Abstract: A method for packaging flat articles in a stack in a package such as a box. In particular, the method is used to stack articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane. A stack portion is gripped by a gripping device and rotated 180° from the direction of an adjacent stack portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotatable gripper device (1) for picking up and rotating products which are supplied on a conveyor belt. The device according to the invention comprises a gripper head (2, 3) which can rotate about a vertical central shaft (4) and has a gripping member (18) which can rotate about its axis. For upward and downward movement, the device comprises a first cam roller (6, 7) and cam discs (8), and for rotation about the axis comprises a second cam roller (9, 10) and cam disc (11). The device according to the invention is of a simple and relatively lightweight design, so that it is suitable for operating at high speeds. The gripper device according to the invention can be used to accurately set the rotational path of the gripping member (18) at the gripping position and the release position, by means of the shape of the cam disc, in order to produce a gradual transfer.

Abstract: Lifting device, in particular a pallet device (10), comprising a pivotal arm (19) at the free end of which in the area of a controllable rotary mount (42) is mounted a separate support element for a lifting head (43), i.e. a pivotal support arm (46) at the free end of which the lifting head (43) is rotary mounted, and the rotary movements of the lifting head (43) are carried out by an operating cylinder (49), preferably with two end positions.

Abstract: A compact, programmable palletizer and method for forming at least one layer of packages on a pallet, comprising a rigid frame, an infeed conveyor positioned adjacent the frame for conveying successive packages into the palletizer, and a rollerbed assembly mounted on the frame and positioned juxtaposed the infeed conveyor for receiving successive packages from the infeed conveyor. The rollerbed assembly is formed on a single horizontal plane and is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. The palletizer further includes a fixed back stop positioned adjacent the rollerbed assembly and rigidly connected to the frame for preventing the packages conveyed onto the rollerbed assembly from moving beyond a predetermined position thereon, and a sweeper arranged adjacent the rollerbed assembly and the fixed back stop for positioning the package in a predetermined position on the rollerbed assembly by rotating, displacing and squaring the package thereon.

Abstract: Specific printed products (2') of the printed products (2, 2') that are conveyed one behind another in a hanging position are rotated through 180.degree. about an axis of rotation that runs at right angles to the main surface (6) of these printed products (2'). Following the rotation, the rotated printed products (2") are gripped once more at their side edge (7) located at the top, which is opposite the side edge (4) at which the printed products (2') were held before the rotation. In this way, a product stream is obtained in which specific printed products (2") assume a spatial position different from that of the remaining printed products (2). For example, in this product stream the folded edge (4) of the nonrotated printed products (2) lies at the top, whereas the folded edges (4) of the rotated printed products (2") lie at the bottom. This results in advantages in the later further processing of the printed products (2, 2"), for example during stacking.

Abstract: In a method for packaging flat articles, articles are brought in a continuous stack (P) along a support level to a grouping station so that their planes are upright from the support level, wherein product batches to be placed in a package, such as a box, are separated from the stack by an automatic grouping device. For grouping articles having different thicknesses at different ends in the direction of their plane, a stack portion (OP) is separated from the stack, the stack portion is gripped by a gripping device, and it is rotated around one axis so that its direction deviates from the original. The first stack portions (OP) so rotated are placed next to such second stack portions, whose directions in relation to said one axis deviate 180.degree. from the direction of the first stack portions, and the first and second stack portion so placed next to each other are formed to the product batch to be placed in the package.

