Abstract: A transfer system for transferring decorated containers, having images of wet ink on the outer peripheries thereof, from a first container carrying apparatus, comprising a continuously rotating mandrel wheel type apparatus carrying decorated containers with their open ends exposed, to second and third container carrying apparatus, each comprising continuously moving vacuum belts for carrying the decorated containers through a curing oven with their open ends exposed, comprising a continuously rotating transfer wheel which carries the decorated containers with their closed ends exposed and which is located between the first and the second and third container carrying apparatus and wherein the transfer wheel receives containers from the first container carrying apparatus for movement in a circular path and moves the containers while they are held thereon so that they are separated into two parallel spaced apart circular paths to be transferred to the second or third container carrying apparatus.

Abstract: A capstan for a spiral conveyor includes a plurality of grooves in the external surface thereof for controlling the driving friction between the outer surface of the capstan and the inner edge of a conveyor belt in contact with it. In one embodiment of the invention, the grooves are oriented vertically such that they contact the inner edge at an angle relative to motion therebetween. In another embodiment, the grooves are inclined to the vertical such that they contact the inner edge at right angles to the relative motion. In a further embodiment, the grooves are inclined generally parallel to the relative motion.

Abstract: The invention comprises an arrangement for transporting articles, in particular rectangular box-like packages into a single or plural paths packaging machine by at least one slider and a guiding flank. The arrangement includes a combined turning and collecting arrangement for the articles, respectively packages. The guiding flanks of this arrangement define the curved guiding paths which includes curved flanks which extend essentially angularly with respect to the transport direction and further include guide grooves which coact with the slider. By this arrangement, the articles, respectively packages are slidingly fed, turned and collected.

Abstract: A conveyor roll for use in a tempering section of a glass sheet fabrication line includes an elongated inner core member and an outer helical spring member mounted for rotation about said core member. The spring member can be coated with a suitable supporting material or attached to a plurality of collars for supporting and conveying glass sheets.

Abstract: System for guiding articles along a path, consisting of a rail with a metal core and a sheath of polymer material surrounding it, the sheath being formed to provide a generally cylindrical surface facing toward the path and to provide an opposite surface adapted to be used in clamping the rail in a selected position.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a multi-row stream of upright articles into a single row comprises a rectilinear supply conveyor provided with guide surfaces, an intermediate conveyor consisting of a rotating surface, a removal conveyor, and a frame-fixed guide surface which, in the direction of rotation of the rotating surface, extends spirally outwardly and intercepts the articles. The rotating surface of the intermediate conveyor is a planar disc. Between the supply conveyor and the intermediate conveyor, two parallel guide surfaces are provided. One of the guide surfaces extends in an arc opposite to the spiral arc of the frame-fixed guide surface in a direction towards the center of the disc, and thereafter merges into the spiral arc of the fixed frame guide surface.

Abstract: A hanger for use in a conveyorized system for transporting limp sheet material has a gripper assembly for quick loading and unloading of a unit of work material onto or off of the hanger and includes a longitudinally slidable gripping element cooperating with a fixed gripping surface urged toward the fixed surface by biasing device and is selectively actuated by fingertip pressure exerted on two laterally outwardly extending flanges respectively extending from a body portion supporting the gripping element and a top portion of the gripping element. The hanger may employ a carrier supporting a plurality of gripper assemblies oriented in a spaced relationship with one another and having means by which the orientation of each of the gripper assemblies may be changed.

Abstract: A module for forming a conveyor belt (22) having a high friction conveying surface and which is comprised of a plurality of identical modules (36, 38, 40, 42 and 44) preferably formed by injection molding is disclosed. Each module (36) has a top portion and bottom portion, and includes a plurality of elongated elements each of which has first pivot ends (36A) and second pivot ends (36B) formed integral with an intermediate section (54). Each of the plurality of pivot ends define pivot holes (62) which have axes (64 and 66) aligned such that the pivot ends of other modules may be pivotally connected by a pivot rod (46 and 50). Modules of a conveying belt include a device for receiving a driving force which is applied to the module orthogonally to the pivot axis and substantially parallel to a first plane defined by the first and second axis (64 and 66).

Abstract: A screw conveyor for conveying containers such as bottles and cans is arranged adjacent a guide rail which restrains the containers to stay in the groove of the screw until they are discharged, this being known per se. The angles for the screw conveyor and guide rail are adjustable to assure guidance of the center points of containers of any size along the same straight line without relying on inserting test containers. The guide rail is supporting on a transversely movable carriage and is pivotable thereon. The undriven end of the screw is supported on a member which is movable by a small amount. Stop elements such as bolts having different lengths are mounted in groups on a slidable member to enable positioning concurrently a stop element for the screw conveyor and a stop element for the guide rail pertaining to a particular container size and the stop elements react against stops on the carriage and the screw conveyor support member.

Abstract: A fuser belt for a reproduction machine is disclosed. The belt may have one of several configurations which all include ridges and interstices on the outer surface which contacts the print media. These interstices are formed between regularly spaced ridges, between randomly spaced particles, between knit threads. These interstices allow the free escape of steam from the media during high-temperature fusing of the reproduction process. As the steam escapes freely, the steam does not accumulate in the media causing media deformations and copy quality deterioration. Additionally, media handling is improved because the ridges and interstices reduce the unwanted but unavoidable introduction of thermal energy into the copy media.

