tilt bed which extends into the tower frame and is tilted to a predetermined angle. A lift bed raises a loaded pallet to the level of an exit conveyor. A back dam is disposed opposite the exit conveyor and is movably mounted to the frame to exert a stop against a layer of articles to be removed. An endless collector belt, mounted to the tower frame, extends over a slidable frame provided with a polygon shaped roller. The endless belt simultaneously rotates and moves between a position adjacent the exit conveyor and a position adjacent the back dam to remove the entire layer of articles.

Abstract: A lead frame magazine handling device is disclosed which includes a magazine loading assembly, a magazine unloading assembly, two sets of receiving jaw mechanisms, a guided elevating assembly, and a programmable controller. The empty magazines are moved to the receiving jaw mechanism using the magazine loading assembly. At the same time, with the inner and outer sets of the receiving jaws in conjunction with the guided elevating assembly, one can alternately move the empty magazines and loads them to the lead frame receiving station to carry out the tasks of receiving and storing lead frames, and then, move to the magazine unloading assembly to unload the magazines which are fully loaded with lead frames so as to carry out the next operation.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a tube having locking apparatus at one end that is inserted into a hinge joint in a first direction. A lead wire is inserted into the tube in the opposite direction and locked in place within the tube. Then the tube is withdrawn from the joint with the lead wire still attached. The apparatus also includes a web shaped bib member having at least one opening therein for gripping by a human hand to assist in positioning the belt. The method of the invention has application to a method of securing the first end of a conveyor belt with respect to the second end of the conveyor belt wherein the first end and second end each include part of a hinged joint that includes a plurality of cylindrical section shaped members.

Abstract: An automated conveyor sortation and item discharge system for sorting items of varying sizes and weights to designated output destinations along a conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading lumber onto pallets so as to provide a stack of lumber layers separated by pallets for drying in a kiln, and for dismantle after drying includes a first elongated lumber-carrying conveyor, an elongated pallet-loading structure positioned in parallel with the first lumber-carrying conveyor, and an elongated stile-loading and unloading conveyor located between the first lumber-carrying conveyor and the elongated pallet-loading structure and positioned in parallel therewith. A frame structure over the first lumber carrying conveyor, the elongated stile-loading and unloading conveyor and the pallet-loading structure supports a lumber reciprocating drive element for moving aligned lumber between the lumber-carrying conveyor and the stile-loading and unloading conveyor, as well as a pallet reciprocating drive element for moving pallets between the pallet-loading structure and the stile-loading and unloading conveyor.

Abstract: A brick-like article feeding mechanism with nearly square travel path and quick returning function includes an eccentric apparatus composed of a slide block and a slide channel and cooperative spur gear and internal gear with a gear ratio of 1:4. In cooperation with synchronously driving sprockets, the pushing arms for feeding the article travel through a nearly square path. One side of the square travel path (loading travel) costs a period of time equal to the sum of the time cost by the other three sides (unloading travel) so as to achieve a quick returning function and synchronous operation.

Abstract: A package dispenser that can be used in an automated system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients. The dispenser includes a magazine for holding a plurality of packages. The magazine includes a loading end and a dispensing end which has a releasable retainer to keep the loaded packages in the magazine until they are released. Several dispensers may be combined with an automated storage system in which a robot selects packages from storage racks. Then, packages can be simultaneously delivered by the dispensers and the robot. The dispensers may be filled by the robot. The robot and releasable retainer in the dispenser are computer controlled.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided including a platform for attachment to a conveyor which may be utilized for transporting items of various sizes and weights to designated output destinations along the conveyor. The platforms may be used for the transporting of objects only or may include a variety of conveyor equipment such as baskets, parts bins or parcel ejection mechanisms. The system utilizes a plurality of hinged conveyor trays which are connected to an underlying conveyor via a plurality of flexible edge retainer members that secure the edges of the platforms to the underlying conveyor surface and isolate adjacent platforms from each other. The platforms are secured in place by a medially located center locking mechanism. The system may utilize a conventional belt conveyor onto which the platforms are connected. Ejection mechanisms may be built in or attached to the platforms for diverting objects from the upper surface of the platforms to desired locations.