Abstract: An article turner assembly for use with an article handling system such as a palletizer. The article turner assembly selectively turns articles conveyed in a single lane along a particular path so that each article may be turned or not as it is conveyed along that path. The article turner assembly includes a conveyor mechanism, an article turner, and a selector mechanism that acts on either the article turner itself, the conveyed articles, or both. The article turner is designed so that articles are turned without impact against their front or side surfaces or a reduction in their speed. The article turner includes two or more adjacent conveyors, which are run with a speed differential to turn articles. The orientation of and spacing between the conveyors can be adjusted to accommodate articles of different sizes and/or weights. The article turner assembly is well-suited for use with high speed palletizers because it can help form patterns of virtually any desired configuration at very high speeds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for orienting portions of a disposable undergarment, such as a core thereof, is provided. The apparatus preferably includes a core lifting system for lifting a core of a disposable undergarment when in a first orientation position during travel along a predetermined path and a core orientor connected to the core lifting system for orienting the core in a second orientation position along the predetermined path of travel. The core orientor preferably includes at least one drive for driving the core lifting system along the predetermined path of travel and an orientation changing system associated with the at least one drive for changing the orientation of the lifted core to the second orientation position when driving at least portions of the core lifting system along the predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: The device includes selectively operable article re-orienting means, allowing groups of articles to be packed together in a variety of orientations using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation using a single standard packaging machine. An infeed conveyor carries the articles in a predetermined orientation in a plurality of lanes. A group collator comprising a set of lane brakes and a movable backstop aligns a group of articles in one or more rows transverse to conveyor. A paddle transfers the group to the packaging machine. The re-orienting means turn a sub-group of articles making up the group to a specified orientation for such transfer, each article sub-group being turned about a respective axis normal to the plane of the infeed conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for packing connector plates or the like. The apparatus comprises a horizontal conveyor (V) for conveying connector plates (N) to a stacking station (P) at the end of the horizontal conveyor (V) with the plates oriented so that the teeth point substantially upward. A turning conveyor (K) conveys connector plates (N) to the stacking station (P) in an inverted orientation so that nested pairs of connector plates are formed. The horizontal conveyor (V) is in the same longitudinal line with the turning conveyor (K) and partly inside the turning conveyor. The turning conveyor (K) includes two substantially vertical support walls (4) which are provided for rotation around a horizontal axle (6), and a support mechanism (5) attached therebetween.

Abstract: An assembly and method for turning an article traveling on a conveyor. The assembly includes a conveyor having an upstream end and a downstream end, and first, second and third turning stations spaced apart from each other and disposed adjacent the path of a conveyor, with each station including a sensor for sensing an oncoming article and a selectively activatable surface, disposed downstream of said sensor, for turning an article 90 degrees. A computer selectively activates each of the surfaces responsive to information received from the sensors to thereby selectively turn an article either 90, 180 or 270 degrees total as desired.

Abstract: A unit for conveying elongated products, each having a respective longitudinal axis, and wherein a conveyor successively conveys the products with the respective longitudinal axes parallel to a given traveling direction and along a path extending along a conveying plane; and an orienting assembly is located along the path to orient the products by rotating the products 90.degree. about an axis of rotation crosswise to the conveying plane, so that the respective longitudinal axes of the products are crosswise to the traveling direction.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for orienting truss plates, and in particular truss plates, such as those greater than 6 inches in width, that are typically formed from a single sheet of steel, comprises: a generally horizontally-disposed platform shelf; first and second receiving channels; a sweeper block; and a reciprocal movement unit for reciprocally moving the sweeper block. The platform shelf, which is positioned to receive truss plates from a truss plate forming unit, has an upper face and a pair of opposed lateral edges. The receiving channels are positioned laterally of a respective one of the platform shelf lateral edges and below its upper face. Each of the receiving channels is sized and configured such that a truss plate falling from the upper face and received therein takes and maintains an orientation in which the backing member of the truss plate is generally upright. The sweeper block is positioned above the upper face.

Abstract: A biscuit inverter mechanism comprising a pair of elongate, parallel, downwardly angled support members. The spaced parallel support members provide support for a biscuit when running thereover to enable that biscuit to be guided with a constant orientation through the mechanism. The support members also provide support for one side only of a biscuit when running thereover whereby the biscuit rotates under gravity to an inverted orientation before leaving the mechanism.

