Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit for a rotational solid (2) which revolves around the essentially horizontal longitudinal axis (3) thereof. Said drive unit is arranged laterally below the rotational solid (2) such that the driving pinion/s (4, 4?) engage/s in the toothed ring (6) of the rotational solid (3) in a downward direction at an angle between 35° and 90° from the horizontal line. Said arrangement of the housing (1) of the drive unit substantially reduces the lateral space required for the entire installation. Another advantage lies in the fact that the drive unit can be mounted directly on the floor or base of the installation, whereby no additional console or base is needed.

Abstract: An article to be inserted in a conveying arrangement is picked up by the vane of a rotating element, and pushed into the conveying device. Because the motion of the element is rotational, a high feed rate can be achieved, and the article can be contacted without damage.

Abstract: The device according to the invention for ejecting sheet metal blanks from a processing station or for any transport of such sheet metal blanks has ejector dogs mounted on a transport conveyor, which bump the trailing edge (trailing in the ejection direction (A)) to eject the blanks. These ejector dogs are arranged so that upon impact on the blank edge they are shifted and/or tilted in a damped manner, and with absorption of energy, with respect to the transport conveyor, in the opposite direction to the ejection direction, thus reducing the forces acting on the edge of the blank. As transport conveyor, the preferred embodiment has a toothed belt which is elastically deformed and deflected from its path upon impact of the dog on the blank edge, so that the belt itself acts as damper and as return spring for the dog.

Abstract: Two sheets (10,14) are removed simultaneously from the sheet stack (1). While one sheet (10) is already in the transfer position, from which it is introduced into the conveyor line by two feed rolls (7,8), a first suction element (20) seizes the next sheet (14) from the stack (1). This sheet is moved along the curve a into the now vacated transfer position. A second suction element (30), which is no longer needed to hold the first sheet (10) there, moves to the stack (1) to seize the next sheet (15) and bring it to the transfer position, while the first suction element moves back to the stack. In this way, destacking can proceed at a faster rate than hitherto.

Abstract: The can body to be welded in a welding station is shaped by gradually bending flat metal sheets zone by zone along a linear conveying route until the can body has been shaped. This linear conveying route at the same time leads to the welding station. In this manner can bodies can be produced and welded at a fast rate.