Abstract: A hoisting rope for an elevator includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, discrete targets retained within the rope. The targets have a characteristic that may be monitored by a device that is responsive to that characteristic. In a particular embodiment, the targets are formed from a magnetically permeable material and the monitoring device responds to changes in the magnetic field as the target passes the monitoring device. In another embodiment, the targets are formed from material that reflects electromagnetic energy. In this embodiment, the monitoring device emits electromagnetic energy and is sensitive to the energy that is reflected back from the target. A method to inspect the hoisting ropes includes the steps of positioning the monitoring device proximate to the hoisting rope, moving the hoisting rope relative to the device, and monitoring the targets to determine the spacing between targets. Changes in spacing are indicative of stretching of the rope, and thereby degradation of the rope.

Abstract: A coupling for directing a stream of particles falling from a feed spout through an opening on the top cover of the screen box of a screening machine. An upper diaphragm seals the feed spout within the mouth of a funnel. A lower diaphragm seals the funnel discharge opening within the top cover opening. Both diaphragms are flexible and permit the funnel to tilt axially and accommodate movement of the top cover opening with respect to the feed spout. Optionally, a gimble may support the funnel and diaphragms and thereby relieve the diaphragms from the weight of the coupling.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an elevator speed comprising the steps of determining a desired creep period, determining an actual creep period, determining a difference between the desired creep period and the actual creep period, determining a deceleration time for minimizing the difference between the desired creep period and the actual creep period, and adjusting the elevator speed in response to the deceleration time.

Abstract: A method which provides for level monitoring of an elevator car within a hoistway at a plurality of floors by providing a plurality of sensed signals which is indicative of an elevator position of the elevator car relative to a plurality of targets having a plurality of light absorptive surfaces and a plurality of light interactive regions, the plurality of targets mounted within the hoistway at the plurality of floors. The plurality of sensed signals is processed to provide a leveling variable, a floor number variable and a direction of travel variable which indicate a direction of travel of the elevator car within the hoistway. The leveling variable, floor number variable and direction of travel variable are stored at a remote elevator monitoring central processor.

Abstract: A separating and feeding machine is disclosed for removing a succession of bound booklets or the like from a supply hopper adapted to hold a stack of the booklets for feeding them to a subsequent apparatus for further processing. The separating and feeding machine includes a reciprocating vacuum feed plate disposed in the bottom of the hopper for advancing the bottom booklet through a discharge opening to a take away feed mechanism, and includes first and second stage separating mechanism which initially maintains at least the bottom two booklets in the hopper in shingled relationship to expose a marginal portion thereof adjacent the bound edge so that a pressing member can maintain a normal force on the exposed marginal portion of the bottom booklet to prevent it from wrinkling and becoming jammed in the discharge opening while the vacuum feed plate is moving it toward the discharge opening.

Abstract: A bale butler for transporting and feeding large round bales of hay includes a hay bale attachment frame and a carrying bed attached to each other in functional arrangement. The hay bale attachment frame has a front bar and a pair of bale connector arms pivotally mounted to the front bar. The hay bale attachment frame has a drawbar and a standard ball-type trailer hitch. Each of the bale connector arms has a hollow cylinder which provides for rotatable attachment of a pair of detachable bale attachment pins. The bale attachment pins are each sharpened on one end. The bale attachment pins have holes drilled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at measured intervals and have slidably, perpendicularly mounted a plate. The bale butler has a carrying bed which consists of a rectangularly shaped deck. The deck has an axle rearward of the intermediate point of the long rectangular sides of the deck which axle has rotatively mounted hubs, wheels and tires.

Abstract: A recording/reading apparatus includes a recording/reading device for recording or reading information on sheets, a suction cup for picking up an object by suction, with the suction cup having an air outlet hole, a container having an inner space that is closed except for an opening for connection with the air outlet hole. The container has a flexible portion, and the volume of the inner space is variable through deformation of the flexible portion. Also provided is a driving device for deformation-driving of the container and a hollow member for connecting the opening for connection with the air outlet hole of the suction cup.

Abstract: A secondary positioning system for elevator car doors includes three sensors positioned in register with a plurality of openings formed within a door hanger. The unique spacing between the sensors in combination with unique spacing between each of the openings within the door hanger, allows determination of fully closed, fully opened, and intermediate positions and direction of elevator car doors.

Abstract: A machine for stacking sheets is disclosed which includes an overhead conveyor for conveying sheets to a stacking area, and first and second sets of support fingers which support the sheets as they are stacked in bundles as the support fingers are moved horizontally and vertically through a predetermined sequence of positions.