Abstract: A method of forming arrays of articles, comprising: (a) providing a stacker having a plurality of compartments for receiving the articles, the stacker traveling along a closed loop path; (b) transporting a plurality of the articles along a first path to the stacker in sequential fashion; (c) introducing the articles into the compartments at an inlet position; (d) removing a first array of the articles from the stacker at a first stripping position by urging the articles from the compartment in a first stripping direction; (e) transporting the first array along a second path away from the stacker in a direction substantially opposite to the first stripping direction; and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) for subsequent articles. An apparatus for use in this method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming arrays of articles comprising providing a stacker having a plurality of compartments for receiving the articles, the stacker traveling along a closed loop path; transporting a plurality of the articles along a first path towards the stacker in sequential fashion; introducing a first portion of the articles into the compartments at a first inlet position located adjacent to the interior of the closed loop path; and removing an array of the articles from the stacker at a stripping location located downstream from the inlet position. An apparatus for performing this method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed items deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is is selectively movable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism. The item slides down the reverse slide surface on its top surface, thus flipping over approximately 180.degree. from its orientation on the infeed conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives is disclosed. The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for treating a polyolefin surface to become receptive to inks and adhesives, using the steps of introducing the shaped object onto a conveyor belt; conveying the shaped object towards an output end of the conveyor belt; aligning and guiding the shaped object across a treatment device to treat the entire 360.degree. surface of the shaped object. The treatment device includes, for example, an electrode spark generator.

Abstract: Workpieces are manipulated between the receiving position and the discharge position by supporting gripper arms on a platform mounted on a pivot shaft. The pivot shaft pivots between a position where a workpiece is gripped by gripper arms to a pivotal discharge position where the workpiece is released by the gripper arms. The pivot shaft is moved horizontally by a threaded adjusting screw toward and away from a vacuum chuck in a silk-screen printing machine to compensate for changes to the length of the workpiece to be carried by the vacuum chuck. This allows conveyors to remain at fixed elevations and merely change the site at which the workpieces are picked up in the case of a loading mechanism from a feed conveyor and the site where workpieces are deposited on a conveyor for an unloading operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for nesting articles of the type having a nesting surface with a number of formations thereon, comprising first locating means for locating a first article and second locating means for locating a second article, actuating means for actuating the first and second locating means to cause the articles to nest together at the nesting surfaces, the actuating means including a first mechanism to actuate the first locating means and a second mechanism to actuate the second locating means, the first mechanism being arranged to actuate in advance of the second mechanism, in order to nest the articles with the formations in staggered relationship. A technique is also disclosed for nesting articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for palletizing/unitizing easily compressible articles comprises a station conveyor having a diverter for selectively positioning the articles longitudinally along a path defined by the rollers of the station conveyor, a turner for selectively orienting the articles transverse to the path, a layer accumulation stop for blocking the travel of individual articles while the articles are combined into a single layer, a flusher for tightening up the articles in a layer, a hand assembly for picking up entire layers of articles while subsequent layers are positioned below the hand assembly and for transporting multiple layers to the turntable of a palletizer, a platen assembly for maintaining the integrity of the stacked articles while they are on the turntable, and a lift for raising the stack during wrapping so that the articles can be underwrapped.

Abstract: A method and machine whereby a first and second rigid packet are fed in a first direction parallel to the longer longitudinal axes of the packets; are transferred to the input of respective feed channels, the second packet being rotated 180.degree. in relation to the first; are fed at different speeds along the respective channels, in a second direction perpendicular to their longer longitudinal axes, until they are positioned coaxial but axially spaced in relation to each other; the end wall of one of the two packets is gummed; and the packets are brought together so that the end walls adhere to each other, thus forming a double packet.