Abstract: A non-contact article feeder takes randomly spaced articles and places these articles in proper spacing and timing for transfer to a wrapping machine without the use of tie downs or guide rails. A plurality of flat belt conveyors connected in series open or close gaps between adjacent articles and deliver the articles at proper phase and proper velocity to flights of a conveyor of a wrapping machine. A computer monitors the articles to provide synchronization of individual conveyor belts and between the feeder and the wrapping machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting cops and cop tubes includes a plurality of circular-disk-type carriers having two opposite sides. Spindle bearings each have a bearing portion penetrating and protruding beyond a respective one of the carriers toward one of the opposite sides of a respective one of the carriers. Spool spindles each are rotatably supported in and protrude beyond a respective one of the bearings toward another of the opposite sides of a respective one of the carriers for carrying a cop or a tube. The carriers have substantially planar lower surfaces each surrounding a respective one of the protruding bearing portions. A transport apparatus movable in a given transport direction has a surface operatively connected to one of the opposite sides of each of the carriers. Another of the opposite sides of each of the carriers is slidingly guided in a guide rail.

Abstract: This invention is a conveyor belt roller, including a pair of oppositely solid formed plates between circular plates affixed along a shaft for sweeping debris in axial direction.

Abstract: A drive shaft is for a rotary plate of a labelling machine for bottles or the like and includes a rotatable turntable of the labelling machine having an upper portion. A circular cam block is mounted below the turntable and has a curved slot therein. The rotary plate is mounted for rotation on the upper portion of the turntable. A drive shaft is mounted for rotation in the turntable and has an upper end and a lower end. The rotary plate is coupled to the upper end of the drive shaft. The lower end of the drive shaft includes a crank arm which is disposed in the curved slot for cammed rotation of the drive shaft during rotation of the turntable. The curved slot includes an opening in the cam block and the drive shaft including the crank arm is alignable with the opening for downward removal from and upward installation in the turntable through the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus which is capable of sorting logs of varying diameter and feeding them one at a time to a log processing apparatus. A cylinder handling apparatus comprising: (a) a device for receiving and holding a plurality of cylindrical objects of varying diameter and length parallel to and abutting one another in a row; and (b) a device for separating and raising the foremost cylindrical object from the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects in a row and dispensing the foremost cylindrical object from the apparatus, and raising at least one of the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects above the surface of the receiving and holding device.

Abstract: A vibrator conveyor system, for example in the form of a circular or linear conveyor, has a reciprocating plate adapted for carrying a container, and electromagnetic oscillating armature motors for moving said plate along a primary advancement direction or vector; each motor has a stationary stator, an armature secured to the reciprocating plate, and an excitation coil driven by alternating current or pulsating direct current, the coil being disposed on a pole piece the stator, the pile piece having a stator pole surface cooperating with an armature pole surface. The reciprocating plate is elastically supported by spring elements in a manner limiting its vertical and horizontal motion. The elongated spring elements are aligned along at least a portion of the rim of the plate with equal inclination with respect to a plane containing the conveyor advancement vector, and are fastened to the plate.

Abstract: Mechanical handling apparatus for moving a load over a support surface comprises an endless powered conveyor device which extends substantially over at least part of the length of the support and is trained round guides or pulleys rotatable about substantially horizontal axes. The endless conveyor device comprises a chain having a working run and a return run the working run of which comprises at least two working parts, which are movable vertically independently or in unison. In a preferred embodiment, each conveyor device comprises two side-by-side chains. The endless chains run in a guide for the working run and a guide for the return run. The guides are mounted one on top of the other, the lower guide being of inverted channel section and the upper guide being of upwardly open channel section which rises and falls within an outer channel on a support plate which is in contact with an inflatable device such as an air bag in order to provide a smooth and uniform raising and lowering.

Abstract: A preliminary stage of a container processing machine, including a container inlet for containers that are to be processed, a container outlet for processed containers, and transport elements for effecting the flow of containers between the inlet and outlet, with at least one of these transport elements including a transport star, which rotates about a vertical shaft, and a restraining element, with the transport star having a peripheral surface that concentrically encircles the axis of rotation of the latter and that is provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced recesses that are radially open in the direction of said peripheral surface and serve to transport the containers along a circular path from an inlet of the transport star to an outlet thereof.

Abstract: A mechanical handling apparatus has a top plate covering a raisable and lowerable roller bed and resiliently secured in place such that the plate may shift longitudinally of the roller bed under load, but resiliently return to substantially its original position when the load is removed.

Abstract: A device is provided for shearing an adherent layer of oil sand for removal from a major surface of a moving conveyor belt. A v-shaped formation of linearly-arrayed, spaced-apart, rotatable discs is suspended above or beneath the belt and brought into pressing engagement with the oil sand layer. As the discs rotate with the advancement of the belt, they function to cut through the layer, loosening it from the belt so it separates therefrom.