Abstract: After extrusion, cutting, and tilting 90.degree. alternate green bricks are rotated 180.degree. about a vertical axis to form brick pairs with the back (unfinished) sides of both bricks facing each other. These reoriented brick pairs are then gripped and stacked. Conventional grippers, such as a vacuum gripper, may be used to grip only the backs of each brick in the pair. In this way, all of the finished faces of the stacked bricks avoid damage while simultaneously being more uniformly exposed to the kiln drying and firing atmosphere and thus may achieve a more uniform appearance. No special tools are required to handle irregular or specially designed brick faces because the gripper grips only the back of each brick pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed articles, such as food items deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is used to retard the motion of the items as they drop off the infeed section. In particular, the slide mechanism is alternately moveable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism.

Abstract: A palletizing apparatus for providing container packages in a desired pattern to a pallet, and related method are presented. The apparatus includes a metering conveyor section which uses a traveling endless belt to feed container packages to a lane forming station; a lane forming station having a lane divider which accepts container packages from the metering conveyor section and separates the container packages such that they are fed to a turning station in a plurality of lanes; a turning station having a turning conveyor using a traveling endless plastic belt made up of individual modules shaped to provide longitudinally oriented upper ribs, which conveys the container packages therealong; turning apparatus for turning container packages by approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving, in an infeed section, a stream of distributed articles, such as food items, deposited in rows of like position. A slide mechanism is used to retard the motion of the items as they drop off the infeed section. In particular, the slide mechanism is alternately moveable between a slide position and a flip position. In the slide position, the item drops off the edge of the belt and slides across the primary slide surface and onto a second slide mechanism having a secondary slide surface that is positioned to be in substantially the same plane as the primary slide surface. The slide mechanism is moved into the flip position for every other row of items. The items to be flipped come off the conveyor belt and come into contact with an abutting surface. This surface changes the direction of the item as it moves towards the transport mechanism in conjunction with a reverse slide surface of the second slide mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for doffing textile bobbin tubes from tube support members having posts projecting therefrom for supporting tubes thereon as the tube support members are conveyed along a transport path by a transport device with the tube support members being slidably supported on the transport device to allow stoppage of a tube support member as a tube is doffed without deactivating the transport device is disclosed. The tube doffing apparatus comprises a pair of opposed tube engaging and doffing devices having tube engaging surfaces which may be conveyor belts with guide and support rollers straddling the path of posts of support members traveling along the transport path and extending away from the transport path in the general direction of projection of the support member posts. These devices are disposed for engaging a tube on a post of a support member supported on the transport path and thereby stopping the support member while removing the tube from the post.

Abstract: Unit (10) to feed and stack layer of sections, which is located downstream of a layer-forming platform (11) and upstream of a packaging assembly (32), the layer-forming platform (11) comprising a plurality of conveyors (29), the unit (10) consisting of a plurality of first manipulator arms (40) and a plurality of second manipulator arms (41) able to rotate about an axis (42) parallel to the lengthwise axis of the sections to be packaged, the manipulator arms (40-41) bearing layer manipulators (35-36) able to move lengthwise along the manipulator arms (40-41) in the transient state of rotation of the movable manipulator arms (40-41), the layer manipulators (35-36) having an engagement position (45) arranged substantially at the front of and external to their relative manipulator arms (40-41).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for arranging cartons or cases of beverages in predetermined patterns in a conveying process for stacking in tiers on pallets. A combination of an input guide conveyor moveable between left, right, and centered positions and at least one moveably adjustable diverter bar is utilized to direct incoming containers along a predetermined path through a pattern-forming zone comprised of a plurality of parallel, power-driven conveyors. Containers are directed one at a time either along a dividing line path between two, adjacent, pattern-forming conveyors in overlapping relation thereto, or directly onto one of those conveyors. A differential speed-control mechanism is provided in conjunction with one or more of the parallel, pattern-forming conveyors and is selectively actuated to change the speed of one conveyor of a pair of conveyors on which a container is being carried in overlapping relation to both conveyors.

Abstract: Annular guide grooves and rotating ratchet wheels are provided, and feed claws formed in said ratchet wheels moves along said annular guide groove in a circumferential direction. Also, first and second supply conveyers are provided, articles are arranged in the same direction and transferred on these supply conveyers, and sent into said annular guide grooves by supply mechanisms. Said first supply conveyer is arranged to be directed in a direction of a contact line of said annular guide grooves and in the same direction as the moving direction of said feed claws. Said second supply conveyer is arranged to be directed in a direction of a contact line of said annular guide grooves and in the opposite direction to the moving direction of said feed claws. The back portions of said articles sent from said first supply conveyer are pressed by said feed claws, and the front portions thereof are moved toward the advancing direction.

Abstract: A conveyor continuously advances bundles issuing from a manufacturing line while manipulating them into a pattern for shipment. Comprised of three zones, the conveyor sequentially centers, rotates and organizes bundles for inclusion in a pattern in preparation for shipment without manual intervention. The conveyor is insensitive to bundle size within the parameters of the particular embodiment, and performs desired manipulation regardless of initial bundle placement or orientation. As no interruption in the flow of bundles is needed to manipulate bundles into patterns, no jamming of bundles occurs upstream from such patterns as they form. The conveyor increases the overall speed of handling bundles, and makes possible the automation of shipping procedures in manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selectively inverting flexible and limp planar workpieces such as fabric. The apparatus includes a primary workpiece propeller having a cylindrical means for contacting the workpiece about a central rotating axis. A slot of sufficient size to receive the workpiece is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation beneath the primary propeller. The slot preferably has a flared upper end positioned directly beneath and in contact or near contact with the propeller. The fabric is drawn into the slot by the rotation of the propeller and follows the contour of the flared open end of the slot. The fabric enters into the slot until the trailing edge of the fabric is in contact with the primary propeller. The trailing edge of the fabric is drawn by the propeller to the opposite side of the flared opening of the slot and is subsequently pulled out of the slot. Collisions are prevented between workpieces by a control circuit that instructs the workpieces when to leave the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for arranging cartons or cases of beverages in predetermined patterns in a conveying process for stacking in tiers on pallets. A combination of an input guide conveyor moveable between left, right, and centered positions and at least one moveably adjustable diverter bar is utilized to direct incoming containers along a predetermined path through a pattern-forming zone comprised of a plurality of parallel, power-driven conveyors. Containers are directed one at a time either along a dividing line path between two, adjacent, pattern-forming conveyors in overlapping relation thereto, or directly onto one of those conveyors. A differential speed-control mechanism is provided in conjunction with one or more of the parallel, pattern-forming conveyors and is selectively actuated to change the speed of one conveyor of a pair of conveyors on which a container is being carried in overlapping relation to both conveyors.

Abstract: A case turning assist attachment for a palletizing machine of the type including a linear live roller conveyor for conveying cases to a pallet loading rake, includes a push member operably connected to a double acting air cylinder controlled by an air switch. The air switch includes an abutment member for activating an air valve upon contact with a forward end of a case. The case turning attachment allows a faster and more efficient operation of a conventional type of palletizing machine by more rapidly orienting cases to be palletized in a correct position.

Abstract: Stacking equipment for stacking products such as boxes or cartons in lay-flat form onto pallets, comprising a receiving conveyor (1) means (6, 7, 8) thereon for collecting a batch of products together in predetermined disposition, and a push plate (11) for transferring an assembled batch of products onto a main support bed (15). The bed (15) raises the batch of products onto retractable temporary support fingers (17) and then returns to receive the next succeeding batch. The batches are stacked successively and finally supported on a pallet which is elevated on bed (15) to support the finished stack which is then discharged from the bed. Also provided are a pallet dispenser (30) adjacent the support bed (15) and a tiesheet dispenser (20) to place an individual tie sheet on the top of each successive batch prior to stacking.

Abstract: A system for turning shape steels upside down includes a conveyor adapted to transport shape steels along a line, a shifting device having bars rotatable across the line upwards and downwards for transferring the shape steels from a count-up station to a first tumbling station and at the same time from the first tumbling station to a second tumbling station, intermediate and final lifting devices disposed at the tumbling stations, respectively, such that they are raised and lowered alternately in unison with the shifting device, and in their raised positions cause the shape steels to turn upside down and magnetic means adapted to attract the inverted shape steels located on the final lifting device, so as to transfer them onto a pick-up station before they are delivered to a binding apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for flipping over flexible and limp planar workpieces such as fabric. The apparatus includes a primary workpiece propeller having a cylindrical means for contacting the workpiece about a central rotating axis. A slot of sufficient size to receive the workpiece is positioned in a vertical orientation beneath the primary propeller. The slot preferably has a flared upper end positioned directly beneath and in contact or near contact with the propeller. The fabric is drawn into the slot by the rotation of the propeller and follows the contour of the flared open end of the slot. The fabric enters into the slot until the trailing edge of the fabric is in contact with the primary propeller. The trailing edge of the fabric is gripped by the propeller and thereby drawn to the opposite side of the flared opening of the slot and is subsequently pulled out of the slot. The fabric has thereby been inverted so that the top of the fabric is now on the bottom.

Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.

Abstract: A bag turner for rotating a bag having a front and side surface and moving along a path on a conveyor. The bag turner has a bag turning wheel having an axis of rotation substantially normal to the plane of the conveyor and offset to the side of the path of the bags. The wheel has a first and second radial member. Each the radial member extends from a hub on an axis in a horizontal plane to form a substantially right angle. The radial members engage a bag moving on the conveyor turn the bag as the wheel turns. A means for raising the bag turning wheel to permit free passage of the bags on the conveyor is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for combining partial piles of book pages by laying one on another. The partial piles may be brought up alternately in an inclined position on a conveying chain. According to the invention, there is provided above the conveying chain a rotary rearranging apparatus. The rearranging apparatus carries a plurality of gripping systems each adapted to pick up one partial pile of book pages and, after rotation of the rearrangement apparatus through a 360 degree revoluion, deposits the partial pile of book pages beside an identical succeeding partial pile. During the 360 degree revolution of the rearranging apparatus, each gripping system is rotated about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the rearranging apparatus such that the gripper systems continuously remain in an upright orientation with the grippers always projecting downwards at the lowest point of the gripping system.

Abstract: Small bundles of elongated profile elements that arrive generally regularly at an intake station wherein the elements are first displaced in a transport direction generally perpendicular to their elongation direction from the intake station to a pickup station. There they are arrested in a pair of groups with the elements closely spaced in their respective groups and the groups widely spaced in the transport direction. The pair of spaced groups is then picked up without substantially changing its spacings and the pair of spaced groups is deposited in a takeoff station while further pairs of spaced groups are formed in the pickup station. These further pairs are then picked up and deposited on top of the respective groups in the takeoff station to form a pair of stacks each constituting a bundle. For nesting the elements it is possible to invert every other pair of spaced groups before depositing same in the takeoff station.

Abstract: A motorized device for retrieving rectangular objects and stacking said objects on a pallet is described. The device includes a conveyor for picking up objects such as hay bales from the ground and a manipulator for taking bales from the conveyor and orienting them either lengthwise or crosswise. The oriented bales are then individually transported to an accumulator in the desired orientation to form a layer. When the layer has been formed on the accumulator, a carriage is translated forward and downward to engage the layer and pick the layer up, moving the carriage and layer of bales rearwardly to deposit them on a pallet. Successive layers are formed in this fashion until a stack of the desired height is disposed on the pallet. The device then may transport the palletized load to a storage or transport area where the load may be moved by forklift truck.

Abstract: An improved packaging apparatus includes a linear conveyor belt above which there is mounted an automatic reciprocating turning device which turns flat elements moved by the conveyor. At the end of travel of the conveyor, there is a clamp loader which presses the flat elements and transfers them from a horizontal position to a vertical position, dropping them in this position onto a horizontal dual conveyor, whereby they are displaced with an intermittent forward movement. The elements are faced in pairs and grouped in quantitatively scheduled packages, until they are deposited on a roller table to group various laterally faced packages and to obtain a scheduled volume for the packaging thereof. The upper belt of the horizontal dual conveyor moves at the same speed as the belts below it and maintains the members forming the package in a vertical orientation.

Abstract: The high density packaging of generally conical articles is effected by mechanism which feeds two rows of the suspended articles onto a conveyor so that the articles lie on their sides in a single horizontal row arrangement aligned in spaced relation along the path of travel imparted by the conveyor. This arrangement is such that the articles lie in head-to-toe relation. At a downstream region, the progress of the articles is arrested so that they sequentially crowd into touching relation define a contiguous sequence. Transfer mechanism transfer a group of articles from the sequence as a layer and deposits the layer in a receptacle. The transfer mechanism then transfers a second group in the receptacle as a layer nested with the first layer. To achieve high density, the second group of articles has an orientation relative to the sequence which is different from that of the first group.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for assembling wrapped stick confections from a multi-lane packaging machine into groups with the stick ends of the wrapped stick confections overlapping. The packaging apparatus comprises endless type first and second conveyors each having product pushers at uniformly spaced locations therealong for advancing stick confections crosswise of their length from a loading station sequentially past a weighing station and an ejecting station to a stacking station. Mechanism is provided at the loading station for feeding wrapped stick confections from the multi-lane wrapping machine into the pockets on first and second conveyors with the stick ends in juxtaposition.

Abstract: An in-line pattern forming apparatus includes a windowed endless roller conveyor disposed in a longitudinal system path for sequentially receiving sets of articles. A friction shoe shifts the set of articles through the conveyor window to an underlying turntable which is rotatable for selectively reorienting the set, whereupon the lead roller at the end of the window pushes the set off the turntable to a staging support which sequentially receives a plurality of sets to form a pattern. The pattern is then swept as a unit from the staging support to a container loader or other associated apparatus in the system path. Means may be provided for selectively shifting sets of articles on the staging support laterally of the path to facilitate formation of certain patterns.

Abstract: Cigarette cartons 12 fed in by conveyor 13 are stacked in a group 14 and then laterally displaced by pusher 26 onto a turntable 27. A further pusher 29 then inserts the group into an awaiting, open ended shipping container 10 or 11, either with or without a 90.degree. turntable rotation depending upon the type of packaging being performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring articles, such as pails, from a first station to a second station so that the articles may be loaded at the second station in a preselected spaced-saving array includes a transfer carriage operable for selective shifting along a path between the first and second stations and a gripping device utilizing clamps mounted on the transfer carriage operable for selectively gripping and releasing the articles. An orienting device is operatively associated with the gripping device and is operable for selectively imparting rotation thereto so that the articles may be loaded in a nested array.

Abstract: Head-to-tail turning of one pipe out of two in a series of pipes being presented at irregular intervals which may occur at even or odd multiples of a step. A horizontal transporter moves by intervals of two steps and a turning device for one pipe out of two moves by one step as necessary to place itself in a position for turning beneath the pipe to be turned. Pipes are arranged head-to-tail, horizontally and vertically, one joint alternating with one smooth end at each end of the pipes in the production of pipe bundles.

Abstract: A feed roller table with rollers (11a) is divided into partial widths (A and B). The rolled shapes to be stacked are passed onto the feed table in layers of different numbers of bars n and n-1 and are braked during bar movement by elevation of braking skids (38 and 41). The skids of one series of braking skids (41) are designed to function as turnover magnets and may be rotated 168.degree. to a position above another series of skids (38) in order that de-energization of the turnover magnet braking skids (41) will permit an interlocked layer of rolled shapes to be formed on the other braking skids (38). This double layer of bars is picked up by horizontally shiftable receiving magnets (43) and deposited on stacking table arms (49) which index downward into a position (49') below the level of the stacking roller table for rotation through 90.degree. to pass horizontally underneath the stack of bars exiting on the roller table and to return to the upper receiving position.